MissyJAnne85 and I have some SUPER exciting news to share, friends. Our little Alphabet is now complete! We are absolutely THRILLED to introduce you to CaitlinCheri28. Behind the scenes of ALG, I have been helping Missy with a project that I will start plugging very soon - posting in the New Year. We are very lucky to have met the gorgeous Caitlin and are pleased to tell you that we will be assisting her with her first multi-chap, which we have just begun work on. Aside from getting on like a house on fire, we work very well together and our quickly finding our feet within our brand new Alphabet! Please help Missy & I welcome Caitlin into our world of crazy! You can follow my link to Caitlin's account to find her current work. Unfortunately at this point, Missy only posts to AO3.
Ok guys & gals - back to ALG! Just a gentle reminder that after today, I will be posting bi-weekly & TRYING to keep it to Wednesdays!
As always, the chapter songs will be listed in the endnotes & you can find the updated Spotify playlist here.
Chapter TW: Soft mention of suicide in this one, my dears.
In the weeks following Valentine's Day, Hermione was the happiest she had been for a while, and also the most stressed. Happy because she was back with Draco. Free to hold his hand in public. She was no longer lying to the vast majority of people in her life. She had written letters to her parents, to Harry and Ron.
Her mother's reply had been eloquent. They were happy that their daughter was happy, but they sure had some questions about Hermione dating the boy that used to torment her. Her father was particularly unimpressed that they would have to be dealing with the Ministry of Magic to put extra safety protocols in place. This time around, they had all of the information and would be kept up-to-date by both Hermione and the Auror's department in the DMLE. Hermione had sworn to her parents and herself that she would never use magic on them again without their express permission. She had also sworn to never lie to them about her circumstances or to hide what was happening in her Magical World. So, while they were pleased that she had found someone, they must have been questioning her judgement — which was more than understandable in Hermione's opinion. It would take a lot of correspondence to get through this one.
Harry had written back. He told her that he was glad that she had moved on from Ron, that she'd found some happiness — but why the fuck did it need to be with Malfoy? Hermione had sighed, she'd hoped for better, but expected less. Hopefully, with time, Harry would see all the good things about Draco and leave their past where it belonged, as she had. On the upside, Harry had agreed to coordinate with Kingsley to conduct the Fidelius charm on Hermione's parents' home. Knowing that her parents were safe was a huge sigh of relief for Hermione. Harry would also help with protective enchantments for when her parents were outside of the home. There would be an Auror on duty, hidden at all times, just in case Rodolphus showed his face. It turned out that the Auror's Dept. was more than interested in finding the location of Rodolphus Lestrange. It wasn't perfect, but Hermione hoped that it would be deterrent enough.
From Ron, Hermione had heard absolutely nothing. She had broken the news to him as gently as she could. She had ruined the crisp parchment with several teardrops as she wrote, but decided against starting again. Maybe some of the ink was blotchy, but he'd know she'd written with sincerity. Maybe one day soon, she'd hear back. Until then, she wouldn't force the matter.
The other stress in her life was coming from more obvious things. Finding a solution to cracking the damn Malfoy curse was at the top of her priority list. Despite what she'd said in her first year to Harry and Ron, death was not second to her schooling. She'd learned that the hard way over the last few years. That's not to say that she was neglecting her studies, oh no. She had drawn up a strict time table for both her and Draco to follow. It included classes, meal times, N.E.W.T preparations, curse-breaking, and every little thing down to allotted hours for sleeping and bathroom use. She had taken things as far as she could with the hope that they would get to the end of their school year alive, above passing grades, and with the ability to continue their relationship on their own terms. She was Hermione Jean Granger, and nobody stood in her way, dammit.
It was one such curse-breaking session that she was engaged in with Draco and Theo where Draco threw his quill down, tipped his inkpot over and violently started to pace the room. Hermione and Theo exchanged a look. They had become fast friends over the last two weeks, much to Draco's disdain.
"What's got your knickers in a twist?" Theo asked his friend, watching the way that Draco wore holes in the floor.
Draco ignored him — which was probably for the best.
"Did you find something?" Hermione asked with a squeak. They very rarely found information worth pursuing, but Draco's reaction tonight was more intense than it had been before. It definitely spoke negatively to Hermione.
