Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

A World Not Fit To Live In	By : snowblind12 & Lissa Category: Harry Potter > Threesomes/Moresomes Views: 78134 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 6
Disclaimer: These characters and the Harry Potter world belong to J K Rowling and her publishers. I make nothing from this story and I own none of it. It is based off the work of JK Rowling.

Chapter List
- 30
- 31
- 32
Chapter Thirty-One
BETA love – RaynePhoenix2
Wednesday Afternoon
Lucius was in his study when Draco entered the room with a smug look on his face. It was all the Malfoy patriarch could do to keep from rolling his eyes. What now?!
“Father, I fear you shall be without my company for dinner this evening.”
Lucius ignored the gloating tone of his son’s voice as he continued to quill checks for the month’s estate expenses. His eyes remained focused on his task as he responded tiredly, “Very well. I shall let Bilby know.” Lucius knew Draco wanted him to be curious. He wanted Lucius to ask questions, so he deliberately did not.
“I have a meeting with the Dark Lord. It seems he requires my audience at least once a week nowadays.”
Lucius continued to write on his ledger without looking at his son. He could see Draco step closer to his desk in his peripheral vision but ignored the boy. Instead he picked up a blank cheque preparing to pay the next account on his stack. After a moment he said dismissively, “Was there something else, Draco?”
Draco responded with false pity. “No, I just realize you must be missing the Mudblood, and find I feel a bit sorry for you.”
“Why on earth would you come to such a conclusion?”
“Come now, Father. There is no need to deny it. I know you enjoyed fucking her. It’s why you were so ridiculously lenient with her. The Dark Lord saw it as much as I did. I think it’s why he wanted me to succeed in impregnating her and sent you off on a dangerous chore instead.”
Lucius laughed and looked up at his son, shaking his head with amusement. “You have so very much to learn, Draco. You really need to figure out how to play the game.” Lucius leaned back in his chair, his eyes assessing his son astutely. “We both knew from the beginning our Lord was considering burdening one of us with her as a wife.” Lucius made a face of disgust.
Draco’s brow crinkled in curiosity.
Lucius stood and walked towards the sideboard, preparing himself a drink. “By showing her kindness, by displaying a desire to keep her, by volunteering to rescue you from such a disastrous fate, I all but assured you would be the one stuck having to marry her.” He added ice to his glass. “And you played your part so brilliantly by being so abusive and showing so much hate all these weeks. You all but guaranteed her as your wife without my assistance.”
He sipped his drink and walked back to his desk. He tried not to laugh at the look of incredulity on his son’s face.
“Don’t look so stricken, my boy. At least one of us will be granted a Pure-blood witch to sire more acceptable descendants.” He sat down and pulled in his chair. “It was sweet of you to worry about my lack of a bonded slave to fuck. I assure you, I’m quite pleased to be released from the compulsion to touch such a disgusting thing.”
He looked down at his ledger once again. “So, by all means, continue with your brutality and your hate. You are merely laying the foundation to be stuck with her forever. It’s not until he senses that you want to keep her, that he will command her to another.” After a second, he glanced back up into his son’s contemplative stare. “In fairness, I did try to dissuade you from your abusive behavior, Draco. It was, and continues to be, most unbecoming of a Malfoy.”
The silence was deafening as Draco comprehended the lesson with a scornful stare.
Lucius didn’t know if what he had said was true or not. He really didn’t know why Lord fuck head had set him up to lose Hermione to his son. Lucius had tried to not let his regard for the girl show but, in hindsight, perhaps he had made some mistakes. Whatever the reason, his pride demanded Draco now believe Lucius was the winner in this situation. He was also helping Hermione in the process.
After a heavy sigh, Lucius picked up his quill. “Is that all, Draco? I have work to do.” He could see the wheels spinning in his son’s brain as the boy attempted to look nonplussed. He almost felt guilty for this manipulation.
A Malfoy through and through, Draco drew his shoulders back and retorted, desperate to show why Lucius was wrong. “By siring powerful children for the Dark Lord’s use, I am guaranteeing myself a place of respect amongst his ranks.”
Lucius looked at his son seriously as he leaned back in chair. His earlier lesson’s purpose had been to take the brat down a notch, but these words were meant as a true warning of his son’s inevitable future. “Enjoy his favor now, Draco. It blows like the wind. Once your children are born, he will dictate how they are to be raised and how they are to live. As they grow, if they are powerful, they will be favored and you will be forgotten. You are only valuable in the moment you deliver.” He rubbed his eyes tiredly as he sat up straight again and looked back down at his papers. Almost under his breath, he added, “And Salazar help you if your offspring are anything shy of what he is hoping for.”
