Chapter 24

The welcome-back feast was rich and sumptuous. I sat with Padma and Su, glad to be back. Though Draco and I were married, we were still staying in our separate dormitories, since castle did not have any honeymoon suites on hand. Or so I thought.

I saw Draco the next morning at breakfast. He pulled me in for a hug and a kiss, whispering in my ear, "I missed you last night."

"I missed you, too, love."

"I've been talking to Snape…"

"Oh?" I raised one eyebrow at him.

"And, considering that we're married, we might be able to room together."

Oh no. I cocked my head to the side. "Where?"

"This castle has more than classrooms and dormitories, you know. People visit. People stay overnight. We'll secure ourselves one of those rooms."

"Oh." I loved the high, arcing windows and star-covered carpet of the Ravenclaw common room. The squashy chairs and the lovely statue of Rowena Ravenclaw. The riddle-telling eagle on the door. Draco looked at me curiously.

"Aren't you pleased?"

"What? Yes, yes of course." I nodded and smiled. "I just was thinking about leaving Ravenclaw Tower. It's so lovely."

"Well now, we'll have our own tower."

"Good," I said weakly. I started in the direction of the Ravenclaw table. "I'll see you in class, then."

"Until then."

That evening proved that Draco and Snape were true on their words. It was a smaller suite than any at Malfoy Manor or Windhithe, but it was elegant, atop a small, spindly tower with tall windows. On the first floor, there was a fireplace flanked by two soft burgundy chairs, and up a spiral staircase, a bedroom with a wardrobe, all fine ebony and plush velvet. The stone floors were layered with rugs, and though small, it was quite luxurious. Draco was smiling, and he pulled me in close. "Finally," he whispered in my ear, voice husky, "some time alone."

I knew why he wanted this room. Our wedding had only been weeks ago, and he was… enthusiastic. He slowly undid the blue and bronze tie around my neck, slipping the robe off my shoulders. I giggled.

"What?" He pulled back, annoyed. I shrugged.

"Nothing," I shrugged. "It's just… it seems so much naughtier when we're in our school uniforms."

He smiled at that. "Shall I have you call me professor?"

I giggled again, pulling him in for a kiss. He returned it, grabbing my arms and pushing me against the wall. I jerked back, surprised. I doubt he knew how like his father he was being. He unbuttoned my shirt, tossing it, and each article of clothing after it, aside. Smirking devilishly, he pushed me back onto the bed. I was about to reach around him, when suddenly, my arms were pinned, and I felt smooth silk wrapping around my wrists. I tugged on them experimentally, only to find my arms securely fastened to the headboard. "Draco…" I murmured. I was surprised how turned on I was. Draco had crossed the room to the wardrobe, taking out two Slytherin ties. When I tried to pull my legs up, he grabbed my ankle and forced my leg to be out straight, tying one knot around my ankle and one around the bedpost. He repeated the process with the other leg, then climbed on the bed beside me.

"So," he muttered, lazily drawing one finger along my collarbone, down the curve of my breast, along my stomach, then down the curve of my hip bone before stroking back towards my shoulder. I gave a shuddering gasp.

"You damn tease."

He smiled, repeating the task. He was still fully clothed, but I could see his cock bulging through his trousers. Tantalizingly slowly, he began to unbutton his own shirt. He undid his belt buckle, then his fly, leaving his trousers hanging half-off his hips, exposing the charcoal-gray boxer briefs that fit him delightfully snugly, his cock straining against them. I tugged at the ties, writhing a little. He placed his fingertips on the belt, and the trousers fell to the floor. Hooking his thumbs into the waist band, he slowly slipped them off, dropping them on the floor. I wondered if he knew how his striptease affected me. I dismissed the thought. Of course he did. Cocky bastard. Cocky bastard with washboard abs and gorgeous pecs and that sexy little trail of soft, pale hair leading down to a big, hard-

My breath caught in my throat. The feelings rising in my chest were a little more than sexual desire. Affection and something dangerously close to love. I closed my eyes. You have to be careful, I thought to myself. Can't go falling in love with your husband now, can you?

