Dont go
Hermione, now fully clothed, opened the door to see a perplexed looking Blaise. She threw her arms around his neck and didn't notice his lack of a return hug, nor the glare Draco was giving him. Blaise smirked at Draco but patted Hermione on the back.
"Good to see you, you're looking much better now."
She looked down and Draco put an arm around her "Sorry you had to see all that" She mumbled. “And that was our first time seeing each other in so long.”
"Oh no, Don't be sorry, love. I'm just glad you're here safe" Blaise said putting extra emphasis on his two last words. "Anyway, there are more hugs waiting for you downstairs"
Draco and Hermione both shared an -alarmingly similar- puzzled look before heading down the stairs together. His arm was still around her shoulders when a blur of red came charging at her and squeezed her around her middle. She cried out in pain as her ribs were squeezed and Draco hissed next to her.
Ginny backed away sheepishly. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm so sorry Hermione... Hermione.. I.." Ginny stuttered barely holding back tears but Hermione was back in her arms in a flash. Ginny swayed them back and forth. With her head on Ginny's shoulder Hermione looked behind her and saw nearly the entire Weasley clan and Harry standing awkwardly in Draco's living room. She let go of Ginny and looked at them all at a loss for words. Then she turned to see Draco standing at the bottom of the stairs, mouth agape as Blaise patted him on the back. She turned back around and walked to Arthur and Molly hugging them first, then everyone circled around her each telling her they loved her in their own way, George hugged her extra tight. Molly spoke first.
"I know Harry fixed your arm.. but I came to heal you up." Molly said quietly. Hermione was already shaking her head
"Draco did it all last night" She said, smiling softly at Molly. "I'm okay, really. My ribs are just sore. Everything else feels perfect" She said as she turned to share a smile with Draco. Everyone watched her expression with fascination as each Weasley present looked between Hermione and Draco.
Draco enjoyed their moment until he realized six Weasleys and the boy who lived were staring at him. Arthur cleared his throat. "Molly came to check on you and the rest of us just wanted to see you, Hermione." He sighed and looked at her for a moment clearly at a loss for words, "and we brought breakfast" George said from somewhere to Hermione's left. "Harry said you two would be hungry too" George said nodding to Blaise and Draco.
Draco was still staring incredulously at the group in his living room but Blaise elbowed him whispering "I'm definitely very hungry" and Draco cleared his throat. "Well,” he sighed in defeat, “welcome to Malfoy Manor Jr. The dining room is that way" He said lamely, motioning with his hand.
"Come on girls, lets get everything ready" Molly said and Hermione and Ginny followed her while Hermione said "We won't even have to make the table bigger. Draco seems to have the perfect table for Weasley gatherings''. She turned to give Draco a wink before she went into the other room with the other ladies. Draco spluttered, losing all color in his horrified face. Harry made his way over and put a hand on his shoulder. "Sorry. I can't say no to my in-laws"
Draco rolled his eyes at the black haired man in front of him. He walked to the other side of his living room where Arthur, Bill, Percy and George stood. He extended his hand to Arthur. now's as good a time as any. They’re suck with me so i may as well make an effort He thought. He knew that if he was to be involved with Hermione, these red heads would come with her. I must remember to refrain from insults He told himself. "I'm sorry, I'm very sorry, I've truly not been pleasant to any of you in the past but I hope you know that.."
Arthur took Draco's hand and pulled him into a strong but short hug. "Son, Hermione and Harry have told us all a lot. Harry especially told us quite a lot this morning. As has the prophet. I think it is safe to say we'll be seeing much more of you and I'll speak for my family when I say we're happy to see the man that you are today." He took a deep breath and looked in Draco's eyes." Your Father and your childhood does not define you any longer." He said strongly and clapped Draco on the shoulder. Draco nodded and glanced over to the four brothers to his left who all seemed to be agreeing with their father. No looks of disgust or anger. No insults. He could do this. Perhaps they would even be a positive addition to this life. blech
"Right then, Breakfast?" He asked the group, clearing his throat uncomfortably. Everyone nodded and the 8 of them walked to the dining room, following after the ladies.
