Previously on Love Vessel Chapter 19: Mingling With The Masses

Hermione glared at Harry, but she had only herself to blame. She should have refused the dance being well aware of Harry's less than stellar moves when it came to dancing. She had just finished giving Harry the stink eye when Draco and Hannah returned to the table.

"That made my night. I danced an entire song without once being stepped on," offered an exuberant Hannah.

Harry shrugged, but was quick to imply he might be amenable to a few dance lessons with one of the fine birds at a muggle dance studio.

Hannah grinned at her wizard. "Only if you want to walk around with your bits hexed off."

Hermione and Draco decided this was a good time to bid Harry and Hannah good night. Which they did. The couple continued to chuckle as they walked the room saying goodnight to colleagues. They pointedly looked around for Kingsley, but his table was empty and he didn't appear to be anywhere in the room.

After a few more waves, they stepped outside to activate their return portkey. "Your place or mine?" Asked Draco.

Giving Draco a look that spoke volumes, Hermione reminded him he had a daughter who was probably sitting in front of the door waiting for him to show up.

"True. Our daughter does have a way of keeping us in line with those loud yowls."

Hermione retorted with a wink and a smile. "Keeping us in line? It's you who has been wrapped around her little paw ever since she meowed out Da."

Draco couldn't argue the point. His little girl had called him dad, and he had fallen in love with a feisty, blue kneazle.

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

Chapter 20: Love And No Murder

The portkey put Hermione and Draco within apparating distance of her flat. Five minutes later, they were being greeted by a overly excited Blue who would not stop circling their ankles.

Leaning down to pick up her baby, Hermione huffed at Draco when he took Blue from her. "Let her speak to her mum before you drag her away from me."

Winking at Hermione, Draco declared. "I didn't take my daughter. She came to me. She loves her Da."

Hermione smiled knowing Draco was speaking the truth. Their baby loved them both. "Point well taken Mr. Malfoy. I am going to relieve myself of this lovely gold dress and scarf. After that, because I didn't really have a chance to partake of the grand dinner offered at the party I will fix us something to eat. Will you be staying? Shall I fix enough for three?"

Draco smiled as he put Blue down on the floor and followed Hermione into the bedroom. "Is that a hypothetical question, or have you lost control of your senses? You have flaunted that amazing gold dress and fantastic body in front of me all evening, and have the audacity to ask if I will be staying the night. Of course I'll be staying the night. Food I can do without, your ministrations I cannot." Moving closer, Draco tried to help Hermione out of her dress, but she pushed him away.

"Shove off Malfoy. I am hungry and will not allow you to waylay me with gestures of sex. Besides, I'm a favored one. You'll due well to follow my lead."

"Favored one? Maybe. I will say my witch wounds me. Even though it is foremost on my mind, exactly what gestures have I made that implies I am after your sex?"

Hermione turned to Draco giving a severe stink eye. "The way you're breathing."

"My breathing?" Draco replied with a smirk. "You're barking my love. It might not be obvious because my heart stops when you gaze at me. However, I'm prone to breathing. Keeps me alive. What would you do with a dead wizard?"

"What would I do with a dead wizard? Asked Hermione as she stepped into her barely there pajamas. "I'd chuck him out and move on to the next."

Draco was on her heels in a split second grabbing Hermione around the waist. "Chuck me out will you? I think not. Dead or not I would remain here with my witch and my daughter. As for any next wizard, he would join me in death."

"Alright, alright," shouted a giggling Hermione trying to wrest herself from Draco's tickling fingers. "I may have overstated. I'll welcome your advances after we eat."

"That's better. I have worked up an appetite fighting you for the right to have sex. Fix me food."

Shaking her head, Hermione headed to the kitchen but was waylaid when two things happened in quick succession. She heard a loud thump which seemed to come from the den and had to jump aside when Blue took off for the bedroom at a run. Draco heard the thud as well and pulled his wand.

"What in bloody hell was that?"

"I have no idea, but I'm going to find out."

With wands drawn, they moved together towards the den.

"Alohomora and shields on three then," whispered Hermione.

Hermione and Draco counted to three then blew the door open. Stepping cautiously into the den, Draco silently pointed to the right. With a glare, Hermione stepped to her right while Draco stepped to his left with Draco first to call out.

"Over here Hermione. You're not going to believe this."

Hermione rushed over to Draco to find the last remnants of a Disillusionment Charm fading from none other than the despicable Deidra. For several seconds, neither Hermione nor Draco could believe their eyes. Hermione was first to regain her voice.

"What did I tell you?' She shouted. "What did I fucking tell you? If you tried to interfere with me, Draco or Blue ever again. Speak witch. What did I tell you?"

