Oh my goodness! It's been a minute since I've updated, and I'm so sorry! I have my excuses, but I'm sure you don't care about that. I'm already at work on the next chapter, so it shouldn't be as long next time. Know that, no matter what, I won't abandon a story! This will get finished :) I've had the last chapter written for awhile now, so it's just working towards that. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think- reviews bring a smile to my face and a song to my heart.

Many thanks to my kind, wonderful, patient beta, tectonictigress!

And, as always, I own nothing... but you know that.

Ch. 26- On Tea Time Revelations

Hermione sat back on her heels, humming to herself as she studied her bedroom wall. She had added a picture of her and Draco beside the photos of Ron, Harry, and Ginny, but she wasn't convinced it was sitting level. She gazed at the photo, remembering when Blaise had taken it. They were sitting in front of the fire in the drawing room at Malfoy Manor, Hermione on Draco's lap, his arms looped around her waist. She watched as picture-Draco leaned in to whisper something in her ear, and picture-Hermione threw her head back in laughter. Her hair was pulled up messily, she didn't have on any makeup, and she was wearing a less-than-flattering jumper of Draco's, but the happiness on both of their faces was glaringly evident as they looked at each other adoringly. It was her new favorite picture.

"All unpacked, love?" she heard Draco call from somewhere in the distance. She heard his footsteps travelling through their adjoining bathroom to her bedroom before he entered her room.

"Do you think that picture looks crooked?" she asked him without turning around, and she felt him come up behind her to study the frame.

"Truthfully, yes. Can we fix it later, Granger? I'm starved," he whined, slipping his arms around her waist.

"It'll only take a moment," she told him, wiggling out of his grasp to undo her sticking charm. She heard him sigh, even as he came up behind her, holding the frame straight for her while she re-applied the charm. Pleased with the final result, she let him escort her out of their common room and down to dinner.

"I think Pansy is coming over tonight, if that's okay," he mentioned as they made their way to the Great Hall.

She nodded. "Just so long as you two aren't too loud. I'd like to go to bed early so I'm ready for classes tomorrow."

"She won't stay long, love," he assured her. "I just want to catch up. I was hardly able to speak with her at the party."

When they arrived at the Great Hall, Hermione joined Neville and Dean while Draco headed to the still-empty Slytherin table. Throughout the course of their meal, his friends slowly joined them, and by the time Hermione got up to leave, Draco was holding full court amongst the Slytherins. She smiled as she watched Blaise clap Draco on the back while Daphne covered her mouth to hide her uncontrollable laughter. He looked quite happy among his friends again, and so she decided she would give him some time with them and headed back to their common room alone.

She pushed open the doors of the Great Hall and meandered through the crowded halls toward her rooms. She reprimanded two fourth-year Ravenclaws for tossing a fanged frisbee back and forth across the heads of other students, but otherwise the student body appeared quite subdued on their first night back together. It seemed that everyone must be heading to dinner, because the closer she got to the Founder's Portraits, the more the crowd of students thinned until she was all alone.

Walking down the corridor that led to the third floor entrance of her beloved library and the portraits of the four founders, Hermione found herself lost in thought. She passed the Charms classroom and remembered the fateful day in their first year when Ron had made her cry after she'd demonstrated a perfect Levitation charm. She remembered hiding away in that same classroom in fourth year, practicing defensive magic with Harry and Ron before the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament until Professor McGonagall had loaned them her classroom.

Hermione chuckled, remembering all of the times that she had chatted with Harry and Ron in Charms hidden behind a Muffliato. She felt a strong surge of sudden sadness, realizing that she would never share moments like that with her boys again. Their lives were being pulled in different directions, and they likely wouldn't see each other as frequently. Someday they would all have spouses and children, and with her working in a different field, they were bound to grow apart at least a little. Still, she mused, they would always have a special bond unlike anyone else. After all, there are some things you can't share without ending up irrevocably connected, like taking down the darkest wizard of all time or knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll.

She continued down the corridor, passing the statue of the One-Eyed Witch, lost in melancholy contemplation. When she got to the Trophy Room, however, the hair stood up on the back of her neck - she knew someone was there. After subtly surveying the area and gripping her wand a bit firmer, she quickly spun around. The corridor was empty, but she wasn't convinced of her safety. Years of wartime practice had honed Hermione's survival skills, and she was prepared to fight.

