"We don't have to come here, do we?"
Draco was looking warily at the large cottage that belonged to Mr and Mrs Granger.
"Honestly, I don't know what you're so worried about. You've been through things more traumatic than this." Hermione rolled her eyes and squeezed Draco's hand.
"You know I want to make a good impression." He turned, gently kissed her on the lips, and headed for the front door. Draco stopped, and looked to his right, with a feeling that someone was hiding there.
Hermione was right. They had been through a lot; it was only through the past month everything had started to smooth out. After the Death Eater attack and near death of Harry, Ginny, Hermione and Draco, it was bliss to just have some peace. Once Draco had been discharged from St. Mungo's Hospital, life was still as hectic. The Daily Prophet had been chasing them down about the event, with reporters asking questions day and night, and photographers trying to sneak up on them. Can't I get any privacy?
Hermione could think of only one downside to this peaceful moment in time- she had resigned from Hogwarts. It was a disappointment to walk away from the school after only working for a few months, but it was for the best.
"So you're Draco Malfoy? Please, come in."
Mr Granger stood smiling welcomely, wondering how nervous Draco must be. Hermione hugged her dad tight and then asked where her mother was. Draco shook her father's hand, trying to hide any sign of worry.
"In the kitchen, sweetie." Mr Granger said, and then looked towards Draco, judging him as a father should, sceptical. And then he smiled. "First of all, I should say thank you so much for looking after Hermione. She's...let's say, a bit mad sometimes."
"I am not, Dad!" Hermione called from the kitchen, where she was chatting to her mum.
"Stubborn, yes." Draco agreed, smiling back at Hermione. "I'm sorry I couldn't take better care of her, really."
"Draco, it's not your fault. And I'm not going to be harsh on you; you look worried enough. I've heard about all these reporters, they're not doing anything drastic now, are they?"
"To be honest, I think Hermione's dealing with it. It's just annoying..." He continued, glad he did not need to do much to get into her father's good books. He stole another glance at Hermione through the hallway. "No, not Hermione! The reporters!" He added, after realising what he had said.
"Hermione's fine though? That's good. I'm not a huge fan of the papers either; I know they just want to get gossip and such."
Draco and Mr Granger continued their conversation, whilst Hermione helped her mother with lunch of chicken soup. It was still winter after all.
"So, I'm glad to hear Malfoy's out of the hospital. You seem to really love each other." Mrs Granger said, wiping her hands on her apron.
Hermione could not keep the happiness off her face at her mother's words; it was brilliant to be able to see her parents again.
"What do you mean 'seem'?"
"You know what I mean! You've been through so much, I just wish I'd brought you up better." She laughed.
"Oh, mum! You're brilliant! You're supposed to let me be independent; well, maybe I matured a bit earlier than usual. But I'm still you're little girl!"
Hermione hugged her mother close, slightly sad that she hadn't spent as much time with them as she wanted to. At least I'll have time to see them more often now...I wish I hadn't given up Hogwarts.
"Hermione? Is there anything wrong?" Her mother asked, realising how tense Hermione's hug felt. "It's not Draco, is it?"
"No, no... I had to resign from Hogwarts. I know it's for the best, but I liked it there."
"Oh, I'm sorry. But you'll have plenty to do for Ginerva's wedding, won't you?"
Hermione remembered telling her mum about Harry and Ginny's engagement, but neither of them had told Hermione whether they would wait or not. Maybe I should talk to them about it later.
"Sure, mum. Thanks. I'm sorry we can't stay long- Ginny wants to take us out to lunch later."
"No, no! You go, we'll see you soon."
Hermione joined her father and Draco again in the living room, and glanced at them both, wondering if Draco had done anything. They were getting on well, surprising, as Draco used to hate anything Muggle-related.
"Come on, Draco, we promised to meet up with Ginny and Harry at The Old Thestral." Hermione poked his arm playfully, before giving her dad a farewell hug.
Draco thanked Hermione's parents, and they left out the front door, Hermione pulling her arm around his lovingly.
"So how did it go?" Hermione asked, curious of what her father had thought of him. "Everything looked fine."
"That's because it was." Draco looked into her deep chocolately eyes, and held her shoulder. Then his hand tensed. "Incendio!"
He aimed his wand at a tall conifer, and it fell to the ground in ashes. Hermione looked shocked, not realising what Draco was trying to get at.
"Draco! What was that..." Her voice trailed away as she saw a shady looking man try to creep away through the trees. "Look! Can you people just stop this!"
The man froze, his coat caught on one of the trees; he turned back, and vanished with a crack.
"Oh no! What are we going to do! They'll all find out!" Hermione panicked, as the papers never knew about Hermione and Draco as an item; they were still trying to keep it quiet. Draco steadied her.
"Look, it doesn't matter. They'd have found out some other way. It's not worth worrying about now." Draco wrapped his arms around her shoulders, as she bit her lip- which she always did when she worried too much.
"You're right. But how did you know he was there?" Hermione asked, looking up into his silvery eyes. "I'd never have noticed him."
"Well, I thought there was someone here before... and then I saw a flash in the trees. That's the only problem with those cameras."
Draco held out his hand, which Hermione took, and he turned on the spot, disappearing.
xxx
"You what?"
Ginny was shocked they had been so open as to be so romantic in public. Yet, she did not seem as surprised by the fact they had been photographed.
"Ginny! It doesn't matter, okay?" Hermione retorted, as if she was to blame for letting the paparazzo go. "If we could go and find him again, we would."
"Oh well. C'est la vie." Ginny said, as Harry arrived back with drinks. "Harry? What's wrong?"
"Mundungus, that's what. Look." Harry pointed at a grimy looking man at the back of the room, smoking a pipe. He had his hand around something black and large.
"Draco! That's him! He took the picture!" Hermione gasped, recognising the tattered grey cloak and messy hair. "I'm sure of it!"
"Well what are we waiting for?" Draco made to stand up, scowling at the silhouette of Mundungus Fletcher, but Hermione pulled him back.
"Why bother? You'll just draw attention to yourself, and then everyone here will find out. Look..." Hermione slipped her wand out of her cloak pocket and pointed it at the camera, whispering under her breath, "Obliviate."
"I could've done that." Draco looked back down at his Firewhiskey. Hermione had now realised what a disgusting drink it really was. She sipped from her Butterbeer, smiling to herself.
"Sure. Hey Harry? What's that?" Hermione noticed Harry was taking a letter out of his coat pocket.
"It's from your mum. She met me on the way back from Mungo's and told me to give you this." Harry passed the envelope to Draco.
"Uh, thanks." Draco said, ripping open the top curiously.
Dear Draco,
So happy to hear that you're well! I've been let out of St Mungo's, so I want to give you something. I don't know if it will mean much to you now, but it can probably explain what happened earlier. Meet me at the manor today if you can.
Love, Narcissa.
Draco frowned slightly. What would she want to give me? She's not going to buy me anything, is she? He folded it up and sat quietly, thinking.
Of course, the only thing you can think of is money... honestly Draco! So what does Narcissa want? Hermione let her thoughts through to Draco, knowing he would pick up on it quickly.
She's out of Mungo's but she wants to get me something. No idea what though. He thought back.
Well, it could be... no never mind. Hermione then blocked out Draco's Legilimency, worried that the truth would finally come out...