Chapter 18
"I've dug two graves for us, my dear"
Revenge -XXXTENTACION
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"Where are Pansy and Theo?" Hermione asked from Draco's lap. Her hands were wrapped around his neck as she played with the hair at his nape.
Draco scrambled to think of what to say, not wanting to alarm the little witch, and finally settled on,"They are occupied."
"Occupied?" Hermione asked, confusion evident in her voice and the look on her face.
"Occupied." Draco nodded, hopeful that she understood what he meant and he wouldn't have to explain it further. He was still working on getting used to sharing with her and he had to push against his natural desire for reticence.
"Occupied where?" She stared at him, perplexed.
"In Theo's room," Draco sighed in frustration, as he really did not wish to go into details about Pansy and Theo's private activities. Their play with each other was something that Draco knew about, but that was for them and not him. How much was he allowed to say? How much had the others already told her?
"I don't understand. Are they shagging? I thought that Pansy didn't–"
Draco sighed again, even more dramatically this time, cutting off Hermione's thoughts. He removed the silencing charm on Theo's room with a wave of his wand and waited. Only a moment later, the sound of smacks on flesh and Theo's sobs filled the common area and Hermione's face morphed from curiosity to shock.
"Good Godric, what is going on in there?" Hermione looked at Draco with a concerned expression.
"They are having a play session." Draco said, not meeting her eyes, and recasting the silencing charm. "The two of them can get a little rough."
"A little rough? It sounds like Theo is hurt."
"Oh I am sure he is. He is probably bleeding too." Draco paused as he reconsidered his words, "Actually, assuredly he's bleeding by this point."
Hermione paled at that, but then remembered Pansy's words from earlier today: When I play with Theo, I hurt him. I make him bleed and scream and beg for more. Do you think you would like to try that?
Hermione wasn't sure what to make of sweet, masterful Theo allowing himself to be injured for pleasure and lovely Pansy being willing to be the one hurting him. The amount of trust it must take to play in such a way was nearly unfathomable to her.
"It's not really my cup of tea either," Draco admitted, watching her expression flicker from one feeling to another, "I don't mind a little light bondage and I enjoy some edging, but the rougher masochism and blood play just isn't for me."
"Pansy explained edging to me earlier, I don't think I like it." Hermione wasn't sure that she wanted to know exactly what blood play and rough play looked like. The whole thing unnerved her more than she was ready to admit. She felt like such a hypocrite. What did it matter to her how Theo and Pansy got their pleasure if they were both consenting? Pansy had respected her disinterest after all.
"And you don't have to like it, I have something you might want to do instead," Draco smirked at Hermione causing her body to shiver. "How about we go kick Crookshanks off your bed and I see how many times I can make you orgasm with my mouth?"
"That sounds like an exceptional idea," Hermione grinned back at him.
However, Crookshanks wasn't thrilled about it, even after Draco gave him a treat, and he grudgingly stalked over and laid by the fire.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Draco pulled Hermione into his embrace, her body fit perfectly between his thighs. Having her contained there was perfection. He grabbed the back of her hair, tilting her neck to give him access to the olive expanse of her throat. She wasn't as dark as Theo's deep bronze, but her skin couldn't be described as anything other than sunkissed. His pale hands pulled her shirt over her head and he ran reverent hands over her bra.
"Granger, you are so bloody perfect," he drawled as his fingers traced fire in her veins. She could feel heat pooling between her legs and he urged it to further life as one hand slipped between her legs.
She arched into his touch. She needed him. She couldn't wait and pulled out her wand from her back pocket, vanishing her denims and knickers and tossing her wand across the room. Draco's laugh was a deep amused chuckle.
"In such a hurry, Granger?" He whispered as he left a line of bites along the column of her throat.
"Always," she moaned, "when it comes to you."
Draco felt that praise go straight to his cock, as it thickened quickly, her heat so close, but he promised to make her come with his mouth. He grabbed her around the waist and tossed her onto the bed.
He'd never get tired of doing that.
She smiled at him as he crawled over her. "You are wearing entirely too many clothes, Malfoy."
"Malfoy again am I?" He smirked at her, hoping that she could see how much he adored her. "I don't need to get naked to make you come with my mouth, Granger." She shivered as he ran his hands over her bare skin, lowering himself down her body. His breath brushed over her skin like butterfly wings. Goosebumps followed his mouth's path. Hermione's hands clenched in the sheets beneath her and she found she wished they were on Theo's silk sheets, her cotton ones felt so coarse in comparison.
He kissed in shrinking circles from her navel to her thighs. His mouth never quite got to where she was so desperate to have him. As the circles became smaller and smaller, the gentle kisses turned into possessive bites. The nips on her inner thighs certainly left marks. She was pleading and begging. Helpless under his touch, she moaned, demanded, begged for more.
When he finally brought his mouth down on her dripping core, she came almost as soon as his tongue ran over her sensitive clit. She wanted him so badly, she almost told him to stop the game of seeing how many times he could make her cum with his mouth, she wanted him inside of her so desperately. How had this become her life?
For her second orgasm, he simply licked her. Long strokes of his tongue through her folds again and again, swirling around her clit as he came to the end, only to begin again. She finally came the second time when he licked at her core, while he put one of his rings against her clit and applied pressure to that bundle of nerve endings. She nearly flew off the bed that time.
He pushed her back with his hand, holding her down with his arm, as he slid two fingers inside of her, licking at her swollen nub as he fucked her with his fingers. Hermione's pants and sobs filled the room and she realised that she didn't sound so different from how Theo had sounded as Draco had lifted the silencing charm.
When she came again, she felt as though she was boneless. The third orgasm came nearly on top of that one. She wasn't sure if they were really separate or one that paused for a moment before continuing to melt her into a puddle. She struggled to keep herself aware of what was going on, her body and her mind were both horribly close to plunging into darkness.
"I can't take anymore," she pleaded.
"You can and you will," Draco commanded; the forcefulness in his tone made her even more aroused. His quicksilver eyes stared down at her and she was undone. She wanted to do whatever he wanted, whatever he demanded of her would be his.
"Yes, yes Draco," She gasped as he added another finger inside of her and began to lick and suckle at her core again. She felt her body grow wetter and wetter, it felt as though she was going to pee and she tried desperately to push him away. He would not be swayed and held tightly to her as she drenched him with her climax.
