Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

The Best Of...	By : T-W-O Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 13807 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I own nothing of HP nor do I profit in any way from these missives. I almost own the laptop I'm writing this fanfic on, tho'.

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
In her room in the Heads’ tower at Hogwarts, Hermione Granger couldn’t stand up, much less pace.

Draco’s custom distilled fyrewhiskey left Hermione with two heads — and both ached. A mere sip from the decanter Draco kept on his bed table defeated her 3-day insomnia and her consciousness in a single assault. She’d still be comatose but for the incessant crashing of something large against the glass outside her bedroom window.

10 owls tumbled into her room, dropping feathers and others messy substances that would require her most aggressive muggle cleaning skills.

Fifteen confusing and miserable minutes later, Hermione reclined on her bed, virtually the only clean place in the room, with 5 parchments and 5 packages. Each displayed a sequence number.

Letter #1:
To Hermione’s dismay, given the percussion performance going on in her head, she’d opened a modified howler. Draco Malfoy’s voice rang out, conversational in tone and volume but still a trigger to more throbbing inside her swollen skull.

“Granger — We will be spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day together. I expect first class fare; package #2 contains sufficient galleons to purchase the necessary items from Ambrosia’s Exquisite Ingredients. My preferences include all things French (fine cuisine and peasant recipes) and Greek country cooking. Please avoid traditional English fair; my stomach will revolt violently and you will have to clean our rooms by yourself.

Do NOT underwhelm me.”

Letter #2:
Package: containing 300 galleons, the floo and owl address of Ambrosia’s Exquisite Ingredients and a card handwritten by Draco Malfoy (with his personal magical seal) stating the order should receive his “usual treatment”.
Who, Hermione sighed — and instantly regretted the skull reverberations it caused, would give her the equivalent of £1500 for two dinners, breakfast and lunch?

Letter #3:
“Regarding Christmas rituals: As a matter of tradition, Malfoys do not exchange presents during this season. Before you jump to irrational conclusions and ruin our meals with unnecessary interrogations, let me explain (although an explanation shouldn’t be required — it is, however, YOU I’m writing to): we Malfoys buy whatever we want whenever we want so gift-giving tends to restrict itself to weddings, anniversaries and funerals. I do not, therefore expect to receive anything from you except life-altering meals. Feel free to request my personal house elves if it will ensure a quality cooking outcome. In consideration of your traditions, package #4 contains sufficient galleons for you to select something nice for yourself.”

Letter #4
Package: containing 2500 galleons — the equivalent of £12,500 — for a “Christmas present”.

Letter #5

“Granger — Dinner Christmas Day will be a formal affair. Please don’t wear your Halloween gown as it would be unsuitable for this occasion and is better suited to the St. Valentine’s Ball that we will be forced to chaperone. Package #6 contains sufficient galleons for a custom fitting with Madame Malkin. I have given her my requirements for your Christmas attire and she will arrive by floo to take your measurements; reading this letter automatically notified her to arrive in an hour —”

Hermione looked at her clock. The first four missives and dowries had taken almost 40 minutes to slog through with a blinding headache. Hangovers were a bitch and she’d never had one before. She’d need to race through the remaining letters if she wanted time to “clean up”.

“— so be sure to clean up and don’t embarrass me. Package #6 contains some help if you need it.”

Letter #6
Package: containing one potion bottle of SoberNow™ Xtra-Strength.

“How did he know!?” she wondered aloud to the owls, impressed with his attention to her detail. The owls were unconcerned.

Letter #7
“Don’t wonder that I anticipated your condition. In a similar situation I’d have availed myself of ‘Ol’ Sleep Inducer’. See you in four days. Be prepared.”

Letter #8
Package: containing two well known recipe books on French cuisine and one on Greek.

Letter #9
Package: containing one labelled portkey to a very exclusive kitchen equipment purveyor and a blank credit slip.

Letter #10
“Granger — Let me know you’ve received and understood all of my letters. If I’ve omitted any details, please let me know.

Don’t worry, Lioness. I promise you’ll enjoy these modified traditions.

Draco Malfoy”

Grabbing an ever-ready quill, Hermione penned a quick response to leave herself time to bathe before Madame Malkin’s arrival.

“Malfoy,

As usual you’ve outdone (and overdone) yourself and the preparations. I had a simple dinner planned but I will adjust to the needs of your pampered palate. You will have to adjust to my cooking as I have no intent to use any house elves; it’s past time you experienced a home cooked meal.

While I appreciate your generosity, I cannot and will not accept the 2500 galleons. If you will not take them back I shall donate them to S.P.E.W. for additional clothing to free indentured house elves — like yours. I do, however, expect a present from you and it cannot cost one knut over 75 galleons. It’s the THOUGHT that counts, not the price. I’ve selected a gift for you and I expect you to be gracious and keep it.

I appreciate your kindness in spending Christmas with me and not your family. I hope the decision hasn’t created troubles with your parents. Forgive them whatever they do and cherish them while you have them, Draco.

I suspect I know the answer to this question but I must ask it — doesn’t Madame Malkin have anything less extravagant in her collection? I will ask when she arrives in the next —“

The clock told her she had barely 15 minutes to finish her reply, flag down an owl (which she suspected might be somewhere in her bedroom waiting for the reply) and wash up.

“10 minutes. I have transfigured our Commons to include a rather nice kitchen extension and I will outfit it for the semester; hopefully keeping the larder stocked will reduce your (mis)use of the house elves when you want to nosh at all hours.

Thank you for everything. It’s really special and I feel better already. I look forward to seeing you in three days.

Yours truly,

Hermione Jean Granger”
- 12
- 13
- 14
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

The Best Of...