A/N: Thank you readers for all the new follow/favorites and the reviews. I got distracted and didn't get a chance to respond to reviews personally, but know that if you left a review, I read it, and given all the positive feedback they have made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Thanks again for your continued support. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter.
We all know J.K Rowling and Co own the rights to Harry Potter and the crew.
Chapter 9: Confessions
Draco reluctantly left Hermione's just after lunch. He needed a fresh change of clothes before tea with his mother that afternoon.
He flooed into Malfoy Manor ten minutes before three. The only time she had shirked on this tradition was during Voldemort's tenure at the Manor.
Narcissa swept into the room after only a moment, drawing Draco into a tight motherly hug. He had to bend so she could wrap her arms around his shoulders. "Draco, darling." She cooed, "Did you have a lovely evening at the Gala?"
"We spent most of the evening on official duties. We left shortly after they were completed."
"Surely you took the opportunity to charm Miss Granger with a dance? You always were a superb dancer." Narcissa beamed, so proud of her son.
Draco chuckled at his not at all subtle mother, "Yes, mother. I danced with Hermione. She is a lovely dancer as well." Draco could see his mother trying to suppress her smile. "We all went out after the Gala as well."
"Oh." Narcissa said with a raised eyebrow, "You must tell me all about it over our tea." And with that, Draco offered his arm to escort his mother to the solarium.
It was an exceptionally clear day for November and Draco was momentarily distracted by the beauty of the Manor gardens. The whole of the Manor had a lighter feel now. He knew he should thank Hermione for her part in helping his mother.
As they took their seats, two well-dressed elves popped out; one carrying the antique china tea service Draco remembered from his youth and the other with a tray laden with biscuits and finger sandwiches.
"Thank you, Tink, thank you, Sprocket." Narcissa said sincerely. The elves gave a polite bow and popped away again.
Draco's attention was drawn back to his mother as he looked at her with confusion. "Oh, yes, dear, they're free." Draco was speechless so Narcissa continued, "In an effort to revitalize the Manor after the War I had a long very frank discussion with the elves that were left. I explained that the environment in the magical world was changing. I made it very clear that I was more than pleased with the service they had provided to our family and would not be forcing clothes on any of them, but if they so wished to be free they would have employment with the Malfoy family and could remain bonded with us."
That was clearly Hermione's influence, Draco couldn't stop the smile that graced his lips at the thought of her.
"Mother, the Manor really looks beautiful. I'm pleased with the changes you've made." Draco had been to the Manor since he'd moved back, but had not really taken the time to appreciate what it must have taken to achieve such a drastic change in atmosphere.
"Thank you, darling, but you know, I don't think it would have turned out quite as it did, if not for your Miss Granger."
"My Miss Granger?" he questioned, one eyebrow raised.
"Draco" His mother scolded, "Don't be foolish. A mother can always tell where her son's affections lie. Where is Hermione this afternoon? Why didn't you bring her?"
Draco again was lost for words as he carefully considered what he should say next. Slytherin tactics would be necessary in this situation. "Did you owl her an invitation, Mother?"
Narcissa narrowed her eyes at her son, Slytherin though she may be, after the War she didn't take much pleasure in subversive games, "I would hardly think it necessary to owl her an invitation when you were with her just this morning." She said taking a dainty sip of her tea.
Draco choked and sputter a cough to clear his airway. How could his mother know he had been with Hermione? Then it hit him…Blaise and Pansy. Two bigger gossips had never walked the halls of Hogwarts. "Have a visit from Pansy today I take it?"
Narcissa lightly shrugged her shoulders taking another sip of her tea before leveling Draco with a reproving glare, "I do hope you are treating her respectfully, Draco. She is not just any witch you know."
"Yes, mother." Draco agreed with a slight smile and a faraway look, "She's not just any witch."
Narcissa was quite pleased at this and sipped her tea with a smug look on her face.
Hermione was not saved an interrogation of her own. Almost as soon as Draco flooed away, Pansy and Daphne appeared.
"Awww, you're not still in your jammies." Pansy teased.
Daphne laughed into her hand, "Heard you and Draco were quite the cozy little pair this morning."
Hermione rolled her eyes, determined not to encourage them further, "Would you ladies like tea?" She asked.
