The Objects of Desire

Coming of Age

Draco stood in the middle of a crowd all wearing black hooded cloaks and white masks. He looked around to gain his bearings; he was in a dungeon somewhere. It was old but in constant use with freshly whitewashed walls, the torture equipment around the room was in good working condition and showed signs of resent use.
He struggled to hide his revulsion as a grotesque figure he knew to be The Dark Lord walked onto a dais at the front of the room. “Wonderful, ssso niccce to sssee ssso many of my loyal ssservantsss ssstanding here tonight.”

So many, thought Draco, in a voice that reminded him of his fathers, we’re only thirty-five and most of them are ill trained infants.

“You have a point Malfoy,” asked The Dark Lord his face warped with anger.

“No my lord,” he said looking down at his feet.

“Don’t lie to me Luccciusss,” spat the creature venom literally spraying from his mouth.

“I just thought that our numbers are very limited My Lord,” said the regal wizard his head bowed low inwardly cursing himself for the moment of weakness.

“What isss my posssition on recruitment?”

“You don’t want to show your hand until you know the contents of the prophecy My Lord,” Lucius shook with fear he knew what was coming and braced himself for the worst.

“Crucio, I will not have my followersss quessstioning my ordersss even in their own headsss do I make myself clear?”

“Yes My Lord,” replied the crowd as one, the fear evident in their voices.

Draco woke with a start his body still shaking in response to the curse his father had suffered. He rose quickly from the bed and headed for the common room that had become his usual early morning haunt over the past two weeks.

He started pacing in front of the fireplace waiting for the inner monologue to start.
“Where the bloody hell are you,” he snapped.

“Who me?” asked the voice that had become a constant part of his early morning over the past fortnight.

First, he would dream, either about what the death eaters would do to Hermione, himself, or the abuse his father took at the hands of The Dark Lord. Then would come the discussion, this was a time when he could think through the dream and try to make some sense of it.

“Yes you every morning you come uninvited into my mind, offering your six Knuts worth of advice on my situation,” snapped Draco. “So go for it I’m all ears.”

“What do you want me to say that it’s all a nightmare, that The Dark Lord would never treat his followers like that, especially one as important as your father?” Sneered the voice in his head.

“Well yeah.”

“Not going to happen.”

“Why?”

“Because it wouldn’t happen to be true.”

“My father is a proud pureblood wizard there is no way he would allow himself to be treated like that,” said Draco becoming irate.

“That’s why he never brought The Dark Lord back,” Draco’s mouth hung open.

“Think about it, a snivelling rodent like Wormtail could find and re-body him, but a great wizard like your father could not?”

“My father didn’t want The Dark Lord back,” the young wizard said incredulously. “Nobody wanted him back,” he continued with more conviction.

“But he still hated mud-bloods,” stated Draco with a smile.

“Your father led a sheltered life,” countered the voice, “his lack of contact with all things muggle, enabled him to keep his views on muggles without every having to question them.”

***

Daphne smirked as she walked into the common room to see The Prince of Slytherin deep in conversation with himself.

He looked up and acknowledged her presence, “Greengrass.”

“Malfoy,” she shot back, “How goes it with the alluring Miss Granger?”

“Slowly but surely,” he said with a half smile, “it’s taking at lot of work to gain her trust, but I’m getting there. How are you faring with Potter?”

A broad smile filled her face, “just wonderful, he’s taking me to that new restaurant Sunday night, ‘Landini’s’ I think it’s called.” She turned to hide the smirk as his lips thinned and his eyes darkened, telltale signs that Malfoy was angry.

“Rather expensive place for a couple of school kids isn’t it?” asked Draco.

“Well he can afford it, and he enjoys spoiling me,” she said with a purr in her voice, she knew how much it bugged Draco to lose the bet every week and she made it her objective to make sure he knew how his money was being spent.

‘Teach the little git for playing with my life,’ she thought to herself, a little giggle broke past her guard before she could regain control.

