Smooth Sailing… or, Not

Hermione Granger

"I want to go on a boat!" Luna whined at breakfast.

I smiled. I remembered when I used to go sailing as a child. "We might be able to do that." I said slowly. I didn't want to make promises I couldn't keep.

"Daddy, I want to go on a boat!" Luna said brightly when her father walked in.

"Aren't you tired from the beach trip two days ago?" He asked, patting her head.

Luna considered this. "No."

Malfoy laughed. "Well, if Hermione is willing, I'll let you go out on my yacht."

Luna looked at me with her soft blue eyes… there was no way I would disagree! "Why not?" I replied.

Across the table, Stella smiled. I was glad the girls were starting to agree on activities to do. Yesterday they argued for twenty minutes over which game they wanted to play—not their usual hour.

"Daddy, aren't you going to come, too?" Luna asked hopefully.

"I don't know…" He frowned.

"But Hermione doesn't know how to run the yacht!" Stella added.

I almost said that I used to go sailing a lot, but the girls really seemed to want their father to come. I just nodded in agreement.

"Elizabeth is going to hate me for agreeing to spend another day with you." He said, mostly under his breath and looking at me.

Stella opened her mouth as if to say something, but she snapped it shut. She must've thought about the consequences of what she was about to say.

"We'll go around 4:30 in the afternoon." Malfoy said. "I'll have the chefs prepare us a meal, and then we'll bring it on board."

Stella and Luna beamed. "We'll wear something fancy!" Stella said.

"Yay!" Luna clapped her hands together. "Hermione needs to dress up, too! And so do you, Daddy."

I thought about my wardrobe. I only had that one red dress I wore to the party. I decided to take the girls shopping after breakfast. I had quite a bit of money to spare—with my new paycheck and all—so a new dress was well deserved.

"Before we go sailing, who wants to go to Hogsmeade?" I asked.

"Me!" Stella and Luna shouted simultaneously.

And so, about two hours later, we were walking the streets of Hogsmeade together.

"Let me pick out your dress." Stella offered. I thought back to our first shopping trip and remembered the fiasco with that gown Stella wanted. I was about to shake my head when I remembered that if not for her, I never would've seen the dress I did buy. I agreed.

We wandered into a store that looked familiar. The store owner glared at us and I remembered…

"I like that." She pointed to an expensive looking gown. It was also way too large for her.

"Stella, that's a women's gown."

"I don't care. I want it." She demanded.

"Excuse me?" I asked the sales person. "Does that dress come in children's sizes?"

"No." She replied.

"I WANT THAT DRESS!" Stella screamed.

"Stella!" I said firmly. "That dress doesn't come in your size!"

"I don't care!" She whined. "I want it!" We then got kicked out from the store.

"Uh, Stella," I said, breaking out of my flashback. "Let's go into another store."

"No." She argued sternly. "I know they kicked us out last time, but this time, I know exactly what you need."

I followed her down the rows and rows of dresses. "I want THAT!" She whined finally, pointing at that hauntingly beautiful dress hanging on the wall. She was joking about wanting it for herself, but she pointed at it regardless. She wanted me to buy it.

I smirked at Stella as I took the dress from the wall and held it in my arms. It wasn't really a dress, now that I actually held it. It had several pieces, making it look like one, though. There was a white, off-the-shoulder blouse. A black corset covered in flowers rested over it. The circle skirt that went with the outfit was pink. It was one of the most gorgeous things I'd ever seen. I looked at the price tag and winced. I would spend all the money in my pocket.

However, when I tried it on, I couldn't resist. I needed to have it. I paid for it at the register and walked out of the store with a feeling of contentment.

Around 4:00, we got back to Malfoy manor. "What's in the bag, Granger?" Malfoy asked me.

"My new outfit for tonight." I smiled.

"Getting dressed up for me, are you Granger?" He smirked.

"Get over yourself." I retorted.

Stella giggled. "I wish I would've seen you two in school! This is entertaining!"

I bit my lip. Malfoy smirked.

"Well," I said suddenly, abruptly changing the subject, "I think we have a boat to catch!" I went to get changed quickly, and everyone else followed my example.

I stepped out from my room and saw Malfoy standing outside of Luna's room. He looked at me and tried not to look shocked. I, however, knew he was totally surprised about my choice of attire. And he doesn't look so bad, himself. Something in my mind thought. No! Bad! I scolded myself mentally.

We stepped onto the yacht, and the sun was going to set in roughly and hour and a half. There was a table set for four, with beautiful and expensive-looking dishes. The yacht itself was beautiful—with a top deck for dancing or lounging and a main deck with an eating space.

