The Dragon's Child Bride

A/N : Thank you to my wonderful beta, who has put up with all my errors.

Chapter 10: So Much to Say


Draco had meant to go after her, he really had. But he had sat down on the couch for a moment to collect himself and must’ve passed out.

The next day had to be the worst possible day of Draco Malfoy’s existence since he had been told Laylani was dead. First, he’d woken up with a monstrous hangover which was shortly followed by the discovery that his supply of hangover potion was gone. As if that and the troubles the night before hadn’t been enough, on his way to breakfast he tripped on a stray piece of amour in the middle of the staircase. At the top of the staircase lay the rest of the suit of armor, collapsed in disarray. He threw the piece that had tripped him into the pile; Filch could deal with it.

He sat down to his table in the Great Hall, barely acknowledging his housemates, and then who should come waltzing over to make his already wonderful day even more cheery, but one Harry Potter.

“Malfoy, I need to speak to you. Now. Privately. ” He had said this in such a cold and bitter tone, Draco was almost inclined to get up to speak to him, if only to see what had ruffled the Golden Boy’s feathers so. Almost, but not quite.

“No, Potter. I’m really not interested in whatever you want to gripe about, privately or otherwise. So if you don’t mind, get lost.” He turned away from Potter, considering the matter done with. He was not prepared for what Potter did next.

In one fluid motion, Harry Potter grabbed Malfoy by the collar and pulled him out of his seat, inches away from his own face. “Listen, you arrogant bastard,” he hissed, “If you want to be a selfish prick and ruin your own life, that’s fine by me. But you have no right to fuck with others lives, including Laylani‘s.” Draco was shocked. What did Potter know about his girl?

“Laylani? Is she okay?”

Harry laughed. “Like you really give a rat’s ass about her well-being. I found her on rounds. You left her fucking wandering around the halls drunk and crying! You want to have your Quidditch whores and fuck random girls, go ahead. But you had best stay the hell away from her. And if I ever, EVER see another bruise like that on her, I will kill you.” Harry let go of his robes and left.

Draco sat back down completely stunned, ignoring the looks of astonishment from everyone. He knew he had done some awful, cruel things in his life. Okay, a lot of awful and cruel things. But he had never once felt guilty about it until now. He had left her alone and drunk to wander the halls of Hogwarts in the dark. Any number of things could’ve happened to her. She could have been bombarded by Peeves, fallen off the moving staircases, could’ve gone outside into the Forbidden Forrest. He could’ve very nearly lost her, again.

He knew the schedule of rounds and Potter’s didn’t start until 10:45. That meant she had been roaming around the halls for over an hour. ‘Merlin,’ he thought, ‘She must have been so scared.’ And a bruise? How had that happened? He was overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and shame. Draco looked to his plate, no longer hungry. ‘A bastard like me shouldn’t get to eat.’ He stood up and went back to his room.

He knew he had to apologize to her but where could he begin? How does one apologize to someone for something so despicable? He stared at the blank parchment before him for a full twenty minutes before he started to write.

Draco had given up on the idea of trying to keep his dignity intact. He would beg. He would grovel. He would do whatever it took to make it up to her, and then some. Laylani deserved it.

***

Dear Laylani,

I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything. I’m sorry that I yelled. I’m sorry I let you walk away. I’m sorry that you had to face the halls alone.

I should’ve been there to protect you and instead I was passed out, drunk. Our parents used to have nicknames for us, ‘the Knight and the Princess.’ I was your protector and you, my fair maiden. It has always been my job to make sure that you are safe and I’ve failed miserably twice now. First when the muggles took you, and now this. I made a promise to myself to never, ever let any bad things happen to you when you came back to me. And the first thing I did was inflict pain on you. I’m a bastard that doesn’t deserve you. And for that I’m sorry, too.

I’m sorry. One hundred thousand times over, I’m sorry.

Draco

***

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Laylani had had an equally rough time. Lucius and Narcissa had been livid when she arrived. They inundated her with questions. What had happened to her face? Why didn’t Draco have her home on time? Had she been crying?

