Love Finds a Way
Chapter 2
The week both dragged on and flew by for Hermione. She finally finished the final draft of the dark artifact inspection bill. Now all that was left was the Wizenagmot. After the war, there was a massive 'clean house' through all of the ministry. More than half of the ministry was fired or placed in Azkaban. The newly formed Wizenagmot would likely pass the new bill without much debate.
Finally, Friday, the day of her date, Hermione was both nervous and excited. It had been a while since she was excited for a date. Her last few were disastrous, but the confidence Ginny had seemed to help the prospect.
Hermione checked the clock, 2.30. She had plenty of time to relax before Ginny showed up to help her get ready. With this in mind, Hermione made a cup of tea and decided a relaxing bath was in order. Setting a timer on her wand, she rested her eyes for a few moments, enjoying the warmth and lavender oils.
She woke up with a start to the sound of her wand vibrating. Quickly silencing it, she began to towel off. Hermione made her way to her wardrobe before she realized she still didn't know where the date was going to be. At that moment, the floo alerted her to Ginny's arrival.
"Hermione?"
"In here Gin! Perfect timing by the way. What am I supposed to wear? And where is the date going to be?"
Ginny began rummaging through her clothes, clearly looking for a specific outfit. "I am on strict orders to give you as little details as possible. Now, where is that emerald dress? The one we bought a couple years ago."
"How am I supposed to get to the date if I don't know where it's going to be? The dress is probably in the back somewhere. I never got the chance to wear it."
"Aha! Here it is! He is going to love you in this dress!" Ginny exclaimed with a triumphal grin. She threw the dress at Hermione and instructed her which undergarments to put on. Dutifully, Hermione did as she was told. Afterall, Ginny was very good at this sort of thing.
Examining herself in the mirror, Hermione was surprised how good she looked in the dress. It hugged in just the right places, accentuating her breasts without being too revealing. The dress was sleeveless and hit a few inches above her knees.
"Beautiful! Its perfect. Here wear these shoes with it. Now sit so I can start on your hair."
Hermione did as she was told. After what seemed like hours, Ginny finished. The curls were softer than normal and pinned to frame her face just right. All that was left now was her make-up. She rarely wore much, just some mascara here, some lipstick there. With about 15 minutes to spare, Hermione was finally ready.
"Oh Hermione, you look simply gorgeous. Okay, to keep the whole thing a little mysterious, I have a portkey for you. It will activate at 5 til and will transport you just in front of the restaurant. The matière knows who you are and will escort you to your table. Don't be nervous and have a good time!" Ginny handed her a small circular object that resembled children's play money.
Giving her a quick kiss on the cheek, Ginny made her way to the floo. "Hermione give him a chance. I promise it will be worth it." With that, she was gone.
Checking the clock in her kitchen, Hermione saw she only had a couple of minutes before the portkey activated. She gathered her purse, a small black clutch that went great with her shoes and made sure her wand was in it.
The toy began to hum and glow as the time arrived. Clutching it in her hand, she felt the all too familiar pull at her bellybutton as she was sent through space and time. Hermione landed gracefully in a sparse section of Diagon Alley in front of a new restaurant. 'The Funky Frog' sign shone brightly above her head. I've been wanting to try this one for months, Hermione thought to herself. Gathering all of her Gryffindor courage, she pushed the door open.
Inside, was just what she imagined. The lighting was dim, but not too dark. There were plenty of people immersed in deep conversation. As soon as she walked in, the matière recognized her and began escorting her to the back of the building.
Soaking in the sites of the room, Hermione wasn't paying much attention to the table she was being led to. They were headed for the far corner of the room. It was farther away from the rest of the tables and seated beside a window that was charmed similarly to the enchanted ceiling in the great hall at Hogwarts.
Her date was seated already, his back to them. With the lighting so low, it was difficult to make out any defining features. When she finally arrived at the table, the man stood and turned toward her.
"Good evening Hermione. You look positively radiant." The man drawled in his aristocratic voice. The smile that assaulted her was surprising but warm.
"Well, well, well Draco. Of all the people, I was not expecting you." Hermione countered with a bright smile.
It had been almost four years since Hermione had seen Draco Malfoy. Sure, he was in the magazines every once in a while, but she didn't pay much attention to those. He had aged nicely; grown into his features more than as a teen. His silvery blonde hair was perfectly placed on his head, but not slicked back like in school. His features had softened and were less sharp. The robes he wore were all black, fitting him nicely. His eyes, however, still held the same intensity they always had.
