NOTE: Hello my sweets, it's been awhile since I've wrote something, and decided that I would give you this one-shot that I might actually turn into a series. That's something I haven't quite decided just yet. This has been in my vault for a little while, one of my most recently done works that I've been excited about. So, here I am, releasing this for you guys. I do sure hope that you enjoy as much as I did writing it!
I do not own the Harry Potter characters. I am simply just a fanfiction writer — Carry on.
Something between the two started so long ago, as if someone had lit the fuses attached to both of them and when the explosion happened, there magic swarmed all around them like fireworks that bounced off the walls. They connected, as if there was some sort of gravity pull towards one another. They had nothing in common, but at the same time they had everything in common. It was an odd mix within the two that was confusing, odd almost. How two souls so completely different, yet much alike can become one. As if all the planets aligned perfectly for them, and they sat square in the middle. They were just kids when they fell in love, and though Draco had never told her that he was in love with her — she just knew that he was. The nice thing about all that, was she didn't need to know. She accepted whatever he was feeling, even if he wore a mask and barely showed it. She knew, that's how Draco Malfoy worked.
The two together stuck like superglue. After that one moment when they came into each others lives, no matter all the horrible things he'd done or even said to her. She had forgiven him all those years back. How could someone like her, forgive someone like him? A Death-Eater, almost Professor killing scum? You see, that's what was different about this person. She was Hermione Granger. She believed in forgiveness, even when it wasn't worth it. She had endured the worse of things, and yet somewhere in her heart she forgave the ones who'd wronged her. She wasn't just the Brightest-Witch-Of-Her-Age, no, the witch herself had morals, and understanding beneath all that intelligence. She was loving, and gentle, tender at most.
Now how could a woman like that, love Draco instead of a certain Weasley. What was it about him that stood out more than the fiery red-headed Weasel? Draco had a head on his shoulders, and knew the things he did wrong and had even owned up to all the stuff he'd done. Though he was hard, and cruel most of the times. Mean to those around the two of them. But, Draco was the sweetest to her, sweet like the three spoons of honey he adds to his tea every morning. She had a love that burned like the Fire-Whiskey he downed when nightfall comes around. She was his weakness, whether that was something that she knew about or not — he knew, and that's what mattered most.
She'd been hurt so much. Thrown to the wolves to devour her heart, rip it up and tear it to shreds. Sharpened claws dug into her brilliant mind, threatening to rip apart every single memory that latches itself to the walls of her mind, break her down until there was nothing left to break. Until she was nothing but weakness lingering like the fog on a Sunday morning that covered the surfaces of the ground she very well walked upon. So many people have come along, devoured her of her own happiness, and left her in the dark. But Draco? To this day still apologizes for all the things he's done wrong to her, but that was something he needed to forgive himself for doing, he didn't need her forgiveness because looking in her coffee-colored eyes everyday reminded him that she'd already forgiven him. He, somehow brought the light.
Draco was someone who would flip the whole world upside down for her happiness, to find what happiness she had left and return it to her. He'd chase away anyone who'd dare come her way, dared to step in her path and knock her down. He'd be there, at her side to pick up the pieces, to put them back together and carry her back to safety. Like he was the knight in shining armor, but more-so, her Dragon. Because anyone whom dared touched her the wrong way, would get a finger, perhaps even a hand cut off. Who'd ever rip that smile from her face, would lose theirs entirely. How dare they take away someone's happiness. No matter, yes, they both go at each-others throats here and there, but afterwards they'd make up. Limbs intertwined, lips crashing onto one another as those warm comforting waves of magic ripple around them like start dust.
He would even rename the whole star constellation for her, and name a star after her. He'd do whatever he could to get her the moon, and let his eyes roam over her skin while she bathed beneath its pale glow. All he wanted was to see her smile — all he wants, was to be that reasoning for her smile. Because that's what she deserves. Hermione deserved so much more than just what she's been given to her. She deserves the whole world right in her hands, because she isn't someone with hands of steal, no, they were like feathers. Soft, and gentle to the touch. She would heal the world, and heal the people in it with just the light of her soul. The twinkle in her eyes, and the big smile that stretched over the planes of her lips, stretching ear-to-ear.
