Pancakes at Dawn.

Chapter Twenty-Two.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

One year later...

Books lay scattered across the table in front of her as her pen scratched against a slightly crinkled piece of paper. The brunette brushed some fallen curls from her face as she began to furiously scribble down book titles, her bottom lip caught between her teeth in concentration.

"Hermione!"

Her head snapped up at the sound of Lucy's voice calling her name. Lucy was her only shop assistant at the book store she had opened six months ago.

She smiled at the petite redhead when she popped her head through the doorway.

"Hey," said Hermione. "Everything alright?"

"Ashleigh is on the store phone for you," said Lucy with a wide grin. "She said she'd tried your mobile but it went to voicemail."

"Really?" asked Hermione, noticing that her mobile phone wasn't within grasp. She realised with a sigh that her phone was buried under piles of books and paperwork on her desk. Fishing it out, she could see that Ashleigh has indeed tried to call her. "I'll be right in to take the call."

"No problem," Lucy replied before she vanished back into the shop.

Hermione's life had changed drastically in the past six months since she decided to move from London to Cornwall. Both Ashleigh and Theo were against the change but she knew she had made the right choice. She hated her job in London and a book store fitted her personality perfectly. After all, Hermione could stand and talk about books all day. With the little savings that she had, she decided to purchase a quaint little building in Newquay that was close to the ocean and had a flat above. The perfect size for her and Crookshanks. It didn't take her long to convert the downstairs area into a book store with a small office in the back. The room was now lined with bookshelves, filled to the brim with every book genre imaginable.

She couldn't lie to herself and say that she did not miss London, because she did. She missed her friends more than anything and she did sometimes miss her London lifestyle. She knew her friends were happy and that was all that mattered to Hermione. Cornwall had proved to be a welcome change and she loved nothing more than taking a wander down to the beach on a warm summer day to watch the waves roll towards the sand.

Theo had moved in with Ashleigh around the same time that Hermione had made the move and the pair had a decent sized flat in Muggle London, close to Emerald Potions office. Hermione often listened to Ashleigh gush at how perfect Theo was and she knew that Theo was more than happy with her best friend. In fact, he had called her up last week to ask if she would help him pick out an engagement ring next time she made the journey to London, knowing the picky blonde had very specific and sometimes expensive taste with her jewellery.

Draco hadn't contacted her since the day he had walked out of her flat and her heart still ached for him every day. She would find herself quite often lost in thought about the handsome blond. True to his word, Draco had Theo arrange a monthly shipment of the potion and it seemed to be working. She hadn't had any outbursts since her last blackout and her magic seemed to be under control. She had even managed one or two small wandless spells. She wasn't ready to pick up her wand and truthfully, she didn't know if she ever would be.

According to Theo, the ministry had halted the search for her thanks to Harry's insistence. The ministry had released a statement to the wizarding public that even though they had never found a body, she was unfortunately presumed dead as she had never been located. A few days after Theo had informed her of this, a letter had fallen through her letterbox from Harry himself. Her heart swelled to see his name written in a looped font at the bottom of the paper and she couldn't help but smile. The letter was short and simple but she knew he meant every word.

Hermione,

I'll be here for you whenever you're ready to talk, no matter how long it takes.

I miss you,

Harry.

She had kept the letter in a safe place for months and she knew without any doubt that one day, she would take him up on his offer. She would finally be able to talk to her best friend about what she had been through. It would just take more time and she would need to suck up some of that hidden Gryffindor courage that Theo still joked about.

Hermione shook her head out of her own thoughts and stood up from her desk, lightly throwing down the pen she had been holding. Wandering through to the main shop from her office, she could see several customers browsing the bookshelves, searching for their next story. She smiled to herself before joining Lucy by the till.

"Hey," said Hermione, to alert Lucy to her presence.

"She's on line one for you," replied Lucy, pointing at the black corded telephone that was settled on top of the counter.

"Thanks," said Hermione with a smile, before reaching across to pick up the phone. "Hey Ash!"

"Hermione! Thank god, I've been trying to get hold of you for ages!" Hermione heard Ashleigh say down the phone line. She let out a small laugh.

"That's a tad dramatic wouldn't you say, Ash? Even for you,"

"Oh hush," said Ashleigh. "So.. guess what Saturday night is!"

"The Kentucky Derby?"

"Oh ha-ha, very funny." Ashleigh and Hermione couldn't help but laugh once more.

"So seriously, what is Saturday night?" asked Hermione.

"It's girls' night for my birthday!" Hermione heard Ashleigh let out an excited squeal.

"But Ash, your birthday is three weeks away-"

"And this is the only time that all of the girls could dedicate a night together this month so what do you say? Will you come to London and join us for cocktails and dancing?"

"Ash, you know I would love to join you all but the shop has been really busy at the moment with it being summer and I'm already heading up at the end of the month anyway-"

"Hermione, please," said Ashleigh. "For me?"

Hermione let out a sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose, her eyes screwing shut. She hated when Ashleigh pulled that card.