"One more, my darling," he whispered into her flesh, as she sobbed and gasped. Draco whispered words of passion into her wet flesh, "I crave you, I adore you. Your taste is amazing. I need this, need you, can't stop. Cum for me again Granger. You are the best, most perfect thing that's ever happened to me." Hermione knew he couldn't possibly mean all of that, it was just the sex talking. This wasn't any real commitment between the two of them, she knew that, yet it was lovely to pretend.
All the words of adoration flooded her body with a wave of electricity, and with one last "perfect perfect girl, she exploded. She was a blubbering mess, and desperately claimed that she simply could not take anymore.
Draco smiled up at her.
"Don't you want to cum," she gasped out, questioning. She didn't want to leave him wanting more.
"I don't have to," he murmured as he pulled himself out and slid up, his face in her neck, "I don't mind a little edging. It makes the orgasm later all the more explosive."
Hermione grunted, her core still fluttering around nothing and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I can't imagine it getting any more explosive than it is now. If its called edging when you don't let me come, what is it called when you try to make me come more times than I think that I can handle?"
He thought about it a moment, and then whispered, "Forced orgasm I think. Did you like it?"
"I thought I was going to die, it felt so good. Are you sure you were a virgin when we first slept together?" She laughed.
"Pretty sure," he smiled into the soft skin of her neck and gripped her hip tightly. "Wonderful woman."
Hermione scoffed, but her breath quickly faded into the rhythmic breaths of sleep. And he smiled again, knowing that he had given her pleasure better than any Dreamless Sleep potion.
He'd managed to give her five orgasms with her mouth, and then and there, Draco vowed to himself he would get the number higher before their time was at an end. He wanted her to remember him with pleasure if the worst came to pass.
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Pansy was getting used to there being ambient light when she woke up in the Head Dorm, but years of waking in a darkened dungeon room had taken their toll. She still found herself confused and somewhat frightened half the time when she'd first wake. It would take her a moment to pull herself together; Cordelia would probably say that was an anxiety response.
Leaning over, Pansy put her hand on the small of Theo's back where he laid next to her. The sheet was pooled around his waist and she couldn't help but admire the sight in front of her. He was so pretty from behind. That trim little body did something to her that only women had done before they had gotten involved and she didn't mind in the least.
His unblemished skin illusion had dropped in his sleep and her eyes ran over the layers of scars and burns on his skin. She appreciated that she was the only one that he let his guard down around other than Draco, who'd rubbed Dittany into Theo's skin more than once when some of those injuries were first sustained. At some point Hermione needed to be shown, but it was Theo's decision when he was finally ready for the wall to come down between them.
She gave his back a once over and was confident that she'd healed all the cuts and bruises from their play thoroughly. She always liked to double check her aftercare when they'd had a rough session the night before. And it had been very rough. The two of them had both needed the release, the tension from the past week building to a point that only they could satisfy each other. In the end she'd had him crawl on his knees to her, bloody and bruised, and servicing her until she came. It hadn't taken long, the smears of blood he'd left on her thighs afterwards had nearly made her cum again.
She'd taken Theo up to the bathroom in the wee hours of the night to hand bathe him, healing each injury with absolute care and then gently wrapped him in a new warm fuzzy robe he'd purchased along with her new toys. She'd showered him with complimentary words, making sure that he knew how much she loved and cherished him. He was so good, so perfect, a good pet, a good boy, the best. She'd conjured him a glass of water and left him smiling as she spoke to him while she showered, rinsing the blood off and watching it circle the drain, pink like the flowers she was named after.
Once she'd gotten herself clean and she had restored his room to rights, she'd hand fed Theo some chocolate while his head was on her lap. The little sighs of contentment coming from his lips showing that her aftercare was exactly as he needed. She repeated her praises and stroked his hair until he fell into a deep peaceful sleep. He'd seemed troubled all day, but she'd worn him out enough that he'd slept deeply, never stirring. Hopefully his dreams had been pleasant.
Pansy trailed her lips across Theo's shoulder and he blinked awake at her. His blue eyes crinkled in pleasure at her.
"Good morning, my Queen. Where's the rest of our little troupe? Did they never join us?"
"I think they went to bed in Hermione's room last night, love. We were playing games until quite late."
"Then why are we awake so early?" Theo groaned grouchily, pulling a pillow to cover his eyes from the glowing morning light.
"I was thinking we might enjoy ourselves out on the balcony a bit before therapy, since we've already showered. Come along, you go have a smoke and I'll send someone to make you feel lovely." Theo was already nodding eagerly and rolling out of bed. He threw on his favourite green silk robe and headed out to the balcony. Pansy smiled and enjoyed a moment of basking in how bloody obedient Theo could be. He was pure perfection. And he only obeyed her, that was honestly the most delicious part.
Pansy didn't bother getting herself dressed either, also just throwing on her own robe. She also didn't bother knocking on Hermione's door, just inviting herself in, only stopping to admire the couple sprawled out in the bed.
They were both naked. Draco was on his stomach, right leg tossed over Hermione with his arm outstretched and his fingers curled around her throat. Hermione's hand was resting on Draco's cheek in her sleep. The room smelled of sex in the best way and she noticed, not for the first time, that neither of them liked to use Scourgify after they shagged. Pansy hummed her approval at Hermione's thighs still damp and the remains of Draco's cum that stained the sheets beneath her.
Naughty little creatures. So very filthy. How she adored them both.
Pansy stroked Draco's back lightly and he mewled softly in the back of his throat. Since he was on top, he could go service Theo first. "Draaaccoo," Pansy whispered into his ear. "Wake up darling."
Draco stirred and turned his face into Hermione's palm, his eyes blinking up at Pansy. "Hi, Pans," his voice was heavy with sleep and the sound made him even more delicious.
"I need you to get up and go take care of Theo, now" The last word was delivered with a little flash in her eyes to let him know that she was serious and she meant now without argument. Draco could be a bit of a brat for Theo, but Pansy was not going to put up with that behaviour. His eyes that had, just moments ago, been hooded and hardly opened were instantly filled with lust at the mention of their wizard.
