A Crown of Thorns
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
21
Views:
9,357
Reviews:
99
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
21
Views:
9,357
Reviews:
99
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
China Patterns and Crucio
Chapter Twenty – China Patterns and Crucio
by - tatiana
Disclaimer - Obviously, none of it belongs to me. Just borrowing them from JK for a while to play with. I promise I\'ll be nice...maybe.
Hermione pulled the heavy door shut behind her and wearily sat down on the edge of the bed, resting her aching head in her hands. For all the galleons in Gringotts, she just could not understand; she was to become the heir to Lord Voldemort and had dozens of Death Eaters at her command, she had suffered the Cruciatus curse at the hands of one of the most powerful dark wizards to ever live, she had even cast the killing curse…wandless, no less. None of these things were small feats by any measure.
But nothing, absolutely nothing, could have prepared her for spending the weekend with Narcissa Malfoy.
And it was only Saturday afternoon.
She flopped backwards onto the bed and covered her face with a pillow in an attempt to will away the intense pain that was now stabbing at the backs of her eyes. However, all Hermione saw in the darkness were horrid china patterns in hideous shades of green, emblazoned with the Malfoy family crest. She shook her head to clear away the offending thoughts and sat up, frustrated.
’I am going to kill them both.’ She thought to herself crossly.
They could have at least warned her about what was in store for her, but no, both Draco and Severus had simply stifled their smirks and exchanged conspiratorial glances when Hermione had informed them of her plans to spend the weekend with Narcissa. No, she wouldn’t kill them, not yet anyway; she would need them alive and well for the final battle, but when it was all over she would turn Draco over to Ginny and take care of Severus herself.
Kicking off her shoes, Hermione rubbed her sore feet. She had followed Narcissa around the Manor all morning long, accompanied by Lucius and their event planner, Eduardo. Eduardo was a funny little wizard who dressed flamboyantly, much like Professor Lockhart, and had a very bad fake Italian accent. At first Hermione thought that she was only imagining the extra little flounce in his step but her suspicions were confirmed after observing a very flustered Lucius dodging Eduardo’s advances, and that in itself almost made it all worth it - almost.
Hermione had watched in awe as Narcissa swept in and out of the ballroom and grand dining hall dictating to Eduardo exactly how she wanted the rooms to be decorated, right down to the exact number of flowers to be placed in each vase. Money was, of course, no concern and Lucius had simply trailed behind them muttering little more than, “Yes dear, anything you want dear.”
And when it came to Hermione, Narcissa would glance in her direction every now and then to ask, “And what do you think Hermione?” Hermione would nod politely and smile, making comments like, “It sounds lovely”, but knowing that even if she had jumped up and down on the table shrieking, “I hate it! I hate it all!” it would not have made a bit of difference.
Dragging herself off the bed, Hermione made her way into the bathroom to freshen up. She had been told to meet Narcissa in her private sitting room adjacent to the small library promptly at five o’clock to discuss the menu. But when five o’clock came, Hermione was still searching the cavernous halls of Malfoy Manor for Narcissa’s private sitting room, cursing Draco and Severus with each step for not even giving her a map. She soon discovered that there was obviously much more to the massive house than she had been shown on her previous visit. Eventually she ran into Lucius who grudgingly escorted her to his wife’s wing of the house and deposited Hermione at the door before fleeing for his own safety.
As Hermione entered the room under the icy gaze of an obviously annoyed Narcissa, she idly wondered exactly how many minutes Draco and Severus would be able to tolerate the Cruciatus Curse before it killed them both.
When Hermione returned late Sunday evening, Severus was given the cold shoulder and decided that is was for the best to just let her be. He knew firsthand how exhausting Narcissa Malfoy could be and instead he busied himself in the lab brewing the necessary healing potions that he would be bringing with him to the Manor that weekend. Severus found himself plagued by an unsettling combination of anticipation and dread as the days rolled by, bringing him closer to what was hopefully going to be the final battle. He often wondered if he would even survive. And if he did, what would become of his relationship with Hermione? Could he even call it a ‘relationship’? Perhaps it had just been the circumstances that had brought them together. Nevertheless, he couldn’t deny the feelings that had begun to grow for the young witch. She had managed to ease herself into his world and seemed determined to stay put. Only time would tell what fate had in store for them.
~~~~
That same evening, at number 12 Grimmauld Place, Ginny crossed the floor of the library to where Draco stood and straightened the collar of his robes, running her hands across his broad shoulders to smooth out wrinkles that weren’t really there. Over the past few days, she had felt the need to touch him and be near him as much as possible, for she knew that when he left for Malfoy Manor this coming Friday evening, there was a very strong possibility that he would not return.
