Tuesday came quick enough for Hermione as she swiftly packed up her desk. The storm was moving quicker than anticipated and going to hit at any time, so they had to get out the door. She tossed her back around her shoulder and went turned off the lights. Moving into the hallway, she checked her watch, which only read three minutes after the hour.
"Come on, Granger, we need to go," Draco's voice declared gruffly.
"Oh, damnit, Draco! You made my heart pop out of my chest!" she growled and clutched her jacket.
"Let's go, I don't want to get stuck," he murmured, and she could sense a bit of fear in his voice.
Taking his arm, they hurried off toward the elevator. "We are picking up Teddy at Harry's a bit out of town. I packed the car this morning," she declared, but her voice was shaky.
"What's wrong?" he asked as the elevator jerked.
"If we aren't careful we could get stuck out there. It is about fifteen minutes from your home," Hermione gulped and shook her body as the elevator opened.
"Well, calm down, we don't want to run a ditch either," Draco reminded her, and she sighed.
"I am going to need a hot bath," Hermione breathed and he stopped them at the door.
"What is wrong? You have been off all day," Draco declared and rubbed his hand over her arm.
Hermione exhaled and rolled her neck. "I just am stressed. I haven't finished shopping for Christmas next week. I am-" he stopped her with a small shake.
"No, I mean what's wrong with you?"
She shuddered and huffed. "I am not sleeping. I am too anxious. These hormones are twisting me sideways. They gave them to me because I was imbalanced, and the odds were lower for my body to take the embryo. The doctor told me to expect this for about a month," Hermione finished.
The man ran his hand up her shoulder and touched her warm face. "Let's get you out of here and relaxed once we are done, alright. Maybe some chocolate too," he murmured, and he felt her shiver at his touch before pulling away.
They went outside, and Hermione trembled in his grasp as got to the car. She had gotten out to the road before she turned on the radio on low. It was soft, and Draco could sense her frustration.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes," she huffed and cleared her throat. "I would be lying if I don't confess I am tense."
Draco bit down on a laugh. "Are you saying you are randy, Granger?" he asked.
Hermione groaned. "Yes," she hissed and snorted. "Ginny warned me, but I didn't believe her until Macmillian made a pass at me today and I caught myself fantasizing…" she sighed and huffed.
Draco rolled in laughter. "Oh, Granger, you poor thing. I would let you tie me up and take me if we weren't driving," he teased and heard her swallow.
"No, I think not, Malfoy. Been there done that, remember?" she asked with a snarky tone.
He smirked and reached over, rubbing her thigh, "I do very well," he stopped and pulled away. "But I won't do anything until you beg for it," he said playfully.
Hermione grew quiet, and Draco exhaled. "I am sorry. I was just enjoying the banter." He voiced as he realized how that sounded.
"Don't apologize, it was nice. I am just focusing on the road. They are not as paved in my new neighborhood," Hermione said with warmness in her tone.
The windshield wipers started, and Draco frowned. "It started snowing? How hard?"
Hermione groaned. "A bit. I am a bit nervous about it," she told him and he sighed.
"Well your house is here, isn't it? You have anything in it?" Draco questioned as the car jerked to a stop.
"Um, a bit. None of the beds, but I do have some blankets and food. I have some of the furniture we brought over on Sunday," she murmured.
"Call Ginny and tell her you and Teddy are going to stay with them. Just come help me find someplace comfortable, and I will sleep at your house."
Hermione snorted. "You aren't staying there alone when you don't know the layout. I will drive over and grab some extra stuff while dropping Teddy's bag off," She replied and started the car again. They didn't drive very far before Hermione patted his shoulder. "I will be right back."
Draco was listening to the wipers and frowned. This was not something he was planning on doing tonight. He didn't remember the last time he slept on the floor. He didn't recall the last time he slept in someone else's house. Years ago, before he even lost his sight. It was going to be different… okay.
Hermione's back door sounded, and the sound of fabric landed on the seat. "Alright, Ginny thinks we are going to freeze! I already have wood for the fireplace inside." She murmured before shutting the door.
The woman rushed to get into the car and shivered. "It is absolutely pelting outside!" she huffed and started turning the car around.
It wasn't far-off, and she exhaled. "I am going to get you inside, and then I will run outside to get the bags," she told Draco, and he nodded.
"Alright, whatever you think is best, Granger," he mumbled.
Hermione parked in the driveway and hurried out her side. She parked with his side closest to the door and ambled in the slick powder already covering the concrete. When she helped him out of the car, she gave him direction as they walked up to the door. Unlocking the house, Hermione didn't realize how odd it would feel welcoming him here.
