Cajun Shrimp
Draco Malfloy had been with Astoria for five years now. They were married right out of school. As Draco was now Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, he spent a lot of time away from home. Although, he and Astoria's relationship was strong as ever. At least that's what Astoria thought. Draco had never been one for settling down. The girl should have known that, but after his father was put in Azkaban and his mother had all but begged him to marry her it was all he could do. His mother had given everything she could for him, and had trusted his judgment when it could have hurt her, so now at twenty five he was tied down and wearing work robes every day of his life.
The cheating began a little over a year ago, when Hermione Granger pranced into the room in bright red high heels and a serious look on her face. She had grown over the years into a beautiful woman, and had caught his attention right away. Hermione was head of the Department of the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. She had her hands on her hips and a frown on her face as she straightened her blazer and set a file on his desk. The same know-it-all glint had been in her golden eyes as she demanded he send some people out to protect some poor dragon who she said was just "misunderstood".
When he calmly explained that that was her department, she stuttered and explained to him that it was only partly her department and that she couldn't exactly arrest someone and that she actually just didn't want to go alone. That had made him happy as he put his coat on and followed her out. Turned out that the person had bought the dragon and was threatening people who came in his yard with it. After a simple arrest and Hermione's quick wit to protect the dragon, she had called up Ron Weasley to transport it.
Once back at the office Hermione asked if he wanted to go out for coffee. He had accepted and that's how it had began. They started off as just coffee dates explaining why she wasn't married to Ron already and why he was married to Astoria. Ron had different goals than she did and he was forced into it out of guilt. She told him about Harry and Ginny and their beautiful children. Draco had to admit he was a little jealous of the golden boy. He was an auror and he was happily married. When Astoria had gotten pregnant she had a miscarriage and vowed to never have children again.
The coffee dates later moved onto more intimate dates at her flat. Lies were told to Astoria about why he was coming home later and later, and not once did she ask about the perfume that was on his lapel whenever he came home. She also didn't ask about the charge on his muggle account for the dress, or the shoes, or even the earrings. She kept silent, and sure he felt bad, but Hermione and Astoria were two different people. That's probably what attracted him to the brown headed girl in the first place.
"Draco? Are you even paying attention?" Said girl asked with a chuckle as she tilted her head and looked at him with her lips upturned. He shook out the thoughts in his head and turned to her. Her cheeks were tinged with blush and her eyes were lined with black making them look devilishly more attractive than he remembered. Studying her the cream colored dress clung to her skin in all the right places and the red heels she wore were a statement that many people noticed. Although, the people that noticed here had no idea who they were.
A shrimp passed from the little flute that it was delicately placed in and into her mouth. As Draco picked up the glass of champagne he downed the last half of it in one gulp and set it back on the clothed table. "I am paying attention darling." He told her with a slight smile. Leaning back in the chair he ran his sweaty hands along his dress pants. They were currently rendezvousing in a secluded muggle restaurant in Italy. They came here a lot and then went down to the hotel down the street. Yes, the people in muggle Italy knew them, but only by their faux names. Eloise and Matthew. A little ploy that would keep Astoria or the wizarding world for that matter, from finding out about their secret visits to each other.
"Someone is distracted tonight." Hermione lamented with pursed lips.
"I am fine." He responded passing a fork full of salad into his mouth. He watched as she set her champagne glass back on the table a ring of apple red lipstick clinging to the edge.
"Are you worried about Astoria again?" She asked with a delicately raised eyebrow. She always managed to know just exactly what was wrong with him. With a shake of his head he pushed some of the blonde hair away from his face and tilted his head slightly.
"It's nothing. She is out with Ginny tonight." The two had become friends through St. Mungo's. Co heads of floor six they had become rather close and spent many nights together when Draco wasn't home. So, really, she spent almost every night over there knitting or helping Ginny with the little ones. Draco wasn't the only one who wasn't home. Harry was over in America with Ron helping him with a dragon project and so the two women had found comfort with each other.
"Ah, I see. Then nothing to worry about?" She asked with a slight smirk. He hated that she could use that little pull of her pink lips against him. She had him wrapped around her finger, just like the sapphire ring that he had given her last week. It shone on her finger like a badge, although she never wore it to work. Only around him. It was disconcerting though he understood the reasoning behind it. She was a very professional woman and wouldn't dare ruin her reputation.
"Of course not." He told her with a reassuring smile. "You ready?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. Their relationship wasn't all about the intimacy that most adultered relationships were based off of. He was actually a gentleman and cared about her more than he cared about Astoria. More than he had cared about anyone, besides his mother of course. As Hermione removed herself from the chair and Draco put her jacket on her Draco left the money and a generous tip on the table before leading Hermione out of the restaurant and onto the rain covered sidewalk. The two walked in silence to the hotel. Hermione's small hand tucked into Draco's elbow and Draco perched in between them to keep them from getting drenched.
The usual hello's were presented as the two Italian's led them up to their room. Never questioning why they came and went in the same night. Most too afraid to ask questions.
"Are you sure you must go?" Draco asked as he placed a kiss beneath her ear. Hermione was re-pinning her dress and Draco was distracting her.
"I'm not the one who has to go. You are. You have a wife darling. I'll see you on Monday. Spend the weekend with Astoria. Make her happy." The "Make love to her" was left unsaid. With a wink and a kiss on the cheek she apparated with a pop, leaving behind only smell of her perfume. Draco turned as she reappeared in the other room. "Forgot my shoes." She called dangling the bright red heels from her finger and disappearing again. He knew she was right, but he couldn't remember the last time he and Astoria spent the weekend together, but with it being a holiday there was no way he could just go into work and escape her. He was trapped and that was all there was to it.
In a swirl of black he reappeared at the gates of Malfloy manor. Heading up the steep drive he greeted Astoria with a kiss on the forehead. She was reading her usual romance novel and had a blanket draped over her knees with a cup of steaming peppermint tea in hand. "I'm heading to bed." He grunted. With a nod Astoria muttered I love you and Draco managed to get I love you too out before heading toward the stairs.
"I'll be up after I finish this chapter." She told the cold room, because he was already up the stairs. He left her in a cloud of Chanel #19 and peppermint steam.
Words: 1,475
Pairing: Hermione/Draco
Notes: This is part one of three. I got the name of the title from a competition in the forum. The challenge was to get three to five names from OPI nail colors and base your fic off them. My first color is Cajun Shrimp, which is a bright coral red. I didn't do the competition, but kept the three names that I got. The three chapters of this fic probably won't flow. They aren't meant to. They are just glances into their days together, with the first one being more explanatory of how they got to where they are. Hope you like, please review(: