Month 12 - The Next Day
Month 12 - The Next Day
As Draco woke up, he felt refreshed. He hadn’t slept like that in years. Looking around he became very confused. He was stretched out on a very comfortable couch in a place that wasn’t his home. He impatiently looked around when he remembered what had transpired the night before. Hearing a voice from the other room, he stood and stretched, feeling a soft blanket drop from his body. Granger must have put that over him as he slept. Following the sound of the voice, he walked to the kitchen where Granger had her notes spread out all over the island. Wearing a baggy t-shirt, pajama bottoms, and headphones in her ears, her back to him.
She wasn’t singing along to any music, but she seemed to be talking to herself. From what he could hear, she was having a very spirited debate.
With herself.
He leaned on the entryway, content to listen to her. He wondered if this was what it was like to be in her head. How exhausting…. He chuckled to himself.
She was going over ideas of her thesis. She’d already covered a lot from the ideas he had shared with her last night. He started to laugh when she got excited at a new idea. He then smelt popcorn, hearing the pops. Feeling his stomach growl he moved to catch her attention. When she finally noticed him, she almost jumped out of her skin.
“Oh, Merlin.” She laughed. “Morning Sunshine,” Hermione smiled at Draco.
“Morning,” Draco said, grinning back at her.
Hermione didn’t seem phased to have him in her home. She also didn’t seem embarrassed at what she had been doing. Taking her headphones out, she looked down at her phone to stop the music. Draco walked closer to her, looking down at her phone to see what she was listening to. Classical music. One of his favorites, Claire de Lune. Looks like she had a play list going. Before he could ask, she handed him her phone and said, “I listen to classical to drown out everything else. It calms me and is proven to help the mind comprehend what you’re learning. Not all of us have identic memories.” She said, winking at him with a slight twinge of jealously to her tone. “I have to go over everything about 28 times to lock it in. That’s why I talk to myself so much…”
Draco only nodded as he looked through her playlist, quickly handing her phone back to her. Looking down at his stomach, as it grumbled loudly, & he groaned. Hermione had heard it too. Looking up at him she asked, “Do you want some of the popcorn I made?”
He looked around and asked, “What time is it?” He hadn’t seen a clock anywhere. His phone was dead since he didn’t make it home to charge it last night. He’d forgotten to check the time while he had her phone.
“Oh, yeah, it’s a little before 10am.” She said looking up from her phone.
“What? I slept for almost 11 hours?”
“Yeah, you fell asleep almost as soon as we started the movie last night. I thought about waking you when Luna and Harry left, but Luna suggested to let you sleep. She said you haven’t been sleeping well and that you looked so peaceful, and you needed a good nights sleep.” She offered.
“Oh, Um…. I’m sorry to have imposed on you.”
“Not at all! It was nice that you felt safe in my home. When I woke up a few hours ago, I didn’t want to wake you. I don’t have classes today, and it’s my day off from my job, so I was going to just study at home. It wasn’t like you’re keeping me from doing anything today. You needed the sleep, so I let you sleep.” She said smiling kindly at him.
This girl. This woman. How is she so kind? And thoughtful? Clearing his throat Draco said, “Thanks, Granger. I really appreciate it. Do you mind if I have a cup of coffee?” As he saw a pot that she had brewed.
“Oh, sure! Help yourself. Do you want more, like eggs, bacon, some toast?” Walking over to the fridge she opened it, looking in. “A sandwich, some grapes?”
Laughing as he grabbed a mug and poured himself some coffee, he looked at her bent over, looking in the fridge. She has a very nice ass, he thought. Shaking his head and looking past her shoulder, he noticed her fridge looked like a single person’s fridge. Just enough for one person.
“Do you mind terribly? I can make it myself. I am a bit hungry.” Draco admitted.
“No problem. Help yourself.” She stepped aside to let him look.
