A/N: We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the continued support you give us with each and every update. The fault is entirely mine for these irregular updates, as there are some immediate matters that needed my attention. Thank you so much White Bishop for all the lovely edits, beautiful additions, improvisations, suggestions and many more things. Amazed, inspired and grateful. That's how your generosity makes me feel.
Food for Thought
Draco Malfoy had never cared for Hogwarts' kitchens or the elves that worked in them. For him, Malfoy elves were inherently superior, and the food offered during meals in the Great Hall would always be inferior to the food prepared in his ancestral home. Yet, as the young wizard descended towards the school's kitchens that afternoon, he couldn't help but marvel at the vastness of the parts of Hogwarts he'd never truly explored. Surely, feeding the student body was more of an enterprise than he'd ever realized.
Hermione's chuckle brought him back to the reality. "I can't believe you have never stepped into the kitchens before. I thought Slytherins were supposed to be cunning. How can you exploit something without first seeing it for yourself? Where was your sense of exploration?"
"Granger, you're acting as if I didn't know Hogwarts had kitchens at all." Draco rolled his eyes as they strolled toward the kitchens. "Do I strike you as the adventurous type? I knew it was located under the Great Hall, and that the food was prepared by elf labor. That's more than enough information for innumerable cunning schemes; and to answer your question as to why I never visited, there was never a need. Mother would often send parcels, and in the rare case that my mother failed to anticipate my needs; I would simply send Crabbe and Goyle to fetch what I desired. More often than not, my concern was simply that those idiots would get lost, or get themselves killed and I'd be to blame." There was a sad nostalgia evident in his words.
"I remember, you received parcels almost every day. Your mother certainly spoiled you." Hermione offered trying to steer the conversation away from Vincent Crabbe.
"Calling me spoiled presumes I was undeserving, which is obviously false. After all, Malfoys deserve only the best."
Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes at her boyfriend's ego. "Is that why you're dating me, Draco?" Hermione asked with a cheeky grin.
"Well, it certainly helps."
"One thing still puzzles me about your sweet tooth. How have you've managed to avoid your teeth rotting away or weighing at least fifty stone."
"The answer is simple, superior breeding. It's time you realize just how fortunate you are to be on my arm, Granger. I'm a highly desirable specimen." When Hermione rolled her eyes and continued down the path, Draco smirked. "Although I must say, it's quite interesting to learn that you fancied me during our school days, Hermione. Were you always so interested in my package, or was it simply my parcels.". It was blatant and obvious teasing but the blond couldn't help himself. The Malfoy heir truly enjoyed watching Hermione Granger get flustered. It made those amber eyes of hers sparkle with a desire to fight back and only encouraged him to find new ways of unsettling her.
She stopped in her step and spun back with a surprised look much to his confusion. "Really? That's not nearly as funny as you think it is Draco. I don't deny having some interest during the sixth year, mostly because of Harry, but that isn't something to joke about." she said slowly walking backward with a thoughtful look on her face. She immediately shook her head trying to get rid of unpleasant memories. "Let's talk about something else, alright."
Draco nodded apologetically understanding he'd made a considerable miscalculation. Dredging up the past for the sake of humor required a more tactful approach. "Do you have anything in mind, or shall I keep putting my foot in my mouth?" His muggleborn girlfriend seemed to appreciate the mild act of self-deprecation.
"Well, if you must know; I can't help but wonder what a young Draco would think of our relationship," she asked with a sudden curiosity.
"How young?" Draco quirked an eyebrow at her. "Anytime before the Yule Ball, a younger version of myself would be repulsed and furious." There was little need to ask how Hermione had felt about him as a young girl. The memory of a staggering slap to the face was a clear display of the feelings she'd held as a young girl. Hermione quickly averted her gaze and Draco wondered why the mention of the Yule Ball seemed significant to her.
"And after?"
"He'd ask if the sex was as wild and heated as he imagined it." He didn't bother to hide his smile as she looked at him with wide eyes. Honestly, he never thought his pubescent fantasies from that time would ever come to light. Not a single living soul knew, how his thoughts strayed whenever he looked at her chewing on her bottom lip or when she passionately argued to state her views.
"What?!" Hermione's eyes were popping out in a very comical fashion as she stood looking at him incredulously, making Draco chuckle.
"What can I say, you made quite the impression. Don't get me wrong the notion of a loving relationship or marriage would've turned his stomach, but shagging you in every dark alcove of Hogwarts or bending you over a table in the potions classroom would have been perfectly fine for him." His joy at recalling those fantasies came to an end, as his mind was bombarded with the images of what happened in his life after that. With a sigh, he continued, "Unfortunately, the Dark Lord's return put a stop to those fantasies quite quickly, by the end the only girl I spoke to was Myrtle."
"Wait, Myrtle? As in Moaning Myrtle the ghost?"
"Was there another Myrtle at Hogwarts?" He asked, "Talking to her was easy. She liked me well enough and I didn't need to worry that she'd die in front of me."
