The Dragon's Child Bride

A/N: Sorry about that, more midterms. But they are all over and done with for now. So here it is...

CHAPTER 16: Day One, Part Two.

Ginny and Laylani reached the Great Hall just as lunch was served. As Ginny made her way to the Gryffindor House table, Laylani stood still, completely unsure of where she would go from here. She scanned the Slytherin table. Draco was absent as he said he probably would be. The only other face she recognized was Pansy’s and she’d rather go hungry then sit with that bitch. She was just about to turn to leave when Ginny called out her name. She’d noticed Laylani’s dilemma.

“Would you like to sit with us?” Laylani nodded and smiled gratefully, ignoring the stares and whispers that came from the people within earshot. She sat down at the table next to Ginny and a girl she didn’t know, and across form Harry and Ron. Ginny leaned back and spoke to the girl on the other side of Laylani.

“Lav, this is Laylani. Laylani, this is Lavender Brown.” Laylani stuck out her hand and the blond girl shook it.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” said Laylani. It seemed those words somehow triggered the girl to start talking a mile a minute.

“Ooh, it’s a pleasure to meet you, too. I read about you in the paper yesterday. So is it true? Are you really marrying Draco Malfoy? Oh, you’re so lucky, that boy is just a dream! Oh my goodness, look at that engagement ring! Did you get that from Draco? Of course you did, what am I saying! Gin, have you seen this thing? It’s gorgeous!” Lavender grabbed Laylani’s hand and yanked it out into the middle of the table to show her friend.

The surrounding girls ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ over Laylani’s ring and she blushed deeply. She pulled her hand back in and softly said “Thank you.” Lavender smiled brightly to her and returned to her meal. Laylani looked at the food covering the table. Gods, everything looked so good she didn’t know where to start. So she started with any sandwich that had mayonnaise that she could get her hands on. She’d loved the taste of it but hardly ever had it growing up because it spoiled so fast that by the time she would find one picking through trash, it wasn’t fit to eat. She grabbed three full sandwiches of egg salad, chicken salad and tuna fish. Laylani ate like she’d never see food again.

“Whoa, slow down there. You’ll choke!” called Ron with a laugh. Laylani reddened and lowered the half of her second sandwich she was holding.

“Sorry, I-I don’t get to eat like this often.” Harry’s ears pricked up at this. Were the Malfoys not feeding her? Of course! They had starved and beaten her, and that’s why she’d agreed to marry Draco. Harry’s skewed views of the situation didn’t offer him any alternative. He simply could not believe this wonderful girl would actually want to marry Draco Malfoy. Laylani resumed eating her sandwich, this time, reigning in her pace.

Lunch ended and they stood up. Harry spoke awkwardly.

“So…er, do you still want to see the rest of the school, where you’re classes are and such?” She nodded eagerly. He turned to the other two, who were also game on showing her around the school.

“Well, let’s start with the classes you have tomorrow.” She handed Harry her schedule and he scanned over her classes for the next day.

“Alright, then. First you’ve got Charms with Flitwick.” The three took off down the hall, turning right and up a flight of stairs. Harry knocked on the door, but there was no answer.

“Probably still at the meeting.” offered Ron. Harry nodded.

“Well, nonetheless, this is where you’re class will be. You have it with Slytherins and Ravenclaws.” Laylani nodded in understanding. ‘Follow the blue and the green seventh years,’ she thought. Harry pulled out her schedule again.

“Then you have Arithmancy with everyone. It’s such a small class that they just put everyone together. Afraid I don’t take it myself, but Hermione can show you where it is tomorrow. Next is History of Magic with Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. Merlin, my condolences. That class is boring as sin.”

She shrugged. She’d always liked the history books she’d read. Maybe because the subject was so much about stories and books. They walked down the hall and turned left down a long corridor, at the end was the classroom.

“Who teaches it?” asked Laylani offhandedly.

“Professor Binns. The only ghost teacher at Hogwarts.” A ghost! She’d forgotten all about them. Yes, this school was supposed to have at least four or five. Thinking over the situation, she realized she hadn’t seen any yet. Curious.

“After that, you have Herbology with Professor Sprout then Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid. Well, we already saw the greenhouses outside and have already been to Hagrid’s, I suppose we’ll skip to the end which is…..Double Potions with Snape.” A collective shudder ran through Harry, Ron, and Ginny.

Snape. Dammit. Laylani had forgotten all about him. Her shoulders slumped. What the hell had she been thinking, taking advanced Potions? Oh yes, Draco. Draco was in that class, that was why. She smiled to herself.

“Well, onward to the Potions class then.” she said.

They led her down the stairs, past the doors to the Great Hall and towards a set of descending stone steps. Not unlike the ones leading to the dungeons of Malfoy Manor. She stopped at the top of the steps behind everyone else. Harry turned around and looked at her.

“Are you coming?” She pursed her lips, the anxiety plain in her eyes.

“D-do we have to go down there? I mean…is there any other way to get there?”

“Nope. Potions is in the dungeon. The lair of the snake.” Ginny quipped.

