fervere

Chapter Thirty Three

“By the looks of it and the description of some rooms,” Draco held his hands behind his back, “It seems like it was constructed to confuse and distract any intruders, if any. Highly improbable.” 

“But there have,” Ron grimly pointed out, “There has been intruders. Dad said that the protective charms they place when the Aurors take over for the night were meant to secure against people, not animals.” 

“It’s no wonder your dad was attacked by that snake,” Harry muttered, his eyes trained on the map much like Draco had been.  

Harry’s finger trailed on the entrance where most anyone could enter, where all the Unspeakables sat at their desk, fidgeting with the rarest peculiarities ever to be discovered and misunderstood by the known world.   

Beyond that point had been a mystery to the public, until now, and it was in the hands of three teenaged boys.  

Upon passing their offices, there was a circular room with dozens of doors around the perimeter. It was labeled at the Rotation Room, for which only the imagination could come up with what it held.  

Beyond that, a rather large Planet Room and a Brain Room. The Death Room had caught Draco’s eye based on its massive size as well as what looked like it was drawn to look like something of an arena. Then his mind drifted to a rather long and narrow room, that really should have been a hallway and, this hallway, was dedicated to Time.  

Near the entrance of the Time Room was a box indicating a room but it was left unlabeled. Then toward the back was the Hall of Prophecies.  

It was as impressive as it was massive looking on the folded-up parchment that Draco had to unfold three times to reveal its secrets. Because of its large size, Sephina had managed to add a bit of details but because of such eye to detail, it was curious that there was one room left unlabeled. 

Draco was proud. His eyes marveled at the labeling of some things in each rooms.  

“Time turners... The Veil...” Draco quietly said to himself, “The Brain Tank. It’s all very mysterious.” 

Ron cocked a brow up, “Wonder why they call it the Department of Mysteries.” 

Harry snorted.  

Draco stood there, relieved he had been able to get into the Gryffindor house, with a bit of Ginny’s help.  

After a rather solid passionate hour and some with Millie, she was knock out cold, deep in her slumber. Draco didn’t waste time. He impulsively got redressed and rushed out to see if Daphne had any idea on how to get into Gryffindor. Luckily for Draco, he had ran into Ginny just coming out from Daphne’s room. He had to beg her to sneak him in before curfew began. Ginny looked beyond disgusted with him but he managed to wave around the leathered envelope to convince her of its urgency. He was grateful she complied. It also took a small bribe but it was nothing that Draco was willing to sacrifice. 

Ginny escorted him in, just as curfew started. 

It hadn’t even been much of a shock of the students lounging about in the Gryffindor Common Room to see the stoic Slytherin march behind Ginny who directed him toward a set up simple spiral stairs that lead up to the boy dormitories. Rather, they smiled at him and greeted Draco warmly. 

“Third door on your left.” She had instructed allowing Draco to barge into the Fifth Year’s Boys Dormitory. He had noted that all the fifth years were stuffed into a rather large room with about ten four-poster twin beds. Sure, they had rather beautiful velvet curtains that they could draw for a bit of privacy but it didn’t beat the privacy of not sharing a room. 

Harry and Ron were sitting at their beds, tossing a quaffle between them having a rather lovely chat before Draco had interrupted them with his news.  

Harry had been skeptical at first presentation but it was Ron that was won over easily once the map was properly explained, seeing the ease it would do if he could keep an eye on his father if he was up for patrol in the Department of Mysteries.  

Harry gave his friend a look, “I thought the Order guarded the entrance.” 

Ron shrugged, “Since we got insight from Draco this summer, Dumbledore warned the Unspeakables ahead of time. They don’t take to threats lightly. They’ve been allowing two Aurors in to help them guard throughout the night.” 

Harry looked rather unconvinced, “So people, other than Unspeakables, know the layout beyond their offices.” 

Draco shook his head even if he had no proof to argue with Harry. Ron was the one that added value to Draco’s hard earned map.  

“Outsiders are restricted, obviously, but it was explained to dad that once he stepped out of the department, their memories are wiped by the protective spells.” Ron shrugged, “It’s kind of like how there are things set in place at Gringotts that make it nearly impossible to rob them. Dad doesn’t really remember his nights after his shift his over.” 

Draco raised his brows.  

Ron gave Harry a long look, “Actually, the night when dad was attacked, if it wasn’t for your explicit dream, dad wouldn’t have any way of telling the healers what happened to him. We were close to losing him.”  

The three boys began to scheme on how to best use the map. Ron loved the idea of having the map be charmed much like Harry’s to keep track of who was coming and going.  

Draco hadn’t explicitly asked that Harry to charm it like his own map, but he did allude on how it would be nice if Harry could reproduce the charm.  

The lanky boy shrugged, “Oh, well yeah. It would be great, wouldn't it? I wish I knew how to. If we asked Hermione to help, you think she would?” 

Ron snorted, “You know she’d rip our heads off. She’s had enough with our hijinks for this month. Detention and all.” 

Draco sat, perplexed, "But didn't you-"

Ron jumped to answer, "Nah, Harry got the map as is."

"Then maybe we can figure out, I don't know, research?"

Ron gasp, dramatically, “A-ha! A lovely idea since we have all the time in the world to dive into leisurely pursuits.” 

Draco scowled and rolled his eyes at Ron, mimicking his tone in the most childish way.  

Harry perked up, ignoring the sarcastic tone in Ron’s retort, “Why not just study the layout of the department for now? It’s already a valuable piece of information, maybe we don’t need it to act like the Marauder’s Map.” 

Although it wasn’t Draco original intent, he did soften at the idea. Even if he really wanted it to work like Harry’s map, he supposed having the map was still a massive help. 

