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Beyond the Pale	By : goldhorse Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 81362 -:- Recommendations : 11 -:- Currently Reading : 17
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, JK Rowling does, lucky woman. I make no money from this, which is probably why I'm poor as a church mouse.

Chapter List
- 17
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Hermione felt all the breath rush out of her lungs. A million questions jumbled up in her brain. How had he gotten so close without her knowledge? She thought Melody had put up a silencing spell. When had it fallen? What now? Would he punish her immediately? Would his eyes ever quit glowing?

Not wanting to invoke his wrath any more than running had already done, she sunk to her knees just as she had seen Melody do the very first time she had seen Severus upset with her. She folded her hands behind her back, head down, legs spread slightly apart so she could balance as low to the ground as she could manage. She couldn’t stop the flinch when his hand landed gently upon her head.

“How could you still feel that way?” Draco asked, sadness lacing his tone. “I thought we had this settled.”

Hermione felt a lone tear hit the top of her scalp. It was all she could stand. Draco, to the best of her knowledge, had never cried. Yes, he’d whined, complained, yelled, sneered, and a gamut of other things, but never cried. It broke her, great sobs suddenly wrenching from her chest. She felt absolutely horrid and it only escalated when she felt him kneel beside her and scoop her into his arms. How could he still want to touch her?

“Were you not listening when I said I wanted you ever since you punched me in the face in third year?” Draco mumbled into her hair, stroking it gently.

Hermione tried to dry her tears and voice her concerns but she blubbered instead. “But…but you didn’t…didn’t want…me.”

“Bollocks,” Draco snapped. “I wanted you so bad I was about to rip the wall to shreds to get to you.”

Hermione sniffled. “Just wanted…you to…lose control.”

Draco chuckled. “Mission accomplished. I completely lost it. Hermione, I’m not a fan of being tied up. I’m a tactile creature, was even before you turned me. Not being able to touch makes me…insane. I just can’t handle it. Don’t get me wrong, what little of that blowjob you gave was amazing, but I wanted to run my fingers through your hair and I couldn’t. I was so frustrated. I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t mean it as a rejection. Please forgive me?”

Hermione let out an incredulous laugh. “I’m the one who ran. What do I have to forgive you for?”

Draco sighed. “I know you just wanted to please me and I crushed you. I didn’t realize instinct would make you run.”

“Me either,” Hermione laughed humorlessly.

Draco nodded. “That’s why I’m not going to punish you…terribly. You do it again, I guarantee your arse will rival the Weasel’s hair.”

“Yes sir,” Hermione whispered softly. She was grateful he wasn’t going to punish her. But in the very back of her mind, she wondered how that would be.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Severus drawled. “But I believe we have a date in muggle London that we are late for.”

“We’re eating?” Hermione asked eagerly as she spun to look at her father. Her throat felt like someone shoved a red hot poker down it. She couldn’t even concentrate on Draco’s smell, or the delicious sensations that his hands were causing on her back. She wanted blood.

Melody chuckled. “Yes child, we’re eating. Come on, let’s get you fed. Maybe you’ll stop staring at everyone like they are a rare piece of steak.”

“I haven’t done that,” Hermione said indignantly and then was suddenly worried. “Have I?”

Melody shook her head in amusement. “Only when you’re spaced out in the Great Hall… which you weren’t in tonight. Be prepared for your friends to have a shit fit.”

“Oh, I forgot about them,” Hermione groaned and smacked herself in the forehead.

“I’m sorry,” Draco whispered in her ear and clutched her closer to him.

Hermione sighed. “It’s my fault too.”

“Would you two stop?” Severus snapped. “I’m rather hungry and I am in no mood to hear your overly sappy apologies and martyr requests. For Merlin’s sake, you both sound like you belong in Hufflepuff.”

Draco scowled. “I’m not a bloody Hufflepuff! But I know when I’m wrong and I’m not so arrogant as to think that I’m too good to apologize.”

“You can make it up to each other AFTER we eat,” Severus snapped and pulled a delicate silver necklace from his robe pocket.

The tug behind her naval was more pronounced than it had been since she was first reborn. She attributed it to her being starving. In fact, now as she lay there on the ground after their landing, she was worrying that she might not have the control she needed to feed. What if she couldn’t stop herself?