Once everyone was seated they all tucked into the toast, eggs, sausage that Molly made. While everyone avoided the topic of Ron, there was a dark cloud in the room. Harry was clearly brooding while his wife was speaking to Hermione in a hushed tone. Draco raised an eyebrow and smirked at Ginny as she glanced at him and whispered in Hermione's ear. He saw Ginny look back to Hermione with a 'whoops, got caught' face and they both laughed softly. Arthur was looking stoic while George and Blaise spoke animatedly about the Weasley's shop. It sounded that George was preparing to find more help with Ron gone. Molly was looking around at her family, plus a Granger, Malfoy and Zabini with an odd look on her face. Hermione caught her eye and they held each other's gazes for a moment.
"I'm so sorry" Hermione said softly and although Molly could not have possibly heard her whisper over the conversation at the table she knew what she said. Molly seemed to grow angry for a moment and Draco grabbed Hermione's hand waiting for an outburst. Molly's face fell and she shook her head.
"No Hermione." She said not breaking her gaze. "No, He should be sorry. My Son." Molly looked down. "This is his fault. His doing. His actions, Hermione. You've done nothing wrong." Hermione squeezed Draco's hand but didn't say a word. "Hermione, do you hear me?” she asked with a heat that was uncharacteristic for the matronly woman. “You've done nothing wrong. This is not your fault. There is not a single person at this table who disagrees nor is there a person at this table who is upset with you."
Draco saw a single tear fall down her cheek and reached to wipe it away. She flinched when his finger first touched her face. He frowned but wiped away the tears anyway. Harry spoke up next and reached across the table to grab her other hand.
"Hermione, It's okay. She's right. It's okay. You're okay. We'll always be here." He said softly looking around the entire table as if for confirmation. He held his gaze on Draco longer than anyone else as if looking into his soul for confirmation that he too would always be there for his best friend. Draco nodded looking at Harry. Harry still had a pained look on his face as he let go of Hermione's hand.
Hermione graced them all with a gentle smile and a thank you. "Okay, let's move on. Not that I will, but I'd like to forget this whole incident. But thank you all, thank you.."
Everyone smiled at her. Draco saw George open his mouth and sighed knowing what was about to come. "I'm sure Draco can help you forget, love" He winked at her.
Ginny and Blaise simultaneously spit out their pumpkin juice. Arthur chuckled, Molly looked aghast at her son. Bill was laughing and Harry had managed a chuckle.
Hermione and Draco looked at each other. He threw her a wink and she burst into giggles, covering her face with her hands. He just smiled and watched her laugh. Everyone but Harry seemed to go back to their food. Harry was watching him. He could feel it. He wanted to watch her for a moment longer, though. He could watch this forever. The way her nose wrinkled as she laughed, the way her hair moved, The spark in her eye. Sighing Draco turned to Harry and confirmed his assumptions that Harry was looking at him. Harry nodded his head to tell Draco to follow him. He led him into the kitchen, past a swinging door.
"Trying to get me alone Potter?" He asked. Harry still frowned.
"Ron let me take his memories last night." Harry stated. Draco was confused. "and?" Draco said furrowing his eyebrows. "Wait, I thought you said you'd been taken off the case."
Harry shook his head "I did, and I was. They now seem to care very little that they're both my best friends.. or..." Harry sighed "To the Wizengamot this is an attack on the Minister of Magic. They want the highest people possible working on this. This was the least involved I was able to be. I'll not be at the trial but they needed me to interview him, and wanted answers fast. They've.. They've already mentioned using the kiss."
Draco's eyes widened. "I know. Although they've seen the majority of the memories so they know he didn't use any unforgivables. Or leave lasting injury. Still though. He's not just going to get a warning. They're going to throw the book at him."
Draco looked down. He knew Ron's actions were terrible, He was just as mad as anyone at the way he had treated Hermione but he didn't think he deserved the kiss. Maybe a short stint in prison and some monitoring. Definitely no more drinking but .. death? He shook his head.
"Hermione won't like that at all. She'll be wrecked with guilt. That'll do more damage than his abuse.. Have you told any of them?" Draco asked nodding his head in the direction of the dining room.
