CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
'Adventures are all very well in their place, but there's a lot to be said for regular meals and freedom from pain.'
~Neil Gaiman, Stardust~
It was after dinner when a ton of rocks hit the door. At least- that's what it sounded like. Neither of Hermione's parents even moved from the couch, their eyes glued to the sitcom they were watching. Hermione stood up, trying to suppress a smile. She knew exactly who was having a seizure on her doorstep.
A mess of red hair attacked her before she even had the door open all the way. Hermione laughed and hugged her long lost friend back. "Oh, 'MIONE!" Ginny shrieked.
"Missed you too, Gin," Hermione smiled, shutting the door with her foot.
"Hello, Ginny," Mrs. Granger called from the couch, and Ginny let go of Hermione.
"Hi Maria. Hi Burt." Ginny waved, sounding nothing like the Draco Malfoy obsessed girl she was about to turn into as soon as they reached Hermione's room.
"How was your astronomy program?"
"It was great. I learned a lot, but I can't believe I'll be back there in a month for proper school. And it's my last year. Crazy." Ginny grinned, her eyes widening a bit as the thought of her final year hit her full force.
Mrs. Granger smiled, "You all grew up so fast. Well, I won't keep you girls. I know you're both dying to catch up and swoon over someone's boyfriend." She gave them a knowing look and then turned back to the telly.
Ginny squealed and grabbed Hermione's arm, pulling her in the direction of her room without any sort of hesitation. Hermione rolled her eyes but felt herself getting giddy. She hadn't gushed to anyone about Draco and she had never really gushed about Ron since Ginny didn't want to hear about her brother and Harry was just awkward about everything.
Ginny slammed her door, "Tell me everything."
Hermione fell back on her bed. "I don't know where to begin."
"Who made the first move?" Ginny crossed her legs on the bed and looked like an excited puppy about to get a treat.
Hermione bit her lip, "Lucius."
"What? Is this some weird kinky story?"
"No!" Hermione blushed, "He was just saying that he'd never approve of me and Draco and then Draco came over and asked me what his dad said to me and then it just kind of happened. There wasn't any huge proclamations of love." She said, feeling like the story fell short.
"Well that's a pants story." Ginny said, her tone not as excited as it had once been. "Oh well. So, is he a good kisser?"
"I believe I already answered that question."
"I want to hear you say it. I have spent the better part of my life swooning over Draco Malfoy without letting anyone know. So you have to tell me everything. It's what best friends do." Ginny said, flicking her friend's arm.
Hermione flicked her shoulder back and said, "Fine. He's the best kisser, okay? He has strong arms and sometimes I don't know what's better: him holding me or kissing me. There. Living vicariously through me yet?"
Ginny squealed, "Does he treat you like glass or is he strong and possessive? Harry likes to-"
"Please, Gin, no. I let you go on about Harry but I just had dinner and I am not in the mood to hear however Harry likes to-" She shuddered and bravely faced down Ginny's glare.
"Fine," She pouted and then Hermione told her about Draco's chiseled chest and the way he walked around without a shirt in Italy to appease her for her complete lack of excitement about Harry's tongue. Eventually they stopped talking about Draco and put in a movie and stuffed their faces with candy Ginny had bought from the trolley onboard the Hogwarts Express during her trip home.
In the morning, they gathered around the breakfast table and Ginny helped Hermione and her mum pack the rest of their camping gear. The monstrous pile in the living room had slowly begun to disappear and it was now becoming a mountain of bags. Hermione could tell Ginny wanted to use magic to pack everything, but she was grateful she had refrained. Hermione struggled with fitting all the bug repellent and sun block into the already stuffed full duffel bag and only succeeded in zipping it shut when Ginny plopped down next to her and helped her pull.
They nearly broke the zipper.
But it closed.
"You bringing the whole house with you?" Ginny muttered, rubbing her fingers.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "That's how Mum packs for everything."
"I just want us to be prepared for anything." Mrs. Granger shot back, reaching for her clipboard where she had many a pages of lists.
"Like a bear eating all our food," Hermione said, dropping down onto the couch.
