Nicest Thing

Hermione toasted to the happy couple, smiling brightly when Harry leaned in to brush his lips against Ginny. She turned red when their kiss grew more hot and heavy. If not for Fred and George yelling out how their eyes are burning and melting, she had a feeling Harry and Ginny wouldn’t have stopped for the world. She couldn’t feel less happy for them at that moment. Harry really did deserve some one who loved him unconditionally, and he was surrounded by those who did. Of course, there were quite a few people who were only there because Harry and Ginny were famous – as were most of the Weasleys, Luna, and Hermione at this point. It wasn’t every day the world’s saviors gathered together to celebrate such a public event.

After the couple disappeared for their honeymoon, Hermione found herself helping clean the area – much to the disgust of the coordinator, who tried to shoo her away. The band was packing their things but a few people still remained on the dance floor, namely Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. She smiled at them and waved, preparing to Apparate home and get out of such a frilly dress and all the hair products she wore to keep her hair from bouncing everywhere like a tumble weed.

She reached for her shawl but was shocked when she felt it wrap around her shoulders. Turning slightly, Hermione stared at a smiling Draco. He was dressed ready to challenge the cold weather outside with a long gray scarf wrapped around his neck and an overcoat. Hermione smiled and pulled her shawl over her gown, flipping some of it over her shoulder.

“What are you still doing here?” She asked as the pair made their way outside so they could Apparate.

Draco shrugged and pulled the door open for her, “I bumped into Viktor Krum and his lovely wife earlier in the evening. Spent the rest of the night hiding from him.”

Hermione’s laugh was cut short when the cold air surrounded them and blew her back a little. Draco’s hand moved to her lower back to steady her as they climbed down the steps.

“Why were you hiding? Tried to pick up is wife?” She asked, remembering that she did see Viktor come in with a dainty blond on his arm. They hadn’t talked since Bill and Fleur’s wedding, but even then it was a curt hello and how are you kind of thing.

“Geeze, do you think I’d that much of a cad? No, I just made a not so wise comment about his Quidditch team,” Draco shrugged once they reached the bottom of the stairs.

“Ah,” Hermione just nodded, looking around awkwardly as the pair just stood there. “Well…It was…”

“Nice to see you again, Granger.” Draco held out his hand for a handshake, but when Hermione brought her hand to his, he pulled it up and placed a kiss on hand.

Draco parted from Hermione and fixed his scarf before turning from her. She bit her bottom lip and did something completely un-Hermione. Reaching out for him, she brought her hand to his shoulder waiting for him to turn.

“It’s not really late,” Hermione found herself saying, “Why don’t you pop by for a cup of tea. I mean if you’re not doing anything.”

What was going through her mind? This was Draco Malfoy. She still loathed him after all these years. Harry may have forgiven him, but she hadn’t. He had said so many hurtful things to her in the past and now here they were and she was asking him to have tea with her. Part of her hoped that he would decline but the other part wanted him to. She didn’t realize how much fun she had with their conversation and even the small dance they participated in. It was the first time in a long time she didn’t think about Ron.

Draco blinked at her and looked around. Was he confused? Did he knew she was talking to him?

“Are you sure you want to offer me tea?” He asked, folding his hands into his pockets, “Considering…”

“Either you do or you don’t, Malfoy.” Hermione was quick to say, fiddling with her shawl.

“Alright.” He replied and Hermione felt her heart jump into her throat but she smiled.

Draco brought his hand to her arm and in a small pop they appeared in front of her small cottage. She never got used to the feeling Apparating gave her. Something about feeling like you’re being sucked through a tube was hardly comforting. Draco didn’t seem to mind the feeling as he looked the same, despite Hermione looking a little uncomfortable.

His eyes scanned her small cottage and Hermione had a feeling that it was probably the size of his bathroom, or worse his closet. It wasn’t that her cottage was a shack. In fact, it was very quaint and quiet, how she liked it. She had a row of beautiful enchanted flowers that blossomed in the night and shone like moon pebbles, and a small walkway that lead to a white picket fence that surrounded her home. Ivy grew over her roof and down the sides of her brick cottage and Crookshanks could be seen sleeping next to a window inside the cottage.

Hermione invited Draco in and was shocked when he offered to take her shawl. Smiling slightly, Hermione watched him slip his scar from his neck and remover his overcoat.

“Here, let me.” Hermione offered, taking his things and putting it into her coat closet. “I know what you’re thinking…”

“No.” Draco said, almost coldly, “You don’t know what I’m thinking.”

Hermione froze for a second and felt herself becoming defensive, “Well you’re looking at my place like it’s…”

“It’s lovely, Granger.” Draco interrupted for the second time, “If you’re assuming that I will think it’s below my standards, you are wrong. Cottages are quaint homes. But yes, it is smaller than the Malfoy Manor but at least it is warm.”

She felt a little guilty when Draco’s cobalt blue eyes matched hers, forcing her to look away. “Right, well. Kitchen is this way.”

She busied herself with making tea while Draco looked around her cottage. He asked various questions about where she had found the cottage, when she had moved in, and how old Crookshanks was. The ginger cat flopped down from the window and crawled over to Draco, who sat at a small round table in Hermione’s kitchen, his arm slung around the back of the chair.

“Crooks, no!” Hermione hissed when her ginger cat leapt onto Draco and pawed at his tie that hung around his neck. “I’m sorry. He’s not normally this friendly.”

“It’s fine, Granger.” Draco replied, bringing his hand to Crooks and giving the cat a small pat.

Crooks purred and hopped down after a moment. He looked over at Hermione, who had been rummaging for tea bags. She felt him behind her as she tried to reach a mug but stopped when he brought his down for her. Hermione turned lightly and stared at him, he stared back at her.

Draco placed the mug on the counter and brought his hand to a few tendrils that hung around her face, framing it perfectly. Her lips parted when he leaned in excruciatingly slow and gasped when his warm lips pressed against hers. Hermione felt as if she could melt against the counter at this moment. His hand grasped gently onto the back of her head while his other snaked around her waist, pulling her to him.

Her mind was blank, completely blank, which was a hard thing to do because she normally chattered away in her head. Right now, all she could feel was his lips, his breath against her. Hermione let out a subtle moan when she felt his tongue caress her bottom lip, seeking entrance into her warm mouth. When her lips parted further, his tongue eagerly dipped into her mouth dueling with its mate.

She didn’t know what to do with her hands, which she was certain looked odd as one was holding onto a mug and the other a few packets of tea. He felt so good against her, his arms embracing her like that. She slowly closed her eyes, which had been wide with shock, and relaxed against his kiss. Her hands fell to her side, the mug crashed onto the counter but joined the other one, whereas the tea bags fell to the ground.

Hermione brought her hand to her back of his head, raking her fingers through his soft hair as he deepened the kiss. He tasted like mint and honey mixed together and she loved it. Draco pushed her against the counter as his hands traced down her lower back and down her sides, sending shivers up her spine. She could stand there all night kissing him and wouldn’t have minded.

Her tea pot had another idea however and began to whistle annoyingly loud. Draco pulled from her, leaving Hermione heaving and panting. Her lips were glossed over and pink, she knew that from looking at Draco’s own glossy and pink lips. He brought his hand to the kettle and pulled it off the heat before the flame extinguished.

They stared at each other in silence before Draco spoke, his voice somewhat deeper, “I think the tea is ready.”

“Sod the tea,” Hermione breathed grabbing onto Draco’s shirt and pulling him to her, their lips colliding once more with each other.