Chapter Text
Previously...
He could have hurt them...
The Basilisk, Port Inverness
................
"Ye say you're a friend of Draco's? I... I mean Lord MacFoy..." Hermione stammered out with a blush as she poured tea into a fine china cup to hand to the handsome stranger who she had caught in their walkway just moments earlier.
Was it entirely wise of her to allow this man into her parlour... perhaps not... but when he had told her he was an old acquaintance of Draco's Hermione's curiosity had been pricked. 'Twas too good of an opportunity to miss really.
"It's alright, darlin'." drawled Theo with a wink, "I meself call him Draco and therefore I must insist as his good friend and now hopefully yours... you would do me the honour of calling me Theo."
What Theo didn't elaborate further was he usually followed Draco's name with the words bastard or cold-hearted sonofabitch or when he was feeling particularly creative a litany of swear words that would make Hermione blush to the ends of her very curly hair.
He too was after all, a sailor. He just felt like a gentle lady had no requirement to hear such things.
What a charming rogue thought Hermione, amused. Theo couldn't have been much older than herself, but he was casual fashion personified from the handsome gold rings and chains that adorned his chest and fingers to the fine silk shirt with balloon sleeves and leather breeches. He smelled like sandalwood and the sea, an alluring, sensual fragrance.
She knew for a fact that this man probably lacked no dearth of female company for with his messy curls the colour of coal and eyes that were almost a gem like green Theo gave off the impression that he was always amused by some sort of secret jest that only him and the universe shared. He even held his cup of tea with a negligent air, but his eyes sparkled with curiosity as they surveyed her.
Despite his roguish charm Hermione only felt curiosity about the man, after all her heart was currently far too preoccupied with a grieving blond Dragon.
"My relationship with Malfoy is old trot." he declared, putting his elbows on his knees and looking into her eyes intently as they sat across from each other, "However you, my dear... 'tis you I am curious about."
Hermione was just about to open her mouth to speak when she heard the hard stomping of boots.
Only one man walked with such purpose.
Even Theo's eyes snapped up before he gave her a wicked grin, "Seems we'll have to save our discussion for another day, my sweet." Gallantly and to Hermione's shock he picked himself up off his chair and before she could react, he had placed a chaste kiss on her cheek.
"Wait a minute..." she called in shock, but he had already winked and lithely jumped from the open porthole in her parlour and onto the deck.
Hermione ran to the window and looked out, but she was only quick enough to see a shadow jump down from the ship's deck into the freezing water and swim away with agility.
...
Draco stormed into the hidden rooms of the lower deck, fully expecting to see his son and Hermione hurt but was greeted with the sight of Hermione turning away from the porthole with baffled look on her face.
"Are you alright, Miss. Granger." Draco was unable to stop himself from marching over to her and holding her warm, vital body in her his arms, he needed to see she was unhurt himself. He dragged his hands over her shoulders and arms checking for injury.
"Draco..." Hermione murmured startled, "What happened?"
"I need to know if you're hurt anywhere, Hermione treasure. That bastard will pay." he swore. "He was, here wasn't he? I can smell that damn sandalwood everywhere."
Flustered by all the attention and the keen awareness that came with Draco's hands on her body Hermione hadn't even noticed the tall, swarthy man who had entered into the cabin behind Draco.
She blushed because the man was now studying her with a curious tilt of his head, his eyes enigmatic and shuttered as he watched Lord MacFoy grasp the arms of his son's nanny in a death grip.
"Let go My Lord." Hermione said gently, peeling his hard fingers away from where they were bruising the skin of her upper arms.
Draco wasn't listening, angry and concerned silver eyes raked her over from head to toe, "Is Scorpius...?"
"He is perfect." she replied firmly, wriggling to let him know he was holding her much too tight, "Sleeping as all wee bairns do, peacefully. Now will you please tell me what is wrong?"
"You met MacNott, Miss. Granger?" it wasn't Draco who spoke but the tall man who stood by the door.
"Theo? The young man with the dark hair from earlier?" Hermione asked confused, "Why yes, I even offered him a cup of tea! He said he was your old friend, My Lord."
Draco's hand grew even tighter.
"Draco." Hermione gasped, "You're hurting me."
"You are never." said Draco in an icy cold voice, turning her to face him, "Never, ever to let that man come anywhere near you or Scorpius, do I make myself clear."
