Dearest readers!
I know, most people are just just that, readers, they don't comment, vote or fan. So, an espially big THANK YOU to all fo you who did comment, vote and fan!
Enjoy the next chapter!
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Harry stormed into the office of Henri Shaw without bothering to knock.
"I'm NOT going! And that is final! If you chuck me out, fine, but there is not way I'm going to Manchester."
The man behind the desk looked at the young face before him.
"Sit down."
"There is no point I'm not..."
"SIT DOWN!"
He sat.
"Okay, now, what exactly has happened? Why are you suddenly so determined not to do your job?"
"Ginny is pregnant!"
"Ah..."
That complicated matters. Harry glared at his boss who in turn just gazed back with a mildly amused but also slightly puzzled expression.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
There was a long pause ensuing between the two wizards. The older patiently waiting for the younger one to answer.
"I didn't know." came finally the whispered answer.
"I see."
"There is no way I can go on some undercover mission when she is..."
"No. You can't. Well, I'll need to find somebody else to do it then. Any suggestions?"
Wait! Had the head of the Auror Office just asked him, a mere trainee, for a suggestion as to who would be best to send on this mission?
"Sorry, I don;t think any of us trainees would be really suitable."
"Hm. I'll need to find another solution then."
Harry knew that was his dismissal cue and got up. He was about to open the door when he heard his boss say, "Congratulations, Harry."
"Thank you, Sir."
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"Hi." The voice was laced with hesitation and doubt.
She looked up as he sat next to her.
"Hallo."
They gazed at each other. She gently brushed a lock from his face.
"You haven't changed much."
"You are as beautiful as always."
Silence. He slowly reached for her hand.
"Why are you here?"
"I could say, I'm here on business, but that would be a lie."
His eyes searched hers.
"Am I welcome?"
She nodded.
"I didn't think I would ever see you again."
"I know. You had your life and I had mine."
"You could have chosen not to..."
"We both know that that was never an option. He would have killed you and then my life would have been even worse. So I had the fond memories and the knowledge that you were safe as he didn't know."
"Has he never wondered?"
"Oh, he has wondered, but he never found out. I never allowed him to."
"I have learnt today that the family line will be continued."
"Yes. He was lucky. He found somebody that is right for him."
"You have met her?"
"Yes. I'm glad it's her. Nobody else could reign him in."
They both smiled, sharing intimacy as they hadn't been able to do for more than twenty years.
"You never found..."
His fingers silenced her.
"There could never be anybody else. You know that."
She sighed. He slowly stood up.
"I need to go."
"It was good to see you again."
He breathed a kiss on her forehead and was gone before she could hold him back.
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"Mulligan!"
A head popped round a door along the corridor.
"Boss?"
"Talk! Now!
James Mulligan walked slowly to his head of department's office. What was it now? He had been in the middle of preparing for his latest mission.
He entered the office, closed the door and took a seat.
Henri Shaw stood with his back to him, running his hands through his hair. He only did that when he was seriously stressed. It hadn't happened in a long while.
"What has happened, Henri?"
"I can't send Potter to Manchester."
"Why? What has he done?"
There wasn't exactly a scowl on the Head Auror's face, but it wasn't far of.
"His girl is pregnant."
"What...?"
Utter surprise was the answer to this revelation.
"This doesn't leave the room, understand?"
"Sure. What happened?"
Shaw sat down, propping his elbows on the desktop.
"Seemingly he has just found out. She didn't tell him before. So, there is no way that I can send him on an undercover mission. His mind would be everywhere except on the job." He exhaled sharply. "Just imagine what Notorious would be doing, if he found out."
"Yeah. I've seen his handy work." Mulligan shuddered.
There was a long pause.
"You have been taking a diner break? Why haven't you just stayed at home? The paperwork could have waited."
Another long pause. Both men knew. There was no need to answer the question any longer.
"Shall I go and get Notorious?"
The glance he received for this had the question in it, if he was keen on a suicide mission.
"No, you stay put. I'll talk to the local Law Enforcement Department. They can pick him up."
"Wouldn't it be safer to send some Aurors as well?"
"Why are you so keen on getting killed all of a sudden?" His eyes narrowed. He had an inkling as to what might have happened."What has she said?"
