Fighting as Foreplay
The next morning Pansy arrived at nine while Hermione was sipping her tea and glancing through the latest edition of the Prophet. Soon her face would be plastered all over it again. She groaned and downed the last of her rapidly cooling tea. She heard the whoosh of the Floo, and Pansy was waltzing into her kitchen moments later.
"It's your big day," Pansy sang in the most saccharine tone Hermione had ever heard. She burst into a fit of laugher immediately before sobering, "how are we holding up though for real?"
"As well as to be expected, I guess. I know today is just going to be a big show, but I think Malfoy and I make a good team. We have a singular goal and I think we will be successful," Hermione said but the look her friend was giving her was strange.
"A good team, singular goal, will be successful. Granger, do you hear yourself? You sound like you are talking about a case you are working on, not a marriage," Pansy said.
"Yes, but a marriage I was forced into, it's not like we would have chosen this for ourselves. I mean can you imagine? We are so different," Hermione laughed and turned to put her cup in the sink.
She missed Pansy smirking and shaking her head with her lips curled to avoid saying anything. When Hermione turned back Pansy had schooled her face.
"Of course, dear you are right. To your new armory then if you will. We are dressing to kill darling," Pansy said with a maniacal gleam to her eyes.
Hermione didn't know if she was excited or terrified for whatever Pansy had planned. An hour later she was pleased with the look Pansy had for her. She was dressed in beautiful buttercream-colored robes clasped with gold buttons paired with a close fitting dark navy-blue dress that stopped just above the knee. The skirt peaked out where the fitted top of the robes cut away at her hips and stopped with the hem just brushing the ground at the back. The fit enhanced her natural figure and the color contrasted nicely with her sun kissed skin. Pansy had done a light application of cosmetic spells allowing Hermione's freckles to remain visible. Pansy had insisted the natural look would garner higher public opinion.
"You look fetching Mi, I am going to pop over to see Draco to ensure he isn't going to clash horribly with you," Pansy said with kiss to each cheek.
"Do you know he has a flat in London?" Hermione asked her.
"I do. I told him last night to expect me this morning, in his infinite grace has deigned to drop the wards for me for an entire hour," Pansy said with a significant eye roll, "really the man is insufferable. He and I know each other far too well for him to act like he is doing me a favor by allowing me into his apartment."
Pansy laughed as she popped away. Hermione could not explain the twist in her gut at Pansy's words if she tried. Instead, she decided to just push that into a box for the moment and call Ginny because she could not just sit in this house alone for the next hour. Ginny answered and invited her over.
Hermione stepped out of the Floo into Blaise and Ginny's London townhouse.
"Wow, Hermione, you look lovely," Ginny said with a note of surprise.
"Love, you act like this is news, Hermione always had an understated beauty. Though I can see Pansy has spared no effort to enhance her natural charms. Malfoy spoke true when he said this marriage won't be a burden for him," Ginny punched her husband in the arm then, hard, "ow woman what was the meaning of that? I am merely stating the obvious." Another punch and Blaise held up his arms in surrender.
"Thank you both, really, I just need to waste an hour and sitting in my house alone seemed like a terrible idea. I am quite nervous about today. I hate reporters and my previous interactions with the press were less than favorable. Even after the war, I was always a side kick," Hermione said pacing slightly.
Blaise had left the room and returned with a cup of tea and handed it to Hermione. She smiled and took a sip and coughed.
"Really Zabini, whiskey in the tea at quarter past ten," she said with a raised brow but took another sip, "I knew we had and understanding."
Blaise just tipped his own tea toward her while Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Alright, enough about today, I want to know everything we did not get to talk yesterday, and I want details," Ginny said settling into the outstretched arm of her husband and Hermione sank into the armchair across the room.
Draco was pilfering his closet when his wards alerted him to her presence. He made his way to his front door and allowed her to pass through.
"You look like hell," she said by way of greeting, "You could have owled you know, it's been nearly five years you absolute wanker. I am here because Hermione is my friend, and I don't want her to stand next to an embarrassment today."
Draco stoically waited for her to finish; her moods were notorious. Really, he considered he deserved an Order of Merlin for his long suffering where this witch was concerned.
"You didn't even respond to the invitation to our wedding; we were your best friends. You just leave the country without as much as a farewell if you please. For Salazar's sake we were together for the better part of three years, and I stuck by you even when you were a wraith shackled to the Dark Lord," she was nearly crying now pounding on his chest.
Draco just took a breath and wrapped his arms around her. She pounded on his chest and tried to push him off, but he held on tighter. Then she broke off and a small, strangled sob escaped.
"I hate you," she sniffed and looked up at him.
"I know," he said with a smile as he glanced down at her, "are you quite finished being angry?"
She nodded; Draco released her.
