I am so sorry, I didn't post yesterday for a stupid reason : I just completely forgot. This is one of my favorite chapter, this one and the next (36). I'm really excited for you to read it. Hope you enjoy!
Special thanks :
My alpha Angelina, her wonderful ideas and care for this story.
My betas enchanted4life and Wise_Owl26 for their endless support.
Hermione faced Duncan, wand still held out in front of her. The cold bit into her skin. Her hand was shaking. She couldn't think straight. She couldn't accept what he had just told her. She shook her head, heart beating wildly.
"No," she whispered. No, it's not you... You're cursed."
He took a step towards her and the snow crunched under his feet. He was only a metre away from her. Slowly he took out a cigarette, dangled it between his lips and lit it with his wand.
"Oh, but it's me," he said. "And I can't wait to reveal it all to you..."
Harry had succeeded. When Hermione thought back to that night of torture, all she could remember was Duncan. Even though she could hear her own voice calling Blaise's name, she never saw him again in her mind. Still, she knew the full story. She knew that Duncan had used Blaise's appearance and that Blaise had been unable to attend the Ball. It was only what she had seen, literally, that was altered.
And now all she wanted was to see her friend. It was only after the spell had already been performed that she admitted this to Draco. They were in their common living room, in front of the fireplace, on Saturday morning.
"Erm, Draco?" she said in a small voice as she put her coffee cup back on the coffee table. "I don't want any secrets between us."
The blonde wizard frowned. "Um, neither do I…?" he replied, not knowing how to respond to that statement.
Hermione wrung her hands. "I did something," she confessed.
Draco straightened up, listening. "What did you do?"
The brunette looked down, but decided she didn't want to seem unsure of her decision, so she raised her head more proudly and took on a confident tone.
"I asked Harry to alter my memories of the Ball's evening."
Draco widened his eyes and reacted quickly. "You did what?" he choked out.
"Wait!" she cut him off. "Let me finish. I remember everything that happened, okay? I know Duncan used Polyjuice to turn himself into Blaise. The only thing that's changed is that Blaise is no longer a part of my memory. All I remember now is that Duncan looked like himself from beginning to end…"
Draco clenched his fists. "Do you realize how bad the spell could have turned out?" he gritted. "And you asked Potter?"
"He remembers Duncan's face!" she defended him. "If I remember correctly, you told me that Duncan is, and I quote, 'quite forgettable looking'. I had to trust Harry!"
The Slytherin rolled his eyes. "Hermione... It could have gotten out of hand—"
"But it didn't."
She gently placed her hand on his arm to make him look at her. He did so. Her lips wore a soothing smile. "Draco," she breathed. "It worked... It's all right! I... I don't feel bad anymore when I think of Blaise. That's all I wanted."
Draco bit the inside of his cheeks. How could he resist that honeyed look? He took her hand and kissed her knuckles.
"I'm glad it worked, then," he said, a little forced.
Hermione leaned over and kissed the tip of his nose.
"So I guess... you want to see him, don't you?" he asked.
"Of course I do!"
Draco stood up immediately and held out his hand. "Let's surprise the hell out of Zabini, then!"
Ginny and Blaise were in the park near the lake. Blaise was the first to notice the Heads in the distance walking towards them. He swore.
"Shit!" he exclaimed. "Why does she keep running after torture?"
"What?" Ginny blurted out, confused. "What are you—"
She finally noticed Draco and Hermione approaching them. "Oh."
"I can't stand this," Blaise muttered turning his back so that the newcomers couldn't see his face.
"Blaise!" Hermione called out, now closer.
But Blaise ignored her and walked in the opposite direction. Draco stopped at Ginny's level and let Hermione follow Blaise.
"Mia, that's enough!" Blaise exclaimed without turning around.
"Look at me!"
He quickened his pace. She tried to catch up with him sideways to get a glimpse of his face, but he dodged quickly and nimbly.
Draco and Ginny, who were watching the scene from afar, were watching them run, like a game of cat and mouse.
"Too bad they can't see how stupid they look," he said. "They look like fucking first-year Hufflepuff kids who just sniffed their first piece of candy."
Ginny laughed.
"Blaise! It's alright!" Hermione called out from behind Blaise who still didn't stop.
"No!" he snarled. "Stop it! Go away!"