"Homenum Revelio!" she whispered, studying the area around her, backing further down the hall. Her destination was just around the corner, and she knew if she could make it the twenty or so meters down the corridor, she would be in front of the library and her common room, the two places in the castle that she felt safest. There was no answer to her spell, and so Hermione sprinted away to the picture of Helga Hufflepuff and gave her the password to enter the Head's dorm.

Racing across the room to her bedroom, she pulled out a pen and some parchment, set on sending a letter off to Harry and Ron. Only when she began her opening did she realize she didn't know what to say.

Dear Harry and Ron, Hope all is well. Tonight I was rather convinced I was being followed, but no one was there and nothing happened. Just thought you ought to know!

"No," she said aloud to herself, "you're being a silly cow. They'll think you've gone mad."

Settling back in her chair, she put down her pen and picked up the book on the corner of her desk. She was re-reading The Count of Monte Cristo and figured she might finish the next chapter before turning in for the night. Moving to her bed, she opened her book to her marked page and tried to focus on the pages in front of her. Unfortunately, she found that the words were spinning and she couldn't focus on anything except the way her heart hadn't stopped racing since her almost-altercation in the hall.

"Hermione?" she heard Draco's voice calling from their common room.

"Up here!" she shouted, re-marking her book and setting it on her bedside table. She heard Draco's long strides and the loud bang as he burst through her door.

"Merlin, Hermione! Don't scare me like that!" he scolded, coming to sit beside her on the bed. "You left dinner without me, and I had no idea where you might have gone."

Unable to help herself, Hermione burst into tears, leaving a flummoxed Draco babbling out an apology and pulling her into his arms. "It's not your fault," she blubbered, soaking his pristine Oxford with her tears. "You're right. I should have waited for you… but I didn't and…"

"And what?' he asked, pulling her away from him by her upper arms and forcing her to meet his eyes. "And what, Hermione? Did something happen?"

She inhaled deeply. "No," she told him, shaking her head. "Nothing happened."

He gave her a wary look, his tone softening. "Something happened. Why are you crying, love?"

She wiped the tears from her eyes, standing up from the bed. "I'm just feeling a bit emotional, I suppose. Nothing happened- I'm just being silly. I think I'll go have a bath."

He watched as she pulled a pair of pyjamas from a drawer and entered the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. She's been so stressed lately, he thought, making a mental note to take over her prefect duties for the week so that she could get a bit more sleep.

"Be quiet, Pans," Draco admonished, throwing a glance over his shoulder at Hermione's closed door. "Granger had a rough day and she's turning in early. She might already be in bed."

Pansy rolled her eyes. "Merlin's hat, Draco," she told him, "Stop treating her like some fragile, little doll. Granger's tough. If I was being too loud, she'd come out here and hex me."

"She's right, you know," Draco heard and turned to see Hermione exiting her bedroom. He smiled, watching her as she crossed to their little kitchen in her silky night clothes, reaching for the kettle to heat water for tea. Distantly, he heard Pansy scoff.

"You're gross," his friend told him, watching the happiness on his face with total disgust. "She's making tea, not curing Spattergroit. Stop watching her like that."

He smirked over at his friend. "You sound a little bitter, Pansy. Things not going well with Chang?"

She heard Hermione chuckle from the kitchen and rolled her eyes. "Not that it's any of your business, but things are just fine with Chang. I received a letter from her this morning before I left to come back." Draco wasn't fooled by her nonchalant look as she inspected her nails, as she had a wicked gleam in her eyes before she continued, "Fantastic shag, really. You should be proud of your friend, Granger. She does this thing with her tongue where she-"

"-all right, Pansy, you've made your point," Draco cut her off, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Hermione's tea kettle whistled, and he heard Pansy snicker. "It was a lovely party, Draco. I think everyone had a good time."

"Except Theo," Draco grumbled, still annoyed with his mousy-haired friend, who caused a scene with Potter on what had otherwise been a nice night.

