"Blimey Hermione you've said no to every piece of clothing we've seen. Why can't you at least try something?" Draco said, exasperated. He looked over his shoulder at Hermione, her nose scrunched up and her mouth in a sour scowl.
They'd been in three shops already and Hermione had yet to approve any of the articles of clothing they'd picked out. Or rather that Draco had picked out, because Hermione had done near nothing but cross her arms and think of excuses to go home and fix her clothes with magic.
She was doing the same thing now as she followed behind Draco and turned down everything he pulled off of the racks.
"Well I can't wear that one of course! It's not appropriate for work. I don't understand why I have to buy a whole new wardrobe anyways, I only tore my trousers." Hermione peered around him at the low cut blouse he had pulled out.
"Because everything you own should be thrown into a raging fire. And Merlin, not everything you buy needs to be for the office Hermione. There are other places in this world that aren't your house and the ministry." Draco rolled his eyes as returned the shirt to the rack. Hermione huffed as she looked out the window of the shop.
Draco pulled out another shirt, this one a pale blue with a slip of fabric to be tied around the hollow of the neck, a teardrop cut-out on the chest, and long sleeves cinched at the wrists.
"Here, there is no scenario where this wouldn't be appropriate." He turned and handed the shirt to her before she could say anything. "Turn around Hermione."
She looked at him confused, her mouth open to retort. He pushed her around and pointed her to a curtain hanging on the far side of the store.
"Changing room. You're going to try the bloody thing on." He grabbed the previous low cut top off the rack. "And try this one too."
"I've already told you that's not acceptable for work." She said, turning back toward him angrily.
"And I've spent two hours trying to get you to even look at any clothes. This is the least you can do to repay me, you mountain troll." Draco growled.
Hermione matted her hair down self consciously, "Why waste time trying it on if I'm never going to have an occasion to wear it anyways?"
Draco grumbled something inaudible and took a deep breath, "How about on a date? Have you been on one before? Or could Weasley could never afford to take you?"
Hermione glared up at him, "Typical of you Malfoy, attack people based on how much they have in their vault. Money isn't everything you know. Morals and character are far more important than a few galleons."
Draco nodded in mock agreement, "Oh right! Morals and character! Of course, because Weasley clearly has such great morals! Need I remind you that he was leaving you to shag someone else everyday?"
Hermione shook with frustration, her knuckles white as she gripped the shirt she was still holding.
"Well, Malfoy," her words came shrouded with ice. "Clearly I forgot how much of a prick you are. Thank you for reminding me." Her eyes stung as she turned away from him and stormed out of the shop, eager to be far, far away from him.
Draco watched as she stomped down the street, her hair whipping around her head in the wind, looking as if it crackled with fury.
He sighed and swore at himself, sternly hanging the shirt he held back on the rack and drawing a hand down his face. He turned and moved toward a frightened looking sales witch trying to look inconspicuous behind a pile of robes.
—
"Bloody ferret." Hermione grumbled, her fists in tight balls at her sides. She stomped through the stream of people and paid them no mind, too focused on how she would take her anger out on Malfoy the next time she saw him. Public embarrassment? Hang his pants on the ministry statue for everyone to see?
Hermione contemplated scenarios in her head while she entered the Leaky Cauldron. After a quick scan of the room she slid into an empty booth and ordered a drink.
She sighed and lifted her hand to rub at her forehead but she found herself surprised at the feeling of soft silk on her face.
"Merlin," she murmured to herself and dropped her head to the table. In the heat of the moment and with her fists clenched so tight she had walked right out of the store with the shirt.
Cursing herself, she stepped out of the booth, handed a few coins to the wizard bringing her drink and tossed it back as she walked toward the exit. She set it down on the counter and walked out the door, mumbling to herself and wincing at the heat in her throat.
Strong drink.
Fists still balled together at her sides, one thumb running back and forth over the smooth silk of the stolen shirt, she blindly stomped through the crowd of people once again. She ignored the huffs and scoffs of the people she jostled and continued back to the shop.
How embarrassing to have to walk back into the shop to return something she didn't realize she had taken. Add to that the fact that Malfoy would be there, all smug and smirking and taunting. Oh she wanted to wipe that little smile off his face so badly.
Hermione swallowed and turned to the entrance of the store. She was once again surprised, this time at a hand stopping her from entering. Blimey they knew already! They must think she's back to steal again! Do they have her on a poster in the store? Has Malfoy ratted her out? He's probably given them her name and drew up the wanted poster himself!
Wow. Strong drink.
Hermione squeezed her eyes shut, willing her incessantly chattering brain to stay quiet for just a moment.
She opened her eyes to see the hand still in front of her, but now noticed the pale pointed face of Malfoy behind it. With that damn smirk no less.
She sighed and held up the shirt in her hand. She looked up at the man who's smirk seemed to deepen.
"I knew you liked it," he said. "Couldn't leave without it."
She rolled her eyes. "Hardly. It was more like I couldn't leave fast enough. Now move over so I can give this back."
