Hey, there stranger!
The Three Broomsticks was already bustling by the time Draco stepped inside, warmth spilling from the lantern-lit interior. The familiar scent of butterbeer and firewhisky lingered in the air, and laughter rang out from the far end of the pub, where Hogwarts staff had claimed their usual tables near the fireplace.
Draco hesitated at the threshold.
He had expected resistance, sideways glances, some kind of reminder that he was still Draco Malfoy, former Death Eater’s son. But instead, there was nothing beyond the usual pub chatter and clinking of glasses.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the fallen prince himself,” a smooth voice drawled.
Draco turned to see Theodore Nott lounging in a chair, feet propped on the table, swirling a glass of mead as though he were a monarch surveying his kingdom. His dark hair was slightly dishevelled, and he held a deck of tarot cards in his free hand, flicking through them absentmindedly.
“Theo,” Draco acknowledged warily.
Nott grinned. “They let you in, then?”
Ron, seated nearby, snorted. “We’re trying to be civil, Nott.”
Theo rolled his eyes. “Oh, please. We all know I’m the civil one here.”
Harry raised an eyebrow as he took a seat. “Hardly.”
Hermione, already seated, gestured for Draco to sit beside her. “Come on, Malfoy, before Theo starts assigning you a doomed fate with those ridiculous cards of his.”
Draco smirked but sat. “I assume that’s a regular occurrence?”
Blaise Zabini, who had just arrived, sighed dramatically. “You have no idea. Last week, he tried to convince me I was destined for monastic life because of the way my tea leaves settled.”
Theo flipped a card over with a flourish. “Well, obviously, you still have time to reconsider.”
Blaise flicked the card out of Theo’s hands, unimpressed. “Try again.”
Hermione shook her head, amused. “It’s actually fascinating watching you try to convince people you know what you’re talking about.”
“I always know what I’m talking about,” Theo said loftily.
Draco smirked. “You do realise your subject is based entirely on random guesswork, don’t you?”
Theo gasped, dramatically placing a hand over his heart. “Malfoy, you wound me.”
Draco shrugged. “Good.”
Hermione nudged him, a smirk tugging at her lips. “You’re fitting in alarmingly well.”
Draco met her gaze. “Don’t sound so surprised.”
She tilted her head, considering him. “You didn’t exactly give us a reason to expect this from you.”
He exhaled, rolling his glass between his hands. “I know.”
Hermione studied him for a moment, then said, “You’re different now.”
Draco met her gaze. “So are you.”
A flicker of something passed between them before Theo interrupted.
“If you two are going to start eye-flirting, I’d rather have a warning.”
Hermione turned a glare on him. “We are not—”
“Are too,” Blaise muttered into his drink.
Draco rolled his eyes, but the teasing felt… natural. Lighthearted.
For the first time in years, he didn’t feel like he was carrying a weight he could never put down.
The Walk Back
It was late when they left the Three Broomsticks, the air crisp and cool as they walked back to the castle.
Draco found himself next to Hermione, their steps naturally falling in sync.
“Tonight wasn’t awful,” he admitted.
Hermione gave him a sideways glance. “You expected it to be?”
“I wasn’t sure.”
She wrapped her arms around herself against the chill. “I think people want to believe you’ve changed. But they also want proof.”
Draco exhaled. “And you?”
She hesitated, then said, “I think actions speak louder than words.”
He considered that. “And my actions so far?”
She smirked. “You haven’t hexed anyone yet, so I suppose that’s a start.”
Draco chuckled.
As they neared the castle entrance, Hermione turned to him, her expression thoughtful.
“I meant what I said earlier,” she said quietly. “About helping.”
Draco searched her face.
Then, for the first time in years, he let himself believe that maybe—just maybe—this was real.
Maybe redemption wasn’t about proving himself to the world. Maybe it was about finding the right people to believe in him.
He nodded.
“Alright, Granger,” he said. “Let’s see what happens next.”