"Where are we going?"
This was the third time his friend asked that in the last ten minutes, and it was getting on Theo's nerves. The lioness was clearly on the warpath, and they had little choice but to follow her.
"On an adventure," she huffed the same answer again, climbing the stairs to the tower. The wind was howling as they got higher, and chilled him to the bone. Not the most inviting setting, but it also gave them full privacy. She had something devious in mind, Theo was sure, and if this is going to be anything like their last 'adventure', he was looking forward to it.
When they reached the top, she turned to face the two wizards.
Draco was quivering, and the wand in his hand glowed with a heating charm. His dragon leather coat was stylish and extremely useful in a battle but did little to protect him from the cold. Theo braced himself on a mostly clean spot of the wall, exhausted by the unending climb.
"In the Owlery?" Draco curved one of his eyebrows. "Is this up to Gryffindor code, or are you downsizing for us?" he teased, but she ignored him, and turned to Theo instead.
"If we're not back before curfew, please alert the Headmistress." She hugged him, then grabbed Malfoy's hand.
With a loud crack, they both Disapparated, leaving Theo slack-jawed in a flurry of feathers.
—
When the familiar scene of her Muggle flat appeared in front of her, Hermione let out the breath she was holding throughout the journey. She knew she solved it - theoretically - but testing it in real life was a much different beast, especially with side-along mixed in.
She looked Malfoy up and down, looking for signs of Splinching, but she only saw deep confusion and surprise etched on his features.
"I figured out how to break the Anti-Disapparition Jinx," she said before he could ask. "And I have permission from Professor McGonagall, so we're in the clear."
The blond's hand shuddered, making her realize she was still holding it. She tried to let go, but Malfoy held fast.
He looked around, scowling at the telly on the wall and the phone that lay on the coffee table. "Where are we?"
"In my flat in London." She said with ease, pulling the Slytherin to the guest bedroom. She had some extra clothes in here, just in case Harry or Ron decided to visit and go exploring in the city.
With a wave of her wand, she pulled many Muggle outfits from the wardrobe and spread them out on the bed.
"Put on something you like. I can charm it to size later."
She left the room to go and change herself, hoping he would adapt quickly.
—
Malfoy appeared in the living room about ten minutes later. He chose a tight black pair of jeans, a light grey sweater and a sleek dark peacoat.
It was just the strangest feeling, seeing the Pure-blood in decisively Muggle clothing. The outfit showed off so much more of his Seeker's physique than their loosely fitting uniform. Hermione felt something twist and turn in her stomach.
"Satisfactory?" He crossed his arms over his chest with a single raised eyebrow.
Hermione had to swallow the first words that came into her mind.
"You look handsome."
She could swear she saw him blush for a moment. She held out her hand, with a gentle smile.
"So, are you ready for your first proper adventure?" His back stiffened, but he soon grabbed her hand, letting out a weary sigh.
"Apparating from Hogwarts and changing into Muggle clothes was not the adventure?"
Before she could catch herself, she grinned at the blond. "Let's call that foreplay."
As she pulled him out the front door, she missed the dark shadow that clouded Draco's eyes.
—
During the first couple of hours, she tried to ease Malfoy into things, so they kept away from crowded places and did some window-shopping. He scoffed at most of the displays, calling them frumpy. In return, she called him a snob. They bickered back and forth quite a bit, but Hermione noted that all malice was absent from his tone.
It felt a bit like talking to a friend. A haughty but intelligent one. He even had some childhood stories of Theo that made her laugh so hard she couldn't breathe.
They now stood before a high-end boutique. Hermione surmised this fact from two sources. One, the complete lack of price tags, and two, Malfoy's sudden interest.
She quietly thanked Theo's insistence to transfer an enormous amount of Galleons to her own vault, and thus her bank account. She never calculated the exact sum, but her bank sent her an elusive looking metal card with a lengthy letter of appreciation soon after.
"Do you want to go inside?" she asked. Draco eyed the suits for a while before giving a curt nod. She went to push the door open, but he grabbed her hand, pulling her back until she was in whispering distance. That dark, appley scent was nearly suffocating.
"How should I act?" His voice quavered.
"Like you're at Madam Malkin's?" Her mouth twitched, but she lay a comforting hand on his shoulder. "If everything else fails, just pretend you're better than everyone else, and people will avoid you."
As they stepped in, Draco sneaked a hand around her waist. She nearly told him to let go, when she felt the first shudder through his tight grip. He was holding on for dear life.
Accepting the role of emotional support, Hermione pulled against him, to make it look more believable, and smiled at the approaching man.
"Welcome! How may I assist you?" he asked, eyes bouncing between the two, but settling on Draco as he stepped forward.
"I would like that cut," he motioned towards one of the suits on display. "But in a darker shade of grey. And the lady needs a matching dress."
Hermione bit back a comment about the lady being able to decide for herself. By her best knowledge, this was his first real interaction with a Muggle, so she let it slide for once.
The assistant eyed them up and down for a moment.
"May I ask the occasion?"
"We'll be attending a fundraiser," Draco answered quickly. The man nodded.
"Please follow me to the back. We can take measurements and discuss the fabric and colour choices."
—
They spent nearly three hours there. Three! It was one thing to take that long in a bookstore, but she thought she would go mad as the two men debated for ten minutes about two shades of grey she could not even tell apart. In the end, they left empty-handed, as the clothes would take a week to make.
Utterly famished and down about sixty thousand pounds, she did not even think about asking Draco, and just pulled both of them into her favourite pâtisserie.
"Salut Charlotte!" She greeted the owner, a young French woman with bouncing black curls and an unwavering smile.
"Salut ma chérie!" She rushed towards Hermione, giving her a hug and two cheek kisses. "'Ow are you? 'Avent seen you in such long time!" she stepped back, noticing the blond by her side. She seemed to scrutinize his every detail, before grinning again and pulling Draco into a hug as well.
"Oh, 'Ermione, darling, I always knew you had good taste." She said, letting the shocked man go.
"Well I do come to your shop," Hermione said, which made the woman giggle.
"That is true. But enough of talking, you must be affamée, I see it in your eye."
Charlotte ushered them to a quiet corner booth and pulled a small notebook from her pocket.
"What can I get you?"
Before Draco could answer, she said "He'd like an apple pie cupcake and I think I'll go for a canelé."
The woman nodded and bustled away. Hermione grinned at Draco triumphantly. Now they were even.
"Did she just hug me?" he asked eyes wide, and she chuckled.
"You'll get used to it."
"I remember very distinctly that you said that we wouldn't have to hug any Muggles." He leaned close to her to whisper the last word. She leaned in as well, so close to his ear that his baby hairs tickled her nose.
"Tough luck."
—
"This was an adequate adventure, Granger." He said, already changed back to his Hogwarts clothes.
"I'm glad you see it that way. We'll be doing this every Sunday, so better get used to it," she grinned. "Also, could you call me Hermione? I won't be Granger for much longer anyway."
He stilled and weighed his options for some moments.
"Will you call me Draco, Hermione?" he asked nervously, and she nodded with enthusiasm.
"You've got a deal, Draco. Now let's get back before Theo starts to worry."
She grabbed the blond's proffered hand, and she whisked them off to Hogwarts.
A/N: So… first 'adventure'. I hope you enjoyed it, as there is more to come! :)
I have to admit, this was the hardest chapter to write so far since my pre-planned notes for it only said: 'H sneaks them out to muggle London. D shocked.' Well gee, thanks, past me, you're a real help in pacing this relationship.
Anyway, I swear we are nearing Dramione territory, just hold on for a couple more chapters.
Love,
LydieBerry