Though they did their best to avoid each other the next couple of days, Hermione quickly felt like she was losing her mind. Everything he said swirled in her mind. She knew Draco well enough to know how he could weaponize words when he was hurt, and that he usually regretted it the next day. Predictably, there was a note on her desk the next morning, a short, but sincere apology for the way he spoke to her. A promise that he was ready to listen if she wanted to talk, but that he'd respect her decision if she was done.

When they did see each other, he seemed to be sulking, not saying much of anything to anyone. He nodded to her in the mornings, but when it was just the two of them, they worked in silence. It made her want to Friday, she'd had enough. Her hands shook a little as she stepped into the floo, but she took a deep breath to steady herself. It was time to talk.

"Draco?" She called, stepping out into his foyer, "it's me!"

"Draco's in the shower," a voice from the doorway to the kitchen made her jump. It belonged to a surprisingly petite woman with a black streak in her blonde hair. She wasn't exactly warm, but there was a softened nature to her that Hermione recognized as different from the last time they saw one another. "Is that dinner?"

"Hi, Mrs. Malfoy," Hermione looked down at the paper bag in her hand, "er, yes. Curry."

"His favorite. Want some tea while you wait?" She didn't wait for a reply, but turned around and began to pour a mug for Hermione and a top off for herself from the pot on the stove. "He hates it when I drop by unexpectedly but I had some papers for him to sign. My son said he had a rough week at the hospital?"

She looked over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow. Hermione tucked a piece of hair behind her ear as she accepted the cup of tea. "Yes we, um, had a bit of a row about…a project we're working on together."

"That explains the mood. Peace offering?" She nodded again to the takeaway on the table.

Hermione shrugged, "he was right, I was stubborn. Only seemed fair."

There was a twitch of Narcissa's mouth, a half smile. "You know, I'm glad that he has someone like you in his life. Hasn't had many good role models in that department. He's very lucky to have you as a… friend."

"I feel lucky to have him as a friend too," Hermione said because it was the truth, and because the way Narcissa had briefly paused before the word 'friend' made her a little dizzy.

"Even after everything that happened? It amazes me. I don't know how you forgave him, forgave us."

"Well, you and Mr. Malfoy are a different story, but Draco was a child."

"So were you."

"Yes, and I'm better," Hermione kept her head high even though she was sure Narcissa would hex her at that. She didn't. In fact that half smile became a laugh, nodding as she grinned.

"Hard to argue when you put it that way. Always were better, Draco's the first to admit it."

Hermione laughed too and then the two women sat in silence for a moment. Neither could be sure how to breach the unspoken history between them.

"Your friend, the Potter boy. Does he still own Grimmauld Place?"

"Uh, I suppose he does, technically. No one's gone in there in years. Why?"

"Still has those curses, I'm sure, the portraits, the smell?"

"Last we were there, yes."

Narcissa paused for a moment, considering her next words carefully. "I could get rid of them. I'm a Black in good standing, I can reverse them so Potter could live there if he wanted. Renovate it, perhaps. I'm sure it would do well with some new paint."

"Why…why would you do that?"

"Because it's the least I can do."

"It is, it is the least you can do," Hermione agreed and she saw the same half smile come across Narcissa's face. "But maybe, I could ask. Wouldn't it…be dangerous? People know about that house, Death Eaters, Voldemort loyalists. If they knew where he lived, he could be vulnerable."

Narcissa considered it, tipping her head, "well, most of them, us, are dead, or in Azkaban. Or paying our debt to society in other ways. And any remaining… I don't mean to scare you dear, but you're a bright young woman. Surely you know that if someone were out to do you harm, they already know where you live, where you work, how to get to you."

"Yes, I do know that."

"A sad reality, I'm afraid. Draco and I worry over much of the same as blood traitors. But freedom comes with that as well."

"You might as well live your life."

They looked at each other for a moment, Hermione desperately trying to read the cold woman in front of her. A new voice broke their spell.

"Hi?"

Draco was standing in the doorway in his fancy athleisure, his hair drying naturally. His mother gathered up her papers and placed them in an extending handbag.

"Hermione and I were discussing home renovations. Women's things."

Hermione resisted flinching at the statement. This was exactly what she was talking about, their different worlds, the unreachable expectations of his life, even if she wanted to meet them.

"Have a nice dinner, you'll come for Sunday tea?" Narcissa stopped and kissed him on the cheek on her way out.

"Of course."

"Goodnight dear. Hermione, it was nice seeing you again."

When her floo left his flat, Draco locked eyes on Hermione, "what was that about?"

"12 Grimmauld place. She thinks if she undid some of the old curses, Harry and Ginny could paint it, open up the floor plan…honestly it could be rather nice."

"And give her evidence in court of a change of character. We'll have to get permission but it's actually a pretty good idea. If Potter was alright with it, of course."

Hermione shrugged, "like I said, it could be nice. And they could use the space. Ginny wants 5."

"Children?"

"No, dogs. Of course children. You should give your mum more credit, it's a win-win."

Draco sighed, moving over to unpack the takeaway on the table, "I worry nothing with my family is a win-win. There always has to be a loser."

"Maybe that's you, reviewing the paperwork and then cleaning up Grimmauld Place."

He tipped his head back and laughed at that, "there's my Granger."

She nodded and swallowed sharply, "I know things have been …strained with us."

"Well, I told you I was in love with you and you told me to get lost."

"That's not fair."

"You're right, continue. I assume you came here with a prepared speech."

Hermione took a deep breath. "I don't know how to *do* this Draco. I hardly know how to be in a relationship. Nonetheless one with you."

"What exactly is it about me, might I ask?"

"It wouldn't just be us in this, you know that right?"

"I don't care about the tabloids or the society pages."

"What about your mother?"

He smirked, "I think she likes you."

"No, she likes that you're not in Azkaban. She likes the life she thinks you might be able to have with me. But me? Uncultured, unmannered, too ambitious, too opinionated, and too swoty?"

"You stop that right now," he took a step towards her, trapping her between the counter and kitchen table, lowering his forehead to hers.

"Am I wrong?"

"My mother is… single minded. So yes, she's probably looking at this in terms of the engagement announcement."

"Engagement?"

"Hypothetically! Okay, sorry, too fast. I'm just…I also kind of don't know how to date as an adult."

"Bullshit."

"I know how to fuck, Granger, it's different. I think I've made it very clear I intend to date you."

"Yes. Fine, your mum, fine, it doesn't matter. What about your friends? What will they say?"

"I think we both know you mean your friends."

"Both. You think Pansy is just going to accept that you're dating me?"

"It might take time, but yes. The people who matter to us will see how we feel about each other. They will get on board."

Hermione looked down, "what if we're wrong?"

He tipped her chin up with one finger and looked at her long and hard, "is that what this is about? Leaping before you look?"

She swallowed and nodded, "all of those fights for…something we decide we don't want in the end."

Draco nodded and stuck his hands in his pockets. "Alright, what if we…I could manage trial period. Not forever, not for long even, but just for a while, maybe we…just keep it between ourselves? Figure out what it is and how we feel about it before we start involving the rest?"

"Is that what you want?"

"Not really," he smiled his softer smile at her, "but I'd do it for you. I'd do anything for you."

"Okay."

"Nope, you have to say it."

She rolled her eyes, "yes."

"Yes what?"

"Yes I will date you Draco Malfoy," she practically shouted, and he scooped her up and placed her on the kitchen counter, kissing her harder than he ever had before.

A/n: Aw everything seems to be going great. Would be a shame if something were to ... happen...