Chapter 13 - Knickerbockers and Sunscreen

Two weeks had passed since the incidence at Diagon Alley, and during this time Hermione had finally returned to work at St Mungo's. She was immensely grateful for this, as work gave her an escape, in which she could put her personal problems at the back of her mind and concentrate on doing something she was incredibly good at, looking after and helping people.

Draco had protested severely against Hermione's insistence to go to work, claiming that it would be embarrassing for his reputation if people found out that a woman living in the Malfoy household was working, when he himself was more than capable of earning them enough. Hermione had simply told him he was a chauvinistic bastard and reminded him that no one knew she was living at the Manor. This remark had not gone down too well with Draco.

It was Narcissa that looked after Nick during the hours his parents were at work. She loved her grandson more and more as the days went by. They would spend hours together in the garden, where she told him stories of his father's childhood and the mischief he got up to. Nick would listen intently, and at times Narcissa felt incredibly bitter towards Hermione for keeping Draco from his son and vice versa.

Speaking of Hermione, Narcissa was absolutely sick to the bone regarding her son's and her attitude towards each other. Those two sometimes acted so juvenile, it made her want to scream in frustration. She of course would have to do something about that by herself, but it seemed it was never the right time to put her sneaky schemes into operation. The time would present itself sometime soon, Narcissa would make sure of it.

"What a day!" Exclaimed Draco as he collapsed onto their bed dramatically.

"Tell me about it." Said Hermione, from her side of the bed as she snuggled deeply into her pillow.

"What happened with you?" Asked Draco, turning to look at her.

"Well first there was this old woman that came in, her nose hair growing down to her ankles. Then there was a kid that had had an allergic reaction to some plant, and he had developed pustules the size of golf balls, that burst every five second." Replied Hermione, shuddering at the memory.

Draco roared with laughter, and only laughed harder when he saw Hermione glaring at him. "I can see why you love working so much now Granger." He managed to say after composing himself.

"Oh, shut up." Grumbled Hermione, turning her back to him.

Draco just laughed again. "Well, aren't you going to ask me how my day was?"

"No."

"Well, I'm going to tell you anyway."

"Typical."

"That's not fair Granger, I had to listen to you."

"Only because you asked."

"Whatever!" Snapped Draco, and then mumbled something about women and PMS.

"What did you say, Malfoy?" Hermione demanded, turning around and fixing him with a glare.

"Nothing." Replied Draco innocently, actually pouting.

"Oh, get that stupid look off of your face."

"Why? Does it make you uncomfortable? Do I look cute?"

"Cute my ass."

"So, you think my ass is cute?"

"NO!"

"Okay! Geez, calm down."

"Just go to sleep Malfoy, we have work tomorrow."

"Actually, Granger, its Saturday tomorrow."

"Oh, thank Merlin."

"Granger-"

"SHUT UP MALFOY."

The next morning after breakfast Narcissa had told the two of them she had planned a family outing and that was no way of getting out of it. In such a typical Malfoy manner.

"Why are going to the beach, Mother?" Asked Draco for the fifteenth time.

"Because, dear, we have to spend some time as a family. We haven't had much time for that lately, what with you and Hermione working all the time" Replied Narcissa.

"But Mother-"

"No Draco, we're going and that's final."

They had woken up Saturday morning only to find that Narcissa had planned to take them all to the seaside for the day. Where she had gotten that crazy idea, Draco did not know. But he did know that he didn't like it. It was probably just some stupid plan to get him and Granger closer. Like that would ever happen.

Hermione of course had agreed right away, claiming that she needed a little time to relax and just have fun with Nick. The two were currently upstairs packing bathers, sunscreen, hats, glasses, spades, buckets, towels, and whatever else people took when going to the beach.

Draco hated the beach. He only ever went for the girls. There was just something about frolicking around half naked and getting purposely sun burnt that always set him off.

"We're ready!" Nick yelled, bounding down the stairs and jumping into Draco's lap. "Can we go now? Can we go now?"

"Hold up there, mate." Chuckled Draco. He looked at what his son was wearing. White board shorts and a light blue t-shirt that clashed magnificently with his eyes. It was a very womanly observation, but Draco couldn't but think that Nick would be one lady-killer when he was older.

"Are we all here then?" Asked Narcissa, stepping into the foyer.

"No, Mother, we're waiting for Granger. She's taking her sweet little-"

"I'm here." Said Hermione, throwing a glare at Draco.

"Splendid! Now take a hold of this you three." Said Narcissa, holding out a rubber duck.

