The wizarding world learns about Hermione and Draco. Ta ta.

S. White

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 36 – Easter Revelations

Hermione gave Draco a kiss on the cheek before she got out of bed the next morning and went into the bathroom. A shower felt wonderful. It was one thing that she really missed in the magical world. She thought she heard Draco moving around in the bathroom and was a little worried he might try and peek in at her, but her worries turned out to be unfounded. When she had dried off, dressed, and carefully pulled back her hair she found him cooking eggs in the kitchen. He set the table and poured a couple glasses of orange juice for them and brought over two plates of eggs and toast. She was actually impressed.

"I'm not completely useless in the kitchen, you know, or with muggle appliances." Draco said with a grin. She blushed but recovered quickly.

"Well, that's good, because you get to help me bake some pies to take to Harry's."

"My favourite." He drawled.

Hermione couldn't help but find his feet with hers, their bare feet touching as they ate. She was a little surprised how at home she felt here. It was so comforting and homey to sit there in Draco's rather grand kitchen with both of them barefooted. Once they had finished Draco cleaned up the dishes while Hermione pulled out everything they would need.

Hermione had been wondering how Draco would be baking, especially after he had managed breakfast that morning. She fished out a copy of a recipe her mother had made up for her. She set him mixing the dry ingredients while she preheated the over and readied everything else, conjuring anything Draco didn't have. She gave all the mixing jobs to him, since she was used to using an electric mixer at her parent's house. She thought he looked very handsome in his white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, holding the bowl and a wooden spoon. He watched her spreading flour on the counter with interest until she tried to dab some on his nose. She rolled out the first crust and then handed the pin to Draco to do the next two.

It didn't take them long working together to have three pies baking in the oven. Draco walked up to her with a mischievous smirk and kissed her, his hand on her cheek. He drew back and tweaked her nose to annoy her when she noticed a large amount of flour there. She whirled around and wiped some off the counter, trying to chase him around the table to get him back. His arms were much longer than hers, however, so instead of retribution she got a little of the flour on his arms and ran straight into him. They fell laughing to a chair, flour all over her shirt, and she gave him a peck and a pat on the cheek. With a flirty smile she jumped out of his reach before he realized she had gotten it all over his face. He grinned at her, stretching out in the chair. He had really won, anyway, she was covered and his skin was pale enough she could barely see the flour.

Finally, she tore her eyes from Draco and left him with instructions for the pies. She went back upstairs, changed, and got the flour off her face and arms, a wide smile on her face the whole time. She picked a deep blue shirt with a white undershirt so she didn't have to button it up all the way and a black pencil skirt. She did what she could with her unruly hair, getting her curls as neat as possible and went down back down to find Draco wearing green oven mitts, carefully lifting the pies from the oven. She bit back a laugh and joined him, examining the golden brown crusts.

"Perfect," she pronounced happily.

"Of course they are; we made them." Draco drawled, making her laugh.

"Well, I had a lot of fun baking with you." She said, smiling at him. He wrapped an arm around her back and kissed her.

"Me too, Hermione."

"Hey!" She wriggled out of his grip and he looked affronted. "Don't get flour on my nice clean shirt." She poked him accusingly in the chest, making him laugh.

"Well, I'll go change if you make a quick lunch so we can get going." Draco said, giving her another quick kiss on the cheek.

"Won't we be a bit early?" She said with an amused smile.

"If I can't be fashionably late, I like to be fashionably early. That and we need to stop by Florean's to pick up some ice cream to go with the pies." He drawled as he disappeared up the stairs.

Hermione put together something for lunch and cleaned up the kitchen with a few waves of her wand as the pies cooled. Draco returned looking handsome as ever in another white shirt and after their quick meal Hermione conjured some boxes for the pies and they packed them carefully. She insisted on apparating from outside the building so that the muggles would see them leave, and sure enough they met Mrs. Gibson and Mrs. Smithson in the elevator again. At their invitation Hermione promised they would be there for tea the next day. The ladies' relatives were waiting for them outside the main door and Draco and Hermione lingered until they were out of sight before they slipped down the alley and apparated.

They appeared near Florean's and Hermione waited just inside the door as Draco was handed a stack of paper as well as multiple boxes of ice cream. Hermione stood, feeling a little awkward, with the pies in a bag at her side, and she noticed as Draco leafed through the pages the girls working there were suppressing giggles and frequently glancing at her.

