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Chapter Text

Hermione Granger looked at the column that stood between Platforms 9 and 10. She knew once they appeared on the other side, her solitude would end.

She gave a reassuring smile towards her two best friends holding her hands on either side. Harry Potter with his untamable black hair looked anxious to be back at King's Cross Station and she knew there were several reasons for this. He told them about the dream he had had with Dumbledore when struck by the Killing Curse, and the dream took the shape of the same station they now stood in. The other reason was similar to hers - loss of peace and quiet.

She squeezed his hand and he squeezed back, pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose, his green eyes taking in their surroundings in case any dark wizards popped out behind a trolley.

Ron's hands were clammy in hers, but he was less anxious than Hermione and Harry. He was excited for the prospect at being the center of attention again. Hermione didn't hold this against him, he deserved the recognition after what they all did to save the Wizarding World.

He looked down at Hermione with a nervous smile and she quickly returned it. She was happy they were back to being only friends despite how close they had grown last year on the run. He wasn't happy at first when she broached the subject, but he understood their friendship was more important than a silly crush.

The three of them were briefed earlier by McGonagall and Kingsley on what awaited them on the other side, and it was for this reason they would enter the Hogwarts platform together - separate from Ginny and their friends. Aurors were already on the other side, prepared to protect them from any onslaught - whether admirers or dark wizards.

"Ready?" said Harry, looking determined.

"It shouldn't be too awful..." said Hermione, eyeing the bricks apprehensively.

"We've been avoiding the Prophet for two months now," said Ron, his nervousness turning into excitement. "Best prepare yourself."

And with that the trio stepped through the barrier onto the platform of nine-and-three-quarters.

A roaring applause greeted them on the other side which had Hermione tempted to turn the other way, but she plastered a soft smile on her face at the large crowd being pushed back by four Aurors stationed for their protection. Flashes from cameras and the shouts of their names was a surreal experience, but she was glad to have her two best friends on either side of her.

Harry was smiling shyly and squeezing her hand rather tight, whereas Ron was beaming at the crowd and cracking jokes. She shook her head in bemusement at their differences.

"Alright, alright, that's enough," said Robert impatiently, one of the Aurors assigned to them. He and another by the name of Rosa rallied the press away impatiently, wands aloft in warning.

The remaining two, Tinsel and Harold, urged the crowd to disperse and let them pass. With their luggage already on the the train, Hermione pulled Ron and Harry to follow the Aurors further on the platform to board.

"We'll be stationed on the outskirts of the castle," said Harold, his deep voice reassuring. "If you are having any trouble, let us know."

"And we could always grab a pint in Hogsmede and - what?" Tinsel rolled her eyes at her mentor, Harold, his face disapproving. "Nevermind him, if you ever need a chat, let us know!"

She reminded Hermione painfully of Tonks.

The trio nodded and shook their hands before boarding the train. They walked down the aisle of the train, excited shouts and whispers following them as they searched for a particular compartment. At last, they found where Ginny, Luna, and Neville resided and opened the door.

Harry sighed in relief and sat next to Ginny, holding her hand in comfort and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"How'd it go?" asked Ginny with a knowing look.

"As expected," said Hermione with a light shrug.

The six of them were quick to discuss their summers and what they were looking forward to at Hogwarts.

"We're all in the same year now," said Ginny with a grin. "It'll be nice to have classes together."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"It'll be nice to have a year where Voldemort isn't trying to kill me," said Harry with a brilliant smile.

Everyone laughed, the subtle flinch from Ron being the only reaction to the Dark Wizard's name.

"Hear, hear!" added Ron, who's mind had already travelled to the sweets on the soon approaching trolley.

A quiet knock on the compartment door was heard before it opened, showing a young witch without a badge, indicating she was yet to be sorted.

"I - I - I was told by the Headmistress to give this to you," stuttered the poor girl as she handed Hermione the note.

Hermione nodded in thanks and the girl blushed before sliding the door shut.

"Blimey, wonder what's it going to be like with McGonagall as Headmistress," said Ron with an eyebrow raised.

"I'm sure nothing will have changed," said Harry amused, throwing his arm casually around Ginny's shoulders.

"What's your note say?" asked Neville politely.

"Oh, right!"

Hermione unfolded the note:

Miss Granger, promptly meet me and this year's Head Boy in the first compartment at the front of the train to discuss your housing arrangements and duties. Bring your belongings with you.

Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall

"I'm supposed to meet McGonagall and the Head Boy at the front of the train," said Hermione, after quickly reading the note. "I'm supposed to bring all of my belongings."

"Who's Head Boy?" asked Harry, looking over her shoulder at the note.

"Hopefully someone who isn't a prat."

The group snorted as Hermione carefully grabbed her luggage and her beloved Crookshanks before waving goodbye to her friends as she made her way to the front of the train. She ignored the travelling whispers that followed her, determined to not let anything distract her from achieving her NEWTS this year.

As soon as she opened the compartment door, she dropped her luggage and had her wand at the ready to the sight that greeted her.

Former Deatheater, Draco Malfoy.

Though Malfoy had not grabbed his wand, his fingers twitched as if tempted while his cold eyes appraised her.

"Miss Granger," said McGonagall calmly. "Wand away if you please."

She hesitantly pocketed her wand and dragged her luggage inside the compartment. She snuck glances at the Slytherin as she lifted her trunk above.

Draco Malfoy was Head Boy. She was honestly shocked he had even been allowed to attend Hogwarts this year. He hadn't changed much from when she last saw him at the Battle of Hogwarts, though he looked more healthy and less gaunt which would make sense with Voldemort no longer living at Malfoy Manor. His white hair was longer and untidy, and she felt uncomfortable coming to the conclusion he was rather attractive; however, it wasn't the outer appearance that mattered when it came to revealing one's character.

The only mentioning's of the Malfoys she heard over the summer were in the Prophet involving his father, Lucius Malfoy, being imprisoned in Azkaban and awaiting trial.

His silvery grey eyes connected with hers and she immediately turned away to sit as far away as she could in the compartment.

McGonagall cleared her throat. "As Head Boy and Head Girl, you two are to set examples for the prefects and students of Hogwarts. Mr. Malfoy has shown qualities of change and if Professor Snape was possible of it then, I daresay, everyone deserves a second chance."

Malfoy and Hermine both looked surprised at the name of their late potion's professor.

"As you know, the Head Boy and Girl have a separate common room and dormitory. Though you both may not be on the best of terms, I'm sure the privacy will be welcomed."

Hermione had to hesitantly agree with that. Though living with Malfoy would most certainly be hell, she at least had a quiet place to study. However, she would need to always have her wand by her side, even when asleep. She was not naïve to think he would suddenly be all sunshine and roses after the war.

McGonagall went over their assigned duties, and she was surprised to note Malfoy was paying rapt attention to her instructions just as she was.

"We will be having a ball in the next few weeks to celebrate the return to Hogwarts," said McGonagall with a piercing stare. "The theme is to be around house unity, which we could always have more of after everything that has taken place over the past year."

Hermione pursed her lips at this as she doubted any Slytherin would be in agreeance, but nodded.

"I shall take my leave," said McGonagall, gathering the cloak and hat next to her. "I have already instructed the prefects of their duties when we arrive and they are to meet with you shortly after dessert to decide on an appropriate schedule for patrols and weekly meetings."

"I suggest you use this time with each other wisely."

And with that, McGonagall closed the compartment door behind her.

Hermione bit her lip, her fingers twitching for her wand like a security blanket. She tried to keep some of his redeeming qualities to the forefront so she could stay professional. His mother had lied to Voldemort and his followers about Harry being dead, Malfoy hadn't immediately identified them when caught and tortured at Malfoy Manor, and he hadn't been seen dueling anyone during the battle.

Setting her jaw, she finally looked at Malfoy and found he was already looking at her. And it wasn't out of malice, but curiosity and caution.

She cleared her throat. "I suppose we should discuss -"

"I'm sorry," murmured Malfoy quietly, looking out the window.

Whatever she was about to say was immediately forgotten.

"Pardon?"

He sighed, his hands balled up into fists.

"I said I'm sorry, Granger," he turned back to look at her, his face weary and conflicted. "For... calling you a mudblood and not stopping the torture last spring."

Hermione swallowed hard as she instinctively grabbed her forearm where the scar was permanently etched into her skin. His eyes followed her movements but he didn't comment.

Her lips set in a straight line as she looked at Malfoy who had leaned back in his chair, a small scowl on his face from her lack of response.

Hermione raised an eyebrow as his scowl became more pronounced. "You can't honestly expect me to believe you." She gave him credit for calling her "Granger" as supposed to the many other cruel nicknames he had stated over the years.

Malfoy crossed his arms and frowned.

Did he honestly believe she would fall for that? That a single sentence would take away seven years of ridicule and abuse?

"Actions speak louder than words, Malfoy," said Hermione as she reached for Hogwarts, A History. "We'll see what happens, won't we?"

And with that, she opened her book and directed her attention away from the unnerving gaze of his silvery eyes.

Chapter Text

Draco continued to scowl at his reflection in the window, his eyes dancing back and forth between himself and the witch across from him. 

What had he been expecting? That the famous Hermione Granger would suddenly be best mates with him? 

He watched as her eyes darted across the page, her pink lips slightly parted as she read.

Draco rolled his eyes. He had read the book himself, but didn't bloody know what could be so interesting she wouldn't even spare him a glance. It was rather insulting Granger found a textbook more interesting than engaging in conversation with him. 

For a mudblood - Muggleborn, he internally corrected himself - she was rather pretty in her own way. Her bushy brown hair had been somewhat tamed over the years and there was an obvious womanly figure underneath her school robes. Even he had to grudgingly agree she had looked quite attractive with Viktor Krum their 4th year at the Yule Ball. Coming to this conclusion had only made him angry and increased the bout of insults. 

Still, he could see the war had taken its toll. There were a few tiny scars on her face and neck, a softness and innocence no longer present in her expressions, and he was aware of the scarring on her arm she grabbed at the mentioning of the torture she endured. 

Draco grimaced. That had made him rather uncomfortable. He had assured himself she meant nothing to him, but her screams rebounded in his head for several days nonetheless. But if she had meant nothing... why didn't he confirm with certainty it was her?

Her eyebrows scrunched together in annoyance as her eyes continued to roam across the pages in disdain. It made him rather curious on what could be causing such irritation.

"What's got your knickers in a bunch?" he asked with a smirk, knowing it would annoy her. 

She jumped as if she had forgotten he was there and looked at him in surprise before the expression shifted into a scowl. "I doubt you would be interested."

"Suit yourself," Draco replied with a shrug, pretending he wasn't offended by her lack of dialogue. The perfect Hermione Granger seemed to be disobeying McGonagall by not trying to get along - at least he could say he tried. 

She had gone back to her book, but it was obvious she was no longer reading, her scowl deepening.

Draco's smirk widened as he continued to poke the irate Gryffindor. "That scowl is quite unbecoming." He ignored her offended expression with a quiet chuckle as he reached into his robes for a green apple. 

"If you must know," Granger started, looking frustrated as he took a bite of his apple. "I rather dislike the treatment of house elves."

He raised an eyebrow as he took a second bite. 

"It's rather ridiculous they cook our food at Hogwarts without any compensation," she continued, sitting up straighter. "It's enslavement and barbaric, they all should be set free."

He pondered this as he chewed, feeling accomplished on getting her to talk. "You could argue," he said, noting the surprised look on her face that he was going to respond. "They enjoy the work and don't want to be free."

She rolled her eyes and huffed, as if hearing this rebuttal before. "They don't know any better. All their lives they have been told it's normal and expected of them. Of course they fear the unknown but -"

"But," he interjected louder. "You're regarding them of having lesser intelligence as if they cannot think for themselves. Wouldn't it be more prudent for them to ask for freedom or compensation and advocate on their own behalf?"

Her eyebrows scrunched together, an expression he found rather enduring. 

"They don't want to be punished," Granger said after a few seconds of thinking. "They -"

"Again," he interrupted, enjoying her irritation at being cut off. "You're assuming their feelings and thoughts on the matter. They like working. I would say tricking the Hogwarts' elves into freedom by hiding clothes in the common room is a better definition of barbarism."

Granger's mouth opened in shock. "How do you know about that?"

Malfoy shrugged and propped his long legs on the bench across from him next to where she was sitting, careful not to touch her. "The elves gossip like old women in the kitchens. They were rather angry about the ordeal."

She bit her lip, pondering his words, as he took another bite of his apple. The same scrunched expression appeared on her face and he enjoyed watching her squirm in discomfort. 

"I suppose you're right," she murmured, a small unconscious pout forming on her face. He was about to gloat so as to stop thinking about the Muggleborn's lips when the compartment door slammed opened. 

"What the bloody hell is he doing here?" roared Weasley, causing a few heads to pop out of nearby compartments. 

Draco found it amusing how red his face was turning and continued to eat his apple, though his free hand had moved closer to his wand. 

Granger immediately came over and blocked his view of Weasley. Was she protecting him?

"He's Head Boy, Ron, and you shouldn't be here."

Draco could see Potter frowning at him, but unlike his Weasley, wasn't yelling. 

"He's a Deatheater, Hermione! What are you two even doing?"

"Reading," said Granger at the same time Draco said, "Snogging."

The three of them looked at him in shock. Draco smirked and had taken the last bite of his apple, enjoying himself. 

"He's just trying to get under your skin, Ron," said Granger after a pause, her hands on her hips. "Go before you do something you regret."

Weasley scowled over at him behind her shoulder and stormed away. 

"Let me know if you need anything, okay?" murmured Potter, placing a hand on her shoulder. 

Draco couldn't help but snort, which earned him a suspicious glare, before Potter also left. 

Granger stuck her head out into the hallway. "Shows over, go put your robes on. I expect we'll be arriving soon."

She shut the compartment door and sat back down with scowl. He merely widened his eyes and raised his eyebrows in innocence. 

"Quite the jokester you are now," she grumbled, crossing her arms. "I didn't think you could even fathom snogging a Mudblood."

"I'm sure you only wish you could snog a Pureblood," he retorted, mocking her stance and crossing his arms. 

"Viktor and Ron were adequate enough," she said stiffly, picking up her book to end their conversation. 

He uncrossed his arms in surprise. "Krum is a noble accomplishment, I'll give you that, but is Weaselbee your boyfriend? You sure he didn't catch anything from that obnoxious Gryffindor he was always snogging?"

To his shock, Granger laughed at this. Her laughter was contagious, but he held back his own with a smile. He enjoyed the twinkling amusement in her brown eyes. 

"That was a horrid sight to see," she agreed with a smirk, shaking her head. "But no, we're just friends now."

She looked out the window and the faintest outline of Hogwarts could be seen. "Will be rather strange to return to Hogwarts without it all in ruins."

He looked out the window with her in silence, both lost in thought. 

Several minutes later they both stood up with their luggage, ready to be the first ones off the train to lead the First Years to the castle. They stepped off the platform as the train slowed to a standstill and put their luggage in the assigned area for it to be taken to Hogwarts for inspections. 

As students began pouring out from the train, Granger yelled, "First Years, over here please!"

She elbowed him suddenly with an annoyed look. He rolled his eyes. "First Years, this way!"

Slowly through the crowd, the small gremlins appeared and stationed themselves nearby. Many students were calling out to Granger and waving in greeting, but he could see the suspicious and surprised stares directed towards him for standing next to her. 

The gremlins were muttering excitedly, outright pointing at Granger who was blatantly ignoring it, though he could see a subtle blush on her cheeks. 

"Alright tiny gremlins, this way," he said, turning around and walking to the nearby lake. 

"Malfoy, you can't call them that," Granger said, catching up to him with a frown. The sky was quickly darkening, but he swore there was a hint of amusement in her eyes. 

"Alright, four to a boat! Quickly now!" instructed Granger. 

He and Granger were forced to share a boat and there was nothing he could do to prevent their knees from touching. Though the night was cool, he felt rather warm at the proximity. She looked equally uncomfortable with the arrangements, but gazed at the castle with a faraway look. 

As they reached the shore and departed - chuckling at how ungraceful Granger was in doing so - they walked up the steps to the castle. Knocking the wind out of him was a large stone monument that read:

The Battle of Hogwarts took place here on May 2nd 1998. The following early morning would result in Harry Potter defeating You-Know-Who and ending the Second Wizarding War. Below are the names of the fallen who will forever be remembered for their bravery:

Colin Creevy

Fred Weasley

Remus Lupin

Nymphadora Tonks

Severus Snape

Draco had to stop reading the names as he began to feel rather ill. Granger also stopped to silently read the monument as the gremlins began whispering to themselves anxiously. 

He watched her hands turn into fists and noticed she was biting the inside of her cheek as if to stop herself from crying. 

"Let's keep going," he said quietly, nudging her shoulder with his. 

She didn't look at him, but held her head high when she continued forward into the castle. 

The castle looked exactly as it was before the war, every portrait where it normally stood and not a torch or speck of dust out of place. 

"Keep up, gremlins," he said while looking over his shoulder, noticing some had stopped to admire the moving paintings. 

They finally made it to the doors of the Great Hall, which immediately opened as they neared. Applause ensued when they entered, but he knew it was all for Granger as everyone at the Gryffindor table gave a standing ovation. 

Granger was blushing and smiling as they continued making their way to McGonagall who stood patiently with the Sorting Hat and scroll. Draco could hear the whispers inquiring why he was walking next to someone as esteemed as Granger. How the times have changed.

The Great Hall however, had not changed with the starry enchanted ceiling twinkling overhead. He did notice another stone monument in the corner near the vials that held their house points, but it was to be expected since this was the room where the Dark Lord had been defeated. 

They reached McGonagall and waited as she held a wand to her neck, amplifying her voice.

"Good evening, students of Hogwarts," she started, allowing a rare smile. "Your attention please. I present your Head Boy and Girl as Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy. You will respect them both and look up to them as an example."

He frowned.

Draco heard mutterings at this and knew it had nothing to do with Ganger. 

McGonagall nodded at them both and they quickly left to join their Houses. 

With relief, he noticed Blaise had saved him a spot at the Slytherin table.

"I was wondering where you were," said Blaise shaking his hand. "Shacking up with the Gryffindor Princess, I see."

He snorted. "Granger wouldn't touch me with a 10-foot broomstick."

Blaise looked amused and eyed her being warmly welcomed at the Gryffindor table. "She's rather attractive - maybe I ought to give it a go."

"Get off your Hippogriff, Zabini," said Draco, now annoyed.

"Touchy, touchy," said Blaise with a crooked grin. 

Draco ignored the sorting, clapped when prompted to, and merely studied his wand. Potter gave him his wand back after the war, but the magic didn't quite respond the same anymore. 

"I have a few announcements, but first, let us eat!"

The usual gasps resounded in the Great Hall from the First Years as the evening's feast appeared. Draco had polite conversation with Blaise around Quidditch but otherwise ate silently. He risked a glance at the Gryffindor table where he could see the girl's curly brown hair. She was laughing with a group of friends in animated conversations. 

He quickly looked away so no one would think anything of his staring. Dessert appeared and this is when he remembered he was supposed to meet with the prefects. Already some were in the back corner, waiting anxiously. 

"See you around," Draco murmured and quietly stood up. 

He rolled his eyes when he noticed Granger had yet to move and smirked at the prospect of embarrassing her again. 

Whispers surrounded him as he walked to where she was sitting and those across from her went silent, eyeing him cautiously. He was sure they had their wands out underneath the table. 

"Does the Gryffindor Princess need an escort?" he drawled loudly, leaning down so he was close to her ear. 

She squeaked and turned around, soon realizing why he was here. 

"Right, sorry," she said quickly, excusing herself. She punched his arm - hard he might add - as she stood next to him. "Don't call me that."

He smirked back at the Gryffindors cautiously watching them walk away and whispered in Granger's ear, knowing the gossip would be amusing. "Careful, Granger, it looks like we're flirting."

She scowled, but he felt accomplished at the pink blush on her cheeks. "Shove off, Malfoy."

They soon reached the prefects and he only recognized Luna Lovegood and the Weaslette. 

"Hi Draco!" said Luna cheerfully, causing everyone to stare. 

"Hello, Luna," he said politely, ignoring the shocked expressions, before glancing at Granger. "You're going to catch...what are they, Luna? Oh, wrackspurts - if you don't close your mouth, Granger."

Luna giggled as Granger closed her mouth, her cheeks turning red. 

Draco had grown to be friendly with Looney Lovegood while she was held prisoner at Malfoy Manor. She was odd, but never boring during their conversations in the night. She didn't fault him for being a Deatheater and he often snuck her food for her kindness. He was pleased and selfishly sad when she finally escaped.

"Right, let's get everything sorted," said Granger after clearing her throat. 

They figured out patrols and decided to appease McGonagall's hope for house unity by pairing everyone from a different house. They planned to meet later this week to talk more about planning the ball. 

Granger looked annoyed and he quickly realized it was because she forgot to pair herself with one of the prefects for patrols. "I knew you fancied me, Granger," smirked Draco, earning him a glare. 

She marched back to the Gryffindor table and Weaslette looked bemused as she followed after her. 

The usual announcements after dinner came:

"Forbidden Forest is out of bounds... not be out after curfew..."

"And I would kindly ask you respect the privacy of Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger and all those who fought during the Battle of Hogwarts - they are here to learn just as you are. First Years, please follow your prefects to your House's common room."

He noticed Granger looked confused when she stood up from her table and he realized McGonagall had only told him where their new dormitory was. He thought about being git and not telling her, but he saw McGonagall looking at him with an eyebrow raised and begrudgingly walked over to her. 

"C'mon Granger, common room is this way," he said impatiently, looking forward to getting some rest. 

Weasley marched up to him and he looked back at the angry red-head with boredom. 

"If you hurt her...if you touch her..."

"Weasley, I'll only be touching her when she begs for it," he smirked, knowing the wizard would turn an even brighter red. It really was too easy. 

"Stop it, Malfoy," said Granger with a frown, pulling on the sleeve of his robes. "Let's just go."

Soon enough they made it to the portrait of a pumpkin patch, located near the gargoyles leading to the Headmistress' office. 

"Treacle Tarts," he said and on cue, a door appeared and opened to their new common room. 

The common room was large but cozy with black and red couches around a fireplace; a table and two chairs in front of a large book case; and the lion and snake emblem tastefully scattered on tapestries. 

He didn't bother looking at Granger as he made his way to one of the bedrooms. It said Granger on the door, but he opened it anyhow. As expected the room was decorated with Gryffindor colors and held a large four poster bed in the middle, her trunk and cat waiting on the bed. 

"The door clearly says "Granger", Malfoy."

He smirked as he turned around to see the scowling girl. 

"My mistake," he said smoothly and left to find his room. 

It was exactly like Grangers, but with much better décor with his house's colors. He shoved his trunk off, landing noisily to the floor, and face-planted on his bed, immediately falling into a rare restful sleep.

Chapter Text

Hermione found herself immediately overwhelmed in her NEWTS classes and ever so busy with school work and Head Girl duties. Before anyone knew it, it was already the third week of school.

She thought her time in the common room and patrols with Malfoy would be gruesome, but was pleasantly surprised to find themselves behaving cordially. They would make small talk during nightly patrols about their classes and soon realized Malfoy was more intelligent than she ever gave him credit for.

When they both happened to find themselves in the common room, they worked diligently on their essays in comfortable silence. Malfoy would occasionally whine and throw a paper thestral at her head or make the occasional innuendo with his inflated ego, but she didn't mind his presence while they studied.

Hermione would occasionally catch him and his friend Blaise Zabini staring, but otherwise her and Malfoy didn't speak to each other during classes. In fact, not many Slytherins talked to Malfoy anymore. However, to her amusement, Pansy Parkinson tried sitting on his lap the first day of Transfiguration and was unceremoniously pushed off to the floor. She had to hide her laughter behind a book.

Weirdly enough, she heard girls gossiping from all the houses on how attractive he was and if they should ask him to the upcoming ball. Hermione found it all confusing, if not a bit annoying. She whined about it one day in the library to Ginny since girls were hiding and giggling behind the bookshelves to get a look at him. He was putting on quite the show taking his time contemplating what to pick and pretending they weren't there. To her surprise, Ginny admitted having a crush on him when they were younger. "It was fantasy, not reality, Hermione."

Hermione still didn't trust him - Ron and Harry agreed whole-heartedly to this - but she was starting to worry about his health. He often woke in the mornings with purple shadows under his eyes, indicating his unrest while he slept. But then again, so did she.

"We never see you anymore," whined Ron as she sat with him, Harry, and Ginny in the Gryffindor common room.

"Not around to finish your homework is what you mean," she teased as she looked over his Defense Against the Dark Arts essay.

"That too," he said brightly, causing her to shake her head as she crossed out a line on his parchment.

"Malfoy giving you any trouble?" asked Harry quietly, looking concerned.

"Not at all," said Hermione, looking puzzled. "The only time he even said the word 'mudblood' was on the train when he apologized."

"He apologized?" asked Ginny, her mouth agape. "Has he been confunded or given polyjuice?"

Hermione shrugged and looked back down at Ron's essay.

"Are you becoming friends with the slippery Slytherin?" asked Ron darkly. "He's still the enemy, Hermione."

She frowned and put her quill aside. "The whole point of this year is for house unity. If he's going to act cordial, then I will do the same. Ask Ginny... he hasn't done anything suspicious during prefect meetings."

Everyone turned to Ginny who shrugged. "It's odd, but she's right. He helps lead the meetings just as much as Hermione. Hasn't said a single insult except for the occasional eye roll."

Hermione snorted at that.

Ron looked perplexed between the two witches. "Don't either of you let your guard down. He was... is a follower of You-Know-Who. I don't want any of you lot getting hurt."

Hermione smiled warmly at her friend. "I appreciate the concern, Ron, but Ginny and I are more than capable of hexing him."

"I'm excited for the ball later this week," squealed Ginny, turning the attention away from Malfoy. "A masquerade... and the Weird Sisters are going to perform!"

"I hate dancing," moaned Ron, looking glum.

Harry nodded in agreeance, but stopped when Ginny gave him a look.

Hermione bit her lip. "There's still so much planning to be done. I don't know if we'll have everything ready!" she fretted, wringing her hands.

"Relax Hermione," said Ginny with a grin, leaning against Harry's chest. "Or you'll be sprouting white hairs and looking like Dumbledore by Christmas."

After another hour of helping Harry and Ron with their essays, she returned back to her common room with a small smile. She couldn't believe her luck at how well this year was going so far. She still had her friends, a private common room and dormitory to study in, and was even making peace with Malfoy. Her classes were challenging, but that was to be expected.

She was half-way to her room, when she heard the soft mutterings by the fireplace. Curious, Hermione made her way over to find Malfoy sleeping on the couch, an open Potions textbook on the floor. He looked less like a git when he slept, if not a bit handsome.

Hermione went up to his dormitory, noting how neat and clean he kept his room, and grabbed his comforter. She lightly placed the green blanket on top of him and noted the purple shadows under his eyes again with worry.

She just turned when there was a whimper in his Malfoy's sleep.

"Father...no..."

Hermione bit her lip, feeling intrusive, but having her theory confirmed. Nightmares seemed to plague Malfoy's sleep.

"I don't want... it hurts..."

She chewed on the inside of her cheek, unsure what to do. Would he want to be awoken from a nightmare?

Another innocent whimper escaping his lips resolved her decision. She knelt down and gently shook his shoulder. "Malfoy...wake up..."

"Mother...please..."

Hermione's heart ached for him and she shook his shoulder harder.

"Malfoy...Draco...wake up!"

Before she could pull away, his own hand shot out and tightly grabbed her wrist. He sat up, breathing heavily and blinking slowly, wiping a sheen of sweat from his brow.

"What..." He looked down and saw he was holding her wrist and let go as if scalded.

"You were talking in your sleep," Hermione murmured, looking apprehensive now with her decision. "It sounded like a nightmare."

He wiped his eyes and she was surprised to see there were unshed tears.

"Must've fallen asleep," he mused looking down at his textbook, then at his comforter, before staring at her. "It's a shame I fell asleep with my shirt on innit, Granger?"

She rolled her eyes and shook her head with a smile. "Good night, Malfoy."

"Wait - "

She turned around with her eyebrows scrunched together at the pleadingv tone in his voice.

"Can...Can you sit with me for a little longer?"

She tilted her head, not used to seeing the confident Slytherin looking unsure of himself.

"Sure, Malfoy."

She carefully sat on the couch, leaving a few feet between them. "Have you asked Madame Pomfrey for a sleeping draught? It helped with my nightmares a few years ago."

"I deserve the nightmares."

He wasn't looking at her, but into the soft burning embers of the fireplace.

Hermione frowned. "You deserve them?"

Malfoy looked at her then, the embers casting mysterious shadows against his face. "I was a Deatheater, Granger. I hurt people."

She swallowed hard, carefully arranging her features to not show pity nor fear. "That is true," she said gently, thinking carefully on what to say. "You were a Deatheater, but -"

"You want to know what I was dreaming about," Malfoy suddenly demanded, his face contorted in anger.

"Malfoy, I - "

He rolled up his sleeve showing the dark mark contrasting clearly against his pale skin. "This bloody mark, Hermione." Malfoy shoved the sleeve aggressively back down. "It was punishment for my father screwing up at the Department of Mysteries. An honor, is what they called it." He scoffed in disgust.

Hermione could only sit there completely still, seeing the pain behind his anger.

"I cried in front of my parents and the Dark Lord as I was branded. He laughed as I suffered."

Malfoy grew quiet, his face paler than it already was.

Hermione took a deep breath before she reached over and grabbed his hand, his skin cold and soft. He jumped from the contact, but didn't move away.

"We can't change the past," she said softly. "It's awful what you went through - even if it wasn't on the right side of the war, but Snape was also burdened with the mark and he ended up doing some good in the end."

He frowned down at her hand on top of his.

"Either you ask Madame Pomfrey, or I will. You don't deserve the nightmares... our lived experiences are enough to deal with." Hermione lightly squeezed his hand and let go when she stood up from the couch. "Goodnight, Draco."

She could feel him staring after her as she made her way to her room, closing the door quietly behind her.

"That was unexpected," she murmured to Crookshanks, crawling into bed. "I think I'm starting to feel sorry for the ferret."

Crookshanks didn't answer and continued to stare in annoyance from his interrupted sleep.

The next morning, she noticed the Potions book and blanket absent from the common room, indicating Malfoy had indeed moved to his dormitory. She made her way to the Great Hall, still troubled by last night's events. It wasn't like it was Malfoy's fault for being born into a pureblood, muggle-hating family - just as she had no control coming from a family of Muggles.

It wasn't an excuse for his behavior and abuse over the years, but it helped give her another perspective on how different they had been brought up into the Wizarding World.

Hermione was among the first handful of students to stumble their way to breakfast in the Great Hall. She nibbled on some toast, reading a textbook from her Advanced Runes class.

"Morning!" said Ron brightly, sitting next to her.

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him for his unusual cheerful demeanor. "Good morning, Ron. What's got you so happy?"

"Can't I just be happy?" was his only reply as he transferred a half dozen links of sausages to his plate.

Soon enough, Harry and Ginny appeared hand-in-hand, sitting across from them.

"What's got you cheery?" said Ginny with a yawn, pouring herself some juice.

"Am I not allowed to be in a good mood?" said Ron, now looking annoyed.

"No," said Ginny, taking a sip from her goblet.

Ron glowered and Hermione coughed to hide her laugh.

"If you must know," said Ron, looking smug at Hermione and nudging her shoulder. "I heard from Lavender Brown you still fancy me."

Ginny choked on her drink, causing a few drops to dribble down her chin, whereas Hermione dropped her book on her bowl of oatmeal, causing the bowl to fall to the floor with a loud crash.

Instinctively she pointed her wand at the broken ceramic and said, "Repairo," and the intact bowl was back on the table. Harry was patting Ginny's back with a wary expression. It was obvious Ron did not confided this information to him.

"I - Ron -"

"No need to be shy, Hermione," Ron said with a sweet smile, putting his arm around Hermione's shoulders.

She frowned and shrugged him off. "No, Ron, that's not -"

Ron didn't seem to be listening anymore and pulled her in for a sloppy kiss. Immediately she heard low whistles nearby and used all her strength to pull away.

"STOP THAT!"

"What?" said Ron, looking confused.

She shrugged him off, looking furious. "Your informant is wrong, Ron. I don't fancy you."

He frowned. "No need to be prude - "

Hermione stood up, hating that Ron had put her in this position. "We talked about this, Ron. We agreed to stay friends."

His ears grew bright red, and she knew many had witnessed what happened. "DO YOU FANCY THE DEATHEATER THEN?"

Her mouth popped opened in horror as she tried to rationalize with him. "Don't do this, Ron, you're embarrassing yourself."

"YOU DO THEN, AM I RIGHT?"

"HE ISN'T A DEATHEATER! STOP IT RONALD!" Hermione yelled back, losing her temper, the memory of last night weighing on her heavily.

"FIRST KRUM, NOW MALFOY! DO YOU FANCY ONLY THE DARK WIZARDS OR -"

"You're immaturity is astounding," she said coldly and marched out of the Great Hall, ignoring all the whispers and stares.

Brilliant, just brilliant. Ron managed to make an arse of himself at her expense.

She wiped away the traitorous angry tears and made her way to the astronomy tower. She wasn't one to miss class, but was sure Runes could wait one day.

Breathing heavily, she finally made it up the stairs and stood at the white marble banister overlooking the Hogwarts grounds. The breeze in the air helped calm her breathing and clear the fog in her head.

She had promised herself last year she would no longer cry over that prat - ironic it was over him kissing her when, all of 6th year, that's all she hoped for.

She didn't fancy Malfoy. Yes, he was intelligent, attractive, and with an air of mystery, but... she gripped the banister tightly. She didn't fancy Malfoy, but doubted many would have defended him if put in the same position.

"Granger."

Hermione whirled around to find Malfoy staring at her, his head tilted curiously, his white hair untidy but in a good way. He rebelled against wearing his robes after the second day and simply wore black trousers and a white long-sleeve dress-shirt. His sleeves were rolled up, but not so far as to see the dark mark; his Head Boy badge was pinned to his chest. What stood out were those damn grey, silvery eyes - she always thought they looked rather cold, but lately they were warm.

She looked back quickly over the Hogwarts grounds. "Not a good time, Malfoy," she said quietly.