Ron cocked his head to the side to study Sephina’s work.  

“I suppose Dumbledore wasn’t lying on how difficult it is to trespass beyond the offices. Even beyond, it’d be hard to navigate if any person went in blindly and come back with any kind of intel if theirs charms in place.” Harry commented, looking around expectantly at his friends who stared blankly at him.  

Ron suggested, “Might be years before they tried again. How could they if the spells are in place?” 

Ron and Harry seemed to move on from the thought and joined at the hip staring at the map, commenting on that very first hurdle of the Rotating Room.  

Draco paused. There was something that Ron had just said earlier and what he just said, that felt contradictory. It was something about the spells that was not sitting right with him. Draco couldn’t quite put his finger on it. 

Draco sat in silence, picking at the treads of their burgundy red comforter simply ruminating on Ron’s words.  

To simply put it, there was nothing on his mind that was rather intriguing about Ron’s words other than the fact they were right at the front of his mind.  

“Can I use your loo?” Draco asked, needing a moment to relieve himself and reset. He needed a way to get back to his own dorm well past curfew, something he hoped to bring up once he finished up in the bathroom.  

Draco caught sight of himself in the mirror, noting the slightly red marks on his neck and smears of pink on his cheek. It was no wonder why Ginny had looked at him like he grossed her out. It didn’t take a mind reader to figure out what he was up to when he was away for that hour. 

Still, there was a wash of embarrassment that Draco felt knowing that several people had witnessed lipstick marks all over him. Ron and Harry were probably too polite to say anything to him. He took the time to wash off as much as he could off his cheek when a loud bang in the dorms reverberated throughout the room just outside the bathroom.

It was the kind of sound that only a door slamming open made. 

“I'm really starting to think that it’s her!” Hermione’s voice wailed, “She hasn’t been to a single detention and it really telling that Marietta refuses to speak about it! Not even to Cho!” 

Draco stepped out, in awe that Hermione was pacing around furiously until she spotted Draco coming out the bathrooms tentatively. 

Harry immediately hid the map behind him while Hermione lost steam in her step when her eyes laid upon Draco.  

Draco had never seen Hermione so passionate and lose it almost instantaneously upon spotting him. He felt a tinge of hurt that was different from anything he’d experience before. Her face began to turn a light shade of lovely pink, a detail that Draco miss from avoiding looking directly at her. Harry stood up, handing the envelope back to Draco, his map neatly folded inside. 

“I should g-” 

“What was that you said again?” Harry asked cutting back to the urgency that Hermione had when she first entered. Her eyes flickered towards Draco and there was silence when he finally straightened up. Draco stood, feeling the intensity of the silence of unspoken words and careful exchanged glances. 

“Was detention that unpleasant?” Ron snorted, slightly amused that out of all three of them Ron had managed to avoid some detention time (a fact pointed out too soon, seeing how he and Daphne landed themselves a weeks worth of detention after getting caught snogging in an unoccupied classroom the following morning).  

Hermione remained silent, now nervously looking at her two friends, urging them to help her out.  

Regrettably for Hermione, her friends hadn’t exactly developed their social situational awareness yet. Not that Draco was boasting but he felt it a lot more than Harry and Ron. 

He understood very well then that there was something obviously in front of him and Hermione obviously refused to speak in front of him.  

His jaw went firm.  

“I can tell when I’m no longer welcomed,” Draco cleared his throat. Harry stood up, looking like he was desperate for more time with Draco but torn with Hermione’s urgent intrusion. Harry peered his dazzling green eyes into Draco, hoping that he silently communicated that this little meeting wasn’t over. It needed to be resumed on some other day. 

Draco slipped his envelope into the breast pocket of his robe and gave a half hearted smile.  

“Harry, Ron,” He tilted his head down to part ways. Hermione managed to loosely hang on to the pole of Harry’s four poster bed, fascinated with picking at her nails.  

“Granger,” Draco said with the fullest intention to regard her as such since she was already distancing herself from him. 

Hermione braced herself for the wince she responded to Draco’s coldness. 

It was as painful as Millie’s slap. 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 

The Gryffindor verses Ravenclaw match was a huge spectacle, Draco heard. 

Unfortunately, he hadn’t been able to attend the match because by pure chance, while Draco was about to leave for the game Millie barged in with heated eyes and a rather unquenchable passion that Draco was surprised by but also by no means willing to deny her. 

Draco’s perfectly styled hair had been tousled and his lips rather pink and swollen from a rough snog. He had been dragged into the tangle of sheets and bare skin when Draco gave into his carnal desires and desperately desired to submerge himself into a universe where things were different and perfect.  

And he almost achieved it, his vision, from a high of euphoric hormones.  

It was still as foggy and undefined but he could feel it, the happiness in his future along with such a beautiful life.  

When his held his breath with each thrust and let that vision dissolve away just as he came undone, nearly forgetting his vision with the dizzying lights in his eyes and his limbs weakening, collapsing on top of a warm slick body. He rolled off, Draco’s chest rose and fell, catching his breath, staring at his ceiling induced into a splendor of light twitches and ripples of pleasure over his skin. 

There hadn’t been much on his mind other than the mounting pleasure he had released and tend to a second time when his body realized it need a bit more and once he was able to fall prey to the deep exhaustion of a second round, he gripped on to a soft pillow and dozed off. 

Millie laid there next to him, sheets pulled up to her chin, watching him intently. The only item she was still wearing was that bracelet and nothing more. Her hair was a mess and her light make up smugged.  

She must have waited an hour or even two in his bed, staring at her gift, hoping thas his dreams were about her.  

