For the first time, Hermione didn't know what to do around Draco. She walked to her room. "I'm going to get in bed. This day was exhausting." She closed her door and changed into her pajamas. As she was crawling into her sheets, she heard a quiet knock.
"Can I come in?" Draco asked.
In her mind, Hermione screamed at him. I don't want you in my room. I don't want to feel these things for you. Please no.
Out loud she responded, "Of course."
Draco opened the door and sat down in the chair beside the bed. "You saved me." He dropped his head into his hands. "I don't know how to repay you."
"You don't need to. I did what I thought was right at the time and I'm convinced I made the correct decision. You made me sure. I discovered the real Draco Malfoy and wanted to help him." She started crying. "I have worried about you for years. I had no idea the tension I was carrying around. I am so worn out."
"And we have more fun tomorrow," Draco remarked dryly. He stood up and walked over to Hermione. He sat down next to her on the bed and rocked her as she continued weeping. He held either side of her face and made her look at him. "You were amazing. You are so strong. You are so beautiful."
Hermione continued crying for hours until she finally passed out from exhaustion. Draco held her the entire time. When her breathing evened out, he laid her down on the bed. Despite his best intentions, he couldn't leave her. Instead, he curled up on the bed beside her. He kissed her temple and fell asleep next to her.
"Things are getting more and more interesting all the time."
Hermione rolled over to see Draco lying next to her and Ginny standing in the doorway.
Hermione sighed. She really didn't want to talk to Ginny about this right now. Ginny was a wonderful friend, but occasionally she pushed things a little too far. "We're not discussing this. Go put on some tea."
Harry was in the living room with a duffle bag.
"Malfoy, I brought you this. I figured a clean outfit would be important for the big event."
Hermione had followed Ginny into the kitchen.
"Thank you, Harry. I don't know how to thank you. The last time we saw each other we were still enemies. I've apologized to Hermione for how I acted towards her. I had a great deal of time for reflection when I was in hiding. I regretted every minute that I was stuck away and couldn't come back to ask for your forgiveness. I hate to think about the person I was back then."
Harry nodded. "Well, Hermione saw who you really were and therefore was able to help you and keep you hidden. Even Ginny and I had no idea she knew where you were or that you were even still alive. You picked the right person. She kept you safe despite all she experienced in the war."
"My mother mentioned Bellatrix tortured her," Draco confided.
"We heard her screams from the dungeons. We were helpless. As I think about it, might your mom have helped us?"
"As much as she could. She used Legilimency on Hermione and could tell Hermione knew I was alive and safe, but wasn't able to see anything more than that."
Harry looked at the other man sharply. "You know why, right?"
"Why what?"
"Why your mother couldn't see anything beyond the fact that you were safe. Hermione loved you. Even though Hermione didn't realize it would, that love protected you. Her mind was not going to put you in danger by sharing information, even to your mother."
Draco fell into the nearest chair. "Bloody hell, Potter."
"Yes. Bloody hell, Malfoy."
"I won't bring up Draco," Ginny told her friend "but, we have to do something about your face. It's swollen and blotchy. It wouldn't matter if you were going to be at home all day, but you've got to look perfect for the press conference. People must see your confidence. Puffy eyes don't scream self-assurance."
The women poured tea and went into the bathroom.
Ginny ordered Hermione into the stall for a long hot shower. After getting the older witch undressed and stood under the water, Ginny returned to Draco and Harry.
"Whoa. What happened here?" The men were sitting down, both with slightly dazed expressions on their faces.
"It seems as if our Hermione is in love with this bloke." Harry pointed at Draco.
"And you just put that puzzle together? Of course she is! Hermione always does what she believes is right, but hiding Draco for years without letting it slip? Those are some powerful emotions. Men! Clueless as the day is long."
"Malfoy, you are a lucky bastard. I don't know how you feel about her, but if you break Hermione's heart I will kill you. You don't owe her your love in exchange for what she did, but you know her motivations and you must proceed accordingly.
"This cannot be a topic at the press conference. We must steer the questions away. Hermione is going to be the subject of skepticism. There will probably even be questions if you put her under a spell, Malfoy. This is her secret. She kept yours for years. Now it's your turn."
"I'm going to pull her out of the shower. I don't know why, but it seems she spent a long time crying recently and I've got to hide that fact and get her ready to face a mob."
At the press conference, the questions didn't go too deep. Having Harry at the front seemed to protect Hermione and Draco from having to answer anything inappropriate. After 25 minutes, the participants felt like they'd given the media enough information and asked for one final question.
"Draco! What's next?" shouted Rita Skeeter.
