A/N: I do not own any character references by JK Rowling in the Harry Potter series. This story is a product of my pure imagination.
And it's like snow at the beach.
Weird but fuckin' beautiful.
Flying in a dream, stars by the pocketful.
You wanting me tonight feels impossible.
But it's comin' down, no sound, it's all around.
Like snow on the beach
Like snow on the beach
Like snow on the beach
Like snow, oh, oh, oh
~ Snow on the Beach by Taylor Swift
A/n: Little backstory, this is part of a larger universe called The Story of Us. The first story is called Enchanted and this story fits within the Enchanted story. Enchanted is the story of Harry and Hermione growing together, raising Teddy together and finding love together. Hermione is narrating their story to Luna for a book that she is writing. This is Hermione and Draco's story. Because people were slightly confused I am putting the scenes from Enchanted that are related to this story for more context.
*~*~* December 3, 2004 *~*~*
Hermione Granger was sitting at her desk working on research for the Centaur bill that the committee had voted down yet again when a knock sounded on her door.
"Opal, come in," Hermione called to her assistant.
"I'm not Opal."
Hermione looked up, surprised to see Draco Malfoy at her door, "Draco," She said as she took her glasses off, "What are you doing here?"
Draco shifted on his feet, "Are you going to the Ministry Christmas Party by any chance?"
Hermione looked at him, "I wasn't planning on it."
"Oh, never mind then," Draco stated, "Forget I asked."
Hermione stood up, "No, why are you asking?"
Draco looked at her, "I was just wondering if you might want to go together."
Hermione looked at him surprised, "Together?"
"So, what do you say, Granger? Want to come to the Christmas party with me?" Draco asked.
"Sure," Hermione said with a smile.
*~*~* December 10, 2004 *~*~*
The Ministry's atrium had been transformed while everyone was working into a winter wonderland. Twinkling fairy lights and snowflakes gently fell from the ceiling. As Hermione, with Draco at her side, stepped out of the lift, the annual Christmas party was in full swing.
Slowly, as if in a wave, heads started turning in surprise. The two of them arriving as a pair was unexpected. Draco wore a dress shirt and trousers instead of his Auror robes, while Hermione wore a pencil skirt and a blouse. Without even trying, they were matching.
Draco leaned closer to her, his breath warm on her ear, "They are looking because you are beautiful tonight."
Hermione blushed, nudging him with her elbow, "Quit it. These are my everyday clothes."
Together, they walked over to where the tables were set up and found Daphne and Blaise and Pansy and Theo already seated.
Daphne looked up in surprise, seeing them, "Hey guys, we saved both of your seats."
Draco pulled her chair out before taking his own seat beside her.
Dinner was filled with laughter and conversation between their group and others who stopped by their table. Hermione was surprised at how easy it was to talk to Draco. Occasionally, he would lean in to whisper a joke or comment on something. Surprising herself at how much their group and he were making her laugh.
Harry and Ginny stopped over after Kingsley's speech and pulled Hermione aside, "Hermione, are you dating Draco?" He asked, confused, "I've seen him flirting with you all night!"
Hermione shook her head, "Harry, we're just friends. From what I can ascertain, Draco flirts with everyone."
"And you don't care that he is flirting with you?" Harry asked.
"He doesn't mean it, Harry," Hermione assured him, "It's fine. It's harmless."
Harry looked at her suspiciously, "Alright, if you say so. Just looking out for you."
"I appreciate it, but I'm a big girl. I can handle myself, Harry," Hermione told him.
As the party winded down, Draco flooed home with Hermione.
"I just wanted to make sure you got home," Draco told her.
"Thank you for tonight, Draco. I always hate going to Ministry functions. It wasn't so bad with you," Hermione told him.
"The pleasure was all mine, Hermione. I'm glad you came with me," Draco said as he leaned down and his lips brushed her cheek, "If we don't talk before it. Merry Christmas, Hermione."
Hermione watched in disbelief as Draco flooed away. Placing her hand on her cheek, she held it in disbelief. Grabbing floo powder, she threw it into the fireplace, "Minister's Manor!"
Andromeda looked up in surprise as Hermione entered the room, "Hermione, is everything okay?"