"Or," Ginny joined in, "no batteries for the flashlights. That's what they're called, right? Batteries and flashlights?"
Hermione nodded and then said, "Or if there's a hurricane and we're stranded out in the inclement weather."
"We should have a plan in case that happens!" Mrs. Granger said defensively and then stalked out of the living room.
Hermione rolled her eyes and reached for the remote in front of her on the coffee table. She turned on the tv and flicked through some channels as Ginny said, "Now I know where you get your OCD from."
"It's genetic," Hermione grinned, and then a thought occurred to her. "Wanna meet Draco?"
"YES!" Ginny sat up so fast she got dizzy. It took her a moment to see properly and then she launched herself at her best friend. "Please, please, please! I want to meet him! I'll tell Harry! It'll be a double date! Yes, yes, yes 'Mione, please!"
"Okay," She laughed, prying the redhead off her. "Calm down. I'll owl him." It would have been easier if he learned how to use a phone, but one step at a time, she figured. He'd have to use a phone eventually. That was one muggle device he wouldn't be escaping.
Draco wrote her back fairly quickly and they arranged to meet for lunch. Ginny used Hermione's phone to call her boyfriend, who thankfully didn't have auror training that day. Ginny couldn't stop looking at the clock after that. She checked the time every second, waiting for the moment they could finally leave and she could have eye sex with Draco Malfoy. Or maybe, Hermione thought wryly, it was more like eye rape.
"Stop staring at the clock," Hermione said an hour later, "and help me pack!"
Mrs. Granger was outside attaching their bicycles to the back of the car. Hermione had been given the task of packing pots and pans. Ginny huffed and walked in the kitchen, a series of banging and clanging resounding throughout the house. Hermione rolled her eyes and tugged on one of the bag's straps. She fell backwards and glanced at the camera guy who was laughing at her and rolled her eyes.
Ginny was the one who announced it was time to leave when the clock struck exactly twelve thirty. Of course she had been the first to know, since she was the one who hadn't taken her eyes off the clock the whole morning.
"Bye, Mum!" Hermione called over her shoulder as Ginny pulled and tugged and practically whimpered out the door.
"Have fun girls," She laughed and went back to packing.
"Would you relax yourse-" Hermione's words were suddenly cut off as she was ripped from the spot she was standing in and it felt like she was hurtling through time and space, her stomach churning and everything around her a flash of colour.
It was all over in a second and then her feet were back on the floor and she was trying to catch her breath as a pair of strong hands went around her waist. "Woah there, tiger." A familiar voice said, his hands never leaving her.
"Gin, you killed 'Mione," Another voice said, and Hermione realised it was Harry- which meant that the arms holding her were none other than her boyfriend. She caught her breath and turned around to find him grinning at her.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
She nodded and then said loudly, "GINNY was just so excited to see you that she Apparated like the world was ending."
"NO!" Ginny protested hotly, and Hermione turned to find Harry rolling his eyes and Ginny's face flaming red to match her hair.
Hermione rolled her eyes and then greeted her friend. "Hey, Harry. I hope we didn't keep you."
"Not at all," He smiled, "You're right on time." He wrapped his arm around Ginny, steering her inside. "We'll go get a table."
"No, but- I wanna see-" Ginny said, trying to get free of Harry and turn back to them. But Harry was strong and in to time they had disappeared into the cafe, leaving Draco and Hermione to their own private greeting.
Hermione smiled and turned back to him. "She'll relax soon. I think."
Draco didn't seem to have heard her as he said, "Hi, Hermione."
She felt giddy and smiled, "Hey, Draco."
His grin melted into a smile and he pulled her against him for a chaste kiss. It was simple and nice and even that soft greeting was enough to make her feel like she was floating. They went inside shortly after and found Ginny and Harry in a booth. Harry was already studying the menu. He appeared to be telling Ginny something and pointing at the booklet in front of him, but Ginny had her eyes zeroed in on them, in a way that told Hermione she'd been watching the door.
