Paradise Found

Here we go again! Thanks to all the reviewers. Your kind words mean a lot to me. Kisses and hugs for you all.

This fiction was beta'd by gardengirlgarden: Thanks, Michelle! (See, two LL's, I didn't forget.)

Enjoy!



Evil Afoot


The music flowed throughout the house as the preliminary dances began, everyone showing off their finery and awaiting the hosts and hostess to arrive. The crowds of light and dark wizards alike, enjoying the festivities yet keeping a bit segregated from one another. Flowers and satin bows of violet, Ginny's favorite color, adorned every table and chair. The ballroom itself was bewitched to appear as if it were a huge, outdoor terrace overlooking a dramatic cliff, below a tropical jungle with a variety of animals roaming or climbing the trees. People exclaimed and delighted over the swinging monkeys chasing and playing on the branches in front of them. Tropical birds flew above the guests, heads, their colorful feathers adding to the extravagant surroundings.

Each guest was announced upon arrival to the other guests and putting each one in the spotlight. When the last carriage had arrived at Marlston, the atmosphere seemed to change and the expectations rose.

The music stopped playing as the lights dimmed, causing all the guests to quiet and look toward the top of the entrance staircase. Torches lit by themselves in sequence and the birds all found places to land, quieting themselves as well.

Harry and Hermione stood at the top of the stairs, her hand holding his offered arm. Everyone was silent as the Bugger announced, "Lord Potter and Lady Marlston." Hermione felt her other hand being swiftly placed on an arm as a whoosh of air brought another to her side. Bugger added, "And Lord Malfoy."

Hermione and Harry both turned their faces towards Draco for a moment, who was looking straight ahead, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Bastard," Hermione said, her voice low so that no one else could hear.

"Not exactly the greeting I was looking for, my love," Draco replied.

"Why did you wait until now? Harry and I wanted to see you privately," she replied, irritated that they had everyone's attention on them and it was the proper protocol to walk down the stairs and go to their special seating area to await Ginny. Hermione knew they couldn't throw their arms about him and kiss him the way she wanted to at this moment.

"Now, now, love," Draco said, patting her hand and faking a smile for the crowd. "We must give the appearance of a unified triad."

Her mouth fell open. "But..."

"Hermione," Harry said, "we'll deal with him later."

Hermione tried to fake a smile as she walked down the stairs, arm in arm with her wizards, but her heart was screaming inside. Why was Draco being such an arse? Didn't he want them anymore? Why was he avoiding them? Why didn't he seek them out when he arrived? Why now? All these questions were pounding in her mind.

Albus Dumbledore stood alongside one wall, observing the triad. He could see the tension between them even though no one else seemed to see it. Everyone smiled as they passed, the dark wizards and witches bowing. He hoped this was just a minor spat as he knew that Harry needed the both of them to be complete and happy.

It was hard for Albus to spend time within these walls with such dark energies in the very foundations. Yet he knew that it was important for him to show a unified front with Harry. The magical world needed to know and be reassured that the dark and the light were now in balance and would be working for the greater good of all.

Draco was a mess inside. As he nodded and greeted those he passed, he stole covert glances over Hermione's lovely head at Harry. They both looked so spectacular tonight and it had been so long since he had made love to them. Every fiber of his being wanted to drag them down on the floor and resume their previous intimacies. But his little power play with Harry had gone too far. It had turned into a battle of wills. Who would cave first?

He knew if he had shown up at a time they were alone in a room, he wouldn't have been able to resist. He would have made a fool of himself in his haste to get them in bed and they would have gloated about how he was foolish to stay away. He was determined not to let his desperation show.

Harry smiled to himself. So Draco was going to play hard to get, was he? Harry vowed to himself that he would bring the sexy blond to his knees before the night was over.

Ginny stood at the top of the stairs, butterflies flitting in her belly, watching as Harry, Hermione and Draco stopped and turned around at the far end of the ballroom. They looked toward her, and in doing so, the attention of everyone in the room now fastened on her. She wanted to run! Her knees shook and she was grateful for the long gown hiding them from view.

Her heart pounded in her ears when Bugger said, "Introducing our guest of honor, Miss Ginevra Weasley." Then people began clapping for her and smiling at her. She was certain she would trip and roll down the stairs in an ungraceful mess. She glanced from side to side as she descended, noting friends and family. She also noticed the Pureblood mothers, whispering in their sons' ears as they observed her.