There was the softest of knocks at his office door. Slowly his gray eyes lifted. "Do come in." He called and awaited for whoever it was to open the door and make themselves known, because whatever it was, it must've been important because people knew that he wasn't someone who liked to be disturbed while he worked on reports in his office. The door didn't open for another couple of seconds, for a moment he thought maybe the person had knocked on the wrong door, or perhaps he didn't answer quick enough and they walked away? But, it opened and who it was that was walking in wasn't at all who he'd been suspecting.
"Granger? To what do I owe the pleasure?" He asked with a serious, work tone while lowering his eyes down to the paper he had been reading before she walked in.
"Draco." She cleared her throat. "Malfoy." Correcting herself, and Draco had to almost cover his smirk with the piece of parchment in front of his face. She knew how to keep it professional at work, but had her moments when she'd slip up. Well, they tried their best to keep it professional anyways. But, they worked in the same department in the Ministry. The Department for the Regulation and Control for Magical Creatures.
"I was wondering if you had a moment to spare." Her hand stayed on the handle of the door. Awaiting for his approval that she can come in all the way.
Draco raised a brow. "I am sure that you have got eyes and can see that I am rather busy, yes? Is this important matter, or can it wait for later?" His eyes remained on the piece of parchment. Surprisingly, despite their relationship, his stoic expression was not faltering anytime soon.
"Er— well." She stammered, which was the first she'd done in a very long while and it caused a lift of Draco's eyes to meet hers to see that she couldn't even get out what she wanted to say. He sighed, setting down the parchment and waving her to come in. When she saw the invite, she closed the door behind her and made way to his desk, her hand wringing around her wrist as if she was anxious about something — this was new.
"Get on with it then. What is it that you'd like to speak with me about that couldn't wait for later?" He stapled his fingers together on top of his desk.
She worried her lip. "I— well. Oh, bloody hell." She rolled her eyes. "I have something that I'd like for you to see, something that I've never asked you to do before, or, well, anyone for that matter." She slowly stood up, brought her hands down the front of her pencil skirt before going around his desk to stand before him. Draco on the other hand was confused, but slightly intrigued by the way she'd just swore, basically cursing herself for stammering, as if she was just irritating herself with whatever it was that she wanted to speak to him about — no, more-so, show him.
He slowly leaned back in his chair, facing his palms up towards the ceiling as if to basically give her the floor to say what she wants, and to tell him what it was that she'd wanted to show him, something she'd never asked anyone. "If you're trying to seduce me Granger, I must say that this would be the way to go about it – but I've got lots of work to be doi–" Before he could even finish his sentence she scrunched up her nose, shook her head and held out her hand to stop him while her lips parted.
"No, Malfoy. That's not what I'm here for." She scoffed. "Honestly, what kind of woman do you take me for?" An incredulous look plastered her face, before shaking it off and letting her eyes meet his. "I have been training with my Occulmency, and I know that your mother is a talented Legilimens, which of course, got passed down to you." She explained.
"What exactly is it you're asking of me, Granger?"
"Will you let me finish, or are you going to open your big mouth everytime?"
"I think I'll continue to open my 'big' mouth just to irk you some more. Just to see how long it takes before you chew my head off this time."
Hermione glared at him through her eyelashes, eyebrows knitting tightly together to show that she was very serious. Draco's hands lifted to surrender. "Fine. Go on. Seems as though this is something serious too you."
She crossed her arms over her chest. "I'll have you know that it is something serious. I've been learning, while I've been learning I have managed to been able to do something and I'd just like to be able to show you what that is, perhaps to hear what you think of it. Is that a problem? — anyways – I would like you to use Legilimency on me, and before you say no, please, just trust me on this okay? I promise you it won't be a waste of your precious time."
Draco titled his head back to rest against the back of his seat while he listened to all that she had to say, once her mouth stopped moving and the word were no longer coming out. His eyes briefly locked with hers for a moment, to take in the serious look that was very readable on her face. His throat clicked, and his Adam's apple bobbed for a second. "Fine."
