Of Old Dogs and New Tricks

Disclaimer: Not mine - not ever! No moola made from this!
Author's Notes: My muse was tied down kicking and screaming to produce this. I hope you enjoy! I sincerely apologize for the lateness, unfortunately RL has a way of interfering with writing. Happy Holidays!


"This is so beneath me," thought Draco.

He lazily flicked a piece of non-existent lint off his Giorgio Armani for Draco Malfoy original black wool trousers. Gently bouncing his foot in time with the obnoxious music being piped into the private waiting room for the Minister of Muggle Relations, he examined the sunny room dotted with cinnamon Portola leather love seats and armchairs.

"Once a Gryffindor, always a Gryffindor," mused Draco.

"Something not up to your exacting standards, Malfoy?" asked the Minister with a smirk of her own as she leaned on the door jam.

"While I actually appreciate your choice of designers, must your decorating theme forever and always be red?" replied Draco.

"Tut, tut, Draco. I would think discriminating eyes such as yours could tell the difference between red and cinnamon," responded the Minister. "While they are in the same color family they are a varying shade. Also the red palette symbolizes warmth, success and happiness; depending on your source material, of course."

"Bloody swot," murmured Draco.

"Sorry, didn't quite catch that," stated the Minister as she turned to enter her office.

"Who would've thought, I said?" corrected Draco, rather louder the second time around.

He fluidly rose to follow the minister into her inner sanctum. He was therefore quite surprised to enter a room with a completely different décor. The walls were painted a pale eggshell alternating a flat and gloss finish, simulating stripes. Below the mahogany chair rail the contrasting dark green walls flowed into to deep pile carpet. The main furniture in the room was the matching leather lounge set from Portola in a gun metal grey with accent pillows in royal blue, dark green, crimson and deep yellow. On the large ottoman, a tea service sat at the ready. The only other piece of furniture in the room was a large armoire, again made of mahogany.

The Minister gestured for Draco to sit while she busied herself pouring.

"Do you still take two sugars, milk and lemon?" she asked.

Startled, Draco simply responded, "Yes, and you still honey and lemon?"

Raising her eyebrow, the Minister said quietly, "Be careful Draco, you almost sounded human for a moment."

"No need to be insulting, Hermione. Pureblood wizards are much more than simply human."

"How reassuring that your humility is still with you, Draco," replied Hermione as she set her teacup down none too gently. "But let's cut the niceties."

"I see your manners haven't improved with time, Granger" Draco parried. "It wasn't my idea to have to meet. It's you and your damned crusade."

"I'm not on any crusade." Hermione denied. "If you and the rest of the pure-blood wizarding families want to move to Cumbria and try to build your own little world there, far be for me to interfere. Go swathe yourselves in robes and pointy hats and hope you can stay invisible to the muggle world forever. The rest of the wizarding world has decided to be ready to interact with muggles and therefore have integrated their culture into ours. We realize that there are things we can learn and discoveries we can utilize."

"As pretty as the Lake District is I do not want to move from Wiltshire," drawled Draco. "Neither do I desire to emulate our antiquated instructors from Hogwarts. Merlin forbid I molder around in a frilly dress robe, someone may mistake me for a Weasley."

"That was unkind in the extreme," retorted Hermione. "Ron couldn't help that atrocious robe from fourth year..."

"I notice you knew exactly what I was referring to," said Draco with a smirk.

"Well it was absolutely horrendous. To this day I can't fathom what Molly was thinking in sending that to Ron. I mean, she managed to get decent enough robes for Fred, George and Ginny," replied Hermione with a smile.

"My theory is that Won-Won did something to hack off his Mum. That's the only explanation. Beware a woman scorned and all that rot," Draco chuckled.

"Well I don't think it was Ron who was on the short list that year," snickered Hermione.

"Ah yes, you were the scarlet woman that year if memory serves," chortled Draco.

"Go on and laugh, you didn't have anyone sending you howlers with bubotuber pus in them," scowled Hermione.

"Really, I don't remember that. And considering what a ruddy git I was for wanting to see you suffer I'd've revealed it that. Did you end up with Pomfrey?" asked Draco rather seriously.