"WILL YOU FUCKING STOP?" she yelled.
Blaise stopped, motionless, a little stunned by the violence of her tone, but did not turn around. Draco, hands in his pockets, rolled his eyes. Quite a temper, his Hermione... Ginny smirked and looked at Draco.
"Something's changed, hasn't it?" she guessed.
"Ding ding ding!" the blonde man retorted a little sarcastically.
"I'm not afraid of you anymore," Hermione whispered, addressing the Slytherin's back. "I swear."
"Mia, I admire your determination, but—"
"I'm not afraid of you anymore," she repeated sternly, articulating each word. "Harry replaced your face with Duncan's. From beginning to end."
She took a step towards him, cautiously, as if he were ready to run away at the slightest noise. Something in Blaise leapt. A weird anticipation burned in his stomach.
"You're not messing with me, are you?" he breathed, his back still turned.
"No. Now, please, let me see your stupid face!"
Slowly, as if his feet were nailed to the ground, Blaise pivoted. Hermione, cheeks red and hair untied, stood before him. Eyes alive, bright, full of life. Awake. She was smiling at him.
"You look terrible," he joked.
"So do you!" she retorted before dashing over to him.
They exchanged a warm, vibrant embrace, happy to finally meet again after months. Ginny and Draco continued to watch from afar and were relieved to see that everything seemed to be settled at last.
After a moment, the redhead looked mischievous. "You know, they seem to be getting on well. If they do end up together, I hope you don't expect us to switch partners and for me to end up with you. I slept in the room next to you for two months and I can't stand your snoring. No offense, little ferret."
The Slytherin opened his mouth and closed it again, stunned. He blinked and stared at her. Her face was open and friendly, as if she was stopping herself from laughing.
"You think you're smart, Freckles?" he mocked, nudging her with a friendly shoulder. He too had a mischievous smile on his lips. "And by the way, I don't snore, I purr."
Hermione returned to her classes. All her teachers welcomed her back and were delighted to see her. She continued to take her potions to control her headaches and fatigue, but she could feel her condition improving. She met with each of her teachers at the end of class to ask for a summary of the content that had been covered since January. Hermione realized that she had memories of the subject. She still asked for readings and catch-up assignments.
That Monday, after a trip to the library, she returned to her dorm with an armful of books. She pushed the portrait with one foot and entered the dormitory. Everything was tidy, very clean, and a solitary white rose sat on the table in a crystal vase.
"Draco?" she called out.
A book fell from her arms. She grunted. No one answered her. She walked over to the table and dropped her pile of books. With her fingertips, she then brushed the rose. A small piece of parchment was attached to the vase. She grabbed it.
Granger,
I bet you came back from your classes with extra homework, didn't you?
Wait till I get back, I have something for you.
DLM
Hermione couldn't help but smile and gently grasped the rose between her fingers. She bent her nose to the heart of the flower and inhaled. Freshness. Sweetness. The scent was exquisite. No one had ever given her flowers before. She felt as if a cloud of butterflies were flying into the pit of her stomach. Now she was more than eager to see her partner again.
She charmed the rose with a spell to keep it from wilting and left it in the centre of the table. She took her usual Painless Head Potion, another to improve her concentration, and immediately set about her assignments.
When the Head Boy pushed through the door an hour later, he was carrying several bags in his hands. As soon as he saw her sitting around with scrolls, books and quills, he smiled fondly. The sight was familiar, beautiful and simple. He missed it.
"Oh, you're back!" she said, abandoning her parchments to greet him.
She hugged him tightly, her arms around his neck, even though he had no hands available to touch her. "Thank you," she whispered against him. "For the rose. It's pretty."
"Come on now, Granger, you know you're prettier."
She blushed and peeled off, and finally seemed to notice all his bags. She recognized the names of a few shops. Frowning, she put her fists on her hips.
"Malfoy, what is this?"
He smiled mischievously. "This is what's coming for us!"
He walked into the living room and placed the bags on the sofa. He held out his hand to her. He couldn't bear not to touch her when she was right there in the vicinity. Almost shyly, she followed him and accepted his hand.
"Promise me you won't get upset," he said.
"But, Draco," she began in a loud voice, "you—"
He put a finger to her lips to gently silence her. "Promise me," he repeated.