"Weaselbee is a bit of prat," he said, walking closer and leaning forward casually on the banister next to her.

She snorted. "Noticed, have you?"

Hermione saw him smirk out of the corner of her eye.

"McGonagall gave him a detention after you left."

She sighed, feeling guilty. "He was just embarrassed."

He didn't say anything for a few seconds, weaving his wand through his fingers, lost in thought.

"Have you found a date to the ball?"

Malfoy still wasn't looking at her when she glanced over.

"I was asked by Cormic." She wrinkled her nose in disgust, remembering the dreadful event from last week after supporting Harry, Ron, and Ginny during Quidditch try-outs.

Harry was captain and seeker, Ginny a chaser, and Ron managed to beat Cormic by one point again for Keeper. Maybe he thought being in good favor with her would change Harry's mind when he got down on one knee with his invitation. Ginny had laughed so hard she fell off her broom.

He looked over then and laughed at her expression. "It was a surprise to see you both together at the Slug Club party."

"Right, you were gate crashing," Hermione quietly laughed, then groaned. "It was only to make Ron jealous... how times have changed."

Another minute of silence passed.

"Hermione."

She looked over in surprise, having only heard him say her name once before.

Malfoy was no longer holding his wand but a red rose, giving her a breathtaking crooked smile. "Want to go to the ball with me?"

"Really?" she blurted, looking incredulous at him and the rose.

He seemed to be holding back a laugh. "It'll appease McGonagall with the house unity rubbish, and we're Head Boy and Girl after all."

"True," she murmured, not sure why she felt butterflies in her stomach at his logical proposal.

"And Weasley might just punch me in the face," said Malfoy cheerfully before nudging her shoulder. "Though I doubt it'll match up to yours from third year."

She couldn't help but laugh, remembering the day well. "You deserved it."

He only nodded, looking amused. "So what do you say?"

She pursed her lips, glancing back and forth between the scenery and Malfoy. "As friends?"

His expression softened just slightly and his mouth curved into a small smile. "Friends."

Chapter Text

"Granger, we're running late," drawled Draco, his hands stuffed deep into his pockets, waiting impatiently by the exit to their shared common room. 

He glanced down at his attire. Granger had the bloody idea no one would be allowed to wear their house colors to the ball. He sported all black aside from the red silk handkerchief in his breast pocket. His mask was black with a red accent. He heard her door open and close upstairs, her footsteps approaching. 

"Finally," said Draco, with an eyeroll. "You'd have thought -" but whatever snide comment Draco was about to say was lost on his lips when he saw her.

In front of him stood Hermione Granger; however she looked very different than the know-it-all Muggleborn he knew. Her brown hair had been tamed, and curled down to her bare shoulders. Her emerald green dress hung off her shoulders and accentuated her waist before flowing to the floor. A large slit in her dress going up to her thigh drew attention to her long legs and she wore black heels which was held by a ribboning pattern up to her calf. 

He finally looked into her eyes behind the matching green mask and noticed how bright her warm brown eyes contrasted with the green. Granger was chewing on her deep red lips, obviously nervous about her appearance and his reaction.

Draco cleared his throat and glanced once more at her long slender leg peeking out from the dress. "You look stunning, Granger."

A subtle blush could be seen on the edges of her mask. His thoughts had begun to venture into questionable territory as he raked over her slender shoulders and the visible top of her breasts. If his father knew what he was thinking...

"Thank you," she said quietly, walking closer. 

"Quite sexy in green," he said with a wink, attempting to put her at ease as well as distract himself from her figure. 

She laughed and shook her head, the blush deepening. "The flattery is unnecessary."

"I was talking about myself," he smirked, holding his arm out. 

Her laugh was more genuine this time when she looped her arm into his, the temperature of their proximity causing a thin sheen of sweat on the back of his neck. 

They exited their common room into the empty corridor. 

"Has it hurt your ego that I haven't said anything over your appearance?" teased Granger, the portraits eyes' following them as they made their way to the Great Hall. 

This fact seemed irrelevant considering how she looked tonight. "Of course," Draco said, placing his free hand on his chest, feigning hurt. "It's practically in shambles."

She smiled in amusement, the sound of their footsteps echoing down the corridor as they neared the faint source of music. 

"You're not wearing much red, but it does look rather dashing," she said with a smile, looking over to him warmly. 

He had the sudden urge to pull her aside and ravish her lips with his until they were swollen, but he resisted the blasphemy of such a thought.

They finally reached the outskirts to the Great Hall and were mere feet from view. 

"Ready?" Draco said, his grin genuine at being given the honor to escort the gorgeous witch beside him. He was determined to keep any thoughts of blood purity from his mind. What damage could be done by putting aside his upbringing for one night?

"Ready."

***

Hermione had to admit she was impressed with what they managed to create in the Great Hall. It was elegant to the likes of the Yule Ball, but with a splash of color from all four houses on tapestries. They even created miniature animated creatures of their House mascots who were chasing each other on tables. 

Immediately upon entering the Great Hall on Malfoy's arm, all eyes turned toward them. She was slightly uncomfortable with how revealing her dress was, but Ginny convinced her to go "outside her comfort zone" for one night. Malfoy seemed unfazed by the staring and held his head high, leading her towards the table with punch and appetizers. 

There was a familiar scent wafting towards her from the punch that made her frown. She eyed Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas suspiciously who were quietly talking nearby, stuffing an object back into their dress robes.

"It's not poison," whispered Draco, his lips lightly touching her ear. "Most here are of age."

She pursed her lips, still considering on vanishing the punch altogether. 

"Hermione, you look gorgeous!" yelled Ginny, dragging Harry in tow towards them. 

Ginny was wearing a blue sequined mermaid gown, her hair pinned back intricately. Harry wore black dress robes and a blue mask.

Harry blinked several times at her, his mouth slightly agape. "Hermione?"

"I helped pick her dress," explained Ginny with a smile. "Didn't I say it would look lovely?"

"You did," Hermione agreed, trying to not fidget under their scrutiny. 

"Here I am, expecting a bookworm on my arm, and instead found a Veela," teased Malfoy, causing Hermione to blush and Harry to stare as if Malfoy had sprouted two heads. 

Ginny was unfazed and grinned at Malfoy. "I do have an eye for fashion." 

"The blue does suit you, Weaselette," said Malfoy politely, looking over her gown. 

"Thanks!" said Ginny warmly with a smile. "Let's go dance, Harry."

"Er - okay," said Harry, who looked extremely uncomfortable with the polite small talk. "See you later, Hermione... Malfoy..."

Hermione nibbled on a biscuit nervously as she caught many students staring at her, but it seemed like everyone was having a good time. Malfoy was talking to Blaise a few feet away in whispers.  

"Hermione, blimey, is that you?"

She turned around and saw Ron in his black dress robes sporting a yellow mask with Lavender Brown on his arm. She was wearing a large yellow ball gown and reminded Hermione of the Muggle princess, Belle.

"You look wonderful, Lavender," she said politely.

Lavender pursed her lips, glancing at Ron's slacked jaw with it being confirmed the witch in the green dress was indeed Hermione Granger.

"Thank you," she said stiffly. "And you look..." she trailed off, her lips pursed again.

"Gorgeous, yes?" Malfoy appeared at her side just then with an arm around her waist.

Ron's face turned tomato red as he realized who Hermione's date for the ball was.

"You came with Malfoy?" asked Ron quietly.

"I'm right here you know," Malfoy drawled, suddenly pulling Hermione even closer to his side causing her to also be blushing. "Any complaints can be forwarded to the Headmistress, Weasley."

Malfoy turned to her, ignoring the two Gryffindors. "Would you like to dance, Granger?"  

Hermione looked at him confused when he led her to the dance floor before she could even reply. "Only if you want... we don't have to if you're trying to salvage a Mudblood-free reputation."

He didn't reply and pulled her around to be in front of him, keeping his arm around her waist, and gently placed one of her hands on his shoulder and the other into his hand. 

"Done this before, have you?"

He looked amused as he slowly twirled her around. "A bit."

They didn't talk much as they danced in the Great Hall. Brown eyes connected with silvery grey often, a faint smile on both of their faces. By the fourth song, Hermione was pleading for a break on her feet. 

"Women and their shoes," muttered Malfoy with a shake of his head.

Hermione lightly hit his chest while they walked from the dance floor to a nearby table. "In my defense, I did not pick this outfit."

"True," agreed Malfoy, pulling out a chair for her. "Who knew you were hiding such fantastic legs."

Hermione scowled at his teasing. "There's more to a person than their legs."

"They are rather helpful though," Malfoy said with a grin, sitting next to her and lightly touching her knee to emphasize his point. "Getting you from one place to another."

"I believe magic can help with that too," she argued, feeling her face flush from his touch. Did her nerve receptors all exist in this exact area of her knee?

"It can," he conceded, drawing a small circle on her knee with his thumb. Despite magic being used to keep the Great Hall at a comfortable temperature, it seemed much too warm where they sat. 

"Would you mind fetching a glass of water?" she asked quickly, her voice sounding winded.

She watched a small smirk form on his face as if he knew what he was doing to her. "Of course."

He finally relinquished her knee and Hermione found herself exhaling deeply as if she had been holding her breath. 

"Mind if we had a dance?"

Hermione jumped in her chair and whirled around to see Blaise Zabini holding a hand out to her with a handsome grin. He too held himself with confidence, and she wondered if this was simply a Slytherin trait. 

"I'm actually waiting for a glass of water from Malfoy," said Hermione apologetically. 

"We made a bet of five galleons to ask you to the ball," he said with a smirk, sitting himself in Malfoy's chair. 

"I know." She was pleased to see the cocky grin vanish from his face.

Malfoy had brought this up the same day he had asked her, but it didn't really bother her. She was still being treated cordially and Malfoy had told her the truth. She was also confident "dancing" hadn't been part of the agreement. They were friends, sort of.

Malfoy quickly returned with a glass of water, giving his friend Blaise a calculated look. "Will you be alright, Granger, if Luna and I had a dance?"

She blinked in surprise and saw Luna next to him with a serene smile wearing a yellow sundress, the same dress she wore to Bill and Fleur's wedding. "Oh! Hello, Luna! Of course, go ahead."

Malfoy gave her a nod and shot a dark look at Blaise before leading Luna to the dance floor. She watched them as Luna did her own intricate moves and Malfoy stood next to her with a wide grin.

What an odd friendship, she couldn't help but muse. 

"Looney Lovegood is an interesting creature," said Blaise casually, taking a drink of her water much to her annoyance. "I don't know what Draco sees in her."

"She's unique and doesn't care what others think," she said, defending her friend. 

"I supposed," he sighed and suddenly looked her up and down with a smirk. "I can see what he sees in you."

Hermione's lips went into a straight line as she took a long drink of her water. "Is there something you wanted, Zabini?"

"Nah," he said, standing up with a grin. "Enjoy your night, Granger."

Hermione watched him walk away and start talking to a group of Ravenclaw girls in short green dresses, giggling being the immediate response to something he said. 

She finished her glass of water and made her way to the fountain, but a small crash outside the Great Hall drew her attention.

"What's going on?" she asked, incredulous at the scene that greeted her. 

Padma Patil was holding back an angry Lavender Brown, while a red-faced Ron was half hidden behind an embarrassed Harry. Lavender looked quite deranged and her dress now torn. Something didn't sit right with Hermione.

"You!" screeched Lavender pointing at her. "Looking like a slag and stealing my Won-Won!"

Hermione frowned, ignoring the jab. "Padma, what's going on?"

"She was attacked by a werewolf during the Battle of Hogwarts," said Padma with a grimace, struggling with her friend. "I've noticed she is much more emotional the closer we get to the full moon."

"Perhaps if Ron could keep his eyes off of skanks, my temper would be much better!" Lavender yelled. "Let go of me, Padma!" 

Hermione suddenly swayed on her feet, and placed her hand on a wall to steady herself.

She didn't know why, but she had a feeling something more was going on with Lavender Brown than a bad temper.

"Padma and Ron, could you help Lavender to the Hospital Wing? Madame Pomfrey might be able to help with a calming potion.

Ron grimaced at his name being included, but with another glance at her and Harry, followed behind Padma and Lavender as they headed in the direction towards the Hospital Wing. 

"Are you okay, Hermione?" Harry asked her with a frown, stepping closer. 

"I - I'm fine, Harry," said Hermione, who then giggled at Harry's expression. "Your eyebrows are funny when you look concerned."

His eyebrows furrowed even more much to her amusement. "I'm... going to find Ginny. Don't move, okay?"

Hermione hiccupped and shrugged. Her entire body felt warm and energized.

Five seconds passed when Harry disappeared from view before she started roaming the corridors. The astronomy tower seemed to be calling to her and she eventually made it up the steps with her unsteady footing.  The cool night air felt good against her skin and she sat down on a bench to unwrap the ribbons from her heels. 

After a few minutes of struggling, she now balanced barefoot on top of the banister, feeling the wind fly through her hair and dress. She had the sudden thought in her head on how it would feel to jump... to fly...

***

After Draco interrogated Potter of Granger's odd behavior and bickered with Pansy, he went searching for her. To his surprise and worry, she wasn't in their dormitory. He searched the library and had asked someone to search the Gryffindor common room. 

He passed by the steps to the astronomy tower when Draco heard soft humming. It was so quiet he thought he may have imagined it, but as he went further up the steps, the humming became clearer. 

When he reached the landing, he was shocked to find Hermione standing on the banister, humming casually to herself. A light drizzle was starting to pick up pace in the night.

"Bloody hell, Granger... get off the damn banister!"

She said nothing and continued to hum. He realized yelling was stupid of him and could have made her slip, but she gave no indication she had even heard him.

"Hermione?"

Draco walked closer and couldn't help but think how beautiful she looked with her hair and dress flowing behind her in the wind. Her blank expression however was cause for alarm.

"I'm going to fly," she told him simply, before proceeding to jump off the banister. 

Chapter Text

She jumped.

Malfoy didn't think - he jumped over the banister after her. 

He reached for his wand as rain and wind whipped past his face. 

"Arresto Momentum!"

Time itself seemed to slow when he heard the soft thud of Hermione hitting the ground. His breath caught in his throat. Had he been too late? 

He impatiently waved away the spell when he was close enough to jump without breaking his legs and ran to the silhouette of the Gryffindor. He breathed a sigh of relief to see signs of life, her chest lifting and falling slowly. Her dress was torn and there were a few scratches to her porcelain cheeks but she was alive.

Draco gently picked up her unconscious form off the ground. Her dress stuck to her like a second skin and the water glistened on the valley of her breasts, but he firmly pushed any thoughts away. She was unconscious, now was definitely not the time. 

He jogged back to the castle and managed to breach the main entrance. Was there really no one guarding the door? Where were the Aurors?

Just as the portraits had when he and Granger left for the ball, their eyes followed with curiosity and alarm as he made his way back to their dormitory. He could only imagine the sight: he, an ex-Death Eater, carrying a pale unconscious war heroine through the corridors. 

"Lemon pops," he spit out, and quickly ducked into their common room. 

He wasn't really thinking when he carried her to his room - the common room or her bedroom would seem more logical - and laid her carefully on the bed. "Exaresco," he murmured, waving his wand at Granger and himself. 

Her lips that had begun to turn a light blue were slowly changing back to a rosy pink when he dried themselves with the Hot Air Charm. When he looked down at her face, he realized why he had unconsciously chose not to bring her to the infirmary: the black shadows under her eyes. 

The shadows were a familiar side-effect Draco knew to one of the Unforgiveables: the Imperius Curse. A curse he had seen performed many times during the war at Malfoy Manor. His Aunt Bellatrix enjoyed gloating to her imperiused victims what atrocious actions they had done under her spell before killing them. The shadows always appeared the second the curse was lifted. 

It was the only logical explanation he could think of on why Granger would jump off the Astronomy Tower and have such a blank expression before doing so. Draco hadn't noticed anyone else on the tower, but hadn't looked around for very long before she had declared she was going to fly. 

He bit back a groan when she shifted to her side on the bed, now seeming to be asleep rather than unconscious. The appealing slit in her dress had pulled away more so revealing a section of her bum, the green lace of her knickers just visible. 

Draco cleared his dry throat as he felt a twitch in his trousers. He couldn't be thinking this way, especially not of a Muggleborn. Befriending part of the golden trio was a way to redeem his family name, but it was something different to feel more...

Before his imagination could go awry, he pointed his wand at his dresser. "Accio."

A white top and black silky pajama bottoms flew to his arms, neatly folded. He took a deep breath. "Let's get this over with," he murmured. 

He was a gentleman of course, even if his thoughts betrayed him when he gently pulled the shirt over her head and dress. Draco was relieved it reached her mid-thigh so he could wave away her ripped dress with his wand without violating the woman further while unconscious. He already felt like a bellend with his intruding thoughts. 

He grimaced while his fingers lightly grazed over the scar on Granger's forearm when pulling her arm through the sleeves of his shirt. He had been the unwilling assailant and victim of this curse many times. 

After quickly placing her legs properly in the pajama bottoms and lifting the material to cover her bum, his mind thought back to her jumping off the bloody tower.

To say he was surprised she could be influenced so strongly by the imperius curse was an understatement. Only the weakest or shallowest of minds could be bended unless done so by a powerful wizard such as the Dark Lord. But if she had had some of the punch... her mind would have been more amenable...

But this didn't seem right either. He had given her a glass of water and from the few times he glanced over while dancing with Luna, she had consumed nothing else unless... 

His eyebrows furrowed together. A simple spell could have done the trick. Did Blaise spike her drink? Draco remembered seeing him take a drink of her water because of the charming scowl that graced her face when he had done so. But for him to have cursed her and influenced Granger to jump off the astronomy tower didn't make sense. What was there for Blaise to gain from this? 

He had been in a foul mood with Blaise all night due to the innuendos he had been muttering under his breath. 

"I wouldn't mind if I'd Slytherin to her Chambers."

"Would she moan for me like Myrtle?"

"Maybe she'll let me visit her Restricted Section."

Draco knew he was taking a piss, as best mates do, but it didn't mean he wanted to hear Blaise fantasize about shagging the witch. He had also been doing his best to not think of her in this way.

He couldn't have these thoughts. Their differences in blood status forbade it. 

Pulling the green comforter over her body, he stared far too long at her face. Her bottom lip had jutted out in her sleep and only reminded him of the strange urge he had when walking with her to the ball. He angerly pushed this aside, perhaps Draco needed to distance himself further. He threw his own shirt carelessly into a chair and changed into his pajama bottoms before he started towards the door, but a whimper stopped him in his tracks. 

Granger had curled into a ball, her body shaking like a leaf and her lips trembling. 

He shook his head. It was a nightmare, one that would pass without his assistance, but as he turned the handle, a soft cry of "please" was heard. 

Draco looked back. She was still asleep, but whimpering softly. He sighed and cautiously made his way back to Granger. He bit his inner cheek when he laid down next to her and lightly rubbed her back, hoping to soothe her from the dreams. 

A quiet sigh escaped Granger's lips, the trembling lessening. She slowly turned towards him, and nuzzled herself into his side; her breath tickling his neck and a small curled fist now on top of his bare chest. There was plenty of time to move away, but not even Merlin would know why he hadn't. He hesitated before running his lithe fingers through her curls and felt her mouth curl into a small smile at his gesture.

His heart was pounding out of his chest, as if sensing the betrayal. This was wrong, this was wrong, this was wrong...

Years of engrained hatred for muggles and muggleborns flooded his mind - the lectures of their impurities staining the wizarding world - but her blood flowed red as the next witch. He would know.

She was anything but impure. Granger was innocent. Brave. Intelligent. Stunning. 

There were impulses he wouldn't have dreamed of having, especially with the likes of her. Draco carefully shifted his head and lightly kissed her forehead, earning a gentle sigh against his neck in return.

She was fire and he was ice.

Was there any other excuse to run from her aside from blood status? The Dark Lord was vanquished and his father in Azkaban... but could he risk his reputation? 

He snorted quietly to himself. That wasn't the right question to be inquiring. Would Granger... Hermione allow an ex-Death Eater to be more than a friend and damage her reputation. 

Their conversations on nightly patrols engaged him, she challenged him. He made her laugh and her amused scowl was impossibly enduring. His mind flashed back to when she had placed her hand on top of his, comforting him after a nightmare in receiving the dark mark. And when they had danced just mere hours ago... the music of her laughter as he twirled her around... their eyes gazing into one another, neither wanting to be the first to look away...

Draco could no longer fight against the conclusion his mind finally dredged: he cared for her, he liked her. Wasn't coming back to school this year all about second chances? Turning over a new leaf? Could he, Draco, be given a chance to hold the "Gryffindor Princess" like this again? 

His heart had slowed to a normal pace, as if sensing the comfort he felt in accepting this new fate. There would be obstacles... this path would have winding curves, hurdles to jump; doubt would surely weave itself back into his heart. Draco wouldn't change overnight. The prejudice and darkness had poisoned his mind for eighteen years.  

But perhaps with this witch beside him, he could push himself to do better. To be better. 

There were many other thoughts to sift through: 

Who had imperiused Hermione? Who was trying to kill her?

Would she even accept him? Or was she simply biding her time to graduate from Hogwarts and be rid of him?

Draco pushed these thoughts aside and buried his face into her curls, inhaling the scent of honeydew and mint. He held her close and closed his eyes, having a rare night delving into the darkness without the thoughts of war or dark wizards. 

"DRACO MALFOY WHAT -"

Draco jolted from his sleep, annoyed and disoriented from leaving a pleasant dream. He couldn't remember what it was about, but it had given him an unfamiliar feeling of joy.

His blinked a few times, sitting himself up against his headboard with a yawn, and looked over at the witch beside him. 

Merlin, she was beautiful... and wearing his clothes. He was pleased his thoughts of change and affection had not been from a drunken stupor, but were in fact genuine. 

Hermione looked to be a fish out of water, opening her mouth and closing it, her cheeks a dark rose. Her warm brown eyes glancing over his body.. 

She was fire and he was ice. But he was burning from her gaze.

He raised an eyebrow amused. "Isn't it impolite to stare, Hermione?" 

Hermione's mouth was agape and he couldn't help but grin, but the dark shadows still present underneath her eyes lessened his smile. 

"Did... Did we... We didn't..."

Draco could help but laugh loudly at what she was implying. "My poor ego. I'm hurt you don't remember..."

Her hands went to her mouth in horror, but he rolled his eyes at her theatrics. "No, Hermione, we didn't do anything. Just slept."

She removed her hands from her mouth and silently mouthed the words "oh". Hermione looked down, her expression confused. "How come I'm in... are these yours? How did I -"

Draco quickly raised his hands in defense. "What was the last thing you remember?" He would rather like to skip the details of him changing her clothes. 

She shifted to face him more fully and sat cross-legged, chewing her bottom lip. Despite her initial shock of being in his bed, she was still sitting a mere foot away from him. 

"You had gone to dance with Luna," she said slowly and he nodded. "And I talked to Zabini... I went out of the Great Hall because I saw Padma restraining Lavender from attacking Ron. He was hiding behind Harry..."

He nodded again, Potter had explained this briefly. 

Hermione frowned. "I sent three of them to the infirmary... Harry asked if I was okay because I wasn't standing properly... I had found his eyebrows amusing for some reason... he said to not move and went to get Ginny... and then I woke up here!"

Draco mirrored her frown, confirming the possible alcohol and curse purposefully forced upon her. 

"We need to talk to McGonagall," he said quietly, folding back the comforter. He stood and stretched, but couldn't help the boy-ish smile when he saw Hermione scanning his body with a blush. "If you wanted to shag, you only need to ask," he said with a wink, causing the Gryffindor to flush to a point even her ears had reddened. He was joking.

Mostly. 

Hermione looked as if she wanted to retort, but seemed to have thought better about it and also stood. He turned around to find a shirt when he heard an "oomph!". He looked back and saw a bewildered Hermione on the floor, she seemed to have lost her balance. 

He couldn't help but laugh at her expression and came closer, tossing his white buttoned shirt on the bed. She scowled up at him. 

"I see you're falling for me, Hermione," he teased, offering her a hand. 

But really it's me falling for you... and we barely know anything about each other.

Her scowled deepened, but warm brown eyes sparkled and took his hand nonetheless. "Do you tell all girls that line?"

"Hmm..." 

He was supposed to be taking it slow, but the adrenaline of his decision last night made it more difficult.

Draco couldn't help but pinch a stubborn strand of her hair between his fingertips and curl it behind her ear, keeping his fingers there longer than necessary. Hermione's lips parted and the innocent wide eyes stared back into his. 

"Are you sure nothing happened between us last night?" she asked softly and then cringed as if she hadn't meant to say this aloud.

Yes, but you were unconscious the entire time when I saw your knickers and kissed your forehead, and then came to the conclusion I  may fancy you.

He cleared his throat. "Go get dressed, we need to see McGonagall. I'll explain everything then," he finally said, removing his hand. 

Ten minutes later, Hermione joined him in the common room, wearing her school robes and hair pulled back into a bun. He wished he could take the accessory away and see her hair cascade like last night. 

They merely had to exit the common room and take a few steps to be standing in front of the guarding gargoyles that led to the Headmistress' office.

"Albus," he said quietly, and the two gargoyles nodded, moving aside to reveal the familiar winding staircase. 

"How did you know the password?" asked Hermione, breaking the silence. 

"While you were changing, I owled Potter and McGonagall."

"You owled Harry?" she asked as she followed him up the stairs. 

He glanced back a few times to make sure she had surer footing than earlier. He shouldn't have laughed when she fell - it was a common side-effect of the curse - but her expression had been too much.

He knocked twice when they reached the top of the stairs. 

"Enter."

His gaze did not fall on the Headmistress when he stepped further into the room, but at the portrait of Albus Dumbledore. Dumbledore had his familiar smile as he peered down at them over his spectacles. The old man offered him protection that fateful night... but it had been too late. And so he was surprised to have learned during the Battle of Hogwarts that Snape and he had planned his death much earlier. 

He was distracted by his thoughts when another knock from the door was heard and Potter entered. His face was worried but it instantly relaxed when he caught sight of Hermione. 

"Hermione," said Potter with a tired smile, stepping forward and giving her a hug. "Thank Merlin you're alright."

Draco bit back his disdain. Yes... this was something that would not change overnight. 

"Thank you for the letter," said Potter stiffly. 

"If you hadn't left her alone -"

"You did as well, Malfoy, don't even star-"

"Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter, please."

Hermione looked conflicted and confused, deciding to simply sit in the nearest armchair. Potter and Draco's eyes were narrowed, but both went quiet.  

"Mr. Malfoy, you requested an urgent meeting with me, Ms. Granger, and Mr. Potter. Let's not waste time with childish banter."

Draco swallowed his retort and glanced at Hermione. The dark shadows under her eyes keeping him grounded in his purpose here.

"Someone tried to kill Hermione last night."

Silence greeted this statement 

Hermione's mouth opened in shock, Potter's eyes widened in horror and then narrowed in suspicion, and McGonagall's mouth had set into a thin line. 

He recounted back to Potter telling him the incident in the corridor with Lavender and how Hermione had wandered off. When he came to the part of Hermione jumping off the balcony, he heard Potter inhale sharply and his hands ball up into fists. Hermione gasped, riveted and horrified. McGonagall's face seemed to have aged. 

"You jumped after me?" clarified Granger, her expression not quite readable. 

He stiffly nodded, not knowing what more he could say in present company.

"How do you know it was the Imperius Curse?" argued Potter, his hand going through his hair roughly. 

"It was the blank expression and... see the dark shadows under her eyes? It appears after being lifted from the curse. I'm certain -"

"It could've been the spiked punch," interjected Potter. Was brave Potter in denial of the danger? He didn't correct Potter on Draco's suspicions of Blaise.

He scowled. "Do you really think Hermione would be that daft, even under the influence, to stand on a slippery banister on the tallest tower?"

Potter grimaced and Hermione's eyebrows went together. It was her "thinking" expression, one he enjoyed procuring. 

"I'm disappointed to find out about the spiked punch, but it seems something much more sinister has happened."

McGonagall stood up, her hands behind her back as she glanced out the window into the grounds of Hogwarts. 

"Where were the Aurors?" asked Draco suddenly. "The front doors were unguarded and unlocked. It could've been anyone."

"That would have to do with Miss Brown who is currently at St. Mungos."

"Is she alright?" Hermione asked in alarm. 

"It seems her wolfbane potion had been tampered with."

"Could this all be connected?" demanded Potter, his green eyes flashing in anger.

"It seems highly unlikely, but it would be best to not rule anything out." McGonagall turned to Hermione, a look of concern breaking through her usual stern demeanor. "I must insist you do not travel alone Miss Granger. If what Mr. Malfoy says is true, it seems you would be dead if not for his actions."

Potter looked down at the floor and Hermione turned to look at Draco again, her expression puzzled. 

"I will insist on Aurors Tinsel and Harold to be stationed at Hogwarts and help with the nightly patrols on the grounds. 

Hermione had nodded and bit her bottom lip. 

Potter stood, sensing the end of their conversation and Hermione slowly did the same. 

McGonagall however glanced at Draco, contemplative. "I am going to insist Mr. Malfoy accompanies you as much as possible - "

"I can protect her just as well," argued Potter, clenching his jaw. Hermione put a calming hand on his shoulder, her eyes worried.

"I am well aware of that Mr. Potter, but Mr. Malfoy has more... knowledge of the Dark Arts and would be more aware of Miss Granger being cursed again."

Knowledge was one word for it.

Potter didn't seem satisfied with this answer, but kept quiet. 

Chapter Text

After the discussion with McGonagall, Hermione found herself feeling fatigued and ready to sleep again. Malfoy had explained this was another effect of the Imperius curse and McGonagall excused her from classes for the rest of the day.

She was surprised to have fallen asleep immediately - in her bed, mind you - and not wake until the next morning. However her body and mind felt more refreshed and at ease. It was terrifying to have gaps in her memory from the previous night - the only recollection on account from Malfoy. Harry had tried to argue how Malfoy could be lying, but he couldn't explain why he would have brought it to their attention then in the first place. 

As Hermione changed and put on her school robes, she contemplated what more happened last night besides jumping off the astronomy tower. Malfoy hadn't mentioned how she awoke in his bed wearing his clothes. She had also been cuddled up against his side with his arm around her... but it had to have happened while they were both asleep. 

Her logical brain was having difficulty putting her feelings and thoughts into the same box - he had cared for her... he had danced with her. And when Malfoy placed a curl of her hair behind her ear she read more emotion in his eyes than ever before. They were cordial and sort of friends - nothing more... but why did heat flush her cheeks when she thought of him?

She groaned before putting her book bag over her shoulder and making her way down the stairs. 

"Good morning, Hermione."

Malfoy was waiting for her in their common room, his own book bag over his shoulder. 

"What are - why do you call me Hermione now, Malfoy?"

"We're friends are we not?" he said, a crooked grin now on his face, his silvery eyes twinkling at her.

Why was her heart pounding more than ever? 

"Yes... yes we're friends," she finally said, pursing her lips and fiddling with the strap of her book bag. 

"How did you sleep?"

They exited the common room, making their way to the Great Hall for breakfast.

"Very well, actually," she replied, sneaking a glance at him. 

He looked confident and relaxed, wearing his usual attire of black slacks and a white dress shirt, his Head Boy badge pinned to the front. His hair was tousled and not slicked back in that annoying pretentious manner it once was years before. He looked as he always have since they've been back to school and yet something was different. Was it because she knew of the muscular chest hidden underneath his shirt?

Soon she was looking into silvery eyes and had to quickly look away. 

He chuckled next to her and Hermione blushed from being caught.

"Something on your mind?"

She sighed. "I was hoping for an uneventful year at Hogwarts." This wasn't exactly a lie. Someone had tried to kill her. Harry did some investigating on the Astronomy Tower while she slept and owled her to confirm he found her shoes near the banister. 

They made their entrance into the Great Hall and found many students already seated; however when Hermione started making her way to the Gryffindor table, Malfoy was still at her side. 

"What are you doing?"

"McGonagall said to be with you at all times."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm sure I can manage staying safe while eating my biscuits and gravy."

He looked over at her with a smirk. "Are their rules Miss Granger on houses being unable to sit at different tables aside from the start and end of the year feast?"

She pursed her lips, unable to recall any such rules. 

He flashed her a grin and ignored the furious expressions of many Gryffindors when he sat down next to her. Malfoy also happened to be sitting next to Neville Longbottom who dropped his spoon loudly into his bowl of cereal. 

"Alright, Longbottom?" he said, looking over with an eyebrow raised.

"Ye - Yeah," he replied, giving Hermione a bewildered expression. 

"You have some nerve," said Seamus Finnigan, pointing a butter knife at Malfoy. 

"I'm glad you're alright, Hermione," said Ginny quickly, anticipating more arguing. "I have your shoes whenever you'd like them back."

"Thank you," she said quietly, and she felt Malfoy bump his knee gently with hers as a means of comfort. 

Everyone seemed to be glancing at Harry, surprised he hadn't said anything explosive at Malfoy for sitting across from him, but the wizard remained silent. 

"Who do you think did it?" asked Neville quietly, still looking uncomfortable being next to Malfoy. Hermione wasn't surprised Harry informed members the D.A. about what had taken place.

"Had to be a Slytherin who dunnit," piped up Seamus, narrowing his eyes at Malfoy. "Unforgiveables were taught extensively last year by the Carrows and the Slytherins passed with flying colors."

"Not every dark wizard comes from Slytherin house," said Harry quietly, not looking up from his plate. 

Hermione and Ginny exchanged a look, knowing Harry was referring to Peter Pettigrew betraying his parents. 

"You alright, Harry?" asked Dean, raising his eyebrows. Harry wasn't exactly the biggest advocate for Slytherin house.

Harry sighed. "Yeah." He finally looked up, carefully avoiding eye-contact with Malfoy. "Hermione, you really don't remember anything after I went to go find Ginny?"

She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Harry, I wish I did."

"Ooh, are we able to switch tables now?"

Luna Lovegood had skipped her way over, and Dean cheerfully waved and indicated for her to sit next to him. 

Hermione noticed Malfoy's shoulders visibly relax when she sat across from him. "Luna, what were you saying about your new research on Nargles?"

Everyone who heard looked over incredulously at Malfoy, while Luna seemed blissfully unaware. 

"Father has been doing some research - "

"Where's Ron?" Hermione whispered over to Harry. 

