The Spring of the Satyr

The hotel looked different this time of year. A light dusting of snow covered the building, making it sparkle and shimmer like a fairy castle. Hermione stepped inside and made her way to the restaurant. Yes, she remembered this place, she wracked her brain for hidden details of the meal in question, but nothing. She glanced at the center stairway that led to the rooms. Something tingled in her subconscious but nothing she could firmly grasp. Sighing, she left the hotel and walked the short distance to the forest.

As the wind whipped through her coat, Hermione shivered. Her footsteps crunched over the icy ground as she headed deeper into the woods. She spotted the large tree with it's distinctive concave trunk. "This was where I used to read." She thought dazedly and looked around, searching for anything that would jog her uncooperative brain. Nothing. As she began to walk deeper into the forest she got the strangest feeling that she should conceal herself; as if someone would see her if she didn’t hide behind the trees. "There's no one here, you goose." She scolded herself and kept going. Her feet seemed to be leading of their own accord. They led her deeper and deeper into the woods until finally she stood at the top of a small hill. She looked down over the edge and her mouth fell open in shock.

Just as it had appeared countless times in her dreams lay the mysterious pool with it's metallic water. Steam rose from it in great billowing clouds and it's surface shimmered with the reflection of the cloudy sky. Hermione made her way down the high banks and stared into the silvery depths. She breathed in the pooling vapor and sank to her knees. Strawberries! The hot, steaming water coated her hand with it’s pearlessence as she lightly brushed the surface. A powerful ache started to creep up between her legs as the liquid invaded her pores. Oh my Gods! What was this place?

Snatching her hand away from temptation, Hermione felt the world spinning. Although the details still escaped her grasping memory, she knew she had been to this place before! Tears stung her eyes and she held a hand to her chest, as if to hold her exploding heart within. Had it all been real? This place, Paris, Venice, the castle,,,, the “things” she’d done with the man in her dreams! Had Lucius Malfoy really been her lover? Why why why couldn't she remember?

She thought of his reaction to her on the platform. He'd looked at her so strangely! Did he remember things that she could not? Her panicked uncertainty threatened to drive her mad. She sat there on her knees for what seemed like hours, waiting for the strange water to bring her answers that never came.

*********

From the upper balcony of the ballroom, Draco scanned the crowd of guests for the hundredth time. Where was she? Had she changed her mind? He saw his father approaching from the stairs and grimaced. "Hello father." He said, refusing to take his eyes off of the entry.

"Draco." Lucius followed his son's stony gaze. "Are you expecting someone?" He looked back at his son with curiosity. The boy was acting so strangely! He’d barely said a word since he’d been home, just walked around with that brainless smile on his face.

“I’ve invited a guest.” Draco replied with the hint of a smile.

“A female sort of guest? Hmmm, anyone I know?”

Draco met his father’s eyes and grinned widely. “Oh, I think you’ve met her.” He answered cryptically. He turned his head back to the entryway, refusing to say more.

Lucius stared at his son with fond bemusement. The boy obviously thought he was in love with whoever the little chit was. Oh well, let him have his illusions. He’d learn soon enough that love was just an emotion created by women to rip a man’s heart out. At the thought of love, his mind flickered upon the memory of a face, staring up at him in agony with tears pouring from her warm brown eyes. “That’s what love is my son,,, love is nothing but pain.” He thought. Just then, he saw Draco's eyes glowing with happiness and looked towards the entryway. Oh dear Lord!

The object of his musings was standing in the entry, looking around the hall in what appeared to be panic. Hermione looked like an angel. A wickedly seductive angel. The dark blue gown she wore fit her body so perfectly that it hugged every curve on her exquisite figure. The low décolleté showed her bosom to it's best advantage, sexy but still refined and elegant. She'd straightened her hair so that it hung gleaming down her back, only the slightest hint of wave leaving evidence of it’s natural state. The ivory skin of her neck was bare, but her ears hung with sapphires, her makeup was flawless. Both Malfoy men felt their jaws drop as they took in her perfection.

"Excuse me Father." Draco said, nearly running to get down the stairs.

Lucius stood on the balcony as if he'd been petrified. His heart thundered in his ears as he watched his son push his way through the crowd to get to her. Was this some kind of twisted fucking joke? He saw Draco's mouth curving into a warm smile of welcome, and then saw her smile dazzlingly at him in return. As Draco leaned in to kiss her, right there in front of everyone, Lucius fought an urge to whip out his wand and kill him. As the kiss broke, Lucius watched her eyes, scanning the room, looking for someone. When her gaze finally lit on the balcony it stopped directly on him. His trembling heart nearly stopped beating. Their eyes locked for what seemed to Lucius to be an eternity. Her expression from this distance was inscrutable, but the tension in her shoulders was clear.

Feeling so fortunate to be the one at her side, receiving the jealous stares of the other men, Draco leaned and whispered in her ear. "You look amazing!"

