A Past Revealed

'Draco, wait.' It came out as a sad little whisper but he turned back nonetheless. 'Don't go…Not yet.'

Draco watched her with a narrowed gaze. Hermione refused to crumble under his scrutiny.

'Look if it was anyone else I would ask the same thing. I'm not trying to get friendly. I just don't want to be alone tonight,' she said truthfully.

All Hermione could do was watch as Draco seemed to struggle to come to a decision. When she finally got sick of his silent staring, she turned back to the couch. Pulling her knees up to curl onto the sofa, she closed her eyes and waited.

The door closed with a quick thud. Hermione sighed. She supposed she really did need to clean the mess up and just go to bed.

'So did you want a tea… or something?'

Hermione jolted as she turned to see Draco standing behind the couch looking decidedly uncomfortable. She couldn't help feeling relieved that he hadn't left. Nevertheless, the fact that she had asked Draco to stay, still made her feel slightly awkward.

'Um…A tea would be great,' she mumbled as she stood up and headed towards the kitchen, 'you know what, take a seat and I'll make it up. Just tea for you, as well?'

Draco cocked his eyebrow at her. 'I can make tea, Hermione. Besides you should probably sit down. You look exhausted.'

Hermione made the tea anyway. She ignored Draco's knowing shake-of-the-head, as they both sat on the couch. She handed the cup and saucer to him before settling back with her own. The milky warmth went some way to soothe her so she took a large sip before replacing it. As her cup clattered back onto the saucer, Hermione tried to ignore the imaginary crickets chirping in the background.

'Err…Is the tea okay?' she finally asked, to alleviate the awkward silence.

'Fine,' he said, even though he had not even taken a sip. He put the cup down on the coffee table before them. 'You should probably get to sleep.'

Hermione sighed inwardly. The whole point of her asking Draco to stay was so she wouldn't have to lie on her bed trying to force herself to sleep.

'Tell me what you did when you left, Draco. What did you do besides learning Reiki in India,' Hermione knew she wasn't being very subtle, but this new dimension of Draco intrigued her. Plus if she got Draco talking maybe he'd forget about trying to get her into bed. 'Oops, bad pun,' she admonished herself, 'don't think about that.'

He wouldn't look at her. 'I really think I should just go–'

'What are you so afraid to tell me?'

Draco glared at her. 'There are just some things that I would rather forget, Hermione. And the past ten years are right up there on my top-ten list.'

'But it can't have all been bad, right? The people you met, the things you did: it can't have been terrible or you would have returned sooner…right?' She knew she was pushing him but her curiosity scratched at her like a playful kitten. She was determined to secure some pieces of this puzzle.

Draco turned from her. He picked up his teacup once more and drained it with a long swallow. But there was no avoiding the determination in Hermione's eyes. 'You want to hear the sordid tale? Fine, what do you want to know?' His voice was harsh and succinct.

Hermione sat back against the couch. She had to admit that she was surprised by Draco's sudden agreement. Hermione gathered from his gruffness that this might not be something she wanted to hear. It was nonetheless something she believed she needed to hear. 'Just start at the beginning.'

'After I left y-…Hogwarts, I drifted for a while. I knew I had to leave but hadn't made any plans for myself,' Draco paused and Hermione gave him a nod of encouragement. 'Eventually I realized that if I was going to wander about, I might as well do it in a different country. So I traveled. I started off in Europe; was hardly awestruck by the sights there. I drifted some more and soon came to the spectacular conclusion that meandering aimlessly was the same, regardless of where you were in the world. I moved up to the colder regions and eventually I got to Russia.'

'Which is where you began your mercenary career,' Hermione whispered. Her cup trembled in her hand so she quickly placed it on the table next to Draco's.

Draco's expression tightened with anger. 'You were the one who wanted to hear this, Hermione. Don't presume to judge me when you know nothing about the situation I was in. I did what I had to do to survive.'

'I'm trying hard not to presume, Draco. But presumptions are hard to avoid when information is withheld,' Hermione snapped back, 'so give me the situation, Draco. Explain to me how the boy I once knew became a hired killer.'

