Draco sat with a fork full of eggs in one hand, and the Daily Prophet in the other the following morning. He was alone at the table, his mood even too sour for his own elf to stand to be around him. When he heard the tapping of an owl at his window, he jerked the paper down with a scowl.

If that's a fucking owl from Granger, he thought, as he rose from the table.

Mr. Malfoy, he said to himself in a mocking voice.

On behalf of the O.E.W., we would like to thank you for making our coordinator come twice last night. Your services to the Ministry are much appreciated.

You are a paradigm of Wizarding kind.

Miss Granger can barely walk today due to your generous—

Draco threw the window open, but it wasn't a ministry owl that swooped in. It was a Malfoy eagle owl.

Mother, he thought with a start.

The letter was in fact from the manor, his aunt Andromeda to be exact. It stated that his mother felt up for dinner tonight, and wished for him to join them.


The smell of delicious food hit him as soon as he exited the Floo, covering the all-too-common staleness that normally wafted the manor these days.

Ceely had requested Risly's help hours ago, so he knew something quite nice would be planned.

The thought excited him.

His mother loved planning get-togethers. She was particularly fond of unique and flavorful dishes, and making sure each visible flower arrangement matched the flavors of the dish, season, and current trends.

He had the silly urge to fly through the hall straight to the dining room, but the impulse was mercifully thwarted as two figures, arm in arm stepped into the receiving room.

He could tell his mother was still having some difficulty as she leaned on her sister a bit for support.

Narcissa was very thin, but he noted the color that had begun creeping back into her face. In addition, Narcissa's hair had been brushed and pinned up, and she wore a day dress Draco had not seen in ages. It was a maddeningly wonderful sight and, Draco thought, it would seem love magic had proved useful in his mother's ailments after all.

Draco rushed to her, forgetting all manner of the years of decorum he'd been taught.

When he reached her, he threw his arms around her and hugged her tight.


Narcissa had picked large blush-colored roses for the arrangements, no doubt cut this morning from her greenhouse. Though his mother's garden lacked the luster it had in his younger years, Ceely had made it her personal mission to see that the roses had remained.

The reunion with his aunt and mother together went smoothly enough, but even Draco did not deny the delicate tension in the room.

They sat together now in relatively good spirits. It was clear that whatever things they were working through could take pause for dinner, and it pleased Draco to see the women begin chittering about simpler things, such as childhood memories. Not pretending, but mending. There would need to be a lot of that, but he sensed both women would be willing to try. Draco thought that was really brave.

His mother even giggled over one story. He'd never heard his mother giggle.

Risly cracked in with a plate of food. He'd noticed it this morning, but he was shocked all the same to see her belly protruding more than ever. It felt like she had popped overnight.

She smiled at Draco excitedly and he winked at her before she cracked out again.

"Cissy, do you remember when our elf gave birth?" Andromeda said, taking a bite of roasted potatoes.

"Oh yes," Narcissa said, raising her eyebrows comically.

Andromeda continued, "We kept it a secret from mother and father, and Bella of course, lest she kill them…" Andromeda gave them both a dark look, "She did things like that."

There was a silent pause around the table before the witch continued, "Cissy scourgified the baseboards for a month so mother and father wouldn't find out," Andromeda said, spearing another potato proudly.

"I was merely… following my older sister's lead," Narcissa said, as if the notion was no matter to her at all.

"It's common for them to have multiples, you know?" Andromeda said to Draco, "Ours did. Are you quite sure you aren't about to have two or three more elves?"

Draco choked out a laugh, "N-no? The healer was sure there was only one."

"Healer?" Narcissa asked, puzzled.

"The welfare office requires them to have physical checks now. That's how we found out. With an elf healer," Draco said, busying his hand by cutting into his roast pheasant.

"Ah, that would be Hermione's doing," Andromeda stated proudly while giving Draco a concealed yet twinkling look.

Draco pretended not to notice and merely said, "Indeed."

After the main course, a vanilla tarte was magic'd in by the elves. It smelled so sweet, Draco thought, and it complemented perfectly with the poignant smell of the roses.


"That's good news about your mother. I hope she continues to improve," Rivington said.

Draco nodded his head absently, he'd just informed the mind healer of the recent developments with his mother's health, his involvement, and their recent dinner. Draco had been taking several meals at the Manor lately, and his aunt continued to be a guest in the home as well, taking it upon herself to spearhead his mother's recovery. Draco was grateful for this.

"Yes, I feel quite good about it," Draco said.

"I'd dare say you are hopeful," Rivington said with guile.

