Definition of Unnecessary

"...and then he proceeded to insult Harry. From the top of the tree. It was- extra."

Narcissa laughed as Draco turned beet red. " 'Mione, please don't."

Hermione grinned at him. "Too late now."

Draco smirked as something came to mind. "What if I told her about the time you Confunded Cormac McLaggen in the Gryffindor Keeper tryouts?" Hermione frowned.

"What?"

Draco raised his eyebrows. "The Gryffindor Keeper tryouts of our sixth year where you Confunded Cormac McLaggen? When Potter was Captain?" Hermione shook her head as if she had no idea what he was talking about.

"I don't quite know what you mean, ."

The last word came out as a breathy purr, sending shivers down Draco's spine. Forgetting his mother was in the same room- at the same table- he ran his pale fingers up her creamy arms as he whispered in her ear, tongue flicking out to lick the shell of her ear, "Shall I make you remember?"

The room became irrelevant to Hermione and she felt a little shiver run up and down her spine.

"If you like." Her voice came out short and breathless, and Draco let his arms fall as the clinking of dishes broke the pair out of their own little world, Narcissa levitating the dishes out of the room. Hermione blushed furiously and Draco smirked. Narcissa smiled, and, in the end, broke the silence.

"Do not be embarrassed. Lucius and I were much the same when we were your age."

At this, Draco coughed rather pointedly towards his mother.

"That was- it was rather unnecessary information."

Narcissa raised a perfectly arched eyebrow- the picture of aristocracy- and gave him a look. "Too intimate, perhaps, but not unnecessary. had to change the atmosphere and, obviously, neither of you were about to."

"Now, would you like to see some childhood pictures of Draco?" Hermione smirked- a smirk that put a smile on Narcissa's face and a tint of fear on Draco's- and said, "I wouldn't dream of refusing."

***

Hermione smiled as she leaned on Draco's shoulder, the pair walking leisurely out of the manor.

"I rather like your mother."

Draco snorted. "You're the only one of us who thinks that. Showing you those baby pictures-" He sighed. "Why does she insist on irritating me?"

Hermione smiled. "Because it's good entertainment. And besides, you were a cute baby. Except for the one where you were wailing-"

"I know, I know! Now, I'm going to change the subject. Do you want me to take you home?"

"Sure." Hermione looked up at him and Draco's heart melted a little bit at the sight of the girl he had loved for so long finally in his arms.

The pair Apparated on the spot and Draco stood awkwardly on the threshold of the apartment as Hermione lit the lights.

"Do you want to come in?"

"Well- it's late-"

Hermione waved him off. "I'll just drink copious amounts of caffeine tomorrow if I have to. Don't worry about me."

"Alright." Draco stepped in, shrugging his jacket off. Hermione turned around to take her wand from the coffee table before moving to sit on the couch, when Draco, who had snuck up behind her, grabbed her by the waist (causing her to squeal in surprise) and placed her gently on his lap.

To his surprise, she didn't scramble off but instead curled up and summoned a long, black with buttons all over it, before pressing one of them and the black painting that had been hanging on the wall lit up, and all of a sudden people started to move inside the painting. Draco started, surprised, and Hermione, unprepared, fell off the couch. Draco lifted her up and pulled her back onto the sofa.

"What is that?"

"It's a TV, Draco. It's- it's a bigger version of a picture, and the pictures last longer." Hermione blurted out, not knowing how else to phrase it. Draco was interested, but Hermione was growing more and more tired by the minute and eventually, he heard her breathing even out as she fell asleep.

Picking her up, he placed her down on her bed, still in her evening gown, and, not being able to resist, pressed a sweet kiss to her temple before leaving.

***

Hermione sighed, now well-accustomed to the routine that governed her working day. It had been about a month since the dinner with Narcissa, and Hermione was now in frequent contact with Draco's mum, helping her organize the gala and meeting up for lunch and coffee. She was quite an amiable person, and Hermione enjoyed talking with her about anything and everything. She smiled as she recalled their last conversation, a much deeper and dangerous topic for both of them.

***

Draco fiddled nervously with the buttons on his suit, waiting for Hermione. She came out of her apartment, in a tinted red dress with roses across the neckline and the sleeves that wrapped around her arms, leaving the dress without straps over her shoulders.

She looked radiant- and Draco smiled. But Hermione frowned.

Reaching up, she ran her fingers through his hair, undoing the stiff gel that held it in place and returning it to its natural silkiness.

"None of that done-up stuff. It looks better without it." Draco smirked as he realized she was simply doing something for him that he had done for her- taking away something unnecessary.

"Shall we go?"

***