Recaps

Draco carried a flustered Hermione through the corridor to the restaurant, teasing her until she asked him to put her down. They sat down to an elegant dinner, where Hermione criticized the tiny portions and Draco explained that aristocrats prized ceremony over filling their stomachs.

• Draco hugged Hermione and teased her about liking his scent before sweeping her into his arms.
• Draco carried Hermione toward the restaurant, and she pleaded with him to put her down before anyone saw them.
• Draco set Hermione down at the restaurant entrance, and she took his arm as they went inside.
• Hermione examined the tiny portions on their plates and remarked that style would not fill her stomach.
• Draco explained that wealthy people valued atmosphere and ceremony, while Hermione picked up her fork and speared a slice of fish.

Hermione and Draco teased each other over dinner, then awkwardly fed each other dessert in the restaurant. Draco moved beside Hermione and threatened to kiss her if she refused another bite, leaving her to decide what to do.

• Hermione ate her steak while Draco flirted with her and wiped sauce from the corner of her mouth.
• Hermione stuffed a bread roll into Draco's mouth to stop his teasing, and they finished dinner.
• Draco asked Hermione to feed him mousse, then caught the spoon between his teeth before letting her go.
• Draco took the spoon and fed Hermione a bite of dessert, then moved to sit beside her.
• Draco offered Hermione another bite and threatened to kiss her if she would not eat.

Draco teased Hermione with kisses and magic during their outing, then took her to watch the sunset. After he stopped their kiss to provoke her, Hermione kissed him in a flustered counterattack, and they ended the evening in each other’s arms.

• Draco fed Hermione raspberry mousse and kissed the corner of her mouth, leaving her embarrassed and eager to leave the restaurant.
• Draco used magic to pull Hermione into his arms outside, then Apparated with her to the bow by the presidential suite.
• Draco embraced Hermione as they watched the sunset, then kissed her deeply until she began to kiss him back.
• Draco pulled away to tease Hermione, and she grabbed his collar and kissed him in a defiant counterattack.
• Hermione asked Draco not to laugh at her, and he praised her bravery.

Diana watched Draco and Hermione share a loving moment and bitterly reflected on her unhappy marriage to David. Draco then suggested that he and Hermione visit the ship’s library, where he produced a copy of Dream of the Red Chamber for her.

• Diana saw Draco and Hermione embrace and kiss, and she envied their affection while thinking about her troubled marriage to David.
• Diana turned away from the couple and wiped away her tears as she watched the sunset over the sea.
• Draco invited Hermione to visit the ship’s library, and she happily agreed to spend time there with him.
• Hermione chose Jane Eyre and a collection of European folk tales before settling into an armchair by the library windows.
• Draco returned with books he had redeemed from the system and gave Hermione a copy of Dream of the Red Chamber.
• Hermione asked where Draco had found the Chinese book, and Draco told her to guess.

Draco gave Hermione a Chinese copy of Dream of the Red Chamber and explained the title’s meaning, prompting Hermione to reflect on freedom and the future she might share with him. When Draco teased her about marrying into Malfoy Manor, Hermione said she wanted a home with him, not a cage, and insisted she would escape if she were ever trapped.

• Draco presented Hermione with Dream of the Red Chamber and explained how its title symbolized the secluded lives and constrained freedom of noble women.
• Hermione interpreted the red chamber as both a wealthy women’s private world and a cage that denied them control over their futures.
• Draco asked whether marrying into Malfoy Manor would mean moving into a red chamber, and Hermione said Malfoy Manor was not a cage because Draco’s family respected her choices.
• Hermione said she wanted a home with Draco and would escape if Malfoy Manor ever became a prison.
• Draco teased Hermione with his Five Fingers Mountain gesture, cupped the back of her neck, and suggested she read another Chinese classic to understand the reference.

Hermione and Draco teased each other about how they expressed affection before Hermione became suspicious of a book Draco was hiding. She challenged him to reveal it, suspecting it was not respectable.

• Draco teased Hermione about their past encounter in the Room of Requirement, and Hermione told him to stop bringing it up in public.
• Hermione agreed to finish Dream of the Red Chamber in exchange for Draco giving her the promised Five Fingers Mountain book.
• Hermione noticed Draco hiding a book and asked to see it, but he insisted it was ordinary and special.
• Hermione accused Draco of underestimating her tastes and challenged him to admit whether the book was indecent.

