AN:/ There is a lack of Severus in this chapter, but it's full of some juicy scenes...Snape will be back in the next chapter as it's time to get ready for DATE NIGHT. You'll just have to stick around to see how that night goes... ;)

Enjoy!


Chapter 10: Some Answers.

The relaxed look on Annette's face unsettled Hermione, but she still moved to sit down on the bed. Draco sat down on the edge of it; making sure not to touch her, then put on his shirt. Jenny walked over to one of the wooden chairs, then Annette transfigured the bedside table into one for Harry to sit on.

"Do I have your attention?" They all nodded. I left my notebook in the foyer. All of my questions, she groaned, and Draco gave her a funny look. "Good."

Annette stood tall and pushed her greying hair away from her face. There was an apologetic look in her eyes when she gazed at Jenny. I wonder what that's about?

"It appears that my plan didn't play out the way I thought it would," She said. "All of you have seen my grandmother's book about soulmates, am I right?" Again, they all nodded.

"Soulmates aren't real," Jenny muttered. "It's a myth."

"Well you best start believing in it since you have a soulmate," Annette's tone was firm. "Everything in that book is true."

"Don't be ridiculous!" Jenny exclaimed. "I don't have a soulmate."

"Yes you do, my dear," Annette smiled. "I know this because I've seen it for myself."

"You're a Seer?" Hermione gasped, and she nodded looking at Jenny.

"The day before you came to my brothel asking for work I saw you in a vision. It was of you and your intended soul. Therefore I knew I needed to take you into my care to watch over you because you wouldn't cross paths with your mate for many years. Letting you out of my sight wasn't an option."

"You made me sleep with men that I didn't like!" Jenny yelled. "Why would you do that?"

"Did I force you?" Annette raised a quizzing brow. "There was a reason for me saving you for special clients. In my vision all I saw was the blond hair of your mate, did you not notice the similarities between the men you were with?"

"They were all blond," Jenny grumbled.

Blond. Like Lucius Malfoy. A similar thought seemed to dawn on Jenny, and she scrunched up her face. Hermione looked at Harry who was burning a hole into the floor, then at Draco, who focused on doing the same but to the wall.

"I thought that those men were your soulmate," Annette looked at her with shame in her eyes. "I'm terribly sorry, love. I didn't mean to cause you distress."

"Well you did," She hissed, not looking at her.

"OK, you're a Seer. Have you had any visions of us?" Hermione motioned to the two boys and herself. Annette nodded.

"A week after you started visiting I had a vision about you and Severus," She explained. "I knew I had to wait; he soon turned up one night with Lucius, but you two never crossed paths. So, I took it upon myself to do something about it."

"What did you do?" Harry asked, fiddling with his glasses.

"The first night you met - while he was downstairs and you upstairs - I decided to slip a love potion into your drinks," Hermione's eyes widened.

"I knew it!" She blurted out waving her hands around. "I knew something wasn't right about that night."

"You slipped her a love potion," Harry said in disbelief. "Why would you do something like that?"

"Would you have ever acted on your desires?" Annette retorted to Hermione who grudgingly shook her head. She's right, we both would've ignored what we were feeling. However, it doesn't justify what she's done. "I only did it once, love. After that, your souls recognised each other. I didn't need to do anything else."

"That book is authentic?" Jenny looked baffled. "I can't believe it..."

"The book was locked in a vault. My grandmother didn't want anyone to get their hands on it. However, when she perished in the fire the book was left to my mother, and it was passed onto me when she died. My abilities as a Seer have helped me prepare for the new wave of soulmates."

"Why didn't you just say something?" Jenny asked.

"I didn't have the book until last year my dear. Without the book, my words would be useless, and nobody would've believed me," Annette smiled. "I planted it on the bookshelf in the foyer for Hermione to find. I knew she was the best person to approach first about it."

"What else have you seen?" Hermione questioned.

"I've seen a few faces, some of them familiar. Jenny and her mystery soulmate, you and Severus, and..." She trailed off, casting her eyes upon Draco.

"Me?" He sneered, and she nodded. "You can't seriously believe what she's saying."