My reverie was broken by Draco climbing on top of me, pushing my shoulders down onto the bed, fiercely kissing and biting my neck. I gasped, throwing my head back. He forced himself inside of me, so suddenly my eyes flew open and my entire body went rigid. He continued to thrust into me, grasping at my breasts, reaching around to grab my ass and pulling my hips against his. He was rough, almost animal. When he finally came, I was sore, and I was sure my fair skin would bruise on the hips, and definitely on the ankles and wrists. He lay on his side next to me, breathing hard. I wiggled on the bed.

"So, you gonna let me go?"

"Maybe," he said, but he reached up and untied my wrists, then my ankles. I rubbed them. They had not been tight enough to cut off circulation, but I was still sore. He turned on his side and put his arm around my waist. I smiled at him.

"So, what prompted the bondage?"

"I wanted to try it." He smirked. "I love the way you look when you're tied up. Vulnerable. Submissive." He sighed. "So… mine." He pulled me close and placed a soft kiss on my forehead. After a little while of lying together and saying nothing of import, we got dressed and went down to the great hall for dinner.

Padma noticed how quiet I was. "What's wrong, Jack?" she asked, nudging me. I shrugged. She gave me a look. "You know, when you're not with Malfoy, I can read your face like a book."

"I… that's part of the trouble."

"What, Malfoy?" Padma shrugged. "Just get a divorce as soon as you can."

"Yeah, I just… that wouldn't feel right."

"Why?"

"Because…" I lowered my voice, whispering to her. "I think he's actually in love with me."

"Oh." Padma's eyes widened. "Oh."

"Yeah." I shrugged. "So… I don't know what's going to happen."

"So you're staying with him?!"

"I don't know, Padma!" I hissed. "I just feel like divorcing someone who genuinely loves you is a shitty thing to do."

"But you don't love him." I shrugged again. Padma stared at me. "No."

"I don't-"

"He's a Death Eater."

"And a piss-poor one at that," I hissed. "Look, I'm not saying anything about loving him. All I know is that he loves me, and I don't know how I feel about that. That's. All." I turned away and stabbed a fork into my chicken, ending the conversation.

The next morning, I wandered into Transfiguration in a sleepy daze. Professor McGonagall had already started the lesson when I plopped into my seat. "How kind of you to join us, Miss... Mrs. Malfoy," she said dryly.

"Sorry, Professor," I murmured. She turned back to the chalkboard, where a piece of chalk was writing out our assignment for us. Draco nudged me, mouthing, What's wrong?

I shrugged, shaking my head. To tell the truth, the thing that was bothering me was very small, but held massive connotations.

My period was eight days late.

The problem was, I didn't know how I felt about it. Without Draco's knowledge, I had taken a potion as directed, after each time we had sex. Had I waited too long after, one time? Had I forgotten entirely? I cursed my hazy memory. I would just have to wait. But there were feelings of fear and excitement still stirring inside of me. I tried to quell the excitement, but it would not be stopped. What I should be feeling was unbridled terror and regret. It was not the case. That made it even scarier.

On a break between classes, I sneaked down to the hospital wing. It was empty, luckily, but for Madam Pomfrey. She looked up at me when I entered. "What can I help you with?" she asked. I moved closer, my voice low.

"Ah… I was just…" I shifted my weight from foot to foot. "You see, Madam Pomfrey… I think… and you understand, this has to be exceedingly secret, no one must know. Am I… could you see if I am pregnant?"

She seemed taken aback, but not entirely surprised. "Of course, Mrs. Malfoy," she said, her tone hushed. "Let's go to my office."

In her office, the door closed and locked, she sat at her desk. With my permission, she muttered an incantation and cast a spell. I felt tingly, like there were a thousand fingertips inside my body, pressing against my skin to get out. A light flitted out of her wand and circled my hips, three times, then back into Madam Pomfrey's hand. It began to pulse, the original light changing from white to a vibrant golden-green. Madam Pomfrey nodded.

"Congratulations, Mrs. Harcourt. You're eighteen days pregnant."