The Knotting

I am very sorry that it has taken so long to update this story. I have started and scrapped everything that I have written for months now. This is the fourth version that I have actually sent off to my, well, for lack of better terms, beta readers. The first version both LariLee and Vaughn liked, but I had issues with it. The second, LariLee told me was shit right off the bat and therefore, Vaughn did not have to sit through it. The third I knew was crap and therefore, did not see the need to torture anyone. This version, a combo of the first two versions, passed both LariLee and Vaughn. *Whew* That is hard to do.

I want to say a personal thanks to the two of them for putting up with me. I knew where this story was supposed to go in this chapter, but getting there was rough. These are two of the best women I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. I love them dearly.

I have attempted to keep Draco in character. That is all I can say about that.

Disclaimer: I don’t own it, JKR does.

Angela


Standing on the balcony overlooking mother\'s rose gardens, I am struck with two thoughts. One: I am almost out of cigarettes; two: Father has been standing in the shadows watching me for five minutes now.

Why is he watching? Should I have to hazard a guess, I would say that it has less to do with me “killing the sperm” with my wizarding cigarettes and more to do with the fact that I am not lingering in bed on a Saturday morning with my bride of a month.

Taking a long drag off my Aristocrat Cigarette, I hear him move towards me.

“Up so early, son?”

“Yes, Father. Why sleep such a beautiful day away?” I gesture toward the sun rising in the grey, gloomy sky.

“Have you eaten breakfast?” Father asks. I just shake my head. He summons an elf to prepare food for us and return it to the balcony. While we are waiting, he takes a seat at the table and offers me a chair. Realizing that the only way of getting out of breakfast with Father is to return to my chambers with her, I sit.

As breakfast arrives and I begin to pile my plate, I brace myself for the onslaught of questions I know that I am going to get.

“Your mother and I are concerned that you are not accepting your new bride,” he states slowly. “She and I went through a lot of trouble to find you a bride that was not only compatible to you, but also meets to requirements of what the Malfoy family expects in the mother of an heir. It’s been a month now; we were hoping that you would have taken a liking to her by now.”

“She is acceptable,” I state.

Father bit down on his fork and then chewed very slowly. Generally, this was not a good sign.

“I need for her to be more than ‘acceptable’, Draco. I need for you to take an interest in her. I need for you to start caring about what type of person she is, who she is, what she thinks, and it would be nice if you would accompany her on Malfoy outings. She is a beautiful woman, one that any man would love to spend his life gazing at. I need for the two of you to actually speak to one another.”

Father resumed eating. I sat there, attempting to choose my words wisely. Something deep down told me that I was going to fail.

“She is merely acceptable, Father, because she is not my type. When you hosted my Voco in Dubium, no one bothered to inform me nor inquire about what type of witch I wanted to spend my life with. Mother is beautiful to me because she is my mother. However, I am not attracted to the fair haired and eyed woman. I have often found that the contrast of my pale skin and hair to a woman beneath me with raven locks is somewhat erotic. Granted, the girl is of olive skin tones, and that does give me some satisfaction; however, the blonde just makes me wince.

\"I came out here for some quiet time before the Manor awoke. Really, Father, must we speak of such obscenities this early in the day? As for trying to make us compatible, are we speaking of her mind? Why? Did she excel at her NEWTs? Did she receive a dozen OWLs? Really, what could I possible want from her?”

“Draco, sometimes I simply—”

“Yes, Father, sometimes you simply despise me, I understand. Quite honestly, it’s your and mother\'s fault.” I drained my tea cup and lit another cigarette.

Lucius took a heavy breath and spoke as calmly as possible. “You will spend time with this young woman. You will treat her like the blushing bride that she is. Meaning that the two of you will not exit the bed chambers except for meals. Should I be able to convince your mother that you need not show for them, you will spend meal times in your chambers, with her!

\"I spent a lot of time and gold on finding her. I waded through more maidens than I care to even think about. I realize that you are out here on this balcony at sunrise because you think that you can escape seeing her in the first morning light, but get used to it. She is your wife. You are her husband. Grow up and act like a man for once in your miserable existence.” Lucius threw his napkin down and rose from the table. “You will learn to care for her. The two of you will have wonderful children for your mother and I to spoil and enjoy far more than we enjoyed you. You will be the envy of all Pureblood society for your wit and presence. She will host parties and gatherings for our entire social circle. You will dote on her and make everyone believe in the silliness of love. I had to learn to do this, as did your grandfather and his father. This is where life takes you. Get used to it!”

