Sweet Justice

***A touch of sexual tension in this chapter...*sips rum 'n juice*
This is the longest chapter yet, get comfortable people.

Chapter 5

As he passed the wilted yellow rosebush at the entrance of her apartment he scolded himself for not getting her a new one yet. He also realized that this was the first time he would be entering her apartment under his own volition, instead of being carried drunkenly inside. The apartment had a different feel to it now that the sun had begun to set, golden light beaming in her front windows against her sanguine walls gave the area a warm feel despite the mild sense of disdain between the two occupants.

Walking into her kitchen without a word, Hermione placed the groceries on the counter and began to fill up her sink with cold water. Leaning against the frame of the door, Draco watched her expectantly for a moment before asking. “Sooooo, what do you want me to do?”

She considered a moment, unpacking the produce. “I've never taught someone how to cook before and I'm not exactly prepared, so um, I guess just observe for now and ask questions if you need to.”

He shrugged before pulling up a stool to the breakfast bar. “Suit yourself.”

After turning the faucet off, Hermione pulled out a large pot and placed it on the oven before rummaging through her fridge.

“Alright...first you want to melt a pat of butter with an equal amount of oil over medium heat. The oil helps the butter keep from burning.” While the butter melted she turned to the cutting board where the leeks and potatoes were. “Then you want to cut the dark green parts off the leeks. They get kind of tough.” She said, a bit more confidence to her voice. Chopping leeks longways she tossed them in the sink. “These get full of dirt when they're growing so you really want to rinse them out before you chop them up otherwise you'll wind up with mud in your food.”

On she went, explaining every little detail and soon she sounded like she was teaching a class at Hogwarts. A cooking class, but a class none the less. Draco being the only student.

It wasn't long before she was placing a lid on the pot and said, “that's it!”

Draco raised an eyebrow. “That's it?”

She turned and opened the fridge. “Well for now, it takes about a half hour to cook before we can do any more. Would you like something to drink?”

“What do you have?” He asked rubbing a hand lightly over his bandages. The tattoo was mostly numb for the last hour, but now it was beginning to tingle.

“Water, milk, juice, Coke, white wine, cheap rum, aaaand what appears to be a milkshake I should have thrown out a week ago.” She said pulling out a fast food cup gingerly before tossing it in the trash.

Pulling at the bandage tape Draco said, “How cheap of a rum?”

“Paint peeling cheap.”

He bit his lower lip, if it wasn't for the skin altering adjustments to his body he would have avoided alcohol entirely considering what happened last time he drank. However, the increased heat building on his shoulder told him he should be doing otherwise. “Mix some Coke with the rum and that should be fine.”

Pouring herself a glass of white wine she mixed his drink before handing it to him, an orange twisty straw protruding from the glass. Looking up at her from the abomination of a cocktail, she shot him a 'just for fun' smile before leaving the kitchen and walking toward her living room.

Stirring the drink with the straw he took it out and left it on the bar before following her to the other room as well. “So what do you do to pass the time while it cooks?” He said raising a suggestive eyebrow.

“Normally I would say 'read', but I've been doing paperwork since six this morning. Besides, there's usually something good on at this time of night.” Hermione curled up on one side of her couch before picking up the controller and flipping on the television. “Oh good, this show should be good for you too.”

On top of never cooking in his life, Draco had never actually sat down and watched more than a moment of TV. All of this was so alien to him, he was glad he had someone familiar to introduce him to it.

Occupying the couch adjacent to Hermione he sipped his drink for the next half hour in silence as he watched a spiky haired muggle in glasses explain at the most basic level how to cook a scrambled egg. It seemed condescending and overly simplistic at first, but before long Draco found himself leaning forward and paying attention to every word.

Taking a sip of his drink he coughed at the taste.

“I told you it was cheap.” Hermione commented absently.

“How can you drink this stuff?” He said

She swirled her drink lazily in her hand as the enthusiastic male voice emanated from the television. “Usually its mixed with juice or lots of Coke. It taste like swill, but it helps turn off my brain so I can sleep at night every now and then.” She said tracing a small scar along her neck with her finger.

As he watched her a pang of guilt crept into his chest. He had been on the side of Voldemort, albeit by force at times, but he was in the comfort of his own home. She, on the other hand, had spent the better part of a school year hiding from Death Eaters, hiding Merlin only knows where, and seeing horrors he could only imagine. There was even a time when his aunt Bellatrix held a knife to her throat and tortured her with the Cruciatus curse as he watched from his fathers side. Draco suddenly felt like the lowest of slime for not intervening.