The loveseat was close to the dark fireplace as she set him down. "I know it's cold; I will get a fire going as soon as I get back inside. I will give you a tour-" he pressed his hand to her face, stopping her thoughts.
"First, go hurry up with the baggage, so you aren't freezing your arse off," he whispered, slowing her down.
She felt her knees go weak and inwardly scolded herself. "I will be right back." Hermione breathed and dashed off.
It was a rough stint of time before things were settled, by then the storm was whistling by. Hermione was relieved they could hunker down for the evening instead of trying to drive in it. Draco was quiet while she got the fire going, but his stretched-out legs were tense.
"Did you want me to show you where to find everything? I really want to get into something else. I might have a giant t-shirt for you. I think I borrowed one of yours and never returned it." Hermione offered, and Draco nodded.
"Alright, yeah," he mumbled, and she observed him.
His posture was anxious. "Draco? Did you want to shower?" she inquired.
He exhaled and scrubbed his face. "I don't know the bathroom layout. This isn't easy, I am sorry."
"Hey," she murmured and crawled over to him, kneeling before him on the loveseat. "You don't have to worry. I am here. I am not going anywhere. Even if I am going to take a bath, you can sit in there with me, alright?"
His face softened, and his head bobbed. "Okay. I am just not used to being so uncomfortable."
She leaned to him and kissed his forehead. "Don't worry; you are in my home. I am not going to let you fall," she reassured him and he smiled.
"So, you stole some of my clothes?" he muttered.
Hermione exhaled and made an agreeing sound. "Yes, they are now my comfort clothes. I have a pair of boxers and a few shirts of yours."
"The master bath has a nice tub?"
She helped him to his feet. "Yes, it's up the stairs," Hermione told him, and he grinned.
The woman helped him up the flight of steps. "Fourteen stairs," she gently spoke.
They climbed, and he stumbled a bit at the top, pressing her against the wall. Hermione was relieved he couldn't see her face as it lit up. His arms encased her, and unfortunately, she released a low moan at the memories of them together. He breathed deeply and chuckled. "I told you, Granger, you are going to have to plead," he whispered, pulling from her.
"It's just over here," she mumbled and took his arm.
She liked her bedroom. There wasn't anything in it, but it had an airy feel. Her bathroom was a little more put together because she felt it was essential to have it ready. Just in case. Well, she was pleased that she had the forethought. Flickering on the light, she let go of Draco's hand and reentered the bedroom, only to dig through the closet for the clothes she had brought over. Hermione wouldn't admit she brought them over and left them boxed up for a reason. The reason being was she was a coward and didn't want to look at them in her drawers anymore.
"There we go. It isn't much, but it is something," Hermione declared walking back into the bathroom with two sets of clothes.
Draco had shed his buttoned shirt and was gingerly feeling around for landmarks. The woman watched him a minute and enjoyed the sight of his well-toned shoulders and back. "Granger, is there a shower and a bathtub or just a tub?" he inquired, making her jump.
Hermione set down the clothes while approaching him and led the man forward. She slowly was helping his hand find the counter. "Sink is right here," Hermione said before moving him forward and pressing his hand to the top of the toilet seat. "Toilet," she remarked.
Tugging him further into the bathroom, she had his hand running on the wall until it touched the glass. "The shower?" he inquired.
"Yes and the bathtub is across from it, but there is a one-step platform," she replied and pulled him toward the tub.
He stepped, and she guided his hand to the rim of it. It was a beautiful large bathtub with beautiful stone surrounding it and causing a nice area to put products on it. The tub itself was deep and a pristine white with a removable shower head and lovely fossets.
"I like this tub," he declared and she made a sound of agreement. "Go on, get your bath started, feels like there is room here for me to sit," he said as she released his hand.
Hermione didn't have the energy to argue so she stepped away and started stripping her work clothes. Her skin was chilled, but luckily the heater had finally kicked in after taking forever to warm up. Twisting the knobs, she noted Draco was tossing his shoes on the floor and yanking off his socks. The tub was filling with steamed water, and she poured in some of her bath oils.
"Lavender and… vanilla? I suppose my tastes were not as far-fetched as you suggested," he murmured as she climbed in the tub.
"It grew on me," she sighed, stretching out her limbs in the filling bathtub. "This is a bloody bathtub, my god," she groaned.
"Really?"
She exhaled with a smile, closing her eyes. "Yes. I have spent years in a small pitiful tub when I could have this… this is worth the money to buy this place alone."
"Good, I am glad. I haven't had a bath in forever," he sounded pensive as he spoke.
