Bride of the HP Dragon

As soon as they stepped out of the Cobblestone Hotel, they were involved in chaos.

When Draco spotted the innkeeper, the man was sprinting outside, wearing a purple bathrobe two sizes too small for the ladies, with two small flowers sewn into the collar, drawing his wand, cursing loudly.

On the street outside, people who were still drinking and reveling last night were running and calling.The innkeeper grabbed an inkwell off the counter and threw it at an elderly man who was running across the road on bowed legs.Ink splattered in the air, missed its intended target, and left a puddle on the cobbled streets.

"You owe me three nights' rent, you old bastard!" the boss yelled, shaking his fist.

"What happened?" Draco deftly stepped aside before colliding with the big guy.

"The thing is that some people think that little Death Eaters will let them sneak away without paying their bills," the man huffed, his bathrobe jerked up to reveal a pair of pale, thin legs: "Death Eaters better get out of here before they come over." Think twice! This is bad for business, too bad!"

Now standing outside the door, they could see the escalating chaos in the street.

The Dark Mark, smoky and bright, seemed to be right above their heads.But a closer look reveals that it spawned from farther away in the area.

Hermione stared at it in horror. "I can't believe it! How did we sleep through it?"

Draco's face was paler than usual, and he stared at the mark for a moment, his jaw clenched. "I don't know, but we should go now."

He didn't have to tell her a second time, Hermione took his hand and followed him straight to Diagon Alley and more familiar places, as the others did.

A line of young men who looked and smelled like they had just come out of a pub bumped into Hermione, who was carried off in the opposite direction by the relatively small crowd as they wanted to get a closer look Dark Mark.

Like a swimmer swept away by the ebbing tide, she had to let the crowd carry her until there was enough room to rest.

Hermione nearly fell into the ditch, but fortunately she was leaning against a dirty brick wall.A child who was only three or four years old held a lantern in both hands and was crying loudly.

Fortunately, the child's mother appeared in the chaotic crowd, shouted out in relief, and took the child away.

Afterwards, it occurred to Hermione that this was the kind of widespread public havoc Voldemort could wreak, like the Quidditch World Cup, to cause such chaos at the heart of Britain's wizarding world.

Draco yelled her name so hoarsely that several people around Hermione turned to look, and the crowd on the street seemed to double in five minutes.

"Here!" she shouted, but her voice was lost in the noise.

But Merlin knew how he heard it, and in a second he was there, pushing her forward as she stared blankly at the Dark Mark.

They've been running along sidewalks because the lights are better against the edges of buildings.Draco led her into the first alleyway he saw, where there were already swarms of like-minded people, about to Apparate back to the safety of their own home.

He looked down at her, looking menacingly serious. "Are you going to Apparate, or are you going to Floo?" It was a reasonable question for someone who had never had a close encounter with a Death Eater.

She's shaking, but not upset enough to disapparate: "I'm fine."

He nodded, wand already in hand: "Do you know that picnic spot near Hogsmeade?"

She knew it, and most Hogwarts students who were of Hogsmeade-visiting age knew it.It's a small, secluded lot by the lake, an ideal complex combining wooded privacy and sunny openness.

"Count to three." She said softly.

They arrived at the agreed upon location together, Hermione first, Draco following.

The woods of Hogsmeade were eight minutes behind them, and Hogwarts loomed ahead, separated by a lake and the famously restricted apparition zone.Hermione looked up to the sky on a whim, and breathed a sigh of relief that there was no more trouble ahead, only a flock of birds flitting across the lake.

Compared with the noise and panic experienced between them, the tranquility of the lake at this moment is surprising.

Hogwarts was like home, and there was no place in the world where Hermione felt safer than school at this moment.It was much colder here than Knockturn Alley, Hermione crossed her arms to drive away the chill, the cold air made people feel the presence of the Dark Mark again.

The expression on Draco's face showed that he was thinking about more than the Dark Mark as he pushed his hair back and moved his shoulders forward.

"Something's wrong," said Hermione.

"And we personally saw the Dark Mark twice in just two weeks?" He sneered: "Yes, something is indeed wrong."