Draco pulled the chair out for Hermione, then sat down himself. Throwing her another smile, he picked up his menu to peruse lightly while she got her baring.
"If you weren't expecting me, then who did you think you going on a date with?"
"It could have been anyone really. Ginny has been talking this up all week. Then she wouldn't even tell me where I was going. The portkey was a nice touch by the way," she added with a grin. "I've been going through a list of people all week and none made sense. You, however, do make sense. The one thing I don't understand is why you went through Ginny and why she was so insistent that you were perfect for me. Last I knew, you two weren't exactly friends."
"Woah, Granger, save some topics for dinner." Laughing, Hermione waved him off, signaling him to talk so she didn't have to repeat all of her questions.
"I'm glad you liked the portkey idea. I didn't want to spoil the fun by showing up to your flat. As for Weaslette, we have become unlikely friends through a mutual friend. I believe you remember Astoria Greengrass? She is a chaser with Ginny and a longtime friend of mine. Since I like quidditch, I've spent plenty of time with her and Potter in the last couple of years. At one of the various afterparties, Ginny and I started talking about you. She mentioned you were still single, and I just knew a date with you would be perfect. Going through her was just a little more fun, kept some mystery in the process."
Hermione gave him a puzzled look, processing what he had just said. He was really friends with both Harry and Ginny?
"Even Harry said he approved of this date. I'm surprised they never mentioned running in to you."
"Are you unhappy that it's me you're stuck with for the night?" Draco inquired with a slightly worried look on his face.
"Of course not. I'm actually quite pleased. Plus, it explains the dress choice." Hermione gestured to her emerald dress. Slytherin green did look good on her.
"You look stunning, Hermione. The color suits you well." A blush tinged her cheeks at the compliment.
*Flashback*
Hermione sat with her back against the large oak tree overlooking the Black Lake. Her book was propped open on her legs. There was a cool breeze in the air, but the sun was warm on her skin. It was early September of her eighth year at Hogwarts. After the war, Hermione decided to finish her schooling before going off into the real world. Among her friends, only Neville, Luna, and Ginny returned. There were a few others as well, like Draco Malfoy, but she only saw them in classes.
On this particular day, however, Draco decided a walk around the grounds would do him some good. He walked towards the lake when he spotted a bushy haired witch at his own favourite tree. This is my chance, Draco thought to himself. She was finally alone and none of her friends were in sight. He made his way over to her in only a few steps.
"Whatcha reading, Granger?" Draco asked in a very unDraco-like fashion.
At the sudden sound, Hermione jumped and turned her head. Her hand reached for her wand, but she restrained the urge to actually grab it. Her reflexes were still a little on edge since the war. Being on the run will do that to a person.
"Malfoy! Gods you almost gave me a heart attack! What do you want?" Hermione huffed. She was not in the mood to deal with the surly Slytherin.
"You're outside, no need to be so dramatic. There are plenty of sounds around you. I saw you over here reading and wanted to know what has you so enthralled."
Confused, Hermione studied his features. He didn't look like he was up to no good. His smirk was one of good intentions, not mischievous and his eyes shone, like they always did when they spoke to each other.
"I'm trying to get ahead on studying for N.E.W.T.s. It's a mastery transfiguration text that Professor McGonagall lent me." As she said this, she showed him the cover of the book, a light blush on her cheeks.
Studying the book, a little, Draco set his bag on the ground and gave her a rare smile. He grabbed a book out of his bag to reveal the very same one in her hands. "Mind if I join you? I would be interested to know what you think of the use of duplication spells on a transfigured object."
Hermione was blown away. Not only was he being kind to her, but he also wanted her opinion on a topic? This was going to be interesting.
*End Flashback*
"How have you been these last four years?" Hermione asked, clearly nervous where to begin a conversation with her once enemy, now date.
"Haha, hitting me with the hard stuff, are you? Let's see. After Hogwarts, I wasn't really sure what to do. I had a few jobs lined up, but nothing I really wanted to do long term. Since, I didn't have anything keeping me in England, I decided to travel for a year. I traveled through Europe and most of Asia, before making my way back here. Mother was lonely in the manor by herself. When I got back, I went into the family business. Malfoy Enterprises needed a boost up in the proper direction. I turned it back into an upstanding business. We even trade with some muggle companies now. Other than that, I'm afraid my time has been rather boring."
Draco took a sip of his wine glass, giving Hermione a chance to take in everything he had just mentioned.
"I'm glad you got to travel like you wanted. I've always wanted to travel through Asia. Your company sounds very impressive. What does it do exactly?" This last question held no ill intent. She was truly curious. Of course, she had heard the name of the company, who hadn't?