Pansy placed a hand gently on his shoulder. "Cut him some slack, Draco. He feels left out. You and Blaise have taken to running around with…" Pansy stopped herself, glancing quickly over at Hermione, who was retrieving the tin of Earl Grey from the cupboard and appeared not to be listening. "Gryffindors."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Wanker. I'll see if he wants to meet Blaise and I for a drink soon."

Hermione came over and handed Draco a cup of Earl Grey, pecking him quickly on the cheek. "Pansy? Tea?" she asked, dodging Draco's arm as he attempted to pull her into his lap.

The dark-haired Slytherin stood from her spot on the couch. "No, thank you, Granger," she replied, collecting her bag. "I've been here too long as it is. I'll let you two turn in for the night like the elderly couple you are." She smirked at them, and Hermione laughed, heading back to the kitchen to fix her own cup.

Draco escorted Pansy to the portrait hole door and then made his way back to the couch, where Hermione was waiting with her own tea in hand. Draco noted the worried strain around her eyes, even as she smiled warmly over at him.

"What has you so worried, love?" he asked, taking a sip of his tea and settling back further into the cushions as Hermione laid her feet in his lap.

"What do you mean?"

"Granger, I know you. Perhaps not as well as Potter, but a fair bit better than most people. You're worried about something. You've been worried all day. What's going on?" He set his cup on the side table and rubbed a hand comfortingly on Hermione's shin.

She sighed. "It's a lot of things, Draco."

He smirked over at her. "You're being very evasive, Granger." He squeezed her leg lightly. "What kind of things?"

"Different things. My case has been on my mind a lot. We haven't heard anything in a while, and that makes me nervous. I'm also worried about things that you'll think are silly…" She trailed off, but at his questioning look, she continued, "This is our last term here. It's bittersweet, isn't it? We grew up here. I'm so sad to be leaving. I feel like there's so much I haven't accomplished yet. And we'll have N.E.W.T.s, which is quite stressful. Also," she told him, looking a bit sheepish, but continuing nonetheless, "your mother is released this week, and I've been worried about what that means for us."

Draco took a deep breath. "Let's unpack this, okay? Hesitant as I am to admit this, I trust Potter and Weasley. They wouldn't let anything happen to you. They'll find the guy who has been doing all of this, and you'll be fine. And I'll deny it if you ever tell them I said that." He smiled at her, and scooted closer to her on the sofa, grabbing her free hand as she used the other to set her tea down on the table. "As for the end of our school careers… I can't really do anything about that, sweetheart. I admit it makes me sad as well. But also so excited. I can't wait to start our real lives. I can't wait to see all the brilliant things that you accomplish." He leaned over, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand. "We just have to make the most of the time we have left here, all right?" He smiled down at her as she nodded. "And with regards to Mother… Granger, that changes nothing. I've already told you, you're my choice. I don't think Mother would let it come to that, but if she does…" He sighed. "You're mine now. I'm not going to do anything stupid to jeopardize that."

"Draco," Hermione drawled, holding his cheek in her hand, "I can't let you abandon your mother. Don't be silly."

"Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that then," he told her, turning his face into her hand to kiss her palm. "Now then, I think we should Vanish this tea and go to bed."

She watched as he pointed his wand at first his teacup, then hers before taking them to the kitchen sink. She couldn't help but feel that he wasn't being completely honest with her. Some part of him must be concerned with how she'll react to me. She sighed, watching him rinse their mugs in the sink as she had taught him to do. I'll make things work with Narcissa, no matter what. I can't let Draco abandon his family. She took a deep breath. I, of all people, recognize how important it is to keep your parents close. He returned to her side with a gentle smile, helping her up from the sofa and, his hand on the small of her back, escorting her to bed.

Draco waited impatiently in a waiting room near the entrance of Azkaban for his mother to be free to go, thinking about Hermione. They hadn't spoken about his mother's release since their conversation at the start of the week, but she had given him a slow, sweet kiss before he had left this morning. Something about the kiss had his nerves on edge- he had been able to feel her anxiety.

He studied the oppressive walls around him. They were made of cold stone and an odd brown grime seemed to be seeping from the ceiling- the whole room gave off a very uninviting air, and Draco thanked Merlin he wouldn't have to come back here now that his mother was being released. He looked down at the concrete beneath his expensive, dragonhide shoes and shuddered. His poor mother had only been here six months, but it was six months too many, as far as Draco was concerned.