She tried to answer these as best she could. She told them about tripping on the stairs. She and Draco had just lost track of time, they had been having so much fun. No, she hadn’t been crying, she was just tired.

She stayed in bed all morning the next day, just thinking. She had behaved terribly last night. Why couldn’t she have just told Draco and gotten it over with? His knowing about her past had to have been better than this horrible feeling she was experiencing.

His owl came around two in the afternoon. She read his letter and began to cry. Her mind had been made up. He had to know.

She needed the pictures they took at the clinic. They should still be in the clothes she had apparated in. Narcissa had left them in a garbage bag on the shelf in her closet. Luck was with her, the pictures were in her back pocket, undisturbed.

Laylani returned to the bed, picked up her silver notebook and began to pour her soul onto its pages.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Draco had sent his letter a week ago, and had yet to receive a reply. She hated him, he knew it. It was all he could think about. It consumed his every waking thought and most of his dreams, too. His studies began to falter, his Quidditch ability was poor at best, and he could barely eat or sleep. Laylani was all he could think about.

He crawled into bed that night and was just about to turn off the light when he heard a tapping on his window. His father’s black eagle owl sat perched on the ledge with what looked like a heavy message attached to its leg. He took the note from the owl, and it flew off into the night.

The note wasn’t written on parchment, but lined foolscap. His father would never use something so lowbrow. Draco unfurled the letter quickly. It was from her. He eagerly began to read.

***

Dear Draco,

We were both at fault that night. I am just as much to blame for what happened as you. No harm, no foul. I’m sorry for starting that fight. I should’ve just told you and instead I avoided it by arguing. It’s hard for me to think about those awful things, let alone talk about them.

While I was gone, a lot of bad things happened. I still can’t talk about most of them. They’re just too painful. But some you need to know. This is really hard for me, so please forgive me if this rambles on.

When I was away, I had to do a lot of awful things to keep myself alive. One of those awful things was selling my body. I didn’t want to, I hated it. I only did it when I was desperate. I would do it when I was starving, or I knew that they had found out where I was. I did it to for money to take care of myself.

I never went all the way. I couldn’t. It was bad enough I did what I did and that I let them touch me; I just couldn’t bring myself to do THAT. Sometimes when I wouldn’t, the men got angry. And violent.

Draco, you need to know that I look a lot different now then when your parents found me. The mediwizard removed a lot of marks from my body. Some of those marks were from the men that I, well, you know. These are some of the pictures that they took at the free clinic after a man I refused attacked me. He'd forced me into an alley and hurt me.

***

There were three muggle pictures attached to the bottom of the page. The first was of a bloody face he could only assume was Laylani. Her lip was split and her right eye was swollen shut. One was of her upper chest, with burn marks across her collarbone. The last one was of hand-shaped bruises on her upper thighs. Draco turned the page, unable to look at those terrible photographs any longer. He kept reading.

***

The only reason he didn’t get what he wanted, or kill me for that matter, was that I was so scared that my magic did something like an electrical surge and knocked him out. I managed to get out onto the open street and into a bus shelter before I passed out. I woke up a few hours later in a free clinic. They told me that the patrol cops for that area found me and brought me in. The cops also put out a description of me to see if I fit any ‘missing persons‘. I knew that they would find me if I stayed there so I took my pictures and left. I had to hook again that night to get bus fare to leave town.

This has been unbearably hard for me to write down. I’ve had to write it in parts over a couple of days. But you deserve to know why I acted the way I did. You touching me was wonderful, but it made me think of all these things and I felt dirty. I couldn’t keep going like that, not if you didn’t know.

Draco, I want to be with you. I want to be able to touch you and have you touch me without freaking out. I really like you a lot. Probably a lot more then I should. But I didn’t think someone like you, someone who hadn’t lived the kind of life I had, could understand all those horrible things I did, why I did them. Your family, the way they live, the way they raised you, somehow I doubt that the fact I’ve been hooking would be taken well. I was afraid. I’m sorry I couldn’t have told this directly to you. I just couldn’t watch your face when you found out that I was, to be blunt, a whore.

