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In the late afternoon, the Hermes Steam Boat docked on the Georgia coast from weeks long passage across the hazardous Atlantic ocean. The Emporium of Magical Wares and Discoveries was a world wide event you would not want to miss as it only happens every decade. Magical folk from all around the world gather to present magical discoveries that would revolutionize the wizarding kind or give a no-name wizard a chance to win the prize of a fortune and fame that could last generations. One could say this was the Quidditch World Cup of the scholarly magical folks.
Given his family history, he would have a strenuous time persuading people to invest on his own. After the battle of Hogwarts, his mother separated herself from his father and even dropped his name and wealth that went along with it. It was a dark period for his mother as she was turned away from both sides. In support of his mother, he too stood at the front of the press at the Malfoy Manor entrance and declared that he is no longer a Malfoy, and he will be now known as Draco Black.
For years, it seemed as if there was nothing he or his mother could do to redeem themselves in the eyes of society. The deep wound Voldmort embedded was not healing, only festering. Everyone only knew him for being on the wrong side of history and reminded him every day of it. He may call himself Draco Black but they will always recognize him as a Malfoy. His mother tried to deter him from entering the Emporium but he couldn’t stay hidden any longer. This was his only way out.
Draco was escorted to the train station and was already feeling threads of sweat bead down his neck into his high collared shirt. He was told that the weather in the States was insufferable but he never imagined he’d be this close to Salazar’s arse. Right from the book of omens, he spotted a flaming red hair in the distance. Clutching his leather suitcase closely, his peripheral confirmed the Weasley as he strides across the platform in an outrageous eyesore attire. He was in a velvet purple coat that hung to his knees with a green vest to contrast. A small woman was struggling to keep pace with him as she carried several luggages in tow.
As they approached, he tilted his head down masking his face with the brim of his hat. He could hear the poor woman huffing from the oppressive heat and the weight of her luggage. He could not help but wonder who the unlucky woman was but her face was covered by a floating parasol. He was only able to make out the soft angle of her pale jaw that was redden from the heat of the day. She was struggling to keep up with Weasley as the station crowded with more people and he seemed to have forgotten her as someone caught his attention. Amongst the hubbub, you could hear him boasting about his latest invention that he and his brother have made. Draco flexed his hand in irritation. Of course Merlin must have cursed him from his grave for his audacity to be in society. If he hears one remark from the red head, he swears he’d curse him to yesteryear.
With a blast of the horn, everyone rushed in line to enter the train and the Weasel was standing at the door entrance, in a boisterous conversation with another individual. The woman beside him waited patiently passing her luggage from one hand to the other. There were a few remaining people on the platform. Draco had enough and walked determinedly to the woman and offered his hand:
“May I help you with your luggage, Miss…?”
A laced glove pushed back the floating parasol from view to reveal none other than Hermione Granger. Her brown eyes widened at the sight of him, and everything inside of him told him to apologize and walk away. But the blush on her cheeks told him to stay and the drop of her jaw told him to wait to hear what she had to say. After all, he was now Draco Black, a gentleman at the very least.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her arm moving mechanically to deposit the luggage handle in his open palm. He wasn’t expecting the weight and the surprise showed on his face.
"I would have enchanted weightlessness but I would not want to risk altering the charms of the objects within it.” She answered his thoughts.
“No matter, I was surprised you carried this so far.” He grabbed the luggage and tucked it under his arm. He looked up to see Weasel finally caught attention at their interaction as his face melted into a sneer.
“Malfoy, what are you doing here?Are you heading to the Emporium? Dark artifacts are not accepted there.”
"It’s Black. Draco Black. You don’t keep up with the latest quibbler … or attire do you?”
He pushed onto the train step forcing the two men back as he gave space for Granger to follow him inside. Before Ron could say another word, he turned to Granger for directions.
“Lead the way, I’ll drop this off to your cabin as I have mine reserved already.”
Hermione raised her brow and made a small smile. “I have mine reserved as well. It is toward the back.”
She strode down the aisle dodging bags and people squeezing into their small cabins. Draco turned to see Weasley whispering angrily into the man's ear as he walked away with Granger.
“How come I did not see you on the ship?” She asked.
“I don’t enjoy sea travel as much. Even with potions.”
She turned back and gave him a pitiful smile. They entered the dining cart that held several tables cluttered with gold plated metal chairs. The marble stoned bar was small but it was lined with an abundance of bottles and tonics. Drinks were flipping in the air and tumbling for passengers as they crossed into the next sector of private carts.
“You are here to support Weasley at the Emporium. Have a speech prepared for him?” He presumed.
“Not exactly,” she said, stopping in front of a door that was labeled ‘2B’. Her brows knit together familiarly and her bottom lip squared defiantly. “What makes you think I haven’t brought anything myself? I am capable of creating a new magical ware or discovery.”
“Capable surely but I think you are the type that enjoys a good puzzle. Spending hours trying to understand how something works or fails to work. You are not creative but logical to a fault.”
She huffed, snatching her luggage from his arm and closed the door on him. He smiled for once. A familiar pang went through him. Why she is here with that fool is nothing for him to worry about. As long as they play fair and stay out of his way, he’d be more than happy to stay out of theirs.
By the time the moon reached its peak in the sky, the dining cart was empty of inhabitants. It was the sort of company Draco preferred as he settled himself to a corner and tinkered with a small wooden box. He was reviewing the mechanics of his enchanted device, testing each charm and function. He couldn’t sleep knowing Granger was in the next room probably plotting his downfall with Weasley.
