‘Where is she.’
‘We don’t know.’
‘What do you mean you don’t know?’
‘Malfoy, we turned the corner, and we lost sight of her. She ran after one of them.’
‘Weasley you fucking imbecile-‘
‘-Malfoy she will be fine.’
‘Potter she was never supposed to come in the first place.’
‘It’s Hermione, she’ll be fine. She won’t get hurt. She never does.’
Famous last words.
She wasn’t supposed to be there. It had been too dangerous. An ‘X’ on her head.
‘Muggleborns, kill on sight.’
Rouge deatheaters. The lowest of the low had banded together and were the last left of the once formidable force of the dark side.
These were meant to be bottom of the pit deatheaters. Tenuous, power-craving men who were no threat to aurors.
They had been wrong.
They had underestimated them.
It should have been easy. The four of them paired off. One team upstairs, one downstairs. The downstairs led to the cellar and the findings were horrific.
They got distracted. Draco got distracted. Hermione had heard a scream and ran and he followed her. Potter and Weasley were duelling and as Draco tried not to get distracted, he did his best to help. Surrounded by too many, Hermione wasn’t anywhere to be seen.
Twenty down, blood shed and what had been men trying to overthrow them, she hadn’t come back. She wasn’t anywhere to be seen. She never went missing. She could always hold her own. A mutual panic dispersed unevenly between the men, they abandoned their station, not caring for the consequences.
Something was wrong.
Nothing ever went wrong. Something had to be wrong.
Hermione had been found, face down in a pool of her own blood. Alive, weak and unconscious.
They had all taken turns sitting by her bedside for the week it took for her to wake up. The healer had called Harry who had called Hermione’s entire group of friends, and everyone had made a dash for the hospital.
She didn’t remember anyone. Hermione had stared at the group of people that surrounded her blankly. She knew their names, they all had badges on. She rehearsed them in her head, felt the name in her mouth. She rehearsed her own in her mouth. It was a long one. Why would her parents do that to her?
Her-mio-ne Gra-nger.
Gin-ny Weas-ley. (Loud. Fiery. Reminds Hermione of a fireworks)
Harry Pot-ter. (Kind. Looks haunted. Needs a nap)
Ron Weas-ley (seemingly the first ones brother)
Pan-sy Park-in-son. (Similar to the first girl. Add: terrifying. Hot?)
Theo-dore Nott. (Tall. Lanky. ADHD walking. Keeps looking at Blaise)
Dra-co Mal-foy. (??????) (she couldn’t look away. He made her blush)
Blaise Za-bi-ni. (Handsome. Keeps looking at Theo. Charming)
Hermione had been told she had hit her head. She knew she had magic. They had all stood in her room while she stated ‘well obviously I know I’m a witch. I just don’t remember much else.’
Her friends shared a laugh at her bossiness and Hermione’s cheeks became aflame. It seemed she didn’t like others knowing more about herself than she did, but alas, that was also very on brand for her. It seemed her essence hadn’t disappeared, just her memories and her connections to those around her has gone.
It shouldn’t be permanent, the healer said. Hermione had only just woken up and was far more alert than anticipated by anyone. No one excepted her to wake up this soon; it had been a week since the incident, and it was by chance that they were all arguing about who should be allowed to be around her bed at that hour.
Hermione figured she was well loved by near all of them; the only one she questioned had been the blonde- the one who had the prettiest name of them all once she had found out. He had been leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching the bickering- just the slightest hint of amusement pulling at his face. It didn’t reach his eyes though. Hermione didn’t know eyes could be that colour.
Even now, several hours later after some rigorous testing, she didn’t know whether Draco liked her and yet, whenever she looked at him, her heart raced. She could feel her own cheeks warm, and her eyes sought to find him whenever the group shuffled back in the room. He always stayed behind, towards the back. He was tall so it was fine. She could still see him. She felt better if she could see him. The acid in her chest disappeared if she could look at him.
Others noticed. Ginny made a comment about how she was always looking at him. Draco tried to stay neutral. He tried to stay taciturn, reserved in his presence in the room. She had been his work partner they told her, it would be wrong of him not to be there. Harry had informed him, who also informed Pansy who informed Theo who informed Blaise.
They were rarely paired together now; both their respective partners by chance off duty and so, they had been partnered for their shared work ethic and their affinity of working similarly. Two of the same sided magnets that constantly pushed against each other but when they worked together, they worked well once they got past the bickering. Past the frivolous arguing over nothing.
They hadn’t argued that day. It had been a surprise to nearly everyone.
Draco kept to himself. He didn’t not want to be here, but it felt awkward. It was awkward. He would spin the ring on his finger to stay focused. Stay calm. She didn’t remember any of them and there were other people here more deserving of her time so when She-Weasley opened her big mouth, Draco shut her down immediately.
He didn’t miss the way Hermione’s face dropped and her body stiffened a little.
Draco wanted to throw up.
Hermione wanted to go back to sleep.
She couldn’t stop herself from looking at him.
