Sang Sacré

Chapter18

CW: NSFW CONTENT AHEAD

As their feet touched down into the fields outside the cottage, Hermione clung to Draco for more than one reason. He wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her without a second thought. As they slowly began the walk to their cottage, Hermione looked up at him quizzically.

"Why didn't you just apparate us inside or to the door?"

"It's beautiful out. I thought we could enjoy the night just a little longer."

She smiled up at him and cuddled closer, her smile brightening as he tightened his hold on her waist, which pulled her flush against his body. "The sky is so different out here. Definitely one benefit of getting out of the city."

He hummed in response, tilting his head back to view the paint splatter of stars that shone above. Some clouds began to roll in, but she paid them no mind. Backlit by the moonlight, Hermione noted he looked absolutely ethereal out here like this.

"Father said you're officially a Malfoy tonight." Draco pulled her along, and she flicked out her wrist to trail along the wildflowers. She watched as they gently bounced from her touch and sprung back to their original positions.

"That he did," she said a little breathlessly. "Feels a little surreal, doesn't it?"

"You were born a Nott, lived as a Granger, and married a Malfoy. That's a lot of names for one to remember. I guess I should just get used to calling you Hermione."

She looked up suddenly, seeing the expectant look on his face, and beamed. She pulled him to a stop and raised onto her toes to plant a kiss on his cheek. At the last second, he turned his face so she landed it on his lips. She giggled against his skin as he wrapped his other arm around her and pulled her even closer.

Her eyes fell shut in contentment and they kissed slowly under the stars. The longer they continued, the warmer she felt, and she gripped his shirt to pull him closer. That was until a fat raindrop splashed onto her forehead. Rain spluttered around them, quickly beginning to soak them, and they both pulled back in surprise. As they looked at each other, they burst into laughter, and Hermione pushed at some wet strands of hair plastered to her face.

He kissed her again, smiling against her lips, before he hoisted her into his arms bridal style and carried her the short distance to their front door. She untangled one of her arms from its place around his neck to push the door open for him but he hesitated before crossing the threshold.

"Welcome home, Hermione."

"Welcome home, Draco." She said in return, planting a kiss on his neck.

He smiled at the sensation, and not long after he was depositing her on the large bed in their suite. Hermione pouted at the sudden lack of his warmth.

With that infuriating smirk on his face, he removed his cufflinks and levitated them to the dresser wandlessly. He looked her up and down before saying, "We should get you out of those clothes. Wouldn't want you to catch a cold."

She stood and kicked off her heels before sending them to the closet with a wave of her hand. The heels obediently whisked themselves away, narrowly avoiding Draco's shins where he now stood in the entry to their walk-in closet. He yanked on the tie around his neck, loosening it with a sigh and unbuttoning the top two buttons of his shirt.

Hermione padded over to the floor-length mirror in the corner of the room and the candles near her lit themselves in anticipation. As she stood in front of it, she swiped her fingertips under her eyes. The rain had caused her makeup to run and smudge, to her annoyance. Surprisingly, she didn't look as much of a drowned rat as she felt and she brought her hands around to the nape of her neck.