December
Hermione woke up warm. Her nose pressed into something soft that smelled of clove and cinnamon. Blinking awake, she was happy to see the winter sun gently streaming in from the window, cascading down on Draco’s back. She was curled into him, her arm slung over his middle holding him tight as if he were a large stuffed animal. She smiled and peppered kisses onto his shoulders.
“G’morning.” Draco muttered still half asleep.
“Good morning.” Hermione said and rolled onto her back and reached for her watch on the bedside table he had transfigured.
Wednesday. Nearly eleven o’clock.
“Fuck!” Hermione yelped.
“What?” Draco sat up.
“We’re running late.
“What?”
“Runes starts in fifteen minutes. Oh Merlin, we skipped breakfast!”
“I thought you set an alarm.” Draco said searching for his uniform.
She stared at him with frustration. “I thought you set an alarm.”
“Ah. Well.”
Hermione growled as she found her skirt and slipped it on.
“Don’t be mad, Granger. Not everyone can be perfect. I’m sure we can just say---”
“Stop talking.” Hermione snapped and she slid on her shirt, the tie was still on so she tightened it.
“Have you seen…” He looked up at her and smirked.
“What?”
“What?”
“What are you looking for, Draco?” Hermione grumbled.
“Oh, have you seen…” He shook his head and stood up smiling at her he made a grab for her.
“Oh, no you don’t. We’re running late.”
“What? Granger… no.”
“I can see your tricks, Draco.” Hermione said firmly and tossed on her robes tying her hair up into a ponytail.
“Dear witch, please---”
“I love you. I’ll see you later.”
“Hermione!”
Hermione was out of the door and racing to the Runes classroom. She growled to herself. It wasn’t Draco’s fault that they were late. It was hers. Once the school day was over and done with, she would be sure to give him a very nice apology. One that just so happened to be beneficial to both parties.
Hermione smirked to herself and caught sight of Ginny as she was filing in with the rest of the students to the Runes classroom. Ginny looked sleepy, her eyes half shut, but when she lifted her hand to wave to Hermione, her eyes shot wide open.
Ginny left out of line and dashed to Hermione.
“Morning.” Hermione smiled up at Ginny as she walked closer to her.
“Good morning.” Ginny said a joke sparkled in her eyes.
“C’mon, Gin, don’t give me that. Nothing happened last night.” Hermione had been denying for the past two weeks that she and Draco had been spending the night in the same bed for a while now. She wasn’t sure why she kept lying to Ginny, but Draco understood, and also kept his mouth shut.
“Right.” Ginny scoffed and winked.
“We were studying---”
Ginny laughed. “Mhmm.”
“And. I just so happened to fall asleep on the couch. It was his turn to be on the bed any---”
Ginny snorted and gestured for Hermione to lift her chin. “Your tie is crooked.”
“---ways. Thank’s Gin. It must’ve gotten askew while I was sleep---”
“Question.”
“Okay.”
“What is the incantation to change colors again?”
“Colovaria.”
“Excellent. Thank you.”
“Of course… I---”
Ginny took out her wand and whispered “Colovaria.” and pointed it at Hermione’s tie.
Hermione looked down just in time to see her silver and green tie turn to red and gold.
Ginny was trying really hard not to look pleased with herself. “Oh my gods.” she squeaked.
Hermione’s mouth was still open. “I… I must’ve taken my tie off in the middle of the night.”
“Right.” Ginny said in mock understanding.
“It’s true!”
“Which is also why your shirt is two sizes too big too, right?”
Hermione’s face went hot. “Yes.”
Ginny threw back her head and laughed, and ducked behind her lifting her robes to reach the back of Hermione’s shirt, she pulled it tighter to her body and tucked it in.
“I honestly… maybe it’s the wash. It stretched it out.”
“Hermione. I love you. But give it up. Tell me the truth, you and Malfoy have been banging like bunnies.” Ginny walked around to face Hermione again.
When Hermione didn’t answer, Ginny giggled. “You have to tell me everything.”
“I really don’t!”
“I’ll tell you everything with Harry. How he sometimes---”
“You are going to stop that sentence right there.”
Ginny snorted. “C’mon, love. Let’s get to class.”
Draco ran into Runes much later than Hermione, he took a seat next to her and Ginny. He smiled at Hermione and reached over and squeezed her hand, then opened his thick textbook to Hermione’s page and began to follow along in the lesson.
Ginny reached over and tapped him on the shoulder.
Draco, looking confused frowned at her.
Ginny gave him a thumbs up and a wink.
Draco colored.
Hermione swatted Ginny’s wrist, Hermione’s own face red with embarrassment and fury. She crossed her arms and scowled at the front. This made Ginny dissolve into a fit of giggles.
“This is gonna be our whole day, isn’t it?” Draco whispered nervously.
“She’s going to be like this for hours.” Hermione whispered back.
A few evenings later, Hermione and Draco found themselves hauling a telescope to the top of the astronomy tower. They were supposed to have done this project weeks previous, but they got a pass due to the Dementor attack, and also the full moon.
“You didn’t have to do this with me, love.” Draco said as they reached the last flight of spiral stairs.
“I wanted to.” Hermione commented as she panted up the last round of stairs. “Besides… we haven’t known peace since Ginny.”
