Pictures

Hermione was reclined on the sofa in her flat going over a report about the Celestina prophecies. She had accepted the job in the department of mysteries and it was a perfect fit. It combined all of her interests into one and was challenging enough that she didn’t get bored, but not so overwhelming that she constantly had to bring her work home. The prophecies made surrounding Celestina Warbeck however were far too hilarious not to bring home for light reading and it appeared that every seer from 1974 to 1981 had made some sort of weird prophesy about the simpering singer. Suddenly, the flames in the fireplace roared to life and her ‘boyfriend’ stepped out, spelling himself clean.

“I’ve had the most unbelievably horrid day!” Hermione smiled slightly at the sulky expression on his handsome features. “Do you know that Percy Weasley actually expected me to work on Boxing Day and had the gall to dress me down for saying I wouldn’t even though my position is higher than his?”

“That’s not surprising,” she smiled as she got up to take his cloak, “he’s always been an uppity thing who took the slightest bit of authority too far. You should have been in Gryffindor when he was a prefect.”

“That makes me even happier that I was sorted into Slytherin. He’s a complete nutter! I sat there and listened to him rant for twenty minutes on how I shouldn’t let the Minister down. I could’ve been home half an hour ago if it hadn’t been for him!” Hermione rubbed his back in soothing circles as he sat down between her spread legs on the lounge and leaned back into her. As he rested his head on the crook of her neck, she kissed the side of his head and ran her fingers through his hair. It was moments like these that made Hermione incredibly happy about the situation fate had dealt her.

Chris was almost out of rehab, her parents still had their home and were none the wiser and all it took was for Hermione to have mind-blowing sex with a bloke that she was coming to like more everyday. She’d always admitted that Draco was sexy, but she had hated him for the better part of her academic career, so she’d never given a second thought to what it might have been like to be with him. Even at the beginning of their affair when she’d been reluctant at best to participate, the sex had been amazing and her inquisitive nature had taken over and viewed the arrangement as an experiment in sexuality. It was after her experiment in Italy with sex magic that she’d begun to feel something emotional for him.

At first she counted it as a fluke. Anyone was likely to feel something akin to love for their first sexual partner, but then he had saved not only her brother, but her family from financial ruin as well. Of course that would make a person grateful, so she just chalked it up to the gratitude and sense of relief she felt. However, lately she couldn’t shake the feeling that her attachment was for reasons other than the obligation she felt towards him and that couldn’t be good. Draco Malfoy was not the kind of person she needed to fall in love with or to have any kind of feelings for other than a passing fondness.

She couldn’t forget how he had been with her the night that Harry, Ginny and Neville had made her so upset. She also couldn’t forget how it had been instinct that made her fly into his arms that night. She hadn’t even given it a second thought, turning to him for comfort. All this acting was making her start to forget that she wasn’t his girlfriend, she was his mistress. That was another thing that bothered her. She had no idea how far into the debt she had worked herself because he never made mention of it. Sometimes she tried to pay him her share of the utilities and other expenses, but he just waved it off, telling her that it didn’t matter or that it was just a drop in a bucket. She didn’t like mentioning it because it reminded her of her own bendable morals.

When she’d first agreed to Draco’s demands it had been self-preservation, but it had also been a way to keep her parents from experiencing any more pain. Chris had been disappointing enough that ever since the age of four, she had felt the need to always be the good girl, to never do anything out of line or immoral. She knew that she couldn’t be perfect, but Chris made so many wrong decisions that she felt she had to make all the right ones in order to make her parents feel that they had succeeded in raising her. When she met up with Harry and Ron, she had easily slipped into the role of moral authority and voice of reason. It wasn’t until Draco that she had ever thought of being anything other than careful, restrained and sensible. She’d known that she had a wild, feral side to her. It just took large amounts of alcohol and Draco Malfoy to pull it out of her. She’d always been passionate about any course she undertook, but sex with Draco went beyond that. It felt right, natural and for the first time ever, she didn’t want to be in control. That was why it had to stop.

She couldn’t muse about it further, however because Draco was dragging her towards their bedroom. For some reason, he found the velour yoga pants and white tank top she wore around the flat irresistible. He carried her through the house, pausing at various intervals to pull her top down to reveal her breasts and suckle at them like a baby. The sensation of him sucking on her nipples tugged at a line that went straight to her core, flooding her knickers. No matter how many times she had the boy, it was never dull or repetitive.

He laid her on the bed and pulled her pants off with one yank, leaving her in her white lace knickers and tank top. Crawling up her body he ripped the delicate lace and buried his face in her center. Watching his blonde head as he licked and sucked greedily at her center was an unbelievable turn on.