Opening his mouth to form an apology he hadn't quite yet formed in his head, he was interrupted by the timer going off in the kitchen.

As he followed her into the other room the aroma of stewing vegetables filled his nostrils. “Smells good.” He said, deciding he would apologize to her at a more appropriate time later.

Turning off the heat she gave him a small smile. “It's only half done.” She said as she opened the cabinet and stretched to get something off the top shelf. As she reached her shirt lifted on one side exposing the side of her midsection.

Noticing a thin design peeking out from under the fabric Draco raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Oh my Gods, does little miss innocent have some ink of her own?”

Climbing up on the counter top to reach higher, Hermione smiled to herself. “Yea, I got it about a month ago. Tammi did it for me.” Finding what she needed she hopped down and placed the odd utensil on the counter before lifting her shirt up on one side to expose her design.

What first made Draco excited now only renewed his guilt. Starting at her second rib was a red ribbon held aloft by three sparrows. Along the shadow of the ribbon was cursive, elegant writing saying the words, 'For loved ones lost.' Lowering her shirt, Hermione turned back to the stove.

“Granger...I...”

“Not now, Malfoy.” She scolded him. “I would rather not start crying in front of a rival.” Swallowing hard, she resumed her cooking lesson.

“This,” She said holding up an odd looking gadget as she plugged it in. “Is a stick blender.” She pushed the buttons on the sides emanating a shrill buzzing noise. “Use it on low unless you want hot soup all over the place.”

Dipping the blender in the soup she pulsed it for a few moments until it was reduced to a pale green sauce.

“That's it?” Draco asked.

“Almost.” She said rummaging through her fridge and pulling out a carton of sour cream and a bottle of white wine. “You can use heavy cream if you want or even skim milk if you want it lite, but I like the twang of this.” Turning the container upside down she spooned the contents of the container into the bubbling green. “White wine is optional, but I think it brings out some added flavor.” Pulling the cork out with her teeth she topped off her own wine glass before pouring a splash into the pot as well.

Stirring the contents with a wooden spoon she lifted it out and blew before tasting. Tossing another splash of wine in she stirred it again before holding the spoon up. “Now its done.” Pouring two bowls she handed him one. “Careful, its hot.”

Tearing off a chunk of baguette she handed his a piece of that as well before making her way back to the living room, Crookshanks following behind her eagerly.

Gingerly holding the hot bowl, Draco followed behind, reclaiming his spot on the couch. The spiky haired muggle on the television was now showing how to whip egg whites into meringue, talking about various 'peaks'. Sitting in silence the two rivals ate and watched television for another half hour.

Hermione finished first (since Draco had returned to the kitchen for a second helping) and placed her bowl on the carpet for Crookshanks to pre-rinse. Looking at him she smirked deviously. “Alright, a deal is a deal. Pay up.”

Thinking back on the terms of her lesson, he sighed heavily before saying. “You, Hermione Granger, are better than I Draco Malfoy at cooking. You food goddess.” He spoke with some chagrin, but in all honesty that was the best potato leek soup he had ever had. He silently hoped she would let him take some home.

It looked like it took her some considerable effort to hide the smile tugging at her lips.

“That took a lot to say, thank you. Don't worry about the dishes, there's only the one pot anyway.” Picking up a pad and pen she sucked on the end of it in thought before she began scratching out a list.

“What are you writing?” Draco asked as he scrapped the last of the soup off the bottom of the bowl.

“A list of groceries for you to pick up tomorrow afternoon.”

Draco's brow furrowed. “What am I doing now?”

“If you're going to be telling people that I taught you to cook I can not have leek soup being your only skill. You're free tomorrow night I assume?”

Sadly enough he hadn't had any sort of social schedule since the war. “Yes, although my mother will want me to visit her Sunday evening.”

Finishing the list she said, “Perfect, that's when I visit my family too.” Tearing off the list she handed it to him. “Meet me here tomorrow at, oh say, five?”

Taking the list, he smiled. “I look forward to it.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Over the next few evenings Draco met Hermione at her apartment, grocery bags in tow. Each night she taught him how to make London broil with mashed potatoes, roasted chicken and green beans, lasagna, and pork stir fry with sauteed apricots. All the while watching various shows while they ate in silence.

Despite the much reduced malice between the two of them there was still a stagnant lack of discussion other than the cooking lessons. If Granger was having the same issue he was, then she didn't know where to begin. Possibly because any chat they had in the past few years involved horrible insults and ended in hexes or a bloody nose. Granted she did have one hell of a right hook.