Laylani stood frozen at the top of the stairwell weighing her options. She wanted to run back to her room and cry, and try to hide from all the blood she could see in her mind. But what would that get her? A reputation as a crying psychotic afraid of the basement, and she would still have to go down there tomorrow. She drew up everything Malfoy she could find inside her and steeled her courage, and took the first step forward down the stairs. She was about to continue when a gruff voice cut through the air, swearing a blue streak. A lanky, filthy and greasy man came climbing up the stairs followed by a cat with unsettling red eyes.

“Damn you kids! Ya think knocking over a suit of armor’s bloody hilarious, doncha? Never stop to think that it takes months to put it back t’gether, eh?” The man stooped at the top of the stairs next to a partially assembled suit of armor. Suddenly, the whole situation seemed so familiar, the voice, the place. The drunken memory flooded hazily into her brain.

It had been not long after she’d fled Draco’s room crying. She had been running, well stumbling, blindly up the stairs, her alcohol addled mind not helping her maneuvering through her unknown surroundings with her eyes clouded with tears. She’d misjudged the height of the last step and the toe of her lagging foot caught the lip of the stair. She’d fallen head on into something hard and loud…into a suit of armor. It had knocked the wind out of her and bruised her cheek, but aside from that, she’d seemed okay. Suddenly a loud man’s voice was yelling, cursing and screaming. It sounded like it was coming out of the very walls. Laylani had been so frightened she’d gotten up and ran, ran as fast as she possibly could. Harry’s voice had brought her back to the present.

“Laylani, meet Mr. Filch, Hogwarts caretaker, and his…um, sidekick, Mrs. Norris.” He motioned to the man and the cat. The man grunted something to her. She kneeled down and pet the cat who purred and promptly rolled onto its back, letting Laylani stroke its stomach. Mr. Filch looked at her with a wary eye, and offered her his filthy hand to shake. Not wanting to burn any bridges, she took it. He pet his cat.

“Mrs. Norris is a good judge o’ character.” he mumbled. She nodded, not really understanding but wanting to leave. She felt her staining blush might betray her to be the culprit behind the armor incident.

“Well, ah, it was nice to meet you, sir.” She began to hurry down the stairs, no longer caring about what could lurk down there. The other three followed her quickly.

“I have never seen that man willingly touch anyone, especially students.” mumbled Harry.

“Forget Filch, Mrs. Norris never lets anyone pet her! Wow Laylani, you must have the golden touch!” said Ginny. Laylani laughed.

“It’s just a cat, not a friggin’ manticore. Anyway, you guys can call me Lani. All my friends do.” She conveniently left out the fact that her only friends had been homeless and the Malfoys, if you could count them.

The four of them went down another three flights of steps until they were at the very lowest possible level of the school. The dungeon was dark and even more ominous than that of Malfoy Manor. It was illuminated solely by torches that flickered out as soon as they were passed, causing Laylani to flinch every time. The walls were adorned with tapestries and paintings, which Laylani could very well deal with as dreadful and snide as they were, but the manacles and chains that were hung sporadically about made her keep her eyes on the ground in order to keep up her bravery. This behavior did not go unnoticed by Harry.

‘Merlin,’ he thought, ‘What did the Malfoys do to her?’ He felt anger well up inside him, but he hurriedly calmed himself. There was no use getting angry over his suspicions when he had no proof - yet, at least. He would find proof though, that he was sure of.

It had been nearly a half hour since they’d left Professor Binn’s classroom. They reached the ancient heavy door of the potions room to find it already open. Laylani brazenly entered without knocking before anyone could stop her, needing to get out of the shackled hallway. She pulled her eyes up to see the form of Snape hunched over his desk grading papers. The meeting must have ended. She gasped and he looked up to face her.

The three still standing in the doorway felt pity for their new friend. Unless you had class, it was an unwritten rule you couldn’t enter Professor Snape’s classroom without knocking. Failure to comply with this, even when the offender didn’t know, was an automatic loss of 10 house points and an evening’s detention. Poor girl. They weren’t ready for what happened next. Snape immediately diverted his eyes from Laylani’s face to where they stood.

“I should have known. Potter and the Weasley clan. 5 points from each of you for interrupting my work.” Ever the temperamental one, Ron bristled.

“But Professor, we didn’t-” Snape cut him off.

“Another five from you Weasley for talking back. Now, unless you wish to make it more I suggest you leave.” Ron scowled but said nothing more and Snape returned to his work as if nothing had happened. Laylani on the other hand, was confused and angry.

Why did this man refuse to talk to her, refuse to acknowledge her existence as anything other than ‘the date’ or ‘the fiancée’ to others as if she weren’t there? She glared at him. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a glass beaker resting on a desk to her right. She swung her hand out, knocking it to the floor so it shattered into countless pieces. He didn’t even look up.

“Potter, I suggest you escort your friend from my presence.” Damn him, he’d done it again! Her shoulders slumped in defeat, she turned and left the classroom, rejoining her gaping friends. She closed the door behind her and trudged down the hall with them at her heels. Only when they were certain they were out of earshot did they begin to speak.