They slid into the booth and Hermione took the lead of introducing them all, even though they all knew each other. It felt like this was the beginning of something new. They were all different now. Except Ginny- Hermione figured. She was pretty much the same jumpy and easily amused girl she'd always been. Harry was still Harry, Hermione also thought, except with a bit more self control. So maybe the only people that had changed were her and Draco.
"And I'm Hermione," She added.
Ginny rolled her eyes, "Like we didn't all know that. Now, Draco..."
Hermione didn't listen to what Ginny asked him. Harry was giving her that look. That distinctively Harry look. The one he gave her when he knew she was lying or thinking something. Then he smiled and she knew he understood what she had been thinking about herself.
"It's nice to meet you, Hermione," He smiled.
She couldn't believe where she was. Not just as this new person, waiting for results about university, nonetheless, but sitting in this cafe with her two best friends and Draco Malfoy. Draco didn't seem to mind all of Ginny's prodding and something in the way he answered all of her questions made her feel lightheaded- in the best way possible, of course. She didn't even mind the cameras all that much. It was only for a few more weeks anyway. She had gotten a letter from the Ministry a few days ago that confirmed their original plan was all going accordingly and they would be able to air the show during the holidays.
And then she would be alone with Draco for real and they could be together, until he had to leave for Scotland. They could read as much as they wanted and she could snog him in the hallways without being video taped for the whole world. They could debate politics and take trips to Italy (and Scotland). They could do anything. Be anything.
Besides, Draco still owed her his most embarrassing moment.
Dear Ms. Granger,
We are pleased to inform you that the end date for filming of "The Muggle-Pureblood Relations Program" is set for September 23, one month from today. We would like to thank you for all your hard work into making this show possible and overcoming your differences. And it is not just you. We are pleased to report that everyone has cooperated to make this a highly successful project. Hopefully the rest of the wizarding world will agree and we can all celebrated having made something spectacular together.
Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Marty Biggs
Creator of The Muggle-Pureblood Relations Program
Head of the Muggle Relations Department
Hermione woke up the morning of the camping trip with a pit in her stomach. She wanted to fake an illness, but she had a feeling her mum wouldn't buy it or, for that matter, care. It had long been established there was no way she was getting out of this. Either way, she tried to fold her body up and blend in with her bed. She reached over and snoozed her alarm, but it rang again in ten minutes, another reminder she would have to face the nightmare eventually.
"'Mione," Her dad's voice said through her closed door, "If I have to go, so do you! Up and at 'em!"
Hermione groaned. There was a loud bang from outside.
"BURT?" Her mum's voice shrieked, sounding frantic. "What was that?"
"It's fine! Not to worry, love," Her dad said, sounding perfectly okay. Hermione rolled her eyes and got out of bed. Another reason she didn't want to go on the trip was because her mum usually morphed into a psycho, worried, control freak. As if all the lists and back up plans she made weren't enough.
"I'm coming to check!" Her mum said.
"NO! I mean, no, really, I'm okay,"
Hermione took a shower. She made sure it was steaming hot and took a longer time than she normally would have. This would be her last real shower for two days, after all. She tied her hair in pony tail, which was also staying like that for two days. Her backpack wasn't very heavy as it mainly consisted of extra sweat pants, two books, and her wand. She made sure she made sure to keep her wand in its case. As if she hadn't remembered Mad Eye's warnings of keeping your wand secure, she now had Harry and Ron reminding her, too. They truly were on their way to becoming aurors.
Speaking of Harry, he sent her a good luck text message as she was descending the stairs. She smiled, wrote back, and stowed her phone in the zippered part of her bag. When she got to the bottom of the stairs, she took in the scene around her. All the bags had been moved to the car. There was toast on the table, which was apparently all she could have for breakfast since all the appliances had been unplugged.
Crookshanks meowed and rubbed his head against her leg. Hermione bent down and picked up her old friend. "I know Mum's making us go away, but Mrs. Trudy is coming over. You know Mrs. Trudy from next door. She's gonna come by and feed you. And clean your litter box. And then we'll be back soon and I'll rub your tummy how you like."
"You do know they're filming, right?" Her dad asked, coming back in the front door, looking meaningfully at the camera man standing by the telly with the camera trained on her.
