Sap alert!

All the love for my beta darling, Magzillasaurus.

Day Forty-Five Part I

Judging by the overcrowded nose of the Arcadia, not one single passenger wanted to miss the arrival at Sydney's Port Jackson. Draco quickly recognised the two notorious ladies, and his least favourite Viking the furthest away from them, subconsciously shielding Hermione from the man's view - you never know.

Closer to them, the grandpa's group flocking together like birds, just like their wives did at a small distance, a view which brought a smile to the wizard's face. Would that be him later, a few decades from now? He and his mates, grey-haired but better dressed, chatting away while his brunette would have her fun with her friends, and hopefully, Pansy included? It wasn't the first time he hoped that his woman would bury the hatchet with his favourite Slytherin witch and become friends, realising all too well that her Potter and the Weasel were a sacrifice he had to face.

The deep horn of the ship announced the approach to the wharf, interrupting Draco's thoughts and forcing the wizard to enjoy the scene and the way the big mastodont manoeuvred its path towards the terminal, briefly giving every passenger the astonishing view of one of Australia's most renowned landmarks: the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Hermione whispered, "Regarding impressive views, this bridge is a match for the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, don't you think?" Draco nodded grinning.

From afar, bikers and cars crossed the one-thousand one-hundred forty-metres long bridge a 'small' three-thousand seven-hundred seventy feet, constructed out of fifty-three thousand tonnes of steel.

She continued, "The guide says the locals lovingly call it the giant coat-hanger."

Draco commented chuckling, "We can see why I guess. Look at its perfect arch." She was sharing trivia details again but who was he to silence her?

Her arm pointed out, excited, "Draco, look there to your left!" Their sight wasn't obstructed by anyone, as he used a confundo or two to ensure the best possible spot at the front. "That's iconic Sydney Opera House…" Her mouth fell open, staring at the impressive construction and its iconic roof consisting of a series of gleaming white sail-shaped shells facing the port, like the one monument only a blind person couldn't see.

"I wonder if we would be able to catch an opera tonight? Should we ask Perkins where the ticket office is and try our luck? I have never attended one..." Her enthusiasm was adorable.

"Love, when? We're visiting the Featherdale Wildlife Park after we have climbed this giant steel coat-hanger, and we don't know what time we'll return from the animal park. Though, I'm still baffled that you volunteered to climb such a height." He killed her hopes at the root, to delay the announcement of his surprise as long as possible.

The Opera vouchers were hidden in a special pocket within her own bag, which he protected with an extra notice-me-not charm to avoid peeking. Furthermore, Perkins arranged for separate transportation from the animal park to ensure they would arrive on time for the romantic pre-show dinner, and the best seats in the hall to watch Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly. It received outstanding reviews according to the butler, plus the work sounded familiar; his parents attended a performance in Paris if Draco recalled it correctly, his mother didn't stop talking about it for days.

Being the Pureblood he is, Draco wasn't going to arrive at such an elegant venue wearing shorts and a sweaty shirt, neither was his witch. Inside that same hidden bag was his shrunken three-piece suit and the dark red gown she wore at the Captain's dinner the first night - his favourite to date - plus the matching shoes; items he raided during a fast sweep of her closet while she went for a toilet visit. He was so impatient to see her face light up when apperceiving what he pulled off, that he had been jittery since waking up.

"They guarantee in the booklet that you're fastened at all times, plus I count on you to be my hero." She didn't feel at ease about this adventure, but the glint in his eyes when she read the prospect aloud made it nearly impossible for her to reject the activity; especially when the other exciting excursions were trips he also wanted to attend. The description mentioned the presence of experienced guides and a psychologist who'd help you to overcome your fear of heights. May Merlyn and all the gods help me…

The anxiety made it nearly impossible for her to eat breakfast, but a nagging wizard and her own talent to comply with instructions forced her to gobble down a plate of pancakes and a bowl of oatmeal with honey - the booklet strongly advised to have a full stomach before starting the climb, but avoid fats, for maximum energy. Her fate was nearing, anyway, her heart rate spiking just upon sight of the landmark. The Arcadia was lining up with the terminal, and the climb was the very first thing on their agenda today.

-oOo-

In a group, they walked towards the climbing base underneath the bridge where an assistant awaited them and split them into groups of fourteen people. Checking in took barely a second, and the pair were ushered into a room where they accepted the disclaimer.

"Good morning, guys. My name is Mitch, and I'll be your guide, your mentor, and especially for the ladies, I can be your gentleman or your personal demon, I leave it up to you. Before we can kick some ass, I need you first to sign the disclaimer where you promise me that you are in good health and fully able to climb with me to the top." The tall and broad young man with an oval face, light complexion and heavy eyebrows above a dark gaze, his hair shortly trimmed aside from a little tuft of brown hair on the top, smiled widely, warming up his audience in no time, except for a slightly jealous blond, who didn't appreciate any bit of the flirting. His posture reminded him a little of Greg, though he had to admit, with a better mood and slightly more athletic build than his friend.

