Broomsticks and The Wizards Gauntlet

Broomsticks and The Wizards Gauntlet

Chapter 17

“What in the hell? Luke, have you looked at these books?” Lily stood at the bookshelf in the basement of The Manor, perusing Lucius’s more obscure collection of Dark Wizards books. “Outwitting Aurors.” Oh look at this one. It’s called, “Dark Magic for the Three to Five Year Old. Sick! I didn’t know young kids could even do magic, let alone make it dark or light?”

“Oh yeah, I’d mastered the exercises in that book by the time I was two,” Luke said, preoccupied with putting on the finishing touches to his reverse spell.

“Seriously!?” Lily asked.

“No. I’m just fucking with you,” Luke looked up and gave her a flashy smile. Lily flushed. “Damn!”

“What’s wrong?”

“This is the third potion I’ve reversed and neither have any defects as far as I can see.”

“That’s good right? I mean it’s really scary to think that a potion manufacturer is tainting its potions.”

“Well, yeah, when you put it that way, but it kind of blows my Dad’s theory out of the water if they are all legit potions for mother’s and babies.”

“Well, just keep working Luke. I’ll help you if you need it.”

“I can’t keep working. That was the last of the baby line products. I’ve tested the fertility potion, and the potion for morning sickness. I’ve even tested the vitamin potions for pregnant mothers and for babies after their born. They are all perfectly safe! In fact, we should be brewing these, it’s a real money making line. I’m done though. Dad was wrong.”

“Did you test that disgusting stuff that increases nursing mothers’ milk supply?”

“What are you talking about?” Luke said with shock all over his face. “There is no product on this list like that.” Luke showed Lily the list of all of Ancient’s Apothecary’s potions.

“Yeah, it’s right here, see? You just missed it, because they didn’t have it under the baby stuff. It’s called Genugreek.

“How do you know this stuff?”

“Because Molly was trying to make Drew take this shit, one day when I was visiting my grandparents. Molly was pissed that Drew wouldn’t breast feed Artie, but Drew claimed that she wasn’t producing milk, so Molly went and bought her this Genugreek shit, and tried to force her to drink it. Drew finally told her that Artie would be bottle-fed and that was the end of that. I was surprised Molly gave up on Drew taking it.”

“Oh Lily, I love you!” Luke bent his head and kissed her. His lips pressed against hers and Lily melted into his kiss. Luke hadn’t ever felt so alive and before he knew it his fingers were on her stomach, caressing her silky skin.

“You mean it?” She asked, breaking off their kiss and staring into his golden eyes.

“Yeah, I do mean it. Does that scare you?” Luke said hugging her softly against him. He wanted to feel her warmth, her body pressed against his.

“No. I’m not scared, because…I love you to.” Luke took Lily’s hand and kissed her fingers. He led her over to a black leather sofa against the wall. The pair sat down and resumed their make-out session. Luke could taste her, and he wanted so much more. He had a painful erection from being this close to Lily and her soft touch was sending him over the edge. When he laid her down and moved over top of her, her hands found their way up his shirt where she caressed his skin. Luke shivered.

“You have to stop. I can’t take much more of that.” Lily kissed his chin and then pulled away.

“Did I do something wrong?” Luke smiled and shook his head, before pressing his rock hard erection against her leg. Lily blushed. “Oh!”

“I should get back to my work. I have a renewed sense of purpose, since you told me about the Genugreek. Our parents are upstairs anyway. This isn’t a very smart idea.” Lily bit his lip instead though.

“Luke, let’s go farther.” Her voice caught in her throat and she stared up at Luke with nervous eyes.

“How far?” He dared to ask.

“I want to touch it. Aren’t you curious too?”

“Lily, I’m a guy. I’m more then curious.”

“Kiss me again,” Lily said closing her eyes. With his body laying full over hers, he kissed her passionately. Without warning, he felt her fingers on his stomach again. Her hand moved downwards and then he heard his zipper of his pants being drawn down.

“Lily…” Luke said, but her gaze was lust filled and Luke nuzzled his face into her neck and sucked softly at the skin of her neck. She moaned quietly under Luke and he sucked harder on her neck feeling her fingers slipping under his boxer briefs. Goose bumps erupted down his legs.

“Tell me if I’m doing it wrong,” she whispered and then her fingers were wrapped around his thick cock. Her touch wasn’t like anything he’d felt before. He had wanked, thinking about her touching him in this way, but his was very different. At first, she just held him in her hand, as if she was getting used to the feel of it.

