A/N: Happy Birthday to the absolute loveliest person in this fandom. In Dreams is kind, compassionate, creative, and inspiring. Her stories never cease to delight and amaze. Hope you enjoy this humble little offering. Happy Birthday!
Alpha and Beta love and thanks to LadyKenz347 and niffizzle. All remaining errors are my own.
I own no part of the Harry Potter franchise.
There was a time when Draco Malfoy had once enjoyed his birthday. When he'd ticked off the days on his calendar from the first day of June until the fifth. When he'd wake up and remind his mother and father of his extensive wish list every meal the days leading up to it.
Then he'd started at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And he'd never felt the same giddy anticipation again.
First, there was the fact his mother would only owl him two presents, and save the remaining gifts for when he'd be home a few weeks following.
Second, they had been eclipsed by some interruption of Potter's doing since their first year.
Their first year, there had been an incident involving Quirrell and the Philosopher's Stone the night before his birthday—no one in Slytherin had been especially interested in celebrating his birthday in light of such rumours and speculation.
Second year, his father had been sacked from the Hogwarts Board of Governors earlier in the week (for good reason Draco now knew), and still sounded incredibly cross in his birthday missive to Draco.
Third and fourth year had been days of study for no other reason than to hope against hope that maybe he'd finally top Granger in exam scores. (He'd also kept to the library in fourth year in hopes of catching a glimpse of Granger studying without that buffoon Krum around, but she'd only made a brief appearance that day.)
Fifth year had been shite between duties for the Inquisitors Squad, Pansy's simpering and clinging about, and final O.W.L. preparations...
And while Draco wasn't sure what he believed about eternal damnation in the life beyond, but June the fifth his sixth year had been the nearest approximation to hell on earth he could have possibly imagined. He'd had forgotten about the significance of the date entirely in light of his assignment and failures to that point. His mother's letter of love and gift of a fresh apple tart from the Malfoy kitchens had been balm to his weary soul.
Or perhaps that monster who'd taken up residence in his home and held his parent's hostage had only allowed such a present to be sent as a reminder of all that was at stake...
Last year he'd later discovered he'd missed it while being held in Azkaban awaiting his trial, setting a new standard of misery on the day his parents, but mostly Mother, commemorated his birthday.
All for the best, though.
He'd have happily ignored the occasion all together, what with final preparations for N.E.W.T.s to contend with and all, but Theo had their area in the Great Hall prepared accordingly with a large basket of apples.
"Happy birthday, mate!" Draco pressed his lips into a tight line, forcing the barest of smiles at his friend's thoughtful gesture and boisterous enthusiasm, even if few others in the school couldn't possibly care about a fallen former-Death Eater's day of birth. Theo lowered his voice, his eyes all gleaming as he whispered, "A wrapped and ribboned bottle of Ogden's very finest is waiting on your desk by now as the second part of your present. We can crack into it over a game of chess tonight."
"Sounds brilliant, Theo," Draco answered, finding that he truly meant what he said. He could think of no better way to unwind than an evening in with chess and a drink (or three) after a full day of N.E.W.T preparations.
… well. That wasn't entirely true. His eyes flitted to a currently empty spot on the Gryffindor tables where one curly-haired witch usually sat, and wondered if she skipped breakfast in favour of the library before shaking himself. No need to follow that impossible train of thought through to conclusion.
He focused again at his breakfast, and some brave sixth and seventh years murmured their happy-returns-of-the-day, while eyeing the basket. Eleven-year-old Draco would have sneered and carted the gift directly to his room, without the slightest inclination of sharing. He'd have eaten every last one for mess on end until the basket was empty.
Eleven-year-old Draco had been a twat.
"Help yourselves," he said, gesturing over the fruit, snagging a couple of apples and lifting himself from his seat. "Thanks for this Theo. You don't mind if I eat and run, do you?"
