Ch. 21

The next day they were headed back to Hogwarts so they could prepare for lessons the following day. Draco had reached out to shake Wendell's hand when he pulled him in for a hug and Monica gave him a hug before leaving too. They told Hermione to visit again soon and to bring Draco any time.

When they got into Hogsmead they decided to stop at the Three Broom Sticks and have a butter beer before heading back. "Only one this time Hermione," He joked, remembering when she had come before and been a light weight.

"Oh, and you too mister," she joked back.

"I don't think they have any Hagrid sized cups here, so I should be fine," he smiled as he held the door open for her.

They sat down and Draco ordered their drinks. Hermione grabbed his hand while they waited and asked him his thoughts on her family.

"So, honestly, what did you think?" she asked.

He held up her hand and kissed the back of it. "Of your family?"

"Yeah," she waited.

"They're wonderful Hermione. They were so…warm, and really friendly. Your dad didn't let me win at chess and totally beat me, and I respected him for that too." He set their hands back down on the table.

"I'm glad you liked them," she smiled as their drinks were delivered and sat down in front of them.

"Hermione, can I ask you something," he wasn't sure how to start.

"Sure," she took a drink of her butter beer.

"How would you feel about getting to know my mother?" he watched her reaction carefully.

She slowly set the drink down and her eyes were wide. "What?" She thought maybe she hadn't heard him right.

"My mother, getting to know her…"

"Honestly?" she couldn't believe he was springing this on her, especially in public.

He nodded his head and waited.

"Nervous, angry," she gripped her butterbeer so tightly her knuckles were white.

"But you would try though?" He asked her in a sweet, hesitant tone.

She took a deep breath. Then another big drink before answering. "Yes," she said with real effort. "To be fair," she thought, "Draco just experienced muggle life and didn't complain even once." She sighed. "Sorry Draco, that was a bit rude. Yes, I'd like to get to know your mother if that's important to you."

He smiled and leaned in and kissed her, glad that she was willing.

"I'm ordering another butterbeer though," she added and he flagged the waitress down.

"Another drink for her and then our tab please," he was still smiling at Hermione.

"Sure," she took a step forward and then back again. "Your tab as already been taken care of," she added.

"By whom?" Hermione asked.

The waitress pointed to a witch in the corner reading a book and drinking something herself. Hermione slid her hand out of Draco's but it was too late, Professor McGonigal had already seen them. She had a faint smile as she nodded in their direction and went back to reading her book.

The waitress walked on to get the drink.

"What are we going to say," Draco asked Hermione. "I shouldn't have kissed her here," he thought.

"Nothing," Hermione said calmly.

"How can you be calm Granger?" He noticed he hadn't called her that in a while, if felt weird to call her that now. "Sorry," he added.

"You're freaking out Draco, just be cool."

"But she's already seen," he began when she interrupted in hushed whispers.

"Yes, she has, so there's nothing we can do but be professional. Deep breaths." She acted casual. Inside she was freaking out as much as Draco, but she had been up to enough trouble in her day to know how to keep it together. Either McGonigal would say something to them or she wouldn't.

The waitress set the butterbeer on the table and left.

"I'm just going to drink this and we can leave," Hermione had already taken a big gulp.

"Hermione, we have to thank her, we can't just leave," Draco said. She knew he was right.

"Oh God," Hermione said as she was starting to let her nerves show. She took a deep breath and exhaled. Then she took another big drink of the butterbeer. "I don't think this actually has an alcohol in it," she added, "it's having no effect on my courage."

Draco let out a laugh and Hermione just stopped and stared at him.

"This is serious Draco," she began.

"I know, Hermione, sorry. It's just that a moment ago you had it together." He tried to collect himself again.

"Yes, we're a real yin and yang," she said dryly. She had finished her last drink and Draco stood up.

"Best to get it over with as soon as we can," he said.

Hermione stood up next to him as they walked over to the headmistress.

"Good afternoon you two," she began.

"Good afternoon," Draco started, "we wanted to thank you for the drinks Professor."

"You're very welcome," a smile rose to her lips as they both stayed rooted to the spot.

"What? Professor Granger? Did you think I was going to ask about that kiss?" Hermione and Draco were both blushing. "Because I hadn't intended to. Good day," she offered as Hermione grabbed his hand and they quickly walked out.

When they got outside they both did a sigh of relief and he laughed.