"I believe her," Harry said.

"Of course you would Potter," He snarled.

"Can you two not start an argument," Hermione scolded. "Now is not the time."

"He's not worth my time anyway," Draco muttered.

"My boy, I'm going to have to ask you to not talk to Harry in such a way," Annette's voice was soft. "He's your soulmate after all."

Draco laughed. "Please, I have no form of connection to Potter."

Hermione saw Harry flinch and she reached out to grab his hand, then turned to the blond git. "Tell me Draco, have you ever experienced a warm feeling around him? When you share dreams, do you resist the cravings you feel? Those dreams are reflections of your deepest desires. Therefore, there must be some connection between you and Harry."

"I bet it must be hard lusting after a man that's in love with a dead woman."

Hermione gasped, and Harry immediately lunged from the chair, grabbing onto the front of Draco's shirt. Hermione bit her bottom lip, don't cry, don't cry, she repeated the chant in her mind.

"Are you going to hurt me, Potter?" He taunted. "I know you want to."

"No one is going to be hurting anyone," Annette interjected. "Harry let him go."

"You're a heartless git," Harry seethed through gritted teeth getting in Draco's face.

"It's not my fault that the truth hurts sometimes."

"Harry, release him," Hermione said, composing herself. "He's not worth it."

Banging on the door heightened the tension in the room. "Go away!" Annette shouted. "We're busy."

"Draco Malfoy get out here right now. We're leaving!" Lucius pounded on the door with his fist.

"I know this is hard for you, but you're going to have to let me go now Potter," He mocked, glaring up at Harry; he refused to release him.

"Maybe we should leave you two to talk," Annette suggested. "Come on ladies, let's entertain Lucius for awhile."

Hermione shook her head in protest, but Annette grabbed her arm. "They'll kill each other without supervision."

"I can assure you everything will be fine," The door opened, and Lucius narrowed his eyes at the sight of Harry and Draco. "Lucius come and join us in the foyer."

Annette grabbed his arm, pulling him away from the room. Hermione looked back at Harry who seemed content with glaring daggers at Draco.

"Hermione, come on," Jenny linked arms with her, and they shut the door behind them. I hope Harry's OK.

...

Harry waited for the door to shut, then he pushed Draco away from him and sat down on one of the chairs. Why does it have to be him? Why couldn't it be someone who wasn't a dick all the time?

Draco scowled at him and straightened his shirt. "I don't appreciate being manhandled."

A sad look grew on Harry's face, and he regarded him with equally sad eyes. "Draco," The use of his name got his full attention. "This conversation can be over very quickly if you just answer something for me."

Draco's eyes moved over Harry's body, flinching when he caught his wandering eyes. "Go ahead, Potter."

"Do you feel anything towards me?" He asked, his voice catching on the last word. "If you don't then I'll stop. I won't look at you ever again, and Annette can help me find a way to sever our bond. Hermione should be able to think of a potion, so we don't share any more dreams together. I just need to know if you've ever felt anything for me?"

Draco's chest tightened along with his face. Harry ran his shaking fingers through his hair and pushed his glasses up his nose. He could feel his heart breaking in his chest, pounding vigorously for love and attention; something which he'll never get from Draco.

"Potter I can't..." He sat down on the bed. "I'm not gay."

"The only male I've found appealing is you Draco. You don't have to label these things if it makes it easier for you," Harry explained. "I've spent two long years trying to convince myself that I'm not gay, but I realised that there's no point. I don't find women attractive; I don't find men attractive, only you."

Draco's long hair covered his eyes, concealing a faint blush on his cheeks. "You make it sound simple."

"That's because it is, only you know how you feel," He said. "Just tell me the truth."

"I don't have to admit anything to you," He grumbled, messing with his sleeves.

"Tell me!" Harry snapped losing his temper. He got to his feet and stalked over, causing Draco to do the same. They met in the middle glowering at each other. "Look at me and tell me if you ever felt anything towards me in our dreams. That the time when we...when we made love in front of the fire, that you didn't feel anything. I don't understand how you couldn't have felt something."