“What the hell was all that about? Why would he take points from us?”

“Lani, are you crazy? Were you trying to get detention?” cried Ginny.

“No, I was trying to get him to acknowledge that I exist! Didn’t you see that? He didn’t talk to me, barely even looked at me! He punished you for what I did!” If it were possible, steam would have been coming out her ears.

The others only rolled there eyes. All three of them would be that much happier if Snape didn’t talk to them. Harry in particular thought his life would improve considerably if that greasy git would ignore him. They exited the dungeon silently.

They stopped at the doorway to the Great Hall. It was just after three o’clock by then. Draco had already started Quidditch practice, and they had already been to all her classes for tomorrow. What now? They stood there in an awkward silence for a few moments. Laylani was just about to thank them and go to her room when Ron spoke.

“Would you like to come with us to Gryffindor tower for awhile? I mean, we’re only going to play some exploding snap, but if you’re not doing anything … It’s better than nothing.” She nodded. They led her up three flights of stairs to a portrait of a very fat lady. Harry was just about to give her the password when the woman in the painting stopped him.

“STOP! She is not in Gryffindor house; you cannot reveal to her the password.” The painting pointed at Laylani condemningly. Ginny rolled her eyes and pulled Laylani back a few steps, so Harry could whisper the password privately. The painting swung open and they entered.

They had a nice common room. It wasn’t as lavish as Slytherin but it seemed comfortable, a place where one could really be at ease. Everything was red and gold; house colors, she guessed. There were a several students milling about the common room, and all turned to see who had arrived. Laylani could practically feel their guard rise when they saw her. Several girls got up and left the room, not even trying to disguise the looks of disapproval towards her. She leaned closer to Ginny and spoke softly.

“What was all that about?”

“Don’t mind them.” she answered quietly. “They’re just jealous.” Laylani didn’t understand. Jealous of who? Of what?

“Jealous of what?” Ginny giggled.

“Of you, silly! That you’re marrying Draco. As much of a prat as he is, he’s a handsome devil and now that you two are engaged, it takes him off the market. And they’re jealous of that.”

Laylani practically laughed out loud, the situation was so comical. No one had ever been jealous of her in her life; her life didn’t contain much to be covetous of. And now she was at a strange school, living a life she’d never known with so many rules forced upon her, completely ostracized from almost everyone, and these girls were jealous?

“Tell them they’re welcome to trade places with me anytime they like.” she giggled. Ginny joined in. Ron and Harry looked at them as if they’d completely lost their minds.

“Care to let us in on it?” Between giggles, the girls both shook their heads no. Ron shrugged and he and Harry sat down in front of the fireplace and pulled out a chessboard. He and Harry became deeply engaged in a game of Wizard’s Chess, leaving the girls only to look on. After a few moments, they were nearly bored to tears. Ginny turned to Laylani.

“Want to go look at some bridal magazines?” Laylani nodded and was on her feet almost immediately. Ginny led her up a few stairs to a row of doors. She knocked on one, then opened it. Inside the room was the girl she’d met earlier, Lavender, sitting on a bed with another girl she didn’t recognize. Lavender squealed upon seeing Laylani and addressed the girl she was with.

“Parvati, this was the girl I was telling you about, the one who’s marrying Draco! Parvati, this is Laylani; Laylani, meet Parvati Patil.” Laylani smiled at the girl, but she only gave her a look of disdain before silently getting up and leaving the room and creating awkward tension between the three remaining girls.

“Boy, am I popular.” muttered Laylani with a laugh. The other girls joined in.

“Don’t mind her,” said Lavender. “She’s had a crush on Draco for ages, and you sort of dashed her dreams.”

“Why do so many girls like Draco? From what I’ve heard, he wasn’t too good to his previous, ah…‘groupies’… And it‘s no secret what a jerk he can be.” Lavender and Ginny only laughed.

“That’s just it, he’s every inch the Slytherin bad boy, and girls find it sexy. They think they can change him.” said Ginny.

“Plus, he’s totally hot!” added Lavender. All three girls collapsed in a fit of giggles on Lavender’s bed.

“Knock, knock!” said a girl’s voice. They turned to see Hermione standing at the doorway. “You guys mind if I join you?” The girls waved her over and she joined them on the bed. “So what are we doing?” she asked. Ginny jumped off the bed.

“I nearly forgot! We were going to look at bridal magazines for Lani’s wedding. Care to join?” The two other girls nodded eagerly. Hermione had never much been into silly things like dresses and weddings, but every once in a while it was nice to indulge her girly side.

Ginny brought her stack over to Lavender’s bed and they each grabbed one and began to look through it. Laylani paged through her magazine not really looking, just thrilled to be included with these girls. She’d never really had ‘girlfriends’ before, and it was wonderful. They spent the next hour and a half showing each other pictures of bride’s dresses and robes they liked, bridesmaid outfits, and flower arrangements. When the clock chimed 4:30, Laylani reluctantly announced she had to leave. The girls looked disappointed.

“Would you like to do this again tomorrow? You guys could come over to my place for a little while before curfew.” All three girls agreed. Even Hermione, despite the fact it was a school night.

