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XXV: Two of Cups

"You remember that chapter you read on Veritaserum?" Draco asked, shooing Hermione's hands away.

He took it upon himself to dress her, letting his fingers graze the soft flesh of her stomach as he slipped each button into the corresponding sheath with quiet concentration. She smiled softly, dropping her arms to her side to allow him this small pleasure and watching as he would steal a glance at her body or run his open palm over the smooth skin of her back.

The steamy interaction between the two had abated and made way for relaxed and friendly banter. Trying hard as she might, Hermione found it challenging to manage her feelings of dread as they prepared to leave the stream, with all its safe and private tranquility. She feared he might feel the raging, incessant pounding of her heart when his fingertips brushed against her chest as he dressed her, anticipating the worst as she ruminated on the death and danger that lived in the forest.

While the Forest had an undeniable beauty and tranquility of its own, the lingering trauma of seeing Draco half-dead and bleeding, then stumbling upon the decaying corpse of the Death Eater mere days later, seemed to wash away any sense of calm in her. It was the vulnerability that bothered her most. She had no contentions with the fact that the Forest was dangerous - whether due to the creatures or the elements - she understood that they were simply food to those that roamed the open wilderness. But she was a sitting duck, waiting to be hunted. No wand. No power. Just flesh, bones, and sheer will.

"Oh yes - Veritaserum," she acknowledged with a nod, "You were able to hear that?"

"I could hear most of your lessons," the whites of his eyes twinkled with amusement as he spoke. "Can you remember what the characteristics of a natural Veritaserum wellspring are?"

"Hm," she considered, her gaze drifting away from the clearing as her mind clung to the distraction that the question provided.

She tried to remember what she'd learned from the chapter, letting the information replace the pesky feelings that had become a constancy in her life. She welcomed the respite of intellectualization.

"Veritaserum was discovered in natural springs in 1218. It was only replicated in modern potion-making in the 1800s - rumored to be 1836 by Ogmun Nortenbury." Her voice grew monotonous as she recited the words. "Every lunar cycle the normally odorless liquid emits the smell of sulfur for several minutes indicating the maturedness of the brew. Usually found in a pool of colorless and odorless liquid in damp, dark spaces. Springs occur in countries with regular rainfall and temperate climate."

Draco, who had bent down to slip on his shoes, glanced up at her with his mouth agape.

"Merlin, Granger, did you memorize the whole chapter?"

The words elicited a small unexpected smile from her lips as Draco pulled the heavy black cloak over her shoulders, his fingers carefully lifting the newly dried, springy yet delicate curls. He pressed a light, shiver-inducing kiss to the back of her neck before releasing the strands, letting them fall with a bounce against her shoulder blades.

The pair remained in the heated bubble that he had cast for them, but Hermione clung to the thick wool as she anticipated the cold that was undoubtedly waiting for them outside of the enchanted area.

"Does that sound familiar?" he said, drawing her attention back to the conversation.

He slipped his fingers to intertwine with hers as, with his other hand, he pointed his wand to remove the enchantment he had placed causing the rain to pour down onto the pair immediately. He quickly cast another charm, creating an invisible barrier from the tip of his wand like a magical umbrella.

Draco seemed to sense the anxiety in her. She didn't know whether it was the long glances toward the path ahead, her features revealing her state of panic (despite her desperate attempts at hiding them from him), or the fact that no matter how hard she tried, her fingers trembled against his ever-so-slightly. Still, he held her hand, brought her close against him, and reassured her of their safety.

He guided her under the canopy of low-leaves, through the open clearing, and toward the side of the mountain. She could finally sense the dread chipping away with each step they took toward the open mouth of the cave. Hermione stole a glance of the silver-blond hair and the cool unaffected gaze as he led them back. Her fingers squeezed against his hand, feeling the sensation of his warm skin and firm grip against her. She had in many ways grown used to being alone, in a perpetual state of quiet, broken only by her own voice as she tried to fill the void with reading and verbal inquiries while he'd be laying in bed, unresponsive and unable to provide any acknowledgement to her. It was nice to have him taking care of her again.

"You mean, do I think that dark hole of water at the bottom of the cave is a Veritaserum wellspring?" she asked, snapping out of her moment of contemplation as she remembered the questions he had raised.

Draco nodded.

"There's only one way to find out," she shrugged.

"Are you volunteering, Granger? Wouldn't that be dangerous?"