“Stop that,” Draco chided. “You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for. If anyone should be worried, it’s me.”

“No one needs to worry,” Melody said gently. “Come.”

Hermione managed to pull herself to her feet and gasped in shock at the familiar biker bar they were in front of. “Francis?”

“That’s the one!” Melody said with a grin. “He was your first solo in control feed. Your instincts will respond to it.”

“But what about Draco?” Hermione asked worriedly.

“That was Francis’s lover,” Severus said with a smirk. “And he’s here.”

Feeding turned out to be a non-event, something Hermione was incredibly grateful for. With a full stomach and a lack of burning in her throat, her mind cleared. What had she been thinking, running full out into the forest? She almost wanted to punish herself but remembered that Draco would be in charge of that. She shivered, the possibilities flooding her mind.

“Before we return,” Melody broke in, “we’ve decided to treat you two to a little outing.”

“This isn’t the outing?” Draco asked in confusion.

“Mmm, only part of it,” Melody said with a grin. “Come on, grab our hands.”

Hermione was eternally grateful that she had just eaten; else she would be gagging and wishing she could vomit again. She hadn’t expected to be apparated away quite so quickly. She concentrated on controlling her breathing as she looked around at their new surroundings. It was a place she had never been before, a little dingy back alley with no recognizable landmarks. Music blared from a nearby pub, muggles happily singing along off-key with the song playing. It made her smile and remember better times.

When she was seven years old, her father had taken her out to eat at her favorite fish and chip joint. She’d been mesmerized when the owner brought out a karaoke machine and started inviting customers up to have their turn with the microphone. After begging her father the entire meal, she’d been allowed to go up and sing. Her song choice had been bizarre for someone her age, The Greatest Love of All, by Whitney Houston. She remembered that everyone had cheered, her dad the loudest.

After that, her parents had happily carted her around to vocal coaches, choir practices, and indulged her love of karaoke pubs. That all ended when she’d gotten her letter to Hogwarts. In such a new and surprisingly hostile environment, her singing had gone by the wayside. She knew she never wanted to be a professional singer, but she did still enjoy it. She just didn’t indulge in it anymore.

Melody didn’t let her think on it anymore, hastily dragging her down the alley and into the pub. It was kind of smoky and smelled of a hundred different types of food and alcohol, but everyone seemed to be having a brilliant time. There was an older balding man up on the mike, obviously pissed out of his mind as he slurred the words to I’m Too Sexy by Right Said Fred.

“What do you think?” Melody gushed. “It took me ages to find this damned place. Nancy finally had to go with me.”

“It’s amazing,” Hermione couldn’t help but breathe.

“Glad you like it,” Melody said with a grin. “Come on, dad’s holding a table for us.”

“Wait, what?” Hermione asked in shock.

Severus smirked. “Your previous infraction aside, your mother is certain that you two need another night out as respite from the heavy magic at Hogwarts.”

“I’ll say,” Draco muttered, looking around a bit nervously.

“Oh for Heaven sake Draco,” Melody muttered. “They are muggles, not three headed dogs.”

“It’s not that,” Draco said with a scowl.

“Then what has your wand in a knot?” Melody grumbled.

“What if we’re spotted?”

“Fair point,” Severus said softly. “Follow me.”

They obediently trucked to the back and ducked into the men’s loo, eager to see what was about to happen. Once safely inside, Severus and Melody dropped their glamours, their youthful faces coming into view once more. It made their children relax subconsciously, immediately putting them back into territory they were familiar with.

“Now then,” Melody said after clearing her throat. “Hermione’s features are not quite as noticeable as yours Draco, but nevertheless, she is persona non grata in the Dark Lord’s eyes. You never know when the Death Eaters will go on the prowl for fresh meat. Therefore, we’ll just use Rain as her glamour. I spelled her clip to hold it before we left.”

She gently tugged at Hermione’s hair until she reached a tightly braided strand towards the middle of her scalp. It was well hidden, unable to be detected whether she had her hair up or down and only located by a summoning charm and lots of fingering through her unruly locks. It had a glamour charm braided through the length and was tied at the end with a multifaceted brown bead that was split in the middle. It worked sort of like a muggle combination lock, a certain number of turns in a specific direction gave a different result. Two clicks to the right and three to the left brought out the dark haired beauty with eyes like the sky.

