After Our Lovers Leave

by TodaySheWrites

What happens when the person you love is determined to make light of all the darkest parts that make up who you are— you move forward without reflecting on the most significant parts of your past? Circumstances force Hermione and Draco to answer that question, but why look for answers alone your searching for the same thing; to be enough as the broken pieces they've become.

4. Chapter 4

This chapter is just straight up me getting carried away with SMUT with a dash of actual PLOT... enjoy! Also this chapter is stupid long, like 15k+ words. Why? I got carried away... as one does when writing Dramione smut.

Hermione wasn't planning to take her lunch in muggle London, but as twelve o'clock rolled around she realized how long its been since she actually left her office for lunch. Her Monday had begun as normal as it usually did. Her Sunday, the day before, was filled with obsessive cleaning and re-organizing her flat in preparation for Malfoy coming over later that week. She may have gone a little overboard with preparing, but if she was honest with herself this was the first time she had actually been looking forward to something in a long time.

She was just leaving the muggle cafe with a muffin in one hand and a coffee in the other when she heard someone call her name from across the street. Stopping in her path, she turned to scan the busy street and her eyes landed on a slightly familiar face, one that she was certain would remember her but definitely not make it a point to say hello if ever they crossed paths. It took Hermione a moment to realize the immaculate witch, dressed in a perfectly pressed form-fitting emerald dress and dirty blonde hair wrapped in an effortlessly fixed bun, a hair style that frustrated Hermione to look at due to her inability to ever get her hair to remain that high on her head without toppling over.

"Hermione Granger!" The witch turned to the man who was standing next to her, their hands laced together. The man, Hermione immediately recognized, his perfectly sculpted brown hair was pushed over to one side and his green eyes fell on hers, a smile slowly spread across his face. He was dressed equally as put together as the witch on his arm, his dark grey oxford and slim fitted trousers complimented his lithe frame. Hermione felt like she was watching a muggle runway show.

Hermione shook herself from her trance and managed to pull a smile over her face.

"Theo, Daphne... What a surprise." She said as they strode across the street and came within hearing distance.

She only slightly lost her breath as Daphne pulled her into a tight hug. Hermione glanced at Theo behind her, he had a knowing smirk across his face as if he sensed Hermione's discomfort. They weren't friends, per se, but after the war Theo Nott had become quite involved with her non-profit endeavors. He financially supported many of her start up projects and started his own company about a year ago, recruiting Hermione for legal work from time to time. He was very passionate to ensure all muggle-born witches and wizards were better suited for entering the wizarding world. He organized a small community center for muggle parents that he asked Hermione to visit monthly to help them feel appropriately adjusted, answering questions and relaying any resources she thoughts would benefit them and their children.

It surprised Hermione at first, why he would care so much about muggle-borns, but his reasons were revealed to her at length once he told her of his experiences during the war. Theo was anti-all-things-that-his-father-wanted and what had begun as a simple rebellious act to use his money on the one thing he knew his father would hate the most had turned into a rather influential institution the wizarding world never knew they needed.

Daphne Greengrass- er, Daphne Nott now, was hardly more than an acquaintance, though Hermione wasn't sure the witch knew that.

"Oh, I'm so glad we ran into you! I was just telling Theo how we need to have dinner soon. How are you? You look simply stunning."

Hermione shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other as the actually stunning witch ran her eyes up and down her small form. Hermione attempted to pull at her grey cardigan and black pleated skirt, both very... well, plain in all respects and her hair was possibly sticking up in angles she knew was the opposite of stylish.

"Er- thank you. It's nice to see you both." She smiled, and glanced at Theo. "Congratulations on the expansion by the way."

Theo nodded, "Thanks. Work in progress. Been pretty busy hiring people who actually know what they're doing, but overall it's been good to have something that's fully mine, you know?"

Hermione felt her lips pull into a genuine smile then. She was aware how difficult it was for him following the war, living his his father's shadow, trying to overcome the reputation he never earned.

"You deserve it... truly." Herminoe said and turned to Daphne who was still beaming at Hermione, though it seemed not entirely without effort to keep her smile plastered on her face. "And you Daphne, you must be very proud."

"I am." The witch agreed eagerly. "His being so occupied as been just wonderful for me... It's allowed me time to explore my own passions, which before Theo I would have never even knew I had."

Herminoe looked slightly surprised then, "Oh?"

"She's a brilliant stylist. I've encouraged her to start her own fashion line."

That actually made sense, Hermione thought.

"Oh, but just a small project really, for now at least." Daphne said, blushing as Theo smiled down at her. Hermione was slightly off-put seeing the confidant witch look bashful. "I mean, I've only got a few pieces thrown together and we've only just begun presenting my work to a few muggle designers... really, it's nothing... most likely it will just be a side hobby. It's why we're here today actually. My first meeting with a potential investor."

"That's incredible, Daphne." Hermione remarked. "Why muggle designers? Surely there are plenty Wizarding designers who would enjoy your work."

"Oh, no. No. I couldn't- like I said it's only a side hobby, and they'll most likely hate it- I could never show my face to the wizarding public if that were the case. It's best to try it out with muggles first- that way if I fail I'll still have my dignity."

"She's only slightly ridiculous." Theo added, pulling Daphne closer. "She's incredibly talented... her mother never allowed her to pursue her passion so now that she can I have no doubt she'll take both the muggle and wizarding fashion world's breath away, as she has mine."

"Oh, shut up." Daphne said shoving him playfully and turning her attention back to Hermione. "I meant what I said, though. We should have dinner soon. I'm afraid I never see anyone from Hogwarts as often as I would like..."

Hermione couldn't miss the slight sadness in her tone as she confessed this.

"I would like that very much." Hermione said. "I believe Luna's invited everyone from our year to her birthday at the pub on Tuesday... the one around the corner from the Ministry- the Irish one. You two should come. I'm certain she would love if you two stopped by."

"Oh, that sounds like so much fun!" Daphne said smiling up at Theo. "We'll go, won't we?"

Hermione didn't miss Theo's shoulders tense slightly before nodding.

"Sure, if you want to."

"Oh, this day is only getting better by the second! I'm going to go ahead and go in and use the ladies room before I present. I'm sweating through the dress already."

"Good luck." Hermione said as Daphne smiled at her.

"Thanks! I look forward to seeing you Tuesday!"

As Daphne rushed past her and into the large building behind them, Theo remained and shuffled his feet for a moment.

"It was nice to see you Hermione. I'm glad you're doing well..."

"I'm sorry if I overstepped just then... inviting you two-"

"Oh, no... don't- don't be sorry-" He said quickly, lifting his hand to scratch the back of his neck. "It's just- well..."

"You don't have to explain yourself. I understand if you're still uncomfortable with the idea of seeing everyone again."

"What? Oh, no... it's not that." Theo said with a small laugh shaking his head. "I've ran into pretty much everyone from school over the years. It's not me i'm worried about. It's Daph, actually..." He sighed, "It's just that she's constantly forcing us to social gatherings, starting new projects, taking on too much thinking I won't notice that she's avoiding being alone for too long ever since Astoria..."

Hermione felt her heart leap in her chest. Astoria- how did she not piece that together earlier?!

"Theo... I'm so sorry. I am so oblivious. That was entirely insensitive of me- I hadn't thought-"

"No. Hermione. Seriously. Don't feel bad. The fact that you asked her will be the highlight of our dinner conversation tonight. She really admires you, plus she genuinely lives for social gatherings so don't apologize... I'm sure it'll be fun either way."

Hermione noticed him force a smile as he glanced away. She couldn't help but wonder what Daphne's relationship was with Draco and Scorpio now, was it even her place to ask? If Daphne was avoiding what happened then that would certainly only add to Draco's guilt. Hermione frowned as she remembered everything he had admitted to her the other night.

"Well, I can only imagine how difficult it would be to loose a sister." As she said this she couldn't help but picture a certain blonde haired wizard and her heart ached. "I admit I never really knew her, but I've met her son, and if he's anything similar to her I'd imagine she was lovely..."

"Really?" Theo asked, his brows lifting in disbelief. "You've met Scorpius?"

"Oh- um, well... yes. He accompanied his father to dinner at Harry's the other night."

Hermione didn't miss the frown that formed on Theo's features, a slight tinge of hurt flashing behind his eyes.

"I should head in. Daphne's probably talking herself out of presenting as we speak." He said after a few moments.

"Oh, right..." Hermione offered a small smile, unsure of what to make of him suddenly shutting down at the mention of Malfoy. "I can't wait to hear how wonderful she does! She's lucky to have you."

Theo managed a smile at hearing that, "She really is. I try to tell her everyday, maybe it'll mean more coming from you."

Hermione laughed slowly backing away from him, "I'll be sure to remind her at the party. See you."

"See you Hermione!"

---

Narcissa Malfoy was a very observant woman. Her intuition was part of what made her so intimidating whenever Draco remembered trying to lie to her when he was younger. Over the years, he quickly came to the realization that she would get her way in the end and that whatever he believed to be shameful enough to keep from his mother was never worth getting caught in a lie by her.

