POV: Hermione. Don't Play the song Until I tell you lovers! 😘

The week leading into this catastrophic arranged weekend with Malfoy was a nightmare.

Ronald and I were fighting constantly.

Abnormally more than usual...

I was particularly snippy with Harry at work today. So he jokingly asked me if I was pregnant or if it was my time of the month again?! I splashed my scalding coffee all over him and with the wave of my wand, I turned his voice into only speaking in a high pitched foreign pixie language for the three hours... he did later apologize for being such an imbecile, he knew better than to poke at me. The rest of the workday was disastrous to say the least... A former Death Eater, that we knew all too well, Scabior, was in hiding and escaped through Harry fingers during his arrest... which put an even bigger damper on the upcoming weekend that was glooming above me all day.

I was finally home reliving everything that had happened between Malfoy, Ronald, and I...

I couldn't believe Ronald would agree to this disgusting and demeaning slave venture. He was off put at his own actions, but still agreed to follow through, not having any other choice because of the Unbreakable Vow and mainly because of his greedy desperations for money. It made me think, "Does he truly love money, more than me?" I asked myself staring at my engagement ring and circling it around my finger standing alone in my bathroom. I felt a tear streaming down my cheek and landing on top of my hand that wore the ring that Ron gave to me as a symbol for our relationship to wed. I took it off my finger, for the first time since Ronald placed it upon me... and returned it back to the box that Ron used to hold my ring. My stomach summersaulted and I couldn't bear to look at the ring that reminded me of him any longer...

I harshly zipped my luggage bag, finishing packing my clothes for a weekend alone with Draco Malfoy. I hadn't a clue as to what to pack, so I improvised with some dresses and everyday clothes, feeling like a paid escort. Well in all actuality Hermione,

you are one...

"Are you all packed?" Ronald dared to ask me. I slowly turned my head glaring at him and narrowing my eyes at the weasel over my shoulder.

I didn't speak a word to him and lifted my suitcase with my hand, showing him I was ready to leave with a sneering stare.

"Let me help you," Ronald demanded and I pushed him to the side with my shoulder muttering, "I can handle it myself," and retrieved my wand from my pocket and ordered my suitcase to the front door by magic taunting him, "LeviOsaa!" I properly annunciated the incantation as we softly smiled me and I huffed under my breath with annoyance brewing in my veins.

I walked to our living room feeling the urge to burst into tears. But I couldn't cry anymore. I had lost all the tears from my eyes from crying all week.

"It'll be over before you know it. You'll be back home and we'll forget about this mess," Ronald exclaimed trying to sound sympathetic to the situation he had put me in... I held my tongue again. I couldn't even talk to him, the hurt was so embedded into my soul. I don't know if I would ever be able to forgive him for what he'd done to me...

Our doorbell rang and Ronald answered the door. It was Malfoy's House Elf assistant wearing his dapper suit.

"Miss Granger, my apologies for not introducing myself the first time I made your acquaintance. My name is Carson. Master Malfoy's most trusted adviser..." he bowed respectfully and stood asking,"I presume you're ready to join Master Malfoy?" He gentlemanly asked.

I shook my head yes looking down at our wooden floor and proceeded out the door to Malfoy's secluded requests. Ronald then stopped me, taking hold of my arm and forcing me to face him.

"I love you, Hermione," He said with tears of remorse in his choking voice.

I said nothing... I just looked at him with my eyes dancing back and forth onto his bogus blues... I couldn't say anything back, because the devastation of what he had done to me, was overwhelming my entire body. The silence and the pain was quivering both of our lips as we stared into each other's eyes.
And I suddenly realized, the tears were found in my eyes once again.

"This way, Miss. Granger, if you will. And I'll take your luggage Miss," Carson politely confiscated my belongings.

He next held out his hand and I took hold of his cold bony grip as I glared at Ronald... Carson briskly disapparated us to wherever Malfoy was awaiting for my arrival. I heard the echoing screams and pounds of Ronald's cries and fists hitting our wooden floors excruciating my ears in our steadfast launch of Wizarding travel. I sobbed feeling as if my eyes were going to bleed out of utter disparity.

