Chapter 13

Draco stood in Harry's office back at the DMLE waiting on the paperwork that would allow him to rip Taylor Thomas's mind to shreds, obviously that wasn't his official mission. He might be a bit rougher than necessary though because he was Draco fucking Malfoy and this prick thought to take—take what Draco— he chided himself. The hollow look on Hermione's face still haunted him if he closed his eyes. They had left everything so frayed. He had walked away from her not meeting her gaze because he was a coward. She had been reaching out and he had brushed her off. Harry shook his shoulder.

"Malfoy, the paperwork came through it has been cleared. I don't think you are up for this, let's just start fresh tomorrow let him rot for tonight. Go home get rest," Harry said.

"Potter you honestly think I can rest right now, are you delusional? I want to know how this asshole fooled you all!"

"We got messages from her Malfoy; it wasn't unusual behavior for Hermione. I never even thought to question it until that video showed up. I was sick Ginny didn't do anything but sit in silence, silence Malfoy you have met her she is not silent, for a full day. I have never felt like I failed a person more, let alone the woman that saved my life more times than I am sure I even know, than I did when I saw that video," Harry admitted.

Draco had gone still. This asshole had known for days how Thomas had fooled them and not shared that information.

"And you didn't think to share this with me until just now!"

"Malfoy you were already such a mess I wanted you to focus," Harry started.

"Do not manage me Potter I don't give a shite that you are my boss how could you not tell me this, I have been so consumed with rage that she was just forgotten by her friends. I knew why we hadn't spoken and that is my fault," Draco Loomed over Harry.

"Malfoy, I am sorry, I should have shared this information with you, in all of the stress of this week I let my personal grief cloud my judgement. This is why Auror's don't handle cases they are personally invested in," Harry said somewhat lamely.

"Don't even dream of taking me off this case," Draco said the fire slowly dying out of his voice.

"I won't as long as you stay professional which is why I am going to insist you leave for the night. We will start with Veritaserum tonight and find out how he fooled her workplaces and what we can about his organization. I will ensure you have a full report for you when you arrive on Monday, I don't want to see you tomorrow. That is not a request Malfoy, go home, take care of Hermione," Harry said with a significant look.

Draco wondered if Potter could see the frayed edges of his soul that would only calm once he knew she was safe and herself again not the husk of the woman he—the woman he loved.

"Malfoy, when we close this case, I will happily stand next you when the ministry reveals your role in the take down and capture of countless dark wizards over the last eight years. I will be proud to say that you are truly one of the best men I know and mean it. To have changed the way I have watched you over the last twelve years was something I never thought I would see. I am sorry I doubted you in the early days. I was so hesitant to work with you when Shacklebolt brought me to meet you in some shady office so you wouldn't be seen entering the DMLE. Then I just proceeded to treat you like an asset for those first several months until I realized you were truly not the same person I thought I knew. Maybe I never really knew you in the first place,"

Draco ran his hands through his already mussed hair and dragged them down his face before speaking.

"First Potter I swear to Salazar if Shacklebolt thinks to parade me out for the media like a reformed puppet I will Avada him publicly. I don't want that I just want my face off the damn wall. I am also done after this. I am going to make my mother so damn happy because I can't do this anymore even as a card carrying good guy. I could vomit just saying that. I am not all that reformed, thank you for overlooking the state of half my marks when they come in. I think for my soul's safety I need to put dueling to rest as a profession. I am drawn to the dark I know it and reveling in it over the years I have gotten far to creative and started creating new horrible ways to bend the rules. I think I am going to lay down the dueling wand and take up something else less destructive like potions that cure the incurable or something. When this case is over, consider this notice of my resignation," Draco finished, and Harry just looked at him.

"Are you sure Malfoy?"

"Yes, I have someone to live for now. I really don't want to fuck it up more than I already have," and that was just about as close Draco would come to admitting anything to Harry Potter tonight, thank you very much.

Harry just smirked at him like a git. Draco wanted to punch the smarmy look off his stupid face.

"Good night, Potter, I am going home."

"Draco," Harry called after him his tone serious but kind, "Just tell her the truth because I think you will find she feels the same way."

Draco didn't turn around as Potter spoke, he couldn't. He just nodded his head before continuing to the lift to make his way to the Floo. The lift rattled and jerked as he rode it to the floor with the hearths. Draco tried to calm himself as he stood trapped in the lift. His thoughts swirled to her. Draco told himself not to imagine the worst about Hermione's condition. The lift came to an abrupt stop as per usual and today he stumbled because he was so stuck in his own head. The jostling was enough though to shake him out of his mind and just get home. He walked to the nearest hearth, gathered the Floo powder, calling out for the Manor.

It was half two when he stepped in the Floo parlor at the Manor but Tippy greeted him with a cheerful smile.

"Master is home, Tippy is so happy to be seeing you. Mistress is in the library, she fell asleep a few hours ago but Tippy didn't want to wake her so Tippy just put a blanket over her," the elf chirped proudly.

Draco didn't miss the Mistress comment, he smiled to himself. The library of course she was there that insufferable witch was in the library, why wouldn't she be. It wasn't like Draco had been agonizing over her well being for a week. She is just casually sleeping in his damn library like she owns the place. Through his frustration though he felt the errant thought take root, like she owned the place, like it was hers. It was a good thought and for the first time since laying eyes on her again eight years ago Draco didn't push the hope away.