Draco snorted loudly.
They found their way to the top, and Hermione set the very heavy stand down so Draco could screw in the telescope. After making sure it was well balanced, they aimed it out to the sky.
“You know, this is typically a muggle date.” Hermione commented.
“Is it?”
“Well… kind of. I think I saw it in a movie or tv show once or twice. The couple sets up the telescope and they look at the stars for the evening.” She responded.
“I hope they don’t go in December.” Draco shivered.
“You know Decemeber is the month with the longest nights. Unfortunately, that’s when they do it.”
He grinned. “You know… I don’t like this place.”
“Hogwarts?”
“No. This tower.”
Hermione looked around and suddenly realized. “Oh. We should move then.”
“No. No.” He shook his head.
“War made us do things that we would’ve never done. Don’t forget that.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets and moved to stand next to her. “Thanks, Granger.”
She moved her arms around his middle and pulled him close. “I’m sure he forgave you, though.”
“Who?”
“Dumbledore.”
“Ah. Yeah… I don’t much care if he forgave me or not. I more care that I ignored research for thousands of years on werewolves, believed a genocidal maniac had the cure for an incurable condition, then killed a man for those actions. Granted, he was not a great man…”
“Dumbledore was a great man!” Hermione scoffed.
Draco rolled his eyes. “He trained us all to be child soldiers. He played on our want to do right in the world. He dangled in front of us, Potter included, that the way to achieve world peace is to join the war. We were kids. Literal kids.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Hermione was quiet.
“Hermione, we were kids fighting a war that the adults should’ve been fighting.”
“They were fighting! It wasn’t enough.”
Draco hummed and shook his head. “Name the adults in your life that prevented you from joining the war efforts.”
Hermione stepped away from him, crossing her arms. “Molly Weasley… McGonagall.”
Draco shrugged and nodded. “My mother and McGonagall.”
“If you think we wouldn’t have been effected by the war just simply by sitting out---”
“No, we would have. But we wouldn’t be this fucked in the head if we didn’t participate. The adults around us acted irresponsibly, except for maybe a handful of them. When wars enlist child soldiers, it always spells trouble. The unfortunate thing is both sides enlisted child soldiers, so both sides have the blood of all those children who died.”
“So what does that make us?”
Draco leaned over and scrunched his face to look through the telescope. “You and I? Or our age group?”
“Both.”
He stood straight and glanced at her. “It makes our generation a damaged generation. Not saying that we’ll not be okay in a few dozen or so years, but… the muggle statistics have shown, damaged children grow to damaged adults who raise damaged children, and the vicious cycle goes on.”
“And us?”
“You and I? What do you want me to say? We’re together. We are learning how to be together and heal from the past traumas.”
Hermione was silent.
“You’re mad at me.”
“Well spotted.” Hermione huffed.
He sighed heavily. “Am I happy the way the war turned out? Yes. In fact, I do think that if child soldiers weren’t enlisted into the war efforts, the good side wouldn’t’ve won. Who knows what would’ve happened to you. Maybe sold as a play thing until the wizard got bored of you. I would’ve been chasing a cure that Vol… vol… fuck me.” he groaned.
“You would’ve been chasing a cure that wouldn’t have been existent.”
Draco sighed wearily. “I made you mad?”
Hermione took her turn to sigh, staring up at the night sky. “If I’m being honest, you’re not wrong.”
He gave her a hesitant smile. “Really?”
“Yes. But I don’t like the label child soldier. It makes me feel… unsettled.” She sighed rubbing her arms.
“I think it’s supposed to, dear witch.” Draco whispered with a short laugh.
“I also don’t like the implication that I was a child soldier. I was… seventeen.” Hermione shook her head.
“The wizarding world considers seventeen as adult, but you were fighting long before that. We both were child soldiers.”
They finished their charting and lugged the telescope back down. They passed by Slughorn who was doing his nightly rounds, then found their way back to their office. Draco transfigured the bed, but sat on the couch next to Hermione.
“Are you staying here? Or… going back to the dorms?” Draco asked.
“If I stay here…”
“You’d eventually fall asleep.” Draco smirked and shrugged.
“Oooh, I think I have a test tomorrow.” Hermione wrinkled her nose.
“I could help you study.”
“You’re not in the class.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure I can help.” He whispered leaning in and kissing her softly on her lips.
A few mornings later, Hermione and Draco walked into the Great Hall together. He wandered over to the Hufflepuff table, and grabbed a pate of food stacked with bacon and sausage when suddenly, an owl the color of slate flew in and landed on his shoulder.
He set the plate down and gently pried the thick envelope from its beak. Once the envelope was free, the owl flew away.
Hermione watched Draco stare at the envelope, then he turned on his heel and darted out of the Great Hall.
Ginny and Hermione exchanged glances, then Hermione whispered a quick goodbye to Ginny and followed him.
Draco had already gotten to their office in record time and was pacing back and forth behind the couch. He held his bottom lip reading, and pacing.
Hermione made it in, and breathing heavily she asked: “What is it?”
In response, he flipped the page he was reading. Then paced more.
Hermione held her breath, counted to thirty, and let him pace back and forth a few rounds before asking again. “Draco… what happened?”