She made it to the bottom of the stairs without mishap and was grateful to see Harry making his way toward her. When Harry reached for her hand, he held it midway in the air as everyone grew silent.

"I want to wish Ginny the happiest of birthdays," he called out. Everyone applauded in agreement. When the sound died down, he added. "And I wanted to have the first dance with the birthday girl. Ginny, will you honor me with a dance?"

"Yes," Ginny replied, shyly. She wasn't used to so much attention on her at once. Her face was burning.

The music began to play as the crowd backed away. Harry waltzed around the room with Ginny a few times before others began joining in.

"Love, will you dance with me?" Draco asked Hermione, his resistance waning at her beauty.

Hermione turned her face to him. He looked absolutely ravishing in his black dress robes, similar to Harry's. She wanted to berate him for making them suffer so long and acting like it was no big deal. But she found her eyes watering a bit and her voice softly speaking, "I've missed you."

His heart was pounding in his chest, her words touching him deeply. "And I've died without you," he whispered. He took her hands in his. "Dance with me, love. Let me feel your body against mine."

He swept her up in his arms and spun her about, easily moving her into the flow of the dancers. Her eyes still searched his face.

"Do you still love us? Both of us?" she said against his ear.

Her breath tingled against his skin and Draco had to close his eyes a moment to control the swell of emotion inside of him. This was not the place for such talk. He nuzzled her ear in return and said, "I will always love you. Both of you."

Her mouth opened against his neck and he felt her tongue swirl around his skin, tasting him. It was only for a moment, but the sensation branded him for all time. His breath rushed out and his hands shook around her waist. "Hermione," he whispered, his eyes shut. "How could you ever doubt me?"

Harry glanced over at Hermione and Draco while he danced with Ginny, noticing how she was seducing him with her whisperings against his ear. Harry smiled. Yes, Draco would be putty in their hands. But it was him that Draco was upset with, not Hermione. Harry had his own arsenal up his sleeve, however.

OOOOOO

Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, Gregory Goyle, and Vincent Crabbe stood just outside the ballroom door in the grand entranceway. They had retreated here shortly after Harry began dancing with Ginny.

"Group meeting," Blaise announced. The other young men nodded.

Crabbe shook his head. "She's quite a looker, now," he said, as if explaining a new discovery.

"She's got a big dowry and she's a Pureblood," Nott added. The news had spread like wildfire earlier when Narcissa Malfoy began talking to their mothers.

"And don't forget," Goyle said, "she's good friends with the Dark Lord. Whoever ends up with her will probably get more status with Lord Potter."

Not one of them mentioned the fact that she was a Weasley, a fact that, before tonight, would have shut off any future possibilities with regard to pursuing her. The four of them looked into the ballroom and watched her dance with their Lord. It seemed that Ginny had just become the IT girl, the girl who fit all their qualifications.

Blaise smiled a slow, calculating smile. "Then, may the best wizard win."


OOOOO

As the dance with Ginny ended, Harry noticed Lucius Malfoy standing off to one side, looking as if he had something to say. Harry sighed. There was always some sort of business he had to take care of.

When the song ended, Harry kissed Ginny's cheek and said, "Happy Birthday, Ginny."

"Thank you, Harry," she replied, turning to her father, who was waiting for the next dance.

"Excuse me," Harry said. He nodded at Lucius and headed out of the ballroom.

OOOOO

Draco saw Harry exit, his father in tow. He wondered what was going on as he came off the dance floor with Hermione.

"Let's go somewhere private," she said near his ear. Their dance had left her longing for far more intimacy than was possible in the ballroom.

But Dumbledore had made his way to where they stood, greeting them.

"How has your summer been going?" he inquired.

"Very well, sir," Hermione replied. "But I'm looking forward to school beginning again."

"Oh?" Dumbledore replied. He had just noticed Hermione's half-brother, Collum, standing next to them, looking at Dumbledore with an amazed expression. So it seemed Hermione had let him out of the dungeon.

"Dumbledore! Is that you?" Collum exclaimed.

"Why, yes, it is. I'm glad to see you're well," Dumbledore replied, curiously.

"I haven't seen you in ages," Collum said. "Where have you been?"

Ages? They had seen one another just last spring in the Amazon's dungeon. Dumbledore looked at Hermione, who shook her head slightly and looked down at the floor. Dumbledore began to understand what was going on. They had tampered with Collum's memories.