"Very well." Pansy answered leveling Hermione with a pursed lip glare, "Get some tea, but you are not avoiding the dish about that beautiful blond wizard."
Hermione rolled her eyes once again as she escaped to the kitchen to prepare the tea. She returned with a tea and biscuits and the three friends settled into their snack.
"Ok," Daphne started, "It's been obvious to everyone for a while that you two are attracted to each other. So, what happened after Theo and I left?"
Hermione sighed, she should have known she couldn't maintain her privacy; nosey Slytherin witches, "We drank some more, danced some more, flooed back here and had a lovely time. Which continued this morning…twice." She said feigning nonchalance as she sipped her tea.
The squeals coming from the other two witches caused Hermione to cringe and Crookshanks to leap from his perch on the couch and retreat with a haughty flip of his tail.
"Is that all?" Pansy said incredulously, "Come on Hermione. Is he as beautiful under his clothes as he is in them?" she asked with a wicked wiggle of her eyebrows. Daphne sat next to Pansy looking equally interested in the answer.
"Honestly you two." Hermione scolded, "This is one of your oldest friends. Besides, Pansy, weren't you and Draco an item back at Hogwarts?"
Pansy scoffed, "We 'dated,' and he took me to the Yule Ball in fourth year, we did nothing more than snog a few times. He's more like a brother to me than anything."
"All the more reason you should have not to want to hear the intimate details of our time together."
"I said like a brother, not an actual brother." Pansy said rolling her eyes. "Besides, Hermione, I think we can all agree, attached or not, that Draco Malfoy is a delicious wizard."
Daphne nodded emphatically looking knowingly at Hermione. Hermione sighed, "Ok, fine" she huffed, "He's every bit as beautiful under the clothes as in them and he really lived up to his nickname at Hogwarts."
Daphne and Pansy looked at each other confused for a moment then back at Hermione silently asking for clarification, "The Slytherin Sex god." She answered looking equally confused that they had not heard the moniker.
They collapsed in a fit of giggles while Hermione looked on now being the confused one since she generally didn't hear gossip back a school, being the swot she was.
Pansy and Daphne regained their composure and with a delicate wipe at the corner of her eye Pansy explained. "Draco was no Sex god during school. He hardly ever had a girlfriend. He's a bit of a romantic really and with everything that happened during our time at school, he didn't have much chance to indulge in romancing women." She finished sadly. "Where on earth did you hear that anyway?"
Hermione thought for a moment, perhaps it had less to do with actual sexual prowess and more to do with the silly ramblings and distractions of her dorm mates, "Lavender Brown." Hermione answered sadly, "Thought to be fair that may have just been one of her boy crazy fantasies, after a while you just tuned them out."
"Isn't that the girl Weasley made such a spectacle with in sixth year?" Daphne asked.
"Yes, it was." Hermione answered, "Come to think of it, Draco inadvertently broke them up when Ron was accidently poisoned." Hermione cringed at the memory and became pensive for a moment.
Pansy moved to sit beside Hermione, "That was a terrible time for him."
Hermione nodded sadly remembering the sallow tone of his skin and the deep purple circles below his eyes. "Don't be afraid to talk to him about it." Pansy told her pulling Hermione closer for a one armed hug. "He might not have been here in England, but he did get help after the War. I don't think he would be the man you're so interested in today if he didn't?" Pansy beseeched her with raised eyebrows.
Hermione discreetly wiped a tear from her eye and Pansy pulled her into a tighter hug, "You're really quite besotted with him aren't you?"
Hermione just nodded not trusting her voice yet, then taking a deep breath answered, "I really am. I've not felt so connected with someone in quite some time. I just hope he feels that same."
Draco had owled the next day and taken Hermione out to lunch. They went to a quiet café in muggle London and then walked around the nearby park and watched families play on what could potentially be the last day of sun for a while.
They were settled on a bench comfortably snuggled up to one another to fight off the chill. Draco would have suggested a warming charm, but feeling Hermione pressed up against him was too enticing to offer an alternative.
"Draco," Hermione began unsurely, "What did you do in France?"
"How do you know I was in France?" He asked with a teasing tone trying to keep the conversation light.
"I'm sure you're aware that your mother kept your friends apprised of your doings even though you wanted to know nothing of the happenings here." She replied seriously.
"I've gathered as much, but no offense, we weren't exactly what I'd call friends. Why did she tell you?"
