February 10th, 2013
One year. Today marked one full year since Ron died. Hermione stood in front of his grave as she'd done countless times before, but this time with a bouquet of flowers she had just conjured.
One full year later and she still felt like he had died that morning. Sure, the pain came and went, but when it came it crashed. It crushed her into nothing and she felt like nothing. She was here and nowhere at the same time and it wrecked her.
Without warning Hermione dropped the flowers, fell to her knees, and cried. After everything she'd been through, February 10th would always be the worst day of her life.
"Damn Daily Prophet," Draco swore as he slapped down the newspaper onto his kitchen counter. He had half a mind to go see Karl Lashley in person. Did he nor anyone down at that ruddy media agency have any decency for Ron Weasley's widow? He scowled at the headline yet again.
Ron Weasley: One Year Gone, But Not Forgotten
Draco knew what today was. It was why he had bought tickets for the Lion King for this date. Hermione had random fits of depression on a normal day, but today? He imagined her level of grief would be times a thousand.
Sighing, Draco checked his watch. The show wasn't going to start until five, but he didn't want to give Hermione a single moment to wallow in her misery. It was noon now and he had planned to take everyone to a wizard park where the air was warm in the winter so the kids could play. A light and early dinner would be next, followed by the show. That was a solid eight hours of distraction. Perfect.
"I'm ready!" Scorpius said as he looked up at his father. He was wearing a Lion King shirt, something that Draco had been forced to buy as they were walking around London one afternoon. His son was parading about as a Gryffindor and he didn't even know it.
"Alright, let's get out of here," Draco grinned. He took his son's hand so they could Floo over to Hermione's.
They tumbled out the other end where they were met with Rose and Hugo's enthusiastic greeting. Draco looked around him, but Hermione was nowhere in sight.
"Where's your mum?"
"She's not here," Hugo replied and Draco furrowed his brows at his response.
"She left you alone?"
"No! Uncle Harry's here! In the kitchen."
Draco went in the direction of the kitchen and did indeed find the bespectacled man. He seemed to have just finished making himself some tea. He was also reading through the same Daily Prophet article that Draco had been pissed over.
"Where's Granger?"
Harry looked up. "What are you doing here?"
"Outing with Granger and the kids today, so I repeat, where is she?"
Same attitude. Same pushy demeanor. What change does Hermione see in him exactly? Harry thought to himself.
"It's Ron's death day today," Harry explained. "That means she's in West Norwood Cemetery with him."
Draco stared blankly ahead. Harry's words had entered his ears and ended up presenting a very vivid image of Hermione in a depressing place surrounded by dead people.
"You let her go by herself?"
The blond had been silent for so long that Harry had forgotten he was even there.
"What do you mean?"
"What do you mean 'what do I mean?' You let a grieving woman go to the burial site of her dead husband by herself?"
Harry sighed and massaged his temple with his thumb and forefinger. "Ginny and I have tried to go with her before, but she prefers to go alone."
Draco's mouth dropped open. "Are you kidding me? The last thing that she needs is to be alone."
"I agree, but it's what she wants."
"To hell with what she wants!" Draco half-shouted, ever mindful that three children were on the other side of the kitchen. "One of you should've went. I don't care what she said."
Draco, grumbling angrily all the while, reached into the inside of his coat pocket, pulled out the tickets for tonight's show, and shoved them into Harry's hand. "Entertain the kids. The show starts at five. I'll come here for Scorpius when it's over."
Harry furrowed his brow at the tickets and then at the blond, completely taken aback at seeing him preparing to disapparate.
"Where are you going?"
"West Norwood Cemetery," Draco sneered at him, and then he disapparated.
Harry was as still as a statue, staring at the spot where Draco had just been. He didn't know what had confused him most. The fact that Draco seemed to care immensely about Hermione's well-being, or the fact that, out of everyone in her life, he seemed to care about her the most.
Draco had to do a Locator Spell to find Hermione. West Norwood Cemetery was massive and he'd end up frostbitten if he went looking for her the muggle way. Even after the spell it took him a while to walk over to her. He wished he had put a shield around him from the cold when he had the chance. Unfortunately, there were too many muggles about now and taking out his wand would prove dangerous.
Eventually, Draco did find the witch, and his mouth set up in a horrible frown when he saw her. She was kneeling on the ground, sobbing her heart out, and from what he could see of her face it was very flushed. How long had she been out here in the cold?
"Granger."
Hermione was startled by his voice and abruptly turned around where she knelt. "Malfoy? What are you doing here?"
"Wondering if you can't tell time," Draco replied cheekily despite the situation. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and added, "Someone forgot what was happening today, apparently."
Hermione was lost to all confusion until several seconds had passed and the wheels in her head started turning.
"Oh no, the show!" She gasped. "We had a whole day planned…"
"That a girl. I was hoping that noggin of yours wasn't completely lost."
"I feel terrible," Hermione frowned deeply. "The kids were really looking forward to today."
"They were and they still are," Draco said as he pulled out one of his hands and reached out for her. "Potter's watching them and he'll take them to the show afterwards."
It was a good thing Hermione's hand was in his or else she would've fallen back. Instead, she was pulled up and she stumbled into his arms and chest.
"They what?"
"You heard very well what," Draco answered her as he looked down at her bloodshot eyes and tear-stained face. Tears, so it seemed, that had begun to freeze on their trek down her cheeks. On pure impulse he used his thumbs to wipe away more oncoming tears. The action had surprised them both, but neither acknowledged it. A sharp, cold wind struck them hard enough to shake them up a bit and they shivered.
"I'm freezing my prick off here, Granger. Can we go?"
