That Monday morning, Hermione greeted Irma in the reception hall of one of the numerous administrative offices in Ministry. And due to their circumstances, Draco had to come with them.
The process to release a prisoner was tedious and dreadful, not to mention full of obstacles meant to prevent it from happening. Good thing Hermione was a walking encyclopedia of all Ministry legislations and laws. It was quite frankly scary.
"She's a fierce little thing when she gets started," Irma noted to Draco as they stood off in the distance watching Hermione lecturing the official with a stack of what looked to be legislations. She was a small woman and aside from the large mane of hair, she looked small and not capable of inciting fear. But the man across the counter from her was quivering.
"Bloody scary," Draco agreed quite proudly. She was like a lion. She was also on their side. How convenient.
When Hermione returned with a small smile on her face she handed Irma a form, "Here. This should be enough to get Mr. Nott out."
"Oh…" she other woman started to tear up and she hugged Hermione. "Thank you! Thank you! I will never be able to repay you."
"It's really alright," she tried to convince. "I'm just doing what is right. Best of luck."
"can… Can I go and get him out now?" Irma asked in disbelief.
"Yes," Draco sighed getting tired of the emotions. But he reminded himself to be polite since Hermione was watching. "Just take the next ferry to the island. Just a warning though, the jailer woman is one scary loon."
Irma grinned at him sheepishly. She could tell that Draco was getting a little weary of the hectic morning. So she took her leave.
With a huge sigh, Hermione ran a hand over her face and wondered how the Ministry ever ran properly with this amount of obstacles. But when she looked at Draco's face, she was reminded that despite it all, Draco and people like him, would get justice.
"Well!" she tried to perk up again. "That is done with. Thank you for coming along."
"It was no problem," he replied smoothly. "After all, you should be getting the thanks for what you did. Theo was, is innocent. He was always too smart. He knew to keep his nose clean."
"Sometimes it's very hard to do, but good on him for being able to," she told his reassuringly. "Now since we got this done fairly quickly, did you want to do something this afternoon?"
"I… I did not have any plans," Draco mumbled unsure. He wasn't expecting this.
"Anything," she urged him. "And if you'd like I could even stay out of the way while you go about your business."
"I would like to go to the bank," he told her decisively.
Hermione didn't know what business he could possibly have there but she agreed to take him and she waited patiently in the lobby while he did his business.
As she looked onto the street she saw the unmistakeable red hair of a Weasley, Ron's to be exact. And standing out just as much as his hair was the clothes of the man next to him. Blaise Zabini seemed to be wearing a reflective purple robe reminiscent of something Dumbledore would wear. They were talked and laughing.
She looked back at Draco who had disappeared into the vaults and decided to go greet them.
"Ron! Blaise!" she shouted.
They turned to her and waved back. Then proceeded to walk towards her.
"Mione," Ron was a little taken aback by her presence. "What are you doing here?"
"Busy morning," she explained. "So we took the afternoon off and Draco wanted to come here. How about you guys?"
"We went shopping," Blaise said quite cheerily and raised up the bags in his hands for her to see.
"He went shopping," Ron pointed out. "I was told that there would be food."
Hermione grinned at Ron's jab at himself. It was refreshing to hear him speak so humorously. He had been a little down this last few years and it seemed that Blaise's cheerful and easy going nature was rubbing off on him.
"You go that teal tie," Blaise pointed out as Hermione turned her attention back to their conversation.
"I didn't get it," Ron said in a gruff tone as he remembered that offensive piece of clothing.
"Yes you did," Blaise grinned happily. "It'll look great. Trust me. And you need newer clothes."
Ron blushed a little but stayed quiet.
Before anyone continued the conversation Draco walked out and Hermione was assaulted by the events of their last lunch. She wondered if Blaise and Draco were still at odds.
"Blaise, how are you?" he greeted smoothly.
"Never better," the other man replied just as smoothly. "I hope everything was in order." Blaise added by motioning to the bank.
"As always," Draco smiled a little arrogantly.
"You want to go grab a drink, Mione?" Ron asked a little exhausted. "Been walking all day and a nice cool butterbeer sounds fantastic right now."
"I'd love to!" Hermione agreed. Unconsciously she looked over to Draco to see how he felt about the plan. Simultaneously Ron did the same with Blaise.
"Great!" Ron exclaimed when it looked like both Slytherins were up for a drink. As he and Hermione walked on ahead, Draco and Blaise shared a look of amusement before following.
When they arrived at Tom's for a drink, they walked past Irma who sat in a booth with a quiet but very large in stature, man. She greeted them over.
"How serendipitous!" she beamed. "Theo this is her."
