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Chapter 20

Blaise made his way around the Manor, looking for Draco. It had been months since he had seen his friend, and given the recent events, he needed Draco more than ever. He made his way to the kitchen, where he knew the house elf would be.

"Pixie," he said as he entered the large kitchen. The small elf looked up at Blaise and bowed. "Where's Draco?"

"Master Draco is not home, Master Zabini."

"Set up the guest wing for me, Pixie." He said as he turned his back on the elf and made his way back to Draco's study. He flooed home, happy to find that Ron was no longer there. He hurried to his room and started packing away his clothes in his old school trunk.

He wasted no time flooing back to Malfoy Manor, levitating his trunk next to him.

During their childhood, Draco and Blaise had been inseparable. But somewhere along their Hogwarts years, they had grown apart. However, with the guilt he'd felt after hurting Granger, he needed Draco.

Back at the Manor, Pixie was waiting for him in Draco's study. She bowed low to him before snapping her fingers and making his trunk disappear.

"Master Malfoy has not returned, sir. Would you like me to show you to the guest wing?"

"No, Pixie, I know this place well enough to make it on my own."

The elf bowed again before disappearing. He walked over to Draco's desk and pulled a bottle of firewhiskey out of the bottom drawer. So predictable, Draco, he thought to himself. A piece of parchment lying on the desk caught his eye, the words Harry Potter is a Prat on the first line. He laughed, recognizing Draco's handwriting. However, he was surprised to see a response on the next line Draco Malfoy =Arse in handwriting he didn't recognize. Followed by Draco with Get off my bloody parchment, Potter. It went on for a couple of lines.

A wave of shock from sudden realization went through Blaise. "Bloody hell, they're friends."

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Harry and Draco felt the uncomfortable pull of the portkey activating. They landed as steadily as possible and took in their surroundings. They had arrived in a small empty kitchen. They turned to each other, both wands out.

"Do you think they live here together?" asked Draco.

Harry didn't answer. His eyes had landed on a worn out copy of Hogwarts, A History on the counter. He opened it gently with his free hand. He saw the familiar handwriting on the inside cover: Property of Hermione Granger. He motioned for Draco to read it.

As Draco read the words, he felt his heart skip a beat. She's here, he thought to himself. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the writing on the book.

Harry was looking through the kitchen drawers when Draco said, "Potter, wait."

"What is it?" He looked back at Draco.

"I don't know if I can do this."

"Do what, Malfoy?"

"What if she's here because she wants to? Maybe we were wrong about Weasley," he said in a low voice.

"I doubt that," said Harry confidently. "She would never abandon the people she cares about of her own free will."

"She's been gone for ages, what made you decide on looking for her now?" Draco strode over to Harry and grabbed his collar. "You were quick to believe she had abandoned you before I said otherwise!"

Harry pushed Draco off and slammed him to the wall behind him. "Maybe I was grieving, Malfoy! Maybe my mind was fucked up and maybe I couldn't think straight!"

"You let her disappear, Scarhead. You let her leave!" he yelled back as he shoved Harry off of him.

"Don't you think I know that? Don't you think I regret it? I thought he was my friend- my brother! I don't know what he's capable of! I trusted him!"

"I trusted him, too, Harry," said a small voice from the doorway. Both men looked up simultaneously. Hermione stood by the door, tears in her eyes. Only a quick moment passed before Harry engulfed her in a hug.

"Hermione," he mumbled into her hair. He stepped back and said, "I can't believe it's really you."

"Harry," she whispered back. "Wh- what are you doing here?"

"I came here for you 'Mione. Where have you been?" he asked.

"I- Did- did he send you?" she asked quietly. She took a step away from him. Her eyes were frantic as she looked around the room. She finally acknowledged Draco and her eyes went wide. "He sent you, didn't he?" She asked Harry. "R-Ron sent you?"

"What do you..."

"No, I won't fall for this!" she exclaimed as she continued to back up. She closed her eyes and covered her ears. "No, no, no," she continued.

Harry didn't hesitate to walk up to her and take her in his arms again. She fought against him at first, but began sobbing too hard to continue fighting. Harry had helped Ginny through enough nightmares and flashbacks to know what to do. Draco, on the other hand, stood back, too shocked to move.

Harry pried her hands away from her ears. "Hermione, look at me."

She continued to shake her head, mumbling, "No, no, no, it's not you."

"'Mione," his voice was softer, "please, look at me. It's really me. Please, we don't have much time."

Hermione slowly opened her eyes. "How are you here? Why are you here?"

"I should ask you the same thing. Where have you been?" he asked again.

"Here. Just here."

"Potter," Draco said from behind them. "We don't have much time. We have to go."

Harry turned to look at him and nodded. "Hermione, you can explain later. Come with us."

"Harry, I can't leave."

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A/N:
Again, a big thank you for the reviews and followers. It's been a tough and very stressful past few months. I will be updating more frequently now. And I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.