CHAPTER 11
Friday, February 14th 2003
Hermione's POV
Hermione awoke to the sound of rain drumming against the window creating a randomized 'tinking' noise against the glass. Sinking deeper into the nostalgic feeling the mixture of rain sounds and the sinfully comfortable bed brought on.
As a child, her family had celebrated the end of summer by spending a week at their beachside cottage. Hermione would spend hours building elaborate sandcastles with her father, exploring the assortment of life that had washed up on the beach. He always indulged her need to stalk up and down the wet sand in search of the random mussel or sea crab that she was positive needed rescuing and she refused to be told otherwise.
She recalls an especially fond memory, the summer before she would attend Hogwarts and her life would be tipped upside down forever. She stood motionless in the wet sand, swallowing her bare feet as freezing water from the ocean lapped around her ankles, she didn't mind though. She watched as her mother and father walked hand and hand along the surf quite a few paces ahead of her. She remembers the way they leaned into one another, shoulders bumping as her mother threw her head back in laughter, the sound swallowed by the crashing waves of the ocean around them.
She watched he stops suddenly; knees slightly bent to inspect the sight before him. "Hermione!" tone laced with excitement, he called for her. Her feet made a 'sloughing,' sound as they escaped their sand and ocean water prison.
"Coming Daddy." She called gleefully. Her feet pounding over the hardened sand further up the beach and the gray sky above, soft raindrops caressing her cheeks as she runs, feeling the gritty wet sand between her toes.
"Hermione, look what we've found!" Her mother calls, beckoning her along.
"Oh, my word! We have to help him; he must be terrified." Her small voice carries the fear and sadness of a girl beyond her years.
"That's our Hermione, the savior of the down and trodden." His fingers run through her hair in a gesture meant to reassure her. "Don't worry Darling, I don't think this little guy has been here long. We'll help him get where he needs to be."
"Do you know what kind of turtle he is, Daddy?"
"Definitely a leatherback sea turtle. I can't say how old he is, but, judging by his size, he can't be too far along." She and her father had made it a game every summer to challenge each other on the different lifeforms that inhabited the beach.
She stares in awe at the onyx leather body, little white dots cover his back, reminding her of the stars in the sky on a clear night. "Why isn't his shell hard like normal turtles?" She asks curiously.
"That's just how leatherbacks are made sweetheart. That's what makes them so unique. Some people are born with a hard exterior meant to protect what's inside. Others, the rarest of us, like this guy, are born, seemingly weaker than the rest of the world but tough as steel on the inside, like you Hermione."
"Me?" She laughs at her father's silly words.
"You, my girl. Some people will take your kindness and passion for learning as a weakness. Never let those people convince you of that. You are as strong here." He points to her heart and her head. "As the fiercest of sea turtles." He finishes with a peck to her cheek, her mother's dainty hand on his shoulder.
Hermione lets out a carefree laugh. "A sea turtle. I think he's finally lost it, Mum. We should probably get him to the doctor."
"Alright, kiddo. What do you say we get this guy back to his friends?" Her father says lightheartedly.
The turtle was no more than a foot in length and between the two of them, they were able to carry the turtle a few steps into deeper waters.
She finds herself reflecting on this memory when she feels especially melancholy. Taking stock of her life thus far, she feels a heavy ache in her chest at the loss of her relationship with her parents, especially her father. They had been thick as thieves throughout her childhood, which is why he'd taken the obliviation so hard. They still spoke from time to time, but it was always a superficial conversation. She didn't think the fracture in their bond would ever mend and that was the worst consequence to come from the war.
"Granger." Malfoy's husky voice beckons from the other side of the door. Hermione flings the heavy duvet off of herself, anxious to see that Malfoy is okay with her own eyes. In her haste to open the door, she forgets that she spelled the door locked the night before.
"Bloody lock!" She curses while rushing to her bedside table to grab her wand. "Alohomora!" She casts in the door's direction.
"You should really work at that temper, Granger." She can't decide if she wants to hug Malfoy or slap a healthy heaping of common sense into him. Unable to make a choice, she decides on both. Crossing the distance from the bed to the door, she proceeds to slap Malfoy's chest and arms repeatedly.
