Chapter 3
During the weeks following that heartfelt dinner conversation, Hermione and Draco became practically inseparable. Besides working together all day at the Ministry, they often took their lunch and dinner breaks together, occasionally joined by Dean. They even found reasons to spend some of their weekend time together.
They had found a confidante in one another: someone that they could discuss their failed relationships with and journey with as they learned to live without Ron and Astoria.
One Saturday, Hermione and Draco both went to Malfoy Manor to visit his mother for lunch. As they apparated together outside of the large gate, Hermione felt a chill go up her spine and froze as the memories hit her.
She was tied back to back with a group of people as a snatcher approached a large gate…..Bellatrix with her wand held out yelling "CRUCIO!"….. then staring at Harry in fear as a knife was pressed to her throat.
"Hermione? We really don't have to go. I can ask Mum to come to my flat for lunch instead." He tugged her hand and tried to walk away from his childhood home.
"No. Let's go" she said firmly.
"Are you sure?" He looked at her as though she would break down at any moment.
"Yes. I have to face the memories some time. And it's not like your Aunt can hurt me now anyway."
Draco sighed and hugged her shoulders briefly "I'm so sorry for everything Hermione"
"You're making up for it by being a good friend now" she smiled softly and walked through the gates.
Narcissa met them at the large doors.
"Draco!" she rushed to hug her son "How are you feeling? Are you hungry?" she asked, sounding strangely like Mrs. Weasley always did when talking to Harry.
"Mum, I'm fine. This is Hermione, my friend and coworker"
As Narcissa stepped back to look at her, Hermione got her first chance to study the woman's appearance.
She looked old. Her face had gained many more lines since the last time Hermione had seen her. The robes she wore were just as expensive-looking as they always had been, but now they were covered by a ridiculous pink apron that was adorned with many food stains. Her hair, which was usually pulled back tightly in a knot, was loose over her shoulders and had many gray streaks in it.
Despite all of this, she looked more attractive than Hermione had ever seen her. She no longer had a disgusted or worried look on her face, but a joyful one that only disappeared for a second when she obviously remembered how she knew Hermione.
"Wonderful, dear. Welcome, please come in." she smiled and led them into the house.
The entrance hall was just as ornately decorated as Hermione remembered. Instead of leading them through the large door to the parlor, Narcissa went through a side small door straight to the kitchen.
The room was bright and cheerful, a surprising contrast from the rest of the house. At the other end there were large windows that illuminated a breakfast table set for three with a vase of wildflowers in the center.
"I'm afraid that since it's only me living here, I only use the kitchen for dining now. If that's okay"
"It's perfect, Mrs. Malfoy" Hermione replied, smiling.
"Call me Cissy, dear"
The contrast between the kitchen and the rest of the house was as different as Draco and his mother before and after the war.
They ate a delicious lunch, chatting politely about Narcissa's redecorating endeavors as well as Draco and Hermione's work at the Ministry. After they were finished, Draco moved to start clearing away their dishes but his mother stopped him immediately.
"Draco, dear, if you're finished would you mind taking a look in the back garden? I think we've acquired some stray gnomes"
Draco nodded and disappeared through the kitchen door. Hermione started helping clear the table.
"Hermione, dear. I'm so sorry for everything" Mrs. Malfoy looked so sad that Hermione could smile and say:
"It's all in the past, really. I can see that both you and Draco are completely different people now"
"I suppose, but that still doesn't excuse any of it"
Hermione tried to bring back the happier mood.
"So, Mrs. Malfoy-"
"Cissy, dear"
"Right, sorry. Cissy, what do you plan to do after you remodel the manor?"
"Sell it and hopefully all of the terrible memories that remain"
Hermione shouldn't have been surprised, but she was and her face betrayed it.
"You have to understand, dear. I married Draco's father purely because of his and my own blood status. I really had no choice, our parents insisted upon it"
She began washing the dishes by hand instead of using magic. Hermione grabbed a towel and started drying.
"Draco has been my reason for living since the day he was conceived. When he was at school, I felt so alone in this house. My only job was to be a mother and keep the manor perfect and myself looking perfect for whatever dignitary my husband decided to invite over."
"I hated that life, despised my husband, but I kept it up for Draco's sake and because I was too proud to leave him."
She sighed and smiled brightly at Hermione.
"So, as you can imagine, I don't wish to stay in this house much longer, especially after the terrible things that were done here during the war. I haven't even been using the other floors, I sleep in the servants' quarters and spend most of my time cooking and cleaning"
Just then, Draco reentered the kitchen, sweating slightly from the heat and exertion of throwing gnomes.
"Alright, Mum, those little buggers should be gone for a while"
Draco and Hermione stayed for a little while longer before returning home and promising to see each other at work on Monday.
On Sunday, Hermione went to her weekly lunch with Ginny and Harry. After a few minutes of idle conversation about Ginny's Quidditch and Ministry work, the couple looked at each other nervously, silently communicating.
"So, Hermione" Ginny started
"Yes?"
Harry began explaining nervously.
"Well, we thought we should be the ones to tell you…..I mean before it gets out….and the Prophet announces….." he stuttered but Ginny cut him off.
"Ron's engaged!"
Complete silence. Hermione's two friends just stared at her apprehensively, waiting for a reaction. She couldn't move for a minute or so, and then she suddenly stood up.
"Okay. I…. just remembered…..yeah, bye" she muttered softly, walking out to disapparate.
She didn't even know where she was going until she ended up on the doorstep of Draco's flat. She knocked on the door. Draco flung the door open a moment later, a joyful but surprised expression.
"Hermione! What a-"he noticed her expression and instantly pulled her into a hug.
"What happened?"
Hermione started sobbing into his chest. He stroked her hair and spoke calming words until she would let him lead her inside to the living room.
"He's –sob- engaged -sob-!" she managed to get out finally
"What. A. Complete. Prick" Draco said angrily.
"It's only -sob- been -sob- four months!" Hermione couldn't stop crying.
"Hermione. You're way too good for him anyway. Obviously, since he can't show even a little sensitivity by waiting to get engaged" Draco tried to tell her, but nothing stopped the crying.
He decided to shut his mouth and just continued to hold her while she let it all out.
After ten minutes or so, her sobs had slowed enough to speak.
"I'm sorry. I know he's completely wrong for me and I'm glad we aren't together anymore, but I'm still jealous and upset"
"You have a right to be upset. You definitely shouldn't be jealous, though. I pity the poor girl who has to spend her life with him" Draco tried to make it sound like a joke, but truthfully, he was serious.
"I guess. But how could he have moved on so quickly? " Hermione wondered aloud.
"He probably hasn't. This is possibly a rebound relationship and he's trying to progress it to what yours was heading towards." Draco shrugged.
He kept his arm around her shoulder and scooted closer to her on the couch.
"I guess what I'm really upset about is that he found someone before I did," she admitted truthfully, looking up at him.
"I mean, he's going to get married and I don't have any certainties. He has someone to kiss and love all the time and I don't even know when my next kiss will be. It could be years from now." She had stopped crying but now she just looked sad.
Draco leaned forward but stopped just before their lips connected, searching her eyes for an objection. When he found none, he closed the gap and kissed her lips softly, lingering for a moment, and then pulled away.
He continued staring straight into her brown eyes, as if waiting for something.
She sat there, stunned, and softly touched her lips. Draco could see her brain working overtime to comprehend what just happened. Suddenly, she got a determined look in her eyes, smiled brightly and put her hands on his neck to pull his lips back to hers.
Disclaimer: I couldn't come up with ideas as original as Harry Potter, it's all JK Rowling.