As he grabbed eggs, bacon and bread, she pulled out a pan for him. He went back to the fridge and grabbed some cheese, a pepper, tomatoes and an onion. He popped a couple of slices of bread in the toaster. As she headed back to her work, she sat down at the island facing him and could not stop watching his movements. The toast finished first and he buttered both slices, adding some jam and handing her the second. He popped a corner in his mouth while he continued cooking. He went to work on making an omelet. Cooked the bacon first, then chopped the veggies as the bacon cooked. She was shocked at how adept he was in the kitchen. Looking up at her, he asked, “I can make you one too.” She could only nod and kept watching. The bacon was crispy, just like she liked it, then he crumbled them up. He explored her cupboards and found seasonings and moved with such grace. She was shocked at how he worked. It was almost like a ballet how he moved smoothly from one step to the next. Putting items away when he was done, storing those he hadn’t completely used back in their place. After he plated their food, he gave her a plate and a fork from the drawer he found in his exploration. He dumped the pan in the sink and set some water in it to soak. At no point did he use magic and Hermione was dumb founded.
Then she put a bite of the omelet in her mouth, and she loudly moaned. Draco looked up with a mouthful of his own and admired her with his eyebrows raised.
“Like it?” he asked with a grin on his face.
“Oh my gods, yes. Oh yes, yes, yes…” she admitted, not looking at him. She danced a little in her seat and he could not help stopping his meal to watch her enjoy her food with a surprised, yet joyful expression.
She continued to eat and dance in her seat, when she realized how she was acting and looked up at him mid bite. “Sorry. I’m an okay cook, but no one has ever cooked anything like this in my home. This is fantastic Draco!” Beaming at him, she encouraged him to keep eating, else she’d eat his as well.
“Thanks, Granger. While everyone was out doing their tasks in the muggle world, I decided to learn how to cook. The local community had classes and I took several. Cooking, laundry, cleaning & upkeep, most of the basics we take for granted in the wizarding world, I think anyways.” Draco said.
Hermione had finished her meal and leaned her elbows on the counter, resting her chin in her hands, listening to him. She was so fascinated that he’d changed so much. He was no longer the bully boy she’d met years ago.
As soon as she saw him finish his meal, she jumped up and grabbed the plates, heading to the sink.
“Ah… I was going to clean up.” He rushed to her side.
“No way. The least I can do it clean up after that meal.” She said smiling up at him.
“At least let me dry.” He requested.
“Deal.”
He grabbed a clean towel, and they worked in silence. Hermione was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable she was with him around her home. As soon as the last piece was put away, he leaned back on the counter and looked out from the kitchen into the distance, it seemed. Lost in his own thoughts.
Hermione left him to his thoughts and sat back down at the island. She started to go over her notes until Draco moved into her view.
Looking down at her, he began, “Granger, how do you do it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Live in both worlds? Muggle and magical?”
“I don’t really. I mostly live in the magical world.” She admitted.
“You have muggle technology, and you use magic. There seems to be a seamlessness to how you live with both.” He shared.
“Honestly most of the muggle items I use are those I grew up with. It’s mostly out of habit, I think. I take for granted the muggle way I do things because it is so natural to do them. Magic helps in a lot of things I do. I don’t really think about it when I’m living my day-to-day life. It’s only when I’m in muggle areas that I have to be conscious of when I’m using magic. But it’s easier for me to switch between the two because I grew up as a muggle. There are still things that shock me in the magical world. I don’t think I’m ever going to be completely used to everything here.” she admitted.
“Since I started living as a muggle, I feel guilty using magic. It feels like I must be in one world or the other. I can’t be in both at the same time.” Draco looked down at his hands.
“You’ve only been living like a muggle for a short time. Four years might seem long, but it’s really not. Everyone finds their own comforts and it’s about finding a good middle ground.” Hermione chided.
“Yes… I suppose you’re right. I’m just struggling with it. Not sure if you know this, but I’m still living like a muggle. Last night was the first time I have apparated in 6 years. I drove to Diagon Alley last night and waited for Blaise to come open up the barrier to let us through. I haven’t used magic since the war.”
This time Hermione didn’t know what to say. She sat and just stared at him for several minutes. Draco didn’t seem bothered by her silence. He knew she needed to process what he had admitted, so he just waited. He looked out her window and then back at her. She looked away from him and then back at her notes, then at the wall. He could feel the gears turning in her head.