"Those dreams weren't real," He whispered, leaning closer to his face. "None of it was true."

"Why are you avoiding the question?" Harry's hands curled into fists, resisting the urge to touch him.

"I don't like you, Potter."

Draco's words sliced through Harry's heart and he blinked back his tears. He clenched his jaw, and his whole body went rigid. I knew he could never like me. However, the far away look in Draco's eyes made him furrow his brows.

"I'm engaged, Harry."

"W-What," He stammered.

"My mother has been organising a marriage of convenience for me," Draco's voice was raspy. "I'm to marry her next week."

"Oh..." He whispered.

"Everything was fine until you turned up again," He muttered. "I had things under control."

"How is this my fault?" Harry snapped.

"I had it under control!" He yelled in his face. "But you buggered it all up."

"What did I do exactly?" Harry moved his eyes along Draco's face, observing all the features that he loved. A burning heat ignited within the depths of his stomach, and it took all his willpower not to close the gap between them.

Draco became flustered. "I...I don't like you."

Harry leant in close. "Do you want to know what I think?" Draco blinked in response. "I believe you do like me, but you're too scared to admit it."

Their noses were almost touching; lips were whispers apart. "Don't flatter yourself..." He hissed, yet inhaled sharply at the feel of Harry's breath on his mouth. "Potter, stop."

"I need you," Harry whispered roughly, his voice straining from the emotions inside of him.

"I don't..." He hesitated, watching Harry's lips move closer to his. He stopped a mere millimetre away, then caught his chin between his fingers. "I-" The movement of Draco's mouth caused their lips to brush.

Harry pulled back a little so he could look into his eyes. He was searching for something - anything - that showed how he truly felt right now. Draco's rigid facade crumbled; various emotions flooded onto his face, and his eyes displayed his genuine pain.

"Harry-" He got cut off again, but this time it was by Harry crashing his lips against his in a passionate kiss. Draco brought his hands up to curl around the front of his shirt with the intent to push him away, but something in him faltered.

Harry reached up to cup his cheek and prodded his tongue against Draco's closed mouth. He soon gained entrance and deepened the kiss. His mind was exploding with joy and pure need. He couldn't believe this was happening in real life.

Something in Draco snapped, and he immediately pushed Harry's hand from his face to move his own into Harry's hair. They awkwardly stumbled backwards until they fell onto the bed with him on top of Harry.

When in their dreams it had always been Harry in control, but the feel of Draco pinning him to the bed was one he'd happily take to the grave. Their lips continued to move together in harmony, and Harry couldn't fight the moan from erupting in his throat. This is so much better than our dreams.

Draco tore his mouth away with a growl but kept their lips close. His lips mirrored Harry's; red and raw. However, their eyes reflected pleasure and pain. It was hard to tell whether or not Draco was about to start shouting at him again and telling him that he didn't feel the same way.

I don't think I could bear that happening right now.

He moved his right hand from his hair to brush his thumb along Harry's lips. He gasped beneath his touch and swallowed hard.

...

"Would somebody tell me what's going on?" A slightly drunk Lucius grumbled as he sat down on the sofa.

"I'm afraid your son and Harry have had an argument. It's something they need to resolve," Annette explained.

"My son doesn't need to involve himself with that boy," He placed his cane at his feet, savouring a quick glance in Jenny's direction.

I can't wait until he finds out that Draco and Harry are soulmates, Hermione thought, and that he is Jenny's. It was a long shot, but one she was certain of. Annette had said that Jenny's soulmate had blond hair, which was similar to Lucius', and there were clear signs of a connection between them.

I cannot believe Annette slipped Severus and I a love potion. Merlin, he's going to be angry when I tell him. What if he doubts my attraction towards him. Her eyes widened at the thought.

"What's wrong?" Jenny asked.

"Nothing," She shook the thought from her head. I shouldn't get ahead of myself. "It's just a lot to take in."

Jenny nodded. "I agree," Her eyes moved to Lucius on the sofa. "You don't think..." She trailed off.