"It'll be alright, Miss. Granger. Master Malfoy is a good wizard," Carson comforted me and I puffed a gasping breath reading, of course you would say that. He pays you to say that.

He pays off everyone...

💫💫💫💫💫💫💫

Play the song darling 😘

We landed directly on a large yacht?! I instantly pulled myself together, not wanting Malfoy to see me in this state... he obviously loved torturing me and this would the icing on his devil foods cake.

It was remarkable... sheer heaven in the warmth and mists of the ocean of magnificently tropically romance and ethereal escapes that everyone manifests thinking of what paradise should be. We were in the middle of a turquoise ocean with the horizon afoot with no one, but clearly Malfoy's boat for miles.

The sun was setting in the west and I was awestruck from the beauty I was witnessing for the first time in my life. I had never been on a yacht before...

"Well, well, well... good of you to finally join me, Granger."

I heard Malfoy's loathed deep voice from behind me. I wheeled around to face him and he was dressed in another fancy onyx suit. However this time, he was wearing a white T-shirt underneath the coat... his snowy hair was more relaxed and a bit longer than I remembered... and his feet were bare. He had handsomely attractive feet. Unlike the overgrown bearclaws that Ronald stomped around on... Holy Chizpurfles, I cannot believe I just thought that...

"Well, some of us do work for a living," I reminded him and gave him more of my rebutting attitude to annoy him.

"Are black suits the only item of clothing you wear Malfoy?" I questioned feeling myself laughing. I mean we're in the tropics for Merlin's sake!

"No, sometimes I wear absolutely nothing..." He arrogantly stabbed me in his retraction with a smirk and his sexual insinuations waving out of him with idleness...

"Where are we exactly?" I impertinently inquired, trying to conceal the fact that I was honestly excitedly wondrous to know. He overpassed my bluntness and used his manners I never knew existed, to talk nicely to me...

"We are in two tropical paradises at once. The middle of two oceans. Here, let me show you," He put his hand on the small of my back and escorted me closer to the railing to see the ocean view more distinctly in his representation... and I didn't budge at all from him touching me. Malfoy kept his hand on my lower swayed back as he spoke...

and my heart leaped...

dammit...

"Can you see the middle line?" He asked pointing to the sea with his free hand... "The two separated seas of two uniquely different colored aqua blues? One lighter and the other darker? Both coming together perfectly unified as individual oceans of water. One is the West Indies. And the other is the Caribbean. They are both unquestionably different, however never torn apart. And metaphorically speaking, We are getting the best of both worlds. Just because they're different, doesn't mean they don't belong together," Malfoy finished his explanations and I gazed up into his cold grey glossy souls that were beginning to melt my brown eyes into hot molten chocolate...

"Come on, Granger... I'll show you around the boat and to your cabin," He said stepping back, no longer touching me... and gesturing for me to follow him.

"I'm not staying with you? I just figured..." I was confused to say the least.

"Well, that's up to you of course," He beamed with a teasingly wicked smirk as I rolled my eyes in disgust.

He showed me his boat from the mast to the belowdecks in it's wonderful glory. I even met the Captain, who ran his boat. He reminded me of the Captain from Titanic... in fact, I swear he was him... The boat was unearthly breathtaking. Impart from the fact, that I saw every room, except for his? What was the secret? Isn't that the only reason as to why I'm here? For purely physical enjoyment, for himself?

We walked through the upper deck to see more of its fantastic views... and he then lead me through another whitely doubled entranced doors.

"This is your cabin. And it has the most amazing view," Malfoy foretold me opening the doors to a beautiful circular room, completely surrounded by glass windows that oversaw the sea from the back of the boat with zero obstructions. There was a luxurious queen sized bed. My own Muggle television, and I was shocked to see something that came from the Muggle World... I also noticed my luggage was put away, as well as the items placed within it were already hanging neatly in my provided closet and wardrobe.

"This boat is more luxurious than my own flat!" I regretfully spewed not being to hold in my thoughts. Malfoy chuckled and didn't take the initiative to provoke me... what was this new Malfoy I was seeing? He was like a wizarding Jekyll and Hyde?! Had he taken a calming draught or something?!

