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Halloween parties surely went a long way from The Troll Disaster of ’91. For starters, Hermione was not spending it crying in the girls' bathroom. Although she was sitting in one right now and she did feel like she might start crying any minute if Pansy did not stop to pull aggressively on her hair. She glared at the brunette through the mirror.
“Would you stop doing that? I agreed to you styling me, not torturing”
“How did you think there is any difference with Parks?” Daphne smirked from her place standing behind Hermione. Their eyes met in the mirror and she smiled fondly at Hermione while putting on her pearl earrings. “You do look wonderful though. Gold looks good at you.”
If the complement was meant to placate her it failed miserably and only had the opposite effect. She started pulling on her dress, considering for the hundredth time to transfigure the color to black. Or at least make the slit up her thigh smaller. Pansy slapped her hand away.
“For Merlin’s sake, stop butchering the dress Granger, it's mulberry silk. It's meant to be caressed only. “
“For Morgana’s sake, Pansy stop hurting me. I told you I am not comfortable with it, you should listen to me” Hermione glared at her Slytherin friend in the mirror.
“I thought we did agree the only one anyone should listen to in terms of clothes is me. Impressive glare, but now close your eyes, I need to glamour on some eyeshadow” Pansy ordered.
Hermione made it her mission to roll her eyes before following the instructions. “I was drunk when I agreed to that” she huffed.
“That’s on you then, stop blinking.”
“You kept pouring me wine” Hermione didn’t like the whining tone her voice was taking. She was losing and she knew it.
“I did that, didn’t I?” Hermione could swear she heard Pansy smirk - Stop pouting, you are ruining the lipstick. Hermione listened begrudgingly and let Pansy reapply the color to her lips.
“Open your eyes, Grumpy Princess, you are ready”
Hermione did just that and truly took a moment to familiarize herself with the woman in the mirror. Was that really her? The eye color was right, although the eyeshadow brought the amber pecks to life more. The hair, although a bit tamed was still her signature mane. The gold silk hugged her frame in the right places, showing her body exactly as it was. Yet she looked powerful and desirable. Was that her? Or was she just fooling everyone around her? Was she fooling herself?
“A golden girl indeed” Pansy said with a voice full of pride and glee.
Hermione sighed. Yes, she looked like a Golden Girl indeed. That was exactly her problem. Pansy expression soured.
“When will you see yourself for what you are? For what others see you for? Fuck golden girl, you are a Golden Goddess. The world is at your feet. Claim it for once.”
Hermione turned away from the mirror and looked directly into her friend’s eyes. Her unexpected, determined, loyal friend. She knew Pansy would not say these things to her if she didn’t mean them with her whole heart.
“For you Pansy I will try. Thank you. Now let’s go to this party”
Daphne whistled gleefully and started in the direction of the Flo Parlor.
“Greengrass! You are a lady, act like one” Pansy snapped.
Daphne managed to roll her eyes right before she disappeared in green flames.
***
The party was in full swing already when they entered the Green Dining Room at Nott Estate. They were welcomed with Harry in a vampire costume scowling at them
“What is this? Nott said following the theme was mandatory. And here I am looking ridiculous and keeping biting myself with these fangs. And you all three just look… “ he seemed to struggle for the appropriate word “ …Hot… “ he mumbled, his cheeks reddening under his pale glamour.
“Oh, why thank you for your sophisticated compliment Potter” Pansy looked at him like he was a clueless 5 year old putting on a tantrum “Truly what did you expect? The theme is literally Beasts and Beauties”
“I could put in you a dress if you want” Daphne offered twirling her wand between her fingers
Harry’s eyes widened in terror. Hermione just giggled. Truly the man can go to meet his death bravely and still be terrified of two petite Slytherins. She was about to save him when Ginny appeared in her siren costume.
„Girls you look fabulous. Harry, let’s put these fangs of yours to better use” she said and grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him toward a dark alcove
They didn’t make it there though, because Theo's jovial voice multituded by magic broke through the chatter of the party.
“Welcome, welcome all beasts and beauties. Let’s please all gather in the dining area. I have a surprise for you.”
