Paradise Found

Thank you to everyone taking the time to review. I love reading every one of them! I apologize for the wait. I was gone on a trip, but now I’m back. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Beta’d by gardengirlgarden – Thank you!

Disclaimer: I can claim no ownership of the Harry Potter characters used in this fiction.



Of Good and Evil

Harry felt as if a spotlight were on him. Of all the things to announce in a room full of everyone he knew, this would have been the last! He knew exactly what they were thinking. He looked around the room, his eyes locking with Draco’s and then with Hermione’s. Both of them seemed tongued tied as to what to say.

Then the whispers began around the room. “Snape is dead?” “Is this for real?” “Why would Snape’s ghost be here?” “How’d he die, I wonder?”

But Harry knew by the looks they were giving him that they thought he killed him.

“Silence!” Harry snapped. The ballroom grew quiet once more. He looked at Theodore and Pansy. “You must have been mistaken,” he said, calmly.

Pansy shook her head and began to say, “No…” when she felt Teddy squeeze her hand painfully.

Theodore had realized he had put Lord Potter on the spot in front of everyone and he wanted to hit himself for it. In his fright, he hadn’t thought everyone would be listening in. He had only meant to tell the Dark Lord.

“Yes, come to think of it,” Teddy replied. “It wasn’t very clear. Forgive me, my Lord.”

But no one seemed convinced. Harry knew they knew Theodore was now covering.

Harry was surprised to hear another voice step towards him. “May I say a few words?” Dumbledore asked.

Harry nodded, not knowing what to say himself.

Dumbledore sighed heavily. “As some of you have heard, Severus Snape will not be returning to Hogwarts this year.” He looked across the room at Hermione, who seemed on edge with what he might say.

“But the reason he is not returning is not due to death. He is alive, I assure you of that. I cannot divulge his real whereabouts, I’m sorry. Surely it is expected that very old dwellings contain wandering spirits. All who have attended Hogwarts know of our many resident ghosts. I’m sure Mr. Nott and Miss Parkinson have merely bumped into one of the resident ghosts of this grand home.”

Hearing that Snape was still alive from Dumbledore’s lips seemed to pacify the crowd a bit, looks of relief apparent on many.

Harry signaled for the musicians to begin playing again and the guests picked up where they last left off, dancing and socializing. Dumbledore had now made his way to Harry’s side and said, “May I have a word with you, Harry?”

Harry nodded, noticing Hermione making her way towards them with Draco in tow, her brow furrowed with distress.

Harry took her hand and led the group to a door on the side of the ballroom which led to a small retreat parlor.

“I suppose Those-That-Dwell-Below are not on duty tonight?” Dumbledore asked.

Hermione shook her head. “I didn’t want them scaring the guests or playing with their minds.”

“That’s probably why Snape was able to get out of his body,” Draco commented. “They must have been preventing him from entering the house before.”

“It’s obvious he is using this opportunity to seek help,” Harry said. “Is there a way to keep his spirit away from the guests, Sir?”

Dumbledore thought for a moment. “Severus’ situation has weighed heavily on my mind. A part of me wants to reform him, give him another chance.”

Draco’s eyes widened. “But he’s completely mad! You were there; you heard the things he said. How can we trust him after that?”

“Snape’s release is out of the question,” Harry stated.

“I agree,” Hermione said. “He knows far too much and altering the memories of someone with his skill could be ineffective. I’m not willing to take that chance.”

Dumbledore sighed and nodded slightly. He knew they were right, but it still didn’t make things easier. He had thought he had become friends with Severus Snape over the years, and it was hard to accept that he had been duped. Surely his judgment wasn’t that bad, was it?

“Very well,” Dumbledore said, “I’ll try a few things if his spirit shows again. But the problem is he is not properly dead. Severus Snape is willing himself out of his physical body which means he is still able to use his mental faculties under all that ice.”

“Sir, if Snape is able to send is spirit out of his ice prison, what of Merlin?” Hermione pondered, worriedly.