"Dinner is in thirty minutes. I had my fashion assistant to pick out a proper attire for you. Pick whichever feels suitable to your needs," Malfoy alerted me with the same cheeky smile still wearing on his face, from me making him laugh...

"I thought that was your decision, isn't it? Isn't that the point of all this? Wouldn't you just prefer me naked, so we can get this over with already?" I boldly asked.

"Again, that's your choice. I'm not saying, I wouldn't mind you arriving to dinner completely nude..." He paused raising a flirtatious eyebrow. "But I would like to offer you dinner in the meantime," he pestered with that vexing bothersome smirk and shut the door behind him. Simultaneously returning to the Malfoy I knew. 

"Ugh... I just can't believe this... I need a drink! NOW!" And instantly found a crystal decanter full of coconut rum on my nightstand, next to a bucket of ice that was in the shape of stars... and poured myself a drink into the matching crystal glass, while I figured out what on earth to wear to dinner.

I was so peeved I could barely stomach all of this. But he wanted to play games.

So I'll play my games right back...

I fixed my hair in big long wavy curls, putting it up into a messy bun for more volume with the help of my wand. And put on an outfit from my given wardrobe that was hanging neatly in the closet, that was unmeasurably and not even comparably bigger than mine at home.

Hermione's outfit 😘✨🖤

I took a look at myself in the vanity mirror of the extraordinary bathroom, feeling the turquoise sparkled cream tile floor that was bloody heated on the bottoms of my feet, feeling luxuriated by the second in this lavish lifestyle... and I couldn't even recognize my own reflection... I felt like an object.

Or a sexual experiment for Malfoy's perverted pleasure...

Why are you doing this Hermione?! You're only giving him what he wants... I should just show up in that Gryffindor themed turtleneck bulky bodysuit I brought to lounge in.

I then remembered, why I was here... and how I got put into this mess, because of the man I was engaged to offering me up so easily...

Ronald put me in this position. This was his fault. He didn't even try to defend me! So I was going to make him suffer for the unbearable distress he had unnecessarily caused me.

I felt disposable to him... I grabbed my drink and gulped its remains to replenish my nerves. And to face Malfoy once again...

I walked out still barefoot, instantly seeing Carson awaiting to guide me to dinner and being specifically told by him, earlier upon my arrival, that shoes were not allowed on deck. So I obeyed the rules.

The ocean was a bit choppy tonight and I felt as if a Boggart were bouncing in my stomach from frets making my anxieties worse. Or I was feeling a bit tipsy already from the three glasses of coconut rum I drank getting ready for this meal.

I made my way to the main salon, where dinner was being served right outside under the starry night. And the table was beautifully set by candlelight and native seashells. He really went to a lot of trouble to impress me, didn't he?

Well, his servants went to all this trouble...

"Miss. Granger, Master Malfoy will be with you momentarily," Carson assured me with a warm smile. And in that same time, Malfoy appeared behind him joining me.

"No means necessary to wait, I am here, Carson. Thank..."

Malfoy terminated the end of his sentence. Unconditionally frozen and standing before me. He just completely stopped talking as if, I had made him lose his abilities to speak. He stood in shock at me. And he didn't have to say anything... his eyes did all the talking of what he approved of before him.

Me...

He did himself, look fetching in his dark trousers and fitted light blue dress shirt, that was tucked into his tailored pants and a belt that was probably more expensive than my all of my shoes at home combined.

"You never cease to surprise me, Granger. You about gave me an aneurism, when I saw you in the dress I bought you, that you longed for in Vegas... and I'm... Well, I always knew there was an incredible body underneath those Gryffindor robes. You truly are insufferably irresistible... you could cause a man to go into paralysis," Malfoy complimented me for the first time in his dark deeds.

I chuckled an air flowing "Thank you," pretending to not swallow his advances and feeling my cheeks risking in pink, becoming overly flushed from the rum... and how Draco Malfoy was admiring me. And this was the first time, I unwillingly enjoyed his attention, not caring about the consequences...

