Author's Note: Thanks for all of your reviews! Like, the first three
reviews I got all had the words "It's about time!" in them. I was laughing
and smiling all day, so thank you! There's more to come, of course, but
this is only the beginning! I hope you all like it! Once again, thank you
for all your reviews! On with the story!
Chapter 13: Bringing Obscurities to Light
The next day was bright and cheery. The sun was out and it made the fallen snow sparkle. Almost all people in the castle household did not wake till the late morning as with the effects of staying up late.
Draco, though, was never the one to get up so late. So was Mathilde, as she being the one who first trained Draco to wake up at dawn every morning. While waiting for the others to get up, Draco had himself a light breakfast before going out into the stables and checking on the animals.
Emil awoke not long after Draco had gone into the stables. He knew he had to be up and ready as he was returning back to Aquitaine along with the rest of his troop by early afternoon. Aquitaine bordered Brittany and so the journey back was not long and hard. He had talked to his sister, Kate, a few days before about letting her stay in the Malfoy castle with the reason that Hermione might need a friend to talk with. Kate agreed at once, rushing up to her brother and giving him a big hug.
Soon, all the people in the castle were up and getting ready for the new day. Emil's troop was getting their things packed and their horses ready. It was at around mid-morning that Hermione came down from her room and was met with an overzealous Kate.
"Hermione! I have some good news to tell you!" Kate exclaimed, rushing over to her friend and giving her a hug.
Hermione laughed. "I had a feeling you would be telling me something good today."
"Why so?"
"Because I could see your smile from the stairway."
Kate laughed and together they walked to the dining hall and Kate ushered Hermione to sit. She was so giddy that Hermione couldn't help but be giddy as well. The mood was definitely infectious.
"Well," Kate started. She had sat on the chair beside Hermione and leaned forward, not minding that she had a bowl of soup right in front of her. Kate seemed to have forgotten her appetite. "MY brother told me a few days ago that I would not be leaving with him... I would stay here, with you!"
"Really? That's wonderful, Kate!" Hermione said and they both laughed. "But why only tell me now?"
"That's because I wanted to surprise you!" Kate replied.
"Oh." Hermione nodded knowingly. "And I think that I'm not the only reason why you were so happy to stay here." She said nonchalantly and gestured toward Goyle who was talking with Emil a few feet from where they sat.
Kate turned toward where Hermione was pointing and removed her gaze at once, blushing. Hermione laughed.
"How did you know?" Kate asked in wonder.
"Who do you think persuaded Sir Goyle to go and dance with you last night?"
If it were possible, Kate blushed even more. Hermione shook her head and began to eat. The next few minutes were spent in silence as they both ate. After that, they both agreed to go out into the inner bailey after putting on their shawls and boots.
Once outside, they walked along the perimeter of the inner bailey, arm in arm, talking about the scenery and the castle and the people. Then, Kate decided to switch the topic of the conversation.
"Hermione?" Kate began tentatively. Hermione looked expectantly at her. "Forgive me if I'm being so blunt, but what happened between you and Lord Draco last night?"
Hermione froze. Or at least she thought she'd frozen but in actuality, they were still walking. She didn't expect to cross-examine her current relationship with Draco Malfoy. Were they lovers? That soon? Oh sure, they had kissed. But what did a kiss mean in medieval times? Somehow, telling Kate that she and Draco had kissed was unsettling. It was only what, twelve hours after her first kiss with the man...
"Hermione?" Kate asked.
She snapped back to the present. "Let's just say I got to know him better." She answered feebly.
"Oh."
Fortunately, as all things in medieval times seem to go, Rose had come up to them and told them that Lord Draco wanted to see them at once. And so, the conversation ended and both girls rushed up to the entrance hall. Once there, they saw that the three men were all standing and assumedly waiting for them, demanding some kind of explanation.
The two girls promptly bowed their heads.
"And what may I ask is so interesting outside that that both of you forgot to ask permission to go there?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Sorry." Hermione replied meekly. "We forgot."
"Not to worry, my dear ladies, Draco here is simply being the shall we say, concerned Lord of the castle." Emil responded, lightly placing emphasis on the word 'concerned'.
Hermione and Kate smiled brightly at the three, the feeling of anxiety passing. Hermione stole a glance at Draco and found that he really wasn't too angry. She smiled at him.
