With you in my Arms

31. Where am I?

A couple of days later Hermione was sitting on the patio enjoying some tea and biscuits when she saw their neighbour approach the fence separating their properties. He was smiling widely.

"Hi there. I saw you the other day, but didn't get the chance to introduce myself. I'm Chris. Christopher McNeill."

"Hi, Chris. I'm..."

"Ella Watson." There was a distinct look on Draco's face. "I'm her fiancé, Tom Wilson."

The young wizard was now smiling and expended his hand to the other man. Hermione could have sworn that the two males were doing something down the lines of stacking their territories against each other and she was belonging to Tom Wilson now. Why did he give the Muggle neighbour false names?

"Hi, Tom, nice to meet you." He smiled openly. "Listen, we normally get together for a beer on occasion. Neil, Marcus, Fred, Anthony, Sean, Oliver and James all stay in the neighbourhood, you are welcome to join us."

"Sure, why not."

"Great, see you at seven at my place."

"Yeah."

Chris smiled invitingly at Ella and then returned to his own secluded patio.

Hermione looked at Draco. His face was even and seemingly without emotions, though she could feel the tension he felt oozing off him in waves. She stood up and pulled him into her arms. He gazed at her, fire blazing in his eyes. She pulled him down and brushed her lips over his. Moments later she was kissed fiercely.

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 "You seriously consider going to meet with the male Muggle population of the neighbourhood?"

Draco just nodded. He was standing in the bedroom getting dressed, black jeans and a simple white shirt. Hermione watched him from the bed. She smiled to herself. He had been different this time. Somehow he seemed to have lost any hesitation or worry about their child. A shiver ran through her as she remembered their latest intimate encounter. Had he been claiming her? Marking her for himself? It had felt like it. To her surprise she didn't mind. Another layer of love and protection was surrounding her now. It felt a bit weird thinking about it, but she could feel it, knowing that whatever magic he had been using it was only for her safety.

"Do I look Muggle enough?"

He stood at the foot of the bed, arms stretched out. She looked him over and nodded.

"If I didn't know any better, I would think you are a Muggle."

"Good."

He turned and was nearly at the stairs as she called his name. Gazing back at her, he could see her concern for him in her eyes.

"Do you have your wand?"

"Yes. Don't worry. I'll be fine."

A few moments later she heard the front door closing behind him.

'I don't worry about you being fine...'

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It was only early evening, but Blaise Zabini sat in the Dragon Spawn again contemplating his next move in respect to a certain Ravenclaw he had been becoming rather friendly with last year. Maybe it was time to meet up again...

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted as he became aware of the two people at the table behind him. A woman and a man. To his surprise he recognised the female voice as Pansy's. The male one took him a bit longer to identify, but then he was sure that it was William Rockwood. The youngest of the three Rockwood brother.

"I tell you, Pansy, I saw them! Sitting on a bench in the Gardens all lovey-dovey. I couldn't believe my eyes. With a Mudblood of all girls possible and then to top it all..."

"What do you mean, Mudblood?"

"He was all over the friend of Harry Potter. That girl with the brown hair. Don't know, what she's called again."

"Hermione Granger!" Pansy spat. "How dare he play about with her!"

Blaise looked into his Firewhiskey. The moment he got out off here he would send an owl to Draco.

"That's the final straw! First he is toying with me for years and then he just picks up the first Mudblood in sight! I'll make him pay for that!"

'Oh-oh!' He better get to his mate and his girlfriend before that deranged house mate of his did. He was about to get up when he realised that he didn't actually know where she was.

"... lost them, but I got a general direction with a modified Locator Charm. Mum taught me before..."

There was a pause for a moment.

"Where are they?" Pansy sounded rather excited, whereas Blaise became more and more anxious to find out where his friend was with his girl. There was scribbling and then he heard Pansy muttering, "What is that supposed to mean?".

"69 Ulster Crescent"

"And that last bit?"

"Edinburgh."

"What? He's hiding in Scotland?"

"Yeah."

Blaise didn't wait another minute. He got up and strode to the large fireplace. Moments later he was gone.