We were standing on the balcony in Dumbledore's office, holding hands as McGonagall told us exactly where the Portkey we were holding would take us. "Please owl me as soon as you arrive, so I know you got there safetly!"
"Of course, Professor! See you soon, hopefully!" I cried, as we whooshed off into swirling darkness. We landed in Sydney, Australia, in a deserted alleyway. Malfoy looked like he was going to throw up everywhere, and I wasn't feeling too great myself. After we took some time to gather ourselves, we were able to stand upright and take off down the street.
"What do we do first, Granger? Do you even have a plan?" Malfoy asked me. Naturally, I didn't have a plan, but I was going along with it all. "Yes, I do actually! First, we probably need to, uh..."
"You don't have any clue what you're doing, do you?" he said as he hailed a cab for us. A taxi pulled up to our side of the street, and he opened the door for me. He was being more kind than usual and more of a gentleman than Harry or Ron had ever been, and it was a nice change. I climbed in the car, and he followed in right after me."
"Take us to the InterContinental please!" he told the cab driver.
"The InterContinental?" I asked.
"Nicest hotel in Sydney." He turned his head to look out the window, ending all conversation. We rode in silence, until the cab came to a halt under the hotel's awning. Draco paid the driver quickly and jumped out of the cab, coming to my side to open her door. I got out and stared at him in disbelief; who was this kind gentleman and where had he been all seven years I had known him? "What, Granger? Stop staring at me, it's creepy!" he said, as he lightly grabbed me by the elbow and pulled me inside the hotel lobby.
He expertly looped my arm in the crook of his as we approached the front desk. I was going to speak up and get us a room with two beds, but he jumped in when he recognized the man behind the desk.
"Draco Malfoy! What a surprise it is to see you!"
"Tom, how have you been? It's been a long time!" he smiled, shaking the man's hand with his free arm.
"Mr. Malfoy, we haven't seen you or your father in over a year, what's the deal?" Tom questioned.
"Oh, business has been busy in the UK, so we had little time for a vacation!" he explained. I rolled my eyes; the Malfoys have had a lot of business in the past year.
"Oh my gosh, where are my manners?" Tom exclaimed as he finally noticed me. "I'm Tom Smith, I've served the Malfoy family here for close to twenty years?"
"Yes, he's been very faithful to our family," Malfoy said, addressing me. "Tom, this is my fiance, Hermione Granger!" Malfoy patted my hand that still rested on his elbow, and once I overcame my shock of being called his fiance, I extended my hand for Tom to kiss. "Pleasure to meet you," I responded smoothly.
"Likewise," Tom smirked back. "Now, what brings you two to Sydney?"
"Impromptu vacation! But we're also here to visit Hermione's parents." Malfoy released my arm as he reached into his pocket for his wallet and pulled out a platinum card that looked to hold Muggle money on it.
"How exciting! Well, Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, I've booked your father's usual room for you both, Room 839! Enjoy your stay and if there is anything you need, I'm happy to help!" Tom said as he handed Malfoy a room key.
"Thank you so much!" I smirked as him as Malfoy grabbed my hand and led me to the elevators. We got one that was empty, and I pushed the eighth floor button for us. Once we started rising toward our floor, Malfoy started to laugh.
"What's so funny?" I asked, crossing my arms.
"You back there! I could have sworn you were channelling your inner Malfoy!" he chuckled, his eyes dancing.
"Well, I had to play the part, considering YOU INTRODUCED ME AS YOUR FIANCE!" I cried, giving him a well deserved slap on the arm.
"Oh, sorry Granger, I forgot to tell you. Part One of our plan was to find shelter, Part Two was to come up with our back story. Good thing you know how to lie!" he smirked.
"You know, Malfoy, being a good liar isn't something to proud of!"
"Wait, did I say you were a good liar? I thought I only said you knew how to lie?" My mouth flapped like a fish, trying to find a good comeback to retort that, but I couldn't find anything.
"I have a question!" I said, after a few moments of silence.
"I don't want to hear it, but I think you're going to ask me anyway."
I ignored his rudeness and asked, "Is being a Death Eater really your family's business?" His eyes, dancing with laughter only moments ago, sparked with anger and rage. It was clear that I had pissed him off. "Excuse me?"
I wasn't going to back off this one. "Well you told Tom that you were quite busy with your business in the UK this past year... I mean, your father seemed to have little time to hold another job, besides being Voldemort's caddy."
I was talking one moment, and then the next, I was backed up against the elevator wall. He had me pinned there and his face was right up against mine. His eyes were fired and it seemed that smoke was coming out of his ears. As much as I didn't show it, fear was rising up from the pit of my stomach. "Don't you EVER discuss my father in that way. Am I clear?" His eyes were searching into mine, and deep down, beneath all of the hate he felt for me and my words, I could see kindness and compassion bubbling in them. Although his anger scared me, I would not be paralyzed by it because I knew that he was good underneath. I gained some courage and stared boldly in his face. "Crystal. Crystal clear."
He somewhat snapped to his senses and pulled away from me, his face blushing in embarrassment. Above all, Draco realized he was a gentleman, and gentlemen did not have women pressed up against wall... well maybe pressed against the wall for another reason, but not that one. He fidgeted with his hands and shifted his weight for the rest of trip, looking at me in embarrassment.
The elevator doors opened and I led the way down the hall to Room 839. I was ready to get under the cool sheets and sleep for a long time, uninterrupted by Malfoy's presence. However, when I opened the door, I was unable to hide my look of embarrassment.
There was only one bed for them to share.
Draco peered over me into the room and pushed past me, setting down our small amount of luggage. He turned to me, waiting for me to come in and close the door, but I was in too much shock to do it! I was going to have to share a bed with Draco Malfoy? In my wildest dreams, I never would have imagined that. When he realized I wasn't going to move, he went into the restroom and alleviated himself. I heard him wash his hands and watched him open the bathroom door. He leaned against the doorframe.
"What's shocking about the bed? That you're going to have to share it with one of Voldemort's caddies?" he asked, scowling at me.
It was not usually in my nature to apologize first, but there was no reason to fight with him. He looked really hurt by my comments, and I found myself wanting to take away his pain, even if it only came with an apology. "I'm really sorry, that was a low blow back in the elevator."
He only nodded and looked away. "I'm sorry too," I heard him mutter, and that was enough for me.
He went to the closet in the room and removed extra blankets and pillows. Going to the foot of the bed, he started to make a pallet. "Oh Malfoy! You don't have to do that! We can share the bed if you'd like!"
"No need. It obviously makes you uncomfortable, so I don't mind the floor." He was about to climb into his makeshift bed, when he looked back at me. Wordlessly, Malfoy walked towards me. As he snaked his hands around my waist, I said in astonishment, "Malfoy, what are you doing?"
"I'm afraid if I never pulled you inside, you would be in the hallway all night." I just realized that I had been standing against the door to our hotel room, and with his one swift motion, I was standing a little ways in our room, just enough for the door to swing past me and close.
"Thanks!"
"Now, Granger," he said as he plopped down on his pallet, "Please try and go to sleep. We have a long road ahead of us."