"He could be," She whispered back. "What do you feel when you look at him?"

"A disdain because I want him so badly," Lucius turned his head in their direction causing Jenny to blush.

"Hermione do you have the book with you?" Annette asked, and she grabbed the bag from the floor, then pulled it out.

"Here," She extended her arm, and Annette swiped it away, then tossed it onto Lucius' lap.

"Ouch, woman!" He snapped. "What is this tripe?"

"Open it and find out. You can rummage through my memories afterwards if you do not believe its contents," Annette walked over to the tray of tea and handed one to Hermione.

"Thank you," She whispered, looking at a tense Jenny. "Don't worry about it."

"It could be a different blond haired man that I find irresistible..." They all watched Lucius open the book through cautious eyes. Hermione heard a shout from down the corridor and realised it was coming from the room Harry was in. She went to stand up, but Annette placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking her head.

"They need to have it out, love. We both know they're hotheaded people, shouting is the only way to get things off their chests," She explained. "He'll be OK."

"Hm..." She hummed casting one last look down the corridor. Hermione still had a lot of questions for Annette, but for now, she understood the basics. I miss Severus...would he oppose to me sending him a letter? The worst thing he could do is not reply or respond telling me not to contact him. Why am I overthinking this?

Jenny grabbed her wrist, and she looked over at Lucius. His knuckles whitened from his death grip on the book, his eyes narrowed, and his mouth rested in a tight line. They watched on as he turned his head to look at them, and he curled his lips at Jenny.

"Are you a pureblood?" He sneered resembling his son.

A sad smile grew on Jenny's face, and she adjusted her skirt as she crossed one leg over the other and relaxed into the sofa. "What's the word used to describe me?" She tapped her finger against her chin playing dumb. "Oh, that's right! Silly me, how could I forget! I believe I'm known as a Mudblood."

Lucius looked at her with disgust, then tossed the book to the floor and fled down the corridor just as Draco and Harry stepped out of the room. "We're leaving now!"

Hermione watched as the two Malfoy's disappeared down the corridor, and Draco cast a sullen look over his shoulder before they were out of sight.

She felt her heart break for Jenny; who was staring blankly at the floor.

"Jenny-"

"I'm feeling the unconditional love," She muttered sarcastically. "Annette, I thank you for stringing me along for many years, but I've had enough."

"Enough? What do you mean?" Annette reached over to place her hand on Jenny's shoulder, but she shook it off.

"Since I don't get paid by men frequently, I've been saving up the wages you've provided me with. It will be sufficient to sustain me for awhile until I get a reasonable job."

"You can't leave!" Annette exclaimed, and Hermione recoiled from seeing the tears in her eyes. It's like seeing your grandmother cry. It makes me want to cry.

Jenny got to her feet and straightened the front of her skirt.

"Please don't leave," Hermione stood up. "We can sort this out."

She shook her head. "It's about time I left this place."

"My dear, please-" Jenny cut Annette off with a seething look.

"I'm going to pack my things," She stormed out of the foyer, and Annette chased after her.

"W-What happened?" Harry stammered, his cheeks a light pink shade. "Is this because Madam Annette made her sleep with those men?"

Hermione shrugged. "Lucius showed his true colours about blood lines."

"Oh," Harry rubbed the back of his neck. "I didn't know Jenny was a Muggle witch."

"Neither did I," She stepped up next to him and smiled slightly. "What happened in that room?"

"We argued," He said quickly. "That's all."

"Did you fight with your mouths together?" She laughed. "Harry, you might want to check your hair," Hermione pointed at his tousled locks.

"Oh!" His hands flew to his hair, and he began to flatten it down.

"What did you talk about before you kissed?" She led him over to the sofa.

"He's engaged," Her eyes widened. "The wedding's next week."

"What?" She grabbed his hand. "Are you all right?"

He shook his head. "We didn't sort things out...our argument got heated that's all."

"At least he didn't push you away this time," She whispered. "That's something."

"Maybe," He muttered.

"Shall we head home?" She asked, gathering up her bag and retrieving the discarded book. "You can help me compose a letter to Severus."