Conversations

"Well, obviously, if anything is to be done right, I'll have to do it myself," Hermione Granger said in resignation.

Draco Malfoy glared at her. "Why, Granger, you unwittingly imply that I can't do anything right."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Unwittingly?"

"Well, wittingly, then," he conceded.

She stared incredulously at him. "Wittingly? Wittingly? That's not even a word! Remind me again why I'm doing this with you?"

He pouted in mock hurt. "Because you love me and I asked so nicely?"

She snorted derisively. "You're obviously rather attached to your fantasy world, so I'll forego the medication for now!"

Draco placed an elegant hand against his chest, feigning shock. "First incompetence, now lunacy...what other flaws are you going to accuse me of, you cruel, heartless Mudblood?"

Hermione grinned at his oft-repeated insult. "What else? How about I just stick with the truth?" She grinned mischievously. "Impotence?"

Draco pulled away from what he was doing. "That does it. I'm out of here! There's only so much a man can take!"

"A man, did you say?" Hermione inquired innocently, cherishing the moment Draco's eyes widened in anger and he turned to stalk out of the room, tugging on his sweater.

She aimed her wand at him and intoned, "Locomotor Mortis". As a result of the spell, Draco found his feet glued to the floor. Craning his head around to aim a vicious scowl at her, he growled, "Granger, if you don't get this spell off me before the count of three, I promise you, I'll make you very sorry."

Hermione's grin sharpened to a smirk not unlike the one his face usually bore. "I look forward to that...one-two-three." She strolled over to him lazily, just out of arm's reach. "What are you going to do?"

Draco pulled his own wand out of his trouser pocket and muttered the counter-spell. "Oh, absolutely nothing, bookworm. Nothing at all."

A slight frown creased Hermione's forehead. "You disappoint me, Malfoy...I expected a curse at the very least."

Draco stalked over to where she stood and bent down to whisper in her ear so that his breath sent ripples of shockwaves along her skin. "But, beaver dearest, a curse is just so mundane. And so expected..." He gently trailed his fingers down her arm. "Oh, no, when I get back at you, it'll be something you don't expect."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Oh, you're just going to pick the worst moment to get back at me, aren't you?"

He nodded in a self-satisfied manner. "Oh, yes. You can rest assured of that."

"Please tell me you're not going to do something when I think you're going to do something!" she asked worriedly.

He just shrugged nonchalantly. "Worry about it all you like, you silly Gryffindor. It'll do you no good. Now shall we finish off what we were ...um...working on?"

"I don't know how you can call it work, really," she clucked disapprovingly.

"Oh, it's just such a boring chore!" he said mischievously, quickly dodging the Decapitating Hex she sent at him. "Would you watch where you aim that thing?"

"Sorry," she said mock -contritely. "I'll try not to miss next time."

They resumed their earlier positions, flushed from the warmth of the fire at the grate and heat of their argument.

"Alright, then, let's finish this off tonight so we can work on the rest tomorrow," Hermione said in a businesslike tone.

Draco rolled his eyes. "You intend for me to finish only half the job tonight? And why exactly is it that you couldn't have this done professionally?"

Hermione looked at him through narrowed eyes, and he found himself backing up a little. Honestly, the woman could intimidate Snape if she tried. "If I remember correctly, you were too cheap to pay for professionals. Although I dare say they would have done a more satisfactory job than you are capable of."

Draco winced. "Ouch. That actually hurt." He quirked an eyebrow at her. "And dare I ask if you've sampled the work of the professionals?" He sounded almost jealous.

Hermione continued with what she was doing and replied in an understandably distracted tone, "Oh, I remember seeing it somewhere and being absolutely blown away by the quality...not to mention their ability to spew out huge amounts!"

Draco sniffed petulantly, not liking the sound of this at all. "Hmph. Speaking of spew, why couldn't you get the house-elves to do this with you?"

Hermione glanced up at him and he felt his mouth go dry at her glare. "Because, you sniveling ninny, what we're doing is supposed to be a secret for now! We can't have the house-elves blabbing all over the place. And for the last time, it's S-P-E-W! Now do carry on, you were just getting better at it!"

Draco grumbled. "Well, I don't know how you're in a position to point out my faults...it's not as though you're a connoisseur in such activities."

Hermione smiled indulgently at him. "Would you like some cheese with that whine, Malfoy?"

"Would you like one lump or two, Granger?" Draco growled his retort.

"Has anyone told you that you talk entirely too much? This is supposed to be a time when we...uh...work quietly and reflect on what we're doing and what led to it."

He smirked. "And instead, we're shouting and screaming obscenities at each other. Some people do that too," he pointed out helpfully.

She hit his shoulder lightly. "I doubt too many people are doing this at this time of night. We'd better hurry up. I'm getting tired."

"Well, honestly, she-devil, if I take too long, you get all fussy, and if I rush it, you complain I'm being sloppy!" Draco said.

"Because, nitwit, I want our wedding invitations to be perfect!" Hermione pointed out. "Now hurry." She smiled suggestively. "I do believe there's a warm bed and more...work...waiting for us upstairs."

Draco threw down his quill and jumped up from the table, pulling her up with him. "See, if you had just gotten the professionals, we'd have had all the time in the world to engage in all the pleasurable activities our engagement has to offer!"

"Just be glad I don't hire professionals to take over your other duties," Hermione retorted with a smug grin.