Draco nodded again. His knuckles rested on his temple as his elbow balanced on the wooden armrest of his chair. The fingers of his free hand tapped restlessly on the other side.

"So," Rivington said, his eye brow arching, "things seem to be going well."

Tap, Tap.

"It seems so…" Draco said.

"Now that there is a little less on your plate… involving your mother at least, I imagine you feel less… constrained?" The healer hedged.

Draco could tell Rivington was goading him. It was true. His mother wasn't a worry at the moment. He considered that situation with nothing but wishful expectation.

He could not say the same for other matters.

Tap, Tap.

Draco cleared his throat and offered, "There is, of course, the other matter."

"Oh?"

"I'm afraid—" he paused and stretched his fingers out from his temple to rub at his mouth, as if sweeping them over his words would make saying it out loud less threatening, "I may have been a bit witless, yet again," Draco tried.

Rivington narrowed his eyes, "Miss Granger, you mean."

"Yes."

"I imagine emotions were running high… from what you described concerning your mother."

"I'd say so," Draco said, fumbling with his lip.

"Speak plainly, Draco," Rivington said.

"I don't— I don't know what to say," Draco could feel his vision narrowing in on Rivington. He slumped in his chair a bit, ready for the familiar back and forth they did as the healer attempted to unravel the knots Draco tangled up in his mind.

"Well there is obviously something, or you wouldn't have mentioned it. Did you have sex with her again?"

"Yes."

"And how was it?"

"It was nice."

"As nice as the other times?"

"Better."

"Have you spoken to her since?"

"No."

"Why not?'

"She, uh— left. In the night."

"I would think the Heir of the great Malfoy House should have adequate enough owls to send a correspondence… Perhaps at least a thank you note," Rivington said.

Draco blinked at the man darkly a few times before stating, "Perhaps I haven't wanted to speak with her."

"Perhaps speaking about her is more satisfying, then?" Rivington quipped.

"You think me a cad, Rivington?" Draco felt his lip curl against his fingers.

"A man of your fine and pure blood? No— I should think rake sounds much more dignified."

Draco straightened himself, "You know good and well that isn't the case."

"I don't know what all you all have gotten into since we've become reacquainted. A lot can happen in two years after all."

"Well, you'll be quite delighted to know that you were the first and only person privy to the last time I— shagged anyone before this situation with Granger." Draco couldn't help but spit out her name, "What was it? Almost two and a half years ago? And we both know the sort of existential spiral that put me through. I'm hardly a fucking rake, Rivington."

The corner of Rivington's lip twitched up, just slightly, "So, would it be wrong of me to assume that this too has provided some… self-observation."

Rivington had meant to work him up, Draco knew this was some sort of technique, a part of their dynamic to get him to talk without overthinking.

"She'd never want me," Draco finally said, "I'm too…" he shook his head, unable to come up with the proper description so he tried again, "She's too…" Again, he trailed off.

Rivington spoke softly this time, no longer needing his previous hardness in the back and forth that was cracking Draco Malfoy.

"Perhaps Miss Granger has her own inner demons as well. It can't be easy going about your life, after war. Regardless of which side you were on."

Draco responded, "It's not like it could go anywhere… just imagine it. Me at Potter's house, having drinks with her friends? Patting her ex on the back and going 'Oi Weasley, did she make that little noise for you too, mate?' —And then afterwards we go home together and drink tea, maybe read together in bed before we fall asleep? It's absolutely absurd."

"Can you then?" The healer asked, and the man's eyebrows threatened to burrow into his hairline, "Imagine it?"

Draco thought for a moment in silence, letting himself chew absentmindedly at his nail a bit before settling on, "I let myself think about it some. This last time. Nothing specific. Just… let myself want it. But, realistically…. logically… It would be impossible."

"These things aren't typically so planned out, Draco. Besides, you do realize your day-to-day life is a fantasy to most, yes?"

Draco furrowed his eyebrows at the wizard.

"Muggles," Rivington continued, "You carry around a magic stick that allows you to make whatever you want happen. It's quite ridiculous and… impossible, should you consider it from their perspective.

"Hmm," Draco said.

"But you and I know that and so much more is possible. Perhaps your perspective on this situation is filtered through your own… limitations in understanding."

Draco blinked at him a few times, considering.


Draco sat at his desk some days later. He had a pile of documents to sign, so he was rewarding himself with a sip of Ogden's for each signature he made. He focused his mind on the scratch of his quill in order to keep it from wandering.

He heard the door creep open, and the small voice of his elf saying, "Master?"

He looked up to the creature, who had a pained look on her face.

"Yes, what is it, Risly?"

"Master told Risly to let him know if Risly needed the healer."

