Title:
An Explanation
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 448
Notes/Warning:
Written for Day 3 of the Valentine's Challenge, Prompt: I'm very
drunk and I intend on getting still drunker before this evening's
over. – Gone
With the Wind
Hermione found him sitting in the Leaky Cauldron at the end of the bar. He had a glass tumbler in his hands and a half empty bottle of fire whiskey in front of him. She climbed onto the stool next to him, a frown marring her normally composed countenance.
"Are you drunk?"
"No, I'm not drunk… I'm very drunk and I intend on getting still drunker before this evening is over."
Hermione sighed. "Is this because of what Harry said?"
"Of course not, why would I take exception to being called 'a no good piece of lying Death Eating scum?'"
"He was just surprised to find out we were dating," Hermione told him wringing her hands.
Draco raised an eyebrow. "It seemed to me that he was surprised to find out that we had ever even had a civil conversation, let alone been friends for the last two years."
Hermione blushed. "It never came up."
"You are ashamed of me," he stated bluntly, finishing his drink and then pouring himself another.
"I'm not," she denied, but they both knew she wasn't being completely truthful. "Maybe I was at first. Not ashamed, exactly. But I didn't want to have to explain it to everyone, to have to justify my friendship, and try to prove to anyone that you weren't the same guy we'd known back at Hogwarts. I took the easy way out."
"Well that warms the ol' heart cockles."
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I explained everything after you stormed off. I told Harry that I liked you, that you made me laugh, and that for the first time since Ron died I felt really alive again."
"And what was Potter's response?" Draco asked, his face impassive.
"Before or after I removed the full Body-Bind Curse?" she teased.
His lips twitched.
"Harry trusts my judgment, Draco. The Weasleys trust my judgment. And even if they didn't, I'm an adult and I want to be with you. I wouldn't drop you just because Harry or Ginny or Molly wasn't happy about it."
Draco didn't respond immediately, but her answer seemed to satisfy him. He finished his drink and then rose unsteadily to his feet. "I'm afraid I'll have to ask for some assistance in Apparating to my flat. However, since my current condition is primarily your responsibility, I refuse to feel the least bit guilty about it."
"So I'm forgiven?" Hermione asked quietly, taking him gently by the arm.
He smirked. "That will be determined after I see how good a job you do tucking me into bed tonight."
Hermione shook her head, but beamed brightly. Before he could say another word, she quickly turned and Disapparated them both away.
