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The Dare	By : Tassanaburrfoot Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 82898 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 11
Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter. Don't own any of the characters. Am not making a profit.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Hermione lay in bed, watching Draco. He was still sleeping, laying on his back with one arm draped over his eyes while the other rested on his chest. He was quiet, his breaths coming out softly and smoothly.

She smiled at how innocent he looked. When he was sleeping, there was no mark of darkness, no indication that he had been tainted in the war. He was perfection. He was beautiful.

Her mind wandered over last night. She really wanted to believe the things he told her, had even convinced herself they were true. But it just didn’t add up and she knew he was hiding something.

If she had found out that one of her friends had been raped, there would have been hell to pay. She would have immediately gone to McGonagall and insisted there be an investigation and that the guilty be tried and convicted. She would have made sure her friend knew that it wasn’t her fault and would offer to help her get counselling, maybe even go with her for a session or two.

That’s what confused her about Daphne as well. Astoria was Daphne’s little sister. Instead of being her sister’s hero, the older witch was more concerned about what was expected of herself now that the family name was tarnished. It was backwards. It was wrong.

Annoyed with her thoughts, Hermione slid out of bed quietly, not wanting to wake up her blond dragon. She grabbed her dressing gown and put it on while gliding her feet into a pair of soft, pink house slippers. Putting her wand in her pocket, she quietly made her way to the door and slipped out.

The sitting room was quiet, the others having retreated to their own beds hours ago. She silently wondered where Luna was and had far the girl had gone with the Slytherin boy she had come with. Knowing how much the young witch had valued her virginity, Hermione desperately hoped Theo didn’t manage to convince her to part with it. Not yet. The girl was only fifteen after all.

The Muggle born relieved herself in the bathroom before returning to the sitting room and browsing the bookshelves. Picking a fairly interesting one, she plucked it from the shelf and curled up in one of the overstuffed chairs by the fireplace to read. She was halfway through the first page when a crack interrupted her. Looking up, she saw a little house elf, one she had seen before, looking up at her.

“Master Lucius wishes to see Miss Granger,” the elf stated in a gruff voice. “Basal is here to take you to his office, miss.”

She frowned. Marking her spot in the book – maybe Draco will let her borrow it – she stood and wrapped her dressing gown a bit more securely around her small body before following the elf out of the room.

She had never been in this part of the Manor and found it equal parts fascinating and frightening. The walls, like all the walls in the Manor, were dark and foreboding. At regular intervals, there were sconces with metal snakes holding up two thin candles to light the way. She saw paintings of different things, but didn’t bother to stop and study them. She pulled her dressing gown tighter around her to fight off the chill in the air. She wished she had thought to grab her cloak, or at least thicker robes.

Hermione silently wondered if she were making a mistake coming here alone. Perhaps she should have woken up Draco to come along with her. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and steeled herself as they made it to the office. The house elf guided her inside, closing the doors behind them before vanishing.

The Muggle born let out an involuntary gasp at the sharp sound, clutching her chest, and turning around to look for the older aristocrat. He wasn’t there. A bit annoyed, she glanced about the room, her brow furrowing at what she saw. She felt warmth beginning to creep up her neck to her cheeks as she watched one pair of statues actually start having sex with one another. Blushing furiously, she looked away and found yet another pair where the female was on her knees giving the male statue oral. Hermione felt sick and looked away again before finally settling on the portrait above his desk.

Draco was handsome, of that Hermione had no doubt, but she knew he got his looks from his father, so she felt no shame in admitting that Lucius was equally handsome. The man in the portrait sat at his desk, watching her. He was wearing a perfect set of black robes that made him almost as imposing as the man himself.

The portrait gave Hermione a small smirk as he unclasped his robes. Removing them, he placed them on the desk and revealed a white oxford underneath. Hermione continued to watch as the man stood and walked around the desk so she could see him completely. He slowly unbuttoned the oxford to show the perfect alabaster skin underneath. She never would have known how well-toned Lucius Malfoy was if the portrait hadn’t taken off his oxford and leaned casually against the desk in his trousers and shoes. Her eyes widened as she stared at the portrait. He looked like a Greek God reborn, especially with the way his hair fell over his chest to lightly brush over his nipples. He looked so hard and positively delicious that she wasn’t even bothered by the Dark Mark on his arm that he couldn’t hide. If anything, that Mark made him even more dangerous.

Unable to pull her eyes away, she watched as he unbuckled his belt and slowly slid it out of his trousers, giving her a devilish smile as he had done so. She jumped when she felt a large hand fall lightly on her shoulder and gently turn her around to come face to face with the real man. Her jaw dropped and her entire face heated up when she looked up at him. He smiled.

