Alright then, another wait, another chapter!


The trip begins, and along with it's merits... For Draco.


The following days were uneventful for me, as I had chosen not to go to Potter's flat, instead giving them the time to get their things ready.

So, the next morning when I woke, I just walked around London for a bit.

Snow came down lightly, and everyone on the sidewalks were huddled in their coats and jackets, many carrying large bundles of gifts and whatnot. Seeing such things of course reminded me to buy a few things as well, and being a Malfoy, I specifically ordered to have them sent to my suite, even if they were just small enough to carry myself. I'd rather not worry about such things on my person.

The shopping didn't take long at all, and with the chill, I immediately went straight to the nearest café to warm up. Lucky for me, it was right across the street, a quaint little shop with Christmas trimming along its contours.

When I entered, it was warm and completely scented with a variety of blends. I welcome it wholeheartedly in contrast to the cold outside. There's a line at the register, and I walk up to include myself in it, my eyes skim around in hopes of a familiar face.

A face I didn't get. The hair however…

Hermione was seated in a deep brown lounge chair, her cream sweater making quite a color combination. She had one hand holding open a book, and another thumbing the handle of a large black mug, a small square table in front of her. I see a thick red coat on the back of the chair. My eyebrows arch and I can't help but to smile. She shows no signs of leaving, so I decide to get a coffee before I surprise her with my presence.

I don't get my chance however.

I'm just at the counter when a soft, "Ahem," catches my attention. I move my eyes a bit, and there she is, her side leaning against the counter beside me, book still in front of her, and her eyes are skimming the page, pretending to not know that I've acknowledged her presence. I frown a bit and chose to ignore her until I get my coffee.

I look at the young woman behind the register and nod, "Heavy cappuccino, and place it in one of your mugs." I say smoothly as I place down a bill and move out of the cue. Hermione leads the way to her little spot and I sit in the chair opposite of her, enjoying the soft comfort of the chair.

"Rude much?"

I smirk and my eyes flick over at her, "Oh? How so?" I ask, watching her, believing that I've peeved her for not saying hello or something like that.

She rolls her eyes and smiles, closing the book as my order fills, "There's no please at the end, just a command that must be listened to? Oh, what a bossy, bossy slimy git." She smiles and shakes her head in amusement.

I make a face and I'm about to say something when a waiter comes up with a tray and slowly places my mug down. I look at him and nod, "Thank you," pointedly looking at Hermione.

The waiter nods in turn then leaves, and I lean forward, grasping the handle as I bring it up. I smile and incline my head in an odd nod, "Still rude?" I ask, taking a sip of my chosen brew.

"Always." She replied, opening her book once again.

For some odd reason, we don't say anything. She just sits there, reading, while I just sit here, drink my coffee and watch her.

And it was very interesting.

Every now and then, she'd frown, her lips pursing together just slightly and then a loose strand of hair would fall over her eyes and she'd brush it away in irritation. Then, just for a few moments, her eyes would still, and a soft glaze would set in, as if she was playing whatever she was reading in her head.

I didn't really know what to think of it. Was it odd? A turn off? Or just straight out adorable and defining?

I couldn't rightly decide, and before I knew it, I had run out of coffee. Not wanting to keep myself in silence for long, I looked at her and set my chin on my fist, "So why're you out of the house?" I asked.

Her eyes rose and I could see the faint creases of a smile, "I decided to leave the flat to those two." Then she chuckled, "And Harry was practically begging for it."

And like that, we just talked about the little things that interested us, and I managed to persuade her to come back to this café again tomorrow, seeing as neither of us had anything to do anyways.

And she did, much to my joy, but unfortunately, it wasn't just the two of us anymore. Harry and Jarina tagged along, not that I didn't want them to… That's obviously a lie, but it's not like I'll admit it out loud.

And instead of staying and chatting, we went around… Shopping. Of course, it was mainly Hermione and Jarina, but it was still a bit of a lag for me, seeing as I had wanted to spend time with the brunette alone… Though, I had no choice in it.

But there was an upside to it.

