Lust, War and... Love?

Chapter Note: The events below transpire without Harry Potter's knowledge in Chapter 12, Silver and Opals, Book 6.

angeles: Thank you for your review and suggestions! I hope you will continue to enjoy this story. :)

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“Do you know what time it is, Granger? It’s six-thirty and it’s Saturday morning!”

“It’s already quarter to seven! Here’s your coffee, and wake up, Malfoy!”


“The coffee is cold! And what kind of a bloody muffin is that?”


“Apple and cinnamon. I sent you the awakening note at six sharp. It took you forty-five minutes to crawl out of your dorm!”

“I’m not exactly a morning person, Granger!”

“Oh, please just have your coffee and get on with it, Malfoy. Before everyone’s up and out in the hallways!”

Hermione impatiently tugged at the belt of Malfoy’s dark brown dressing-gown. It unravelled and the gown opened, revealing his blue plaid pyjamas.

“You‘re so damn bent on going to Hogsmeade, Granger! To have your fix at this ungodly hour…” Draco backed away and hit a desk in the dimly lit dungeon room. “I mean, think of it - we could have a grand afternoon shag instead!”

“I’m sick of being cooped up in the castle!” Hermione sidled to him, unbuttoning her robes. ”And I need my sanity around my friends!”

“Just a minute, Granger! Can I have my coffee, after all?” He took a bite out of his muffin and a long sip from his mug. His eyes slid down to Granger’s legs: she didn’t have her tights on under the robes. “Have you got knickers under your skirt?”

“Take a guess, Malfoy,” Hermione said slyly and bared Draco’s chest. Her fingers rubbed his nipples, and he felt his cock springing to life.

Draco set his mug and muffin on the desk. He thrust his hand under Granger’s skirt. Merlin, she was all worked up… She certainly didn’t waste her time while waiting for him! Draco shook his pants off, pulled up a chair and Granger straddled him instantly. With their eyes closed, they sank into each other, and she rode his now very much alive member with fervour. Hermione came before he did. Then her sated body quaked in his arms when he growled his own release.

Hermione slid off his lap and cast a cleansing spell. She deftly pulled her knickers and tights out of her pockets and began putting her clothes in order.

“Where are you going in Hogsmeade?” Draco asked, still in a daze after their speedy intercourse.

“I don’t know… Honeydukes, maybe. The Three Broomsticks, as usual,” she muttered while smoothing out her dark blue tights with her palms.

“Don’t go to the Three Broomsticks, Granger!” He took another bite out of his muffin. “They’ve got those big fat rats all over their kitchen.”

“That’s such a nonsense.” Hermione shot up a glance at him. “You’re trying so hard to spoil my day, Malfoy!”

“I’ve seen them myself. “ Draco wasn’t giving up yet. “The Hog’s Head is loads better than the Three Broomsticks.”

“Now that’s a really seedy place, the Hog’s Head,” Hermione snorted. “All right, thanks a lot, Malfoy.” She planted a peck on his cheek, picked up her empty coffee cup and sailed out of the dungeon.

His still half-full mug in one hand and the muffin in another, Draco traipsed back to the Slytherin quarters. Granger was so incredible - the more they did it, the better she got at it. Merlin’s bloody hell of pants!

The boys were already stirring up when he came back to the dorm. Goyle and Crabbe trudged sleepily past him to the bathrooms.

“You’re early today, mate.” Theo pulled his curtain open and stared at Draco.

“Got some coffee and a muffin,” he mumbled.

“And a snog along the way?” Nott smirked.

“What made you think so?”

“Judging by your looks.“ Theo apparently resolved to be unbearable today. “Who was it? I guess not Parkinson.”

“I’m sure Padma would be terribly glad that you’ve pasted a photo of her head on a centrefold of some babe in Playwizard. ” Draco was not going to let such an audacity pass. “She’d be thrilled to know that you wank to it every night!”

Theo dove behind his curtains but in less than a minute his head popped out again. “Did I spot you carrying the Granger photo from the Yule Ball in your books? With the Krum part torn away?”

“That was in the fourth year, moron!”

“Granger’s sort of cute.” Zabini showed signs of life in his bed. “Too bad she isn’t a pureblood.” Blaise yawned loudly.

Draco pretended to be absorbed in his coffee and muffin.