Sensing her anxiety, Draco took Ginny’s hands in his own and kissed her fingertips gently before wrapping her arms around his waist. He leaned into her, pressing his forehead against hers and closing his eyes. Slipping his arms around her, he pulled her close, wanting nothing more than to just stand there and hold on to her. Her tears were hot on his skin as her cheek brushed against his own.
“Ginny?” He whispered.
She let out a strangled sob, “Yes?”
Draco pulled away from her and looked into the eyes of the one person in his life who had ever mattered. The one person who had found it in herself to look past his tarnished name, his family and all the expectations that had been placed on him and just love him for whom he really was. She brought out the best in him and made him want to strive a bit harder in every thing that he did. Draco knew that if he survived the final battle, he was going to spend his life with Ginny Weasley. And he needed her to know that too.
“Turn around.” He said gently.
She looked at him questioningly.
He flashed her that sly Malfoy grin, “Just do it please.”
She obliged and Draco reached into his robes.
“Close your eyes.” He ordered.
Eyes closed, Ginny waited. Draco gently placed the necklace on her and fastened it, tapping the clasp once with his wand to seal it permanently before conjuring a small mirror.
He handed her the mirror and grinned, “Now open your eyes.”
Ginny opened her eyes and peered at her reflection. Hanging around her neck from a delicate platinum chain was a Dragon’s Eye sapphire. Ginny touched the stone gingerly and watched as it began to glow softly. She knew that a Dragon’s Eye was very rare and as beautiful as it was, she knew that she couldn’t accept something so valuable.
Turning to Draco she began, “It’s beautiful, but I can’t let-”
He cut her off with a kiss before whispering to her, “I love you with all of my heart. Because of you, I am a better person and for that I will be forever grateful. No matter what happens to me at the final battle, I will always be with you, watching over you, protecting you and loving you.”
Ginny’s eyes filled with tears, she didn’t want to think about the final battle, she wouldn’t. She shook her head in protest, refusing to accept that as a reality.
“I want you to be my wife Ginny.”
The next evening, up in the Astronomy Tower, a quiet ceremony was performed by a very twinkling Dumbledore. Witnessed only by Remus Lupin and Harry Potter, both of whom had been bound to secrecy by wand oaths, Draco Malfoy and Ginny Weasley became husband and wife.
A/N – Okay, I know it’s been forever since an update and I offer my apologies. Real life situations have been kicking my arse and my muse seems to be hiding behind the cupboard and won’t come out. Safe and happy holidays to all.
by - tatiana
Disclaimer - Obviously, none of it belongs to me. Just borrowing them from JK for a while to play with. I promise I\'ll be nice...maybe.
Hermione pulled the heavy door shut behind her and wearily sat down on the edge of the bed, resting her aching head in her hands. For all the galleons in Gringotts, she just could not understand; she was to become the heir to Lord Voldemort and had dozens of Death Eaters at her command, she had suffered the Cruciatus curse at the hands of one of the most powerful dark wizards to ever live, she had even cast the killing curse…wandless, no less. None of these things were small feats by any measure.
But nothing, absolutely nothing, could have prepared her for spending the weekend with Narcissa Malfoy.
And it was only Saturday afternoon.
She flopped backwards onto the bed and covered her face with a pillow in an attempt to will away the intense pain that was now stabbing at the backs of her eyes. However, all Hermione saw in the darkness were horrid china patterns in hideous shades of green, emblazoned with the Malfoy family crest. She shook her head to clear away the offending thoughts and sat up, frustrated.
’I am going to kill them both.’ She thought to herself crossly.
They could have at least warned her about what was in store for her, but no, both Draco and Severus had simply stifled their smirks and exchanged conspiratorial glances when Hermione had informed them of her plans to spend the weekend with Narcissa. No, she wouldn’t kill them, not yet anyway; she would need them alive and well for the final battle, but when it was all over she would turn Draco over to Ginny and take care of Severus herself.
Kicking off her shoes, Hermione rubbed her sore feet. She had followed Narcissa around the Manor all morning long, accompanied by Lucius and their event planner, Eduardo. Eduardo was a funny little wizard who dressed flamboyantly, much like Professor Lockhart, and had a very bad fake Italian accent. At first Hermione thought that she was only imagining the extra little flounce in his step but her suspicions were confirmed after observing a very flustered Lucius dodging Eduardo’s advances, and that in itself almost made it all worth it - almost.
Hermione had watched in awe as Narcissa swept in and out of the ballroom and grand dining hall dictating to Eduardo exactly how she wanted the rooms to be decorated, right down to the exact number of flowers to be placed in each vase. Money was, of course, no concern and Lucius had simply trailed behind them muttering little more than, “Yes dear, anything you want dear.”
