*Disclaimer: I don't own HP. Obvs, if I did I would be super rich and on a beach atm, instead I am a shop manager that is hoping all sales and gift giving holidays are cancelled next year*
Hermione ordered another glass of Firewhiskey. She had apparated to France, Paris to be exact. The magic quarter in Paris was a lot like the one in London, but somehow more French. The music was different as well. It played a smooth French jazz band that had her closing her eyes in satisfaction. The singer's voice was beautiful, it was a heavy bass with timber. Thanks to her parents taking her on almost yearly vacations to France, she was fluent enough to understand the lyrics.
The bartender returned with another glass. She paid and tipped him extra. He flashed a smile that held something more than politeness in it. Since she was throwing a pity party, she ignored him.
Unbidden her eyes flew to her left hand. Her wedding ring was gone. She had removed it weeks ago, but the divorce hadn't been finalized until today. On the same day as her legislation to free the house elves was rejected.
With all that baggage in mind, she downed the glass and waved her hand for another. This time, the bartender left the bottle.
"Careful with that, war hero," he said in nearly perfect English.
Hermione snorted. "Yeah, I'm bloody brilliant."
"You might want to listen to him, Granger," a smooth voice said.
A tall figure took the seat next to hers. When Hermione looked over she started to laugh. She was pissed out of her mind. How many drinks had she had?
Blast, she couldn't remember.
"You alright there, Granger?" Draco said he leaned in closer. She caught a glimpse of his grey eyes, eyes she would know anywhere.
He was not a hallucination brought on by the Firewhiskey after all.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm on holiday. You?" Malfoy's brows raised and she swore she saw a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
"Me too."
"You don't look like you are on holiday," the corners of his lips twitched upward.
"Well I am," Hermione huffed and glared at him. "Why? Don't I look like I'm having fun?"
She was confident she wasn't slurring her words and took that as a small victory. She never held her liquor well and verbally sparring with Malfoy required more mental power than she had at the moment. Why was he here? All she wanted to do was get sloshed in peace. She needed this to turn her mind off. Defeat and pain and a growing sense of injustice was building inside of her to the point that her own thoughts were overwhelming her.
And now Malfoy was here destroying her one chance to turn her mind off. To forget and slip into darkness and oblivion. It was a pleasure she never allowed herself and now that she finally let go, something had to ruin it.
More precisely someone.
"No, you look as if you are drowning your sorrows. If we are being honest, are we being honest or would you prefer if I lied to you?"
Hermione looked at him then. Truly looked at him. When had Malfoy ever asked her what she preferred? She couldn't recall.
Truthfully, Malfoy was virtually unrecognizable as the boy she went to Hogwarts with. He was taller now and had filled out. He wore his hair down in front of his eyes like he had done in fourth year. It suited him better now, it was softer. He no longer looked like the school bully. Instead, he could have been any sophisticated wizard sitting next to her. His robes were black and she could tell just to look at them they were expensive.
Realising, she had taken too long to answer she drew herself up. "You're right, I am drowning my sorrows and if you plan to be cheerful, I would recommend moving to another seat. Perhaps another bar?"
Malfoy chuckled. "Truthfully," he said mimicking her phrasing. "I am not feeling particularly cheerful."
"Good," Hermione snorted. "Then you won't mind if I black out?"
"Not at all, assuming I can join you?"
Malfoy gestured to the bartender and ordered a bottle of Firewhiskey to stay. He filled up Hermione's glass then his own.
"Thanks, I suppose," Hermione muttered.
She had a sip.
"Cheers, warhero."
"Shut up."
Hermione spent most of her days trying to forget the war. The last thing she needed was Malfoy using that horrible title for her. She didn't feel like a hero, she felt like her old self had died during those months and the person she was now was someone completely different.
An orphan.
No wonder Harry was always so sassy. The thought alone was enough to make her want to crawl up a wall. She wished she could give her parents their memories back. She missed them so much it hurt. It was like a physical pain. A wound that competed for attention with all of her other wounds.
"What are you hoping to forget, Granger?" Malfoy asked as he stared into his glass. He looked like a man that was looking for answers in all the wrong places.
"Let's see, the war. That's a big one," Hermione was prompted into answering honestly thanks to the liquid running through her veins and lowering her inhibitions. "My parents, who can't remember me. I obliterated them for their own good, remember?"
"I remember," Malfoy nodded. "That was brave. Braver than anything I've ever done."