Blood pressure was fine. Heart rate kept spiking, but Hermione had a feeling as to why that kept happening (when it was taken again once everyone was told to leave for lunch, it came back down). Eyesight was fine. Oxygen saturation was fine. Cognitive function was great. Basic spell casting, working perfectly fine. Though her wand (wand!!!) was taken off her for now until she regained her memories.
That was fair. Hermione still hated it. Hermione also wanted the blonde man back in the room.
Draco.
The group debated with the healer as to what she should be told. Harry and Ron taking charge, debated by Pansy and Ginny. Theo would would add his point and Blaise remained quiet with Draco.
His ring, spinning. Twisting around. Nervous.
They settled on:
The year: 2008
Date: September 23rd.
Age: 29. Newly, apparently.
Status: single. (She had asked. She was surprised by the answer. Ginny commented that she always said she was married to her work). Harry and Draco shared a brief look and Hermione refrained from commenting.
Job: Auror. Magical police force. She had been paired with Draco. They had been on a mission that had gone wrong.
Next of kin: came up blank in her file.
“She needs a next of kin to make decisions for Hermione whilst she can’t remember much about her life.” The greying healer stated as he looked up at the group over her file. The name on his badge read: Healer Boyle.
“Isn’t it rude to talk about me as if I’m not here?” Hermione twisted her fingers into the pristine white sheets. Wrinkles had developed over the last few hours or however long this had been going on. It was hard to tell. There were no clocks in the room. Draco looked amused. He was still spinning his ring. Hermione wanted to look at it up close.
A snort came from the group, Pansy covering her mouth with her had as she shook her head. “This bitch really doesn’t change- even if she doesn’t remember who we are.” Pansy screwed her nose up, grinning as she shifted her weight to her other foot.
Hermione gawped a little at her, trying to figure out whether it was an insult or not. Her eyes flitted to Draco who was watching her who still remained stoic and reserved. Hermione had a feeling if it was meant in a rude, that the blonde would have said something. He didn’t look away from her, instead, crossing his arms as he leant back against the wall. Thumb twisting his ring. It sat on his right hand, his ring finger specifically. This thumb, constantly moving it like it was habitual.
Draco hadn’t noticed he was doing it.
“Well,” Healer Boyle cleared his throat, “Miss Granger feel free to nominate someone to make decisions for you. I understand that may be a little difficult but trust your magic. Trust it’s instinct. Who does your magic pull you towards?”
Hermione blinked a few times and looked up at the healer, a loaded question with an easy answer. She didn’t want to say it. She felt embarrassed to say it. She didn’t know why, but she could feel his eyes piercing into her. She went for a safe bet she just needed to know where they were.
“Where are my parents?”
See: another addition to add to the list of things Hermione should be told.
In actuality: they assembled outside the room to decided upon a brief version that excluded the wizarding war. It had been a clean vote across the board.
20 minutes later, they had all shuffled back into the tight room and Hermione was now up to date about her parentless situation.
She was silent for ten minutes, overwhelmed and unknowing what to say. Draco had the urge to tell everyone that they should leave but she didn’t seem to want to be alone. He could see her face every time they left the room; blanched and filled with worry. She would only relax back into her bed once everyone came back in the room.
“Hermione?” Harry tried to coax her out of wherever she went mentally. “Do you need some time?”
Hermione looked up at Harry, blinking a little as she registered what he was saying. “No, it’s okay.” She gave a weary smile before looking up at healer Boyle. “You’re saying I should appoint who my magic trusts, the most?”
“Yes, it’s not our usual route but this is far from normal and most certainly circumstantial. Everyone here seems to have your best interests at heart.” He smiled at her. Hermione tried not to look at how yellow his teeth were.
“Right.” Hermione swallowed and looked back up at the group. They all looked knowing, like she would pick them. All assuming but the only one unassuming was the person she wanted. The one who she was sure was important to her. Hearts didn’t hammer in her chest for someone unimportant. Blood didn’t rush through her veins for someone who didn’t care for. That’s not how it worked; Hermione knew that much.
“Have you made a choice Miss Granger?”
“I want Draco.”
Static seemed to flit through the air the realisation set on everyone’s faces as her decision sunk in. They were all surprised by her choice.
“Did I make the wrong choice?” Hermione frowned now, looking between Draco and the healer. “He is who I trust the most here. I…he feels important to me. I’m only doing what was told.” She grew quieter as she continued speaking, barely audible as she finished. She hated being wrong. Doing wrong. But this didn’t feel wrong. She felt a rush of something when looking at him. Something that made her feel the most alive since waking up, certainly couldn’t be wrong.
“Malfoy?” Ron blurted out, “really?” He grimaced as he looked between Harry and her.
Hermione nodded, her face going from discomfort to brightening as soon as she looked at Draco. “Yes, obviously.” Her cheeks raised properly for the first time since waking. It was the first time she looked truly alive again.
Everyone turned to look at each other and then at Draco who was staring at Hermione, thumb paused on the spinning but still angled to touch it. A discontentment about Hermione’s decision not entirely mutual between them all. Whispers of arguing, hissing of disagreements led to the group being told to debate outside the room while Healer Boyle did some final testing.
