Chapter 2
They arrived in Theo’s flat, which, to Hermione’s surprise, wasn’t a flat at all. It was Nott Manor. His family’s estate. He released his hold on her and let her take in the surroundings.
“Oh, em, you still live here?” She had known his father was serving a life sentence in Azkaban and that Theo cut all ties from his Death Eater family. It was plastered all over the front page of the Prophet for weeks after the trials concluded. She just assumed he had moved out and moved on as well. It seems she wasn’t the only one who couldn’t let go.
“I do. I’m in the process of remodeling, so please forgive the dust. It was a bit too dreary for my taste. Thought I could liven it up and bring this place some light after all the dark it’s seen,” Theo said sincerely. She had not seen him without his handsome, crooked grin in all the years she had known him.
“It’s beautiful,” she replied honestly.
He cleared his throat and grabbed her hand in his. “Right. Well, let’s head to the parlor, shall we? I could use a nightcap.” The grin was back, and he winked at her.
Gods, he was truly gorgeous.
She smiled sweetly at him and squeezed his hand in agreement. She could use another drink as well. Perhaps two more.
They started down a long, windowed corridor when Hermione heard the unmistakable sound of a crackling fire in the distance. Theo immediately drew his wand and held his arm up across Hermione’s chest defensively. His smile had faded, lips now pressed in a firm line.
Theo looked at her and jerked his head back, silently commanding her to retreat down the corridor away from the sound. She nodded her head in understanding and began quietly backing away, willing herself not to panic.
Hermione didn’t have her wand when she left her flat. She was entirely at the mercy of Theo’s protection. How could she be so stupid? She didn’t need her wand for basic spellcasting, but she wished she had it in case the night’s events took a turn, which, it appears, may very well be the case.
She took several small steps backwards, followed by a couple larger ones, hesitant to turn her back to Theo. She wanted to see whatever it was he would encounter. She needed to be prepared.
At her second large step she smacked directly into a firm, tall figure and sturdy arms wrapped around her middle. Hermione’s scream echoed throughout the long corridor. Theo spun, immediately casting a Stupefy, only to have it swiftly deflected by her unknown assailant. Theo’s shoulders visibly relaxed as he holstered his wand.
“Salazar! You scoundrel! What are you trying to do? Give me and my lady a heart attack?”
The assailant loosened his hold on Hermione and she whipped her head around to face him. Her entire body froze and her thoughts bubbled over in her mind.
She sucked in a small, sharp breath, exhaling shakily, “Draco Malfoy.”
He released her from his grip and she stepped instinctively away from him. Draco's face was a mask of casual impassivity, as though his best mate didn't just attempt to stun him. His usual smug smirk she remembered from their childhood was notably absent. His silver eyes remained trained on her while Theo approached.
Hermione hadn’t seen Draco in years, not since he left the UK to study abroad following the war. After Lucius Malfoy was given a life sentence in Azkaban, people had celebrated in the streets. When Draco’s trial began, the Wizengamot had taken his age into consideration, and he was shockingly offered a full pardon as it was determined that he was a minor coerced into his crimes under great duress. Many of the citizens were outraged at the decision, but the Wizengamot refused to reopen the case. Instead of returning to Hogwarts to finish his schooling like the rest of his classmates, he and his mother left for America, where he had remained after all these years. Until now, apparently.
Several people berated the Malfoy family matriarch for taking Draco away, claiming Narcissa took the easy way out, but Hermione understood her reasoning very early on. They didn’t leave because they were cowards, they left so Narcissa could give her only son the freedom he could never have here. Not at that time, anyway.
This felt like a lifetime ago. It was, really. So many years had passed since she had seen this boy—this man—standing before her. She wondered how much he had changed, if at all.
Theo’s voice broke her from her reverie. “Mate, you look like you’ve seen a ghost. Probably my fault. I nearly hexed you! I forgot you were coming home this weekend.” He slapped Draco on the back. “Come on now, join us in the parlor. Granger and I were just about to have a nightcap.” He looked at Hermione and winked.
Something in Draco’s gaze shifted, as if he were recognizing Hermione for the first time. His eyes roved over her body, pausing briefly at the hem of her dress. Hermione felt her cheeks flush and creep down her neck. Draco tore his eyes from her and gestured down the long corridor, speaking in his posh drawl, “After you.”