They all looked at her, hit with the same grave fears should that happen.

Then Dumbledore shook his head. “No, I have yet to see a spirit use magic without their physical bodies. It can’t be done.”

“Yet Poltergeists can move physical things,” Draco stated. “Perhaps even Merlin’s staff that is stuck in the ice down there.”

“Move it, maybe,” Dumbledore said. “But not use it. If that were the case, our own Peeves would be taking wands right and left and having his fun with them.”

But this did not pacify Hermione. “Perhaps I should release Those-That-Dwell-Below…”

Draco put his arm about her. “Love, you know what havoc they would play on anyone whom you may not care much for or have had an ill thought about. I don’t think releasing them would be wise. Many of the guests may find themselves down in the dungeons or hanging by their toes from the ceiling.”

“Let’s just hope this night passes without further incidence. I’ll watch carefully for any ghostly appearances,” Dumbledore said.

Harry nodded. “Very well, there are only five or six more hours of this ball left. I think the vigilance of the four of us will be enough.”

OOOOOOOO


Ginny had just finished dancing with all her brothers - even Ron had been pushed out onto the dance floor by his mother, who said everyone in the family HAD to dance with Ginny on her birthday.

Ron had sighed with relief as the waltz ended, happy his obligatory one dance was over. Ginny looked just as relieved that her toes would now be able to recover from her brother’s clumsiness.

“Thanks, Ron,” she said, trying to be polite. But Ron was glaring at someone behind her.

Ginny turned around to see the very dashing Blaise Zabini standing right behind her, a sexy grin on his face.

“May I have the next dance?” he asked, smoothly.

The butterflies returned to Ginny’s belly as she gazed back at the handsome Slytherin. All the girls thought Blaise extremely handsome, but a pureblood snob nonetheless. He had never even looked her way before. Now he looked like every fairytale’s version of Prince Charming as he bowed slightly and held out his hand to her.

Ginny blushed at bit before answering with a soft, “Yes.”

She could see Ron in the corner of her eye huffing with disapproval, but she didn’t care. She placed her hand on Blaise’s and he curled his warm fingers about her delicate ones, his smile growing wider at her acceptance.

The music of the next waltz began and Blaise placed his other hand on her waist as hers found his shoulder. As they began to move around the room, Ginny nervously glanced at the watching crowd, noticing the jealous looks some of the girls were giving her. But she found it hard to keep her eyes on Blaise, as he only had eyes for her - hungry, possessive eyes.

“You look very beautiful,” he said, drawing her attention back to him.

Ginny felt her insides clench and turn, her skin burning. “Thank you,” she replied. Gods, he was hot! But… he was a Slytherin! He was probably only interested in the dowry, she thought. But at the moment, she couldn’t care less. She was determined to have her fun tonight.

She smiled at him and he smiled back, his hand tightening on her waist.

OOOOOOO

Dumbledore walked slowly down the hall and towards the library, looking about and extending his senses in all directions. Nothing, he could feel – nothing.

He walked into the library and looked about. “Severus, are you here?”

No cold drafts, no clammy presence of his old friend.

OOOOOOO

Blaise and Ginny had finished their waltz and were now cooling themselves outside on the veranda as the musicians took a short break. Many others were milling around, taking in the beauty of the stars overhead.

Ginny was feeling more relaxed in Blaise’s presence as he took the initiative to do most of the talking. They marveled at the magnificence of Marlston and spoke about school beginning soon. Ginny was surprised to find how easy Blaise was to talk to. She had always thought him to be cold and aloof.

“I suppose we may be seeing more of each other now that my best friend is together with your best friend,” he said at one point.

Ginny nodded. “I suppose so,” she said, not missing the seductive tones in his words.

“After all, the whole Slytherin-Gryffindor rivalry is a moot point these days, wouldn’t you say?” he asked.

She nodded. “With Harry as Dark Lord, I suppose it is a bit silly to dislike one another due to our house affiliations.”