Lucius turned and entered the Manor is a huff. I sat on the balcony for a while longer, smoking my ‘Aristocrat’ cigarettes to the filter, refilling my tea cup. Slowly, I pulled myself out of my chair, wrapped my dressing gown around my waist and padded inside.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I entered my chambers and went directly towards the bathroom to shower. Standing in front of the armoire, I began to dress.

“Are you leaving?” she asked.

“Going out for a while. Don’t know when I will return. I am certain that you can find something to do with yourself. Spend my gold; it always makes Mother happy.”

“I don’t want your gold, Draco.”

I turned and looked at her. “What, then, is it that you do want?”

She flushed bright red down to her shoulders. I found it slightly…cute.

“I want a marriage,” she whispered. “I want for you to love me.”

It was barely audible, but I heard and was tempted to laugh. Instead, I put on my satin green dress shirt and started to button it. “Well, all I have to offer you is gold.” I turned, summoned my shoes, and walked out of the room.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“But, Draco, it’s early. The sun is not even properly up yet,” Pansy complained.

I had undressed and was sliding in under the covers, caressing her back. I leaned down and nipped at her neck, then growled, “I need you, Pans,” in her ear. Pressing my erection up against her thigh, I captured her ear in my mouth and kissed it. “Come on, baby, it’s been a long time for us.”

Pansy rolled over and grasped my cock in her hand, stroking it gently. “The new girl not doing it for you?” she asked.

“I am not discussing the new girl, Pansy. Come here.” I rolled onto my back and pulled Pansy on top of me, kissing her hard. Grasping the top of her head, I started to push her down the length of my body until her face was lined up with my erection.

“Much better position,” I said, smiling. “I really like this position.”

Pansy giggled at him and started running her tongue over the head of my penis, teasing it, blowing on it. I moaned and arched upwards. “Come on, girlie, give it to me.”

She swallowed me. I was lost in the feeling of her warm, wet mouth running over and over my hardness. My hands gripped her hair and I was helping her keep the pace as I stretched out over the bed and got terribly comfortable.

Suddenly, Pansy stopped. I could no longer feel the warmth of her body lying alongside mine. “What do you think you\'re doing? Get back here.”

“Can’t,” whimpered Pansy, from across the room.

I looked up and came face to face with Lucius Malfoy.

~ ~ ~ ~


“I can’t ruddy believe that you placed a Fidelity Charm on me!” I roared.

Lucius dropped his cloak and poured himself a whisky. It was too early in the morning, yes, but he had already had a trying day. Draco was becoming more and more impossible to deal with.

“Sit down,” Lucius hissed. “Stop your whining. I thought that I made it perfectly clear this morning what I expected from you. How dare you leave this Manor after I expressed that you were to spend time with your wife. Honestly, Draco, you are far more stupid than even I gave you credit for!”

I slung himself into a chair. “You cannot punish me like a petulant child!”

“I can and I will!” Lucius roared. “As long as you live under my roof, as long as you act like child, I will treat you as a child. I will be placing wards around the Manor, setting them so that you may not leave. Try it and see what falls off!

“I gave you a woman that can make you happy. Of course, she is not the whore that you long for so deeply in your heart, but she is a nice Pureblooded girl that meets the standards of what we Malfoys have come to expect.

“Pansy is to be married also. At some point in time, her parents will finally find a wizard to take her off their hands. Are you aware of how many receptions she has attended, only to be turned away? The girl is trash, Draco. You would sully yourself with such a woman?”

“She may be trash, but she is a damn good roll in the hay.”

Lucius advanced towards me. I instinctively wanted to step back away from my father; however, I stood my ground. “Teach her to be a ‘damn good roll in the hay’. It will be a lot more fun than me chasing you down every time you decide to wander.”

~ ~ ~

I stomped around the Manor for the rest of the day, shouting at the house-elves. There truly was nothing to do, nowhere to go. Finally, I resorted to taking a shower and awaiting the arrival of my wife and mother for dinner.

Apparently, she had taken me up on the offer of spending my gold.

Sometime around six in the evening, the women walked through the front door. I stood and looked at them. Mother smiled, walked over to me, and kissed my cheek, telling me how wonderful it was to see me. She said nothing and just stood there with packages in her hands, staring at me.

There was a part of me that wanted to go forward and help her. Take the packages from her and carry her burden. Pushing that thought aside, I cleared my throat. “I see that you and Mother have been shopping.”

“Yes,” she answered, “Narcissa took me to a lovely shop in Diagon Alley. I bought you a present there.” She placed the bags onto the ground and began to search through her parcels, finally pulling out a rather large box wrapped in elegant paper. “Here, open it.” She was smiling so big, I could feel her excitement.