The sound of his light laugh filled her ears, causing her own smile to emerge.

"Brazen Gryffindor…" he murmured under his breath with a small smirk. "And how would you like being in a state of pure honesty with me? Giving me the ability to bring out all your secrets?"

"Me?" she responded with a look of unadulterated innocence, "I've never had a secret a day in my life."

Draco rolled his eyes so hard he swore he could see his brain and Hermione let out a soft giggle before she caught the words that had left her lips.

She most certainly did have secrets - one of which stared her boldly in the face as the truth rose in the forefront of her mind.

Draco's father was dead.

Likely killed because of Draco's actions.

A flutter of nerves rose in her chest as she struggled to come to terms with the realization. She opened her mouth to try and speak, her throat suddenly dry. Words did not come.

How could she have told him in that moment? Who would choose to shatter his world only hours after he woke from a prison of his own mind?

Her parted lips drew together, the thought of sharing the news quickly fading from her mind. This wasn't the time.

The entrance of the cave came into view with the familiar red-orange glow of the fireplace as it cast dancing shadows on the rock-walls within. There was an unusual addition at the foot of the cave: a pile of grey, brown, and white items which Hermione quickly realized was made up of dead pheasants and squirrels laying atop one another, their necks snapped clean.

"What?" she breathed as Draco let out a soft laugh.

Hermione turned to him, curious to learn what he knew.

"Otium," he stated.

"Er - pardon?"

"Otium!" he called out.

From the raucous rustling of leaves nearby emerged the Hippogriff, the dark feathers around its beak slightly fluffy as it proudly pranced toward them. Draco released Hermione's hand and bent at the waist into a low bow as she watched with a mixture of curiosity and sheer surprise. The Hippogriff reciprocated the bow before striding in their direction. Startled at the quick movement of the animal, Hermione inched to the side as the large bird-horse shoved its head under Draco's armpit, pushing him several feet backward as he did so. With a lighthearted laugh, Draco ran his arm over the smooth, ultra-soft fine feathers of the Hippogriff's head.

"Otium?" Hermione asked, having been pushed aside by the beast as she tried to draw her hood up to shield against the falling rain. The Hippogriff lifted its head to glance at her.

"That's her name," Draco responded as he continued to pet the creature. "You missed me, didn't you?"

The Hippogriff playfully nipped at his robes, causing Draco to jump with a startled laugh.

"Been eating your fair share of birds and things?" He ran his palm over the where the Hippogriff's stomach swelled, "You've grown so big."

From the periphery of her sight, Hermione spotted a small white blurry ball that seemed to grow closer as it came toward her. With a happy gasp, Hermione spotted the rabbit that had not left her side during those days alone. It bounced in her direction, no longer under the confining enchantment of Draco.

It came as a surprise to her to feel the familiar burn in her eyes as she held the fuzzy creature in her hands, running her fingertips over the round back as the soft white fluff of its fur peeked between her gentle fingers. She swallowed the tears, feeling a bit ridiculous as she fought the urge to cry over the rabbit's loyalty to her. She had grown used to the company of the helpless little creature, and couldn't stop herself from feeling proud that it had not totally abandoned her at its first chance at true freedom.

The Hippogriff moved toward Hermione, snapping its beak as it planted its eyes on the small white rabbit in Hermione's arm.

"No!" She barked, "He's not food!"

Her reaction startled both the Hippogriff and Draco as Hermione turned to the side, defensively hiding the small hare before she slipped it into the safe confines of her deep pocket.

"How do you know the Hippogriff's name?" Hermione redirected, crossing her arms across her chest as he watched the exchange, impressed at her ferocity.

"Hagrid called her that."

At the sound of Hagrid's name, the Hippogriff withdrew and let out a huff.

"Hagrid?"

The Hippogriff dipped its head low again as Draco stepped forward to close the space between himself and the Hippogriff, letting his hand run over the side of the creature.

"Hagrid helped us escape, that night that... Well, the night of the battle. He put us on Otium," his voice grew quiet, "I reckon she misses him too. Don't you, Otium?" The Hippogriff huffed again and prodded Draco with her beak. "Is that for us?" he pointed to the pile of fresh kills at the cave entrance as the Hippogriff pressed her face against Draco's side and pushed him toward the pile. Draco lowered himself into another bow of gratitude as he turned toward Hermione with a gracious smile. Her expression did not seem to match as she stood with her brows knit, utterly perplexed at the interaction before her, and soaked from head to foot.

