Something In The Way She Moves

Chapter 5: With The Band







Hermione dressed slowly after finally finishing up one of the most surreal weeks of her life. On Tuesday, after her dinner with Draco, she was interrupted when Pansy led a goblin into her office. He wasn’t one of the Gringott’s goblins so she wasn’t sure why he would be coming to see her or why he was carrying a small silver bag.





“Granger, this….thing….has a delivery for you but he wouldn’t let me sign for it. He said he was to deliver it directly to you.” Pansy said, sneering at the little creature.







“Ms. Granger, I am Elgin Fitzroy from Fitzroy Fine Jewelry.” He said as he approached her desk and set the bag in front of her. “I was told to deliver this directly to you.”





Hermione was confused as she took the bag and reached inside for the large black leather box with the silver ribbon and a small card attached to it. She opened the card and a little smile graced her lips.







Dear Granger Hermione,





I can afford the real thing, and if you are going to be my girl you will always get the best.





See you Friday,

Draco





She set the card aside and opened the box, gasping when she saw the long strand of matched pearls nestled in the black velvet lining.





“Sir…what…I don’t understand.” Hermione said, lifting the pearls delicately from the box.





“Mr. Malfoy came in yesterday afternoon and commissioned a thirty-two inch strand of perfectly match salt water pearls. I worked on it all night, Miss.” He said. “Are you not pleased?”





“It’s beautiful, I just…it’s such an extravagant gift.” She said softly as she looped the necklace around her neck and let it fall between her breasts.





“Mr. Malfoy said it was for a special lady friend and that you absolutely could not refuse the gift.” The goblin said with a firm nod. “Have a good day, Ms. Granger, enjoy your pearls.”





He left her office with a determined stride, ignoring the way Pansy stepped backwards as though she were avoiding something vile.





“That’s from Draco?” Pansy asked, staring at the pearls covetously.





“Yes…a gift.” Hermione said softly running her fingers over the perfect spheres.







“You two are…what…a couple?” She asked in disbelief.





“I guess you could say that.” Hermione wasn’t sure what they were. They had agreed to dating, but she wasn’t certain that it was an exclusive arrangement. Though the pearls were an extravagant gift to be certain, one that implied that he was serious about her on some level.





“Wonders never cease.” Pansy said, curling her nose as she flounced from the office.





Each day another package would arrive. A vase filled with rare orchids and lilies on Wednesday. A box of the finest Belgian chocolates on Thursday. And on Friday it was a small, red lacquered music box that played Something In The Way She Moves when she lifted the lid. A tiny blonde man held a brunette in his arms and danced to the music, she nearly cried because it was the song playing when he asked her to dance the night they met again.







She debated for over an hour on how to dress. She considered the new denim skirt she had just bought, but then thought about trying to get on the back of his bike in such a short garment and reconsidered. In the end she chose a pair of jeans, ones that actually fit her according to the sales clerk though Hermione was sure they were way too tight. As she pulled on her new yellow tee shirt, this one with a wand on it that read Real Wizards Do it With Wood she began to wonder if the sales witch were blind as the cotton clung to her breasts. She felt exposed, put on display but she figured Draco would probably like it so with one last look in the mirror she grabbed her jacket and wand and apparated to the pub.





She appeared in the foyer where a large man in black robes sat near the door.





“Identification.” He said, his voice deep and rough. She reached into her pocket and offered him her Ministry issued ID card. He sat up immediately, his back straight and shoulders back. “Ms. Granger, follow me please, Mr. Malfoy is expecting you.”





He opened the door, the sounds of music and laughter reaching her as the bouncer led her through the crowd towards the back where Draco’s office was situated. The man stopped outside the office door and with a sharp nod he left her. She knocked twice then turned the knob when she heard his muffled come in. He looked up and smiled as she entered and she actually had to catch her breath. He looked genuinely happy to see her.







“Don’t just stand there, come over here and say hello.” He pushed the rolling chair away from his desk and waited. “I haven’t seen you in days, I was afraid you had forgotten me.”







“You made sure that I wouldn’t.” She said closing the door behind her. “Thank you, for the gifts.” She approached him slowly, still unsure of just what it was they were doing. “You really shouldn’t buy me such expensive things.”