Hermione grinned, "They're always filming." She let her cat go, who had started to squirm in her arms, and went to get a piece of toast. The whole wizarding world witnessing the way her voice changed embarrassingly when she talked to her cat was the last thing on her mind.
Draco was supposed to Apparate to their house. And then they would drive three hours to Drexel Woods where they'd be camping for two nights. Draco had never been in a muggle car, for starters. Hermione sighed, not looking forward anything that was about to happen.
"What do you think?" Her mum's voice asked. There were footsteps coming down the stairs and Hermione looked up to see her mum clad in an obscenely bright red, puffy vest, a long sleeve shirt, form fitting khaki pants, and huge, lace-up construction-esque boots.
Hermione grimaced.
"Honey, you do know it's summer, right?" Her dad asked. Hermione glanced at him and saw he was in jeans, sneakers, and a t-shirt.
"We need to keep our arms and legs covered. There's ticks and mosquitos and-"
"THEN WHY ARE WE GOING CAMPING?" Hermione huffed, stuffing a piece of toast in her mouth. "Oh the irony."
"Hermione, drop the 'Woe is me' attitude." Her mum chided.
Hermione sighed, deciding that was wise advice. She stepped outside, was greeted by humid air, and went to look at their car. It was small-ish and the there were dents in the bumper. She put her backpack in the back seat and when she turned around, there was a faint pop! and then Draco was standing in front of her.
"WHAT are you wearing?" Hermione asked, her eyes practically popping out of her head. It hadn't meant to be the first thing she said, but she couldn't control herself. She had expected Draco to be completely out of his element, but she hoped with the binder full of notes she'd prepared for him, he'd had be a tiny bit prepared.
All her hope shot out the window when her boyfriend showed up wearing his usual black trousers, a cloak, and a green Slytherin t-shirt. His hair was gelled back and looked hard as marble.
Draco looked down at himself. He smiled, like he knew something she didn't, and said, "You said casual."
"That's casual?" She asked, thunderstruck.
"Hermione," He came towards her, wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned in close. His breath tickled her face as he said, "relax." And then his lips covered hers, momentarily making the knot in her stomach unclench.
She smiled, "But seriously, you're not going to survive in that."
"I know," Draco smiled, "Which is why this isn't what I'm going camping in." Before she could say anything, he snapped his fingers and in an instant his hair was free falling, all the gel gone. His clothes had changed from that disastrous ensemble to actual muggle jeans. The Slytherin shirt remained.
"You git!" Hermione laughed, linking their hands together. "You just wanted to freak me out!"
Draco smirked, like a kid that had just gotten away with pulling his crush's pigtails. Hermione's parents came out of the front door then, ending their conversation. "Good morning, Draco!" Her mum said, walking over while her dad locked the front door.
"Hello Maria," Draco greeted, his voice silky smooth. Hermione rolled her eyes, but felt her stomach leap (for a second). "Beautiful day we have."
"Yes," Maria smiled, looking up at the clear sky, like this was proof, "We do. We're going to have a great time."
Both Hermione and he dad snorted. "Lets hit the road, gang," Her dad said, smiling nervously at his wife, who was glaring at him.
"Joy," Hermione muttered.
Draco put his hand on her lower back and leaned down, so that his lips brushed her ear. "Cheers."
There was a charmed camera situated in the back of the car, that way they could be alone during the car ride. The cameramen would be Apparating to the camp ground on their own. It was like when Draco and her were left alone during their trip to Italy, but the Ministry was still able to capture everything for the show.
Hermione's mum passed her the GPS from the front seat. "Could you put in the-"
"Yes, Mum," Hermione said, taking the electronic from her hand. Draco watched in complete fascination as she input the information and a mechanical voice told them to turn right on Hastings Avenue and continue for one fourth a mile and then turn left onto Mooring Street.
"What was that?" Draco asked, and her dad saved her from explaining the wonderful powers of the navigation device.
