You GUYS!
Siriusly dying at all these reviews, hope everyone got a few orgasms off that last scene, Phew! I'm almost out of wine, so off to the bodega I go I shall return shortly with plenty of Dramione goodness for you…Lucky number 13 and all that… Happy Monday!
M. x
A Love Story for the Ages
By Rita Skeeter
The dark ages, that is. Anyone who hasn't been living under a rock for the last week has heard of the most unexpected, the most sensational occurrence to hit the Wizarding World within the last decade. Just one week ago, Hermione Granger, war heroin, famous Auror and best friend of The Boy Who Lived, was spotted entering one of the most lavish restaurants in London on the arm of none other than Draco Malfoy, reformed Death Eater and at one time, a key component to one of the wealthiest and most respected Pureblood families in history. Not only did they dine together with a mismatched group of wizards, (Boy Who Lived, his notorious Godfather, Sirius Black and a handful of Slytherins) but left in quite the hurry after a small incident regarding several Weasleys. This picture was snapped almost immediately afterwards. Readers, to say we are shocked would be the understatement of the century. Of course, I couldn't leave you hanging without the delicious details and thanks to my stellar reputation as one of the most realistic and vivacious professionals in this business, I was able to sit down with the two cozy lovebirds and discuss their star-crossed story.
Skeeter: So. A Malfoy and a Muggleborn. Is this merely a political statement or can it be…true love? Miss Granger, how did it come to happen?
Granger: Draco and I have been working together for over six months now, let's just say we've had a lot of time to discuss our…past and come to know the real person underneath.
Skeeter: Fascinating. Mr. Malfoy here has had quite the colorful past, hasn't he? Especially regarding you, Miss. Granger… Mr Malfoy, how do you think your father feels about this?
Malfoy: Why don't you drop into Azkaban later today and ask him yourself?
Granger: Draco has proven he is a changed man. If that's good enough for me and Harry then it should be good enough for everyone else.
Skeeter: Ah yes, I was going to ask…How does The Famous Harry Potter feel about this…unexpected union?
Granger: He's been very supportive.
Malfoy: Yeah. We're one big happy family.
Skeeter: I sense sarcasm, Mr. Malfoy.
Granger: That's just Draco's sense of humor. Isn't it dear?
Skeeter: How long have you two been secretly dating?
Granger: It's a pretty new development. I mean, there have been feelings there for a while, on both of our ends, but just recently they have come into fruition.
Skeeter: I see. And how do you feel our readers are going to react now that you have gone public with your affections?
Malfoy: Who bloody cares-?
Granger: We are hoping to gain support from the rest of the Wizarding World. Our relationship is an important step in breaking down the heavy prejudices that unfortunately still exist, in some circles, at this time. Everyone should be free to love who they want.
Skeeter: Love? Are you in love with Mr. Malfoy?
Granger: I care deeply about him.
Skeeter: Mr. Malfoy?
Malfoy: Do you always ask such mundane and irritating questions?
Skeeter: And when is the next time we can expect a public appearance from our new favorite couple?
Granger: Actually, we will be attending one of the largest and most important fundraisers in the Magical world this Saturday evening. Draco and I are both extremely invested in the rights of Magical creatures, and what better way to support than donate our time to a just cause?
Skeeter: You are, of course, referring to the event that Hogwarts will be hosting? Is there a specific organization that you are focused on?
Granger: Yes. The organization, if any of your readers would care to donate, is Justice and Magical Freedom for Centaurs.
Skeeter: You seem very passionate about that.
Malfoy: She is.
Granger: If the new bill is passed, Centaurs will be given rights to carry wands.
Skeeter: And you think that is a wise choice?
Granger: They are more deserving of magic then some wizards who live in our world.
Skeeter: Interesting…And what about plans for the future? How serious are your intentions, Mr. Malfoy?... Mr. Malfoy, you're leaving so soon? Can I say it's been a pleasure?
Malfoy: I'm a busy man, Skeeter. And you can, but I assure you, it has not.
Skeeter: I see why you find him so charming, Miss Granger.
Granger: Yes well…I'm smitten.
How's that for bizarre, readers? I hope you have enjoyed. Miss Granger left the Leaky Cauldron moments later and I can only assume, by the lusty glances shared between the two Aurors that they were off for a lunchtime tryst before heading back to their offices. Catch them tonight at one of the biggest Galas this year! Yours faithfully, will be in attendance, I hope see all of you there! For more information on the cause, or to donate, contact The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
Draco dropped the paper to the coffee table with a loud scoff , his eyes trained on the picture of him snogging the life out of her at Pansy's Birthday Dinner. Wait until Potter sees this. He looked up to catch Hermione fighting back amusement, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Isn't it romantic?" She teased.