“Alright, so around 8:30ish then? It’ll be lovely.” She was just about to leave when she stopped at the doorframe. “Thanks, girls. For being so nice to me. I’m really glad I’ve met you.” She paused and shyly added “I’ve never had real girlfriends before.” She waved her goodbye and left.

Ginny turned to the other two girls. “You know, I really like her.”

“Me, too.” said Lavender. “I thought she’d be a stuck-up bitch but she’s really quite sweet, in a quiet sort of way.” Ginny nodded.

“It’s a shame she’s has to marry Malfoy. Sexy or not, I wouldn‘t want to spend the rest of my life with him.”

“Actually,” said Hermione with a grin, “I think she’ll be okay.”

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

Laylani came down the stairs and called her goodbyes and thanks to Ron and Harry. Harry looked to her.

“Are you leaving already? Can you wait just a second? I have something for you.” She nodded and took a seat on the edge of the chair across from Ron while Harry went to his room to fetch what ever he had. The common room was empty now, and Laylani knew this would be a good time to put in for a little scheme she had to help a new friend.

“So how long have you and Hermione been dating?” she asked innocently. He blushed fiercely.

“Oh, um, we aren’t ,actually.”

“But I gather you would like to?” A small embarrassed smile lit up his face.

“Well, yeah. But she’d never.”

“Well did you ask her? You never know what a person will do until you ask.” Ron shook his head.

“No.”

“Why not? ” Ron looked at her with a cautious look.

He was just about to say something when Harry returned carrying something behind his back, and the conversation was over.

“It was supposed to be a Christmas present but that didn’t work out, so here.” Harry handed her his gift. It was a book! Not just any book but ‘Hogwarts: A History’! She squealed with delight and wrapped him in a tight hug and kissed his cheek lightly.

“Harry, this is awesome! How did you know I wanted it?” He blushed.

“You were looking at it before Christmas at Flourish and Blotts. I’m glad you like it.”

“Like it? I love it!” She was so happy. “Thank you Harry, this is great. And thanks for showing me around today, you guys. I had a great time. I’ll see you tomorrow!” She pushed open the portrait hole and climbed out, smiling madly at the book.

Harry dropped onto the couch next to his friend, looking pleased with himself.

“She’s marrying Malfoy, mate. You’re going to have to get over her.” said Ron worriedly. He knew if Harry continued with this crush, he’d only get hurt and make things even more complicated for Laylani. Harry just shrugged it off, refusing to let his friend’s words bother him. He’d find a way to save her, somehow.

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

Laylani waited inside her room for Draco so she could tell him all about the wonderful day she’d had. She’d arrived at her place at 4:40, and was surprised to hear her portrait hole swing open only minutes later. It was Draco, covered in a light dusting of snow. Laylani didn’t know why he was early and she didn’t care; she was happy to see him.

“Hello Dragon. How was your day?” Draco smiled. Just seeing her alleviated all the troubles of the day.

The meeting had gone terribly. It was about inter-house relationships, so naturally everyone had been yelling. It lasted far longer than it needed to and nothing was really decided. The meeting let out at 2:15, and he’d spent thirty minutes trying to find her, wanting to see her before Quidditch. Practice had been terrible. It seemed everyone had relapsed into their previous bad habits over the break, and he hadn’t been able to concentrate because he’d been so worried about her, where she was, why he couldn’t find her, what was Potter up to, etcetera. He’d finally ended practice early for the first time ever, he’d wanted to see her so much, only getting out of his Quidditch gear before leaving. He’d been miserable right up until the portrait hole had opened, but then his eyes met hers and she’d smiled at him and everything else had just seemed to fall away.

“It was fine, love. Bloody cold outside though.”

“You’re welcome to use the bathtub or shower if you like.”

He smirked. “Would that be a bath for two?”

She laughed. “Only if you brought a friend. I’m already clean.” A flash of disappointment went over his face, but he recovered. He took off his outer robe, sat next to her on the couch and made an attempt to put his arm around her, but she recoiled.

“Oh, gross! Don’t touch me! You’re all sweaty and you reek!” He stretched his lean body out over her couch.

“It’s part of the man that you’ve come to know and love.” He finished his sentence with a wink. Laylani laughed at his pathetic display of macho attitude and shoved his shoulder playfully.

“Go shower.”

“Fine.” Draco got up from his sprawled position over the couch and sauntered into the bathroom. Laylani picked up her new book and looked through it while the sounds of water gushing into the tub came from the bathroom. After a few minutes, Draco called to her.

“Where are the towels, Princess?” Shit, she’d forgotten about that. As she was the only person, there were only two towels in her bathroom and she had used them both that morning. She rushed to where she had left them in a damp heap on the floor.

“They’re out here, love. I’ll bring them in.” She cast drying and cleaning charms on them hurriedly and strode into the bathroom.
She left them near the edge of the tub and was just about to leave when Draco’s wet hand grabbed her pant leg.

“Sure you don’t want to join me? The water’s warm and it would be nice to have the company...” She laughed at his childlike persistence.

