Chapter Thirty-Five – First Days

JK Rowling. Not mine unfortunately, because although its mean, if I was that rich I wouldn't be writing fanfiction =(

They got home quite late and the next day would be very busy. They went straight to sleep, much to Draco's disappointment. They woke the next day all curled up together with the duvet wrapped around their bodies. Draco only wore boxers to bed where as Hermione wore pyjamas and underwear. She just couldn't sleep otherwise.

They put on their more formal clothes and drove to the Education centre. University would be considerably cheaper for them if they went here, not that money was a problem, but because they could live at home. They met with a Dr Snow who remarkably looked rather like a child's snowman.

'Cambridge is not just a university, it's a way of life,' he explained pompously, 'you are two exceptional students who have rightfully deserved places at one of the world's most esteemed universities.'

'But this is really just babble. Cambridge is a community, a family if you will. Here you will make friends who you will keep for life. You will experience things that you will remember forever. Not all will be good but the rest are good life lessons. I believe you both want to study Education Studies with Drama?'

'Yes Dr Snow,' they chorused.

He showed them around. The building was new and modern but it still had that Cambridge feel to it. But something didn't feel right; Draco felt it and he knew Hermione could as well. They left soon after. They climbed into the car.

'No. Absolutely not. It seemed wrong,' started Hermione.

'I totally agree. But if we don't want this one and we don't want to stay in Sunderland what are we going to do?'

'I am going to do long distance.'

'Which university?'

'Sunderland.'

'Snap!'

Hermione giggled. She loved Cambridge. It was picturesque and had a certain enchanting feel to it, but the university just felt off. They went home to wait for the IKEA delivery. It came right on time. In came two burly men carrying the bed. Hermione instructed them in which room to put it and then told them which room was the kitchen. The sofa went into the hallway. Draco had cleared the kitchen magically earlier.

After they were done, Hermione and Draco went to see their new kitchen. If possible, it looked even better than in the shop. The darkness gave the kitchen a modern, clean look. The fridge/freezer was big and seemed to be asking to be filled up with food and drink. They went upstairs.

Draco had painted, with his wand, the guest double bedroom a cornflower blue. The bed had been placed there. It needed some sheets but the pine side cabinets and wardrobe looked delightful with the simple elegance of the blue.

'I think its time to go shopping!'

They got in the car and drove to the nearest ASDA. Draco still enjoyed the novelty of these places. In the wizarding world they had similar things but the house elves had sorted such things in his home.

They grabbed a large trolley and strolled down each aisle picking up first home nessecities as well as the normal shopping. Soon they were done. They put the stuff in the Mini when Hermione had a bright idea.

'Have you ever been to Homebase or B&Q?'

'No.'

'Let's go then!'

So they drove into the industrial estate car park and they walked in. She showed him into the paint aisle.

'What colour do we want for the living room?'

'I was thinking, maybe the wall with the fireplace a light green and the rest white.'

Hermione nodded in appreciation of this idea and picked up a tin of paint saying 'Mint Green' and two of Matt White. She sent Draco off for a trolley and when he returned loaded it in. She also found a nice set of sheets from cornflower blue so she popped them in the trolley as well.

The kitchen/dining room was left as it was but the bathroom was bought some white paint and a glass shower separator. They grabbed some a tin of light pink for one of the single bedrooms and a tub of baby blue for another. Hermione got a nice soft, buttery yellow for the last one.

'Hermione, why don't we just do this magically?'

'Because it's a nice way to pass the time and you will feel a real sense of accomplishment when done. If we get bored then we'll do it magically.'

Draco laughed and steered the trolley towards the outdoor furniture section. She saw a nice table with chairs – wood yet simple. He lifted this for her and placed it in the trolley. He grabbed a parasol and then they went to pay.

They shrunk it and put it in the boot. They might have to resort to shrinking their food if they bought too much more. But B&Q sold plants and, well Hermione explained this to Draco, but in her defence, how was she supposed to know that he loved plants!

He grabbed a trolley immediately and saw some nice flowers and trees. He loaded them in and told her to show him anything she liked. She had one particular thing she wanted in the garden though.

'Draco, darling…'

'Oh God!'

'Can we get some garden gnomes?'

'Why would you want pests in your garden?'

'No, in the muggle world we have statues of them. They have little fishing rods…'

'Show me.'

So she did. They came into sight and he… well he found it amusing to say the least. His smile turned into a snort, which turned into a giggle, which turned into a laugh with tears coming from his eyes. Unfortunately, people had started to notice that he was laughing at gnomes. She calmed him down by explaining that muggles thought that gnomes were cute. This shut him up pretty quickly. He grabbed one with a fishing rod for around the little pond and fountain he was having installed. They paid and shrunk the things.

Finally, they drove home. They unloaded the car from the garage. The cupboards were full, as was the fridge and freezer. The sheets were put on the bed and the tins of paint were put in the correct rooms. The next day would definitely be a busy one. They left the garden stuff in the garage, waiting until the pond and fountain would be installed the next day.

Hermione was about to take her evening shower when Draco slipped in the room. Hermione looked around to see what the problem was, but when she saw Draco unbuttoning his shirt, she smiled.

'You know shower's make you cleaner?'

'Yes, but it doesn't hurt to get a bit dirty first.'

She giggled and took her jeans off. He had already stripped down to his boxers, so helped her with her top. He kissed and nibbled her neck as she gently brushed her body on his. He needed more than this devastatingly gentle, innocent touch. He needed her and he needed her soon.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and they walked into the shower. He lifted her and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist. Pushing her against the wall, he entered her slowly. His thrusts were met with her obvious approval. She moaned his name like a holy mantra. He was coming far to quickly for his liking though. He held it in though. He wanted more out of this first. He continued his gentle thrusts, each one getting quicker and harder.

'Draco, I'm coming!'

He felt her tense around him and he saw her eyes roll upwards as she had her orgasm. He groaned as he felt himself come. He yelled her name as he was pushed into impenetrable bliss.

He thanked Merlin for this wonderful witch. He adored her; the only regret was that they had argued for so long – how much longer could they have had together? He realised that the answer was pretty much none, as he wasn't grown up enough to forget their differences. He would've treated her badly, and she deserved to be treated like a goddess, because in his eyes, she was.

He reached for the shampoo and lathered it into her hair, making sure not to get any in her eyes. She smiled at him. He was a great lover and a great fiancée. He put her before himself. An action no one would have expected from him a year ago. They kissed as the water rinsed her hair. Soon, they retired to bed.