"What, pray tell, is so funny?" Draco growled without looking up.

"Um, nothing, sir." One of them managed, but their eyes flicked to Hermione again.

"What is so interesting about my being here with my good friend today, especially since we are on our way to Potter's for dinner right now?" He said in a dangerously low voice.

"Nothing, sir. Perfectly ordinary." They said, looking a little worried now, as though he might curse them, or worse, fire them.

Hermione left the shop with Draco feeling a little less happy than she had when they entered it, but she was cheered soon after by the sight of Grimmauld Place. She thought, from the squeeze Draco gave her hand before he let go of it that he was too. They knocked and entered, going straight down to the kitchen, where they found everyone there, already joined by Angelina, Aunt Andy, and Teddy.

Hermione took the ice cream and pies so that Draco could go straight to his cousin. The entire group watched as the bubbling, grinning child ambled to Draco and he lifted the boy, throwing him in the air and catching him a few times by way of a hello. Angelina was the only one that was really shocked when Draco leaned over to kiss his aunt's cheek, though Hermione thought she was really the only one now used to these shows of affection.

"Did you get him to do it then?" Harry asked with a grin, nodding toward the boxes she was giving to Kreacher.

"Yes," Hermione said with a smile. "Three homemade cherry pies. It went very well."

"Yes, lesson one, muggle post. Lesson two, muggle baking. Lesson three, taking tea with the muggle neighbours has been postponed until tomorrow. We stopped for some ice cream too." Draco drawled, but winced as Teddy pulled a handful of his hair, the little boy's hair turning white blonde at the same time.

"Um, have you guys seen the paper this morning, by any chance?" Ginny said, cautiously. She was clutching the Prophet and Hermione felt her spirits drop. She had been having too much fun the last two days to even think about the news, but she had had a bad feeling since the girls' giggling at Florean's.

"I paid the owl for it but we left it on the table. Didn't even unroll it. Why? Should we have seen it?" Draco said, handing Teddy back to his grandmother.

Ginny didn't respond, just spreading the paper on the table for them to read. Hermione gave a gasp of horror as she saw the headline:

DRACO MALFOY AND HERMIONE GRANGER, DATING

The Former Death Eater and the Golden Girl, one of Harry Potter's Best Friends are in a ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP, Hogwarts students say.

By Rita Skeeter

They have been enemies since they met during their first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, yet sources at the school say that Malfoy and Granger have been practically inseparable since returning to complete their education. Now the Prophet can exclusively reveal that the two have been a pair since Valentine's Day, if not longer, and have been concealing it from the rest of the wizarding world. It is rumored to be of a serious nature, however, as an eyewitness at Hogwarts testifies. The student reports seeing Malfoy threaten to curse a fellow student who made insinuations about Granger. There is no word yet on how Granger's two exes and close friends, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, are taking the news, or how the senior Malfoys are dealing with their son's muggleborn love interest. Continued on Page 4.

Hermione stopped reading, feeling a little sick. Skeeter, again, of course. There was no way that horrible woman would miss a chance to attack Hermione in some way. She put a hand on Harry's shoulder to steady herself as she stared blankly at the newspaper.

"It was really only a matter of time until they found out, Hermione." Ginny said in a consoling tone.

"That explains what your employees at Florean's were laughing at." Hermione said quietly to Draco.

"Yes. So how are you taking the news, Potter, Weasley? Devastated and heartbroken, I expect." Draco drawled. Everyone laughed, even Ron.

"Oh yes," Harry said with a grin. "I reckon I'll have to have words with Hermione about her life choices soon."

"Skeeter really likes to twist everything to try and make Hermione look bad." Ron growled angrily.

"Well, if she gets too bad I'll send her an owl saying we'll both always be carrying a can of muggle bug spray." Draco drawled, and everyone except Aunt Andy and Angelina burst into a roar of laughter.

"Bug spray?" Angelina said, confused.

"Remember in our sixth year, when Skeeter was writing all those nasty stories about Hermione, Harry, and Hagrid?" George explained. "Well, turns out she doesn't just act like an insect, she's an unregistered animagus."

"She turns into a green beetle." Hermione said. "She has the same markings as her glasses."

