From Venice with Love

Hermione’s days were filled with classes, prefect meetings and studying, and her nights were spent with Draco for the most part so the days flew by. They’d had no more arguments and Hermione couldn’t remember ever being happier. She was managing to juggle schoolwork, her friends and Draco without lacking in any of them. She spent as much time as she could with Draco, knowing Quidditch would begin shortly and their time would be even more limited.

Soon, the first Hogsmeade weekend was upon them and Hermione was excited to get to spend time out of school with Draco. Her only problem was talking her friends out of meeting ‘Alessandro’.

“I don’t understand why we can’t meet him,” Ron was arguing for the one-hundredth time as they walked towards Hogsmeade that Saturday.

“Later,” Hermione repeated, as she had all week. “He’s not ready to meet you yet.”

“Can’t we just sort of accidentally run into you or something?” Ginny asked hopefully.

“No!” Hermione really couldn’t think of a good reason why they couldn’t meet him so she just got more flustered. “I wish you’d stop asking.”

“I think he must be funny looking,” Ron whispered to Harry, but Hermione heard.

“He is not!” she said. “Maybe you’re funny looking and I’m ashamed of you!”

“No need to get nasty,” Ron said, looking hurt. “I am actually meeting someone later as well.”

“Really, who?”

“I’m not telling you,” he sniffed.

“Oh, it’s just Lavender,” Ginny said as Ron made a face at her.

“Good for you, Ron.” Hermione glanced around as they reached the village. “Well, I’ll see you back at school!”

She walked away from them and towards the other end of the village where she was going to meet Draco. She weaved into a few shops first, just in case anyone was watching, and finally got to her destination, a restaurant on the edge of Hogsmeade she had never been to before. Draco was out front, waiting for her.

“It was harder than I thought to get away,” She said, before he could speak. “They would not give up about meeting him, especially Ron.”

“Neither would Pansy,” said Draco. “Hermione, I tried to tell you earlier that I-“

“I mean, really! How can they be so nosy?” She went on.”As if they need to approve of my boyfriend?”

“Hermione-“ he tried again.

“I know they’re curious, but-“

“Hermione?” She turned to see Ron and Lavender looking at them, their eyes wide.

“Umm, hi, Ron,” she said weakly. “Lavender.”

“What are you doing here?” Ron asked. “I thought you were meeting Alessandro at Madame Puddifoots? And why are you standing here with Malfoy?”

Hermione opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She looked at Draco, but he just stared at her, eyebrows raised.

“Yes, Granger, why don’t you tell Weasley why we’re standing here?” he drawled, a smirk on his face.

Hermione looked back at Ron and Lavender. Ron was still staring at her, but Lavender was grinning, sensing the panic in Hermione and dying to get to the bottom of it.

“Well?” Lavender asked.

Just when Hermione thought she would just turn around and hex Draco, another voice called her name. Turning, she was actually relieved to see Alessandro coming towards her, accompanied by Gabrielle. “I’m sorry,” he said, coming up to kiss her cheek. Draco frowned slightly, until he released her.”We’re a little late.”

“Yes. Ron, Lavender, this is Alessandro.” Hermione took a deep breath as Alessandro shook Ron’s hand and kissed Lavender’s. “Pleasure to meet you both,” he said. “I’ve heard so much about you. This is Gabrielle. She accompanied me to visit Draco.”

“Ciao,” Gabrielle said, latching on to Draco’s arm. Hermione felt jealously surge through her but could say nothing.

“Oh, hello,” Ron said, seemingly disappointed that Alessandro wasn’t foul looking. He glared at Lavender, who had blushed when he kissed her hand. “Well, we’ll be going now,” he said, pulling Lavender by the hand back towards the village.

After a moment, Alessandro said, “Should we go eat?”

“Sure,” Hermione wretched Draco’s arm away from Gabrielle, glaring at her while she did so. “You could have warned me,” she hissed at him as they all walked into the restaurant.