“Don’t worry about it; I can assure you I won’t miss the money.” He said as he wrapped his fingers around her wrist and tugged her into his lap. She sprawled over him with her arms around his neck to keep from falling. She didn’t get the chance to right herself before he covered her mouth with his, his tongue darting deep between her lips as he reclaimed her mouth for his own. “I think I may have missed you.” He said, his brow furrowed as though trying to understand his own feelings.





Hell, he had thought of little else but her since having dinner at her house. It was maddening to want someone and not really understand why, what made her special compared to all the other women that had come and gone in his life. But then again, from the very first moment he had ever met Hermione Granger she had been driving him insane in one way or another.







“I’m not certain if I should be flattered by that.” She said as she shifted in his lap.







“You should be.” He said. “In all honesty I never think twice about the women I used to see. You have me thinking about you constantly.”





“Please don’t talk about other women when I am in your lap.” She said, unhappy with the twinge of jealousy that his comment sparked. Draco smiled, his hand sliding up her thigh and over her hip, curling around the denim clad cheek of her bottom.





“No need to be jealous, Gran…Hermione, none of them can hold a candle to you.” He said. A knock sounded and the door opened, the lead singer of the band poked his head in, his eyes widening in shock.







“Sorry to interrupt, Boss, time for sound check.” He said, smiling at Hermione.







“Gavin Clouse, this is Hermione Granger, my…girlfriend.” Draco said winking at her. “Hermione this is Gavin, the singer.”





“Nice to meet you.” She said, trying in vain to hide her discomfort at being found in Draco’s lap. Draco didn’t seem to mind however as his hand maintained a firm grip on her upper thigh.





“Same here.” Gavin said with a curious smile. This young woman was nothing like what the boss normally went for. She was a brunette for one, and for two her curves appeared to be all hers, no enhancing spells or glamours to make her appear more than she was. What was really surprising though was the fact that the color in her cheeks was genuine, not cosmetic. Draco Malfoy had himself a real woman for a change.





“I’ll be out in a moment, Gav.” Draco was clearly dismissing the other man. “What did I tell you about blushing so much?” He said softly once they were alone again.







“I wasn’t expecting…you told him I was your girlfriend.” She said.







“I was meaning to speak to you about that, actually.” He said, pressing his nose into the side of her throat and inhaling her sweet floral scent. He felt her stiffen in his arms, the hand that had been smoothing his hair stilled on the back of his neck.







“Oh?”







“I realized that I didn’t make my intentions very clear the other night.” He said, kissing her pounding pulse lightly. “When I told you I was interested in seeing you again, I meant that, I want to see you and as long as we are seeing each other I want you to see only me.”





Hermione’s pulse stuttered against his lips and he smiled. He enjoyed her reactions immensely and longed for the day when she finally felt at ease with him and would relax completely in his presence.





“You want to be exclusive?” She asked, pushing on his shoulders so that he leaned back and she could see his face.







“Is that going to be a problem?” He asked. “I’m afraid sharing is not something I ever learned how to do, Granger, and I don’t see any reason why I should start with you.”







“No, I just…well rumor has it that you don’t believe in monogamy or relationships period. I’m just a little surprised that you would want that…especially with me.”







“Well it surprises me too so what do you say we just be surprised together? Exclusively surprised.” He gave her that sly grin of his as he slid his hand up her thigh and gave her bottom a squeeze.







“I don’t have a problem with that, though this is all moving very fast.” She looked nervous as she worried her bottom lip with her teeth.







“Just go with it, Gra…Hermione. Don’t analyze it to death, just feel it. If it’s wrong we’ll know, but right now it sure feels good to me.” He said as he lifted his hips against her bottom so she would feel just how she affected him. She bent her head and pressed her lips against his, kissing him so sweetly it nearly made his teeth ache.







“I need to go for sound check.” He growled as he pulled his lips from her reluctantly. She looked so disappointed he couldn’t help but laugh. “I don’t want to, believe me there is nothing I want more than to sit here with you in my lap snogging like teenagers, but people come here on Friday nights to hear us play so I have no choice.”







“Oh alright.” She sighed and rolled her eyes as she slid from his lap, making him smile at her playfulness. “You are going to make it up to me, right?”







“Oh yes, I intend to make it up to you again and again and again just as soon as we finish up for the night and I get you back to my flat.” There was no mistaking the gleam in his eyes. “Now…come with me and cheer for your man.”





“My man?” She smiled when he took her hand in his.





