Sorry it's much later than normal. I've had a super busy day. Going to sleep now. Tomorrow's will be up about 6pm EST. Enjoy. Ta ta.
S. White
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Chapter 35 – Easter in the London Penthouse
All in all Hermione was incredibly grateful when she had finished packing her things and stowed her trunk on the train back to London. Set sat with Draco, Dean, Theo, and Megan playing muggle card games the entire ride back. Hermione was feeling more and more nervous as they neared London. It was starting to really sink in that she would be spending the week at Draco's flat. It took a bit of courage to gather Crookshanks and her trunk from the rack and follow Draco off the train. They met up with Ginny as they waved to Dean and Megan and together the three of them found Harry, George, and Mrs. Weasley waiting for her. Harry and George shook Draco's hand as Mrs. Weasley hugged and kissed Hermione and Ginny, and after briefly considering it, she gave Draco a quick hug too.
"I will miss you over the week, Hermione, dear." Mrs. Weasley said warmly.
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley." Hermione said, blushing.
"I don't think you'll have to worry. I suspect we'll be over every day. So long as it's alright with Harry, of course." Draco drawled.
"Yes, yes, and don't bother to knock, okay? Both of you are welcome anytime." Harry said. He and Draco exchanged looks, and Draco coughed. Hermione gave them a questioning look, which both Harry and Draco ignored.
"Yes, what would we do over Easter without our favourite Slytherin to bother?" George said, grinning and clapping Draco on the shoulder.
"Lucky me," Draco drawled with a grin.
"Well, come on, I'm tired." George said, yawning.
"Because you've had such a hard day." Harry said, rolling his eyes.
"I think we'll be seeing you tomorrow." Draco said to Harry as they all left the station.
The three Weasleys and Harry turned at the exit to a Ministry of Magic car waiting for them. The driver got out to help George lever Ginny's trunk into the boot and Harry took the driver's seat.
"I've learned to drive, aren't you proud?" He grinned as the Weasleys piled in, the Ministry driver taking the passenger seat.
"Glad I'm not driving home!" Draco called back as Harry started the car, and Draco slung an arm around Hermione as their friends pulled away. "Maybe I'll learn to drive one of those muggle contraptions. They look interesting. This way, Hermione, we get to apparate."
He steered Hermione into an alley as she laughed at the mental picture of Draco, the "Slytherin prince" driving a muggle car. Actually, depending on the type of car, it could be quite sexy. Hermione would be willing to bet Draco would only drive one of those sleek, expensive cars. They were in the alley now, and after checking for muggles he pulled her tighter against him and turned on the spot. They were in another dark space, but instead of the alley near King's Cross they seemed to be in the shadow of a block of flats. They walked around into the street and the orange glow of the streetlights and to the front of the tall building where Draco produced a key and unlocked the door. He waved her in first and glanced around the nearly empty street before entering after her and shutting the door behind them.
Hermione followed Draco into the elevator where he hit the button for the top floor and she stood looking out of the back glass wall over the surrounding streets. London was really quite beautiful at night, even if you couldn't see the stars. As they moved higher you could see more and more streets, their outlines shining with orange lights and the headlights of cars on them. She hadn't seen the building from the outside clearly and she was beginning to wonder just how tall it was when they finally stopped, not that she was getting tired of the view.
The doors of the elevator opened into a small lobby in which Draco fiddled with a different key and opened the only door in front of them. He stopped Hermione from following him right away, however, but took out his wand and closed his eyes, waving it carefully. He opened his eyes again, waved his wand once more, lighting the lamps and fire, and then put it away and held out his hand to her. She took it and he pulled her over the threshold and into his flat.
The flat was a modern design, with large windows and open rooms. It was warm from the light of the lamps, and Hermione could see the streets far below through the windows. A fire roared in the fireplace which she wasn't sure would have been possible to have in a normal muggle flat. Of course, he had all green furniture, but it was a pleasant forest green and the walls were a warm tan which complimented the furniture well. Draco gave her a tour, showing her a large kitchen filled with rich colours, a dining room he obviously didn't use, an office with a cauldron in the corner, multiple bedrooms, and the large master bedroom. The entire flat was very large, so large that the bedrooms were on a second floor. The ceilings were all high and each room had huge floor to ceiling windows that Hermione imagined would be beautiful during the day.
