Media Circus
The ring on her finger was entirely not her taste, but it is exactly what she imagined Malfoy getting for his hypothetical fiancé. I thankfully wasn't as heavy as it appeared. When he had opened the box the shock on her face was not feigned. It was a beautiful piece of art, not something one wore to do anything other than look pretty in a photo. The proposal was short, and Draco had said some kind non-sense, nothing like what he had said yesterday. They were now seated in the garden with the reporter from Witch Weekly. Hermione had to remind herself to smile; she was exhausted already, and The Prophet interview was directly after this one.
"I know you both have already had a long day, thank you so much for being so open to offering us your valuable time," the reporter, Lana, gushed.
"Of course," Malfoy said with a practiced smile as he casually draped his arm over the back of the small, cushioned bench they shared. He lightly tapped Hermione between the shoulder blades, and she realized how stiffly she had been sitting. She took a breath and copied his smile and echoed his sentiments. Lana smiled, her eyes alight, taking in the sight of Hermione and Malfoy sitting in such casual comfort next to one another.
"So, the readers want to know your story. We know you both came from such different backgrounds, but Ms. Granger you are now very close friends with Pansy and Gregory Goyle, two of Mr. Malfoy's friends and former blood supremacists. Isn't that correct? How are you two overcoming your differences?" She asked.
She may look and sound vapid, but it was a cover for a shrewd journalist and Hermione would have been impressed if she didn't have to be in the line of fire. Draco looked at her then and asked, "did you want to take this one or shall we both answer?"
Lana cut in, "I know our readers would love to hear both sides as I am sure they are very different."
"I can start," Hermione said with a smile, "For me it was in Draco's honesty that I first found the barrier could be surmounted, he came to me when the Ministry sent him a letter informing him of the match."
"Didn't you also get a notice?" Lana asked.
"I in fact, did not. The ministry wanted to allow the men the chance to be romantic and propose," Hermione continued with a smile.
Lana's charmed quill was flying across the page as she gaped at them for a moment before continuing.
"Am I to understand the Ministry had no intention of informing the women until an unknown later date," she asked in a scathing tone.
Malfoy applied pressure between her shoulder blades again as if he could read her mind and see that she was ready to pounce on this question. His gentle pressure was a reminder to measure her response. They were going to be the darlings not a firing squad.
"We of course would never presume to understand the Ministry's intentions, we can only speak to our own experience thus fair. At this point I still have received no letter," Hermione said sweetly.
Lana's quill continued to fly across the page as she replied, "what a plot twist." Her smile was lupin for a moment before she smoothed her expression and turned her question on Malfoy.
"Mr. Malfoy, tell me about overcoming your up bringing and being assigned to marry a woman who this journalist has on good authority you tormented as a child," Lana said with fire in her eyes.
Hermione noticed the shift, almost imperceptible but she was paying attention. She leaned into the hand he at her back and he gripped her shoulder blade. She kept her expression bland and pleasant.
Malfoy spoke in his usual unaffected drawl, his ability to appear unruffled was uncanny and caused Hermione to consider again if she had ever truly met Draco Malfoy until a few days ago. What kind of life he must have led to allow him to plaster on this face when she knew he was likely hanging on by a thread; she would never truly know.
"My only concern when being matched with Hermione was for her for all the reasons you enumerated. It is hardly a secret that I was a proper tosser as a child and teen," he said with a laugh, "I have no concerns about blood purity. I have spent the last four years educating myself about the billions of non-magical people across the world. I enjoy many aspects of Muggle culture and am happy to be matched with a witch who will appreciate those things with me."
He sounded so sincere when he said that like it was the real truth. She supposed they had come to a truce of sorts this morning, she was content they could at least be friends since they would be stuck together.
"I think that will do it, we look forward to covering your engagement in the society section," Lana said sweetly.
"One more thing. We would also like to extend an invitation to our wedding held on July 7th," Hermione chimed.
"A wedding!" she gasped.
"Yes, held in the Peace and Unity Gardens on the Hogwarts campus," Draco added with a warm smile.