But that didn't last for long, because Draco had never been in a muggle car before and cars were obviously more fascinating. "Seat belts, everyone!" Her mum said, once the GPS was properly situated on the dashboard and the air conditioner was on.
"This thing-" Draco was pulling on the seatbelt that kept getting stuck, "You said I need to put it-"
"Let go!" Hermione laughed, reaching across to take his hand in an effort to make him let go. The seat belts in their old car were equally as old, and so like most old things, they were a bit run down. They frequently got stuck and the only way to unstick them was to let it go and then pull again.
Draco laughed and swatted Hermione's hand away. He pulled again just as they merged onto the interstate. Distracted, he looked out the window and saw a multitude of cars in different shapes and colours, all plodding along the same road. "There's so many-"
"AH HA!" Hermione shrieked, successfully wrangling the seat belt away. In no time he was strapped in and perfectly safe.
"Strange these muggle inventions..." Draco reflected, looking down at the strap across his chest. He had obviously lost interest in all the cars on the motor way.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "It is not strange. Just because there's no seat belts on BROOMS doesn't mean-"
"It's a piece of fabric across your chest, Hermione," Draco said, sounding unimpressed.
"You couldn't even put it on." She deadpanned.
"Touché." smirked Draco.
It was a long ride. They stopped once to refill petrol allowing Hermione to introduce Draco to the marvels of rest stops. He wasn't impressed, as there really was nothing to be impressed about. They grabbed granola bars and cold drinks to keep them energised.
Hermione had been reading for the last mile, her shoes forgotten, and her head on the window, when Draco decided to take out his own book. She glanced up, curious as to what he was now reading. She only saw the blue cover before she understood and gasped, "IT WAS YOU!"
Draco's eyes flicked up to look at her, and then he opened the book and started to read. There was a small smile on his lips and Hermione sat up quickly. "You stole my book!"
"I didn't steal it." Draco said, with a roll of his eyes. "I nicked it without saying anything and when I finish reading it, you'll get it back."
"I was looking for it all week!" Hermione huffed.
"If you had said something to me, I would have told you not to fear." Draco grinned, looking back at the page he was on.
"Merlin, you prat." Hermione muttered in disbelief. And just because he didn't seem sorry enough, she kicked his leg. It didn't seem to soften him up.
The rest of the car ride passed easily, both of them engrossed in their own books. When they finally arrived, Hermione was grateful to stretch out her back. She sighed and then took her bag and the two others her dad passed her. Draco took his own bag, and the coolers, full of their food and water bottles.
He winked at her, before flexing his arm, using the coolers as weights. She was happy he remembered her note about not using any magic. They were camping. Legit camping. Not that legit camping was so great, but that was the experience her mum seemed to want to have again, for who knew what reasons.
"The adventure begins!" Her mum smiled.
Hermione and her dads exchanged looks of misery, before following.
They walked a mile into the forest. Hermione made sure to watch the ground for loose pebbles that would make her slip and sneaky tree roots. The trees started to open up the farther they went, and eventually they found themselves by a lake.
"Okay! This is a good spot." Her mum said, "Lets pitch our tents! Hermione, I think I packed yours in the red bag."
The red bag, Hermione looked around, and found it in the pile of things her dad had dropped ungracefully to the ground. She went over to retrieve it and looked at Draco, "And where is your tent?"
"I was supposed to bring a tent?" Draco asked, smiling, in a way that told her he still wasn't sorry.
"You didn't bring a tent." It was supposed to be a question, but it ended up as more of a statement. Of course Draco hadn't brought a tent. He only owned a magical one.
"I thought we were bunking together." He grinned, winking again.
For a moment, Hermione's stomach leapt again. She scowled, "Don't you even think about doing anythi-"
"Me? I would never." Draco looked affronted. "I'm a saint, 'Mione. You're the one with all these insinuations."
She couldn't do anything but laugh. Pulling the bunched up tent out of the bag, she tossed Draco the poles. He looked confused and held them out in front of him. "How does this make a tent stand up?"
"Who knows," Hermione muttered.
After half an hour, they were still in the exact same position. Her parents had successfully built their's fifteen minutes before and had gone off on a romantic stroll around the lake after laughing heartily at them.
