Project 137.43.M.D.

XXVIII. | IN FLAGRANTI

XXVIII.
IN FLAGRANTI
(caught in the act)

The door opened with a jerk.

"Granger."

Malfoy sounded mildly surprised. He probably hadn't expected to see her again so soon. After all, it was only Tuesday and the events of the party Ginny had taken her to had probably made him think she would, again, avoid him for days.

Hermione squared her shoulders and eyed him briefly, trying not to blush at the memories that came to her mind as a result.

Malfoy looked very handsome. He was wearing a t-shirt and denims, but his hair was still slightly damp, so Hermione assumed he had exercised and showered afterwards. She was immediately glad he hadn't opened the door shirtless. Even fully clothed, the sight of him reminded her of the very day she had jumped him in his apartment.

"Your identification papers are ready for collection," she informed him after she had composed herself and cleared her throat. "We have to go to the Ministry. Are you free?"

Malfoy raised both eyebrows and the usual sneer Hermione knew all too well curled his lips.

"I think I can fit you into my busy schedule."

Hermione resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

He turned around and disappeared. She stood indecisively in front of the open door for a moment, then pulled herself together, stepped over the threshold and waited in the hallway instead. There was no need to panic. If Malfoy really dared to touch her again, she could just say no. A malicious voice in the back of her mind spoke up loudly.

Except that you've been imagining for days what it would be like if he did exactly that as soon as you came back to him.

Hermione sighed in resignation.

She heard Malfoy in his bedroom and then in the bathroom. A few minutes later he was standing in front of her again. He had put on a sweater and was now reaching for his bunch of keys, which laid on the small commode. Then he lifted his head and looked at her.

Her heart was pounding in her chest and she gasped involuntarily. Malfoy's grey eyes were fixed on hers, the mocking smile gone, and Hermione could have sworn he was having the same thoughts that had crossed her mind a moment before. He quickly let his gaze roam over her face before their eyes met once more. Her hands started shaking. Fuck.

When he finally started to move, Hermione felt a pleasant tingling sensation throughout her body. Her breathing quickened. It was exasperating. She had intended to accomplish this appointment as professionally and quickly as possible. Instead, both his looks and his gaze made her sink her brain deep into the gutter in a matter of seconds. She knew it was inappropriate, but she had completely lost control of it. Oh, she was so screwed.

Malfoy stopped right in front of her. He studied her face intently and if Hermione's own breathing hadn't been so erratic, she might not have noticed that his had quickened as well. But so she did. She blinked up at him, biting her lower lip nervously, and his eyes darkened.

Time stopped for a second. Then he slowly opened his mouth.

"You look stunning today, Granger," he whispered, and Hermione's jaw dropped.

His hand brushed her hip briefly as he pushed past her, but she wasn't sure if it was intentional or accidental. In any case, the touch sent shivers down her spine. Serenely, he opened the door and stepped into the blazing bright morning sun.

"Are you coming?"

***

The waiting area of the Ministry's Administrative Service was packed. Accordingly, they had been sitting close together on two small plastic chairs for over half an hour now and Hermione was getting more and more fidgety. Malfoy, for his part, was still serenity personified. He had his arms casually crossed over his chest and seemed to exude a stoic calm while one visitor after another was called up.