Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Say Please	By : ColdWaterFairy Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 28196 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 9
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A/N: Thanks to my beta mamacita. Your e-mails never fail to amuse me.
Harry and Ron sat in their usual spots waiting for the morning meeting to begin. Everyone's faces showed the strain of the past week. Harry pinched the bridge of his nose; he could feel his migraine building in intensity. Ron, who was sitting in the chair to his left, was avoiding all contact, and possibly reality, Harry thought. He mentally reprimanded himself for the unkind thought and looked towards the door. It hadn't been easy telling his mother about Hermione's disappearance.

Keller walked in and quietly took his seat. "The body found several days ago has been identified as Julia Grey. Tests done on the body showed that she was hit it with a Stupefy spell. We're assuming that when she fell she hit her head and that is what caused the head injury that was found to be the cause of death."

Keller shuffled some parchments around and then continued. "I'm getting a lot of pressure from the Minister about our lack of progress. Please tell me someone has made progress."

The Aurors reported on various cases until only Rebecca and Harry were left. Rebecca gave her report and then looked at Harry to take over.

"As Rebecca said, our cases seem to be overlapping right now. I've already spoken with someone at the French Ministry and have set up a Portkey. We'll—" he gestured towards Rebecca and her partner— "be going to question the former manager of the art gallery, as we now know Hermione stopped in there. Hopefully he'll be able to tell us something useful."

Keller dismissed them and everyone left to begin their day. Harry called to Rebecca as she retreated down the hall, "The Portkey leaves in an hour!" She waved her hand in acknowledgment and disappeared around the corner. Harry closed the door to his office, hoping he could take a quick nap before they left for France.
Draco was up and moving around his kitchen, mapping out his day. He was going to make a trip to Diagon Alley and see if he could find the old hag who'd sold him the painting, and try to finesse the information about where it had come from out of her. He quietly opened and closed a cupboard. He didn't want to wake Hermione. He paused. Since when do I care whether or not I wake her?

Once he finished his breakfast he tugged the TV back into his bedroom. The noise woke Hermione and she stood up and moved to the edge of the painting. He didn't notice her staring as he adjusted the angle of the screen so she could view it. When Draco did finally glance at her, he paused. She was in the process of fixing her hair. Her raised arms were causing her breasts to push up against the boning in the bodice of her dress. He could see the barest hint of one of her areolas. He was entranced.

Hermione was at first surprised when she realized Draco was staring at her chest. Her immediate reaction was to smile, which if she was to stop and think about it was totally out of character. She had told off many a lecherous wizard for ogling her like a two-Knut prostitute. As tempting as the idea was, she wasn't going to make the smart remark, "Maybe I am your type after all." She knew it would only cause him to say something hurtful. She was quick to avert her eyes so he wouldn't know she'd been watching him. Oh, she thought, he's blushing! I made Draco Malfoy blush.

Draco swiftly turned his back on Hermione, hoping she hadn't noticed the tell-tale sign of his blushing cheeks. He needed to socialize more. His getting turned on by Granger was sign number one that he'd been cloistered for too long. He cleared his throat and turned around. Her face was expectant, so he figured he was in the clear.

"I just thought I'd leave the TV on for you. I'm about to head out to Diagon Alley to see if I can find the witch who sold me your painting. Okay, so I'll see you later."

Hermione was suddenly hit with a feeling of foreboding. "Be careful, won't you…Draco." He paused a moment, turning to look at her over his shoulder as he shrugged on his coat.

"I didn't know you cared, Granger. Don't worry. I expect you to tell me whether Zainab admits why the post office had to close."

She rolled her eyes but inwardly vowed to watch Eastenders with such intensity so as not to miss a thing. His eyes crinkled as he laughed. She was left feeling alone once he was gone. She'd only been with him a few days and already she was used to his presence. Even when he wasn't talking to her she was still comforted by the sounds of him shuffling around or the snick of him turning a page as he read. She was afraid to admit that just maybe she was beginning to enjoy Draco's company. The problem with that, she thought, was what would happen when she was out of the painting? It wasn't like she could just pop by and have tea. She flopped down in the chair and worried.
Draco stopped into the shadows just outside the Leaky Cauldron and performed a quick glamour charm. It wouldn't do to be recognized. The last thing he wanted to do was lead the kidnappers straight to his doorstep. He tapped the necessary brick and entered into the bustle of Diagon Alley. He swiftly moved though the witches and wizards perusing the shops and found the alley of street vendors. He moved down the aisle of vendors, sweeping his eyes from side to side to see if he could spot the old hag. When he reached the end and the spot where her stall had previously been located, a young witch sat flipping through an issue of Witch Weekly. She looked up and smiled in welcome.

"Hi. Are you interested in buying a trinket for your wife?"

Draco knew what she was angling for. "I don't have a wife."

"Oh," she said. "What about a nice gift for your girlfriend?"

He played the game in hopes of getting information out of her. "I don't have a girlfriend," he said, leaning ever so slightly towards her. He watched as she leaned forward too and looked hopeful.

"If that's the case, then what can I do for you?"

"I need information. I bought a painting from a vendor here earlier this week. By any chance would you know where I can find her?"

The young witch frowned. "I think you mean Pearl. I hate to tell you this, but she's dead. The woman was like a hundred and ten."

