Of Social Execution
All had gone to plan after the wedding. Draco had strategically and anonymously leaked information revealing the increasing number of Muggle-born children in the coming generations, next the fact that this information was brought to the Minister but not the floor of the Wizengamot, and finally an article was printed that had been buried by the Ministry. This was Draco's pièce de resistance. The author of this article contacted Draco after his meeting with the Board of Governors sharing with him the research being completed on the nature of magic and how recent history impacted the magic within the wizarding world of the UK. The article detailed how magic could not be extinguished but instead of being found in wizarding homes it was being found more and more often among Muggle ones. In the past decade more and more squibs were being born among pureblood families. The article delved into the benefits to the wizarding world to have an influx of new magical blood and paralleled this recent resurgence to historical influxes of Muggle-born witches and wizards. Draco had paid handsomely to ensure this article was not only published in the journals of magical science but also featured on the front page of the Sunday morning Prophet.
Draco was sipping his tea smugly when Hermione set down the paper as she finished the article that morning. She had been making many approving noises and at one point even raised her voice to that shrill tone she got when she was feeling haughty and superior, to exclaim "see we were right!" Draco had merely gestured for her to keep reading.
"Why didn't you tell me you had this article waiting in the wings?" Hermione asked accusingly, "More over why didn't you include me in any of the espionage over the last two weeks?"
Hermione was vexed now; her arms folded over her chest an eyebrow raised. Draco could only smile, she was the most adorable when she was cross like this. Indignant because she hadn't been included in the danger, his little lioness always ready to jump into the fire.
"Don't look at me in that endearing way Draco Malfoy, like you think my anger is adorable! Why didn't you tell me about this, we are partners," she said emphatically.
"If this blows up in our face, I wanted you to be able to answer under questioning that you didn't know what I was doing," Draco said, a hint of venom slipping into his tone.
Did she really not see that they were playing with fire? Her face softened and she got up from her chair. She had come to stand in front of him, forcing him to look up at her. Hermione gently cupped his face, lightly caressing his cheekbone with her thumb. Draco closed his eyes for a moment to just luxuriate in the feeling of her touch.
"Stop hiding your nefarious plans from me out of some misguided sense of nobility. If we are going to successfully pull off this coup we need to be working together," she said with a firm voice he had heard her use on a Potter and Weasley hundreds of times in school.
Draco knew he wouldn't sway his witch, and now he realized that trying to hide his plans was pointless.
"Haven't I told you enough times that if they try and take you down, they will have to drag me to Azkaban with you. We are in this together Draco Malfoy—"
She had been shaking her finger in his face as his smile grew, which only made her increase the pitch and volume of her speech. Draco finally scooped her over his shoulder just as he was sure she was about to burst out into a full-on lecture. She was beating on his back as he carried her to their room.
"Quiet witchling," he said with mirth as he swatted her bum, "I promise to share all my nefarious plans with you from now until our dying day. Right now, though I intend to show you the depths of my lament and beg for your forgiveness."
The rest of the week passed quickly, Hermione had gone back to work, and Draco had begun taking more control over his family's various investments and holdings. He had entrusted the estate to a business manager while he was away but after reviewing the books he knew he wanted to take a more active role in the management of his family's wealth.
He had woken that morning to find he was snuggled up with Crookshanks rather than his wife. The creature seemed to have taken a liking to him after their initial encounter, despite Draco being sure it would smother him in his sleep. However, to Draco's surprise and annoyance the creature seemed to follow him everywhere. When Draco spent the day in the office, so did Crooks. When Draco sat in his favorite chair, Crooks followed him, curling up on the top of the chair and vibrating with contentment as Draco read. Draco rolled over, throwing the covers off, which was met with a chorus of discontent from the cat. Draco rolled his eyes and absently ruffled the cat's head.
Draco wandered down the hall to the library and found Hermione curled up in a chair with a blanket, book, and cup of tea.
"There is a cup for you in the kitchen under a stasis charm," she said without looking up from her book.
Draco continued into the room to lean over and give her a kiss which she obliged him with before shooing him off. Draco chuckled as he went in search of his mug of tea. He wouldn't pester her this morning he knew she was just soaking in the last of the peace and quiet before Pansy descended.