Eventually, Draco had awaken quietly, startling her when he reached out to tuck her hair behind her ear, kissing her forehead before he got up.  

It was well past noon and Draco was hungry and intended to shower off before he strolled into the Great Hall for lunch.  

Draco left the door wide open to his bathroom, unashamed of his nudity. It’s not like Millie hadn’t seen all of him before, except there was a bit of unrest in her eyes.

Millie laid there, a tight knot in her throat. She was cradling her wrist and the precious bracelet she cherished.  

Still green.  

And had been green since she had placed it on herself after tearing it off from Hermione, from watching Draco from a distance during the day, and even during their time together.  

And it remained green throughout their copulation.  

Millie tried hard to make it as desirable and steamy as possible but nothing changed the stupid gems into blue. There was nothing in that empty head of Draco that even echoed a thought of her, even when she was riding him as sensually as she could.  

There was a jealousy filled rage that consumed her if in fact that spell worked. She remained at his side hanging on to the doubt that perhaps Draco had overestimated his abilities but, it worked, hadn’t it? She would be fooling herself to think otherwise.

It worked on Granger and Millie couldn’t believe it, until she started to put some pieces together.  

She’d seen them on patrol together once talking about her early in the new year.  

The issue that she couldn’t quite understand when she found Hermione up in the Astronomy Tower with Draco’s book bag left behind... 

There was even the small rumor, from that stupid Luna, that mentioned both of them had sat next to each other during the final task during the Triwizard Tournament. Millie tried hard to remember if she ever saw them together before but she couldn’t and it was driving her mad.  

It was more infuriating that it was from Loony Lovegood, who randomly blurted out the most random things. 

If Luna was right and their interactions weren’t anything new, was Millie just that stupid in love to not notice at all? Or was she in denial? 

They did speak to each other, hadn’t they? It wasn’t just that Draco and Hermione were friendly. Millie’s chest squeezed. They had a light in their eyes that indicated more. Close, even.  

And something about how Draco desperately wanted their relationship to be private. His need to always be lowkey always irked Millie, and now she could safely assume why. Had he been also hiding her?

Millie made sure Hermione was under her constant watch. Her jaw tightened every time Hermione’s eyes would shift when Draco would walk into the Great Hall. She didn’t look directly at him. No. But her eyes would tilt to the side and down as if she was bracing herself from looking, until his back was facing her. Millie couldn't begin to imagine what Hermione did when they had class together. Hermione, according to Millie, was infatuated with her boyfriend. Millie might have been crazy but she wasn’t blind nor stupid.  

Subtle lip bites.  

Long looks when he didn’t notice.  

It was this fucking dazed look on Hermione's face like she had realized the most horrendous thing and held it like a secret as her guilty pleasure. 

Millie was disgusted that she hadn’t seen it earlier. Hermione Granger wanted her man and for some reason, she had bewitched him without Draco being aware of it.  

Perhaps that is why her bracelet was never blue.  

Clever bitch.  

Draco finally came out, a towel hanging loose on his hips. Millie grazed over his torso, pale and well defined before sitting up. She reached for her blouse and skirt to start dressing. Draco was muttering something absolutely mundane about the quidditch match that Millie could care less about. She scurried around to get herself out of there as fast as she could.  

“Millie?” Draco called out.  

She paused, just as she slung her robe back on, “Yeah?” 

Draco looked at her, took her in, smiling lightly. It was a gesture that would have send her into a dizzying daze before, but one simple glance at her green bracelet, her face soured.  

“Do you think the game is still on?” Draco asked and Millie deflated.  

“I dunno,” She bluntly said, “Go look for yourself. I’m off to find Cho.” 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 

There was a fair number of red streamers and red garnish thrown haphazardly around the Three Broomsticks to celebrate a Gryffindor victory. Cho Chang had led the plans to allow for a big celebration at the location as before, except the decoration wasn’t as festive. Cho admittedly said they had been expecting to win, so all the blue and silver decorations had to be taken down the last minute. 

“It’s still nice, isn’t it?” Cho asked quietly, kneading her hands, giving a hopeful look to all the students trickling in, “The paper lion heads open their mouths to roar and gold glitter rains down.” 

Draco didn't care much about the decor, except when he walked by those lion heads and the glitter fell into his drink. How only opinion on the 'lack' of decorations, as Cho put it, was that it was rather inconvenient if he wasn't careful. But other than the rogue glitter attack students unaware, it wasn’t his house that had been competing that day. He simply came for an evening of fun, peer pressured by Goyle and Crabbe after he led them through a few rounds of breathing exercises after Lunch.  

They had been begging to learn Legilimens since they were no longer meeting up for weekly meetings at the DA, and Draco caved into teaching them focusing the time to sort through his own memories so they were protected. 

Still between breathing and studies, Merlin knows a night out was well deserved for everyone.  

Extendable charms and Silencing charms were casted around the Three Broomsticks with the help of Madam Rosmerta. Although it was a rather challenging task to keep it as secretive as possible, Madam Rosmerta was all in for another wondrous night of profits from exuberant kids just needing a bit of fun.  

Within the first ten minutes of arriving, Draco quickly gathered that there was something about Sedativrum being slipped into Umbridge’s evening tea and Filch locked into his own room, that made this party even more possible. It was quite the extraordinary scheme by the twins who were relishing in their own accomplishments. 

A group gathered around Fred and George as they recounted their afternoon mission to secure a celebration for their Quidditch team win.  

“Won’t Filch go squealing on you two?” Harry asked, a pint of butterbeer in his fist.  