“Lily…” Luke brought his head and looked into her eyes. He wanted to touch her too and when she nodded, he rolled off her and brought her with himself, their bodies now facing each other, lying on their sides. She moved her fingers around his cock and he felt another wave of pleasure overtake him. His hands roamed up her blouse and under her bra where he could feel her pebbled nipples. He pushed her blouse up and stared at the most glorious sight he’d ever seen. He brought his lips down over one, kissing it softly and then he moved to kiss the other. Lily intensified her ministrations, stroking him up and down in a steady rhythm. He moaned and Lily smiled, pleased that she was doing it right. He knew he wasn’t going to last long. In his fantasies, he lasted for hours and hours, but reality was, the girl he loved was touching him in the most private of places and it was driving him wild. He slid his hand down her belly and then his fingers lasciviously moved up her inner thigh, dragging his fingertips across the sensitive skin of her legs and under her skirt. Lily parted her legs slightly for him. His fingers stroked the top of her panties and then slipped under her knickers and Luke let out a deep groan when he found her dripping wet for him. He moved two fingers along her slit exploring her womanliness. His thumb settled over her sweet cherry and he rubbed gently. Lily’s hand, picked up its pace upon Luke finding the right spot on her body. Their lips found each other once again and they kissed longingly as both pleasured the other with their hands.

“Merlin! Luke, I think I’m gonna..” Lily moaned against Luke loudly and he could hold off no longer. He too came, and with a husky moan in Lily’s ear, he spurt his seed allover himself and Lily’s hand.

“Was that good for you? That felt so incredible for me,” Luke whispered in her ear and Lily just hugged him tightly.

“Oh yes.” She hesitated for a moment and then whispered in his ear. “I’ve loved since forever, Luke Malfoy.”

“You’re the most beautiful witch in the world, you know that?” Luke kissed her tenderly and the pair held each other close, ignoring the sticky mess between them, for now.

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“You’ll get through it because you’re a Malfoy woman. We are strong and tough, now you go out there and hold your head up high!” Narcissa said.Hermione applied her lip gloss and smacked her lips in the mirror.

“Are you sure he was alright Mum?” Scorpius said raising an eyebrow to Hermione.

“Please don’t worry. Your father is as well as can be expected. Now then, I’ll see you at the benefit tonight. What are all these boxes in the conservatory?” Scorpius smirked.

“Do you really want to know or was that a rhetorical question Mum?”

“On second thought…Don’t tell me. Good luck sweetie. Lot’s to do, best be going.” Hermione kissed Scorpius on the cheek. “Oh, and tell Luke not to work too hard, and to eat something. I just hate that he’s slaving away down there. He’s so dedicated though. I really admire that.” If Hermione only knew…

“I just made the kids a bite to eat. I thought I’d pop down there and check on his progress. Everything’s covered here ‘Mione,” Ginny said sweetly.

Narcissa kissed Nathaniel on the cheek, before he joined Hermione by the fireplace. Narcissa had more or less adopted Nathaniel as a surrogate son. It was still odd to Hermione though, to see Cissy, kiss Nathaniel like she would Draco, but if anyone deserved a motherly figure it was Nathaniel. He had come so far and the way he had helped Hermione get into Azkaban and then helped pick up the pieces when she came so undone after her meeting with Draco, could not be ignored. She was grateful that he was here to hold her hand and voice his support, more then anyone could ever know.

“Oh! I almost forgot. I’ll be right back.” Hermione scurried into Draco’s office and plucked something from the bottom drawer of his desk, before returning to the floo.

“Ready then?” Nathaniel asked.

“Good to go,” she said with a smile as she held something to her heart. “I just need to stop off at the muggle library real quick. It won’t take long,”

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She printed off one hundred copies of something as Nathaniel stood and watched with a smirk on his face. He really liked his brother’s wife. She was as driven as any witch he’d ever met and she really loved his little brother. She felt some inane urge to speak to him every few seconds, as if she felt bad for making him wait, which couldn’t be further from the truth.

“So, first the Ministry and then Diagon Alley and then we go see Draco again.” Nathaniel was amused by how many times Hermione had given him a run down of their itinerary. Her emphasis was always on the last part—the part about seeing Draco. He could tell she was itching to see him again, and truthfully, Nathaniel was too.