Hermione turned slightly and gave one last look at Ron's grave. With a shudder that had nothing to do with the cold she turned back to Draco and nodded, and after checking their surroundings he disapparated with her clinging to his arms.
They landed in the middle of his living room and without a word Draco led Hermione upstairs and to his study. He slipped off her coat without her notice and sat her down. As for the brunette, she was aware that she was now in a house, being warmed by a spell, and being given a glass of water that was cupped between her hands. She stayed quiet through it all, stifled through both her sadness and embarrassment.
"I appreciate you coming to get me, but I really want to be alone right now."
"I understand," Draco replied, but instead of leaving he sat down in a nearby armchair. "But no."
Hermione turned her gaze to him filled with complete bewilderment. "I'm sorry?"
"I'm not leaving you alone."
The brunette huffed, set her glass down, and immediately stood. "Fine. I'll go home then."
"You can't. I cast an anti-apparation spell on the room while you were still dazed," Draco informed her. The look on her face was one of pure shock, and then anger, and the blond was amused at both. He even cracked a smile when she proceeded to try to disapparate anyway, wandless, of all things. Horror had now masked her face and with hasty steps Hermione headed for the door and tried to open it, but it wouldn't budge.
Hermione swiftly turned around, tears brimming the edges of her eyes. "Malfoy, what the hell do you think you're doing?"
"You shouldn't be alone," he said simply. "And I won't let you."
Those tears living in the corners of her eyes began to trickle. Although originally from sadness, Draco had a feeling these were ones of rage, frustration, and a bunch of other things he couldn't quite place.
"You can't keep me locked in here," Hermione said defiantly. "And if you don't want to disrupt this level of friendship we've somehow achieved in the past few months, then I suggest you let me out before I curse you."
"With what?" Draco questioned nonchalantly. Hermione's eyes widened when she realized that somewhere along the line he had managed to take her wand. It was now in his hand and with a snap of his fingers it disappeared into thin air.
"And you're not a prisoner here," he continued. "I'll let you go home eventually. In…" He consulted his watch. "About six to seven hours. After the show is over then you can go."
Hermione took a shallow breath and frowned. "Why are you doing this?"
"It's like I said. You shouldn't be alone. Not today, of all days."
Hermione wanted to fight him. She wanted to lash out and bash his smug little face in, but she couldn't do it. She felt too weak, too depressed, and too in awe of the lengths he had just gone through for her sake. A set of sobs rocked her body and she pressed herself against the door, slowly sliding down until she hit the floor with a small thump.
Draco got up then and kneeled in front of her. She looked up at him when he got close and, if possible, cried even harder. He said nothing and simply took her in his arms and let her cry. If she was going to sob like madwoman, he would rather her do it right here, in his embrace, than surrounded by death in a cemetery.
The kids were too enthusiastic about the show to wonder what had happened to their parents or why they hadn't been the ones to take them out tonight. Draco took Hermione back home when he was sure the show would be over and found Harry happily watching Scorpius, Rose, and Hugo who were all playing with Lion King souvenirs.
Harry watched as the children went to their respective parent when they got home. And as Scorpius said goodbye to his friends, Harry kept a subtle eye on his best friend and Draco. His hands were on her shoulders, rubbing them gently as he said something to her. Whatever it is was Hermione nodded, wiped a corner of her eye, and nodded once more. Draco smiled before turning to his son and telling him that it was time to go. When they were gone Hermione sent Rose and Hugo upstairs to get ready for bed.
With a deep sigh Hermione plopped herself down on the couch next to Harry and stared at him. He cleared his throat.
"Should I ask?"
Hermione grinned and then chuckled. "There's nothing much to say. Malfoy has a very interesting way of keeping me from self-destructive behavior."
Harry nodded. "I'll say. He damn near tore me to pieces for not going with you today." He paused for a moment and twiddled his thumbs. "Did you…? Did you want me to? Anyone? You'd always say no, but did you want us to try anyway?"
Her best friend was fumbling and Hermione was much appreciative of that. She hugged him without warning and shook her head.
"You did what I wanted. You're not at fault for anything."
"But…" Harry gently peeled Hermione from off of him and looked her in the face. "You didn't mind what Malfoy did? Going after you like he did?"
"I was too miserable to stop him from taking me from the cemetery to mind anything."
Harry cocked a brow. "He didn't stay with you there? He took you somewhere?"
Hermione nodded. "He took me to his house. I certainly minded it then considering he wouldn't let me leave. I nearly tore him to pieces because of it. But he… He didn't want me to be alone, and he stuck to his guns about it. Like I said, he's got an interesting way of handling me."
Harry didn't know what to say. A picture was getting painted for him and it was huge and it was vibrant. Did Hermione even see it?
"Hermione,-?"
"I guess I'm lucky to have him as a friend now," she said before he could say anything. "Funny how life turns out, huh?"
Harry deflated. No, she didn't see it. In fact, she was quite blind.
"Yeah," Harry agreed. "Funny."
Author's note: A shorty chapter, but a massive load of feels. Draco is my hero :). Also, I'll be featured on the Facebook group Granger Enchanted Survivor's Meet the Penname on Friday! If you guys wanna swing on over there and learn a bit more about me and my writing/fics, feel free!
Replies to guests:
Karlie: Thank you! They're friendship-to-relationship is goals honestly.
LittleTrooper99: He cooked! I want him to cook for me... *pouts*
Guest: Hmm, I do agree that the kids are a bit of a crutch in Draco and Hermione seeing each other. I think a fight with the kids probably would've done more damage before New Years and D+H meeting up without the children. It would've been interesting factor for sure!
