Chapter 22 - Sex, Potions and Goth Music [Popstar by Oomph]
Hermione revisited the dilemma that had been plaguing her for weeks: her feelings toward Draco. After years of hatred, he befriended her. During this friendship, she found him to be intelligent, witty, charming, assertive, ambitious and very attractive. Jealousy of his engagement to Bianca and the erotic dreams, forced her to realize that she cared deeply for him. On their now public dates, she only saw him for a few hours and never alone, causing her to miss their research sessions that she had taken for granted. Moreover, per the terms of their charade and the dignity in public decree, he barely showed any affection publicly, just enough to make the farce believable. His aloofness made her crave his kisses and the intense passion that both thrilled her, for the lust she felt like none other, and frightened her, for she still lacked total faith in him.
From her research and the traits he displayed for the past several weeks, she suspected him to have a slight veela heritage despite his family's pure-blood declaration. Moreover, as farfetched as it seemed, she believed that the trace of veela chose her as his mate on a subconscious level. Consciously, however, she wondered if Draco didn't want her or truly wished that she was pure-blood considering the tensions between his father and him with the thought of them merely dating. That tension and more so, her lack of faith in him, prevented her from falling in love with him but not lust.
Tonight she would throw caution to the wind and act on wild impulse, unknown territory for her. Hermione prepared for battle, which would commence at the Angry Elf concert Draco invited her to. Until tonight, they had only attended a few very ritzy but enjoyable functions. However, their atmosphere encouraged stoical behavior, especially on the part of Draco, which exasperated her. She readied her gear: a sheer, pink, chiffon, tiered mini dress, silk thong, lacy garter with thigh high stockings, pink combat boots and a pink ribbon for her hair that she would wear down for she knew Draco fancied it that way. Glitter and perfume accentuated her cleavage. "Face it. You just want to shag that chiseled body and not think about all the consequences of a real relationship." A sex kitten stared back at her in the mirror. "If this doesn't drive him wild, nothing will."
When Draco picked her up, she wore a long but lightweight jacket in order to launch a full blitzkrieg attack at the concert. His black BDU's, combat boots and a sleeveless, riveted, banded collar black vest, to her delight displayed the results of his boxing hobby. His silver dragon tattoo coiled around his left bicep while a new tattoo of the Malfoy family crest encircled his right. His long silvery white hair flowed wildly instead of being bound at the base of his neck. "You look beautiful, Crisalide," he said politely kissing her forehead.
"And you Puro, are quite striking yourself and very avant-garde." She ran her finger around his bulging bicep to his newest tattoo. "I like your new way of showing family pride."
"Thanks," he replied as he removed an envelope from his pocket.
Simultaneously, they touched the concert tickets inside, instantaneously transporting them to the music venue, a small, square brick warehouse surrounded by a barren lawn. As expected, a couple of reporters snapped their picture. Industrial music, from the opening band, blared out of the entrance. The smell of cigars and clove cigarettes filled the tepid air inside. With his left arm lightly draped casually around her shoulders, Draco gave the tickets to the bouncer. Inside, brightly colored lights bounced off the walls while glowing purple mist covered the floor where ghosts and corporeal patrons danced. A mosh pit formed in front of the stage tossing a wizard or two into the air, silhouetted by the strobe lights.
"Would you like something to drink," Draco yelled above the clamor, oblivious to the witches who eyed him.
"Hard cider please," she answered. "I'll be at the coat check."
As she handed her jacket to the coat check elf, the battle ensued with several wizards eyeing her intently. Whimsically, she flirted as she strutted towards the crowd. For a better view, she levitated into the rafters when Angry Elf popped on stage. All five of the wizards in the band dressed in an elegant gothic aristocratic fashion. With their blend of goth and rockabilly, they enthralled the crowd. As she sat on the rafters, she crossed her legs so the top of her thigh highs showed. The lead singer smiled up to her and blew her kisses that she returned with a dainty waive. About a year prior, she had a huge crush on him. The fact that he now noticed her delighted her. As Draco pushed his way through the crowd as several witches purposefully brushed up against him. When he saw her, his eyes widened as he fumbled, almost dropping her cider before he levitated it to her. Then he removed a flask from his BDU pocket and chugged.
"You're quite sexy tonight," he said as he ascended next to her.
"Thanks." When he said sexy and not adorable or cute, she won a small victory. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught him stealing glances at her between swigs from his flask.
"Crisalide…I," he said loudly. Momentarily at a loss for words, he simply stared at her. "I'm joining the mosh pit." He descended into the thrashing.
She crossed her arms and glared down at him. Shortly thereafter, a house elf with a bright pink Mohawk, wearing the most outlandish blue and gold pantsuit, popped in next to her and handed her a purple rose that she accepted graciously. Not long thereafter, she spotted a white rose placed next to her. She held their silky petals next to her lips enjoying their delicate fragrance over the smoky air. After ten minutes when it became apparent that Draco didn't send her the roses, she exited the building to a side alley to get some air and to be alone.