"He went with Lavender to St. Mungos, should be coming back later today."

Hermione nodded, surprised but pleased Ron went with her. 

A high-pitched yelp was heard slightly farther down the table, a fourth-year was staring at Malfoy in horror, shifting everyone's attention. Malfoy had rolled up his sleeves and the dark mark was clearly visible. 

He hastily rolled his sleeves back down. 

"Is there no way to remove it?" asked Ginny, wrinkling her nose. 

"No," said Malfoy quietly, though everyone had unconsciously leaned in to listen. "I've tried."

Aside from Luna and the occasional input from Ginny, everyone ignored Malfoy and carried on with their conversations through breakfast. Hermione would occasionally glance over at him and twice saw he had done the same, exchanging shy smiles when caught.

Classes were uneventful, except Malfoy insisted sitting with her in every class and carrying her book bag. This of course resulted in many stares from all houses, but he didn't seem fazed. Their schedules only differed for Advanced Runes, but he promised to be waiting for her when class finished. 

While she was taking studious notes, something in her robes grew incredibly warm, startling her. She realized she still had her D.A. coin in a pocket. Hermione carefully studied the coin. 

Bathroom -H

Hermione excused herself from class and made her way to the 3rd floor girl's bathroom. Malfoy would probably scold her if he found out she was venturing by herself. She didn't mind his company, even if their thighs or arms brushing against each other was a bit distracting during lectures, but she was not some fragile damsel in distress.

"A lot of memories in here," Hermione said, upon seeing Harry in an awkward conversation with Moaning Myrtle. 

He looked over at her with relief. 

"Naughty, naughty," said Moaning Myrtle with a giggle before disappearing into a stall. 

Hermione rolled her eyes and shook her head. "What's going on Harry?"

"I haven't been able to get you alone without Malfoy," he said, looking annoyed.

"He hasn't been an awful," said Hermione, feeling defensive. "You can see that for yourself."

Harry hesitated. "I just overheard a conversation Malfoy was having with that bloke Zabini in the library while under the invisibility cloak."

Hermione wasn't surprised with Harry following Malfoy - despite McGonagall's confidence in him changing, he didn't trust him. 

"What about?"

She almost laughed at the relief in his expression on not being berated for his eavesdropping. 

"Malfoy was confronting Zabini about spiking your drink. Do you remember having any punch?"

Hermione slowly shook her head. "I asked Malfoy for some water, that was all, but..." She thought back to that night, the details beginning to be slightly hazy. "I remember Zabini had taken a drink from my cup while we were talking."

"Well, it seemed like Malfoy knew he did something to your drink, which means he knew your mind would be vulnerable."

"You think Malfoy told Zabini to do it? Did he really say that?"

Hermione was surprised to see Harry now looking embarrassed. "Er... not exactly... Ginny had been with me under the cloak."

It wasn't until Harry's face turned pink did Hermione understand what this meant. "So you were... distracted during your surveillance," she said, trying not to laugh at his bashfulness. 

Harry looked so uncomfortable a girl-ish giggle escaped her lips. "I will be careful about Zabini," she promised. 

"And Malfoy," added Harry disapprovingly. 

"Why did he tells us what happened then? He hasn't done anything to suggest -"

"He could've created this lie, Hermione, so you would trust him. Lull us into a false sense of security... planning for something worse. And -" He gave her a look when she was about to argue. "- And you and Ron never believed me when I was suspicious of Malfoy all of 6th year but I had been right about him being up to something and becoming a Deatheater."

Hermione frowned. This was true, but there truly hadn't been any concrete evidence to suggest this. It was a really good guess and Harry was unhealthily obsessive during his 6th year.

"What would be the motive? That I'm a mudblood?"

Harry grimaced and shrugged. "Maybe."

"We can't be pointing fingers, Harry. We need to work together."

Harry suddenly snorted. "Work with Malfoy? Right and I'm a hippogriff."

Hermione frowned and crossed her arms to show she wasn't joking before he sighed in resignation. He pinched the bridge of his nose - something he did when troubled. 

"I'm not asking you to trust him, Harry," said Hermione gently, walking closer and taking his hand. "I'm asking you to keep an open mind."

He sighed again and squeezed her hand. "You're my best friend, Hermione, and we've been through a lot together. We've lost so much and... I can't lose you too."

Hermione wrapped her arms around Harry and rested her chin on his shoulder. They stood there for a minute, comforting each other, both thinking back to their time on the run when it was just the pair of them. He finally released her and pushed his glasses back on the bridge of his nose. 

"See you later then? I can't wait to see Malfoy at dinner."

She laughed before peeking out into the corridor, making sure there weren't any Aurors or professors patrolling.

"Alright, I've been away from runes long enough - they'll think I've fallen in the loo."

She waved goodbye, flashed Harry a smile, and made her way quickly back to class. She was passing the Room of Requirement when she noticed something curious on the ground. It was three leaves of a familiar herb - found only in class or in Knockturn Alley. What would wormwood be doing here?

Hermione just bent down to pick them up when a flash of green light zipped past her and crashed into the stone wall right where she had been standing. 

A yelp escaped her lips and she whipped out her wand, pointing it in all directions, her heart beat tripling in pace. The corridor seemed empty. 

"Who's there?" she called, sounding braver than she really felt. "Show yourself!"

Another curse came barreling it's way toward her from around the corner.

"Protego!"

The curse rebounded, but immediately another light of green was flying towards her from the opposite direction. She ducked just in time, the curse hitting the statue of a griffin causing the marble to splinter and crash to the floor. If there were two invisible assailants, she was done for.

"Hermione!"

Harry came running towards her and she started to lower her wand - but suddenly the voice of Alastor Moody rang through her head: constant vigilance. 

Another curse shot towards her and the only spell she could think of was, Stupify!

She heard a quiet "oomph", the non-verbal spell hitting its mark, but didn't have enough time to dodge the curse as it hit her square in the chest. She screamed in immediate agony, but the pain was gone as quickly it came. 

"Try that again, you cowards!" Harry shouted, standing protectively over her, his wand at the ready. 

Loud voices and footsteps could be heard from the stairwell, her scream probably drawing attention to where they were. 

Harry knelt down next to her, carefully making sure his back was to the wall and not the corridor, his wand still raised. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," she whispered. 'Alright' was a relative term - she did not like being reminded of the torture she had endured from Bellatrix Lestrange; although, that seemed to have been much more painful. She really enjoyed it, that's why, she thought. 

"What - What is going on here?" spluttered McGonagall, seeing the destruction that had taken place in such a short amount of time. Following closely behind her were the four Aurors assigned to protect the trio. 

"Hermione was attacked," said Harry, lowering his wand and gently helping Hermione up from the floor. 

"Attacked?" McGonagall said sharply. 

"I - I had to use the bathroom," whispered Hermione, leaning heavily against Harry, her energy once again drained as the adrenaline left her system. "And was returning to class when a curse came from that corner," she pointed to said location. Harold immediately went in the direction she had indicated to investigate, his wand at the ready. 

"And another curse came from over there," Hermione continued, pointing at the other end of the corridor. Tinsel cautiously raised her wand and made her way there. "They had to have been using a concealment charm because I never saw anyone."

"I distracted her," added Harry, shaking his head and looking upset. "She let her guard down and had been hit - it was the Cruciatus curse, Professor."

McGonagall had paled at this information, her lips tightly pressed together. "Two Unforgivable's in a week, Ms. Granger... we can confirm someone is trying their best to harm you, it seems."

"Will there be an investigation then?" demanded Harry, his arm around her. "We can help."

McGonagall hesitated, her face conflicted. "You both are bright and more than capable after everything you have been through, but let us handle it for now. I will call a meeting immediately with the Minister and Department of Aurors to see what additional safety measures they can provide for Hogwarts and Miss Granger."

Harry looked as if he wanted to argue, but McGonagall quickly continued. "Mr. Potter, will you please help her to the Hospital Wing."

"No, no, I'm okay," Hermione said, taking a step away from Harry. "Really, Professor, can I just study in my common room for the rest of the day?"

A twitch of McGonagall's lips indicated she had found something amusing in Hermione's statement. "Alright, Miss Granger. I will make sure there is an Auror stationed at the entrance tonight as an extra precaution."

Hermione sighed in relief and smiled. "Thank you, Professor."

As she and Harry made their way to her common room, whispers followed. Somehow it had already been rumored that Hermione had been in a duel - which really was overexaggerating. She even overheard Dennis Creevey talking to Dean Thomas on how he heard her assailants were the ghosts of Deatheaters who had been killed during the Battle of Hogwarts.

"How could it have possibly gotten around so fast?" said Harry, looking disapproving. 

Hermione sighed. "It's Hogwarts - it always finds a way."

When the door to her common room finally came into view, she found Draco Malfoy pacing in front of the door, a scowl on his face. But when he caught sight of her, the scowl vanished, replaced with relief and worry. 

"Hermione."

Malfoy closed the gap between them and, to her shock, gave her a quick hug, before looking her up and down. "Are you hurt? What happened?"

Harry's face was completely void of emotion when she glanced over, and her cheeks darkened as Malfoy continued to fuss over her. 

"Malfoy... Draco, I'm alright, really."

Hermione saying his first name seemed to have given him a pause. She quickly summarized what happened and his expression turned livid when she mentioned being struck by the Cruciatus Curse. 

"Why had you been by yourself in the first place?" Malfoy demanded with a scowl. 

"I didn't think I needed an escort to the bathroom," she huffed, crossing her arms. "I guess I wasn't thinking."

Hermione waited for the snide rebuttal of "I thought you were the brightest witch of our age", but it never came, instead she watched him clench his jaw and loudly sigh. 

"I'm glad you're alright, Hermione."

She bit her lip, not quite used to the more serious and caring Draco Malfoy behavior she was receiving today. 

"Two attackers," he said, shaking his head. "Just as it couldn't get more complicated."

"I'm worried the next Unforgiveable will be the Killing Curse," said Harry quietly. 

She almost smiled, though there was nothing funny about what he had said. She knew he was voicing his concerns in front of Malfoy to make an effort in working together. 

Malfoy glanced at Harry, looking grim. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

"I just remembered," said Hermione suddenly, taking the wormwood from her cloak. "I found these outside the Room of Requirement. It's actually what saved me from being struck the first time when I bent down to pick them up."

"Is that wormwood?" inquired Malfoy, his eyebrows furrowing in concern. 

"Wormwood?" said Harry, looking confused. 

"It's not too common of a plant," explained Hermione, stuffing it back into her robes. "But it's often sold in Knockturn Alley."

She turned to Harry. "Could you find out from Slughorn if any ingredients have gone missing from his stock? And ask Neville if they grow wormwood in the greenhouse?"

"What's your theory?" asked Harry. 

She faintly smiled, he knew her well.

"I think someone might be making a potion in the Room of Requirement - one that is not permitted by students. I'll go to the library and make a list of known potions that use wormwood."

"Hermione, you need to rest," said Harry patiently, putting a hand on her shoulder. "McGonagall was ready to put you in the Hospital Wing. If she finds out you were in the library..."

She saw Malfoy's lips twitch in amusement when she wordlessly argued with Harry, but Harry's face remained stern.  

"I'll be staying in the common room for the rest of the day so don't even think of sneaking out."

She scowled over at Malfoy. Of course they would actually agree on something such as this. "Fine."

"I'll clear up the rumors with the D.A.," said Harry. "I know McGonagall doesn't want us investigating, but I'm not going to stand around and wait for the next attack."

Hermione nodded. "I'll be okay for an evening. Go back to class, Harry."

Harry quickly gave her a hug, glanced once more at Malfoy, and made his way in the direction of his next class. 

"Oh! My book bag, I -"

"I have it," said Malfoy, amused. "You really are observant."

Hermione ignored the jab and raised her hand to take it, but instead he said, "Licorice Wands", and immediately sprawled onto one of the couches in their common room. 

She followed after him, crossing her arms in annoyance. He looked more relaxed now that they were alone. "I am perfectly capable of holding my own book bag. My arms work just fine."

"So do your legs," he added, grinning cheekily, purposefully looking her up and down. 

When did she start blushing so much? And due to Draco Malfoy no less!

She scowled and went to push his legs off the couch but he had reached out and grabbed her. "Hey!"

He had pulled her down and she was now on top of Malfoy, his arms around her waist, their faces mere inches from one another. She looked down at him with wide eyes and weakly attempted to move, but he didn't budge.

"If you don't stop wiggling, then this positioning will certainly start something you're not ready for," he said dryly, his eyes weary.

She immediately stilled. If her face wasn't already tomato red, then it definitely was now.

"I really am glad you're okay, Hermione," he then said softly, taking one hand off her waist and moving a curl behind her ear that had slipped from her bun. 

She didn't know what to say. She didn't know what to do. Here she was, practically straddling Malfoy, with her mind frazzled and butterflies in her stomach. She knew he could feel how fast her heart was beating. 

"It's okay," he said gently. "Why don't you lay here and relax?" His smile turned into a handsome crooked grin and her breath caught in her throat. 

Maybe she was going mad... maybe this was a dream and she was actually at St. Mungos being treated for the curse that struck her. She couldn't possibly think that Malfoy... or that she...

This is wrong, this is wrong, this is wrong... she chanted to herself. Friends, they were friends. And this was Draco Malfoy. And yet, she didn't want to move either. 

She swallowed hard, pulled her eyes away from his silvery gaze, and cautiously turned her head so her cheek was resting against his chest. She stared into the fireplace that somehow had been lit, waiting for Malfoy to push her off and laugh for falling for his ruse. But as they laid there for several minutes in comfortable silence, it never came. 

Her muscles started to relax, feeling more at ease as she listened to Malfoy's breathing and his heart.

"I wish there was a telly here," she said wistfully. "Beauty and the Beast is always a comforting film." 

"What's that?" 

She could hear the frown in his voice and it made her smile. "A telly is like a moving picture for Muggles," she said, having explained what a telly was many times before. "But the movement lasts much longer and plays out a story. Beauty and the Beast is one of those stories."

"What's the story about?"

She was surprised he would even want to know more about something related to Muggles, but she briefly described the classic film.

"The Beast seems manipulative and Belle sounds naïve."

She scowled and he laughed quietly, feeling the movement of his laugh against her cheek.

"Are there any other Muggle stories?"

Time passed quickly as Hermione described other Disney film. Malfoy asked questions here and there, but otherwise he remained silent and let her talk. Hermione's eyes had closed at some point during her story-telling and soon enough she had fallen asleep in Malfoy's comforting embrace.

Chapter Text

Halloween was soon approaching and Draco had to grudgingly agree with Potter - this would be a good opportunity for another attack against Hermione. No progress had been made on the identity or identities of her assailants, but there hadn't been much evidence to begin with. 

The only possible clue was finding the wormwood. 

Potter found out Slughorn didn't take regular inventory of the ingredients used for class so there was no way to prove if someone had been stealing. Longbottom informed them this was not an ingredient grown in the Greenhouse, and Hermione had found most potions using wormwood were dangerous but immensely complex - whatever was being brewed would take time. 

The Gryffindor table apprehensively grew accustomed to Malfoy sitting with them, though this trust exercise had to start all over again when Blaise decided "he was bored" and also began sitting at the Gryffindor table. Luna Lovegood was sitting with them too and he listened to her prattle on about the Quibbler when his temper was being tested.

His temper was due to Weaselbee. He had made quite the scene upon finding Draco sitting with them in the Great Hall; McGonagall eventually having to intervene. They ignored each other now, but occasionally the git would mutter under his breath like a coward, or make subtle moves on Hermione. Now that was infuriating. 

But Draco's cold exterior was melting away the more time he spent with Granger.

It was terrifying to discover these emotions existed - that it was possible to care so much for another person. When she had fallen asleep on his chest, he didn't think his heart or mind could take it. And to have been so close to her lips and feel her body on top of his... his heart fluttered anytime the memory snuck into consciousness. He sometimes dreamt of what her lips would taste like, which was preferable to the nightmares. 

All of this was foreign and strange to him. Did everyone go through this when they liked another? He had been hiding behind such rigid boundaries and ideals... associating emotion with a negative connotation... it seemed to be much more potent when he finally allowed it in.

Doubt and uncertainty started to plague him, as he knew it would. He wasn't worthy of her. He didn't deserve her. She wouldn't want him. And if his father knew... if the Deatheaters on the run caught wind of this... he was putting her life at risk. He already was. 

His father's trial should have been weeks ago but it was continuing to get postponed. Draco had the feeling his father was using what little loyalty within the Ministry he had to find loopholes out of his sentencing. It was inevitable how the trial would conclude: with the Dementor's Kiss.

"Draco, are you okay?"

He stepped out of his revere and glanced at Hermione. She started using his first name casually last week, and it jolted him every time she did. 

Her eyes looked worried as she did some finishing touches decorating the trees on the grounds. Tonight there was a Halloween celebration; however, several Aurors would be present. 

"I'm fine," he said, shrugging away her concern. 

She frowned. He didn't talk much on personal matters outside of their common room. 

"They look hauntingly beautiful, Hermione!" said Weaselette, skipping over to them. 

"Thank you," said Hermione with a smile. "What have you been up to?"

"I may have placed a few traps..."

"Ginny!"

"Nothing bad, Hermione, come on now. Just some transfigured hands coming from the ground to trip the occasional victim... or turning one's hair a bright orange..."

Draco immediately put his hands on his head. "No one's touching my beautiful hair."

She grinned at him and Hermione laughed. 

"It would go away... in a week or two..."

He frowned. He rather liked his hair the way it was. Evil little Weasley. 

Weaselette must've found something amusing in his expression because she too broke out into laughter. She had been growing more comfortable around him and he was quick to realize she held many Slytherin traits. He was not keen to be on her bad side anytime soon. Draco had been a victim of her bat-bogey-hex once before a few years ago and didn't need a reminder. 

"It would be your worst nightmare," teased Hermione, her smile wide. "Becoming a Weasley."

He scowled while Weaselette snorted, but his disdain was difficult to maintain with how she looked at him with such happiness. 

She winked at him uncharacteristically, causing his heart to stutter, before she turned to Weaselette to discuss costumes. 

He tuned out again, thinking back to how her body felt on his, when a snippet of their conversation snapped him out of it. 

"- I hope there's not another attack."

"I do."

"WHAT?" yelled Draco and Weaselette, incredulous. 

Hermione shrugged as if talking about their differing opinions on ice cream flavors. "Without more clues, we won't be able to catch them. This would be the perfect time with the Aurors here. The sooner we catch them, the sooner life can go back to normal."

Draco frowned. He understood her logic, but he selfishly thought about how he would no longer be sitting with her during meals and classes. Did normal mean going back on the friendship they had grown to have?

Weaselette looked disapproving. "Hermione, don't be such a Gryffindor."

This actually made him snort and it was Hermione's turn to scowl at them both. 

"I want this to be over. Then I can go back to not needing escorts to and from class, being alone in the library, and not having every step I take being watched."

Draco put his hands in his pockets and looked past her, the rejection hitting its mark. "Didn't realize my presence had been so bothersome, Granger," he said coolly. "I'll have Saint Potter take over then."

He turned around and made his way back to the castle.

***

She called after him but he didn't turn around. 

"Nice one, Hermione," said Ginny, rolling her eyes. 

"I'm sure he's ready to be done with it too," she said defensively, watching Draco disappear from view as he entered the castle. "And I - I didn't mean it like that."

"I think you enjoy each other's company... a bit too much..." said Ginny, raising an eyebrow suspiciously. "Is there anything going on between you two?"

"Me and Malfoy? That's absurd," she said dryly. 

They hadn't done anything scandalous but she definitely never cuddled with Harry nor Ron like she had with Draco. 

She didn't seem to believe her, but Ginny didn't call her on it either. 

"Let's get ready," she said, grabbing Hermione's hand. "It's nearly dusk."

An hour later, Hermione was looking at herself in the mirror - having been talked into going "outside her comfort zone" again - and feeling nervous about what she saw. 

She chose to go as a Muggle witch, but it wasn't the type with green makeup and ugly warts. No, Ginny had her wearing a cropped black corset, showing much more cleavage than she was used to, fishnet stockings that reached mid-thigh paired with black heeled boots, and a ruffled black skirt. She had to magically add some more feathers to her skirt much to Ginny's protest because there had been too much showing.

"And here's the hat!" said Ginny excitedly, plopping a pointy black hat on her head of curly hair. 

"I don't know, Ginny... maybe we should go with my original idea on procuring a Slytherin badge and pretending to be a student from their house."

"Nope," said Ginny, linking an arm with hers. "You promised."

"It wasn't the unbreakable vow," she grumbled, but Ginny merely stuck her tongue out. 

Ginny was dressed as a bat, inspired by her ever so popular hex... well, if it was a bat that had many well placed slits in a black mini dress. 

"C'mon, Harry and Ron are waiting for us."

She grimaced once more into the mirror before Ginny dragged her down the stairs. 

Ginny immediately gave Harry a hug, while Hermione and Ron stood there awkwardly. 

"Wow, Hermione," said Ron finally, looking her up and down with his eyebrows raised. "You look... different."

Ginny snorted and rolled her eyes, stepping away from Harry. "How you ever obtained a girlfriend with your compliments is astounding."

Ron scowled and Harry smiled wrly at her, probably assuming this outfit hadn't been her idea. 

Ron and Harry both decided to dress as Zombies with a splatter of fake blood, sunken eyes, and ripped shirts.

"Shall we?" said Hermione impatiently, finding Ron's eyes unnerving. 

Upon entering the courtyard, many heads turned to stare, but she couldn't blame it on Draco this time as the reason to being the center of attention. 

"Blimey," said Seamus, walking over to her with Dean and Luna. "That's some costume, Hermione."

"Thanks," she muttered, desperately wanting to run back and change. 

Seamus and Dean were dressed as Quidditch players and Luna... she wasn't entirely sure. Maybe the crumpled horn snorkack?

Hermione walked away, mumbling something about being thirsty, and poured herself a glass of water. This time she would not be setting her drink down unless finished. She observed the party, and again was pleased to see everyone having a good time. She could see Aurors standing at entrances and exits - and knew there more were hiding on the outskirts of the celebration. They were expecting an attack just as she was.

Hermione almost choked on her water when she saw Draco and Pansy Parkinson dancing... well... if you could call it that. His hands were on her hips, but hers seemed to travel all over. It definitely wasn't as graceful or proper from when she and Draco last danced.

Pansy was dressed as a pumpkin, but this could only be assumed by the little bit of orange fabric on her body and the green vines in her black hair. 

She bit her lip, not sure why this was hurtful to see. It was perfectly fine for him to be dancing with others, even if so provocatively. Hermione and him were just friends... and yet she had to hold back tears when he bent down to whisper something in her ear and she giggled, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

"Er - Hermione, want to - uhm - dance?"

She turned around and saw Ron looking down at his shoes, his ears a bright red.

She smiled, knowing how averse he was to dancing. "Of course, Ron."

He looked up relieved and she laughed, looping her arm into his. 

It was awkward like she knew it would be. His hands were firmly on the bare skin of her waist due to the cropped corset and he pulled her in quite close. If she had been in this position with Ron a few years ago, her heart would have jumped out of her chest. But now, it was just her friend's clammy hands and the usual feet stepping on toes. 

At one point, her and Draco's eyes met, but she turned away. She didn't fancy seeing Pansy all over him. 

Hermione purposefully asked Ron questions about Lavender and how his visits on the weekends to St Mungo's were going. Hermione caught him more than once looking where he shouldn't. 

"May I cut in?"

When did she get so excited over just his voice?

They stopped moving and turned to see Draco, his expression feigning boredom, ane looking handsome as he always did. He was wearing black trousers and a black dress shirt - simple, nothing extravagant, but her heart jumped all the same.

"No," said Ron stonily, gripping her waist too tightly now. 

"I would remove your fingers Weasley before I do it for you."

"Yeah? Do it then, Malfoy," Ron sneered, which only caused Draco to smirk at the challenge.

"Ron," she said cautiously, placing her hand over his hand tightly squeezing her. She knew Draco would surely do it and didn't fancy a duel happening in the middle of a party. "I'll join you in the courtyard later."

Ron's face turned red while he scowled down at her, but she could see the hurt in his blue eyes. He finally let go of her and stormed off, the place where his hand had been beginning to sting.

Hermione jumped when Draco's cold fingers touched where the red marks had formed, the coolness of his touch helping her discomfort. 

"Are you okay?" he murmured, his fingers gently caressing her waist. 

"I'll be fine," she said quietly, not quite looking at him as chaos swirled in her stomach and heart.

Draco's other hand lifted her chin so she was forced to look into those silvery pools of emotion seemingly only reserved for her. His gaze stayed firmly with hers. "He should never put his hands on you like that."

Hermione shrugged and his hand dropped away from her chin. She noticed how his jaw clenched. 

"Ron was just upset. He didn't mean it. Anyway, maybe you should go back to dancing with Pansy while I go find Ron," she suggested casually, starting to walk away. 

Much to her annoyance, a smirk formed on his face as he walked with her. "Jealous, are we?" 

She scowled. "In your dreams, Malfoy."

"Back to surnames, I see," he said, taking her hand and pulling her in a different direction, away from the noise and students. 

"I could say the same," she retorted. "Let go of my hand, Malfoy."

He stopped walking when they were behind a large oak tree and pushed her back against the tree. His hands were on either side of her head, trapping her with his body. 

Hermione's breath hitched at the proximity, the intensity in his gaze causing her to feel warm on such a cool night. "W-What are you doing?" she squeaked.

He lowered his head down to her ear and she bit her bottom lip to stop herself from gasping for air. "Let me ask you something." he said, his voice low. "We're friends, yes?"

One of his hands was slowly moving down to her waist, tracing her shoulders and every curve along the way. Hermione's lips trembled and she could only nod as her reply.

"Do you tremble like this with all your friends?" he said, his hand now traveling past her waist to the side of her thigh. She could feel his smile against her ear as he lightly played with the hem of her skirt. 

She didn't answer, too focused on not hyperventilating. 

"Tell me right now if you want me to move away," he suddenly demanded in a whisper. "That you don't want me."

Hermione's entire body was now trembling, but it certainly wasn't out of fear.

Logically, she should push him away, tell him to sod off for being inappropriate, and go find her friends. But she couldn't get herself to do so because it was a lie. Pushing him away was last thing she felt like doing.  

She didn't know where her courage or boldness manifested but she found herself soon whispering: "Kiss me, Draco."

His lips immediately connected hard with hers, and they both inadvertently moaned, causing an exciting vibration between their lips when doing so. Every cell in her body set aflame with his touch.

Their kissing quickly deepened as if there was an urgency to this madness. Hermione's fingers were tangled in Draco's hair and somehow her legs found their way wrapped around his waist as he pressed himself into her more forcefully against the tree. 

She was the first to break away, needing to catch her breath; however, Draco was unrelenting, kissing down her neck, licking and biting as he went. Hermione's own hips bucked again him on their own accord as he continued to grind his body against hers. 

"Draco," she panted, feeling his lithe fingers venturing to the string of her knickers. "I - I can't -"

"I know," he murmured, pulling his hand away. They stared into each other's eyes - both not quite believing what just happened. Malfoy's lips were swollen and she was sure hers weren't any better. "That was..."

"Unexpected," she finished, her body on fire and legs still wrapped around him. 

Draco gave her a handsome crooked grin and she couldn't help but grin back. 

He kissed her nose. "Did I mention how incredible your costume is?"

"I think you made it quite clear," she said and they both laughed, leaning in for another kiss.

"MERLIN'S PANTS!"

Hermione and Draco both jumped apart. Ginny was looking at them from a few feet away with her eyes wide and hands covering her mouth.

"Ginny... I - I can explain -"

She bolted, running back to the party, and Hermione was about to run after her when Draco grabbed her waist from behind.

"Draco -"

"Please don't go," he said quietly.  

Hermione groaned into her hands. "What are we going to do?" Was Ginny going to tell everyone what she saw? Harry? Ron? McGonagall?

Draco rested his chin on her shoulder from behind and her eyes filled with tears. "It's going to be okay."

"How? How would you know?" she said thickly.

He was quiet for a few seconds, his arms still around her, and brushing his lips against her shoulder. "It won't be easy," he said softly, and he turned her around to face him. Draco placed his hands on her cheeks, wiping the tears away with his thumbs, his eyes gentle and kind - something she once thought to be impossible traits for him. 

"Hermione, I want us to be more. If you'll have me."

She rested her forehead on his chest, slowing her breathing while he rubbed her back soothingly. "I need time to think," she whispered. 

Chapter Text

He watched Hermione run away; off to comfort a friend for seeing her with the enemy.

Need time to think.

If Granger truly was thinking, he supposed she would have stayed away from him in the first place. And yet, watching his Gryffindor run away after telling her what she meant to him... he felt bitter. Frustrated. He showed his cards and was forced to fold.

"That was some show."

Draco whirled around with his wand only to see Blaise smirking, wearing all black just as he was.

"Bloody git," grumbled Draco, pocketing his wand.

"I almost asked if I could cut in."

"I'm flattered, Zabini."

Blaise laughed and pursed his lips. His dark brown eyes shining with amusement.

"Drugging anymore witches tonight?"

The smile slipped from Blaise's face. "I told you I was sorry about that," he muttered.

Draco shrugged, turning around to watch the party from afar. Blaise meant it as a prank to see "Little Miss Perfect" loosen up. Draco punched him in the face for being a bloody twat.

"We don't deserve girls like Granger."

Draco's jaw clicked and he spun around. "Out with it, Blaise. What do you want?"

He rolled his eyes. "Think about all the shit we've done to them. To her. Just giving you a reality check, mate, before you shag her."

Draco sneered, hating how the truth of his words delved under his skin. "So concerned about morals now, are we?"

"Like the bloody Slytherin you are, you want to win. She's a conquest. Let her have a future with other Gryffindor bastards."

"You have no idea what I want, Zabini," said Draco coldly, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Is it Firewhiskey?"

He opened his eyes to see his mate with a large bottle in hand and a smirk on his face.

"Are you going to take away house points, Malfoy? Give me detention?"

Draco smirked and grabbed the bottle for a swig, the familiar burn of firewater coating his throat and tongue.

He and Blaise finished the bottle before making their way back to the party. The sounds and colors were brighter and Draco immediately spotted Granger with a group of Gryffindors.

She looked even more enticing with him pissed, but he didn't bother making eye contact with the soft brown eyes just yet. Draco would assure she didn't have to think about what was right or wrong. She made her choice - she ran and didn't come back. Where was the Gryffindor courage they prattled on about?

With years of practice in Occlumency, he channeled his emotions and feelings for her into a box, sealed it shut, and put it on a shelf.

Draco could feel her eyes on him and with that, grabbed Pansy by the hand, and whispered in her ear if she was ready to go inside. Predictable as ever, Pansy giggled and led the way back to the castle. 

He then chose to stare coldly into those captivating eyes of Hermione Granger. Draco watched her eyes become glassy with unshed tears- and though the box rattled on its shelf, he did not dare touch it. Instead, he crudely smirked and turned away.

As soon as the Slytherins reached a familiar portrait of a pumpkin patch, Pansy smashed her mouth to his lips, and he promptly pushed her away.

"Drake," she whined. "I thought we were going -"

"I know what you thought," he drawled before entering his common room. "Sweet dreams."

She huffed and marched away, but he could care less.

***

There was no attack of any sort on Halloween. In fact, a month later and there still was nothing... at least to Draco's knowledge. He and Hermione weren't on speaking terms.

He didn't care about her. Not when he followed her to class to make sure she wasn't attacked or noticed how she slammed her books on the desk harder than usual some days and wondered what the Weasel did this time. 

The box was more difficult to keep shut at night. Especially when he dreamt of snogging her on Halloween and the softness of her lips against his... and remembering her smile when she talked about Muggle films in the evenings. Even the bickering over their Arithmancy homework would drift into his mind with the stubborn set of her jaw and the unconscious pout of her lips when she would admit he made some good points...

But Blaise had been right, the bastard. She deserved better than someone who detested her existence for six years.

Leaving dinner in the Great Hall, he felt unsatisfied with not seeing her head of curls at the Gryffindor table. On the upside, he finally rid himself of Pansy by skipping dessert. The slag was on him like a bloody sticking charm most days, prattling on about being the future Mrs. Malfoy. She didn't seem to care if he didn't talk back or agree.

He saw something red in the corner of his eye but before he could reach for his wand he was shoved into a broom closet. 

"What in Morgana's perky left tit -"

"Shut it, ferret. Lumos."

The last person he expected to see nor force him into a broom closet would be Ginny Weasley with her fiery red hair and narrowed brown eyes. She was digging her wand underneath his chin.

He smirked. "If you wanted me, you could've mentioned it. Not sure how Potter would - ."

"I'm here about, Hermione," she scowled.

He kept his expression impassive, raising an eyebrow. "And that's my problem?"

Ginny huffed. "She's not been herself and I thought you cared or-"

"Didn't take you to be this daft," Draco drawled, smoothing creases in his shirt that weren't there. "Does it seem like I care?"

"You did when you were snogging each other last month and -"

"Are you still talking?"

"And I think she still fancies you. I'm not sure why since I wouldn't want to touch anything that shags Parkinson..." Draco agreed with this but it wasn't like he'd tell Weaselette that. "...and after everything she's been through she should be happy. Even if it's with a git like you."

"Gryffindors and their sentiments," he snorted, ignoring the box trembling on its shelf. "Are you going to lower your wand or am I going to take it from you?"

"I'd like to see you try," she muttered darkly, but nonetheless, pointed it a different way.

"Granger isn't my problem. You, Potty, and Weaselbee seem more than capable in keeping her entertained. Enjoy your evening, Ginerva."

Weaselette scowled, but he already opened the cupboard and shut it in her face. 

Still fancied him? Granger rarely looked in his direction after the first week of his avoidance. And how dare she confront him about her. If she hadn't been sticking her wand into their business in the first place...

Draco grimaced. Again, he didn't care. 

He was nearly to his common room, when he froze. Cormac McLaggen had Hermione pushed against a wall and was snogging her senseless.

Didn't she loathe... it doesn't matter! He scolded himself, fists at his side. Draco turned around to go to the library instead, but he heard the faintest cry that sounded like "stop".

His eyebrows furrowed and he looked back at them, looking closer at the body language. McLaggen had her wrists restrained at her sides and she was shaking her head oddly as if trying to avoid his mouth. He noticed what looked like a tear on her cheek.

