"I don't remember, which makes sense, considering I wasn't even there."
"Oh yeah, I keep forgetting…"
"Nice." A sarcastic Draco replied. "Well, I'd better be going…" He opened the car door and sat in the leather seat that had gotten considerably warmer from the sun while he stood.
"Bye, then. Hope to see you Saturday."
"Same here. Bye." He started the car, reversed and pulled back onto the road.
With much reluctance, Draco drove straight home and parked the car back in it's appointed spot. After putting the top back up, and making sure everything was as he found it, he locked the door behind him and headed back to the house.
Draco did very little for the rest of the day, besides reading and walking around their property, staying for about an hour at his favourite spot to sit and think- a secluded rock on the edge of their private lake. From there, he could look across the water to a dark and mysterious forest as well as enjoy beautiful fiery red sunsets.
By the time he returned to the house, his mother had arrived back from her shopping.
"Hello Mum. How was your shopping?" He asked, sitting on the couch.
"It was great- I picked up a few ingredients so you can make that steak your father likes… and a couple other things…" She trailed off.
"Great. What time is Father getting home tonight?"
"I don't know. Probably around six, since he cut out the afternoon yesterday to pick you up..." Narcissa informed him, watching his face for a change in expression. There was none.
"So, do you want me to make the steak tonight, or whenever…"
"Not tonight. I'm in the mood for chicken, so you can just hang out- I've got dinner covered." She said, turning and beginning to walk away.
Draco got up and went to his room. Bored, he flopped onto his bed and stared at the ceiling, until he had a thought and went to his desk. Pulling out a piece of parchment and a quill, he began to write a letter to Pansy about her party.
'Dear Pansy,
I heard about your party and I'd love to come. But as you know, my parents (mostly my father) don't want me to do anything I would think is fun- meaning that if I were to ask, they would say no immediately. This is why I'm not asking. I'll see you on Saturday!
Draco
P.S. Watch for my father's BMW, as I will be driving it!'
Satisfied, he sealed it and handed it to Chevéche, who held it with her beak and flew out the open window. By this time, his mother had sent an enchanted message upstairs to tell him dinner was almost ready, and he should be too. He put on another black suit, but with his house tie instead of the red one.
As the week progressed, Draco became more and more nervous about his plans. Along with being anxious, he also became irritable, which had gotten him in trouble a few times already.
It was now five AM Saturday morning, and Draco couldn't sleep anymore. He got up, dressed and quietly went downstairs. Pushing the one of the French doors in the kitchen open, he walked towards the woods in their backyard, beyond the garden. His feet, skimming the neatly trimmed grass picked up the dew and before he'd even made it twenty feet off the patio, were soaking wet. He kept walking despite this uncomfortable fact, and eventually he made it to the woods, where several well-established walking trails wound through the trees. He chose a path, and walked along it for a while.
The sun continued to rise, and by the time he began to head back to the house, it was quite high in the sky. Luckily, his father was around so he assumed he had gone into work again today, and wasn't able to note his absence. His mother was also nowhere to be found, so he began to prepare something for lunch after glancing at the clock and noticing that it was well past twelve.
His mother and father arrived together at about two, carrying several shopping bags, as well as what appeared to be a suit in a bag.
"Hello, Draco. What have you been up to today? I missed you at breakfast…" Narcissa greeted, Lucius listening carefully to hear his son's answer.
"Oh, I woke up early and decided to have a bit of a walk in the forest…What did you do today?"
"Your father and I went shopping- we needed new clothes because we've been invited to Cornelius Fudge's ball tonight. Oh, and we won't be home until probably three or so; we've also been asked to stay for tea and to gossip about the other guests after they leave…" She giggled. Lucius didn't look particularly enthusiastic, but was planning on going because it would be the social event of the season- that only the richest and most powerful families were invited to attend.
"What time are you leaving?"
"Probably about three thirty, so you'll have to have dinner alone. I'd better be off to get ready…" She near-pranced up the stairs, smiling happily as she rounded the corner.
Lucius opened his mouth as if he had something to say, then thought better of it and followed her up, leaving Draco standing in disbelief. It was as if someone wanted him to break the rules and go to that party. He'd have no problem now, as long as the car was back and he was in bed by two-thirty. He smiled and went up the stairs behind his parents.
It was about half-past seven when Draco set out to the barn, keys in hand. Confidently, he jabbed the key into the lock, turned it and flung the door open. The BMW sat poised and ready to go on the end where he had parked it earlier in the week as he turned the lights on. Whistling softly, he opened the door and started the engine, putting it into drive. Less than five minutes later, he was on the road with the radio blaring some Muggle rap music very loudly. The half-hour drive sped by pleasantly, and before he knew it, he was pulling into the driveway of the Parkinson home.