Fred twisted his face into scowl, “Nah, he never saw us coming. Plus I reckon he hasn’t noticed he’s locked in. Flich usually takes an evening nap so he can stay up late and help patrol.” 

George smirked, “And after he goes through a few issues of confiscated Wand Whisperers to pass the time.” 

Draco made a face and the murmur of Gryffindors in various degrees of shock, disgust and even glee surrounded Draco.  

It might have been a stretch of the truth based off the twinkle of George eyes but the group of them, all continued on with their rowdy conversations, egging each other on and sharing a good laugh with the Gryffindor team. 

A few Ravenclaws hung around with their own Team, a bit down that they had lost the game but still in good spirit that they were able to sneak out of school to unwind.  

Fred and George walked off, holding two goblets in their hands cheering on everyone in attendance. Ron was pulling Daphne towards them, with their own drinks in hand, excited to let loose. Ginny and Montague were deep in conversation about quidditch while Crabbe and Goyle tried to interject into their very serious talk.  

The atmosphere was lively and warm, and after a celebratory toast and cheering a hard earned victory, pints were clinking together. The twins going around to make sure they toasted every single person.  

They even toasted Millie.  

Draco’s heart stopped.  

Millie.  

He quickly rushed to her side and smiled, surprised she was here. She left his dorm fairly quickly that afternoon, he hadn’t been able to ask her what she was planning on doing later on. Millie pressed her lips together, eyeing him carefully, politely allowing him to throw his arm around her shoulder. 

“You’re here!” Draco exclaimed.  

“Of course, I am.” She said in an accusatory tone, crossing her arms, “I helped.” 

“Right,” Draco blinked recalling the memory in a split second, “Right, obviously. You said you were going to help Cho, right?” 

Millie rolled her eyes in response, scowling at every single thing around her. Draco couldn’t lie, Millie looked particularly out of place and it was perhaps because Ravenclaw had lost. 

She inhaled sharply when a group of students surrounding the twins nearly ran her over trying to catch up to Fred and George who were eagerly heading to order some food for their friends. 

Millie scoffed, “Did you hear what they did?” 

Draco sipped on his butterbeer, nodding, “I heard they launched a rather well deserved blugder at Umbridge in the stands-” 

“No,” Millie glared at Fred and George minding their jolly business, “About the Seditivrum? They slipped it into her evening tea.” 

She said it in the harshest whisper as if it was something to be utterly ashamed about.  

“If I would have known!” Millie scoffed, “I wouldn’t have helped Cho with all of this! Surely Umbridge’ll catch wind of this and then what? All of us will be implicated further? I would have never lent my hand if I knew these idiots were being so irresponsible!” 

“We’ll be fine,” Draco assured looking over at the Weasleys, “It was fine the last time we held a celebration here, remember?” 

Millie frowned.  

“You knew about their plans?” She asked bluntly  

Draco shrugged, “No, but what does it matter anyways? What has been done is done. Whether she discovers she had been slipped a bit of potion or not, we are already out here. What’s a few more rules we break going to do? She’s already making it impossible to do anything now.” 

It was true.  

After Umbridge’s discovery of the DA, things only got worse at school. Not only were detentions were more frequent, the number of decrees she produced increased as well. She had become insane trying to create and remember them all that she often forgot who she penalized. Umbridge would often be surprised (and grumpy) at the amount of students showing up at her office which she’d have to turn away. She had been overwhelming herself with trying to control the school that she lost control of herself, losing grip with reality.

It was only a matter of time before she snapped, Draco wondered, since Dumbledore was now gone giving her the full load of work as the substitute Headmaster. 

Perhaps a good dose of Seditivrum was exactly what she needed. 

“Didn’t realize you were coming,” Millie narrowed her eyes and Draco knew he was treading dangerous waters.  

Now, Draco hadn’t really thought about attending this celebration up until the last minute. And that was the truth. 

“Crabbe and Goyle pushed me out.” 

He chuckled nervously and lowered his arm around Millie, guiding her to the bar by the small of her back, to order a pint for her. Perhaps a drink would loosen Millie up. Draco gave Madam Rosmerta a few sickles and sighed turning back to Millie who was glancing around at the mix bag of students with careful consideration. It was as if she was finally able to see it for the first time.   

The mix of students. The comradery.  

The unity between all the houses and how that couldn’t have been because of a simple Quidditch game. The flash of realization in her eyes was missed by Draco when Madam Rosmerta handed over a pint and a shot of firewhiskey for himself. Draco happily thanked her and handed Millie her drink.  

“Like I said,” Draco smiled, “Last minute but I’m glad I’m out. And I’m happy to see you out, too.” 

Millie's face twisted in thought. She rubbed her wrist smoothing herself, “Really?” 

Draco smirked, knocking back the firewhiskey shot, “Yeah! You’ve been such a stick in the mud about these new rules, recently. You only follow until you, yourself, have to bend a few to get your way.” 

Millie paused, her hand rubbing her wrist like a bad habit. 

“Why no see this as a bend in rules,” Draco finished. 

“Bending?” Millie rolled her eyes.  

Draco went back to sip the sweet foam off his butterbeer.  

He explained, “Oh, come on, Millie. You know that Umbridge’s rules are rubbish. She’s clearly losing it and dragging us down with her. I must admit, though, her descend to madness would be entertaining if she wasn't making our lives insufferable. Come let’s go join Daph and Ron.” 

Draco was about to fling his arm around his girlfriend to lead her towards his friends but Millie dodged it, stepping away from Draco.  

“The loo,” She explained, “I’ll be right back.” 