Draco hummed, and the sound of clothing hit the stone. "What are you doing?" she asked glancing at his newly naked form.
"Mind sharing? It sounds too nice to pass up."
Hermione froze, and her eyes grew. "Oh, well," she stumbled, and he waved at her.
"Stop it, Granger. You have shagged me dozens of times; I just want to climb into a tub, not fuck you in it," he growled, making her snort.
"Fine, but let me help you," she snapped, standing out of the water.
Hermione took his hand as he twisted his hunched posture, sliding his legs into the water. Soon she had helped the Malfoy sit down and followed suit, but at a polite distance. It filled the basin quickly, so she turned off the flow and was almost scrunched away from him.
"My god, Hermione, I don't have a disease. Just relax," he spoke with a sharpness while yanking her body closer to his.
"Friends don't take baths together," she reminded him, and he chuckled while his fingers ran over her shoulders.
"Well, you weren't going to shower, and I am not going to navigate in one by myself. You are just going to have to deal with the circumstance like a big Gryphem." He countered while thumbing her tense neck. It was if he turned her to melted butter as he kneaded at her skin. She soon lost all of her trepidation and let him work on her sore back as he used just the perfect amount of pressure. "Do you always carry your stress in your back?" he asked gently.
She groaned an agreeing sound. "Everything has been getting to me lately," her voice was calm and low.
"I can imagine. The traveling, the planning for the baby, taking care of your son… it weighs on you pretty heavily."
Hermione nodded her head. "That is the jest of it."
"Haven't shagged in awhile?" he questioned, making her sound agreement.
"I went from a very… active woman to a hormonal fiend. That alone is god-awful. It is like someone took possession of my moods and other things," she murmured as he kept rubbing.
"I went through my bleak and shitty period. Doing things, I would have never done with a sane mind. My mother was appalled at my quick reversion to it. I just felt like a failure," he admitted, causing Hermione to twist in his hands to look at him.
"You realize that you sabotage yourself? You are this man, an incredible man when you let someone through. Someone to look up to and be the anchor for others that are dizzy messes at times. However, you believe in the jargon your father fed you for so long; I think you don't realize just how outstanding you are. I spent so much time trying desperately not to fall for you when I thought you were with Astoria. Your unrealized tenderness and things like remembering my birthday actually mean something." She finished and leaned back into his chest. "I like that. I just wish you would embrace it."
"Me too," he sighed and leaned his head back against the rim of the tub.
She pulled his arms around her and exhaled. "I miss the nights we would lay in bed. I think I talked more about my inner suffering than you, but you listened and comforted me. It all felt so lesser in comparison after you stroked my back and told me I was so much more than I let myself acknowledge."
"I miss them too. I miss waking up to your curly-hair and gentle touches. Almost like you were making sure I knew that you were smiling, even though I could hear it in your voice. My favorite part wasn't even the shagging like it had been with so many times before. It was feeling you against me while you were sleeping and knowing you felt safe with me. You could have been sleeping anywhere else, but you chose to be wrapped up with me." He said as his fingers ran along her arms.
"Do you regret not making me feel safe outside of your little bubble in your home?" she questioned.
"Every day," he breathed and leaned closer to her face. "Every single day I wish I would have been a better man for you. Not wrapped up in holding back. Not stuck in fear of not seeing and not acting. I was so tied up with seeming like I have changed, I didn't choose to stand up for you as a real man does," he confessed and swallowed hard. "It was the worse decision in my life."
Her face tilted and her lips found his. It was timid and made him hold back the emotion so he wouldn't grab her or startle her. Hermione pulled away, but he felt her lips on his cheek before resting against his chest again.
"Should we curl up by the fire after this and relax? I don't have a radio or telly here to have anything amusing for us," she murmured.
He nodded against her hair. "Yes, I think today was a long day."
"It was, and I am completely exhausted," Hermione sighed.
"Just relax and enjoy, I won't bother you so you can release some of the tension you are holding onto," he said, and she laughed lightly.
"Yeah, well, you naked in my tub somehow doesn't ease me, Malfoy," Hermione teased him.
Draco smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "Not my problem your hormones want to ride me like a pogo stick, Granger."
"I wouldn't go that far. I have yet to make a pass at you," Hermione grumbled.
"You don't have to; I know you pretty well by now."
Hermione snorted and shook her head. "Let's just enjoy two minutes of this bath without you either confessing your sins or trying to convince me to shag you again."
Draco made a sound of agreement. "I mean it, Draco," she hissed and elbowed him lightly.
"Okay, you win. Silence until we are done."
"Thank you," she said, and they remained in the water for longer than friends probably should…