“That’s right and I expect you to fight off any and all groupies who approach me later. Preferably naked in a pool of warm body oil.” He winked as he opened the door and pulled her down the hall back towards the bar.





“I’ll go sit in the back.” She said as they neared the stage. Draco looked over his shoulder and shook his head.





“Nope, the drummer’s girlfriend sits up front where she has the best view of her man and can watch out for all the slags who might rush the stage.” He stopped at a small table near the stage with a card that read reserved sitting in the center. He helped her remove her jacket and draped it over the back of the chair. When he noticed that she was wearing clothes that actually fit her he gave a low whistle of appreciation. “Damn woman! Now that is how a pair of jeans should fit.” He got a good look at her shirt and he raised his brows in amusement. “Nice shirt.”







“It’s too tight.” She said self consciously as she tried to cross her arms in front of her chest. He took her hands in his and pinned them to her sides while he stepped closer so that they were flush against each other. He leaned close, his lips brushing her ear.







“It’s perfect. Your breasts look perfect in that shirt. It makes me think about how they feel in my hands, more than a handful and so damned soft. And those jeans remind me of how good it felt to have those sweet thighs wrapped around me and that gorgeous arse of yours moving over me. You look amazing and if I could I would take you home right now and fuck you six ways from Sunday.” He nipped her earlobe and walked away leaving her flushed and panting.





She watched him step onto the stage and seat himself on the stool behind his drums. He went through a series of motions, banging, adjusting, banging, adjusting and banging again until he liked the sound. He smiled at her and crooked his finger at her. As though hypnotized she went to him, not fighting him at all as he pulled her around and settled her onto his knee.





“This is a kick drum.” He said, his foot pressing a pedal on the floor. “This is a crash cymbal.” He reached around her and rapped the stick against the brass cymbal. “This other one is called a high hat.” He gave it a tap. “These smaller drums are a snare, floor tom and a rack tom.” He took her hands and pressed a set of wood drumsticks against her palms then wrapped his fists around hers. “Hold them in a relaxed grip…now…” With his hands over hers he began to pound out a rhythm, the vibrations tickling up her arms.







She was laughing, the sound rich and full as he guided her through the motions. It was a beautiful sound, one he hoped to hear often. He liked knowing that she was enjoying herself with him, with something as simple as an impromptu drum lesson. She was still smiling when they stopped and she glanced back at him over her shoulder.







“That was amazing!” She said.





“No, you are the amazing.” He said smiling back at her. “It’s show time.”





“Oh! Sorry…” She moved to get up from his lap but he held her tight.





“Oh no you don’t…give me a kiss first.” He said.







“What is it with you demanding kisses all the time?” She asked laughing quietly.





“Get used to it, I like kissing you and plan on doing a hell of a lot of it!” He curled his hand around her neck and held her still for his lips, not pulling back until the crowd in the bar began to whistle and cheer. “Go on woman before I blow this set and drag you out of here.”





He watched her walk away, admiring the swish of her hips on her way to the table. His stomach muscles tightened and he felt warm suddenly when she sat down and turned her bright eyes and beautiful smile on him. As he played she never took her eyes off of him. It was if the rest of the band, the crowd in the bar, didn’t exist; there was only the two of them.





She sat through the hour long set, amazed to see the passion in his face as he played. Her memories were those of a spoiled, selfish, cruel boy with a tendency to bully. Though in their last years she saw hints of something more, an emotional and despondent young man who was unsure of himself and his place in the world. Obviously he had worked very hard to change, to find his niche in life and carve out a place where he could be happy. She felt an overwhelming sense of pride for what he had accomplished.





When they were finished he stopped by the bar long enough to get himself a bottle of water a soda for her since he had figured out that she wasn’t much of a drinker. He joined her at the table, curious about the strange expression on her face as she stared at him.





“What?” He asked, sliding her drink across the table.







“I really enjoy watching you.” She said.







“Well, the band is pretty terrific.” He said.







“No, I like watching you.” She said as she reached across the table for his hand. “You are so different from what I remember. I can’t stop watching you because I know you, yet I don’t.”





“Is that an odd way of saying you want to get to know me better?” He asked, his foot sliding against hers beneath the table.





“That is exactly what I am saying.” She caught his ankle between her calves and locked her ankles, trapping his leg.





Draco reached out and grabbed the seat of her chair then dragged it noisily across the floor until she was right up against him.