“Besides, there are still the Hufflepuffs to pick on,” he joked. He looked at her smiling face, honestly finding her refreshing after the sly, scheming women he usually met. He held out his arm and said, “Walk with me?”

Ginny placed her hand into the crook of his arm and they made their way down the stone steps and onto the garden paths. She could feel his body heat radiating warmth toward her and she moved closer to his side.

Blaise smiled, finding that her sweetness appealed to him greatly. He was beginning to feel that courting Ginny Weasley would be no chore at all. In fact, he was looking forward to it. But he had to take things slow, he knew this. Turning his full powers of seduction on her in one night would only incur the wrath of her family, as well as the Dark Lord’s. Courting a girl like Ginny meant that he’d have to earn the trust of those who cared about her.

As they strolled through the garden, they could hear the music beginning to play from the open doors of the ballroom in the distance.

“The dancing is starting again,” Ginny said, wondering if she should be getting back before her family started looking for her.

“How about a dance under the stars?” Blaise suggested, turning to face her.

Ginny couldn’t suppress the butterflies in her belly as she gazed up into Blaise’s handsome face. “All right,” she murmured.

He took her in his arms and they began dancing down and around the garden path, the magical fountains lighting up and putting on a show for them as the danced by. They both laughed at the fun of it all.

On and on they danced, twirling and spinning around flowers that bloomed in their presence until they were exhausted, flopping down onto a garden bench while they caught their breaths.

A chilly wind suddenly blew through the warm night, making Ginny shiver. She looked at Blaise who was holding his head and jerking in a strange way.

“Blaise?” she asked, concerned. “Are you all right?”

He didn’t answer her as he rubbed at the back of his neck and took a large gulp of air.

“Blaise?” she persisted.

His head rose slowly as it turned to look at her. The look in his eyes chilled her and she shivered at the sudden lack of joy she found in them.

It seemed he was having trouble focusing on her. Then Blaise scowled and said, “Miss Weasley, is that you?”

Ginny stood quickly, wondering if Blaise had some sort of memory disorder. “I… would like to go back to the house,” she said, scared. She turned to flee but felt a hand clamp down on her wrist, pulling her back.

She looked at Blaise who was now standing next to her, her wrist throbbing in his grasp.

“You are not going anywhere,” he stated, coldly.

OOOOOOO

After Dumbledore had left the triad alone in the parlor, Draco stood indecisively, wondering why Harry was giving him such introspective looks.

Harry moved closer to Hermione, lifting one arm behind her and embracing her around her waist while his eyes penetrated Draco’s. His green eyes blazed with lust as they slowly traveled down Draco’s body and back up again.

Hermione was looking at Draco, too, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Her tongue darted out to wet her lip.

“See something you like?” Draco smirked, knowing how desirable he was.

“We can have you anytime we wish,” Harry answered, his voice almost a hiss.

“You can force me, you mean,” Draco replied.

“Is that what you want? You want us to force you?” Harry asked, his hand now traveling down to Hermione’s bottom and caressing her, while keeping his eyes on Draco.

Draco watched Harry touching Hermione and swallowed. What the hell did he want? He wasn’t sure. He just didn’t want to seem desperate – though that was a lie. He wanted to fuck them both – hard!

Hermione smelt Harry’s cologne again and her head fell against his arm as she turned her body toward his side, pressing her sex against his leg and sliding her hand over his chest. Her eyes were drowsy with lust as her other hand roamed over Harry’s arse.

“Harry,” she whispered, “I’m so wet.”

“Mmmm…” Harry growled, turning to kiss her head and press her closer onto his leg. His eyes never left Draco’s.

“You think you can seduce me without force?” Draco asked. “You think I’m weak, that I cannot resist such obvious tactics?”

“Why should you resist? You belong to us. You belong with us. It’s very simple,” Harry replied, his voice weaving a spell in the air.

“Perhaps I have more willpower than you think,” Draco stated. He couldn’t believe the things that were coming from his mouth. Why didn’t he just go to them?

Pride.

Cursed pride.

