Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Verto Vitae	By : RynStar15 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 40710 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Harry Potter nor do I make any money or intend any copyright infringement by using the characters therein.

Chapter List
- 21
- 22
- 23
Draco looked up at his family home looming darkly in the weak early-morning moonlight, a sense of longing nearly overtaking him. He could vividly remember how it used to be; hot summers full of iced pumpkin juice and servants waiting on his every need, endless winters attending extravagant parties and hundreds of presents waiting at the foot of his bed on Christmas morning. Rainy nights when his mother read him Tales of Beedle the Bard before bed, his father teaching him to ride a broom in their lavish gardens. Chasing the peacocks which strutted cockily about with Blaise and, when they were older, practicing their newfound spells on them.
Shaking his head to rid himself of the moment of nostalgia, Draco crept forward slowly, eyes on the guards that were half-snoozing against the wall on either side of the door. Neither seemed to notice the slight shift of earth from his Disillusionment Charm as he made his way toward them. With several quick flicks of Weasley's borrowed wand (as his and Hermione's were still somewhere in the Manor), both Death Eaters were Stupified and mounted against the wall with a Sticking Charm to look as if they were still standing of their own accord. He turned to the door and took a steadying breath, going over his hasty plan.
If he could just find Potter's cloak he might be able to make his way to the Dark Lord undetected. All he needed was a clear shot; just one moment the Dark Lord's back was turned so he could off the snake. He couldn't dwell on the most likely chance that he would be caught. He knew he wouldn't survive a fight with the Dark Lord but it didn't matter; it was Potter who had to end this. He was the only one with the power to do so and Draco was ready to die to give Potter that chance.
The thought of death terrified him, but not so much anymore that he could allow someone else to do this task for him. An image of Hermione crossed his mind and he knew he could do this - had to - for her. This was to keep her safe. He knew what she planned and could no longer step aside and allow her to put herself in danger while he waited on the sidelines, twiddling his thumbs. This was his fight now, he would take this final burden from her, his only gift; his life.
Resolved, Draco slowly eased the mahogany door open, eyes darting about the entry hall for any sign of activity, though at this hour all but the few unfortunate night guards would be abed. Draco held his breath and listened, but no footsteps sounded, no hushed voices could be heard, the manor eerily still. The open door to the parlor revealed his father leaning over a piece of parchment, his long hair unrestrained, blocking his face from Draco's view, though his shoulders and white-knuckled grip on the table were evidence to his strain. Clearly, he was distraught over his son's second disappearance.
Creeping stealthily forward, Draco made his silent way up the grand staircase, his senses on high alert. It was strange to see the halls this empty. There were always people milling about the manor, trading information and practicing grotesque spells on helpless Muggles, but only his sleepless father seemed to be awake at this lonely hour.
He slipped down the side hallway which led to the Malfoy private rooms. Glancing around to be sure he was alone, Draco pressed his palm against the door at the end of the hall and let out his breath when the soft click of the lock releasing sounded at his touch. Only a Malfoy could open these doors, though he'd worried his wary father might have taken measures to bar his entrance. It seemed his father had misjudged him once more.
Draco slid into the room quickly and closed the door behind him, peering around his parent's rooms for the first time in over a year. The effusive décor was still unchanged; the cream eiderdown and dark stained Agar wood furnishings attesting to their wealth and prestige. He'd always felt as though he were too dirty, too rowdy to be in a place such as this; every little accent neatly placed, every velvet draping hung just so.
"Lucius?"
Draco's heart raced as his mother strode out of the powder room, tucking a stray hair back into her intricate coif. Damn, he'd been counting on her being asleep so he could easily Stun her and go about with his plan.
Narcissa's shrewd eyes quickly caught his outline and her wand was in her hand in the blink of an eye and Draco quickly undid the charm and raised his arms in surrender before she could curse him and alert others.
"It's me, mother."
Narcissa's eyes widened as he appeared, her wand wavering.
"Draco?" she whispered, disbelieving. She tightened her hold on her wand, her eyes hard, and Draco wondered if he'd overestimated her maternal instincts, worrying for the first time that she might turn him in, that Lucius had finally succeeded in turning her against their son as he had long ago.
For a moment she said nothing at all, but the words that finally escaped her tightly pressed lips took him aback.
