Chapter 25

The week counting down to the exams was a whirlwind of lessons, revision, eating, and sleeping before repeating the process all over again. Despite Draco and Hermione's discussion about having a future relationship, they hadn't really spent any time together. There was no sneaking off to the room of requirement for a quick assignation, in fact, they had barely so much as kissed, but it didn't matter. Now that he was assured of their relationship continuing, he was content to be patient until after the exams. Just being able to reach for her hand or put and arm around her shoulders whenever he felt like it was enough for now.

Another thing that he was content to wait for was devising a reply to send to his mother. He was unsure what he had to say to her. Sure, he could reply in the same formal, icy cold manner that she used with him but what was the point? Their relationship was already strained, and although he loved his mother, the vindictiveness of her dropping this on him in the lead up to the NEWT's was beyond his tolerance.

It was clear that she didn't really know him at all, or at least still thought that he was the self-absorbed weak little boy that he had been before the fall of Voldemort, else she would have realised that by behaving like this would only make him more determined to succeed in his pursuit of Granger and a new life.

No, he would leave it for a while, and just hope that she had at least been kind enough to keep his things for him at his Aunt Andromeda's house. He didn't keep much at the house anyway, only a few books and muggle clothes, but he still didn't really want to have to replace them. He would ask her to send them to him at school after the exams were done, he decided.

Another thing he wasn't in a hurry to do was tell Granger about his impending homelessness. He knew that she would be sympathetic, and probably would want to try and help him find somewhere to stay, but there was enough of the old Malfoy left in him to feel ashamed that he needed help with this.

It had gotten to Saturday morning and Draco decided that he had done enough revising. It was a clear, crisp spring day outside. The pale-hued sunlight was reflected on the lake, and the air was fresh with the promise of the impending heat of summer. It was far too nice a day to spend in the library!

After he had eaten breakfast, he went to find Hermione to see if she would take the day off with him, deciding that even if she didn't he would go out into the grounds anyway. Maybe borrow one of the school brooms and go for a flight.

"Granger!" he called, spotting her walking dutifully in the direction of the library. She was almost comically predictable, and Draco didn't know how she could still be intending to revise after such an intense week.

"Draco!" she exclaimed warmly upon seeing it was him. "Are you coming to the library?"

"Not today Granger. It is a beautiful morning, and I'm feeling the need to allow my brain a rest from taking in any more information. I'm going to go for a walk in the grounds down to the lake and maybe go flying. Do you want to come?" He took in her slightly shocked look at his pronouncement.

"Are you sure?" she asked him. "Exams start on Monday!"

"Yes. We have worked really hard this week, and there won't be much of a chance to have a break once the exams start. Come on, you know that you need to rest sometimes in order to give your best performance…" He really wanted to spend this day with her before the pressure was back on next week.

"Well, I suppose that I could do some practical work outside; maybe a few charms or some transfiguration…" He could see her resolve weakening as she glanced out of the window nearby and saw the glorious view of the far off mountains topped with hazy clouds. Why had it taken him over seven years to realise how beautiful the landscape surrounding the school was?

"Great!" he said cheerfully. "I'm taking that as a yes, come on!" They made their way out of the castle and down to the lakeside, chatting easily.

Of course, Hermione still had to do some form of study;

"What shall we practice?" she asked him expectantly as they started to walk along the lakeshore, listening to the gentle lapping of the water and the occasional plopping sound of various magical and terrestrial creatures that were coming to see if they had, or potentially were, food.

"Well, I haven't attempted a Patronus since the night you taught me, so I think I'll give that a try." He left out the reason for him having not attempted it; he had been feeling so miserable that he feared his happiest memories would be too bittersweet to bring forth so much as a silver mist, let alone a fully corporeal being.

"I haven't tried Occlumency since then either," Hermione admitted. "I thought about asking Harry, but he was never very good at it, and I don't know anyone else who can do it."

Draco thought for a moment, realising that everyone that he had known as being an accomplished Occlumens was dead now. Instead of sharing this depressing realisation he just said,

"I'm sure they will have some people in the ministry who can teach it. It's probably part of their security protocol for staff members or something."

"Perhaps for the Unspeakables," she said, taking the bait and changing the subject to one much less uncomfortable. "I doubt they would bother to teach lowly office juniors!"