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“So what’s the word around here Prunella? I’d like to know what I’m in for, before they walk into the lion’s den,” Hermione said under her breath to Draco’s secretary. A few heads turned when Hermione made her way from the floo and Hermione did as Narcissa said, and held her head up high. More then a few witches and wizards, wished her and Draco much luck. It was clear, Draco still had a lot of friends at the Ministry and for this Hermione was thankful, because she could use all the help she could get.

“I think you said that backwards, Mrs. Malfoy. You meant to say before you walk into the lion’s den.”

“No,Prunella…I meant it just he way I said it,” Hermione said with a rising smirk.

“I’m not supposed to mention this to anybody as the inauguration is supposed to kept under wraps, but, Raspodin was in here this morning and he was trying to force Minister Malfoy to be declared unfit to lead. I think the Wizengamot plans on sacking Mr. Malfoy as early as tomorrow! You know what that means right?”

“It means that Raspodin will be declared the winner of the election, by default. Thanks Prunella.”

“Mrs. Malfoy..I feel horrible asking this, because you have your hands so full, but…If they do sack Mr. Malfoy, then I’ll be fired too.” Hermione laid a hand on Draco’s long time secretary and gazed warmly into her eyes.

“You will never have to worry about a job, Prunella. You are as loyal as they come. But, I fully intend to get Draco out of Azkaban and to save his job. Now, I have a meeting to attend. Of course, they don’t know it yet. But they have one too,” Hermione said looking across the hall at the council chambers. They were in session, as noted by the swirling purple hourglass outside the courtroom. Hermione swallowed and exchanged a quick word with Nathaniel, before busting through the doors and spouting off a mouthful of legal mumbo jumbo.

“Mrs. Malfoy, we are in session as you can see. You can schedule an appointment and I promise we will accept your request, but you just cannot…”

“Save it. My husband is sitting in Azkaban right now being tormented by a pack of ravenous dementors! So, what are we going to do about that?” Hermione said tossing her hair and crossing her arms in front of her.

“Mrs. Malfoy…”

“Cut it out Poppy! I’m Hermione to you and Draco is Draco to your husband, Benjamin. We’re your son’s godparents for merlin’s sakes!”

“Yes, I know, Hermione, but the fact still remains, that Draco broke the law and as such he has to..Oh hell, I can’t do this!” The witch said as she took leave of her seat and approached the chairman, an idealistic wizard known as Grumpy by Draco and his peers, ironically enough. “I must excuse myself from this case. Hermione and Draco are friends of the family.” The chairpman nodded and sighed. Hermione didn’t stop there though. She reminded each and every member of the Wizengamot, of the ways in which Draco had helped them throughout the years.

“Remember that little problem you had with the bottle? You begged Draco for your job and he put you into a recovery program, Willis?”

She stepped to the next robed council member. “You like to steal the shoes of your assistants and female employees. Draco found out about your little fetish and moved you to a position overseeing the Quidditch World Cup, or else you would be out on your arse! Honestly, how many was it? Fifty pairs of shoes in your chambers? And you—“ Hermione looked at the young man siting next to the previous wizard. “Well, I don’t know you. Where did you come from?” Hermione glared at the young man sitting before her.

“I had you for Arithmancy, when you were substituting for Miss Chambers at Hogwarts, after a student gave her a poisonous apple as a prank.” Hermione smiled and the wizard chairman, threw his hands up in the air in complete exasperation.

“Philip Rosegarten! You made top marks and were such a polite and bright young student,” Hermione said, remembering who the young wizard was. “I gave you a recommendation to work at the Ministry. So, yeah, you owe me too!” The young man smiled at her and winked and Hermione knew that she at least had his vote, for remembering his name, and stroking his ego.

“Draco rushed your son to the hospital wing, after he ate poisonous berries while watching the quidditch match. Draco was the coach too! He left a young wizards league game that my son caught his first ever snitch at, to bring your son to the hospital wing after he choked and turned blue!”

“Alright Mrs. Malfoy we get the point. You know all of us and Draco has led an exemplary record up until recently.” What do you want from us? Our hands are tied here. I can’t let him out of Azkaban, without some kind of proof to refute the evidence. He confessed for Merlin sake! He nailed his own coffin shut when he did that.”

“Yes, and he didn’t have representation. It clearly states, right here, in the MCAB (Minister’s Code and Bylaw’s) that a Minister must have representation, before which time he is questioned by the Wizengamot, on such maters that could incriminate him.”

