Well, we're kicking this thing into gear as we travel to Paris with Hermione and Draco this chapter. Hopefully this will satisfy and tease all of you at the same time. Have fun!
All the books, the flyers of traveling agencies, the pictures and the stories could not do Paris at Christmastime justice. The twinkling lights, the decorated storefronts, the jolly people and the carols sounding from almost every street corner made Hermione feel she was put in a Dickensian story.
Huddled in her warm winter coat and hat, she and Draco strolled up the narrow street leading to the bookstore owned by Gerard Pascal, an acquaintance of Draco's and a purveyor of exquisite books and ancient texts. To muggles, Shakespeare and Company was just a rather remarkable bookshop, its true wizarding purposes hidden from unsuspecting shoppers.
The store was small, dark and crammed with books. Everywhere Hermione looked, there were books. Some brand-new and in plastic, others old and definitely used. There were ladders to reach the top shelves and rickety tables with bargains. The store reeked of old age and looked the part too. The wooden beams and floors were stained to reflect the era in which the building was constructed.
Muggles shuffled their way through the shop, chattering in French, and browsing the inventory.
Draco grabbed Hermione's hand and led her to the back of the shop where there were some squashy armchairs. It felt so natural, walking hand in hand with Draco, Hermione didn't think to break free from his grasp.
In one of the chairs sat a man. He was tall, dark haired and dressed in a casual red sweater and grey pants. When Draco coughed softly, he looked up. His face broke into a smile and he came to his feet, his arms spread wide in a welcoming gesture.
He said something in French and Draco smiled before he turned to Hermione. 'Gerard, this is the girl I told you about. Hermione Granger, meet Gerard Pascal'.
Hermione extended her hand and Gerard bend low over it, pressing a kiss on the back of her hand. 'Bonjour belle mademoiselle. I am Gerard Pascal, connoisseur of ze wine, collecteur of ze books and appreciator of ze fine women. To meet such a wonderful and beautiful woman iz a privilege. I am for ever in your debt Draco, for introduzing us. Now I can die, knowing I 'ave zeen all ze beauty in ze world'.
He covered his face with his arm rather theatrically while Draco raised his eyes to the ceiling in exasperation. Hermione giggled as she felt Draco tightening his grip on her other hand.
'The honour is all mine monsieur'.
'You zpeak Français', Gerard exclaimed.
'Not even a bit', Hermione laughed.
'Your accent, she is wonderful. You could 'ave fooled me', the man flattered, smiling broadly at her.
'Calm down man, she has a boyfriend', Draco grumbled.
'And jet I zee you are 'olding 'er 'and'.
Draco let go of Hermione's hand like it was burning him. It felt rather cold and lonely, not being held anymore. For lack of a better idea, Hermione put her hand in her pocket.
'Can I offer you zome tea or café?', Gerard offered as he invited them to sit with him.
Both Hermione and Draco asked for coffee and Gerard disappeared to a back room, getting busy with a coffeemaker.
'He seems nice', Hermione teased Draco, her eyes sparkling and her mouth twisted in a grin.
'He's a real Casanova', Draco grumbled.
'What's the matter Draco, scared I'll fall for him?'
Draco scoffed. 'I doubt you'd fall for such cheap theatrics'.
'You're right, getting me drunk is an easier method', Hermione jested. She regretted her words immediately. They had never, ever, addressed their hook-up. Neither had had to deny or make up excuses. She could see Draco's eyes grow a bit, but before she could say anything, Gerard came back, holding three steaming mugs.
Hermione and Draco both took one from him and when he led the way to his office where they could talk without being overheard, Hermione took Draco's hand in hers.
He looked at her in surprise, but she just nodded and smiled. He smiled back, rather unsure, but it was a smile nevertheless.
Gerard sank down behind his desk in an office so cramped by books there was hardly any room for visitors. Yet there were three chairs rammed into the tiny space. Somewhat unsure, Hermione took place in one, Draco the other.
Gerard clasped his hands together and stared at them. 'What can I do for you?', he asked.
'I owl-ed you Gerard', Draco said. 'We have some runes we're having trouble with deciphering. I was hoping you could help us. In your letter you said you could'.
'I am 'oping to 'elp you my old friend', Gerard said. 'Ze runes I 'ave seen make me 'opeful. Yet I need more of ze texts to…ânes'.
'Asses', Draco supplied helpful.
'Oui', Gerard said. 'Azses. Can you show me zome of iet?'
Draco looked at Hermione. She put down her mug of coffee on the desk and reached inside her pocket. From it she took two suitcases, shrunken down by magic. She gave the smaller blue one to Draco, the other went back inside her coat.
Draco tapped the suitcase with his wand and it grew to its proper size.
'Very clever!', Gerard said, smiling widely. 'No 'andeling 'eavy luggage'.