This statement was welcomed by overall excitement and a groan from Hermione. Something that was making Theo sound this excited could never possibly be a good thing. Pansy sensed her hesitance and put a surprisingly strong hand on the small of her back „Claim the party, Golden Goddess. You promised to at least try”
She did, didn’t she? Hermione sighed and dutifully followed the small crowd to the big dining table heavy with crazy delicacies and bottles of wine. She was about to sit between Pansy and Daphne, when someone withdrew her chair for her
“Granger” a deep voice breathed her name down her cheek. Towering above her was Draco Malfoy, clad in all in back, his shirt half open with his sectusempra scars visible. What was even more striking than his chest muscles (focus Hermione!) however was a golden dragon mask covering half of his face. The look he gave her was truly beastly. Deadly.
“Malfoy” her tone much cooler than she felt. He nodded in response, allowing her to take her place and pulling her chair to the table. Then he turned around and moved to his chair across the table from her.
She sighed. She doubted she would ever make sense of their interactions. While other Slytherins were nowadays open books to her and all became dear friends (albeit a little too cunning and substance-dependent for her taste) he remained an enigma. Gone was the bully from her school times, no purist slurs ever leaving his lips anymore. He became a perfectly respectful, quiet presence in her life. Keeping his distance but always in her peripheral vision. Always the first to congratulate her on her newly passed laws (although never in person, it was usually a bouquet of flowers with a note). First to defend her in public if any journalist got too much inspired by Skeeter. First to donate galleons to the never-ending list of charities she endorsed with her name. With anyone else she might have misread it as attention. But not with their history. It was all very cordial, respectful, demure. She hated it. Not that she would like him to be a bullying blood purist, but the way he made her into his atonement project was just so detached. Even to him, she was a symbol, not a person.
Theo’s jovial voice broke her from her reverie.
“Now that we are all comfortable it’s time for the grand reveal of the party” Hermione hated his wide grin right now. It screamed trouble. “As my dear friends, you will have the pleasure of being the first ones to test a brand new, exciting elixir I created for today’s game of Tame the Beast”
Harry put his face in his hands“ Fucking hell Nott no, just no”
Theo smiled and practically sang back “Oh Harry Harry, we have been over this before, two negatives become positive, hence Nott no means hell yes”
Hermione groaned, while Theo, not one bit dejected, started to twirl his wand around his extended empty hand. The clouds of green smoke started to obscure his arm. There was a small bolt of lightning coming from his index finger that made Hermione close her eyes for a second. When she opened them there was a vial of neon pink elixir standing on Theo’s extended hand. Dramatic prat.
“Behold the Speciem Monstri” Of course he had a Latin name ready. The appearance of the beast? Seriously?
It was time for Harry to groan, his face hidden in his hands, voice muffled and resigned. “Nott we have been over this. It’s illegal to distribute newly developed, not tested elixirs. I am a Head Auror for fuck sake, don’t make me arrest you. Again”
“You keep promising me that and then it never happens Potter. Now shush, let’s play Tame the Beast” Theo tutted at him. “Rules are simple. Beasts take turns drinking Speciem Monstri which will reveal the true beast from their disguise. Then we choose a Beauty who will have to tame the beast however she sees fit. It will be so much fun. Who wants to be first?” He was giddy with anticipation.
Silence fell over the table, with people stealing glances at each other.
“Bunch of scared snakes. Give me that Nott, let’s play!” Ron stood up from his place and started walking proudly toward the head of the table where Theo stood. He was sporting a huge lion head on top of his own, not unlike the one Luna wore to the matches during their school days.
Theo was clearly unimpressed. With his nose wrinkled like he smelled something foul, he asked “A lion? How Gryffindor of you”
“I am a Manticore you prick”
“A manticore is so much more than just a lion head Ronald. Scorpion tail is also to be considered while taking inspiration from the creature’s anatomy” Hermione couldn’t help herself, the need to educate everyone around her, especially Ron, ran deep. She simultaneously caught Ron’s scowl and Malfoy’s smirk.
“Yes Weasley I don’t see the scorpion tail. Unless you transfigured your..” Theo wiggled his brows suggestively at Ron’s crotch.
