Chapter 9Samba

The next day, Draco anxiously awaited Hermione, not knowing whether she would show after their incident. Promptly at ten in the morning, she arrived at the manor. Shyly, she looked down in shame. "I'm so sorry. I overreacted. Mickey convinced me it was because you hated him but I thought about it…" She quickly hugged him. "I was wrong. Please forgive me."

"So we're friends still?"

"Yes," she replied. "Do you forgive me for doubting you?"

"Yes," he said. "You forgave me for tormenting you all those years."

"Now, let's win this competition." Hermione charged past him, straight to his study.

After a couple of hours, Draco was restless. "Pack up some books and I'll be back." Moments later he returned with a picnic basket. "It's a lovely day and I know of a beautiful garden. How about studying somewhere new and taking in some scenery?"

"Alright, let's do this." Together they touched a portkey of an orange tulip.

The world spun around them until they levitated to a lush garden in its last stages of green before succumbing to autumn. Flowers of every color imaginable surrounded them with a green gazebo and small brook nearby. "Draco, this place is gorgeous. It's like a Monet painting."

Momentarily, Draco seemed confused over the name Monet. "Of course it's lovely because it's a Malfoy property. We have only the finest…"

Abruptly he stopped, when she kneeled next to the stream and flicked some of the cold water in his face. "Stop boasting."

"You wanna play?" Grabbing her by the waist, he dipped her down towards the stream.

"Draco, my hair," she yelled.

Because he hadn't realized just how long her hair was, the tips dipped into the stream. Then he heard the sniffling.

"My bad, I'm sorry."

"I guess you're a sucker for tears." Her sniffles quickly become giggles. "That's another good quality Draco."

"Since you put it that way, I guess I won't get even." Tucking her hand in his arm, he gave her a tour. "Red flowers, orange flowers, yellow flowers, rainbow flowers and flowers that reflect your mood." Curtly, he nodded.

"Thank you Draco, that was very informative."

After some lunch, they took notes together in the gazebo. At this point, they started to come up with a list of possible ingredients for their potion. However, Hermione felt some trepidation about simply testing a formula and hoping for the best. "Draco, I really don't want to just chance that a formula will work. I mean trying it with a live werewolf isn't the best of ideas."

"How do you suggest we test it?"

"Cats have a great sense of smell also. How about Crookshanks test some of the ingredients? Whatever he dislikes we'll use."

"That's an excellent idea. How about I get all the ingredients on the list by Thursday and we test?"

"Draco, I appreciate the thought but let me get half of the ingredients."

"Why don't you make the list because all I need to do is send it to the apothecary and they'll deliver."

Reflecting on past school projects, never had Hermione had a more dedicated lab partner. "Thank you."

Until dusk, she made a list at which time they parted.

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Thursday when Hermione arrived, she found a large fluffy feather pillow in front of the fireplace next to a bowl of water and chopped filet mignon for Crookshanks in Draco's study. "You're going to spoil him."

"He might save us from a painful mistake with a werewolf. He deserves some spoiling." Draco's bay window had a perch in front of it with two floating bowls next to it. After he opened the curtains, he threw open his bay window. A huge eagle owl with orange eyes flew in and landed on his perch. The owl's arched pointed ear tufts amongst mostly brown, rust and black feathers made him a distinctive handsome bird of prey. "This is Vale. I got him as a child and raised him from an owlet." Draco stroked his wings. "For a few years, I had to send him away, for his own safety."

"May I," she asked as she approached the owl.

"Be my guest," he said.

"Hello Vale, you're a handsome boy." Beneath her fingertips, she felt the soft silky feathers.

The owl bobbed his head in an almost nod and said, "Ooh-hu."

"He likes you." Draco petted Crookshanks who hopped in his lap.

"More proof, you've changed. Crookshanks has a sense about people."

Soon they began testing various ingredients, noting if Crookshanks had an aversion to them or not, from which they compiled a another list.

A couple hours later, Draco stood and offered his hand to her. "Shall we stretch our legs before dinner?"

"And wings," she added nodding towards Vale who promptly flew out of the window.

Halfway through their stroll around the manor grounds with Crookshanks playfully chasing the peacocks, Hermione realized that Draco had pulled her closer than normal. Though not an intimate embrace, every now and then his other hand would clasp the hand she had tucked in the crook of his elbow. To her surprise, she didn't mind. Actually, she found it pleasant.

