Beautiful Disaster

A/N: Thanks to the lovely kazfiest for betaing!

Lucius looked over at his companion for the long harsh trip. He'd never had anything against his brother-in-law, only thinking only that he could do better than Narcissa's completely insane sister. Rodolphus was a strapping man; dark eyes, dark hair, a complete contrast to his own looks. Where Lucius was pale, and could be described as extremely handsome by those around him, mainly his wife and mate, Rodolphus held the classic beauty of a man who had descended from the ancestors of Greek and Roman Gods. This wasn’t to say his time in Azkaban hadn’t taken its toll on him. He was much thinner than he was in his youth. Years of being malnourished did that to a person. Lucius also thought that being married to a psychopath could make one look differently after more than twenty years.

But the two, Lucius and Rodolphus, were not conversationalists. Both kept themselves very well guarded and Lucius wondered, possibly for the hundredth time in more than a week, why he had ever been in league with a group where he'd had to keep every thought, every emotion, so closed off. Yes, it was from years of being trained to do so, but to what end? Lucius had only ever been close to two people, and while he was fine with that, it did worry him for his son. He wanted Draco to have the best of everything and in doing so; he felt that he had somehow limited him in his existence. He was relieved to note, however, that Miss Granger seemed to be a positive influence in Draco. While it may be the bonding of a Veela and his mate, there also seemed to be a general affection towards each other. No matter how tentative either had been about their burgeoning relationship, Lucius was quite sure he had never seen his son smile as much as he did when he was around her. It made all this much easier to know that his son, in the future, would live a long and healthy life.

Lucius turned his attention back to the task at hand, which, at the moment, was trudging through the forests of England looking for Merlin only knew what. Lucius had suggested when they started out on their journey that they make a list of any and all items for which they could be searching. Lucius' first thought was, of course, Merlin's wand. But there hadn't been any information about that artefact to surface during his entire existence. That didn't mean it wasn't the item they were seeking, it just made it less likely. A few others had been mentioned. Possibly an enchanted cauldron, a spell book, but none of those sat right with Lucius. He was of a certain mind that it would be something prominent, something truly worth having, worth allowing people to know you possessed. This really left only the one item in Lucius’ mind that they were seeking: the wand. Until they found some evidence to tell them otherwise, both men were looking for it.

As they came across the shack, both men drew their wands and made their way slowly towards it. It had been noted that several of Merlin's artefacts had been brought and hidden here. No one would ever assume, in searching for some of the most powerful tools of magic, that they would be hidden in a place like thisIt was only after snooping around the Ministry at night, and searching through secret files, that they were able to come to this conclusion. Rodolphus had thought that if the Ministry were going to hide powerful relic of Merlin's it would be within its walls. But Lucius knew enough about politics to know that no one ever really trusted one another. So, they wouldn't keep anything that would give ultimate power to another within, but would seek to hide it from everyone. And it was with much diligent work that they happened to stumble on the coordinates of the shack and what was kept inside. Lucius thought, however, that there could be more which the Ministry would seek to hide and not to catalogue.

As they made their way closer, Lucius reached out his hand and felt the ward shield flex. He Omit: HeRodolphusAdd: then began to break the wards down as Lucius kept watch. Neither of them had any idea if the Ministry had the shack guarded. When Lucius saw the blue residue of the shield falling, he waved his wand, casting a diagnostic spell to see if there were any other wards activated. Obviously, the Ministry thought very little of their secret.

As they made their way inside, the wind could be heard creaking through the old panels of wood. It seemed empty, which gave Lucius pause. It occurred to him then that whatever it was was invisible. "Roddy," he said softly. "Feel around for a trunk or another door."

Both men began walked around the small wobbly shed, when a soft curse lit up across from Rodolphus. Lucius turned to see the man holding his knee. "I bloody kicked something."

Lucius walked over to him and used his wand to poke at the item. He reached for a nearby stick and pulled off whatever was covering the trunk. Rodolphus, who had recovered from bumping his knee against it, kneeled in front of it. He used his wand to search for any hidden wards and seemed to be rather happy to find none. He opened it and found it held a jaw of what looked to be pickled eyes, a newt that he was sure was older than England, and one lone piece of paper. Rodolphus examined the eyes and newt while Lucius read over the parchment. It appeared to be a map, of what he was uncertain, but he was hopeful that it marked the objects they were seeking. Rodolphus looked over Lucius' shoulder. "What do you make of it?"

He shook his head. "I'm not sure. I'll need some time to decipher it."

Rodolphus put the jars back, closed the lid, and covered it with the cloak. "Can you do it without going back to your manor?"