"How did you break the vase in the great hall when you were eight?" she demanded. Draco raised his brow. Who would impersonate a wanted wizard in order to sneak into the place he had only just escaped from? Wary of her suspicious nature, Draco answered.
"I was trying to hide the Romanian Longhorn egg I'd stolen from Knockturn Alley," he replied, remembering how the jet egg had sat tauntingly on the edge of the cart while the hag had bartered with his mother about the price of dragon heartstring. Draco had longed for a pet and knew from the stories he'd read that he could tame it, train it just like in the tales about Peter Pumpernell and his pet dragon. He'd begged his mother for it but was shut down, not able to get a word in edgewise.
Unused to being denied anything, he'd taken it in an act of defiance, slipping it beneath his cloak. He'd had every intention of hurrying it to his room where he'd place it in the fire and, when it hatched, show his parents that he was big enough to take care of his new pet. Puerilely, Draco had pulled it out from under his cloak as soon as they'd landed in the entryway, waving it at his mother's departing back with his tongue stuck out. He'd been about to run upstairs to his room but Dobby had popped into the hall just then to take his traveling cloak and in a desperate attempt to conceal the egg, Draco had dropped it quickly into the vase next to the door so the elf wouldn't see.
"And what happened to the Longhorn?" Narcissa grated out, her emotions heavily guarded, though Draco detected the slightest tremble in her wand hand.
"The egg broke when I dropped it into the vase," Draco answered lowly, his eyes locked onto his mother's, begging her to see the truth. "When I realized what I'd done I broke the vase to get to the egg but the dragon was already dead. You helped me bury it in the garden. You promised to never tell father."
He saw relief swim across her face briefly, but she kept her back straight as she lowered her wand.
"You've been with the Order?"
"Yes."
"You're one of them now?"
Draco did not look away from her pleading gaze. "Yes."
She pursed her lips and gave a tight nod, swallowing before she could speak again. "What are you doing here?"
"There is something I need to do," he said and Narcissa shook her head, glancing nervously at the door.
"No Draco, you must leave right away-"
"I'm not running anymore," he said, keeping her gaze.
"The Dark Lord will know you're here, he set up alarms in case you returned-"
"Then I will need to move quickly," he continued determinedly, staring her down, proving his determination. "I have to do this, mother. Please understand."
Narcissa took a deep breath and gazed into his face almost longingly before yielding.
"How can I help?"
Taken aback, Draco said nothing for a minute. He hadn't figured his mother would fight him or turn him in, but he certainly hadn't expected her to offer assistance.
"I need to find Potter's invisibility cloak," he finally said, taking whatever help he could find, knowing she wouldn't turn on him now. "It was in the bag I had when I was brought here. Do you know where-?"
"Your father confiscated it off Dolohov," she answered swiftly, hurrying to the large wardrobe in the corner. With a wave of her wand the back panel disappeared and she drew out the leather satchel. Draco snatched it from her, hardly believing when everything he'd taken with him on the mission was accounted for.
"What are you going to do?" she asked, her tone worried as he dug out the cloak and slung it over his shoulder which instantly disappeared.
"I'm going to kill the snake," he admitted honestly, pocketing Hermione and Weasley's wands as well as the basilisk fang Hermione had snuck from the stash at headquarters.
"Nagini?" his mother asked confusedly. "But why-?"
"The less you know, the better," he stated, tossing the bag with the book and leftover ingredients back into his parent's wardrobe, sparing one lat glance at the reminder of his previous month with Hermione, using it to steel himself before turning back to his mother. "I need to get to that snake. Do you know where it is?"
"She never leaves the Dark Lord's side," Narcissa claimed, looking confused at his odd request. "Even with the cloak you'll never get close enough to her without him noticing."
"It doesn't matter," he murmured grimly, feeling the potion book boring into his back as if Hermione's eyes were there instead, pleading with him not to do this impossible task. "It has to be done."
His mother looked appalled, as if he'd slapped her across the face with his conviction.
"Draco, don't-"
"I'm sorry, mother, but I have to."
He turned to go but her bony fingers grasped his upper arm, holding him back though he refused to turn to her, knowing the pained look in her eye might stall him, stop him from doing what he knew he must do.
"Draco, if you go now you'll be killed!" Narcissa cried, her voice cracking in fear.
"I know."