"Nothing I didn't expect her to say. I just need to proof..."
"James, for Merlin's sake! You aren't nineteen any longer. You don't need to proof to her what you are worth. She knows. She has always known. So, drop it. You are not going. And should I decide to send you after all, you'll not be going alone in any case."
"Right." Resignation was the feeling behind this submission.
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It was a wonderful morning full of sunshine and bird song. Hermione slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was a sleeping Draco who was lying on his stomach, hugging a pillow tightly. She smiled. It were moments like this one that reminded her that she was exactly where she belonged. Here was the one man that would make her happy. At times it still felt a bit weird that it was him who had captured her heart. Though there was no denying that he had. She sighed. Draco Malfoy, the love of her life...
He mumbled in his sleep, the pillow slipped from his grasp and then the witch next to him watched wide eyed as he turned over, fought with the sheets and managed to topple over the edge of the bed, hitting the floor with a loud -thud-. This was followed by extensive swearing.
Hermione was laughing heartily as he finally appeared in her line of vision again picking himself up off the floor. He growled and lunged at her. She was still laughing as he had pinned her hands down next to her head and his face only two inches away from hers.
"I think, I'll have to show you that it is never a good idea to laugh about a Malfoy." His eyes were gleaming with mischief.
"Oh, please, everybody knows that you would never..."
She didn't get to finish her sentence as he was already kissing her fiercely. His arms had somehow managed to engulf her in a tight embrace while her own were still laying on the sheets. She answered his demands with as much passion as he made them with. Feeling her gentle fingers all over his naked back he growled, letting the sound rumble in his chest. She sighed into his mouth. He was just too wonderful. She would never tire to explore his tempting body. He shifted, lying between her legs now. His gaze met hers. Desire filled both their eyes.
"Hermione." He breathed against her cheek.
"Draco." A mere whisper of a sound, but it was all he needed. He sheathed himself within her and let his desire lead him. She gasped as she felt him unite them in one fluid movement, but only moments later the world stopped to exist and pure bliss engulfed her.
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It was almost 1 pm as Draco was running his fingers leisurely over her stomach, sighing happily. Her head lay on his thigh, he was propped on his elbow. Contentment and peacefulness were radiating of them. Every time they made love it seemed to be like the first time, exhilarating, soul scourging and earth shattering.
Hermione smiled, trailing her index finger over his cheek. He suddenly turned his head and snapped for it. She laughed.
"You know that you are the most beautiful girl in the world."
She blushed. Averting her eyes she mumbled something.
"What? What was that?"
He lifted her chin so he could see her eyes again. She bit her bottom lip.
"Well?"
"You are not bad yourself." It was barely audible.
A big smirk appeared on his face. She sat up. He followed suit, a hand on her shoulder.
"Do you... ever..."
Repositioning himself so he could look at her he found her face still showing the red tinge of her blushing, but he could also see... embarrassment?
"What is it, Lea?"
The gaze that met his was full of uncertainty. He gently bend towards her, kissing her shoulder. She felt his arms wrapping around her. Why did she still doubt his feelings for her at times? It was so obvious that he would never... He wouldn't hurt her and he wouldn't leave her either. As to proof her thoughts she heard him confessing his love for her. Being pulled back against him she just allowed herself to be captured by his arms.
"I love you. I will always love you. Nothing will ever be able to change that." A tender kiss was placed on her temple. "I'm lost without you."
"I love you, Draco."
This time his kiss was caring and soft. He took the time to nibble her lips gently, to lick the corners of her mouth before tasting her openly. He would never in his whole life get enough of her, of holding her, kissing her, loving her.
She didn't know how long they had been savouring each other, but when he finally pulled away just enough to look at her she could see his contentment. Then suddenly a frown appeared on his face.
"Draco?"
His gaze returned to her and he smiled, albeit with the hint of something deeper hidden behind it. He sighed.
"We need to talk about our future. What are we going to do? I mean, I want you to get your parents back. I want to officially announce our engagement. I want to marry you..." His voice trailed off.
