Hogwarts Maelstrom. Completed!

Harry had the opposite problem. He remembered a time when all he thought about was lying next to Ginny. He used to imagine the softness of her vibrant hair blanketing him as he held her close. It was awkward. Ginny stared at him with red-rimmed eyes. Her guilt was a litany that etched its way doggedly across her delicate features.

Ginny sat at the end of the bed clutching her nightgown. “I thought you were dead.”

Harry nodded methodically. He really did not want to talk about this now. Nia had left a few minutes ago. Probably to go do snake things. He felt sick.

Ginny rubbed her temple slightly. “You know, we don’t have to talk about this now. Or ever, as far as I am concerned. I would prefer if we could pretend it never happened.”

Harry laughed. “ Right, so I never died and you never got raped and drugged by Blaise Zabini. Oh and do not forget you thought you were in love with him. The cherry on the cake.”

Ginny stiffened but she accepted his wounding words as she wrung her hands together. “Exactly. Except that we will never be able to get pass this, will we...” She does not make it a question.

Harry closes his eyes. “Probably not. Too much has happened.”

Ginny smiled slightly. “You and me, we are too practical. It’s a nice idea, but ultimately we would have failed.”

Harry felt great relief to hear that. He had been dreading this moment. The clingy tears and pained sorrowful excuses. Ginny offered none of that. Just a practical outlook that saved them both a lot of pain.

Harry remembered then why he fell in love with her. Ginny was brilliant, sexy and pragmatic. She was always painfully honest, almost to a fault. It was coming in handy right now.

Harry felt no strangeness when he rose up and walked to her, embracing her tightly. “I love you Ginny. I will get you out of this situation. I promise.”

Ginny smiled thinly. “I know you will, but afterwards, what happens to all of us? So much damage done here…”

Harry nodded and released her with a frank look. “I don’t know. I just don’t know anymore.”

Harry walked around the bed and got in while Ginny crawled in next to him. He held her almost brotherly. He did it too offer comfort. Ginny fell asleep untroubled, but Harry kept his eyes awake for a long time.


Hermione Granger awoke to an empty bed. The sheets were tucked up around her shoulder. It made something burn in her cheeks as she realized that Draco had been the one to do it. Hermione slept like a misfit. She was never the perfect cherub in a bed. She sprawled and took up space and hogged covers or kicked them off. That was how she knew that Draco had checked in on her and tucked them up neatly before he went to his classes.

Hermione sniffed the pillow and she found his male scent all over it. Spicy and clean. Hermione flopped backwards onto the bed. Anyone who saw her sniffing Malfoy’s pillow would definitely think she lost her mind. Hermione sat up and pulled back her wild hair with a ponytail. She felt lifted by the events of the previous day. Harry was alive! Everything would be okay, would it not? Harry was the cure-all to Voldemort, or so they thought. Except Nagini was a problem. She would have to die. With that sobering thought, she got dressed in their required uniform and she tried to tame her hair as best she could. Gathering the hidden ingredients, Hermione made her way to the door.

Hermione knew that eventually she would have to leave Draco behind. He was a Deatheater, and therefore completely loyal to Voldemort. She could not endanger the other students. Especially not Harry. No matter how much she wanted to trust him, she would never be able to tell him about Harry.

She felt pain at that thought. How could someone who seemed so bad, be the product of such hopefulness as well. She wanted to believe in Draco. Her body betrayed her just by being around him. Surely, that kind of chemistry could not be evil. Hermione snorts and knocks on Blaise’s door quietly. Right and the Snorkack actually exist.


Ginny’s anxious face peeked out from behind the door and she stepped backwards to let Hermione in.

Hermione saw Blaise sitting on the bed rubbing his forehead. “Morning. Here are the other parts of the potion. Hermione grabbed Blaise’s cauldron and began to chop up and mix the ingredients very carefully. “This needs to sit for a few hours. Stir occasionally. Then add the strand after about 4 hours. This should sit until tomorrow morning. Then cross your fingers, this will work.”

Ginny helped Hermione work on the potion while Harry seemed deep in thought. The silence in the room was deafening.

Finally, an hour later, Hermione wiped the sweat from the humidity off her cheek and nodded. “It’s good… I need to go back to the room. I can’t have Draco missing me.”

Classes were somewhat uneventful. The Carrows took to heart Voldemort’s decree and began to teach the standard practices of Hogwarts. Muggleborn were required to assist but not participate. Neville guided Luna down the hallways when suddenly two Deatheaters stopped him.

“Longbottom. Headmistress Carrow wants to see you.” A gruff voice stated from under the cloth.

Luna looked nervously at Neville and nodded. “I will go ahead.” Luna began to walk quickly back to the room.

Neville followed the two towards the Main Hall wondering what this was about.

Draco reread the summons and casually flicked it into the trash. The Carrows bin wanted to see him. Bloody great. Draco turned down the corridor and headed back towards the Great Hall, catching Blaise as he exited his rooms.

