Special mention goes to R-E-B-E-C. Thanks for adding me to your community! It's an unbelievably huge honour for me. :)
Previously, on The Proposal
"Are you sure you don't like red velvet, Malfoy?" She gasped out in the middle of her fit, "Because I have to say, it looks positively scrumptious on you!"
Draco, until now, remained utterly silent but Hermione was laughing so hard that she probably wouldn't hear him if he said anything.
This was also probably why she didn't see it coming when he dumped his cake on her head.
Instantly, her cackling died.
"Well, don't you look simply delicious pet."
She screeched, "MALFOY!"
He smirked and she thought, Stupid Malfoy.
"Doesn't feel so good when you're on the receiving end, does it?" He drawled, crossing his arms.
"Malfoy!" She shrieked once more and nearly lunging to grab his neck and squeeze.
He dodged her attempt and merely tutted. "I suppose this makes us even now, so no need for your banshee antics."
"Malfoy, you complete and utter prat! I threw a piece of cake at your nose, you dumped the entire slice ON MY HEAD!
"I'm going to murder you, Malfoy." She muttered venomously. Draco, however, looked not at all chagrined, but rather seemed quite pleased with himself judging by the smirk that turned his lips upwards.
He stood up and offered her his hand.
"Come on then, let's get you cleaned up."
Still very much miffed with him, she got the remaining slice from her head and smeared it over his outstretched hand. Only then did she get up, walking swiftly and ignoring the curious looks being thrown her way while looking for the two pairs of eyes that did matter.
A glance at Harry and Ginny, swaying so softly and lovingly while gazing into each others' eyes, all but confirmed that she need not worry she had distracted her friends.
When she exited the tent, someone called to her, "Where are you going, love?"
In her haste, she had once again forgotten about the prat's presence. You'd think it was impossible, but those few moments of peace were wonderful while it lasted. Of course he just had to impose himself once again, he never did take well to being ignored unless it was what he wanted.
Which, in this case, was the exact opposite.
"Where does it look like I'm going? I'm going to get cleaned up. In the bathroom."
"Great, I'm going with you."
She stopped in her tracks.
"What are you talking about, no you aren't."
"This is the Weasleys' hovel–"
"BURROW."
"–you can't honestly expect me to believe that they have more than one bathroom, can you?"
"Fine, but why can't you just wait your turn? Didn't your parents or your nanny or whoever it was who raised you, teach you that when you were younger?"
"Parents." He retorted."And didn't yours ever teach you that it's good to share?"
Hermione, really desperate to rid herself of the sticky sensation, huffed and broke into a run.
"I'M GETTING TO THAT BATHROOM FIRST!" She yelled over her shoulder, while pelting cake pieces at him.
"Merlin Granger, you actually hit me. In the eye!" He cried back in astonishment, before running after her. "You cannot outrun me you crazy bint, my legs are longer than yours!"
The intellectual, learned, logical, rational, sane part of her knew he was right. She was a paper pusher for most of her time at work while he was an Auror. There was not a chance in hell that she would make it to that bathroom first.
The rest of her though, and at the moment that was a big chunk, ignored this and continued pumping her legs faster.
And of course, pelting whatever piece of cake she could find on her body, onto Malfoy, no matter how miniscule a piece it was.
Hermione had the added advantage of course, of knowing the Burrow much more intimately than Malfoy ever could and so knew exactly where she ought to carry her legs to. However, the moment she neared her destination, Malfoy – who was not far from her in the first place – sprinted and reached the door of the lavatory at exactly the same time as she did.
Inevitably, they were stuck.
And humorously, this is how newlywed Harry Potter saw them.
"Well… this is certainly a sight."
Hermione and Draco ceased their struggling, and screeching – "Your monster hair is trying to strangle my neck!" (Draco), "Your pointy chin is poking me in the face like a knife!" (Hermione) – then turned to Harry, Hermione in surprise and embarrassment and Draco more in amusement.
