Chapter 7 – A surprise in the sun

Hermione awoke with a start. Something wasn't right. She didn't know where she was and she dreamed that her friends had left her and now she was stuck with ….

"… Malfoy!"

"Oh, are we back to second name terms? You know, you should inform me in advance so I can adept." He grinned. Hermione was startled for some seconds but then everything came back to her.

"I'm sorry. I just woke up and didn't know where I was. And then I had that dream last night and then … then you came in and I didn't know what happened and ..." She was rambling. She knew it but seemingly she couldn't stop. He did it for her.

"Hermione, stop it. It's ok. See, I won't be angry just because you're not exactly a morning person. I just came to ask whether you wanted to have breakfast with me. My parents got up really early today and I hate to have breakfast on my own." He smiled at her.

Hermione was surprised by just how handsome he looked when he did that. 'He should do that more often.' "What should I do more often?"

"Hm? Oh, did I say that aloud?" Damn, how could she let that slip?

"Indeed you did. So?"

"So what?"

"So, what should I do more often?"

"Erm, nothing. Yeah, I would like to have breakfast with you if you can wait another 20 minutes? I'll have to get ready first." She knew she had blushed to a violent shade of pink but couldn't help it.

"Well, of course I'll wait. You know, the knight in shining armour always waits for the young and beautiful lady." And without waiting for her reply he left the room. What was that supposed to mean? How should she fathom this boy … or rather this man? First he rescued her, then he cared for her and took her to his home in order to keep her safe and now he, Draco sodding Malfoy, complimented her. The world had truly gone crazy. Her best friend, who she thought she could always count on, left her alone while her childhood enemy was there at her side and helped her wherever he could.

"Winky?" A 'plop' was her answer.

"Yes, Miss?"

"Would you be so kind to help me get washed and dressed?"

"Yes, Miss, Winky is helping you gladly." Thus, Hermione was ready after ten minutes – that must have been a record.

"Now, would you please call Draco so he can help me to the dining-room?"

"Yes Miss, I is bringing Master Draco." And with another 'plop' she vanished. Only some minutes later Draco knocked.

"Come in, please."

"So, that was only half the time you told me. Now we'll have to wait another ten minutes." Draco came in. He looked like she had just crushed a major surprise.

"Sorry? Why do we have to wait?"

"Well, you'll see. I won't tell you. It's a surprise."

"I gathered as much."

"How about I show you some more of the manor in the meantime? Maybe the library?" he asked knowing the answer well enough. With a grin, he swept her up and carried her down the corridor only a few doors on, though. "Well, here we are. Try not to overreact." With that he opened the door and Hermione had to work hard in order to stick to his demand.

"Oh my. Merlin, Draco, this must be larger than the Hogwarts library? And you said we have only ten minutes?" The door led to a huge room. Obviously, it was filled with books as it was a library. What amazed Hermione, was that the bookshelves seemed to go on forever. She literally could not see an end to them. The atmosphere was amazing, too. It was cosy. There were leather armchairs all over the place. Most of them, though, stood in front of the huge fireplace. She couldn't see the colour of the walls since there wasn't one spare space between books and bookshelves.

"Draco, this is magnificent. How could you keep this room from me for TWENTYFOUR hours? Can't we stay here just a little bit? Please?"

"Nope, by now I am practically starving. Come on, I'll show you the surprise now. By the way, how do your vocal chords feel?" He grinned. Hermione obviously hadn't noticed yet that she could talk without difficulties. Now her eyes widened.

"I… I don't feel them at all so to say. That's good, isn't it?"

"I would think so." He chuckled. "However, you'll have to sing along and use the charms still so as to not overstrain them already." He swept her up and took her downstairs.

"I thought we wanted to have breakfast?" she asked as they went past the dining room.

"Well, yes, just wait and see." He took her towards the window front facing the gardens and out through the terrace door. There she could see a huge plaid lying next to a fountain which was sparkling in the morning sun. Hermione squealed.

"We'll have a picnic? Oh Draco, that's just wonderful." Draco arched an eyebrow at her.

"My, my, my, I'd never thought I'd hear Hermione Jean Granger squeal in my arms. …Ouch, woman, what was that for?" Hermione had punched his shoulder … and playfully was not the word to describe it.

"Shut it, Malfoy! You just got what you deserved." She told him snottily. Then she broke down in giggles.