He heard a click and looked up to see a burly guard escorting his mother into the room. She was frail, and Draco was momentarily concerned that the grip of the portly guard would break her arm in half. Her blonde hair was lank and dull, hanging limply in her eyes, but the smile on her face when she caught sight of her son was dazzling. Draco stood up, taking long strides to meet his mother and the guard on the other side of the small, bleak room.

"Mother!" he exclaimed, opening his arms, and the guard released Narcissa so that she could embrace her son.

"My handsome boy!" Without the heels that Draco was so accustomed to her wearing, she only came to his chin, but he bent down so she could press a kiss to his cheek.

"I've missed you," he told her, suddenly becoming very aware that they still had an audience in the Azkaban guard. "Let's get you to Aunt 'Dromeda's, all right? We can catch up there."

His mother turned and thanked the guard, and Draco chuckled at her inability to ever neglect her Pureblood breeding before she took her son's arm and let him lead her out of Azkaban and to the apparition point.

When they landed in Andromeda's front garden, Narcissa took a moment to compose herself, brushing out her tattered Azkaban robes with her hands,while Draco knocked on Andromeda's front door. Narcissa's sister threw the door open, excitedly welcoming her nephew into her home and embracing her sister in a bone-crushing hug.

"Cissy!" she cried, pulling her younger sister tighter into her embrace, and reflecting on the last time they'd been so close without a table between them and an Azkaban guard playing chaperone. They were teenagers then, and Andromeda had just informed Narcissa that she was leaving to marry Ted, destroying the marriage contract that was being set up between her and the Nott heir. Andromeda remembered her sixteen year old sister, with tears in her eyes, begging her not to leave. Looking down at her sister now, shaking slightly from cold but smiling up at her happily, she couldn't help but think about all the wasted time. "I'm so happy you're here. It's been two weeks since your last letter- I was worried you'd changed your mind. Thank you for coming to stay with me!"

"Thank you for having me, dear," Narcissa replied, squeezing her sister once more before releasing her with a smirk. "Let's go inside. I think Draco's embarrassed by our family reunion in the streets." The two women entered the home, clucking about this and that only to find Draco lying on the floor in the sitting room, making zooming noises and holding a fair-haired Teddy aloft.

"Draco Abraxas!" Narcissa bellowed, horrified to find her son rolling around on the ground like a salamander. "What in Salazar's name do you think you're doing?"

Draco smiled up at her from his spot on the floor before setting Teddy down and getting to his feet. Teddy waved his chubby little hands up at Draco, and Draco lifted him up, tucking him on his hip as if it was something he did every day. "Playing with Ted here. He prefers it when we're the same height, you see," he joked. Smiling down at his mother, he said, "I've missed you, Mother."

She tutted, grabbing his face between her palms. "Have you grown? You seem taller, my handsome dragon," she told him, pushing the hair out of his eyes.

They heard Andromeda snort. "Perhaps it's that he's able to stand a bit taller without the weight of the world on his shoulders."

Narcissa's eyes grew sad, and she briefly hesitated in following Draco as he led her to the sofa. "Come, Mother, you must be tired. Sit down and I'll have an elf fetch some tea."

Draco called Bobbin, Andromeda's house elf, and asked if he would arrange tea for the small group. Then he settled back in his seat, making faces at Teddy, decorum be damned. His mother didn't quite seem to understand or enjoy it, but she hadn't commented again, for which he was grateful. Bobbin popped back shortly after with a tea tray, and Andromeda set about preparing everyone's tea to their preferences. Draco remained mostly quiet, allowing Narcissa and Andromeda to chat about all that they had missed out on over their decades-long separation. He could see how grateful his mother was for this second chance with her sister, even behind her mask of Pureblood indifference.

"Draco, I feel like I've been remiss, my love," his mother said, turning back to him. "How are you? How is school?"

"I'm fine, Mother. School is fine. The rest of the student body has… adjusted to me. They don't love me, or anything, but they don't flinch when I walk by anymore. I play Quidditch with the other eighth years, and I go about my Head duties. My marks are high- almost the highest, though I'm still behind Granger, as usual." He smiled to himself at the mention of her name, and his mother did not miss the expression.

