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Chapter 12

The Witch Weekly Fiasco - 1995

Pansy was livid with him about some imagined slight and would not obey Draco's command to shut her bloody mouth as she read the horrendous Witch Weekly article about Granger. It was taking all his willpower to occlude and not rip it right out of her hands or set it alight with an Incendio.

Theo's wand was in his hand under the table, his fingers twitching as he fought his own urge to enact violence on the raven-haired witch. Draco reached under the table and gripped Theo's thigh, Theo's hand flying to cover his as they watched their witch suffer through the humiliation of listening to such slander against her character.

Pansy was laughing in a way that was especially malicious and Draco had the sinking feeling that she suspected that he fancied someone else. He should never have taken her to the ball. She hadn't taken it well when he'd declined to kiss her nor when he'd disappeared afterwards somewhere with Theo. Setting her up to be jealous of where his attention was given had been a very bad move.

"A boy like no other, perhaps — yet a boy suffering all the usual pangs of adolescence, Deprived of love since the tragic demise of his parents, fourteen-year-old Harry Potter thought that he had found solace in his steady girlfriend at Hogwarts, Muggle-born Hermione Granger. Little did he know that he would shortly be suffering yet another emotional blow…Miss Granger, a plain but ambitious girl, seems to have a taste for famous wizards that Harry alone cannot satisfy. Since the arrival at Hogwarts of the 'Bulgarian Bonbon' Viktor Krum, Miss Granger has been toying with both boys' affections. Krum, openly smitten with the devious Miss Granger, has already invited her to stay with him in Bulgaria over the summer holidays. However, it may not be Miss Granger's doubtful natural charms that have captured these unfortunate young boys' interests.

"Oh! Oh! Here's where she quotes me!" Pansy preened. "She's really ugly," says Pansy Parkinson, a pretty and vivacious fourth year student, "but she's quite brainy, she'd be well-up to making a Love Potion. I think that's how she's doing it."

"Wow, Pansy!" Milicent Bulstrode, "Quoted in Witch Weekly! Has your mother written?"

"Well, how could she, Millie, the article has just come out, hasn't it?" Pansy was basking in the attention.

"It's so exciting," tittered Daphne Greengrass, tossing her long blonde hair like the Pureblood broodmare she was going to be, Draco thought uncharitably.

At the front of the room where she sat between Potter and Weasley, Hermione was trying to pretend she could not hear all the remarks that the other girls were making behind her, complimenting Pansy's insults to Granger's appearance. Draco and Theo's eyes met, silently communicating that they were going to need to do something to help their girl feel pretty.

Professor Snape swept in and had apparently heard what had been written in the article.

"Miss Granger, self-righteous Gryffindor that she is, I'm sure wouldn't be so foolish to steal from my stores, despite her ability to brew forbidden potions. I have had things go missing recently, but they were not love potion ingredients. I'm sure love potions are the furthest from her mind, she's too busy with her studies and babysitting her knuckle-dragging friends to have time for love potions."

Potter was saying something about the article being utter tosh and Weasley saying it was bloody nonsense. Granger was shushing them, but Weasley became even more animated, growing louder, and Potter was agreeing with him.

"That's enough. If I have to hear another word about the romantic proclivities of teenagers, I will quite literally be ill," Professor Snape barked. "Weasley, Potter I'm sure Ms. Granger can handle herself alone for this lesson, please take your questionable chivalry to separate tables." Potter started to argue, but changed his mind and merely went to where Professor Snape directed.

Draco watched as she sunk in on herself, less because those Gryffindor morons were gone and more because everyone in the room was staring unimpeded at her, no doubt wondering if the article was true and she had been giving love potions to Harry Potter and Viktor Krum.

As a single tear ran down Granger's cheek, Draco thought that he might do accidental magic for the first time since he was six. Next to him, Theo was a beating heart of anger through the bond. This simply would not do, they could not allow this. But what could they do?

...

Hermione had managed to get away from Harry and Ron by claiming she needed to go to the library; instead, she wandered abandoned corridors in remote parts of the castle. She had no desire to see anyone and this seemed the best way to avoid the snide comments made by the other girls or the leers on the faces of the boys. It was making her sick that most people seemed to believe the lies spouted by that horrible horrible woman.

Hermione was not interested in Harry or even Viktor. Merlin, the thought of being involved with Harry made her feel ill and Viktor touching her body had literally made her vomit.

Suddenly, she felt a tingle run through her body as though someone was watching her, someone specific, because she felt their desire and anticipation beating in her chest as if it was their own. She froze in the middle of the hallway, looking left and right.

Arms encircled her waist and, with no warning, she was dragged into a dusty abandoned classroom behind her.

The door slammed shut behind her and Theo stood blocking the exit.

"Where the bloody hell have you been? We haven't gotten a single minute alone with you since the lake. I have been going mad with worry for you and I am sure that Drake has been the same, my beautiful, beautiful girl." Theo said in an authoritative tone that left Hermione weak in the knees.

Hermione stammered out an apology for disappearing that she wasn't even sure made sense to her own ears, her heart was pounding so loud in her ears that it was hard to hear.

Draco spun her around so she was facing him, his eyes searching her red rimmed ones.

"Granger, you are used to handling everything by yourself. You don't have to do that anymore, let Theo and I help you. Let us take care of you, take your mind off everything. Let us make you feel good." Draco's long elegant hands with his multiple rings stroked her face. Her breath caught as he squeezed her throat. Hermione felt her whole body tingle at the forceful hold. A blush stole across her cheeks. "Like that do you, Granger?" Draco's hot breath on her ear made her gasp.

Then Theo leaned from behind her and nipped at her neck. He kissed and sucked at her neck in such a way that it was guaranteed to leave marks. Draco did not let go of her throat; instead he leaned forward to rip open the top buttons of her uniform shirt with his other hand, in order to lick and and kiss and nip and suckle at her collarbone and shoulder. Hermione could feel the marks that they were branding her skin with, every touch exuding possessiveness.

They showed her with their words, with their touch, with bites and slow sucks, that she was theirs. She gave herself over to the pleasure of Theo and Draco touching her and caressing her. She knew that tomorrow she would be covered in bruises and love bites, but she could not find it in herself to care. A good disillusionment spell and these kisses would be their delicious secret.

...

And if later that night her pyjama top came unbuttoned and Lavender had to use the loo, her roommate would have pulled Hermione's blanket up to her chin and chuckled quietly, wondering who it was that was Hermione's soulmate. As she tucked her in and walked away, she hoped that her friend would trust her enough to share the information with her eventually. But Lavender knew not to push. It would come when it did and then supporting her friend was what mattered.