Indulging in subtlety
Title: Indulging in subtlety
Rating: G
Word Count: 866
Characters: Hermione, Draco
Notes/Warning: mentions of sex; nothing even remotely graphic; dialog mostly; hope you'll enjoy;
Written for dramionedrabble.
Easter Quote Challenge - Prompt One: "Self-discipline implies some unpleasant things to me, including staying away from chocolate and keeping my hands out of women's pants." - Oleg Kiselev
"You're not good for me."
"I'm not?"
"You're not."
"What am I, then?"
"You're bad news. You're… Like too much chocolate cake during the holidays, followed by a stomachache. Or too much Whiskey. You… you leave a bad aftertaste. You're too much."
"Too much life?"
"Too much."
"There's no such thing as too much. And that's just one of the million things I could teach you."
"What could you possibly teach me?"
"Everything. Apparently, your knowledge of indulgence is quite limited."
"Similar to your knowledge of self-discipline."
"I have just enough self-discipline, thank you. I've not jumped your bones yet, have I?"
(A sigh escapes her parted lips; he's not distracted, or doesn't show it.)
"You, on the other hand, are desperately in need of some indulgence."
"I am perfectly fine this way, Malfoy."
"Exactly."
"Sorry, what?"
"You're perfectly fine. One is not supposed to be fine."
"What is one supposed to be, then?"
"Electrified. Stimulated. Aroused."
"Oh. We're talking about sex, are we?"
"Merlin. You Gryffindors lack subtletly. Even you. No, I am not. You're very crude. Not everything is about sex. Or at least not in the way you think it is. Though, I suppose I could teach you a thing or two about that occurrence in life as well."
"You're incorrigible."
"As are you; only in a different way."
"There's nothing wrong with me."
"Of course there is. Plenty, I dare say."
"Oh, and you're perfect, I suppose?"
"As far as I can be from perfect, actually."
"Then, why would I listen to you?"
"Because I could teach you."
"We've come full circle and returned to that again, I see."
"Well, I've not convinced you yet. I don't plan to stop until you agree."
"Agree? To what?"
"Have dinner with me. I'll show you."
"Show me what, Malfoy?"
"You'll see. Tonight. I'll pick you up at eight."
"I'm not going on a date with you."
"Think of it as a free lesson, then. A lesson in life."
"I don't need -"
"Prove it."
"I don't have to prove anything to you."
"Perhaps. But you want to."
Silence.
"Fine."
"Excellent."
"Wear that red dress. It looks spectacular on you."
She smiles when he turns his back to her.
***
He rings her doorbell at 8:00.
"Oh. Thank you. It's a beautiful rose."
"You're welcome. I see you're ready to go."
"Yes. Let me just fetch my cardigan."
"Please do."
"You look gorgeous."
"You clean up nice."
"I know."
"Arrogant as always, I see."
"And you can't take a compliment, as always."
"And you can't take an insult."
"The arrogancy comment? Please, we both know I am arrogant. It doesn't bother me in the slightest. It adds to my charm."
"Well, then it doesn't bother me that you called me pretty then."
"I didn't call you pretty."
"No?"
"No, I said you were gorgeous. There's a whole universe separating those two."
"Really?"
"Really. There are many pretty girls in the world. Heck, there are many on this street. You're exquisite."
Brief silence.
"What did you bring me here for?"
"They have a good chef and a good selection of drinks. Don't think I didn't notice that subtlety-lacking change of subject, by the way. Good evening. I have a reservation - table for two, under the name Malfoy."
"I'll take you to your table, Sir, Miss. Follow me."
"Would you care for a drink?"
"Yes. My usual, please Louis. A glass for the Miss, as well."
"Couldn't I have ordered for myself?"
"No."
"No?"
"I'm teaching you indulgence. Nothing better than some Whiskey for that. And if I recall correctly, this morning you compared me to Whiskey. You need to learn there's nothing wrong with it."
"And with you?"
"Nothing wrong with me either."
"The drinks, Sir. And what will you dine today?"
"The Chef's duck, sir. Both me and the Miss."
"Alright Sir."
Drinks time.
"Cheers, then."
"Cheers."
"And?"
"Too strong for my taste. Kind of like you."
"We both grow on a person with time. Usually during the course of one long, steamy night."
"Subtle."
"Just trying to put everything into terms understandable to Gryffindors."
"Are these valuable gems part of my education as well?"
"Your whole life's an education, I thought the best Witch in our year would remember that."
"The duck's quite delicious."
"You're changing subjects, yet again."
"Funny, I thought I was getting better at that."
"You can't become better than your Master in only one night, Apprentice."
"How long will it take, then?"
"Oh, you'll see when you do."
"I hope so. Otherwise, what's the point?"
"It's the journey, not the destination."
"Yes, but you still have to know where you're travelling to."
"Let me lead the way."
"Could I trust you with that?"
"You could trust me with more."
"What's the next step then?"
"I pay for the dinner. You don't object. I take you for a walk."
***
"Where are we?"
"The gardens of the Malfoy Manor."
"Very direct."
"If I could have, I would have apparated you to my bed directly."
"Or we could walk."
He stops in his track; picks her up in his arms.
"Subtle."
She smiles; whispers in his ear.