Before realizing the box had completely fallen off the shelf in his mind, he stormed up to them and held his wand to the bastard's neck.

"Let her go," he said coldly, digging his wand in harder to his jugular.

McLaggen did, breathing heavily, and Hermione slumped to the floor, her eyes tightly shut. Draco realized they were both wearing formal attire but he didn't care if this was a date.

"Look, mate-"

"I'm not your mate," Draco snarled. "Get bloody lost."

"She wanted -"

Draco punched him in the face, his nose breaking instantly while blood splattered and dripped down to his chin. The bellend backed away and grabbed his face.

"You woke me toes!" he yelled through the blood and his hand.

"Why are you still here?" Draco hissed, taking a step closer.

Finally the berk caught on and made a run for it. He was tempted to send a jinx for good measure but the trembling woman on the floor needed his attention.

Hermione was wearing a modest red dress paired with black heels. Her face was puffy and red, and he felt a surge of anger at her swollen lips

He bit his inner cheek and knelt down, putting his arm around her waist. She jumped and tried shuffling away from him.

"It's okay," he cooed, lifting her off the ground and into his arms. "Let's get you inside the common room." Without realizing where his feet were leading him, Draco entered their common room, made his way up to his dormitory, and laid her down in his bed. So much for his box.

The only response from Hermione was to turn away and hug her knees to her chest. Her silence perturbed him. He expected her to tell him to sod off, or even lash out for not bringing her to her room. 

He stood there, feeling apprehensive. Perhaps Weaselette was on to something when she said Hermione wasn't acting like herself. This was someone who had been on the run for months, sustained torture at the hands of Bellatrix, flew away on a bloody dragon after breaking into Gringotts... 

Draco sighed, and made his way to the other side of the bed. He was surprised her eyes were open, but they weren't looking at anything in particular. They were dull, emotionless. Slowly, he lowered himself into bed next to her and turned on his side to study her face. The faint freckles across her nose and cheeks, the subtle purple shadows under her eyes, how her bottom lip was slightly larger than the top... 

"Hermione," he started cautiously. "Are you... hurt?"

"No," she whispered. 

He raised his hand and lightly caressed her bottom lip with his fingertips. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Her eyes seemed to finally be looking at him rather than through him. "I've been getting letters."

Draco's eyebrows furrowed, her words unexpected. "Letters?"

"Everyday since Halloween," she said quietly. "Sometimes it's degrading, other times just -" She sucked in a breath. "- graphic... and being attacked by Cormac was too much with everything."

He mulled over her words for a few seconds, pinching a stubborn curl of her hair and putting it back behind her ear, distracting himself so he wouldn't do anything rash. "These letters are sexual then?"

Hermione started chewing on her bottom lip. "They're disturbing and vulgar."

"Have you told anyone?"

From her silence, he had his answer. She's been dealing with this alone for nearly a month. Breathe in through your nose, exhale with the mouth...

"You should tell someone," he said quietly, putting up the blocks in his mind so he wouldn't scare her. Like how he wanted to punch a wall or shake her to see sense. She could have told McGonagall, Potter, Weaselette or even the Weasel...

"I just did."

Draco scowled, but she merely gave him a small smile. Bloody proud and stubborn Gryffindors would be the death of him.

"We haven't exactly been on speaking terms, Granger."

She lifted her a chin a fraction in defiance. There she is.

"Whose fault is that, Malfoy?"

"Someone said they needed time to think," he said coldly. 

She scowled, and he was glad to see more of the fire in her eyes. "And what - shagging Pansy while you waited helped pass the time?"

He rolled his eyes and couldn't help feeling smug at the jealousy in her tone. "I haven't shagged Pansy since 5th year," he drawled.

"I don't believe you," she snapped and suddenly pushed herself from the bed and stood. 

He felt a twinge of panic in his chest as she started towards the door, but he didn't dwell long enough on how pathetic he was. 

With his much longer strides, he managed to grab her hand when she opened the door. 

"What do you want, Draco?" she said quietly, sounding tired. 

He slammed the door shut and trapped her with his hands on either side of her like he had done a month before. He watched the pretty blush crawl up her cheeks. 

"Do you still taste McLaggen on your tongue?" he murmured, observing how her lips parted and eyes widened in response. 

Before she could answer, he lowered his face and heard her breath hitch. His lips rested gently on the side of her neck when he spoke again. "I'm not good for you, Granger. You know this."

He could feel the pounding of her heart and he smiled, moving his lips behind her ear. "I'm incorrigible," he smirked. "Selfish."

"Selfish?" she repeated, the pitch of her voice higher than usual. 

"For wanting you," he murmured. "You deserve better."

He felt her jaw clench.

"Do I get a say in this?" she demanded, her hands moving to rest against his chest. 

"Are you still thinking?"

He could feel her scowling, but he worked his lips back down to her neck. 

"No."

"Hmm... and what conclusion have you come to, Miss Granger?" His lips were now at her shoulders, relishing in her scent, the warmth of her hands piercing through his shirt. 

"That you are... an insufferable and dramatic prat."

He bit down not too lightly on her shoulder and she gasped. 

"I - I want to be with you and... I like it when you touch me."

He hummed approvingly against her shoulder, and kissed her slowly across her collar bone and to the other side of her neck. She was beginning to tremble, her breath quickening. A faint whimper escaped her lips.

"What do you want, Granger?" he murmured, nipping at her neck lightly. "I want to hear you say it."

"Kiss me."

And though he had been teasing relentlessly, Draco chose to kiss her softly and take his time. He wanted to relish in how soft her lips were against his; show her this was more than lust and hormones. However this only lasted a few seconds before the minx bit down hard on his bottom lip. He could feel her smirking.

Merlin, she really would be the death of him.

Draco groaned and moved his hands down to her arse and thighs before lifting her off the floor. She gasped while he wrapped her legs around his waist and moved them to the bed, laying on his back with her on top of him. 

He had her take control of the kiss and tightly gripped her thighs when her tongue twisted with his. She was rocking her body against his cock through his trousers and moaned when he lightly bit her tongue. Draco followed her lead, keeping with her pace - if she was wanting to dispel any stress or frustration, he would be more than willing to help. A few minutes later, the pace slowed and he savored her, taking one of his hands to cup her face. 

"You're gorgeous," he whispered against her lips when she started to pull away.

He took in how her blush traveled down her neck and to her chest, her brown eyes bright and smouldering, and her lips swollen because of him. Hermione was a fucking goddess if he ever saw one. 

"Can I take you on a proper date tomorrow in Hogsmede?" he murmured, making lazy circles with his thumb on her thigh where the dress had ridden up. 

"I'd like that," she whispered, closing her eyes. "Can... Can I sleep with you? I mean, just sleeping." she continued quickly, her eyes flashing open. 

His lips twitched in amusement. "Of course," he said, pushing her curls back behind her ears and kissing her nose. 

Draco insisted Hermione wear his clothes and he made a show of covering his eyes with both hands, resisting the urge to look when he heard the fabric of her dress softly hit the floor. 

Once Hermione curled into his side, it didn't take long for her to fall asleep. He continued to rub her back, attempting to keep his mind distracted so he wouldn't ruminate about the bloody letters. Instead he thought about what they would do tomorrow and soon he too drifted to sleep.

Chapter Text

This time when Hermione awoke to being in the arms of Draco Malfoy, she didn't panic.

She stretched, then winced, realizing she must not have moved much in the night. Her cheeks reddened, becoming more aware of his bare chest against her back and his legs tangled with hers.

"You need to stop wiggling, Granger," Malfoy whispered in her ear, his voice husky and low from sleep.

Hermione felt his hand on her waist travel slowly up, tracing her figure, until his hand was against her throat. Her heart fluttered as it always did with his touch.

He pushed her chin up, her head falling back into his chest, and Draco's lips connected with hers.

Her first logical thought was what about morning breath? But that didn't seem to be on his mind when his tongue entered her mouth.

There was something about being in a vulnerable position like this she found sensual. Her eyes closed and she stayed in the moment, enjoying the sensations and feel of him.

"Good morning," she eventually whispered against his lips.

He hummed against her lips. "Morning," he murmured.

If someone had told her she would wake up content in the arms of Draco Malfoy, she would have laughed at such a ridiculous proclamation. 

Hermione moved away to prevent a crick in her neck, and untangled herself from Draco, standing up and stretching properly. 

Draco's eyes were now open, his stormy gaze traveling from her legs to her eyes; her cheeks reddened at the intensity and she bit her bottom lip nervously. 

"What?" she asked, feeling self-conscious at the lack of dialogue. 

"I was serious about going on a proper date today," he finally said, sitting up and turning away. 

Draco stretched his arms overhead, and Hermione observed the curvature of his muscles flex in his back and biceps. He stood and walked over to her, a smirk playing on his lips as if he knew she'd been watching.

"Is there any time for studying in this itinerary of yours?" she asked, her mind travelling to the stacking pile of assignments and studying needing to be done.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Is that how I am to gain Miss Granger's approval? A study date?"

She snorted, only a little embarrassed, but Draco should know what's he getting into if he really wants to do this. "Perhaps," she said, beaming.

He rolled his eyes and shook his head, but smiled. "Smartest witch of our age... I wouldn't have it any other way."

Hermione bit her lip, she would be lying if she said his words didn't have an effect on her. 

He cupped her face in his hands, his thumb grazing her bottom lip. "Though if you keep biting that lip of yours, Granger, there won't be much studying getting done." 

Draco brought her lips to his, his hands sliding down her arms to her waist. She shivered in pleasure and wrapped her arms around his neck. He bit her bottom lip in emphasis of his warning, and kissed her softly. Did Draco use Muggle lip balm? How he kept his lips so soft was befuddling. 

Hermione hummed against his lips, conveying her appreciation, and his hands gripped her waist tighter. He pulled away, the hesitancy reflected in his subtle pout, and she couldn't help the girl-ish giggle. 

He scowled and she kissed him once more, and he was smiling when she pulled away. 

"What does this date entail?" she asked, her cheeks warm from their snogging. 

"That's a surprise," he said, before turning her to the door. "Go get changed, I'll wait for you downstairs."

He patted her bum when she started walking away, and she narrowed her eyes at him over her shoulder. The prat merely raised an eyebrow, looking smug. 

Though she wanted to dress nicer, her wardrobe consisted of mostly comfortable clothing. Anything "date" worthy would be from Ginny's closet, but Draco hadn't mentioned any required attire.

After washing up and taming her curls, she threw on a pair of dark denim jeans, trainers, and a green jumper. She gave herself a wry grin in the mirror at the choice of color and decided to forgo the makeup. Grabbing her beaded bag, she made her way quickly down to the common room, and found him already waiting for her. 

Merlin, she'd never seen Draco in Muggle denims but here he was. It was bloody annoying how he could look this good in casual clothing. Was the man part-Veela? He did have the pale blonde hair...

He cleared his throat and her eyes flicked up meeting the amused glint in his eyes. She held her head high, masking her embarrassment, and walked up to him confidently. 

"I've never seen you in Muggle denim," she commented, rolling her eyes at his pleased expression. 

"I'm starting to think you only want me for my body," Draco said, feigning hurt while he opened the portrait door.

Hermione stuck her tongue out childishly as she passed him.

To her surprise, they didn't run into any classmates from their year in the corridors. The only reaction was a raised eyebrow from Dennis Creevey, and if that's all they would get walking together, arms touching, she would welcome it. 

Hermione fidgeted with her beaded back, unsure if she should hold his hand, but in the middle of her internal debate, she heard Draco sigh and intertwine his fingers with hers. 

She was aware they have had several sessions of snogging, yet holding his hand made her feel giddy. Her first instinct was to bite her lip, but she remembered what he said earlier and she really needed to study... 

For a day in late-November, it was pleasantly warm on the grounds while they walked in the direction of Hogsmede. There were a few students mulling about, enjoying the weather. Some were sunbathing while others playing games such as wizard's chess, nonetheless many started whispering once they noticed the pair.

"If you were to introduce a Muggle film for me to watch, what would you choose?"

She looked up with an impish grin, taking in the breeze rustling his hair.

They continued in conversation as Hermione explained several films, questioning his taste so she could give a more adequate answer. 

No one noticed the seething figure peering behind a tree, glaring daggers at their intertwined hands and stupid grins. They made their way back to the castle - it was time to regroup for more drastic action.

***
To Hermione's surprise, Draco led her purposefully into Tomes and Scrolls. There was a smirk playing on his lips and she didn't care if it was due to her inhaling the smell of parchment as soon as they crossed the threshold nor her fidgeting at wanting to trace the vast spines of literature on the shelves. 

"Go on," he said, squeezing her hand. "Pick something you'd like."

"Only one?" she quipped before realizing how horrifyingly ungrateful it sounded. "I - I didn't mean - I truly appreciate - you don't have to -"

He cut her off with a chaste kiss, wearing a crooked grin she adored. "Hermione, go pick out some books. Meet me at the counter in an hour?"

She grinned, squeezed his hand, and immediately rushed to her preferred section in the shop, absentmindedly liking the way he said her name.

Exactly an hour later, Hermione met Draco at the counter with three books. Two of these books she had never read due to being in the section labeled "New Releases". One involved the most recent edition of Defense Against the Dark Arts - she was still miffed at receiving an E instead of an O on her O.W.L.'s - and the other was on magical remedies of healing.

He glanced at her choices, carrying two books of his own. "Hogwarts, A History? You already have that book. You were reading it on the train."

"You remember what I was reading?" she asked, taken aback. 

"Of course, I do," he huffed, placing his books on the counter. "I couldn't fathom why that book was more bloody interesting than participating in a painful conversation with me."

She laughed, placing her books on top of his, and shrugged. "It's my favorite, and mine is missing."

"Missing?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. 

She nodded, taking another glance around the shop. It was rather disconcerting, but she must have left it somewhere around the castle and someone took it, mistaking it as their own. It had been difficult being without it the past month.

Hermione felt a tug on her hand and realized Draco already paid and shrunk their books. She smiled and allowed him to lead.

"Thank you," she said, squeezing his hand while they walked further down the alley. "I didn't see what you purchased."

"One was about a mastery in potions, and the other..." he trailed off and she looked up to see his expression turn perplexed.

"What..." She looked in the direction he was staring and saw Blaise Zabini closely following Luna Lovegood before they disappeared into an abandoned alley.

She couldn't recall seeing the two near each other aside from the Great Hall. Zabini had mentioned her oddness at the unity ball and the friendship between her and Draco peculiar.

Without needing to explain, they curiously followed and peeked around the corner of the adjacent building.

"That double standard bastard," she heard Draco mutter.

Blaise had Luna pushed up against the wall and was thoroughly snogging her, even lifting her by the bum so she could wrap her legs around his waist.

Hermione covered her mouth to stop herself from giggling. With the other hand, she pulled Draco away so they could stop staring like a pair of daft idiots.

"That was unexpected," she stated, looking amused.

Draco was scowling though she didn't understand why. Protective of Luna perhaps?

"Where to next, Draco?" she prompted.

He shook his head slightly and looked down at her with a small smile. "The Three Broomsticks, naturally."

She wanted to be public with Draco, but would rather tell her friends beforehand... something she hadn't thought about despite her over-preparedness in every facet of life.

He held the door for her and she nodded in thanks. 

"Find us a table and I'll grab some food and drinks," said Draco in her ear. Hidden with her hair, he lightly kissed her behind the ear.

She bit her bottom lip to assure there were no unexpected noises escaping from the gesture. 

He pulled away, winked, and disappeared into the small crowd of students socializing. 

She swallowed hard and looked around for an empty table. A wave of nostalgia passed when she realized the only table open was the same one she, Harry, and Ron sat in their third year when she levitated a plant to block their table from view and overheard the conversation about Sirius Black being Harry's godfather. 

Hermione weaved through a few tables and students, waving when prompted by name, before scooting herself in the booth. She started fidgeting with her beaded bag again, deep in thought about who was sending the notes. Her first thought had been Pansy Parkinson, but for her to be sending these crude letters? It didn't make sense... but if Pansy was involved, who was her partner?

She chewed on her bottom lip nervously. There has been no letters today... yet. It was irresponsible to burn them after reading, but they made her stomach churn. They weren't threats exactly, but made the assumption the individual would do what they described eventually. 

A mug of butterbeer was suddenly placed in front of her, drawing her away from revere. She looked up to see Draco tilting his head at her, looking concerned, while he went to sit next to her. 

"You okay?" 

Feeling especially unobservant, she then noticed a large basket of fish and chips between them.

"I'm okay now," she said, popping a chip into her mouth with a smirk. 

He rolled his eyes, taking a sip of his own butterbeer. 

"Maybe during the holiday you would allow me to take you some place nicer," he said, with a one-sided shrug. 

Hermione smiled. "Perhaps... I don't have any nice clothes aside from what Ginny gives me. What are your plans during the holiday?"

Draco took a bite of a fish finger, chewing contemplatively. "My father's trial keeps getting pushed back, but I think they'll schedule it soon. Otherwise Mother and I will have dinner and possibly invite a few Slytherins for some drinks."

"Do you...want any company? At your father's trial, I mean."

He looked taken aback. "I wouldn't drag you through a media circus like that, Granger. 

She shrugged, attempting to be casual. "It's just an offer."

Did she want to go? Not particularly, but she would if Draco wanted her too. Though he was always emotionally distant when she used to pry about his relationship to his father, she imagined it still wouldn't be easy to see his father after several months in Azkaban and have him possibly be given the Dementor's Kiss. 

She swallowed hard thinking about her own parents, and with months of practice pushed the thought of them to the back of her mind again. 

"How about you?" he asked, raising a brow. 

"I'll be at the Burrow, I'd imagine," she said, taking a sip of butterbeer. 

"Don't you have family?"

Bugger. 

"They're dead," she said stiffly, reaching for a fish finger. 

Draco opened his mouth and closed it. "I didn't know," he finally murmured.

Hermione sighed and leaned back in her seat, doing her best to sound emotionally detached. "I obliviated them last year and planted in their heads to move to Australia. After the war, I learned they didn't even make it there. There was a sudden storm mid-flight, and the plane crashed in the Indian Ocean. According to the papers, there were no survivors. I suspect it was the Dementors."

She didn't look at him as she spoke, taking another drink. Change the subject, Draco, please...

He moved closer to her so their thighs were touching, put an arm lightly around her shoulders, and cleared his throat. "So what are you hoping to do after Hogwarts?"

She sighed in relief, relaxing into his side.

Hermione discussed several options she was weighing. She thought about being a Healer, an Auror, or a Ministry worker doing something with the protection of magical creatures. 

"An Auror?" he asked, looking surprised. 

"I wouldn't want to be in the field too much," she said sheepishly. "But if there was a research position or primarily doing the investigative work... I like puzzles and mystery."

"Hmm," was all he said with a nod. 

Draco discussed how he didn't need to work with how much money his family made, but he still wanted to do something. His priority however was moving out of the Manor and finding a place of his own.

"What are you going to do without house elves?" she teased. 

He scoffed and rolled his eyes. "I think I'll manage."

They went on to discuss the mystery of Luna and Blaise, wondering how in Merlin that came to fruition. Just like it was before Halloween, it was easy talking to Draco - he listened, asked questions, and challenged her.

"Were you and McClaggan on a date yesterday?" he asked, his voice sounding casual, but she could tell he was clenching his jaw.

Hermione snorted unamused, finishing her butterbeer. "There was a Slug Club dinner party, and Cormac insisted on walking me back. If you see me willingly with him, I'm probably imperiused."

"Bloody wanker," muttered Draco.

"Erm- hello, Hermione."

She looked up and saw Cho Chang looking confused, holding a scrap of parchment. She hadn't interacted with Cho much this year aside from a few nods or waves in the corridors as means of acknowledgement.

"Hi, Cho, having a good term?"

"It's alright," she said, glancing nervously at Draco. "Listen, this doesn't make a lot of sense, but I was asked to give you a note, but as soon I walked over here..." Her eyebrows furrowed together, mild irritation reflecting in her eyes. "I can't remember who gave it to me, which is a bit dodgy."

Hermione's heart sunk, her eyes fixed on the piece of parchment she was holding.

With a reserved sigh, she held her hand out. "It's okay, Cho, I was expecting something like this today."  

She hesitated before passing it to her.
"We're not close, but if you need something, let me know, alright?"

Hermione nodded and Cho walked back to a group of Ravenclaws.

Draco's arm tightened around her shoulders protectively. "Is that one of them?" he asked, his voice low.

"Most likely," she said, keeping her voice even.

She had tried numerous diagnostic spells on the letters, and discovered the penmanship was altered and only she would be able to read it. There weren't any identifying markers.

"Wait, Hermione, look, it says 'Malfoy.'"

For the first time, the folded parchment did indeed have 'Malfoy' scribed on the outside.

"Give it to me," he said softly. "You don't need to read anything today."

Hermione bit the inside of her cheek. "You'll tell me if there's anything I need to know?"

"Yes."

She slid the note to him, and watched his face closely. His face stayed impressively impassive as his eyes scanned the parchment.

"I see why you burn them," Draco finally murmured, pocketing it. He moved his arm away and grabbed her hand instead. "Do you honestly want to study tonight?"

"Would it be awful if I said yes?"

Draco smirked, though she could tell his eyes still looked troubled, and pulled her gently to indicate they were leaving.

There conversation was more subdued on the way back to the castle, and she couldn't help feeling as if she ruined the day for them.

He suddenly shifted the direction they were going, and lead them to the Black Lake.

"Are you sure-"

"Enough, Granger," he said sharply, cutting her off.

"I'm sorry," she murmured.

Draco groaned and turned her to face him. He cupped her face with his hands, and rested his forehead against hers. "You have nothing to apologize for."

"It seems like I do," she muttered.

"I'm upset with myself," he said quietly, pulling away but holding her chin with his thumb and forefinger so she was looking directly into his eyes. "I don't deserve you, Granger, and yet I selfishly want you."

"I can make my own decisions on what I deserve, Draco."

"And you're sure you want this? The publicity being with an ex- deatheater... animosity with your friends... I'm not worth the trouble."

Hermione clenched her jaw. "Either you want this to work or you don't."

Draco rolled his eyes. "It's not that simple."

"Spit it out then, Draco, because whether you like it or not, I fancy you.  You're right, Rita Skeeter is going to be  a menace, my friends won't understand, but I never claimed this would be easy. I'm willing to make this relationship work, but are you?"

He closed his eyes and shook his head with a small smile. "Bloody Gryffindors."

She scowled, but it quickly vanished when he leaned in and kissed her. His lips tasted of butterbeer and she was embarrassingly eager as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Draco's hands ventured under her jumper, pulling her impossibly closer by the waist. She gasped at his touch and the kiss quickly deepened when his tongue entered her mouth.

She couldn't stop the soft moan from escaping when his hands went slightly lower into the waistband of her denims, and Hermione swore she heard him growl "mine" in response.

She broke the kiss a few seconds later, breathing heavily, and her face flushed even more so when she could feel how hard he was through his jeans.

He rested his forehead against hers again, breathing just as heavily. "We'll take it slow," he murmured.

"This is slow?" she asked through breaths, raising a brow incredulous.

Draco pulled away and laughed, his crooked grin appearing again for the first time since leaving Hogsmede.

"With what I want to do to you... yes." His expression turned more serious when he kissed her forehead, then her nose, and her lips once more.

"I want to make this work, Hermione."

She closed her eyes with a smile, resting her forehead against his chest while he put his arms around her.

"You better," she murmured, and he felt his chest move as he laughed quietly, burying his face in her curls.

When they returned to their common room, various desserts were on the table along with a bouquet of roses. According to Draco, the house elves were excited to help when he stopped by the kitchen. She felt rather conflicted about it all, but felt better knowing McGonagall was giving them liveable wages.

As promised, Draco allowed her to study for an hour, and it felt like how it did months before when they used to study together. However it was awfully distracting to be snogged every 5 minutes, but she managed.

Eventually they crawled into Draco's bed and discussed everything from favorite books and sweets to the differences growing up as a muggleborn and pureblood.

As Hermione's head rested on his chest, listening to his heart while he made indiscernible patterns on her back with his fingertips, she fell asleep feeling safe and content in the arms of Draco Malfoy.

Chapter Text

Hermione took deep breaths while she and Draco stood just out of sight from the Great Hall and its occupants.

"Hermione, we don't have -"

"I'm not bloody ashamed of being with you, Draco Malfoy."

And this was true. She forgave him, not because of a formal verbal apology, but due to his actions. She remembered something Sirius had said to Harry long ago... there is both dark and light in all of us - what matters is the part we choose to act on.

"Ah, there's that fiery spirit... reminds me of us just an hour ago when you -"

Hermione's grumbling was incomprehensible as she shoved his shoulder, but he merely smirked when he captured her wrist and kissed her palm.

"We don't have to explain ourselves, Granger. If you're uncomfortable we can sit in the courtyard or, dare I say... the library." He dramatically winced at the latter and she couldn't help rolling her eyes with a smile.

Draco kissed her temple, interlaced his fingers with her's and led them confidently into the Great Hall.

Only a few seconds later did the loud chattering turn into whispers, and though her face warmed, she held her head high and sat next to him at the end of the Gryffindor table. She didn't like having her back to the other houses, but it was easier to ignore the staring and whispers this way.

Right as Hermione's leg became restless, Draco's hand was on her thigh and ankle hooked around hers. She flashed him a rueful smile while buttering her toast.

She could feel the stares burning a hole into her back and from fellow Gryffindors. If only she could look as casual as Draco already biting into his second green apple.

"What would happen if there were no green apples at Hogwarts?" she teased, knicking an untouched apple on his plate.

"I don't think such grotesque thoughts," he replied, narrowing his eyes at the apple she bit into. He then leaned in to her. "Though, how you make eating an apple look so sexy is beyond me."

Hermione loudly snorted, shaking her head.

She could vaguely recognize Ron and Harry's raised voices on the other end of the table but was choosing not to listen.

"Draco, will you tell your mum about us?"

He carefully interlaced his fingers with his elbows on the table, glancing at her with a clenched jaw.

"I will be telling Mother eventually, but I don't expect her blessing..." he hesitated. "My family has had an arranged marriage contract for me since I was 14... but it's rubbish." He quickly continued seeing her look taken aback. "I haven't signed it."

"I can't compete with that," Hermione said quietly.

Pureblood customs, most likely. It shouldn't be surprising, yet it was. Draco may be less prejudiced, but she doubted he would risk his family's name and inheritance for a Muggle-born he was softening towards the past few months. Why was she even thinking of marriage between them in the first place?

Merlin, they've only been a couple for a couple days! Stupid, stupid, stupid...

"Who?" she continued casually, taking a drink of pumpkin juice.

"There's no competition, Granger," he murmured. His eyes had hardened and she wasn't sure if he was convincing her or himself.

"This seat taken?"

They looked up to see a smirking Ginny holding hands with Harry who looked as if he'd rather be anywhere else. Hermione frowned at him.

"Not at all, Gin."

Draco scowled but didn't protest. Ginny was giving Draco a smug look she didn't quite understand.

Ginny winked at her, seemingly accepting the circumstances, and Hermione hesitantly smiled. She knew Ginny wasn't the most approving, which was made clear during Halloween; nonetheless, it was comforting to not be given a lecture or have a confrontation in front of the school.

"Are you two official then?" asked Ginny, comically wiggling her eyebrows.

"Yes," said Draco shortly before Hermione could speak, rolling his eyes.

Her heart skipped a beat with how quickly he agreed to being with her.

Ginny looked amused and nodded.

"As long as you're happy," said Harry quietly, his voice sounding strangled, and awkwardly giving a non-committal shrug.

"I appreciate that, Harry," said Hermione wryly. She honestly was surprised he was voicing any sort of approval. "What does Ronald think?" she asked lightly.

Ginny grimaced before looking down the table and rolling her eyes. "Don't worry, Lavender has her claws in..." Ginny then sighed, looking annoyed. "Nevermind."

"Won Won, let's go," whined Lavender behind them.

Hermione bit her bottom lip, keeping her eyes on the table.

"Do you need something, Weasel?" said Draco, not bothering to turn around either.

"I'm disappointed in you, Hermione," came Ron's voice softly behind her. "I thought you were smarter than this."

Hermione bit harder into her bottom lip until she could taste blood. Ron knew just what to say to hurt her by questioning her intelligence. Draco stiffened next to her.

"Don't," she murmured to him, closing her eyes.

"Good to know you can throw away eight years of bloody friendship so easily," she heard him drawl. Hermione could hear his anger under the surface. "Piss off, Weasel."

"You reach for your wand, Ron, and I'll hex you," snarled Ginny.

Hermione opened her eyes and saw Ginny's eyes narrowed, her hand on her wand that was now innocently next to her plate.

She glanced at Harry and was surprised to see he looked just as annoyed with what transpired.

"Walk away, Ron," said Harry quietly. "This is her decision."

Ginny's expression and hand gradually relaxed, indicating Ron and Lavender left.

"Granger."

She turned and saw Draco's silvery eyes looking at her with concern. He cupped her face and caressed her cheek with his thumb.

With his other hand, he pointed his wand at her face and wordlessly the cut on her bottom lip healed.

"Thanks," she said, attempting a smile. "I'm okay."

"Ron's such a git," grumbled Ginny, stabbing her scrambled eggs with a fork.

"Yeah, but if you hurt her, Malfoy, I'll kill you," said Harry seriously, his expression determined.

"Harry!" admonished Hermione, rolling her eyes at the dramatics.

"Fair enough," said Draco with a shrug, holding his hand across the table.

Harry hesitated, but eventually shook on it.

"House unity at its finest, yeah?" said Ginny brightly.

The next two weeks went surprisingly smooth. The whispers were lessening and Harry and Ginny continued to sit across from them in the Great Hall. Even Harry started to make small talk with Draco about Quidditch, which Hermione found amusing and sweet.

Ron was simply pretending she didn't exist. It was disheartening because she'd hoped he'd eventually give in... she even welcomed him yelling so they could just bloody talk about it.

The crude notes stopped, which made her feel uneasy rather than relieved. Hermione predicted it would worsen after being public with Draco, yet no contact has been made by her attackers since their first date.

What changed?

With the holiday quickly approaching, Hermione was spending the majority of her free time studying or being with Draco. They hadn't done anything more than thoroughly snog and tease. She was open to doing more, but to her surprise it was Draco who wanted to wait.

She remembered a few days ago voicing her insecurities around this, but he assured her how he wanted her physically by going in-depth with the specifics to the point of drenching her knickers. Draco was confident in this, but lightly blushed when he admitted to wanting this relationship to be more than physical.

Hermione agreed but Merlin was the sexual tension high.

Tonight she'd been guilted into studying in the Gryffindor common room by a pouting Ginny. She had also promised Draco that someone would escort her back to their common room when finished despite her protests.

It was nostalgic to be back in her house's common room, but Hermione wrinkled her nose when she looked up from her history essay to see Harry and Ginny snogging.

She noticed a crunched up piece of parchment on the floor and threw it at Harry's head.

Harry caught it much to her annoyance and Ginny giggled, going back to her potions essay.

"Youngest seeker of the century pain in the arse," she grumbled.

Harry winked. "What are your plans for the holiday, Hermione?"

"Well if Mrs. Weasley is okay with -"

"Of course she'd be fine with it," cut in Ginny, impatiently without looking up. "Mum considers you family."

"I might visit Draco too," she added, biting the inside of her cheek.

"At the manor?" asked Harry, raising a brow in concern and pushing away his DADA textbook. "Are you sure you'll be okay? I could come with or-"

"Don't be ridiculous, Harry. I'll be with Draco."

"That what I'm worried about," muttered Harry darkly, which resulted in Ginny elbowing him with a frown. "Okay, okay," relented Harry, rolling his eyes. "He's been... fine. Old habits."

Hermione sighed. "At least you're trying. Better than Ron, anyway."

"He'll come around," said Harry, not looking entirely convinced.

Ginny snorted but a look from Harry had her hastily busy with her essay.

Hermione shook her head and looked into the fireplace, grounding herself by noticing the blend of orange and yellow, the smell of burning wood, feeling of warmth... something a Mind Healer suggested to her this past summer.

As her gaze moved away from the fireplace she noticed an aging black book propped ominously against the wall next to the flames.

Hermione set aside her essay and went to pick up the book. Her brows furrowed as she flipped through the pages.

"Harry... Ginny... do you know who's this is?"

She turned and they both shrugged.

"It's been there for days," commented Ginny.

"This... this is a book from the restricted section... who would steal this book and leave it around," she mused aloud.

Harry looked more interested than before, raising a brow now at the book she was holding.

There was a page ear-marked and she reflexively went to smooth the page, but her eyes widened at its content.

Draught of Living Death
A very powerful sleep that can last indefinitely.

Ingredients:

Water
Powdered root of asphodel
Infusion of Wormwood
Valerian root
A Sopophorous Bean
A Sloth brain

She stopped reading, feeling uneasy. Infusion of wormwood... did they not find evidence of such nearly a month ago when attacked?

This was NEWT levels - she once attempted to brew it her 6th year with Professor Slughorn. But why was this book specifically restricted when the potion could be found in any Advanced Potion Making book at Flourish and Botts? Was there a difference between the two?

"Hermione," she heard Ginny sing.

"Hmm, yes?"

She looked over to see Harry and Ginny looking at her with amusement and underlying concern.

"We've been trying to reach you for several minutes," said Harry, shaking his head affectionately. "Are you okay?"

"I'm... not sure," she said softly. She looked around the nearly abandoned common room before ripping the pages from the book.

Harry and Ginny looked at her with mouths agape while she pocketed it.

"Do you think she's been confunded?" whispered Ginny loudly.

"Dunno," Harry whispered back, shaking his head. "Polyjuice?"

"Oh, shut up," said Hermione, trying not to blush at her rash actions. "I need to compare this to an Advanced Potions book. It requires wormwood."

Understanding flickered in Harry's eyes. "The ingredient you found by the Room of Requirement... what potion?"

"Draught of Living Death, but this version seems restricted and I want to know why."

"We could meet in the library tomorrow?" offered Harry with a shrug.

"Wait... are you implying someone in Gryffindor is trying to hurt you?" said Ginny loudly in which Harry and Hermione shushed her.

"It's possible," Hermione mused, sounding not as concerned as she probably should be. "Could be a dead-end or coincidence."

