Chapter 1
Hermione had three regrets in that moment.
One, that she let Luna and Ginny convince her to attend some random muggle music festival.
Two, that she borrowed that stupid bejeweled shirt from Ginny, held together at her back only by a small chain.
And three, that she left her wand at home.
Now she sat on the hill, music humming all around her, and fans tripping over them as they hurried toward the stage for the next act. She was about to combust in embarrassment as she held the top tight to her chest, Ginny drunkenly and unsuccessfully working to fix the broken clasp.
She was convinced nothing could be worse than flashing her nonexistent tits at everyone in her immediate vicinity. But fate proved to have other ideas when she heard a familiar voice from behind her.
“Oi Drake! Look who I found!” He called, drawing all three girls attention, and Hermione tensed as she saw the shock of white hair crest the hill behind him.
Her face heated so frantically that she snapped straight forward, refusing to make eye contact. Perfect. Just bloody perfect.
“Hello Theo,” Luna greeted in that sing song voice of hers. Hermione wasn’t sure if she was just being her typical friendly self, or if the fire whiskey was hitting her harder than she realized.
A shirtless Theo dropped to the ground next to Hermione, bumping her shoulder on the way down. Jostled by the movement, and disgusted by the sweat slick feeling of his bare skin against hers, Hermione flinched away. Her top slipped a little further down and she let out an undignified squeak as she righted her grip and pressed it tighter to her body.
She kept her eyes on the ground, two dragon hide loafers falling into her line of site as a large shadow blocked the sun from her. Hermione could feel his eyes on her but refused to look up.
“Merlin, Weasley. What did you do to her?” Theo asked leaning back and examining Ginny’s handy work at her back. He stretched his legs out in front of him, tanned skin revealed by his shorts, predictable green trainers on his feet.
“Bugger off, Nott. I need every ounce of focus to save Hermione from debut of full rave culture with some nipple pasties.”
Hermione’s head flew up as she spun on her best friend. “Nipple what!?” She screeched in horror.
“Bloody hell, ‘Mione, now I have to start over.” Ginny said in exasperation, throwing her hands up.
Luna ever calm, “Hermione they make ones with glitter now. They’re quite beautiful actually.”
She didn’t think her face could get any more red until that moment, pulling her knees up to bury her face.
“What bet did she lose to end up in that horrendous top to begin with?”
Hermione looked up to find it was Blaise who asked the question. A white, fine mesh T-shirt pulled tight across his torso and tucked into tight white pants that contrasted beautifully against his dark skin.
“Excuse you—“ Ginny began but was quickly cut off by the sharp voice Hermione had been dreading.
“Did you not pack one of those horrendous jumpers of yours in that hideous bag you always tote around?”
She finally let her gaze follow those ridiculous shoes up to his face. He was dressed in the complete antithesis to his friends. Black silk pants led to an emerald green short sleeved button up, tucked in at the front.
Meeting his eyes she glared at him. “Do you really think if I had a change of clothes I’d be subjecting myself to this conversation right now.”
He tsked at her, smirk growing on his face. “Now now, Granger. Is that anyway to speak to your superiors.”
She scoffed. “What are you even doing here, Malfoy. Isn’t a muggle festival a little beneath your pure blood righteousness?”
She watched a muscle tick in his jaw, bravado slipping away and he forced a cold mask onto his face. She flinched, knowing she took it too far. Make that four regrets for her day.
It’d been like this since he’d stolen the promotion from her. Endless quips until it ended with him insulting her appearance, and her his pampered life style. She hadn’t meant to stoop to mentioning his history but something about his smug face always brought out the worst in her.
It was in the past and he did what it took to survive. And, when it mattered most, he turned the tide.
She would never forget the way he bolted from his parents side. Calling Harry’s name, throwing him his wand… Harry had almost dropped it. They could laugh about it now, but she often thought about what might have happened if he hadn’t caught it.
But, something had changed in Malfoy after the war. His father was in Azkaban and rumor had it his mother moved to Paris. He sold the mansion and all its belongings, and Hermione knew he now rented an apartment in London. “Escaping that legacy…” she had heard people whisper in the halls of the Ministry.
She understood. Too much death and darkness staining those walls. Blood staining those floors…
Hermione hadn’t realized she was absentmindedly scratching at the scar until Malfoy’s attention was drawn to her arm.
It was glamoured, she knew he couldn’t see it, but they both knew it was there. His eyes darkened with an emotion she couldn’t name and her cheeks heated again, quickly looking away.
“Ohhhhkay then,” Ginny said into the tense air. “If you two are done taking the piss… Hermione the shirt is cursed so you’re going to need to wait here. I’ll get you some pasties. Tassels or no?” She joked.
Hermione groaned and threw her hands over her face as Theo shook with mirth next to her.
She hadn't really known Theo during her time at Hogwarts, but he’d made earning her friendship his personal mission when they were both assigned to track down a loose Niffler in Gringots. She would never admit to him that his presence, while annoying, was warming on her.
Stewing in her own thoughts, she began to list her regrets once more, resigning herself to a fate that was glittery tape over her skin.
Something green fluttered in front of her, pulling her attention. Dropping her hands from her face, brow furrowed, she looked up to find a now shirtless Draco. His pale skin glowed in the sunlight, scars cutting across his body like lightning. One of them followed the curve of his abs and disappeared into his slacks—
As if her blush couldn’t get more heated... She opened her mouth to protest, but he interjected before she had the chance.
“Please, Hermione,” He said, eyes not leaving hers, and voice soft as he spoke—defeated. “Just this once, don’t fight me.”
She reached out, fingers brushing against his as she pulled it from his grip. Hermione, Not Granger. He had called her Hermione…
“Thank you.” She replied, almost a whisper. Only for him.
He nodded, a small quick movement, then he turned on his heel and began walking away. Hermione couldn’t help but admire the muscle of his shoulders and the two dimples at his lower back.
“Pleasure as always, Lovegood.” Blaise said breaking the silence. He ignored both Ginny and Hermione as he trailed Draco in departure.
“Goodbye Blaise, enjoy the music,” She sang back.
Theo sat there expectantly, still settled back on his elbows, and raised a brow when the girls just sat there staring at him. “Can’t I stay for the show?”
Hermione’s grip tightened on Malfoy’s shirt, eyes wide in horror. Ginny leapt to her feet, grabbed a shoe and chased him down the hill after his friends.
Luna moved to stand in front of Hermione. Pulling the scarf from her neck and creating a wall for the illusion of privacy.
“That was very kind of Draco, don’t you think?” Luna mused as Hermione dropped Ginny’s sparkling atrocity from her body.
She could only nod in affirmation as she pulled his shirt overhead. Hermione couldn’t help but inhale deeply as the soft fabric settled over her skin. It smelt of parchment and the fresh cut grass of the field that now separated them.