The blonde carefully extricated himself from Hermione so as not to wake her and pulled on his underwear only before Pansy shooed him out the door.
Pansy grinned at Hermione's naked body spread wide, her wet pussy sparkling in the dawn light. She could see the bite marks Draco had left behind peppering her thighs and so Pansy delicately ran a finger up her silky skin towards the damp folds of Hermione's core. She blew a breath over Hermione's most delicate parts and grinned as the petite brunette's nipples pebbled and a moan slipped from her lips, even though she slept on. Pansy wondered whether she should wake her or if it was alright just to pleasure her as an alarm clock. They hadn't talked about waking one another up with intimate touches, but Pansy had done it before and Hermione had not had any complaints.
Pansy's silk robe slid to the floor and pooled around her feet. She climbed up onto the bed, kneeling between Granger's open knees. What a pretty well shagged picture Granger made.
Tentatively Pansy ran her hands over the sleeping woman's thighs, slowly putting pressure on the bite marks that Draco had left behind. Hermione shifted and moaned in her sleep more, encouraging Pansy to continue. She leaned forward, running the tip of her tongue along the seam of Hermione's body, circling her clit and just barely touching it with her teeth.
Hermione's hips jerked upward toward Pansy's face and suddenly the brunette was awake, tangling her fingers into Pansy's raven hair.
"Please," she begged, tossing her head on the pillows.
"Anything for you, Mi," Pansy whispered and then hummed into her body, as she used her tongue to penetrate the other girl. Hermione's thighs began to shake and Pansy gripped them, using force to keep her legs spread.
Hermione's breath came faster and faster, the groans and gasps becoming louder and more frantic. Pansy charmed three nails blunt and slid those fingers deep inside her lover. She curved them toward herself. She sucked and slurped on Hermione's clit until the Head Girl was sobbing and trembling. She felt the other girl's body clench around her, but Pansy didn't stop, she was determined to pull a second orgasm out of her before she let her go again. She kept the pressure on the secret place inside every woman and sang a few words in French with Hermione's clit in her mouth. Hermione almost flew off the bed as she squirted onto Pansy's face, her whole body convulsing as the tension snapped.
"Dear Gods, Pans," Hermione said looking down at the other girl, "you are quite exceptional at that."
Pansy smiled knowingly, "Now that I've woken you, let's go see what those boys are up to on the balcony."
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Theo cast some warming charms over the balcony, as he stepped out immediately lighting a cigarette. The view was gorgeous, as always, and he was grateful no one could see him up here due to the charms on the stones. A real blessing and one of the best hidden secrets of Hogwarts.
He blew a huge cloud of smoke into the cooler air that lingered at this height just past the warming charms. Carefully he recast the glamour charms that hid his torso worth of scars and burns. He wished there was a way to permanently remove them, he hated carrying the past with him everywhere, but there were some things that magic just couldn't fix. If muggles had a technique, that could always be an option. Though, he'd probably have to ask Hermione and then he would have to admit that he had them in the first place. As much as he cared for her and trusted her, he wasn't sure that he was ready to see the pity that he had seen on her face when he'd shared about his home life in group again.
"Hey," Draco slipped out onto the balcony, pulling the door partially closed behind him and immediately falling to his knees. It appeared Pansy had given him instructions before he came out here. "Good morning." Draco rubbed his face on Theo's quickly hardening cock, his large pale hands like stars against the silk of Theo's robe. One hand slid under the fabric taking Theo's cock in his grip, revealing it from the robe, exposing him to the morning air. Theo stared down at his best friend on his knees in front of him and sucked in a breath as Draco took the tip of his cock into his mouth.
"Good morning to you too, Dragon," Theo rasped as the blonde slowly swallowed all of his cock until his lips were touching the soft dark curls at its base. Draco hollowed his cheeks and Theo put his cigarette between his lips so that he could hold Draco's head and fuck his face. "Remember, tap my thigh twice if it gets to be too much."
Draco just hummed his understanding around Theo's cock, causing Theo to harden even further and start to fuck his face in earnest, gripping the silky white blonde hair at the roots. Draco continued to make deep moans around Theo's length, as Theo thrust again and again into his lover's hot wet mouth. It felt so bloody good.
One of Draco's hands reached up to cup Theo's balls, lightly massaging them and rolling them in his knew he needed to start teaching Draco about anal play. If only the man on his knees knew how to put pressure on Theo's prostate while sucking his cock. The thought had hardly crossed his mind before Theo exploded down Draco's throat. Actually, now sounds like the perfect time to begin.
"Okay, Dragon. Now stand up and turn around. Grip the balcony."
Theo kneeled down, moving his robe to the side so that his knees were on the stone. He cast a nonverbal cushioning charm for himself and realised he should have done that for Draco as well. Ah well. Draco hadn't seemed to mind the little bit of pain. Theo slid Draco's underwear down his legs. Draco shook a little bit in nervous anticipation. Theo tenderly kissed one cheek of Draco's arse and then nipped the other.
"Theo!" Draco's voice was strangled.
"Didn't like that, love?"
"I didn't say that." Theo cast a quick anal cleansing charm and Draco moaned at the tingling sensation inside his body.
Theo leaned forwards, humming with delight before he ran his tongue around the rim of Draco's arsehole. The surprising action made Draco's hips jerk, as he pressed himself back against Theo's mouth, so that Theo could lick slow strokes against the puckered hole again. Reaching around, Theo wrapped his calloused hand around Draco's rapidly hardening length and stroked his cock, using his thumb to swipe at the precum already gathered there.
"Dragon, I can't tell you how much I crave to feel you around my fingers. The thought of sinking myself into you has been all encompassing for far too long." Another lap at the hole, taking extra care to leave behind enough lubricant caused Draco to shudder and moan out into the silent Scottish morning.
"Would that be okay with you, Dragon? Do you think you would like me fingering you before I finally fuck that tight little arsehole of yours?"
"Y-yeah Theo, I think that I would." Draco's words came out breathless and raw.