“Where are you seeing that law Hermione, Er…Mrs. Malfoy.” Hermione smiled at the slip of tongue by the elderly wizard who was chairman. The entire council began flipping through the enormous, two thousand page book. Hermione saw many yawns from the council members, who had already been in session for three hours, before Hermione rudely interrupted their session. She was going to make sure that they stayed another three hours, unless they relented and gave into her demands.

“It’s right here, on page one thousand, two hundred, twenty two. If you will look at subsection four hundred and seventy five, paragraph eighteen, line thirty seven, you will see the law clearly expressed.” Hermione stood back and waited for the council to find the appropriate bylaw. Some had to look over at the witch or wizard sitting next to them, to see where this law was written, as the writing was very small. When she saw an elderly woman, straining to read the small print, so Hermione took it upon herself to conjure a magnifying glass for the old woman. The woman thanked her kindly and the chairman huffed, not at all fooled by Hermione’s ploy to gain favor amongst the council.

“This is in regards to the hypothetical situation of a female Witch becoming Minister of Magic and then being forced to resign, because of pregnancy. I fail to see how this is relevant,” the chairman said flatly.

“Oh? So what are you implying? Surely, you aren’t implying that female witches are protected from being unlawfully excused from their position without representation, yet a wizard isn’t protected by the same bylaws? I know you didn’t mean that, because that would be reverse discrimination, and if you turn to page one, subsection one, paragraph one, first sentence, it clearly states that, “It is the Ministry of Magic’s purpose to preserve and protect all that live under magic’s rule.”

Hermione stopped and reread that. No, it couldn’t be. It was staring her in the face the whole time! She became very excited at what those simple words said. They were by far the most important words in the entire two thousand page book, and they were the first words printed in the book. She couldn’t wait to tell Draco what she had found. It was so simple, yet right there for all to see.

“We would never assume to infringe upon anyone’s rights, witch or wizard. You made your point Mrs. Malfoy, but it would do you justice to wipe the smirk off your face. Now, what can we do to satisfy you? I prefer not to sift through a million different subsections and paragraphs, as I’m supposed to meet Sarah for lunch and I’m already quite late.”

“I want you to rescind Draco’s confession and give him a proper trial with representation,” Hermione went in for the kill. She could tell that the chairman was in no mood for games.

“A new trial is granted, however the confession stands as evidence.”

“But Sir…Draco made that confession under duress, without representation. Since I am his counsel, I can tell you that I categorically would have advised him NOT to make that confession, without considering and more importantly interpreting, all of the facts.”

“That being so, he did make the confession and if you will turn to page two hundred, forty seven, subsection twelve, paragraph one, you will see that upon taking the oath of Minister of Magic, the Wizengamot vows to take the word of the Minister as truth. Now, if you are implying that he willingly lied, then I could dismiss the confession; however that would mean that Draco broke his first vow as Minister and in doing so, the Wizengamot could toss him out on his kiester, for lack of a better word. Is this your client’s stance on the matter?” Shit! Hermione thought to herself.

“No, sir. We will accept the new trial. I will need time to prepare a defense however. And…I will need access to my client, so I can prepare his case. Of course, from sources it is believed that my client is unable to process information and function normally, while sitting inside Azkaban with the dementors so close.

“Yes, sources. I wonder just who your source was?” The chairman almost smiled at saying that and Hermione knew he had found out about her late night visit to Draco. For some reason he wasn’t exposing that to he council though.

“I request that bail be set so I can work with Mr. Malfoy in a setting more conducive to business matters such as these.” Hermione held her breath and hoped that the chairman would allow Draco to go free, if only until the trial was held.

“He attacked aurors. Bail is not an option. I will however, allow your client access to the holding cells that are protected from dementor intervention. See the shift auror at Azkaban, to have your client moved to the holding cell, while you are in conference with your client. He will however, have to go back to his regular cell once your meetings have concluded.” The chairman glanced over the rim of his spectacles at Hermione and plumped his lips, deep in thought. “Mrs. Malfoy…I am going to relax the normal etiquette at Azkaban and allow you unlimited visitation, seeing as this is such an unusual and high profile case. If nobody has any objections to my ruling, I will file this motion?” Hermione glanced around the courtroom and all seemed to be agreement.

“Sir,” Hermione piped in.

“Yes Mrs. Malfoy? Something else?”

