Circle of Love

Draco woke the next morning, his body still entwined with Hermione’s. He grinned when he looked down at her sleeping face which was still cradled on his chest. He felt her own chest rise and fall in a calm rhythm as she breathed, and watched her eyelashes flutter a bit as she dreamed.
Draco's hand reached out to caress her cheek and wake her up, but he stopped himself. Plans! Must get them going! He got up regretfully and smirked when she murmured his name in her sleep before cuddling the pillow he had just taken his head off of.

Draco padded silently across to the door and slipped out.

When Draco, after a quick shower and a change of clothes, made his way down the stairs, he found the kitchen was empty except for two busy elves preparing breakfast for the occupants of number 12, Grimmauld Place. Perfect, he triumphed silently and bent down to whisper some words to Twinky before heading down to the lair of one Severus Snape.

Is this lust or love- or just wanting to get into her pants? Draco thought as he made to knock on the Potions Master's door. He rapped on it three times and entered after hearing Snape call him in.
"Good morning, Professor," Draco greeted and closed the door behind him.

"What gives me the pleasure of your company this early in the morning?" Severus asked from behind his table. He carefully added a measure of an ingredient to a cauldron simmering over a low fire.
"I was wondering…." Draco tried to form his words. "Professor, may I borrow the Portkey?" He tugged at the cuffs of his sleeves, and waited. Snape carefully tapped his wand on the side of the cauldron, and moved it from the fire before adding another ingredient. Only then did he address his protégé, while still keeping his eyes trained on the task before him.

"For what Draco?" Severus set his wand down on his desk and began to stir the potion.

" Well -- I wanted to take Hermione to the--," Draco began to say, but Snape raised a hand stopping him. He knew very well why Draco had asked for the Portkey and didn't need to hear the boy stutter an explanation. He merely needed to know that Draco was honest enough to tell him the truth.

"The potion?" Snape asked, an eyebrow arched and trying not to show his amusement at the boy’s sight blush.
"Used, Sir." Draco replied, his voice only barely noticeably higher than usual. Yet he kept his gaze level with the older wizard. Snape nodded and pulled the Portkey from his pocket. He turned it in his hands for a moment.
"You do realize that your father wouldn't approve of this?" Snape handed him the rune covered stone and folded his arms across his chest.

"I've done plenty of things lately he wouldn't approve of, and I'm of age now." Draco said with a hint of anger in his voice and tucked the stone into his pocket. After a moment’s silence, he continued a lot calmer. "This is the return Portkey?” A smirk crossed his face when he went on. “I don't think Hermione would appreciate getting stuck there again."

"If what you are planning is what she wants--” He let the sentence hang in the air for a moment, watching Draco nod before going on. “Then I don't think she'd notice if it weren’t. The camp is still set up." Snape turned to a cupboard and reached for an empty vial. "Have you asked Lupin's permission to leave Headquarters?"

"I really thought it best to sneak out Professor." Draco smirked at the thought, but nodded. "He'd send out the troops looking for us if I did that, wouldn't he?"

"Just be careful, there are Death Eaters and Aurors out there looking for you. I hardly think they'll ask questions first. I'll inform Lupin of your trip, just get her back here before nightfall." Snape said as he sat down behind his desk. His hand played with his own sleeves, and he folded his robes closer to him as he again crossed his arms over his chest.

"Thank you Professor." Draco nodded again, and barely kept his fingers from tugging the collar of his shirt. Snape leaned back in the chair and watched as Draco nodded his head one final time and left the room with a small click of the door.

Snape turned his chair around and opened the small box on the shelf behind him. He pulled out the picture. "The boy's all grown up now Cissa. You'd be proud of him." Severus touched the smiling face of his former lover with his long finger in a gentle caress. He returned the picture to the box and shut it slowly.

Draco hurried back to the kitchen and took a basket from Twinky. He started leaving, but stopped and turned. "Thank you Twinky." He said to the very surprised elf and ran up the stairs quickly.
"Miss Hermione be having a good effect on young Master," Twinky said to Dobby, and went back to the breakfast preparations.

"Young master being sneaky. Harry Potter not be happy if he be hurting Miss Hermione ever!" Dobby said with a shake of a long wooden spoon.

Twinky rolled his eyes and continued cooking. Young Master would never be like old Master or even Snarky Master.