Millie swiftly turned on her heel and headed up to the bathrooms on the second floor, her long hair whipping around as sharp as her moves were. Draco shrugged hoping she’d loosen up soon and weaved around the crowd to join Pansy and Harry while Ron recounted a childhood tale of Ginny, who was giving him a death glare. The second Draco appeared, listening contently, Ron quickly wrapped up his story and jumped to Draco’s side.

Ron flung his arm around Draco, pulling him away from the group. He huddled to warrant a discreet conversation. 

“Hey,” Ron quietly said, “I’ve been thinking.” 

“That’s a first,” Draco joked.  

Ron ignored him, “That map of yours. You think I can take a crack at it?” 

Draco took a final swig from his pint and slammed the cup on the nearest table.  

“You?” Draco asked.  

“Let me make a copy,” Ron explained, “And I’ll see if I can talk Fred and George into helping me. They have stakes in this too, you know. Our dad was attacked and they have a rather wonky way of going about spells, maybe they’d be able to figure it out.” 

Draco mulled it over.  

“They’re Seventh years,” Ron insisted, pleading, “They don’t have any kind of school obligations, at least, that's what they say.” 

Draco raised his brows in intrigue, signaling to Ron that he was up for the attempt. 

Ron glanced around, beaming in excitement, “Tonight?” 

“Sure.” 

Ron toasted him and hugged him like a brother, shouting out a few jolly good jokes as the time went on. It brought a smile to Draco face, the fact that all his friends, Slytherins and Gryffindors were not at odd with each other, instead, they were enjoying the company around them. 

Draco found himself chatting to Lavender Brown and Daphne about their chances of winning. He teased Ginny and Theodore when they were caught speaking rather close together. Draco even had the comfort of relaxing with Neville, chatting about nothing in particular. In fact, Neville was in the middle of explaining a pearl dust in two potions he was reading about when suddenly, Draco felt the tightest pressure push at his sides. 

The twins sandwiched Draco in a tight hug, forcing him to drink the fire whiskey from their goblets.

“Heard from Ron that you have a something worth passing on,” George gave him a mischievous look while Fred backed his brother up, “Didn’t say much but he was rather excited about it. Care to tell us what?” 

Draco glared at them lightly as they passed the goblet to him, urging him to drink and then spill. Draco took a light swig of the fire whiskey, the pain twisting his face as the strong warmth of the drink burned down his throat.  

Draco felt the half bubble of polite laughter spill out from his mouth, contemplating their curiosity. 

“Why don’t you join Ron tonight?” Draco shrugged, “See where he takes you.” 

“Blimey,” Fred groaned, giving Neville who had been silent, a rather pointed look, “Since when are these children so aloof.” 

George playfully scowled, before ruffling Neville's hair roughly, “Proper manners were lost on them, Oy, RON!” 

Fred staggered off with his brother close behind, to slap the drink out of his Ron’s hand, making sure that Ron would be sober enough to make good for tonight. And, of course, not to forget to include them, whatever that maybe. 

Draco was just about to beg Neville to go on about these two potions buta brief glimpse of a stray curl pulled Draco’s attention away. His mouth parted at that curl of hair that Draco immediately knew belonged to Hermione. He craned his neck here and there to get a better view, to confirm his high suspicions. Once he saw that crooked smile of hers, Draco zeroed in his attention on her. He would have been just as happy if he had spotted any of his friends but the sense of that awful joy that he came across Hermione first was palpable. 

It was only a matter of seconds before their eyes connected, as if she sensed him, and his weary smile fell, that tinge of hurt slapping him back to reality. Hermione quickly turned her back towards him, her face filled with shock and face turning red.  

There was that dull thud in his chest reminding him that Hermione was still acting odd and, despite what Ginny insisted, he was once considered as someone connected to the exposure of the DA.  

For a second. 

It tore him inside how much it bothered him. The sting of her doubt and the dizzying elation to be around her, twisted his heartstrings here and there. 

It made no sense, much like everything else occurring in his life and yet, after a full pint a few swings of firewhiskey, he was gathering the courage to approach Hermione.  

He needed things cleared up.  

Draco excused himself from Neville, weaving in and out of the crowd, making a beeline towards Hermione who was conversing with Ginny (who seemed to be everywhere) half way up the steps to the second floor of the Three Broomsticks. 

He forced a smile up at Hermione as he approached. Her eyes were glued on him, wide, as she finished up her thought to Ginny. His distant red headed cousin immediately whipped around to find Draco make his way up to them. Hermione held on to her pint for dear life while Ginny simply crossed her arms, almost insulted that Draco had interrupted their conversation.  

It did not escape Draco’s notice that Ginny had been engrossed in whatever Hermione was talking about before he came along. 

“Am I interrup-” 

“Yes,” Ginny huffed.  

“No,” Hermione’s gentle voice corrected, “Ginny.” 

Ginny uncrossed her arms in annoyance and she glared at Draco, taking a few steps down to his level.  

“Apologies,” Ginny bluntly said, glaring, “I’m going to grab a drink, or five.” 

Ginny looked over her shoulder towards Hermione before walking off. Hermione stood there looking like she had been abandoned, almost frightened. Draco thought it would be easier to strike up a conversation with Hermione, like he had before. Blimey, he had been utterly infatuated before and he still managed to speak to her just fine. He didn't know what made it difficult to even greet her now.

“Couldn’t think of an excuse to get away?” Draco asked bluntly after deciding there was no easy way to address the elephant in the room.

Hermione’s blank face stared on. Draco stared expectantly at her tragically beautiful face, two steps in front of him, waiting for her to roll her eyes or scold him but she stood there avoiding looking directly at him.  

“No.” She gulped, “I’ve been meaning to talk to you, actually.” 