Hermione snorted, unimpressed. She could list on one hand all of the times Malfoy was brave. It was a short list compared to her and her friends. But then again, maybe if she had been brainwashed as a child, she too would have some fucked up ideologies and beliefs. Malfoy, she realized was a git, but at least when he was a child, he was as much a victim of Voldemort and his followers as she was. As an adult, he seemed to be trying to move on. Not that she would have believed it if she hadn't seen it herself.
"Yeah, well it feels shitty. Then there's my upcoming divorce."
"I heard. I'm sorry."
"Everyone's heard. Blast Ron and his Quidditch career. If he wasn't so obsessed with that bloody sport I might have had some privacy post-Hogwarts."
Malfoy chuckled. "Likely that is the case. You know, I reckon everyone has read about mine as well."
"Yes, I would say so. It's all over the tabloids that Daphne Greengrass cheated on you."
"Charming, little headline isn't it?" Malfoy downed his glass in one go and refilled it.
"For what it's worth, I didn't think it was true."
"Unfortunately, it is. Divorce is a nightmare, but you're young and beautiful. I've no doubt you'll actually marry someone that's worthy of you the second time around."
Hermione stared at him, dumbfounded. Had Malfoy given her a compliment?
"Are you sloshed?"
"Right and proper. I've been drinking since," he eyed the clock on the wall. "Eleven."
Hermione laughed. He looked pretty good for a man that had been drinking for the past twelve hours. But that was the entire problem with Malfoy, wasn't it? He was hot, bloody hot. At Hogwarts, he had been easier to ignore. Sitting next to her on that barstool however, with her imminent divorce lingering in the air, the part of her that was a normal woman with sexual needs made herself known.
It was not a side of herself Hermione ordinarily allowed out to play. But looking at Malfoy now, it was something that burned at her core. He was still tall, but broader than he had been. He had day old stubble that gave him a rugged appearance and his shoulders were broad, so broad. He looked like a GQ model, Hermione's guilty pleasure was flipping through the muggle magazine when she was bored.
But she could not indulge in such insanity.
"Has it helped?"
"Not precisely, but I forget the details. That's worth something."
Hermione grimaced. "Finally, I lost the attempt to push through the house elf liberations act."
"Bloody hell, Granger are you still on that?" Malfoy stared at her and broke into a wide grin. He laughed a full, hearty laugh that caught her off guard.
"Of course, I am."
"You went wrong because they aren't on your side."
"Excuse me? I am fighting for their rights."
"Same old, Granger, just like at Hogwarts. I tried to pay mine and I nearly lost my whole staff. I settled for vacation time and a generous gift every Christmas."
"That's appalling," Hermione gaped at him.
"Yes, keep up Granger. That was years ago, now they all want to be paid. You have to make the elves see why it's a good thing to be free. Once they want rights, wizards and witches are more likely to side with you because they can see the elves want it too. Otherwise, it's easy to turn a blind eye and tell yourself they're happy that way."
That made a certain amount of sense Mr. Weasley had said something similar to her years or ago, so had Hagrid. That fighting for their rights was useless because the house elves didn't even want them. It was best just to leave them be because they were happy.
"That almost sounds like common sense," Hermione said enunciating each word slowly and giving him a suspicious look.
"I believe that was almost a compliment," he smirked.
"I suppose so."
Hermione looked at him again. Maybe she had been right years ago, there was more to Malfoy than met the eye.
Years ago she had been trapped in the Malfoy manor dungeon. Bellatrix was torturing her, slicing her skin with her wand and dark magic. Hermione screamed in pain, it was excruciating. She hadn't known anything could hurt this much.
The door behind Bellatrix opened. A blonde head poked in. When he saw what he had walked in on, Malfoy froze, his eyes widened. He appeared as surprised by the scene as she was to see him. To his credit, he recovered quickly. He put his finger to his lips and signalled for silence.
Quickly, before Bellatrix could notice anything was amiss, Hermione turned her eyes back to the ceiling. The torture continued, but knowing help was coming even from such an unlikely party as Malfoy, she scarcely felt it anymore.
As if she could tell Hermione was no longer mentally present, Bellatrix stopped. Her dark eyes narrowed into angry slits.
"Are you bored, Mudblood? Am I boring you, Mudblood? Do you have something better to do?" Bellatrix hissed.