Harry shook his head "No, I can't. I cant even tell Hermione yet." Draco's eyes widened. "Then why on earth are you telling me?" He asked incredulously.
Harry raked his fingers through his messy hair. He began pacing. Clearly the boy who lived was having issues. "I don't bloody know what to do! Part of me wonders if there is something that even I am unaware of. Something else the Wizengamont suspects him of… Not to mention, how can I defend one friend and not the other? Ron has problems. He needs to be punished and he needs to get better but he didn't kill anyone! But how can I even rationalize those feelings when my other best friend is sitting out there apologizing! Apologizing for getting beat up by her ex-husband! How can I defend him in any way when I need to be there for her as well?! How can I defend his actions at all when it makes me sick to my stomach." He was nearly yelling now so Draco placed a silencing charm on the dining room door. He moved them closer to the island in the middle of the kitchen "It makes me sick that I wasn't there." Draco put his hands on the man's shoulders.
"Oh Harry" Draco turned to see Hermione and Ginny standing on the other side of the kitchen. Ginny walked up and put her arms around Harry's waist and Hermione stood next to Draco. She took a deep shaking breath and Draco stepped behind her putting his arms around her waist from behind as she spoke. "Harry I will not let them take Ron away from his family. Not in this way." She looked kindly at Ginny. "You're right. He needs help, not maximum punishment." She took a deep breath and stood tall. Draco put his head on her shoulder and smiled. shes back he thought.
"I will speak to them in the morning. If you must take my memories Harry go ahead. I will be happy to testify."
"Hermione, you don't have to.. they wont listen. They wont let you decide the case. There has to be more to this.."
"Yes I do. I'll figure something out." she said firmly with finality. Harry stared at her for a moment and while Draco couldn't see her face he knew she was doing the same. Finally Harry nodded. "I'm not going to try to get him a free pass but if they think they're going to throw him away and lock away the key they are wrong. He’s not getting the Kiss" Hermione took a deep breath.
"He will have a fair and just trial and if we can't defend him directly.. he'll have to have a Lawyer." She said and nodded. "I'm okay Harry. I'm okay now." She looked at Ginny and placed a hand over Draco's. "I'm glad you guys came. Really. This helped." Ginny beamed back at her from where her head was against her husband's chest. Hermione turned to look at Draco. "Now here we thought you two were in here talking about us." Draco chuckled and turned her so that his hands were on her hips, she put hers around his neck. "Not this time love" He said before kissing her.
George and Bill were the next to burst into the kitchen. "Oy!" George said, getting Draco and Hermione's attention. "How about some Quidditch? We've actually got two seekers for once and you Draco, seem to have the perfect back garden" George said looking out the window over the sink in the kitchen appreciatively. Bill joined him and nodded appreciatively. Ginny seemed to be a bit too excited about this idea. Hermione less so. Bill and George looked at Draco. "Come on man, Think of it as an induction into the family" Draco paled and the red heads in the room just laughed. Draco glanced at the weather out the window and agreed it was really an ideal morning for it.
“Why not?” Draco agreed.
Next thing Draco knew he, Harry, Ginny, Blaise, Percy, Bill, George and Arthur were all headed outside in modified clothing. "I've got extra brooms for anyone who needs one" Draco said and he heard Percy mumble "Of course you do" Arthur chuckled at that. Once everyone had a broom, borrowed or otherwise, they were up in the air. Hermione and Molly watching from below. They chose their sides, Harry and Draco opposite each other. Hermione laughed as Ginny chose Draco and Blaise's team with Arthur and Harry gaping at her. Once the teams were decided, Draco looked to Harry with a very Malfoy-ish smirk before the balls were released from below.
"Scared Potter?"
"You wish"
Draco could only hear Hermione's beautiful howl of laughter from the ground before they began.
🖤
Sweaty and exhausted Draco collapsed on his sofa, happy to have an empty house again. Hermione plopped down next to him and handed him a glass of firewhiskey. He smiled at her appreciatively and put an arm around her. She put a hand on his chest. They sat in silence for a while watching the fire burn. He sighed. "That was actually enjoyable”
Hermione laughed. "Don't sound so sure about it" He chuckled.