"You absolute Git! I thought you had more sense than to go on a mission by yourself, I guess I was wrong. What is it that you're always saying to me? 'First time for everything, Granger'. I can't say that I wish I wasn't wrong this time."
"Ah! Blood hell Granger! Keep those claws to yourself. I've been sliced up enough this week." Malfoy's hands are held in front of his face protectively. His words cause her to flinch, all the anger momentarily draining from her body.
Hermione flings her arms around Malfoy's neck, hands clasped firmly together as the floodgates open. "You arsehole…" sniffle "Malfoy. Do you have any idea." sniffle "what it was like" hiccough. "Seeing you lying in a pool of your own blood?" She could feel her temper returning for round two. "I couldn't so much as open the bloody front door to try and help you." His arms had wrapped around her waist, pulling her into a crushing hug against his body.
"Hush, I'm alright Granger. Just a scratch. It'll take more than a poorly aimed slicing hex to take me down." She feels one of those calloused fingers tip her chin, eyes meeting briefly before he steps away. "How did you know I went to inspect the warehouse alone?" he asks.
"Oh, Harry wrote me this morning." She says around another sniffle. "I wasn't really up for chatting about the details last night." She turns away to retrieve the letter Harry had owled her. Technically, Harry shouldn't have divulged details about an open investigation, but she found being best friends with the wizarding world's savior had its perks at times.
"Fucking Potter." He mutters. "Why am I not surprised-"He pauses mid-sentence. "Granger, have you been wearing nothing but your undergarments to bed the whole time you've been here? " He asks in a slightly strangled tone.
"This is hardly indecent Malfoy." She scoffs, taking in the tight-fitting boy shorts and forest green tank top that she was certain was formerly a deep burgundy. Pansy's doing no doubt.
"Hardly indecent, Granger? I've come up with some remarkable material to use in times of need but the reality…well, let's just say my dreams were severely lacking.
"Did-, why you little pervert Malfoy! Are you saying that you've fantasized about me?" She doesn't know whether she is more shocked or embarrassed at his admission. An altogether different sensation is building, she feels a fluttering sensation in her abdomen, a sure sign that she is more receptive to his flattery than she was willing to admit in the past.
"Oh, don't act surprised. I'm sure you heard the talk from other girls." She shakes her head in confusion. What in Merlin's name was he on about?
"Let me enlighten you then. Boys being boys, we discussed the different females in our year and without a doubt, you were the most frequent topic of choice, Granger. I think the fact that you were so off limits added to your allure but there was no denying that you were pretty back then."
"No-, but-, Malfoy- if you're having a go at me, I swear I will hex your bollocks off." She couldn't accept his words. She was nothing but a mudblood to him back in school, he had made it a point to make fun of her appearance as often as possible. Had he been lying?
"Why would I make this up?" His tone was incredulous.
"Because I was swotty, bucktooth, frizzy-haired, mudblood, Gryffindor Granger. Maybe I wasn't a mudblood to some of the other boys in our year, but I was those other things." Her tone was blunt like this was obvious.
"Would you please stop using that word?" His tone held a note of tension.
"Mudblood?" She knows this is the word that seems to be upsetting him and she isn't sure why she feels the need to needle him, but she can't help the urge.
"You know bloody well that that is exactly the word." He grits out.
"Am I making you uncomfortable Malfoy? Do you want me to stop using the word mudblood?" She taunts.
"Are you batty woman? We were having a perfectly lovely conversation. Why do you insist on starting a fight?"
"You bloody well started it!" She screams, moving to jab him in the chest.
"Witch, you will be the death of me." She watches as he pinches the bridge of his nose and lets out a deep exhale.
"I don't know why you made all of that up Malfoy, but I don't think it's funny. I believe it to be rather cruel. I know what you thought of me, so I don't need you to come in here and pretend it was anything otherwise." She feels tears start to sting the corner of her eyes. She hates that Malfoy makes her so emotional, she's certain she's cried more since she met him than she did since breaking things off with Ron.
