AN: Just a nice quiet chapter this week. Thank you all again for the lovely reviews and constructive comments.
If you haven't done so yet, please check out my profile. You will clearly see I do not own Harry Potter. Sad, I know. Enjoy!
Draco and Hermione had spent most of the next month in the library, enjoying each other's company while they read. When they were not in the library the two were riding around the one hundred and fifty acres of land. They had also gone to two parties and visited the small village of people that were paying rent to live on Malfoy land.
Draco was able to pry Hermione away from the library the next day to go riding. He promised her a picnic lunch at his favorite place on the Malfoy property. The two set out after breakfast towards the south side of the property. The sun was quickly warming the air as they crossed the open field towards the forest. Inside the forest the sunlight filtered through the trees in spots, keeping the forest cool. The air smelled of dirt and wildflowers. Birds chirped in the distance as the horses plodded along a thin trail. A few times Hermione swore she spotted a unicorn through the foliage.
After what seemed like an hour the trail widened into a small clearing next to a lake. The aquamarine waters were clear enough to see the bottom of the lake. The lake fed a stream that twisted through the woods, disappearing around a bend. A small fish jumped in the center of the lake, causing ripples through the glass surface.
Draco dismounted from his black stallion and helped Hermione dismount from her brown mare before loosely tying the two to a branch. He removed the picnic materials from the saddlebags and set them near the lake. Hermione looked around taking the view in as Draco came to stand next to her.
"I want to show you something." Draco offered his hand to Hermione which see took. He led her through the trees along the stream bank as it twisted and turned through the forest. Draco stopped abruptly, causing Hermione to bump into him.
"Sorry," she mumbled as she took a step back. Draco turned around and smiled at her.
"Close your eyes," he said. Hermione gave him a half smile. "What is the matter, Miss Granger, you do not trust me?" He flashed her a cocky smile. Hermione's smile widened.
"It is Mrs. Malfoy, and you would do good to remember that." She teased.
"Yes madam. Now please close your eyes." Hermione obliged and Draco pulled her forward to stand in front of him. "Alright, now open your eyes." Hermione opened her eyes to find herself standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking a vast green valley surrounded by a thick forest. The stream they had been walking next to poured over the edge of the cliff to continue meandering through the valley below. Two shimmering white unicorns grazed lazily in the meadow near the stream. A gust of wind blew up the cliffside bringing the scent sweet grass and dirt.
"Oh Draco," Hermione whispered. "This is beautiful."
"I thought you would like this. Shall I set up our picnic here?" Hermione agreed and the two spent two hours sitting by the stream watching the water and talked. They discussed things they had read, past experiences, and observations they made. They were both deeply engrossed in their discussion they failed to notice the sky darkening as clouds rolled in.
A clap of thunder boomed over their heads shaking the ground. The two horses whinnied in fear. Draco sprang from the picnic to calm the horses. He turned a corner and found the horses had disappeared into the forest. Hermione appeared behind him a moment later.
"Where are the horses?" She asked.
"The bloody beasts have taken off," Draco yelled in frustration. "They had better return to the stables."
"We can meet them at the stables," Hermione said calmly. "Apparate us there."
"My wand was in the saddle holster," Draco bellowed over another clap of thunder. He ran his fingers through his blonde hair, his nostrils flaring.
"Draco, calm down," She said. "I will apparate us." Hermione patted the side dress pocket she kept her wand in but felt nothing. "Oh, I guess my wand was in my saddle holster as well." Draco cursed under his breath.
"We will have to walk then." Draco said. The two walked back to the picnic and packed up the remaining food. As they began walking back to the manor another clap of thunder roared over the land and was followed by drenching rain. They ran for cover under a fir tree, both dripping wet.
"Now what do we do?" Hermione asked, her back against the tree.
"We can either wait out the rain, which could take a while. Or we can try walking back to the manor." Draco set the picnic items down on the ground and wiped the water from his hair. "I say we wait this out." The two quietly leaned against the tree listening to the sound of rain pound the ground. After twenty minutes of listening to the rain and being occasionally dripped on from the trees, Draco noticed Hermione shaking.
"Are you alright?" Draco asked. Hermione looked up and smiled at him.
"I am fine." Draco scoffed and shrugged off his jacket.
"You are a terrible liar." He draped his jacket over her shoulders. Hermione tried to reject the coat but Draco refused to listen. She quietly thanked him. They continued to wait another hour before the weather finally broke. The two walked through the rain sodden forest and meadow, returning to the manor after nightfall. Hermione sent Draco upstairs to dry off while she went to retrieve their wands. The two horses had managed to return to the stables and were grazing comfortably in their stalls. Hermione found the two saddles they had used and pulled out their wands from the holsters.
Hermione went back inside the manor and up to her room. She stopped at Draco's room to return his wand but he stated through the door he would get it tomorrow. Hermione went to her room and took a long hot bath before taking a small dinner and going to bed.