Harry grinned, knowing that Draco was a wreck inside. He could sense the turmoil in his sexy lover. “Then you could watch…” Harry murmured, turning fully towards Hermione and lifting her torso against his so that she was pressed completely onto his front while he kissed her deeply.

“Fine,” Draco replied, flopping down on the sofa and pretending indifference. “I’m not desperate, you know,” he lied.

Harry and Hermione grinned at one another while they kissed, knowing that the opposite was true.

And knowing exactly how to seduce their prey.

Harry carried Hermione to the sofa opposite Draco’s, laying her on her back. He knelt on the floor beside her and lifted her long skirt up, exposing her delicious thighs.

Draco swallowed, crossing his legs, as Harry lowered one of Hermione’s legs to the side, exposing the crotch of her silky, wet knickers. Hermione whimpered as Harry placed one hand on her pelvis, gently stroking her swollen clit through the fabric with his thumb.

Then Harry bent his head to the top of her thigh, whispering something between her legs, kissing and licking the soft skin of her leg.

Draco’s eyes widened when he realized what Harry was about to do.

“No fair, Harry!” he objected. “That’s no fucking… ahhh!” Draco’s body jerked as the feel of Harry’s mouth on his cock ignited his lust. Harry’s head was now between Hermione’s thighs, licking at the tattoo of the serpent made with Draco’s blood. Draco would experience everything the serpent did.

Harry turned his face slightly to watch Draco as he continued to suck and lick the tattoo, his eyes filled with pleasure at making the blond squirm with lust.

Draco uncrossed his legs and fell back onto the cushions, raising his hips in the air, his cock hard and throbbing. He felt Harry’s mouth on him as if he were really there.

“Fuck!” Draco growled, his face scrunched. “No… fair…”

“I want to fuck him, Harry,” Hermione said, her hands traveling over her breasts. “Make him fuck me.”

Harry grinned further at Draco and whispered the words.

“Damn you!” Draco panted.

The serpent tattoo began to move, sliding up Hermione’s leg and under the silk of her knickers. Hermione gasped as the sensation of having Draco‘s cock in her overwhelmed her body.

“Yes,” she groaned, moving her hips and squeezing her breasts.

Harry watched as Draco’s hips began pumping up and down, fucking the air, sweat forming a sheen on his handsome face.

“Oh, fuck, love!” Draco exclaimed. He was losing himself in the sensation of sex. He could feel the grip of her pussy, squeezing him, milking him.

Harry removed Hermione’s knickers, smiling at her. They knew they had won. She returned his smile and nodded.

Then Harry bent down, burrowing his mouth against her quivering, wet flesh, licking, sucking, tonguing her and the serpent fucking her.

Draco felt like he would perish from such pleasure, so intense was the sensation of being fucked and sucked at the same time. His head moved from side to side and his body shook, hands gripping the cushions beneath him. “Gods!” he groaned, tears falling from the sides of his eyes. “I’m yours, I’m fucking yours… I love you…”

Hermione’s orgasm came rushing through her at the same time Draco’s world came undone in a thousand little pieces.

Harry loved the sound of their moans and groans as his lovers came hard. They were all his! And he never intended to let them go.

Harry murmured the words to return the tattoo to normal as he placed one last kiss on Hermione’s pretty clit, his eyes meeting with hers in agreement of a plot gone well. Before he could get off the floor, a heavy weight fell on him, causing him to sit back against the bottom of the sofa.

Draco had pounced on him, his face less than an inch away and his legs straddling Harry’s.

“You win, you wanker,” Draco said against Harry’s lips. “You knew you would, didn’t you?”

Harry smiled. “Yes.”

Draco’s lips crashed down on Harry’s and one of his hands found its way to the belt of Harry’s trousers, tugging and unfastening it.

Hermione sat up on the sofa, hugging her knees in her arms. She loved to watch them kiss – absolutely loved it. Her two wizards, beautiful, sleek bodies and sexy lips, tasting each other. She felt so happy inside that they had broken through this barrier between them and perhaps now things could go back to the way they should be.