Draco left Hermione to unpack in the bedroom, telling her to use the second of the walk-in closets he had. It was a few waves of her wand to send her clothes onto the hangers and after she had left her bag of toiletries in the bathroom she stowed her trunk in the closet too. He had chosen green in here too, with sage green walls, warm wooden furniture and silver silky sheets on a king sized canopied bed. He might be close to being disowned by his parents, but he was certainly still living like royalty. She left the blazer she had been wearing on a chaise lounge in front of the bed and went back down the stairs where she found him throwing a quick dinner together in the kitchen.
"Trust you to pick a gorgeous penthouse when you got your own flat." Hermione said with a smile, leaning against the counter to watch him.
"What can I say? Business is going well?" He grinned back. "I'm really not much of a chef, so you'll have to do with whatever I've got around here. Which, in this case happens to be cereal." He held out a bowl of what looked like Cheerios for her.
She laughed and took it, and they sat at the table in the kitchen and ate. Of course he had a wonderful flat but ate like a bachelor. She wondered what he had eaten all summer; probably bought his meals. She asked him and he laughed, telling her yes, he had bought some of his meals, and sometimes the girls working at Florean's had brought him something and he gave them some ice cream in return.
They continued discussing food until they had finished the cereal and Hermione insisted on taking the bowls and doing the washing. When she had finished he showed her where the bowls were kept and lead her back to the living room. They curled up together on the couch, which was in fact very comfortable. Hermione let the heat from the fire wash over her front as the heat from Draco's chest warmed her back. They continued chatting and Hermione was enjoying the rumbling of his chest every time he spoke.
"Hermione, did you and Ron ever..." He trailed off, but Hermione didn't need him to finish. They had been getting closer to this topic and she wasn't surprised he brought it up.
"No! Um, no, never. Um, you've seen more of me than he ever did." Hermione said, blushing deeply, feeling grateful he had asked when he couldn't see her face.
"May I ask why you're waiting? Not that I think its wrong."
"Well, I want to be in-out of school." She mumbled. She had been about to say she wanted to be in love. "Um and I wanted to be ready, you know? Um, you and um, Pansy-"
"No. Certainly not." He said, and she felt him shudder in disgust.
"Um, why?"
"Waiting for the right person." He said quietly.
They fell into silence for some time. Hermione had been feeling nervous and slightly sick at the thought of Draco with Pansy, but she was now feeling much better. She snuggled up closer against him and his arms tightened around her.
She thought back to what she had been about to say about wanting to be in love. She was glad she had stopped herself, because she very much didn't want to imply that she didn't love him. In fact, she thought she might actually be in love with him. She was so warm and comfortable and feeling so safe and cared about that it was hard to think that she might not be. She loved that stupid drawling grin, she loved that pointed, handsome face, she loved the heart she could feel beating against her back, and she loved the conversations they had. And it was April now, they had basically been together since whenever Slughorn's Christmas Party had been, technically since the new year. Besides that they had spent most of their time together since September.
Hermione was starting to doze off lying there between the comfort and how tired she was. She felt Draco shift and they rose, making their way up to the bedroom. Draco disappeared into the bathroom and Hermione changed quickly into her pajamas in the closet, going into the bathroom once Draco had left it. The smooth, cool sheets felt very welcoming to climb into and she curled up against Draco, beginning to drift off immediately.
"Good night, Hermione." Draco said, kissing the top of her head.
"Good night, Draco."
Hermione had been right about the light. The morning rays of the run glowed through the cream coloured curtains and the silver sheets of the bed shone. Hermione shifted and opened her eyes, but instead of getting up she just laid there, looking around the room and admiring the effect of the light. She looked over at Draco beside her, his face peaceful and the sun glowing on his pale skin. He had gone shirtless to bed and she could see his bare left forearm. She felt a surge of affection for this talented man lying beside her who had come so far in a year in his attitude, maturity, and demeanor, and in his magical skill. He stirred while she watched without opening his eyes and she leaned down and pressed her lips to his.
It took less than a second for him to be kissing her back. His hands curled in her messy hair and slid down her back to her hips where they hovered before finding the skin of her sides. His hands froze when a shiver went down her spine but, suddenly deciding, she began to trail kisses along his jaw and down his neck. She felt his growl of pleasure rumble in his chest and his hands slid higher and higher under her shirt, leaving goosebumps in their wake. His fingers caressed her skin and she couldn't help but let a gasp escape her lips. She allowed him to pull up her shirt, slowly revealing more and more of her stomach. It went over her head, and though she lifted one hand and then the other through the sleeves but she held the fabric against her chest, covering herself.