"It's just good that we're spending most of our time in some of the most secure wizarding dwellings in Britain. That and I'm pretty sure they don't know where I live yet." Draco drawled. "She's hit on at least one real question here, though."

"What's that?" Ron frowned.

"This," Draco said, stabbing the paper with a finger on the mention of his parents. "If I haven't been written out of the will yet, I'll be surprised. In fact I'm surprised we didn't see mother this morning. She'll probably be there this afternoon or evening though."

It hit Hermione with a sudden force that she was a muggleborn seeing the only son of the family who valued blood purity possibly more than any other. She sunk into the chair beside Harry's and put her head in her hands. She felt Harry's arm wrap around her back and Draco took one of her hands, squeezing it reassuringly. She had tears in her eyes when she looked up at him and their eyes met.

She had been filled with some vague fears that he would leave her to save his place with his family, but they were forgotten as she looked into those silver eyes. They were filled with such warmth it almost shocked her. For the first time it struck her that he might actually love her. He was smiling at her and she mustered her courage and smiled back. There was a tug on her skirt and Teddy was staring up at her with wide eyed concern. She laughed and picked him up, breaking the tension that had settled in the room as she wiped away her tears, cooed and tickled him, making him burst into a fit of giggles.

"It had to come out sometime, Hermione. We just have to make the best of it. We do still have a secret, Skeeter avoiding weapon." Draco said with a grin, rubbing his thumb on the back of her hand.

"We do?" Hermione said with surprise.

"Yes," Draco said, rolling his eyes, "Sometimes I can't believe you, woman. You can turn into a cat, I can turn into a wolf."

"Oh! Yes. I suppose we'll have to be careful about that, though. Theo figured it out, it might not take long for someone else to discover it. At least our names aren't on the registry."

"Yes, mum." Draco said with a grin, and automatically dodged her attempt to hit him.

"You don't seem that upset about this, Draco." Ginny said.

"Oh, he's probably enjoying it." Hermione said with a glare that was only half mocking at Draco, who was grinning and leaning back in his chair.

"Hey, let me enjoy the fact that, for once, I am getting more attention than Harry Potter and for something good too." He said, closing his eyes as if he was relishing the thought.

"You can have it, mate." Harry snorted. "I certainly never wanted it."

"Well, at the very least this should take a little of the attention off you, Harry." Hermione sighed.

"Until they come to ask me how I'm taking the news." Harry said with a humourless laugh.

"They'll forget soon." Ginny said confidently.

"Yes, I'm sure everyone's starved for a bit of fun gossip too. There hasn't really been any since Voldemort returned." Draco said with a shrug. Harry looked over sharply when he heard the name, and Hermione met his eyes. He seemed to be impressed. Hermione looked down at Teddy in her lap. He still had his cousin's shade of white blonde hair and she smoothed it back lovingly, making him babble in appreciation.

"I can't believe it's been a year." She said.

"Yeah. It's too bad, we're going to have a little party for him in a couple weeks." Harry said, allowing the little boy to get an iron grip on his finger.

"His birthday?" Draco said, sitting up with interest.

"Yeah, it's in two weeks. Two weeks on Thursday, to be specific." Harry said.

"Okay, thanks." Draco said.

"When's your birthday, Draco?" Ginny piped up with a mischievous grin. Draco opened his mouth, and then closed it, looking suspiciously at Ginny.

"Why?"

"Oh, I thought you might like a little party like Teddy's." Ginny said, grinning.

"We could make you cupcakes with little pink baby snakes on each one." Hermione volunteered.

"And pink banners and streamers with 'Happy Birthday Sweetie Dracikins' on them." George said solemnly, closing his eyes and spreading his arms, dramatically imagining it all there. Draco was wearing a look of pure horror.

"You do, and I will never come inside this house again." He growled, jabbing his finger down on the wood of the table.

"Of course we wouldn't." Hermione said, putting Teddy in his lap and wrapping her arms around him from behind his chair. "We'd do it in green." She said in his ear. Draco almost upset Teddy but he just managed to stop himself from jumping to his feet in protest.

Everyone laughed; Hermione hugged him tightly as to keep from falling, she was laughing so hard. Still, as annoyed as he was, Draco did enjoy the fact that the entire room was laughing with him. For the first time in his life he had friends. Proper friends, not those morons he had called friends before, Blaise and Theo excluded, of course. His parents could stuff themselves, he liked this new life. He even thought he might try and have Christmas or Easter at his flat next year, but he had gotten used to living a day at a time and that was what he was going to continue to do.

