The Three Keys

A/N: I don\'t own any of it. Except Laurel...I own her and her parents, I suppose I own them too and migth as well mention Willow and dastardly Don too...

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CH 19 - MEETING HER – IN DRACO’S EYES

Previously:

After dinner, feeling very good, the tipsy trio decided to grace the new, ultra trendy IT club called ‘SPELLS’, in London’s party-clubbing, haute district. Laurel thought the name very appropriate as anyone who got in the cross-hairs of Tad & Teeny simply fell under their spell.

So with Tad & Teeny leading the way in Laurel went…to meet her destiny…

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“THIS IS NO GAME!” Draco yelled, then, realizing what he’d done, looked around again. “The Dark Lord is starting his plan in motion Potter and it begins tonight.”

Ron’s jaw gaped. “Harry, it’s bloody July…it’s summer, we’re at a dance club,” Ron looked around, his hand sweeping dramatically about, “with beautiful girls all around us….HE’S LY-ING!”

Draco looked them dead in the eyes, his voice flat, face dark, dangerous…”Am I?”

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Harry watched skeptically as Malfoy cast wary eyes around the club again. Harry was still trying to decide his sincerity, but Draco was lost on his contemplative look. Draco\'s mind was presently elsewhere...

Draco caught sight of her the moment she walked into the club…tall, flowing brunette curls, black dress, tanned, beautiful…hauntingly familiar…’Merlin, he loved muggle women’ he thought. She was making her way across the room with a waify, little blonde, pretty enough, but not Draco’s type. He liked brunettes, dark eyes, golden skin…exactly like the girl walking across the bar with the apish looking, blond muggle boy who was openly leering at her from behind. Instantly Draco’s eyes narrowed, he didn’t like the way that guy was looking at her… ‘So not the time, Malfoy.’ he told himself and turned back to Harry.

Harry had been watching Draco and his eyes followed the brunette too. ‘Pretty.’ he thought.

“All I know is that the Dark Lord is looking for a second prophecy…Actually, he’s found it, and it has something to do with keys…three of them.”

“A second prophecy?” Harry whispered…’About him?’ he worried…grimacing now, ‘If Voldermort wants me killed…as usual, then it probably has to do with me’… Harry wasn’t even sure Draco knew about the first prophecy…his. “Do you know about the first prophecy then?”

Draco gave him a telling look and gave a curt nod.

Harry groaned. “I don’t suppose you’ll tell me HOW exactly you know about that?”

Draco looked at him, eyes crinkled with exasperation, voice flat, “Guess.”

“Lucius.”

“None other.”

Harry sighed, “What kind of keys? Do you know where they are? What exactly does the prophecy say?”

“No idea, I overheard it by accident, my father was having a pow-wow at the manor a few weeks back…What, Potter?...You think my father would stay in Azkaban? No, he got out and returned ages ago.”

“You could have told the Ministry.” Harry said suspiciously.

Draco’s mouth dropped open, “Are you serious, Potter? The Ministry is in my father’s control and has been for”… Draco paused looking thoughtful, “well, as long as I can remember.” he finished.

Harry and Ron looked dubious.

“Come on, Malfoy.” Ron sighed, “You know my dad’s been working at the Ministry for ages now and so does my brother, for the Minister of Magic no less. Don’t you think he’d know if it’d been corrupted for years?”

Draco shrugged, “You know the old saying, ‘keep your friends close and your enemies closer.’...”

“So, your dad’s been spying on the Ministry for years?” Harry said…”And you never said anything?”

Draco shrugged, “Pretty much.”

Harry couldn’t believe his ears, “How come you never told anyone, Malfoy?”

“Are you serious?”

“Completely.”

Draco’s eyes widened and he dropped his jaw, looking at the two of them, their faces set, untrusting…”I forgot who I’m talking to.” Draco said, shaking his head.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ron edged.

“It means your both total idiots.” Draco sneered.

Harry’s eyes snapped, “Careful, Malfoy, you don’t want to get me mad.”

Draco rolled his eyes, “No, no, not the great Harry Potter, heavens no!” he threw his hands up in front of his chest and gave a disgusted grunt, turning round to survey the crowd.

“You still haven’t answered my question.” Harry said coolly.

Draco’s eyes stopped on the brunette again, Harry was watching too. Draco grinned at her and winked.

“God, Malfoy, keep your twig under control.” Harry snapped.

Draco looked past her and turned back to face Harry, going on as if Harry hadn’t spoken. “Because I was a kid, Potter, and a Malfoy, who the hell would believe a word I had to say anyway? Besides, I only knew a couple of people in my father’s payroll, but I knew there were more, are many more. I just didn’t know who they were…And, I value my life.” Draco finished, taking another long sip of his drink.