The Gala was beginning within the hour. His mother, Pansy, and Hermione were all upstairs getting ready while Draco and Greg had been left to ensure the final preparations were completed on time. Since the team his mother had hired were consummate professionals Draco and Greg really just took up residency in some chair by the fire and had a glass of Firewhiskey before an evening of schmoozing and sabotage began. Greg and Draco had been mid conversation when he sensed her presence in the room. He turned just as she entered the Grand Ball room. Hermione had looked beautiful for the wedding of course but tonight, in this flowing gown of green silk, she was radiant. Draco crossed the floor immediately pulling her into his arms.
"My darling, you are beautiful in anything, but the way you look in this dress is dangerously tempting," Draco whispered into her ear.
"I see you and Greg were hard at work," came Narcissa's voice from behind Hermione.
Draco begrudgingly looked away from Hermione, "Everything was well in hand, Marci nearly hexed me because I was in her way. I remind you, you only hire the best so I am unsure what you thought Greg or I would be able to contribute at this hour," Draco drawled.
He felt more than heard Hermione snort into his chest.
"Let's go we have guests to welcome," Hermione said as she took Draco by the elbow.
Draco and Hermione took up the place his father and mother had long assumed before such events. He looked down at the witch beside him, the woman who quite literally held the other half of him and as she glanced up at him and smiled. Draco held her gaze for a moment longer before his attention was drawn to the door and the arriving guests.
Members of the Wizengamot, the Board of Governors, the press, and of course many personal acquaintances were all invited. Kingsley was also expected to make an appearance, though his reply had been noticeably delayed. Draco and Hermione had shared a laugh when his RSVP had finally arrived. It would seem he had finally realized he no longer held the upper hand. Draco and Hermione had successfully won the hearts of British wizarding society and tonight they would leverage all of the social credit they had earned in the short weeks since the announced their impending nuptials.
Lana, the witch who had interviewed them for Witch Weekly all that time ago, approached with a wide smile.
"Lord and Lady Malfoy it is a pleasure and honor to be welcomed to Malfoy Manor again. Lady Malfoy, is this another Pansy Goyle original? It is stunning, I am surprised to see such a prominent Gryffindor in emerald green, have you changed alliances?" She asked with mirth.
"I have always said they sort us far too early," Hermione teased.
"My wife is far too open and kind hearted to have made it as a Slytherin, admirable qualities to be sure but not for a Slytherin," Draco said with a smirk.
"Can I have a photo of the two of you for the article?" Lana asked.
"Of course," Hermione answered.
They posed for the photo, Hermione's hand on his forearm and his other hand over hers. At the last moment, Draco pulled her fingers to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. The look she gave him of a startled doe turned quickly into something dangerous. Her molten amber eyes sparkled with mischief. He smirked as he pulled his mouth away.
Oh witchling, you and I will make beautiful trouble together.
More cameras had flashed and Draco knew that little move would be in every gossip rag come morning. He didn't care as long as the other bit of info they planned to share tonight made the headlines.
The Minister finally entered, and more flashes went off as Draco and Hermione greeted him. He was smiling but his eyes were cold and calculating. Draco's smile only grew as he saw the contained contempt in Kingsley's expression. Hermione was the picture of grace as she greeted her old friend. Pleasantries finished, Draco and Hermione heard the voice of his mother approaching.
"Please excuse Lord and Lady Malfoy," cooed Narcissa, "They are needed in the ballroom for the opening dance."
"Of course. Might I accompany you, Narcissa?" Kingsley said with a genteel smile.
"Why thank you, Minister, I would be honored," Narcissa simpered.
Draco and Hermione allowed the pair to pass them by and waited for the rest of the guests to filter into the ballroom. The grand doors closed. The music swelled, filling the ballroom until the doors were flung wide allowing Draco and Hermione to sweep in and take up a place in the center of the floor. Hermione turned and took Draco's proffered hand resting her other lightly on his shoulder. The last quiver of a violin rang out as Draco slipped his arm around her back, his hand coming to rest between her shoulder blades. There was a pregnant silence before the opening bars of Skater's Waltz burst into existence. Draco led with a sure hand and Hermione melted into him. The harmony of their movement, the closeness of their bodies, Draco was captivated, his focus narrowed to the woman in his arms. As the song ended the crowd clapped politely and Draco shook himself to refocus and tried to remember the speech he had planned.
Hermione took his arm giving him a reassuring squeeze as they made there way to the platform that had been erected at one end of the room. Draco kissed his wife chastely on the cheek before taking the stage alone.