Just then a tapping was heard from the window. Both wizard’s eyes shot to the source and spotted the vulture owl on the sill.
Draco smoothed down his robes. “A message from the Dark Lord.” He started towards the window. “It’s probably for me.”
Lucius could tell Draco was trying to conceal his disappointment when he conceded, “It appears to be for you, Father.”
Draco walked the missive over and handed it to Lucius who opened it and read it silently and without expression. He folded the note when he was finished and tossed it into the fire.
He cocked a brow when he glanced up to see Draco’s expectant look. Lucius gave himself an internal high five when he said, “If that’s all, Draco, I have work to do.”
He contemplated the note. Looks like I’ll be attending the dinner after all.
Lucius almost felt sorry for his son when the boy entered the dinner gathering at Lestrange Villa to find his seat had been moved further down the table. Lucius himself was now sitting in Draco’s spot from their last meeting. It was a good lesson for Draco to learn and spoke directly to what Lucius had told him only hours ago. Favor was fleeting.
Lucius really wasn’t pleased to be seated so prominently tonight. The further he was off the despot’s map the better. His mission had been successful however, and the agreement made between the Veela and the Vampires was a thing of much discussion. In short, Lucius was a bit of a celebrity – much to his chagrin. He lifted his own spirits by reminding himself the seat of honor would be replaced with someone else in no time. It was just, right now, he would much rather be at the Manor sneaking time with Hermione while Draco was off attending these loathsome and tedious dinners.
Everyone stood when the Dark Lord entered and it wasn’t until their leader was seated, and everything around him placed just so, that he gestured for all to sit.
Tonight’s dinner was revealed to be beef roast with Yorkshire pudding, gravy, roasted potatoes, and a vegetable medley. Per usual, it wasn’t until Voldemort took his first bite that the others started their own meal. The dinner progressed without interruption and when the plates were cleared, and the after-dinner brandies were poured, the purpose of the meeting was finally revealed.
The first order of business had been to announce officially that the Veela and Vampires had agreed to a temporary truce and were entertaining visits with Voldemort to hear his ideas for reform. While neither group had vowed support, it was only a matter of time in the Dard Lord’s eyes. It was with a not so subtle look at Macnair and then Bellatrix that Voldemort added, “We have plans in place to assure cooperation. If they are still hesitant, well…they really don’t have a place in our world anymore then, do they?”
The comment drew whispers and mumbles and Voldemort seemed to glow under the awe and surprise of his followers.
Lucius, however, was the only one at the table who knew the truth.
He was the one who had met with them, after all.
He was the one who had subtly shown them how the Dark Lord had used the Giants for his battle at Hogwarts, only to leave them bleeding and cursed from the cross fire. Through memories and not words – for Lucius’ occlumency skills seemed to have left him completely in the presence of the Vampire Father and then the Veela Queen – Lucius showed them the horrors Voldemort was capable of; the betrayal, the manipulation, and the madness. Lucius had accidentally shown them the world that Voldemort envisioned; a world where all beings and all races, magical or not, were subservient and subjugated to the Dark Lord and his will.
Yes, Lucius had succeeded in his mission to bring the Veela and the Vampires together. Ironically, the driving impetus was not their desire to serve the megalomaniac, it was their joint desire to destroy him.
Lucius would have to warn the Vampire Father, Bonifacio, and the Veela Queen, Ravana, that Macnair and Bellatrix would be the despot’s vessels for their destruction when the time came. It was Lucius’ hope that the plan he and Severus were plotting would put an end to that threat long before the Dark Lord knew their true intentions, however.
His focus was pulled back to the table when Corbin Yaxley stood to make a toast. Corbin was in disfavor at the moment, and it was an obvious and desperate attempt to ingratiate himself with not only the Dark Lord, but his fellow Death Eaters as well.
“To Lucius for his grit, determination, loyalty to our Lord, and keen sense of self-preservation!”
Lucius nodded, displaying the typical Malfoy pomp and pride the other followers had come to expect when the toast was made in his honor. There were low chuckles and guffaws at the self-preservation part of the comment, but only Lucius knew how very true those words were.
Unfortunately for Corbin, the laughter would not earn him any esteem. Until the Dark Lord publicly showed forgiveness or favor to the man, his fellow Death Eaters would not risk their own necks by doing any more than coexisting alongside him.