Draco arrived outside of Hermione's room and knocked lightly. She opened it and her eyebrow arched at the sight of the basket. "A picnic? It's winter."She opened the door to let him enter.
"You still trust me?" Draco asked again, and set the basket down to pull her in his arms for a quick kiss.
"Of course, but I just don't want to freeze out there. In fact, can we even leave here without permission? Or we just going to picnic here?" Hermione gestured with her hands around her room. "I can-,"
Draco placed a finger on her lips. "Do I have to snog you senseless to shut you up?" he asked with a small chuckle, and pulled out the Portkey. "I have permission, and a place in mind."
"Complete circle, eh?" Hermione's eyes widened at the sight of the Portkey, and she grinned. "Let me finish dressing."

~~~~~*********~~~~~

Caleb Sanders looked around the small cottage to make sure that everything he needed was packed, and everything else stored away. Minerva's letter had been brief, to the point and made mention to bring his sister. Why now? The situation in Wizarding Europe was even worse then it had been two years ago when Albus Dumbledore had first broached this subject. Now Dumbledore was dead, and Minerva was calling them there. Cal shook his head slightly and headed to a small room at the back of the cottage.
He entered the room which was normally filled to an overpowering level with the smell of potions brewing. Now the scent only lingered, and the sight of a petite witch, calmly shrinking items and packing them in boxes, had him sighing.

"Minerva says in her letter," Cal began, pointing to the letter at the passage, "that there is a large working laboratory there Mari. No need for you to bring your own stuff." He leaned against the door jam and crossed his arms in front of him.

The dark-haired witch turned to look at him, her pale grey eyes shining with what could have been tears. "Potion masters do not share their labs willingly. With what I have heard of Severus Snape, I'm inclined to think he won't be willing." Mari tucked the last row of vials into the box and charmed it to feather weight like the others. She shrunk them all and tucked them into the various pockets her robes had. "I also don't know how long we'll be there, and I'd rather have my own things." Mari turned to look at her older brother and smiled. "I'm ready now."

Cal snorted and drew a hand through his short blond hair. His blue eyes scanned the room. "You even pack your clothes yet?" He pulled away from the doorway to walk over to her.

"Last night," Mari said and placed her hand in his. "I'm not looking forward to this International Floo thing."
"Sixteen hours, twelve countries, four continents, a hundred suitcases…," Caleb joked as they walked out of the cottage. They gave their childhood home a sad glance before locking it up tightly. He wondered if either of them would see it again.

~~~~~*********~~~~~

Draco and Hermione landed at the druid circle with the faint tug of the Portkey lingering on their bodies. He dropped the picnic basket to the ground gently and went to light the small fire placed outside the tent while Hermione began casting a warming charm on the tent itself.

"Professor Snape set himself up nicely here," Hermione commented dryly, with a small hint of laughter. "Wish we had this when we were here those two days."

"Snape wasn't sure when the Order would be taking him back." Draco drew back the flaps of the tent and ushered her in. He grinned at her, and looked around the inside. His eyes focused on the rather large bed before glancing back to Hermione.

"True," Hermione replied and unbuttoned her cloak and draped it on the back of a chair. "It's rather homey." She looked at the bed herself, before taking in the table and the small potions laboratory set in one corner. "Very… Snapey." She nodded towards the cauldrons and vials.

"Very," Draco replied with a smirk, and pulled her to him. He ran his hands down her arms before embracing her lightly, and pressed his lips to hers. Gently he kissed her till her lips opened. He groaned as he heard her breath hitch. "Too fast?" he murmured against her lips, and was rewarded with her small shake of her head. Her fingers went to his cloak and she slowly it, dropping it to the floor.

One by one, articles of clothing dropped to the floor. They kissed passionately until they were both naked but for their underclothing. Suddenly shy, Hermione looked away and went to sit on the bed. Draco grinned at her and lifted her face with his hand.

"You set the pace love," Draco said and leaned down to kiss her. Hesitantly, her hands caressed his chest then wrapped around his neck. Not breaking the kiss he slowly joined her on the bed, his body supported by his arms over her. He caught sight of their charms nestled together again and grinned. "Perfect," Draco growled out lowly and ran his hands over her body. He carefully finished undressing her before shrugging out of his own boxers, kicking them to the floor somewhere on the other side of the tent.

"You’re beautiful," he murmured into her ear as their hands explored, learning to know the other on a wonderful new level. Their tongues laved at unexplored places as they began their seduction of each other.
"I'm ready," Hermione gasped as he touched her in the most intimate way possible.

"I love you." The words had tumbled out of his mouth before he even realised what he was saying. Feeling more vulnerable than he ever imagined he would, he gazed into her eyes, holding them with his. In response, Hermione kissed him deeply and they soon joined into the dance only lovers do. He captured her small gasps with his mouth, mimicking their moves with their tongues. His back slightly arched when her legs wound around his waist.
"Love you too Draco," Hermione purred huskily as she too fell over the edge.

