All through the day as she nursed Scorpius back to health, or at least attempted to, the events of the previous night seemed to have ingrained itself into her mind, refusing to desist no matter how hard she attempted to rid herself of those thoughts. She shouldn't be thinking about Draco now, not when Scorpius needed her undivided attention.

"I love you." Oh, but whenever those three consecutive words played in her mind, she felt the familiar fluttering of butterflies in her belly, like she was a swooning teenager all over again, and it aggravated her to no end. Those words were never intended for her, if her mind could comprehend this why couldn't her heart do the same?

Later in the afternoon when Scorpius had fallen asleep, Hermione decided to pay Draco a visit, to check on him, because really she had never gotten to really ask him how he was holding up.

The man acted as though he was made of steel, an impenetrable metal that couldn't be dented by anyone, but in reality, he was just as fragile as foil.

Hermione knocked against the door, and to her surprise (not really), she had not heard a reply. Taking matters into her own hands Hermione opened the door and stormed into the room where Draco stood by the large window behind his desk, looking out at the garden outside.

"Draco," Hermione began, only to be interrupted by Draco.

"You know, my father used to have peacocks out there. They would graze in that spot, brandishing their magnificent white feathers boastfully. After the war they sort of just... vanished. It is unknown whether they perished or ran off into the woods behind the manor." Draco mused, eyes still fixated on the garden.

"Draco can we talk?" Hermione asked, approaching him.

"I thought I made it apparent that there's nothing for us to discuss." He said.

"Draco, I know Astoria's death still hurts you to this day, and I know that you are trying your mighty best to suppress that pain. I know that you wear a strong façade for Scorpius, but you can't continue like this. You're hurting yourself Draco!" Draco tensed, as it seemed like her words struck something within his cold heart, but then he relaxed once again.

Silence ensued between them, before Hermione broke it, her voice angry. "I confided in you didn't I? I told you all my deepest darkest fears, I let you see my tears, you provided me with a shoulder to cry on, and I'll forever be grateful for that." Hermione said, tone growing sad towards the end.

Draco scoffed. "Get to the point Granger."

Hermione took a deep breath. "The point is, I want you open up to me, Draco. The version of you I saw yesterday made me think of things in a different light. I saw that just as I am hurting, you are hurting as well. So please Draco, talk."

Silence once again reigned, before being broken by the ever faint hissed curse from Draco. He bowed his head and tucked his hands into his pockets. "Astoria and I were arranged to be married from the moment we were both conceived. You know Granger, it seems so unfair that somebody makes these major decisions for you even before you can make a mind of your own. As per pureblood custom, we were to be married after seventh year, but due to the war we postponed our nuptials to eighth year. Imagine Granger, married at eighteen. I barely had the chance to experience youth, or freedom."

Hermione sat down silently, listening intently to his words.

"At the time I really didn't feel anything for her. I neither loved her, lusted after her, or abhorred her. My feelings for her were neutral. Unlike many of the pureblood girls in Slytherin, Astoria was different, and I liked that about her. She wasn't snobbish or materialistic like the other girls, and she didn't really care much about blood purity, even though her family were avid supporters of the Dark Lord like mine. Eventually we found ourselves falling for each other, and it seemed that the arrival of Scorpius solidified our feelings for each other. Before we both turned nineteen we had our first child. How wild is that? I was far too young to be a father, and her a mother, but somehow we still managed to play those roles perfectly.

Then tragedy struck when Scorpius was three. Astoria had fallen terribly ill. She had a fever, she was shedding weight rapidly and she was always vomiting. When we went to St Mungos they... they had diagnosed her with cancer. They said that her cancer had progressed so far that there wasn't much to do for her. They said that she would perish eventually, even with the treatment she was receiving from St Mungos and the muggle hospital. I was devastated Granger. I would be losing my one true love, the one who cared for me when absolutely no one did. And poor Scorpius, he would be losing a mother. The poor young boy would be motherless.

For her last remaining months I never left her side. I stuck around her until the day she eventually perished, in bed, with her hands gradually growing cold as she gripped my hand. Nothing, nothing can make me forget the way her beautiful crystal blue eyes went cold and lifeless, the way her emaciated body grew limp as I clung onto her, begging any available deity to bring her back to me."

Hermione sat in uncomfortable silence as his story concluded. "I'm so sorry for your loss Draco." She whispered.

Draco's shoulders shook. "I didn't have the heart to follow pureblood custom and have her cremated. You see, she had a deathly fear of fire."