“Nothing that I’m sure you are not already aware of Sir, it’s just that…Because Draco made that confession under duress and without the services of a counselor, I would like to enter a motion to abolish the hearing scheduled for tomorrow, to decide Draco’s fate as Minister. Such decisions, should not be made until after his trial and since you have allowed Draco a trial, I would be most eager to make sure that should he be proven innocent of the alleged crimes, that he have a job to come back to. I would also like to inquire as to the Ministry’s position on his reelection campaign?” Hermione knew she was pushing it here. She wasn’t supposed to know about the closed session that was being held tomorrow, where Draco’s job status would be decided. Prunella had slipped and told her and now Hermione had just challenged the council, a move that could be viewed as predatory in nature.

“I have no idea how you know about that, nor do I even want to know. Telling me how to do my job, Mrs. Malfoy? He is still Minister, until which time his trial commences. Upon the decision, his fate will be decided in a CLOSED session by the Wizengamot, by which you will NOT be invited to attend, Mrs. Malfoy.”

“Yes,Sir. Thank you all,” Hermione smiled. Draco was still Minister and would not be declared unfit until which time as a guilty verdict was handed down. She would not allow that to happen of course.

“Session has come to a close!” The chairman banged his gavel.

The council members exited one by one and whispered their words of support for Hermione. Hermione gathered her briefs and books. She hadn’t had to break out many of the books and briefs, that she had brought and was thankful. She got more then she thought she would, in the end.

Draco did not receive bail, allowing him to go free until a proper hearing could be heard, and this was a devastating blow, but it was never a realistic objective and Hermione knew that. Retaining his job as Minister, getting him a trial and more importantly, time to come up with the goods on Raspodin, and also getting Draco moved out of his cell with unlimited visitation with Hermione, was definitely reason to celebrate. Hermione breezed out of the courtroom, with a smile on her face and greeted Nathaniel, who was eagerly waiting for the verdict. His rigid shoulders relaxed upon seeing her smile and wink.

“Mrs. Malfoy, can I have a word?” The chairman pulled her away for a moment. “Should I ever need a defense attorney, I want you. One more thing…Make my job easy during the trial, unlike today. Get the goods on Raspodin. Despite our professional interactions in the court room, I always thought of Draco as a younger version of myself. He’s a good man and a good Minister and I’m sorry if I was hard on you in there, but it’s because I respect your husband, that I had to make you work for all you received today. Anything less, would be a dishonor to the work your husband has done here, creating an honest and hard working Ministry.” Hermione smiled and shook his hand. “Will I see you at the benefit tonight? My daughter would kill me if I didn’t ask if she could meet Scorpius.” Hermione blushed and thanked him and assured him, that Scorpius would do anything for his daughter, short of bearing him a grandchild.

Before turning to leave the Ministry, Hermione looked out over the sea of offices and office employees. She flicked her wand once and something started to move on the stacks and stacks of photocopied papers she had made at the muggle library. With one more flick of her wand, the sheets flew through the air, landing on every Ministry employees desk. Nathaniel snatched one of the papers from the air and looked at it, curious as to what Hermione had been doing at the muggle library this morning. He almost teared up at what he saw. It was a picture of Draco holding baby Jillian and kissing her soft blond hair tenderly. Under the picture it read:

“Is this the face of a criminal? Or the face of a father and a husband and the next Minister of Magic? We ask for your support.” Hermione watched as the papers landed in the hands of some of the Ministry employees. The witches especially, looked at the picture, and Hermione could see their heartwarming smiles as they ooooed and ahhhed over the drop dead gorgeous, Draco Malfoy and the daughter he loved more then life itself that cooed happily in his arms.

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Hermione wanted to pass out more flyers to some of the businesses on Diagon Alley, so she and Nathaniel walked along the narrow street and did just that. They passed by her favorite jewelers and Hermione stopped to admire something that caught her eye.

“Isn’t it exquisite?” Hermione tapped Nathaniel on the shoulder and he stole a glance at the silver chain with a dragon pendant on the end of the chain.

“It is very nice, but it isn’t for witches, it’s for wizards.”

“I know silly,” Hermione smiled. “I was thinking it would make a nice gift for Draco.” She admired the small dragon charm with its green emerald eyes and its spiny back and wings.

“I think you should get it for him.”

“Perhaps when he gets out, I will.”

“Why wait? Get it for him now.” Nathaniel nearly dragged Hermione into the shop and a few minutes later, she came out with a tiny box in her hand.