She ran ahead of him and was tying up her hair.Her hands were still trembling slightly, so she'd just put her hair back in a loose ball, and it looked like it was going to come loose again in no time.

Her neck was exposed, and the tiny curls at her hairline could still be seen.There were small spots on the crewneck of her undershirt, on the back, and on the corners of the shoulders, probably from soot or dust from the ever-messy Knockturn Alley.

Either way, Draco wasn't happy to see it.He absently licked his thumb to wipe the smudge away.

Hermione stopped and turned to look at him in surprise: "How could you do this?"

He looked even more surprised than she was, staring down at his thumb as if it had just asked him what the weather was like: "Obviously I did that."

Hermione decided that timing would be wisest when Draco looked particularly defenseless: "You really have to tell me whether those two Dark Marks have anything to do with the conversation Dumbledore had with you in the office , I don't believe in coincidences."

Draco laughed: "Very well, because this happens to be a coincidence, and you'd better accept the fact. Things happen because they should happen."

"That's it?" Hermione thought that a "fable" was about to start.

"You know, I think I was the first classmate Potter met before school? I didn't even know who the jerk was. I was still trying to strike up a conversation on the train to Hogsmeade, probably still Before the two of you. I said I could be friends with him, do you know how he answered me?" He asked meaningfully.

She shook her head, cautiously curious about his off topic.

"He said he'd figure out who he could be friends with, and looked at me like I was a piece of green algae wiped off his shoe."

There was an indescribably bitter note in his tone, and Hermione was surprised he'd been having so much trouble thinking about it.

She was silent for a while, then shrugged: "You're probably acting like an idiot."

"It doesn't matter," he insisted, sticking out a finger for emphasis. "Coincidence is not the same as fate. Because Potter met me first, so he knows which band is right for him. People like to go to extremes because it makes people Rest assured, they can set a set of standards and boundaries. I'm pretty sure that's what Potter's little brain did after the first meeting. Like it, and I bet Voldemort likes it too."

For some reason, Hermione didn't like hearing this, she always thought he was a "my fate is up to me" person, but this Malfoy in front of him was too fatalistic.

Perhaps he bleeds in the blood of a prophet, the most hopeless man the world has ever known.

Except for Sybill Trelawney, the woman was just a regular old madman.

"I disagree," she admitted.

"You don't have to force it," he replied.

"Harry is not a prejudiced person." Strange to say, Hermione knew it was false as soon as she said it.

"If it makes you feel better." Draco replied coldly.

"Why do you dislike him so much?"

"Why do you defend him so much?" He asked her sharply, so severe that she was afraid.

Hermione opened her mouth to answer, but then closed it.She thought she was being too protective of Harry, but only because Malfoy seemed to make it his calling to malign her friend as best he could.

Draco narrowed his eyes, as if slowly coming to a creepy conclusion: "You have feelings for him." He seemed reluctant to say that.

"Of course I have, we've been friends since we were 11."

He snorted contemptuously: "Your secret love will not come to fruition, Potter only regards you as a friend." He seemed to be giving wise words.

She blinked, as far as Malfoy was concerned, she was always a little late to catch on.

He was such a big fool sometimes.

"Wait, are we talking about the same thing? I don't love Harry, you idiot."

God, she hated how he got further away from her every time she confronted her.Overbearing to the extreme, enduring the anger behind his back, and the pain of being excluded from him.

"I hate you for doing this." It was a defiance, a cry to himself, and he wouldn't listen.

But he heard it, he was always listening to her.

Draco crossed his arms: "Do you hate or love, Granger, which one? Half an hour ago, you were still screaming in my ear that you loved me."

She wouldn't be hooked by his wild and annoying exaggeration, on the contrary, she had to maintain her dignity and hold her head high.

"Draco Malfoy, you're such a sucker sometimes."

"Huh, but it's you who made me who I am," he announced glibly, running to her and hugging her, which she assumed was his apology for his slur.

"Forget it," Hermione said.

He smiled: "I won't do it again in the future."

He lifted her chin with his knuckles and gave her the longest, most tender kiss she had ever had, unusual and disturbing.

He was not a tender lover, and careful, light kisses were not Draco's style.He kisses her like he's bullying, powerful, even brutal at times, as if he's going to burn her.