"Should you have seen that coming? She was your head of house after all…" Draco began.

"She gave you detention a few times if I remember correctly, I didn't see that coming any more than you did."

When they got back to her apartment he started up a conversation with her. "You know, school will be ending in a couple of months, is it hard to believe a whole year has gone by?"

"It's not a whole year, Technically. Mid-August will make it a year."

"Okay, know it all," he said in his sarcastic tone, "but what are your plans for the summer, we haven't talked about them yet." Draco had plans of his own he wanted to include her if she felt up to it.

"I just planned on going camping with my family, you're welcome to come of course," she added. "And then I plan to visit the burrow to say hi to everyone, and spend time with you." She finished.

"I will go muggle camping with you and your family…" he started when Hermione interjected.

"Yay! I hoped you'd say yes!"

"IF," he tried to finish.

"If?" she repeated.

"If," he paused again, "You stay overnight with me."

"Sure, don't we do that all the time?" she asked skeptically.

"At my house…" he finished.

She got up from the couch. The last time she had been back there was something she could never forget. Draco couldn't know what he was asking her to do. She looked over at him with a wild look in her eyes.

He knew the only way for her to overcome what happened there was to be back and have different experiences in the house. It was his childhood home and he wanted to work up to taking her there if it were possible. He knew he was asking for a lot.

"I have to think about it," she said in a cold tone. "Is that when you wanted me to meet your mom?"

"No, actually, I wanted you to 'get to know her,'" he clarified. "It might take meeting her a few times. I've set up the next few Fridays at the Hogshead for us to have drinks." He finished.

"That's…what…when…when did you set this up Draco?" she didn't have time to process a proper question.

"A couple weeks ago, I figured after we visited your parents…" he faltered.

"I'm fine with meeting her Draco," Hermione tried to explain. "it's just that if feels like you're springing this on me. Earlier today you just asked me to meet her, and now you tell me you have a few meetings set."

"Yeah," he didn't see what the big deal was, he had given her notice. "I think it would be different if I hadn't given you notice and she just joined us for drinks, but I am giving you notice."

She knew he was right. He was preparing her, although she would have liked to have known months in advance that something like this was coming. "I gave you four months' notice before meeting my parents and you're giving me less than a week, but you're right Draco, it's notice," she said with an irritated tone.

He picked up on her irritation and started smiling at her.

"What?" she asked with attitude. He hadn't seen her this way and knew she wasn't angry.

"You're nervous?" he knew that's what was going on, that's why she didn't like the timeframe, that's why she was giving him attitude.

"Don't be silly," she said as she thought about his question. She didn't want to admit that he might be right.

He shifted his position on the couch and decided to change the subject. He picked up a book and started reading, hoping that would lighten the mood.

Hermione went into the next room and made some tea and then sat down beside him, but she didn't lean in like she usually did, but he still put his arm around her. He felt her tense body relax into him and he kissed the top of her head. They continued to read in silence the rest of the evening.

When Draco looked up to let Hermione know he was going to bed, he noticed she had already fallen asleep. He lightly and carefully picked her up and put her down gently in bed and laid next to her; looking at her peaceful features until he drifted off to sleep.

The week that they had been back passed quickly and after lessons on Friday, Draco left the dungeons to get Hermione. She was just closing the transfiguration door when he arrived.

"Draco," she smiled at him. Over the last week she had gotten more used to the idea of meeting his mom. They hadn't talked about the conversation they had when coming back from Hogsmead last weekend, but both accepted where the other stood at the moment. Since last week, Hermione had been a little warmer to Draco.

"Oh, good, you're ready," he said as he walked along side her, reminding her that it was time for them to go meet his mother.

"Actually, I planned to change, I'm not wearing robes…" she laughed at him. When She left the castle she usually did so in muggle clothes. Draco had gotten used to this but he didn't think it was good for a first meeting with his mother.

He went into her apartment and waited in the front room while she changed. When she came out she was wearing jeans and a nice pink sweatshirt, she kept her hair up and controlled in a bun. He didn't smile at her when he saw her, thinking of all the judgmental things his mom might say. Hermione didn't notice the look on his face as she was already nervous for the meeting.

They walked through the oak front doors and into Hogsmead. Draco was trying to prep her before they got there. "This is just to break the ice, so no difficult topics this first time," he half asked half explained.

