"What?!" His hand shook, spilling his hot chocolate on himself and her. Hermione jumped up, her pants ruined.
"Omigosh! I can handle this. I swear I had a towel here somewhere! Are you okay?" Hermione began to gush while wringing her hands and paced through the living room and kitchen which was conjoined by a small hallway.
"Hermione, don't worry," Draco said calmly as he waved his wand and reversed the damage, "only if you can excuse me to loo for a moment." He trailed off, waiting for directions.
"Oh of course! It's just down that way," Hermione stumbled over her words. As she looked down at her ruined pants, she went to go change. When she returned, dressed in her comfy pajama pants he was just returning from the loo.
"You certainly look ready for bed, Hermione." He smiled sort of wolfishly at her, grinning wildly.
Hermione blushed.
"Well, it is getting late," Hermione said in her defense.
"It is only 8:30 pm right now." A perfectly poised eyebrow rose.
"I'm sorry for my question." Hermione looked at the ceiling, hating having to apologize.
"No, you have a right to know how you affect me." He smiled sadly. "Unfortunately, I do not know. For all I know, I could drop dead tomorrow."
"I don't want to date you."
A flash of emotion showed through his eyes, but Hermione didn't notice.
"Of course you don't."
He apperated away, suddenly and Hermione blinked.
Shrugging, she went to go brush her teeth and get ready for sleep. Just because she didn't have work tomorrow didn't mean she was going to go out and party.
Besides what was the point? She was basically bound to Draco. Ugh, I got to remember to call him Malfoy. He could die, but she shook her head, clearing her head. As she climbed into bed, Hermione tried to shut out her thoughts and go to sleep.
"Good morning, love," her sleepy husband kissed her cheek, and she smiled and kissed him on the lips.
"Good morning, Draco."
"MUM! Please don't be disgusting this early in the morning, ugh," A girl with straight long dark brown hair flew into the kitchen, wrinkling her nose, "Utterly disgusting."
"Kaitlin's right, Mum. I can't stand to possibly view anymore of this," Another girl, slightly taller than the other one stepped out from behind her.
"Even Erin agrees with me, Mum, and Erin never agrees with me!" Kaitlin protested, as she and her husband laughed and kiss each other's noses.
"EW!" their youngest son, Harrison laughed as he bounced into the room followed by a tall blond figure.
"'Morning, dad. 'Morning, Mum." He nodded at each of them, already used to the displays of affection between his parents. As the oldest, Daniel was the adored sibling and all the other Malfoy children looked up to Daniel.
He was a spitting image of Draco.
As Hermione was kissed yet again on her forehead, she felt content. As she absentmindedly rubbed her stomach, she looked down at the growing baby inside.
"How's our Scorp today, love," He looked at her with such adoration in his eyes that Hermione wanted to just stare at him forever.
"MUM!" Harrison tugged at her robes, "WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE!"
He danced around the breakfast table and his older siblings laughed; as the currently youngest child, he couldn't wait 'til Scoprius was born.
"Harri, you do remember you're not going to Hogwarts quite yet." Draco laughed. Daniel, Kaitlin, and Erin laughed. Kaitlin, who was a prefect, put her plate away as well as Harrison's before going to get ready.
Daniel who was already ready, went to go retrieve his trunk from his room. Harrison followed him diligently, laughing and dancing the whole way.
Erin ran up the stairs to start packing because she had forgotten to pack last night.
All alone in the kitchen, Draco started advancing on her in a way that would have been completely inappropriate in front of their kids.
"I love you, Hermione," Draco said passionately right before they kissed. As Hermione lost herself in their kissing, she began to hear a beeping noise.
Was something burning? She ignored it though and continued to immerse herself in her husband's arms.
Hermione's arm smashed at her muggle alarm clock, and screamed.
What in the world of doggity dig dogs had she dreamed. What had her subconscious dreamed up.
Shuddering at her own imagination, Hermione got dressed. It took her a while but she managed to get her hair into a semi-decent bun and then she set off. As soon as she stepped outside of her apartment complex, she realized how long it had been since she had last ventured into the muggle parts of London. As she wandered around, glancing at all the new local shops and boutiques, Hermione enjoyed window-shopping and strolling down the streets. New automobiles had flooded the market and Hermione thanked the heavens that she would never be stuck in traffic thanks to magic.
When she reached an intersection Hermione decided to take the path less traveled and walked away from the pretty street she was on. As she walked through countless other shopping areas, nothing grabbed her fancy, until she reached a smallish cube shaped building that piqued her interest.
As she entered the mundane building she was shocked to see a cheery interior. Behind the till sat an elderly woman who was on the phone discussing something about dog food brands.
As Hermione sat and waited she picked up one of the magazines with a puppy on it.
"Hello dear?" The motherly voice broke Hermione out of her trance.
"Hi!" Hermione squeaked, surprised.
"Are you here to visit the puppies?" she smiled knowingly, "He's right down that hall, sweetie."
Hermione nodded absentmindedly, and walked down the hallway the lady had pointed down. As she tentatively swung open the door at the end of the hallway, she almost choked.
"Draco?" Dammit, you meant Malfoy, see this is what happens when you let yourself go.
