I'll Fight Hell to Hold You
Summary: Draco had a secret, a secret he had kept hidden for many years now.
Inspiration: Kiss 'I'll Fight Hell to Hold You'
Disclaimer: I own nothing and make no monies from this. :(
Draco had a secret, a secret he had kept hidden for many years now.
When everyone thought he hated Hermione Granger, including her, there was nothing further from the truth. The truth was, he has had a crush on the beautiful feisty witch since he met her on the initial train ride to Hogwarts. Although he hadn't been allowed to show his interest, it was there.
No one knew how often Draco spent time with Hermione, not even Hermione herself. He had made sure to not ever get caught or breathe a word about it. One, he hadn't wanted to have to explain his presence and two, he hadn't wanted to get hexed by her. There would have been no way she would have accepted his attentions. So Draco had kept all the times he had been at her side to himself and himself only, no one could be trusted with such a precious secret.
When Draco learned that Hermione had solved his Godfather's potion riddle, his crush deepened. Not many witches or wizards of adult age could figure out something Severus Snape had set as a test, and she was just a firstie! He had known she was smart but solving that riddle had proven just how logical the petite witch was. Alone in his dorm, Draco had silently sent her congratulations and admiration.
Then in their second year, Draco had learned through the gossip witches that Hermione was in the Hospital Wing. No one would say why, so Draco took it upon himself to find out. He snuck up to the Hospital Wing and checked on her. What he saw floored him. She had turned partially into a cat! How in the bloody hell had she done that? After catching the tail end of a conversation not meant for anyone else's ears, Draco learned that it was due to her putting a wrong hair into the Polyjuice potion she had brewed. A second year brewing Polyjuice potion! It was unheard of! The only person Draco knew who could have brewed that potion at such a young age was his Godfather. Unbeknown to anyone, Draco had snuck into the Hospital wing to hold the witch's hand during the night. He knew that few visited her, at her own wishes, and hadn't wanted her to feel alone.
Towards the end of that same year, Hermione had been another petrification victim to whatever was tormenting the halls of the school. If it hadn't been from his very strict upbringing, Draco would have had a panic attack when he had heard the news. He knew whatever it was, was targeting muggle-borns and had hoped like crazy that his favorite witch would stay out of harm's way. He should have known better. She was nothing if not insatiably curious, especially about a puzzle that needed to be solved and solve it she had. Hermione had been the one to figure out what was causing all the terror at the school, of course she had. He'd come to expect nothing less but it hadn't made dealing with the situation any easier. Draco found himself sneaking into the infirmary after hours to spend time with her, hoping she would sense his presence and not feel so alone or scared. He would even bring in their homework assignments to read to her, just in case she could hear him. Fortunately, Madam Pomfrey was able to administer the potion Severus had brewed to revive all who had been petrified.
Over the summer between second and third years, Draco had seen Hermione and her family while in France. He had watched her when his parents weren't paying him any attention, which was most of the time, so he was able to watch her quite a lot. It was amazing how easily it was to manipulate his parents into going to the places he would overhear the Grangers talking about visiting. Fortunately for Draco, no one on either side ever figured out what he was doing. She and her family were fascinating to Draco. The way they would find wonder in the magical communities they would visit helped him to enjoy the world he took for granted. To watch them take in everything with wide eyes and even wider smiles seemed to reawaken the wonder in Draco.
Just before their third year was to begin, Draco spotted Hermione in Diagon Alley buying school supplies. He had watched as she went into the Magical Menagerie and then came back out with a medium sized carrier. Draco couldn't see what animal she had gotten exactly. He was only able to glimpse orange fur. How little did he know that her familiar would be a half-kneazle and it would terrorize one of her best friends, Ron Weasley. Anything that caused the ginger prat discomfort got top marks in Draco's opinion.