He made to pull his arm from her grip but with strength he never knew she had, she tightened her hold and whipped him around to face her.
"Listen to me!" she snapped, her icy eyes catching fire. "You'll never get close to him if you go like this. He's infuriated you and the Mudblood escaped-"
"Hermione," Draco growled, watching his mother jerk at the enmity in his voice before understanding smoothed her features. She nodded once as if accepting the reason for his seemingly sudden change of heart.
"Draco, I will not stop you from doing what you think you must, but do not act rashly," she warned, her voice softer than before. "The Dark Lord will have noticed your presence by now, he'll be calling for your father and I to question us any minute. Follow us in that cloak, I can distract him long enough for you to reach the snake. Strike when you can and as soon as you do - run, I'll create a diversion. No matter what happens, you must get out. Do you understand me?"
Draco shook his head adamantly, knowing what would happen if the Dark Lord thought his mother was in any way involved. "No, I won't leave you to take the fall-"
"You will," she said harshly, her nails biting into his skin through his cloak, her face set, her eyes hard. "I have not done a single thing right by you, Draco. I was supposed to protect you, but I failed you. I was weak; I will not be so any longer."
She straightened to her full height, looking up into his eyes with a steely resolve he felt all-too well. "You will do as I say. I am still your mother. Kill the snake and then leave this place, do not return, not for any reason, not until it's over. Do you understand?"
They both jumped when the distinct click of the lock sounded through the room. Narcissa motioned for him to put on the cloak and he'd only just covered his feet when his father strode into the room, his face murderous.
Draco stared into the hard grey eyes of his sire and knew an instant of fear. Lucius scanned the room, his wand raised. Noticing the open wardrobe, he turned to his wife.
"Where is he?" Lucius demanded, his hands shaking in rage. Narcissa seemed not to notice or care that her husband was incensed, her face a mask of indifference as she raised a brow.
"Who?" she asked coolly.
"Do not act coy with me, Narcissa," Lucius snarled. "Where is he?"
"Either explain yourself or leave, I grow tired of your riddles," she replied, turning to her vanity and seating herself in her chair, checking her hair nonchalantly. Draco watched the fury crystallize in his father's gaze, watched as his hands stilled, control snapping back into place. When he moved towards the open wardrobe his steps were purposeful. When he pulled out the bag with nothing but the potions book in it, he appeared almost bored. Placing the bag on the bed gently, he turned to his wife who was closing a tube of lipstick.
"Your son is in the house," Lucius drawled, walking slowly toward her, his wand clutched tightly at his side, ready to strike. "His wand is gone. As is the Mudblood's."
"Hermione."
"What?"
"Her name is Hermione, dear. There is no call for boorish monikers simply because the girl bested you."
Draco's heart skipped a beat at his mother's audacious display of acceptance. His father, however, was not amused.
Her features betrayed nothing when she caught her husband's gaze through the mirror as he stood behind her chair.
"If you were concerned with them disappearing perhaps you should have hid them better, dear," she continued as if she hadn't just insulted her husband exorbitantly.
Lucius smiled, though it held no humor, only a paralyzing evil.
"None but you and I can open that wardrobe. Do not lie to me, Narcissa," Lucius crooned, trailing his fingers up her arm, gliding over her shoulder to her elegant neck, the threat not lost on Draco.
"You know where he is," Lucius intoned lowly, his voice one of a lover as he continued to curl his fingers along the delicate column of her throat. "Is he in this room?"
"You said so yourself, Lucius," she murmured, seeming wholly uninterested in the conversation they were having and turning her gaze back to her pristine features. "If Draco were indeed to enter the grounds he would be killed before he set foot into the parlor. Do you really believe he could have made it all the way up here alive?"
"Not without help."
"Torture me if you must," she retorted, dragging a finger beneath her eye as if to fix a smudge. "But you'll find yourself dissatisfied with the results."
"Do not play with me, Narcissa!" Lucius snapped, grabbing her arm and yanking her from her chair, whipping her around so hard she hit the table and cosmetics toppled to the floor. "I have warned you what will happen if you choose to aid your son! He is no longer one of us, he is dead to us! You would throw away everything we have built to help that traitor?"
"He is your son!" she screamed, outraged. "I will not let you harm him any longer!"