Hermione reached for his hand and gave a gentle squeeze. "That period was..." She paused, "Testing, for all of us. We all did whatever we could, to keep our families safe."
Draco hadn't expected this kind of response from her. Over the years, he'd become so used to dealing with Slytherins that his girlfriend's open display of emotion and kindness felt out of place. If he was being honest, he expected a tiny bit of venom from her, instead, he was receiving sympathy from someone who had every right to deny him such a thing. Her gesture told him that she understood his pain, but he was confused by the mention of families. Her tone suggested she wasn't talking about the Weasleys, but of a sadder, more personal experience. It was likely related to the uncomfortable conversation she'd had with Potter about her parents a few weeks before the wedding.
"It's unfortunate that people don't understand just how far some of us had to go." Hermione's voice was so low when she uttered those words that Draco had to stop for a minute to process what she said. It seemed his girlfriend felt a great deal of guilt when it came to her parents. A sudden exclamation dragged him from his thoughts, "Neville! How are you?" His girlfriend's mood reverted back to being cheery at the sight of her former housemate. She skipped off and hugged Longbottom, as he got up from one of the kitchen tables, clearly seeming to have just finished his meal.
"Hermione." Neville returned her gesture with a smile. His gaze moved towards Draco and he gave a nod.
"Longbottom," Draco greeted. "Did the Headmistress send you down here to learn proper table manners from the elves? If so, I'd wager it'll be a few years before she'll let you sit at the High Table with the rest of the staff."
"Draco!" Hermione said with a gasp.
"It's okay, Hermione." Neville waved it off and turned to Draco. "The word around the castle is you're going to join us soon and I guess they figured you might need some company. Wouldn't want you rolling up your sleeves and scaring the kids witless now would we?"
Draco feigned innocence, knowing that his little display in the potions classroom was probably more effective than intended. The dark mark inspired fear just as much as it did hatred and based on Longbottom's choice of words the young Malfoy had misjudged just how powerful the image of the skull and snake tattoo could be.
"That lesson about having self-discipline when making potions must have been quite something," Neville continued, "Madame Pomfrey said she hadn't seen a healthy student that was traumatized since Snape was teaching potions."
Hermione roved her eyes between both men, waiting for Draco's reply and trying to figure out if there was a fight brewing between the two wizards. Draco simply smirked at the revelation without his trademark snark. "Glad to hear it, those brats seemed to have totally forgotten the importance of displaying proper decorum and respect in a classroom."
"What did you do?" Hermione questioned with wide eyes. "They're just students for Godric's sake."
"It's alright, Malfoy actually did us a favor. That student was more of a menace than Draco ever was, and he needed to learn that lesson. As much as I didn't like him and I still don't, students knew better than to talk back to Professor Snape. Well, most of them." Neville chuckled turning to look at Hermione who simply smiled back. "By the way, what brings you back to Hogwarts? Malfoy's with you, so I'm guessing it's house elf related and not that you're taking up the Transfiguration Apprenticeship."
"Merlin, help me. I asked the Headmistress to give me time! Next thing you know, Harry's going to be bringing it up. It's as if she wants me to become the next Headmistress before Thirty!" Hermione groused. "Honestly, I'm not going to simply abandon helping house elves to become a teacher. Kingsley too, he just keeps going on about opportunities at the Ministry. Yes, I want to change the world for the better, but I'd also like to find a husband and be a mother, and I won't have the time to find someone if I'm the bloody Headmistress of Hogwarts or the Minister for Magic!"
Both men chuckled at Hermione's ranting, knowing full well the young witch would want to do all of it if she could.
"Yes, yes, we know Granger. Only a few more left and you'll have troubled every house elf on the British Isles with your notions of freedom." Draco supplied, ignoring his muggleborn girlfriend's sharp glare.
"Speaking of the elves," Neville cut in before Hermione could lash out at Malfoy's remark "Is it time to renew my S.P.E.W. Membership? It's still two sickles a year, Yeah?"
Hermione smiled at Neville all her frustration forgotten. It had become a bit of a tradition between them that every year since the war ended Neville would pay Hermione two sickles to renew his S.P.E.W. membership. At first, Hermione hadn't liked the idea, but the Longbottom heir had explained that since she supported him at Hogwarts, the least he could do was pay a membership fee to support her project.
"Two sickles a year? Merlin, I'm spending two hundred and fifty Galleons a month." Draco groused with no real bite to his words.
"You're right Draco, I should be asking for much more given that I have to put up with you. Besides, you've no right to complain since I'm only charging Neville the same rate I did when he first joined the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare. You simply missed out on a better rate because you were a prat." Hermione countered with a flirtatious smile.
"I knew you'd succeed eventually, Hermione. You're definitely best at what you do and I'm proud to be your friend." Neville said, a little uncomfortable with the odd atmosphere surrounding his friend and the Malfoy heir.
