Pillow Talk, Happy Birthday

AN: To help you (wonderful) readers out I have constructed a list of these chapters in chronological order. I'm writing these chapters as inspiration comes along and have a few future plots already churning in my head. The story is listed as complete because I never know if I'm going to update with new chapters.

1. The Beginning

2. The Art of Gifting

3. Mr. Fashionista

4. Happy Birthday

5. Itchy and Scratchy

6. Penultimate

7. Save the date

8. Lullaby

9. Epilogue?

10. Bedtime stories (Which flashes back to a time between Penultimate and Save the date)

Hope this helps! Thank you for the great feedback and reviews. This kind of love for the story really keeps this story moving.

So this what it was like to be hungover, or drunk. Or both. All Hermione could remember was that she flooed home from her birthday party at one of the new Wizarding London dance clubs. The night began early at 5 pm where Hermione and a few girlfriends had a nice dinner and wine. Afterwards, Hermione had intentions to go home and relax from the long week she had experienced at the Ministry. Her recent promotion left her more exhausted and now, all Hermione wanted to do was snuggle underneath her bedcovers and fall asleep. Hermione's friends kept encouraging her to join them at Jinx, a new dance club for the young witches and wizards. A little tipsy from the wine, Hermione agreed after mentally fighting with herself that she had become somewhat of a homebody. Hermione was turning 30 tomorrow. Thirty.

Many drinks, many dances with strange wizards, and many hours later found Hermione tumbling out of the fireplace into an empty flat. Her short royal purple, silk chiffon dress reeked of smoke and alcohol. Hermione scrunched her nose at the dismal state of her dress as she stripped herself of dress, kicked off her killer heels, and trudged into her bedroom.

Hermione's bed never looked so inviting, however, Hermione didn't want to get into bed without taking a shower first. As Hermione took her shower to wash off the smell of the drinks, smoke, and smell of men who had all wanted to dance with the birthday girl, Hermione's thoughts drifted over how she spent the last night of her twenties, which thus shifted into how she spent the last year.

The last year was interesting to say the least. She never thought she would be living with Draco Malfoy, however, she found that it has been one of the best living situations she's ever had. Sure, they both got on each other's nerves from time to time, but that was normal. Hermione left her empty coffee mugs all over the place, and Draco was way too much a of clean freak for Hermione's tastes. They both respected each other's space, despite Draco's constant nighttime visits. But what Hermione found interesting was that Draco never brought a girl home, despite numerous reports of Draco's womanizing ways that was displayed on covers of Witch Weekly. Hermione began to think she was grateful that she got to know Draco on a more intimate level. She knew of his struggles with women and pressure to get married he felt by his parents. She saw the inner battle that he was having between duty and happiness, which tended to lean towards duty. She knew things that no one else knew about the illustrious Draco Malfoy. He liked Saturday morning cartoons; his favorite morning meal was black coffee with scrambled eggs and two strips of bacon; and he favors the left side of the bed.

Hermione stepped out of the shower, wrapping a fluffy towel around her. As she dressed for bed and finished up her nightly routine, Hermione's thoughts once again drifted back to her situation and turning thirty. Hermione had dated a few men in the past months and found that she enjoyed spending time with one man in particular, a man she had been dating for the past six months. The relationship was new and exciting for Hermione. Someone was taking notice of her, appreciated her personality, and enjoyed spending time with her. So why was Hermione so hesitant about taking the next step?

Brushing off these thoughts, perceiving it to be too heavy of a topic for the birthday girl to be thinking about, Hermione's feet dragged themselves to Hermione's bed in the dark room. Her choice for pajamas that night? An old, oversized Puddlemere United quidditch shirt and boyshorts. Hermione stopped herself at the edge of the bed at the sight of someone else already settled in.

"Dracooooo," Hermione whined as she lifted the covers so she could slip underneath.

"Hmm?" he mumbled, his eyes remained closed.

"What are you doing here?" she sighed as her head hit the pillow; so grateful of the soft down feathers that were cradling her fuzzy thoughts.

"I just got in," Draco replied. He was underneath Hermione's covers as well, still dressed from the night's activities, a navy blue button down with black slacks. His shoes were discarded by the bedroom door. He was on his belly, with his face aimed towards the middle of the bed. His right cheek was pressed against the pillow.

"So you automatically came in here?" Hermione sighed.

"You were in the shower…did you want me to wait here or join you in the shower?"

"…"

"I thought so."

"Arse."

Draco smirked at the sound of Hermione cursing. "How was your night?"

"Fuzzy."

"Alcohol does that to you, Granger."

"You know, we've lived together for almost a year. You've probably called me by my first name like a total of four times while I've lived here. You think you can call me Hermione on a regular basis?" Hermione replied with a hint of annoyance as she shifted her head to look at his face.

"Nope," he replied with a pop of his 'p'.

"For Merlin's sake, why not?"