Not too far away, as she paced, twirling the roses in her hand, she saw a silver bullet caravan with the band's logo on it: an animated elf throwing a temper tantrum. "Ma Cherie, I'm delighted we meet again." As she turned, Pierre Budois, the raven haired, blue eyed, classically handsome count, kissed her hand.
"Good evening, Pierre," she solemnly replied.
"Why so melancholy?" He caressed her elbow
"It's nothing," she stated. "Do you like the concert so far?"
"Yes, I enjoy the music very much." Leisurely, he eyed her from toe to the top of her head. "You look delectable." He gave her a sympathetic look. "Draco is an imbecile and his lack of attentiveness is an insult to you, out here by yourself." He sniffed the roses. "After all, you have two band members vying for your attention."
"What," she asked tilting her head.
"You are wonderfully naïve," he teased. "The band members give roses to the witches, as an invitation."
"Then I don't want them," she said placing them on an empty crate. "Draco and I are together. While I appreciate their attention, I'm not free."
"I think you should go into the caravan with the band but not do anything, just to torture Draco." Tickling her, he brushed the roses against the nape of her neck. "He deserves it. The way you look, if I were him, we would have been late to the show and leave early." She relished in his compliments. "And, I would slap those band members in their faces with these roses."
"That is sweet of you to say. Thank you." She laughed. "You've lifted my spirits." From the corner of her eye, she saw a darkling, an orb devoid of light that killed the one victim intended for it: quite deadly since, it could always approach the victim's back and remain out of sight. "Luminarium," she commanded.
Pierre turned in time to see the darkling engulfed in light and inches from his back. They both scanned the area for more. "All clear," he announced with relief. "You have just saved my life." Regally, he bowed and kissed her hand. "Any favor you wish is yours. I swear it on my family's honor."
"You don't owe me anything." He seemed offended by that remark. "How about you promise to be a true friend and stop trying to make me another notch on your wand?"
"Agreed." As he led her from the alley, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "You would have been far more than another notch."
Around them, cheers echoed from inside now that the music stopped. Slightly disheveled, swigging from his flask, Draco stood outside the entrance. When he noticed them approaching, he shot them the evil eye. "Hermione," he ordered holding out his hand in a silent command for her to leave Pierre's side.
She rocked the roses back and forth in front of her. "So you can continue to amuse yourself, I'm going to hang with the band." With a wink to Pierre, she charged towards the caravan. Behind her Pierre laughed hysterically with Draco shouting for her to wait. She tapped the trailer door with the white rose and then the purple. Once the purple rose touched the door, it disappeared granting her entrance. After she crossed the threshold, the door reappeared. Inside, a huge ostentatious house filled with colorful Indian rugs, silks and velvets, reeking of patchouli incense, awaited her. To her immediate right, she saw a small table with three more purple roses on it so she set hers there.
Soon after, the lead singer, Montague, a tall delicately featured man with long dark hair and brown eyes, greeted her in a thick Australian accent. "I'm so glad you could make it. Did you enjoy the show?"
"Yes," she answered as he led her to a lavish bedroom filled blue and gold furnishings. Several candles burned next to a huge midnight blue satin covered circular bed.
He sat next to her offering her some wine. "You were the most beautiful woman at the concert." He twirled her hair. "What's your name love?"
"Elizabeth," she fibbed nervously.
"Beautiful Elizabeth," her murmured. He ran his hand up her leg, leaning in until he was almost on top of her. As he looked into her eyes, he seemed momentarily lost in thought. "I feel like I know you somehow."
The warm but unfeeling lips of a stranger kissed her making her numb. During her school years, she would have gladly satisfied her crush but now she pushed against him. "I'm sorry I can't."
He let out an exasperated sigh. "Wait a sec, you're Hermione Granger dating Draco Malfoy." His eyes widened. "I've read about you two." Immediately, he sat properly beside her. "It's fantastic, real love between a Mudblood witch and a pure-blood wizard who should hate each other." He grinned. "I'm a Mudblood too. I'm not ashamed to say that word anymore." In an almost brotherly fashion, he nudged her. "So what are you doing here with me when you should be with him?"
"We had a quarrel."
"All couples fight. You just wanted to make him jealous." Suddenly, the room shook convulsively. "What the hell!" Moments later, security rushed in as another blast rocked the caravan.
"That would be Draco," she surmised. She looked at the small pool of water in the basin with Montague. Angrily, Draco lobbed red and black bolts of lightning at the trailer, each one getting progressively stronger while security continually strengthened the structure. "I have to go out there before he destroys your caravan. I'm so sorry about this."
"Don't be." As more bolts rocked the trailer, he walked her through the halls. "Guys, come see Hermione and Draco from the papers." He chuckled. "I'm counseling Romeo and Juliet through their first fight."