Hermione wrote down her Muggle London address and tilted her clipboard stealthily so he could copy the location, whispering, "Malfoy Manor isn't a street name, is it?" It was in times like this that he appreciated her quick mind, often a step ahead of things. He could see in her face how terrified she felt, the tight lip, the paler complexion aside from how firmly she pinched his hand. Draco had offered to skip this one, but as she wasn't to be convinced otherwise, he made her promise to focus on him and never look down. He hoped she would listen, for once.

Papers were signed, but their guide held a small contraption in his hand, moving from one person to another who introduced themselves while breathing into that device. "Guys, tell me who you are while I measure your blood alcohol levels with this breathalyser. I can't take anyone who has a reading higher than five-hundredths, sorry folks."

"That machine can analyse your breath so accurately?" Draco mumbled seconds before Mitch pointed the device in his direction, "Hello, I'm Drake Malone, from Wiltshire." Quickly copying what he heard his neighbours say.

"I'm Hermione Granger from London." She leaned closer to him, commenting, "That machine can't tell exactly how much, but that there are more traces of alcohol in your breath than it should have. For the accuracy readings, they need a blood sample."

The entire group passed the test and was guided to another room with yellow dots on a circle, "Please stand on a yellow dot for me, I'll pass each of you a blue uniform like mine, pull it over your clothes. This overall will protect you against the cold wind upstairs, you'll thank me later." Mitch was experienced enough to match the correct size to each member of the group, and they moved towards the changing rooms helping each other zip up the uniform.

The bags and all loose items were stored in a locker, Draco's wand quickly thrown into Hermione's purse before she handed him the key dangling on a cord he pulled over his head, imitating the men.

As a herd, the group moved into the last room before the start. Dangling on metal bars awaited a sturdy looking harness, which had to be mounted before strapping it up. The cord circled tightly but not uncomfortably around the legs, waist and shoulders, and a sturdy metal cord had a carabiner that hooked on the safety cable throughout the entire climb. It gave her a sense of safety, but not enough to ease her nerves.

"Is there anyone who has acrophobia, fear of heights? Don't be shy, I'll guide you through the headphones, and you'll conquer your fear after this amazing adventure, but I need to know…" In the end, three women, including Hermione and one man raised an embarrassed hand. "You'll make it, you'll see. I haven't lost anyone yet... this week at least." The mutual chuckle sounded forced from some; Hermione's ended with a threatening note.

After every check, Mitch gave the thumbs up and headed outside, leading them below the highway to the Southeast Pylon, speaking into the headphones, "Alright, in case you didn't notice, there's a handkerchief attached at your side chest on the left side, for the tears of emotion when we reach the top. Ladies, even men cry… of joy, of course, right gents?" The mood was set, "Single lines only, and don't feel embarrassed to hang onto both rails with your hands. For my special guests, one step at a time, you can do it!"

Gathering all her courage, she walked behind Draco in the mandatory single line, carabiner hooked safely onto the steel wire. Mitch elaborated, "We'll climb through four ladders until we reach the start of the arch." At a relaxed pace, they ascended until the steel construction came into view.

With the summit as their goal, they walked along the outer arch on the Opera House side - its slope actually a low incline - stopping a few times so Mitch could point out landmarks in the distance, telling in the meantime all sorts of details and funny stories, shooting pictures of the entire group for later purchase. Draco's wide smile stood heavily in contrast with Hermione's forced grin, though she felt it loosening up the higher she climbed. Mitch was terrific in his encouraging, without burdening the rest of the group with needless cheering up.

Finally, after more than an hour, they reached the very top. Hermione held on to the rail, knuckles taut and white, though she leaned into a snuggling wizard, who snaked an arm around her shoulders and rested his cheek on the top of her head. "This is quite something, eh, love?"

"It's still not my favourite, but I can't deny how romantic it is to see the sunshine on the water, this view is breathtakingly beautiful." She heard the click of a camera all around her, posing for one or two with her wizard, who copied another bloke spreading his arms wide, in a true Titanic Jack move. Her thumbs-up might have risen on the left hand, the right kept holding onto the rail...who did they think she was? Wonder Woman? Hermione only loosened her grip for the group photo, though her arms circled around Draco probably a little too tightly to be comfortable. She tried, she really did.