"Yes, I got to have my hands smoke and sting some more before the Murtlap paste was put on. Very amusing. I missed the class on Nifflers that Hagrid taught," Hermione groused.

"Any scars?" asked Draco.

"No, luckily," replied Hermione holding out her hands for inspection.

Draco carefully ran his index finger over the skin on the top of Hermione's hand. Both felt the tingle and shivered as the feeling walked up their spines.

Pulling away quickly Draco responded, "I didn't remember any scars on your hands."

Unnerved by Draco's soft utterance, Hermione abruptly changed the subject. "What can I expect from the old wizarding families? I know you are here and that's a start but what's the long term prospects?"

Relieved at the change, Draco thought a moment. "You know the main issue is pride. For some of us it's all we have left. How can we be a part of a world that has left us behind?"

"Are you sure that's all?" countered Hermione. "The blood feud is put to rest? We'll all just make nice? I hardly think that likely."

"Hermione, we may be pig-headed but we're neither stupid nor insane - contrary to popular opinion," Draco declared. "Now some are straight opportunists, Parkinson, Pucey, Nott. But others are simply trying to come to terms with a world they see as radically changed, one in which they are unsure of their place and how to go on. Those would be the Flint, Zabini, Greengrass, maybe even Bulstrode."

Seeing Hermione shudder at Millicent's name, Draco quirked an eyebrow but continued. "Most are not megalomaniacs but do have a healthy dose of pride, which if you want them to return to the fold of your shiny happy world, you need to consider."

"Consider?" sputtered Hermione. "Most of their lives they have espoused values that make me cringe and that advocated the subjugation of people like me! They are the minority and no longer wield the power to decide other's fate."

"Well, if you want to accomplish your dreams of reunification you'd better check your prejudices at the door," snapped Draco.

Turning an unsightly shade of red, Hermione abruptly rose from the leather settee. "I've heard just about enough. I should have known that this was a waste of time. Old dogs don't learn new tricks or new anything else, they just keep dusting off all the old. This isn't going to work, we aren't going to work."

Draco rose also. "I am truly sorry to hear this. While I admit I wasn't overjoyed to be here today, I'm happy to say that I came with a sincere intention to try to work on this. I recognize that if something isn't done the schism could shatter our world."

"Are you insinuating that I was insincere? I set up this meeting. Only good can come of sealing this rift," countered Hermione.

"I think the lady doth protest too much..." murmured Draco. "But as you wish." He bowed and left.

Seized by her anger, Hermione threw her teacup against the wall; unfortunately the shattering noise was no consolation.

"It's always like this with him," she thought disgustedly. "Scourgify"

Opening her armoire to reveal her computer station, Hermione began to furiously type her notes.


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


So it was with trepidation that Draco agreed to meet Hermione the next week at The Mooncalf-A, one of the new and trendy bistros that had seemed to be appearing all over Diagon Alley. The ultra chic black and chrome décor was not to Draco's taste but as it was a popular venue and it never hurt to be seen with the Minister of Muggle Relations. He sincerely hoped the Minister did not upend his drink on his head, as had been done before.

Draco signaled the waiter for another glass of water to accompany his Firewhiskey. It was at that moment Hermione paused at the maitre'd stand. Draco stopped with his water halfway up to his mouth. While Draco was dressed in another superb pair of Giorgio Armani for Draco Malfoy trousers, this time in charcoal grey, matched with a simple periwinkle cashmere sweater, Hermione had outdone herself. Starting at her toes, encased in black Bruno Magli pumps, Draco eyes followed up Hermione's rather well toned legs to the Ralph Lauren sleeveless Shetland Tweed Lilly Dress. "That dress looks better on her than it ever did on Pansy," though Draco uncharitably.

Hermione must have felt Draco's stare. She gazed directly back at him, assessing him with the same critical eye. It had taken a lot of soul searching for Hermione to call for this "date." After calming down from their prior meeting, she realized that her bias against pure-bloods, assuming they were incapable of change, was nowhere close to fair. If she and Malfoy were to work together to help bridge this schism, then they needed to clear the air and make a commitment to cooperation. So she found herself standing at the maitre'd stand at The Mooncalf-A.

