Chapter Twenty-Eight

Impulses

Draco stepped out of Grimmauld Place's fireplace at seven in the morning, shaking out the sleeves of his jacket with a serious look on his face.

When he looked up, he saw that there was no one in the living room.

He snorted and walked over to one of the sofas, sitting down in the corner and drumming his fingers on its arm impatiently.

Fifteen minutes later Potter entered the room. He stopped at the sight of him, surprised, but continued walking to the hanger where his coat was.

"You're a little early."

Draco gave him a sidelong glance.

"I like to be on time."

"I think you're just nervous because you haven't seen her in three days," Potter commented teasingly, giving him a grin.

Draco sneered back at him.

"You think too much of me, Potter. Should I be concerned?"

He chuckled, rolling his eyes and shaking his head.

"Say what you want, but you know I'm right."

And he was, though that was something Draco was never going to admit.

He stood up, moving to stand beside him.

"I'll wait for you on the other side," Potter murmured, tossing the Floo powder onto the embers.

Once the green flames engulfed him, Draco grabbed a handful of powder and swallowed before throwing it.

Granger was no longer as sad as she had been the day before, but he still felt a pinch in his stomach that he didn't like at all.

He sighed and took a step forward.

"Ministry of Magic."

He followed Potter as they walked through the Atrium, entering the lift area.

They stepped into one that was empty and Draco saw him look at the wristwatch he had on his right hand.

"Hermione's portkey activates in twenty minutes. We can wait for her in the international travel room when we're done with this."

Draco nodded, his gaze fixed on the small watch.

"Can I ask you a question, Potter?"

"Sure," he said, turning his head to look at him with interest.

"Who..." Draco cleared his throat, avoiding his gaze. "Who gave you that watch for your seventeenth birthday?"

With no parents and no godfather, he couldn't imagine who had given him the gift that all wizards received when they came of age in the wizarding world.

Potter's smile faltered. His green eyes seemed to sparkle with some restrained emotion as he raised his hand again, showing him his watch from closer up.

"Molly Weasley. It was her brother's," he said quietly, tracing the gold circumference with his thumb.

The hands were two stars, also golden.

Draco smiled.

"It's classy."

"Thanks," Potter replied, smiling again. "And who gave you yours?"

Draco ran his tongue over his teeth, staring at the golden grilles of the lift.

His wristwatch was tucked deep in one of his bedroom drawers and he never intended to use it again.

His mother gave him another watch. It didn't have such a dark history and he enjoyed wearing it.

"Lucius escaped from Azkaban shortly before my birthday. He gave me my grandfather Abraham's, and that evening I celebrated by torturing a couple of snatchers in the name of the Dark Lord. It's a day I'd rather not remember."

Potter let out a long sigh.

"You know... sometimes I saw images of Voldemort in my mind during that year, and I saw him more than once forcing you to do that."

Draco winced. He hated to think of that horrible time in his life.

"I used two of the Unforgivable Curses under his orders," Draco muttered, wrinkling his nose.

Who knew he would tell one of his darkest secrets to Harry Potter, his old enemy and a future Auror.

"You're lucky the Ministry only found out you used one," Potter replied in a low voice.

Quite right. The sentence of his trial would have been far worse if the members of the Wizengamot had known about all the times he had cast the Cruciatus Curse.

He had even come close to using it against the wizard now at his side, who had saved his life by getting him out of Azkaban.

"I almost cast the third one a couple of times, but Mother always stopped me. She told everyone that a Malfoy couldn't do something as vulgar as murdering traitors," Draco mumbled, remembering his mother's panicked face when she saw what other Death Eaters wanted her son to do. "She was terrified of what it would mean for me to take someone's life."

Potter nodded, holding on tighter to one of the ropes hanging from the ceiling as the lift moved backwards and stopped.

"After you cast the Killing Curse, a piece of your soul detaches from your body. Narcissa did the right thing by not letting you do it."

Draco glanced at him, very surprised, just as the grilles opened and three witches entered. Potter moved closer to him to give them room.

"I didn't know that," he admitted, glancing sideways at the three women.