"I just didn't expect to fit in with them. I didn't expect them to accept me at all. Much less show up at my home and make themselves comfortable."
Hermione looked down "Sorry about that.. They're.."
Draco shook his head "No, Dont be. I'm sorry that I've ever said an ill word against them. I don't understand how they don't hate me.. " He sighed. "And their love for you is something.. Something I've never seen." he looked at her and tucked a hair behind her hear, grazing her cheek with his thumb. She didn't flinch this time and he felt better. Maybe she was okay. "Although I suppose you're not hard to love." He said softly, his hand still on her cheek.
She smiled warmly and knowingly at him and leaned into his hand. "Neither are you" she said. He smiled at her but didn't say anything more. He let his hand fall and placed it on her knee instead and took a few sips.
"Bloody hell" He mumbled. "Why am I so sore from a silly backyard match? How on earth did those bloody gingers get so good at quidditch??" he said, exasperatedly.
"Magic" Hermione deadpanned and Draco spit out his sip of firewhiskey, laughing.
"Minister has jokes huh?" he said and she just smiled at him.
She sighed. "Speaking of which, I need to go back to work tomorrow. If only to take the stick out of the Wizengamot's arse. I need to figure out whats going on with his case. I’ve never heard of them responding in this way to a pretty minor incident."
He nodded but was quiet. While he hated to call the incident ‘minor’ she wasnt totally wrong. "Thank you for keeping me around when he was .. Well when he was roaming about" He nodded again.
"Harry said they repaired the door at the manor, it sounds like that's all that was damaged. They repaired my home too.. " She said and let her voice trail off.
"Draco I.." He looked at her and she seemed to falter. He took her hand.
"What love, tell me" He reassured her.
"I don't want to go home." She said quietly looking at the floor.
Not skipping a beat he said "So dont." She looked up at him, breathless at his quick response. "Dont go home. It's completely acceptable to never want to set foot in that place again.. and perhaps " He put his hand on her cheek and kissed her softly "Perhaps I don't want you to go home either. We’ve wasted enough time, Hermione." he said against her lips before joining them together again.
Hermione let out a soft feminine moan against his lips. She took his glass, ignoring his pouting face and put it on the side table next to him. He frowned up at her "We were talking..and I was drinking that.." he said. She stood in front of him now, looking down at him. "Maybe I'm tired of talking. Maybe.." She said, using one hand to run her fingers through his hair and placing one hand on his shoulders as she sat down on his lap, leaving her legs on either side of his. She kissed his neck and whispered in his ear "maybe I want to tell you how hot I thought you looked on a broom." He growled and she giggled into his neck as he grabbed her ass and pulled her into him. She could feel his belt buckle press against her. "Minx" he muttered in her ear before kissing and nipping along both sides of her neck. "We're going to discuss this at length another time." He said and she responded with a moan. He ground against her and she could feel his growing hardness. She whimpered and clutched at his shirt as he stood up and wrapped her legs around his hips.
Once in his, their? bedroom he tossed her down on the bed and looked down at her. Her hair was a mess around her head and she was biting her lip. One leg was bent a bit and her light dress was sliding up. While bringing her up there he had fully planned on having some fun. Tying her up. Maybe bringing out a blindfold and feather or something but now looking down at her he could only find a need to make love to her. Such an odd concept to him. Any other time sex had been about fun, pleasure for him and his partner - but now, seeing this witch on his bed... The witch he had pined after for so long. He wanted to make her feel as he did. He wanted to show her this was no fling. Not something he wanted to try for a few months. He loved her. He had for a long time. about time you admit it Blaise's voice echoed in his head. He didn't care if it was too soon for them. It wasn't too soon for him. He'd keep the words to himself for now but he wanted to show her. Wanted her to feel his love for her. Wanted to claim her.