"Oh exceedingly. I especially like the bit about our lusty glances. I guess Skeeter is more perceptive than I gave her credit for." She rolled her eyes and leaned back against the couch. Draco watched her with a keen stare. It had been an entire seven days since he last had his mouth on her and he was itching for the opportunity. The past week had been a whirlwind of chaos as everyone at Grimmauld Place had been non-stop with talk and planning against Umbridge. Draco was relieved to be busier than ever, it allowed for distraction; he couldn't seem to stop contemplating whatever was going on between her and Potter. Potter.
He had thought Weasely was a pain in the ass; it was nothing compared to Potter being their new flat mate. Not only did he act every bit of the wounded gentleman to get Hermione's attention, but he was constantly popping up at the most inopportune moments; Draco was positive that he was doing it on purpose. He had maybe three, private conversations with her the entire week and anytime he had tried to get her alone, The Boy Who Lived to Piss him Off would show up and drag her away for more secret meetings in the library. It was driving him absolutely mad and he was therefore convinced that was the only reason he agreed to meet with Rita Skeeter….for a few moments alone with Granger.
He was losing his sodding mind. Although he had to admit, her plan was unraveling perfectly. They had received letters non-stop from witches and wizards supporting their newfound relationship and offering many a congratulations. It seemed as if Hermione's opinions of Draco had brought some of the negative attention away from his past. And for that, he was grateful.
Potter seemed deeply disturbed with Hermione's plotting but he let her do it anyway; she was using his affections in order to reach her own lofty goal. Draco smirked at that, she really could have been in Slytherin. His only concern was that once this was over, would she fall back into Potter's arms? Draco had been watching them at mealtimes, during meetings and pretty much anytime he wasn't sleeping or working in the dungeons. He scowled at the thought of an unfinished potion. The Veritiserum was much more temperamental than any of them had anticipated, and Pansy had nearly been poisoned on Tuesday afternoon; she was still not speaking to Snape. Neither was Potter, but that was, of course, understandable. Draco knew he wasn't making the living situation any easier then Potter was, but at least when Weasely was here, things were clear and concise. Draco knew exactly where they stood . With Potter, he would have to be careful, the man knew how to get under his skin and the last thing he was going to do was snap. Especially in front of Granger, he hadn't almost slipped between her sheets just to send himself back to square one. No, this was a battle of wits and cunning, not wands flying and fists flailing.
Draco joined her on the couch.
"Well tonight should be interesting to say the least." He raised an eyebrow at her.
"You know you're almost as perceptive as Skeeter-"
She hit him with one of her books. Hermione had been up early, going over some last minute Wizarding laws before the event tonight when Draco had sauntered into the library, clearing his throat and reading loudly from the front page of The Daily Prophet.
"Now that you're here we can go over the plan again-"
"Actually, I was thinking I'd take you to breakfast." Her eyebrows shot up in confusion.
"Breakfast?"
"Yes. You know the first meal of the day?"
"Why are you asking me to breakfast?"
"I didn't ask you, I told you."
"Oh well doesn't that give me more incentive to agree."
"Granger can't you do anything without having to question it a million times over and analyze it until it's a dead horse?"
She giggled.
"A beaten, dead horse, to be exact."
"Whatever." He snapped.
"I can be spontaneous. I believe I proved that to you last weekend, Malfoy." She threw him a surprisingly confident stare. His eyes turned a smoldering, dark grey as his brain flashed back to their little…encounter. Hermione blushed a bit.
"Well maybe you should be spontaneous every Saturday. Or even better, right now." He whispered, quickly wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her against him. She gasped looking up at his sinfully, beautiful mouth. Her little, pink tongue slid out, wetting her lips in anticipation. Draco could hear the low growl humming in the back of his throat.
"I am going to devour you. "
"For breakfast?" Her eyes flickered to his.
"Lunch and Dinner." He leaned in closing his eyes, about to savor the most delicious of forbidden fruits when Harry Fucking Potter strolled into the room and stopped dead in his tracks. Hermione jumped back from Draco as if burned and turned her gaze toward her best friend. Draco closed his eyes, attempting to keep his extremely enraged fury from exploding. He wanted Potter dead.