“And this is why I wish you would have joined us last night, Miss Granger,” he whispered huskily. He brushed her cheek with the back on his fingers. “So delectable, so sweet, so responsive. I can see the desire and lust in your eyes.”

“I…” she started and stopped. Her mind was foggy, her eyes clouded as she felt a hand slip around her waist and pull her closer to him. She licked her lips, moistening them expectantly.

He smiled. “You don’t know how badly I want you,” he breathed against her lips with his head dipped so that he was just a breath away from actually kissing her. “And you would let me, wouldn’t you? I could take you now and show you things you’ve never even fathomed. I could give you passion and fulfil those needs I know are within you. Slake your thirst and have you begging for more.”

He cupped her jaw for a moment and she felt her eyes flutter. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew this was wrong, but she didn’t care. The portrait had done its job in making her want him.

Suddenly, he released her. “But you belong to Draco,” he said, the huskiness of his voice gone and replaced with something a thousand times more familiar.

Just like that, the spell dissipated and she shook her head to clear the fog as he stepped around her. He glanced up at the portrait. “Be gone,” he told the man. “Find some wench to please you elsewhere. I have business.”

Hermione rubbed her eyes and shook her head some more. She paled as she began to realize what had almost happened. What could have happened. White with fear, she stared at the patriarch. “You…” she whispered.

He glanced at her as he settled behind his desk. “I have those books for you,” he told her. “The ones about the Manor and the family, that is. I hope you are still interested in reading them?”

It took her a moment to comprehend what he was telling her. “How did you do that?” she asked as she approached the desk. “You could have…”

“But I didn’t,” he pointed out as though he knew what she had been about to say.

She frowned. “Why didn’t you?” she questioned suspiciously.

He raised an eyebrow. “Would you like me to?” he replied with a question of his own. “If you want, I do have a couch right over there that folds out into a bed. We could easily resume where we had left off.”

Her eyes widened and she shook her head. “N-no,” she stammered. “That won’t be necessary.”

He gave her a tight smile and a single nod. “I didn’t continue because I believe you value your relationship with my son,” he told her. “I wouldn’t want to interfere with a woman my son had chosen as his mate and future wife. It would be unseemly.”

“But you said you wanted me,” she accused.

His eyes flashed with the desire he held in them. “And I do,” he admitted. “But I am no schoolboy who has difficulties controlling his urges.”

“And if I would have come last night?” she asked, holding her head up.

He smiled at her. “Then I would have let you see what the lifestyle is all about,” he answered. “I doubt I would have let you participate, though I may have allowed you to indulge in something light. Mostly, however, it would have been an educational experience for you. Nothing more.”

She felt a blush creep up on her cheeks. “Why?”

“Because believe it or not, Miss Granger,” he told her. “There is more to intimacy than just sex and I know that it is something Draco is interested in. But enough of that. I did not ask you to come here to talk about sex.”

She blushed again as he lifted a hand and several books flew towards them to gracefully place themselves on the desk facing her. “These are the books you’ve requested,” he told her. “I also took the liberty of finding a few other books I thought you’d be interested in. Hogwarts is a school, after all, and as such, the curriculum doesn’t always contain all the facts it should. If the Headmaster or administration wishes to sway their students into one way of thinking, they will. And the literature will reflect this. As a witch of your intelligence, I would think you would want all the facts about certain subjects.”

She glanced at the books curiously and picked up the top one. “Hogwarts by Salazar Slytherin,” she read and her eyes lit up. She looked at him. “What is this?”

“One of Salazar Slytherin’s journals,” he answered. “It’s a recounting of all the things that happened from the time Slytherin and his fellows decided to build the school to after he left. It explains why he left, his thoughts and his feelings.”

She frowned. “He left because he didn’t want Muggle borns to attend,” she said.

“Yes, but did you ever wonder why?” he asked. “Many people believe it was simply because he thought himself, and those like him, to be superior, and in some ways, they may have been. Up until this point in history, magic wasn’t studied in school, but rather at home and kept within the family. But there’s more to the story than what the history books would have you believe.”

“Like what?”

His smile didn’t quite meet his eyes. “Last night at supper, you mentioned the folly of the witch burnings that occurred and I agreed with you on them. However, you made it seem as though burning was the only way Muggles thought would ‘kill a witch’ which led me to believe that Hogwarts is severely lacking in teaching the whole truth. No doubt due to Professor Dumbledore’s desire to correct his own past mistakes.”

“His past mistakes?” she asked curiously.

He pointed to the pile. “Read the books,” he told her. “I wouldn’t want to mislead you. If you have any questions about the material, you are welcomed to ask, whether in person or by owl.”