"I'll do my best Draco," she sighed, he was the only reason she would even do any of this. Hopefully they didn't have to talk more than an hour.

They passed The Three Broomsticks and headed over to the Hogshead, a bar known to be a little on the quieter side because less people frequented it.

"Hermione," he said as he turned around and saw the look on her face. He watched her take in the bar. Hermione hadn't been back into this specific pub since the battle of Hogwarts, and it brought back some memories for her. After they walked in Draco saw his mom and waived and pulled on Hermione's hand since she was walking slowly.

"I know it's kind of dirty here," he said to her and his mom as he led her over to the table and he sat down. Hermione followed suit and sat down.

Hermione snapped out of her memories and back to the moment at hand. "It's fine Draco, it's quieter here." She reassured him. She lifted her eyes up to his mother. Her features were tightly set but she didn't wear the cold sneer Hermione had so often seen on her face. Something about her was different.

"Draco," she began, "and Hermione," she nodded at each of them. "I'm glad we could meet."

Hermione just nodded back.

"Let's get something to drink," Draco raised his hand and the bar man saw him but didn't come over. "Can you believe that guy?" Draco added.

"Oh, that's Aberforth, he's like that…" Hermione added.

Both Draco and his mom stared at her for a second before Draco spoke again. "I guess I'll go over and get our drinks and deliver them myself," he said sarcastically, his mother smiled.

Hermione didn't know what to say when she was left alone at the table with his mother. It felt like the natural thing to do was to start conversation, Draco said to keep it light but she didn't know what to bring up.

Narcissa started again, "I heard that Draco had a nice time with your family over Easter?"

"Yes, we stayed with my parents," she answered.

"Draco said your parents were very friendly, and that he plans to visit again to go camping?" She tried to continue the topic.

Hermione was trying but not sure how much detail to give. She was being extremely guarded. "Yes, we plan to go camping this summer." Was all she replied.

"I haven't been camping in years. When I was a girl we went every summer and had a great time riding our brooms out in the forest, catching creatures, and telling stories by the fire." She seemed lost in a memory now.

"Well since my family are muggles we don't use any magic when we go camping. The tents aren't enlarged or anything and we mostly go fishing or swimming. Last year my dad caught a big fish that we roasted on the fire." Hermione finished. Narcissa looked at her like she was from a different world.

She didn't add to the conversation after Hermione finished either, mostly due to a lack of knowing what to say. They both looked over towards the bar and saw Draco talking to the bar man. Then they looked back at the table.

Hermione started, "I know this can't be easy, meeting me. I'm sure I'm not what you had in mind for your son" she tried to be honest. After all, his mom had made the effort to show up.

Narcissa looked up at Hermione and took a deep breath. "No, you're not," she was at least honest in her reply as well. She replied genuinely, no hint of sarcasm in her tone.

Hermione spoke again. "We didn't even see this coming, Draco or I," she added about their relationship.

"I believe that." She mentioned just as Draco had come back with the drinks.

"I don't care if this place is quieter, we're not coming back here," he said with an irritated tone.

"What happened?" Hermione and Narcissa asked at the same time. He looked at both of them before answering.

"He didn't have butterbeer, sorry Hermione, and I had to run through a list of drinks to even see what he had. Then he gives me some dusty bottle and I had to pour the drinks myself. The glasses were disgusting, I cleaned them before pouring these," he pushed the cups in front of each of them.

"This smells like fire whisky," Hermione remembered what happed last time she drank it.

"Just drink it slowly," he said to her then added to his mom, "She can't tolerate liquor well."

"Why did you suggest we meet in a bar then Draco?" she asked.

"There are no other places to talk in Hogsmead, I wanted us to have privacy," he reminded her.

Hermione took a small sip of her drink. They were all quiet for a moment.

"What stories did you tell around the camp fire when you went camping?" Hermione asked Narcissa. Draco thought this was out of the blue but wondered if he came back in the middle of a conversation.

"Oh the usual ones, the witch and the evil warlock, the inferi of Indiana, the house elf haunting," she smiled lightly at Draco. "You remember those," she asked.

"Yeah, of course," he looked at Hermione and it donned on him that she might not know those ones. "Any of those sound familiar to you Hermione?" he said as he bumped into her playfully.

"Not particularly," she quietly laughed. "The house elf haunting sounds pretty interesting though."

"What ones do muggles tell Hermione?" Draco asked her.

