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The English Rose	By : TempestLore Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 20465 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: I do not own anything of the Harry Potter Universe, nor do I make any profit off of this story or any others.

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
The English Rose

Chapter Fifteen

     His lips were fire and I basked in the feel of his hot kisses. We were naked and entwined as he writhed above me. “Make love to me, before the Forgetfulness Potion kicks in and I don’t remember this incredible day.”
     “You know I will,” he rasped in a husky voice and then I felt the burn of his rigid cock as it plunged, deep inside me. A guttural moan was ripped from my chest as pleasureable sensations engulfed my entire being. A strong breeze, warm like a steady prevailing wind blew through me as the transference commenced.
     “I feel it…I feel your magic… I feel you,” I said and tears burst from my eyes. He was exquisitely beautiful, divine in masculine glory as he thrust inside me again and again. The warm winds blew harder and I was all at once energized. I had a smile on my face as wide as the Atlantic and with each thrust I felt rejuvenated and powerful beyond all measure. That’s when I noticed the silent tears that trailed down his cheeks and I quickly became worried. “Does it hurt, are you in pain?”
     “No,” he said breathless. “I’m nearly there. Come with me and the transference will be complete,” he said and then he quickened his pace.
     “This is only temporary my sweet Draco,” I said as my head rose above the clouds.
     “No, it’s forever,” he said and he clasped his fingers in mine and fucked me with everything he had inside. I was neck deep in love and my eyes fell on the silver band that he wore around his finger as he pumped his love into me.
   “Forever,”I managed to grunt out as my orgasm crashed over me. “I love you so much.”
     “I love you too…”
     “What was that last word? I love hearing it. Say it again, please, so I never forget.” His hair fell down over his shoulders and shrouded me in a golden curtain of soft blond and then he whispered in my ear the word I so craved to hear.

     “Granger, wake up,” I heard him say and I popped my eyes open. I was disoriented and shocked to find myself still inside the plush carriage of the Liege. “We’re here,” he said with a smile and he extended his hand.
     “What happened?”
     “I’m sorry, one of my men needed a quick word, matters of the state. I was only gone five minutes. You must have fallen asleep,” he said as he escorted me from the carriage.
     “I see,” I said feeling completely horny after my erotic dream about the blond and myself. It felt so real as if it happened. “Malcolm?”
     “In the house with Junior. Shall we?” he asked and he extended his arm to me as we stood outside the grand estate that belonged to the Liege.
     “Draco, can I see your hand?” I asked, confused. He shrugged but extended his right hand for me to see. “No, the other hand,” I said.
     “What is it?” he said with concern as he held his left hand out for me to see. He wore no rings and that’s when I knew it was just a dream.
     “It was nothing I guess,” I replied but inside I wanted to cry. I felt this intense loss. One moment I was making love with my former nemesis, Draco Malfoy, and he was proclaiming his love to me and then next I was sitting alone inside a carriage that was parked in the drive. It was discombobulating to say the least and Draco seemed to notice that as he looped his arm around me and led me to the door of the estate.
     “Perhaps you need to sit a while. You’re trembling,” he said concerned.
     “Perhaps I will sit for a spell,” I agreed.
     “Did I do something to cause this?” he asked.
     “Yes, but let’s leave it at that,” I said and I caught the faintest of smirks from the blond which only served to leave me even more confused than I was before.

__0__

     “That’s it, you got it Malcolm. Just remember to keep the handle steady and pointed in the direction you want to go. Off you go now. Stay in sight or your Mum may hex me,” Draco said and I covered my eyes. I couldn’t watch my son kick off into the air on the back of a dreaded broom.
     “I’m doing it, I’m we’ll’we doing it Uncle,” Draco’s son Junior said as he kicked off and joined Malcolm whilst they whizzed around the garden of Malfoy’s estate.
     “Don’t you think—“ I started to say but then the Liege cut me off.
     “No, I don’t. That’s as high as it goes so stop worrying.”
     “Right. It’s just that—“
     “Granger, it’s fine. Trust me.”
     “But what if one of them falls?”
     “The highest it goes is a meter off the bloody ground. It’s a beginner broom. Stop worrying Granger. I can see haggard worry lines beginning to form around your eyes,” he said with a grin.
     “I suppose you’re right. Curious though isn’t it?” I said and Draco approached me where he towered over me.
     “What is?” the blond asked.
     “That Junior called you Uncle.”
     “Mmm, yes that is curious,” Draco said cryptically but then he ignored the question!
     “That curse, the one Astoria cast on you…I know it’s real you already confirmed that the other day.”
     “Yeah…and?”
     “Well he looks nothing like you.”
     “Your point?”
     “Not going to make this easy for me are you? Alright, I mean it’s glaringly obvious that he isn’t yours, so the question is whose child--”
     “Ginny’s,” Draco said with a smirk.
     “I know that, of course.”
     “Of course,” he said slyly and he raked a hand through his hair and smiled. God he’s so handsome.
     “Not going to tell me?”
     “We already had this conversation.”
     “Did we, because I don’t remember having it,” I said.
     “Mmm, that is a problem,” Malfoy said. “I suppose you’ll just have to remember it and then your question will be answered,” he quipped as if it were all so easy as pie. I sighed, annoyed and he laughed at my frustration.
     “Perhaps if you told me what it is I’m supposed to remember?”
     “I can’t,” he said and the smile faded. It was replaced with a look of deep worry that he tried to hide but failed miserably at.
     “Draco…”
     “Where do you normally go when you don’t know something?” he asked and I felt like it was a clue.
     “I’m not following?”
     “Come on Granger, you spent months there back when we were school mates.”
     “The library? Is that what you mean?”
POP
     “Master, brunch is served on the veranda,” one of the house elves said at precisely that moment and I cringed. I was so close!
     “You go on up. I’m just going to wave the boys’ in,” Draco said and I let out a deflated sigh as I turned back towards the house.