Things have changed now. Draco didn't even need his wand to use Legilimency on someone, all he needed to do was connect eyes with them and thrust his way in. "Ready?" His brows raised in question, as if with just one single word it was something that she needed to prepare for as the Malfoy's were powerful Legilimens. She nodded; that was all that he needed before his eyes focused on the swarming warmth of her eyes, before his ice cold silver hues dived into hers, like a knife stabbing through and into her mind. Though his entrance was gentle, and if she had been working on her Occulmency as much as she had said, than perhaps it'll hurt less for her, yet be harder for him. But she was for sure to have a headache afterwards.
The moment he dove in head first through her memories, he could see all the books that lined the shelves and in perfect alphabetical order they were labeled. Some were dustier than others, and he assumed that those were the ones that weren't touched much, perhaps those were the times during Hogwarts that she didn't want to remember, maybe it was the ones from Malfoy Manor when his aunt Bellatrix tortured her, giving a constant reminder of what she was – something Draco didn't see much of anymore since his Blood-purity ways morphed, shifted and fell into abyss; long and forgotten. It didn't surprise Draco at all that she organized her memories into books, as she was someone who loved reading. Merlin, her favorite book was Hogwarts: A History, among other ones of course.
The moment that he was in her mind, she shifted the whole scene into something entirely differently. He was no longer standing in front of those books on the shelves, now he was taken back to the moment inside her mind during a time when Lord Voldemort was still alive.
"Draco." Lucius called from across the other side where the Death-Eaters stood, and where he stood with Dumbledore's Army. His mouth fell into the saddest of frowns, while his eyes took a sorrow look beneath the deepest of depths. His face was dirty, grimy and cold looking. That was a time when he was young, dumb and lost beyond the darkness.
"Draco, come." His mother's delicate voice drawled out, it was more welcoming, and if his mother hadn't called out he wasn't going to cross over. Hell, he didn't even know if he still wanted too. All he wanted, no, all he waited for was that one person to stop them. Someone to please reach out, hold him back and convince him that this is the side that you're meant to be on. That you, Draco Malfoy, are a good person. The hesitation even proves such things.
But he watched as he crossed over to his family. Though what he didn't see before since his back was to everyone else. Was Hermione's step had faltered backwards, as if she wasn't believing of what she was seeing. Despite all that he'd done to her in the past with calling her a Mudblood, letting her be tortured in his home where he'd be haunted by for the rest of his life. She seemed as though, she couldn't believe that after all, he was crossing to the dark side all over again.
For a moment, the Draco outside of Legilimency questioned why she was showing him this. What was the point of all this? But before he could think any further on it, the scene shifted, warped and spun much like it would when someone apparated. This time it was him and her, inside her loft and she had put on a Muggle movie for them to watch on a thing called a television. She'd put on a certain movie, he couldn't remember the name of it but knew that it was some silly romance because that's what she was — a romantic lover. He was bored of the movie, and had passed out from exhaustion. Watching it all go down though, she'd pulled him into her lap, brushed his soft, blond fringe away from his forehead, dragged the pad of her index finger down his face and along his jaw to the point of his chin. Such a loving touch, for someone who was a cold monster to her. "I.. I wanted to stop you. I wanted to go to your side, and stop you when your parents called for you. But, it wouldn't of been right, Ron would've gotten jealous — you know how Ron is. His temper." She whispered these things, and he was surprised that his sleeping self didn't even budge when her voice came out so soft, and broken sounding.
"You have shown me the ugly part of this world when we were kids, but now?" She smiled. "You've shown me the beauty. You've shown me who you can be. When it's just us. Your touches, a soft caress. Your kiss, something that ignites my soul. You bring fire and passion, the dark, and the light. The cold with its warmth. These things cannot simply exist without the other. We are balanced. Our magic dances, and urns for a love so wide-ranged, that even we cannot begin to understand, let alone grasp." Her finger brushed along his lips. "No matter the amount of times you've got your mask in place – I will always remember the you without it. Even when we fight, so close to the point where we want to rip each-others heads off. I know that there is no such thing as the fairy-tale kind of love that I once wanted. Because, Merlin – nothing is perfect. Without magic, we are simple humans. Without love, we walk this earth doing what we must in our daily lives, wishing to have someone to call ours. Without fights, we have nothing to fight for. And I know, when we fight? We're fighting for each-other – and, I believe, perhaps, that I'd rather have someone fighting for me, than fighting against me or not at all."