“Oh just give me that elixir Nott” – Ron snatched the vial from Theo’s hand “You are one to talk. What are you supposed to be?” Hermione looked at Theo then – indeed he was looking more elegant than disguised. Nothing beastly in his purple muggle suit. The top hat on his head gave him however aura of a circus Ringmaster.
“I am the Master of today’s ceremony of course. Plus if anything, I could only be a Beauty. Oh yes, and I see a vampire-siren duo I would love to tame tonight” A collective gasp from everyone. Another groan from Harry. And a wink from Ginny? What was happening today? Hermione didn’t have time to process this new development properly because Ron swallowed the whole content of the vial in one gulp and everyone held their breaths. For a moment he just stood there and then in one swift motion, he jumped on the table, ripped his shirt in front to shreds, and roared.
“Since when do lions strip? Like anyone needs to see more of his ginger hair” Pansy wrinkled her nose looking up at shirtless Ron prowling proudly on the table looking at each man with a challenge in his eyes.
“Oh I don’t know, I like my men hairy” Daphne giggled
The look on Pansy’s face screamed bloody horror. “He is a Weasley!” She hissed.
“Shut it Pans, you lost your judging privileges when you started fucking Longbottom” With that Daphne stood up and said in full volume to everyone else “I would gladly tame this beast”
This resulted in an abundance of cheers and whistles. Hermione tapped her empty glass with a wand to order a red wine. There is no way she will survive this night sober. And rightly so, because the next fifteen minutes involved Daphne conjuring a circus hoop, setting said hoop on fire while Ron performed multiple jumps through it while losing his lion head to the flames in the process. Utter madness. The whole episode ended with people toasting Theo’s brilliance and Ron sitting on the floor next to Daphne’s chair while she stroked his hair. There was a chance Hermione heard him purr. She tapped her wand to her empty glass. She was afraid there was not enough wine in Nott’s cellar to get her through this night.
“Thank you Greengrass for a nice start of our game” Theo laughed with his magickly streghten voice “But taming a cat was a child’s play” A whining roar from between Daphne’s and Hermione’s chairs where Ron sat. “Let’s get to the real beasts” He paused there and looked around the room, meeting each person's stare. Hermione rolled her eyes when he reached her. Dramatic prat extraordinaire. Theo held her stare when he whispered theatrically” I say we slay the Slytherin Dragon now”
Hermione frowned and turned toward Malfoy to find him already observing her. He seemed slightly bored when he asked “Must I Nott?”
“But of course dear Draco, and before you try to escape from here let me remind you that once you promised me you will do everything in your power for me to lead a happy life”
“We were kids and I meant freeing you from your sadistic Death Eather father, not fulfilling your all twisted fantasies” Malfoy responded in an exasperated tone, although his eyes looked fondly at his friend.
“Technicalities” Theo waved his hand dismissively and walked toward Malfoy with a brand new vial of pink elixir in his hand. “Drink up”
Draco’s pale hand surrounded the whole vial, concealing it from view. He made a swift move of his thump to uncork the little bottle. He held Hermione’s gaze while he put little vial to his lips. Then he closed his eyes while swallowing the potion enabling her to observe freely as his Adam’s apple bobbed. Expectant silence engulfed the room once again. It seemed an eternity before Draco finally opened his eyes, locking his stare again with Hermione’s. The collective gasp from everyone broke the silence. Followed by a raspy “Mine” escaping Draco’s lips. Hermione sat frozen, mesmerized by his eyes, which to her utter surprise turned molten gold from his usual cold silver. But it wasn’t the inexplicable change of color that trapped her in stillness, it was the way he looked at her. Gone was the respectful distant hesitance. She was looking into a gold pit of hunger, possessiveness and impatience. She wanted to drown in it. It was exhilarating to be the object of such overpowering want.
“Ekhm.. Theo, mate. I thought the elixir only altered the behavior” Dean’s voice broke Hermione’s focus from Draco’s eyes. She looked sharply at Theo
“Yes, that was the general assumption,” Theo said, no trace of worry in his voice. He walked behind Hermione to get a direct view of Draco “This is the most fascinating development, yes. Let me see” He conjured a notebook and started taking notes. “Golden irises, snake slit pupils. Oh, this is so much fun!”