"Do you like me playing with your body out here in the open?" Theo continued, knowing that dirty talk alone was something that drove Draco wild. "If the charms were gone, anyone could see you getting your arse eaten, they'd most certainly hear you when I do this." Theo made sure that he left copious amounts of spit behind before his tongue darted out and put pressure against Draco's entrance. The blonde let out a loud low groan of pleasure, verging on a sob. "Do you like being a filthy little slag for me, Drake?" Theo whispered, letting his cool breath provide even more sensations against this part of Draco.
"Y-yes, Theo."
Theo's tongue slowly penetrated Draco's tight arsehole this time and Draco started to curse under his breath at the intrusion. His hands clenched at the stones as Theo pumped his cock harder and faster, twisting his wrist slightly at the tip. A movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention and Hermione's shocked face was replaced with one of nervousness, as Pansy ordered her too to grip the balcony.
"Let's see how you like it, Mi. Theo, make Draco make a mess of himself and then show Mi how that feels. I'm sure no one has played with her arse," the raven haired witch said as she walked past the other woman, slapping her arse as she got into place.
Theo only nodded, hard at work making Draco cum. Draco's legs were starting to tremble as he came closer and closer. All at once, he let out a deep groan as he bucked in Theo's hold, unable to control himself. His cock sprayed his belly and the stones of the balcony with his cum.
Theo moved over to Hermione, casting the cleansing charm again on her arse and his mouth before he bent to his task. Hermione's softer curves and plump bum were such a stark difference to Draco's much firmer build, but Circe help him if he didn't lust after both equally. Without wasting any more time, Theo got to work on the witch until she was arching and quivering above him. The chanting of his name again and again on her lips only encouraged Theo to work her over even more. He lapped at her thighs, already slick from whatever Pansy had done to her in the bedroom, the attention making Hermione's cunt drip more.
Theo collected her arousal and dampened his bronze hands as he kept her legs spread while he made her body catch flame. With the addition of her own slick, Theo teased her puckered hole with his fingers, while licking and sucking in time of his movements. When her quivering seemed like she might lose her grip and scrape her knees across the stones, Theo pulled back his face, and pressed fingers into both of her holes.
"Theo, Theo, Theo, Theo," Hermione sobbed as she came; as Draco watched her, adoration was apparent in his eyes as he leaned against the balcony still catching his breath, his underwear still abandoned on the stone floor.
Theo hopped up and stretched, his back cracking as his arms reached towards the clear morning sky. "What a beautiful way to start the day!" Pansy smacked him good naturedly, but couldn't help except to grin at the wobbly mess he had made of their boy and girl.
The four lovers spilled into the common room from the balcony and after Theo shut the door, he ran his hand over it with affection. So far that balcony was one of his favourite things about this suite of rooms. It was true what they said about Head Boys and Girls getting special privileges.
Realising that their little pleasure session had taken more time than they really had, Draco rushed to grab clothes from Theo's room. Taking the stairs two at a time, he looked back at Theo and smirked, that look on his face always set the brunette's blood aflame. Theo half considered following him up the stairs and finishing what he'd started on the balcony. He couldn't wait to possess Draco utterly.
However, Theo knew he had to wait. He wanted to have more time to have aftercare after he had Draco like that for the first time. It was a very vulnerable act and Theo wanted to give it the time it deserved. He didn't want it to be a one off. If he initiated Draco properly, it would very likely become a part of their regular sexual repetoire.
Theo and Pansy dressed quickly, as neither had to shower, and enjoyed a cup of tea in the kitchen while they waited for Draco and Hermione to be ready. He smiled over the edge of his cup at the raven-haired beauty in her short black skirt and black button down top. It was really too bad that the thigh high boots were for special occasions as they would look positively splendid with that outfit.
Salazar, he was a lucky man.
He pushed his unruly curls out of his eyes after sitting his empty tea cup in the kitchenette sink.
Hermione came out of her bedroom dressed, but her curls were wild and she tried to charm them with a combination of charms and her muggle brush, making Pansy chuckle at her.
"Mi, what on earth are you trying to do? Your hair looks like a bramble hedge?" Pansy laughed.
With a quick knock at the door and without waiting for anyone to answer, Luna and Blaise entered.
"Good morning to my favourite tower dwelling snakes," Blaise called, "And Granger of course. Coming down for breakfast?"
Luna looked surprised at Hermione who was continuing to desperately try to work on her hair.
"Hermione, your hair is an absolute disaster! You know you need to wet it, what are you trying to do?" Luna started walking over to Hermione to take over whatever madness was occurring, but Pansy held up her hand and shook her head.
"No, no, I got it," Pansy said, taking the brush from Granger and using at least three hair and beauty charms that Hermione had never heard before, dampening the wild curls under her fingertips as she brushed them to a shine.
Draco came down the stairs from the bathroom with a towel wrapped low around his waist. He opened his mouth to say something risque to Theo whose eyes were trained on the light dusting of pale blonde hair on Draco's lower abdomen, but suddenly realised that Blaise was watching him with a raised eyebrow.
"I-I'll be right out," Draco said, "But everyone doesn't need to wait on me!"
"Don't be silly," Pansy called after him, "I am still working on Mi's hair. Take all the time that you need."
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Once breakfast had passed with the six of them seated alone at one of the circle tables, they made their way out to the courtyard for the therapy group. The Scottish morning was exceptionally warm, but the weather would likely be entirely different by mid-day.
Theo, however, had no intention of participating in therapy today. And as he saw Cordelia conversing with the dark bearded Healer Atticus who led the second group, Theo made a bee-line to her in order to make a case for his very necessary excusal.
"Cordelia," Theo interrupted the healer "I really need to talk to you for a minute." The other Mind Healer bowed and excused himself, giving Cordelia and her young client privacy.
"Yes, Theo, how can I help you?" Cordelia smiled, her kind open smile giving him a warm feeling. He wondered, not for the first time, if the woman was part Veela or some other similar creature that he'd never heard of, she just made him feel unnaturally at ease. It was an uncomfortable sensation honestly.
"I'm not going to be able to come to the Group this morning. I need to call the DMLE and report something." Theo's fingers were in the loops of his black denims and he felt so overwhelmingly nervous. What if she said no?
Cordelia looked at him thoughtfully. "Is someone in danger Theo?"
"Just Draco and no more than normal. He just shared something with me that needs to be told to the Aurors before they find out about it themselves. It's something that could sabotage his trial, because if they find out and think he was hiding it, they would use it against him."
