Previously on Love Vessel Chapter 8: Discovery And Discovering

"There's nothing there." Hermione replied waspishly.

Grabbing the book, Draco snapped back at Hermione. "Stop acting as though no one is as smart as you. Of course there's something there. All you have to do is reveal it. Revelio."

As Draco shouted the spell, the word appeared superimposed over the others. Convenio.

Hermione grabbed the book back. Lo and behold, there was something there. Even as the word appeared, Hermione disputed Draco's interpretation.

"The spell looks more like Conexio than Convenio." Holding the book up then down then sideways, Hermione finally decided Draco was right. The word did appear to be Convenio. Pretending her little snip of bad temper never happened, Hermione casually asked Draco to show her the wand movements.

Shrugging, Draco told Hermione he had done the hard work it would now be up to her to determine the correct wand movements.

Still smarting over Draco's crack about her thinking no one was as smart as her, Hermione summoned her wand and answered Draco with a simple swish and flick as she called out, Convenio. Nothing happened. There was no sign of any Receptacle.

Disappointed, Hermione glanced over at Draco. "Perhaps the movements are more intricate."

Hiding a grin behind his hand, Draco commented. "Perhaps. I'll have that bit of dinner now. Maybe we can discuss wand movements over the meal."

"Or perhaps you can have Welles find them." Hermione mumbled in a very low voice. In a louder voice she invited Draco to come through to the kitchen, which he did, not wanting to miss a chance to make Hermione Granger eat her words.

Blue obviously found no fault as she quietly followed Draco and Hermione to the kitchen.

/************************************************************************

Chap 9: Amor Enim Vas

The meal was quick because Hermione hadn't come up with any particular wand movement, and she and Draco wanted to get back to their research. Once back in the living room, the top question became how would they sort through multiple wand movements to get to the correct one.

After several moments of silence, Hermione had a thought. "Perhaps we are making too much of this. You, or rather Welles found the spell quite easily. Perhaps the wand movements are also in plain sight, so to speak."

Because he didn't have a better idea, Draco couldn't argue with Hermione's statement, so he simply nodded his head in agreement as he pulled the copy of Volume 4 towards him. Before opening the volume, Draco remarked he should call on Welles.

They both smiled.

"Great minds think alike." They both remarked simultaneously.

They smiled again. This time with Draco following up by calling out to Welles.

"Welles please."

With a soft pop, Welles appeared in front of Draco, and with a polite nod in Hermione's direction acknowledged Draco. "Yes Mr. Draco. How can I help?"

BellaBlue who immediately left her bed to come sniff Welles seemed to catch the elf's attention, but Draco's voice had precedence over any novelty so Welles turned back to his master.

"This is Miss Hermione. She and I have a task for you. We'll need you to search these four book volumes. We are looking for wand movements. We don't know how they will appear, or even if they are in the books, but we need you to search." Glancing at Hermione, Draco asked if Welles could use her study to review the books.

"Yes, of course. Anything to facilitate our search."

Before leaving the room, Welles glanced down to have another look at Blue who had just about wrapped herself around his leg. Welles mumbled something in a very low voice which must have sounded like an order because Blue suddenly ran to Hermione and tried to climb onto her chest.

Although she meant Hermione no harm, Blue's claws went through Hermione's jumper and scratched her chest. Hermione tried to gently pull the kneazle off, but Blue continued to scratch at her mum's jumper.

"Bad girl. You mustn't scratch mum. She's the one who buys your food." Draco commented humorously as he tried to dislodge Blue, but Blue wouldn't release her hold.

"You're making it worse Draco." Hermione said, pushing Draco's hands away. "I don't know what's gotten into my girl. Just let her relax for a second then I'll simply pull her off.

Draco did as asked marveling over the restraint Hermione was showing sitting there with a beast, a lovely beast, but a beast nonetheless, trying to crawl inside her jumper. Suddenly, just as Hermione had suggested, Blue seemed to give up scratching, but remained laid across Hermione's chest.

"She seems calm enough now. I apologize if Welles frightened her. Perhaps Welles and I should get back to my house and finish the research there." However, as the last few syllables left Draco's mouth, Blue began to yowl so loudly Hermione thought maybe Draco was right. Perhaps Welles had frightened her very badly.