"Your seat Miss," Carson pulled out my chair and I thanked him for helping me to sit. Malfoy stood by the table and didn't sit down, until I was completely comfortable.

"So, are you ever going to tell me what you were doing in my town?" Malfoy's banter began as he took his seat across the small oval table, looking directly into my eyes.

"Your town?! I hadn't realized they changed the name to yours, Las Douchebag," I hiccuped and laughed, trying so hard not to show my tipsy state.

Malfoy narrowed his otherworldly grey eyes and then chuckled at my joke?! Unfortunately, my hiccups kept intervening between my own laughs and took forever to subside... I'm guessing he knew that my pent up anxieties had been left behind in my suite given to me by him... I couldn't believe he actually laughed at my mocking at him? He then replied, "Well, there's more of that witty snarky attitude... I guess I sort of, deserve that," He smiled and slowly dropped his grin into a serious gaze, as if he were studying me...

We sat in silence for a moment. Malfoy deeply stared into my eyes, frightening me of his intensity, that I was beginning to crave. I broke the building Magical trance to peer out into the nightfall sea. A bottle of champagne came floating through the air to conjure itself to filling our glasses. The first course was then bewitchingly served... which was a lobster bisque that was so amazing, I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

"So come on Granger, tell me what you've been doing with yourself, since I last saw you during..." He faded away becoming extremely somber. It was a perceived sore subject for the both of us, for the disputable reasons.

I decided to answer to him, trying to lighten the mood. And feeling the effects of tropical alcohol and champagne loosening my tongue and letting my inhibitions fly away in the mystical sea air. I told him about going back to Hogwarts to graduate and working with Harry at the Ministry as his assistant... I then unfortunately, went as far as accidentally telling him about George, and Ronald and I's, financial troubles. "And that's why we were in Vegas. To try to win more earnings to help pay for our many drowning debts... Partly, well... actually and to also get married. Well, that was apart of our plan. But Ronald was sidetracked," I conveyed to him feeling as if I were venting to an old friend...

"What do you mean?" He asked with an inquisitor puzzled look.

"We were supposed to Elope, while we were in Vegas... But seemingly and altogether, the circumstances got out of hand and out of my control," I delivered insinuating this entire debacle was his and Ronald's fault.

Malfoy then began to laugh to himself in a fixation of mockery and found his voice to speak, presumptuously again...

"Wait a minute... you're telling me, he had the chance to marry you?! And he didn't take it?! He's an even bigger asinine Ginger prick than I thought!" Malfoy smugly and rudely delivered on his silver platter of insults.

"It wasn't his fault, Malfoy! It was in all actuality, YOURS! He was so keen on impressing you... he just, went completely mental and all this nonsense got the best of him. He wants to marry me! I know it," I puffed with gratification... but deep down, I wasn't so sure, he was ready to marry me. If at all?

Malfoy silently stared at me in contemplation, causing my levels of aggravation to becoming irate. He was readying for his next well thought rebound to deplete my views, and invitingly opening his lips that looked unequivocally kissable... oh for Gryffindor's sake, Hermione!

"You're sure about that? I believe you should stop making excuses for his moronic behaviour. I know men, Granger. When they want something, absolutely nothing will stop them, nor will EVER get in the way of keeping them from getting what they want. We always win. Men aren not as complicated as you witches like to portray us. When we want you, we want you..." his superiority complex was glowing with his vainglorious grin.

"How dare you say such a thing to me! Of course he does! I'm engaged to him for crying out loud! Why would he ask me to marry him then?! Go on, tell me! Since you're the expert on love!" I hollered feeling my throat burning as well as my thighs becoming inflamed by this entire conversation and him provoking me with his every syllable...

"He asked you, because he feels it's the next phase... He asked you, because his best friend is getting married, so he thinks in that tiny tangerine brain of his, that you two should as well... He doesn't want to be left out, or fear of being left out... It's just honestly hilarious to me... and truthfully speaks volumes on the dubious pillock characterization of the Weasley I've always known. He's a pussy... plain and simple!" Malfoy voiced in his own pragmatic precocious tones.