Draco tricked Hermione into asking to see a book whose title seemed to describe their relationship, then teased her about pursuing him. When Draco pretended to leave, Hermione stopped him and admitted she did not mind him staying close, and he settled back beside her with a smile.

• Draco revealed a book titled How a Muggle Girl Can Make a Domineering, Scheming but Gentle Young Master Fall in Love with Me after Hermione repeatedly insisted on seeing it.
• Hermione realized Draco had baited her into the reveal and accused him of deliberately teasing her.
• Draco argued that Hermione had brought the embarrassment on herself by pressing him to show the book, then joked about her following its advice to win him over.
• Draco asked whether Hermione liked him sticking close to her, and she denied it without conviction.
• Draco pretended to leave, but Hermione caught his sleeve and told him he could stay; he sat back down, smiling.

Draco crowded into Hermione’s armchair and held her while she tried to read, teasing her with a Muggle romance book until she gave up. He then stopped teasing and rested his chin on her shoulder, leaving Hermione tense and waiting for what he would do next.

• Draco squeezed into Hermione’s armchair and insisted they read together, drawing her into his arms despite her protests.
• Hermione tried to read Dream of the Red Chamber while Draco read aloud from a romance book and teased her about its lines.
• Hermione lost her composure when she turned toward Draco and their faces nearly touched, then shut her book and declared she could not read.
• Draco tossed aside the romance book, said he would stop teasing her, and rested his chin on her shoulder.
• Hermione remained tense, expecting another trick, but Draco did not act for several seconds.

Hermione read Dream of the Red Chamber while Draco quietly leaned against her, then fell asleep on her shoulder and drooled on her clothes. When he woke, he shamelessly blamed her for making him comfortable and demanded a kiss as compensation, leaving Hermione flustered as he settled back against her.

• Hermione resumed reading while Draco rested quietly against her, and she gradually enjoyed his silent company.
• Draco fell asleep on Hermione's shoulder, and she stayed still so she would not wake him.
• Hermione noticed Draco had drooled on her shoulder and struggled to hold back her laughter.
• Draco woke and blamed Hermione for making him comfortable, suggesting he kiss her to make up for the damp patch.
• Hermione pushed Draco away, but he caught her hands and then leaned back against her, insisting she take responsibility for lulling him to sleep.

Draco teased Hermione with kisses before leaving the library for a walk, and Hermione secretly began reading the romance novel he had left behind. The chapter ended when approaching footsteps startled her into hiding it behind the sofa.

• Draco kissed Hermione's cheek and jokingly offered his own version of compensation for dirtying her clothes.
• Draco checked whether Hermione's shoulder hurt and decided to take a walk; Hermione warned him to avoid disreputable places and return without smelling of perfume.
• Draco called Hermione “wifey,” kissed her forehead, and left the library.
• Hermione became curious about the romance novel and began reading it, pretending it was academic research while comparing its heroes to Draco.
• Footsteps approached, so Hermione hid the novel behind the sofa and picked up Dream of the Red Chamber.

Hermione was embarrassed when Draco caught her pretending to read while hiding a romance novel, and he teased her before leaving the library. Later, Draco found Diana leaning dangerously over the cruise ship railing, pulled her to safety, and accused her of trying to jump, while she insisted she was not suicidal.

• Hermione pretended to read Dream of the Red Chamber, but Draco pointed out that she was holding it upside down.
• Draco spotted the romance novel hidden behind the sofa and teased Hermione about it before retrieving his jacket and leaving.
• Hermione realized Draco had seen the hidden book and felt mortified after he left.
• Draco found Diana leaning over the deck railing and grabbed her around the waist to pull her back.
• Draco fell onto the deck while shielding Diana, then held her and scolded her for risking her life.
• Diana told Draco she had not been suicidal or planning to jump.

After Draco saved Diana from what he mistook for an attempt to jump overboard, he insisted on escorting her back to her cabin. When Diana headed for the bar instead, they argued over whether his life-saving favor gave him the right to interfere with her choices.

• Diana convinced Draco that she had only been getting air and zoning out by the railing, and thanked him for saving her.
• Draco insisted on walking Diana back to her cabin because the deck was dark and deserted, and she reluctantly agreed.
• Diana turned toward the bar instead of the cabins, explaining that she wanted to sit and calm down.
• Draco criticized Diana for going to the bar while upset, and she accused him of meddling in her decisions.
• Draco argued that, as Diana's lifesaver, he had the right to keep her from putting herself in danger again.