Panting, they finally rolled over, and she laid her head on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. Their eyes slowly closed, and their breathing calmed. The only sound that could be heard were their heartbeats as they fell asleep.

~~~~~*********~~~~~

Minerva opened the door, and ushered her two tired companions into the headquarters of the Order of The Phoenix.
"Why don't you both go into the sitting room," she suggested and opened the sliding doors to the room, gesturing with her hand. "I'm sure you both are tired, and there is someone who wants to talk to Mari. I'll go fetch the others and bring something to drink back from the kitchens," she added, feeling the need to leave them alone for a moment.

Mari dropped the hood of her warm cloak from her head and then took it off completely, laying it on the back of a chair. She looked around tiredly, and found the room empty but for chairs, a fireplace and a portrait. Caleb sat down and watched her walk towards the painting.

The girl's feet seemed to move of their own volition as she raised a hand to touch the gold frame. Her grey eyes darkened to silver as a tear ran down her cheek and her hand touched the roughness of the paint finally.
Albus's eyes twinkled back at her, and he took a candy from the bowl in his painting. Slowly he unwrapped it and watched the girl's face. "No more tears granddaughter, you are home now." He popped his candy in his mouth, and pointed to the bowl on the table beneath his portrait. "Lemon drop?"

Minerva returned with a tray of juice and cookies, followed by Remus, Tonks, Harry, Ginny and a very disgruntled Severus Snape. She set the tray on a table beside a group of chairs. "They've had a hard time through International Floo Customs because of all the problems You-Know-Who has caused lately," she whispered to them.
"I've missed you, Grandfather," they heard the girl say, and their eyes widened in shock. All but Remus's, Minerva's and Caleb's. The blond-haired wizard stood up and walked over to where his sister stood. He laid an arm around Mari's shoulders and kissed the top of her head.


Albus's eyes connected with Severus's and twinkled happily while he smiled. "Our girl is home, Severus. Meet Mariah and her brother Caleb Sanders."
Severus Snape's eyebrow arched in question, and he looked at Minerva who nodded her head. He looked back to the girl, taking in her features: long black hair, grey eyes and pale skin. He also noticed the freckles lining the bridge of her nose. He resisted a smile. Narcissa would be so proud of her.

"I see that." Severus said with a minute smile, unable to completely feign his indifference while surrounded by the other Order members. Does she know who I am? A myriad of questions immediately began springing from his mind.

~~~~~*********~~~~~

Draco slowly opened his eyes, and looked at the girl sleeping beside him. A grin spread across his face. He took in her tousled hair and her still flushed cheeks, and felt his heart beat faster. He had said the 'love' word, something foreign in the Malfoy vocabulary. His eyes turned a darker shade of grey while his grin faded into a more thoughtful expression. Was this how his mother had felt for Professor Snape? Would he, Draco Malfoy, just walk away from love like his mother had? Or would he hold it close?

A protesting grumble from his stomach brought the thoughts of the picnic basket back to the forefront of his mind. He gently moved her arm so as not to wake her and got out the bed. After quickly donning his boxers and trousers, he opened the flap of the tent and shuddered slightly from the cold. He quickly grabbed the basket that sat by the fire.

He looked around the druid circle and remembered all that happened here between them, and what had just begun for them. A chill went up his back, and he headed back into the tent.
Hermione looked up at him from the bed, the sheet tucked firmly around her. The warming charm had kept the tent at a comfortable temperature, but the open flap had let a bit of the winter chill inside. She blushed slightly and looked away when he sat down on the bed.

"Hungry, Kitten?" Draco asked and opened the basket to pull out the food Twinky had prepared for them. He set out the meal between them on the bed and smirked. "Strawberries and cream for dessert! Smart elf." He dipped his finger into the cream and drew it down her nose. "Oh my... guess I'll have to clean that up…" Draco grinned, leaned over and kissed her nose, then ran his tongue over the cream until it was all gone. Hermione giggled, and her hands slightly pushed him away.

"Food – I’m starving," Hermione said and picked up one of the sandwiches. She took a careful bite, and tried to keep the sheet up at the same time. "Why did you bring us here of all places?" She put her sandwich down in favor of drinking from a glass of pumpkin juice. Draco continued eating for a while and before answering her, he grabbed a bottle of butterbeer from the basket and took a sip.

"It's where we began, it seemed fitting. Perfect, in fact." Draco took one of her hands in his and looked into her eyes as he gently massaged her palm with his thumb. "Like a circle."

Hermione nodded and smiled, almost shyly, at him. I do love him. Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red as the realisation flowed through her. And he had said those exact words to her first. Her stomach leapt as he gently pushed away a stray hair from her face.
“You okay, Kitten?”

"Yes, it’s just -- we need to return soon, don't we?" Hermione wished nothing more than to drag out this moment between them.

Draco nodded his head, finished his bottle and placed it back in the basket. "Not before the strawberries!" He winked at her and removed the basket from the bed. Then he leaned in closer to kiss her cheek.

"Yes the strawberries!" Hermione giggled, then wrapped her arms around him and moved her face to where her lips could capture his.

The world could wait for just another while.

~*~
Enjoy the beta'ed version. Leave a review.