"Folks, the next part will be crossing the spine of the bridge to the other arch and descending back to base." Hermione's first thought after Mitch's announcement was, 'oh, shit'. But the man was an experienced guide and already knew what his special guests were fearing. "To my dear ones, we'll walk nicely, staring straight ahead, one pace after the other. You cannot fall, the crossing is safe and steady. We're not running a marathon, we have time, but I'm not giving you the time to overthink either. Breath normally, believe in yourself, and you'll make it with us." Draco forgave the man's dear one after these encouraging words.

Draco went up front, like before, though he requested over his shoulder, "Admire my blond hair love, instead of my behind this time." Said behind gained a sharp tick, a male snicker reaching her ears immediately after.

Hermione was far from confident, but she stepped through mainly because half of the group walked behind her. Hands crawled over the bar at the same pace as her feet, gaze into the distance and sometimes also on the blond points underneath the blue cap that brushed against his neck. Under her feet, the sound of cars, the horn of a bus or the ringing of a bike bell rose in the air, the usual traffic on a Wednesday morning.

But to her biggest surprise, it was over before she noticed it. There had been a new picture taken before the descent was upon them, which ran smoother than expected. Hermione never looked down but kept her gaze straight forward and soaked in the views the inner arch had to offer, the skyline of Sydney lowering with every step she descended.

In no time the couple was back inside the base, instructed to take off the harness and overall while Mitch took care of their certificate. A half hour later, Draco and Hermione held each other's certificate proudly, along with their group picture and a few others they bought from their journey. The excitement clearly visible in Draco's face on every image and Hermione's features a transition from anxious into delight.

"Now you've conquered your fear, you can join me on a flight over the grounds of the Manor, by dawn or sunset." Draco filed this new experience as unforgettable, next to the snorkelling, the submarine and the turtle release.

"I'm not flying a broomstick, Draco." No carabiners were grounding her to a steel wire on one of those wooden sticks.

"Not alone, fly with me on my Firebolt." It sounded slightly better, he had mastered the broomstick as perfectly as Harry. "I promise not to let you fall."

"I trust your skills, but I'm not keen about sitting on a broom." Maybe he'll forget about it by the time we're back home.

"You haven't flown with me yet. Your Potter is reckless, I'm a responsible pilot." The house held many bad memories, but the grounds had something mystical by twilight or the early morning. An activity to share with her later.

-oOo-

Strolling down the quay in search of a place to eat before their animal park trip, they settled for a trendy restaurant, its patio overlooking the Opera house and the bridge, with a gentle breeze to cool down the noon sun. From the looks, this place was recently opened, all nice and shiny, the typical smell of fresh paint, they didn't spare a dime to refurbish the old warehouse across the harbour into something modern.

The menu consisted mainly of meat, but the waitress advised them to try the Tomahawk steak, a platter to share including dripping potatoes and warm bread; plus the best wine to go along. Climbing the bridge left them hungry, and Draco agreed before Hermione could intervene. The plate described a steak of one kilo, no way she could devour half of it, starving or not…

It wasn't long before a wooden plate was set before them, with a sliced juicy beef cut between them, bone-in. Winking, Draco pierced a piece, cut it in two and fed her the first part.

"Damn, it's been a long time since I've eaten such a succulent steak." Her delighted hum did weird things to his nether regions, but this wasn't the time or place to relieve himself. "The cook over there knows his stuff, Draco."

"I must agree, you can taste the charcoal without the taste of burned meat." He was going to miss this type of food, once back home. The wizarding classical and refined kitchen needed an upgrade, but he didn't see himself becoming the next top chef.

One kilo of meat was devoured quickly, Draco endearing to pick the bone and chew the bits off as if he was eating spare ribs onboard the Arcadia. The muggle habits stuck around pretty easily, in his opinion, though he wouldn't eat this way in front of his parents…

One fulfilled couple and one extremely happy waitress thanks to the large tip later, the pair stood at the meeting point for the Featherdale Animal Park, recognising Henry and Terry plus their wives among the group. Draco rubbed Hermione's back, "Ah, this is going to be fun!"

"Oh boy, Margaret and Louise are joining us, thank god there's no margarita's today." Hermoine shook her head but greeted the two women with a kiss and a quick hug, while Draco received the man-hug, feeling his entire ribcage reverberating from the big pats; his cheeks overly wet from the women's enthusiastic pecks.

Terry rested a hand on the blond's shoulder, "They have a gigantic saltwater crocodile in there, I'll have you stand before me, you're skinnier than I."

Henry barked, "He'll eat him as a starter before starting with his main dish, Ter."

Draco patted his left cargo shorts pocket feeling his wooden companion inside the hidden pocket, just in case. He had enough of man-eating reptiles for a lifetime. Hermione soothed his panic, "Crocodiles don't attack unless they feel threatened. They are just playing you."