He sipped at a cool cup of tea when he heard a door unlatch. He twisted in his seat to see Granger walk out into the dining room in silk pajamas. She straightened her back at the sight of him and made her way to the bar to serve herself a drink without acknowledging him. Draco waited, examining his magical ware closely knowing full well that her curiosity would win and Granger would inevitably ask him what he was working on.
“Is there any more tea?”
”No, you would have to wait for the server to brew you a cup.”
"Folly.”
“Here.” He duplicated his tea cup and warmed it.
The sight of steaming tea from a porcelain cup was inviting, however, it was placed on a table where a wolf was in the disguise of a gentleman. His platinum blonde hair was askew as if he was working the threads of a problem in his mind. He dared not to spook her as she approached and took her place across from him.
“I didn’t picture you as the type of student who stays up studying the night before a big exam. I am sure your family donations would have curved your marks.”
He scoffed and took another sip of his tea. He shook his head at her growing smirk. She thinks she has him all figured out then.
“How could I not? This wouldn’t be a fair game now that the golden trio is attending the event. The judges would award you all the prize for just being there.”
“The judges are preselected for their integrity and scholarly accomplishments.”
“Let us hope so.”
Hermione tisked at him and eyed the box in his hands, “What are you working on?”
Draco considered her apprehensively.
“Come on, it's not like I am going to steal your idea mere days before the Emporium competition.”
"I am not afraid, It’s one of many items I have brought. This one is special because it's my favorite.”
The wooden box was outlined in branch vines that sprouted wood cut shapes of flowers, perched birds and squirrels with nuts hoarding in their mouths. It was simple and inanimate at first glance. He opened the box to reveal a glass dome. At first, it was cloudy and opaque. She could see her confused expression on the glass surface and looked at him. He nudged his chin back to keep watching. The clouds compressed tightly and light burst from the center. She jumped back in shock of the lightning that illuminated the space around them. It was a soft thunder coming from within the box.
“Are these the natural elements?”
“Yes, a loop of transfiguration of elements in all its phases. It takes ages to transition but it is well worth it. Sometimes the rain and thunder remind me of England. Then the rich earth and the blooming dahlia’s remind me of my mother’s garden. It produces a different variation every time.”
“It’s calming to look at it. It is charmed from your memory?”
“Now that is a secret.”
"What — that is not fair. Is it safe at the least?”
Draco placed his elbows on the table and slid the box to her. “See for yourself.”
“What do you mean?” Hermione asked, leaning closer over the table.
“It’s yours until the train reaches Texas.”
Hermione placed her hand on the other end of the box grazing the tips of his fingers. She opened her mouth to say “How do you know I won’t sabotage your chances at winning?” but Ronald Weasley stumbled into view.
“Hermione, I heard some noises here and I wanted to make sure you are okay.” Weasley looked pointedly at Malfoy and back at her in concern. Draco clenched his jaw in annoyance. He slid his arm down to his trousers, where he felt the form of his wand.
Hermione swallowed at the change of Draco’s mood, and told Ron she was fine. “I am still feeling the ocean waves in my head. Couldn’t sleep.”
“What is that?” Ron accio’d the wooden box to his open palm.
“Ron!” yelled Hermione.
“It looks like a dark artifact to me.”
“If you don’t give that back in the count of three, I swear…” Draco’s palm now gripped the end of his wand.
Hermione raised her hand towards Draco and Ron, “Please this is getting out of hand. He was just showing me what he made.”
”One…”
"I am trying to protect you Hermione. You are too forgiving.”
“Two..”
"Ron. Enough. Give it to me. I am the designated judge of the Emporium and it is my job to do this. I’ll make sure it's…safe.”
"Three.” A blast of blue sparks flew from beneath Draco’s arm and landed on Rons chest. A pulse of light blue encased him, freezing him in his tracks. Ron's eyes swiveled in fear as Malfoy stood.
Malfoy combed his hair back and sauntered over to Ron and plucked his box from his stiff fingers.
“He’s going to get back at you for this.” Hermione groaned as she stood to examine Ron’s still body.
“I knew he’d make a fuss at the sight of me. I rather it happened now rather than later.”
~*---*~
He walked back to his private cart leaving the door ajar. Predictably, Hermione returned a few minutes later with a tap on his open door.
“That was childish what happened out there.”
“Some people don’t change.”
“I see that some do. Draco Black” Hermione said with her head tilting.
“Well Weasley was not entirely wrong. I kept the dark artifacts under lock and key.”
Draco said, pointing to a large brown chest with a giant lock at the lip.
Hermione’s face flushed with anger. She started to rant on how she defended him against Ron because he was innocent. When Draco started to laugh, her stomach pooled with warmth.
“What’s so funny?!” she asked him fiercely.
“Is this how you usually chastise Potter and Weasley during school?”
“You are all the same! Childish, wildly foolish and have no concern for anyone but yourselves!”
Draco chuckled, standing to close the space between them. Hermione thought he was trying to intimidate her but he smiled a boyish grin. He was smiling at her when usually Potter and Weasley moaned and groaned trying to get away from her when she was this spirited.
Her words began to falter when the edge of his shoe touched hers. Draco raised both of his hands on either side of her face. She wondered if he cast the same spell over her and did not notice. She was frozen, looking into his gray eyes in a trance. His fingers passed over her lips and she closed her eyes in anticipation. His lips landed on hers in a soft press. Sweet to the taste as if she sank her teeth into marshmallows. After a few short breaths, she pulled away.
“What was that for?” she asked. She was confused as to why his lips were so soft and gentle.
“It was a little bit of this and that,” he said playfully. He walked them to the edge of his bed.
“This and that?” He was Draco Malfoy she tried to remind herself.
“That rant earlier,” he whispered on her lips, “and for this.” he said, sliding a hand behind her head and pulling her down to his lips once more. No, this was Draco Black.