Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling

Chapter 2

Draco waved his wand and his last box flew down the stairs. It was nearly 5 o'clock in the morning and he wished for sleep. He had spent the last three hours waving his wand around his apartment and conjuring boxes out of thin air. Draco knew that he should have started packing weeks ago, but he had been procrastinating with the reasoning that the wizarding world would have solved the deaths of the President and Minister by now. When Harry had appointed him to this position weeks ago, he had put a lot of stock into the fact that it wouldn't happen. Harry had offered him a significant amount of gold to protect the minister, not that he needed it, but all the same, it was nice to know that he had the extra money. Draco owed Hermione, with all of his life, and that was all he needed to convince him to put his heart into it.

Draco was appointed an Auror by Kingsley Shacklebolt. Despite Shacklebolt's tough exterior, he believed in unity and appointed Draco an Auror because Draco had fought in the war and decided to go back for his NEWT's at Hogwarts. It was strange at first to be bossed around by Harry Potter but Draco became used to it quickly. Harry was a natural born leader and strived to make everyone feel a part of the team, including Draco. Draco mostly did undercover work for the Ministry, but he was occasionally thrown into the limelight. Harry seemed to trust Draco, which was more than Draco could have dreamed for. When Harry gave a particularly hard assignment, Draco liked to remind himself that 1) Harry had saved his life, and 2) he wasn't rotting in a cell in Azkaban. It always made jobs a little easier.

Draco's old eagle owl hooted softly on its perch in Draco's living room as Draco sank onto his couch. The owl hooted again and Draco replied, "I know, Bubo, it's going to be different from now on." Draco conjured a glass of whiskey and took a long pull. Draco wasn't a heavy drinker, but he did enjoy a nightly whiskey to calm his nerves. Hermione Granger kept crawling to the forefront of his mind and he resolved that he would have to stop drinking his nightly tonic to keep his wits sharp. He felt a twinge of honor as he considered the idea of him guarding the Minister of Magic. If he did his job well, it might bring some honor back to his family.

People tolerated Draco and his mother but tended to exclude them from events and social gatherings. Work was a little better, most people treated Draco in a professional manner, but there were a few times throughout Draco's career that were tough. Katie Bell, who works for the Department for Magical Games and Sports, refused to be in the same room as Draco for nearly a year. Draco was willing to tolerate it, he had almost killed her, but Harry interfered and reminded Katie that Draco was forced to do all of those atrocities.

Draco's grandfather clock chimed five times and caused Draco's heart to beat a little faster. He needed to leave for Holyhead soon. Draco enchanted his boxes to stack neatly by the fireplace and slung on his jacket that he had purposely not packed. He walked into each room and checked to see if he forgot anything important. Draco had left most of his possessions behind because he would only have a bedroom to keep his belongings. He hoped Granger had good taste in furniture and decorating. Draco liked to live in comfort and style.

Draco walked out of his front door and proceeded out of the building. The entire building was protected against unwanted apparitions and Draco had to walk across the street to the shaded park to apparate. After checking if the coast was clear, Draco willed himself to apparate to Holyhead. With a crack, he left home behind.

Hermione and Harry worked in comfortable silence packing up Hermione's home. The occasional, "Are you taking this?" or "Put this in the box over there," was all the two communicated throughout the night. When it was getting close to leaving, Harry mustered up the courage to tell Hermione that Draco would be her guard.

"Er- Hermione, there's something that I haven't told you about your security detail," Harry revealed.

Hermione squinted her eyes at Harry and stopped stacking plates into a box. Harry continued, "We're a little short on worthy candidates for your protection and we picked the best man for the job."

"Who is it?"

Harry hesitated. "Harry, if you don't tell me who it is, I'm going to assume it's someone terrible, like Malfoy or Cormac."

Harry's heart sank. He should have told her from the start. He worked so hard to make this work. He closed his eyes and wished there was another way.

"Hermione, it is Draco. He didn't want to do it, but he's the only one who is any position to make sure you are safe around the clock. He's a talented Auror and he has changed so much over the past three years."

Hermione's face drained of color and she spoke after a long pause, "Malfoy is going to be following me around and living with me?" Her voice was very quiet. She set the dishes she was holding on the counter. Harry nodded apologetically.

"The best option for my safety is an ex-death eater who bullied me in school?" Hermione looked daggers at Harry.

"Yes, Malfoy is entirely professional and he truly respects you. He won't give you any problems and if he does, we'll handle it."