Two days following his odd run in with Hermione at Potter's house he found himself the subject of his mother's observant gaze while she sat in the wingback chair across from his desk, paying him a visit in his office. His office was located directly above the Unspeakable department and not the most pleasant place to be, the second to last level of the Ministry building that was buried under the streets of London. Draco didn't mind it as much, as the cold dampness and lack of light reminded him of the Slytherin dormitories.

His mother's fingers were delicately holding her tea cup to her lips, titling it back slowly and returning it to its saucer without the 'clink' sound of china touching china. An impressive feat to most witches and wizards, though Draco new better, his mother had once told him of the cushioning charm she placed on any tea cup she held; a charm she learned from her sister Andromeda while they were younger and forced to be taught the formal Pureblood etiquette that most wealthy Wizarding families subjected their children to.

Draco cleared his throat after several moment ticked by without a word. She had only walked in moments ago and her intentions for visiting had not yet been made known.

"Mother," Draco eventually said, shoving his parchment to the side. "I've only got twenty minutes left of my work day so if you wouldn't mind skipping the pleasantries and inform me to what I owe this pleasure of your unannounced visit- here- in my office- without ever mentioning that you would be visiting- on this day?"

Narcissa grimaced at his need to annunciate each word with the type of sarcastic flare only he and his father could annoyingly perfect. She placed her tea cup and saucer down on his desk, leaning back a moment later, her eyes continued to examine him, letting the silence simmer. She enjoyed the small telling signs that she had come to associate with her son's anxious ticks. Reading people, for Narcissa Malfoy, was an art, one that she had mastered along with, well, whatever else proved important to learn in order to see things through. She was a resourceful and relentlessly intelligent woman so her son's lack of tact with avoiding her owls were an obvious sign for her to surprise him with a visit if she wanted answers.

He had been avoiding her owls ever since their short conversation following the Wizarding Banquet almost two months ago; a conversation where Narcissa insisted that Draco pull his 'stubbornly oblivious head out of his arse and realize that a certain brilliant witch was making eyes at him the entire night, why didn't you ask her to dance?'; to which Draco replied by waving away her accusations, refusing the possibility with something along the lines of 'Hermione Granger is the last witch to ever want Draco Malfoy to ask her anything, let alone for a dance' and stormed out of the Manor with his sleeping son tucked against his chest.

Draco shifted again in his office chair as his mother's stare seemed to crawl across the large oak desk between them and begin to inch closer to his mind. It was never good news if his mother appeared unannounced, though he knew Scorpius was safe with his Aunt Andromeda, attending his nephew, Teddy's, Quidditch practice.

The door to his office clicked and behind it appeared Harry Potter. His green eyes behind his ridiculous round glasses instantly landing on Narcissa, beaming at her.

"Narcissa! What a lovely surprise. What brings you to the pits of the Ministry this fine afternoon?"

Draco felt his stomach twist in a knot at the familiarity with which Harry spoke to his mother and leaned in to wrap his arms around her in a hug. He rolled his eyes as Harry winked at him over his mother's shoulder, Harry's hand squeezing the woman's arm as he pulled away.

"I do believe my door was shut, Potter. Did they not teach proper manners up in whatever cupboard you crawled out of as a child?" Draco said with a bored expression, and unsurprisingly, Harry ignored him with a shrug, turning directly to his mother once more.

"You look beautiful as always." Harry added before Draco could remark on his inappropriate placement of his hands on her waist. Harry sensed his irritation and smirked as he dropped his hands to his side.

"No need for flattery Harry. You know as well as I do that I have no need for such affirmation." She stated plainly, though her eyes held the tint of a smile that was missing from her lips. "I've actually just stopped by to remind my son that it is rude to ignore his mother's owls- nothing too pressing that it can't wait... what brings you to my son's office?" Her eyes scanned Harry, taking in his casual attire, with an expression mixed with curiosity and only slight disapproval. Narcissa Malfoy had changed her stances on much following the war, but denim jeans still remained in her unsatisfactory category.

"Ah, wanted to give Draco another opportunity to turn me down for drinks tonight. A group of us are celebrating a friends birthday. Sort of a reunion of sorts actually, most of the students from our year will be in attendance." Harry explained, sensing Narcissa's eyes flickering from his over to Draco who was glaring at him. "He already refused earlier," Harry grinned sheepishly, nodding to the other side of the door, -"but Hermione insisted I ask again-"

"Miss Granger?"

Narcissa's lifted brow caused Harry to pause, he glanced to Draco, whose eyes grew wide as he began shaking his head at Harry, the heat from his gaze palpable. Before Harry could come up with a way around answering Narcissa was already moving towards the door and opening it, revealing a pacing Hermione on the other side.

At the sound of Draco's door creaking open her brown hair bounced around her shoulders, her brow furrowed in concentration and slowly forming into a slightly more panicked expression, as if she had been caught doing something she shouldn't have.

"Miss Granger." Narcissa's smile seemed to grow an inch, as she turned from the witch standing in the dimly lit corridor, and quickly landed on her son's. "Were you planning to wait out there the whole time?"

"Oh, I wasn't- I was just waiting on Harry-"

"Well, there's no sense to wait out here-" The beautiful woman said moving deeper into the room with a graceful step back. "-Come, join us."

Draco stood the moment Hermione's gaze swept past Harry and Narcissa and landed on him. He felt the heat from his chest rise to his face and realized his mouth was hanging open, quickly shutting it. He moved around his desk to stand behind the other two visitors, but planted his feet firmly between them as he realized he hadn't the slight idea of what the appropriate welcoming gesture would be. He was still at work, so a handshake would be acceptable, but his body itched to pull her into an embrace as his mind drifted to the feeling of holding her only days ago... He quickly shook that thought as he glanced at his mother who was clearly noticing Draco's inner turmoil. He focused on composing himself, and in the end decided on a firm nod in Hermione's direction, which he then thought seemed cold, but it was already too late to do anything else.

Another beat later, Hermione was moving into the small office with them and Narcissa reached her hand out to squeeze Hermione's forearm in greeting.

"It's lovely to see you dear, though my previous visits to the Ministry, to be frank, I do not miss at all, our passing conversations in the moments I wasn't being hounded for information by Aurors, those moments I do find myself longing for." Narcissa said smiling politely at Hermione.

Draco stared at his mother in confusion, unaware she had spent such time with Hermione.

"Perhaps you would indulge to visit me at the Manor for tea soon? It's so difficult to find witches capable of stimulating conversation these days, and with Draco abandoning me to tend to that giant Manor by myself I find myself restless with the desire for good company..."

Hermione felt everyone's eyes on her as she glanced at Harry who was grinning down at his feet. She quickly swallowed, sensing that her pause may be interpreted as rude, but the moment she tried to open her mouth Draco stepped forward causing her to shut it quickly.

"Mother..." Draco was starring at his mother now, speaking deliberately when he said, "I don't think Hermione would enjoy returning to the Manor-"

"Nonsense, Draco." Narcissa said flippantly, raising her hand to brush his input away. "It's been five years, dear, not everyone is still wallowing in the past. I'm certain Miss Granger is not the delicate flower you imagine her to be. She did fly on the back of a dragon, or so your terribly naughty son is determined to tell me every night during bedtime. My grandson is very taken with you Miss Granger."

Hermione didn't miss the way the skin around Draco's eyes tightened and his jaw clinched at his mothers words.

"I would like very much to come and visit you, Mrs. Malfoy." Hermione quickly said, avoiding Draco's stare of confusion before adding, "I've missed our conversations and would love to see your lovely gardens again. Have your bull-lillies begun blooming? If I remember correctly, late February is when they first begin to sprout..."

"Yes, you are correct. They should be in full bloom in two weeks time. How about I owl you the moment they do and we can take tea in the conservatory?"

"That sounds lovely."

"Well, it's settled then," Narcissa said, glancing around with a satisfied sigh. "I should be going so you three can meet your friends to celebrate."

"You've only just arrived Mother." Draco said as his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Was there a reason for your visit, because if so I'm sure I can-"

"No. No. It was nothing." She amended quickly, picking a piece of lint from her perfectly pressed navy robes, a thin smile forming across her face. "I'll be picking Scorpius up from Andromeda's tonight in your stead, so you can enjoy your evening."

Draco's jaw clinched tighter as he seemed to be containing his frustration with his mother. "That won't be necessary as I have already informed Potter that I won't be joining-"

"Draco, dear. You're going." Narcissa said with a curt nod. As he begun to protest, she lifted her hand and continued, "I will not allow you to spend another night rummaging through that dusty old library alone after you've played whatever childish games your son comes up with. You need to spend time with someone who is not still wearing nappies."

Her face immediately brightened as she turned to Harry and Hermione who were both shifting from one foot to another uncomfortably beside her.

"It was wonderful running in to the both of you." She then focused her attention on Hermione, "Be looking out for my owl, dear."

"I will be." Hermione said as Harry added, "Have a good night, Narcissa."

Narcissa was already out the door before Draco could say a word.

"To be fair." Harry said to Draco after a moment, a smile forming on his face as Draco glared at him, "I'm fairly certain Padma may still wear nappies. She's a healer now and I remember her telling us once that it allows her to save time from using the loo."