As I unwrapped the paper and took the lid off the box, I noticed that whatever it was, it was the most beautiful shade of greyish blue I had ever seen. I handed her the box, and as I pulled the article out I realized that it was a robe, made of silk material with silver clasps. Very understated.

She placed the box down and moved to help me try it on. “I found it in a shop that is just opening, one of a kind, it is. I had to buy it for you. It cost a little more than I would have normally spent, but, well, your mum seemed to think that it was all right.” She draped the robe over my shoulders and I pushed my arms through it. “It reminded me of you. The color is a perfect match for your eyes and the texture, well, it is almost as soft as your skin,” she whispered. Clearing her throat, she started again, “I was told that at the end of the week, we are hosting a celebration here at the Manor, and I was hoping that you might wear it.”

“It is very lovely. Thank you.” I turned and looked into her eyes; she looked hopeful that something was going to happen. Catching a whiff of her scent, I closed my eyes and remembered the first time that I had taken her to bed: our wedding night. Pushing those memories back, I stated, “Dinner is ready and I am starved.”

~ ~

The end of the week came faster than expected. I did, indeed, wear the new robe that my wife had given me, telling myself the whole while that I was doing so because of the fine quality of the garment and not because I liked the giver, her.

The Manor is buzzing with all sorts of excitement. Half the Wizarding world is showing up tonight to celebrate. I have no idea what we are celebrating and do not care. It seems that these people celebrate everything and nothing at the same time.

Standing in the study, drinking a glass of wine, I hear a rumble behind me. I turn towards the door, she is standing there. Her hair is pulled back off of her face, her lips a shade of burgundy that begs to be kissed, her eyes sparkling as she looks at me. “You look so very handsome, Draco,” she states as she approaches me. “I knew that this color would be fabulous on you.” She starts to smooth my robes over my shoulders; it is a strange feeling for me, almost like Mother used to do when I was a child. I want to push her away, but refrain.

“Company is arriving, your Father asked for us to be positioned in the lounge. Thus, making it easier to be greeted.” She took my hand and led me into the lounge; Father and Mother both were already there. Mother is making a fuss over how Father looks in his dress robes; she seems to be smoothing his robes also.

As company began moving into the lounge, I figure out that the celebration is for me and my wife. ‘Congratulations to you and yours,’ keeps coming out of the mouths of people that I can barely tolerate. It would seem that she and I are celebrating our first month of marriage, the end of the honeymoon period and the beginning of our ‘lives’, as one wrinkled old witch put it.

As people were starting drift more and more into other parts of the Manor, I took my leave and began to wander about, talking to old mates. Catching up on the lives of men I knew as boys, switching my wine glass for a bottle of whisky and a pack of cigarettes. Standing on the balcony with several old school mates, I overhear an interesting conversation. There is a woman in attendance that has caught the eye of several men. It is told that she is quite beautiful. She is not from here, nor did she attend Hogwarts, but from the gossip of young and old men alike, she is stunning. Intent on finding her, I excuse myself, pick up my glass, and walk back inside the Manor.

I am stopped by several wizards to offer congratulations, and many old witches hell bent on kissing me in their congratulations. In the corner of the study stands a surly looking man that I can tell does not want to be here. I envy him, as he can leave when he had his fill. Walking towards him, I greet him. “Good evening, Professor Snape.”

“Draco.” He nods. I take his empty wine glass and fill it with whisky. He arches that damn eyebrow at me.

“Forced to endure this farce also, I see?” I ask him. “How is it that you always seem to be able to get rid of the riffraff? I sneer and scowl just as much as you, but the damned people just pinch my cheek anyway.”

Snape laughs, a real laugh, and answers, “I have many more years\' experience in scaring people away, Draco.” Taking a large drink of his whisky, he turns to me and asks, “How are things going with you and your new bride?”

“I really wish that people would stop asking about her. I eat beside her during the day and sleep beside her at night; that is truly the beginning and the end of it.”

“Severus,” Narcissa shouts, as she walks towards him, kissing his cheek, “so glad you could come. Here, I have someone that you have to meet.”

“Great Merlin, Mother, give it a rest. Professor Snape does not want to play nice with your society women. I wager that he would be much happier in a dungeon somewhere with a bad little witch chained to the wall over you forcing him to play pretty with your ‘sweet little things’.”

Snape’s lips twitch as if he might smile. “Now, Draco, I can suffer through a few moments with Narcissa; after all, the ‘bad little witch’ is chained to my bed, awaiting my return. She is most comfortable and can wait a bit longer.”

I am left to wonder if he was telling the truth or not.

