Atlantis

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. Recording rights are property of Island, Republic, Universal, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Warnings: Scenes of a sexual nature


Chapter 4 Facing the Past

Hermione felt her legs tremble beneath her and give way as they buckled sending her towards the ground.

Ron quick stepped forward to catch her in his outstretched arms. \"Hermione are you OK?\" He asked the limp women in his arms.

\"I\'ll be fine, Ron, just get me over to the couch would you?\" Hermione replied shakily.

Ron did as Hermione requested and guided her to the corner of her office easing her into one of the overstuffed couches. Still shaking nervously, Hermione managed to nod at Ron and give him a small smile of gratitude.

Still clutching the note in his hand Harry said, \"Hermione, why would Malfoy be sending you flowers and a gift? It’s not like the two of you ever got along.\"

\"I don’t know, I haven\'t seen him or heard from him in five years,\" she replied.

Anger swept through Ron as he questioned, \"Not even when Ma—\"

For the first time Hermione remembered Anna standing in the doorway and cut Ron off before he could say anything more. Surer of herself than she had been in the last few minutes Hermione confidently replied, \"No, Ron, not even then.\"

Feeling the tension in the room Anna chirpily spoke up, “Oh... Don\'t forget the package Miss, Malfoys are well known for having expensive tastes.\"

Hermione managed a soft small smile as she said,\" Of course, Anna.\" Anna\'s eyes gleamed as she handed Hermione the package, however her hopes of seeing its contents were dashed when Hermione curtly announced, \"Thank you Anna, that will be all please make sure to close the door on your way out.\"

Anna\'s eyes dulled and her smile faded to a frown as she replied, \"Of course Miss. I\'ll be at my desk should you need anything further.\" Without another word Anna swept out of the room noisily shutting the door behind her.

\"What do you think it is Hermione?\" Harry asked tentatively.

Shaking her head, she studied the package as she said, \"Knowing Malfoy, it could be anything.\"

In a strained and worried voice, Ron asked, \"Do you really think it\'s safe to open it after everything that happened? Do you really think that Malfoy wouldn\'t try to hurt you?\"

Rolling the small package back and forth in her hand, Hermione replied evenly, \"Ron, I\'m not sure of anything when it comes to Malfoy, but what I do know is that I\'ve never lived my life in fear of what he may or may not do and I\'ll be damned if I\'m about to start now.\" Before either of her two best friends could register a complaint, Hermione tore open the delicately wrapped package exposing a black velvet case. Her hands shook slightly as she lifted the lid of the case and immediately recognized the Opal Eye Dragon necklace resting on its bed of silk.

“What is it Hermione?” Harry asked from across the room, stirring her from her thoughts.

Slightly confused by the gift, she replied, “It’s the necklace Draco gave me our last day at Hogwarts.”

