Just a Kiss

Chapter 23

          

The next morning, Hermione wakes with a groan and a dire need for water to soothe her parched throat. Sitting up quickly is not an option, if the pounding in her head is anything to go on, so she rises slowly and wordlessly accios a pain reliever for the headache. Her hand only shakes a little as she flicks her wand, so the spell goes off mostly without a hitch. She nearly misses catching the small white pill, but no one is here to see that. 

After taking the pain reliever and finishing off a glass of water that is already on her night stand in short sips, she swings her feet over the edge of the bed and stands up. Her legs wobble and her headache seems to triple in strength. Taking a few slow breaths, she waits for the initial unbalance to pass before pulling her matted hair into a loose bun and moving to the door with unsteady steps. 

"I'm never drinking again," Hermione bemoans, dragging open her door and stumbling down the steps. 

She follows the sound of softly clinking pots and sizzling--though to her hangover-addled mind, the sounds are like gunshots--and is fully prepared to scold whoever it is. Instead, she comes to a shuddering halt in the kitchen doorway. 

"Malfoy? What're you doing?" She asks, narrowing her eyes to see through the harsh light in the kitchen. 

Draco glances over his shoulder and grins at her before turning back to the pain atop the stove. "Making pancakes. Can't you smell them?" Now that he's mentioned it, Hermione tentatively sniffs at the air, worried it might upset her stomach, but the smell is rather pleasant. Her stomach rumbles loud enough for him to hear, making her blush and wrap her arms around her middle. 

It takes every ounce of her will power to keep from eating the finished ones he has pilled on the counter to his right. Mouth watering, Hermione moves further into the kitchen and stands a bit to his side to watch him work. 

"They aren't burnt," Hermione observes. She looks around the room, examining every detail. "The house is still intact, too." Draco nods and a smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth. "Nothing appears to be on fire and I haven't seen any more owls from your mother, so she isn't making a surprise visit." He nods again and finishes up the pancake he's been working on before placing it onto the stack of completed ones. Hermione turns a suspicious look back on him. "What did you do?" she accuses. 

He flicks off the stove and faces her. "I haven't done anything wrong. I'm just fulfilling a request made last night, or rather, early this morning." There is mischief gleaming in his gray orbs that makes Hermione fidget with discomfort. 

"What could have driven Draco Malfoy to do something so common and muggle-like as cooking?" 

Draco chuckles and plucks the pancake from the top of the stack. He tears a piece off and pops it into his mouth, making a soft humming noise in satisfaction as he chews. Hermione nearly bursts from her skin with impatience as she waits for him to respond. Finally, he swallows and says, "I figured you'd still want them. This is my peace offering." He smiles with accomplishment, and maybe a little too much glee at Hermione's confusion. 

Hermione huffs in annoyance but nonetheless takes a pancake for herself. She has to make herself nibble at it rather than shove the whole thing into her mouth at once. "What do you mean still want them? I wasn't even here last night because I went out with Harry and Ginny and I..." Hermione trails off, eyes widening in horror as realization dawns on her. "Oh Merlin, what did I do last night?" She groans, covering her face with her hands. 

Fighting back an outright laugh, Draco says, "nothing much." When Hermione looks like she might breathe out in relief, he quickly adds, "you just acted like a complete child and begged me to make you pancakes before you passed out at the kitchen table." He pauses and can't keep in the snicker. "It was all wonderfully hilarious and a fantastic way to end the night." He bites into another pancake and reaches for a bottle of syrup with his free hand.