His third year was a bit on the boring side for Draco. Not much happened. Oh, there was the escape of Sirius Black but that hadn't fazed Draco in the least. Sirius Black might be his cousin but he was considered the "white sheep" of the family. Draco only knew what his parents and others had told him and, alone in his room, he had thought Sirius was one crazy but courageous bastard. He wasn't sure if he could ever go against his family like Sirius had, maybe one day.
Then, at the end of the year, Draco learned that Hermione and her "bodyguards" had been lured out to the Shrieking Shack and almost attacked by a werewolf. He had learned that it had been Sirius Black who had led them to the Shack as a way to prove his innocence by capturing Peter Pettigrew, the weasel's familiar and pet rat. Draco learned that it had been Severus, once again, who had saved the blustering duo and his witch from being mauled or worse by a werewolf.
He had been amazed at finding out that Remus Lupin had been the wolf and that Lupin had forgotten to take his wolfsbane potion. Draco had spent some time in his room at the Manor processing what he had learned. He had been very upset when he had learned how close, again, she had come to being badly harmed or killed. Draco wished he could let her know how he felt but also knew it was impossible. His father would kill him if he even hinted at having anything other than hate filled thoughts about the muggle-born witch.
Fourth year, ah fourth year. A year he had been floored by his witch's audacity to try to free the house elves. He thought it had been a joke when he first heard about it, then he had seen her with her pins and parchments. It had taken everything in him to keep himself from approaching her and explaining about the elves. However, he had appreciated the fire in her eyes when she was trying to get the student population to join her cause. She had had so much passion about it that it had broken his heart for her but instead of being able to teach her, he had been even crueler than the year before. How he wished he could speak with her alone to let her know that house elves needed a family to bond to or they would die.
This was the same year that Hogwarts had hosted the TriWizard Tournament. The same tournament that Potter's name had been entered in and pulled out from the cup. Draco had had fun with that one, maybe too much fun. He had gotten to watch his witch excel in helping the bumbling idiot with his tasks. He knew she was the one to help Potter figure out what was needed to succeed in each one. No one else would help the sod out so it was up to her, like always.
Draco had to admit, if only to himself, that watching Potter come through each task was eye opening. It had caused him to wonder if the 'Boy-Who-Lived' just might be up to what the future might hold for him, if his father was right and the Dark Lord was returning. Then the Yule Ball had come around. He had wished he could have asked Hermione to the Ball but had to take Pansy instead, much to his dismay. That witch was like a burr, once she sunk her nails into someone, it was difficult as hell to get her to let go. Then Draco had seen his witch enter the Great Hall on the arm of Victor Krum and she had stolen his breath. Hermione was beautiful, graceful, her eyes full of joy and her smile lighting up the entire room. Draco knew he wasn't the only bloke to notice just how lovely the Gryffindor Princess was, he was just one of the few who couldn't openly admire the picture she presented.
The end of fourth year was a relief to many, including Draco and his witch. The TriWizard Tournament was completed but with the death of a student, Cedric Diggory. Draco hadn't really known the wizard personally but had seen him around enough to know he was a good guy; a good guy that hadn't deserved to die. Draco also hadn't liked what Potter was saying either, that the Dark Lord was indeed back. He had shuddered when he had heard that and bowed his head when no one was looking. Fortunately, Draco had been taught how to occlude his mind from his mother and Severus at the insistence of his father. Little did anyone know, it would come in handy in the days to come.
When Fifth year started, the school was getting yet another DADA professor. However, this "professor" loved the color pink a bit too much and thought theory was better than practical. Draco had been concerned when Dolores Umbridge was introduced as the one to teach DADA. She resembled a toad in looks and personality, a very pink toad. Draco would forever regret joining Umbitch's (because he couldn't think of her with any other name) Inquisitorial Squad.