“Yessss, yesss. Lucius proved his political skills of persuasion are still intact.” When the Dark Lord sipped in approval of the toast, the others followed.
A creepy smile slithered into place on Voldemort’s face and his red eyes glowed when he announced the second reason for their gathering.
“It is important we do not grow complacent with our successss.” His piercing gaze took no mercy as it met every set of eyes at the table. “We have gained control of the Ministry and we are slowly pulling the masses into compliance, but we still have enemiesss. There are still those who oppose us.”
Eyes from the table were drawn to the head of the massive snake, Nagini, when she slithered up beside her master and rested her head upon his shoulder. A spidery, pale hand with claw like nails began to stroke the maneaters head very tenderly and Lucius began to suspect his dinner might make a reappearance.
He closed his eyes briefly and listened to the lunatic before him continue his speech. “There are rumors of Order survivors. Keep your eyes open. Kill them on sight. It only takes one. One rodent can spread plague that could poison all of our hard work. Their offensive propaganda can destroy everything we believe and hold dear.”
Lucius felt Severus shift in the seat next to him. As far as he knew, Severus was unaware of these rumors. This was something they would certainly need to discuss.
The meeting wrapped up quickly at that point. Lucius froze from his departure when he heard their sadistic lord call for Draco to remain for a moment. Under the pretext of politeness, Lucius waited for his son. He could just overhear their conversation.
“Draco, Dolohov has need of Potter’s Mudblood. Just for a night, before she growsss heavy with child. He wants to play with her, and I owe him a reward for his MPS charm. Hermione is one of a few captives he wishes to sample.”
Lucius stiffened as his mind searched for a way to run interference. He watched as Draco tried to hide the surprise on his face.
The same skeletal hand that had stroked Nagini, reached up and patted Draco on the head, leaving his finely groomed coif messy. “Don’t worry young Malfoy, Dolohov knows the spawn in her belly is potentially more valuable than his very life. The fetus will come to no harm. Bring her to him Friday evening at seven and you can retrieve her the following morning before breakfast. She’ll be right as rain for the gathering Saturday night.”
“Yes, Master,” Draco responded before nodding at Dolohov, who was standing to Voldemort’s left.
When Draco and Lucius arrived at the Manor, Lucius felt he had to say something. “I couldn’t help hear your conversation. It seems you will have to share the Mudblood, after all.” He pulled off his outer robes and handed them to Bilby. “You must be thrilled. You’ve been trying to loan her to your friends ever since she arrived.”
Draco scowled as he met his father’s eyes. “Dolohov is not Blaise or Theo.”
“What? You don’t like that plan?”
Draco didn’t respond as he stormed up the main staircase and headed towards his suite.
Lucius knew Draco was unhappy. Now that Hermione was officially to be Draco’s wife, Lucius knew the boy would not want to share her. Draco was Lucius’s son after all – and Malfoy men didn’t share their wives. Regardless, Lucius would be damned if that Russian bastard was going to touch his witch. He would have Bilby deliver what was needed to Draco’s room. Draco would know what to do.
Hermione sighed as she stared at her reflection. Another party. Another gathering that meant nothing to her. And yet it meant everything. It meant she was actually going to have to marry Draco Malfoy. A smile crept over her face as she remembered the night before, when she had been contemplating appropriate nicknames for her fiancé.
She had just finished brushing her teeth and was looking at her reflection when Tinny had appeared to assist her.
“Depraved Demonic Dickhead,” she had whispered to herself after she spit out the mouthwash.
“Despicable Diabolical Devil,” she said aloud as she patted her mouth dry with the towel Tinny handed her.
“Depraved Deadbeat Dickface,” she added as she contemplated the newest bruise on her arm.
“Dookie Delinquent Dickfuck?”
Hermione looked down into the wide eyes of her friend with shock. It had not even occurred to her that Tinny was paying attention or knew what she was talking about. So, when the elf came up with the best insult of them all, she couldn’t help but to fall into a fit of laughter. And the name had stuck. He was Draco no more.
Back in the present, she thought about what else was bothering her. Not only was she being forced to marry DDD, but the party was for Lucius as well. The man she loved who was being forced to wed another witch. Sybill Trelawney - an eccentric, closet drinking, fake seer, and cuckoo bird in Hermione’s book. She almost felt bad for Lucius. Almost.
Tinny was looking up at Hermione with warm eyes of adoration as she snapped her fingers and the diamond tiara the elf had told Hermione about suddenly nestled onto her head. Hermione had to admit she had never looked more beautiful. Her hair was tucked back from her face but left long in the back, charmed into soft waves of compliance.
