Anima

A big thanks to all of my reviewers. Your praise and comments are always greatly appreciated. Sorry, no gore is my policy and I like a slow seduction...mhmmm...don't we all?


Chapter 2

He had the look of a man about to stand in front of a fire squad...naked...while his parents had sex in front of him, sending him to his death with that last image haunting him through eternity. His grip on her hand was so tight his knuckles where white while her fingers were turning blue from lack of oxygen. She winked at the lady over his head and helped to turn him so he couldn’t see the mirror.

He fidgeted under the plastic sheet, a pair of blades moving around his head at a phenomenal pace. A soft brush flicked through his hair a few moments later and he sneezed, his nose irritated. Skilled fingers massaged something sticky into his scalp and hair and he sent Hermione a pleading look which she ignored, browsing through a magazine with her free hand. The woman moved to the front, teasing his shorn locks and he looked up with a grimace, jumping when a strange device whirred on.

He glanced at Hermione, who’s thumb was gently rubbing the top of his hand and he felt himself relax when the strange device was put away,” All done.”

Hermione put down her magazine and looked up, blown away as she got a good look at him,” Oh my.”

He pouted at her,” It’s horrible, isn’t it?”

She shook her head to clear it and ignored the flood of moisture between her legs. Feeling decidedly warm, she fanned her flushed face and did the honors, moving his chair around so he could see for himself. Draco blinked in confusion at the strange boy in the mirror. That was him? He looked years younger and not at all like his father.

Frowning, he tentatively touched one of the multiple spikes in his hair. What was that stuff? It made his hair hard as a rock, but not like his gel. Glancing down at the two cans on the table. Mousse and spritz. Strange. But then he’d never had a muggle hair cut before. Hermione put a gentle hand on the back of his neck, glancing at the hair stylist,” Wonderful job...I, I hardly recognize him.”

He smirked to himself but said nothing, thinking that was probably the point. He had recognized that showy owl of Potter’s anywhere, which probably meant the boy-that-lived-to-annoy-him would probably be dropping in for a visit soon.

“ Did you need a touch up yet?”

Hermione frowned and shook out her curls, showing about a half inch of darker brown behind the caramel curls,” No...I think I’m good a bit longer. Just the bill, please.”

The hairstylist nodded, taking off the plastic smock and brushing down Draco’s shirt. He stifled a small giggle when the brush ticked his inner elbow, nodding his thanks silently and following Hermione as she paid and they left. She wrapped her left arm around his right arm and leaned against him, enjoying the warm sunlight,” Mhm.. gorgeous day, isn’t it?”

He nodded slightly in agreement. He’d always enjoyed summer. No school. No inner house nonsense. Just his books and his mom’s gardens. He read all the time and a question popped into his mind. Silently he debated asking it, then gave in,” Would you have a library?”

Hermione gave him a curious look,” I would have thought you would assume it without asking.” He looked away, feeling chastised and she gently brought his chin back around,” Hey...I’m only teasing you...yes, I had one of the spare bedroom converted into a library. It’s filled to the rafters of everything I collected during school...”

“ Could...could I go in a-and read, sometime?”

Nodding openly,” Of course. Books aren’t any use to anybody if they’re never read. Although I will ask that you treat them carefully, some of them a quite old.”

Looking excited, thinking of a way to please her,” I could cast a preserve spell on them. It will keep them from aging another day, protects them from moisture and tearing. With enough time I can even restore them.”

Tilting her head,” You have your wand?” He blushed and looked down, nodding slowly,”...Draco...why is having your wand a bad thing?” He mumbled something so low and quiet she didn’t hear a word. Stopping their walk, lifting his chin enough to look into her eyes,” Please reply in a manner I can hear and understand.”

He closed his eyes and swallowed,” Father told me to leave it behind...I disobeyed him...”

She felt her mind do a little mental cheer. So he does have thoughts and feelings of his own. Good. She was worried Lucius had beaten it out of him. She still was having a hard time processing that the great Draco Malfoy, Slytherin Ice Prince, was little more than a timid mouse now. Although she had a feeling that was just because she was dominant. Were they to encounter Harry or Ron at the moment old Draco would snap back into place. She was going to have to work on that.

“ So...where did you hide it?”

Hearing that she was not upset with him, merely intrigued, he knelt down and slid a finger into a stitch on his boot, pulling out a tiny wand. Very clever. Very Slytherin,” Alright, leave it there for now. We’ll figure out where you can stash it in muggle closing later.”

He did as told and stood back up, feeling surprised,” You’re not carrying yours?”

She cocked an eyebrow at him,” Draco, I’m twenty years old and a witch for the light side. The Death eaters and Voldemort have just been defeated with his little minions scrambling about, looking for places to hide and people to kill...of course I carry it.” She tilted her head to the right, displaying the back of her hair wrapped loosely around a wooden hair pin. His eyes widened, no. It was her wand.

“ Clever.”

She giggled and reclaimed his arm,” Thank you. Now, we have a make over to continue. Hair is completed and I see an ice cream parlor. We’ll treat ourselves and then it’s time to move on to clothes.” He groaned good naturedly but let her pull him along. She was a woman on a mission after all, did he really have a choice?