Abigail stuck her head in Hermione's office. "Minister, Mr. Draco Malfoy is here to see you, he doesn't have an appointment, but you have nothing on the books until that three o'clock meeting with the aurors."
"Please send him in, thank you."
A moment later Abigail showed Draco into her office and quietly closed the door behind her giving them privacy.
"I hope you don't mind my dropping in without an appointment, I was in the building on other business and thought I would say hello," he said with a grin.
Hermione stood and gestured to the comfortable leather chairs near the fireplace at the far end of her office. "Not at all, Draco. Please sit."
They made themselves comfortable and she asked, "The St. Mungo's project?"
He nodded. "The permits are driving everyone on the committee mental and I think a lot is getting lost from person to person so I took it upon myself to get a list of what is specifically needed right from the man in charge of permits himself. No middle men and nothing lost in translation that way and I can get it all sorted properly."
"Is there anything I can help with? I know the hospital is in dire need of the new wing you're building."
Draco shook his head. "No, thank you though. We'll muddle through."
"Are you sure? I don't mind sending a few owls to light some fires."
"I'm positive. To be honest? I don't want anyone thinking our… friendship is being used for persuasion or political gain. We've both worked too hard to build our clean reputations."
Hermione sighed. "You're right. There's been so much corruption in the past that even something innocent like this could be construed wrongly. And we have both worked too hard to get to where we are now."
Draco nodded. "Exactly. Oh, by the way, are you going to the Hogwarts scholarship fund reception Friday afternoon?"
Hermione made a face. "Yes."
"Not a fan, Minister?" he teased.
"I just always seem to get stuck talking to the most boring people there. Not to mention that half the time I don't get any food so I'm starving on top of it. Are you going?"
"Yeah. I made a donation that they want to thank me for in front of everyone. Please hex me instead."
They both laughed and Draco stood. "I'll let you get back to work, I know you're busy. I just wanted to say hi."
She reached over and gave his hand a little squeeze. "I'm glad you did. So I'll see you Friday then."
The reception was ghastly. Everyone wanted just five minutes of Hermione's time and, of course, the accompanying photograph of them together. And true to form, she wasn't able to even think about getting near the tables laden with food.
The scholarship committee chair made a polite speech about Draco's generous donation and introduced him.
Draco took center stage a bit self-consciously. "Hello, everyone. I'm not one for speeches. I had actually asked a friend to hex me instead but I couldn't convince her…,"
His speech was interrupted by someone shouting from within the group of gathered Gryffindors, "Should of asked Granger! She'd of done it!"
Draco had the poise to chuckle and he looked to Hermione who was standing off to the side and teased, "Now why didn't I think of that? Minister?"
The room chuckled when Hermione rolled her eyes playfully and shook her head. Draco continued his speech, "Well since even the Minster won't put me out of my misery… let me just say this, more than anyone here I owe a debt to this school. And while there are parts of that debt I can never repay, I can and will make sure that all magical children, regardless of means or lineage, are able to attend Hogwarts and have everything they need to succeed. These children are the future of magic and I personally can't wait to see the potential in all of them emerge in the coming years. Thank you."
The room was silent. Never had Draco so publicly thrown support behind Muggle-born and mixed blood children. Hermione was about to start clapping to get the ball rolling when someone unexpected beat her too it: Harry Potter. He stepped out of the clutch of Gryffindors and met Draco's eyes as he slowly started clapping. He nodded at Draco and the room soon joined in the clapping. Hermione joined in and she met Draco's eyes as he tried to slink off to the side and out of the limelight.
Another half hour of boring conversation later Draco rescued Hermione from the boorish spice trade businessman she was stuck conversing with.
Draco approached and butted in. "Excuse, do you mind if I steal the Minister? Thank you," he said confidently, not giving the other man the opportunity to say no. Hermione let Draco lead her away by the elbow gratefully.
"You looked like you were in pain," Draco teased when they were out of earshot.
"I was. And I'm starving on top of it."
"Me too. I can never eat before I have to speak in public."
"Speaking of… that was a really nice speech, Draco."
"I meant every word."