As they bade each other goodnight that evening at the gate, Draco clasped her hands. "We seem to be ahead of the curve. So I don't keep hogging your time, we can skip Saturday if you want."

For some reason this disturbed Hermione, she actually looked forward to spending time with him. "I don't mind at all. Besides, I want to win as much as you do."

"I'll see you Saturday then." Slowly Draco leaned in and gave her a very light kiss on her forehead.

"Goodnight," she replied just before apparating away.
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That Saturday, Hermione brought Crookshanks who playfully chased the peacocks once more while Vale watched above. Hermione joined Draco in his study, grabbing books and taking notes. This time they studied various known reactions of the potion ingredients that they planned to use to ensure that none were known to counteract each other.

During a tea break, she noticed a red, black and white invitation on Draco's desk with the words Kremlin Mar on it. When she touched it, rhythmic samba music played. From the date and time, the ticket would activate tonight to become a portkey to the club. When Draco returned with some sandwiches, he looked over her shoulder. "That's some new club in Lisbon. I get those all the time."

"That's samba music. I recognized it because I had some samba dance classes this past summer."

"Hint noted," he replied rolling his eyes. "Would you like to go dancing tonight?"

"I would love to. Do you know how to samba?"

"Yes, I've had dance lessons of everything ever since I can remember." Draco resumed his note taking. "Even though this isn't a real date, if you want to go home and get ready, I'll continue our research."

"Really?" When Draco nodded, Hermione wanted to jump for joy since it had been so long since she danced. "I'll be back in an hour."

"An hour….right, you witches take forever to get ready." When he saw her startled look, he knew she fell for it yet again. "Just kidding, I need a night of fun too."

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Three hours later, Hermione joined Draco, in her most flowing dancing dress while he himself dressed for dancing but in his typical Malfoy regalia. Smiling, he tapped his watch. "It was worth the wait. You look stunning."

After a very long and dizzying portkey trip, they landed in an area near to downtown in front of a large colonial house with pulsating samba music bellowing out. Once they recovered from their vertigo, Draco offered his arm to her. As Hermione walked through the cool night air, gazing at the stars, she noticed that the various witches and wizards entering the club were dressed in rather ritzy clothing, many bearing what appeared to be family symbols just like Draco did for the Malfoy family. In the company of pure-bloods, it seemed.

Inside, shimmering multi colored liquid wallpaper that bubbled up and down like a lava-lamp covered the walls of the grand ballroom. Draco escorted her to the dance floor. Hermione couldn't believe that she didn't have to beg to dance. Pressing his hand on her back, gently his fingers pressed different areas of her back, indicating the next move he would lead her into. As they danced more, the steps became intricate with added twirls. Every now then Hermione could see her smile infecting Draco replacing his normal stoicism.

After several songs, he led her to an outside courtyard where they sat and drank some wine. The sweet red wine went down too smoothly as Hermione looked at her two empty glasses. After much more dancing, they yet again adjourned to the courtyard for a little more wine. "The owners of the nightclub own a winery where my father buys his stock of Madiera wine. That's the wine we've been drinking."

"It's sweet and I like it."

Curious to see a drunken prim Hermione, Draco poured a third glass to bring her total to five . "You know, it's great that I can brainstorm with you all day and have a dance partner at night."

"You certainly couldn't brainsorm with Panshy. She was thick."

Hearing Hermione slur her words made Draco's night. "My little Crisalide has claws."

"I speak the truth." Hermione sipped some more wine. "You're shmart. How could you date a switch so dumb?"

"Like you should talk," he muttered thinking about the geniuses she chose. "I had my reasons."

"Sex," she stated a little loudly.

The courtyard suddenly stopped. Draco noticed several witches and wizards instantly turn their heads. "Later darling, if you behave yourself." Subtly, he removed her glass of wine while the realization of what he said struck her, making her jaw drop.

"That's naughty." She shook her finger at him.

Draco ordered over a cup of coffee for her. "Do you mind if I find the owners and thank them?"

Hermione shook her head, welcoming the relief for her feet. "Send them my thanks," she said. For some reason, it sounded terribly funny and she felt slightly dizzy. "No more wine?"

"You've had enough. Drink your coffee and I'll be back shortly."

