Bond

4

"Carousel" by Melanie Martinez

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The Studio Room: if the name wasn't enough of a dead giveaway for Hermione, maybe it would be the tarps draping all around the gallery-like setup, paint canisters and brushes placed, seemingly random, at different stations. Draco walked the room, eyeing over each and every tool at his disposal, a smirk perched across his mouth.

"Remind me again how this is supposed to be sexually appealing?" asked Hermione as she slipped off her light jacket (it was rather chilly outside this evening) and placed it on a coat rack nearby, revealing her simple white t-shirt and black shorts, as per Draco's request for tonight to wear something 'she didn't mind getting messy in'. Down below she felt rather out of place amongst the partier goers. It was rave night, thankfully, so the lights had been turned down extra low so everyone could see the glow of their magical glow sticks that changed colors every few seconds. Hermione was given one at the door, and still wore it around her wrist now, matching Draco.

"How is this not?" he replied.

"Paint is hardly something I think of when I imagine 'kink'."

"Why don't you take a closer look?"

Draco waited patiently as Hermione approached a nearby table, examining the different paint canisters there. Each of them were labeled, not with a color, but with a flavor. Strawberry. Treacle Tart. Dreamsicle. Chocolate. Vanilla Bean. Seaweed.

"They're edible."

He nodded.

"What about the canvas?"

"We're the canvas.- It's body paint."

"Oh." Her eyes went wide and a blush crept up her neck. "Oh!" Hermione giggled nervously. "I understand now." Wow, she felt embarrassed. Putting two and two together shouldn't have been difficult for her. She walked to another station, where different bins of marble-painted water rested. Some were mixes of reds, blues, and yellows while others held softer, more earthy shades. "What's this?"

Draco walked up next to her, arms tucked behind his back. "Marbling, I believe."

"Marbling?"

"It's a paint technique, procured from muggles, but perfected by wizards." He smirked. "Want to give it a go?"

"What does it do?"

"Look at that. You don't know everything, do you?" Draco untucked his wand from a holster he fashioned around his belt and scourgified one of the basins, leaving the water clear. Next, he reached behind the basins, revealing several colored dropper bottles. As if he'd done this a thousand times, he picked up a green one and a silver, placing a drop each in the basin. The water began to swirl and dance on it's own, making an intricate marble design with the two colors. He, then, hovered a hand over the water before dipping his hand in. When he brought it back out, it was stained just like the water, swirled in emerald and grey.

"Oh! Like a temporary tattoo!" Hermione exclaimed, excited. "That's very interesting." She reached out to Draco's hand -it was dry to the touch, and the paint did not come off as she rubbed her fingers over his palm. "What's your favorite color?" she asked him.

Draco let her trace her fingers all about his hand as he replied, "You'll laugh if I tell you."

"Let me guess. Green?" She shot him a snarky smile, and he shrugged. "How very Slytherin."

"I've always liked the color, even before I knew what house I'd be in." He guided her hand over to the different basins. "Your favorite color?"

"I rather like blue."