Draco the Dragon didn’t pay any attention to Theo’s observations. He did not however appreciate losing Hermione’s focus. “Mine. Treasure. Gold” He growled and her heart sank. Of course that was a reason for him to want her in particular. Her damned golden dress. The dragon in him took it quite literally and perceived her as his golden treasure.
“Oh joy, it seems the Beast has chosen the Beauty to tame him. Go on Hermione, off you go” She hoped her look could burn him on the spot
“What do you mean off you go?” she was irritated. Was it with Theo or with her little epiphany on the source of Draco’s interest? Of course, it was with Theo. She will not care if Draco sodding Malfoy wanted her or not.
“Here. Safe. Tressure. Mine.” Draco growled a little louder this time and made a summoning gesture with his index finger.
“I think he wants you to sit in his lap Granger” Pansy suggested. She was obviously enjoying herself in equal measure as Theo.
“I will most certainly not!” Hermione exclaimed. This was met with a hiss from Draco and oh Merlin, was this smoke coming from his nostrils?
“Hermione for once just do as you are told” ” Harry’s face was again hidden in his hands. “If Malfoy mauls anyone here under the influence of an unregistered elixir I will have to arrest Theo. And I truly truly truly can’t stomach yet another meeting with his solicitors. It’s a nightmare, Mione, please”
He looked at her with pleading, tired eyes and she was fuming. How dare he ask her for this? But then she took a steading breath. It was Harry. Her oldest best friend. The closest thing she ever had to a brother. She rode a dragon for him once, surely she can manage sitting in the lap of one for .. how long? “How long does this elixir work for?”
“Oh merely till midnight” Theo practically sang. Beauties and the beasts and magic till midnight. Seriously.
“I am cutting you off from my Disney channel” She snapped at him and begrudgingly stood from her chair. She tried to avoid looking at Malfoy while she circled the big table, but in her peripheral vision she could see his golden snake eyes following her until she was standing right in front of him. His eyes roamed over her whole body hungrily.
“Treasure. Mine. Here.” he growled again Yet he did not move. It seemed he was waiting for her to come to him.
“Oh this is ridiculous” she sighed and started to move her feet. In that moment Draco’s hand snatched forward and caught her by the waist. Before she could even register how hotly his fingers burned through the material of her dress, he spun her in place and pulled her toward him. She landed in his lap a little disorientated, with her back pressed to his chest. The hand that snatched her moved from her waist to her belly, his fingers spreading wide and curling into the fabric of her dress and then into her skin, pressing her even tighter to his body. Meanwhile, his right hand traveled up her arm and shoulder to her collarbones and higher. Lean fingers curled around her neck, squeezing her airways a bit too strongly. Her gasp for air resulted in three wands pulled from their holsters and pointed at Malfoy.
“It seems I invited way too many Aurors to my party” Theo cackled “Head Auror Potter would you please instruct your team not to spoil the party”
“I don’t care about your stupid party Nott. It's about Hermione’s safety” Harry grunted.
“Yes! Hermione, our ambitious, overachieving friend. Do you really think she would appreciate you preventing her from outperforming herself in our little challenge? Let the Beauty tame her Beast” This was met with a tired sigh from Harry. Three wands were lowered, yet not hidden in Hermione’s vision. Luckily for Harry’s sanity, it did not take her long to deduct what needed to be done. The dragon (Draco) was feeling protective of his treasure(Her). She needed to ensure him his treasure was safe.
Her left hand traveled ever so slowly up to his face. She delicately put the tips of her fingers on the side of his face to placate him. Some were met with his hot blazing skin. Some with ice-cold material of his dragon mask. His pressure on her neck reduced enough for her to be able to speak again. In a voice so low only he could hear she whispered three words.