“I’m not getting in, but I will stay and keep you company.” She rolled up her pant legs to her knees and sat down on the folded towels, letting her calves to soak in the water. Draco ran a hand up her smooth leg, wanting to go higher. He hadn’t really had the chance to touch her intimately in more than a week. It was driving him mad.

He spent the next few minutes rubbing her calves and listening to her tell him about her day. He didn’t like what he heard. She’d spent it all with Potter & Co., had liked that hulking dimwit Hagrid, Snape had ignored her again, she’d been inside Gryffindor tower, and Harry had given her a present. His face was twisted with a scowl by the time she tried to get up to show him the book.

Unfortunately, at the same time Draco had a hand firmly stroking at her ankle causing her to trip and fall hard on her shoulder against the other side of the bathtub. She was soaked on a vertical line from the shoulder that hit the side to the opposite hip.

“OW! Son of a…” Draco couldn’t help but laugh. Even half-soaked, she was beautiful. She splashed him, drenching his hair. He sputtered at the unexpected mouthful of water, still laughing.

“Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, Chuckles.” she said sourly, rubbing her shoulder. The laughter stopped, but the smile stayed.

“I’m sorry, love. Are you okay?” he asked, putting a hand on her hip to pull her to him .She softened a little.

“I guess so.” He had her sitting on him, straddling his lap. She could feel his erection even through her wet jeans, pressing hard between her thighs. Laylani grinned and dropped one hand into the water to run a light finger over him.

“Do you always enjoy your baths this much?” she taunted. Draco met her eyes with his own clouded with lust.

“Only in the right company.” She felt his body begin to lift under her and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He managed to stand up in the tub, his hands under her bottom holding up her weight. He climbed out of the tub and walked slowly through the bathroom with them both dripping excessive water. She was amazed he could keep his balance. He was just about to drop her onto the bed when she spoke.

“We can’t, we’re all wet!” His features turned into what she was beginning to see as a very sexy smirk.

“So?”

He had a point.

With no further argument, he let her down onto the bed, quickly climbing on to join her. Without grace or finesse he dropped his lips onto hers, locking her in a fierce kiss that he couldn’t deepen enough. His tongue prodded and pushed between her yielding lips, engaging in an intense battle with her own. He pulled up at the hem of her sweatshirt, trying to rid her of it’s bulky weight. Once it finally was worked of her body he threw it aside, landing on the floor somewhere. Neither really cared. Draco tore madly at the barrier that was her clothes. When he finally removed the last of it, he was starved to have her, to have her skin on his. Draco ran his hands over the expanse of her body and delighted in just feeling.

His hand moved up to her breast, handling it roughly. She moaned underneath him and he silenced her with another bruising kiss. Gods, he had missed this. He brought the other hand down between her thighs, not even bothering to tease her, and circled his fingertips over her clitoris repeatedly. Her hips began to undulate in time with his actions. He had never more desperately wanted anything as much as he wanted to thrust his erect cock into her at that very moment. He pulled away from her, stopping all touch.

“Laylani…are you ready to…I mean do you want to…do you want to go all the way?” Her features crumpled from bliss to unhappiness. She swept some stray hair out of his eyes.

“I do. I really, really do…”

“But?”

“But… I want you to know everything first. I want you to know everything about me, about where I’ve been and what I’ve come from. When…when I was hooking, I made myself a promise that I wouldn’t sleep with anyone who didn’t know me completely first, inside and out. I know it’s silly since we’re getting married and all, but it’s something that I need to feel right about it. As much as I really, really, really want to, I can’t. Not yet. I’m sorry, Draco.” He shrugged with a warm smile on his lips. There was no doubt this situation frustrated him. A lot. He was a healthy young man, after all. But if she wasn’t ready, he wouldn’t push her. He’d waited almost eighteen years; he could wait a little longer.

“Don’t be sorry, love. I’m not. I’ll do whatever it takes to make this right for you.” She smiled and sat up, reached over to her nightstand and grabbed her silver notebook. She pressed it to her chest for a moment, trying to decide if this was the right thing to do.

She handed it to him. “I want you to read this. All of it.” she said solemnly. “ And when you’re done, then maybe we can.” Draco took it from her. He knew how important this book was to her and how closely guarded she kept it. She’d told him once that it was the words of her soul and now she was sharing it with him.

“But until then,” she said, yanking it out of his hands and putting it back on the side table, “Is there anything else you might like?” The somber expression on her face was once again replaced with lust.

He thought over her proposition. It was very tempting to ask for another blowjob, it had been indescribable. But he was pretty sure (well, at least he hoped dearly) he could get that almost any time, and he felt the need to make today’s intimacies…unique. He wanted something that she would never forget about her first day of school that DID NOT involve The-Git-Who-Wouldn’t-Die. That bastard.

His thoughts strayed momentarily. What had Potter been thinking giving Laylani a gift? That he could entice his girl to leave him with a book? Draco knew that was an unlikely scenario, but he also knew that every time Laylani looked through that book, she would think of Saint Potter and that bothered him.