She stood up and picked up the books, grunting at the weight. He gave her a bemused look. “Have you forgotten that you are, in fact, a witch, Miss Granger?” he asked.

Embarrassed, she took out her wand and levitated the pile. She turned to leave. “Miss Granger,” he called, making her pause. She glanced at him. “I have one more thing I would like to discuss with you, if you would, please.”

Keeping the pile levitated, she turned to him. “Yes, sir?” she asked.

He held out his hand, offering something to her. Curious, she approached him, holding out her own hand to accept the offer. It was a used cigarette butt. Frowning, she glanced at him. “What?”

“Draco,” he replied. “I found it this morning when I was returning some bottles to the cellar.”

She stared at the butt for a moment, her mind brimming with anger. Then, another thought came to her and she looked up at the man. “Mr. Malfoy, may I ask you something?”

He smirked. “You just did,” he answered, resting his chin lightly atop his threaded hands. When she gave a long suffering sigh, he chuckled. “But you may ask one more.”

She pinched her lips together as she thought of how to word her question. Finally, she decided. “In Slytherin House, there is this rule of keeping things that are in Slytherin, in Slytherin, but what do we do if we know someone has been hurt or is being abused?” she asked. “I can’t imagine we should just let the abuse continue, but who do we go to?”

His eyebrows furrowed. “Has Draco hurt you?” he questioned and she immediately shook her head.

“No, nothing like that,” she assured him. “If anything he keeps me on some sort of pedestal and won’t let anyone even come near me. He’s very protective.”

He nodded. “As he should be,” he confirmed.

“But what if it’s someone else?” she asked.

Lucius sighed as he leaned back in his chair. “The typical answer would be to leave it alone,” he told her honestly. “If something is happening to someone else, it’s really none of your business.”

“But what if they’re too afraid to speak up?” she tried. “Maybe even too ashamed? It’s hard to leave something alone when I see someone who’s obviously in pain. I just want to know what I can do.”

He gave a small smile. “Spoken like a true Gryffindor,” he commented. “You could approach this person, offer them an ear to listen if they want it, though I wouldn’t bank on them actually talking to you. Slytherins are normally taught from a very early age not to trust anyone who isn’t family, and even then to be wary. If you’re truly concerned for this person, however, you could go to Professor Snape.”

She snorted. “Professor Snape hates me,” she hissed, looking down at the floor.

“Does he now? Then why, pray tell, does he allow you to stay in Slytherin House when you should be up in the Gryffindor Tower?” He shook his head. “I dare say, Miss Granger, Professor Snape doesn’t hate you. He may be annoyed with you on some things, but hate is a strong word and too strong of an emotion to waste on a student who’s down him no harm. You may even find him amiable if you try.”

Somehow, Hermione doubted the greasy git would ever be amiable towards her, but this did bring up another question. “What about me?” she asked.

He looked at her curiously. “What about you?”

She sat down in a chair across from him. She didn’t know why, but, like Narcissa, there was something about this man that made her feel like she could trust him. Sure he was a former Death Eater. And yes, his sexual paraphilia and the way he flirted with her made her a bit uneasy, but somehow, she knew she could trust him with this bit. She took a deep breath, stealing herself.

“I have reason to believe that Draco…” she hesitated and looked down at her hands. “The first time we were together, he swore to me that he didn’t know I was a virgin, but he never asked me either. Last night while we were waiting for the boys to…” She paused again.

He smirked. “I know they took three bottles of firewhiskey from the cellar,” he told her. “Though which one of them figured it out, I am unsure, but they are clever and the top three in Slytherin House for your year.”

She sighed. “Daphne said something, many things, but one thing in particular. Something I didn’t notice before,” she told him. “Yesterday at the party, Luna said that she had told Theodore that she was a virgin and that she wanted to wait until she was married before she experienced sex. She also said that Theodore had agreed with her. Then, Daphne made a comment that he probably wants to wait because he may want to marry Luna, which is amazing because they made such a cute couple last night at the party. But Daphne also said that Draco wanted to marry a virgin, but he told me that he wanted to marry me, but he and I have had sex, so I don’t know where that puts us? And did he really not know I was a virgin? Because Daphne said that he doesn’t really care much about virginities when it comes to girls, except for the one he wants to marry. And given all of this, is it possible that Draco could have been one of the boys to rape Astoria? And…” she stopped, her eyes wide as her hands flew over her mouth. During her questioning, her words had gotten faster and faster to the point where she wasn’t even aware of what she was saying until that last sentence fell out of her mouth. She looked up at the patriarch with fear in her eyes. “Oh, God,” she whispered, her voice muffled by her hands.

