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Chapter 10
The rocky feeling of the cool cement beneath Hermione's feet was distracting her from the heat that was bouncing between Draco and herself. Even though her shoes were charmed to never hurt she liked being barefoot, it was calming. The walked most of the way to Hermione's building in silence, comfortable and self-assuring silence. When they reached the door to Hermione's building she turned to face him and met his platinum eyes straight on.
"Um, well thank you for tonight it was wonderful" She said quietly, she looked down to her feet and wiggled her toes. Draco looked down also and stifled a laugh, she reminded him of Luna the second she tore off her shoes and said she liked the feel of the ground.
"It was my pleasure" Draco returned fully. Now they were both just standing still looking at each other, wondering if a move was going to be made.
Hermione quickly pulled in a breath as she saw that he was moving in, slightly but hey it was a move. When their noses were about to touch Hermione closed her eyes, afraid to open them and see him gone. All her worries when flying out the door when she felt the warm comfort of his lips on hers.
It was a simple kiss, no tongue, no hair grasping, no groping. Just a kiss, a simple lovely kiss, they kind that showed that he wanted many more kisses to come. When you want to kiss someone again you take it slow, warm up to it, don't start with a bang. He pulled away and she opened her eyes, he was smiling, warm and happy so unlike the smiles or smirks she usually saw.
"Goodnight Hermione" He said taking her hand in his and giving it a squeeze
"Goodnight Draco" She smiled and let her hand drop when he let her go, she turned to walk into her building. She turned around once she was in the lifts, part of her did not expect him to be there but he was. Draco watched as Hermione walked into the building, her dress swaying with every step, shoes in her hands and her head held high. He shoved his hands in his pockets and smiled when she turned and waved to him right before the lift doors closed. This was a good night indeed.
Hermione opened the door to her flat, she looked over to the couch and saw Ginny and Luna talking and looking at magazines, Sophia was in her room sleeping, Hermione smiled when she saw her friends, actually excited to inform them about the night.
"Hermione!" Ginny dropped her magazine and motioned for Hermione to join the two girls on the couch. When Hermione plopped down she hardly took a breath before it began.
"How was it?"
"Where did he take you?"
"Somewhere fancy?"
"Did you snog?"
"Did he get in your Knickers?" Hermione's eyes widened at this question and turned to face Ginny.
"Ginny! Of course not it was just the first date!" Luna laughed quietly
Hermione spent the next half hour filling her friends in on the wonderful date in the park that the ever elegant Draco Malfoy had treated her too.
"Are you going to see him again" Luna asked
"Of course she is! Draco is practically in love with her!" Ginny answered for Hermione
"Ginny he does not love me again it was just the first date!"
"Oh I have to agree with Ginny on this one Hermione, Blaise mentioned at lunch that Draco can't shut up about you" Ginny smirked Luna giggled and Hermione blushed.
XXOOXX
Hermione had agreed to lunch with Harry and Ron that following Monday. Upon her lunch hour she went to a small café and saw her two best mates sitting in a booth by the back she walked up to them with a smile on her face.
"Hello boys!" She said happily as she plopped down next to Harry who gave her a peck on the cheek.
"ello Hermione" He said
"Hey Mione" Ron s said through a mouthful of crisps.
"How was everyone's weekend?" Hermione took a sit of Harry's tea and signaled to the waitress that she would like one also.
"Good, I got some flying in and helped George out down at the shop" Ron said choking down the crumbs of the crisps. Hermione turned to Harry
"Same old stuff, hung out with Albus and Ginny. Did paper work. How was your weekend?" He returned the question to the glowing Hermione, Ginny mentioned that she had a date but would not mention who with.
"It was great" that's it! That's all the information she was giving me? Harry thought. So he prodded
"So Hermione a little birdie told me you had a date" He poked her in the arm and Ron's eyes widened
"why in the world are you talking to birds Harry Potter" Hermione thought it was funny but from the look Harry gave her it did not work so she huffed and continued
"Yes I did have a date, and it went splendidly" She thanked the girl for the tea that was just placed in front of her and took a sip.
"Who with Mione, do I know the chap?" Ron asked. Even though they were broken up and did not have the best relationship he always felt somewhat protective of her, she being his first love and all.
"Yes you know him, I had a date with Draco" She sipped her tea and braced herself for the battle.