"I see," she drawled. "That's all very good to hear, love. Well done." Then, steadying herself, she asked, "How is your Miss Granger, then?"

He didn't even attempt to hide his smile from her. "Brilliant," he gushed, meeting Andromeda's eyes and noting her smile. "She's brilliant, Mother. Smart and beautiful and so kind. I didn't know it was possible for someone to be so good, you know?"

His mother gave him a forced smile and said in a clipped tone, "Well now, she sounds rather perfect."

He shook his head. "She's bloody stubborn. And so bossy. Pushy, too. She's optimistic to the point of recklessness, at times." He sighed, thinking fondly of the little brunette who had captured his heart. She was likely holed up in the common room, working on the Alchemy essay that wasn't due for three weeks. "But none of that matters. When she smiles at me, I feel whole. When I'm with her, I can't imagine ever wanting to be anywhere else." He took his mother's hand, holding her eye contact for a moment before saying quite solemnly, "I love her, Mother. I don't think I'll ever be capable of loving another witch as much as I love Hermione. I know this is difficult for you… but please try to understand."

She studied him for a long while. He was no longer the little boy she had spoiled with treats and toys, nor was he the frightened young man she remembered from the war, who had floated through the Manor's many halls like a ghost. The planes of his face were filled out and mature, he had a nick on his neck from a shaving mishap, and there was a hardness behind his eyes that she recognized from his father. He was tall and lean and so very handsome, his jaw set in determination and his eyebrows drawn in concern. Her little boy had grown up, and she'd somehow missed it. She wasn't sure if she could handle missing anything else.

"You're right, Draco. I don't understand this at all." She told him, and her heart sank as she watched his face fall. "I do know how Malfoy men love, however. If you love Miss Granger even half as much as your father loves me, I know that there isn't any point in trying to change your mind." She squeezed his hand reassuringly. "The world is changing, and I must try and change with it."

"And you won't be alone," she heard her sister add merrily as Draco engulfed her in a hug.

"Thank you, Mum," he whispered in her ear, bringing tears to her eyes. He hadn't called her 'Mum' since before the war.

They embraced for what felt like days, her stroking Draco's silky hair and him breathing in her menthol smell that he remembered so comfortingly from his childhood. "Now then," Narcissa finally spoke, pulling away from her son and holding his face between her hands. "I suppose I should re-meet this young lady, yes?"

"Where's Draco?" Ginny asked, plopping down on Hermione's bed beside her friend and unpacking her bag of potions, lotions, and creams.

Hermione shrugged, feigning nonchalance, though her redheaded friend could see that she was clearly troubled. "I'm not sure. He's been avoiding me since he met with his mother on Saturday. I don't see him except in classes. He comes to bed after I'm asleep and wakes up before me." She sighed, pulling her long curls into a tight plait. In an insecure tone, she added, "It's almost been a week, Gin. I think he's going to break up with me."

Ginny snorted, rubbing a brown goop all over her face that smelled like oatmeal cookies and promised to make her skin as soft as a baby Demiguise. "You're being ridiculous."

"I'm really not!" Hermione argued, taking some of the goo for herself and rubbing it into her cheeks.

Hermione thought back on her week. She'd gone to sleep alone for the last six days, but at some point in the night she'd felt him slip in beside her, pulling her limp body into his embrace, and by the time she was awake, he was already gone again. He'd been perfectly friendly to her in classes, during their Head duties, and while walking her to classes, but the second they were alone, he suddenly had other places to be. She hadn't any idea why he was so hesitant to be alone with her. She was discouraged, to say the least.

"Hermione," Ginny started in what Hermione could tell was going to be an impressive lecture. "You'd have to be an idiot to think the Ferret would do anything to let you go. He'd give you the world if only you asked." At Hermione's skeptical and insecure expression she added, "You know, I think he'd even shave his head if he thought it might make you happy." Hermione cracked a small smile, which bolstered Ginny's efforts. "He's mad for you."

"How'd you get so wise, hmm?" Hermione asked, pulling a little bottle of nail polish from Ginny's bag. The label on the top read "Billywig Blue," and Hermione thought it would look lovely in contrast with Ginny's fiery hair.