“The day I found the two of you…” Ron replied

Closing her eyes, Hermione whispered, “Yes.”

~~~~~~~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~

“Mi, are you ok?” Draco asked as he stepped out from behind the portrait

With puffy red eyes she said, “Ron knows that it was more than just today and I’m sure he’s off to tell Harry.”

“It was bound to happen sooner or later. Frankly I’m surprised it lasted this long.” He replied with clenched fists.

“I know, but I’ll loose them, Draco. I could see it in Ron’s eyes. He’ll never forgive me and Harry will be the same. I’ve lost them.” Hermione sobbed; as more tears broke free cascading down her already tear-stained cheeks.

Draco wrapped his arms around her and held her close as he whispered in her ear, “I love you.”

“You’ve never said that before.” Hermione was dumbstruck.

“There never seemed to be a reason too.”

“Why now Draco?”

“Because outside these walls there is still a war going on Mi, we are on very different sides, and I might never get the chance again to tell you.”

Dumbstruck by his comment Hermione stuttered, “But… You… me… them couldn’t we just try? ”

Looking in her eyes he stated without regret, “Mi, I may love you but that doesn’t change who I am. I’m a Malfoy and a pureblood.”

Hermione was taken aback by his declaration and asked, “How can you still believe in such rubbish. You saw where it got Voldemort? He’s dead the war is over.”

Draco looked away as he replied, “For you everything is light Mi, but for the rest of us life is grey. I’m not the perfect man you want me to be. Honor and family mean everything to me, turning by back on the cause would force me to lose both. It was never about Voldemort. It was about preserving the past.”

Unsure what to believe Hermione said, “Harry, Ron, and I nearly died last summer fighting that madman and you’re telling me you still believe he was right.”

Once again gazing into her eyes he whispered, “It wasn’t the end, it was just the beginning.”

Without another word, Draco gently lifted her up into his arms as he carried her to the door of her bedroom, where the two stopped and Hermione asked, “What are you doing?”

He replied, “I’m saying goodbye.”

Understanding that the difference in their worlds was tearing them apart she simply nodded.

Placing her gently on the bed, Draco removed his clothing before making his way to where she lay. His lips found hers as his fingers slowly began removing the few items of clothing she’d hastily put on earlier. Once the two of them were disrobed, they lay together, skin against skin, with Draco’s lips making their way down her neck softly. He left a trail of soft kisses and sensual licks below her ear and on the sensitive base of her neck. Craving more of her sweet taste, his lips found her nipples erect and pleading for his attention. As his warm moist tongue descended upon her nipple, Hermione’s body bucked beneath him as a moan escaped her lips. Before she had a chance to recover, his tongue found the other breast.

Not wishing to neglect any part of her body, Draco made his way, down her stomach and across each thigh as he made his way towards her mound. There the sweet, musky scent of her juices tantalized his senses as his fulfilled his desire to taste her. Dipping his tongue deep into her, Draco lapped up the juices that were flowing freely from her body as he stroke the growing pebble at the crown of her femininity.

Hermione bucked and moaned as his ministrations continued to a point she could take no more and she pleaded breathily, “Draco, I need you inside me.”

As his throbbing erection strained painfully for attention, he complied with her request and slowly slid himself into her allowing her to take him in fully before starting his rhythmic motion.

The two sweating lovers panted and moaned as they worked to match each other until their passion erupted in an overpowering orgasm.

Spent, they lay in each other’s arms, basking in the warm afterglow of their lovemaking.

Draco broke away for a moment as reached into is robes and pulled out a small black velvet box, he handed it to Hermione as he said, “I wasn’t sure of the right time to give you this, but now seems as good a time as ever.”

Inside the box resting on bed of silk Hermione found a necklace with dragon charm on it. The dragon opened it eyes to reveal its pupil less glittering orbs, stunned by the gift Hermione replied, “Oh Draco. It’s beautiful.”

Pleased that she was obviously happy with the gift, Draco explained, “It’s an Antipodean Opal eye. Beautiful to look at, but dangerous, just like you.” Draco lifted the necklace from the box and placed it around Hermione’s neck.

With a teary smile, she said, “Thank you, Draco, but I can’t.”

Draco looked deep into her glistening brown eyes as he stated, “I want you to have something to remember me by.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I’ve seen that necklace before.” Harry stated in wonderment. “Malfoy had it clenched in his fist when they hauled him off to St. Mungo’s. He just kept muttering ‘I hate you for this.’ Him being locked up in the dungeon may have made him nutters, but it saved him from getting the Kiss with the rest of them.”

“Stop, Harry.”

“Why, Hermione? It’s not like we all don’t know Malfoy probably faked it just to save his ass. He was there with the rest of those pureblood fanatics. Hell he was harboring half of the holdouts.”

“He wasn’t all bad Harry.”

~~~~~~~~~ flashback~~~~~~~~~
Malfoy Manor-final battle

“Draco, leave get out of here.” Hermione whispered to the black robed man before her.