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Hermione had told the auror in charge at Azkaban, that Nathaniel was her assistant on the case and being that he was supposed to be co-counsel, he was allowed access. Nathaniel had spoken of getting in, in any way that he could if her ploy didn’t work, so Hermione was quite pleased that the auror had been more busy listening to the quidditch on the radio, then concerned about who was coming into the prison.

Hermione waited anxiously in the holding cell for the guards to bring Draco in. The room was clean and warm. It was an ugly color of yellow, with paint chipping off the walls and ceiling, but to a prisoner, this must be as close to seeing sun as they would ever get. There was a wooden table with two chairs, assumedly for prisoner and counsel, a sink and a small shower and an old cot against the wall in the corner of the room.

She heard shouting outside the doorway as she stood and listened to the din that was taking place on the other side of the thick steel door.

“Don’t fucking touch me you fucking wanker! I swear to gods, I’ll tear this bloody shithole down, once I get back in office. This place is as good as gone, you abusive pricks! I’ll blow this place to smithereens. That’s a campaign promise you can take to Gringott’s!” Hermione knew Draco’s husky voice. Suddenly the door swung open and Draco was shoved through it. He fell against the hard floor, his shirt completely ripped and tattered and his shoes and socks, gone.

“Fuckers! I had those handmade!” Draco pounded his fists against the floor.

“Draco?” Hermione called out and Draco scooted on his back and slid himself into the corner. Hermione could see the sheer terror in his expression when he saw her. “Dragon, it’s me. Don’t you recognize me?” He had seemed so much like himself only a moment ago, but now he would not look at Hermione and his hands were covering his ears, as if trying to block out her voice.

“Hermione, he’ll be okay, just do me a favor. Go back over there and sit down. Give me a minute,” Nathaniel said.

“What’s wrong with him Nathaniel? Please, Draco, I love you baby, what’s happened to you?”

“Hermione! Please! Wait over there and I’ll sort out what they’ve done to him.” Hermione backed up in shock. Tears were already welling in her eyes. When she would approach him though, he would shudder and try to get away from her. She sank back in the chair and watched from across the room, as Nathaniel knelt in front of Draco with his hands outstretched and whispering under his breath.

“Draco, it’s your brother. It’s Nathaniel. Do you remember me?” Draco looked up and stared at him, as if trying to decide if it was really him or not. Nathaniel moved closer to Draco and at first Draco tried to slide across the floor to get away from him, but Nathaniel reached out and grabbed him in his arms, wrapping his arms tightly around his brother, so he couldn’t get away. Draco fought against him, screaming out, that it wasn’t real--he wasn’t real.

“Shhh, it’s me. I’m here and so is your wife. We both love you very much and it’s going to be alright.”

“Nathaniel?” Draco asked and Nathaniel hugged him tighter. Hermione was bawling her eyes out as she watched the two brothers hug.

“Yeah. They showed you things Draco, but they weren’t real. What you see now before you, is real. You can trust me. Hermione is here. Would you like to see Hermione?” Draco clutched onto Nathaniel and wept.

“The dementors made me see horrible things. I saw Hermione and the baby and …” Draco gulped, and trembled. His night had been a vicious one. The demntors had stayed with him and his cell mates the entire night, giving them all visions of horror and sucking at their very souls. One of his cellmates gauged his own eyes out, so he didn’t have to see what they showed him. Draco sobbed for a moment into Nathaniel’s sleeve, and Nathaniel cupped his hand behind his brother’s head and patted his back, whispering soothing words. Finally Draco wiped his tears away and sat up.

“How have I let this place stay open for this long? Hermione?” He staggered to his feet. Their eyes met and Hermione found herself looking into silver puddles. He slowly opened his arms.

“Sweetpea? Still want to hug a dirty wizard, who hasn’t bathed in a few days?” Draco held his arms outstretched.

“Oh Dragon!” Hermione ran at him and flung herself into his arms. Nathaniel smiled widely and quietly exited the room. Hermione heard a scuffle going on outside the doorway, but she was too busy reveling in the feeling of having her man in her arms again to be bothered with it. He kissed her frantically and she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him lovingly.

When Draco’s brother returned a few minutes later, Draco and Hermione were still standing in the middle of the room hugging and kissing. His head had moved down to her neck and she was squeezing his firm and tight little arse. Nathaniel dropped something on the floor next to Draco and then gave them a moment of privacy, backing away.

Hermione and Draco both looked down to see Draco’s dragon boots lying on the floor at his feet. Draco looked at Nathaniel and his brother just smirked and put his wand back in his pocket.

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