Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. J. K. Rowling does.
Warning: I do believe my story might end up being a wee bit dark.
A/N: My deepest apologies for the lack of length of this chapter! I know that it is rather short, but lately I've been feeling ultra lazy, haha. [O, I tried updating sooner than last time like you kindly requested, but I think I kind of failed.] There's just something about Caitlin, the sun, and the absurd heat of our town that triggers my laziness. I'll try to make my next chapter longer. Thank you everyone for giving my story a chance. My dear reviewers, thank you so much for being such fantastic supporters! I hope you enjoy this chapter. I'd love to read your thoughts! REVIEW! Oh, and who do you think Luna should end up with? [Lily, I'm glad you're back and sober, haha.]
Chapter Twelve
He could feel the struggle of her very small frame writhing against his masculine body as his mind became absorbed with discordant emotions and thoughts. He took a couple of calming breaths that did absolutely nothing to alleviate the extreme anger, jealousy, and sadness raging inside him.
Why did he even care that she was pregnant with another man's child?
Shaking his head in disgust at his strange inner turmoil, Draco forcefully turned her around to face him. He roughly tilted her chin upwards, and pulled her closer to his strong body as he looked down into her large brown eyes that were now glistening with unshed tears. Having the knowledge that she had been with someone else made him feel disturbingly sad.
The only other time he had felt this upset was during his parents' funeral. When he felt the outline of the small protrusion underneath her white bathrobe, it made him want tear apart the man responsible for it. Who would dare touch something of his?
Because of his tall stature, he had to lean down closer to the petite witch to ask her the burning question swirling in his troubled mind.
"Who else have you been fucking lately?" he asked in a dangerous voice, while his grey eyes examined her face for any traces of dishonesty.
Hermione's heart began beating furiously. He was a lot more intimidating up close, than he was leaning against the door. She was having an increasingly difficult time breathing as his harsh words finally registered in her terrified mind.
She closed her eyes, allowing the tears to descend down her cheeks, and tried speaking, but couldn't seem to find her voice.
Her tears. Her damn tears were making his heart clench, and saddening him even further, but he ignored the strong sensation with great effort, and instead held onto his anger. It was the only emotion he was comfortable with.
As she helplessly watched his angelic face, a muscle flickered along his jaw and his glacial eyes hardened.
"Tell me," he demanded. Her silence, along with her frightened expression only served to enhance his wild, uncontrollable emotions.
Hermione entertained the idea of lying to him for her baby's safety, but she didn't want to risk him somehow finding out about the truth from another source.
Growing impatient, Draco shook her and glared at her.
"I haven't been with anyone else," she managed to say, despite the fear clogging her throat.
"Don't lie to me," he angrily replied.
No, it couldn't be his. She was definitely lying. All mudbloods were liars.
He didn't want to believe that she could be carrying his child. He had only had sex with her once, and he knew that Malfoy men had an exceptionally difficult time reproducing, since their disease often interfered with their fertility. In fact, in order to start a family, they had to begin a tedious habit of ingesting various prescribed potions at certain times for several weeks before even attempting to sire an heir.
He was also very responsible when he slept with witches, and always used a spell to eradicate even the slimmest possibility of pregnancy, but thinking back on the night that he had sex with her, he couldn't recall performing the spell. To be completely honest with himself, he didn't remember much from that encounter, except for the intense sexual gratification he derived from it.
"I'm not lying," she protested, as she unknowingly licked her dry lips, a nervous gesture reflecting her anxiety.
Draco watched in fascination as her small pink tongue darted out and moistened her lips, he tightened his grip on her even as his blood heated with need. He suddenly became aware of her body pressed against his, and the tantalizing aroma of her unique scent. Regardless of the slight mound on her abdomen that the baby occupied, she was still so small, soft, and warm. Her little ragged breaths were making it difficult for him to focus.
She started to struggle with more vigor once she felt his grip turn painful, her sensitive breasts accidentally brushing against him. To her own horror, her traitorous body began to melt in anticipation. She closed her eyes to block out the hungry look she saw in his grey eyes, yet her blood continued to turn into liquid fire.
Desire began pouring through him as he felt her body responding to his. He fought it, but the sensual feel of her feminine body was making his resistance a futile effort. He eventually released her chin, carefully lifted her pliant body, and placed her bottom on the bathroom sink.
Draco felt her thin arms wrap around his neck, and her legs open wider for him as he placed himself in between them.