Jarina and Hermione had somehow gotten us to the park, and then Harry and Jarina left us to… Stroll around, as they had said. Hermione just smiled and took me by the arm and led me away. Even though my jacket was thick, I could feel the tingling burn on my arm where she held me.

"Cute, aren't they?" she asked me after a few minutes of releasing me.

We were walking beneath a lane of dead cedars, their skeletal branches leaden with an inch of snow, casting an oddly comforting theme.

"Who?" I ask, a bit caught off guard, seeing as we hadn't been talking about anything.

"Harry and Jarina." She said, in a tone that obviously said that the answer should have been obvious to me.

"Ah!" I exclaim with a nod, "I thought you were talking about the trees… Old, cold, and dead things." I start in amusement, "I was beginning to wonder, 'What could Hermione possibly be thinking? Dead trees covered in snow being cute, is she blind or someth-!'"

I stopped when a firm ball of snow hit me on the side of my head. My mouth was still open a bit and my eyes were wide in shock, though inside I was contemplating my next move-

Which I executed in less than a second.

I drove for the ground, my hands clasping together as I gathered a handful of snow, twisting to chuck it at the fleeing brunette. She was wearing a white snow jacket and black jeans with a blue and white striped scarf. With her hair and that outfit, it wasn't hard to see her, and near impossible to miss.

I got her in the back just as I fell, and she let out a shout before kneeling, spinning on her foot to scoop up some snow, flinging it at me just as I scrambled to get up. She got me in the chest, and I hadn't expected it, but she had flung it with such last minute force, I slipped and landed on my bum before I huffed out and fell on my back.

As I panted, I could see my breath in large translucent clouds of white, and then she stood over me, collapsing beside me before she folded her arms on my chest and rested her head against them. I lifted my head to look at her and felt her shaking. It wasn't long until I could hear her giggles and I shook my head and sat up, shoving her off of me.

"You don't deserve to rest on my chest, you hit me with a snowball." I chided playfully.

Then she sat up and threw her head back in laughter, "Yeah, and I remember you slipping and falling on your backside!"

I frowned, "No thanks to you."

Then she stopped laughing with a sigh and smiled before turning her head to look at me. I swear, time must have stopped for like an instant. The way her eyes shone as her skin glowed while the snowflakes in her hair shone at me… It was probably the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. I had gone completely breathless.

"It was fun, it was funny, and-" she moved and stood up, brushing the snow off her pants, "We should do it again."

I took in a breath and nodded dumbly, "Yeah… We really should."

Then, Harry and Jarina had caught sight of us and we went our separate ways to get ourselves ready for tomorrow, sadly, I must admit, I was more than willing to spend more time with her.

oOoOo

The plane ride wasn't at all that bad, despite the fact that it lasted nineteen very long and boring hours, and that neither me, Harry, nor Hermione were used to riding in such a craft. I had even asked her about a portkey and then she told me that the distance was just too far, and it'd be a lot easier to travel without magic... Nonetheless, I had upgraded Jarina's ticket so that all four of us could stay in first class together. After all, I had to thank her somehow for giving me such a brilliant idea to woo Hermione after that no good Weasely had gone and ruined her life.

And then I remembered that it was Hermione, herself who had brought up the topic first. I had completely forgotten about that…

We made it to the capital, Manila, in awe of the crowded city whose main attractions were it's malls… And a damn number of them. Though, we were just reveling in the heat wave, that evidently, Jarina abhorred, from the way she stared, and frowned, and constantly fanned herself… Yes, she made sure to not be subtle at all.

Though after that and into the car however…

It was perhaps the scariest ride I had ever been on.

oOoOo

"There are seriously no speed limits!"

"Jare, could you stay on one lane!?"

"It's so bloody noisy! Why're they honking all the time?"

"Draco, they're warning the pedestrians, honestly, you act like it's a sin to honk a car horn!"

"Jare, what are you doing?!"

"It's called overtaking, it isn't illegal, Harry!"

"No, but you can get us killed from it!"

"Only if she drives blind-!"