“Mmm, I don’t know.” Draco said cautiously. “I mean, I like Rain, but I much prefer Hermione.”

Melody grinned. “Be that as it may, Rain is much safer…from everyone…if you get my drift.”

Draco’s eyes widened a bit before he set his jaw in determination and gave a sharp nod. Hermione also caught on quickly. It wasn’t just Death Eaters looking for them, but other vampires as well. There was no telling how many Voldemort had managed to sway to his side by now.

“Now for you, son,” Melody said with a strange gleam in her eye. “I created a spare for you before you left as well. Hermione generously provided him with a name. Let’s see how you like it.”

With a smirk to rival the devil, she threaded through his hair until she found the glamour bead. She gave it four turns to the left and one back to the right. Draco’s face went wavy for a moment before it was replaced with another. He now had sandy brown hair that hung to his shoulders and warm brown eyes that had a hint of gold in them. His sharp features became more rounded, though he kept his adult build.

“What do you think…Derik?” Melody asked with a smile.

Draco couldn’t help but grin at himself in the mirror. “I look nothing like myself. Well done.”

“Hermione?” Melody asked curiously.

Hermione couldn’t stop herself from touching her mate’s face. He was so different, and yet entirely the same. Even his smirk came through, the same self-assured expression that made her want to smack him and snog the life out of him at the same time. Still, he wasn’t quite her mate…not like that.

“I prefer blonds,” she said after a while, “but I like it.”

“YAY!” Melody said, jumping up and down and clapping giddily.

The foursome made their way over to a table in a secluded little corner. It had an excellent view of all the entrances as well as the main stage. Alex and Nancy were already seated and were currently looking as though they were fighting the urge to rip each other’s clothes off. They broke apart and looked up a little sheepishly when they were joined.

“Don’t stop on our account,” Melody said with a cheeky grin.

“Honestly,” Nancy said with a snort. “We were trying not to get kicked out of here.”

“Then perhaps you should do something to take your mind off of it,” Melody shot back.

“Like?” Alex asked with a smug grin tugging at his lips.

“Oh, I dunno,” Melody said airily. “You could always go up and show everyone how this is done.”

“You sing?” Hermione butted in, unable to hold back her enthusiasm.

Melody scoffed. “Couple of right superstars if you ask me.”

“It isn’t polite to boast,” Alex chided.

“It isn’t boasting if it’s true,” Melody said with shrug. “And you are stalling.”

“Very well,” Alex said, his lips flattening out in mock disapproval. “If you insist.”

He breezed up the aisle and made his way to the DJ for the evening. They heard him mesmerize the poor unsuspecting sod and order him to jump them in line. However, they did not hear him make the selection. He did that by merely pointing and nodding. When he returned, he had a smirk worthy of a Malfoy planted on his face.

“So you’re going to do it?” Hermione asked softly.

“Next set,” Alex said placating her. “Now, tell me, how was your first few days back?”

“I’d rather not think on it,” Hermione mumbled, suddenly very unhappy to have to make small talk.

“Something the matter sweetheart?” Alex asked in concern.

“Let’s just say she got some rather… upsetting news,” Severus said quickly, uncharacteristically saving her from more turmoil. “And she has had a rather hard time of digesting it.”

“Among other things,” Draco said softly, sadness still permeating his tone.

“A lover’s quarrel then,” Alex said knowingly. “It is really so bad? Your melancholy is so strong, I believe I could feel it if I were human.”

Draco sniffed. “I…rejected an advance…quite unknowingly actually, and it was received rather badly.”

Alex hummed in understanding. “Yes, those are very hard mistakes to curb, or even realize that they will happen before they do. It is one of the things that I severely hate about our nature, in a longer list that would be sure to make lesser mortals cringe. My advice is to sit down and discuss every aspect of your lives in as much depth as possible. I realize that now is not a convenient time to do so, but it will really help.”

Draco merely cocked an eyebrow and then shot a pointed look at Severus and a now uncomfortable looking Melody. Those two had more issues than he and Hermione had ever dreamed of. Why weren’t they given this advice as well?

“Case in point,” Alex said with a snicker when he caught the look.

“Alexander and Anna Bach.”

“We’re up,” Nancy said uncomfortably.

“Anna?” Draco asked as he watched his vampire grandparents take a pair of microphones off the stands.

