Triumvirate

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the songs included in this fanfic nor do I make money off them. These stories are for entertainment only
~

Little child
Be not afraid
The storm clouds mask your beloved moon
And its candlelight beams
Still keep pleasant dreams
I am here tonight

Lullabye for a stormy night - Vienna Teng


~
Hermione sat on the chaise, Draco stood near the hearth. The hour was drawing closer. Any moment now.

The fire in the grate popped and hissed and then, a familiar shape began to form.

A face. Harry’s face.

“Harry!” Hermione cried out, leaving the chase to move closer. Her movements were still stiff and jerky. Painful most days.

When she tottered, Draco put his arm out to steady her. She allowed it, gratefully. Sinking to her knees before the fiery visage of her lord and friend. His voice was like a soothing balm to pained and tired nerves. A lullabye to her senses.

“Hermione, thank Merlin you’re ok! I was so worried! Draco, I haven’t got much time” the voice in the fire said.

Draco nodded, “This is a damn fool idea Harry, I told you they have a Trevelyan! They can track you right to us.”

Harry scowled in the fire, “That’s exactly why I’m here” he said then, “I know who it is.”

Draco knelt before the fire, “Tell me”

Harry’s face moved to Hermione apologetically, “I’m sorry Hermione but please excuse us.”

She scowled, “What? Harry, don’t you think..”

“Hermione! Please? Look I have no time left, you can send me a howler about it later, but I need to talk with Draco alone.”

Draco helped Hermione stand on wobbly legs and led her to the door. She cast angry glances back at the grate, “Don’t think I won’t Lord Potter” she growled at him.

Draco swept her up easily despite her protests and opened the door, “Cain?” he called.

The large man appeared quickly. “Take her to bed” he ordered handing Hermione over.

“Draco Malfoy” she snapped quietly, “You had better put me down”

“I’ll be up soon” he said.

She huffed but Cain was already moving down the hall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco shut the door and knelt before the fire once more. Peering in, he saw only the usual flicker of flames.

“You still there Harry?” he whispered. A moment later, the face emerged from the flames and coals again.

“Florinda Trevelyan. She resides in Venice.”

“I know her” Draco said quietly. This newest target was unexpected, slightly more difficult, but he would succeed.

Harry nodded, “You know your orders.”

Draco nodded in turn, “I do. Now about Hermione ..”

“She’ll be staying with you Draco”. Harry’s voice was deadly calm, deadly serious.

“What?” . Draco was beyond shocked. Assassins simply did NOT play babysitter!

“It isn’t safe for her to return to England, they are closing the borders.” Harry explained. A map danced before Draco’s eyes, showing the glowing red line surrounding England.

“It isn’t safe for her to remain here! In case you haven’t noticed I keep residence with two lycans and a curse of my own. She isn’t well Harry!”

“In all the world the safest place for her to be would be with me” Harry agreed, “Since that is not an option, the second best is with you.”

“She hates me”

“She doesn’t, she just doesn’t know why you are helping us.”

“You didn’t tell her?”

Harry sighed, “Draco those are your reasons to keep. I promised you that.”

Draco ran a hand through his hair, “So you want me to go to Venice, kill my target AND keep Hermione Jane Granger safe from all harm, have I got that right?”

“Just about.” A hint of humor in that smooth tenor.

“It will be difficult, she will be difficult”

Harry chuckled, “She always is. Be careful Draco. I can’t lose either of you. The prophecy speaks of three, remember that.”

Draco nodded, “As you wish my lord”

The fire popped and then all was quiet.
Draco sat before the hearth for very long time. A new target. This did not surprise him. Life as Harry’s assassin had brought him such orders on many occasions. He sighed, lifting his glass in a toast, “To you Florinda, to blow jobs, kinky sex and death” he muttered.

When he finally made his way down the hall to Hermione’s room, he was feeling no better but was at least resigned. He’d also had a fair amount of firewhiskey. Not something he did very often but when you have been ordered to kill your former lover… well, those occasions were just fine.

He pushed the door open to see the candle burning on the bedside table. Hermione was nestled against the pillows, her face peaceful in sleep. A book lay open across her chest. Apparently, she’d been attempting to wait up for him. And she had chastised him as she had chastised Potter.

Oddly enough, that thought made him smile. He reached over, grasping the book, carefully marking her page and setting it aside. Then he sat on the bed and considered this newest facet to his mission. He brushed her hair away from her face and sighed.

All things considered, there were worse things in life. Didn’t he know that though.

