Chapter 12
"So...how did you do it? Find my parents?" Hermione asked, shyly. She wasn't really sure she wanted to know the answer. They lay on the bed, her head on his bare chest, rising and falling with each of his breaths. He stroked her hair distractedly, with his other hand lay on top of hers.
"It's really Michael you have to thank. Like I said, I didn't do it for the acknowledgement. I just got in touch with some friends, who got me onto some leads, I sent them some money to look further into it, and Michael did the rest." Hermione smiled against his chest, biting her lip with pure joy. She was glad he couldn't see the giddy look in her eyes, because she knew he wouldn't want to explore the subject much more.
"So, your mother and Michael? How did that happen?" She felt the short laugh escape from Draco, as well as heard it, and she moved so that she was lay on her stomach, her arms folded beneath her chest and she could look at him.
"The same way you and I happened, I suppose," he smiled, stroking her cheek, lazily.
"What, she bugged him and harassed him, and then made it so she was sublimely happy, and then seduced him?" She smirked. Draco laughed again.
"No, smart arse. She changed, he noticed. She's happy now. Happier than I've ever seen her before. It's weird," he sat up a little more and pulled his knees up, resting his chin on his knees, "the whole house is different. Less like a prison now, more like...home." He tried to hide his grin behind his knees but Hermione pulled them down.
"Don't hide. I like seeing you happy. You should be happy." He pulled her into his lap and kissed her tenderly.
"I am. Very happy." She settled down against his chest once more. But it wasn't long before their bliss was interrupted by the large clock in the corner of the room, whose brassy chime told the couple it was now 11pm.
"I should get back to the common room. Ginny will already interrogate me when I get back, but if I don't leave now she might send out a search party." She kissed him quickly and began dressing, turning occasionally to watch him as he did the same. As they stood at opposite sides of the bed, facing each other, and pulling on the last of their clothes, Draco's face suddenly took on a look of confusion.
"What is it?" Hermione asked.
"Are you going to tell her? About us?" Hermione gasped in shock, she hadn't really thought about it.
"I mean, do you want me to?" She asked, unsure of what she hoped his answer was. He knelt on the bed and took her hand in his, smiling a little.
"I thought we might just keep it between us, just for a while. It's early days, and I know your...friends," he swallowed the word like he had a bitter taste in his mouth, "will have a few things to say about this, whatever it is. What I'm saying is, I'd like to find out what this is ourselves before everybody else knows. If that's okay with you? But if you want to tell people then that's fine." She knelt up on the bed in front of him and placed her arms around his neck.
"I think that sounds perfect." She kissed him softly and his hands tightened on her waist, "But I do think we need to get back to our dorms now." She smiled against his efforts to pull her to the bed.
Draco walked her to the stairway taking her to the Gryffindor tower, and kissed her goodbye in a dark corner where they were sure nobody could see them. She practically skipped up the stairs and Draco laughed to himself a little as she had spun round to blow him a kiss. He had never been one for showing affection, but this agreement to keep their relationship secret killed him a little, even if it was his idea. He hated that he wouldn't be able to hold her hand and let everybody know that of all the people in the world, Hermione Granger had chosen him. This clever, beautiful, bright, amazing witch thought he was good enough for her. He had never felt more proud and yet unworthy of his glory. He wandered slowly through the castle back to slytherin dormitory. He knew his bubble of happiness would burst once he was alone in the darkness of his own room without her beside him. But he didn't have to wait that long. Of course she was there, of course she was waiting for him. He hadn't seen her since he'd ended it, but of course he knew that wasn't really the end. She was stood outside the entrance to the common room, obviously not wanting an audience for this conversation. He wished he had Potter's stupid invisibility cloak right now.
"Where have you been?" She asked, judgmentally, pushing herself off the wall she had been leaning against.
"That's none of your business, Astoria," He protested, "Why are you out here?" He refused to meet her eyes at all, instead he faced the concealed doorway, ready to utter the password and escape.
"I'm waiting for you. You can't just drop me you know?" He took a glance at her out of the corner of his eye. She looked angry. And sad.