'Makes it easier to travel by portkey', Draco shrugged as he flicks the clasps and took a small pile of paper from the insides.
Gerard was excited when he took the papers from Draco, but soon made a face. 'You 'ave brought me copies?'
'Yes', Hermione said, rather braver than she felt. If this man refused to help them…
'Why not bring me ze real deal, as they say?'
'And find them in some underground auction?', Draco snorted. 'Needing to buy them back at three times their value. No way mister'.
Gerard looked Draco in the face and for a moment Hermione thought all was lost. But then Gerard starting laughing so loud the walls seemed to shudder. He slammed a fist on the desk and sent a pile of papers flying.
'Zat ies rietch. You are right of course'.
'Can you help us?', Hermione pressed on, encouraged by the man's laughter.
Gerard looked her up and down. 'For you, belle mademoiselle, I can do anyzing. Iet will take zome time', he commented while flicking through the pages. 'Zis is a lot of work'.
'That's okay', Draco said. 'Take all the time you need. There's no rush'.
'Oui…oui', Gerard mumbled as he was already emerged in the papers. 'I will zhow you out. I'll start right away'.
Draco got to his feet. 'We can find our way, don't worry'. He extended his hand to Hermione, who took it and, holding her hand, Draco led her from the office to the front of the shop.
'No stealieng!', Gerard called after them. 'I know all my books'.
'Yeah, yeah', Draco called.
Neither Draco nor Hermione saw the look Gerard gave them as they left holding hands.
'Where to now?', Hermione asked when they emerged from the tiny bookstore and breathed in some fresh air.
'Well…Notre Dame is just across the river', Draco said as he showed Hermione to the end of the street and pointed at the beautiful cathedral by the canal.
'Ohh I always wanted to go!', Hermione squealed. 'Will you come with me?'
Draco raised his eyebrows. 'Of course. What kind of man would let a lady go unaccompanied to the most beautiful church in the world?'
Hermione's smile was so wide, she was in danger of tearing her face in half. 'Let's go then', she said and she pulled his arm to drag him across the canal.
Almost two hours later the exited the Notre Dame. Hermione had marvelled at every corner and had spewed facts non-stop, much to Draco's admiration. It seemed there was nothing the bushy-haired witch next to him didn't know.
'That was wonderful Draco, thank you', Hermione sighed as she turned around at the end of the small square in front of the cathedral to take one last look.
'It was my pleasure', Draco said and he was surprised at how much he meant it. He had never done things like this with other…well…"girlfriends" and he never felt the need to. Yet here he was, with this woman, and he found he was willing to do all the "boring" stuff no other girl had ever convinced him to do.
'I hope I didn't bore you', Hermione said as she amicably linked her arm with his and set off down the street.
Slightly amazed by her behaviour, Draco looked down on her. 'Not at all', he said, hardly as smooth as he would normally do. 'What would you like to see next?'
'Well, there's the Louvre', Hermione began to list. 'And there's the Eiffel tower, Arc de Triomphe, the Sacré Coeur, the Champs-Élysées. And then there are the other museums, churches and ohh, I hear the zoo is supposed to be phenomenal…'.
'Blimey Hermione, we'll have to spent a month here if you want to do all those things', Draco said in amazement.
Hermione giggled and nodded. 'Maybe we just make a selection?'
'Very well. We should do the Eiffel tower, we can't leave if you've never been to the Eiffel tower and climbed to the top'.
'And I could do without the Louvre', Hermione sighed.
'How about dinner first?', Draco offered. 'It's almost six. We can swing by the hotel, get changed and go out for a bite to eat?'
'Sounds wonderful', Hermione smiled. 'Which hotel did you book?'
'It's a surprise', Draco said mysteriously and he grabbed Hermione's arm tighter. 'Hold on, I'll get us there in no time'.
It was a good thing Draco had not said anything about the hotel, because Hermione would not have believed him even if he had. 'You got me a room with a view of the Eifel tower?!', she almost shrieked. 'Wow Draco. This is…this is too much'.
'Never mind', Draco waved his hand. 'The ministry pays. It's a work trip after all'.
Hermione smiled at him and went back to the windows, staring at the beautiful scenery unfolding before her. She knew full well that this was a work trip but she also knew the ministry would not pay for a five-star hotel with a view of the most famous tower in the world.
Then again, this was Draco Malfoy. Then man had more Galleons than he knew what to do with. If he wanted a nice hotel, she certainly wasn't going to complain. Not when he was taking her with him anyway.
Heading Ginny's words, she turned around again, checking the hotel room. There was a seating area with a comfortable looking sofa and chairs. A queen-size bed stood facing the windows, no doubt to maximize the effect of the view of the Eifel tower. There was an opened door that led to the bathroom, which looked equally luscious.
'Where…how do you propose… I mean…'.
