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

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Out along the edge - it's always where I burn to be
Further on the edge - hotter the intensity

Highway to the Danger Zone
Gonna take you right into the Danger Zone

Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins

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Draco was exhausted from his run. The wards were solid, and undisturbed. He only wish he could say the same for his thoughts. He had run until breath had been nearly impossible, funny how a mind keeps running though. And why is it that the things you want to put from your mind, always cling the hardest?

Life and death ran through his mind. Literally.

Life had copper eyes and unruly hair, watching him with intelligent stares and shy smiles. Smelling of pears and frosty moonlight.

Death looked back at him from his own bedclothes. Her hair black as India ink tumbling around her, her eyes that deep cornflower blue, watched him warmly if sadly. Her slim white arms stretching out to him. To hold him. To take his kiss. To take her doom.

Draco shoved the thoughts aside as he stepped into his study. She had been here. For the sweet scent of her clung to his possessions. He could hardly recall when this place has smelled of leather, fire whiskey, wood smoke, and himself. Why did her scent have to blend so nicely?

A cursory glance at the map showed no change to the movement situation, but his silver eyes locked on the unfamiliar handwriting against his notes.

“Muggle conveyance and glamours… clever girl”.

He sat and poured over the notes and map one more time, nailing everything neatly into place in his mind.

“Cain?” he called softly and moments later the door opened.

“Late night Draco” the wolf murmured.

“I need a car. We need to leave soon. Tomorrow night. Can you manage it?”

“Yes”

“Good”

The other man was gone without a sound and Draco rose to his feet. Tiredness seeping into every corner of his mind.

He made his way down the stone hall to the room he shared with Hermione and pushed the door open quietly.

The lump under the covers made him smile and he shed his pants and shoes and stalked on near silent feet to the bathroom.

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Hermione waited patiently until the water came on and then slowly crept to the door. Draco had left it just cracked and she peered through the narrow opening.

Had to be seen. Would she see some change in him tonight?

Her eyes widened as she caught sight of him. Tall and pale, well muscled in the spray of water.

He was.. In a word beautiful. Of course she had know that but this…. Well wow.

A knot of heat formed in her stomach and she knew she should turn away. This was only to see if he had changed, if his curse was visible. Not some peep at Malfoy perve show!

Then he turned in the water and she saw all of him and her mouth went dry.

Hermione rushed back to the bed, huddling under the blankets trying to calm her heart. The heat wouldn’t fade from her cheeks and she forced her breathing to slow.

But the image of him pushing her against the bathroom wall wouldn’t leave her.

Oh Draco Malfoy had changed all right. He had just become a new burning desire for her. Damn her curiosity!

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Draco moved towards the bed, tugging his cotton sleep pants into place. Then he lifted the bedding and slid in beside Hermione. He turned to face her back as had become their odd habit and pulled her closer. He knew she tended to get cold at night.

To his surprise she was hot.

Lifting himself on his elbow, he peered down at her.

“Hermione?”. He gently shook her, laying his large palm against her brow.

Damn him anyway. Hermione faked waking and peered up at him through half lidded eyes. “What time is it?” she asked, glad that her dry throat made her voice sound fuzzy from sleep.

“A few hours before dawn” he told her, “Are you ill? You are burning up and your cheeks looked flushed.”

Her brow furrowed, well he’d be flushed too if he knew what was running through her very detail oriented mind.

“No” she muttered.

He blinked down at her, the softest scent of arousal reaching his sensitive nose. He smirked at her, “Good dreams then?”

She flushed hotter and he let a lopsided smile grace his features.

“Nightmares if you must know” she growled, “You were gone for a very long time.”

“Miss me?”

“Pfft. I left you notes in your study.”

“I saw. I was thinking we should leave no later than tomorrow night.”

This was better Hermione thought, no unsafe ground here.

“You must be eager to get your mission done”

Draco looked away for a moment. “Not eager.” he admitted, “I just want to get it done and get you back to Lord Potter quickly.”

She couldn’t help the stab of hurt that pierced her. “I see”
He chuckled, “Do you?”

She nodded and decided to turn back to less confusing waters. “Our glamours?”

He chuckled, “A married muggle couple of course. Seeing the sights with our companions. Of course when we arrive in Venice, we need to change it up.”

“Of course” she agreed, “Your target is a death eater, have to be your old self for that”

His eyes were guarded, “About that..”

“Yes?”

“I don’t think it will be a good idea to leave you alone while I take my mark”

Her brow furrowed, “Why is that?”