I wish things could have been different. I wish I had a past that fit in with your world. I wish I had been someone you could have been proud of to be your friend, your girlfriend. Someone you could have shown off at the Ball. But I’m not that princess anymore.

I know that I can’t change what I was, and that it isn’t fair for you to be expected to feel the same way you did before. I understand that it probably isn’t possible for you to keep loving me knowing what you know. I’m sorry. For everything.

Laylani

***

The last page of her letter was tear-streaked. Draco put the down the letter and stood dumbly. Out of nowhere he gave a cry of anger. He suddenly had so much rage inside of him. He grabbed his broom from the corner, opened his small window and flew out into the night. He didn’t know where he was going and he really didn’t care.

He was furious. Not with Laylani, no. He knew her enough to know she would never, ever do anything like that unless she had to. He was angry that she’d had to. He was angry that people had hurt her. He was angry that he hadn’t been there to stop it.

He was upset she thought he couldn’t have understood. He was upset she thought he couldn’t still love her. He was upset that she had reason to think those things.

Draco knew where he had to go.

He flew for hours that night, ignoring the cold and the snow that had begun to fall. He had to get to her and tell her. He didn’t know exactly what he’d say, but he knew he had to tell her how he felt to her face. She needed to see how sincere he was, that he still loved her and didn’t care about what she had done because she had done it to survive. She needed to see that this changed nothing, that she still was and always would be his Lani.

He reached the Malfoy property by dawn. Draco was exhausted but he didn’t care. He pulled out his wand and whispered a spell to open Laylani‘s bedroom window. He landed softly right next to her bed. She was still asleep. He stood there for a moment and tears came to his eyes. She was flawless in front of him, but in his mind’s eye he could see her scars and bruises. He had always known that she was strong, but he’d never known just how strong until then. He sat on the edge of her bed, and shook her shoulder gently.

“Lani,” he whispered. She mumbled something but didn’t open her eyes. He shook her again, more insistently this time. “Laylani, wake up. Wake up, love.” She opened her eyes to him and he smiled.

She sat up slowly and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. “Draco, what are you doing here?”

“I got your letter.”

She looked down to her hands that she was nervously twisting in her lap. “What about it?” she said quietly. She didn’t want to know.

He tipped her chin up with a finger and kissed her. He pulled away and looked deeply into her surprised eyes.

“I needed to tell you face to face that this changes nothing. To me, you will always be the girl I picked flowers for, the girl who climbed into my bed when she was scared, the girl who always made me feel like I was good enough, just the way I was. You will always be the girl I fell in love with and the girl I want to marry. I don’t care what you did in the past. You will always be my princess, always.”

She was stunned. “A-are you sure? You aren’t ashamed of me?”

“I could never be. If anything I’m proud of how strong you are to come through all of that.”

Laylani threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

“And if you still want to,” he whispered in her ear “I would feel honored to take you to the Yule Ball.”

“Absolutely.”

She smiled to herself. Gods, what had she done so right to have such a wonderful man in her life? She pulled out of the hug and kissed him gently. “Draco Malfoy, you never cease to amaze me.”

Draco smirked. “It’s part of my charm.” He yawned. The night of flying had caught up with him and he was beat.

Laylani pulled back the covers. “Care to climb in?” she asked. She was wearing a Slytherin-green satin nightgown that had been hiked up to the middle of her thighs during the night.

He knew he probably shouldn’t. He knew he was going to be missed at school. But the thought of sharing a bed with her was so inviting he just couldn’t refuse.

“I would love to.” He stood up and removed his cloak then his shirt. He undid his shoes and threw them in the corner. He was about to remove his trousers and wear his pants to bed but then thought better of it. No need to make her uncomfortable. He headed towards her closet.

“Where are you going? I thought you were going to…..to stay with me.”

“I just need to get something to sleep in, that’s all. I didn’t bring anything, well, proper.”

She shook her head and laughed. “Draco, it’s not a big deal. Just sleep in your boxers, I don’t care.”

“Are you sure? I mean if it’s a problem, I don’t want to make you feel awkward or anything….”

Laylani cut him off “And if you do, I’ll let you know. Just crawl in and get some sleep. You look like hell.”