"I see," Cordelia said, although Theo suspected she, in fact, did not see.
"I promise to come have an individual session and talk it all out with you as soon as it's sorted." Theo said, hoping that this would make Cordelia inclined to give him the freedom that he needed in order to take care of this.
Cordelia nodded her understanding and Theo swiftly left the Courtyard, heading back towards the Great Hall to try to catch McGonagall now that he had gotten permission from Cordelia.
"Headmistress," Theo called after McGonagall who had just dismissed Filch from the Great Hall and was clearly about to deal with something else urgent, "can I bother you to use your Floo for a call?"
"Mr Nott, who on earth do you need to call that you can't use your own Floo?" The elder witch sounded a bit exasperated, but as always she gave him the time to explain himself and not just dismiss him.
"I need to call Robards and it's rather urgent. I understand your Floo gets priority when Floo calling the Ministry."
"Yes alright then, you know the password." McGonagall nodded, smiling at his access to what was considered secret information. She had chosen an exceptionally clever Head Boy. "I suppose it must be. Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Parkinson's trials are coming up very soon, aren't they?"
Theo knew that the question was rhetorical, so he merely nodded.
The Headmistress nodded again, thoughtfully as she studied him. "Well Mr Nott, I suppose that if you say that the matter is urgent I must believe you. Head on up to my office. I'm going to leave you to your own devices while I deal with the construction crew that is arriving this morning to restore the Quidditch pitch as I don't wish to end up with a new World Cup stadium rather than what we had before." With that and a nod, the Headmistress vanished, leaving Theo to deeply appreciate the trust that she must have in him.
The empty halls were easy enough to navigate and Theo was able to quickly get to the Headmistress's office.
As he entered the room, Snape's portrait sneered at him and flung his cape over his shoulder.
"Really Severus, is that level of histrionics necessary first thing in the morning?" Theo mocked the magical image of his former Head of House.
"Mr. Nott, I take it the Headmistress has given you permission to access her office. It would be surprising if you had managed to get in here without her consent."
"Indeed, didn't you know I'm Head Boy? First Slytherin Head Boy in years. Possibly the first one since the Dark Lord, I haven't been arsed to check honestly."
"I had heard, yes. And Ms. Granger is Head Girl. Still an insufferable know it all or has the war improved her demeanour?"
"What an unkind thing to say, Severus. I think I'm quite done speaking with you. Why don't you chat with the man who used everyone's lives like chess pieces for decades," Theo rolled his eyes, but looked over and saw Dumbledore's portrait was empty. He must be in his portrait at the Ministry. Good place for him, Theo hated that dodgy old man looking at him with all his false kindness.
He felt his nerves starting to rise before starting the Floo Call, reaching out for Robards' office Floo first. Theo did in fact know two other Floo addresses to call to reach the head of the DMLE, which did actually suggest a rather strange truth: Theo was in the habit of calling Robards actually pretty frequently. Gods Theo hoped no one ever realised that. It seemed a bit awkward.
Robards' face appeared in the flames immediately.
"Minerva I wasn't expecting your call, our check-in isn't until…Theo Nott? What in Merlin's beard are you calling for? We haven't done any work at Nott Manor since you have been at Hogwarts, so if anything is broken or missing it was not the DMLE."
"Gawain, I am going to ignore how deeply nervous that comment made me about my personal property, so that I can tell you that I need you to come to Hogwarts to collect a memory in regards to a crime committed on Malfoy Manor lands of which Draco Malfoy has personal knowledge."
"Did he disclose some other crime of his father? Because the man is already getting the Kiss at Christmas, so really I don't need…" Gawain was interrupted by Theo's anxious response.
"Not at all. Nothing to do with Lucius. What we do have here are some serious crimes as well as additional mitigating evidence about Draco's involvement in the whole business."
Robards' floating fiery head rubbed at his temples.
"Allright, Nott, I can be there after lunch. I'll call for you and Malfoy to the Head Mistress' suite. Is she available? I need to talk to her."
"She's down at the destroyed Quidditch pitch with a construction crew, sorry."
"Of course she is," Gawain's face gave Theo a very suspicious look, "you wouldn't know anything about the large anonymous donations to the Hogwarts rebuilding, would you Nott? There are a lot of rumours circulating about it here at the Ministry."
"Why would I know any such thing?" Theo said innocently.
"Can't possibly imagine." Robards shook his head, "Well, I'll apparate into Hogsmeade and see you this afternoon."
"Grand" Theo said, clapping in pleasure, causing Robards to shake his head again before ending the Floo Call. Should he go back to group therapy? This had gone much quicker than he had initially planned.
No, he could use a few hours alone. He'd go grab the books on Muggle electricity that he'd gotten a Ravenclaw to bring him out from their common room library that was notoriously large and go sit up in the Astronomy Tower and read alone for a bit.
It wasn't as though he was getting much out of therapy anyway.
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Group therapy was much different today, because Theo had had some sort of urgent business and Cordelia apologised about having to change her plans on the fly.
"I just don't want Theo to miss too much of the core information that I want to impart to all of you, so we'll have a journal writing day," Cordelia pulled a stone out of her pocket and transformed it into a large chalkboard, a second stone becoming a piece of chalk.
Draco did wonder what had been so pressing that Cordelia had allowed Theo to skip the group session. Theo never skipped the group, in fact, none of them did. Three weeks into the programme and their group had been exceptionally consistent. Draco knew that more people from the other groups failed to show every day even though it was a requirement of attending the summer programme. The idea that Greg hadn't left his dorm in weeks made Draco shudder to think of what it must smell like in there.
Cordelia's body blocked what she was writing, but as she stepped to the side, her written words were revealed to the group.
Describe some of the key causes of stress in your life now. Has this changed since your traumatic experience? If so, how? Can you pinpoint why?
How did your experience impact others? This could be either others that were involved or the people in your life now.
Is there anything you wish you had really taken the time to appreciate before the experience or that you'd give anything to have back?
What do you wish you could do differently or change? Why?
Write about your traumatic experience. Be as detailed as you can with what happened and how it made you feel, both emotionally and physically.