“Hey Blaise. Got the summons too?” Draco pushed a hand through his hair in annoyance.

“Yeah..” Harry murmured reluctantly, shutting the door behind him.

Look, I’m sorry about blowing up at you yesterday.” Draco studied his friend. “What you said about Granger… Well, just so you know… The plan is working. Yesterday everything changed. The stupid mudblood trusts me now. I gave what you said a lot of thought. I’m not going to let some bushy-haired know-it-all destroy everything I worked so hard for, ya know?”

Blaise choked, and his face turned red.

“What’s the matter with you?” Draco frowned. “You’ve been real quiet lately. You have never been so lazy that you don’t even speak anymore...”

“Not feeling well.” Blaise replied shortly with a sneer.

Draco raised an eyebrow. “Humph.”

The boys turned into the Great Hall and they saw chairs and tables set up. All of the seventh year males seem to be there. They took a seat near the back. Carrow was at the front, with a wand pointed at her throat. Her voice came booming out clearly above the crowded din.

“Due to the recent decree of the Ministry of Magic, Pureblood Marriages are going to effect immediately. Today, we have a list of new arrivals from nearby schools such as Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. All magically aligned marriages will be subject to a compatibility incubation period of a week. We have a list of names of students who can be immediately aligned. If your name is called please come up to the front and sit with your future intended.”

The crowd burst into noise, yelling and shrieks from the girls and outrage from the boys.

Draco stared in disbelief. “They passed this law now? What the devil for? I thought we would have months before this happened.”

Blaise looked as though he would be sick.

Draco rubbed his temple. “Please not Parkinson, please not Parkinson.”

Blaise shuddered.

Carrow began to call out names. Students dragged themselves on stage. Some of the pairings with the Beauxbatons seemed to have a good reception. A few Slytherin boys proudly paired with some beautiful well-bred young women. Hoots and catcalls rang out as Pansy Parkinson stepped up to the stand. She preened and threw a kiss to the group of students.

“She’s a bit vulgar don’t you think?” Draco sounded disgusted.

Carrow frowned slightly reading the list and she muttered. “Um…. Blaise… Zabini?”

Blaise turned to Draco with a look of relief. “The poor sod.” Harry was half terrified he would hear his own name that he temporarily forgot he was Zabini.

“YOU’RE that poor sod.” Draco shoved him out of the chair looking at him suspiciously.

Harry walked slowly up to the stage, his eyes reaching up to find Parkinson smiling at him. Her pug nose turned up and she was beaming happily. Her hair fell in thin waves around her face combined with her pale skin gave her a severe demeanor.

“Oh Blaise! I knew it would be you… Father will be so pleased. Our families were destined to be together.”

Pansy walked forward and planted a huge kiss on Harry lips. Harry pulled back from the mashing of her teeth against his own. He held a hand over his mouth and ran back stage to dry vomit. Harry bent over, his body convulsing involuntarily.

Pansy looked shocked and then embarrassed and lastly, she looked pissed. “ZABINI! HOW dare you!!!!!” Pansy howled and ran after him, off the stage.

Draco finally found something so funny that he actually laughed. The look on Zabini’s face was priceless. Draco burst out laughing, tears coming to his eyes as he held in his stomach. The rest of the hall joined in and soon Carrow was threatening everyone with the Crucio if they didn’t settle down.

Carrow harrumphed and went back to the list. “Romilda Vane.”

An exotic looking dark haired girl with a nice body and dark eyes walked to the stage looking pensive.

“Draco Malfoy.” Carrow intoned and Malfoy stared across at Carrow with a blink.

“Bugger.” Malfoy stretched and walked towards the stage. He knew Granger would not be picked but he still irritated him that he was expected to marry some twit.

Draco walked lazily up to the stage and bowed mockingly to Vane. They went to sit next to each other with the other couples. Draco inspected his robes and just to annoy Vane he flashed the Dark Mark before sliding it back. Draco was satisfied to hear a gasp spill from her ruby-tinted lips.

“After today, you never wear make up again. My wife will not look like a whore.” Draco sneered and rubbed his chin.

Strange, but Granger never seemed to look like a whore. She always looked fresh and pure to him. Tasted it too. If he had flashed the Mark at Granger, she probably would have flipped him off.

Draco buried his head in his hands. He was a bloody moron. Draco ignored everything else that fell from Carrow’s lips. He was trapped in this farce of a marriage idea and trapped as a Death Eater and he hated it. He hated it more then anything else in his life.

“Your intended will be sharing your room for the next week. If you have a Mudblood slave, then your quarters will be expanded to accommodate. Due to the importance of this new law, we have temporarily suspended classes for the next week.”

“Probably because you are afraid you’ll bugger it up, you old sow.” Draco muttered under his breath. Romilda’s eyes went wide.

