The Chocolate War, pt 7b
Title: Or, The Choccies Hit the Fan
Author: pokeystar
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 993
Notes/Warning: Prompt: romantic kiss
“You might want to start packing.”
George startled with a yelp and packets of Canary Creams, Extendable Ears, and Ton-Tongue Toffees flew all over the stockroom floor.
“Bleeding hell, Gin. You almost gave me a heart attack.”
She regarded him coolly. “It wasn’t the brightest move, putting a Closeness Charm on two highly intelligent and devious individuals known for their talents at retribution. They are planning revenge at this very moment.”
George swallowed uneasily and said, “That charm filled a contractual obligation, Gin. We had no choice… ”
Fred came down the stairs and stopped, staring at Ginny in surprise.
“What are you doing here this time of day?”
“Warning you two off. When I left the Ministry, Hermione was practicing her Bat-Bogey Hexes and Malfoy was muttering about a family curse that removes your sense of humor.”
“That explains Lucius… ”
"…and doesn’t sound so bad,” finished George, sounding relieved.
“They’re just getting warmed up, Gred.” Ginny grimaced. “Remember Marietta Edgecombe? And Umbridge’s pleasant jaunt in the Forbidden Forest? She still startles at the sound of galloping hooves. Malfoy’s no slouch, either. That was a complicated plan, getting those death eaters into Hogwarts. And after that, he spent a lot of time with Snape, on the run.”
“Ah, those were the days,” said Fred, facetiously.
“Our employer won’t be pleased either,” said George. “The Closeness Charm should’ve resulted in snogging, not scheming.”
“It’s summertime in Australia, yeah?” Fred looked at George, who nodded in affirmation.
Ginny sighed and said, “I’m not sure that’s far enough, boys. Besides which, Hermione has friends in the Magical Consulate there. If I were you, I’d think about Antartica."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Blaise Zabini was on his way to the Archives when he noticed the strange little man in Draco’s guest chair. The little man was hirsute and very surly looking. Not all that remarkable. This was the Ministry, after all. Lots of strange little surly hirsute men running about. The bowler hat, and oddly cherubic facial features under all that stubble, coupled with the chomped-on Cuban cigar and pristine diaper did give one pause, however. As did the wings.
“You, boy,” the surly little man barked at him. ‘You know Malfoy?”
Blaise nodded, at a loss for words. The Devil shivered and put on his pea coat.
“Where is he? I’m on a schedule here. Don’t have time to mess around, waiting on his nobs.”
“He and Granger had an errand to run. Ministry business.” Zabini smoothed his robes, remembering himself. “Did you have an appointment?”
The hairy little man scoffed and chomped his cigar. “I’m a god. We don’t need appointments.”
“God?” Zabini shook his head, not certain he had heard correctly.
“Eros. Son of Aphrodite. Cupid ring a bell? Look, tell me where they went, ok? I have a huge backlog to get through. In fact, the Granger-Malfoy match was supposed to happen three years ago. America took longer than expected, even with the subcontractors.”
“America?” Blaise was sure he was dreaming. Ow. That pinching charm hurt.
“Yes, America. Have you heard about the divorce rate over there? I tried to tell her Sisyphus had better luck with that boulder, but you know Mums. Forget a couple socks on the floor when you’re five and they think you’re sloppy forever.”
“I think the Weasley twins went to America last fall,” muttered Blaise. He was still struggling to cope, caught between disbelief and visions of his picture on page one of The Daily Prophet. Or at least The Quibbler.
“You know Gred and Forge? They’re two of my best subcontractors. Did a brilliant job at the Playboy Mansion. Bloke has three girlfriends now.” Cupid grinned and chomped on his Cuban. “Now, why don’t you tell me where Draco and Hermione went off to, hmmm?”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy were in the stockroom of Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes, staring at the Kiss hovering in mid air before them and the note floating beside it.
SORRY WE MISSED YOU - G
NOT REALLY - F
EAT THE KISS - G
YOU HAVE TO SHARE IT - F
AND THE CLOSENESS CHARM - G
WILL WEAR OFF - F
CHEERS - G&F
The little Kiss did a sort of bump and grind, shirking off its foil. The blue on white banner undulated in front of them. It read: ALL TOGETHER NOW.
Draco reached for the tiny bit of chocolate and slipped it into his mouth. He turned to Hermione and gently reached for her shoulders, pulling her to him. “My turn,” he whispered as his lips lightly brushed hers.
Her hands settled on his waist as his crept up, one resting at the nape of her neck, the other lighting at her jaw. His fingertips brushed the rim of her ear and his thumb stroked her cheek as his lips played over hers, encouraging them to part. She sighed and he slipped his tongue into her warm mouth, sharing the sweet, creamy confection with her. Her hands wandered up his back, pressing him closer as he nibbled her lower lip and then delved his tongue back inside her warmth, seeking to slide its velvet against hers. He moaned, the sound echoing in her ears and devoured her mouth, sucking her tongue into his.
They were both shaking at the knees and clinging to each other dazedly. They hardly felt the ping of the arrows in their respective backsides. But Pinocchio felt the sting with joyful recognition and began to sing in celebration.
When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you
If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do
Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N:
Some information on Sisyphus
Song lyrics from Disney’s Pinocchio “When You Wish Upon a Star” Performed by: Jimini Cricket (Cliff Edwards) Music: Leigh Harline Lyrics: Ned Washington
Author: pokeystar
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 993
Notes/Warning: Prompt: romantic kiss
“You might want to start packing.”