He undressed her slowly, still standing, kissing her bare skin as he uncovered it. He relished her goosebumps as they erupted across her skin and her beating heart as he kissed her sternum and up to her neck. Ignoring her pleas for him to go faster, to do something more he ran his fingertips all along her arms, down her sides, over her hip bones, up her stomach. He enjoyed watching her squirm under him. Finally he pulled his shirt off and kicked off his shoes. Grabbing her ankles he put them around his hips and bent down to kiss her. She let out a rough moan and knew the friction of his pants against her was driving her crazy. He ground against her just to hear the noises she made when he did. He smirked against her lips and licked them before moving across her jaw and down her neck. Nipping her ear he whispered "I'm going to taste you." She whimpered. "I'm going to taste you and then I'm going to make love to you, Hermione. I want you to feel what I feel. I want you to feel me. All of me" She whimpered again. He kissed her again and tried to pour his emotions into her. He ran his hands down her sides to her hips and backed up, letting her legs fall off the side of his bed. He bent down and kissed one thigh, then the other. He could feel how warm she was, and could see how wet she was. He looked up at her as she put her fingers in his hair. so nice to be wanted he thought to himself and smirked as he placed a gentle kiss on her clit. He ran a finger through her folds and groaned. "Oh kitten. Always so wet for me" He let his tongue follow the path his finger just had and watched as her head fell back onto the bed. He did this a few more times before sucking on her clit and sliding a single finger inside her. She would have bucked off the bed had it not been for his well timed hand going to her hip. He removed his finger and slipped his other hand under her and behind her lower back lifting her up a bit, giving himself easier access. He enjoyed the sounds she made as he sucked and licked at her pussy. Once she was clawing at the bed he stopped. She whimpered in disappointment as he backed away. He smirked as he looked down at her again and undid his belt. She clearly perked up at the sound, looking up at him and he continued smirking like a devil at her. She was biting her lip now, writhing on the bed as if that would relieve her ache.
Now naked he stood in front of her and ran the tip of his manhood along her folds. She nearly screamed. "Is this what you want kitten?" She nodded and biting her lip she backed up onto the center of the bed. Following her he crawled between her legs and kissed her thighs again and up her flat stomach, along her hip bones. He kissed under each of her breasts until he felt her hand under his chin. She pulled his face to hers and she kissed him softly. "Make love to me Draco, I can't wait any longer. Please" He groaned and kissed her lips. He reached down and entered her with ease. They both let out relieved sighs. He grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her lips to his again as he began to gently and slowly thrust into her, using his other elbow to keep his weight off her. She wrapped her legs around him and he moved his hand from the back of her neck to her hips. She let her head fall back, breaking their kiss, and he buried his face in her neck and continued at the same pace, placing soft kisses against her skin. She was whimpering now between her panting. He felt her take a shuddering breath as she ran her fingers up his shoulders back into his hair.
"I love you Draco" She said breathlessly, letting out a sob at the same time he thrust into her. His world stopped. He forgot what they were doing. Forgot that he was inside her. Forgot what Ron had done. Forgot that his house was full of Weasleys just an hour previously. Everything was gone once she said those words. He took both of his hands and grabbed her face and kissed her. Kissed her more desperately than he had done anything in his life. He could feel her chest rising and falling erratically. He thrust into her as far as he could and holding her face he looked at her. "Say it again." He whispered.
"I love you Draco Malfoy" Another thrust and her head fell back again. He kissed her jaw, another thrust. "Again."
"I love you" She whispered in his ear as she raked through his hair. He thrust again and her hands went to his shoulders. His hands went behind her own shoulders so he could hold them both up on his elbows. "I love you Hermione Granger. You saved me." he said thrusting into her again "And I've loved you since." He felt her legs squeeze tighter around him and her nails biting into the skin on his back as he began to pick up the pace, pumping in and out. He could feel her shuttering around him and knew she was close. So was he. He wanted them to come together so he picked up the pace and all it took was a single kiss to where her neck meets her shoulders and she was shuttering around him, pulling his own release from deep within him.
They lay there panting for a while. Neither saying a thing, just enjoying the peaceful and comforting silence. Draco had rolled over and she lay her head on his chest. He drew soft circles on her back and eventually he felt her drift off to sleep. Kissing the top of her head, he pulled the covers over them both before drifting off to a peaceful sleep of his own.