He had only joined because it was expected of him and if he happened to catch Potter and his sidekick, all the better. However, he hadn't wanted to ever catch Hermione but, unfortunately, he had and he'd had to turn her over to the horrid woman for punishment due to having others present. If it had just been him, he would have given her a hard time but would have let her go with a warning. Draco was well aware of the type of punishment Umbitch would use on the students who went against her rules. Blood quills, nothing anyone wanted to deal with, there was a reason they were illegal to use but no one did anything to stop her from using them.
It was also during this year that the Dark Lord commandeered the Manor for his personal residence. Draco had never felt more uncomfortable in his own home as he had during that time. He had also seen just what being faithful to the megalomaniac entailed. The revels that were held in the Manor's various rooms had been a real stomach turning eye-opener! Draco wasn't sure he'd ever get the images out of his mind. He only hoped that the evil despot wouldn't look his way, no telling what he would want Draco to do. It was during this time, Draco remembered, that he had been extremely glad that he had been given Occlumency lessons since before starting Hogwarts. His father hadn't trusted the Headmaster to behave himself and wanted Draco able to protect his mind. Little did his father know that those lessons, which only the immediate family knew about, would save his life many times over.
Despite Umbitch and the Inquisitorial Squad; despite the Dark Lord invading his home and sanctuary; Draco's absolute worst time was when Hermione had been gravely injured in the battle at the Department of Mysteries in the Hall of Prophecies. If he hadn't been so well groomed to be the perfect Malfoy, Draco would have lost his cool. When he had heard about the battle, due to his Aunt Bella bragging about killing her blood traitor cousin Sirius and that Dolohov had gravely injured Potter's mudblood pet, he had had to pull on his Occlumency hard. As it was, he had stumbled as the news hit him. It seemed luck was on his side at that moment though as a lower level DeathEater had bumped into him at the same time, so he was able to play it off. However, when he made it to his room, he fell to his knees and held his head in his hands while he cried silent tears. He couldn't lose her, hell, Potter couldn't lose her. She was who had kept the idiot alive so far. She was the brains of the 'Golden Trio', 'The Brightest Witch of the Age'.
When Draco had returned to the school, he had spent every night she was in the infirmary by her side and was gone before anyone could catch him. He had held her hand and talked with her all night long until he would fall asleep with his head resting next to her arm. He couldn't believe she had survived one of that bastard's spells. Dolohov was well known to make his own spells and the nastier they were, the more he liked to use them. Draco knew the only reason Hermione was still alive was that she was able to silence Dolohov before he cast the spell. Otherwise, she would have died immediately.
The only truly beautiful time during fifth year was when Hermione recovered and her and her goons got rid of Umbitch. Draco wasn't sure what they had done to make it happen but was ecstatic when they had. Rumor had it that the 'Golden Trio' had led the toad of a woman into the Forbidden Forest under false pretenses and had let the centaurs deal with her. Whether this was true or not, Draco was just glad the evil bitch and her rules were gone. At least it was one less Dark Lord sympathizer to cause havoc.
As Draco thought upon his sixth year at Hogwarts, he closed his eyes and let out a slow breath. That year was nothing short of hell for him. He had lost so much weight due to the stress of living up to what was expected of him. He was told to fix that bloody Vanishing Cabinet so he could let a swarm of DeathEaters into the school. Oh, then there was the task of killing the Headmaster of the bloody school! How in Merlin's saggy bits was he, a sixth year student, supposed to take out one of the most powerful wizards of all time? It was insane, yet he knew he couldn't fail the task, his parents lives were in the balance. He would gladly give up his life instead of following through on such an impossible task but he couldn't condemn his parents. As much as he hated them for serving him up to the Dark Lord on a silver platter and making him get the blasted Mark, Draco had no intentions of killing them.
What really sucked the most about his sixth year was that he hadn't been able to watch his witch as much as he had been. One, he had too many eyes on him and two, he was too stressed out about the cabinet to think of much else. Only when he was passed out from exhaustion did his mind wander to the witch. He would dream of her. He would dream of running away with her, not that she would ever have done such a thing but, hey, they were his dreams. He would also dream of finally getting to be with her, talk with her, take her on dates and show her the world. The only good thing about his sixth year was that being at school meant he was no longer made to watch the many sick, depraved revels the DeathEaters would have, shame one couldn't Scourgify their brain.