“Here. Safe. Yours”
She heard him take a whistling breath in and felt his body relax slightly under her. It was a difference between being squeezed to death and hugged. Albeit fiercely. However, the sight of wands still not sheathed reminded her that others were not able to observe the change. She reached out her hand and wandlessly summoned her glass of wine. The moment she put the rim of the glass to her lips a collective sigh left everyone around them. Cheering followed.
Theo’s “Who is next?” resulted in laughs and whistles. The party continued in its crazed manner. Beats were summoned and tamed. Hermione’s focus however was reduced to the overpowering presence of Draco around her. The hot feeling of the skin of his hand on her neck and collarbones. The steady pressure of his chest on her back made her feel safe and cornered simultaneously. The aroma of leather and smoke invaded her senses and she was unable to say whether it was his cologne or the unexpected effect of the elixir. She started feeling dizzy and sent the wine glass back to the table. Was she already drunk? On wine? Or the feeling of him? It was madness. But clearly, it was not enough, because the moment this thought took place in her mind she felt him shift slightly.
“Mine” the breathed word caressed the side of her neck, where his face was now, a mere inch from her shoulder. “Mine” his lips hovered just a breath away from her skin, never touching her, but putting all her nerve ends on fire. She was terrified of him closing the minuscule distance. She was desperate for him to do so. Draco continued his assault, whispering affirmation of his possessiveness up and down the skin of her neck. Never before had Hermione felt so wanted, so cherished. It was making her feel hot and bothered, desire accumulating between her thighs. She squeezed her thighs together, just for a moment of traction. The dragon in Malfoy clearly sensed that because the hand on her belly that had so far stayed motionless started its assault, molding the material of her silk dress and then her skin under it between his fingers. The moment his thump grazed the underside of her breast she had to swallow the moan that was trying to escape her lips. Not real not real not real - her mind repeated like a mantra. Malfoy didn’t want her like that, he never did. It was just an illusion, not to be trusted. It was alike a love confession under Amortentia. Not real. The thoughts made her tear ducts wet.
“I need to go” she whispered. Predictably the dragon didn’t like it. The hold on her tightened. Hermione had enough of this. She sent a light wandless jinx toward his hands. Nothing serious, just a quick current, enough for Malfoy to withdraw his hands with a hiss. That was enough of an opening for Hermione, she sprinted toward the door. Hermione continued to run through the maze of corridors of Nott’s manor until she was out of breath. She leaned her back on the wall, breathing heavily. That’s when she heard his whispers.
“Mine. Naughty. Treasure”
Of course, he found her. She huffed in frustration. She cast a wandless tempus. 11 pm. If Theo was to be trusted (another frustrated huff) still an hour remained till the elixir stopped working. If she could only calm herself enough to cast a wandless petrificus totalus. Fuck her silk dress with no place for a wand.
Draco was right before her, towering over her. His gold mask flickered in the light of near wall lantern. His gold eyes aflame again with the same look of possessiveness. His face lowered and yet again his lips hovered just a breath above the skin of her shoulder. “Mine” he whispered. His gaze traveled up the line of her shoulders, neck, cheekbones up to her eyes. She was staring into a golden galaxy, his eyes captivating her. “Say it. Mine” He ordered. She couldn’t take it anymore. Closing her eyes tightly to break his spell on her she started muttering.
“Not real not real not real” – she repeated again and again, each syllable felt like a knife self-inflected on her heart.
“Real. Mine. Say it” she heard his rasping voice, his hot breath on her cheeks.
“No!” she growled back at him, her eyes still closed. “I won’t because it's not real!” she was practically screaming now. “I don’t want it unless it’s real” All her anger depleted with this statement. A tired sob escaped her lips.
Awful, heavy silence followed. She was afraid to open her eyes.
“Granger?” – a soft, hesitant murmur. No hiss, no growl. “Open your eyes, Granger”
She took a steadying breath and peeked with one eye. Malfoy was looking at her, his eyes no longer molten gold, but his regular silver. She opened her eyes fully. He was looking at her with a slightly crazed expression. Did he remember what occurred over the last hour? She prayed for him to forget. She desperately needed him to remember.
“What did you mean?” he asked urgently
Hermione felt like her mind restarted and her ability to grasp reality was slowly returning. “Is it midnight yet? How are you back to your real self?” she asked
“Focus Granger! What did you mean by saying you don’t want it unless it's real? Do you want this to be real?”
