Tutoring A Dragon

Uh, Surprise?

"Draco, I have been keeping a secret from you, your father, and your uncle for eighteen years today. And I have finally decided to tell you. Do you know what today is?"

"The twenty-sixth of October, why?" said Draco.

"What is nine months from now?" pursued Narcissa.

"My birthday."

"Exactly." Narcissa nodded to herself. "Eighteen years ago today your... Lucius was in Italy for..." Her mouth pinched shut and she looked away, frowning. "Business. And eighteen years ago today you were conceived. But, since Lucius wasn't there, how could that have happened, you ask yourself." Draco looked shocked, evidentially his mother had read his mind. "It happened because your father had asked Orion to watch over me while he was away." She shrugged. "Things... happened that led up to... you. Your grandfather found out, and disowned Orion, while forcing me to marry Lucius as planned. Your father knows nothing of it, and neither does your uncle. I did not tell them, and neither did your grandfather, the spiteful old man. Lucius was a different man in those days, and would have done the honorable thing by letting me out of the betrothal, and letting me marry your uncle, as I should have.

"But, I was sworn to secrecy. The Fidelus Charm was put into play, and only now have I been able to tell people of the truth."

Draco just stared at her.

"Would you like to know who the Secret-Keeper was?" Her son nodded dumbly. Narcissa, looked into the distance, and laughed bitterly. "Your grandfather. I was actually sent here to inform you that he is dead. He has left everything to you. Lucius is furious. He wants to kill you, since the will disclosed whose son you really are. Orion, it seems, was left a few things, including a letter informing him of these circumstances, about you. He is apparently on his way here at the moment." Narcissa stood up, a relieved look spreading over her face. "I feel much better now, with all of this out in the open. But, I must bid you adieu, my dearest baby Drakey- poo, as I must go speak to Dumbledore. And, then, I will be leaving for New York to see the fall lines." She picked up a fur-lined black cloak and swept out of the room.

"Orion's... my.... father?" said Draco, dazed. "I don't... can't see him." He looked up and over at Hermione. "Let's go, I...I can't."

Hermione nodded. She dressed quickly, and threw Draco his cloak. As they walked out of the hotel Draco suddenly perked up. "Would you like to run? It's quite fun when it's windy." And he took off.

Hermione chased after him, wind blowing her hair behind her. She didn't notice the tall, dark figure following them. His hood was up, but hanging over the shoulder of his cloak was a strand of white-blond hair.

They ran all the way back to Hogwarts. Collapsing under a tree by the lake, Draco leaned his head on Hermione's shoulder.

"What do you think he'd say to me, Mione? How d'you think he'd explain this?" Draco mused, looking over the lake at the Giant Squid, who was on the other side.

"He'd probably tell you he's sorry he hadn't forced it out of his father sooner," said a deep voice.

Draco jumped up. He pulled Hermione to her feet, also. "What. Do. You. Want?" he asked his real father.

Orion Malfoy stepped out of the shadows, and pushed the hood of his cloak off his face.

'He looks just like Draco!' thought Hermione.

'Bugger. I look just like him,' thought the shocked Draco.

Orion glared at his hair, and pulled a leather thong out of his pocket and tied it back. "Damn hair," he muttered. He looked at Draco, who was standing in front of a strange girl, who was rolling her eyes at Orion. "Is he always like this?" he asked the girl.

Hermione thought for a moment. "Not always. He's just a bit surprised, that's all. And hurt, because he thought that his mother wouldn't ever do... that."

Orion cocked an eyebrow. "You mean Narcissa didn't tell you? We were completely drunk, not to mention high." Draco's mouth dropped to his well- defined chest. Orion laughed. "Yes, Narcissa and I were drinking- and smoking-buddies. My father was a high-power wizard celebrity; hers a wizard deeply involved in wizard politics. We had money to burn, places to go, people to see, and were in the spotlight constantly. So, we did what many people like us did- anything and everything we wanted to. I didn't quiet down until father disowned me. Narcissa, until she had you." He shrugged it off.

"Lucius has been a good father to you-"

At that moment, Draco snorted. "A good father? I bloody well think not. Being beaten when you act human doesn't seem like something a good father is."

Orion nodded in sympathy.