This was also the time that Potter had almost killed him. Draco had gone to Myrtle's bathroom to let off some stress and, low and behold, Potter comes barging in and the spells had started flying. Unfortunately, Potter had gotten ahold of his Godfather's old potions book and had used a spell he found there against Draco without knowing what it would do, bloody idiot. It had cut Draco wide open and he'd fallen to the floor of the bathroom, bleeding profusely. If Severus hadn't come in when he had, Draco would have died.
When he awoke in the infirmary, Draco wasn't sure if he was glad to be alive or not. A part of him had wished he had just passed on into the afterlife. He wasn't sure what his punishment would be due to allowing Potter to get the upper hand on him but knew it wouldn't be pretty and it hadn't been. He had been held under the Cruciatus curse enough times to break almost every bone in his body as well as quite a bit of internal damage. It had taken his Godfather all of the Christmas Hols to get Draco back to rights.
Towards the end of his sixth year, Draco had finally gotten that damned Cabinet to work and had let the DeathEaters into the school. After letting them all in, Draco had headed straight to the tower, hoping he could follow through with his task. When he arrived, he couldn't help but hesitate. When Dumbledore offered him protection and said that Draco wasn't a killer it had caused him to pause. Whether right or wrong, Draco would forever be grateful to his Godfather for killing the Headmaster instead of making him do it. The old fool was right, Draco wasn't a killer but he had had to try to save his parents. That day, before everything went to hell, Draco had managed to watch his beautiful, intelligent, loyal, fierce witch in the library for an hour or so. It would be the last time he would see her for many months.
His seventh year was a walking, talking nightmare. There was nowhere he could find peace that year. He had been made to "practice" the Unforgivables on lower years. What a lot of students hadn't known was that Draco took many a curse to spare the poor first and second years. He also got really good at making it seem he was giving it his all when he was barely putting anything into it. However, even as light as one could cast it, the Cruciatus curse still hurt like a bitch. He also knew where the DA was hiding but kept it to himself. He needed them to regroup and figure out a way for all the torment and pain to end. What many never knew was that Severus, as Headmaster, was able to tone down the terror that was the Carrows. He, outside of the Dark Lord, was the only other one the two psychos truly feared.
During this time, Draco had turned a blind eye as much as he could to the goings on of Neville and his ragtag group. He couldn't always help them, not when they were caught red-handed but when he could, he had. What had surprised him most was when Neville Longbottom and Ginny Weasley had caught him patrolling and had pulled him into an unused classroom to thank him for what help he was able to give them, knowing that when he had done it, it had put him in as much danger as them. They knew he couldn't always help but they appreciated his efforts when he could. Draco had been flabbergasted, to put it mildly, and had given them a simple head nod in acknowledgement, not able to speak.
The worst part of it all was that she wasn't there. There was no reprieve from the nightmares, no ray of sunshine to penetrate the darkness all around him. She was out there, running for her life as Public Enemy #2 and there wasn't a damn thing Draco could do to change it. He had hoped that whatever the three of them were doing would end the war sooner rather than later. He wasn't sure how much more he could handle before he broke.
Then, Draco's worst nightmare come to life happened. The 'Golden Trio' had been captured due to a slip of the tongue by one of them. He hadn't known which one slipped up and hadn't cared. All he had known was that some Snatchers had brought them in and he had been asked to identify them. Instead of admitting he knew exactly who they were; he had hedged and said he couldn't be sure. Then his insane Aunt Bella had recognized his witch, Hermione, and Draco almost cost them both their lives.
