To all of you that kept reading this story - my most sincere thanks :D it means a lot to me :)
Please review the story - it took me a lot of time to write it, so I would really apreciate some suggestions and appraisals
Did Malfoy just laugh? Oh gosh, he has an amazing smile...what? An amazing smile? Don't tell me you are falling for that...jeez...
'What do you want, Malfoy?'
A moment of silence followed by six little words...
'Have a drink with me...' – he said a little embaraced.
'And why would I do that? So that you can mock me a little more or even call me dreadful names again? Hate to break it up to you but we aren't at school and I'm not afraid of you...'
'It's pretty clear that we aren't at school anymore, Granger...I just want a drink...it's quite hot outside, so I was wondering if you wanted to come with me, just being polite, jeez Granger' – he said.
The truth was that he had been curious, curious of how she would be, how she managed to keep single when everyone else had married right after the war...seeing her at the bookstore was not an accident, it was premeditated, he wanted to see her, this 'new' Granger everyone talked about...how much she had changed and had become one of the eligible woman in the wizarding community. He would be lying if he told you he was disappointed or that he hadn't liked her one bit, the truth was this Granger hadn't gone unnoticed by him back in school; indeed she was the only one with the guts to face him...
'Malfoy, are you there?' – she waved.
Had he done it again? - he thought.
This is simply rude, so he asks me out for a drink and then I'm speaking and he doesn't hear me? – Hermione wondered to herself.
'Of course I am' – He said
'Then what did I say?' – She asked smirking.
Now he was 'dead', in truth he hadn't heard her...
'Are you coming or not?' – He asked.
'As I was saying, I have other things to do, so, no I can't go...' – she said – 'It was...nice...seeing you...' Then she was walking away from him.
'I thought you were braver, Granger, all the Gryffindor posture and then you are scared of me, a Slytherin...' – he laughed.
'What? You think I'm scared of you? Not in your wildest dreams, Malfoy, I despise you...you are still a git and I honestly don't know why I'm wasting my afternoon with you...'
He had to admit hearing that made him a little...sad...no not sad, gosh he was a Malfoy...he was simply...
'Sure...go ahead...' – he said.
'Why are you even talking to me? I'm below you, your pureblood highness, I'm a mudblood! I don't deserve the air I breathe, isn't that right?' – She almost yelled.
'You shouldn't hear everything a spoilt brat says...I was wrong, Granger...I was a stupid kid with even stupider prejudices...' – he said – 'I'm sorry for everything I told you...'
She was shocked to say the least, not even in her wildest dreams had she imagined those words coming from his mouth...there were times she had dreamt of him, of course, who hadn't? But no, this was wrong in every level imaginable they were from different worlds, and that was what kept the world spinning in its proper orbit, they should walk away, forget that their talk had even happened and never turn back...still her mouth gave away a...
'Ok, I'll have a drink with you, but nothing more' – she said, unable to control her lips.
Could this mean Malfoy had changed?
They walked through the now crowded Diagon Alley in complete silence until they reached the Leaky Cauldron
Once they entered everyone looked at the 'couple' that had just entered. Surely they were too drunk to even remember who they were, or at least that's what Hermione hoped.
'Hello Hannah – Hermione greeted.
'Hello dear, how may I assist you today?' – the older woman asked.
'I would like a butterbeer...' – Hermione said – 'What about you?' – she asked turning to Draco.
'A glass of Firewhiskey would be nice' – he said.
'Ok, coming right up, you two can sit, and I'll take the drinks in a minute...'
'Thanks' – Hermione said smiling politely.
She has a beautiful smile..., he thought elated
They sat down on one of the furthest and more private tables in the inn.
I simply can't risk it if Harry or even Ron get here...gosh...why did I accept his invite?
'This is rather cosy...' – Draco said.
Cosy? Come one man...
'Yeah, it is...' – Hermione said looking around, still not quite at ease.
'Would you just relax? It's not like people in here might recognise us, they are all too drunk to do that'
'Hmm, yes, you are probably right' – Hermione said looking at his face for the first time.
He has a nice face...he looks a little tired and of course he has aged, but still he is...good looking...that much I have to admit – Merlin's beard, I'm not blind.
'Here you go...enjoy yourselves' – the blonde woman said turning around.
'So...what have you been up to?' – He asked
'Why do you want to know? – She asked defensively.
'I'm just making small talk Granger, take it easy, will you?'
'Look I'm not comfortable being here with you, I still don't get it why you are talking to me...'
'Can't we simply talk? Ok, we might not be old champs but still, can we at least for a few minutes forget about the past?'
'What? Forget about the past? Forget all those horrible insults you ever threw in my direction? Forget everyone that died in the war because you let Death Eaters inside the castle? You messed up everything, people I loved and cared about died because of what you did, and now you are asking me to forget about the past? Please, I really shouldn't have come...' – Hermione said standing up ready to leave, but he had fast movements, all due to years of Quidditch practise, she knew that. He simply grabbed her wrist.
'I'm sorry Granger, that wasn't what I meant, at all. I just wanted us to talk, maybe even be friends, if that is even possible, but I'm not asking you to forget about all the shit I did. I know I'm not worthy of your forgiveness, but I'm sorry for everything I did...I'm sorry I let all those Death Eaters inside Hogwarts...I know you won't believe me but I didn't want to...'
