Previously on Love Vessel Chapter 9: Amor Enim Vas

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."

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

Chap 10: Potion Of The Blood Moon

Hermione was keeping her eye on Blue. Her normally exuberant kneazle hadn't left her bed since being reanimated. With one ear on what Deidra was saying and an eye on Blue, Hermione made a sudden utterance surprising both Draco and Deidra.

"There's something wrong with Blue."

Deidra and Draco turned to look at Blue who had slightly lifted her head when she heard her name.

Jumping up, Hermione walked over to pick up Blue who just seemed to loll about in her arms. "Have you played some kind of trick?" Snapped Hermione. "Will BellaBlue continue this way, lying around as though she's used her last ounce of energy?"

Draco who had been listening to Deidra hadn't been paying attention, but now he was. Everything Hermione said was spot on. The normally active, overactive really, kneazle was laying about like some drunken sot. If Deidra had lied about Blue, there wouldn't be any containing Hermione.

Deidra jumped to her feet. The problem. She continued to lie. "You're worried for nothing. My inhabiting her body has left Blue a little sluggish. She'll be back to right in no time."

Hermione wasn't having it. With her voice raising an octave at a time, she snarled at Deidra. "Thirty minutes ago you said Blue was fine. Suddenly, she'll be a little sluggish for a while and be back to right in no time. I want her back to right this minute. This second."

Draco didn't know how to intervene. Blue had become as much his as Hermione's, but he didn't know how to stop Hermione. He had seen Hermione angry, sarcastic, and wild, but never like this. In a few seconds, she had gone from reasonable to uncontrollable. He walked over to try to comfort and calm his prospective witch, to no avail. At that moment, Hermione was on fire.

Before striding from the room, Hermione handed Blue to Draco then returned with her wand drawn. Pointing it at Deidra, Hermione gave the startled witch ten seconds to return Blue to normal.

Initially, Deidra tried to deflect, regurgitating the same tripe she had originally spewed, but Hermione was way past that.

"10-9-8.….."

"Alright, alright. You are one confrontational bitch Witch Hermione. Are you still upset over being thrown out of Fantasm? I had to in order to save face. How could I control the others if I allowed a nobody novice to disrespect me."

"7-6-5.…."

Draco had drawn his wand and was keeping it by his side. As hell bent as she was, there was no way he was going to let Hermione throw some dangerous spell and be taken into Auror custody without at least throwing an Expelliarmus.

Without a wand, all Deidra could do to protect herself was throw her hands up in front of her face. "I have no wand. I'm defenseless."

"Then start talking," ordered Hermione. Turning to Draco, Hermione snarled at him. "I see that wand Malfoy. If you have any thoughts of using it on me, you'd better think again. I will have your head as well as Deidra's on my platter this night."

"Then calm the fuck down Granger. You're not so special that you won't be taken away in ropes if MLE finds a bloody dead body in the middle of your living room floor. Think for a minute. If you want to bind the bitch, bind her, but no spells. We have her at a disadvantage, We can get the truth without murder."

Hermione went silent and appeared to be thinking over what Draco had just said. However, the next thing out of her mouth belied her thinking anything over.

"4-3-2."

Deidra suddenly began to talk fast. "I lied. The kneazle is my source of energy while I'm in this weakened state. My spirit is linked to hers. I swear by Merlin the kneazle will be alright after we face The Coven. Honestly. I didn't want to mention that point because I thought if you knew you wouldn't help me."

"And you were so right," spit Hermione. "My Blue has to remain half alive until you face The Coven and beg to get your full, rightful body back?"

"That sums it up." Deidra replied in a low voice. "I should have told the truth, but you were as strong as me when I was at full health. I was, frightened."

"So, the nasty, arrogant Priestess is frightened. How many witches and wizards have you frightened with your foul deeds? Shall I make you prance around naked? Shall I make you do foul things to your body in front of Draco? Shall we see what a oozing, smelly, pulsating mark looks like on your body?"

Hermione's voice was rising once again. "You rotten piece of shite. If you can't help Blue, I don't need you. From here, you won't have to worry about The Coven. From here, you will be nothing more than a memory."

Without a second thought, Hermione shouted out two spells before Draco could raise his wand to stop her.

"Deidra, Spiritus Dimittere BellaBlue, Corpus Ossis Deidra."

The power Hermione used to call Blue's spirit back and turn Deidra to bone took every ounce of energy she had. As soon as the spells were out of her mouth, Hermione crumpled to the floor. It took Draco almost a minute to recognize what Hermione had done, but it had only taken a, back to herself, Blue a second to rush to Hermione's side yowling and licking her face.