The chatter filled in the silence between them. It killed Draco. Hermione’s mouth parted, failing over and over again to speak up. 

“Actually, I’m going to step outside.” She blurted, “Need some fresh air. 

“It’s warm night. Perfect, don’t you think?” Draco added, scrunching his brows together, begging her to not run from him. To please speak to him.  

Hermione opened her mouth, searching for something to say. 

“Yeah,” She nodded, pink dotting at her cheeks, “Would you like to... join?” 

It was certainly something that didn't go unnoticed, the way Hermione was acting. At first Draco led himself to believe it was because she was embarrassed to know that Draco knew of her accusations but there was something in her tone, a sort of fear. And it was like a moth to a light for him, he couldn't just look away.

“Yeah,” Draco licked his lips, “I’d love to.” 

The pair duck their heads down as they made their way out, no one noticing their exit except for one person, who had been camping out in the corner watching Draco closely as she had been for the past days.  

There was something in Millie’s face that grew more and more apparent in her unhappiness that was clear as crystal to everyone who had tried to speak to her for the past hour.  

She easily dismissed Luna Lovegood and Terry Boot when they approached her. They didn’t last too long when they saw the tight grip on her untouched butterbeer was, her eyes trained on Draco who was happily mingling around. 

It had made her upset that he hadn't been actively looking for her nor thinking about her at all, in evidence of her very green bracelet she constantly fiddled with, hoping that it would turn blue they way he promised it would.  

The way it had for Hermione. 

Millie silently sulked by herself. She knew her foul mood was an accumulation of things, like nearly getting herself thrown in detention for jumping Granger. Thankfully Umbridge was a rather attentive and fair Professor. Millie was lucky enough to talk herself out of detention. Umbridge was easy to barter with.

Draco was not. 

That was another frustrating thing for Millie, she wanted to wholeheartedly trust Draco. She loved him, desperately, but there was something quite not right with him. Like she didn’t know all of him and watching him more and more, only confirmed that suspicion. 

Draco was just as comfortable as anyone in this room, which could only mean he didn’t mind the consequences. He didn’t mind the idea of being group with people like the Weasley twins or Harry. Not that Millie wanted Draco to forever have them as foes but it was quite different from her perception of him, and seemingly out of nowhere. 

Millie licked her lips, taking note that many of the students in the Inquisitorial Squad were present too. It was altogether astonishing. 

It was during these thoughts running through her head when she caught sight of Draco. 

Millie’s eyes followed him and the way he was smiling even before he had reached anyone- 

Millie’s jaw clenched when her eyes jumped forward to see Hermione nervously talking to Ginny, patting her hair down and begging Ginny to stay with her.  

A breath escaped her lungs in astonishment. Their chat hadn’t lasted long but when they both began heading for the door, heads down to look as inconspicuous as possible, Millie just about lost it. She stood up about to march right behind them but a body stopped her.  

Daphne with a small decorative envelope and a deceiving smile, held out a piece of thick decorative paper.

“An invite,” Daphne grinned, “To my birthday.” 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 

The still of the freshly dusk of the day surrounded them in deep reds and oranges, just as the inner sky plunged into the deepest of midnight blues. The stars began to make their appearances early in the night, poking through the early night sky. Draco had to admit that in any time, Hermione was beautiful. 

But it just so happened that in this particular light, she was breathtaking. 

And he hated it because he could feel himself softening and he didn’t want to. He was guilt free of any kind of doubt she had had about him and it was something both his mind and heart were at war at. 

Hermione tried to keep her eyes trained on Draco, although it was hard nowadays. She didn’t know why so suddenly the inability to speaking to him hit her like a ton of bricks.  

She never had trouble talking to Draco and now even most bland conversations felt so stifled and forced on her end, she felt the wash of embarrassment freeze her mind and it was all terribly confusing when she factored in the weird way her chest tightened every time she saw him with Millie.  

Hermione wanted him to know how much she disliked Millie but, for Draco’s sake, she kept it to herself. It was reasons beyond the intuition Hermione had. It was more than Millie's attack on Hermione. She simply couldn't stand Millie and she couldn't exactly voice why without questioning herself. Hermione didn’t want to dive into the reason why she had suspected Draco for a fraction, but she knew that was the reason he had been itching to speak to her.  

She was guilt-ridden that she even had the thought and even more so when she found out that Draco caught wind of it, and the way he looked so shattered. It troubled her. It felt almost unforgivable the way she broke his trust by jumping to a conclusion that her gut was telling her. Hermione couldn’t help her mind wander when her suspicions were so close to him. 

Hermione’s mouth opened, hoping that her speech wouldn't be so tangled and confusing or... revealing. 

“It’s been weird recently, hasn’t it?” Draco immediately said, his eyes glazed with liquid courage. He should have been more upset but at the second of being under her soft gaze, Draco was on his knees for her. 

“I’m sorry,” Hermione gulped, wanting to apologize quickly and not have to dive deep into reasonings. She was afraid she would say too much and the way her heart wanted to jump out and knock her back into her senses. It was suffering for her refusal to come clean about everything, something her heart would have been pleased if she was honest. 

“I know it’s me,” Hermione carefully said, “I’m aware I’m making things awkward.” 

“It’s because you thought I had something to do with the discovery,” Draco said, cutting to the chase. Who knew how much time they had together to privately discuss this.  

“Yes,” Hermione winced. And no, she added in her thoughts.  

The truth was, the horror of slowly figuring out how much Hermione wanted Draco, burned in her soul. Her desire was not only concentrated in her dreams, but a stubborn thought that would interrupt her train of thought in the most inopportune times. Like this one. 

