"Why do you continually leave the room in the middle of a discussion?" Draco sat down on the edge of the tub and looked at her through the glass of the shower.
"Do you not comprehend the meaning of a closed door?" Hermione shot back, running her fingers through her brown hair.
"Apparently not, but you would think by now, with all the doors you slam, i would." Draco had a snide comment for everything, and it happened to be one of those things that attracted Hermione to him.
"Hey, you've slammed some doors." Hermione tried to counter.
"That was a nice come back, really. But here's the thing, you had no reason to walk out like that." Draco looked at her with a hurtful glance.
"Draco, you had no business putting my... business, out there like that." Hermione rubbed a clearing in the steam that was gathering on the glass, and looked at him.
"Put it out where? We were the only one's in that room. Hermione, learn to let go. I wasnt trying to offend you. I was kidding around." Draco seemed upset by her guardedness. He truly wasnt trying to hurt her, he was just trying to feel her out.
"Well it... it... i just dont want to discuss it anymore okay?" Hermione seemed on the verge of tears, and Draco could do nothing but hang his head.
"Fine... ok. Is there anymore room in that shower?" Draco smiled at her teasingly, and Hermione flung open the shower door.
It had been a hectic three days since the night Draco and the boys went out. They hadn't become any more friendly to each other, Draco expected that, but what he didnt expect was for them to be so distant from Hermione.
Everyone noticed a change in the way Draco and Hermione were interacting. They seemed to be comfortable with each other, not as hostile as before. Everyone in the house could take a hint, but no one had the guts to ask.
"Hey guys did you miss me?" Tre came waltzing through the kitchen archway, and flopped down on the closest bar stool.
"Where the hell have you been? We haven't heard from you in four days." Draco hollered, washing a potato. Hermione glanced out of the corner of her eye. Draco had confessed that he saw his younger cousin, almost like a son, and was very protective. She had teased him for showing a soft side.
"Out." Tre shrugged, biting into and apple. Unknown to anyone else, he had gotten on a plane and celebrated his 18th birthday on the wonderful Las Vegas strip. He had spent 5,000 dollalrs in the casino's and strip joints.
"Tre, now wouldnt be the time to talk smart." Hermione warned him from Draco's side, she was peeling the potato he had just washed.
"Hey you two arent my parents okay? I am 18 i can do whatever the hell i want now.So, if i choose to go to Las Vegas and party, so help me Merlin, i will." Tre threw the apple down on the counter and apparated to his room.
"He was where?" Draco stopped everything he was doing and went rigid.
"Draco, let it go. He has a point, he is 18, and we aren't his parents... Narcissa on the otherhand..." Hermione winked at her husband, and laughed as he walked out of the room, whistling.
They all sat down to Christmas Eve dinner, dressed semi formally. Everyone was full of chatter, as they found their name cards around the table. Harry was whispering something in Ginny's ear that made her giggle uncontrollably. Tre was sulking in his chair like a five year old. Narcissa, Vilda, and Herald sat together discussing how happy they were that Draco and Hermione were finally getting along.
About an hour had gone by, and their was a few idle discussions but mostly, there were plenty of side conversations.
"So Tre. Tell me more about your birthday celebration." Draco looked up at his cousin, who sat across from him, and smiled.
"Ohh, uhhh, it was... good." Tre shot a look of pure hatred at Draco, and Hermione thought that the look must be hereditary.
"Tre where did you go?" Narcissa asked sweetly. Everyone looked over at the youngest member.
"Ohhh uhhhhhhh me and a friend flew out to Las Vegas." Tre mumbled under his breath. "Nothing special." Tre tried to lie.
"Alright... sin city." Encouraged Ron.
"G'you get any man?" Harry asked enviously.
"uhhhh..." Tre started to mumble.
Ginny could see the uncomfort in Tre's eyes. "So Hermione... you and Draco sure seem to be getting along pretty well, why the sudden change of heart?" Ginny looked at her best friend smuggly.
"We had a long discussion and put aside our differences." Hermione tried to act reformed as she took a bite of Ham.
"Yeah, weall heard that 'discussion'." Harry snided, as Ron choked on his potatoes, trying to stifle a laugh.
