Summer of the Dragon

by Lena Phoria

3 years after the war Hermione takes a break from Ron and accepts a summer job collecting supplies for Ollivander's wands. What she doesn't expect is having to work with Draco Malfoy, who's more haunted by his past than she ever would have believed. Together they will travel the world, fight dragons, conquer demons and maybe find exactly what they're looking for. COMPLETE.

26. Chapter 26

A/N: So happy to finally have written this part! I've had it in my head since I started this story :-)

Also, I do not own Harry Potter. It belongs to JK Rowling.

Several hours later the four of them sat at the Three Broomsticks, laughing over pints of butterbeer and photos they had all taken with the dragon before setting it free. In the end they had all gotten onto their brooms and released the ropes at the same time. They left them there, since they could always get another one, and flew for their lives. The phoenix helped a little by pecking at its eyes, but the dragon cared very minimally about a bird when four humans were in chomping distance. Eventually they all got away since the dragon wouldn't fly past the Purple Polly Flower field. One thing was certain; they wouldn't be going back there anytime soon.

When they got to the inn Madam Rosmerta was nowhere to be found. This was the first time any of them had come here without her being present.

Right around their second round the door flew open and Madam Rosmerta entered with puffy eyes and a blotchy face. She locked eyes with Draco right away and marched over to him, pulling him out of his chair and into a tight hug. Rosmerta cried into his shoulder while mumbling, "Thank you," repeatedly.

Draco wasn't sure what to do at first and looked to Hermione, who motioned for him to hug her back. He did as she instructed.

When Madam Rosmerta pulled away she looked at Draco and said, "Everything is on the house." Then she looked at Hermione. "You have a good wizard here. Stupid, but good. Hold onto him."

Hermione stared blankly at Rosmerta as she returned to the bar. When Draco sat back down she asked, "What did you do?"

Draco took a sip of his butterbeer before answering. "Her father has been suffering from a powerful Confundus Charm since the war," he said, putting down his drink. "She couldn't afford to send him to St. Mungo's so I sent Ruskle with a letter there demanding they take him free of charge as a sort of trial patient, since this is a rare ailment and there is currently no known cure. The Malfoy's have donated enough money to them over the years so they had no choice but to say yes."

"Why didn't you just pay for it?" asked Phillip.

"Rosmerta would never have accepted that. She might take a few galleons here and there, but housing a patient like him in St. Mungo's isn't cheap. This way no money is involved. She won't feel obligated to pay me back."

"I zink she steell feels obleegated," smiled Sophie. "Zat was very nice of you, Draco. Wasn't zat nice, 'Ermione?"

"Yes, very nice," she said, taking another sip of her drink. This whole white knight thing was getting out of control. How was she supposed to stay mad at him when he kept doing so much good?

A barmaid walked over and put four more mugs of butterbeer and a plate of various kinds of pastries on their table. "Compliments of the house."

Sophie's eyes lit up as she pulled a Purple Polly Flower out of nowhere. "Draco, you need to do nice zings more often!"

She had just picked up her first pastry and poured some purple sap on it when the door burst open again. This time an important looking wizard with fancy robes and premature salt and pepper hair entered. A pretty, dark-haired witch with bright blue eyes and freckles was on his arm while several large goons followed after them. Sophie and Phillip both gasped before ducking under the table, Sophie taking her pastry with her.

"Sophie, what's wrong?" asked Hermione, sticking her head down to look at them.

"Do not say my name!" she whispered harshly.

"Excuse me, aren't you Draco Malfoy?"

Hermione and Draco looked up to see the handsome couple standing beside their table with their bodyguards just behind them. "Yes, I am," Draco said confidently. "And you are?"

"Zandicus Thinx," he said, holding out his hand. Draco took it reluctantly. "And this is my fiancé, Chastity."

"Pleasure to meet you," she said, also holding her hand out. Draco was even more reluctant to take hers.

"Yes, I've heard of you," said Draco, looking at Zandicus. "Ran your fathers business into the ground only months after his death, if I recall."

Zandicus chuckled. "Yes, well, my father and I did not see eye to eye on many things. How to run a successful business was one of them. I know it was reported that Thinx went bankrupt, but really I pulled all of the money out of the company to make sure it went under."

Draco could feel Phillip tensing by his leg. He kicked him so he would know to keep quiet, but he missed and made Sophie yip. Chastity looked around curiously but Zandicus didn't seem to notice.

"Now I am working on building Thinx back up from the ground, only this time we won't waste any of our time and efforts on Muggle technology. It will all be focused on improving lives of purebloods. I was hoping to get a meeting with your father but have had a hard time getting a hold -"

"Do you really think a purebloods life needs anymore improvement?" interrupted Hermione. "Why would you make them your focus when Muggle-born's have so many more needs?"

"I'm sorry, who are you?" asked Zandicus, finally noticing her presence.

