Bar None

***
Hermione spent the rest of the evening making rounds with her friends and basking in their company. It felt so freeing to have the weight she had been carrying for years lifted.

After a while her friends started leaving the party. First was Blaise and Daphne, who rightfully so was in need of sleep as the baby kept her tossing and turning all night. Not long after most of the others made their excuses and headed home.

She was helping Astoria and Pansy finish up the dishes insisting despite their protests. She looked up when Draco entered the room with the remaining plates and watched as he grabbed a dish towel to help her dry. She had to admit domesticated Draco was a thing to behold and she couldn’t help but feel a wave of desire wash through her body.

He grabbed a platter and gave her a wink as he expertly dried it off and levitated it to a high shelf at Astoria’s direction.

“Alright, I am going to do one last sweep.” She said giving them a pointed look and stepping out of the room to leave them alone.

“So Scarhead coming around then?” He asked.

“Yeah” she replied with a grin. “We’re working on it. I really missed him so it’s nice.”

“Quarreling with a good friend is the worst.” He replied cryptically.

“Much experience there?” She asked teasing him.

“Yeah, actually Pans was pretty upset with me before I went to America about a few things. Rightfully so. And it took us a while to work it all out. It was a relief when we finally cleared the air.” He said taking her towel and hanging it on the edge of the sink next to his.

“Tired?” He asked.

“Not in the slightest.” She chuckled as they walked towards the living room to say goodbye.

“You can come to my place…if you want. I mean we could go over your edits to the business plan or we could hold off. Your call.” He said clearly a bit nervous.

“I’d love to come over, but let’s put the plan review on hold. I am rather enjoying taking a break.”

“Alright solicitor.” He said and led her towards their hosts.

***
After the proper thank yous and goodbyes, Draco apparated them to his home. Hermione was surprised to find they weren’t at the manor and remarked as such.

“Yeah I needed some space and so I purchased this townhouse a few years back. Daph helped me decorate here too.”

He gestured around the room. The house had a classic look but simplistic and clean style that highlighted the old features but kept it fresh looking. Daphne had chosen muted earthy tones to decorate throughout and Hermione instantly liked the cozy atmosphere.

“It‘a great.” She said as she investigated the bookshelf in living room as Draco went to grab a bottle of wine. He came back and handed her a glass and sat down on the couch. She curled up on the couch and took a sip for liquid courage. “So about earlier…” she began.

“Always so direct.” He said with a little smirk and roll of his eyes. “Alright what do you want to know?”

“You said I always had your attention. Care to elaborate?”

“Well” taking a large gulp of wine and then blowing out his breath. “From the moment I first saw you I noticed you. You were a force of nature, and I was immediately intimidated. You were the opposite of everything I had been told about muggleborns and I hated you for it. I was really jealous. And as time went on you were still this enigma to me that I could not figure out. You were so bossy and intelligent and brave… and endearing. I had never met a girl quite like you.” She nodded and waited for him to continue as he took another sip.

“Then around fourth year things began to change at home. My father, he’s not well. And I am not making excuses for him I know what he had done. But I also know that he was raised a certain way and Voldemort took advantage of the times my father was struggling most to bid him to do his work. Around my fourth year he really started to decline. He would stay up for days writing nonsense locked in his office. Ripping pages out of books and drawing on the walls to show his “theories.” My mother tried to keep up appearances but it was challenging. As my parents focused on his condition, they spent less time indoctrinating me. And I began to really see you. Not as a muggleborn, but as a capable witch. But I had no idea how to reconcile that with what I had been led to believe. So I buried it, and I wasn’t very good at it. By the end of the Yule Ball Pans guessed that I had a crush on you and I vehemently denied it.” He said with a bitter laugh.

“…and well you know what happened at the end of that year. My father became more unhinged. During the summer before our fifth year Snape came for a visit and sat me down. He explained that he knew my feelings for you and that when I was ready he would help. Me being the little prick I am told him he was wrong and denied everything.

“But then Voldemort took up residence at our home and I was desperate to return to school. I watched you three and became increasingly worried for your safety. I started to realize that I couldn’t fight my attraction to you so I went to Snape. He agreed to help me learn how to protect my thoughts and gave me one-on-one lessons. He also encouraged me to have ‘safe’ memories of you to fall back on in case my mental blocks failed. So I kept a distance and continued to harass and belittle you to keep a bank of fresh memories that would please the Dark Lord or my father should they come looking. …I thought I was doing the right thing but I was just being an ass.”