"You have my deepest gratitude, Ms. Granger," he told her politely.
"Hermione," she told him.
"Then you may call me Theo," he replied. "I would like to consider you a good acquaintance, if not a friend. You are after all, friend of a friend."
"Oy!" Ron joked. "Which of these sods is she friends with?" he asked pointing with a cheeky grin and Draco and Blaise. Draco looked mildly offended while Blaise just stuck his tongue out childishly.
The rest of them all laughed in good humour.
As they sat down in the booth with Irma and Theo, Hermione realise just how in love they were. Theo could not stop touching and looking at Irma who while despite being engage in the conversation, was very very happy. But she also had an air of peace about her.
She felt a tinge of jealousy of what they had. How wonderful it is to be loved and to love. Almost unwillingly, her eyes turned towards Draco, who was laughing at something Theo said to him. His laugh was so nice and sounded almost melodic.
She quickly looked away when he caught her eyes and paused just briefly.
"Hermione," Blaise caught her attention. "Ron here was telling me about your involvement rebuilding and restoring historical artifact pertaining to Wizarding Heritage."
"Actually," Ron quipped. "I didn't use those exact words. I said that you sometimes fix old things that matter to boring people."
"Thank you Ron," Hermione grinned at him. "And yes, Blaise. I do. Thought I find that I am often short on time these days."
"Perhaps I could be of use," he noted. "I quite enjoy history and I find that sitting idly around Ron's apartment is quite…. Boring."
"Our place," the red head interjected again, but this time in a more timid tone. Blaise paused for a moment and nodded seriously.
"I could," Hermione began. "I could send you a few smaller artifacts to you, so that you can restore them, if you are interested. There are a few 16th century vases that I would love to have restored. I know you can't be too far from Ron…"
"I could go with," the abovementioned man shrugged. "I'm thinking of taking some time off Quiditch anyway. I'll let the younger men get a chance to score once in a while."
"How about you take Blaise to Entwisted Manor then?" she told him happily.
Ron had been staying at home listlessly for quite a few months now and his newfound urge to do something was inspiring.
"What do you do all day, Draco?" Irma wondered aloud.
"I…" And for the first time, Hermione saw his cool and collected exterior crack just a little. But he recovered quickly. "Much like Blaise I am trying to work around the obstacles to live my life."
His tone was cold and it sent dread unto Hermione. She knew what he meant by obstacles. She had tried her best to give him his freedom but he still felt imprisoned.
"I think your life is pretty good Draco," Theo spoke up wisely. "You live in a nice cozy home. From what I hear, you go out to have brunch on weekends. And you have mates to brink with. All this because of this beautiful and intelligent woman."
Theo raised him glass to toast Hermione and soon everyone joined. Hermione was feeling quite embarrassed by the attention but she took it in strides.
They ended up having supper at Tom's and when everyone's belly was full and their cheeks rosy from ale, they decided to head their separate ways.
"Good bye," Theo and Irma bade them. "It was wonderful running into you guys.
"Take care Mione," Ron told her as she was wrapped into a big hug by Blaise. She found that the man was quite warm and kind. Guess not all Slytherins were alike.
As Hermione was busy, Ron took Draco aside under the pretense of saying his goodbyes. "Malfoy, make sure she doesn't get hurt."
Malfoy gave a tight nod and patted the redhead on the back almost patronizingly and held his arm out to Hermione with a charming smile, "shall we?"
"Thank you," she told him as she put her arm in his. She was a little rattled from their closeness as she could feel his body heat but due to the warm and calming effects of alcohol, she easily let go of that anxiety. "What a beautiful night."
"Beautiful," Draco whispered in a voice that turned her head. She found his staring straight at her. And this time, even the alcohol in her system couldn't stop her heart from racing and her palms to sweat. For the thousands time it seemed, she cursed Merlin for allowing this man to incite this kind of feelings in her.
"I meant the sky," she mumbled as she recovered.
They walked silently until an apparition point. They would have used the floo at Tom's place but her house was infinitely muggle and did not possess a fireplace. Tonight, Draco was glad for this fact as it gave him more time alone with her.
He loathed to admit it, but this entire wooing Hermione endeavour has been quite enjoyable and entertaining. She was a comely witch in many ways, add to that the fact that she was so bashful and receptive to his advances, and to top it off, the real reason he was doing this, she was incredibly influential and powerful in this new world.
They'd stopped walking and he noticed that she'd pulled out her wand. He promptly put a hand over her wand hand and lowered it slowly while giving her and little crooked smile. "Allow me. I believe you have had quite a few more butterbeer than me."
"Of course," she nodded eagerly and if it were a cartoon, her eyes would have rattled in her skull.