"Of course, whatever is the matter?"

Risly fell to the floor.


Draco exited the refreshment room of St. Mungo's Hospital with a coffee in hand.

The elf healer had informed Draco that Risly should be fine, but they would need to perform a special operation to remove the babe immediately, but that he otherwise need not worry.

Still, he was a bit preoccupied, which is why he didn't notice her until she was right in front of him.

"Malfoy?" she said.

It was Hermione.

He paused mid-sip.

"Granger," he choked on the coffee running down his throat, but recovered swiftly.

"Hello…" he said as he lowered the cup and ran a hand through his hair subconsciously, "I suppose they informed you, then?" Draco asked.

Hermione gave him a quizzical look and said, "What do you mean? What's happened?"

"Oh. My elf… Risly," he corrected, "She's having the… what do they call them? Baby… elf thing?"

Hermione's face lit up for a moment, but then faltered.

"No— I," she stuttered, "I was not informed. I'm here because Ginny just had her baby a few hours ago. Isn't that funny?"

"Oh," Draco said, his eyes falling to a spry curl.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked softly, and he thought she sounded hurt. His eyes met hers again.

He furrowed his brows and gave a noncommittal shrug, "I… intended to owl the office when I had a moment."

Hermione sighed, and he reckoned she was quite disappointed and viewed it as a snub.

What do you want from me, Granger, he thought.

"Well, how is your mother then?" She asked.

"Oh she seems to be improving," he said, pursing his lips and looking down to watch ripples forming in the liquid of his cup.

As if summoned, Harry Potter arrived around the corner, and Draco was convinced that he had most likely died several years ago and this whole thing was some dream. Or perhaps hell.

Definitely hell.

"Hermi—" Potter stopped short with a bewildered look on his face.

The three of them eyed each other, and an onlooker might have found the scene funny, but Draco Malfoy did not.

Hermione spoke first, "Oh, Harry. I've just run into Dra— Malfoy here. He is one of my clients— his elf is one of my clients, you know. Seems we have birthday twins in our midst. I mentioned it to you, about his elf expecting as well."

Draco squeezed the cup, and he thought it might collapse in his hands as he thought, well what the fuck else does Potter know? Perhaps about the mole on my arse too, then?

"Er—" Potter said.

"Potter," Draco said and offered him a nod, "I hear congratulations are in order."

Yeah," Harry gave a dopey grin, keen to lose himself in the emotion, and Draco thought the dreamy look Potter now displayed to be rather gross.

"A boy," Harry said, "James Sirius Potter."

Sirius. Sirius Black. Draco's blood, his family. Yet another person he wasn't allowed to love.

"Ah," was all that came out of Draco's mouth.

"She- um… Ginny sent me after you, Hermione," Harry said, turning to the witch.

"Oh!" Hermione said excitedly, "Yes, I'll be right there."

Harry tapped his fingers on the side of his leg awkwardly a few times then said, "Right then, er—" he then turned and took his leave. Half of Draco was glad to be rid of him, the other half wished he'd stayed.

"I- er.. need to go," Hermione said, "but perhaps I could stop by… once you are settled at home. To visit Risly and the little one."

"Of course," Draco said to his coffee, his voice stony.

Her fingers brushed his bicep, but he continued his inspection of the contents of his cup.

She left.


Hermione Granger stood outside of Draco Malfoy's door. The last time she was here, she'd fucked him, yet again. Even though she had told herself, and him, that it would not happen again.

If you could even call what that was fucking. She wasn't quite sure that she could, and that fact unnerved her more than anything at the moment.

She knocked.

This is business, she told herself. She could not miss the opportunity to be involved in the first elven birth since the O.E.W. was commissioned. Even if it happened to involve Draco Malfoy and his large—

The door opened just a crack and silver eyes peered at her, framed in dark circles.

He looked half mad. Why did she find it so fucking endearing?

Draco kicked the door open and gave her a wild look.

Hermione's first glimpse of Risly's child was as a tiny bundle curled up in the crook of Draco's neck.

The elf very much resembled a potato, but with very large ears. One covered its face, and another stretched across Draco's collar bone.

He bared his teeth at her and put a finger to his mouth with the hand that was not holding the tiny elf, indicating she should enter silently.

She complied, tiptoeing in and holding her gift basket close so as not to bump into anything.

So fucking loud, he had said last time she was here, his voice dripping with sex.

Hermione shook away the thought.

Draco's usually pristine flat was certainly less so, but it was nothing compared to the disheveled look the Malfoy heir presented with.