He gazed into the hearth of her room, the warmth doing little to warm him from his internal chill.

“I’m sorry” came a soft voice. Draco looked down to find her watching him. “I didn’t believe you. I’m sorry.”

He shook his head.

She sat up a little in the bed, “What did Harry say?” she asked, “Am I allowed to know?” There was hurt in her tone.

Draco sighed, “For, now it would seem that you will be staying with me, and that we are going to Venice.” He went on to tell her that the borders of England were being sealed by death eaters. He suspected that it was for her. Trying to trap her before she could return to the dark lord.

He gave her no details regarding why they were going to Venice. Only that Harry had a mission for him there. Hermione didn’t ask, but her mind was feverishly dancing across the many prospects. Most revolved around death, but she said nothing. What could she say?

“You look tired” she mused to him when the silence grew heavy.

He gave her that lopsided smile she remembered from boyhood.

She noticed then, just how tired he did look. She lifted her hand before she could think better of it and traced the purple smudge under one silver eye. “What are you always rushing off to do?”

She doubted he would tell her and it surprised her when she answered, “Trying to keep us safe. You haven’t exactly kept a low profile here.”

“I came as an ambassador of sort” she grumped, “I had done my homework Mr. Malfoy.” Her hand remained near his eye and he caught her wrist in his larger hand. He unfurled her palm to trace his finger over a silvery scar from long days passed.

“Sometimes we don’t know everything” he reminded her.

She pulled her hand away, trying to break the strange spell of his clear eyes. His answer hitting too close to home. “So you’ve been his secret” she whispered, meeting his gaze again.

He nodded, “And now I am yours.”

His words sent a strange thrill curling through her lower stomach and left a fluttering feeling in her chest. She cleared her throat against the sudden strain she felt. He was close, so close to her. His scent was sweet and spiced, the musk of male. An odd cologne that gave the impression of dark, forbidden candy.

He leaned closer, closer still. And she sat unmoving on the bed. His large arms on either side of her legs. Her breath caught in her throat. Would he? Was he going to…kiss her?

Draco watched her eyes widen fractionally, heard the very thumping of her heart in her chest and knew the exact moment that she held her breath. He merely leaned forward and pressed his lips against her brow. “Get some sleep Mione” he murmured.

She watched him rise and leave the room, shutting the door behind him and fell back against the pillows. Merlin! Had Draco Malfoy really just been so close to kissing her? And why was she feeling disappointment that he didn’t. It made no sense to her. With a huffed breath she put out the candle and curled in the bed, but she knew sleep would be a long time coming. He should have bloody kissed her.


Draco lay in his bed, his chest bared to the murky light of the moon. Hermione Granger. Of all the people to end up with him in any way, the fates must surely hate him. Lifting his hand he murmured and a book floated from his shelf to his grip.

A whispered Lumos, gave him light to see.

A photo album. His mother’s lovely smile flashed at him. His father’s haughty looks. Flipping through the pages, he saw Pansy winking saucily at him. Crab and Goyle plowing through pumpkin pasties. And then he saw them, the Golden Trio.

Always together, always smiling. Always so eager to give life or limb for one another. Such friendships he had never had. Never been taught how to have. In his world, his father’s world, there were only convenient alliances. For wealth, power, stature or survival.

From his father he had learned to covet. And he had coveted greatly the bond of the trio.

In time he had found his own way, made true friendships. Knew that they had the power to change a heart,. To save a soul. Would it be enough to save a life? He often wondered that.

Another page turned, this one only her.

Studying the library. Dashing toward’s Hagrid’s. Near the lake, wind lifting her hair. In the snow, playing like an innocent. And she had been.

The last, was his favorite. She had glanced up at Colin Creevy, and give him a breathtaking smile as he snapped the photo. That smile had been for Harry and Ron who stood just behind. But she was the only one in the photo and Draco and once pretended that smile was just for him.

But it never had been. She had smiled at him warmly twice. Only once in the years they had been in school. The first time when they were first years. She had offered him a shy smile and he had browbeaten her for it. The second was during the Tri-Wizard championship. While being lifted in the air by Viktor Krum, she had caught his eye and smiled.

He’d been so shocked by it that he’d been unable to pound Pansy into his bed later that night. The image of her laughing and smiling had made him want her so badly. But by then the war was nearly in full swing and any chance he might have had was lost.

In the photo, her eyes warmed and she smiled again. He sighed and levitated the book back to it’s place. With a groan he rolled over and punched his pillow. He calmed his breathing but he knew, sleep would be a long time coming. He should have bloody kissed her!