Draco had unfastened Harry’s trousers and Harry lifted his bottom slightly off the floor so that Draco could pull the trousers down his legs. Then Draco grinned wickedly as he lowered his face to Harry’s rigid cock, wrapping one hand around the base and sinking the rest into the depths of his hot mouth.

Harry threw his head back onto the sofa and gasped. It felt so fucking incredible. He had been so hard getting those two off, and now finally… his body would be satisfied. He couldn’t help groaning as Draco expertly sucked him, using his tongue in all the spots Harry loved. His mouth moved down to Harry’s balls, sucking and tonguing them one by one while his hand moved Harry’s stiff prick glistening with saliva.

Hermione adored the look on Harry’s face and she turned herself in order to kiss him as his head lay in her path.

When she opened her eyes, she noticed a note fluttering in front of her face. She sighed and took it out of the air, reading the words.

“Mistress, Bugger must speak with you.”

Bugger would never bother her during their intimate moments if it wasn’t important. But she hated having to leave Harry and Draco when things were going so well.

Draco paused a moment and looked up at her in concern.

“Everything all right?” Harry asked.

“I don’t know,” she answered. “I suppose I should check.” She sighed as she stood up and straightened her gown. She picked up her wand and did a charm to fix her hair. “You two carry on. I’ll be right back,” she sighed, heading for the door.

“Yes, Mistress,” Draco smiled, taking Harry into his mouth again.

OOOOOOO

Hermione stepped into the ballroom and looked about. Everyone seemed to be happy dancing and cavorting. No problems were apparent from this vantage point. She turned and saw Bugger standing next to her, clearing his throat.

“Bugger is sorry to disturb the Mistress and the Masters,” he said.

“What is wrong?” Hermione asked, getting right to the point.

“A Count Barannov wishes to speak to you, Mistress. He says it is urgent,” Bugger replied.

“Urgent? I don’t know this Count,” Hermione replied.

“He swore his oath to Lord Potter earlier, Mistress. He comes from Russia with his mother and his sister,” Bugger explained.

“Newly sworn?” Hermione pondered. She looked to the door where Draco and Harry were. She didn’t want to disturb them with business now. They needed this time to make up.

She would just have to handle this herself. “Very well,” Hermione sighed. “Where is Count Barannov?”

“He’s waiting in the library, Mistress. Bugger will come with you. Do not fear.”

“I’m not afraid, Bugger,” she said.

“Yes, Mistress,” Bugger bowed, allowing her to go before him.

When Hermione entered the library she saw the Count standing with his back to her in front of the fire. He had his hands held out to the flames, warming them.

“Count Barannov?” Hermione asked.

Demetrius turned around. “Lady Marlston,” he bowed. “Thank you for meeting with me.”

Hermione looked at the handsome man, wondering what he possible could want. She walked further into the room as she looked into his eyes. There was something very fascinating about his face… mesmerizing.

Suddenly Hermione heard a thud, startling her out of her trance. She turned her head quickly to the side of room, noticing Bugger lying on the floor unconscious.

“Bugger!” she cried, going quickly to his side. She knelt down, gently shaking her loyal servant. “Bugger… Bugger…”

She realized she needed help and stood quickly to make for the door, ignoring Count Barannov.

But the door slammed closed, revealing a woman who had been hiding behind it. The woman smiled maliciously at Hermione, exposing her sharp fangs.

A vampire!

Hermione turned toward Count Barannov in panic.

He stood looking sadly at her. “I’m so sorry, Lady Marlston. So very sorry.”

OOOOOO

A/N Ahhh… two cliffy’s! I’m sorry! LOL I think it’s obvious what happened to Blaise. At least, I hope it was.

Still some mysteries surrounding the Count. What will happen to our poor Hermione?

I hope you enjoyed the smut scene. Don’t worry, it’s not the last. After all the things happening in the plot, Dark Harry will certainly make an appearance. Violence and sex up ahead!

Please send me your thoughts on this chapter. Hope you liked it.