"I don't believe in those anymore," sighed Harry, standing up to stretch his arms overhead.

Hermione caught Ginny eyeing him with interest and the red-head winked when meeting Hermione's exasperated expression.

Of course, she did the same when Draco stretched, but that wasn't something she'd admit to.

"Malfoy says someone has to escort me back to my common room," grumbled Hermione, glancing at her watch.

Ginny laughed. "Protective isn't he?"

"Why can't he?" asked Harry compiling his work and cramming it all into his bag.

"He's spending time with Blaise in the Slytherin common room," replied Hermione, putting away her homework in her bag with much more care. "I told him to spend more time with his Slytherin friends."

"I can escort you, Miss Granger," said Ginny pompously with a dramatic bow, her hair touching the floor. "Would be my pleasure."

"Ginny," said Harry, looking hesitant. "Maybe I -"

"I'm meeting Luna outside her common room anyways for prefect duties," said Ginny before her eyes glittered with mischief. "Feel free to wait up if you'd like," she continued with a wink.

Harry grinned, pulling Ginny in for a kiss.

Hermione was happy for them, really, but as the seconds continued to pass and the snogging deepened she loudly cleared her throat.

"Sorry," said Harry with a crooked smile, not sounding sorry at all, kissing Ginny one more time on the lips. "See you soon, Gin."

Ginny waved her wand like the witch she was to pack up her belongings and skipped to the portrait door.

Harry wrapped Hermione in a hug and she pecked him on the cheek with a smile, before following Ginny out of the common room.

She and Ginny walked in comfortable silence through the dark corridors, both having casted a lumos to navigate their way.

"Do you feel like we're being watched?" whispered Ginny suddenly, looking apprehensive from the illumination of her wand.

Hermione pointed her wand in different directions in the corridor, seeing nothing out of the ordinary.

Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw movement and froze.

"Homenum Revelio," she murmured, inhaling shakily when the spell indicated there were two other humans present aside from Hermione and Ginny.

"Send a message on the DA coins," breathed Hermione, her grip tightening on her wand. "Help in east corridor."

Ginny slowly reached into her robes to send the message.

A flash of red rocketed towards them and Hermione silently waved it away, her wand still at the ready.

"Done," Ginny murmured, pocketing the coin.

Hexes were simultaneously sent down the corridor on opposite ends and the witches were forced to stand back-to-back - dueling with the invisible shadows.

No longer able to cast lumos, the only light came from the non-verbal hexes eearily being sent either way.

"Cowards," said Ginny loudly from behind her, sending what sounded like her infamous bat bogey hex.

The hexes ceased and the only sound were the girls breathing heavily from adrenaline. Both still had their wands aloft in the dark and she felt Ginny curl her arm around Hermione's free arm to stay together.

Hermione bit her lip hard to stop herself from panicking in the darkness. No DA members had arrived yet - she hoped at least Harry would have seen the message.

Ginny gasped and was suddenly wrenched away from Hermione's arm.

"Ginny!" Hermione shouted, pointing her wand behind her. She couldn't cast anything in fear of hitting Ginny.

"Petrificus totalus," came a whisper right next to her and she immediately froze, her body dropping to the ground.

No, no, no, no, no...

"Did you like my letters?" came a low voice near her ear.

Hermione wanted to whimper. She was defenseless as she tried with all of her power to free herself from the body-bind curse. What happened to Ginny?

Cold fingers went down her arm and she wanted to retch. "We won't do anything tonight," the low voice whispered. "But I would be better company than a deatheater... I assure you."

The attacker straddled her waist and her mind flashed back to the torture at the manor with Bellatrix doing the same. A traitorous tear left her eye, and a thumb wiped it away.

Foreign lips were suddenly on hers and she wanted to scream.

"LUMOS!"

The body on her's immediately vanished, the corridor was illuminated, and Draco's panicked face appeared in her line of vision. He waved his wand and a small scream finally escaped her lips, her body shaking, and a sharp pain was felt originating from the back of her head.

He manually put her arms around his neck, and had her legs wrap around his waist to hold her. She nuzzled her face into his neck with silent tears running down her cheeks while her body shook.

Draco was rubbing her back and speaking softly in her hair. "Potter sent me a patronus... I'm here... it's okay, love, it's okay... you're safe..."

"Where's Ginny?" Hermione asked thickly into his neck, inhaling the calming scent of apples and mint.

"Potter has her, she's okay."

She pulled herself away to see Harry over Draco's shoulder holding Ginny in a similar fashion, his worried eyes connecting with her's. Hermione then noticed several others in the corridor with their wands aloft including Luna Lovegood, Blaise Zabini, Cho Chang, and Neville Longbottom.

"You're bleeding, Hermione," said Draco quietly.

The wound on the back of her head stung but she paid it no mind. She was  angry for feeling so weak, angry that someone involved Ginny... but her emotions and magic were thoroughly drained to act on it.

"What happened, Hermione?" asked Harry quietly. "Ginny said she was knocked out."

Her grip around Draco's neck tightened as she explained the sudden non-verbal dueling, but her words faltered when trying to explain the attacker straddling her. It was Draco now holding her tightly.

"What letters?" clarified Harry, looking confused.

"Did he touch you?" murmured Draco, his voice low.

Hermione knew what he was implying. "They kissed me," she said quietly.

Draco's hands started to shake, but quickly stopped after a brief pause.

He spit out to Harry about the crude letters she'd been receiving and he and the surrounding DA members looked horrified.

"Harry," said Neville quietly, putting something small into his hand. "Found this on the ground."

"What is it?" she asked, her voice hoarse.

Harry was pale, but his eyes were flashing with unprecedented rage. He looked at her again and wordlessly held the object up.

It was a galleon. The same galleon she bewitched for Dumbledore's Army.

One of her attackers was a member of the DA.

Chapter Text

"Fuck," grumbled Draco, crumpling another piece of parchment and throwing it into a bin.

He would be flooing to the Manor in a few hours for the Christmas holiday and he has yet to tell his mother about his relationship with Hermione. He'd thought it would be best to give his mother a bit of notice before arriving at the manor for the unavoidable discussion, but...

Draco checked his watch and decided to join Hermione and Weaselette in the library an hour earlier than planned. An unconscious smile tugged at his lips, thinking of his bookworm.

With her concussion, Granger wasn't able to study for a week, sending the Gryffindor into a panic to catch up with her studies and NEWTS before leaving Hogwarts. Draco's anxiety of another attack on his girlfriend lessened significantly due to being assigned an Auror to essentially be her shadow for the next few months until the perpetrators were caught.

Draco started making his way to the library, but was stopped by Blaise talking to other Slytherins in the corridor.

"Where's your damsel?" asked Blaise with a smirk, clapping him on the back. "Boxing Day still on, yeah?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Yes, Zabini."

Pansy pouted next to Blaise, leaning against the wall next to his contracted future fiancé Astoria Greengrass. "You're still invited, Parkinson," said Draco offhand, and her eyes lit up. "But Hermione will be there." Her smirk turned into a scowl.

Astoria looked to be biting back a smile. Draco wasn't blind; she was a beautiful woman with long chocolate brown locks - not a hair out of place - with bright blue eyes and a petite figure... but neither wanted the other. He wasn't sure of her reasons, but he didn't care enough to ask.

"And you're sure she's okay with that?" asked Astoria with a perfectly arched brow.

Draco shrugged. "I haven't asked."

Theodore Nott, a quieter bloke Draco didn't interact with much at Hogwarts, snorted next to Astoria. He and Theo grew up together and were friends as children, but their interactions during Hogwarts were minimal; however, they saw each other during the holidays and when their fathers would meet with the Dark Lord at the manor.

"You really think the mud - muggleborn would even bloody talk to us? Does Narcissa know?"

"Mother will get over it," said Draco with a shrug, ignoring Theo's first question. "Don't be a bunch of bastards and bring plenty of firewhiskey."

Blaise smirked. "Sure, mate, no promises."

"The firewhiskey isn't optional," drawled Draco, walking away.

He felt guilty the night of the most recent attack connecting with his friends in the Slytherin common room, but Hermione insisted. And he was grudgingly grateful.

His Slytherin mates were changing - more apprehensive than their parents about the purity of blood and their prejudices - even Pansy much to his surprise, despite her disdain for Granger. They still considered themselves superior, but Draco believed this was more of a Slytherin characteristic than being of purer blood.

He walked confidently into the library, and caught sight immediately of the horrifyingly bright red hair and his Granger sitting across from her. Her personal Auror - Twinkle? - was sitting at a different table, thumbing casually through a pile of books.

Hermione was too busy looking over three different books when he approached, and Weaselette was reading Witch Weekly. Draco casually mussed up the red head's hair, and perched on the table.

"Ugh, bloody ferret," griped Weaselette, running her fingers through her hair.

Hermione glanced up at him with her warm brown eyes and a soft smile.

"Upset about the hair or losing the match yesterday?" He winked at the affronted witch, and saw Hermione roll her eyes in his peripheral.

Weaselette huffed. "I don't care how charming it was giving Hermione the snitch afterwards. Slytherin knocked out our beater and a chaser - not to mention -"

"Bored, Draco?" Hermione cut in, leaving the other witch to grumble incoherently and violently turn a page in her magazine.

"Terribly so, Granger," he dramatically sighed. "Are you still studying the symbol 'unknown' for ancient runes?"

"I finished that yesterday," she said, looking smug.

"Swot."

"Git."

"Teacher's pet."

"Cockroach."

"Just tell him what you found, Hermione," said Weaselette, not looking up from her magazine. "This current display of foreplay will ruin my lunch."

Hermione scowled with a pretty blush and Draco smirked. She wasn't wrong in her assumptions. He would shag Granger senseless when the time came... his thoughts ventured into bending her over a table in the restricted section and hearing her beg...

"What did you want to tell me?" Draco asked shifting on the table, distracting himself before he got too excited.

"I found three differences between the draughts of death," she replied, her cheeks still rosy. "It requires double the wormwood and sopophorous bean and there's an incantation with the restricted one."

Draco frowned.

Doubling the wormwood was wasteful, but the sopophorous bean quantity was troubling. This ingredient effected one's memory - stronger doses could induce irreversible damage.

"What's the incantation?"

It needs to be translated from ancient runes actually," she said excitedly. "I need Spellman's book."

"Would one of the attackers be in your class then?"

Hermione started chewing on her bottom lip. "Possibly... but we can't guarantee they're both in Gryffindor and they could be as young as a third year but for something this advanced they are most likely a 5th year or older and-"

"Hermione, love," said Draco softly, walking over to her and smoothing her chewed lip with his thumb. "We'll find them."

A tapping on a nearby window had all three students looking in its direction to see a large black owl perched on the ledge, a letter tied to its foot. Of course this wasn't any common black owl - it was his mother and father's owl, Abraxas.

Draco composed his face to be impassive as he went to open the window and untie the letter. Abraxas wasn't looking for a response and quickly left.

He opened the letter, sensing Hermione and Weaselette's eyes on his back.

Draco,

Your   father's  trial has  been   scheduled  for Christmas Day. We  are  expected to  be  there at 9 o'clock sharp.

Perhaps Ms. Greengrass would be inclined to accompany us.

- Mother

Draco crumpled up the letter into a ball and stared out the window, watching the small black speck of Abraxas fly back to the manor.

Christmas Day. The nerve of them... the nerve of his mother...

He didn't turn when he felt Hermione's small hand rubbing his back soothingly, standing next to him. She didn't say anything, knowing he would speak when ready.

Inner turmoil of his emotions and loyalty raged. Loyalty to his parents and the Malfoy name engrained into every facet of his upbringing.

A slap for every mistake... playing with half-bloods at the park in his youth, talking back to his father, showing weakness in front of company, never surpassing the muggleborn in every class...

Affection and gifts when fulfilling his duties... but of course this ceased the summer of his 5th year. The failings of his father with the son playing his part as the sacrificial lamb.

The respect for his father began to wane and his loyalty to the Dark Side was out of survival rather than belief.

But did his father deserve death for his part in the Dark Lord's reign of power? He wanted to say yes without doubt, but the fucking engrained loyalty... if he could change his views on blood purity, then why was this more difficult?

"My father's trial is scheduled for Christmas Day," he said finally, his voice stiff.

Her hand on his back briefly paused before continuing again.

A full minute went by in silence, his shoulders gradually relaxing with her touch.

No, his loyalty lies with the witch standing next to him.

"I'll go with you, Draco," she said quietly.

He finally turned to look at her and was surprised to see such determination reflecting back at him. "I can't ask that of you, Hermione."

"I wasn't looking for your permission."

He narrowed his eyes at her calm façade. "Why?"

"I'm not there to change the outcome or ask for a pardon," she said, her voice softer. "I would be there to support you."

"Who says I need you there?" he challenged with a glare. "Lucius will get what he deserves."

Her expression didn't change, still calm, but her tone was firm. "Maybe so, but he's still your father. And I'm not ashamed to be seen in public with someone I care about. You would do the same for me."

He snorted. "You don't know that."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "And you say Gryffindor's are stubborn. I'll even go to your bloody snake gathering on boxing day."

"How-"

"Brightest witch of our age, remember?" she teased, removing her touch from his back and holding his hand. "If Pansy is there, I can't guarantee she won't be hexed."

Draco's lips twitched almost into a smile. "I'm not agreeing nor do I like this," he warned before allowing a sigh and squeezing her hand. "But I know you'll appear in the Ministry atrium at 9 o'clock regardless."

The swot merely smirked.

She was fire and he was ice... and he was bloody thankful.

***

"Malfoy Manor."

Draco stepped through the green flames and appeared in the familiar drawing room while he dusted ash from his robes. As with most of the rooms in the manor, the flooring was polished and spotless and the furnishings looked ornate and unlived in.

"Hello, Draco."

His mother looked the same as he last saw her, her face perhaps more gaunt with stress and subtle shadows underneath her eyes. Narcissa always appeared regal and well dressed as she was now, wearing deep purple dress robes with emerald earrings and a pendant; a glittering brooch in her blonde hair, pulled back in a strictly tied bun.

"Mother," replied Draco cordially, kissing her on the cheek.

She gave him an affectionate pat on his cheek before stepping back, surveying him with watchful blue eyes.

"You look well, Draco," she said, a hint of suspicion in her tone. "Better than when you left."

Draco inclined his head in admission, but did not elaborate while he continued keeping his expression impassive. Though his mother lied to the Dark Lord, she still held similar beliefs of blood purity and disapproved with his decision in returning to Hogwarts - preferring he immediately upheld his duties as a Malfoy. He wanted to do more with his life than shift around the family's blood money and assets.

"We have much to discuss," she continued when he did not speak, moving to sit on their velvet black couch where tea service and crumpets waited.

He poured hot tea into a cup, adding one sugar cube and a small amount of milk, offering it to his mother who looked pleased. Draco prepared his own and seated himself across from her.

Draco imagined what Hermione was doing at the moment, likely being greeted by a horde of gingers with open arms.

Her life would be less complicated with the Weasel, he thought bitterly.

"- hopeful he will be paroled."

He quickly refocused on his mother. "Be paroled?" he repeated.

"Yes," she said calmly, taking a sip of her tea. "You and I will make several generous donations to key members of the Wizengamot and -"

"No we will not," he said stiffly.

"What was that, Draco?" she said sharply, raising a delicate eyebrow.

"As head of the Manor, you need my agreeance for the disbursement of funds, Mother," he said calmly. "Father will be given the consequences he deserves without our interference."

Her lips formed into a tight line and she set her tea down on the table. "To hold a childish grudge is unbecoming. You will respect the Malfoy name and title." She surveyed him coldly. "I regret allowing you to return to Hogwarts."

"You did not allow anything," he drawled, masking his annoyance. "Our name will not be given the proper respect until it is earned."

"And how do you propose this? I would say the union with the Greengrass' lineage will be enough. They were neutral parties during the war and this proved to be favorable, though the Dark Lord found it troubling."

Draco's eyes hardened, clenching his jaw. He would have preferred a different segue, but they may as well be done with it.

"Astoria and I are not going to marry."

"Don't be ridiculous, Draco," she said, brushing away imaginary dust from her robes. Nargles or something is what Luna would say. "Delga and I have set the date for after the school year. She will review the specifics with her daughter over the next few days to finalize the arrangements."

"I'm in a relationship with Hermione Granger," he said slowly, raising an eyebrow with a smirk.

Narcissa's expression cleared of any emotion, but Draco noticed the subtle shaking of her hands.

"I don't feel such... drastic actions are necessary, but if this is preferable to your plan and -"

"My plan?" he interrupted with a frown.

"For bringing respect to our name," she said unperturbed. "Though I'm not certain the Greengrass family will be pleased having their daughter become a mistress, however to still have ties to an heir would be profitable."

Disappointed understanding was bitter on Draco's tongue to what she was implying.

"No, Mother, you misunderstand," he said firmly. "I'm in love with Hermione Granger."

He hadn't even told Hermione this, but he knew this would clarify his intentions.

Narcissa's façade started to crack as her own horrified understanding broke through.

"If all goes well, she would be properly courted," he smirked, watching her emotions and planned future for him crumble. "Of course any heir of this union would end our lineage of blood purity, as you know, but this isn't of any concern -"

"Enough!"

Her lips were trembling and her face was severely pale. He watched her warily, wondering if she'd truly fall ill over this thought. She wasn't one to raise her voice.

"Our family has continued to perpetuate prejudice of blood for centuries. It's time to consider our ancestors chose the wrong side. I'm not taking this second chance lightly."

She stared at him with scrutiny, her expression returning to being impassive.

"You're making a mistake, Draco," she said finally, her hands clapsed together on her crossed knee.

Draco stood stoically. "She will be accompanying us to the trial. I suspect you need to evaluate where your loyalties lie beforehand. I'm happy, mother, truly."

"Clearly," she murmured, her eyes now downcast into her cup of tea as if the answers lie within its depths.

"Thank you for tea."

He walked away to brood in the library, smiling as he thought how Hermione would react to stepping through its threshold and allowing a delicate finger to run across the binds.

***

"Stop fidgeting, Draco," Narcissa scolded in a harsh whisper. "Afraid your mud - muggleborn won't show?"

The last time she said mudblood, Draco was absent from the next two consecutive meals.

He scowled, straightening the cuffs of his suit.

She would be here, they had just owled last night about it - preferring to exchange gifts in-person later this evening. And also giving her another chance to back out, which she declined.

They were flooing to the Weasley's afterwards to pick up her belongings. He was rather nervous, but hoped he would be given the opportunity to apologize.

Voices in the atrium suddenly became louder and he looked up to the commotion.

Hermione Granger had arrived. Unexpected emotion could be felt in his throat and chest at her appearance.

She looked like she belonged at the Ministry with her slimming black trousers and cream blouse, her curly locks up in a messy but sexy bun. No longer was she a Gryffindor student in robes, but a woman with an aura and stature of confidence.

Hermione was beautiful as she was fierce. Draco had truly missed her over the past few days.

She was shaking hands with Kingsley Shacklebolt in greeting, her personal auror at her side. The press, there for his father's trial, snapping pictures and shouting questions.

Then those golden brown eyes connected with his and took his breath away. He watched as she excused herself from the Minister and made her way over to him.

He knew the press were watching with curiosity, that his mother had stiffened her posture nearby, but he only had eyes for Hermione.

Soon she was a mere foot from him, staring up at him with warmth.

"Hi," she said quietly, her lips quirking into a shy smile.

Draco cupped her face with his hands, a sense calm running through him when he lowered his face and kissed her sweetly, the feel of her lips soft and responsive.

"A week is far too long without you," he murmured a few moments later against her lips, before relinquishing his hold on her face only to place his hands on her waist.

Her lips were slightly parted and cheeks flushed from their kissing, the press louder and more belligerent.

"I missed you too," she murmured, before flinching as the press began to become bolder with their proximity and questions.

"Let's keep moving, yeah?" chirped the auror nearby. He nodded without taking his eyes away from Hermione, but her eyes were now anxiously looking over his shoulder.

Draco clenched his jaw before smoothing his expression.

"Hermione," he said cordially, releasing one of his hands from her waist to turn them around. "This is my mother, Narcissa Malfoy. Mother, this is my girlfriend, Hermione Granger."

Hermione stepped away from his hold and boldly held a hand out to his mother. "Pleasure, Mrs. Malfoy."

He smirked at the subtle surprise in his mother's eyes.

"Narcissa will do, Miss Granger."

She shook her waiting hand and quickly dropped the hold.

He bit back a grin that Hermione didn't give his mother the same pleasantries of using her first name.

Draco held out his arm for her to take and after a brief flash of amusement at this formal gesture, Hermione wrapped her arm around his.

Despite his previous protests, he was glad to have Hermione at his side and unafraid of what the bloody world thought. So when they finally took their seats behind the Wizengamot and Draco held her close to his side, he felt ready to face his father's disappointment and displeasure.

He had made the right decision. There would be no regrets or second thoughts about loyalty.

Draco Malfoy was in love with Hermione Granger.

Chapter Text

"Criminal trial on the twenty-fifth of December," started Kingsley, a hint of displeasure in his voice at the date. "For Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, death eater and loyal follower since the first Wizarding War. Interrogators: Kingsley Rakifi Shacklebolt, Minister of Magic; Auror and lead investigator - "

Hermione was not a coward, but when Draco's father was led into the courtroom and caught sight of his son's arm around a famous Muggleborn... the phrase 'if looks could kill' should be taken quite literally.

Even more unnerving was the fact he didn't look anywhere else but at her. Hermione knew he was weakened from his magic, but this did little to assure her. She wasn't sure what to expect, but his unwavering glare for the entirety of his trial wasn't it.

Draco's arm held her to his side tightly, not blind to his father's gaze but his face was impassive and eyes empty.

There was a difficult conversation they'd had about the war over a month ago how Professor Snape was giving him Occulumency lessons to protect his thoughts from Voldemort. She had a feeling he was doing this now.

Hermione listened to the list of charges, looking anywhere but Lucius Malfoy, and holding back a flinch anytime there was a mentioning of Muggle torture.

She was shoving her feelings as best she could to the back of her mind. This wasn't about her. This was about supporting Draco who was watching his father being criminally tried and hadn't seen due to staying the last 7 months in Azkaban. 

She absentmindedly rested her head on Draco's shoulder as evidence was presented to the Wizengamot, and soon felt his face burying into her curls.

"Draco,' hissed Lucius, startling them both and everyone else in the courtroom.

"How dare you delve comfort from a mudblood whore you insolent disgrace of -"

"Enough!" bellowed Kingsley, cutting through his tirade and the surrounding whispers.

To her horror and hurt, Draco stopped touching her altogether as if repulsed and continued looking impassive, not even giving her a reassuring glance.

Did the disapproving words from his father truly make its mark? Hermione apprehensively went to touch his arm but he shrugged her away without a glance.

Godric, she shouldn't have come. She should've backed out when given the chance.

Hermione felt nauseous at Lucius' now pleased demeanor. His bloodshot eyes were looking at her triumphantly and his lips were curved into a cruel smirk.

She was so lost in thought and a swirl of hurt she didn't even realize someone was calling her name and the eyes of the Wizengamot were upon her.

"Pardon?" she asked quietly, her cheeks flushing.

"I was wondering on your opinion as to the fate of Lucius Malfoy?" wheezed a short wizard a few rows in front of her, raising a brow.

Hermione stared.

"I am not here to decide any wizards' fate. That's your job with the evidence presented. My opinion shouldn't be and is not relevant," she said coldly.

The wizard looked taken aback and, with obvious embarrassment, turned away. Kingsley gave her a small nod in approval before drawing the attention away from her.

She glanced at Draco, anxious on his take of what she said but he was still impassive, not looking at her. Narcissa however was giving her fierce scowl, disappointment in her eyes for not defending her husband.

"We will come to a vote in one hour, " declared Kingsley. "The room is to be cleared until then."

As soon as Lucius was taken out of the room, she bolted from her seat and made her way to the exit, ignoring Malfoy's calls for her.

Hermione held back tears and nearly made it to the golden lift when she was pulled aside and seemingly went through a solid wall.

She angrily tore the hand from her arm, noting she was now miraculously in a fairly large office complete with two couches and a large desk with several Muggle telephones.

"Hermione?"

She exhaled loudly and faced Draco. His expression was completely different than what it was in the courtroom. He was looking concerned and searching her eyes for answers.

It only hurt her more.

"What do you want?" she snarled.

To his credit, he looked baffled at her tone with his eyebrows furrowed. He even had the audacity to look hurt.

"What's wrong, Hermione? Are you okay? I know that was a lot but -"

She crossed her arms and scowled. "One word from Lucius and you can't bloody stand to touch me," she spit out, channeling the anger. "Now how the hell do I get out of this room and away from you?"

Draco's expression shifted as he narrowed his eyes, storming up to her dangerously which forced her back into a wall. He grabbed her wrists and held them above her head.

"Piss off," she hissed, feeling helpless in this position as she struggled, but he pressed his body against hers.

"I'm not getting punched again," he muttered before lowering his head to look her directly in the eyes.

She rapidly blinked back tears, overwhelmed with his proximity and piercing stare.

"You think I don't want to touch you?" he questioned softly, swiftly being able to hold both of her wrists with one hand while his other squeezed her hip.

Hermione bit her bottom lip. "You - You stopped touching me as soon as Lucius spoke his disapproval. Wouldn't look at me or touch me the rest of the trial." She clenched her jaw. "My feelings are not to be toyed with - and they won't be anymore, Malfoy."

He lowered his head and she held back a whimper as he bit and kissed at her pulse point, leaving sure bruises while his mouth continued on in an indiscernible trail.

She hated how good it felt, how it left her flush and having to hold back her moans.

No, Hermione wouldn't let this continue.

"Malfoy," she started haughtily.

He bit down hard and sucked relentlessly at the flesh between her neck and shoulder. She cried out from the twist of pain and pleasure.

"Enough with my surname, Hermione," he whispered darkly. His hand resting on her hip now starting to venture lower.

His eyes flashed to hers, his emotions harder than usual to read. Her breath caught when he started playing with the buttons on her trousers.

"I will always want to touch you," he said, his voice softer but eyes still burning bright. "And I vow on the Malfoy name to protect you with my magic... vow to you my loyalty..."

He gently lowered her wrists and interlaced their fingers. "But I need your faith... I know what I'm doing doesn't make sense right now, but you have to trust me. Let me protect you."

He was right - this didn't make any sense. But he deserved the benefit of the doubt. Draco hadn't done anything to betray her trust... yet. 

She didn't even realize her eyes were downcast until he lifted her chin to assure they were looking at one another.

"I love you, Hermione Granger," he said with a beautiful crooked smile, the silver of his eyes glowing.

Her breath caught, eyes widening at his declaration.

"I don't expect you to say it back," he started, getting down on his knees.

She looked down at him confused, the reciprocal words ready on her tongue.

"But I do want to show my appreciation," his voice went down an octave and her insides churned as he smirked.

At a painfully slow pace, his lithe fingers started undoing the buttons of her trousers and her breathing spiked at what he was implying. 

"Close your eyes," he whispered huskily, his eyes smouldering while looking into hers. "Relax."

She did as she was told, leaning her head back on the wall, not thinking she could handle looking at what he was about to do anyhow.

"Good girl," she heard him murmur, and her body couldn't help but shiver at the praise. 

Hermione felt her trousers being slowly pulled down to her ankles - her feet lifted gently one at a time to completely remove the article of clothing. Her nerve endings were already fried when she felt his fingertips go up the side of her legs, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

As he neared her knickers, her hands turned into fists at her sides and a pitiful quiet whine escaped her lips.

Hermione then softly gasped when she felt sudden cool air being blown on her now very damp knickers. 

There was a pause when all she could hear were her heavy breaths and racing heart, until she felt her knickers being pulled slowly down her legs. She didn't feel his fingertips... something more jagged... oh bloody hell he was using his teeth.

She swallowed hard, biting down on her bottom lip when the lace - yes, lace, worn to help her confidence to appear at the Ministry- was gently removed like her trousers.

She and Draco had fooled around only with their clothes and undergarments still on - he never pushed her to go further, though truly it was her testing the limits than the other way around once they officially started this relationship.

"Perfect," she heard him murmur, just before something soft, wet, and pleasurable was between her legs.

Draco's tongue.

Fuck, fuck, fuck...

She heard him quietly chuckle, the vibration giving her an exciting jolt to her current rapture.

Godric, it wasn't just the feeling of his tongue causing her thoughts and body to spiral, but the loud wet sound of his tongue lapping across her cunt and his hot mouth sucking at her clit.

Hermione's breath quickened and her body shuddered, legs beginning to weaken at holding herself up. Draco's grip on her thighs tightened and her fingers ventured into his hair as she reached her climax. He hadn't touched her with anything but his tongue. Imagine what more he could do to her...

"Draco - I - I'm - Draco - fuck!"

Her fingers slipped from his hair to his shoulder, gripping him tightly as she leaned on him for balance. He didn't remove his mouth while the surge of dopamine pounded into her head and her thighs clenched.  He merely continued to draw out her orgasm while she panted and mumbled profanities.

Finally, he relinquished his tongue, but thankfully was still there to steady her with his hands, gripping her thighs. 

Hermione attempted to gain control of her breathing, her entire body still on fire. She just had an orgasm in the Ministry in some random worker's office.

"Hermione."

With an embarrassing amount of effort, she opened her eyes - everything seeming brighter than before with her euphoria - and looked down.

Draco was grinning brilliantly up at her, his lips glistening from her.

"Satisfied for now?" he asked, barely holding back his smirk as he licked his lips.

She nodded, not being able to hold back a small satisfied moan... not giving in to temptation to ask for more given she was in the bloody Ministry. "I might need help putting my clothes back on."

He looked at her coy, holding up her lace knickers, before shoving them in his dress robes.

"They would be uncomfortable to put back on with how soaked they are," he explained with a smirk before she could protest. They could quite easily do magic, but apparently he had skillfully forgotten this piece of information.

She narrowed her eyes but didn't say anything while he helped put her trousers back on, even fastening the buttons back together.

Draco straightened and leaned in to kiss her hard; tasting herself on her tongue... finding it strangely erotic to be doing so.

"We should probably leave Kingsley's office before we're caught."

"WE ARE WHERE?" she shrieked, causing Draco to wince, but his grin wasn't so easily wiped away.

Hermione just orgasmed in the Minister of Magic's office. 

"Father knew of this entrance - Fudge shared far too much with the man. It doesn't set off any wards... that I know of."

"How do we get out of here," she moaned, her cheeks that had started to cool were back to feeling hot as she covered her face.

He laughed, peeling back her hands to interlace them with his. "Hermione."

"What?" she mumbled, staring at his chin, worrying at her bottom lip.

"I love you."

Her eyes flashed back to his, looking warm, bright, and with what seemed like adoration.

" I - "

"Don't say it just now because you're still on a high," he said, flashing her a grin. Hermione didn't think she had ever seen him this happy and exuberant. 

She rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "Fine. I'll say it later when I'm not currently in Kingsley's office and your ego isn't so large."

"That's not all that's-"

She shoved him away with a snort of laughter and he looked utterly smug.

"Okay, okay. Let's finish this already so we can grab your things things and relax."

Relaxing at the manor seemed presumptuous, but she kept that to herself.

His head suddenly went through the wall she had been leaning solidly against and she was quickly tugged hard to follow after him.

Draco smirked at her, back in the corridor near the lift. Smug bastard.

"There you are!" huffed Tinsel, her expression exasperated and disapproving, walking quickly towards them. "The Minister and the Headmistress are going to have my head if I can't keep track of one witch."

"Sorry! We just... went for a walk."

The Auror narrowed her eyes but didn't push the issue. Thank Merlin.

"Sentencing is about to begin. Mrs. Malfoy is already in her seat."

Draco turned to her, his expression now serious. "Remember what I said?"

Hermione bit the inside of her cheek, wringing her hands. "Yes," she said quietly.

He sighed and stilled her hands, resting his forehead against hers. "Trust me."

She took a deep breath and slowly nodded.

He let go of her and walked away, his shoulders pulled back. Even his walk suddenly seemed more pompous and arrogant.

Tinsel raised an eyebrow, but Hermione sighed and shook her head before quickly following after him.

"Maybe some glamour charms, Hermione?" Tinsel snorted behind her.

Hermione stopped in her tracks and immediately turned scarlet. She quickly grabbed her wand and performed the needed charm.

"A walk, indeed," commented Tinsel next to her, wiggling her eyebrows.

Hermione groaned. The witch was far too much like Tonks.

When the two were back in the courtroom, Draco was back to looking at her coldly and shook his head.

She swallowed harshly and reminded herself to trust him.

Hermione gestured to Tinsel to sit in the closest empty pair of chairs, pleading with her eyes at her affronted expression towards Malfoy to let it go.

Tinsel huffed and sat down, obviously confused and annoyed.

When Lucius Malfoy was escorted back in, he was grinning upon seeing where she sat.  Hermione glanced back at Draco and saw he was smirking at his father.

Keeping her safe.

Draco was afraid of the repercussions from Lucius. That's why he was being cold and distant; giving his father the impression he didn't really care about her.

Though, Hermione also didn't care for the smug expression from Narcissa as well - her thoughts most likely similar to Lucius.

"We have to come an agreement," started Kingsley, looking grim. "Lucius Abraxas Malfoy is to be given the Dementor's Kiss a fortnight from today."

Hermione didn't turn around when she heard Narcissa loudly gasp, but she herself grimaced. Hermione felt apprehensive with its crudeness, but also guilty at her own feeling of satisfaction. Was she horrible to feel justice was served? Lucius had lead the movement on Muggle torture, and despite losing favor with Voldemort, his violence towards Muggles only worsened.

Strangely, Lucius seemed relaxed despite hearing he was going to have his soul taken. It was unsettling.

Tinsel and Hermione waited outside the courtroom for the Malfoys - the pair having to smooth the details of upcoming visitations and paperwork that entail a sentence as such. She grimaced thinking back to how impartial Cornelius Fudge was to allowing the Dementors to simply take Sirius Black or Barty Crouch Jr. before either could testify. 

When the Malfoy's finally did appear, the contrast on their faces were striking. Draco looked to be barely holding in a grin whereas Narcissa seemed on the verge of collapse, her face deathly pale.

"Hermione," he sighed happily, walking up to her. She let out a short squeak when he lifted her off her feet for a hug.

