Disclaimer: See previous twelve chapters.
A/N: Hey guys, the room finally stopped spinning enough for me to type. I feel like I've been punched in the jaw a couple of times. Four times, to be exact. Plus the medicine I'm on makes me itchy and nauseous if I don't eat. And it's actually kind of hard to eat with stitches in your mouth, who knew? Anyways, here's the next chapter, hopefully we'll make it to 100 reviews on this one. I'm incredibly excited about the response I received on the last chapter! Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed, and wished me well. Don't worry; I'll be better right after I eat some bread.
Ch. 13
Dinner and Office Supplies
Hermione recovered quickly, her famous composure suddenly deciding to show up for the first time that weekend.
She contemplated saying something scathing, but in the end, all she could manage was a weak, "Good job. You passed your first test."
Draco was disturbed, "Test? What test?" Hermione chuckled, and changed the subject quickly. "So, when do you want to start these 'lessons'? I mean if you can figure out how to work the phone all by yourself, then you don't really need me to teach you anything right?"
Draco realized the ploy behind her words, and for once, was quick to admit that someone else had helped him. "Actually my roommate, Katy, helped me. So it turns out I do still need your help."
Merlin but saying those words hurt. A Malfoy? Asking for help? There's something wrong with that, father would definitely not approve.
"So, Hermione, I was thinking maybe we could do something tonight…"
"Actually, Malfoy, I was just about to go for dinner-"
"Wonderful, I'll come with you then." Draco could almost feel her disappointment and a part of him actually felt badly for pestering her.
But the much larger part of him was insisting that she had volunteered, so it was all her fault.
On the other end of the line, Hermione suppressed a groan. You should have listened to me earlier. If you had just told him to go away you wouldn't be in this mess. And you did volunteer for this little class; so you better follow through miss.
Damn her inner voice!
Hermione then decided that the faster she got through teaching Malfoy to be a Muggle, the less time she would have to spend with him, so it was in her best interests to start now.
"Fine, Malfoy-"
"Tut tut, Hermione, my dear, I must insist that you call me Draco. After all, we have been…friendly lately. There's no reason for such formality."
Hermione fumed, he's just reminding me that he's seen me in my skivvies! And why does he get such a bloody kick out of that?
"Yes, yes, alright Draco. Why don't you apparate to my flat, and I'll take you to a pub that's just around the corner from me?"
"That sounds-"
Click.
The sound of a dial tone filled Draco's ear, and he was smart enough to realize that Hermione had just been very rude to him.
"Well, we'll just have to get her to explain that. And now…what to wear?"
Draco's father had taken the liberty of picking out a rather large, and unfortunately very colorful, Muggle wardrobe for Draco. Draco was actually pretty sure that no one would ever wear most of the clothing his father had gotten, and he had taken to transfiguring most of his things into a different color/ style/material.
Does Father think I'm that stupid? Leather pants! Really now, I wouldn't wear dragon hide pants, why on earth would I wear the Muggle version?
He settled for a pair of black jeans, and a blue shirt that he had managed to charm the gaudy red and orange flowers off of. Hopefully that was Muggle enough.
He grabbed his wallet, which was conveniently filled with Muggle money, and with a couple plastic cards that he hoped Hermione could teach him how to use. Lucius had called them credit cards, but he had seemed just as clueless as Draco was.
Draco walked out of his bedroom and out the front door, closing it just loud enough so that Katy and James knew he had left and then with a swish and a flick of his wand he was gone.
After she hung up, Hermione sat on the couch, waiting for Draco. She was already dressed, and she refused to get dressed up for Draco Malfoy. And the lip-gloss that she dabbed onto her lips was only because her lips were chapped.
She was so focused on not impressing Draco, that she didn't even notice him apparate into her home, and was extremely shocked when he tapped her on the shoulder.
Draco looked around the apartment, and realized that it was fairly spacious, and that Hermione had no roommates. How had she managed that? And Draco, being Draco, decided to ask her.
"How did you end up with an apartment to yourself? I though those were almost impossible to get."
Hermione smirked; she knew that. "Well, my grandparents own the building, so when the tenant who lived her decided to move, they saved it for me."
Draco simply glared. Someone who has more connections than me? Simply impossible.
Hermione was now in a wonderful mood, and she decided to take it out on Draco. "It is a beautiful night isn't it? Simply wonderful."
Draco nodded, very confused by her sudden change in tone. "Shall we be going now?"