"That's too bad," Draco said in a disappointed voice. "I was hoping to buy the twin painting to the one I just got. Do you know if anyone took over her business?"

The witch shrugged. "Hey, Basil, do you know if anyone took over Pearl's business?"

A wizard in the stall across from the girl looked up and blinked. He seemed surprised that the girl was talking to him. "Uh, I'm not sure, but I do know that her primary business was done out of Knockturn Alley. Maybe someone there would know."

Draco thanked the man and smiled at the girl. "Thank you, you've been very helpful." She looked disappointed that he wasn't going to try and chat her up. He turned and wove his way back to the main walkway. If he was going to Knockturn Alley he needed to make a stop at Gringotts first. Damn, he thought. He'd have to take off his glamour. He just hoped no one would recognize him.
Harry and Ron shook hands with the French Ministry representative and then stepped aside so Rebecca and her partner could shake hands too.

François greeted them warmly. "I'm so glad to meet the famous Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley! I have to admit to being surprised that the British Ministry would be interested in the case of Ackley Theroux."

"He's not in any trouble, we just want to ask him some questions," said Ron.

"And that takes four Aurors?" François asked with amusement.

"We want to question him about two separate cases," Rebecca answered.

"Well, I'm sorry that you traveled here for nothing, but Theroux was killed three days ago." Those words had Harry stiffening.

"Under what circumstances did he died?" he asked.

"That is what our Aurors are investigating. There is evidence of foul play. His sister contacted us when she hadn't heard from him. His body was recovered in a field. No obvious signs of a struggle. I don't suppose you could disclose the reason for your visit? It might be the reason he was killed."

Harry shook his head. "I'm sorry, I can't tell you about my cause." He looked at Rebecca and she filled François in on the Willow Suntree theft.

"Yes, it has been in the papers here as well." He frowned. "You think Ackley Theroux had something to do with the thefts and that is why he was killed?"

Harry dragged Ron slightly away from the group. "I don't like coincidences." Ron made a sound of agreement. "I think it's time we paid a visit to Willow Suntree. Something's just not adding up."
With a sack of Galleons in his pocket Draco entered Knockturn Alley, never noticing that someone was carefully shadowing his steps. He stepped into a shop and made an inquiry, and received directions. He found his way to another outside street market, similar to the one in Diagon Alley but with a definite Darker theme to the objects being sold. He searched until he found a stall where paintings were being sold.

"Have you taken over Pearl's business?" he inquired of the wizard inside.

The wizard gave him a dark look. "Who wants to know?"

Draco inwardly sighed and reached into his pocket and removed two Galleons. "Now, as I was saying, who's taken over Pearl's business?"

The money was pocketed and the man looked at Draco again but now there was a greedy gleam in his eye. "I don't know what all this interest is in Pearl. No one cared when she was alive."

Draco eyes narrowed and the grimy wizard back up a step. "Oh, am I not the only person to inquire about the late Pearl?"

The man was eager for Draco to be gone, so he rushed his words out. "Two days ago another man came here looking for her. When I told him she'd died, he got angry and wanted to know who had possession of her paintings. I told him I didn't know, maybe they were still at her house."

Draco smiled his thanks and gave the man three more Galleons. "Do you by any chance happen to know where her lodgings are?"

"Twenty-four Tipton Lane, Manchester." He was busy marveling over his sudden windfall.

Draco waited for the man to look up and then gave him five more Galleons. "This is for you to forget we ever had this conversation."

The wizard took the money and dumbly nodded his head. Draco walked off. He needed to find a public owlery.
Harry looked around Willow Suntree's studio. Everything was artfully arranged; it seemed posed. Two easels held partially completed works. He tried not to be obvious in his curiosity. There was another easel tucked into a corner that had a cloth draped over it. Harry pondered whether he could peek under it without being detected. He looked at where Rebecca and Ron were chatting with Willow and slowly inched his way towards the covered painting, pretending to be looking at the window.

Harry was at an age where he could still admit that he could be stubborn in his assumptions, but hadn't they paid off in the past? He'd been right that Malfoy was up to no good; he'd been right about where the last of the Death Eaters had been hiding, too. Something was definitely fishy with Willow Suntree, but he doubted anyone else would agree with him. She had Rebecca and Ron eating out of her hand. Harry didn't care what they thought—if Willow knew where Hermione was or had been involved in her disappearance, heaven help her. He glanced behind them and made eye contact with Willow.

"Won't you have a seat, Mr. Potter?" she asked him coyly.

He gave a terse "No, thank you." Ron frowned and Rebecca looked away as if embarrassed at Harry's rude rebuff. Willow didn't seem to take offense, and when he turned back to the window she asked Ron if he would like another scone. When Rebecca started questioning Willow, Harry thought it safe enough to make his way to the covered easel. He was dying to know what was underneath. He hazarded a quick glance behind him and was assured that Willow wasn't paying him any attention. He had lifted up the sheet and saw the bottom of the canvas when he was suddenly thrown violently backward.
A/N: I know, I know finally a chapter update. This is part one of two. I'll post the second part hopefully in the next few days.

Thank you to all my reviewers I really appreciate you taking the time to let me know what you think.
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