Chapter Sixteen. Expect the unexpected

Did I know this would be a bad idea? Yes. Did I proceed to execute it anyway? Yes. And did I regret it every single moment after I let it happen? Absolutely.

To simply sum up what happened: Malfoy asked to come with me to the Weasley home, and I said sure. I had no idea what went through my mostly logical mind and at the heat of the moment, I accepted his demand.

I used 'demand' instead of any word to describe how a person could politely ask someone else for a favour was because it was the only suited word to express how I felt about Malfoy's behaviours.

It happened when I was curled up in the armchair and eating a chocolate chip cookie. Malfoy, being his casual self, quietly sneaked up to me and snatched the half-eaten cookie from my hand.

"Ugh, excuse me?" I rose my eyebrow, "As you can probably tell, I was eating it."

"You aren't now," He curled his lips and got down on one knee in front me, I was dubious of his actions.

With his thumb and index finger pinching my cookie in one hand and the other on the arm rest of the chair, he slowly leaned forward as I was trying my best not to move back. A smirk climbed on his thin lips and his face was inches away from mine:

"Hermione, I'm going to Weasley's place with you."

"I don't think I understand," I did all I could to not stumble on words.

"Since when are you having trouble with basic English?" He didn't move, instead, he got even closer.

"Are you trying to intimidate me?" I squinted, quickly glanced at his lips before looking back into his eyes.

"I am simply making a suggestion," He said softly as he continued to get closer. Just as I thought his lips were about to touch mine, he slightly tilted his head to whisper while gently nibbling on my ear, "So, what do you think?"

"Umm…"

"Are you distracted by anything? You don't seem to be much focused," He said in a teasing tone. I could feel his warm breath, the heat of my ear and the tip of his tongue sliding down the rim.

If I said I didn't like this moment one bit, then I was lying.

I was doomed.

"Not going to lie but I think it's a bit hard for me to think straight right now," I spoke honestly. I attempted to turn a little so that I could face him, but he grabbed my chin with his ice-cold fingers and held me still. He then moved his battlefield down to my neck and began to press his surprisingly warm lips against it.

It was gentle yet forceful.

I said it before, and I would say it again:

I was doomed.

"I fail to see why you cannot," He said in a muffled tone. His soft, pale-blonde hair brushed against my cheek and left a trace of his signature scent.

There wasn't even a clue for me to start figuring out what Draco Malfoy's charm was, but I was sure trapped and not even thinking about getting out.

"Well, if you don't mind stepping away from me and gave my cookie back, then I can clear my mind," I said, sitting stiff in the armchair, with my hands on my lap, fighting the urge to wrap them around his waist.

"Unfortunately, that is not possible at the moment," He didn't stop, then I heard the sound of something hitting the floor, "And oh, I think your cookie is now gone, too bad."

With his hand now freed, he slid his arm behind me and held me tight.

"I'm going to Weasley's place with you tomorrow," He repeated, "And you are going to let me."

"Sure, sure," I gave in. My head was spinning, and the last part of any logical thoughts had left my brain, "Whatever you please."

"That's what I wanted to hear," I could picture him grinning.

Without any warning, he pulled me up from the chair and let me loose. With a victorious smile, he said:

"Now, would you like a new cookie?"

"No, forget about the damn cookie," I said without thinking and wrapped my arm around him, "I want you."

He was surprised at first, but his smile remained:

"You never fail to amaze me, Hermione Granger."

###

Standing in front of the Weasley's house, my heart was pounding out of my chest. There was no reason for me to be nervous, no reason at all, except the fact that Draco Malfoy was trailing along with me. Decisions, decisions, how did I always end up with fateful ones with a hint of embarrassment? I had no clue. But at this rate, the best course of action would be I just simple go along with it.

"You seem quite frisky," Said the troublemaker who rose his eyebrow.

"Ha, ha, very funny," I said dryly, switching between my feet to stand on so I can get some movement to keep myself a little warmer in the harsh weather.

"You can come closer, you know," He curled his lips, "What's this, acting like a stranger as if we didn't spend the night together?"