"No, this can't possibly work. I know I stood up for Malfoy, but this is drawing a line. I was tortured in his family's home. He watched while his aunt carved into me." As if Harry needed reminding of this, he could still hear her screams in his mind. Hermione rubbed her arm where her scar left her skin elevated. Mudblood.

"Hermione, I'm well aware of how awful he treated you. He is not the same person, he has grown up, and he is constantly haunted by his past. I trust him with my life, and more importantly, I trust him with yours. I work with Malfoy every day and his entire outlook has shifted. I know that this will be difficult, but he is the best man for the job on account of the seriousness of this situation."

Hermione wanted to crawl under a rock and hide forever. She would rather risk meeting this serial killer than live under the same roof as Malfoy.

"Be brave for us all Hermione, I know it seems terrible, but he's not that bad."

Hermione never thought that she would hear Harry Potter say anything remotely nice about Draco Malfoy.

"Harry, what was the name of the baby dragon Hagrid hatched in his cabin?"

"Norbert, why do you ask?"

Hermione laughed, "I would have just never thought you would say that you thought Malfoy was 'not that bad'."

Harry laughed too, "I guess you're right. He's not perfect, he works well with me with the whole good Auror/ bad Auror routine." He paused, "We should probably finish packing. We're supposed to meet Malfoy in Holy Head around 5:30. I'm going to be your secret keeper so you should entirely safe at home between Draco and the Fidalius charm."

Hermione looked around her kitchen, she was sad to see it all boxed up, the movers had done most of it before she arrived. It seems like she had just settled down in her house and now she was being uprooted like an infant mandrake. Harry gave her a squeeze on the shoulder and they collected random items and threw them in a box. Hermione wasn't fussed about her possessions, she was tired and just wanted to curl into a ball and sleep.

When Harry and Hermione finally had the house packed into random unorganized boxes, they enchanted the boxes to shrink and fit all of her possessions into a trunk. They hoisted the trunk out to the sidewalk, Hermione murmured Portis and the trunk glowed blue, she placed her hand on it, Harry did the same and spun like tops as they vanished on the spot.

Harry and Hermione landed with a soft thud on a dark dirt road. There were no street lamps and no houses nearby. Harry drew his wand and Hermione followed suit. Harry walked up to Hermione and tapped her firmly on the head with his wand. Ice encapsulated Hermione's body as the disillusionment charm took effect.

"I hardly think that this is necessary," she whispered. She swished her wand and her trunk rose into the air. Harry mumbled, "this way," and Hermione followed with her trunk in tow. The only sound she could hear was the crunch of gravel beneath her feet and Harry's loud mouth breathing.

"Are we close?" Hermione breathed. She thought of her tiny mattress tucked away in her trunk. She hoped it would be easy to find. Harry stayed silent but pointed to a dark shape about a quiddtich field's length away. Even at their distance, the house looked large. Hermione thought about selling these silly houses all over world and dedicating the money to other affairs. It was outrageous that the ministry had houses just lying around, mostly uninhabited while the Misuse of Potions office had to use their own personal cauldrons. She would be taking up the matter tomorrow with Phileas Chote, the head of international affairs.

As they drew nearer, with the help of the moon, she could take in the true beauty of the house. Hermione couldn't help but be a little excited to explore her new home. Harry and Hermione had reached the low garden wall and Harry held the gate open blindly, as Hermione walked through the gate followed by her trunk.

"Where are you?" He said as he looked three feet to her left.

"I'm here," and she grabbed his hand. They walked up the path and leaning against the front door illuminated by the moon was a silvery-blonde man with crossed arms and one foot propped up behind him. Hermione's heart began to beat a little faster and her hands felt sweaty in Harry's. Harry gave her hand a gentle squeeze and let go.

"Who caught the snitch the very first game we played against each other?" Harry challenged. Draco lifted his eyes to meet Harry's and raised his eyebrows.

"Potter, you know that quiddtich matches are public information. That is not a sound question."

Harry huffed, at least he is thorough. Harry tried to come up with another question, but he discarded each one with frustration. They were all so depressing or humiliating to Malfoy or himself.

He settled for "Why did you receive a detention in your first year for being out of bounds?"

To Hermione's surprise, Draco lit up with a smile, enhanced by the moon to look perfectly white, and he spoke, "Because I found out that you and Granger were sneaking a baby dragon out of the castle."