By this time, Draco's nerves were just about coming through his skin. It seemed he was destined to be in the company of two mad females. One who howled like a Banshee and the other who, who oozed… The thought descended on Draco like another knock upside his head. The once pulsating, oozing thing on Hermione's chest had looked like some bizarre wand movement symbol once Blue had licked it clean. Draco remembered it fairly clearly. A slanted line up /, slanted line down \, connected to what had looked like a twirl or a circle . / \ . Of course Draco couldn't be certain about what he'd seen. It had been a quick look under trying circumstances. What he was sure of was Blue seemed to want to get to the bloody mark once again.

"A penny for your thoughts Draco," said Hermione, continuing to rub Blue across the back.

"Excuse me." He replied as Blue moved from Hermione's chest to rub herself against the underside of Draco's hand as though trying to move it.

"You seem to be lost in thought. Anything that will help us find the bloody wand movement? Blue and I would like to know."

Draco who really had been lost in thought looked up startled. It was as though Hermione had been reading his mind. "I know this will sound mad, but I think we already know the wand movement. In fact, I believe we've seen it."

"That is mad Draco. We've seen nothing remotely looking like wand movements, but I'm holding out hope you aren't making a joke about something as important as this."

"Of course I wouldn't Hermione. I had a thought and I'm trying to express it without sounding like an arse. Give me a second to compose my thoughts."

"Whatever Draco. Take all the time you need. We have until Saturday."

"No need to be rude Hermione. This is delicate."

"For fucks sake. Just out with it Malfoy."

"Fine Granger, but you'll have to remove your jumper and perhaps you're bra as well."

A faint blush appeared across the bridge of Hermione's nose as she jumped up from the chair. "You are being ridiculous. Are you really sitting there talking smut right now? Go home Draco and take your kneazle scaring elf with you." She huffed.

Even though what Draco thought he'd found was important, he wasn't going to remain where he wasn't wanted. "Welles please." He called out. "You may go back to the house. I'll be there shortly."

A soft pop could be heard through the open study door.

"I'll take my leave then." Draco remarked stiffly. "You don't know me as well as you think if you imagine I'd be talking smut in the middle of an important mission, or whatever the fuck this is. I'll leave you with my thought. I believe the wand movement we are looking for is the mark under your breast, / \ . Check for yourself. Thank you for dinner. Goodnight."

Blue glanced from the door to Hermione with a very accusatory look on her face.

Hermione stood in the middle of the floor as though struck dumb. When she came to herself, her first thought was, even though it was far fetched, Draco wasn't talking nonsense. He'd had an idea. Hurrying to the bathroom off her room, Hermione ripped off the jumper then her bra. As she lifted her right breast, it was clear. Draco had been on the mark. The mark, her mark did indeed look like an intricate wand movement. Up, down, around twice. Draco had hit upon something. If he was wrong, and Hermione didn't think he was, at least he'd had an idea where she had contributed nothing. She felt like a fool. The best thing she could do was Owl Draco an apology and ask him to come back so they could try the wand movement.

/*/

Draco landed in his living room and headed directly for the Ogden's. He nursed the one whiskey for ten minutes as he thought how foolhardy he'd been to explain the way he had. Take off your jumper and your bra. What an arse he was. Draco was still browbeating himself as he stepped out of his trousers and reached for a night tee. He'd never have the bloody Receptacle or the Vessel by Saturday, or next week, or the week after that. All he could envision was flying through the air and landing at the feet of the bleeding Priestess. She'd probably throw him into some bloody hole for the rest of his life. What a frightening thought.

He'd just pulled the cover up over his shoulder when he heard the banging of an Owl. Fuck that, he thought to himself. I don't want to hear shite from anyone. However, that wasn't the way it would go. Welles appeared at his bedroom door.

"Mr. Draco. You have an Owl from Miss Hermione. Will you read it now, or shall I lay it on your dresser?"

Draco was still miffed about being tossed out on his arse. "Leave it on the dresser Welles. I'll look at it in the morning."