"Fine but I can only stay one night," said Hermione.

"Two? We could do brunch the following morning? Nurse our hangovers together,"

"I'll get the last train home on Sunday night. I have to be back to open the shop on Monday morning."

"Yay!" cheered Ashleigh. "So, I'll see you on Saturday then?"

"Sure will,"

Hermione thanked the taxi driver and stepped out into the cool breeze, the stars already twinkling in the night sky. She had only been in London for around an hour and a half as Saturday had come around faster than expected and she had caught a late morning train from Newquay station. Two changes and almost six hours later, she'd arrived into Paddington Station with just enough time to spare to get to her hotel and get ready for the night. After a quick shower, she managed to style her hair, swipe on some make-up and change into something suitable for a night in London's cocktail bars before she had to rush out. Ashleigh had asked her to meet the girls at their favourite cocktail bar in central London and Hermione couldn't help but feel slightly sick at the thought of going back there. Going back to the place where she and Draco had reconnected all that time ago. She took a deep breath and walked several steps to the doors, hearing music pumping louder as she got closer. As she reached out and pulled open the door, heat and music hit her and she stepped inside, glancing through the sea of bodies that filled the cocktail bar to try and spot her friends. She spotted two brunettes that she recognised rather close to the door and let out a smile.

"Holly! Rebecca!" Hermione called out, raising her voice in an attempt to be heard over the music. The door fell closed behind her as she moved across the room and towards her friends.

"Hermione!" she heard Rebecca call back to her with a wide smile on her face. Her long brown hair that was perfectly straight began to sway around her face as she rushed forwards, sweeping Hermione into a hug and rocking her back and forth excitedly.

"Put her down, Becks," laughed Holly as she wandered up behind the pair, drink in hand. Once Rebecca has released her, Hermione has queried where the rest of the group were. "Zo and Danielle are at the bar and Ash is over there with Theo trying to grab us a booth,"

"Theo?" asked Hermione with a confused expression filling her face and followed Holly's pointed finger to see Theo and Ashleigh talking to two men who were currently sat in the largest booth. "I thought this was girls' night?"

"You know Ashleigh," said Holly with a shrug. "She and Theo are basically attached at the hip these days,"

"I'll be right back," Hermione told them and she wandered across the bar, attempting not to bump into anyone as she went.

When she reached Theo and Ashleigh a few moments later, the two men were standing and moving aside, surprisingly freeing up the booth.

"Not that I'm not happy that you're here with us, Theo but what are you doing here exactly?" Hermione asked and Theo span around to face her with a smile.

"Hey Granger," he said. "Long time no see,"

"Theo, I saw you last month," replied Hermione, raising an eyebrow.

"That's a long time!"

"Hermione, finally!" Ashleigh interrupted them. "I was beginning to think that you weren't going to show up,"

"Of course I was," said Hermione. "I wouldn't miss your birthday,"

"Very cute," Ashleigh laughed. "Why don't you go and get a drink while I round up the girls. We've managed to get ourselves a table,"

"You mean bully those guys out of theirs,"

"No," was Ashleigh's response. "I just offered them a dance with Danielle later is all,"

Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Does Danielle know that you've basically
prostituted her out for a table?"

"Oh don't be so dramatic," said Ashleigh with a smirk. "She loves to dance,"

"Perhaps give her some warning, yeah Ash?"

"Fine," sighed Ashleigh before giving Hermione a quick nudge in the direction of the bar. "Now go and get yourself a drink!"

"Alright bossy!" Hermione headed off towards the bar, perching on one of the bar stool with one leg crossed over the other. Her nails began to rhythmically tap against the bar as she waited to be served, desperate to keep her mind from wandering to the past. She was here to have a good night with her friends after all and she wouldn't want to disappoint them by being miserable. Sure, she would probably go back to her hotel room later and have a drunken cry, but they didn't need to know how pathetic she was-

"Can I buy you a drink?" said a deep male voice from behind her, interrupting her inner monologue.

Hermione sucked in a sharp breath as the words seemed to hit her like a freight train, her fingers that had been tapping against the bar immediately pausing. She knew that voice. Spinning around so quick that she almost toppled off the bar stool, her eyes landed on his handsome face staring back at her, a lopsided smile tugging at his lips.

"Draco..." muttered Hermione watching, completely frozen in place as he moved with an elegant grace that she could only dream of. She was sure her shock was obvious to him if the look on his face was anything to go by. She cleared her throat and blinked, giving her head a small barely noticeable shake in an attempt to snap her out of her trance.

"Hello Hermione," said Draco as he leant against the bar, his arms resting atop the counter.

"It's been a long time," was all she could manage to say, her mouth feeling incredibly dry all of a sudden. He was here, in front of her for the first time in over a year and she felt her world had stopped just by seeing his face. Her eyes slowly moved across his face, studying his features and my god, he looked so incredibly handsome in a navy dress shirt and black pants.

"That it has," he agreed with a nod.

"What are you doing here?" she asked him as he waved his hand, beckoning the bartender over.