Draco scrunched his nose as he glared at Harry. "One, that's repulsive and I would appreciate if you withheld information similarly inappropriate to share in any company in the future. Two, It's unsettling you are aware what a woman, whom is not your fiancé, wears under her skirts."

Harry shrugged, unfazed by his accusation and waved a hand in Hermione's direction, "Farily certain 'Mione wears silk underthings-"

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, her face flushing.

Harry opened his mouth to speak again, but Draco quickly lifted his hand in the air to cut him off with his eyes shut firmly.

"Don't." Draco gritted out. "I have no interest in learning how you know that."

'No, nothing like that." Harry quickly amended with a shaky laugh once he took in Hermione's blush and heated glare, turning back to Draco. "I only know because- well, come on- we've been best friends for ages... Ginny buys her underthings every year for Christmas and they're usually silk. It's not like I-"

"Harry. Please stop talking." Hermione said, her eyes firmly shut cringing with every passing second.

"Right... sorry. " Harry mumbled.

Hermione blushed a deeper shade as she glared over at Harry who was now scratching the back of his neck with an apologetic grin.

"Should we head to meet everyone then?" Harry glanced at his watch. "I'm sure they've already grabbed the first round by now. If we hurry we can join them for the second."

"Whose birthday did you say it was?" Draco asked and then it was Harry's turn to glare at him.

"Seriously?"

"It's Luna's birthday. She'll be 22." Hermione explained.

There was a brief uncomfortable pause as Draco seemed to be thinking something over, his eyes cast down to his feet. Hermione glanced at Harry who just shrugged. The moment Draco lifted his head Hermione could of sworn she saw something flash behind his eyes that concerned her, but it was gone just as suddenly

"And you're certain she invited me?" He asked slowly.

"Yes." Harry nodded. "She was very clear in her request to invite everyone from our year. You are a part of everyone, Malfoy."

Draco nodded once, his eyes glanced quickly to Hermione's and he sighed.

"Well, let's get this over with then."

---

"Is this really necessary?" Harry asked, glancing at his watch once more.

"Honestly, I'm surprised you'vde been invited to so many parties, Potter, since you're clearly unaware that it is poor etiquette to arrive empty handed." Draco said as he handed several galleons over to the clerk behind the shop desk. Hermione's eyes widened at the price of the expensive wine Draco had just purchased, but said nothing as the three of them headed onto the street.

"That may be true in the pureblood brain-washing circles you grew up in, but when you're invited to a friends party-" Harry explained, emphasizing the word 'friend' as if Draco wouldn't understand the meaning, "-there are no expectations. They just want to spend time with you."

Draco scoffed but said nothing further as they neared the entrance of the pub. As they neared Hermione recognized a group of familiar faces surrounding the door shuffling in. A few lingered after noting Hermione and Harry down the street. Hermione glanced over at Draco, noticing his pace slow slightly from where he was walking on her left.

Harry continued ahead as Hermione hung back to wait on Draco. She turned to see he was no longer walking at all, but standing completely still his eyes narrowed as he glared ahead at where Harry was now mingling with what looked like Seamus, Dean, and a few other old classmates. She slowly walked to join Draco and his eyes blinked twice before he seemed to realize she was standing before him.

"Something wrong?"

His eyes searched hers for a moment until they dropped to the large wine bottle in his arms. His stare remained on the bottle for several moments and Hermione watched his face scrunch further in concentration.

"Draco..." She said tentatively, taking another step forward in hopes to make him look at her. His grip only tightened on the bottle.

"I don't- I-I can't be here-" His voice caught and he shook his head once, still keeping his eyes down. "I need to go."

He held out the wine bottle, placing it in Hermione's hands.

"For Lovegood- um, tell her I said Happy Birthday-"

He moved to turn on his heel but Hermione reached out to grab his elbow before he could turn away.

"Wait." She said and took another step forward, forcing him to meet her eye. "Tell me what's wrong. Why can't you be here?"

He finally lifted his eyes, but they floated past her head to where Harry had disappeared inside the pub with the others. It only took Hermione a second to come up with her own assumption.

"No one is going to be upset that you came tonight." She said. "Luna wants you here just as much as anyone else."

She was surprised to hear a breathy laugh escape his lips as he tilted his head back, shaking it slightly as he looked at the darkening sky above them. She saw a few loose blonde hairs stray from where it usually sat perfectly on top of his head. He kept his eyes up another moment before bringing them back to settle on her.

"I kept Lovegood in my dungeon, Granger." He said with a bitter laugh. "She was tortured in my fucking dungeon and everyone in there knows it."

"You didn't, Draco. Voldemort did." She saw him visibly flinch as she said Voldemort's name, but pressed on. "Just come in for a few minutes. If it's as terrible as you think it is then I won't stop you if you want to leave, but just try for-" she bit her lip nervously as his stare was now completely focused on hers, the last word she meant to say caught in her throat- me, try for me.

"For who, Granger?" He asked, lowering his head slightly towards hers. His voice softer now, "I told you I don't need you to fix me."

"I'm not trying to fix you, Draco-" She said and took a deep breath, hoping to keep her eyes leveled with his as she said what she truly wanted to. "-but I do want you to walk into this party with me." She rolled her eyes lifting the wine bottle in her arms and smirked up at him, "Besides no one is going to believe that I could afford this."

The corner of his lips twitched and she felt her smile grow bigger.

"Please." She added.

He sighed, "Yes, fine. Fine. Stop your begging you insufferable witch."

She laughed as he nudged her with his shoulder and they began walking towards the pub together.

---

It only took two steps into the pub to lose sight of Draco in the crowd. The moment she walked in Hermione was instantly pulled to the side by one of her old classmate, and the next thing she knew she was pushed towards the bar. She glanced back several times in hopes to find the bright platinum hair among the crowd, but failed after five attempts. She was constantly bombarded by old friends and was even surprised to see a few Professors lingering in the back of the small pub playing some sort of card game. She smiled at the sight of Flintwick sitting on a small platform box to see over the table, tipping back a shot of Firewhisky and hurried to order her own. She wasn't sure what she was expecting when Luna had mentioned having a birthday party/class-reunion, but she was certainly not expecting this. There were certainly more students than just from their year in attendance.

Neville rented out the entire lower level of the pub for Luna and even had it decorated with her favorite lightening bugs that morphed into different shapes on the ceiling above. Every time one of the party goers would guess their shape correctly the lightening bugs would bring them a free drink. It was slightly off putting to watch the small pixie-like creatures manage to steal an entire bottle of liquor from behind the bar, but amusing all the same.

Hermione finally found Harry and hurried through the crowd to join him and a few other familiar faces. After greeting each of them she pulled Harry aside.

"Have you seen Draco?" She asked, speaking loud enough for him to hear over the roars of laughter and bouncy music echoing around.

"I figured you two scurried off somewhere. Granted, I thought we'd at least make it inside the pub before that happened..." Harry said with a raised brow, lifting his glass to his lips.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" She crossed her arms firmly over her chest, squinting her eyes at him.

Harry shrugged and then his eyes flicked behind her. "Oh, there's Malfoy!"

She turned quickly over her shoulder, jumping slightly, only to find that Harry was lying. She turned back around to find Harry grinning at her like an idiot and she slapped him on the shoulder.

"Oi, what was that for?"

"Do I really need a reason anymore? I'm certain you'd deserve it either way."

Harry laughed and reached behind him where a tray of drinks floated by. "A toast?"

She rolled her eyes.

"To my consistency."

"Consistency?" She lifted a questioning brow.

"Yes," Harry nodded, "to my consistent talent in managing to infuriate you to the point of your need to abuse me."

"I do not abuse you." She said plainly, but clinked her glass to his and tipped her drink back anyway. She wipped the dripping liquid from her chin and added, "You know, for the savior of the Wizarding World you really can be quite dramatic."

Hermione felt someone's chest brush against her back as a familiar voice floated past her ear.

"It was worth coming to this party just to hear you say that. I've been pointing out Potter's desperate need for attention for years."

Hermione turned to see Draco smirking at Harry. The crowd was so packed where they were standing that he could only stand directly behind her, and had to lean into her for either of them to hear him. The warmth from his chest pressed against her made her face flush slightly.

"Ha ha." Harry said and turned to reach for another round.

Hermione shifted slightly to look up at Draco, whose face was now inches from hers. She tried to ignore the rush of blood to her cheeks as she asked him, "Where did you go? I was searching for you, but this place is a mad house."

He leaned in a bit closer so he could speak in her ear and her heart fluttered as his breath tickled her skin.

"Ran into an old friend."

She could sense the falseness to his statement, but ignored it, instead she lifted her brow in surprise. "I didn't know you had any friends."

"I said old didn't I?" He smirked down at her and then glanced over at Harry who was lifting two glasses towards them. "Um, Potter..."

"Hmm?" Harry asked, raising his brows.

"Isn't that your fiancé?" Draco lifted the drink in his hand, gesturing towards the far window. "Shouldn't she be... I don't know- laying down, resting or on the ground at least?

