Changing

CHAPTER FOUR:


“How did I get myself into this?” Hermione asked her reflection. She had come home from work early as Harry had suggested, but not to rest. No, she needed space between her and Draco to think. Every time she would pass by his office, she would feel a set of ghostly lips buss her cheek, and if he happened to pass her in the hall, he never failed to reach out and touch her covertly as she slipped by.

She frowned as she looked herself over. She had fought with her hair for over an hour, finally managing to twist it into a knot at the back of her head. Already she could see stray curls escaping to tickle her forehead and ears. No matter what she did, it would not be tamed. Her dress wasn’t new exactly; she had received it as gift from Ginny Potter, but hadn’t worn it. She didn’t attend all that many formal events after all.

It was black, and sleeveless, the straps over her shoulders were wide, and dipped into a square cut neckline. The bodice was tight, belted a the waist with a satin sash and falling into a full a-line to brush the tops of her knees. She almost didn’t wear the black stockings, but thought better of it, as it seemed Draco had a fondness for the thigh high scraps of silk. She picked up the black satin stilettos that went with the dress and made her way downstairs to wait.

“Hello, love.” Hermione jumped, reaching towards her thigh for her wand before she realized that it was Draco.

“How did you get in here? How did you get past my wards?” She asked. She watched the slow, smirky smile drift across his face, and shook her head. “Yes, I know, pureblood. None the less, it’s disconcerting to have you popping up all the time Draco.”

“Funny, I got the feeling you liked for me to…pop up.” He said, looking her over thoroughly. She pressed her hand into the wall for balance as she leaned over to put her shoes on. Draco watched, fascinated by the black silk encasing her legs. He felt his member begin to stir when her dress rode up slightly and he could see the just the beginnings of the lacy bands at the top of the stockings.

“This whole thing is still strange to me Draco. I’m not sure what happened the night of the wedding, or this afternoon for that matter. I still can’t quite get my mind around the fact that I did that with you.” She said, reaching for a small wallet and lip gloss on the table. “Do you mind?” She asked.

Draco smiled and took the items in her hand and slipped them into his pocket.
“It’s not so hard to figure out.” He took her cloak from her and draped it around her shoulders. “You saw me across the room and wanted me, couldn’t resist my charms once I focused them on you.” He said with a smirk as he opened her door and ushered her outside.

“I see you can still count extreme arrogance as one of your attributes.” Hermione said as she rolled her eyes.

“I may have changed a lot over the years Hermione, but I am still a Malfoy.” He slid his arms around her waist and kissed the tip of her nose. “Ready?” With a pop, they were gone.

The reappeared instantly on a dimly lit street lined with carriages.
“Where are we?” Hermione asked, looking around at the unfamiliar location.
“The High Wizard’s district.” Draco said as he took her hand and pulled her along behind him. She knew about the High Wizards district, it was where the obscenely wealthy socialized, lived and worked.

“Why are we here Draco? People are going to see us together…”

“What, ashamed to be seen with me outside of London?” He asked, somewhat self conscious that she seemed so concerned that they might be sent together.

“No, it’s not that, its just….well you are a pureblood and I am a muggleborn…..and like it or not Draco, we have a past, one that will raise more than a few questions.” She said, looking about to see if people were staring.

Draco clasped her chin between his thumb and forefinger and held her head still so that she could only look at him.

“It doesn’t matter Hermione.” He said softly. “I know that a lot of people will be shocked, and I know some will be appalled, but I really don’t care. I like you and I want to know you on better terms than our childhood. I have changed, I swear it, just give me a chance to prove it to you.”

“But my friends…your family…..” Draco slid his thumb to her lips to stop her. He shook his head softly.

“Doesn’t matter.” He said softly. He leaned in and kissed her. It was soft, surprisingly sweet as he caressed her lips with his, tongues touching sofly, lips parting and melding in perfect harmony.

“Now, now Draco….do let the girl go, you are in public.” Draco and Hermione both jumped slightly at the intruding voice. Draco turned and smiled as he noticed his parents standing there, arm in arm, smiling at him. Hermione was clutching his upper arm, unsure what to do next. Her last encounter with Narcissa and Lucius hadn’t been good.

“Mum…Father, good to see you.” Draco said, leaning down to buss his mother softly on her cheek. Lucius was staring at Draco with a smug grin that made Hermione nervous.

“Good evening Ms. Granger.” Lucius drawled, smiling rather pleasantly….and that made her even more nervous.

“Mr. Malfoy….Lady Malfoy….lovely to see you both.” Hermione said politely, though she was instantly on guard.

“You as well my dear, you have grown into a lovely young woman Ms. Granger.” Narcissa said with a slight tilt to her head, as though she were in fact amazed that she had not grown into a buck toothed troll. Hermione blushed slightly as she felt Draco’s hand slide down her arm and entwine their fingers, squeezing reassuringly.

