Chapter 3

Hermione only saw Draco again the next day in the afternoon when she went to the small creek to replenish her water. He was sitting there, looking as if he was thinking about something, absent-mindedly playing with his wand that looked surprisingly well cared for.

He turned his head when he finally noticed her next to him. "Hey..."

"Hey," she replied with a smile. "Everything okay?"

He nodded, and swirled his wand in his fingers. "Just been thinking."

"Yeah, me too." She sat down next to him.

"I'm still sorry about that mark. I couldn't hold back, and I didn't mean to hurt you–"

"It's okay. It doesn't hurt, and I put some Healing Potion on it."

He nodded again, and let out a small sigh. "What happens now?"

Hermione looked at him for a moment; she had heard the insecurity in his voice that he had already shown the day after waking up. "Come back with me. My place is big enough–"

"What then? Get stuck at your place because I can't show my face anywhere without raising questions? What if I do hurt you again?"

"You won't." She took his hand, and let her thumb run over his soft skin.

"I hurt you yesterday, Hermione. And you're not okay with it, I could see it."

"I'm fine. I knew the risks, and I was willing to take them, okay?"

He nodded, his gaze fixed on her hand in his. "Why?" he asked quietly. "I tried to figure out why you would do this... I mean searching for me, even caring for me. I'm not worth the effort–"

"You are–"

"No, Hermione." He shook his head. "You could just have gotten on with your life after the Battle, been happy with that redhead–"

"Yes, I could have. But I didn't." She squeezed his hand assuringly, and noticed for the first time how long and thin his fingers were, probably further emphasised by his half-starved look. "After the war, I realised a few things, you know? For example that you switched sides because of me–"

"You do?" He looked up, not hiding his surprise at her words.

"Yes." She smiled warmly. "Before I went on the hunt for the Horcruxes, you were always willing to take over things from me, as much as it pissed me off a lot of times; you never did that for anyone else. I later figured you were trying to protect me..." Her smile widened when she saw him nod slowly. "And then you told me. You know, those words got stuck in my head. Please, come back with me. Let me help you."

After stowing his wand away, he put his hand on hers that still held his other. "You really do care about me?"

"Yes, I do."

"Why me?"

Hermione didn't know how to respond to that question, she didn't really know either. Yes, she had been waiting for him to come back to tell her he meant it, partly hoping he didn't, but also partly hoping he did, because she had actually missed him; she had missed the talks with him, where he had surprised her with an openness she had never expected from him—and he had always tried to make her smile at least. "Because I missed you," she finally answered, letting out a melancholic sigh, and leaned on his shoulder. "Really missed you."

"Thanks."

She smiled when she felt him press a gentle kiss on her head. "You know, this whole thing doesn't define you. Yes, it's now part of you, but it shouldn't define you, okay? You're still a human being and a wizard. That's what's important for me—that's what I want."

"You–?"

"Yes. Maybe that's why I'm here. I want you, the way you are—with all your flaws and sometimes annoying behaviour–"

"I'm still a beast, Hermione. I'll only hurt you again."

"I'll take the risk." She noticed how he was holding her hand tightly, as if he never wanted to let her go again, and she finally looked up. God, for the first time ever she had found him, she saw something like hope in his eyes, not just that utter despair. It was just a glint, but it was there. With her free hand, she cupped his cheek and pulled him closer for a kiss; it was gentle this time, just letting him know that she meant what she said. She smiled when she felt him let go of her hand and frame her head instead, and then respond with plastering her face with brushed kisses.

"I missed home."


"So, this is your place?" Draco asked when he stepped inside her small house and took a look around; he sounded astonished. It was a small house with two floors, built like a cottage. It had a spacious living room area on the ground floor, adjoined by what looked like a decently sized kitchen, and a small bathroom.

"Yes, bought it with the reward from the Ministry after the War. It's nice and quiet, and above all, it's mine. And the best thing: Everyone has to announce themselves if they want to visit—the Floo Network is closed off, and there are wards that only let through a handful of people. And no one has a key to this place—except now you, of course."

"You didn't stay with the others?" he asked, sounding surprised at her rather reclusive decision.

"No. Too many people. I love them all, but I like to have my peace, that's why I bought this place. It's kind of perfect for you, don't you think? I can easily adapt the wards to keep you in if needs be." She placed her bag on the stool in the entry hall; it held everything she had brought along on her trip thanks to magical enhancement, plus the few things he wanted to bring back home.

"What's upstairs?"