Just then, an idea formed in Draco’s mind. It may be a bit more kinky then they were used to, but she had said *anything*, right? Right. The original idea had flitted through his mind countless times that day and …

“Hey! Where do you think you’re going?” Laylani had started to crawl out of the bed. She smiled.

“Well, I figured since you were taking so long to decide, I might go grab a book.” He smirked.

“I was just thinking the same thing, my saucy little wench.” Her smile disappeared.

“Draco, I was just kidding. I wasn’t really-”

“I wasn’t kidding. You and I are going to pay a visit to the library.” Her face changed to understanding with a smirk almost identical to his. It made him proud. She got off the bed and walked across to her dresser. She was about to pull out another pair of jeans and a sweatshirt when he interrupted.

“No, my dear. I want you in a skirt this time.” She stopped short, a tad annoyed.

“Is there any reason that you’re picking my wardrobe?”

“Just humor me, please. I promise you won’t regret it.” She rolled her eyes but complied.

She put on a short green and black plaid skirt with a black halter top and cardigan, no undergarments at Draco‘s request. She swept up her hair in a messy bun with several curls hanging loose around her face.

“Anything else, your majesty?”

Draco, already dressed, stood up and looked her up and down with a mock look of appraisal.

“Can you do a handstand?”

She stuck out her tongue. He smiled and took her hand leading her to the portrait hole. On the way out he checked the clock. It was almost six. Perfect. By the time they got to the library it would be time for dinner, which meant no interruptions. They walked in comfortable silence to the library. He pulled open one heavy door and held it open for her. She walked slowly inside, unsure of what to expect.

Laylani was faced with more books than she had ever imagined. Wall to wall and corner to corner filled with books. She spun around slowly, taking in every inch of the huge room. She couldn’t believe it. She could not believe that this many books could exist at one time in one place. Laylani felt Draco’s hand on her waist, slipping it down over the soft flesh between her hips.

“Do you like it, love?” A slow smile spread across her face. It felt like he was offering it all to her, and it was wonderful. She clasped her hands together.

“Oh God, Draco this is the most amazing place.” She craned her neck to look at him. “Thank you for bringing me here.” She pressed her lips to his quickly before she moved off to discover just what books this immense library held.

Draco watched his girl walk slowly around the perimeter of the library, running her finger over the spines of the books and taking in their titles with awe. Although he was pleased that she was so happy, bringing her to the library also served to outdo Potter. Potter gave her a book, Draco would give her a library and more.

Draco quietly led her through the maze of empty study tables to the back left-hand corner. The Restricted Section was just like he’d told her: caged off with shelves blocking any view inside. They went through the opened door quietly, shutting it behind them.
Laylani looked around. There was one table at the far side of the area surrounded by a few chairs. Draco pulled out a chair and sat down, placing her new copy of ‘Hogwarts: A History’ on the table in front of him.

“Come sit on my lap, love.” Laylani casually perched herself just on his knees. He put a strong arm around her hips and pulled her body to his until she could feel the warmth of his chest against her back. He moved their chair in slightly and flipped open the book to the first page.

“Now, I want you to read to me Laylani.”

To say she was confused would be an understatement. Laylani had been practically ready to throw herself at him, and now it seemed all he wanted was mental stimulation. Any other time that would’ve been fine by her, but her body was aching to be touched by his calloused hands, to run her fingertips over his taut muscles.

“But-”

“No buts.”

She sighed, praying to whoever or whatever was in charge of looking after sexual situations in the cosmos that Draco had something more planned for them then story time. She took a deep breath and began to read.

“The Beginnings of Hogwarts. Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry was founded well over a thousand…” Draco’s hands began to unbutton her cardigan. She resumed her reading. “Well over a thousand years ago during a time of great discord between the muggle and magical world. It’s walls were built on a land far and away from the non-magical community as a safe haven for young wizards and witches to learn and practice their craft.”

Laylani stopped her reading. Draco had slipped the sweater off her shoulders and the length of her arms, dropping it to the floor while one hand moved to her knee. Then, nothing.

“Why’d you stop?” She could feel the smugness emanating from him.

“I don’t hear you reading…” She rolled her eyes and resumed her place on the page.

“Hogwarts school was a collaborative undertaking by the f-four...” Draco’s hand moved slowly under her skirt and up the inside of her thigh. “ …Four most powerful witches and wizards of the era, Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, and…and…” His hand had reached it’s destination, palm covering the wet heat of her sex.

“And?” he prompted.

\"And Salazar Slytherin!” she blurted out. “Each took a house in…in their name, asking for different qualities of the students that were placed in their houses. Gryffindor house asks for b-bravery and valor in it’s students. Ravenclaw takes only the most intelligent…” Laylani’s breath was coming in pants as Draco slipped two fingers inside of her, moving them slowly in and out while his other hand moved upwards to knead her breast. “Slytherin house takes those with the most ambition whose ancestry is pure a-and Hufflepuff is for those l-loyal and diligent.”