"Shit, Granger, come here." He yanked her under the invisible, enchanted umbrella and rushed her inside to the safety of the great indoors before casting another quick drying spell.

"Since when do Hippogriffs like you?" Hermione accused as Draco shrugged with a subtle yet sly smile. He slipped out of his black suit jacket and began to undo the buttons at his wrists, folding his sleeves upward to reveal the alabaster skin of his muscular forearms. He stopped just mere centimeters before the Mark, leaving that portion of himself covered.

"You mean cause Buckbeak was a total arse to me?"

Hermione tsked and began to remove her cloak before he stepped in, his fingers nimbly moving to undo the top hook before he pushed the thick fabric off of her shoulders. Though they barely touched, he could smell the fresh rainwater that clung to her springy, beautiful curls. He gently twirled a strand around his finger mindlessly. Hermione tilted her head toward his hand, pressing her cheek against his open palm as she watched the healthy rabbit hop out of the pocket and sat next to her feet. Her skin had grown warm again against his hand.

"Don't call him that," she scowled playfully, "he was a sweetheart."

Draco raised a brow, unable to suppress an amused smile.

"Right," he whispered, releasing her before turning to add some twigs to the fire. "Well perhaps the females like me better than the males."

"What a shock."

Draco flashed an impish grin before it quickly faded as a hearty yawn overcame him.

"You should probably nap a bit," Hermione said thoughtfully, turning to grab a book that she'd left on the table. "Your body is still recovering, rest would probably be good for you."

Draco nodded. His body ached as if it had aged sixty years in the course of a week, and his head felt full and dense from the day's events. Of its own accord, his body led him toward the bed but he halted as he approached the center of the room, taking in the space around him for the first time since his injury. All of the familiarities of their domain seemed the same, yet neater and more pristine as they had fallen under the care of Hermione's scrutinizing eye. Everything, that was, except for the center of the room which had clearly become a workspace of sorts.

Draco drew his hands behind his back as he inspected the items as though glancing at an unusual sculpture in a museum. Small, stoppered glass jars sat in a neat row, surrounded by towers of leather-bound tomes with crinkled, heavily-attended spines. Bound and unbound parchment scrolls were splayed in a semi-circle around where Draco could envision Hermione sat, and several splatters of different-coloured liquids had dried into the earth and left their vivid marks on the terrain.

The sight of a bronze goblet caught his eye. Its contents were citrine-colored and watery with a deep shimmer that reminded Draco of mercury. Minute bubbles seemed to simmer and rise to the surface of the fluid, adding to the exquisite lustre. The potion's bitter perfume rose toward Draco's face, filling his nostrils with the scent of lemon rind and raw almond.

He reached out and pinched one of the thin pieces of parchment, bringing it up to read the neat, cursive handwriting:

Woodlice Extract

FRESH - Found in walnut tree

Known Use: Promotes Feelings of Joy No effect

Attempted Batches: 5

Experimental Dose: Dose 4. Felt my heart rate increasing. Breathing became easier. No drowsiness or malaise.

Administered Dose: Attempt 5 resulted in DM rousing, but fell into a deeper stupor than yesterday.

Unknown melancholy tune. Discontinue use.

He glanced at Hermione after putting the paper back in front of its corresponding potion ingredient. Hermione sat on the couch with a dense textbook in her lap, her breathing slow and relaxed as her twirling curls were swept to cover the side of her face like a curtain. He drew his attention back to the next ingredient:

Essence of Dittany

Healing - Skin

Base for first 3 days

Attempted Batches: 1, 2, 3, 4

Experimental Dose: Dose 1. Very effective in minimizing scarring and burning. Notable difference in appearance.

Administered Dose: Day 2 - wound is healed. Day 3 - Scarring minimized.

Day 4 - No change. Minimal scar. Will discontinue use of Dittany.

Though Dittany was known for its healing properties, Hermione had quickly run through most of the ingredient as she utilized it for the first four batches. He picked up another note:

Leaping Toadstool

FRESH - found near wonky split tree, added marker

Use ONLY with Runespoor Eggs

Attempted Batches: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Experimental Dose: Stayed up for 16 hours taking notes and identifying dosages per ingredient.

Organized all ingredients and markers. Completed Arithmancy chart for Draco's healing journey - 5592. Very useful for mental acuity.