"I'm sorry if I hurt you, Asti. But it's better than pretending right?" He meant it, he hadn't meant to hurt her. He'd used her and that was wrong. But he couldn't tell her that.
"I've seen the way you look at her you know. She'll never want you back." Draco's eyes widened in fear for a fraction of a second, before he forced his face to portray a look of mild confusion and disinterest.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Colour rose on her face and she clenched her fists a little.
"Yes you do. Don't lie to me."
"Seriously, Asti. Who are you talking about?" He shrugged at her.
"That stupid fucking mudbl-" Before he knew what he was doing Draco had grabbed Astoria's arms and slammed her against the wall, there was a look of genuine terror in her eyes.
"Don't you fucking dare call her that!" His voice was raised and his body shaking. The terror swam away from her eyes, replaced by a menacing glee that Draco didn't like the look of. He set her down, hoping to Merlin he hadn't hurt her.
"I knew it. You're in love with the Gryffindor Princess. You lunatic. What happened to you Draco?" She sneered, "I thought you were better than that." She flipped her hair and muttered the password, swinging her hips as she walked through the entryway and disappeared from sight. Draco fell to the floor trembling. He couldn't believe what he'd just done. He'd never been that aggressive towards someone who didn't deserve it before. But maybe she did deserve it. She had been about to say that awful word. That word he'd taunted Granger with time and time again, and the reason she'd tortured him right back with her own words and that punch in the face. Would Astoria figure it out, if she was already suspicious of Draco's feelings? Or would it help them keep it a secret?
"Where the hell have you been?" Hermione jumped and squealed at the shock of Ginny's voice coming out of the darkness.
"Jeez, Gin, you made me jump," Hermione laughed, as she attempted to get her heartbeat back to normal.
"You haven't answered my question." She sounded angry, and Hermione felt a tightening in her chest with the sadness of not being able to tell her friend that something wonderful was happening in her life. But she knew deep down that she wouldn't understand.
"I just went for a walk. To get myself reacquainted with the place," She smiled at her, even though Ginny couldn't see it.
"Reacquainted? We've only been gone a few weeks." Oh no, she isn't buying this.
"Well, it's different now. To be honest, Gin, I hated being here before Christmas, I just constantly worried about my parents. Now I know they're safe I can enjoy this place again." She felt a little guilty for using her parents as an excuse, even if there was truth in what she said. Ginny went quiet, and Hermione didn't know if that was her acceptance or not. A minute later she spoke,
"I suppose. I'm sorry, it just feels like you're hiding something from me. And I don't like it. Neither would Harry or Ron." Hermione felt like she'd been punched in the stomach. She hated lying to her friends, but Draco was right, they had to figure this out themselves before they let a group of nay-sayers become involved.
"I'm sorry, I don't want you to feel that way." Was all she could say; she didn't want to lie anymore than she had to. It seemed to have worked though, as Ginny lay down and Hermione felt the tension ease and leave the room. She climbed into her pyjamas and crawled under the covers. As she put her head on the pillow she remembered the feeling of Draco's chest under her cheek, and feeling it rise and fall. Her eyes drifted closed as she remembered the feel of his skin against hers and how he'd played with her hair. If someone had told her a year ago that she would fall asleep thinking of Draco Malfoy and smiling, she would've assumed it was because she was thinking about him in pain, not because he was making her feel happier than she'd believed she could feel again.
The two weeks went by in a blur of solicitous meetings in dark corridors or curtained alcoves, of messages scrawled and passed to each other discreetly in class, of sneaking grazes of each other under desks, and stealing moments in the evening when they could. One night as they sat on the wooden rafters behind the clock, under the cloak of shadows, and looking out at the stars, Draco pulled Hermione closer and she felt the nerves shaking in his fingers,
"What's wrong?" She asked, concerned.
"It's stupid. I don't know if I should ask or not." Hermione smiled lovingly at him.
"You can ask me anything."
"Well…" Draco started, nervously, "The thing is. You see…" Hermione grabbed his hand, and squeezed reassuringly,
"What is it, Draco?"
"My mother and Michael are coming to Hogsmeade to visit in a few weeks, and I wondered if you'd...only if you want...well…"
"Are you asking me to meet your mother?" Hermione laughed.