"Well now, before anything else and before I take my leave, I suggest you two go up and change into some dry clothes." Emil said, pointing to their soaked skirts. The two blushed and giggled. Then they cheerfully went up the stairs.
"I told you they would be driving us mad." Draco commented as they strode towards the Great Hall and sat down on some chairs near the fire. Goyle snickered.
"Aye, that is true. But then, they won't be my problem now, would they?" Emil asked teasingly.
And to Goyle and Emil's disbelief, Draco gave them his half-smile.
"And now he smiles!" Emil exclaimed, clapping and laughing to himself.
"Saints, Draco. It has been a long time since we've seen you smile." Goyle added cheerfully. Then his tone grew serious. "It wouldn't be because of a certain Lady's affections, now would it?"
Draco simply kept his head down, refusing to acknowledge the question. The other two laughed heartily.
"It's a pity that I didn't meet Hermione before Olivia. Otherwise, I would have really wooed her." Emil commented.
"What?" Draco snapped to attention. "Who's Olivia?"
"My betrothed." Emil answered, smiling.
"You're betrothed?!" Draco exclaimed. His jaw went slack and his eyes grew wide. Emil laughed at his expression and Goyle laughed along with him. Draco then turned to Goyle. "You knew about this and you didn't tell me?"
"Ah, Draco, Draco..." Emil replied, shaking his head in mock pity. "How else were we supposed to get you to your senses and woo Hermione?"
"We didn't have any choice, Draco." Goyle added. "It was either this or we had to lock the two of you in a room until you came to your senses."
"So, all those things with you 'wooing' her were all an act? To get me to woo her?" Draco asked.
"More or less." Emil answered.
"I should have the both of you hanged." Draco said malevolently. But the other two laughed it off.
"But think of the good that has come out from it all," Emil pointed out. "Goyle and I were almost caught jumping up and down in joy when we saw you two together last night in the Great Hall, we couldn't be any happier."
"Well, we did become happier after that!" Goyle said mischievously.
"What are you two talking about?" Draco asked, confused and slightly nervous about what they might be suggesting.
"Hmmm... let's see, shall we?" Emil said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Let's just say that we stumbled into you and Hermione..."
"Outside her room..." Goyle continued.
"In a very interesting position." Emil finished.
Once Draco realized what they were saying, he placed his head in his hands and groaned, much to the joy of the other two. "Don't you two have other things to say other than tease me about my current disposition?" Draco asked, annoyed.
"Well, before all this lovely talk, I was about to ask you if you would care to come at my wedding." Emil said, hopeful that Draco would say yes.
"When are you to be wed?" Draco asked.
"On the 18th of February." Emil supplied, then in reply to Draco's confused look, he added. "I know, I know, February's a cold month, but my mother insists. And Olivia likes the snow."
"Where is the wedding?" Draco asked.
"My home... in Aquitaine." Emil said, smiling. "You can bring Hermione along, I'm sure she'd love the ride and I'm sure she'd love to meet Olivia."
"I'll tell her."
"So I would expect you to be there?"
"Aye." Draco said, then turning to Goyle. "And you knew of all of this?"
Goyle nodded, smiling. "Emil told me that if I happen to tell you before he did, he would personally see to my hanging." He said cheerfully.
"Either way, you'll still be hanged!" Draco replied.
"Ah yes, it seems that my destiny seems to see me hanged." Goyle said dramatically.
"And a pity, otherwise you wouldn't have the chance to woo a certain maiden properly." Draco commented knowingly.
And it was Emil and Goyle's turn to be shocked. Draco simply gave a smirk and stood up with an all-important air to him. He walked away. The two men looked at each other. Emil was confused, Goyle was nervous. After all, Kate was Emil's sister.
"What was he talking about?" Emil asked Goyle.
Goyle swallowed the lump in his throat. How was he supposed to tell Emil that he liked Kate? "Ah... well... I don't really know."
"You're wooing a maiden and you don't know?" Emil asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm not wooing any maiden..." Goyle answered all too quickly.
"Goyle, you are a terrible liar!" Emil laughed. "I will let that one pass, but should I hear it again, I would most certainly use all my skills to corner you into telling who the lucky girl is."
Goyle smiled along with his friend, feeling an immense relief that Emil was too cheery to press him on who it really was.