Hermione swallowed hard, "I felt sparks with Draco. Is it possible to be compatible with two people?"
Andromeda stood up, surprised, "My nephew Draco?"
"Yes!" Hermione said, holding her cheek, "He kissed my cheek, and I felt sparks. Not as… electric as Harry's, but I felt them."
"Are you sure they weren't static electricity?" Andromeda asked.
"I don't know, but is it possible?" Hermione asked.
"I wouldn't see why not. It might not be the same compatibility as with Harry, but your magic may have felt comfortable with his magic. It's possible," Andromeda told her as Hermione sat down in their armchair, "What are you going to do about it?"
Hermione shook her head, "I don't know."
*~*~* March 1, 2008 *~*~*
"I didn't actively seek out Draco. I was more trying to figure out what it all meant. I went to a few more libraries to try to find information. I even went to Hogwarts to see if I missed anything there," Hermione sighed, "and the rest of the month continued. Lee and Alicia got engaged. We had a friend's Christmas at our house. Harry and Ginny were making the finishing arrangements for the wedding. Nothing out of the norm happened until Draco asked me if I'd go to the Yule Ball of Giving. After that… my whole perspective of the world changed."
*~*~* December 17, 2004 *~*~*
A knock on Hermione Granger's office door in the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures made her look up to see Draco Malfoy in the doorway. Draco had recently been named Harry's Auror partner. Taking her glasses off, Hermione stood up, "Draco, what are you doing here?"
Draco motioned behind him, "Harry and I just got back from a case, and walking back through the Atrium, a booth was set up to purchase tickets for the Yule Ball of Giving. I thought I'd come and ask you if you were planning on going?"
Hermione leaned against her desk and bit her lip, "I was, but I haven't purchased my ticket yet. Pansy has a new design from her Phoenix Boutique, and she wants me to wear it so it can be in Witch Weekly again. So, I could go."
Draco pushed himself off the doorway, "Well, if you don't have your ticket yet, what would you say if I bought one for you?" Draco asked.
Hermione looked at him, "As in a date?"
Draco shrugged, "You could call it that if you wanted to." Draco told her as he reached for her hand.
Hermione's eyes nearly fluttered shut as she felt his magic reaching out to her. A feeling that she had only felt with Harry before, "Sure. Wouldn't hurt anything to go to it together."
Draco smiled and leaned down, kissing her cheek, "Great. Tell me what color your dress is so that I can coordinate." Draco returned to her door, "And Granger, I'll be in France for the holiday, so Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas to you, too," Hermione said as Draco left.
*~*~* March 1, 2008 *~*~*
Hermione looked at Luna, "I'd been told that Draco was a flirt and a ladies' man. So, I honestly didn't think he felt anything for me. I thought he just needed a date."
Luna looked at her, "When did you know?"
"At the Yule Ball," Hermione told her.
*~*~* December 26, 2004 *~*~*
Hermione was checking her makeup in the mirror when the doorbell rang. Ron paused his game making Teddy protest, "Who would come to the door?"
Walking over to the door, Hermione looked out the peephole to see Draco in a Muggle suit with red roses in his hand. Hermione opened the door and smiled, "Why did you come to the door?"
"It's muggle custom to come to the front door to pick your date up, correct?" Draco asked, handing her the bouquet.
Hermione sniffed the beautiful red roses that matched her dress, "Yes, come in."
Closing the door behind him, Draco followed her into the house and nodded at Ron as he saw him and Teddy, "Weasley."
Hermione smiled at Draco, "Draco, I'd like you to meet your cousin, Teddy Lupin. Teddy, Draco is your cousin. His Mummy is Nana's sister."
Draco looked at her, confused, "Wait, what?"
Hermione looked at him, "Your Aunt Andromeda?"
Draco looked at Teddy, surprised, "I didn't even know she had kids."
"Grandkid. Nymphadora was his mother. She passed at the final battle alongside Professor Lupin, her husband," Hermione explained, "Teddy was only a month old. They named Harry and I as his godparents. Your Aunt was very sick for a while, so Harry and I have Teddy half the week."