Draco put his hand on Hermione's wand arm, but was shaken off with a growl and a glare. "Get your hand off me Malfoy. She deserves whatever I choose to give. I warned her."

Before Draco could respond, Deidra answered Hermione with a whimper. "I'm here to fall on your mercy. My powers and my wand have been taken, I no longer have a home or means of support. I'm begging your help."

"Begging our help, are you? Bet now you're wishing I left you as a bone. You hurt Blue and tried to hurt me and Draco. The only help you'll get from is helping your arse out of her. Get up and get out. In addition, just let me say I recognize a lie when I hear it."

"I promise you. I'm not lying. I have no means."

"You may not have means but you do still have powers, otherwise, you couldn't have come here under the Disillusionment Charm. The Coven appears to be slipping."

Realizing she had been undone, Deidra whipped out a wand screaming. "I still have my ways. Stupefy, Stupefy."

The immediate effect of Deidra's spell was to bounce back and knock her out cold because of the shield Hermione and Draco had up. Hermione removed the shield and had her wand positioned to curse Deidra when Draco tried to step in once again.

Once again, Hermione shook him off. "Enough Draco. I promised this sad excuse for a witch retribution if she ever tried to accost us again. Here she is back at our door acting the arse. She will regret using whatever powers she has to confront us. Step away."

"Hermione love. I know you are a witch of her word, but please no murder. It's not worth it. You are on a fast track to a new position and I've just found the witch I love. Please, no murder."

Draco's words sent a chill through Hermione who turned to give him a wink and a smile. "Alright love. Since you have spoken so eloquently, no murder." Turning back to the unconscious witch, Hermione made intricate wand movements while shouting, Human to Bone steppingback to watch as the former despicable witch, former Priestess and rapist shrank into a large, white bone. Picking up the bone and the wand, Hermione turned back to Draco with a grin. "See. No murder."

Draco sighed and shrugged. He couldn't complain. His strong willed witch hadn't done murder. "May I make a suggestion without you turning that wand on me?"

"You may."

"I suggest you throw on jeans and a jumper, after which, we will take that piece of bone to the highest hill in Ottery St Catchpole and bury the bone and the wand. That way, you won't have thoughts of Untransfiguring the bone formerly known as Deidra…. Again."

Hermione thought for a moment before responding to Draco. "That would be a no. What I will do is wrap the bone in a nice, pink ribbon which will go well with the décor and set her on the topmost shelf. That way, if you ever try to stop me from casting a spell again, I'll have something other than your lovely arse to hex."

Draco, who believed every word coming out of Hermione's mouth decided it was time to change the subject. "Okay then. Let's consider the matter closed. I now find myself very hungry. Shall we find Blue then have something to eat?"

After levitating the now wrapped in ribbon bone to the highest shelf, Hermione put her arm through Draco's and pulled him towards the bedroom where they would rescue their girl.

/*/

Blaise Zabini had experienced a first. He was leaving a party that had included more than one fit, available witch without anyone on his arm. Blaise knew he'd been his charming best and put it down as falling off his game over his back and forth with Draco and Theo. He didn't like to come out of character for anyone, especially when he was trying to impress the fairer sex. That damn witch Gayle had almost ruined everyone's night. Realizing he was standing there alone playing the poor me game, Blaise approached Theo and Jessie to say goodnight.

Blaise spent a few minutes chatting with Theo and Jess before saying goodnight. On his way out, it crossed Blaise's mind that Theo and Jessie didn't seem to be on the same page. It wasn't anything spoken. He was simply a wizard who recognized when a couple hadn't quite gotten themselves sorted. Smiling to himself, Blaise randomly thought Theo had better get a very big shag to offset the ration of shite he was going to get from Draco. Even though he hadn't ended up with a witch, Blaise landed in his flat in a fairly pleasant mood.

/*/

Although Theo and Jessie's night ended well, it did not end as Theo had planned. He had thoughts of inviting Jessie back to his flat, but she had other ideas.

"I appreciate the invitation Theo, but I'd feel more comfortable at my flat. Perhaps next date we can retire to your flat. Besides, you have port keys ready and waiting to take us back to Wales."

Theo didn't know how to respond. It sounded as though Jessie was giving him the push off. They'd had a lovely evening eating, chatting and dancing. In his mind, the next logical step would be late night drinks at his flat, and perhaps a bit of intimacy. What had gone wrong? Theo knew the only way to find out was to inquire. "Was everything to your liking Jess?"

"Everything was fine Theo. I had a lovely time."

Not a very satisfactory response, so Theo came right out with it. "I thought we had a lovely time as well. I had hoped we could finish off the night at my flat and travel to Wales tomorrow afternoon." Moving closer and lowering his voice, Theo told Jessie he wouldn't make advances if that was what she was worried about. He just wanted to spend more time with her.