Draco was honestly unsure of which of the prompts to choose, he wasn't sure how torturing himself by thinking about any of these ideas was supposed to be helpful. He kept attempting to remind himself that he was participating in therapy because he did not want to go to Azkaban with his father.
He decided to write about what he would do differently.
July 22, 1998
There are a multitude of things I would have liked to do differently, but most of my choices were made with the goal of keeping my family or those I cared about safe. What if I had made different choices and something horrible had happened to them?
Remembering that the journal was confidential and that he only shared it in individual therapy if he wanted to, Draco began to write again.
If I could be a second year again, I'd never call Granger mudblood. I'd give her a courting gift. I'd take her to Yule Ball. I'd keep her from almost getting killed again and again. When the Dark Lord did come back, I'd take her and my mother and flee the country before ever taking the Dark Mark. I'd burn Malfoy Manor to the ground before I left. I still might once my mother's house arrest is done.
I'd poison Theo's father and threaten Mr. Parkinson to put Pansy in my care. Perhaps everything would have been just as bad, but things would have been different. And maybe I wouldn't have had to hide my feelings so much. Maybe I wouldn't be facing the possibility of my Occlumency causing psychosis like my mad aunt now.
So many choices fade back to one, I would have disobeyed my father at every turn and opportunity. I would not have given into fear or force. I would have set him to go to Azkaban years before. I could have left any of a dozen Dark Artefacts out in his office and made an anonymous tip to the DMLE, if I had done that he would never have been able to go through with his threats to murder Granger if he discovered I liked her, to out Theo to his father who already hated him. Instead I allowed myself to be used and great evil to be done in my ancestral home.
I never want to live there again. I want to burn it to the ground and then salt the earth where it stood. There should be a memorial shrine to everyone who died there, and maybe the rose garden could remain. But everything else should be scoured from the face of Wiltshire.
He looked over and Hermione was chewing on the tip of her quill as though it was made of candy. She clearly was struggling to write in her journal and he wondered what prompt she had chosen or if her problem was that she was still struggling to choose. He decided after this group session was over, he was going to distract her thoroughly from whatever traumatic thoughts were running around that brilliant brain of hers.
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Draco grabbed Hermione's arm and yanked her into one of the broom closets on the main hallway of the castle.
"I have always fantasised about doing this," he murmured into the shell of her ear as he breathed deeply, smelling her scent and kissing the sensitive flesh of her neck in the darkened closet. "Pulling you into a broom closet and having my wicked way with you."
Hermione let out a low moan. "Gods, I wonder what I would have done if you had."
"You wouldn't have just shoved me away?" Draco hated the neediness he heard in his voice, he was just as desperate for approval as he had ever been. Only the person/s that he wanted approval from had changed.
"I may have fancied you a bit in sixth year," Her hands twined into his hair as she pulled him to her mouth for a kiss, "after you stopped calling me names, even I had to admit you were pretty to look at. Although you did need more sleep and to eat that year."
Draco scoffed, "You fancied me, in sixth year? I'll never believe it."
Hermione blushed. "Well I won't waste my breath then." She ran her hands over his chest, like she was memorising his body. Maybe she was, he thought.
Draco kissed her deeply, sliding his hands into her magnificent curls. Sweet Circe how he loved her curls. Someday he wanted a daughter with her hair. His eyes widened at his train of thought and he shoved down that dream for the future. There was no guarantee that that future was even a possibility. He was only setting himself up for pain if he spent the rest of whatever life remained to him imagining his blonde curly-haired daughter nursing at Hermione's breast.
He closed his eyes for just a moment and banished that fantasy. He needed to just appreciate the impossible present. Dreams of the future needed to wait, even though he thought he might be able to draw that fantasy; it had seemed so real in his mind.
The passion between the two of them flared in their kisses and before they knew it, they were writhing against each other. Draco could feel the heat between her legs as she arched against him. His cock was painfully hard, despite the orgasm that he had had only a few hours before.
Hermione's hand travelled downward to cup him over his trousers and he hummed in pleasure into their kiss.
"Draco, can I suck your cock?" Hermione's sultry whisper sent shivers through his body. He was desperate for her. How was this not a fantasy?
"Only if you want to," Draco whispered back as her hand became more aggressive, gripping him tight through his clothes so he gasped and bucked his hips towards her.
"Oh I want to," Hermione replied and he released her hair so she could sink to her knees. Freeing him from his trousers, she looked up at him while she licked and then swallowed his cock. He barely kept himself from fucking her sweet mouth the way that Theo had done this morning. He wanted to let her be in control and needed to submit to her.
As she bobbed up and down on his cock, her cheeks hollowing, a soft hum vibrating his shaft, he thought he might die. He gripped the shelf behind him desperately so that he didn't collapse to his knees.
"So perfect, so good, such a good girl," Draco whispered to her. She moaned softly at his praises and licked the bottom of his cock, kissing the side in an open-mouthed way that made his eyes roll back in his head. "Such a talented mouth, Granger. I want to sink inside you and shag you so bad."
She deepthroated his cock again and then pulling herself off with a pop, she shook her head. "Not right now, I just want you to cum for me." Draco nodded and then did as he was told.
He found he enjoyed following her directions as much as he did Pansy's and Theo's.
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Luna was skipping out of the Great Hall after enjoying a rousing lunch debate between Blaise and Dean over where the best muggle music festivals were held. It was so funny to Luna to see the two young men so passionate about a subject that, prior to the summer program, they would have never known that they even had in common.
Lost in thoughts, she strolled through the halls. Though when she went to step past the bathroom on the first floor, rough hands grabbed her and yanked her through the doorway. Startled by the sudden change of her day, she looked up in surprise to see none other than Tracey Davis and Millicent Bulstrode hovering over her as they shoved her up against one of the cool tiled walls.
"Bloody Slag," Tracey said, shoving Luna's shoulder so that it hit the wall and caused her to grunt at the impact as the breath left her lungs.
"Filthy little Ravenclaw whore." Milicent Bulstrode sneered, shoving Luna back against the wall again, so that the back of Luna's head bounced against the wall with a dull thud. The impact caused the blonde girl to see stars for a moment and struggle to get her bearings. She didn't want to hex these two girls who clearly had some issues, but she might have to otherwise risk further injury to herself.