"No, I didn't find anything. Not a damn single thing. We've been at this for too long, Granger! We're never going to find an answer locked away in these books. We need to be at the Manor. Look through its libraries, feel the magic in our bones. We are getting absolutely fucking nowhere like this!"
"Well, what do you suggest? That we just Floo back to your house right now?" Hermione snapped, just as frustrated as he was. "Waltz in through the fireplace and tell your mother that we just need a few weeks alone with the dark magic of your ancestors?"
"I think I'm just gonna go, guys. I - I'll catch up with you later," Theo said, hastily collecting his notes and easing towards the door.
Neither Hermione nor Draco paid him any mind. They were solely focused on each other.
"Of course, not! You might as well sign your suicide note now! We have no fucking clue where my uncle is! He might be lurking around any corner. We can't leave the safety of this castle!" Draco seethed, throwing his hands in the air. His pacing increased in intensity.
"Then what do you fucking suggest, Malfoy? Because if you don't want to stick to these books, we're running out of options! "
Draco's eyes darted back and forth as if he could find the answer somewhere in that room if only he looked hard enough. Hermione approached him quietly. She took his hand, waking him from his dark thoughts. Eventually, his eyes softened, and together they returned to the sofa.
"I'm sorry," he apologised. "It's just so fucking frustrating. We haven't found any clues yet, and I feel like I'm failing you."
Hermione sensed a need for distraction, something that would take their minds away from studies, scrolls, notes and curses — if only for a little while. Maybe they could take some time to have a decent conversation for once.
"I know — but you're not failing me. We're in this together, of course, I forgive you. Should we talk about something else for a while? Take our minds off of this for just a bit?" She asked with a cheeky grin on her face despite the seriousness of her words.
He sighed, leaning back into the cushions, hit by a sudden wave of exhaustion. Hermione snuggled into his side, resting her head on his chest. Absently, he played with her curls.
Draco was silent for a few minutes, twisting ringlets around his fingers and releasing them. "I'm sorry for all of it, you know."
"Hmm? All of what?"
Draco was staring off into the fire, lost in his memories. "I don't know why I did the things that I did, said the things that I said."
Baffled, Hermione shifted her head so that she could stare up at his face.
"I —" Draco stopped, and cleared his throat. Taking a deep breath, he tried to start again — to process and explain what he was feeling. "I used to want to hurt you, to try and make you cry. I was a stupid, arrogant little arsehole, and I'm sorry."
They'd never really discussed their past before. "Thank you," Hermione said, placing a soft kiss on his cheek. She hadn't expected or anticipated this conversation in the midst of all the chaos.
"Last month, when I -" Draco stopped, his words caught in his throat. "When you walked out of the door, I told myself that I couldn't care. That I was doing the right thing for both of us - but it felt like I'd lost everything then and there. If I could turn back time, if I could find a way — Granger, you know that I'd take it all back. All the words that hurt you. Perhaps if I had done that, you'd have stayed."
Hermione gazed up at him, watching the emotion flicker over his face. One of her most favourite things about knowing him like this was that he willingly let his guard down. He trusted her with his vulnerability. He didn't have to pretend to be something he wasn't when he was with her. The knowledge that gave her was heady. He trusted her implicitly.
Draco watched her face with half-lidded eyes for just a moment before continuing. The look on his face was the epitome of determination. "We're going to make this work, Granger. We will find a way to get through all this bullshit. I'll bring the world crashing down around us if I have to. If I could reach the stars, I'd give them all to you — you know that, right? I'll stop at nothing to make you happy, and I swear I will live to the end of my days trying to deserve you if you'll let me."
What could she say in response to any of that? This gorgeous, broken, brilliant, sexy, arrogant arse of a man was willing to burn the Earth down around them to find a way for them to be together. Her heart was hammering, and she thought she might burst from the feel of it.
"I love you too, Draco Malfoy," she said and met his lips in a hot and needy kiss.
When they broke apart, Draco rested his forehead on hers and smiled.
"Come on, Bookworm. We have work to do."
"Hey, where did Theo go?"
