Puppy-Dog Tales

I shall reproach myself most severely for not having updated in such a grand space of time. Given the severity of my impairment, I shall make a peace offering of more than one chapter.

The only consolation I can offer is that I have been stressed by my college classes. I don't understand Genetics at all. It is all the molecular and cellular components as opposed to what can be seen. It makes it difficult for me. If any of you know anything about such a thing and could help me, I would be eternally indebted to you.

I promise with the next chapter offered after today that responses to reviews will come as well. As it is, I am out to be sure I get the chapter to you as quickly as possible.

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Darling/Undarling Puppies and Memories

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"We're in here, Draco," Lucius called.

Draco came in, "Hermione, I hope you don't mind, but I set up our tea on the back porch overlooking the lake."

“That's great, Draco,” she said staring at his father.

Draco glared at his father.

Lucius handed the witch off to his son.

Hermione cast a look back at Lucius as she left on Draco's arm.

“How are you my love?” Draco asked, looking at her lovingly.

“I am good,” she murmured, not looking at him.

"Is there anything in particular that you want?" Draco asked, leaning down and kissing her cheek.

She didn’t answer.

“Look, I made our tea time romantic,” Draco said motioning to the small loveseat and coffee table.

"Woof," came a tiny bark. "Woof."

"Grrr," came another tiny puppy growl.

“I thought you may like to meet the puppies...they're here too.”

Hermione raced down the few steps and saw a small puppy play pin set up.

She gasped as she saw a tiny pup stamp its feet and growl at Draco.

“They're all so cute!”

"Do you want to go in with them?"

Hermione giggled and allowed Draco to levitate her over the barrier.

The puppies ran to her and barked happily. They were all so cute.

One girl pup stood in the corner glaring at the fence and walked up to it and lifted up to her hind feet and began to climb the fence.

"Morgana, you naughty little puppy," Draco said, going over and taking the girl by the scruff of her neck.

"Awooo," she cried as she was tucked to the wizard's chest. She began to chew at a button on his robes happily.

“Yes, you’re a werepup. I know.”

The other puppies raced around Hermione happily, offering her their toys.

Draco put the little pup down, "Go meet Hermione," he said, shaking a finger at the pup.

Morgana pranced away from Hermione and began to dig in the soft dirt in a corner of the play area. She glared at the other pups when they would get too close. She dropped her prize silver button in the hole and buried it. Then she plopped her bottom down and sat there guarding the treasure.

“What do you have there, little one?” Hermione asked the puppy.

Morgana growled showing her sharp little puppy teeth.

“Isn't she cute?” Hermione cooed.

Draco tried to clean the dog slobber from his jacket. "She thinks she is," Draco said, "There are shelties and Cavalier King Charles here."

Another puppy began to chase its tail in a circle before it bumped into Hermione's knees which sent her straight into Draco's chest.

“Got you.” he said and leaned in for a kiss.

Morgana raced at Hermione and head-butted her shin. She wandered off dazed.

Draco stared at Hermione's lips for a while.

“May I kiss you?” he asked huskily.

Morgana latched her tiny teeth onto Draco's trouser leg as Draco said the word kiss. She tugged and whined.

Draco ignored the puppy.

Morgana whined and tugged harder.

Hermione looked at Draco's lips as he drew her close.

“I want to kiss you very much,” he murmured, his lips an inch away from hers.

Hermione wrapped her arms around Draco's neck as he supported her whole weight. She stared at his gorgeous lips. Maybe he could be trained to be perfect mate. She leaned in closer to his mouth. He was handsome.

Their lips touched.

Draco yelped and drew away from the kiss.

Morgana wriggled between them crying loudly and hopping up at Draco.

“Looks like the puppy likes you!” Hermione cooed and petted the puppy.

"You need to behave," Draco said, kneeling down and allowing the puppy to lick his face.

A boy pup dashed up to Hermione and jumped up at her for attention holding a squeaky snake toy.

Hermione's attention was all focused on the puppies again.

Draco sighed. He was just so close to a snog.

Hermione picked up the little boy puppy and brushed the dirt from his head.

He licked her hand every time it stroked his head.

“You're so cute little pup,” Hermione murmured.

"Looks like Ptolemy likes you," Draco said, ignoring Morgana as she chewed another silver button off his robes.

“Oh such a smart name!”

The puppy looked up at her and licked her hand again.