"Can I have a white cloth so I don't get caught in the crossfire?" Then, she waived a white silk handkerchief he handed to her out the door and Draco ceased fire. "Everything is fine." With Montague and the rest of the band behind her, she stepped out to the top of the steps. "Montague merely consoled me after our lover's spat." She winked while he waved to Draco. "He likens us to Romeo and Juliet." She locked gazes with Draco. "Are you ready to bury the hatchet, Romeo?"
"Gladly, Juliet," he replied matching her tone.
While cheers rang from the entire of the band along with their groupies, she jumped into his arms and kissed his icy wintergreen lips with a bogus passion. "Well done, Romeo and Juliet!" A bright gold horseless carriage pulled up next to them. "You guys can use our carriage to take you home."
They mounted the carriage. "Thank you," they yelled as they waved goodbye. Within the carriage, they sat cattycorner from each other, arms folded. She stated her address and then Draco stated his. Neither noticed the starry romantic ride their hosts had intended for them.
"Don't ever go near that band again or Pierre, again," he demanded. "You insult me when you do." He leaned back and kicked up his feet next to her.
"I will speak to anyone I choose," she stated furiously. "Don't ever order me like that again." She pushed his feet from her side of the carriage and put her feet there instead. "As far as insulting anyone, you've done plenty of that tonight."
"What are you talking about," he said with a look of utter confusion. Silence and a livid glare answered him. "You're completely irrational," he yelled in animated fury. "Are you trying to drive me insane?"
"You'd have to have feelings in order for someone to drive you insane," she screamed. "You're a stubborn, arrogant, selfish, cold-hearted prude."
Suddenly, he sprung at her, arms outstretched, landing his hands on each side of her. "I am not a prude," he stated, their faces only inches apart.
"Not from what I've observed," she replied as she tilted her head up and turned her head slightly.
With heated, stilted breaths and his arms shuddering slightly, he removed his flask and drank once more. Then his mood calmed. "This is your stop," he said as their carriage pulled up next to her home. He hopped out and extended a courteous hand that she refused. Then he took her by the waist and placed her on the ground.
The more she thought about his lack of response, the more infuriated she became. "All things considered, once our charade is over, I think I'll visit Paris, for a very long stay!"
His face reddened as she turned to leave. "Oh no, you're not!" he yelled as he held her shoulders stopping her escape. "Can you name one thing that French plonker has that I don't?"
She glowered at him and screamed, "A pulse!"
"You want to see a pulse Granger." He tigerishly challenged as he grabbed her hips, propelling her against him. Suddenly her porch light beamed and he released her. "At least tell me if I did something."
"You did absolutely nothing!" As she stormed away, her parents who now stepped out onto the lawn stared at them dumfounded. "And that's the problem," she muttered inside her room as she paced. Fifteen minutes later, her mother quietly knocked on the door. "Come in."
"Dear, would you like to talk?" her mother asked in a soothing tone. She took her hand and sat on the bed. "You had your first fight?"
"Yes," she confessed. "He makes me so angry and he completely ignored me at the concert." She caressed her dress. "I know you don't approve of the dress but I wore it so he would notice and he didn't." She slumped. "He doesn't find me attractive."
"I don't think that's the case," her mother stated quite matter-of-factly. "He calmed your father, who was just a little distraught seeing you in that outfit, by telling him you were dressed that way to simply be in fashion. Due to your naiveté, you didn't know how provocative you were. So he did notice. He also told him that an unsavory wizard and some band members ogled you and he intervened. The entire incident upset him and he behaved irrationally when he dropped you off."
"The unsavory wizard in question is a very debonair French count and I flirted with a band member to make Draco jealous." She got up and paced again. "Mum, he's just so pig-headed and.." She growled for lack of words. "Sometimes he can be so bossy."
"Dear sit down," her mom said as she patted the bed next to her. "I know we had the sex talk a long time ago but now I want to give you a little relationship advice." Hermione reluctantly sat down. "There are very few people out there as smart as you and I'm not just saying that because I'm your mother. From your previous boyfriends, everyone knew because of you cleverness and personality that you were the dominant force in the relationship." She looked at her mother in dismay. "While it's true, that doesn't make you or them bad. Many, if not most, happy relationships have one person who slightly dominates it." She couldn't believe her ears. "However when two alpha personalities meet, like I dare say you and Draco, you have to take turns. You'll each be better at certain things and dominate different aspects of the relationship but not by much. Tell me honestly, does he boss you around all of the time or do you take turns? Does he respect you?"
"Well on most things he insists I'm smarter and defers to my judgment. Some things though, he's a brick wall about and nothing I say changes his mind." She recalled the biggle berry incident. "He's been right. I guess we take turns." She smiled to herself. "He respects me. He proofed my manuscript and submitted it for publication."
"My dear, it sounds like you've met your match." She hugged her daughter. "Besides, I've never seen any of your boyfriends get you into such a tizzy." She patted her leg. "Moreover, since you two started dating you've had such an air of self-confidence which I never understood why you didn't have before. It always disturbed me that your other boyfriends didn't bring that out in you." At the door she laughed. "From the way he charmed everyone and that dinner and calmed your father earlier, he should be a politician."