"Forewarned is forearmed." He came for a koala picture, not to be animal food. It was time to man up, anyway, being a coward next to your woman is a no-go…

-oOo-

The trip was supposed to be at your own discretion, but with the two couples joining the tour, instead of a romantic, leisurely journey, it was a never-ending laughter walk through the entire park.

Sensing the young man's fear, Henry and Terry did joke around a little, shouting to the crocodile to have a snack of their friend… "Not much to eat, but we're sure he's tasty, our boy, with the amount of sugar he consumes."

"Chew one of these beer bellies instead!" He retorted quickly but did retreat a few steps from the edge.

Halfway through their walk they bought a kangaroo feeding cup, the curious animal allowing petting in exchange for food, its lips feather lightly picking his choice before it nearly hijacked the cup to devour the remainder. They lost count of who took pictures of who, Draco thinking briefly that trading his magical shots with their friends would require some tweaking first.

The kangaroos were impressive, just like the Wallabies. Meeting a Tasmanian devil was a different beast. Hermione's first thought was how different he looked from her beloved Looney Tunes, not a fat belly, nor a series of threatening teeth - instead, four incisors looked as if they could crush bones. The beast was napping by the looks of things, though when one of her Joeys tripped away, one eye went open to keep tabs.

"He looks tame," Draco remarked, not really impressed with the animal.

Hermione stretched her arm, "Read that board." It stated ten facts, and she chuckled as he did retreat a few steps when his eyes fell on the descriptions of a large carnivorous creature of his sort, his mouth opening up to almost a ninety-degree angle and its teeth able to crush bones for consumption. "Is she tame, in your eyes?"

"Let us move on, I'm curious about the koalas." He could be so easy to read…

The cuddle level of a Koala makes everything else pale in comparison to besides dolphins, thought Draco. He enjoyed touching the little turtle in Port Vila, but releasing the juvenile Luna into the ocean wasn't really snuggly. Koalas, on the other hand, were like the cuddly stuffed animals in his bed when he was a child.

To his deception, the ranger forbade them from holding one - it was against regulations because it caused stress on the animal. For that reason alone, the wizard refrained from using a confundo. That and a warning glare from his witch also, if he was honest. Though, causing stress on an animal didn't feature in his list of favourite actions, either.

What they could do was pet the animal and have the picture as a remembrance. Draco didn't wait for her plea, buying them one and handing over his own camera to have a few more taken of them rubbing the fury belly, laughing overly cheesily in some, but hell, who cared?

"We'll hex anyone who dares to laugh at our pictures." It was his witch that voiced a thought, not that he would stop her.

"I'll help you with a few nasty ones of mine, love." Draco acknowledged that together, they formed a pair to be reckoned with. Her light side and his dark one complemented each other in perfect synergy.

-oOo-

Draco used a moment of distraction to grab Henry and Terry aside, "We'll be leaving before you guys. I have a surprise planned for my lady, but I don't want you to think we're abandoning you."

Henry nodded slowly, "Our boy is learning." Mimicking Terry, who asked, "What have you up in your sleeve?"

"Catching an opera after a pre-show dinner." He scouted the perimeter first, before spilling his beans.

"Madame Butterfly? We're also attending, but you won't see us, I promise." Terry elaborated. "Romantic gesture, my son. Well thought of you."

"I hope she likes it." The closer it came, the more eager he got.

"Have a handkerchief on hand for her, it's a tear jerker." Henry advised, "Plus stroll down the quay a little before heading to the ship. It's the perfect setting for some more romance, if you get my vibe."

"I thought of it, but I have not the time nor the idea of a decent location where I can purchase what I have in mind." Stupidly enough, Draco kept telling Henry more than he planned at first, did he hunger so much for a real grandpa?

"What you have in mind can follow later. Am I wrong to think that your girl doesn't give a damn about bling bling, very unlike my wife?" Henry was a marshmallow for this sort of thing, this boy was growing on him.

"You read her perfectly. That's why I don't want to rush the acquisition." It seemed as if Margaret was stalling Hermione's return, in the distance.

"Follow your heart, your wallet can close in later." Henry winked at his wife, biting back the next thought for the moment, confident the young man didn't know it could happen onboard their ship. Young love was his weakness, he was really getting old and sappy.

"I might…"

A.N.: We are half-way their cruise, by now a monster of over 100k that when I started it back in November was supposed to be a Nanowrimo challenge of 50k. It's becoming my mastodon of a fic, I'm proud of it and of the number of loyal readers and reviewers. 100k times thank you!

I turned Sydney and the next port Brisbane into something important, so I'm taking my time to move on with the upcomming chapters. Bear with me, if I can't update weekly, I promise to make it worth the wait.