None of them had dared to look him in the face.

Potter snorted loudly, stepping out of the lift as it stopped on the first floor. Draco walked beside him down the central corridor, hands shoved in his pockets.

"That conversation was too deep to have this early in the morning."

That made him laugh, though Draco knew he was still looking grumpy.

"You're right, Potter. It's better to talk about such things with a glass of whisky in your hand."

"Cheer up," Potter said, patting his shoulder. "You'll be seeing Hermione again very soon."

A small smile spread across his face at the thought of Granger.

"You're a good friend to her," he admitted with a sigh.

"And to you?"

Draco clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"You wish, Potter."

As they reached the door to the Minister of Magic's office, Potter paused and turned his whole body, facing him. Draco was a few inches taller than him but there wasn't much difference between them.

"If we're not friends, I don't know why I should do you a favour like this."

Draco sighed, rolling his eyes.

"Okay. Yes, we are friends," he admitted, grunting through his teeth.

Potter grinned, turning around again and knocking twice on the door.

"Will you call me Harry from now on?" he asked, looking over his shoulder.

Draco narrowed his eyes.

"Don't push your luck, Potter."

They heard the Minister's voice usher them in and Potter opened the door, stepping inside.

"Harry!" the Minister smiled, shaking his hand. "It's good to see you."

His eyes widened as Potter stepped to the side and saw that Draco was standing behind her.

"You've come with Malfoy?" Kingsley asked in surprise.

Potter shifted his gaze between the two of them, a nervous smile on his face.

"We have a favour to ask, Kingsley."

The man rested both arms on his desk, sighing heavily.

"More favours?"

After going up to the sixth floor, the two of them entered the huge hall where all of the portkeys appeared with their respective travellers.

Draco leaned his back against the wall, leaving Potter to approach the woman behind a wooden counter.

She pushed her spectacles on, checking the list in front of her.

"Miss Hermione Granger's portkey will arrive in three minutes."

Potter thanked her, crossing his arms as he returned to Draco's side.

"What will you do once you greet her?"

He didn't want to disturb her. Draco bit the inside of his cheek, watching a family that had just appeared in a white circle.

"I'll go back home."

"Really?"

Draco didn't have time to answer. Another flash lit up the room and a second later there was a shriek.

"Harry!"

He turned around in surprise.

Draco squeezed his eyes shut, holding his breath, but it was too late.

He had seen them embrace.

The pang he felt in his chest made him take a step back and his back hit the wall. His mind began to repeat what it always told him when she touched one of his friends.

'Will Granger ever love me as much as she loves him?'

Draco shook his head, eyes still closed.

'Probably not.'

He opened them as he heard Hermione gasp. She had taken a few steps away from Potter and had a hand covering her mouth as she looked up at him with her panicked eyes.

"I didn't see you, Draco. I'm so sorry," she mumbled in a shaky voice.

Draco shrugged, trying to play it down so she wouldn't feel guilty.

He straightened up, pulling his jacket on tightly and trying not to wince. He still felt pins and needles inside his chest.

"Nevermind. You needed it."

His heart raced as tears welled up in her eyes.

'Shit. She's going to cry again because of me.'

Hermione ran to him, wrapping both arms around his waist and resting her forehead in the crook of his neck.

"You came."

Draco snaked his arms around her as well, smiling as the knot in his stomach disappeared.

He was with her again.

"Of course I've come, Granger."

She let out a nervous giggle and looked up into his eyes, lifting her chin until their lips met.

Granger was kissing him in the Ministry of Magic. In public.

Draco froze, unable to react.

It was a quick kiss but with so much meaning. She didn't care if people knew they were together.

She wasn't ashamed of him or his past.

He felt a surge of strong feelings run through his body when he opened his eyes again and saw her smile.

He could feel her happiness. She was really happy to see him, too.

Draco tucked one of her curls behind her ear, his gaze sweeping over her face.

How could he have been so lucky? His mate was smart, beautiful, and her big heart had been able to forgive him for everything bad he'd done.

'She's too good for you. You don't deserve her.'