He stopped. Looked up at Hermione and then returned to the letter.
“Draco?”
“He’s dead.”
Her heart seized. Her mind rushed through all the men in her life. Harry was among them and she felt panicked, all the air kicked out of her lungs. “Who?” she demanded.
He didn’t look up from the letter. “My father.”
Hermione let this sink in. The man who hired a werewolf to turn his own son. The man who abused Draco. The man who sent Ginny Weasley one year with a Horcrux diary, and didn’t say anything. The man who sneered at her, looked down on her for something out of her own control. Lucius Malfoy was dead. Dead at last.
Relief flooded through her. Then shock. No announcement for he execution had been made known. Granted, she had been a little distracted by bedding his son for the past handful of days, but she would’ve noticed that in the papers. Or if she had missed it Ginny would’ve surely said something to bring attention to it.
Unless Ginny was being polite, but even that didn’t sound like something Ginny would’ve done. Ginny would’ve pulled Hermione aside and said “Hey, your boyfriend’s father is going to kick the bucket soon.”
All these emotions and confusing feelings welled up inside of her, they got so out of hand it took her a moment to reel it back in. Oh wizard gods, what had Draco been feeling right now? Maybe it was the same wash of emotions that flooded her, at the moment, but more equivalent to a tsunami. She waited for his move, knowing how delicate the situation was, but for five minutes, Draco didn’t move. Just stared at the letter. Hermione lost count of the minutes, the seconds, and felt helpless.
“Let’s sit down. I’ll make you a cup of teak.” She approached him slowly, gently.
“He… he requested specifically to die on my mother’s birthday.” He muttered.
“What?” She was toe to toe with him. She strained her neck to look at his face.
His head bent down, so it was easy to see him.
He closed his eyes and shook his head. “He… the letter. It says he waved all his appeals. He wanted to die. He wanted to die on my mother’s birthday, yesterday.”
“Why would he do such a thing?” Hermione breathed.
Draco shook his head. “To fuck with her. One last time.”
Hermione felt her heart strain. “Come to the couch.”
He did so, but he looked more and more like a zombie than Draco.
They sat and Hermione gently pried the letter from his fingers. “Read it.” He said suddenly. “I don’t care.” He added.
She nodded and set it on the coffee table. “Maybe later.”
They sat staring at the fire.
“I… I can’t go to classes. Not like this.” He muttered.
Hermione nodded. “Neither will I, then.”
They remained still. Watching the fire crack and pop.
“It’s fucked up that I’m happy, right?” Draco asked hoarsely.
“No… because I’m the same way.” Hermione whispered and tucked herself into him.
Ginny stopped by with Lunch. “McGonagall was quite furious with the both of you thinking you’d gone off and were bumping uglies. Then the Prophet sent out a breaking news magazine, and she told me to tell you both to take your time.”
Draco nodded.
“The whole school knows?” Hermione asked.
“Just about.” Ginny nodded.
“If they don’t know now, they’ll know by the end of the day.” Draco muttered.
“I thought there was supposed to be appeals or… something.” Ginny frowned setting their sandwiches in front of them. She moved to sit in front of the fire.
Hermione shook her head. “He waved his rights to appeal. Draco seems to think it’s to spite his mother.”
Draco shook his head. “No… I know. I don’t think. I know he did it to fuck with my mother. That… monster raised me, and to avoid getting hurt or hit, I learned how to think like him. I spent so long running away from my father I’ve… I’m exactly like him.” He muttered.
“You’re not.” Ginny beat Hermione to the punch.
Draco looked to Ginny. “You have no idea.”
“I think I have some idea. The bastard gave me a journal that had Voldemort’s soul in it when I was first year. He was sadistic and cruel. You are… an arse, but you’re not cruel. Besides, if you were anything like your father and you were trying to get into Hermione’s pants, do you really think I would let you?” Ginny scoffed and looked to Hermione who stared wide eyed at Ginny. “I mean… give me some credit, right?” Ginny added laughing.
Draco reached over to tangle his hands with Hermione.
“She has a point.” Hermione whispered.
“Of course I do.” Ginny scoffed.
The three of them remained still. Letting the fire begin to die off. Popping and sizzling.
“How’d they do it?” Ginny asked gently.
Hermione had no idea what she was talking about until Draco answered.
“Dreamless sleep potion, and then hefty dose of poison. His body will be cremeated. Just in case he somehow slipped an antidote before he died.” Draco responded with such callousness, that even Ginny looked shocked.
“What happens now?” Hermione asked him.
Draco looked at her.
“I mean… specifically with the estate.”
He took a long breath. “Since he had gone to Azkaban, the money that was there went to me. However the manor and other properties my mother and I were both cautioned on not using them. There was fear that he would’ve put in various curses and traps to potentially kill us. Neither of us have been at the manor since… gods… long time. Since before the trial even started.”
“Where were you staying at after and during the trial?” Hermione asked.
“Mostly on Mr. Weasley’s couch in his office.”
“So you’ve practically been homeless for the better part of the year?” Ginny gasped her lips parted.
“Not exactly. When I could convince myself of it, I’d stay at a hotel for a few nights. I thought everyone would’ve guessed.” Draco rubbed his temple.
