all sorts, lovey," he said, waggling his blond brows. "Believe it or not, some men have a thing for chaste, virginal types."
He eyed her bare legs in a way that made her long for a baggy pair of jeans. She gave him withering look. "You're late, you know?"
"I had to take care of a few last minute things before I left," was all he said. He then took hold of her wrist and pulled her towards the Inn. "Come on. We're going to see if they have a room."
"You mean rooms," Hermione corrected. "And will you stop dragging me, I can walk." She had had quite enough of being jostled about by rude males that day.
"Well walk quicker, we're drawing attention."
"Says the young wizard wearing the fertilizer cap" she muttered.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
"What do you mean only one room and only one bed?"
Hermione tugged subtly on the sleeve of Malfoy' s t-shirt to let him know he was being loud and obnoxious. He brushed her hand away. Several departing patrons were eyeing them with interest. The pretty witch with the yellow parasol had even followed them inside the establishment and was currently looking at Malfoy as if he were a particularly nice pair of shoes that she could not afford, but would like to try on anyway.
"Look here," Malfoy said, stabbing his finger into the worn counter. "I sent an Owl ahead of time to make a reservation."
The innkeeper of the Cobblestone was apparently the poster person for Cheerfully Indifferent. "That you did, Mister Merrybones, sir. We received your letter and payment this morning. Thing is, sonny, we were fully booked from two weeks ago. It's this Cauldron Makers Convention, see? Every room in town's been taken. I'm afraid the only vacancy we have is a-"
Malfoy narrowed his eyes and dared the man to say it.
"Single," the innkeeper finished, with a self-satisfied smile. Malfoy's uppity manner was obviously amusing to him.
"Just take it, will you?" Hermione prodded. "Forget the two rooms already."
She regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. Malfoy transferred the full force of his displeasure onto her. It was like being blasted with an arctic wind. She took a step back to thaw out.
He was not enjoying some of the side effects of being incognito, namely the fact that people did not cower, did not throw rose petals at his feet or shove their young, unmarried daughters forward for 'Mr. George Merrybones', as they were wont to do for Mr. Draco Malfoy.
"I' ll throw in a whole extra day' s stay, for half of whatever she' s chargin' ,' "
said the witch with the parasol, inclining her head towards Hermione.
Hermione glared at the girl, wondering at which point in time she had sidled up to Malfoy and pressed her lightly rouged bosom against his bicep. Malfoy, meanwhile, was looking down at her as one would an affectionate kitten you were a little too busy to pet at the moment, but if it could perhaps come back a little later?
"I happen to be his wife," Hermione said to the witch, tartly. She felt Malfoy' s internal eyebrow rise upwards at this proclamation.
Well, sod them all. They were supposed to play the part of a married couple weren't they?
The witch grinned at her. "Uhuh. And I' m his mama." "Sally, would you mind?" the innkeeper asked, tiredly. "Am tyring to run a business."
"As am I," Sally the Strumpet replied, but she sashayed away without looking aggrieved. When she was at the entrance, she turned to blow a kiss at Malfoy.
Hermione resisted the urge to intercept the kiss and hurl it back at the girl's face.
"We can provide a few expansion charms at minimal cost, if that's too your liking?" the innkeeper was saying. He obviously sensed a potentially profitable encounter.
"That would be fine, thank you," Hermione rushed out, interrupting whatever it was Malfoy was about to threaten the man with. The git was still slightly distracted by Sally with The Swaying Hips.
The innkeeper cleared his throat, happy to have reached an accord. "I'll just refund you for the two rooms and write you a new invoice." He reached under the counter, but Draco stopped him. It would be better if there were no record of their stay.
Hermione drummed her fingers against the counter. She was actually rather eager to see what a Bordello invoice looked like.
"Keep the money." Additionally, Malfoy passed a small stack of Galleons across to the man. "For