With every nerve on edge, it seemed to Draco as though Blue was screaming mum, mum, mum. Draco frantically summoned a towel from the bathroom then the only spell he could think of to wet the towel was Aguamenti, so that's what he shouted.

"Aguamenti."

A spray of cool water shot from the tip of his wand. The wet towel did little more than wet Blue who wouldn't get out of the way. Draco had always thought after Hogwarts he wouldn't panic ever again. However, he felt himself panicking. He needed a spell to wake Hermione. He knew the spell, but couldn't bring it into his memory.

While Blue yowled, Draco paced up and down talking to himself. "What is the bloody spell to wake someone from a magically induced sleep? Revelio? No, that's not it. The damn spell is re-something. Riddikulus. Fuck, fuck, fuck. What is the bloody spell? Then he had it.

"Rennervate Hermione! Rennervate!"

That did it, That was the spell.

Hermione sat up and looked around. "What a prat. I bloody knocked myself out. Did they work? Did the spells work?"

Draco let out a loud sigh as he pushed Blue aside to help Hermione to her feet. "If your intention was to return Blue to herself and turn Deidra to a bone, the spells worked. Was it also your intention to knock yourself out? Because that worked as well. Next time, give a wizard some warning. I thought I'd lost you before I had you. Sorry, that didn't come out right. What I meant was, I thought I'd lost you before you agreed to date me. Poor thought at the moment, but that's what was running through my head. May I also add, you were magnificent. Hair flying, spittle going every which way and a wand so fierce I could feel the power from across the room. I imagine after tonight, the answer to any question you ask will be, yes love."

Smiling, Hermione picked up Blue, plopped down on the couch then gestured for Draco to sit beside her. "You want us to date, but I'm sure a good boyfriend would have summoned an entire bottle of wine and a glass for his girlfriend by now."

Without any hesitation, Draco summoned the white wine for Hermione as well as the heavy duty whiskey for himself. As he poured the wine, Draco was quick to admit that the boyfriend needed a drink as well.

After a few sips of wine, Hermione asked Draco what was their next step.

Draco was astonished. "Next step. I'm sitting here still trembling and ruminating over the last step."

"Well I've done the heavy lifting, so to speak. It is now up to you tidy up the ends."

Draco choked on his drink. "I believe the ends are already tidied up. You can't get any more tidy than a big arsed bone laying in the place where an arrogant, miserable blood clot of a witch previously stood."

Hermione placed her glass on the table before laying her head on Draco's shoulder. "I guess I can't dispute that fact. However, I plan to place the bone in the receptacle and place them on a high shelf as sort of a memento of what could happen to you if you ever draw your wand on me again."

Draco didn't know if he was being teased or threatened. "Somebody had to do something. I couldn't let you do murder in your own living room. Besides, I was only going to call an Expelliarmus. What could that hurt?"

"Okay. Expelliarmus sounds reasonable. With that settled for the moment, I guess I'll have to agree to date you. There is a rule you know. A wizard cannot testify against his witch."

Draco burst out in loud laughter. "A wizard cannot testify against his witch. Is that some muggle bull shite? You've gone mad. Let me rephrase. You've gone barmy. Mad is what you went earlier. Be that as it may, I accept any terms that will make you my witch."

/*/

After the joking and dating and squeezing Blue, a sober Draco asked the question. "What do you imagine will happen if The Priestess doesn't show up to face The Coven?"

"Do we care?" Hermione asked, petting and making faces at Blue. "Their wishes have nothing to do with us."

"That may not be quite true." Draco replied hesitantly. "The Coven has their ways. They must know who Deidra chose to stand with her. In case you don't remember, that would be you and I."

"Possible, but not likely Draco." She said, moving her legs so they were across Draco's lap. "Their problem was with Deidra, not us. If you think we should prepare ourselves, then we will. I'm quite sure I have a recipe for a potion that might slow them down. Of course getting them to drink it will be another story."

Gently placing one hand on Hermione's leg, Draco asked if she was joking or trying to entice him. "You just happen to have the recipe for a potion?"

"I do, and it's not just any recipe. It's a recipe for the Potion Of The Blood Moon."

Draco removed his hand from Hermione's leg. "It's obvious then. You're not trying to entice me and I can clearly see you're not joking."

"Please don't go all Malfoy on me." Hermione remarked, removing her legs from Draco's lap. "The bloody recipe was printed on a bookmark in Volume 1. I didn't think anything of it. Since I'm very good at reading, and have an excellent memory as well. I now remember seeing the recipe as well as the ingredients it calls for."

