With all worries gone, Malfoy Manor welcomed its most relaxed and enjoyable summer vacation ever.
Draco sent Hermione messages almost every day by owl, sometimes a "good morning" message, sometimes a passage from a magical notebook.
A few days later, he simply took the most formal approach—visiting them directly.
So, throughout the summer vacation, Draco, dressed in simple and clean Muggle casual clothes, would appear at Hermione's doorstep every day on time.
During the day, it's their time to study.
Hermione's room was spotless, and her desk was covered with magic books and practice scrolls.
Hermione remains the same diligent and meticulous top student, while Draco is still the same carefree young master he always was.
He didn't need to study at all; he just needed to accompany Hermione to preview the second-year curriculum and practice spells.
Sometimes Draco would deliberately perform a beautiful spell when Hermione was learning a particular spell.
For example, he would arrange the stationery neatly in mid-air, then turn to Hermione and boast, "How about that, Granger? I'm just as good as you, aren't I?"
Hermione gave a soft hum, but couldn't help but smile, "Barely passable. Keep it up, Malfoy."
In the evening, it was time for Hermione to take Draco on a date to explore the Muggle world.
Hermione took his hand and led him into the completely unfamiliar Muggle streets.
Hermione took him to Muggle bookstore, showed him Muggle science books and storybooks, and told him about her favorite books when she was a child.
Take him to a dessert shop, order ice cream and small cakes, watch him take the first bite with a look of disgust, and then his eyes secretly light up.
Take him to the park, sit on a bench and watch the sunset, watch the children chase and play, and watch the Muggle stroll leisurely.
Hermione pulled him into the convenience store on the corner, its warm lights shining through, and pointed at the vending machine by the door, looking as attentive as a little teacher:
"Look, this is Muggle vending machine. You put in a coin, press a button, and the drink comes out by itself. It's very convenient."
Draco immediately adopted a curious expression, as if he had never seen anything like it before and knew nothing about it. "Coin? Press here? Won't it bite?"
Hermione chuckled at his earnest yet bewildered expression and patiently taught him how to insert coins to choose a drink.
Draco deliberately lingered a beat, his finger hovering over the button for a long time, until Hermione sighed and placed her hand on his, guiding him to press it down.
"Clang--"
A bottle of orange-flavored soda spilled out.
Draco bent down, picked it up, and clumsily pulled the Griphook like Hermione, carefully taking a small sip.
The next second, his brows furrowed slightly, his throat moved slightly, as if he had choked on a sudden bubble, and he looked dazed.
"Puff--"
Hermione burst into laughter, "You're so cute! It's just soda!"
Draco, looking a little embarrassed by the teasing, obediently held the soda to her lips. "You drink it, I won't take it from you."
Throughout his journey through the Muggle world, he acted like an obedient and curious student, believing everything Hermione said and learning everything Hermione taught him.
Hermione walked ahead, chattering away as she introduced him to Muggle things.
She didn't see it; as she turned to smile, Draco watched her retreating figure, a deeply hidden smile flashing across his eyes.
He's from another time.
What Muggle stuff hadn't she seen in her past life? Subways, movie theaters, vending machines, soft drinks... did she need to teach her anything?
only--
Seeing her proudly acting as his guide,
She laughed at his clumsy appearance.
Seeing how happy she was because she could teach him things,
Draco willingly feigned naiveté for the entire night.
As long as she can smile so sweetly,
Don't pretend you don't understand soft drinks.
He would be more than happy to pretend to be a clueless idiot.
Draco gently took her hand, his tone still obedient. " Granger, you know so much!"
Hermione proudly raised her chin, completely unaware that she was already completely under the thumb of a certain transmigrated young master who was pretending to be oblivious.
Passing by a small trinkets shop with a warm yellow neon sign on the street, I saw a delicate light blue glass bracelet displayed in the window, reflecting shimmering light.
Hermione paused involuntarily, her gaze lingering on the bracelet for a couple more seconds.
Draco noticed her subtle movement and quietly memorized the style.
When the two walked to the postcard shelf next to them, Hermione looked down and carefully selected cards to send to Harry and Ron.
He quietly slipped away to the jewelry counter and quickly bought the glass bracelet with the Muggle currency he had exchanged beforehand.
When he returned to Hermione's side, he gently took her free wrist and, under her questioning gaze, carefully fastened the glass bracelet.
On her fair wrist, on one side was a lustrous pearl necklace, a gift from Narcissa representing the Malfoy mistress, and on the other a clear and bright glass chain, the two pieces perfectly matched.
Hermione touched the cool, beautiful bracelet, then stared blankly at the boy in front of her, her cheeks suddenly flushing red.
Draco felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze. He coughed lightly, deliberately turning his face away and looking at the streetlights. "What are you looking at?"
Hermione couldn't help but laugh out loud, " Draco Malfoy, you're getting better and better at charming girls."
"Anyway, I'm just trying to make you happy..." Draco's lips curled up.
As soon as she finished speaking, Hermione suddenly burst out laughing even sweeter, "Actually, I was thinking of buying it for you because I was looking at it a few more times."
Draco froze abruptly, maintaining his turned-away expression for several seconds before slowly turning back.
He stared at her in astonishment, his usual composed and cunning demeanor instantly crumbling, revealing a hint of embarrassment. "Ah... is that so?"
Seeing him go from a composed young master to a completely flustered man, Hermione couldn't stop laughing.
She reached out and gently poked his burning cheek, deliberately saying, "Well, now look what happened. The gift I wanted to give you has ended up being bought and worn on my wrist by you..."
"This Mr. Malfoy not only doesn't understand Muggle stuff, he can even get his thoughts backwards."
Looking into her eyes, which were shining with laughter, Draco glanced again at the two matching bracelets on her wrist.
After a brief moment of awkwardness, he burst out laughing, gently pinched her wrist, and examined the two bracelets together.
"It doesn't matter if it's reversed, anyway... it's all ours."
Unexpectedly, Hermione smiled, gently took off the bracelet, took Draco's wrist, and tenderly put it on him.
The cool glass beads landed on his fair skin, unexpectedly complementing his aloof demeanor.
Draco rotated his wrist, looking at the light blue chain. "From now on, I'll only be able to alternate between wearing it and my wristband."
After saying that, he even rolled up his sleeves to reveal the wristband Hermione had given him for Christmas.
Hermione's eyes lit up, and she said with a hint of surprise and delight, "Oh, you've been carrying it with you all this time?"
"That's what you gave me. When have I ever carelessly thrown it away?" Draco said lightly.
He glanced down at the glass bracelet on his wrist, then looked at Hermione and asked with a mischievous tone:
"And I've heard... in Muggle, when a girl gives a boy a bracelet, it's because she wants to keep him by her side."
As he spoke, he touched the bracelet, his gaze fixed on her face. " Granger, you're... trying to keep me by your side, aren't you?"
Hermione's smile froze for a moment, her face flushed, she withdrew her hand, and her gaze drifted to the streetlight beside her.
"... Lock it then, you can't escape anyway."
After saying that, she couldn't help but burst out laughing, and lightly punched him. "Who taught you all this nonsense!"
Draco took her hand and said, "I secretly watched it myself, all for my date with Miss Granger."
Hermione was stunned for a moment.
Draco tightened his grip on her hand, pulling the dazed Hermione forward. A gentle evening breeze blew by, and the warm streetlights shone on them.
"I had a very happy day today," Draco said to Hermione was still in a daze.
Hermione snapped out of her reverie and replied, "Me too."
The two walked hand in hand slowly home in silence.