She rolled her eyes and moved to bite his finger, playfully. "I promise," she grumbled.
"So, these," he said, pointing to the set of bags, "are things I found for you. Actually, for us."
Hermione stared at the bags on the sofa and blinked. "What do you mean?"
Draco dipped his hands into the first bag and pulled out a beautiful dress, the same blue colour that reminded her of her dress from the Yule Ball. The young man held it out in front of him, at arm's length, as if to show it off in its full length. Hermione frowned in astonishment and brushed the dress with her fingertips.
"Don't tell me that in all his bags there are... dresses?" she huffed in disbelief.
The blonde Snake clumsily folded the dress, on which he had obviously applied an anti-wrinkle spell, and put it back in the bag.
"Er, yes," he replied. "But actually, no."
Hermione gasped in surprise and widened her eyes. "Draco, I can't accept—"
He held up a hand to interrupt her. "You promised me," he smirked. "Now let me explain." He cleared his throat theatrically and let himself slip into the warmth of her brown eyes.
"You missed 72 days," he breathed. "You missed the Ball, New Year's, and Valentine's Day. These are all events I wanted… that I had hoped to share with you. So I'll give them to you."
He took the first bag and shook it upside down. Two pairs of shoes and two dresses, including the blue one, fell onto the sofa. Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but Draco was quicker.
"I KNOW what you're going to say. I know you don't want anyone to give you the moon. So I rented everything. It's cheaper than buying."
He took the second bag and shook it like the first. Another dress and another pair of shoes slipped out. He did this for all the bags and Hermione calculated seven dresses of different colours and styles, and five pairs of shoes, all different too.
"You can mix and match," he said. "Do whatever you want, you choose what you like best. The only thing I want is that in the end you keep one dress for yourself. A dress I won't return."
The Lioness, still in shock, didn't know what to say and continued to stare at the array of fabrics, colours, textures, shine, that lay on the sofa cushions. She looked at Draco, almost alarmed.
"Just one dress, Hermione," he huffed with a smile. "It's not so bad, is it? Your Ball dress was... completely ruined. It's the least I can do to have it replaced."
Hermione bit her lower lip and hid an emotional smile. Her partner noticed immediately and resumed his explanation with gusto.
"Good," he said. Well, it's simple. We will hold another mini-Christmas Ball in the Room of Requirement with your... our friends. Because they missed most of the Ball in December too. And if I remember correctly, they all brought you presents, which you haven't been able to open yet. It will be a perfect time to celebrate."
"But—"
"Then," the Slytherin continued, grabbing the last bag that the brunette had recognized immediately, "we can celebrate New Year's Eve."
He shook the bag from Weasley's Wizards Wheezes, and bundles of magical fireworks fell onto the sofa. Hermione immediately thought about the fact that this was not allowed.
"And before you say we'll all get detention for this," he added, guessing her thoughts, "I've already spoken to McGonagall about this. She doesn't mind. In fact, she's agreed. She'll ask the Prefect to apply Silencio spells in the dormitories so that no one is disturbed. She might even join us in the end."
The brunette opened her mouth, but Draco put one of his hands against the back of her neck and stroked the bottom of her head, playing with her hair.
"And don't worry," he breathed. "There will obviously be Aurors watching over our activities outside. We won't leave the Hogwarts grounds. I promise you that."
Hermione clung to his wrist with her hand and let the Slytherin's warmth soak her skin.
"For Valentine's Day," her partner continued, not taking his eyes off her, "I would have taken you to a Muggle restaurant in London, but McGonagall won't let you go out without security. Besides, I'm not sure I want to expose you to danger either. So I'm planning something here at Hogwarts. You'll see."
He fell silent and continued to make eye contact, probing her, examining her, watching her expression to see what she was thinking. Her gaze was down on the sofa covered with purchases, surprises, plans.
"We won't do it all in one week," he said. "I'll make sure we're all up to date with our commitments and homework."
Finally, Hermione fluttered her eyelids and looked up at him with bright eyes. "Draco, this is too much," she whispered.
He slowly brought his face to hers, and the hand that had been resting on the back of her neck slid down to her cheek. He ran his thumb tenderly over her cheek.
"It's not too much," he replied in the same tone. "It didn't cost me as much as you think. I just—" He sighed as he brushed the tip of his nose against her temple.