He could hear the music thumping as he got out of the car, locking it behind him. It got steadily louder the closer he got to the door, and by the time he reached the porch, he could feel the vibration of it under his feet. The door was already open, but he stood in the frame for a moment before he entered. Pansy noticed his arrival and made her way through the crowd of people to get to him.
"Hey Draco!" She had to yell over the music. "How's your summer been?" Before he could answer, a boy he had never seen before came up next to Pansy and began to bite her neck.
When she saw the look on his face, she said "Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you- we're broken up… I have a new boyfriend…"
Draco didn't particularly care- he was only using her for the snogging in the first place; everyone knew she slept around. He looked around the room with a newfound appreciation for all the girls her saw dancing, flirting and standing around talking. Deciding it would be ok to stand near the drink table, he squeezed through the pulsing crowd of sweaty bodies. Once he arrived at his destination, he picked up an empty glass and filled it from a bottle of champagne he found sitting next to it. Sipping causally, he once again scanned the crowd of people.
There had been a good turnout of people. Most of the sixth-years were here and many people he didn't know, but assumed were friends of the other students. A minute later, a girl who looked so drunk she could hardly stand was hitting on him.
"Wanna dance?" She whispered wetly in his ear.
"Sure," He answered, and she grabbed his hand, dragging him into the mass of people. With every beat, she pressed closer and closer to him, though he didn't seem to mind. For the rest of the song, their bodies ground against one another. When the final beat sounded from the large speakers, Draco excused himself and leaned one elbow on the wall to catch his breath. He watched as the girl went back to a group of females he supposed were her friends, and began talking, using hand gestures and such; when she finished, he saw the whole group break into laughter.
Another techno song played, as he stood alone. 'I wonder where Vince and Greg are? Oh well…' he thought, watching another minimally dressed girl dance with…Potter?
Upon closer inspection, he concluded that yes- it was Harry Potter. 'Great! I didn't know that he'd be here…so much for my night…' He drank heavily for the next hour, leaving him rather tipsy and just standing around the table, occasionally wandering into the kitchen. On once such occasion, he returned his usual spot, only to find a somewhat familiar girl standing in it. His vision blurred as he tried to recall whom it was. He couldn't place the face with a name, but he found her to be quite attractive. He considered asking her to dance when she came up and asked him the very same question.
"Hey, want to dance?" She invited, rather intoxicated.
"Sounds great…" His head pounded from his own voice as he took her around the waist and pressed her against himself as they danced. For several songs they 'danced', and they eventually ended up kissing.
"Why don't we find somewhere more private?" She requested, and he obliged. She led him through the house, pulling him through a door onto a back porch. No one was out here and the warm summer air felt good on their flushed faces. She kicked off her shoes and sat, dangling her feet into the pool. He followed suit and soon they were very preoccupied with each other.
They broke apart for a brief moment to let each other catch their breath. The girl leaned her forehead on his, leaving their faces in close proximity, as well as letting each other smell one another's rancid alcohol-laced breath.
She laughed. "We don't even know each other's names…" He chuckled and she said, "Well, I'm Hermi… and you are?"
"I'm Draco…It's certainly been nice to get to know you…" He told her.
"Well, why don't you get to know me a little better?" She offered, turning her shoulders suggestively. He shifted; trying to move his legs but overbalanced and fell into the pool. He surfaced, his blond hair plastered to his forehead, and his white button-down shirt clinging to his chest and abs.
"Join me?" He asked her, offering his arms out to her.
She braced herself with his arms, and jumped in. He held her close to his chest, and she wrapped her arms around the back of his neck. Her shirt clung enticingly to her chest as well- Draco was quick to notice. He pressed his open mouth to hers, and they drifted around in the crisp water as they made out. Some time in the process, Draco's shirt became un-tucked, and the water lifted it slightly in their wake. Hermi noticed this, and stroked his neck as she unbuttoned it. When she had finished, his shirt floated around him, leaving his abdomen exposed. She slid her fingers down his arms lightly, taking the shirt with them.
From behind his back, she threw the shirt onto the deck, where it landed with an inane plop. She stared at his face, batting her eyelashes towards him. He leaned in and kissed each of her eyes, tracing along her eyelid with his tongue- in the process pushing his hands underneath her shirt. She shuddered, and for the first time, he noticed she had a skirt on- and it was floating around her hips. He tensed, and shoved his hands up her back along with the figure-hugging shirt. She raised her arms, allowing him to pull the sleeves off her arms so that now the shirt hung around her neck like an outsized necklace. He gently pulled it over her head and tossed it back to the deck, where it landed on top of his. This caused them both to laugh drunkenly.