"Lead the way, Master."
Rating: G
Word Count: 866
Characters: Hermione, Draco
Notes/Warning: mentions of sex; nothing even remotely graphic; dialog mostly; hope you'll enjoy;
Written for dramionedrabble.
Easter Quote Challenge - Prompt One: "Self-discipline implies some unpleasant things to me, including staying away from chocolate and keeping my hands out of women's pants." - Oleg Kiselev
"You're not good for me."
"I'm not?"
"You're not."
"What am I, then?"
"You're bad news. You're… Like too much chocolate cake during the holidays, followed by a stomachache. Or too much Whiskey. You… you leave a bad aftertaste. You're too much."
"Too much life?"
"Too much."
"There's no such thing as too much. And that's just one of the million things I could teach you."
"What could you possibly teach me?"
"Everything. Apparently, your knowledge of indulgence is quite limited."
"Similar to your knowledge of self-discipline."
"I have just enough self-discipline, thank you. I've not jumped your bones yet, have I?"
(A sigh escapes her parted lips; he's not distracted, or doesn't show it.)
"You, on the other hand, are desperately in need of some indulgence."
"I am perfectly fine this way, Malfoy."
"Exactly."
"Sorry, what?"
"You're perfectly fine. One is not supposed to be fine."
"What is one supposed to be, then?"
"Electrified. Stimulated. Aroused."
"Oh. We're talking about sex, are we?"
"Merlin. You Gryffindors lack subtletly. Even you. No, I am not. You're very crude. Not everything is about sex. Or at least not in the way you think it is. Though, I suppose I could teach you a thing or two about that occurrence in life as well."
"You're incorrigible."
"As are you; only in a different way."
"There's nothing wrong with me."
"Of course there is. Plenty, I dare say."
"Oh, and you're perfect, I suppose?"
"As far as I can be from perfect, actually."
"Then, why would I listen to you?"
"Because I could teach you."
"We've come full circle and returned to that again, I see."
"Well, I've not convinced you yet. I don't plan to stop until you agree."
"Agree? To what?"
"Have dinner with me. I'll show you."
"Show me what, Malfoy?"
"You'll see. Tonight. I'll pick you up at eight."
"I'm not going on a date with you."
"Think of it as a free lesson, then. A lesson in life."
"I don't need -"
"Prove it."
"I don't have to prove anything to you."
"Perhaps. But you want to."
Silence.
"Fine."
"Excellent."
"Wear that red dress. It looks spectacular on you."
She smiles when he turns his back to her.
***
He rings her doorbell at 8:00.
"Oh. Thank you. It's a beautiful rose."
"You're welcome. I see you're ready to go."
"Yes. Let me just fetch my cardigan."
"Please do."
"You look gorgeous."
"You clean up nice."
"I know."
"Arrogant as always, I see."
"And you can't take a compliment, as always."
"And you can't take an insult."
"The arrogancy comment? Please, we both know I am arrogant. It doesn't bother me in the slightest. It adds to my charm."
"Well, then it doesn't bother me that you called me pretty then."
"I didn't call you pretty."
"No?"
"No, I said you were gorgeous. There's a whole universe separating those two."
"Really?"
"Really. There are many pretty girls in the world. Heck, there are many on this street. You're exquisite."
Brief silence.
"What did you bring me here for?"
"They have a good chef and a good selection of drinks. Don't think I didn't notice that subtlety-lacking change of subject, by the way. Good evening. I have a reservation - table for two, under the name Malfoy."
"I'll take you to your table, Sir, Miss. Follow me."
"Would you care for a drink?"
"Yes. My usual, please Louis. A glass for the Miss, as well."
"Couldn't I have ordered for myself?"
"No."
"No?"
"I'm teaching you indulgence. Nothing better than some Whiskey for that. And if I recall correctly, this morning you compared me to Whiskey. You need to learn there's nothing wrong with it."
"And with you?"
"Nothing wrong with me either."
"The drinks, Sir. And what will you dine today?"
"The Chef's duck, sir. Both me and the Miss."
"Alright Sir."
Drinks time.
"Cheers, then."
"Cheers."
"And?"
"Too strong for my taste. Kind of like you."
"We both grow on a person with time. Usually during the course of one long, steamy night."
"Subtle."
"Just trying to put everything into terms understandable to Gryffindors."
"Are these valuable gems part of my education as well?"
"Your whole life's an education, I thought the best Witch in our year would remember that."
"The duck's quite delicious."
"You're changing subjects, yet again."
"Funny, I thought I was getting better at that."
"You can't become better than your Master in only one night, Apprentice."
"How long will it take, then?"
"Oh, you'll see when you do."
"I hope so. Otherwise, what's the point?"
"It's the journey, not the destination."
"Yes, but you still have to know where you're travelling to."
"Let me lead the way."
"Could I trust you with that?"
"You could trust me with more."
"What's the next step then?"
"I pay for the dinner. You don't object. I take you for a walk."
***
"Where are we?"
"The gardens of the Malfoy Manor."
"Very direct."
"If I could have, I would have apparated you to my bed directly."
"Or we could walk."
He stops in his track; picks her up in his arms.
"Subtle."
She smiles; whispers in his ear.
"Lead the way, Master."