Ritual Seduction

Chapter One: An Entirely New World


*** ‘She was stunning’ he thought as she entered his bedchamber. The flowing peach colored robs hung off her shoulders and clung to her soft curves. Those warm chocolate brown eyes searched his face while cascading auburn curls twirling around her hips.

He knew this was the vision he and his family had been waiting for. He would be 21 soon, which meant the greatest challenge was upon him. He would have to seduce his mate who was immune to the Gancanagh power the drove him to claim her.

Draco was only mildly surprised to see Hermione Granger in his vision. As she gracefully made her way closer to his bed he felt his entire body lurch forward, wanting to consume and be consumed by her presence. She sat next to him, her small hand reaching forward, the warm weight very welcome on his bare chest. His larger hand covered hers as she leaned in close to gaze into his pale eyes.

“You must come for me Draco.”

“I will.” He promised back softly.

“Oh my heart, I am afraid I will not be easily seduced.” She whispered moving closer to lie next to him, her head resting on his shoulder.

“I know,” he said back- his finger playing with her loose curls, “I plan of appealing to your logic and intellect first, then claiming you heart and soul.”

“Don’t forget my body,” a sly smile playing on her cupid bow lips.

Draco smiled and pulled her closer, wrapping his strong arms around her and nuzzling his nose into her sweetly scented neck.

“Oh yes my love, I live for the day we share our bodies.”

They stayed entwined on his bed until the vision began fade…***

~~

Draco woke with a start to find himself laying on the floor of the sun parlor. The blond heads of his parents floated above him as his fuzzy vision cleared.

“Did you see her Draco?” His father asked giving his son a hand to the couch.

“Yes father, I have a mate.”

“Do you know who she is?” his mother asked

“Yes, none other than Ms. Hermione Granger of Asclepius Apothecary.”

~~

Two days later Hermione was returning home from Asclepius. She moved through the small streets of her neighborhood before she stopped in front of a small cottage she rented.

The small thatched roof cottage with white paint and yellow shutters stood on a quite little street. It was perfect for Hermione.

She slid the ancient key into the aged lock and pushed open the creaky door. She kicked off her shoes, placed her bag, coat and scarf on the pegs by the entrance and padded into the kitchen to put the kettle on.

She prepared her Brown Betty teapot with some calming chamomile. It was not long before she was in her favorite chair with a cup of tea and the latest potions journal on her lap.

She never had a chance to notice the colorless, odorless and tasteless drought that had been left to dry along the sides of her favorite teapot.

But as an apothecary she noticed the symptoms as soon as they kicked in- the dizziness, the dry mouth, the slight shaking of the limbs. She went to stand to make it to her antidote supply but the dose was high. Just as she felt herself start to fall, two strong arms wrapped around her limp frame.

The last thing she remembered was a deep voice whispering “Forgive me.”

~~

When Hermione came to, she was laying out on a chaise lounge it what appeared to be a library. The domed ceiling was painted like the sky with wispy clouds breaking up the light blue. The walls were covered in countless volumes and a warm breeze danced across the room carrying in the briny smell of the sea.

Hermione attempted to sit up to observe her surroundings better, but her fuzzy head felt heavy and she started to tilt forward.

Hands stopped her on her slumped shoulder.

“Easy there, you are still processing the drought.” She was pushed back so she was lying down once again.

Once she felt it safe to pen her eyes she decided to get a good look at her captor.

When she looked up to the man sitting at her side she was shocked to see the pale blue-gray eyes of Draco Malfoy.

“Malfoy!” she gasped.

“Please call me Draco. And before you start asking the multitude of questions I know that brilliant mind of yours is currently creating- I must do something first.” He reached into his pocket and he saw her tense, it hurt him to see such a reaction from her.

“Do you know what this is?” he asked holding up a tiny clear vile full of clear liquid. She knew the seal well on the front.

“Veritaserum from my Apothecary.”

“I am going to take this so you will have no doubts about what I am about to tell you.” And with that he uncorked and down the contents of the vial.

He closed his eyes and felt the potion take hold. He opened his eyes to meet her soft doe-eyed stare. “Ask away.” He offered.

“Where are we?”

“My family château in Collioure.”

“And why am I here?” she asked

“You are my mate and I needed a place to seduce you before I claim you.” He said as easily as if he was mentioning the weather.

Hermione sucked in a deep breath, mate?

“Your mate?”

“Yes.”

Okay this was strange, but she knew of a few magical races which had mates that were fated for them. There was no reason to panic about this.

“What are you?” she asked

“A am part Gancanagh.”

“Gancanagh? As in the fairy that seduced maidens in the woods?”

“Yes and no, I do have fairy blood but I am more like a veela with a natural magnetism. I do not bewitch women. The small leprechaun looking creature is just the stuff of myths.”

~Okay not freaking out a little harder to do then originally planed~ Hermione thought.

“Are you alright?” Draco asked as he watched her pale slightly.

“Do gancanaghs have one mate that is fated or do they have multiple over their life- time?”

“We only have one. The one person who is immune to our powers, and must be seduced without the help from the pheromones or voice or other gancanagh magic.”

“You think I am your mate.”

“I know you are, you came to me in my vision.”

“And what happens if you cannot—seduce me?”

“I will die.”

“What!?” Hermione exclaimed. That was not what she was expecting.

“Gancanaghs cannot live without their mates. If I fail- my life ends and you continue on, but with an unfixable emptiness forever inside you.”

Hermione leaned back on the arm of the chaise for support as she digested all that Draco had explained. If she had not made the Veritaserum herself she would have thought it tainted but she trust in her skills.

A mate? To a Gancanagh? What in the name in Merlin was the world coming too.

“How long does your kind have to seduce and claim a mate?”

“About a week after the twenty-first birthday.”

“When is your birthday?”

“Sunday.”

“This Sunday, as in two days from now?”

“Yes.”

“So nine days?”

“Yes Hermione, I have nine days to seduce you, to make you crave me and make you want to claim me as much as I want to claim you.” Draco moved in closer. His voice huskier as he breathed in her soft scent, felt the warmth of her soft skin.

“Will you let me try Hermione?” he asked “I want to make you mine.”

Hermione felt her body shiver as his warm breath danced across her cheek.

“Yes.” She answered. She had no idea were the word came from, but deep inside she felt drawn to the blond wizard knelt before her.

“Thank you,” he said in a reverent tone. He lifted her hands to his lips and kissed each knuckle gently.

When he was done he rose and brought her with him. Draco tucked Hermione’s hand into the crook of his arm, “Let me give you a tour then we can have some dinner.” She nodded still a little dazed about what had happened in the last few hours.

~~
A/N: Random Plot Bunny out of left field. What do you think? Worth continuing? Let me know.

Yours,
sarah