I went on the top deck and checked out the dance floor. The boat started to move, and I saw Malfoy coming up the stairs behind me. "What do you think?" He asked.

"Of what?" I muttered, staring at the glittering water.

"Of my fancy clothes?" He asked sarcastically. "The boat, Granger! What do you think of the boat?"

"I think the boat is impressive." I said, fingering the deck railing. "And you clean up pretty nicely, by the way." I added.

He raised his eyebrows. "As do you." He said approvingly.

We stared into the horizon silently. Suddenly, a yell from the distance broke the serene calm of the quiet.

"Bon voyage!" Malfoy and I snapped our heads in the opposite direction the boat was traveling. Stella and Luna were on the dock, waving handkerchiefs in the air. The gap between the deck and the yacht was growing by the second.

"Damn it, Stella!" Malfoy yelled. "What the hell did you do?"

It was hard to tell, but it looked like she was smiling. "Luna and I totally set you up for a romantic evening alone!"

I looked at Malfoy and he looked at me. We shook our heads simultaneously. What was Stella thinking?

"Can't you stop this thing?" I asked, desperately looking at shore.

"Not without my wand." He murmured.

"You didn't bring your wand?" I asked incredulously.

"I left it on my bedside table!" He mentally kicked himself. "Well, use yours!" He said after a pause.

I reached into my pocket. "Shit! It's gone!"

Stella held it in the air. "Looking for something?" She asked sweetly.

I sighed. "Well, at least she thinks of everything."

He sighed. "She's always got these crazy ideas in her head." He muttered. "Well thank you, daughters!" He yelled sarcastically, waving. "Have fun at home, alone!"

Then he looked at me. "Well, we might as well enjoy it." He mumbled, sipping his drink.

"That's not alcohol, is it?" I asked, disgusted. Spending an evening on a ship with Malfoy was insane enough, but drinking would only worsen things!

"Nah." He said, staring into his glass. "It's coke."

I laughed. "Malfoy's a muggle lover!" I taunted.

"Whatever you say, Granger." He rolled his eyes.

About an hour later, land was gone from sight. The sun was lowering into the sky, and we descended down the stairs to the main deck.

"I'm starving." He whined as he entered the area where the food was. "Oh," he said, eyeing the feast that appeared on the table. It had shrunken, and there were only two place settings. "How convenient!"

I sat down and he sat across from me. "Well," I said slowly. "What do you want to talk about?"

He raised his eyebrows at me. "Is that the best conversation starter you've got, Granger?"

"Well, you're not saying anything!" I retorted.

"That's because I haven't got anything to say!" He replied smugly. I looked at my plate. I began eating as the silence returned.

After I started on my salad, I opened my mouth to speak. The silence was deafening. "Were you being honest that day on the Ferris Wheel?" I asked cautiously, not sure if I wanted to hear the answer.

"About what?" He asked, smirking.

"You know what, Malfoy!" I said a little louder than necessary. "What you said about me."

"Oh, that." He said, making a face as if he tasted something sour. "Why do you want to know?"

I couldn't believe him! "Why do you have to be so difficult!" I asked, exasperated.

"Because I can." He said with a sickening joy in his voice.

I groaned. "Come, on, Malfoy!"

"Fine!" He caved in. "I meant every word."

I felt sick. I mean, Malfoy liked me in school? I blushed, I'm sure—it's something I tend to do more often than I like.

"What did you think of me in school, Granger?" He asked with a smug expression.

"The words arrogant git stick out in memory." I said.

"Come on, Granger. You know you thought I was devilishly handsome."

I blushed. I did think that. I always though he was incredibly good looking—no matter how horrible he treated me. I certainly never admitted that to ANYONE, not even Ginny or Lavender, because I was a bit embarrassed of it.

I didn't even need to answer him; the redness in my face gave him his answer. He smirked at me. "Well, Granger. We're alone on a boat that has no intention of heading back to land anytime soon."

"What are you suggesting?" I asked nervously, knowing full well what he wanted to do.

He wiggled his eyebrows at me. I gulped. Then I made a dive for the bread. I stuffed it into my mouth so I wouldn't have to talk. He looked at me questioningly.

"I didn't think it was that bad of an offer." He said.

I just ate more bread so I wouldn't have to answer him.

"Well, Granger. Let's talk. Stop shoving bread into your mouth."

Reluctantly, I put the roll down. "About what?" I asked, still chewing. He grimaced at me.