As Draco lowered Hermione on the plaid and sat down next to her, a basket filled with fruit appeared soon to be followed by trays and plates with muffins, pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and cereals. She also found a tea pot and a coffee pot and a milk can. "It's just perfect."

They sat in the sunshine and silently enjoyed their breakfast. Finally, though, Hermione wanted to talk about the topic that troubled her.

"At the risk of making you making me sing again, may I ask you a question, Draco?"

"You already did but go on."

"In that crash … were any of the muggles … injured?" she was afraid of his answer. If he was right and the whole incident was because of her, it would somehow make it her fault if somebody died.

"Yes, Hermione, people were injured some even badly. If you hadn't gone for help, most of them would have died. Some might have lived but not without permanent defects. As it was, you saved them all. Nobody died. Nobody was maimed. So, don't you dare believe it was your fault!"

She was relieved beyond reason by his words. The thought that innocent people might have been hurt because she sat in the bus with them was more than she could bear. Of course she knew that she was not actually responsible for the attack. Still, she was immensely relieved that nobody had suffered long term injuries.

"Draco, why do you think that it was a Death Eater attack? I mean, there has been peace for so long now and even if I was the 'Gryffindor Princess' as people call me so eagerly, I am not Harry. Why me?" Hermione looked at him and could easily see that he had thought about this many times before.

"I don't know. I can't see any reason to do something like that. You're right, the war is over and nothing is to be gained by such actions but quite a lot of years in Azkaban. It just doesn't make sense at all. However, Harry and I are still intent on finding that bastard." The rage in his voice was obvious. Hermione wondered then what it was that made Draco do all these things for her.

"Tell me about your life, will you?" She asked, more than slightly curious.

"What do you want to know? You know most of it already …" She could see he wasn't comfortable with her question but she would be damned if she just let him of the hook.

"Well, I know the prat you were at school. I know you didn't turn us in that … that night. I know you're a healer now and, might I add, a completely different person than I seem to remember. Why is that? How did you find your talent for healing?" She looked at him and dared him to deny her the answers. Draco took a deep breath … and chuckled.

"Alright, alright. I know you won't stop nagging until you get answers, will you?"

"Nope, no chance!"

"Well, even if I promised you some alone and undisturbed time in the library?" He saw her thinking about that. She was tempted, he could tell. Then her face lit up.

"Nope, your mum will grant me that anyway. Now, that I think of that, maybe she will tell me about how her son became a decent person?" She smirked at him.

"I really don't get how you could evade Slytherin when we were sorted. That was a low blow … for fear that you're right though, I'll tell you about the metamorphosis the 'amazing bouncing ferret' went through to become this dashingly handsome and, might I add, smart Prince Charming." He stopped at Hermione's snorting. "Well, did I forget something in my description?"

"Yes, actually, you forgot the modesty part. You sure are a modest person, aren't you?"

Chuckling, Draco continued. "Hm, yes, I could work on that, I think. However, as I said, I will tell you but not here. Let's go to my study."

"Why? I'd much rather like to enjoy the sun as long as it's shining."

"Yes, I am sure you'd enjoy it pretty much, especially when that gardener over there starts his work by mowing the lawn." He pointed over to the other side of the garden where indeed a gardener was getting ready to start his work.

"Do you always have to be right? However, how about my balcony? At least we can sit in the sun there!"

"Really? You know you're inviting me to your private rooms, right? Careful, there, Granger. People might think you have a thing for me." He smirked. That smirk, she knew so well from there school years. That smirk she had not seen in a long time (even before the crash). For some reason she could not fathom it infuriated her.

"You … you … urgh! You are still the amazing bouncing ferret, you know? Honestly, if you weren't my host, I'd hex you into oblivion right now." She was interrupted by Malfoy's laughter. She'd never seen him like this. He was laughing until he had tears in his eyes. The effect on her was not at all to her liking. She had to fight hard to refrain from joining in. She couldn't for the life her, though, stop her mouth from twitching as she fought the smile slowly forming itself there.

"I doubt that you would top the bat bogey hex Ginny presented me with last year," he smiled after calming doubt a bit, "however, I am sorry, I just couldn't resist this chance to infuriate you." And that was the full truth. He loved to see her infuriated.

"Is that so?" she asked sweetly. That moment he knew he was in trouble.