They did so and felt the familiar tug in their stomachs. Once they landed, looked around at their surroundings in awe. They were definitely not in England anymore. Magnificent yellow sand stretched out on either side of them for what seemed like hundreds of kilometres. They had landed on a slightly elevated point so they could see how they water changed in colour: light blue, then aqua, and finally a royal blue that stretched out far beyond the horizon. The waves rolled towards the shore, iced with white surf, some random person trying to ride it on their body board.

"It's beautiful." Breathed Hermione.

Draco agreed, but he was more concerned about something else first. "Mother, where are we?" He asked.

"In Australia. This is the Gold Coast I believe." Replied Narcissa.

"Australia?" Exclaimed Draco.

"That is what I said isn't it?"

"MOTHER! You brought us to Australia just to go to the bloody beach?" Roared Draco, causing a few passers-by to turn to look at him as if he were insane.

"Why else do people come to Australia?" Laughed Narcissa.

"This is no time to be funny, Mother. We're here illegally. You can't just rock up at any random country and expect to get away with it." Cried Draco, pacing in front them.

"We are not here illegally, dear, this is a wizard beach on which witches and wizards from all around the world can come and go here as they please." Explained Narcissa.

"What-why didn't you say so before?"

"Did you give me a chance to explain?"

Draco didn't reply, he just glared off into the distance and then looked around them. There were people everywhere, having a good time, laughing, running around, and swimming. "I look like a freak." He said bitterly.

"Great observation, Malfoy, I could've told you that any day." Said Hermione, laughing.

"Now you little b-"

"You finish that sentence Draco Malfoy, and I will personally kill you."

"Whatever! And besides, what I meant was, I look like a freak because of what I'm wearing."

"Well duh! No one else would be stupid enough to turn up at a beach wearing thick black robes."

"Don't worry, Draco" Said Narcissa, cutting into their argument "I brought you some bathers."

Draco's jaw nearly hit the floor when Narcissa pulled out a pair of navy-blue knickerbockers. Hermione laughed hysterically, while Nick looked at the grown-ups trying to figure out what was going on.

"I am not wearing those!" Draco cried out in horror.

"Well, it's all I have." Snapped Narcissa, finally sick of all the complaining. "If you don't want to wear them then just stay looking ridiculous in your robes. Hermione and I are going to change and find ourselves a spot to sit in. Come on, Hermione dear."

Hermione just stared dumbfounded. She had never thought Narcissa could ever lose her composure like she just had. She silently grabbed Nick's hand walked behind the older woman, leaving Draco standing there, looking ridiculous holding the knickerbockers.

Finally regaining some senses, Draco made his way to the male toilets. Once safe inside the cubicle, he took out his wand and transfigured the trunks into a pair of board shorts just like Nick's, except they were lime green with a thick, white and thin black stripe running down either side. He'd rather swallow dragon dung than be seen wearing only those things his mother had given him in public. Shuddering, he ran a hand through his hair and changed.

As he walked out of the toilets, his robes in his hands and his dragon hide shoes transfigured into a pair of black thongs, Draco spotted his mother Hermione and Nick making their way back from the female toilets. He took in their appearances. Mother was dressed in a one-piece hot pink swimsuit and huge hat. Draco willed himself not to vomit. Nick was wearing just his board sorts, the t-shirt abandoned. When his eyes turned to Hermione, however, his breath caught in his throat and his heart seemed to have stop beating. She wore a lemon-coloured bikini, but with it she wore a white skirt, made of thin material that was almost see-through. Her feet were bear, and her hair hung wildly around her head, a non-existent wind curling its fingers through it. He had never seen anyone look so breath-taking.

"Where did you get those?" Asked Narcissa, gesturing his shorts, as the trio reached him.

"I just transformed them," replied Draco.

Narcissa just sniffed agitatedly.

"So..um...should we find a spot to sit?" Hermione questioned awkwardly, looking from mother to son. She was not used to seeing them like this and so she had no idea what to do.

"Yeah, let's go." Said Draco, taking Nick's free hand, and walking off.

"Daddy, can we build a sandcastle?" Nick asked excited jumping up and down, looking around excitedly. He wanted nothing more than to find a good spot and build a huge castle and then go for a swim.

"Of course."

"Then can we get some ice cream?"

"Yes, Nick."

"What's wrong, Daddy?" Nick had stopped walking, forcing Draco to do the same.

"What do you mean?" Draco sighed.

"Why are you mad?"

"Who says I'm mad?"

"You look grumpy."

"Do I now?"

"Yeah. Did you and Mummy have a fight again? Why do grown-ups always have to fight? Why can't they just be nice to each other?"