Giggles were heard somewhere out in the entrance hall and the two had no doubt on who were currently laughing. Aye, put two girls together and you get nothing but giggles and sweet smiles feigning innocence. Standing up from their comfortable chairs, they strode towards the entrance of the Great Hall where Draco was leaning on one of the doorframes.
"Watching your prize, Lord Malfoy?" Emil asked as they came up to Draco. Draco turned and saw his cousin smiling at him.
"No..." But before Emil's eyebrow could raise in question and skepticism, Draco quickly followed up his statement. "I have not won her yet."
"Ah, then you must win her!" Emil proposed.
"And how would I do that?" Draco asked, stealing a glance at the two girls who were busy talking about something. Both had worn their day dresses and slippers with shawls.
"By showing her some of your talents!" Goyle suggested.
"And what might those be?" Draco asked.
"You could write her a verse or two..." Emil suggested.
"I have no talent for poetry." Draco replied.
"You could sing for her some songs..." Goyle brought up.
"I do not know any songs..." Draco said even though both Emil and Goyle knew that he had a rich, baritone voice that could send any woman melting at his feet. Not that he'd ever used it on women before. He might use it now, knowing that he was venturing off to uncharted emotional territory of the pleasurable kind.
"Then why don't you paint for her!" Emil said, smiling widely.
Draco thought about it, then looked at her again. She was still deep in conversation with Kate and did not seem to notice his glances. "I have not picked up a paintbrush for a very long time." He said in a flat voice.
"Then learn how to again, Draco." Emil whispered encouragingly. "Learn it again. for her. For Hermione." Without waiting for a retort, he went over to both girls and greeted them. Goyle and Draco soon followed and soon they were saying their good-byes to Emil.
Emil's troop was almost ready to begin their journey, and so, Emil made the most out of the time left. After politely asking Hermione if she would care to step away for a moment, he led her to a corner which was too far for the others to hear. Draco's warning look was dismissed, as if to say that he wasn't planning anything drastic.
"It has been a great pleasure getting to know you, Lady Hermione." Emil said, smiling down at her.
"It's true for me too, Lord Emil." Hermione replied.
"But before I go, there is something I have to ask and you have to answer in all truthfulness." He paused and Hermione nodded expectantly, waiting for him to continue. "Do you care about Draco?"
Hermione was stumped. Did she care about Draco? But it was too soon... "Well... I don't know yet, Emil."
"Then know and know soon." Emil said gravely. "And if the answer is yes, then give him all the care in the world. For it has been a long time since he'd received it."
"Oh." Hermione said, for lack of anything to say.
"He had been through some tough times in the past, those stories I will not reveal now. It is only right that he be the one to tell you himself." Emil added. "He still has some demons inside of him..."
"Then what must I do?"
"Teach him how to overcome them. Prod him into letting other people in... Teach him to live again. How to love. Maybe, if he's willing, he would tell you about his past. And then you would understand."
Hermione digested all of this and then finally nodded, making Emil smile. Before they went back to the group, Emil added one more detail.
"Oh, Draco's birthday is coming up."
"When?" Hermione asked, a plan already forming in her head.
"Ssh... on the twenty-second of January. He will turn thirty." Emil replied, raising his eyebrows comically. Hermione laughed. And Emil added, "I want a detailed account of the festivities, agreed?"
Hermione nodded. Then Emil, with all said, led her back to the group. Then after saying his goodbyes, he sped off to his troop, got on his horse and led them away, calling out a "God bless you all!" after him.
The four turned to each other, smiling. Well, the three were smiling, Draco was wondering what the hell Emil had told Hermione. And so, as he could not stand it any longer, whisked her (politely, of course) away from the other two. He had led her to the Great Hall and turned to her.
"What did Emil say to you?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
Hermione's face brightened up and she smiled. "Oh nothing, except for a few instructions on how to care for you."
"Pardon me?"
"He said..." Hermione took a few steps closer to Draco. "That I should care for you..." She was barely inches from him. "And I..." She placed a hand on his shoulder and reached up. "Fully intend to fulfill it." And she kissed him on the lips.
It was a brief, brushing kiss but Draco was definitely shocked. When she came back down and looked at him, smiling sweetly. He had no more questions to ask.