Hermione followed her schedule to the T. She needed to get through all of the things on the list. The schedule gave her a sense of control over her life — the planning and the execution. Crossing items off the list gave her a sense of accomplishment and the feeling that maybe if she could get through all of this; then what was to come would be so much easier. So, she studied and revised for her classes for her N.E.W.T preparations, she scanned, copied notes and read through piles of ancient textbooks on curse breaking and pure-blood traditions. She had even scheduled time with Ginny and Luna, accepting her need to relax and have some downtime — every now and then.
Her classes were starting to pile up on her, and she longed for the days when she had a time turner. If she'd have known about all of her extracurriculars this year, she might not have signed up for quite so many classes. Then again, if she was truly honest with herself, she probably would have.
Hermione was on hour five of exam preparations when Draco arrived back in the common room from Quidditch training. Merlin, the way that uniform clung to his body was distracting. He was like a sculpture straight out of Michelangelo's portfolio - only bigger — in all areas. Hermione's mouth went dry as he approached her.
Clearing her throat, she asked instead, "Good practice session?"
"Better now that the snow is calming down," he replied. "I feel a bit useless out there, though. Knowing you're in here getting as much done as you can."
"Hey, you have your vices, and I'll have mine. Quidditch is a good outlet for you. I'd hate to think where all your pent up aggression would go if you couldn't get out there on your broom."
"Granger, I think you're perfectly capable of guessing just where all that extra energy would go," Draco quirked his right eyebrow, knowing the effect it would have on her.
Arse, she thought, her organs turning to jelly on the spot.
"You're not playing fair," she said, sticking out her tongue. "Go and check the schedule, and see what you're supposed to be doing!"
Draco wandered over to where the schedule Hermione had drawn up. It shimmered against the wall.
"Hmm, that's strange. It says that I am supposed to be kissing my girlfriend. I don't remember that being part of the itinerary," Draco shot her a playful wink to go with his signature smirk.
"Well," Hermione said. "I don't think I remember writing that, but if that's what the schedule suggests you should be doing, I think you'd better follow it," she grinned devilishly.
"Right you are, Granger!" Draco dropped his broom to scoop Hermione into his arms.
Draco twirled her around once before setting her down and fixing his lips to hers. His hands cupped her face as his fingers tangled in her hair. Hermione melted against his chest, lost in the feeling of him. After several moments, Draco pulled away.
"I think we should continue this in a shower stall, don't you?"
"I don't know," Hermione pulled at her swollen bottom lip with her teeth. "I'm just starting to really hit my stride in this Charms revision!" She frowned, but her eyes were glittering with mirth.
Draco growled by way of response, lifting her off the ground until her legs wrapped around his waist for support.
"Here's some Charms revision," he said, peeling her cardigan back off of her shoulders. "I'll show you just how my charms work, Granger. Will that be satisfactory?"
"I'm not sure if the anatomy of Draco Malfoy will come up in a N.E.W.T, but it doesn't hurt to cover all bases," Hermione grinned against his mouth.
"Huh," Draco pondered. "You mean to tell me that all the things that make you moan won't come up in the exams? Hmm, I guess I've been studying for nothing, then!"
Hermione swatted at his arm as he carried her towards the bathroom. He bypassed the large bath in favour of the showers. Hemione hummed in delight. They'd never shared a shower stall before — this was something new and exciting.
Draco dropped her down at the entry point to a shower stall and turned the taps on to the perfect temperature for him. Hermione frowned and turned it warmer, then warmer again.
"Perfect," she hummed.
Draco wasn't quite so sure, as he tested the temperature and hissed.
"Don't you trust I'll get you hot enough, Granger?" he asked, adjusting it back down a few degrees. Hermione pouted but allowed him to make the adjustments. Draco started to peel his uniform off of his body, and suddenly water temperatures were the last thing on her mind.
Hermione imitated his actions and shucked the clothes from her body with haste.
They met again under the warm stream of the shower. Hermione watched as the water dripped down Draco's body, little cascades and waterfalls forming of their own volition on his dips and curves. She licked her lips in anticipation.