His hair had a slight wave to it she hadn't seen before, and she was quite certain he was wearing sweatpants. The way they hugged his waist was quite distracting to Hermione, as well as the green jumper he wore, which made his tired gray eyes shine.

He grimaced at her as if all of this was her fault, and pointed to a spare surface for her to set her offering.

Draco strolled carefully to the far corner of the sitting room to a tiny bassinet by the couch that Hermione had fucked him on the first time and carefully placed the elf baby in it.

She watched him let out a sigh, and roll his neck before crossing the room back to her.

As if in explanation he whispered, "I just got him to sleep."

Hermione was stunned, without words in fact.

"I, er, brought a gift basket," Hermione whispered back.

"Lovely," he said dryly and Hermione had a sneaking suspicion he didn't think it, or her being here was lovely at all.

Prat, she thought.

Hermione tongued her cheek before saying, "Should… should I come back another time?"

Draco shrugged with quiet exasperation, "He only sleeps a couple of minutes at a time. Perhaps you could just wait him out, if you'd like."

"Where is Risly?"

He looked around wildly as if the thought had only just occurred to him as well.

Hermione found her first, and pointed at the overstuffed chair near the fireplace where the elf was passed clean out.

She put a hand over her mouth to stifle the laugh.

"Yes, very funny Granger," Draco spat-whispered at her.

He looked to the basket with a huff and she saw him eye a shiny green apple that adorned the collected goods.

"By all means," Hermione said, disguising her amusement.

Not well enough it seemed, because he sneered at her before he plucked it out and promptly walked away from her.

Draco plopped himself on the couch and took a loud crunch of the apple. She watched him lean forward to look at the tiny bassinet as he chewed, and she thought he looked quite shell shocked at the realization he might have caused a disruption.

She carded a finger through her hair and excused herself to the loo, if not only to get ahold of herself.


When Hermione returned, she heard Draco's soft snoring before she saw him. Afterall, she was familiar with the sound from several nights ago, though this time it was mixed with what must have been Risly's snuffles as well.

She rounded the couch then, and there he was, the half-eaten apple still clutched in his long fingers.

Dead to the world.


Draco heard her before he opened his eyes.

"Seems it's been quite the adjustment," Hermione said.

"Oh yes, but Master has been helping Risly with Keely."

Draco made a light groaning noise and opened his eyes. It was night time. Hours must have passed, but Granger still sat in the lounge chair across from him, and Risly was perched on the arm rest beside her, the baby elf laying in his mother's arms.

Draco murmured, "Have you been here this whole time?"

He straightened himself a bit from where he had slumped.

"You were both asleep, I couldn't leave Keely unattended," Hermione answered, and the females continued their admiration of the smallest elf.

Draco groaned again, he felt a crick in his neck, and his eyes felt bleary.

"He's quite capable of announcing himself when he wants something, I assure you there was no need."

Hermione ignored him.

Draco put his head in his hands and rubbed at his eyes.

"Will you be staying the night then?" He said, sarcastically, his continued exhaustion affording him no sense of subtlety or politeness. Draco could feel her glare at him, but he only craned his neck to look at the baby elf.

The witch huffed, and then checked her watch, "I suppose I should be going."

Risly slid off the armrest and bowed low to the witch, "I shall see you out." Risly said.

"No need," Draco responded, waving a hand at the elf.

Risly nodded and bowed again, "An honor, Miss Granger," then skipped to her room with her young in hand.

Hermione rose and Draco heaved himself from the couch to walk her to the door.

When they reached it, unsurprising to Draco, she couldn't just leave well enough alone and simply go.

Hermione turned to him.

He looked down at her, and watched as the corner of her mouth twitched a few times as she decided on her next swotty, bossy comment.

He decided to speak first, instead.

"Did we pass the O.E.W.'s latest inspection, Granger?" His body felt stiff, and not just because of the many hours he had spent splayed haphazardly on his couch.

"I— yes, everything seems to be in order," Hermione said.

He gave her a jerking nod, lowering his eyes to the floor.

His jaw tightened when he felt her fingers curl against his forearm.

Draco felt the twist of his mouth into a displeased look, and he maintained his gaze on the floor between them.

She removed her hand quickly, Draco assumed, due to his reaction.

He pulled his lip through his teeth and said in an icy voice, "Is that part of your job too?"

"Draco…" he heard her say, and he lifted his eyes lazily to her in response.

"You're… you're upset with me, aren't you?" Hermione asked.

"If you haven't noticed, Granger, I have a lot going on right now. I don't have the energy for games, nor am I in much of a position for entanglements."

She stepped forward proudly, and he was suddenly reminded of the girl he knew in school who had made similar gestures towards him when he'd vexed her.