Lana's quill was flying again. "Ms. Granger will your close friend Pansy be designing your dress?"
"Of course, I would trust no other designer with such an important gown," Hermione said in a wistful voice, "but I can say no more on the subject because she is working her magic as we speak. I have no idea what it will even look like to give you any hints."
"Well, this certainly has been an enlightening afternoon, Ministry intrigue and the wizarding world's most notorious opposites turned power couple! The readers will love you!" Lana crowed.
They had scheduled a break between interviews and Hermione had wandered into the house away from the circus outside. She was standing in front of a large picture window overlooking the gravel drive when Malfoy found her. He came to stand just behind her left shoulder. The stood there for several minutes in silence. From the front of the house a passerby would see an indifferent stoic couple, but inside both were vast oceans of unspoken emotions, both alone and unwilling to call out for help.
The silence was broken by Narcissa bustling in, "Ah there you are, The Prophet is ready for you both now," she said brightly, for her this day was just par for the course. Before her name had been dragged through the mud Narcissa Malfoy was at the top of every society function's list. Having Hermione and Draco become the talk of the town was likely going to be her ticket back to the top. Hermione tried not to feel bitter about that, Narcissa had been kind to her, but it was hard not to consider the strategic advantage to her kindness. Narcissa had been trained from birth to be all that encompassed grace and beauty, but also how to be strategic in her alliances.
Malfoy squeezed her shoulder before he led her back to the garden to face the much less friendly face of a middle-aged male reporter, Barnaby was it, she couldn't remember. He thankfully, introduced himself again and it was indeed Barnaby. Malfoy resumed the same position as earlier though closer this time so he could press his leg against hers in a reassuring way. This interviewer was likely to be much more probing than Lana had been. The Prophet was never known for holding their punches. He proved this right out of the gate as he directed his first question to Malfoy.
"A former school yard bully turned Death Eater, quite the resume Mr. Malfoy, tell us, what have you been doing the last few years after you fled Britain?" Barnaby said with a smug expression.
A muscle in Malfoy's jaw twitched. Hermione remained silent because she knew jumping to his rescue would not be well perceived well by this reported. Hermione just pressed her leg against his in silent solidarity.
"I have been travelling abroad, visiting various historical Magical and Muggle locations. I enjoyed learning about the history, culture, and food of countless countries around the world. I was raised with a very specific set of beliefs but realized sooner than you or anyone would likely believe that they were very wrong. Much of this realization actually came as a result of constantly being academically thwarted by the Muggle born witch beside me. Her consistent brilliance, when she so clearly lacked the strength of ancient magical blood, the privilege of tutors, and magical parents, began my unlearning. Most of my reeducation though came from my travels as I lived alongside Muggles and went weeks without magic just to see if I could. I have no desire to be non-magical, but I have an appreciation for their ingenuity. I do still believe being a wizard is superior, but only in that it makes life less tedious and more fantastic," Draco said gave this speech as one would give a dissertation on the importance of Flobberworm mucus to the practice of potion brewing. He was so robotic, like he didn't himself believe his own words. It was like the old Malfoy was making an appearance and this was not the time or place.
Barnaby's face stayed a mask of cool calm, completely unimpressed with Malfoy's performance. He turned to Hermione next, and his face utterly transformed, he smiled congenial before asking her, "tell us Ms. Granger what was your initial reaction when you received your letter from the Ministry, you were once very close with Minister Shacklebolt. Does this feel like a betrayal?"
"I was once closer to the Minister back when we were both Members of the Order of the Phoenix. We are no longer as close given he is very busy and I myself have been very occupied with my advocacy and representation firm. As to receiving a letter, I did not. Draco received the summons and was informed I would be his intended. Draco then tracked me down at my office and told me himself. I have still not received word from the Ministry, and it has been two days since Draco received his summons. I believe the ministry wanted to allow for some element of chivalry to exist allowing the men to be gentleman," Hermione said with a sweet smile.
Barnaby looked disturbed before turning back to Malfoy, "Do you think the Ministry had chivalry in mind Mr. Malfoy?"