Whenever he tried to bring up the past, or form an apology she would change the subject or hurry him out the door, making the excuse that she had to wake up early.

It was frustrating to say the least. Draco decided to try and change that.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Saturday afternoon, under threatening clouds, Draco sat on the front steps of Hermione's apartment as he absentmindedly rubbed his thrashed hands, grocery bags at his side. It seemed he had finished his work just in time as she rounded the corner and stopped in her tracks, transfixed by the massive yellow rosebush in place of the one he had unwittingly destroyed last week. “Draco, its beautiful.”

Draco smiled, she had used his first name. “I did owe you one.”

Looking up at him she also noticed that on each step leading up to her front door were small pots of herbs. Rosemary, thyme, tarragon, chives, basil, and mint. Grinning, Draco said. “Well you did tell me to pick up some rosemary, tarragon and thyme. The sales lady at the nursery talked me into the other ones.”

She seemed at a loss for words as she gazed at her expanded garden, but when her view traveled to his hands she gasped. “Ohforgoodness sake, Malfoy! Did you rip up the old bush with no gloves?”

'So I'm Malfoy again, already?' He thought to himself. Looking down at his shredded, blood and soil coated palms he realized that they probably looked worse than they felt. Shrugging, he explained. “I didn't really think the whole process through considering I've never gardened outside of Herbology. It probably would have been wise to bring a shovel too, wouldn't it?”

Thunder sounded in the distance as she looked down at him with a surprised expression. “Did you plant all of it with your bare hands too?”

Dusting the soil off the front of his jeans as he stood up. “Yes, I know. Not the best decision I've ever made. I never did very well in Professor Sprout's class anyway.”

Sighing to herself she picked up the grocery bags on the steps. “Well lets get you cleaned up.”

Thunder rumbling again, Draco heard the pitter-pat of rain on the pavement as he entered her apartment. “Rinse your hands off, I'll get some Dittany.” Said Hermione, leaving him in her kitchen while she went to her medicine cabinet. As he ran the cool water over his mangled hands he saw that the puncture and slash marks in his palms were already inflamed and red around the edges. It was a stupid mistake on his part to forget the simplest thing like 'rose bushes have thorns'. Such an absurd thing to slip his mind.

Upon reentry of the kitchen, Hermione opened a tin of dittany essence. “Give me your hand.” She asked. It wasn't until she took his hand in hers did he realize that this was the first time he could remember her touching him skin to skin. (Punches notwithstanding) She didn't seem to realize it herself just yet as she examined the shallow gashes and punctures before rubbing dittany into them. Almost immediately they began to heal.

Realizing now that she must have also used the same process on his injuries the night she rescued him from a drunken assault. Which also meant she must have had his shirt off.

Heat rushing to his face he hopped she was to preoccupied to notice. Looking at his other hand she repeated the motions until the cool, healing salve had closed up all the wounds. “Thank you, by the way.”

It took him a moment to figure out that she was talking about the plants. “You're welcome. I'm sorry you have to play nursemaid nearly every time we meet.”

The rain beat hard against the window pains as she looked up at him. “Well if you were not so accident prone...I...wouldn't...” At a loss for words for the second time of the evening she seemed to notice a change in his expression. Slowly, Draco felt like gravity was pulling him towards her. He had only moved a few inches when there was a wall rattling BANG before the power went out, plunging them into darkness.

“Shit.” Hermione cursed before she let go of his hand and reached for her wand. “Lumos.” Pale blue light filled the kitchen as she sighed irritably. “I suppose we're not cooking tonight unless the power comes back on any time soon. How does leftovers sound?” She said stowing the groceries in the ice box.

Draco pouted slightly. As good as the meals they made in the past week had been, he was looking forward to the roasted chicken that was planned for tonight. “Have any of that soup left?” He asked.

After gathering what they wanted to eat Hermione used a heating charm to warm up both of the meals. Draco poured himself a glass of Coke and mixed it with a higher quality rum he had purchased, while she topped off a wine glass. “So what now?” He asked, sipping his soup from a large coffee mug.

She thought for a moment before asking. “Are you any good at chess?”

He smirked. “Well you'll just have to find out, wont you?”

“Alright let me get the board.” She put down her stir fry and went into her living room (with her wand, leaving him in the dark for a moment) before returning with a black box. Opening it up he discovered an unusual set. The entire board and its pieces were made of clear and frosted glass. Surprisingly elegant, he thought.