There is a definite heat in Malfoy's gaze, nostrils flaring, and his chest rises and falls rapidly. "Fuck it." He growls.
The firm grip at the nape of her neck propels her body forwards against his chest, their breaths competing for dominance. There is nothing sweet about this kiss, Malfoy's lips demand everything from her, pushing and pulling, a give and take leaving her breathless but no less wanting in the moment. She can't recall a time when she's had such a visceral reaction to a man's kiss, most of her sexual endeavors had been with Ron but there had been the odd man or two that she'd attempted a physical connection with. "How can you be so intelligent and so daft at the same time, woman?" He asks between breathless kisses.
Her skin begins to itch at the all-too-familiar feeling of deep discomfort when he releases a deep growl in his throat. She tries to fight through it, she really does but her senses become overwhelmed, and she finds herself shoving hard against his chest.
Her breath coming in heavy gasps for an altogether more unpleasant reason than the intense snogging session she'd just experienced.
"Fuck, Granger, breath, breath for me?" He urges. Her vision going black at the edges, followed by strong arms lifting her and setting her on the bed.
"Look at me, Granger." Malfoy's commanding voice is the only thing keeping her conscious. She tries to take slow, even breaths while searching for the sea of gray, she latches onto his eyes like a life raft when they finally meet hers.
"That's it. You're doing so good for me. Just watch my eyes and keep taking slow breaths." Her vision steadily improved after a few minutes of encouragement from Draco.
She watches him summon a glass and fill it with water before demanding she drink. "Small sips, there you go."
They do nothing but watch each other for a moment, gauging where to begin.
"Granger- "
"Draco- "
Their words collide and tangle.
"I'm not sorry for kissing you, Granger. I am sorry for the way I went about it. But, the kiss itself, I could never be sorry for that." His hand gently took her own. "You can be quite the infuriating witch and I let my emotions get the better of me."
"I'm not sorry either. It was unexpected but not unwelcome." She admits.
"Unexpected? Really?" he asks.
"I mean, yes. Generally, you are a flirt, or so I've heard. Was I to assume that the comments you've made were meant to be anything other than a flighty dalliance to amuse yourself?"
"I suppose I can see why you would have assumed that, given the comments Potter has made. Let me make myself clear now, Darling. My forwardness is nothing if not intentional. Every flirtatious comment has been made in earnest; I wear a mask made of humor for others but lay myself bare for you. Make no mistake from here on out Granger, my intentions are not and have never been a simple flighty dalliance."
"As to avoid another miscommunication, are you saying that you'd like to have a relationship?" She asks.
"That is exactly what I am saying, Granger. If you're willing, I'd like to take you on a date." He says.
"I'm not saying no, Draco, but I am on house arrest at the moment so I don't think there will be much dating happening around here. At least, not until you've captured whoever is behind the attacks."
"Right. We should wait until we have a suspect." Gray eyes look away before continuing. "Who says we can't have a date here? I will cook for you, and I'll even let you pick one of those terrible movies you are always ranting about. Deal?"
"You cook? Since when?" She asks humorously.
"Who do you think has been feeding me, Granger?"
"Your house elf of course." She says as if this is obvious.
"Granger." He lets out an exasperated sigh. "Can we please stop with the assumptions? It is getting rather tedious. Have you seen a house elf anywhere? Hmm?"
"I assume- I just thought you had asked them to be discreet and I've spent most of my time in my room. Are you saying you don't have a house elf?"
"Ding, ding, ding we have a winner!" She gives his shoulder a shove in response to his sarcasm.
"You don't have to be a prat Malfoy. So, you cook for yourself, what other talents are you hiding?"
"I don't want to intimidate you or anything Granger, but I am a bit of an expert at folding laundry." He says, sending Hermione into hysterics.
"You laugh now but have you ever tried to fold a fitted sheet? It took me a month to get that one down." His outrageous bragging has her holding her sides as she laughs.
"Okay! Okay!" She says around her fading laughter. "So why don't you have a house elf? I'm sure money isn't the issue. So, what is it?" She asks.