He couldn’t argue with that. He undid his belt, then the button and fly of black school pants. They fell around his ankles. He kicked them off and came up to the bed. She was looking up at him expectantly. Gods, she was beautiful lying there in front of him, waiting for him to get into bed with her. She shifted a bit and the nightgown crept up a little higher. High enough that he could tell she was wearing matching panties. He could feel himself starting to get hard. That wouldn’t do at all.

He quickly got into the bed and pulled up the covers, hoping she hadn’t noticed. They assumed their usual sleeping position: His arm around her, her head on his chest, one of her hands over his heart, and his other hand covering hers. They whispered their goodnights and both fell into a peaceful sleep as the morning sunlight crept into the room.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Although Draco knew it had been worth it to fly out to see her, he was still dreading his parents reaction. Narcissa walked in on them just after nine to wake Laylani for breakfast. She didn’t really care that they were sharing a bed, they had done it frequently when they were younger. Narcissa and Lucius had even found them together two or three times when Draco had come to visit. They were to be wed in a few short months anyway; it didn’t really make much of a difference. But he should have been at school. It was his last week before holidays, meaning he had some serious midterms to attend to.

“DRACO EDMUND MALFOY, WHAT IN GOD’S NAME ARE YOU DOING HERE?”

The instant her shrill shriek pierced his sleep, Draco shot up and fell out of the bed. “Mum, calm down! It’s Sunday. It’s not a big deal.”

“I DON’T CARE WHAT DAY IT IS! YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AT SCHOOL AND YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE STUDYING FOR MIDTERMS! I WANT YOU DRESSED AND DOWNSTAIRS IN NO MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES!” She slammed the door and they could hear her stomp down every single step on all three flights.

Draco stood up with a groan. Laylani got out of bed and wrapped her arms around his waist and he wrapped his around her shoulders. They pressed their foreheads together and just stood there for a moment, swaying a little back and forth. Finally she spoke.

“So, Edmund huh?”

He rolled his eyes. “Shut up, you.” He’d always hated his middle name, and had refused to tell her what it was on many occasions. She raised herself on her toes and pressed a kiss to his lips.

“FOUR MINUTES!” Narcissa yelled up the stairs.

“Go get ready. I think she’s gonna blow.”

Draco pulled away sadly and headed into the closet. He walked into his room and a hand through his hair. Gods, how was he going to explain this? ‘Who cares?’ he thought. Laylani didn’t hate him, and she wasn’t mad about what had happened that night. She had felt safe enough with him to give him her honesty, and to share her bed with him. He could deal with his parents. It would be hard but it would be, without doubt, worth it.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Draco had been sternly reprimanded that morning, but that was about it. His grades had been high enough to earn him the title of Head Boy, and he’d always been either the highest or second highest ranking student for the past six years; one morning off was not going to jeopardize that. They Floo-ed him back to school after breakfast and that was the end of it.

The week passed slowly, but it did pass. On Friday, the Malfoys were prompt in their arrival to King’s Cross to pick up Draco. Normally they would send a house elf to do so, but Laylani had insisted that they fetch him like 'a real family.’ How could they deny her that?

They stood on the platform for countless minutes before they found Draco. He carted over his suitcase and swept Laylani up in a rather dramatic display of affection. By the time he ended the kiss, she was breathless. Lucius simply laughed and clapped his son on the back. Like father, like son; the Malfoy men had a way with women.

Unknown to Laylani, a pair of eyes followed her with the Malfoys. Harry had gotten off the train just in time to see Malfoy’s little show. What the hell was he doing? And what was she doing with them? Since being introduced to the Wizarding world, he had been taught the Malfoys were the living image of everything that was wrong with it. How could this beautiful girl be cavorting with them of all people?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The evening at Malfoy Manor past without incident. They had finished dinner and were talking and laughing around the table. Eventually the conversation turned to the subject of the Yule Ball.

“Laylani, what would you think about violet dress robes?”

“Dress robes? Uh, violet would be fine. Great, in fact.”

“Wonderful, I know just where to go. We can pick something up tomorrow in Diagon Alley.”