"And I plan to start now." Hermione declared, taking his hand and dragging him off to the kitchens. He could not complain, nor stop her from leading him. How could he? And so, he agreed to be let sit down on one of the chairs and simply watch as Hermione whipped him something he's never tasted before: pancakes.
Chapter 13: Bringing Obscurities to Light
The next day was bright and cheery. The sun was out and it made the fallen snow sparkle. Almost all people in the castle household did not wake till the late morning as with the effects of staying up late.
Draco, though, was never the one to get up so late. So was Mathilde, as she being the one who first trained Draco to wake up at dawn every morning. While waiting for the others to get up, Draco had himself a light breakfast before going out into the stables and checking on the animals.
Emil awoke not long after Draco had gone into the stables. He knew he had to be up and ready as he was returning back to Aquitaine along with the rest of his troop by early afternoon. Aquitaine bordered Brittany and so the journey back was not long and hard. He had talked to his sister, Kate, a few days before about letting her stay in the Malfoy castle with the reason that Hermione might need a friend to talk with. Kate agreed at once, rushing up to her brother and giving him a big hug.
Soon, all the people in the castle were up and getting ready for the new day. Emil's troop was getting their things packed and their horses ready. It was at around mid-morning that Hermione came down from her room and was met with an overzealous Kate.
"Hermione! I have some good news to tell you!" Kate exclaimed, rushing over to her friend and giving her a hug.
Hermione laughed. "I had a feeling you would be telling me something good today."
"Why so?"
"Because I could see your smile from the stairway."
Kate laughed and together they walked to the dining hall and Kate ushered Hermione to sit. She was so giddy that Hermione couldn't help but be giddy as well. The mood was definitely infectious.
"Well," Kate started. She had sat on the chair beside Hermione and leaned forward, not minding that she had a bowl of soup right in front of her. Kate seemed to have forgotten her appetite. "MY brother told me a few days ago that I would not be leaving with him... I would stay here, with you!"
"Really? That's wonderful, Kate!" Hermione said and they both laughed. "But why only tell me now?"
"That's because I wanted to surprise you!" Kate replied.
"Oh." Hermione nodded knowingly. "And I think that I'm not the only reason why you were so happy to stay here." She said nonchalantly and gestured toward Goyle who was talking with Emil a few feet from where they sat.
Kate turned toward where Hermione was pointing and removed her gaze at once, blushing. Hermione laughed.
"How did you know?" Kate asked in wonder.
"Who do you think persuaded Sir Goyle to go and dance with you last night?"
If it were possible, Kate blushed even more. Hermione shook her head and began to eat. The next few minutes were spent in silence as they both ate. After that, they both agreed to go out into the inner bailey after putting on their shawls and boots.
Once outside, they walked along the perimeter of the inner bailey, arm in arm, talking about the scenery and the castle and the people. Then, Kate decided to switch the topic of the conversation.
"Hermione?" Kate began tentatively. Hermione looked expectantly at her. "Forgive me if I'm being so blunt, but what happened between you and Lord Draco last night?"
Hermione froze. Or at least she thought she'd frozen but in actuality, they were still walking. She didn't expect to cross-examine her current relationship with Draco Malfoy. Were they lovers? That soon? Oh sure, they had kissed. But what did a kiss mean in medieval times? Somehow, telling Kate that she and Draco had kissed was unsettling. It was only what, twelve hours after her first kiss with the man...
"Hermione?" Kate asked.
She snapped back to the present. "Let's just say I got to know him better." She answered feebly.
"Oh."
Fortunately, as all things in medieval times seem to go, Rose had come up to them and told them that Lord Draco wanted to see them at once. And so, the conversation ended and both girls rushed up to the entrance hall. Once there, they saw that the three men were all standing and assumedly waiting for them, demanding some kind of explanation.
The two girls promptly bowed their heads.
"And what may I ask is so interesting outside that that both of you forgot to ask permission to go there?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Sorry." Hermione replied meekly. "We forgot."
"Not to worry, my dear ladies, Draco here is simply being the shall we say, concerned Lord of the castle." Emil responded, lightly placing emphasis on the word 'concerned'.
Hermione and Kate smiled brightly at the three, the feeling of anxiety passing. Hermione stole a glance at Draco and found that he really wasn't too angry. She smiled at him.
"Well now, before anything else and before I take my leave, I suggest you two go up and change into some dry clothes." Emil said, pointing to their soaked skirts. The two blushed and giggled. Then they cheerfully went up the stairs.