"You are still a git Draco Malfoy. Also, you are hopelessly in love with Hermione Granger, and she has no bloody clue," she dropped that bomb and sashayed away toward his stairs. Draco was glued to the spot with his mouth opening and closing like a Stupefied fish. "Are you coming or are you just going to stand there," she had the nerve to call over her shoulder before climbing the stairs. Draco found his feet and followed her.
She was already in his closet when he finally made it to his room.
"I was thinking this dark navy suit with this cream oxford, gold cuff links, I think. I want you in a suit to show how progressive and accepting of Muggle things you are," Pansy said as she continued to bustle around his room.
Draco was still reeling from her accusation but in a moment of sickening introspection he tested that theory. In love seemed a strong feeling. He liked Granger that, he was sure. She was kind, smart, funny, witty, charming, irritating, maddening, really the woman drove him crazy.
"I am not in love with Granger," he finally spit out.
Pansy just poked her head out of his closet, "Ok if you say so," and went back in to carry out a few pairs of shoes she was vacillating over.
"Pansy, I am not in love with her, we barely know one another, for Salazar's sake I tormented her for years, I watched while she was tortured on my floor, I" Draco said with a crack in his voice as he slumped against the wall.
"Draco, I am sorry for the quip, I know all of that. I also know that she doesn't hold any of that against you. Greg and I were equally as awful, and she forgave us. As for the unfortunate bit with your aunt; she would be dead right now if you had done anything and so would Potter and likely you and your parents. The rest of us would be living a very different life indeed right now if you had done anything," Pansy said gently.
Draco leaned his head against the wall and took deep breaths to pull himself together before he looked back at Pansy.
"She drives me insane you know, in the worst way, I have no right to feel how I feel about her, I hate that I have to shackle her to me for life. I wish I could just let her go after we win," Draco said in a pained voice.
"No, you don't Draco Malfoy, that is a bold-faced lie, you would never willing give up something you want, you are far to selfish. Plus, I happen to know that you have had some terrible fascination and crush on Hermione since fifth year," Pansy scoffed and turned away.
"That's thing I would let her go, if that was what she wanted, if I could, I would release her," Draco said and hung his head.
Pansy turned back to him and was silent as she approached him. Taking his cheek in her hand, she lifted his gaze to meet hers. She gently brushed his blonde hair out of his eyes before framing his face with both hands.
"Listen to me Draco Malfoy and listen well. You do nothing in half measures, your father and aunt tried with all there might to beat it out of you, but you have fierce heart. Hermione Granger takes care of the whole world; she doesn't care for herself. Show up every day, take care of her in little ways. Make room for her in your life. Love her with your fierce heart and Do. Not. Relent." Pansy said with an intense tone.
Draco swallowed hard and just nodded, he didn't trust his voice at the moment.
"Now shower and get dressed. Hermione should be here in the next thirty minutes. I am going to make a cuppa would you like one?" Pansy asked.
Draco nodded his head and Pansy swept out of the room. Draco hefted himself off the wall and crossed his room to the ensuite. He turned on the water and got in while it was still cold to try and snap himself out of this funk. He needed to be ready for today. All the cold water managed to do was make him nearly shriek like a little girl and he promptly turned up the temperature. He showered quicky and toweled off before wrapping the towel low around his waist. Grabbing his wand, he cleared the mirror and ran the hot water to prep his shaving brush. He could use magic, but there was something about the art of shaving with his straight razor that he appreciated. He smoothed his shave gel over his face then, and shook out the brush, before swirling it in the cup with his shaving soap. He watched as the lather built in the cup taking deep breathes allowing the rhythm of the strokes to calm him. The familiarity of the ritual settled his frayed edges. Satisfied with the lather he applied the soap to his face. He was about half done with his left cheek when Pansy walked back in with his tea.
She let out a low whistle. Draco rolled his eyes.
"Don't you have a husband woman go cat call him," Draco drawled.
Pansy just laughed, "you know there is magic for that?"
"Mhm," was all Draco said as he drew the razor over his chin.
She just rolled her eyes again and left his field of vision. Draco finished his shave, then combed his hair back like he did every day, he dried it in place then ran his fingers through it to give his hair that perfectly styled but un-styled look.
"Are you going to get out so I can dress?" he asked Pansy with a critical brow.
She said nothing just waved her wand conjuring screens around her, "there you go."
Draco could hear her snickering behind the screen, he smiled despite himself. He had missed her and all of his friends. Sometimes he wondered if he had done the right thing just leaving and cutting all ties. He hadn't cared then but he was eternally grateful they were still willing to let him back in after all this time. Granger wasn't the only person Draco needed to build trust with.
"Pans I am decent help me with these cuff links since you are just sitting there doing nothing," Draco called to her.