"Yes, it's been a great while. I'm still Headmaster of Hogwarts. And what of you?" Dumbledore asked.

"I work in the village now. My sister here gave me an apothecary to run with my business partner, Meri," Collum replied. "You should come and see it. We've got all sorts of special ingredients, some of them rare."

"I'll do that as soon as I have the chance," Dumbledore said.

"Very well, then," Collum answered. "I'm going to ask that pretty lady for a dance over there. Excuse me."

Collum walked off and Dumbledore looked at Hermione, one old eyebrow cocked. "I see you've made him quite... harmless."

Hermione looked apologetic. "It was the only way I could let him free. I couldn't keep my own brother locked up, yet I couldn't trust him with what he knew."

"I do understand, my dear," Dumbledore replied. "Now only the four of us know. I don't suppose you've considered wiping my memories clean?"

"Oh, no, sir!" Hermione exclaimed. "I trust you. Collum, on the other hand, was a thief."

"Pardon me, love," Draco said, kissing her hand. "I must see to something." His curiosity regarding Harry's business had gotten the better of him and he had to go. Hermione looked disappointed. If only Dumbledore hadn't interrupted, she'd be alone with Draco right now. But she didn't want to be rude to the Headmaster.

When Draco was gone, Dumbledore said, "Miss Granger, we never had the chance to discuss the revelations of that night. I worry that you might be upset with me for not telling you the details of your parents' demise sooner."

"I was upset," Hermione admitted. "But I've also done a lot of thinking about it. I don't blame you, Professor. Terrible things happen during wars. I know that now. The only way to heal is to put it behind me and start my life anew. I've always admired you, sir. Your patience, kindness and fairness have always shown me what kind of person you are."

"And you have always been the epitome of the perfect student, Miss Granger, as well as a lovely young lady," Dumbledore replied.

"I don't know how I would have turned out if I had been raised by Morgana and Sebastian. But one thing I am happy for are the Grangers. They gave me a very happy childhood and I learned about love from them. Thank you, sir, for putting me with them."

Dumbledore felt his old eyes water. He expected her to be angry with him, but instead she was showing gratitude. Perhaps he had done the right thing, after all.

"You're very welcome, my dear, very welcome. Do you fancy a dance, my Lady?"

"That would be lovely," she smiled.

OOOOOO

Draco crept carefully towards the library door. It was opened just a bit, enough for him to see what was going on.

Count Barannov was on his knees, his mother and sister doing the same a few feet behind him. Bugger had the knives and the squares of cloth ready as he waited for them to complete the oath to the Dark Lord.

But Draco didn't care about the Barannovs. His eyes immediately sought Harry, who looked extremely shaggable in those dress robes. Merlin!

The angle he was at, Draco was able to slip further into the room without being noticed. A small wall hid him from view as he listened to Harry's voice asking the Barannovs questions. His hand slid over the front of his trousers and his cock hardened when he heard the authority of the Dark Lord's voice.

Fuck, Harry! Draco held his breath, not wanting to give himself away. His hand unzipped his trousers and he grasped his aching cock, wishing it was Harry touching him. Gods! It had been too long. He shut his eyes as he pressed himself against the wall, his hand gliding along his rigid flesh.

Then he felt a shadow come in front of him and his eyes flew open, only to be met by the blazing green eyes of his lover standing an inch away, smirking.

"Having a good wank?" Harry asked, his voice low so that the others in the room did not hear.

Draco was embarrassed that he had been caught. It was not supposed to happen like this! "Fuck off, Harry," Draco snapped, angrily, pushing him away with his hands.

As he stalked out of the library, he heard Harry say, "If I'm going to fuck anything, it's going to be you."

OOOOOO

Demetrius Barannov stood on the outside terrace overlooking the gardens beyond the ballroom, smelling the cool night air and the sounds of the dark. Behind him the music played and the dancing went on and on. His sister, Katrina, strolled out of the door, searching for him.

"Demetrius!" she exclaimed, urgently. "Let us leave this place immediately. I do not wish for you to do this. We can hide - we'll find a place."

Demetrius looked at her despairingly. She was the only thing in his dismal life that he cared about. "Hide where? She will find us. There is nowhere to hide."

"Lord Potter is dangerous. Did you not feel his power? We cannot do this thing."

"You do not need to do anything, little sister. I am the one to do this."

"But how? How will you get Lady Marlston alone? She does not even know you."