"I told you they would be driving us mad." Draco commented as they strode towards the Great Hall and sat down on some chairs near the fire. Goyle snickered.
"Aye, that is true. But then, they won't be my problem now, would they?" Emil asked teasingly.
And to Goyle and Emil's disbelief, Draco gave them his half-smile.
"And now he smiles!" Emil exclaimed, clapping and laughing to himself.
"Saints, Draco. It has been a long time since we've seen you smile." Goyle added cheerfully. Then his tone grew serious. "It wouldn't be because of a certain Lady's affections, now would it?"
Draco simply kept his head down, refusing to acknowledge the question. The other two laughed heartily.
"It's a pity that I didn't meet Hermione before Olivia. Otherwise, I would have really wooed her." Emil commented.
"What?" Draco snapped to attention. "Who's Olivia?"
"My betrothed." Emil answered, smiling.
"You're betrothed?!" Draco exclaimed. His jaw went slack and his eyes grew wide. Emil laughed at his expression and Goyle laughed along with him. Draco then turned to Goyle. "You knew about this and you didn't tell me?"
"Ah, Draco, Draco..." Emil replied, shaking his head in mock pity. "How else were we supposed to get you to your senses and woo Hermione?"
"We didn't have any choice, Draco." Goyle added. "It was either this or we had to lock the two of you in a room until you came to your senses."
"So, all those things with you 'wooing' her were all an act? To get me to woo her?" Draco asked.
"More or less." Emil answered.
"I should have the both of you hanged." Draco said malevolently. But the other two laughed it off.
"But think of the good that has come out from it all," Emil pointed out. "Goyle and I were almost caught jumping up and down in joy when we saw you two together last night in the Great Hall, we couldn't be any happier."
"Well, we did become happier after that!" Goyle said mischievously.
"What are you two talking about?" Draco asked, confused and slightly nervous about what they might be suggesting.
"Hmmm... let's see, shall we?" Emil said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Let's just say that we stumbled into you and Hermione..."
"Outside her room..." Goyle continued.
"In a very interesting position." Emil finished.
Once Draco realized what they were saying, he placed his head in his hands and groaned, much to the joy of the other two. "Don't you two have other things to say other than tease me about my current disposition?" Draco asked, annoyed.
"Well, before all this lovely talk, I was about to ask you if you would care to come at my wedding." Emil said, hopeful that Draco would say yes.
"When are you to be wed?" Draco asked.
"On the 18th of February." Emil supplied, then in reply to Draco's confused look, he added. "I know, I know, February's a cold month, but my mother insists. And Olivia likes the snow."
"Where is the wedding?" Draco asked.
"My home... in Aquitaine." Emil said, smiling. "You can bring Hermione along, I'm sure she'd love the ride and I'm sure she'd love to meet Olivia."
"I'll tell her."
"So I would expect you to be there?"
"Aye." Draco said, then turning to Goyle. "And you knew of all of this?"
Goyle nodded, smiling. "Emil told me that if I happen to tell you before he did, he would personally see to my hanging." He said cheerfully.
"Either way, you'll still be hanged!" Draco replied.
"Ah yes, it seems that my destiny seems to see me hanged." Goyle said dramatically.
"And a pity, otherwise you wouldn't have the chance to woo a certain maiden properly." Draco commented knowingly.
And it was Emil and Goyle's turn to be shocked. Draco simply gave a smirk and stood up with an all-important air to him. He walked away. The two men looked at each other. Emil was confused, Goyle was nervous. After all, Kate was Emil's sister.
"What was he talking about?" Emil asked Goyle.
Goyle swallowed the lump in his throat. How was he supposed to tell Emil that he liked Kate? "Ah... well... I don't really know."
"You're wooing a maiden and you don't know?" Emil asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm not wooing any maiden..." Goyle answered all too quickly.
"Goyle, you are a terrible liar!" Emil laughed. "I will let that one pass, but should I hear it again, I would most certainly use all my skills to corner you into telling who the lucky girl is."
Goyle smiled along with his friend, feeling an immense relief that Emil was too cheery to press him on who it really was.
Giggles were heard somewhere out in the entrance hall and the two had no doubt on who were currently laughing. Aye, put two girls together and you get nothing but giggles and sweet smiles feigning innocence. Standing up from their comfortable chairs, they strode towards the entrance of the Great Hall where Draco was leaning on one of the doorframes.