"It's weird. I've known you as Granger for most of my life. I don't like change."

"Truer words were never spoken."

A period of silence passed between them and Hermione swore she was sleeping when Draco asked, "So where did you go for your birthday?"

"How did you know it was my birthday? I don't remember telling you."

"I have my ways."

Hermione sighed as thoughts of the night rushed throughout her brain. "It was fine. The girls took me out for dinner, wine, and dancing."

"You danced?"

"With a lot of alcohol in me, yes."

"Did you dance by yourself?"

"Just with the girls and some guys who pressed themselves against us."

"Did you hex them?" Draco furrowed his eyebrow.

"I just about, yes." Another pause. "You're lucky, Draco," she sighed heavily.

"Why?"

"You haven't turned 30 yet."

"Yet, being the operative word."

"It's not the same for men as it is for women. When men turn 30, they become more distinguished, handsome, and women, we just get matronly, unwanted, and…old."

"What a load of crap."

"It's true."

"Obviously you're not unwanted, if you say guys were coming onto you on the dance floor."

"Oh please. They'll do anything to get a piece of…"

"It's all how you perceive aging, Granger. I see you turning thirty as a woman who knows what she wants in life and she won't take anyone's shit."

"Well gee, that's appealing."

"It is," Draco argued. "You don't have time to pussyfoot around. You have a career, you've shown that you can be independent; you're a strong woman. That's way more appealing than a twenty-two year old, who is all bright eyed about falling in love with the first man that looks their way. You say one nice compliment about the way they look and they think it's a marriage proposal."

"How was your date by the way?" Hermione asked.

"I'm in bed with my thirty year old roommate. How do you think it went?"

Hermione slapped him on the back, hard.

"OW! Dammit, woman? What was that for?" Draco yelped, opening his eyes.

"You called me old!"

"I said, thirty year old! Not old roommate!" Draco replied annoyingly.

Realizing her mistake, Hermione sighed. "Oh, sorry."

"Geez, Granger. That hurt," Draco winced.

"I'm sorry. I think it's all the alcohol. It's affected my hearing," Hermione whispered. "Or maybe because I'm old."

"So is this what I'm to expect every year on your birthday? You getting down on yourself for every year you turn older? It won't get any worse will it?"

"You plan to be around for more birthdays?"

"Not if it's like this. I thought the birthday girl was supposed to get spanked, not the unsuspecting, consoling roommate who is trying to make you feel better."

"I said sorry."

"Mhmm."

Hermione shifted her head away from Draco's and took notice of a wrapped gift on her nightstand.

"What's this?" Hermione asked as she reached over to pick up the present. It was rather light despite it's large appearance.

"In most countries, Granger, it's customary to give a birthday present to the birthday girl on her birthday," Draco replied.

"Smartass."

"No more so than you, my dear."

"What is it?" Hermione asked.

"It is also customary for the birthday girl to open the birthday gift on her birthday."

"Do you want to get slapped again?"

"Can I choose where you slap me?"

Hermione rolled her eyes as she sat up against the headboard. She turned on the light so she could see a bit better. Draco remained unmoved from his spot on the bed.

She fingered the red ribbon as her other hand glided over the white, glittery wrapping paper.

"You know, I remember something during Christmas last year where I was told ripping the paper off was one of the best parts about opening gifts," Draco recited.

"I'm just in shock, is all."

"In shock? About what? You really think I would be a schmuck and not get you anything for your birthday?"

"No…just unexpected is all. Truthfully, I don't know how you even knew it was my birthday. I didn't mention it to you. I've been pretty quiet about it since it's the big 3-0."

"I told you. I have my ways. So open it," he commanded.

Hermione ripped open the paper with gusto as she unveiled a large box. She shimmied off the top of the box to reveal, what else, a large book. Hermione peered closely at the title of the book to realize it said "Hogwarts, A History." Hermione's eyes widened. It was the latest edition about the history of Hogwarts and this one was more special to Hermione as this edition included research and history that Hermione herself had contributed.

"How…what...how did you get this? This wasn't supposed to be released until next year!" she squealed, looking over to Draco whose face was still planted on one of her pillows.

"I told you. I have my ways," he smiled. A genuine smile.

Hermione grinned as she lifted the book out of the box. It's heaviness plopped itself into her lap.

"Featherweight charm on the box?"

"What else? There was no way I was going to lug that thing in here without one."

"Thank you, Draco. I love it," Hermione softly said as she gingerly opened the book.

"You're welcome, Granger," Draco yawned closing his eyes. "Happy Birthday."

Sleep was the last thing on Hermione's mind now. The night's previous events all became a distant memory as she giddily ran her hands along the book's fresh pages. However, sleep was the Draco's first thing on his mind as he drifted off to sleep in Hermione's bed as she perused the new book in the brightly lit room. Thirty may not be a bad year, after all.

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