Harry woke up early and slipped from the bed. Ginny rolled toward his now empty place and hugged his pillow to her chest. She looked happy, and it tore at him. That expression of bliss made him queasy. He didn't want to live in a world of lies. Grabbing the duvet and covering her helped him through the moment. There simply wasn't a choice.
He headed for the shower as he did every day. He'd been doing it since the war ended. He adjusted the water, not that it took much adjusting to scald his body. It wouldn't make him feel better, but he couldn't resist.
The water sluiced over his body; turning him pink skinned. He followed it with a flannel and scrubbing. He felt the water bite at his raw skin as he rinsed. He worked the healing spells Hermione had taught him and sobbed silently against the tile.
He missed Hermione. Merlin, he missed her hugs and her laughter. He missed her putting him to rights.
He missed her as she had been before the incident. Before she'd walked in on him and Ron fucking, she'd been the warm center of their home. Ron was sure she'd come back, but Harry wasn't sure he wanted that.
He wanted her to be happy. He wanted her to find some joy in this post war world. She'd suffered enough for him.
Ron would never have been able to share in her joy. They were dear friends, but Ron didn't love her the right way. She convenient.
She had been perfect for their plans. They would be family and be close without it ever being weird. Harry shook his head. They'd been so bloody selfish.
Her face rose before him, pale and ashen. He saw the shock of it and the quick understanding dash across her face once again in his mind's eye. He felt it flay him as it always did.
Stepping out of the shower, he glanced at the mirror. He appeared as he always had. There was no new scar to mark his body. It would be easier if there was.
The break between her and Ron had been brutal. He'd heard her crying as she packed. She'd had no where to go, but she'd left.
Hermione hadn't abandoned them. She'd just removed her things from their space. Her kind, loving warmth had gone with her. The Hermione that showed up to The Burrow for dinner once a week smiled and joked with everyone but them. She was brittle, but she was keeping their secrets like she always had.
Harry grabbed his clothes and headed down to the kitchen to start breakfast. Ron and Ginny both liked large meals. It was easy enough to cook for them, but he missed sipping tea with Hermione as they talked over the morning paper. She used to read him tidbits from it while he cooked. Merlin, he missed that.
He didn't glance at the paper. It wasn't any fun without her there. He yanked out the pans and set about his work.
Hermione stared at Draco. He looked perfect with her paper under his arm and an odd, slightly awkward smile plastered on his face. He quirked a brow and she stepped back from her door to let him in.
She blinked and realized that they hadn't even exchanged words.
"I'm not the one that will bring you flowers." Draco grinned at her as she focused on him. "I haven't any idea what you'd want anyway."
"I like peonies." Hermione blinked again. "I wasn't expecting you."
"I know you asked for time, but I am not gifted with patience. That's Theo again." Draco grinned at her. There was something wild in it that reminded her briefly of Sirius.
"So, you decided one night was all the time allowed?" She raised a brow and used her best intimidating stare.
"You're adorable." Draco met her gaze and that smile grew a bit. "You only know the worst of me, Granger. I want you to know there's more before you make your decision. I know it might seem ridiculous, but I was hoping if I got here before you put up all your defenses, you might give me a chance."
"So, you're here to win me over?" Hermione sank her teeth into her lower lip.
"Well, yes and no." Draco looked flummoxed as he began to pace. "I'm here to let you know this isn't just about keeping Theo. I think your rather remarkable all by your lovely self. I put all our cards on the table yesterday, but it's wrong to rush this. It's wrong to make this about my relationship with Theo."
Hermione quit listening as Draco paced and spewed out so much nonsense that she couldn't help but smile. This was not the cruel boy or the lost young man. Draco had turned himself into an interesting man. He was intelligent and awkward, and she wanted to sit and listen to him prattle on about things for hours. She reached out and grabbed his arm.
"Do you want to have brunch with me?" She tilted her head toward the kitchen. "I was just going to throw something together."
"Can I do anything to help?" Draco smiled. "I warn you, I am relatively useless in the kitchen."
"Are you useful anywhere?" Hermione grinned and set him to squeezing oranges for their juice. "How long before Theo figures out you're here? Should I make enough for three?"
Lucius Malfoy glared down the long table at his wife. She took dainty bites of her breakfast and continued to ignore him. She'd grown quite used to ignoring him over the years. He'd led their family to the brink of disaster.
It was time for her to repair the damage his blundering had caused.
"She met with them, Narcissa." Lucius slapped his palm down onto the cherry wood table.
"I am aware." She smiled up at her husband and blinked slowly. "This only works if they attempt it, Dear. They will be far more tractable when they fail."
She watched Lucius through her lashes. He was nodding. The poor dear was simply off his game.
She looked down at her copy of the paper and smiled. Her plan was proceeding with good speed. She ran her finger along the image of her little dragon. The picture glanced her way and smiled.
Theo was ready to strangle Draco as he approached Hermione's flat. His lover was wonderful in so many ways, but he wasn't used to respecting boundaries. Hermione was probably ready to kill him for invading her space. There was every chance he'd destroyed their chances by rushing.
He heard the laughter, sweet and feminine joined by Draco's gruff chuckle and felt something warm and deep unfurl inside him. The door opened before he could knock and Draco dragged him into the flat. The place was small, but it was warm and cozy. An orange monstrosity of feline genetics eyed him from its place by the fire.
He was yanked away from the main room and plopped down in a sturdy chair at the kitchen table. Draco and Hermione floated over dishes of food and some orange beverage too light to be pumpkin juice.
"Hermione made the food, but I helped." Draco grinned at him.
"He made the orange juice." Hermione smiled gently as she poured them each a cup of tea. "Brunch seemed the thing."
Theo managed a nod and sat back in his chair. His companions were arguing over some inconsequential article in the morning paper. Draco squeezed his hand absently and Hermione pushed his plate a bit closer to him. He looked down at his plate and smiled at the mountain of food.
He took a bite and watched as the two of them argued and laughed. He didn't care for heavy morning meals. He especially hated eggs. He took another bite of his omelette and smiled. This was the best meal of his life.
Ron stared down at the picture of Hermione. The article speculated that Malfoy and Nott were trying to lure her into joining their business. It made sense. She was too bloody damn brilliant to waste her mind in some Ministry position, but working with Slytherins seemed like a bad way to go.
He understood she was upset about walking in on him with Harry. He understood that she needed time to wrap her mind around the changes in all of their relationships. He knew her well enough to figure that out, but waiting on her to get it sorted was starting to wear on him.
He wanted to get his life settled. Indulging her dramatic side was taking time. He rubbed his chin and considered how best to move her along.
