*The week away begins*
Draco hadn't understood why he would need something called a passport, but Theo had insisted he get one when they signed him up for the experiment. Thanks to the events of the war and the efforts of the many half-bloods and muggle borns the Ministry provided them for any wizards that had to take muggle transportation or if they were traveling to areas that didn't have a Ministry connection with. Draco had never been on an airplane, and he wasn't sure he liked the idea of traveling in a crowded metal tube for hours. He and Hermione discussed it in their journal in the morning as they prepared along with the others to set off for their journey of a week away from the rest of the world together. Hermione had justified it saying they couldn't get a portkey if they didn't know where they were taking them to start with.
The couples were to meet beforehand to travel together in passenger vehicles to the airport. Draco was eager to see Hermione again, he was tired of only being around the men and not being able to discus things that pertained to the magical world. He was hoping once they were together, they would be able to send a message home so that Theo and the others knew he was okay and that he had made a match. He didn't want to tell them it was Granger not yet. He wanted them to know he was sure of himself in regard to a woman without being clouded by who she was.
As they exited the building each couple paired up. Camden and Laura embraced and kissed immediately. Draco took ahold of Hermione and pulled her to him. "I am so glad to see you."
"Well hello to you too sir." Hermione chuckled, and made note of the fact that he took ahold of her hand and held it as if his life depended on it. She could feel him rest his head on the top of hers. "You okay?" All of this was so new to her, Ron had never done anything like this and while she had felt herself falling for Drake in the pod, Draco had never been someone she expected to cling to her in such a way.
"I am better now." He was up front about it, "I can feel your magic, and I think my core needed that." He whispered in her ear and then kissed her cheek.
"I can say that I feel the same way." She responded knowing exactly what he meant.
"So, girl this is the dragon you tamed?" Laura joked as she and Camden approached. Draco looked up and saw the man he had befriended and the woman who spoke.
Hermione could feel the heat rise in her cheeks. "Laura, this is Drake. Drake, Laura." She gestured between the two of them. "And you must be Camden. It is nice to finally put a face to the voice."
Camden smiled and wrapped an arm around Laura's shoulders and put his other hand out to shake Hermione's hand. "Pleased to finally meet you in person Jean."
Draco put his hand out to shake Laura's hand and instead found himself pulled into a hug, but Laura made a point of saying loud enough for Hermione and Camden to hear, "If you hurt her Drake, I don't care who you are, I will come after you." Then she kissed his cheek.
Draco responded "Trust me Laura, there would be a line of people along with you. So, trust me when I say, I have no intention what so ever of hurting her." His grip on Hermione's hand tightened.
Draco could feel eyes on him and didn't like the look from the woman Tim was with. He pulled Hermione closer to him and spoke so only she could hear. "Who is the woman with the blonde hair wearing the oversized jumper?" Hermione turned slightly so she could see.
"That's Jennifer. She wanted Martin to propose to her, but I guess ended up with whoever that gentleman is. When she saw my dress the other day, she started to insist that she didn't remember meeting you. She and Amanda don't get along so I am glad that we will be in separate rooms from this point on. I can't handle the drama. They remind me of Lavender and Parvati sometimes." Hermione said and then she noticed that Draco was running his thumb in a circular motion on her hand. It was quite soothing, but she wasn't sure if it was for her benefit or his.
The vehicles pulled up and the couples paired up for the ride to the airport. Some had introduced themselves to each other, most everyone avoided Jennifer and her air of disappointment as she finally set eyes on the other men. Poor Tim seemed clueless to her visible disappointment. Hermione and Draco were joined in their van by Laura, Camden, Derek and Giana. Both other men were how Hermione had imagined them from their discussions. Draco pulled Hermione closer into his side, there was plenty of room in the vehicle but for some reason he seemed to need her as close as possible. Hermione didn't quite understand it, she looked up at him and asked if he was okay.
He leaned down to speak in her ear, "I, I am not used to muggle transportation. It makes me anxious. Having you next to me makes me feel a little more grounded." Then he looked her in the eye, "Is that okay?" She could see the anxiety in his eyes. He really was nervous about their means of transportation and she found it funny. He would not think twice about riding a broom at high speed so far above the ground, or taking a portkey, flooing around the wizarding world even, but trap him in a muggle vehicle and he was terrified.
She took his hand and squeezed it, "Yes, that's okay." Draco squeezed her hand in return. "I'll be right beside you the whole way." She said to reassure him.
When they arrived at the airport, Draco held her hand even tighter. Laura noticed and pulled up along side of her as they stood in the line for the security check point before heading to their gate. "Drake is white knuckled there. Is everything okay?"