Draco fitted his forefinger under Hermione's chin and tilted her head up to meet his lips in a kiss. He let the warm water cascade down around them until Hermione's hair was a soaking mess around her shoulders. She was a goddess in his eyes, and he wanted to treat her as such. Draco pumped some jasmine body wash on to his bare hands and lathered them up. He would worship her body as he washed it. He started at the back of her neck, gliding his hands down over her shoulders to her back. He slid his hands over her hips and around to her flat stomach, pulling her tightly back against his chest as he did so. Hermione nearly slipped on the tile, but Draco held her securely in place as his hands explored higher up her body. He fit his palms around the soft mounds of her breasts, paying extra attention to her nipples, his thumbs flicking back and forth until they were hard nubs under his touch.
Hermione was panting for more, she leaned further into his embrace, her nerves came to life under his expert touch, her skin singing as his hands passed over her. She needed more. She needed him. Hermione pushed away from her lover and pumped his body wash onto her hands, ready to repeat the same agonisingly slow process he had started on her.
She took her time, letting her hands run over the hardened muscles of his arms, shoulders and chest. She erotically caressed all of his familiar thin scars, one by one with the tip of her finger, adoring the body she had come to know as well as her own. Draco shivered under her touch, despite the warm water. He watched her intensely, his eyes dark as he cupped her arse cheeks between his hands. He'd never let her go again. Hermione Granger was the absolute best thing in his life, and he'd die before he let anything happen to her. He watched her with fascination and desire, little drops and rivers of water running freely over her, washing the soap suds away.
But then she dropped to her knees and began to wash his legs. She considered each of his legs and carefully washed them one by one, making her way almost to the junction between his thighs, before teasing him and starting the process again. She grinned up at him, her eyes alight with humour as his already hard cock jumped at her touch. Of all the times that he'd buried his head between her legs, she'd yet to do the same for him. Not because she hadn't wanted to, but because he'd never given her the chance. He always wanted to take care of her, needing her to be satisfied at least once before he sought out his own pleasure. All other occasions the need had been too great, and they skipped foreplay completely. Their need and desire to lose themselves in each other was all-consuming.
Hermione had the devil in her eyes as she took his throbbing erection in her hand, bracing herself with her other hand on his hip. She stroked him up and down, once, twice. She was careful, light, and teasing. Finally, she lowered her mouth onto the tip of his pulsing cock and licked a small bead of precum away, tasting him before swirling her tongue around the head of his erection with tantalisingly slow movements. Draco had to brace himself on the shower wall in case his legs gave way. Her mouth was hot, wet and heavenly. She was tasting him tentatively — she'd barely even begun moving. Did she know just how cleverly cruel she was being right now? He was sure she did. She knew everything.
She took him in her mouth then, as much as she could and Draco had the sudden compulsion to propose marriage to her then and there. The hot water pummelled his back as Hermione's tongue worked like sensual sin, tasting every inch of him. He clamped his jaw shut and breathed deeply through his nose, willing his body to calm down. But she was using her hand and her mouth on him, and he knew that he stood no chance. Her hand pumped while her mouth sucked, and her tongue flicked. He was going to come, and unless he pulled away from her fucking delicious mouth, that was where it would happen. He jerked backwards, but Hermione held on.
"Granger, I'm going to come. Granger! Oh, fuuuck!" Draco groaned, digging his fingers into her hair.
Hermione stared up at him, her eyes large, and her mouth still firmly wrapped around his cock. It was such a fucking amazing sight that he had a hard time ripping his gaze away to meet her eyes. He tightened his grip on her hair and pulled her off of him just in time. He took himself in hand and turned toward the shower spray, emptying himself down into the drain. Satisfied and spent, he turned back to see Hermione still on her knees, a pout on her face.
"Fucking hell," he cursed, losing his fingers in her wet curls once more, he urged her back up to her feet. "You don't need to swallow for me, Granger. I don't expect that from you."
Hermione wiped her lips off with the tips of her fingers. Draco watched her in awe, already feeling another stirring low in his abdomen.
"Maybe you don't expect it, Malfoy, but I might actually like to swallow. I thought we were done with you making my decisions for me?" Her words were serious, but her tone and body language were anything but. "Next time, you'll let me — I know you will." Hermione didn't let him respond, instead, she stretched up to meet his lips in a sweet kiss.
Fuck was all he could think. 'Fuck' over and over again in all the best ways. Fuck, he could taste himself on her tongue. Fuck, she was sexy. Fuck, she was amazing and fuck, she was all his. He kissed her back, savagely, his desire for her, for everything about her; coming alive and taking control of his mouth on hers.
