Bring Me Calm

I'm on a roll! So, last chapter we had some intended feels. I'm not the best writer in the world so no doubt it didn't come across as sad as what I imagined in my head but hey! Still lots to go in this little fic... thank you for your continued time!

DISCLAIMER – Haven't morphed in to J.K. yet... which means that I don't own anything you recognise!

Chapter 11

HPOV

He held her until her sobs had subsided. She had known how hard it would be to tell him everything but she felt strangely relaxed. Like the tension in her body had been relieved by her outpouring of emotion. She was all cried out and while she was nowhere near over it she felt like she had made a huge step by telling someone who was unconnected to the event and unaware of the hell she had been through,

He continued to rock her back and forth as her tremors calmed, rubbing her back in soothing circles. She eventually pulled back to look at his face and was shocked to see he looked emotional as well. His eyes were molten silver, swimming with what looked like an immeasurable sadness and she didn't know why but she felt like he just got it. Like he knew that he couldn't say or do anything to help her and that was fine. Against all expectations he had held her while she poured out all her grief. They were practically strangers and he hadn't run a mile or taken the piss out of her. He seemed entirely different to the Draco Malfoy she remembered and she supposed that made sense. She realised that she knew next to nothing about him and still hadn't properly interrogated him.

Before she could even open her mouth he started to speak.

"Granger, I am so sorry, I had no idea what I was asking when I decided to badger you... Listen, it's getting late and I am sure you are feeling wrung out now, can you apparate? Maybe that would be the best way home... It will get you there quicker than a cab and if you feel up to talking again some time I will give you my number and you can send me a text or call me okay?"

"Why Malfoy, I didn't know you cared..." She remarked as she gathered up her shoes. "Thank you.."

She had quickly apparated home and collapsed on the bed without even bothering to change.

It was now the next morning and Hermione woke in a state of confusion. How had things done such a sudden 180? She thought back over the previous evening and wondered if it had all just been an exhaustion-fuelled hallucination. But no, her face was once again swollen with crying and her head was pounding and right there on the edge of the bed was Draco Malfoy's mobile number written on the back of the Chinese receipt.

So, not my imagination then. She reasoned, she wasn't sure how but sometime between her telling him to fuck off and her spilling her heart out yesterday evening he had ceased being Draco-Malfoy-pureblood-ass-and-childhood-bully and had become Draco-Malfoy-unknown-entity-with-emotions-and-apparent-empathy.

She wasn't sure how but at some point in the last few years he had obviously grown up and gotten over his prejudices. He had been exactly what she needed last night and her heart felt lighter at having told someone else her ordeal and just getting out her tears while being comforted. Sure she had been with Harry and Ginny for a while after Ron had finally passed on but how do you unburden your grief on others who are feeling it just as strong?

She owed Malfoy a big thank you, while she still grieved she felt that she had made a massive amount of progress in the previous night and that might not have been possible had he not bumped in to her a few days prior. Feeling stronger than she had in a while she dressed and made her way out of the house. By the front door she turned and focused on the large image of her and her three best friends laughing. It was taken on her wedding day and Ron had his arms round her waist as they laughed and joked with Harry and Ginny. It was the happiest day of her life and she smiled to see them all laughing and fooling around.

"I miss you sweetheart..."

DPOV

Draco woke up late, again. He had entirely forgotten t set his alarm after dealing with Granger's little breakdown. I suppose it's Weasley now... he mused as he got dressed. He didn't have anywhere to be that day but was feeling a bit shaken from the emotions the night before. Seeing her break down had brought back some highly unpleasant memories and he had no desire to be sat indoors. He had just gotten his shoes on when his mobile started ringing.

"Hello?"

"Malfoy it's Hermione, I owe you a big thank you. Are you free for lunch today?"

He blinked a few times... was she really inviting him to lunch? Sure he had hoped that her opening up would possibly lead to him mending their pasts properly but in all honesty he had expected her to run a mile and for her tearful confession to be the last he saw of her.

"...Malfoy?"

"Oh, um, yeah sure?"

Right, so thats it for tonight! I'm sorry, I know this last one was a bit shorter again! Thank you for sticking with it and for those of you that have followed/favourited this so far!