Many of the Wizengamot members whispered as they passed but she paid them no mind. She glanced at Narcissa who cheeks were now a splotchy red, a renewed disgust plain on her face.

Draco set her down, his expression relaxed while holding her hand. "Ready to grab your things from the ghastly Weasleys?"

Hermione rolled her eyes.

Draco pulled her along, completely dismissing his mother.

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion and she looked at him questioning, but he shook his head. Later then.

Eventually they were back in the Ministry atrium by the row of fireplaces. 

"You'll be at the Weasley's and then Malfoy Manor for the rest of the holiday then?" confirmed Tinsel, raising an eyebrow. 

Draco stepped away from Hermione and whispered something into Tinsel's ear. Hermione held back a childish pout - she hated secrets. 

Tinsel smirked and nodded, while Draco stepped away and went back to holding her hand. 

"Have a good holiday, Hermione. I'll see you at Hogwarts," Tinsel chirped with a wink. 

Draco and Hermione turned and with a side glance at the smug wizard, she stated questionably, "The Burrow?"

When they appeared in the familiar living room, she wasn't sure how Draco presence would be handled by the family; however, no one was in the room and her belongings were packed and ready nearby.

Hermione frowned. Was no one going to say goodbye?

"Hermione, dear," said Mrs. Weasley, coming around the corner just then and walking forward to give her a hug. "Everyone is outside playing a scrimmage of Quidditch - you know how Harry and Charlie can get."

She snorted. The two seekers were always trying to one up the other whenever Charlie visited from Romania. 

"Do you want to stay and watch?"

"I'd rather not, but thank you," she said, smiling kindly. 

"Merry Christmas, Mrs. Weasley," commented Draco, his body stiff next to her, but his tone cordial. 

Mrs. Weasley turned to him with a bright smile. "To you as well, Mr. Malfoy. Oh! Before I forget..."

She hurried into the other room and just as quickly returned. "Hermione already received her presents and I knew you would be stopping by and well -" Mrs. Weasley held out an expertly knitted hat adorned with a silver and green pattern. "It's not much but -"

"Thank you," said Draco quietly with the smallest of smiles, taking the gift from her. 

He was looking at the hat with a mixture of curiosity and awe. 

"Of course!" said Mrs. Weasley cheerfully, looking pleased he had accepted it. "Anyways - I -"

"Could I have a word with your husband?" asked Draco suddenly, causing Hermione and Mrs. Weasley to look at him with surprise. 

"Oh! Sure, dear. I believe he is outside. Shall I bring him in for you?"

"I'm sure Hermione would like to say goodbye to her friends as well. We can meet him outside." Draco looked calm, but Hermione knew the signs of his nervousness with the subtle tremor of his hands and minute clench of his jaw. 

"Follow me then," said Mrs. Weasley, her movements quick and upbeat while she hummed under her breath. 

Hermione and Draco followed as they made their way briefly through the kitchen to the yard. 

It was lightly snowing and a bit chilly when they exited the Burrow, the wind did nipping at her nose. She smiled appreciatively at Draco when he quietly performed the warming charm. 

As Mrs. Weasley had stated, a scrimmage of Quidditch was being held. She didn't know how the teams were divvyed up aside from Harry and Charlie, but laughter could be heard while they  flew above

Mr. Weasley looked to be refereeing, but he had his feet firmly on the ground and wasn't paying much attention while tinkering with a handheld mixer.

"Arthur," called Mrs. Weasley, hurrying over to him. 

She whispered in his ear, and he glanced over at Hermione and Draco with a frown.

Mr. Weasley loudly whistled, causing all of the players to stop and look down. 

He walked briskly over, giving Hermione a fatherly smile which turned into a frown when he turned to Draco. "What can I do for you, young Malfoy?"

"Is there some place we could chat in private, Mr. Weasley?" 

It was Hermione's turn to frown, but Draco discreetly winked at her when Mr. Weasley started fidgeting with his mixer while mulling over his response

Mr. Weasley cleared his throat, dusting fallen snow off his shoulder. "Ah, yes, follow me up here, yes, this should do."

Mr. Weasley promptly began walking in the direction of his shed, not bothering to look behind to see if anyone was following. Draco squeezed her hand. "Give me five minutes," he whispered, before moving to a light jog to catch up with him.

"So it's true then."

Hermione jumped and turned to see Charlie, Bill, and George looking at her with a raised eyebrow, the three casually holding their broomsticks.

She rolled her eyes. "Yes. Draco and I are in a relationship if that's what you're insinuating."

"I was referring to what Ron mentioned this morning under our - my new invention," said George with a smirk, hiding his discomfort with practiced ease at his slip. "That you looked like 'quite the witch' this past Halloween."

Hermione scowled. She recalled him discussing it with Harry last night - a single drop in one's drink would have the victim answering a single question truthfully. However, more than one drop and they would start doing a jig.

"What's dad and the snake up to?" asked Bill with a frown before Hermione could respond, nodding towards the shed. 

"Draco wanted a private word," said Hermione with a shrug. "How's the match, Charlie?" she continued, changing the subject. 

Bill and George snorted. 

Charlie mumbled under his breath and walked away. 

George snickered. "Harry's caught the snitch twice now, but Charlie keeps demanding a rematch. Harry is only agreeing to prolong... the talk... with Mum and Dad."

"Hi Hermione!" said Harry, flying low and jumping off his broom with Ginny not far behind. "How'd the trial go?"

Hermione bit her lip, her humor dissipated. "Lucius will get the Dementor's Kiss two weeks from now."

"I wonder why it's not sooner," Bill mused unperturbed. "Usually the sentence is carried out within days."

"Not a clue," said Hermione, crossing her arms together for warmth as the charm began to wear off. "But Draco seemed pleased with the outcome."

Bill, George, and Harry's brows shot up. 

"How did Lucius react to seeing you?" asked Ginny curiously. 

Hermione didn't have to answer when the door to the shed slammed shut and all turned to see Draco and Mr. Weasley laughing jovially together while making their way back to the Burrow.

"Did Malfoy confund, Dad?" whispered George conspiratorially. 

Hermione rolled her eyes and shoved at his shoulder. 

"You're welcome anytime, Draco, anytime!" said Mr. Weasley jubilantly as the pair joined the small group, shaking Draco's hand with earnest. 

Draco was smirking and Hermione knew it was from the all the Weasley children and Harry looking at him with their mouths agape. 

Mr. Weasley, with a cheerful jump in his step, made his way to his wife who was talking to Ron in hushed whispers. Hermione waved at Ron when she caught his eye, but he ignored her. 

That was getting annoying. She was starting to think it was out of childish spite than for any actual reason. Lavender Brown had returned from St. Mungo's a few weeks ago. No one was really sure what had happened with her Wolfsbane potion, but it was serious enough to complicate her transformation and she wasn't deemed safe for the next few moon cycles. After Lavender returned, Ron's indifference towards Hermione only worsened.

"Ready, Hermione?" asked Malfoy, catching her hand while still looking smug for leaving everyone speechless.

"Er - yeah."

"Merry Christmas," said Draco to the others with a nod before pulling her back inside the Burrow. 

Hermione waved to her friends behind her as she was hastily dragged away. 

"What was that about?" she asked curiously as he let go of her hand to pick up her belongings. 

"You'll see. Ready?" he asked with a grin, his excitement nearly palpable.  

He was quite the sight now wearing Mrs. Weasley's knitted hat, holding her trunk in one hand and the cat carrier in the other with a disgruntled Crookshanks. 

She couldn't help but grin back at how bizarre and wonderful this year was ending. 

"Ready."

Chapter Text

"Can I open my eyes now?"

Hermione felt his arms snake around her middle from behind before resting his chin on her shoulder. He turned his head and pressed his lips against her throat and she bit the inside of her cheek.

"Now."

She gasped and felt his lips turn into a smirk at her reaction.

They were facing a large glass window and through it was a spectacular view: the Eiffel Tower's golden lights gleaming in the starry night and reflecting against the snowy wonderland.

"Paris," she whispered. She used to visit with her mum and dad during the summer holiday, but it had been several years since she's returned.

"Happy Christmas, Hermione," he murmured, giving her middle a light squeeze and a kiss behind her ear.

She turned around in his arms and looked up at him with a warm smile. His silvery eyes shined bright. "Happy Christmas, Draco," she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck and bringing his lips to hers.

They kissed slowly, savoring the intimacy and warmth enveloped in each other's arms. The stress of the day slowly melting away.

"Mine," he murmured against her lips, his hands moving slowly down her waist to her hips, hooking his thumbs into her trousers' belt loops.

"Yours," she whispered back and he hummed approvingly.

Eventually, Draco gave her a tour and though it wasn't as large as the manor, she was sure they'd only need to utilize an eighth of the entire villa.

After she changed into something more comfortable, her bare feet padded softly against the cold marble floors to find Draco in the sitting room.

Hermione couldn't stop her jaw from dropping.

Next to the Christmas tree the house elves had graciously decorated with Slytherin and Gryffindor colors, was a telly.

Draco was smirking proudly next to it.

"Is that what you were talking to Mr. Weasley about?" she asked, taking a closer look at the ridiculously expensive and large television.

His smirk only grew more profound. "He was excited that I asked him about the proper charms in connecting it to the villa."

"But what were you two laughing about before?" she asked curiously, raising a brow.

He pursed his lips, eyes twinkling mischievously. "I'll keep that to myself for now."

Hermione rolled her eyes with a smile.

Draco walked over to the shining Christmas tree and picked up a thin parcel from beneath it, wrapped to her amusement in Gryffindor red with a golden bow on top.

She was surprised to note he now looked nervous, his eyes flashing from the gift to her. "Here," he said softly, handing her the gift.

She immediately plopped the large bow on top of his head causing a scowl, but she merely stuck her tongue out and finished unwrapping the parcel. Hermione bit at her bottom lip before she opened the velvet black box.

Hermione's lips then parted and her eyes widened at the gorgeous sterling silver bangle. The bangle was an inch in width and had the tiniest green emeralds wrapped around its circumference like vines. She touched it and felt a shiver of Magic spark her fingertips.

"It's beautiful, Draco," she whispered. She looked up and was surprised to see his cheeks were a soft pink, looking at her with such adoration it took her breath away.

"Try it on," said Draco hoarsely, clearing his throat. "Please."

She tilted her head, confused with his behavior, but nonetheless, Hermione slipped it on over her wand hand, and another tingle of Magic trickled up her arm.

"There's protection charms embedded," he said quietly before she could ask. "It's an heirloom... connected soley to this ring."

Draco showed her his hand with the ring. The ring he's worn since 5th year.

Hermione looked back down at the heirloom on her wrist, understanding dawning on her at the significance in gifting this to her.

"If... when -" he corrected himself, his expression torn between amusement and a grimace. "When you're in danger, my ring will grow warm and it will allow me to disapparate to wherever you are. Even in Hogwarts."

Hermione swallowed hard and wrapped her arms loosely around his neck, the pair resting their foreheads against each other.

"I love you, Hermione," he whispered, looking more vulnerable than she'd ever seen him.

She pulled back just slightly to properly look him in the eye. "I love you too, Draco Malfoy."

She heard the sharp intake of breath, his eyes searching hers in assurance. With a twitch of his lips, he then gave her the most brilliant of smiles and the corner of his eyes crinkled.

"Say it again," he said breathlessly, swooping down to place soft languid kisses down her neck.

"I love you, Draco," she laughed before it turned into a moan as the sucking at her flesh became more demanding. It walked the fine line between pleasure and pain - something she positively liked. "I-I haven't even given y-you your present," Hermione whimpered, embarrassingly so.

Draco playfully bit her earlobe. His face just as flushed as hers.

"Can't I just unwrap you?" he whispered huskily into her ear causing a shiver of excitement down her spine.

Hermione's heart was pounding, and was certain he could hear it when he pressed himself against her, feeling his arousal through his pajamas.

He suddenly lifted her by the bum and she wrapped her legs around his waist, before her back hit a wall.

Their kissing became hard and desperate. Draco's lips travelled to her neck, across her collarbone, the top of her breasts... creating delicious bruises she knew would appear, but Hermione wanted more as she squeezed her legs harder around his waist, the friction nearly causing a moan.

She nipped at his neck. "Let's go to the bedroom, Draco."

He didn't need to be told twice.

***

As consciousness creeped in for Draco Malfoy, he was aware of the sun against his eyelids, the softness of the bed beneath him, and an arm strewn across his chest with the cold metal of a bracelet resting against his side.

The bracelet was the only item he didn't remove from her body last night.

He opened his eyes and wished for this to be what he saw every morning. Hermione's curls were wild against the sheets and her breathing slow with quiet snores from her pursed lips. Draco reached his arm over to gently play with her curls - no doubt tangling them more - watching the rise and fall of her back and admiring the curves of her body uncovered by the blanket.

His cock twitched with remanence of last night with her huffy pants and the quiet chanting of his name in his ear. He was meaning for their first time to be slow, but Hermione had other ideas when she crawled on top of him and grinded her body hard against his. Just the sounds emitting from those perfect lips could have had him coming undone embarrassingly fast. He'd made sure she was begging and dripping before fucking her... again... and again...

Draco bit his fist to stop himself from moaning, his cock completely hard now.

A shower. He needed a cold shower.

He was not opposed to waking her with his head between her thighs, but he knew she was inevitably sore and sensitive. She could have a lie in.

Draco carefully removed her arm from his chest, unable to help himself from touching the bracelet and feeling the spark of magic.

Visiting Diagon Alley was not an enjoyable experience with the reproachful looks and the not-so-quiet mutterings following him the entire way to the marble steps of Gringotts. The goblins weren't any better with their looks of disgust... but all he could think about were the bodies of over a dozen goblins being violently murdered by the Dark Lord in the entranceway. A room full of bodies and an overwhelming scent of rust greeting him when he was called by the dark mark to bear witness.

Then the war began and he was soon face-to-face with the trio themselves in the Room of Requirement.

This was for Hermione - the bracelet he knew his mother wouldn't approve of him giving to anyone else but a pureblood wife. He couldn't imagine another witch other than his muggleborn donning it.

Retrieving the heirloom from their vault had been worth it.

He turned before the entrance of the bathroom to look at Hermione sprawled naked in his four-poster bed from afar. Draco felt his cock harden more so when an image of tying her to the bedpost while she writhed and begged flashed before his eyes, and it sent him hurrying into the bathroom and immediately to the shower.

The cold water did nothing to perturb his thoughts.

He fisted his cock while his other hand steadied against the shower wall across from him while memories of last night mixed with future desires flitted across his eyelids.

A few minutes later, Draco paused, hearing the bathroom door quietly open. Logically, it would be Hermione, but the terrifying thought of Blaise waltzing into his bathroom as a joke made him hesitate.

The shower door promptly opened and Hermione was standing there with a raised brow and smirk. However his eyes couldn't help but venture to her neck... her breasts... her thighs... the purple marks on full display in the light from his earlier exploration. When his gaze went back to her face, she was chewing on her bottom lip and eyes were looking farther down his body.

During his observation, he had continued pumping into his hand.

"Care to join?" he asked, his voice much lower than usual.

Hermione didn't hesitate nor flinch when she stepped in, closed the shower door behind her, and allowed the cold water to crash against her body.

Her much smaller hands rested against his chest and the look she gave him with hooded eyes was absolute sin while her nails gently scratched down his chest and travelled to his hips. In a blink she was kneeling in front of him and her nails were scratching slowly up and down the side of his thighs.

His mouth went dry when she gently freed his pumping hand, and with the sexiest smirk, licked the precum from his cock before taking all of him passed her lips - not once taking her eyes off of his. He clenched his jaw with a low moan, and while one hand continued to steady himself above her, the other grabbed a fistful of her hair.

Knowing how she was from last night, he pulled her hair hard and the sound she made sent instant pleasure down his spine and to his cock. Her grip around his thighs tightened and he could feel himself reaching closer to his climax, not caring how quickly he was to reaching it.

"Hermione," Draco panted, staring down at her, the muscles tightening around his groin. "Fuck - Hermio -"

His muscles spasmed as he burst into her mouth, every nerve ending heightened and on fire as he felt her tongue sliding against his cock before she began to slowly pull away. He watched as some of his cum escaped down her chin before she licked it away.

He groaned and pulled her up from the floor to bury his head into her neck. "Amazing," he murmured, breathing heavily against her. "You're amazing."

"I wish we could do more in here," she murmured back. "But I'm still... tired."

He couldn't help the satisfied smirk when he pulled away, but it quickly softened into a smile at seeing those damn honey brown eyes. "There will be plenty of time this weekend... but for now... turn around."

She quirked a brow at the order but didn't argue. Draco gave her bum an appreciative squeeze causing her to squeak to which he bit back a laugh. He poured a healthy dollop of shampoo in his hands and proceeded to massage it into her hair, earning an appreciative hum in response.

After taking care of her and cleaning himself, he made sure to wrap her in his fluffiest robe, wandlessly charming it to be warm. He lifted her to sit on the bathroom counter and stood between her legs, gently pushing back a wave of her damp curls behind her shoulder.

"I love you," she said, smiling softly.

He would never get tired of hearing that. The only other person to ever say those words to him were his mother, and it wasn't nearly as often anymore.

He cupped her face and brushed his lips against hers before kissing her nose and then her forehead.

"I love you too."

***

"Granger," Draco whined from the other side of the door, causing the witch to roll her eyes with a smile.

"Nearly done, Malfoy!"

Hermione could hear him grumbling but nothing coherent.

She glanced once more in the mirror, eyeing how the champagne colored dress melded nicely against her bodice and accentuated her curves. Around her neck, she wore her mother's silver pendant paired with dangling earrings as well as the bangle from Draco around her wrist. Her hair was twisted into a loose French braid.

The satin dress was sleeveless and she'd decided not to glamour away the scar on her arm when hiding the love bites. To say she was nervous was an understatement, and it only heightened when she could hear Draco's friends beginning to arrive - their greetings and laughter muffled through the door.

They had talked about the possibility of one of them being her attacker - Pansy Parkinson in particular - however she hadn't interfered with their relationship aside from the occasional reproachful look in class or the Great Hall. Then there was Blaise Zabini who spiked her drink earlier this year...

Hermione scowled at her reflection. Some Gryffindor she was... but perhaps she should start looking at it as self-preservation rather than cowardice considering how many times someone has tried to kill her this year. She might be nearly tied with Harry at this point.

She opened the bedroom door and made her way to the sitting room, the familiar and not-so-familiar voices growing louder.

Draco was proudly showing off his new telly, his Slytherin friends gathered around in interest. The scene reminded her of a salesman at a car dealership trying to sell and impress potential buyers. She snorted at the image, which of course caused all of them to stop talking and look at her.

Holding her nerve, she walked closer and kept her eyes focused on Draco who was looking over her dress appreciatively. He met her half-way and wrapped an arm around her waist before pressing a chaste kiss on her cheek.

"You look gorgeous, Hermione," he murmured in her ear, pressing another kiss on her temple. "Do you need introductions?" he asked, giving her side a squeeze.

She shook her head and glanced back at the group.

Theo and Blaise were wearing tailored black dress robes. Astoria wore a glittering green dress, her red hair perfectly straight and face free of blemishes. Pansy was wearing a short ruby red dress that was tight against her like a second skin paired with tall black heels.

She knew Astoria Greengrass and Theo Nott the least, but they'd been in her classes since first year. Nott was also a familiar name because she knew of Nott Sr., the Death Eater.

Hermione bit her lip nervously, noticing how Astoria and Pansy were eyeing the bracelet around her wrist, but none of their body language seemed threatening.

"As promised," said Blaise, breaking the silence. He waved his hand and a large bottle of firewhiskey appeared in his grasp. "Think you'll be up for playing some strip poker and truth or dare, Gryffindor?"

She glanced at up at Draco's frown. "Perhaps some truth or dare," she replied casually. "If you refrain from spiking my drink again."

"You what?!" said Pansy and Astoria aghast, turning to Blaise.

"Yeah, right before someone cursed Hermione to jump off the Astronomy Tower, Zabini," said Malfoy, looking more than annoyed.

He had the decency to look embarrassed. "It was a joke..." he said, though it sounded more like a question.

Astoria and Pansy both rolled their eyes.

There was an awkward pause.

"Well, er... drinks?" asked Blaise, looking hopeful, shaking the bottle in emphasis.

Theo muttered something under his breath, swiping the Firewhiskey from Blaise. "You can drink straight from the bottle if you want, Granger."

"No, it's okay," she said hurriedly, her face feeling hot. "I... I trust you all."

Everyone stared before Pansy suddenly snorted with laughter.

"No you don't," she said with an amused grin. "Don't lie, Granger. I wouldn't trust us either."

"What's that supposed to mean?" said Blaise with mock hurt, following after Theo and Pansy in the direction of the kitchen.

Astoria gave them an apologetic smile and shrug before following after the trio.

"Well, that could have been worse."

Draco snorted, turning her to face him. "Just give me the word and I'll throw them out."

"I think I can handle a couple of snakes for a night," she teased, squeezing his hand.

He sighed. "They should behave. They know how much you mean to me."

Hermione blushed and he smirked knowingly, bending down to kiss her on the lips. What she thought would be a little peck turned into a proper snog when he deepened the kiss with one hand behind her neck and the other squeezing her hip.

"Bloody hell you two."

Hermione jumped and attempted to move away, but Draco wasn't having it. His grip around her was gentle, but firm.

"Bugger off, Zabini," Draco murmured, his silvery gaze locked with hers, causing her insides to do a somersault. He looked ready to take her straight to the showers and continue with what they started earlier this morning.

"Can I touch the tevy?"

Draco rolled his eyes and let her go.

"It's called a telly, Blaise, and no you cannot."

As soon as Draco walked away, a hand was in hers and tugging her away. She would've pulled away if it hadn't been for the shock that it was Pansy. A girl who used to look at her with disgust for years if even a glance from the mudblood was sent her way.

She was dragged to the kitchen and her hand was immediately freed upon walking through the threshold. Pansy walked over to where Theo and Astoria were quietly talking as Theo poured firewhiskey into large glasses.

Hermione immediately felt out of sorts.

"You're really going to drink with us, golden girl?" said Pansy with a smirk, snagging a filled glass from the counter.

"Is there a reason I shouldn't?" she asked, trying not to fidget under their scrutiny.

"I would think you'd suspect it were Slytherins trying to kill you," said Pansy innocently.

"Don't tease, Pans," chastised Astoria lightly, taking a drink from her glass.

"I'm not really sure of anything anymore," Hermione answered honestly.

With her Gryffindor courage, she approached them at the counter, and reached for a glass of her own. She didn't miss how all three glanced at her forearm where mudblood was carved.

Pansy's look was calculated as she took a drink. Hermione did as well and tried not to grimace when the alcohol burned down her throat.

Hermione set the glass down gently on the table. "Alright, out with it."

The three exchanged looks. "Out with what, exactly?" asked Theo, raising a brow.

"Questions, comments, complaints..." she replied casually with a shrug, unnecessarily smoothing the wrinkles in her dress. "Move past the pleasantries and onto why I was dragged in here."

"Dragged," scoffed Pansy, finishing her glass in one large swig. "I didn't drag you in by the hair like dearest Bella."

Hermione managed to keep her face composed, though the urge to run or hex was there. She wondered where Pansy heard that from while the memory flashed in her mind of Bellatrix Lestrange dragging her into the drawing room by the hair while she pleaded with the witch that the sword was a fake.

"Pansy," said Theo quietly. "Don't be crude."

"Don't do this, don't do that," said Pansy, throwing her hands in the air. "Granger said to move past the pleasantries, did she not?"

Theo and Astoria exchanged a look before hurriedly finishing their drinks.

"As I said," Hermione started, slightly amused with Astoria and Theo's hastiness. "Out with it, Parkinson."

"Do you love, Draco?"

"Yes," said Hermione, her voice steady and eyes not leaving Pansys.

"What if Draco loses his inheritance because of being with the likes of you?"

"Money is not the reason I'm with Draco," said Hermione, annoyance slipping into her tone.

Pansy smirked, pouring herself more firewhiskey. "Are you ashamed of Draco accepting the Dark mark?"

"Parkinson," barked Draco suddenly from behind them, his footsteps approaching. Anyone could hear the unmistakable fury in his voice.

Hermione did not dare break her eye contact with Pansy who looked indifferent with Draco's interruption. "No," she said, her chin lifting slightly in defiance. "As I shouldn't be ashamed of being a mudblood. Both were out of our control."

Pansy merely looked amused amongst the suffocating tension in the kitchen, tapping a manicured nail against her glass. "You just might be worthy of wearing that bracelet, Granger."

She lifted her glass towards Hermione before exiting the kitchen - the click of her heels gradually fading.

"I see you and Pansy are on your way to being mates," said Blaise, walking past her to grab a drink,

Hermione finished her glass, not quite looking anyone in the eye now. "Excuse me a moment," she said, nodding at the Slytherins and setting her now empty glass down before swiftly making her way towards the nearest bathroom.

She quickly locked the door behind her and allowed her hands to tremble, observing her pale face in the mirror.

Pansy's questions weren't unjustified, not really. It had been expected, like Harry and Ginny interrogating Draco of his intentions when they'd made their relationship public.

No, it was the sly comment with Bellatrix that threw her off.

Hermione lightly brushed the angry red scar on her arm with the pads of her fingertips. It had blindsided her how vivid the memory came to the forefront of everything.

But how could she have known such a minuet detail?

A knock on the door made her jump. "Hermione?"

To her surprise, it was Theo. He was the most mysterious to Hermione - quiet, intelligent, wasn't directly involved with Draco's antics from previous years - yet his father is a renowned Death Eater sentenced to a life in Azkaban.

She bit her bottom lip and opened the door to see him with his hands in his pockets and face expressionless, leaning against the door frame.

"Do you need to use the loo?" she asked, raising a challenging brow.

He snorted and mirrored her expression.

"Okay," Hermione muttered, feeling wary. "Pansy's questions were utterly fair. I just needed a moment."

Theo pursed his lips. "We both know that's not what you're upset about."

Hermione swallowed hard and cleared her throat. "Is that right?"

"Look," he sighed, his expression softening. "We're not all going to be best mates nor suddenly innocent of our prejudices. It's going to be awkward no matter how much firewhiskey we drown in tonight. But I can promise there will be no more mentionings of her. You can trust us."

"Actions speak louder than words, Theo," Hermione whispered, repeating the same words she told Draco on the Hogwarts train.

"Then let me start."

Theo held his hand out for her to take.

She accepted the gesture with a small smile.

"Draco mentioned something about films earlier," said Theo, interlocking their fingers together and dramatically swinging their arms between them like a pendulum, heading in the direction of the sitting room. "That it's like moving pictures on a screen."

"Yes, something like that."

"Think you can pick a film that will entertain four snobby Slytherins?"

She laughed, both at his inquiry and how he was continuing to swing their arms like children. "Draco and I did borrow some films from a local library this afternoon."

"The library was opened on Boxing Day was it?"

Hermione blushed. "We might have... erm... snuck in."

There was a pause and then a booming laugh resounded from Theo.

Hermione pursed her lips, biting back her amused grin.

They entered the sitting room and everyone was staring at her and Theo in surprise.

It felt like hours since she'd seen Draco and his hair looked as if he'd been running his hands through it anxiously.

"I just heard the most scandalous tale," said Theo with a grin, leading them closer to the group.

He let go of her hand from Draco's scowl and hung it casually over her shoulders instead, which didn't seem to be any better.

Draco was searching her face in concern and she sent him a small smile to put some of his anxiety at ease.

"Oh?" said Astoria, looking amused with Theo's theatrics.

"Draco Malfoy has corrupted the Hermione Granger! They allegedly broke into a..." Theo leaned in dramatically and lowered his voice. "A library."

Astoria hid her grin behind her glass and even Pansy seemed to be fighting back a smile as Blaise cried out, "A LIBRARY?!"

Though Hermione could still see the concern in Draco's eyes, he smirked.

"It did take some convincing," said Draco, having a drink. "It does ruin quite the image of being such a good girl, love,"

Hermione scowled. "I've been in the Restricted Section at Hogwarts plenty of times after hours."

"What's the most shocking thing you've ever done, golden girl?" pressed Theo, walking away to grab a bottle of unopened firewhiskey on the table.

"Aside from breaking into Gringotts and flying away on a dragon?" she said sarcastically causing Draco, Theo, and Astoria to snort.

"That no one knows about," added Pansy with a smirk. "Not even Potter or the Weasel."

Hermione chewed on her lip in thought and nodded in thanks when Theo handed her a drink.

She smirked back at Pansy as one came to mind. "I purposely set Professor Snape's robes on fire in my first year."

Hermione couldn't help feeling smug when she took a drink as everyone gaped at her.

"Well, fuck," said Blaise, shaking his head. "My story on shagging a Hufflepuff seems rather dull now in comparison."

Astoria, Hermione, and Pansy rolled their eyes.

To Hermione's relief, the rest of the evening went smoothly with the exchanging of stories and amusing banter between her, Theo, Draco, and Blaise.

Eventually she'd insisted on everyone transfiguring or changing out of their fancier attire into pajamas before proceeding to watch a muggle film. She had chosen a favorite of hers called, Anastasia. It seemed fitting being in Paris.

Hermione watched their expressions more than the actual film. They were all entranced by the Muggle technology with mouths agape.

Pansy even blushed when she muttered that the telly was "interesting" when they had paused the film to fetch some snacks from the kitchen.

Hermione looked around the room at Blaise sitting cross-legged on the floor, Theo lounging lazily on a couch to himself, and Pansy and Astoria curled up on a love seat. All with their rapt attention on the telly.

She snuggled closer into Draco's side and smiled when he kissed the top of her head before turning his attention back to the film.

If this was what the rest of her life would look like being with Draco, she truly didn't mind.

Chapter Text

As the Christmas holiday came to a close, Draco leaned against his bedroom doorframe with a frown, watching Hermione methodically pack her belongings into her trunk. He was packed in less than ten seconds, but she preferred to do things the Muggle way.

He didn't want to leave the villa and return to Hogwarts. Selfishly, it was calming to have Hermione all to himself. There were no Potters or Weasley's, and most importantly - no witches or wizards attempting to kill his girlfriend. 

It was not safe at Hogwarts but he knew there was nothing he could say to convince her not to go back. A few days ago he casually mentioned having her ask the Headmistress if she could finish her studies at the villa. 

Bloody Gryffindors and their hero-complexes. She shot his idea down like a rogue bludger. Hermione didn't want the attackers to start targeting someone else or direct their anger elsewhere. 

Woman would give him an aneurysm before he could say 'Quidditch'. 

"Did you know," started Hermione lightly, her back to him as she folded the last of her clothing into her trunk. "It takes more muscles to frown than to smile."

Draco rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, lips pressed tightly together.

Another minute went by before she closed her trunk and stood, turning around to face him with one brow raised. 

"I wish you would at least consider my proposal," Draco finally muttered when she huffed with impatience at his silence. 

Her reaction was what he expected. The stubborn clench of her jaw, slight narrowing of her eyes, and arms immediately crossed. 

He sighed and shook his head, walking over and putting his arms around her. It took only a few moments for her rigidness to soften and her arms to snake around his waist. 

"I'm allowed to worry," he murmured into her hair before pulling back to kiss her forehead.

His lips turned into a smirk when he looked down into her honey brown eyes. "I had to fall in love with a bloody Gryffindor."

Hermione smirked back, though a pretty blush crawling up her cheeks showed him she was still getting used to him stating he loves her. 

He wasn't open about his feelings, but he had been practicing over the holiday by allowing the words to roll off his tongue when the impulse was there. 

Draco lifted her hand, the emerald bracelet gleaming on her wrist, as he brought her knuckles to his lips. 

"Do not take this off," he murmured against her skin, holding her gaze sternly. 

He could tell she was biting the inside of her cheek, trying not to argue with his demand. 

She took pride in her independence, Draco knew this. Hermione was a brilliant and capable witch. But if she was outnumbered and ambushed in the corridors, he wanted to be there dueling at her side against the bastards. 

Draco was quiet when they left the villa through the floo directly into the Headmistress' office. He nodded when prompted to and quickly followed Hermione down the spiraling staircase.

He didn't miss McGonagall curiously eyeing the emerald bracelet and he had blatantly chose to avoid the familiar blue eyes of a certain portrait. 

Their hands were confidently intertwined while he gently caressed her hand with his thumb. She made polite conversation with her housemates in the corridors as they slowly made their way to the Great Hall. 

Draco ignored the looks of disdain and suspicion, too distracted to sneer or care. 

Only one Ravenclaw - Chang? - had been brave enough to inquire politely about her new jewelry. 

His thoughts shuffled around like channels of a television (an ingenious invention... for Muggles that is). 

His father would be receiving the Dementor's Kiss.

His mother was furious he'd abandoned her during the holiday.

He loves Hermione Granger... and someone at Hogwarts was trying to kill her. 

They entered the Great Hall and immediately the booming voice of Theo Nott resounded. 

"GOLDEN GIRL!"

Hermione jumped but her lips soon turned into a shy grin as the group of Slytherins greeted them near the entrance. 

Draco scowled when he was forced to let go of her hand as Theo lifted her up several feet from the floor into a hug.

She scolded Theo to set her down, but Draco knew she truly didn't mind.

The quickly developing friendship amused him, and he took comfort in knowing Hermione would have others looking out for her.

As long as the bloke kept these hugs shorter than three seconds. 

He hit the back of Theo's head. 

"That's my girlfriend you're smothering, Theodore."

Theo snickered, setting Hermione back on her feet. Draco's lips twitched into a smile when she went back to holding his hand. 

"Hello to you too," chuckled Hermione, nodding at the other Slytherins. 

"You seem distracted, Blaise," said Pansy, looking at her nails, her dark eyes glittering in amusement. "Looking to shag a certain blonde tonight?"

Theo and Astoria snorted, clumsily covering it up with a cough. 

Blaise's head snapped back to the group, tearing his gaze away from the Ravenclaw table.

Draco could see Hermione was trying not to laugh, her hand giving his a squeeze, most likely thinking back to Luna and Blaise passionately snogging in an alleyway in Hogsmede. 

Blaise scowled and stiffly made his way back to the Slytherin table. 

He pulled Hermione with him to follow, feeling her hesitancy. Draco had sat plenty of times with the Gryffindors but this would be a first for her. 

"We don't bite, Granger," teased Theo, sitting down and piling food on his plate as everyone followed suit. 