"This is Hermione Granger," said Draco.

"Oh! You're that Muggle-born who helped Harry Potter!" said Chastity brightly. "What a pleasure it is -"

"Chastity!" shouted Zandicus. She immediately shut her mouth. "I wasn't aware the Malfoy's had begun associating with Mudbloods."

Hermione was about to say a snappy comeback when Draco grabbed Zandicus by the arm and pulled him down so their faces were level. "Call her that again and you and I will have a real problem."

"I guess it's true what they say," said Zandicus, pushing Draco off of him. "The Malfoy's really have gone soft. You couldn't even properly support the Dark Lord when the time came."

Just then, Chastity's engagement ring - which she had been fidgeting with - fell off of her finger. "Sorry," she said, looking at her future husband.

"Well, aren't you going to get it?" he said harshly.

Chastity nodded before bending down and reaching for her ring. Phillip tried to back further under the table, but ended up pushing Sophie out the other side. After she squealed Chastity looked over and caught eyes with him. "Phillip?" she asked, unsure if she was seeing him correctly.

"Uhh … yeah," he said, climbing out from under the table. "Hi Chastity."

Hermione was helping Sophie up on the other side, who was very upset she had lost her pastry in the fall.

"Sophie!" said Chastity, narrowing her eyes at the other witch. "Are you two here together?"

Phillip and Sophie looked at each other blankly for a moment before slowly saying, "Yes."

"Together together?"

Sophie said nothing. She was leaving this one up to Phillip. "Umm … yes. Yes we are," he said, reaching out for her. "We've been seeing each other for just over a month now."

"Ha!" said Zandicus, pulling his fiancé close. "I told you, darling. The two of them have been having an affair for years."

"We 'ave not!" shouted Sophie, nearly jumping over the table. Phillip held her back.

"I can't believe it. You really did cheat on me."

"There was only one cheater during our marriage, Chastity, and it sure as hell wasn't me," said Phillip, scooting closer to Sophie, who loyally wrapped both of her arms around one of his, hugging it dotingly.

"Oh please," spat Chastity. "Can you honestly say you were never attracted to her while we were married?"

"Of course I was attracted to her. Look at her. Who wouldn't be?"

Draco and several impartial observers mumbled their agreement. Even Hermione had to nod a little. Not only did Sophie have a gorgeous face, but her body was one most girls would kill for, even with all of the food she put into it. Sophie smiled smugly while everyone continued to praise her.

"But attraction does not equal cheating. I never acted on it."

"I honestly don't understand what a pureblood like you could ever see in a quarter-Muggle," said Zandicus, sneering at Sophie. "All I see when I look at her is a Mudblood."

Sophie's jaw dropped to the floor. Phillip took out his wand to hex Zandicus but Hermione beat him to it. "Densaugeo!"

Zandicus was pushed back as his teeth began to grow at an alarming rate.

"Hey, I taught you that!" said Draco, beaming.

They all laughed hysterically while Chastity tried to help her fiancé, but he pushed her off of him and let one of his goons shrink his teeth back down to a normal size.

Looking quite hurt, Chastity turned her brooding eyes to Hermione and shouted, "How dare you hex him you dirty Mudblood!"

Draco was already pulling out his wand when Hermione put her hand out to stop him. He looked at her pleadingly but she shook her head, motioning towards Phillip, who did not look well.

"What's happened to you, Chastity?"

"What do you mean? I'm the same as I've always been," she scoffed, trying really hard not to glance at the hold Sophie still had on Phillip's arm.

"No," said Phillip, slowly shaking his head. "No you're not. The woman I married was kind and thoughtful. She didn't think she was superior to anyone else and she would never speak to someone that way. I don't even know who you are."

"She's my future wife, that's who she is," said Zandicus, walking back over and putting his arm around her. "Don't listen to him, darling. Being married to a blood-traitor clouded your mind. Since you've met me you're finally seeing clearly. We are superior."

"Are you for real?" asked Hermione with wide eyes. "You sound exactly like someone I used to know." She glanced sideways at Draco, who purposely avoided her gaze. "But he saw the error in his ways a long time ago. The world has changed and it's time for snotty, pureblood chauvinists to change with it."

"Malfoy, have you ever considered putting a muzzle on that thing?"

Those words were the last straw. Draco, Phillip and Sophie all took out their wands and shot various hexes and jinxes at Zandicus. His goons started reaching for their wands so Hermione hit two of them with Freezing Charms. Chastity shot a jinx at Sophie but Phillip pushed her out of the way, only to end up falling to the floor with jelly legs. Sophie crawled over to him and removed it immediately.

When Phillip was better Sophie kissed him quickly before leaping over the table and pouncing on Chastity. The two had an old-fashioned girl fight on the floor while Phillip and Zandicus started hexing each other.

