Authors Note: Does anybody read these? Anyway, thanks for the reviews you lovely people, hope you enjoy this! It's a bit fluffier, but some of you were asking for it and I was in the mood to write it, I hope it meets your expectations.
Why is it that when one man builds a wall, the next man immediately needs to know what's on the other side?
- George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones.
Draco Malfoy's cheek was warm and soft, and Hermione's lips were still tingling. It had been five days since their lunch with Astoria Greengrass and Ronald Weasley, and Hermione was now sitting in her office pretending to do work. She had only seen Draco twice since she bid him goodbye in the elevator; Monday afternoon, and Tuesday morning. It was now Thursday, twelve thirty two pm to be exact. Deciding it was time to go finish for the day; Hermione rose from her desk, grabbed her bag, and made her way to the small coffee house on the corner of her workplace.
After ordering a salad wrap, Hermione sat next to a small table, tucked away in the corner of the store. When her food arrived she pulled a book from her bag and began reading.
"Hello, Granger." A pair of familiar grey eyes met her own, and Draco Malfoy pulled out the chair opposite her before popping the plastic container from his sandwich.
"Draco, good afternoon." She smiled slightly, before looking down and snapping her book shut.
Hermione tucked her book away and waited for Draco to speak.
"How's your week been?" He asked, melting into his chair and taking a bite of his food.
"Fine. I arranged a photo shoot for Astoria and Ronald, we don't have to be present, and Celia is taking care of all of that. Have you finished the article?" She began stirring her drink, before popping the straw in her mouth and taking a sip.
"Finished, it'll be on your desk by tomorrow." Said Draco, staring hard at the straw in her mouth, watching the way her cheeks sink in and her mouth wraps around it.
Smiling, Hermione picks at her food, "Excellent!"
The couple sat quietly while they finished their meals, occasionally stealing glances and grinning under their eyelashes. Hermione felt Draco's leg brush against hers, and she relished the touch, leaning in slightly.
"Do you have anything left to do today?" Asked Hermione, standing from the table and putting on her coat.
"Nothing," He replied, "But I better get back to the office. My boss is a real pain in the ass; she won't like it if I'm late." Draco winked at Hermione, and she laughed.
"That's not nice!" Hermione whined, as the pair made their way out the front door.
"Fire me." He says, smirking.
"Don't tempt me, Mr Malfoy." She said pulling the most serious expression she could.
Draco just laughed at this, and the two walked together down the street.
Hermione watched Draco's hand swing by his sides, and she found herself itching to reach for it. She wondered if his hands would be soft, or strong, or both.
"Something wrong?" Asked Draco, lifting his arm up for inspection.
Hermione blushed, "Sorry."
The couple came to a halt outside the doors of Witch Weekly, and Draco turned to face Hermione.
"You coming in?" He asked, smirking.
Hermione shook her head, "Thursday's a half day, remember?"
"Your job has its perks." He smiled.
As Draco turned away, Hermione shook her head as an idea came to her.
"Draco!" She took a step toward him.
He turned around and looked at her, "Yes, Granger?"
"I'm your boss, so if I told you to take the rest of the day off, you'd have to. Right?"
A small smile played on Draco's lips as he nodded his head.
"Okay then, I'm ordering you to not go into work for the rest of the day." She crossed her arms and nodded her head.
"Whatever you say, boss." Draco winked before walking back over next to her. The two began walking down the street and ended up out the front of a small ice-cream parlour.
"Can we go get some?" Draco's eyes lit up and he reached for his wallet.
"Draco, it's freezing!" Hermione said, firmly.
"Don't be a sook, come on Granger." Draco took Hermione's hand and walked her inside the store. Hermione was watching his hand against her own; it was soft and strong, exactly as she imagined.
Hermione had no idea why she was so keen to spend time with Draco Malfoy, he was the opposite of every man she'd ever been attracted to, but a small part of her was telling her that was a good thing. She gripped his hand tighter and let out a small laugh, frowning when he let it go to choose his ice-cream.
"Granger, what flavour do you want?" Draco asked, shaking her slightly.
"What?" She said, her eyes snapping up to meet his.
"What flavour of ice-cream do you want?" He asked slowly, smirking.
"Um, butterscotch." She said, watching Draco repeat her order to the plump saleswoman.
Draco soon handed her the ice-cream, and she pulled on her bag.
"How much did it cost?" She asked, rummaging for her purse.
"It was free." He shrugged.
"Malfoy, how much do I owe you?" She huffed.
"Granger, you gave me the afternoon off, it's the least I can do to buy you a simple ice-cream. If you really feel that bad, I'll find a way for you to repay me later." He winked.
They sat down on a small park bench, and Hermione flicked her tongue and licked the icy treat. She moaned when she tasted the butterscotch in her mouth, relishing in the sugary snack that she so rarely let herself indulge in.
Draco stiffened at her moan, gulping hard. Hermione looked at him from the corner of her eye and shrugged it off, concluding that Draco was simply cold.
They talked amongst themselves for about thirty minutes after they finished their ice-cream, and Hermione realized just how freezing she was. She suggested they make their way back to the apartment block.
They walked side by side, frowning when they reached the city square. It was packed. Witches and wizards were bustling through stores, weaving their way through the herds of shoppers. Thursday afternoon was late-night-shopping in Hogsmede, and Hermione knew she was sure to lose Draco in the sea of passers-by.
Suddenly, a familiar hand threaded through hers and she was tugged into the crowd. She gripped Draco's hand firm, and apologized to anyone she bumped in to while making her way across the stretch. When they turned into an alleyway, Draco pulled her against the brick walls, until they reached an opening; a side street that wasn't far from her apartment. She recognized the green and yellow buildings from her balcony and the two began walking down it. Draco carefully detached his hand from her own.
"Sorry about grabbing you like that, some people are bloody insane. It was like herding cattle out there." Draco said, smiling.
Hermione only nodded in agreement, stuffing her hand into her pocket to make up for the lack of heat from Draco's own.
When they reached the apartments, Draco stayed with Hermione until she was facing her door. After jimmying with the lock slightly, the door swung open and she turned toward the blonde man, smiling.
"You seem to be spending an awful lot of time around my doorway recently." She smirked, earning a chuckle from Draco.
"I hope you don't mind." He said, playfully.
"Not at all." She winked.
Draco took a step closer, watching Hermione blush under her porcelain skin. This time, when Draco leaned in, Hermione didn't move away, she didn't try to shake his hand, and she didn't dare speak. When there were only centimetres between the couple, Hermione's head began to spin fast. Draco smiled softy before closing the gap.
That's when his lips met hers.