A Hogwarts Honeymoon.
Author's note.
Companion piece to 'The Redemption of Draco Malfoy'. Please read this work first if you want the wider context to this story.
For their honeymoon Draco could have taken her anywhere in the world but he chose to take her to Hogwarts on a holiday weekend when the school was empty and the students away. Hermione was puzzled at first but then he told her there were enchanted broom cupboards and library stacks they needed to explore and she understood then. He planned to allow them to act out their youthful fantasies and she loved him more for it.
Dancing in the Great Hall
They began their honeymoon in front of the doors to the Great Hall. As they approached the doors Draco began to explain why he had brought her here.
"When we had the Yule Ball in the fourth year I thought you were the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. I didn't know what to do. I felt conflicted because I knew I shouldn't admire you. In my world view, at that time, you shouldn't be so desirable." He smiled, a flicker of regret crossing his face.
"I wanted so much to dance with you, to hold you against me and put my hands on your waist but I wouldn't dare. If word had got to my father…" he trailed off.
"I hoped for the possibility that we might be stuck under one of the enchanted bunches of mistletoe, how could I not kiss you then? Regretfully it didn't happen."
Hermione had sat listening with rapt attention to his words. She smiled when he had finished.
"Come with me" she said holding out a hand for him to follow. They walked in companionable silence towards the door. As they reached it Hermione slowed.
"Close your eyes" she whispered.
Draco heard a number of incantations some of which he did not recognise. Then he felt her breath upon his neck before she whispered finally.
"You can look now."
She had transfigured her robes to resemble the gown she had warn that evening. The same shade of periwinkle blue, her hair was similarly smooth.
"One finishing touch" she waved her wand at him. His clothes reformed into the dress robes he had worn, black velvet, the lining silver, the collar high.
"How had she known?" he wondered.
"It's just…"
"The same" she finished for him with a beaming smile. "I know; you don't imagine I didn't notice you too?" she began to explain.
"I saw you immediately I entered the room. I braced myself for a sneer or a disparaging comment. It never came. You must have let your guard down because there, for a moment, behind your eyes I saw something else. Something other than the cold sneering boy I had always imagined you to be and for the first time I was curious. May be that was the moment for me?" she concluded.
He offered his army, she took it wrapping her arm around his.
"Shall we?" she questioned stepping forward as the great oak doors swung inwards.
Draco marvelled at the scene. It was just how it had been. The walls of the hall were frosted with silver. Garlands of ivy and mistletoe hung across the starry black ceiling just as it had done before but now there were no crowds. This time is was only the two of them. The music struck up and Draco finally got to place his hands around her waist as the dance began. Their dance flowed flawlessly with the music both partners being elegant and accomplished dances. It was certain that had there been an audience they would have been admired greatly.
When finally, the last bars of the melody faded they stood in each other's arms. Breathless their eyes alight with desire.
Draco stepped a little closer and as he did the mistletoe bloomed overhead. He leaned towards her. It seemed an age before his lips touched hers but when they did he remembered how sweet she tasted.
He kissed her gently like a first ever kiss. The way he might have kissed her if it was their first time, shyly and with deference. If Hermione had dared to turn back time she would have gone to this moment, here in the Great Hall. Even if her fourteen year old self had suffered the humiliation of rejection, for the rest of her school days, she would have risked it for his lips to have been the first to kiss her.
Slowly he pulled away. He bought his forehead to meet hers looking into her eyes.
"It's your turn now." He told her.