"As you wish sir."

Draco laid there for perhaps another five minutes before getting up to read the message. "Oh she agrees with me now. She wants to try the spell. She'd like me to return. As fucking if." He growled, tossing the message back on the dresser. "As fucking if."

Twenty minutes later, Draco was pressing Hermione's bell.

/*/

A chastened Hermione opened the door then stood back to let Draco enter. Draco remained standing stiffly beside the door until Hermione asked him to have a seat.

"Thank you."

"Before we discus anything, I want to offer an apology for my behavior earlier. Your remarks caught me off guard. I'm sorry."

"No problem." Draco replied still a bit stiffly. Getting straight to the matter, Draco asked if she thought it was possible the mark she carried could be the wand movement.

"I believe it's a possibility. I'm thinking we could try it together. I've made a drawing of the mark so it won't be necessary for me to walk around with one breast hanging out."

When Hermione's remark didn't elicit the humorous response she hoped for, she cleared her throat and pushed forward. "May I get you a tea, or a drink?"

"No thank you Hermione. I think we should get on with it."

"Fine Draco…."

Back to Draco again, thought Draco as he rose from the chair.

However, Hermione had more to add. "Your stiff manner suggests you may have accepted my apology but remain upset, which is understandable. However, in any untried spell, the caster or casters should be at their best to reduce the possibility of their magic going wrong. Please have a cup of tea with me."

Draco was slow in answering, but agreed to the cup of tea. He did need to unwind a bit because he was still smarting over being asked to leave her flat. A cup of tea couldn't hurt

/*/

After several minutes of sipping the tea in silence, Draco made a statement. "If we are correct in our thinking, something will transpire after we cast the spell. We should be prepared for the worst. Knowing the proclivities of the Priestess and her combative attitude towards you, it would be fair to say we may not be the same after the spell."

Hermione digested Draco's words. He had a point. Her first and only confrontation with The Priestess had been a tug-of-war resulting in Hermione's expulsion from Fantasm. If The Priestess wanted revenge, now would be the perfect time to rid herself of what she considered a contender. A small shiver ran through Hermione. "If that's the case Draco, we're done. There's no way to protect ourselves, unless we use a Shield Charm or summon a Patronus."

"That makes sense. If it comes down to it, I'll use Protego. I never got around to learning the Expecto Patronum."

Having made one serious misstep that evening, Hermione refrained from addressing the fact that not every witch or wizard could produce a Patronus. One insult a night was enough. "Well it's settled. We'll use a Protego before casting the spell. You ready?"

"As I'll ever be. Protego on 1, Wand movement on 2, Call the spell on 3."

Protego

/ \

Convenio…..

Two things happened almost simultaneously. Behind Draco and Hermione, Blue let out a sound which made it seem as though she was in agony. Neither Hermione nor Draco looked around because some force was working to keep their eyes and wands directed at the four volumes laying on the table. Even looking directly at the books, it was hard for the pair to comprehend what was before their eyes. A blue flame had engulfed all four volumes without burning them. Instead, when the flame extinguished itself, in place of the four volumes sat a large, intricately decorated, bowl shaped receptacle.

Suddenly, Blue shot across the room and jumped inside the magnificent bowl. The instant all four paws were in The Receptacle, Blue let out another anguished cry as she was twisted and bent into the shape of a woman.

Still silenced by the unknown spell, and with an arm trembling from being in the same position for so long, Hermione let out a silent scream. Whether it was over the fact her beloved Blue had disappeared in a puff of smoke only to be replaced by witch who was growing to full size in front of her eyes, or because a witch had appeared in front of them. Hermione was in no shape to know.

Draco had almost the same reaction as Hermione. Although his heart was trying to beat itself out of his chest, he didn't try to scream. BellaBlue had turned into the witch he knew as The Priestess.

Just as suddenly as it all had began, the madness was over.

"Close your mouths," said the belligerent sounding witch. "I've been locked in that body for what seems like ages. I need nourishment."

Up until the time she spoke, Hermione hadn't recognized the witch, but now, now she had. The bint who needed her help was someone she'd met before. "It's been you all this time? The all knowing, all powerful piece of shit…."