"My master bedroom, a couple of spare rooms, and the main bathroom." She smirked when she saw him climb the stairs to have a look around—of course he would take a look into her bedroom as well, this was still Draco after all. They had spent a comfortable night on her enlarged tent mattress, talking about home, as he had been curious how his parents were, and whether she really thought they would take him back once they knew what he had become. Yes, it had been comfortable having him holding her while they were slowly drifting into sleep. But right now, she wasn't so sure where he should sleep, not wanting to send the wrong signal after the day before. After a sigh, and shaking her head, she followed him upstairs. "I haven't furnished it completely yet, but one of the spare rooms is a guest room. Maybe you're more comfortable taking it as yours for the time being?"

"I liked the way we fell asleep yesterday, but if you feel more comfortable with me in a different room, I can live with it."

"Honestly? I just don't know. I liked it too–"

"It's your house, Hermione. And you've seen the conditions I allowed myself to live in, so I'll take what I can get, okay?" He came up to her, and took her hand in his, smiling when she almost automatically intertwined her fingers with his. "Look, I know you're still not completely fine with what I've done to your neck–"

"I told you, it's fine."

"No, it's not. You let your fingers wander over it all the time, it's always on your mind... I won't do anything you're not comfortable with, okay? And if that means that you prefer me to sleep in your guest room, then I will do that."

She nodded. "It's not you. I-It's me, okay? The way your first kiss resonated with something inside me, and how willingly I let you have me, it still freaks me out a bit. I liked it a bit too much, so I don't really trust myself right now."

"It's okay." He gently pulled her in for an embrace, slowly wrapping his arms around her shoulders. "I don't trust myself most of the time either."

"But I'm always the one who keeps a cool head. I don't do things like that." Sighing, she wrapped her arms around his waist, taking in his comforting scent. In that moment, she felt her device vibrate, notifying her that Harry had sent her a message. He could wait.

"So, what now?" Draco asked a few more silent moments later, rubbing her shoulders.

"Whatever you feel up to. But I think getting settled might be a good idea for today..."

"You won't go off and see my parents right away?"

She shook her head, her mind rather focused on his hands on her shoulders. "No, we first need to figure out what I can tell them. I don't think you want to come along, do you?"

"No, you're right." He loosened his arms again. "I don't think it's a good idea right now."

She let go of him, and her hand immediately went for the device in her pocket to check the message. It was indeed Harry.

How are you?

"What's that?" Draco asked, pointing at the device in her hand. "Adapted Muggle technology?"

Hermione nodded, smiling about his curious tone. "We adapted the Protean Charm, so that it works like a mobile Floo chat connection..." I'm fine. Just arrived home.

"You kept contact with your friends with that?" Without taking it out of her hand, he let his fingers run over it. And then got a small shock when it beeped again.

Glad to hear. Can I come over?

"Who wants to come over?" Draco asked sceptically, still inspecting the display of the device.

"Harry."

He flinched. "Does he have to come over? He won't be too happy to see that I'm staying here–"

"Not his decision–"

"He doesn't like me. Never has."

"Yes, he doesn't like you that much, but that's more because he never trusted you."

"Great," he growled. "You told him that I couldn't hold back, did you?"

"No," Hermione replied defiantly. "I didn't tell him anything about that incident or the mark." The device beeped again.

Hermione? Can I come over?

"What do you mean that you didn't tell him?" Draco asked, eyeing her.

She sighed, and rubbed her temple. "He doesn't know the reason why I went looking for you. I just told him that we shouldn't leave members of the Order alone, even after the War."

"He believed you?"

"Yes."

"Gryffindor. Loyal to the bone."

"Slytherins are loyal too," Hermione retorted. If he started that game, she would give back.

"Yes, to those we deem worthy." He pointed at the device. "Just let him know that he can come over before he worries too much," he sneered.

"Don't. Just don't. And you take the guest room."

"Fine." He threw his hands in the air, and left her standing in the door frame to her bedroom. "I'm outside."

Come over if you really must. But better behave. The Floo will be open in a couple of minutes.


Harry stepped out of the fireplace minutes later, and dusted himself off, a warm smile on his lips. "Welcome back! Great to finally see you again..."

"Thanks." Hermione hugged him tightly. "It's been a long trip. Missed you all more than I thought I would..." She let go of him and walked over to the kitchen. "Tea?"

"Yes." Harry followed her. "What happened to your neck?"

Hermione ignored his question, and started filling the kettle instead. "How's Ginny?"

Harry leaned against the door frame, eyeing her sceptically. "What happened to your neck, Hermione?"

She glared at him, and put the kettle on the stove. "Nothing."

"Please. You've been away for months, and then you turn up with what looks like a bite mark on your neck. You can't tell me that nothing happened... Did he bite you?"