“What?” asked Malfoy, studying her closely.

She blanched slightly suddenly caught of guard by her slip up, “what you want me to share the delightful images of our relationship?” she purred, a broad smile filled her face as Draco started fidgeting. She knew the bet stated that he had to act as her confidant, and was well aware how uncomfortable that would be for him.

“O-only if you wanted to,” he said his eyes pleading with her to cut him some slack.

“Oh this is wonderful,” see beamed up at him, “it’s not like I can talk about it to the girls in my dorm room, well except Tracey and there just so many times you can tell a girl how wonderful a boy is without her switching off.”

A smug feeling of satisfaction filled her as Draco started to go green as she spouted off all the nights of passion she spent with Harry making sure to be really mushy for his benefit. She sat and watched in fascination as Draco looked at the stairs leading to the dorms hopping against hope that someone would come down and rescue him. An hour past in the blink of an eye as she regaled all the wonderful things Harry had done for her, taking great care to talk about all the money he seemed to be spending on her.

Draco looked up with relief as the door to the boys’ dorm finally opened, “Zabini,” he called, “ready for breakfast?”

“Malfoy, Greengrass,” the dark haired wizard replied, “sure let’s go.”

“I’ll join you in a minute,” she said, “I’ve got to get my book bag.” She stood and started to walk towards the stairs, “oh thanks for the chat Malfoy we should do it again sometime.”

The look on the young wizard’s face was priceless, as he didn’t know how to answer her, “erm, yeah, we’ll talk again,” he said before making a break for the portrait.

Daphne made it to the girls’ bathroom before she broke down it fits of laughter. “And everybody wonders why I was placed in Slytherin,” she laughed heartily to herself.

***

Hermione woke with a smile; seventeen was an important age in The Wizarding World. Finally, she would be able to take her apperation licence. She had an appointment at the Ministry for ten o’clock. A frown filled her features; this of course meant that she would miss a morning’s lessons. Hermione hated missing lessons, more than anything in the world, well almost. However, the thought of being able to travel from one place to another at the blink of an eye was quite liberating.

The fact that she could finally do magic outside of Hogwarts topped even that feeling. It also meant that she could finally start her project, on finding a counter potion for The Cruciatus Curse. All the arrangements had been made a lab had been obtained at Sterling University and all the security needed put in place. They would be heading out Saturday morning and not returning until Sunday night. This would be the weekly arrangements until the project was finished.

Every weekend locked up in a university with only Draco and a group of adults for company. She smiled to herself wickedly at the thought. This was her chance to get under his skin, make him really beg for it.

She thought back to the morning after they announced the project to Professor Snape and The Headmaster.

They had been called into his office at eight o’clock neither of them knowing why they were there. All memory of the project wiped from their minds, until Professor

Dumbledore gave them a piece of parchment.

You will be carrying out a potions project to counter the effects of The Cruciatus Curse.

That instant Hermione remembered all her research. It came flooding to her mind fresh, every detail crystal clear, giving her a tingling sensation down her spine when she realised once again that she could finally play a significant part in ending the war.

She smiled at she rose from her bed to get ready for another day
Twenty minutes later, she walked down stairs into the common room to see all her friends sitting staring up at her. All of the sixth years were there plus several members of the other years, Ginny, Katie Bell, and the Creevey brothers to name but a few.

“Hey guys you all waiting for me?” she asked coyly as she reached the bottom step.

“Well let’s see, are there any other witches here who have just turned seventeen?” asked Harry a broad smile on his face.

She looked around for a moment seeming to be waiting for someone to walk out of the woodwork, “I guess not,” she said looking at the gathered crowd with a tear in her eye. It wasn’t often that anybody but Harry or the Weasleys showed any kind of affection towards her. She knew that the four of them would be waiting for her, but the rest of them were just such a shock. Her jaw dropped as they rang out a chorus of happy birthday, the tears started flowing freely as they walked to her one by one and wished her happy birthday.

