[Hermione]
Draco and I took the train from London up to Nottingham as the Headmaster didn't want to go too far from school, even my apparation. I sorted out the tickets with the money I had and we got on. Draco didn't quite get these trains which made me laugh slightly.
By the time we arrived in Nottingham it was half past nine and the station was packed. I felt Draco take my hand again in comfort. He had told me while we were on the train that he wasn't that confident about being surrounded by so many muggles. I squeezed his hand gently and we made our way on to the busy platform. I looked around for my Uncle Dave hoping I would recognise him. I searched for about 5 minutes through the many people but had no luck.
I sighed and turned to Draco. "I don't think he's here yet, he must be running late," I sighed.
"Shall we go sit down?" Draco asked looking at a few of the benches that were dotted around the platform. We were about to make our way over to the one of them when I saw a tall, skinny man come down the stairs. He was wearing a black leather jacket and a stripy scarf. His hair was swept to the side, in a messy look and his dark brown eyes shined from under his fringe. I smiled when he was me and jogged over to us.
"Hey 'Mione!" he beamed pulling me in to a hug and lifted me up, spinning around a few times. For a skinny guy, he's strong. He put me down and looked at Draco.
"This is Draco, he's from my school. He's the Head Boy." I smiled. Draco took Dave's hand and shook it with that godly smile on his face.
"Nice to meet you, mate" Dave said in his common accent. He put his arm around me and we went down to the taxi area of the station. He called a taxi and then turned to us. "Fancy some breakfast before we get started? I'm glad you brought someone, I have to go to work at noon," He said with disappointment on his face. "But I left loads of numbers and stuff for you at home and I already called the vicar and ordered the service. You just need to choose the flowers and what the gravestone will say, I thought it would be better if you did the more personal things. If I didn't work now, I wouldn't be able to get tomorrow off," He added.
"Hey, don't worry. You are a Doctor after all." I reassured him so he wouldn't feel bad.
"I'm the youngest Chief of Medicine that hospital has ever had," he winked. The taxi came and we all climbed in. "So, anything in particular you fancy?" Dave asked Draco. Draco looked slightly worried at what to answer with.
"I'm okay with toast..." He replied fidgeting slightly. As Dave leaned forward to the driver to tell him where to go, I squeezed Draco's hand. 'You're doing great.' I mouthed and smiled. He wrapped his fingers through mine and held on.
The taxi stopped outside a small cafe opposite the big shopping centre. Dave paid the guy and we got out. The cafe was really cosy and smelled amazing. There weren't many people inside either so it was nice and quiet. We took a booth near a window and we ordered.
"So, what are you two? A couple are?..." Dave asked grinning.
"She wishes," Draco replied smirking. "No, we're just good friends." He said after the look I gave him. Dave laughed and took a sip of his coffee when his beeper went off. He glanced at it and frowned.
"I'm sorry, I have to take this, it's work.." He said before going to stand outside, taking his mobile out.
When his back was turned, I faced Draco and hit him on his arm a few times. "She wishes? Yeah right!"
"It's true!" He said catching my hand. "I saw you this morning, your eyes were begging for me," He smirked. I blushed and took my hand back.
"Whatever.." I muttered taking a sip of my hot chocolate. Dave came back in the cafe looking grim. He stood at the end of the booth with his hands in his pockets.
"Well that was work. They kind of need me now..." he said running his hands through his hair. "I am so sorry 'Mione. I'll get back as soon as I can. Will you two be okay?" He asked.
"Um...I don't remember where you live.." I said. He took a napkin and scribbled the address down. He took out his wallet and handed it to me before biting his lip and then giving it to Draco. "Never trust a woman with your money." He said, kissing me on the forehead before running out and catching a taxi.
I took the wallet straight back out of Draco's hands. "Bless him..." I muttered watching the taxi drive away. "He's so sweet but he works way too much. Do you still want the breakfast or shall I go cancel it?"
"I'm not that hungry." Draco said pulling on his jacket. "Plus I want to get out of muggle central..." He said smiling nervously. I stood and went to the counter and asked if it was too late to cancel the order. The old lady smiled and said it was fine. I gave her a few pounds in thanks and left with Draco in tow.
Once we were in the busy streets, I took out the napkin with his address on and called a taxi. When one eventually came, we got in and I gave the driver the address. The drive was quiet as we drove in to the centre of Nottingham, the castle towering over us. We stopped outside a huge tower block.
"Dear Merlin...he lives on the top floor." Draco said looking at the buzzer list - not that he knew what it was. I took out the keys he left me and unlocked the door.
"I'm just glad the lift works." I said looking up the stairs which went on for what seemed like eternity.