The two glared at each other for a long while. Hermione knew she should be the one to back down since Draco was only staying at her request. But this fragment of Draco's past was beyond even her comprehension. It was clear from Draco's eyes that he had a tale to tell. Whether he would actually speak of it was another matter.

'I met someone when I was in Russia,' he began again, in a distant voice.

Hermione was shocked by the cold sensation she felt at that small remark. She clenched her jaw against the asinine hurt she felt, hoping he would continue.

'I met Ruska on my first day in Moscow. He was just a beggar boy who chose the wrong pocket to pick. He was just an innocent, Hermione.'

'This boy was a muggle, wasn't he?'

If Draco heard Hermione's surprised whisper, he didn't acknowledge it. 'You can never truly understand abject poverty until you witness it first hand. When I caught Ruska out thieving, but didn't report him, he took to following me. He became my tiny chattering shadow as I wandered, and he showed a slice of the impoverished world that I had previously scorned and ridiculed. When I looked at Ruska, I didn't see muggle or wizard. All I saw was a strength and cunning that was severely misplaced in a seven-year-old. One night I was trailed and attacked. A pack of scum-muggles that called themselves soldiers. They were hungry for a fight and decided that a lone foreigner would make a prime target. They caught me by surprise and took great pleasure in pounding at me, since I had no real idea of how to physically defend myself. I absorbed my pain; used my magic in fury and I knew I was aiming to kill.'

Draco faltered. He turned from Hermione, his fists clenched tightly by his side. She could feel Draco's pain emanating. Hermione reached out and laid a gentle hand on his arm. Draco drew a shuddering breath before he continued. His voice was shaky with unshed tears.

'Ruska saw what was happening and he thought to help me. I had no idea he was there, Hermione, and he had no idea that he was in the way. I killed him…' He gave a harsh laugh, 'I had left my entire world behind to escape murder. On that night I saw that there was no running away. Murder was in me. It was in my blood.' When Draco finally turned back to face Hermione, his eyes were cold disks of grey. 'When Ruska fell, the soldiers panicked and I was shot down. I let myself go to the pain because all I could think about was Ruska's lifeless body. I didn't want to have to live with what I had done. When I woke up I found that I had been taken in by a group called the Elite. They were a collective which claimed to be working against the corrupt government. In reality they were little more than an army of mercenaries and spies. They saved my life, so I gave them my body. What else was I to do with myself? They trained me as one of their own and put me to work at the only thing I seemed to be good at. With every new mission I was sent further and wider. I managed to pick up new and interesting skills as I went. Reiki in India, Capoeira in Brazil, drowning my sorrows in Australia. I also managed to pick up a number of contacts, both muggle and wizard, who kept me informed. It was this information that led me to those Auror missions I meddled in.'

Though his voice had returned to its usual sarcastic drawl, Hermione could tell it was a façade. She could hardly pretend to ignore the anguish and self-loathing she had heard in his voice, as he spoke of murder. Hermione slipped her hand over Draco's and held it tightly. 'You're not a killer, Draco. No matter what you and those so-called Elite have managed to convince yourself. It is not the only thing you're good at and it's not in your blood to be a murderer.'

Draco scoffed quietly. He held his hand slack in Hermione's grip until she released it. He'd lived with this for eight years now, and it would take more than her sympathetic whispers to convince him.

'So why did you come back then? If you'd convinced yourself that you were such a born killer, why return now? Back for good, isn't that what your note said?' Hermione spoke levelly as she drew her hand back. It was lengthy training that enabled her to keep the hurt and anger from her voice.

'I was left for dead in Tibet.'

Hermione was stunned. This was hardly the response she had expected.

'Hardly an unusual story: The mission went wrong and my team left me to protect themselves. I found myself in Tibet in the hands of the wizard monks. I'm sure you understand the monks' love for imparting wisdom,' Draco muttered dryly. 'Only I wasn't as willing to listen. They managed to drive home the errors of my ways by showing me the pathways of my future. They showed me that I had a purpose left to fulfill. With them, I was able to hone my training and improve my magical skills beyond the necessity of wand waving.'

Something clicked in Hermione's mind at those words: a prospect that distracted her momentarily.