Damn, Lucius thought. He'd hoped to get back and see his wife. He could use the excuse of going back to do research on the map, but Rodolphus knew him well enough to know that Runes had been something he'd excelled at. He had his psychotic sister-in-law to thank for that. Instead Lucius shook his head and stood. "Yes. But let's find somewhere to rest for the evening. I prefer not to sleep on the ground again."

He nodded and led the way out of the shack. Lucius searched himself for his connection with Narcissa and when he found it, he relaxed for a brief moment. She'd obviously been thinking of him as well. Through their connection, he sent his love and desperation to get back to her and he felt the same thing returned. He allowed himself a brief smile before allowing his brother-in-law to lead him from the dark and dank forest to a warm, yet empty, bed.

*~*

Draco sat staring into the fire, waiting for Hermione to arrive. It had been a week since he'd had a chance to even look at her, let alone pull her into a hidden alcove for a nice snogging session. When he did catch a glimpse of her, he noticed that she would smile a bit and duck her head. He found it rather charming that she was so affected by him. For so long, he had felt alone in his affection for her, but it was finally becoming apparent that she was starting to feel something similar for him.

The door opened to his common room and he smiled as he looked up at her as she closed the portrait behind her. She turned and gave him a smile as well before she moved over to sit on the arm of his chair. That just wouldn't do, so he pulled her to sit across his lap and rubbed his nose against the pulse in her throat. She released a wistful sigh as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "We need to talk," she said softly.

He placed a kiss on her throat. "Can't we talk later?" he asked as his hand began moving along her bare thigh.

She put hers over his wandering one and shook her head. "Afraid not."

He leaned his head back and looked up at her. "And what is it that is so important you have to interrupt what I hope is about to be a nice snogging session?"

She stared at the top button of his shirt as the words began tumbling out of her mouth in a rush. "Harry knows about us. About all of it."

He raised an eyebrow at that, and found that he couldn't tell what Potter's reaction had been based on her. "And how did Potty take it?"

She frowned at the name but shrugged. "Well, naturally he's not happy about any of it. Doesn't trust you at all."

"But I take it that he's leaving it alone since he hasn't hexed me yet," he interrupted.

She smiled. "I said he didn't trust you. He trusts me and my judgment."

He shrugged. "I don't care what he does so long as he doesn't interfere."

She nodded then frowned. "But I'm worried."

He tilted his head, ready to have the conversation over with and have her writhing beneath him, but he placated her by allowing her to talk. He knew he'd never have a moment's peace until he did. "What is it that has you worried? You think Potter will tell anyone?"

She shook her head. "No. But I will have to tell Ron, and I know he won't be as understanding as Harry."

Draco sighed. "Why does it even matter what he thinks? He has no part in our relationship."

"Yes, but he could tell everyone and ruin it all."

He couldn't say that the thought hadn't occurred to him. It would be very bad, both for their relationship and for his family's, should Weasley start shouting. He frowned and ran his thumb over her knee then looked up at her. "I'm assuming that you've come up with a plan of how to keep that from happening?"

She nodded. "I just have to tell him."

He didn't think that her idea was a great one. In fact, he thought it stank.. But due to the fact that he intended to enjoy her for the rest of the evening without them getting into an argument, he decided to support her. "When do you plan to do this?"

She shrugged. "The sooner the better, don't you think?"

He laughed. "No." She gave him a look that clearly meant she didn't think there was anything funny about this. He stopped laughing and shrugged. "Granger, he's not rational. What makes you think that even when you tell him he won't still do what you've already said?"

She seemed to curl towards him and sighed. "Because I have to hope that my friendship means more to him than his hatred for you."

She wanted this more than she could put into words. She wanted Ron to understand, to be supportive. She knew she had a slim chance of that happening, but she had to be optimistic. She had to hope that Ron could continue to be her friend after she showed him that whatever they had romantically was truly over. And if not her friend, that he could keep the secret.

He moved a hand over her back, soothingly, and sighed. "Granger...what do you want me to do? I can tell him."

She rolled her eyes. "I don't think that's such a good idea."

"Probably right. I don't think I could refrain from telling Weasley the sort of sounds you make when I lick you here," he said as he traced his fingers over her nipple.

She smacked his hand and sighed. "Honestly. Can't you be serious?"

He smiled. "I am. I don't think he'd appreciate hearing that."

"You're incorrigible."

He grinned. "I know. And you just love that about me." He could see she was fighting a smile. He leaned up and kissed her. "Fine. You tell him and I'll keep my mouth closed about any sort of sounds you make."