"I am glad that you called," said Draco as he held Hermione's chair.

"Never let it be said that I give up," replied Hermione as she sat down.

They both studied the menu as Draco commented, "Both the beef and fish are exceptional, I hear. Do you know what you would like?"

Hermione was silent for a moment but then answered, "What I was planning to have doesn't seem to be on the menu."

Perplexed, Draco studied the entrees. "If you truly don't like the selection, we can go elsewhere."

"No, no it's alright. I was just assuming I'd eat crow," responded Hermione with a small smile.

Grinning Draco countered, "I heard it is well prepared here, it should be an easy swallow."

Turning serious, Hermione replied, "I was out of line; simply having an emotional reaction that should have no bearing in working towards our goal of uniting all the wizarding world. The past is the past, it needs to stay there."

"As we are apologizing, I should state I have personally never made it easy for you. Childish bullying aside, I hold you in high regard. Have since our senior year. But as an adult I now realize that words hurt just as much as hexes and am truly sorry for all the cruel things I have said," confessed Draco.

Hermione simply stared at Draco. She had felt their dance around this issue since their senior project. The enforced closeness had simultaneously grated on them and energized them. Who would have thought Flitwick would have been so perceptive?

"I am sincerely sorry also. Voldemort is not actually gone until we are truly united. And I want Voldemort gone forever," stated Hermione.

"Then let's drink to that," answered Draco as he held up his water glass.

Hermione returned his sentiments with a smile and a raised glass of her own.


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


Hermione felt the urge to lick her plate. It had been a very long time since she had experienced such a scrumptious meal. After determining that neither she nor Draco wanted to eat crow or any other type of fowl, they settled on chateaubriand for two, a wonderful endive salad with a walnut and vinaigrette dressing and a to die for crème brulee. It was that particular dish that she was contemplating licking when Draco commented, "Go a head, I know you want to."

Startled out of her meal and dessert induced euphoria, Hermione simply stared at Draco.

Smirking, Draco continued, "Go ahead and lick it."

Perhaps it was the cordiality of the evening thus far, perhaps it was the tension that their relationship had blithely ignored since Hogwarts but was there nonetheless, or maybe it was the two bottles of lovely Maison Louis Latour Marsannay Pinot Noir. Regardless, Hermione was feeling flirty and adventurous. Slowly taking the spoon and lifting it parallel with her mouth, she delicately proceeded to lick every remaining bit of crème brelee off the utensil. Draco followed the path of her tongue hungrily, keenly aware of the tightening of his trousers. Hermione could hear his rapid intake of breath.

"Would you like some more?" he queried.

"I've nothing left to lick," responded Hermione with feigned innocence.

Draco's face froze. He seemed to consider a verbal response but simply signaled the waiter for their check. He silently rose from their table and held out his hand to Hermione. She readily took it and also stood. Draco continued to look Hermione directly in the eye as he placed her hand in the crook of his elbow and guided her from the restaurant.

Outside the door he paused. "You understand what you are saying yes to, right? I don't want there to be any crossed signals."

"Where are you planning we go?" asked Hermione.

"The manor is easiest. I can apparate us there. No one can get through the wards without Malfoy blood or a live Malfoy with them," replied Draco.

"I think that is a brilliant idea," responded Hermione.

With a tightening of his grip on Hermione, Draco stepped into his turn guiding Hermione with him. After a brief squeezing sensation Hermione found herself in one of the most opulent and ostentatious foyers she had ever seen. The marble parquet floor beneath her Bruno Magli's was so shiny she could see her reflection in it. The marble columns and the great stone walls echoed their foot steps. Hermione tried to study the gold gilt woodwork accents and the carved balustrade as Draco pulled her up the second flight of stairs.

"I promise I'll let you wander to your hearts content - later," emphasized Draco. He continued down the hallway and through a set of double doors. "Hand carved Peruvian walnut - Later!" he commented as he shut the doors firmly.