"Harry!" She was looking positively flustered. He gave her a hard stare before slowly moving to the couch opposite of them and sitting down. Malfoy opened his eyes and he was met with the furious glare of The Chosen One. There was silence as the two of them refused to look away. Draco slung his arm over the couch and leaned back as if to say, I have all fucking day. Hermione watched the pair of them with great anxiety, it looked as if they were communicating telepathically. She edged away from Draco's heat, praying Harry wouldn't notice their close proximity, but at her littlest movement his eyes snapped quickly to hers.
"I wanted to talk to you about tonight." His voice left no room for argument.
"You can do it later. We have plans." Harry narrowed his eyes with disgust.
"I'm sorry to break it to you Malfoy, but whatever you are up to is going to have to wait." Malfoy opened his mouth to tell Potter to fuck off when Hermione spoke up.
"What is it Harry?" Draco threw her a nasty glare before removing his arm from behind her. Harry eyed him with petty smugness before turning back to Hermione.
"I'm coming with you tonight. As back up."
"Back up!?" Draco shouted jumping to his feet. "Since when do you work back up?"
"This is a special case, it would only make sense for me to attend this Gala, as well. You know? To show my full support for your divine revelation of true love." He looked as if he wanted to gag on the words. Draco turned away pacing the well-worn carpet in front of the fireplace. If he had to look at that fucking git for another second he was going to strangle him.
"Harry, I really don't think that is necessary." Hermione stated in her most professional tone. "We have everything completely under control. Draco is more than capable-"
"Yes, more than." He sneered as he raked his hands through his hair. He turned back to the two of them. "I can take care of her, Potter." Harry looked floored by his statement.
"She doesn't need you to take care of her Malfoy."
"Not anymore than I need you to speak on my behalf, Harry." She shot back getting to her feet. "This is the plan, you have more important things to be doing than babysitting me."
"There's nothing more important than me insuring your safety and taking Umbridge in." He argued.
"What about making up with your fiancé?" He sat back at that, looking at her wearily. Draco's mouth curved into a smirk.
"She sent you an owl two days ago. Why haven't you responded?"
"I…haven't had the time."
"Well I'd say tonight would probably be best. You aren't on call are you?"
"No."
"Well…" Hermione turned her gaze towards the clock, she was suddenly ravenous for breakfast, and Malfoy. "If that's all, I think it's settled. You know I can contact you within seconds if things don't go according to plan. And we'll be at Hogwarts, what's safer than that?" Harry swung his gaze back to Malfoy with contempt before his eyes fell to the newspaper. He looked at it with disgust.
"I can't believe you convinced me to let you plot with that bloody insect."
"She kept to the agreement, Harry. She left out almost all of the sordid details. You should be thanking me."
Before he could open his mouth to retort, Snape came striding into the room, a curiously closed expression on his face. Harry turned red immediately and immersed himself in the article.
"Against my better judgment, I have left Ms. Parkinson in charge of the dungeons….she…..insisted. I will be away….until Monday." Hermione looked at him in surprise.
"You have a mission?" Draco asked quickly.
"Of sorts." Snape avoided their gazes with strained aloofness.
"Really." Draco leered and Hermione sent him a warning look.
"Miss Granger, I am leaving you in charge… of the rest."
"Is this little get away for business or for…pleasure?" Draco taunted as he threw a wicked grin at Potter's shaking form.
"It is in fact, none….of your….business." Snape snarled as he raised his wand threateningly. Draco fell silent and Hermione looked uneasily at her ex-Professor. He couldn't really be going to see her, could he? He gave them all one last malevolent glare before sweeping from the room. A supremely awful silence landed over them.
"You heard him. I'm in charge. Harry if you refuse to sort things out with Ginny then why don't you get some rest? I'm heading downstairs to check on Pansy, I didn't hear her come in last night. On second thought, Draco, you should rest as well. You both look like you've been through Azkaban and back." She exited quickly, avoiding both their stares and hurrying to put a few floor levels between her and the two men who were haunting her with grim determination.
Hermione was feeling overwhelmed to say the least; it was as if both of them were trying to sabotage one another in some really strategic, off the radar, kind of way; and it was having a direct affect on her already crumbling mental state. She was distracted, frustrated, confused, terrified and willing. All at once. She snorted to herself as she thought back to a conversation, long ago, between her and Ron. If only she had the emotional range of a teaspoon…then maybe she would not be driving herself completely insane.
Draco and Harry stared off towards the door as they listened to her retreating footsteps. Then silence. It was the first time they had found themselves completely alone since Potter had sliced his chest open in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. What was that saying Granger used about history repeating itself?