Diana went to the cruise ship’s bar to escape her troubles, and Draco insisted on accompanying her. After drinking whisky, she finally found the courage to begin revealing what was weighing on her.

• Draco agreed to let Diana enter the bar but insisted on going with her for safety.
• Diana chose a secluded table and realized she could not afford even a drink, so she tried to leave.
• Draco offered to pay, ordered peach sparkling wine, and then agreed to get Diana whisky when she asked for something stronger.
• Diana drank the whisky and, after Draco encouraged her to talk, sat in silence before finally beginning to open up.

Diana told Draco that her husband’s gambling debts had led him to pressure her into soliciting money from others, including Collard. Draco revealed he was close friends with Collard, offered to pass on her situation, and helped the drunken Diana leave the bar, but she protested when he tried to take her back to a four-person room.

• Diana told Draco that her husband had urged her to spend a night with a rich man for money, then suggested she ask Collard for help.
• Diana explained that she did not want Collard to think she was using him or see her in such a sorry state.
• Draco told Diana that he and Collard were very good friends and offered to relay her situation if she wanted help.
• Draco stopped Diana from drinking more, reassured her that she could decide what to do after resting, and settled the bill when she passed out drunk.
• Draco supported Diana as he led her out of the bar, but she murmured that she did not want him to take her back to the four-person room.

Draco brought the intoxicated Diana to a private suite, where she clung to and kissed him before vomiting on him. After cleaning her with magic and showering, Draco heard the Two-Way Mirror vibrating in his spare clothes.

• Draco took Diana to a single suite after she said she did not want to return to the crowded room.
• Diana grabbed Draco, begged him not to leave, and kissed him while he tried to restrain her.
• Diana vomited on Draco, so he cleaned her, her clothes, and the bed with Scourgify.
• Draco threw away his soiled clothes and went to shower.
• The Two-Way Mirror in Draco's spare outfit began vibrating persistently.

Draco tried to explain to Hermione that Diana’s suggestive moan had come from her drunken sleep, not from anything between them. Hermione inspected Diana’s room but remained jealous and promised to settle the matter when they returned.

• Hermione heard Diana moan through the Two-Way Mirror and abruptly ended the call with Draco.
• Draco Apparated to Hermione, held her as she struggled, and explained that he had been caring for Diana after she vomited on him.
• Hermione agreed to see Diana’s room, where she found Diana unconscious, re-covered her, and inspected the signs of her drunkenness.
• Draco pointed out the vomit and his soiled jacket, but Hermione questioned why he had stayed instead of using a sobering potion.
• Hermione said she would settle the score with Draco when they returned and accused him of enjoying the chance to stay close to Diana.

Hermione confronted Draco over his care for Diana and the scent she recognized on him, while Draco insisted he had only been helping her. Their argument ended with Draco kissing Hermione, who bit his lip before her anger gave way to concern.

• Draco gave Diana sobering potion and explained that he had left her asleep to spare her distress and avoid harming her with too large a dose.
• Hermione accused Draco of being overly considerate toward Diana, and Draco said he had only helped her at the casino and after she threatened to jump overboard.
• Hermione mocked Draco’s repeated rescues and doubted that he would keep his distance from Diana, while Draco apologized and promised to leave Diana’s affairs to her.
• Draco carried Hermione to their bed and kissed her despite her protests, and Hermione bit his lower lip hard enough to draw blood.
• Hermione’s anger faded when she saw Draco’s bleeding lip, and Draco complained that she had nearly bitten through it.

Draco used a purity-detection spell to convince Hermione that he had not been unfaithful, easing her jealousy and leading to an intimate exchange. The chapter ended with Draco teasing and touching Hermione beneath the quilt as she protested.

• Hermione accused Draco of caring for Diana and doubted his denial, so Draco cast the Purity Detection Spell, which revealed that he was "Intact and pure."
• Hermione became embarrassed and stopped accusing Draco, and he apologized for caring for Diana alone at night.
• Draco pulled Hermione close and pressed her onto the bed, teasing her until she called him husband.
• Draco told Hermione that he wanted to save his first time for her, making her hide beneath the quilt in embarrassment.
• Draco joined Hermione under the quilt and began touching her waist as she tried to stop him.

Draco and Hermione reconciled through intimate teasing and made a tentative promise to spend time together again. Before sleeping, Hermione asked about Diana, and Draco deferred deciding whether to help her until the next day.