"If my mum could do it, why can't-" Hermione trailed off, glaring at the incompetent tent.
"You know, we could use-"
"NO!" Hermione yelled, "No magic. We are not using magic."
"Magic isn't the end of the world, Hermione." Draco said, his voice a bit more serious than it had been while they struggled with the tent.
"It also isn't the answer to every problem." She said, taking up the string again.
Draco sighed and Hermione realised they were disagreeing. She paused. This was to expected, they had both been raised in two parallel worlds, practically, and she knew Draco was going to have a hard time on this trip, but she had hoped they would at least get passed pitching the tent.
"Look, you can Apparate out of her anytime you want." Hermione told him, going back to the tent. "I know you think magic is might and that muggles are inferior and-"
"Hermione," The only reason she looked at him was because his voice has suddenly gone stone cold. It scared the crap out of her. "Is that what you think I think?"
She flailed like a fish out of water and looked at him in shock. "Magic is might? That Death Eater shit from the war? How can you even say that? We might have come from two different worlds, but that's not what I believe in now. Hell, I don't know WHAT I believe in, but it isn't that. All I know, is that when I see you, or I hear your name, or listen to you, I want to be good enough for you. You deserve someone that can understand your world and be a man and-"
His words had turned her world inside out. That might have been the most romantic thing he ever said- in a weird way. She stepped forward, touching his shoulders. "You are good. We're just different and it'll take some time. But we're gonna figure it out."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know everything, remember? You told me about the volcanoes on Hawaii, which was the only thing I didn't know." Hermione said, squeezing his shoulders.
"That was lame," Draco rolled his eyes. "And I didn't know what I was doing back then."
"I don't know what I'm doing right now."
"I thought you knew everything."
"Shut up."
"Did you pitch your tent yet?" Her dad said, making both of them jump apart, like they'd been caught doing something horribly wrong.
"I thought you were going for a walk!" Hermione said, flustered. She glanced at Draco quickly and then back at her dad.
"We were. But we forgot the camera." Her mum supplied, pulling the object out of a green bag. They had lots of coloured bags. "Have fun you two, but make sure you pitch your tent or you'll be sleeping under the stars tonight."
When they were alone again, Draco wrapped his arms around her waist. He pulled her close and dropped his head onto her neck. He kissed her softly and said, "That could be romantic."
"Look at you. Who knew you were a closet romantic," She joked, playing with his hair.
"I am not!" Draco said indignantly, pulling away. "I am who I am and I am who I is."
"If you say so. Now, about that tent..."
That night, after their tent was finally assembled, they were gathered around the campfire. Her mum was spraying so much mosquito repellent it blocked out the natural scent of pine that surrounded them. Hermione sighed and dropped her head onto Draco's shoulder. He wasn't much comfort, as he smacked the back of his neck.
"Damn! Another bleeding bugger. Maria, pass it over."
"No," Hermione groaned, sliding away from Draco as he sprayed the repellent over his skin.
It didn't help. The mosquitos kept coming and Hermione and her dad sat together as Draco and Maria swatted at the air and at their skin. "We told them this would happen." Her dad said, satisfied that they were being proven right.
"We said it wouldn't be fun." Hermione added.
"But did they listen?"
"Nope," They finished together. Hermione smiled and nudged her dad, grateful he was there with them. Then she scratched her arm, where she had her own bite.
"How about we sing some campfire songs?" Her mum suggested, trying to mask that the trip wasn't everything she hoped it would be.
"What songs actually count as campfire songs?" Hermione asked.
After singing two songs, one that was made up- Hermione was sure of it- Maria seemed ready to take a shower. She always showered after dinner. A look of pure dismay shown across her features as she realised the only shower she was getting was in the form of the cold lake.
"At least you'll get a good night's sleep." Hermione smiled broadly, knowing that this was not going to happen.
Her mum looked unhappy, before remembering she was supposed to be having a good time. "We can skip rocks," She suggested.
"Skip rocks," Hermione muttered sarcastically. "Of course. Why didn't I think of that?"