Ginny paused, then took a determined inhale. “You’re going to come with us home for Christmas.”
“What? No.” Draco shook his head.
“You should!” Ginny pressed.
“It’ll be a disaster.”
“Yeah, so is most of our Weasley Holidays.” Ginny scoffed with a wave of her hand.
Draco looked to Hermione, and found that he was out voted.
“It’s a good idea.” She shrugged.
His whole face pinched up comically.
“We would get to share a room.” Hermione said offhandedly.
His eyes went dark at the thought. “Would we?”
“Well, I’m sure mum would make you sleep with Harry in his room, but Hermione’s room is just across the hall.” Ginny shrugged.
She squeezed his hand. “It’s too much to think of now, we’ll save it for later.”
“She’s right, in the meantime, I’ll send mum a letter. Let’s… what do you want to do? Celebrate? Curse his name so badly he’s stuck being a flubberworm for the next three thousand years? Cry?” Ginny asked.
Draco sighed. “I don’t know yet. I just want to do nothing.”
“Nothing it is.” Hermione smiled.
That night, they didn’t make love, they barely kissed. Instead they lay on their sides facing each other. Memorizing each other’s faces. Occasionally they would talk about the pointless things that in reality feel so important. They would share childhood memories, and he loved it when she laughed at his jokes.
After a while, he grabbed her hand and began to warm it in his own two hands. “I… I think I’m ready to tell Weaslette.”
Hermione felt her eye lids flutter processing this information. “Why’s that?”
He let out a choked sigh. “Full moon is on the twenty second. My original plan was to just be here, but I know Mrs. Weasley has invited me, and now so has Weaslette.”
“Molly invited you?”
He nodded. “So… I can’t ask you to lie to your best friend for me.” He explained gazing at her lips.
“Ginny isn’t my best friend.”
“Right. Me.” He nodded.
She snorted. “You, sure, but Harry is possibly my most best friend.”
Draco let out a groan and eye roll. “You’re lucky I love you. With all your flaws.”
“One of them being Harry is my best friend?”
“Yes.”
She flopped onto her back and laughed. He crawled over her kissing her softly on her nose.
She quieted and stroked his face with the back of her hand. “You can ask me to lie, you know. I wouldn’t mind.”
He sighed and rolled onto his back. “Which is why I won’t ask you, love. Besides, if I’m going to work with her, it’s better if she learns from me now.”
Ginny, Hermione, and Draco,
We would love to have you over for the holidays! Draco and Harry will share a room, as I fear that Draco in Ron’s room would cause some difficulties. We cannot wait to see you!
May I also get Draco’s size?”
Much love,
Molly Weasley
Mum,
Excited to see you too, miss you lots.
Malfoy is roughly Harry shaped, but taller… a lot taller. Maybe a few inches taller than Ron. I hope that helps.
By the way, the plan is to travel on the twenty third. Both Hermione and Draco have told me that it’s head boy and girl stuff they need to get done. Oh well.
Much Love,
Ginny.
The last weekend before break was the last trip to Hogsmeade. They had finished their Christmas shopping early and Draco suggested a hike to the Shrieking Shack.
Snow had begun to turn into slush in the mid morning, and Ginny had mentioned that some sludge had gotten into her boot already and soaked her sock. Hermione lagged behind Draco and Ginny, like they had planned, and watched as they talked.
It was strange watching the two of them walk side by side. Ginny with her hair tucked into a knitted cap Hermione was sure she had made. Draco wore the scarf she had made for him on a whim a few weeks ago.
Suddenly Ginny stopped and stared up at Draco, then she tucked her hands in her pockets, and began to walk again.
Hermione knew the story, but wasn’t sure of how Draco was telling it. It felt wrong almost to watch Ginny’s experience to Draco’s truth. However, she couldn’t look away, it was almost comforting.
Ginny’s gait was now much slower, her head was bowed as she listened.
Once the three of them arrived at the Shrieking Shack, Ginny hadn’t said a word, which was unusual for even her.
“I understand if… if you hate me.” Draco finished.
Ginny snapped her head up to him. Her brows furrowed. Then she wrapped her arms around his middle and hugged him.
Cautiously, he hugged back.
“Tell anyone that I hugged you I will murder you.” Ginny said pulling away.
The twenty second was the first night in nearly three weeks that Hermione and Draco elected to not sleep in the same bed. Though it truthfully hadn’t been that long that they had shared space in the same bed, Hermione couldn’t help but notice how much her body had gotten used to Draco. She had not only gotten used to sleeping next to him, but practically graved sleeping next to him. She had tossed and turned in her four poster in the Gryffindor common room until Ginny threatened to smother her with a pillow if she didn’t lie still.
Finally, a restless night’s sleep, and a hasty breakfast of jam and toast later, the three of them were walking to the train to take them to Hogsmeade which they would then apparate to the Burrow. Draco had mentioned he might’ve bruised some ribs the night previous, so he was breathing quite heavy, and his face was a bit more pale than usual.
They arrived at Hogsmeade, Draco held Hermione’s hand and Hermione held Ginny’s, with a snap, Ginny apparated them to the property line of the Burrow. Ginny marched in first and there in the kitchen was Molly Weasley. Flour on her cheeks and in her graying hair. She looked so much like a muggle mother right then, Hermione nearly wept.