Allowing Hermione to take her freckled hand in hers, Ginny answered, "I spent all that time with you growing up. Some of your smarts were bound to rub off, weren't they?" She smirked at Hermione, who was daintily making sure the little polish brush didn't have too much paint on it.

"Let's talk about something else. Anything else," Hermione requested, swiping Ginny's thumb in sapphire blue with expert precision. Hermione shifted a bit and two bottles of polish rolled across the bed, hitting her foot where it was tucked underneath her.

"Angelina told me that she had a breakthrough with George. I reckon they'll be a real couple any day now!" Ginny exclaimed, and Hermione let out an excited squeal.

"Good for them! I hope they're happy. No one deserves to be happy more than George," Hermione murmured, dipping the little brush back in the bottle for more polish.

"I don't know, Hermione. I think the rest of us want to see you happy. Between Ron and your parents and all this homicidal maniac nonsense… you deserve a bit of happy yourself." Ginny watched as a flicker of something akin to fear flashed across Hermione's face, then was gone in an instant.

Hermione sighed. "Draco makes me happy."

Ginny chuckled. "Even when he's being all ferrety and avoiding you for no discernable reason?"

Hermione popped the brush back into the bottle, looking up at her friend. "Admittedly, I'm a bit less happy with him at the moment… but on the whole, yes. Even at his most ferrety he makes me happy."

Ginny studied her closest female friend, who had gone back to painting the nails of her other hand. She's a damned fool, Ginny thought with a smile to herself, blowing on her wet nails. When she realizes that she loves him too, nothing is going to stop them.

Meanwhile, out on the Quidditch pitch, Blaise was practically screaming at Draco.

"What the bloody hell is wrong with you, mate?" he asked, hurling the Quaffle at Draco with more force than was necessary.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Draco bellowed back, barely catching the Quaffle in his numb hands. They'd been playing for several hours now and the bitter January cold was relentless. Normally he could count on Hermione to have a cup of tea waiting for him when he came inside, but given the circumstances, he knew not to expect it.

"You're such an arse. What is with your self-sabotaging tendencies? You get Granger, the girl you've been after for Merlin only knows how long. For some reason, unbeknownst to those of us capable of rational thought, she decides to put up with your melodrama and possessiveness and vanity. Then, after she's done absolutely nothing wrong, you avoid her for a week after having a meeting with your mother that she was particularly worried about to begin with. What the hell, Malfoy!" Blaise raged indignantly.

"I don't know what to tell her! I know she isn't particularly crazy about my mother, and now I'm supposed to arrange tea time between the two of them? We'll just sit and pretend like my mother didn't watch her sister torture Hermione, and become one big, happy family? How do I even begin to broach that subject?" He ran his frozen hands through his wind ruffled hair in frustration, letting out a grunt of annoyance as he hurled the Quaffle back at his friend.

Draco thought back on their miserable week. It was true, he was avoiding her, and he'd hated every second of it. He just couldn't help himself. The second they were alone, all he could think about was discussing his mother, and he hadn't quite figured out how to bring it up without feeling guilty. It was easier to avoid alone time all together, so she couldn't bring it up and catch him off guard.

He heard Blaise's snort, bringing him out of his thoughts. "I don't know- how about just bringing up the topic like an adult as opposed to hiding from her? Granger is unrelentingly forgiving. You're not giving her enough credit."

"That's just the problem. She does all of these things for me that I know she can't be terribly at ease with. I know if I ask her to go meet my mother, she will without question, even though it will make her unendingly uncomfortable. How can I do that to her?" He sighed, burying his face in his cold hands.

"Draco, mate," Blaise started, his tone softening as he flew closer to his fair-haired friend. "Have you any idea what she must be thinking right now? You've been basically been avoiding her completely for six days. You promised her that your mother wouldn't change things between you two, and now..."

Draco removed his hands from his face, his eyes widening in horror. "Merlin's beard! She probably thinks I intend to break up with her."

"Right-o, mate," Blaise confirmed sarcastically as Draco flew frantically to the ground. Blaise followed him as he tore through the castle and up to his common room, where he furiously barked the password at Helga's portrait and stormed through the open portrait hole.

