Once she fell into that dreamless sleep, she stayed there blissfully, not waking herself up in the middle of the night like she normally did. That was, of course, until she woke in the middle of the night to Draco bolted up in bed, out of breath whisper-shouting something she couldn't make out.

"Draco?" She sat up too as he dropped his face into his hands, "what's wrong?"

"Nothing. A dream, go back to sleep."

She didn't. Instead she moved towards him and placed a hand on his forehead "fever's gone. It should be better-"

"It wasn't the fever," he swatted her hand away, "I've had that one before."

They were silent for a moment, Draco's figure only visible from the moonlight outside the window.

"I have nightmares too. Horrible things. Never go away do they?"

"No," he laid back down, not looking at her, "mine are memories," he said quietly.

"Some of those as well."

He gulped, "it was that day at the Manor again"

"When you pretended not to recognize Harry?"

"Not that part."

"Oh."

"It haunts me. I suspect it'll always haunt me. Years ago, I couldn't even close my eyes without seeing the look in yours that day."

"I don't want that for you."

"I know. But it's the truth. That day … that place … I hate it. Mum and I left that night, claimed illness and that I had to take care of her while my father attended to his duties. Voldemort didn't care by that point, had enough of the Malfoys for the moment."

"She left him?"

"In so many words. It was a long time coming. She'd already been trying to get us out for months. But there is no getting out of something like that. We had already made our choices. Best we could do was passively wait it out, she said. I wish I had known how wrong she was. I didn't know until that day. Being passive in that was just as bad. Maybe worse. More selfish, more cowardly."

"You saved us by not identifying Harry, you know that right?"

"Think the elf I used to make clean up my messes saved you."

"Well, you helped."

He chuckled and then his face turned serious again, "what if I had stopped her? Bellatrix? I wish I had just stopped her."

"You'd probably be dead."

Silence hung for a few more minutes and Hermione even began to close her eyes when he spoke again.

"I was glad when they gave us that stupid little broom cupboard of an office y'know, forced me to stop avoiding your eye. Stopped being afraid of what I'd see."

"I noticed that. You're not subtle." He laughed and she did too, laying back down facing him as he looked up and away, "and I'm glad too, for the office."

"No need to lie for my benefit."

"Really, I mean you hum far too loudly and you're always encroaching on my desk, but … it's hard to truly forgive someone if you don't know them. And now I know you."

"And before?"

"Before I was doing what I knew was the right thing. Because you didn't deserve what would've happened to you. Not because I cared about you, not because I wanted you to be happy."

"Now you want me to be happy?" It was soft and hopeful, and finally he looked over at her.

"Of course I do, Draco. Are you?"

"Mostly. At least most of the time. Are you?"

"Think that's the best most of us can hope for. So yes, mostly. Most of the time."

"I've thought a lot about how to possibly make it up to you."

"You have philanthropy, your work at the hospital, and you've written all those letters," she dismissed. "Who is it not enough for, them or you?"

"Not to the wizarding world, I mean, to you. Everything at the manor and then your testimony, and now this? It's a hell of a ledger."

"I got a letter too."

"So why do I wake in the middle of the night with your screams in my head?"

She gave him a pointed look, "sounds like this is about you again."

"Right. Sorry."

"But I take my coffee with a splash of milk, two sugars," she gave him a little smile and he grinned.

"Noted."

"And you mentioned a rare book collection at the Manor?"

"Cleaning me out Granger? Do you want jewelry too?"

"We both know I don't," she yawned, "now go to bed."

Waking up to Draco Malfoy in her bed was one of the more unusual experiences of her life. They had shifted in their sleep, ended up closer to each other than where they had started. It didn't surprise Hermione when she thought about the way the heat of his body drew her in. His arm had wrapped around her waist, though she had managed to resist crawling into the curve of his body like she wanted. It was innocent enough that when they woke, he simply pulled it away and they pretended it never happened in the first place.

Better yet, now that he had his bearings back, he was looking around again, drinking in every detail. He had just discovered that her headboard was a literal book case affixed to the bedframe with magic when she decided she had enough of his commentary. She left him to shower off in the bathroom and went back downstairs to start some coffee.

The kettle had just started to whistle when a sound from the fireplace made her jump and turn around.

"Ron? What are you doing here?"

"Hello to you too, Hermione," he said, dusting himself off as he stepped out.

"Ginny's not here, she's in Paris with Harry."

"Gross. But I know, she owled me yesterday. Have you see a box of WonderWitch products? I'm meant to pick them up with her sampling notes."

"There's something in the den."

"Brilliant," he said headed towards the little makeshift office. "you alright? Seem jumpy."

"Just wasn't expecting company," she called over, trying to preoccupy herself with the French Press.

"Smells good," he came back with a large cardboard box floating beside him, "two mugs? I suppose I could stay for a cup.

"Take it to go, I'm sure you're busy," she summoned a thermos as he raised an eyebrow.

"I always have time for you."

As if on cue, or possibly because he'd been listening by the top of the steps, Draco came bounding down them.

"Smells good in here oh- Weasley. Hello."

Ron looked from him to Hermione, to the second mug and back to Hermione again. She groaned.

"Not what it looks like."

"Is that thermos for me?" He took it without waiting for an answer, "so thoughtful, I have to run to an appointment otherwise I'd stay and chat."

Ron still hadn't said anything which was worse than any blow up. He just looked at Draco silently.

"Thank you for a lovely evening, Granger, I'll see you Monday."

With that, he let himself out the front door and Ron, who looked like he'd been slapped, turned his gaze back to Hermione.

"He's messing with you, we were up all night working on a project, that's all. He's trying to get a rise out of you."

"Yeah? Well, it worked."

"Maybe if you didn't let it."

"Oh so it's my fault your partner's a twat? Or is it boyfriend now?"

"Ronald! I told you the truth, believe me or don't, but don't punish me for things you've decided to be true in your mind. Draco is a just a friend and I'm helping him with something I can't discuss. We're not together."

He huffed, "I'm sorry, alright? I'll get out of your hair."

As the second man left her flat, Hermione couldn't help but feel a little bit of guilt. Everything she had said was true, so why did she feel like she'd lied straight to Ron's face?