A/N: I proudly present: Chapter 5 :) Thank you to TheDaringInferno for betaing. I hope you'll enjoy it! Please, leave me your thoughts ... ;)

This might be the last chapter for 2 weeks, as I'm going to travel to New York and won't be able to update until after that. In the meantime check out my 2 Dramione One Shots!

[Edited 27.03.]

Chapter 5: Demons of the past

Draco would be a great guide, Hermione thought. His tour was interesting, funny, and somehow mysterious. Every room had its own history, and he shared some of his memories with her. He made her laugh, but he couldn't completely banish her dark mood.

Finally they reached the library. It was enormous, a sea of books stretching as far as the eye could see.

"I knew you'd love this room," he chuckled when he saw her face.

"Can I have a look around?" she asked and inspected the shelf next to her.

"Feel free to take out any book you like."

She didn't need to be told twice and jumped at the opportunity. "Oh, wow, 1001 Arabian potions. Do you know how rare this is?" He grinned but said nothing. "And here… Poison or Potion by Zygmunt Budge. Is that where your love for potions comes from?"

He shrugged. "I think it was just something I was good at. I had an Outstanding in my Eighth Year."

She nodded absently, having already set her sight on the next shelf. "Fairy Tales. Wow. Here, you even have the same version of Tales of Beedle the Bard."

"The same version as who?" he enquired.

"Me, actually. It used to be Dumbledore's but he passed it on to me." She swallowed. "Someday I might tell you about it." Quickly she decided to change the topic before he could ask any further. "Oh, you have Die Märchen der Gebrüder Grimm! Is it in German?"

Thankfully, he let it pass. "Of course. It is the original, more bloodthirsty version. Do you speak German?" He watched her carefully, noting her sudden stiffness.

In passing she let her index finger trail along the spine of the antique book of fairytales. "A bit. We lived in Germany for half a year, when the national team trained with the Heidelberg Harriers. You?" she said, deliberately avoiding Viktor's name.

"Actually, I do. We have some friends there, and we used to visit them very often when I was younger," he answered lightly, wondering what she was thinking about.

A sudden grin highlighted her features, chasing away the darkness that had been about to overwhelm her. "That is fantastic. Now I have someone to practise with. It'll be like a secret language between us."

Her enthusiasm made him laugh. "I'd love that. Do you want to read it?"

"But … it shouldn't be moved. It is so old." She longingly looked at the book, and he could literally feel her desire to read it, even if she had said otherwise.

He smiled and carefully slid the book off the shelf. "There are enough protective spells on it, Gr- Hermione. Take it with you. I know you'll handle it with care."

His smile made her all warm inside. It felt so good to stroll with him through the library and talk about books. Faster than she thought possible half an hour was over and they really had to go back to Ginny. "Thank you so much for the tour and the book," she said on their way back.

Suddenly Draco stopped in front of a door. "Wait. Let's take the other way."

At once she realised what was behind it. The room. The room she'd been tortured in. "No!" she contradicted and quickly opened the door before he could stop her.

It looked very different with a warm mahogany floor and blue wallpaper, but the shape and the ceiling were just the same. She closed her eyes for a second, warding off the darkness attacking her, and held her left arm tight. She'd been through worse, no need to create a fuss, she told herself; however, that was easier said than done.

"Hermione?" Draco asked softly, touching her shoulder.

Instantly she spun around, her wand in the hand. "Don't touch me," she snapped.

"Sorry," he whispered, his face ashen.

"No, no, I'm sorry," she apologised immediately. "I overreacted." Carefully she put her wand back in its holster and tried to smile. "Bellatrix is dead and gone. She will never hurt me again."

His grey eyes were so full of sympathy that she felt even worse than before. "How do you stand this room? Any of the rooms? It must've been horrible for you too."

"It was," he said flatly. "But it is still my home. There're happy memories here as well. I tried to focus on those and fight the bad ones. But, to be honest, I was happy to escape this house for a whole year." His eyes lingered on a certain spot on the floor before they returned to her. "Mother tried her best to change everything."

"She did a great job," Hermione praised with a shaky voice. "It was good for me to return here. I need to fight the demons of the past."

He nodded silently, not knowing what to say.

"At least the chandelier is gone," she sighed finally and tried to smile. "Come on. Ginny's waiting." She knew she'd have nightmares tonight, but Draco didn't need to know that. He behaved so gently, so caring … she couldn't see any traces of his younger self, even here in this room.

"I'm sorry," he apologised again, and she knew that it was not for letting Ginny wait.

"If you say that one more time, I'll hex you," she tried to joke. "I've already told you: forgiven and forgotten."

"Let's just hope mother hasn't convinced Ginny to call her kid Scorpius by now. She's been trying to influence me for years. You know she'd absolutely love a grandchild," he changed the subject.

"I can imagine," Hermione laughed. "My parents are the same."

She could see the question in his eyes, but before he could utter another word, she rushed out.

Ginny and Mrs. Malfoy were still deep in their conversation while Mr. Malfoy had made himself scarce.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation, mother, but I think they'd better go before Harry thinks we've kidnapped his wife," Draco interrupted them unceremoniously.

"Draco!" Mrs. Malfoy exclaimed, scandalised.

"It was a joke, mother," Draco laughed, winking at her.