__0__

     “So you’re getting closer, did she, you know…?” Harry asked and Draco shook his head.
     “She has to remember. None of this works if she doesn’t remember,” Draco stated.
     “Does anyone want to hear what I think?” Ron said to Harry and Draco and to his sister Ginny when they met in the catacombs and tunnels beneath Draco’s estate. “You know, since I’m the only one who has total access to ‘Mione and since I know her better than any of you lot?” Ron boasted.
     “Ron, it’s not a competition,” Ginny piped in. “We all know her here.”
     “But you don’t live with her. You don’t know all her peculiar nuances like I do,” Ron defended.
     “Big words, Ron. Congrats,” Ginny snorted with laughter.
     “Shut it Ginny. You’re just sour because everyone in the family hates you.”
     “Ron come on, don’t say that to Gin. She’s been through a lot. We all have.“
     “I’d like to hear what you think,” Draco said and Harry and Ginny both looked at the blond in shock.
     “Thank you Malfoy! Wow, never thought I’d hear myself utter those words,” Ron mumbled. “Right then, here is what I think. This morning, just before I had to break up a brawl between my wife and bloody Honora, I mentioned the Restricted Section to ‘Mione.”
     “What did you say?” Draco asked eagerly.
     “Nothing really, I just cleverly threw it into our conversation,” he beamed proudly.
     “In what context, Ron?” Harry asked.
     “No context at all! That’s the brilliant bit on my part.”
     “How is that brilliant?” Ginny quipped. “So you just tossed the words out there but said nothing at all?”
     “Yes, I just tossed the words out there,” he smiled.
     “Okay, well, nice job,” Harry said but he looked confused. “So moving on then?” he asked.
     “None of you get it?” Ron chimed in. “Come on! Am I really the only person here that actually knows Hermione?”
     “No, I get it. I too mentioned the library at Hogwarts,” Draco admitted. “She will notice the inconsistency and it will stand out in her mind, which will lead her to unraveling the mystery of why you said it. Something like that?” Draco asked.
     “Exactly! For a moment I thought you were all imposters.”
     “I’ll hex you if you start that nonsense again,” Ginny sighed. “Of course if you’re still unsure if it’s really me or not I could tell everyone about the time you made out with the poster on my wall. It was a poster of you Harry,” Ginny stifled a giggle.
     “Nice,” Ron spat. “That was after we beat the tar out of Slytherin and I was celebrating our victory. You remember that one Harry?” Ron punched Harry in the arm. “It was the first—no, the second time you beat Malfoy to the snitch,” the redhead said and Draco scoffed.
     “Yes, I remember it well,” Harry stifled his smiling pride when Draco glared at him.
     “You got lucky,” Draco said.
     “No, he was always better than you mate,” Ron said.
     “No, Draco is right, it was total luck that day. We should really get to the matter at hand. Thanks for the kiss though Ron but I’m really not into that,” Harry winked and Ron grumbled, embarrassed.
     “So aside from Ron’s brilliant mentioning of the ‘restricted section’ without any context at all do we have any other news to share?” Ginny asked.
     “I don’t know how you tolerate her, Harry,” Ron spat.
     “I know you don’t,” Harry replied and then he slinked an arm around her.
     “She’s doing wandless magic,” Draco said.
     “Oh yeah, don’t piss Hermione off. You should have seen what she did to Katy,” Ron said. “I’ve never known ‘Mione to be so—so--,” Ron fumbled for his words.
     “Cruel?” Draco interjected.
     “Yeah,” Ron sighed as he raked a hand through his mop of red hair. “I mean don’t get me wrong, Hermione is the best person to have at your side in the heat of battle, but she normally doesn’t hex people right out in the open and so viciously like she did to poor Katy.”
     “Poor Katy? She cursed me and then she tried to seduce me,” Draco admitted. “He is onto something though. Hermione hexed me yesterday. It was purely by accident, but she is without a doubt performing wandless magic now.”
     “That’s great news,” Harry said. “Perhaps what you perceive as cruel is just her reacting to Draco’s brand of magic, you think?”
     “What?” Draco said and he was taken aback.
     “I’m not saying that you’re cruel or anything Draco,” Harry defended. “It’s just that—oh never mind.”
     “No it’s alright. It occurred to me too after I saw what she did to Katydid. Right now she’s a force to be reckoned with. She has more than doubled her magical ability and she will prove useful to the cause in the days to come,” Draco said with a dour expression.
     “We can’t do this without you mate,” Harry said and he touched Draco’s shoulder.
     “This is just weird,” Ron shook his head. “Malfoy on our side is like Snape working for the Order of the Phoenix.”
     “Severus did work for the Order, you idiot,” Draco said. “My Godfather was killed just as my parents were by the Dark Lord.”
     “Snape was working for us? Did I know that?” Ron asked and everyone just shook their heads in disbelief.
     “Perhaps it’s you who is the imposter,” Ginny laughed at Ron’s expense.