Again, I am left alone to hear bits and pieces of conversations about a woman. I am teased with the sound of her name; however, it is not clear enough for me to properly hear. She is from abroad, here enjoying the wizarding culture that Britain has to offer. It is said that she enjoys art and has spent many hours wondering the museums that we have to offer. The women seem envious and the men enchanted. I have to find this woman.

Turning into the Great Hall, I see Father dancing with my wife. There is a fleeting moment in which I think of cutting in; however, I suppress the thought and talk to more of Slytherin’s finest.

From the corner drifts a conversation between two of my old mates; from only picking up pieces, I was able to gather that the woman I am searching for is in this room. Blaise Zabini and Marcus Flint are speaking of her. The words ‘beautiful’ and ‘desirable’ keep making an appearance in their talk. Inching towards them, I catch the hint of her name, Dominique. She is dark, Blaise says, beautiful, and wearing a mocha colored gown with sheer robes. I have to find her. Fidelity Charm be damned.

My wife and Father are still on the dance floor, along with most of the other people in attendance, making my search an easy task.

As I roam the room, speaking to everyone, trying to catch a glimpse of the woman being whispered about, I notice that Father has passed my wife off to another; it is Professor Snape. They seem to be having a very animated conversation.

Then I glimpse her, the woman in the brown robes. They are more of a copper color to me. She is very pretty, with her almond shaped eyes and her high cheekbones. I walk over and introduce myself.

~

“Keep your trousers on, Father. We were just having a conversation.”

“Yes, Draco, you were having a conversation; however, I felt it prudent to intervene before the conversation turned into heavy breathing.”

“I heard the party goers speaking of a beautiful woman. I just wanted to check her out for myself, that is all.”

“A beautiful woman?” Lucius asked.

“Yes. Dominique. The woman that you just dragged me away from.”

Lucius made a guttural noise in his throat and stated firmly, “You will go dance with your wife, now!”

Feeling once again like a child that had been told no in a candy store, I set off to find her, the bane of my existence.

She is dancing with my friend, Blaise. I watch as Blaise swirls her around the dance floor, her eyes alive with laughter. Theodore Nott cuts in, and she smiles brightly at him as they ask and answer each other\'s questions.

I stand in a corner and watch as men tap one another on the shoulder and replace the one that was holding my wife in their arms. She does look stunningly beautiful.

Behind me, I hear the clearing of a throat. Turning, I see Professor Snape.

“She is a lovely girl, Draco. You should be dancing with her, keeping all the men here remembering that she belongs to someone else.”

But does she belong to me? Do I want her? These are questions that have yet to be answered. Granted, I have not put any time into finding out the answers; however, she seems to have captivated everyone here.

I turn to Snape and excuse myself. I walk briskly towards her on the dance floor, the song is changing to something soft and romantic as I reach her current partner. I tap him on the shoulder and he turns, looking at me through disappointed eyes.

Ignoring him, I hold out a hand to her. She places one gloved hand in mine and I pull her to me, our eyes meeting for the very first time since our wedding night. She smiles at me and says, “I wondered if you would ever dance with me.”

“Well, it has taken me some time to wait my turn.”

“You would never have to wait behind other men. I was given to you and you alone.”

She lays her head onto my chest as we dance; I pull her closer and we sway to the music. I find myself lost in the comfort that she is providing. She is making me feel like I need to be at this function. I need to be right here, on this dance floor, with her in my arms. I can feel the eyes of onlookers. I sense their jealous conversations about me and the woman in my arms.

“I’m tired, Draco. Do you think it possible for us to retire after this song?”

I looked at her, understanding what it is that she is asking me. “Yes, you go on upstairs, I will make our excuses and be there shortly.”

The song ends; everyone claps. She turns and heads towards our chambers. I stand there, watching her every move, not wanting to miss the sway of her hips as she took to the stairs.

As she disappears, I walk over to Father, who is deep in conversation with Snape; “Finally,” Father says to me, “you see the beauty in her. Funny that it took every man in this room showering her with attention before you noticed. Off searching for Dominique the whole evening, when she’s been in your bed for a whole month.”



Thank you to my dear friend, Dryad, for staying up late one night with me, searching baby name books, and giggling at the stupid ones.

Thanks to LariLee for the gift given to Draco. I wanted her to give him a quill. She wanted a cloak, but as I put it on him and pranced him around the Manor, we had to go lighter.

Thanks to Vaughn for the entertaining evening of coming up with what Pureblood wizards should smoke and what the health problems should be. So far, we have lowered sperm and magic abilities. Our cigarette package was to have a wizard standing there puffing away with a busty witch drapped on him captioning, \"Who needs sperm?\" We liked it. *shrug*

Reviews are welcomed.