The group circled just outside the door in the hallway, far quieter than the rest of the hospital. Hermione having rich friends meant a paid-for private room.
“Hermione’s really gone barmy.” Ron puffed his cheeks out, glancing to Draco who just cocked his brow at him. “No offence Malfoy.”
“Offence taken.” The spinning resumed.
“Listen if she’s chosen Draco, who are we to deny her.” Pansy sniffed, back straightened defensively.
“Because they’ve never had a proper conversation.” Ron gestured to Draco who was still leaning against the wall, unamused with the conversation and Ron’s stupidity. “Not since you two were split from working together.”
“Weasley don’t be so dense. Granger and I have been paired several times. What, you think we get through missions without having a singular conversation?” He screwed his nose up at him, trying his best to not default to his own anger. This wasn’t the time.
“Malfoy you can stop with the insults.” Ginny clipped at him, “Ron’s got a point. I’ve never seen you do more than argue. She does nothing but rant about you after you’ve been paired together. You despise each other.”
Draco stared blankly at Ginny who was opposite him. “I don’t despise Granger.” He said to like it was obvious, because well, to him, it was. Offended, he rolled his neck, trying to get the kinks out that these Weasleys were developing.
Harry went to speak up but Theo cut him off. He promptly shut his mouth and waited patiently for the argument to begin. He could see it from a mile off.
“If he despised Hermione then why would he be here?” Theo piped up now, “can we stop making out like Hermione has lost her potions. She’s clearly herself. We all saw.”
“If she’s chosen Draco then who are we to argue?” Blaise said cooly, “we all want the best for her otherwise none of us would be here. If Draco didn’t want to be here then he wouldn’t. None of us would be. Surely you should trust Granger’s judgement.”
“Are you doubting Hermione’s judgement?” Pansy crossed her arms now, brow raised as she sent a look so piercing that Ron paled a little as she stared him down.
“He’s only here because he felt bad that this is all his fault in the first place.” Ron grumbled out in a meek defence, “if he had stayed on track then Hermione never would have run off. Isn’t it why his other partner is off duty anyways? It’s why they were forced to not be partners anymore however long ago it was!”
“Actually, Robards is on annual leave-.” Harry started but was shut down again, looking rather exasperated as Ron wouldn’t shut up.
“Still!” He huffed and Draco could feel pure anger boiling deeply in his belly. He usually tolerated Ron, he ignored his stupid snide comments and pretended that he didn’t exist. It was easier that way. A calmer world. But he could only tolerate so much. “I’m not saying you’re bad at your job Malfoy but come on, you weren’t the quickest, if you had then maybe she would have been found sooner!”
Draco could feel his hands started to shake with anger as his mood darkened, matching the look on his face. He could feel it, the part of him that he pushed away, slip back up. Settle back home as he stared at Ron who looked like a bumbling idiot. Flexing his hands to keep himself collected, he inhaled slowly as he readied himself.
“Say that again.” He said cooly, daring. Challenging. Bargaining with the devil in hopes the Weasley would do as he was told.
Ron flicked his hair off his face, clearly annoyed too. Draco couldn’t see anyone else but him, his vision zeroing in on the other man.
“I said—”
“-Ron don’t-” Harry tried. Bless.
“—that this is your fault. If you had found us sooner, then we would have found her sooner and she wouldn’t be in there, not knowing who we are. She wouldn’t have been found near drowning on a pool of her own blood. It’s basically all your fault and you’re the reason she doesn’t really know what she’s doing!” Words he would regret in just under 10 seconds.
Draco hummed as he nodded, sniffing as he cocked his head. “That’s what I thought you meant.” He smiled at Ron now.
“Oh you fucked up Weasley.” Theo breathed out and Draco only smiled more.
“Eh?” Weasley looked confused. “What the—.”
If anyone counted, it was seven seconds. Seven seconds-that was all it took for Draco to boil over, anger blinding him red and reach breaking point. Seven seconds for something further from the truth to be declared and for him to close the distance between them and raise his fist, only to be stopped by his friends, disjointed yelps and panicked ‘woah woah’s’ and ‘stop!’ bounced around the hallway walls around them. Ginny stepping between them as Pansy, Theo and Blaise gently pulled him back
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing Malfoy?” Ginny snapped, face matching her hair, “that isn’t going to help.” Her face, red as she stared up at him, hardly a defence between himself and her mandrake of a brother.
“He shouldn’t fucking put the blame on me then.” Draco snapped, still glaring at Ron who had cowardly shrunk away. “We both know that once Granger makes a decision, no one can stop her. How was I supposed to stop her once she heard what turned out to be your screaming.” He was seething as he yanked his raised arm from whoever was holding it. “Some fucking auror you are, I came up at you with a fist and you hide behind your sister.” He wanted to spit at him, but he also didn’t want to get suspended.
“Oi don’t question me and my job; I took down most deatheaters that day while you were off panicking.” Ron’s own back grew straighter, face nearly as red as his hair like his sister.