Hermione who had been struggling to hold her own dragon at bay now began to fume. How dare he!? He had told her nothing and was now berating her for giving a man who might have been his friend tea! How was she supposed to know who he was if Draco had told her nothing?!
She wasn't having this.
"Maybe if ye deigned to put in an appearance once in a while to let me know my duties, My Lord... we wouldn't be having this problem." she said coldly, jerking out of his hold. "Or mayhap ye expected me to read your mind or have communicated your desires with me on the metaphysical plane."
"Damnation woman you are twisting my words!"
"Nay My Lord, in order for me to twist your words or your explanation you should have first have provided one." She replied coldly, "I think it's past time I excused myself."
And with those words whispered in an utterly regal manner Hermione swept out of the parlour and into her bedroom. Making sure to not slam the door since the little boy was sleeping within.
To Draco the quiet click of her bedroom door was louder than a cannonball.
"Hellfire, how did I lose control of this situation?"
Blaise grinned at him, a rare event.
"She's rather fiery." He said with appreciation, "And lovely too."
"A rather lovely pain in my arse more like." Draco muttered, running his hand through his dishevelled hair. "It's much too late now, come Zabini... I shall deal with Miss. Granger on the morn."
"Aye-aye sir." replied his friend, the stupid grin still on his face.
Draco glared at the other man, feeling a reluctant smile threaten to take over his face when Blaise whistled cheerfully while exiting the small parlour.
Draco knew he wouldn't be waiting for the morning, Hermione had to be impressed upon that Theodore MacNott was not a man she should be trifling with.
He was dangerous and he had gained access to Draco's territory. There had to be a traitor... there was no other way MacNott could have known about where on the large ship Draco kept his family, Draco would make sure to find the man who had let slip where they were and then... then he would skin him alive.
He was a fool, this was the folly of underestimating the other mans skill. He would not make that mistake again.
...
Hermione could not sleep, what an eventful night she thought with a sigh. There seemed to be far too many of those in her life recently. The downside of living with a Dragon she supposed.
Now that she was somewhat calm, she could see that Draco's cold words earlier had been coated in a thin layer of fear... fear for her... it had been so long since someone worried about her.
Had she truly made such a big mistake by inviting Theo to talk? Hermione knew vaguely of the legends around the demise of the MacFoy clan, it had been much before her own life in the village and she was not inclined to listen to what she at that time had believed to be a fairy-story.
The name MacNott was familiar of-course. It had been clever of Theo and vastly stupid of her not to ask his full name. But then again, he could have just lied to her.
A soft knock on her door interrupted her anxious thoughts, bringing her back to herself.
Oh dear... 'twas nearly dawn once again and she had a trepidatious feeling that 'twas Draco behind that knock.
The last time they had been alone during dawn... they had nearly made love. A mixture of reluctant and keen longing swirled within her. Maybe she should pretend to be asleep, they could always speak during the harsh light of day when the atmosphere wasn't so heavy with her hastily uttered words and his cold anger.
Besides the early dawn light gave the room an epicurean atmosphere that wasn't conducive to the discussion of such a serious matter.
"I know you're awake." His voice was gravelly... he sounded tired, "I came to apologize... that does seem to be a large theme in most of our conversations, Hermione."
Tentatively she got up from her bed and went to the door.
"I am indeed awake." she sighed, knowing that he could hear her soft words despite the door in between.
"Open the door." He coaxed gently.
"I don't think that would be wise, My Lord." she said with a sigh, "I'm sure you remember how our last dawn meeting went."
(A/N- Hermione makes a pun here usually a 'dawn meeting' during this period of English history would refer to a duel, they of-course did not engage in a traditional duel)
"Please, I promise to behave myself."
Hermione knew she was a weakling but her heart was completely divergent from her mind and so she opened up her cabin's door a mere crack.
Lord... but he did look tired. Soft purple smudges shaded his undereye, even his eyepatch was a little askew. She wanted so badly to reach out and adjust it for him, but she bit her bottom lip... restraining the impulse.
"I gather you're going to give me an explanation now." she whispered as he gazed down at her meditatively.
"Yes, perhaps you ought to come out, 'tis a long story and an unpleasant one." he said grimly.
Hermione followed him out to the small parlour where they had had their confrontation the night before. She sat demurely on the single wingback chair waiting for him patiently.
...
Draco grit his teeth. How the hell was he supposed to even begin? And what would she do once she heard the blood-soaked history of the man who she chosen to place her trust in.
"You know." she said gently, "I always find it's easiest if you begin from the first point you remember, no matter how mundane."