Hermi arched her back with a slight moan as his mouth mingled with her neck and shoulders. Her fingers dug into his back as her dropped his mouth lower, into her cleavage. She moved her legs back and forth as an effort to keep herself afloat as more and more of Draco's weight overpowered her. Her thigh made slight contact with an area of him that caused him to jump, and then release a shuddering breath. Her skirt floated even higher from the current she was creating with her legs. He noticed and allowed his hands to reach down and unzip it. He pulled it down for her, and she stepped on it in order to remove it without losing the grip her mouth held on his.
Draco planted his feet apart at the bottom of the pool, and Hermi wrapped her own around his hips, in order to stay closer to him. She was now in just her underwear, while he still remained in his pants. She stuck her foot into the back of them, though she had to bend her knee up by his face, exposing part of her inner thigh to his warm tongue. He enjoyed the taste of the cold water and her warm flesh mixing in his mouth, as she unbuttoned his pants and pushed them to the floor of the pool. His underwear went with them. From above the water, she stared down at his magnified body and let out a noise of delight. Eagerly, she removed her own underwear as he unhooked her bra, and pulled it off with his teeth. Now they were both completely naked, floating together in the water and Draco took the final initiative. The water sloshed around the sides of the pool as they developed a rhythm together.
Once they had finished, Hermi lay on top of him as he floated around, halfway on his back. Her face rested on his smooth chest, warming it with every breath she exhaled. Careful, so he didn't disturb her, Draco glanced over her body to his wristwatch, which lucky for him, happened to be waterproof. The glow-in-the-dark hands pointed to one-fifty three.
"Not to disturb you love, but I really need to get going…" He whispered into her hair. She sat up, to allow him to get out, but a look of disappointment flashed over her face before she replaced it with a sultry pout.
"…Draco, can you tell me your last name…you know, so I can write to you…"
"If you tell me yours."
"Ok, my last name is Granger. Hermione Granger."
"I'm Draco Malfoy."
"See you around, Draco…" She leaned her arms on the edge of the pool.
"Bye Hermione…" He gave her a quick goodbye kiss with some tongue as he pulled on his wet pants and shirt. He was still pretty drunk as he told Pansy it was a great party and opened the door to stumble into the car.
He climbed in behind the steering wheel and started the engine. His head now had a constant pounding, meaning the effects of the heavy alcohol were wearing off; he was slowly sobering up. But as he drove the dark, narrow road he could barely keep control of the small roadster. The car weaved across the centre line every few feet- luckily at the late hour he didn't come across any other drivers.
Draco made it home safely, thankfully before his parents. By the time they arrived, he had staggered up the stairs and managed to put on some dry boxers before he fell into a deep sleep in his bed.
The next day, Draco woke up with a hangover and a nagging feeling about something he did last night. He slowly walked to his bathroom, where he popped a few Advil to clear his mind. Sinking onto the edge of the bathtub he ran his hands through his hair in thought. He then changed positions so his hand supported his chin. The chemical smell of chlorine filled his nostrils, and it sparked a cloudy memory of the night before… he had been in the pool, with a girl named… H, H- something…Hermi? He remembered in a horrible flash- Hermione Granger! He had… with a mudblood! That mudblood! These thoughts did nothing to improve his hangover.
After taking a cold shower and getting dressed, he went downstairs for breakfast. It appeared that his parents were suffering the same 'condition' as himself- they both sat in silence attempting to revive over some steaming coffee. He joined them without a word.
His owl tapped on the window as he prepared to sit down, so he got up and took the letter from her beak. It was from Hermione. He sat down and apprehensively scanned it over.
Dearest Draco,
Last night was a turning point in my life, or should I say yours? Well, anyway it finally happened- you noticed me! AND you actually seem to love (?) me! So, I wanted to tell you that even though you've been rather cruel to me over the years, I've been madly in love with you since the first day I ever laid eyes on your gorgeous blond head. I was also wondering if we could get together again anytime soon- I'd really like to see you- maybe a little more of you too… Even though I was drunk yesterday, everything I said to you was absolutely, 100 true and our time in the pool…brings tears to my eyes, you were so good… Remember my question about getting together sometime…
Love you deeply,
Hermione Granger
He almost gagged on his latte. After excusing himself, he rushed up to his room and began to write a reply.