"What? You actually agreed to a date with that git? Being friends is one thing but a date!" Ron pounded his fist on the table and Hermione shot him a glare.
"Yes Ronald I did and it was wonderful! Do not judge Draco he is such a good man now" She felt the need to defend Draco, for him and for her peace of mind.
"Good Man! Are you kidding me he is such a prat! He was always teasing you in school Hermione he was a bloody death eater!" Ron was getting red in the face and Harry was rubbing his temples wondering why he ever brought it up.
"Get over it Ron we are not the same people we were in Hogwarts. He has grown up and is doing a lot of good now, I would hate for you to judge him for his past!" She was trying to keep her voice to a harsh whisper.
"I have earned the right to judge him! Do you remember the side of the war he was on? It hurts me that you would choose him like that, over me!" This statement was the straw that snapped Hermione's resolve
"JUDGING IS WHAT STARTED THE BLOODY WAR!" She stood up not caring if the café customers were looking without shame. She pointed her finger right in his face and continued
"you, you broke my heart, you DO NOT get the right to judge me on how I glue it back together" She could not help but let a tear fall from her eye, she was hurt that her best friend would just attack her like that and not trust her judgment. She turned from the café and slammed the door behind her; she walked down the street hugging her arms around herself and letting the tears fall, keeping her head down so no one would see. Then she ran into a strong chest and felt arms that were familiar to her.
"Oui Hermione!" Draco said before he saw her face.
"Wait Hermione what is wrong? Why are you crying?" He tilted her head up towards him and brushed away the tears with his thumb, a mask of worry placed on his face.
"It's nothing…just Ron being Ron" She tried to keep the tears in her eyes while looking at Draco who looked concerned and enraged at the same time.
"What did the prat say now?" Draco should have guessed that 'talk-without-thinking-Weasley' was the cause of her pain.
"I told them we went out on a date and Ron just exploded! Saying things like you could not be trusted and how could I date you and not him!" Hermione was starting to get mad all over again and the tears were edging closer to her cheek.
"Figures, what did you say?" Draco was curious to see if Hermione stood up to him.
"I told him he was being daft and that it was my decision to date you and that I am glad that I did and he has not say in the matter" She gave him a small smile and Draco let the corners of his mouth lift also. He was proud of the Gryffindor.
XXOOXX
Hermione walked into Healing glow with a tiny barely there smile on her face. After Hermione literally ran into Draco he insisted on taking her to get some ice cream, he claimed chocolate ice cream can fix anything. They were having nice small talk when he got an urgent message from work so he needed to leave.
Expecting a quiet day at work Hermione looked up to meet the frantic eyes of Lucy
"Lucy whats wrong?" She was worried Lucy hardly ever got this upset and rarely let it show.
"He is back oh my gosh what am I going to do" Lucy started pacing holding a piece of parchment in her hand.
"Lucy calm down, now tell me what is going on, who is back?" Hermione placed her hands on Lucy's forearms to keep her still.
"Brian my ex Brian! Remember the one who I gave my virginity to, the one who told me he was going to marry me, the one who left me high and dry right after I lost my parents. THAT BRIAN" Lucy was close to tears right now. Hermione remembered on day when they were still renovating the building Lucy told her all about the failed romance and how aggressive the man could be when he wanted to be.
Hermione did not pay all that much attention to Lucy's story because she started to drift off into her own memories of her first time. She tried not to tell many people about it, all because she was rather young when it happened only 15 years old. Looking back Hermione wished she had waited but does not regret it one bit. The only thing she regretted was how everyone found out.
Flashback
"Okay Hermione Truth or Dare" Neville asked Hermione. The Gryffindor's were all in the common room one night fifth year playing their annual game of drunken truth or dare.
"Um truth" She tried to convince herself that she was all too comfortable in her spot on the couch to pick dare, when in reality she was just scared.
"Oh I have one!" Ginny sprung up and whisper it in Neville's ear, he blushed and smiled.
"Are you a virgin?" Neville asked, still blushing. Of course Ginny would pick this one; she has been out for this information for a year now. Hermione lowered her head and then heard Ron's voice.
"Of course she is!" He said as if he was offended, when in truth Hermione was just offended at the thought that she could not get shagged.