“Thank you, that is a lovely thing to say.” She answered. Lucius merely stared at his son, fascinated by the look of adoration on Draco’s face as he looked down at the young woman accompanying him. My how the world has changed.

“Nonsense, it’s the truth. Now, on to the theatre, we wouldn’t want to miss the first act.” Narcissa said as she and Lucius turned to lead the way.

“We are going to the theatre?” Hermione asked. “On a Monday?”

“Yes, special engagement, one night only of The Phantom of the Opera.” He held her hand as he followed his parents into the theatre. Hermione noted how it seemed almost everyone stopped to stare at the Malfoy family, and the press seemed desperate to take photographs.

“Draco, what is going on here?”

“This is the first time my family has been seen in our world since the end of the war.” Draco said as they entered the large double doors to the theatre.

“Are you serious?” She asked, looking around at all the astonished faces.

“We moved to the country for a bit, we needed to get away until things died down some. I went to University, and Mum and Dad worked on changing their beliefs into something less archaic than the desire to maintain a pure bloodline.” Draco explained as he led her up a winding staircase.

“Hence the reason I received no snarky insults from your father.” She said as she watched Lucius tapping his walking stick on each marble step.

“It was hard for him to change, but he did. He is repentant Hermione, the war cost him his best friend.”

“Snape?” Hermione asked.

“Yes, close as brothers since they were eighteen. Losing him hurt my father. Mother was happy for the change.” Draco said smiling. “She enjoys shopping in London, and father absolutely wouldn’t allow it before. She’s much happier now, and of course, she no longer has to worry about me.” He said softly. He obviously cared very much for his mother.

“I think that’s wonderful Draco, that you and your family have been able to change, better yourselves and your relationship.” He kissed him softly on the lips just as the flash of a camera went off. They both turned and glared a the little man with the camera who almost tripped over himself as he tried to get away from them.


Draco escorted her into a private box on the top level of the theater to the left of the stage. She was surprised that it didn’t boast the normal theatre seats as you would in London. Instead their were two levels, each one with an ornately curved loveseat of burgundy velvet. Lucius and Narcissa seated themselves on the lower one, close to the balcony rail while Draco led Hermione to the second one situated behind and slightly above.

Hermione was astonished by all the people who filled the theatre. They were all dressed impeccably in the finest robes and gowns money could buy, and most of them were chatting, albeit insincerely, as though they were the best of friends. Everyone knew everyone it seemed in the higher circles of wizard society. She noticed the lights flicker and go down, the stage illuminating as the show began.

She sat back and crossed her legs, relaxing into the soft, plush velvet seat. Draco turned his head to look at her. She was smiling as she watched the opening of the play, gasping softly as the crystal chandelier levitated from the stage to hover above the crowd. She was pretty, maybe not beautiful, but lovely none the less. He let his gaze rove over her shoulders and down over the ripe swells of her breasts, down to where her legs crossed, one thigh over the other. It was then that he saw it, the lace band of her stockings and a sliver of flesh above it.

He reached out, intending to push her skirt further up so he could see more of the tantalizing lace. She slapped his hand and shoved the skirt down, covering the object of his interest.

“Stop Draco.” She said softly.

“I can’t, why do you wear those, they drive me nuts.” He whispered, once again attempting to push her skirt up. Lucius was watching them out of the corner of his eye, smirking slightly. The boy was so much like him at that age.

“They give me a place to stow my wand…stop Draco, your parents are right there.” She said, pushing his persistant hands away.

“I bet if mum wore things like that, Father would be doing the same….I just want to see.” He said.

“If you like them so much, I’ll buy you a pair!” She whispered through clenched teeth. Her face flushed when she heard Lucius chuckle in front of them.

“I don’t want any, I just like seeing them on you.” He said, sliding closer to her so he could pull her skirt up her thighs.

“Stop, your dad is listening to us.”

“He could care less.” Draco said.

“But I do care young man, leave the woman be, you can play later.” Narcissa said over her shoulder. Draco blushed furiously as he pulled his hands back into his lap. Lucius was smiling.

“Really Lucius, must you encourage him? Acting like a lunatic over a lady’s stockings, it’s almost as bad as you and your corset fetish.” Narcissa said, shaking her head as she returned her attention to the show.

Draco behaved himself for the remainder of the performance, though barely. His eyes kept drifting to where he knew the fuel for his desire rested beneath her skirts. He wasn’t sure why the things affected him the way they did, maybe it was because he’d never seen a real woman wear them before, or maybe it was just the idea of her wearing something so sexy beneath her robes everyday that did it.


He was thrilled when they were able to bid his parents goodnight. She was shivering when they reached the street, so he pulled her close to him and he wrapped the cloak to his dress robes around them both. He kissed her and as he did he apparated them back to her house.