"You are such an ass, Draco Malfoy! How could you say such hurtful words to me?! You don't know Ronald the way I do! You've got some nerve! How could you even come to those assumptions?!" I was beyond fury. But, dammit, I was feeling he had also, hit the nail on the head with his affirmations.

But I would never tell him that!

Malfoy then gave me his answer I questioned to him...

"Because if I were him... I would've married you the same day I asked you."

My heart throbbingly pulsed... my stomach switch leaped... and I had to change his course, not giving him any chances to thinking or knowing I just hyperventilated by what he just said...

"Sure, Malfoy. I know you're chomping at the bit to get married. You're like a member of the Rat Pack, living the dream in Vegas... with Little Miss Giraffe..."  I said under my breath taking a sip of my champagne...

"The what? And who's Little Miss Giraffe?" He chuckled questioning me.

I softly flirted a smirk and licked my lips tasting the champagne, and making a U-turn for him to start answering my inquiries...

"Will you finally tell me why you were in Vegas?!" I began to feel more of my inhibitions falling into the ocean and feeling more comfortable around him. And forgetting about what he just said to me about Ronald and I's relationship.

"Well, I spend some of my time there, and back home in London. Going to and from, handling my businesses and investments in the meantime. Then I stop in Vegas, my safe haven... to escape from my challenges... It's my home away from the world I knew and know... It's a safe zone for me to let myself be free... Free from my past and freed from my present."

"Plus... I'm sorry, I'm not ready to talk about that with you, yet."

Malfoy looked extremely depressed and discontinued his own therapeutic releases, to save for another time. He grabbed his drink and finished it quickly. I felt sorry for him. I never thought that would happen...

"We've been through a lot more than the average young adult haven't we?" I sincerely whispered our history filled with heartache.

He nodded yes in agreement and changed the subject back to me. He did not want to talk about the past. That was evident.

We concluded our evening feast, actually having a good conversation in the midsts of a few quarrels that actually ended with clarity for me. This dinner was definitely an omen of what was to become of this weekend... and I was terrified and thirsty for more all in one. Oh, no... Hermione! Pull yourself together!

"The crew has prepared us dessert and a muggle movie of some sorts, in my quarters. Would you care to join me?" Malfoy petitioned with wishful thinking in his deep toned voice, that sounded like warm inappropriate drizzling honey protruding off the comb...

I felt my breathing becoming so shallow in my lungs and throat, it felt like stinging sharp icicles, knowing what was coming. I narrowed my eyes onto his silver deceptions, loathing him. Notwithstanding, secretly yearning for more of him, and hating Ronald for this. I felt like a bloody prostitute. I felt so out of control! I didn't know what I was thinking from one second to the other! My mind was rampant with denial and truths staring right at me every second I was with him...

This was not like me! I was ALWAYS in control. However, everything was different now... Ronald did this to me... and Malfoy was now in control. And I was going to let him get his money's worth.

He helped me out of my chair just as soon as I said "sure," to his movie date.

"I'm going to apparate us, because I have a cipher to protect my Quarters from unwanted guests. The password however, I can reveal to you... it's Vosper. My favorite Chaser in Quidditch," He expressed to me as if I might join him again later in the evening...

yeah sure...

"Can I take your hand?" Malfoy asked, simultaneously lifting and offering his right palm to see if I would take his snakily bait.

And in that moment, my hand made its way towards his without any hesitation or thought to second guess myself, or over think if I should be doing this... My heart was now doing the talking, instead of my headstrong stubbornness...

He carefully interlocked our fingers together as one, for the very first time. My adrenaline rushed throughout a surge in all of my sensors. Malfoy felt like... home. A home I never knew existed, until I walked in... I could feel the veins on top his hand throbbing faster from his quickened beating heart excited by my touch. I could feel my heart beating in the same rhythms along his pulses of passions.

I looked up at him, after noticeably gazing at our hand holding. He enduringly smirked at me and soon we were in his Quarters.

Malfoy basically had another boat attached to his original yacht, from the size of his suite being obviously extended with an extension charm.