He wasn't sure how in the bloody hell he was able to stand still while the witch who owned his heart was tortured but somehow he had managed. He had watched in horror as Bellatrix cast the Cruciatus curse over and over on her and Hermione, strong, independent Hermione, never gave in to the torture. No, she held her ground and kept her secrets. Then Draco almost lost his lunch when the psychotic bitch took her cursed knife to Hermione's arm and started carving into it. When Bella had started her slicing, Draco had caught Hermione's eye and kept it. He had tried to give her his strength and apologies. Her eyes had widen slightly for a moment before, he was sure, her vision blurred from the tears falling. Draco had kept her focus on him as a way to maybe help her survive such abuse.
At one point, Draco had done something he never thought he would ever do, he invaded her mind. He had had to, she had started closing her eyes and he couldn't let her tormentor win the battle so he had shouted in her mind. When her eyes had snapped open and lasered in on him, Draco had swallowed hard but kept the connection. Instead of looking through her memories, he shared some of his. It wasn't a talent many could do but Severus had taught him, in case he ever needed it. Draco was sure that his Godfather thought he might use it on his mother or someone along those lines, but Draco was glad he could do this for his witch.
When he showed her Hogwarts from above at night, one of his favorite memories, he thought he saw her eyes soften just a bit in understanding. Even through all the pain she had been in, she had still understood what he was sharing and why and she had appreciated it, showing him the only way she could, with her ever expressive eyes. Draco had shared many such scenic memories with her until Dobby, a former Malfoy elf, had popped in and rescued the three of them. Of course, Potter and Weasley had come up from the dungeons to get Hermione which was just enough of a distraction to cause Bellatrix to stop what she was doing but, unfortunately, the damage was already done.
While the chaos ensued around them, Draco kept Hermione's attention. Just before the group was disapparated away by the house elf, Draco had tossed a jar at Harry, knowing his seeker reflexes would catch it without thought and he had. What Draco had given them was a specially made ointment that would help to heal Hermione's arm. The only ointment known to speed healing up on cursed wounds, made by Severus, of course. The wound would never truly be gone but with the ointment it would fully heal. He only hoped they would understand what he had given them and used it instead of just tossing it away.
That night, when Draco was excused to his room, he had warded the hell out of his room and let his emotions free. He had torn up just about everything he had in his rage and despair. He had yelled, screamed, cried and punched every surface he had until his knuckles were bloody and his voice hoarse. He knew he would never forget what had just happened to her in his home and was certain she would never forgive him for it. It was his home after all and he should have been able to do something to stop it from happening. No matter how illogical he knew his line of thinking was, Draco couldn't help but feel responsible for what had happened to her.
Then the Final Battle had come to Hogwarts. Draco had been almost paralyzed with fear when it had started then he knew he had to make a decision. Did he appear to fight on the side of Voldemort and take out DeathEaters from within or did he choose the light and her? When he had gotten a glimpse of Hermione, she had never been more beautiful to him. Even with her hair more of a mess than usual and her clothes dirty, with the loss of weight and dark circles under her eyes, she still looked strong and defiant. He knew then what side he would fight on…her side. He knew there would be no life if Voldemort won, not a life he wanted to live anyway.
In an uncharacteristic move for him, Draco walked over to where Hermione was and stood next to her. When she had looked over at him with surprise and gave him a small smile, Draco knew he had made the right decision. He would help them win this blasted war or die trying. When the spells had started flying, he found himself back to back with Hermione.
They had worked well as a team and had saved the other's life many times over. Between them, they had saved several lives, including keeping a wall from killing several Weasleys and helping to shield Tonks when Remus had been hit by one of Dolohov's spells. They had protected them until Tonks was able to stabilize Lupin and apparate him to the medi-witch. Then Draco had taken great pleasure in battling Dolohov with Hermione and together they had ended the bastard's life.
When Hagrid had walked into the middle of everyone carrying Potter's body and saying that he was dead, Draco had felt Hermione collapse against him. Him! Not Weasley or anyone else around, but him! He had automatically wrapped an arm around her, much to Weasley's anger at such a move, and had held her to him while the news hit everyone. Then Neville had stepped forward and had defied the Dark Lord in front of everyone and Draco had never been more proud of the young wizard as he was at that moment.
