CHAPTER 09

Two months went and passed and nothing had changed from their routine. A small breakfast and coffee in the morning and then they both went their separate ways until dinner, which Draco missed most of the time. With the little bookshop and garden out back she more than had her hands full with things to do, and expected nothing more or less from Draco then he being her 'husband' for the time being.

But with each passing day and uneasy feeling kept coming back to make her stop in the middle of work to think about him.

"Mrs. Malfoy?"

She snapped out of her thoughts and looked up to see the teenage boy she had hired to help out at the bookstore. "Jay. Sorry, I was off day dreaming."

He gave her that friendly smile he always had on and came around the counter. "You should close early today; it seems all that nice weather is going to turn bad." He said looking out at the dark clouds through the store window.

"Yes. I think I will close early today. Thanks for helping out today."

He shrugged, "It's paying for my car."

She smiles, "And when are you getting this 'new car'?"

"As soon as I've got enough saved. I got my permit and as soon as I turn 16 I'm getting my license."

"Thanks none-the-less. You can head home, I'm sure you have things to do on a Saturday afternoon, I'll close up."

Jay nodded with a grin, "I'm heading out then Mrs. M."

Hermione nodded and watched as he grabbed his bag before heading off. "Be careful!"

When he was gone she turned the open sign, to close, and began to turn off the lights. She could hear the thunder in the background and the wind had picked up, blowing stronger. Quickly she got her small bag and with one last look around the empty bookstore, locked the doors and headed out to her car.

Draco hurried into the house in his soaking wet suit. He was surprised to see the house was as dark as it was outside, with the storm raging on, and wondered where Hermione was.

He began to take off his jacket when he remembered that it was only three in the afternoon and she would still be at the bookstore. Cursing he dug out his cell phone and began to call the bookshop, but stopped when he realized he did not know the number. Muffling another curse he started back out the door when he heard the hurricane siren go off in the distance.

Hermione pulled up into the long driveway and rushed to get inside, only to bump into a solid wall. She would have fallen back out into the rain, but two strong hands shot out to steady her, and as she looked up to meet cool-grey eyes she gasped at the intensity she saw in them.

"Damn it woman! Didn't you watch the news or listen to the radio?"

Before she could answer she was pulled inside, and half carried half dragged up the steps and into her room. Draco rummaged through her closet and pulled out a sweater and a pair of jeans, passing it to her.

"Get changed. Now."

Hermione blinked at him and with shaking hands took the sweater and jeans.

"Tinkerbelle—"

She did not wait for him to say any more as she hurried into the adjoined bathroom to do as he said and change out of her wet clothes.

When she got out she was still shaking from Draco's reaction when he saw her. He was still inside her bedroom, pacing back and forth when she opened the door. A roar of thunder sounded, making her jump.

Draco cursed under his breath when the lights went out, but came toward her. Hermione stepped back before he could touch her. He saw her tremble with an uncertainty in her eyes and he hated himself because he was the one that put it there.

"Hermione—"

Another roar of thunder, a soft cry, and she was in his arms. Her arms were wound tight around his neck and her face buried in his shoulder. He held her against him, a sigh of relief filling him as he buried his face in her soft hair.

Sometime during the evening they fell asleep, Draco holding Hermione in his arms, as they sat in his dark study; the safest room in the house.

The first thing that woke him was the tingling he felt in his arm. Prying his eyes open the first thought that came into his mind was the time; it must have been late morning, because the light coming in through the study window was already casting a high shadow.

The second thought that came to his mind was that his arm was asleep, but did not want to move because he did not want to disturb the warm body cuddled, half on top and half beside him.

Hermione mumbled something in her sleep and began to move. He sucked in a breath and held it.

Hermione opened her eyes and noticed that she was laying on something soft, yet solid, and it was not her bed. Slowly a vision of the events that had happened the previous day came into mind and she gasped out loud, quickly getting up to stare down at her husband.

"Malfoy?" She whispered.

He groaned and opened one eye to look at her, "What?"

"What are we doing?"

"Why are you whispering?"

Hermione stared at him without an answer.

He stared back at her and then laughed, "God I miss seeing you like that."

"Huh?"

He continued to laugh at her expression and on impulse leaned in to kiss her. Hermione gasped, her eyes wide, but she gave no reaction to push him away or protest. When Draco pulled back he grinned at her, an impish look in his eyes.

"You! What did you do that for?" Hermione demanded.

Draco only smiled, "Tell me, have you ever kissed a guy before?"