     “You know, screw you Ginny. I’ve been running the resistance for months. That’s right, me—oh and Hermione of course. I’m assuming that’s alright to admit in front of his royal highness, the Liege of Blind Falls? You better not lock me up for high crimes, Malfoy.”
     “Fuck you Weasel,” Draco spat.
     “Right back at you Ferret,” Ron lashed back with a raised voice that echoed through the dark chamber of the cavern. “Now this is what I’m used to from him.”
     “Should we stop this?” Ginny asked Harry.
     “No, it was bound to happen sooner or later, may as well let them get it out so that we can move on,” Harry declared and Ginny nodded.
     “Let me tell you about this so called, half-baked bloody cell that you refer to as a force of resistance.”
     “You didn’t even know about it. Admit it. We operated right under your nose for an entire year and you were none the wiser.”
     “Is that so?” Draco said coldly.
     “That’s right fuckface,” Ron folded his arms and smiled victoriously.
     “Are you done now?”
     “Hmm let me consider it,” Ron said smugly. “Yes, I think I am.”
     “Right then, let us blow a mountain sized hole in that bubble of red waste that you call a brain, shall we? Not only did I know about your resistance, but I’m in it you stupid fucking twat! I infiltrated it months ago.”
     “No,” Ron shook his head.
     “No?” Draco approached him as he swaggered over to where Ron stood with his hand upon a limestone stalagmite that sprouted from the ground of the cave. “Please to meet you, Sir. Do you want me to set up security outside the cave? Do you think that would be prudent at this juncture, Sir?” Draco said in a slightly deeper voice than his own, the very voice he used when he was under polyjuice and going by the name of Matthew.
     “Mattie?”
     “Yeah, shit for brains,” Draco said and he huffed. “And don’t call me Mattie. I always hated that. You’d think he would have caught on the first twenty times I corrected him and told him to call me Matthew.”
     “Holy shite, you ran our security when we busted that woman out of jail! You said you stole the blueprints off the Liege’s desk.”
     “And I did, sort of anyway. I really more…I took them from my own desk,” Draco chuckled.
     “Someone in my shoes should feel pretty stupid about now, huh?” Ron said coming down to Earth. “Did Hermione know? She really liked Matthew.”
   “I don’t know if she knows or not. I’m guessing not, but she had a soft spot for Matthew that was a bit of a blindspot. He’s my gardener and he’s gay, so if you’re looking for a gent Weasley…?”
     “Screw off, I have a beautiful wife!”
     “I bet she knew,” Harry said. “Hopefully she remembers and soon, we’re running out of time. Moving on to other matters. Assuming that ‘Mione does remember and makes you—er—whole again, how are we going to infiltrate the royal palace?”
     “Now this is getting juicy,” Ron wagged his eyebrows excitedly. “I’ve been waiting nearly a decade for this, so don’t leave me out.”
     “Well, that’s tricky,” Draco said. “But I have a plan and it has to happen on the sixteenth—no, make that the seventeenth. You see the Dark Lord plans to pass legislation so he’s called all Lieges’ to the capital for a vote. After the law is passed there will be an after party, you know, to celebrate the Dark Lord’s victory. That is when we make our move. We can cut off the head of the snake and all its smaller heads in one fail swoop,” Draco said.
     “Sounds perfect,” Harry said and Ginny agreed. “’Mione has to remember and soon. You’re our ticket inside. We can’t do this without you Draco.”
     “Wait,” Ron said and he looked perplexed. “What if the legislation doesn’t pass? I mean what if the Lieges vote Voldemort’s law down, then what? There won’t be an after party.”
     “I don’t know,” Harry said and he looked to Draco.
     “Draco you want to tell them or shall I?” Ginny asked with a knowing look.
     “Go for it. I don’t particularly enjoy being the bearer of bad news,” Draco said.
     “All laws that come from the Dark Lord are voted on and passed.”
     “Even the really bad ones?” Ron asked.
     “Especially the bad ones. She said all, she meant all,” Draco snapped.
   “Just what is this new law?” Ron asked and Harry and Ginny alike all leaned in, interested.
     “I don’t want to say it, and actually I’m forbidden from saying it.”
     “Yeah, even I don’t know what it is,” Ginny corroborated his story. “Although, technically you can. Are you getting me?” Ginny asked.
     “Oh I get it,” Draco assured. “Right now I’m a fucking Muggle so my oath means exactly squat. Even so, I’m not going to tell you what the law is. It would ruin your century, needless to say.” There was a long pause where Draco assumed they were all imagining their worst nightmare in attempt to figure out just what the new law was all about. The truth was a brutal nightmare of vast proportions.
     “Right then, meeting adjourned,” Harry said. “We really need Hermione at these meetings. She’s the ingredient we’re missing.” That was the one thing everyone agreed upon, and the only thing they agreed upon as the foursome dispersed and set off through the torch lit caverns.