She gave him a nod and said, "Thank you," then, "Just do me one more favour."

He smirked at her. "Granger, do you think you really need to ask? It's in my nature to give you whatever you want."

She smiled. "Keep that in mind. I do want you to not antagonize him."

Well, that wasn't what he was hoping for in the ‘favour' area. "Come now, Granger, you're taking away one of my favourite past times."

She looked at him for a few seconds, then leaned towards his ear and pressed her lips against the shell. "Please," she whispered as her fingers found the top button of his shirt.

He raised an eyebrow. It was unlike Hermione to try and use her feminine wiles to get what she wanted. "You really think I'm going to fall for that?"

She then took the lobe between her teeth as she continued to unbutton his shirt. "Draco," she whispered. "Please. For me."

She shifted on his lap, her skirt drifting higher. She took his hand that was resting on her thigh and moved it higher on her thigh. "You're playing with fire, wench," he said as he moved his hand between her thighs and moved his fingers over her cunt, hidden beneath her knickers. She had all the buttons on his shirt undone and was working on getting it off his shoulders as his fingers slipped beneath the fabric of her knickers and she let out a long and guttural groan.

He removed his fingers, however, and slipped his hand beneath her knees and one around her back and carried her into his bedroom. He placed her against the pillows and wasted no time covering her body with his. She wanted him, badly. It was strange to even think it, but the closer they became, the more she wanted to say the 'Hell with it' and allow him to take her and make her his forever. But she was only seventeen and forever was still a scary prospect. But when he touched her, kissed her, and whispered soft, sweet words in her ear, she grew closer and closer to the moment when she would give herself to him totally and completely.

And she had to hand it to Draco, he hadn't once complained about not having actual sex. She knew he wanted to seal their bond. She could feel it floating between them every time they were near, but he'd never given it voice. He'd been patient, giving, and...loving. That was a new concept. She knew they were destined to be together, that they would one day belong to one another, but she'd never actually considered love in all of it. In fact, she thought it would be something that she wouldn't have, but would become nothing more than a possession in the end. But as she watched him strip her bare and could see the smile on his face reach his eyes, she knew that she would have love, that she had already found it. It was a completely moving experience to realize that you were in love. So moving, in fact, that she couldn't stop the tears that spilled from her eyes.

As he removed her last knee sock, he looked up at her only to find tears in her eyes. "Hermione?" he said softly and moved up to her. "Are you alright? Did I hurt you?"

She shook her head and pulled him against her. "No," she sniffed, "nothing like that. Just...happy."

He pulled back to look into her eyes and wiped them with his thumbs. He was sexy as hell. The concern for her burned in his eyes, his lips were full from her kisses, his shirt was hanging open and the button of his trousers was unfastened giving her a small glimpse of his boxers beneath. She brushed at the fringe falling into his face and leaned up to kiss him once more. She pulled away to still see confusion on his face. "Are you sure you're alright?"

She nodded. "I'm very sure."

"Then why are you crying?"

She smiled. "I'll tell you later," she said as she leaned up for his kiss once more. She pushed his shirt off his shoulders and Draco, although a bit reluctantly, returned to his adoration of his mate.

*~*

Hermione had made every attempt to get Ron alone with her and Harry in order to tell him. She wanted Harry there as a buffer, to make sure that Ron didn't fly off the handle. However, every time she turned around, Ron was unable to be alone with them or vice versa. She refused to tell him without Harry there. If there was one thing she could say about their group it was they all had distinct roles. Harry was the do-gooder instinct, Hermione was the brains and rationale, and Ron was the emotion, the heart of the group. It was only natural that the brains and heart would often be at odds. It was that way in every other aspect of life.

As she sat in the Great Hall for lunch, pouring over a text about Merlin, trying to garner some sort of help for Lucius Malfoy, Ron sat in front of her and began loading food onto his plate. He didn't even acknowledge her presence until she cleared her throat. He looked up and gave her a smile. "Hey."

She gave him a smile back. "Hey. Let me ask you a question. What are you doing tonight?"

He looked up at her, rather disappointed. "I have detention with Snape."

Hermione's smile turned into a disapproving smile. "Why?" Ron refused to look at her. "Ronald, why did you get detention?"

Ginny took a seat beside her brother and smiled. "Because he had tripped Crabbe and Goyle and was running from them and ran into the girl’s lavatory."

"You didn't!" she said angrily.

"Oh, but he did. And who should see him not only trip the two but run into the lavatory? Malfoy," Ginny supplied as she ignored the death glare her brother was sending to her.