Hermione and Harry both let out a loud laugh as they both recognized Ginny immediately. She was gesturing wildly with her arms, surely talking about quidditch, standing on a table with a crowd of people around her. George was on her left, adding to her story for extra emphasis when needed. Ginny's round belly an odd sight at a pub, though no one seemed to find it odd, save for Draco.

"What can I say?" Harry said with a wide grin. "She's passionate."

"I will never understand your ability to remain so..." Draco trailed off as if searching for the word.

"Handsome?" Harry offered. "Extraordinary? Charming?"

"Obtuse." Draco settled on with a curt nod.

"You must have never been with a stubborn woman." Harry replied, tipping back his drink.

Hermione felt Draco stiffen behind him and quickly tipped her drink back as well.

"Would you like to go find Luna with me? I still haven't wished her a Happy Birthday."

"Ok." Draco said, placing his empty glass on a floating tray passing by.

"Harry, you coming?" Hermione asked, but quickly realized someone had pulled Harry away and was now attempting to take a photograph with him. "Well, I suppose that's a no."

"Suppse you're stuck with me." Draco was still only inches away, a half smile spread on his lips as his eyes flashed up and then back to hers. "Lead the way."

As Hermione shoved her way through the crowd she noticed it was nearly impossible to keep her and Draco from separating, so without thinking much of it she reached back and laced her fingers through his. Draco paused for only a moment before allowing his own fingers to tighten around hers. She smiled to herself as she pulled him behind her.

The moment she lifted her gaze though her smile faded as she noticed the crowd of people began to glance their way. Their faces mixed with confusion as their eyes glanced behind her to see Draco Malfoy. She was sure that Draco could sense them staring as well and only tightened her grip, ignoring the onlookers.

"Hermione!" Neville called her over to where he was standing with his arm wrapped around Luna's shoulders. The witch smiled brightly at her and then her eyes seemed to dance the moment she saw Draco's.

"Oh, Draco." Luna moved from where she was tucked in the middle of a small group of people, a large cake in the shape of some odd creature Hermione couldn't be sure existed on the table in front of her. "It's wonderful that you could make it." Her wide blue eyes glanced at Hermione and she reached out for her hand, finding both of theirs still clasped together and holding them both. "And you Hermione. You look beautiful."

If she was surprised that they were holding hands Hermione couldn't tell. Luna dropped both of their hands then and just smiled at them.

"Thank you. So do you. This party is..."

"Crowded." Draco finished for her, bowing his head slightly. "Happy Birthday, Lovegood."

"Thank you!"

"She wanted to see everyone again. Demanded I even invite our professors." Neville said as a way of explanation, he lifted his hand to extend towards Draco. "I'm glad you came. She's been talking about seeing you for ages."

"Ah, yeah, so am I." Draco attempted to hide his confusion behind a smirk as he shook Neville's hand once.

Hermione glanced from each of them and tried to hide her amused smile behind her drink.

"Yes," Luna said. "I wanted to update you on our list. Rufus, my owl, returned all of my letters whenever I tried to contact you. I assumed you didn't want to be found and stopped sending them. So it's lucky that you came tonight so I can show you my progress. I've managed to find the first twenty. I've brought photographs..."

With that Luna reached out and grabbed Draco's arm, pulling him behind her to the sofa and table where her cake was and sat him down next to her. Hermione watched in amusement as Luna began rummaging through a large purple bag, pulling out several large photographs though she couldn't make out what was on them.

"What list is she on about?" Hermione asked Neville. They were standing alone off to the side of the party watching the two blondes look over the photographs. Luna was wearing a serious expression while Draco only looked mildly uncomfortable, but interested nonetheless, nodding along and glancing at the photos every so often.

Hermione glanced up at Neville to see him shift his gaze to his shoes before lowering his voice to speak to her.

"Malfoy and Luna spent a good bit of time together when she was a prisoner in his home, during the war..." Neville cleared his throat and took a sip of his drink before continuing. "She told me stories of how he would sneak down to the dungeons practically every night. Bellatrix was the one who managed the dungeons so she would often leave them without food for days, but Malfoy always brought Luna what he could. I think he was tortured one or two times when he was caught, but whenever I try to thank him he doesn't really respond well... just shrugs it off and finds an excuse to leave the conversation." Neville shrugged then as Hermione couldn't help but stare directly at the person of topic, feeling her heart weigh heavier in her chest.

"The photographs she's showing him now are photographs of the creatures she's discovered over the years on our travels." Neville continued, a small smile growing on his face as Hermione glanced up at him in confusion. "Apparently, Malfoy told Luna several times that he didn't believe that half the creatures she talked about during their conversations in the dungeons were real. He made her promise to prove him wrong when she finally got out and the war was over so he started keeping a list of all the creatures she mentioned during their conversations. I'm almost certain there's at least seventy two left." Neville's smile faltered then, his eyes searching Hermione's. "I think it was his way of giving her hope, you know? Something to look forward to..."

If Hermione's heart could feel anymore heavy than it was she was sure she would sink to the floor. She didn't say anything, finding it difficult to say anything that would help her come to terms with what Neville was saying. They both watched Draco and Luna for several moments in silence, each regarding their interaction with amused interest. For Hermione though, she was beginning to wonder if the changes she'd been paying attention to following the war weren't the only parts of him that surprised her. She found herself wanting to know so much more about the difficult decisions he made during the war and the small efforts to search for the light in his darkness. She wanted to help him see that maybe the light was in him all along, and maybe it was just difficult to see because he refused to take an honest look at himself and only focused on the darkness around him-

"Lovegood there is nothing in this photograph." She heard Draco say plainly, scrunching his eyes at the photo in the Birthday girl's hands.

"Well, of course there is. You just can't see it because he's invisible, but the demiguise is just there-" Luna lifted her dainty finger pointing to somewhere on the large parchment. "-he was rather frightened by us stumbling upon him. Not many wizards venture that far into the jungle. Would you like me to tell you what we were looking for?"

"I'm certain you'll tell me either way." Draco drawled, and Hermione couldn't help but smile as he took a long sip from his glass watching the blonde witch wearily. She was intent on listening to the witches response, but Neville interrupted her concentration a moment later.

"Look who it is." Neville's demeanor perked up slightly as he glanced behind Hermione. "How long as Ron been back from Bulgaria? I hadn't realized he returned."

Hermione felt her heart drop from her chest as she followed Neville's gaze over the crowd and across the room. Her eyes landed on who Neville was referring to and found it difficult to breath all of a sudden.

"Lovegood said you'd know where to put this."

Hermione hardly registered that Draco and Luna had come to join them as her eyes seemed to blur slightly as she took in the group across the room. Ron and his new wife were sitting with Ginny and Harry, each of them laughing as Ginny animatedly retold another story. She felt someone nudge her elbow, pulling her out of her trance.

"Bloody- this must have cost a fortune. Thanks Malfoy." Neville said taking the bottle from him, excusing himself to find somewhere safe to stash it. Luna excused herself as well, following after her husband.

"Alright Granger?"

Hermione jumped as he leaned close to her, his shoulder nudging hers, and quickly forced herself to inhale deeply, glancing up at him only managing a forced smile and a nod, along with a mumbled, "Mhm, I'm fine."

He watched for several quiet moments. She kept her eyes down and then suddenly she snapped her head back up.

"Actually, I'm not feeling that well. I should- um, I need to leave."

Draco didn't have a second to respond as she turned on her heel and began to shove through the crowd. He followed quickly after without a seconds hesitation, but she didn't pause as he called after her. He felt the eyes of several people glancing their way, each of them glaring at him and his panic from earlier returned. He was seconds away from hexing them all, but the thought was suddenly shoved out of his mind as he collided with the back of the very witch he was following. His mouth briefly was met her wild brown locks, and he felt her sway back into him and he lifted his hands around her waist instinctively for support. He was about to ask her why she stopped when he heard someone calling her name.

"'Mione?"

Draco could have sworn he heard Hermione curse 'oh fuck, oh no' under her breath as she frantically searched for an exit route through the large crowd of people. He lifted his gaze to find who she was avoiding to look at, and a rush of heat flooded his body as his eyes landed on the bright red hair belonging to Ron Weasley. Behind him a few feet was Potter and his pregnant fiancé, and a tan witch Draco didn't recognize.

It was clear that Ron hadn't noticed who was standing behind Hermione until he pushed past the last line of people between him and Hermione. Draco watched the realization settle on his face like it was happening in slow motion. Ron's smile fell instantly as he glanced from Hermione, down to where Draco's hands still lingered on her waist, and back up to Draco's face. His mouth hung open for several moments before his heated gaze flickered back to Hermione.

"What's he doing here?"

Draco felt Hermione stiffen under his finger tips and instantly dropped them to his sides.

"Hello Ron. I wasn't aware you returned to London."

Draco could hear the bitterness in her tone, but Weasley seemed oblivious to it. Draco began counting how many steps it would take to leave this situation and get to the exit, and was moving to do that when he felt something wrap around the sleeve of his shirt. He glanced down to see Hermione's small fingers wrapped around the fabric, keeping him in place. He found himself unable to decipher how it made him feel, to know she wanted him to stay with her while she spoke to her ex. He continued to stare at her small fingers as if they could explain their purpose for remaining there.