Layers of opaque, Acromantula spun silk was dyed to a wintery silver-grey with clear reflective crystals sown throughout. The plunging neck line dipped below her breasts where the fabric hugged her trim waist before cradling her hips. At mid-thigh, more layers gathered and draped to the floor. A fine silver chain across her neck held the cape that draped behind her and led to a magnificent train. It was made of matching fabric but of only two layers which left it light and flowing. Coordinating opera gloves came up to her mid upper arms. She felt she truly looked like a princess. She noticed the ring fingers of each glove had detachable sleeves. She supposed there was a time when a proper witch did not go out without gloves and this was how her beau could slip a ring on her finger.
She startled when Draco barged into her room and assessed her. His scrutinizing gaze moved up and down her form before he said resignedly, “Well at least you aren’t fat yet. C’mon. Don’t dawdle.”
She felt the tingle of the stabilizing and cushioning shoe charms Tinny placed as she followed Dookie Delinquent Dickfuck out the door. She reminded herself she had to be cautious about calling him that or she would say it out loud and he would likely kill her.
In another wing, on the opposite side of the Manor, Lucius was tidying his cravat and delaying the inevitable. Voldemort had explained to Lucius that Sybill Trelawney had made several prophecies, not the least of which was the one about Harry Potter and the Dark Lord himself. Because of this, he felt it likely one or more of her children or grandchildren would harbor the gift as well. Lucius was magically strong which the Dark Lord felt would enhance the likelihood of the pairing being a success. He had tried to soften the blow by pointing out that Sybill was a Pureblood and would provide him more heirs.
Lucius had tried to remain hopeful that perhaps she would be a companion he could become friends with. He held no hope for more than that. He was in love with Hermione and no other woman would ever make him happy. He knew that for certain. Still, he had agreed to meet with Ms. Trelawney for the first time the night before last.
After meeting with her, he immediately went to Snape and demanded the man kill him there on the spot. He could not deny the inevitable – he would go mad if he had to spend time with that woman. Much less marry her and have children with her. Salazar help him, this war needed to end. And now. He wanted his freedom and he wanted his witch. As he grabbed his cane and patted Jupiter on the head, he consoled himself that there was a plan in the works.
When he arrived in the study, Draco was seated in one of the fireside wingback chairs and Hermione was holding a tray which held Draco’s drink.
Lucius sighed heavily as he walked to the sideboard to prepare his own firewhisky. “No, Father, let the Mudblood do that. I have informed her she is to play hostess tonight and instructed the elves to leave us be until dinner is served.
Lucius cut his eyes her direction and saw the blank look on her face. She was already self-occluding, which was probably for the best.
“No, Draco. I am the Master of this house and I will not have a Mudblood serve our guests. Have you no couth?!” He closed his eyes as he faced the wall tapestry before him and let out a sigh. He felt sick having said the words, but Hermione knew he had a role to play. “Janky!” When the house elf appeared, he instructed the elf of the updated instructions.
It was only a moment or two before Snape arrived with Ginny at exactly six-thirty. The party then moved to the living room, given the formality of the event. Sybill would be joining them any minute and at seven-thirty the other guests would be arriving. It would not be a large gathering, only another nine people – and the Dark Lord, of course. Fortunately, their Lord did not usually stay long at these types of events. Lucius doubted he would even stay for dessert.
Lucius tried his best not to stare at Hermione. She was stunning. How did Draco not see it? How had his son not figured out that she was warm and kind and beautiful?
He was dreading the arrival of his intended and was already getting a headache. Severus wasn’t helping. The sodding bastard had been thoroughly enjoying this shit situation.
“Go away, Severus, I’m not in the mood for your teasing tonight.”
“Come now, Lucius. It’s not that bad.”
Lucius rolled his eyes as he sipped his firewhisky and kept an eye on his witch who was now talking to Ginny. Draco was being more lenient since they moved into the living room and was allowing Hermione to sit on the sofa with her friend.
His thoughts were pulled back to Sybill when Severus continued to stroke the embers of his last nerve. “After all, it will be pleasant to have a woman’s touch about the Manor again, will it not? I can imagine how her own signature style will permeate each and every room.”
“You just can’t stop, can you? You absolutely cannot help yourself.” Lucius said wearily.
“I can see it now, scarves draped over every lamp, a crystal ball in every room because one never knows when the ‘inner eye’ will need its vessel.”
Lucius ignored him and pointedly looked anywhere but at his friend.