All too suddenly, she felt Draco's arms around her waist and she was suddenly pulled flush against him. Her eyes were awfully close to that deliciously muscular and pale throat. She giggled to herself at how vampiric it sounded. Though she wouldn't complain for some vampiric charm when it came to Draco.
"Ready?" he asked. She tilted her head up to look at him. From this angle, in the moonlight, he looked like a vampire. His skin was an almost incandescent white, his hair was so fine and soft that she just wanted to run her hands through it, and he was so… so beautiful.
"Hermione?" her name rolled off his tongue like silk and she wondered how he could sound so alluring. He must have been part vampire, or veela as the case might be. There were rumours.
Finally she came to her senses enough to give a brief nod. And as she felt the sudden pull of apparition engulf her, she buried her face into his neck automatically.
He smelled of sandalwood, musk, and her vanilla shampoo. It was an intoxicating combination. She just wanted to lay on his shoulder and sleep. It could be so nice.
"We're here," a voice woke her.
"Here?"
"Eglington crescent," he expanded softly.
The hazy and warm feeling of arousal and alcohol seemed to fade instantly as she was brought back to reality. This was Draco Malfoy, a man who would much rather date a house elf than her. He was only being cordial because of her help. On that note, it would not do for her to take advantage of that fact.
When she looked up at his smug face, she was briefly reminded of the old Draco. The one from Hogwarts, the one from Azkaban. This helped her focus a little more.
She promptly disentangled herself from him and stood a few steps farther.
She noticed their surroundings. They were about a block from her house. Usually they apparated across the street from her home.
"I…" he rubbed his neck sheepishly. "It appears alcohol has also dulled my senses. We best walk the rest of the way home."
She nodded stiffly and began heading down the street. In moments, Draco caught up to her and walked side by side with her.
"I wanted to thank you," he told her honestly. "For all that you've done. For me and for my friends and family."
"It's what I do," she tried to keep it professional. After all, she chose him from a list of people. It wasn't personal. Or at least, it wasn't supposed to be.
"I know," there was laughter in his voice. "You are the hero of the underdogs and this saintly person. I just wanted you to know that I am grateful and what I said earlier, I do not find you to be an obstacle. In fact, I find myself very fortunate to be allowed the opportunity to be in such proximity with you."
She looked at him with wide and disbelieving eyes. Certainly he could not mean what she thought he meant. But the kind and almost angelically peaceful smile he returned said otherwise.
"I…" she mumbled looking away as his candor seemed to almost blind her. "You're welcome."
They walked for a minute in silence, they hands brushing against the others and Hermione had to consciously avoid moving her hands naturally so that it no longer brushed his.
When her house finally came in sight, Draco stopped walking and she followed suit curiously.
"I hope to make a place for myself," he began out of the blue. "But I have no idea where to start of what to do. It seemed these days all that I can think about is where I stand with you. It's almost pathetic. And please, let me say this. If my feelings are not welcome after this, I shall forever cast away these hopes."
"Feelings?" she mumbled meekly. Her heart gave a heavy thud before skipping a beat. She could hear this clearly in her ear.
"My feelings for you…" he expanded. He took a step towards her and when she did not move back, he gently tucked a few strands of hair from her face and looked sincerely at her. "It seems that three years in Azkaban have not lessened my admiration of you. I wanted to keep these feelings to myself as I have been a burden to you already but I cannot help by hope. It is an odd experience to be able to hope for something after three bleak and hopeless years. I… I find myself infatuated with you. I am wary to use the word love, as I have never felt it, but when I see you, it is like my entire world only contains you. And when you are out of my sight, I count the seconds until you come back. I want to give you the world on a silver platter, but it seems that you already have that." He let out a chuckle and took her hands in his. "Hermione Granger, my angel, tell me, please, do I have a chance? Will you let me hope?"
He said those last words so passionately and so filled with emotions that her eyes began to glaze. No one had ever said anything so declarational to her. And she'd never hoped that this man, this handsome and smooth and her posh man would even consider her in such a light. But here they were.
And here they were… kissing. Hermione found his lips pressed against her. She responded and revelled in the feeling of his soft lips against her. The kiss gradually became more and more passionate and aggressive. It was as if month and years of sexual tension was trying to be sated by one kiss.
This was dangerous, a small voice told her.
But small voices be damned, she was on cloud 9 and she wasn't coming down.
A/N- Hello, it seems that this year not even school can stop my writting. Here is anothing chapter. Things between the two are getting pretty serious. I think the next chapter will be a lot of Dramione scenes and then I'll get back on track with the plot. I know right?! this story has a plot, albeit a cliche one.
Happy reading! And to those starting school, happy school year!