The other guests began to arrive and Hermione chatted away happily while Draco tickled his cousin who squirmed on his lap. When Mr. and Mrs. Weasley appeared with Percy and Penelope Clearwater in tow, Kreacher shooed them all out. They made their way up to the drawing room where they all talked amiably.

Hermione had been nervous about meeting Ron's girlfriend in spite of herself but Ms. Ashley Johnson turned out to be perfectly amiable. She worked at the Ministry of Magic in a different department but it turned out they had been running into each other during their lunch breaks quite often. She was from America and working as a link between the two Ministries. She was the same age as Ron and Harry were and had not been in England long, especially not long enough for her accent to have altered at all. Hermione was fascinated by the comparisons between the wizarding communities in America and England. For one there seemed to be a lot more all-magical settlements in America, simply because there was so much more land. They talked until Kreacher called them all down for dinner and then they followed behind everyone else down the stairs.

"Honestly, Hermione, I was a tad worried to meet you today, being Ron's ex and all." Ashley admitted with a grin.

"Oh please, don't worry about it. We really only went on a few dates and it wasn't really working." Hermione said, blushing with embarrassment. "I was a bit worried too, though, honestly."

The two girls smiled at each other and parted to find their seats at the table. Hermione had been placed between Draco and Harry again. Draco gave her a reassuring smile as she sat and put one of his hands on hers, Teddy having a grip on the other. Hermione returned it and had a wonderful evening, despite her fears and worries. Ashley was nice and well liked by everyone, and Hermione was relieved that Ron wasn't angry about her and Draco. The food was excellent as always and the pies they had baked that morning went over excellently, and Draco grinned with pride. When they leaned back with their tea they all felt full and happy, even Teddy looked pleased as his grandmother wiped cherry pie filling off his face. Hermione wanted to ask Harry and Ron about their jobs and the werewolf attacks, but she decided that this was not the time. She wanted this day to be completely happy, and not spoiled with talk of dark and dangerous things.

It felt like no time before it was getting late and the few visitors were beginning to leave. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were staying, as was Aunt Andy and Teddy, but everyone else was leaving. Hermione smiled and hugged everyone, including Ashley, who looked relieved and hugged her back. Hermione was able to pull Ron aside while they were in the hall.

"Ron, I'm really sorry about not telling you. About Draco. I should have told you a while ago before you found out from the paper." She said, turning red.

"It's okay, 'Mione. I figured it out myself, especially from what Harry and Ginny were saying. Then you staying with him this week was kind of a big giveaway." Ron said, grinning awkwardly.

"Thanks, Ron. I really hope things go well with you and Ashley. She's really nice." Hermione said with a smile.

"Thanks, 'Mione. Same for you and Draco. He's really different now."

Hermione smiled and hugged him before they returned to the kitchen. It was so nice to not have to worry anymore about Ron's reaction or having to keep this hidden from him. Draco was with Aunt Andy putting Teddy to bed, and Hermione smiled warmly at him when he returned. She hugged those staying, and Draco shook their hands.

"We'll see you two the day after tomorrow, then? Since you're going for tea tomorrow?" Harry said as Hermione hugged him.

"Yes, I think so." Hermione said with a smile.

"If you do see your mother soon, give her my love." Aunt Andy was telling Draco, squeezing his hand.

"I will, although I don't know how she'll take it."

"Neither do I, but she is my sister." Aunt Andy said sadly.

"And she is my mother." Draco said with a sigh.

"You do what will make you happy, Draco, dear." Aunt Andy whispered. "And I don't think listening to your parents will do that."

"I think you're right." Draco returned even more quietly.

Hermione pretended she hadn't heard when she turned to him and smiled. He smiled back and they said their last goodbyes in the hall before leaving Grimmauld Place.

"Hermione, since we're taking the muggle entrance, when we get into the elevator, get your wand out." Draco said as he wrapped his arms around her, preparing to apparate.

"Why?" Hermione said, confused.

"In case my mother is at the top of it." Draco said quietly. "I don't know what she'll do. She might attack. And if my father has found out where I live and is there, he will attack."

"Oh. Alright," Hermione said, hugging Draco back, burying her face in his shoulder as they turned. "I'm sorry."

