Chapter 12
On Sunday afternoon, Hermione had to say goodbye to Draco when he returned to Malfoy House. That night, she missed the warmth of his body next to hers. She had never slept next to anyone before him, and she found that after only two nights, she wanted it.
She got up Monday morning eager for work, and ready to begin working on the potion. She was sure Mrs. Bagly would allow her to use the hospital's supplies once she explained what it was for.
As the week passed, she was surprised by how much she missed Draco. He had asked if she would go out with him again this coming weekend, and she had agreed. It seemed they were boyfriend and girlfriend now. Draco had wanted to make sure of the designation before he left her house Sunday afternoon. Hermione was a little surprised by his earnestness, but she agreed. She had no desire to date anyone else at the moment.
She had insisted that she would be responsible for their second date. She told him it would be a muggle date. He had raised his eyebrows in question, but she had said no more. She wanted to surprise him.
She also wanted a better way to keep in contact with him during the week. With a mischievous smirk, she walked to the mobile phone store.
Draco had returned to the office at the beginning of that week since his mother was doing so much better, but he found that he couldn't concentrate. All he could think of was Hermione – her gentle eyes, her light laugh, her soft touch, her brown curls, those sweet breasts, that tight cunt that gripped him so perfectly. He found himself getting hard at inconvenient times when he thought back on their weekend together.
For a recent-virgin, she had been surprisingly passionate and uninhibited. Not that he had any experience with virgins before Hermione. Maybe it was just her. She gave herself wholeheartedly into anything she had decided to pursue. He guessed he was just a lucky bastard that she had decided he was worth pursuing.
As Friday night rolled around, he wondered again what she had meant by a "muggle date." He did have some muggle clothes, since he dealt with them occasionally for work, so he put on a pair of jeans, a white t-shirt, and a black blazer. She had said she would meet him at Malfoy House. She wanted to see Narcissa.
When Hermione arrived, she went straight to see his mother. Narcissa was warm and friendly, but obviously eager for them to go on their date. Draco smirked to himself. His mother was clearly a fan of his and Hermione's new relationship, although she had said nothing about it. He could only be pleased that she approved.
When Hermione took him to a muggle pub, he wondered what they were doing.
"They have the best fish and chips in London," she told him with a cheeky smile.
"I've never had fish and chips," he said slowly.
"Well, it's about time you did, Draco Malfoy!"
She took his arm and led him into the pub. It was crowded and dingy, but clean. Draco was determined to keep an open mind. If Hermione liked it, it must be worth his time.
The fish and chips were definitely worth it. Draco couldn't help moaning as he devoured the fried morsels, eating every bite and even stealing some of Hermione's chips, to her feigned outrage. He finished his glass of ale and looked at her expectantly once they had finished.
"Is our muggle date finished now, or can I take you home to bed?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
Hermione blushed and smiled. "It's not over yet. Next is a movie."
"What's a movie?"
"You'll learn that soon, Mr. Malfoy," she said with a sly smile. "Follow me."
She took him to a place she called a movie theatre. "What do you feel like watching?" she asked. "Romance? Comedy? Action? Drama? Horror?"
Draco wasn't sure what they would be watching, but he tried to answer her. "Action, I suppose."
"Sounds good." She ordered them two tickets, passing over some muggle money, then bought what she called soft drinks as well as some candy. He reminded himself to pay her back later with some of his wizarding money. He didn't want her to have to pay for anything. Hell, he would buy her clothes, jewels, a fucking castle if she wanted it, but he knew she wasn't mercenary. Still, she was a struggling student, and he was a millionaire. He could afford to pay for their dates.
She took his hand and led him into a corridor and then a dark chamber that looked like half of an amphitheater, but with a piece of strange, flat dark glass across the whole wall instead of a raised platform. He looked at her in puzzlement. "What is it we're supposed to be watching?" he asked as they sat down toward the back of the room.
"A movie," she said, "is like a story in a book, except it's told in moving pictures. There are actors, who are people that are paid to pretend to be the characters in the story. Things called cameras capture their actions, and they put it together into a movie with music and sound effects."