While she set up the table he took his place behind the frosted pieces. “Care to make the game more exciting?”

Finished setting up the table, Hermione occupied herself behind the clear pieces. “How so?”

“Truth or Dare Chess.” He said as she shot him an unenthusiastic, questioning look. “We would play it all the time in Slytherin common room. If you loose a pawn, the other player gets to ask a truth question. If you loose a character piece, you have to do a dare.” She still didn't look thrilled with the idea. “But if you don't think you're good enough at the game to keep up we can just play it regular style, that's fine.”

Scowling at him, Hermione placed her wand in a small vase on the table between them before saying. “You're on Malfoy.” She said moving her first piece. Draco smirked. This should get her talking.

Unbeknownst to him, spending a great deal of time with Ron had taught her quite a few moves and she quickly took his first pawn. Placing the piece on the side of the board she asked him, “What do you fear most?”

He paused for a moment. She wanted to play hard ball? Alright, he'd play hard ball. “Social rejection from my piers. But that's happened already so I guess I'll have to figure out something else to be afraid of.”

She sighed. “I was hoping it would be something I could poke fun at you for. Disappointing.” She said sarcastically.

A few moves later he took one of her pawns. “Are you disappointed that you and Weasley didn't work out?”

Looking down at the table, she spoke more to herself then him. “I love Ron, I really do. But I want to be more in life than a baby maker. He want's lots of kids and I wanted a career. It still hurts a bit knowing he's probably getting a lot more than snogged over in Ireland, but if he's happy, I'm happy.” It took her a moment to realize that she didn't quite answer his question. “So no, I'm not disappointed.” She said a bit stronger, moving her bishop.

He raised an eyebrow and moved his knight. “Not the answer I expected.”

Two moves later he took her rook. “Dammit.” She whispered.

He considered many things for her to do, some subtle, some really really not, but in the end he went for the classic. “Strip something.” Draco said as her jaw dropped. He knew she wasn't wearing any socks or shoes, so all that remained were things he could see.

Imagine his surprise when, with a few odd movements Hermione reached up the sleeve of her shirt and pulled out a pink lace bra before tossing it aside.

Now it was Draco's turn for his jaw to drop. “How did you do that?”

Hermione smirked confidently. “It's a girl secret.” She said sipping her wine before moving her pawn to take one of his.

Suddenly very serious, she leaned forward and asked him. “Why, when we were captured and brought to your manor, did you not tell everyone who we were? I know for sure you recognized me when you hesitated.”

He was afraid she would ask something as complicated as that. “I'm not entirely sure.”

“That's not an answer.”

“Well it's true. When I heard you three had been captured and they wanted me to identify you I froze. Sure being in the Dark Lord's favor would have been nice, but...” He tried to form the words coherently. “I may have bullied you three during school, but I didn't want you killed and that's what would have happened.”

She paused for a moment, silent, before she looked back down and said. “Your move.”

He moved his bishop without really thinking about it. “Listen, Hermione, I'm sorry about what happened. I'm sorry for not doing anything while my aunt was cursing you, for not being able to control Crabbe in the Room of Requirements, for letting Death Eaters into Hogwarts sixth year...for...”

“Draco.” She said, stopping him. “I've already forgiven you for all that. Holding grudges and getting revenge only causes more pain, and I've had quite enough of that.”

He paused in surprise. All this time, she had already forgiven him? “Can I apologize for one more thing?”

“If you must.”

“I'm sorry for every time I ever called you Mudblood.”

That seemed to hit more a chord than all of his other apologies. For a moment in the dim light, her eyes looked misty. “Forgiven.” She moved another piece, casually taking his bishop. “Now you strip something.” Broadsided by her request he looked down at the chess table and back to her wondering when she had snuck up on him like that. At least he still had his- “No socks, don't be cheap... Oh goodness was that the classic Malfoy snide glare? I haven't seen that in a wile.” She commented as he begrudgingly pulled his white t-shirt over his head. Hermione took a sip of wine as she gave him a quick once-over. “You're tattoo's healing nicely.” He rubbed it absentmindedly, feeling a little exposed at the moment.

He suddenly wished he had made an effort to tan.

“You're move.” She said, taking another sip of wine.

Draco moved his remaining bishop, she moved her queen, he moved a pawn, she took his pawn with her knight.

Shit.

“Did you ever fancy someone in Gryffindor back when we were in school?”

Choking on his drink, Draco sputtered. “What?”