“Stop.”
A calm, yet controlled and stern Harry Potter moved between them, wand out and lead auror hat, back on. “Both of you, stand down.” He narrowed his eyes, pointing at the both of them with his wand.
Draco snarled down at Ron once more before his eyes flitted down to Harry. The shorter wizard was looking at him expectantly, a warning before he was given a real one. Draco had never once received an actual warning during his many years in the department and he was not going to get one because of a Weasel.
Huffing out angrily, he took a step back, deciding it simply made him the bigger one. The better one.
Ron smirked at him backing down but was soon startled out of his smugness as Harry now raised his wand to him, “Ron, you know you’re taking out of your bum. None of this is Malfoy’s fault. It’s no ones. We don’t actually know what happened and Hermione can’t tell us then we will find out when she can tell us. Stop trying to provoke Malfoy.”
Dejected, Ron huffed as he lowered Harry's wand and shoved his hands in his pockets, “fine.” He rolled his eyes and shrugged, “I just don’t know why Hermione want’s Malfoy to be her next of kin for now.”
Cross fires of defence of Draco as well as more questions raised echoed off the walls once more. Arguing for and against the decision until Harry took control of the situation once more.
“Enough!” Harry raised his wand and sent sparks flying, silencing everyone. Draco thought it was unfair he had lost his own voice, he had been sulking against the wall, quiet and watching everyone else argue. Brooding over not being able to wipe the audacity from Ron.
Everyone stopped, Theo and Ron silently trying to argue but after a look given by Harry which looked eerily like Hermione, they too, stopped.
“Hermione had made her choice. This is mental. None of this will help her. We all want the best for her, yes?” Everyone nodded. “So, stop. Draco it is, for now. Until she gets her memories back and we ask her again. Alright?”
Draco looked down at everyone as he leant his head back against the wall, resuming the spinning of his ring. Everyone nodded along to Harry now, who in turn relaxed, sighing the last of his frustrations out. “We should all go home. We’ve been here for hours. Hermione doesn’t need to feel everyone’s stress. We can all come back at different times tomorrow. Let Hermione have some time with Malfoy while she tries to figure out what to do next.” Harry turned to look at Draco now, the weight of the day dragging him down. “Is that alright with you?”
He nodded once more, watching really only Ron and Ginny question it but with their forced silence, Draco could ignore it.
“Now,” Harry turned back to everyone else, “we’re all leaving and since most of you are behaving like children. I’m not taking the spell off till we get to the apparation point.”
Draco felt the magic come off him and he pushed off the wall to stand straight. “Thanks Potter.” He couldn’t help himself, smirking as Ron gawped in frustration. Theo too was trying to speak, Pansy on his right, holding his arm as she looked rightfully annoyed. Harry would be a dead man if looks could kill.
“Don’t push it Malfoy.” Harry raised a brow. “No one knows why Hermione chose you, be sensible.”
Draco grinned all mischief and cockiness, “if the witch chose me,” his hands came up now defensively, “who am I to be a dick and not step up.”
Harry went to reply but everyone’s attention was drawn to the door as it opened, Healer Boyle stepping through into the hall. “Mister Malfoy, she’s asking for you.” He said as he pushed up his glasses. “I’ve left her with some forms for her to fill out, she said she wants to go through them with you. I’ve got other patients to tend too while we wait for her blood test results anyways.”
Draco inhaled deeply as he nodded, “alright.” He smiled a little and shoved his hands into his auror robe pockets. He looked back at Harry who was already herding everyone away. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she’s fine.”
Harry turned back to him, giving him a small smile. “I know. Send a patronus if anything happens.”
“Send one if you find anything out.”
“Will do.” And with a raised hand, Harry turned the corner, followed by Healer Boyle and the corridor was empty.
Hermione looked up as Draco appeared at the door, relief flooding through her as she finally saw him again. She had started to grow anxious, being here with just Healer Boyle. She didn’t know him- well, she didn’t know anyone but there was something about him. About Draco that put her at ease. Something deep in her chest that was so deeply nestled in there she didn’t think it impossible to be forgotten. Feelings were impossibly to forget.
“Hi.” Hermione smiled timidly up at him; sheets tangled between her fingers again as she watched him. The forms that she needed to go through, already discarded on the bedside table. She didn’t care for them right now; the many questions were overwhelming.
Draco closed the door behind him, closing with a gentle *click* before he turned to her, tense and remaining neutral as he could. “Hello.” He gave a small smile, not wanting to make her uncomfortable. His eyes flitted across her face, taking her in. She had a new small scar across her eyebrow, her hair was all over the place and she was paler than he had seen before. She was dressed in a ghastly hospital gown that really made him question what the money that he spent on this room, went.
“How are you feeling?” He asked as he clasped his hands together in front of him.
Hermione inhaled shakily as she adjusted the pillow behind her. “Oddly, better without everyone in the room. They seem to all really love me but there’s a lot of people and it’s overwhelming.” She admitted. “Do I usually bode well around a lot of people?”