Since they had stopped Hermione got a better view of her surroundings. The beautiful half-tester brass bed was the center piece of the room. The gold and green bed linens were a surprise but the quality was not. The side table had a beautiful cut glass vase with fresh white orchids. Hermione was surprised at the understated style as compared to the rest of the manor. Answering he unspoken thought Draco stated, "Mother decorated the rest of the Manor but I controlled my bedroom suite."

"While I think your Mother has grand designs I like your bedroom better," answered Hermione.

"So do I," murmured Draco as he came up behind Hermione and gently put his hands on her shoulders.

Gently Draco pulled her against him while Hermione softly rubbed her cheek against his hand. Leaning down, Draco nuzzled Hermione's neck, first simply rubbing his lips across sensuously and then nipping gently along her collar bone. Hearing Hermione's soft sigh and taking it for the encouragement it was, Draco turned Hermione around and pulled her flush with his body while still concentrating on worrying and licking the sensitive skin of her neck. Hermione brought her arms up to encircle Draco's head while beginning a rubbing motion with her lower body.

Draco reached for the zipper at the back of Hermione's dress. Undoing the zip, Draco eased the dress down Hermione's body and it fell to the floor. Stepping out of the open dress, Hermione thought it resembled a silk cocoon as it lay on the floor. Draco noticed Hermione's line of sight and murmured "Just a moment."

Draco ceased his ministrations as he leant over to pick up Hermione's dress and laid it on a chair nearby. Touched by his thoughtfulness, Hermione caressed his back through his sweater, rubbing his back and shoulders. Soon she became more interested in taking Draco's sweater off than massaging his back. Peeling the periwinkle cashmere off his torso, exposing the toned chest and arms to her sight, Hermione became mesmerized by the play of Draco's muscles underneath his skin. On the lanky side never having developed the bulk of some men, Draco had a swimmer's physique. Long toned muscles slid onto shoulders and around ribs. Hermione traced them, noticing as she did that Draco's nipples stood out in hard nubs on his chest. Raising her gaze, Hermione found Draco staring into her eyes once more.

Slowly and deliberately Draco smoothed his hand along her shoulder, stopping at Hermione's collar bone. Only the slight delay revealed his indecision as his hand then continued in a down-ward path. Fingertips lightly brushing the soft rise of Hermione's breasts, eyes catching the sharp intake of breath as they skimmed her skin. Draco became more bold, teasing her nipples through the satiny cups of Hermione's bra. His eyes never leaving hers, neither realized that Hermione's hands had stopped moving. Draco moved his hands to Hermione's back, unclasping the fastener for her bra and they both tore their gazes from one another to watch the satiny material slide down Hermione's torso. Unfreezing her stance, Hermione took her bra and tossed it in the general direction of her dress on the chair. Taking a step forward, Hermione closed the distance between them, allowing her turgid nipples to brush along Draco's pale chest hair.

Both moaned as their sensitive skin met. Draco fell to his knees as he sucked one rigid peak into his mouth. While sucking and tonguing the responsive flesh, Draco's hand was occupied with massaging the Hermione's other breast. Hermione felt he knees weaken at the sensations Draco's mouth was causing, shooting jolts of lightening from her breasts to her clit. Understanding that Hermione was close to falling over, Draco walked them over to his bed where Hermione abruptly sat when her knees hit the mattress. Releasing her nipple with a moist pop, Draco indicated Hermione should lay down with a soft pressure on her abdomen. Falling back onto the coverlet, Hermione was so absorbed in her sensual world that she barely realized Draco had removed her pumps and was easing her knickers down her legs. Slowly Draco worked his way back up her legs, massaging the smooth skin of Hermione's thighs and planting light kisses intermittently. Lazily, Hermione ran her fingers between her breasts, doodling nonsense on the aroused flesh.

Draco arrived at his destination, parting Hermione's legs and softly brushing his hands through the trimmed curls covering her mons. His lips soon followed, licking the crease between her thigh and vulva before delving between her deep red lips. Draco thought tasting Hermione for the first time was almost enough to make him come. While he explored her labia, Draco was scarcely aware that he was rubbing his clothed cock rhythmically against his mattress. He would plunge his tongue deep within Hermione's vagina and then bring it up to circle her clit. As he maintained this pattern, he chanced a look up at Hermione. She was pinching her nipples with both hands, head pressed back into the mattress, mouth open on a sigh. Thinking this was the sexiest thing he had ever seen and desperately wanting to see and feel more of it, Draco increased his caresses.