Melody hummed distractedly. “Nancy is a very old nickname for Anna. When Alex found her, she had been ex-communicated from the pureblood community…most brutally. He decided that she needed a new start…and a new name…so he gave her a nickname and his last name.”

“What was her full old name?” Hermione asked, ashamed that she hadn’t asked earlier. She’d known the woman for two months now!

“Anna Constance Nott.”

“No fucking way, not Theo’s older sister,” Draco breathed. “She isn’t…she can’t be.”

“Oh but she can,” Severus answered sadly.

Draco shook his head vehemently. “Theo said she died of dragon pox.”

“I’m sure he did,” Melody said coldly.

“Hey,” Draco said a bit defensively, “I didn’t say I don’t believe you. I just…I didn’t expect…”

“How long ago?” Hermione cut in.

“What?” Draco asked, caught off guard by her sudden interest.

“How long ago did she die?”

“Oh, well, um, I suppose about the time of the Tri-Wizard tournament.”

Hermione pursed her lips. “It never occurred to you that they would get rid of a squib the second that…that vile…snake-faced bastard returned?”

Draco visibly shuddered and slunk in his seat. “I honestly didn’t give it much thought.”

“No one did,” Severus said with disdain. “And that is what they were counting on. It worked…to a degree. However horribly she was treated before, Nancy, I believe, got the better end of the deal.”

“I did,” Nancy’s voice sounded loud in their ears. They hadn’t expected her to answer them through her microphone. Other patrons in the pub looked confused but brushed it off as an answer to an unheard question when they realized the girl on stage was staring at her partner with a gooey expression on her face.

“And there you have it,” Melody said brightly. When the music came on, she whistled through her fingers and cheered loudly for her dad…and her new mom.

[HER:] They say we're young and we don't know

We won't find out until we grow

[HIM:] Well I don't know if all that's true

'Cause you got me, and baby I got you

……………………………

[BOTH:] I got you babe

I got you babe

I got you babe

I got you babe

I got you babe

The pub erupted in cheers when the couple had finished. Hermione was still floored, her mouth hanging open in stark amazement. They were bloody brilliant! She wanted to hear another one! It was a disappointment that they waved the requests for encores away and sat down, smug looks on their faces.

“See,” Melody said with a chuckle. “Not boasting.”

“Not at all,” Hermione gushed. “That was wonderful!”

“I’m glad you liked it,” Nancy said a bit shyly.

“Liked?” Hermione squeaked. “I loved it! Won’t you sing again?”

“No,” Alex cut off her continued plea. “I believe it is time for Melody to put up or shut up, as they say.”

“You sing too?” Hermione asked quickly, much too excited to be concerned about her over eagerness.

Melody waved her hand out in a dismissive gesture. “In the shower mostly.”

Alex scoffed. “Liar.”

“What?” Melody asked, a look of bewilderment on her face.

“You were in honor choir in school.”

Melody’s face scrunched up in embarrassment. “I was ten for fuck’s sake.”

“And?” Alex drawled.

Melody scoffed. “I’m just a wee bit bigger, in case you haven’t noticed.”

“I have,” Alex said calmly. “And you sing just as beautifully now that you are grown.”

“How would you know?” Melody shot back.

Alex grinned like a Cheshire cat. “Because you forgot silencing charms.”

“Any other person would find that creepy and wholly inappropriate behavior for a father,” Melody grumbled.

Alex laughed heartily. “Is it now? And yet, you didn’t deny your abilities.”

Melody shrugged meekly. “I can still carry a tune…but it isn’t anything to write home about.”

“You can do more than that,” Nancy chimed in. “Don’t think I haven’t heard you singing along with the radio in my diner young lady.”

Melody did laugh then. “Young lady? I’ve got…what…fifteen years on you at the very least?

Nancy pursed her lips in annoyance. “Twelve.”

“Still too many for you to call me that.”

Alex growled. “She is your mother and you will show her proper respect young lady, or I will personally take a cane to your ass. Is that understood?”

Hermione felt the need to hunker down even further than Melody did as she sullenly apologized. For being a gentle and fun loving man, Alex was downright terrifying when he gave reprimands. She felt a distinct shift in the power he had over not only her, but the rest of her family as well. As the oldest, he was their new coven leader, and they had a new instinct to obey him. Now she understood why the coven hadn’t taken out Lysander.

