Leaves the chapter after two months of silence.

Warns not to read this on an empty stomach.

Runs away before you can chase her down...

Day Sixty-Five

*Day Sixty-Four*

Draco stared at the ceiling, basking in the afterglow of good sex, yet too awake to fall asleep.

Hermione snored softly, curled around his slightly suntanned chest. Every breath tickled his chest hair, though a few resembled the snoring of a piglet followed by empty chewing sounds. She stretched deeper into his embrace, curling her thigh higher than desired - it touched his nether region briefly. It wouldn't be the first time he saw the stars after an involuntary knee jerk. As a precaution, Draco pushed her leg lower, curling his mouth in satisfaction. His witch looked utterly satisfied - not really a surprise. Their day had been quite exhausting, and his Slytherin nature milked three orgasms out of her delicious body.

Usually, he would be sleeping after all that, too. But the events of late afternoon and evening passed the review on rewind, and he couldn't settle down.

Today he saw for the first time the tallest building ever constructed. He didn't even know that Muggles could build something so high. After all, they didn't master wizardry spells to achieve what seemed to be nearly the impossible.

Yet, today he rose in an elevator to the hundredth story of a glass tower Hermione called a skyscraper. The name was fitting. From the ground floor, it did touch the sky. It was the first time Draco Malfoy felt house-elf sized. This feeling was never to be revealed under any circumstances.

The coolest part of travelling so high was the ride on the fastest elevator in the world. For a second, Draco wondered if he was becoming a sappy wizard repeating descriptions. Inside this huge double-decked glass cage - for lack of a better designation - they had risen a hundred stores up in less than a minute - ultrafast, like in a blink of an eye.

Hermione had mumbled something like Highway to Hell that had a few people smirk around them.

By contrast, he had grinned from ear to ear, profiting from her go-on gesture to ride the elevator back and forth for a second time. Ultimately, he rode three times in a row. It had been nearly four times, if not for her fretting as a clear warning that after three rides, it was enough.

Draco chuckled in the dark bedroom at the memory. If she had been a Pureblood witch, he didn't even have the chance for a repeat. His Muggleborn fiancee let the child in him thrive a few times, instead of throwing a tantrum. These were the moments he considered himself the luckiest bloke in the entire Wizarding World. Hermione was considerate with his feelings, compared to the short-lived demanding treats Astoria and even Pansy had demonstrated.

His Gryffindor girl knew what made his heart thrill. If the opportunity arose to show his romantic side, Draco vowed to always seize the moment and profess his love for her, again.

At the hundredth floor of the International Commerce Center - with the sunset shedding a beautiful orange glow over the entire Victoria Harbour; Hermione's hair shone a golden hue - he repeated how much he loved her. Of course, he also used the moment to remember how he longed for a child of their own. Immediately, his wicked Hermione inquired if he was trying to earn brownie points for two more elevator trips.

It hadn't been his intention, in all honesty. Still, when she suggested it, he wasn't strong enough to deny the offering either. Her lighthearted laughter caught the attention of other tourists and their smiles. Salazar, did she blush red…

The Sky100 Elevator - yes, the cage had a name - earned a place on his list of Most Fantastic Muggle Experiences. It fell right below the perpendicular train in Australia. That ride was in second place, though, as the first was undoubtedly the helicopter flight over Honolulu.

The night had continued with dinner. Draco shook his head at the memory. If his mother caught him dressed as a Muggle tourist inside of such a fancy venue, the back of his head would still be burning from her powerful smack.

The Hutong restaurant, overlooking Victoria Harbour, exuded luxury from afar and offered fine dining with a romantic touch. The contrast between the sober interior at the Monastery's lunch restaurant and the Hutong couldn't have been more obvious not only interior-wise but also in the gastronomic plane. The eight-course meal had been phenomenally delicious, including China's famous Peking Duck.

The entree alone, a chilli-spiced crispy soft-shell crab, had been a delight for the tongue. Though, at a point, his witch had looked less eager to taste a new dish. The waiter had set a weird looking dish between them, announcing it as abalones. Puzzled, Hermione blinked and raised a questioning finger, as if she was still in class at Hogwarts. Her face when she'd heard sea snail had been priceless. It took Draco everything to not bark in laughter.

It was most likely that her disgusted look mirrored the one on his face. His witch's epicurean sense for adventure had its limits too, obviously. She sliced one of those weird looking things in two and offered him one half. Well, to make the story short, Hermione caught a nearby waiter and demanded he remove the plates away, seconds later. He swore he could still taste the nasty flavor, blah!

She didn't argue when he had whispered, I'm not asking the elves to cook any snails, love. There's where I draw the line, pumpkin. In fact, she agreed nearly immediately.

Their evening had ended on a sweet note.

