Chapter 5: Beach Trips and Chick Flicks

The next day, Draco apparated to the beach where he had arranged to meet Hermione and Hugo. Blaise and Ginny had decided to join them at lunch time as they were babysitting for Harry and Luna. When Draco arrived Hugo was collecting shells as he walked along the beach with his mother. Draco was taken aback by the sight so much that he transfigured his pocket watch into a camera and took a quick magical picture of the two. He put the picture into his pocket, he'd have to give it to Hermione at some point. He made for the two with a big smile on his face. As soon as Hugo spotted him he started waving excitedly, "DRAGON! DRAGON! Mum look! Dragon is here!"

Hermione giggled, "hello Draco."

Draco kissed her on the cheek before giving the little boy a big hug, "how are you Hugo?"

"Very good, thank you," Hugo told him, "it's mummy's birthday tomorrow…"

"Is that right?" Draco raised an eyebrow.

"I was hoping to keep it quiet…" Hermione blushed.

Draco laughed, "don't worry I won't tell."

"Thanks," Hermione smiled.

Hugo had started climbing up a rock, "come on Dragon!"

Hermione watched as Draco bounded over to Hugo to help him climb the rocks. They had a great morning, splashing around in the sea and searching for crabs between the rocks. When Blaise and Ginny arrived, Draco had Hugo asleep in his arms as he and Hermione sat talking.

"Did you wear him out, Drake?" Blaise looked surprised, "he's usually got far too much energy."

James bounded over to Draco, "hello Draco."

"Hello James," Draco replied smilingly, "how are you?"

"Fantastic," James grinned, "we're at the beach, you know."

When they finally made their way back to the Zabini house both boys were asleep. Hugo was in Draco's arms, snoring gently as the young wizard apparated. Hermione was surprised by how much she trusted Draco with her son. Ginny got the boys ready for bed, telling Hermione to relax and enjoy herself.

Hermione sat in the living room talking to Blaise and Draco, "what I don't get is when you changed – I mean, no offense – but you're different."

"So are you," Draco laughed, "War changed us all… I don't know when it happened…" he thought about it for a minute and as he looked into her eyes he realised that he knew exactly when it had happened. It had been the moment that he'd seen her on his drawing room floor, writhing in pain, as his evil aunt tortured her, but he couldn't tell her that.

Their party was significantly smaller than usual and so they decided to order in Chinese and eat in the living room as they chatted and watched a chick flick. The magical world had really changed while Draco had been gone. The ministry had encouraged wizards to buy muggle appliances in an attempt to help the muggle economy. In doing so, many wizards had become somewhat attached to their tvs. Blaise sat in a comfortable armchair with Ginny at his feet. Neville and Hannah sat together on the sofa closest to the fire. Pansy sat in the last armchair, leaving Hermione and Draco to share the last sofa. It had been a really long day and Hermione felt her eyes drooping as they watched the film. When she woke up the movie had finished and the room was darker than before. Pansy, Hannah and Neville were nowhere to be seen and Blaise and Draco were talking. Hermione noticed that Ginny was also asleep on Blaise's lap. "You like her, don't you?" Blaise asked.

"Er…" Draco began, that was when Hermione realised where her head was resting. She had fallen asleep on Draco's shoulder. She couldn't help but notice he was very comfortable.

"There's nothing wrong with it you know," Blaise told him.

"Yes, there is," Draco frowned. Hermione couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed, "she's married to Weasley… I'm not supposed to like another wizard's wife."

"Who cares," Blaise chuckled, "they are over… the papers are due any day."

"They have a son together," Draco sighed, "it's not that simple… it would be wrong of me to do anything that could cause any more trouble between them. They have to get along… for Hugo's sake."

"I respect that," Blaise nodded, "especially at the moment with Weasley behaving like an idiot."

"I just don't get how he could give her up," Draco practically whispered, "if I had her, I'd never be able to quit her."

"Drake, when did you change mate? I mean… for me, it was during the battle… the way that the order and everyone stuck together… the way they were willing to die for each other…"

"Yeah," Draco laughed bitterly, "deatheaters will happily sacrifice one another for their own gain."

"Exactly," Zabini frowned, "they care about each other… then Ginny, we met at a party and she changed everything… she makes me a good person…"

Draco smiled, "for me, it was when they were trapped at the manor… she was being tortured and all I wanted to do was save her. I realised then, that she was just as valuable, just as strong, just as perfect as anyone else… I realised that in many ways she is purer than them – they had their blood purity rules but her heart was pure. She wouldn't have even thought, let alone do what they did to her. We used to think that it was a question of power, that if you were powerful enough then you would be capable of the unforgivable… but that's not true; the truth is that many people are powerful enough, but in reality it's about heart… it's dark, it's not pure, it's twisted and evil… for all their talk of purity, they didn't even recognise it when it was screaming in agony before them."

Draco frowned, somewhat close to tears, "she changed me… and it's taken me all these years to realise it."

After a few moments, Blaise sighed, "can you carry her up the stairs. She's in the first bedroom on the second floor. You can take the third if you want to stay."

"Sure," Draco nodded, before pulling her into his arms and heading towards the stairs. He opened the door to her room with wandless magic. He gently placed her in the bed and covered her with a blanket. He stood up and looked down at her. She curled up gently. Draco couldn't resist; he leant down and kissed her on the forehead before leaving her alone.

He climbed into his own bed in the third bedroom and smiled at the prospect of breakfast with her.