After some time, Hermione became worried since Draco had disappeared for an unusually long time. Since he didn't seem like the type to be an inattentive date, she rose from her seat to look around. This isn't a date. Walking seemed slightly difficult since the earth tilted a little. Following a visit to the powder room, she saw her silver haired lab partner arguing with an older couple who both looked Spanish, possibly the owners. Following Draco's gaze, which rested on Hermione, the rather elegant witch he argued with, suddenly focused on Hermione and started uttering some words that she couldn't hear over the music.

Immediately, Draco bolted towards Hermione and grabbed her just as her feet rose from the ground of the courtyard. Cold wind rushed past her in the midnight sky as they shot through in a high altitude arc. Before Hermione could even think of removing her wand, they vaulted towards an empty grass lot. Draco clutched her tightly and twisted in the air so he would hit the ground first. "Arresto momentum," he commanded. Their descent slowed just enough so that as they tumbled to the ground, they didn't break any limbs. Once they landed, he laid her on the ground gently while holding on to her. "Are you alright?"

That sobered up Hermione quickly. She paused a moment to assess. "Just dizzy, what happened?" She saw him pondering a response. "We….I was kicked out because of my blood status." Despite the war being over, some of the old prejudice remained. "I can't even go dancing."

"You can think of it like that or you can look at the bright side." Draco propped himself so he lay just above her. "You are in a position that most witches your would kill to be in."

"Lying in dewy grass, after being thrown out of a club," she rebutted with a sniffle.

Gently, Draco rubbed his thumb against her cheek. "Lying in the arms of Draco Malfoy," he answered matter-of-factly. "Of course, they prefer me naked."

Gradually, the sniffles became giggles. "I love that sense of humor." For a moment, his eyes softened and he leaned in a little closer. Is he going to kiss me? I wonder what it would be like.

Now those grey eyes became stern and his face stoic. "That's not a joke." With a athletic hop up, Draco walked away.

Instantly, she ran after him and charged in front. "I didn't mean to insult…" She saw him flash a grin. "You're rotten."

"And you're tipsy," he replied. "C'mon, time to go home." Then he picked her up. "Close your eyes or you're going to be really sick."

During the portkey ride and after, she let him carry her until he laid her down in his study. Moments later, he brought her some strong tea. "You are such a gentleman when you want to be. Is that a Malfoy decree?"

"I'm a gentleman because of my upbringing. Do you really want to tell you about our Malfoy decree regarding our treatment of witches?"

"Yes, I'm curious and we have to chat so I can sober up."

"A tipsy Crisalide, you're getting tarnish on that halo but that's from being around me." He poured some tea for himself.

"Well, it's not a decree regarding dates but more like Malfoy witches if you want to hear about that." Hermione nodded. "Malfoy wizards are very protective of their wives. In the olden times, the wizard was head of the family but decisions were made jointly but behind the scenes. Our wives were far more liberated than most of the wizard community."

"That's odd. What about the witches born into the family?"

"It's been many centuries but yes they were protective of them as well." Draco then poured even more tea for her.

"If the wives of the Malfoy family were so liberated, why is it that the wizards make themselves so prominent from what I've seen anyways?" Hermione recalled how Lucius kept Narcissa at his side but seemed to dominate the relationship.

"Technically, the wizards are heads of the family but they maintain more of a public presence to make themselves more of a target and thus protect their wives and family." Draco looked at her thoughtfully. "Tonight you were my ward of sorts and that protection extended to you."

"That's very noble Draco. What other traditions do you have?"

"Appropriate revenge on those who harm us," he stated. "Doesn't that make you rethink our friendship?"

"I'm not reconsidering our friendship. My mind's too fuzzy to argue about how bad revenge is." Hermione leaned against the arm of the couch.

"I'll be back." Draco grabbed a pillow from the hall closet. "You need a little nap before you try to apparate."

"You're right." She snuggled against the pillow he provided. "Promise to wake me up in a couple of hours."

"You have my word." Draco covered her with a throw blanket from his chair.

In the between time of sleep and awake, she swore she felt someone tracing her features. Lips felt so near to hers that she felt their warmth wanting to awaken her from the peaceful sleep of princesses with a kiss. "Crisalide, wake up." Strong hands clasped hers. "Hermione, time to wake up," he whispered.

Hermione sat up and sipped the tea provided. "Thank you. I can make it home now." To fully wake, she stretched.

Then he walked her to the gate of the manor. "It's been awhile since I've had a fun diversion. Thank you."

"Me too," she replied. "Goodnight Draco." Before she apparated, she felt as if she missed a goodnight kiss.