Standing at an excellent viewpoint and wrapped around each other, they admired a spectacle of radiant light beams highlighting prominent buildings surrounding the Victoria Harbour. By moments, the entire harbour had a rainbow-like glow as night fell. Across from their location, a playful dragon came out of nowhere and explored different sites around the port. Hours later, he still giggled at the memory of all the shenanigans his namesake-animal performed in the sky.

As if the appearance of the dragon wasn't enough, the accompanying background music had impressed Draco tremendously. Performed by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra - as the wizard picked up from the night's guide on the return journey - the classical music had melted into a perfect synergy between sight and sound.

Draco didn't mind staying another night in Hong Kong, if it were possible. He'd like to watch a repeat of the show and capture it with the camera to show his mother later. Adding one more trip to the pile of journeys to redo...

Feeling his eyelids become heavier, Draco concluded that the dragons in his wizarding world might be fearsome and lethal. Yet, this Chinese exemplar made out of lights and looking more of a snake on four legs than its scaly counterpart was the funniest of them all. Chiefly due to the wide grin on the elongated face, which was partially hidden by a pointy beard.

Tomorrow, we need to go for a souvenir trip. One of these dragons and a smiling Buddha. We'd have a piece of Hong Kong in our home. Yes, tomorrow, that's the plan...

-oOo-

*Day Sixty-Five*

As Hermione described the concept of nuns, Draco immediately thought of one person - Minerva McGonagall.

"Auw! Why are you hitting me?" He rubbed his hand over his arm; apparently, he'd voiced his thought aloud. "Love, be honest. Isn't your beloved professor the poster-lady for a nun? Woman, stop hurting me."

Hermione just swatted him again in the same spot, damn it.

"Can you picture the old bat from Gryffindor having the hots for a wizard? Do you think she even knows what sex is?" He reasoned.

"DRACO!" Hermione halted in the courtyard, spinning around lightning-fast. "You can't speak about our newest Head-Mistress this way, it's unheard of."

She stabbed a finger into his chest, though her face grew redder by the minute.

"Her-mi-o-ne, love. The old bat can't hear me. She's not here, is she?" Draco caught her prodding finger and gently bit the tip.

A Buddhist nun crossed their path just then, and the wizard shifted his face into a solemn expression. He waited just long enough until the woman was at a considerable distance before he grinned widely again, a wicked glint in his eye.

"Imagine McGonagall with a shaved head, dressed in similar pink robes." The image sent him into a fit of giggles that soon morphed into a menacing glare.

"Witch! Stop hurting me," he gasped as Hermione continued to swat at him.

"Stop evoking images in my head that I don't need to see!" Hermione stepped on his toes and pressed a little harder to make a point. "The last thing I need is to imagine a professor doing vertical gymnastics with a wizard or to picture her hairless!"

For good measure, she aimed a stinging curse at his arse.

"I'll colour your arse red tonight if you keep hurting me," Draco threatened sternly.

However, she beamed at him and blithely repeated the hex, locking his gaze. Growling, his hand flew out, wrapped around her fist and he started pulling her towards the larger temple.

Between the Nunnery and the Monastery from yesterday, there were scarcely any differences to remark upon. Likewise, a few golden buddha statues stood here on the top of several altars surrounded by cherry blossom arrangements and baskets full of fruits.

At one specific shrine, Draco took his time to admire the Chinese God in front of him. This God held the power of healing and was said to grant you a request, or so Draco had heard from a nearby guide. The name of this deity, however, was something he didn't catch.

Hermione did not need a translator to assume the request her wizard made, shaking her head at his unmistakable display. Yes, she saw herself pregnant with his child - even more than one if they were lucky. There was no need to rush things, in her opinion, however.

Or he was riling her up on purpose? She cast a sideways glance at his blond head, suspicious. Their arguments nowadays ended with more than satisfying make-up sex, so he might have an ulterior motive beyond a deeply-set wish to become a father.

Their tour ended with a stroll down the meticulously landscaped Kowloon Walled City Park. It was the former enclave from the 20th Century for fugitives and criminal gangs, which previously used to be a Chinese military garrison. Before being demolished in the 1990s, it had housed more than fifty-thousand people. Nowadays, the fish ponds, walkways, and the pavilions transformed the once-overcrowded and lawless zone into a site of peace, without ignoring the past. The fully restored Yamen that used to be an administration office staffed by mandarins featured as a centrepiece between the green and the water.

Draco strolled with Hermione at a leisurely pace, yet it was a little too dull for his taste.

A distant voice pulled their attention.

"Hermione!"

"Neville! Luna! What are you doing here?" Hermione turned and opened her arms wide, grinning from ear to ear. "Oh my god, it's so good to see you!"

"Merlin, I never thought I would see you here, 'Mione," Luna ran into Hermione's embrace, smacking her loud on the cheek.

"Make room for me, sweetheart," Neville gently pushed the blond witch aside so he could approach Hermione. The two Gryffindor friends hugged heartedly, kissing the other on the cheek.

