Hermione had put on makeup and surprised Ginny when she got out of the bathroom all pampered. “You don’t do that often ! You look pretty.” said her roommate going back in the kitchen to get the kettle on the stove.
“Who’s the lucky guy ?” The young witch just rushed to her room, not answering the red head, that she could hear laugh at her sprint. She hasn’t told Ginny, or anyone, who she was meeting tonight.
The whole team has been nagging her to “get out there” since she and Ron broke up.
They had known each other for so long, it was only natural and logical to think they would be able to be together as more than friends forever. They were comfortable with each other. After the effervescence of the war started to fade, when they didn’t need the comfort of having someone to rely on right after the events that shaped a new Wizarding World, they realised they were not really made to be in a serious relationship.
Ron has been dating, not really settling with anyone, but he’s been out there. Hermione has not.
She found a safe place in her job at the Ministry and put all her focus on reunions, long discussions and laws she has to work on.
After the end of her relation with Ron, the young witch just puts energy into building herself as a person, finding who Hermione Jean Granger is, besides being “Harry Potter’s best-friend”, the “saviour of The Boy Who Lived”, the “Know-It-All of Hogwarts”. That’s how she grew up as a witch, and she didn’t know who she was other than that. And she couldn’t go back to who she was before she discovered Magic because she was not that young anymore. During the process, she never really found herself interested in dating, even 5 years after the break up. She still needed time for herself, with only her friends and chosen family to care for.
But here she was, preparing herself for a date, standing in front of her mirror, wearing a simple black skirt, sheer black tights and white blouse, and getting her Mary Jane on.
A date.
It was how he called it when he suggested she go see an opera with him. She had not expected him to actually call it a date and her to accept calling it like that.
The witch didn’t really know how to feel. She has not been on a date since forever, and it still felt unreal that she even started any form of relation with that “lucky guy”. She hasn’t even talked about him to anyone. It has been her little secret since the day they met again.
Hermione felt like her friends were not ready for that news. She was also not ready to accept everything that was going on. It’s been 6 years since the end of the war and the end of all the trials, people have been moving on, and she thought she had until she met him again.
After the celebration of the New Year, she often found herself trying new things, new hobbies and new ways to occupy her alone time. She discovered that year that she enjoyed walking through the streets of Muggle London. She grew up in the suburb of it, she thought she knew the city. But after taking the time to actually visit it, she realised it has a lot more to offer than what she knew. She started going to museums, art galleries, wandering in the streets and parks, wondering about people's lives.
It’s how she met him again the first time around. She stopped one day in a shop to get a hot tea before enjoying the rest of her Sunday morning walk when she saw him. She hadn’t seen him since the trials of all the Death Eaters after Voldemort was defeated.
It was not a pleasant memory to have while her favourite playlist was playing in her headphones. During these trials, she had to relive everything that happened in the Malfoy Manor, the torture of Bellatrix, the death of Dobby... She had to take several Calming Draught before being able to stand in front of the court and state everything that happened to her and her friends.
Seeing Malfoy in a Muggle cafe in the middle of London on a Sunday morning was not what she expected of her day. He was working on something, notepads and old books open on the table. He clearly surrounded him with Muggle repelling spells, not strong enough so no one noticed him but so no one paid a particular attention to him and the title of his books.
But Hermine was not a Muggle.
She had a flashback as watching him, of the trials, the torture, the mockery and snarky comments in school… She wondered what he was doing in Muggle London and what he had been doing after Harry helped reduce his sentence at the end of the trials.
Hermione was forced out of her thoughts when her name was called to get her cup of tea. She thanked the server and turned around to see Draco Malfoy cleaning his table, putting the books in a bag. She hesitated to approach but decided to leave before he could recognize her.
She smiled in front of her wardrobe thinking about it. She actually ended up telling him that story.
He said he did see her that day, after her name was called. He recognized her wild brown curls and was actually going to talk to her. He had watched her leave the coffee shop before him, and that was why he continued coming to that cafe.