Here we go, thought Draco. "There's no need to be obnoxious Hermione. I was just wondering why you haven't mentioned something as important as a recipe for the Potion Of The Blood Moon."

Hermione stood up and walked over to put Blue in her bed before turning back to face Draco. "Obnoxious? I was stating a fact. The recipe didn't mean anything to me at the time. Now it does. I'll have to do a bit of gray magic research, but I believe if we are accosted, a sip of the potion will protect us."

Draco let out a sigh. "So you were joking when you stated it would be a matter of getting the members of The Coven to drink it."

"Well spotted sir. If your thoughts are correct, it would be us who needs protecting, or have I missed something?"

Tit for tat. They were approaching argument territory which was somewhere Draco didn't want to go. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Draco was wondering if he really wanted to date this witch. He'd never refuse her charms. But did he really want the rest of it? Excusing himself to use the bathroom, Draco tried to rid himself of such thoughts.

/*/

Just when it became obvious to Draco he wouldn't get the chance to make any romantic overtures, Hermione sat back down beside him. "I apologize if I came across as obnoxious. I didn't mean anything. It's just sometimes my wit overrides my mouth. I'll also apologize for not mentioning the potion. It was just my perception that we didn't have anything else to look for. Actually, we still don't. At least not until Saturday. If Saturday passes without a problem, we are free to be you and me. On the other hand, if we are dragged in front of the bloody Coven, we'll be ready. How does that sound?"

"Sounds fantastic. Will you need any assistance with the brewing?"

"Perhaps." Hermione replied as she moved herself onto Draco's lap. "For now, I'd much rather a bit of romance from my boyfriend."

Draco grinned. The night might not be a waste after all. "Well, I'm the boyfriend who can give it to you. Would you like it here on the couch, or in the bedroom. I'm versatile. I can give it to you either place."

Even though she had brought the subject around to romance, Draco's answers caused Hermione's cheeks to go bright red."

"Ah. The instigator is embarrassed. No worries. You need to work off some of that magical energy you called up tonight. We can do romance now and brewing later. Let me show you what I mean."

Hermione's cheeks remained red as Draco led her to the bedroom.

"Once we pass this door, there'll be no turning back. You'll be mine for true. Are you ready?"

Hermione responded with a soft giggle and a bit of cheek. "I'm ready for you. Are you ready for me?"

Draco was quick to answer. "Now that's the question, isn't it? I'll take my chances. I'll even close the door behind us so Blue doesn't run up my naked arse trying to help her daddy along."

Hermione let out another soft giggle as she pulled Draco's jumper over his head. "Maybe we should leave the door open. I'd pay galleons to see that." Hermione's voice had gone husky as she added a few last comments. "No more talk. Time for action. My boyfriend has made me very wet."

Hermione's words inflamed Draco, but he still had his trousers on. All he could do for the moment was groan. Then and there Draco decided Hermione was going to get some fierce romance, for as long as she wanted.

/*/

After the second piece of romance, Draco was lying on his back with his hand laying across his stomach, thinking. Strait-laced, aggravating, sometimes obnoxious Hermione Granger was a beast in bed. Draco marveled over the fact he was lying there trying to catch his breath. The master of sex had been outdone by a girl.

"Penny for your thoughts Malfoy." Inquired Hermione, pushing Draco's hand aside replacing it with her leg. "Are we finished?"

Draco couldn't help but smile. "If you're trying to kill your new boyfriend, then no. We aren't finished. But if you want more of my extreme sex, you'll give my dick five minutes to recover."

Hermione went into a fit of laughter. "Is the boastful, signifying Draco Malfoy telling me I've tired him out? I'll help you out. It's been ages since I've had a sexual partner. I've been saving up."

Bringing Hermione's hand to his lips, Draco whispered. "Stop calling me Malfoy. As far as the excellent sex goes, we'll have to have it every day. Otherwise, letting you save up will make me an old wizard before my time." Leaning up to kiss Hermione on the lips, Draco uttered a last sentence. "With that said, I want to state here and now. You are amazing, but never take me by surprise like that again."

Hermione ran her closed hand up and down Draco's dick. "For all your complaining, it appears to me you are ready to go again. This time I'll climb on. Prepare for this amazing arse to be all over you."

As Draco rose to meet Hermione's thrusts, he thought about the prat McLaggen. He would never get close to Hermione ever again, especially if she'd been saving up. Draco's next thought cleared it all up. He wasn't going to give this witch a chance to save anything up.

Taking charge, Draco flipped Hermione onto her back and crushed her lips with his. "I'm ready. Push it to me. Come for me love. Come with me."

And so she did.