"He's never been on a plane. He's nervous. Hence the death grip on my hand. I think I am going to need to give him a sleeping pill for the flight." Hermione informed her friend. Laura nodded her understanding.
"We should try and get seats near each other." Laura said as they moved up in the line. Hermione nodded in agreement. She felt that it would be good for Draco to have people he could be comfortable around especially for each moment that was new for him.
Once they got to the point of putting their carryon bags to the x-ray and had to go through the metal detector Hermione turned to Draco to explain what he would need to do. He didn't object to putting his thing into the tray, or going through to be scanned but he didn't like the idea that he had to do it without her with him.
"I can go before you if it helps. So you can see me do it and know that I am right there waiting for you?" Hermione whispered to him. "Or you can go first and get it done with. Just let me know when we get to it." Draco nodded, and squeezed her hand again.
"You go first. I think it will help that I can see you." Draco said with a tense voice. Hermione could see that he was uncertain about the whole thing. And of course, it was Hermione's luck that she was randomly selected to be patted down by the security officer. Draco's eyes held murder in them as he watched. Hermione was glad she could only feel the stare down that was happening and not see it for herself. She bit her tongue as she put her shoes and jewelry back on and heard him bark out at the officer "What? You don't want to pat my ass too? Just my fiancé?"
"Draco, love, he was just doing his job. Please get your things so we can get to the plane. I would like to spend time on the beach with you not in airport security." Hermione chided him like a parent would. He of course pouted like a child.
"I don't like that he put his hands all over you." Draco grumbled as he put his shoes back on and slipped his family ring back on his finger. "You will have to get used to the fact that I don't take well to others touching you."
Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. "I don't think he much enjoyed it either." Then she added, "You say that like it isn't a new thing, you not liking others touching me."
Draco realized he had set himself up for that, "Um. We can discuss that at another point. You said you wanted to get to the plane so that's what we should do. Which way?" Hermione could see his neck and ears getting pink.
"Oh, I am going to hold you to that." Hermione teased as she took his hand to lead him through the airport. The couples all met up at the gate where they were finally able to discuss where they were going. None of them had been to Fiji. They discussed what they knew of the previous group going to Mexico. The speculation was that the all-inclusive resort was much of what the men had assumed an attempt to keep them in a pod like environment but with real world situations before putting them into the real world. Each couple had been given a paper brochure since cell phones were still not allowed.
Giana and Amanda were discussing what type of accommodations they thought they would be put up in. Hermione was listening but found herself focused on how Draco was leaning against her. She turned her head to him, "The flight is going to be a long one, I have something that will help you sleep if you think you need it. Especially if you are feeling anxious about the flight."
He looked down at her, "I don't want to have a nightmare if I fall asleep." She could see the struggle in his eyes. He hadn't mentioned nightmares, and she hadn't heard him. And then it dawned on her if he silenced himself at night she wouldn't have known.
"I have dreamless daft as well. And we can make sure to silence the room when we get to the resort." Hermione took his hand to reassure him. He looked her in the eye and just nodded. Draco had the sense that Hermione was prepared for anything that could be thrown at them.
"Can I keep you?" Draco asked her. Hermione raised an eyebrow as she looked at him again then held her left hand up to him.
"Thought that was what you were going for with this?" She quipped at him. Draco took her hand and brought it to his lips.
"It is a step in the process of things." Draco said to her and then he leaned into kiss her properly. Draco couldn't believe that he was here kissing her. But what struck him the most was how right it felt. "When you agree to the other ring, that's when I truly get to keep you." Hermione could feel the heat rushing up her neck, across her cheeks and to her ears.
"You two are going to be the disgustingly cute couple aren't you?" Amanda joked watching them from where she and Martin sat. Draco looked at the two of them sitting across the aisle of seats at the gate. His impression of Amanda wasn't a great one, based on the few conversations he had with her and seeing her with Martin it made sense that they would end up together.
"I am quite okay with that. What about you love?" Draco said looking at Hermione. He gave her that lopsided smirk that he used in school. Suddenly she felt like she was a part of some secret he knew, and it was something she had never expected. She hoped he would share his thought with her but for the mean time she would play along, so she snuggled into him as she gave her answer. "Someone has to be the disgustingly cute couple, so if you are okay with it so am I."
Draco leaned in to kiss her and Amanda groaned, and Martin mumbled about them being too old to be so mushy. Hermione smiled into the kiss because of it. Draco leaned his head against hers and said "Oh I will be an old man on my grave and still be ridiculously crazy about this woman."
When the first set of turbulence hit and Draco gripped the armrest and Hermione's hand as if he were falling off his broom. "Granger, I think I should have taken that medicine you offered back at the airport. I am not built for this."