Harry considered this information carefully, as he was weighing Draco’s words a very pretty blonde walked past and smiled invitingly at both Harry and Draco. Harry grinned and Draco sized her up slowly, appreciatively, trademark smirk in place.

The three of them really did make a dangerously handsome trio…Unbeknownst to Harry and Ron, but Draco was completely aware, they were causing quite a fuss around the bar and surrounding dance floor…Draco had to shake his head, ‘Didn’t they notice the immediate pick up in females pacing back and forth in front of them since I arrived? Idiots’…

As if on queue, a very pretty girl approached Ron and asked him shyly to dance. Ron turned scarlet and looked at Harry. Harry grinned and winked at Ron as he took her hand and led her to the dance floor.

“Humm,” Draco said, “I thought she was rather pretty. I’m surprised she asked Weasel to dance.”

Harry said nothing; he was watching the pretty brunette from earlier who was dancing very near them, her back to the boys. Harry was focused on how her black dress clung to her curves pleasingly and Draco followed his stare and found her too. Momentarily they were both lost in their own thoughts.

Draco couldn’t tear his gaze away from the muggle girl dancing before him, ‘She’s teasing me…’ he thought smiling and finding himself more than a little aroused. His eyes burned as he watched her arching her back and moving her hips against that stupid, blond ape. Instantly Draco became irrationally jealous. He stood up and turned around fully leaning back against the bar, arms crossed as he faced her now.

Draco took a moment to look the girl over. She was what he would call a classic beauty, certainly not the most stunning woman he had ever seen, but she was captivating in a way that he could not put words to. He finally settled on the idea that there was just something about her…something he wanted to explore more thoroughly. His eyes flashed with a predatory glint as he started calculating how to get her away from that stupid muggle…He pushed the irksome worry for Harry to the back of his mind, rationalizing that if Potter could seem to take the idea of his impending, immanent death so lightly, well hell, then so could he…Draco hid a pleased grin and found his thoughts wholly back on the girl when she turned to look at him and gave a soft wanting smile.

“Huh, I think she fancies you, Malfoy.” Harry mused, “Well, just goes to show, there’s no accounting for people’s taste.”

Draco tore his eyes from her and looked to Harry smirking, “Potter, when are you going to learn...I’m handsome, wealthy, charming, women love me…they can’t help it.”

Harry rolled his eyes.

Draco turned back to him, “We need to discuss your sleeping arrangements, Potter.”

“Not interested, Malfoy, you’re not my type.” replied Harry instantly.

“Ugh, manners, Potter, please…You and the Weasel can’t go back to his hovel tonight, it’s going to be too dangerous. We need to find a secure place and send an owl to warn his family…How did you get here? Did you apperate or fly in? We should probably leave sooner rather than later. There’s a lot of work to do...” At this Draco glanced around to find Ron, “Is Weasel still dancing with that muggle?”

“Malfoy…calm down for Merlin’s sake. Look, I appreciate you’re coming here to warn me, but look around you. There are a few hundred people here, I think we’re safe…I doubt that there’s going to be any trouble tonight, we’ve been here for hours and it looks okay, I’ve had my eye out. I think you got your information wrong.” Harry’s voice was low and placating.

Draco shook his head, “Come on, Potter! Do you think I want to be here guarding your sorry ass? I see at least a dozen women I’d much rather be in the company of here tonight than you. You had better believe me I don’t get wrong information. Something is going to happen tonight and the longer you ignore my warning the worse if could be for us all…”

“I thought you didn’t like muggles, Malfoy?...What changed your mind?” Harry asked, changing the subject.

“Potter, have you seen the women here tonight?” his eyes immediately went to the one girl who’d captured his attention from the moment she walked in, “I’d be crazy not to like them.”

Harry was having a difficult time not rolling his eyes, ‘Malfoy liking muggles? Trying to save my life…Either the world is turning upside down or Malfoy has completely snapped…I think its most likely the latter…’

Oh, Harry believed Draco was being sincere, but it just didn’t seem likely. Harry interrupted him, “I think someone is trying to get your attention, Malfoy.”

True enough, the waify little blonde Draco had seen coming in with the brunette was standing in front of them. Teeny beamed at them, ‘Hummm, which one first?’ She liked them both very much. ‘Like night and day’ she mused, ‘I’ll pick day first.’ she thought with a lusty gleam in her eyes. Even though she’d set her sights on Draco first, Teeny had every intention of having them both before the night was through, and if she had anything to say about the matter, preferably at the same time…“I’m Teeny” she said sweetly.