“Now then,” Alex said, frowning at Melody who was pouting. “Go pick out a song.”

“I don’t want to,” Melody said softly, not wanting to make him any angrier.

“Why not?” Alex said, his earlier annoyance gone.

“I just…don’t want to.”

“Why are you afraid?” Alex asked gently.

Melody shrugged again, this time seeming to shrink into herself. It was completely unlike her to back down like this. There had to be something else going on that Hermione hadn’t figured out yet. She desperately wanted to drag her mother to the loo to find out but one look at Alex confirmed that he would have none of it.

“Tell me,” Alex ordered.

Melody sniffed. “Stage fright.”

Alex’s eyebrows shot into his hair line. “Bullshit. You’ve never been afraid of performing in a crowd in your entire life.”

“Please daddy, just drop it!” Melody said, her voice cracking. Hermione was surprised to see tears pricking her eyes.

Alex’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Come here darling.”

“I’d rather not,” Melody huffed.

“I’m not giving you a choice,” Alex growled.

Melody sighed sadly and trudged around the table, plopping down in his lap and burying her head in his shoulder. It looked like she was trying to shut out the world. Severus bore a grimace on his face, the first emotion that anyone had seen him allow in a public place. It was obvious that Melody’s fear and pain were affecting him quite strongly.

Alex’s eyes were boring holes into Severus’s head as he rubbed soothing circles over Melody’s back. “Severus, do you have some insight to this reaction?”

It wasn’t a polite request, as much as it might sound like one to anyone outside the coven. He immediately blamed his daughter’s mate for her extreme reaction. Hermione couldn’t help but wonder if he was right. After all, they had quite the rocky past.

Severus sighed deeply and rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration. “When is the last time you heard her sing…and not just with the radio in the diner?”

Alex frowned. “Just shortly before the end of her sixth year, I believe. I suppose the last time I heard her… we were setting a date for her turning.”

Severus nodded. “Nancy, please take Melody to the loo and see if you can get her to feed.”

“Of course,” Nancy said, a worried look on her face. Still, she dutifully got up and pulled Melody out of Alex’s lap. Melody complied easily, looking for all the world like she was being sentenced to Azkaban.

Severus put a silencing charm around the table when the women were out of earshot. “The night I found her in the bathroom, she was singing a heart wrenching lullaby…to the baby. I ordered her to stop, thinking that she was singing it to herself, shutting down as it were. I told her I never wanted to hear her sing again, an overreaction on my part. She took it quite seriously. I’ve only caught her singing without her knowledge, always that same lullaby.”

Alex nodded sadly. “I thought it might be something like that. She always colors when someone catches her singing, something she didn’t used to do. I suppose she was singing Baby Mine.”

Severus nodded, his eyes glazing over like he was being transported to a memory. “I can’t help but remember seeing her lying there, face white as chalk, lips blue as the sky, and singing the most beautiful melody I’d ever heard. She was so weak, and yet her voice was so strong it carried out into the hall. It makes me want to rip Black to shreds all over again for daring to hurt her.”

Alex closed his eyes in pain. “I used to sing that song to her every night, trying desperately to drown out the sounds of the coven feeding. It was the only lullaby I knew. Gosh, I must have sung it until she left for Hogwarts. She never grew out of wanting to hear it. And when my baby needed me most, I left.”

Hermione hastily wiped a tear from her cheek, not wanting to cause a scene with bloody tears. What a horrible tale. Both of these men loved her mother so dearly, and yet each was powerless to stop her as she did the one thing that would haunt her for the rest of her…unlife. She’d had just about all she could stand and was unable to stop herself from lashing out.

“For fucks sake father, just tell her you love her. It’s three little words. You know they’re true. Do you have any idea how much you’re bloody hurting her just by keeping your damned mouth shut? You are haunted by the image of her dying but you refuse to acknowledge to her that you were affected in any way. UGH!”

The men all stared in shock as she stalked out the door, trying desperately to gain control again. She hadn’t been rejected and therefore, didn’t feel the need to run. However, she knew that she would lose it if she had to look at them for another moment. The rough wall beside the alley exit from the pub gave her something to focus on instead of her overwhelming sadness and frustration. She closed her eyes and took a few calming breaths just before the door opened with a crack. She didn’t have to look to know it was her father that had gone after her.