"Before I forget, Luna asked me to pass these to you," Hermione said, quickly accio-ing the root samples from her beaded bag and passing them off into Neville's waiting hands. Neville reverently looked at them and shot a gratified look at Hermione, while Draco rolled his eyes at the emotional display going on between the Gryffindors.
"Although I might understand why; is it really necessary to get weepy over a bunch of roots, Longbottom? Also, I'd advise you examine them carefully to make sure they aren't something unexpected. It would be problematic to my research if you become a victim of Lovegood's quirks." Draco said casting a skeptic look at the bundle in the young herbology apprentice's hands.
Neville snorted at Draco's words as he transferred the roots into his pockets. "Can't help being a git, eh, Malfoy? Luna knows how important these roots are." Neville didn't elaborate further, and Malfoy seemed content with the former Gryffindor's answer, but Hermione's eyes narrowed in concentration.
"Wait, I've seen roots like those before. Neville! Those are roots from the wild bluebells in the Forest of Dean! Harvesting them is illegal, according to the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981. You and Luna could get into trouble if you're found out." her brow furrowed wondering why he needed those roots.
The Muggleborn's outburst confirmed Draco's suspicions, "Bluebells have many superstitions associated with them, Granger. The most common being that they can be used to summon fairies or bestow bad luck." He cast an amusing look at Neville. "Planning to spread some bad luck to someone on the grounds of Hogwarts, Longbottom?"
"Draco!" Hermione hissed looking at the uncomfortable look on Neville's face. "Neville would never do something like that!" Hermione tried to support her friend, but her eyes told a different story. It was clear she wanted to interrogate Neville as to why he and Luna would break the law and why he needed the roots of flowers that brought bad luck.
Draco laughed loudly. "If you don't tell her what you're going to do with those roots, she's going to likely end up in the forest herself trying to get acquainted with every single fact about them."
Neville tried to look anywhere but at them.
"No, I trust Neville," Hermione said staring down her boyfriend with her hands on her hips. "If it were you or Theodore then it would be a different story, but Neville is a sweet kindhearted man and a Gryffindor who wouldn't use underhanded tactics. Besides, you seemed to have already figured out why he needs them. So If I really wanted to know; all I'd need to do is persuade you to give me the answer." she added with a discreet wink at the blond.
"Persuade me, will you? I can't wait," Draco snarked while silently musing about their earlier activities in the Library.
Neville let out a relieved sigh ignorant to the subtext of Draco and Hermione's words, while the latter extracted a beautiful Daffodil from her bag and placed it in Neville's hands. "In return for not asking why you need those bluebell roots, I need your assistance in figuring out the mystery behind this flower."
"Fascinating." Neville took into his hands and twirled it in his fingers. "Delicate, yet strong. There is an unmistakable vitality that's emanating from it. Where did you find it?"
"It's from the Manor's gardens," Draco supplied. "I suggested she discuss it with my parents as they're the ones who hold its secrets. Unfortunately, this little lioness seems to be a bit too shy for that." Draco teased, pointing to a now scowling Hermione.
"Neville has a natural talent when it comes to Herbology. I'm sure he can crack the code much faster than it would take me to get honest answers from your Slytherin parents."
"You give me too much credit, Hermione. I'll see what I can manage, but no promises. Professor Sprout has me working hard so I might not be able to find the time." Neville smiled uncomfortably, holding the flower carefully, he pointed to the now empty table. "I'm guessing you're here for Lunch. The steak and kidney pie is just as good as you remember it. You should try it." He headed off to the exits bidding them goodbye.
"First things, first." Hermione tried to skip off to the front, while Draco looked at the assortment of dishes on the table. "I need to talk to the elves."
"Food first," he tugged her back. "The elves can wait." When Hermione tried to argue, he gently tapped at her temple with his finger and poked at the side of her stomach with his other hand. "The brain tends to work better if you feed it. Also, I can't stand listening to your stomach making those growling noises a moment longer."
"Actually, digestion directs blood flow to the digestive system. So I might not be as sharp after eating," Hermione said with a cheeky smile.
"I don't care. I've had dinner with you twice, and afterward, you were just as annoyingly brilliant as always. Let's just eat now so you can enjoy an afternoon of pestering elves until dinner."
"Your compliments still need work, but you're right." The muggleborn smiled before giving him a peck on the cheek and taking a seat at the table.
Draco had been completely caught off guard by the sudden kiss from his girlfriend. Between their encounter in the Library and this most recent surprise attack; it was becoming obvious that Hermione Granger was far more playful and affectionate than he'd ever expected. As he took his seat next to her, he couldn't help but wonder how she'd choose to surprise him next.
"It's nostalgic being here, don't you think?" Hermione said digging into a pie. "I forgot how hungry I was."
"As I told you, I never visited the kitchens; but yes, I share the sentiment." Draco agreed taking a hearty bite for himself. He hadn't expected that handling a bunch of third years and spending a few heated moments with his lioness would cause him to work up such an appetite.
