Circle of Love

Ok... posting non-beted chappy atm, will edit it with betaed when Mon is done. Tell me what ya think.. huggles
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Draco wrapped his arms tighter around Hermione's sleeping form, wondering just where his noble declaration to wait had come from. He tried to pass it off to himself as fear of her protectors, but he couldn't continue the lie to himself. He wanted a real relationship with the brunette know-it-all, not just a casual encounter. If anyone had told him a month ago he would be holding a fully dressed Gryffindor princess in his arms while she slept he'd have laughed before hexing them.

Draco was used of taking what he wanted, damn the consequences and what people thought. He wanted to wake her, and lose himself with her. The thought of that was scaring the crap out of him. He was even willing to make friends with the sainted Harry Potter for her. That alone had told him the depth of his desire for her.

Draco didn't have the strong friendship that Harry and Hermione had, and he was jealous of it. Who would face the Dark Lord for him or with him if it came down to it? With a start, he realized Severus Snape would, and had a few times already. Was it just because of the Vow Snape had made with his mother? Or because of the relationship they had once shared at this same age?

Draco wanted to talk to his mum about this, she had tried for so many years to offset his father's views on anything less then pure blood. Looking back in time was like an eye opener for him, and somehow he knew his mother would have liked Hermione.

Draco couldn't care less what his father thought. He'd probably curse them both and blast his name from the Malfoy tapestry- if he hadn't already. Did it really matter? He was always a disappointment to his father anyhow. His grades had been beaten by Hermione, Potter had beaten him in Quidditch year after year with his Gryffindors and he couldn't even kill one old wizard to make the him happy.

Draco gently unwrapped his arms from around Hermione, pausing for a second at her murmur of protest before she settled back asleep. He got up and headed for the bathroom. He stripped, pulled back the shower curtain and climbed into a cold shower. He let the water control his baser needs before warming it, the water soothing his troubled mind.

Draco dried off, the raspy feel of the towel turning his skin slightly red. He wrapped the damp towel around his waist and walked back out into the bedroom. Sleepy kitten, he thought as he looked to the bed, Hermione's face buried into the pillow she was hugging. He let his towel slip to the floor and searched his drawer for a pair of boxers, secretly hoping she'd look over and enjoy the view.

Just because he agreed to wait, didn't mean he wasn't going to push the bar a little.

He slipped on the green and silver striped boxers, and turned back to look at the bed; meeting the wide eyes of a half awake Hermione Granger. He smirked and nodded his still damp head at her.

“Hungry?” Draco asked, playing with words. He picked up his robe and regretfully slipped it on.

“Kind of,” Hermione replied, not exactly ready to admit which hunger he wanted an answer for. She had woken up to the sound of the water in the bathroom, had almost gotten up to check, but then had realized what he was doing. The opening of the bathroom door had had her burrowing her face into his pillow, but her curiosity had her opening her eyes when she heard the drawer open. She'd been startled when the towel dropped, but for some reason had not been able to look away. She had let her eyes travel up and down, transfixed by the sight. She had almost sighed when he pulled on the boxers and missed his movements when he turned, so he had caught her stares.

Hermione almost wished he had turned before slipping the boxers on, and felt her cheeks grow hot at the thought. She barely heard him call for Twinky the house elf, or the food order or the elf returning. She scarcely felt the bed shift when he sat down, a tray of sandwiches in his hands. Two glasses of pumpkin juice sat on the table beside them.

“Ordered ham and turkey, not sure what you were hungering for.” Draco said, still playing with words. He noticed the blush running from her cheeks down her throat and deep into the vee of her shirt, and loved it.

Hermione looked up at him, finally drawn from her thoughts. “Um, ham is good.” Ham? Oh Merlin, wouldn't he really like to know. The words passed through her head, and she wasn't sure what to do.

“Is it too warm in here? You seem well flushed.” Draco asked biting his sandwich and watched her, enjoying the deeper shade of red.

“Draco? Um- oh lord. Be right back.” Hermione whispered and ran for the bathroom. She heard his faint chuckle through the door and wanted to die of embarrassment. She flushed the toilet, the sound loud to her ears and ran the water in the sink.

Draco's right. She thought, I can't even talk to him about this without turning into a fiery red ball. She bowed her head for a second, then looked up into the mirror, meeting her own eyes. Maybe if she admitted it to herself, she would be able to tell him. Do it! She silently prodded herself, breathing deeply; feeling like a stupid child.

“I want-” Hermione started to form her thoughts into words. “I want Draco Malfoy.” She'd done it, and hadn't even looked away. Her breathing calmed, and she smiled.