Hermione's eyes fluttered open as soon as she felt his hardness pressing into her moist core. The heat radiating from him was making it very hard for her to think. She moaned, even as her mind screamed at her to run away.
Embarrassed of her reaction, she swiftly turned her head away from his penetrating gaze. Draco recaptured her small chin, demanding her attention once again. His mercury eyes visually devoured her. The predatory glint in his grey orbs, made her shiver with excitement.
Still holding her gaze captive, he then proceeded to gradually lower his silvery blond head to capture her inviting rosy lips. He gave her enough time to turn away from him, but to his complete shock, she kissed him first.
Their mouths locked with hunger, the need boiling inside of them was heightening to such an extent that it bordered on pain. His hand left her chin, and slowly slid underneath the white bathrobe to possessively cup her right breast. Sweeping aside her long wavy golden-brown hair with his other free hand, he trailed kisses down her slender throat, while gently squeezing her aching breast.
Hermione tilted her head back to give him better access; she also gripped his soft hair with her small hands in protest when he stopped kissing her neck, until he completely removed her bathrobe, and continued where he left off.
His electric touch was driving her wild. She released his fine hair and used her dainty hands to clumsily begin to undo his silk shirt. Her fingers were trembling too much to undress him. After two failed attempts, Hermione gave a tiny frustrated sigh. She needed to feel the warmth of his smooth skin.
"Take this off," she desperately whispered. Her velvet voice enticed Draco even further, and made him want to do anything she asked.
He impatiently stopped his ministrations, gave her a chaste kiss, and pulled back enough to remove his shirt. Hermione took in his sleek body, his sinewy muscles and carved abs, she then gasped when her gaze traveled even lower. The markings on his hips were starting to glow a faint red. She thought it was odd, but before she could inspect her own markings or think about anything else, he pressed his firm lips to hers, covered her body with his own, and drove any sensible thought away from her already foggy mind.
The waves of pleasure that were coursing through him, swept aside all of Draco's initial thoughts and intentions of punishing her. He felt her gently push his head down towards her neck. Once he lifted his head to stare at her exposed neck, he felt a slight disturbance in his mouth, but ignored it. He lightly touched her beating pulse with his middle finger, before putting his hand on the nape of her neck and lowering his head yet again.
The small brunette inexplicably had the bizarre urge to feel his teeth sinking into her as she felt his talented mouth moving erotically against her neck.
Draco was fascinated with the curve of her neck. As his tongue swirled on her pulse, he heard her moan, again. He inhaled sharply as he felt her small hands on his back, caressing him, and pulling him even closer to her.
She began kissing his broad shoulder, and gently bit down on it. In the back of her mind, Hermione knew she should stop, but her body didn't seem to care.
"Draco," she whispered in a throaty voice when he carefully grazed his teeth against her pulse.
The wizard momentarily froze as he heard the way his name sounded on her lips. Vague memories began to assault him. The last time she had used his name, he had ended up taking her virginity. He had to force himself with great willpower to stop. He stayed very still, trying to temper the strong desire churning in his lower belly as her hot mouth teased his bare skin.
Once he fought through the haze clouding his judgment, he suddenly released her from his hold, and put some distance in between them.
His body was begging him to take her here and now, to satisfy his hunger, but he was fighting the compelling urge. He had slept with her once, and it was a mistake that he wasn't planning on making again.
Draco swallowed when he glanced back at her. Her delectable lips were slightly parted, and her bathrobe was discarded on the tile floor, giving him a glimpse of creamy flesh before she covered herself with a towel placed on the sink.
He wanted to touch her all over. His traitorous body hardened and his fingers twitched as she removed herself with a tremulous sigh from the sink, and accidentally gave him a generous view of her slender thighs.
"Fuck," he bit out in frustration. He didn't like how easily she made him lose control over his emotions and body. He turned away from her startled gaze, ashamed of his own body's overwhelming demands. The fire still burning and clamoring inside him was making it nearly impossible for him restrain himself, despite leading a life devoted to discipline and control.
He closed his eyes, and gripped the wall towel rack with force. Hopefully, the pain that usually accompanied such an action would distract him from the tempting brunette, but to his disbelief the pain never arrived.
Hermione was shaking with self-loathing as a furious blush stained her cheeks.
What was wrong with her?
He hadn't forced her. She complied of her own free will. It frightened her that she had kissed him, and still wanted more of him. Her knees felt weak and shaky from the potent desire still rushing through her. She didn't want to think about what compelled her to throw herself at the cruel wizard. Instead, she took advantage of his slight distraction, quickly grabbed her wand, and with a trembling hand directed it at his unsuspecting back.