The roads were long and straight for awhile, and it was smooth. But once it got winding-

Jarina was just ripping right through it with her dark green Civil Jeep that she picked up from a 'friend'. Harry was seated in the front, bracing himself with his feet, his arms twitching to take the steering wheel from our resident tour guide as the car threatened to tip at each curve. Hermione and I were seated at the back, I gripping the bars for dear life as Hermione just sat with a big grin on her face, her wild brown locks waving around randomly, despite the fact that she had put them up into a tight bun, as she had one arm wrapped securely on one of the bars.

I, of course, was tempted in the beginning to hold her to me, but I knew that it would probably annoy her, if not worse, make her uncomfortable.

Yet, despite the way we were driving, the view of the area was… Breathtaking. At least, after we had left the crowded Metropolitan area. Mountains and waterfalls of various sizes were everywhere we looked (Up included, as Jarina had stashed the coverlet in the back underneath all of our luggage).

Jarina was an excellent driver, to be sure, but far too reckless for my taste, though she had corrected me by saying, "I am not reckless, just very confident."

"Hermione, are you okay?" I ask, having to raise my voice a little bit to be overheard by the rush of wind.

She just looked at me and smiled, pointing her finger upwards. All four of us wore sunglasses to repel the flying dirt that rode the wind, but it did nothing to hinder our vision. We were in a rather shady area, and when I looked up, I could see the foliage blur by like rushed paint on a canvas, the sunlight streaming in.

The drive, as wild as it was, also helped to prevent the increasing heat. Maybe that's why Jarina was going so fast…

After hours of sitting in the auto, Jarina finally pulled over into a rest stop that held a number of fast food and fancy restaurants, along with souvenir stalls.

"If you guys plan to buy a knick-knack or two, don't buy anything without me." She warned as she parked.

Harry looked at her quizzically, "Why not?"

"People here are smart, and they will scam you because you're foreign here." She replied as she pulled on the brake, "You're all tall, white, have an odd accent… That means easy money to the sellers here."

"Well that's not fair." Hermione let out as she got out of the jeep, letting out a sigh as she stretched her legs.

I watched as Jare pulled the keys out of the ignition, "It isn't, but they can't help it."

Jare took us to this fast food place called Chow King, and I couldn't help but to smile.

"Chinese food?" I ask, looking up at the menu as we stood in line, "Aren't we already at a near Chinese place?"

Jare shrugged and gave me a smile, "I guess so, but I'm just starving for some halo-halo (pronounced hah-lo, not hey-low)."

"What's that mean?" Hermione asked her.

"Mix," she replied, "It's a dessert with ice shavings and bits of fruit, gelatin, and a number of other things. I like it, that's why I'm getting one."

"It's got ice cream in it I see… Get me one too." Harry said as he leaned over and rested his chin on the top of her head.

"Me too." Hermione and I say in unison. We look at each other and I grin while she just shrugs.

After eating, we hit the road again, and Jarina stopped her wild turns once we hit straight and smooth roads. Harry was just leaning back into his chair, his right arm resting against the door frame, and I realized that he was chatting softly with Jarina. Then, I turned my head and looked at Hermione. She was resting her elbow on the frame, chin in her palm. I couldn't see if she was sleeping because of the sunglasses, but after a moment of watching her head droop and snap back up, I knew it was time to make a move.

Reaching out, I gently shook her shoulder, and she lifted her head to look at me. Then I reach over and pull her down. Instantly, her legs folded as I rested her head on my lap, her arms held to her chest. Her hair spilled all over the front of my pants, and I smile as a wave of pride fills me.

This meant that Hermione trusted me.

And as much as I didn't want to take advantage, I couldn't help but to revel in the feeling of her body on mine, even if it was only half.
Then I hear a snigger, and I look up to see Harry smiling at me. I shoot him a look and he turns away, shaking his head slowly. Then, I look back down at Hermione. Hesitantly, I reach down and touch her brown locks, slightly coarse due the wind. She doesn't move, so I continue, brushing it down softly, letting my fingers tangle into her tresses.