She smiled. "I know."
Out of the blue he asked, "Do you like fish and chips?"
Hermione blinked at the odd question. "Of course."
Draco looked around conspiratorially. "If you think you can escape, I know where we can get some really good fish and chips."
Her stomach growled at the idea and she replied, "I'll get my cloak."
They escaped the reception and apparated to a spot near the Thames River. They walked a block and found a little hole in the wall take out stand selling fish and chips.
Draco bought two paper wrapped orders and they took them over to a bench overlooking the river.
He laughed when Hermione groaned in delight at her first bite of fish.
"Oh, this is good, Draco. How on earth did you find this place?" she asked as she selected a chip to pop in her mouth.
"Blaise found it actually, after his cousin's stag night. Don't ask me how in the world they ended up here of all places. Anyway, after that anytime we'd go out drinking with Blaise we'd end up here in the middle of the night for fish and chips. As big of a snob as his is, if the food's good he'll keep coming back."
She chuckled at his story and they ate in companionable quiet just watching the boats on the river.
When they finished eating they walked for a while, chatting about this, that, and the other. There were a lot of smiles and gentle laughter between them.
Neither had really noticed the time but it had grown quite late and they heard church bells in the distance telling them so. They made their way to a private place to apparate and he again saw her to her door.
They walked up her front walk and she stopped and faced him. "Thank you for this. This has been a much better night than I expected it to be."
Draco nodded. "I feel the same way. Can I see you again?"
Without an iota of hesitation she replied, "I'd like that, Draco."
Hermione had just gotten home and was in the foyer still in her winter cloak when the little owl pecked at her window. Hermione quickly let him. He perched on the banister railing as she untied the parchment and read the little note.
"H,
I don't know if you have plans, but if you don't, would you like to have dinner? Lady's choice on where."
Yours,
D"
Hermione grinned at the note. Their dinners together were coming more and more frequently now that both their legal separations were in order giving them freedom. If someone had asked her a year ago if she would have thought that she'd be having a clandestine relationship with Draco Malfoy she would have thought them mental. But yet here they are, enjoying each other's company the more they spent in it and each looking forward to the next time they could both squirrel away time together.
Digging in her bag she found a quill and scratched out a reply.
"D,
I have a standing seven o'clock reservation tonight at a little Muggle restaurant a few blocks away from my home. It's one of my favorites and it would be lovely if you would join me. I start walking at half-past six.
H"
She tied the reply on the little owl's leg and chided him, "There you go, now the weather is going to be bad later, so don't let him send you out again. Tell him I said so."
Draco had teased her about his little owl liking her more than him more than once. She gave him an affectionate little scratch in just the spot he liked and he cooed in response. She opened the door for him and he took off into the evening sky.
She glanced at the clock on the wall, grateful to have a little time to change into something nicer. And if she put a little extra makeup on and tidied her hair, well there was nothing wrong with that.
They were standing at her front door. The snow had really started coming down in earnest during the time they were in the restaurant, big fluffy flakes which had blanketed everything beautifully.
They had just walked back from their dinner which had been delightful. They had enjoyed not only the food, but the wine and especially the company as usual.
Draco was well informed on current events and policy initiatives at the Ministry and Hermione found it wonderful to be able to have real conversations about her work and things that were important to her without having to dumb them down or explain things a hundred times.
For his part, Draco found that his opinions and thoughts actually mattered to her and while she might not always agree with him, she never just dismissed him out of turn and would happily try to turn him around to her way of thinking when they disagreed. She even succeeded a time or two, as did he when the situation was reversed.
Oddly, or perhaps not, the one topic on which they had complete agreement was their children and what they wanted for them in life, that being healthy and happy and chasing after their dreams with both hands. Merlin help anyone who interfered with that.
It had been their fifth such evening together since both their separations became legal and there was more than a slight sliver of anticipation in both of them that there was more to come.
They stood there facing each other like two anxious teenagers. Draco slipped his hand out of his coat pocket and cupped her cheek with his palm, his thumb gently brushing her bottom lip. A moment later his mouth followed, soft and meek. His eyes were open, searching hers, making sure he was welcome.