"I'm fine, Harry. It's just a bruise."

Harry came closer, wanting to inspect her neck. "No, that is a bite mark. He bit you. What happened?"

"Harry, I'm fine. Stop playing the big brother, I can handle myself very well."

"Apparently not."

"Just let it be," she growled, and fished for a couple of clean mugs in her cupboard. If only she had had the time to cover the mark before Harry had come, it would have spared her this conversation... She knew he did it out of concern for her, but sometimes it felt too much like surveillance.

"No, I can't. This looks like you didn't tell me everything."

She put the mugs on the counter with a loud thud, and glared at him. "You know what? Yes, I haven't told you everything in regards to Draco, or why I even spent all those months desperately trying to find him. Because you don't need to know everything."

"What do I not need to know, Hermione?" Harry asked, raising his voice, and glaring right back at her; his fists and the crossed arms were a sign that he was close to exploding.

"None of your bloody business, Potter." Suddenly, Draco stood in the door frame, his eyes fixed on Harry.

"You. What have you done to her?"

"Nothing she hadn't agreed to. Problem with that?"

"You both shut up now!" Hermione cut the boys short. "Harry, he's right, he's done nothing I haven't agreed to. I'm fine. So stop badgering me, okay? And Draco, I thought you wanted to stay outside, knowing that Harry doesn't like you?"

Draco shrugged, his gaze still fixed on his old rival. "I needed to use the loo."

"He's staying here?" Harry asked, staring at Draco in a mix of disbelief and utter irritation.

"Yes. Where else?" Hermione retorted, huffing loudly in frustration. "Now, Draco, leave us alone for a while, I'll deal with you later. And you, Harry, you shut up too. I haven't let you in to question me like this. So, sit down and listen for once." With that, she let the door slam and blocked it with a Silencio and a Locking Spell. "Sit down, Harry." As the kettle was now whistling as well, she poured the hot water into the mugs, and put them on the table.

"So, what happened between you two?"

"Harry, it's nice that you care for me, I was really glad that you were eager to help me find him. Really, I am. But you wouldn't have been so eager if I had told you the real reason why I went looking for him. But first you need to promise me that you won't tell anyone else what I am about to tell you. Either you promise me, or you take an Oath of Secrecy, understood?"

"You mean it..."

"Oh yes, I do." She sighed and took a first sip of her tea.

"All right, I promise if it's so important for you," he said defeated and blew over his tea.

"Thanks. I appreciate it... It's just that he's more fragile than he just looked, I don't want to risk anything." She swirled with her spoon in her tea. "You ever wondered why Draco switched sides?"

"Has he really?"

"Harry, please," she warned. "I've had enough."

"Sorry. But I did wonder a lot why he joined us, and why he always volunteered to take over tasks that were originally assigned to you... I mean before we left for the hunt. Didn't he volunteer for that as well?"

"Yes. So, during the Battle at Hogwarts, we were alone for a moment, hiding somewhere in a room. That's when he told me that he loved me to death. Those were his exact words."

"He... He loves... you?" Harry almost spilled the tea he had taken in.

"Yes. And he volunteered for all those tasks to protect me."

"And you? Do you love him too?"

"Maybe." She hid her confusion behind her mug, drinking more of her tea. "I did miss him after the War was over—mostly small things like talking to him about almost anything, from books to what's going wrong in wizarding society."

"Yes, I remember he only ever wanted to sit next to you at the headquarters. Ron constantly complained about it..."

"Yes, I know." She smiled faintly, and then heaved a sigh. "I never missed Ron the same way after we broke up, you know? I mean, Ron really is sweet, and he really did try to be a good boyfriend most of the time. It's difficult to explain, but I did think a lot about it during my search. Maybe I just wanted Draco's words to be true, you know?"

"Why?"

She shrugged. "It's maybe weird to say, but I always felt appreciated by Draco; I mean, in his own way, he was attentive, caring to a certain degree. And whenever we talked, after dinner for example, we connected on a level I never shared with Ron."

"So..."

She let the mug gently roll between her hands. "It's complicated right now."

"Something happened," Harry remarked rather flatly, pointing at her neck once more.

"Yes."

"What, Hermione?"

"I told you that he woke up in my tent the morning after full moon. We talked, and then after he had his bath, we... we... we ended up–"

"–having sex?" Harry finished her sentence disappointed, rubbing his nose. "That's when he bit you."

Hermione nodded, her gaze fixed on her mug that she was still rolling between her hands. "Something just resonated in me when he started to kiss me. The bite actually freaked me out. Look, he's sorry about it, he's apologised several times now for it."

