Author's Note: I just want to say before we get started that I will do my best to make this story as canon as possible. It will be taking place after the sixth novel, however, considering the pairing you can obviously expect inaccuracies, AU tendencies, OOC behavior and the like. I do apologize but if you've searched out a Draco/Hermione fanfic then hopefully you aren't too concerned with canon lol!
It was a bright summer midday and Hermione Granger had just finished making lunch. At seventeen she still lacked the cooking prowess of Mrs. Weasley but even the mother of seven would be impressed today. It was something of a beauty, thought Hermione, seeing the dishes prepared, simple though they were and sitting on the kitchen table, knowing she had made them herself. Heaving a contented sigh, Hermione sat in one of the kitchen chairs. All that was left to do was wait for the Weasleys, Lupin, Tonks and Harry to get back to Grimmauld Place. Earlier that day when their Hogwarts letters had arrived, Hermione had offered to stay and make lunch while the others went and did the shopping. After a few expected words of protest from the others and Hermione's assurances that a few hours apart wouldn't kill them and the promise of edible food, they quickly consented.
Deciding the kitchen could do with some fresh air, Hermione had just heaved open the window when she heard the usual yelling of Mrs. Black's portrait that signified the arrival of Order members and guests. Hermione grinned to herself. If Kreacher had not accepted the idea of the house being owned by a half-blood then it was a good thing Mrs. Black had died long ago. For she certainly would've keeled over at the information.
"Harry! You're back early!" exclaimed Hermione as she walked into the entry way.
Harry smiled at her, setting his new books down on the floor. "Smells good, Hermione. Cooking may be your newest talent."
"We'll see about that." laughed Hermione, "Where are the others?"
"Still in Diagon Alley. You know the Weasleys. All hustle and bustle, never managing to get much done." answered Harry with a small grin.
"Come into the kitchen, Harry. I'll get you some tea." said Hermione.
Hermione led the way and after sitting Harry down and placing a teacup in front of him, she gave him a long look. He looked tired and sad. Well of course he does, Hermione scolded herself. Dumbledore's death was still fresh in all their minds. It seemed stupid of her now, to think that just because two months had passed, Harry was ready to let go.
"Seventh year." said Harry after a time. "Can you believe it?"
"Time flies." agreed Hermione.
Harry was silent again. Hermione was worried. "Did something happen at Diagon Ally, Harry? You seem…" Hermione trailed off
Harry remained silent for another moment before answering, "It's just so loud, you know? I was really claustrophobic all of a sudden. I love the Weasleys, they're the family I never had but Dumbledore was family too. It's just not the same for them or you or anyone else as it is for me. They're all so happy, it's like they've forgotten Dumbledore died."
"Nobody forgets, Harry. They couldn't if they tried. Dumbledore was a great man and a great wizard." comforted Hermione.
"I know. And I know they know too. I just…I don't even know. No one else has any trouble picking up where they left off in their lives. No one but me." sighed Harry.
"It's okay, just take your time. It's better not to hide your feelings." said Hermione.
"Thanks for listening, Hermione." Harry smiled.
"Any time." Hermione smiled back.
It was at this moment that the doorbell rang. Both Hermione and Harry stood up to answer it.
"You go up and rest, Harry. I'll get it." said Hermione.
"Thanks." said Harry gratefully and while he went upstairs Hermione went to the door.
Hermione wondered who it could be. As far as she knew, no one was expecting any visitors. Although, that didn't mean a whole lot. Reporters had been trying to contact Harry for weeks, wanting an interview about what happened the night Dumbledore died. Harry had told them all numerous times that he wouldn't give them their story, that it was strictly between him and the late Headmaster but they had refused to quit. Some, like Rita Skeeter, claimed to have all the details already and that was probably the biggest reason lesser known reporters still kept showing up.
Hermione, grumbling about the reporters' lack of respect and tact, stopped abruptly when she opened the door. Standing there with an apprehensive expression on his face, was Draco Malfoy himself. Hermione had to consciously stop herself from letting her jaw drop. Nobody had seen him since the night of Dumbledore's murder and here he was like nothing had happened at all. Being in hiding had definitely left him worse for wear. His skin still had the grayish tinge, his eyes had dark circles under them and just looked plain ill overall. Not that Hermione had noticed any of that before. She honestly never gave him a thought, simply glad he found other things to do with his time besides bully her, Harry and Ron. Of course she'd never dreamed that Harry was right and he was instead becoming a Death Eater and carrying out Voldemort's orders.
"Are you going to gawk all day or are you going to invite me in?" questioned Draco. Whatever he had been doing, it seemed his attitude had not wavered.
"Why on earth would I invite you in? How did you even get here?" Hermione was eternally grateful that the Order of The Phoenix Headquarters had been moved to The Burrow.
Malfoy gave an exasperated sigh, though as far as Hermione was concerned he had no reason to be. "It's polite, Granger, that's why."