Jessie smiled and laid her hand on Theo's arm and replied in the same low voice. "You plead your case quite well Mr. Nott. After that little fiasco with Gayle, I imagined your invitation was just a throwaway comment. I'm so embarrassed over the entire thing."

Looking around, Theo realized he and Jessie were among the last remaining guests. Even Blaise was gone. He had to make his point. "First, I assure you I don't make throwaway comments. I want to be with you. Second, the fiasco as you call it had nothing to do with you. We both agreed to have Gayle attend the party with us. It's on her that the ulterior motives didn't work out. Third, I can get just as cheeky in London as I can in Wales. Fourth, if we don't leave soon, they'll chuck us out."

Jessie laughed at Theo's nonsense but took a firm hold on his arm. "Alright Mr. Nott. If you don't plan to tell me off then chuck me out of your flat, I'll take my chances. Let's get going. I look forward to your cheek."

Theo let out a sigh of satisfaction. "Next stop. My flat."

When he and Jess landed, Theo led her to a seat on the couch and excused himself calling back that she should make drinks because he had a few things to tidy up. Sometimes a single wizard let things slide. Clothes on the chair, underwear laying beside the tub where he'd stepped out of it, socks in the middle of the floor. He was a single menace. However, after a few swish and flicks, the room was not only clean but fresh smelling as well. The rooms were ready for a willing witch. If only.

/*/

When Theo returned to the living room, Jessie had a drink in her hand with feet tucked under her curled up at the end of the couch. "I couldn't find any wine, so I'm drinking your brandy. Tastes awful."

Theo laughed as he accio'd red and white wine from somewhere in the kitchen. "Sorry Jess. It's usually me and the lads drinking. Not much call for girly wine."

The bottles landed softly in front of Jessie who was grinning over Theo's remarks. "Well this witch appreciates girly drinks. I'll have the white."

Taking the brandy filled glass from Jessie, Theo used his wand to send it to the sink while summoning a fresh glass. "For you Miss Collier. Allow me to pour your wine. After that, I'm going to slide this fit body down beside you. Just to let you know in front. It's yours for the taking."

Jessie began to giggle uncontrollably. After composing herself, she managed to croak. "I like this side of you Theo. Maybe you British lads are alright after all."

"I can't speak for all the British lads, but this one is definitely alright. Shall we talk about where we'll go from here?"

Raising her glass to the elusive wizard she thought had gotten away, Jessie offered her thoughts. "Lead me Mr. Nott. Wherever we're headed, I'll follow."

"Wonderful." Theo replied. "We shall start our journey with a kiss."

/**/

Although Saturday had turned into Sunday, Hermione and Draco with Blue circling their legs ate eggs, sausages and toast while discussing their night.

"You looked amazing. I believe a fair few wizards now know I am dating the loveliest witch in London."

"Why thank you for the compliment Mr. Malfoy. I believe I'll keep you."

Reaching over to grab Hermione's hand, Draco brought it to his lips. "Really? As if I'm going anywhere. It was impressive to see Kingsley fawn over you. I don't think you can do anything wrong in the eyes of The Minister. Must be nice."

"Jealous Malfoy?" Joked Hermione, running her foot up and down Draco's leg. "You need to get that eyesight and hearing checked. Kingsley Shacklebolt does not fawn. He simply appreciates a fantastic witch."

Grabbing Hermione's foot, Draco stared into her eyes. "You know my name. Stop calling me Malfoy. With that said, I will now guide us towards the bedroom where I will definitely fawn over what is mine. Say goodnight to our daughter because I will be closing the bedroom door."

Bending down, Hermione picked up Blue to tell her mum and dad wanted to say goodnight because their next stop was bed and sex."

Although Blue's ears stood straight up, when Hermione put her back down on the floor, she headed directly to her bed and settled in."

Draco grinned as he grabbed Hermione around the waist. "Our daughter has learned the subtleties of mum and dad alone time. Let's not waste it."

When they arrived at the bedroom doorway, Hermione made an out of the blue remark. "So, you love me? That was quite the unexpected remark, but I'm going to go with it because you're so handsome."

Draco had uttered those words in the heat of the moment, but he meant every word. It was just his misfortune to have said it out loud to the witch with the long memory. "Yes, I am handsome and horny as well. Let me relieve you of those pajamas."

Hermione stood still as Draco removed her pajamas but had the last word while gazing into his eyes. "I'll allow you to take those words back for now, but believe me. I won't forget them."

Pulling Hermione down on the bed, Draco waited until he had pushed into his witch before responding to her remarks. "I'm exactly where I want to be. For now, that will be enough. Wrap your legs around me."

And so she did.