“I imagine Tarot Cards would be an appreciated wedding gift, or maybe an assortment of patchouli scented candles as I am sure she will be eager to distribute them about the Manor. I wonder what she will get you?” He sighed with false envy. “Well, in truth, she is giving so much already. Her visions, her beauty, her style. What more could you ask for?”
Lucius refused to provide the fucker with any more fodder and would not respond if his life depended on it.
He tried not to fall over in relief when Bilby led his betrothed into the room. The witch had tamed her hair into a loose braid and was wearing a flowy and gauzy plum dress with a floral scarf. He had expected much worse.
Years of habit forced him to be a gracious host and he approached the wide-eyed witch with as much dignity as he could muster. “Sybill, how lovely to see you.”
Her eyes lit up to the size of golf balls, her thick glasses magnifying them to ridiculous proportions. She draped her arms open, accentuating the drape of her scarf. Lucius couldn’t help but imagine she had practiced this very thing in front of the mirror.
“Ah, Lucius, darling,” she responded in a sing-song voice as she held her hand out for him as though she expected him to kiss it. He heard a snicker-cough from across the room as he took the offered hand and shook it lightly.
He turned to face the rest of the room and reacquainted her with the others. “You remember my son, Draco, his fiancé Hermione, Severus’ wife, Ginny, and of course you know Severus.”
“Severus,” she responded while batting her lashes. “Of course, delighted to see you,” she continued in airy voice.
“Sybill,” Severus replied stiffly.
She looked about the room and Lucius was surprised when Draco stood and crossed the space to shake her hand with a flirtatious grin. “Mother. You don’t mind if I call you that, do you?”
There was a spray of liquid on Lucius’ arm as Severus snorted his drink out his nose.
Lucius quickly interrupted the inappropriate exchange and glared at his son as he cast an Evanesco on his sleeve and made his way to the liquor tray. “What can I offer you, Sybill? Elven wine? Firewhisky?”
“Sherry if you have it, my dear Lucius. I find that anything stronger clouds the inner eye, you know, and it would be a great disservice to the wizarding world if that prevented an important vision.” She began to walk about the room, looking at the shelves and finery about the space. “The Dark Lord has expressed to me the importance of encouraging and nurturing my gifts.”
Lucius heard another muffled snort and looked to see Hermione quickly move her hand to her mouth and stare at the floor.
“Ah well, that would be a…waste…” he sighed “…certainly.”
Seven-thirty arrived quickly, and the other guests arrived right on time; Bellatrix and Rodolphus, Blaise and Daphne, and Theo and Millicent were followed by Rabastan and Dolohov with a despondent looking Pansy Parkinson in tow. Voldemort himself arrived directly after.
Hermione was shocked when Voldemort made brief acknowledgments to everyone before going directly to Sybill Trelawney’s side and engaging the looney bird in conversation. She knew now and without any uncertainty that the Dark Lord was delusional. She exchanged a questioning glance with Lucius who merely shrugged his shoulders in response.
Hermione was relieved that Draco was pretty much ignoring her. Ever since guests had started arriving, he had left her to her own devices for the most part. She made a point of not doing anything to draw attention to herself, although the men in the room did seem to keep staring at her and she began to question Tinny’s choice of attire for her this evening. Ginny looked absolutely stunning in a fitted, forest green gown that flowed to the floor. While simple in design, it made her look radiant.
It was just before they were seated for dinner that Dolohov came over and whispered, “You were delicious last night. I can still taste you and feel your mouth on me. I loved how my whip made you scream.” His green eyes glanced across her shoulders. “I see you’ve glamoured the marks I left. Such a shame. They looked so lovely on your skin.” He wiggled his brows playfully. “I will be requesting another night of your charms.” His hand slid over her bum and instantly Draco was at her side.
“Dolohov, you forget yourself. The Mudblood is mine, not yours to fondle.”
Dolohov chuckled as his eyes draped leeringly on Hermione’s chest. “Don’t be such a poor sport. You can certainly spare her for another night.”
“Just the one, Antonin. That was all, and it’s done. So, keep your grimy paws off my fiancé.”
Hermione was beyond confused. What were they talking about? And since when did Draco care if anyone touched her?
Dolohov made a show of looking bored and walked over to Snape who was conversing with Rabastan. Hermione noticed Lucius was talking with Theo. Not wanting to push her luck on his halfway decent treatment of her, Hermione cautiously asked, “Sir, what was Dolohov talking about?”