“Granger’s not bad, right,” declared Nott. “By the way, she’s patrolling with Thornton tonight. Want to give her a try, Blaise?”

“I thought Thornton patrolled with Weasel,” Draco grumbled from his bed.

“Thornton threw a fit over how Weasel treated her the other day. Didn’t want to do it with Goldstein either. Wasserstein and Clayton gave in, and Granger paired up with her,” Theo filled in obligingly.

“Well…If Granger‘s on a patrol with Cassie…” Zabini started taking his pyjamas off. “That’s some idea actually.”

“That’s a bad idea, Blaise,” retorted Draco, and the boys stared at him. “First, she’ll dock the points off Slytherin on the spot for wandering at night. Second, she’s a Gryffindor and a Mudblood!”

“Draco, that Gryffindor thing is a bit stale,” Blaise drawled from his perch. ”The Gryffindor girls are really pretty. But we’d never admit it to the Slytherin gals.”

“Dock the points? Depends on how you approach her,” Theo sneered. “If you do it right, Blaise, she might actually add them!”

Draco harrumphed and pulled his curtains shut. Now he had to do something about Zabini on top of everything else…

He changed out of his pyjamas into a shirt and boxers, then poked his head out of the curtains. Theo was gone but Blaise was still in the room.

“Blaise, you remember the plan?”

“Yeah.” He was leafing through a magazine. “Got the Polyjuice potion?”

“Yes, everything’s here. The detention’s at two, I’ll be back at three and then you’re a free man. I‘ll get your Herbology essay done then.”

“The Herbology first. Before the detention.”

“What’s the difference, Blaise?” Draco grabbed his towel and dressing gown.

“To be sure you did it yourself and didn’t dump it on Crabbe. Like you did with my Potions homework last year.”

“I was a prefect then! I was too busy with everything, Blaise.”

“So? I’d rather make certain it‘s in order.”

“All right, all right!” Draco headed off to the bathrooms. He was bracing himself for the day to come.

******

It was quarter to one when Draco handed the Herbology essay, his clothing and a vial of Polyjuice potion with his own hair in it to Blaise in a toilet on the second floor. Malfoy dropped Zabini’s hair in another vial with the potion and it turned mossy green.

“The essay’s fine,” Zabini approved it and gave the bundle of his clothes to Draco. “So, I’m drinking this thing, then put your clothes on and go to McGonagall’s office at two, right?”

“Right,” nodded Draco. “You’ll ask to visit a loo at three, and I’ll meet you in the seventh floor toilet. I’ll go to her office to finish the detention.”

“Okay, and I’ll be off to Hogsmeade then. Where are you going there?”

“Scrivenshaft’s and maybe a quick drink at the Three Broomsticks. Thanks a lot, mate.” Draco gave Blaise a pat on his back and dove into a stall.

He felt a bit odd in Zabini’s body, who was taller and wider than him, while he walked down to the entrance. Filch with his Secrecy Sensor wasn’t much of a problem thanks to the Confunding Charm. Draco learned a lot of useful spells from Auntie Bella over the past summer.

When he shook the mud off his boots at the entrance of the Three Broomsticks, Katz was already there, sipping mead and eating onion rings at a table. Draco glanced around and did not find Granger. He hoped she would never show up. Draco took a seat next to Sebastian and ordered a drink too.

“What colour is your hair?” Katz said the password.

“Exactly the opposite of mine,” replied Draco. “Got the gift? Anyone in a Gryffindor scarf came into the pub?”

“Rosmerta has it.” Katz sent a couple more rings into his mouth.

Draco scanned the crowd in the pub. He saw a few younger Hufflepuffs but no one from Gryffindor. Then the door opened and two Gryffindor girls walked in.

“Here she is,” Draco whispered to Katz. “The one with dark hair.”

“The description I’ve got says Granger has shoulder length hair,” Sebastian muttered doubtfully.

“She got her hair cut this week. That’s her, I tell you.” Draco nodded in the direction of Katie Bell.

“Okay.“ Katz finished his mead and rings, and moved to the counter under the pretence of ordering more.