Catching her eyes he sucked at her clitoris like it was his favorite candy. Breaking away for a moment, he spoke, “Look at me. I want you to watch me while I do this.”

They held eye contact while he lapped at her center, devouring her juices as quickly as they were produced. Using the pad of his tongue, he lavished attention on her labia, pulling it into his mouth and licking her like an ice cream. Using his lips, he feasted on her core, propping her hips up so that he had better access. The more he sucked and licked, the more frustrated Hermione became. Finally, her stomach clenched and she flooded his chin with her release. He removed his cock from his trousers and without warning, he plunged into her. He gave a few quick thrusts before turning her so that her back was towards him and he lay down on the bed, pulling her on top of him. All at once, she noticed the mirror on the ceiling showing off their naked bodies. She was laying on top of him, her back to his front, her legs splayed on either side of his hips. He positioned his cock at her entrance and Hermione was able to watch as the ten inch piece of his anatomy disappeared inside of her.

Draco held her gaze in the mirror as she watched him fuck her out of the corner of her eye. It didn’t seem possible that something so large could fit inside her, but it did and oh, did it feel wonderful. She could feel her second orgasm building and when the walls of her sex began to flutter, he picked her up again and flipped them so that he was on top, her arms pinned above her head, his eyes, bearing intently into her own.

“Tell me you love me,” he said. “I don’t care if you don’t mean it, just please say it!” She hesitated and he bit her breast, causing her to cry out in pain. “Say it!” he yelled.

“I love you,” she said, confused. He pumped into her much faster and she came, screaming his name from her lips. He spilled his seed inside her, gripping her hips and tilting them in an upward angle, but never withdrawing from her. She was glad. She loved the warm feeling of his sperm hitting her womb.

As she came down from her high, Hermione suddenly realized that he hadn’t used the contraceptive spell on her. “Wait, you need to use the spell,” she said hazily.

“I used it last night,” he panted, “and besides, those things are good for twenty-four hours.” Hermione knew he was right, but she was still unconvinced. What would happen if she did get pregnant? How would he feel? For that matter, how would she feel?

Christmas at her parents’ house came and went. Draco handled all of her young cousins surprisingly well and he seemed happy enough to just sit and watch her read to them or play the silly little kid board games with them. He didn’t even mind that they sat at the ‘kids’ table when dinner was served so that they could help the younger ones eat. Her grandmother still liked Draco and kept dropping not-so-subtle hints that he needed to marry her granddaughter or suffer the consequences. The only people in her family that knew they were magical were her parents and brother, so her grandmother had no idea that she was threatening probably the most powerful wizard in the whole of the United Kingdom.

They returned home that evening and the next morning they started off for Malfoy Manor and Narcissa Malfoy. Before leaving, they exchanged their own gifts; however, in front of the Christmas tree that Hermione had insisted they put up in the living room. Hermione had thought and thought of what to give him before finally deciding on a a very special silver watch.

“You got me a watch? It’s very nice. Thank you.” He looked slightly confused.

“Yes, it’s a watch, but it’s more than that. Here, put it on. Now, I want you to say my name.” He did as she instructed and immediately, her face came into view and right underneath it, smoky letters spelled out, “Living Room, Home”. He looked up at her in shock. “You always want to know where I am, so I had the watch made and put the spell on it. I got the idea from the Weasleys’ clock. It really-“ Whatever the watch really was, she never got out because he pounced on her, pinning her to the floor, bruising her lips with a kiss. “I take it that you like it, then.”

“I love it,” he growled. He kissed her once more before letting her up. “I got you something as well,” he said and handed her a box.

“Oh, Draco! It’s lovely!” Hermione was floored. Inside was the largest amber pendant she’d ever seen. It had a goblin wrought gold chain around it and the backing was done in scroll work. At the center of the widest part of the tear drop shaped piece of amber was a gold flower and a tiny, perfect diamond in the center. He took it from her hands and put it on her. When he came back to look at her front side, she was reminded of what he’d demanded she say in bed.

“Do you like it?” she nodded. “I got it because it reminded me of your eyes.” They didn’t speak anymore after that. He just held her for a moment and then they got up and collected what they would need for the journey to his mother’s house.

Once they were there, Narcissa Malfoy very coolly greeted the two of them and Hermione saw Draco revert back to cool, distant aristocrat he was at Hogwarts. Narcissa invited them to come to the sitting room for cocktails before dinner. The three of them might as well have been strangers. Narcissa hadn’t seen her son in almost a year and yet she hadn’t even hugged him or said that she missed him. She only said that it was good to see him and lovely to meet Hermione. She spoke of the weather in France and asked how Draco’s stocks were doing, to which he replied with curt, perfunctory sentences. She inquired as to Hermione’s parents’ health and when dinner came, she asked if Hermione was enjoying her job at the ministry.