Lucius stared at her for a long time and she looked at him, fearful for what he was going to say. Her mind went through her own defences. “I…”

“The wisest thing you could do right now, Miss Granger, is remain silent,” he told her. He did not raise his voice to her and in fact seemed calm. Too calm. “Let’s start with something simple, shall we?” At her nod, he called for Basal and requested tea.

Standing up, he led her to a set of armchairs by the fire and sat in the one opposite her. They were served their tea and he allowed her to enjoy a few sips. “Before I begin answering your questions, Miss Granger, allow me to ask one of you,” he said, placing his teacup on its saucer. “Were you a virgin the first time you and Draco were together?”

She blushed and stared at her cup. “Yes,” she whispered.

He nodded. Putting his cup on the table beside him, he reclined back in his chair and propped one leg on a knee. “You’ve seen how the Greengrass sisters can be,” he said. “They are both Slytherins and both very cunning. As such, they will do anything to get what they want. That being said, however, I do not deny the claim that the younger Miss Greengrass was, in fact, raped. The moment Draco learned of this, he had owled me. Did he play a part in it? Absolutely not. Despite his unwillingness to marry either girl, he would never partake in something as unseemly as raping either of them. In fact, he even asked me if there was anything I could do to help Miss Greengrass and I agreed to pay for her counselling, to which her father has agreed. I’ve even offered to help him find a suitable groom for her when the time came.”

“That sounds like an awful lot for someone whose son did not rape a girl,” Hermione commented.

The right side of his lips quirked upward. “Indeed,” he admitted. “Eugene and I are old friends, having known one another since our Hogwarts days. His daughters used to call me their uncle until they became old enough that it was deemed unnecessary.” He watched her movements as he continued, “Though we tried, Narcissa and I were never blessed with a daughter of our own and, as such, I had taken the girls under my wing, as it were.”

Hermione glanced up at him. “So, he didn’t rape her,” she surmised, though she had spoken it like a question.

“When I learned that she had been raped, I asked him that very question and he assured me that he did not,” he told her as he entwined his fingers together. “I won’t go into the relationship between Miss Lovegood and Mr. Nott. While I am happy for them, it truly isn’t my business and I tend to stay away from such things. If one or the other were to come to me asking for advice, I’ll give it to them. Otherwise, I’ve found that it is better to stay out of the affairs of others so long as it doesn’t concern my family or me.”

She nodded as she let her eyes fall back to her hands. “Luna is one of my closest friends,” she said softly.

“And you, as a Gryffindor, feel it is your duty to protect her?” he offered. Her eyes shot back up to him and he offered her a kind smile. “I’m sure Miss Lovegood appreciates the gesture, my pet, but it isn’t really necessary. The Notts pride themselves on their ability to care for their wives. She’s in good hands.”

“But the way he spoke to his mother…”

He lifted his shoulders. “What did you expect? If I were you, I would be grateful he stood up for you. You must take into consideration, my pet, that his father was and still is very much a Death Eater. Even more so than I, though I make it not secret that we were both branded with the Mark. However, with Nott’s age, he’s even more loyal to the cause than I am. That young Mr. Nott defended you is a testament to the person he is and the respect he had gained for you. He must consider you one of his dearest friends to have spoken with such conviction. I wouldn’t question his motives.”

“Why not?”

He pinched his lips together before answering, “Because Mr. Nott isn’t known to bestow his affections upon just anyone. Like Mr. Zabini and my son, he is very selective with whom he calls his friend. And, with true friends, he rarely has an ulterior motive and, if there is a motive there, it’s not vicious or vindictive. At least, not towards you.”

Hermione thought about this for a moment. So, Astoria was getting taken care of and Theodore’s intentions were true. “If Draco had nothing to do with Astoria’s rape, do you know who had?”

“Rape is a sensitive subject, Miss Granger,” he replied, his brow furrowing. “Even more so among my more traditional constituents. She is getting the help she needs, but it could take years before she names even one of her violators, though I’ve heard there were five. It doesn’t help that Miss Greengrass is so young, though she is old enough that she won’t forget their faces. It will take time.”

“But there is an investigation,” she pressed.

“Indeed,” he said. “And not solely conducted by myself. As I said, Draco was raised around the Greengrasses and is just as concerned about them as I am. He’s already begun his own investigations from what I’ve heard, though I doubt he’ll have any more luck than I. The best thing to do in this situation is to give her a chance to speak. The truth will out in time. It always does.”

