I feel like I need to apologize again, because I promised the chapter the next day, and instead I'm, what, four days late? I have all the excuses under the sun, but you guys probably just wanna read, am I right? At least this one is longer than the previous... I'm hoping to be back to the regular Wednesday updates now, so next chapter should be up then. I hope you guys had a magical Christmas (or a lovely holiday time if you celebrate something else or don't celebrate at all) and an amazing New Year. And if you're still celebrating, I hope you're having fun! Here in Australia, New Years Day is just drawing to a close. As always, reviews are so welcome.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Hermione's shift at the bookshop sped by, and it was three o'clock before she knew it. The shop was unusually busy today, with the Christmas season descending upon them, and there was plenty of new shipments for Hermione to sort through. As she began to unpack the second last box, the bell rang above the door.
Her head shot up, and there stood Draco. He didn't register her though, as he made his way towards the non-fiction shelf, running his finger along the titles. She watched him the whole time, her eyes devouring his every movement. He had left his hair exactly how Hermione liked it, floppy and constantly falling into his eyes. He wore a pair of jeans and a white shirt, nice and casual. He pulled a book of the shelf and flicked through it. Keeping a hold of it, he walked up to Hermione, who hadn't taken her eyes off him. Fighting off a smile, he leant against the bookshelf casually.
"Um, hi. I was just wondering if you had any more copies of this book?" He asked her. Suddenly realising his game, Hermione stood and took the book from him. She glanced at the title '101 Ways to Say Sorry to Your Angry Girlfriend'
"No, this is the only one, sorry" She replied, trying not to laugh. "You must have made your girlfriend pretty angry if you need to know 101 ways to say sorry" She said casually. Draco grinned at her.
"Nah, it's for a mate. He messed up pretty badly" He replied.
"I'm Hermione Granger" She said, sticking her hand out. Draco took it, and immediately, goose bumps littered her arms.
"Draco Malfoy" He murmured. "So, can I buy this book? My mate could really use the tips" Draco added with a smile, and Hermione grinned.
"Of course, can't leave your mate waiting" Hermione nodded as she made her way over to the cash register.
Hermione rung up the book while Draco fished the money out of his pocket. The two kept up fake small talk as they went. When it came time for Draco to leave the shop, he pulled something from his pocket and handed it to Hermione.
It was a small key, and tied to the key was a small piece of paper on a string. It had one word on it. 'Tonight'.
Draco left as soon as Hermione had the key in her hand.
She didn't know how or why she remembered, but somehow she knew. This was the key to her and Draco's apartment.
When Hermione found herself in front of the mahogany door with the exquisite gold numbers, her heart began to thump. How had he managed to keep this place? Surely he wouldn't have paid the rent the whole time…
Of course he would have. Hermione thought, shaking her head. He's so cocky and self-assured that he would have paid the rent all these years just on the thought that eventually we would come back here.
Hermione was jolted out of her thoughts by the sound of a door opening behind her. She turned around and found herself in front of tall man in a tailored suit. He looked her up and down with distasteful expression, before turning sharply and striding towards the elevator. Hermione followed him with her eyes, before glancing back at the door he had come out of. She stared at it for a long while, before she turned back to her own door. Her fingers clamped around the key tightly as she slid it into the lock. She closed her eyes as a sickness swept over her, she felt as if she would throw up at any moment. She turned the key, and pushed the door open gently.
This place had held so much happiness for her. She had shared so much here with Draco and now, everything seemed so dark. There was dust lining every surface, the colours seemed faded and the room felt small. She slowly walked around each piece of furniture, digesting everything as memories sparked in her mind. Eventually, she came face to face with the bedroom door.
This is where the magic happens, she thought bitterly as she turned the handle. The door swung open and she was greeted with the site of an unmade bed, the dresser on the floor, with all its contents strew about, and black burn marks and holes in the walls. Lucius Malfoy had obviously gone on a rampage once Hermione had fled.
Remaining untouched, however, was two boxes, one small and one large, just peeking out from under the bed. Hermione leant down beside them, before flopping unceremoniously onto the floor. She pulled the smaller box onto her lap, opening the lid. It was a pair of cream coloured heels, not too high. They would have been the perfect fit.
Reaching for the other box, Hermione knew she had some kind of inkling what it would be; and she was right. Inside the box was a navy dress that fell just above the knees. It was slim fitting, and it had a v-neck that dropped in just the right place, so it would leave much to the imagination, but still leave a nice view. The dress was something Hermione had admired in a shop window in London weeks before she was supposed to be wearing it.
Hermione felt as if her heart was in her throat as she stood to try the dress on. She got changed quickly, her eyes never leaving the dress. It slipped on perfectly, hugging her figure, as if it was made especially to her. She slid her feet into the shoes, and as she watched herself in the mirror, she tried to mimic her hair how Paolo had styled it. It wasn't the same, but it was just enough. This was how she was supposed to look on that night. It was supposed to be the happiest night of her life.
In the corner of her eye, she spotted something move. She spun around, ready to be on the defense, when she realised it was Draco. She held her hand to her heart, catching her breath.
"You scared me" She said accusingly, folding her arms.
"Sorry" He laughed, his hands at his side. "You look amazing in that dress" He added with a smile, and Hermione did a little twirl.
"It's beautiful" She commented.
"Hermione, I'm so sorry. About everything that happened. It was not the kind of thing I ever thought my father was capable of doing and I'm—" Draco said as he made his way closer to Hermione. She put her finger to his lips.
"Were moving on. Starting anew, remember?" She said softly, and he nodded. Draco opened his mouth to protest, but Hermione just shook her head.
"Let's build things from here"
Draco nodded and sat down on the end of the bed.