"Do you want to put it back on?" Draco murmured, his face in her hair, his hands rubbing her bare back. She considered and gathered her courage.
"No. It's just..."
"Yes." He knew without her telling him. This was new to her and she was nervous.
Draco held her against him and rolled over so that she was underneath him. He laid as close as he could without putting his weight on her, one hand tangled in her hair, the other drawing her shirt out from between them, her arms wrapped around his neck. He left a trail of kisses down from her lips to her neck, her collarbone-she gasped in both pleasure and shock.
Draco grinned at her and she knew she must be as red as a strawberry and she had to stop herself covering up again. He kissed her neck and whispered "It's okay" into her ear to reassure her. He gently nibbled her ear, getting another gasp, and then gave her a long kiss. She had one hand pressed tightly on his back, another in his hair as he kissed her. When they parted he pressed his face into the crook of her neck and they laid there together for some time just enjoying the feel of their skin and being with each other. Hermione left him go with reluctance when Draco gave her a wolfish grin, a quick peck on the lips, and rolled off her. He pushed himself off the bed and headed to the bathroom.
"We should probably get over to Harry's soon." He said before he partly closed the bathroom door.
Hermione held her shirt to her chest as she made her way to the closet, picking out an outfit. She found a few bobby pins and a hair tie and pulled her curls back in a messy bun after pulling on a pair of jeans and a nice t-shirt. Draco wasn't out of the bathroom so Hermione threw a sweater on and made her way to the kitchen and made some tea, locating the cereal while it was brewing. Draco finally appeared to find her pouring the tea into a couple of large mugs she had found, two bowls of cereal already on the table. He shook his head in exasperation at her.
"So how is the milk still good?" Hermione said as she set it on the table.
"A spell. I hated having to buy milk any time I popped home for a cup of tea. Maybe we can pick up some food on the way back from Harry's today."
"Sure, but I have to admit, I'm not much of a cook either. Well, I'm not bad, but I'm not fantastic." Hermione admitted.
"That's fine, I can afford a cook." Draco joked, grinning. Hermione hit him over the head with a tea towel.
"Is there a place close we can pick up a few things?" Hermione was looking absently out the window, stirring a few lumps of sugar into her tea.
"I think there's a muggle supermarket up the road. Never been but saw it once."
"Hmm. Well, how far is it to Grimmauld Place? Do you know?"
"Close enough you might even be able to see if from here, I think." Draco said, getting up to stand by the windows, mug of tea in his hand. "I'm really not the best person to ask. I usually just apparate or Floo anywhere I need to go. I've still been avoiding most of muggle London."
"Well, we'll have to get you out there." Hermione said with a smile. He looked very handsome standing there in front of the huge windows in his slacks and shirt, holding the tea she had made. She joined him, hugging him one-armed around the middle.
"I don't know, I heard it can be a dangerous place." He said, only half joking.
"I'm sure I'll be fine, with you to protect me." She said with a smile, turning back to the table and her cereal.
"I meant for me," He said with a grimace, but she just laughed. She fished out the last few pieces of cereal from her bowl and looked absently into the bowl of items he had in the center of the table.
"Draco, why is there a key here?" She said, looking curiously at it.
"I just didn't know what to do with it. Honestly, I don't even know what it's for." He admitted. Hermione picked it up and examined it.
"It looks like a key for the post."
"I think the man who gave me my keys did mention that."
"And you don't know how to get your post?" Hermione said, suppressing a giggle.
"Well, I'm used to getting it by owl." Draco scowled, not liking admitting to not knowing something.
"It's okay, we can get it on the way out. I saw the boxes coming in. Muggles don't use owls, right? They hire people to walk or drive around and deliver it by hand, but since you live in a big building, they put a box for everyone near the entrance. That way everyone can check to see if they have anything easily and the postman doesn't need to enter the secure building or spend excess time going to all the floors." Hermione explained.
"I still think owls are easier." Draco grumbled.
"Oh, they are, but muggles do the best they can." Hermione laughed. "You'd be amazed at some of the things they can do. Maybe I'll get you to watch some movies sometime."
"Movies?" He said with one unimpressed eyebrow raised.
"It's a way of making a picture move without magic, and it's like going to see a play but it's on a screen instead. I'll explain how it's done if we ever watch one." Hermione said with a smile.
