Chapter Eight
Metal, Muggle Death Trap
"You're really sure you want to come with me?" Hermione questioned for the millionth time. Draco sighed in exasperation and grabbed the witch by her shoulders. "If you ask me that one more time I'll feed you to some bloody hippogriffs!"
Hermieon blushed and apologized again. "I just don't know how long I'm going to be, Draco. It's going to be a wild goose chase. I haven't the slightest idea where to start. I have no idea what I'm doing. Do you really want to be away from England for so long?" She wanted desperately for him to go with her. After thinking him dead, she never wanted to be apart from him. But she also understood the crazy journey she was about to embark.
Draco dropped his hands to her hips and tugged her close. Slipping his hands around to rest on her back, he murmured, "Hermione, I would be glad to never return to England. And it doesn't matter that you've no idea where to start. You've got me now. I'll be there, no matter what you need of me. You're going to Australia and I'm going with you. It's settled."
"You're going to Australia?" a new voice cried in disbelief. Hermione jumped out of Draco's arms to find her dreadful cousin Lisa hovering in her doorway. "Mum's never going to believe this!"
Before she could beg her to keep quiet, Lisa was out the door shouting, "Little Hermione's going to Australia!"
"Excellent," Hermione glowered, kicking her bed in frustration. At Draco's confused look, she explained, "I didn't want them to know I was leaving. In fact, before you came I had every intention of sneaking out last night."
Draco shook his head. "Just a day later and I might not have ever found you."
Hermione kissed the tip of his nose. "Something tells me that you wouldn't have given up."
"Says the one who instantly believed me to be dead," Draco retorted, not wanting to admit the truth to her statement. She rolled her eyes. "You know I never would have stopped looking for you if I knew you were alive. Now, let's go see what damage Lisa's done."
Draco wanted to take her hand but suddenly second guessed himself. He wasn't sure what she wanted her family to know. Instead, he settled to striding quietly by her side, at last her equal.
"Australia, Hermione?" Auntie Sharon shrieked as soon as Hermione emerged at the top of the stairs. "What is the meaning of this?"
Mustering up the scattered remains of her Gryffindor courage, Hermione stated her intentions quite simply. "It means I'm going to Australia."
"You're only 18, child, you can't go halfway across the world by yourself!" her grandmother exclaimed. Hermione nodded. "I see your point. Which is exactly why Draco will be joining me." At this, her grandmother let out a scandalized gasp along with the rest of the family.
"We don't even know this boy! You can't go alone with him!" her grandfather roared. Hermione crossed her arms defiantly, Draco shifting uncomfortably by her side. "I'm afraid that's not up to you. We're both adults, and we've both agreed to go. Together."
To both their relief, Amos entered the conversation. "Why the trip to Australia, Minnie?"
Draco looked to Hermione, curious as to what explanation she might give. "My parents. They've been traveling abroad. I think it's time I went to see them," Hermione offered vaguely.
"How long have they been traveling?" Lisa wondered, miffed that her parents wouldn't leave her alone for weeks at a time.
"Well, actually, they've more sort of living there than traveling now."
"My son moved to Australia and didn't bother telling me?" her grandfather bellowed disbelievingly. "How dare he? I bet it was that vixen of a mother of yours. She was always trying to come between us."
Draco wisely took a step away from the fuming witch. Anger was rolling of her in nearly visible waves. He knew the fiery little lioness had a legendary temper when provoked. "My mother is a wonderful woman," she seethed dangerously, "Both my parents are far too good for the likes of this family. I have my bags packed, my best friend back from the dead, and two tickets to Australia tonight. Come on, Draco."
Wordlessly, the boy followed her back up to the room. She grabbed a purple suitcase from under her bed and made her way back down the stairs. She refused even a glance at the livid family still sat in the living room. She barreled through the front door and down the steps. Draco was grateful for his longs legs otherwise he might have been left behind.
"Hermione!"
The two teens fell to a halt to see Amos, Amber, Amelia, and Steve spilling out of the doorway. They ran at Hermione and attacked her with a collective hug. Draco was amazed by the sheer emotion before him. He always had been jealous of how easily Gryffindors displayed their emotions. "Get in here, son," Amos laughed as he grabbed Draco's arm. He was suddenly overwhelmed by bodies. Hermione's hand somehow found its way into his and his heart swelled.