“Yes, usually. You’re quite confident and aren’t intimidated by such a crowd,” Draco stated, quickly continuing as she looked surprised, “this room is rather small though and you are friends with some people with rather large personalities.” His voice lifting at the end.
Hermione couldn’t help but smile more as she watched him, she really wanted to reach out for him but she didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. “You can sit down you know. You don’t have to be all the way over there.” She gestured to the only other chair in the room that was beside her bed.
A flash of amusement crossed his face as he slowly nodded and took his seat. “Is there anything you want to know?” He remained stiff in the seat, but he was sounding more relaxed. “There’s things I don’t think are wise to know, but I’m sure you’ll twist my arm.”
Hermione leant back against the raised half of the bed as she watched him, trying to figure him out. She knew she had magic, that hadn’t gone. That feeling she had, a wonderful burn on the edge of her fingertips, a hiss of power simmering at the base of her spine. The rawness of it that rushed through her blood was loud, and it was trying to reach out to him.
A few strands of his wavy blonde hair fell in front of his forehead, and she wanted to push it back off his face. She didn’t think he liked it when his hair fell forward. Her hand was outstretched before she realised and Draco stilled, freezing at the contact.
“I’m sorry.” She panicked and snatched her hand back as if worried she would burn him. Draco was shaking his head as he rolled his lips in, “I just-.” She felt confused, feeling like this wasn’t normal but nothing about this felt normal.
“What is it?” He cocked his head, grey eyes hardening a little, but she wasn’t discouraged by it. It was defensive, clearly.
Hermione felt her own cheeks burn a little as she shifted in her bed. “You have to promise that I’m not crazy or loosing it?” Her heart, hammering in her chest as she watched his face soften just an inch. The creases around his eyes, vanishing. The strain in his face, washing away with the tide.
“I promise.”
“Okay.” She tucked her hair behind her ears as she summoned courage from somewhere. “I really don’t…remember anything or anyone.” She stared at her lap as she tried to find the right words, “but it’s as if I remember you. Or,” she paused and looked up at him as she tried to figure out the sentence in her head. “I don’t know you,” she chewed her lip as she focused on her train of thought, lip being freed as it finally clicked. It was there, just inside her chest. It was warm and had been there since she woke up. It was familiar and the only thing that had kept her from feeling like she was going insane whenever he was in the room.
“I don’t know you, but I know that I love you.”
The words left her mouth and Hermione knew she was right. It was the only thing that felt right. Her brown eyes widening as the words sat comfortably on her tongue, like she had said it a million times before. She blinked a few times at the realisation and looked up at him, trying to gauge his reaction.
Draco stared at her for a good and lengthy ten seconds.
I don’t know you but I know that I love you
His whole stiffened demeanour collapsed, and relief spread through him. He could have wept at her words as Hermione saw his face fall, sadness spreading through, the worry- everything he was holding back becoming weights on his shoulders as they were finally revealed to the world. To their little world, Draco had never left its orbit, but he had worried that she had lost sight of it.
“Fuck.” Draco closed his eyes as he squeezed his eyes shut. “Can you say that again for me?” He breathed. A plead.
Hermione blinked a few times as she watched him, unknowing in how to respond. “I don’t know you but I know that I love you.” The taste of it, the sweetest thing she could think of.
Like a wounded man, Draco exhaled in relief as he looked back up at her and Hermione watched him intently. Emotion choking him in his chest, he held out a hand for her to take and when she gently placed hers in his, he enveloped it in both of his as he clasped onto hers tightly.
“I have missed you.” He breathed out, his face falling further as his eyes grew glassy. “You don’t know how worried I’ve been, Hermione.”
Hermione inhaled sharply, relieved that he didn’t run but needing the final piece of whatever this was. “I’m missing something, please tell me what I’m missing.”
Draco sniffed as he pressed his forehead against their hands before looking up at her as he held her hand to his mouth. She wasn’t uncomfortable with any of it, in face, she wanted more. She wanted to hold his face and calm his angst.
“You’re my fiancé.” He whispered shakily, unconfident in the words as he spoke them. New to his mouth but just as sweet. “No one knows, just Harry.” He sniffed a little aggressively as he tried to not get overcome with emotion. “Fuck I fucking love you too. We’re engaged and no one knows.”
The last week had been the most painful week of his life. Draco had experienced a lot of pain during his 28 years of life and this week, finding her face down in her own blood, battered, bruised and unknowing whether she would wake up, far topped anything he had ever gone through. His heart lay ripped out of his chest and on a hospital bed while everyone else took turns looking after it, not knowing it belonged to him. The light of his life had been losing its spark and Draco had desperately trying to turn the light the flame from afar.
Hermione blinked furiously as her hand come up and covered his hand. It looked so small against his, which, compared to the room, were extraordinary warm. “Excuse me?” She didn’t feel like this was wrong information. It was just far from what she expected.
Though, she was unsure what she expected.
Draco let out a half choked, half sobbed laugh as he kissed her hand. “Do you want me to start from the beginning?” He cleared his throat, leaning his cheek against her hand.