Hermione closed her eyes and let the caress soothe her.
"Hermione, you don't know how much I want to spoil you," he breathed through clenched teeth. "I want to give you everything, literally. But I know you wouldn't let me."
"You're right about that," she replied, inhaling his perfect, wild, masculine scent.
"I don't want you to lack anything, and I don't want you to miss anything. I want you to have everything. Everything you want and everything you should have. And that includes memories. Opportunities you didn't get to experience because someone—"
Draco's grip tightened, and he tugged his fingers slightly on her hair. He breathed in, controlling the surge of anger he felt.
"Because someone took this away from you... Let me give it back to you."
Hermione allowed herself to think, even as emotions and thoughts raced through her head. She felt spoiled, yes, but not in a bad way. She felt rather cherished. She would never have dared to believe that Draco, her partner, would be the one to do everything possible to ensure that she didn't miss anything. He had told her that he loved her. Hermione Granger. Muggle-born. He had fallen in love with her. And he was willing to put her happiness before his own. She knew he'd probably been awkward shopping for all of this. Or to even include her friends in his plans. But he was doing it. For her. Because he knew her, now, and was growing to read her needs. Merlin, he really loved her... It wasn't an act. It wasn't to win her over. It wasn't to force her. It was to get back what had been taken from her. To earn back what she should not have lost.
But what about her?
Was she in love with him?
"I—" Hermione began before tightening her lips. Finally she reached around him again, around his waist, and hugged him, resting her head against his chest. "Thank you, Draco," she whispered. "This is just amazing. But you promise you'll return everything?"
Draco laughed lightly and placed a kiss on the top of her head. He really wondered how he could have doubted for a minute that all Hermione had cared about was his social status. They hadn't spoken about Duncan together and that was fine. He hadn't told her that he had gone to see the tapestry. He only hoped that the Aurors were planning something, now that they knew they were dealing with Mackie.
"Everything but a dress," he answered. "I promise."
Hermione was wearing a green satin dress. Slytherin green. The dress brushed the floor and hugged the curve of her hips. The straps were thin and crossed in the back, but left most of the back free. One of the dresses Draco had 'rented'. Something about that green had drawn her in immediately...
She and Ginny had gotten ready together. It was Friday night, March 19th. Most students were hanging out in the library, the common rooms or the Quidditch field to watch Hufflepuff practice.
"Are you nervous?" asked Ginny as she stared at the final details of Hermione's hair, an elegant low bun.
Hermione shrugged and looked at her reflection in the mirror. "Not really. I hope that—"
She pouted and frowned, before putting on her earrings. Ginny looked at her through the mirror.
"That what?"
"We're only two girls. And four boys. I hope Harry and Ron won't feel too..."
"Rejected?" the redhead offered with a half-smile.
Hermione said nothing. Ginny, on the other hand, was wearing a sophisticated black dress that brought out the blue in her eyes and the fire of her hair. Her hair was tied up in a similar fashion to Hermione's, in a low bun but pulled to one side with a few loose strands.
"Don't worry," said Ginny. "Everyone knows Draco does that for you. I don't think Harry or Ron expect to hog you all night."
Hearing her partner's name, the brunette's stomach tightened and a soft warmth coursed through her veins. Merlin, what was happening to her? She put on the bracelet that Draco had given her at the Halloween Ball, several months ago, and turned to her friend.
"You look beautiful, Gin," Hermione complimented.
"So do you!"
They left the bathroom and Hermione went to get the bag full of Christmas presents she had bought for her friends in December. This was the perfect opportunity to give it to them. The four wizards were already in the Room of Requirement —or out, it was a bit uncertain — getting everything ready. Normally, the Room had fulfilled Draco's request perfectly, but perhaps there were some things that needed fixing.
The two Gryffindors walked out of the dorm and down the corridor to the exact location of the Room of Requirement entrance. Their shoes clattered against the floor. Up ahead, only Draco was standing in front of the Room's door. When she saw him, Hermione felt herself melt. Literally. The back of her neck burned and a thrill of excitement gave her goosebumps.
She leaned towards Ginny. "By the way," she whispered, "when I woke up from the coma, Draco told me he loved me."