"Right, well, in the meantime, are you about ready to go? We should get over to Harry's and get a start on that homework with Ginny." Draco drawled, clearly wanting to move onto topics he understood.
"Sure. I'll be ready in five minutes." She said, kissing him on the top of the head and putting her bowl in the sink to wash later before disappearing toward the bedroom.
In five minutes they both had their bags with their work, the books stowed in Hermione's beaded bag. Draco locked up and they took the long elevator ride down to the lobby. Hermione had the key for the post with her and sure enough there were the rows of boxes set into the wall beside the entrance. She almost laughed; they had even put Draco's name on his.
Hermione wasn't surprised to see the box crammed full. Draco had moved into his flat in July, he had told her, so that meant he had gone nine months now without checking his post. It was good that any legitimate letters had come by owl, or there wouldn't have been room for them. In fact, Hermione was more impressed by the postman than anything else, who had diligently found room for the new items every day.
"Most of it you can get rid of. It'll be flyers, coupons, advertisements, that sort of thing." Hermione said absently as she shuffled through the first of the papers.
Draco watched, occasionally taking a sheet from her hands and reading it. She put any junk into her book bag to get rid of later when there was no chance of being seen by muggles. There was two letters from the man Draco had bought the flat from and three from the company he had bought the furniture from, as well as about a dozen from the local bank. She was stacking these into a neat pile when the elevator dinged and two elder ladies shuffled out.
"Oh, look Abby, there's a handsome young man in the lobby." One said in a carrying whisper to the other.
"You should know him, Jane, dear; he's the man from the top floor. It's nice to see you for once, Mr. Malfoy." Abby said, giving Draco a cheeky smile.
"I hope you are doing well, Mrs. Smithson." Draco said with a short bow.
"Ooo and so polite!" Exclaimed Jane as Hermione giggled. "I'm Mrs. Jane Gibson, Mr. Malfoy. I'm on the fourth floor across from Abby dear."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Gibson. Ah, Mrs. Smithson, Mrs. Gibson, this is Ms. Hermione Granger, a friend of mine from my school." Draco said easily, gesturing to Hermione who smiled widely at the two women.
"Friend, is she?" Mrs. Gibson cackled, elbowing Draco in the stomach. "She's a very pretty friend."
"Thank you, Mrs. Gibson." Hermione said with only a slight blush and a smile.
"Just telling the truth, dearie. Now you two come along whenever you feel like and we'll be happy to have tea. The fourth floor, our names are on the doors, you can't miss it. It's nice to see some young people around. I assume you're back for Easter?"
"Yes, only for the week." Draco said.
"Well, I'm sure it must be nice to get home for a bit. We'll look forward to seeing you around more often when you're finished all this fancy schooling." Mrs. Smithson said happily.
"We'll try and make it for tea at some point this week." Hermione said, ignoring a look from Draco.
"Thank you, dear. It's good to know this young man has a lovely young lady like yourself to do for him." Mrs. Smithson said, patting Hermione's hand as the two ladies hobbled out of the building.
"Do we really have to go for tea with them?" Draco groaned.
"Yes. I think they're sweet. And you should get to know your neighbours." Hermione giggled.
"What did she mean, 'to do for me'? She didn't mean-" Draco grinned, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"No! She means watch out for you. Women as old as they are don't usually think men can take care of themselves without a woman around to make sure they're eating well or doing the laundry or tiding up after themselves, things like that. Or, frankly, just being men and doing silly, man-things." Hermione said with a vague wave of her hand.
"Silly man-things?" Draco repeated with a grin and raised an eyebrow.
"You know what I mean. Anyway, these are the important ones." Hermione said, thumping the letters into his chest and stomping out ahead of him into the street.
Draco caught up to her just outside the building and held out his arm for her to take. They walked a little down the street, passing Mrs. Smithson and Mrs. Gibson ambling along. Mrs. Gibson elbowed her friend and pointed, saying she had known Hermione wasn't just a friend triumphantly. Hermione and Draco just smiled at them and continued walking until they were out of sight of the two women, and then they turned down the first convenient alley. They checked that no one was around and apparated, appearing in the little park across from Number 12, Grimmauld Place. After so long of having to be careful and quiet in the hall, Hermione found it refreshing to simply open the door and call a hello.