"Good evening, it is a distinct honor to welcome you all to Malfoy Manor. As you know we are here tonight to not only celebrate Hermione and me, but also to support a cause that should have great personal importance to all of wizarding Britain." Draco paused for effect and noticed Kingsley and several older members of the Wizengamot shift ever so slightly. "I speak of course about the future generations of Muggle-born students. As many of you may have seen the article published in every major publication; it would seem that the future generations of Muggle-born students may be vastly outpacing children born from wizarding families. I have come to learn from my darling wife that coming to Hogwarts at eleven with little to no background on wizarding culture, customs, and politics can be quite overwhelming. The Foundation for Muggle-born Equity in Education aims to close that gap for Muggle-born students. Not only will the Foundation help provide financial assistance to witches and wizards born to Muggle families who may not be able to afford the cost of a Hogwarts education; the Foundation also aims to provide compensation for teachers and subject matter experts to come and provide lessons for all Muggle-born students and family members. This adjusted education would take place a few weeks in advance of the term so that they could be educated on wizarding culture, customs, politics, and what to expect when entering the wizarding world. This is an area that has been long overlooked by wizarding folk including myself. Until a few years ago, I would have scoffed at the idea of allowing Muggle-born students such education. I was a bit of a ferret you see," Draco paused for a few chuckles, "Please laugh at my expense; it's well deserved. I can laugh about it now, but every once in a while, my nose still twitches. Thank you, Headmistress McGonagall," all eyes in the room turned to look at Minerva McGonagall as she tipped her head to Draco, Draco smiled warmly back at her before continuing, "were it not for your grace I may still be sporting whiskers." Another round of reserved laughter. "I have already proposed this idea to the Hogwarts Board of Governors and though there were many mixed feelings at first, the overwhelming majority agreed that this program would bring much needed inclusion for Muggle-born students. The Foundation will of course need money to be able to function. Hermione and I have donated enough to fund this program through its inaugural year and at least four more. However, as the largest classes of Muggle-born students will likely begin school in the next five to ten years we will need many more donors to ensure this program continues, so I ask that you would consider joining me in supporting this project. Should you not be able to financially support this endeavor, please know that there are many other important ways to contribute. In fact, we would encourage you to consider providing instruction on the many jobs you all have that Muggles never would have heard of because of their ignorance of the wizarding world. After speaking with my wife, I realized she never would have learned about anything outside of the Hogwarts curriculum in regard to the wizarding world had she not spent all of her time in the library reading every book Hogwarts had in its possession including those she likely wasn't meant to." Draco said with a smirk and a glance in Hermione's direction. "I don't know if you know this about the Golden Girl, but she was a bit of a rule breaker hidden beneath the guise of a bookworm. Most students aren't nearly as industrious as to read the entirety of Hogwarts library, leaving them at a distinct disadvantage. Please consider becoming an ambassador for the program to provide students and parents with a brief overview of your job and the fields of study they would need to pursue to get such an occupation. Should you want to contribute financially, I will happily provide you with the information for our treasurer and I will have you direct your inquiries about providing ambassador services to myself and Lady Malfoy."
"Mr. Malfoy, I do have a question," piped up Lana and she did not wait for Draco to confirm that he would be answering questions. "If these next generation of students coming into Hogwarts are such large classes, then why would the Ministry seek to force witches and wizards to marry each other in an effort to repopulate the wizarding world? It would seem that article published in The Prophet and The Quibbler was correct; magic has indeed taken care of itself. Maybe this question isn't for Mr. Malfoy, maybe this question should be directed to the Minister himself," Lana turned along with all the other eyes in the room to Kingsley Shacklebolt.
"Minister, do you have an answer for us this time?" The question came from Barnaby, the reporter from The Prophet who had interviewed Draco and Hermione several weeks before.
The Minister stood mute, there wasn't anything he could say that wouldn't condemn him. This was the social execution Draco had been planning. The moment Minerva had brought to his attention the number of Muggle-born students in the coming generations, Draco set in motion the events that would hang the Ministry by their own entrails. The Minister's face bore the look of a fish out of water gasping for air. Draco preened internally; this was the prize he and Hermione had sought. The public condemnation of the Marriage Law and the societal stoning of the Minister for allowing it to happen.
"The Ministry of course will support this effort as it is of the utmost importance especially now as we are rebuilding the wizarding world to support all witches and wizards," Kingsley sputtered attempting to save face.
Draco signaled the orchestra to begin playing softly, pulling the crowd's attention back to himself. "I'm sure there will be many more opportunities to ask questions in the coming weeks. Once again thank you all for coming tonight please enjoy the drinks, hors d'oeuvre, and dancing.