Draco looked at Nick, his eyes softening. The poor child had to go through so much. He wanted to smack himself for never thinking about how Nick would feel when he bickered with Hermione.

"I'm sorry Nick." Said Draco, lifting up his son. "What do you want me to do?"

"Be nice to Mummy?" Replied Nick, smiling.

"You want me to be nice to Mummy? How will I do that?"

"Give her a big hug and tell her you love her. Mummy always likes it when I do that?"

Draco laughed. "I'm not sure she'd like it if I did that, Nick."

"Why not?" Asked Nick, looking at his father with curious eyes.

"Because she'd scream and hit me on the head, if I did." Nick laughed loudly at his father, making Draco smile and ruffle his hair. Without realising it, the two had walked quite a distance ahead of the two women. Looking around, Draco figured this would be the best place to sit. "So, what do you think? Should we sit here?"

Nick just nodded in reply.

Hermione and Narcissa finally caught up with them and Hermione asked, "Are we going to sit here?" When Draco nodded in affirmation, she pulled her wand out of her beach bag and performed a wordless spell with a complicated wrist movement. A few seconds later an umbrella had been put up, with an ice cooler underneath it filled with cool drinks, four towels were laid out perfectly next to each other and Nick's sandcastle building equipment appeared in a small pile. Upon seeing it, Nick squealed and jumped out of Draco's lap and ran over to the pile.

"Not so fast Nick, we have to put the sunscreen on." Called Hermione, making Nick turn around and pout at her. "Don't give me that look, do you want to get sun burnt?" Hermione asked, laughing.

"No."

Setting her bag down, Hermione plopped herself down onto a towel and pulled out a spray of a bottle of sunscreen. She squeezed some into her palm and rubbed it on Nick's arms, legs, face, shoulders, chest and back. After making sure every centimetre was covered, she let him go and make the sandcastle. She looked around to see that Narcissa had already settled herself down on a towel, and was lying flat on her back, huge sunglasses on her face, as she sunbathed. Draco on the other hand was struggling to apply sunscreen onto his back. Hermione laughed out loud.

"What's so funny, Granger?" Sneered Draco, clearly agitated.

"Do you have any idea how ridiculous you look?" Laughed Hermione.

Draco ignored her and continued trying.

"Let me help you." Offered Hermione, walking on her knees towards him.

Draco stared at her. Had she gone insane? She was actually willing to touch him. Maybe the intense UV rays of the Australian sun had gotten to her head.

"Don't look at me like I'm crazy. You'll burn like mad if you don't put it on properly."

"Didn't think you cared, Granger." Smirked Draco.

Hermione rolled her eyes and snatched the bottle of sunscreen off him. She squeezed out a good handful and began applying it.

Draco tried very hard not to think of the way her small hands massaged his back. The slow movements were driving him slowly crazy. What the hell was wrong with him? He wasn't supposed to react like this. It was so against his style. If Granger's small ministrations were making him feel like his, he really desperately needed to get laid.

All too soon, Hermione removed her hands and capped the bottle. She had not seen, nor realised, the way Draco had reacted. He was too much of a good actor for that. It would take a lot more to break his composure completely.

"Would you like me to do yours?" asked Draco.

"What?" Hermione asked, bewildered, sure she had not heard right.

"Would you like me to do your back?"

"No that's okay. I already applied it in the bathroom."

"How did you manage that?"

"There's a spell"

Draco smirked at her, and she just stared at him confused. Her expression made him burst out into laughter. "Why didn't you just tell me the spell, Hermione?"

Hermione blushed as realisation dawned. How could she have been so stupid? "Shut up, Malfoy."

"I think you were just looking for an excuse to touch me, don't you?" Laughed Draco, his eyes lighting up.

"In your dreams."

"Don't deny it, Granger, it won't work on me."

"There's nothing to deny."

"Really? Well just so you know, my dear, I don't really mind at all. I know just how irresistible ladies find me."

Hermione threw the sunscreen bottle at him, but he simply caught it lazily. Damn those Seeker reflexes. Then he winked at her and gave her a lopsided grin and Hermione blushed crimson and looked out at the ocean. Draco Malfoy just flirted with her and all she could do was sit there blushing like some bloody soppy sap. Pathetic. It didn't really help the matter that he looked so damn sexy in those shorts. His toned body glistening in the sun, his hair mussed because constantly kept running his hand through it, the V of his pelvis clearly visible, leaving nothing really to imagination. She was being an idiot. Draco Malfoy could not look sexy. He was a chauvinistic, racist, bigoted, ferret-faced bastard but that didn't seem to matter at this point in time.