Draco held his hand out to Teddy, "Well, cousin. Nice to meet you."
Teddy looked at him, "Can you change your hair too?" Teddy asked, turning his hair blond like Draco's.
Draco laughed, "No, I can't." He looked at Hermione, "He's a metamorphmagus?"
Hermione nodded, "So was Dora," Hermione told him as she looked at her watch, "We best be going."
"Good seeing you, Weasley. Teddy, it was a pleasure to meet you," Draco said as they walked over to the fireplace. Draco looked at Hermione, "It's at the Zabini Chateau."
"Chateau?" Hermione asked, surprised.
"Blaise's Mum's house," Draco stated as he threw floo powder in, "Zabini Chateau!"
Hermione looked at Ron as Draco disappeared, "What?"
"Are you dating Draco?" Ron asked.
"No, we are just going together tonight. Don't wait up," Hermione told him as she stepped into the floo and was swept away.
Draco assisted her out of the fireplace on the other side of the grate. If she thought the grandeur of the Malfoy Manor was something, it was nothing like the Chateau. The receiving room looked into an all-glass ballroom filled with sparkling lights and ice sculptures that sparkled themselves. There were also many more guests in attendance.
"Blaise's Mum is Mrs. Xavier now," Draco stated, "I think it's husband number six."
"Six?" Hermione asked, surprised.
"She keeps going for older wizards that are rich. Marries them, they put her in their will, and then within 5-10 years die, and she gets their fortunes," Draco explained, "Blaise's Dad owned the winery; she always wanted to open a restaurant, and it wasn't until Xavier that she had a husband that would help her."
A few wizards she had never seen before spoke to Draco in rapid French that she could only understand a few words. Her heart raced as Draco spoke back in flawless French. Glancing at her reflection on a mirrored surface, she saw herself in her deep red, figure-hugging dress. The slit on it went high on her thigh, so she opted to wear leggings underneath for both warmth and coverage. Knowing she was attending with Draco, she wore the highest pair of heels that she owned since he was slightly taller than Harry.
Draco offered his arm to her, "Shall we?"
Hermione slipped her hand into the crook of his arm, and together, they walked into the ballroom. Soft waltz melodies filled the air as they picked up their table cards. Draco led her to their table and took out his wand, "Chicken." He stated, tapping his table card. It glowed, and then he set it down on the table. Hermione did the same with her card and saw Daphne's name on the other side of her spot.
A ballet performance was on stage as couples danced on the floor beneath them. Draco leaned in, his breath warm against her skin, "Have you ever danced before?"
Hermione looked up at him, "Ballet? A little, but nothing serious. I figure skated, though."
Draco's eyes twinkled in the lights, "I remember seeing you dance at the Yule Ball at Hogwarts. You were an amazing dancer."
Hermione couldn't help the blush from creeping up on her cheeks, "You remember that?"
Draco nodded, smiling, "You wore a periwinkle blue dress, not robes. You walked down those stairs and were stunning. Krum was an idiot, more self-involved than you deserved."
Leaning down, his lips brushed her ear, "Did he kiss you?"
Hermione swallowed hard, feeling a shiver rush down her spine, "Yes," She whispered.
His teeth skimmed her ear as he asked, "Did he touch you?"
Biting her lip, her heart pounded as she stated, "No."
Draco stood up, his eyes dark, "Too bad, I wouldn't have been able to resist. Sit, I'll go get us drinks."
The rest of the evening passed in a haze. Draco was attentive and charming. Daphne, Blaise, Pansy, and Theo joined their table soon after. Hermione felt as if she were in a haze of floating clouds as Draco took her hand, rubbing his thumb across her hand under the table as they ate. They made their way to the dance floor, moving perfectly in harmony with the music. Draco's hand was firm on her waist as he guided them like a professional across the floor.
His eyes never strayed from her, and she felt like the only person in the room when they danced. She felt lightheaded, not because of the single glass of champagne she had sipped with dinner, but from the evening.
As people began to depart, Theo winked at her as he left with the contact information of a server. Daphne and Blaise quickly followed.
Leading Hermione towards the parlor, Draco led her to a quiet corner, and his gray eyes bore into hers, "This may be bold of me, but would you like to come back to my flat?" He asked.