Administered Dose: ESSENTIAL!

Stirred. Sharp mental ability.

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 by Liszt - perfect clarity!

As Draco read the note for Leaping Toadstool, glancing briefly at the corresponding jar which held perfectly diced red and cream coloured fungi, the use of the ingredients dawned on him. Hermione was not merely crafting to heal his wound and keep him stable, she was attempting to draw him out of his state by improving his mental acumen.

He chuckled to himself. He remembered the sensation of the potion as it took effect, causing his memory to improve drastically. He could recall any incantation, recite any piece regardless of its symphonic complexity. Instead of drawing him out into lucidity, it had instead pushed him into himself deeper, allowing him to hone his skills and address whatever limitations he'd had. He struggled to understand it, but something in him felt different. Perfect mental clarity.

He reached for one more ingredient, though he was a bit dazed by her brilliance.

Moonstone

May reduce anxiety

Crushed to fine dust - maximizes effectiveness

Attempted Batches: 3, 4, 5, 7, 8

Experimental Dose: Felt like I was floating. Extremely therapeutic for fear.

Note: Day 4 - seems to be helping, less shaking. Was able to walk a bit today.

Day 6 - Forgot to add to Batch.

Sound of loud drumming and screaming. Could not administer second dose.

He rummaged through the parchment rolls until he came upon the final recipe she had crafted for him. The paper was covered in stains, scribbles, and notes, but as he ran his eyes over the ingredients, he recognized that she had concocted a combination of Baruffio's Brain Elixir and a Wiggenweld Potion to create something she titled "DM Decoction".

Brain Elixir was notorious for being dangerous - often lethal - but by mixing it with 3 parts Leaping Toadstool and 1 part Runespoor Eggs, she reduced the internal flammability. By adding Wormwood and Bobotuber Pus, she had also minimized the risk of further cellular apoptosis and helped to heal any internal and external wounds he had. She had used nearly all of her stores of restorative potion ingredients for him. As his eyes ran over the ingredients and instructions, he noted a final box of ingredients titled Do Not Use.

Do Not Use

Venomous Tentacula

I experienced severe vomitting and dehydration in Batches 1, 4, and 5.

Foxglove

Severely toxic. Caused swelling in hands and mouth. I couldn't eat for 2 days. Batch 1.

Gnat Heads

I may be allergic. Not safe to experiment with. Batch 1 and 2.

The list went on, full of ingredients and the deleterious effects they'd had on her. Draco let out a low breath as he glanced at the quiet girl.

"Granger," his voice called out firmly.

"Hm?" Her head snapped up, taken by surprise as she was lured out of a passage on Fairy Lore. "Why aren't you asleep? You need rest, Draco."

He pointed and curled his index finger inward, summoning her to him. She eyed him, unsure if he was upset, his pensive expression giving nothing away. She stepped toward him, taking note of where he stood amid her potion ingredients.

"You created this potion?" he asked, holding the parchment paper up toward her as she approached. She gave a small nod.

"Decoction, actually - the base is water so it's technically a Decoction. I - I thought it might help," she stammered, "you seemed to be doing better -"

"And you experimented on yourself?"

"Of course, I had to! I didn't have enough ingredients for an established brew. I could have desperately used some Salamander Blood and a whole boiled Mandrake, so I made do. Don't look at me like that - I had to figure out what was safe for you -"

"You got sick for several days -"

Redness blossomed in her cheeks as anger sprung up in her like a geyser. She couldn't comprehend the sudden assault; surely he understood the direness of his situation and her need to take care of him regardless of the inconsequential costs. She knew better than to use actually toxic ingredients in her craft, she wasn't an idiot.

"I did but -"

"You had, what, swelling of the face? And vomiting for days?"

"I -" she stammered before releasing a short breath, her chest puffing out as she straightened her stance. "You'd better stop chastising me, Draco Malfoy - I would do it again in an instant if it meant it at all helped you."

Silence lingered for a beat between them as Draco's eyes searched hers. She wasn't certain if she was imagining the irritation in his eyes fading as a faint line in his cheeks formed to indicate a look of amusement, but in an instant she felt his fingers reach for her waist where they squeezed and drew her into him, their chests colliding as he dipped his head to stifle her lips and any other defensive words she may have wanted to share, entrapping her in a kiss. It was immediately deepened as he dipped her and sought more from her willing mouth with a dizzying sort of hunger. The heat of their earlier interaction simmered under the surface, and rose at any opportunity. She welcomed it, sought it.

