Driven

Disclaimer: I do not own the world of Harry Potter, but Blessings to JKR for creating it.

A/N: The first part of this chapter is a flash back. Sorry it took me so long to get this up! Thankyou so so much for all of your reviews.


Chapter 6: Initiations and Hangovers


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One Month Earlier: Yorkshire Dales


Draco blinked a few times as the blindfold was removed. They had apparated to somewhere in North Yorkshire, and Severus had insisted he be blindfolded before they proceeded to the site where Draco would receive his mark.

He had heard descriptions of what Voldemort looked like in his re-embodied form but they did not prepare him for what he saw as he was roughly pushed to his knees to bow in the presence of evil itself.

Grayish skin was stretched tightly over a frame that could barely be called human. He had no hair, slits where his nose should be, and eyes the color of blood. He sat before all his followers like a king on a throne. He drummed his long bony fingers on the arms of the stone seat that he occupied.

“Draco Malfoy,” the creature once known as Tom Riddle hissed, “I believe my orders were fairly straight forward. I also believe that the groundwork for you to carry them out was sufficiently laid yes?”

A knee in the small of his back indicated to Draco that the question had not been rhetorical. “Yes my lord,” he replied, every ounce of control he possessed focused on keeping his voice steady and unemotional.

“I see. Enlighten me. Why were you unable to carry them out yourself?” Voldemort replied.

With his head down as it was, Draco could not see Snape gesture to the Dark Lord that he would like to speak his behalf. But he assumed that is what happened because Severus explained to Voldemort that Draco did not have the shot, and about the promise he had made to Draco’s mother to look out for him. A piece of information that he was not aware of but that made sense given his mother’s reaction to Voldemort’s orders.

Draco was not aware that he was holding his breath until he heard the next words uttered by the monster.

“Stand up Draco. You are still young but I think that with some training by your father and Godfather you may turn out to be useful. I am going to mark you this night, as you know this means that whenever I call upon you, you must come.” Voldemort said standing before him and uttering the words that Draco had been dreading.

It started as a tingle that ran up his spine, across his shoulder and down his arm ending just above his wrist. Then lights exploded behind his eyes as a pain he could never have imagined ripped through him.

He tasted coppery blood as he bit down on the inside of his lip to keep the scream from escaping him. He focused on breathing, thought about his Blaise, anything to keep his mind off the pain in his arm.

Just as quickly as it started the pain dulled to a burning sensation. Voldemort and all but one Death Eater disapparated, and Draco dropped to the ground spent. Severus rushed to his side, muttering a pain relieving charm. “I’m going to get you out of here.”

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Hermione didn’t want to open her eyes, she could tell the sun was up and the pounding in her skull was a vivid reminder of the pissing binge she had gone on the night before. “Accio sunglasses,” she whispered, placing the shades on her face that had just flown across the room into her outstretched hand.

She knew she had to sit up. She thought to herself ‘this is your own fault, and yes you have to go to work.’ She managed to pry her eyes open, groaning out loud as she did so. With a lot of effort she sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed, a wave of dizziness washing over her. She stood slowly and walked out of the room.

“Merlin Mione you…..” Draco stopped mid sentence as Hermione put her finger to her lips, indicating that he was too loud. She walked over to the coffee pot and poured a mug, turning then to sit at the table and repositioning the sunglasses perched on her nose.

She wasn’t entirely sure that the coffee was going to stay down but she didn’t see any other option. Both boys noticed that she still looked a bit green and she hadn’t even taken a sip from the mug in front of her she just kept staring at it warily.

Draco went into his room and came back out with a small vial which he poured into Hermione’s mug and whispered, “hangover potion.”

“Ta,” she whispered back and tentatively took a sip. The immediate effect was a reduction in her nausea which allowed her to finish the coffee. By the time she had finished her mug off she was feeling much better, though she was still a bit pale.

Standing slowly she turned towards her room and said, “I’m going to go have a shower, if I’m not back in ten minutes ready for work don’t fret I’ve just drowned.”

She was ready in just under ten minutes and as the boys were ready and waiting for her, they all headed out to work. Hermione was really glad it was Friday.

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Draco was sitting at his desk reading some material on Muggle artifacts that Arthur had given him to study. He actually found it all very interesting, though he would never admit that to anyone. He’d been at it for hours and was a bit stiff, so he stood up to stretch.

He grinned as he saw an arm pop in his door, wiggling a pack of cigarettes at him, he couldn’t see who was holding it but he knew it was Hermione. She stepped around the door, “fancy a break?”

“Hell yes, I think my brain is melting!” He replied, adding, “How’re you feeling?”

“Better, but nicotine deprived,” she said with a grin.

They headed for the elevators and went to the balcony designated for smokers on the ground floor, so they wouldn’t have to go back through security. They lapsed into silence as they both lit up and took long drags.

“We fancy you too, Mione,” Draco started abruptly, she looked up at him eyes wide as saucers as he continued, “that’s how we ended up you know the other night, we had been talking about you and it drove us crazy.”

She sputtered, “But….How… and when?” She walked over to the bench and lowered herself onto it. He walked over and sat next to her, using a finger to lift her chin so she would look at him.

“Love, I have wanted you from the moment I saw you, but it would have been shite all if my father knew that. I so badly wanted his fucked up approval that I played the dutiful son, the Slytherin Prince. I played the part so well that you truly believed I despised you, hell I almost had myself convinced until you slapped me. Blaise knew because he was the only one I ever took off the mask with. Once we were together, he called me on it one day, and once I explained to him what I saw in you, his feelings for you developed.” He explained softly.

She took a long drag on her cigarette and he noticed that her hand was shaking, as was her voice as she spoke, “I don’t know what there is to discuss really, you and Blaise are already together, and I’m just a complication.”

“Hermione, I know that you’re innocent, but bloody hell, you’re not ignorant. We both want you, it may not be conventional but it’s certainly not the weirdest most depraved thing possible.” Draco said.

“Draco, I’ve never done anything besides snog, and while yes, I’ve heard girls talk do you honestly think that,” lowering her voice dramatically, “a three way is something I’ve actually contemplated?”

“Yes, actually I do, based on your expression the other night.” He replied.

She didn’t deny it. Her mouth opened and closed a few times as she tried to come up with a retort, but what was the point really? It was painfully obvious that the wanker could read her like her well loved copy of “Hogwarts A History”. Naturally she could read him too, and that smirk on his face, the face that she dreamed about constantly, clearly said that he had her.

She shook her head no, “No. No, this won’t work; it’s not even an option. I can’t date two boys at once, let alone the two of you. Regardless of what my hormonal response may be. And for that matter……”

She was silenced as he gently put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her. At least she thought he kissed her. It was so brief, just a brush of his lips really, that she thought maybe she had imagined it.

The cigarette fell from her hand forgotten as she stared at him.

“We need to get back to work Mione, we can continue this tonight at home.” He said shaking her from her stupor.

“Yes, I’m sure Kingsley must be wondering what happened to me by now. Oh, I uh…. I’m going out dancing tonight, to a Muggle. I was going to ask if you guys wanted to come with me but now……” She replied.

“Well, I know that Blaise is going home for the weekend at the bequest of his mother. I have quite a bit of work to do for Arthur, but maybe I can meet up with you after I make some headway.” Draco suggested.

“Right then, um, the clubs called Gin & Tonic, I’ll send you the address once I get back to my desk.” She replied, she looked like she wanted to say something else, then changed her mind and headed back inside.