Plant
Chapter 3 of 7
silviaelisa22Series of drabbles written for Dramione Drabbles - 7 Kisses Challenge Valentine's Day 2010. Through the prompts, follow Draco and Hermione's osculation experimentation.
The fireplace roared to life, and seconds later he was stepping out of it to welcome the quietness of his office. He checked his watch, and sighed. The meeting wouldn't start for another hour.
Draco strode up to his desk and winced at the sight that welcomed him. Between his monthly report and his neatly organised pens, a flowerpot had recently taken its place, and the plant was softly impregnating the air, the office, and his clothes with its unmistakable perfume. It had been her idea, of course.
"An Asteridae to remind you of me," she had said, handing him the pot plant.
He felt the sudden urge to squash it now. She was being unreasonable! It reminded him for the umpteenth time what a spoiled little child she was. Draco pinched the bridge of his nose, slumping into his chair. He knew the argument had started out of nothing; he knew they hadn't meant half the stuff they had yelled at each other; he knew it was the huge ceremony planning they had undergone in the last two months taking its toll on their sanity... He knew it, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed. Draco lazily tore a leaf from the plant to fiddle with it.
There was a knock on his door.
"Mister Malfoy?" His secretary sounded miffed. "There's someone here for you," he said, and then paused. "She hasn't got an appointment," he finished accusingly.
Draco tilted his head upwards and stared at the ceiling. He was in no mood to entertain, but the choice was not his; if his boss decided to send him someone, he had to at least listen to the woman.
"Send her in," he said a little loudly.
The door clicked open. He stood, preparing himself to make a show of his good manners before sending whomever it was on their merry way; he brushed the leaf against his lips, hiding a smirk at his own shrewdness.
"Granger?" he asked, surprised to see her, of all people.
The witch smiled, taking off her cloak and her hat and placing them carefully on the hook behind the door.
"I met Harry on the way to my office," she said. "He asked me to deliver a message."
Draco relaxed, if only slightly, and stepped away from his desk; the residual anxiety at seeing Granger on his territory caused him to bump his hand against the flowerpot, and several of the scarlet blossoms plummeted to the floor.
"Bugger," he muttered.
"What is it?" Granger asked.
He stared at her. "Bittersweet."
She frowned. "You mean belladonna."
Draco wasn't listening anymore; his mind had gone back to his argument with Asteria, and a small, but persistent voice, was telling him she was the reason why he had wanted to pick a fight with his fiancée. He hated her for it. What right did she have to come between them?
Granger's lips were moving. His brain told him he should stop brooding and listen to her; that was the sensible thing to do. However, if he wasn't in the mood to entertain, he was even less in the mood to do the right thing. His eyes fell on the bittersweet, and he considered how fitting it was that she'd usurp the Asteridae part of the plant and highlight the poisonous quality of it instead.
"Are you even listening to me?" he heard her ask.
He spun his head in her direction and closed in on her in two quick steps. She gulped. Still, it was only a moment's hesitation, and then her eyes locked on his, conveying the message he had been resentfully waiting for.
It was an angry kiss, meant to tell her how much he despised her; Draco didn't go for sweet or soft. He battled with her tongue and bit down on her lip. He resolved he'd punish himself later for the ignoble pleasure he got from hearing Granger whimper, or he'd get a house-elf to do it for him.
"Draco," she whispered, breaking the contact.
Her lips were bruised, and her lipstick smeared. He took her face into his hands and rested his forehead against hers; he smelled the scent of the plant in the air around them, and it prickled his nostrils.
He thought that if he stared at her long enough, the rest of the world would disappear.
*
Prompt: Bittersweet Kiss.
*
A/N: Bittersweet, or nightshade, is a plant related to the potato, typically having poisonous black or red berries. When not in bloom it is often confused with the belladonna variety of the same plant.
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Latest 25 Reviews for Pesky Pecks
26 Reviews | 6.15/10 Average
Awww! I likes... More please?
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
Sorry about the late reply! I'm glad you liked PP for I liked writing it very very much. I am writing a small one-shot at the moment, we'll see how that goes. :)
Awww.... so sweet!
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
^^ Pleased to hear you liked it! It was quite an adventure to write!
Oh its so kewl how she kept off-kilter the whole time. What a fun bedtime story. I've really enjoyed Draco's reactions in this a lot.
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
Draco was really fun to write! I had never expected him to be, so I had always refrained from letting him speak. Although, it was difficult because I couldn't show any of Hermione's internal struggle in this, it was all Draco all the time. :) I'm happy you liked the story and I enjoyed reading your thoughts as you read it very very much! Thank you!
LOL awww It's so sweet that he was able to read the situation and let her have some control. Very smart guy. Really enjoying this one - How did I possibly miss it before?
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
Oh, you're making me blush! 
Anyway, I agree, very smart of Draco... I think he wouldn't be totally clueless about women, even if Asteria was his main interest for quite some time and she's definitely not the I-need-to-be-in-control type of girl. Not in this story, at least. I wanted them to have a quiet respite from all the drama and the prompt came just at the right time!
Oh did Harry hit him with an Imperious? Astoria's reaction was about what I expected - two days before the wedding! Oh poor girl. Harry's reaction was a surprise, but I liked Draco's reasponce a lot! Whoot!
