Enjoy chapter seven! Please review (:

I learned the hard way
That they all say things you want to hear
And my heavy heart sinks deep down under you and
Your twisted words

Chapter seven

Living with Draco Malfoy was an absolute nightmare. In the small house there was only one bathroom. It was had one toilet, a shower/bathtub combo, two sinks, and two mirrors. Hermione and Draco were never inside at the same time, except for the few times Draco accidently barged in while Hermione was in the shower. The first time she threatened to hex him into oblivion. The second time she nearly did.

Living with Hermione Granger was a total torture. Draco wasn't a slob, but he didn't mind if a few things on his side of the room were out of place. There was only one bed in their shared bedroom, and on the first night he decided to sleep on the floor with the comforter. Draco didn't use the closet. His clothes fell on the floor at the end of the day when he was exhausted. He'd tiredly toss his tee shirt and it would accidently land somewhere he didn't mean it to — for example, on Hermione's head. She ripped it off her brown curls and shouted at Draco before throwing it back at him. Granger also had a habit of 'organizing' his space when he wasn't in the room. Draco would come back from his shower and see all of his stuff shoved against the wall.

"Granger, don't touch my stuff!" Draco roared when he came into their bedroom Friday morning. His clothes from the night before looked like they had been picked up and thrown at the wall.

"Well if you weren't such a slob I wouldn't have to!" Hermione shouted back.

"I'm not a slob, Granger, I'm just not as obsessed with order and neatness as you are."

"How long are you going to act like a prick around me?" Hermione felt her voice break.

Draco stared at Hermione and told her in an even voice, "Until I die, and then a few days after."

"You're an arse, Malfoy. I just wanted a normal summer, but I got stuck with the worst bloke in my class." Hermione felt tears flood her eyes. She pushed past him and stormed out the door, stomped down the stairs, and flew out of the house.

Hermione wiped her eyes before she came in the Lafayette's kitchen.

"Good morning Hermione," Susan greeted her. "I just set out breakfast for you and the kids. Is Draco much farther behind you?"

"He probably isn't," Hermione answered quietly and sat down next to Harlow.

"Are you excited for tonight?" Harlow asked her.

Draco came in the kitchen and sat down at the table. Matt walked in and took the seat next to Draco. "How's your eye for decorating, mate?"

"I never gave it much thought," Draco said and lifted a cinnamon bun off the serving plate in the center of the table.

"Well today dad wants you to arrange all the furniture in the new tasting room," Matt said through a mouthful of breakfast.

"I think this couch should go under the window." Hermione tapped her wand against her thigh impatiently. She and Draco had been discussing furniture arrangements for almost two hours now. Well, there was more fighting than talking. The pair of them couldn't decide on one thing. Draco said the two of sofas should sit near the door, Hermione said they belong behind the table. When Hermione wanted the table in the center of the room, Draco wanted further in the back.

"I still think the sofas should stay by the door. People can sit in them and relax before the start tasting." Draco said to Hermione. He carefully used a summoning charm to move the couches to where he sought best.

"They belong by the table, so guests can sit in the best light before tasting and enjoy the view from the windows," Hermione calmly explained, but her voice had a hint of stress.

"You know what Granger, I feel awfully bad for the bloke who has to marry you. He'll have to actually have this conversation with you about a real living space." Draco growled. He crossed his arms and his wand pressed against his chest.

"Let me guess Malfoy, you are just going to hire a team of decorators for you? And then you and your pureblood wife and your stuck-up family will drink wine and gloat to each other while lounging in your sitting room!" Hermione spat at Draco.

"Just a question, have you ever had a glass of wine?" Draco said, lifting a brow.

Hermione straightened up a little. "What does that have to do with this?"

"We're here at a bloody winery, Granger, it has plenty to do with it!" Draco scoffed. "You have to have a glass."

"What if I don't want one?" Hermione replied, and now she crossed her arms. "And where are you going to find a bottle?"

"I think you should have one." Draco stated simply. "Sit down, I'll get you something good. I bet I can find a bottle of wine around here…"

Hermione watched Draco walk around the tasting room, and then finally leaving. "Malfoy come back!" she ran to the door and yelled after him. Draco didn't turn around. Hermione rolled her eyes and walked back into the tasting room. So far they had arranged the room in a couple different ways. Currently there were two sofas by the door opposite each other. Then came a dark oak table centered in the room. After the table was two tall shelves with glass doors that would hold a great number of wine bottles.

"Alright, all I could find were these cups," Draco carried two white cups in one hand and the neck of a bottle of wine in the other.

"You want me to drink wine out of a Styrofoam cup?" Hermione asked, bewildered. "Isn't this a little below you?"

"It's good wine Hermione, and I'm not going to drink it from the bottle," Draco said as he brought the items to the table. "At least, not in front of a girl."

"I don't care what you do Malfoy." Hermione told him and joined Draco at the table. She watched him put a cup in front of her and one in front of him. He screwed up his face a little as he worked the cork out of the bottle. She laughed.

"Shut it, Granger." Draco huffed at her. He set the cork on the table and leaned over to pour an inch of wine in Hermione's cup. Draco poured some in his and left the wine bottle in the center of the table and sat down.

"Cheers …?" Hermione said softly, looking into her cup and picking it up.

"Here's to getting Granger to loosen up." Draco said and tilted the cup. He took a sip of the violet drink and closed his eyes.

Hermione watched Draco and felt a pang of jealousy. Draco looked so natural and at ease while drinking alcohol. She looked down into the cup in her hand. With a loud inhale of breath, she put the cup to her lips and took a tentative sip.

"Draco, Hermione, are you two in here?" Harlow opened the door of the tasting room. There was no one inside. However, the arrangement looked great. She shut the door and scratched the skin behind her ear.

"Harlow!"

"Oh God!" Harlow jumped. The voice came from behind and scared her. "Oh, Hermione, it's just you."

"Of course it's just me. Who else would it be?" Hermione smiled a little too widely. "Are we leaving for the carnival soon?"

Harlow stared at her for a second. "Um, yes we are, Matt and Felicity are ready to go now. Where is Draco?"

"Right here," Draco appeared from behind Hermione, a little out of breath.

"Are you okay?" Harlow eyed Draco suspiciously.

Draco bit his lip and allowed a sideways glance at Hermione. "I gave Granger her first cup of wine."

"How much did she have?"

"Just a cup. A Styrofoam cup, not much." Draco said.

"She's a small girl Draco, it didn't take much to get her a bit tipsy." Harlow replied, watching Hermione study the setting California sun. Draco had no reply.

A car honked and caught the three's attention. "You kids ready?" Matt called from behind the wheel. Felicity waved from the passenger seat.