"Accio Wand!" Luna murmured as she summoned her wand to her hand from the boot holster where she kept it. Catching the other witches off guard by her sudden move, Luna pointed her bamboo wood wand menacingly at Milicent and Tracey. "Would you two lovely ladies please explain what exactly I have done to upset you both? I see that you are struggling with a combination of wrackspurts and nargles, but taking it out on me is unlikely to help your situation, only making it worse I'm afraid."
Tracey's laugh cut off Luna's speech, clearly underestimating who she was threatening. "You are a bloody stupid bint." The smaller Slytherin witch said, "I'm not sure what he sees in you. I suppose it's how easily you'll give up your defiled cunt, seeing as you are a slag, it's not surprising."
Luna nodded thoughtfully as she finally understood where their hate was stemming from. "I assume you speak of Blaise," the petite Ravenclaw replied. "It might interest you to know that I haven't shagged him," she paused intentionally, letting her words sink in. As realisation and relief flashed across Tracey's face, Luna did something very un-Luna-like. The little blonde sneered before raising an eyebrow and stating, "yet."
As the rage overtook the brains (if you could call her that) of this operation, Luna continued. "I do believe he said something about getting me jewellery first. Seems to me he wants to wait so it will be a special occasion for the two of us." Tracey's face was blotchy as she struggled to get out words, while Milicent looked confused – the entire conversation going over her head.
"Oh, did that not occur to you," Luna's normal sweet dreamy voice was more like a snarl now, a clear message that she was not to be trifled with. "That he envisions a future with me? That you weren't even a thought when it came to someone he really wanted to be in a relationship with."
Luna raised a brow, in an innocent questioning gesture, "remind me, how long was he having sex with you last year, Tracey? A week, maybe two? Just one faceless witch in a long string of other nobody witches who he was screwing to take his mind off the war."
"Fuck you Lovegood!" Tracey spat, slapping her hand against the tile.
"Doubt it will be Lovegood for long, honestly," Luna said as she showed her teeth, giving off a clear warning. "Luna Zabini has a lovely ring to it, don't you think? In fact, I imagine that I will have my engagement ring by Christmas, if not sooner."
Tracey made an animalistic noise and started to lunge towards Luna, Milicent grabbing the deranged witch at the last moment. "Nuh uh," Luna tsked, wagging her wand in the air. "I would not recommend that you do that. I would love an excuse to curse you until next week. Need I remind you, I spent five months in Malfoy Manor, and my knowledge of Unforgivables is quite extensive."
"You wouldn't dare," but the fear in Tracey's face didn't quite match the confidence of her words.
"Try me," Luna said in her usual placid tone, "You ever lay hands on me like this again and I promise, you'll wish you had never been born into this pathetic existence you call a life. Blaise isn't yours and never was."
"Our sex life never has been and never will be your concern. Find some other wizard to pursue, because anything having to do with Blaise Zabini is none of your business. Now get out of my sight or I swear that I will shove you into the Chamber of Secrets and you can starve in there next to the Basilisk's corpse." The two Slytherin girls exchanged looks, and upon realising that they were indeed in the bathroom that had the entrance to the Chamber convinced them to quickly flee.
Luna waited until the clicking of their shoes had ceased before she let out an exhale. The adrenaline burned through her for another minute before the emotions washed over the Ravenclaw, causing her to sink to the floor and bite back tears.
The reality was, she had almost used an Unforgivable, and it pained her to know that was a line she would cross. She wasn't even completely sure which she would have chosen, because as she feared what they might do to her, the only thought she had was that she would do anything to stop them.
Taking deep breaths, she tried to push the darkness back down. She needed to keep her secret violent urges in check. Maybe she should get some spliffs from Neville and take one of her more relaxing personal concoctions. No one needed to realise that a secret darkness lurked in Luna Lovegood. The war had wrought changes in everyone she supposed, hers were just maybe more terrifying than most.
Luna was still sitting there with her arms wrapped around her knees, when she heard a voice she recognized calling her name.
"Lovegood? Are you still here? Are you alright?" A handsome blonde leaned into the ladies' room with his countenance in a mask of concern.
"Draco Malfoy." Luna looked up at him in surprise, "How did you know I was here?"
"I was coming out of a broom closet and heard Tracey and Millie talking."
"A broom closet, hmm? Sounds like your day is going better than mine." She flinched as she started to stand up, realising that she would have bruises and definitely had a knot on the back of her head.
"Lovegood, you're hurt." Draco rushed to her and gripped her arm, helping her up.
"It's hardly the first time," Luna replied casually, waving him off, but Draco still flinched at her flippant tone. "We have to stop meeting like this."
Draco's eyes turned to stone as he began to occlude while guiding her out of the bathroom. Luna poked him roughly in the ribs and Draco grunted. The stony look left his eyes as quickly as it had come as he looked at her in surprise.
"I thought Cordelia said overuse of Occlumency is bad for you," Luna stated, "Is it so impossible to be in my presence?"
"Sorry Lovegood, being around you makes me think of things that I would rather not. It's nothing personal." Draco looked at her sheepishly.
"Not thinking of them doesn't make them any less real. We went through a lot together and I miss my friend. I wish you could look at me again without acting as though I am not here." Luna couldn't help but feel melancholy, Draco had been there during the darkest part of her life, the part that had spawned all the alarming impulses that now existed under her skin. She never thought that she would be the kind of person that wanted to inflict pain, but here she was.
Guiding her gently into the hall, Draco cursed and sighed, "I don't mean to make you upset, but how can we be friends after everything."
"Everything that's happened between us is why we are friends, Draco Malfoy." Luna smiled up at him and then winced as she had turned her head too quickly and it began to throb uncontrollably.
"I think we need to get you to Pomfrey," Draco stated as he looked at her in increasing concern. Luna nodded, her head beginning to pound worse. She felt as though she might be ill. They didn't get more than a few steps before Theo came skidding to a stop in front of them.
"What happened here?" Theo asked, clearly worried as he looked Luna up and down.
"I slipped," Luna said, quickly, cutting off Draco's explanation before it even started.
Draco looked at her, then shrugged, "Luna says she fell, so I'm taking her to Pomfrey's. Were you looking for me?"