"I expected nothing less," was Theo's vague response as he offered a dismissive wave and looked back to his newspaper. "Blaise is out flying with the Weaselette, but he said to tell you that we're commandeering you for a week as soon as school lets out and he's going to gift you custom Quidditch gear." He sipped his tea and flipped to the following page as if he'd informed Draco about something as arbitrary as the weather, and not passing on the news of a forthcoming expensive gift…
"Prat," Draco muttered, stashing the apples in his leather bookbag, hoping his grumbling masked his embarrassment. The Malfoy vaults had been decimated in war fines and legal fees, and it'd be some time yet before he'd consider purchasing custom luxuries for himself…
Theo blinked up at him. "He really is, making me pass along such messages when he could either decide to be here to deliver such news in person, regardless the potential wooing time he'll have missed out on, or, he could have simply waited until tonight to announce it together." His eyes dropped back to the paper, and he said, "Unless he's thinking he won't be back in the dorm room tonight. Or that you won't be back."
Draco's hand still over his bag. "Where else would I be?" he choked, willing his heart to beat at a normal rate.
"The library, the Quidditch pitch, the owlrey, the prefects bath…" He shrugged and sipped his tea again. "Granger's dorm room… anywhere really."
"I… he doesn't… "Draco's heart faltered as the smirk broadened across Theo's face. "Neither of you know what you're talking about," was the dignifying retort he settled on before marching out the hall, robes swishing around his ankles.
His heart thundered against his chest as he made his way to the library, in spite of his protesting to Theo. Yes, Granger had allowed him to invade her table at the library back in November, and, yes, they'd studied together almost the entire term now and had come to an unspoken agreement that they'd pair up together for Ancient Runes and Potions projects, but that was for 'academic purposes' only.
Granger had declared it so in the beginning, and he'd decided (and reminded himself of this decision frequently) that the twinkle in her eye as she'd made that declaration had been of his own imagination. Nothing more.
Because it was ludicrous to think of he and Granger… that they could ever… that she would ever…
He stifled a sigh as he made it to the library, raking a hand through his hair as he crossed the threshold and crossed the room with familiar ease to a table tucked back in a forgotten corner of the library.
Granger had already ensconced herself between two piles of books and a large pile of parchment—an indication of how the rest of his day was going to play out.
"Hey, Granger," he said, dropping his bag on the table, sliding into the chair across from her.
"Morning, Draco." He squelched out all sparks that fluttered and whispered that she said his name with such reverent ease now, as it savouring a good cuppa… The smile she gave him when she finally paused from her writing and looked up was sweetness and warmth, as captivating as the first light of day, and he swore there was something more to her gaze…
Until she slid one of the book stacks to him. "Here," she said. "I've already picked up where we left off last night in Arithmancy. I thought you'd want to jump ahead to summarising lectures and assignments, and we'll compare and review together before lunch."
"We're taking a break today?" He meant it as a tease, but some part of his heart still soared with unbidden anticipation… That maybe Theo or Blaise had informed her of the significance of the day after all… As he certainly hadn't.
Because there was nothing to celebrate. He'd settled on ignoring the significance of this day, earlier. The apples didn't have to mean anything different.
This was just another day…
Which Granger only confirmed when her smile turned into something wicked. "Of course," she scoffed. "We've a great deal left to cover in Potions this afternoon, and one should pause to eat and refresh the mind if one is to be successful."
"Whatever, Granger." He couldn't help but laugh and float one of the apples over to her before plucking one of the books from his stack and securing his reading glasses on his nose.
"Thanks," she murmured.
He acknowledged her gratitude with a smile he hoped wouldn't appear too forced then focus on the book and parchment. For the duration of the morning, he allowed himself to be swept up in the uncomplicated sea of academia, wishing this floodgate of memories and emotions would drown under the weight of facts and formulas
No such luck, for Granger insisted they break for lunch outside, by the Black Lake.
With a picnic she'd apparently prepared 'earlier'.
