To Woo a Minister

1998

Hermione was headed to the library to meet up with Draco and Blaise. They had two weeks left to finish their group transfiguration essay and Hermione had already done most of the writing. She was fully prepared to tell them off for not helping her more until she saw Blaise standing worriedly at the entrance to the library. 

Draco Hermione thought. 

"Have you seen him?" Blaise asked frantically. Hermione furrowed her eyebrows and shook her head. Blaise started pacing and Hermione became more worried. 

"I tried to make him talk about it.. I tried to force him to tell me and .. " He continued to pace, muttering to himself. Hermione grabbed Blaise by the shoulders, despite him being much taller and bigger than her he stopped moving immediately. She looked into his eyes. 

"What happened?" Blaise bit his lip and shook his head. Hermione sighed, knowing they weren't in a place in their friendship to share secrets, nor could she boss him around like Ron or Harry. She dropped her hands, heaved a big sigh and turned around. 

She thought back to the night she found him, alone and bleeding. He had hidden himself away so he could emote in private and she knew he'd be doing the same if something was upsetting him. She hoped it was nothing serious. 

The first place, other than the dungeons, that she thought to go to was the astronomy tower. That's often where she went to think but she quickly realized that would not be an ideal place for him to be alone with this feelings. Hoping he wasn't in the tower, fighting his own shadow, she headed for the lake. 

It was dark, cold and very snowy. She was glad that her hat, gloves and scarf had been stuffed into her backpack by Ginny earlier in the day. Pulling them on she let herself out the front door, not pausing to think about any retribution for being out of the castle at this time in the evening. She knew she'd be returning well past curfew but also knew the headmistress would do little to punish her at this point. Choosing not to dwell on that favoritism she continued on until she saw a dark figure hunched in a clearing of the woods, not far from the lake. She knew it was him.

"Draco?" She spoke softly when she was close enough that he might hear her. 

He let out a breath and she took a few steps closer. "Draco?" She asked, reaching her hand out to touch his shoulder. Before she could he let out a small noise and said. 

"He's dead."

She pulled her hand back and gasped. "Who? Who, Draco?"

He let out another pained moan and said "Lucius" She felt a pain in her gut. Not for the man. No not for that monster who had caused her and her dearest friends such misery. Not for the man who wanted her and her kind gone, eradicated. Who had pledged himself and his family to a mad-man. No her pain was for the boy in front of her. She could feel the conflict radiating off of him. Not long after term had started Draco had denounced his father, announcing to her and the entire Great Hall, in a pretty dramatic fashion that was not quickly forgotten, that his father was worthless and he had earned his punishment.He told Hermione privately that he believed he had earned his own just the same. She knew of his great guilt. Also of his sadness that his family had been torn apart in such a terrible way - his pain was the same yet so different from the rest of his peers. She knew that at that moment he had hated his father and everything he stood for. 

But now? Perhaps she had wished Lucius dead but she knew Draco never would have. He had idolized his father when he was younger - as he should have. Without thinking she closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. This must have broken his resolve because he fell to his knees, taking her with him, and sobbed. 

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Draco." She said quietly and he didn't argue. He must have felt her sorrow for him and he accepted it. 

They sat there together, the woods surrounding them, for hours. The tears stopped relatively quickly but he remained still, staring out at the lake until Hermione's shivering brought him back. 

He looked down to see her head on his shoulder and he felt a warmness come over him. He sighed and leaned his cheek down against the top of her head. She was warm and her hat was soft - he wished they could sit there like that longer but knew they'd freeze to death before he was satisfied. "We should get back" he said quietly and she nodded in response, standing and offering her hand to help him up. Their knees and shins were damp, despite the lack of snow on the ground here and her teeth were chattering. He took her hand and she helped him up and before they had reached the castle she took his hand and pulled him into another hug. He really wasn't cold but tried to accept the warmth in her hug all the same. He was done denying himself simple pleasures for invalid reasons. 

After they separated they opened the front door of the castle to see Blaise and McGonagall waiting in the entrance hall. She smiled at Hermione and then looked to Draco. 

"Draco, your mothers waiting. You can use my floo." He nodded and followed McGonagall to her office, leaving Blaise and Hermione in the hall. They shared a sorrowful look before turning and going to their separate dormitories - both worried about their friend. 

🖤

Draco was gone for two weeks before returning to school. Hermione and Blaise had to quell multiple rumors that he had run away or been locked up. Eventually the Prophet published what had happened. 

Lucius Malfoy died alone in a fire in one of the outbuildings on the Malfoy estate. It was deemed arson by the magical fire brigade and most believed that it was self-inflicted. Only two people attended his funeral. 

Two days after Draco returned he had walked up to the Gryffindor table to find a crying Hermione clutching a letter. Looking over her shoulder he saw "How could you defend him?!" and "Pathetic" scrolled messily on the parchment between the parts scrunched up in her hand. Clearly her doing damage control for him was causing an issue with the Weasel. He cleared his throat behind her, and her and Ginny looked up at him. Ginny gave him a tight smile and Hermione sniffed and smiled up at him. 

"Come on, lets get that project done with." Hermione nodded and stood with him, giving Ginny a small wave goodbye which Ginny returned. 

Once out in the hall and on their way to the library Draco spoke. "Thank you for being so kind, Hermione." She smiled up at him and ignored the feeling that she got when he said her name. This was probably only the third time he had ever said it. "I hope .. I hope your kindness hasn't caused any issues.." he said quietly, his voice trailing off. She shrugged knowing he must have seen part of her letter. 

