III. The
When Hermione woke up the next day, the other side of the bed was already cold. There was a piece of paper folded in half, next to the empty glass.
"I had an urgent call from the office. Please make yourself comfortable, if you want. If you prefer to go back home, I left you money for a taxi on the table in the living room, and a number for my chauffeur, depending on how you’d rather go back. If you go home, please text me, when you get there. I'm sorry I wasn't there, when you woke up."
The girl let a shaky breath. Somehow it was easier that way. They avoided the awkwardness of the morning. At night, too much is said.
Besides, in the morning she looked horrible. She was vain. And sure Draco looked flawless in the morning. She wasn't the kind to be vulnerable around people. She changed quickly. She left the money behind and called the chauffeur. She didn't have to wait even ten minutes for him.
Draco Lucius Malfoy
Character A:I’m home. 👼🏼
She wrote, as she closed the door.
Always an angel, echoed in his head.
Draco Lucius Malfoy
Character A: I’m home. 👼🏼
Character A: Mr. Dobby seems like a cheerful man. 🤭
She was so so good. Such a good girl. He wondered if she liked praise.
Always an angel.
Started feeling like that. So he sent it.
Babygirl 🦋
Character B: I'm home. 👼🏼
Character B: Mr. Dobby seems like a cheerful man. 🤭
Character A: I’m glad you got back with him.
Character A: Always an angel.
Twenty minutes later, Hermione heard a knock. A courier with the parcel was waiting outside the door. She opened the box immediately, knowing full well, who had sent it. Inside were two beautiful hairpins made of white gold, crowned with large emeralds. She had to admit that Draco had a sense of taste. As usual, a note was attached to the box.
"Thank You for the lovely night." It said. "P.S. I do love green."
Soon Hermione found out, that his love language was the showering in gifts. It wasn't until years later, that she discovered, it was how his father was trying to make up for Draco, that he didn’t have time for him.
On the other hand, her love language was touch. Draco thought all along, that he was bending her to his wishes. Meanwhile, she was training him. She repeated her behavior so persistently that now, when she got into bed, and didn’t immediately press her back to his torso – he was pulling her closer to him. As she walked a step or two behind him, he’d stretch out his hand to entwine their fingers together. Unconditional reflexes his body hadn’t known before.
However, they weren’t as such ease until months later. Hermione was never to forget her nervousness, before their second date.
Draco waited two days before writing to her, proposing another meeting. That's what The Serpent Club advised him. Three to one. Forty-eight hours of agony.
Babygirl 🦋
Character A:Fancy a coffee?
"Fancy a coffee? You moron," Theo read his text over his shoulder.
The answer came right away.
Babygirl 🦋
Character A:Fancy a coffee?
Character B: Fancy a coffee?
Character B:Your parents spent so much money on your education, and that's the best You’ve got?
"Told you," Theo murmured, as he sipped his coffee.
Babygirl 🦋
Character A:Fancy a coffee?
Character B: Fancy a coffee?
Character B:Your parents spent so much money on your education, and that's the best You’ve got?
Character B:English major here.
Character A:Hermione Jean Granger, would You like to go on a date with me?
Character B:Draco Lucius Malfoy, with pleasure.
She was always confident on the phone. Calm. It was completely different, when their meeting approached. She searched for her credit card all over the apartment, but couldn't remember where she had left it. Time was running out, and her blood pressure was alarmingly high. She tried to recreate her day, but to no avail. In the morning a new gift from Draco came. It was a pair of beautiful, intricate gloves made of black tulle.
Draco Lucius Malfoy
Character A:You spoil me. 🫣
Character B:Good.
She had no idea why she shivered.
Draco Lucius Malfoy
Character A:You spoil me. 🫣
Character B:Good.
Character A:My father wouldn't say so.
But your daddy would, he thought. However, it was busy day at work, so he wrote nothing.
Before noon, she went shopping to buy a dress, that matched the gloves. On the way home, she stopped for breakfast. But she couldn't remember anything she had done after closing the door, except trying on her dress and gloves.
Eventually, she had to come to terms with the fact that she had run out of time. She took her phone and quickly tweeted.
"I'm going on a date, and can't find my credit card. £20 in my wallet and fingers crossed he's not a feminist."
She packed her wallet, phone and lip gloss in a small purse. She locked the door and threw the keys into it as well. Then she went downstairs.
The moment he saw her, he knew why she should be treated like a lady. Why she required such treatment. Naturally beautiful. Undeniably chic, in a little black dress. Incredibly sexy, in a pair of long, black, tulle gloves. With emerald clips in the hair. Hermione Jean Granger knew how to thank for a gift.
He waited, leaning against the side of the car, but as soon as he saw her, he straightened up and walked towards her. He offered her an arm. As he led her to the car, in a low, almost conspiratorial voice, he said:
"I've read your tweet. Don't worry baby, I've got you covered."
She felt a blush on her cheeks.
"Where are we going?" She asked, only to change the subject.
"It's a surprise."
"For the future... I hate surprises."
"I'll remember," he replied.
"But you still won't you tell me?"
"Nope."
Soon, it became clear to Hermione, where they were going. But she couldn’t quite believe it until the very end. Even when she was on board a private plane. Draco was standing right behind her. He leaned in to whisper in her ear. The air tickled her neck.
"Just want you to know, you don't ever have to worry about money, when you're with me, baby. In fact, I want you to break your credit card."
"Have no idea where it is." She took a place, indicated to her by the crew.
"You learn quickly," he laughed.
"No, really. I'm not kidding. I lost my card."
"I stand by all declarations."
"Sooo... Are we going to London?" She asked.
"A bit further."
"But you won't tell me where," it wasn’t a question.
"Clever, little thing, aren't you?"
Two hours after leaving the house, Hermione was sitting in a Parisian café, overlooking the Eiffel Tower.
"Really? They don't make decent coffee anywhere closer to home?"
"It's my mother's favorite coffee shop," he said. "I made up for my behaviour, and for your ruined bag. But I've never bought you that coffee back. So it's only fair, if it's the best coffee shop I know."
"Malfoys always pay their debts?"
"Something between the lines," he smiled gently and genuinely.
Draco's smile broke hearts.
Hermione found out that Draco's mother came from a French aristocratic family, and it was in this café, that she met his father. They came back here on every anniversary. Draco kept in mind, that Hermione liked her coffee sweet, with cream.
"You look so pretty, I want to take a picture of you."
He took out his phone, and rest her chin on the hand, to display her new gloves.
"You're the most beautiful thing, I've ever laid my eyes on. And I want you to know it."
"Draco Lucius Malfoy, are you hitting on me?"
"I'm not hitting on you," he turned the screen toward her, showing the picture he had taken. "I love this picture. Put it on your insta, and tag me, so people'd know you're taken."
"You haven't officially asked me," she crossed her arms.
"Shall I speak with your father first?"
"Obviously. It's a good thing, that we've already stated you're ill-mannered, otherwise it'd be a huge faux-pas."
"Oh, suddenly so French? Alright then. I'll put it on my insta, so people know I'm taken."