He swung around startled, grinning at the earnestness on her face.
"He's Theodore MacNott, the heir to the MacNott Duchy and the only remaining son alive. Our clans had been feuding for centuries but there is no MacFoy clan left to feud with anymore. Theo's father was responsible for wiping them all out."
Hermione gasped in dismay, what had she done!? She had entertained the first son of the clan responsible for Draco's parents deaths in his own vessel.
"Except you." she whispered.
"Except me." He replied with a grim, rather feral smile on his face. "Theo couldn't have been much older than me when his father marched into Glenmorgan on a night much like the one when you turned up at my doorstep. The village closest to the castle had been bribed to not send a messenger to their Laird, my father. The Keep fell that night." He said simply, his words not showing the depth of anger Hermione could see in his eyes. "They beheaded my father and raped my mother before slitting her throat. I was lucky to get out alive and it was only because of Dobby."
"Draco... oh Draco..." Hermione cried out, springing up from her chair and wrapping her arms around him.
"I am fine, love. 'Twas many years ago and my intention of telling you this was not to gain your sympathy. You need to understand that MacNott has taken on the mantle of revenge once his father died."
"Do you know the cause for the feud?" she murmured against his chest, pleased when his own arms closed around her tightly.
"The only people who could have told me are now dead and it's unlikely that I can gain a straight answer from MacNott. Normally when we meet, it's with daggers drawn."
Hermione shuddered, "And just how many times have you two 'met' like this?"
"Over the years?" Draco said with a thoughtful frown, "Mayhap more than a dozen times."
"Is he...? Like you? Magic?" she whispered.
"How perceptive of you." Draco said looking down at her in surprise.
"'Twasn't the hardest thing to glean, My Lord." she replied dryly, "After all one cannot be a billion years old and look like a young man in his prime without some supernatural help, I'd imagine."
"Are you calling me old, young lady?" Draco mockingly growled.
Hermione laughed gently before running her hand down his chest, a thoughtful frown on her face.
"What creature is he then? When he is a changeling?"
"I have never been able to confirm it, but I believe he is a kelpie."
"A kelpie? Does that mean he can shapeshift?" she asked curiously, "I wonder if that is how he gained entrance to your ship."
Draco jerked sharply, "What did you say?!"
"If he's a kelpie, he can probably shapeshift." she repeated with a frown on her face, "Did you not know that My Lord?"
"I know little about other creatures of the lore, aside from my own Dragon."
"Perhaps My Lord if you are able to look into the history of your special gifts, you might understand the cause of the feud between your clans. It occurs to me that when you lost your parents and your whole clan, you also lost a great deal of information and your history, there may be something within your clans history that given an indication as to why what happened to your parents did."
...
It had not occurred to Draco that in his vehemence to reject the very people who had betrayed him and his family he may have missed a vital clue as to the reason of their death.
"The hoard did always remain untouched." He murmured thoughtfully, tightening his arms around Hermione as she tried to move away from him.
"What is that My Lord?"
"The Dragon's Hoard. Our family's treasure, the hoard has been kept in Glenmorgan castle for centuries. After the raze I had expected to find it ransacked, like the rest of the castle yet it remained untouched. I always believed it was because they could never find it, that they killed my parents because of the rumours about the treasure."
Hermione yawned delicately and Draco was forced to let her go reluctantly.
"Mayhap I should offer my apology now, Hermione and allow you then to seek your bed."
"There is no apology necessary here, My Lord. It was I who was in the wrong for inviting that wretched man into your parlour."
Draco reached out and brushed her soft curls behind her ear, "Draco when we're alone please Hermione... I know it isn't fair to ask it of you, but I beg you... indulge me."
"Oh Draco." Hermione's voice was an aching inflection, "I would do even if were unfair of you to ask."
"I was terrified." he confessed softly, "When I knew that I had been tricked and that MacNott had found out that my ship was docked here. I didn't know what I would find when I returned."
Hermione felt her breath catch for this man who had seen every single person he loved snatched from him. The fear in his voice humbled her and at that moment she felt her heart break free from her own grasp and go hurtling towards him.
There was nothing on this earth that could have stopped her from falling in love with him, she realised all of a sudden. He was her every dream of chivalry, honour and loyalty come to life. A man who stoically bore the heavy responsibility the universe had decided to lay on his shoulders.
Maybe It knew as she did... they were broad enough to carry it all.
Tbc
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