Draco arrived at Hermione's flat on Saturday morning to an empty living room.
"Granger?" he called out. He was momentarily worried that he was in the wrong place, but then he saw a framed picture of Hermione with Potter and Weasley. He walked down the hall to see if he could find her and heard the shower running. He knocked on the bathroom door and chuckled when he heard her yelp in surprise.
"Malfoy? Is that you?" she called out.
He opened the door a crack so she could hear him better, "Yes, it's me."
"Am I running late? Or you early?" she asked.
"I'm early. Have you eaten yet?" he asked.
"Um, not yet. I was going to make some toast before you came over," she said.
Draco rolled his eyes. "Haven't you ever heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day? Toast just won't do. Hurry up, I'll fix you something more substantial," he said, closing the door before she could argue.
Draco went to the kitchen and opened up the fridge. He was actually quite skilled in the kitchen. After the war and before he got into alchemy, he decided that he wanted to learn how to cook. He would watch the house elves and eventually started cooking things for himself. His favorite was breakfast. He grabbed some eggs, butter, cheese, mushrooms, and spinach that she had on hand.
By the time Hermione walked into the kitchen, he was plating her an omelet.
"Well, this is a surprise," she said, sitting down at her little table.
"What, that I can cook?" he asked.
"Well, yes," she said honestly, taking a bite of her food. Her eyes lit up as she ate another bite.
Draco sat across from her, "I only just learned a few years ago how to work my way around a kitchen. I was bored and wanted to learn a life-skill, so to speak. So I took up cooking. It comes in handy when I work long hours in my lab and missed a meal or two. This way when I want something to eat at three in the morning, I don't have to wake any house elves."
Hermione gave him a small smile, "I noticed how much better they were treated then how Dobby was. I take it that was your doing?"
Draco nodded, "Yeah. I never did like how my father treated them. Dobby was mostly his though so he treated him especially horrible. It was no wonder he was actually willing to be set free," Draco said bitterly.
"He was definitely a one-of-a-kind house elf though. The only one I ever met that liked being free. And believe me, I tried talking to other house elves into asking for wages and whatnot and they all fought me on it. It's why I'm not too upset that I'll be living in a place with house elves. As long as they are treated well, which between you and me, they will be."
Draco nodded, "It took forever trying to find a way to give them their new uniforms. They all used to wear tea-towels that they never changed so they were filthy. They won't take clothes so we opted to getting them pillowcases and altered them they can use them as tunics. They also have extra sets so they can wash them as well."
Hermione smiled as she finished her breakfast, "That's nice. And this was delicious. Thank you," she said, taking her plate to the sink to wash really quick.
"You said your parents knew this wasn't your typical wedding right? We don't have to pretend to be a couple in front of them?"
She shook her head, "No, they know the truth. They're not very happy with it, but they're coming around. My mother did perk up at the prospect of a grandchild though."
Draco chuckled, "Yes, my mother is also pretty excited about that."
Hermione dried her hands and looked at Draco, biting her lip, "Is she really ok with it though?"
Draco nodded, standing up, "Yes. She told me a while back that she gave up on the idea of pureblood grandchildren since I had dismissed almost every pureblood witch she threw at me."
Hermione looked at him curiously, leaning against her kitchen counter, "Why did you? Dismiss them I mean."
Draco shrugged, "I didn't find anything in common with them. All they talked about was shopping and gossip and most only wanted to marry me for my wealth. I didn't want a wife like that."
Hermione nodded understandingly, "I know what you mean. Whenever Ron and I broke up and it was on the front cover of the Prophet or Witch Weekly, I would be propositioned by men I've never seen before. They only wanted to date me because I was Harry's friend or because I was one of the 'golden trio'." Hermione rolled her eyes at this.
Draco groaned, "You realize that our.. union, is publicized, right? There was actually an article in the profit today about our engagement."
Hermione nodded, "I know, I saw. I have a friend at the Prophet that I was thinking of inviting ot the wedding, but I wanted to run it by you first. This way, we can let them take pictures of the wedding and write a story. She'll also let us review the story before it's published."