Ginny gasped loudly, incredulous, wide-eyed, and stopped dead in the middle of the corridor. Hermione continued on her way as if nothing had happened, and soon reached her partner. He took her hand and kissed it. He was wearing an elegant black suit and a white shirt tucked into his trousers. The black watch that Hermione had given him was visible on his wrist.
Ginny hurried over, still looking amazed. She needed details.
"I have to say," Draco said, looking the brunette over from head to toe, "green is my favourite colour on you. You're gorgeous."
He winked at her and Hermione interlaced her fingers with his, her cheeks pink. Draco reached for her bag to free her. "Don't tell me you brought homework..." he muttered.
"Of course I didn't!" she took offense, pushing him gently. "Just presents. Is everything ready?"
"Yep. Freckles," he said to greet to the redhead, "you look... presentable."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "I wish I could return the compliment," she retorted teasingly.
The Slytherin opened the door to the Room of Requirement and let the two witches walk past him. Hermione entered the Room and stopped, stunned. The space was large, a little smaller than the Great Hall, and she counted ten crystal chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling. There were five massive white marble columns with gold streaks around which a magic string was wrapped with lights that twinkled like fireflies. Garlands of popcorn hung from the ceiling, criss-crossing over the dance floor. In the centre of the room, there was a hardwood dance floor, wide enough to hold ten people. There were three white spruce Christmas trees, decorated with multiple silver and gold ornaments. There were three tables. One covered with an enticing buffet of turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, salad, cakes, pudding, gingerbread biscuits, and a gingerbread replica of Hogwarts. The second table was filled with colourful drinks, clear and opaque, with a multitude of cups and glasses of different shapes, pumpkin juice, Gillyweed water, sodas, sparkling water with candy cane, gingerbread and pumpkin flavors, Butterbeer. The last table was a large round table with six chairs. The golden cutlery caught the glare of the light and a bouquet of poinsettia occupied the centre, majestic and rich.
Hermione took a deep breath. It smelled like her mother's kitchen at the holidays. Cinnamon candles, sugar pie, gingerbread, spruce wood. It smelled of family, joy and memories. If she had a little imagination, she could visualize her two uncles playing the accordion to make her cousins dance. Soft music was playing in the room. On the floor, in a corner, several presents were already piled up, probably those that her friends had brought.
Blaise, Ron and Harry were chatting in the corner by one of the trees, all dressed in their best, with a glass of something fizzy in their hands.
Hermione blinked in amazement. Was this real?
"You... you..." she stammered at Draco, who had closed the door behind them, "you did all this?"
"The Room helped a lot, of course," he replied.
"It's beautiful," she murmured.
Without thinking too much about it or paying attention to the fact that they were in public, she rose on tiptoe and planted a kiss on his lips. She wanted more... His scent inebriated her, all she wanted was to bury her face in his collarbone and breathe him in. To open her lips and slide them against his neck, maybe even nibble his skin...
In a corner by a tree, Ron kept reaching for his tie to loosen it. "I can hardly breathe," he grumbled. "I wonder how necessary it was for me to put on my Ball costume again."
"Come on, Weasley," retorted Blaise, amused, "we didn't have a normal Ball. In fact, we didn't have a Ball at all."
"I know, but I did. Kinda. I would have worn my normal wizard's robes."
Blaise raised his glass, grinning, and toasted Harry. "To Christmas in March!" said the tall Slytherin.
"To Christmas in March!" repeated Harry.
They finally noticed the two young women who had just entered the Room and Blaise whistled in admiration, his gaze automatically falling on Ginny. Harry looked at him sideways. Of course Ginny was beautiful. He would always find her beautiful, and that wouldn't change. That Blaise was interested in her was new and strange. In fact, that two Slytherins would be interested in his two closest female friends... That was something. But he could — and he would — get used to it.
The evening began without much ado. Draco activated a magic radio with his wand and the volume of the music increased. The two couples of the evening shared a dance, while Harry and Ron sampled everything on the food table. After a while, the couples separated and everyone danced together on the dance floor to the upbeat music. Hermione's smile did not falter. She was hot, but she kept going. In her opinion, this was even better than the 'real' Christmas Ball. She didn't care if Harry and Ron, or even Blaise and Ginny, noticed that Draco often slid his hand over her waist to keep her close. He only had eyes for her, and she only had eyes for him. If either of them got tired, they'd sit at the table for a few minutes to take a few sips and catch their breath. There was no awkwardness. It was just a gang of friends having fun dancing together. And strangely enough, even Draco and Blaise were having some fun sharing this evening with Harry and Ron. The feeling was mutual. Perhaps it was the excitement of the evening, but the two Gryffindor boys were surprised to find that Draco was almost even... entertaining and funny. He was relaxed. He was making jokes. He was teasing Hermione.