"I'll need a better reason than that! You are a Death Eater after all." pointed out Hermione.
"If I was going to attack you, I would've done it already." Draco retaliated.
"What do you want?" asked Hermione bluntly, crossing her arms. In all honesty, Malfoy didn't look like he could even beat his way out of a wet paper bag but Hermione had her wand on her person at all times. If he tried anything funny, she would be ready.
"It's really not about what I want. This is something I need." sighed Draco. He provided no further explanation.
"Malfoy, if you aren't going to explain, then I'm going to close the door and pretend you were never here." Hermione warned.
"If it was anyone else, you would've let them in already." he accused.
"Yes, because everyone else hasn't been taking up Death Eater duty or just being a horrible person to me and my friends in general!" Hermione shot back. When Draco didn't respond she continued, "On the other hand we've been in each other's presence for - Hermione checked her watch - two minutes and you haven't thrown out any profanities, insults or jibes of any kind. So naturally you figured we'd welcome you with open arms, right?"
"Not exactly." Draco muttered.
"You still haven't enlightened me. To what do I owe this visit?" Hermione repeated.
"Help, Granger. I'm here for help!" Draco blurted.
It took Hermione a moment to register what he had said. "Help?" she repeated skeptically, "Of all places you could've gone, you came here for help?"
"Believe me, if there was another option, I would've taken it." scowled Draco.
"Where's Professor Snape? I thought he was helping you." said Hermione.
"Snape is gone." was all Draco said.
Hermione eyed him suspiciously. She couldn't just let him in could she? There were danger signs all over this situation. He was obviously withholding information. Letting him in gave him access to Harry. Protecting Harry was of the utmost importance.
"I haven't done anything wrong, you know." Draco continued.
"Haven't done anything wr- you can't be serious! Ron and Katie nearly died because of you! You helped Death Eaters get into Hogwarts! You know, dangerous ones who don't have qualms about killing innocent people! Did you suffer amnesia or something?" cried Hermione.
"No, I haven't." said Draco dryly.
"Then what makes you think anyone here will help you?" asked Hermione.
"Because I'm desperate, okay? Because I'm out of options. Because You-Know-Who is pissed at my family. Because I didn't kill Dumbledore. Because I need a second chance and even in his final moments Dumbledore was willing to give me one!" Draco exclaimed.
Hermione didn't miss a beat. "And yet, you didn't take it. You had your second chance handed to you on a silver platter and you threw it away! So do you want a third chance? A fourth? How many does it take before you decide where your allegiances lie?"
"I made mistakes. Big ones. But I was scared and stupid. I was trying to protect myself and my family and I won't apologize for that." Draco replied.
"Mistakes? Mistakes are when you get answers wrong on a test! A mistake is borrowing a hat and forgetting to return it. You blatantly and consciously tried to murder Dumbledore!" said Hermione incredulously. "Helping you hide for a crime, especially one so severe, is punishable by law!"
"In case you forgot Granger, the Dark Lord has infiltrated the Ministry. They aren't looking to punish me. Yet. And the only reason they'd go looking for you is because you're a mud-"
"Don't finish that sentence!" Hermione interrupted.
"Anyway." Draco continued, "I didn't kill anyone. I was only trying to protect my family. Can you please overlook the fact that I cursed a necklace, spiked some mead and fixed a Vanishing Cabinet? For my parents sake at least?"
'Don't play down your offences or anything.' thought Hermione sarcastically. "Something's off."
"What do you mean?" asked Draco.
"You're being polite." elaborated Hermione.
"Take it as a symptom of my desperation. Help my family." said Draco.
"I just don't think that's an option. I don't have any reason to trust you and every reason to assume the worst." answered Hermione.
"Don't you hear me? I need help. Yours. Potter's. The whole Order's! I. would. not. be here if I thought there was any place left for us alive in You-Know-Who's little club! I'll be at Hogwarts this year, sure but then what? And what about my parents? We can't do this alone." persisted Draco.
Hermione could hear his desperation now. But she just couldn't shake the feeling that helping Draco Malfoy would be a colossal mistake. Harry would be at risk, as would virtually all the information The Order had. As Hermione just pointed out, there was no reason to trust him. All she knew about him was that he was arrogant, a bully, a Death Eater fallen from grace and a potential killer. It sounded harsh when she stared at the ill-looking seventeen year old boy in her presence but facts were facts. And while it could be true that he was sorry and scared and very much willing to join the light side, there was no evidence to support it other than his word which, she was sorry to say, didn't mean much to her. That settled it. No way, no how, was Draco Malfoy getting into number twelve Grimmauld Place!
"Hermione." called Harry's voice from behind her.
She turned around and saw him standing at the bottom of the staircase. She wondered how long Harry had been standing there. She could feel Draco staring over her shoulder, waiting.
"Yes, Harry?"
"Hermione, let him in."
Mrs. Black's portrait, Hermione noticed, did not express even one whisper of objection.