Draco and one of the goons got in on it too, but when another goon came at them, Hermione shouted, "Expelliarmus!" sending both the wand and the wizard flying. "Sorry!" she yelled as he landed with a thump. "I just don't believe in giving one team the unfair advantage of greater numbers."

"'Ermione!"

Hermione looked over and saw Chastity had Sophie pinned to the ground and was currently trying to hex all her hair off. "Except in this case!" she added to her former argument before running over and casting a spell to pull Chastity off of Sophie.

"STOP! STOP!" shouted Madam Rosmerta. A hex flew by her ear and hit the bar patron behind her, who immediately sprouted antlers. "There are innocent people here! Physical fighting only!"

She didn't have to tell them twice. Everyone put their wands away and immediately started going at it. Hermione froze the last two goons just as they were coming for Phillip and Draco. There was no way she was letting them get in on the action. Once that was done she put her own wand away and went to help Sophie.

Hermione pulled Chastity back while Sophie slapped her clear across the face. "You know 'e never cheated on you!" She slapped her across the other cheek. "Stop telling lies to make yourself feel better! You messed up!"

"Get off of me!" shouted Chastity, ramming herself into Hermione, who fell backward. When she was free Chastity slapped Sophie back. "You don't deserve him you French harlot!"

"I don't deserve 'im? What about you? You never deserved 'im!" Sophie charged at Chastity. The two wrestled for a while before Sophie finally got her in a headlock. "Get 'er, 'Ermione!"

"What do you want me to do?" she asked, staring curiously at the struggling girl. "I'm not really a fighter, Sophie. Am I supposed to mess her hair up or something?"

"Eet does not matter! Teeckle 'er for all I care!"

And that's exactly what Hermione did. She tickled Chastity until the witch was screaming bloody murder.

"Okay, okay! Truce!" she spat between giggles. "Please just stop!"

Hermione stopped and Sophie released her. After Chastity straightened herself up she looked over at the boys and sighed. Draco was holding Zandicus while Phillip punched him in the left eye. The girls all took out their wands and froze their respective men, Chastity pointing her wand at Phillip for a moment before turning it to Zandicus.

"Now, when we unfreeze all of you, we expect everyone to be on zeir best be'avior. Understood?"

Draco, Phillip and Zandicus all did their best to mumble the word, yes. The girls countered their freezing charms. As soon as they did Phillip put his arms down and Draco released Zandicus. Once he was free the wizard took one last swing at Phillip, hitting him square on the jaw.

"Zandicus!" shouted Chastity.

"What? He deserved it."

Hermione shook her head at him while going around and unfreezing his goons. While she did this Madam Rosmerta walked over to Zandicus and said, "I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask your party to leave."

"What?" asked Chastity, walking over to them. "But we're staying here. This is supposed to be our romantic getaway."

"Guess you should've thoughta that before you started a fight in my pub."

"What about them?" asked Zandicus, motioning towards Phillip, Sophie, Draco and Hermione.

"They get to stay," said Rosmerta looking over at them.

"Why?"

Rosmerta looked back to Zandicus and smiled. "I like them. I'll give you a full refund, of course. Now go and get your things. I want you out of here before I'm finished passing out a free round of butterbeers!" she shouted. Everyone cheered.

Zandicus sneered at Madam Rosmerta before calling his goons and sending them up the stairs. He grabbed Chastity's hand and pulled her along after them.

"Guess you won't be getting that meeting with my father anytime soon," said Draco, who smiled smugly as they passed him.

Draco and Phillip sunk down onto two of the closest chairs while Sophie went back to their table to gobble down one of their pastries. Hermione immediately went to work on healing her cuts and bruises. Being a good friend to a girl like Sophie was hard. She never had to do stuff like this with Ginny and Luna.

"Thanks for having my back tonight, mate," said Phillip leaning back in his chair. "I'm pretty sure I'm stronger than Zandicus but, as you can tell, the wizard likes to play dirty."

"No problem," said Draco, trying to heal a cut on his hand. There was an awkward pause. Draco could tell Phillip wanted to say something, so he asked, "What's on your mind, Phil?"

"You know I hate it when you call me that."

"That's why I say it," he said smiling.

Phillip chuckled. "You really are a smartass. Despite that I still really need to say this." Draco waited. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For … you know … what I said in Brazil. About you being worthless and all. It was all just in the heat of the moment. I didn't mean it."

"It's fine," said Draco.

"No, it really isn't. You're not worthless, Draco. You're a good wizard," he said smiling. "Granted, I still don't think you're good enough for Hermione, but that's not my call. It's hers."

"Are you boys finally playing nice?" asked Sophie taking a seat on Phillip's lap. "Deed you apologize?"

"Yes," answered Phillip.

"Uh, finally!" she exclaimed. "'E 'as been wanting to do zat for over a monz now. 'Ow are you feeling, mon cherie?"