"Hello Potter."
"Malfoy."
"Harry!"
"Hermione… what's going on?"
"But I, what are you doing here? You didn't see me leave, I made sure! You-you were dancing your first dance as husband and wife with Ginny, oh Merlin, you left Ginny on the dance floor!"
"Whoa, Hermione, relax. I didn't leave Ginny on the dance floor." Harry chuckled, "You know I hate to dance so as soon as Bill asked to dance with her I left."
"But–"
"And you know it will be a while before I get her back, she has many brothers after all and equally, much to my displeasure, many male friends. Also," he gave her a pointed look, "I didn't defeat the Dark Lord by being obtuse, did I? I think I'd notice it if my best friend disappeared from the crowd. I was worried about you."
Hermione shook her head regretfully, "Oh I'm so sorry Harry, but as you can see, I'm in a bit of a pickle. I'm being followed around by a megalomaniac." She motioned her head towards Malfoy.
"A very handsome megalomaniac, might I add. I'm also the Devil incarnate."
He flashed them a sinful grin and Hermione glared at him.
Harry nodded sagely, trying not to laugh at the sight the two made, all tangled limbs and smeared with cake.
"I take it the megalomaniac slash Devil incarnate has a certain affinity for cake then?"
"Oh, that reminds me, excellent cake Harry! I absolutely adore the red velvet!"
"Thank you–"
"Anyway," He gave both of them pointed glares for interrupting him. "I don't really have an affinity for cake, unless…" Malfoy paused then gave her a leer, "Well, unless it's on Granger here, of course."
Hermione choked on air and Harry on a laugh. These two really are amusing, he thought.
"Which brings us to our reason for being here," Malfoy continued. "I was just about to… clean her up. With my wand." Then he waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Harry could no longer contain it and burst into giggles, almost girly in their nature for the situation really did tickle him pink.
Hermione, on the other hand, was not amused.
"Yes Malfoy, you will die today and it will be by my hand."
"Granger dear, to tell you the truth, I really don't mind. It would be some way to go."
Hermione covered her face with her free hand, for the other was lodged rather uncomfortably between her and the door. "Oh my God, I'm being followed around by and am stuck in a door with a megalomaniac slash the Devil incarnate slash a pervert. All while being watched by my supposed best friend as he laughs his bowels out!"
Harry finally calmed down enough to disentangle the two manually.
"Sorry Hermione." Harry grinned, not looking sorry at all.
It was then Malfoy promptly shut the bathroom door and locked Hermione out.
Outraged, Hermione banged on the door. "Malfoy! Open up you repugnant knave!"
Harry took Hermione by the shoulders and turned her to face him. "Hermione, I think it best to let him finish. After all, there's not much you can do seeing as you seemed to have left your wand."
Indeed, she patted her sides for her beaded bad and found that she couldn't feel it. She surmised that she probably left it on the table in her haste to get away.
"Damn," she muttered.
"Indeed!" Replied the muffled voice of Malfoy through the bathroom door, "Good thing I have mine right here!" To emphasize his point, the two bodies surrounding the door suddenly felt the warm rush of magic as Malfoy charmed the door even more securely shut than before.
Harry, patting her on the shoulder. "I suggest once Malfoy's done and you're cleaned up, you two should take a walk around the grounds. Cool off a bit. I daresay you'd be garnering a hefty amount of unwanted attention if you entered the tent once again, especially with Malfoy who, by the looks of his megalomaniac slash Devil incarnate slash pervert and may I now add, slash stalker (since he won't seem to leave you alone) tendencies, will not let you go in a few minutes before or after him, am I right?"
Despondently, she nodded.
"Then it's settled. There were far too many Slytherins in that tent anyway. Ever since you and Ginny became such good friends with Pansy, my life's been invaded by snakes."
Hermione made a face, "Tell me about it." Reminded of her horrid blind dates.