Three weepy woman later, the hug broke up. Amelia launched herself at Hermione one last time. "Please keep in touch this time, Minnie!"
"I promise, Em!" Hermione swore fervently. She looked over to her uncle. "Tell your parents we miss them, will you?
"I will," she promised, "I miss them, too." Only Draco understood just how much.
"And you, Draco," Amos said to catch his attention, "I trust you to keep my Minnie safe?"
"Absolutely, sir," Draco assured with utmost sincerity.
As they turned to go, Amber called out, "Oh do be safe, you two!"
The two started their walk into town. They walked in a content silence for a while until Draco finally brought up what had been bothering him. "Hermione? What exactly did you mean when you said you had two tickets for Australia?"
"Hermione, what were you thinking? This metal, Muggle death trap will be the end of us!" Draco his under his breath as he struggled to buckle his seat belt. Hermione's amused giggles should have irritated him, but he found them endearing nonetheless. "Honestly, I didn't survive a bloody war to die what will surely be an inevitable death in this strange birdlike contraption!"
"You're such a drama queen, Draco, honestly!" Hermione teased, reaching over to buckle his seat belt for him. She grabbed his shirt and pulled him down to place a kiss to his scarlet cheek. Leaning back in her seat, she grabbed his hand. Feeling the tremors running through it, she gave him a reassuring squeeze. "We're going to be fine, Draco. I've flown loads of times." She knew better than to tell him not to be afraid. That would certainly not go over well.
The boy beside her grumbled some further complaints and criticisms about the plane but otherwise remained quiet. Hermione knew the delay was only increasing his anxiety and wished she could ease it. "I still can't believe you convinced me to do this," he said in disbelief. She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.
"You must like me or something," she joked happily. Draco looked down at her only to meet her wild curls. In a low murmur, he agreed, "Or something."
"I bet my ancestors are all rolling over in their graves right now," Draco mused thoughtfully. Hermione sat up and caught the look on his face. "What a little pureblood rebel you've become, Draco Malfoy."
With a brilliant smile, he said, "And it feels damn good."
His confidence was lost seconds later when the plane lurched into motion. His already pale face turned deathly white as the plane sped down the runway. Hermione put a hand on his chest and felt his heart racing a mile a minute. Love for his willingness to do things the Muggle way for her made her beam. Without warning, she grabbed her face in his hands and pulled him into a heated kiss.
When she finally pulled away, loving the dazed expression on his usually stoic face, Hermione whispered his name. She pulled him across her and said, "Look out the window, Draco."
Willing to do anything the gorgeous witch said, Draco did just that. He couldn't bit back the audible gasp that escaped his lips. London was just a tiny spec of land. His view of the earth below was skewed by the monstrous white clouds that littered the sky. Even when he went higher than he ever should have dared on his broom brought him nowhere near this height. It was glorious.
Hermione ran her fingers through his hair absently as they stared out the window together.
Draco's awe soon faded once he realized that all he was going to be seeing for the next few hours was a thick, white blanket of clouds. "Okay, I'm bored now."
"Draco," Hermione admonished, "It's only been an hour!"
"An hour? If we'd just taken a portkey we would already be there, Granger!" he cried in a hushed tone. She raised a threatening eyebrow at him. "Don't you Granger me. I told you, I want a break from magic. And this is good for you, learning more about my world. Let's just watch a movie for now."
He gave her a blank look.
"What?" she questioned, "Are you too good for movies now?"
Draco shook his head slowly. When asked what he wanted to watch, he just told her to pick something she liked. He watched curiously as she took the white cord that was plugged into the arm rest and tucked it in her ear. While she searched, he hesitantly put the other one in his ear.
"Oh, this is my favorite, Draco!" she cried delightedly. Merlin, he would never get tired of that smile. She tugged him over to her, tucking their heads together to watch the small box on the back of the seat in front of them. "Don't you just love the Princess Bride?"
Hermione frowned in confusion when Draco suddenly jerked away from her. She winced when the ear bud was yanked out of her ear. "Ow, Draco, what was that for?" she complained, rubbing her sore ear. When he didn't immediately respond, she turned to see what the matter was.