"Ones about vampires or bloody hands," she thought for a moment and took a drink while she waited for another subject to come up.

"You two…seem very happy." Narcissa commented.

Draco looked over at Hermione and she started blushing as she looked back at him. "We are," he said to his mother as he took Hermione's hand. His mother's eyes grew wide and then she controlled her reaction.

Hermione was nearing the end of her drink and Draco began to put their visit on a clock. He didn't want Hermione to act in a way or say anything that he would regret. She was starting to stare at him with expectant eyes.

"I think I'm going to pay the tab, even though I think he should have paid me to drink here," Draco got up and left Hermione and his mom alone at the table again.

"Hermione," she addressed her.

"Yeah?" Hermione was slowly losing her manners by the minute.

"Do you think it's possible for people like us to start over?"

"I don't know, Draco and I seemed to…"

"Is it truly possible for you to move forward? From the past?" she pressed.

"You sound like him now. What choice do we have?" Hermione answered a little flippantly. She noticed that the look on his mother's face was just like his when her and Draco talked about the past. "You both make that same sad look," Hermione whispered while she looked at her, not aware at this point that she was speaking out loud. Her comment caught Narcissa off guard.

Narcissa stood up and hugged her son as he approached the table and quickly left the pub. Hermione felt relieved that the visit was over. It's hadn't been terrible, but it wasn't comfortable either. It was like meeting the wolf in Red Riding Hood after it had already tried to eat you and your grandmother and inviting it to drinks. You might have something in common with it, but it was still a wolf. For some reason Hermione couldn't see her as someone she would like.

Draco approached Hermione. "That wasn't so bad, was it? You guys seemed to be able to at least talk," he added, happy at the effort Hermione gave.

"It was…better than I expected," Hermione answered.

"Let's get out of this place," he said as he reached for her hand. She got close to him and reached up to hold his face for a moment and looked into his eyes. Then stood on her tip toes and kissed him. "What was that for?" he asked, but attributed it to the fire whisky.

"For being a good son to your mom." As weary as she felt about her, she really liked the affection Draco showed her. She could tell his mom was important to him.

It was things she said like this that made Draco happy, when she pointed out the good in him that he rarely saw himself. He pulled her in close to him as they walked out of the pub and back to Hogwarts.

When they got back to the room she took off her sweatshirt and put on a night gown. It was short and black with a lacy fringe at the bottom. When she walked out of the room to the kitchen Draco couldn't help but watch her as she moved. He got up from the couch and wandered into the kitchen after her. She looked up at him with a hungry look in her eyes and smiled at him as she turned back around and put a dish in the cupboard.

He came up behind her and started kissing her neck and pulled out the clip that held in her hair so that it fell down her back. She turned around and put her arms around his neck and pulled him down to kiss her. They kissed for several moments and then he lifted her up and sat her on the counter and leaned in to kiss her again. She pulled his shirt up and they had to break the kiss so she could pull his shirt off the rest of the way.

"I love you Draco," she said before kissing him again and scooting to the edge of the counter so that she was pressed against his chest. She began kissing his neck and chest when he started kissing her again.

"Hermione…"

He could feel her start to tremble in his arms and stopped and looked at her to see if he was going too far.

Hermione bit her lip and locked eyes with him and put her hand on the back of his neck and guided him back to her lips, encouraging him. He moved his hand further up her thigh and was at the edge of her nightgown and moved his fingertips just past the fringe. Hermione grabbed his hand and placed it up a little higher and Draco was losing his breath.

"We have to slow down Hermione, I want to, but we can't..."

She didn't want to stop but kissed him passionately a few more times before starting to get up off the counter. "Are you coming to bed," she asked in a sultry voice.

"Not if you're wearing that, I won't be able to get any sleep," his voice gave a mixed signal of longing for temptation.

"I could always take it off," she hinted as she let one strap fall.

"…uh…" he was dazed by her appearance and wasn't sure if he had strength left to restrain himself.

She let the other one fall too and her nightgown was being held in place by her arms. He stood up and placed each of the straps back where they belonged on her shoulders. He lifted her chin and looked into her playful eyes.

"Not tonight," he said softly as he kissed her again.

"Okay," she savored one last kiss and then changed into pajamas that covered her up. She came out to get Draco but he was sleeping on the couch. She grabbed the blankets from her bed and curled up next to him and fell asleep too.