Hermione swallowed hard and nodded, "Yes," She whispered.
Draco's face lit up. Taking her hand in his, he led them together to the floo. Pulling her close, Draco yelled, "Agon-dray Lair."
Hermione closed her eyes, burying her face in his chest as they left the ballroom behind.
As soon as her feet exited the floo, her back was pushed into a wall.
"Are you going to hit me again if I kiss you?" Draco asked.
Hermione swallowed hard, "I might if you don't."
Draco's mouth met hers in a fiery kiss that made her body sing. Hermione nearly sobbed in relief as she felt her magic reaching out to him instead of pushing him away. She threw her arms around his neck and kicked her shoes behind her one at a time so that she could easily get onto her tiptoes. Draco's hands ran down her waist and under her bum, lifting her up so that she could wrap her legs around his waist.
Without separating from their desperate kisses, Draco walked them through his flat, not breaking their connection as they moved. Kicking his bedroom door open, he walked them through and pushed Hermione back against his door, slamming it shut. Setting her down on the ground, his hands roamed her body, fire trailing behind where his hands left.
Hermione gasped as his mouth moved down her neck, leaving a trail of kisses in its wake.
With one swift motion, Draco picked her up and walked her over to his bed, tossing her on it. Her dress rode up, the slit revealing part of her heaving stomach.
Smirking as he unbuttoned his shirt, button by button, his lips red with her lipstick, he ran his tongue over them, "This is your last chance to back out, Granger," He said, his voice low and deep.
Hermione swallowed, her heart pounding hard in her chest, "No, I want this," She said, barely above a whisper.
Watching his eyes darken, he threw his shirt behind him and crawled onto the bed, his body hovering over hers. Grabbing her hands, he pinned them over her head, kissing away the gasp from her mouth. Hermione could feel her nipples hardening under his touch, gasping at the sensory experience she was feeling. Even in her wildest dreams, she had never felt this way.
Holding both her hands with one of his larger ones, his hand skimmed down her neck to her side, finding her breast.
"Naughty girl, no bra," Draco said, nipping at her neck.
"Lines…spell works better," Hermione gasped as his mouth found her breast through her dress before continuing to kiss down her body. His free hand skimmed her curves. When he reached the edge of the slit in her dress, his hand slid up, fingers brushing against the bare skin of her stomach.
Hermione sucked in a breath, his touch setting a fire in her blood.
"So responsive," Draco murmured as he reached for her leggings. Looking up at her, his gray eyes met hers over her stomach, "Can I remove these?"
Hermione swallowed hard and nodded, unable to form words between the short gasps of her breath.
Letting her hands go, Draco slowly removed her leggings, his long fingers skimmed against her knickers. Hermione gasped, her back arching off the bed.
Draco looked up at her, "Who has touched you?" He asked.
Hermione blushed, "No one," She told him.
Draco swore under his breath, "Seriously?" He asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
Hermione blushed deeper, "Ron wasn't one for foreplay," She said, embarrassed.
Draco's expression softened, "Fucking Weasel. I'll be your teacher then," He told her.
Kissing down her stomach, his mouth found her core, causing her to cry out and want to close her legs. Gently, he pushed them apart, and soon, a finger, then two, joined it. Reaching down to grab his hair, she felt her body quickly approaching the crest she had rarely felt before.
Draco peeled her hands from his hair, "No touching that comes later."
Holding her hips down, he crooked his finger and hit a spot in her that acted like pulling a pin from a grenade, and quickly she fell apart.
Draco looked up at her as he licked his fingers, "Such a good girl," He stated, causing Hermione to moan.
Hermione blushed, her body still trembling.
Draco threw his trousers to the side as he crawled back up the bed, his body hovering over hers, "No more backing out, Granger. Last chance."
Hermione's eyes met his as she felt him against her entrance. Pulling him down into a kiss, she gasped as he entered her slowly.
"Fuck," Draco swore as his mouth met her shoulder, "You are so fucking tight."
When he was finally to the hilt, they slowly started moving together. Grabbing onto his back, Hermione gasped out, "Harder!"
