Chapter 14: The Apology
Hermione was asleep in the guest room when Harry came home, and then was gone before he woke up. As he wanted to get defending Draco over with so he wouldn't have to think about it anymore he decided to take her out for lunch that day.
Harry walked up to her cubicle and knocked lightly on the "wall". "You know, if you joined us aurors we'd give you a real office." He teased her, and not for the first time.
Hermione smiled, "Harry you know full well that I can make more of a difference working on the laws themselves."
He nodded, they'd had this conversation a lot. He just missed having her on his team. "I was wondering if I could take you out to lunch today. I feel like we haven't talked in a while."
She brighten at the suggestion, "That sounds wonderful! I'll just put these away and grab my umbrella."
Harry waited until they were at the restaurant and their food had arrived before breaching his topic, "So... I talked to Malfoy last night..."
Hermione raised her eyebrows at that, "Oh, and what did he have to say for himself?"
"He seemed genuinely upset. I found him at that stupid river again. But I pushed him and he went on about how he's trying to be a good person. And I think he genuinely meant it. Becoming a healer is no small thing, and he's legitimately been trying to help you right?"
Hermione sighed, "I don't disagree with you Harry. But the fact of the matter is there's still a part of him that thinks muggleborns aren't good at magic simply because of their parents. I deal with that every day at work, trying to change all these outdated laws and fight against prejudice. I don't need to deal with that in my own time too."
Harry nodded, "I get that. And I didn't hear what he said so I can't judge. I'm just saying that maybe because of your history together it's easy to think he means one thing when he really means another?"
Hermione thought on this for a moment, "I suppose you have a point. But it really felt as though he was being prejudice."
Harry nodded, "So talk to him about it. See what he has to say. If you don't want to continue seeing him that's fine. But I think you'd be happier if you heard his side of the story before completely making up your mind."
Hermione was quietly thinking it over. She smiled, "You've become a lot more mature recently. Remember when just the sight of him would have you blasting curses at each other?"
Harry smiled at the memories, "Ah, yes. Unfortunately I'm an auror now so I'll get in a lot of trouble if I tried that again. Plus I'm a father, I think it's mellowed me out."
Hermione smirked, "It's still so weird to think of you as a Dad. I still feel like those little kids who faced the troll together."
Harry laughed, "Yeah. Being a parent is exactly like facing a troll."
They had a good chuckle at that and the rest of their conversation moved to how James was doing.
That night when Hermione got home she found multiple letters from Draco. She'd worked late to make up for her lunch with Harry and the owls got bored of waiting for her. The most peculiar one being found on her living room floor covered in ash. She was unsure how the letter managed to get so far from the fireplace. Shaking her head she began reading, they all went roughly like this:
Dear Ms. Granger,
I am sorry that what I said last evening caused you any offense. It was not my intent and I am deeply aggrieved. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.
Regretfully,
Draco Malfoy
She sighed as she read the letters. They were so formal that they didn't feel like he'd written them. She couldn't even tell if he knew what he was being sorry for. She briefly wondered if he had a stack of apology letters at his apartment and just filled the names in for whoever he'd upset. She decided she wasn't ready to hear his story out yet as he didn't seem properly upset by it.
This continued for a few days. She could now recognize Draco's owl and left it a little water dish and a bowl of treats by the open window. By Wednesday the letters had stopped completely. They were scattered around the house, depending on where she'd ended up when she finished reading them, and each time she saw one she became increasingly irritated with them. Such ridiculously vague and formal letters. By Friday she was finally irritated enough to confront him about it. Grabbing the address he'd given her before, she hopped into the floo.
*** (Draco's POV)
I looked at mother at the sound of the floo. The only person I was expecting was Mother and we were already eating dinner together. I signaled her to stay put as I pulled out my wand and quietly walked toward the entryway. Before I got there I heard a soft voice call, "Draco?"
I felt a new kind of anxiety rush through me. Sure there wasn't any threat now. But Granger had come to my apartment. I really wasn't expecting that. Shouldn't she be returning my letters before she just shows up unannounced?
"Draco?" she called again, slightly louder. Cursing myself for standing still too long and praying mother didn't come to investigate I took a breath, stood up straight, put my wand back away and went to greet her.
"Hello Hermione, I'm glad you came over." More confused and irritated with her ignoring me. But showing that wouldn't get me anywhere.
"Hello Draco." She replied, coolly.
My heart fell, she didn't seem moved by anything I'd written. "Have you read my letters?"
She gave me a blank look and then rolled her eyes, "Of course I read them. Very formal and vague. Do you even know why you're apologizing to me."
I frowned at her, confused. "What are you talking about?"
She studied my face before replying, "I just want to know what you're sorry for. In every letter you apologize but you don't say why. Is it for what you said or just that you upset me?"
I felt irritated, did she honestly think I'd meant it how she'd thought. "Obviously I'm sorry I upset you. I didn't mean it how you took it. I meant for you as in a 15 year old, NOT as a muggleborn. And honestly after everything, being your healer and coming to you at night, after everything we've talked about. I'm hurt you thought I would think less of you because of your blood status. Maybe I'm not the only one who should apologize."
As I saw everything I said click into her brain, and watched her expression change to one of guilt, I tried not to feel smug. It wasn't often I had the moral high ground.
She nodded her head, "You're right. I may have jumped to conclusions. I'm sorry Draco. Next time I'll ask for clarification."
My heart lifted a little despite my irritation, "Next time?"
She smirked at my expression, "Yeah. Maybe next weekend we could try this again?"
I smiled lightly, "That sounds lovely."
After her demanding she plan the date this time "As a proper apology for my overreaction" she left and I went back to my dinner with mother. She had a suspiciously blank look on her face. I suspected she'd been listening in, but I knew better than to try and get her to admit it.