Hermione stared at her with wide, blank eyes. She could scarcely believe she was where she was, let alone comprehend that she was hoping Malfoy of all people might come to her rescue.
The next instant, a red beam came barreling through the room. It hit Bellatrix in the back and she froze. Paralyzed, she fell to the floor.
Hermione sat up, clutching her arm and stared at Malfoy. "Thank you."
"It's not for you, Granger. This madness has gone on for too long."
"You're afraid," Hermione said with certainty. "What happened?"
"I'll explain later. First, we need to get out of here. Potter especially, if the Dark Lord arrives before we can escape this war is over and I will die on the wrong side of it when I could have lived."
"Selfish to the very end, I'd say I'm disappointed, but I think I would be more disappointed if you displayed an altruistic side."
Malfoy chuckled.
Hermione got to her feet and followed him out of the room to free the other prisoners.
"Why did you change sides during the war?"
Malfoy quirked a brow. "Why so curious, Granger?"
"I always felt like you lied and I've always been curious. Harry and Ron have a few theories, but I –" she bushed realizing she was about to admit to obsessing over the answer. That it was a puzzle she needed to solve same as any old academic problem.
"But you're an academic and you require concrete facts."
Hermione nodded. She would have replied, but she did not want him to see how much he surprised her. Had Malfoy always read her this easily or was the liquor making her transparent?
"I suppose, I finally realized it was all bullshit," Malfoy said with a haunted look in his eyes. "I saw Mudbloods killed. I saw what happened to Hogwarts, to think I ever thought Dumbledore was the worst thing to happen to that place. Finally, I saw purebloods killed for treason. We bled no different than muggles or muggleborns and I learned no one was safe. That there was nothing and no one that could not die painfully if it suited the cause. It was all a lie."
"Better late than never."
"I'm sorry for all the times I've called you Mudblood and generally being a dick."
"Second apologies are usually excessive," Hermione replied. "But thank you."
"I always forget we talked during that eight year."
"It's bizarre to think about, right?"
Especially, since they had lost touch as soon as they graduated. Hermione didn't think she had even seen Malfoy except for on the pages of the newspaper since that day. Every detail of his career as a professional Quidditch player true or false was plastered across the front page. Same as Ron's life and by extension hers.
"It is, but I remember it was a relief to see another familiar face return. Just as it was a relief whenever I saw you when I was in hiding."
"Malfoy," Hermione said in surprise. "I had no idea."
"Of course, you didn't. I never told you."
Malfoy looked down at the glass between his hands, it looked like he was struggling with something.
"What a shame. We could have been friends," Hermione sighed.
Why did that disappoint her as much as it did? Maybe it was because as much as a git as Malfoy was he was the only other person at Hogwarts she thought might be as clever as she was. He always came in second behind her on tests, but it was never far behind. If it had been any other boy that intellect would have intrigued her. Especially, after Krum. She had truly enjoyed her time with him, but he was not interested in school work or learning. He was kind and she wished him all the best, but he was too much of a physical being for her.
Once upon a time, she had believed Ron was a suitable match. He was kind and clever in a creative way, something she was not. He defended her and was loyal to a fault, but now? Now she was not so sure. All he cared about now was his career as a Quidditch player. He was coming home late and leaving at all hours of the night. Finally, she learned it was because he was having an affair with one of Ginny's teammates.
How could she have been so blind?
Brightest witch of her generation, yeah right.
"Granger?" Malfoy prodded.
She looked over surprised, he must have been talking for a long while now. Perhaps she was more sloshed than she realized.
"Sorry, what was that?"
"I was asking if perhaps we could be friends now."
"Friends?" Hermione mulled it over for a minute. "That sounds nice."
"I'll drink to that."
Malfoy raised his glass to hers and she touched it to hers before having another sip. A hesitant smile appeared on her lips, she could use a new friend.
XXX
Draco watched Granger drink. She could throw them back, he gave her that. She had grown prettier since Hogwarts. She always used to be pretty, but now it was as if she had come into herself. She had turned into a beautiful, confident young woman. However, there was something sunken about her shoulders that made him hurt.
Weasley, what a fool.
To have a woman like Granger and give her up?
He was thicker than he ever could have imagined.
And now, Granger had agreed to be his friend. It was more than he had ever dared hope for. He couldn't say for sure when his crush on Granger had first occurred, but he had always noticed her. Perhaps he was cruel to her because he thought she was cute as a child with her bushy hair. Not that it was something he was ever allowed to voice.
