Beach-Side Mansion
An hour later Hermione and Draco were by their fireplace with a few bags that would hold them over until the end of Christmas break. Dumbledore had arranged for three house-elves to help them with their luggage, despite Hermione's protests.
Draco took Hermione's hand and led her into the fire crying. "Malfoy Beach Mansion!"
They swirled together for almost a full minute before they came to a halt in a spacious sitting room. Hermione gasped as she took in the two couches and coffee table while taking the step up and looking into the mirror that was behind the desk on the other wall. To her left she saw a balcony that had a patio set that Hermione couldn't help but want to try out. walking out she felt like she had been hit in the chest as she looked out onto the beautiful view of a beach and the wide stretching ocean.
Hermione squealed with delight as she saw it and hurried back inside to get a better look. Draco grinned as he watched her in amazement.
"This is beautiful, Draco!" Hermione told him wrapping her arms around him and kissing his cheek.
"Only the best for you." Draco responded warming into her embrace. "Do you want to see the bedroom?" He asked.
Hermione nodded eagerly and Draco took her hand as he led her up the steps and down a hall. Opening up the double doors into the room Hermione gasped at the sight inside. There was a window on the opposite wall that stretched from the very top, save a few inches, to a foot or so off the floor. In the middle of the room against the wall was a vast king sized bed that had two bedside tables on either side. To her right Draco fell onto a black leather couch where he watched Hermione. On the left was a dresser and a hallway.
Following down it there was a walk in closet and a bathroom. Hermione was about to turn the knob to the last door when Draco appeared behind her and stopped her hand.
"You can't go in there." He ordered.
"Why not?" Hermione asked moving her hand away and putting both hands on her hips.
"Because I said so." Draco shrugged slipping an arm around her waist and leading her back to the main room.
They were silent for a moment while Hermione looked out the window and draco draped across the bed.
"Come on I have something that will make your day." Draco said walking towards the door a smile on his face.
"You already have, Draco. I just want to know what is behind that door." Hermione sighed and following him up the last case of stairs to the attic.
"You learn all in good time." Draco gave her an annoying secretive smirk before opening the door.
Hermione gasped but the breath caught in her throat. Inside the attic was the largest library she had ever seen in her life. From ceiling to floor and wall to wall books covered everything except for a small space where a window was placed.
"It mostly Dark Arts books but I have been trying to go through them and get rid of the really Dark ones and replace them with normal books." Draco explained.
"It is wonderful, Draco!" Hermione strode over to a shelf and looked at the books.
To her dismay he was right they were mostly very dark books. "I can help you." She declared. "And someday a library full of good books will fill this room."
"I'd like that." Draco murmured too low for her to hear but she paid no attention.
"I'm going to stay up here for a little bit and look at some books, okay?" Hermione asked sweetly.
"Sure I'll be down in the kitchen which is on the first floor." Draco said. "Which is two floors below where you came in." He explained seeing her confused face.
"Okay, see you later." Hermione kissed his cheek and hurried back to her books.
Opening the first book that didn't look very dark Hermione sat down in a chair. It was all about codes and how to decipher them. Turning the page Hermione saw a very familiar looking code. Looking it over Hermione realized where she had seen it once before.
Setting the book careful down on the seat Hermione ran downstairs and dove into the bedroom she and Draco shared. Digging through her bags she found the letter that had been left in her book. Grinning she ran back up to the library and threw herself into a chair that was used with a desk. Propping the book open she began her decoding.
Almost four hours later Hermione had only finished half of the letter and she was positive there were a lot of mistakes. In the meantime Draco had made a small dinner with help from the house-elves. A lot of help. After he supervised the table being set he went off to the library to bring Hermione down. Opening the door he saw Hermione bent over the desk poring over a book.
Sensing Draco Hermione involuntarily put the letter in the book and slammed it shut.
"Ready for dinner?" Draco asked glancing at the book suspiciously.
Hermione nodded eagerly. "Famished!" Then as an after though asked. "Did you cook?"
"You could say." Draco smirked closing the door behind them.
Hermione frowned. "It's not right to have the house-elves cook and clean for you."
"If we didn't have house-elves we would starve." Draco shrugged.
Hermione scowled. "I can cook." She pointed out.
"Yeah but you should be resting." Draco walked through another sitting room into a dining hall.
Draco took a seat and the front of the table and Hermione sat on his left. "I don't need to take it easy, Draco. I'm fine."
"You weren't so hot five days ago." He grumbled as the dining hall door opened.
"That." Hermione hissed. "Won't be happening again."
"Mhmm." Draco said as he watched his plate get set down in front of him.
"Tonight you will be dining on chicken Marsala which is, sautéed chicken breasts in a savory sauce of mushrooms, garlic and Marsala wine. Served with Tuscan potatoes and bell peppers. For the Master there will be red wine and for our new mistress a glass of sparkling water." A very regal looking house-elf said as he stood between the two.
Hermione looked down at the food and couldn't help but feel her mouth water as she smelt in the delicious aroma. But then she stopped herself remembering it was made by slave labor. With a disgusted scowl she pushed the food away from her.
"I'm not hungry for slave labor, thank you." She declared folding her arms over her chest.
Draco took a deep breath before speaking. "'Mione the house-elves love cooking and cleaning and serving it is just how they are. It is not slave labor if they are doing it on their own free will. Which is what they're doing. Now if you don't eat they are going to be very insulted."
"Draco, they called me their new mistress! And besides I'm not hungry." Hermione pushed her chair and stalked out of the room, leaving Draco sitting there watching her leave.
Walking back up the stairs Hermione made her way back to the library.
Later that night Hermione tossed and turned in bed. Her stomach growled loudly in hunger. Knowing she had to get something to eat Hermione crawled slowly out of bed, not wanting to wake Draco.
Opening and closing the door softly she padded her way down the steps to the kitchen. It was eery being up in a strange house at this hour but Hermione was too hungry to care.
Once inside the kitchen she made her way to a fridge by the wall. Opening it up she found some vegetables to make a salad with. Pulling the stuff out Hermione searched through the cupboards looking for a bowl. Finding one she pulled it out and couldn't help but feel funny about going through everything.
Sitting down on at the island in the kitchen she slowly ate her salad, savoring every bite. She was nearly done when she heard footsteps coming from the hall. Fear swept through her and her common sense flew away. The door slowly creaked open and Draco came in.
"I thought I'd find you in here." He smiled sitting across from Hermione.
"I bet it tastes better than what you ate for dinner." She said taking another bite.
"Probably, but only because you made it." Draco grinned stealing her fork and taking a bite.
"Hey that's mine." Hermione snapped, pulling her bowl back.
"Damn, it's a shame I got your fork." Draco teased.
Hermione shrugged and set the bowl down in the sink. "Oh well I'm done." Hermione took the fork off him. "Ready for bed?"
Draco nodded and followed her out but couldn't shake the feeling someone was watching him. Turning around he saw a portrait of his grandfather, Abraxaus Malfoy. The old man was wearing a disgusted sneer and when he saw his grandson looking at him he narrowed his eyes.
"You disgust me boy! Bringing a filthy mudblood onto Malfoy premises!" the portrait shrieked.
Draco narrowed his eyes and placed an arm around Hermione's shoulders. "Fuck you." He said plainly before steering Hermione up the steps.
"Well, there's another portrait that needs removed." Draco yawned.
Hermione nodded in agreement before falling on their bed next to Draco.