I have been working on this chapter all week so I hope you all enjoy the twist at the end. I'll be going back and forth between this and Hermione the Mudblood Princess until both are complete, updating each every other week since the last update.
After receiving a Patronus from Harry and apparating back, Ron ran through the door to hug Hermione. She held him tight back.
"Oh, 'Mione, I thought I lost you." He whispered with tears in his ears. She gently cupped his face and wiped his tears away.
"It's okay, Ron. I'm okay, thanks to Malfoy," she comforted him with a small smile and glanced over to Draco. Ron turned around to the wizard who just saved his fiancé's life.
"I guess you're not all bad, Malfoy. Thank you," Ron held his hand out in appreciation. Draco took Ron's hand and shook it.
"Keep her safe, Weasley. I will see you at the meeting in about a couple of weeks, Granger," Draco smirked.
"Wait, what meeting, Hermione? With the Minister?" Ron asked her worriedly.
"Ron, it's with the Wizengamot about the research I've been doing at the Ministry. I was planning on telling you once we both came home from work, but then I was almost kidnapped and murdered! I cannot tell you what it is about right now because it is top secret, but I promise to tell you everything after the meeting. I promise."
"She may not be able to tell you, but I can, Weasley," Draco smirked at them again.
"Draco, no! Pl-" He cut her off.
"I thought you left, Malfoy." Ron sneered at the former Slytherin. "Well, let us hear it then. What is this meeting about, Ferret?"
"Oh, that stings, Weasley. I thought we moved past that. No matter. This meeting with the Wizengamot is about the research she has been doing to increase the UK's wizarding population again. It means your engagement may be over before it's just begun." He mocked the ginger wizard. "If her research turns out to be accurate and it works."
Ron tried to lunge at Draco, but Harry stopped him.
"Ron, he's not worth it!" Harry yelled while struggling to keep his friend from attacking Malfoy. Ron calmed down after a few minutes, then turned to Hermione.
"What did he mean by that, Hermione? Tell me the truth." Ron was livid. He has never raised his voice against Hermione.
"Do not yell at me, Ronald! He is trying to get in your head. Ignore him, and we can talk this out, please," Hermione pleaded with Ron to listen to her.
"If you don't tell him, Granger, I will," Malfoy threatened her. But he should have known better than to intimidate the Muggleborn witch. She sent an engorgement charm toward him, which hit him square on the nose, to keep him busy while she talked to Ron in private.
"Ron, sweetheart," Hermione started gently. "The research is about the decline of the Wizarding population. I came across a type of magic that wizards and witches used many centuries ago based on magic and blood compatibility. Our ancestors last used this magic in the time of Merlin. What Malfoy was saying earlier is that if my research turns out to be able to help with this issue, witches and wizards will instead be matched up as 'soul mates,' in a manner of speaking."
"Soul mates? What does that mean for us, 'Mione? You'd let some ancient magic try to break us apart?"
"No, Ron, of course not! Never in a million years would I let that happen! It is not like either of us would be matched with someone else. We are going to get married for Merlin's sake." She went quiet for a moment, thinking back to what Kingsley said to her in his office the week before. "But there is something else you need to know, Ron. I do not know how to say this, but Kingsley told me that our engagement might end if it turns out it could work due to my research nature. I am unsure of what the Wizengamot may ask of me to test if it does work."
Ron could not think of anything to say to that, so he just brought her into his arms and held her tight and close.
For the following week, Hermione took it upon herself to relax and calm down after being almost kidnapped by Lucius Malfoy once she has come home from work. But the thought of why he tried to do that kept nagging at her. She needed to know why, or else she would not be able to put this uneasiness at rest. Kingsley was very understanding why she requested the day off but understood it would be cut short due to the Wizengamot meeting tomorrow. He wished Hermione well and gave her a list of resources to use if she needed anything to help process what happened to her, for which she was incredibly grateful.
Ron was at a practice match for a tournament coming up soon, so she knew he would not be home until late. This extra time allowed her to write to Malfoy and request that they meet in private to talk about his father. Draco was happy to oblige her request. It was still early enough in the day where she could meet with him and get home before Ron did from practice. He invited her over for tea, and she accepted the invitation and came to the Malfoy Manor via Floo.
"Malfoy, thank you for seeing me. I know it was last minute, but I appreciate it," Hermione said as she took a seat on a beautiful dark green and silver loveseat in the living room, still feeling overwhelmed from the previous day.
"Granger, it is all right. I understand why you wanted to speak to me; it is why my father did what he did, right? It has been eating you up inside, and you are looking for answers," Draco calmly comforted her, giving her a cup of tea. "Right now, you are safe here. I have the wards up so that my father cannot enter the Manor grounds. You are welcome to come and go if you so choose," he offered, and she stared at him in disbelief.