Hermione leaned into him and whispered, "You can still take it, and I can silence us if that helps." Draco had taken the seat by the window on Hermione's insistence. He lowered his head to hers.
"Will you think any less of me if I do? I would very much like to say that I was able to handle traveling in this contraption, but I never want to do it again." Draco spoke through gritted teeth, his grip on her hand still tight. Hermione used her free hand to reach into her pack and pull out her beaded purse. It hadn't left her side since the hunt for the horcruxes began so many years ago, a witch never knew when she would need it. And she had since learned how to charm it so that it could pass muggle detection such as airport security. Draco eyed her as she set the bag between them, practically on his lap and reached into it. She fished around for a moment and with drew a small vial.
"Fear not, I have more. You only need a little anyways, and I will silence us so you don't have to worry about anyone hearing you have a nightmare. And, I will be right here, the whole time. You can hold my hand if it helps." She handed him the vial and he quickly drank the contents.
"Will you read until it kicks in? The last week with you reading, I have been able to sleep better than even before school. I think you keep the nightmares at bay." Draco stated so low that Hermione almost didn't hear him.
She put the empty vial back in her bag and pulled out the copy of Sherlock Holmes that Draco had given her just days before. Then she did something he wasn't prepared for, she let go of his hand then pried it off of the arm rest before raising it up and setting it between their seats. He was about to protest when she shifted closer to him and pulled his arm around her. She wandlessly silenced them so no one would hear as she read to him. To anyone watching they looked like a man falling asleep while the woman with him read to herself. The plane had been crowded and noisy, despite their best efforts none of the couples were able to procure seats near each other. Draco gripped the fabric of Hermione's shirt when he felt the plane jostle.
"No problem on a broom, but this makes you nervous. Have you forgotten you are a wizard Mr. Malfoy?" Hermione teased him as she positioned the book so she could read, he reached for her hand and entwined their fingers so he could actually have a hold on her.
"I don't understand how you can be fearless about being in this death trap, but terrified of a broom?" Draco shot back knowing full well from school and stories Potter had relayed that Hermione was terrified of heights and refused to ever ride a broom if she could avoid it.
Draco closed his eyes and smirked at the look on her face. He let the sound of her voice lull him to sleep knowing she was next to him and he could hold her to him for the few hours they had in the flight. The scent of her enveloped him and he let out a sigh he didn't realize he had been holding in.
The flight had taken hours and Hermione read to him until she was sure he was asleep. She adjusted herself and rested her head on his chest. She let the rhythm of his heartbeat pull her into her own fitful slumber. Hermione awoke as the plane began its decent, she knew she should wake Draco but wanted to prevent him from panicking with the touchdown of the landing. She looked up at him and noticed that while he slept he looked so peaceful, like her own angel sent to watch over her. She whispered his name, wanting to wake him gradually. She reached up to touch his shoulder and gently shake him, saying his name again. "Draco, we're going to land soon. Draco time to wake up." She thought of how her mother used to wake her as a child and shifted herself so she could whisper in his ear then kiss his cheek. "Drac.." She didn't get to finish saying his name because suddenly his hand snaked into her hair and pulled her to him. Her eyes widened then closed as he kissed her. He held her to him and her hands splayed out across his chest and forearm with how she was positioned. She felt the plane touch down and was relieved that he managed to handle it so well. She tried to pull back and he only gripped her tighter. When plane came to a stop he finally released her and pulled away.
"We can travel like this if you promise to do that the whole ride." Draco said looking into her eyes. Hermione couldn't bring herself to form words. She just nodded her head. "You can unsilenced us now." Draco said to her, as he took a hold of her hand again. She lifted the spell, and found herself looking at him in hopes that he would kiss her again. He seemed to sense what she was thinking and leaned into her again. "Granger," he let out roughly "We have a week in whatever paradise they have sent us to to snog each other senseless, which I plan to do. But I don't want to get carried away in front of all these people."
"Oh Merlin, you're right." She said coloring with embarrassment. Draco lifted her chin.
"I plan to snog you senseless woman, so let's get out of this metal death tube and to our accommodations so that I can do just that." Draco said with a tone that was different than any of what she had heard. It sent a chill down her and gave her goosebumps all over.
The airport was not the same as the one they had departed from, Draco made note of this. He was always on alert because of his auror training. He kept Hermione close to him, some of the other men seemed to do the same, there were people with signs so that they all congregated together and then exited to travel to the resort. They went out to and found they would all be getting into one vehicle instead of multiple. The women chatted with each other as did the men. There were a couple of people that seemed more stand offish and Draco kept a watchful eye not trusting them despite knowing they had just completed the same ten days as he and Hermione.
