"What do you mean he's one of us 'Mione?"
"He is. We've been friends forever. Ever since I got my acceptance to Hogwarts."
"I might be finding this hard to believe but I know that Hermione wouldn't lie about something like that. And hell after all the surprises we've had this war, I don't doubt that Dumbledore had more then one spy. I beieve you completely hermione, however; it will take me a while to stop calling him Malfoy with a grimace on my face." Harry grinned at Hermione, who for the last 10 minutes had been trying to convince Harry and Ron that Draco was in fact a double agent and on the good guys side.
"I don't know if I can ever forgive him for all the things he said to me." Ron commented, "but I am willing to try to see things differently."
"Thank you guys. I would have told you sooner but I was forbidden."
"Did you ever actually hate him?" Ron asked curiously.
"No, never. I knew who he was and what he was doing. Every time I got mad it was an act." Hermione told them earnestly. Harry gave her a small smile.
"What about the time you punched him in the face?" Harry asked.
"I knew he was going to be there because he had told me. I warned him that he might get cursed but physically punching him just seemed to fit the mood better." Ron laughed harder at that.
"I'm sure he didn't forgive you for that one."
"Oh he did, no problem. He said it was actually preferred to being cursed by me." At that both boys laughed. Hermione checked her watch, she was going to be late if she didn't hurry it up.
"I really hate to do this guys but I have to go." Both nodded expecting as much. It was rare that any of them were sitting still for long.
"Will we see you for dinner?" Ron asked. Hermione had been living with the Weasleys since her parents had no idea who she was.
"Not tonight but tell your mum I'll be here for lunch."
"Will do," Ron replied. They walked her to the edge of the garden giving her their goodbyes, then she appareated. She was not expecting to hit something solid when she landed however.
"Hello Mya," a relaxing voice said quietly from beneath her. Hermione looked down to see a head of short white blond hair. She scrambled up then grabbed his hand to help him up as well.
"I'm so sorry Draco, we seem to do this a lot."
"That we do. I guess this would be my payback for doing it to you last time." Hermione smiled up at her handsome friend.
"I guess so. But what are you doing this far from the Manor anyways?"
"I needed some fresh air. You know I can't stand that place."
"Yes I do. Have your parents finished setting up the other house yet?"
"No. Mums looking at the furniture here to see if she wants to take any of it." He said looking at her like it was the most boring thing in the world, which knowing Narcissa it probably was.
"Are you going to keep living with them in the new house?"
"No, thank goodness. Dad gave me some money so I got a flat in London, I'll show it to you later to see if you like my decorating sense. I'm sure it's awful but I would like some input from a woman who isn't my mother." Hermione laughed. Narcissa was always on Dracos case about his decorating sense which to Hermione had always seemed homey.
"After dinner?" Hermione asked.
"Of course you know my mum will never let us leave without eating. Now we better get you up to the house before Dad gets worried that you forgot us." Draco grabbed Hermiones hand and started leading her up to the house. It always felt nice when he held her hand but it was second nature at this point. Upon walking through the door Hermione was immediately met with disgruntled tones from the other room.
"I want to take it." She heard Lucius say.
"It's to big! Where in the world would we put it?" Narcissa replied.
"The office of course." Lucius said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Hermione looked over at Draco with a questioning look.
"They must be talking about the desk again," he replied. "Mum, Dad look who's here!" Draco hollered to stop his parents bickering. They both emerged from the office minutes later.
"Hermione, dear it's lovely to see you. You are staying for dinner of course. You know I never take no for an answer." Narcissa told her.
"Of course I'm staying for dinner, I already made arrangements to." Hermione answered the woman, smiling.
"Good, good I'll go get it started and leave you all to your work." She turned and headed into the kitchen.
"It's lovely to have another woman in the house, Hermione. Now I know that you hate the sitting room, so how about we go into the office?" Lucius asked her with a smile. It was hard to think of this man as cruel, as he was always so kind to her.
"The office is perfect. Draco says your decorating the new house? That must be nice to get out of this place."
"Immensely, Narcissa and I always hated this house and now we have a real reason to get rid of it. We do differ on designing tastes though." Lucius joked rolling his eyes. As they stepped into the office Hermione let go of Dracos hand unconsciously. She missed the frown that momentarily graced his face before he replaced it with a smile. Draco and Lucius took the seats in front of the desk while Hermione stood leaning against the desk facing them.
"Now I don't know if this will be painful because I've never tried it before. However; I know that it will get rid of the Mark forever. Dumbledore gave me the spell so it will work. Now Draco if you feel brave enough I'll do yours first." Draco took a deep breath and nodded. Hermione held out her hand and Draco laid his left forearm into it.
"You ready?" He nodded his assurance. He studied her face as she worked, it was a long and complex spell. He felt a slight burning but then it was like cool soothing water rushing over his arm. He looked down to see his arm unmarked and Hermione peering at it closely.
"Do you feel anything?" Hermione asked.
"Just you touching my arm, but otherwise no."
"Excellent, it seems to have gone completely, now Lucius it's your turn." Draco watched his fathers arm as Hermione worked. The black mark seemed to turn to water that slid into Hermiones' wand then he watched to skin regrow under her spell. It was very fascinating and not before long his fathers arm was as perfect as his own.
"Thank you Hermione! You have no idea how wonderful it is to have that ugly thing off my arm." Lucius told her. Draco stood up and hugged her.
"Thank you." Draco whispered. It was a simple statement but it said loads.
"I'm going to go see if your mother needs help before she burns something." Draco and Hermione, who had wrapped her arms around Draco, nodded.
"Now why do your parents keep arguing over this desk?" Hermione asked. With her head laying against Dracos chest. This sort of affection was normal for them.
"Mum say it's to big for the office but Dad doesn't care he wants it even if it won't fit."
"Do they realize they could expand the room to make it fit?" Draco laughed.
"Mums trying not to use magic as much anymore but if Dad has his way it will be magically fit in there." It was Hermiones turn to laugh this time. It felt so right to be standing here with her arms around Draco. She tipped her head up to get a better look at him. He looked down at her and smiled.
"What Mya?" He asked quietly. She had a very happy expression on her face and he wondered if he was the cause of it.
"I was just thinking how glad I am that everybody now knows that were friends. It's actually really relieving." Draco smiled back at her.
"I'm glad they know too. Maybe now we can all be friends. Although I would much rather they call me Draco, or even Malfoy instead of Ferret." Hermione laughed and moved back putting a little bit of space between them though not enough to truly break their embrace.
"I'm sure that would be nice for you. They asked me about the time I punched you."
"It was much better then you cursing me," Draco laughed.
"That's what I told them you said." Hermione grinned, she was also just reminded of how physical her relationship was with Draco. With the constant hand holding and the touches that most people would assume as intimate. It was almost surprising that this was so normal for her. Even the fitting in with his family was easy they treated her as one of there own anyways. Was this normal? She never felt this comfortable with Harry and Ron. She had been wondering for a while if her relationship with Draco was more than friendship. She certainly wouldn't mind. She had like him for a while now, but she was afraid their feelings were only friend like to him.
How little she knew.