"Are those bluebell roots related to another pureblood custom?" She began almost immediately after they started with their lunch.
"The direct approach, I see. What happened to persuading me?" Draco said taking a sip of the warm butterbeer.
"Oh, there will be time for that later. I don't have time to play around with you right now; so out with it. All I know is that they are a rare breed of wild bluebells found only in ancient forests, where trees have reached an age of at least four-hundred years." She said as if reciting a line from a Herbology text.
"My word, aren't you the pushy little bookworm today. Those roots are a rare ingredient for a certain kind of enslavement ritual"
Hermione stopped mid-bite. "WHAT?!" she shouted, "Neville would never!"
Draco struggled to maintain his stonefaced façade, but Hermione immediately caught on to his ruse.
"DRACO!" she said slapping his arm harshly. "That wasn't funny, I thought you were serious for a moment."
"I am being serious, Granger," he replied with a smirk. "It's just this particular type of enslavement involves mutual consent from both parties, and is commonly referred to as a union."
"Union?." Hermione questioned before a giant smile appeared on her face. "He's going to propose. Oh, I'm so happy for them." Draco chuckled at Hermione's ecstatic reaction. It wasn't a surprise for anyone who'd seen Longbottom and Abbott during Potter's wedding and Draco expected this was to happen soon. "But what do the Bluebells have to do with Neville proposing? Didn't you say that bluebells brought bad luck?" She asked her inquisitive mind still wanting to understand why Neville and Luna would illegally collect wild bluebells.
"Bluebells bringing bad luck is an old superstition that only applies to Muggles since they lack the proper knowledge of fairies. As to why Longbottom would have Lovegood collect them; I suspect it's because he's aiming to follow an old pureblood tradition and Lovegood knows enough about fairies to collect the roots without upsetting the forest fairies.
Hermione nodded, "Could you explain the tradition?"
Draco sighed, "It's an old custom amongst some pureblood families to present your betrothed with a crown of flowers upon the proposal of marriage. Each flower in the crown symbolizes a promise being made to the future bride. Bluebells are traditionally used as the base to symbolize undying love and unfailing devotion. I'm not sure if the Longbottom family follows that tradition, I know the Parkinsons do, and I think the Abbott family might as well."
"Wait, but Neville only has the roots," Hermione cut in.
"It's too cold out to find bluebells in bloom, Granger. Luckily, Longbottom is quite adept at Herbology. He'll have those roots turned into a garden before the day is out."
Hermione smiled at Draco's praise of her friend. She still didn't understand how the young Malfoy and Longbottom heirs seemed to somewhat get along despite their awful history but gathered that the Malfoy heir's potions research probably required a skilled herbologist to acquire certain rare plants. Neville had a big heart, and a disgraced family like the Malfoy's likely didn't have many people willing to associate with them, so it kind of made sense.
"Do the Malfoys follow that tradition?"
"No, and neither do the Notts. We have our own traditions." Draco's thoughts inadvertently shifted to Pansy and he let out a sigh.
Hermione ignorant to his wistful mood continued, "I'm glad Neville's proposing to Hannah. I was so worried when Parkinson started chasing after him. She was definitely not the right person to make Neville happy."
"I'll agree they weren't suited to each other. Pansy would have been utterly miserable with a wizard like him," Draco offered in support of his friend.
"Another reason this bloody Magical Matching should be banned," she grumbled into her pie. "Forcing people together, who're clearly not meant to be together for the sake of a child, is completely barbaric. Imagine the toxicity the prospective child would be exposed to."
Draco cleared his throat and cast a cautious glance at the muggleborn. One moment they were talking about the relationship between Longbottom and his prospective bride and in the next she began openly decrying Magical Matching. Unprepared for this conversational shift, Draco gave a placating but noncommittal nod. He wouldn't make the mistake of offering his opinion before he had a more complete grasp of the situation, and his fiery Gryffindor's emotions on the topic. Hermione Granger was clever and a single misstep at this stage could prove fatal for his ambitions.
"Anyway, I'm very happy that he's following his heart." She smiled slipping back into a cheerful mood.
It became clear that Hermione hadn't realized that this particular shift of topics was ill-advised. Draco had expected that his bookworm's dislike of Magical Matching would keep the potentially explosive topic far away from their conversations. Her open avoidance of the subject had worked to his advantage. After all, he wouldn't need to hide anything if she willingly avoided the topic; but this sudden willingness to address the controversial subject also allowed Draco to probe deeper into her views and opinions. If he was careful enough, he might discover something in her outlook that could be exploited for his own gain. It was a dangerous gamble, all things considered. However, if he didn't take advantage of the opportunity now, he might come to regret it later.
"Barbaric? If you find the Ministry's Magical Matching program to be barbaric; then it would seem you don't understand true barbarism." Draco challenged. "For some purebloods, magical matching is their best option. The Parkinsons are disgraced, which means that no respectable pureblood wizard is going to marry Pansy. Without magical matching, all she would have to look forward to is a future as a spinster. At least now, she has a chance."