The low stirring became something else entirely. Draco pulled Hermione more firmly against his body, picking her up and pressing her back into the shower wall. Immediately she arched towards him, stung by the cold tiles, but Draco was insistent. He peppered hot kisses over her face and sucked on a spot just behind her ear on her neck, causing her to moan. The sound reverberated and echoed off the tiles, it egged him on, and when she latched onto his shoulder with her teeth, he hissed in both pain and pleasure, his cock jumping to action. Blindly, he found his way and eased himself inside of her. She was wet and willing, accomodating in their position. As he filled her, slowly stretching her tight cunt, she bit harder, clawing her nails up his back, desperate to find purchase.
He thrust inside of her, his hips snapping against hers in frantic movements. She was already keening, already feeling the tension building inside of her screaming for release. At this angle, he was hitting her just right and even though he had just come, she was making it hard to hold off. The sounds she made elicited their own kind of response in him. She was making those noises for him, because of him. He had missed this, missed her, and wanted so desperately to hear her beg for him. Her body clenched around him, tight and wet, squeezing him just so. He was buried to the hilt, somehow she accommodated every single bit of him. She was heaven, and she was sin, and she was clenching against him now in a telltale way. Her breathing harsher, her heartbeat more rapid.
"Draco, I'm. Fuck. Yes. Right there, yes. Fuck. Oh, Gods, please! I'm going to —"
"You're mine," he growled against her neck. "Come for me, Hermione!"
Hermione saw stars. Her body went limp, and if Draco hadn't been supporting her against the wall, she'd have crumpled in a heap.
With her walls clenching around him, Draco thrust inside of her just one more time before finding his second release.
"Fucking bloody hell, you're perfect," he panted against her ear.
Together they slid down the wall, lying tangled in each other underneath the spray of the shower.
As they dressed, Draco considered her. He had no idea what he could have possibly done in another life to deserve her now, but he was thankful. He wouldn't question it. He'd just continue to try everything and anything to deserve her. To keep her happy. She was his be-all and his end-all. She was everything to him.
"What?" Hermione asked, noticing his stare. She pulled on her shoes and stared right back.
"Nothing, I - I just don't think anybody could feel the way that I do about you right now."
Hermione's eyes lit up, and a smile glittered across her face. Her heart was light and happy tears threatened to spill.
"There are so many things that I could say in response to that, but I wouldn't know how to begin. I don't believe that anybody could love you like I do, either."
"All this time; I have been trying to save you; from my father, my uncle, from me, but maybe — maybe you'll be the one to save me."
Hermione took a small moment to observe him. He was calm, relaxed, happy, playful and open — she could get used to this. Still, she wasn't quite sure how she would respond, so she decided on the truth — with a hint of humour. "Wouldn't be the first time," she quipped with a wink. Hermione threw her wet hair over her shoulder. "Break is over, Malfoy. Time to get back to work!"
Hermione flounced out of the bathroom, ready to get back to her studies. Draco watched her hips sway as she left, and caught himself wondering for the thousandth time how he got so lucky.
The following weekend offered a trip to Hogsmeade, and after a lot of negotiating, Draco had conceded to the trip. Hermione was both pleased and relieved. She rearranged their calendar to show their free time on Saturday afternoon instead of Sunday. They would be going on a "triple date" apparently. The thought alone had Draco cringing. The term on its own was ludicrous. They'd be joined by Lovegood, Longbottom, the Weasellete, and Potter was making a special trip to see his girlfriend, their friends and subsequently him. It was bound to be an eventful afternoon, and Draco was dragging his feet.
"Can't we just go with the two of us? I'd love to have you all to myself in a quiet corner in the Three Broomsticks. Or to spoil your gorgeous mouth, and make you smile with a sugar quill or five from Honeydukes? We could spend hours in Tomes and Scrolls! I'll buy you any book you fancy! Wouldn't that be fun, Granger? Tomes and Scrolls? Get lost between the almost-toppling stacks of books — find a nice, quiet spot where I can press your gorgeous back up against the shelves and have my way with you?" Draco pouted, adding, "We don't need the others!"