"The first day home with my mother we had decided to start cleansing the manor of dark magic. I'd called for Pip and Tally repeatedly with no response. So, I set out through the house to find them. When I finally made my way to the kitchen, I was horrified by what I found. Both elves had been brutally mutilated, if I had to guess, I'd say it was Nagini. Puncture wounds everywhere, and their bodies were unnaturally twisted. After spilling everything I had in my stomach, I called my mother. We wrapped them in clean sheets before carrying them out to the rose garden for burial. I am certain the Dark Lord ordered their deaths as another way to punish us for our perceived failings." Hermione could feel her stomach cramping at the thought of what those poor elves had felt in their last moments.
"Pip and Tally were the siblings in a line of house elves that served the Malfoy family for generations. After their deaths, I swore I would never allow another creature to serve our family in a way that gave them no choice in the matter."
"I think the rose gardens are a beautiful resting place. I'm sure they would be grateful for what you and your mother did." She says while giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Enough serious talk for now Granger. How about I prepare breakfast for us?" He offers in an attempt to change the subject.
"That would be lovely, thank you." She agrees.
"I'll leave you to get dressed and I'll meet you downstairs. Breakfast should be ready in about twenty minutes. She finds herself leaning into the feel of his soft lips gently pecking her cheek.
Bullocks. She was in trouble.
Hermione's POV
Hermione pads barefoot through the kitchen, taking in the sight of Draco cooking at the stove.
"What is that heavenly smell?" She asks before peeking around his shoulder. "French toast, mmm maybe being your captive isn't so bad."
Draco sets the hot pan aside before turning towards her and walking her backward until she feels the cold marble pressing into the small of her back. His gray eyes sparkle with unleashed mischief. "Oh Granger, if it's captivity you want, I'll gladly be your jailer." His arms create a cage for her smaller frame when he grips the counter with both hands. She can see the intent in his eyes but seems to be taking his time. She can hear his deep inhale and feel the whisper of his lips as they drag against the side of her neck, sending shivers down her spine. She lets out an audible gasp as she feels his fingers trail up her bare arms, along the column of her neck, one hand wrapping possessively around her flesh, giving a slight squeeze before moving both hands to caress her face.
"A fine captive you'll make." The ghost of his breath skitters across the skin of her face, leaving goosebumps, making their mark on her. His lips forge a path from her forehead, over each closed eye, her nose, and both cheeks, never fully touching her but leaving her burning as if he had. The ghost of his lips across hers nearly does her in, ripping a desperate keening noise from deep within her chest.
She startles when she feels the tip of his finger press against her lips, demanding entrance. Her lips part slightly to take him in. She's assaulted by the sweet taste of whipped cream. The tip of her tongue swirls lightly around the callused skin, making sure to get every drop of the sweet cream.
His husky laugh rips her mind from its haze. "That's enough for now. Take a seat Mon Cheri and I'll grab our plates." Despite the overwhelming feeling that she doesn't want this moment to end, she knows that he is right. If she keeps pushing herself, she could have another panic attack and she would prefer not to make this a habit.
Draco sets her stack of French toast in front of her before taking the seat beside her. She feels conflicted about whether she should say something about what just happened or let it go for now.
"I can practically see the smoke emitting from your ears Granger. Eat and then you can overanalyze the situation." He commands before starting in on his breakfast. She consents with a small bite of the confectionary delight.
"Blood hell Malfoy." She practically moans as she appreciates the explosion of flavor. "That settles it. I demand breakfast in bed at least four days a week and I won't hear a word otherwise." She demands. "How did you learn to cook like this?"
Malfoy gives her one of those small secret laughs that tells her just how much he appreciates her love for his cooking. "It took a lot of practice, I won't lie, there were a few near incidents of food poisoning, but I was determined to teach myself the craft and I found that it's become a passion of mine."
"Well, you have a definite talent for it. Thank you for sharing it with me." She gives him a small but genuine smile.
His cheeks pink lightly at the praise. "Thank you, Granger. So, uhm, I have to run to the office today to handle a few things but I'm on light duty until Monday. How about we watch that movie when I get back?" He asks.