Hermione nodded as she moved her hand to hold his cheek properly. The desire to touch him, clearly reciprocated as she could see how it physically relaxed him. “Yes please.” She smiled a little, trying to memorise how his cheek felt beneath her thumb.
Nodding, he shuffled the chair closer to the bed, knees touching the side as he tried to let the relief, the panic that he had been holding in, take away what reunion this was.
“We weren’t friends in school.” He cleared his throat. He had long stopped being uncomfortable in having this conversation with Hermione. It had been addressed many times and though Draco never felt deserving of her apologies, she had also told him to stop letting their youth hold them back now.
“I was nasty person who made many mistakes. There was a war, it was a long long time ago, but we were on opposite sides. I didn’t choose my side, but the right side won,” he used their conjoined hands to gesture to her. “I became a better man and by some luck, you saw that. Our friends are mutual but there are a few people who love you, who despise me because of my behaviour in my youth, which is fine. I’ve always accepted that. We started dating two and a half years ago and it was my idea to keep it a secret, just to keep you from getting grief from the Weasleys.” Draco’s jaw grew tight at the idea. “But I proposed three weeks ago and we were going to tell everyone at your birthday meal at your insistence.” He sighed, sniffing as he looked down at their hands, “then you went and got yourself hurt.”
Hermione’s own heart broke as the mask finally broke and she could really see how distraught he looked. She had never seen a sadder man (that she could remember. Which wasn’t much).
The sight of her on the floor had already been a sight he had seen once; he had never wanted to see it again. When Draco had found her, he had thought he was stuck in his nightmares. He the crescent moons he embedded into his arm from his nails as he tried to wake up, had been marred in him for the week and only just started to fade.
Hermione’s face eased as she gently pushed back his hair. It was soft beneath her fingers. She couldn’t help but think how pretty he was. How she could see it now, the way he looked at her like she was the sun and he was a sunflower, reaching for the thing he needed the most. “Is that what your ring is? And engagement ring?” She looked down at it. It was jet black but had sparkly cuts throughout it. It was enchanting.
Draco nodded, sitting up now. “Yes, you also have one, but it's charmed to be hidden.” He opened his hands to reveal her left hand, “only you and I can see it.”
Hermione frowned; this was the one thing she would question. She had seen her own hands plenty of times today, there had been no ring. Hesitantly she looked down and there, on her ring finger, was a bright vintage looking halo cut ring, a gold band with a brilliant diamond main stone. The accent stones, Hermione guessed, were emeralds. Her favourite.
It took her breath away as it glistened on her finger. “Christ.” She breathed. “How bloody rich are you?” She gawped up at him.
Draco laughed and it was a brilliant sound to Hermione. “We, are very rich.” He gently took her hand, “is this alright, by the way. I haven’t asked. I should have asked.” He hesitated, fingers barely touching her hand.
Hermione panicked, her fingers wrapping around his hand, “please don’t-,” she took his hand in both of hers now. “It’s more than. It’s the most normal I’ve felt all day.” She said truthfully as she linked their hands together properly. “You’re the warmest thing I’ve felt since I woke up.” She bought them to her face and held them against her cheek. “This gown is really not up to par with what they should be dressing hospital patients in.” She scoffed as she closed her eyes. “I might need to write strongly worded letter when I’m discharged. I just might need you to tell me who I’m writing to.”
Draco took a moment to look over her face like he had done every day this week. He had snuck in every night once everyone had gone home for the night. He stayed for an hour, sitting beside his fiancé, wishing to all the stars in the sky that she would wake up. He never stayed longer than an hour, her hand stayed in his for the entirety of it. He would stare at her face, waiting for the moment she would wake up and look at him and everything would be okay. He didn’t expect to wake up this morning and not be the only one to be there when she woke up. He didn’t think that when he looked at her and she saw him for the first time and didn’t recognise him, that he would be here, his love clutching his hands for warmth.
Draco really counted himself a lucky man, even if this wasn’t the best scenario, it was better than worse case.
“Do you want me to do a warming spell over you?” He asked, not wanting to just assume. He wanted Hermione to have autonomy. She didn’t know him like he knew her, she trusted him, she could feel him but that allowance had long been lost.
“Yes please.” She whispered, shivering as the warmth feathered over her and settled nicely in her bones. “That’s a very handy trick to have.” She fluttered her eyes open now.
“You can do that to.” Draco encouraged her, “we’ll get you there. Don’t worry.” His eyes flitted up to her hair. “Would you like me to re-do your hair?”
“Do I look that bad?” She paused, a flood of embarrassment trickling down her spine as she became self conscious.
Draco let out a hearty laugh as he shook his head. “No, not at all. You’re still as beautiful as you are in the morning light,” he stood up and gestured for her to turn around. “But it might make you feel better.”
Feeling uncharacteristically bashful, she moved and closed her eyes as he gently tugged the scrunchie out of her hair. “You’re a very kind man Draco.” She told him quietly.