"I'm not chastising you," he clarified as he drew back, slightly breathless, "You're an exceptionally brilliant witch and I was blessed to have you as my caretaker. I only ask…" He paused, considering his words carefully. "I ask that you don't put yourself in harms way for me."

Her brows knit as a frown formed in her lips.

"Well aren't you the hypocrite of the century?"

He had no retort to that. She was right, and they both knew it. Draco's expression brightened as an amused smile passed his lips and he pinched her chin gently, drawing her in for another kiss. This time, the embrace was soft, gentle, and full of quiet gratitude. Despite the innocence of the kiss, his hand made a journey down her hips and over the curve of her bottom, giving the plump flesh a squeeze. She squirmed at his sudden exploration of her, seeking more as she pressed into his warm form and found herself fighting a sigh when he drew back. His fingers intertwined with hers before he led them over to the couch.

Draco leaned back against the armrest and fell on the cushions before stretching his arms out above his head in a large yawn. Without a second thought, Hermione approached him, the thick blanket from the bed tucked under her arm before she lay it on top of his legs, which dangled carelessly over the edge of the armrest. He wiggled his way over to occupy the rest of the couch and scooted in, opening his arms for her. Hermione happily slipped into his warm embrace, laying down half next to him, half on top of him as he yawned again. Several quiet moments passed as Hermione felt his muscles relax and she assumed him to be asleep before he murmured softly into her hair.

"What happened to you in the forest?"

She could feel her jaw clench against his still bicep muscle which she rested her head on. She shut her eyes tight, pretending to be asleep as she wondered why Draco Malfoy was thinking about that - of all things.

Hardly another moment passed before Draco was actually fast asleep. She could hear the deep, rhythmic inhale and exhale of his breath, contrasting with the booming rumbles of thunder outside.

Hermione gently peeled herself away, careful not to stir him, before she adjusted the blanket to cover his feet. He was so pretty with his lips slightly parted to accommodate the soft breaths, his silver-blonde hair brushed against his forehead, his arm curled over his head and his shirt slightly lifted to accommodate his reach. She could see the faint line of light hair that trailed from his belly button to the top of his pants and glanced away quickly, preventing her mind from wandering too far.

The hunger for him felt like an ailment at this point, and unless it was quickly stifled it would consume her. She fought against it as she sought a distraction.

She slipped onto the floor, sitting with her legs crossed before she reached for the nearest book - her Potions book. She had read it three times now and was almost finished with it for the fourth time. Her fingers ran over the images as she recited the recipe for Everlasting Elixir once more.

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The sunset was especially vibrant after the rain. The vivid rose-pink sky was scattered with dense, puffy clouds of lavender and white. Hermione's eyes traced the clearly delineated curves that coasted carelessly toward the fractured rays of the sunlight that burst through the moving clouds with flutters of golden majesty. She half-expected to see the fat faces of cherubims bouncing across the clouds as she gazed at the heavens, suddenly transformed into a Rococo painting.

Her shoulders stiffened at the unexpected sensation of fingers gracing her scalp, slipping into her hair to gently stroke her head. It only took a moment for her to relax back into her peaceful stance and lean backwards into the touch.

"Pretty, isn't it?" she asked quietly.

Draco Malfoy smiled, his gaze cast on her as his fingers continued to gently massage her head.

"Mhmm."

"Care to join?" she asked, patting the ground next to her with a warm smile.

"I'd love to, but I've got to go out and gather some vegetables. I think I remember where we found the carrots last time. Thought I'd get some while there's still light out."

Any sense of wonder and inner peace quickly evaporated to be replaced by the heavy sense of dread.

"No," she breathed, her hands flying to clutch the fabric of his trousers, gripping tightly. "You - can't - "

"Why?" he asked, twisting his head to the side with curiosity. "We only have the meat the Hippogriff brought us."

"I don't need anything else. I don't need to eat anything," she stated, her voice small and shaking.

"Well, I do - " he insisted, stepping backward, forcing Hermione's grip on his clothing to release. "I'll steer clear of any Bomwats, it'll be fine. I'll be back in less than an hour, Granger -"

Hermione could feel her chest tighten as she thought of him - out there. For a brief moment, her cruel mind imagined him as the dead body. He couldn't leave - he couldn't. She tried to breathe in but the air felt like fire in her lungs as her heart pounded in her ears.

