Conventions, Clubs and Caresses

Hello all!!! So sorry to keep you waiting. I have just been in a total funk and been persuing the lovely site trying to find some inspiration. Feeling quite guilty about leaving people hanging (cause I HATE THAT!!) I have decided to get my arse in gear and crank out some more chapters so I can FINALLY put this piece to bed, as I have several plot bunnies hopping around my brain I need to get to work on.

A quick Thank You to all of you who have reviewed. It means so much to hear from you guys, it really does make me want to write more.

So, without further ado, Here's your next chapter.


Ch. 24
Secrest Revealed 1/30/08

She watched Harry walk down the street, lost in her thoughts when she felt someone behind her, she could literally feel the breath on the back of her neck. Instinct told her to remain calm, slowly turning around she met the sexy gaze of her fiance’.

“Draco, what are you doing here?” she grinned at him before reaching up to capture his lips in a soft kiss. Moving slowly forward to meld her body with his, she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly.

“I couldn’t stand being away from you, and I wanted to see how your meeting with Potter went” he dipped his head for another kiss, not so soft. His lips were warm and welcoming, shooting desire straight through her.

“Keep that up and we’ll need to go home” she laughed, placing her head upon his chest, listening to his rapidly beating heart. “That’s my plan love” He ran his fingers through her hair, feeling the silken locks as his other hand gripped her body tightly to him, pressing his arousal against her stomach.

“I thought you wanted to hear about my lunch date?” She whispered against his neck. Grinning when she felt him shiver as her tongue snuck out and licked across his throat before gently nipping his skin between her teeth.

He couldn’t possibly Apparate in his current condition. She always had a way of making his mind cease to work when she was near, and right now, he had no thoughts other than having her naked body pressed against his in a heated embrace.

“Merlin you two, get a room” a soft voice chuckled behind them.

Hermione loosened her grip on Draco, but didn’t let go as she turned to face the voice she knew instantly.
“Very funny Sara” her words stuck in her throat, her eyes locked onto the man standing beside Sara, his arm wrapped around her waist.

“Doug” she nodded and looked back to Sara with a question in her eyes.

Sara immediately noticed Hermione tense when she had acknowledged Doug and made to explain quickly.

“Doug here asked me to lunch, it seems he’ll be leaving after tomorrow and. . .” she really didn’t know what to tell Hermione.

This morning when Ginny had stopped by she had had to make a quick excuse just to get out of Ginny’s questioning, the last thing she wanted was for Hermione to be upset, and she knew if she let her, Ginny would have gotten the goods on Hermione’s newest development in her & Draco’s relationship, so, thinking quickly, she had escaped without uttering a simple ‘I’m late for a meeting, I’ll catch you later’

It was with much relief that she saw Ginny enter the lift to leave, when Doug came op behind her and started talking to her. He had mentioned that he would be leaving in a few days and asked if she would have lunch with him. Looking at him objectively, her answer almost squeaked out in excitement “Yes”

Now, standing before her co-worker and friend, she felt very nervous. She knew a small bit of Hermione’s history with Doug and she hoped Hermione wouldn’t mind her spending time with him, hell, she had that gorgeous bloke holding her, why shouldn’t she get the leftovers??

“You’re leaving?” Hermione had asked Doug. “But, you just got here” It wasn’t as if she wanted him to stay, but she immediately felt guilty about leaving her boss in a lurch. She had already resigned and now Doug was leaving, who would take over?

“Look, Hermione, I know we parted under, er, uncomfortable circumstances, but to be honest with you. . .I never really wanted to be here. I was kind of coerced into coming under false pretenses if you may” He shook his head at the memory of Red seeking him out just a short week ago. She had told him Hermione was lonely and desperate, that she needed him back in her life before she did something she was going to regret forever.

Now, seeing her wrapped in the arms of the man in front of him, he realized how happy she looked. Her whole body was glowing. He’d never thought she looked more beautiful.

“What do you mean?” Slowly the gears in Hermione’s mind were beginning to spin and connect, the knot in her stomach formed quickly as she heard the words flow from his mouth.