He never got the opportunity to talk to her about what happened at Hogwarts and during the war. He wanted to apologise but didn’t know what she was doing now, so when he saw her in that cafe he was visiting for the first time, he hoped she was a regular and would come back. She had laughed for a really long time at that because she actually visited again the next time, when they ended up actually talking, because she hoped the same thing about him.
While choosing a vest to go with her outfit, she got lost in the memories of the past few months and how she ended up on an opera date with Draco Malfoy, her best friend’s sworn enemy and bully in school, 6 years after Harry defeated the Dark Lord.
The first time they really talked was awkward. Her “Hello” was almost stopped before sounds could get out and she almost had a panic attack when going back to her apartment after.
They barely talked. At first, they shared casualties about their lives. Draco was now the manager of the London Quidditch Team but was aiming for a post at the British and Irish Quidditch League. He was actually studying in that cafe for an entrance exam.
At some point, Hermione had to leave to go to have lunch with the Weasley’s. She got up and as she was putting her coat on, he stood up and asked if they could plan a meeting to talk about the past. He had “millions of things he wanted to talk about with her and he wanted to present official excuses”.
Hermione did pick a jacket to go with her outfit. It was actually the long brown trench coat she wore that day. She sat on her bed, reliving some of her memories with Draco, trying to understand what she was feeling, hours before their date.
One day they were talking about how they perceived each other in school. Hermione was not kind to Draco and said everything. At first he was smug, bigoted and arrogant. She never liked him and the superiority he was adding to his voice. But at some point in sixth year she started actually worrying about him. While trying to do his mission for Voldemort, he seemed down and ill. Harry was trying to catch him doing something that would incriminate him and Hermione was actually always trying to see if he was ok.
It didn’t surprise Draco a bit. He always saw Hermione as a Know-it-all Muggle born with wild hair that she wasn’t able to control.
He confessed he did have a weird obsession with her hair and how free they seemed. He didn’t get the reason before what his father got sent to Azkaban and he had to deal with the Dark Lord himself : he was never really free and when he took the Dark Mark, he thought he was never going to have it.
At some point he also started to be academically obsessed with her being always better than him. She was always putting his knowledge to the test and it bothered him because he had been told his whole life that he was above Muggle Borns in every field of life.
They also did talk about how this point of view had changed now and that they were both really wrong about each other.
The young witch thought about it for a second. What was she thinking of Draco Malfoy right now ? She was way nicer to him now. Draco was actually cultivated, always had an opinion on something and not just to be against her. He was still a little arrogant but it became endearing to her, knowing how change he was inside and how his principles had changed.
They did have that meeting to talk about the past, still in the Muggle world.
None of their meetings actually happened in the Wizard London because a lot of people were still knowing them as big parts in the Battle of Hogwarts and Hermione couldn’t go anywhere without seeing a coworker.
They met at the British Library. It was a safe place for Hermione and calm enough to have her not panic at any memories he could awaken.
Malfoy took several minutes to start the conversation, visibly organising his thoughts. When he started, everything poured out of him. He excused himself hundreds of times for the bullying in school, the bad comment about her blood status and most importantly about not doing anything to stop his aunt in his own house. Hermione saw his eyes filled with tears, heard his tone breaking every time he had to wake up a painful memory, for both of them.
She also ended with tears running down her face without knowing it or trying to control it. Her jaw tightened and her throat closed.
He didn’t really look at her. He just gave some looks at difficult times, as if to ensure she was okay. He raised his eyes to her when he was done. Her face was wet and she just realised it when he looked at her a little panicked, not knowing what to do.
She took several minutes to integrate what he just said and all the excuses. She wasn’t angry at him for anything and surprised herself. She was not angry. He was a kid at that time and he clearly changed since then.
“I forgive you” were the only three words she managed to speak while crying again as everything got out of her. People were watching them. Malfoy had cast a spell of privacy around them before he also started crying out of relief.
Their relationship evolved from there. They started meeting almost every Sunday for breakfast and then spent the morning together. He started joining her on her walks. They didn’t really talk but when they did, they were mostly catching up.