"I was actually," Theo smiled, "I got off a Floo Call with Robards and he's going to be here later this afternoon to collect memories about that incident at the Manor that you had nightmares about. I want to guarantee that this will not impact your trial and potentially send you to Azkaban."
Draco moaned unhappily, giving the other young man a scathing look, "Theo, why would you do that without talking to me first?"
Undeterred, Theo embraced him tightly and whispered in his ear, "I'm not letting your guilt send you to Azkaban. I'm fighting for you and I won't ever stop, even if you are not fighting for yourself."
"That's very kind of you, Theodore Nott. That's just how I feel about you too, Draco Malfoy. Tell Robards if he needs another witness to the atrocities that happened at the Manor, I'm available." Luna attempted to step back to allow the two young men to embrace, but Draco yanked her back.
"Don't think you are going anywhere before you get checked out, Lovegood." Draco commanded.
"Here, I'll help too," Theo smiled, and took Luna's other arm, "You really need to be more careful Luna. Watch where you are going better, please."
"Oh, I intend to." Draco felt shivers run down his spine. The malice in Luna's tone not escaping him in the slightest, she sounded eerily like his father of all people. He looked over at Theo to see if he had noticed. The generally perceptive brunette seemed unaware that anything was amiss, his mind clearly on other things.
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McGonagall had consented to Theo and Draco waiting in her office for the Aurors and she went down to the castle gates with Filch to meet them, Mrs. Norris followed behind with her tail in the air.
Draco's leg shook nervously once they were out of the room. "I really wish that you had asked me before you did something so reckless."
Theo scoffed, "I couldn't have those arsehole Aurors that are guarding your mum find that mass grave. Can you imagine how that would look for your trial? It's in a week and a half you know."
"I'm painfully aware, Theo." Draco replied putting his head in his hands. "What a bloody mess. They'll think I tampered with the memory, you know they will. There's no way they'll believe that's what really happened." Draco leaned backwards, setting his head on the back of the couch with his hands clenched on his thighs.
Theo reached over and took Draco's hand, "They will believe you, I will make them." Draco tried to smile at Theo, but his lower lip trembled too much to make it really believable. Draco could feel the tears burning in his eyes. "Hey, hey. Dragon, don't cry," Theo's hand stroked his cheek, Theo's thumb grazed Draco's quivering lips and Draco felt desire rise in him. Such a bad idea right now. Teenage hormones rarely listened to sense however. Draco and Theo found themselves bridging the gap, their lips meeting with an electric snap of tension. The two of them couldn't even find it in themselves to care that Snape's portrait gasped or that Phineas Nigellus Black made a sound like he was choking. The kiss was hot and passionate, open-mouthed and yearning, but some remaining logic inside them kept it from becoming a full snog session.
A more feminine voice coughed and then said, "Excuse me, Mr. Nott, Mr Malfoy. Mr Robards and Auror Stebbins are here to speak with you." Theo pulled back unwillingly, but he didn't let go of Draco's hand, looking defiantly at Robards and the sneering Auror behind him. "While I would very much prefer to stay, I'll have to leave you gentlemen to your business," the Headmistress stated, "there are several work crews here this afternoon that I need to check in on. However, I trust that everyone will be on their best behaviour." With a nod, the stately witch was gone.
Robards was looking from Theo to Draco, blinking owlishly, and Theo could almost see the old Auror's mind whirling as he processed this new information. His younger companion, however, looked as though he had stepped in something foul. Theo looked at the younger man and wasn't sure whether it was his family line the man found offensive or if it was the fact that he'd walked in on two men kissing.
Robards and the other wizard, Stebbins, came into the Headmistress' office, shutting the door behind them.
Draco looked at the younger man's grimace and realised that he had met him before, in this very room. What had he said? We are watching you, you little Death Eater prick. This particular Auror hated him. Had his father done something particularly nasty to this man or his family? The look of pure venom on the Auror's face said that probably was the case.
Oh this didn't bode well.
"Nott," Stebbins said, contemptuously, "You need to leave now. This is between Malfoy and the DMLE."
"Oh, Auror Stubbins was it? You must be confused, because I'm not going anywhere." Theo smiled.
"It's Stebbins," the sandy haired Auror snarled, "You're telling me that your nancy Death Eater boyfriend can't give a bloody statement without your fairy arse holding his hand?"
Theo rolled his eyes immediately, ignoring Stebbins to raise his eyebrow at Robards, "A homophobic Auror? How bloody cliche, Robards, you really need to work on the sensitivity training your staff receives. It's 1998, not 1945, you know."
"Now listen here, you foul little Pureblood poof," Stebbins said walking towards Theo menacingly, "I'm an Auror and no one talks to me like that!" Before he could get within grabbing distance, Theo's wand was in his hand and he had put himself between Draco and the irate Auror.
"I think, you prick, you'll find I just did bloody talk to you like that," Theo's smiling mask was gone and his cold expression looked disturbingly like Thoros in that moment. Robards had to suppress a shudder even as he rushed forward to intercede.
"Stand bloody down Stebbins," Robards roared, grabbing the other man by his shoulder and pulling him back. "What are you doing? They are boys, for Merlin's sake."
Stebbins shoved at Robards' hands, "Death Eaters are never really children."
Robards let out a frustrated growl, "Nott can stay in the room while Malfoy gives his evidence."
"You are going soft, Robards. You're weak when we need strength in the DMLE."
"You are questioning my judgement?"
"Absolutely I am," Stebbins replied, "Your judgement is clearly shite!"
"Nott is the bloody Head Boy!" The vein in Robards' forehead was throbbing and he looked as though he was barely holding his temper in check.
"So was You-Know-Who!" Stebbins was red-faced and screaming now, "You are only letting Nott stay because he's your bloody pet Death Eater and has been for years. Get a bloody dog Robards, even a rabid one will be less likely to bite you." And with that, Stebbins stormed from the office, slamming the door behind him.
"You've got to be bloody kidding me," Robards sighed as he wiped the sweat off his face and then turned back to the two young men. "Nott, could you please put your wand away so that I don't have to arrest you for threatening an Auror."
"Oh, Gawain," Theo's smile did not reach his eyes as he put his wand away, "I don't make threats. I make promises."