Draco exited the stage and was immediately accosted by guests with questions about the Foundation and how they could assist. Over the heads of the crowd, Draco could see Hermione was similarly engaged. He sighed internally; this was the outcome they had hoped for but the schmoozing and small talk that was about to unfold still remained Draco's least favorite portion of society affairs.
Draco was getting a drink, watching Hermione animatedly talk with a group of witches. He had finally extricated himself from a group of older pureblood witches and wizards. His mother had arrived after several uncomfortable minutes allowing Draco to slip away.
"Do you know who that dark haired witch talking with Hermione is?"
Draco turned and found Neville Longbottom next to him, absently grabbing a drink from a passing tray. Draco turned back to the group with Hermione. Draco had hardly recognized the man next to him as the pudgy boy who lost his toad. He had grown into those teeth, it would seem. But judging from his nervous demeanor he was still as awkward, just better looking.
"I am assuming you know Pansy, so I can only assume you meant the witch in the teal gown?" Draco drawled.
"Yes, I don't think I have ever seen before," Neville said with a wistful quality to his voice.
"Her name is Lana, mate, and since I too have found myself a slack jawed fool in love, I will do you a favor and introduce you," Draco said in an uncharacteristically friendly voice.
Merlin who had his wife turned him in too, doing favors for Longbottom.
"Good evening, ladies. I hope I am not interrupting. I was hoping to steal my wife for a dance. Lana, have you met Hermione's longtime friend Neville Longbottom?" Draco with a warm smile.
"We have never been introduced, but I do know of Neville," Lana said, blushing furiously, "You were two years ahead of me at Hogwarts and during those months the Carrows ran Hogwarts all of us looked up to you and Luna."
Her voice dropped off then and the mood of the group shifted notably. To Draco's surprise, somehow Longbottom swooped in to rescue this tanking conversation.
"Those were hard times indeed but look at how far we have come. If you would permit me the honor of a dance so we can allow the troubles of the past to slip away as we take a turn about the dance floor," he said as he extended a hand and inclined his head.
Draco nearly snorted but Hermione's sharp elbow found his kidney.
"Don't you dare ruin this moment, Draco Malfoy," she hissed under her breath.
Lana took Neville's hand and he led her to the floor with a stupid grin on his face as he took her in his arms and twirled her away. Draco and Hermione stepped away from the group and Draco led them to a slightly less inhabited portion of the ballroom.
"I have done my good deed for the night, possibly the decade," Draco leaned down to speak softly in Hermione's ear, "I also noticed this dress has a rather scandalous slit as we danced earlier."
Draco's hand began to drift down Hermione's side before she swatted it away.
"Perhaps it does, but you are hardy going to find out in the middle of the ballroom Draco Malfoy!"
"And if we weren't?" Draco whispered into the sensitive skin just below her ear.
"Draco, that is a moot point as we are in fact in the middle of a crowded room."
"Then let's remedy that," Draco said, pressing a kiss to her throat before pulling her behind a tapestry hung to conceal an alcove.
The tapestry was heavy, so the noise of the gala was muffled but still apparent.
"Draco was this your plan, lure me away from our guests to what? Have a shag in an alcove like school children?" Hermione hissed though her vexation seemed feigned.
Draco conjured a sconce to provide a warm glow in the alcove. Hermione's eyes, while usually golden, were depthless pools, dark with lust. He placed a firm hand on her waist, pressing until her back met the furthest reach of the alcove. His thumb skimmed her rib cage just brushing the underside of her breast. He inclined his head to rest his forehead against hers.
"Yes," he said, voice raspier than he had intended.
"Thank Merlin, I have never been more attracted to a person than I was tonight watching you decimate the Ministry," Hermione said fervently as she threaded her into the hair at the nape of Draco's neck.
Draco allowed her to pull him into a searing kiss before he kissed his way across his jaw to her neck. His other hand reached down to find that slit in her gown and slipped inside to grip the supple warm flesh of her back side. He realized in that moment she wasn't wearing knickers. Draco pushed away from her, his mind a haze. This witch hadn't worn knickers to a party with hundreds of guests with a gown that had a slit nearly to her hip. The possessive fury that rose up in him when he considered what someone could have seen burned hot along with the desire to remind her and himself to whom she belonged. He drew his wand and her confusion melted when he conjured a ledge just behind her. He stowed his wand then stooped, dipping both hands between the folds of that slit and lifted her to sit on that ledge legs spread dress pushed up. His thumbs massaged into her thighs. He expected her to balk at this treatment but if anything she seemed to be losing herself in the moment just as he was. She moaned softly as he continued to massage circles into the tops of her thighs. He casually dragged his right hand over her leg. She inhaled sharply through clenched teeth as his signet ring scraped over her dripping sensitive flesh. He repeated the motion and she groaned.