Hermione didn’t talk about these get away with any of her friends, not understanding what they meant for her. She never asked if Malfoy treated them the same way she did. They never talked about feelings after that day. Just casual news about them, their life after the trials. She talked about her work at the Ministry and he talked about aiming to work for the Department of Magical Games and Sports at some point in his career.
At some point, they did come to talk about her relationship with Ron. Last time Draco saw her she was in relation with him and they were never seen without each other.
He did date a little bit after the trial, Astoria Greengrass, Pansy Parkinson… couple other flings with Slytherin classmates and family friends’ daughters but nothing lasted. He was now focused on his career, at the great displeasure of his mother who wished to see him marry well soon.
Hermione had another smile thinking back to those conversations while putting on her jacket. His mum will be as shocked as her friend to hear about them going on a “date”. Even more so that her son is the one that organised it.
She hadn't figured out how she was feeling about what was happening between her and Malfoy during the last few months and had decided not to talk to her friend. She almost talked to Ginny several times but, even if she trusted her roommates, she was dating Harry and Hermione judged it was too risky. Harry will definitely be the one needing the most preparation for this news…
They were visiting the National Gallery once, after Hermione begged him to come, pleading he will enjoy Muggle art. She stopped in front of Van Gogh’s Chair and watched every little detail, remembering being drawn to it on a field trip when she was in primary school. She snapped back to her Sunday morning thanks to Draco’s footsteps getting closer to her.
“Peculiar choice to stop by.” He said, analysing the pictures. “Did you know it has a sister painting ?” She said, turning to look at him, a small smile on her face. Of course he didn’t know about Muggle Art. “Van Gogh and another painter, Gauguin, were close friends and they painted a study of a chair.” The witch brings back her attention to the painting while speaking. “Isn’t Van Gogh the one that cut his own ear ?” Hermione looked back at Draco, surprised that he knew that fact. “Yes. There is actually another theory saying that Gauguin actually cut Van Gogh’s ear in a fight between the two of them.” He laughed a little, and Hermione furrowed her eyebrow “What ?” Malfoy turned his face to her, still smirking. “You always have been a Know-it-all, haven’t you? You just have to have the last word.”
She laughed lightly at the memory of her blushing at his comment when Ginny appeared and leaned on the doorframe, watching her. “You’ve been stressed all day and now you are all dressed up, putting makeup on, smiling like an idiot alone in your room… Will you please answer my question ?” Hermione rolled her eyes, still smiling and sat on her bed. “It would be really long to explain…” She checked the clock on her bedside table and thought about it for a moment before turning her head to Ginny. “But having another point of view would be nice. I have a little voice in my head saying it might be a bad idea going tonight.” Ginny’s eyebrows furrowed before she lifted herself from the door to sit with Hermione on her bed.
Hermione tells her friend everything. How she met Malfoy again, that she has spent almost all her Sundays morning talking with him. She can feel Ginny watching her, surprised, and maybe angry, but not saying anything, letting her friend freely talk.
Since Hermione made an important point to not tell anyone, she never realised how much she wanted to talk about it. How much she needed to talk about it. She was glad it was with Ginny, even though she doubted telling her before. She tells her about how they started with really awkward conversations, until the first time she laughed, the first he laughed.
The first time he had let go of his sorry mask and actually laughed at something she said, she had wondered if she had even heard Draco Malfoy laugh before. Like actually laughing, not for mockery.
His laugh was small, as if he never really had the chance to laugh loudly. They were in a park, just ending a conversation about a law Hermione was working on lately, and she randomly started inventing life to the people passing by. Apparently, her creativity made Draco laugh and it was a new breakthrough in their relationship. Some prejudice she still had about him faded and she started to open up a bit more to him, letting him also do that.
“And so we arrived last Sunday, when we met at the same cafe we met for the first time. He asked me to go to the opera house with him. He had two tickets and was actually waiting for an opportunity for a couple weeks to ask me out.”