Instead she let Ginny be crushed by Molly’s hug first. “It’s so good to see you!” She squeezed Ginny and let go.
“Good to see you too, mum.”
Molly patted Ginny’s cheek. “Do you not eat, deary?”
“I eat, mum.” Ginny groaned.
Molly looked stressed, then her focus turned to Hermione and Draco. Their hands still twined together.
Molly beamed knowingly, and brought Hermione in for a hug, too. “Oh, dear… you too! You’ve lost weight!”
“Not intentional, Molly.” Hermione laughed.
Molly let go and looked to Draco.
Tall, horribly thin, and pale Draco.
“Goodness, have you all eaten today?” Molly asked.
“We had a bit of toast, ma.” Ginny commented.
Molly reached up and gently touched Draco’s cheek.
It surprised Draco, and he recoiled a bit, but smiled apologetically down at Molly.
“Bit of toast is not a meal. Sit. I’ll make you breakfast.” She ordered.
“You don’t have to---” Draco started, but Molly wouldn’t hear of it.
“Sit.” she ordered more forcefully this time.
Ginny had already sat at the dinner table that looked so worn and washed it resembled drift wood rather than a dining room table. “Where’s Harry?” She asked Molly.
“Auror training, love.” Molly called over her shoulder. Her wand flicking left and right, various pans and eggs following from her movements.
“How’s that going for him?” Hermione asked politely grasping Draco’s hand.
“Very good! Especially when Ron started to help him. Ron has joined the auror program, too.”
“What happened to Quidditch?” Ginny asked frowning.
“Oh… you know… the teams that wanted him wanted him to sit out for the season. Ron wanted back into the throws of it.” Molly shrugged and magicked a floating plate in front of each of them.
“He’s thinking either that or helping George at the store.” Molly added.
“Is it just you this morning, ma’am?” Draco asked.
Molly blushed a little at the mention of ‘ma’am’. But she didn’t mention it. “For now dear. Everyone is either working, or last second shopping. Not to fret, everyone will be here tomorrow night for our Christmas eve supper. Oh, you should see Parvati, very pregnant, just about to pop! I told her if that little Weasley isn’t a Christmas baby, I am a horrible grandma.”
The three of them spent the rest of the day either setting up Draco’s ‘bed’ in Harry’s room, or walking around the Burrow. It was around five or six in the evening when Harry showed up in the little cabin.
“Hello!” He said shocked.
“Hey!” Hermione smiled.
Ginny ran up and kissed him. “Did mum not tell you we were coming?” She asked.
“I… well… I assumed that you weren’t coming after the train came and went Hermione was trapped in a book or studying.
Hermione stood and hugged him tightly. “Hush you.”
“Only joking. If it weren’t for that brain I’d be dead by now.” Harry said into her hair.
“Too right.” Hermione muttered giving him a soft pinch.
“Malfoy.” Harry nodded letting Hermione go. He stuck out his hand.
Draco stood and shook Harry’s hand. “Potter.” He greeted back.
“Did Molly tell you anything?” Hermione asked.
“Uhmmm… no. What should she have said?” Harry asked.
“That Draco is joining us.”
“I… I could’ve guessed that.” Harry said tiredly.
“But… maybe Molly didn’t know… Draco and I… we’re together.” Hermione finished lamely.
Harry’s eyes bore into hers. “What do you mean?”
“Like… together.”
Harry shifted uncomfortably on his feet. Squinting at Hermione. “What do you mean?”
“We kiss.”
“They do a lot more than kiss.” Ginny put in.
“Enough from the peanut gallery.” Hermione warned her.
“What do you mean?” Harry asked Hermione.
“You… Harry… you process however you’d like to process---”
“With Malfoy.”
“Yes.”
“With… Malfoy?”
“I don’t think changing the inflection of your tone changes things, Potter.” Draco muttered.
“Yes.” Hermione answered Harry.
“Why?”
“I like him.”
Harry’s eyes fluttered. “Why?”
“He’s… nice… and a good kisser…”
“Much more than that.” Ginny cackled.
“What was that thing that I said about the peanut gallery?” Hermione hissed.
“No. Nononononono.” Harry lifted a hand.
Hermione waited.
Harry dropped his hand. “What do you mean?”
That night, Hermione and Draco were literally falling asleep on their feet. Between Draco recovering from the full moon, and Hermione not sleeping the night previous, the two of them decided to turn in early.
Draco picked up her book from the bedside table. “What’s this?” He asked sleepily.
“Ah, one of my favorite books. Annie On My Mind. It’s about two girls who fall in love with each other, and are torn apart because their families don’t approve.”
“Does it have a happy ending?” He asked eyebrow raised.
“Yes. Thankfully, I’ve noticed that not all gay romances have a happy ending.”
He nodded and thumbed through it. “I may have to give it a read, if you’ll let me.” he said and slid into bed next to her.
They were dead asleep in ten easy and soft breaths.
A loud scream woke the two of them up from a dead sleep.
“What’s that?” Draco asked.
Hermione came to her senses first. “It’s Harry.” She gasped and leapt over Draco.
She dashed into his room and tripped over the bed. “Ouch! Harry.” She scrambled up and shook him.
