The Plan

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Too bad.

Chapter 10

The days went by slowly for Draco and Hermione despite the enormous amount of time they spent planning. They still had a few months to iron things out for the Graduation Ball, but things were no longer that hectic. All of Hermione's thoughts were consumed by planning and party details that when she saw the parcels on the foot of her bed on Christmas morning, she jumped in surprise and ran down the stairs to check if she mailed Harry and Ron's Christmas gifts that were sitting on the coffee table in front of the fireplace.

She was in such a confused state that she didn't notice the tall blonde standing by their small kitchen counter, his eyebrow raised and his lips quirked up to one side in silent amusement, pausing in the middle of pouring himself a cup of tea.

"Not a morning person after all, Hermione?"

Hermione jumped and turned towards the sound of the voice that startled her. Draco had a small smile on his face as he drunk his tea. He looked away suddenly, his gaze now directed toward something outside the window, his tea cup raised to his lips again. "Throw on a robe before you catch a chill, Hermione."

Hermione glanced down and blushed scarlet; of all the nights to wear the silk teddy her mother got her from Victoria's Secret. She pivoted on her heel and rushed out of the room and back up the stairs to her bedroom.

She missed the pink tinge on the young blonde's cheek as he continued to look out the window, drinking his tea, trying to get a surprisingly sensual image of a silk clad brunette out of his head.

"So what was with the panic attack this morning?"

Hermione blushed scarlet again at the remembrance of her "exhibition" that morning and almost choked on her salad. "I was just checking if I managed to send out Harry and Ron's presents. There's just been a lot going lately with the planning…" And the unusual sensitivity I've been having regarding your presence…

When she finally managed to pluck up enough courage to look through her hair, she saw Draco looking at her with a stare she couldn't really understand. She found herself staring at his eyes and she quickly averted her gaze. "Hmmm…" was all he replied to her stuttering explanation. She found his previous gaze a little unnerving… was it speculation? Hunger? She couldn't quite reconcile it with a name.

"So... I'm leaving this afternoon for the Manor. Would you like to accompany me?"

"The Manor?"

Draco cocked his head to the side in thought, "Well, it's hardly a manor house now. It's more of a really big house, with a really big garden, and a small man-made lake and a small patch of forest . Just reflex, I guess, me still calling it that."

Hermione found herself smiling despite the rolling of her eyes; never in a million years did she imagine that the day would arrive when Draco Malfoy would amuse her. When she returned her gaze back to his face, he was still waiting for her response to his inquiry.

"I'm not sure, Draco. That's a bit of a personal moment isn't it? Are you sure you want to share it with… you know… me?"

He shrugged and played with lettuce on his salad, "I guess I just want some company." Hermione saw a shadow cross his face before he looked up again, his lopsided smile on his lips and added, "Oh, and wide open spaces scare me now."

Must have imagined it, Hermione shrugged inwardly. She laughed softly and speared a couple of the cucumbers that Draco was setting aside on his plate. "I'd like that."

"Good," Draco replied as he looked at her munching on a cucumber slice. "By the way, didn't your mother ever teach you not to pick off food on someone else's plate?"

"Didn't your mother teach you shouldn't be picky with your food?"

"I was born wealthy. I can afford to be picky."

Hermione grimaced, "You're a brat, Draco Malfoy."

"The original," he replied with a wink.

"So? What do you think?"

Hermione shielded her eyes to take another look at the breathtaking landscape in front of her. Instead of bringing her straight to the manor house grounds, Draco had taken her to the small hill beside it, where she could view the whole property.

Aside from its impressive size, the grounds were completely different from what they were before. From its former morbid and gloomy aura, it was now bright and welcoming. The new manor house was a bit smaller than the former, with a more modern Victorian architectural design. The grounds were neat and sprawling, with a small patch of forest and crystalline lake serving as a picturesque background to the manor.

"It's beautiful, Draco. Truly. I would love to live in a house like that."

Draco looked at her in surprise. "Except it would take me days to keep it clean," Hermione laughed nervously, trying to cover up for her previous statement. I should really start thinking more about what I say. Except I seem to lose all thought when I'm around him, Hermione thought to herself. She stole a stealthy glance at Draco, but he was staring at the grounds before him, a small smile on his lips.

When he suddenly looked back at her, a full blown smile on his lips, she was slightly taken aback. It was as if she had never seen him smile before. Maybe because she hasn't. Not like this. It was the first time she had ever seen him smile so warmly, so openly. So when he held out his hand to lead her down the hill, a smile formed on her lips as well. And it stayed there for the whole afternoon, much as their hands stayed entwined.