"I didn't realize your injury was that serious?" She says in concern.
"It's not really. Potter is just being cautious. Nothing to fret over. So, movie this afternoon?"
"I will pick one while you are out and please be careful Draco. Uhm- I'm also going to need more clothing soon. The bag you had Pansy grab only had a few things I could wear. I don't know why she thought I would need a floor-length dress. I suppose that's Pansy for you."
"I learned a long time ago not to question Pansy. It's easier to go along with most of her decisions." They chuckle at the quirky nature of their mutual friend. "I'll grab a few things from your place while I'm out. Anything in particular I should look for?" He asks.
"Uhm, just a few pairs of jeans, tops, pajamas and undergarments. That should do it for now."
"Are you permitting me to go rifling through your underwear drawer Granger? I wonder what saucy numbers I'll find in there." He teases.
"You prat. Do I need to have Pansy pack for me and suffer through whatever she deems appropriate, or can you control your adolescent urges?" She asks in exasperation.
"Don't you worry Man Cheri. I will take care of everything." The smirk he throws her way does nothing to reassure her.
Draco's POV
Draco had barely made it out of the lift leading to the DMLE before Goyle and Chang were on him.
"Malfoy. Glad you could make it here so soon." Chang addresses him.
"What do you mean to make it here so soon? I came in to wrap up some paperwork Anything new to report?" He asks.
"I owled you a few minutes ago, we have found something, but we should talk somewhere more private." Draco takes in the other aurors milling about before nodding in agreement. "Lead the way." He follows Chang and Goyle into one of the available meeting rooms. His curiosity grows as he watches the partners set to casting silencing and security charms before taking their seats at the conference table.
"Would you like to give the brief Auror Goyle?" Chang asks.
Goyle nods but after a few moments of struggling to speak, Chang gives his arm a comforting squeeze before taking over. "Do you recall the ash circle you found at Hogwarts, Sir?" She asks.
"Of course, what of it?" He responds.
"We've had it extensively analyzed by muggle and magical means." She gives Goyle another comforting squeeze before forging on. "They have found traces of DNA within the ash belonging to Vincent Crabbe. There were also traces of metal and dark magic." Draco is completely taken aback at the pair's findings. A mixture of sorrow and regret washed through him at the memory of Crabbe's death.
"So, what we have to go on at this point in the case is Dumbledore's missing bones, multiple break-ins, Weasley's magic has been stolen along with Crabbe's ashes. After my encounter with Dolohov, we can assume that he is at least partially responsible for these events. The question is why. What motive could he have for any of this?" Draco says aloud. Moreso for himself than in question to the Aurors before him. "Have either of you heard back from the Department of Mysteries regarding Dolohov's miraculous resurrection?"
"Not yet but we'll send an update as soon as we do. We can take it from here Drake, we just wanted to update you. You should go home and rest." The recent discovery regarding Crabbe has obviously taken its toll on Goyle, his tone much more subdued than normal.
"If you need to take the rest of the day Greg, please do so." Draco offers.
"Thank you but work will keep my mind off things. You take care of yourself, Drake." He claps Draco on the shoulder before exiting the small meeting room.
"He's right, boss. We can take care of things while you're out for the weekend. We'll see you on Monday." Chang says before following after Goyle.
Draco sets off to his own office space to finish up his briefing paperwork from the incident with Dolohov.
After Draco wraps up his paperwork , he uses Potter's floo to access Hermione's flat. He makes his way to her small bedroom, conjuring a bag to store her clothing, he begins by grabbing a few of the comfier-looking long-sleeve tops. He throws in a few tank tops and sleep shirts before moving onto pajama pants and jeans.
Now, he knows Hermione gave him strict instructions not to rifle through her underthings, but can she blame him if he quickly browses the selection? After all, he wants her to be comfortable. With an acceptable enough excuse, he pulls open a dresser drawer at random, finding only sweaters, he moves on to the next drawer.