It was the middle of May, Hermione and Draco started going more outside, meeting in parks, and even adventuring into places visited by witches and wizards. Hermione was way more comfortable with him, and him with her too. But that morning, when they met at their usual spot, Draco seemed nervous. Hermione knew his exam was coming soon and she just assumed it was why he was like that. When he handed the ticket for the opera, she opened big surprised eyes.
“I am free that evening, but what ? Your mum wasn’t able to come with you?” She joked after checking the date on the tickets. She often joked about his relationships with his Mum that pretty much seems like his only friends but also the thing blocking him from actually having friends. He seemed relieved that she was free but still very nervous. He smiled at her comment and shook his head. “No, I- hmm.” He cleared his throat before looking the witch in front of him directly in the eyes, surprising her even more. “I thought we could have an official first date.”
Hermione doesn't think she opened her eyes that big ever before, choking on her tea. A date ? That was another step in a relationship. It was important. They have been hanging out for months and she always brushed away the idea of more. It would be too complicated. They had so many bad memories involving each other. Their backstory and world in general weren’t matching. She never went past thinking too much was blocking them to move further than casual friends.
“A… a date ?” She asked and he nodded, watching her nervously, waiting for an answer. “We have been hanging out for some months now and I thought… If you don’t have that in mind it’s okay. I take it ba-” He was reaching out for the tickets as he spoke but she cut him off by jerking the tickets to her. “No I -” She paused to think for a moment. “Let’s do that… a date.” He watched her with surprise, opening his eyes like he was seeing her for the first time, before smiling and straightening his back in his chair, definitely proud of himself.
Several seconds pass before Ginny puts down her eyes to her lap. She opens her mouth but closes it immediately, like she wants to say something but doesn’t find the right wording. She does it a couple times before taking a big breath and bringing her eyes back to Hermione’s face. Hermione lost her smile watching the incomprehension on her roommate's face, tinted with sadness, long forgotten anger and watery eyes. Ginny must be reliving terrible memories linked to Malfoy somehow…
“I-” the witch choked before swallowing saliva and shaking her head to restart. “I was not expecting that… Him… I’m not going to lie.” Hermione had a little smile, trying to reassure her friend. She never expected to fall for him either. The redhead smiled back after a couple seconds, visibly calming down and accepting the news. “I’m surprised. Everyone is going to be but…” Ginny gave a genuine smile, looking directly into Hermione’s eyes. “Your eyes glitter when you talk about it… him. Even if I think it’s a bad idea, mostly because the name Malfoy is only linked to bad memories, I trust you when you say he’s changed. So maybe it is not that much of a bad idea. You deserve happiness and if it’s what tonight is going to bring you, me, and no one, have anything to say against it.”
Hermione could feel her eyes filled with tears and her lips curled into a smile. Happy ? Was that what was coming out of her when she was telling the story ? Her eyes drop to her lap where her fingers are fidgeting with each other. “Thank you, Ginny. I think I needed that.” She heard her friend sniffle and saw her friend wiping tears off her face. “You’re going to be late if we keep talking. I’m going to let you finish preparing.” Ginny got up to leave the room. “Ginny.” Hermione called her friend, making her stop and turn back to her. “Please don’t tell Harry… Or Ron… Or anyone. I want to see where this is going before announcing it and I have to be the one doing it…” Ginny smiled gently. “Of course. Have a good night, Mimi.” She left the room and Hermione smiled. No one else has the right to call her Mimi in their group of friends beside Ginny…
“Do you still see Blaise or Theodore, from Hogwarts ?” Hermione asked one day after talking about dining with Weasley each week after she spent the previous Saturday with them for Ron’s birthday. Draco pinched his lips together before answering. “Not really. Theo moved to France after the Battle and pretty much cut contact with everyone. I was in contact with Blaise for the first couple years. He was seeing a mind healer and ended up leaving to study in the US, at a Muggle University. No one has much news now. Everyone I was hanging with either cut contact with everyone, either still hiding from shame or believing the wizarding world is not what it should be now. I cut contact with a lot of Hogwarts friends who were still believing in the Dark Lord’s legacy because their parents were not able to let go.”