“Well, Ginny came to me, she told me you needed me to save you from making a huge mistake. But I can tell just from looking at you, you’re quite happy. And I’m happy for you, you deserve it”

Stepping forward, Doug stuck his hand out to Draco “Congratulations man, you’ve got one hell of a woman, take care of her”

Draco was speechless. He had hated the man from the moment he saw him with Hermione in the Leaky that day, only to want him dead after hearing what he had done to her, but now, here he was standing in front of him, hand out, congratulating him.

“I will” was all he could get out when he shook the man’s hand firmly.

Neither of them noticed a pale Hermione as her knees gave out until Sara screeched and ran forward to catch her, luckily Draco’s hand was still wrapped around her waist and she fell into him instead of the hitting the ground.

~*~

Harry walked along the streets for almost an hour before finally deciding he needed to get home and speak with his wife. What was he going to say to her? How was he going to make her understand that no matter what she thought of Draco Malfoy, her best friend was going to marry him, and be quite happy.

A smile graced his face when the thought of Hermione dressed in a beautiful white gown standing beside Draco entered his mind. All he ever wanted for her was her happiness and now she would have it.

Apparating home he found it quiet and empty. Looking around he noticed her cloak was gone and made his way towards the bedroom. Finding her robes were missing he figured she had gone into work. That was good, he would have some time to work on his plans for breaking the news to her as well as trying to figure out what she had been up to.

~*~

Ginny couldn’t concentrate. Her mind was lost in thoughts of Hermione & Draco, Harry being angry at her, and her failed attempt at getting Doug to help her save her best friend. Since that prat was leaving she would have to figure out another way to keep Hermione & Draco apart.

She strolled down the halls of St. Mungo’s towards her office when she heard a commotion down at the end of the hall, near the emergency apparition area. Moving quickly towards the group of people huddled around a figure she froze in her steps when she recognized the platinum blonde hair towering above the entire group.

He was holding a small, bushy haired women in his arms and telling the Medi-Witch to find a Healer immediately. His grip was tight on her, unwilling to let anyone take her from him.

The nurse at the front desk called for the Healer who promptly showed them to a room not two feet from where Ginny was standing in shock. The Healer noted her standing there and barked at her to come help him as he disappeared behind the door to check on the patient.

“Ginny?” Sara was standing in front of her, waving her hand in her face. “Ginny!” she barked out when she received no response.

Ginny quickly rushed to the door, passing Sara silently. Stepping into the room she watched as Draco placed Hermione down on the bed but never releasing her hand. He stood beside her while the Healer checked over her body with his wand.

“Mrs. Potter, Please get the Invigoration Draught, it seems a mere Ennervate isn’t working.” Healer Smithwyck motioned to the cabinet on the far side of the wall.

Ginny stepped silently over to the cabinet, grabbed the needed potion and made her way towards the bed. Handing the Healer the potion she chanced a glance at Draco. He was holding onto Hermione’s hand tightly, leaning over her still form, whispering in her ear. She couldn’t make out what he was saying, but she could see in his eyes that he was worried about her.

“Help me sir, she needs to sit up so I may give her the potion, can you tilt her head back please?” The Healer proceeded to pour the potion down her throat, allowing her time to swallow it he motioned for Draco to let her lie back.

“Now, what else can you tell me? You say she was just standing there and then she passed out? Has she been experiencing any problems recently, blackouts? nausea? Anything that can tell us what might have happened here?”

It was the first time Draco took his eyes off Hermione when he looked up at the Healer, only stopping briefly to make eye contact with Ginny before answering the Healer.

“No, she’s been fine. She had lunch with a friend and I met her afterwards, where we ran into her friends. We spoke for a few moments and then. . .” He stopped when he realized what had happened directly before she had passed out.

“You say she had lunch. Is she allergic to anything that may have caused this?”

“No, she has no allergies” Ginny stated firmly, never taking her eyes off of Draco. “She’s perfectly healthy”

“Mrs. Potter, do you know this young woman?” The Healer had turned to her, questioning her.

