Title: The Flatmate

Author: silveris

Rating: R

Warnings: Not HBP-compatible

Genre(s): Post-Hogwarts, slight humor

Summary: Blaise and Hermione are flatmates. Blaise and Draco are best buds. One night, the flat gets burglarized just as Blaise, Harry, and Ron are leaving for Italy. They can't leave Hermione to fend for herself, so Draco suggests she go with him on his three-day vacation to Scotland.

OOO

Chapter Ten – Morning After

Hermione woke up with a ringing in her head. Her arms felt heavy and she couldn't move her legs. She felt something stuck in her throat but when she swallowed, she realized it was just the dryness.

She sat up and rubbed her head, groaning.

Then she saw that she was wearing nothing but her brassiere and knickers. She never slept in her underwear.

A hazy flashback played in her mind. It wasn't clear but she got the idea. She remembered drinking in the bar, bright lights, Pansy with a martini, the beach, holding Draco's hand…

Draco…

She remembered him enter her bedroom. Then he took his shirt off. The last thing she could make out of the memory was him looking down at her with his silver eyes with an unknown emotion reflected in them. She felt a light feeling fluttering around her whole body.

She scanned her room. He wasn't there. He wasn't on her bed. Was it just a dream? What kind of dream was that? It seemed so real. And why was she in her underwear?

Slowly, she slid off the bed and went to the closet to rummage around for a simple shirt and shorts to dress. She crossed the room and went out, making her way towards the young man's quarters.

What was she going to do if he opened the door? She gulped then knocked.

There was no answer. She knocked again, but still no answer.

"Where could he be?" she wondered aloud. Then she thought of the patio. Quickly, she strode over to the glass doors by the living room, and indeed, he was there. He was leaning back on his chair. He had dark sunglasses on (she recognized it as Blaise's) and was looking up at the sky. He didn't see her follow him outside.

When Draco heard the scraping of chair legs against stone, he sat up straight and turned towards Hermione who had taken the seat across him by the table.

She knew he was looking at her even though he still had the glasses on, and somehow it intimidated her.

"Er—good morning," she greeted.

He seemed shocked at her greeting. He cocked his head back a bit and it looked like he was studying her face before he nodded and returned her greeting.

"So, where're we going today?" she continued slowly. She inspected her fingernails for dirt. There was none, but she kept on staring at them interestedly.

"Uh, I was thinking we'd go have lunch at Loch Ness Dome. It's a restaurant under the lake," he replied. He sounded like he rehearsed it before. She didn't point that out.

"Oh, okay," she said, bobbing her head a bit.

He didn't speak after that. But he was still looking at her. She felt his gaze penetrate her skull so she tore her attention away from her uninteresting fingernails and unto him.

Unfortunately, it was hard to concentrate on him when he had large black sunglasses on. She could see her reflection, and it wasn't lovely. She had forgotten to comb and her shirt was crumpled.

So she instead turned her attention lower—to his shirt. It was white. It was large. Nothing printed on it. It was boring. Her gaze shifted lower where she could see blue boxers through the glass table.

Then she remembered why she was looking for him.

Swallowing hard again, she started, "Last night, we drank a lot, didn't we?"

He tensed up but nodded.

"Then we came back here?"

Nod.

"But we walked along the beach before that?"

Nod.

"Did something…" she asked, but found that she suddenly lost her words. This was awkward. She gained interest in her nails again.

"Something happened last night," he finished for her.

She was taken back by the sound of his voice that she nearly jumped in her seat.

"What? Pardon me?" she asked, unsure of what she just heard. She looked back at the glasses again.

"Something happened last night between us," he repeated. To her relief (or not), he removed the glasses. She was greeted with the sight of the same silver eyes from her memory. Her legs began to feel jelloid, and her heart skipped a beat.

He seemed unperturbed by what he had just said. He explained for her, "It'll be our secret, if that's how you want it. I mean, it wasn't as if it was planned. It just happened. We were drunk."

Hermione tore her eyes away from his and looked out at the beach. It was so peaceful, unlike the inside of her head. She began to breathe a bit deeper.

"Are you alright?" he asked, peering at her face. She was beginning to pale.

"No," she said honestly.

"Do you want something to drink?"

"No."

"Is it because of last night?"

Obviously. "Yes."

"Is it me?"

She couldn't get herself to answer. If she said yes, she'd be lying. Deep inside, she knew it wasn't his fault. He would've backed out if he saw uncertainty in her. He wasn't the type to abuse the situation. She knew.

If, however, she said no, then she'd be admitting that what transpired last night was perfectly fine, which was not, because she hardly remembered any details.

She chose to avoid the question altogether.

"Do you regret it?" she asked instead.

Surprisingly, he shook his head. She had no answer to that. She was still trying to analyze what he was trying to do to her.

OOO

After an awkwardly silent breakfast of croissants and coffee, Hermione went back to her room to change. Draco said they were going to explore the nearby village. They might also shop for souvenirs.

As she stepped under the shower and allowed the warm water to soak her naked form, she closed her eyes and replayed the scraps of memory from last night.

"How did it all happen?" she asked herself. "Why can't I remember?"

She chastised herself for over-analyzing things. It wasn't as if it was her first time. She had been with Viktor and Cormac. What would make Draco any different?