"No, please," she begged, "Please, Draco, don't go - It's almost dark - I-I'll go with you tomorrow, when it's light - please!"

Draco folded his arms in front of his chest and lowered his gaze on her, his lips pressed in a tight line.

"Tell me why," he instructed, his voice low but firm.

She fought to breathe, her chest tightening to the point of cramping. She could feel his hands on her arms, pulling her up as he drew her inside and sat her down on the couch once more. She felt warmth around her as his arms wrapped around her torso and he squeezed her into his chest. She shut her eyes tight and tried to count her breaths, but it was impossible. Was a gasp a breath? If her breath caught, was that two? She tried to think of anything else, and as he rocked her slowly, the warm constricting feeling of his hug lulled her slowly out of her panic. She felt his fingers dig into her thigh as he drew her up into his lap and held her there, his hand gently drawing circles over her back.

He held her there for several minutes as the light outside of the cave dimmed and darkness covered the earth once more. He didn't speak until her breath grew more steady and her fingertips no longer felt cold to the touch.

"What happened to you?" he whispered into her hair. "Hermione, just tell me."

Silence.

"Something obviously happened to you - in the Forest. I felt you come back crying, you've been unable to walk outside the entrance without shaking. Perhaps it's what happened to me that's made you so afraid, but if it is, please tell me."

Hermione shook her head, and glanced down at his hand on top of hers.

"It was something else, then," he deduced.

She really really really did not want to relive it. She didn't want to tell him anything about it. She wanted to move on - she felt stupid for even letting it get this far. Death was not uncommon in the forest. And yet, it was the image that haunted her the most.

"Right," he took her silence as affirmation. "I can't protect you if you don't tell me what happened."

Her eyes grew wide as realization dawned on her.

"Nothing happened to me."

"Hermione - you don't have to lie, I'm not an idiot."

"No - nothing happened to me."

He looked at her with confusion and she felt like a right idiot for the whole thing. She understood now that he never intended to leave to get vegetables. He just wanted to get a reaction out of her and force her hand, force her to admit her fear and share with him why. Because he thought she'd been hurt.

For some reason, this made it easier. Somehow being able to comfort him about the whole thing made it easier for her to talk about it. He was interrogating her about it because he thought she had undergone something awful herself - something traumatic that she wasn't able to get over. In a way, she had. But she didn't want him to worry about her, nothing happened to her. She let out a deep sigh and stared down at their hands, studying every wrinkle and vein.

"I - I stumbled upon a death - a dead - dead Death Eater," she mustered.

She felt nauseous. Her stomach was tied in a tight knot.

"Where?"

"There's a path I used to take, over by the meadow near the chamomile fields. He was - dead. For quite some time. Struck with arrows - de-" she shuddered, the acrid taste of acid developing at the back of her throat. "Decomposed. I didn't recognize him."

Draco nodded, his features neutral and unbothered, but his mind swirled with possibilities. If there were Death Eaters in the Forest, it was important to know which ranks were sent to find him. He would have to see it, but he knew better than to mention it at this time. Her shaking had returned and Draco ran his hand over her back again, drawing a rhythmic, soothing figure-eight.

"And what of Potter?"

Harry. She smiled remembering his bright green face in the fireplace.

"Floo Network," she responded simply. Draco's fingers slipped under her thigh again, this time to draw her out and seat her on the couch next to him. He reached for her hand, ensuring that their physical contact never broke, but his eyes were planted on her face intently. Hermione could feel herself be studied and couldn't help but feel slightly perturbed by it.

"Potter found you - here? How?"

"Well, I searched for him first. I Floo'd him the morning before you left. I saw Kreacher, I guess, told him I'd been - "

"Kreacher?"

That was a name he hadn't heard in a while. His aunt's old house elf. Eternally loyal to the Black Family, and by extension, sometimes the Malfoys. He was an extremely unlikeable and unpleasant type, like most House Elves, but even more bitter and annoying. And a horrible ally - the elf could hardly differentiate between inner monologue and outward speech.

"Yes," Hermione responded. "I can't remember mentioning where we were but, I suppose he told Harry - "

"I wouldn't trust that House Elf if my life depended on it. Wait -" Draco glanced at her with the purest look of surprise Hermione had ever seen. "Did you just tell me where Potter is?"

