"What's happened Potter?" Draco asked, knowing all too well this couldn't be good.
"Your father…" Harry started, suddenly losing confidence. "...he's getting out."
"What do you mean? How is that possible?" Draco shot, his voice filled with rage.
"Kingsley was out voted, they accepted his appeal." Harry responded evenly.
"But he has nowhere to live, how do they release someone with nowhere to live!" Draco's voice was rising, but Harry knew it wasn't directed at him.
"He will be staying at a ministry facility for released prisoners." Harry said. "I need you to know that Kingsley fought for you." Draco scoffed. "No he really did, he was pissed they outvoted him. He made sure part of his terms of release was that he had to stay away from you. He wants you to contact him immediately if he shows up." Harry finished, trying hard to get it all out in one breath.
"By the time the owl gets to him…"
"Do you know how to produce a patronus?" Harry asked innocently.
"Not really, don't have…" Draco's voice trailed off awkwardly.
"Hermione can teach you." Harry interjected and Draco nodded. "Malfoy" Draco met his eyes. "I suggest you make sure your flat is concretely secured before heading back to Hogwarts. He'll be out within the week…I'm sor-"
"It's fine, Potter. I appreciate you being willing to help me at all." Draco jumped in, struggling to control his emotions. "Did they tell him I sold the manor?" Harry nodded. "Bullocks!" Draco muttered, kicking some rocks on the ground. "I'll take care of it, thanks." Draco said evenly. Harry wanted to say more but he felt it wasn't his place to pry.
Instead of talking, the two made their way to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. They walked in silence, but both knew it wasn't anything personal. Draco was struggling with the idea of his father on the loose, and Harry felt terrible for falling short on his promise. When they arrived in the shop, George came sliding down the spiral banister.
"'Ello mates!" George greeted, his smile as wide as ever.
George showed them around the store, Draco was grabbing things as he passed them and Harry was enjoying the spirited tour. After what had to be twenty minutes, George shoved the cashier aside so he could personally check Draco out. The three spoke for a few minutes, and then the boys headed out to meet the girls. It was perfect timing because Ginny and Hermione were ten paces away from entering Flourish and Blotts when they saw the boys and changed course. Draco's tough exterior dropped when Hermione's eye met his, and she automatically knew something was wrong. She told Harry and Ginny they'd meet them inside, and pulled Draco off to the side.
"Are you okay?" She asked, glancing down at the see through bag in his hands and clocking what products he bought.
"I don't know the answer to that question." Draco said as his face hardened. Hermione took his hand, and his eyes softened to show real pain. "I can't get into it right now." He said firmly, and Hermione worried even more. "I'll tell you later, I just needed a minute."
"You got it." She answered, her hand intertwined with his. Draco closed his eyes for a long moment, took a deep breath and then opened them. His stoney gray piercing her milky chocolate. "Ready?" She asked, and he nodded. They walked through the door hand in hand, but dropped each other's hand once their friends could be seen.
They parted to look for books and reunited again at the register. Harry had two magical law books and Ginny had a handful of baby books. Hermione had a total of seven books, four of them muggle studies research and three of them seemed to be for personal reading. Draco had one book, a magical maladies special edition copy. The four of them went for ice cream and then said their goodbyes. Harry and Ginny made their way back to the floo network, and Draco started walking in a direction that surprised Hermione.
Instead of questioning him, she decided to follow instead, trusting there was a reason for it. They walked five long blocks wordlessly and then Draco stopped in front of a modern looking flat. Hermione noticed how much nicer it was than her own.
"My flat" Draco stated.
"I figured." Hermione retorted, but followed him into the flat anyway. "It's nice." She said politely as they walked through.
The flat was much more than nice. It was an open concept, with huge vaulted ceilings and black and white themed fixtures and paint. There were small indications that Draco lived here, green pillows, a bookcase filled to the brim and quidditch gear leaning against the wall by the entrance. Hermione was transfixed by observation when Draco cleared his throat. She followed the sound and saw him in the kitchen, he had poured them cups of coffee and sat himself on the island. Hermione joined him, taking the seating across from him.
"My father is being released." Hermione almost spit her coffee out. "Potter told me when we went to the shop." He added, seeing the question coming. Hermione could see how hard it was for him to voice this, so she decided to stay quiet and wait for him to tell her what he was comfortable sharing. "With Potter's help, I tried to block my father's request. It obviously didn't work." Draco seemed to be finished sharing, taking a huge gulp of coffee, almost more like a shot of it.
"When does he get out?" She asked, sipping her own coffee.
"Within the week Potter said." Draco answered flatly.
"So he'll go to the manor." Hermione stated, sure that she was right.
"No." Draco retorted shortly. Hermione raised her eyebrow. "I sold it."
"The manor?"
"The very one." Draco answered, now shifting uncomfortably in his seat.
"Why?" Hermione blurted out.
"You know the horrors of that place better than anyone, do you really not know why?" Draco shot, and instantly regretted it. He saw the way Hermione flinched as her memories flooded back. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." He added quickly, reaching his hand out to hers.