"You never know!" Draco told her with a smile. With a flourish of his wand he cast his Patronus, feeling elated as the long, lithe form of his silver Ocelot appeared on the path ahead.

Hermione quickly cast hers, and they carried on around the lake, following behind the big cat padding along regally and the low, shambling otter that was leaping along beside it. Draco was pleased to find that maintaining the Patronus felt almost effortless, and he wondered how much of that was down to skill and how much was just because he was feeling particularly happy at that moment. Would it be more difficult when facing down dementors in a dark and desperate position? He wondered.

"Shall we go to the quidditch pitch?" asked Draco as they got closer to it.

"You want to fly?" asked Hermione, turning her steps towards the broom shed.

"Yeah." He replied mischeviously. "And I seem to remember someone else saying that they would give it a try too…"

"No way!" she said quickly. "I never said that! You are not getting me on a broom…"

"Come on…" he cajoled. "Give it a try, it'll be easier than you think…"

"I have no need to get on a broom, thank you! I plan on apperating, using the flue network or even a portkey if I need to travel magically!" Her voice was getting a little high pitched, and he could see that the thought of flying frightened her even if she didn't want to come out and say it.

"Alright Granger, we don't have to." He told her. "I just wanted you to see how much easier it would be to control the broom now that you are a more powerful witch."

She coloured a little at his compliment, showing him that she wasn't immune being manipulated by flattery.

"And wouldn't you like to show Potter and Weasley that they underestimated you in your flying ability?" he wheedled shamelessly. "Give it one last try before we leave school…"

"Oh, alright then." She said, her resolve weakening. "I'll give it a go."

"Great! Let's go and grab a couple of brooms!"

They went to the broom shed, each grabbing one of the elderly Shooting Star's that the first years learnt to fly with. The house team brooms were kept separately and were not allowed to be used by the other students, and although he probably could get away with using one of the Nimbus 2001's belonging to the Slytherin team he couldn't be bothered to go through the rigmarole of finding and asking Madam Hooch to allow him access to them.

Avoiding the pitch, they took their brooms round the back of them towards the lake shore again so that they would have some privacy for Hermione to practice.

"Do you remember the basics?" he asked her, setting his broom down on the ground and watching her do the same.

"Yes, I suppose." She replied, holding out her hand above the broom. "Up!" she commanded tersely, and seemed surprised when the broom immediately sprang upwards into her hand.

"Well done, Granger." He said with a smile, doing the same.

Once they were both seated on their brooms, he gave her a smile. "It really should be quite instinctive now, just think about what you want to happen of where you want to go and it should do it. Be aware that these school brooms are a little slower to respond than your own would be, so concentrate and give it a moment."

"Alright." She said. Her voice was normal but her face was tense with nerves.

"Don't worry," he said. "I'll stay right next to you." He kicked off the ground with his feet and took his broom over to hover next to hers. He could feel that it had a gentle leftwards drift, but kept it steady whilst he waited for her to do the same.

After a couple of breaths she did, and Draco felt ridiculously proud of her. She was obviously frightened, but was trusting him enough to do it anyway. She started to fly a tentative figure of eight, Draco staying next to her broom tail like she was a chaser he was marking in a quidditch match.

As her confidence grew, she got a little faster and more adventurous, turning to smile back at Draco every so often.

"Are you ok if I go higher?" he asked, gesturing upwards.

"Sure!" she said, turning back to face forward again. Seeing that she was flying fairly well, he shot upwards, allowing the exhilaration he felt at the increase in speed release some of the tension he had been holding in his shoulders and neck. The shooting star had nowhere near the acceleration of the Nimbus 2001, but it was enough to give him a thrill.

By the time he was feeling like the cobwebs of the past few weeks had been blown away enough for him to want to come down, Hermione was already on the ground waiting for him.

"How did you get on?" he asked her, suddenly feeling a little guilty for leaving her alone.

"It was fine." She said. "You were right, it didn't feel nearly as out of control as it used to, and I can tell that with more practice that it would get easier. I don't think it's ever going to be my favourite pastime, but I won't be so fearful of getting on a broom in future…"

"That's really good Granger." He said, pleased to see her look more relaxed than she had for a while. "Can you just say that first bit again…"he teased.

Hermione huffed, and rolled her eyes. "It was fine…" she said, with a smile.