"Silence." The Priestess yelled so loud Draco feared Hermione had stepped into something she wouldn't be able to step out of. Reaching out, Draco tried to grab Hermione's hand, but she had shaken him off.

Hermione couldn't hold off the tears as she raged at The Priestess. "You fucking piece of shite. You've killed Blue. You've killed my baby. For what? For fucking what?"

Knowing Hermione was just about as strong as she, The Priestess tried to bring about some calm. "Calm down Witch Granger. Your baby is fine. She is just the vehicle I used to contact you and Wizard Malfoy. I needed your assistance and did what I thought best. BellaBlue will be fine. Everything will return to normal after you help me defeat The Coven. Those bitches have decided to gang up me. In order to save myself, I had to devolve into a being beyond suspicion."

Hermione who was still in a rage didn't give a flying shite. "The Coven? I was part of The Coven, and here you are asking me for help. Wasn't it you who tried to make me bend to your will? Wasn't it you who threw me out of Fantasm? Now you are here like some beggar. I hope they fry your arse"

"You made a contract," snapped The Priestess. "If I put out a call for assistance, you were blooded to help me. I apologize for what I put you and Wizard Malfoy through, but you were defying me. I had to take measures."

Watching Hermione go toe to toe with The Priestess, Draco had a hard on that defied any hard on in his life. The witch he wanted for his own was doing what no other individual had done since he had joined the group. Hermione had her on the run, and he was proud. "I'd like for everyone to calm down. You have our attention priestess. How can we help?"

Hermione turned and pointed her wand at Draco. "She has taken my Blue and you are asking how we can help. Here's what I think. I think her arrogant, despicable arse can face The Coven alone. This foul bitch can hit me upside the head. She can try to strangle me. She can do anything she likes, but I'm onto her. She's only as strong as The Aware allow her to be. I want my BellaBlue, and I want her now."

"Fine Witch Granger. I'm not in any position to dispute you. The Blood Moon is upon us." Turning in the direction of The Receptacle where Blue's remains lay looking like a piece of blue skin, The Priestess called out a revival spell and the blue piece of furry skin exploded back into life.

Blue let out a shriek and ran directly to Hermione who bent down to scoop up her baby. Murmuring softly, Hermione whispered to her baby. Blue spent several seconds licking Hermione's face before sliding down her leg to get to Draco. After licking his face, Blue decided she would be better off in her bed, so that's where she went.

/*/

With Blue safely in her bed, Hermione turned back to face The Priestess. "We have our baby. If you ever try to play your games with Blue, Draco or myself again, I will try my hardest to rip your throat out. You have our attention. What do you need and how can we help?"

The powerful, formerly arrogant Priestess spoke in a low voice. "I overstepped and they banded against me. I need strength and power to stand with me against The Coven this Saturday coming. I realize I will, more than likely, be impeached. I accept that. What I would like to do is come away with my life, and whether you believe it or not, I have a name. Call me Deidra."

Draco let out a soft sigh of relief thinking he was hoping to do the same. Come away with his life. At that moment and that particular point in time, he promised that the Fantasm Group would never hear from him again after this was all over.

Hermione was in her element. This bitch witch Deidra who had thrown her out on her arse was groveling. She loved it. "Before Draco and I agree to anything, I want your word you will never bother, accost, or contact us again. I want your word. Think carefully, because as you said, your life depends on what comes next."

"You have my word. I'll never bother, accost, or contact you again after this is over. I will give my title over to The Coven, and I will live the rest of my life as a normal witch. Will you and Wizard Malfoy help me?"

Hermione reached out for Draco's hand to pull him closer. "We will help. Right Draco?"

Draco was like, way to put me on the spot. If it was up to me, I'd let The Coven rip her arse to shreds. To Hermione and the piece of shite witch formerly known as The Priestess, he said: "As long as this is the last of it, I'll stand with you. However, Hermione is a witch of her word. If you try to hurt or attack us again, we will reciprocate. Now explain what is needed as it is late and I have work in the morning."

Hermione beamed at Draco before turning back to face Deidra. "What he said."