He sat up and with his wand he poked her in the jaw.
“Potter!” Draco yelled.
Harry’s green eyes were unfocused and still stuffy with sleep.
“It’s me.” Hermione whispered.
“Hermione?” Harry frowned.
Hermione nodded. “Yes. Do you remember? We were here earlier.”
“What’s Malfoy… right.”
Hermione rubbed his arms up and down. “Since when did you start sleeping with your wand?” she asked with a wry smile.
“Auror training.” He muttered and tucked away his wand.
“You want me to call Ginny?” She asked and sat on his bed.
He nodded. “Yes. Sorry.”
“It’s quite alright, Draco, do you mind fetching my wand?” She asked.
He nodded and disappeared from the room.
“What was your dream about?”
Harry swallowed. “Ah… you and Ron were at the graveyard with me and Cedric, and I could only save one of you or take Cedric’s body home.”
She nodded and Draco came back in with her wand. She quickly preformed the spell and sent her otter to Ginny.
“You two kept telling me to leave Cedric.” Harry choked shaking his head.
Hermione didn’t know what to say she just gave him a wince. Fifteen year old her would have definitely said something like that to him. She believed she was invincible at the time.
“She would’ve figured out a way for all four of you to come back.” Draco said suddenly.
They both looked up at Draco who was standing arms crossed pressed against the wall. “What? She would.” He shrugged. Then he added. “Weasley is the burliest so Hermione, you’d have him start running to the cup, also you’d have him lift Cedric. He’s the stronger out of the three of you. Hermione and Potter you two would probably throw up a shield, Hermione would want to wait and let you go first, but Potter you’re the fastest runner out of the three of you. So Hermione you’d run next then at the last second, Potter you’d drop the shield and run.”
“H---How…” Harry started.
“When I have nightmares about things that happened, I rewrite the story, and tell that to myself as I fall back asleep.” Draco offered.
It was still.
“My mum taught me.” He murmured and grimaced.
Ginny burst in and stared up at Draco. “Merlin, you look like a ghost Malfoy.”
“Nice way to greet your coach, Weaslette.”
“Not yet my coach.” Ginny sang sweetly then turned to Harry.
“Hey.” Harry grimaced.
“Are you okay?” Ginny asked and crawled into bed.
“Yeah.” Harry nodded.
“We should get you a dreamless sleep potion.” Hermione soothed.
Harry looked defeated. “I hate those.”
“I know.”
“They make me so… foggy and…” Harry’s voice cut off.
“I know.” Hermione insisted.
“Could just do the muggle way and drink a half glass of scotch.” Draco shrugged.
Three pairs of eyes looked to Draco.
“That is what my father taught me.” He said with a mirthless laugh.
“Scotch actually sounds like a good idea. Maybe not a half glass, but…” Harry shrugged.
Hermione nodded. “Okay.”
Ginny wound her arms around Harry and Harry buried his face into her hair. “I tried really hard not to have a nightmare tonight. Sorry.”
Hermione stood and this time carefully stepped over the bed and beckoned Draco to follow her. She needed his height because the bottle of scotch was quite high up, and she didn’t trust her shaking hands to catch it with or without magic. He lowered the bottle and located a glass. Poured him about three fingers worth of scotch and they walked back.
Harry took the glass. “Cheers.” He told Draco and swallowed it.
“Do either of you need anything?” Hermione asked yawning.
Ginny shook her head.
“No. Thanks ‘Mione, and Malfoy.” Harry said with gratitude.
Hermione leaned over and pressed a kiss to his temple. “Good night.”
They got into the room and settled back into bed. “How often does he have those nightmares?” He asked gently as Hermione nuzzled into his chest.
“Hmm… Once or twice a week. It used to be much worse. I used to be much worse.”
He pulled her tightly to his chest. “At least I know I’m not the only one.” He breathed and slowly he fell back asleep.
Dinner the next night was loud and noisy. Dishes floated back and forth, and laughter bubbled through the air. Hermione and Draco sat across from Ron and Parvati. Ron hadn’t stopped glowering at Draco since he had sat down, and unusually he didn’t eat much either.
Draco noticed and was more annoyed by the stare than anything, but with how loud the dinner was, he was getting overwhelmed, so he held Hermione’s hand under the table, occasionally giving it a tight squeeze to assure both him and her that they were there.
At some point, Ron coughed loudly. All eyes turned to him, but his eyes never left Draco.
“Here we go.” Ginny groaned under her breath.
“How long’s this been going on?” He asked pointing between Hermione and Draco.
“Ron.” George warned.
“Two months.” Hermione rounded up. Two months sounded beter than six weeks.
Thankfully, Draco agreed, and nodded.
“So… when I saw you last. You didn’t think to mention you’d begun dating the ferret?” Ron frowned.
Hermione sighed, and tried to let go the ferret comment. “Yes. You were quite busy at the time. I’m not sure you recall but you were drunk off your arse.”
Ron didn’t like this and snapped his eyes to Draco. “So what’ve you been doing with my sister? Just stringing her along?”
Draco looked confused. “What are you talking about?” He asked.
“The Prophet.”
“Ron, I just slipped. He caught me.” Ginny rolled her eyes.