He merely laughed again. "Anyway, thanks Harry. And sorry for worrying you again."
He waved a hand in dismissal, "Don't sweat it, what are friends for yeah? And Hermione, you're more than a friend, you're family. I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for your and Ron's help."
Suddenly touched and maybe feeling remiss in her best-friend duties, Hermione threw her arms around the Boy-Who-Lived's neck and gave him her first proper hug of the evening.
"Congratulations Harry, really. You deserve every happiness that comes to you, don't ever forget that."
Harry hugged her tighter in thanks and bid her goodbye with a kiss on the cheek and a smile.
Once his footsteps faded as he made his way down, Malfoy muttered, "Is the sickening display of love and affection done?"
"Hey! I'll have you know that–"
It was then that the door abruptly opened and Hermione roughly shoved into it.
"What the hell–"
Though how he managed it, she'll never know, cramped as they were. A flick of his wrist and Hermione was all cleaned up. She looked at her hands and dress and saw no signs of red, much to her relief. Then she glanced at her reflection in the mirror just to make sure there were no longer traces of cake as well. Her eyes then landed on Malfoy's reflection, he was stood behind her in the mirror, and she could feel his eyes trace the path her fingers took as they lightly traced her face then hair.
She suddenly felt shy, never having been so close to Malfoy before. She could feel the heat of him seep right through her clothes, his breath cooling the blush on her cheek and his eyes burning holes into her own.
Softly, she said, "My hair was up."
Right now, it fell in messy tendrils around her head, only few clips keeping it up for the others had fallen on her mad dash to this place.
Draco reached up and with surprising gentleness, removed the remaining pins from hair then, looking directly at her as he smiled a small smile, murmured, "You look prettier with your hair down."
His fingers lightly skimmed the tendrils at the tip of her hair.
And Hermione thought, No, this is why the ladies fall for you. He was barely touching her and yet, her heart insisted on beating its way out her chest and into his palms. No, it was his eyes, always his eyes, and the way they looked at you as if you were the only thing consuming his every thought.
She cleared her throat.
Where did that heatedly severe and dramatic thought come from? And, dear Merlin, was it hot in the bathroom or what?
She took a step to the side, towards the door. "Thanks. For cleaning me up, as you so adequately put it." She said teasingly, to lighten the mood.
Malfoy took a step back to put a little distance between him and also cleared his throat.
"It's quite alright." He grinned, and just like that all heady tension in the room dissipated and the playful manner about him earlier was back.
"Now, about that walk?"
The two exited the Burrow and walked outwards and away from the tent housing the wedding guests and towards the outskirts of the small forest laid behind the Weasleys' household, speaking on all manner of things. After all, what little they were able to catch up on about each other was interrupted each time.
A few minutes into their walk she lightly pushed him.
"I really do hope you treat your elves well, else I shall have to send law enforcement upon you."
Ever the gentleman, Malfoy pushed her back.
"I'll have you know woman, that I give all three house elves of the Manor two days of each month as vacation time, all expenses paid to the destination of their choice. I give them nice clothes too. Both luxuries I must shove down their throat much to my dismay."
Hermione grinned happily, her smile a beacon in the night with its brightness.
"That's alright. It may be to your dismay, but it is very much to my pleasure."
Smiling back, he took her hand.
"I'm glad. I want nothing but that, your pleasure I mean."
He gave it a squeeze and strangely, did not let go.
Even stranger still, she did not mind at all.
"So about those blind dates of yours…"
Hermione groaned and shut her eyes.
"Don't remind me."
Draco laughed and tugged her closer to him. They stood to a stop.
"No come on now, share."
"Well, you pretty much heard the brunt of it during Pansy's arrival. I had dates who were too quiet, then dates who were too full of themselves, then dates who would leer at me, then," Hermione paused, contemplating on whether or not she should say it.
"Then?"
Smirking and figuring, why the hell not, she tilted her face at him in amusement. "that one date who would leer at other men."