“Do you want to be part of the magical world again?” she finally asked.
“Yes and no.” he shared, turning his hand back and forth slowly.
“After the war I spent a few weeks in Australia. Even that short time living like a muggle was hard for me to transition into and then back to the magical world when I came back, much less that their culture there is far different than in England. I can’t say I understand exactly what you’re going through. I haven’t really immersed myself fully into the muggle world for a while since. Harry is really good at mixing between the two worlds. Do you mind if I talk to Harry about this? He might have some good insights too.” She suggested.
“Uh… yeah, I guess that would be ok. Can I ask why you went to Australia?” Draco asked.
“Well…. You see…… um….. My parents live there.” Hermione finally admitted.
Draco sidestepped and leaned on the counter opposite her. “Your parents. Is this a hard topic for you to talk about? We don’t have to….”
Hermione shook her head, taking her headphones off completely and turning the music off to concentrate. “No, no, it’s just a tender thing about my life that I don’t share with a lot of people.”
“No worries, Granger. Don’t feel obligated to share with me.” Draco smiled at her, yet he was dying to know more. He longed to know as much as he could about her. So, he stayed silent, resting his hands on the counter her was leaning on, giving Hermione the time to share if and when she wanted to.
Hermione didn’t meet his gaze. She squirmed on the bar stool she sat on, then stood up, and finally raised her gaze to meet his own. “Well, before Harry, Ron and I went on the horcrux hunt, I obliviated my parents.”
Draco just looked at her, giving his full attention to her, trying not to scare her.
“I knew they were in danger, so I took all their memories of me and the magical world. After the war, I went to try to reverse the spell and the mind healers I took along told me that the original spell must have been too powerful and it couldn’t be reversed. I spent a few weeks trying everything I could, but nothing helped. I obliviated them at the same time, and that is not traditionally the way to do an obliviation, so reversing it was even more complicated. Being a powerful witch doesn’t always work out to your advantage.” She looked down in anguish.
Draco could feel her remorse. She’d lost both of her parents because of what she had done to them. They were still alive, yet not part of her life. He walked towards her and gathered her in his arms. She molded into him and he could feel her shake with the quiet sobs that left her body.
“I know it’s hard. There’s nothing more you could do. You saved their lives.” This was the wrong thing to say and she sobbed harder.
Draco chastised himself and decided to keep quiet. He simply held her and stroked her hair. They stood there for a long time. As she started to calm down, she talked into his chest. “I’m sorry I broke down. I love my parents to much.” Then she looked up at him and said clearer. “I didn’t know enough about what I was doing, but my power hurt them. I can’t forgive myself. That’s why I’m still studying mind healing. I won’t ever give up on them.”
“You know my father died a couple of years ago, in Azkaban. It tore my mother apart, but I felt nothing. I hated the man for what he did to our family. What he made me do. I can’t begin to know what you’re going through. I’m so sorry. All I can say is that you have a very large family to support you now. We’re all here for you.” He felt her arms tighten around him and Draco felt something stir between his legs. He quickly tightened his hold and then pushed her back. Embarrassed at how his body began to react to her during the worse moment.
Hermione didn’t seem shocked at him pushing her away but turned and wiped her cheeks with her hands. Looking back at him she patted his chest where her tears had soaked his shirt. As Draco looked down at her with a shrug, he felt another stir between his legs and he stepped back while clearing his throat.
“Look, I don’t have anywhere to be right now, but I’d like to get out of your hair to let you get on with your day. Although I have no idea where I’m at, my phone is dead and I don’t carry my wand with me. Would you mind apparating me back to outside the Leaky so I can get my car?” Draco asked.
“Oh… sure, yeah. Let me just change…” He startled her with the abrupt change in their conversation, so she moved one way, then changed to go the other way. She thought they were getting comfortable with each other. She hadn’t felt self-conscious hanging out with him in her PJs, until now. She wasn’t sure why she started to feel so awkward around him. So, as she walked back to her bedroom, she looked back at where she just was. She saw him watching her, leaning on the frame going into her kitchen. Shaking her head, she began to change into her jeans from last night and a loose jumper. Quickly she looked in the mirror to make sure she looked presentable enough. Shaking her head again, she wondered why she cared. He was just Malfoy, after all.