"Draco Lucius Malfoy!" Hermione scolded. "We have made a plan and a commitment to my friends. I hope that someday soon you will also be able to call them your friends. If you want to make a life with me, you will certainly try to be mindful of that. These are good people, all of them. Funny, and brave. Smart and witty. Just be yourself — the self that you are every day with me. Try not to get under anyone's skin and for heaven's sake, let your defences down just a little bit. Especially for Harry. Please?"
Draco huffed and stared at his shoes, contemplating his response. He was loath to make any more promises to her that he couldn't keep.
"I'll try," he said eventually. "But if anyone says something out of line, all bets are off!" He warned, his silver eyes flashing in the light. "If Potter has a go or even tries to rile me up, I honestly can't be sure how I will respond."
Hermione placed her hands on her hips and tapped her foot against the floor, watching him expectantly. Draco let out a puff of air that ruffled the hair on his forehead.
"Fuck, Granger. What do you want me to say? I will try — I promise to try!"
"Well. Alright then," she smiled demurely. She crossed the room and planted a chaste kiss on his cheek. Taking his hand, she swung it back and forth. "Come on, we're supposed to meet Ginny, Luna and Neville by the entrance to the castle."
Draco groaned but allowed her to pull him along behind her. She was a feisty, strong thing when she wanted to be.
The three women chatted animatedly during the walk to the small wizarding village. They were up ahead by a couple of paces, giggling and talking as if they didn't have a care in the world. Neville and Draco trailed a few steps behind, and Draco noticed that Longbottom looked just as uncomfortable as he was feeling.
"So," said Neville as he kicked at a few rocks with his shoe. "You and Hermione, huh? Have to say, I didn't see that one coming."
"You and me both, Longbottom. I'll admit to being shocked and surprised every morning when she's still in the bed next to me."
Neville's face, neck and ears turned a brilliant shade of puce, and he stammered over his next few words. "Lucky that - getting to share a living space, I mean. Not all of us are so fortunate."
"Where do you and Lovegood find time to be alone?" Draco asked, feeling oddly at ease with his classmate. He'd admit to never thinking too much of the clumsy kid before, but Longbottom had really grown into his own during the war. He'd become something other than the disaster Draco had always seen in Potions. He'd grown confident, and strong. Daring and brave. The kind of Gryffindor that the Sorting Hat had always known him to be. Strangely, Draco was proud of the man Neville had become. He could almost hear Granger's voice encouraging him to tell the other man just that.
"Oh, er. Here and there. Quiet classrooms and other places like that. Luna's actually really good at finding places. She knows the castle better than anyone!"
"I -" Draco swallowed. It went against every instinct he had to tell Neville anything other than what was strictly necessary. Or anything complimentary. Showing anything other than disdain for others usually made him so uncomfortable, but perhaps Hermione was rubbing off on him in more ways than one. Still, he nearly choked on his sentence. "I think you and Lovegood are good. Er, what I mean to say is, I think you've both found a good match in each other. And," he swallowed. Damn Hermione for doing this to him. "I wanted to tell you that I admire you."
Neville looked up at Draco, squinting from the sun in his eyes, or surprise. Draco couldn't be sure.
"You — you admire me?" Neville sounded shocked. Surprise it was, then.
"Yes. What you did last year. Standing up to the Carrows. Your efforts in the war. Taking the head off of that fucking snake and standing up to the Dark Lord," Draco stuttered on the last. He clapped Neville on the shoulder. "You are a far better man than I am, Longbottom. I suppose I should also apologise for having always treated you like shite, too."
Neville nodded his thanks, emotion thick in his throat.
A few moments passed before either of them spoke again.
"Is this what you're really like then?" Neville wondered aloud.
Draco looked at him sharply, his eyebrow quirked to a perfection that was completely lost on Neville.
"Well. It's just that I've been wondering. We all have, I guess. What it is that Hermione sees in you."
"I've been wondering that, too," Draco confessed.
"You were always such a prick to her — we just couldn't figure it out!"
"We?" Draco questioned.
"Yeah. Dean, Seamus and I had a conversation or two last week. Dean's still a bit cut up about everything, I think. But either way, we couldn't see any sense in it. But now; now I think, maybe, yeah. You're not such a prat, after all, Malfoy."
Draco started to laugh, actually laugh with Neville Longbottom until he realised that the other bloke wasn't laughing along.