Draco was pressed back against his seat. His knuckles were white from clutching the arm rests so tightly. His silver eyes were wide in shock and his face searched hers for answers.
"What is your problem?" Hermione was questioning his sanity a little. He sputtered before he finally manage to string together a sentence. "It was-it was like a photograph. But with sound!"
Hermione gave him a strange look. "Yes, a movie." When he leaned forward to study the screen with an amazed awe, it finally clicked. "Draco. You can't be telling me that you had no idea what a movie was, right?"
Now, the brilliant witch had witnessed more of Draco's emotions and expressions than anyone else, but even she had not seen him embarrassed before. His cheeks were tinged with a rosy pink and he avoided her curious gaze. "Merlin, you are!"
Annoyed now, Draco scowled at her incredulity. "Forgive me, Granger, for not being enlightened on the workings of the Muggle world." He softened when he felt her hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. With me by your side, you'll be enlightened right quick. Now put this back in. They're called headphones. And we're going to watch one of my favorite movies, okay?"
"If we must," Draco sighed to mask his excitement. Hermione rolled her eyes. He was already flying in an airplane, and he was trying not to show how interested he was in watching a movie. Typical boy.
"Thank, Merlin! I thought we'd never be off that contraption!" Draco exclaimed in relief when the couple stepped into the terminal. Hermione poked the whiney boy in the ribs before strolling off to collect their luggage. He had been less than impressed when she explained that he couldn't just magic his belongings to fit in a small bag like she had while on the run. Something about traveling with no baggage looking suspicious. He was a wizard on an airplane, of course he'd seem suspicious.
"Alright, our bags will be coming from there. Once we've got them we'll have to go through custom," Hermione explained patiently as she waited for her purple suitcase to appear. Draco nodded in understanding. "Then what?" He gave her hand a comforting squeeze when she nervously answered, "I haven't the slightest clue."
"Remember, love, I'm like a bagillionaire. I'll worry about the expenses. You just worry about finding your parents, deal?" His voice held his old haughty tone but with a loving nature behind it. Hermione beamed up at him. "I knew I brought you along for some reason."
"And here I thought she liked me for me. Should've known all she really wants is the money," Draco teased the witch. She shot him a glare before going to retrieve her bag. He trailed after her in a sleep deprived daze. He didn't dare think about how long he had been on that metal bird thing.
An hour later they found themselves outside the door of their hotel room for the night. Suddenly realizing the reality of their quest, the two grew nervous. The butterflies in their stomachs fluttered anxiously when the room revealed only one bed. The idea of sharing a bed wasn't so terrible to them, but it made everything so much more serious. They had survived a war to be together. Now they just had to figure out what exactly being together meant.
"I'll sleep on the floor," Draco offered quickly. Hermione bit her bottom lip only to drive Draco a little crazy. "No, that's silly. We can share the bed obviously. Just…no funny stuff. Not yet, anyway."
Draco agreed readily. They had all the time in the world now. There was no need to rush anything.
When they finally fell into bed, Draco had planned on giving her space, though he desperately wanted to be as close as possible. He needn't have warred with himself. As soon as she turned out the lights, she snuggled right up to him. With a content sigh, he wrapped an arm around her.
"I don't know where to even begin, Draco. But I know I'm the happiest girl in the world for having you with me," Hermione voiced into the dark. He was glad the darkness hid his goofily pleased grin. "We'll worry about that in the morning, alright. Now get some sleep. This jetlag business is simply dreadful. I can't believe that you convinced a Malfoy onto an airplane! A Malfoy on the craziest bloody invention the Muggles could dare dream up!"
"Shut it, would you?" Hermione scolded playfully. "We both know you loved it, disgracing all previous Malfoys. Draco, my little rebel."
"Okay, maybe I loved the idea of it, but not the actual being on a plane," Draco grumbled. "I mean, how you could even think it was a good-"
He was promptly silenced by Hermione's lips on his. Just as he got into it, Hermione pulled away. "There. Now shut your sassy mouth and let me sleep, would you?"
Like a properly chastised little boy, Draco sulked and mumbled a reluctant, "Fine."
A/N: Draco was on a plane! Guess there really was a snake on the plane ;) Anyway, hope you enjoyed it! Please leave a review to let me know if you did!