Harry’s brows shot up and Malfoy grinned his wicked, guaranteed to make women’s knees weak grin. He looked at Potter and winked.

“Hallo,” he purred, “I’m Draco.”

Teeny smiled broadly at the two boys towering over her…she just loved tall boys, so much for her to grab onto…

“Would you like to dance, Draco?” she said.

Draco looked inquiringly at Harry; he was suddenly concerned and quickly glanced around the club again…searching.

Harry rolled his eyes, “You could consider it recon…keep an eye out.” he said helpfully.

Draco gave him an icy glare and turned his eyes back to the brunette on the dance floor just in time to see that muggle git putting his hands all over her and grabbing her bottom. He watched her pull away looking furious and the ass just pulled her back, closer... Draco’s set eyes on him narrow and dangerous, he’d have to set the muggle straight if he touched her like that again…. Maybe even if he didn’t…

“Excellent idea, Potter.” Draco said darkly, taking the waify girl out to the dance floor next to her friend.

He noticed immediately all the emotions cross her face as she watched him dance with Teeny. She looked very upset indeed. ’I knew she wanted me, maybe I’ll have time to get a little snogging in after all...’ he thought with a wicked grin as he pulled the little waif closer to make his brunette jealous. He bent his head low, letting the silly girl whisper in his ear and push her bony body against him, he couldn’t have cared less, his eyes were set on his prize.

Still, somewhere in the back of his mind he thought she looked familiar…in the curve of her neck, the way she carried herself, something looked familiar…he just couldn’t place it…he decided he’d just have to investigate her thoroughly to find out.

Draco tuned back into the girl now…Teeny was her name? She was busy telling him she was staying at the four seasons, whatever that was, and would he like to come by later and bring his friend? Draco caught her drift, but was unimpressed.

“You know the brunette in the black dress?” he asked, changing the subject.

Teeny looked surprised, he could tell she always got what she wanted, but so did Draco, and he did not want her…He looked to the girl standing at the edge of the dance floor now, staring right at him. He was intrigued and gave her an expectant look. She smiled and wriggled her finger for him to come to her. Draco just loved bold women…

“You mean to come along for your friend? Teeny asked. “I think my brother’s into her.”

‘Not if I get there first’ he thought, “That blond oaf is your brother?”

Teeny didn’t look the least bit offended. “Yes he’s my brother and yes I know her.” she answered in a bored voice.

“Tell me about her.” he demanded.

Teeny was looking very unhappy now, grinding her body closer to his. He simply looked at her with cold eyes.

She sighed, “Her name is Laurel and she’s a friend of our family. She just moved here from California, her dad is the new US ambassador to the UK. I can find out her bra size if you like?” she replied dryly.

“No thanks, love, I think I can handle that all on my own.” he smirked.

The song was ending now and Teeny mumbled “Thank god” as Draco led her off the dance floor in Laurel’s direction. He was glad to be rid of this silly little muggle, his arms were itching to hold the brunette…’Laurel’, he liked the sound of her name.

Draco strode right up to Laurel giving Teeny a cold, dismissive look, turned and offered his hand. Potter be damned, Draco certainly didn’t expect to meet anyone he’d even give a second thought to tonight, yet here she was, and a muggle no less…

No more pretenses, he wanted her and he was going to get her. Draco gave his best, dazzling smile…he bent low and kissed her hand, letting his lips brush against her knuckles, slowly, seductively his eyes met hers…

“I’m Draco.”
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A/N: Trying desperately to calm my breathing…Can’t you JUST SEE IT?? Draco bent low, holding your hand, kissing it…his silvery eyes meeting yours…speaking in that husky, deep voice of his – “I’m Draco.”…(thud) Oh, that was just me falling over…I’m okay..really…(picking myself up off the floor now)…

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I’d like to recap/answer a few prevalent questions that people seem to have about Laurel: Laurel is half muggle and half magical. Her dad, John, (nickname Jack) is a muggle – muggle parents…no magic whatsoever. He works for the US Government and has just assumed the position as US Ambassador to the UK. Her mom, Maggie, is a witch (pureblood actually, but we’ll get to that later) and poses as a socialite wife, but in reality works for the Ministry of Magic. Someone commented that they did not seem to practice magic in the Winters’ household…They do, but remember it is a mixed home and they live in the Embassy now…and any government facility is filled with government people…all muggles, so Maggie has to be careful, just an FYI for you. And since it was a question I heard more than once, I decided to save you the trouble of going back and searching for the answers…CH 2 by the way is where you would find them…