“No you go; I can’t believe Potter would bring you here. It’s not safe.” Draco retorted as he grasped Hermione by the arm and began dragging her downstairs.

“Draco where are we going?”

“The dungeon.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s the only damn place I can think of where you’ll be safe. If we win I’ll say you’re my prisoner and figure out a way to get you away from here. If Potter wins he’ll find you safe and sound.”

The dungeon was cold and thick with the stench of decay. Hermione reached out to steady herself on the narrow stairs, but her hand recoiled as she felt a half decomposed skull resting inside a nook along the wall. Horrified by site of hundreds of such coves lining the walls housing heads in various stages of decomposition she screamed.

Clasping his hand around her mouth, Draco pulled her down the remainder of the stairs.

“Don’t look at them. They can’t hurt you. I won’t let anyone hurt you.” Draco stated fiercely as he held Hermione’s face in his hands.

“Draco, who are they?”

“Mi, Listen to me. Don’t think about them they can’t be saved. The only person who matters in this room is you. You’ll be safe here until battle over. You won’t have to wait long. So just close your eyes and wait here.”

Without warning the door at the top of the steps was thrown open and black cloaked figure stepped through the doorway.

“Stupify” Hermione cried out.

The intruder wobbled at the top of the stairs, before falling down the stairs and landing awkwardly with a sickening crack at the bottom.

Rushing toward the fallen body, Draco pulled back the cloak to reveal the last face he expected. “MUM!” he cried out.

“Finite Incantium. Draco I’m sorry I didn’t know who it was I panicked. Finite Incantium. Finite Incantium”

“You killed her, you killed her!” Draco howled in anguish as he leapt at Hermione. He barely managed to grasp her necklace as she backed away.

“Draco, stop it. It was an accident.” Hermione screamed.

Tightening his grip on the necklace he growled, “I hate you for this.”

“No, Draco, please.” Hermione gasped as the necklace cut off her air supply.

“Please save you. Like you saved her.” Draco bitterly retorted as he clenched the necklace still tighter around her neck.

Forcing her wand into his chest Hermione whispered, “Stupify”

The clasp of the chain broke as Draco’s arms snapped to his sides and he fell back taking the necklace with him.

Not wasting any time, Hermione drug his body into the nearest cell. Looking around the dungeon one last time Hermione said, “Your right this is a safe place to be.” Stone cold grey eyes glared back at her as she continued, “I’m needed up there, it’s where I belong. You’ll be safe here. Goodbye, Draco.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~

The sleeping dragon looked up at her and blinked its sparkling eyes. Hermione slipped her hand under the miniature dragon only to feel a tug behind her navel as she disappeared from the room.

As Harry and Ron both looked wide-eyed at the spot where Hermione had just been seated, the only thing left was a discarded velvet box. Ron reached out to the emptiness as he cried in a hoarse voice, “Hermione!”

****

Hermione landed with a whoop on large bed covered in dark green shimmering sheets that felt cool and soft beneath her, it wasn’t until she heard laughter that she realized the predicament she was in.

“You always did look good in bed, Mi,” commented Draco from his place on the couch.

Infuriated by having been brought to his lair, Hermione angrily responded, “Not that you’d remember. If I recall correctly, you were more of a dirty broom closet kind of guy.”

His eyes narrowed as her cold words struck him, he replied, “I never heard you complaining. In fact, you seemed to take me anywhere you could get me.”

“You bastard!” Hermione shouted as stood up, searching for her wand to hex him, only to remember it was back in her office resting in her jacket pocket on the back of her chair. Instead she crossed the room like a flash of lighting and reached out to slap the smirk off his face.

Her attempt failed as he deftly caught her hand before she was able to come in contact with him. “Temper, temper, dear. I can’t have you marring my devilishly good looks before a concert. What would all my adoring fans say?” He grinned.