“Come to punish me?” She asked in a dead voice.

“No,” Severus said, his voice strangely hoarse. “I won’t punish you for speaking your mind when I allow my mate the same liberties.”

“And yet you won’t allow her to sing,” Hermione said dryly.

Severus sighed and pulled her off the wall, scooping her into his arms and journeying with her a ways down the alley. He transfigured a bit of cardboard into a bench and sat with her, rubbing her back absentmindedly while he collected his thoughts.

“To be honest, I never said anything because I believed she would run if I did. I believe that night was quite traumatic for her…in more than one way. I also was afraid that I would be instantly transported to that night again.”

“She doesn’t have to sing the same song,” Hermione chided.

“I am aware of that,” Severus snapped. “However, how does one bring up a subject like that out of the blue? Melody, I just realized that you haven’t sung in twenty years. Why is that?”

Hermione chuckled. “You could conveniently catch her.”

“Tried it once. Took me an hour to find her.”

“Why did she run?”

“She felt my emotions…the ones attached to the song.”

Hermione nodded in understanding. “Since she’s only ever sung that song in private, she only notices that one reaction.”

“Precisely,” Severus sighed.

“Now would be a perfect time to bring it up, you know.”

“Would you think me a weak man to admit I am frightened of her reaction?”

“No,” Hermione said softly. “Courage is found facing your fears, not from the absence of them.”

“A fair assessment.”

“Might I ask you something father?”

“Why bother asking permission? You’ll ask anyway.”

Hermione snorted and shook her head but steadied herself anyway. “If she had kept the baby…”

Severus sighed sadly, tightening his grip on her slightly before answering. “I would have fought to the death to protect her.”

“And the child?”

“I’m a cold-hearted man Hermione but I am not a monster. I might not like Potter because of who his father was, but I would rather amputate my limbs than harm him. If it would have been Melody’s wish to keep the child, I would have raised it as my own…assuming we outran the coven.”

“Does she know this?”

“No. She’s never brought it up.”

“Albus knows she thinks about it. She had to have brought it up some time.”

Severus sighed. “Albus is a nosy old coot who likes to skim thoughts out of people’s heads while they have their guard down. However, if Melody were to ask me the question outright, I would award her with a truthful answer.”

“She’s scared of you,” Hermione said softly.

Severus reeled back in shock. “Why?”

Hermione smiled sadly. “You hold her heart in the palm of your hand and you’re asking me why she’s scared.”

“She believes I would crush it to spite her,” Severus said thickly.

Hermione pursed her lips in acknowledgement. “No time like the present father.”

“If the Dark Lord should find out…”

“If he hasn’t already,” Hermione interrupted, “then he won’t. She isn’t likely to go shouting it from the rooftops. You know that. Quit making excuses.”

Severus growled. “I’m going to suggest your mate rethink your punishment.”

Hermione couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped her. “Of course. You know father, I think you loved her for a long time before you realized it. You wouldn’t have saved her if you didn’t.”

When they returned, it was to find a stoic Melody staring at the table and clutching her dad’s hand while Nancy rubbed her back. Draco’s eyes were darting back and forth but immediately found hers as she walked through the door. The feelings of immense relief washed over her, making her feel badly for leaving again. At least she hadn’t run. She just needed some fresh air.

“Melody,” Severus said in the gentlest tone anyone had ever heard him use. “Please accompany me outside.”

Hermione smothered her smile as she watched her father escort her mother out the door. Maybe they would work it out. For two extremely smart people, her vampire parents were some of the thickest people she’d ever met. She was shaken out of her stupor by a kiss to her cheek. Dazed, she gazed up into Draco’s new face and smiled. Little tokens of affection like that made her toes curl for some reason.

“Think they’ll work it out?” Draco asked, trailing a finger down her cheek.

Hermione nuzzled his hand and hummed. “Depends. Maybe he has some Gryffindor lurking about in his body.”

Alex chuckled. “I think they’ll be fine. Now granddaughter, why don’t you try your hand at karaoke.”

“Oh I couldn’t,” Hermione said, paling. She hadn’t sung in front of anyone in years!