"Not that part," he said. "Come on Granger, don't be cruel…"

"Alright! You, Draco Malfoy, were right! Happy now?!" she was trying her best to sound exasperated with him but he could hear the smile in her voice.

"Ecstatically…" he said, throwing his arm round her shoulders as they walked back to the shed to get rid of the brooms. This was exactly what he needed; a little bit of a break from stressing about exams and finding somewhere to live. Getting to spend some time with Hermione without any pressure or drama was a balm to his soul; somehow everything was just a little brighter this morning.

They walked until lunchtime, chatting and gently teasing once another, with Draco stealing the occasional kiss every so often.

"Thank you," said Hermione, as they made their way back through the front doors to get to the great hall where the trestle tables were now full of sandwiches and sausage rolls for the students. "This morning has been great. I feel much more relaxed now."

"The pleasure was mine," he told her, lifting the hand that he was holding to his lips in an old fashioned display of chivalry; Granger loved all that ostentatious manners crap he recalled with a grin.

"See you later," she said shyly, letting go of his hand to go over to the Gryffindor table. He found himself wondering why the students adhered to the separation of the houses so rigidly; he had never been told of a rule that said they had to eat apart.

Deciding that he would try sitting with Granger one of the days following the exams to see what happened, he went over to the Slytherin table and folded himself into the bench seat. Smiling over at Astoria Greengrass when she caught his eye, he started to grab a couple of sandwiches.

"Malfoy..."

He looked up to see that Astoria Greengrass had moved down the table towards him.

"Hi." He said, surprised that she was speaking to him. "How are you?"

"I'm ok." She said. "What about you?"

"I'm fine…" he told her, wondering where she was going with this.

"So, I heard back from my dad. Apparently your mother went back to him to call off the engagement." She said, grimacing a little.

"Ah yes," he said, smiling ironically. "I have heard from my mother too. I am a disappointment and have brought shame on my ancestors."

"And insulted an old and proud pureblood family, don't forget that." She added.

"Of course. I mustn't forget that!"

"He mentioned your house, and how he is refusing to return the deeds to your mother. He feels that this is fair recompense for the stain that this will cause on my reputation." She said this quite matter of factly, and Draco was unsure if she was expecting an apology from him or something.

"Yep. I guess Daphne was right; I have ended up with nowhere to live!" There was no way he was going to offer an apology; he had ended up far worse off than any of the Greengrass family had!

"Well anyway, I wanted to say sorry. I know it's not really my fault, or yours for that matter but still, I'm sorry that our parents are so old-fashioned about this stuff. I know Daphne is going to go along with whatever dad says, but I'm actually pretty glad that it's harder to find a suitable pureblood wizard for me to be married off to. It gives me a little more time to meet someone for real." Astoria smiled sadly at him, and he found himself feeling sorry for her predicament. He knew how hard it was to go against your parents expectations, and he had little doubt that if his father hadn't died and the family hadn't lost everything he would be preparing for his wedding to Pansy right now instead of taking his exams.

"Thanks Astoria, it's really nice of you to come and say that. I hope I haven't damaged your reputation, and any wizard worth his wand shouldn't care about that anyway. As for the house, it is what it is. If my mother was foolish enough to think that securing me a marriage was worth more than having a home then it's her own fault. Once I have started working I will be able to get somewhere of my own." He was feeling pretty stoic about his predicament at the moment, although he still hadn't worked out where he was going to go between the end of school and the exam results coming out. Maybe a muggle hotel?

"That's because I am really nice!" stated Astoria cheekily. "But I am glad you're ok. See you later, Malfoy!"

She got up and went back over to her group of friends further up the table, one of which was a glowering Daphne. Draco started to eat, feeling hungry after being out in the fresh air all morning. He was just finishing his last sausage roll when Theo slouched his way onto the bench seat beside him.

"Where have you been this morning?" he asked. "I was hoping to go over some Transfiguration stuff with you…"

"I took the morning off. Went out and had a fly on one of the school brooms, just trying to relax a little before it all kicks off on Monday." Draco didn't want to share the fact that he had spent the morning with Granger and have to listen to whatever sarcastic comments Theo decided to come out with.

"How about this afternoon?" asked Theo, mouth already full of sandwich.

"Yeah, sure." Said Draco, wearily. Looked like he wasn't going to get a day off after all…