Draco unhurriedly removed his fingers from her, dragging their wetness slightly along her skin as he pulled his hand out from under her skirt. His fingers were shiny with her arousal. She watched as he brought the fingers up to his mouth and sucked on them leisurely. It was one of the most erotic things she’d ever seen. He saw her watching him and smirked. He licked his lips with a slow tongue as her eyes followed it’s every move.

“Please continue.” he said with a wicked grin. She returned to the book with a small smile. Laylani started to read again while Draco pulled her skirt up, bunching it around her hips and exposing her to the cool air of the room.

“Working for scant few years in harmony, t-tension arose between Godric and Salazar. Salazar believed in the pureness of heredity, i-i-insisting…” Draco now had three fingers inside of her, stretching her inner walls almost to the point of discomfort, but not quite. “Insisting that only students who came from wizarding families should be accepted to attend. A-after much hostility, Salazar seceded from the school.”

Draco held her body close to him while she rocked against his fingers, simultaneously causing her backside to rub over his erection. He pressed his lips to her neck, at first only kissing it tenderly but then became something more passionate and carnal as he bit down gently, intent on leaving her with a mark. All the while Laylani continued to read, though faltering.

“Nnnearly three hundred years later was the creation of an u-unofficial house for students who could not be placed, Mmmorphose, named after it‘s firrrst member, Maaaadrigal Morphose.” Gods, there had never been a sweeter sound to Draco’s ears then that of his fiancée on the brink of ecstasy by his hands. He felt her getting wetter and wetter until it her liquid was actually dripping off his fingers. He knew that soon he would have to taste her again, but from the source.

Laylani stopped reading for a moment to catch her breath, desperately wanting release but also craving for this sweet torture to continue into eternity. She did what she could to pull her mind back together and keep reading while Draco ground her clitoris against his palm.

“This h-h-house is not often used aaas a Morphose student only cooomes a-along every….every…ev…..Oh, Dragon, please!”

Her whimpered plea spurred Draco into action. He knocked the book out of her hand and hastily lifted her off his lap and onto the table. He rolled her onto her back and quickly latched his mouth on to her sex, probing her with his tongue while his thumb moved steadily over her clit.

Laylani bit her lip to keep in the gentle moans that threatened to reveal their doings to whomever could hear. One hand clutched the edge of the table fiercely as the other’s fingers wove into the platinum strands of her lover’s hair. She knew she wouldn’t be able to last much longer; she was biting her lip so hard now she could taste traces of blood.

Draco pulled his head back, exhaling warm air on her, to take in this scene he had created. She was beautiful; more of her hair had come loose and her body was sprawled across the table top, her eyes screwed shut and soft whimpers escaped her throat. There was no two ways about it, she was the most exquisite specimen of the human female he had ever seen. And she was his; he liked the sound of that.

“Draco,” she said in a small voice, “Please!” Merlin, he’d been so caught up in her, he’d nearly forgot the task at hand! He returned to his ministrations with his fingers prodding at every erogenous spot he knew while he put small nips, licks, and kisses over her genitals and thighs to the point where she was writhing and moaning to herself. He felt her walls begin to clamp down around him and he knew this was it.

In a swift motion, he roughly slid three fingers inside of her, grazing her clitoris over and over again with his palm and slammed his lips against hers so the moans of her ecstasy could go no further than his mouth. The random thought ‘Good thing she’s not a screamer.’ flit through his mind. Her body arched, pressing against his as she forced his mouth closer by pressing harder against the back of his head.

She slowly came back down from bliss into a low, dreamy orbit; the tension melted from her body and she relaxed, unconsciously giving a soft, low hum. She felt Draco pull her off the table and gathered her into his arms, seating her again on his lap. She made no move to help or hinder him, only pressed her head to his chest, inhaling his scent and running her fingers idly along the buttons of his shirt. It took her a few moments to become aware of herself again.

Laylani looked up at Draco, his eyes still darkened with need. She shifted slightly, putting his throbbing, almost painful erection in contact with herself. He hissed as a jolt of pleasure shot through his body.

A mischievous smile slowly spread over her lips. She lifted herself off his lap and pulled down her skirt again. Laylani undid her hair, giving it a shake before her curls settled wildly around her shoulders. She lowered herself onto her knees between his legs. His eyes met hers while she slowly undid the top button and zipper to his pants. He lifted his hips and she pulled them down along with his boxers to his knees.

His erection stood out proudly at it’s full nine inches of hard length. Laylani put a fingertip in her mouth, sucking on it for a moment before running it in smooth circles over the head of his shaft. She lowered her open mouth over him, taking in only the first inch and a half, running her tongue around it again and again and again. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his eyes pleading with hers to finish him already. But she only winked and lowered her head another inch before putting him through the same torture. She continued like this for a few moments, listening to him groan and mumble. After taking him almost halfway, she stopped, held still for a moment then pulled back completely. He groaned loudly as she sat back on her heels, smirking.

“Gods, Lani! Why’d you stop?” he asked in a frustrated tone. Her smirk turned into an all-out sinful smile.

“I don’t hear you reading…” she said in a sing-song voice. Draco’s eyes bulged at her cheekiness, and he muttered a string of curses. He looked to her with his most malicious glare, but she remained unfazed and unmoved.