“Yes, I am, very much. Thank you for asking, Mrs. Malfoy.”

“Will you continue to work once you are married?” Narcissa coolly asked.

“I intend to, yes.” Hermione suddenly had a feeling that she was being tested and so she held the older woman’s intense gaze. If she had thought Narcissa a brainless trophy wife before, she was sorely mistaken. Narcissa was cold and superficial, but not brainless.

“Even if your husband has enough money that you don’t need to work? I’m sure there are lots of notable charities that could use organizing.”

“With all due respect to you and your lifestyle, Mrs. Malfoy, I would not feel the least bit happy being unproductive or doing things that a third year at Hogwarts could manage, no matter how positive the yielded results may be. Even if I suddenly found a cure for stupidity and was rich for the rest of my days off of those rewards, I would continue to work because no matter how much money I had, I would not feel happy unless I doing something with a tangible benefit. I do however realize that there are others who do not share my feelings. I do not think any less of them, I only realize that there are many different things that make different people happy.” Hermione took a sip of her wine and looked over at Draco. The three of them were seated ridiculously far apart on the table and looked like he might explode.

Finally, Narcissa spoke. “I see you indeed quite a rare witch, Miss Granger. I’ve heard of your talents and the entire wizarding world knows of you good deeds, but now I can see you are a young lady of great character. I have so much enjoyed having you in my home.” Just like that, Hermione dismissed and the discussion was closed. As she sat there calming down from the older woman’s implications, she thought that it must take a great talent to both compliment a person and put them in their place at the same time.

Once dinner was finished, the three retired to the sitting room and exchanged gifts. Narcissa was much more chatty with Hermione since the blow-up and Hermione even thought she saw the older woman smile once. Once she had established that Hermione wasn’t a gold-digger, she opened up slightly more. Her interactions with her son were still very strained, however.

Suddenly, a house elf appeared with a ‘pop’ and bowed very low to Narcissa and Draco. “Mistress, a Mr. Theodore Nott is at the door with his family, shall I bring them in?”

“Yes, Ilya, show them in.” Narcissa took another sip of tea and then stood up. “Forgive me, but I feel the most dreadful headache coming on. I think I’ll retire for awhile.” Hermione knew where the headache was coming from and wished she could do the same. Before she say anything however, Draco pulled her up and they walked into the foyer to see Pansy Nott removing her cloak and tossing it on two hapless elves while her husband struggled in the doorway with a baby carrier and a diaper bag. Apparently the two of them hadn’t wasted anytime in ensuring that the Nott family had an heir.

“Pansy,” Draco said flatly, “how good to see you.” His tone suggested anything but. Hermione couldn’t help but feel jealous. She knew that Draco and Pansy had been lovers and that Pansy had wanted to marry Draco. She didn’t know why, but even seeing the girl with her husband and new baby made Hermione territorial. Taking the baby from Theodore’s arms, she led him into the sitting room.

“Draco, darling, how have you been? You’ve been dreadfully naughty! I haven’t heard a peep out of you since little Tulip was born.” Hermione was glad to see Draco grimace at her presence.

“Well, Pans, I figured that you and Theo might want some time to spend with your new daughter.” While Pansy kept her attention riveted to Draco, Hermione held the baby who had become quite fussy. Rummaging in the diaper bag, Hermione pulled out a bottle of formula and began feeding the baby, rocking her back and forth.

“Oh, we just adore her, don’t we dear?” Pansy didn’t wait on a response from Theo. “However, I don’t recommend that you have a baby anytime soon. I’m unable to do any of the things I used to do. They just create such huge demands upon your time!”

“She doesn’t seem to be too demanding to me,” Hermione dryly stated. Pansy just sniffed and didn’t seem to be bothered at all that Hermione had calmed and was now feeding her baby. Hermione noticed that both Draco and Theodore were watching her with a strange look in there eyes.

“Yes, well, you spent all those years babying Potter and Weasley, so I imagine you might have a head start in mothering department.” Pansy meant it as an insult, but it didn’t quite sting. Hermione was in fact a natural when it came to babies. She hoped to have at least two or so of her own one day. She saw no reason to hide the skill or be ashamed of it. Maybe things were different in the pureblood community. As she absentmindedly winded the baby, she caught Draco’s gaze and saw something that was a mix between hunger and longing in his eyes.