"Actually I am not" She said, her voice strong and her head held high. Ginny squealed while singing I knew it. Ron and Harry's jaws were hanging open and Lavender was pestering her for info. The other students were whispering to each other.
"WHAT? You're lying!" Ron's eyes were wide and he looked mad, well he had no right to be mad it was her life not his.
"No Ronald I am quite serous. He is a muggle friend of mine, Colten." She just turned her head from the heated Ron and answered Ginny's questions.
"on break from school, I was 15, yes I know I was young. No I do not regret it. Yes he is dashing and we are still good friends."
Ron did not speak to her for days. And Slytherins kept winking at her, Lavender could not keep her big mouth shut.
End flashback
"Okay did he make contact with you?"
"Yes he wrote me!" Lucy shoved the piece of parchment into Hermione's hands and she read it.
Lovely Lucy,
I would just like to inform you that I will be in town for a while on business.
We should get together, I miss you.
All my love
Brian.
"Okay that did not seem that bad" Hermione put the letter down and Lucy started pacing again
"No Hermione, he wants to see me! I can't I can't do that. Do you know why I haven't contacted him in so long?" Hermione shook her head no.
"Before he broke up with me, a few days after my parents' death. He..he well he hit me. I was crying so much and he hit me to shut me up. Told me I was weak." She hugged herself and Hermione rushed to her side.
"You are not weak! And he had no right to hit you. Don't worry I will make sure he stays away." Hermione hugged the girl and promised her that Brian would never hurt her again. Suddenly her day did not seem that bad.
Draco came to pick Hermione up from work at the end of the day. He asked John to join him, knowing full well that Lucy was to be there also. Draco did not have to do much convincing, John practically jumped at the offer.
"Honey Im here!" Draco announced when he flung open the door to Hermione's store. She was behind the counter looking amused as ever.
"Oh lovely" She replied with sarcasm leaping from her lips, she laughed after wards and came around to hug Draco. When out of his strong embrace she noticed John.
"Oh hello John! What a wonderful surprise, Lucy is in the office you can go on back" Hermione motioned to the office and he smiled
"thanks, and nice to see you again Hermione" he started to walk away when Hermione remembered
"Oh John wait. Um Lucy she is not herself right now, so just be gentle okay?" John nodded though he was confused.
Lucy was placing files in a drawer facing away from him when he walked in the office; he did not say anything for a little he just watched. Her hair was a mess and she was breathing like she had been crying.
"Hello Lucy" He said from the door way. Lucy jumped in shock and turned around with her hand on her heart. She saw it was John and let out a sigh.
"Oh John you scared me!" She started to calm down and she smoothed out her hair. Her eyes were red and her skin was pale.
"I apologize. Lucy is everything alright?" John asked as he walked towards her, Lucy went to step back but didn't, that did not stop John from noticing.
"Oh yes, everything is just fine" She lied; he went to brush a piece of hair out of her eyes. When Lucy saw his hand come towards her face she flinched and let out a small cry. John's eyes widened
"I wasn't going to hurt you Lucy, are you sure you're okay?" His hands were on her shoulders now; she dropped her head into her hands and started to cry. John pulled her into an embrace and held her tight.
They just had their first date a couple of nights ago, it went splendidly. He took her to a carnival they went on rides played games and ate disgusting food laughing the whole night. She told him about her sister, their parents, and how Hermione helped her get back on her feet. He discussed his childhood in the states, all of his family, and helping to raise his sister's kid because she was drug addict and could not hold down a job. They were alike on many levels, a great childhood which formed into troubled years, he was so happy they found each other. Now he was scared to death that she would leave.
"He what?" Draco was shocked, Lucy always seemed so happy
"He hit her Draco and then left her, and then he has the nerve to contact her! She is terrified of her shadow, that Brian man really hurt her" Hermione filled Draco in on what was happening, she was worried that Lucy would shy away from John now because of Brian bringing up bad memories. John and Lucy needed each other there was no doubt about that.
XXOOXX
John was pacing in front of Draco's kitchen table, his hand running through his messy hair. Draco just spent the last half hour explaining why Lucy was so jumpy. John did not take it well, in the time that Draco has known John he was always very level headed. He never became serious with women, always claimed he did not have time because of his nephew and his job (he worked on a security team for some of the wizards world's most important corporations). Lucy was the first girl that caught his attention and kept it, John was head over heels for the pretty young witch.