"Quite the selection, indeed Granger." He says to himself while pulling out a particularly scandalous pair of red lace panties and examining them before opting to put them in the bag. Pansy may take the crown when it comes to packing extravagant clothing, but Draco is determined to pack the most scandalous of the options before him.
Scrounging through the drawer he spots a patch of emerald green shoved beneath the rest of the bras and panties.
"What do we have here." He holds up the green silk thong lined with lace at the edges. A large Silver S emblem is stitched at the front of the panties. Draco feels like he's just won the Triwizard tournament. "This is too perfect. Gryffindor's princess has a taste for Snake." With a mischievous grin, he shoves the panties in the back pocket of his jeans.
As Draco makes his way back to the floo he notices a familiar green cup sitting on the mantle of her fireplace. "Why that little thief!" He exclaims before snatching up his favorite mug that he'd thought another auror had stolen. She must have taken it that day they ran into each other in the lounge. He shoves the mug in the bag of clothing before stepping into the floo and calling the name of his flat. He'd made sure the connection was open for him to travel back and forth but locked it for others.
Hermione's POV
Hermione finally decides to explore Draco's home in his absence. She audibly gasps when she opens a set of double doors that lead to a large library. She walks through the space, wading through the aisles of books before she settles on five titles, she has been dying to get her hands on. She settles into the cozy sitting area adorned with a fireplace and large fluffy chairs perfect for lounging with a good book or two.
This is where Draco finds her upon his return home. "I see you've finally found the library."
"Merlin! I didn't hear you come in. How long have you been standing there?" She asks.
"About five minutes or so. The way your nose scrunches up when you concentrate is quite cute, you know. I've not seen that since our days in the Hogwarts library."
"I do not scrunch up my nose. This is the second time you've admitted to either thinking of or watching me at school. I'm beginning to think you might have had a little crush on me Draco. Was all that teasing for a different reason?"
"Hmm, wouldn't you like to know?" He quips, sitting in the chair opposite her. "So, have you decided on a movie?"
"Yes, Pretty Woman with Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. It's one of my favorites." She says with a smile.
"Before we head downstairs, I have a question and I have a gift for you. To get your gift, you have to answer my question. Fair?"
"I'm intrigued, go on then. What's your question?" She asks, tone light.
"Have you always been a thief or is this a new habit you've recently picked up? Should I hide the silver?" His tone holds no bite.
"Thief? What exactly am I to have stolen pray tell?" She slams her book shut and fixes him with a fierce glare.
He waves his wand and a familiar green mug flies into his hand. "Look familiar?" His tone is much too cocky for her liking.
"Well-, I-, you left that in the lounge. If you hadn't run off, I would have given it back to you that day. I completely forgot it was at my place. I had it on my mantle with the full intention of giving it back to you. My intentions were entirely honorable." Her tone is defensive.
"Honorable indeed. I think you kept it as a little memento of our little encounter that day. It was quite a heated exchange. Fond memories Granger?" He teases.
"You were the one ogling me! Not the other way around Malfoy." She returns haughtily.
"Well, you did look quite delectable in that tight little top. Hard for any man to resist." Her nostrils flare as she attempts to control her temper.
"Are you intentionally making me angry or is this your natural charm?"
"A bit of both I'd say. It's fascinating how your curls expand the angrier you get. I'm conducting a formal study on it." He chuckles at his own joke.
"You know you're not as funny as the gaggle of witches have led you to believe. Best you find that out sooner rather than later."
"You can do better than that now, Granger."
"Are you going to give me my present or not?" She is finished with the ridiculous game he seems to be playing.
"If you insist." He conjures a small black bag; florets of white tissue paper cover the contents from prying eyes.
Pulling the bits of paper out, she reaches into the small bag and feels something silky against her fingers. Letting the bag fall to the floor she is silent for a moment at the sight of the green Slytherin panties dangling from her hand. She could literally kill Pansy in this moment for giving her the gag gift. Her ire quickly shifts to the blonde sitting across from her. She knows that any insult she slings at him will only make him laugh, if she curses him, he will just use a counter-curse to negate the effects. So, she does the only thing she can think of that will leave the git absolutely speechless.