"Thank you Tippy, I won't need anything else tonight. Please get some rest, and thank you for taking care of her," Draco had crouched at his last words to say them to the elf's face to express the weight of his gratitude.

"Master Draco, Tippy will always care for you and anyone you love it is not even a question in Tippy's mind. Caring for Mistress when she was so scared and sad was an honor to Tippy, Tippy can see why Master loves her so," Tippy said earnestly.

Draco smiled, damned elves, he had never told Tippy how he felt but she knew anyway. His heart broke though considering her state when she arrived. As if Tippy could read his mind.

"Master she was smiling when Tippy left her in the library, she wanted to see you as soon as you got home, she told me so herself," Tippy said with a small smile.

Draco's heart soared at those words. He bid the elf good night then and made his way to the library. He hesitated at the door for a minute before opening it. He took a breath to steady himself.

Opening the door, he entered the library; his dragon hide shoes he wore with his formal robes clicking on the mahogany floors. He continued into the room as quietly as he could and found Hermione sound asleep on one of the couches snuggled up with a text on Ancient Runes. Of all the books in this library, even the fiction she choose to unwind with a rare Ancient Runes manuscript. This witch, a swot to the core. He slipped his shoes off and shrugged out of the formal robes that were stiff with blood in places. It was in this moment her realized he was still covered in the gore of the fire fight at the auction, the residual dark magic clinging to him like a coating. He didn't want to touch her like this he would just go change and come back after a shower. He was lost in thought and didn't hear her.

"Draco?" Hemione said before she launched herself into his arms.

He didn't question it he just wrapped his arms around her burying his face in her neck as he lifted her off her feet. Without thinking he pressed his lips to the soft skin behind her ear before setting her back on her feet. She still clung to him though, so he didn't let go either. He pulled back from her neck to meet her eyes.

"Hermione, I will never.."

She pulled his face down and kissed him effectively cutting off his speech. He stood frozen unsure for a moment he could sense her tensing when he did nothing in response, and that wouldn't do. He threaded his hand into her loosely braided hair and splayed his other hand flat against her back pulling her tighter to his body. And fuck Potter and his look because that asshole had known this was what his soul had needed. Thoughts of Potter left his mind though when Hermione drew his lower lip into her mouth before nipping it. Draco returned her onslaught with his own plundering her mouth like he had always longed to. Slow and languid, no rushed kisses here, he would snog her thoroughly for once. She sensed the shift and melted into him her body molding to his perfectly a tiny groan escaping her when he had kissed a line along her jaw before placing his mouth over her pulse. Draco sucked lightly, not enough to bruise yet, but enough to let her know he would mark her all over if she let him. He pulled away after that to look at her; needing to see that she was unharmed. He had noticed she was thin earlier but holding her now he could feel it and the rage that filled him was overwhelming in its intensity. Hermione sensed his shift though and placed her hands on his face to draw his gaze to hers.

"I am ok Draco. I will be ok. You came for me; I thought I was gone I didn't know if anyone would find me again. Then I came to in your house with your mother and all I could do was collapse in relief that I was in this house, ironic I know. I was so worried for you I could barely read anything." Hermione was starting to babble, and Draco felt a smile turn up a corner of his lips.

"So, you decided the best way to cure your worry was to curl up with and drool on an extremely old and rare Ancient Rune manuscript really, Hermione Granger I am shocked at the lack of respect you have shown for a book," Draco teased.

She punched him in the chest then before pushing out of his embrace. He reluctantly let her go.

"I did not drool," the conviction in her voice wavered though and he suppressed a smile.

Her assessing gaze then flited over him.

"You aren't wounded anywhere?" Her fingers brushing his cheek where he realized was likely dried blood, "You reek of dark magic."

Her gaze was soft not accusing. He still felt the need to explain himself.

"Draco if you are going to defend your use of questionable magic, I will ask you to stop. I hope you used every questionable spell you know. I hope if Thomas still draws breath, you tear every bit of information from him in an unpleasant manner. I have no problem with any dark questionable bits of you just so we are clear. A knight in shining armor wouldn't have been invited to that event. As a living breath hero, I can tell you it is overrated. I would take a morally questionable, only good for those he loves kind of man any day of the week" her tone was serious and her gaze steady.

Draco felt striped bare, he had never wanted another person as much as he wanted Hermione right now. She smiled then and stepped closer before having the audacity to sniff him.

"You still stink, and I am tired lets just get you a shower and some sleep for us both. Do you have to be at work tomorrow?" she said with hesitancy and Draco was so glad Potter forced him to stay away until Monday.

"I am not allowed back in the DMLE until Monday. A shower and sleep would be good," Draco said and Hermione smiled back at him.

Draco ushered her out of the library after grabbing his robes and shoes. Together they padded through the halls to the stairs that led to his wing of the Manor. Draco stopped at her door, but she kept walking. She glanced over her shoulder at him.

"If it is not clear, I am coming with you to your room. I do not want to sleep alone in that ginormous room. Its beautiful though and I love it I would just rather not be alone tonight," a haunted look passed over her features then her tone changed, "we are just sleeping though to be clear."

Draco caught up to her and leaned down to speak softly.

"I agree, I have much better plans for the first time you invite me to your bed Hermione Granger."

He felt her shiver at his words and that would be enough for tonight.