“Yes, she’s Hermione Granger and she’s my best friend. I know for a fact she has no allergies, so it could not be the food that made her pass out. However, I don’t know what she was doing, so I cannot offer any more” She shrugged her shoulders slightly.

“Well” The Healer then turned back to Draco “You said you were talking and she just passed out”

“Healer Smithwyck, I appreciate everything you’ve done, but may I ask to have a word alone with Mrs. Potter please. I may have an idea as to why she passed out and I believe she’ll be fine once she rests”

Draco stepped up to Ginny, grabbed her harm rather tersely and made for the door.

Ginny stiffened at his touch, but followed him nonetheless. Once outside the door she realized there were two people sitting in chairs just outside the room. Sara & Doug. ‘Oh Merlin’ she thought.

“Ginny, you claim to be Hermione’s best friend, and yet I’m astounded to hear the lengths at which you went to keep Hermione and I apart.” Draco was nearly growling at her through clenched teeth.

“You brought that bastard back into Hermione’s life without even thinking how it might affect her. What you did was inexcusable and I fear you may have ruined your friendship, which saddens me greatly as I want nothing more than my future wide to be happy. Even if that means being friends with you!” he spat quietly as to not cause a scene.

Sara had watched the scene from her chair, realizing at that moment what had made Hermione drop like that. Ginny had set up her best friend’s relationship to fail, hoping Doug would be able to rekindle their relationship, effectively pushing Draco out of the picture. Sara had seen how happy Hermione was with Draco and it hurt her immensely to know that Ginny was the reason their friend was lying in the room on the other side of the door. The mere thought of Ginny trying to push Draco from her life had been too much for the young witch, causing her to pass out.

“Ginny, how could you?” Sara was standing beside Ginny with a disgusted look on her face. “I knew you hated the idea of them together, but, to do this? To your best friend?” Sara was losing her temper quickly and before she said something she would later regret she spoke again.

“I think you should leave. I don’t want you to be here when she wakes up. You’ve done enough damage” Keeping her eyes locked with Ginny’s she made it very clear how she felt with her hardened, cold glare.

Ginny stepped away from her friend, glancing once more at the door before rushing towards her office, tears streaking down her face.

~*~

Harry had just finished with dinner when he heard the floo announcing someone’s arrival. Stepping into the small room he watched as Ginny collapsed on the floor in a fit of tears.

“Ginny, what’s wrong?” Harry rushed to her side, wrapping his arms around her, rocking her gently as she sobbed against his chest.

“Oh Harry. I’ve messed up. She’ll never forgive me, never” Now taking great gulps of air as she sobbed against her husband.

Harry rubbed her back soothingly, telling her to calm down and talk to him. Finally after what felt like all night, she pulled back from him. Her face shiny with tears, her eyes red and swollen and her nose dripping. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes and nose.

“Now, tell me what’s going on Gin” He pulled her into his lap on the floor, comforting her with his strong hold.

“Hermione, she showed up at St. Mungo’s. She was unconscious, they’d said she collapsed” Ginny hadn’t gotten very far before Harry unceremoniously dumped her on the floor when he stood up quickly.

“What happened?” He pulled her roughly up from the floor, worry etched on his face. “Tell me what happened” He couldn’t believe this, he had just left her not an hour ago.

“Does this have anything to do with why you were so angry before? Did you do something to hurt her Ginny? Answer me damn it!” He was practically yelling now. His gut had told him that Hermione’s news and Ginny’s behavior before were linked, now he sure of it.

“I didn’t mean to hurt her, I only wanted what was best for her” she fell back onto the ground, clutching her stomach as she sobbed into her knees.

“Don’t leave, I’ll be right back” and with that Harry stepped into the floo and called out ‘St. Mungo’s’

TBC

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Okay Gang, you know the drill.
:)
Ch. 25 is mostly written and I'll keep writing until the Honeymoon :)
Oh, no one figured out my little challenge in Ch. 22
Hmmm, no true blue Tom Felton fans out there??? ; )