Before that scene could go on any longer, it changed again, this time it was nosier, more crowded. From the looks of it, it looked like they were in The Three Broomsticks, though He wasn't with her at the time, this was around the time when he'd been seeing Astoria Greengrass. Nothing too serious, but it was known that they were intimate in some way or another. Though, he was watching from her point of view. Ron Weasley wasn't even anywhere around, she'd been hiding in the corner with a couple empty glasses laying around on the surfaces of the table. She looked to be contemplating something — but before that scene could go on any longer, they were in his office. Much like they were now.
"My mother as you may have heard is hosting a Holiday Gala. It's something she does – well, what my father and her usually would do but this time my father won't be present. I'm curious, Granger. Do you think you could handle showing up to a place with bad memories that I assure still haunt you to this day? Knowing that I'll be at your side, walking you through it all?" He'd asked her, and her lips parted but nothing came out.
The scene abruptly changed to the time when they were in bed together. Hands caressing with a feather stroke, loving touch. Lips trailing along exposed necks, and marking their claims upon each-other. His fingers tickling along her spine, to the tailbone. Lips locked, and tongues dueling. Hair messy, and sweat beading their foreheads. Whispering sweet nothings of comfort, and love. Magic outbursts, and stardust explosions taking them past the point of oblivion – bringing one another to the brink of that edge, waiting for one of them to topple over. The way her coffee-colored eyes washed over his physique, small fragile hands fingering his Sectumsempra scar from Harry. They spoke of each and every single scar that they had. Of all the good and bad memories behind each one. He'd took his time with her body, discovering new land, mapping out each curve, like it were a gravel back road. Dividing and exploring what she liked, and putting aside what she didn't. They both learned about each other's bodies, minds and souls. In that moment, looking back to it now, he could tell that's when he'd fallen in love with her. For what he saw her ask when it was just them, and them alone. He had placed his hands on her mind, before he'd ever reach for her waist. He showed her, her worth when it was needed and where it was needed.
Their fates have intertwined, they had become one, and they were each others always.
Hermione used her Occulmency to put up her walls, which aggressively shoved him out and if he had been standing he was for sure positive that he would've been thrown back down into his chair from how sharp of a shove she'd given just to get him out. His breathing was erratic, his cheeks were flushed a faint pink and his lips parted in amazement. She had altered all that around like she were the own narrative in her own book, she had shown him the parts that he hadn't known about, or even thought to exist. But they were there, and she trusted him enough to share something so beautiful.
"Well? Do you think that I could do some more work on it?" She broke the silence first, the tone in her voice let him know that she was nervous with what he'd all seen, but worried that she didn't do itself justice.
Draco brought a fist up to his mouth. The silence rolled over longer than he should have allowed, but he, himself, just needed a moment to take in everything that he had seen. Bloody damn her for almost making his own walls to crumble down, and tears to break from their cages. He didn't allow it. His hand, instead found hers and gently wrapped around her wrist to pull her towards him as he stood to his feet, bringing a hand to the nape of her neck where the pads of his fingers scraped against her scalp to wrap her hair in between his fingers. His other hand that was wrapped lightly around her wrist came up, his index finger curled and he used his knuckle to press beneath her chin, pushing up enough that brought her head to tilt back. "Impeccable." Was all that he could say for her performance she'd given him, for sharing much more than even he perhaps wouldn't do, but with how she made him feel. That soon just might change.
She leaned into him more, allowing him to move her head in any way she wished but the smile that creased around her lips and met her eyes in the dim glow of his office, truly shined brighter than any other time. "Oh, so I've pleased you?" Her tone dripped of sarcasm, and a tease. Draco nodded his head, that famous signature Malfoy smirk rose from the corner of his lips. "You do more than just please me." He spoke matter-of-fact. "You do something to me that is quite —" His head turned to the side, half-cocked. "Yet not in my understanding, if that makes sense?"
"To me; Draco Malfoy, it makes perfect sense." The softest of whispers, and the sound of his name rolling off her tongue was euphoric to his ears.
"Merlin, Granger. What have you done too me? You must be quite proud of yourself, because I'm a bloody fool for you."