"Maybe because no one has done that for fun since before the Industrial Revolution," Her dad muttered behind her. She snorted.
As the night wore on, Maria's hair was getting frizzier. Hermione sat under a tree with a flashlight and her book. Her dad was teaching Draco how to fish, though Hermione doubted they would catch anything.
"OW!" Draco yelled, not for the first time.
Her dad laughed, his standard reaction. "I said put the worm on the hook, not your finger."
"This bloody worm keeps moving!" Draco said, obviously frustrated. "How do muggles think this is fun?"
"Here, I'll do it," Her dad reached over and took the worm from Draco's hand.
Hermione rolled her eyes and tried to focus on the book she was reading. She had read nearly a whole chapter when Draco yelped again. She looked up, expecting him to be wrestling with his fishing pole, but found him and her dad catapulting away from the lake at record speed. Confused, she sat up and arched her neck, trying to see what had spooked them.
She didn't see anything, but her heart was pounding. They had to have seemed something. She turned back to the lake, and found Draco running towards her. "Hermione, get up!"
"Maria!" Her dad yelled, near the tents.
"What?" Hermione asked, confused, and slightly worried. She half expected a bear to come barreling out of the trees any second and eat them all. That's silly, she told herself, bears don't eat people. She had nothing to worry about except those nasty mosquitoes.
She was pulling herself off the ground when Draco reached her and nearly pulled her arms off. "Skunk!" He shouted, and quickly tugged her behind him.
"We're running from a skunk?" Hermione asked, instantly feeling better that it was just a tiny skunk and not a giant man eating bear. But of course, it was never man eating, she reminded herself again.
Draco stopped running. He looked at her, "Aren't they scary?"
Hermione grinned, "Not really."
He looked confused and said, "But your dad-"
"So you've never actually seen a skunk." Hermione smiled, feeling giddy, "Do you even know what they do?"
"Kids, get in the tent!" Maria called from behind them.
"Of course I know what they do." Draco said, though she knew he was lying.
"Yes?" She prompted.
But Draco was looking behind her, squinting, as if he was trying to make sense of something. "That's it? That tiny little thing?"
Hermione turned around. There it was, a small little black ball lumbering towards them. Its body moved side to side with each step it took. The skunk's white stripe was visible in the darkness and suddenly Hermione realised, with a sinking feeling in her guy, that the skunk was too close to them. "Draco-" She started, but it was useless, she saw.
"I thought it was bigger than that," Draco was saying, offhandedly.
The skunk's tail was rising up into the air and there was nothing they could do.
"You two are not coming anywhere near us and you are not getting in our car." Maria declared, after the pair of them had been sprayed, screamed, and showed themselves, shamefully, to her parents. Maria was holding her nose with two fingers, "You will be sleeping on the other side of the lake!"
"Mum-" Hermione started, holding her own nose. But it didn't help because her hand smelled just as bad.
"Burt," Maria said, ignoring her daughter. "Please go find tomato sauce and a big enough tub for them. Drive all night if you have to."
They were banished to the other side of the lake, and left to hope her dad was able to find them tomato sauce. Hermione was scowling and Draco looked as if he'd swallowed something he wasn't expecting to be sour.
"This is bloody awful. And muggles do this for FUN?" Draco asked, dropping down on the grass.
"Do muggles get sprayed by skunks for fun? No." Hermione growled, slightly bitter about being dragged on this trip. And Draco wrangling his way into it.
"You know, we wouldn't even be in this mess if you had just come with me." Draco said, after a few minutes of silence.
"Oh, sure. If I just followed you, everything would be perfect." Hermione rolled her eyes and laid back, looking up at sky. She looked for Venus, which Ginny told her appeared red in the sky. She always looked, but could never find it.
"You know, Hermione," He went on, unaffected by her, "since we both reek... maybe now would be the time for some skinny dipping."
Hermione felt herself blush in spite of everything, all her agitation draining away. "Oh, yes, with my parents right across the lake. How romantic."
"Okay. Maybe not skinny dipping. But... we could strip down to our knickers and-" The sound of his fly unzipping made her look at him.