Ron didn’t awknowledge Ginny. “Well?” He demanded of Draco.
“I just said---” Ginny sighed exasperated.
“Stay out of this, Gin.” Ron growled.
“For the love of Merlin.” Ginny sighed.
Draco’s hand tightened on Hermione’s.
“Ron, seriously, nothing is going on between Ginny and him. It’s Draco and me.” Hermione insisted rubbing her thumb back and forth against Draco’s.
“I want to hear it from him.” Ron grunted.
“Listen to Weaslette---”
Ron was up in a flash and stepping on the dining room table charging at Draco.
Molly screamed.
Ron jumped on Draco forcing his hand to drop Hermione’s. Ron arched his fist back and it slammed onto Draco’s nose.
“Stop!” Hermione yelled and tried to push Ron off of him.
“Anyone going to help Malfoy?” Ginny yelled.
“You set her up on the Harpies, what are you some sort of pervert?”
“No! It’s the only team that I could help get her on.” Draco insisted, mouth filling with blood.
Ron punched him again.
Percy and George finally got to Ron and attempted to hoist him off.
“You can’t have both!” Ron yelled
“What the bloody hell are you---”
“Sleeping with my sister and Hermione.”
“Gross, I’d never sleep with someone so pale.” Ginny muttered.
“Not helping, Gin!” Bill yelled and joined in the efforts to pull Ron off.
Ron wrapped his hands around Draco and squeezed.
“Anyone, anyone want to hex him? No. Fine!” Ginny shouted and brought out her wand and stunned Ron.
Hermione tiptoed over the glass as Harry was helping Draco up.
He was gasping for air.
“You okay?” She asked running a hand through his hair.
His lip was bleeding, and his nose practically a faucet.
“Nose’s probably broken.” Draco said trying to stop the flow with his sleeve.
Hermione took out her wand and repaired his nose.
George and Bill hoisted Ron up and dragged him out of the kitchen. “Great dinner, everyone. Ickle Ronnie-kins is going to have an early night.” George smiled.
“Told you.” Ginny nudged Draco.
“What’s that?” He frowned.
“It’s always a disaster.” Ginny shrugged.
Draco broke out into a grin, his lip resumed bleeding once more.
Sitting in the living room, they exchanged presents. Molly puttered around passing out a box to everyone. “Thanks mum.” The Weasley’s all called and opened theirs.
Finally, she turned to Draco. “Dear, you’ll have to forgive me. I heard last moment that you’d be with us, so I didn’t have much time to spin any more yarn. So I used what I had.”
Draco stared at her confused then accepted the box, opening it. His lips parted in awe as he lifted it up.
“It’s all black, with a white letter.” Molly explained.
A black knit sweater with a large letter D in the center. The D wasn’t white, that’s not how Hermione would’ve described it. Rather she would’ve pegged it for a soft white gold.
Draco, in short, looked touched. He hastily put it on, much to the delight of Molly.
“Open mine next!” Ginny called and tossed Draco an envelope, like a frisbee.
Draco’s brow knitted as he accepted it and ripped it open. A large card was in it, and he flipped it open. Beginning to read he rolled his eyes. “Are you joking?”
Ginny fought a smile. “Why would it be a joke?” She asked innocently.
It was similar to watching a tennis match between the two of them.
“Because Weaslette, I’ve come to expect---”
“Read it aloud.” Ginny interrupted.
Draco pursed his lips then read: “Dear Mr. Draco Malfoy. We are so glad to hear that you are a fan of our publications. Please enjoy your five year subscription to Witch Weekly.”
“It’s the gift that keeps on giving.” Ginny smiled
Hermione burst into laughter. The rest of the family was confused, which made her laugh that much harder.
“You know she’s going to be this way for at least an hour.” Draco pointed out.
“I know. This is more of a present for me.” Ginny laid a hand on her chest.
Draco re-read the card. “Weekly… for five years, Weaslette, what did this cost you?”
“A small fortune, worth every knut,” Ginny said with pride as Hermione laughed on.
On Boxing Day they awoke to an owl tapping on the glass window. A letter addressed to Draco. He opened it while they laid in bed. Hermione faded in and out of sleep as he read.
“What is it?” She asked.
He licked his lips. “Mr. Draco Malfoy, we apologize for the delay, but we’ve done the proper research and spells, and have determined it is safe for you to cross over the boundary line for the Malfoy line with any guests you may choose. Hope you had a happy holiday, Mildred O’Conners. Department of Curses and Cursed Objects.”
“You can go home?” She asked.
“That’s what it sounds like.” Draco muttered, rereading the letter.
“Do you want to go?” She asked, pressing her cheek over his heart to listen to it.
He bit the end of his tongue in thought. “I… maybe. Do you want to go?”
She yawned. “I wouldn’t mind. It’d give me a chance to get over my fear of that room.”
He stared at the letter. “What if they missed a curse or something?”
Hermione stretched and nuzzled him. “Unlikely, but we can take it.”
“Bloody Gryffindors.” Draco chuckled and kissed her head.
The gravel crunched underfoot as they approached the manor. Nearly three years ago, when Hermione was brought here against her will, the manor looked imposing, like a fortress. Now, it looked similar to a haunted house. “So far, no curses.” Draco mentioned.
