Nearly a fortnight after her birthday ball Hermione was sitting by the window in her chambers while Ginny sat nearby with her box of sewing. The two women were chatting quite happily when there was a knock on the door. Ginny placed her work down on the nearby table as she went to answer the door. When the door was opened Hermione was surprised to see the King entering the room.
"I didn't mean to disturb you." King Severus said, telling Hermione she didn't have to stand up from her seat. "I just wanted to let you know I'm arranging your visit back home. I still need to finalise details but it should be happening sometime next week."
"Thank you, Sire." Hermione smiled. "I appreciate the effort you're going to."
"It's nothing." The King shrugged. "I promised your father you would make regular visits home and so far I haven't lived up to that promise."
As King Severus left the room, Hermione began to think about her husband's motives for arranging the trip back to Gryffindor. Initially she had assumed he was just being kind and thinking of her happiness but now she was thinking his decision was more to keep King Albus off his back. Hermione mentally shook her head to dislodge the thoughts, his reasons for arranging the trip weren't important, what was important was the fact she would be going home for a few days in the near future.
"It'll be nice to go home for a few days, won't it?" Hermione said to Ginny as her maid settled back in her seat.
"Yes, it will." Ginny nodded. "Although I actually think of here as home now. I really like it in Slytherin."
"I like it here too." Hermione agreed, her mind automatically flipping to the main reason she liked it in the kingdom of Slytherin, namely a certain blond knight. "But it will be nice to see my parents."
"I would like to see my family." Ginny admitted, sounding nostalgic.
Hermione nodded understandingly, when they had moved Ginny had left her parents and brothers behind and she knew the redhead missed them a lot. While Hermione also missed her parents she'd known from an early age that when she married she would likely have to leave her home behind, so actually leaving wasn't as much of a wrench for her.
"If you really miss them, you can stay behind in Gryffindor." Hermione told her maid. While she loved having Ginny by her side she would understand if her friend wanted to remain in Gryffindor.
"No, my places is here, with you." Ginny smiled at Hermione. "I'm sure we can return to Gryffindor often enough for me to see my family."
"As long as you're sure." Hermione said. "I don't want you to feel pressured into staying with me."
"I don't." Ginny insisted. "I'm with you because you're my best friend and I want to be here. Besides I'm having a lot of fun here."
"Fun in the shape of Sir Blaise or Sir Theodore? Or someone else entirely?" Hermione teased.
Hermione had thought that Ginny was involved with Sir Blaise but last week she had spotted her flirting with Sir Theodore. Then there was the fact that Draco had recently implied that Ginny had been intimate with a few of the other knights.
"Just fun." Ginny smiled mysteriously. "Things might be a bit more formal here, but the people are more fun."
Hermione chuckled softly, totally agreeing with her friend. Back home in Gryffindor she wouldn't have dreamt of having an affair with one of the knights, although apart from Ron she didn't think any of them would be up for such a thing. Even if something had developed between her and Ron, which it never would have, Hermione couldn't imagine he would be as fun as Draco. Despite the fact their relationship needed to be a secret, Draco wasn't opposed to grabbing Hermione and dragging her into one of the many hidden alcoves and kissing her senseless.
"How big a party do you think they'll send us with?" Ginny asked Hermione, drawing her attention back to the conversation.
"I don't know." Hermione shrugged. "Probably just a couple of knights."
"You really think the King will let you travel with only a few knights?" Ginny questioned.
"Yes. He can't spare too many as he still has the rest of the kingdom to think about. Besides I'm pretty certain we'll have the top knight with us."
"Now that is something you wouldn't complain about." Ginny said dreamily. "Sir Draco is gorgeous."
"Sounds like someone has a crush." Hermione retorted, feeling a curl of jealousy inside herself.
"I'm just stating the obvious." Ginny shrugged. "Besides, I don't think I'm his type."
"What makes you think that?"
"He's always been nice and polite to me but unlike the other knights he hasn't tried anything with me."
Hermione breathed a sigh of relief at Ginny's words. While she knew Draco wouldn't have been with Ginny while they had been together there was plenty of time before their affair started that he could have bedded her best friend.
"I wonder which other knights will accompany us." Ginny mused.
Hermione tuned out as Ginny debated the pros and cons for various knights accompanying them on their trip. After five minutes of Ginny's ramblings Hermione changed the topic of conversation to the Gryffindor knights, causing Ginny to worry about how she was going to face Sir Harry. Ten minutes later Ginny was still thinking of ways to deal with her ex-lover as she left to do some other chores, leaving Hermione to enjoy the peace and quiet.
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A few days after the King's announcement that he was arranging a trip to Gryffindor for the Queen, the final preparations were put in place. King Severus had spent most of the day with Sir Draco as the pair had organised the route and security. Over dinner all the King said was that everything was in place for the following week and the trip would be going ahead. Hermione had to wait until later that night, when Draco paid her a visit, to get any more details.
Draco had told Hermione about the plans and that Sir Theodore would be the other knight accompanying them on the journey. Once Hermione was filled in on what would be happening the couple had tumbled into bed, which was where they currently were. After twice making love, Hermione was lying in Draco's arms as they spoke about her return home.
"Are you looking forward to it?" Draco asked, running his fingers through Hermione's curls.