"It would seem that those two think themselves a pair of matchmakers," said Draco with a chuckle, pointing over at Theo and Ashleigh. Hermione's eyes followed his finger and she could see her two friends staring at them, wide and rather cheeky smiles set on their faces.

"Let me guess," replied Hermione, turning her attention back to Draco. "Boys night with Theo?"

"Got it in one," laughed Draco. The bartender appeared in front of them and he ordered himself a whiskey before turning to her. "Rather devious little pair those two."

"That's an understatement," Hermione agreed with a grin.

"Drink?"

"I can get my own-," said Hermione, spinning her body to face him.

"Nonsense," Draco simply smiled, glancing across to the male bartender who was pouring whiskey into a glass filled with ice. "Vodka and Cranberry for the lady please,"

"Sure," said the bartender with a curt nod as he placed the whiskey glass onto the bar.

"Draco-"

"You look beautiful by the way, if it weren't already obvious," said Draco, the corner of his lip curling upward into a smirk. He lifted himself gently onto the barstool beside her, running his hand through his tousled blond hair.

Hermione took the glass that had been placed down in front of her, watching as Draco pulled a note out of his jacket pocket to hand over as payment. She raised the glass to her lips, taking a small sip through the small black straw that was settled inside.

"Thank you," Hermione replied, never taking her eyes off him. "You don't look so bad yourself,"

"Good genetics, what can I say," he joked and Hermione couldn't stop the giggle that escaped her lips. He watched her with an honest smile, looking at each little freckle that was scattered across her face, really drinking her in. "I've really missed you, Hermione."

Her eyes snapped to his at that, her lips slightly parted in shock. She could feel her cheeks warm at his words, her cheeks holding a pink tinge.

"I've missed you too," Her big brown eyes were wide, akin to a startled doe as he moved closer to her, his face inching towards hers.

"I'm sorry I walked away. I was an idiot and I thought I was doing it to protect you," he told her, his grey eyes sparkling as she took her lip between her teeth. "I've come to realise that you don't need protecting, Hermione. You're doing just fine on your own."

"Hardly-" she tried to say but he shook his head.

"No, you are. That potion helps control the outbursts but you made the decision to keep taking it. You could have let this consume you but instead, you chose the right path for your future."

"My future is hardly going to be a massive success, Draco," said Hermione. "I own a tiny bookshop in Cornwall. It's hardly a five-star hotel chain in London.."

"That's who you are, Hermione. A bookshop in Cornwall sounds like the perfect future for you and if you'll have me, I'd love to be a part of that future too."

Hermione felt her heart thump heavier in her chest. He wanted to be part of her future.

Her eyes grew soft as she sucked in a breath, desperate to tell him how she felt and how difficult this last year had been without him in her life. She opened her mouth to respond but Draco spoke once more, eyes seeming to glaze over as she glanced down at his glass.

"I know that I shouldn't have left you and I'm sorry that it's taken so long-"

"Draco-"

"-you know that I love you, Hermione. I really do, I love you more than anything-"

"Draco-"

"-truthfully would do anything for you and if that means never going back to the wizarding world then so be it, you're worth it to me-"

"DRACO!"

Draco immediately stopped talking and stared directly at her, eyes wide and full of hope.

"What?" he replied, watching as her lips turned into a wide smile.

"Shut up,"

Leaning forwards, her lips crashed to his with a heat she hadn't felt in over a year and my god, she craved it. She craved him. Within seconds, his fingers were tangled in her hair and he was kissing her back with such a desperate need, it knocked the breath right out of her. It didn't take long before he was up on his feet, pressing her tightly against the bar, her leg lifting slightly off the bar stool with the force of his hold. His tongue slipped into her mouth and her brain began to fog, feeling dizzy at his touch. He removed one hand from her brunette curls, trailing it slowly down her body until it settled on her hip. A low groan escaped his throat as she knotted her hands in his shirt, crinkling the material and pulling him harder against her. It felt like an age until they finally pulled apart, desperate for air and Draco allowed his forehead to rest against hers. His heavy breathing and deep grey eyes staring into hers lit a fire inside of her that she didn't even know existed.

"So what do you say, Hermione," he breathed out. "Will you have me?"

"On one condition," said Hermione with a smile.

"Which is?"

"I want pancakes for breakfast,"

Draco let out a throaty chuckle and nodded his head against hers, stealing a small kiss from her waiting lips. "That I can do,"

The End.

And there it is... the end of Pancakes at Dawn! I think considering this started as a oneshot idea, turning it into a multi-chapter was the best decision for this story. Hopefully you guys liked it and thank you for all of the views, reviews and favourites on this story. It really does mean alot! Please do let me know your thoughts by leaving one final review.

I am six chapters into my next Dramione fic which is a multi-chapter Muggle AU. This should be posted either the last week of July or the first week of August. It would mean a lot if you would check it out once it is posted. If you follow me on tumblr (sunshine-into-rain ), I will post an update on there for when the first chapter will be available.

I hope you're all safe and well!

-Dreamer