There was no telling what time this morning 'earlier' had been. His jaw dropped when she set up a spread of beef pies and miniature rustic looking apple tarts she'd kept secret and perfectly warm under a stasis charm in that ridiculous-looking beaded bag she'd carry about everywhere…
"Happy birthday, Draco." She was as radiant as the sun itself, and there was a flash of something in her brown eyes. Something beyond the warmth of her gesture…
"Thanks," he managed, sinking the blanket, allowed the undefined something to wash over him. To bathe him in wonder and possibility… "How did you…?" He gestured over the surprise, floundering. "I don't recall us ever discussing—"
"We haven't. Since we didn't exchange Christmas presents, I presumed it to simply be some unspoken rule not to cross into each other's lives in such a personal way, but we've come so far this year, it seemed a shame to let that go unnoticed and uncelebrated."
His mind raced, outpacing the rush of his heart. He couldn't begin to think of how to respond…
He couldn't be certain how long the silence wore on, but it was a bad sign that Granger had begun to fiddle with a corner of the blanket and ramble, words tumbling from her mouth in a jittery, high-pitched almost squeak:
"I probably should've asked you if this was all right, but I wanted it to be a surprise. It seemed a nice way to express how very much I've come to enjoy your presence in my life, and how I'm glad we've moved in from… well, everything l, I suppose. And learned to just be 'Granger' and 'Draco'. Theo failed to mention any issues with celebrating your birthday when I asked him last month when it was, but if I've overstepped or overth—"
He assumed her next word would have been "overthought", but she'd talked enough, and there was nothing left to do but give in to the ignited sparks and allow their flames to grow and guide his movements directly to her.
And is mouth directly to hers. Swallowing her sentence with a kiss.
It must have been the right thing to do, because there was no hesitation as Granger twined her arms around his neck and pulled him close. Or maybe it was her arching into him…
Either way, it was a relief he'd never known possible. A relief to know he wasn't alone. Utterly freeing to give into the fiery flood he'd held back, nearly snuffed out even, for so. Bloody. Long.
She slid her tongue over the seam of his lips and he found new life in her moan; a new reason for existence, for birthdays to continue from this point on for all eternity, when he tasted her. When he discovered she tasted like freedom, apples, and his favourite blend of tea leaves.
He was unapologetic at the involuntary growl escaping his throat when she pulled away, but she soothed his protesting with a quick nip and suck of his bottom lip before nuzzling her nose to his.
Such a clever witch, his witch. At least, he hoped that's what all of this was leading to...
"Shall I take this gesture to mean we've wasted a lot of time that could have better spent snogging this year?"
"Not necessarily," she chuckled, pillowing his lips with a kiss that far too chaste, and over far too soon. "It hadn't planned on the snogging when I settled on this idea for your birthday." She righted her posture, even as she shifted and inclined her posture to his. "All I'd really planned was the food and giving you the rest of your present—"
"A snog," he leered, waggling his brows suggestively.
"—A book," she corrected. "A proper potion book full of obscure and ancient potions for you have as a reference when you start your mastery in France in August."
Ah yes… The roaring flames shrivelled to despondent embers at the thought of ending this—whatever this was—before there was time to explore the possibility of all it could be…
"France. Right." He swallowed hard, trying to regain a semblance of sanity and composure when she covered his hand with hers, slipping her fingers through gaps between his.
"I haven't told anyone other than my parents yet," she started, soft and almost hesitant, "but, I've accepted the job offer from Rolf Scamander—"
… He would not allow his heart to sink. France wasn't that far away after all…
"... And I don't remember what all I'd told you about the job, but we'll be spending a significant amount of time in France over the next several months, possibly the year—"
"Really?" He felt the smirk more than she heard it…
Or maybe by the way she was now flashing a smirk of her own back at him, she heard it, too.
She hummed in confirmation, squeezing his fingers. "And I had this thought that since we'll both be in France at the same time, we could already plan to set aside some time on September nineteenth to meet up in Paris."
"September nineteenth?" His lips were now caught up in a wicked curl; he was fairly certain of the significance of the date…
But, still, it was nice when Granger confirmed his assumption, voicing soft and low that it was her birthday before claiming his lips again.
Perhaps he could get used to celebrating birthdays again, after all.
Hope you enjoyed :) Thanks for reading.