He picked up his tea and took another sip from it before replacing it. “As for your final concern,” he stated, his hands resting at his abdomen (an abdomen that Hermione knew was perfectly carved), “I doubt you have anything to worry about. Draco is very much smitten with you, and only you. While I was surprised when I learned that the two of you were already sleeping together, listening to Draco speak of you has eased my worries. He already considers you his wife in his mind. With that thought, I’ve no doubt that he believes the two of you to be a married couple, though you’ve not spoken your vows yet.”

“Harry calls it an obsession.”

“Mr. Potter is known to voice his opinion on a lot of topics,” he pointed out. “Including the ones in which he is ill-informed. Draco would never hurt you, whether it is an obsession or not. He cares immensely and deeply for you, and that says a lot about who he is. I know Mr. Potter and my son have always been rivals, but I trust you to know that he would never do something to you to spite Mr. Potter.”

She nodded. “So…”

“I don’t know if Draco knew you were a virgin or not when he started dating you,” he told her. “If he rushed to be with you, he probably assumed that you weren’t and was attempting to cover up your ‘infidelity’, especially as he had designs to marry you himself. It’s not a common practice among Purebloods, but I won’t lie and say it hasn’t happened before. When a wizard finds a girl he wishes to marry, he takes it upon himself to become her knight in shining armour, as it were. As such, if she isn’t a virgin, he will want people to think that the only reason she’s not is because of him. He willingly sacrifices his own good name to protect hers.”

“Why didn’t he just ask me then?”

He gave a tight smile and shook his head, apparently thinking she was naïve. “It is very rare that a wizard will ask a witch of her sexual status,” he explained. “Mostly because he knows how timid and shy she can be. Never mind that most ladies take offense to being asked, thinking instead that the answer should be obvious, though it rarely is. You are a case in point, Miss Granger. I’ve little doubt that he believed you to have been with Mr. Weasley or Mr. Potter as the three of you are often joined at the hip.”

“Not recently,” she said with a snort.

He inclined his head. “My point exactly, my pet,” he said with a soft smile. “He did tell me in an owl before the two of you started dating that he believed Mr. Weasley had shunned you in favour of another. This, my pet, is probably what sparked his knight in shining armour thoughts. He wanted to marry you and make you his, but thought Mr. Weasley had already gotten to you, given the way the boy was suddenly treating you. So, to ensure that there was no question of who did the dastardly deed of taking your innocence before marriage, Draco took it upon himself to be that villain.”

She wanted to argue with him. To try to convince him that he was somehow wrong, but she couldn’t. The Draco she was getting to know seemed exactly as Lucius described. She thought about the things Draco had said about chivalry and began to wonder just how chivalrous he was. Would he purposely take on the role of the “villain” to protect her virtue? Lucius gave a very convincing argument in favour of it. But there were still more questions.

“He calls me princess,” she commented offhandedly.

“As he should,” he answered. “Aside from the fact that he considers you his wife and the two of you are not quite legally married or even living together, I’ve no doubt he considers you a princess. Besides, as I’ve said before, I’ve done research on your family and you have some very prominent lords and even dukes in your genes. Not to mention the greatest wizard of all time.”

Stunned she glanced up at him. “I’m a descendent of a great wizard?”

He nodded. “I didn’t want to say last night at supper because I knew the unwanted reaction it would have received. After all, your ancestry is quite possibly one of the most coveted, even with all the Muggles.” Putting his leg down, he leaned forward and, placing a hand on her knee, looked up into her eyes. “You, Miss Granger, are the descendent of none other than Merlin himself.”

(II)(II)

When Blaise woke up, he was surprised to find himself lying in the bed. Looking around, he noticed the room was empty and he frowned. Getting up, he made his way to the restroom to relieve himself and, once finished, stood in the sitting room. His eyes wandered, searching for the girl who had slept in his room the previous night.

After their little spat, Blaise had seriously considered taking her, thereby smudging the family name even further into mud and making it impossible for the family to crawl out. But he grew a conscience after seeing the fearful look in her eyes and decided, quite uncharacteristically, to take pity on her. He had given her the bed to lay in and he had taken one of the chairs. Now he couldn’t seem to find her.

He thought about waking one of his friends, but knew neither of them would be pleased at being interrupted. He needn’t worry about it much, for Draco stormed out of his room a second later.

“Have you seen Granger?” the blond asked, furthering the dark boy’s curiosity.

“No,” he replied. “Greengrass is missing too.”

Draco folded his arms. “Think they went to breakfast together?”

Blaise shrugged. “Could be.”

He watched as his mate went to the bathroom and shook his head. Did Draco even realize he was stark naked? Or did he simply not care? Neither possibility would surprise Blaise as he’d seen the boy do both. More than likely, it was both. He heard the shower turn on and nodded.