“That’s good; I’d hate to think you were only seeing me for the sex.” He said, waggling his brows.





“We’ve only had sex once.” She said, trying not to let her natural timidity cause her to blush.





“That will soon change.” He whispered.





“It will?” She squeaked when she felt his hand on her thigh beneath the table.





“Oh yes, come home with me tonight.” He said against her ear, blowing softly. “I want to see you come undone.”





“Draco, you shouldn’t say things like that in public.” Her eyes darted around the bar to see if anyone heard him.







“Hermione, no one can hear anything over the music.” He chuckled. “Stop being so paranoid, I would never do anything to embarrass or humiliate you in public.”







“You wouldn’t leave my office unless I kissed you and the office assistant was right there listening.” She pointed out.





“That was just Parkinson and she is a nosy bint who needs to be put in her place.” He said.





“You didn’t seem to think so in school.” She said.







“I also didn’t think with my brain back then. I let my ego and my little head do all my thinking for me.” He laughed. “I know better now, I’m a grown up…sort of.”







“I’m starting to see that…sort of.” She smiled.





“I’m hungry, I am going to go get a bowl of chips, I will be right back.” He grabbed her chin and gave her a loud, wet smooch before getting up to walk across the bar. Hermione watched him lean against the dark wood surface and talk to the bartender for a moment before the other man slipped through a swinging door and returned quickly with a bowl of deep fried potato wedges smothered in cheese and bacon.





On his way back to their table a tall, leggy blonde stepped into his path. She had her hand on his shoulder as she talked, clearly flirting. Hermione watched in amazement as she slid a folded piece of paper into Draco’s front jean pocket. Then she smiled when he withdrew the paper and without even looking at it he gave it back to her, pointing at Hermione and saying something she couldn’t make out. The girl looked rather disappointed and with a pout on her enhanced lips she bounded away.







“Well, that looked like fun.” Hermione said when he sat back down with his chips.





“Not really. She asked me to take her on holiday.” He said shaking his head. “I get so sick of women who only care about the Malfoy money. That’s what makes you so special; you don’t give a damn do you? In fact, I would be willing to bet that if I hadn’t made it clear that you couldn’t refuse them you would have sent those pearls right back to the jeweler.”





“Probably. They are stunning, but you shouldn’t buy me things like that.” She said softly. “I don’t need or want presents.”





“And that is why I wanted to give them to you.” He smiled before shoving another of the smothered potatoes into his mouth.







“The music box was my favorite.” She said.







“Really?” He asked, wiping his mouth on a napkin and staring at her. “Why?





“Because the box was so simple, then when I opened it up it was playing the song you and I danced to…I don’t know, it just touched me.” She said, suddenly feeling foolish. Here he had bought her a lavish strand of pearls and she was going on and on about the box.







“I made that box when I was fourteen, no magic. I had an art tutor who liked woodworking; he would carve little figures and was always making something with his hands. He helped me cut out all the pieces and put them together. I cut my hand trying to put the hinges on, the screwdriver slipped and stabbed me between my fingers and I got blood on the box.” He grinned. “That’s why it’s painted red. It sat on my bureau for ages; I kept my Quidditch awards in it for a time. I saw it sitting there after dinner the other night and I realized I wanted you to have it. So I lined it with velvet and installed the music mechanism. The little people I carved out, but I will admit I cheated with the paint and used magic.”





Hermione didn’t know what to say. Her heart was in her throat as she stared at him in disbelief.





“Is that…true?” He smiled and nodded. “Oh, Draco!” She launched herself into his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck; she kissed his cheek, his nose, his ear and finally his mouth.





“Wow, Grang…Hermione, I’m never buying you a present again, from now on everything you get from me will be handmade.” He chuckled.





“That’s just fine with me.” She said, wiping away a tear. Draco just smiled; he wasn’t sure why she was crying over the music box, he was just glad that she liked it so damned much.





“Sure, say that now but when you start getting construction paper cards and crayon drawings I don’t want to hear you complaining.” He said.





“You won’t.” She laughed. “I’ll put them on the icebox door with the ones from James, Teddy and Victoire.”





“How about we get out of here?” He said, his hand caressing her thigh.







“I’m ready when you are.” She whispered. “Take me home with you.”









~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~





OK, so there ya go...first five chapters up...you know the drill if you read my stories often....a chapter every other day till its all posted. =) Hope ya like it!