“That would be fine, Narcissa. Just fine.”

Draco recognized that tone of voice Laylani used. He had often used it himself with his mother. It was the patronizing ‘give-Narcissa-what-she-wants-just-get-me-the-hell-out-of-here’ tone. He immediately came to her rescue.

“Mother, I was going take Laylani upstairs to show her some books I brought back for her from school. If you’ll excuse us.” He rose, followed by Laylani and they made their way up the stairs to his room. He closed the door and she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Thanks. I needed to get out of there.” He sat down on the bed and laughed.

“I could tell. Sorry about Mum. When it comes to things like balls and socials, she starts trying to live vicariously through you. Sort of like a second childhood. If it helps, violet would be beautiful on you.” She turned a faint shade of pink and joined him on the bed.

“So, dress robes, they’re like what? Gowns?”

“No, not really. They’re more like glorified bathrobes.” They both laughed.

“So no Cinderella dress for me, huh?” she sounded a bit disappointed, but tried to disguise it on her face.

“Is that a problem?”

“No, it’s nothing. It’s stupid…” she laughed “While I was away, when I was about thirteen, I had found this muggle magazine in the trash that had some sort of graduation dresses for girls. They were just really nice, and I, well, I always wanted to wear one, and I was hoping this could be some sort of chance.” She stared off into space with a dreamy expression on her face, but all too soon she caught herself, and continued. “But it really doesn’t matter. I’m down with wearing a stylish violet bathrobe, too.” Laylani tried to give him a convincing smile but she could tell it wasn’t working. She scanned the room quickly, trying to find something, anything else to talk about. Her eyes fell on a worn picture on the side table.

“What’s this?” she asked. She crawled across the bed and picked it up. It was a picture of the two of them when they were very little. They were kissing.

“This is so cute! When was this?”

“It was Christmas when we were five at your house. Your dad had a passion for muggle traditions and he…”

“He decorated the house just like muggles would. We were kissing under mistletoe!”

“That’s right.”

“I remember that. I remember….I remember my daddy! I had his eyes, people always told me that. He was tall and broad. He, he wasn’t British. He was raised in the States…Yes, Stanners is an American name. He went to school in Salem…We visited once…”

She pulled Draco into a hug. “I remember!” He was thrilled for her yet taken aback. He’d always taken it for granted that once she remembered one thing, she had remembered it all. It had never occurred to him that she still had gaps in her memory. What else didn’t she know?

That thought quickly left him when he felt her planting soft kisses against his neck then up along his jawbone. “What’s this for?” he asked. Not that he really cared why she was doing it, just so long as she didn’t stop.

“Think of it as a reward for helping me remember.” she purred. She planted a kiss behind his ear and then ran her tongue along the shell of it. A strangled groan escaped his throat.

“Well in that case, we should get nostalgic more often.” He leaned her back onto the bed. Her kisses moved from his jaw to his lips. They became more intense, and he could feel her tongue running along the seam of his lips. They gave way to her pressing tongue and she began to lick at them.

He was delighted by her startling forwardness. But however wonderful it was, he had to question what it meant. Did it mean it was okay for him to touch her? Would she let him? Or would it only send him back to square one with another slap to the face?

He wasn’t willing to risk that, so he did the only sensible thing to do. He pulled away and asked.

“Lani, is it…I mean, would it... can I-” Damn, this was frustrating. He felt like such a jackass having to ask. He was the Prince of Slytherin, for Merlin's sake; the girls at Hogwarts were begging for his affections. He never had to ask for permission to do anything of this sort. However, Laylani was not just some girl at Hogwarts. She was his girl, his princess. And after all she had been through the least he could do was show her some consideration. He took a deep breath.

“Lani, would it be okay for me to touch you?” He inwardly winced. He knew it had to be said, but it didn’t make the words sound any less stupid.

She smiled to him. She knew it was an uncomfortable question for him to ask. “Yes, that would be alright.” He was grateful that she hadn’t drawn the already embarrassing situation out any further than need be. He resumed their kiss and one hand snaked down to the hem of her blue sweater. He slipped it under her shirt and began to trace intricate patterns on the flat plane of her stomach with his fingertips. After a few moments of that he began to move upwards, towards her cleavage. He pulled out of their kiss and looked intently into her eyes trying to gauge her reaction as he placed one hand over her breast. Her only reaction was a barely audible hum that emanated from low in her throat. That had to be a good sign.