"Where is he?" Lucius roared, slapping her soundly across the face, sending her to the floor much as Draco remembered Blaise doing to Hermione. Draco moved to aid his mother but stopped as his parents both started, looking at each other, stilling in their fight. Draco's curiosity was short lived as Lucius drew back his sleeve which showed his Mark burning black against his skin.
Lucius sneered triumphantly. "It seems our son's little escapade is up. If you hand him over to me now I will not tell the Dark Lord of your treachery."
Narcissa looked up at him murderously. "I'll never let you touch him again."
Lucius smirked and yanked her up from the floor, tucking back a stray strand that had fallen free from her elegant up-do. "Then come, dear wife, and see how you hold up against the Dark Lord's fury."
He shoved her forward, his wand at her back. Draco waited with bated breath, counting the seconds until he knew they were far enough away before following them noiselessly down the stairs and into the packed hall where he was hard pressed to make his way without jostling someone and causing a stir. He waited against the wall as the horde of Death Eaters streamed in, making their way down the hidden hall towards the Dark Lord's meeting chamber. Potter's cloak seemed little protection against the looming sea of black, but no one glanced his way, all of them rushing to their master's side as bid. Following the last of the stragglers, Draco slid in, keeping to the back wall, scanning the room, cursing silently at the packed hall, knowing it would hinder his task.
As always, the Death Eaters assembled swiftly and silently, facing front, awaiting their leader wordlessly. Not a muscle twitched as the last Death Eater sidled into place, every eye on the dais where Draco knew Hermione had faced her torture.
Endless minutes later the Dark Lord billowed from the shadows at the back of the dais, Nagini slinking along next to him. Without a word, the drove of black sank to their knees as one, every head bowed in submission to their leader.
Draco looked across their lowered forms to the Dark Lord whose red eyes stared right back. Fear jolted through him, freezing him in place as he kept the Dark Lord's gaze. Though still invisible, he had the uneasy feeling that the Dark Lord knew Draco was standing there, pressed against the back wall, waiting to rid him of the last remaining piece of his soul. Nagini hissed quietly in his direction as if she, too, knew he was there to murder her.
Draco let out the breath he hadn't know he'd been holding when the Dark Lord turned away, looking around the room as if expecting Draco to jump up at any moment, his jaw clenching ever so slightly when he saw nothing but his obedient servants.
"Rise."
Draco's route to the snake was blocked by the Death Eaters who were packed shoulder-to-shoulder in the dark chamber. His only access was up the center aisle, directly in front of the Dark Lord himself. Knowing he had no other option, Draco crept to the left, moving frustratingly slow in an attempt to not be heard over the Dark Lord's monologue.
"You may be wondering why I have called you here before our scheduled time," he began, his icy voice ringing through the bowels of the room. "Nevertheless, you have arrived as I have bid. You have been dutiful. But I wonder…"
The Dark Lord began to pace, Nagini staying close, weaving expertly between his feet. Draco dared not even breathe in the silence that ensued as every ear in the room strained to hear the reason for their gathering.
"Who in this room has been unfaithful to their master?"
The group shifted uneasily. No good ever came of meetings in which the Dark Lord suspected betrayal. He anger was terrifying and erratic; anyone stood a chance at their death whether guilty or not.
"Who is holding out on their master?" the Dark Lord continued, scanning the room slowly as if daring someone to come forth. "Who knows something they are not telling their lord?"
No one moved, no one breathed. Draco stalled, watching the Dark Lord eye his followers, his pose relaxed, but everyone knew it was a ploy. His anger radiated through the crowd and even Draco could feel the hair stand up on the back of his neck.
"Am I to believe that not one person in this room is aware that our walls have been breached?"
Necks craned, silver masks flashing about as if Draco would be standing amongst them waving. And though he knew he was well hidden under Potter's cloak he dared not move or breathe lest someone hear and find him out.
The Dark Lord's eyes moved to the front row where his closest followers stood, eyeing the smallest among them.
"Narcissa…"
Draco's stomach dropped. When every head turned to gaze at his mother he nearly broke, wanting nothing more than to rush forward and steal her away, Apparate her out of this place and find a new way to kill the snake, one that didn't include sacrificing his mother, the largest reason Hermione had taken the Mark in his stead.
She chose to help you, she knows what she's doing. Don't waste her sacrifice, focus on your task, he berated himself, setting his eyes on the dais where the snake was looking expectantly up at her master, waiting patiently for her next meal.