“Yes you can,” Nancy said dismissively. “Your parents told -er- your parents that karaoke was your favorite pastime.”

Hermione blushed from her roots. “I, um, haven’t, um, done it in a long time.”

“Just like riding a bike, love,” Nancy said with a grin. “Come on. I want to try my hand at mesmerizing the DJ.”

Hermione couldn’t bring herself to look at her mate at that moment. Instead, she ducked her head and obediently followed Nancy to the booth. She was impressed with her grandmother’s mastery of skills in such a short time. She had the DJ practically eating out of the palm of her hand.

“How about something fun…and subtle?” Nancy asked her.

“What?” Hermione asked, not understanding.

Nancy grinned and pointed to a song on the list. “Nothing like a little subtlety, don’t you think?”

“Oh!” Hermione gasped when she read the title. “But…it’s a bit, um, early, isn’t it?”

“Nah,” Nancy said dismissively. “Never too early for that…or too late for that matter.”

Hermione looked over her shoulder to see what Nancy was looking at. She noticed her mother and father walking in. Melody looked a bit dazed and Severus was more tense than usual. What exactly had happened outside? A delicate sniff revealed that they hadn’t shagged, so it had to have been one doozy of a talk.

“So, will you do it?” Nancy asked a bit too loudly.

“Oh, um, yes,” Hermione said, though she shook her head. She didn’t think this was such a great idea.

“Great. Got that DJ? Call up Rain Bach.”

“Bach?” Hermione asked in shock.

Nancy nodded. “They’ll just think we’re a family…which we are.”

“Suppose your right,” Hermione said, impressed with Nancy’s logic. “Can we sit down now?”

“You can. I have to do one more thing. Be right there.”

Hermione walked back to the table in a stupor. Had she seriously just agreed to sing a song with a very clear meaning? And Draco would hear her. It wasn’t so much that she minded him hearing her sing, it was the message of the song. Was she ready for this? She sat down, nibbling on her lips in contemplation and tuning out the chatter of her family at the table. She had to think this through quickly. The song, it all but said that she was in love with him. Was she?

Breaking it down in her mind was harder than she imagined. Love and sex were not the same thing. Even love and mating weren’t. Still, she couldn’t help but have a soft spot for the big blond prat. He might have rejected her, but it wasn’t intentional. She knew she drove him insane with lust, perhaps tickled him with her intellect and eagerness, but did it go both ways. She tried to imagine leaving him and got a sharp pain in her stomach at the thought. It made her want to vomit, not that she could. Perhaps she was starting to fall in love with him. Besides, it was just a song, right? She wasn’t confessing her undying love, just…singing…having fun. Yes. That’s what she would go with, having fun.

“Rain Bach!”

She jumped, startled that they had called her name so quickly. She stumbled up to the front and clutched onto the microphone. She could do this, she could. All she had to do was take a deep breath and sing. There wasn’t even the worry of forgetting the words since they were scrolling across the monitor. She had this…she hoped. The music started and she hummed along, remembering the beginning quite well and steeling herself. It was now or never.

You've got me feeling emotions

Deeper than I've ever dreamed of.

Woh, oh. You've got me feeling emotions

higher than the heavens above.

I feel good, I feel nice.

I've never felt so satisfied.

I'm in love, I'm alive.

Intoxicated, flying high.

It feels like a dream

When you touch me tenderly.

I don't know if it's real

But I like the way I feel inside.

When she hit the high note, she couldn’t help but grin as everyone at her table stood up and roared their appreciation. Melody was yelling at her to sing it and Draco was even whistling through his fingers. She stepped it up and started dancing as well.

You've got me feeling emotions deeper than I've ever dreamed of.

Woh, oh. You've got me feeling emotions

Higher than the heavens above.

The entire bar went into hysterics as she finished, taking a bow. She hadn’t felt so alive in a very long time. She was about to step down when the DJ told her to wait, as she was up next in a duet. Her face must have been comical because everyone started laughing at her dumbfounded expression.

“Derik Bach, come join your girl.”

Hermione quit breathing for a moment as Draco rose and sauntered up to the front. He looked calm and cool but his emotions were all over the place. The most powerful one was abject fear but he sure covered it well. He leaned down and kissed her forehead, taking the second mike from the stands and grinning at the crowd before turning to her.

“Didn’t think you were the only one who could sing, did you Rain?”