Harry laughed in return, "It just so turns out that you were right and someday I'd like to tell Professor McGonagall just to see the look on her face."

Harry started to walk forward and Draco raised his hand, "Not so fast, I haven't asked my question. What did I take from Longbottom first year?"

"His remembrall" Harry reached the porch steps, invisible Hermione in tow. Draco could just barely make out the shimmer of light refraction that concealed Hermione. "Let's get inside and get this taken care of." Draco picked up the heavy trunk and followed Harry and Hermione through the front door.

Hermione's eyes eagerly took in her surroundings. Harry flicked on the lights. The house was modern and grand. The walls were shades of cream and had honey-colored wood accents throughout. Hermione's leather sofa and recliner were already in place, courtesy of the movers who came to collect all of her large items. The sitting room flowed gently into the kitchen and dining area. Stairs lead to a loft with two bedrooms that overlooked the rest of the house. Hermione could tell that she would be very comfortable here, if it weren't for Malfoy moving in with her. Hermione strode over to the fireplace and created roaring fire, it was cold, but she wanted to see the effect the fire had on the room.

"Hermione, come here so I can lift the disillusionment charm off of you," Harry said. Hermione obliged and Harry lifted the spell with another tap on her head. Hermione chanced a glance at Malfoy and flinched. Draco held his breath as her eyes looked him up and down. He knew what she must be thinking and it made Draco feel shame. Hermione couldn't help but see those same eyes in a different setting. Those eyes were the most painful beings in her existence. When Bellatrix tortured her on the floor of the drawing room, she stared at Draco and pleaded with her eyes that he would stop the torture. Of course, Draco was in no position to do so and Hermione tried not to hold it against him. She would have to except that Draco had changed. Draco turned away from Hermione and with a flick of his wand locked the door.

"We need to get this over with. The longer we are here the longer we are vulnerable."

"Right, the spell is fairly complex, I learned how to do it from Mr. Weasley. There are two parts and the involve protecting the house and protecting the inhabitants," Harry strode to the front door and concentrating very hard, wrapped the door hard three times with his wand and muttered, "Fidaluis Molomote," and the effect was amazing. The door began to glow a soft white and slowly the walls surrounding the door began to glow white and soon all of the walls in the house were glowing. Harry turned his back on the door and approached Hermione. Harry beckoned Draco closer, "You two have to hold hands." Hermione gave Draco a nervous look, but Draco kept his cool, unperturbed face and reached for her hand. Hermione's hands were soft, and a little cold from being outside, but in Draco's hand they began to warm. Harry lifted up his wand and let go of it, and his wand stayed in mid-air between Draco and Hermione and spun in a slow circle. Harry grasped each of their empty hands and said, "By the magic in my blood and the love in my heart, I shield you Hermione Jean Granger and Draco Lucius Malfoy. I vow to keep your secret and protect it with my life." Harry's wand began emitting strands of light that looked like silk and the strands draped over each pair of hands. When the silk-like light faded from their hands Harry let go of their hands and covered his eyes with hands. Hermione rushed forward to give him a tight hug. As Harry had said those words, Hermione knew how must casting that charm would be on him. Wormtail must have said the same exact words to Lily and James, and it caused a rush of emotions for Harry.

Harry whispered to Hermione, "I will never betray you, Hermione, I love you,"

Hermione teared up at his words, "I know Harry. I love you too," and she squeezed him tighter. Draco stood back and watched the embrace. Harry sighed and pulled away, "Go get some sleep Hermione, take the day off."

Hermione smiled and wrapped her arms around herself, "I never take a day off. I have a very long list of things I'd like to do,"

"All the same, get some rest. You too Draco," Harry ordered. Draco nodded his head.

Harry exited the front door, past the garden gate, and vanished.

Hermione and Draco stood silently next to each other until Hermione, feeling awkward, spoke in a tired voice, "Well, goodnight," and Draco formally said, "Goodnight, Minister". He watched as she enchanted her trunk to levitate and walked up the large staircase. She poked her head into the first room and recognizing it at as her room, walked in and closed the door.

Draco walked up the stairs moments later and walked past Hermione's door past a door he knew was a bathroom, and walked into his own spacious bedroom. The room was better than he hoped for, but it still didn't feel like home. He stripped into his boxers and settled down onto the mattress that he had brought from home. He didn't bother with sheets or blankets; the room was hot from the roaring fire downstairs. And within moments, he drifted off to sleep.