Although Draco didn't finish his sentence, Trillian had already accurately deduced what he wanted to say from the unfinished syllable and Hermione's overreaction...
After piecing together the scene of the two of them in the room last night in her mind, Trillian gave Hermione a playful smile.
Hermione felt even more uncomfortable under her gaze.
Seeing that the flirtatious banter was about to spiral out of control, Draco forcefully ended the commotion. "Alright, let's watch the sunrise."
Hermione rolled her eyes at him, her reproach still lingering, but she quickly backed down, concealing her embarrassment. Trillian still wore a playful smile, but she said nothing.
The three calmed down and enjoyed the magnificent scene of dawn breaking through the clouds. A perfectly round, blazing red sun broke free from the sea's edge, pierced through the thin mist, and hung low in the sky, radiating golden light.
The dark, deep sea was gradually dyed by the glow of the sunset, turning from inky blue to light turquoise, and the vast sea surface shimmered with golden light.
A sea breeze swept across the sky, and the setting sun painted the clouds with a gradient of colors, from orange-red to warm orange, creating a breathtakingly romantic scene.
The cruise ship deck in the distance was densely packed with people, and the early sun shone on their faces, presenting a unique kind of beauty.
The three remained silent, enjoying the sunrise with the other passengers on the cruise ship, letting the gentle light envelop them, and waiting for the ship to slowly approach the port and head towards its final destination.
After watching the sunrise, the three returned to their suite, quickly washed up, and changed into comfortable Muggle attire.
Draco wore a dark grey thin cashmere cardigan over a white shirt, paired with black casual trousers and brown derby shoes, looking like a young aristocrat from Britain magazine.
Hermione chose a beige trench coat, paired with a light blue shirt and a dark long skirt, and low-heeled leather shoes. Trillian changed into a simple black and white outfit, a fitted blazer with a knee-length skirt, a typical assistant's outfit.
This was Draco's advice to Trillian. The three of them packed their luggage, did a final check of the room to make sure nothing was left behind, and then left the suite with their suitcases.
The cruise ship slowly entered New York Harbor. The morning sun shone on the Hudson River, making it sparkle. The huge white cruise ship sailed smoothly across the water, and the scenery on both banks gradually unfolded.
The New York skyline looked particularly spectacular in the morning light.
The towering skyscrapers, the spire of the Empire State Building gleaming in the sunlight, and the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center standing majestically, echo the silhouette of the Statue of Liberty in the distance.
Yellow tower cranes stand tall on the dock, containers are piled up like mountains, and workers in overalls are busy moving around on the shore.
Hot dog carts and street vendors lined the street.
Under colorful parasols, tourists wearing shorts and T-shirts, and sunglasses, took photos in twos and threes.
The sounds of taxi horns, ferry whistles, and vendors' cries blended together, creating a morning symphony unique to New York.
Unlike London's old, understated docks, which are steeped in history, New York's docks are more open, bustling, and vibrant, exuding a strong sense of modernity.
The announcement came over the loudspeaker at 7:50: "The first group of passengers to disembark, please proceed to the boarding bridge on the middle deck of level seven, taking with you your belongings."
The three followed the flow of people onto the boardwalk connecting the cruise ship and the pier. The scent of the sea breeze was gradually replaced by the air of the city, and the Manhattan skyline became clearer and clearer before their eyes.
Stepping into the dock hall, he was greeted by a bustling crowd of travelers of all skin colors and languages, dragging suitcases and looking excited. Draco scanned the crowd and quickly noticed a rather inconspicuous figure at the edge of the hall.
She was a woman in her thirties, of Irish descent, with fair skin and reddish-brown curly hair.
Wearing a dark green trench coat, she looked no different from the Muggle around her, but she held up a small metal plaque engraved with Draco's surname— Malfoy.
"It seems the Magical Congress sent people ahead of schedule. They are messengers from the native Wizarding World," Draco said to the two.
Hermione nodded slightly, as if she had expected it.
The three men walked up to the woman.
The woman's gaze swept over them, finally settling on Draco, and she confirmed, "You are Mr. Malfoy?"
"It's me." Draco nodded.
The woman's expression relaxed slightly, revealing a polite smile. She extended her hand. "I am Mabel Higgins, the Muggle Security Officer of the Magical Congress, primarily responsible for Muggle security, trace erasure, and memory modification. I was ordered to wait here for you and your companions. Was your journey smooth?"
Draco shook her hand and smiled, saying:
"Everything is fine. Thank you for waiting for me."
Higgins then looked at the two women beside him.
Higgins had been informed beforehand that Draco would be bringing a fiancée along, and the young woman, who was about his age, was likely his fiancée Miss Hermione Granger.
"And who are these two ladies?" Higgins asked politely, not rushing to confirm, lest she mistake them for someone else and cause embarrassment.
Draco stepped aside and introduced the two to her:
"This is Hermione Granger, my fiancée. This is Trillian, my assistant."
Hermione nodded and greeted, "Hello, Ms. Higgins." Trillian smiled in return, "Hello."
Higgins smiled and responded to their greetings, then warmly invited, "This way, please. The three of you will follow me through this special lane, which will save you the trouble of queuing for immigration."
Draco nodded and followed with the two women. The three of them followed Higgins through the lobby, through an inconspicuous side door, and successfully passed through immigration and exited the cruise ship terminal.
As soon as I stepped outside, the streets of Manhattan, New York, came into view.
The streets were bustling with traffic and towering buildings. Taxis lined up in long queues, and horns blared incessantly. Sunlight peeked through the gaps between the skyscrapers, casting dappled shadows on the street.
Hermione stood by the roadside, gazing at the towering buildings, a look of awe in her eyes. She said in a tone that was both wistful and unfamiliar, " New York and London are really different."
Britain is not without tall buildings, but London's overall landscape is dominated by low-rise buildings, old-style houses, manor houses, and townhouses. Even in the Wizarding Quarter, tall buildings are almost nowhere to be seen.
The stark contrast between New York's skyline of towering skyscrapers and streets stretching like deep canyons and everything she was familiar with, left Trillian unmoved.
Because as a thief, she borrowed from everywhere...
Hearing this, Higgins smiled proudly, "Welcome to New York, Miss Granger. It's certainly different from London —higher, faster, and noisier. But after a few days, you'll discover its unique charm."
As he spoke, Higgins led the three men toward the parking lot. "Please follow me, my car is parked over there."