Chapter Thirty-Four

Self-control

The sunlight woke them before the Muggle clock Granger kept on her bedside table did.

She stretched and Draco wrapped his arms around her, sinking his nose into her curls and inhaling her scent.

Sleeping in her room was so much better. Everything smelled of her.

Granger rested her head on his chest and he heard her sigh.

"Good morning."

"Hmm."

She leaned on an arm and lifted her head to look him in the eye, brushing the dark circles under his eyes with her finger.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, watching his face with a frown.

Draco kissed the tip of her nose, making her smile.

"I'm okay," he brushed a curl away from her face and arched an eyebrow. "And you?"

He knew what she was feeling but he preferred to be polite and ask.

Granger tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth.

"Nervous," she confessed in a whisper.

He could feel the pressure in Granger's chest more strongly with each passing day, and he knew what it meant because he felt the same way.

"Me too."

Draco gave her a small smile and, when he noticed that she wasn't relaxing, he bent his head down to kiss her on the lips.

"It'll be alright, Granger," he assured her, holding her face and stroking her cheeks with his thumbs.

She nodded with a small smile and stood up, pulling an outfit from her wardrobe and heading out into the hall.

Draco sighed at the sound of the shower and looked up, losing himself in his thoughts.

He blinked as Granger's footsteps approached again and smiled when she leaned over, kissing him on the cheek.

"I'll be back at five."

Draco sat up, propping himself up on his elbows.

"I'll be waiting for you downstairs."

After tucking her wand into a pocket of her coat, Granger turned to him.

"I want to stop by Diagon Alley before we go. The portkey activates at..."

"At six. We've been over this, Granger. Leave now or you'll be late."

A big smile lit up her face.

"I'm looking forward to Italy."

"And I'm looking forward to showing you Lucca," Draco smiled back. "I'll also take you to Stradina Nascosta, the Diagon Alley of Florence."

She gasped and her brown eyes widened.

"Do they look alike?"

"Not at all."

They both laughed and Granger opened the door again.

"See you later."

Draco snorted as he heard her come down the stairs.

"Fuck," he rubbed his face and got out of bed, averting his gaze to the corner where Crookshanks stood. "It's too early for whisky, isn't it?"

The animal stared up at him, wagging his tail in the air and stretching out his paws.

"Just what I need. Now I'm asking her cat for advice," Draco rolled his eyes and went down to the second floor, entering the room where he kept some of his clothes.

Who knew he would end up sleeping under the same roof as Potter in his great aunt Walburga Black's old house.

Her portrait still screamed from time to time, though everyone ignored her and when she got too annoying Hermione would cast a spell on her that left her mute for several days.

Once dressed Draco went up to the top floor, where the small room they used as an owlery was located.

Potter's owl was sleeping on top of her cage.

After waking her up Draco offered her a treat to calm her down, handed her a piece of parchment and asked her to hurry up and deliver it.

He returned to the ground floor, tossing a handful of Floo powder onto the fireplace and stepping forward.

"Malfoy Manor."

He hadn't even been pacing the hall for ten minutes when the green flames rose again and his three best friends burst through them.

"You were quick."

Blaise shrugged.

"We have nothing better to do."

"Speak for yourself," Pansy commented, glancing sideways at Theo and winking.

He reddened and Draco wrinkled his nose, averting his gaze to the window.

"Disgusting."

Pansy ignored him and reached out an arm, pulling him close until they were both sitting on one of the sofas.

Her green eyes roamed his face and she pursed her lips.

"How are you?"

Draco saw himself in the mirror every morning and knew he looked bad. He was getting tired of everyone asking him the same questions.

He decided to be honest with them and avoid the subject of his appearance in the process. He scratched the back of his neck as his friends stared at him.

"My heart feels like it's going to explode."

"Don't be dramatic," Pansy rolled her eyes and nudged him. "It's just sex, Draco. And you still have a few days to get used to the idea."

'Like it's that easy.'

"It's a lot more than that to me," he replied, clenching his fists.

"Oh, right. It's like a wedding, isn't it?" Theo asked with interest.

That was a good way to sum it up, but it was only comparable to magical weddings where there was a bonding ritual. And yet, the bond he and Granger were about to form would be much deeper.

"Our magical cores will intertwine and form one, binding us together for all eternity," Draco said through gritted teeth, shaking his head. "I think that's quite definitive."

"Bloody hell," Blaise blanched, leaning back against the armchair and snorting loudly. "I'd be terrified."

Theo and Pansy exchanged a glance and she raised an eyebrow, looking back at him.

"Are you having second thoughts?"

Draco clicked his tongue in irritation.

"I know she's my soulmate, my mate. And I don't want anyone else."

"Soulmate?" Pansy repeated with a frown.

'Shit.'

"Forget it," Draco growled under his breath. "I'm not going to explain that part to you."

That was something he only planned to talk to her about. No one else needed to know.

"So?" his friend insisted.

How could he explain everything he felt? The fear that he wasn't enough for her, that Granger would regret accepting him, or that the disadvantages that came with sharing a life with someone like him would be too much...