“The place will be crawling with death eaters, even if glamour you might be uncovered. I want to keep you near me. When I take the mark down, we can flee right away.”

“If I can be uncovered even in a glamour, shouldn’t I be as far away as I can get?”

Draco shook his head, “Not on your life Hermione. If anything were to happen to you, Lord Potter wouldn’t let me live to see the morning.”

She sighed, “Fine then.”

They were silent for a long time, when she spoke again, “I am a little afraid you know”

Afraid of what the end of this adventure might mean, already her mind was spiraling in confusion. She should feel nothing for Malfoy.

“Don’t worry” he murmured, his voice growing sleepy, “I’ll get you back to him safely.”

That wasn’t what she had meant at all.

Hermione sighed again and rolled to her side, her back pressing against his chest. His warmth, his very presence lulling her.

What would tomorrow bring?

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The ride to Venice was, for the most part uneventful. Draco was a maniac driver, going much too fast. Hermione had tried closing her eyes and falling asleep but morbid curiosity had her opening her eyes every so often to see if they were going to collide with something.

“Draco!” she shouted as he slide around a hairpin turn, “Are you trying to kill us?”

He had merely laughed and shifted gears with a wink so saucy it nearly stopped her heart.

“Where did you learn to drive?” she demanded.

He shrugged, “California”.

Hermione groaned.

When they arrived on the outskirts of Venice, they pulled off in a secluded area. Cain and Saya left them there, slipping away like wraiths into the trees, to scout.

Hemione watched them go, feeling her stomach tighten.

“Now” Draco said turning to her, “Hold still.”

She shut her eyes tightly feeling the sickening change come over her.

“There now”

She opened her eyes to find that her hair was long and smooth and vibrantly red. A glance in the mirror showed her eyes were a pale green and she looked nothing like herself.

“Who am I?” she asked carefully.

“Tabitha Demarco. A young witch I openly had an affair with while in America. Several of the death eaters have seen her with me, so it should be safe enough. Just remember, you are a purelood.”

“A pureblood?” she asked feeling the word coat her tongue like rancid ash.

“Yes” he said, “Because to these people I have not changed, I still work for the cause of Voldemort and I hate muggleborns. So do you… Tabitha.”

She was silent as they drove to the grand hotel where the Malfoys always had open reservations. They said nothing to one another as they rode the lift to the highest floor. Draco kept a possessive arm anchored around her waist.

Part of the pretense.

He even snapped and snarled in a most arrogant way at the help, as though he were a little king in this city. So like the boy she had once known. So unlike the man she had come to see glimpses of. It was unnerving. Despite everything that Harry said, believed.

What if Draco was to the death eaters, what Snape was to them?

She shivered at the thought and Draco leaned down to whisper in her ear, “A few minutes more”.

She nodded, catching the eye of the bellhop. He smirked, obviously thinking they were up to nothing good. A small part of her wished that was all it was.

The bell dinged overloud to her ears and then Draco was urging her into the tastefully decorated corridor and the large wooden doors at the other end of it.

“Say nothing of consequence in this room” he breathed against the shell of her ear, “Tabitha and I had a very simple relationship. She was my submissive, you will be the same until our time in Venice is through. Do you understand?”

A cold chill ran down her spine but she found herself nodding. She could do anything in the name of a mission. But another part of her, a very small, secret part of her wondered.. What it might really be like.

Draco pushed the door opened and Hermione stepped inside the large and lovely room. She turned to face him, her pale green eyes lit with uncertainty. He gave her a small smile, telling her without words that this was as hard for him as it was for her.

He hated calling her by another woman’s name, seeing another woman’s face when all he wanted was hers.

“We will be attending the ball tomorrow night Tabitha” he said aloud, even as he withdrew his wand, “I expect you to be on your very best behavior, do you understand?”

She nodded, watching as small slithering sparks swept from his wand and danced around the room. Every once in a while a small pop would sound and he would grin grimly. When at last, the sounds faded and the sparks vanished he sat on the foot of the large bed.

“Damn nosy death eaters”

Hermione understood that he had just destroyed the magical bugging system. “Won’t they know? Suspect?”

He met her eyes, “Oh yes. They’ll know. I have no doubts that within the hour the network will be back in place. But I have to have sometime to let you know what to expect. While we are here, you must always call me master Draco.”

“Why?”

“It’s the nature of most relationships in the darker half of the wizarding world. The dominant and the submissive. Surely this is not a new concept to you?” He watched her carefully.

“No it isn’t. Though most people I know only use such practices in the privacy of the bedroom.”

He chuckled, “Not here they don’t. For your own safety please obey me. Two days is all it will require.”