"That is what my father did, beat me while my brother looked on and saw what he should become so that he would never "disappoint" his father. In a way, you are the way you are since Lucius was like my father. Because he is everything you don't want to be, you can learn from him. I know that I did."

"I never want to be you," stated Draco. "Never. You don't care about anyone but yourself. You didn't even come here to try and form a relationship with me. You just want to apologize for your part in...me" he spat.

He walked away.

Orion turned towards Hermione, as if to say something. She waved him off and turned, saying only one thing: "You make me sick." The she ran after Draco.

Before she had turned to leave, Orion noticed that her House badge was Gryffindor.

~*~

Draco slammed into their common room, Hermione not far behind.

"That bastard!" they both yelled. "How DARE he!!!"

They glanced at one another. "Jinx!" Again, at the same time.

"Well, you win," Draco said. "But I can make you say my name."

"How?" said Hermione, smiling.

"Oh, I have my ways," purred Draco, sliding his hands around her waist.

Their lips met, and Hermione sighed. This was it. There was no turning back. It was either Draco or no one.

"Mmmm... Draco," she murmured.

~*~

"And so, Headmaster, Draco will need a bit of... protection. Lucius is on the warpath. I, myself, am heading for America, where an old friend will house me, but Draco..." She shrugged. "Is reckless. He does not --will not-- believe that Lucius would hurt him. But Lucius will do anything to get that money. If that means killing his son--or, nephew in this case--then so be it. He has changed since he joined the Death Eaters. At one point he was a sweet, careless boy like Draco. Now... he is a bloodthirsty, ruthless man."

Dumbledore nodded at the concerned mother that was Narcissa Malfoy. "Everything that I can do to help young Master Malfoy will be done. I also believe that Miss Granger would die before letting anyone hurt him. If my eyes haven't deceived me, I think I have seen them give each other quite longing looks across the Hall at breakfast, lunch, and dinner." He smiled. "Ah, to be young and in love."

~*~

Dinner came and went, and Hermione and Draco were still making out in their common room. Thankfully, Dobby, Hermione's old House-Elf friend, noticed her and Draco's absence and had the foresight to bring them something.

"Thanks, so much!" said Hermione. "We've had a trying afternoon, and they say stress makes you hungrier."

Dobby bowed. "Not a problem, Miss. Dobby is happy to bring Miss anything from the kitchens. Anything at all."

"Well, this is really good food, Dobby," said Draco through a three- quarters filled mouth.

"Thanks you, Sir," said Dobby. He bowed again. "Dobby must be going now, Miss and Sir. Winky is wanting him to help with the cleaning." He bowed one last time, and disappeared.

"You complemented a House-Elf?" asked Hermione incredulously.

Draco shrugged. "It's good food." And then he took a bite out of a baked apple.

"Draco?"

"Yes?"

"Are you all right? About Lucius and Orion and your mother?"

Draco leaned back in his chair and thought for a moment. "I think I will be. I now know that my mother is the only one who has ever really loved me. My grandfather cared for me; thought the world of me. But he didn't really love me. Neither did Lucius, with the way he treated me. Orion didn't care, once he was disowned. Every once in a while he'd send me an owl, but we weren't that close."

"I think you're wrong," said Hermione softly.

He looked at her sarcastically. "About my uncle? Non, ma Cherie, non."

"About your mother the only person who ever really loved you."

"Really," he said, a soft glint coming into his eyes. "Do tell."

"I know it....because I love you." Hermione let out a sigh of relief. There. She had said it. He knew how she felt.

"Well then," he said. "I was wondering when you'd say that." He then leaned over and kissed her. Hard.

~*~

"Hey, mate," called Ron, from by the portrait hole. "Let's go see if Hermione's all right, since she wasn't at dinner."

Harry tossed his book to one side, and rose from his seat by the fire. "Sure, let me get my cloak."

~*~

Harry and Ron walked along the dimly lit halls towards the Astronomy Tower. They were having a good-natured row about the Chudley Cannons vs. the Oxford Otters when they started to approach the entrance to Hermione and Draco's quarters.

The portrait swung open and Ron went in first, closely followed by Harry.

"Hey Hermio-" Harry heard Ron say. He dropped into the joint common room to see Hermione and Draco- on the couch, snogging.

"No..." he whispered. "No!" He turned and crawled through the space quickly, then ran for all he was worth back to Gryffindor Tower. Ron followed him closely.