Draco didn't quite understand what she was talking about, but soon the room hushed and the piece of glass lit up with images.
Draco passed the next hour and a half staring in amazement. He was enthralled by this incredible muggle invention. They certainly were ingenious, to come up with such a thing.
Weapons called guns rang out, cars exploded, music swelled, and Draco soaked it all up eagerly. He barely noticed Hermione grinning at his reactions beside him.
Once it was over, Hermione asked him if he liked it with a knowing grin.
"Fuck, I loved it, and you know that, Hermione!" he replied, smiling. "I can't believe I've missed out on this for so long!"
"We can watch movies whenever you want," Hermione said, linking her fingers through his as they walked out of the theatre. "Harry and I have our own TV and DVD player at Grimmauld Place."
"Sounds good," he said, then gave a sly smile. "Now can I take you home to bed?"
She laughed. "Absolutely, Mr. Malfoy." She paused. "But – will your mother mind?" she asked worriedly.
He rolled his eyes. "Hermione, I'm an adult. I'm sure my mother already knows we're having sex."
Hermione blushed. "All right. I just – wouldn't want her to disapprove."
He smirked. "She won't. She loves you."
"I'm glad. I like her too."
He took her to a place where they could disapparate without detection, and they appeared in Draco's bedroom.
Hermione had brought some things for the weekend with her, and set her beaded back on the side table now. "I've never been in your bedroom before," she said. "It's huge."
"Do you like it?" he asked, with forced nonchalance. He wanted her to like his home. He hoped to make it hers one day.
She nodded. "It's very elegant." She raised an eyebrow. "All silver and green, I notice."
"You're in a Slytherin's bedroom, Hermione," he said, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her towards him with a smirk. "What did you expect?"
Before she could make a snappy retort, he covered her mouth with his, and soon all distractions disappeared.
When they were lying together in Draco's huge bed afterwards, Hermione rolled over to reach for her beaded bag. "I have something for you," she said.
Draco looked over at her curiously. "A gift? What for?"
"Because I want us to be able to stay in contact more easily. Muggles have invented ingenious ways to do it, and I think you'll like this one."
Draco was open to anything muggle-related, after having seen the movie that night. "What is it?"
"A mobile phone," she said, opening a box to reveal a flat, slender black object no larger than his hand. She pressed a button on the bottom and a screen, like the one at the movie theatre, lit up on its surface. "Each phone has its own private number. If you want to talk to someone, you put in their number, then you can call them. They pick up, and you can talk to them immediately."
"You can talk through this – this flat screen thing?" he asked in disbelief.
She nodded. "Yep. Even better, you can text me whenever you want."
He watched with interest as she explained how to text and how to make a call.
"I input my number here," she said. "This is a touchscreen, so you only have to touch my contact information for it to pop up."
"You have your own phone?" he asked.
"Of course," she said with a condescending smile. "My parents are muggles. How else would I stay in contact with them?"
"That makes sense," he said.
"Here, why you don't try calling me now, to see if you can do it."
She got out her phone and waited as he fiddled with his own contraption. Soon he had succeeded in calling her. "Press it to your ear," she said. "Then you'll hear it ringing."
He did as she instructed and did indeed hear a ringing sound. A second later, a louder ringing filled the room, and he saw the phone in Hermione's hand light up. She pressed a button and held it to her ear. "Hello?"
He laughed in pleasure. "That's amazing, Hermione. I love it," he said, reaching his hand behind her neck to pull her in for a kiss. "Muggles sure are inventive."
"Now try texting," she said, distracting him from his plans to make love to her again. He grumbled a little petulantly, but a minute later was glad for her insistence when he learned how to text her.
"Thank you so much, Hermione," he said, smiling. "It's the best gift anyone's ever given me."
She blushed. "I doubt that. You grew up with extremely wealthy parents."
He looked at her in surprise. "I received expensive gifts, yeah, but none of them were as useful or meaningful as this is. I –" He cut himself off at the last second from telling her he loved her. "I love it," he said instead.
"I'm glad then," she said.
"Now can I make love to you?" he asked.
"I really wish you would," she said, and he threaded his fingers through her curls and kissed her.