A small knock came on the door, the sound magnified by the smallness of the room. Her eyes widened, and for a second hoped he had listened through the door.

“Hermione, you okay?” Draco called through the wood.

“Yeah, um, one minute. Be right out,” She called back, taking one last long look at herself. Hermione's hand turned the knob pulled open the door and ran smack into the object of her thoughts. His robe hung open, and her hands lay on his naked chest. She looked up into his eyes.

“I'm sorry if I upset you,” Draco said, enjoying the feel of her hands on his skin. He felt those same hands travel up to curl around his neck and pull his face down to hers; their eyes still locked.

“You didn't,” Hermione whispered as their lips touched and he wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her closer. They stayed that way for a few moments and he growled slightly when she pulled back, laying her head on his shoulder.

“Does your Mark burn still?” Hermione asked.

“It stopped shortly after you fell asleep, which means there is something going on.” Draco said and drew his hand through her hair, before settling on her back.

“Have Tonks or Shacklebolt arrive yet?”

“No which leads me to think 'the something going on' is probably bad. Professor Snape hasn't returned either.” Draco tried to hide his worry by looking away.

“I'd like to check on Professor Lupin,” Hermione said, her small hand turning his face back to hers.

“Let me dress, and we'll head down there.” Draco agreed, going back over to his dresser and pulling out a pair of loose sweat pants and a t-shirt. He let his green robe fall to the floor at his feet.

“Thanks, wonder what Harry and Ginny have been up to.” Hermione though out loud, and watched as he pulled the shirt over his head. Draco smirked at her again when his head appeared through the opening. She smiled back at him, showing a bit more comfort in his presence since she had admitted to herself what she wanted.

“I'm surprised Potter wasn't banging on the door hours ago looking for you.” Draco looked to the door and waited for the knock, his hands tying the string of pants.

“I think Ginny has him under control,” Hermione laughed and still watched him, wondering if the Slytherin ever blushed himself. They walked out of his room and down the stairs.

“Really? Too much to hope for,” Draco said scathingly.

“I told her about the potion, she's been bugging him all day to talk about it.” Hermione told him, her voice still full of mirth.

“Oh Merlin, his face when Professor Lupin handed it to him was priceless, Hermione.” Draco laughed as they walked past the sitting room and headed down to where the Room of Requirement was.

“Draco, you'll never like Harry will you?” Hermione laid a hand on his arm, and stopped walking.

“Honestly?”

“Yes,”

“It would take a miracle to make us friends, let alone like each other. I tolerate him because of who he is. Also because of you.” Draco admitted, hoping his words would not push her away.

“Harry didn't ask-” Hermione started to say, but Draco laid a finger on her lips.

“No more Potter talk, please.” He requested, he didn't really care if Potter asked to be who he was or not. They passed the Potions room, and Draco hesitated a moment and pushed the door open and entered.

“Mind a small detour?” Draco asked her, pulling her by the hand to she was in the room with him. He walked to a small table where a small wooden box sat.

“I hardly think Professor Snape will like us poking in his personally property while he's away.” Hermione said and watched as he picked it up and opened it.

“They look happy,” Hermione whispered, gazing at the picture for the first time that Snape had hid quickly away the other day. She had never seen Snape look so happy and with a genuine smile before.

“They are the same age we are in this picture. Twinky took this just before they broke up; Professor Snape to go to the Dark Lord, and my mum to marry my father. I always wonder how life would have been if they had courage to run instead of playing the obedient followers.” Draco pondered and ran a finger across the smiling faces.

“Well I don't think you'd be here, and I would not like that. A few months ago I wouldn't have cared.” Hermione touched his shoulder lightly. She wondered herself if the Potions Master would have been a better father for Draco then his own. No matter how he had acted towards them in school, he had kept them safe; even from their favorite werewolf, Remus Lupin.

“Snape would have shown more caring for my mum, he'd have spent more time with her- and the children they had. My mum had a baby before me, but she died. My father never visited the grave or saw my mother's tears over it. When he started to take more control over my upbringing, I was never allowed to go to the grave anymore.” Draco said bitterly and Hermione could see the small tear that welled in the corner of Draco's eye. He set the picture back in the box with a sigh and closed it.

“I'm sorry, Draco.” Hermione's hand slid around his waist, and she laid her head on his shoulder. Draco turned into her and held her close, kissing the top of her head.

“Father wouldn't even allow a name on the headstone, Mum called her Mariah though. She was born a month early and not even Twinky or Professor Snape could save her.” Hermione lifted her face up and looked him in the eyes, he lowered his head and captured her lips with his in a gentle kiss.

