Fighting the Heat
Title: Fighting the Heat
Author: drcjsnider
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 499
Notes/Warning: Written for dramione_ldws challenge #2 - Summer in the City.
“Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred,” Draco Malfoy murmured, as he tossed and caught a WWW Daydream Charm for the hundredth time in a row. Sweat trickled down the side of his face. He looked over at the witch in the bed next to his and sighed. “Granger?”
“Hum?” she responded, not bothering to look up from her book.
“How many N.E.W.T.s did you get?”
“Eight.”
“I only got three. Yet here we both are, two years after leaving Hogwarts, locked together in the same sweltering room. Interesting, don’t you think?”
“Yes, the irony is remarkable,” Hermione dead-panned, trying to move as little as possible in the heat.
Draco glowered at her, but it did no good since she wouldn’t look up from her book. “Let’s go downstairs. I need a cold drink.”
“There is a pitcher of water in the corner,” she informed him.
“I’d rather die of thirst than drink this place’s water,” he complained.
Hermione finally glanced at him. “Grow up, Malfoy.”
“I’ll behave if you take me downstairs.”
She refused to answer him, wondering for the thousandth time whether or not she’d made the right decision in leaving the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures for a position in Magical Law Enforcement. She’d hoped her new job would be satisfying and challenging. Instead, her first assignment was to baby sit Malfoy. He was testifying for the Ministry against several accused Death Eaters and needed someone to get him to the Wizengamot on time each morning. The entire experience had been a complete nightmare. He was spoiled, whiney, and only enjoyed discussing the most asinine of subjects - like who had a better chance surviving for a week in Muggle London, Hagrid or Kreacher? To make matters worse, a heat wave had hit the city four days ago making him more petulant than usual.
“Granger?”
“Forget it, Malfoy. Last time we went downstairs you got drunk and were hung-over at the trial.”
“Did it affect the outcome?”
“It looked bad.”
“If everyone avoided things that looked bad, no one would stand within five feet of your hair.”
Hermione glared at him.
“Fine,” he pouted. “Then I’m going to get comfortable.”
“What are you doing?!” she squeaked, as he started to remove his shirt.
“It’s bloody hot in here. I refuse to burn up just because the sight of a little flesh offends your sensibilities.”
Hermione growled under her breath and turned away from him. “You’re a piece of work, Malfoy. Do even care about trying to just get through these next few days amicably?”
“The temperature is making you grumpy, Granger. Maybe if you too removed your shirt we would get along better.”
“Bugger off.”
When he didn’t reply, Hermione hoped that he would silently pout on his bed for the rest of the evening. She gasped in shock, however, when he grabbed her wrist, licked it, and then blew on it gently.
“W-what?” she stammered.
“Wandless cooling charm,” he winked.
Hermione swallowed loudly. “Teach me."
Author: drcjsnider
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 499
Notes/Warning: Written for dramione_ldws challenge #2 - Summer in the City.
“Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred,” Draco Malfoy murmured, as he tossed and caught a WWW Daydream Charm for the hundredth time in a row. Sweat trickled down the side of his face. He looked over at the witch in the bed next to his and sighed. “Granger?”
“Hum?” she responded, not bothering to look up from her book.
“How many N.E.W.T.s did you get?”
“Eight.”
“I only got three. Yet here we both are, two years after leaving Hogwarts, locked together in the same sweltering room. Interesting, don’t you think?”
“Yes, the irony is remarkable,” Hermione dead-panned, trying to move as little as possible in the heat.
Draco glowered at her, but it did no good since she wouldn’t look up from her book. “Let’s go downstairs. I need a cold drink.”
“There is a pitcher of water in the corner,” she informed him.
“I’d rather die of thirst than drink this place’s water,” he complained.
Hermione finally glanced at him. “Grow up, Malfoy.”
“I’ll behave if you take me downstairs.”
She refused to answer him, wondering for the thousandth time whether or not she’d made the right decision in leaving the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures for a position in Magical Law Enforcement. She’d hoped her new job would be satisfying and challenging. Instead, her first assignment was to baby sit Malfoy. He was testifying for the Ministry against several accused Death Eaters and needed someone to get him to the Wizengamot on time each morning. The entire experience had been a complete nightmare. He was spoiled, whiney, and only enjoyed discussing the most asinine of subjects - like who had a better chance surviving for a week in Muggle London, Hagrid or Kreacher? To make matters worse, a heat wave had hit the city four days ago making him more petulant than usual.
“Granger?”
“Forget it, Malfoy. Last time we went downstairs you got drunk and were hung-over at the trial.”
“Did it affect the outcome?”
“It looked bad.”
“If everyone avoided things that looked bad, no one would stand within five feet of your hair.”
Hermione glared at him.
“Fine,” he pouted. “Then I’m going to get comfortable.”
“What are you doing?!” she squeaked, as he started to remove his shirt.
“It’s bloody hot in here. I refuse to burn up just because the sight of a little flesh offends your sensibilities.”
Hermione growled under her breath and turned away from him. “You’re a piece of work, Malfoy. Do even care about trying to just get through these next few days amicably?”
“The temperature is making you grumpy, Granger. Maybe if you too removed your shirt we would get along better.”
“Bugger off.”
When he didn’t reply, Hermione hoped that he would silently pout on his bed for the rest of the evening. She gasped in shock, however, when he grabbed her wrist, licked it, and then blew on it gently.
“W-what?” she stammered.
“Wandless cooling charm,” he winked.
Hermione swallowed loudly. “Teach me."