The resort was breathtaking as far as Hermione was concerned. They had to take a water taxi across to the resort, and she had never been to anywhere like it before from the look on Draco's face neither had he. So much for the spoiled rich boy he had been growing up. They are given bands that show they are with a group at the resort and will grant them access to all the amenities of the resort, their room key and a map to direct them to their room and are told their bags are already waiting for them. The couples will separate for the evening to settle into their rooms, where dinner will be brought to them so they can have time alone with their fiancés.
As they approach the path that leads to their bure, which Hermione explains is Fijian for a house or temple Draco smirks and mumbles "Swot." Hermione turns to glare at him as she would have for so many years but when she looks at the expression on his face, it isn't one of malice or annoyance at her knowledge, the look in his eyes is one that sends a shiver down her spine. He gives her that lopsided grin that she is sure is meant to do things to her and finds that it does, like it never has before.
They entered the bure and Hermione let out a whistle. "Wow, this is very nice." She looked around the split-level design of the private open floor plan of the room. They entered in what was clearly the living space, with a sofa, coffee table and accent chairs at a table to eat at. She could see the large bed in the space just beyond at the higher level and behind that was sliding doors that must have lead to the loo. To her right were French doors that were open to a private deck with lounge chairs that looked out to the ocean, they were right on the beach. The theme of the room was clearly traditional Fijian, it screamed of paradise. She turned to look at Draco who had entered the bure behind her and hadn't said anything. The look on his face was not one Hermione had ever experienced before. She may have come close then they first saw each other just days ago, but never prior to that.
Draco never took his eyes off of her, but knew there was an assigned production assistant, and camera man behind him filming, the cameras would be around, he was aware of that but this was their private space and before he moved he said in a cold, clear and calculated voice that held all the authority of a true Malfoy, "You and the cameras are not to enter this space in the evenings. My fiancé and I will see you in the morning, the door will be locked so you will have to knock and announce yourself for us to let you in." Then he reached behind him and closed the door still without taking his eyes off of Hermione. There was the squeak of protest from the production assistant, and they could hear the camera man chuckle, "Get it bro."
Hermione quirked an eyebrow at him and smirked that he had still held the pure audacity that Malfoy men ruled the world. "Well then. That sounded very much like," She started to speak and he stopped her.
"Me, looking at the woman he has been next to for hours and wanted to snog senseless for days. So you will have to pardon me for wanting to set clear boundaries for the people who were on the verge of entering what is for all intents and purposes our bedroom as there are no walls or doors blocking that plush looking king size bed off from the rest of the space we are standing in." He took a step closer to her, and in her head Hermione pondered taking a step back but knew it would be of no use. Draco motioned with his hand and wandlessly locked the door behind him. He took another step into her personal space and she licked her lips as she looked up at him. In this moment she realized just how much he towered over her now that he was a grown adult.
A knock at the door shook her out of the cloud she was in with his gaze. "Who is it?" She asked her voice barely hiding the quiver he had caused.
"Dinner." Came the voice on the other side of the door Draco had locked.
He smirked at her, challenging to deny him what he clearly wanted and knew she did as well and it wasn't food.
"We're going to need to eat to have the energy for whatever you have in mind Mr. Malfoy." Hermione snarked at him. He knew she was right, all the things his brain wanted to do would require him to be uninterrupted for a significant period of time. He unlocked the door and opened it for the young kid who was wheeling a cart with a tray on it. He placed the various dishes on the table for them as well as glasses with a bottle of champagne. Hermione thanked him and Draco handed him a tip as he opened the door for him to leave.
"I will be back in shortly to clear away the things you are done with." The young resort worker stated, and Draco nodded appreciating the warning of his return.
Hermione looked at the table, set with an amuse bouche for the two of them, a plate each of an entrée, and a main course with cards telling them what was there. "Must be so we can decide who gets what?
Hermione read one of the cards: pan fried potato gnocchi, cauliflower, almond, tea-soaked raisins it sounded delicious and her stomach rumbled in agreement. She realized they hadn't eaten anything in hours and standing before this made her feel like it had been days. She picked up another card: salad of local mud crab, macadamia ajo blanco, cucumber, watercress. "Draco, you better come eat something this all sounds exquisite and I won't leave a bite for you."
She jumped when she felt his arms snake around her and his head slide into the crook of her neck. "I feel like I am hungry for only one thing, but I will humor you before he comes back. There better not be chocolate mousse because all bets are off if there is." He kissed her neck then released her so he could pull out a chair for her to sit down. He didn't miss the shiver that ran down her as he released her from his grasp.
