Forever and Always<3

Chapter Two: Secret Errand

10. I want to have tree house.

"So, what's the deal between you and tree houses?" Draco asked, feet propped up on Hermione's coffee table. He grabbed a handful of popcorn from the bowl in between them and placed it inside his mouth. They had just finished watching the DVDs that Draco had brought to watch.

Hermione eyed him disgustingly and shook her head. "Well, what's the deal between you and Quidditch?" she asked. Draco rolled his eyes at her and the brunette sighed. "Well, when I was a little kid, I persuaded my father to build me my own tree house in the backyard. And my reason? I was so envious of the fact that our neighbor had one and I didn't. Being the one and only girl, my father agreed."

"Sometimes, I watched him build it. But father was one busy dentist so, when I went to Hogwarts when I was eleven-years-old, the tree house still wasn't finished… it was never completed. I planned to do it magically though, but I always really wanted to have a tree house that was Muggle made. It just makes me feel extra special when a person builds it for me with all his effort. And I don't just mean waving their magical stick around," she answered him honestly. "My supposed tree house is still standing in my old back garden. I'll let you see it, someday."

"Right," he said, eyes looking faraway. The gears in his mind were working double-time. He had succeeded in helping Hermione complete her first goal. Now, he had to think… and bloody fast in order to help Hermione. Actually, he already had a plan. He knew that the brunette wanted a Muggle-made tree house and so, he would hire more than thirty carpenters to build one for her in his own backyard. And with a bit of wandless magic, they were arriving at his house. He expected that they would call soon to determine the details of what had to be done. He had his cell phone in his pocket, ready… yes, Hermione had influenced him with Muggle technology; his new car was a proof.

"You know," the brunette softly said. There was something in her tone that made Draco's head snap immediately towards her. "I… I asked my best friends to build me one in the Burrow." And the blond knew perfectly well that she was talking about Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. Just like Ginny Weasley, talking about the two of them was still a touchy subject for the brunette, even after six years. "They agreed, Draco, but they never had the chance and time to do it. There was a war impeding… we were always on adventures so, how can they build me my tree house? And I bet they forgot about it a few days after I said it."

The brunette sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I have this stupid belief, you know. I believe that if someone made me a tree house, it would mean that they cared a lot about me."

Draco stared at her, eyes calculating. He jumped an inch or two when his cell phone suddenly rang, its shrill beeping snapping him back to reality. He cursed inaudibly, pulling the offending object from his pocket. He pushed the answer button and placed the cell phone against his ear. "Yes, hello?" he asked.

Hermione watched him as he talked to his cell phone.

"Cancel it," the blond said, his tone haughty. He paused and the brunette looked amused when a scowl appeared on his face. "I said cancel it, damn it! I don't care if they're ready. Just cancel it." And then, with a quick jab of a button, he ended the conversation.

"What was that?" Hermione asked. "You look kind of pissed."

The blond rolled his eyes, a good lie starting to formulate in his mind. "I cancelled my order of two boxes of pizzas," he explained. "Let's just say he didn't like it since they were prepared already."

"Oh," the brunette said, frowning. "Well" – she looked at her watch – "time for my bed. I'll just see you tomorrow, Ferret."

"I can't, Granger," the blond said, surprising Hermione. Draco always said 'yes' every time she invites him to her apartment. "I've got work to do."