With great courage, she cautiously approached him, regardless of the fear in her eyes and in her unstable steps.
. . .
Theodore Nott finally reached the corridor filled with guest rooms, and made his way downward to Blaise's temporary room in the Malfoy Manor. He looked down at the bag in his hand, and smiled.
He was in a pleasant mood, and for some unknown reason, he couldn't seem to get Granger out of his mind.
She had changed quite a lot, so much that he had immense difficulty believing that she was the same witch he had once called ugly and shapeless. He couldn't deny that she was actually pretty now. Well, pretty for a muggle-born. He didn't see the harm in sleeping with their kind, just as long as they didn't expect marriage or some sort of commitment. As he moved his free hand to the door knob of Blaise's room, he idly wondered if he was still up for the bet they had once made in school.
Theo slowly opened the door and gingerly stepped inside. He closed the door, pulled out his wand, and kept an eye out for any of Blaise's childish pranks. He cautiously scanned the room from side to side, and then he put away his wand when he noticed that Blaise was sitting upright in the bed, wearing his reading glasses and going over various documents. Whenever Blaise wore those glasses he meant business, and he didn't joke around as he usually would.
After five minutes of awkward silence, Theo cleared his throat, since Blaise was clearly too engrossed in his research to address him.
"Just put the bag on the night stand," said Blaise in a dismissive tone, without bothering to look up from whatever it was he was reading.
"I ran into a witch from school that's why I'm late," explained Theo, as he placed the bag on the elaborate night stand next to the bed, even though Blaise hadn't commented on his late arrival. He simply gave a brief nod in acknowledgement and continued to read with a deep frown marring his features.
The effeminate wizard tried starting a conversation again, but Blaise didn't even bother responding this time. Getting slightly annoyed, he picked up a document from the bed, and began reading it aloud.
He didn't get past the first sentence before an angry Blaise snatched it from his hand, and give him a fierce scowl. "These documents are important," Blaise said in a tense voice.
"What the devil is your problem?" questioned Theo. He was beginning to worry about his friend's bizarre behavior.
The frazzled wizard heaved a sigh, exhaustion creeping into the depths of his blue eyes. "Sorry. I just feel like I'm going mad," he confessed.
Theo raised an eyebrow, and Blaise saw the question in his eyes.
"I just found out that there's a woman who is threatening to reveal Draco's past during his interview tonight. She apparently wants Draco to pay a handsome amount for her silence," clarified Blaise.
Theo was completely shocked at the revelation, his heart skipped a beat. For a moment there was an uncomfortable and eerie silence, as if the sound of all the earth had been muted.
Images of Draco's rare moments of vulnerability invaded his mind. His scars, the sad glint that occasionally shimmered in his pale eyes when he thought others weren't looking at him, and the terrible nightmares that he used to have that led him to get his own private dorm room in school. Why would anyone want to remind him of his anguish and loss?
There was a reason why Draco detested weakness, and still had an extreme hidden dislike for muggle-borns. The thought that someone wanted to publicly expose that specific reason infuriated Theo.
"How? That's bloody impossible. His grandparents made sure nobody would know. Fuck, does Drake know?" asked Theo in a bewildered voice as he ran his shaky hand through his light brown hair.
"That's what I want to know. No, I haven't told him, you know how sensitive he is about the subject. Hell, I'd be sensitive about it, too. Remember how long it took for him to tell us? My main concern is that this woman might follow through with her threat, and cause Draco to lash out on TV. As his publicist, I've worked too hard to build up his image. I can't watch it crumble because of some money whore, but to be completely frank, what I really can't stand is the thought of Draco being reminded of... well, you know," finished Blaise in a defeated voice.
"Yeah, I know. Wait, why not just pay her off? I'm sure Draco could afford it," reasoned Theo.
"Pay her off? Don't you get it? As long as this bitch has this information she can manipulate Draco to do her bidding. Paying her off doesn't mean she'll stay quiet. If any media outlet finds out about his past, he'll be devastated and I'm sure he won't bother to keep up his muggle-born loving facade," argued the blue-eyed boy.
"Does she know... everything, though? asked Theo in a quiet voice.
Blaise crumpled up the document he was reading and angrily threw it on the floor with the rest of the others he had deemed useless in his investigation.
"I don't think she knows about what was done to Draco, but she knows about the murders," he replied.