Draco used his fingers to untangle her hair the best he could, not wanting to hurt her but not wanting to frizz it up. “I’m only telling you the truth.” He replied as he worked at her hair. “Do you mind if I use more magic?” He paused and looked down down at her, waiting for her nod before he pulled out his wand. “Aqua Eructo.” A small sprinkle of water came from his wand and gently breezed over her hair until Draco thought it was plenty.
“Did you just…” Hermione angled her hair to look up at him and stared at him before looking at his wand. “I really need to remember anything but the prospect of re-learning all these spells is exciting and you’re going to have to teach me everything.”
Grinning as Draco listened to her yap about being excited to learn, he was relieved to know she really hadn’t lost herself; though, he knew a witch of her calibre would be difficult to rid of. If she had, then Draco would have helped to find her till his bones grew weary. “You excelled in school, top in every class. I was always a little sour you best me constantly.” He continued trying to untangle her hair, finding it easier with the damper hair. “I don’t doubt you’ll pick it all up in no time. It’s all there,” he continued as he used his fingers to rub out a knot he could feel at the base of her skull before continuing with her hair. “You’ll find it in no time, love.”
Hermione hummed happily as her eyes fell shut once more- the pet name, oddly comforting. It rolled off his tongue with ease, doing nothing but soothe the edge she had about being in hospital. Draco’s words, the way he talked were like kisses to her skin and in another life, she knew she would tell herself not to trust a stranger, but he didn’t feel like a stranger. He didn’t talk like one, either. Whilst she wasn’t a stranger to him, physically he was to her, but she knew mentally and in her heart that she had known him for a lifetime and loved him in this one and others.
His fingers continued working on her hair, it felt wonderful on her scalp, knitting through her strands like he clearly had done a hundred times before. “If we didn’t get on well during school, how did this come about?”
“You, darling,” Draco smiled to himself as he started, “are a persistent woman. We were paired together at work, and I was so focused on the case we were handling that you noticed I hadn’t eaten at all one day and bought me dinner. I asked how you knew what I ate and you stated that we had shared enough dinners that you obviously knew what I ate. Which, I didn’t know you had been paying me any attention. We worked together for a while; we were partners at work, but we were barely civil. Our friends, Theo and Harry then briefly dated, which is how you became friends with my friends. Their breakup was amicable, but it seems your other friends never quite warmed up to us. Anyways, I digress,” he stated plaiting it now as he could happily run his fingers through without it being knotty and frizzy. “You bought me dinner and ever the gentleman I am, I wanted to return the favour. You thought I meant on a date, which, is on me. I should have specified. You turned up in this ravishing green dress and I turned up in near clothes I am wearing now and well,” Draco made a darkened sound as he thought about the rest of that night. “Here we are.” Engaged and in hospital.
He finished plaiting her long hair, securing it with the scrunchie. “There we go.” He hummed in satisfaction as his handy work, hands smoothing down the few loose strands across the top of her hair, making sure everything was neat.
Hermione turned back towards him in the bed, pulling the sheets over her knees as she gently felt her hair. “Thankyou.” He had been right, she already felt better. She felt more put-together and more like what she thought ‘herself’ felt like.
Draco smiled as he sat back down on the chair, feeling absolutely exhausted. He hadn’t slept properly the last few days. Most nights they slept at each others houses and now that it had been a week since she had been in hospital, his nightmares had returned in full force and he was struggling to sleep. The image of her, surrounded by a pool of her own blood had dug deep into the sand banks of his dreams and tugged at every black weed and dark creature that he had buried away. The disturbed sand got swept in the water and quickly rose to the surface, trying to drag Draco back down to where he had buried his past, exposing him to more sediment that was too big to bury away. Too thick and heavy that it started to hold him at the bottom of the ocean, trying to bury him away with everything bad he had hidden.
“Are you well?” Hermione asked softly as she studied him, now. In a room full of people, it was easy to miss the signs that he wasn’t doing well. He could hide, protect himself, blend in but up close, Hermione could see something was dragging him down. The bags beneath his eyes were dark against his pale skin, his eyes looked strained-bloodshot and he looked paler than what she felt was normal for him. He just didn’t look right.
Draco leant back in his chair, slumped and watching her closely. He was afraid to look away, scared something may happen to her if she was left alone. His hand curled around his lip as his rest his elbow on the arm of the chair. “I’m okay. You needn’t worry about me.” His free hand dismissed her, “just focus on yourself.”
Hermione scowled at him now and Draco had to bite the inside of his cheek to not laugh at her. “Don’t dismiss me.”
“I’m not dismissing you.”
“You waved your hand at me.”
“And what about it?”
Hermione scoffed, ‘if no one knows about us apart from,” she paused, taking a moment to conjure up the one with the lightening scars name, “-Harry,” she hated how long that took her, “then no one is looking after you.”
“Hermione you are literally in hospital without the foggiest of who I am, nor the people that spent the last week by your bedside.” He raised his brow. “You need not worry about me.”
“I know who you are.” She huffed out, crossing her arms. “You’re my fiancé.”
“You know that because I told you.”