Moving to one of the chairs, he sat down and leaned his head back. Closing his eyes, he thought over the argument. If Granger learned about their parts in Astoria’s rape, he had no doubt the girl would attack all three of them, though neither boy had actually raped the young girl. Daphne knew this yet she persisted with the idea that they should still be punished.

“Good morning,” a sweet, soft voice chimed like the sound of a tiny bell.

Blaise opened one eye to see the willowy form of Luna Lovegood gliding towards him and taking a seat in the chair opposite him. “Slept well, I hope?” she asked.

He rubbed his face with his hand. “As well as could be expected. You?”

She smiled. “It was a lovely night, though I was a bit disappointed with how the evening had gone,” she said with a slight frown. “I don’t think it was the right time or place for Daphne to say the things she said and I do hope Hermione doesn’t hold any of it against you or Draco.”

Ah, the naivety of innocence, the boy thought. The girl had fought a war, had probably even killed people, yet she still held onto that believe that everyone was inherently good. Though Blaise felt the sentiment to be somewhat troublesome, he imagined Theodore thought it endearing. Just the type of girl Theo needed.

“Daphne has a lot of problems,” the boy said.

“Nott! I’m going to kick your arse! Get out of here, you git!” they heard Draco shout as Theodore walked out of the bathroom, laughing.

Luna looked at the tall boy curiously while Blaise smirked in amusement. For his part, Theodore looked both angry and amused. “Blimey, you’d think the prat never saw another man’s dick before.”

“Or that he prefers showering alone,” Blaise suggested.

Theo shrugged. “All I did was take a leak, which really needed to be done.”

They heard the water shut off and a few moments later a just as naked, but decidedly wet, Draco stepped back out into the room. He glared at Theo. “You’re lucky I was by myself, you nosey little git,” he growled. “If Granger had been in there…”

“But she wasn’t,” the dark haired boy pointed out.

“There was no way for you to know that,” the blond said.

Theodore shrugged as he sat in the chair with Luna. That was when he noticed she was staring curiously at Draco’s cock. “Oi!” he shouted, turning his attention to the blond indignantly. “There is a lady in this room. Go put some clothes on, you arsehole!”

Draco caught the girl’s stare and smirked. “Like what you see, Lovegood?”

“I’ve seen longer,” she stated, causing Draco to blanch. She looked at Theodore. “It’s interesting, isn’t it? Hermione made a comment a few days ago about the size of Crabbe’s penis, and yet I really don’t see what there is to joke about.”

“Well, not all boys are created equally,” Theodore answered. “What he lacks in penis size, though, he makes up for elsewhere.”

“What was Granger doing discussing Crabbe’s cock anyway?” Blaise asked.

“Oh, she and Ginny were laughing about Ronald,” Lovegood said. “Apparently, Ginny had seen him come out the shower, much like Draco just now, and thought it was funny how small he was.”

The smirk returned to Draco’s face as the other two boys laughed. “You know, Lovegood,” Draco commented. “I think I like you.”

She gave him a pretty smile. “I’m glad,” she stated. “I know it would have saddened Hermione if you didn’t like me.”

Draco shrugged as he turned back to his room and disappeared inside it. He returned moments later wearing a pair of black trousers and a black oxford. Glancing in the mirror, he ran a hand through his hair. “I’m going to find Granger,” he told them.

“She’s probably somewhere with Daphne,” Theo suggested lazily and Draco glared at him.

“All the more reason I want to find her,” the blond hissed. “I don’t trust Greengrass and I don’t need her filling Granger’s head with lies, which you know she will do.”

“Maybe they went to breakfast,” Luna mused. She turned to Theo curiously. “That would be where I would go if I were Hermione.”

“Except that Hermione wouldn’t go to breakfast without Draco,” Blaise pointed out. “They always go together.”

She tilted her head, looking at the dark skinned Slytherin. “This isn’t Hogwarts. It wouldn’t surprise me if she thought to go to breakfast with the intent of allowing Draco to sleep a bit longer,” she suggested.

“You’re right, Lovegood,” Draco growled as he angrily stowed his wand in his pocket. “This isn’t Hogwarts and I warned Granger of the dangers with traversing this Manor alone.”

(III)(III)

Hermione just stared at the man in shock.