"What if I'm not up to it? What if Granger gets bored of me after a few months?" Draco let out a long sigh, hiding his face in his hands. "What if I'm not good enough?"

What if she was resigning herself? What if the only reason they were together was to save him from a slow and painful death?

Draco bit his tongue at the thought. Granger had proven to him many times that her feelings were real and he shouldn't doubt her any longer.

But it was difficult to think that someone like her could fall in love with him.

"Granger will end up being someone important in the wizarding world, Draco. All of us who know her know that," Pansy commented, cocking her head to the side as she pulled one of his arms down to see his face. "Are you going to protect her and support her in the decisions she makes? Will you try to understand her and help her in any way you can?"

Draco snorted.

"Of course I will. I don't even know why you're asking."

"See?" she gave him a victorious smile. "You're perfect for her."

"And a bit of a know-it-all," Theo added, arching his eyebrows. "You two are a match made in heaven."

Draco narrowed his eyes.

"That's not true."

"Oh, you sure?" Blaise chuckled and folded his arms. "What do you think of adding tea leaves to a sleeping potion?"

"It's bullshit. All it does is make it taste sweeter and then you drink more than you need."

"A know-it-all," Blaise repeated, pointing at him as he grinned. "Granger would be proud."

Draco hissed, dropping his head back.

"Shut up."

He wasn't sure if the conversation with his friends made him feel worse or better.

Pansy leaned against his shoulder, holding his hand and squeezing it affectionately.

"Do you want me to explain anything else?"

"Don't start, Pansy," he asked with a sigh.

She laughed. A merry, musical laugh so infectious that Draco couldn't stop his lips from curling upwards.

"Don't worry, Draco. You're ready and everything will be fine."

"How do you know?"

She shrugged, smiling as she looked at Theo.

"A hunch."

When Hermione returned to Grimmauld Place she found Draco and Harry sitting together on the sofa in the living room. She blinked several times, slightly confused at the seriousness on their faces, and stepped out of the fireplace after shaking out her clothes.

"Hello."

They both smiled, though Draco's smile seemed a little forced.

"You're back early," he commented as he stood up.

Harry did the same and placed a hand on his shoulder, whispering something in his ear.

Draco pursed his lips and glanced at him, nodding.

"I will."

Harry released him, satisfied, and walked over to Hermione.

"Close your eyes," he warned, looking over his shoulder.

Draco obeyed, crossing his arms and twisting his face into a grimace. Harry hugged her and Hermione put her arms around him.

"Have a good time," Harry whispered, kissing her forehead.

She gave a sincere smile to her best friend, who took one last look at her and walked out of the room, leaving them alone.

Draco was soon at her side, staring down at her.

"Shouldn't you still be at work?"

"I couldn't wait any longer," Hermione admitted, rubbing her forehead with her sleeve. "There's something I want to show you."

She was shaking with excitement but she couldn't stop herself. It had taken weeks to reach an agreement and she needed to show Draco before they left.

She looked at the sofa, where a black rectangular suitcase rested.

"Is that what you've packed for the trip?"

At his nod, Hermione pointed her wand at it and shrunk it to the size of a coin, levitating it and putting it in her pocket.

Draco arched an eyebrow, smirking at the impressive display of magic, and she blushed.

"I'll meet you at the Leaky Cauldron," she added, avoiding his gaze and walking towards the fireplace.

The green flames engulfed her and a few seconds later she appeared in the foyer of the pub. Draco stepped through the green flames shortly after.

"Come with me," Hermione murmured, grabbing his hand and tugging gently.

He probably knew what she was feeling and it only made her more nervous.

They both nodded to Tom and, after opening the secret entrance to Diagon Alley, began to descend the cobblestoned path.

Glancing sideways at Draco, she saw that he was frowning.

"Where are we going?"

Hermione sighed.

"You see... I've been thinking about this for a while. I know you're bored to death in your huge mansion and you'd like to do something, and I think that when you get your rights back you could set up a business."

Draco let go of her hand, stopping abruptly.

"What?"

She smiled, pointing to the empty shop a few feet away.

"I bought it for you," she explained, taking his hand again and moving forward until they were both standing in front of the door. "You'll be able to brew and sell your potions in England and, if all goes well, you might even expand into Wales and Scotland," she ignored his surprised face and pointed her finger to the end of the street, where the colourful Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes was visible. "I've been talking to George about it and he's assured me that he'll answer any questions you have. He's only a few metres away..."

"Granger. Stop."

Hermione stopped babbling and looked up at him with wide eyes as she bit her lower lip, waiting for his reaction.

Was he angry?

His face softened at her expression and he took a step closer, tucking one of her curls behind her ear.

"Did you buy me a shop?" he asked quietly, looking into her eyes.

"I had quite a bit of money saved up from the Order of Merlin they gave me after the war," Hermione shrugged, playing it down. "And you've helped me so much that I wanted to do something for you."