"Yes, my lord," Narcissa answered calmly, her clear voice ringing around the room. His mother had always been the perfect little actress, her façade as carefully erected as a born and bred Malfoy. He knew without looking that her posture would be impeccable, her demeanor fearless. For the first time in his life he was grateful for her playacting, knowing the longer she was able to draw out her performance the more time he had to get to the snake. Keeping his gaze resolutely on his task, Draco started forward tediously slow, making sure every inch of him was covered, using the droning of the Dark Lord's voice to mask the swish of the cloak.
"I believe you are aware of the consequences of lying to your master?"
"Of course, my lord."
"And you would never lie to your master, would you?"
"Never, my lord."
The crowd shifted uncomfortably and Draco chanced a look up at the Dark Lord. His smile made chills erupt down Draco's spine. He was going to kill her. Draco knew he had only moments and he was still so far from the snake but he couldn't move, frozen in fear.
"Come."
Lucius and Bellatrix stood back to allow Narcissa to pass and she sank into her customary curtsy at the foot of the steps before the Dark Lord whose malicious eyes were gleaming. Thoughts of killing the snake slid away beneath the fear for his mother, his left hand moving for his wand while the right still clenched the basilisk fang. The Dark Lord stared down at her bowed head, taking pleasure in drawing this out.
"Where is your son?"
"My lord, I do not know."
"Do not lie to me, Narcissa," the Dark Lord drawled, his hand reaching out instinctively, Nagini rising up to rub against his palm, drawing Draco's attention once more. "Do you think I would not know when someone walks uninvited into my presence?"
"Of course not, my lord."
"Then I ask you once more." His voice was hard, his wand in hand. Draco's heart was pounding so loud in his chest he worried those around him would hear. The snake was right there, open for the attack, paying no attention to anything but her master, hoping he would grant her with a snack.
Draco's eyes snapped to the Dark Lord's right hand which had lifted ever so slightly, ready to strike Narcissa down. Draco panicked. If he didn't attack now, didn't create a diversion, his mother would die - but if he tried to make a move he would have to shove his mother to the side to gain entrance to the steps leading the Dark Lord. He would be discovered instantly, obliterating his plan before he could so much as lift the fang…
"Where is your son?"
Narcissa didn't so much as twitch, her face reverently to the floor. "I do not know, my lord."
"LIAR!"
"She's not."
Draco almost fell to his knees in relief and shock as the Dark Lord whipped towards the interference, his mother momentarily forgotten. Murder filled his red eyes as a small figure swept their way up the aisle, causing Draco to step to the side, though they thankfully stopped behind him.
That relief twisted into icy fingers of panic as he recognized the voice that spoke.
"It wasn't Draco who set off the barriers," Hermione said, her cool voice ringing through the chamber. Draco started forward, heart in his throat, trying to get to her, to stop her, but he was too late. Hermione whipped her silver mask off, her hood falling to her shoulders, her fearless gaze on the Dark Lord.
"I did."
Draco almost shouted out in fear and rage as the room exploded at her revelation. Damn you, you stupid, reckless Gryffindor! he cursed her, every instinct clamoring to cross the two meters that separated them and wrap her in his arms, protect her, but he couldn't blow his cover, not now, not after the two people he loved most in this world had put themselves in the line of fire to ensure his success.
Those closest that recognized her turned to others behind them, spreading the news of Potter's Mudblood in their midst. She stood dauntlessly before the Dark Lord who looked enraged enough to strike down every person in the room. No one dared make a move, their eyes on the altercation before them. Narcissa was still on her knees, gazing up at the scene behind her in disbelief. Draco knew he should go now, use the mutterings as a cover, but he was terrified of moving away from Hermione, of leaving her open to fire.
"Well, Miss Granger," the Dark Lord murmured, every muscle in his body tense at the strain it took him to keep his voice composed. Draco had never seen him so angry. He knew he had to move now if he was going to get to the snake before the Dark Lord brought his fury down on Hermione. Hoping he wasn't sentencing her to death, Draco began to creep slowly towards the steps.
"I admit myself impressed at your audacity," he continued, the room stilling at his ice-edged statement. "I have been told repeatedly not to underestimate you and it seems I have."