"In the kitchen!" Harry called back and Hermione and Draco made their way down. George, Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Kreacher were all there.
"Good morning." Hermione said brightly.
"We figured you two'd be here already." Ginny said, looking with dismay at the work she had already spread in front of her.
"Oh, yes, thank you for reminding me." Hermione said, going to the fire and beginning to feed the flyers and advertisements from Draco's mail in.
"Do we want to know what kept you?" Ron asked cautiously and Draco shot him an angry look.
"We were getting the post. He had rather a lot." Hermione said absently, waving a wad of flyers.
"You didn't know how to get the post?" Ron snorted.
"Hey! You know how muggles get it? Someone has to walk around with it all and deliver it by hand, and in my building I have to use a key to open a box with the post in it." Draco said in a low growl to Ron, who looked horrified.
"That's awful!" He said with feeling. Hermione and Harry shared a look of understanding and rolled their eyes.
"Yes, muggle lessons, today: getting the post; tomorrow: taking tea with the neighbours." Draco said, throwing himself into a chair across from Ginny and pulling some of his books out.
"Tea with the neighbours next?" Harry laughed.
"I still say they're a couple of nice old ladies." Hermione said primly as she sat as well.
Draco groaned and Ron patted him on the shoulder in a comforting manner.
"Well, do it the day after tomorrow, okay? You two are expected here for Easter dinner tomorrow." Harry said with a grin.
"Alright, I think we'll survive waiting."
It took the combined efforts of Ginny, Draco, and Hermione over the entire day to get through most of their homework. Draco had been all for "accidently" throwing the rest in the fire but Hermione wasn't standing for it. She did allow them to take the next day off, since they would be seeing everyone. They stayed for dinner that night at Harry's insistence, though it didn't take much convincing, especially since they knew there was no food at Draco's flat anyway.
They left after dinner with a promise to be back the next day at two and spend some time with the Weasleys, Teddy, and Aunt Andy before dinner. Hermione pulled Harry aside and spoke quietly to him, and the two of them looked at Draco, who was watching them with suspicion, and laughed. At this Draco grabbed her hand and dragged her, still laughing and waving to the others, from the house. He pulled her into a hug and kissed her cheek.
"So, are you going to tell me the joke?" He said quietly.
"Not yet," she said with a smile, held his hands tightly and turned on the spot. They appeared in the shadows at the end of the street where Draco's flat was. It was her turn to pull him forward now, toward the glowing lights of the muggle supermarket. Hermione stopped at the entrance and dug around in her beaded bag, pulling out a few muggle bags and storing them on top of her books.
"Would you like to put your book bag in here?" Hermione said, and Draco handed it over.
"Do we really have to do this?" Draco groaned as she pushed him toward the entrance.
"Yes, just follow my lead and you'll be fine." Hermione said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Merlin's pants, Granger, you're going to be the death of me." He grumbled.
"It's just a grocery store." She laughed.
"Alright, let's get this over with."
Hermione thought he did alright with the automatic sliding door, though he watched it closely, and he looked a little bewildered at all the electric lights, but he strolled along behind her with his hands in his pockets. She doubted any muggle would notice, he walked as easily as if he owned the place, and they would probably just think he was bored and looking around. Hermione wandered between the shelves carrying a little plastic basket and dropping items into it.
"Am I detecting a trend here?" Draco drawled when they were part way through the store.
"Sorry?" Hermione said, turning to him, innocence all over her face.
"Among other the other things, sugar, lard, flour, and...what was it?" He paused, sauntering up and pulling a can out of the basket, reading the label. "Ah, yes 'Cherry pie filling.'"
"Lesson one, getting the muggle post, lesson two is muggle shopping and baking." Hermione said with a bright smile.
"You're joking, right?" Draco groaned.
"Nope," Hermione said, kissing him on the cheek again and continuing down the aisle, almost skipping.
Draco followed a little more glumly now, though he was enjoying the view of Hermione walking in front of him and the way he could see her hips sway in those muggle jeans. She looked back and saw him staring pretty obviously at her behind. She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. He grinned at her but he did saunter forward until he was level with her. They went through the rest of the store, Hermione not letting Draco buy any of the sugary foods in the center aisles, sticking instead to the healthier outer aisles. He did make a few suggestions which surprised her and as the little basket mounded high he took it from her, rolling his eyes as she insisted she could carry it fine. In reality she was a bit grateful; her arm had been starting to protest.