It was a good turn, Hermione didn't need coaxing, and she shuddered as his tongue brushed hers deftly.The force exerted by his lips became more and more gentle, touching, wrapping and sucking her.He moaned in her mouth as she tugged at the clothes on his back and ran her palms along his back, kneading his muscles.

Hermione rested cheek to cheek with him, content to feel and listen to his wild heartbeat.

It was a romantic and relatively peaceful outcome to their brief quarrel.

Until he unzipped his trousers and forced Hermione's hand there.

He wasn't ashamed at all, and Hermione thought she'd never be treated so roughly, but why was she breathing heavily and leaning against him.

It's a crash course in how to touch him, how to make a fist and get up and down the way he likes.And Hermione was always a quick learner, and it wasn't long before Draco was panting against her forehead.

The physical intimacy with Draco was still new to Hermione, he had never been rightfully shy or embarrassed, and she was ashamed by his openness.

It was scary to think how much I cared about him, about Draco.Hermione was having mixed feelings, the volatile young man was already breathing hotly in her hair, and first impressions mean nothing when you're trying to analyze Draco.

He needs your patience and patience.

And maybe a bottle of spirits.

She saw Draco as doors, many of them, each opening to a different emotional zone he wanted to protect.That's how he fights.The door would open under her constant prodding, and she would marvel at his unexpected tenderness and frankness.But at the same time, other doors will close.

"Stop it." He let go of her hand with a sudden hiss, his slight tremor letting her know that her service had nearly disarmed him.

She lifted her head so she could see his face, his eyelids half-lidded.

"Why do you keep asking me these personal questions and every time I try to get closer to you, you bite my head off?"

He sighed, and the door behind his eyes creaked open: "Potter makes me jealous, and so does Weasley. Damn, even Crookshanks sitting on your lap makes me jealous. I'm sorry for being a jerk just now." , but I guarantee it will happen again, and I'm sure it will happen often."

This is some shit apology, Hermione rolled her eyes: "This time you are only 80% asshole."

"What about the other 20%?" His lips brushed against hers sideways, leaving Hermione startled.

"The other 20% are satyrs." Hermione announced the answer, and Draco laughed out loud at the answer.

She could feel his chest rising and falling due to this lovely laughter, like rain after a long drought.

How the hell did it become like this?They were discussing fate and coincidence 10 minutes ago.

"Ask, I promise I won't bite your head off." His voice was hoarse and indulgent.

"Malfoy, our situation is urgent." She reminded him, with annoyance in her tone: "We should hurry back to the castle and tell them."

Stop wasting time talking and flirting.

He rubbed against her, and she could feel the heat of his body through at least four layers of clothing: "I believe the 'crisis' was over when I took your little tight fist off mine .”

"Draco..."

"Damn Hogwarts, wait a minute and satisfy me."

She sighed, "What's your favorite color?"

"No."

"favorite food?"

"You." He bit her earlobe.

"Have you ever slept with Pansy Parkinson?"

It kind of ruined the atmosphere, he looked down at her dumbfounded, and she was holding back her laugh: "What? I told you no. God, no!"

"Have you ever thought about it?" She looked at him.

He thought for a moment in exasperation: "Not thinking about it in particular, but a man is always reconsidering the options in front of him, when... horny."

She hugged his arm cheekily, becoming more and more calm: "In Dumbledore's office, what does the Ministry of Magic want you to do? Every time you refuse to tell me, I will think the worst..."

Draco just looked at her, stunned at his inability to lie.He wanted to lie to her, for her own good.

It's not because he wants to be decent, it's just that whatever lies he creates in his head can't be said.What the fuck should he say?I can't tell you about my espionage mission from the Ministry of Magic, because you'd think I was motivated by greed and selfishness?

But it's true, isn't it?Hadn't he seriously considered betraying the trust of his friends just to loosen the possibility of the Ministry's unresolved succession?

It was so stupid that he didn't know how to keep her when he really wanted her by his side.If she carries a burden with this sensitive information, he's as worried about her perception as he is about her safety.The warmth of watching him in her brown eyes would disappear and be replaced by a dull pity.

She loved him wrongly, and when the unshakable evidence of his black heart lay before her eyes, he feared that the pain of love she was suffering would be restored to peace.