As the two couples spoke, Hermione noted the differences between them. She and Draco sat on the lounge, side by side, his arm around her shoulders as she continued to hold baby Tulip. Theo and Pansy sat as far apart from one another as possible, neither of them even looking at each other. Whenever one spoke of the other, it was always in third person and as if the other person wasn’t in the room. Pansy shamelessly flirted with Draco and Theo got a little too close for Hermione’s comfort. Fortunately, Draco was not oblivious, so he kept his hand firmly around Hermione’s waist.

Eventually, the visit ended and Hermione handed little Tulip back to her father. As soon as they left, Draco let out a sigh and turned to look at her.

“How do you feel about babies?” he asked. Hermione was taken back by the question.

“I think they’re wonderful. I think Pansy is a fool for not taking more interest in hers.”

“So you aren’t opposed to them?” Why was he asking this? Did he think that after all this time she would start to trap him?

“I’m not opposed to them at all! Why are you asking this?”

“No reason. It’s just that out of all the women in this house you are the only who has never had a baby and yet you seem to be the most adept at caring for them. In fact, you seem to be the most adept at caring about people in general.”

“It’s just how I’m programmed. You’ve met my family. How could I be raised in that and not come out like this?”

“Your brother was raised in that atmosphere and he certainly turned out very differently.”

“Yes, but Chris is still very warm and caring, despite his flaws. I think what this all boils down to is the fact that your society is cutthroat and so wrapped up in appearances that you’re all terrified to show that you care for someone, because if you do then everyone else will know that you have a weakness and they will exploit said weakness to gain their own ends. That’s why you wanted me, isn’t it? You knew that if you ever dated anyone else and they saw you as vulnerable that they would use that against you to get what they wanted; be it money or power. You can’t comprehend the fact someone would actually like you just for the sake of liking you.”

“You live with me; you went to school with me. You know that no one would actually want to be around me for any reason other than the ones you stated. My good qualities are that I’m a capable leader, I’m dedicated to my work and I’ve a shrewd intellect. That’s how I made head boy. Unfortunately, that also means that the only people that are going to want to spend time with me are Slytherins and we all know how loyal they are. I don’t have the qualities that inspire that Gryffindor kind of friendship of love and loyalty and over looking flaws.”

“You inspired at least one Gryffindor to like you. You are cunning and you are often underhanded, but you do have very good qualities and are quite companionable to live with. I can’t say that I would have bothered to find out if it hadn’t been for the pictures, but I’m also far from unhappy in my current situation. I’m glad I got to know you. I like you, Draco.”

Something that looked like pain flashed in his eyes and she was sorry for whatever it was that had hurt him. “Let’s talk about something else.”

And they did. Hermione was not heralded as the brightest witch of her age for nothing. She knew that she had struck a chord and gotten too close to some of his deepest fears. Narcissa eventually got over her headache and the two of them decided to stay the night in the Manor. As she lay awake in the mausoleum like room that was Draco’s childhood bedroom, she listened to the steady breathing of the body next to hers. She imagined that he’d spent a lot of time alone in the large, cold house. She knew that his father had been cruel and wicked and that extended into abuse towards Draco. She couldn’t imagine a life in which she had to earn her parent’s love, much less their affection. Draco hadn’t been of any interest to Lucius unless he could use him as a means to further his Death Eater goals. Narcissa, while neither a fanatic nor a bigot had still been reserved and measured in any praise and it was clear that she was uncomfortable around her own son. How would she feel if her own mother didn’t even want to spend time with her and acted as if it was a chore to do so?

As she lay looking at his pale blonde hair in the moonlight, she wondered how anyone could have ever wanted to hurt him as a child. She knew she was entering dangerous territory, thinking of him so tenderly, but she didn’t care. One day, she wouldn’t be falling asleep next to him and when that day came, who would be hurt if she had genuinely cared for him and wanted to be around him for reasons other than a debt and the secrecy of a few pictures? Maybe both their lives would be better off because of it.


A/N- Okay, so nothing has happened yet, but I felt it was important to establish Hermione's feelings before I got to the actual pregnancy. I don't think that Hermione would be falling for Draco as quickly, because Hermione is not new to intimacy or affection. She has had that for her entire life. Draco on the other hand has never experienced love, so he has no clue how to recognize when it is shown to him and he doesn't know how to show it to someone else. Thank you to everyone who reads and reviews! You guys are completely wonderful and honestly, what keeps this story going. I feel like I'm getting better at writing because of your wonderful suggestions and the details you give me. Thank you for such a wonderful experience!