“Presents,” said Harry his smile broadening, “at the party in the room of requirements tonight at eight o’clock. Oh and bring Draco.” He added his smile still firmly in place, “it’s about time he found out what it’s like to have real friends.”

“A party for me?” she asked in a whisper, “not just a tea party with you, Ron and Ginny around the back of Hagrid’s hut, but a proper birthday party.”

The rest of The Gryffindors looked sheepishly at her. “Look I know we all take you for granted,” started Katie Bell.

“You’re our dependable Hermione,” said Dean.

“The one we all rely on with out ever mentioning it,” added Seamus.

“You’re just always there to help us when ever we need some advice,” continued Lavender.

“With our potions homework for example,” Neville stated, gaining a laugh from the crowd.

“Or helping to save the world every single year,” continued Colin.

“Harry gets all the unwanted attention,” said Parvati.

“And Ron all the adoration,” sighed Natalie MacDonald, gaining another laugh from the crowd as Ron turned red.

“So we are giving you this party as way of an apology for the way we have treated you,” said Denis.

“And a thank you for all you have done for anybody who has ever asked for your help,” concluded Katie.

“I, I don’t know what to say,” replied Hermione her voice rasping with emotion.

“Say you’ll forgive us,” said Seamus, looking at her with mournful eyes.

“That you accept our thanks,” continued Lavender.

“And will continue to help us with our homework,” added Neville.

“Relax Neville, I will always help you with potions,” laughed Hermione thankful for his mood breaker, “and I’m truly touch that you would all take the time to show you care. I will defiantly be at the party tonight.

“So,” she said to Ron when the crowd finally cleared, “Natalie MacDonald hey.”

“Hermione, she thirteen for Merlin’s sake,” he snapped.

“Relax it’s a crush,” she laughed, “All girls have them at some point or other, she’ll be over it before the years out.”

“What so no girl could be really interested in me?” he shot back hurt that she had made light of the girls attention.

“I hear Tracey Davis is rather taken with you,” she replied a smirk filling her lips.

“The Slytherin?” he asked his voice full of disdain, “you think that I could go out with one of those snakes.”

“Relax Ron,” she sighed, “they’re not all bad, there is an exception to every rule you know.”

“What you mean like Malfoy,” Ron countered laughing at the fact that the incredible bouncing ferret wasn’t evil.

“No, he is the rule,” said Hermione smiling at his bloody-mindedness, “Daphne and Tracey are the exceptions.”

“So you think I should go out with Tracey?”

Hermione nodded beaming at him brightly, “ask her to the party tonight.”

“What if she says no?”

“She won’t mate,” interrupted Harry, “Daphne seems to think that she’s interested.”

“That would mean that all three of us would be dating Slytherins,” he stated in disbelief.

“Remember what the sorting hat said last year about the houses needing to come together to end the hostilities,” replied Hermione.

“So me dating Tracey Davis is going to defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?” he said incredulously.

“The war is about more than defeating Voldemort,” said Harry, “he was gone for thirteen years, but the same petty prejudices abounded.”

“We have to break down the boundaries that keep The Wizarding World fractured,” said Hermione enthusiastically. “The lion must lay down with the lamb.”

“Or the snake in this case,” corrected Ron finally getting with the program.

***

Draco sat reading his potions textbook when the door opened. He carried on reading to the end of the page before looking up. ‘Two can play this game,’ he thought to himself.

“You’re… wow,” he said looking at the vision of beauty walking down the steps.

The temperature in the room had just raised fifty degrees. Merlin it was taking all his self-control to keep him from jumping her where she stood.

“It’s called a cocktail dress Draco,” she said giving a twirl, “you like?”

“Well it’s close to obscene but I’m not complaining,” he replied his eyes moving everywhere to take in the beauty standing in front of him.

“Nice to know a lady’s efforts haven’t been in vain,” she replied smiling at him seductively.

What’s she doing? He thought to himself. H knew it was her birthday, did she expect him to take her somewhere special? “Again not that I’m complaining but isn’t that a bit much for a study date?”