When we finally made it to the top floor, it entered straight in to his living room. Draco whistled. "Penthouse. Nice."
I walked around astounded. Everything was nicely furnished. The living room had nice red sofas and soft carpets with a home cinema system. Around the walls all over the place was old movie posters. The kitchen was shiny and new, the bedrooms were all huge with double beds and the bathroom had the biggest shower I had ever seen. It was amazing to say he was hardly ever here.
"Wow. I want one.." I muttered after I had finished looking around. Draco was slumped on the sofa staring at the movie posters.
"It's so boring how they don't move." He stated taking off his jacket and hanging it over the back on the dining room chairs. I did the same with mine and walked in to the kitchen. Dave had left all the papers and numbers on the black work top. He left a small note saying his laptop was in the living room if I needed it.
Draco came in and sat at the breakfast bar with me. He must have seen how stressed I was as he placed his hand on my shoulder and said, "Do you want a cup of tea?"
**
[Draco]
It was around 9pm and Draco was sat on the sofa watching 'television'. To be frank, it was fascinated him. He had described it to be like how their photo's were just to a bigger extent. Hermione was currently on the phone to the funeral home, checking everything was in order for tomorrow. Draco watched her pace the dining room in her pyjama shorts and loose top - Okay, he watched her legs.
Draco shook himself when Hermione walked back in to the living room and put the phone down. "Everything is sorted. The lilies will be there along with the 'Mum and Dad' flower thingys." She said sitting down next to Draco, rubbing the bridge of her nose. He felt Hermione's bare leg against his and shivered slightly.
"Are you cold?" She asked. She must have felt it. Draco sat there in the white t-shirt he had been wearing all day and his boxers. Anyone would think he was cold but Hermione made him feel the exact opposite.
She took the towel she had been wearing when she got out the shower and bent over to towel dry her hair. Once again, Draco found himself watching her. Her top slid down her body slightly to show her flat stomach. When she stood straight and walked to the bathroom, Draco slapped himself across the cheek.
"Come on!" he muttered to himself. "Okay...you're just a guy. Just a guy. It's not your fault, you're just a guy."
The phone ringing pulled Draco out of his thoughts. He looked down the corridor for Hermione but the bathroom door was shut. Draco walked across to the phone and looked at it. He bit his lip and picked it up, still ringing in his hand. He pressed the button that had a picture of a phone and held it to his ear. "Um...hello?" He asked.
"Hello? Is that Draco?" Wow, it knew his name. "It's Dave." Draco sighed slightly but was still amazed at how Dave was talking to him.
"Yeah, what's wrong?" Draco asked rubbing the back of his neck.
"Tell Hermione that I won't be back tonight. They're keeping me on the graveyard shift and I'll have to go to the funeral from work." Dave rushed. "Gotta go now, bye" With that a long tone came from the phone that hurt his ears. Draco looked at the phone and dropped it on the sofa. "Weird thing." He muttered and walked to the bathroom. "Hermione?"
"It's open." her voice came from the other side. Draco entered and Hermione finished brushing her teeth. "Who was on the phone?" She asked wiping her mouth.
"Your Uncle. He said something about...a graveyard shift and how he won't be back and he'll go to the funeral straight from work." Draco said leaning against the door frame.
Hermione looked disappointed. "That's such a shame...Ah well. At least he came come.." She said looking at the floor. Draco took Hermione's hand and led her to the bedroom. They sat on the bed together.
"How are you holding up?" He asked.
Hermione sighed. "Um...it's weird. I just keep thinking that they're on holiday and they'll be back in a few days. But then I see them lying there...in the fire..." She said slowly, her eyes beginning to gleam. She moved across the bed closer to Draco and put her arms around his waist tightly. "I can't get it out of my head." She muttered to his chest. Draco brought his arms up around Hermione's shoulders. He caught a glimpse of the Dark Mark that was showing slightly on his arm and sighed.
"You can't change what happened. You just need to think about what your parents would say if they saw you like this. You are so much stronger than this Hermione." Draco muttered. He felt Hermione wipe her eyes. "It's been a long day, you should get some sleep for tomorrow." He said stroking her hair. Hermione nodded. She pulled away slightly and kissed Draco's cheek.
"Thanks for everything." She whispered before crawling to the head of the bed and getting in.
Draco stood and went to the door. "I'm next door if you need me," He smiled and turned off the light. He went to the living room and managed to turn everything off without breaking it. He got a glass of water from the kitchen before heading to the second spare room next to Hermione's. He sat on the edge of the bed in the dark leaning on his knees. Before long, the mark came through his skin properly. The dark ink stood out against his pale skin like a horrible scar. The line on his opposite arm was only a shiny line now, but like the Dark Mark, it would stay with him forever.