Draco looked at her with obvious irritation. “I’ll answer only because you need to play along and pretend you remember.”
Hermione’s eyes grew wide.
“The Dark Lord commanded you be gifted to Antonin for a night. Last night. From Seven in the evening until breakfast this morning.”
She felt lightheaded as her breath left her with a whispered, “What?”
“I polyjuiced an alley whore and imperiused her to take whatever he dished out and to keep him happy.”
“So, he thinks…and he’s seen… and…ohh… That poor woman!” She fell onto the chair beside her.
“Stop being so fucking melodramatic. I saved you from a night of hell. Stand the fuck up.”
She stood immediately. “I see. You don’t want me abused except by your hand.”
He glared down at her. “Pretty much. Now, shut up or I’ll put that mouth of yours to better use.”
The dining room was decorated with silver and crystal accents and once again Hermione was sure this was due to her dress. She would have to ask Tinny if this was something they had been taught to do. She also dreaded the possibility that Draco would have her polishing the silver again since it was being used.
Dinner was a blanket of quiet conversations about the table. The sound of cutlery on the plates as everyone ate their Beef Wellington echoed throughout the large room.
Hermione was seated on the opposite end of the table from Lucius and was left with Rodolphus for conversation on one side and Snape for conversation on the other. Draco was seated on the opposite side of the table, but down a couple seats and was talking quietly and with a look of irritation to a very gloomy Pansy. Theo was seated directly across from her and would shoot her an occasional encouraging glance. Voldemort sat at the head of the table with Trelawney on one side and Bellatrix on the other. None of the couples were sitting next to each other and Hermione assumed this was by design.
All in all, the evening was going much better than she had anticipated. The worst part at this point was the knowing glances Dolohov kept throwing her way. It made her feel violated far more than she would have imagined. It was not knowing what he had done to her and what he had seen of her. She imagined there was no part of her he wasn’t intimately acquainted with and while she was grateful on the one hand that she had been spared, she felt guilty that another witch had been abused in her place.
It was as the plates were cleared that Draco stood and tapped his silver spoon against his crystal goblet. Everyone grew silent in anticipation of what Draco would say. “My most esteemed Master, dear friends, and slaves; tonight we celebrate an endeavor to scrape what little worth there is out of the Mudblood, Hermione Granger. By making her mine and procreating with her, we will hopefully raise powerful wizards to assist our Lord in his undying quest for the betterment of Wizard-kind.” His focus moved from Lucius to Sybill. “And to my Father’s engagement to a woman of unsurpassed grace, charm, dignity, and innate gifts. I wish undying happiness and a long, long, long life together.” His eyes shifted back to Hermione and the malicious gleam in them could not be missed. “I have a little gift for my bride to be.”
Hermione’s face fell. This could not be good. She watched with trepidation as Draco walked around the table and stood beside her. “Stand up, Mudblood and give me your left hand.”
Hermione immediately complied and watched as Draco tugged the finger sleeve off her ring finger.
“Just a little ring, to mark our engagement. Something to make you think of me and to let everyone know what you are to me.”
He slipped the band on her finger and she noticed it had a flat surface on top with the engraving, ‘Property of Draco Malfoy.’ The others couldn’t see the insult and only saw that he had placed a ring on her hand. Ginny jumped up despite herself as did Sybill. Hermione noticed Pansy was jumpy in her seat. Probably desperate to see what she felt should have been hers but trying not to show she cared.
When the two witches got a look at the ring, Ginny offered Hermione a small, encouraging smile before retaking her seat.
Sybill blushed a furious red and went up a tiny notch in Hermione’s book when she tried to make a bad situation a tiny bit less mortifying. “Such a pretty metal. Is it platinum?”
Draco smirked and then smiled a big, toothy grin. “No, it’s silver. Silver plated. Just so she knows exactly what she’s worth.”
Dookie Delinquent Dickfuck, indeed!
Hermione felt a rather large sense of relief when dinner was over and everyone headed back to the living room for assorted pastries, coffee, tea and after dinner drinks. Voldemort made his escape with Bellatrix right on his heels. Rabastan and Rodolphus were not far behind.
There was a perceptible shift in the atmosphere after Voldemort’s and the Lestrange’s exit. Blaise and Daphne, who had barely spoken a single word all evening, had now fallen into easy conversation with Theo and Millicent. Pansy, who had been sulking all night, was all smiles when Draco approached her and seemed to be flirting with her from what Hermione could tell. She would consider herself lucky if Draco would go home with the other witch.