"I owled you weeks ago." Ron said and something on Hermione's face must have made him frown because he followed up with, "Didn't I?"

"No. No, Ronald. You didn't." Hermione said curtly. "The last time I received a letter from you was five months ago."

"Oh..." Guilt flashed across Weasley's features as he forced a small smile and lifted his hand to rub the back of his neck. "Look, 'Mione... I'm sorry- I've just been so busy and I, uh- I have some good news. That's why I'm back, actually- I wanted to tell you and Harry in person. Come sit. I'll tell you both. It's really brilliant news!"

Draco tried to keep his expression neutral as Hermione turned to him. He could see she was trying to hide something as she forced a smile. Her eyes still held a tinge of sadness to them, and Draco had the odd desire to pull her closer and remind her how worthless it would be to waste any emotion on the Weasel, but he didn't. He just stood there as she her tucked her lower lip behind her teeth. His eyes instantly caught the small action and the desire to pull her closer no longer had anything to do with comforting her-

"Would you mind staying a bit longer... with me?" She asked timidly, releasing her lip and Draco felt his throat tighten and simply nodded. Her expression brightened slightly, "Really?"

Draco shrugged, "Sure."

Her smile was worth the dread building in his chest.

---

"We're having twins!"

If Draco hadn't already been paying particularly close attention to Hermione's face he would have missed the flash of pain in her eyes, her sharp intake of breath as if someone had stabbed her, and he would have missed the way her fingers tightened where they were firmly pressing into her sides as she wrapped them around herself. If he hadn't been watching her he would have missed it all, because a second later the flash of pain was gone, her shoulders relaxed, and an unnatural smile was plastered on her face.

The tan woman, Draco now knew to be Weasley's pregnant wife Rebecca, turned to Hermione as she reached out to embrace her and congratulate them both. Weasley waited until his wife let go of Hermione so he could replace her. He leaned in and Draco noticed his smile falter slightly as he whispered something in Hermione's ear that Draco couldn't make out.

The intimacy of the moment made Draco's entire body go rigid and the lingering eyes from the onlookers surrounding them suddenly felt suffocating. He felt unwelcome as his eyes scanned the small group of friends and lovers, and wanted nothing more than to shove through the crowd and leave. He was about to do so until Weasley released Hermione and turned to Potter to embrace him next, allowing Hermione to take a step away from the group and fill in the small space by Draco's side.

He felt her arm press against his and he was certain he was the only one who noticed the way she was forcing herself to breath in and out in a normal sequence, like it was all she could do to keep from falling apart. He understood what falling apart felt like better than anyone, even if she appeared to be keeping it together on the outside, he could see the signs that she was breaking on the inside.

Maybe it was because of their conversation at Potter's the other night, when she admitted that she had been paying attention to him, that she could see that he was trying to keep people out... or that she forced him to come to this sodding party in the first place; whatever it was she did to him it gave him the courage to extend his fingertips until they found the warmth of hers. She didn't look at him and he didn't look at her. He only squeezed her hand gently in his and he hoped she acknowledged the effort for what it was, an attempt to comfort her. Even if it was only by holding her hand, it was all he could offer her at the time and as she took a deep breath in he could see the sadness slip away, not entirely, but enough for her to smile through the pain, to laugh with her friends and share the moment that she would one day look back on and be grateful that he was there to keep her from falling apart.

---

Harry Potter was an infuriating drunk. Hermione would never drink as much as she did if he wasn't insistent on her keeping up with him, but over the years she thought it better to let him think she had as many as he did with a simple charm that allowed her drink to appear full one minute and empty the next. She found it useful on nights where Harry was particularly keen on letting loose.

She didn't mind. She enjoyed watching her best friend have fun and enjoy the little freedoms when he could. Whenever she would try and get upset her mind would instantly flashback to their time alone together on the run, searching for Horcruxes, when it was just him and her. They sacrificed so much of their youth and she was determined to let him make up for it in any way that he saw fit.

Harry had one arm wrapped around Hermione's shoulder and the other around Draco's as they stumbled down the alley. Ginny already left almost immediately after Ron shared the news, blaming her bladder and insisted that Harry come with her to which he hastily refused, begging his wife for more time with Ron. Ginny only agreed if Hermione promised to bring him home. So, that is exactly how Hermione and Draco found themselves steadying the drunken Chosen One down the alley until they made it to the apparition point.

Harry's hiccups and random mumblings were the only sound echoing around the empty street and Hermione couldn't help but smile as she glanced over Harry's head to see Draco leaning down to accommodate their height difference. He was at least three inches taller than Harry and seven inches taller than her.

"I think I can handle him from here if you want to head home. You've already done more than enough." Hermione said coming to a stop under a street lamp. She shifted her weight to support most of Harry's weight, but Draco instantly shoved Harry back towards him so that she no longer had any of his weight.

"As much as I'd like to not have this blabbering idiot heave all over my limited edition dragon-leather boots, I can not, in good conscious, allow you to be the sole witch responsible for him."

"Oh," Hermione placed her hands on her hips, tilting her head to the side. "You've got a conscious now, do you? That must be a recent development."

Draco rolled his eyes as a small smile twitched on his face.

"You know what- Ginny's didn't believe me-" Harry said followed by several hiccups. He lifted his squinted eyes, raising a finger and wagging it to point between Hermione and Draco. "I'm the only one who sees it..." Both of his hands lifted in front of his face and then spread out as if emulating fireworks. "The spark-"

The rest of his sentence was caught in his throat behind another round of hiccups.

Hermione shook her head as a small laugh escaped her lips.

"Should we side-along then?"

"Think you can manage it without spliching me?" Draco responded with a hint of a challenge in his tone.

Instead of responding, Hermione simply moved to grip both wizards arms and glanced at Harry who was grinning widely up at her from where he slouched against Draco with his eyes closed. Herminoe glanced to see Draco's look of discomfort clear on his face as he avoiding looking at Harry.

"This is going to be slightly unbearable for you Harry, but just promise you won't throw up once we get to your flat, please?"

Harry half hiccuped, half yelled "I'm FINE!"

Hermione sighed, "Hold on tight."

---

"You didn't have to see me home you know? I would have managed just fine."

Draco stood in the small living space of Hermione's flat, eyeing the clean space. He found himself smiling as the flat was just what he imagined her living in. Above the fireplace there was a massive collection of texts on magical creatures, some dating back to the 15th century, their bindings showing their age and Hermione's overuse of flipping through them. From his quick glance around the room he could see into the kitchen. It was practical and looked like it was hardly used. The small sofa on the wall across from the fireplace was dark grey and he could see where Hermione preferred to sit, as there was a slight indention on the left side with a white wool blanket laying across the back of the sofa. On the table next to it was a chipped tea cup and a book left open with a marker laying across it. He could picture her curled up in that spot with the fireplace roaring, holding a book in one hand and a cup of tea in the other, as rain hit the large window to his right on a Sunday evening. He wasn't surprised either that said window had stacks and stacks of books on either side tucked into the walls built in shelves.

They both just arrived through the Floo after dropping Harry off with a very unhappy, half-asleep Ginny Weasley. Hermione was certain if the witch had been fully aware of her surroundings she would have bombarded Hermione with a million questions about her arriving with Draco Malfoy to bring her fiancé home, but she simply grumbled and hastily supported Harry to their room.

Now, as Hermione stood in her living room with Draco she suddenly felt anxious as she couldn't remember the last time she had a visitor. Her eyes were frantically scanning the space in case she left out anything she would be embarrassed for him to find.

"This is nice...cozy."

"Cozy?" Hermione repeated with a snort. "You're being polite. I believe you meant to say it's small."

"Well," Draco said, his eyes drifting around the room, noticing the far hallway and open door that led to her bedroom, before his eyes found hers. "It's very fitting for you I think."

"Thank you?" Hermione said trying to sound genuine but unsure what to make of his statement.

"I just meant," Draco amended quickly, clearing his throat. "It's very similar to what I pictured in my mind."

"You've pictured what my flat would look like?"

She smiled as color appeared on his cheeks and he glanced around the room nervously.

"Well, you did insist to have our date here didn't you? I like to be prepared for these sorts of things... So, yes, I did put some thought into imaging the type of place Hermione Granger would call home."

It was her turn to blush as he mentioned their date and she couldn't suppress the smile from forming on her face.

"Though, to be completely honest I imagined you'd have at least six cats, maybe a Potter shrine on your mantle, some odd muggle contraptions floating about, possibly more books..."

"Seven cats actually... all in the basement though." She said slightly amused at his assessment of her.

His brows shot up and then narrowed as her smile gave her lie away.

"Funny." He mumbled and took a step deeper into the room. His eyes roamed over the titles of books on the shelves on the far wall.

Hermione watched as he walked slowly around her living room and found herself in a sort of trance as she let herself take in the absurdity of the situation they found themselves in. She was already anxious enough thinking about their date on Friday, and she never even thought she would have a chance to see him before then, but now here Draco was, walking comfortably around her living room, taking in her personal items and examining them at his leisure.