Then, to everyone's surprise and joy, Potter showed back up alive and ready to continue the fight. Draco had squeezed Hermione when she had wrapped her arm around his waist and hugged him at seeing her best friend alive. The relief that swept through the crowd was tangible and sweet. Everyone's morale had blasted to the sky and beyond and the fighting had resumed with vigor.
Draco would gladly admit to the satisfaction he felt as he watched the Weasley matriarch take down his insane Aunt Bella. Another Dark Lord fanatic that would harm no one ever again! The only regret was that the bitch had not suffered but had been given an instant death, something he felt she hadn't deserved. But he would take that over dear Aunt Bella's survival any day.
After the Battle had been won and everyone was standing around in shock, Draco felt Hermione's hand slip into his. When he looked at her, she had cocked her head and given him a tiny smile. Then she seemed to remember something and almost yanked his arm out the socket with her jerk to lead him somewhere. Draco realized they were headed to the Shrieking Shack and wondered why. When he heard Hermione say that she had left Professor Snape there under a stasis spell, Draco had picked her up and ran the rest of the way with her in his arms.
After making sure his Godfather was stable enough to apparate to Madam Pomfrey, Draco had held onto the two most important people in his life and had apparated them away. Once Severus was in Poppy's tender care, with the understanding that the wizard was innocent of the crimes he was accused of, Draco had walked hand in hand out the doors with Hermione. After taking a few steps, Draco stopped and pulled on Hermione's hand to move her closer to him. When her body came into contact with his, Draco lowered his head and captured her lips and gave her a searing kiss. When she kissed him back, Draco walked her back until she was pressed up against a wall. Pressing his body into hers, he let her feel the affect she had on him, all of him.
When Hermione snaked her arms around his neck and pressed her body into his, Draco knew he'd finally found paradise. Needing to break for air, the couple looked at each other and smiled. They were alive and the war was over. No telling what might have happened if they hadn't heard voices coming towards them. Granted, they were somewhat secluded, but neither wanted to be caught in a compromising position. When Draco made to step back from her, Hermione tightened her arms around him and leaned her head on his chest instead. Taking that for the sign he hoped it was, Draco tightened his hold on her and nestled his cheek into her hair.
They stayed that way for some time until a familiar voice could be heard, Harry Potter's voice. After hearing him call out for her a second time, Hermione shuffled them away from the wall, never releasing her hold on Draco. Feeling a bit wary, Draco turned their bodies where his was shielding hers in case Potter disagreed with what he saw. However, Draco had nothing to worry about, for as soon as Harry saw the two of them, he smiled wide and walked over to them.
Instead of shooting a spell off at Draco, Harry had instead extended his hand to him. Draco couldn't help the smirk from forming at the irony of the whole thing. But this time, instead of refusing Potter's offer of, at least, peace; Draco took Harry's offered hand and gave it a firm shake. Then Hermione disengaged herself from his embrace and hugged Harry tightly. Amazingly, Draco felt no jealousy of any kind watching his witch embrace the wizarding world's savior. He only felt relief and warmth from the scene. They had survived and it felt wonderful and, whether he deserved it or not, Hermione was giving Draco a shot with her.
The true test though came when Ron Weasley came stomping up to the small group. Both Harry and Draco had placed Hermione behind them as the red head neared. When Ron had only looked at the three of them quietly, Draco wondered what was about to happen. Instead of firing off a spell or ranting, Ron had just given them all a small nod and told Draco that his mother was looking for him. Draco looked back at Hermione with a question in his eyes and when she placed her hand, once again, into Draco's he knew her answer. She would stand beside him if that was what he wanted.