"Really?" I rolled my eyes, but then swiftly turned away to avoid eye contact so he could see me blushing.

"Don't roll your eyes at me," He reached out to gently poke my cheek.

"Don't tell me what to do," I responded quickly.

"You get defensive when you are stressed, "He wasn't agitated, instead, he had a smirk linger on his thin lips, "Now, tell me, why are you stressed?"

"You know exactly why," I crossed my arms.

"Oh, do I?" The smirk was still there, "Let me guess, you are freaked out because you brought me to the Weasleys'. And you are afraid how people are going to react. But honestly, I don't see what the big deal is."

"You don't see what the big deal is?" I tried my best to not raise my voice, "When we walk through that door, what should I expect? Should I expect you to get into a fight with Ron right away?"

"That sounds insanely negative," He acted as if he was surprised, "I cannot speak for Weasley, but I, myself, is a quite civilized person. Unless being provoked, I promise you that I won't get into a fist fight with him."

"I'd be worried if you get a fist fight with him," I couldn't help but chuckled, "I'm not sure if you'll win."

"Again, a civilized person shall not use force," He smiled, "We talk our way through."

"Sure, sure," I laughed, talking definitely helped lightening up the mood a bit, but there was no choice left, we must go ahead and knock on the door now, "Let's get going."

"After you," He bowed his arm and stepped aside.

I took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. A moments later, I heard footsteps ruffling towards the door, and then I saw the ginger red hair.

Standing in front of Malfoy and I, with a frozen smile on his face, was Ron Weasley. I opened my mouth but couldn't make a sound. I wanted to turn around to see what Malfoy was doing, but I had no strength to look back. Ron looked behind me at Malfoy, then at me before looking back at Malfoy again. The tension in the air was so apprehensive that I could almost taste it.

Again, I tried to say something, but I simple couldn't make a sound as if there was something stuck in my throat.

I heard Ginny's voice coming from behind him, asking who it at the door was. He slightly turned, quickly glanced at me before shutting the door in front of me.

The best way to describe how I felt at this movement was that I was left dumbfounded.

Slowly, I found myself turning to Malfoy, who had his head tilted with a smirk raised from the sense of amusement.

"He did just slam the door at you, didn't he?" He curled his lips.

"Why are you looking so smug?" I asked in confusion and I went to stand right next to him.

"I was wondering how Weasley would react when he sees us together," He shrugged as he gently wrapped his arm around my shoulder, "You see, Granger, I knew Weasley is immature, but I didn't know how immature he actually is."

"Well," I sighed and moved closer to him in hope of escaping the bitter cold, "I have to say I'm disappointed. I was hoping he has gotten his act together. But guess I was wrong. What do we do now?"

"We can go back to my house," He said while focusing his sight on the Weasleys' door, "Or, within a couple seconds, the Weasley girl would open the door and apologize for her childish brother's behaviour."

He was right. Before I could say anything, the door flung open and Ginny, together with Harry, were on the other side with obviously forced smiles. And Ron was nowhere in sight.

"Hey!" Ginny greeted us with her best pretended cheerful tone. I could tell she was annoyed, but I wasn't sure if she was annoyed by her brother, or by the fact that I brought Malfoy along, or both., "Sorry about Ron, he has his tantrums once in a while. Would you like to come in?"

"Maybe we shouldn't bother," I whispered to Malfoy, "I think we should leave."

"I can't believe I'm saying this," Harry pushed his glasses up, "You are welcome to join us too, Malfoy."

"Aren't you full of hospitality?" Malfoy said coldly with his usual flat-toned sarcasm, "I feel so very warmly welcomed."

"Oh, quit it," I squeezed his arm as I continued to whisper to him, "I'm going to tell them that we are leaving."

"Come on in," As awkward as the situation was, Ginny still had her smile on, "You must be freezing, it's cold out."

"Actually, we…"

"Sure, thank you for the invite." Malfoy interrupted me. Despite I looked at him in shock and confusion, he held my hand and began pulling me toward the door as he was walking up.

When we were getting through the threshold, he quietly said:

"I can't wait to see how this show goes."

Damn you, Malfoy, damn you.