“I just got his owl this morning that they’d come. I tried to tell you but you wouldn’t stop talking,” he grinned at her.

“Why exactly are they here?” She asked.

“We’re doing you both a favour.” Alessandro said. “This way, with faces to the names you two are using, your friends' suspicions will be put to rest.”

“What suspicions?” Hermione asked as they were seated.

“I heard Lavender tell some people that she thought you made up your boyfriend,” Draco said. “She thought it was strange no one had seen him. So, I sent an owl to Alessandro asking if he’d come.”

“Then why is she here?” Hermione said, pointing to Gabrielle.

“So Pansy will lay off of me as well,” Draco replied. “I made sure Lavender heard me say where you’d be today, knowing she’d find a way to spy on you. The whole school will know about her meeting us by the end of the day.”

“You still could have warned me,” Hermione said.

“You’re welcome,” Alessandro said, amused.

“Please, you did not come here out of goodwill. Did he pay you?” Hermione turned her gaze towards him.

“I have enough money, thank you. I just wanted to see your beautiful face again. I must say I was flattered that you chose me as your boyfriend.”

“Imaginary.” Draco clarified.

“All the same, it’s me she tells her little friends she’s shagging, not you.” Alessandro grinned at him maliciously.

Draco’s eyes narrowed dangerously, but he didn’t respond.

They ordered and Hermione noticed more and more of her classmates mysteriously deciding to eat at this particular restaurant. First, Seamus, Dean and Ginny came in, closely followed by Lavender, Ron, Parvati, Padma and Harry.

“She moved faster than I thought,” Draco said, as Pansy, Blaise Zabini, and Millicent Bulstrode came in as well.

Hermione tried to catch her friends’ eyes but they seemed too engrossed in their menus to look up.

“I guess we should be playing this up,” Alessandro said, putting an arm around Hermione’s chair. Gabrielle took this as her cue to snuggle up to Draco as well. Hermione resisted the urge to hex the other girl, especially when Gabrielle gave her a smug smile.

Alessandro’s arm travelled up the chair as he played with Hermione’s hair. She felt slightly better as she saw Draco’s cheeks flush in anger. “Don’t touch her,” he hissed.

“What would you do about it? Nothing here, I’m sure,” Alessandro said, smiling. “And you,” he said, looking at Hermione, “Won’t push me away for the same reason.”

“You’re disgusting,” she whispered, smiling as her friends snuck glances at their table.

“I could just get up and tell them all it’s a trick,” he said. “Would you rather that?”

“No.”

“Then play along, poppet,” he said, winking at her.

Thankfully their food came and he had to move away slightly to eat. Draco looked about ready to kill, but Hermione didn’t feel bad for him at all. He’d done this to them, after all.

Hermione ate as quickly as she could without drawing attention to herself. Draco kept fidgeting in his chair. At first she couldn’t see why but she met his eyes and he looked downward. She dropped her fork and while picking it up she saw Gabrielle had her hand on his knee and kept sliding it up. Hermione sat up straight and kicked the girl as hard as she could.

“Sorry, “she said, as Gabrielle shrieked in pain. “My foot slipped.”

“I’m sure,” Gabrielle said sulkily.

“Are we ready to leave?” Draco asked. “I’m full.”

“We could go to the Three Broomsticks,” Alessandro said.

“Or you could leave.” Draco said.

“That’s no way to treat a guest,” Alessandro said. He got up and held out his hand to Hermione, who had no choice but to take it. “Shall we?”

The four of them, Gabrielle again attaching herself to Draco, left the restaurant and began walking. The second they were out of sight of the restaurant, Draco pulled his arm from Gabrielle.

“Enough!” he said. “I shouldn’t have contacted you. It’s time to leave.”

“Draco-“ Alessandro paused as Draco took out his wand.

“Now.”

