A Ghostly Curse

Disclaimer: I’m JKR, only in my dreams. The rest of the time, I just enjoy playing with the characters she created. No insult intended. No money made. I’m just having fun.

A/N: Thank you to everyone that has taken the time to review and let me know what they think of the story so far. I’m so glad I didn’t go too far with that last chapter and I take it as a sign that you wouldn’t mind if I gave you more… Well, let me see….

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Ch 10 - Waking the Sleeper


Hermione yawned and stretched before cracking her eyes open to be greeted by the early morning light. Smiling, she hugged her pillow close and considered what had transpired between Lucius and herself the night before. It had been very empowering to her to feel him shake when he finally found release the instant before he had vanished.

It made her that much more determined to find his body. The man drove her to distraction with just his spirit. She couldn’t wait to see how it would feel to have him in the flesh. The smile that graced her lips at the thought was short-lived however when she began to consider what that would mean to her ownership of the manor.

Suddenly feeling defeated, Hermione sighed and sat up in the bed. She would be able to find a place. It just might take a while. She chastised herself mentally for even letting herself worry over things so trivial as where she would move when this was all over.

Draco was in the depths of a sleep that he may never wake from. Lucius might never find his body. It didn’t seem like there was much for her to worry about right now as far as a roof over her head.

Just as she pulled her robe on, there was a gentle tapping at her door. “Yes?”

As the door opened, Mud peaked inside with a smile. “Good morning, Mistress. Professor Snape is here with a Miss Devine. They are quite eager to look in on Master Draco.”

Squaring her shoulders, Hermione nodded. “Yes. Well then, offer them some breakfast while I make myself presentable.”

Mud nodded and closed the door behind him as he left. Hermione rolled her eyes at the prospect of being in the same room with Severus again. Even though he was married now to the woman of his dreams, he still made her feel quite uncomfortable. His constant stares had made her feel as if she resembled a rare steak to a starving man.

Shaking her head, she pushed the thoughts from her mind. She was just being ridiculous. He had chosen Ginny. He had wanted Ginny. Surely her imagination was playing tricks on her. There was no reason for him to want her. Not when he had tossed her aside for her friend.

Ignoring that nagging feeling once again, she left her room and headed to the dining room, where her guests were seated, each enjoying a small breakfast. Severus was chatting softly with a woman that Hermione had never seen. So this was Professor Devine. The woman had hair blacker than Severus’. But that was where their similarities ended.

Angelina’s skin was deeply tanned and her eyes were a vibrant deep shade of green. She looked up as Hermione walked in and gave her a brilliant smile that was warm and friendly. Standing, she moved to greet her.

“”You must be Hermione Granger. I must tell you, this is the most wonderful honor. I have always wanted to meet you.” She shrugged then. “I liked all the stories I ever read about the golden trio and your amazing adventures. I would have liked to meet any of you. But I really felt a kinship with you.” Her relaxed nature made Hermione like her immediately. “I’m somewhat of a bookworm myself.”

When she fell silent, Severus added, “Professor Devine graduated at the head of her class in Salem. In addition to having a special talent for Defense against the Dark Arts, she is also a renowned Charms Mistress.

Hermione raised an eyebrow, turning to smile at the other woman. “Wow! I daresay I am impressed. You must have doubled up on classes.”

Angelina nodded. “I would have been lost without my time-turner. Too many of the required classes were offered at the same times.”

Hermione laughed, reaching out to pat Angelina’s shoulder. “I certainly know what you are talking about in that department!”

Severus smirked and shook his head. “I knew the two of you would become fast friends.” He tried for a moment to act as if the very idea was repugnant to him, then droned in a flat voice, “I suppose we should begin our work with Draco Malfoy. Or would the two of you prefer to continue with your conversation? What’s next? Shall we compare bra sizes?”

Hermione stared in shock at him even as Angelina rolled her eyes and spouted back absently, “What’s wrong, Severus? Bummed cause you know you’d lose at such a contest?” She chuckled and elbowed Hermione, speaking softly to her. “Poor Severus would be voted first wizard allowed into the itty bitty titty committee.”

Covering her mouth, Hermione tried to keep from laughing outright in front of her ex-husband and run the risk of making him even snakier than he already was. He surprised her when he cracked a smile himself and said, “Well, I suppose I would be out of place as a contestant in such a contest.”

Angelina offered him a charming smile, saying, “Why, Severus! You might actually learn how to take a joke after all. I’m proud of you.”

Hermione nodded. “I am too. I must say I was expecting a rather dark remark to the itty bitty business.”

Severus moved closer to Hermione and in a low voice, answered. “Well, I do believe it is correct to say that my breasts are not buxom. But I am rather well endowed in other places.” His eyes held hers and he spoke softly. “as you well know.”