“Would you like to sit down for our tea? I ordered pastry from the cafe we went this morning.”

“Oh, that's so thoughtful of you, Draco,” she said and took a seat.

Ptolemy licked at Hermione's face as he was settled in her lap. He made tiny puppy squeaks and snuffled a little.

Draco sat down next to her, the sofa having just enough room for them both.

Morgana whined and tried to climb into Draco's lap.

Draco was too busy to pay attention to the puppy.

Morgana didn't want to give up, however. She stepped away a little and then took for a run, jumping up to Draco's lap.

Ptolemy growled at her when she tried to mouth Hermione's sleeve.

“May I offer some tea?” Draco asked, leaning in close to her.

Morgana was happily chewing on his shirt, but he didn't mind.

Hermione stroked the top of her puppy's head and nodded, "That would be delicious."

“It is a special peach flavored Darjeeling tea,” Draco said as he moved Morgana so that he could pour the tea.

Ptolemy swatted Morgana's nose as it reached for his Mistress' sleeve again.

Morgana sniffed sadly and wiggled under Draco's arm and began pulling more buttons off his robes and dropping them next to Draco's leg on the side opposite Hermione.

“I also ordered everything from the bakery...so you can choose what you like best.”

"Draco, you are too lavish," Hermione said, picking up a cheese pastry with sugar granules sprinkled on it. She tore off a tiny corner and offered it to Ptolemy who sniffed the air delicately.

Deciding that the offering was worth a try, he took it and chewed.

Morgana tried to grab some of Draco's lemon cream tart.

"No Morgana, you aren't in charge," Draco told her, setting her down on the porch.

The puppy whined unhappily, licking Draco's shoe.

"So, is Ptolemy the puppy for you?" Draco asked, reaching over and petting a puppy ear.

Ptolemy stretched into the touch while remaining on Mistress' lap

“He reminds me a lot of Prince. And he is a sweet little one.”

"Yes, unlike the little demon down there."

Morgana stuck her head up on the seat to begin grabbing the buttons she'd carefully removed from Draco's robe and stash them under the cushion.

“She's cute too, but I think she favors you. I want my puppy to love me alone.”

"She is cute," Draco said.

"Did you enjoy your afternoon with my father?" he looked away as he asked this.

"Your father is a great wizard, and he has been very kind to me," Hermione answered, taking a sip of her tea and another bite of pastry was offered to the puppy.

Ptolemy took the offering and jumped from her lap carrying it. He trotted down the steps and stopped next to a tulip and began to dig. The tulip was dug up and tossed behind him. He paid it no mind as he dropped the pastry into the hole and buried it. When he saw the tulip was dug up, he looked up at the people. He nosed it so it sat on the blossom and trotted back to his Mistress.

Draco inched closer to her.

Hermione took another sip of tea and looked around at all the flowers. Something didn't look quite right.

“Are happy to have a new puppy?”

"Oh yes," Hermione said, turning to Draco. "Very happy. I was brokenhearted after losing two pets so suddenly, though, I am sure that Prince is back at a happy home. And he is probably with his girl puppy friend."

Draco smiled.

"At least, that is what I am pretending. I would hate if anything bad happened to him."

“I am sure he is very well. And I hope Ptolemy will give you a lot of smiles.”

"Ptolemy is too PRECIOUS," Hermione said, stooping over as Draco leaned in and gathering the pup into her arms.

Draco sighed and looked around at the flowers.

“So tell me, now that you have gotten your dream puppy, what is your dream man like?”

"I think he might be blond, brilliant, grey eyed, pureblood..." Hermione said, kissing the puppy's head. "and forty-eight years old."

“My father?” Draco asked, heat rising in his cheeks.

"I have been known to miss my guess on the age of men I like," Hermione said. "He might only be approaching eighteen."

“That I can forgive...do I earn a kiss for setting up the table?”

"No," Hermione said, "You earn a kiss for introducing me to the sweetest and best puppy for me." Hermione leaned over and kissed Draco's cheek.

“Do I get a kiss on the lips too?”

"Not right now," Hermione said, scratching Ptolemy's head.

Draco sighed, "What did my father give you?"

"I got to see Hadrian's Glowing Moss," Hermione said, touching Draco's arm. "And Lucius allowed me to collect some.

“Ah, the moss...that's nice then.”

"He got something out of a vault, too, but I am not sure what it was."