They reappeared in the shadows beside Draco's building.

"Don't you dare be sorry, Hermione. This is not your fault; it's their prejudices that make this a problem." Draco said firmly. She hadn't thought he had heard her. He held her tightly to him for a second, and kissed her desperately. Hermione wondered if that was his way of saying he loved her, or that he cared about her, and he wasn't going to give her up.

He kept a hold of her hand and she kept close to him as they entered the building. They got the post out of his box and got into the elevator. He pushed her partly behind him and both of them pulled out their wands. They were ready when the doors opened, but the atrium in front of them was empty. Draco moved forward cautiously, still holding Hermione's hand tightly, only letting go to unlock the door. He checked quickly inside and pulled her in after him. He shut the door and looked at a couple of blinking lights beside the door.

"Hermione, please, see these lights. They're part of my spells. This one means that someone magical was in the hallway who was not you or I, and this one means they cast a spell. Put the mail on the counter, and turn into a cat. Stay close to me, but not too close, so I can move without hitting you." Draco said calmly and firmly. Hermione opened her mouth to protest. "No, Hermione, one or both of my parents will be on their way. The spell will tell them I'm back, and it's safer for you and possibly me, if they don't know you're here."

"Okay. Be careful. If you need me I'll run behind the counter to change."

"Don't unless you really need to." Draco said, squeezing her hand.

They looked at each other for a second, and Draco gave her a quick but lingering kiss and reluctantly let go of her hand. She placed the mail on the kitchen counter and shrunk into her cat form, trotting back to Draco and sitting a few feet beside and behind him. They waited like that, Draco's wand in his white knuckled hand, for a few minutes. Hermione suddenly looked up at a noise in the hallway, caught by her cat's hearing. Draco noticed her movement and focused on the door. Hermione heard a whispered argument behind it, which seemed to be about how best to enter.

"Draco! I know you're there! You open this door, now!" Lucius Malfoy snarled from behind the door. Draco flinched; Hermione knew this was about worst case scenario for him. He flicked his wand and the doors to the flat swung open, revealing both his parents. Lucius was red faced and furious, his mother was expressionless but pale.

"Good evening, father, mother." Draco said calmly, his expressionless mask firmly in place.

"Good evening? That's it? Is it true, Draco?! I demand-" Lucius said furiously, marching forward until he hit an invisible barrier. "What is this?!"

"Do you really think I'm stupid enough to give anyone free access to my place of residence?" Draco said plainly. "I don't trust you."

"How dare you! How dare you refuse entry to your father!" Lucius said before he took a breath and regained some control of himself. "I demand to know if it is true."

"If what's true, father?" Draco spat.

"You know perfectly well! You and that mud-" Lucius began. A flick of Draco's wand put a silencing spell on him.

"Do not finish that sentence, father." Draco said in a cold, clear voice. It didn't take him long to think. "Yes. It is true. Hermione and I are seeing each other."

"How dare you!" Lucius snarled, managing to remove the spell. He hit slammed a fist into the barrier keeping him from his son. "Come here, now! We're taking you back to the Manor. Clearly there is more wrong with you than I previously thought."

"No." Draco hadn't even flinched. He just stood there, wand in hand, not taking his eyes off his parents.

"No?" Lucius was cold with fury now. "You refuse your father?"

"I really don't know why you're surprised. Do you really think I'd give up everything I've gained this year to place myself in the hands of someone who is going to torture me?" Draco said in disgust.

"You'd be lucky to only get tort-" Lucius began, but Narcissa took a step forward.

"Draco, please, we are only trying to do what's best for you. Think of the people you are alienating, the powerful people, and what about Astoria Greengrass? She's waiting for you, too." Narcissa said in honeyed tones. To her and her husband's surprise, Draco laughed.

"Oh yes, Greengrass. I've spoken to her, mother. Did you and her mother keep us from talking because you knew neither of us liked the arrangement? I wouldn't marry her for all the magic in the world, mother, and she is disgusted by the thought of me."

"That isn't true, Draco-" His mother began, her words silky smooth.

"No, it is, mother. Aren't you listening? I spoke to her. She was very clear." Draco laughed again. "I never wanted her in the first place. You can't tempt me with her, mother."

"What about us, Draco? You'll be ignoring your family, your parents, and your heritage." She tried.