She felt a headache fast approaching and wanted nothing more than for this never-ending evening to draw to a close. She watched as Lucius escorted Sybill to a wingback chair and brought her a pastry and a cup of tea. She tried to contain the swell of jealousy that was forcing bile up the back of her throat. She knew Lucius was only being polite. He was only doing what he had to. It still hurt, though. He was hers, dammit.
She also watched as Severus escorted Ginny to the sofa and, with a flick of his hand, a pillow landed behind the young witch’s lower back. In truth, Ginny was very thin, but her pregnancy was already starting to show just a tiny bit. Carrying twins, the girl would be huge in no time. Hermione felt she was intruding on a tender moment between the two, yet couldn’t pull her eyes away from the exchange as Severus whispered something to Ginny which made her blush magnificently before he turned away and walked towards Lucius. Meanwhile, Hermione sat alone in her chair and couldn’t help the ping of self-pity that sometimes threatened to overcome her.
Fortunately, Blaise, Daphne, Theo, and Millicent left shortly after finishing their desserts. At this point, all the guests had left except for Severus, Ginny, and Pansy. The latter was clearly holding out hope that Draco’s attentions would continue.
The night would be over soon, and Hermione would hopefully be allowed to sleep. The past two days, Draco had been slightly less nasty towards her and, while he still used her body, he hadn’t been as abusive. He had even allowed her to sleep on her cot instead of on the carpet beside his bed.
Ginny had just approached her when there was the clatter of a shattered tea cup on the floor. Suddenly, a voice only slightly familiar chanted out in a monotone:
“A girl of tainted blood and a virgin no more shall spawn a sacrifice for love. Within her lies the power to end it all.”
Everyone’s eyes whipped to the speaker to see Sybill Trelawney with eyes rolling up and into the back of her head as she chanted out one more time:
“A girl of tainted blood and a virgin no more shall spawn a sacrifice for love. Within her lies the power to end it all.”
The room was silent, and Snape was at Lucius’ side and next to Trelawney in a flash.
“What was that nonsense?” Draco drawled as he slowly sauntered over and looked down his nose at the witch who was now twitching with convulsive little movements and had drool dripping out the side of her mouth.
“Sybill. Miss Trelawney,” Lucius urgently prodded as he leaned over and shook her shoulder. He looked up at Severus who was staring down at the witch with a contemplative and serious expression. “I should call for Healer Jacobs.”
Severus did not take his eyes off Trelawney as he responded just above a whisper, “That’s not necessary. Just give her a minute. She has done this before.”
Lucius righted himself and continued to watch his betrothed with a wary expression.
Hermione stepped over and looked at the witch with distrusting eyes. “Was that for real? Or was she faking it?”
Draco scowled at Hermione. “Go back over there. Don’t hover. We will handle this.” Hermione turned and rolled her eyes so that no one could see but Ginny who offered a small, sympathetic grin.
Severus rubbed his forehead lightly with the fingertips from his right hand as though he were also getting a headache. His attention was instantly back on Trelawney when she moved slightly.
Her eyelashes fluttered and then opened to reveal quizzical and magnified, hazel colored irises that peered concernedly from Lucius to Severus and back again. “Is everything alright?" she questioned, her voice less airy than usual.
“Yes, it seems so,” Lucius responded, and Hermione couldn’t help but notice the slightest hint of disappointment in his voice.
“What happened?” Sybill asked. She pushed herself up, so she was sitting straight and no longer collapsed back into the chair.
Lucius glanced up at Severus to find no answers on the man’s face and looked back at her. “You appeared to have had a spell of some sort, my dear, and you said some words.”
Her eyes grew wide with excitement as she bolted up out of the chair. “Quickly, a quill! We need a quill and parchment. We must write it down. It could be very important.” She snapped her right hand at Lucius. “Quickly!”
Hermione almost burst out in laughter at the completely thrown look on Lucius’ face. The man was not used to being spoken to in such a way, and Hermione knew he wanted nothing more than to escort her bony arse to the floo and never see her again.
Instead he drew his wand and waved it, beckoning parchment and quill which hovered over to the impertinent witch. She then looked up at Lucius and said, “Well? What did I say? I’m sure it was important!”
Lucius looked at Severus who merely had a cocked brow and an amused smirk on his face.
All eyes turned to Draco when he was the one who spoke up. “Oh, Father. My new Mother is amazing. Our first family dinner and she is already making prophesies.”
Trelawney’s eyes glittered with excitement at Draco’s praise, completely lost on the fact that he was mocking her and teasing his father. It was clear to Hermione that Draco held no more stock in the woman’s gifts than Hermione did.