"Draco, gods don't stop."
Draco plundered her mouth as he continued to lightly work her sensitive bud with his signet ring, the thrill of knowing that with every drop dripping from his wife's sex he was violating centuries of tradition. The thought drove him wild with desire. Teasing her with it wasn't enough. He pulled back just enough to see her face as he sunk two fingers in, curling them over and over as she panted and clenched rhythmically around his fingers.
"That's it Hermione, come for me, my love," Draco crooned.
She came silently, gasping as Draco continued to pump his fingers prolonging her orgasm.
"So perfect, so lovely," he whispered.
He finally withdrew his fingers and promptly sucked them clean. She pulled him in for a kiss and began to fumble with the waist of his trousers.
"Did you need something," Draco asked with a chuckle as he stilled her hands.
"I need you," Hermione gasped, her eyes snapping to him.
"All you ever have to do is ask and I will give you anything," Draco said reverently.
Draco quickly freed his length from his trousers and caught the moment when Hermione drew her lower lips between her teeth as his cock bobbed free of his shorts. He smirked and reached out to grasp her throat, applying a light pressure that had her eyes rolling back as he stroked his cock before rubbing the head up and down the length of her slit coating his length in her essence.
"Mine," Draco whispered as he stroked her jaw line.
Hermione looked in his eyes and reached to run her fingers across his cheek and grasped his neck, "mine," she answered with equal devotion.
Draco sunk into her. This joining wasn't slow and languid. He thrust into her with a fevered need to soothe the ache in his core that he felt whenever they weren't joined. He sometimes wondered if it would always be like this but at this moment all he could think about was her and the way their bodies moved as one. One hand on each hip, he gripped her hard enough he knew there would be marks. She clawed at his shoulder with equal strength until she was shaking and moaning incoherently before freefalling into oblivion. Draco held on to watch as she fell and just when she seemed to be coming down from her high, Draco increased his pace, chasing his own release.
"I want to hear you," Draco ground out as he slammed into her over and over again.
She keened and continued to gasp out her pleasure. Draco's rhythmic thrusting turned erratic before he thrust all the way to the hilt, spilling himself deep inside her. She cried out and came again, milking his cock with every wave of her pleasure.
After long moments of catching their breath, Draco pulled out but didn't move much further. Hermione's head was resting against the wall behind them.
"Guests are starting to notice the absence of our hosts if either of you care," came the laughing voice of Pansy from the other side of the tapestry.
"Also have neither of you heard of a silencing charm? Salazar," came Theo's voice.
Hermione buried her face in Draco's robes before pushing him away to scoot off the ledge.
"I guess it's a good thing I charmed the inside of that dress to be impervious to fluid," chirped Pansy.
"You what?" came the voice of Greg.
"What I have learned from prior experience is that Scorgifying is only so effective," Pansy defended.
Draco and Hermione just shook their heads as they righted their clothing and freshened their appearances. Pansy stuck her head in then.
"Let me just check your hair, Hermione," Pansy said as she stepped into the alcove fully.
"How did you know we would be clothed?" Hermione said incredulously.
"Nothing on either of you I haven't seen before," she said with an absent wave of her hand as she continued on with her mission, unbothered by either of their protests.
Once they had been pressed and smoothed to Pansy's standards all three slipped out of the alcove. Draco and Hermione squinted in the harsher light of the ballroom. Before them were the stupid smiling faces of all of their friends.
"Have a good time?" Blaise asked with a suggested waggle of his brows.
"I really can't believe two such brilliant people could have somehow forgotten a spell we learned in fifth year," Ginny said with a look reminiscent of Molly Weasley.
"Yes, well, no one asked any of you to be a pack of voyeurs," Draco sneered.
"Mate, we saw you slip through and thought maybe we were slipping away to drink like we used to, then we realized what was actually happening and after like the fifth exclamation to a deity we silenced the alcove for you and stood guard so you are welcome," Greg deadpanned.
"Well then since there isn't anything else to possibly say on this subject let's just return to the party," Hermione said with as much primness as one could summon after being caught shagging.
Draco offered his arm to Hermione and together they led their friends back into the fray.