Hermione broke her gaze with Lucius and blushed. She'd never taken this long or used this much care to get ready for anything. She'd needed all the confidence she could get. She smiled at Draco in his tailored dress robes and raised her eyebrows. "You look pretty amazing yourself!"

Grabbing her hand, he led her through the crowd of beautifully dressed people. Everyone seemed to be staring at her, and Hermione felt a strong urge to bolt. Were these all dark wizards? "Why are they all looking at me Draco? Am I on the menu?"

Draco smiled. “They are looking at you because you are the most beautiful girl in the room.” He looked around the crowd, searching for a familiar face to introduce her to. He realized he didn’t really know anyone here. How disappointing to not be able to introduce her to everyone he knew as his! His parents had obviously made a point tonight to invite mainly muggleborns and half-bloods. Ninety percent of these people would have never been allowed to cross the threshold only a year ago. "Look." He said, pointing out a tall black wizard across the room.

"Kingsley!" Hermione beamed at the familiar face. The new Minister of Magic looked splendid in his many-colored robes. He held out his arms and she ran to give him a hug.

"Hermione! How wonderful to see you!" Kingsley smiled at her in affection. "You look absolutely stunning tonight! You know half the crowd has already asked me who the gorgeous girl in blue was, but I didn't recognize you until you smiled at me!"

Hermione blushed. She asked for news of Harry and Ron and promised Kingsley a dance. She saw Draco frown jealously and she smiled apologetically at Kingsley as Draco drew her away.

“Dance with me!” Draco said excitedly, pulling her on to the crowded dance floor. Expertly, he twirled Hermione around the intricate steps of the waltz.

“I didn’t know you could dance like this!” She beamed.

“I’ve been going to these parties as long as I can remember. Of course I had to learn to dance!” He laughed and pulled her body close to him. “This is the first time I remember actually enjoying it though.”

Watching him closely, so confidently at ease, Hermione felt her heart swell with warmth. He was so beautiful when he was happy! The music slowed to a more modern, romantic melody and Draco pulled her so close that she could feel the effect her appearance was having on him. His hands found her bottom and pulled her tightly against his hardness. “Not here!” She whispered, scandalized by his brazenness.

Draco smiled devilishly and backed away to a more discreet distance. As his eyes lingered on her face, his expression grew serious. “I love you Hermione.” He mouthed quietly, letting her read the words on his lips.

Hermione blushed and lay her head on his shoulder, unable to answer.

As the night wore on, Hermione floated on a sea of bliss. She’d never been one of “those” girls who got all the boys attention. She even liked it that way, usually thinking of those sorts of girls with a scornful pity. What was beauty without brain? But tonight, feeling like a swan for the first time in her life, Hermione thought she understood a little bit better. Feeling the attention from a room full of handsome wizards was definitely heady.

As she spun out of a fast moving dance with Kingsley, and a slow, sensual number began to play and she found herself nearly falling into the arms of Lucius Malfoy.

“I believe this next one is mine Minister.” He said, bowing to them both.

Nodding her consent to Kingsley, Hermione allowed Lucius to take her into his arms. Her eyes drank in his arrogant elegance as he weaved her skillfully through the other dancers towards the back of the room. His face was set in hard lines, his gaze far off in the distance, and Hermione thought for a moment that he found being close to her distasteful.

“Are you enjoying yourself Miss Granger?” He asked, looking at her for the first time. “Gods!” He thought. She’d looked beautiful from a distance, but up close she was devastating! He felt his body hardening, pulling itself closer to her as if they were opposite poles of a magnet. It was all he could do to maintain his dignity.

Finding it hard to speak in the face of his bold, hungry gaze, Hermione looked away. “Yes Mr. Malfoy. I’m having a wonderful time.” She answered stiffly. The erotic, familiar cologne invaded her senses and flashes of a pale, muscular body passed before her eyes. “His body.” She thought wonderingly. She faced him again, catching his eyes staring at her cleavage. Without fully intending to, she leaned closer, letting her breasts brush the fabric of his robes.

With an ungainly lurch he jumped back, breaking the intimate contact. Of course she didn’t know what that touch had done to him, how hard he’d become, how much he absolutely wanted her. Silently, he fought an overwhelming urge to caress the skin of her arm that lay beneath his hand, to lead her up the grand stairway to his bedroom, to ravish her until she screamed his name. Instead, he shuttered his eyes and concentrated on feeling her body move with his.

Hermione felt the tensed muscles, saw the clenched jaw and wondered. Her insides twitched with longing until she thought she would cry. Did he feel the same? She closed her eyes and breathed him in.

From across the room, Draco watched the couple warily, searching for any sign from either of them that there was something between them. His father seemed stiff and formal as he danced with her, using none of the natural grace that Draco knew the man possessed. He’d even appeared to stumble. He watched Hermione’s face. She looked scared, tense. He reasoned that due to his father’s history she was understandably uncomfortable, but he refused to see anything else. He relaxed slightly, but as the music ended he moved quickly across the floor to claim her from his sire.