After almost an hour, the girls had taken off their heels and were dancing barefoot on the dance floor, close together, their hair a little loose. Draco had taken a short break and was leaning against a marble column with a glass of pumpkin sparkling water in his hand. He was watching Hermione dance. A few curls had escaped from her hair. Red-cheeked, out of breath and with a thin layer of sweat against her temples, the brunette continued her movements. One of her straps had slipped off her shoulder. The young blond man felt hot watching her. And the more he let his eyes wander over her body, the more a pleasant twist gripped his insides and went down a little further, ever lower, until he noticed that his crotch was hardening...
Fuck.
He pressed his lips together and turned to the drinks table, pouring himself another drink. He stood with his back to the dance floor for a few minutes, until he regained control of his thoughts.
They were all sitting at the table, their plates empty or half empty, sated and tired. They had eaten like kings. They had exchanged gifts and Christmas cards. Hermione felt it was the right time, now that they were all in the same room, to tell them about her coma. She told them for the first time about her conversation with Sam in Neverwhere. Everyone listened intently, hanging on her every word, as she recounted her return to her body.
"I... I feel at peace, you know?" she finished, her eyes a little moist. "The last time I saw Sam, we'd had a row before he left for work and—"
She closed her lips and took a deep breath. "I just didn't get to say goodbye. But now I did. I've seen him again. And I have real memories of that place, even if it was between life and death. I got to say goodbye. I— I'm ready to visit him at the graveyard. For the first time. And I—"
She cleared her throat and continued playing with her napkin. Everyone was silent, waiting for her to continue. Draco had his hand on her knee under the table and the touch of their skin was burning.
"I want justice, obviously," she continued, her eyebrows furrowed as if she were talking to herself. "If I'm not mistaken, Duncan is still out there in the wizarding or Muggle community doing who knows what. But it's not my job to go after him, to stop him. I don't want to kill him."
Draco's fingers tightened on her knee. It was Ron who opened his mouth.
"But he probably still wants to kill you," he grumbled. "He never got confirmation that you were dead and then he probably found out that you were alive."
Hermione swallowed and nodded. "I know. But now everyone knows what he looks like. There are flyers up everywhere. That's what I've heard. He's in the Daily Prophet too."
"And there's security everywhere," added Ginny, who was sitting next to her. "Aurors. Even at Hogwarts."
"Not that I disagree with you all," Draco cut in, "but we came here tonight so that Hermione could have a nice... Christmas evening. Can we just drop the subject of Duncan for tonight?"
Hermione smiled fondly at her partner. "Draco, it's okay. I'm the one who brought it up…"
"You shouldn't think about it for tonight," he said, noticing the creases between her two eyebrows. "How's your head?"
"It's fine."
"I don't believe you."
The brunette rolled her eyes and grumbled. "Okay, okay... It hurts a little."
He immediately moved to get up from the table. "Don't move, I've brought Potions for you."
Hermione didn't have time to tell him that she had also brought some in her bag, and she let him run to the other corner of the room where he had left his things. Ginny leaned towards her in confidence.
"You weren't kidding before," she whispered. "He's completely crazy about you!"
The Lioness, dressed in green, felt herself blush to the roots of her hair as she looked at her partner's back. She didn't know how it had happened. It still seemed to her that only a few weeks ago she had entered the compartment of the train reserved for the Prefects and found herself face to face with Draco. He had hated her. Even she had despised him to her very core. And now...
Now...
The same young man who had scorned her at the beginning of the year was now allowing her to celebrate Christmas in the middle of March with those she loved.
If that wasn't love, then what was?
Draco hadn't practiced the Patronus charm since Hermione woke up. He had been too focused on Hermione, spending all the time he could with her. It was Harry who offered him another lesson, a few days after their 'Christmas' party in the Room of Requirement. Blaise, with his big eavesdropping ears, had heard and relentlessly asked that he also attend the lesson. He wanted to have a laugh.
