Veela Love

Chapter Forty-Seven: Lunch Date

Draco was the first to rise the next morning, not that he left the bed. Their bed. He shivered at the words - they felt so right and so alive with possibilities.

Hermione was still asleep, her hair fanned out around her in a halo of wild curls. He brushed one away from her face, tucking it gently behind her ear.

Draco couldn't help himself; she was too perfect and here. He leaned over and kissed his way down her jaw, then down the column of her neck. Hermione started shifting under him, waking up. He got to her collar bone and kissed along the sharp edge. By this time Hermione was mostly awake and giggling.

"Draco," she laughed, pushing his head away. "I'm sleeping."

Draco froze at the sound of his name on her lips. There was no one in the world that could say his name like she did, and it nearly brought him to his knees. Taking a deep breath he pulled back and smirked. "What?"

"I was sleeping," she pouted. Draco could see the smile pulling at her lips.

"Yes, and I was kissing you."

"Couldn't it have waited until I was already awake?" she whined.

"Absolutely not. We're already late darling. We have to get ready for lunch."

Hermione sat bolt upright, hitting Draco in the chin with her head. "Ouch!"

"Sorry," Hermione mumbled. Draco scooted away from her slightly just in case she made any other sudden movements.

Draco eyes Hermione's naked form. "I think we have time to share a shower," he suggested.

Hermione's eyes lit up. "Absolutely."

Draco was kicked out of the bedroom while Hermione got changed - she insisted it be a surprise. Ginny had gone shopping for her and come back laden without bags. She'd been told to use the Malfoy account and boy had she.

A rustle from down the hall brought his attention away from the book he'd been reading.

Hermione took his breath away. She was wearing a long-sleeve white beaded dress that shimmered like water in the light. She'd made a crown of braids, letting the rest of her hair cascade down her back in slightly tamed spirals. Draco knew they'd never be completely tamed and he loved it about them.

"Well?" She asked, twirling for him.

He strode forward and took her in his arms, bending down to kiss her. "You look perfect. Absolutely stunning babe."

Hermione pulled back and smiled brilliantly at him. "Good. I want to make a splash."

"You're definitely going to do that. No reporter will miss seeing me on a date with my fiancée, Ms. Granger." Draco rolled his eyes.

"You don't look too bad yourself, handsome," Hermione purred, pressing herself against him. He was wearing a white button-down with dark gray pants and his black peacoat. He could feel the warming charms Hermione had placed around herself and he was glad she wouldn't be freezing to death to make a point.

Hermione smirked. "Let's go."

Instead of apparating to their restaurant, they apparated to the Leaky Cauldron. It was so busy in there no one seemed to notice the two of them duck back into the alley to enter the wizarding streets beyond.

"Ready?" Draco asked, taking her right hand firmly in his own. They both knew there was no turning back from this. Once they'd announced to the world they were a couple everything, and nothing, would change.

"Ready," Hermione replied, giving his hand a squeeze.

Draco tapped the right bricks and they stepped into the street. At first, no one noticed them strolling down the street hand in hand. But by the second block people were stopping to stare and whisper. Hermione ignored them, but Draco kept flashing his famous smirk.