So Draco said nothing.

Meanwhile, Hermione, unfazed by Draco's apparent distrust, jerked away from his arms around her waist.

"Forget it," she stepped forward heavily: "I won't ask you again."

He wanted to call her back, to say something comforting, to make a plausible apology, but he stopped suddenly, and a faint, heavy voice on the ground caught his attention.

It was a giant seaweed sandwiched between two large rocks.This fatty, healthy seaweed was a neglected asset to Lupine's weeding class that day, and the seaweed was restless at the sound of their approaching footsteps.

Then, Draco thought of something.

"Granger, where do you think the first Dark Mark appeared? Just to the south, not far from the greenhouse, right? We were heading southeast."

Hermione looked at him: "Yes, that's what I told Dumbledore."

Draco looked thoughtful: "Weasley and Millicent were with us, but most of the rest stayed around the greenhouse because it was too hot to work that day."

"Well, except for Harry and Blaise, I think, who went in the direction of the Whomping Willow."

Draco raised an eyebrow at this: "Hasn't Saint Potter reported anything?"

"If Harry saw something, he would have said it." Hermione frowned. "So did Blaise. You saw the expression on his face. He seemed to be blown down by a strong wind, stunned."

"They've been together?"

She looked at him suspiciously. "I think so. I'll ask Harry," she said. "Or you could ask Blaise."

"Yeah." That was his answer.

They came to the end of the path and came across a huge hedge of ancient bracken.The sky at Hogwarts had already turned lavender. The appearance of the castle and the sense of responsibility associated with it made Hermione's stomach cramp with tension. She didn't know if news of the second Dark Mark had spread.

"Malfoy, wait a minute."

There were many things that weren't their forte, but Hermione thought timing was all that mattered.

He watched her remove her wand, and when he looked at her oddly, he replied, "We didn't, uh... I didn't use it and I didn't prepare for it."

The tension had faded from his face, her stuttering solidity was unbelievable, but fortunately he could almost read her thoughts under normal circumstances.

"You mean contraception? Why are you stuttering?" He teased, "Come here."

She claps his hand away. "I can do it myself. I just want to avoid accidents until we develop." Using this spell in the castle is like using a condom in your parents' house.

The spell wasn't difficult, but emotionally it was a big deal for Hermione.If she admitted that, he would think she was a fool.

"Don't be brave, I've done it before."

Hermione raised her hand: "Then tell me the details, and maybe you'll also tell me that you're an expert in this matter and can almost perform wandless magic."

"That's not quite right," the corners of his mouth turned up slightly: "You don't have to speak in an angry tone. Stand still." Before she protested, he stroked his wand across her abdomen and said the corresponding spell.She was both pleased and surprised by the sincerity and respect in his tone.

A chill ran through her stomach, which was bad, but better than the bitter potion she'd drank at Malfoy Manor.It was safer too, she couldn't imagine going to Madam Pomfrey for a potion like that.

"My words are wrong?" She lowered her head and her eyes flickered, and the coolness quickly disappeared.

"It's more in line with a male perspective."

Hermione raised her eyebrows: "Then you men just keep talking like that. How did you plan to let us enter the school at the same time without disturbing anyone? The gate won't open until six o'clock."

She figured they could wait, it would be daylight soon, but the ancient bracken could provide cover.Draco squinted his eyes and looked at the night, but he was not very troubled by the current predicament.

"It's over there by the entrance."

Hermione tiptoed over his shoulder, following his gaze, but there was nothing there but the bushes surrounding her.She figured this was her life right now, sneaking around in the bushes with Draco Malfoy.

"It's Snape." She could recognize the man's stance and blacker-than-black robes anywhere.

He seemed to be staring at the night with piercing eyes, as if he was challenging the darkness to produce an existence far more terrifying than himself.

"Did you know he'd be patrolling the entrance at this point?"

His answer was to step out of the bushes, and Hermione tried to grab him, but missed by a few inches, only to get a smirk.

"Hey! Malfoy! What are you doing there?" Snape would see them!

Draco's answer was completely unconvincing, but it was news to her.

"Stay there! I want to say hello to my godfather."