Draco looked at Sybill in all seriousness as he said, “I remember it clearly. You said, ‘If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it’s a duck’.”
Hermione had to give Draco credit for keeping a straight face. Trelawney, on the other hand, had a very serious look on her face as she wrote it down.
Severus rolled his eyes and stalked away as Lucius stood and offered Hermione a small grin.
It was Pansy who clearly didn’t get the joke. “That’s not what she said, silly,” she corrected Draco teasingly as she walked over to her former teacher.
Trelawney looked with perplexed eyes from Draco back to Pansy.
“What you said was, ‘A girl of tainted blood and a virgin no more shall spawn a sacrifice for love. Within her lies the power to end it all.’
Trelawney’s jaw dropped as she nodded at Pansy. “Yes, yes. Tell me again.”
Draco rolled his eyes dramatically as his girlfriend/ex-girlfriend or whatever the hell she was, recited the words over and over until the eccentric woman had it written down.
Trelawney repeated it to herself as she clearly was trying to figure it out.
“Oh Rasputin!” She exclaimed dramatically as she once again fell back into her chair. “It is as I always suspected. My call to greatness has finally come!” She stood and began to pace.
Lucius’ brow crinkled as he looked back at the woman and Severus’ brows practically hit his hairline.
“Do explain, Professor,” Severus enquired as he approached and stood next to Lucius before taking a sip of his tea.
“Well, ‘A girl with tainted blood’. I, you see, had a muggle mother and am about…”
Lucius’s eyes were as wide as saucers. “You’re a half-blood?”
“Yes, yes. It’s not common knowledge. I only mention it now as we are to be family,” she replied dismissively with a wave of her hand.
No one said anything. Hermione could see the wheels turning on Lucius’ face. He was promised a pure-blood wife and she couldn’t help but wonder how much this really bothered him.
Lucius was stunned. A Half-blood. He would take any excuse he could muster to get out of this farce of a wedding. Perhaps if he went to the Dark Lord with… his thoughts were interrupted when his fiancé resumed speaking.
“But that’s not all,” Trelawney continued. “Now that I am to be wed, I will no longer be a virgin…” Her words were drowned out by the second loud snort and spray of liquid from the Headmaster’s nose, this time on Lucius’ opposite sleeve from earlier… “and my gifts of the sight are clearly my power within.”
Lucius couldn’t take anymore and collapsed onto a chair, his hands rubbing his head.
"Of course, I don’t really know what that part about sacrifice refers to and I don’t know what end it all means.” She sighed heavily. “I am sorry. I must leave. I need to get back to my tower and consult my sphere. Then I should to inform the Dark Lord. He will want to know the role I am to play in…well…something important, I’m sure!”
Lucius just wanted her to leave. “Of course, I’ll escort you to the floo.”
“Allow me,” Severus said cordially, surprising Lucius.
“Good night all, it has been a pleasure. I am sorry to rob you of my company so early,” she announced dramatically. She turned to Draco. “Oh, and Draco, my dear. I do think you should have your hearing checked. I see now that the vision I had yesterday of a young man in a medi-witch’s office was clearly meant to be you.”
Lucius stood tiredly and offered her a noncommitted smile. She stood still except for the slight turn of her cheek as though she expected him to kiss it.
Lucius ignored the hint and merely took her hand and squeezed it. He headed for the sideboard to grab another brandy as Severus walked her out.
“Well, on that note, I shall retire. Pansy? Would you like to come upstairs for a little while? I can show you my collection of antique brooms I was telling you about.”
Lucius was surprised when the girl actually accepted his son’s not so subtle invite for sex.
Draco smiled and held his hand out to her as he said over his shoulder to Hermione, “Come along, Mudblood. The night is done.”
Hermione turned to Ginny. “Goodnight, Ginny. Please tell the Headmaster I said goodnight as well.”
Lucius swallowed longingly when her cognac eyes landed on him. “Good night Mr. Malfoy.”
“Goodnight, Miss Granger.” The trio departed.
When Severus walked back into the room, Lucius asked, “You obliviated her?”
“Of course,” his friend responded. “It is late Lucius, and I need to get Ginevra to bed. We do need to discuss this, however. I don’t think what she said can be ignored.”
Lucius nodded. “Yes, I immediately thought the same. Let’s talk tomorrow.” Lucius then bid a goodnight to Ginny and watched as they left.
- 30
- 31
- 32
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

A World Not Fit To Live In