“It might have been nothing important,” Draco said, guiding her into his lap.

"Draco, why am I in your lap?" Hermione asked with a giggle as she slid an arm around his neck.

“Because I want to kiss you,” he murmueed and leaned in.

He decided that he would be brave and kissed her lips softly.

Hermione lifted up Ptolemy who leaned forward and licked Draco's lips.

Draco growled and kept his eyes closed.

Ptolemy continued to lick the crumbs and sweet lemon filling from Draco's lips.

Hermione giggled.

Ptolemy yipped and put a paw on Draco's cheek twisting to look at his Mistress.

“Hermione, since when is your hand fuzzy?”

"Open your eyes," Hermione whispered.

Draco squawked as he realized that he had just been slobbered on by a dog.

Hermione giggled at the frown and set Ptolemy down on the sofa before straddling the blond and pressing her lips to his pulse on his enck.

“You are gorgeous, Draco. I don't know how to express my feelings for you.”

Draco gasped and tilted his head to allow her kiss his neck.

“You are so gorgeous...and I feel drawn to your beauty...but I am afraid that we're not compatible.”

"I will do anything to be your man," Draco whimpered bucking against her.

“Will you be respectful towards your father?”

"I'll try. It's difficult when I see him going for you. I just want you to see I am better."

Draco twisted his head and began to kiss Hermione's neck.

"Draco," a woman's voice called. "Draco, where are you? I want to meet your witch."

"Hermione," Draco whispered as Hermione continued to kiss at his neck.

He pulled her close and kissed her lips this time.

Hermione giggled against his lips and pulled back. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Puppy germs," she said, giggling and she kissed his temple.

Draco cast a quick cleansing charm. “Better now?”

"Draco Lucian Malfoy, where are you?"

"We're out here, Mother," Draco called, lifting Hermione from his lap sadly.

“Ah, I should've known,” Narcissa said with a knowing smile.

Hermione frowned and took Draco's arm and leaned on him.

“Draco, why don't you introduce me to your sweetheart?”

Draco smiled at his mother, "Mother, this is Hermione Granger. She is the most wonderful witch in the world."

Hermione hid her face in Draco's arm.

“I am very pleased to meet you, Hermione!” Narcissa said.

"I am very pleased to meet you as well, Mrs. Malfoy," Hermione said.

"The time is soon for when you and Mother will be closely connected."

"Oh, yes," Hermione said. "She is certain to be Head Wife. But I would hope that she would allow me some private time with our soon to be shared husband."

Hermione kissed Draco's hand as she said her teasing words.

“Lucius is a very overwhelming man. You will get his attention.”

Draco frowned at his mother and mouthed: "Tell her to stay away from Father."

“And I am very excited to see whom you will choose, Hermione. Shall we go for a walk in the garden?”

"If it would please you, Lady Malfoy," Hermione said.

Draco rose with her and his robes fell open to reveal his muscular chest.

Hermione stared at Draco's ridged abs and firm pectorals. Forgetting that Narcissa was there, she slid a hand in and touched the right side sliding her hand up and down a little.

“Do you like it, Love?” he murmured, taking her hand and kissing it.

Hermione stared at him and blushed shaking her thoughts of licking the delicious man before her.

“I am sure my father doesn't look as good as me.”

"That remains to be seen," Hermione said, flipping her hair and taking Narcissa's arm. "I believe a walk about the garden would be pleasant."

Ptolemy jumped down from the loveseat and pranced over to the ladies.

Draco stood there, pouting. What did he say wrong? He waved his wand about him casting disillusionment spell and followed his mother as she and Hermione walked off into the gardens.

“Draco is such a prat!”

"Lucius said the same type of things when I was being courted by both him and his father. He prefers to forget that his father wanted me."

“Why did you choose Lucius?”

"Lucius made such a wonderful sweet gesture that I could do no less than accept him."

“But wasn't his father more mature?”

"Only very slightly. Do you know Lucius brutally shoved the first boy to kiss me in the mud?"

“That's horrible!”

"It was," Narcissa agreed. "But what he said endeared him to me enough to accept his proposal of courtship."

“But Draco is so childish...I want a man not a child.”

"Draco is becoming a fine man. He will only grow. You are so young."

Narcissa looked down at the witch at her side.

“But I doubt he will mature.”