"Are you so entitled that you think everyone should infer all of your needs, or are you that incapable of verbalizing your feelings?"

Draco's face cracked into an inopportune smile.

"Smirking and sly remarks are not appropriate communication, Draco," the witch snapped at him.

"No, I— I'm just laughing because my mind healer says the same thing," he said, looking up at her.

Her face softened for only a moment and then she pursed her lips lightly before saying, "Are you done with this then? What do you want me to say, Draco?"

He scowled and shook his head. He felt furious at her lack of reason. Brightest witch of our age, indeed, he thought. She had not thought any of this through, from the beginning, obviously.

So he supposed he would have to help her.

He spoke through gritted teeth at her, "What is there to be done with exactly? I want you to call this what it is: an impulse, a good fuck, a dream."

He ran a hand over the side of his face. He was too tired to talk about this right now. Why wouldn't she just leave like she always did?

She nodded her head a few times before finally saying, "I knew it."

Draco felt his eyes widen, "Yes, you know everything don't you? I suppose I am sentimental as you called it. Sorry to have ruined your fun there Granger, I know fucking a death eater was probably a nice story to tell all of your friends. Tell me, is it some sort of fetish you are indulging in, or are you that self-righteous you thought you could shag the evil right out of me?" He got close to her face then finished with the nastiest tone he could muster, "Magical as you may be, I don't know if it's enough."

Draco thought she might slap him. He'd seen that look from her before, long ago. She didn't step back or even flinch when he moved towards her.

She wasn't intimidated by him in the slightest.

"Spare me the melodrama, Malfoy," she said slowly, looking up at him through her lashes as if he were boring her.

This fucking witch.

He blinked at her a few times, his anger cooling when she wouldn't fight back.

He'd been cruel, but it wasn't working on her. Draco took a deep shuddering breath and tried again.

Draco looked back down at the floor. He supposed he would just have to tell her the truth. Surely that would work at scaring her away.

"I am so tired of wanting things I cannot have," Draco said, and he looked back up at her. "I am so tired, Hermione. I've spent a lot of time being angry at myself, being self destructive, you said it yourself. This isn't healthy. It's not … wise for me to dally with this. It's not real."

She narrowed her eyes at him and scoffed.

Hermione then rocked to the top of her toes.

Despite the considerable height difference, she was able to lift her mouth just in front of his.

Draco braced himself, his body deceiving him as forgot himself completely and swallowed harshly. He closed his eyes, and his mouth fell open slightly, and maybe he was turning into a dementor after all because all he wanted in that moment was to suck her in to him.

Instead, he felt her release a breathy laugh.

Was actually laughing at him?

His eyes flew open and he saw her, face inches from him, a look of amused annoyance knit her features.

Hermione cocked her head to the side before she breathed in his face again saying, "It fucking feels real to me."

He might have pushed her against the door and gave her a proper snog right then if he wasn't so shocked.

She rolled herself back down on flattened feet and continued,"Is it so… difficult for you to imagine? Something else, something more. With me?" Hermione asked flatly.

Draco didn't register half of what she had said before he blurted, "Oh, I find myself imagining loads of things involving you."

She scoffed again, but he could have sworn a smile creeped into the corners of her mouth.

Her words caught up to him then, 'Something more. With me.'

"I do not hope for many things, Hermione, but dammit if you have not caused me to wish." He let out a breath and shook his head as if the movement could erase his words, but he was too far in now. He spoke again impulsively, "You couldn't… possibly…"

"I don't quite care for being told what I can or cannot possibly do. I've done loads of impossible things," She said, letting her eyes fall over him, the way someone might size someone up before a duel.

He was dumbfounded. And warm. And confused. This is not at all how he thought this would go.

She continued, "I really did want to talk… both of those nights…when you asked me to come over that time, and then the next time when you didn't really ask but flung me into the floo. I wanted other things too, obviously— but I also wanted to apologize for being so brazen, or find some sort of common ground, but you—" she laughed and shook her head, "You never seem to be very interested in talking. At least not about how you were feeling."

"Perhaps I find it rather difficult to discuss," he said.

She rolled her eyes in frustration, but she'd proven in the past few moments she wasn't one to give up easily.

"Perhaps we could actually talk, then. Perhaps even… work something out," she said.

It sounded so professional, but it made sense coming from her. He had to laugh at the notion.

"Are you asking me out on a date, Granger?" Draco asked. This is definitely not how he thought this would go.

"An interest meeting," she said.

He paused.

Grindelwald fucking Dumbledore in the arse, he thought.

He finally answered, "Very well, then."