Walking out from her room, she couldn’t find Draco anywhere. He wasn’t in the kitchen, nor in the bathroom, nor in the living room. Then she saw the door to the balcony cracked open. As she walked outside, she saw him leaning his arms on the railing, looking out into the world. She got this place because of the view. Even though it was slightly smaller than the other apartments she’d viewed, this alone was the selling point for her.
“This is a great view, Granger.” Draco stated.
“Yes. It’s why I got it. You know, you can call me Hermione. I really wish you would.” she shared, not looking at him, just enjoying the view as well.
“Hard habits to break, I guess, but I’ll try, yeah?” he responded.
All she did was smile up at him. As he turned to look at her, he stilled and stared at her for several seconds before saying, “Thanks for letting us all join your group, Granger….” Coughing he continued. “Hermione. I didn’t know we all needed your group as much as we did. We feel a bit more….. complete now.”
“I know what you mean. Our group felt full, but since you’ve all been part of it, it feels fuller, in a good way. It’s hard to describe.” She looked down, feeling a little bit self-conscious at his intensity and turned around to lean her back against the railing. Abruptly she said, “Well, ready to go?”
“Yeah, sure.” Draco said with a slight apprehension to his words.
“Let’s go inside. I live in a muggle neighborhood. I’ve charmed the windows so others can’t see in, but the balcony is not charmed.” As she grabbed his hand, pulling him inside.
She stopped and turned around, unexpectedly feeling his arms surround her in another hug, preparing for the side along apparition. She looked up at him for a moment as he looked down at her. Looking away, she gathered her wits and felt the pull near her navel of her apparition to outside the Leaky Caldron.
As soon as they arrived Draco did not let her go. In fact, he gripped her tighter, almost like he was trying not to fall off a cliff, and she remembered he hadn’t apparated more than last night for the last 6 years. She felt him sway and she put one of her hands on his stomach and her other on his back, stabilizing him. It took him a few minutes holding her tightly before he found his equilibrium. Hermione breathed with him, and it brought him back faster than the night before.
Finally opening his eyes, he looked down at Hermione and opened his mouth. She was looking at him with such concern. The feeling of her hands on his stomach and back were warm and he felt a tingling deep in his stomach. Stepping back quickly, leaving her visibly shocked, he cleared his throat and said, “Thanks Granger…. Erm…. Hermione.”
“Are you sure you’re okay, Draco?” she asked, stepping towards him.
Hearing his name he looked at her and stared for a few seconds. “Uh…” Clearing his throat, “Yes, uh, yes, I’m fine. Thanks again for….. well…. For everything last night and this morning.” As he stepped towards his car and leaned against the side of it.
Stepping closer to him, she bent down to catch his eye, since he was not making eye contact with her.
“Hard as it is to believe, especially with our past, we are friends now, you know…” Giving him a confident smile.
“Yeah? I’m glad.” He admitted.
“Me too, Draco.”
There it was again. His name. On her lips. He liked it a lot. Then as he stood, she leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his waist in a friendly hug. One he had seen her give the others many times.
“See you later. I’ve got to get back. I’ll text you when I get a chance to talk to Harry.” As she stepped back and spun away, apparating home.
Hmm, he thought. I’m friends with Granger… Hermione. Hermione is my friend. Smiling to himself, he put his hand over his stomach where she had held him, helping him breath after apparating. Just my friend, he thought, furrowing his brow and leaning against his car again, trying to steady his breath again, thinking how good she felt in his arms.
As soon as Hermione arrived home she leaned against the wall, breathing hard. What the hell was that? She thought. She looked down at her hands and remembered the feel of Draco breathing and how strong his body felt beneath her fingers. Her hands were shaking. She was surprised she was able to give him a hug after all that. She hadn’t wanted to let go. It felt so good to be in his arms. Friends, we are just friends, she kept thinking. For the rest of the day…