"That's just.. that's just Ron." 

He nodded. 

🖤

Weeks later Hermione and Ginny were sitting under a tree on the grounds, Ginny staring off into space and Hermione reading a book. 

"Did Ron ever apologize for the way he acted? You know - that letter? How he said to never speak to Draco again?" Ginny asked. 

"No. No he didn't." Hermione sighed. 

"Does he know you still speak with Draco?" 

Hermione just shook her head in response. Ginny bit her lip and hummed in response. Hermione put her book down and looked over at her friend. 

"He and I are just friends. You know that right? Hes never.. I’ve never.. Its not like that. At all. " 

Ginny put her hand on Hermione's arm. "Of course. Of course I know that." but you should see how he watches you when you're not looking.

Hermione nodded. "I'm not sure if Ron believes me but I know he's having such a hard time with training." 

Ginny looked away and rolled her eyes. She knew first hand that Ron had nothing to be jealous of. Hermione only ever spent time or spoke of Draco platonically. Never had any stories of any inappropriate comments or touches. Even Ginny had a few unwanted hugs during the year but nothing too bad. Teenaged boys would be Teenage boys after all. And anyway, Harry and Herself were both happy to hear how Draco had changed. Ron was just being a big prat. Draco had changed and Ron saw that for himself when he was there rebuilding Hogwarts with the rest of them. Draco did more physical labor without magic than anyone else. Ron had seen it at the trial of the Malfoys when none of the three of them even got jail time. Lucius getting out was a blip but he was dead now anyways so did it really matter? Ginny knew it was jealousy that was holding her Brother back from accepting that Draco had grown up. Had changed.

Both girls looked up as the topic of their conversation was walking toward them. He must have appreciated the sunny day because he looked up to the sky and opened his arms slightly as if to welcome the sun's warmth into his body. 

He ran his hand through his hair as he got closer and said "Hi She-Weasel, Hi Kitten." 

Hermione smiled softly but Ginny raised an eyebrow and gave Draco a knowing look. "Kitten?" 

Teenaged boys she thought. Draco just seems to have restraint where others didn't she supposed.  

He sat down across from them and laughed. He nodded at Hermione and said "She doesn't remind you of a cat?" Ginny looked at Hermione who was clearly blushing oh my, these two. Hermione was curled up at the base of the tree, sunning herself. Ginny shrugged. "I suppose she does have cat like qualities" she said looking back at Draco. "And what about you? Crouching like some sort of weird bird. Why don't you sit?" Ginny asked and Hermione laughed. 

He shrugged but his face was serious. "These are new trousers." Both girls started laughing but Draco was looking past them and his face paled. Changing from serious teasing to terrified.

"Bloody Hell" He muttered. 

"Hermione?!" They all turned to see Ron, red faced, standing about ten feet away. "I come for a surprise visit and this.. This is what I find you doing?!" He shouted and turned around. 

Hermione stood "Ron?" She said but he was already storming off. "Ron! Ron, wait!" She said as she ran after him, haphazardly trying to stuff her book back in her bag as she did so. 

Draco sighed and Ginny looked at him. "Fuck" They muttered in unison. Ginny gave Draco a sad smile as he hung his head and stuffed his hand in his pockets. He stood for a moment and watched Ginny run off after her brother and best friend. He hoped Ginny would help Hermione show Ron that Draco really was just a friend. Trying not to think about how much better for Hermione he would be than Ron he headed back into the castle and down into the dungeons. Where he belonged.

Once in his room he was relieved to find that he was alone in the dorm that only he and Blaise shared. They were the only two boys in their year and their house who had returned. Just as he had that thought, however, the door burst open. Clearly out of breath Blaise said "Saw the Weasel in the entrance hall making a right stink." Draco just grunted. "Don't act as if he isn't a tiny bit justified." 

Draco scowled at Blaise. "You know there is nothing.." Blaise cut him off. "I know, Draco. But i also know you love her." Draco just continued staring down his friend until he sighed. "You're crazy, we're just friends. She'll tell you the same. Weasel is out of line and I'm sure she'll tell him so." 

"Oh she's telling him so. So is his sister. How he can't control who she talks to or is friends with and about how you've changed.. All the same" Blaise gave Draco a pointed look and sat down on an armchair they had arranged near the fireplace. "You're lucky he didn't punch you. He seems the type.” Draco just scoffed in response. 

🖤

The next day in Astronomy Draco was seated behind Hermione and next to Blaise. He reached over the desk and brushed Hermione's shoulder. 

"Sorry about yesterday." He said quietly. 

Both girls turned to look at him. Ginny smiled softly while Hermione just nodded slowly. 

"It's okay, really" She said quietly. "Not your fault, Draco." Hermione turned back around while Ginny gave Draco a sad look. Hermione was quiet around everyone for the next few days.

🖤

"Honestly, if you think we'll be able to finish this astronomy project with you sneaking off to see your mystery girl every night you're sorely mistaken!" Hermione huffed at Blaise as he was slinking out of the library. 

Draco looked at her. "In his defense, this isnt due for a month and it's already 11."

Hermione looked at her watch and gasped. "Oh, it is." 

Draco just laughed and went back to his reading. They both enjoyed studying this way. They could sit in comfortable silence nearly the entire night until one of them wanted to talk out a theory. Sometimes they'd even study together when they didn't have a project in one of their classes together. 

"Draco?" 

"Hmm?" 

"How are you at wandless magic?" 

He raised an eyebrow and smirked wickedly "Let me show you"