It was richly regal and full of hints of him living there... he had essences of Slytherin pride crests on certain pieces of artwork and decore fit for the Prince himself. There was also Slytherin relics adorning his stations from every corner.

But perhaps my favorite item I saw, that was more intimate and personally representing him, was a pair of black rimmed glasses laying on top of a book on his nightstand next to his Royal fitted largely bed cloaked in Slytherin green that read, 'Artistry of Occlumency.' That was right up his Knockturn Alley... However, there was something intriguing and sweet about it. And another amusement I found to be enduring about him... he liked to read.

Unlike some people, who shall remain nameless...

Malfoy then removed his wand from his trouser pocket and orderly waved it in the air and pointed it directly to the wall in front of his bed.

Suddenly, a massive screen projected itself down from the ceiling already playing a movie I knew well from the Muggle world, Pretty Woman.

Holy Centars, how fitting...

Not shortly thereafter, a large bucket of chocolate and caramel coated popcorn, made it's way floating effortlessly towards us and made its place right smack in the middle of Malfoy's bed.

The light went off in my head that we would be watching the movie in his bed. I didn't argue or ask for a chair. I didn't want to, actually... feeling already exhausted from everything going on in my life... the energy was draining out of me.

I walked over to the other side of his bed, that I realized was for his other desired guests...

He could feel him watching me from the foot of his bed. I had a sensation come over me to glide onto his bed sexily and wantonly to torture him.

I seductively slid onto the Slytherin Prince's Wizarding bed as he watched my every move, teasing and tormenting him, this time.

I met his hungry eyes and lowered myself to lay on his bed with my back sitting up against the black silken pillows. He began to walk over to his side of the bed, still watching me like hawk about to attack his prey... I asked him with a smile, "Since when did you start dabbling into Muggle entertainment Malfoy? Have ever heard of 'Pretty Woman' before?" I ended in a chuckle.

He finally joined me sitting on his side of the bed that was to the left of me and replied with a sinister grin, "I have ventured out of my Wizarding comfort zone, Granger. And no, I have never seen 'Pretty Woman,' but Carson read the detailed synopsis and I thought it was appropriate for the evening... and to give you a laugh to lighten the mood," He rested on his pillows appointed to him and took a few pieces of popcorn, placing them neatly in his mouth softly smiling with his lips closed chewing with decorum. Unlike Ronald, who wouldn't even share his popcorn with me, yet alone eat like like a well mannered man.

"Very funny, Malfoy," I vexed in a huff and he chuckled at me.

We sat in silence watching the movie and I slowly began to feel my eyelids becoming heavy... I couldn't stay awake and I even tried to eat a few pieces of popcorn to keep myself up. Nevertheless, I fell into a slumber just as Julia Roberts met Richard Geer for the first time in his friend's Lamborghini...

Unexpectedly, I felt someone wrapping my arms around their neck and lifting me up off of Malfoy's bed? Thereupon, ceremoniously cradling me in their arms. But the touch was amorously familiar and a touch I lusted for, and perhaps needed more than just a sexual connection that was sparking between us.

"Draco? I'm so sorry... I'm just so tired..." I spoke not rationalizing enough from fatigue to call him by his family surname. But his first name... It was as if my heart was speaking for me, without my doubting mind keeping me from doing so. I sleepily opened my eyes, seeing him staring at me and feeling him gliding us forward towards his bedroom door to leave.

"Shhh... just rest, Hermione. Close your eyes," Malfoy responded in a whisper and I felt a twinge of melting from within myself, from hearing him call me by my first name, for the first time, ever. And I tranquilly laid my head on his muscular shoulder.

He disapparated us back to my bedroom and laid me down on my bed. He followed with pulling the covers over my body and I felt so relieved he didn't try to take advantage of me, like I had initially judged he might.

I was entirely wrong about him... he was gentleman, to a certain extent. Carson was right.

I could feel his presence still staring at me in my sleep, by the side of my bed. I was half way back into a hibernating state and he believed that I was indefinitely gone into a dream world and spoke his truth...

"Good night, Hermione... even asleep you're driving me into madness with how devastatingly breathtaking you are."

And he was gone...