Her cheeks burned at the thought of his fingers firmly gripping hers earlier at the pub. She wasn't sure how he knew that she needed him to- she wasn't even aware herself- but he reached for her the moment it felt like her heart was going to rip from her chest. His touch was the only thing keeping the tears forming from hearing Ron's news at bay.

At the reminder of Ron's sudden appearance back in her life she dropped her eyes to the ground. She hadn't realized she wrapped her arms around herself and shut hers eyes until she felt Draco's hands on either side of her arms. She opened her eyes suddenly to find him searching her face for an explanation.

"Hermione..."

"I-I'm sorry... I spaced out for a moment." She said, noticing how small her voice sounded.

"Should I go?"

"No." She said too quickly. "I mean- if you need to, then..."

"I don't." He said firmly, dropping his hands from her arms and gave her a small smile.

They stared at one another for a beat before Hermione let a small laugh escape her.

"Would you like some tea? Or a drink?" She finally asked, moving to the kitchen. "I don't ever have guests so I'm not even sure I have either of those things, but..."

"Whatever you're having." Draco said following her into the kitchen. He watched her pace around the kitchen and leaned back on the counter, crossing his arms. She opened several cabinets and closed them just as quickly. He suddenly realized that either she had no idea where anything was in this kitchen, or she was more upset than he previously thought. "Hermione..."

Her hand lingered on the handle of a cabinet as she turned to glance up at him.

"About earlier with Weasley, if you'd like to talk about it..."

"Please don't." She said, slowly closing the cabinet and rising to her feet. She took a step closer to him and leaned on the counter next to him, as if she wasn't able to look at him. "Please, just not yet. I-I don't- I'm not ready to talk about it. Not right now."

He stared at the side of her face, unsure of what to make of this new Hermione in front of him. He had never seen her with her guard down, vulnerable. He wondered if she actually wanted to say 'not with you', but simply nodded.

"Ok." He finally said and let a silence settle over them before it became too much for him. "There was something else I wanted to talk about."

"Oh?" She turned towards him, leaning her hip on the counter.

"Yes," He kept his eyes straight on the cabinets across from him. "My mother invited you to tea."

"Oh." Hermione released a breath, a small smile forming on her face as if relieved that was all he said. "Yes, I'm looking forward to it. Your mother is actually a very lovely conversationalist."

Draco couldn't help but smirk at that.

"You could say that." He said glancing over at her, shoving his hands into his pockets. "But what I want to say, well, I suppose what I wanted to apologize for, really, was what she said earlier..."

Hermione frowned. "Apologize? What for?"

Draco shifted his weight to stand a little taller. He felt his throat go dry and suddenly wished she had found some whisky in her bare cabinets. He inhaled deeply before looked over at her, speaking slowly as he wasn't sure he even wanted to have this conversation.

"She made light of what happened..." He forced out, each word felt like a knife carving at his brain to let the memory of her being tortured flood his mind. "...at the Manor- during the war, with my Aunt. I know she didn't mean it the way it sounded-"

He stopped suddenly when Hermione began to smile and shake her head slightly.

"She wasn't making light of it." Hermione said, and met his confused stare. "She wasn't. Your mother was the one to help me get past it... She knows it no longer effects me, thinking about that day..."

"I don't understand."

"Um, let me find us something stronger than water if we're to have this conversation." She laughed and gestured to the living room. "I'll join you in a moment."

Draco paused for a moment, but eventually walked over to the sofa and sat in the middle waiting for her. His mind turned around the million ways her words could make sense, but found it near impossible to understand how his mother had anything to do with Hermione's healing. A few minutes later Hermione joined him, sitting in the worn in spot he imagined her curled up in. Her knee lightly pressing against his as she placed two glasses on the table in front of them. He watched as she used her wand to pop the top on a cheap looking bottle of red wine. As she leaned forward to fill each glass, he couldn't help but notice the exposed skin reveal itself to him on her lower back, causing a knot to form in his lower abdomen and a heat filter over his skin. The moment she leaned back and extended the glass to him made him quickly advert his eyes back to her face.

"It's nothing as fancy as what you purchased earlier. I'm not certain it will even taste good, but it's all I have at the moment."

"To shit wine." Draco said, tapping his glass to hers. He wasn't sure what twisted the knot in his lower abdomen more, the thought of running his fingers across her exposed skin that was no longer teasing him, or the way her eyes and lips smiled at him, warming him down to the core.

"To shit wine." She agreed, taking a sip and leaning back further against the couch, twisting slightly to rest her elbow on the back of the couch. She brought her knee up to tuck her left foot under her right knee, causing her left knee to gently rest on where his hip and upper thigh met. If she was bothered by the proximity she didn't show it. Draco wasn't certain if he was as skilled in hiding his reaction as he quickly took another long sip of the wine, which was definitely shit.

"Alright, you've got my full attention. I'm thoroughly terrified to know what caused you to seek out my mother for any sort of comfort."

Hermione playfully shoved his shoulder. "You're mother is wonderful."

Draco just shrugged, smirking behind his glass as he pulled it to his lips. He didn't miss the way her eyes flickered at the motion before she met his eyes once more and her face became serious.

"Um, right... Well, sometime after the trials Harry told me what you and your mother were doing for the Ministry in exchange for her pardon and your probation and I started seeing your mother often in passing..."

Draco dropped his eyes from hers unable to look at her directly, feeling the dreadful shame bubbling beneath the surface.

"We wouldn't talk long. Just short conversations here and there, but she noticed something was off one day and we got to talking about the war. Before I knew it I was literally spilling my heart out to her and it felt really good, you know? To be seen by someone you never thought cared one way or the other..." Draco's eyes flashed to hers, but she was still looking down at her glass.

Hermione was reminded of her particular conversation with Narcissa Malfoy and her thoughts drifted to her own mother.

"Anyways," Hermione continued, breathing in deep. "I told her how I wasn't in a good place when I returned to Hogwarts for my eighth year. Harry or Ron went straight to Auror training and it was difficult for awhile... I thought it was just because I was still at Hogwarts so my mind was stuck in defense mode and that when I left the night terrors would fade, but they only got worse. Harry had them from time to time, still does, though not as often. I think Ginny found a way to ease the fear out of him eventually...

"...after a year of the night terrors steadily getting worse Ron stopped trying to understand why I was still so afraid. He was always better at hiding from pain until he convinced himself he conquered it by just ignoring it..."

Hermione was the one to drop her eyes then, focusing instead on the red liquid moving around her glass. Draco remained completely still, his stare focused on her concentrated expression, terrified that she might look up at him and expect him to rid the pain that Ron never could. He knew he wouldn't. He couldn't even do that for himself- let alone Hermione Granger, war heroine and witch weekly's favorite Ministry employee.

"Your mother listened and she offered to help me. She suggested a mind healer and I started weekly sessions. The night terrors didn't get better though until your mother let me come to Malfoy Manor during Christmas break, almost two years after the war ended."

Draco met her eyes then, staring at her in disbelief.

"The mind healer suggested I revisit the places I was having night terrors about." She said, her voice feeling incredibly small. She noticed Draco swallow uncomfortably and offered him a small smile. "It helped... returning to your drawing room where I was tortured."

She noticed him flinch, but continued holding his stare.

"It helped remind me that it was over... that it was really over." Hermione dropped her gaze back to her glass, her smile growing at the memory of venturing around Malfoy Manor with Narcissa that day. "I wouldn't be able to feel confident saying that unless your mother had stopped me that day."

A small laugh escaped her as she glanced up at Draco's unreadable expression.

"So the point of all my rambling is," she said shoving the heavy feeling in her chest away, "Your mother wasn't making light of what happened. She helped me conquer it... the fear."

Draco sat still, his heart pounding loudly in his ears as he forced his mind to accept what she was saying. He was staring at the carpet as his mind processed everything she just admitted to him. He could definitely picture his mother keeping this a secret from him, but he almost wished she hadn't. Maybe if she told him then he would have found himself in Hermione Granger's living room, on her couch, with her curled up in her favorite spot, staring at him sooner. He turned his head to look at her though he had no idea what he could say.

"You don't have to say anything." She smiled at him.

He blinked several times unable to think of something, anything that would help her understand how much he wished she never had to visit a mind healer, or return to his home ever, unless it was with him, for tea, for dinner, forever-

He quickly shoved that thought away and returned his glare at the carpet.

"Truly..." She said and he felt her hand lay on his forearm.

He wondered if she knew that was the very forearm that haunted him in his waking moments and his sleep.

"If it wasn't clear from my asking you out, I've forgiven you a long time ago."

He wanted to laugh at this, but only managed a small smirk. He heard half of his mind yelling at him to get down on his hands and knees and beg for her forgiveness while the other half yelled at him to leave because he didn't deserve her forgiveness at all. He ignored them both; this was about her, not him. She was telling him her secrets, her worst memories, and she was trusting him with this part of her.

"I just thought you should know how lucky you are... You have a wonderful mother."

"Even though you never deserved any of what happened to you, I'm glad my mother was able to help you. I'm sure you helped her, too just by making her feel needed again. She'd never admit it, but she's lonely now that my father and I are no longer there." He said meeting her stare.