Draco remained silent, watching the three greet each other with a warm display. Luna was the first to acknowledge him.

"Oh, Draco. Hello. I didn't notice you, sorry," She kept her distance, smiling softly.

"Don't worry. Hello Luna," He greeted the witch back with a light head tilt, though with some reservation.

"Malfoy," Neville acknowledged reservedly.

"Longbottom," Draco returned. The outstretched hand from Neville caught him by surprise, but he returned the greeting, nonetheless. The last thing he wanted was to create a renewed animosity between him and Hermione's friends. He would play along, and go through the motions for her sake.

"What are you two doing here? Have you met each other by coincidence, like we just did?" Luna inquired.

"No, Luna," Hermione grinned, "I'm travelling on this world cruise and, by coincidence, so is Draco. We've been discovering port after port together."

She beamed up at the blond wizard beside her.

Neville cast curious looks back and forth between Hermione and Draco, noticing how his friend closed the distance between her and the Slytherin, wrapping her fingers around his hand in a familiar gesture.

A silence fell for a few moments, Hermione widening her lips into a smile, a pink flush covering her skin.

"Yeah, you're not imagining things, Neville," She threw a loving look at the blond wizard. "I'm together with Draco. Nobody knows it yet, back home. Please don't tell anyone - I want to do it myself."

"You're together?" Neville questioned incredulously. Draco's features closed slowly, uneasy with the not-so-friendly tone.

"Oh, that's so wonderful, Hermione. You deserve to be loved," Luna embraced Hermione again, though with her movement, she pushed Draco slightly aside. Luna turned to him next and hugged him, too. He froze, unused to this kind of display of feelings.

"You deserve a second chance, as well," Luna said and patted his cheek twice, returning to her place next to Neville. "We're also together. Neville has been pushing me to marry him, but I want to wait. We have all the time in the world," She gestured widely with her hands. "I want to see the world, first, before shackling myself into domestic life."

"Shackle?" Neville chuckled, rolling his eyes at her comment.

"Well yes, Nevvy, dear. You know, cooking, cleaning, washing and all the blah, blah, blah. I want to see all the creatures. You want to discover new herbs too, right? If we have babies, we can't fly around the world on a whim. Besides, we're too young," Luna schooled him, and by the looks, it wasn't the first time they'd had this particular argument.

Draco glanced from one to the other, mirroring the amusement on Hermione's features. It was obvious who was in charge of this relationship.

"Sweetheart, we can be married and travel the world. I don't need to have babies the day after our marriage, honey," Neville wheedled.

"We have time," Luna assured him, but then the sun sparkled on Hermione's hand and caught her attention. "'Mione, is that what I think it is?"

Unabashedly, she pointed at Hermione's engagement ring.

"How has that happened?" Luna exclaimed.

Draco frowned at the question, but Hermione replied before he could retort in a typical Draco-fashion.

"Yes, Draco asked me to marry him."

"Do his parents know?" The look Neville threw the Slytherin was filled with dislike. "Are they accepting of a Muggle-born into their family?"

"Longbottom, my parents' opinion on my choice of bride doesn't matter to me," Draco snapped. "I love Hermione."

"You can't blame me for being sceptical. In the past, you have been quite vocal about how Muggle-borns are inferior to Purebloods," The Gryffindor wizard crossed his arms across his chest, tilting his head meaningfully.

"I will not deny what I've said in the past. Yet, life has taught me quite a few lessons, and if there's something I have learned to appreciate and love, it is how precious Hermione is. She's not inferior to me in any way; she's my equal in every aspect, if not my better."

Unaware that he did it, Draco closed his hand tighter against the brunette, his body stiffening. This was a taste of what was waiting for him at the pier in Southampton when Potter and Weasel would see him appear next to their beloved Hermione. He expected hostility from Potty and Weasel, yet Longbottom surprised him with the lack of hesitation in making his objections heard.

"I have difficulty believing in your words, Malfoy. Slytherins are known to be cunning and twist the truth to their benefit. Hermione is a dear friend to me. I will not allow you to play with her feelings," Neville looked Draco straight in the eye, ignoring the way Luna pulled on his sleeve. Since he had slaughtered bigger serpents than Draco, he feared no Malfoy nowadays. "Hermione, please be careful. It wouldn't surprise me if he ditched you upon returning to England. He's probably using you now because he's lonely, but once back among his aristocratic friends, he might dump you in the blink of an eye."

"Longbottom, my intentions towards Hermione are nothing less than pure and honorable," Draco's chest rose and fell rapidly, the anger burning through the Slytherin's veins. If it were up to him, they would be married already. No vault in the world was big enough to make him change his mind. "I will not stand by and allow you to make false accusations."