He could feel her nipples start to harden through the sheer material of her bra. He began to draw an inward spiral with his thumb, starting where the material of her bra began and very slowly began to circle his way in. Although he was skilled, he knew he could perform much better if he could actually see what he was doing. The sweater had to go.

He removed his hand from under the offending garment, pleased when she gave off a small moan of protest at the loss of his touch. He began to pull up on the hem of her shirt and once she realized what he was after, Laylani was more than happy to accommodate. The sweater slipped off her and was tossed off the side of the bed.

He couldn’t help but laugh a little. “Is green a new favorite of yours?” Although her bra was made of a different material than her nightgown, it was an identical shade of forest green. She blushed.

“It’s not my fault. When Narcissa bought me clothes, I got a dozen bras. Two white, two flesh-colored, two black, and the rest were all this dark green.”

“It’s a Malfoy crest color, and a Slytherin color.”

“Oh.” She paused. “So, this is like marking your territory?”

Draco liked the sound of that. Although he knew she wouldn’t like him to say it, he liked the idea that she was his. He smirked. “Yeah, pretty much.”

Laylani was about to continue, but he silenced her with his kiss. His hand resumed its place on her breast, his thumb teasing her nipple to its fullest then swiftly moving to the other, giving it the same attention. He began to lower himself on her body, pressing kisses to her throat and gentle nips to the junction of her neck and shoulder. He kissed across the expanse of her collarbone and unhurriedly moved his attentions down further and further until his lips brushed the edge of her bra. He stretched his arm behind her and searched vainly for the clasp which held the material together. After a moment of unsuccessful searching, he let out an exasperated sigh and looked to her.

“Is there a trick to this?”

Laylani suppressed the urge to laugh. She pointed one finger to the clasp that lay between her breasts. “Clever muggle invention for just such an occasion.” He had to hand it to those muggles; they may be the scum of the earth but this was certainly a handy little innovation. With one hand he flicked the clasp open, and the material separated, loosening the straps on her shoulders to the point where they slipped down. Just before her breasts were exposed to him, she crossed her arms over her chest, effectively covering herself. He looked to her with a questioning glance. She was looking down.

“Sorry,” she whispered, “Just a little self-conscious.” She kept her head down but lowered her arms and shrugged the bra off her shoulders. Her breasts weren’t huge, a C-cup at the very, very most, but they were pert and round and her nipples were a dusky rose. She was gorgeous. He ducked his head to meet her eyes.

“Princess, you have nothing to be self-conscious about. You are by far and away the most exquisite woman I have ever laid eyes on.” She smiled weakly but raised her head, leaning back into the pillows. As much as he wanted to, he knew that continuing to stare at her chest would just make her feel more ill at ease. Draco lowered his mouth to her right breast, always mindful to keep his eyes on her face for any change.

His tongue pressed against her flesh drew a gasp from her lips, the hot moisture in stark contrast to the cool air that surrounded her. Her back arched as she felt his tongue swirl around her nipple, causing it to get even harder if that were possible. She felt his left hand move stealthily up to her left breast, and toyed with it roughly, creating a sense of complete opposition to the gentle lapping on her right. She started to moan. The pleasure was mind-numbing. So much so, that she failed to notice his other hand had made its way down and under her skirt and that it began to softly inch up her inner thighs.

In fact, she didn’t notice the other hand until it had reached the waistband of her panties and began to work them down her legs. The instant Laylani realized this she stopped responding to him and stiffened. Draco lifted his head from her chest, but did not remove his hand from under her skirt.

“Is this too far?” In his mind he was begging for her to let him continue.

“No. Just…be careful with me?” He understood the implications of that.

“I could never do otherwise.”