"I need to make amends with many people. I am not sure how I will be able to atone for my sins, but I will do my best."
His response was met with scattered applause and the crowd began to disperse.
Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Draco, and Luna all returned to Hermione's flat to celebrate the successful event. Draco told humorous stories about the village residents with whom he'd lived. The group relaxed.
The next morning The Daily Prophet showed Draco and Hermione on the front page. The photographer caught a picture of the two grinning at each other. "SECRET LOVE?" the headline screamed.
"Why else would famed war heroine Hermione Granger have shielded Death Eater Draco Malfoy for years? Should he be sent to Azkaban? Was Granger a traitor to the cause? Malfoy admits to many sins!"
"Dammit." Harry threw the newspaper down. "Skeeter is irresponsible. We should have banned her from attending. I hope Hermione hasn't seen this yet."
Draco had woken up before Hermione. He'd stayed on the couch even though he wanted to be next to Hermione. He hadn't slept well. They all knew better than to trust Rita Skeeter, but he'd felt like they'd been a little too lax in their treatment of her. He was worried about what she'd written in the paper.
Again Hermione's apartment filled with owls. Rita Skeeter's article had painted Hermione in the harshest light possible. Somehow she'd figured out that Draco was staying with Hermione and used that fact to suggest a love-struck Hermione had been used by Draco who was still sympathetic to the Death Eater cause. The article conveniently forgot to mention Harry's support for the pair and the fact that Draco had pretended he was dead to avoid the Death Eaters. The damage was done.
When Hermione emerged from her room, Draco met her with a cup of tea and the paper. "It's not pretty." They sat on the couch as Hermione read the story. Draco could see her anger increasing every second. He rubbed her arm to offer some comfort.
"Draco, you can't do that," Hermione stated flatly as she brushed his hand away.
"Why?"
"Because we all know I'm in love with you and you aren't with me. It's not fair for you to touch me." Hermione had obviously taken Skeeter's comments to heart.
"Listen." Draco pulled Hermione's face towards his. She refused to meet his eyes. "No, Hermione, look at me."
Reluctantly she brought her gaze up to his.
"As I mentioned, I had a great deal of time to think about things while I was gone. As much as I knew I had to leave, I felt the same way you did when I left. I fell in love with you during our planning sessions. There was nothing I wanted less than to leave you. I expected you would help me because you are Hermione Granger, but I was surprised with the compassion and friendliness you showed me when I need your help. For years I had been terrible to you and your friends and yet, you protected me. I never deserved your help, much less your love. And I got both and more. Over the years I knew I couldn't contact you for both of our safety. I didn't want to know either though. I was scared you'd been hurt or killed. I was scared you'd fallen in love with Weasley or another wizard. I was scared you'd come to your senses about me. I was supposed to kill Dumbledore, I had run from everything instead of staying to fight for what was right. As long as I didn't know, I could imagine that everything was ok. I know you love me. And I know I love you too. It makes things with Skeeter and the Ministry more tricky, but please don't feel ashamed."
Once again, Hermione began crying. As she felt Draco's arms encircle her, she wondered when she'd finally run out of tears. This time, however, they didn't last very long. When they dried up, Draco leaned in to kiss her. "I love you Hermione. I've loved you for years. Yesterday when Ginny said you loved me, I was shocked because your love had lasted." He held her tight.
"I love you," he whispered into her ear as he stroked her hair.
They kissed again.
"Ah ha!" Ginny yelled as she popped through the fireplace. "I knew it."
"Weaselette, sod off." Ginny giggled at the blond.
"Not right now, Malfoy. It seems as if we have some damage control to do."
Reluctantly Draco and Hermione pulled apart so they could talk to Ginny and Harry.
The group decided that even while Draco and Hermione didn't want to go public with their feelings and budding relationship, it was necessary. They wouldn't respond to the article in the paper, but would simply live their lives as if they didn't have any regrets or feelings of guilt about what had happened.
"But I don't, guys." Hermione had insisted.
They had owled Narcissa to join the conversation and she suggested a party.
Harry frowned. "I don't think people are ready for a party at Malfoy Manor yet." Narcissa nodded sadly. "I do think Gin and I could host one at 12 Grimmauld Place."
They all set to work to create a guest list.
Hermione returned to work. She could tell that her coworkers were dying to ask her about Draco, but they were able to restrain themselves. Around lunch, Ron came into Hermione's office.
Before saying anything, he grabbed her into to a huge hug. "Brightest AND bravest witch of our age, huh?" he said with a grin.
Hermione felt a weight fall off her shoulders. She had been very worried about Ron's response to the news that she'd helped Draco. Instead of being upset, Ron regarded her with amazement. "You are incredible, 'Mione. I can't believe you pulled that off. I mean, I can, because you can do anything. Wow."