"Neville, please. I trust Draco. He has given me no reason to doubt his feelings for me. During this cruise, I have discovered a completely different man than who he used to be as a teenager," Hermione circled an arm around Draco's waist, trying to calm his ire while pleading with her friend. With a hand on his cheek, she turned his livid face and placed a light kiss on his lips, right there for her friends to see. "Draco has shown me he loves me, time after time. I love him as deeply, in return."

"I hope you are right, Hermione. Yet Malfoy, make no mistake: if you hurt one hair on Hermione's head, I'll be coming for you. I will make you regret ever having the thought of abusing her trusting heart. She's not one of your inbred Pureblood witches whose only concern is to please her husband and play at tea parties," Neville warned, far from the bashful lump he'd once been.

"Neville, stop this immediately," Luna pushed hard against Neville's chest to cut through the rising tension. "Hermione is smart enough to make her own choices. She's the only one who has a say in her love life. If she trusts Draco and wants to marry him, then you have to respect her choice."

"I only have her best interests at heart, Luna," Neville retorted, looking at Hermione with concern.

"You're basing your judgement on the past, regardless of the present. You don't know if Draco's changed or not. The War has affected all of us. Him, no less so. Make your threats when you notice him mistreating her, but don't destroy a possible good future with your presumptions. Everyone has already asked you if you're doing the right thing by asking me to marry you, the lunatic of our community, remember?" She vocalised her thoughts to him in a singing tone, hands perched on her waist before turning to the other witch.. "Hermione, he's your friend, but please, don't mind him. I wish you both all the luck in the world. You form a beautiful couple together."

Hermione nodded, leaning her head against Draco's shoulder. The blond wizard softened slightly towards the Ravenclaw witch but lost none of his anger as he shot a look at Neville, the fierce glare returned in equal measure.

"Well, we'll leave you to the rest of your journey. Don't miss your boat," Luna forcefully pushed Neville into the opposite direction. "We'll have tea sometime when we're both back in England."

"I would love that," Hermione whispered softly. She followed the retreating couple with her eyes until they hid behind a pair of trees, disappearing into thin air.

"Do you believe him?" Draco swallowed dryly, holding Hermione at arm's length, hands on her shoulders.

"Should I?" Hermione raised her eyes to meet his hurt gaze.

"I love you as I never loved anyone before. What my parents say or do will not matter. You are important to me, and I want to share the rest of my life with you, but I can only say it and show through my gestures and actions," The frown deepened between his brows, "Your Muggle-born origin is something that I respect, nowadays. Salazar, look at what Muggles can do. You have shown me nothing but love and understanding."

Draco brought their foreheads together tenderly. His hands traveled from her shoulders to her neck, encircling her slender throat as he reached it.

"You've become an essential part of my life, I don't want to lose you," he murmured.

Hermione closed the slight distance and kissed him deeply.

"I love you, too. I'm sorry for what Neville said. They need to give you the benefit of the doubt and discover this new Draco you've become. Then they'll see what I see - the man I fell in love with."

-oOo-

Despite the way they sought to amuse themselves with adventurous scavenging for the cutest smiling Buddha and the funniest Chinese Dragon, Neville's words lingered in the air.

At day's end, the couple joined the rest of their group in watching Hong Kong disappear into the distance - this city which combined the vibes of English society and Chinese culture. They spotted shopping facades and billboards on its main shopping street, announcing shops in English displays and calligraphic signs, giving an Oxford Street vibe from afar. There were six traffic lanes, with two lanes exclusively for public transportation and its double-decker busses. It felt familiar, and yet it didn't.

Later, they fell asleep entangled in each other's arms. Draco made love to her in a slow and worshipful way, demonstrating his passion for her through touch. Yet, both succumbed to the tangled webs of dreams, lost in their own thoughts.

Draco's mind still raged in anger and frustration. Despite his efforts to be a better wizard than his father, people expected him to revert to the old-fashioned Malfoy attitudes of prejudice and snobbery. It was as if nobody believed in his capability to atone for his deeds and show redemption.

Beside him, Hermione fretted herself to sleep, despite what she'd told Draco. Was there a string of truth in Neville's words? Could it be that Draco is using me as long as I'm useful to him? Will he dump me when we disembark? It's hard to believe he could have bad intentions. His actions feel too genuine to be fake. On top of which, Neville doesn't know this new Draco the same way I do. He sounds sincere when he tells me how much he loves me.

Right?

A.N.:

My apologies for the two months delay. My work together with all the madness Covid is having us do at work/home/daily life, is driving me crazy and more often than not, instead of writing, I've been reading. MC Romances, for god sake! Yet, I have a job to do, and is bringing this Arcadia back to its starting point and continue beyond that.

I can't promise when I'll update again, I hate to break my word. I'll try as soon as I can.

My gratitude goes to my dear LadyRhi for her beta help.

Take care of yourself and your loved ones.