A Malfoy falling for a muggleborn?
His parents would have cast avada kadavra on him or her to make it end. Or perhaps the imperius curse to keep him away from her and maintain their appearance of the perfect pureblood family.
This way of thinking, it used to feel normal to him. As he had gotten older and spent more time with witches and warlocks, who were not pureblood the more sickened he became with himself.
Maybe it had started when she punched him in third year. That had been incredible. He couldn't say for sure when it turned into something more, but he knew after all these years, he still fancied her.
Friends, it was a place to start.
He saw the clock on the wall neared midnight.
"Care to watch the fireworks with me?" Draco did his best to appear friendly, but he was well aware warm and friendly were not his strong suit.
The Malfoy family was cold. He remembered from when he was a small boy how he learned to read his parents based on the smallest expression, a twitch of the lips or a nod of approval.
Granger did not seem put off. Instead, she smiled back at him. It was a drunk smile, one that was goofy and endearing because it did not match the rest of her sophisticated appearance. Her hair was back in a French twist and she wore pale blue wizarding robes that flattered her more than anything he could ever recall seeing her in.
"I'd like that."
Malfoy rose to his feet and offered her the crook of his arm. Her expression was both surprised and suspicious, but she tucked her arm through his all the same.
"My mother has some connections in the Ministry, perhaps she can help you with your house elf rights law?" he posed it hesitantly.
Granger's brown eyes widened and then her expression settled into a scowl. "I don't think so. Your mother and I – well I don't think it's a good idea to put us in the same room."
"It's up to you," Draco cleared his throat. That was a mistake. He had pushed for too much too fast. He had become careless after one victory. He would have to reign it back in.
Clearing her throat awkwardly, Granger seemed determined to keep things civil and dropped the subject.
Another small victory, Draco thought with satisfaction. The street outside was cobbled and filled with witches and wizards. Some of them looked at them in surprise others didn't appear to recognize them. Something Draco preferred. He didn't need another article in the paper. Not one about a new affair and certainly not one featuring Granger. He could just picture the Daily Prophet headlines now.
Former Death Eater finds love with the brightest witch of our age.
War hero slums after messy divorce.
He could think of a dozen more that were equally terrible. Then again, the idea did hold appeal when he pictured Weasley's expression. If Weasley saw they were spending time together he was bound to go mental. However, their friendship wasn't even an hour old and he was not about to risk it. Because there was always the possibility that if Weasley thought he was pursuing Granger he would coming running back to her.
And Malfoy did not think he would be able to compete. His history with Granger was too complicated to compete with one of her oldest friends. All he wanted was a chance.
To distract himself from his gloomy thoughts, he studied Granger as she stared up at the night sky. She was beautiful, she seemed to glow from within.
XXX
Hermione looked at Malfoy and saw that he was already watching her. His cool grey eyes were on her face and she could have sworn she saw something akin to warmth in them. Whatever he was thinking, she could not read it on his face, but made it her blush.
Determined not to be flustered, she returned to staring at the sky. The sky was black filled with stars and the moon was a thin sliver.
"You know, I had almost forgotten it was New Years Eve," she said more to herself than to Malfoy.
Who she could not figure out what she was doing with anyway. Even more curious, he wanted to be friends. He even offered to use his family's Ministry connections to help her, what was gong on with him? Was it guilt?
And she didn't need him for that. After, their initial conversation about it, she already had a new plan in place to change the legislation. She knew it would take time, politics and bureaucracy always took time, painfully so. But she wasn't about to give up.
"You had? That's a pity."
"Guess I'm not really looking forward to going into the new year."
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Hermione wanted to kick herself. She must be completely pissed if she was confessing secrets to Malfoy of all people.
"Me either."
She wrapped her cloaked more tightly around herself.
"I suppose not with a rather public divorce."
He nodded. "Wait, until that blasted Skeeter finds out about yours."
"Oh, Merlin's beard," she groaned. "I might have to remind her why she is not to print lies about me in that rag of hers."
Malfoy chuckled. "What did you do to her anyway? I heard rumors you did something to her, but I've always wondered precisely what that was."
Hermione laughed and shook her head.
"Just a friendly conversation."
Malfoy snorted. He looked as if he had more to say, but before he could the fireworks started. They lit up the night sky in a beautiful display of color. Hermione stared at them transfixed.