"Could be worse," he laughed.

"Well, now zat I got some sugar een my system I weell 'ave to feex you up. But I could use anozer kind of sugar first." Sophie leaned down and kissed him passionately, only pulling away when she heard someone scoff. They all turned to see Zandicus pulling Chastity along while his goons followed closely behind with their stuff. Chastity appeared to be on the verge of tears. This made Sophie smile.

Once they were gone Sophie turned to Draco and asked, "What are you steell doing over 'ere? You should be checking on 'Ermione."

Draco immediately got up and walked over to where Hermione was sitting. She was currently pulling her pants up and trying to heal a large bruise on her leg.

"Need any help with that?"

Hermione looked up and smiled when she saw Draco's familiar gray eyes. "I don't know. Can you help me? I'm better at healing charms than you are."

"I don't disagree, but they are always easier to do on someone else than they are to do on yourself."

"Then by all means," she said, motioning to her leg.

Draco knelt down and cast a healing charm on her leg. The dark bruise immediately started fading into nothing but a slightly pink mark. "Better?" he asked, looking up into her hopeful eyes.

Hermione gulped. "Much." They continued to stare at each other for a moment before Hermione said, "I'm really sorry about what I said yesterday."

"Have I really stomped on your heart repeatedly?"

Hermione chuckled lightly. "Maybe a little. You've been very hot and cold this summer."

"I don't mean to be. Maybe insanity runs in my family."

"You're not insane, Draco. You're just … complicated."

Draco smiled. "Is there any chance we can go back to the way things were?"

"I don't know …"

Suddenly, Sophie's words reentered Hermione's head. "Get over eet." They repeated several times before she looked over and noticed Sophie was using a voice throwing charm. The witch immediately looked away and played innocent. Hermione smiled and shook her head.

Looking back to Draco, Hermione added, "But maybe we could try."

That was enough to make Draco lean up and grab Hermione's head, pulling it to meet his for a kiss. While they were mid lip-lock they saw a flash. Both turned to see a familiar looking cameraman snapping their photo. It popped out of the camera instantly.

Hermione's eyes grew wide. "You're Rita Skeeter's photographer, Bozo, aren't you? Are you the one who snapped our photo in Minsk?"

"Uhh … me no speak English. On holiday. Yeah, that's right! I'm on holiday!"

Draco looked at him curiously. "Are you thick? If you're going to play the no English card then, please, do us all a favor and stick with it."

Hermione stood up and walked over to him. "We're going to need you to give us that photo."

"No speak English! Holiday! Holiday!"

"Give us that photo!" Hermione tried to wrestle it away from him but he pulled it out of her hands, accidentally knocking her back. This sent Draco over the edge. He lunged forward and tore half of the photo out of the man's hands before knocking him backwards.

A beetle jumped off of Hermione. She spotted it immediately. "Catch that beetle!" she shouted to whoever was listening. Sophie immediately jumped off of Phillip's lap and started chasing it with her. Hermione grabbed an empty mug off of one of the tables and followed the bug into the back. "I'm going to get you, you horrible woman!"

"'Ermione, 'ave you gone mad?"

The beetle ducked into the girl's washroom. Hermione threw the door open just in time to see Rita Skeeter changing back to her human form.

"An Aneemagus!" shouted Sophie. "While I am quite eempressed, I 'ave zis sinking feeling zat I 'ate you."

"Yes, you do!" yelled Hermione. "She's the one who wrote that article about me and Draco in the Prophet!"

"You beetch!"

"While I'd like to say it is a pleasure to see you again, Ms. Granger, I'm afraid I have a deadline." Rita pushed past them and headed back to the main room of the pub.

"Oh no you don't!" shouted Hermione, chasing after her. "If you publish that article I swear I will turn you in this time! I mean it!"

"I'm afraid the article has already been written."

"Then change it!"

"Why do you care? I thought the two of you were official now?"

Hermione gasped. How could she have known that? "What did you see?" she asked, eyes flaring.

Rita smiled. "Oh relax. I'm a journalist, not a pervert. The most I can promise you is no names."

"We'll take it," said Draco, suddenly appearing beside them.

"Wha -"

"It's fine, Mione. We're the ones with the better half of the photo," he said, holding up a picture off the top half of their heads really close together and then looking at the camera." Rita looked longingly at the photo. She reached her hand out for it but Draco hit it away. "No names," he repeated.

Rita stared sharply at him before saying, "Fine. No names. We got plenty of photos from earlier we can use, anyway."

"None as good as this one." He smirked while waving it in front of her face.

Rita snuffed before exiting with Bozo closely at her heels. Phillip came over and put his arm around Sophie while Draco reached out and grabbed Hermione's hand in his. All of them were dreading the letter and copy of the Daily Prophet they were undoubtedly going to get from Mr. Ollivander in the morning.

16