Narcissa stopped as they reached the center of a maze of waist high hedges, "Look at these bushes. All the shapes that the right gardener has pruned them to be: Unicorns, Chimera, and more."

“It's a wonderful garden, Lady Malfoy,” Hermione said as she looked at the awesome display.

"And you see that grand white oak in the center of all this?" Narcissa said, gesturing to the enormous tree.

"Are you suggesting that Draco can be pruned?" Hermione asked, looking at the tree.

"I am simply saying: Draco still has time to take whatever shape is desirable. Lucius is like the tree. Very flashy, beautiful, impressive. But more difficult to alter."

“Lucius is charming and respectful.”

"He is also a master of manipulation," Narcissa said, leading her back toward the house.

“He didn’t seem that. He was very respectful and he showed me Godric's journal.”

Narcissa laughed lightly, "Would you like to watch a cute story about Draco?"

“Oh yes, definitely!” Hermione said. She wanted to give Draco a fair chance.

"This way," Narcissa said, leading Hermione up the stone steps and into a small parlor.

Narcissa placed a stone basin on the coffee table and her wand to her temple removing a silvery thread.

“I want you to see one of Draco's cutest moments. He was just five years old.”

Draco stood in a corner. What would his mother show her? He was always cute.

Hermione placed her wand in the silvery memory and gasped as she found herself standing on the great lawn between the house and the barns.

"Don't fly too high, Draco," Narcissa said, sitting in a white chair.

"I will fly high as dragons! I'm much better because I've grown. I can fly high as DADDY," the little blond declared on the small training broom as he lifted higher.

"Not so fast, my Love," Narcissa said, rising to her feet and dropping her shawl as Draco urged the broom faster.

"I'm a big boy. I can fly high as Daddy."

Lucius laughed as his son hovered at twenty-five feet and he flew higher.

"Daddy, let me catch you, so you have to tag me!"

"Catch me if you can," Lucius called whipping his broom around so they were aimed toward the barn.

He took off.

"Daddy, no fair!" Draco called, urging his broom faster.

The broom rose up and gained speed.

"Draco, Lucius, fly lower and slower," Narcissa called chasing after them as they disappeared.

THUMP!

"Wahh! Wahh!" Draco sobbed.

"MY BABY!" Narcissa cried, racing toward the sound of the distressed crying.

She found Draco weeping in the middle of a big pile of Pegasus manure, his broom broken.

Draco held his arms out to his mother as his father landed.

"Draco!" Lucius called, throwing his own broom aside.

"My arm hurts!" Draco cried as his mother scooped him up.

Lucius reached out to touch the limp left arm of his son.

"Don't touch it!" Draco ordered, hiding his face in his mother’s shoulder. "It hurts!"

Lucius cast a quick scourgify over his child and wife.

"Let's get him to St. Mungos."

Draco was whimpering in Narcissa's arms.

“I told you to slow down!” Narcissa glared at Lucius.

Lucius reached out to take Draco.

Narcissa clutched the little boy more tightly.

"It hurts, Mum," Draco sniffled as his mother petted his hair.

“This is all your fault, Lucius!”

Lucius touched Draco's little back.

"Let's go," he said, wrapping an arm around her and disapparating them into the emergency room of St. Mungos.

Draco continued to sob on his mother's shoulder.

“Daddy didn’t fly fair!”

"Somebody HELP!" Lucius shouted. "HELP!"

A young Healer with chocolate curls that were slightly bushy came toward them.

"Lord and Lady Malfoy, what is the problem?"

"It's my baby," Narcissa said, kissing her son's forehead. "His arm is hurt. He was flying too high and fell."

"Oh, you poor darling," the Healer said, reaching out and touching Draco's arm.

He sobbed.

The Healer led the Malfoys to a patient room, and allowed Narcissa to place him on the exam table.

Draco still had tears in his big grey eyes as he stared at the Healer.

The Healer knelt next to him and petted his hair.

"Aren't you a brave little one?" she asked, reaching over behind his right ear and pulling out a lollipop. "How did this get there?"

Draco stopped crying and reached for the lollipop with his good hand.

“Now be a brave boy and show me where it hurts.”

Draco pointed to his left upper arm.

She smiled and took care of his arm with a soft wave and a whisper.

"It doesn't hurt!" Draco declared, grinning and flapping his now fixed arm.

“You will still have to drink a potion for three days after this, to keep the hurt away.”

Draco made a face, "Potions are icky."