“That’s a good sign.” Hermione insisted.
They opened the front door and Draco led her in. Instantly, loud screams ripped through the silence.
Hermione shoved her fingers into her ears and winced.
Draco took out his wand and wordlessly silenced the screams.
“What the bleeding---”
“That would be my ancestors.” He grinned sheepishly.
Hermione blinked and looked around. Dozens of paintings of similarly blonde and pointy wizards lined the halls when she first walked in. Some of the red in the face screaming and yelling. Others attempted to crawl their way out of the painting. “I take it they don’t like muggle-borns?”
“That’s putting it mildly, Granger.” He teased and held out his hand. “C’mon.”
Hermione woke up in what was quite possibly the softest sheets she had ever slept in. Draco’s body curled against hers. His erection was warm and hard against her.
Grinning, she wiggled her hips experimentally, and earned a groan from Draco.
“You’re going to kill me with that perfect arse, love.” He muttered in her ear. His voice thick with sleep. Groggily he unwound his arm from her waist and squeezed her hip.
Hermione giggled.
“You’re so warm.” He muttered happily.
“Mhmmm.” Hermione hummed.
He wound his arm back around and reached up to squeeze her breast. He bucked his hips gently and pressed open mouth kisses to her shoulder.
“I would like breakfast, first.” She whispered.
Draco just grunted in response. His hand travelled down to her stomach and then further still, dipping into her folds, still damp from the night before. He groaned. “Breakfast later.”
“Seriously, I’m starving.” She moaned.
He whimpered when she stood, but he flipped to his other side. “Fine, but I want you back up, and soon.”
She grinned and walked over to his side of the bed. Just to see his face, she grabbed a handful of each breast and squeezed.
“Merlin, I’ll give you anything. Just stay in bed for five more minutes.”
She cackled, scooped up his button down and put it on.
He stared at her like she was a glass of water and he was in the desert. “Two minutes, and I’ll give you the best orgasm you’ve ever had---”
Hermione didn’t hear the rest, she was already jogging down the stairs and down the hall of his ancestors, still under the silencing charm. Some bugged their eyes out at her, and others attempted to shout. Few gave her an approving once over, the remaining looked away.
She rounded the corner and into the kitchen, and sitting at the island frowning at the Daily Prophet was Narcissa Malfoy. Dressed in dark black and silver robes. Hermione started backing up, but it was too late. Narcissa noticed her.
“Good… morning.” Hermione tried for a smile, but the flush in her cheeks made it difficult to keep it.
“Good morning.” Narcissa tried for a smile, but it looked forced and a little false.
“We didn’t expect… I didn’t expect you home, Mrs. Malfoy.” Hermione started.
“Narcissa.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Don’t be. Call me Narcissa. I hope to change my name back to Black while I’m here.”
“Oh.”
“I got a letter yesterday informing me that there were no more wards or curses to keep me from the home, and all was finally transferred under Draco’s name. Meaning if he wanted, I could cross the property line. I see the same for you miss…”
“Hermione. Hermione Granger.”
Recognition bloomed like the blush on Hermione’s cheeks. Narcissa also blushed. “Oh, I should’ve recognized---”
“It’s fine.” Hermione shook her head.
Narcissa gave another strained smile. “You look… well.”
“Thank you. This is Draco’s.” Hermione pointed at the button down. That was absolutely the opposite of what she wanted to say.
“Oh, is Draco here?” Narcissa asked.
“I’ll go fetch him.” Hermione coughed awkwardly.
Narcissa nodded once, and Hermione tugged Draco’s shirt over her perfect arse and dashed back upstairs. Her face was redder than any fever that she had ever had. She found Draco in the adjoining bathroom next to his bedroom. He was brushing his teeth. He smiled and spat out the bit of toothpaste. “Ahhh, change your mind, dear witch?” He teased.
Hermione closed the door and ran a hand through her hair to calm it down. “Your mother is here.”
He froze and stared at her through the mirror. “What?”
“She’s here. She saw me in---”
He rinsed his mouth and brushed past her, opening the door. He located his sweater and a pair of flannel pajamas that somehow still fit him despite being several years old.
Hermione located her jeans and her underwear and tugged them on.
“Where?” He asked, his expression unreadable.
“Kitchen.”
He dashed out of the room, Hermione close on his heels, but with how tall his legs were, he was leagues ahead of her. He rounded the corner and Hermione heard something smash. She ran into the kitchen to see Draco and Narcissa holding tight to each other. Tears flowed off her face. Her hand scratched the back of his neck. He held her tight as if she may evaporate if he didn’t do so.
He let out a loud sob.
“I’m so sorry.” Narcissa whispered.
“It’s okay, mum.” Draco’s voice warbled.
They let go of each other slowly. Then Hermione felt something click, she watched as Narcissa shake out her sleeve and wipe his cheeks. She smiled up at him. “Do you want to properly introduce me to your.. Guest?”
“Yes…” Draco stepped away and put an arm around Hermione. “Mum… this is Hermione Granger. I’m in love with her.”
Narcissa’s smile was brighter than the sun. “It’s so nice to officially meet you.” She said her eyes were wet with tears, but they were brimming with joy.