"Why didn't she tell me?" He was still pacing, Draco was not sure if he was talking to himself or not but he answered anyway.
"She probably just wanted to leave it behind, move on from her past" Draco could relate to her on that one.
"I guess but, I could help her. What if she does not want to see me" His eyes filled with fear and Draco shook his head.
"Why would she not want to see you? She is just scared and upset right now, the most you can do is be with her, this Brian guy was a large part of her life, then he betrayed her in the worst way possible. Show her that will never happen again." Draco did not know where all of this bloody advice was coming from, probably his mother she was the only one with relationship knowledge that wasn't from a magazine.
"If that git gets anywhere near her, I will tear him apart with my bare hands!" John was furious, how any man could lay a hand in harm on any lady. He could never understand it, he never would.
Later that night Draco invited Hermione and Sophia over to his flat, Hermione explained that Lucy was over and if it was okay if he could come to her flat instead.
Draco grabbed a bottle of wine and a stuffed Dragon for Sophia and flooed over.
"Good evening Ladies" Draco said in his suave voice as he stepped out of the floo. Hermione and Lucy were sitting on the floor with Sophia dancing between them, her dark curls growing longer and longer each day.
"Hello Draco" Hermione said from the floor, Lucy smiled and Sophia ran over to his legs and grasped them. He bent down and she hugged his neck.
"Hello Sunshine! Look what I brought you" Draco kissed her forehead and pulled the Dragon from behind his back. She squealed and clapped her hands.
"Yay! Dwragon!" She gripped the toy and hugged it close.
"Sophia what do you say to Draco?"
"Tank you Dwaco!" Sophia stretched up on her toes and kissed his nose, Lucy and Hermione made aww noises from in front of them.
"It's no problem, Hey do you know what my name Draco means?" To Draco's surprise she nodded her head fiercely
"Means Dwragon!" She shoved the dragon in his face to make sure he knew.
"and how did you know that" He stood back up with Sophia in his arms, she pointed to her mother
"Momma wead a book!" She wiggled from his arms and ran to Hermione plopping down in her lap.
"And why does that not surprise me" Draco smiled at Hermione and she stuck out her tongue, Lucy watched the two with a knowing look in her eyes.
For the next two hours Draco, Hermione, and Lucy enjoyed in light conversation. Hermione told Lucy the story of when she punched Draco. Draco gave Lucy a load of embarrassing stories to hold against John incase he royally fucks up. Sophia was loving the attention between the three adults, every day she was talking more, walking and running more, and growing more. Just by listening to her Hermione knew Sophia was going to be a very intelligent witch. There was a knock on the and Draco stood up to answer it, Lucy and Hermione were too busy playing with Sophia's hair, Sophia was too busy playing with her dragon to care.
"Hello?" Draco opened the door to a large man muscle wise, very short blond hair and a creepy look in his eyes.
"Hello, does Hermione Granger live here?" The man asked Draco narrowed his eyes
"Why do you need to know" Draco was acting protectively over Hermione and Sophia of course this man gave him the shivers
"Well I stopped buy Lucy's place, neighbor said she would be here" The man tried to look beyond the door way but Draco stood straighter and blocked his view.
"Who the hell are you?" His patience was wearing thin now and he was becoming angry
"Oh sorry for being terribly rude, the names Brian Aqualdon" The man hand his hand out for Draco to shake, Draco's eyes widened as he recognized the name
"Leave now, you are not welcome here" Draco's eyes were cold and intimidating the man seemed taken aback.
"I hardly believe that is your choice, this is not your home and Lucy is not yours" Brian was angry that he was not getting his way
"Actually it is my choice, Hermione is my girlfriend and you are not welcome in her home or near it, and you are to stay away from Lucy, if I find you near her I will wrap your intestines around your body. The only reason I have not hexed you already is because of the child in the home. Now leave" Draco slammed the door right in Brian's face, the noise startled the three women in the living room.
"Hermione may I speak with you for a moment" Hermione nodded and handed Sophia to Lucy. She followed Draco into her bedroom and he shut the door. He was very stiff and uneasy she could tell.
"Draco what is the matter, who was at the door?" She brushed her hand across his cheek and he looked into her curious eyes with his angry fearful eyes.
"Brian" was all he uttered.