Her fingers brushed his wrist and the voice in his head fell silent.

"Hi."

Draco gave her a crooked smile, interlacing their fingers.

"Hello."

Potter cleared his throat and they both jumped. Granger took a step back, glancing at his friend with wide eyes as a blush spread across her face.

The woman at the counter was staring open-mouthed at them, just like a couple who had just appeared inside another white circle.

"It's still early. Would you care for some tea in my office?" Granger asked quietly, glancing between the two of them.

Draco nodded and Potter began to walk towards the lifts, trying to hide his smile.

Harry set his mug down on the table with a sigh.

"It's almost nine o'clock. I have to go to the Auror's office."

Hermione took another bite of the chocolate biscuit in her hand.

"Oh," she snorted as she glanced up at the clock hanging on the wall, wrinkling her nose. "That's right. Shall we eat together later?"

Harry nodded.

"I think you have a lot to tell me."

"I suppose," Hermione agreed, shrugging one of her shoulders. "I don't feel like talking about it, though."

She knew she would have to tell them both what had happened, but she needed to understand it herself first.

"We don't have to talk about them if you don't want to, Hermione," Harry offered, giving her a sad smile.

She nodded and Harry waved his hand in farewell, glancing sideways at Draco before leaving the office.

He cleared his throat, catching her eye.

"I should get going too and let you get to work."

Hermione ate the last piece of biscuit and looked down at her desk, where there were three more wrapped in a piece of cloth.

"Did you make these?"

The corner of his lips curved upwards.

"The doubt offends, Granger."

She laughed, finishing her cup of tea in one gulp.

It had only been three days, but she got the impression that Draco was a little paler than usual.

Even so, she still blushed every time he looked into her eyes.

The platinum blond locks that fell messily over his forehead, his dark eyebrows and those eyes that seemed to be able to see right through her, the sharp curve of his jaw...

Hermione continued to look down his body until she came to the ring in his left hand.

She looked into his eyes again, letting out a shaky breath.

Why on earth was he so attractive?

The memory of his body pressed against hers as he kissed her deeply altered her heartbeat.

And he could cook. She could be eating his biscuits and Italian recipes for the rest of her life.

Draco worked his jaw, shifting in his chair.

"Don't look at me like that."

She blinked, chewing on her lower lip.

Would he be affected by the sight of her, too? Would he think the same things?

The kiss she'd given him when she'd greeted him had been so little.

"Why not?"

He clenched one of his fists.

"Granger..."

Hermione continued to stare into his eyes, holding her breath when she saw him stand up. Three seconds later Draco had leaned over her and caught her bottom lip between his, wrapping an arm around her waist and burying his other hand in her curls.

A sigh left her lips. Now that was a real kiss.

She kissed him back with the same intensity, running both hands up his neck until she entangled her fingers in his hair.

Draco growled softly, pushing her a little more until the back of her chair prevented her from moving any further. He tilted his head to the side and deepened the kiss, a small moan escaping from her throat.

Hermione cursed herself inwardly, straightening her back and pressing her chest against his.

She wanted to control herself but it was impossible. She needed his kisses as if they were water.

Sometimes Hermione thought she had become addicted because she could never get enough.

Did it have something to do with the bond?

Draco broke the kiss, pressing their foreheads together and panting softly. His breath smelled of vanilla, like the tea they'd just had.

She opened her eyes, smiling as she saw his grey irises staring back at her.

"I've missed you."

He smirked, kissing the tip of her nose.

"I've missed you, too," he murmured, his hands moving down her body to her hips. "You have no idea how much."

Hermione didn't answer. She was still trying to catch her breath.

"Shall I pick you up tonight?" Draco asked, crouching down in front of her and running his forefinger along the back of her right hand.

She nodded, pushing one of his blond locks back. They both laughed as it fell back on his forehead.

"Where do you want to go?"

Hermione thought about it for a moment. They couldn't talk freely in a restaurant, and they couldn't escape Harry in Grimmauld Place.

"What if we go to my parents' house? We'll be alone there."

She wasn't sure, but she thought she saw a glint of silver in his eyes.