Expecting him to roar with laughter at her past mortifying predicament, he took her by surprise when he raised a finger and caressed the side of her face down to her chin.
"If it had been me on that date, or any date with you for that matter, I would not have it in me to take my eyes off of you. Much as I feel like doing now."
She stared incredulously at him.
"You're pulling my leg, aren't you?"
"Oh?"
Closer, he tugged her once more.
"What makes you say that?"
Hermione shook her head to clear it. She knew, for much like her past experiences, that Malfoy and proximity did not bode well for her sensibilities.
She'd go so far as to even say, they were a lethal combination for her womanhood in general.
This entire night was lethal for her period. Malfoy's mercurial moods and her equally confusing reactions to them were raising her blood pressure, so it seemed.
"You say such pretty things. Too pretty, really. Surely you only mean to beguile me?"
He smirked and bent to kiss her hand.
"Is it working?"
Yes, oh yes. There went her health, her womanhood. Dead. Just gone, with the words Death by Malfoy charm and hypertension.
Pulling her hand away from his grasp, she frowned – at him and her inappropriate thoughts. Indeed, Malfoy and proximity was hazardous to her mental and physical health.
"I think you know all too well the effect you have on me, Malfoy."
He laughed.
"Sweet, darling Granger. I think no man could ever beguile you, lest you wanted them too."
Hermione planted her hands upon her hips, irked.
"What's that supposed to mean! That I sit around and allow men to manipulate me, so that I may become their pawn?"
"No," he replied, suddenly very serious but still a twinkle in his eyes remained, "it means that I intend to become that man."
What?
"It also means, that I've decided where I want to work now."
Again, what?
"I didn't even know you were looking for a job–"
"I am."
"Or even need one–"
"I don't."
"Don't you run a highly successful apothecary business?"
"I do, and more." He smirked. "Naturally."
"Naturally." She repeated mockingly then rolled her eyes. But her curiosity, insatiable as ever, returned.
"So why–"
"Like I said, I – Draco Malfoy – desire to become the man you allow to beguile your senses and also, for all intents and purposes, to become your husband since you," he waggled his eyebrows, "so graciously proposed earlier."
Hermione was about to vehemently deny him and perhaps nail his corpse against the nearest tree when he took that opportunity to slip his lips between hers.
It was a kiss, in the strictest sense of the word; just a pair of lips atop another and yet it was sweet, like a tender caress of her mouth that was almost ghostly in its intensity but striking all the same. It was enough to send her knees buckling and her breath leaving her.
The two shared a barely-there kiss that was true to its nature for when Hermione opened her eyes, he was gone, not even a sound to indicate his apparition or a hint of his shadow amongst the branches of the trees.
She silently cursed at her gullibility, having been swept up by his charms and proposal. Or, consequently, what her silly proposal led to.
And what on earth did he mean by that job?
She sighed and muttered to herself. "Oh, Granger you old girl, what have you gotten yourself into now?" She shook her head, dazed.
"Stupid Malfoy."
A/N: Hullo everyone! Once again, sorry for the delay. I've actually been having a really awful, terrible, nauseating day and since I couldn't bring cheer unto myself, I have brought it to you instead! After all, you readers are what motivate me to continue this and your feedback is undoubtedly the highlight of my week. I mean, seriously, with people as gracious and warm as you guys who needs a boyfriend?
I guess what I'm trying to say is, thank you everyone. I had a bad day today, but the thought of you guys quickly banished that feeling of morose that I had.
Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! I think it was a bit of a doozy and, wow, the first kiss sucked dint it? Too chaste but, let's not rush, if you guys don't mind.
And sorry if their conversation had a medieval feel to it. I was watching The Tudors last week and still a bit hung up on it. Just let me know if it's too rollercoaster-y for you guys and I'll edit it. Cause no one but me edits it and I was too lazy to this time.
Lots of love and hugs guys!