“How can you be back to yourself?!”
“Oh you and your insatiable need for knowledge” he huffed impatiently and reached out for something in the pocket of his pants. A vial filled with the pink neon potion. Still sealed.
“You never drank it?” Hermione’s head was spinning.
“Correct” The lazy smirk Draco gave her in return was infuriating.
“But your eyes? The smoke? How is it possible?” The only answer he gave her was an expectant look. He was waiting for her to figure it out. It took her mere seconds.
“You are a Metamorphmagus! Of course, just like Tonks. What is it with Black bloodline..?” She wondered aloud. This was fascinating.
The smirk on Malfoy’s face transformed into something softer. He almost looked proud of her. “Cleverest witch our age, indeed”
The satisfaction of solving the puzzle only held for a quick moment. Wild fury followed.
“AM I A JOKE TO YOU? WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF ALL THIS CIRCUS THEN?” Hermione was shouting in his face now “Who was on it? Was everyone onto this farce?”Does this elixir even work?”
Draco scoffed. “Yeah, like I would trust Weasel with this”
“Trust him with what Draco?! Hermione was not done screaming
“With you!” Draco screamed back at her with frustration. He grabbed the gold dragon mask from his face and threw it in the dark corner of the corridor. Hermione recoiled from him. It seemed to simmer down his fury. Draco ran his hand through his hair, sighed heavily looking straight into her eyes said steadily “I needed to know you want this. Us. I needed you to know I want you”
She was rendered speechless. He was making more sense to her as a dragon. What was going on? Was this true? It couldn’t be true. She should know. She would have known. Right?
There was something in Hermione’s expression Draco must have found endearing. He took a step toward her and put a hesitant hand up, cupping her cheek delicately.
“For such a clever witch, you can be so oblivious when it comes to yourself and how others perceive you” This was weirdly close to the sentiment stated by Pansy in the bathroom before the party „Yes I want you. I have wanted you for a long time now. I practically courted you for the last 2 years. I have conjured more flowers for you in the last two years than I did any other objects in my whole life”
“But, but” she stuttered “You always kept your distance. How could I know?”
“Well you never encouraged me either, did you?” She wanted to contradict him, but she really couldn’t right? “ With our past, I was unsure whether you would want this”
Hermione looked into his silver eyes. No hunger, no distance. Only hesitant hope.
“With our past, I thought I was your atonement” she whispered.
Draco scoffed. He closed his eyes and took a steading breath. When he opened them they were blazing with desperate passion.
“You are my everything” he rasped.
Hermione knew he was telling the truth. Of course, he was. This was so obvious now for her, they belonged to each other, they were just too blinded by their past to realize it earlier.
“I am yours” Her whisper was welcomed by a blazing smile on his face. She never saw him smile like this. It was glorious. He didn’t however move. He had already taken enough control from her tonight and now he was waiting for her to take control. There was hunger however returned to his eyes and this time she claimed it without any doubt.
“Devour me”
His lips crushed hers. He was a man (dragon?) starved, and her lips were his feast, her little moans his dessert. She didn’t know how long they kissed, their lips taking turns from their lips and skin of their necks, their hands getting more daring in their exploration. She was a molten gold in his arms, hot and fluid. She never wanted to feel anything else.
“Draco? Hermione? Are you here?” a hesitant voice from the dark end of the corridor broke through her crazed state. Was it Pansy? Ginny? Hermione couldn’t tell but she knew she didn’t need this knowledge. She was not ready to give up the feel of Draco’s lips on her neck for tonight. She needed more. He looked up at her, a question in his eyes.
“Take me to your place” she whispered. It was met with a wicked grin. A moment before he could apparate them, she decided to claim one more fantasy today” Um Draco? Take the mask with you” His eyes blazed with gold upon hearing this. Without breaking eye contact he reached out his open palm to summon the mask from the corner he threw it in. The moment it touched his hand Draco’s lips captured hers hungrily again. Hermione didn’t even feel the pull of the apparition. She only felt him.