“You’re just not that much fun anymore. Pity.” Alessandro smiled again and looked at Hermione. “It was a pleasure. Hopefully, we’ll meet again soon.”

Hermione didn’t answer as he kissed her hand, and then held his arm out to Gabrielle. “Shall we?” Gabrielle took his arm and they walked back towards the village.

Draco took Hermione’s hand and led her into the forest. They walked for a while until he finally stopped much deeper in where they wouldn’t be seen.”I know, I know,” he said at her expression. “It was a bad idea. But it worked.”

“I guess, but that horrible girl!” Hermione shuddered.

“Her? She was nothing compared to him!” Draco said, frowning at the memory.

“Either way, it ruined our day out together. Maybe tomorrow? “

“I can’t.” Draco shook his head. “I have Quidditch try-outs.”

“You have to try out?” Hermione asked.

“No, I’m the captain this year. I have to be there.”

“You didn’t tell me you’d been made captain-congratulations!” Hermione smiled and hugged him tight. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I know you don’t care about Quidditch,” he said, blushing slightly. “I was trying not to bore you.”

“I’m not bored,” she said. “I plan to go to all your matches as well this year.”

“How are you going to that and have it not look strange?”

“Harry’s captain as well,” she explained. “He’ll be going, so I’ll just tag along with him. Unless you don’t want me to.”

“Of course I want you to- it’ll be great!” Draco’s face lit up and he smiled. “Playing the sport I love, with the girl I love-“ he abruptly stopped and looked away.

Hermione froze as he words sunk in. Neither one tried to break the awkward silence for a few minutes. Finally, Hermione started to speak. “So, um, when’s the first match?” she asked, trying to sound casual.

He looked at her shoes. “November. You know that- you do go to that one every year.”

“I’m just trying to make conversation,” she said, offended. “You weren’t saying anything.”

“Better than saying something ridiculous,” he mumbled.

“So now I’m ridiculous?” Hermione snapped. “I cannot believe you-“

She was cut off by Draco’s lips on hers. She resisted for a minute, and then kissed him back with the same amount of passion. Her hands gripped the back of his head, pulling slightly on his hair. He pushed her against a tree as his hands ran down to her skirt and pulled it up. Her hands, caught up as if by their own force, moved down to his trousers and pulled on the belt. He pulled away and looked at her in surprise. Always before he had been the aggressor with her. Hermione pulled him back to her and kissed him fiercely, still working on his belt. She got it open and pulled at his button and zipper. Draco seemed to hesitate again as she pulled his pants down.

“Hermione,” he began.

“Don’t you want me?” she asked, beginning to get embarrassed.

“Of course I do,” he replied, his breathing ragged.

“Well then?” she smiled.

Needing no more, he kissed her again, her head hitting the tree a little hard, but she barely felt the pain. He pulled her panties down and entered her quickly. Hermione had never needed him so much and the feeling of him inside her made her feel pleasure she had not experienced before. Her mouth opened in surprise as the most wonderful feeling washed over her.”Oh, Merlin!” she breathed, squirming against him to cause more friction, her hands in his hair. “Oh Merlin, Draco!” She could hear her heart pounding and his breathing in her ear and her feeling of pleasure heightened to where she could barely stand it, her insides fluttering, and then it was gone and she felt calm, and a little tired, as she felt him move away from her slightly. He pulled her underwear back up before fixing his own clothes. “That was different,” she smiled goofily at him.

He smiled back. “Happy?”’

“So, that’s what it should be like?” she asked, her breathing slowing down. “We need to do that more often.”

“Fine with me,” He kissed her forehead.

She sat down by the roots of the tree and Draco joined her. “I mean… wow.” She looked at him, still smiling.

“Good of you to let me know it was that bad before. We should get back soon,” he said, leaning against her.

“I know,” She made no move to leave, however.

“Hermione?” She looked up as he said her name. “What I said before. I meant it.” It took Hermione a moment to realise what he meant.

“I love you, too,” she whispered.