"Granger?" He looked up, surrounded by puppies. Oh my f*cking god!
"What-What are you doing… here?" Hermione gestured around to the room, flushed pink.
"I think, Granger," He smirked and dragged out a pause. "The better question would be what are YOU doing here?"
Oh my god, he's right. What do I say? "I don't know." Her heart felt like it was about to burst out of her heart, it was beating so hard.
"Good answer." Was he laughing? Oh my god, his laughter made her heart twist with yearning. She blushed at his words.
"Uh…Thank you?" Hermione, unsure of what to reply, blushed even harder.
Wait a minute, was he looking at her funny? How dare he? Oh my god, he's so hot. Why isn't he saying anything?
"Why are you here, Granger?" what?
"Excuse me?"
"Why. Are. You. Here." He spoke with such pause in between his words, they could be classified as their own sentences.
"I..don't know? I was just-just wandering," Hermione stuttered over her words, flushed.
His eyebrow rose slowly. "In muggle london?" He smirked.
"Well, what's your reasoning?"
His face turned to stone. Omigosh, he's so hot.
"Do really want to know that, Granger?" Hermione blushed. Can he not be so hot and enticing?
"No, never mind actually. I think I'll be leaving now." Hermione's red face looked fluorescent under the lighting.
He stepped closer to her. "Are you sure you want to?"
"Yes." No.
He closed the gap between them and leaned down, touching his forehead to hers. Hermione felt sparks.
He inhaled sharply.
"I was forced into the muggle community for a year of community service. Dogs don't judge me for not knowing basic muggle knowledge."
"Oh." Her voice was breathy, like a breeze that rustles tree branches.
"Dogs also don't throw slurs at you, and nor do they discriminate you for your past mistakes."
Her eyes were drawn to his left forearm, which was covered.
"I think…"
He rolled his eyes, but didn't move. "Yes, Granger, when do you not think?"
"I think I'd like to volunteer." There we go. No stuttering. Perfect, now all she needed to do is leave.
"Of course Granger, don't be too eager to spend some time with me," Dra-Malfoy said, smirking before becoming solemn, "I actually do appreciate it. The dogs here are wonderful."
"Not a fan of the cats I suppose?" Hermione tried to joke.
"If I do recall correctly, you are." He raised his eyebrow again, and smirked. That goddamn smirk could kill.
"You do recall correctly," Hermione adapted a business tone, "Now, if you could direct me to a volunteer signup form, that would be great. Thank you."
He stepped back suddenly, and Hermione felt bare. Who knew he could affect her so deeply.
He exited the room, carefully making sure none of the puppies exited along with him, and Hermione scurried after him quickly.
They reached the waiting room, and the old lady smiled at Malfoy (attagirl, now you just need to remember every other time too) and said, "Dray, I see you've met this nice young lady."
Dray?
"Yes, Mrs. Smithers. And she's interested in volunteering here. I was wondering if you could help her register. I hate to leave the puppies alone for too long." He gave a beaming smile, as if all was right in the world.
Without waiting for a response, he hurriedly walked back down the corridor, leaving Hermione alone with Mrs. Smithers.
After awkwardly filling out paperwork, Hermione signed up for 3 days: Friday nights, early Saturdays, and Sunday nights.
The two women bid each other farewell and Hermione left the shelter, promptly disapparating away at the first opportunity.
After taking a long shower and sitting down to read one of her favorite novels, Hermione gasped.
How was it that it was only just registering to her that Draco Malfoy was in a MUGGLE animal shelter?
Hermione felt her head crowd with thoughts and questions that she knew would plague her while reading, and she sighed before putting the book away. It was useless reading with heavy thoughts.
Hermione tried to take her mind off of things by cleaning her apartment, but she occasionally stops and whispers, "I can't believe it." in awe.
Beginning to regret even going for a stroll in the first place, Hermione groans and continues to furiously dust the furniture.
Surely, I could not have neglected my furniture further? Hermione shook her head at the amount of dust and berated herself for not cleaning sooner. I could just do it by magic couldn't I?
Shaking her head at her internal question, Hermione continued to dust the furniture the muggle way.
As she attacked the mess in her apartment, she spent the rest of the day indoors, and when she finally looked out of one of the windows, she noticed the dimness of the sky and shook her head at herself.
Eating some leftovers from the other night, Hermione didn't need to eat clean any pots or pans.
After getting ready for sleep, Hermione lay down.
Her eyes succumbed to the gentle call of sleep without a struggle.
"Hermione, I love you."
Draco Malfoy stood in front of her, holding one of the puppies from the morning. His face shone with adoration for her and Hermione could feel herself smiling serenely back at him.
Was he coming in for a kiss?
He gently put down the puppy and walked closer to her, closing the gap.
Shouldn't she be protesting?
But Hermione let herself be engulfed by his toned arms. His head leaned in towards hers. And as they closed their eyes, their lips connected.
Hermione melted. On the inside she felt like lava. Too hot. He was warm too. And his arms explored her as if she were a map.
She felt as if she were in a dream and her thoughts and logic felt far away and distant. The only thing she wanted to do was continue to kiss him.
Like a moth to a light, she kept kissing his lips, not even breaking apart for air.
Hermione woke up with a start, her heart beating irritability fast.