Hermione's reaction was far more direct, she simply grabbed his scarf and pulled him in close as she deepened the kiss and made him groan into her mouth when she added her little teasing tongue to the fray.
They had no idea how long exactly they stood on her stoop, snogging like teenagers, but when they finally pulled back, their cheeks were rosy with excitement and cold and the shoulders of their coats had a good half inch of snow on them.
Draco took a step back and stepped down one step so she could open the door. "Goodnight, Hermione."
Hermione reached over and stroked his cheek with her hand. "Goodnight, Draco."
She turned went inside and he made his way back down to the sidewalk, a little smile curling the corners of his mouth as he walked.
"A package just arrived for you, Minister," Abigail said cheerfully as she handed Hermione a plain wrapped parcel about the size of an apple pie.
"Thank you, Abigail," Hermione said and Abigail left her to her package.
Hermione placed the parcel in the middle of her desk and opened it.
Her mouth fell open seeing a perfectly formed snowflake the size of a tea saucer in the box. She gently lifted it out. It was ice cold to the touch and shimmered beautifully in the light. She looked down at the box it came in and saw another smaller box and a note. Carefully she laid the big snowflake down and opened the first note.
H,
I don't know if you've ever used real snowflakes on your Christmas trees but I thought you might like this one. My mother taught me how to make these as a child. I made this one from a flake of that snow the other night. I hope it makes you smile, now and in the years to come.
Yours,
DM
Hermione smiled at the note. It was a lovely, thoughtful, romantic gift.
The little box intrigued her. It, too, had a note attached.
Because you can't wear the first snowflake. -D
Even more intrigued after reading the note she opened the little box. Her eyes grew as big as saucers seeing the stunning snowflake necklace nestled against the blue velvet of the box interior. There was no mistaking the sparkling diamonds or the shiny platinum. It was a ridiculous and overly indulgent extravagance. Part of her wanted to send it back immediately, not wanting him to think her affections were for sale. But another part of her, the part that wished they didn't have to hide their relationship was touched by his gift, something she could wear every day and think of him.
With a shaking hand she put the necklace down on the desk and pulled a fresh sheet of parchment towards her.
Draco's palms got a little sweaty when he saw the ministry owl at the window. He didn't see a package, just a letter, and it alleviated his worry a little.
The gifts had been spontaneous. The big charmed snowflake was just something magical and fun that he thought she would like and might not have seen before being Muggle-born. The gift of the necklace had come from a different place inside him all together, he had just wanted to surprise her, spoil her a little and make her smile just because he could, something he doubted anyone had done for her in a very long time.
But he worried that she would think he was trying to buy his way into her company. It was the furthest thing from true, but he worried nonetheless.
He sent the owl off and looked at the crisply folded letter sealed with wax.
He sat in his favorite easy chair in the library and swallowing hard, opened it.
D,
Both my gifts are lovely. Part of me wants to yell at you about the extravagance of the necklace but another part is reminding me that this is the most romantic thing that anyone's ever done for me. Ever.
If you were here right now, you'd see me wearing it and smiling as I think of our evening out in the snow.
Draco's closed his eyes and let out a breath, his worry all for nothing. He opened his eyes and read it again and smiled. Smiled because she had finally signed it: Yours, H.
They had gotten back from what used to be her favorite little Muggle restaurant that had since turned into their favorite little Muggle restaurant over the past six weeks and this time when he kissed her passionately on the front step, she invited him inside for a night cap, both of them knowing it wasn't just a drink she was inviting him in for.
They moved into the living room. Like the rest of her rental row house it was furnished but not decorated, nothing even remotely personal save a colorful knitted afghan over the back of the enormous velvet sofa and a big vase of cut lilacs on the mantle. There was a large fireplace taking up one wall, a thick, shaggy carpet in front of it. Hermione asked, "Can you light that while I fix our drinks?"
"Of course," Draco said and did just that with an easy flick of his wand.