For his part, Lucius remained quiet, allowing the girl to process what he had said and come to terms with it. The moment he had learned of her lineage, he knew she would have to become a part of his family. It didn’t matter when or how. Having Merlin’s blood run through the next generation of Malfoys was too much of an opportunity for the Pureblood to pass up. Had he not been married to Narcissa, he might even have considered taking the girl for his own. As it was, he would do anything to ensure the girl married his son. If, after their marriage, he could convince her to slip into his bed one day, unknown to his wife and son… No. Lucius knew he would only entertain those thoughts in his fantasies, though seeing her reaction to his portrait did leave him to believe there was a possibility there.

For now, though, his concern was getting her married to his son and to do that, he had to make her believe that all of Draco’s intentions have been noble, even the ones that were dubious at best. Furthermore, he needed her knowing who she was and where she belonged. So, he mentally forced his dick down and gave her a soft smile as he waited for her to speak.

“I’m a descendent of Merlin,” she repeated slowly, her eyes wide and staring at him in disbelief.

He inclined his head. “It’s taken many years, obviously,” he told her, “but, yes, an heir has finally been born.”

“An heir?” she asked curiously.

“Well, heiress,” he corrected himself. “It is mostly his son, not Merlin, who had arranged his will. When it was discovered that he would have no heirs of his own, but his sister had, he set it so that the first of the blood to display magical skill and talent, would inherit it all, regardless of whether they are male or female. You’ve amassed quite a fortune, Miss Granger.”

Hermione forgot to breathe and felt herself falter. “I what?” she whispered.

He gave another little smirk. “Of course, you’ll have to verify it through the Ministry. No doubt they’ll want a sample of your blood to test for themselves,” he told her.

“This is why Draco wants to marry me,” she surmised as she slowly came to her senses. “He’s been pushing the idea for months now and this…”

“Draco did not know of your lineage until I told him,” the wizard said, frowning slightly. “And he doesn’t know of your inheritance. Were I you, Miss Granger, I would continue to allow him to believe that there is no money. Then you won’t have any reason to doubt his sincerity.”

She bit her lip, glaring at him. “I can’t do that,” she told him. “Because I’m not like you. If he asks me, I’ll tell him. It’s just my nature.”

He inclined his head. “Then perhaps I should remind you, my pet,” he said after a pause, “Draco has his own riches that he has inherited, and he has full access to them all. He’s not interested in what you’ve attained. All he wants is the life he believes he can have with you.” Lucius glanced at her, raising a single platinum eyebrow. “He is in love with you, whether you choose to believe it or not.”

“I know he is,” she confessed. “At least, I know he is now. I just…” She glanced away from him and back again. “When he learns there is money involved, he’ll want a marriage with me even more desperately than he does now.”

He shrugged and parted his hands, palms upward. “Is that such a bad thing? Once it’s discovered who you are, the paper will start pouring in. Gents from all walks of life will put in offers for your hand.”

“Bids,” she said, frowning deeply.

He nodded. “It is an unfortunate part of life, my pet. Traditions handed down from generation to generation. And I’ve no doubt they all will try to buy your affections. Know this, they care little about your heart and more about their pocketbooks and bloodlines.” She looked away from him and stared down at her hands. “Lucky for you, however, you have a strapping young chap who has loved you long before you’ve known the truth.”

Glancing up, she saw him smiling kindly at her. It was an odd expression to see on Lucius Malfoy’s face. Of course, it made him about ten times more handsome, if that were possible. She took a deep breath. “Do you think I should marry him?” she asked.

He pursed his lips, his brow furrowing. “I think you should do whatever your heart tells you,” he advised. “So long as it’s within reason. You and Draco have been together for about what? Two months now? While that is plenty of time to determine one’s feelings for another, you are both still young. Even if you wanted to marry, you’d have to at least wait until June.”

“I do love him,” she affirmed. “There are moments when I wonder if he’s being honest with me, like now, with the cigarette.” She held up the cigarette butt and sighed. “And there are times when I question his motives, but I do believe he loves me in return.”

Lucius gave another nod as the little house elf Basal popped into the room. “Master, breakfast is ready, sir,” he said with a bow.

“Thank you, Basal,” Lucius said as he sat up. He glanced at the girl. “Shall we join the masses in breaking our fast, my pet?” he asked as he quirked his brow and gave her a smirk.

Hermione stared at the house elf as he disappeared and a thought crossed her mind. She looked at Lucius in horror. “Oh, sweet Merlin! Draco!” she gasped as she stood up. “He must be worried sick about me!”

The wizard stood up as well, dusting off his sleeves and straightening his clothes. “I’m sure he’s well aware by now where you are, my pet. No need to fret,” he commented in an attempt to soothe her fears. “Come along. I know a short cut to the dining hall where I’m certain he and your friends are waiting.”

It wouldn’t be until later on that evening that she realized the term of endearment he had chosen for her. She wouldn’t be sure what, but she would know in that moment of reality that something in their relationship had changed.