Draco swallowed the last of his butterbeer. He still had time left, and wanted to make sure things went smoothly. He wandered around, saw a seventh year student from his House and waved to him. The older Slytherin left soon, and Draco leaned against a pillar as if waiting for someone. He looked at Katz who sat by the counter and only a few feet away from Katie and Leanne. Sebastian met his glance and showed his thumb. The Imperius had been cast all right. Draco avoided looking at the girls. He felt a little queasy in his stomach.

Then Draco nearly groaned. Granger and her two minions arrived in the pub. Worse even, they sat down in direct view of Katz, who instantly shot a quick glance at Draco.

Hermione looked around and met Draco’s eyes. Unexpectedly for himself, he winked at her, which made her smile uncertainly in response. Then she turned towards Potter and Weasley. Draco cursed himself for forgetting about his Zabini looks. He walked up to the counter and took a seat next to Sebastian.

“Is that Potter?” Katz whispered. “And the chick?”

“That’s Potter, right. It’s his new girlfriend, as of this week.”

“Ah.” Katz fiddled with his glass. “Time to send the wenches to the loo?”

“Okay. Go to the castle gates afterwards. Filch is very easy to Confund.”

Draco went to the small side corridor leading to the toilets. He took a sip from his vial with the Polyjuice potion and began studying the Ministry posters on the wall there. Madam Rosmerta tottered past him in her high heels.

Damn! Granger appeared in the corridor with an apparent intent to visit the toilet.

“Hi.” Draco effectively blocked her path with help of Zabini’s wide shoulders. “How are the things?”

“I’m fine, thanks.” Granger was very visibly taken aback. “Er - the posters?”

“They’re marvellous,” he drawled. “Great bedtime reading.”

“Oh, yes…” With a nervous smile, she tried to edge around him in the narrow passage.

“Would you like me to keep you company?”

“Thanks, but I - I’m going to the loo now.”

“Yes, I’m going there too.” Draco conjured the most idiotic grin.

“I’m going to the ladies’ room, Zabini.” She backed away from him.

“I actually prefer the ladies’ toilet. Just more fun, Granger.”

Hermione’s eyes opened wide. She was silent for a second, then turned on her heels and darted back to the main room. Draco leaned against the wall and drew a breath. Granger would be giving a wide berth to Zabini from now on.

Katie Bell, her eyes glazed, passed by in the corridor and disappeared behind the toilet door. Draco glanced at his watch - it was time for him to go back. He buttoned up his coat, hurried out of the pub and into the wind and sleet. He tried hard not to think about Katie and Rosmerta, and the opal necklace making its way into Dumbledore’s hands. But the thought of his father in Azkaban made his fists clench.

Blaise was already in a stall in the seventh floor toilet. Draco entered the next compartment, tossed Zabini’s clothes to him over the partition and received his own garments in return. He put his robes on, walked out and checked himself in a mirror over a sink. Zabini came up behind him.

“McGonagall made me sort old class manuals. I’ve got halfway through the boxes. You’ll need to put the booklets that are torn, stained, and just not usable anymore on the right, and the good ones go in the bin on the left,” Blaise informed Draco. “How is it in Hogsmeade?”

“The weather’s nasty, a lot of people are returning early.” Draco dried his hands. “You’re flirting with Gryffindors, aren‘t you?”

“Why did you decide so?”

“Some Gryffindor girl was smiling at me at the Three Broomsticks.”

“Who?” Blaise asked eagerly.

“First of all, Slytherins got no business with Gryffindors. Second, you’ll be better off staying at the dorm tonight.” Draco chortled and strode out of the loo.

His detention turned out to be shorter than Draco expected. Hagrid burst into the office with the news of Katie Bell being taken to the hospital wing, and McGonagall dismissed Draco on the spot despite the unfinished stack of class manuals.

He followed the teachers at a distance. From the second floor stairs landing he could see McGonagall returning into the castle with Granger and the other students. Hermione looked completely unharmed, and Draco quickly bolted into a corridor before anyone could see him. His heart was pounding. The failure of his plot filled his insides with fear. What if they decide to interrogate Zabini? Did Katz realize that Draco misguided him? Would Granger find out that it was Draco who planned the whole thing?