Carrow sniffed and glared at Malfoy’s general direction.

“Meeting adjourned.”

Draco led Romilda towards his room and paused at the door.

Romilda looked at Draco. “ So… “

Draco cut her off. “I don’t like women who talk too much, are opinionated or dress and act like whores. Be silent unless spoken to.”

Romilda glared and put her hands on her hips. “OR what!? You don’t scare me Malfoy.”

“Or, you will find out why I am the Dark Lord’s favorite. I am sure nobody would care if you went missing Vane. I do not ask for a lot, just keep out of my way. Got it?”

Romilda looked like she wanted to hex him. Wiping her shiny dark eyes, she whispered. “I hate you… Nobody could ever love you.”

“I don’t want you to love me. I want you to shut the bloody hell UP!” Draco seethed.

Romilda watched him considering. Most people would give up at this point but not Romilda. She placed a hand on his chest and smiled suddenly and she lowered her eyelashes.

Romilda leaned in to whisper huskily. “I just want to make you happy Draco. We were not chosen randomly. We were chosen because we have the best chance at being compatible. You are a very strong and beautiful man. Let me pleasure you. Let me show you how this marriage could work.”

“Remember what I said.” Draco murmured coldly but despite himself, he could feel interest in her soft hands that caressed him through his robes.

Romilda tilted her face up to meet his and Draco made a noise of frustration before settling his mouth onto hers. He ruthlessly explored her mouth. It opened willingly and her tongue flicked out to touch his own.

Romilda’s willingness seemed to entice him. With his eyes closed, he could almost imagine it was Granger. Gods, Granger… His cock went rock hard at the thought of her soft unyielding mouth.

Romilda moaned and leaned deeper into him and Draco grabbed her long hair, wrapping it in his fist. He shoved her against the door to his room and a hand moved to the knob, unlocking it.

Romilda panted softly under his hands, which roamed to her small but perky breasts. Draco cupped both mounds and pushed his erection against her. Willing anything to take away the image of Granger beneath him but he could not stop thinking about her.

Romilda ripped off his robes inside the room and she pushed him on the bed. Draco kept his eyes closed as he felt an unfamiliar sent of female before he could feel breasts been pushed into his face and a soft willing body underneath him. He rolled her and spread her out, finding her wet center with his fingers. He thrust inside of her and groaned. “God’s your wet…”

Romilda began to speak and he clamped a hand over her mouth.

“No don’t say anything. Just moan..” Draco whispered before he thrust his fingers in deeper.

Romilda arched her back and Draco imagined Hermione being this willing. Begging him, choking with desire. Draco groaned. “ Fuck, I am going to cum if I cant get inside you soon.”

Romilda moaned from his hard thrusting fingers. Draco withdrew and shoved them in her mouth. “ Lick them clean…” Romilda’s mouth opened and she began to suck and lick at his fingertips.


Romilda began to buck up under him and he pushed inside her. She was not tight but she was very, very wet. Draco shuddered as she closed around him.

This was everything from his fantasy except one key element. With his eyes closed, he could imagine. He saw Hermione clearly there, screaming his name.

Romilda began to buck up under him and he pushed inside her. She was not tight but she was very, very wet.

Draco began to earnestly pump inside the hot little piece, who was begging him for more. He could hear Hermione in his mind now… So clearly…

“Draco...Oh GOD, Draco…”

Hermione was saying his name; she was whispering it so… brokenly… So needy.

Draco groaned and held Romilda down as he bore into her exploding inside her, yelling as he did.

“Draco… How could you...”

Draco felt displaced as he heard the words from his fantasy mix with reality. That was when he opened his eyes finally. Sweat was burning his eyes as he wiped them. He stared across at Romilda who shuddered with pleasure still.

It was what was beyond that, which stopped him in his tracks. Hermione stood in the open doorway, eyes glassy with shock and betrayal. He had not imagined those pleas. She had been keening in pain from watching him with Romilda.

Draco felt the room narrow into a small space and suddenly he could not breathe. Pull yourself together Draco. Draco rose up from Romilda and retied his robes.

He walked over to Hermione who had tears streaming down her face. RUN, he wanted to scream. If she hated him and Voldemort’s plan failed, that he could handle, if she was allowed to be free. He knew that she was plotting with Neville. She smelled as if she had been working with potions ingredients.

Draco knew that she would have to leave him behind if she escaped. If nothing else… He wanted her to live. That meant he had to distance himself from her. Romilda had unwittingly given him the out. Maybe Draco had hoped they would be caught, so Hermione could start hating him and begin running without looking back. Looking back was what got you killed.

Draco let none of this show on his face as the thoughts painfully ripped through him a mile a minute.

Draco stared intently at her but spoke with a casual tone. “Hello Mudblood… Meet my future wife. Romilda Vane.”






TBC – Please read and review.


Thanks Rei!