Hermione nodded, opening the door and motioning for Draco to follow her. "We'll be walking there, since it really is just down the street. And afterwards, we can go shopping, or catch a movie. Do you have to be awake early tomorrow?"
Draco shook his head no, "I don't have anything to do until Tuesday morning, so don't worry about that. I'm just kind of settling in right now."
Hermione nodded, and they continued to walk. Hermione was now very aware of the silence stretching between them and she was desperate to fill it.
"So why exactly do you need to learn to be a Muggle?"
Draco laughed, "Well, I'm not exactly sure of that myself. My father has decided that I should attend a Muggle university while I am undergoing an apprenticeship of sorts."
Hermione was confused, "But I thought, well I mean, your father wants you around Muggles?"
For once Draco completely agreed with her.
"I'm just as confused as you are. I think he's trying very hard to rebuild his reputation. He did a lot of really awful things, and a lot of people still don't trust him. With Mr. Weasley in office right now, he has to be especially careful."
Draco paused, unsure about how to word the next part of his thoughts. "Although, I really think he has changed. He's not all that nice, and he still has a very strange sense of humor, but he's focusing more on teasing me than torturing people. Which is a definite change for the better."
Hermione nodded. "I noticed that, especially when he supported Arthur for election, and he's still supporting him now. He threw all of us for a loop; it was interesting. None of us are quite sure what he wants."
Draco was getting very tired of talking to his father, mainly because he still harbored some rather irritated feelings toward the man who was responsible for his current lifestyle, so he decided to change the subject.
"So, since I'll be going to a Muggle school, is there anything in particular I should know?"
Hermione nodded enthusiastically, her mood instantly brightening on the subject of school.
Draco sighed, Some things never change.
"Oh yes, you'll need notebooks, and paper, and pens. Oh I love pens. They are so much easier to use than quills."
Draco stopped her, "Wait, what do you mean no quills? And no parchment either? What do Muggles use?"
Hermione just laughed. "I'll take you to an office supply store later, but for now, we're here." She stopped in front of a nice looking establishment that claimed to serve the best ale in England.
She led him inside, asking a waiter to seat them, which he did. And within moments Draco found himself ensconced inside of a large booth, Hermione sitting across from him.
He looked at the menu, and to his relief saw that he did still recognize the food. However... "What are these drinks?"
Hermione laughed and told him not to worry about it, she would order his drink.
Sometime later they both left the pub, after Draco had insisted on paying, and Hermione had shown him how to use his credit card.
Hermione hailed a taxi, saying, "The office store is a couple miles from here, and I don't want to walk. And from now on, no apparating unless necessary."
Draco protested vehemently until Hermione clapped her hand over his mouth long enough to tell the cabbie where to go. She forgot to take her hand off Draco's mouth, and was shocked as all hell when she felt his tongue tracing the lines on her palm.
It was slightly gross, but surprisingly erotic, and as she yanked her hand away and wiped it on her jeans, she couldn't help but remember the feeling of his body pressed against hers, and the things that ever-so-talented tongue of his had done.
Draco sat back and watched Hermione's reaction, having flashbacks of his own.
They were both slightly breathless and more than a little flushed when the cabbie finally stopped in front of the store. Hermione paid him, and grabbing Draco's hand, dragged him inside.
Draco was simply amazed. The store was so clean and well lit. Hermione was buzzing around putting things into a basket, strange things that were colorful and bright. He, however, was trying to figure out how to kiss her.
Hermione was intensely aware of Draco's gaze on her. She couldn't help getting a little weak in the knees, and instantly hated herself for it. Shape up Hermione. It will not happen again. It was a ONE TIME only option. Do not make a fool of yourself.
They reached the checkout line, and Hermione was thoroughly relieved. After this she could just put him in a cab and he could go home on his own, and she would be free to not think of him for the rest of the night.
Unfortunately, Draco was not being agreeable.
Hermione broached the subject of going home separately, and he wouldn't hear of it. Said something about dangerous streets, and late nights, and stupid females! Humph.
And with that he grasped her arm in his and apparated them both back to her apartment where he deposited her on the doorstep, kissed her soundly on the lips, and disappeared.
Hermione was furious, and very, very aroused. Damn him!
Draco appeared on the front step of his flat, and unlocking the door, he walked into the place and straight into his room, his packages clutched tightly in his hand.
He laid his purchases out on he bed, and contemplated his actions that evening.
Did I really just kiss her again? What is going on with me? She's taking over my mind. He looked at the stuff on the bed and realized he had no idea what to do with any of it.
He smirked…Looks like I'll just have to see her tomorrow…what a shame.