"You hurt her though, Malfoy, and you'll have the whole of fucking Gryffindor house to answer to. Plus Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. Oh, and most of the wizarding world, too. Nagini's not the only snake whose head I'm willing to cut off, yeah?"
Fuck me, Draco thought. The kid had grown balls over the last few years.
"Message received, Longbottom. I plan to keep her happy for as long as she'll have me. You have my word on that."
It was Neville's turn to clap Draco on the shoulder as they rounded the bend into Hogsmeade.
"Let's just hope you keep it, then," the corner of his mouth lifted in a half-smile.
To Draco's complete horror, he saw Potter standing awkwardly outside the pink tea shop.
"Oh, Merlin, no -" He stammered, as the girls headed straight for Madam Puddifoot's.
Ginny ran the last ten or so metres before launching herself into Harry's arms. Draco watched with interest as Potter's countenance transformed from one of moping disinterest to absolute adoration for the witch in his arms. That was something that Draco understood well now, and he felt the corner of his mouth tug up in a reluctant smile. He squished the sensation back down and shuffled his feet nervously as the others greeted Harry with slightly less enthusiasm than the Weaslette.
When Neville stepped back from confidently man-hugging Potter, making Draco increasingly uncomfortable, Draco was finally able to lock eyes with him. They both cleared their throats while the others looked on expectantly. Hermione was fidgeting nervously, he could see. She was absently pulling at the skin around her thumbnail, her eyes darting back and forth between the two young men.
"Malfoy," Harry nodded.
Draco looked quickly to Hermione, who's eyes were pleading with him.
He cleared his throat again and stuck out his hand. "Potter."
Draco and Harry shared a brief handshake before stepping back and retreating to their respective girlfriends. Draco fought the urge to wipe his hand on the back of his coat.
"Please tell me this isn't where we're eating?" He looked at Hermione.
"It sure is!" Hermione beamed, a twinkle in her eyes. Draco hadn't thought Hermione capable of torture. He knew better now.
"They have the most wonderful little desserts. Lots of sugar and butter, you know, but very tasty. Lots of whipped cream, too. Neville and I adore whipped cream!" Luna told them all, heading for the door.
Draco shared a grimace with Neville and Harry, and the gesture alone could have knocked him over.
The bell above the door tinkled as the six of them stepped through, barely able to stand together for the number of tables spread through the dining room.
"Bloody frills," Potter muttered under his breath.
Draco didn't suppress his grin this time. Potter's back was to him, and only Hermione caught the look. She tugged on his hand softly and leaned into his side.
"Hello, loves," the stout woman greeted them. "A table for six is it? Just wait one moment, and I'll get some tables together." Madam Puddifoot turned her back on them, her black hair, streaked with grey was woven into a shiny bun. With a wave of her wand, three small tables and six chairs danced closer together, making room for all of them to sit together. "There you go, dears. Menus are on the table. I'll be over in a few minutes to take your order."
The six of them squeezed past other diners and students, trying not to trip over the frills and bows on the excessive tablecloths. Somehow between the ruffles and the small tables, Draco ended up next to Hermione, but across from Harry. He looked around anxiously. Surely he could somehow switch seats, end up across from Lovegood or Longbottom, but Hermione slipped her hand high up his thigh, silencing him and keeping him still. He guessed that the vast amounts of lace on the tables were good for something, after all. When everyone was settled, she removed her hand from his leg and picked up the small menu instead. Draco reined in his pout.
He looked down at his menu to see vast amounts of different sweets and drinks on offer. He really just wanted and needed a Firewhisky. It might hinder his ability to be civil towards Potter, but it sure would take the sting out of the hole Harry was working on boring into his very soul.
"Fuck, Potter. Spit it out, already!" Draco looked up, meeting Harry's eyes.
Hermione dropped her hand back to Draco's leg, squeezing hard enough to leave little finger-shaped bruises.
Hermione glanced at her friend's faces. All of them were staring intently between Harry and Draco. Ginny appeared to be just as anxious as Hermione felt. Hermione noticed her placing a comforting hand on Harry's tightly clenched fist, visible amongst the lace doilies on the table, for all to see.
