Hermione awoke the next day feeling much better and ready to go out around the village. Surprisingly, she felt safe here. She debated about getting dressed because it didn't feel right to parade around the house in her nightclothes but actually getting dressed seemed too much effort so she put her robe on and went downstairs. She found Draco in the kitchen. He was dressed but in casual trousers and a sweatshirt which was unusual enough, Hermione having only ever seen him dressed smartly but she had to do a double take because he'd also changed his hair. It was an similar colour to her own and it suited him. Why and how did he manage it? His hair was a mess but he still managed to look fantastic, he'd slept in his clothes but he still managed to look gorgeous and now he'd changed the colour of his hair to one that was nothing near his natural colouring and yet still he managed to be ridiculously attractive. He even made jog pants and a sweatshirt look good for Merlin's sake!
"I hope it's the bacon you're salivating over and not me." Draco's voice broke into her thoughts and she realised she'd been staring.
"You've changed your hair." She ignored his question.
"Does it get your approval?" Draco asked, putting a plate with a bacon and egg sandwich on it in front of her. Hermione looked down at it in surprise.
"You've cooked breakfast for me?" She didn't manage to keep the astonishment out of her voice.
"Why do you sound so surprised? It's just a sandwich."
"Yes I know but thanks," Hermione sat down and started eating. "Oh! Your hair looks good, by the way."
Draco turned and smiled at her. "Of course it does."
"Annoying." Hermione said the one word inelegantly, through a mouthful of food.
Draco ignored her comment and sat opposite her at the table to start eating his own sandwich.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
They were just getting ready to go out when there was a loud knock at the door. They both stopped in their tracks and stared at each other. Draco reached into his jacket and withdrew his wand and then nodded for Hermione to answer the door.
Hermione took a deep breath and went to the hallway. She pulled the door open, just enough to be polite and found a young man standing there, holding a bottle of wine. He was fairly tall with dark hair and deep, golden skin. He smiled warmly at her showing her some lovely, white teeth and she smiled back. He was gorgeous!
"Hi," he said and he handed her the bottle of wine which she took from him awkwardly. "Callum Smith," he now pointed at himself and Hermione gave him a smile, enjoying his introduction. He then pointed down the lane. "My fiancé and I live in the cottage just around that corner. I thought I'd just call round to say hello."
Hermione grinned at him. "That's nice of you," she put her hand out to shake his, "I'm Her..." she stopped, realising they hadn't decided on names yet. Bloody hell! "I'm Harriet," she improvised. "I've just bought this cottage with my..."
"Husband." Draco finished her sentence for her and she turned quickly to look at him. Hadn't they agreed they were going to be siblings? Draco ignored her and started chatting with Callum about the village. Hermione was impressed with Draco's friendliness and his ease.
"Helena will be anxious to meet you both," Callum said. "She's a nurse and she's been on the night shift so she's in bed now. Hopefully you can meet her later. I'll leave you settle in but we wanted to invite you around, maybe at the weekend?"
"That sounds lovely," Hermione confirmed. "Thanks for coming round."
She shut the door, trying to keep the grin off her face because she wasn't the type of girl who went all gooey over a handsome man. At least she didn't think she was. She felt Draco's eyes on her and stared back at him defensively.
"What?" she asked.
"I think you left some drool on the door handle," Draco said, making a show of cleaning the handle with his top.
"Get stuffed - he seemed nice and friendly, that was all!"
"Yeh, right!"
"I'm allowed to admire a handsome, young man," Hermione said. "Have you got a problem with that, Bro?" Hermione made a small gloating face at him, knowing she'd played her ace card.
Draco's eyes narrowed. "No problem at all, darling."
"We were supposed to be siblings!"
"I thought it was safer if we were married."
"Safer?" Hermione asked.
"We can't get too friendly with anyone, it will give us away," Draco explained.
"It wasn't your decision to make."
"I could hardly ask for your opinion, could I?" Draco said as if she was stupid. He made a show of talking to the door. "Hey, sorry Callum but can you give us a minute? We're just deciding if we're going to be married or not!"
"We'd already decided!" Hermione pointed out. "Are you trying to annoy me?"
"It would seem I don't have to try," Draco answered. "Anyway we can't do anything about it now so looks like we're going into the village as husband and wife." Draco pointed at the door. "Did you want me to carry you over the threshold?"
"That's supposed to be when entering the house, not leaving it." Hermione sighed.
"Funny how your choice of false name just happened to be Harriet," Draco stepped outside and locked the front door. "You've got Potter on your mind then?"
"I just picked a name out of thin air."
"And it just happened to be the female equivalent of Harry? Do you think I'm an idiot?" Draco was half way down the path and he didn't turn as he spoke to her.
"I don't know why you're worrying about my alias," Hermione caught him up and walked alongside him on the narrow pavement. She spoke the next words casually, without even a glance in his direction but she was fully aware of the affect they were about to have. "I told Callum that your name was Ron."
Draco stopped walking and Hermione didn't dare turn around for fear of bursting into laughter.
"You had better be joking!" She heard Draco say behind her and she bit her lip, trying to keep her face straight. She turned to face him, pining an innocent look on her face.
"Sorry - it just came out - I was flustered."
"Merlin!" Draco looked horrified. "Why the hell did you do that? I refuse to be called bloody Ron!"