They sampled from each other's plates in the time they had eating their fil of char-grilled spring chicken, lovo roasted celeriac, chilli, za'atar, hazelnut and wood fire grilled beef tenderloin, smoked onion, king brown mushroom with a side of roasted kipfler potato, parsley, sea salt. When the young man came back about thirty minutes later, he had a tray with honey rosemary ice cream in long stemmed glass dishes. They reminded Hermione of martini glasses and the spoons were tiny so that they took small tastes to clear their palate. This time the waiter stood outside the door so he could clear the glasses immediately and be on his way. Hermione thanked him for bringing the lovely mean and sent her compliments to the chef. The young man nodded and as he walked down the path carrying the balanced tray of their empty plates, Draco watched to be sure they were truly alone now.
Hermione had managed to bustle around the room finding their luggage tucked away in his and hers closets in the upper area just behind where the king-sized bed was. Draco found her standing at the French style doors that lead out to a private outdoor shower that was hidden from view by a high stone wall and various local plants. He resumed the position he had take prior to eating, pulling her to him with her back to his chest and his nose tickling her right ear. "I don't know how I feel about letting you shower out here alone."
"Don't be ridiculous, I obviously would not be out here alone, anyone that walked by…" Hermione started to joke, and Draco spun her around to stop her from finishing.
"The only person that will be out her with you when you use this will be me. Don't even joke about Martin or anyone else being around." Draco said in a tone that was serious and held a hint of the nasty boy from long ago.
"Draco, I didn't mean…" She started to speak again to calm his concerns if he truly had any, but he crashed his lips to hers and silenced and further comments she might have had. She was so lost in his kiss that she didn't realize he had walked them back out of the bathroom until the back of her legs collided with the desk that was built into the back of the headboard of the bed. She felt his hands slide down her body and cup her arse and with the speed of a seeker and the strength of all his auror training he lifted her up and set her on the top of the desk never once breaking the kiss. He ran his tongue against her lips seeking entrance and she granted it allowing him to deepen the kiss. His skill pulled noise from the back of her throat that she didn't know she was capable of.
He allowed himself to break the kiss for a moment to ask, "Bed or sofa?"
Hermione was panting from the kiss, trying to take in air a clear her brain from all the things his kiss brought to her mind. "What?" she asked not sure she had heard correctly.
"Granger, I am going to snog you senseless, will it be on the bed or the sofa? Because I am going to be as much of a gentleman as I can about this, so you tell me where we are going and how far." Draco panted out and Hermione realized just how much he was affected by their closeness as well as their kissing.
Ron had never been a gentleman about anything, nor had his kisses caused her brain to cloud and think of what it would be like to feel his hands on her skin, or tangled in her hair. She couldn't even remember her brief time with Victor Krum having this kind of affect on her. Draco made the skin where he had held her tingle and he hadn't even touched her skin to skin yet.
"Draco, do you have veela in your family somewhere?" Hermione asked trying to come up with a logical reason as to why he would cause this reaction in her.
"What? No. Why would you ask me that?" Draco was confused, all he wanted was to kiss the woman senseless and she wanted to ask silly questions.
"I only ask because, because when you kiss me, I have never had the physical reaction you create. I was curious if I was responding to something akin to a veela hormone or gene." Hermione blushed.
"What do you mean, never… wait, never mind. When we get back home, remind me to send Weasley a thank you for being such a louse and not treating you as a woman should. Because if he hadn't, I wouldn't be standing here with you and being the one to cause a physical reaction that makes you think for a second I have veela in my heritage. Now Granger last time, bed or sofa because I am seriously about to cause of physical reaction for you and you need to tell me where that is going to happen." Draco purred out the final bit as he skimmed his fingers around the small gap in the fabric of the hem of her shirt and the top of her shorts.
She felt her eyes flutter shut and her head tilt back slightly as his lips found purchase at her throat. She barely heard herself utter, "Bed, bed please." She heard a sound come from Draco that could have passed as a growl, and he ran an arm under her pulling her bottom against him, her arms instinctively wrapped around his shoulders and he walked them around the side of the desk to the actual bed.
Ducking behind Christmas tree...
As always I do not own anything Harry Potter or Love is Blind. And no, I am not turning this into a veela story, but it would be very Hermione to overthink a situation. The resort is based on a real one in Fiji, sadly no I have new been but I have researched to give you believable imagery of the location as it comes in the chapters ahead. Right down to the actual menus and floor plan of the place.
Don't forget to leave a review they are the fuel of my writer's soul. Next chapter coming soon. Happy Holidays my lovely readers!