Harry shook his head, an expression of disbelief on his face. "This is Malfoy we're speaking of... Can't believe you did this. I mean you put yourself in so much danger just because... just because he loves you?"

"Yes. It is Malfoy we're speaking of. Look, I waited for him to come back after the War and tell me that he meant what he had said, but when I found his name in the register, I knew he wouldn't come back, so I had to find him."

"You had to find him?" Harry leaned back, crossing his arms. "And now you let him stay here? I thought his parents wanted him back?"

"God, Harry, I told you he's a wreck. He was basically starving himself to death. And you haven't even seen the cuts on his arms. He hates what he has become, and those cuts look like he tried to cut it out at one point, only you can't. Do you really think it is a good idea to let him meet his parents like that?"

Harry shook his head. "No, I think not. I don't like the situation, but you know that, so I can only advise you to be careful with your next steps, or you'll end up a werewolf too."

"I promise you I'll be careful." Hermione smiled faintly, and finished her tea. "So, how's Ginny?"

"She's doing fine, looking forward to starting her last year at Hogwarts. McGonagall said that all students that were involved in the War are allowed to take a break and continue their education when they feel better again."

"I see, you'll be in Hogsmeade a lot then," she replied teasingly. "As long as you don't forget to use Silencio on your room..."

Harry blushed, and finished his tea as well. "I won't ever forget it again."

"Good." She smiled warmly at his blushing cheeks, then threw a brief look at the still locked door. "I hope you don't think me rude, but I think you should leave now. We can have a talk another time when everything has settled down a bit, okay?"

"Need to deal with the ferret now?" Harry replied, jokingly, and got up, with Hermione following suit.

"I'd rather you didn't call him that." She revoked the spells on the door, and opened it, not really surprised to find Draco waiting in front of it.

"Malfoy," Harry said coolly when he passed the other on his way to the fireplace.

"Potter."

Hermione ignored Draco for the moment, and followed Harry to the fireplace. "Tell everyone I said hello. I'll visit them as soon as I can, okay?" She hugged Harry cordially.

"And you'll be careful with him," Harry replied, rubbing her back shortly, then let her go again to step into the fireplace with a handful of Floo Powder. "See you later."

"Now, you," Hermione finally turned her attention to Draco, as soon as her friend had disappeared into the green flames.

"You told him? Is that why you didn't want me inside?"

"No, that's not the reason why I didn't want you inside. He's one of my best friends, and I haven't seen him in months. I just wanted to talk to him, okay? He had the right to know why I had to find you–"

"What did you tell him?"

"Is it so important to you?"

He sighed, and rubbed his head. "I guess it doesn't matter. He knows now..."

"He promised me to keep it secret. And Harry can keep secrets." She came up to him, leaned on the other frame. "Look, I only told him why I had to find you, and why I have that bite mark on my neck."

"So, basically everything."

"Draco, please. You worked together, there's no need to keep your old rivalry up, okay? Harry might not like the situation, but he has so far accepted it, and he will keep shut. Or he will regret it." She smiled when she saw him nod, and slowly relax again. "You'll help me figure out a way to handle this situation if you learn to let the past go, okay?"

"Okay," he replied and leaned forward, gently taking her hand in his. "Sorry. It's probably still a reflex when it comes to your friends."

For a few seemingly long seconds, she just watched him drawing small circles in her palm with his thumb, enjoying the soft, slightly rough touch of his fingers. "It's probably the same reflex for Harry when it comes to you. Give him time. After all, he did help me find you—that should count for something..."

"He did?"

She nodded, smiling warmly. "He thinks a bit that he's my big brother who has to keep an eye on me, you know?"

"He's rather small for being a big brother, don't you think?"

She couldn't help but grin at that remark. "Though it's more like I'm the big sister who keeps them out of trouble."

"You like to save everyone..." With a gentle tug, he pulled her closer until she was close enough for an embrace. "Me included."

"Yes. Especially you." She instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist and took a deep breath. This started to feel a bit like home, a safe place; she closed her eyes, and just enjoyed his strokes on her back in silence.

"Thanks."

She smiled when she felt him place another kiss on her head. "How about we go eat something? I'm hungry now. The village nearby has a pub with a decent menu."

TBC


Author's note:

Thanks for your reviews, they are much appreciated! :)

As to anyone commenting on Draco biting Hermione in the last chapter: The main focus of this story is not on the bite, but their developing relationship afterwards; that's why it is only described in a fleeting moment. Yes, Hermione thinks a lot about it throughout the story, as such an action in the heat of the moment does have repercussions for her, but there will be resolution to it later in the story.