"This one tastes like strawberry punch," the Healer said, holding it out to him. "I guess I will have to keep it all to myself."

She uncorked the vial and acted like she was going to drink it.

“No I want to try it!”

"If you're sure," the Healer said, handing it to him.

Draco tipped the vial up and emptied it, "Yummy."

The Healer smiled.

"Daddy," Draco said, voice suddenly quite serious. The little boy sat up straight as he looked at the Healer.

"Yes, are you alright?" Lucius asked, standing up straight and taking a step toward his son.

"Father, I want you to buy the Healer for me," Draco said, puffing his lower lip out. "As you are the reason my broom is broken." Draco reached his arms out to the Healer.

“Draco, you can't buy people.”

"Don't be cheap, Daddy," Draco said, wrapping his arms around the Healer's neck. "She could take care of my hurts and give me hugs."

“You can always ask for me when you have a hurt. But I need to help other little ones, too.”

Draco puffed out his lower lip, "Daddy, stop cheating me. It's my birthday!"

"How old are you?" the Healer asked, bouncing Draco a little to distract him.

"I'm five!" Draco said, holding his hand out to the Healer holding up all his fingers.

"You are a big boy," she said, "But you know what you get on your birthday, don't you?"

“What?” Draco asked.

"You get five Birthday kisses," she said, and proceeded to kiss Draco's cheek five times. "And one to grow on." She kissed his forehead.

Hermione was all smiles as she came out of the memory.

"That was so precious!" She put a hand over her heart.

“He is still precious. He just wants to be sure he is loved.”

"Wanting a Healer for a present."

Draco gasped. His own mother would embarrass him by telling that AWFUL story.

“He was afraid that no one would help him if he hurt again…and he was so little.”

Hermione giggled.

"We should go and get ready for dinner," Narcissa said, taking Hermione's hand.

“Ah, here are my beautiful women,” Lucius said as he entered the parlor.

Hermione bit her lower lip, "I'm not your woman yet."

Draco did a silent cheer.

“It's all a matter of time, isn't it?”

"Well, given that even if I marry Draco, I still belong to you as you are the Head of the Family," Hermione said, taking Lucius' arm as he escorted them out. "I suppose there is a sixty-six percent chance of my belonging to your family and thirty-four percent chance of my belonging to Snape."

"What happened to young Mr. Potter? I understand he was seeking your affections as well?" Lucius said, leading her toward his suite of rooms.

“I guess he changed his mind,” Hermione said.

"I'll leave you ladies to get ready for dinner. I know when I am not wanted," Lucius said, and he bowed to the ladies. "I will be back in thirty minutes to escort you to supper."

Hermione swooned.

Narcissa leaned up and kissed Lucius' cheek.

Lucius smiled at her and trailed his hand along her cheek before he left.

"What shall we dress you in for dinner?" Narcissa asked, throwing open the door to her closet.

“I doubt that anything of yours will fit me...I am a different size.”

"My dresses are magicked," Narcissa said. "On size fits all. They adjust to fit whomever they are to be on."

“'I've never heard of such a magic.”

"It is actually a spell on the closet designed for when multiple wives was a more common practice."

“Oh,” Hermione said and blushed.

"Yes," Narcissa said, "Pick anything you like."

Narcissa picked out a royal blue gown and walked toward the bathroom.

Hermione wondered which of the many beautiful gowns to pick.

"I think something burgundy or dark green would be pretty on you, dearest," Narcissa called from the bathroom.

Hermione decided that she wanted to wear the burgundy gown. She had worn a green gown all day today.

She smiled as she pulled out a rich late eighteenth century style silk dress and wrap.

Hermione held it up to herself and looked at her reflection in the mirror.

“It will look wonderful on you,” Narcissa assured.

Hermione nodded as she took in the picture the other woman made with her similar style gown in the dark blue as she sat down at a vanity.

“I have heard lots about Muggle fashions...maybe you could show me them someday?”

"Sure, but fashion has never really been my thing, and I always preferred the style of the wizarding world."

“Well, maybe I will make you love fashion,” Narcissa said.

Hermione smiled at the beautiful witch as she took out her hair which hung in ringlets. She slipped into the bathroom and dressed. Hermione slipped out of the bathroom and jumped at the sudden knocking on the door.

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Hope you liked it. Please leave a review. In two shakes, Chapter 14 will be up as well.

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