She relaxed and lifted her hips as he slid her undergarment out from under her skirt, and off her legs to be tossed with her sweater. His hand went higher, and he ran a finger across her folds, brushing slightly over her clitoris. Her breathing hitched. He smiled a little. It was always nice to have his work appreciated. He slid one finger inside her sheath, then another. Gods, she was wet. He started to move his fingers in and out of her at a slow pace, brushing his thumb over her nub on the in-stroke. Soon this wasn’t enough for her. She bucked her hips against his hand, trying to encourage him to move faster, and he complied.

Laylani could feel herself getting close. What had started as a low heat in between her legs had become a wildfire consuming her entire body. Not only that, but this was her first experience with a man that wasn’t a service-pay transaction. It felt different. He loved her, he adored her and she could feel that in his touch. The sensations were beginning to overtake her; she threw her head to the side and shut her eyes tight.

It couldn’t have lasted more then thirty seconds when she came hard, whispering his name. She bit her lip, helpless in the face of this unbearable pleasure. After a few heart-stopping seconds, she slowly came down from her climax and settled into bliss. She smiled to herself, reveling in the aftermath of her orgasm.

Draco gazed at her. He had never seen her look more at peace. Her flushed skin was covered in a fine sheen of perspiration, her hair spread out wildly around her face and her body completely relaxed beneath him. She drew one hand up between their bodies and brought it to his face. She opened her eyes and lifted her face to his and kissed him once, softly, before leaning back against the pillows and closing her eyes again. Draco moved himself to lie down next to Laylani and pulled her body against him, resting her head on his shoulder. He pulled the covers up around them and closed his eyes.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

During this time, Lucius had excused himself from the table and went to his private study.

Over the past two weeks, he had been tutoring Laylani for two hours everyday for her potion ingredients identification. During that time, he had seen for himself the incredible talent she possessed. He had seen her do things without her wand that few wizards, with or without wands, would be able to perform in their lifetimes. He had seen her bobuterpus into lacewings, and change water into coal. She had a spectacular power, and the more she practiced with him, the better she got. He knew if she finished her training to have proper control over her powers, she would become a force to be reckoned with. And if she were to join forces with the Dark Lord, they would be unstoppable. Once he had become certain of the potential of her abilities, he knew Lord Voldemort had to be informed.

He would tell Him tonight. Picking up the black stone carving of the Dark mark, the portkey pulled him through space to his Lord’s mansion, hidden somewhere deeply entrenched in the mountains.

“Luciussss, to what do I owe thisss pleasure?”

Lucius immediately dropped to one knee and bowed. “My Lord, I have found you a new and much needed follower. She posses talents like I have never seen.” He raised his head to face Lord Voldemort in all his glory. He was a tall man, lean and still very much snake-like.

“I ssseee. And why would I need thisssss new follower? We have many powerful witchesss and wizardsss in our ranksss who have already proven themssselvesssss. What makessss thissss one of which you sssspeak sssso important?” rasped Voldemort.

“She is powerful, more powerful then any witch or wizard I have ever seen. Other than you of course, My Lord. I have seen her change elements effortlessly. She knows almost every spell, charm, incantation and potion by memory.”

Voldemort sat in his throne-like chair in the center of the room. "A girl you sssay? Tell me off her. How old issss she? Where did she come from? I want every detail.”

“She is my son’s betrothed, my Lord, since the day she was born. She was lost to us at a young age, but recently returned. She’s nearly eighteen. Her father was American, Jonathan Stanners. Her mother’s maiden name was Layla Rennert. My Lord, she can practice her magic without a wand. That would be a great asset to us.”

“Without a wand? I ssssee.” The Dark Lord paused thoughtfully. “You shall be rewarded for thissss information, Luciussss. Leave me now.” Lucius bowed again, and disappeared.

Voldemort was quiet for a moment. He began to laugh, quietly at first, but it grew louder and louder until it echoed throughout the empty manor.

“Ssso, you thought you had essscaped us. Welcome back, Laylani.”


A/N Cue the dramatic music! So what did you think? I tried to make the smut tasteful. Well, as tasteful as smut can be. Tell me what you think, and review! As always, if you have any ideas or suggestions for the story, please feel free to email me at princess_tygris@hotmail.com