"I guess what I want to know, Malfoy, is why the sudden change of heart? Are muggle-borns suddenly acceptable to you now? Just what is it that you're trying to get out of this?" He waved his hand between Draco and Hermione.
"Harry!" Hermione admonished, dropping her menu to the table.
"It's alright, Granger," Draco reassured her. "Look, Potter. I won't claim to be a perfect person -"
"That's a first," Harry snorted.
Draco continued talking over the top of him. "There are many things I wish I didn't do. Every day I am learning, trying to do better — be better. I'd like to tell you that I didn't mean to do all those shitty things, but that would be a lie. I did mean to do them. I was a shit of kid."
Madam Puddifoot reappeared at the other end of the tables, not noticing that she was interrupting a rather uncomfortable conversation between the two young men at the other end. "Have we made any decisions on what you'd like to drink, loves?"
"Firewhisky," Harry and Draco said in unison.
Madam Puddifoot looked up nervously. "I'm afraid I don't serve alcohol, dears. Can I get you something else?"
"Coffee," Draco said.
"Tea," Harry answered.
"Lovely. Everyone else?"
The remainder of the table gave their drink preferences to the portly witch, and she shuffled off to make them.
Harry levelled Draco with a stare he must have learnt at the Auror's Academy. It was intimidating, but Draco refused to back down. Not today, and not with Hermione by his side.
"Look, Potter. I'm sorry that I hurt you. All of you, and especially Hermione. I'm sorry that I fell on the wrong side of the war. I - I didn't think I had a choice back then. I know differently now, but -" he chanced a look at the gorgeous witch to his right. "It's something that I have to live with every day.
"So why now? After all of these years. Why now?" Harry reiterated.
"I guess you could say that I've found a reason to start over." It must have been the right thing to say because Hermione had suddenly gripped his hand, and was squeezing it tightly beneath the table. "As I was saying before, there's many things I wish I didn't do, but I continue learning for her and hope that one day it'll be enough. I hope that you can accept that as it is for now."
Harry looked slightly more mollified than he had a few moments ago. He leaned back in his chair, the stern look on his face dissolving.
"Just one more question, Malfoy. What's the reason for all this?"
Draco offered Harry a quirk of his eyebrow and a small tugging on the right side of his mouth. He turned to Hermione.
"The reason is you."
A blush crept up over Hermione's neck and fanned over her cheeks as she smiled in a pleased but embarrassed way.
"Well, alright then," Harry said, awkwardly shifting in his seat. Ginny squeezed his hand in gentle reassurance and smiled at him.
Madam Puddifoot arrived then and hovered everyone's drinks over to them, and two large trays of sandwiches and cakes settled down between the six of them. "Anything else, dears?"
Slowly, they all shook their heads and thanked the witch, who left to serve her other customers.
Ginny picked a cucumber sandwich from the plate, a wicked glint in her eye.
"And you, 'Mione. What's your reason?"
Hermione met her friend's eyes, catching the gleam. She returned the expression in reply and turned to address Harry as she spoke.
"He's just so tall and handsome as hell. He knows how to be bad, and damn — he does it all so well!" Hermione's grin was pure mischief, running a finger over Draco's collarbone.
The colour drained from Harry's face as Ginny and Luna dissolved into fits of giggles. Hermione waited for a beat before joining them.
Draco studiously ignored all of them, sipping at his coffee and staring out of the window. Was that? No, it couldn't be. Not here. Draco narrowed his eyes, attempting to look through the window at the retreating figure. There it was, the limp was unmistakable.
"Fuck!" Draco jumped to his feet, nearly upending the table and spilling their drinks everywhere.
"The fuck you doing, Malfoy?" Harry was on his feet, too, attempting to dust the hot tea off his pants.
"Potter! That's him! That's my uncle!" Draco was drawing his wand.
Harry cast his Patronus more quickly than Hermione had ever seen him before. "Rodolphus Lestrange. Spotted in Hogsmeade." He told it. The silver stag galloped away. A split second later, Harry was on his way out of the tea shop, Draco hot on his heels.
Reviews feed my soul! Feel free to be liberal with them.
Chapter songs are:
If I Could Turn Back Time - Cher
Wonderwall - Oasis
The Reason - Hoobastank
Cameo appearance from Taylor Swift's: Wildest Dreams