Draco cupped her face in his hands and leaned down, catching her lips in a slow, soulful kiss that took her breath away.

"Thank you," he whispered before stepping back.

Hermione looked around. Three wizards were staring at them and seemed very interested in their conversation.

She rolled her eyes and tapped the doorknob with her wand three times. There was a creak and the door opened.

She stepped inside with Draco following in her footsteps.

Two large windows looked out onto Diagon Alley and there was another one in the room's ceiling through which rays of sunlight streamed in, illuminating the entire room with a warm, pleasant light. There was a counter to one side and the rest were aisles full of empty shelves.

Hermione just watched him as he walked around the aisles with his hands in his pockets.

"You could put whatever products you want to sell here," she commented, running her hand along the wooden shelves that had recently been polished. "And there's a back room where you could brew potions, but you could also refurbish the place to your liking. Just a thought."

Draco peeked through the small door at the back and returned to her side, hugging her from behind and resting his chin on her head.

"Do you like it?" she asked, meeting his gaze.

He twisted his lips.

"I don't know if anyone would want to buy potions made by a Malfoy, but I appreciate the thought," he kissed her cheek, squeezing her in his arms. "And it doesn't need any reformation. It's perfect just like this."

Hermione turned until they were face to face and lifted a hand, brushing back the blond locks that fell on either side of his face.

"In the end, everyone will accept that you're innocent. I'll take care of finding the first customers and promoting it at the Ministry, and we could paint it a brighter colour."

The walls were too dark and made the place look rather gloomy.

It needed some vibrant colour. It could even be green, the colour of the herbs and plants Draco used in his potions.

Hermione smiled at the thought. He would love to use Slytherin colours to decorate the place.

"You've got it all figured out, huh?" Draco said, watching her with an amused look on his face.

She shrugged again and he chuckled, burying a hand in her curls as he wrapped the other around her waist.

"I still don't know what I've done to deserve you."

Hermione lost herself in his lips, each kiss making her heart pound faster. In the last week, Draco had been kissing her as if he needed her to breathe and the sparks that normally ran across her skin when they touched were becoming more and more intense.

He broke the kiss, bringing their foreheads together and panting softly against her lips.

"Thank you for believing in me."

Hermione opened her eyes, finding his gaze fixed on her. Draco was no longer occluding, or not as much as he had at first, and she could see on his face what he was feeling.

She smiled, kissing the corner of his lips and entwining her fingers with his.

They both walked back out into the alley and Hermione closed the door.

"Italy awaits," she commented with a nervous laugh, turning to Draco.

His jaw was clenched and he was staring at a point over her shoulder. Hermione followed his gaze and discovered a man in his fifties watching them from a short distance away.

He sneered and his cold gaze settled on her.

"Fucking traitor," the man snarled, spitting in her direction.

Draco's transformation was so fast that Hermione had no time to react.

The only thing she saw was a silver gleam in his eyes. A second later he had the man by the throat and his huge wings were hanging from his back, spread out around him.

She gasped and ran towards him, circling his left arm with her hand and pulling, but Draco ignored her.

His silver irises were fixed on the wizard.

"You can say what you want about me," his husky voice startled Hermione. She hadn't heard it in weeks. "But if you ever insult Granger again..."

The man's feet left the ground. His face was reddening and he had both hands around Draco's wrist, trying to free himself from his grip.

And his long fingernails had left several marks on his neck.

"Draco," Hermione pulled harder, getting his attention. "Let him go."

His nostrils flared. He was really angry.

Hermione held his gaze, placing her other hand on his chest.

"Let him go," she repeated without blinking.

Draco instantly released the man, who staggered as he fell to the ground.

"You're an animal!" he shouted, clutching his throat as he walked backwards.

Hermione looked around. A small group of people were congregating on either side of the alley, watching what was happening with concern.

She heard Draco cracking his knuckles and saw him curl his claws, flashing them at the wizard as a wicked grin spread across his face.

"Animal? I'll show you an animal," he growled, raising his brow and flapping his wings.

"Draco!"

Hermione stepped between them, drawing her wand to stop him if necessary, but he dropped his arms at the sound of her voice.

"It's not worth it," she ran a hand along his sharp jaw, sighing as his silver irises followed the movement. "Relax," she asked in a whisper with pleading eyes.

Draco snorted loudly and took both of her hands in his, holding them carefully and closing his eyes. Hermione took a step closer until she rested her head on his chest, feeling him taking deep breaths and slowly letting them out.

She looked up to see that his wings were receding. A few seconds later, his eyes were grey again and his skin had returned to normal.

"I'm sorry, Granger."

She shook her head and started walking with his hand in hers, striding towards the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron.

They needed to get away from there before any reporters arrived.

"Hearing him say that about you, I... I lost my temper," Draco muttered, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

She knew all the self-control problems he was having. Hermione had asked him to stop occluding and now all his emotions were running high, so she couldn't blame him for what had just happened.

She looked back. Several women were pointing at them so she tugged harder on his hand.

"Our portkey activates in half an hour. We have to go."