Hermione looked to Draco for support but all he could do was smile at his plate, clearly enjoying every minute of this.
"Alright! Hermione and Draco finally got it on!" Tre shot his cousin a look of vengence, as almost everyone at the table erupted into laughter. Everyone but Vilda, Hermione, and Narcissa.
"Thats enough. I will not have this 'discussion' at Christmas dinner." Narcissa stood up, fighting back a smile, as she looked around the table. Everyone immediately grew quiet, and obeyed Narcissa's command.
Hermione finished her meal bitterly, she was furious with Ginny for bringing up the other night, and at Draco for not defending them.
"We'll do the dishes kids." Narcissa and Vilda offered, scooting back their chairs.
"I'll help." Herald volunteered quickly.
"Good. Excuse me." Hermione tossed her napkin on the table, her tone rather tart.
Everyone dispersed. The three oldest transferred dishes from the diningroom to the kitchen, Tre slipped out the back door to the green house, and Draco caught a glimpse of Ginny walking out to the lanai on his way up to talk to Hermione. As for Ron and Harry, they seem to have disappeared.
Draco tried the door but it was locked. Sighing, Draco knocked. "You win. You got me to knock on a door in my own house." Draco joked, trying to lighten her spirits. When the door didnt open Draco said, "It's customary that after someone knocks, you open the door."
"Go away." Hermione wept.
"No." Draco was determined to get that door open. Using his wand, Draco unlocked the door and walked in.
"Ugh. Just once i wish you wouldnt use magic during an arguement." Hermione threw up her arms in exasperation, and began to wipe her eyes.
"Hey, wizardry has drawbacks. Now, whats wrong?" Draco wrapped his arms around her, but let go after Hermione's persistent shoves.
"You know perfectly well. I was utterly humiliated down there, and you..." Hermione suddenly turned on him, "And where were you?" Her eyes slanted as she poked his chest.
"Umm, if i recall correctly, i was right next to you." Draco didnt see where she ws going with this.
"You could have said something in our defense.' Hermione countered.
"And say what? There's no way to disguise the other night, and why would you want to?" Draco had a rancid feeling deep in his gut.
"Because its not something... nevermind. Forget it." Hermione waved her hands in dismissal.
"It's not like your ashamed." Draco said this, as if it couldnt possibly be the answer, but deep down, he knew it was... they both did.
Draco searched Hermione's face for some sign that it was all just a big mistake, but when Hermione hung her head regretfully, Draco grew disgusted, "You ARE ashamed. You're ashamed that you liked me, ashamed that you enjoyed the other night." Draco look at her with disbelief.
"Well can you blame me?" She said quietly. She avoided his eyes at all cost, therefore missing the pain in his eyes.
"No, i should've known you'd never change. You'll always be Hermione Granger." Draco turned and slammed the door.
Hermione felt the hot tears on her cheek, and the temperature in her ears rising as she threw herself onto the bed.
Tre had snuck outside for a smoke. A bad habit he picked up while frollicking the Las Vegas Strip. Not wanting to get caught he hid behind a box bush. He also happened to be standing in the perfect spot to hear Hermione and Draco's conversation.
The conversation was over almost as quickly as it began, and Tre was disappointed in the two of them. He continued to puff on his cigarette, until he heard footsteps approaching. He quickly tossed the cigarette aside and buried it under two leaves.
"I already saw it." Ginny spoke softly from behind him, he turned to find her standing there, arms crossed. Tre noticed how the moonlight framed her figure, and made her red hair glisten.
"Oh, hi. Ginny right?" Tre smiled genuinely as she nodded. Ginny took a brief note of the coky smile on his face. "I remember you from Hogwarts." He continued to smile as they stood in silence.
"So, how was Las Vegas? I've always wanted to see the Chip N Dales." Ginny laughed to herself. "So you always listen in on other peoples conversations?" Ginny looked at him with a smirk.
"You're not missing much." Tre lit up again feeling that his secret was safe with her. "But stop by my room if you want a free preview." Smiling smuggly, Tre sauntered off, leaving Ginny to ponder his last statement.
"Ohhhhhhh." Ginny let out a low gasp as she realized what he implied.