"A common enough occurrence, I assure you," she replied from behind Draco as he crept forward. "I am only a Mudblood, after all."
Draco stilled on a curse, shaking his head at her attempts to further incite the Dark Lord. He half expected him to kill her now for her insolence, but the Dark Lord's curiosity was piqued and he grinned instead.
"Indeed. I congratulate you on your ability to breach my barriers. Come, my dear; indulge me. How was it you were able to remove the protective enchantments I, myself, set?"
"I didn't."
The crowd sucked in their breath at her cheek and Draco's heart pounded with fear as he neared the dais, his mother less than a meter from him, the snake only steps away. He looked up into the Dark Lord's face which fell from amusement to irritation.
"You did not remove the barriers?"
"No, my lord," Hermione mocked and Draco wanted to groan in fear for her life. How could she stand there insulting the most dangerous man in the world in a room full of people who would kill her in a heartbeat if he but raised his hand in permission? "I assure you, your barriers are safely in place."
"Then who brought you here?" the Dark Lord snapped and Draco knew his patience was running thin. Please Hermione, Draco begged. Don't do anything rash.
"I did."
The crowd tensed as the Dark Lord's back straightened in aggravation. Like that, he groaned inwardly. Draco watched the murderous man warily, ready to tackle him if he went to strike, but a movement caught his eye and he looked down to see his mother shifting ever so slightly, making a path for him to get to the steps without disturbing her or the wizard who stood to his right at the front of the crowd. With his stomach somewhere in the region of his esophagus, Draco waited, glancing back over at Hermione who looked as if she were having a quiet conversation over tea, not purposely provoking the most evil wizard of all time. His love for her flared, fueling him for what he had to do.
What were the chances Hermione could escape once Draco had killed the snake? If the Dark Lord didn't murder her on the spot any number of death Eaters would do the job for him. Frozen with indecision he listened to contention between the two, his eyes never leaving the stationary python from her curled position beside her master.
"Then how, my dear, did you manage to con your way into this very private meeting?" the Dark Lord snarled. Draco's heart leapt, knowing instantly what Hermione planned to do.
She was going to show him.
The breath left his lungs as he watched her smile, praying to every deity out there that it wasn't for the last time.
"With this."
And as the room burst out in crazed fury Draco moved, making sure his feet were covered as he made his way passed his mother and up the steps while the Dark Lord jerked back as if scalded. He didn't have any time to lose, the Dark Lord's face was twisting in anger and the crowd seemed to have surged forward in an attempt to verify that the Mark on Hermione's arm was, in fact, real.
Gripping the basilisk fang, Draco lunged. The snake lifted her head at the last second, meeting his gaze and emitting one last, harsh hiss before he struck, sinking the fang deep into her throat.
Draco was thrown back as the room exploded, his head smacking against the black marble as he slid across the ground. Stars danced before his eyes as a black cloud burst forth from the mutilated body of the snake, one long, terrifying scream renting the air.
"NOOOO!" The Dark Lord shrieked, his eyes searching for the person who had done it. Seeing no one, he whipped around to Hermione who was trying to yank Narcissa to her feet and he bellowed in outrage. "AVADA KEDAVRA!"
"NO!" Draco roared as the two hit the ground in a flash of green. He struck thoughtlessly, his spell sending the Dark Lord sprawling and those around him reeling, every eye turning in his direction, though he was still miraculously hidden beneath the cloak. Draco couldn't breathe, couldn't think. He had only one objective; to get to Hermione and his mother, to undo what he had seen -
"KILL HIM!" the Dark Lord screamed as he scrambled unceremoniously to his feet. "FIND THE BOY AND KILL HIM!"
Spells flew in his direction and Draco hit the ground. There was no way he could get to the women who still lay on the ground, crumpled and unmoving. The Dark Lord was striding towards his direction, slaughter written in every line of his face as he killed those closest to him in a fit of rage.
Remembering he was a Malfoy again, Draco turned on the spot with a loud crack! and landed beside Hermione. He caught a flash of his father heaving his mother from the room, unnoticed by those around whose attention had abandoned the still bodies and was now focused on their leader who was striking out at anyone in his vicinity, everyone scrambling to get out of dodge and creating a commotion as they rushed for the door.