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
Hehe, her reaction was pretty standard. Goodbye china set! Yes, that was an Imperius and a slightly dark!Harry to go with it. I had a very visual idea of how Draco would have behaved with Harry in this, so so so glad you liked it too! ^^
Okay this is going to come to a horrible head soon isn't it? I mean, he's slipping - and needs to talk to Astoria, soon.
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
I had half a mind to write the showdown between Asteria and Draco, but due to time (and prompt) constraints I finally settled with what you've read in the next chapter. I'm overjoyed you caught the 'he's slipping' thing because I was really trying to give this chapter a sense of foreboding.
Oh he and Astoria had that fight over Hermione afterall. So, to make matters better - he kissed her agian? LOL not the best move for his relationship with his fiancée.
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
Despite the carefree outlook in the first chapter, things really aren't that good with the happy couple, are they? But yes, veeeery bad move on his part!
LOL Oh he's sinking in deeper! This is really funny. I love his reactions.
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
I'm glad you liked Pie! I was afraid it'd be too icky (it certainly was for me writing it).
EEk! 
How did he manage that and not get hexed?
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
You know, a lot of people have asked me this by now. My thinking was that the circumstances were... complicated, when this first encounter takes place. ;)
Poor Draco, having to wait for the fifth date! :)
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
Hehe. I think he wouldn't have endured another (test-)date and Hermione, luckily, understood that! ^^ Thanks for sticking with me until the end!
I'm almost sad it's over. Because their story is just beginig after all. And I'd love to hear more about the dating until the proposal at least. Anyway thanks for the fun.
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
I am so so happy you enjoyed the ride. :) It was an exciting challenge for me because I didn't think I'd be any good at writing romance and kissing scenes! I like the open ending because it gives you room to expand it with your imagination, but yes, it was a bittersweet feeling to end this. Thank you for reading!
Holy cow! Harry really ought to have gotten his magic under control by now- most folks couldn't/wouldn't cast a spell just by being really angry and forbidding a relationship. But then, TBWL would be the one to break the rules... and so would Hermione. I like the magical imperative, and the subsequent flouting of it. A really formidable kiss indeed, if it's breaking curses!
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
I think Harry has proven to be very agreeable to bending the rules, even when Unforgivables are concerned. Plus, this is all happening before the 'all was well' of the Epilogue, so I allowed for some post-traumatic stress. It was challenging to write this piece, tbh, because I really really wanted to give the forbidden part of the prompt a double meaning; what Harry is doing is probably forbidden magic, but Draco's (and Hermione's) willpower is stronger, obviously. Thank you so much for reading!
Good going, Draco! :)
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
I'm very proud of him in this chapter, yes. ^_^
WOW! I think that was the most formidable kiss of all.
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
^^ Merci! Harry helped Draco make up his mind, didn't he?
So he is seriously considering cancellinghis wedding? Wow ! I wouldn't have expected him to rebel againt his parents wishes. Of course he has yet to talk to everyone. And I want to be there to witness that.
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
In all sincerity, I can't fully answer you now, but I will say that this is all happening at one imprecise point in the HP history, so... anything can happen. ;) I'm sorry, I really don't want to spoil the experience for you.
LOL. Sneaky witch! :)
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
She is, isn't she? ^_^ I'm happy to keep you entertained!
add fav story! ;))
That one is really lovely. So I guess he will be marrying her. Later.
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
You're pleased! ^^ Thank you, I tried a softer approach with Prospect; they had both been on a roller-coaster so far and I thought they deserved a break. Less action/drama and more... Draco and Hermione.
Bet that was unexpected! :)
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
To write? Most certainly, thank you dictionary! ;) And to both of them too, but we're hitting the point of no return, aren't we? *cue to ominous music* Thank you for reading!
At least he found THE way to shut her mouth.
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
And he's so good at it... Malfoy, Draco Malfoy - License to Kiss :D Thank you for reading!
Response from snitchette (Reviewer)
ROFL! That could be the prompt of the Year.
Eww. What a way to get revenge! :)
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
Revenge, a dish best served cold? Hermione thinks it's best served hot! ;)Thanks for reading, and reviewing!
That is a brilliant repsonse to the prompt. I can't wait to find out if he will cancel his wedding or not.
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
Thank you, I'm glad you're enjoying this! I can't say much, but you'll find out... soon enough...
I've always been leery of apple pie, for the same reason as Draco- they're usually too sweet and gooey! Of course, if snogging came with, perhaps my opinions would change. Though really, kissing Hermione while skipping out on your rehearsal dinner? Bad form! (When will Astoria find out?)
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
Gooey being the operative word... ugh, apple pie...I think it is rather contradictory of Draco to chastise Hermione and her manners when, as you said, he is cheating on his wife-to-be! He didn't initiate the kiss, but after a weak struggle, he didn't exactly shove her away. That dinner must have been a nightmare...(Will Asteria find out? Maybe, or maybe not. :P)
Anonymous
LMAO!
That was beautiful, sweet, and well-written! Nice job! ^_^
Author's Response: Ahah! Thank you, such sweet compliments... *blush* I loved writing it! :)
He is lucky Astoria didn't arrive a few minutes earlier or he would have been in serious trouble.
Response from silviaelisa22 (Author of Pesky Pecks)
If he hadn't been in such a hurry... :)Thanks for reading!