Hermione froze heart pounding, that was the type of direct question they were needing to avoid.
"I think it is 2003 and a lady has agency and a mind of her own, if I had been on the team who drafted this law, I would have fought for both parties to be informed simultaneously. After all, these marriages are simply a contract as the law reads, in any good contract both parties should be equally and wholly informed," Draco said evenly with a polite incline of his head.
He was such a natural, a perfect robot. While he may have demonstrated over the last two days, he had made an effort to change, she still loathed him. His natural propensity to smooth talk grated her nerves. Could he just react like a normal human, she wanted to make him snap. She had crowded his space and yelled in his face and nothing, just the same calm exterior and snarky comebacks. He was maddening.
"Ms. Granger, are you quite alright?" Barnaby asked.
Shit. She had been so wrapped up in her mind she had forgotten she was meant to be focusing, this was so unlike her, it was Malfoy's fault if he would just act like he had human emotions she wouldn't be so distracted. Draco tapped her shoulder blade more insistently than he had earlier.
"Yes, quite, I am sorry, did you have another question for me?" she asked her tone belying her nerves and she hated it. Malfoy applied pressure to her shoulder blade, but she rolled her shoulders, his little casual touch was now annoying not soothing. He pulled his hand away then and she felt him shift away infinitesimally. Good, maybe she could think clearly now.
"How do you feel about this pairing," Barnaby said with a sympathetic smile. Great he thought she was distressed so he was going to pity her. Malfoy tensed beside her, that made her smile internally. So, he did have emotions, at least so far as they applied to self-preservation.
"Honestly," Malfoy flinched slightly, Hermione felt bolder then, "my first thought was disbelief. Then I felt resigned," Hermione took a breath, she had to sell the story, no time for bitterness at least as far as the media was concerned, "However, Draco has demonstrated that he is a changed man. I don't see the boy I had known. I have found this to be true of many of my former classmates who are close personal friends of Draco's. In fact, his ex-girlfriend and another former bully of mine is now one of my closest friends and her husband works for my non-profit representing magical creature issues."
"You are speaking about Pansy Goyle nee Parkinson and Gregory Goyle, correct?" Barnaby asked.
"Yes, I am," Hermione clarified then added with a bit more softness, "To be clear though I am glad to have been paired with a person I feel like could be a good partner. Draco is capable, intelligent, and even though it pains me to admit," she says with a laugh, "kind, when he forgets he's meant to be a total prat."
Hermione glanced at Malfoy and his face was carefully blank, she wanted to roll her eyes. She was selling the story but saying kind things about him when she really just wanted to slug him filled her with quiet rage.
Barnaby thanked them for their time and left. The circus was finally over. Narcissa had come out to the garden to offer dinner, but Hermione wanted to get out of her outfit and possibly silence her flat and scream at the top of her lungs because Draco Malfoy was an irritating unfeeling git.
Malfoy escorted her to the Floo, and she was just going to Floo to her own home but realized she had closed her Floo before Apparating to Malfoy's flat this morning. Malfoy offered his arm stiffly before throwing the Floo powder and calling out for his Flat.
No sooner had they stepped through than Malfoy rounded on her backing her into the hearth. His grey eyes flashing. She realized, much to her dismay she may be getting her wish to see him snap.
"What the fuck happened today, you were fine then you just lost the plot part way through the day, I thought you were intelligent Granger, quick wit and all. Then when you stuttered, he had the most disgusting pitying look. I am going to be crucified in that article you know that right?" he slammed his fist against the mantle next to her head and she flinched, "Thanks for that," he spit before turning to walk away but Hermione grabbed his arm. Oh, this fight was not over.
"Well, well, Draco Malfoy does have feelings. And look at that brilliant display of violence. Merlin Malfoy you were like a robot today, you talked about everything so clinically, people want to see feelings, emotions. Want people to buy that you are changed? Show them!" Hermione shouted.
Draco looked like she had slapped him, then his face hardened, "So I should just bumble about like you did today and make a fool of myself for all those people who wouldn't deign to even waste their spit on me. Is that it Granger? I should just prostrate myself before the public. I might be reformed but that doesn't mean I have a new character entirely. I have always been an asshole ask anyone," He condescended, looming over her.