"I know what you're doing, Malfoy." Draco tensed at his words. Potter's eyes were no longer bothering to hide his fury. Finally. They were going to have a proper chat.
"And what exactly am I doing, Potter?" He slowly walked towards his arch nemesis of too many moons to count, and looked down at him with mocking amusement.
"You want Hermione." He growled, his fists clenching as he took another step forward.
"True." He drawled giving him a challenging smirk.
"And you aren't going to get her."
"Not true." Harry's face turned to an ugly scowl.
"I'm not playing your games anymore. Stay away from her."
"Well I hate to break it to you, Potter, but that's definitely not going to happen. Besides, she doesn't want me to stay away." Potter looked like he was about to breathe fire, they were almost toe-to-toe.
"If you don't, I will have you out of here faster than you can say Sectumsempra." Good, at least they were on the same page. Malfoy growled at the threat as he allowed his wand to slip down his sleeve and into his shaking hand. He glanced down, Potter had his drawn as well. Perfect.
"Going against your own rules? Relieving me from my work for your own gains of personal interest? I'm sure Kingsley would love to hear about that."
"Haven't you noticed Malfoy? Your name doesn't have any pull with the Ministry anymore. Things have changed, you're nothing now."
Malfoy was too close to the edge, he was seeing red. It was going to be impossible for him to stay in control much longer.
"Can't go running to daddy now, can you?" Potter's face was seething with scorn. Draco stayed silent, he didn't trust himself to speak without Crucio-ing Potter until he broke. He took several moments to try and focus on the present, but his brain was becoming intoxicated with violence. He thought of Hermione.
"Funny, that's exactly what I asked Granger a couple of nights ago while I was finger fucking her up against her bedroom wall." Potter's wand swung up in an instant and Draco was knocked clean off his feet, soared forty feet across the room and slammed into a wall of bookshelves. Potter was shaking with jealousy, Draco knew the look well and he smirked as he wiped the blood off of his jaw. Potter had attacked him. Hermione was going to be so furious. Potter seemed to be following his thought pattern and he slowly lowered his wand; a glimpse of regret passed over his face. It was gone just as quick as it had come; he glared with immense loathing at Draco.
"You, are a liar."
"Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not."
"No, you are."
"If you say so." Harry raised his wand again and aimed at the bookcases, smashing them to bits with his pent up aggression. Books flew everywhere and one particularly large volume landed right on Draco's head.
"Fuck!" He roared. "Enough Potter!" Harry dropped his wand.
"Go get laid." Draco complained. "Don't take it out on the library." Potter threw him one last growl.
"Stay away from Hermione." He slammed through the door with fury, no doubt, off to persuade Granger that he was a devious snake with bad intentions.
He looked down at the book that had fallen off the shelf and into his hands. It was an Old Black Family photo album. He opened it curiously, viewing the pictures of his deceased relatives. He frowned as he turned a page and looked down to see his mother staring back at him. She couldn't have been more than 18 in this picture. Draco's heart panged as he looked at her carefree face, she looked so happy. How could she have possibly known then, what she was getting herself into? On either side of her were the two sisters; Andromeda looked more than uncomfortable, if not a little sad, and Bellatrix was ecstatic, her mad eyes were gazing with rapt at his mother. Draco shuddered with repulsion and examined the rest of the picture, it appeared to be Narcissa Black's wedding day. His gaze fell to a particularly creepy looking man in the background, who was eyeing the three women. Sirius' mum, was there too. (He recognized her from her God-awful portrait) She was trying to pull a guest back into the picture, who, except for one arm, had already escaped the frame.
Draco looked at the caption.
Narcissa Black Weds Lucius Malfoy. Pictured: Narcissa's sisters, Bellatrix and Andromeda Black, Walburga Black and her first born son, Sirius Black. Draco smirked a bit, of course Sirius would be rebelling over an arranged marriage, or any marriage at that! Draco looked back to the unknown man. He must have been a servant, therefore unworthy of mentioning in a family photograph. Draco shrugged putting it to the back of his mind. He stood up slowly viewing the damage that had been done.
Normally he would have been content with leaving the library in disarray and really putting Potter into the fire with Granger. But then he thought of how stressed she already was and how it was partially his fault. So against his better lack of Slytherin judgment, he put the room in order before slipping the family photographs back into their rightful place.
Draco Malfoy needed a drink. Or maybe several. He was going to get absolutely pissed. And by 7 O' clock that evening, Mr. Fashionable Male Model himself, wasn't even capable of putting on his bowtie. Granger was going to kill him.