When Draco and Harry had moved a bit to allow Hermione room to stand next to Draco, the three of them held their breaths, wondering what Ron's reaction would be. But Ron had surprised them all by giving Hermione a bear hug and asked her if this was what she truly wanted and when she answered that it was, he had then turned to Draco and threaten him within an inch of his life if he ever hurt her. Draco had told Ron and Harry that he would take whatever punishment they deemed proper if he ever did such a thing gladly. With that out of the way, the four of them made their way back to the Great Hall in search of Draco's family.
After entering the Hall with Hermione by his side, Draco spotted his mother and father in a far corner with Aurors around them. When they approached, the Aurors broke wide enough to allow the group into the circle then closed ranks again. There was a very heated discussion on what to do with the Malfoys. Harry told those within hearing range what Narcissa Malfoy had done for him in the Forbidden Forest and that Draco had fought on the Light side the entire battle and that they didn't deserve to be sent to Azkaban.
Hermione then spoke up and suggested house arrest until their trials could be arranged. Take their wands and put magic dampening anklets on them and they could live in their Manor. It would save the Ministry money and trouble. After a bit more of a heated debate, Senior Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt joined the gathered Aurors to find out what the fuss was about. When he was told of Hermione's suggestion, he had agreed to it, catching Lucius Malfoy's eye and stating that if any of them stepped a toe out of line, the Aurors would be authorized to use any means necessary to subdue or recapture the offender. At Lucius' nod, Kingsley summoned the anklets and promptly put them on all three Malfoys in front of everyone along with collecting their wands. This way there would be no doubt to who had control over the situation, the one Auror who was above reproach, Kingsley himself.
The next several months were a busy time in the wizarding world. Everyone was busy burying the dead, rebuilding the community, conducting trials for the DeathEaters who were caught and electing a new Minister of Magic. During this time, the Malfoys were tried for their involvement. However, thanks to testimony from Harry, Ron and Hermione, Narcissa and Draco were pardoned and Lucius was sentenced to five years of house arrest, deeming his actions those of a man trying to protect his family the only way he knew how. He would continue to wear the magic dampening anklet and wouldn't get his wand back until the end of his sentence.
What had been the most surprising to the magical community was Lucius Malfoy's acceptance of Draco and Hermione's relationship, not that he could do much about it. Since he had been found guilty of dark magic, even if it was to protect his family, the family magic had made Draco head of the family. However, Lucius wasn't as racist as he portrayed himself to be. Yes, he thought most muggle-borns were beneath him but not due to their blood, at least not since shortly after Voldemort had returned. He had seen too much of their blood spilled in his home and had realized his mistake too late. Lucius had welcomed Hermione and had told her that he only wanted his son to be happy and if she made Draco thus then he was fine with it.
After everything had started to smooth out to some form of normality, Hermione and Draco were finally able to be together longer than a few minutes at a time. They had decided to not make their relationship public until after Draco had his trial. When the Wizengamot had cleared Draco of any wrong doing due to his age and the circumstances of his living arrangements, the two had thrown themselves into helping to rebuild their world. Much was needed to be done and neither had a problem "rolling up their sleeves" and diving into whatever they were needed for.
It was also during this time that they took the time to start healing, regaining weight and learning of each other. It was also during this time that Draco learned Hermione hadn't been quite so ignorant of the time he had spent with her. She had told him she was curious when he would tell her of his feelings. Draco had looked at her dumbfounded and then had barked out a laugh, saying he should have known. When he had asked her why she hadn't said anything or let on in any way that she knew, she had answered that she knew it was too dangerous for either of them to admit to having feelings for the other. She had decided to bide her time and hope they both survived the reign of terror. She had also admitted to Draco that she had visited him nightly when he was in the Medical Ward at Hogwarts after his and Harry's confrontation. She had been worried about him and had wanted to make sure he was going to be alright.
It would seem they both had kept their secrets and Draco was beyond happy that they had both survived to learn of them. Neither knew what the future held for them but, together, they were more than willing to find out.