"I'll just go change out of this dress" Hermione walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her, locking it.
Draco smirked where he was sitting as he watched Hermione leave.
"I've seen you naked before, Hermione. You can change in front of me. Besides, you left your clothes out here" He called out. A second later, the door opened and Hermione walked out, the dress unzipped. She was clutching it to her body as she glared at Draco.
"If we are starting over then technically, you haven't ever seen me naked before" She retorted as she retreated back into the bathroom.
"Well then I guess I'll just have to convince you to get naked in front of me again" He replied with a cheeky grin.
As Hermione changed, he pulled his wand out of his pocket and muttered something. He pointed it towards the mess his father had made, and within seconds, everything was in its rightful place. He stood up and walked into the lounge room, a couple waves of the wand clearing off the dust. He looked around the apartment, a sense of home and happiness washing over him. This was where he was destined to be, with Hermione.
To think, if his father hadn't ruined everything, they could have a house by now and a baby to look after. Hermione would sing him or her to sleep every night, and then they would relax by the fire, her with a book and he with a glass of fire whiskey.
It was his dream. And by Merlin, he would make it happen. No matter what.
When Hermione came back out, she glanced around the apartment with awe.
"It looks just like before" She whispered to herself, and Draco smiled.
He sat down on the lounge and invited her over to sit with him, which she did. She left some space between them, an act that did not go unnoticed by Draco. He left his hand casually resting and open, inviting her to take it.
"Are you still married to Astoria Greengrass?" Hermione asked suddenly.
"Mother told me that Astoria got a divorce as soon as she realised that Lucius was pretending to be me, she couldn't stomach the thought of being married to a man old enough to be her father. They didn't have a happy, conventional marriage anyway. No children, slept in separate beds…" Draco responded, a scowl on his face.
"Didn't she ever ask where your mother was?" Hermione pressed on.
"He would bring her out of the dungeon once a week for dinner on a Friday night. He kept her under an imperius, so she wouldn't say a word. Astoria was never bright, so she never caught on. All beauty and no brains."
"But surely she—" Hermione started, but Draco lent over and captured her lips with his own. He pulled her flush against his own body as the two melted into the kiss, feeling truly reunited. When Draco pulled back, he pecked Hermione's nose gently.
"I brought you here for us. Not for the past. No more questions" He said softly. Hermione nodded, a content smile on her face.
The two fell easily into a comfortable silence, tangled together. Draco brought his hand up to lazily stroke Hermione's hair.
They were together again.
Two weeks past with them meeting in secret at their old apartment, and they found themselves in a routine so familiar that it felt like no time had passed at all.
Hermione couldn't bring herself to tell her friends about Draco. They knew how she felt, but they would only warn her against getting involved again. No matter how many times she told them that it wasn't him, that he really loved her…
Draco was yet to talk to his mother. He was thoroughly convinced that she did really have something against Hermione, and this whole ordeal was a ploy to get her son away from a 'mudblood' and into the arms of a suitable pureblood heiress. A stupid, crazy, twisted, lengthy ploy.
Tonight, though, Hermione would reintroduce Draco to her parents. Draco knew that Hermione would have told her mother and father enough about what happened for them to hold nothing but hatred towards him, but he was hoping that by the end of the night, he could win them over. Just like he had done the first time. Layers upon layers of charm, a dazzling smile and some wine, that was the trick.
That dazzling smile was plastered on his face right now as he stood on the door step of Hermione's parent's home. He turned the expensive bottle of wine in his arm so that the label would be facing whoever opened the door. He made sure that he would get their favourite.
Hermione gripped his other hand in her free hand as she knocked on the door.
"Hermione's here!" A male voice shouted from inside, and within seconds, Mrs Granger was standing before them.
"Hermione, dear!" She delighted, hugging her only daughter.
"Hi, mum" Hermione replied, kissing her mother's cheek. When the two women had pulled apart, Mrs Granger's eyes fell on Draco.
She looked between the couple, her eyes wide.
"Hermione… what is he doing here?" She stage whispered, and Draco tried to keep the smile on his face at her accusing tone. Maybe winning them over would be harder than he thought.
Hermione tugged Draco closer to her.
"Mum, you remember Draco, don't you?" Hermione asked sweetly. Jean glared at him, her arms folded.
"How could I forget" She spoke icily.
"Well, we've decided to work everything out again. Mum, I love Draco so much. And he loves me. And we both really want this to work. He hasn't come to beg forgiveness, he's come to make amends and held get things back to how they used to be. He even brought your favourite wine" Hermione pleaded with her mother. Draco held the bottle up. Jean softened slightly.
"We will talk about it inside over dinner" She said, as she motioned for them to pass her. "Hermione is here, love. And she brought Draco with her!" Jean called out to her husband. Johnathon Granger walked in, brandishing a knife, a stripy apron tied around his neck and waist.
"Draco? I thought I said that that young man was never to set foot in my house again!" He said hotly, and Draco stepped back, eyes wide.
"Dad! Please. Let's just have dinner, and we will explain everything" Hermione said as Jean tried to pry the knife away from her husband's waving arm. Johnathon glared untrustingly at Draco, who held onto Hermione tightly.
"Hermione, I don't think this is such a good idea… you parents hate me" He whispered, and she smiled at him.
"Relax. They will warm up to you again" She assured him, and he shook his head.
"Did you hear your father? Did you see that knife?" He said quickly. Hermione pulled him into the dining room, biting back a laugh.
"Just be yourself" She whispered into his ear.
"Myself wants to make a beeline for the front door and go have a milkshake in a tiny café somewhere with you" He replied, reluctantly following her.