"Oh Draco." Hermione stood up and approached the blonde, before engulfing him in an embrace. "I-"

Draco pried her arms off him, before turning towards her, face drenched with tears. "Is this what you wanted, for me to relieve the horrors of my life?!" He yelled angrily. Hermione shook her head, on the brink if tears herself. "No Draco I just-"

"You know what! Save it! Don't try to play therapist. Please leave my office now." He growled, pointing towards the door.

"Draco..." Hermione said faintly.

"GO!"

Tears began to roll down her face, as she searched for any other emotion other than indignation in his eyes. When she found none, she began to shuffle out of the room.

Her movements where however halted by Draco, who had taken a hold of her wrist. "I'm sorry Granger, I shouldn't have lost my cool. I just, it's so hard to cope with my emotions. My father pumped me to the brim with toxic shite like "men are not meat to be emotional" and "men don't cry"." His voice cracked towards the end.

"It's okay Draco, it's okay." Hermione hummed, cupping his face. Draco sniffed, hand resting on her hand which cupped his face.

As they held each other in an intimate embrace, unbeknownst to them this was the start of a very complicated relationship


"Good Morning." The next morning, when Hermione saw that Draco hadn't attended breakfast once again, she decided to take his breakfast up to him.

Impressively balancing a tray of slightly burnt pancakes and a freshly brewed cup of coffee in one hand, Hermione gently knocked on the door.

Her mind replayed the events of yesterday, a grimace gracing her face. She had hoped her attempt at being therapeutic made a little bit of a difference.

"Enter!" He heard him yell. Hermione turned the knob, and carefully manoeuvred herself into the room, the tray wobbling slightly.

Draco raised his head from his work, brows furrowed in confusion as his mind processed the display before him.

"And this is...?"

Hermione smiled, setting the tray on his desk. Draco levitated it with a flick of his wand, causing Hermione to wince. "Not on my work table Granger."

"Sorry."

"Now you haven't answered my question. What is this for?"

"Just being generous. I figured after yesterday you might n-" Hermione was cut off by a scoff by Draco. "So you thought that I might need your pity?"

Hermione's heart leaped into her throat. "I mean it's not pity Draco, I-I'm just t-trying to be kind!" She stammered.

Draco peered at the pancakes, grimacing at the blackened parts and the excessive syrup dripping from the bow soggy meal. "Did you make this?" He inquired.

"Y-yes." Hermione answered, heart thumping madly. God, why did she feel so nervous?

"Oh so that's why they're burnt." He muttered to himself.

Hermione sighed, frustrated at this point. "Look, its either I can leave while you stare at my attempt at a peace offering, debating whether to eat it or not, or we can talk, Draco." Hermione said. Draco raised a pale eyebrow. "Why do you want to talk? And what do you want to talk about?"

"Us." Hermione broke into a fit of coughs as she realised her blunder. "I-I mean, you. How are you?"

"Well for starters I'm up to my neck in work, I barely have time to see my son, and you're here, bothering me."

Hermione gave a sigh of frustration. "Why do you have to be such a cunt? Okay, look why don't you take a day off. Scorpius is feeling much better today and I'm sure a walk around the Manor grounds or even in Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade with his dad might cheer him up since being stuck in bed has made the poor poppet down. What do you think of that?"

Draco pondered for a moment. "Wow Granger, for once you have a good idea."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Please Malfoy, I'm a good idea factory, just ask Ron."

"I won't take Wealsey's word for it, since he's a dimwit."

They both chuckled at their banter.

Hermione began to leave, only to be stopped by Draco calling out to her. "Hey Granger!"

"What is it?" Hermione asked.

"I'll eat your atrocious pancakes if you call me 'Draco'." He said, smirking.

"Oh really?" Hermione asked. Draco nodded.

"I'll only call you 'Draco' if you call me 'Hermione'." She said, mirroring his iconic smirk.

He huffed. "Ugh, when have I ever said the dreaded 'H' word? Ugh, fine Granger, oops, I mean Hermione."

"Thank you Draco." She could feel the violent fluttering of butterflies in her stomach, the ethereal flapping of their wings making her a tad sick.

She opened the door, out of the corner of her eye catching Draco as he levitated the tray back onto the desk, disregarding his work notes.

"Oh and Granger?" He said as he picked up the fork on the tray, picking at the pancakes warily.

"Yes?"

"I kinda like how that name rolls off my tongue. Hermione. Hermione. I think I might use it more often."


Author's Note

I'd like to thank anyone that's reading this fic. I really appreciate your support. I love you guys.

Don't be too shy to comment. I like hearing from my readers.

Queenie.

I have no beta. All mistakes are mine.