Hermione shot him an incredulous look. "I can't believe you just said that. I know she's your friend, but even someone as unpleasant as Pansy Parkinson deserves a better future than being a nothing more than a broodmare."
"And if she should wish to become a mother? Who are you to question her methods? It's not as if she's using Amorentia or the Imperius curse. Magical Matching is simply the most effective means of getting what she wants. Merlin knows she didn't actually want to marry Longbottom."
"Which is my point!" Hermione cut in, "You agreed that Pansy and Neville would have been an awful match! Just because Neville had the presence of mind to refuse Pansy doesn't mean other people won't enter into loveless marriages just to have powerful children. No child deserves to be born into a loveless marriage."
Draco sighed, "On that, we agree, but no one is being forced to use Magical Matching. It's the Ministry's way of encouraging people to have children, to replace those lost in the war. It's not a perfect solution, but for people like Parkinson, Goyle, Nott, Farley, and even me, it might be the only way we ever find someone." The Malfoy heir could see a retort ready on his girlfriend's face but pressed on. "Furthermore, Magical Matching reduces the chance of a union producing a squib. Trust me, there is no greater pain than having a child born without the gift of magic. To purebloods magic isn't only a birthright, but it binds us together as a family in a way that blood alone never could. I'm not saying the child would be unloved, but regardless of how much a child is loved and cherished they would carry the burden of being different."
Hurt flashed across Hermione's face, if only for a moment, "I know, and I understand probably better than I ever wanted to." She paused to take a breath, "But Magical Matching could just as easily destroy a happy relationship. I'm pretty sure you didn't break up with Astoria Greengrass because you wanted to."
Draco winced at the mention of Astoria, it was easy to forget how sharp Hermione Granger could be. If she hadn't hated the subject so much, she'd have likely been brilliant at divination. After all, what was divination if not reading the signs and predicting the likely outcome. "You're right, I have no love for Magical Matching. It denied me the future I expected, but I suspect the same was true for you and Weasley wasn't it?"
The look on her face was all the confirmation Draco would need. It was ironic that Magical Matching would put them together only after taking away someone else. Draco mused, chewing on a piece of meat. "So you and Weasley were that poor a match? I can't say I'm shocked, but I was under the impression the both of you didn't care about such things." The blond questioned, trying to dig further into her defenses. Knowledge was power, and he couldn't afford to waste an opportunity like this.
"I didn't care, and for the most part, I still don't." She sighed and reached for a glass of warm butterbeer. "Ginny and I did it just for fun. Her and Harry's results came out in their favor, ours didn't. It never bothered me, but Ron... Well, let's just say the two of you are alike in at least one way," she finished with a humorless smile.
Draco's face scrunched up in disgust at the comparison, but at the same time, he needn't guess as to how his father managed to procure Hermione Granger's magical sample. Her harmless fun with Potter's wife had landed them in this mess. If not for that test, would she still be with Weasley? For that matter, who was the next best match next to Granger? Would he have had to try and steal Davis from Nott, marry Pansy, or worse still, court someone like Millicent Bulstrode? Shaking his head to get rid of all those thoughts, he said, "Then is it fair to assume your disdain for Magical Matching because it took away your happily ever after with that ginger oaf."
Hermione shook her head ignoring the insult aimed at Ron. "Not exactly. My problem is it takes away choice. I'd wager that your compatibility with Astoria was such that neither of you had much of a choice. If I'm honest with myself, Ron and I probably wouldn't have worked out, but we never got the chance to try." She paused for a brief moment as if she was considering something before she began again. "Truthfully, I've considered checking our compatibility." Draco tensed at her words. "But I realized it would be a mistake. I'd rather we explore this relationship without that kind of pressure. If things get serious between us, then maybe we get tested and go from there. Until then, I'm content with enjoying your company. I'm not about to let Magical Matching dictate my life like Ron and Pansy; it seems to have only brought them misery."
Draco could appreciate Granger's approach, she didn't want Magical Matching results tainting or ending their relationship prematurely. It was an admirable desire. Unfortunately, Hermione's innocent wish was already impossible. Their relationship was born of impure motives; Theo, Tracey, Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco himself, were all burdened with the knowledge that the muggleborn was a near-perfect match. Draco didn't have the option to explore this relationship willfully ignorant of the truth. Once again, life chose to deny him much of a choice.
As if somehow reading his thoughts, Hermione continued to speak. "Mipsy was right; choice is the most important thing. Nothing makes sense if it takes away the most important part of our freedom. It doesn't matter how noble your intentions are if they tamper with the very essence of what makes us human." Hermione said with lowered eyes. The joy that danced in her eyes at with the news of Longbottom's coming engagement seemed to have completely vanished, and a somber expression took its place.
Draco's brow creased but he remained silent. It was clear from her words, that she was talking about something beyond Magical Matching.