“It’s my seventeenth birthday,” she said smiling at him nervously, “you know coming of age and all that.”

“I know,” he said holding out a present, “but I didn’t know you would want to do something special, I’m still not sure what the boundaries are.”

She worried her lip as if trying to pluck up the courage to tell him something. He closed his eyes and tried to regain his composure, had she any idea what that little sign of insecurity did to him.

“There’s a party in my honour in the room of requirements at eight o’clock,” she said looking at him with pleading eyes.

“So you’re abandoning me,” he said back to his melodramatic best.

“I was hoping you would come,” she said giving him a seductive smile.

“You want me to attend a gathering with a room full of Gryffindors?” He asked in disbelief.

“Not only Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs as well oh and two other Slytherins.”

“Two?”

“Yeah, Tracey Davis is going with Ron.”

“So he finally plucked up the courage to ask her.”

“No,” said Hermione looking down at her feet, “Harry asked Daphne to ask her.”

“Good to see that I’ve got a friend who fancies your friend still works,” said Draco with a smile.

“I know,” she said with a sigh, “otherwise Ron would never get a date.”

“So do you want to come to my party?” she asked hopefully

“I don’t know,” he said looking at her trying to weigh up his options.

“I could make it worth your while,” she purred seductively wrapping her arms around his neck.

He closed his eyes again, as he tried to regain his composure, his body was responding to her close contact in ways that it currently shouldn’t. “I’m willing to listen to offers,” he replied encircling her slender waist with his arms.

Her lips thinned as she thought on his words, “Offers hey, so a night dancing with me in your arms isn’t incentive enough.”

“Well I thought you would be enjoying that as mush as I,” he replied gliding her around the room mere millimetres between their bodies.

“How about we forget about your little slip up from a fortnight ago,” she said frowning deeply.

“And?”

“And if you’re a really good boy you may get a goodnight kiss,” she said rubbing the side of his face with her thumb.

He smiled up at her brightly, “you know if you had really being playing hardball I would’ve settled for being able to dance with you all night.”

“Yeah, but who said I’m not looking forward to the good night kiss too,” she smiled pulling away from him licking her lips for effect.

A broad smile filled his face, finally he was getting somewhere he grabbed hold of her hand as she made for the door, gently caressing the back of it with his thumb.

She smiled at his innocent gesture of affection before leading him towards the room of requirements.

***

Hermione’s jaw dropped as she walked into the room. The lighting was dim and groups of small tables surrounded a dance floor. Up on the stage stood Dean Thomas loading records from the eighties and early nineties onto a windup gramophone someone had transfigured to play records.

“This is wow,” she said when she finally found Harry and the others.

“No,” said Harry, “you’re like wow, Hermione you look amazing.”

“Hmm, hmm, standing right here,” said Daphne from by his side.

“Oh you look amazing too,” he said panicking, “didn’t I say you looked amazing.”

“You said adorable,” she replied, “not amazing.”

“Well adorable is better than amazing, not that you don’t look adorable Hermione,” said Harry now completely confused about what to say.

“It’s all right Harry,” she said, “but food would be good and maybe a drink.”

“On it,” said the three guys at once, walking towards the refreshment table.

“You do know that there will never be anything between Harry and me?” Hermione said giving Daphne a serious look.

“I know,” the blonde witch said smiling at her brightly, “you’re like the sister he never had, so it would be all way too weird.”

“So why the big jealously drive?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” she said looking Hermione with sorrowful eyes, “I guess that when you’ve hung around with Slytherins for the past five years it becomes hard to except that there are some really genuine nice guys out there.”

Hermione smiled at her before turning her attention on Tracey, “so how’s it going with you and Ron?”

“I don’t know he seems rather quiet,” said the young witch with a frown.

“He’s kind of shy around girls he likes,” she said give the young witch a reassuring look, “but if you give him the chance believe me he’ll be well worth it.”