'Of course you didn't, that's why you did it...I'm a fool for even considering people change. You will never change, you are a dead man who doesn't deserve a second chance...' – 'now, let go off me'
He let go off her wrist, but before she could give a single step he spoke.
'They had my mother...they would kill her if I didn't do what I did. You might not believe it, but she is a good woman...she taught me right and she is quite important to me...I did what I did to keep her safe' – he whispered.
'There were other solutions...you could have asked for help' – she said, still with her back turned to him, not willing to return to her seat.
'And who would have helped me? You? Potter perhaps? I was alone, I was a 17 year old boy who was completely alone and who didn't know what to do...I was completely alone and I had to make a hard decision...'
'You made your choice' – she said trying to hold back the tears. She knew he was right, no one would help him and what he did reflected his impotence.
'Yes, I guess I did make my choice...' – he said – 'I'm sorry I bothered you' – he said standing up and leaving a galleon on the table enough for both their drinks.
He had been stupid. Had he truly believe she would forgive him and welcome him with open arms? He should have known better.
She watched him leave the inn.
Could she really hold him responsible? He was just a boy who made a mistake, he was young...it also proved he was human...people often made mistakes, he did it as well, but...he had brought death to Hogwarts, her friends had died...no, wait...people would have died even if it wasn't him, Voldemort would have found someone else to complete the task, Malfoy was just 'the doomed one' to be chosen to do it...it was a war, people were bound to die...it wasn't his fault that Fred...Lupin...Tonks...Mad-eye...died.
She ran outside, luckily finding Malfoy walking through the heavy rain.
Was he mad? He would get sick if didn't get out of that rain.
She kept running till she reached him, both of them soaking wet now.
'Are you crazy? Get out of this rain, you might get sick...' – she said.
'I don't care' – he said.
'Come with me' – she said linking her own arm with his and apparating to her own apartment.
Once getting to her apartment, she found everything in its right place, the groceries securely on the kitchen table as she had requested earlier.
'I'll get you some dried clothes' – she said running to her bedroom and going through her closet, surely she had kept some of Viktor's clothes around here...
'Here you go' – she said handing him a t-shirt and some trousers.
He simply glanced at them weirdly.
'It's Viktor's' – she said, feeling the weird need to explain their origin.
'Thank you' – he said.
'You can go to the bathroom to change...there is a towel there, you can use it to dry your hair...' – she said.
He nodded, walking towards the bathroom, while she returned to her bedroom, finding something for her to change as well.
A few minutes later he walked out of the bathroom while she kept on her bedroom dressing. As she left her room she saw him, he was still a little...he looked heart-broken.
'Would you like something warm to drink? Perhaps coffee, or tea?' – She asked. Often when she was nervous she tended to talk fast and a lot.
'A coffee would be nice...' – he said feeling a little uncomfortable.
Why in hell has she changed and is treating me nicely? It's simply making me feel bad.
She walked towards her kitchen and set the coffee and the water to her tea to boil. After everything was set, she walked to the sofa, mentally counting 10 minutes for the coffee and the tea to be ready.
'Why are you doing this?' – He asked not able to contain himself. It was driving him mad, just not to know what was happening before his own eyes it reminded him of how weak he was.
'Whatever do you mean?' – She asked.
'You know perfectly well what I'm talking about. One minute you are yelling at me and then, all of a sudden you are being nice! This is driving me crazy' – he said, standing up abruptly.
'Look, let's just not go there right now...it is too painful. I understand now that you are right, you were just a boy that made a mistake...that only proves you are human, Malfoy' – she said.
'No! What you said was the truth! I'm a dead man who is meant to carry this heavy burden of being responsible for hundreds of deaths. I should go' – he said, desperate to leave.
'Look Malfoy, for all I see you are the one that is not able to let this go, it wasn't your fault. You were too young to be left with such a tough decision to make. People would have died anyway, it was a war...even the ones you love are bound to death when a war strikes' – she said standing up and approaching him, standing in her tip toes. Then she hugged him.
Draco didn't know what to do in the first place. There she was, the woman he had always admired from afar, hugging him.
'No! I don't deserve your comprehension, I am a Death Eater...Everyone I care about end up getting hurt...I am evil, a dark soul' – he said moving away from her arms.
'Everyone deserves a second chance, Draco' – she said, smiling warmly.
Hearing her say his first name was enough to make him feel even more desperate, worthless...
'Don't. I don't deserve this...I don't deserve forgiveness...'
'People will forgive you once they know your true intentions...' – she said.
'People should fear me as they do now...you are the only one who is not afraid of me' – he said – 'why aren't you afraid of me?'
'You would never hurt me nor anyone for that matter...you are a broken man, Draco, but you need to understand that it wasn't your fault. You were just a scared boy following his orders, if it wasn't you, it would have been someone else...' – she said.
'Still, it was me, I made that choice...I dug my own grave and nailed the last nail to my coffin. People fear me...they always will...I'm waiting on my death'
'Stop! No one is dying here, not in a near future. You survived the Second Wizarding War for a reason, people died so that others would live, that's what keeps me going. I'm thankful for what they did for all of us...' – she said, fighting the tears that were threatening to fall.