“They’d probably ask who let your over inflated ego out of St Mungo’s?” Hermione replied as she fought to free her trapped wrist.

“Should I tell them who put me there in the first place?” Draco whispered in her ear as he took in the scent of her light floral perfume and strawberry-scented hair.

Finally managing to break away from his grip, she spotted the necklace on the floor and dashed for it, only to be blockaded from her escape when he shouted, “Finite Incantium,” removing its ability to be used as a portkey.

She placed her hands firmly on her hips as she spat, “Damn it, I have let them take you to Azkaban with the rest of those murdering fanatics.”

Draco’s grey eyes turned cold as steel as he icily replied, “Not all murderers are in Azkaban, Granger.”

Knowing full well that he was referring to, she calmly stated, “I was protecting us and you know it. It was a war and I had to defend myself.”

Closing the distance between them, he glared down at her, growling, “You didn’t defend yourself, Mi, you murdered.”

Breaking the eye contact between them, she quietly replied in a shaky voice, “It was an accident.”

Reaching out and holding her firmly by each arm, he forced her to look at him as he said, “Damn it Mi, she was my mother and I loved her, but I’m not going to let you just walk away again without a fight.”

“So that’s what this is about, your chance to get back at me?” Throwing her arms out wide Hermione shouted. “Take your best shot Malfoy.”

“Hermione there’s been enough hurt. I want us, the way were before the war.”

Looking away from his gaze, she stated, “Malfoy, there is no ‘us’ and I’m not sure there ever was. You need to leave the past behind. I know I have.”

“Only if you say you feel nothing when I do this—’’ His strong arms wrapped around her body as he pulled her body towards his. In the same fluent motion his lips captured hers.

The tension in her body slowly melted as she yielded to his gentle kiss.

As he broke away with a grin on his face and a gleam in his eye, he said, “I didn’t think so.” He released her before he continued to say, “When you finally realize what you want is right in front of you, I’ll be waiting.”

Furious that after so many years, a single kiss could stir up such strong feelings, she angrily retorted, “I’m not some naive little girl who believes in love. I’m not willing to be your dirty little secret again, Draco.”

With his wand in hand, and a smirk he simply replied, “I never said you had to be,” as he left the room with a pop.

Hermione stomped her foot as she shouted, “AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Not wishing to stay a moment longer than she had to, she left the room and followed the sounds of the screaming fans as she made her was through the various hallways and stairs of the building. Once she turned the final corner she could smell the overpowering aroma of smoke and alcohol. Before her multitudes of witches and wizards packed the bar swaying to and fro, listening to the anguish of the enchanting dragon on stage. His steel grey eyes caught hers and pierced her soul.

This time, This place
Misused, Mistakes
Too long, Too late
Who was I to make you wait
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there’s just one left
‘Cause you know,
you know, you know

That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you’ll be with me
and you’ll never go
Stop breathing if
I don’t see you anymore

On my knees, I’ll ask
Last chance for one last dance
‘Cause with you, I’d withstand
All of hell to hold your hand
I’d give it all
I’d give for us
Give anything but I won’t give up
‘Cause you know,
you know, you know

That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you’ll be with me
and you’ll never go
Stop breathing if
I don’t see you anymore

So far away
Been far away for far too long
So far away
Been far away for far too long
But you know, you know, you know

I wanted
I wanted you to stay
‘Cause I needed
I need to hear you say
That I love you
I have loved you all along
And I forgive you
For being away for far too long
So keep breathing
‘Cause I’m not leaving
Hold on to me and
never let me go (1)

As the song played on, Hermione broke eye contact and made her way out of the building into the cool night air.

*****
(1) nickelback- Far Away

******
A/N for those of you who have read this before you will recognize the changes to the story. HBP really through the ship for a loop, but even before that having not been 100% happy with this chapter (it gave me one hell of a writer block) it took a long time to worked though those areas and hopefully it\'s more believable.

Love it hate it, Let me know