"I had to learn that lesson the hard way." With a sigh, she plastered a determined smile on her face. "So, I have to make sure every being out there is given that choice." She looked at her wristwatch and exclaimed. "Oh my, it's time I get to work. I didn't think we'd get so caught up in conversation. You'll have to enjoy dessert alone, I need to find a certain elf before it gets too late in the day." She pushed her plate of sweets towards the blond and pressed her lips to his cheek. "You can join me once you're done." She walked towards an abandoned corner of the kitchen where a small elf sat amidst the litter of empty butterbeer jars.
As Draco watched her kneel down next to the elf, he mused on all he had learned. The knowledge alone was intimidating, but he still couldn't believe she'd chosen to trust him, despite knowing about his Slytherin nature. Unbeknownst to her, she altered the nature of their relationship. The notion of choice was important to her; meaning that this relationship needed to be more than just manipulations to gain her affection there needed to be trust in this relationship from both sides. She'd unknowingly saddled him with the responsibility of trying to make sure that once the truth of their matching came to light that she would still choose him. Learning to trust this maddening muggleborn wasn't going to be easy.
"What an exhausting day." Hermione flopped down onto her sofa, as soon as they entered her home. Looking at Draco who was still standing at the door with his arms folded, she quirked an eyebrow. "Draco? Why are you still standing in the doorway?"
"It's impolite to enter a lady's home without her express permission or that of a suitable proxy," he said with a weary shrug of his shoulder.
"Would you please enlighten my home with your heavenly presence?" She rolled her eyes and kicked her shoes off, rubbing her sore ankles. It indeed had been a long day for both of them, but it was productive.
"Gladly." Draco strolled in and claimed the spot beside her. To her surprise, he took her feet into his hands and applied gentle pressure with his thumbs at the spot she was rubbing. He smirked at the dumbfounded look on her face. "Not a word to anyone about this, Granger." Sensing a barrage of questions coming he continued, "House-elf hands are too boney, so my mother would force my father to rub her feet after a long day. I thought you'd appreciate a similar treatment."
Hermione barely repressed an almost erotic moan as Draco's hands continued to ease the tension in her feet. She smiled demurely and bit her lip. "Do you know what would make this much better?"
"I've got an idea or two if you're feeling bold." Draco's voice was seductively low as his fingers traveled up to massage her calves.
"A nice hot..." She whispered, seductively matching Draco's tone "Cup of tea." She broke into a fit of giggles the moment Draco's fingers attacked a ticklish spot on her legs as revenge. "Stop, stop, I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist. As penance, make yourself comfortable and I'll get the tea.
She tried to get up, but Draco stopped her. "I'll take care of it, Granger."
"Who are you, and what have you done with my selfish, egotistical and lazy boyfriend?" She questioned, noticing Draco was holding her legs firmly in his lap and staring at her. "Fine, you win, I'm too tired to argue right now." She pointed to the kitchen and waved her hands, pointing to the things. "The kettle's just beside the stove. The tea bags and sugar…" She trailed off the moment she noticed Draco's devilish smirk.
"Hermione, don't be silly." Draco waved her off and snapped his fingers calling out. "Tinky."
"Master, what is it that you need of Tinky." The elf popped in out of nowhere.
Hermione looked scandalized at the sudden appearance of the elf, and quickly assumed a more dignified sitting position, with Draco mostly ignoring her reaction. "Do you have any special requests for tea, darling? Or will the usual do?"
"If you wanted to get revenge, you didn't need to bring your house elf into it. I just spent all afternoon trying to explain that house elves deserve a better life than being servants." She grumbled, she should have known better than to ever expect Draco Malfoy to prepare the tea when he could simply call Tinky for it.
"The usual it is." Draco turned to the elf. "Some snacks would be lovely too."
"Of course Master Draco. Tinky will be back in a tick." As the elf popped out, as quickly as he came in, Draco turned towards a glaring Hermione. "Come on, Granger. You know full well that Tinky loves what he does, and he wouldn't want to miss an opportunity to impress you. So, relax and enjoy the perks of house elf affection." He leaned his head on the back of her sofa, but it shot back up immediately. "That beast of yours, where is it?"
"Crooks must be snoozing somewhere else, likely on my bed; but I might just go fetch him so he could attack you for summoning Tinky without good reason," Hermione grumbled.
"Tinky is a Malfoy elf, it's his duty to care for us. Denying him would only make him feel unneeded." Before Hermione could reply, Draco continued. "Furthermore, you're in no position to judge my actions. I watched you manipulate an elf into servitude just a few hours ago, Granger. I'm afraid you can't claim the moral high ground, on the same day that you put Theo Nott's machinations to shame."
Hermione sunk low into the sofa with a defeated sigh. "I know, it felt horrible, but I realized it was necessary to help Winky and make her understand." She looked at him through her lashes. "Did you know she was the one behind S.P.E.W."
"I presumed that spew thing was created because you enjoy being meddlesome. At least that's what the elves who cleaned our common room used to complain about."