__0__

     “If you want my opinion—“
     “I really don’t Tuesdee, at least not on this. What Katy did to Draco was a violation, not to mention it was hurtful to me.”
     “You know best,” Ron’s wife agreed. “Still, this isn’t you.”
   “What do you mean?”
     “I don’t know, it’s just that lately you seem a bit—oh never mind I’m probably imagining things,” she said and then she brushed past Hermione, headed for the kitchen.
     “No, wait,” I said and I stopped her. “I seem different to you?”
     “You do. The Rose I know wouldn’t have come down so hard on Katydid. She’s younger and well, she’s not had a great life these past few years.”
     “I gave her a home and a family when I took her on. She abused that and nobody made her do it,” I corrected.
     “Well yes, obviously she did that, but have you asked yourself why?”
     “Why she would violate the Liege? Hmm no, I don’t tend to ask rapist’s why they commit such heinous acts.”
     “There it is again,” Tuesdee shook her head and I could see worry lines on her forehead.
     “What?”
     “This sudden stringent attitude. You used to be, and please don’t take this wrong, but you used to be…sweeter.”
     “Sweeter? Would you be sweet to me if I put a spell on Ron to make him love me?”
     “You didn’t have to place any spell to achieve that,” Tuesdee said, her face expressionless. I just stood there, numb. God she’s right, I said to myself. Tuesdee was living in a marriage with a third wheel, and that third wheel was me! It was Ron and I who ran the resistance. It was Ron and I who ran the brothel. I was Ron’s first love and that’s when it suddenly hit me. This isn’t my family. Ron isn’t my husband who I can ask any favor of at the drop of a hat. Katy isn’t my daughter who I could punish whether it be slapping or hexing her for her wrongs. She was my friend at best and my employee at worst. None of them were really family, except Malcolm, and yet I’d thought of them as such and in so I’d taken advantage of their loyalty and their love.
     “You’re a right foul wretch Hermione,” I whispered under my breath. Combine all that with the fact that I suddenly felt suffocated by the four walls of the brothel. I didn’t want to be the Madam of a brothel anymore. I was better than that. I shouldn’t even want to force my son to live in a brothel on the account of friends and coworkers who I sweetly called family when they really weren’t. Not only that but I had a semi-lover who was rich and who held power and prestige and who wanted me to live in his guesthouse with our darling son. True, he held power in a government that was evil and corrupt, but he loved me and he wanted to take care of Malcolm. Malfoy loves me. A decision was born that day even if it was for mostly wrong reasons. I’d find out later that it was the transference causing me to think and act so viciously and more than a little ambitiously (a Slytherin trait), but at the time I was daft to that fact, and a lot of other huge facts that were life changing. Malfoy’s words rang out in my head over and over again, Baby please, please you have to remember.