Hermione started to think about her own aspirations. She wanted to... She hesitated. She wanted to have her parents back as well and they already knew where they were. So it was only a matter of getting them their memories back. Marriage. It was still a somewhat scary subject for her. She knew that she wanted to marry her Slytherin. Sooner probably rather than later. She wanted to fit in a normal wedding dress! In the future she wanted to resume her healer training. Though did she want to be a working mum? She wasn't sure about that yet.
"Lea?"
She realised that he had been trying to attracted her attention, probably for a while.
"What do you want?"
How was it that the simplest questions were always the hardest to answer?
"I want my parents back. I want to get back to the healer training." She hesitated. "Getting married to you... I know, that you would like us to marry before the baby is born and I want that too, but I don't know, if there is enough time to organise everything."
"Traditionally Malfoys have big society weddings, but I don't really care. I elope with you to Gretna Green, if that is what makes you happy."
She gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
"So, we go back to Scotland and get your parents their memory back first."
Hermione nodded in confirmation.
"Then we are going to get married."
She smiled.
"And then...," he wriggled his eyebrows at her, "I'll make sure that we'll have those three kids..."
She laughed and hit him with a pillow.
"Do you ever think of anything else but your own pleasure?"
He got hold of the pillow and pulled it, hard. She fell into his body, being engulfed by his arms.
"Of course I do." And as if to proof his point she felt him running his fingers enticingly over the inside of her thighs.
"Draco..."
"Yes?"
Though she was too caught in the feelings that were again spreading through her body as that she could answer him. He grinned and continued his exploration. Her skin was... There was a loud hooting at the window. They looked at each other.
"Is there any good reason that I'm prevented from enjoying you more often than not?"
She laughed.
"Maybe somebody is just preventing from you getting too... I don;t know. You should enjoy good things in small doses. Otherwise they are getting meaningle..."
She didn't get to finish the sentence as his mouth was on hers. The hooting got louder.
"Yes! For Merlin's sake! I'm coming."
Draco climbed out off bed and Hermione was treated to the view of his naked body as he walked over to the window. The owl swooped in gracefully and landed on the chair in front of his desk. She got out off bed and reached the bird before Draco could. The letter had the sprawling handwriting of Harry on it. It was addressed to them both. She frowned.
"Who is it from?"
"Harry."
The owl was given some treads and was gone moments later. The letter was opened and read out loud.
Hermione, Malfoy,
I have just come from a meeting with Shaklebolt, Shaw and a few others. I would lie, if I said I wasn't concerned for your safety. There is a guy brewing potions for Pansy Parkinson. He has done the Polyjuice Potion for Rita Skeeter as well. The one she used to impersonate Ron at my birthday party. Somehow Zabini was under the influence of some potion of his as well. Not sure I should tell you why... Ask him.
"I most certainly will!" Hermione ignored Draco's comment and read on.
The guy has been picked up by some colleagues of mine. Not sure, if he has been interrogated already. There might have been other potions this lunatic has done, but I don't know yet.
Pansy has cursed Malfoy's mother, she was the one instigating the poisoning of Zabini and has also nearly killed somebody called William Rockwood. He must have been in Slytherin. His folks were Death Eaters. Maybe Malfoy knows them.
Draco nodded.
There is also somebody by the name of William Norton, called Notorious. He is a Curse Creator. The kind of curses you don't want to have used on yourself! Pansy got that curse from him that got Malfoy's mother into St. Mungo's. Shaw wanted me to go to Manchester and find him, but I told him I won't do that. I can't because of Ginny.
"Ginny?" Hermione shrugged.
Please make sure, you keep safe! Parkinson is positively deranged. An arrest warrant is out for her and I hope they get her before she does anything really stupid.
I also told Shaw that I helped Malfoy with some information. He was okay with it.
"What kind of information?"
"I'll tell you in a minute. Read on."
Parvati is going to get Ministry protection as both Skeeter and Parkinson have been using her. With the help of the Imperius Curse...
I don't know, where the owl will find you, but please be careful and take care of yourselves.
Love, Harry
Hermione was about to fold the parchment back together, when she noticed that there was a postscriptum at the end.
P.S.: If anything happens to her, ferret, I'll make you pay!
P.P.S.: Ginny is pregnant.