"About that dress of yours." He said thoughtfully. "I like it. No doubt it cost a pretty penny. It looks good on you, Granger. You know, in school, I never got a good look at you. Your body's alright, you know… you didn't have to cover it up all the time."

"Do you enjoy making me blush?" I snapped, tugging at my skirt… nervous habit.

"Yes, actually." He said with a hint of pleasantness in his voice. "And your hair has greatly improved. I guess I can't make fun of it anymore. In fact, I can't make fun of you at all, anymore, seeing as you've grown up quite nicely."

"Are you drunk?" I asked, growing tired of his speech. It was redundant and irritating.

"Do you want me to be?"

"No!" I said clearly.

"Damn." He eyed the wine bottle on the table. "And it looked so good, too."

I rolled my eyes. "I think you have a mental problem."

"And I think you're incredibly gorgeous when you get mad like that."

I froze. Not sure of what to say, I did the easiest thing—an insult. "Now I'm positive you're drunk."

"Unless Stella spiked the coke, I'm not."

I giggled. I could picture Stella doing something like that. She could be such a delinquent!

"Now who's the drunk one? No one laughs like that, Granger. It's just wrong."

"And no one makes speeches like that!" I retorted. "You're going to be married soon… no doubt checking other women out isn't smart."

"You're saying I was checking you out?" He asked with interest.

I sighed loudly. "Now you're annoying me." I mumbled. "I have an idea. You stand over there, and I'll stand up there." I pointed in two, totally opposite directions. "And we won't speak until this is over."

He looked thoughtful. "But Granger," he wined annoyingly. "Bothering you is an enjoyable pastime."

"Well, I don't feel like being bothered." I groaned.

I started on the main dish—salmon. It tasted like nothing in my mouth, because Malfoy's words ruined everything.

About forty minutes later, we were both done. We hardly said a word throughout the course of the meal; only a few "this tastes great"s or "it's getting cold"s.

I got up from my chair and climbed up to the top deck. I looked out into the distance and all I saw was black. There were brilliant stars in the sky, but other than that, it was almost pitch black outside. I let out a sigh and wondered what Ron was doing. I decided I didn't care. My new life was Stella and Luna. I didn't have time for Ron, anyway. Things would not have worked out, I told myself.

Suddenly, music started playing. It was a slow, waltz kind of song, but it made me jump and I turned to look behind me. Malfoy was standing in the middle of the dance floor, with strings of lights surrounding him. I glanced at him quickly and then turned back to the ocean.

"Granger?" He wined. "I'm bored."

"For god's sakes! I'm not your nanny, Malfoy." I yelled to him. "You're worse than your daughters!"

"Well at least I don't get crazy ideas about getting us to be romantically enthralled." He sneered, thinking of Stella. "But now that I think about it, it's not such a bad idea." He smirked.

He began to take a few steps towards me. In a normal situation, I would have frozen like a deer in headlights. But this was not normal, so I ran for the stairs. I outran him for a little while, but then he was right behind me.

He grabbed my shoulders, and in one quick and unexpected movement, he spun me around and pressed his lips to mine. I pulled away quickly, startled.

"What the hell was that?" I asked, my cheeks burning.

"I don't know." He replied coolly. "You were there… and…" He stuttered dumbly.

"I'll pretend it never happened if you promise not to do it again." I offered.

"I can't promise that I won't do it again." He said with a smirk.

"Why not?" I demanded angrily.

He shrugged. "Malfoy," I narrowed my eyes dangerously at him. "I won't be the victim of one of your flings. I know how you were in school… always moving on from one woman to the next. You didn't give a damn about feelings."

"Besides," I added, "you've got kids and I work for you, and…"

I was in the middle of a lecture when he kissed me again!

This time, I didn't pull back right away. I was caught up in it… too surprised to refuse. I pulled apart for the second time and looked at him. He leaned forward and tried to kiss me again.

"Wait," I said softly, pushing him away. "I can't do this. Malfoy, this isn't right. It isn't even sane. You're going to be married! How did you feel when you caught Fleur with that man? How do you think I felt when I caught Ron with that woman? This is wrong."

If it's so wrong, I thought to myself miserably, than why did that feel so right?

Author's Note: Almost 6 pages? How did that happen? I hope the romance wasn't too rushed… because I hate that. Let's just say that the romance isn't going to "bloom" until later chapters. Well, there are exams this week for school so updates are going to be a little slow. But this long chapter should hold you for a good few days. Thanks for the reviews! I'm looking forward to reading your reactions to this chapter!