"Who's your friend?" Draco asked.
"Padma Patil," said Hermione.
Draco nodded as Hermione left the kitchen and returned a moment later with her bag. "Are you ready to go?" she asked.
"Yes, though I was wondering if what I was wearing was ok? You know, for being around muggles?" he asked.
Hermione looked him over, noting his black slacks and dark blue button up shirt with its sleeves rolled up a bit. "You look fine. Though they might question why you're wearing long sleeves in the middle of summer. Aren't you hot?" she inquired.
Draco glanced nervously at his left arm then scratched the back of his neck, "Not really, no.
Realization struck and Hermione's cheeks flushed, "Oh. I'm sorry…"
Draco shrugged, "It's alright. It's why I keep it hidden. I don't like it getting any attention."
"Well, if it helps, my parents don't know what it means. If you wished to wear a short-sleeve shirt while visiting them, they'll just assume it's a normal tattoo."
He shook his head, "No, that's ok. It's not something I like to look at," he said flatly.
Hermione nodded, absently rubbing her right arm, "I understand."
Draco watched her rub her arm, noting that the scars on her arm were not visible. "Concealment charm?" he asked.
Hermione looked at her arm and nodded, "Yes. I do it every morning. I barely even realize I do it now, it's just become habit. My parents… they don't know about it and I'd like to keep it that way."
"Alright," he said. "Well, we should probably head over. Do we apparate there or is their place connected to the floo?" he inquired.
"Um, well, actually, I usually just drive there," she said hesitantly.
Draco looked surprised, "In one of those muggle vehicles? You know how to drive one of those things?"
Hermione nodded, "Yes. I got my license right before sixth year."
Draco thought about it for a moment, "Alright."
She widened her eyes in surprise, "Really?"
He shrugged, "Sure, why not? I've ridden in them before, the ones from the Ministry. I'm sure it's the same."
Hermione nodded, "Yes, it is." She gathered her keys off the hook by her front door and opened it. Draco walked out first so that she could close and lock the door behind her. She locked it both by key and by magic, just in case.
"There's no lift in my building, so we'll have to walk down a few flight of stairs to get to the parking garage," she said, as she guided him down the stairwell. "This is a muggle complex so I don't want to risk apparating into the garage incase someone is there."
Draco nodded absently, following her. After a few minutes they were finally on the bottom floor and she opened a door to reveal an underground parking garage. She took out her keys and pressed a button. A car two stalls away beeped. "That's my car," she said.
Draco had to keep himself from rolling his eyes; he had figured that much out on his own. She must be used to Weasley and needing to explain every little thing to him.
Hermione opened the driver's side door and sat down then raised an eyebrow as Draco went to open the back passenger side door. "You can sit up front, you know."
He hesitated at the opened door, then closed it and opened the front passenger side and slid in.
"I've never rode up front before," he said, as he buckled his seat belt.
"Well, I know you're used to luxury and all, but I'm not about to be your chauffeur," she said, as she started the engine and backed out of her spot.
He turned to glare at her and opened his mouth to retort before she laughed, "Relax, Draco, I was only kidding. Lighten up."
Draco sighed and turned his head to look out his window as they drove.
The drive to her parents house was pretty quiet, except for when Hermione would sing under her breath with the radio. He found he didn't quite mind when she did that. After a half hour, she pulled up next to a curb in front of a house and stopped the engine. "Well, we're here," she said.
"Must you always state the obvious," he said as he unbuckled.
Hermione was about to snap something back when he interrupted her, "Relax, Hermione, I was only kidding. Lighten up." He gave her a wink before exiting the vehicle.
She wasn't sure what she was surprised about the most: the fact he used her first name or the fact that he winked at her. She smiled to herself as she got out of her car and led them to the front door of her childhood home.
A/N: I know, I know. Short chapter. Next chapter will be meeting Hermione's parents.
Thanks for all the reviews from yesterday! Looking forward to reading more!