Hermione was quite aware that her mouth was hanging open in shock. Draco could sing? More importantly, Draco knew of a muggle song, a duet no less? She was about to ask what in the hell he was doing but he cut her off by pointing to the monitor.

“You’ve seen Grease?” She squeaked.

Draco merely smirked and motioned for her to bring the mike up. She did so obediently, barely able to hold onto it as the music started and he belted out the first verse.

I got chills they're multiplying

And I'm losing control

'Cause the power you're supplying

It's electrifying

She almost missed her cue, her first few words coming out weak before she shook herself out. If he could do this, she most definitely could. By the end of the song, they were even doing a stilted impression of Danny and Sandy, much to the delight of the pub. She was on cloud nine by the end of the number, having been swept into Draco’s arms and carried back to their table for a rather heated snog. They were pulled apart by their parents and were both angry and thankful. It wouldn’t do to give the pub an X-rated show.

“Melody Bach, you’re up!”

Melody’s eyes widened comically when her name was called. Severus gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead and helped her to stand, even going as far as to usher her forward a few steps until her brain caught up with her. She shook her head and stared at the monitor a moment before smiling and nodding at Nancy, dancing a little to loosen up. Her eyes locked onto Severus’s and she began singing.

There's a boy I know, he's the one I dream of

Looks into my eyes, takes me to the clouds above

Ooh I lose control, can't seem to get enough

When I wake from dreaming, tell me is it really love

Hermione heard Severus’s breath catch in his throat when he realized the meaning behind the song. Melody valiantly continued, though the strain of Severus’s emotions were affecting her facial expressions.

How will I know (Don't trust your feelings)

How will I know

How will I know (Love can be deceiving)

How will I know

How will I know if he really loves me

I say a prayer with every heart beat

I fall in love whenever we meet

I'm asking you what you know about these things

How will I know if he's thinking of me

I try to phone but I'm too shy (can't speak)

Falling in love is all bitter sweet

This love is strong why do I feel weak

The pub once again erupted into cheers and pleading for her to continue when the song ended but she shyly waved them away. Her body was rigid when she returned to the table. She wasn’t given a second to comprehend Severus’s mood before he spun her around and dipped her low to the ground, engaging her lips in the most fiery kiss Hermione had witnessed.

“I believe we’d best return home,” Alex said, amusement lacing his tone. “Else we’re liable to be either kicked out or end up on a poorly filmed porn tape.”

Nancy giggled and leapt to her feet, helping Alex separate the passionate couple before dragging them out the door. Hermione and Draco followed, holding hands and chuckling softly as Melody swore quite colorfully all the way to the apparition point. She apparently had minded being interrupted quite a bit.

“Now you can continue,” Alex said when they arrived at Spinner’s end. He chucked Melody through the door and strolled in after her, taking Nancy about the waist and swinging her around.

“About bloody time,” Melody panted and threw herself into her mate’s arms. Severus immediately consumed her mouth again.

Hermione felt herself getting wet at the display, something she was no longer ashamed of. This was who she was and she’d learned to accept it. She was about to ask Draco if he would like to pick up where they left off when she realized he was staring at her with lust in his eyes. A snap of his fingers and she suddenly found herself spread eagle in the middle of the living room, hands chained to the ceiling and feet to the floor. She couldn’t move very much and cried out in shock…and extreme arousal.

“Now then,” Draco said, his voice gravelly from desire. “You didn’t think I would forget about your punishment, did you?”

“You said you weren’t going to!” Hermione breathed out.

“I said I wouldn’t punish you terribly, not that I would forgo it altogether.”

AN: So, my brain went off on a tangent and you get karaoke! YAY! It will actually play into the plot later...I think. Anyway, punishment is next. You didn't actually think I'd let her get out of it did you? As always, thanks to everyone who reviewed. They make my days better. Keep them coming and let me know how I'm doing. Until next time... love you guys!

To recap:

The song Alex and Nancy sing is I Got You Babe by Sonny and Cher.

Hermione's solo is Emotions by Mariah Carey.

Hermione and Draco sing You're The One That I Want by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.

Melody's song is How Will I Know by Whitney Houston.

Oh, and Baby Mine is the lullaby from Dumbo that never fails to make me cry.
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Beyond the Pale