__0__

     “When the time comes I don’t want you there,” Draco said as he and Harry shared a glass of bourbon. He had a date with Hermione and he wanted to take her out somewhere nice so he’d arranged for a private table at the Blind Falls Country Club. They had decent food and they lived to serve the Liege.
     “Well that’s a bit impossible isn’t it?” Harry chuckled as he sat on the sofa in Draco’s office with his feet sticking out from under the Invisibility Cloak.
     “Not at all. The Dark Lord is mine. You had your shot,” the blond said and he turned to Harry whose jaw was on the floor.
     “Draco, that isn’t what we talked about.”
     “Oh but it is. Remember our bet? I bested you in that duel that day. Remember?”
     “Well yeah, but Draco, it seems a bit impossible now especially in your current condition,” Harry said referring to his magic being MIA. “I mean you’ve seen what Voldemort does to Muggles, yeah?” Harry cringed. “I’m sorry I called you that, please forgive me.”
     “Why?” the blond said in a neutral voice as he fidgeted with his tie growing ever the more frustrated.
     “It was rude, that’s why. I mean I don’t have to remind you of all people that you are powerless.”
     “I’m not powerless. I’m still the Liege and this is still my county.”
     “I know but—that doesn’t compensate for a truly frightening and well deserved Unforgiveable curse at the right time, does it?”
     “I’m dead, is that what you’re saying? Better me than you,” Draco said in all seriousness.
     “Do you have a death wish or something? You’re worrying me Draco.”
     “Not at all. I want to kill the fucker and live to a ripe old age, but I’m not an idealistic Gryffindor with a hero complex. I’m a realist.”
     “Ouch,” Harry said and he tore off the cloak.
     “Put it back on, I don’t trust one of the house elves.”
     “Do you want me to free him? I could give him my sock,” Harry asked and Draco chuckled.
     “No, good help is hard to find, but seriously watch yourself around Bonnet, I don’t trust her.”
     “Is that the one that kisses your arse and calls you Master Liege Sir?”
     “That’s the one. I don’t trust anyone who sucks up to me as such.”
     “I trust most people. I know I shouldn’t but I still believe that people are mostly good, even despite my history.”
     “Yeah always the shining optimist,” Draco shook his head.
     “You know, ‘Mione will pick up on your dour mood. Perhaps a little optimism might serve you well?”
     “Yeah, you’re right. I meant what I said though. You shouldn’t be in this war, not this time. You would however be great for recruiting purposes.”
     “Draco you perplex me. The Malfoy I used to know might say such a thing to me because he wanted to save all the glory for himself.”
     “How do you know that’s not my intent now?” Draco smirked.
     “It could be, but I doubt it. You’re lying, I can always tell.”
     “You a seer now, hmm? You always know what I’m thinking?” Draco asked.
     “No. Do you really want to know what I think?” Harry asked and he took on a serious expression.
     “Indulge me Potter,” he replied.
     “I think you love me.”
     “I’m not a fucking pansy so don’t flatter yourself.”
     “I think you mean gay and it’s not politically correct to call them pansies, besides, you do like to shag Pansies, Parkinson, remember that troll?” Harry laughed. “No seriously, you love me. The way you took care of me…You could have sent one of your trusted house elves to look after me but you didn’t.”
     “Potter…I didn’t trust anyone back then but myself that is. Trust me I hated even stepping into that cave.”
     “Well we both hated that cave, me more than you I assure you. Every night I worried that the centaurs would find me and cause a stampede and I'd be tramped to death, or worse. Even so I never really said thanks for all that you did. You used to talk to me for hours on end when I was fighting through the pain. I never thanked you for that. It took my mind off my own worries if only for a little while, so thank you Draco.”
     “You got that wrong, I was just knackered and your moaning kept me up so I decided that my voice was more enthralling and interesting than listening to yours. That’s why I did it,” Draco said with a chuckle under his breath.
     “You talk a good talk Malfoy, but I finally have a good read on you and I’m not buying it. You switched sides. I don’t know when it was but I remember what you said to me when I saved your arse in the Room of Requirement. You told me to win. Remember? I feel like I let you down in some weird way and it’s bothering me now,” Harry said and his glasses grew misty.
     “You’re right I did want you to win and all the wind was knocked out of my sails when the rumor mill began to churn itself and everyone said you were dead. For whatever reason, I didn’t believe it, perhaps because I didn’t want to believe it, so I scoured Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest looking for your body and then I stumbled upon a pathetic looking bloke and the rest is history.”
     “And you nursed me back to health which is why now you are hesitant to let me run back into battle. For one I might disappoint you again by not beating Voldemort, and for two I might die and in either case you don’t want to see that,” Harry said and Draco dropped his head and stared at his expensive Italian loafers.
     “If you think all that then you’re more gullible than even I imagined and have virtually no chance of defeating him, which is why I have to do it,” he finally said, but Harry hit the nail on the head. Draco would never cop to it though, not in a million years.
     “I know your tell, Draco. I got every bit of that right. I know you well enough to know you won’t ever admit it so I will bid you good luck tonight with Hermione, I hope she remembers that you and she—“
     “Don’t say it. The walls have ears,” Draco said.
     “So this date, is it to be a three ring circus, you know with hints and clues for Hermione to pick up on perhaps to jog her memory?” Harry asked and Draco smirked.
     “Frightening,” the blond said as he put on his coat and opened the door.
     “What is?” Harry asked.
     “Perhaps you really do know me,” he said before he swung the door shut behind him. He could hear Harry’s laughs through the door and he chuckled to himself.