So it was Tuesday evening, the 23rd of March, that Draco, Blaise and Harry were all in the Room of Requirement, which had returned to its normal appearance with the one black sofa on which Blaise was sprawled. With a lazy hand he munched on the chocolate, looking at Harry and Draco in turn.
"Hey, don't eat it all," Draco growled at his friend on the sofa. "That's for me."
"Says who?" taunted Blaise, mouth full.
"Says me," said Harry. "The chocolate helps to regain energy. The spell requires a lot…"
Blaise stopped and looked at the piece of chocolate between his fingers that he was about to shove into his mouth. "Really?"
"Yeah, really," sighed Draco, rolling his eyes.
"Guess you'll run out of energy, then," Blaise shrugged, gulping the whole piece.
"Anyway," Harry said, turning his attention back to Draco. "You're obviously doing better than you have in the last few months. So maybe today's the big day?"
"Oh, I know a big day I'm looking forward to," Blaise said, wagging his eyebrows.
Draco and Harry ignored him. Draco closed his eyes and concentrated. He immersed himself in the recent festive evening where he had been able to give Hermione a Christmas. Her green dress. Her indelible smile. A total sense of well-being. To see her dance, carefree, shameless, painless. Happy and free. Drenched in the most perfect and accurate Christmas atmosphere possible. The way that she and he ate the heads of the gingerbread cookies before the bodies. The sound of her laughter echoing to the ceiling and tinting the chandeliers' crystal.
"Expecto Patronum!" he exclaimed.
A thin, silvery stream of light shot out of his wand, but evaporated after a few seconds. Draco lowered his wand, panting, and bent over to catch his breath.
"So, that stream, that's a good sign, isn't it? Blaise asked.
"It's definitely something," said Harry. "You're close, Malfoy. Very close! Blaise, give him a piece."
Blaise, pouting, threw a piece of chocolate which Draco caught. Harry waited patiently and finally decided to ask the question that had been burning in his mind for days.
"Draco, erm… how serious is it between you and Hermione?"
The blonde wizard opened his mouth and closed it again. He didn't really know, actually. It all depended on how Hermione felt about him... And he had promised himself and her that he would give her all the time she needed.
"Yeah, I'm curious too, Malfoy!" Blaise said. "HOW serious is it? After all, you're sharing a dorm, maybe even a toothbrush…"
"Blaise, come on," Harry grumbled, feeling his cheeks and neck burn.
"Harry, don't tell me you honestly think those two spend their evenings doing homework in their separate bedrooms," Blaise laughed.
Harry blushed even more and scratched his head. "That wasn't my question, actually."
"Well, I can answer it for you," Blaise retorted, completely ignoring Draco, who was standing there saying nothing. "He's in love with her."
The emerald-eyed Gryffindor blinked and looked at Draco. "R— Really?"
Draco let out a long sigh. There was no secret anymore for anyone. Blaise looked satisfied and pointed at Draco, eyes still fixed on Harry.
"You see? He doesn't even deny it!"
"So you're really serious, then?" Harry asked Draco, a little taken aback.
"Potter, stop asking the same question!" Blaise blurted out, still amused. "I'd be willing to bet you there's one of their two rooms they don't even use. Maybe they don't even make it to one room and they just crash on the sofa."
"Please, Zabini…" Harry begged, cringing. "It's like hearing you talk about my sister…"
"Mia's like my sister too, but lucky she's not to Draco!" Blaise bit into another piece of chocolate and chewed for a few seconds before smiling broadly once more.
"Hey, Draco," he called, "you know you're practically married, right? You share a place, responsibilities, probably a bed... All you need is the rings and the official paper and BAM, you're Mr. Granger!"
Draco finally reacted and seemed to come to his senses. He frowned at Blaise, looking serious. "Why would I be Mr. Granger? Why shouldn't she be Mrs. Malfoy?"
Blaise stopped laughing, even chewing, and Harry froze. Blaise and Harry exchanged a look.
"Are you serious about this, Malfoy?" asked Blaise.
"You want to marry Hermione?" huffed Harry.
Draco closed his eyes to focus again. He didn't linger too long. The flood of happy memories with Hermione filled him at once, even though Harry's question was nagging at him.