“Semantics, Draco.” She waved her hand now, dismissing him. “I still know you.” She dictated, ever the know-it-all even if she really this time, didn’t know it all.
Draco tightened his hands around his mouth a little more, frightened that if he didn’t, he would have either laughed or wept. When she had woken up and hadn’t remembered anything, he was sure he had turned into glass and shattered into a million pieces. He had to pull a repairo on himself to keep himself together, though the spell had barely worked as one bad Weasley wind and Draco was back on the floor. Broken, sharp and in splayed out on the floor. But again, he pulled himself together because she had asked for him. Not once today did he think she would have looked at him the way she was looking at him now.
He had been sure he lost her. Draco didn’t think he deserved her in the first place; when she had turned up for their date, he knew he was a smitten man and this was it. That she was it. No one ever got lucky twice.
It just meant he was the luckiest of them all as Hermione raised a brow at him as she cocked her head, he saw nothing but her. Nothing but Hermione Granger, the woman who loved him in-spite of it all. Even now, unknowing of all their history, of all their truth, she was still there. She still loved him and Draco thought it was rather quite unbelievable.
“You do.” He smiled a little and sat up, his hands coming forward and cupping her cheeks where he placed a longing kiss to her forehead. “I love you.” He looked down at her now as she looked up at him.
She was confused, clearly but she didn’t abject to him. Instead, her fingers came up and curled into his sleeves before moving to hold his hands over his cheeks where she turned and kissed his palm. Draco swallowed thickly as he watched her close her eyes as she kissed his hand and then his ring- he didn’t know when they started their little routine, but whenever he was feeling angsty, she would always kiss the palm of his hand before offering to lay with him.
She was still in there, her brain was still alive. Her soul, still fighting for him as she pulled away and shifted over to one side and looked up at him expectantly as she opened the covers.
“I don’t usually share a bed with a stranger,” she told him, “But I know you and I know I love you.” Her brows furrowed seriously. “And no offence, you look like crap. You clearly aren’t sleeping and I’m exhausted so I want to sleep. Lock the door, we’re having a nap.”
Draco blinked, staring at her as she crossed his arms. As much as he craved to lay beside her, he didn’t think it was wise. Not here. Not now. “Hermione, I don’t think that’s a good idea-,”
She cut him off, “do you always make a habit of arguing with a sick person?” She wasn’t completely serious, actively fighting the urge to grin as she told him off. She wanted to sleep, her body tired and achy. Her brain was a muffled mess and the only time it stopped was when he touched her. She wanted peace and it was merely a foot away. “I ask now with a please,” she gestured to the empty space beside her. “I want to know if my future husband snores in his sleep.”
Draco pressed his lips together as he stood, shaking his head in disbelief though his heart hammered away in his chest at the thought of being in her space. “You really are something, witch.” He took off his cloak and neatly folded it over the back of his chair, leaving him in just his dark green aurors shirt that were tucked into some black trousers. “You don’t even know my favourite colour and you’re asking me to bed.” He grinned cheekily as he toed off his shoes.
Hermione rolled her eyes as she watched him, letting herself look over his form. She wasn’t ashamed to think of how attractive he was. “Is that what you said the first time we went to bed together?”
Pausing at her brut, he snorted as he shook his head. “We’re not having that conversation yet.” He put his hand to metaphorically stop her before using the same hand to fish his wand out and lock the door to anyone that wasn’t a healer. “Careful.” He warned her as he moved to lower the back half of the bed to a flat.
Hesitantly, he slid on and laid down on the bed on his right side, facing her as he watched her lay down. Face to face, he smiled a little as she stared back at him. Her face was so close to his, she smelt of hospital but mostly, of what made her, her. Hermione’s brown eyes, heavy with sleep now as she shuffled her face closer. Draco’s own silvers, Hermione thought, were just sad looking and she didn’t like it. She didn’t like that she was the reason.
“Is this okay?” He whispered as he pulled the blankets over them before tucking his arms in beside him.
“No.” Hermione whispered back. “I’m not close enough.”
Draco let out an amused sound from the back of his throat and slowly opened his arms as to which, Hermione shuffled in closer, resting her head in his chest as his came to settle on top of hers. “Better?”
Hermione hummed as she nestled into him, his warmth wrapping around her. She knew she was safe here. She didn’t know how or why she knew, but there was something special about him. Something special about the way he looked at her like she was the prettiest thing to ever exist.
“Much. Thankyou.”
Draco kissed the top of her head as his arms slid around her and pulled her as close as he could and for the first time in just over a week, his heart became settled as it once more got as close as it physically could do the one who made it beat. “No need, darling.” He mumbled tiredly. Sleep was so close now; he teetered on the edge of it.
“Draco?”
“Hmm?”
“Your favourite colour?”
“What about it?” He moved to look down at her as she looked up at him, her face bright even amongst the sleep that she too, was near falling.
Hermione hummed as her hand came up to hold his jaw, thumb stroking his cheek once, twice before it settled back into his chest. “Your favourite colour is my eyes. You always say your favourite colour is my eyes.”