__0__

     “My lady,” Draco said as he held my hand and escorted me into his carriage. I was dressed to the nines and that wasn’t lost on the Liege when he commented on how delicious I looked in my black, strapless gown.
     “So Malcolm had a great time with Junior, it’s all he’s talked about since we got back from brunch.”
     “Good, I’m pleased he enjoyed himself.”
     I cleared my throat. I had something to ask Draco but it was difficult and with it being the start of our evening out together I was more than a little worried about his reaction to my probing question. “So,” I said stalling my arse off. Just ask!
     “So?” Draco said and he slid across the seat of the carriage to sit next to me where he took my hand and brought it to his lips. He proceeded to drop soft kisses upon my fingers. “How come you don’t wear any rings?” Draco asked and I was caught off guard.
     “What? Oh, I don’t know. Most of what I have is costume jewelry and hideous. Did you notice anything?” I asked and I moved my hair away from my neck to give him a better look.
     “That your tits look amazing in that dress?” he asked and I gave him a playful smack in the arm.
     “I’m wearing the necklace that you gave me. It’s the only nice piece of jewelry I own and I thought it went well with this gown.”
     “It looks ravishing on you and I’m pleased that you kept it after all these years,” he said and then he gazed into my eyes as he continued kissing my fingers. I gulped and stiffened when I started to get turned on by the act. He smiled victoriously.
     “Is it getting hot in here?” I asked and I fanned myself.
     “Look here,” he said and when I turned he pounced on me like a lion devouring its prey. His kiss was deep and his tongue like velvet when it darted inside my mouth.
     “God I miss this,” I said in no more than a low whisper and then he took my mouth again. By the time we reached our destination my panties were sticking to me I was so turned on.
     “You’re so beautiful,” he said and then he exited the carriage and extended his arm for me to take. Swanky was an understatement and I was more than a little nervous being around so many Purebloods. It was like a Death Eaters’ convention, they were everywhere, only they weren’t wearing robes and masks they were instead dressed in gowns and tuxedos. Draco looked smashing in black tails while I felt more than a little underdressed. The Liege assured me that I looked perfect but I received unwelcoming stares from at least some of the patrons who looked their nose up at me. We were escorted to a private room where a candlelit table for two was already prepared. It was all breathtaking and I soaked it in. “Order whatever you like.”
     “Yes because money is no object for a Malfoy,” I said, not really meaning to sound rude, it just came out. Draco smirked at me and I let out a sigh of relief that he hadn’t taken offense at my comment. I perused the menu and was delighted to see that the entire menu was in French. I didn’t often get to use my French so I looked forward to ordering when the snooty waiter arrived at our table.
     “My Liege, I saw you and the lady arrive but I didn’t get the chance to greet you,” the balding, middle-aged man who was a wizard of the worst kind, approached our table and I buried my head in my hands. The last time I ran into the Magistrate we got into a heated argument about my cast allotment and since then I’d spent the better part of four years avoiding the twerp.
     “Good to see you,” Draco greeted him.
     “Rose, you remember the Magistrate of Blind Falls,” Draco said and I could have killed him. Instead of hexing the blond though I raised my head and put on a fake smile.
     "It's er--good to see you again, Sir?"
     “Rose, Rose, it's such a pleasure to see such a fine specimen as you on this night. Oh, whoops, apologies my Liege, it’s just that I feel like I know Miss Winthrop so very well.”
     “Uh, no you really don’t,” I said. I feared that Draco might think that I was his mistress or something and I cringed and bit my lip. I was like a flayed fish baking in the heat—and then I died. Except that I didn’t. It was bizarre as the man stood at our table and proceeded to talk to me in a warm and friendly manner. Our chat went on and on and finally, ten minutes later he bid us farewell and left. I immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
     “You need to relax. He likes you,” Draco assured and he reached across the table for my shaking hand.
     “I don’t get that at all. What just happened Draco? That man hates me I promise you he does. You didn’t work your magic on him, did you?”
     “I might have worked a spell or two on the old windbag. I had my own run ins’ with the pompous prat.”
     “I thought as much,” I said and then the oddest thing happened. A golden ball, brilliant and glowing, rolled across the room, stopping at the foot of my chair. “Draco?”
     “Hmm?” Draco looked up from his menu.
     “There is something on the floor, by my feet,” I said under my breath.