The two friends left for lunch and Hermione explained everything to Ron. "I underestimated Draco. There must be something good in him for you to have done all that."
Hermione blushed. "Yes, he's pretty special."
Ron looked at her and snorted. They both burst out laughing.
"I haven't mentioned you and Pansy to him yet. Maybe you should come over for dinner tonight. I can't wait to see his expression."
"He left for a few years and the world turned upside down while he was away." Ron laughed.
Pansy arrived at Hermione's flat before Ron.
Draco was surprised to see Pansy. He wasn't sure how to act around her. The last time he'd seen her, they were both Slytherins who supported the Dark Lord. Draco looked at Hermione curiously, wondering why Pansy was at Hermione's place. Hermione had greeted Pansy with great warmth. The girls hugged, and then Pansy turned to Draco.
"Hello Draco," said Pansy softly. "I'm glad that you are back."
"Thanks. It's been a strange few years and a strange few days."
Before anyone could say anything else Ron burst through the floo.
"Hey honey," Ron told Pansy as he kissed her.
Draco's eyes widened.
"Apparently I missed some things," Draco commented dryly.
Ron laughed. "Just a few."
Over the next few weeks, the coverage in the Daily Prophet slowed and the wizarding world seemed to take the new relationship in stride. Invitations for the party at Harry's had gone out and people wanted them. The Golden Trio, plus reformed Death Eater Draco Malfoy? It was the event of the year.
Draco was still staying at Hermione's apartment. He'd left the couch for her bed, but they hadn't done more than kiss and cuddle.
"Have you thought about what you are going to do?" Hermione had not pushed Draco on his future plans, but after several weeks she was becoming curious.
"I've never told anyone this, but I'd hoped to become a Healer. With the war, a normal life didn't seem like it'd ever be reality so I hadn't really figured it would happen. When I was in Ireland, I thought about the healers I'd known as a kid and how they'd been good people. I wasn't sure that I could be one with my history. I've talked to my mother about it a little, and she's been pretty supportive of the idea."
"I think you'd be a wonderful healer! I know there are wizards who still hold your family against you, but with all that's happened, you'd be wonderful. You are compassionate and caring."
"I've talked to the director of St. Mungo's and he's willing to give me a chance."
Hermione jumped up and hugged Draco. "That's great! I'm really happy for you!"
He grinned. "Thank you. For the first time in years, I feel like things are going to be ok." His face grew serious. "There's some other stuff I've been thinking about. I've been staying here for weeks. I'm not ready to go back to the Manor, but I've imposed on you long enough. I'm going to find a flat of my own."
Hermione's eyes began to water. She hadn't imagined that this arrangement was permanent, but she hadn't wanted Draco to leave.
"Hey," Draco whispered gently, wiping a tear away. "I love you." Draco hadn't said those words again since he first told them to her weeks ago.
"And I love you too. I don't want you to leave. I want you."
The gentle kisses soon turned into something more passionate and Hermione led Draco to her bedroom.
In the morning, the sun shone through Hermione's window waking the pair. "Maybe you could stay here."
"I'd be ok with that." Hermione punched Draco's shoulder. "I mean, I'd love that." The two stared at each other until Draco reached up to cup Hermione's cheek. He began kissing her and all conversation stopped.
Slowly, life fell into a routine. Hermione's job continued at the Ministry. Draco started the internship at St. Mungo's. Gossip about their roles in the wizarding war had calmed down. Rita Skeeter's stories were seen for the exaggerations that they were. Draco quickly proved that he was not the spoiled Death Eater from the past. The night of the party grew near. The interest in the party had been so high they'd had to move it to Malfoy Manor, but that no longer seemed to be an issue. The wizard community had long loved Hermione and rallied around Draco because of her.
"Hey! Are you ready?" Hermione yelled at Draco from the fireplace. "We're already late."
Draco rushed out of the bedroom fixing his tie. "Yes. One thing before we go." He knelt before Hermione. "I was hoping you'd be my wife and wear this tonight." He held out a large emerald solitaire ring. "I love you. I've loved you for years."
Hermione looked down at the handsome man in front of her. She thought of the scared boy who had asked her for help. She smiled because she'd been brave enough to say yes to him years ago and because she was telling him yes again.
When Draco and Hermione arrived at Malfoy Manor the party was already in full swing. As they walked out to the dance floor, they passed Rita Skeeter. "Hermione, is that a ring on your hand?" Hermione merely looked at the woman and shrugged her shoulders.
The next day's Quibbler headline read HAPPILY EVER AFTER.