"Remember that time I learned ignis fragor before you?" Malfoy asked.
Hermione looked over at him and saw there was a twinkle in his grey eyes.
"What are you talking about? I learned ignis fragor before you," Hermione huffed.
Ignis fragor was a charmed used to create fireworks. It was beautiful and an extra credit assignment for charms. She had mastered it almost a whole class before him.
"You're brilliant, Granger I'll give you that, but I learned that spell before you and you know it."
"No, I don't because it was the other way around."
Hermione felt her competitive streak flare up.
"Are you certain because I seem to recall you turned a furious shade of scarlet and refused to stop trying until you figured it out," Malfoy said in a drawn out, thoughtful manner.
"Don't be a dolt! You made that up!"
"Perhaps," he smirked.
"I knew it, I was never that bad."
"Actually, you were," he drawled and winked at her.
Hermione flushed.
The witches and warlocks around them started to count down until midnight in French. A group of levitating trays floated through the crowd with champagne glasses. Malfoy snagged two and passed one to Hermione, who thanked him.
"I guess maybe I was a little bit of a know-it-all," Hermione confessed as she had a sip of her champagne. "Look where's it's gotten me. With no husband to kiss at midnight. I hope Ron is bloody happy."
"Weasley is a fool," Malfoy snorted.
A newspaper photographer came round and snapped a photo of them. Startled, Hermione jumped and was certain she would look atrocious in the photo. Perfect, now the French newspapers could run a photo of her jumping. If the reporter was anything like Rita Skeeter the piece would go something like: War Hero still suffers from PTSD. Frightened by fireworks and startled by former Death Eater.
Perfect, that was exactly what her life needed right now.
"And there are reporters here. My year is complete."
Malfoy chuckled. "Cheer up, Granger. I'll kiss you at midnight."
Cinq, the people around them chanted.
"What?" she exclaimed.
Quatre, trois.
"It'll give the papers something to write about."
Deux.
"Are you mental?"
Un.
Malfoy grabbed her by the waist and kissed her. Hermione froze at first. She felt his lips on hers and the warmth from his body. It sent a thrill down her spine. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
Heat pooled through every part of her body. Malfoy kissed her with a passion, she had not known he was capable of. It rocked through her and made sparks dance behind her eyelids.
The sound of a camera flashing broke them apart. Still dazed, Hermione turned toward the newspaper man, who grinned and snapped another picture.
Malfoy leaned down to whisper conspiratorially in her ear. "Who knew you were such an amazing kisser, Granger?"
"Just friends, remember?" Hermione replied with a blush. "And back at you."
They went back inside arm in arm. The newspaper man grinned and waved at them as they left. Hermione wished him a happy new year in French and kept going. Malfoy smiled and nodded.
At the bar, Hermione had several more drinks as did Malfoy. They had moved from the bar to a booth in the back. All they did was talk and laugh. She hadn't known Malfoy was funny. With each drink she remembered the kiss and how tempting Malfoy's lips were. It was a horrifying feeling because it left her caught between the desire to hex him and kiss him again.
They kept drinking until everything was a hazy blur.
XXX
Hermione woke the next morning in an unfamiliar bed. The sheets were silk and she sighed, stretching. The hotel bed was comfier than she remembered it from the night before. She stretched again, spreading her arms out wide.
She hit a warm body, a shirtless body.
Ron?
No, that couldn't be right.
The man rolled around and pulled her into his arms. Hermione, horrified sat up and was confronted by a blond head of hair. His build was lean yet well-muscled.
Malfoy.
What the bloody hell had she done last night?
She remembered the drinks and the kiss, that blasted kiss.
The kiss!
Panicked, she tried to piece together the night before. It was all a hazy blur. Quickly, she checked under the blanket and saw she wore an unfamiliar shirt and just her panties.
Merlin's beard, this was bad.
She tried to slip out of bed without waking him, but the second she moved, he woke. Malfoy sat up. He blinked and stared at her. His ordinarily immaculate hair stood up in every direction.
"Granger? What are you doing here?"
"Did we?" Hermione cleared her throat. She couldn't say the words aloud.
"I don't know."
Malfoy's expression of horror mirrored her own.
Happy new years, I wish all of you only the best in 2019! Please leave a review and let me know what you thought of this story. It's an experiment of sorts, I've never written dramione before and I would love some feedback on their characters and the plot. Also, do we think they slept together?
Take care guys!
Izzy