Hermione struggled to hide her quivering as Draco took her from his father. The sight and feel of Lucius still lingered, phantom-like beneath her closed eyes and empty hands. What was this powerful connection she felt with the older man? She had Draco, young and handsome, and admittedly in love with her. Why did she have to be so consumed with his father?

"Come on Hermione, I need to present you to mother." Draco said, giving his father a cold, dismissing look.

Narcissa Malfoy looked astonishing. She wore a tight black gown that showed off her figure to perfection, her silvery blonde hair was pulled severely back into a complicated bun at the back of her narrow head. Diamonds dripped down her throat to rest suggestively between her breasts. A large group of young wizards surrounded her, spellbound to her every word. Hermione thought she had never seen a more beautiful woman - or one she hated so completely. Narcissa looked at Hermione, loathing evident in her haughty expression. Hermione would have rather touched a steaming pile of fresh dung than to take her outstretched hand. Fighting her revulsion, Hermione took the hand and held it gingerly.

"Mother, I believe you know Miss Granger." Draco said warily. His mother nodded, so far so good. "Hermione is my guest tonight, so I hope we can treat her with the kindness she deserves."

Narcissa smiled coldly and released Hermione's hand. "Of course Draco, what did you expect? Did you think we'd torture her in the library?" At this Narcissa actually laughed, an acidic little screeching sound that made Hermione want to rake her nails over the woman's face.

The stable of wizards laughed feebly, not really getting the joke. Draco took his mother by the hand and drew her from the crowd. "Apologize." He ordered. "Now." His tone was icy and color blazed in his cheeks. Narcissa looked at her son, then at Potter's witch at his side. Who did the little slut think she was? Did she think she was actually good enough for her son? She raised her proud jaw and stared Hermione down. Draco squeezed her hand painfully. "You won't like the result if you don't do as I ask Mother."

Seeing that Draco meant business, Narcissa turned her eyes back to the witch at his side. "I'm sorry if I offended you Miss Granger." She gave Draco a hurt look. "Now if you will excuse me." Almost snarling, she swayed back to her circle of admirers. Draco stalked after her. "I'll be just a moment." He said, turning back to Hermione. "Go back to Shacklebolt. I won't be long."

Hermione's hands shook with rage. "You cannot curse Draco's mother, you cannot curse Draco's mother." She said the litany to herself and she headed to the French doors that led out to the massive gardens, covered in a thick, pristine layer of snow. She made her way to a marble bench that sat in front of an arbor. The icy breeze that blew across her reddened cheeks helped to calm her. "Yes, it would be bad to kill Draco's mother." She said to herself in a more reasonable tone.

"I don't think many people would agree with you." said a familiar voice behind her.

Hermione twirled around on the bench to see Lucius Malfoy staring at her. "Oh absolutely fabulous." She thought sarcastically. So he chose now to get her on her own. Now, when she was barely containing her tears of rage. She’d known he would find her alone sometime during the night, but now, with her emotions so raw and near the surface, all of the accusations, the questions, the demands for truth she'd intended to force from him flew from her mind. He looked intoxicating. The moonlight reflected in his eyes, giving them an almost supernatural glow. Hermione superimposed the sight of this man over the one in her dreams. There was no doubt in her mind.

"Have you been to Bath lately?" She asked bravely, watching his face go blank with shock. It was all the answer she needed.

Lucius kept his face as clear and expressionless as he could. His heart and mind reeled. How much did she know? Everything? No, it was impossible! His memory charms had never failed him before! "No Miss Granger, I've never been to,, Bath you say? Why do you ask?"

"Well," She drawled easily, though her pulse was pounding in her veins. She hid her shaking hands under her legs. "There's this queer little spring there. I think it's magical, though I don't know exactly what it does. The water looks like metal and smells like strawberries." She paused, watching him carefully. "I dreamed about it a long time before I went there. It was actually my dreams that led me to it."

"Perhaps you have some talent as a prophetess?" He said coolly.

Hermione smiled. "No, I don't think so." She stood and moved closer to him. He clearly wanted to back away, but held his ground. He turned away, presumably to gaze upon an ice-varnished sculpture. Fingers trembling uncontrollably, she grasped his chin gently and turned him back to face her. "What did you do to me Mr. Malfoy?" She asked, her tone melancholy. "I've seen and,, felt other things in my dreams - things I couldn't have possibly imagined, for I didn’t know such things existed.” She paused, a single tear running down her face. “Some of them were really quite wonderful." She looked beseechingly into his eyes. "I'd like to remember."

Lucius considered her request without changing his expression. "You don't know what you're asking me."

"I'd like to."

The sound of crunching snow cut off the words Lucius had been about to say. "Hermione!" Draco shouted in the distance, panic coloring his voice. "Hermione!" With a sad little smile, Lucius melted away behind a tall, snow covered hedge. Shit!

"I'm here Draco!" She called