Unspoken Bonds
The morning light crept in through the curtains, casting soft beams of sunlight across the room. Draco stirred first, his arm still wrapped around Hermione, pulling her closer without thinking. His mind was slow to wake, but the peace that lingered in the room—around them, between them—was undeniable.
He looked down at Hermione, her face soft in the light, her hair splayed out across the pillow. Her breathing was slow and steady, calm. She looked content, and for the first time in a long while, Draco felt the same.
His fingers brushed through her hair, almost absent-mindedly, tracing the curve of her cheek as she slept. He should’ve been thinking about everything that had happened, about the weight of the night and where they were headed, but in that moment, all he could focus on was her—how warm she felt against him, how real everything had become.
He exhaled a quiet breath, letting his hand rest gently at her waist. The bond between them felt... different now. Not just physical, but emotional. A shared understanding that hadn’t been there before. Last night had been more than just passion—it had been a moment where they had both dropped their walls, just for a little while.
Hermione stirred slightly, her eyes fluttering open. She blinked a few times, adjusting to the morning light, before meeting his gaze. Her smile was slow, but it reached her eyes. "Morning," she whispered, her voice thick with sleep, but still warm and inviting.
"Morning," Draco replied, his voice rough from sleep, but softer than usual. He brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face, his thumb gently tracing her cheek. “How are you feeling?”
Hermione stretched a little, the peaceful smile never leaving her lips. “Good. Better than good.” She glanced up at him, her expression softening. “I think we needed that... didn’t we?”
Draco let out a low chuckle, his eyes darkening slightly as he leaned in, brushing his lips over her forehead. “I think we did.” He paused, his voice quieter, more sincere. “I don’t know how to explain it, but everything feels different now.”
Hermione nodded slowly, as if she understood exactly what he meant. “I know,” she whispered. “It’s like... we’re on the same page now. Even if we didn’t say the words.”
Draco smiled at that, his fingers gently skimming her skin. “You always were the one to read between the lines, Granger.”
She laughed softly, her eyes twinkling as she met his gaze. “Someone has to.”
The moments passed in comfortable silence, both of them aware of the new weight between them, the new understanding. Draco was still trying to come to terms with everything, with how quickly everything had shifted, but the quiet peace of the moment made him feel like maybe, just maybe, it was the right time.
Hermione shifted in his arms, sitting up slightly, her back against the headboard. Her eyes met his, and for a brief moment, it felt as if they were the only two people in the world. No one else mattered—only the connection between them, the bond they had forged without even trying.
“I think we’ve reached a point where neither of us can pretend anymore,” she said softly, almost to herself, but loud enough for him to hear. “And I think I’m okay with that.”
Draco raised an eyebrow, his expression more serious now. “Pretend about what?”
Hermione smiled again, her gaze flicking down for a moment before meeting his once more. “Pretend like this... whatever it is between us... isn’t more than just some passing moment. I know it’s more. I can feel it.”
Draco’s heart skipped a beat at her words. He had been trying to ignore it, trying to ignore the pull that had been growing stronger with each passing day. But now, with her words hanging in the air, he could no longer deny it.
“I’ve been feeling the same thing,” he admitted quietly, his voice softer than usual. “I don’t know where this is going, Hermione, but I don’t want to lose it. I don’t want to lose you.”
Her eyes softened, and for a moment, she didn’t speak. Instead, she simply leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to his lips. It was a kiss full of promise, but without any of the urgency from the night before. It was slow, lingering, as if they both knew that they had to take this next step carefully, savoring the moment.
When they pulled away, Hermione looked up at him with a quiet intensity in her eyes. “We’ll figure it out,” she said, her voice steady. “One step at a time.”
Draco nodded, his hand cupping her cheek as he gave her a small, but genuine smile. “I’m okay with that. As long as we’re together.”
They stayed there for a while, simply existing in the peaceful silence, the bond between them growing stronger with each passing moment. For the first time in what felt like forever, neither of them felt the need to rush.
And in that moment, with Hermione lying next to him, Draco realized that for all the battles he had fought, for all the walls he had built around himself, this—this right here—felt like the most natural thing in the world. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.
Breakfast
A little while later, Hermione and Draco found themselves sitting at the breakfast table, a scene that felt surprisingly normal despite everything that had transpired the night before. The house-elves had already set the table, as always, and it was one of those moments where they both settled into the comfortable rhythm of their daily lives.
Draco sipped his coffee, his mind still swirling with the emotions of the night, but the quiet simplicity of breakfast gave him a sense of peace he didn’t expect. Hermione sat across from him, carefully buttering her toast, her eyes flicking up to meet his every now and then. They had been through so much—shared so much—but in this moment, they were just two people sitting down for a meal, trying to find a normal they could both settle into.
“So, I guess this is us, then?” Draco said, breaking the silence as he set his cup down, a small smile tugging at his lips. “No more pretending.”
Hermione raised an eyebrow, glancing up at him. “No more pretending,” she agreed with a smile, her voice warm but laced with something more. “Just us. Taking it one step at a time.”
Draco watched her for a long moment, his eyes softening. “You’re okay with that?”
She smiled, a small but genuine smile. “I’m more than okay with it, Draco.”
The words hung in the air, quiet but powerful, as they both continued to eat in companionable silence, the weight of their conversation still lingering, but in a way that felt easy—like they had both crossed an invisible line and come to an understanding. No more uncertainty. No more hiding.
They may not have figured everything out yet, but for the first time, they knew they were on the same path.
Heading to Work
After breakfast, they quickly gathered their things and prepared to leave for work. They exchanged quiet goodbyes with the house-elves as they made their way to the elevator in the lobby of their building. The hum of the elevator as it ascended was a comfortable sound, but the air between them felt charged in a new way now that the walls between them had come down.
Draco pressed the button for the floor they both worked on, his hand resting casually against the wall of the elevator. Hermione stood beside him, her eyes flicking to him occasionally as she tried to pretend she wasn’t acutely aware of the way they were standing so close together. The tension from the night before still lingered, and neither of them had yet figured out how to fully process it.
But as the elevator doors slid shut, and the quiet, almost mundane motion of the lift began, Hermione found herself smiling a little. She couldn’t help it. She glanced up at Draco, who was looking down at her with a subtle smile of his own.
"You’re awfully quiet this morning," she teased lightly, trying to break the spell of awkwardness that had settled over them.
Draco looked at her, raising an eyebrow. “I’m just taking it all in. This... us... feels new.”
Hermione nodded, her smile softening. “I know what you mean. It’s strange, but it feels right.”
The elevator dinged, signaling their arrival on the floor, but neither of them made any immediate move to step out. Instead, they lingered for a moment, just standing there in the quiet.
“I never thought I’d be here, you know?” Draco said quietly, almost as if he were thinking aloud. “With you. Like this.”
Hermione’s heart gave a soft flutter, her cheeks coloring slightly. She shifted her weight, then looked up at him, her voice barely above a whisper. “Me neither.”
And then, just as the elevator door slid open with a soft chime, Draco leaned in, his lips brushing against her temple in a soft, gentle kiss. It was brief—light—but it was enough to send a flutter through her chest, reminding her of everything that had changed between them.
“See you later,” Draco murmured, his voice low, with an edge of affection.
Hermione smiled, her heart racing. “See you later.”
As she stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hallway, she glanced back once, meeting his eyes as he stayed behind in the lift. The silent understanding between them, the bond they were still navigating, felt comforting. They weren’t quite ready to let go of each other, but for now, they didn’t need to.
This was just the beginning.