(IV)(IV)

His mother had informed him that Hermione was “having a meeting” with his father. Knowing they were together, alone, did nothing to set Draco’s mind at ease, though his mother assured him that they were “just talking.” He’d been in meetings with his father. It was very seldom that the meeting involved just talking.

He sat grumbling at the breakfast table, his finger tapping incessantly against the wood while his foot bounced underneath. He wanted to go into his father’s office and demand that Hermione come with him. To ensure that this wouldn’t happen again. He would never let her out of his sight again and would forbid her from going anywhere without him.

“Draco, stop fidgeting, darling,” his mother gently reprimanded. “Your father and Miss Granger will be here soon and you’ll see that she’s perfectly fine.”

He glared at his mother, his lips pinched together in his frown. She said nothing more to him, just raised a single, perfect eyebrow and he looked away. Luna Lovegood patted his hand kindly.

“I’m sure your father would never do anything untoward with her,” the Ravenclaw said with an innocent confidence that Draco knew spoke of her naivety.

Theodore leaned back in his chair. “Even if he did, what could you do about it, mate?” he asked, smirking. “Besides, it’s not like he would hurt her. If anything, she might even like it.”

Draco jumped up, knocking his knees against the table and causing his glass to topple over. Luna grabbed her own glass to prevent it from toppling over as well as Blaise stood up. “Draco, sit down,” the dark skinned boy ordered and looked at Theodore. “You’re not helping, mate.”

The tension in the room was so thick, you could cut through it with a knife. “What does he want with her anyway?” Draco demanded, staring at his mother. “What could he possibly have to say to her that he can’t say in front of the rest of us?”

“You’re drawing conclusions and making assumptions,” Narcissa commented. “Even if your father wanted to do what Theodore suggests, you have to remember that he would never force himself on Miss Granger. And from what I’ve gathered from our spa day, she genuinely loves and cares about you, Draco. She’s such a little Gryffindor that I do not doubt that she would consider it betrayal on her part if she did agree to do anything with your father.”

The blond boy scoffed as he plopped back down in his chair, slouching and returning to tapping his finger and bouncing his foot. He stared angrily at his plate, not really seeing it, as he seethed. Draco knew his mother was right. Granger was loyal to him. That much he had made sure of. And he knew she loved him.

The back door opened and Lucius stepped into the room, followed by Granger. Draco shot up and went to the girl, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her tightly to him, burying his face in her hair. He felt her arms around his body, her chin resting on his shoulder. In that moment, he felt like he was in heaven just being in her arms.

He just couldn’t explain it. Ever since that first night, when he held her while she slept, he had felt… whole. She calmed him in ways that others didn’t and he would destroy anyone who attempted to tear them apart.

Sure he had done things that he wasn’t particularly proud of since they started dating, but he didn’t see it was consequential. Everything he had done had been to keep them together. To keep her happy.

When he felt her start to pull away from him, he glanced down at her and kissed her. The taste of her lips were his ambrosia and he moaned deeply in his throat. She broke the kiss, giggling.

“Did you miss me?” she asked, looking up at him.

He pushed a lock of hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. “I was worried,” he told her. “I had warned you about walking this Manor alone and thought you may have gotten hurt.”

She shook her head as she pulled him towards the dining table. “Your father wanted to speak to me. Had Basal come and fetch me,” she said, smiling.

He allowed her to lead him to the table. Pulling her chair out for her, he helped her settle into her seat before sitting down himself. He glanced at his father. “What did you talk about?” he asked, trying to come off as curious, though his angry glare belied it.

Lucius was neither phased nor amused. He lifted a single brow. “What we discussed is between Miss Granger and me,” he answered. “And I would trust you to have a bit more faith in your chosen mate. She’s a good girl, Draco, with impeccable breeding.”

Hermione blushed prettily as food appeared before them. She glanced about the table and cocked her head to the side. “Where’s Daphne?” she asked.

Author's Note: Dun, dun, dunnnnnn! Where's Daphne?

DaFossil: Yeah, here's hoping he does. Especially with Draco. As for Hermione, I think she'll learn some of it.

Schoolteacher623: If Draco listens. Lol! Theo and Luna are kind of what Draco had been aiming for when he had been plotting with his fellow Slytherins, I think. Didn't exactly work out the way Draco had wanted, but then again, he's a bit too needy, I think. He wants it all.

ArielKidd: It's not that I didn't try reading it. I just couldn't handle the idea of Draco with someone else. I'm the same way with Hermione, though. It's hard for me to see them separate because they are just so good together. (Even in this story, you'll see.)
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The Dare