Turning away from Malfoy, she slides her black lounge pants along with her knickers down her legs. Leaving her bare arse on display." She grins devilishly at the choking noise coming from behind her. She grabs the silk fabric of the Slytherin panties, sliding them slowly up her legs followed by the lounge pants, before standing straight again. Turning to face Draco, she holds back her chuckle at the way his jaw has dropped, and eyes have widened. "Thank you so much for grabbing these for me Draco. I thought I'd lost them but I'm happy to see you've found them for me. Shall we go watch the movie now?" She vanishes the gift bag and her discarded panties before making her way out of the library. Leaving Malfoy sitting slack-jawed in his chair.
Making her way to the kitchen to grab a few snacks for the movie, she gives herself a silent pat on the back. Even after a four-year-long relationship with Ron, she never would have done something like that. After a month of friendship and subtle flirting, on her part, with Malfoy, she was doing things she'd never been comfortable with before. It gave her a thrill to know she had it in herself to do something like she'd just done.
"You win that round Granger but only because you cheated." Draco's skin has returned to its pale pallor as he enters the kitchen.
"I did no such thing. You brought me a lovely gift and I just thought I'd show you how much I appreciated it." She says while popping a grape into her mouth, loving the way the sweet juices wash over her tongue when she bites into the crisp skin.
"How about a warning next time you'd like to show your appreciation? You could give a man a heart attack doing something like that." He says while grabbing the tray of snacks she'd prepared. "You are a menace to my sanity Granger." He grabs her hand, pulling her towards the living room.
Draco puts the disc into the DVD player before making himself comfortable on the couch. Hermione grabs a blanket before settling against Draco's side. His arm wrapped around her shoulders in a possessive manner that she finds she doesn't mind.
Draco's accident had brought the true nature of her feelings to light. She was starting to care deeply for the wizard and that scared her as much as it excited her. Things were moving quickly between them but that didn't make their feelings any less real.
"Tell me why you love this movie so much, Granger," Malfoys asks about forty minutes into the film. Hermione had moved to lay on her side with her head in Draco's lap. Long fingers ran through her curls as she repeated her favorite lines from the movie.
"Have you not been watching? He's this man who seemingly has everything, he's rich and has power. But when you look behind that he's just a man who struggles to reconcile his past and he's lonely, she's made choices in her life that lead her to the life of prostitution. But when they spend the week together all of that is stripped away and you're left with two people who are drawn to one another, even if society would say that they haven't known each other long enough, they don't care about any of that. She doesn't care that he's rich, not really and he doesn't care about her past when it comes down to it." Draco only nods in response.
" So, what happened after he climbed up the tower and rescued her?" Draco says so softly she barely catches it.
"She rescues him right back," Hermione says, smiling up at him. Draco smiles back before leaning down to kiss her lightly on the forehead. "Why didn't you tell me you'd not only seen the movie, but you know the lines? Seems like you're a pretty big fan of the movie Mr. Malfoy." She teases.
"What can I say? I have a thing for curls." His response elicits a giggle from her.
"Smooth, Draco, very smooth."
"That's what they say. Hey, do you happen to know what day it is?" He asks.
"Uh, yeah. It's February, 14th. Valentine's Day. Pansy and Neville are going out to dinner tonight, Theo and Charlie are in Romania, Harry is taking Ginny to the beach for the night, and I think Blaise took Luna to one of his family's vineyards in Italy."
"Well, you've certainly kept up to date on everyone's holiday plans."
"I've been cooped up here for days now. I'm very much missing my friends at this point. We don't normally go this long without seeing each other." She feels a slight ache in her chest at her words.
"Well, why don't you invite everyone over for a night in tomorrow? We still can't risk your safety by going out but there is no harm in everyone coming here." He offers.
"Really? That would be fantastic Draco! I'll owl everyone tonight." She hugs him before standing to prepare the letters. "Oh, and I uhm, I wasn't expecting to do anything today. If that's why you were asking. This has already been the best Valentine's Day in a long time." She adds before making her way to the stairs. Excitement coursed through her at the prospect of seeing her friends.