Hours had passed but no one seemed to come for Malfoy or Zabini. After dinner Draco holed up in the Room of Requirement. Goyle, disguised as a second-year girl, stood sentry in the corridor. But Draco couldn’t focus on working on the Cabinet. Thoughts and fears jumbled in his mind. Finally, he pushed his stool away and laid his enchanted parchment on top of something chipped and dusty near him. Draco stared at the ink splotch on the otherwise blank page. He craved to see Granger this minute. He desperately needed her company and her warm body, but he knew that it would be futile to try to summon her. Granger had already got her fix with him and she would just brush off his request right now. It had already happened before, and Draco was afraid of one more reason for his pain - the humiliation from her rejection. If she figured out that the opal necklace incident was his doing, then she would surely denounce him. He sat here, gazed at the empty parchment, his only way to reach out to Granger, and did nothing.

******

After the discussion in McGonagall’s office Hermione was relieved to part with Harry and Ron in the Gryffindor Common Room and go to her dorm. It was so difficult for her to be around her friends right now. She did her best to dissuade Harry from accusing Malfoy as the main culprit. Thankfully, Ron wasn’t very supportive of Harry’s theories either. Still, Ron’s interest in Madam Rosmerta upset her a great deal at the pub. Hermione felt guilty about neglecting him because of Malfoy. At the same time she couldn’t bear to think that the lust potion seemed to be the only way to make a boy become interested in her. If Hermione wanted Ron to like her, she had to make it up to him. She resolved to invite him to Slughorn’s Christmas party.

It was now obvious to Hermione that Malfoy knew about the cursed necklace plot. He was so adamant on keeping her from going to Hogsmeade, and he didn’t want her to visit the Three Broomsticks either. Did he really try to keep her safe? Hermione did not want to let herself believe it. He was a Death Eater after all, and she had to be realistic about it. Nevertheless, when she thought that Malfoy had possibly wanted to protect her from Katie’s fate, it filled her heart with a strange mix of appreciation and terror.

At dinner Hermione sat with Ginny and Parvati to stay away from Harry’s speculations on Malfoy’s being a Death Eater. She glanced at the Slytherin table. Draco looked decidedly off-colour. Should she try to talk to him tonight? Hermione was very tempted to send him a note but she didn’t want him to think that she was so eager to see him again the same day.

Parvati and Padma dragged her to the library after dinner to hear more about the necklace incident. The twins kept rehashing the day’s events and it sickened Hermione to the limit. Worse even, she saw Zabini strolling up to their table with a royal smile on his face. Instantly, Hermione wondered if Blaise was an accomplice to the crime. The memory of their encounter made her feel nauseated. When Zabini gave a nod and joined the three of them, which made Parvati blush, Hermione excused herself and went to the seventh floor. It was time for her to escape and hide in the cosy Room of Requirement. In the corridor she bumped into a small girl, who gave a start and dropped a bottle on the floor. With an apology, Hermione cleaned up the mess and went to the abandoned classrooms on the third floor instead.

In the empty classroom Hermione pulled out her enchanted parchment and stared at it. She longed to talk to Draco and see his reaction to what had happened in Hogsmeade. It would be better to wait till tomorrow to see Malfoy but the mystery of his actions burned her too much to delay the meeting. Hermione tried to sober herself up by the fact that he was a Death Eater and would not answer her questions honestly. She ought never to expect him to care for her enough to try to protect her. He needed her only to satisfy his potion-induced lust. Many times he acted as a complete git towards her and her best friends. Still, a faint hope for a better side in him stubbornly lingered in her heart. Over the past few weeks Hermione learned so much more about his personality. With her he was just that - human, witty and at times even attentive. He was a pureblood snob but he also made her feel attractive and desirable. Her brain was splitting in two from it all.

Sitting and doing nothing wouldn’t do any good. Hermione pointed her wand at the parchment.

Malfoy,

Could you meet me tonight after my patrol?

Thanks,
HG.

Hermione closed her eyes and braced herself for the answer. She didn’t have to wait for long. In less that fifteen minutes Hermione read:

Granger,

Sure, I can. Where?
DM

She hurriedly wrote back:

Outside the Slytherin quarters, OK? I’m patrolling with Thornton. When she returns to your House, could you come out then? HG

The same minute a reply flitted in:

Good.

Thanks,
DM.

******

Hermione stepped towards Malfoy when he emerged out of the Slytherin quarters.

“Ahem… Let’s find a dungeon, Malfoy.” She looked at him apprehensively and saw tension in his grey eyes.