Hermione could feel how much he meant the words and then realized her hand was still wrapped on his forearm. She noticed his gaze follow hers to where her hand, but she didn't move it.

"Your mother told me you moved into an old Black estate the moment the Ministry ended your probation."

Draco nodded, "Similar reasons to how I imagine it was for you to returned to Hogwarts..."

"Worse, I'd imagine-" Hermione said. "-what, with a Dark Wizard taking tea on Sunday evenings with his giant pet snake roaming the Manor at all hours-" Hermione's nose scrunched as she tilted her head to the side, a playful smile on the corner of her lips. "-or did Voldemort actually sleep? I don't know why I always imagined him to have no use for such trivial human necessities- Wait..." Her eyes widened slightly, "Did you ever walk in on him using the loo by accident?"

"You are a seriously disturbed witch!" Draco said shaking his head trying to sort out how their conversation had turned to discussing Voldemort's bathroom routine, which only caused Hermione to start a fit of laughter at the way he was staring at her in disbelief.

"Ok. Ok." She said, controlling her laughter. "You're right. Too soon."

"It will always remain too soon to ever discuss anyones need to relieve themselves." Draco shuddered, forcing Voldemort out of his mind.

"Very true." She agreed, pulling her glass to her lips to finish the rest of her drink. "I just meant that I'm certain it was far worse for you to try and live in your childhood home after everything. At least at Hogwarts there were five times as many good memories for every bad one."

Draco heard his mind yelling at him again, reminding him that not one of the good memories contained him. He was strictly in the bad memory category.

"Dear Merlin!" She said suddenly, pushing away from the couch to sit up. Draco felt the warmth of her hand leave his arm and shuddered. "Is it really four in the morning?! I have to be at work in four hours." She glanced over at him, "I had no idea... I'm sorry for keeping you- oh, and your son, is he-"

"Scorpius is with my mother, and I don't mind. I, um, I actually enjoyed tonight, or today rather."

Hermione felt her cheeks blush and smiled, "Good... um, so did I."

"I should go. Let you try and get some sleep."

"Oh, um... well, if you'd like- I mean, if you were tired and if Scorpius is with your mother then," She swallowed and glanced up at him, "um, if you want, I wouldn't mind if you stayed."

A smirk formed on his mouth.

"On the couch. Here." She quickly added gesturing to the couch. "Or you can have my bed and I can sleep on the couch-"

She was suddenly cut off as Draco leaned forward, raising his hand until his fingers gently pushed through her hair at the nape of her neck and pulled her head towards his. He paused with his lips just before hers, his breath teasing her skin and she immediately reacted to his touch, her eyes fluttered shut and her mouth opened slightly.

"We're adults now Hermione-." He whispered against her lips. "-and adults sleep in the same bed. If you'll have me?"

Hermione sighed as she leaned into him, pressing her lips to his as her way of agreement with whatever nonsense he was saying.

The moment his lips pressed against hers, every inch of her skin tingled and was desperate for more. She wasn't normally aggressive when she shared her first kiss with someone, but something about the softness to Draco's lips, the tight grip of her hair, and the lingering vibrations from his voice melting into her awakened a sleeping desire inside her.

It was the first time she wasn't thinking during a first kiss, but simply just reacting... and her body was determined to take every part of what Draco would give.

She pushed her body forward from where she sat as he expertly tilted his head to deepen the kiss. She lifted her hands to his chest, pressing his back firmly against the couch causing a surprised breath of air escaped his mouth, that she happily devoured into her own. She felt his left hand move from where it was gripped behind her head land on her right thigh and he swiftly pulled it across his lap until both of her knees were straddling him. The heat from his body felt so comforting to her, like she found something that she never knew she lost.

She felt his tongue on hers, dancing in and out of her mouth in a pattern that she was sure was on purpose and meant to let her know what it was capable of. Normally she would be embarrassed when she made any noises during intimate moments like this, but as Draco's grip on her waist tightened and he pressed his hips upward to meet hers she couldn't even focus on the pleasure induced whimper that came from her. The only thing she felt was his hardened length pressing against her core, and he continued the thrusts in an agonizingly slow rhythm until she was desperate for more and forced her head back.

Her fingers were gripped tightly in his shirt and she used that to help stable her as she rolled her hips against him. His reaction only added to the incredible sensations pulsing through her. The moment her lips left his, his mouth continued its teasing on her jaw, just below her ear, slowly trailing down her throat, nipping its way down and back up.

Hermione brought her head back down to his lips, and he responded with a moan that vibrated through her right down to where their hips were still fighting for friction.

"Ahh-" She couldn't help but sigh as she pulled her mouth from his, pressing her chest closer and her mouth was hovering by his ear. "Draco..." It had been entirely too long...

She remembered the way his tongue felt on hers moments ago and mirrored his teasing licks on his ear before lightly biting down gently. This time he growled in response, forcing his hips up with a quick jerk that sent the perfect spark to her core.

"Say it again..." His breath against her skin almost caused her to tip over the edge, but his grip tightened on her waist slowing her thrusts to the controlled rhythm, making her groan.

"Draco, please." She moaned and she seemed to have said the right thing because the next thing she knew he was flipping them around and his body was eagerly trailing kisses down her front, his hands already found their way under her shirt and she tilted her head back as his hands explored her skin and his mouth kissed and sucked their way down. She felt him pause at her pants waistband and gently shifted her hips forward to let him know she wanted him to continue. She thought she heard a muffled laugh coming from him, but could hardly focus on anything besides the cool air hitting her exposed skin as her pants were pulled down her thighs.

It was strange that she didn't once feel awkward or embarrassed with Draco as he explored her body. It was as if she could sense that she wanted him just as much as he wanted her making her forget to feel self-conscious at all. She was even more surprised at the ease of which she allowed him to spread her legs until her right foot rest on his shoulder and the other dangled off the side of the couch. The moment his mouth found the sensitive part of her skin near the top of her inner thigh, just outside her underwear, she heard herself moan impatiently and that time she was certain he was laughing at her.

"Say it again." He mumbled against her skin before he gave her other thigh equal amounts of attention. She felt his teeth clamp her skin and she felt an electric shock tingle through her core. Her hips rose again, but his hands griping her hips pressed her firmly back into the couch. "I'm going to make you come, Hermione, but first-" he stopped mid sentence and she felt his tongue press firmly against her clit, the fabric of her underwear causing the perfect friction and she cursed out in a deep breath. "- first, I want to hear you say my name and I want to hear how good I'm making you feel."

It was only then that she hesitated and second guessed herself as she had never spoken during foreplay or sex with any of her past lovers. She blushed inwardly as she just referred to Draco Malfoy as one of her lovers. The hesitation didn't last long as he began pulling her underwear down her legs and his mouth returned to the same spot with even more pressure.

"Fuck!" She sighed and tried to roll her hips, but Draco wasn't letting her budge. She started pleading with him, not even thinking about how desperate she sounded. "Please- Draco... I need- I need you to- ahhh- Please. Draco. Draco!"

She felt one of his long fingers slip inside her and as he pulled it out another joined it on it's way back in. He pressed his lips to the top of her thigh where her hip began on the left side as his fingers gently filled her and came back out over and over, too slow for her to find her release. His lips pressed another kiss on her right hip and she moaned as another finger gently grazed her clit.

"Hermione- you look so fucking perfect." His nose trailed across her hip and down until it hovered just above where his fingers were driving her insane with pleasure.

He finally pressed his tongue to her clit again and began the perfectly crafted patterns that he was doing earlier against her tongue. Hermione rocked her hips forward to meet the perfect rhythm, feeling the heat and tension building inside her.

"Ah, Draco- yes... yes."

She gasped as he gently sucked her bud into his mouth and a cry escaped her lips as he repeated to do that in tune with the thrusts of his fingers.

He was intentional with every touch. For him every touch was meant as a promise, a promise, that if she would let him, he would only ever make her feel this good, every intentional touch and additional pressure he intended to make her forget that he was ever capable of hurting her... his fingers searching until he heard her moan, keeping them there as she gripped his hair keeping him in place and he happily did so, hoping he could make her feel his intention behind every touch, an apology and a promise mingled together, pleading for her to let him make her feel so good that she forgot who he could be- who he was before she let him touch her- before she let him show her how good he could make her feel, because he had nothing else to offer but this- this... he could give her this.

"I'm almost- ahh, Draco, fuck- yes, yes, yes!"

Her breathy pants of his name caused every muscle in his body to coil, and he pressed his tongue firmly to her clit, increasing the thrusts of his fingers imagining what the hardened length in his pants would feel like buried inside her- the thought alone made his head fall forward to rest on her hip, he tilted it to the side to watch her come undone with his touch as she began reaching for her release. It was agonizing. It was beautiful. It was perfect.