Suddenly, thoughts of being with her alone and awake, stir within me. I'm having daydreams of doing this as she reads on my lap, or beside me… I don't notice my fingers as they skim the back of her neck, touching the smooth skin lightly until I lurch forward, my hand lashing out for a pull back as I almost smash my forehead on the back of Potter's seat as Jarina slams on the brakes and starts letting out a stream of profanity just as I do.

"Oh, you friggin' idiot!" she vented as she blared the horn. Harry shakes his head beside her and lets out a long sigh, "You don't suddenly wheel out of nowhere and overtake a person!" she continued, glaring at the back of a red SUV.

"Shh, Jare, calm down!" Harry urged as he reached over and placed a hand on her leg, squeezing it gently, "Pull over and let me at the wheel."

She turns her head, "You don't even know where we're going." She started, then stopped as Potter laughed.

"Jare, the road is straight and I bet that there isn't a split for hours." He replied with a knowing smirk.

I watch as Harry effortlessly melts her down into a puddle and we pull over to the shoulder. Jarina unbuckles her seatbelt and leaps out of the side as Harry scoots over to the wheel.

I never knew that Potter could drive… And for some odd reason, I am wracked with jealousy-

And instantly snapped out of it once Jarina settled herself in the passenger's seat, sulking as she folded her arms on the windowsill and rested her head on top. Her dark hair was kept in a clip, but her bangs were waving around wildly. Potter gave her a few glances before reaching out with his right hand to poke her back. She pushed herself up and looked at him, and he just smiled at her before looking back at the road. Then, when she went back to her original position, she had a smile on her face as well.

It was probably the lamest thing I've ever seen in person. But then I had to realize… What if it was me at the wheel doing that to Hermione…?

"How many more hours until we-" I stop and glare at the young woman in front of me, "where are we going and how much farther until we get there?"
Jarina laughs and turns around in her seat, "We're going to Sagunto, a small little provincial town. It's about four more hours away. Hm, we got to Manila at ten this morning, so we'll be there at two. After that is Baguio, a nice cooler city, which would be another hour and a half, but we won't hit that place until tomorrow. And from there, I'll be going to Capiz by plane… I'm not sure how long that'll be."

"I'll be going?" Harry inquired, turning his head towards her for a moment before looking back at the road, "You won't be going anywhere without me."

Then, Hermione at my lap stirs, and she sits up, wiping the sleep from her eyes as I wrap and arm around her so that she can continue to lean against me, and much to my pleasure, she does.

"I'm sticking to Harry." She announces with a light yawn, putting a hand to her mouth in an attempt to quiet it.

I smile as she sits upright and then rests her head on my shoulder, "And I go where ever this lot goes."

I heard the Asian woman sigh, "I don't think I can allow that."

"I don't see why not." Harry argues, "We're just as capable as you are."

"But you don't know what you'll be going up against, and it'd kill me to involve any of you guys. Especially if you get hurt."

"And how do you think I'll feel when I can't figure out if you're alright or not?" Harry rebukes, "And besides, you can't leave us alone, we'll get lost out here without you."

I stretch my arms out, reaching for the sky before letting my arms fall, one draped across Hermione's shoulders, the other resting along the window sill, "And we can learn, it's the only thing we've been doing for seven awful years."

"I second that." Hermione murmurs.

"This isn't fair," Jarina whines, "It's four against one!"

"Four?" Hermione queries.

"Yeah, you, Draco, Harry, and damn logic."

oOoOo

After two hours, Harry and Jare had switched again, and Hermione and I were sharing Z's. We had shifted numerous times, trying to find a comfortable way for both of us to sleep-

And we found it, with her settled comfortably on top of me. One leg in between mine, her head was on my chest, her hair splayed on my shirt like spilled soil… Long, stringy, and soft looking soil.
As casual as it was for her, it was absolute bliss for me to fall asleep with her so comfortable against me. I could smell her very own distinct scent amongst that of the soap scents and perfume. Her skin and body so soft and fitting against me…Don't get me wrong, I was not aroused in any way… But I was becoming something of a romantic. Yearning for just the possible hope of her finding interest in me becoming the potential soul mate Weasely failed to qualify as.