“Not here. Pansy’s stalking me now.“ He drew closer to her. “The Room of Requirement?”

“McGonagall’s still in her office. I saw light under the door.” Hermione swallowed. “I think Aurors have arrived from the Ministry tonight.”

“A third floor classroom, then.” His voice was brittle.

They walked up to the third floor corridor in silence. Draco pushed a door open for Hermione and they entered a dark room. They cast the locking charms on the entrance together.

“Tell me… What did you know about the cursed necklace plan?” Hermione studied his features in the dim wandlight.

“Nothing.” His face stiffened.

“I don’t believe it, Draco.” Hermione made a few steps towards a chair. “You didn’t want me to go to Hogsmeade and the Three Broomsticks. You certainly had a better reason for it than just having a shag.”

The silence was so dense between them, Hermione thought she could stick her wand in it. She ran her fingers along the back of the chair. Draco stepped closer to her.

“Draco?” She looked at him but his expression was unreadable.

“Don’t ask me about it, Granger,“ he said quietly. “I won‘t answer your questions.”

“I see. You knew that it was going to happen.” Hermione was surprised by her own composure. She phrased her thoughts carefully. “You didn’t want me to be harmed.”

“Yes. I wanted you to be safe.” His lips twitched a little.

“I am grateful for it.“ Hermione paused. “But I am terrified at what happened to Katie. She didn’t deserve it. If they chose me instead, it would be more justified. After all, I fought the Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries.”

“Stop it!“ Malfoy’s face looked tortured. He lunged at her and seized Hermione by her shoulders.

“Draco, you don’t have to hurl me down, if I upset you.” She put her palms on his chest. “I’ll give myself to you if you want me.”

“I need you now, Hermione,” he croaked, and her heart sank to the very bottom of her stomach. She mustered herself and began unbuttoning Draco’s robes.

His hands slid off her shoulders and started fumbling with her buttons too. They avoided looking into each other’s eyes as they undressed each other.

Draco waved his wand, and several chairs transformed into a mattress with a full set of bedding. He took her in his arms and soon their bodies were entwined under the covers.

His lips devoured her mouth hungrily. Then she felt his fingers ravishing her between her legs. He groped her roughly, and she didn’t mind it. She was far from being gentle with him too. Her hand pumped his stiff cock as hard as she could. Suddenly, he pried her fingers off his member and pushed her legs apart under the duvet. Hermione gasped and gripped his shoulders when he rammed into her. Tears streamed down her cheeks as Draco kept thrusting into her blazing body.

His tongue licked her salty tears. Her teeth grazed his skin. She drove her nails into his back with each his thrust. Hermione was his and Draco wasn’t going to let anyone harm her. She wanted him as much as he wanted her at the moment. They moaned and growled like a strange beast, quaking and trembling in their ecstasy together.

“Let’s do it in the Room of Requirement after my patrol every Saturday night,” said Hermione, as they lay together, languid and spent under their covers. “No one would wonder why I’m not in the dorm at the bedtime.”

“Sounds good,” muttered Draco. “You’re clever, Hermione.”

“I must be crazy. Fucking you after what happened today.” She reached for her clothes.

“I’m nuts too.” Draco gave her a squeeze on her rear. “We both are insane, that is.”

They parted at the stairs, and Hermione hurried up to the Gryffindor Tower. He watched her to turn corner and disappear, then headed down the steps to the dungeons.

It happened when Draco reached the second floor. Sharp pain pierced his left forearm. He halted and pulled his sleeve up. The Dark Mark became jet black. A new jolt of pain shot up his arm, and then another. Draco fell to the floor and rolled on it from the torture. It was like his arm was being mauled and torn apart by invisible teeth. His whole body writhed in the agony. His head seemed to be clamped by iron bands. Then his sight blacked out.

He came back to his senses and found himself slumped against a pillar, shivering from cold. His temples throbbed but his Dark Mark stopped hurting. He clambered to his feet and slowly walked downstairs.

The Dark Lord was angry at Draco Malfoy.

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Author Note:

Finally, I made it to Chapter 12. How was the story progress? I would love to know your opinion!

My family is coming for a long visit. I will have to put this fanfic on hold for awhile, but I will definitely return to it.

Thanks for reading and reviewing! :)