“Have you ever had the hots for anyone in Gryffindor?” She repeated.

Oh there had to be some way around this one. “Yes. Yes, I have.” He said honestly.

“And who might that be?”

“Well that's another question, isn't it?” He said, proud of himself before taking her bishop. Hermione's grin fell. “Strip again.” Her only having three remaining articles of clothing she wasn't sneaking out of it this time.

Instead of her arguing like he expected her to, she stood up and began to hike up the sides of her skirt. Draco couldn't hide his eager expression when she hooked her thumbs around the edges of her panties and pulled them down, her skirt still hiding the interesting parts. It was all Draco could do to keep his mouth shut as she held her pink lace panties between her two index fingers, before shooting them at him, slingshot style.

As they landed in his lap Hermione sat back down, victoriously, before moving her queen.

Draco wondered if she knew what she was doing to him.

Moving his queen in closer to the kill, she moved her knight up for a kill as well. Draco now had the choice between loosing a rook or a pawn come her next move. Looking up at her she grinned wickedly. “Decisions decisions.” She mocked. He knew what question she would ask next, 'who in Gryffindor he had the hots for' and that secret he was going to take the the grave. If she took his rook...Moving his pawn out of harms way he prepared himself for her dare.

She pointed behind him. “Go into the fridge, and take a big shot of that cheap rum you hate so much. The dare is to keep it down.”

He would rather have stripped.

Getting up he found his way blindly to the fridge before opening it and realizing he couldn't see anything. Feeling for the flask shaped bottle he finally found it on the bottom shelf and downed a big mouthful of it before he could talk himself out of it. It burned like acid going down, making him choke. “You -cough- are not allowed to b -cough- buy this stuff ever again.” He said looking back at the table from his crouched position. He was sure Hermione couldn't see his expression from her seat at the table, otherwise she would have seen him grin from ear to ear, because if it wasn't for the extremely dim lighting he would have been able to see right up her skirt. Even though it was an accident, he felt almost perverted...almost. He couldn't technically see anything after all.

Forcing the grin from his face he returned to the table, still coughing lightly from the horrendous liquor. Looking at the board he kept a close eye on his pawns before debating his next move. Grinning he moved his queen to take another one of her pawns. Placing it on the side of the board he asked her, “Why are you helping me? I understand why you saved me when I was having my ass handed to me, but what about this? I know it's not just because you like having me pay for groceries.”

She sipped her drink and all to calmly she responded. “Because it gives me something to look forward to. With Ron away and Harry spending all his time with Ginny, my days seem monotonous. I love my work, but...What can I say, you've grown on me. Even if you are a Slytherin prick.”

He smirked, “I'll take that as a complement. It sounds a bit better than 'foul-loathsome-evil-little-cockroach'.” Looking down on the board, he grinned. Moving his knight in for the king he said, “check.”

Quickly, Hermione used her queen to take his knight. “I'm sorry what was that?” She said as she got up and walked back to the kitchen. As she passed him she bent down and whispered in his ear. “Loose the pants.”

How did he not notice her queen?! Must be the poor lighting, he reassured himself. As he stood up to remove his pants he wobbled a bit. That horrible rum must have a massive alcohol level, he thought. Unzipping his jeans he pulled them down and slung them over the back of his chair before sitting back down.

When Hermione came back into the room she looked down at his remaining clothes. “Nice boxers. I didn't know you liked dark beer.” She said commenting on the green fabric with the word Guinness written along the waistband.

As she sat down Draco considered his next move carefully.

Moving his pawn safely, it took Hermione a moment before she moved her queen. The chess pieces were low as were articles of clothing. They were taking care with there moves now.

Moving his king, Draco wondered if he was working himself into a corner. Until Hermione moved her knight right in the path of one of his pawns. Looking a few moves ahead he saw no way she could take his pawn if he took her knight. Not in the next two moves anyway. Was she getting tipsy or did she do that on purpose? Draco couldn't decide.

Taking the risk, heart pounding in his ears, he decided on his dare as he moved to take her knight. Placing the piece on the perimeter of the board she looked at him expectantly as he hesitated for a long moment.

Standing up he leaned over the table until he was inches from her face. He could feel her breath on his cheek as he whispered, “Please don't hex me.” As he closed the distance and kissed her.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Wondering what Draco's secret was that he didn't want revealed? Check my other oneshot story, "How Bizarre".


Wooo! The plot thickens. I can see Draco in green Guinness boxers, can't you?
If you see something that needs editing, tell me.
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