"Hermione?" he called, whipping through the room as he searched their small space for her. He found her in the bathroom with Ginny, both drying their faces with towels. She looked up in concern when she heard him barrel through the bathroom door, and before she knew it, he had crushed her to him in a hug. She wrapped her arms around his body, inhaling the cold, snowy smell of his Quidditch kit.

"Merlin, Hermione, I'm so sorry. I'm a right tosser and a bloody fool. We need to talk," he rushed out, all in one breath, speaking into the loosely plaited hair on top of her head. He opened his mouth to begin speaking again, but she pulled back, cutting him off with a raised eyebrow.

She took his cold cheeks in her warm palms, the feel of her soothing touch comforting him. It had been a week since he had been this close to her, except in her sleep. "You're being very dramatic, racing around here like a menace. We have a guest," she explained with a knowing smile, indicating Ginny with a nod. "Why don't you change and I'll make you some Earl Grey?"

He nodded solemnly, moving to his bedroom, and Ginny followed Hermione out to the common room. Ginny met Blaise, and the two quickly excused themselves, intent on letting their friends discuss things in private. Escorting them to the door, Hermione gave Ginny a hug.

"Thank you for always being there to talk through things with me. You know I need that," she told her friend. Ginny nodded and Hermione turned to Blaise, raising on to her tiptoes and giving him a peck on the cheek. "And thank you for… whatever it is you had to do with that," she told him, gesturing to Draco's closed bedroom door.

Blaise smiled down at her. "Give him a chance to explain. He's a prat, but it's not what you think."

Hermione let them out, then moved to the kitchen to fill a tea kettle with water. Just as she was setting it on the stove, she heard Draco's door open. She turned around to find him standing on the other side of the kitchenette, now clad in a white t-shirt and plaid sleep trousers, staring at her with sad eyes.

She sucked in a long breath. "Do you want to break up with me?" she asked him, uncharacteristically blunt, and she watched as self-loathing, sadness, and anger flitted across Draco's face in rapid succession.

"Of course not," he told her, moving closer to her, his arms outstretched, but she took a step back, away from him.

"Outside of classes you've hardly spoken to me since Saturday, Draco," she pointed out, crossing her arms.

He nodded. "I know. And I'm sorry. I've been avoiding you."

She laughed humorlessly. "Of course you have! I'm not an imbecile, Draco. I could see that."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair, leaving it standing at weird angles. "But not because I have any plans of ending things, Granger. I told you- I have no intention of ever doing that. Nothing could change my feelings on the matter."

She could feel tears welling up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall, frustrated that they were there in the first place. "Then why, Draco? I've been thinking the most horrible things all week, and you haven't been here!"

He took her in his arms then, and she didn't even have the strength to push him away, relishing in the comfort she felt in his embrace. "I'm so sorry, Hermione," he told her steadfastly, pressing kisses to the top of her head. "I'm a right idiot. I didn't even think that you might take my distance the wrong way… I should have. I'm a selfish bastard. I'm so, so sorry."

She sniffled loudly, pushing away from him and wiping her tears with the sleeves of her blouse. "You didn't answer my question. Why have you been avoiding me?"

He sighed. "My mother wants to meet you," he explained, eyes downcast in shame.

She was silent for a long while. Draco was growing quite nervous, and then he heard a squeak. Concluding that she must be crying again, because of him, he looked up at her, surprised to find her doubled over and clutching the countertop in laughter. Dumbfounded, he continued to stare at her as she chuckled, letting out full blown giggles at this point.

"You great, stupid prat!" she admonished between titters. "Is that all? Merlin, I thought your mother gave you an ultimatum, or you'd cheated on me, or something equally vile!"

He felt all the air leave his body. "Is that all? Granger, I've been a wreck about breaking this to you for days!"

She let out another peal of laughter. "I haven't any idea why! I'll meet your mother!"

He stared at her, flabbergasted. "You will? Just like that?"

Finally getting her giggles under control, Hermione smiled up at him. "Yes, you ninny. You can be so melodramatic. I had planned on meeting her eventually, you know, if the longevity of this relationship is to go as you expect."