"Do you know how gross that lake probably is?" She asked, the words tumbling out of her mouth before she knew what she was saying. She watched from her spot on the ground as Draco stood up and his jeans fell off his legs and onto the ground. He winked, and then slithered out of his shirt.
Her heart had practically stopped beating and she felt herself react in a way she hadn't anticipated. She felt frozen to the spot, her mouth going dry. She didn't even know if she would be joining him. After all, that water probably wasn't the cleanest and her parents were across the lake, and she had been furious a second before, and they'd only just gotten together and she wasn't about to just rip her clothes off and jump on him.
Even if he did look very good in his black boxer briefs. Even if there was just enough moonlight to frame his body nicely. Even if she had a perfect view of his abdominal muscles.
He didn't wait for her. He dived right in. She watched, transfixed, as he swam laps, back and forth, right in front of her. He wasn't doing anything sexual, in fact, it was like he had forgotten she was there. But she couldn't help herself from watching and feeling excited and curious... and confident.
The smell really was atrocious. Maybe the water will help, she told herself. She looked down at herself and hesitantly touched the hemline of her she really about to do this? With all the cameras?
Draco and her had just gotten together and their relationship was only a little baby. They had it hard enough without complicating it by-
What was she so nervous about? What was the difference between swimming in her bra and panties than swimming in a bikini? Her underwear was black anyway, it wasn't like it would turn see through the moment she got it wet. Before she could change her mind, she stood up. She stepped out of clothes and plunged into the lake.
The water was cold and she felt particles on her legs, but it didn't matter. Draco had noticed her appearance in the water. He stopped swimming and watched her as she came towards him.
"Glad you decided to jump in." He said, grinning wickedly at her. For a moment, it felt almost like he was talking about something bigger than the lake. Like this moment solidified their relationship. It was real now. They had both accepted their differences and jumped in.
"Me too," She smiled at him. Her arms snaked around his neck, and he reciprocated, pulling her against him.
Their lips met and it was magical and slow and theirs. "You really smell, though," Hermione giggled, pulling away from him a little.
Draco's smile was reflected in his eyes. "So do you." He kissed her nose.
"Was this always your grand plan? Since day one of filming?" Hermione asked, standing on his toes in the water.
"What?" He asked, laughing so hard he threw his head back. "Getting sprayed by a skunk and nearly skinny dipping with you in a lake with your parents a few yards away?"
"I've heard you were good at Divination." She smiled, "Personally, I never cared for the subject."
"Neither do I," He said, "But this wasn't my plan."
"What was, then?"
His voice was husky when he said, "You."
She waited for him to say more. When he didn't she asked, "That's it?"
"Is there someone else I should want?" He asked, and then his forehead came to rest on hers. It felt like they had Apparated to their own world, and Hermione was content to stay there until the morning, when they would reappear in reality.
Forever.
Together.
A/N Looks like Marty got a promotion :) I hope the camping was entertaining and, you know, it was all good and not corny and lame and I HOPE YOU LIKED IT AND YES. Cheers to you all. All reviews are appreciated, as always.
*Also, to be completely honest, the camping trip... I didn't write that when I wrote the rest of this story. This chapter ended with the letter. But I kept thinking about it, and wondering if I had built the camping trip up too much and then all your reviews for the last chapter were like, "HOLY SHIT I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE HILARIOUS CAMPING TRIP OH MY GOOOODDDD!" So I realized, I had built it up and now I need to account for it. So I wrote the camping scene over the last two days and I hope it's wonderful and works, because I wrote the entire story over the summer. Meaning, I've had lots of time to go over it and make sure everything fits in nicely. And then this camping trip scene was born and I sincerely hope it lived up to your expectations and it was funny and sweet and good.*
THANKS SUPER AWESOME MUCH TO: Honoria Granger, RoguesMum, Blah Blah Blah Monster, edwardsoneandonlylove, HalfwaytoNowhere142, Irene Rose Hermione, alannalove1990, vickifay, HarryPotterGeneration, Lupa Eira, Loveable Leo, and hermionesme.