"Don't do that," she said as she pushed him with both hands.
"Do what?" he sneered.
"Deflect like that. Acting like you aren't actually capable of warmth and kindness. I have seen it!" she said with frustration. Draco just turned away and thrust his hands into his hair as he paced. Every time he turned back toward her his eyes soften.
Occlusion. That was why he was so robotic. How had she missed it. Her anger deflated. He was still an irritating git but watching him come out of his Occluded haze was like watching a trainwreck in slow motion. Her jacket was too hot, as he turned away from her, she quickly unbuttoned and cast it off. He turned back to her now. He looked younger but simultaneously worn and exhausted. She stepped forward then and reached for his face, he flinched away, she reached again and this time he allowed her to gentle hold his cheeks.
"You must be a very skilled Occlumens. I didn't have any idea until this moment," she said quietly.
"I haven't used it in years until today," he said in a small voice she didn't know.
How could she think he was incapable of feeling. Seeing this man before her now, she chastised herself. The man who had run his nose up the side of hers earlier today, the man she had hoped would kiss her. She looked up meeting the swirling tempest of his stormy gaze. He was staring at her like she was a miracle, even after all the horrible things she had said in anger. Her mouth was dry, and her heart was pounding.
"I let my old prejudices cloud my rational mind today and I am sorry Malfoy," Hermione said as she let her hands fall away.
"I know, I deserve it, but it still pains me to know you really think I am unfeeling," he said as he stepped toward her and she stepped back he followed, "You know why I'm such a good Occlumens, because I feel too much and for most of my life that meant pain and punishment. I learned when I was fifteen," Hermione's back hit the heath again, "I was a master before I was chosen to become a Death Eater. I had moments of lapse obviously, like when Potter found me in the bathroom sixth year after I saw Katie Bell and gave me the lovely set of scars that cover my entire torse. After that day I worked even harder. I had mental walls so thick they couldn't be cracked even when I was Crucio'd," his voice was exhausted and fraught with pain and anger, though not at her.
Hermione didn't know what to say right now. She had always assumed Malfoy had a hard life. This was so much more than she could have ever imagined. She silently took one of his hands and lead him to his kitchen. She directed him to a stool before flicking her wand at the kettle to boil the water. She opened the cabinet she had seen him open the other morning and pulled out mugs. She poured the tea and passed him a cup after adding two spoons of sugar and just a dash of milk, like she had observed him do the other morning. She fixed her own tea then scooted herself onto the counter behind her. He took long sips draining his cup just watching her sit with her legs crossed at the ankle sitting on his kitchen counter. He rose and came around the counter and Hermione watched his progress toward her. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding when he passed her by. He had discarded the suit jacket while pacing; now he removed his cufflinks and slowly rolled his sleeves up to his elbows. Her eyes caught on the Dark Mark but if he noticed her notice it, he didn't react. Sleeves rolled, he washed the cup and set it on the rack to dry. She was transfixed watching the muscles of his forearms flex as he completed such a mundane task. She drained her tea to try and distract her wandering mind then Malfoy extended his hand to take her cup. She handed it to him, and their fingers brushed. She inhaled sharply and was once again transfixed as he washed her cup and set it to dry next to his. Finished, he gripped the edge of his sink head bowed, his usually perfect hair falling into his eyes, his shoulders rising and falling heavily. Finally, he stood and turned to lean against the sink next to her.
"Thanks Granger, for the tea," he said.
"I figured it was the least I could do since I started this entire fight," Hermione said weakly.
"It was bound to happen eventually. I was beastly to you, you don't actually know me and the git that you were familiar with did his best to be everything you just accused me of," he said as he stared straight ahead, "I'm tired Granger, I am going to bed."
Without another word he walked out of the room toward the stairs. Hermione wanted to go after him, but then what? Nothing, there was nothing she could do for him right now. She walked back to the living room and grabbed her outer robe before Apparating home.