Jare and Harry however, after finding that Hermione and I were sound asleep, were having quite a time together. Harry sat sideways on his seat, as there was space for it, and he was massaging her thigh, kissing her neck… Distracting her just enough to pleasure her, but not going so far as to make us crash.

"Will we make it to your place tonight? Or will we have to get a hotel?" Harry asked, breathing gently in her ear.

Jarina bit down on her lower lip and narrowed her eyes, keeping herself concentrated, "No, we'll make it. But too bad for you Mr. Potter, is the fact that my place just happens to be where my mother lives."

Harry let out a sigh and rested his head on her shoulder, "You just have to ruin me, don't you?"
"Only for now," she said with a smirk, "because I was afraid that you'd kill us all with what you were doing to me."

oOoOo

I woke up to the motion of the jeep slowing down and then stopping. My eyes open up slowly and I raise my head languidly as a pain started in my neck. I groan and twist my neck around gently. I can feel the heat of the area seep into me, and my skin starts to prickle.
"Comfortable?"
My eyes open and I see Hermione sitting leisurely on the floor. I frown, "What're you-""Pushed her off, you did." Harry said with a boff as he got out of the auto, "Right in the middle of the highway, Merlin, we couldn't stop laughing!"

I pushed her off?

I could only stare at Hermione in shock, and she shook her head with a chuckle as she gripped onto the driver seat and hauled herself up, jumping out of the jeep, "It's alright, Draco, I don't think I've got any bruises."

Now I felt like a complete arse, though I had to admit, I had no idea.

"I am so sorry, Hermione," I apologize, shaking my head, then I smirk, "I guess I was just trying to get you under me."

Hermione rolled her eyes at me and suddenly, I had the air knocked out of my lungs as two heavy bags were suddenly tossed on my chest.

"Okay then, you perv," Jarina said with a laugh, "you can make it up to her by getting her stuff, c'mon Hermione, I'll introduce you to Momi while the boys get our things."

When I gathered my bearings, I took the time to check out the surroundings. The house was nice enough, two floors high. Jarina had parked beneath a tall green mango tree, the sweet scent wafting down to me. As I turned my head, I could see… Miles of farmland.
"Bloody hell." I let out.
Fields of rice stood out, going back for miles. Looking forward, I see an old blue rusted gate and a paved road with another house in front. To my left in the house, the right a flower garden, and in front is the field. It looked so odd to me.

"Not used to the country, Malfoy?"

I look up just in time to catch another bag flying at my head, "Actually, Potter-" I start as I shift to stand up, throwing Hermione's bags onto my shoulder as I gather up my own luggage, "I was just in awe of the beauty."

Harry laughed as he pulled the rest of the bags out of the back and started moving to the house, I following right behind.

"Ah-ha, and these are the young men?!" a voice declared. There was no particular accent to it, but it was clear and I understood it.

I raise my head to see a short plump woman with short black cropped hair, almost the same length as mine, streaked with white roots. She had her hands on her hips and her legs slightly apart, looking like as if she was blocking our way. She was wearing a large and loose caramel colored shirt tucked into a pair of camouflage pants, which in turn were tucked into a pair of high black leather combat boots.

I don't know why, but I suddenly felt a wave of power emanate off of the woman, and I stopped walking, slightly afraid of the woman who looked like she came straight out of the military.
Her light brown eyes regarded both Harry and me with scrutiny, and she suddenly pointed a finger at Harry, her nails long and red in contrast to her outfit, "Are you Harry?" she asked.

Harry's glasses slid downwards somewhat as he nodded briskly, "Yes, Ma'am." He replied before struggling with his right arm to push them back.

Then she looked at me and nodded, "Then that means you're Draco, hm?"

I nod, "Yes, Ma'am, I am."

Suddenly, she broke out into a wide smile and turned around, waving us in, "That's great! Come on, just set the bags in the living room here and move into the kitchen, there's juice there."