"I will find a way. I have to. If I don't, she will take your life. I cannot have that happen. You are all that is left of the Barannov family. The future rests with you."

Katrina embraced her brother, tears on her cheeks.

OOOOOO

"Teddy," Pansy whined, "let's go someplace private, I need a break from dancing."

Theodore Nott had brought Pansy as his date tonight and was having a hard time getting rid of her now that he decided to pursue Ginny Weasley. Pansy pulled him away from the ballroom and into the hall leading towards the library. Nott dragged his feet.

"Pans, I don't think we should be wandering about. You go sit and rest while I dance. I'm not tired in the least," he tried.

Pansy's radar went up. "Oh? And who are you going to ask for a dance? Are you thinking about dumping me, Teddy?"

"What?" Teddy pretended. "No. I just feel like dancing."

Pansy threw her arms about his neck, pressing herself against him. "Perhaps you can burn off that energy doing other things," she suggested, lustily.

Now that got Teddy's attention. He knew for certain he wouldn't be getting anywhere near the virginal knickers of Ginny Weasley tonight, but... Pansy? That was a sure bet.

He wrapped his arms about Pansy, walking her backwards towards an open door. "Now that's the best idea I've heard tonight," he replied, kissing her neck and making her giggle.

He backed her into the library towards a big, comfortable-looking sofa. He hooked his foot onto the door and kicked it shut.

"Oh, this is a nice spot," Pansy laughed, loving the attention Theodore was now giving her. How she loved horny men! Her legs hit the arms of the sofa and she fell onto it, giggling.

Theodore removed his dress robe and began undoing his trousers while Pansy watched. "You want this, Pans?" he asked, grabbing his cock and pumping it a few times with his hand.

"Mmmm... yes," she said, sucking on the tip of one of her fingers and eyeing him. She pulled up her skirts and slung one leg over the top of the sofa, spreading herself to his view. "You want this, Teddy?" she asked, one hand snaking down to her dark curls below, caressing herself.

"Yes," he answered, taking a flying leap on top of her and making her scream.

"Ouch!" she said, laughing.

Theodore began kissing her neck, his hand between them as he gave her a bit of pleasure with his fingers.

Pansy let out a toe-curling scream, causing him to push off her quickly. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" he snapped. "You screamed in my ear!"

But Pansy lay stiff on the sofa, staring beyond him, her whole body trembling with fear.

Theodore turned about, looking at the same thing Pansy was. On the opposite side of the library stood Professor Severus Snape!

He was looking at them, his mouth moving but no words could be heard and... he was transparent! They could see the bookshelf behind him through his body.

"Merlin, fuck!" Teddy exclaimed, grabbing his pants as quick as humanly possible. They killed him. Lord Potter fucking killed Snape and his ghost was here. Fuck.

His pants were half hanging off of his hips as he grabbed Pansy's hand, tugging her upright and towards the door. She screamed again as it now seemed the apparition of Snape was following them.

They no longer looked behind them, but made a beeline straight for the ballroom, their nerves on end and their faces pale. When they entered the ballroom, witches and wizards noted their disheveled appearance and frightened faces. Dancers stopped dancing and looked at them.

They ran straight across the dance floor, disrupting the dancers, and skidded to a halt in front of Harry who was in conversation with Neville and Seamus. They were out of breath, panting with effort.

"He's here, my Lord," Theodore announced, a bit too loudly. "Snape is here!"

The music stopped and everyone now looked at Theodore and Pansy, but they only had eyes for Harry.

"It was his ghost - Snape's ghost," Pansy added, her body shaking.

OOOOOO

A/N Did anyone guess Snape might show up? LOL How is Harry going to explain this to everyone?

More will be revealed about the mysterious Barannovs next time. There were a few vague clues in the small scene with his sister. Don't know if anyone will pick up on them.

The scene with Hermione and Dumbledore: I originally planned to have that scene in WAWN at the garden party at the end of the story. It bothered me that there should have been some sort of conversation between the two of them after Dumbledore admitted his responsibility in the killing of Morgana and Sebastian. So I was happy to find a place for that scene to take place in this fiction.

And, yes, I know - everyone is waiting for Draco and Harry and Hermione to have some hot lovin. Don't worry, it's coming! What's good sex without the angsty build up?

Those of you waiting for Dark Harry to come out and play won't be disappointed.

So, please write me and tell me your thoughts. I love hearing from you! ~ Petalsoft