• Draco teased Hermione, stopped when she objected, and kissed her neck until she warned him to move away.
• Hermione admitted she had been wrong to question Draco and agreed to let him touch her a little, with no further escalation.
• Afterward, Hermione scolded Draco for teasing her about what she had learned, while he asked when they would be intimate again.
• Hermione gave Draco an uncertain answer, saying their next time would depend on his performance, then told him to go to sleep.
• Hermione asked what Draco planned to do about Diana, and Draco said they would wait until morning to see whether she wanted help.

Draco and Hermione visited Diana, who was unsure how to move forward after her husband David’s gambling had ruined their life. A man arrived with a signed divorce agreement and Draco arranged for Diana to leave the liner and return to Britain.

• Draco and Hermione asked Diana what she planned to do, and she recounted how David’s gambling had destroyed their once-stable life.
• A middle-aged man entered, mistook Diana for someone Draco fancied, and said he had persuaded David to leave her.
• The man showed Draco a divorce agreement signed and fingerprinted by David, and Diana broke down while holding it.
• Draco offered to pay the man and gave him a business card, which the man accepted before leaving.
• Hermione comforted Diana, and Draco arranged for a tender to take Diana ashore and return her to Britain.

Diana rejected David after discovering he had treated her as a bargaining chip, and she left the cruise ship with Draco’s business card. Draco and Hermione remained together on deck, teasing each other as they discussed their plans for the afternoon.

• David arrived by speedboat and claimed he had only pretended to sign the divorce agreement so he and Diana could escape with Draco’s money.
• Diana told David their relationship was over, accusing him of being willing to sell her and recalling that he had valued a wager over her.
• David angrily ordered the speedboat driver to leave, and the boat sped away without Diana.
• Draco gave Diana a business card and said his help was because of Collard, though he offered no further explanation.
• Diana boarded the transfer boat and departed, while Draco and Hermione exchanged teasing remarks about her jealousy and his offer to play tennis.

Hermione agreed to practice tennis with Draco after he made her jealous by pretending he would meet women at the court. Draco tried to persuade her to wear revealing tennis outfits, but Hermione chose her own and left him outside the locked changing room.

• Hermione said she would rather study Dream of the Red Chamber, so Draco pretended to be eager to meet women at the tennis court.
• Hermione became jealous and reluctantly agreed to practice with Draco, warning him not to look around or chat with strangers.
• Draco laid out tennis outfits and repeatedly suggested short skirts and colorful clothes, while Hermione rejected them.
• Hermione pointed out that other men might see her in a short skirt, making Draco concede that she should not wear one to the court.
• Draco proposed that Hermione wear a short skirt just for him before changing into her chosen outfit, but she refused, grabbed her clothes, and locked herself in the changing room.

Draco teased Hermione about her figure while they changed for tennis, and she attacked him with her racket before he carried her toward the court. They arrived to find a match already underway, with five spectators watching.

• Draco waited outside Hermione’s changing room and teased her as she hurried to get dressed.
• Hermione came out in a white tennis outfit, and Draco made suggestive comments about her figure and clothing.
• Hermione swung her racket at Draco, but he dodged, caught her, and carried her toward the tennis court while she struggled and threatened him.
• Draco and Hermione reached the cruise ship’s tennis court and saw a man and woman playing an intense match as five people watched from the sidelines.

Draco and Hermione joined a group of strangers waiting to play tennis, teasing each other as they watched a match. After learning the group’s rotation rules, Hermione admitted she was worried about playing well and asked Draco to teach her.

• Draco and Hermione watched a woman play tennis, and Draco praised her shot before teasing Hermione about her figure and tennis clothes.
• Hermione stepped on Draco’s shoe and threatened him, while Draco pulled her close and joked that she looked best in white.
• After the match ended, Draco introduced Hermione as his wife and asked the group how they rotated players.
• Jack introduced the group and explained that the loser left the court, the winner stayed, and each match was best of three games to six points.
• Draco agreed to join the rotation after Barty, and Hermione whispered that she was afraid she would play badly and asked Draco to teach her.

Draco gave Hermione a close-contact tennis lesson before she took the court for her first practice game against Jack. Hermione struggled with her serves and returns, and the game was still underway when the chapter ended.

• Draco adjusted Hermione’s grip, stance, and swings while teasing her with close physical contact.
• Hermione cut short Draco’s offer of more instruction and said she was ready to play.
• Draco let Hermione go first and asked Jack to practice with her while he watched.
• Hermione served weakly, and Jack returned an easy ball for her to hit.
• Hermione’s forehand and backhand returns lacked control, and she feared her latest shot had gone badly.