I can't remember the bloody details, she answered. Was he any good? Was I?

A blush crept to her cheeks at the last thought.

Hermione quickly finished her shower and a few minutes later, she was back in the living room, dressed in a white blouse and blue shorts. Draco was already waiting for her. He was still in his boring white shirt but he had green cotton pants on.

He checked her out for a few seconds, and before she could notice, he headed out towards the door.

OOO

Draco and Hermione had to take the Floo to Loch Ness Dome. They used the grate in the bar and after a few seconds of twirling around with ash, they stepped out into a luxurious hall.

"Wow," Hermione muttered as she looked around. Loch Ness Dome was made out of glass from the dome itself to the floor. She felt a bit uneasy. They were looked like they were floating in middle of the lake in half a bubble. Under the feet, she could see nothing else but water and a few fish. She tapped her foot against the glass floor lightly.

"Don't worry, the glass is sturdy," Draco said, sensing her nervousness. He smiled at her and she smiled back, relieved.

A waiter dressed in black coat and tie approached them. Draco talked to the waiter while Hermione was busy looking around the glass. The waiter then led them to a table near the wall. Draco helped Hermione to her seat as the waiter left to get their food.

"You pre-ordered?" Hermione asked.

"I hope you don't mind. This place is pretty tight. I even had to book ahead so we could get seats," he said sheepishly.

"It's fine. It's beautiful here," she said, looking out towards the wall again. It was all blue with a few schools of colorful (and sometimes weird) fish swimming by.

"Too bad Nessie's not around this time of the year," he said after a while.

"Huh?"

"The Loch Ness Monster. It's Kelpie, did you know that?" he asked.

"Oh, yes. I read that back in first year," she replied, smiling.

"I forgot. You were the bookworm."

She reached out and lightly punched his arm. He chuckled.

"Maybe next time when we come back, it'll swim by," he said.

Hermione nodded slowly. Next time when we come back?

Draco didn't seem to notice what he had just said. He continued to study the group of pink and purple fishes swimming outside. They were forming shapes, the previous one being a heart.

OOO

"Could there be a telephone here?" Hermione asked once they neared the bar. They had just gotten back from Loch Ness Dome. They ate nearly everything in the menu. Draco didn't know what she wanted so he ordered a bit of everything. They were stuffed.

Draco shrugged and said, "We could try inside. Who're you calling?"

"Harry. Just checking up on them," she explained, smiling as they entered the bar and approached the bartender.

The old man smiled at them.

"Hi, do you have a telephone I could use?" Hermione asked.

"Surely," he replied, reaching under the table and extracting a phone.

"Thanks," Hermione said, picking up the receiver and dialing. The bartender nodded and walked to the backroom while wiping a glass with a rag.

Draco strolled over to a table and waited there. She might want some privacy.

There was ringing for a few seconds before the other line picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Harry! Guess who?"

"Hi, Hermione! Guys, it's Hermione!"

Hermione could hear other voices in the background. They were cheering. She smiled.

"Who were those?" she asked.

"The team. Ron says he misses you. We all do."

"Well, I miss you, too. How've you been? Are you busy?"

"We just finished lunch. We're staying over at Blaise's grandmother's villa! She makes the best lasagna!"

There was cheering again and Hermione could faintly hear an old woman's voice.

"How's Scotland?" Harry asked.

"It's…wonderful. We're not done going around yet. Do you want me to get you anything from here?"

Harry's voice sounded far away, "Guys, Hermione asks if there's anything you'd want her to bring back from Scotland!"

Hermione's eyes widened as she heard united yelling of orders from the team.

Harry came back, chuckling. "We'll just send you a list through Hedwig."

"Harry! If you're going to make me lug packages for all of you, you're going to have to bring me back some Zabini-made lasagna."

"Done!" Harry paused, obviously talking to someone beside him. "Hermione, someone wants to talk to you."

"Alright," she said.

"Hello?"

"Blaise?"

"Hi, flatmate!"

"Blaise, I miss you!"

"Me, too. Wish you were here. I told Granny all about you and she really wants to meet you. Italy's great! I miss it here."

"It's wonderful, you're enjoying yourself. Take care of Harry and Ron, alright?"

"Will do. So how's Draco?"

"He's fine. We're walking around, here and there."

"Did he do something bad?"

Hermione's stomach flipped. "W-what?"

"Did he like snore really loud that you can hear him from the other room?"

"No," she said, relieved.

"Good. So, have fun in Scotland. We'll call you later."

"Alright. Bring me something from Italy," she added.

"I won't forget it. I really miss you, bye."

"Miss you, too. Bye."

Then she hung up.

When she turned around to Draco, she was surprised to see him standing just a few steps from her. There was a pained expression on his face. But before she could ask him what was bothering him, he scowled, turned, and walked away, kicking a chair to the side in the process.

OOO

…to be continued

AN: Why not make it NC-17? I would've wanted to, but I'm afraid I'd blotch the story up if I made it NC-17. I've written one, but it's for the DMHG Fic Exchange, and until I receive good reviews from it, I won't be writing NC-17 yet.

Is Pansy Draco in disguise? That had me laughing. But no, Pansy is Pansy, and Draco is his usual handsome heartthrobness…er…

Love you all! Mwahugs to everyone who read and reviewed!