Hermione gasped a deep blush covering her cheeks, "W-what? Of course I have!"

"You kiss like a girl." He stated giving her a bland look.

"I AM A GIRL!" She shouted as she glared at him with murder in her eyes.

Draco watched her flare of temper and began to laugh. Hermione flushed redder and turned to throw the nearest thing at him; a leather bound book. It hid him squarely on the chest, stopping his flow of laughter. He stared at her in disbelief and then an evil grin appeared.

"W-what are you doing Malfoy?" Hermione said unsteadidly as she got onto her feet to back away from him.

Draco raised an innocent eyebrow at her as he slowly moved toward her.

"Malfoy. It – it was an accident. I didn't mean to—I'm sorry if I hurt you."

"You're sorry?"

"Y-yes."

He looked at her doubtfully.

"W-well—you—you laughed at me." She accused, backing away toward the door.

"Are you afraid of me Tinkerbelle?"

Yes.

"No."

"Really?" He asked amused.

He was almost upon her now, another three feet and they would be touching. Hermione grabbed the doorknob and turned it, ripping the door open she rushed out of the study before shutting the door in his face behind her. His laughter followed her up the stairs and into her room.

Hermione ate quietly, not meeting her husband's eyes. He may have found her outburst earlier humorous, but she did not. Well, if he thought that was funny, then wait until he looked in his desk drawers. She smiled secretly to herself as she took another bite of her sandwich.

"Smiling about something important?"

"Huh?" Hermione looked up at Draco. "Oh, nothing."

He watched her quietly, but asked no more questions about it. "Give me the store number."

"What?"

"The number phone to the bookstore."

"Oh. Why?

He frowned at her, "So if something comes up I can call you there."

She gave him the number after hesitant pause.

"About yesterday—"

"I over reacted." He said before she could begin. "I got home and you weren't here and then the sky was already darkening, I was concerned."

"Oh." She said, touched that he was concerned about her welfare.

"Don't look like that."

"What?"

"You look like you can't believe I don't care about what happens to you. You're my wife for bloody sake!"

Your wife. She thought. He was only worried because she was his wife, would he be worried if she was not? Would he worry about her after that year and day was up? Or would he forget her when she was gone from his life?

"Of course." She said softly and got up to push her plate away.

"Tinkerbelle."

She did not wait for him or care to clear away the table. Slowly she made her way back into her room leaving him to finish his meal alone.

Hermione was just about to step out of the house to go open the bookstore when she heard her name.

"HERMIONE!"

She closed her eyes and cursed under her breath. So he had looked in his drawer. Quietly she tiptoed to the door, to avoid the confrontation, and had it opened an inch only to have it shut in her face.

"What. Did. You. Do. With. My. Cigarettes."

"What are you talking about?" She said, turning around to face him.

"These!" He said, shoving the box of broken cigarettes at her.

He was mad. Very mad. Maybe she had gone a little too far.

"I didn't—"

He glared at her, if looks could kill, she thought, she would not be living at the moment. She winced inwardly when he took the box back, cursing and muttering at her and at himself. "Don't touch anything within my desk. Do you understand?"

She nodded and continued to stare at him, wide eyed. "They aren't good for your health anyways." She said to herself as he turned to leave.

"What?"

She shook her head hastily and hurried out the door.

At two in the afternoon she received an unexpected call.

"Hello, Hermione's Bookshop."

"When do you close today?"

And hello to you too.

"We close at five today."

"Close now. I'm coming to pick you up."

"What? What?"

"I'm going to Paris for a few days and you're going with me."

"P-Paris?"

The couple looking through the bookshelves stopped what they were doing to look at her.

Hermione lowered her voice, "Why are we going to Paris?"

"I can't talk. Just close the shop. I'll be there in ten." He said and hung up.

"What about my car?" She thought out loud, staring at the receiver.

When Draco arrived ten minutes later, Hermione was already waiting outside.

"What's going on?"

He did not answer her question, just ushered her into the car, closing the door behind her.

"We're going home to pack anyways, why can't I just drive home?"

"I've already got some of your things packed with mine. You're going to need new clothes once we arrive in Paris, so there wasn't a need to pack much, and I've already got someone to come pick up your car."

Hermione sighed, "What about my passport and stuff."

"I've taken care of that."

"Are we taking a plance?"

"We're using the Star private jet."

Hermione stared at him, was he for real?

Of course he was real! He was Draco Star-Malfoy of the Stars. They had enough money to own anything they wanted, and that, of course, included a private jet.