"Perhaps because I asked after you." She said with a light swat to his shoulder, "Narcissa and I became unexpectedly close and you are important to her. It gave her joy to talk about her 'most treasured accomplishment'." She said raising her eyebrows at his skepticism.
"Well, what did she tell you already?"
"Just that you were in France, studying law. That you were doing well and she hoped you'd come home. She may have shared more with your former housemates, but I'd rather hear it from you anyway."
He took a deep breath, "Oh, where to begin? Let's see. The repeat year of school was awful for me. I isolated myself from everyone, but you probably realized that already. I just wanted to focus on my studies and fulfill my obligation to the Ministry. Even though I was voluntarily isolating myself, I had never felt more free. My father was in Azkaban, Voldemort was dead, my mother was alive and safe, and I was not under orders or obligation by my familial position to act any certain way towards anyone. So, I figured if I kept my head down I could avoid any undue stress. I concentrated on my studies and getting out so I could do something I wanted for once. I love potions, but as hobby; I didn't want to make a career out of it, but after my transgressions, and learning intimately about our justice system, I wanted to study law."
"And that led you to France?"
"Yes and no. I knew that Theo and Blaise were also going to study law in University, but as much as I value their friendships, I needed to be alone. I needed space, distance. Distance from England, distance from expectations, somewhere the Malfoy name wasn't as tainted by the past. I was trying to escape. The thing I didn't count on was my past following me." He said wryly.
"Following you, how so?" Hermione queried.
"Nightmares." He said simply and she nodded in understanding, "I regularly worked myself to exhaustion during that final year. I would fall asleep at the desk and my mind was so drained, I'd manage to sleep without the nightmares. Once school ended, but before university started I didn't have that distraction and I either didn't sleep or I took dreamless sleep. I hoped being out of the Manor and out of England would put my mind at ease, but it didn't." He said sadly as Hermione threaded her fingers through his. He looked at her with a wan smile and continued. "I'm sorry to say that your face featured more nights than I'd like to admit."
Hermione took in a deep breath remembering the nightmares she suffered, some of those often included his haunted grey eyes. She only nodded again not wanting to interrupt his progress.
He continued, "Mother wrote me that she had begun counseling and was seeing great benefits. Told me that my pride should not get in the way of finding true healing. So, I took her advice. I was surprised when the healer at the local wizarding hospital referred me to a squib who had studied muggle psychology. I was wary at first, but he really helped me deal with my trauma. I started sleeping again and only had an occasional nightmare, but I had tools to deal with them then.
"I threw myself into my university program, made some casual friends, explored the local area, I even dated a few women casually." She raised her eyebrows at him at this. "Casually, nothing serious." He assured her, she shook her head at him with a slight giggle.
"I can't say anything. I dated Pucey and Ron." She said with a look of disgust on her face. Draco laughed.
"Let's never speak of it again."
"Deal" she agreed and then motioned for him to continue.
"As my program drew to a close I had to decide where I wanted to intern. I liked France, I had some friends, but I was starting to miss home and of course my mother." He said with a crooked smile.
Hermione reached up and tousled his hair, "You are the cutest mama's boy."
"I am not cute." He said in disgust while rearranging the damage done to his hair, "Though I will not deny being a mama's boy." He mumbled quietly.
Hermione laughed at his admission, "I'd say your secret's safe with me, but I'm fairly certain that you were pegged a mama's boy by everyone a long time ago."
"There is no shame in loving your mother." He argued.
"I agree." She said, "I love my parents very much. Obliviating them in the war was the hardest thing I had to do. But being able to restore their memories and rebuilding our relationship is something I will be thankful for every day."
"I always admired your strength throughout the War. I was in absolute hell and I can't imagine that anything was easier for you. You really are an amazing witch…an amazing woman."
She averted her eyes and blushed, "Thank you. I would never be where I am today of I hadn't also gotten counseling. I hope your mother doesn't mind my saying, but I'm the one who recommended the counseling to her as well."
Draco hugged her closer to his body, "Thank you Hermione. For everything you've done for my mother."
"We all deserve a chance to live the lives we want." She said in reply.
Draco leaned down and kissed her gently then stood from the bench and offered his hand. He walked her back to her townhouse, their fingers twined together and content smiles on their faces.