Hermione had moved to the small dry bar in the corner and was readying glasses when she felt him step up behind her. She sucked in a hurried breath when his hands slipped around her waist even as his mouth nuzzled her neck just below her ear. He pulled her back against him and whispered, "Please tell me you want this as much as I do?"
His hot breath in her ear was her undoing, stealing away all reason, all thought of how truly bad an idea the whole thing was. She turned in his arms and gently cupped his face in her hands.
"Part of me thinks that this isn't a good idea and that it will end badly, hurting both of us in the process, but… Draco, there's another part of me that's louder and it's screaming to stop over-analyzing it because we just might end up good together," she said in a wavering voice before she kissed him fiercely, hungrily.
It took him less than a heartbeat to respond in kind as she he pressed herself as close to him as she could, kissing him with a ferocity that he honestly never expected.
Hermione lost herself in his embrace, savoring his smell and the gentle strength in the arms he had around her. She could feel the heat from his body and his arousal against her. But it wasn't enough, not nearly enough, and her hands scrambled to get under his shirt to find his skin.
If his breath in her ear was her undoing, then her hands grasping and pawing at his back was his, the touch of her fingers like little licks of fire on his skin. Effortlessly he lifted her in his arms and laid her gently on the thick carpet in front of the roaring fire.
There was a reverence to his touch as he slowly undressed her. His own body ached with the wanting of her and screamed with the desire for him to shuck his trousers and take the sweet release it knew it would find inside her. But that wasn't what he wanted- taking. So many things had been taken from her, more than a few his own doing, and he wanted to give this time around, not take.
(Explicit content removed to meet this site's TOS. Story available in full at other archives. -CJ aka WritinginCT)
He lay back down on top of her, his body molding itself to hers as if they had done this a thousand times before.
Hermione's breath was ragged as Draco stripped himself. She bit back a whimper as he stretched his lithe naked body on top of hers. They fit together perfectly, like two puzzle pieces. There was no awkwardness between them, no bumbling or hesitancy that new lovers often have.
(Explicit content removed to meet this site's TOS. Story available in full at other archives. -CJ aka WritinginCT)
Time stopped. At least it felt like it did in that first moment he was inside her.
(Explicit content removed to meet this site's TOS. Story available in full at other archives. -CJ aka WritinginCT)
They moved together each pushing the other closer towards the blissful oblivion of release.
(Explicit content removed to meet this site's TOS. Story available in full at other archives. -CJ aka WritinginCT)
He obliged, her every reaction to his touch both surprising and delighting him in equal measure. It was as if she had been made just for him and he for her. He found himself to be in the lucky position of looking her directly in the eyes when her climax hit. Her face in that moment would be something he would remember to his dying day.
(Explicit content removed to meet this site's TOS. Story available in full at other archives. -CJ aka WritinginCT)
Slowly they both stilled and attempted to catch their breath.
Draco's face was still tucked in the crook of Hermione's neck. He could smell traces of the simple almond soap she preferred, the lilacs on the mantle, and the burning wood from the fire. The odd combination niggled at him, like he was forgetting something important. But his brain was quickly turning to mush in that post-orgasmic way and he shook off the weird, random thought.
Gently they disentangled themselves and Draco flopped on his back beside her. Hermione tucked herself in next to Draco, her head on his shoulder, liking that his hand was absently drawing little swirls on her back. She felt beautiful and cherished and that realization made her smile.
He managed to reach the afghan with his free hand and clumsily covered them with it one-handed. Then he pressed a kiss to the top of her head as she nestled in closer to him and they dozed off.
The first fingers of dawn were peeking through the cracks in the curtains. Their bodies had found each other twice more in the night, each time as powerful as the first. They hadn't spoken out loud, not a word, as if words would have undone it all some how.
Hermione woke and it took her a couple of blinks to sort out where she was. She turned her head to see Draco looking at her intently, a rather worried look upon his face.
She reached over and stroked his cheek, imploring him with her eyes to tell her what was wrong.
"Regrets?" he asked softly, terrified of her answer.
She frowned at the question. Her answer was immediate. "Not one. You?"
His look of worry turned to one of abject adoration and relief in a heartbeat as he answered, "Not one."
tbc...