She flushed at the thought. “Fine then. What shall I expect from you?”

An hour later she began to wish she hadn’t asked. This would be a very in depth charade they played and one that she wasn’t certain she could uphold.

The only person who’s dominance she had ever bowed to, had been Harry’s. As her leader, lord and friend that was to be expected. And as she had told Draco, she had only ever seen such things in the bedroom. Her first had been Harry.

Now she would have to tolerate the touches of Draco in the presence of other people. The thought of being touched by him, did not unnerve her. Her own reactions did though.

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That night was her first hurtle. They had joined Crabbe, Goyle and Zabini for a dinner near the waterfront. The death eaters had their respective wives, lovers and toys with them. Hermione did as Draco had told her, keeping her eyes downcast for most of the night, looking around from beneath her lashes. Taking note of people and places and things.

As one of Harry’s heads of intelligence that was her job after all. She was also very careful to keep herself shielded so that her thoughts would not betray her. She spoke very little. Exchanging pleasantries at her introduction and murmuring to Draco what she’d like to eat.

The other women in attendance were nearly silent. Zabini’s lover caught his wandering eye as it roved over the newcomer ‘Tabitha’. She had glared hotly and towards the end of the night she had apparently slipped up, displeasing Zabini.

Hermione watched in horror as Zabini promptly set her plate on the ground and demanded that she eat like the bitch she was. His voice was harsh and the woman flinched from it. Zabini went on to promise a good lashing before the night was through.

Hermione inched closer to Draco, who merely smiled as though this was commonplace and drew his long fingers down the deep V in the back of her dress. She shivered under his touch and he leaned forward, pressing kisses along her jaw and trailing up to her ear, “I’ve never acted that way” he assured her, “My punishments were always more….devious.”

She felt herself heat, despite her best efforts. This was an act, a role, a part they were required to play. But damn if he wasn’t so much better at it than she was.

“Thought you got rid of Tabitha?” Goyle asked then.

Hermione stiffened. Then winced as the captain’s ring on her finger, charmed to be invisible began to pulse softly. Harry was calling.

Draco sighed, “You know how it is Goyle. Good toys are so hard to come by. Besides, she’s already well broken.”

Zabini squirmed slightly in his seat, his hand vanishing under the table and Hermione had the impression that he was adjusting himself. She shuddered at the thought of someone like him touching her.

“Cold pet?” Draco asked.

She looked up at him, her fears and confusion swirling in those pale depths. The woman she was obviously struggling. He removed his robe and settled it around her shoulders. Pulling the collar up around her cheeks, “There there” he murmured.

He had to get her out of here. Something was bothering her. Her eyes told him so. Pressing a kiss to her cheek, he heard her breathe very softly, “Need to leave… now.”

His own ring began to act up and he understood her reasons. He met her eyes and nodded, lifting her chin. Then he locked his lips over hers in a heated kiss, a press of flesh. Top to bottom before his talented tongue slipped past her own to twine against hers.

Hermione felt her body go up in flames at the masterful kiss. When she moaned softly, Draco lifted his head with a smirk.

Glancing at his friends he rose pulling her with him, “Sorry mates” he said wryly, “Have to go.” He tossed several gold galleons onto the table and to the laughter of the death eaters, he apparated them back to the room.

“Silencio..” he whispered when they were solid.

Hermione was flushed and silent, her fingertips on her lips as Draco moved across the room to the desk. He pulled the ring from his finger setting it before a large bit of parchment. The stone blazed brilliantly and then the message appeared across the page.

‘Must hurry. Horcrux found in Venice. Intelligence department mission. Urgent.’

Hermione had recovered enough to move next to him as she read the message.

“Its at the manor where the ball will be held.” Draco told her, “Can you find it?”

She nodded, having done this before. Besides, her ring would pulse as she got closer to it. It shouldn’t take much time. “We’ll have to work separately then” she said simply.

Draco didn’t like that one bit, “If you use your wand, they will know that you are here.”

She nodded, “I know.”

“No. Let me get my target and I will come with you.”

She lifted her eyes to his, “I’ve done this often enough without you. See to your mission and leave mine to me. Deal?”

He raised his hands in surrender, “Any troubles and you run directly to me. Got it?”

She nodded, looking away as he moved to the bar and poured his usual fire whiskey.

“Erm, thank you” she said then, and he glanced up in askance.

“Tonight. It wasn’t so bad. Thank you for that.”

He smirked, “Careful” he teased, “One might think you enjoy my kisses.”

Hermione headed for the bathroom, “What if I did?” she asked flippantly.