Warning: The following chapter contains certain content. If you cannot endure the sourness of a lemon, I can't help you. If your mind is sourer than a gooseberry, I hope you enjoy! :)
P.S. Just scroll down to take a look my end-note if you don't want your eyesight ruined.
HG's POV
New York.
Walking along the pavement with Malfoy on a snowy December morning was not one of her dreams.
It was out of her expectations that he could quietly walk with her without any complaint, as though he was enjoying himself, and apparently, she hated to see him so quiet and content. After all those happening and her pretentious reconciliation, how could he be calm as that?
Due to their exposure of identity, it was necessary to use spells for alteration of appearance for that night. She hated changing of appearance, she might have difficulty in recognising her peers. Morgan and Turner finally decided that their eyes would not be altered so that Hermione could recognise each other without trouble. After all, no one beside Tali would know them, right?
Noon came sooner than they thought and Morgan broke the silence by saying,
"Want some fries for lunch?"
"Why not?" said Malfoy, shrugging.
"Hope they sell fish and chips here," said Turner, chuckled. "And mushy peas too."
"I wish they have tartar sauce," said Morgan. "I hate tomato sauce."
"Come on," said Turner. "I know a restaurant that makes fish and chips, it's just around the corner. Perhaps we can have a try."
The two sprang along the pavement, leaving Hermione and Malfoy behind. She cast a glance at him, he did not seem to be brightened by the thought of having lunch, still he put on a wry smile and hurried catch up. Hermione could not understand what made him so quiet. A few days ago, he was still thriving and happy, even when he was waiting outside the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects, he talked to her.
"Two fish and chips with mushy peas and tartar sauce please!" rang Morgan's voice, pulling Hermione back to reality.
"Sorry, we don't have tartar sauce here, only ketchup."
"Aw, too bad."
"What type of fish do you want?"
"Haddock."
"Hermione, do you want fish and chips?" asked Morgan. "Draco, what about you?"
"Yeah, it's fine," answered Hermione.
"What about you, Draco?" asked Morgan. "Fish and chips too?"
"I'll take it," mumbled Draco.
"Four fish and chips please," said Morgan, grinning at the cashier. "And coke for everyone."
The cashier smiled at them and said,
"That would be $60. Here're four scratch tickets for you, prize ranged from enjoying one free large soda to free drinks at Push Up Bar."
Soon after Morgan handed over a few notes, the cashier gave them their trays of food and they settled down at the table by the window.
"Let me see what's the prize," said Morgan and her nails peeled off the scratch part of the ticket.
"Oh, 'better luck next time'," she read, slightly upset. "Though I was going to get a free soda."
"Looks like both of us have bad luck," said Turner and turned to Malfoy. "What about yours?"
"Free drink at the bar."
"Mine too," said Hermione quietly, not quite interested.
"You two are lucky," said Morgan.
"It's nice," said Turner as he munched the fries after discarding the ticket. "Although it's not as good as the ones back in England."
Hermione did not listen further, she gazed at the sniw outside. Why was she cold even when she wearing enough clothes and stayed indoors?
She could almost see a large familiar house in distance. Whose house was that? She could not answer. She could see herself inside, looking out at the window, smiling.
"Hermione!" yelled Turner.
It pulled her back to reality. Her eyes fixed on Turner, then Morgan and Malfoy, who looked at her with hesitation.
"Are you alright?" asked Turner.
I'm fine," replied Hermione and immediately added when she saw their frowns. "I was just thinking it's a pity to work at Christmas."
"You know we have no rest when it comes to cases."
"Does Tali knows about our arrangement?" asked Morgan as she dipped her fries into ketchup.
"I have informed her, she agrees and allows us to disguise as guards."
"That's going to be challenging," pointed out Morgan. "You know usually criminals disguise themselves as guards just to get away from suspicion."
"It's a pity that our wooden friends would not go on stage that night," said Turner.
"Let's make a guess, what would Phelps do?"
"Spike drinks or food?" suggested Turner.
"Reasonable," replied Morgan.
"What about you, Draco?" asked Turner. "Care to make a guess?"
Draco shrugged and said,
"Perhaps he'd use Felix Felicis and get away-"
"No, he wouldn't!"
Morgan's abrupt answers took every aback, then she blushed and said,
"Well, I think he is confident in himself, he would not need Felix Felicis anyway."
"You got a point," added Turner quickly. "From his usual behaviour, I doubt if he would not trust his own intelligence and use other things to help him."
"Hermione, you have anything to say?"
Hermione cast glances at everyone, then she shook her head.
"I thought you would have something to say," said Morgan, slightly disappointed by Hermione's nonchalance. "You are the brainy one, so you must have at least some ideas and able to come up with a prediction."
Hermione was not interested, she was too much engaged in profound thoughts. Whenever her mind started drifting off to her little space of meditation, the first thing that came to her mind would be Malfoy. She tried to focus on the case and Phelps but she could not. She hated herself for putting emotions before work, which rarely happened before the marriage. Those old friends from Wizengamot often commented that she was a bright witch who could put aside emotions the second she started working.
"Hermione, are you feeling ill?" asked Morgan and Hermione looked at Morgan, shaking her head.
"Your fish and chips are getting cold," said Turner.
She stared down at her tray, it was supposed to be delicious and the smell of fried haddock should always captivate her, but why did she not like it? Just staring at it, she could almost sense her stomach writhing.
The lunch ended with Hermione said she did not feel well and wished to take some rest. The team had to go back to the hotel just to ensure her health would be in perfect condition before that night.
Lying on bed, she could see Malfoy sitting on the chaise lounge with his eyes closed. Was he thinking something? She could not tell, and it reminded her much of that night...
When she opened her eyes again, night had fallen and Malfoy was nowhere to be seen.