"You're serious, Malfoy? I would hate to intrude."
"No, you would not be intruding at all. It is an open invitation. Whether you accept it or not is up to you, and I would be fine with your answer either way." He offered. "Also, we should talk about why my father attempted to kidnap and murder you. I think it is because of the research you are doing at the Ministry of Magic. He does not like the idea of Muggleborns and Purebloods having families together, whether it was by falling in love or through this magic you have since found. I do not share the same prejudiced sentiments as him."
"That is quite an interesting theory, Malfoy. But something tells me that you are right about that. Maybe I should tell the Minister to postpone the meeting until further notice."
"Let us not get ahead of ourselves, Granger. The meeting is still going to happen. But enough of that for now. I was curious if I could ask if you are comfortable with the idea. Maybe we can try to start calling each other by our first names? You are not obligated to keep this agreement either."
Hermione was utterly stunned by the idea of being acquaintances, or possibly even be friends, with Draco Malfoy. She did not know what to say to everything he was offering to her. What would Ron and Harry say to her about this? Ron has held a grudge against Draco ever since their first year at Hogwarts.
She set the cup of tea down on the small, circular table next to the loveseat and moved closer to him. She placed and gently squeezed his hand, her way of letting him know she trusts him. Draco felt his heart speed up faster, and Hermione felt her face get warm at the same time. Unfortunately, this moment was short-lived when Narcissa Malfoy apparated into the room without any warning.
"Mother," Draco cleared his throat and stepped away from Hermione, so he would not give her the wrong idea of what was happening between them just moments before. "What are you doing here? I was not expecting you until tomorrow."
"Oh, Draco," the older witch told her son. "Did you not receive my owl? I thought I had sent it to you on time. No matter. I will get myself settled in my old bedroom. Who is this behind you, Draco?"
"Sorry, Mother. No, I did not get your letter. I have been rather busy keeping father from kidnapping and murdering Hermione Granger," he said, to which he stepped to the side.
"Mother, allow me to introduce to you the brightest witch of our generation, Hermione Granger," he said as Hermione gave Narcissa a small wave, accompanied by a smile.
"How do you do, Madam Malfoy?" Hermione chimed in to ask. Narcissa ignored her.
"Lucius? When was this? I thought he was in Azkaban." Narcissa looked as if she were about to faint. Draco noticed this and helped her to have a seat in the chair closest to her.
"It happened yesterday, madam," Hermione spoke up again. "But, thanks to Draco, I survived, and I am certain Harry took him back to Azkaban with the other Aurors by now."
"My apologies, but what is a Mudblood—"
"Do not finish dare that sentence, Mother," Draco cut her off with disdain. "I know you have not changed very much since the days of the War, but that is no excuse to act this way toward my guest."
"Guest?!" She scoffed back at him. "What is she doing here in the first place? Do not play dumb either, son. I know what I saw when I first arrived."
"I think I will be going now," Hermione spoke up.
"Hermione, you are fine where you are. You don't know what you saw, Mother," he defended. "I do not have to defend myself against you. I am not a child anymore. Either give Hermione the respect she deserves or get out of my house."
"Your house? Draco Lucius Malfoy, I am your MOTHER, and you are to respect me! Mudbloods are not allowed in this house." the Malfoy matriarch shouted angrily at him. Draco brought out his wand and pointed it at her.
"Get. Out. Now." He threatened and was not about to back down.
"Kindly, son," Narcissa hissed back. "But if Lucius tries to escape and comes after the little Mudblood again, do not come crying to me." And with that, Narcissa took out and flicked her wand and apparated away. Draco was quick to change the wards to disallow his mother's entry into the Manor grounds again.
When Draco turned around to Hermione, he noticed tears streaming down her face. Except these were tears of happiness, and she ran into Draco's arms. He stood there in shock but wrapped his arms around the witch in return.
"Draco, you have changed!" She exclaimed, ecstatic that he was telling the truth. The next moment she felt their lips meet in a fiery passion that neither seemed to mind exploring. They could no longer deny the attraction toward each other. But something made this passionate make-out session be cut short. They looked at each other in shock.
"Hermione, you are engaged, and we just made out," Draco feeling the intense sexual tension between them now for sure. He had never felt anything like this before.
"Oh Merlin, I have to go. Do not tell anyone what just happened, or I swear I will obliviate you." Hermione said, half-threatening him, rushing out the door and apparating away.
Draco sadly looked at the last spot where she stood in the grass before disappearing with a flick of her wand.
Hermione returned home, crawled into bed with tears in her eyes. She just cheated on Ron with Draco Malfoy.