Draco raised his eyebrows and looked at her, leaning against the wall, letting her wrestle with the words. It didn't help her feeling of unease.
'How will we divide the bed?', Hermione finally settled.
Draco smirked. 'You'll go on top?', he proposed.
'Never'.
'Very well', Draco shrugged. 'My room is next to yours. If you would bang that wall', he pointed. 'I would hear'.
Hermione nodded, relief flowing through her veins. She had not put it past Draco Malfoy to book one room and make them share. Whether she had a boyfriend or not.
'Get changed, Granger', Draco ordered. 'I have a reservation'.
Hermione grinned and raised her eyebrows. 'Really? And how would I need to dress?'
'Just throw something together', Draco said. 'You'll be the prettiest girl there…'.
Hermione just stared at him. Draco scraped his throat. 'I…ehh…well I mean, it will be fine. Any…anything you choose'. And with those words he fled the room, bumping into a small side table as he went.
"Well", Hermione thought as she took out her suitcase and grew it back to its proper size, "that was weird. He hasn't been himself lately. That much is clear. How can he say something like that, when he knows full well, I have a boyfriend?"
The thought of Jeffry brought on a twang of guild. She had promised to call him as soon as she got to Paris.
Rushing over to the telephone on her nightstand, she dialled Jeffry's number. Yet the person answering was Mrs. Farrow, Jeffry's housekeeper. Mrs. Farrow explained Jeffry was on an unexpected mission and he wouldn't be home for a few days. Hermione thanked her and somehow, she felt lighter, knowing she didn't have to think about keeping in touch with Jeffry while she was here.
Putting her clothes away in the big and fancy wardrobe, Hermione chose an elegant black dress she had stuffed in het suitcase at the last moment, expecting to need some nice clothes when she was out with Draco Malfoy. After all, he was used to the finer things in life and he most definitely would like it if she was dressed the part.
She had just put the last hand on her hair, when a knock pulled her out of her concentration.
'Come in!', she called looking herself over one more time.
'Hermione?', Draco called back. 'We need to leave now!'
Hermione emerged from the bathroom looking as elegant and graceful as any pureblood woman he had ever seen. She seemed to float on her black heels. The dress she wore was a fitted, calf length, demure black thingy with a lace overlay. She looked both drop dead gorgeous and like an innocent lamb.
'Is this what you had in mind?', she asked as she twirled on the spot for him. Draco could only shake his head.
'Good enough?', she teased him as she put on lipstick in the full-length mirror next to the dresser.
Draco nodded. 'I might as well apparate us', he said, indicating her shoes. 'We'll never be on time if you have to walk in those shoes'.
Hermione smiled as she put on her coat, grabbed her bag and took the arm Draco was offering her. With a small pop they disappeared only to appear next to the Seine, in a dark alley.
'Where are we going?', Hermione asked curious.
Draco took her arm and linked it with his while leading the way. 'Well, I thought what would be the most…erhm…perfect way to see Paris? And this is what I came up with', and he gestured ahead.
Anchored to the quay was a large ship. 'We're going on a dinner-cruise'.
Hermione followed, dumbstruck, as Draco led the way to the ship and getting on board. A snooty French waiter showed them to their table and opened a bottle of champagne for them.
'To a fruitful work trip', Draco said as he raised his glass.
'To a good trip', Hermione echoed before sipping the bubbly drink.
There weren't to many people on the ship by the time they set sail. From the speakers came the voice of the captain, or so Hermione thought, who was telling them in both French and English about the beautiful sites they were seeing on either side of the Seine.
They glided all the way to the island of the Notre Dame and Hermione was surprised to hear some new and interesting facts. She was thoroughly enjoying her meal and the beautiful cruise they were on. At odd times she would sneak a glance at Draco who was either looking at his food or looking at her face, smiling as he saw how much she was enjoying herself.
After the Notre Dame, the ship made its way back up the Seine, in the direction of the Eifel tower and the Statue of Liberty in Paris. By that time, desert and coffee had come and gone and Draco got to his feet. 'Come on. You have to see this. Not through the dirty windows of a ship, but in the fresh air and in all its glory'.
Hermione grabbed her coat and followed him to the back deck of the ship. Other couples were already standing there, obviously having the same idea Draco had.
Hermione didn't understand, until she saw the Eifel tower light up with sparkling lights. She gasped and smiled broadly, her hands clenched on the railings, drinking in the sight.
'Impressive huh?', Draco said as he leaned on the railings of the boat, his face turned to the majestic lights above them.
'It really is', Hermione sighed and as she looked at Draco, she knew what Ginny and all the others had meant about why it was so dangerous to go to the most romantic city in the world with a guy you had a hook-up with and kissed a few times to many. For when she saw Draco Malfoy, standing in the light of the streetlamps and enamoured by the glittering of the Eifel tower, she realized what trouble she was in.