"Yes, I miss my parents." Hermione replied. Whenever she referred to King Albus and Queen Minerva as her parents Hermione inwardly shuddered, no matter how immersed she was in the Queen's life there were still some people that automatically brought her mind back to the oddness of the casting.
"Is there anyone else you miss?"
Hermione turned her head at Draco's question. Despite his unreadable expression she knew him well enough to spot the apprehension in his eyes. Obviously her lover was worrying that she had someone back in Gryffindor that she had left behind when she moved kingdoms.
"I miss my friends, if that's what you mean." Hermione replied, knowing that it wasn't what Draco meant at all. "I was pretty close to all the top knights of Gryffindor."
"How close?" Draco asked, jealously flashing in his eyes.
"Pretty close, like with Ginny I've known them all since we were children." Hermione responded.
"Have you ever been involved with any of them?"
"Why? Are you jealous?" Hermione grinned up at Draco.
"Of course not." Draco tutted. "I'm just curious."
"No, I haven't been involved with any of them." Hermione replied, kissing Draco on the cheek. "You're the only knight for me."
"Good." Draco grinned and kissed Hermione softly. "Let's keep it that way."
"I intend to." Hermione said, before pulling Draco into a deeper kiss.
"It's good to know I have nothing to worry about." Draco said quietly, sounding slightly uncomfortable with sharing his worries. "I don't like the thought of losing you."
"You'll never lose me." Hermione promised, although deep down she knew it was an impractical promise to make as if the King ever discovered their affair they could both be in trouble. "But I actually think we will have something to worry about in Gryffindor."
"What?" Draco asked, sitting up and pulling Hermione with him as the conversation took a serious sounding turn.
"Sir Ron." Hermione sighed at the thought of her former guard. "We'll have to be really careful when he's around, we don't want him spotting something he shouldn't."
"No-one's noticed anything here. I doubt a Gryffindor knight can work something out none of our people can." Draco argued.
"Yes, but people here aren't watching me like a hawk. I'm telling you if we're not careful he'll spot something is going on."
"Why does he watch you so closely?" Draco questioned.
"He was my personal guard back in Gryffindor." Hermione answered. "And he was sort of in love with me."
"Sort of?"
"Fine, he was totally in love with me." Hermione amended her earlier statement. "He might have moved on but he was pretty serious about me, he even tried to convince my father to allow him to come and live here with me and continue providing me with protection."
Draco's expression hardened at Hermione's words and his grey eyes flashed menacingly. "I hope this Sir Ron has the brains to stay out of things when we visit Gryffindor. He needs to know that you're not his to protect anymore, you're mine."
"And an attitude like that won't help." Hermione scolded her lover. "If you go around acting all possessive like that, he'll know for sure something is going on."
"I'm just a humble knight doing his duty." Draco shrugged.
"You didn't sound like a knight doing his duty." Hermione laughed. "You sounded like a possessive lover staking his claim."
"Can I not be both?" Draco questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Only in private." Hermione smiled. "When we're in Gryffindor leave Sir Ron to me, I know how to handle him. Just don't do anything to make him suspicious of us."
"I'll be extra vigilant." Draco sighed. "Although it's a shame, I was looking forward to making love to you in your chambers back at Gryffindor."
"Who says you won't?" Hermione replied. As she spoke she swung her leg over Draco and straddled him, causing them both to moan at the contact. "I'm sure you can sneak in during the night."
"How close is your old rooms to anyone else's?" Draco questioned, his eyes wandering over Hermione's naked body.
"It's a few corridors away from my parents room, that's the nearest occupied room. Why?"
"I was just wondering." Draco muttered. Gripping Hermione by the hips he manoeuvred her so she was hovering over his erection. With one fluid movement Hermione sank down onto Draco, eliciting loud moans from the pair of them.
"Why?" Hermione gasped. Being on top was a new position for them and she was rather enjoying the feeling it produced inside her.
"I was just thinking that we would have to be really careful if there was anyone nearby." Draco panted. "You can get pretty loud."
"I do not." Hermione argued.
As if to prove his point Draco thrust his hips upwards, causing Hermione to groan loudly. Leaning up he then took one of her breasts into his mouth, creating yet more moans and whimpers from Hermione.
"See." Draco smirked as Hermione moaned above him.
"I get your point." Hermione gasped, biting her lip to stifle another moan as Draco's tongue swirled round her nipple.
"We'll just have to be quieter in Gryffindor." Draco said. Grasping Hermione's hips he began helping her move on him, producing moans and screams from the brunette woman. "Much quieter." He added as Hermione let out a pretty loud squeal as he thrust up into her at the exact same time she plunged down on him.
"We'll do quiet later." Hermione moaned again as she held onto Draco's shoulders as they found a rhythm that was proving pleasing for them both. "I don't think I can do quiet right now."
"Good." Draco smirked briefly before capturing Hermione's lips in a bruising kiss. "I love making you scream."
"I'm not screaming." Hermione panted, as she rode Draco like it was something they had done before.
"Not yet." Draco grinned before flipping Hermione over and hovering over her.
Hermione smiled back at her lover as he pulled out of her, before plunging back in hard. She knew from experience that the dark look in his eyes meant she was in for a good time. She'd challenged him with the screaming comment and she knew that by the end of the night she would be screaming her lover's name repeatedly.