     “Oh?” he said when he looked under the table. “Better pick it up, looks important,” he said with a straight face that gave nothing away.
     “It’s not going to slice my fingers off or sew them together is it?” I had it coming for the silencio spell I inadvertently hexed Malfoy with and I put nothing past him when it came to pay backs.
     “I’m deeply offended, Granger,” he said under his breath. “Go on, it won’t hurt you.”
     “Alright but—if you’re having me on.”
     “Trust me, it’s good.”
     The ball danced in my hand when I reached down and picked it up. It tickled my palm and I giggled as I watched it spin in place on my hand. “It’s beautiful,” I said.
     “Open it,” he said.
     “It opens?” I asked but then I stuck my finger inside the soft ball of showering light and it popped open. I immediately set it down when I saw it. It was the prettiest diamond, a light shade of pink in color and big and it was set in a delicate silver band. “Draco it’s amazing. I don’t know what to say.”
     “Put it on,” he said.
     “Draco, I can’t accept something like this it’s too extravagant.” It also looked like an engagement ring and my hands began to shake as I held it between my fingers.
     “Wear it a while and we’ll see how you feel about it later,” he said and I reluctantly nodded. “Here, let me help you with that,” he said and he took the ring and I extended my right hand for him to put it on me. I frowned when it didn’t fit but was slightly too small to fit over the knuckle. What didn’t make sense was the fact that Draco didn’t look phased in the slightest.
     “My right hand is slightly bigger than my left,” I apologized.
     “You should wear it on your left hand then,” he said and with that he slid the ring onto my left, ring finger. “There, fits like a glove,” he said and he raised my hand to his lips and kissed the back of my hand whilst I blushed and fanned myself with my other hand.
     “This is too much and now I feel really bad for performing the sil—“
     “Don’t say it,” he cut me off.
     “Oh yeah, right, I forgot,” I said feeling stupid.
     “I should really wear it on my right hand though,” I said admiring the precious gemstone. “The jeweler who made it?”
     “On holiday. He won’t be back until the first of the month and then we can get it sized.”
     “I see,” I said feeling overwhelmed. “Is there a toilet—er, I mean I’d like to powder my nose?” I said and Draco stood and like a gentleman he pulled my chair out for me and pointed in the direction of the loo. I was trembling so badly as I washed my hands and once again admired the ring my blond Prince had given me. When I heard the door open I stepped behind the sinks, out of sight. I’m not sure why I bothered to hide at all perhaps it was because I felt dreadfully out of place.
     “Did you notice the Liege, he’s here you know?” One of the women said as she tinkled.
     “Are you joking Portia, of course I did! It’s hard to miss such a show. Did you see the trollup on his arm?”
     “Uh no, I thought she looked familiar though. Is she one of the Talons’? I can’t keep track of them all. It seems each week another one of Frederick’s cousins arrives from the Capitol.”
     “Oh good lord no, honestly Portia. How do you ever intend to land a man if you can’t keep track of who’s who? That woman our Liege is with is a proper whore, and a Mudblood to boot. She runs that awful brothel on the far side of town.”
     “No?” the woman gasped.
     “Oh yes indeed,” the first woman said with a pinched, nasally voice. I narrowed my eyes as a litany of nasty hexes flooded my brain. Not here Hermione, rise above it, I told myself. “I asked our Liege why he brought such filth into our country club and he told me that it was a public relations stunt and that the poor woman was a single mother and he pitied her.” When I heard that I was livid and I stepped out from my hiding spot.
     “Is that what he said, really?” I asked with a raised voice.
     “Oh dear God, she’s using our toilet now too! Portia hurry along won’t you? There’s a foul stench in here.”
     “Yes there is, only it’s not coming from me!” I snapped. “It’s coming from the shit that’s waxed onto your upper lip.”
     “How dare you, you’re nothing but a filthy little Mudblood! Portia! Let's go!”
     “I—I really have to go,” Portia said but her voice was quaking with fear.
     “I don’t like that name. I really don’t like it one bit!” I lost it. Completely. “Silencio,” I chanted and then I watched with satisfaction as her lips began to thread themselves shut whilst she moaned and gagged. “If you come out Portia, then you’re next!” I threatened. “No? Not coming out?”
   “Uhh, no, not at present time,” she replied.
     “Good! Pleasure,” I said and then I stomped from the ladies lavatory.
     “I told the waiter to come back. Now then, have you figured out what you want from the menu?” Draco asked casually when I retook my seat. That’s when an ear piercing shriek rang out and it was coming from the loo.
     “Umm Draco, I think we should go,” I said with urgency and he sighed.
     “You didn’t?” he asked.
     “I did. Can we just…go?”
     “Right now?” he asked.
     “Yes. Now!”