She inadvertently leaned into his shoulder. "No, Winky was why I started the society for the promotion of elvish welfare. She was bonded to the Crouch Family until Crouch Sr. fired her over something that wasn't her fault. She'd done her best for them, only to be thrown away. If it were up to me, Crouch would've ended up in Azkaban for the way he treated her." Draco's hand closed around her shoulder and he pulled her in, letting her rest her head on his shoulder, while she continued with her story. "Dumbledore brought her to Hogwarts, after that. To forget her pain, she started drinking butterbeer. It soon became an addiction due to her fragile state, deteriorating her health and trapping her in misery. She needed something strong and solid to get out of that misery, so I had to use Slytherin tactics to motivate her even though I didn't want to."
"I had always wondered why Mother banned butterbeer in the Manor. At first, I'd thought it was because such a drink was beneath the Malfoy family, but now it all makes sense." Draco mused. "You see, it's a tradition amongst our elves that once the masters have gone to bed on Hallowe'en, the elves gather in the ossuary to mourn and celebrate their ancestors. Elves can't tolerate stronger drinks like Firewhiskey so there's no risk of them drinking themselves into a stupor or becoming addicted to it."
"That's actually quite clever, but I'd wager your mother just wanted to avoid the inconvenience of drunken or hungover elves." Hermione's fingers started to thoughtlessly play with the buttons of his coat, but Draco couldn't ignore the unease in her voice when she'd explained her actions towards Winky.
"Manipulations can be a necessary evil, Hermione. That elf is lost in her pain, but your manipulations just might save her. The Crouch family is dead, her beloved masters are gone, but Crouch Jr. was behind the tragedy of the Longbottoms. Suggesting that Winky could atone for the crimes of her late master by serving the heir of the family he had wronged is a viable idea."
She looked at him with gleaming eyes and whispered. "Thank you. I'll be honest, I wasn't sure if this was the right thing to do, but reflecting on what you did for Kreacher; I realized this might be the only way to help Winky move on from her old masters and a start a new life. Neville is a very kind man and he believes in S.P.E.W. so I know he can help Winky. I just wish I didn't need to manipulate her feelings for her old masters to do it."
Draco thought on her words. He saw the strength in her solution but he couldn't deny that it held a certain naïveté unbecoming of a true Slytherin solution. Doubtless, there would be awkward moments between the elf and Longbottom due to this situation; but before he could share his two cents on the matter, a loud pop sounded and Hermione sprung back into an upright position.
"Tinky apologizes for intruding on Master's privacy with his beloved mate. Tinky was bringing Master his tea." The tiny form of the elf wobbled under the pressure of holding a large tray.
"Mate?!" Hermione's eyes widened and she jumped forward to snatch the heavy laden tray away from the struggling elf. Deftly placing it on her coffee table, the muggleborn witch thanked the elf. "Thank you so much, Tinky. Everything looks perfect."
"Master's mate likes Tinky. Tinky's very happy." The tiny elf jumped in joy. "Tinky makes sure he brings Master's mate lots and lots of tasty goodies."
Hermione winced every time the tiny being said mate. Draco chuckled at her discomfort and turned to the elf. "That'll be all. Thank you, Tinky."
Tinky's eyes went wide at Draco's words of gratitude. "Master Draco's gone mad again!" The elf let out a scream and vanished from the spot.
"Bugger. He'll be sobbing until tomorrow," Draco groused reaching for the tea.
"That was a good thing you did, Draco Malfoy," Hermione beamed at him.
"My house elf just left screaming I'd gone mad, Granger. Evidently, you and I have very different opinions on what qualifies as a good thing."
"Deny it all you want, but little 'mistakes' like that are what I've been working for. If I was able to get a pureblood like you to thoughtlessly thank a house elf, I'm very confident that I could get everyone in the wizarding world to respect them."
Draco failed to counter her claim with a snarky retort. Chiefly, because it was true. She'd charmed him into changing his habits just enough, and it didn't seem absurd to think that she could create these kinds of changes in weaker, more easily influenced people. Hermione Granger seemed to be an embodiment of the goddesses, Minerva, Venus, and Victoria. She had the knowledge and power to change the world.
"Perhaps," she reached for his cup with her fingers and placed it back on the tray. Scooting closer to him, she whispered. "I should reward you, for this change. What do you say?"
"Come here, witch," Draco said, pulling Hermione into his lap. "You might think that being a brave and bold lioness gives you an advantage, but it doesn't." She giggled as he breathed in her scent and playfully prodded his nose against the sensitive skin of her neck. Then without giving her a moment to think, he claimed her lips and she slowly began to sink into him. Their slow kiss progressed into a heated snogging session, as they tumbled onto her sofa with Draco landing on top of her.
As their lips parted, she looked at him with dazed eyes, reaching for his lips to drag her finger across them. He pressed a kiss to the pad of her finger, his gaze wandering downward. She followed his gaze to notice that the top two buttons of her blouse had come apart, his gaze darkened at the sight of revealed skin.