George startled with a yelp and packets of Canary Creams, Extendable Ears, and Ton-Tongue Toffees flew all over the stockroom floor.
“Bleeding hell, Gin. You almost gave me a heart attack.”
She regarded him coolly. “It wasn’t the brightest move, putting a Closeness Charm on two highly intelligent and devious individuals known for their talents at retribution. They are planning revenge at this very moment.”
George swallowed uneasily and said, “That charm filled a contractual obligation, Gin. We had no choice… ”
Fred came down the stairs and stopped, staring at Ginny in surprise.
“What are you doing here this time of day?”
“Warning you two off. When I left the Ministry, Hermione was practicing her Bat-Bogey Hexes and Malfoy was muttering about a family curse that removes your sense of humor.”
“That explains Lucius… ”
"…and doesn’t sound so bad,” finished George, sounding relieved.
“They’re just getting warmed up, Gred.” Ginny grimaced. “Remember Marietta Edgecombe? And Umbridge’s pleasant jaunt in the Forbidden Forest? She still startles at the sound of galloping hooves. Malfoy’s no slouch, either. That was a complicated plan, getting those death eaters into Hogwarts. And after that, he spent a lot of time with Snape, on the run.”
“Ah, those were the days,” said Fred, facetiously.
“Our employer won’t be pleased either,” said George. “The Closeness Charm should’ve resulted in snogging, not scheming.”
“It’s summertime in Australia, yeah?” Fred looked at George, who nodded in affirmation.
Ginny sighed and said, “I’m not sure that’s far enough, boys. Besides which, Hermione has friends in the Magical Consulate there. If I were you, I’d think about Antartica."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Blaise Zabini was on his way to the Archives when he noticed the strange little man in Draco’s guest chair. The little man was hirsute and very surly looking. Not all that remarkable. This was the Ministry, after all. Lots of strange little surly hirsute men running about. The bowler hat, and oddly cherubic facial features under all that stubble, coupled with the chomped-on Cuban cigar and pristine diaper did give one pause, however. As did the wings.
“You, boy,” the surly little man barked at him. ‘You know Malfoy?”
Blaise nodded, at a loss for words. The Devil shivered and put on his pea coat.
“Where is he? I’m on a schedule here. Don’t have time to mess around, waiting on his nobs.”
“He and Granger had an errand to run. Ministry business.” Zabini smoothed his robes, remembering himself. “Did you have an appointment?”
The hairy little man scoffed and chomped his cigar. “I’m a god. We don’t need appointments.”
“God?” Zabini shook his head, not certain he had heard correctly.
“Eros. Son of Aphrodite. Cupid ring a bell? Look, tell me where they went, ok? I have a huge backlog to get through. In fact, the Granger-Malfoy match was supposed to happen three years ago. America took longer than expected, even with the subcontractors.”
“America?” Blaise was sure he was dreaming. Ow. That pinching charm hurt.
“Yes, America. Have you heard about the divorce rate over there? I tried to tell her Sisyphus had better luck with that boulder, but you know Mums. Forget a couple socks on the floor when you’re five and they think you’re sloppy forever.”
“I think the Weasley twins went to America last fall,” muttered Blaise. He was still struggling to cope, caught between disbelief and visions of his picture on page one of The Daily Prophet. Or at least The Quibbler.
“You know Gred and Forge? They’re two of my best subcontractors. Did a brilliant job at the Playboy Mansion. Bloke has three girlfriends now.” Cupid grinned and chomped on his Cuban. “Now, why don’t you tell me where Draco and Hermione went off to, hmmm?”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy were in the stockroom of Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes, staring at the Kiss hovering in mid air before them and the note floating beside it.
SORRY WE MISSED YOU - G
NOT REALLY - F
EAT THE KISS - G
YOU HAVE TO SHARE IT - F
AND THE CLOSENESS CHARM - G
WILL WEAR OFF - F
CHEERS - G&F
The little Kiss did a sort of bump and grind, shirking off its foil. The blue on white banner undulated in front of them. It read: ALL TOGETHER NOW.
Draco reached for the tiny bit of chocolate and slipped it into his mouth. He turned to Hermione and gently reached for her shoulders, pulling her to him. “My turn,” he whispered as his lips lightly brushed hers.
Her hands settled on his waist as his crept up, one resting at the nape of her neck, the other lighting at her jaw. His fingertips brushed the rim of her ear and his thumb stroked her cheek as his lips played over hers, encouraging them to part. She sighed and he slipped his tongue into her warm mouth, sharing the sweet, creamy confection with her. Her hands wandered up his back, pressing him closer as he nibbled her lower lip and then delved his tongue back inside her warmth, seeking to slide its velvet against hers. He moaned, the sound echoing in her ears and devoured her mouth, sucking her tongue into his.
They were both shaking at the knees and clinging to each other dazedly. They hardly felt the ping of the arrows in their respective backsides. But Pinocchio felt the sting with joyful recognition and began to sing in celebration.
When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you
If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do
Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N:
Some information on Sisyphus
Song lyrics from Disney’s Pinocchio “When You Wish Upon a Star” Performed by: Jimini Cricket (Cliff Edwards) Music: Leigh Harline Lyrics: Ned Washington