"So tempting..." Draco whispered, pulling her close until he could kiss her again.

Hermione closed her eyes, shivering as he traced her lower lip with the tip of his tongue.

Draco pulled away from her face and stroked her cheek with his thumb as he stood up, running a hand down his jacket in an attempt to smooth out the wrinkles.

Hermione tried not to laugh. Him and his suit mania.

"See you later, Granger."

"Bye, Draco," she said, watching him leave his office.

After closing the door Draco leaned against it for a moment and closed his eyes, sighing.

He was almost certain Granger had been staring at his bum.

"Shit," he cursed under his breath, walking towards the lifts at a brisk pace. "I'm well and truly fucked."

Draco took a large gulp of white wine as he finished telling his friends about his reunion with Granger, closing his eyes as he felt the liquid run down his throat.

Theo's glass was already empty. He waved his wand and the bottle they had opened half an hour ago levitated, refilling all their glasses.

"So... Are you sure Granger was looking you up and down?" Blaise asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Yes."

"And she looked at your arse when you left, right?"

Draco nodded, a blush spreading through his cheeks. He didn't like giving them so many details.

"It's a good sign, Draco. Now you know she's physically attracted to you."

"I already knew that," he snarled, pursing his lips. "But I can feel her desire, Blaise. It made me want to grab her, throw her down on the table and..."

Pansy let out a mocking giggle.

"Are you sure you can do something like that?"

Draco shot her a glare.

"I don't know what would happen if I stopped controlling myself, Pansy. She drives me crazy and it's getting worse, but I don't want to... I don't want to do anything that would make her uncomfortable," he confessed in a whisper, shaking his head vigorously. "It's so fucking hard for me to repress my urges and Occlumency barely works for me anymore."

"Salazar," Pansy muttered, letting out a long sigh."I've never seen you like this, Draco. You're so besotted with her."

Draco frowned. His first impulse was to deny it, though he bit his tongue.

His friend was right. He could no longer imagine his life without Granger.

"It's too obvious?"

Pansy snorted, rolling her eyes and raising her glass to take another sip of wine.

"You should see the look you have on your face every time she's around."

Draco scowled, his gaze falling to his hands.

"It's horrible, Pansy. This feeling scares me, I don't understand how you two can handle it so well," he commented, shifting his gaze between his best friend and Theo.

"Yes, falling in love is scary," she admitted softly, glancing sideways at her boyfriend and smiling. "But trust me, it's worth it."

Theo smiled too, putting an arm around her shoulders and kissing her cheek.

"Granger's face lights up every time she looks at you, too, in case you hadn't noticed," he added, giving a crooked grin to his friend, who was grimacing at the sight of them being so affectionate.

Draco narrowed his eyes.

"And why are you all always watching us?"

"Because we care about you, dummy," Pansy explained, looking at him like he was stupid. "We want everything to be alright."

Draco relaxed his posture, crossing his ankles.

"Everything's fine," he replied, averting his gaze to the window. "I went with Potter to the Minister's office this morning."

Pansy gasped, Theo's face paled and Blaise stiffened.

"Why? What happened?" Theo whispered, swallowing hard.

Draco gave them a reassuring smile. His friends were still as afraid of the Ministry as they had been when the war ended.

"It's nothing bad. I simply wanted to ask him permission to leave the country."

"Leave the country?" Pansy repeated, a puzzled expression on her face. "Where are you going?"

Draco licked his bottom lip, enjoying the fruity taste the wine had left on it. He glanced at his wristwatch, checking that there was still an hour until his date with Granger.

"I still have a lot of questions about my ancestors and there's only one place where I can find the answers."

Blaise chuckled softly.

"You should bring me a nice bottle of Amarone as a souvenir."

His other two friends frowned at them, not getting the joke.

They didn't know about the Zabini family vineyards in Tuscany, but Draco did. He nodded, setting his empty glass on the table.

"Consider it done."

We're getting closer to the spicy part of the story (you can tell, right? haha)

I have no idea how many chapters are left, but I think this fic won't be more than forty chapters long.

Thanks for your patience and support :)