And when it came to Hermione, Narcissa would glance in her direction every now and then to ask, “And what do you think Hermione?” Hermione would nod politely and smile, making comments like, “It sounds lovely”, but knowing that even if she had jumped up and down on the table shrieking, “I hate it! I hate it all!” it would not have made a bit of difference.
Dragging herself off the bed, Hermione made her way into the bathroom to freshen up. She had been told to meet Narcissa in her private sitting room adjacent to the small library promptly at five o’clock to discuss the menu. But when five o’clock came, Hermione was still searching the cavernous halls of Malfoy Manor for Narcissa’s private sitting room, cursing Draco and Severus with each step for not even giving her a map. She soon discovered that there was obviously much more to the massive house than she had been shown on her previous visit. Eventually she ran into Lucius who grudgingly escorted her to his wife’s wing of the house and deposited Hermione at the door before fleeing for his own safety.
As Hermione entered the room under the icy gaze of an obviously annoyed Narcissa, she idly wondered exactly how many minutes Draco and Severus would be able to tolerate the Cruciatus Curse before it killed them both.
When Hermione returned late Sunday evening, Severus was given the cold shoulder and decided that is was for the best to just let her be. He knew firsthand how exhausting Narcissa Malfoy could be and instead he busied himself in the lab brewing the necessary healing potions that he would be bringing with him to the Manor that weekend. Severus found himself plagued by an unsettling combination of anticipation and dread as the days rolled by, bringing him closer to what was hopefully going to be the final battle. He often wondered if he would even survive. And if he did, what would become of his relationship with Hermione? Could he even call it a ‘relationship’? Perhaps it had just been the circumstances that had brought them together. Nevertheless, he couldn’t deny the feelings that had begun to grow for the young witch. She had managed to ease herself into his world and seemed determined to stay put. Only time would tell what fate had in store for them.
~~~~
That same evening, at number 12 Grimmauld Place, Ginny crossed the floor of the library to where Draco stood and straightened the collar of his robes, running her hands across his broad shoulders to smooth out wrinkles that weren’t really there. Over the past few days, she had felt the need to touch him and be near him as much as possible, for she knew that when he left for Malfoy Manor this coming Friday evening, there was a very strong possibility that he would not return.
Sensing her anxiety, Draco took Ginny’s hands in his own and kissed her fingertips gently before wrapping her arms around his waist. He leaned into her, pressing his forehead against hers and closing his eyes. Slipping his arms around her, he pulled her close, wanting nothing more than to just stand there and hold on to her. Her tears were hot on his skin as her cheek brushed against his own.
“Ginny?” He whispered.
She let out a strangled sob, “Yes?”
Draco pulled away from her and looked into the eyes of the one person in his life who had ever mattered. The one person who had found it in herself to look past his tarnished name, his family and all the expectations that had been placed on him and just love him for whom he really was. She brought out the best in him and made him want to strive a bit harder in every thing that he did. Draco knew that if he survived the final battle, he was going to spend his life with Ginny Weasley. And he needed her to know that too.
“Turn around.” He said gently.
She looked at him questioningly.
He flashed her that sly Malfoy grin, “Just do it please.”
She obliged and Draco reached into his robes.
“Close your eyes.” He ordered.
Eyes closed, Ginny waited. Draco gently placed the necklace on her and fastened it, tapping the clasp once with his wand to seal it permanently before conjuring a small mirror.
He handed her the mirror and grinned, “Now open your eyes.”
Ginny opened her eyes and peered at her reflection. Hanging around her neck from a delicate platinum chain was a Dragon’s Eye sapphire. Ginny touched the stone gingerly and watched as it began to glow softly. She knew that a Dragon’s Eye was very rare and as beautiful as it was, she knew that she couldn’t accept something so valuable.
Turning to Draco she began, “It’s beautiful, but I can’t let-”
He cut her off with a kiss before whispering to her, “I love you with all of my heart. Because of you, I am a better person and for that I will be forever grateful. No matter what happens to me at the final battle, I will always be with you, watching over you, protecting you and loving you.”
Ginny’s eyes filled with tears, she didn’t want to think about the final battle, she wouldn’t. She shook her head in protest, refusing to accept that as a reality.
“I want you to be my wife Ginny.”
The next evening, up in the Astronomy Tower, a quiet ceremony was performed by a very twinkling Dumbledore. Witnessed only by Remus Lupin and Harry Potter, both of whom had been bound to secrecy by wand oaths, Draco Malfoy and Ginny Weasley became husband and wife.
A/N – Okay, I know it’s been forever since an update and I offer my apologies. Real life situations have been kicking my arse and my muse seems to be hiding behind the cupboard and won’t come out. Safe and happy holidays to all.