Every thrust she could feel the attention he was giving her, the purpose behind every kiss, every touch... she had never felt more worshiped in her life. Draco was giving her everything she never knew she was missing. She could feel him watching her and it only made her want to feel him deeper-

"Draco, yes..." She moaned loudly and he grunted against her clit in response flicking his tongue across her, the vibrations finally pushing her over the edge and she felt her body twitch as he gently licked at her until she dropped her hips to the couch, panting and completely overwhelmed with satisfaction. She could feel him staring at her as he moved his head back and leaned up, but she didn't care. Her eyes remained shut for several moments and a stupid grin spread on her face.

"Fuck. You should not be entitled to be that good... It should- be- illegal." She managed to say between breaths, very aware how out of breath she sounded. She kept her eyes firmly shut hoping to linger in her pleasure coma a few moments longer. "I'm starting a petition first thing tomorrow- No way you deserve to be that b-beautiful and that talented."

She heard him laughing and felt him shift to lay beside her. Her eyes fluttered open as he placed one hand to hold his head up, his weight on his elbow above her, while the other hand seemed determined to remind her how good they just made her feel moments ago and traced over her bottom lip, down her chin, lingering there as he tilted her face to look at him. Her breathing finally managing to slow as she found him smirking down at her, she twisted from her position on her back to completely face him, boldly shifting her leg up to rest over his and he pushed his forward to rest between both of hers. She smiled, noticing how easily their bodies molded to the other.

"And what will this petition entail?" He asked teasingly, his voice slightly rough. She noticed his eyes seemed unable to settle on any particular part of her face, as if he was trying to commit her face to memory. She swallowed, as he shifted his hips to settle more comfortably against her, making her completely aware how much he enjoyed himself moments ago, as his hardened length pressed against her stomach. She inhaled trying to focus on his question.

"Well for starters," she said, dropping her eyes from his eyes and lips to try and keep a hold of her ability to speak. "you're absurdly wealthy."

She could practically hear him frown.

"Is that meant to be an insult?"

"Secondly, you're insanely attractive and clever, more intelligent than most really..." She carried on, frowning to herself as she seemed to be trying to come up with a fault but not able to at the moment, probably because she was distracted by of how much she enjoyed laying with him on her couch, at almost five in the morning, she smiled to herself trying to make sense of how exactly they got here.

"I'm guessing there was a point in there somewhere, but I'm happy to let you stop there-"

She glared up at him and he was smirking back, "The point was you simply shouldn't be able to be all of those things and good at pleasuring a women. It's sinful and entirely unfair."

His smirk turned into a full on grin and she rolled her eyes. He reached up to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear and he kept his hand there as he leaned closer, lowering his voice to a husky whisper.

"If I am to be expected to pay for such faults then you will be equally held responsible..." He pressed a light kiss to her left cheek and then her right, his lips trialing over her eyes and down her nose, tracing her jaw, his teeth grazing her skin making her eyes flutter shut and her body to coil tight.

"And for what may I ask?" She managed to whisper back once his lips path found it's way back to hers, hovering just before them. She felt his hand grip her hair, tilting her head with a gentle but firm tug, making her eyes open into his hungry gaze.

"...for the deliciously sinful way you look when I make you come."

He laughed and pulled back slightly watching her. She knew he thought he had shocked her with his confession, but she was determined to wipe the smug grin from his face.

"Yes, well-" she tried to clear her throat glancing down trying not to smile, "I can guarantee it'll be far more enjoyable for both of us next time when it's your penis that's making me come."

She met his stare to find him visibly pale and the lump in his throat bounce as he swallowed. She leaned forward to press her lips to his and the moment he returned the pressure she pulled back.

"But until then..." she continued, and he frowned. "I've got only two hours to try and get some sleep before work."

She shifted herself up and stood from the couch. When she turned around she couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Draco pouting up at her. His shirt was wrinkled, hair tossed in all directions, lips swollen still glistening, and his cock still very, very visibly alert, the long, full outline pressed against his trousers making her blush slightly.

She bit her lip thinking maybe she didn't need to sleep.

He eventually moved from the couch to stand before her and smirked down at her. She tried to hide her smile by tucking her lip under her tooth. He instantly stepped closer so that their was no longer any space between them, reaching his finger to her chin, pulling her lip from its hiding place.

"Don't-" he demanded, leaning down to gently graze his own teeth over her bottom lip, pulling it into his mouth. "-unless you'd like 'next time' to be right now."

She couldn't help but laugh at the serious look on his face and his frown deepened as he mumbled, 'infuriating witch', before pressing his lips against hers once more. Hermione let herself lean into it and felt the gentleness to his kiss lure her in. She knew if he stayed then she wouldn't be getting any sleep. Somewhere in the back of her mind she also didn't want their first time to be at five in the morning or to feel rushed. He seemed to sense her inner turmoil as he pulled his lips away from hers and gently pressed them to her forehead.

"I should go." He mumbled against her skin and she shivered.

"You should." She agreed, completely aware that neither of them dropped their arms from the others waist or made any gesture that hinted at letting go. She looked up at him and he smirked as she leaned up to kiss him again. "You should definitely leave."

"I'm trying witch. Be less kiss-able." He grumbled against her neck, placing another series of kisses against her skin as she laughed. His hands reached around her waist, lowering until they explored over her bum and gently squeezed until she was firmly pressed against him again.

"Maybe we should just- ahhh-" she tried to say as he pushed his hips closer, feeling his erection pressed against her making her catch her breath. She hadn't realized he had been pushing them backwards until she felt the cold wall against her back. She felt the hands on her bum grip her harder as he guided her up, her legs wrapped around him instinctively and her already sensitive core hummed with want as he rubbed himself against her warmth. He lowered his forehead to rest against her shoulder as she dug her fingers into his shoulder blades.

"I should really fucking leave." He breathed, his warm breath fanning over her collarbone.

"Mhm-" she whimpered as his hardened length found the perfect rhythm, rubbing against her just so...

She felt one of his hands explore beneath her shirt and felt his cold fingers against her stomach, lifting until he unclasped her bra and she shimmied out of it, hurrying to dispose of her shirt as well.

"For Merlin's sake Granger..." He grumbled as his eyes fell on her breasts. She laughed at the pained expression on his face as he seemed to be fighting the urge to bury his face against her chest. His eyes flickered back up to hers and he sighed against her lips, "You have the most beautiful breasts I have ever seen."

She laughed again and arched her back inviting him to touch her, her breath hitching as his tongue flicked across her nipple, a breathy moan escaping him as his other hand took her other breasts in its grasp, his fingers rolling her other nipple gently between them. Somehow he still managed to roll his hips against her and keep her pinned against the wall. She was certain he was going to make her come again. Just as she thought that she felt his breathing become uneven against her neck and his hands immediately fell to grip her hips, keeping them still as he found a rhythm that seemed to drive him insane. Hermione watched as his face contorted into a concentrated focus, his mouth slightly open and his eyes on her breasts lifting with every thrust.

A very ragged groan escaped his lips and he bucked his hips against her, pressing his length against her and slowly twitching as his he dropped his forehead to rest on hers. After several moments she was aware that he had just come without her even touching him and felt oddly satisfied and equally as disappointed for not having felt him inside her while he did. The thought made her realize that he still hadn't moved and his eyes remained shut as he lowered her to the ground.

"That was- I'm sorry-" he grumbled, hardly loud enough for her to hear.

She laughed, lifting her hand to raise his chin to see him frowning. "Why are you apologizing again?"

"That was fucking embarrassing..." he grimaced as she let out a soft laugh and glanced down at his trousers. "Yes, laughing is just the confidence boost I was looking for Granger. Thank you."

"You shouldn't be embarrassed. It was hot." She said with a shrug, but he still didn't look convinced.

"I feel like a fucking forth year who just saw breasts for the first time."

Hermione couldn't hold back her laughter. "Well, you shouldn't be so hard on yourself...it's understandable." She lifted her arms to wrap around his neck and shrugged. "I have wonderful breasts."

"Perfect fucking breasts." He breathed out in a pained sigh, shaking his head as he stared at them.

"Exactly." She smiled. "So, I would be surprised if you hadn't come very early and in your trousers."

He rolled his eyes and pulled her against him.

"I'm fucking leaving before you make me feel any less of a man that I already do."

"Are you?" She tilted her head up to look at him, "because it feels like your still holding me and keeping me from my beauty rest."

"You could benefit from missing a few hours- clearly you've been getting far too much."

"Well, I'm planning on loosing a few Friday night if you'd like to miss a few yourself?"

He groaned, and firmly pressed his lips to hers. He pulled away and the smile on his face made her heart flutter.

"I. Am. Leaving. Now." He took very slow steps backwards, wandlessly summoning his coat and shrugging it on, keeping his eyes on hers the entire time.

Hermione couldn't remembered the last time she felt as light as she did, knowing that she would be seeing him again, knowing what they planned to do... She grazed her fingers over her lips as he turned around in the Floo and his eyes lifted to hers as he stood with his back slightly bent, making his hair fall slightly in his view. He smirked at her as he reached for the Floo Powder.

"Fucking beautiful..." he shook his head in disbelief and mumbled his address... the next moment flames came to life around him.

Hermione did not sleep. She spent the next hour and half getting ready for work, and her smile refused to leave her face.

---

A/N: as a lovely reader pointed out for me, Luna is a year below them - in case anyone else catches this minor slip up