"No need," Draco said. He stepped forward and Hermione noticed he was holding two paper bags in his hand. "I paid for it already. It's yours. You're welcome. Plus the shop lady got scared when your troll hair crackled with lighting, and she banned you from the store."
Hermione could feel him close to her.
"I did not ask you to do that. To buy me clothes," She said sternly, ignoring his taunt.
Draco rolled his eyes. "Obviously. You insulted me and ran away. I wanted to buy these clothes for you."
Hermione scoffed. "These are all for me?!" She leaned forward to peer into the bags he held, her mouth hanging slightly open.
"Good lord Granger- yes! Why wouldn't they be? You think I want to wear a pink dress?"
Hermione cackled and said "I would love to see that!"
Draco stared incredulously.
"Did you just cackle?"
Hermione glared at him, "I don't cackle, I laugh. At the idea of Draco Malfoy frolicking through the fields in a frilly pink dress."
Draco sputtered, "When did I ever say that!"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Oh please, there's nothing wrong with a guy wearing a dress and running through fields. Merlin, Malfoy."
"That is not at all what I said…" Draco stared at her. And then he stared a little longer. She grew uncomfortable under his scrutiny.
"How many drinks have you had?"
It was Hermione's turn to sputter.
"Only one! A fast one. And a strong one. But only one," she defended.
Draco rolled his eyes and gave a surprising laugh as he took the shirt from her and and dropped it into his bags. He turned her away from the shop, letting his arm rest around her waist. He guided her away from the shop as Hermione tried to figure out if she's ever heard him laugh like that before.
Relaxing to his touch, which she attributed to the strong drink, she wandered up the street with Draco. It was a quiet stroll through Diagon Alley and she enjoyed the chatter of people around her, the cobblestone streets, the soft ringing of the bells above shop doors. She pulled her coat tighter around her as the chilled air sank in.
"Are you joking." Draco cursed under his breath. Hermione pulled her eyes away from a shop she'd been looking at and looked toward the object of Draco's dismay.
Ron and Sorella were stepping out of a small restaurant to the embrace of flashing bulbs and a couple of yipping reporters. Hermione blanched.
She hadn't seen them together like this. Sure she had seen them absolutely stark naked and getting it on in her shower, but this was a bit different. He was out in public with her, enjoying the attention of the press, enjoying being seen with the woman he was treating to expensive meals. And so soon after their relationship met its fiery, bird-filled demise.
Draco had noticed her stiffen in his arm but after a quick thought he pulled her forward, closer to Sorella and Ron.
"What're you doing Draco!" Hermione whispered heatedly to her companion, not wanted any attention to be drawn to them.
Draco continued onward and lowered his head slightly, whispering to her, "trust me please, I know what to do."
He carried them toward the cameras until he purposely knocked into one.
"Hey! Watch it! I'm trying to take a picture here!" A gruff reporter turned angrily toward them.
Hermione glared at Draco for causing a scene, but Draco simply rolled his eyes at the man.
The reporter stopped breathing for a moment when he realized who he had yelled at.
"Blimey! Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy!"
The other reporters turned around in delight. The four main characters of their story all together? Incredible!
Before she knew it the bulbs were flashing in Hermiones face.
Ron stared angrily at his ex girlfriend and his lifelong nemesis. They have the gall to ruin his life and then take the little fame he has away from him and his super model level girlfriend?! Before he can yell at anyone, he gets an absolute figurative slap in the face and sucker punch to the gut.
Draco smirked to the cameras and tightened his grip around Hermione. Looking down at the women who is clearly unimpressed with his antics thus far, he pleaded her to trust him. Her brows furrowed slightly before he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her lightly.
Hermione felt her stomach flip. What was happening? Why is he doing this? Why are his lips so soft? Does he use chapstick? I wonder what brand, she thought. I can never get my lips to be this soft in the colder months. Blimey, it's probably some expensive-
Her train of thought blew off the tracks when Draco opened his mouth slightly and ran the tip of his tongue lightly over her lower lip. As she felt herself let go into the kiss he pulled her lip between his with light pressure.
She gasped slightly and forgot where she was, her mind feeling light and empty yet at the same time heavy with lust. She reached around him with one hand and the other wove into his hair.
She heard him drop the bags that he had been carrying to the ground and welcomed the feeling of his hand resting on the nape of her neck, the other slipping under her jacket to warm her side.
She opened the kiss to him and welcomed the feel of him exploring her, heat rising in her lower stomach. She heard him release a slight groan of pleasure, so quiet that she was sure she wouldn't have heard it if she wasn't as close to him as she was now. In return she sighed quietly into him, trying to pull him impossibly closer.
With great reluctantly on his part, Draco pulled away from the witch and couldn't fight the smirk creeping onto his face. Hermione had to admit to herself that she had also let herself enjoy that kiss just a bit.
The flashes of light, yells of reporters, and outrage from an ex boyfriend finally registered to Hermione like a cold shower dousing her.
Fuck. Strong drink.
—
A/N: lol idk