Draco smirked while he curled his arm firmly around her waist. "I do," he whispered lowly into her curls.

Hermione acted as if she didn't hear him, pouring herself some pumpkin juice, but the blush crawling up her neck and to her cheeks was instantaneous.

Merlin, he loved making her blush. 

They chatted amicably about their holidays, but he could tell Hermione was tense and aware of the stares and whispers around them. However, the Slytherins were well-practiced in ignoring the other houses. 

The most surprising part of their meal was how Pansy purposely included Hermione into conversation. He knew Hermione wasn't convinced Pansy was innocent, and he also wondered on what she was to gain from the civility.  

Astoria was quieter than usual this evening, but when he caught her eye she shrugged and smiled, focusing her attention back to the most recent edition of Witch Weekly. 

Perhaps she was still anxious on how her mother actually fainted when Astoria revealed her and Draco would be dissolving the contract. 

Much to his disappointment, Draco hadn't managed to find the marital contract during his brief stay at the Manor, and his mother feigned ignorance of its whereabouts. 

However with his father's inevitable death and being the sole heir, Draco would be able to break past whatever wards protected the document.

Theo and Pansy's expressions turned cold and he glanced behind him to see Potter and Weaselette making there way directly to them. 

"Hermione!"

She turned and quickly stood to give Weaselette a hug and he couldn't stop his grimace when she gave Potter a kiss on the cheek. 

Blaise started snickering and he swiftly kicked the wizard under the table, shutting him up. 

The two witches chatted freely while Potter anxiously shifted his weight from side to side. 

"Tap dancing, Potter?" drawled Draco, raising a brow. 

"Or needing to use the loo," added Pansy with a smirk. 

Potter scowled, though his expression lacked any true disdain. "Joining us in the common room tonight, Hermione?" 

She glanced at Draco and he looked away, sipping his tea. 

He wasn't the best at sharing, but he couldn't expect Hermione to spend all her free-time with him. He'd been spoiled over the holiday. 

"Of course," he heard Hermione reply warmly. "Feels like ages since I've seen everyone." 

"Make sure you escort her back, Potter," Draco said without turning around. 

He could feel Hermione's narrowed eyes at the back of his head. 

"I planned on it," said Potter curtly.

He could practically hear her scowl. 

"We were actually about to head there now," added Weaselette brightly, ignoring the tension. 

He kept his face impassive, though Theo was giving him a knowing smirk. 

"Go on, Granger," Draco finally said after a pause, glancing at her. "Assure the Gryffindors you haven't been corrupted." 

She rolled her eyes, but smiled as she leaned down and gave him a chaste kiss. 

The tip of his tongue unconsciously slipped past his lips before she pulled away, tasting her recent dish of Yorkshire pudding. 

She bit down on her bottom lip and he could already imagine her writhing underneath him later tonight, marking her with tender bruises across her neck and breasts.

Draco rolled his eyes when he noticed Potter shudder at the exchange.

"Go on, love," he encouraged, unable to help himself in giving a light pat to her bum, resulting in an immediate blush and hard hit to his shoulder. 

"I'll see you tonight." 

He winked and exchanged a smirk with Weaselette as she looped her arm with Hermione's and dragged her off to the exit with Potter awkwardly trailing after them.

Draco turned back to the table to find his friends looking at him with varying levels of amusement. 

"Granger does have a nice arse."

He kicked Blaise hard under the table just as Pansy hit him upside the head. 

When Draco returned to the empty common room, he felt unsettled. It was the first time he'd been truly alone in over a week. 

He silently ignited the fireplace before heading to his room to unpack his trunk. 

When finished, he returned to the common room and attempted to ground himself by breathing in the burning wood, listening to the crackling of the fire, and feeling the softness of the couch underneath him. 

Draco sighed as he opened his potions text, looking at the page without processing what was written.

He soon groaned, slamming the book shut and tossing it on the coffee table, staring into the burning embers. 

Merlin he was pathetic. 

What he should be doing is figuring out who was trying to hurt his girlfriend. 

Motive. 

She's muggleborn and a war hero who helped defeat the Dark Lord. Makes sense - she has always surpassed pureblood expectations of what is supposed to be 'lesser than'. 

But why now? Why at Hogwarts?

The first incident was during the masquerade ball. Blaise, the fucking tosser, spiked her drink and then she was imperiused to jump off the Astronomy Tower. 

I'm going to fly. 

It was the only time they tried to make it look like an accident. All the other attacks were more than obvious with their intentions. 

Originally, they thought the attacks were because of their unorthodox relationship, but they had gone as only friends to the ball... 

Someone against house unity then? 

But there were other Slytherins making peace with the other houses and he himself hasn't been targeted... so why his Granger? Why wasn't Draco receiving death threats or being ambushed in the corridors? Why wasn't Potter or Weasley?

Nothing made sense. What was there to gain?

Draco ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. 

Suspects. 

The only clues being a Restricted textbook found in the Gryffindor common room and a DA coin near the most recent ambush. 

He just had a feeling the attackers weren't from his house. Too presumptuous. There are other ways to kill a witch without the theatrics and risks of dueling. 

Cocky Gryffindor did fit the crime. 

Maybe Hermione or Potter still had a DA membership list he could look at? 

He rubbed his palms against his eyes with a groan. Too many unanswered questions, and knowing his Gryffindor, if they didn't get answers soon she was going to do something bravely stupid to find them out.

His head snapped toward the door as it began to open. 

"Thanks, Harry," he heard Hermione say faintly. 

He felt a rush of calm - she was safe. She was here. 

As soon as she closed the door behind her, he ran to her and pushed her back into the door. 

Immediately his lips slanted against her's and she didn't hesitate to grant access to his tongue.

Her hands were pulling at his hair and his were crawling past the hem of her top, feeling the burning silky skin of her waist. 

She moaned against him and he immediately felt his cock straining against his trousers. He trailed his lips to her ears and to her neck, nipping and sucking as he went. 

"Hermione," he murmured. "What do you want, love?"

Her breathing was ragged as he sucked harder on her neck, marking her as his. 

She was his, just as he was her's. 

"I - I want you, Draco," she moaned, her breath hitching as he nipped her ear. 

He smirked and pulled away far enough to look her in the eyes. "You have me, Granger." 

Fierce and gorgeous with her chest heaving and flushed cheeks, the fire in her eyes looking up at him hungrily. 

He leaned down to growl in her ear. "Do you want my cock? I need to hear you say it."

Draco could feel her trembling against him and his grip on her hips tightened. 

"Fuck me, Draco," she whispered, biting her bottom lip. "Please."

Fucking hell. 

"Such a good girl for me," he murmured, sucking and biting at her neck again while haphazardly guiding her to the arm of the couch.

Salazar, that needy moan of hers was a beautiful sound...

"Turn around."

"Yes, sir."

He swallowed hard, the new submissive words catching him off guard. The little sexy smirk she gave him before turning showed him she knew how she was effecting him. 

He roughly bent her over the arm of the couch and began slowly tracing her figure. 

Her bum sticking up in the air causing her skirt to rise to her upper thighs was an erotic sight for his fantasies. His fingers traced her spine and down to the curvature of her bum, reveling in her heavy pants. 

Draco leaned over her to whisper in her ear, the friction of his cock against her bum nearly causing a moan of his own to rise. "This position okay, Granger?" he asked lowly with one hand on her hip and the other slowly wrapping her hair around in his grip.

"Yes Draco, please!"

He smirked and leaned back, smacking her bum while pulling her hair.

Fuck he wanted this to last longer but those moans and little pants of hers were pushing his limits. 

With one hand still wrapped in her hair, the other trailed slowly under her skirt and to her knickers. 

He paused, inhaling sharply. 

"Where's your knickers, Granger?"

When she didn't immediately answer, he smacked her bare bum harder and she yelped. 

"In my trunk... sir."

Which meant she hadn't worn any during dinner... nor when she visited the Gryffindor common room. 

"Hmm..." 

Draco let go of her hair to unbuckle his trousers, only pushing them and his boxers down to his mid thigh. 

"Awfully risky, Granger, even for a Gryffindor," he whispered, gripping her hips and aligning himself to enter her. "And keeping it a secret from me throughout dinner... hmm..."

"I -" whatever she was about to say was cut off by a scream when he suddenly entered her core. He moaned loudly from her pussy being incredibly tight around his cock. 

"You okay, Granger?" he panted, digging his fingers into her hips. 

"Yes, yes, you can move," she cried, wiggling her bum into him.

"Merlin fuck," he growled, reveling in the feel of her as one hand travelled to her clit. 

He would never get enough.

***

"How do you keep fucking up the potion? I thought you lot were smart."

The witch scowled, her hands now on her hips. "I am smart, you wanker. But with how we need to disguise it, I'm also trying not to kill myself in the process and -"

The wizard snorted. "Spare me the details." 

"And are we certain we should keep going as planned? If we stop now, they have no evidence and -"

"Except someone dropped their bloody coin," said the wizard, looking bored. 

"Stop interrupting," she said sharply. "You need me for this to work."

Both narrowed their eyes, calculating the other.

"No more mistakes," said the wizard quietly.

The witch only nodded before exiting the Room of Requirement. 

Bloody Gryffindors. She might poison him too before all was said and done.

Chapter Text

Hermione watched Draco pace in front of the fireplace with wary eyes, his hands running through his hair frantically.

He looked like Harry when he was like this, but that was information she would keep to herself. 

Tonight was his father's execution.

Having their common room near the Headmistress' study meant he didn't need use her floo until mere moments beforehand. 

A time that was 10 minutes away according to her watch. 

She thought through different scenarios in approaching him which would have him not biting her head off. 

Hermione stood and carefully stood in his path, forcing him into an embrace. 

He was stiff and she could feel his jaw clench by her temple. Unperturbed, she nuzzled her nose into his chest, holding him tighter to her. 

Several minutes passed before he began to relax and his arms wrapped around her waist, his chin resting on top of her head. 

"My hugs are infamous, you know," she murmured with a small smile. 

Draco exhaled loudly and she didn't need to look to know he had rolled his eyes. 

"I'll be here when you come back," she said quietly. "Whether it's to sit in silence, force me to ride a broom, or talk."

Hermione could feel his muscles beginning to tense again and gently carressed his back with her fingernails.  

"Seeing you on a broom would be amusing," he mumbled into her hair, bending slightly to kiss her behind her ear. 

He sighed and stepped back, though his hands remained on her waist. She could see in his eyes he was slowly rebuilding his Occulumency walls, preparing to leave. 

"Weaselette is to stay with you tonight," he said sternly, narrowing his eyes slightly. 

She tried not to roll her eyes and simply nodded.

No attacks on her life had been made since returning to the castle a month before. No threatening or crude letters were being sent either. 

It was unnerving. 

But aside from the paranoia, it was the first time she felt like a normal witch attending Hogwarts. Normal as one can be as a third of the golden trio, dating Draco Malfoy, and befriending a group of Slytherins.

Merlin, even her and Pansy seemed to have come to an understanding and made tolerable conversation here and there.

Ron was still being a prat and she could almost respect his tenacity in continuing to ignore her existence. Even if it was bloody annoying.

"I'll be here," she repeated, wrapping her arms around his neck so she could lower him for a chaste kiss. "I love you."

"Love you too," he murmured against her lips before he swiftly turned and left their common room. 

Not five minutes later was a knock indicating Ginny was here to start their nightly patrols. 

And she almost kept her promise to Draco in staying with Ginny... until they found Cho Chang crying in an empty classroom, blubbering about her guilt in falling in love with another while unable to let go of Cedric Diggory. 

Though, this hadn't stopped her from dating a clueless Harry, and making a dramatic scene in a tea shop because he mentioned meeting Hermione later. She bit her tongue and knew Ginny would be more suitable to handle this.

They were nearly finished, she was wearing the bracelet, and had her DA galleon... excuses Draco would not find valid, were enough for an apprehensive but exhausted Ginny. 

Of course as soon as the two witches were out of sight, Hermione felt a twinge of discomfort. Perhaps it had not been the brightest of ideas to separate. 

Movement in her peripheral immediately had her wand raised, a stunner on the tip of her tongue.

"Dennis?' Hermione slightly lowered her wand, her heart ready to burst from her chest with adrenaline. "What in Godric are you doing out past curfew?" 

Dennis Creevey appearance could only be described as haggard. His brown hair was disheveled, sticking up in different directions, and light purple shadows could be seen under his eyes. "Peeves had me locked in a broom cupboard and I nearly made it back to the common room when I realized I forgot my bag."

He groaned into his hands. "I can't remember the bloody cupboard he shoved me in and Professor Flitwick's essay on summoning charms is due tomorrow... or is it today?"

Peeves knew better then to play tricks so close to curfew, especially after the war. She shivered at the thought of having to talk to the Bloody Baron - maybe Draco could help her with that. 

"I'm going to have to take points away from Gryffindor, but we might as well look for the cupboard."

A flash of annoyance in Dennis' expression quickly cleared back to tired. 

Hermione tried not to roll her eyes. Just because she was in Gryffindor, didn't mean she would be playing favorites. 

He heavily sighed. "Alright then, I think it was this way."

Dennis had grown to be much taller than her and his longer legs quickly made their way down the corridor. He seemed more irritable than she remembered but it was quarter past two so she really shouldn't be surprised. 

He'd also lost his brother during the Battle of Hogwarts. She could only imagine how difficult it was returning... he and Colin had been inseparable. 

"Slow down," she huffed, having to now go at a slight jog. 

His expression was impatient, and she bit back a scowl when he started tapping his foot. 

"How are your classes?" she asked after a beat of silence. 

"Don't act as if you care."

He froze and his expression looked just as taken aback as she felt.

"I-I'm sorry," he mumbled, hiding his face with his hand. "I'm just tired. O.W.L.S. are doing me in." 

"I remember," she said gently, touching his arm. "Maybe take a day off from revisions."

"Maybe," he said quietly, touching her hand on his arm and giving it a squeeze.

Dennis held her hand a bit longer than she was comfortable with and carefully took her hand away before assumptions could be made she was being more than friendly. 

"Let's get this over with," he sighed, turning away. "I think it was this next corridor..."

She saw him turn the corner before black dust appeared in her face, blocking out even her quick lumos.

Peruvian night powder.

"Hermione?" coughed Dennis, before she heard a thud.  

She carefully walked backwards, her wand pointed at nothing in the darkness. 

Think, think, think.

"It's me you want," she hissed, continuing to back away. "Leave Dennis out of this."

A dark chuckle was the only response. 

She turned and took off in a run, curses soon following her. She cast her own jinxes behind her, hoping one would hit or slow whoever it was.

And then there was nothing. 

All was quiet. 

Hermione quickly flattened herself against a wall in the corridor behind a knight of armor, casting a non-verbal disillusionment charm to blend in with the stone.

What were they playing at? 

The more exasperated side of her wanted to scream "coward" down the hall to intice a duel. If the attacker was Gryffindor, surely that's all it would take. But the more careful and reason-Harry-Potter-is-still-alive side argued it would be stupid to give her position away. 

This was getting ridiculous. Hermione hated not knowing - Bright Witch of Their Age, her arse. She was tired of being three steps behind. 

Logically they needed to set a trap.

Logically she needed to find Ginny or the closest Auror.

Not logical was going back to see if Dennis was hurt.

Draco was going to bloody kill her. 

***

If he wasn't so distraught, he could have strangled Granger. 

Of course that was before seeing the purple bruises wrapped around her throat and causing him to empty his stomach contents into a bin.

He'd been gone three bloody hours. 

Three. 

Only for a solemn McGonagall to escort him at 4:00AM from her office floo to the Hospital Wing. 

His father's execution had only taken minutes. The first hour was his Mother saying good bye. The second was preparation and documentation. The last hour was helping his Mother from the Ministry back to the Manor where he refused to stay despite her pleas. 

Draco had desperately craved Hermione to hold him while he pathetically sorted his emotions over his father's execution. Or perhaps take her out on his broom over the Black Lake. 

He didn't want be alone in the Manor with only his Mother's disappointment and tears. 

Two hours later and he'd barely moved from his chair next to Hermione, waiting for her to open her eyes. 

He could predict her scowl when he'd immediately scold her for not being able to manage three hours without finding trouble. He would then snog the scowl away and make her promise not to do it again. She'd deflect and ask how he was doing despite her being the one in a hospital bed. 

Predictable.

Comforting.

Aside from the grotesque bruising, she looked as if she could be sleeping.

There was black powder in her hair.

Peruvian Night, perhaps?

He gently lifted her hand resting by her side to kiss her palm and internally recoiled at how cold she felt.

It felt wrong. 

He had quickly noticed her bracelet was missing. Whoever it was had to have known about the connection to his ring.

He supposed any pureblood could have made the assumption about the bracelet, but even lesser of a population were informed of his absence.

The attacker had purposefully waited until he was out of the castle.

Potter, Ginny, and, much to his chagrin, Weaselbee burst through the doorway into the Hospital Wing, ignoring Madame Pompfrey's scathing remarks.

Draco narrowed his eyes. "Ginerva-"

"Don't you "Ginerva" me," she snapped. 

"Gin," Potter said quietly, his hand closing around her wrist. 

She looked ready to collapse, her eyes filling with tears. 

He looked back down to Granger's hand he was still gently holding.

"I thought we made a deal."

She collapsed into a chair on the other side of Hermione. Potter offered a calming hand on her shoulder, his worried expression flashing between her and Hermione.

Weasel hadn't moved, his face looked as if he'd taken a bludger to the face. 

"All McGonagall said is you and Potter found her in an empty corridor," prompted Draco, attempting to keep his tone neutral.

"We were finishing patrols," started Ginny quietly. "And we ran into Cho crying in an empty classroom. She asked if one of us could escort her back to Ravenclaw Tower. Hermione knew I was stressing over our Potions exam and said she'd finish up."

She shook her head, quickly blinking back tears.

"I told her to send me a message on the DA coin when she was back..."

"And when she didn't, we went searching for her under the invisibility cloak," finished Potter, rifling his free hand through his hair. "We ran into Dennis who said he'd been knocked unconscious. Hermione had been right behind him helping him find his bookbag, and when he regained consciousness, she was gone."

He frowned. There were some details he would demand from them later... as well as questioning the Aurors on where the bloody fuck they had been, but any anger or energy remaining had quickly deflated.

Now he was just bloody tired. 

"What's wrong with her?"

He didn't even turn to look at the Weasel. "They're still doing tests."

"What about that Draught of Living Death?" said Potter, ignoring Draco's pointed glare. 

He still considered the Weasel a suspect. 

"She'd be dead then, yeah?"

"Top marks," he couldn't help but sneer, looking behind him coldly. 

The Weasel scowled, his ears turning red. "You-"

"It's a modified version," interrupted Potter. 

Pity. Draco was looking forward to letting off some steam sans Weasel.

"Hermione wasn't sure how different the effects would be."

"And it's untraceable," added Ginny quietly. 

"Give her an antidote then! There must be something -"

He gently placed Hermione's hand back at her side before quickly turning around. 

The Weasel took a step back, looking uneasy.

"There isn't one," he snarled, his voice low and dangerous. "Stop pretending you care and leave."

His hands balled into fists, his face turning the famous red. 

"I do care!" he shouted. "I'm here, aren't I?"

"A true act of innocence," he sneered, his fingers twitching for his wand.

"Hermione wouldn't want you two squabbling like a pair of idiots."

He glanced at the doorway to see Theo with his arms crossed, looking wary. Pansy stood next to him staring at Granger with some semblance to concern. 

"None of this would have happened if she hadn't been hanging around a bunch of Death Eaters."

Draco didn't think. 

He reached for his wand.

He scowled when he realized it was missing. Potter suddenly standing next to him was not some bloody coincidence.

"Can't keep your hands off my wand, Potter?" 

"Apparently not," he deadpanned, crossing his arms. 

Theo's cough wasn't fooling anyone.

"Get some proper sleep, Malfoy," said Ginny sternly from her chair, though the redness around her eyes ruined the effect. "Harry and I will stay with her until you get back. And Ron? Sod off."

Weasley looked like he was about to argue, but his sister tapping her wand impatiently on her knee was all it took for him to storm out, purposefully knocking his shoulder into Theo's. 

"Charming," scowled Pansy, crossing her arms. "Let's go, Draco. Granger needs you at your best to figure this shit out."

Theo smirked next to her, possibly at Pans admitting in a roundabout way she cared about Granger.

Wordlessly, Potter gave him back his wand which he only sneered at before walking past his friends in the direction of the dungeons. He knew they wouldn't let him be alone in his common room. 

Pansy unfortunately had a point. Hermione needed him to figure this out and he was too bloody tired. He'd force down a dose of sleeping draught and then figure this shit out. 

He would figure out who was behind this. 

He would get her back. 

Chapter Text

Hermione reminded Draco of a sleeping princess from a film he watched with her over the holiday.

When he first saw her in the Hospital Wing, he wished for Muggle fairytale magic to be real. That a single kiss would wake the Sleeping Beauty and undo the curse.

He tried anyways.

It didn't work.

"Good news is we don't think it's poison," said Madam Pompfrey, idly running her wand over Hermione to check her vitals.

Draco didn't know if he was relieved or frustrated. He wanted to demand answers, have the hag get straight to the point, but he'd been barely allowed back in the Hospital Wing as it was so he stayed quiet.

Apparently jinxing students was against the rules.

Which wouldn't have happened if he hadn't walked in on Weasley holding Hermione's hand.

Maybe he overreacted.

Maybe.

"Unfortunately, there seems to be some kind of... block on her magical core."

He really... really disliked the mutual exchange of confusion between him and Potter.

"How do we get it... unblocked?" asked Ginny, looking perplexed.

"I consulted with Healers at St. Mungos - the spellwork was rushed. The hope is her magic will disintegrate the block over time. It may be hours or days. When she wakes, Miss Granger will need plenty of bed rest to replenish her magical core. It would be dangerous for her to use magic while her body recovers."

Hermione is going love that, thought Draco sarcastically. All the same, it wasn't poison. She was going to be okay...

But this attempted killing business needed to end. His witch had earned the right to overly fret over her N.E.W.T.S. and drive him mad with her constant need to study. And Draco would be there to make sure she didn't skip meals, slept at night, and snog her senseless to distract her from revisions.

That is what her life should be. He would do everything he could to make it happen.

After a scathing look from the medical witch was sent his way, she left to restock supplies.

Draco brushed his lips against the back of Hermione's hand, satisfied her skin felt warmer than yesterday.

Potter sighed, and Draco tried not to glare when the git held her other hand.

"Spellwork was rushed," Ginny mused, sitting on the edge of the bed "Does that really narrow it down?"

"No one was around when you found her?" clarified Draco, raising a brow.

Ginny shook her head, but Potter's head to tilted to one side. "If we don't count Dennis Creevey."

She rolled her eyes. "Dennis is harmless and three years below us."

"Maybe he saw something then?"

"We should extract his memory," said Draco sharply. "I don't trust anyone at this point."

"You trust us," said Ginny cheerfully.

Draco only shrugged which caused the witch to roll her eyes again.

"What are we missing..." murmured Potter, looking down at her hand in his.

"She'd probably tell us to go to the library," chuckled Ginny, patting Hermione's knee affectionately.

Draco allowed a corner of his mouth to lift at that.

He sat with Granger while Potter and Ginny went to go find Dennis to extract the memory.

"I had to fall in love with a bloody Gryffindor," sighed Draco dramatically, hoping Granger could hear him. "It's unequivocally your fault by the way."

He paused, looking to her face for any changes before making sure the Hospital Wing was empty.

"You promised you'd be waiting for me after," he said quietly. "Mother wanted me to stay with her at the Manor but all I could think about was coming back to you."

"You would let me safely feel... give me the time to sort the internal discourse. I don't think I've thanked you for that, Hermione."

Draco then smirked into her hand he was still holding. "I would still coerce you onto a broom and have us shagging in the Slytherin Quidditch locker rooms afterwards. Don't let me forget, Granger."

"Forget what?" came the booming innocent voice of Theo, clapping him on the shoulder and pointedly ignoring his friend's scowl.

"Probably wishes to forget that hideous canvas you call a face, Nott," said Pansy airly, sitting on the bed where Ginny had been.

"I'll have you know my face is a true work of art. Merlin himself wouldn't be able to resist."

Blaise snorted, sitting in the chair Potter most often sat, shifting so his legs hung over the arm of the chair in as unaristocratic of a pose one could do.

"Draco, all the seats are taken. Is your lap available?"

"And wrinkle my robes with your fat arse, Nott? I think not."

"Rude."

"What's going on with your Gryffindor?" interjected Pansy, appearing bored while looking down at her fingernails. Draco knew better.

"Someone put an incomplete block on her magical core. She'll wake up when her magic cuts through it."

"Anytime now, yeah?" commented Blaise with a yawn.

"Having too much fun in the Ravenclaw Tower, Zabini?" asked Theo with a smirk.

"Did you know they have to answer a riddle to be let in to their common room? They have to wait for someone to get it right."

Pansy wrinkled her nose. "I'll pass on that."

"Where's Tori?" asked Draco, surprised she hadn't joined the how-long-until-Draco-kicks-us-out- from-being-utter-twats group.

"Probably still trying to word the reply back to her mother as sternly as she can without being disinherited," said Theo with an eye roll. "Aquila is quite put out her daughter won't be the next Mrs. Malfoy."

Draco grimaced.

"Should we chat about who's after Granger then?" continued Theo, bouncing on his feet.

"Oh, haven't you heard?" drawled Pansy, picking lint off her cardigan. "The big bad Slytherins are behind it."

Blaise snorted. "Luna thinks it might be someone in Ravenclaw."

Draco's expression turned thoughtful. He had learned quickly not to underestimate Lovegood.  "Why?"

Blaise's expression turned fond. "Nargle infestation has been rather foul in her dormitory."

"An 8th year Ravenclaw then," Draco mused, ignoring Theo and Pansy's look of incredulity that he was taking what was said seriously.

"Visiting hours are over," came a soft voice, but there was a stern edge to the tone that made Draco turn and raise a brow.

Chang was wearing Healer robes and looking cross with hands on her hips.

"McGonagall and Pompfrey had no problem with me staying here last night."

Chang shrugged. "I was told none of that by Madame Pompfrey when she turned in for the evening."

Draco wondered if this was punishment from his earlier quarrel with Weaselbee.

He rolled his eyes but acquiesced with the orders, pressing a kiss onto Granger's hand before gently resting it at her side.

It was inconvenient, but he could always sneak back in later. 

"You'll be incredibly busy, I'm sure," said Theo, his tone heavy with sarcasm, giving a pointed look around the empty room.

Chang only smiled  "You never know."

***

A moan. "Fucking golden girl..."

Hermione struggled and kicked but the wizard only straddled her tighter still.  Th e hand around her throat was crushing her wind pipe, the fingertips digging into her throat... Gods she couldn't breathe...

"Keep struggling , Hermione Granger, it feels good," he purred , white teeth gleaming in the dark.

She froze, panic and nausea threatening to combust. Her heart bursting from the seams with adrenaline and fear.

It didn't make sense .

He didn't make sense.

Hermione suddenly sat up with a sharp intake of breath.

Her sight was blurry, throat parched, and body painfully stiff... she had to blink several times before her vision cleared.

Hospital Wing, she realized.

Her hand climbed up her body to gently touch her neck, the flesh incredibly tender.

She frowned, squinting in the darkened room, but movement in the corner had her heart tripling in pace.

"Shh, it's just me."

"Cho? What -"

"I'm shadowing Madame Pompfrey. I help mostly at night."

The Ravenclaw came closer and as Hermione's eyes adjusted to the dark, she could see Cho was wearing Healer robes. There didn't seem to be any other patients.

"How... how long have I been out?"

"Two days... I'm not sure how you're already awake."

Hermione felt puzzled but she couldn't fathom the specificity of it.

"Here," Cho poured water from a pitcher into a glass and pushed it towards her on the tray. "Have some water."

Hermione gnawed on her bottom lip while she slowly wrapped her fingers around the glass. She raised the glass and her eyes flashed to Cho who stood observing.

She hadn't taken her vitals... how odd.

"Drink up, Hermione," said Cho softly. "Small sips."

"I - are you alright?"

Cho's brows scrunched together. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Condensation from the ice water began dripping past her fingers.

"Last night, you said you were stressing over the upcoming Quidditch match against Slytherin."

"Oh, I'm alright... bit of nerves is all. Slytherin can just be brutal.

She tried not to flinch when Cho wrapped her cold hand on top of her's around the glass.

"Here, I can help."

"No, I - I can do it. Just need a moment..."

Her wand was on the bedside table next to Cho.

"When did you start shadowing Madame Pompfrey?"

"A few weeks ago. Hermione, take a drink, it will soothe your throat."

Bracelet was missing.

She could yell, but a simple muffliato charm would render her actions pointless.

Cho was Ravenclaw. She was put into this house for a reason.

Hermione calculated her chances of reaching for her wand.

Her free hand twitched at her side.

Condensation from the glass was now dripping onto the bedsheets.

On a count of three then.

Three... Cho's expression shifted, her head tilting slightly. Two... her fingers were slowly crawling up her thigh to a side pocket.

One.

***

"You know what's interesting," mused Pansy, sprawled out on the couch in the Slytherin Common Room with her copy of Witch Weekly. "Cho Chang happens to be an 8th year Ravenclaw."

Draco froze in the middle of a game of Exploding Snap with Theo.

Chang had delivered a note directly to Hermione at the Three Broomsticks several months ago.

She was there the night Ginny and Hermione were attacked. And again, two nights ago, when the witches were doing patrols... crying in a classroom... effectively separating them.

She'd been the first to make a comment about Hermione's bracelet.

And to wrap everything up with a foul bow, Draco knew Chang had been apart of Dumbledore's Army.

Fuck.

Chapter Text

Pansy and Draco only had to glance at each other in shock before they were running towards the exit, a confused and muttering Theo following close behind. 

When they stepped into the dreary corridor, a snogging Luna Lovegood and Blaise greeted them much to the latter's chagrin. 

"Sod off," muttered Blaise but Luna noticed the tension quickly. 

"What do you need, Draco?" she asked, her expression oddly serious. 

"Send a message to Potter and Ginny to meet at the Hospital Wing. Then inform McGonagall," he instructed without preamble. "Nott, go find the bloody Aurors."

Despite Theo's confusion, the wizard saluted and took off. 

"Expecto Patronum," Luna sighed whimsically, and immediately the corporeal manifestation of a Hare appeared in front of her. 

Fascinating magic he wasn't privy to but now wasn't the time to watch with envy. He grabbed a mystified Pansy by the wrist and forcibly tore her gaze away to keep going. 

"Draco needs you Harry..."

He couldn't help but make a face as they turned the corner and his scowl only deepened when he heard Pans giggle behind him. 

A few minutes later and the pair had finally reached the corridor leading to the Hospital Wing. 

"I feel like bloody Gryffindor," Pansy grumbled, her cheeks flushed from exertion. 

"Was that a compliment?"

Potter and Ginny nearly ran into them, both looking just as winded. 

"We were arguing with Dennis when we got your message," said Potter, surprisingly irate. "Git was actually refusing to give up the memory until Luna's patronus."

Draco didn't have time to think about the perplexity of Potter's words. "It's Cho Chang," said Draco, foregoing pleasantries. "And she's alone with Hermione."

Much to his annoyance, they had both opened their mouths to argue when a sudden burst of Magic could be felt in the corridor.

"You're bloody joking."

***

They both reached for their wands.

Cho pushed the bed enough with her hip so Hermione's wand was just out of reach. If she didn't feel so depleted, magic would have closed the distance like a magnetic pull.

"Now let's not be hasty," tutted Cho, with a smirk, her eyes glinting dangerously with her wand pointing at Hermione's heart.

"Why?" she whispered hoarsly. "I don't understand -"

"A first, surely," Cho mocked, her other hand grabbing Hermione's wand and pocketing it. 

"Cho, let's think logically," Hermione started, attempting to make her tone neutral. "How does my death absolve anything? Evidence will lead -"

"There is nothing tying me to you... our mutual friend however... it's not my bloody problem. You Gryffindors are impulsive... arrogant..."

Her mouth twisted into a scowl. 

"He thinks he's in charge, but none of this would be possible without you," Hermione reasoned carefully.

Keep her talking.

Cho grimaced. "The audacity to blame his mistakes on me! ME!"

The Ravenclaw was pacing now, shooting glances at the door. 

Despite the danger she was in, Hermione was exhausted and fighting the urge to close her eyes. Her adrenaline had been short-lived when reaching for her wand. 

"What's the plan now, Cho?" asked Hermione, sounding weary. "Tell everyone I died in my sleep? Use an Unforgiveable?"

She shot another glance at the door. 

"Are we expecting more company?"

Cho scowled and turned her back to the door. "Isn't your bloody business."

"With me about to be murdered, I'd think so," Hermione mused, drumming her fingers on the bed at her side. "So why me, Cho? I have to admit, you were not my first guess."

Cho snorted. "Yeah, poor emotional Cho Chang with a murdered ex-boyfriend -"

"Didn't stop you from going after Harry," said Hermione before she could stop herself. 

Apparently, exhaustion made her lose all tact. She wasn't sure if her goal was to be murdered faster or -

"Silencio!"

Well, that wasn't entirely unexpected. She could only imagine how exasperated Draco would be if he ever watched this memory.

"Gryffindors just don't shut up! Fuck!" Cho yelled, her voice reaching a hysterical pitch. "I'm not bloody stupid! I don't need to give you a fucking explanation or take precious time to boast about besting the Hermione Granger. I've had enough of your self-righteous bullshit and hypocrisy. Only reason I haven't forced the poison down your throat is -"

"Oh fuck off, Chang."

Pansy Parkinson was standing in the entry way with her signature scowl, though her robes were torn and she had a tiny cut on her cheek. 

Cho's eyes narrowed shrewdly, and Hermione could see the witch was quickly considering her next steps. 

"Look, Hermione, a Death Eater's daughter is here to save the day," Cho mocked, stepping closer to Hermione, wand still pointed at her heart but cold eyes now fixated on Pansy. 

Pansy rolled her eyes, expression bored, but her free hand was now curled into a fist. 

"I thought Slytherins valued self-preservation," Cho sneered. "It's why you wanted Voldemort -" Pansy flinched. "-to win, yes? Why you wanted to hand Harry over before the Battle of Hogwarts..." Cho's voice turned into a higher pitch. "What are we waiting for?! Someone grab him!" 