“Your mother had you Draco, no matter how much your father interfered. She had your love, and you had hers. She loved you enough to risk it all to keep you safe, even at risk of the man she loved. If you had died that night, she would never have forgiven herself. And when it comes down to it Draco, you have become a man that she could be proud of. You turned away from Voldemort, tried your hand at spying and saved my life. Not bad for the once and former bouncing ferret.” Draco laughed and it broke the somberness of the moment.

“I am never going to live that episode down, am I?” Draco asked and pulled them out of the room and closed the door with a small click.

“Never!” Hermione's light laughter rang through the hallway.

They continued walking, the steps past the potions room leading them farther down in the Black family house. The candles in there holders on the walls casting shadows that moved in the slight breeze their presence created. They arrived at the door, and Draco pulled back the flap that covered the window.

Hermione's screams could be heard as they saw Remus writhing and lying on the mattress, blood pooling on the floor beneath his shackled wrists. Sounds from outside the room could be heard from inside, and the screams made the werewolf stand up and turn towards the door. Remus looked at them through the opening snarled and leaped towards the door, bouncing back as the chains length kept him from reaching it.

Hermione's hands frantically pulled at the door knob, and cursed when it would not turn.

“We have to get in there!” Draco wrapped his hands around her shoulders and pulled her away, letting the flap close.

“No one can get in there till morning, unless possibly Snape and he is not here right now.” Draco held the struggling witch tight.

“He's hurt Draco!”

“Werewolves have an amazing regenerative quality, he'll be fine. The room knows the danger of us being in there with him, so it will block any thoughts that try to supersede the original orders.” Draco told her after she slapped at his hands.

“He's bleeding, he needs help.” Hermione stopped struggling and turned to be enveloped into his arms; her face buried into his chest and her tears soaking his t-shirt.

“I know kitten, I know,” Draco murmured and his hands rubbed her back in comfort.


****


Harry and Ginny lay snuggled on the small couch in the sitting room, the light from the fire playing across their sleeping faces. A carelessly dropped pack of Exploding Snap cards on the floor next to them.

Albus Dumbledore lightly snored from his portrait, his head laying on the frame.

All three opened their eyes to the piercing scream as if one, Harry and Ginny jumped from the couch and ran to the door. Albus knocked over the bowl of lemon drops in his portrait.


****


Molly Weasley arrived at number 12, Grimmauld Place after writing a hastily written note for Arthur. Snape's message had been vague about what had happened to Tonks, but she had the realized the urgency in his message on going to check on Remus. She gave a reproachful look at the full moon before pushing the door open.

The scream that she heard made her drop her pocket book to the floor in worry. She breathed a sigh of relief when Harry and Ginny ran out of the sitting room.

“Mum was that you?” Ginny asked and gave her mother a big hug.

“No, where are Hermione and Malfoy? That sounded like her voice.” Molly said, waiting for the other two to appear.

“It came from the lower floors, let's check it out.” Harry said, holding his wand defensively. “If he has hurt her I swear-”

“Not now Harry,” Ginny said and the witches held their wands. They all walked together down the hallway and the stairs. They stopped in shock to see Draco holding a crying Hermione.

“What's going on?” Molly asked.

“There is something wrong with Professor Lupin,” Hermione turned a tear stained face to her friends and leaned back into Draco's arms.

Molly opened the flap and the three of them peered in and gasped. Lupin made another futile lunge for the door, but collapsed to the floor once again.

“There was an attack tonight at the Longbottom's Manor. Tonks was hurt, and somehow he knows.” Molly informed them. “Snape would have returned here, but he had to make his excuses to Voldemort first and he wasn't sure how long that would be; so he sent me here.”

“Is there anyway to get in there?” Harry asked.

“Not until morning or maybe if Professor Snape arrives he can.” Draco told him, watching the other boy pace until Ginny grabbed his hand.

“That's great, bloody great!” Harry said.

“Let's all go back upstairs, and get something to drink.” Molly fussed and pushed the younger ones towards the stairs.

“I'd rather-” Harry and Hermione said in unison.

“Now.” Molly ordered and watched as the bowed their heads and made their way back up the stairs.

“Mum takes no prisoners,” Ginny whispered to Draco.

They all sat down in the sitting room, Harry and Ginny on the couch and Draco and Hermione in the chair in the corner. Molly's eyebrows raised when she saw the blond haired boy pull her into his lap and she settled her head on his shoulder. She had questions, but decided to wait until Remus and Severus could answer.

“Now I'm going to get-” Molly started to say when the door flew open and a dark robed figure entered and fell to the floor with a groan.


Severus Snape had returned.