CHAPTER 22
'I now pronounce you-.' The Father paused, just, in Hermione's opinion, to add an air of suspense to the whole thing. She resisted the urge to punch him.
'-Man and wife!'
he raised his hands with a flourish., and then threw Hermione and Draco an appraising glance.
'You may now kiss the bride,' he said, in a condescending tone.
Draco cleared his throat very loudly. He turned to Hermione, and gingerly lifted the veil of her face.
Hermione felt her heart beating.
He's going to kiss me again!
His lips were moving closer, closer to hers. Suddenly, she realized that she was excited.
It's Draco! Draco Malfoy!
Who kisses like- like a firecracker.
Just as she thought this, his lips slammed against hers.
As before, the kiss was passionate and fiery. Draco, it seemed, had a weakness for this. She placed her hands on his shoulders, and kissed him back. It was as wonderful a feeling as she had remembered. It was exhilarating- making her feel like she was suspended over the, mouth of a volcano.
All too soon, the kiss broke off. Draco was looking slightly dazed. She looked at him, a little surprise. She herself was feeling like heaven, but she hadn't thought that Draco would enjoy it so much. After all, he was Draco Malfoy, Slytherin sex god who had shagged a million and a half girls. And she was just- her...
She was jerked out of her revelry, when she noticed Draco was looking at her.
'You okay?' he asked, in a quiet voice.
'yeah,' she answered.
'Cool. Fudge said that there's no need to stick around. Now that we're married, we might as well go back.'
'Go back where?' Hermione asked, confused.
Draco gave her A Look.
'The mansion,' he replied. 'You're moving in there, remember. All your stuff has already reached.'
Hermione felt a little foolish that she hadn't thought of it before.
'I suppose,' she muttered. 'I'll miss being with Lisa,' she added, a little wistfully.
Draco shrugged. 'I'll miss having the privacy of my own room.'
Hermione sighed.
'Oh yeah. Sleep together. I forgot.'
'Convenient,' Draco snorted. 'Now how about we leave?'
Hermione nodded, and the two of them waited till the last trickle of guests left the church. Then, they stepped out, Hermione picking up her train, so as to save herself the trouble of walking carefully. Draco motioned towards a gleaming black car parked near the curb.
'That's mine,' he said. 'No- not original,' he added, quickly, seeing the looked of inquiry and amusement that Hermione shot him. 'Bewitched, of course. It can fly, turn invisible, and the seats can adjust themselves to any size.'
Hermione shrugged.
'Silly of me to think you would go for anything Muggle,' she replied.
There was more than a hint of cynical element in her voice. Draco studied her for a moment.
'Im not fond of Muggle stuff,' he said, frankly. 'Is that my fault.'
'It's insulting,' Hermione replied, in a haughty voice.
'The way you're talking right now is insulting,' Draco pointed out, 'And I'm not holding that against you.'
'I suppose,' Hermione said, doubtfully. 'But I don't get why you're so against Muggle Stuff.'
Draco shrugged.
'Muggles are just so....weak,' he responded. 'They can't use magic. They're so...vulnerable...'
Hermione frowned.
'Actually...you've got that wrong,' she said, meaningfully. 'Muggles manage pretty well without magic. Meaning they're, like, more capable than wizards, and-.'
'What-ever,' Draco said, in a bored voice. 'I'm not here to discuss Muggle predicaments with you.'
Hermione smirked.
'Someone knows he's lo-sing,' she said, in a sing-song voice.
Draco scowled.
'Am not! I'm just bored! Now are you going to get into the car, or are we going to age on this pavement, bickering?'
Hermione giggled, and got into the car. Draco looked mortified.
'What are you giggling at?' he demanded.
'Nothing,' Hermione said, quickly.
Draco leaned back in the car. The driver, who was sitting up front, quickly pulled out onto the main road.
'I suppose your mother will also be there,' Hermione said, after a pause.
Draco looked sharply up.
'Yes, she will,' he said, 'But she'll be staying in the West wing. We'll being the East.'
'Right,' Hermione muttered.
'And by the way....we'll probably be having plenty of visitors. They all know you as Mya, you're a pureblood and you hate Mudbloods, get it? I know you hate this, but I don't want you to die.'
'You don't?' Hermione asked, a little surprise. 'I thought I was just annoying little Mudblood Granger, the stupid know-it-all who has absolutely no reason for existence upon this very Earth?'
Draco shrugged. 'You aren't all that bad,' he said, gruffly.
Hermione raised an eyebrow. 'And I take that as a compliment?'
'As you wish.'
Draco turned his head, and earnestly observed the door handle for the rest of the journey.
As they pulled into the Manor's drive, Hermione saw Narcissa waiting for them at the gleaming white porch. She hadn't been able to come for the wedding, because of the short notice she had received. The look on her face was all but welcoming. Her mouth was drawn in a tight line, and her icy eyes fixed upon Hermione as if she was some nasty thing that the dog had brought in. She was dressed in a sweeping white crepe dress, with chunky silver jewelry.
'Hello Draco,' she said, as Draco and Hermione stepped out of the car. 'How was the wedding?'
'It was fine, mother,' Draco said. Hermione couldn't help noticing that his voice was suddenly stiff and respectful.
'Dinner is ready,' Narcissa said, in the same cool tone. 'Why don't you come inside and eat?'
'Okay,' Draco replied.
They followed her through the magnificent front door, and into a high, and rather gloomy front foyer. It was made of gold gray marble, and was furnished only with a wooden coat rack. Narcissa lead them past the foyer, and into a large dining room. It had a long table, covered with a white silk sheet, and laid with plates of solid silver, and goblets of pure crystal. Narcissa offered Hermione a seat.
'May I tempt you...?' she asked, in her soft voice. 'There is cod roe omelet's, croquette potatoes, and plenty of crushed peppers...and soup, if you prefer....and of course, we have...'
she continued like this for sometime. Hermione quickly served herself, while Narcissa seated herself.
There was an awkward silence around the table. Hermione ate her food silently, half wondering if she should start up some small talk with Narcissa. She quickly decided against it. Draco ate very little. He looked extremely grave. Narcissa, on the other hand, ate absolutely nothing except for white wine and olives. She continued to beadily eye Hermione throughout dinner.
When Hermione had finished, she looked up hesitantly, wondering what to do. Draco took the cue.
'Mother...Hermione and I are quite tired. I think we'll retire.'
'A tolerable idea,' Narcissa replied, icily. 'Good night.'
'Good night, mother.'
'Good night, Mrs. Malfoy.'
The two of them headed up to bed.