Hermione remembered that moment. Voldemort's chilling voice reverberating in the Great Hall, Pansy's panicky response, McGonagall directing Filch to escort the Slytherins from the castle. 

Pansy managed to keep her expression schooled into one of indifference, but Hermione knew better.

The few beats of silence spoke volumes, but her eyes were calculating, shifting between her and Cho. 

Cho shook her head with a scoff. "Your cowardice is -"

"I thought Ravenclaw colors were blue and gold," Pansy interjected coolly, raising a challenging brow. "But you seem to prefer green, Chang. Jealous are you, that Granger is the Brightest Witch of Our Age and isn't even in Ravenclaw?"

Hermione could see how Cho's grip on her wand tightened, her knuckles turning pale. 

"Want to know what your problem is?" Pansy was smirking, moving inconspicuously closer. "You're the crying bint who dated poor Diggory... the twit who wasn't good enough to be with Potter... not even playing Quidditch gives you the admiration you pathetically crave..." 

Pansy's eyes were strictly on Cho, unrelenting with her sharp tongue, and causing the other witch to tremble with barely suppressed rage. 

However, Hermione became distracted, noticing how Pansy was slowly patting her side pocket. The movement seemed purposeful. 

A message. 

Her wand. 

Hermione's eyes travelled to the familiar vine wood just visible in Cho's pocket, now in arm's reach.

She was so bloody exhausted, her eyes blinking sluggishly, but she understood what needed to be done.

"Merlin, you're hopeless..." continued Pansy with a laugh, her eyes bright with cruel mirth. "There's nothing special about you, Cho Chang-" 

Cho screamed and now her wand was aimed at Pansy. "Avada Kedavra!"

Pansy's eyes widened in surprise before she dropped to the ground while the curse missed her by centimeters, exploding glass potion bottles at Madame Pompfrey's work station instead.

Hermione could feel herself going in and out of consciousness, but miraculously she was somehow holding her wand.

But everything felt incredibly slow.

The violent duel destroying everything in the room...

Her body attempting to slide out of bed... 

The realization on how uncomfortable her feet felt while touching the cold floor...

She felt like an outside observer from her own body as she watched Pansy's wand roll away from her when dodging the latest Killing Curse...

Cho picking up the pitcher of tainted water and throwing it toward -

Glaceo! Hermione yelled and, although no audible words were said, the liquid froze in mid-air. 

It felt like something inside Hermione had suddenly exploded and now tiny glass shards were shredding her from the inside out.

Her mouth opened in a silent scream and her body doubled over in pain.

She was hardly aware of how the frozen water was turning black, revealing its true nature... Pansy, scrambling out of the poison's trajectory and going for her wand, the poison breaking through the freezing charm and melting everything it touched...

Cho now turning towards her, physically vibrating with fury...

"Incarcerous!"

Black spots were obscuring Hermione's vision, the world shifting, her body crumpling to the floor. 

It was nice to hear his voice before the end.

All that was left was darkness. 

***

Conscienceness seemed to slowly creep back in, but the darkness was heavy, a weight on her chest that was suffocating. 

Hermione wished for the bliss of darkness that required no thought or recognition but soon there were whispers. 

She didn't understand them all. 

"Broken core-"

"-couldn't have gone far-"

"- may never recover-"

Some whispers gave her a desperate need to remove the blind fold.

"I love you-"

"Come back-"

"Please, Hermione, I can't-"

And she wanted to talk back to the soothing voice, tell him she was still here, but the words wouldn't form. 

There was a disconnect. 

With time, the words became more concise. 

"Cho Chang is in Azkaban, Hermione, and everyone is looking for-"

"We watched the memory and you were so brave, love -"

"Granger, I'm going to bloody kill you for saving my life you bint -"

"Whatever happens, Hermione, Magic or not - I won't leave you -"

Her magic.

She felt the urge to cry - her magic. 

She felt empty... incomplete. The comforting spark no where to be found.

Was she... no longer a witch?

Someone softly swiped her cheek with their thumb, wiping away something wet from her face.

"Can she hear -"

"Love, I'm not going anywhere -"

Despair.

Utter despair.

Her magic.

What made her who she was.

Brightest witch of their age... no more.

A whisper - she was no longer worthy. 

Accept the blindfold. Let everything go...

"Don't you dare -"

"Stay with us, Granger, don't let us deal with a miserable Draco..."

Gods. 

Draco.

How everything changed so quickly... the angsty Slytherin pureblood falling for the muggleborn heroine. 

A cliché that felt so right.

It had to have been days since she last saw him. The arrogant smirk, grey eyes glittering with amusement, large hands touching her and causing a shiver... Merlin, she missed him.

But did she lose her Magic? Muggleborn was already a barrier... a squib? Practically a Muggle? 

And he had lost his father... a prejudiced bastard he loved with complications. 

Her's were dead. Life ending before it begun. All her fault.

More wetness upon her face being lovingly swiped away.

"Is she in pain?"

Her pain was numbed. Nothing like it had been when she felt something snap inside her. 

Numb.

Nothing. 

She was nothing.

***

Her hand. Someone was holdng her hand.

Her fingers twitched and there was a sharp intake of breath.

"Hermione?"

She could feel her mouth turning into a frown and soon a thumb was brushing against her lips.

"Take your time, love."

***

Hermione blinked.

She blinked again.

Objects forming.

Light filtering.

Hospital Wing.

No sign of a duel could be seen.

A hand still in her's. 

She turned her head and her breath caught in her throat.

Draco.

His forehead laying against the edge of her bed. Breathing soft and steady.

His white-blonde hair looking wind-swept, sticking in every direction.

Her other hand moved, fingers shakily going through his soft locks. 

She knew when he woke. His breathing changing. A stutter mid-breath.

A hum.

A hum she remembered feeling in the crook of her neck or between her thighs.

A slow lift of his head, her fingers falling back to the bed. 

Piercing silver eyes, wide and smoldering. 

"Draco," she whispered, and revelled in how his eyes brightened, the stress of his brows relaxing. 

"Hermione," he said softly. 

Fatigue was already threatening to drag her under again.

"Bed. Stay," she stuttered, gripping his hand with limited strength. 

His serious eyes didn't dare move away from hers as he carefully transfigured the bed to be larger before laying next to her. 

A warm body against her's. 

Safe.

"Draco,' she murmured before the darkness engulfed her senses once more.

***

A spark.

Her magic. 

It was still there. 

An echo of what once was an inferno.

Hope. 

Chapter Text

"It's like the chess set all over again," Potter murmured, referring to his first year escapades and the bloody stupid house points they earned in winning the House Cup.

However the others were more familiar with the animated stone statues blocking their path to the Hospital Wing from the Battle of Hogwarts when McGonagall instructed them to defend their school. 

With every blink, it seemed the dozens of statues were growing nearer. Shields, swords, and arrows on standby.

There wasn't time to think about how this was enacted nor by whom, especially when it was painstakingly obvious their purpose was to guard the Hospital Wing from intruders... them.

"I think we should keep them distracted while one of us gets to Hermione," said Draco slowly. "Pansy, I think you'll be the best to sneak through."

"What?" said Ginny and Pansy skeptically, both exchanging looks of distaste.

"Weaselette has more experience blowing things up," he explained, attempting a smirk. "The three of us will be lithe enough to keep the focus on us while you get through."

Pansy opened her mouth and closed it, chewing nervously on her bottom lip. 

She was right from before. They weren't Gryffindors. They weren't heroes. 

And yet, Pansy knew how important Hermione was to their friend group and the Wizarding World, though the Slytherin witch would deny it vehemently. 

He also didn't feel it would end well to have Ginny and Potter's ex-girlfriend dueling.

"Use defensive spells, Pans," said Draco, readying his wand. "Don't bring attention to yourself."

"Bombarda maxima!" yelled Ginny, and it was eery despite the carnage how every statue's head turned to look at her. 

Draco could only roll his eyes at the impulsive Gryffindor. 

It took nearly ten minutes for Pansy to finally reach the Hospital Wing doors but luckily Theo and Luna came through with their directives. 

The aurors were now assisting and McGonagall was quickly transfiguring them back to dormancy.

He ran and dodged the remaining statues, ignoring how one sliced over his arm as he crossed, opening the doors at last. 

Granger's back was to him, and she looked like an Angel in all white, but Cho had just lifted her wand, murderous intentions blatant. 

"Incarcerous!" 

Cho Chang was quickly bound, wand taken away, and Pany sent a silent spell to slow Hermione's fall.

"Did she use magic?" Draco asked quietly, gently catching Hermione, noticing her wand on the floor. 

"She saved me," said Pansy shakily. "From that." She was pointing to a melted Hospital bed and what looked like black ink covering every surface.

"The poison," he murmured. "Go find Madame Pompfrey... please."

She nodded and ran past him as he gently picked Hermione up into his arms, her breathing shallow. 

They were told it would be dangerous for her to use magic but hadn't gone into detail of the consequences...

***

An hour later and Hermione was in critical condition. Her magical core had been severely damaged. 

There was a possibility she wouldn't regain her magic.

Pansy was beside herself. She blamed herself for encouraging Hermione to grab her wand. She yelled at him for not telling her. She screamed at Hermione's unconscious form for stupidly saving her until Theo threw her over his shoulder and left. 

Pompfrey requested everyone to leave while she had consultants from St Mungos visiting and attempting to repair the damage. It proved to be the most opportune time to see the memory given reluctantly by Creevey.

McGonagall had no qualms with them utilizing the pensieve, too busy handling Cho Chang, the politics of Azkaban, and the press who would soon turn the story into a sensational headline. 

With an affirmative nod from Draco, Potter poured the contents of the phial into the pensieve. 

What the memory showed however, was unexpected. 

"Oh golden girl, the things I could do to you..." Dennis Creevey purred, eyes predatory, straddling Hermione in the corridor. 

A sticking charm was preventing her from moving.

Potter and Ginny's faces were filled with horror and shock.

Draco could only watch helplessly as he continued threatening her with obscenity, caressing her suggestively.

The anger he felt, watching Creevey release the Peruvian Night Powder, pretending to be knocked out when his stupidly brave witch came back for him... not a single reservation for her own safety... was nothing compared to how he felt when the wizard had her flipped, bracelet removed, and Salazar her eyes looked how they did at the manor a year ago. 

"Why?" she whispered, and his heart broke for her.

She wanted to see the good so badly. 

Creevey smirked, reveling in how she flinched when he touched her lips with his thumb. 

"I've always admired you," he whispered, lips touching her ear. "Similar parentage and all. When my brother was murdered..." the young wizard's jaw clenched, ferocity now in his tone. "Murdered by Death Eaters... you could say I had a shift in my beliefs that there was good." 

"And then the Gryffindor Princess started befriending the Death Eater's children... the children who were too pathetic and cowardly to fight. The children whose allegiance got my brother killed. How fucking dare you, Hermione," he continued, his voice now harsh and cold. "You betrayed me. You betrayed Colin. You betrayed yourself."

Dennis Creevey was physical shaking now with his fury, his gentle carresses turning into bruises. And Draco could feel his eyes burning with every choked and rattled breath Hermione tried to take. 

Creevey suddenly froze and glared down the corridor where he must've had wards set, indicating Potter and Ginny were headed this way, despite an invisibility cloak.

"Wish we had more time," he murmured, pointing his wand at Hermione's heart. "Brakken Magia."

An audible crack resounded in the corridor, and Draco could practically taste the dark arts in the air. 

He could only watch in helpless agony as his witch began seizuring before going very still, her head turning to stare in his direction for a few heartbeats before finally closing her eyes. 

As soon as they exited the pensieve, Draco found the closest bin and emptied what little he had left of his stomach contents.

"I need to - I can't-"

Ginny ran out of the Headmistresses office, her face red and swollen.

"Not good I take it, Harry?" came the soft voice of Dumbledore from his portrait. 

"No," said Potter, the word sounding choked. 

Draco vanished the bin's contents before sitting against a wall, his hands pulling at his hair. 

Occulumency. Focus. 

Painstakingly slow, he began packing his emotions into their labeled boxes, breathing deeply, until the last box was put on its shelf.

Dennis Creevey could be anywhere by now if he successfully snuck away from Hogwarts. Being muggleborn, he could blend in with Muggles and not rely on magic - the Trace being a dead end. But if he couldn't be traced by magical means... what if...

"Potter," he barked, finally looking up and eyeing the sickly pale wizard. "How good are Muggle DMLE at finding people?'

Potter's thoughts must've been somewhere completely different due to his bewildered expression. 

"I- There are detectives and databases, I supposed. If Creevey is using a credit card, it could be traced to a location. Give us a way to narrow the search if he managed to leave Hogwarts."

Draco didn't know what that quite meant but he nodded all the same and stood, rolling his shoulders back, his expression perfectly stoic.

"We need to tell the Aurors so we can start the search," said Draco, staring hard at Potter, his voice calm. "And they better hope they find him first. Azkaban will seem like a fucking dream compared to me."

***

Draco's eyes burned as he stared down at Hermione curled into his side at the Hospital Wing.

An excruciating 5 days with only her silent tears... until a few hours ago when she asked him to stay.

St. Mungos said, with time, her magical core could grow stronger but she should be treated with fragility for several weeks.

Something he knew Hermione would not want to hear. 

His thoughts ventured back to when the Aurors arrived to arrest Chang, and they questioned why he had Hermione's wand. As if somehow he was involved. Pansy's word hadn't even been enough until the-boy-who-is-bloody-perfect informed them sternly they were both not involved. 

Draco was put into cuffs anyway for his safety. 

It was a humiliating 10 minutes until McGonagall demanded they release him. 

"You look bloody awful."

He rolled his eyes and turned to look at Theo unamused, while the bloke stood there with a smirk. 

"I'll take your place while you freshen up, yeah?"

Draco scowled, holding Hermione closer to him.

"Afraid she's going to start groping me in her sleep, mate?"

He snorted lightly like any upstanding aristocrat while Theo's brows bounced suggestively.

"She's not exactly your type, yeah?"

Theo frowned, crossing his arms. "Not sure what you're on about."

"I've seen how you look at Potter."

To anyone else, Theo wore an expressionless mask. Something he perfected over the years because of his abusive Death Eater father. 

But Draco could see the nervous twitch in his hand, the muscles of his jaw trying to relax. 

He really only began noticing after the holiday break on how stoic and cold Theo regarded Potter. Colder than even Draco looked at him which was what piqued his interest. 

He hadn't been close to Theo in several years, and would be the first to admit he'd been a bit too self-absorbed in his youth to notice such nuances.

"I don't approve," tutted Draco and he could see the anguish beginning to form in his friend's eyes. "You have bloody awful taste. Honestly, even Longbottom would be better than Potter."

Theo narrowed his eyes but he seemed to be fighting off a smile with his tangible relief. 

"You're such an arse."

Draco shrugged. "Have better taste in wizards then."

Theo rolled his eyes. "Bugger off. You smell like shit and I still have the urge to curse you in the bullocks."

"Rude," said Draco lightly, leaning down to kiss Hermione's forehead before carefully leaving the bed without jostling her.

"I'll keep her warm for you."

"Thanks, mate," he drawled, sarcasm heavily noted in his tone, as Theo went to lay down next to Hermione. 

He really did need a shower; Scourgify could only do so much. 

Draco made his way to the Heads common room which was not far, ignoring the curious and blatant stares from passing students. 

From what Blaise and Luna told him when they visited the second day Hermione was unconscious, the rumors were rampant and divided.

Many students, primarily Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, were in denial of Chang's involvement. 

Some said the Imperius curse while others - albeit a smaller percentage - believed Draco was framing the well-liked 8th year and former member of Dumbledore's Army.

He frowned upon entering the dark common room, and immediately went to shower off the days of stress and grime.

There was still no progress in finding Creevey. How a 5th year was managing to evade the Aurors and DMLE felt unbelievable. 

Curious even. 

A thought creeped into his mind as he turned off the water, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 

The chances were doubtful.

Minuscule. 

Draco raised his wand anyhow. "Homenum Revelio," he murmured, and with relief and disappointment, the magic indicated he was very much alone. 

He first stopped in Hermione's room, deciding to pack a few of her clothes and comfort items. 

However as he reached for Hogwarts, A History on the dresser, the hair on the back of his neck stood up.

"Crucio!"

Fucking hell. 

Though not as powerful as Bella or the Dark Lord, the anger behind the Unforgiveable was palpable.

He fell hard to his knees, the familiar explicit pain coursing through to every nerve ending, but he refused to allow any sound to escape. He would not give the bastard the satisfaction.

In the very back of his mind, he was exasperated for being tortured with nothing on but a towel. 

"Expelliarmus."

His wand flew away but it meant the torture ceased. 

Gritting back the pain, Draco stood to face Dennis Creevey. 

Bloke looked like shit. Unhinged. The usage of the Dark Arts could do that. He imagined it had to do with why his spell hadn't detected the wizard. 

Bloody coward as well to curse him with his back turned.

"What's the plan now, Creevey?" Draco asked with a smirk. "You've caught me in only my towel. Supposed you would let me pull on some trousers?"

Creevey sneered. "Crucio!"

He knew theory behind wandless magic, but experiential learning was minimal. 

He wasn't killed immediately, so Creevey wanted him to suffer, but to what end?

"Did you like the memory I gave Harry?" Creevey said lowly with a twisted grin, the pain coming to a sudden stop.

"You're not too bright, are you?" Draco sneered, spatting blood on the floor and standing to his full height once again. "Pissing off a Death Eater."

"You admit it then?" said Creevey with a manical grin. "You're still one of them!"

He wondered if the wizard had truly gone barmy, if all reasoning and logic was no longer in play.

He could manipulate this to his advantage but predictability would be a grey area.

"I have the dark mark, don't I?" Draco drawled, raising a brow and flashing his forearm. 

Creevey had an excited glint in his eye that made him feel wary but he continued to keep his expression impassive. 

"You're going to turn yourself in to the Aurors," said Creevey excitedly, his grin still fixed in place. "You're going to confess to killing my brother and that you're behind all the attacks on Hermione."

"Is that so?" said Draco calmly. "And why am I agreeing to that?"

"You won't be," he laughed, and Draco knew what would happen next. 

"Imperio."

Draco arranged his expression to be blank, eyes unfocused. 

The enticing voice in his head was relaying he was to be subservient to Creevey and would follow all orders. Unfortunately for Creevey, Draco could turn off the voice in his head with ease. 

"Yes sir," he said quietly, with a submissive nod.

He stiffly turned to walk out of Hermione's room and towards the sitting room. As soon as Creevey left the doorway, he turned, grabbed him by the hair and rammed his face into the wall as hard as he could. 

"The fuck -"

Still holding him by the scalp, nose clearly broken with blood gushing down his chin, Draco used momentum to slam his face into the wall again. 

And again. 

By now, both their wands had fallen to the floor, but he didn't care. After everything that had happened over the past week, nothing mattered.

His father was dead.

Another punch to Creevey's bloodied face.

Hermione's silent tears, near brink of death. 

A kick to Creevey in the ribs after falling to the floor.

He would always be labeled a Death Eater. 

"Please," Creevey cried, his face unrecognizable, his lips and chin stained red. "I gib up."

"Who the bloody fuck ever said Death Eater's fight fair?" Draco snarled, finally picking up both their wands, transfiguring his towel into a pair of trousers. 

He would never be good enough.

"I could do it you know," he said quietly. "Torture you until you no longer remember your name. If I use your wand, no one will know..."

Draco pointed Creevey's wand at his heart, his own body trembling from adrenaline. Bellatrix's voice now slithering into his mind. 

You have to mean it, nephew... let them beg for death... rejoice in their screams... yes, well done, Draco... 

The Cruciatus Curse was on the tip of his tongue, he could feel the anger and power crackling inside him, darkness choking the purity of his magic...

It's just a copy! Just a copy! Please!

A woman screaming.

Let's see how dirty your blood truly is...

Laughter. 

More screaming. 

Wide brown eyes staring into his. 

Hermione. 

Actions speak louder than words, Malfoy. An amused twitch to her lips as she continued to read and ignore him on the Hogwarts Express. 

A breeze on the astronomy tower with her curls wild and free. Bringing the rose to her nose and briefly closing her eyes as she smelled its floral scent. Brown eyes bright with a half hidden smile behind its petals. 

An ashen witch lying in a Hospital bed waiting for him. 

Creevey was now making a gurgling noise, choking on his own blood. 

Swallowing hard, Draco bent down to gently turn the wizard's head to the side. 

Hermione deserved better. 

With an uncharacteristic hesitancy in his movements, he turned and left the common room. 

She deserved someone who wasn't a killer. 

Chapter Text

Being Muggleborn, Hermione didn't think it would be this difficult to not use magic...

Merlin, she missed it.

Three weeks without her wand. 

And while she still attended class, she could only watch, dejected and envious, as others practiced. 

She continued studying for her N.E.W.T.S. but no longer raised her hand in class, preferring any and all attention away from her. 

After being interviewed extensively by the Aurors, rumors were swirling through the corridors of Hogwarts. Some were so bold enough to blame her but would then face the wrath of one Ginerva Weasley and her infamous bat-bogey hex. 

After confirmation of Dennis Creevey and Cho Chang's involvement in the Prophet, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw houses became more subdued. 

Everyone walked on egg shells around her and though Harry and Ginny tried, their voices were softer and their hesitancy noticeable. 

Well, everyone except the Slytherins. 

Pansy still argued about nearly everything, Blaise continued to be awkward and slightly inappropriate, Theo endlessly teased and pushed her academically, and Astoria was a quiet companion to study with in the library. 

Draco however, was quieter than usual and withdrawn. He still held her every night, sat with her during class and meals, kissed her sweetly... but something was missing. 

It'd been several days of worrying as she stared into the fireplace in their common room when it struck her.

Fire. 

Passion.

Hermione chewed on her bottom lip, feeling anxious. 

A lot has happened to him, and she scowled into the fire as her insecurities grew louder in her head.

Without magic, Hermione was practically a Squib. She was physically weaker and her mind could only handle so much at a time.

Did he still want her?

She shook her head, looking down at her fidgeting hands. 

This wasn't about her. And pitying herself would lead no where. 

The common door opening had her quickly turning, a smile already playing at her lips but his expression changed her smile's trajectory. 

He was occluding.

"Draco?" she asked quietly. "Come sit with me?"

Without a word, he dropped his book bag and did what she asked. 

Hermione took a deep breath before she shifted onto his lap so she was straddling him. 

A flicker of life behind his eyes was an encouraging sign 

"How was your advising meeting with Slughorn?"

He absentmindedly began playing with her hair, wrapping a curl around his finger. 

"Alright I supposed," he said quietly. "McGonagall and the Minister were there. "

"Kingsley?" she said, stunned. "Why was he there?"

He smiled sadly, only watching how he played with her hair. "Shouldn't be surprising, love. I was a Death Eater. Nothing I can do about it."

Hermione was surprised how she felt burning embers in the pit of her stomach. He sounded so sure and it made her angry. 

"I'll make sure I clarify that I'm in love with a Death Eater then," she said coldly. 

As if coming out of a confundus charm, he slowly blinked and his eyebrows furrowed. 

He finally looked her in the eyes and, though he hid it well, she could see his surprise at her demeanor.

"What?"

"I'm a Death Eater's whore."

He violently flinched and his mouth opened and closed, looking for the words. She could see how he was slowly becoming angry, twisting her words to fit his self-loathing narrative.

Though she wasn't supposed to use magic until tomorrow, Hermione silently casted a sticking charm to Draco on the couch. 

There was some discomfort in her chest, wandless magic had been risky, but otherwise she felt normal. 

"Kneazle got your tongue?" she said with a smirk. "You're a Death Eater who fell in love with a Mudblood. Nothing we can do about it," she mocked. 

Draco's anger was palpable and it was the most emotion she'd seen from him since waking up in the Hospital Wing.

"I don't have to listen to this," he muttered, but when he tried moving his expression turned perplexed. 

"Having trouble?"

His eyes widened. "Did... Did you just do wandless magic?"

She shrugged lightly. "You're going to listen to what I have to say."

He scowled. "Not in the mood, Granger. Get off."

She raised an eyebrow. "I'm comfortable where I am, Malfoy."

"You-"

Hermione kissed him, putting as much emotion as she could into it. She was tired of being treated with fragility and desperately tried to convey this. 

She pulled at his hair which elicited a deep moan from him and Draco finally started kissing her back just as hard. 

His fingers dug into her waist as he held her and she purposefully grinded her body against his. 

"Take the sticking charm off," he muttered against her lips.

Hermione pretended to think about it with a hum, rocking her hips.

Draco wrapped his hand into her hair and pulled harshly back before biting down on her neck hard. 

"I won't ask again, Granger."

She released the charm and he immediately had them flipped on the couch, his hands holding hers over her head with a firm grip. 

He must've saw something in her eyes because he didn't bother taking his time or being gentle. Instead, he vanished her clothes, turned her around, and positioned for her to be on her knees with her arse facing up.

Hermione could hear the zipper of his trousers, the shuffling in pushing them down, and her breathing turned erratic with anticipation. 

She gasped when she could feel his cock teasing her entrance and without further warning, he was completely inside, his fingertips digging into her hips.

She yelled out as Draco emitted a loud moan and continued to shag her fast and hard without reservations.

This was what she wanted.

Gods she missed this. 

It wasn't long when they both finished and he was maneuvering her back to straddling his lap. He wrapped his arms around her while she rested her head against his chest, listening to the staccato of his heart. 

"Did I hurt you?" he murmured, chin resting on top of her head while he summoned a thin blanket to cover them.

She shook her head and nuzzled her face into his chest, holding him tightly to her. 

"I've missed you," she said quietly and his breathing seemed to stutter, the hold around her tightening 

"I'm here," he breathed, lifting her chin so they were looking at each other. 

Draco's face was so open, his silvery gaze gentle and bright.

She gave him a small smile and he gave one back, kissing her forehead. 

"Can you tell me about the meeting now?"

He sighed, shuffling a hand through his hair. 

"Kingsley asked if I'd want to be an Auror."

She blinked in surprise. "I - wow - what do you think?"

"I don't know, Hermione," he sighed, closing his eyes. 

She chewed on her bottom lip. "I was asked if I'd be interested in a research position within the Auror Department."

His eyes shot open. "You never mentioned."

She shrugged. "You've been... distant, Draco. Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

He grimaced. "Did Potter tell you what happened with Creevey?"

Of course he did. Because the Aurors told Harry much more information than they should for someone who wasn't even officially with the department.

Dennis had barely been recognizable with how severely he'd been beaten.

"He said you'd been in nothing but a towel," she finally said, her tone serious. 

He rolled his eyes before his expression turned stern. 

"I nearly killed him, Hermione. I was so close to torturing him with the Cruciatus Curse... I wanted to..." His jaw was clenched, his hands turning into fists on her back. "I don't regret any of it."

"But you didn't kill him nor use the Cruciatus," she huffed, her earlier irritation reappearing. "If you keep labeling yourself as a Death Eater then that's all you'll bloody be. You're more than that! You're a skilled wizard who will do anything for those you love. I don't care what the world thinks, but-" She held his face to emphasize her next words, his complete focus on her. "But I care how you see yourself. I won't stand for it. I won't stand by while you drown in -"

His mouth turned up to one side. "You've been spending too much time with Pansy and Theo."

"I love you, Draco." She leaned slightly back to reach for his forearm, the dark mark faded but visible. "All of you."

"I love you, too," he said quietly, resting his forehead against hers. 

They stayed there for several moments holding one another before he eventually carried her to bed, worshipping and teasing her long into the night. 

And as they were falling asleep, her body curled into his side, she knew their journey was only beginning. 

***

"I felt graduation was a bit bland for my tastes," commented Theo, leaning against a large willow tree and continuously tossing his cap into the clear blue sky.

"These robes are ghastly," added Pansy, taking off her lilac robes and using it as a blanket to sit on. 

"Design your own, Pans," said Astoria softly with a smile. "You know you could."

Pansy shrugged, but Hermione could see she was turning the idea over in her mind while she absentmindedly patted the spot next to her for Hermione to sit.

They'd become closer the last couple months. Pansy had recently announced loudly to the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables if they didn't stop staring at her friend, she'd poison their goblets like Cho had done. 

Though not the kindest way to go about it, she appreciated the sentiment. The tables had indeed stopped their staring whenever Pansy was near.

"Care if we join?" asked Harry, holding hands with Ginny, walking closer to the group.

"Need a break from the autographs, Potter?" drawled Draco with a smirk, arm around her shoulders. "Hand out of practice?"

Hermione lightly hit his chest as Harry blushed. Theo suddenly had a coughing fit and missed catching his cap.

"Where we all headed now?" asked Blaise, a humming Luna under his arm. 

"Hoping to get drafted on a decent team next season," said Ginny brightly, joining the loose circle they'd created. 

"Wander Nott Manor until I get bored and get a job I supposed," said Theo with a shrug, continuing to toss his cap.

"Hermione and I are going to stay in your East Wing."

Theo caught his cap and turned sharply to stare at Draco, looking back and forth between him and Hermione.

"When did we discuss this?"

"We just did."

Theo scowled, but Hermione could see his eyes shining with amusement and relief at not being alone.

"No shagging in the kitchen."

Draco smirked. "You don't fancy a show?" 

Hermione elbowed him hard as Theo laughed. 

"Er - I'm going into Auror training next week," said Harry quickly, looking uncomfortable with the current topic. "You're going as well, Malfoy, yeah?"

Everyone turned to stare while Draco looked annoyed. "None of your bloody business."

He says he hasn't decided, but she knows he is greatly considering it despite being forced to train alongside Harry.

"How about you, Hermione?" asked Astoria, always polite. 

"I'm undecided," she said, chewing on her bottom lip. "I've got quite a few job offers."

"From every department in the Ministry," muttered Pansy, rolling her eyes. "What about you, Blaise?"

"Luna and I are going to travel for a bit," he said, uncharacteristically smiling gently down at the Ravenclaw. 

"No orgies during your adventures, I take it?" asked Theo, ignoring several looks of distaste.

"Ooh that's always an option," said Luna, nodding thoughtfully.

Blaise looked down at Luna with awe while nearly everyone rolled their eyes or laughed. 

"Bloody made for each other, those two," muttered Draco, causing Hermione to snort. 

"Erm- Hermione, can I have a quick word?"

Ron Weasley was standing nearby, a hand on the back of his neck, his ears bright red.

Nearly everyone was scowling and Draco gripped her waist tighter. 

It'd been months since he'd even looked at her but if this was going to be the end of a friendship, she'd like a more sufficient closing. 

"Alright, Ron."

Hermione gently removed Draco's arm, kissed him on the cheek, before nodding her head closer to the Black Lake for some privacy. 

"You haven't looked at me in months."

Ron sighed, kicking at sand. "I know."

"And you've been a complete prat."

Ron nodded, looking down at his feet. "Yeah." He heaved a sigh before sitting down on the bank. "I haven't been a good friend to you, Hermione."

Hermione swallowed her surprise at his honesty and sat near him, but stayed silent.

"There's just - look," his expression was twisted in a scowl, one she recognized when he was getting frustrated with himself. 

"Graduation and everything that's happened, I've been bloody stupid. And I'm no good at apologies, Hermione, you know this," he gave an embarrassed smile, his words sounding stilted and jumbled. "But I'm trying to say I'm sorry."

"I know, I know," he said quickly as Hermione just opened her mouth. "Actions speak louder than words and stuff."

Hermione smiled amused. "Where did this maturity come from?"

"Lav is pregnant," he blurted and Hermione could only stare, taken aback.

"And, blimey, I'm going to be a dad," Ron shook his head, his face mirroring her's. "I just... I gotta grow up sometime, yeah?"

Hermione tried not to roll her eyes at his logic, but touched his arm and gave him an appreciative smile all the same. "Thank you for apologizing."

He flashed her a sad smile. "I'll make it up to you somehow."

A clearing of someone's throat had them turning. Draco stood behind them, appearing bored, and looking devilishly handsome and fit in a Muggle suit. 

"Everyone is meeting at the Three Broomsticks for lunch."

She nodded, and noticed how Ron was trying to bury his scowl. 

They both stood and Ron appeared awkward now, rocking on his heels and avoiding Draco's piercing stare. 

"I'll see you around, Hermione. Keep you updated, yeah?"

"Sure, Ron," she said with a smile. 

He smiled back, and he had a brief fit attempting to nod at Draco before making his way back to the castle.

Draco rolled his eyes before holding out his hand for her to take.

"Ready, love?"

"Ready."

He kissed the top of her head while Hermione intertwined her fingers with his. 

She was ready for their next adventure.

Chapter Text

The skies were down pouring as the young witch scurried to Knockturn Alley, cursing at the inconvenience of such a location. 

She kept her head low, the hood of her cloak protecting her from wandering gazes, keeping to the outskirts of the pathway.

Finally reaching the inconspicuous alley, she traced her wand into a precise pattern on the brick wall, watching as it turned a bright green. 

The bricks shifted to form a door and, after looking to make sure she was not followed, the witch quickly entered the flat, relieved to be out of the rain. 

She dried her clothes and hair before rolling her shoulders back, held her head high like she'd been taught, and confidently strolled down a softly lit corridor. 

She could hear the crackling of a fire before she saw it, and appreciated the warmth in the nearly empty drawing room. 

The wizard she was here to meet sat with his back to her in an arm chair, holding a glass of firewhiskey but, even so, she curtsied and bowed her head. 

"M'Lord."

"You're late."

She tried not to scowl. "I do have appearances to keep up, M'Lord."

"Congratulations," the wizard drawled, the ice clinking against the glass as he took a sip. 

He was idly tapping his ring on the top of his cane where a silver snake was forged. She knew this is where he kept his wand. 

"I'm disappointed in you," he continued, familiar silvery eyes now connecting with hers.

"I understand," she said quietly, head still bowed.

"Do they suspect?"

Cho Chang and Colin Creevey making the Unbreakable Vow to her with expressions of disgust.

Handing the restricted book to Creevey that held the darkest of curses, blackening his easily manipulated heart. 

Brewing the poison with Chang in the Room of Requirement, poisoning her mind with soft whispers.

Watching Granger jump off the Astronomy Tower from her Imperius Curse.

She allowed herself a smirk. 

"Not at all, M'Lord."