"It's okay, it slipped out, I knew the answer before I asked." Hermione answered, not moving her hand when he made contact.
"I shouldn't have said it…" Draco said softly. "...I sold the Manor because I couldn't stomach being there. All the pain and bloodshed, I didn't want it in my life anymore."
"Completely understandable, but where is he going to live?" Hermione asked, a hint of venom on her voice when she spoke about Lucius.
"Potter said the ministry has a house for released prisoners with nowhere to go." Draco answered,venom in his voice as well.
"Interesting." Hermione answered flatly. "So what brings us here?" She asked.
"I need to set up some protective charms to make sure he can't get in while I'm at Hogwarts." Draco said, finishing his cup, and offering his hand to take Hermione's. Hermione gave him her cup and watched as he made the odd choice of hand washing both of them. "Also, Potter said you could help me with the patronus charm?" Draco asked, slightly uncomfortable.
"Yes I can" Hermione said brightly, already knowing why Harry suggested that he learn it. It is the quickest way to send someone a brief message. "I can also help you protect the flat, I've done plenty of these spells over the years." Hermione added and Draco nodded.
The pair spent a good portion of the hour putting barriers and illusion spells on the flat. When they were done, Draco pulled out his bag from Diagon Alley. He spilled the contents of the bag onto the island. Along with the tricks that he bought from George, his book hit the island with a thud. It was another glossary text sized book, Cure the Incurable: Magical Maladies and their Remedies. Hermione glanced at the book, but didn't say a word. Draco started to pull the Weasleys' products towards him one by one.
"That's why you wanted them!" Hermione exclaimed, connecting the dots. "To spook him." Hermione added.
"Brightest witch of her age, but that wasn't the initial reason." Draco retorted slyly, Hermione smiled. "Do you want to crash here tonight? It's pretty late already. I can cook up some late dinner for us and you can take the bed, I'll take the couch." Draco's words come out so quickly that Hermione needed a minute to process them. She glanced at the clock on his kitchen wall and realized he was right, it was almost 9 o'clock. Where had the day gone? She thought. She studied him for a little before answering. His face was cold and unwavering, but his hands were fidgeting slightly, a sign of nerves.
"Sure." Hermione answered slowly, seeing his hands still with relief. "You don't need to take the couch, I can sleep there, I've slept on much worse."
"You will not be sleeping on the couch." Draco responded firmly.
"It's really fine." Hermione retorted indignantly.
"It's really non negotiable." He countered, causing Hermione to fold her arms in annoyance.
"Fine. Then tell me what the original purpose of the tricks was!"
"What do you want to eat?" He asked, clearly ignoring her and easily shifting from banter to normalcy.
It seemed that Hermione decided to drop it, as her next statement was completely normal.
"I'm not picky, whatever you have is fine with me."
Draco opened his fridge and did a summoning spell he thought was too quick for Hermione to see. Hermione wasn't sure where he summoned the food from, but he must have known exactly where it was to do it that quickly. She didn't comment on noticing the spell, but she was surprised at his attempt to hide it. It only made sense that he wouldn't have food in a flat he wasn't planning on being at for an 8-9 month span. He made them fish and chips, and she laughed at how stereotypical this choice was.
"How very British of you." She said playful, and he shot her a knowing smile. She liked his smile, sometimes she liked his smirk more but right now the smile was a nice addition.
They ate in silence, the pair of them secretly observing the other. Draco noticed how Hermione used a fork and knife for everything on her plate, never getting her hands dirty. He also noticed how she had cut up her fish to completion in small pieces before eating anything at all. Hermione noticed how Draco ate the chips with his hands, carefully wiping off the grease and crumbs with his napkin before picking up his fork again. They both watched each other eat with mild curiosity, and neither seemed to notice. They finished at almost the same time, and Hermione got up to clean the plates and was glared at intensely.
"You can look at me all you want, but I'm still going to clean my plates." She shot at him.
Draco huffed but didn't protest. Instead, he headed towards the bedroom and reappeared with blankets in his hands that he put on the couch. He went back to the bedroom for a couple of minutes and then came back to find Hermione sitting at the island waiting for him.
"I set up the room for you." He said, sitting on the couch next to the pile of blankets. "I put a pair of lounge pants and a shirt on the bed for you, if you are comfortable with that."
"That's perfect thank you." Hermione said sweetly. She grabbed a book out of her bag from the bag from Flourish and Blotts. She noticed that Draco also had a book next to him, another magical maladies one. She grabbed her water from the island, and started towards the bedroom, pausing at the end of the couch. "Goodnight Draco."
"Night Granger." He answered, and it was perfectly clear he used her last name simply to annoy her.
They both read for a long time before closing their books and trying to sleep. If they could see each other, they'd realize how similar they really were. Almost like two identical peas in a pod, except one was reading glorified versions of magical encounters, and the other was reading a grim book about deadly magical diseases. They both fell asleep, book in hand, and they both woke up startled by a horrid nightmare neither could shake.