She vanished the screens and moved to help him without protest. After fastening his cuff links, she began to circle him like a lioness assessing her prey. She held up several ties and did not consult him and had the gall to shush him when he made any suggestion. She had finally decided on a plain silk tie that matched the suit. As she was doing her last circle, he heard the pop of Apparition. Pansy looked up.
"She can Apparate in here?"
"I added her to my wards, I figured it made the most sense," Draco said with a shrug.
"Nothing by half measures," she said under her breath with a little laugh.
"Malfoy," Hermione called out from downstairs.
"He is coming! I was just finishing up with him," Pansy called out as she walked toward his door.
Draco took a few more breaths to steady his racing mind. As calm as he was going to get, he made his way downstairs. All that calming was for naught though. The sight of Granger in stunningly tailored robes, the cream of the contrasted with the navy dress underneath, sent his pulse into overdrive. Pansy just smiled stupidly at his slack jawed face that he was sure to fix before Granger notice him staring like a fool. Granger noticed Pansy's line of sight and turned fully to look at him. She smiled nervously. He smiled back. Pansy made a lewd kissing pantomime behind Granger which Draco dutifully ignored.
"Alright Pans, I think you have sufficiently dressed and primped us, have a nice day," Draco said as he firmly led her to the door.
She cheekily waved before he closed the door on her face.
"That was a bit rude Malfoy," Granger said with a note of irritation.
"If you are too nice, she gets clingy," Draco deadpanned, "Shall we be off?"
"Really, just rudeness and let's be off if you please? I see this marriage is going to be all about appearances then, how much should I smile today? Should I laugh at all your jokes or only half, so as to not appear too hopeless?" her tone is scathing, and her face is set in tight irritation.
Draco is considering if he could just Obliviate this conversation from her mind instead of trying to dig his way out of this.
Really that is your solution, you daft prick, Obliviation, brilliant how about conversation like a normal person.
Granger was just staring at him waiting for him to say something.
"Granger I wouldn't insult your unique genius by prescribing the number of times you should laugh at my jokes. I am quite funny though, so at least half the time would be acceptable I suppose," he said with a winning smile. He had already dug his grave, may as well lie in it.
Her face was screwed up and she looked like she might reenact a scene from third year at any moment. Why was his heart pounding with anticipation and excitement? How much farther could he push?
"Granger if you punch me like you look like you are considering we may struggle to sell the story of a happy couple to the papers," he taunted. Her response was instant.
"I will just tell them we were assaulted in Muggle London, and you bravely stepped in to save me from being assaulted," she said her voice dripping with saccharine venom.
"Very quick with the story to cover your assault and battery of my person I see, maybe I should be the one concerned about this marriage if my future wife plans to beat me," he quipped back.
She let out a frustrated growl then and stomps up him pulling the chain from her neck and grabbed his wrist and thrust the ring back into his hand. She turned to stomp away but Draco snatched her wrist and pulls her back to him. Standing nose to nose Draco ran his nose up the side of hers as they breathed the same air.
"I'm sorry, fighting with you is easier than accepting that I am terrified to face today. Please forgive me," he whispers the words to the corner of her mouth, lips still a hairs breadth from hers. She let out a shaky breath as he pulled his face back to regard her. She swallowed hard and darted her tongue out to wet her lips. Finally, she spoke.
"It is easier, I agree, I am terrified too, I didn't mean what I said. We have a lot to learn about actually speaking to each other," she says with a shaky voice and a wry laugh.
"Can I put this back on you?" Draco asked quietly holding up the ring he gave her, trying to hide the desperation and fear of her rejection in his voice. She nodded and stepped closer again inclining her head for him to slip it over her head. He fought all desire to pull her into his chest in that moment and stepped back allowing her to slip it back beneath her robes, so it nestled next to her heart. Before he could think better of it, he said in a low serious tone, "In the future if we fight do not come throwing that ring in my face unless you really mean it."
Her eyes snap to his and he expects her to be irritated or scornful but what he saw instead was conviction and—desire? She merely nods. So, he pressed.
"I want to hear you say it Hermione," he purred her name and her pupils dilated further.
"I won't come throwing this in your face over a petty argument, I will only give it back if I truly mean it," she said with a tremor in her voice.
"Thank you," he said and added, "I don't think we will live a single day for the rest of our lives without a fight and I don't think I really want to stop fighting with you. Its too fun," he says the last bit with a half grin. She chokes out a laugh then. They look at each other for another moment before they both look away to smooth non-existent wrinkles in their clothing.
Draco crossed to the hearth and offered his arm to Granger. She took it and glanced up at him quickly, her gaze sharp like he was a problem she was trying and failing to solve. He smiled to himself as he threw the Floo powder and called out for the Manor.