Draco could feel Hermione's arousal, her clit was engorged and stiff while he could feel spasms beginning deep within her. Quickly sucking on her nub and thrusting two finders into her opening, Draco could tell she was flying apart. Hermione's back went ram rod straight and an exquisite groan was ripped from her as her orgasm crashed over her. Quivering with her release, Hermione's climax continued to rip through her as Draco continued to suck and thrust. Only the desire to come inside Hermione stopped Draco from following Hermione over the edge. It was when Hermione began to whimper and pull away that Draco released her. Crawling up to nuzzle a languid Hermione, Draco was caught off guard when she grabbed his face and kissed him roughly.

Expecting some reprieve from the desire burning in his body, Draco felt completely overwhelmed with the raw passion in the kiss. Hermione wasn't just kissing him, she was doing her best to devour him. Her tongue filled his mouth, gliding over his in an animalistic forcefulness. Hermione slanted her mouth for better access, eating at Draco's lips; sucking on his tongue the entire time. Moans smother from Draco, Hermione or both provided a chorus for their dance. Using her hands to unfasten and unzip Draco's pants, Hermione had Draco disrobed in record time. Luckily, Draco had the presence on mind to kick off his shoes as well as his pants before Hermione flipped him under her across the bed.

Tearing her mouth from his, Hermione crawled down Draco's body; nipping and kissing much as he had done to her. Reaching his cock, Hermione did not hesitate to swallow him whole. Draco ground his head into the mattress with a groan, bringing his hands up to cradle her head. Hermione's head bobbed over Draco's pelvis, stroking with her tongue on the down stroke and sucking on the up stroke.

"Hermione, stop! I want to be inside you," exclaimed Draco.

Levering one more stroke on Draco's stiff cock and then giving it a gentle kiss, Hermione turned herself around and impaled herself on Draco.

"Grab those bed rails," she gasped as she drove herself down onto him.

Obeying from instinct, Draco lifted his hands above his head and grabbed the brass rails and hung on. Using the extra stabilization the rail brought Draco pushed upward every time Hermione pushed down, both setting a punishing rhythm. Having achieved her balance, Hermione began using one hand to flick and twist Draco's nipple, bringing more energetic thrusts from her partner. Feeling the beginning flutter deep in her womb, Hermione ground down more forcefully on Draco.

"C'mon, I want to do this together," muttered Hermione.

"Your wish is my command," growled Draco.

Hermione began a keening wail, her body rigid on top of Draco. Thrusting once more into the clenching heat, Draco groaned as he felt his climax boil over into Hermione.

Falling to the side, Hermione cuddled next to Draco. Draco deliberately unclasped his hands from the bed posts. Both worked to get their breathing back to normal. Licking his lips, Draco turned to face Hermione.

"That was very energetic," chuckled Draco. Then as a thought crossed his mind he started, "I didn't cast a -"

Clearly half asleep, Hermione raised a hand to forestall his lament. "I'm not the Minister of Magical Games and Sports. I am on birth control. Don't worry," Hermione muttered.

"You mean those little pills?" Draco asked.

"What, don't you trust me?" asked Hermione opening one eye.

"No, of course I do, I am just curious," answered Draco.

Appraising him with one eye, Hermione decided he was truly only curious. Closing her eye she responded, "No problem, I'll show you later."

Leaning over to offer a soft kiss goodnight, Draco smiled and whispered, "Right, during the tour - later."

Draco bent down to grab the coverlet and snuggled closer to Hermione thinking, maybe old dogs can learn new tricks. It will at least be a lot of fun trying.

Draco smiled as he fell asleep.


Finis

To see Hermione's dress go here: http://www.polo.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2058162&cp=1760782.1760898&view=all&ab=viewall&parentPage=family

To see Draco's bed go here:
http://www.seventh-heaven.co.uk/metal/metal8/m843.htm