"Not entirely." Draco said, a little more thoughtfully. "You have nothing to tempt me with. Especially when I'm facing torture at father's hands."

"How dare you!" Lucius snarled quietly, raising his wand. Draco cast a shield in front of himself, but his father's spell fizzled out on the flat's protection. He raised his wand again, face looking determined to break through the defenses.

"Father, please don't make me apply for Ministry protection from my own parents." Draco said with a sigh. "They wouldn't be happy with you, using your freedom to attack your son."

This made his father unleash another spell in frustration but then he turned away, pacing in anger. His mother only looked at him as Draco stood in his flat, Hermione sitting beside him, ready to move if necessary. Draco had barely moved the entire time, his expressionless mask still in place. Finally his father seemed to make a decision.

"This isn't over, son, you've made a series of terrible mistakes, and you will pay for them." He said angrily. "Come, Narcissa."

Lucius apparated away, Narcissa half turned but hesitated.

"Mother? Andromeda sends her love. She's doing well, taking care of her grandson. I thought you might like to know." Draco called to her.

"Andromeda?" There was a pained note in Narcissa's voice.

"Yes, mother. I just saw her today. You see, I do have my family." Draco said, but not unkindly. Narcissa nodded.

"Thank you, Draco. Take care of yourself." Narcissa said, and then turned and apparated away.

Draco stood for some time, and Hermione trotted behind the counter and changed, straightening up, in case there was still anyone watching. She joined him and stood beside him for a few long seconds before he cast a few spells with a flick of his wand, and magically closed the door. He turned to her and almost fell on her, hugging her tightly and burying his face in her hair. So he was really upset, despite his mask. Hermione ran her hands up and down his back. When he pulled away he was still wearing his mask.

"You always have me, you know. And Harry, Ron, and Ginny, Theo, and everyone at school and the Weasleys." She said, kissing him on the cheek.

"Thank you." He said, his expression flickering. "I might have to contact the Ministry anyway. My father was looking pretty determined. I'll talk to Harry when we're there again on Tuesday. It should take my father a bit of time, anyway, but I'd like an eye on the place while we're back at school, and make sure he doesn't try and set a trap or something."

"He would really torture you? Your own father?" Hermione said, still hardly able to believe it.

"Oh yes. Hermione, it wouldn't be the first time." Draco said quietly.

"Oh, Draco, I'm sorry." Hermione said, hugging him.

"It's in the past, Hermione. And I don't think your-our-friends will let it happen again. Hermione, I promise I will never let him hurt you, or me if it's in my power to stop." He said very earnestly, looking into her eyes.

"I'm more worried about you than me."

"Well, we'll talk to Harry about it, yes? I was really hoping father didn't know where I lived." Draco said absently. "Still, this was bound to happen sooner or later."

"You're not upset?" Hermione said. "Your father threatened to torture you because of me." A tear leaked from her eye.

"No, look, Hermione, sit down." Draco led her to a kitchen chair and placed her in it, pulling another one in front of her and taking her hands. "He's hurt me before, not as badly as I'm sure he's planning. I used to think it was because of me, or Harry, or you. It's a good thing I never told him about you hitting me in our third year. But even now, he's using you as an excuse, but he is the one with the wand, remember that. It is his choice to cast the spell, so it is because of him, not me, and certainly not you. Okay?"

"Okay." Hermione said, trying to smile through her tears. It was upsetting how casually he could talk about this. She suspected that he could give his father at least a few months in Azkaban for what he had just done and what he had done in the past. "Draco? I still wish you didn't have to go through this."

"Even if I wasn't seeing you I would have to. I'm friends with the Golden Trio, I've removed my Mark, I'm cooperating with the Aurors. To them you probably just add insult to injury." He said with a humourless laugh.

Hermione sniffed and conjured herself a handkerchief, and was slightly surprised when Draco took it and wiped away her tears gently. He pulled her to her feet and when she wobbled a little unsteadily, he scooped her up and carried her up the stairs to the bedroom. She laughed wetly, halfheartedly demanding he put her down. He whispered in her ear that he knew how to take her mind off recent events as he laid her back on the bed. He released her hair from its updo so she wasn't leaning on it, and began to kiss her. She barely even noticed him undoing the buttons of her shirt until he began to kiss down her neck. She did get a giggle out of his frustration with the buttons that were backward to him and his inability to undo them.