Before Hermione could respond, Lucius was beside her and angling his way between herself and Severus. “She has no need to be reminded of your inadequacies, Severus.” He stood before the other wizard in an almost threatening way. “And besides, what would your wife think of your boasting about the size of your appendage to your ex-wife? It isn’t seemly and frankly I am disappointed in your unprofessional behavior.”

Stepping back, somewhat embarrassed and thankful for Lucius’ intervention, she moved to Angelina’s side, ignoring the woman’s expression at the elder Malfoy’s appearance. “Come with me. I’ll show you to Draco’s room.”

Lucius watched as Hermione led the other witch away before turning to glare at Severus. “What are you on about? Do you think she has nothing better to do than be a diversion for you since your wife won’t have you in her present condition?”

Severus returned his friends glare with a sardonic stare. “You speak as if you’d like to be the one she was doing.” His smiled briefly. “Are you jealous, Lucius? Jealous that I’ve had her and in your predicament, you can’t? Finally, the enigmatic Lucius Malfoy is unable to have every woman he wants. What a pity.”

Lucius stood staring silently at Severus for several moments before taking a slow step closer to him. In a deadly calm voice, he whispered, “You might be surprised to discover what this spirit can do. Push me too far and you will find out. Your venomous words only work to show your own regret at letting go of Ms Granger rather than holding onto her when you could have.”

He shook his head as he clicked his tongue, giving his friend a once over. “You know, You must have never satisfied her when you had her.” His voice fell to a hushed whisper. “Because even without my body, she cries out in wild abandon at how she has never felt before what I have been able to give her.”

Severus turned red at the insinuation and clenched his fists in anger. He almost gave into the urge to swing at Lucius, but remembered that his hand would simply coast through and not make contact. “You are lucky, old friend, that I do not mind your harmless banter.” He gestured in the direction the witches had gone. “As far as what Hermione wants… I suppose we shall just have to wait and see. Now won’t we?”

Lucius shook his head. “It is a cruel, painful insult you would deal her, Severus. She has no reason to want the fleeting amount of affection you would give her, knowing you will turn her away when you grow weary of her. She is worth so much more than that.” He sighed, deciding to change the subject. “Come. Let’s go see what help we can offer them on trying to help my son.”

Although the bruised emotions did not disappear, the two men let sleeping dogs lie as they went to join the witches to offer what help they could. They were in for a surprise.

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Hermione sat there, watching in stunned silence as Draco embraced the witch that had kissed him only a few short moments before. She felt as if she was watching a play.

“I dreamt of you. I saw your face a million times over and over. But I never believed that you were real.” Draco whispered softly. “I cannot believe you actually exist.”

Angelina sobbed softly and held to Draco as if he were her very lifeline. “I dreamt of you as well. I remember every dream. I remember feeling your touch and waking to find myself alone in bed, even though I knew very well that you had made love to me. It had always felt so real. Every touch. Every conversation. I had been miserable believing that you weren’t really there.”

Draco smoothed the hair back from her cheek and bent to kiss her lips. “Oh, I was there. I was there for it all. I remember the first time I touched you. My life has been spent in miserable limbo until you came into my dreams.”

Lucius and Severus walked into the room and gawked at the sight before them. Hermione exchanged glances with them when Severus asked, “What happened?”

Hermione shook her head, still baffled at what she’d seen. “She kissed him. When we walked into the room and she saw him, she started crying and saying that she had been dreaming of him for years now. She said she had believed herself to be crazy because she had fallen in love with a man that existed only in her dreams.”

Lucius looked from Hermione to his son, who was so enamored with Angelina that he hadn’t noticed anyone else in the room. The way the boy was beginning to pull at her clothes, it looked as if they would be naked within moments.

Turning away from the couple, he gestured to the door. “Let us give them some privacy.”

Hermione stared at Lucius in shock. “But, he’s your son. Don’t you want to-?” She stopped mid sentence at the sound of tearing cloth.

All three of them turned to see him baring her breasts and leaning down to cover them with his mouth. “Then again…” She whispered. “perhaps we could search a few areas for your body while they enjoy some time together.”

Even Severus had the good sense to agree. “Yes, I do believe we could cover quite a bit of ground while we wait for them to be ready to receive company.”

With that, the three turned and left the lovers to their moment. Lucius smiled. He had given up on ever being reunited with his son. He supposed he could wait another hour or so.”

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A/N: I have decided tht although there will be other romances here besides Hermione and Lucius, the only one I will share Lemons with on this one is them exclusively… If you want a scene with Draco and Angelina, you’ll just have to use your imagination!!! But… I do promise there will be many more scenes between our two lovers. And also, it won’t be much loner before they find Lucius’ body… Reuniting his spirit with it will be the hard part.

Okay, now I am not a person to beg… But, I will ask, pretty please with sugar on top… Click on that review icon below and let me know what you think of this latest chapter in my story…