"I wish you had been born mute," he muttered and turned back to Hermione. Upon seeing her look, his face flamed and his head lowered. "What?"

"Ron, we're supposed to be setting the example by getting along with people from other houses..."

"We haven't been chummy to Slytherin thus far, why start now?" he supplied as he took a bite.

"Because we don't want rivalries like the ones we have with the Slytherins to continue on for generations."

Ginny and Ron gave her twin looks of disbelief, before Ginny shrugged. "You know, maybe Hermione's right. We should go over and apologize to Malfoy."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Let's not get crazy. But hexing his mates isn't going to make him less hostile."

"What do I care if he's hostile?" Ron said over a mouth full of food.

Harry took a seat beside Hermione and across from Ginny, then sighed. "Because if he's hostile we end up in detention."

Ron only shrugged and took another fork full of food and actually chewed it before speaking. "So, you're saying that if we're nice to Malfoy he won't put us in detention?"

"No, what I'm saying is that if we are nice we take away his reason for giving us detention. Besides, after having him as my potions partner for the majority of the year, he's actually agreeable on most occasions." She received the same look from both Weasleys again. "Stop looking at me like that."

"But Hermione, you heard what he said about you on the train..."

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, I heard what he said. But I know you're not innocent in the whole thing either, Ronald. So, don't point fingers."

"What did he say on the train?" Ginny asked, interestedly. Harry, for his part, tried to look disinterested as well.

Hermione shrugged. "Something about just because Ron wants to shag me doesn't mean everyone else does."

Harry raised an eyebrow at this as Ron shook his head. "Don't paraphrase, Hermione. He said that just because I want to shag her," at this he turned red, "doesn't mean that others would lower themselves to do so."

There was silence among the four, and Harry was the first to break it. "He said that?"

Hermione glanced at him. "He did." She shrugged. "What do I care, though? Not like I'm planning to try and seduce Malfoy."

Ginny laughed. "Gods, I think the thought makes Ron's head want to pop off," she said and the attention of Harry and Hermione was on their friend, whose ears seemed to be turning purple.

"You don't want to, right?"

She was silent for a moment when a noise at the end of their table distracted everyone. Three of them sniggered as a first year ran from the hall with blue hair after a spell backfired. The question, to Hermione's relief, was momentarily forgotten. She wasn't planning to seduce Malfoy, but she was certain that he had plans of seducing her fully and completely at a later date. She looked at her friends as they talked with one another and frowned at the thought that this may be one of the last times they'd able to sit around and laugh in such a carefree manor.

She had to tell Ron. But for the moment, she was happy to just enjoy the time she had with her friends, and the impending truth was pushed to the back.

*~*

Draco entered the Potions classroom to find Hermione already there, seemingly waiting on him. He knew he was going to catch flack about putting Weasley in detention, but he couldn’t let such a blatant act go unpunished. Besides, Crabbe and Goyle would be suspicious if he hadn’t punished Weasley for doing that.

He took a seat beside her and she sighed. “Did you have to give him detention?”

He sighed. “Yes, Granger. He broke the rules. While it didn’t upset me much to do so, he did deserve it. He attacked them unprovoked.”

She folded her arms over her chest as she stared at his profile. “I know. I told him he should be nicer to the Slytherins,” he turned his head and looked at her, “and he gave me a look very similar to that one. Is it so far fetched to hope that Gryffindors and Slytherins can learn to get along?”

He was silent for a moment. “Honestly, at this point, yes.”

“There’s a positive attitude for you,” she said sarcastically.

He shook his head. “There’s too much bad blood, there, Granger. The chances of Potty, Weasley, and I becoming chums are about as likely as seeing the Dark Lord prance around in a tutu and tiara and proclaim that he loves ducks. It’s just not likely.” She was silent before she started laughing. He tilted his head at her, surprised at her laughter. “What?”

She shook her head. “I got a mental picture.”

He smirked. “Yes, well, be that as it may, putting aside the past is much harder than people hoping it is so.”

“You and I have managed to do it.”

He shrugged as he removed his books from his bag. “You and I have incentive.”

The door creaked open and in walked Pansy and Blaise. Pansy moved over to their table. “Big brave Gryffindor all alone in a room full of Slytherins. Wonder how your friends would like it if we ambushed you while you weren’t expecting it.”

Blaise stood behind Pansy and Draco could see that he was withdrawing his wand, getting ready to attack her. His Veela instincts were taking over, and if Blaise didn’t watch his step, he’d be living minus a limb.

“Now, I know you’re not threatening a student,” Hermione said in her bossiest tone. “If you’ll remember, Ron is serving detention for what he did and I had no part in it.”