Wild, fantastical fantasies of Draco kissing her. Holding her close like he did in his bed. His weight on top of hers. A brush of his finger tips trailing up her thigh. It was maddening and altogether mortifying to be longing, no, lusting after Draco. When he had never indicated any kind of interest in her.  

Well, that kind of interest.  

He was always so kind and respectful. Friendly. The change she had seen in him only solidified how much he wanted to prove himself and he used her to change everyone’s mind.  

Hermione didn’t blame him. She understood his reasoning. If there was anyone who faced the majority of his harsh words years ago, it was her. And if he needed to change anyone’s heart in order to be accepted by not only Harry, but the Order, it needed to be her heart.  

Hermione gritted her teeth.  

Oh, but she wished her heart hadn’t swung that far. The clash of hormones and nights where she desired she could explore more of Draco. She wished he could just know how confusing these feelings were for her so it would take the weight off of her from suffering in silence. Draco could find out, if he wanted to. 

She squeezed her eyes in embarrassment, one small reason why she had difficulty looking directly at him..  

He knows legilimency.  

Not well.  

But the way some of her thoughts were as plain and powerful at the forefront of her mind, if Draco so willed, he could just take a peek and know everything that was bothering Hermione. All those nights her hand trailed south down her body, and the stroke of pleasure she'd succumb to when she thought of him, only to be horrified a second later. 

This is why she needed to avoid him.  

The heat that came off her skin was like a fever, dizzying and consuming. She feared that Draco would put her in a trance and she’d forget herself and launch herself at him like she often thought in her fantasies late at night. It would be a mistake she wouldn’t care to make if she was caught off guard but, maybe he would be so repulsed by her desires that he’d stop talking to her for a far better reason than she’s been relying on. 

Hermione hated it but perhaps the idea of Draco being hurt by her doubts was better than being repulsed by her newly developed feelings for him. 

Hermione could get over him. Right? Surely her hunger was satisfied in other ways and can be forgotten if she distracted herself. 

“Ginny told me she might have said too much to you but she’s right.” Hermione blinked, reminding herself why Draco had been seeking her out. It wasn’t because he desired her. It was because he was upset and wanted answers, “I did think you had some involvement in exposing the DA.” 

Draco’s breath caught in his throat.  

“But I promise it was a passing thought and unintentional. I assure you you've done nothing wrong on your part to warrant such a shitty idea,” Her brows hitched up and Draco could have killed seeing her eyes beg for him the way she was. “I apologize if I hurt you by assuming the worst. It was a stupid thing for me to even blurt out. You must know that Harry immediately was convinced I was wrong and I was. Of course, I was.” 

There was a sort of righteousness Draco felt for having nothing to do to prove his innocence but it still bothered him. Something thick and unspoken hung between them and it still felt unresolved. 

“I felt even worse when all the precautionary hurdles I set up only targeted one person,” Hermione shook her head, “It would have been extremely difficult to bypass.” 

“The sign up sheet.” Draco pointed out.  

“And more,” She winced, “A lot more for those in the DA, which is why I had to turn my suspicions outward once I knew...” 

Draco sighed, casually leaning against the brick wall of the Three Broomsticks, he used his forearm to prop his body up.  

“I see,” He chewed on his bottom lip, deep in thought, completely missing how Hermione’s eyes lingered on his mouth.  

“Next time there’s a rather serious scheme,” Draco began, “Please let me know. I hate being out of the loop. I drove myself insane trying to fill the gaps.” 

Hermione blinked, her chest noticeably rising before she exhaled.  

“Yeah,” She gulped, “Sure.” 

Silence. 

“There’s something else,” He said, still unconvinced that he was given the whole truth, “Isn’t there?” 

He didn’t question. Draco just knew and it was proven the way Hermione’s eyes rounded out, her pupils dilated, and her features soften. She took in every detail of Draco this close, as if she wouldn’t have another chance to do it.

Draco wasn't sure how they ended up closer together but the magnetism in her eyes, pull him in like a tether. 

"What else?" Draco whispered and Hermione felt her insides squeeze, forcing herself to think of daffodils, puppies, ancient runes everything else but wanting him to snog her senselessly.  

Her eyes flickered away from him, fearing he'll see her shamelessness and then another fear trickled in upon seeing a fuming face.

“Millie’s coming,” Hermione cleared her throat, stepping away from Draco, “I’m off to grab a myself a fizzy lemon schnapps. See you around Malfoy.” 

Draco was stunned at Hermione’s quick escape and why she had called him my his family name.

Millie hesitated at the sight of Hermione rushing past her, before she headed Draco’s way. He wheeled around to watch Hermione walk off, appreciating the sway of her hips, when Millie’s face appeared, mere inches away from his.  

Millie scoffed, “Enjoying the view?” 

“Huh?” He stupidly guffawed. 

“You and Granger!” 

Draco sighed, “Millie, we were only talking.” 

Millie felt enraged, “Like that time I caught you both only talking. At night. With no one around, the topic surrounding me.” 

Draco might have been worried about Hermione’s sudden avoidance but he should have been more concerned about Millie’s silent rage.  

“Like I said, Millie, we’re friends,” Draco sighed out, “We’re all friends.” 

“That’s bullshit!” 

Draco sneered, “I think it’s a rather good change this year, if you ask me. I might hate Umbridge but she did a damn good job giving us all a common enemy.” 

“Is that what your excuse is?” Millie crossed her arms defiantly, about to drop some bombshell nonsense. 

“What?” 