"Er... I... Expecto Patronum!"
A wispy silver cloud sprang from the end of his wand and Blaise clapped his hands excitedly once. "Ah-ha!" he exclaimed. "Just after talking about marriage, you've done it!"
"Oh, shut up," Draco rolled his eyes, "it doesn't work like that. Even Harry knows that."
"Actually, it's an incorporeal Patronus," Harry clarified. "It may protect you, but it's not as effective as a corporeal Patronus."
"OH MY GOD," Blaise gasped suddenly, as if he'd just had an epiphany.
He glared at Draco. "Malfoy, can you imagine if your Patronus was a FERRET? Holy shit!"
Blaise laughed, and even Harry couldn't help but smile. After a few seconds, Harry and Blaise were laughing their arses off together.
"It could be a dragon!" Harry blurted out. "You know, Draco… Dragon… See what I mean?"
"Shut up, you two," growled the blonde wizard.
"I'm willing to bet on it," said the Gryffindor.
"You're on," replied Blaise. "A Galleon that it's a ferret."
"A Galleon that it's a dragon." Harry shook his hand and tried to regain his seriousness. He turned back to the Slytherin standing before him, rigid and almost bored.
Blaise leaned back on the sofa, regaining his relaxed position, and wiped the edge of his wet eyes.
"For what it's worth, Malfoy, you'd have my blessing," he said, with a wink.
"Shut up, Zab," Draco growled.
The blond Snake closed his eyes again. He found himself transported back in time to the beginning of March. When Ginny had burst into his class, interrupting the professor. The look in her eyes. The realization he'd made in three seconds. The feeling that his heart had leapt out of his chest in that instant and he sped off to the infirmary, running clumsily down the corridors. The doors to the infirmary. And her. In her bed. Upright. Awake. Smiling. The colour of her eyes, which he had almost forgotten, appeared even more vibrant than before. Two stars on two honey marbles. A breath. A quick pulse, full of life. The ocean hitting the volcano. The earth hitting the moon. A colony of birds flying into his chest. She was there. Back again. And she would stay.
"Expecto Patronum!" he cried, opening his eyes, lighter than ever.
Another silver, translucent vapour escaped from his wand, but whirled and swirled on its own and finally took its final form. Harry stared at Draco's Patronus in amazement. Blaise nearly choked and widened his eyes.
"Is that—" he began, dumbfounded.
"Yes," Harry gasped. "It's exactly that."
A Phoenix, silver and ethereal, flew majestically across the room, leaving behind it diaphanous, glittering filaments. Draco, mouth dry, concentrated on keeping it active for a few seconds, admiring the flutter of its wings, the strength of its flight. After a moment, the bird landed on Draco's shoulder, even though he could not feel it, and evaporated.
Draco blinked in shock, gasping for breath.
"It's... I—" he stammered. "It was a real Patronus, wasn't it? Did I do it?"
Harry, still stunned, nodded, still staring at the point where the Phoenix had just disappeared over Draco's shoulder.
"Yeah, you did it…" he murmured.
Blaise did not speak and handed Draco a piece of chocolate without saying anything. Draco chewed absently.
"I... I don't know if Hermione told you guys," he said, "but she was cured by a Phoenix at St. Mungo's... After three days it was getting worse and a Phoenix came into her room."
"Anyone who asks for help at Hogwarts will always get it," Harry muttered, a little to himself. "This Patronus shape is one of the rarest in existence... I only knew one man who had it, and he was one of the greatest men I have ever known."
Harry's eyes glittered as he stared into Draco's.
"Albus Dumbledore," he finished with a smile.
Draco blinked, thinking back to the man he had almost killed two years ago at the top of the tower. His soft, wrinkled face. He'd offered him help, protection. And everything had fallen apart. Perhaps he had a little more of Dumbledore in him than he thought, after all?
"I..." Draco began, his heart a little tight. "I'm sorry about that night, Potter…"
Harry pursed his lips. "Thank you, Malfoy. But it's alright."
Blaise, who hadn't lost a word of the exchange, looked at them in turn. "So, is this the part where you guys hug it out?"
"Shut up, Zabini," Draco and Harry said at the same time.
Through the storm, we reach the shore
You give it all but I want more
And I'm waiting for you
U2,With or Without You