He slumped into the chair with a wry grin and said “I think I’ve corrupted you.” She laughed.

Draco’s eyes stayed locked with hers as she lowered her mouth onto his cock and moved determinedly, knowing there was very little time before the students would return. She clumsily thrust her hand under his testicles, cupping and squeezing them gently. His breathing became increasingly labored as she scraped a fingernail gently over his perineum. Again, his fists locked tightly in her hair as he bucked his hips against her face. In practically no time she had him cumming down her throat.

His grip on her hair loosened and she pulled out of his grasp. As his breathing slowly returned to normal, she pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead before moving away to search for her book. He wiped the slight perspiration from along his brow and righted his clothing, watching her as she looked around the floor for her new book.

Finally she dropped to her hands and knees, crawling around the base of the room. ‘Damn him!’ she thought. ‘He couldn’t have just put it aside. No, he just had to knock it out of my hands before he took me and gave me the best…’ On second thought, she was not so upset.

She finally found it in a corner but was diverted by the book it was near. It was thick and black with silver print by itself in a section. She checked the surrounding books that told her she was in the ‘V’ headings. However, the category for the book was listed under the preposterously long title ‘He Who Must Not Be Named.’ It was queer to see it there when all the other books were so meticulously organized. Out of curiosity she pulled the heavy book into her lap. There was not title on it, only a silver-inked drawing of a skull with a snake running through it. ‘Rather morbid.’ she thought. The picture tugged at something in her mind, but she didn’t know what.

Laylani was just about to open the book when the door to the Restricted Section swung open and a thin, severe looking old woman poked her head inside. She narrowed her eyes at them.

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything, Mr. Malfoy.” she said pointedly. He shrugged his shoulders.

“Just looking at some books, Madame Pince. That *is* what a library is for, is it not?” The old woman’s eyes narrowed to slits, the disguised scorn not lost on her.

“Mr. Malfoy, I think we both know why you and your ‘friend’ were not at dinner. If you don’t want this \'study time\' reported to Headmaster Dumbledore, I suggest that you both leave. Immediately.” He rolled his eyes.

“Anything you say.” Laylani hastily replaced the book on the shelf and grabbed her cardigan. Madame Pince stepped inside the room and held the door open for them as they left. She shut it firmly behind her, giving them both disapproving looks on their way out. Laylani thanked her lucky stars that the library was still empty of students. Draco’s hand snaked it’s way into hers as they walked down the hallway and he began to chuckle. Laylani frowned.

“Well, I’m so glad you find this funny. I’ve only been here one day and already I’ve been kicked out of the library for - oh, gods, who knows what that woman thinks happened!” Draco continued to laugh.

“Did you see the look on her face? She was so sure she’d caught me this time!”

“‘This time’?” asked Laylani contemptuously. Draco’s laughter stopped immediately and his features sobered.

“I...errrr… I mean…...well... I aaahh…” He began to rub at the back of his neck nervously. She rolled her eyes and smiled.

“Relax, Dragon. It’s not like I didn’t know there was other girls before me. But for future reference, I really don’t want to hear about other girls after things like this… Or ever, really.” He nodded, relieved he was off the hook.

“Gotcha. Are you hungry, love? We could go down to the kitchen and get something to eat.”

“That’d be nice.”

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

The Hogwarts owl caught Mari just as she was leaving St. Mungo’s. It had been a long day for her, and she was tempted to leave reading the note for tomorrow but her sense of responsibility kept her from doing so. She lowered her bag beside her and unfolded the paper.

***

Dear Mari,

I forgot to tell you what happened while I was sorted yesterday. While the hat was looking through my thoughts, he pulled up The Dream, you know, the one with the Shadow Man? Anyway, he saw it and said I had ‘been exposed to His evil’s.’ I tried to ask it questions, but it wouldn’t answer. Does it mean something to you?

Laylani Stanners

***

It surely did mean something to Mari. There was only one person she knew that could be who the Hat spoke of. She grabbed her bag and apparated to her apartment, nearly splinching herself in her rush. Mari ran to the closet and pulled out the box she’d kept of her husband’s things. She sifted through its contents until she found what she was looking for: one of the few copies that remained of the Dark Book.

It had been published in the beginning, when His followers had only been extremists and lunatics, no one to be feared. One of them, probably a cross between the two categories, had taken it upon himself to write of his Lord’s glorious rising, citing prophecies as proof and slaughters as victories.

Inwardly she cursed herself for having not guessed it before. It seemed so obvious now. How could she have been so ignorant? Mari supposed a part of her hadn’t wanted to know, hadn’t wanted to think about anything to do with that awful beast who’d killed her love. ‘Still,’ she admonished, ‘that’s no excuse. You can only hope that you’re wrong now.’ But she knew she wasn’t, there was no other answer. She hastily flipped to the Dark Book’s section on prophetical tellings. She turned past the first of the two major ones; it had already begun. There was a Boy who could defeat Him. The second read:

\'THE FORESEEN CHILD\'