He licked his lips and dragged his eyes back to hers, the question dancing on his lips. "May I?" His fingers inched upwards, tracing the contours of her body. Her eyes fluttered shut as he brushed his fingers across the dip of her waist, where her shirt had ridden up and she nodded, completely giving into her instincts.
Draco never thought Hermione was a traditional beauty, but as she lay there, looking at him with slightly parted lips, Draco made a mental note to kill or at least obliviate Ronald Weasley, and perhaps Victor Krum. Since no other wizard but him should have the privilege of keeping the memory of such a radiant beauty. He pressed his lips to her neck and began his descent towards the swell of her breasts. Hearing her moans, he darted his tongue out to sneak a taste, all the while working his fingers to get rid of the next few buttons.
The whooshing sound of the fireplace was enough to pull them apart, and they tumbled to the floor in a tangled heap as laughter permeated the flat.
"Oh, this is brilliant!" Ginny Potter's voice made their heads snap towards the newcomer. "Hermione, I didn't think you were that kind of witch!" She stood with a hand on her hip, as Hermione and Draco struggled to stand.
"Ginny! What're you doing here?" Hermione fumbled to pull her blouse together, while Draco glared at the red-haired witch. "Wait. Is Harry coming?" Hermione asked suddenly with wide eyes.
"Oh, Bugger me!" Ginny stuck her head into the floo and called. "Harry! Don't come here yet, Hermione was being a naughty girl and you shouldn't see her like this."
"For Merlin's sake, Ginny!" Hermione tugged her back and glared at her friend. "Just what are you implying!?"
Ginny giggled and regarded Draco with a raised brow. "Malfoy, nice to see that you know how to show our girl a good time."
"Are all of you Gryffindors bereft of manners?" Draco lashed out, trying to fix his mussed up hair. "For Salazar's sake, I'm left to wonder if Granger's the only one of you blessed with an actual brain."
Ginny remained unfazed at his sharp tone. She gave an amusing smile at her flustered friend and took a seat straight across them. "Well, this is a good reminder that Hermione doesn't come alone, and I can't speak for my husband or my brother, but I assure you I'm not someone you should underestimate."
Draco raised an eyebrow at Ginny's challenge and let a small smirk grace his lips. "I suppose so, I recall some rather unpleasant memories of Ginevra Weasley's Bat-bogey Hex."
Ginny narrowed her eyes. "And yet, you can't seem to remember my name or being at my wedding. Odd, but then again you did spend most of the time staring at Hermione. A lesser bride might have been upset about not being the center of attention on her wedding day."
He raised his hands in surrender, hoping she would stop before the Boy-Who-Lived decided to show up. "My apologies, Mrs. Potter."
"That's better. I didn't expect that a snogging session with our bookworm could cause memory loss, I expected better from the 'Pale Prince of Slytherin'."
"Ginny!" Hermione finally gained her senses and stopped her friend before the married woman could damage any more of her pureblood boyfriend's fragile pride. "I think that's enough. You've had your fun, it's time to stop."
"Yes, it would appear that I'm just in the way." the blond muttered, glaring at Hermione reaching for his coat.
"Ooh! These look delicious." Ginny said as she helped herself to some of the elf-made biscuits. "Are they some of yours, Hermione?" She closed her eyes savoring the taste as they melted in her mouth. Draco and Hermione were now standing very close to each other with Hermione adjusting the lapels of his coat. "Oh, don't mind me. I'll be in the kitchen indulging myself." She rushed to the kitchen with the plate in her hands. "By the way, Malfoy, your trouser snake is in need of an adjustment."
"Bloody Gryffindors," Draco muttered threading his hand through his hair. "I should leave before any more friends of yours start to pop in out of nowhere. Lovegood, Longbottom, and now Potter's wife, I deserve a medal for putting with so many of your friends in a single day."
Hermione gave a demure smile and reached to clear away a small smudge of her lipstick near his lip. "They're not so bad, you know." When Draco rolled his eyes, she continued. "I really had a great time, and I promise next time, I'll reward you properly."
"I'm counting on it." Draco winked reaching for his wand. "There was a reason I left my broom at Hogwarts. Work on that list of yours, Granger. I can't wait to collect that favor from you and claim a proper reward." He stole another kiss from her lips and disapparated with a faint crack.
Hermione stood there wistfully looking at the spot where Draco had vanished into. A wave of heat caused her to flush, as she realized the implications of her words just now and how they related to the activities on her sofa. She closed her eyes with a smile and pondered for a second, what would've happened if Ginny hadn't walked in.
She strolled into her kitchen and looked at Ginny who looked like she was training to best Ron in a pie eating competition. "You better have a good reason for ruining my evening with my boyfriend and eating my food, Ginny."
Ginny lifted her eyes from the plate and gulped down the food from her chipmunk cheeks. Her vibrant eyes slightly widened. "I do. I'm pregnant, Hermione!"