“Your stupid new friendships you're soooo busy with when your just using them to go behind my back?” Millie narrowed her eyes. He immediately took Millie’s elbow and pulled her away from the door, where it was propped open to let in the cool air. In fact, even the windows were open too. Draco thought maybe the other side of the street was a better place to have this conversation, in private.  

The moment Millie realized where Draco was intending to guide her to, she lightly began to fight Draco arm off, swatting his hand off her upper back. 

A few other students taking a quick smoke gave them a long look, curious to the small scuffle.  

“You’re cheating aren’t you!” Milled boomed, enough to reel the attention of the smokers as well as the people inside.  

“You must be out of your mind, Millie,” Draco shook his head, “Are you well?” 

Draco assumed she had been skipping sleep or meals to have her deduce to such a kind of reasoning. She probably also had a lot of concerning things to attend to like Draco, but Draco was also not throwing such groundless accusations like she was.  

“Then where do you go when you’re not with me?” She cried, her voice rising. The few students around sensed the urgency of privacy. They quickly stepped on their cigarettes to extinguish them and rushed back inside, casting them a double look before they went back inside, only to pressed their faces against the window to bear witness to their spat. 

“I study!” Draco exclaimed, “Between quidditch practice and catching up on Divinations. Patrol. I have a lot on my plate and I don’t need you to be questioning where I am at all hours of the day. It’s OWL’s Year. What did you expect?” 

He thought it was like that for everyone until Millie made it known she did not appreciate the fact that he hadn’t seen him at all for the past week. Draco let out a ludicrous laugh. He was beyond disbelief. 

“You didn't even tell me that you took Divinations back up! I heard it from Parvati Patil!” Millie scoffed incredulously, “From PARVATI! In the middle of the semester? How many classes are you juggling now?” 

Draco’s eyes rolled up in though, “Well, now? Ten, I believe.” 

Millie scowled, “Oh, Well pardon me! And I suppose you have extra time to still consider picking up extra shifts to patrol.” 

Draco felt a sense of misery trying to explain. It was like he had already explain this to Millie but now was getting terribly angry at the facts. 

“That was once! And it was for Gemma,” Draco pathetically replied.  

“So you jam packed your schedule with the Inquisitorial Squad and Quidditch Practice. Conveniently have the same patrol days as a certain someone, claim to be too busy to see me more often, but curiously, still have some time left to attend a stupid party and not mention it to me? Not once think of me.” Millie nonsensically grumbled out, beginning to fiddle with her bracelet, “We need to go back to the castle now and figure this out. I don't care if it takes all night.” 

Draco sighed, “I can’t.” 

“You. Can’t?” She echoed, sending a rather deathly glare as her shoulders tensed up dangerously, like a lioness on a prowl

He paused, caught off guard, “I have a thing.” 

Millie scoffed, “Oh, a thing? Is that so?” 

“Yes,” He gulped. 

“And,” Millie crossed her arms tightly, “What exactly does this thing entail?” 

Draco didn’t understand where this was coming from, considering that Millie had been okay this morning, like she had been for the past days when she slept in his room.  

“I rather not talk about it.” Draco lowered his voice. The door to the Three Broomsticks that had been open was now echoing a silence that was nowhere close to indicating there had been a party inside. A few students walked by stiffly, holding in tight smiles as they shuffled off.  

“You don’t want to talk about it?” Millie scoffed again, her voice now on edge. She was the very picture of a woman about to erupt, “You’re deliberately hiding things from me and you still have the nerve to not be honest about what you’re doing?” 

“It’s not a big deal,” Draco grumbled, “Nor none of your business if I things to tend to.” 

The moment it slipped out, Draco regretted it. He had planned to meet up with Ron to use his Copy Quill so that he could have his own map to give to Fred and George. He was hoping they were the missing link to fulfill his grand plan. To Draco it was something rather important. Extremely the more he thought of it.

Millie suddenly went off and dread filled Draco.  

“WHY DON’T YOU JUST TELL ME YOU’RE SEEING SOMEONE ELSE!” Millie bellowed.  

That certainly caught Draco off guard.

“You charmed this stupid thing to show me when you think about me and it never changes. Even when you’re with me!” She growled, shaking her fist around, “I thought it was a stupid spell but seeing how it works on the right girl... You don’t give me a single thought all day, do you?” 

Draco bit down on his lip.  

“DO YOU?” Millie repeated, her breaths turning into aggravating huffs, “You are seeing someone, aren’t you? IS IT GRANGER?” 

Draco’s blood drained from his face. Even if he wasn’t, the fact that Millie had zeroed in on her turned his veins into ice.  

“IT IS!” She cried out, “I’m not stupid Draco. I’ve seen how she looks at you! She’s been trying to get at you for the past months and you’d think I’m too naive to see. She even broke up with Krum recently. I suppose you know all about that, don’t you? She probably already told you hoping that you’d be interested in her now. Is that why she pulled you out here to talk?” 

Draco gaped at her, in true disbelief how anyone could be so wrongfully right.  

Perhaps Draco hadn’t been the best boyfriend but he was certain that Millie refused to face the fact that it wasn’t Hermione who pined for Draco. It was quite the opposite. 

“You’re being rather ridiculous.” Draco shook his head, now fully aware of the recognizable faces filling up at the windows. 

“AM I?” Millie sniffed, “All I have ever wanted to do is spend time with you or keep you happy in the way you wish it and you find that ridiculous?” 

Millie’s eyes began to well up with tears, she sniffed and suddenly she ran off, her face in her hands while her friends, who Draco hadn’t noticed them standing off to the side, rushed after her.  

Draco inhaled slowly, feeling like he would need to throw away his entire week to get on his hands and knees asking for an apology.