Draco wasted no time and wrapped his arms around Hermione's limp body, hampered by the cloak. Slamming his eyes shut he brought to mind the image of the lawn he'd left not hours earlier and Apparated out, spells flying around him as nearby Death Eaters caught his actions.
But he was already gone, landing with a thud on the soft grass outside the barriers of the second headquarters. Numb, his quaking hands turned Hermione over in his embrace, not wanting to see but needing to know…
And then he was being tackled, his overwrought mind unable to process the significance of this action until her laughter was ringing in his ears, until she was ripping the cloak from his head, her face shining in admiration and joy.
"You did it!" she cried in disbelief. "I can't believe you-!"
Her words were cut off as Draco shot up and attacked her lips, pressing his cold ones against her very alive, very warm ones. He clutched at her frantically, gripping her too hard, kissing her too roughly, pressing her eager body against his as relief made its sick, slippery way into his stomach, the knot in his throat tightening as shock melted into residual fear.
She leaned back softly and caressed his face, soothing him, her face shining with adoration. A wretched sound ripped from his lips as he buried one hand in her long hair, the other tangling in the fabric of her cloak, shock and confusion stealing his voice.
"It's alright," she hushed, brushing his sweaty bangs back from his temples before leaning forward to kiss his brow. "It's alright now. We're safe."
"I thought, I thought he-"
She shook her head as he choked on the words, her entire face beaming. "He missed. Your mother, too. I felt it would be safer if they thought we were dead until we could make our escape. Luckily she seemed to have the same idea. I thought our cover would be blown when your father came but you were already there." She tightened her hold on his jaw, forcing him to latch onto her eyes. "You did it, Draco. You killed the snake, you saved us, we're safe."
He leaned his damp forehead into the crook of her neck, breathing her in, grasping her tighter, her hands coming to play with his hair, calming his racing heart.
"I wasn't sure if you were still with us," she admitted softly and he scoffed. He kissed her collarbone, then up her neck to her lips, his hands coming up to hold her face as he worked her mouth. He could feel her melting, knew she felt the intensity as he did.
"Do you believe me yet, you insufferable swot?" he grated out and she let out a soft laugh, sniffing before nodding bashfully.
"I couldn't leave it up to you," he explained. "Not this time. I couldn't put you at risk, not again, not after everything... I thought I was going to die when you ripped off that mask. What were you thinking?"
Her eyes shifted uncomfortably. "I hoped that you...I figured if I gave you time you might...and you did, so it all worked out, didn't it?"
Draco shook his head disbelievingly. "You thought that I'd betrayed you and yet you risked it anyway?"
Her eyes finally met his. "A part of me knew... It couldn't have all been an act, could it? I knew I felt...something..."
"It wasn't an act," he grunted, tilting her face up to his properly. "None of it, especially not what I told you last night. I love you, dammit. What more do I have to do to make you understand?"
Tears sprang to her eyes but she shook them away, leaning forward to capture his lips sweetly. "Nothing, Draco. I love you. I never should have doubted you, even for a moment."
"And yet even when you doubted me you still decided to storm into a room full of Death Eaters and rile the man who is trying to get your kind eradicated from existence?" he asked incredulously and she smirked in a fashion so familiar it made his heart clench.
"Something like that."
He laughed, feeling lighter than he had in years, kissing her again, reveling in her beauty. "You are by far the bravest witch I've ever met."
She grinned. "Did you see his face?"
He chuckled. "I was a little busy trying to destroy a Horcrux while you had your little tête-à-tête."
She shrugged, unable to bite back her grin. "Excuses."
Hermione leaned forward and embraced him in a silky kiss, making him groan at the addictive sensuality. Draco let himself relax for the first time in longer than he cared to remember, simply enjoying the feel of her straddling him, her chest pressed tightly against his, her heart beating hard against him, her soft lips open and welcoming. By some amazing turn of fate they were safe, the snake was gone and, most importantly, she was his.
He dragged the kiss on, delving into her over and over, reveling in this singular moment of bliss.
And then the moment ended.
.
.
.
A/N: I return from the dead! A million bajillion apologies for the ridiculously long wait, RL has been something of a hurricane lately. I will be working my utmost to get the last couple of chapters to you guys as soon as I can. For those of you that stayed with me, I am most humbled and thankful. For those who are just being introduced, well, you never missed me in the first place!
I hope you enjoy the next chapters.
So much love,
XOXO
RynStar15
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