Chapter 8
Hermione woke early the next morning, as she opened her eyes she took in Malfoy's sleeping face, he looked younger like this, his usually perfect hair flopped messily over his face. She hesitated but did it anyway. Reaching out she ran her fingers through his hair pushing the unruly strands back. It was so soft and thick. She ran her fingers through it a few more times before forcing herself to stop. She would wake him and that would just be awkward. She had no idea where they stood now but she was sure last night would never happen again. He had made it clear it would be a mistake.
"Good morning, Granger," Malfoy yawned and stretched before rising.
His back to her she could quietly appreciate the perfect expanse of beautiful, muscled flesh that rippled as he pushed up from the bed, the silk trousers clinging just slightly to his back side. He was a fit specimen to be sure.
"Well, I suppose we should get back to London, I have a lot to look into. I am very grateful to have run into you. Learning the name of my perp is going to help me make a lot of progress and also your brilliant thought to look for a connection with the Society," he flashed a smile back at her and continued, "you could have made a great Auror you know. It would have been fun to have you be second best to me for once after all these years."
He was teasing her but also acting all business. It was just as she thought, he was a professional. Thank Merlin he had had sense last night, she was humiliated but she could put on a face with the best of them.
"Oh Malfoy, I think it is sweet you think I wouldn't have been better than you, Really, have you learned nothing after all these years?" she said swinging her legs out of bed.
Without a backward glance she strode to the bathroom to get ready for the morning. Face washed, hair braided down, self-talked down from the ledge, she was ready to face him.
Malfoy was still lounging in bed looking tempting and divine when she walked out. My word what?! Enough of that, she scolded herself.
"Are you going to get ready for the day or just loaf about. I would like to get home before lunch if it's all the same to you," Hermione said with a note of impatience.
Malfoy rose from the bed while she busied herself so as not to stare at his chest and shoulders and cute arse as he waltzed into the bathroom.
Packed and dressed they left the hotel and walked to the nearest Apparation point. Back in wizarding Paris they headed to the international Floos to head home.
When they stepped out of the Floo in London and cleared customs they both walked to the exit. Hermione was confused Wiltshire was quite a distance from London he couldn't possibly be Apparating there.
"Aren't you going to Floo home? The Manor would be a long Apparation."
"Well spotted Granger. I, however, reside in London now if you must know."
This surprised Hermione but then she considered the Manor likely doesn't hold happy memories for him either.
"Before you go assuming, I can already hear your mind spinning, I just prefer my own space. The Manor is entirely changed from your last erm visit. My mother refused to live there after the war until it had been completely done over. Believe it or not she actually hired a famous Muggle designer to come and remodel the entire thing after the Ministry curse breakers cleared the house," Draco casually relates, like mentioning the weather.
"A Muggle, redesigned the Manor? Have I walked into and alternate reality. How did that not break the Statute of Secrecy?"
"Oh, sorry I should have said, she is a Muggle born witch and is very famous in the Muggle world as a designer. An actual Muggle in the Manor would be laughable—because well there is far too much magic in the fabric of that house that could never be explained away not to mention every portrait talks."
Hermione's hackles had risen a bit as he spoke but then his logic was sound. It would be like a Muggle at Hogwarts. A house as old as the Manor was likely nearing sentience with all the generations of Malfoy magic layered upon its foundations.
"Very progressive of your mother, I would love to see it sometime," Hermione said surprising herself and possibly Malfoy if his eyebrows were any indication.
"The Manor is empty right now, my mother is off on holiday in Italy or Greece, I can never remember. She only comes back every few weeks to attend charity functions and harass her only child. If you wanted to see it without being invited to stay for tea and dinner and desert now is your chance," Malfoy sounded almost eager, which did not make sense, but she found herself considering this offer.
Was she ready for this? No.
"Maybe another time Malfoy, I am tired and just ready to be home. Thank you for the offer though," Hermione politely declined, spending more time with him alone was not a good idea right now.
"Alright, well maybe I will see you at the pub or something some night then, I will be in town for a while now and I know you and my snake club hang out all the time. Theo and Blaise have been mercilessly pestering me to come when I'm home next."
"Yes, or who knows now that I know you frequent Muggle dance clubs maybe I will see you in one at some point," Hermione teased.
Malfoy however, licked his lips and—did his eyes darken?
"Maybe Granger, I though you said you don't go out anymore."
"I don't but a lot of my coworkers at the Muggle hospital do and like you, friends pester me to come out with them. And now that you reminded me how much fun dancing is I may take them up on the offer, so thank you," Hermione said brightly.
"Still can't believe you work in a Muggle hospital isn't it hard to not use magic and watch people die when you know you could save them?" Malfoy asked.
Why was he still talking with her it was like he didn't want to walk away just yet either?
"That is a loaded conversation Malfoy one I am not prepared to answer while standing on the street," Hermione said.
"Right sorry, you wanted to get home, I won't hold you up," Malfoy said, and sounded almost embarrassed like he had been caught.
"I would be happy to answer it though at a later date if you really want the answer," Hermione offered.
Malfoy smiled, and she nearly stumbled, he had smiled at her several times over the last two weeks but this one was different, sweeter somehow. Merlin he was blinding when he smiled like this, his whole face lit up. Hermione smiled back brightly. Then his face shifted like he realized he was smiling at her.
"Well maybe when I see you at the pub with the others then you can tell me about it," he said almost stiffly.
"Right, of course, later Malfoy," Hermione said before turning on the spot, she didn't give him the chance to say anything else.