She refilled his glass and gave him a small smile to continue.

“It was awful but it did work. My father in his madness had no extra incentive to hunt you down alone. And so I kept it up until Scarhead saved us all. I tried to justify my behavior by arguing that all boys tease and harass their crushes. That’s why Pans was so cross with me. She said I was just excusing my behavior. And she was totally right but I just didn’t see it and I left for my mastery before working through it with her.

“While in America I learned even more about prejudice and realized how stupid I had been. And I promised myself that I would try to make it up to you once I returned. But honestly I knew I couldn’t undo what has already happened and I was a coward and mostly avoided you. Until the other day when I was faced with the choice to finally buck up. I was so afraid you were going to flat out reject me. It’s what I deserved.” He finally took a shaky deep breath and finished.

She sat up a bit straighter and moved even closer to him taking his hand in both of hers. “Listen, I know what it’s like to do something and think at that time it’s the right thing and then later have regrets. Believe me.” She said bitterly as she thought about her parents. “And I don’t think I am ever going to be able to just give you a blank check on forgiveness. It’s something that is earned. BUT I do believe in second chances and I am willing to give you a chance to prove you’ve changed. And so far Draco it appears that you’ve really turned your life around. My own feelings about the past and all of the trauma… that’s my own water to carry and I have done the work to get through that. And I would like the opportunity to learn more about the man you have become rather than focus on what you once were.” She said with a watery smile.

“Thank you.” He said quietly with watery eyes himself. And she gently lifted his hand and kissed it. He moved it to cup her face and leaned down pausing as his face approached hers. “May I?”

She quickly nodded as her heart practically beat out of her chest. He placed a soft kiss on her lips. It was one of the most ethereal feelings of her life almost as if her magic was responding and molding to his. She could feel waves of magic radiate from him. Without fully realizing it she leaned in further sitting up on her knees she began to kiss back in earnest. He took her by the hips and she moved to straddle him slowly grabbing the hem of his shirt and raising it. They broke apart briefly for him to take off his shirt and she ran her hands up and down his newly bare chest as he let out a deep groan of pleasure. Hermione felt her desire deepen and was quite put out when she felt him begin to lean away.

“Hermione, I am not sure if this is the best idea.” He began while rubbing his thumbs on her hips. “I want to, believe me. But with our work situation. Merlin I just offered you a job I feel like I am taking advantage of you.”

She began to shake her head. “No really—“

“Ok, but even still, I think we need to take things slow.” He cupped her face with one hand.

“I’m sorry I got a bit carried away.” She said slightly embarrassed.

“Don’t apologize, believe me I want nothing more than to carry you up those stairs and act out things that I have spent an embarrassing amount of time daydreaming about.” He said with a laugh.

“So” she said tapping her fingers on his chest. “Snogging?” A grin spread on her face as he leaned forward and gave her another tender kiss.

“Snogging and snogging adjacent for now solicitor.” He said as they began to kiss again.

After a while Hermione looked up and in her blissed out state was surprised to see how late it had gotten.

“You could stay.” He offered. “No pressure. But I would classify snuggling as snogging adjacent so we’re in the clear.” He laughed and Hermione’s heart swooned seeing him so carefree.

“Sure” she said a followed him to his room. It was airy with a huge bed adorned with a plush white comforter. A dark green chaise lounge sat in the corner and Hermione was surprised to see a large TV took post across from the bed. Draco entered his closet and returned with a tshirt for her to wear.

“I am going to pop in the shower quick. So I can—ahem—“ he stalled looking embarrassed.

“I can always come and help.” She looked up at him sweetly.

He barked out a laugh. “Oh you’ve done quite enough. You’re going to be the death of me witch.” And he wrapped around his arms around her from behind. Hermione felt his erection press into her backside and her back involuntarily arched. “Give it time.” He said gently and stepped back. He gave her a tap on her rear end and kissed her temple making his way into the washroom.

Hermione quickly changed and crawled into the bed. She grabbed a book on potions sitting on his nightstand and began skimming. Before long he returned freshly showered and smelling incredible. He crawled in next to her and she set the book down. Draco put out the light with a wave of his hand and snuggled in close pulling her back into his chest. And they began talking for hours about anything and everything while he gently traced patterns with his fingertips on her bare thigh. Hermione finally drifted off to sleep and felt more content than she had in years.