Hermione listened to him carefully. He was never really talking that much about the past and when he was, she always let him, listening carefully and watching every emotion he was going through. She liked seeing emotions on him. Hermione often felt like she never saw any actual emotions on his face in Hogwarts and even hardly nowadays. He was always so closed and hard to read. He never asked questions about the past either, she always was one. He said it was mostly because he already knew everything Hermione and her friends had done and what they became because it was everywhere in the presse.
She wasn’t aware that a bit of time had passed since he finished speaking and she was just watching him, a thin smile on her face. She was cut from her thoughts because his light grey eyes met hers directly. She blushed lightly, opening her eyes big, surprised by her own behaviour. “I-... hm. Sorry.” He gave her a light smile before bringing his attention to the lake in front of them. “No need to be sorry. I do that sometimes too.” She blushed even more, also putting her attention to something else in front of her, without adding anything.
Sometimes Draco said something flirtatious randomly and caught her off guard. Happened when he was in a good mood, like talking about the past. He was in a particularly good mood that day. “Do your friends have a nickname for you ?” Hermione's eyes darted to his face. “What ?” His eyes watched her face with a thin smile. “I don’t know. You seem like the type of person whose friends give them a nickname, but they only allowed these specific friends to use it.” She had laughed at how accurate that was. “I do. But only Ginny, who’s living with me, has one that I allow her to use. She calls me Mimi. Harry and Ron never had one that was not to make fun of me, now that I think of it.” He had scoffed lightly before his expression became more serious as he watched before him again. “The only nickname I ever got is from my mother. She used to call me her Silver Boy. Not really original.” Hermione smiled lightly as she watched him. Once again, catching every emotion on his face as he opened to her.
The witch stands in front of her mirror one last time, checking her outfit. The skirt and blouse were different from her casual trousers and t-shirt or sweatshirt she usually wears on Sundays. Thinking about it, she doesn’t think Draco ever saw her with make up on. He always seems dressed up, in simple suits, trousers and vest, made obviously to fit him perfectly. She wonders if he also put more effort into tonight's outfit. She also asked herself how he would react seeing her, was she even dressed correctly for the opera ?
She checked the time. She was really going to be late if she didn’t leave right now. The witch took her handbag and left the apartment. Finding an alley to apparate to the opera. It was a wizard’s opera house that was apparently playing an opera about the 4 creators of Hogwarts. She had to search about the opera and its code because she didn’t need to know anything, and Draco didn’t give her any hint. She tried to apply everything that she read about to her outfit and attitude. She was standing in front of the opera house with a straight back, looking around while waiting for Draco.
“Granger !” She turns her head, eyes open big by surprise but glittering as she recognizes the voice calling her. It’s been 6 months and she is still surprised to hear Malfoy’s voice calling her name. She finally turns her whole body to face him. He looked a little rough, fighting with his hair to stand down, like if he had to run away from something to come here. She furrowed her eyebrows laughing a little bit. “Are you okay ? Have you been running from something ?” He laughed, arriving close to her. “Kind off. I thought I could get away early from my birthday dinner but my mum got more people coming than I thought.” Hermione looked really surprised, opening her mouth then closing it again. “Bir-Birthday ? You should have told me. We would have found another day to see the show…” She looked embarrassed, hopping from one foot to the other. Draco laughed while going up the steps to the entrance. “You couldn’t know. And I wanted to spend that time with you for my birthday without you having more pressure than for the date part.” He smiled at her offering her a hand. She looked at him, baffled. She would have brought something or tried to find another moment to see the show… But he was right, she would have put more pressure on herself knowing they were going to a first date on his birthday. She was doing it right now. She took a deep breath to try to put that pressure aside and took his hands. When she was at his level, he put her arm on his. “You look really nice tonight.” Hermione blushed with a smile. She could still hear Ginny saying she deserved to be happy and she felt like she finally understood what the redhead meant as Malfoy led her inside the opera house.