Probably he had gone out flirting girls again, she thought.
Quickly, she got out of bed and left hotel room. She did not have any appetite for dinner, all she wanted was a long deep sleep, and only alcohol could help. A little bit of alcohol on the lips could easily send her to the deep dark pit where she could rest without worries.
The moment she entered the bar, she choose a seat at the corner. A waiter came and asked,
"May I help you, Miss?"
She handed the ticket to the waiter. Immediately, the waiter bowed and hurried off, then came back with a whiskey on the rocks.
Just as her fingers reached the glass, a hand swarmed into view and shifted the glass away.
"You know you should not drink whiskey when you are not feeling well," said Malfoy and he sat down.
"I thought you never cared," whispered Hermione, worn out much.
"Some pills and water for you," said Malfoy, flushing as he placed packs of tablets and a bottle of water on the table. "I don't really know which one you need..."
"It's alright, I am not that ill."
He took her glass, watching the ice swirling in the whiskey, then gobbled it.
"You act different," pointed out Hermione. "You aren't acting like before."
"You are the one that has changed," said Malfoy. "The Hermione that I know is never in confusion and always knows what is best for her and those she cares."
"Time has changed everything, has it not?"
"Sometimes I wish I knew what was in your head."
Hermione did not answer.
"Were you...still angry...at me?"
"What is your guess?"
Malfoy did not answer, he got up and went to the bar, then came back with a glass of warm milk.
"Drink it," said Malfoy. "You will feel better."
Hermione drank the whole glass, then said,
"Why are you be so good to me?"
"I am your husband. If I am not good to you, who's going to be good to you?"
"I told myself to hate you, and now you are so...nice."
Malfoy smiled and reached out his hand, grabbing hers tightly. It was warm, and she could feel a strange feeling stirring inside her.
"But then you never say anything to me, not even a word of affection," argued Hermione, trying to reason.
"You're forgetting yourself, Granger," said Malfoy, grinning. "Since when does the brightest witch believe that words speaks louder than actions?"
"No! It's just that it seems you don't care-"
His grasp tightened.
"Not saying anything doesn't mean I don't care."
He shifted the bottle of water towards her and examined the tablets he bought.
"Let's see...this one is...allergy...stomachache...cold...I think the cold medicine will do. What's it called...A-ce-ta..."
"Acetaminophen," replied Hermione.
He stood up and sat beside her, then said,
"Open your mouth."
He cupped her chin and forced her open her mouth. Quickly, he slid in the pill into her mouth. Then, he carefully pour water into her mouth.
"I told you I'm fine!" said Hermione, her cheeks reddened under the dim lights.
His eyes flashed and gazed at hers, then she giggled,
"You look so funny."
"I'm serious!" yelled Malfoy, holding her tight.
"Your face is so red," said Hermione, chuckling, "Like a baboon."
Then Malfoy grinned and said,
"You're drunk."
The next second, she realised he had picked her up and apparated back to the hotel. Then, she could feel the soft bedding on her back. She wrapped her arms around Malfoy's neck, then gave a light kiss on his cheek.
"Let's get off this jacket," whispered Malfoy to her ears then withdrew.
Hermione could not take her eyes off. He unbuttoned the jacket, the shirt, then his trousers, and threw them on the chair. As he came back to the bed and held her body, she could feel her blood pumping up to her mind. His finger reached up and tenderly glided down her cheek to her chin. His eyes fervently gazed into hers and slowly, he leaned down and pressed his lips onto hers. It was demanding yet slow, unlike her first experience. It led her open her mouth and within the blink of an eye, his tongue came in, paralysing hers the moment they touched. Then, she noticed him slowly peeling off her and flung the clothes onto the floor.
His arms around her tightened and hauled her against his body, like a predator that had just caught his first prey. Then his hands glided down to her collarbone, then her hipbone, removing the last piece of clothing. She squirmed as her body exposed in coldness. Malfoy leaned forward and murmured,
"Keep still."
Her breath was ragged as he nibbled her collarbone. Then, he slammed into her and the pain made her wriggle. After a groan, he whispered,
"You alright?"
Hermione took a deep breath and kissed him, the moment he gasped and opened his mouth, she took her opportunity to explore. He seemed stunned by her passion, but then he immediately answered her with a more demanding kiss while keeping themselves riding in the waves of pleasure. The rhythm made her pant, trying to regain her breath while having his lips sealed on hers. His sweat dripped onto her body and her claws desperately slid through his hair.
The night seemed longer than ever, with his last groan, he collapsed onto her, both taking deep breath. His breath rang by her ears and he whispered,
"How was I?"
"...What answer do you expect?"
"Want another round?"
Hermione giggled.
"Aren't you tired?"
"I never get tired of you."
Hermione laughed and replied with a kiss on his cheek, then said,
"How many hours has it been?"
"Lost count. Probably it's past midnight now."
"I don't mind if you don't need sleep, but I surely need some rest."
Malfoy grinned and fell back beside her, not for long, his long slow breath echoed through the room...
There's a shop in Manhattan that has fish (without chips, I think). It's called A Salt & Battery. I didn't really search online for this shop until the very end of this chapter. It was truly an coincidence... But if you are in New York and have dined in this shop, please tell me if the food is good (Well, it can't be bad).
I have also drafted the first chapter for a Lumione story, which some of you might not like it that much, which is normal since not everyone likes Lumione and not every Dramione fans like Lumione (I have tried to "like" SeverusXHermione and VoldemortXHermione, but I still find those stories queer. I like LunaXMalfoy or LunaXHarry though, not sure why).
Despite the strong encouragement from my mum, I didn't read The Cursed Child, and judging from the critiques, I believe I make a right choice (well, BellatrixXVoldermort is too mind-blowing.)