I release a breath I had no idea I was holding, and Harry seemed to do the same just before looking at me.

"Now I know where Jare gets her superior feel from." He said, shaking his head.

I could only laugh in agreement, "Couldn't be more right, mate."

oOoOo

The house was hot and stuffy inside, and I took note of the lack of fans and AC. I placed the luggage next to Harry's pile and followed him to an open doorway, that evidently led into the kitchen.

If anything, the kitchen could be considered the hottest room by far.

"Oh, there you guys are." A lame and rather dull voice spoke.

I looked at Jarina sitting like a dying woman with her head on the table, a glass in one hand and the other under her head. Hermione sat next to her, fanning herself with her hand as she sipped from yet another glass. The liquid inside looked like clouded water.
"Did Momi give you guys a look over?" Jarina asked, adding in a humored tone with a bit of effort.
I chuckled uneasily and Harry walked over to her in concern, "Are you okay, Jare?"

"She's fine." Her mother said loudly as she walked in, placing two glasses on the table. She had a pitcher in her other hand and proceeded to pour the liquid into the glasses, leaving just an inch of space, "She's just a babe when it comes to hot weather, lookin' like her whole system just melted down."

I look at the glasses and smile, "What kind of juice is this, Mrs…?"

"Ms. Dom." She said, turning to look at me, "Short for Dominique. The juice is buko, it's a kind of coconut, drink it. It'll suck the heat right out of you."

Deciding not to be rude, Harry and I reached out for the cups-

And downed it in less than a second.

The juice had a cool, barely sweet lingering taste to it, and just like Ms. Dom said, it had indeed sucked the heat right out of us. Hermione was now sipping hers slowly, but Jarina hadn't moved.

"So, are you norms?" the woman asked.

Jarina's head shot up, and her dark eyes narrowed, "Mom!"

"Hush," she commanded with a look, "I'm just asking."

Jarina's head fell back on her arm and she shook it slowly, "It's rude."

"Norms?" I inquire.

"Normal humans, people, those that don't have the divine magic in 'em." The stout

woman said briskly.

"Muggles." Harry translated.
Hermione blinked then shook her head, "Oh, no, Ma'am, we're just like Jarina, and you."
The woman nodded and then smiled brightly again, "Well that's good, now I won't have to go on about explaining why you don't feel the heat that much."
Harry frowned, "But what about Jarina?" he asked, looking at his girlfriend in concern.
"She's allergic to coconuts, and buko is practically a coconut, so unfortunately for her, she must suffer like a norm in this heat." she explained without much concern, then she added, "And in an hour, or whenever it decides to pass through you, all of you will too."

I exchanged incredulous looks with Harry and I heard Hermione giggle, "The people here merge their magic with the elements. Like, Ms. Dom here merges hers with the plants, making the milk of a coconut cool us down like a Pepper Up potion warms us up." She explained, "I read up on it and watched a demonstration awhile ago." She smiled and shook her head in awe as she looked at the stout woman, who nodded.

"Yeah, I use my abilities to enhance the refreshment of the food I cook. Nothing wrong with it and it don't poison anyone, if anything, it makes 'em healthier." She said proudly, then, she had on a serious expression, "Alright! Get out, all of you!" Ms. Dom suddenly shouted as she used her arms to shoo them off.

I froze and looked at her uneasily. Had we done something wrong?

Jarina stood up then swooned, grabbing onto the edge of the table for support, looking like she would faint. Harry rushed over to her, and I felt a pair of hands on my back, pushing me forward.

"Ms. Dom's about to cook and she doesn't want us inside the house is all, honestly, Draco, from your face you'd expect she was accusing you of stealing something."

I look down at her, "Well, from the way she was shouting, it's hard not to!" I responded.

... End Chapter Four...


Trivia!

~ Ms. Dom is practically, more or less... My mother.
But I DID NOT portray myself in this fic. I'm not Jarina.
I don't know how to drive yet.

And that's all for now until my next update!

Please review! It helps me out a lot!