“So what are you?” asked Daphne laughing heartily, “their campaign manager.”

“Yeah,” said Hermione smiling broadly, “I guess that I am.”

“So what’s with you and Draco,” asked Tracey.

“He asked me to help him change,” said Hermione matter-of-factly.

“And you believed him,” scoffed the young witch.

“No, but he asked for my help so he’s going to get it whether he likes it or not.”

“You go girl,” said the witch, “it’s about time someone brought him down a peg or two.”

“What you talking about?” asked Harry as the boys came back to the table.

“You three,” replied Daphne giving him a wicked grin.

“Only good things I hope,” said Draco giving the two Slytherins dagger.

“Now what would be the fun it that?” teased Tracey.

“Come on,” said Daphne, “let’s dance,” three girls led their men onto the dance floor.

***

Three hours later Hermione stood outside the Gryffindor common room saying good night to Draco.

“So was it so bad spending the night in the company of the dreaded enemy?” she asked looking at him with a seductive smile.

“I’ve had worse nights,” he said a large smirk filling his face.

“That’s it?” she said disappointed at his attitude, “you’ve had better nights.”

“Ok, I enjoyed myself happy,” he replied looking down at his feet.

“Happier,” she said grabbing his chin to make him look up at her, “I’d be happy if you would be glad about the fact you had fun rather than standing here looking like you just lost your puppy.”

“It will take some time for me to process the fact that I just enjoyed spending a night dancing to muggle music,” he said looking deep into her eyes.

“Not all muggles are bad you know,” she said pulling him into a tight hug.

After a couple of minutes all the tension went out of his body, as he finally relaxed against her. “Did I tell you, that you looked amazing tonight?”

“No that was Harry,” she replied with mirth in her voice, “you said I looked obscene.”

He cringed against her, “you know I didn’t mean that in a bad way?”

She laughed heartily, “I actually took it as a compliment.”

“Well I guess this is goodnight,” he said leaning back so he could look into her eyes.

“Oh not you don’t mister,” she said with a frown on her face.

“What?” he asked looking at her confused.

“I believe I got a goodnight kiss to come yet,” caressing the side of her look had suddenly become serious.

Draco leaned in placing a series of butterfly kisses on her lips electricity flooded through her body as his skilful mouth gently massaged hers. Her legs went weak as the pleasure of the kiss threatened to engulf her body. Her hand reached behind his head and pulled him into a deeper kiss, loosing her self in the moment.

Finally, they pulled apart when breath became an issue, both breathing deeply trying to regain their composure. “That was…”

“Wow,” completed Draco.

“So I’ll see you in the morning,” said Hermione, smiling brightly as she looked at the passion in the young wizards eyes.

“Yeah,” he said still struggling to regain his composure, “see you in the morning.”

***

Sorry about the delay in this chapter but my computer went bang, shaking floorboard smoke the whole nine yards. Still at least now, I have the joy of having to pay off the new one.

The Gryffindors all greeting Hermione what can I say I’ve just watched Buffy’s
graduation and got inspired, well hope some of you like it.

Thanks to every body who has reviewed the story this chapter, you are the best.

Bambu thanks for the great long review it is awesome when people take the time to show their appreciation. Draco is having a harder time of things than Harry but Hermione maybe softening a bit during then next couple of chapters.
As for the Beta thingy I am slightly dyslexic and do have problems especially with confusables. I did have one but she hasn’t replied to this last chapter, if she’s out there, Rain I miss your input and thanks for all your work to date.

MX, john the heavy, thanks your input its much appreciated it is always nice to get positive feedback.

Anon no more the tension will be building for a awhile yet building to a crescendo latter in the story.

Dragon34 yeah I enjoyed writing the implanted dreams section, I think they are rather cool.

Wes have you got hold of my story outline LOL well your not quite right but some of your hopes might be fulfilled.

Once again thanks to Rain for all the work you put in, your pointers will always be a major inspiration for my writing.