"Yes?"
"I'd love to, Draco," She kissed him softly, but she couldn't stop the giggle from escaping her.
"Why are you laughing?" He laughed back.
"You were so nervous." Draco's face fell a little.
"I was worried you wouldn't want to. I mean, she was involved too...in all that...stuff." Hermione stopped laughing and placed her hands on his cheeks.
"I know she's changed, Draco. I know you both have. I trust you." His eyes met her, and they were glistening slightly, Hermione felt a jolt of emotion in her chest.
"You do?" He asked, dubiously. She smiled, consolingly,
"Or course I do." He pulled her in and hugged her tightly. She looked at her watch and frowned. Time always passed too quickly, they never had enough.
"Time to go?" Draco asked, sadly.
"Unfortunately. See you tomorrow?" Draco nodded, enthusiastically. She kissed him goodbye and set off back to the tower.
As Hermione walked back into the common room, Ginny was waiting in the arm chair. She and Draco had decided not to let their meetings run too late so as to not arouse suspicion. On the nights that they had met, Hermione had simply suggested she would be studying in the library. Ginny looked excited as Hermione sat back down, and her excitement felt infectious; Hermione found herself eager to hear what had Ginny bouncing in her seat, and she couldn't help but smile whilst she waited for the reveal.
"Well, what is it?" Hermione asked, unable to wait any longer.
"Harry and Ron are coming for another visit." She squealed. Hermione loved her friends, but she was expecting something a little more exciting than that.
"Great," Hermione attempted to match Ginny's elation, "when?"
"In a couple of weeks." Alarm bells rang in Hermione's head. It would just be her luck that they would visit the same week as Draco's mother, "The thirteenth of February. The day before Valentine's Day." Hermione mentally crossed her fingers that it wouldn't be the same day. She doubted his mother and Michael would be planning to come Valentine's weekend, they probably had some grand romantic weekend planned.
"That's great. I can't wait to see them." Hermione smiled as she felt the dread subside. As Ginny began to list off all the things Harry might possibly get her for Valentine's day, and all the things she could possibly get him, Hermione let her mind drift to ideas for ways she and Draco could spend their first Valentine's Day together.
Draco woke up from another excellent night's sleep. Since he and Hermione had first kissed after their return to Hogwarts, Draco hadn't had a single nightmare. Only pleasant dreams of deep brown eyes, soft hair and freckles. He constantly felt like he was having an out of body experience. This was not the Draco Malfoy he usually felt like. He usually felt mopey and empty, and now he felt soppy and emotional and - dare he even think it - happy. He stretched widely and climbed out of bed, ready for the day. It was Tuesday, and he laughed as he thought back to the beginning of the year and how much he used to dread Arithmancy lessons. Now it was his favourite time of the week. Not only was it the only class he sat next to Hermione in, but it was the only time of the week they were guaranteed none of her nosey friends would be around. He pulled on his uniform and swung his bag happily over his shoulder. As he walked through the common room, he noticed Astoria staring at him and he tried to hide the happiness spread across his face, but she narrowed her eyes at him as she walked past. He decided to ignore her expression and carry on moving, picking up his pace so that he could be away from her watchful glare as quickly as possible. As he walked into the room he noticed Hermione tapping her quill nervously against her book that was already laid out ready and prepared for the day's lesson.
"What's wrong?" He whispered as he lowered his bag, stroking down her arm discreetly as he sat next to her.
"Nothing, I'm fine," she smiled, unconvincingly, "Even better now you're here." That smile was genuine. He smiled back.
"Are you sure?" He squeezed her leg gently under the table and she slid her hand on top of his, turned it over and laced her fingers through his.
"About your mother's visit?"
"Have you changed your mind?" His mother would be so disappointed, and truth be told so was he.
"No, I just wondered what date it was exactly?" She looked nervous and Draco worried why.
"The thirteenth, they're coming to Hogsmeade for Valentine's Day."
"Of course they are."
A/N: Hope you're all still enjoying. Your reviews are always so lovely and they really make my day. Over a thousand visitors now which is a little overwhelming. I never thought that many people would see this. Thank you for continuing to read, and please keep reviewing.