If Potter was with Kreacher, that would narrow the number of possible locations to perhaps two. She glanced at him intently, and gave a solemn nod.

Draco paused and leaned back into the couch, processing the information. She could hardly see him blink.

"You must really trust that I'm not a Death Eater," he finally spoke, his gaze wandering over the room as his mind continued to grapple with what he was saying, "sharing that kind of important and - dangerous - information."

Hermione nodded slowly.

"Harry doesn't think you're a Death Eater either."

What a weird turn of events.

Draco reached out to run his thumb over Hermione's cheek, studying her features as he did so. Her skin had grown pale from their initial conversation, and he sought to comfort her as well as he could. She pressed her face into his palm and closed her eyes.

"You really trust me?" he asked, his voice just over a whisper.

"I do," Hermione responded, opening her eyes to glance at him. "I - It's been a rough few days. Learning what happened to you - what you had done - it was difficult to think about. And then having to come to terms with how I treated you after it all… I know you're not evil, Draco. I know you care for me. I trust you - I have to."

He gave her a long look. Her reasoning seemed steeped in emotion and not logic, which surprised Draco as he had pegged Hermione to be a highly analytical and logical version of himself, yet the sincerity of her tone and the solemnity of her statements resonated with him. He understood the desperation and feelings of guilt, fear of letting his loved one down. He had proven himself worthy of her trust, and although that was never his intent - he just wanted her to stay alive - he was grateful that she had come to the conclusion on her own.

"Speaking of," he drew his touch down her cheek to gently and affectionately pinch her chin before he released her. He slipped his hand into his pocket as he spoke, "I need you to make me a promise. If there's ever a point in the future where you doubt my allegiance or think that I'm not worth your trust anymore - please, I beg you - slip some Veritaserum in my drink. Get the truth out. I can't handle that -" he waved his arm, as though waving toward their past, "again."

Draco withdrew his hand from his trouser pocket and revealed two vials of liquid which he handed her.

One of the vials was full of a clear liquid, reminiscent of water. Veritaserum? From the natural spring, she figured. Despite his assurance, there was no guarantee it was even Veritaserum, but she took it anyway.

The other vial was full of a sparkling, gold fluid that Hermione immediately recognized as Felix Felices.

"You were able to brew it?"

Draco shook his head with a rueful smile. "Snape gave it to me - "

Before Hermione could question why Severus Snape would give Draco such a valuable and difficult-to-brew potion, Draco continued.

"Listen, Hermione, keep these with you in case you ever need it - the Felices for luck if you're in a sticky situation, and the Veritaserum if you ever need to know the truth, about me or anybody."

She didn't know how to respond. What kind of a person would just hand her Truth Telling Serum? Especially a potion that was near impossible to resist without proper training? That was a lot of power to grant her.

She nodded, not knowing what else to say or do.

It was apparently the correct action, as Draco quickly reached over to take her in his arms and drew her in for a kiss. She felt a bit stunned, the conversation giving her a bit of a mental hangover.

"Let's get dinner started," he murmured in his hair, and Hermione nodded. She hadn't eaten all day, perhaps getting some sustenance would help clear the daze.

»»-¤-««

Author's Note:

Hello my dearest reader,

Just wanted to inform you that I won't be able to update next week as I'll be out of town,

and I heard all your reviews calling me a tease so I am gleefully sharing the next chapter

BUT in order to get the deliciously explicit bits, you will have to read it on ArchiveofourOwn.

I have included the link and all the ways you can find it. I had to cut it out entirely of FFN for their M rating guidelines -

Even when I tried to water it down, it was still too much for FFN, so PLEASE read it on AO3.

Not that business talk is over, I wanted to give a few shout-outs:

THANK YOU to the following reviewers who review and share feedback on basically every chapter.

You bring joy to my life and I look forward to hearing your thoughts every time I post.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you to

Hermione Blackwell, Amanita Nightshade, TinkerBellNeverland,

Whit96, and KatharineDunLevy. Thank you for your constant support.

Also, I wanted to give a shout-out to a new reader, CoffeeStirredBlack.

Thank you so much for all of your reviews. I loved getting the updates on my phone

every time you finished a chapter and left a review.

It was like I was reading my story for the first time through your eyes.

Thank you also to you if I haven't included your name here,

I hope you know I'm eternally grateful for your feedback. It makes me so happy.

I hope you enjoy the next chapter (please please read it on AO3!)

Syren