'I wasn't imagining things, then. You really can channel magic through your bare hands?' Hermione quizzed, 'That's amazing, Draco. Could you show me how to do it?'

She thought she saw a flicker of a smile on his face. 'You haven't changed, Hermione. If there's anything out there to be learnt, you'll be first in line,' Draco paused, 'It's getting late. You need to get some rest.'

Hermione wanted to protest but couldn't speak as Draco reached towards her. He traced his fingers over her eyes with the lightest touch. Hermione drifted into sleep, dreaming of Draco as a lonely, fearful, street urchin…

It was still dark when Hermione began to stir. At first she felt disorientated by the alien shadows of her surroundings. But she then realized that she was lying on the couch. She still felt drained, far too tired to bother going to her bed. Besides, the warmth emanating from the body beside her was gently lulling her back to sleep…

When Hermione next awoke it was because of the bright sunlight piercing her eyes. She tried to turn over, but found herself landing painfully on the floor. Jolted firmly awake now by the pain of her backside, Hermione proceeded to untangle herself from the throw that Draco had presumably covered her with. She looked around her flat to see that it was all once again meticulously clean. As Hermione stood up she didn't bother to call out for Draco. It seemed clear that Draco had kindly restored her home before showing himself out. He would have wanted to avoid any more questions from her.

'Oh well. No rest for the minister,' Hermione told herself as she headed for the shower. There was not much point in loitering around the house so she thought it best to head into the office. Hopefully she'd get something done there.

Out of the shower, Hermione carefully checked her reflection for bruises. She didn't want any awkward questions at the office, or to start a media frenzy. Satisfied, Hermione changed into her dark blue work robes. Without further primping, she efficiently conjured a fire and floored to the office. She had barely come out of her office fireplace when the door opened and Harry walked in.

'I knew you wouldn't be able to stay away from the office,' he said with mock scorn.

'You're here too, you filthy hypocrite,' Hermione returned.

Harry chuckled, 'Glad to see you've recovered from your ordeal with your sharp tongue intact.'

'What are you talking about?'

'I know what happened last night, Hermione. Draco reported your attack.'

'Well, then Draco exaggerated. It was hardly an attack, Harry. I mean, the guy didn't even try to hex me. Clearly it was just some random muggle criminal.'

'Oh, so I suppose it was just a coincidence that on the same night your house is broken into, you get attacked?'

Hermione scowled at him. She couldn't believe that Draco had gone running to Harry. As Head Auror, he had more than enough to think about, let alone the added worry of a friend's security.

'As it is, I've decided to assign Draco as your personal bodyguard.'

'What!' Hermione was outraged. Bugger feeling sorry for overloading Harry. This time he'd gone too far. 'I'm not a child Harry. I can look after myself. I don't need a bodyguard.'

'You may not need one, Hermione. But it seems to me that the Minister of Magic does. I just don't want you to be at risk again. Anything could have happened to you last night. Come on Hermione; think about what we lowly minions would do without you.'

'And it has to be Draco?'

'You know we're short staffed, or I'd give you an entourage. But I know that Malfoy is the only one capable of doing anything to keep you from harm.'

'I won't let anyone hurt you Herm-… Minister.'

They turned at the voice at the door. Neither Harry nor Hermione had noticed that Draco had entered the room. Hermione stared at Draco trying to discern his thoughts. As Draco and Hermione's respectively determined gazes locked, Harry wisely kept silent. While there had always been tension between Draco and Hermione, now (although Harry would rather suffer through a year of palm reading with old Trelawney than speak of it to Hermione) there was an added element of remnant attraction.

'Fine. We'll do it your way.' Hermione finally spoke, 'But I'm calling the shots and if I believe your guarding to be redundant you will return to your previous Auror position.'

Disclaimer: These characters belong to J.K. Rowling.

A/N: Apologies for the lengthy wait before updating. I have been spiritually and physically away. I hope y'all like the chapter and don't hate me for not making Hermione jump Draco's bones. I'm giving her some credit to think that she wouldn't be stupid enough to run back to a man who had caused her so much (as of yet unexplained) pain. Plus she is ENGAGED to Greg… More of him to come, don't worry. HoBytLAh ;0)