"Thank you for the wonderful tea, Mrs. Malfoy," Hermione said quickly. "I'm sorry I couldn't see the amazing gardens."

She smiled warmly. "Don't worry. My house is always open for Draco's friends. Just come by next week."

"Thank you for the invitation." Hermione smiled back and shook her hand.

"I'll accompany you to the floo," Draco offered politely, ever the perfect gentleman. "Are you sure, you're okay?" he added in a whisper, placing himself between her and the door. His steel grey eyes scrutinised her, and she was sure he would see through her and discover all her dark secrets in a flash. But of course he didn't.

"Draco, you don't need to worry about me," she reassured him quickly while Ginny said her goodbyes, but the slight trembling in her voice betrayed her. However, she didn't want him to think that she was weak or pathetic, so she straightened her back and pushed past him into the reception room without looking back.

Impatiently she waited until Ginny joined her, desperately avoiding Draco's gaze. "See you on Monday, Draco," she finally mumbled, fleeing into the fireplace.

A split second later the Manor and Draco disappeared, and she found herself at home. Ginny appeared only a moment behind her. "Are you sure, you're okay?" her friend asked in a concerned voice. It unnerved Hermione.

"Quite," she answered curtly, marching into the kitchen to escape Ginny's worry.

It didn't work. Her friend followed her close. "You could stay at Grimmauld Place if you want," she offered innocently.

"No," Hermione responded stubbornly. For one thing, she didn't want to impose on them, and for another, she didn't want to appear weak. She wanted to show her friends that she could handle herself (even if a small part of herself told her that she couldn't).

Ginny, however, did not give up that easily. "Okay, then I'll stay with you," she smiled at her friend.

"I can't let a pregnant woman sleep on the couch. Harry'd kill me." Hermione rolled her eyes and absent-mindedly put the kettle on.

"Nonsense. I don't think you should be alone tonight," the red headed witch insisted.

"Will you leave if I tell you I'll go to my parent's home?" Hermione carefully watched her friend, hoping Ginny would finally let her be.

"Only if you promise!" Ginny demanded, narrowing her eyes.

"I promise, okay? And you promise to tell Harry tonight!" Hermione negotiated, a triumphant smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Ginny winced. "But …"

"Ginny, stop that. He'll be overjoyed, you know he will," she successfully changed the topic, smiling inwardly.

Luckily Ginny went for it. "Maybe … he always wanted a daughter," she whispered.

Hermione quickly gave her hand a comforting squeeze. "See. So go home, I can take care of myself." Ginny nodded unconvinced, but thank Merlin took the floo anyway.

Now she was finally alone.

Mechanically Hermione made herself a cup of tea and sat down on her couch with Crookshanks on her lap, thoughts rushing through her mind. She'd been so sure that she was over Bellatrix, but apparently she wasn't. The memory lingered in the back of her mind like a monster waiting to attack.

In the summer after the war all of them had suffered terrible and horrifying nightmares, but Ron had been there to comfort her, to keep her safe. Now she was utterly alone. Again. In Hogwarts Madam Pomfrey had made a special potion for her if the nightmares were too bad, but now she had no access to it. For a split second she thought about taking Dreamless Sleep Potion, but dismissed the thought again. After her break-up with Viktor, she'd self-medicated her nightmares with it and consequently had become heavily addicted.

No, she'd just need to get through the next week. Suddenly her gaze fell on the calendar, and she realised that July was nearing. The anniversary of her divorce hung over her like Damocles' sword.

She sighed and put her cup down. Whatever she had told Ginny, she didn't have the intention to return to her parent's home. But she could get a head start on her paperwork for next week, now that she wasn't sleep deprived yet.

Half an hour later – she had only just managed to read through the first draft – an owl knocked on the window. Hesitantly she opened it and let the tawny owl in. After she had removed the letter from its leg, the owl turned around and flew swiftly to her curtain rod, waiting for her answer.

It was not Harry's or belonging to any of the Weasleys. That only left Draco.

She swallowed hard and carefully broke the seal with her fingertips.

Dear Hermione,

I sincerely hope that you are okay. I have enclosed some Dreamless Sleep Potion, in case you need it. Please tell me if there is anything I can do for you. I feel so responsible for everything that happened eight years ago, that happened today.

If you will allow it, I could come by tomorrow. We can have some breakfast together.

Please, take care of yourself.

Draco M.

She stared at the little phial that had fallen out of the letter. With a tap of her wand it transformed back into its original size, the purple liquid inside sloshed temptingly. Quickly she put it back on the table and took her quill out in order to answer him.

Draco,

Thank you for your letter, but you needn't worry, I am perfectly fine. Therefore, there is no need for you to step by. Please, do not blame yourself for anything that has happened today. I had a good time.

See you at work.

Hermione G.

Hurriedly she folded the parchment, attached it to the owl's leg, and watched the tawny owl float out of the window. Now he certainly thought she was a pathetic, feeble, and oversensitive woman.

Why did she care anyway?

Angrily she stomped back to her papers, but Draco simply wouldn't leave her mind. When another owl tapped on the window, she hoped for a second that it'd be Draco's, but it was Harry's snowy owl Nival. She skimmed through the note, but didn't really feel like answering right now. She knew she should congratulate him (Ginny'd finally managed to announce the news) and tell him that she was all right, but she was tired of lying.

She was not all right at all.