Draco's mouth met hers again as he moved deeper than she ever thought possible within her. Bringing her closer and closer to the edge again. Her body trembling with pleasure.
"Nearly there, Granger," Draco told her, touching her clit.
When she finally fell apart, Draco followed her, his body shuddering against her. Rolling off her, he reached down for his trousers, taking his wand out. Casting a cleansing spell, then the contraceptive spell, he pulled her back into his arms, their legs entwined in a tangle of his sheets.
Kissing the top of her head as she wrapped her arms around him, Draco whispered, "Stay?"
Hermione looked at him, "I don't think I could move if I wanted to."
*~*~* December 27, 2004 *~*~*
Sunlight streaming through the curtains woke Hermione up early in the morning. Stirring, she slowly awoke to become aware of a heartbeat beneath her ear and fingers playing with her hair. Instead of the anxiety she thought she would feel, she felt content.
Glancing up at Draco, she met his gaze.
"I'm awful at pillow talk," Draco admitted with a shy smile, "Can I interest you in some food?"
Hermione smiled, "I'd love that."
Gently moving out from under her. She marveled at his shirtless form, revealing his lean muscles, broad shoulders, and thick thighs that made Hermione's mouth water. Hermione watched him grab his trousers off the floor and put them on before leaving the bedroom.
Sitting up, Hermione held the sheet to her chest as she ran her hand through her hair. The events of the previous night playing in her mind. Looking around the room, she noticed for the first time the books that littered nearly every available surface. A desk, a wardrobe, and many bookshelves lined the walls, each filled with titles familiar to her own collection at home. Glancing at the bedside table, she reached for the defense text, and her fingers brushed over the well-worn cover. Opening it, she saw his former familiar handwriting gracing the margins. Closing it, she set it back on the table as the door opened.
Draco walked in carrying a tray laden with breakfast foods. Pausing in the doorway, she saw him swallow hard, "I've never had a one-night stand before," He confessed, "I don't know if bringing breakfast in bed is correct etiquette, but it seemed like the polite thing to do."
Hermione smiled, touched by his thoughtfulness, "I've never had one. In fact, I've only ever been with Ron."
Draco sat beside her, setting the tray between them, "Well, you are good at it. Not a compliment, just a fact," He stated as he handed her a knife and took his own to smear jelly on his bread, "So, was it good for you?"
Hermione nodded, a small smile on her lips, "It was good," She said, looking into his eyes.
Draco's eyes lit up, "Yeah, it was great."
They ate in comfortable silence, Draco handing her another slice of toast when she finished her first.
"Did you read all of these?" Hermione asked, gesturing to the bookshelves.
Draco looked around the room, "Most of them. These are just my favorites from the Manor's library. Why? Want to read some of them?"
"I have most of them myself," Hermione stated.
Draco glanced at her, "I suppose we have more in common than we thought."
"I guess we do," Hermione nodded.
Conversation flowed easily between them. It was strange to Hermione as he had been the boy who called her names when they were younger, and it seemed at the time that they were so different. How quickly things could change.
After eating and drinking their tea, Draco took the tray back to the kitchen, leaving Hermione to get dressed.
As she pulled on her clothes, Hermione felt nerves come back. She had enjoyed herself, but she was uncertain where their futures lay.
Draco returned, leaning on the doorway, "I don't want to kick you out, but unfortunately, I have to meet my mother for brunch."
"I should get home to Teddy," Hermione told him with a smile.
Draco led her to the floo, then leaned down, giving her a light kiss, "I had a great time, Granger."
"Me too," Hermione said, stepping into the fireplace and flooing away.
Ron looked up from his video game as she appeared in the fireplace, "Hermione?! I thought you were upstairs. What are you doing wearing… did you sleep over at Draco's?!"
Hermione threw herself into the armchair, "You're right, Ron. I've been doing it wrong all this time."
Ron paused his game, "Doing what wrong?"
"Relationships, sex… god," Hermione stated as she closed her eyes, "My body is still tingling."
"Oh," Ron said, uncomfortable.
Hermione looked at him, "I'm just scared that it could end badly if it doesn't work out."
Ron shrugged, "You're already former enemies. How worse could it get?"