Dear Ms. Granger,
I DO NOT like, let alone LOVE you in the slightest. I was drunk last night and you know it- if I'd have been sober I wouldn't have gone near you
He paused and read over what he'd written. His anger ebbed as he thought of her reaction causing him to crumple the parchment and toss it into the wastebasket. 'No matter how uh…shocked… I am to get this letter; I can't be mean about it. I mean she just confessed to loving me for six years! I don't think there's anything I can put in it that won't insult her in someway…' He thought, before a sudden inspiration struck him. He picked up his quill and wrote in his handsome cursive-
Dear Hermione,
Instead of putting down how I feel in this letter, I request that you please come to my house so we can discuss the matter. Anytime is good for me- write a date good for you and send it along with my owl.
Sincerely, Draco Malfoy
'Yes, this'll work… It gives me a chance to let her down in a comfortable environment and I'll be able to see her again…' He mentally slapped himself. "What the HELL was that? I don't really like her, do I? Oh god…"
Two weeks later, Draco cast an expectant glance out the window for any sign of Hermione. She had sent back a date and time- though she was already an hour late.
Finally, a small blue Toyota pulled in with a girl Draco had never seen behind the wheel. He watched as the driver's side door opened, then the passenger, and then the back two? 'Who the fuck are all these people she brought?' He thought, preparing to open the door. The doorbell sounded majestically as he swung it open.
"Good afternoon, please come in…" He greeted, then invited.
"Hey Draco!" Hermione rushed up and hugged him, pinning his arms to his sides. When she released him, she introduced all the girls she had brought with her.
"This is Meg…" A girl with short black hair stepped up. "And Hannah…" who had long brown hair and a quidditch button on her shirt. "Finally, this is Abby, or Abigail- whatever you want to call her. Draco stared at the last girl for a moment; he recognised her…from somewhere. Hermione noticed his face and was quick to step in.
"You probably saw Abby at Pansy's party… I brought her so I'd have someone to talk to… but then I found you…" She smiled shyly at him. Draco was in disbelief.
"Abigail… did we by any chance, dance together…" He questioned.
"Well, I remember dancing with a really hot guy… might have been you; why don't we dance right now and find out?" She came onto him. Draco couldn't believe his luck, or lack thereof- the two people he had any social relations with at that damn party were tied to Hermione Granger or else they were her…
"Well, why don' t we all sit down? Anyone want anything to eat? Drink?" The girls all sat on the cushy couches in the living room while Draco sat stiffly in a huge recliner. The girls had all sat next to each other, and every now and then let out an occasional whisper; this made Draco uncomfortable- being the only male in the house.
He took a breath and faltered. "Hermione, I was really hoping I could talk to you in private…" He said quietly, causing Abby to raise her eyebrows and whisper to Hannah. Hannah exclaimed "Abigail!" and pretended not to look at her.
"Ok, so these guys can just wait here?" Hermione asked standing up, and walking over to him.
"Yeah, they can make themselves comfortable. The kitchen is that way and the bathroom's right over there." He pointed out the locations and led Hermione out of the room.
"Ok, Hermione… this is the deal…" He looked into her eyes, and again he had to collect his thoughts before continuing. "This is definitely going to be hard, Hermione is … uh, quite attractive… when her friends aren't around…" He pulled on the neck of his shirt discreetly, which seemed to have tightened in the few seconds he had of thought. He began again, "You are very…" he couldn't help himself, "beautiful. I really like you too, but…your friends…" He broke off, as her face softened. "If we were ever to have something together… your friends would have to go…"
"You think I'm beautiful?" Her eyes grew misty, as she completely missed the part about her friends. "I thought you'd say you hated me…you were really drunk that night…" He snapped out of his hypnotic mood, but was immediately captured by her eyes again.
"What about Potter and the Weasel? Aren't you all buddy-buddy with them?" He asked rudely.
"Yeah, Harry's cool, but Ron's been such an ass. All the time lately. I have my girlfriends now- I don't need two guy friends. Just one boyfriend…" Again, she smiled sweetly.
He sighed, and pursed his lips. "I don't know…I guess I do like you, but… I'm going to regret it- you are a mudbl…muggleborn, and you know how my father feels about non-purebloods."
"And you're going to let your father decide this one for you too? I thought you were like a rebel- I heard about the car you took from him…so I assumed I might as well make a move since you finally decided your father is nothing more than a damn prick! I guess I was wrong…" She turned away, pretending to look upset- once her face was out of his sight she smiled slyly.
"No! You're right! He is making me decide against you! You know what- let's go out tonight! You can even stay the night if you want…that fucking bastard. I hate him."
"Aww, Draco; you made the right choice. I'm all yours now… just forget your father, and think of me…"
"So, where do you want to go tonight…?" He thought for a moment, before adding, "baby?" He wrapped his arm around her waist and led her back into the living room.
"Let's go to London! I've always wanted to go clubbing there!"
"You got it, my sweet little baby girl! London it is!" He said, tickling her chin.
