I actually really enjoyed myself writing this chapter...although the supernatural episode in the background was a bit distracting.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters
Over the next week the majority of communication between Draco Malfoy and Hermione was through a third party, namely Mr. Mayerly. In fact, Hermione had had no connection with Mr. Malfoy, until late the night before she was due to meet with him for their first design meeting. In fact, she didn't know how he had even gotten her number. Realistically however it most likely hadn't taken much effort for someone like Malfoy to get her cell phone number. At the least, Mayerly had given it to him. The text had been short and to the point;
Draco Malfoy: A black Mercedes will pick you up from your apartment at 9 in the morning tomorrow. You need not worry about making the journey to our meeting, I will take care of it.
In a mere span of seconds Hermione went from confusion to relief. Confusion based upon the fact that she actually had no idea where this meeting was being held. Mayerly had told her that it was going to be at one of Draco's many townhouses, but where that house was located she had no idea. Relief because of exactly that: she had no idea where she would be going.
The next day Hermione woke up to the same water music, but today she woke up on time, thirty minutes earlier than usually actually.
Padding to the kitchen in her fuzzy kitten slippers, she could only think about the day ahead. Of how, for the first time since that day at the interview, she would be meeting with Draco Malfoy. And possibly alone she might add. She didn't even notice when the hot coffee singed the tip of her tongue, she simply kept playing various scenarios in her mind. However, as they started taking a turn away from PG-13 Hermione quickly tried to focus on the different colors she was applying to her eyelids, one slip up and she could show up to the meeting with a dreadful shade of purple coating the skin around her eyes.
When she stepped out of her apartment, making sure Crookshanks's cat door was locked as well as the front door. As she looked at herself in front glass of her door she had to commend herself on her handy work. Hermione was never one to tote around an ego, only ever being humble and down to earth but sometimes she allowed herself to admire herself. She was all for self-love, and Hermione did love herself, she just never dwelled on her outer beauty.
But today she had done a little extra work on herself, trying out a new hairstyle she had found on pinterest, and putting more definition on her face. Her new shirt and skirt ensemble she had just purchased was wrinkle-free and particularly flattering for her petite body, legs instantly appearing longer in her patent stilettos. She was ready to run into this project head first. Not in these heels parse but whatever.
Just as she turned to face the street a shiny black car slowed to a stop in front of her small apartment, instantly making her feel sub-par.
The door swung open to reveal a middle aged man who opened the door to the back seat.
"Ms. Granger? We do have a schedule to keep, Mr. Malfoy is waiting." Hermione, mildly embarrassed at the way she had stood there staring like a fish, quickly walked to the car, throwing her bag and purse into the back seat of the car.
The car was gorgeous, smoothly gliding through the city streets, past all the shops and stores she passed every day, but on foot. Soft piano music floated through the car, filling the silence that voices were not.
15 minutes into the car ride the car drove into a section of the city Hermione didn't even know existed. The streets were lined with well-manicured lawns that wrapped around the front of old remodeled houses, resembling ancient moats. Each house looked like it was straight front a better home and gardens catalog, except more high scale. These houses were obviously not inhabited my regular citizens.
Large blooming trees lined the walkways adding to the fairytale-esque feel of the neighborhood. Men and women, with perfect hair and faces, sprinted or walked down the sidewalks, sparing no outer enhancement despite being only out to exercise.
After about 2 miles of pristine houses they slowly rolled to a stop in front of a large filigreed gate, opening with the press of a button on a remote type gadget he was holding. They opened slowly to reveal a large house, scratch that, mansion that was almost the exact opposite of all the houses around it.
It was a slate grey with black detailing and cold stone siding. Windows littered the front and upper stories of the house but were not open to light, instead shielded by dark grey curtains. It wasn't exactly what she had been expecting, given the house's neighbors and seemed a bit emo. In front of the house was a wide driveway that the driver parked the car on, directly in front of the front door. Stone steps led your eye to the elaborate front door, honestly making Hermione a bit wary of entering the house.
Nevertheless she allowed the driver to escort her out of the car and up the steps, opening the door and allowing the inside of the house to overwhelm her senses.
Marble tiles were laid across the floor accenting the heavy dark wooden furniture that was sitting on top of it. A beautiful chandelier hung from the ceiling as an ornate staircase wound itself upward to the floors above. To the sided of the foyer was a stark white sitting room, complete with fireplace and those heavy grey drapes. White couches with harsh lines filled the mostly empty space and an elaborate cane was mounted parallel to the fireplace mantel. Hermione had just moved closer to the cane, to examine what looked to be the head of a snake at the top, when a cool sleek voice filled the room around her.
"It was my late father's dwelling. He designed it himself and spent most of his time here. That cane was his prized possession." Embarrassed to have been found wandering around his house alone, she turned slowly to meet face to face with the focus of her most recent daydreams.
He looked just a put together as he did that first day they had met, flaunting a perfectly tailored suit showing off his slender yet well-built frame. Today he had left the first couple of buttons unbuttoned, leaving a small triangle of pristine cold looking skin showing. She couldn't speak, and it took Draco's words to pull her out of her spell.
"I would like to give you a small tour of the place before we get underway with our first meeting, if that would be ok with you." He quirked her eyebrow upward, a small hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
"Oh! Yes, I'm terribly sorry. Yes, I would love to see the rest of the house."
He nodded and allowed the most handsome tour guide of all time to lead her around the house.
As she saw more and more of the house she began reminiscing about the countless field trips to the museum. That same reverent feeling of awe filled her chest as she walked through these halls, afraid to breath in fear that she would misplace something precious. Museums had been the muse that had originally started her on the path of design. To create something timeless, to house someone's most prized possessions, was her greatest motivator. However as Draco led here around the house she couldn't help but notice how drastically different this house's décor was from the project he had asked her to design.
It took 30 minutes but eventually the pair ended up back in the same spot they had started, in the sparse sitting room next to the front door.
Hermione's heartbeat had never been held a normal beat during her tour, racing whenever their eyes would meet or when he would gentlemanly escort her into a room, but her heart ran from her chest when he placed a steady hand to the nape of her back, gently leading her down to a stiff looking couch. A steady breath and look away from Malfoy's face calmed her enough to listen to Draco's next question.
"Now Ms. Granger what do you think of this house?" She thought for a moment, allowing herself a few moments to think over what she was about to say.
"It's very beautiful. Simple and antique, somewhat like a museum. But, forgive me for my forwardness Mr. Malfoy, but this house is nothing like the project I just finished for you." He nodded, looking vaguely like a proud parent.
"Exactly Mr. Granger. The project you will be working on, I want you to make it look like the exact opposite of this. Exact opposite." Hermione nodded, surprised but delighted with this news.
"I can most definitely do that Mr. Malfoy." He nodded and was about to stand when he quickly turned toward Hermione, a smile making him more devastatingly handsome.
"One more thing, Ms. Granger, my name is not Mr. Malfoy. It's Draco."
Hermione smiled, allowing her heart to race and butterflies to invade her stomach.
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All of my love.