She was both embarrassed and angry, and could only glare at Draco, saying, "How childish of you! Let go of me right now!"
"It seems our Miss Granger is shy," Draco chuckled. "Since you won't read it, then I'll read it myself?"
"Shut up! I won't let you read!" Hermione was so pushed to her limit that she reached out and grabbed his arm holding the book, leaning most of her body out of the cradle.
In the struggle, Hermione completely forgot about her balance, lost her footing, and lurched forward.
She fell straight into Draco's arms.
"Oops!" Draco was caught off guard and lost his balance, laughing as he fell backward onto the soft, long-haired carpet.
Hermione leaned over him, her hands still desperately reaching for the book in his hands. She had only one thought in mind: she had to get the book back and never let him continue to tease her, let alone recite that embarrassing poem herself.
So she frantically tried to get up, supporting herself on his chest with one hand and reaching for the book he was still holding high with the other.
"Give it back to me!"
But the more Hermione struggled in embarrassment and anger, the more amused Draco became. Instead of letting go, he gently wrapped his arm around her waist with his free hand to prevent her from moving around and falling.
Then, maintaining this posture, he deliberately lowered his head, his gaze sweeping across the pages again, and recited the half-line of the ancient poem:
"This feeling is beyond redemption..."
After Draco finished reading, he understood. He looked down at Hermione, who was clinging to him, and she was frozen in place by the words.
Hermione's hair was disheveled, and her cheeks were flushed.
"So... your feelings for me have reached a point where they can't be erased?" Draco chuckled mockingly.
"Boom—" Hermione's face turned so red it was almost steaming.
Embarrassed, she struggled desperately to get off Draco, but he held her down with his hand around her waist, preventing her from moving.
"I just happened to come across this sentence! I wasn't thinking about you, don't flatter yourself!" Hermione said vaguely.
"Just right?" Draco clearly didn't believe it, and his laughter grew even wider. "Of all these sentences, you just happened to see the one that evoked the deepest longing? Granger, your 'just right' is truly unique."
Hermione was speechless with anger, and she wanted to bite him, but just then, the tip of her nose twitched slightly.
An unfamiliar fragrance lingered around Draco.
That wasn't his scent, but rather the smell of women's perfume, very faint, yet clearly detectable at extremely close range.
Hermione stiffened, her earlier embarrassment and annoyance fading, replaced by a surge of anger. She abruptly propped herself up from Draco, pressing her hands against his chest, her expression darkening slightly.
He demanded, "Where did you go just now?"
"I just went out for a stroll." Draco, who was still laughing, paused at her abrupt question and answered instinctively.
"You wandered around?" Hermione's tone grew colder, her eyes sharp as she stared at him, scrutinizing every expression on his face. "Then why do you smell like another woman?"
"Oh!" Draco exclaimed, suddenly understanding, then smiled calmly. "I just went to the casino. It's crowded and chaotic there. You're bound to bump into people while walking around, and there are waitresses serving drinks. It's normal to get some on your hands unintentionally."
"Are you sure it's a casino, and not some spa?" Hermione's eyes were scrutinizing a suspicious criminal.
"Of course not!" Draco chuckled at her imaginative question and simply let go of the book he had been holding.
The book fell to the carpet with a "thud".
Then, he reached into his pocket with his free hand, rummaged around for a bit, pulled out a few casino chips, and handed them to Hermione.
"Don't believe me? Look," he said, waving the chips.
"No one's going to a spa and then sneaking back a bunch of casino chips as a souvenir, right?"
Hermione lowered her gaze and glanced at the several sizable chips in his palm. They were indeed casino-issued chips, and her tense expression eased slightly.
She wasn't against Draco going to the casino for a couple of rounds.
I just... don't like it...
I don't like the smell of other women on him.
Even if it's just an inevitable brush past each other.
The scent inexplicably irritated her.
"Hmph!" Hermione slapped the chips back into his hand, her earlier coldness vanishing, and earnestly warned, "Playing is fine, but don't gamble too much, and don't get so close to other women anymore."
Seemingly sensing something, she turned her head away again and added softly, "... Also, remember to get rid of this weird smell on you next time you come back, it stinks."
"Someone was just being stubborn, saying they only happened to see a poem about longing, but now, they get all nervous at the slightest other scent. Miss Granger, are you afraid I'll be seduced by those pretty Muggle girls in the casino?"
After saying that Draco casually tossed the chips to the thread-bound book, then pulled his arm around her waist again, gently pressing her back into his embrace as she tried to get up.
"I didn't," Hermione turned her head away to avoid eye contact, then explained coolly, "I was just reminding you to be mindful of your boundaries."
"Sense of propriety?" Draco chuckled, tightening his arms around her until they were almost completely sealed.
His tone grew increasingly playful, "I have a feeling someone's afraid I'll be snatched away by another beautiful woman."
"I didn't..." Hermione couldn't keep up the act any longer after he hit her so hard. She slapped his chest in annoyance, her cheeks flushing red again, and continued stubbornly, "I just don't like that smell, it has nothing to do with being jealous! Don't talk nonsense!"
As she spoke, she struggled to get off Draco, but he held her down. "Let go..." she said.
"I won't let go."
" Draco!"
"I'm here."
Seeing that she couldn't break free from him again, Hermione was both ashamed and angry. In the end, she simply turned her face away and ignored him, her lips pursed in a huff.
But her puffed-up cheeks and flushed neck made her look more like a little one who was annoyed but helpless.
"Go take a shower now, it smells awful!"
Hermione unleashes her final, devastating attack.
"What's the rush?" Draco's heart softened again at her adorable appearance, overflowing with sweetness.
"I'm already here, the smell will be gone after a shower. But someone else, who was secretly reading love poems, is now so obviously jealous, which surprises me..."
Hermione froze, speechless.
But the fingers pressed against his chest quietly curled up.
"Don't worry, no matter how dazzling the casino lights are, or how intoxicating the wine is..." Draco kissed the tip of her ear, "It can't compare to the interesting little genius in this cradle who can read love poems."
His actions caused Hermione's ears to turn even redder at a visible speed. She shrank back, remaining silent, but her tense body softened.