“You mean you and your friends didn’t get a chuckle out of it?” Blaise asked incredulously.

She shook her head. “I didn’t.” Draco wondered why she was even engaging them in a conversation when it was obvious that the two wanted to do her harm. “And I only hope that Crabbe and Goyle weren’t hurt.”

The three Slytherins stared at her in shock for a moment before Pansy spoke up. “Is that sarcasm?”

She shook her head. “No. I’m being very sincere.”

Blaise eyed her speculatively. “What are you playing at?”

Draco stood then. “Honestly, this was entertaining at first, but now it’s annoying. Blaise and Pansy, find your seats or you’ll be serving detention with Weasley, and Granger, pipe down before the two of them take it upon themselves to quiet you.”

As Hermione’s face reddened, Pansy and Blaise seemed momentarily placated and found their seats. Hermione and Draco did as well, and he could feel her eyes nearly burning a hole in the side of his head. He glanced at her as other students began filing in.

As class began, Snape began to lecture and it was ten minutes into class when Draco realized that Hermione wasn’t writing anything down, but she seemed to be trying desperately. He looked over his shoulder at Blaise and Pansy and knew they’d jinxed either quill or parchment. He couldn’t help her in class, but he could make his notes as diligent as possible and allow her to copy them later.

Hermione seemed nearly frantic as she finally raised her hand and Snape came down on her. “What is so important Miss Granger that you see fit to interrupt my lecture?”

He could hear in her voice that she was nearly in tears. “My quill, Sir. It won’t write.” And before anyone could react, Snape took the quill in his hand and began writing in his neat script on her parchment.

Snape tossed it onto the table. “Miss Granger, I do not find it humorous to interrupt for a false allegation. If you interrupt again, I’ll see that you serve detention.”

If looks could kill, the one Draco gave his mentor would have sent him into the ground. He searched out their bond and reassured Hermione that he would take notes for her if she couldn’t get her quill to work. While some of the tension seemed to leave her face, he could see that she was truly affected by not being able to participate in the lecture.

*~*

Hermione had gone to Draco’s room early Saturday morning, mainly to get the notes she’d missed from the day before. Beneath her robe, she was still in her pyjamas. She didn’t intend to be gone for long, just long enough to get the notes.

She opened the door to his room and searched for the bag. She knew Draco wouldn’t mind, but she was going crazy not having them. She wanted time to recopy them and give them back to him. She realized that his bag was not in the common room, but probably in his room.

She pushed the door open and found him curled around a pillow sleeping softly. She moved over and got a closer look. She’d never actually had an uninterrupted view of him sleeping. She smiled as he looked like an angel. She knew better, and blushed at the thought of things that made him very much not like an angel.

She saw his bag in a nearby chair and moved over to it. It was much neater than hers. There were no loose pieces of parchment and no pieces sticking out of the top of the books. When she found what she was looking for, she stood up straight and began walking to the door.

“That’s stealing, you know?” said a voice from the bed.

She turned to see, Draco sitting in the middle of the bed, his eyes heavy with sleep, his hair mussed, and a pillow sitting in his lap.

“It’s not stealing. You told me I could borrow them.”

He nodded. “But I figured you would at least make sure I was awake before you took them. For your folly, you’ll have to do me a favour.”

“Oh? And what’s that?”

He crooked his finger at her and smirked. “Come have a lie in with me.”

She shook her head emphatically. “Draco, no. I have to get back. How would I explain being out of the room in my pyjamas?”

He shrugged. “Should have thought of that before you decided to sneak into my room and steal my notes.”

“Again, you said I could borrow them, and the more time we spend together, the greater the risk of people finding out.”

He tilted his head. “Tell them you were out to study for a bit. Who would second guess that? Come on, Granger. Tell me you haven’t wished we could sleep in the same bed together again.”

She stared longingly at the crisp sheets and the delectable man sitting amongst the pillows and cotton. She sighed and placed the notes on the desk. “Fine, but only for a bit as I’ll need to get back before anyone notices I’m gone.”

He pulled the sheets back and patted the bed beside him. She moved over to him and slipped into the bed where he promptly wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back against his chest as his lips moved over her ear. “Morning,” he said softly.

She smiled as her hand moved up to cover his. “Morning.”

“Now, let’s go to sleep as the sun hasn’t yet come up.”

She used her wand to set a personal alarm clock for herself, then rested it on his night table. “Fine,” she said with a yawn and snuggled closer, finding herself soothed and comforted by his warmth and closeness. And before either knew it, they were sleeping softly.