__0__

     “Woman, you created quite the mess for me to clean up,” Draco said as the carriage pulled up to the brothel.
     “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen, it just sort of did.”
     “I was teasing you is all. I never said what she claimed I did though.”
     “I know. Look, I’m sorry for spoiling our night,” I said as he escorted me up the path that led to the English Rose.
     “It doesn’t have to end,” he said and he stopped and turned to face me. “What did you see, today in the carriage?” he asked and I gulped.
     “I ‘spose I owe you that much. What I saw was…us.”
     “Us?”
     “Yes, us. We were making love in the tent.”
     “Really?” he said and his eyes went wide.
     “Yes. Is that bad? You look shocked.”
     “No, Granger, it’s good.”
     “So you’re saying…That happened?”
     “Do you think that it happened?” Draco asked inquisitively.
     “I don’t really know. It felt so real. Is that what you wanted me to remember?” I asked hopefully.
     “If you’re asking me that then you haven’t remembered, but you’re on the right track and with that I must bid you adieu my lady.”
     “Why? It’s still early, you could come up,” I offered and I pointed to the door by where we stood.
     “You have no idea how much I want that,” the blond said and he reached for my hand where he took it and kissed my fingers again.
     “Then stay,” I said gazing at him, watching him kiss each digit. That’s when I saw a flash of Malfoy and he was standing before me, towering over me. In the vision he was wearing his Hogwarts robes and looking divinely dapper. His silver band glinted in the light from the lamppost outside the brothel and my heart sped up. I grabbed his hand and stared at the circle of silver that he wore on his finger. “You didn’t have this on earlier?”
     “No, I put it on for our date,” he said.
     “I didn’t notice it until now.”
     “Mmm is that so?” he said cryptically.
     “Draco, I just saw you, it was a glimpse only you weren’t dressed like this.”
     “And what was I wearing?” he probed.
     “You were wearing your Slytherin robes. It was just a flash. Earlier in the carriage--the dream I had at brunch, you were wearing this same ring. What’s it mean?”
     “It means…” he started but then he clammed up. “It means it’s time for me to go.”
     “No, don’t go, I feel like I’m close to remembering whatever it is I’m supposed to remember.”
     “I should really go.”
     “Draco, please! I dreamt that you gave me your magic—all of it! Is that real because if it is you’re in a world of danger. You’re a Liege and if Voldemort were to call on you to go to the capital—Draco, you have to tell me, this is becoming too real and it’s scaring me.”
     “Calm down, alright. Shhh, it’s okay. We knew all of this.”
     “I can’t calm down, I feel as if everything is hanging on me remembering and what if I don’t?”
     “You will,” he said in a soothing manner.
     “But what if I don’t. It was a magical transference and when you made love to me you gave me your magic for safekeeping, to keep him from taking it.”
     “I can’t tell you,” he said but I could tell that he wanted to. He looked as if he were bursting at the seams to tell me everything.
     “I want to help you, but I can’t if you don’t tell me.”
     “You are helping me.”
     “But how do I give you back your magic, I don’t remember!?”
     “You will though.”
     “I can’t do this anymore, this is too painful to watch,” a voice from the shadows said.
     “Who is that?” I asked and I reached for my wand. “Lumos,” I chanted. “Come into the light.”
     “No, bloody stay there,” Draco spat and I turned to the blond who looked irritated by the stranger’s presence. “Bloody hell, are you spying on me now?”
     “No, of course not Draco, I’d never do that to you—well I mean I did that a lot actually back when I had the Marauder’s Map, but that was a long time ago. No, I came to visit with Ron is all.”
     “Harry? Harry Potter?” I said and I stepped forward.
     “In the flesh,” he said with a lopsided grin as he stepped into the light.

Review?

There’s still at least two chapters left, possibly three if I include an Epilogue which I might. Just not sure yet, but I appreciate those who are reading and reviewing. A BIG thank you to those awesome and faithful reviewers! It’s the real kick in the pants that I need sometimes in order to get me writing again, so thanks bunches.
* This story is on hiatus for now. I apologize but my sister died suddenly. She was an award winning romance writer and her death hit me hard. Perhaps in time I will feel like writing again and will finish this story. I had the last two chapters planned out but not penned. Thank you for your understanding.
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The English Rose