"Watching your prize, Lord Malfoy?" Emil asked as they came up to Draco. Draco turned and saw his cousin smiling at him.
"No..." But before Emil's eyebrow could raise in question and skepticism, Draco quickly followed up his statement. "I have not won her yet."
"Ah, then you must win her!" Emil proposed.
"And how would I do that?" Draco asked, stealing a glance at the two girls who were busy talking about something. Both had worn their day dresses and slippers with shawls.
"By showing her some of your talents!" Goyle suggested.
"And what might those be?" Draco asked.
"You could write her a verse or two..." Emil suggested.
"I have no talent for poetry." Draco replied.
"You could sing for her some songs..." Goyle brought up.
"I do not know any songs..." Draco said even though both Emil and Goyle knew that he had a rich, baritone voice that could send any woman melting at his feet. Not that he'd ever used it on women before. He might use it now, knowing that he was venturing off to uncharted emotional territory of the pleasurable kind.
"Then why don't you paint for her!" Emil said, smiling widely.
Draco thought about it, then looked at her again. She was still deep in conversation with Kate and did not seem to notice his glances. "I have not picked up a paintbrush for a very long time." He said in a flat voice.
"Then learn how to again, Draco." Emil whispered encouragingly. "Learn it again. for her. For Hermione." Without waiting for a retort, he went over to both girls and greeted them. Goyle and Draco soon followed and soon they were saying their good-byes to Emil.
Emil's troop was almost ready to begin their journey, and so, Emil made the most out of the time left. After politely asking Hermione if she would care to step away for a moment, he led her to a corner which was too far for the others to hear. Draco's warning look was dismissed, as if to say that he wasn't planning anything drastic.
"It has been a great pleasure getting to know you, Lady Hermione." Emil said, smiling down at her.
"It's true for me too, Lord Emil." Hermione replied.
"But before I go, there is something I have to ask and you have to answer in all truthfulness." He paused and Hermione nodded expectantly, waiting for him to continue. "Do you care about Draco?"
Hermione was stumped. Did she care about Draco? But it was too soon... "Well... I don't know yet, Emil."
"Then know and know soon." Emil said gravely. "And if the answer is yes, then give him all the care in the world. For it has been a long time since he'd received it."
"Oh." Hermione said, for lack of anything to say.
"He had been through some tough times in the past, those stories I will not reveal now. It is only right that he be the one to tell you himself." Emil added. "He still has some demons inside of him..."
"Then what must I do?"
"Teach him how to overcome them. Prod him into letting other people in... Teach him to live again. How to love. Maybe, if he's willing, he would tell you about his past. And then you would understand."
Hermione digested all of this and then finally nodded, making Emil smile. Before they went back to the group, Emil added one more detail.
"Oh, Draco's birthday is coming up."
"When?" Hermione asked, a plan already forming in her head.
"Ssh... on the twenty-second of January. He will turn thirty." Emil replied, raising his eyebrows comically. Hermione laughed. And Emil added, "I want a detailed account of the festivities, agreed?"
Hermione nodded. Then Emil, with all said, led her back to the group. Then after saying his goodbyes, he sped off to his troop, got on his horse and led them away, calling out a "God bless you all!" after him.
The four turned to each other, smiling. Well, the three were smiling, Draco was wondering what the hell Emil had told Hermione. And so, as he could not stand it any longer, whisked her (politely, of course) away from the other two. He had led her to the Great Hall and turned to her.
"What did Emil say to you?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
Hermione's face brightened up and she smiled. "Oh nothing, except for a few instructions on how to care for you."
"Pardon me?"
"He said..." Hermione took a few steps closer to Draco. "That I should care for you..." She was barely inches from him. "And I..." She placed a hand on his shoulder and reached up. "Fully intend to fulfill it." And she kissed him on the lips.
It was a brief, brushing kiss but Draco was definitely shocked. When she came back down and looked at him, smiling sweetly. He had no more questions to ask.
"And I plan to start now." Hermione declared, taking his hand and dragging him off to the kitchens. He could not complain, nor stop her from leading him. How could he? And so, he agreed to be let sit down on one of the chairs and simply watch as Hermione whipped him something he's never tasted before: pancakes.