"Salazar's rod…" he started, pacing the floor now, both of his hands twisting his hair. "I've been agonizing over this, Granger! I didn't think you'd be so amenable. I thought I was going to have to beg you, and it would be just another thing you're forced to do because of me."

She walked over to him, halting his pacing and taking his hands in hers. "I know I should be mad at you for what you put me through this week, and to some extent I am, but honestly I'm just so relieved. You can't keep things from me, Draco. Or avoid me when things are difficult. This isn't going to work if you run off every time you have to tell me something uncomfortable."

He nodded solemnly. "I know, Granger. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I know it probably doesn't make any sense at all-"

"Oh no," she cut him off with a smirk. "It makes perfect sense. You were trying to protect me again. You've got to stop that. I'm a big girl. We'll get through things together, all right?" He nodded, and she leaned up to kiss his cheek as the tea kettle began to whistle.

She padded back to the stove top, removing the kettle and pouring water into the waiting mug. She heard Draco pacing again in the living area, and took him the tea, knowing he'd be happy to have something to do with his hands. Sitting down on the sofa, she knew he had tried to take a drink too quickly, as he let out a yelp of discomfort and began muttering to himself about the temperature. She rolled her eyes- he always tried to drink his tea too quickly.

She sat there, watching him drink his too hot tea. He'd burnt his tongue and was sticking it out, going cross-eyed as he attempted to examine his taste buds. What a lunatic, she thought to herself with a smile.

"Hey, Draco?"

"Yes, dear?" he answered, still preoccupied with his burnt tongue.

"I love you."

He stopped what he had been doing and turned to stare at her for a moment, face completely blank as he tried not to get his hopes up. She was pulling on her fingers, both hands in her lap, but looking straight at him, nervously biting her lower lip. "Beg your pardon?"

"I love you."

Slowly, a wide smile stretched across his face. "Sorry, Granger, I didn't quite get that. Could you repeat it just once more?"

"Only once?"

He barked out a laugh. "Well if you want to get technical, I'd like to hear it all the time. Every hour of every day for the rest of my life, as a matter of fact. But once more will do for now." He set his tea on a side table, and moved to sit on the couch with her.

She sighed dramatically, but couldn't hold back her enormous smile nonetheless. "I love you, Draco Malfoy. I love your honest laugh and the nonsense way you talk in your sleep. I love the dimples in your cheeks and your beautiful silver eyes and that ridiculous hair of yours that you take way too much pride in." He frowned at the jibe but she just laughed and continued. "I love your brilliant brain when we're talking about alchemical theories or potion methodologies, and even when you're using it to debate me and I think you're wrong, I still love it quite a lot."

She scooted a bit closer to him, admiring the delight dancing his lovely eyes. He looked years younger than she'd seen him in weeks. "I love the way your lips feel on mine. I love how much you enjoy children and I love that you found a way to give me back my parents. I love all your ridiculous quirks, like the fact that you put so much sugar in your coffee you practically have to chew it, and that you wear the same pants every time you play Quidditch and think I don't notice. I love the way you smell, most especially after you've showered and least when you're just coming back from practice, though in a weird way, I like that smell, too."

She paused to sigh, staring over at him. He was watching her closely and sitting there with his hands sitting limply at his sides, like he didn't know what to do with them. His fingers were restless, and she knew that meant he wanted to hold on to something… to hold on to her. She made her final move, straddling his lap and burying her fingers in the hair at the back of his head. "I love that you're so honest with me. Every day you grow a little more and I every day I fall more and more in love with you. I just love you, Draco- I don't think I could stop if I tried."

He couldn't control his smile then, nor the overwhelming love and admiration for her that his sparkling eyes conveyed. "So... you love me, Granger?" he asked, gently taking a rogue curl that had escaped her plait and tucking it behind her ear, before placing his hands on her hips.

"Yeah," she replied simply, looking down at him with a smile, "I think I do."

He kissed the tip of her nose. "Well that's convenient, because I love you, too."

She leaned down to give him a gentle kiss, but before their lips touched she whispered, "And if you ever think of avoiding me again, instead of just talking to me like a sane, rational person, I'll Avada you."

Crashing her lips to his, she couldn't help but notice that he tasted of tea.