Hermione could tell Draco was getting uncomfortable, now that they had what they wanted and were headed to the front of the store. She took his free arm and put it around her waist, smiling warmly at him. His lips twitched in response but she could see a hint of gratitude in his eyes behind his mask of calm. This way she could steer him without appearing to. She knew he hated feeling ignorant like this, even if it was about muggle habits.
An elderly man left, leaving only a young man with his headphones around his neck in the queue in front of them. He put a plastic divider after his things and Hermione smiled in thanks, moving away from Draco and beginning to empty their basket onto the conveyer. Draco got the idea and held it up for her, and placed it on top of the stack in front of him when it was empty. He grinned his pleasure at picking something up without needing to be told.
The young man whose music they could hear went through the cash and then it was their turn. Draco stuck his hands in his pockets and watched with lazy interest as the cashier rang through their items and Hermione chatted about everyday things like the weather, though he caught a few phrases like "cold front coming in" that he didn't understand. What he was getting a fairly firm grasp on was muggle money and Hermione looked vaguely surprised to see him pull out a few bank notes and pay the cashier as she packed up their purchases. The cashier handed Draco the change and helped Hermione finish packing, Draco taking the bags to spare Hermione having to carry them, though she did manage to grab one before he took it. They left carrying their purchases, Draco leading the way down the street. It was only a few blocks to the flat and Draco was carrying most of the weight so it was easy for Hermione.
"You were great back there." She said with a smile, thinking particularly of his paying with muggle money.
"Thanks. I did have to figure out a little when I bought my furniture and flat, and I did some research on the muggle money my parents have and that." Draco drawled. He was forced to put down the bags at the door and tried to keep Hermione picking them up. Finally, he just handed her his keys and gestured for her to open the door.
Hermione was glad Draco hadn't neglected purchasing a refrigerator, even if he wasn't entirely clear on how it worked. She didn't try to explain it to him. She thought he would be tired very soon of her explanations of muggle life and didn't want to upset him with a barrage of information. Maybe she would find him a couple of books, or just throw him in the deep end, as the muggle saying went. Taking tea with the neighbours would be alright, she was sure. She would be able to smooth over any rough patches and they could tell the ladies they didn't have television or get much news at their school, which was mostly true. They did receive news, just not about the muggle world.
Hermione had gone upstairs to start getting ready for bed and was straightening the t-shirt of Draco's she was sleeping in when Draco entered, carrying a silver tray with a few small cakes they had bought and two glasses of water. He gave her his best dashing smile.
"If you keep this up, sir, I'm going to be inclined to believe you are trying to be charming." Hermione said in a passable imitation of his drawl, shifting her weight to one leg and putting her hands on her hips.
"I know you think I'm charming." He grinned.
"Then perhaps you're trying to charm my knickers off instead." She said as he set the tray on the bed and pecked her on the lips.
"No, of course not." He said, very seriously.
"Really?" She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Really. Vanishing is in the transfiguration school." He drawled with a broad grin.
Hermione launched herself forward and chased Draco around the room, trying to give him a good smack on the arm but she was foiled when he caught her in his arms and they fell together onto the chaise lounge. He managed to pin her arms down so she couldn't try to hit him anymore and kissed her instead. It didn't take long before Hermione was pressing her lips eagerly against his and he released her arms to run his fingers through her hair. He drew back and her eyes opened to stare straight into his, and she gave him a light smack on the back of the head.
"Merlin's beard, woman! Do you enjoy hitting me?"
"Only when you deserve it." She said with a very Malfoy-like smirk.
"I suppose I did, didn't I?" He grinned, and then leaned back down and trailed kisses across her neck. "But it was still worth it."
She laughed as he whispered in her ear. She was secretly pleased that he was able to make those kinds of intelligent jokes. None of the men she had previously dated had made jokes like that, although they were all nice people. But she didn't have time to consider it long as he lifted her and laid her carefully on the bed to avoid spilling the water. The tray was soon moved to the nightstand, and their shirts ended up on the floor.
As Hermione drifted off to sleep, she considered she was getting less and less worried about doing things with Draco. Perhaps it had something to do with getting more comfortable around him without her shirt. The joy of feeling his skin against her naked back or chest was definitely worth any embarrassment it caused her. She was beginning to feel that when the time came, she would be quite ready to give herself over to Draco completely. She pushed her face a little closer to Draco's with a faint smile as she fell asleep.