Hermione could contain herself no longer and she burst into laughter, throwing her head back and holding her stomach. She watched Draco's horrified expression soften and then his lips curved into a smile as he realized she had been joking.
"And I'm supposed to be the evil one!" he said, shaking his head but still smiling. He stepped nearer to her and gently poked her on the shoulder. "You can expect payback for that one, Granger."
Hermione just chuckled again.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
They walked together into the centre of the village, past Callum's cottage which was much bigger than theirs with a beautifully manicured lawn.
"Rich and gorgeous," Hermione commented with a sideways glance at Draco who shrugged.
"I know I am," he said although he knew very well she had meant Callum.
Their lane lead to a T- junction. The road that crossed their lane was slightly busier, although still quiet with some lovely, country houses lining it. They saw an old couple and a women pushing a pram all of whom greeted them. The road ended at another T-junction. Left was the road out of the village and right was a short road that opened out into a lovely village square with a small clock tower in the centre. There were shops on all sides and a small grassed area with benches.
"It's lovely," Hermione commented. She smiled at a man dressed in a postman's uniform and he gave her a wave as if he knew her. She lowered her voice before speaking again. "They all seem friendly."
"Yeh, sickening isn't it?" Draco commented in his usual acid manner and Hermione turned a stony stare at him.
"Why do you have to be such a grump?" she asked. "I'm going to look in some of the shops - I'll meet you later."
"No. We should stay together," Draco said. He followed her obediently into the nearest little shop which was full of ornaments, trinkets and kitchen gadgets. Hermione wandered around, picking up the odd item and examining it.
"Hello - can I help you?" The elderly shop keeper spoke to them and Hermione turned to face her.
"Oh, I'm just looking around thank you."
"That's fine, my dear. How are you settling in?"
Hermione saw Draco's face and she knew this was what he meant about them being the centre of attention. This old lady whom Hermione had never set eyes on before, obviously knew all about them arriving in the village the day before yesterday.
"Oh, we're fine thanks," Hermione said.
The old lady looked up at Draco and Hermione held her breath willing him to be polite. "Well, you're a fine looking young couple," she commented. She glanced at Draco again. "If I was forty years younger!" She chuckled at her own joke.
"Oh - only twenty years younger, surely?" Draco said, flashing her his best smile.
"Well, it's nice to have some fresh blood. We old ones get stuck in our own ways and we need some new ideas. How long have you two been married?" She looked at them enquiringly and Hermione pinned the smile to her face to try and disguise her panic. They hadn't prepared for these types of questions! She hadn't a clue how long they'd been married!
"Five weeks, three days," Draco's answer came easily and his preciseness made it sound completely believable. Hermione felt him slip his arm round her shoulder and she widened her smile. The shopkeeper looked at them fondly and nodded.
"Oh - you've a long way to go to beat me and Bert then! Anyway, welcome to the village." She shuffled off and Hermione left the shop, relieved.
"I panicked!" she said as they took a seat on the square. "We need to get our facts sorted or I'll be saying one thing and you another."
"These people aren't going to be cross referencing our answers," Draco said. "Just turn the conversation to the weather and they'll have forgotten what you said before you leave their shop."
"You make it seem easy!" Hermione said. "You're answer in there was spot on."
"What you're telling me is that I'm a good liar - so thanks for the compliment," Draco said. "Although I suppose I should be offended that you've forgotten our wedding day so soon." Draco teased her with a grin. "I mean, aren't newlyweds meant to be counting each hour they've spent together?"
"Oh, believe me, every hour we've spent together is firmly implanted in my memory!" Hermione did an exaggerated shudder and her voice conveyed her sentiments precisely - all those hours arguing, hiding, being attacked...
Draco was looking at her and he held her gaze for several seconds before he spoke. "You never fail to surprise me," he said and Hermione widened her eyes.
"Why?"
"You were such a little nerd at school. The times you put your hand up in class just seconds before me and then got the answer right. Sometimes I could have cheerfully slapped you around the head with Hogwarts; A History!"
"I wasn't a nerd!"
"Yes you were!" Draco smirked at her, enjoying the outraged look on her face.
"I was also fighting Death Eaters, three headed dogs, dragons and the Dark Lord himself or did you fail to notice that? That hardly makes me a nerd, does it?" Hermione snapped at him and he chuckled.
"You're so easy to wind up." He made a winding motion at the small of her back and she slapped him away. "I was heading towards a compliment but you had to go and get all stroppy didn't you?"
"You called me a nerd! What did you expect?"
"Yes, but I was saying I used to think you were such a nerd at school and now look at you," Draco nodded his head. "On someone's hit list, fighting evil, in hiding, lying and generally being deceptive. I didn't know you had it in you!"
"Watch it - that could be counted as a compliment!" Hermione joked. "I hope you're not expecting one back because you'll be waiting a long time."
Draco smiled at her, not in the least bit offended. "The lustful look in your eyes when you think I'm not watching is compliment enough." He chuckled as Hermione's jaw dropped open.
"Lustful!" she spluttered.
"Admiring then?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I think it was disgust, actually."
Sorry for the little delay in posting - this time it wasn't because of anything happening but because I just wasn't happy with the chapter which seemd disjointed. I've split it into two now - second part up shortly so I am now happier with it. Also - I thought this story was seriously lacking a good bit of Dramione so there's a nice little bit of it next chapter. x