With a soft smirk, he replied, "We mostly focus on the creation and trade of various goods. There are different departments focusing on various areas. Potions, medical supplies, plants, and a few other areas. With the muggles, we are mostly trading technology and modifying it for magical purposes. They have some truly spectacular inventions that make day to day life easier on the average witch or wizard."
"That's impressive. Muggle technology has come a long way, especially, in the last few years. My mum even made me get a mobile so she could reach me whenever she wanted. I can't decide how I really feel about it. Seems like a major invasion of privacy to me." At the conclusion of her observation, Draco pulled out his own muggle mobile.
"I have to have it for work, but I can't stand the thing. I'd just as soon burn it than carry it around with me. Bloody, rings all the time like these muggles have nothing else to do during the day than ring me. Anyway, what are you working on now? More top-secret work for the ministry?" Draco asked with a slight smirk.
Hermione contemplated his question for a moment. Her work wasn't exactly top secret, but she also couldn't run around Diagon Alley talking about it. There were still a lot of dark wizards to catch. "My work is good. I'm deputy head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. My job mostly focuses on dark artifacts and decommissioning them. While I wouldn't call the specifics top-secret, it's also not appropriate Diagon Alley talk."
At this Draco chuckled, "Come on Hermione, don't you trust me not to reveal your secrets?"
"You know I do. How could I not after all we've been through?"
FLASHBACK
Hermione walked back to the Gryffindor common room; her heavy bag slung over her shoulder. Just as she was about to reach the portrait, an origami bird landed on her shoulder. She looked back in the direction it had come but the corridor was empty. Inspecting it closely, there was a loopy sort of handwriting on the wing that said, 'open me.' She unfolded the bird to find a note in the same writing.
Hermione,
Come to the room where objects are hidden.
Sighing, Hermione made her way to the Room of Requirement. The handwriting looked familiar, but she just couldn't but her finger on it. She paced three times to get the door to appear, then walked through, not sure what to find.
"You came," drawled Draco from a group of seats in a near corner. "I wasn't sure if you would actually come here or not."
Hermione whirled her head around to where his voice was coming from. She couldn't help the small smile that formed. "Well my curiosity got the better of me. Not leaving a signature was smart on your part. Though now I am even more curious as to why you've asked me here in the first place?"
Draco ran his fingers through his hair, a soft chuckle escaping as he did so. "Typical Granger, always need to know everything." He said this with no malice in his voice, just sincerity. "Come sit over here with me and I'll explain everything to you." With that, he slipped into one of the comfy looking chairs and picked up a cup of tea. Hermione took a moment to stare at his actions. She was both curious and confused by the whole thing. Eventually, she willed her feet to move her towards the chairs. In front of Draco's was a blue antique that looked very comfy. As she sank into the chair, a cup of tea appeared on the table in front of her. Raising the cup to her lips, Hermione's eyes never left Draco, waiting for him to begin.
He shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. "When I came back to Hogwarts this year, this is one of the first places I visited. I wasn't sure if it would still be intact after…after… well you know." His eyes wouldn't meet hers while he talked, he just kept staring at his cup. "Our sixth year, I spent a lot of time here. It was my job to fix the vanishing cabinet. Before the year started, my mother was threatened. If I didn't finish my end of the job, he was going to kill her." Malfoy's voice was shaking at this point. His hair was beginning to fall around his face and his shoulders were shaking slightly, almost as if he was crying. With a sudden intake of breath, he sat up straight and looked into Hermione's eyes. She could see the pain in his eyes and never broke their eye contact.
"This has been the only place I felt safe these last few years. Like it was the one place no one could get to me. It was just mine. I asked you here to make amends." He glanced at Hermione to gage her reaction, but her face didn't change from the soft expression. "I should have done something that night Hermione. I know we've never been friends, but what happened that night… i-it still haunts me every night. I'm sorry you had to go through that and that I didn't do anything to stop it."
At this point, Hermione was shocked to say the least. She had not been expecting this when she saw Draco Malfoy waiting for her in this room. Her eyes met his again. Instinctually, she set down her teacup and moved closer to where he was sitting. She placed her hand on his knee to comfort him, words just didn't seem right while he was processing what he wanted to say.
"He was staying in our home. There were screams every night from people he tortured, or his followers tortured, but yours. Gods, your screams and there was nothing I could do. I'm sorry Hermione, you should have never had to go through that with my aunt. I thought if I lied about not knowing who you were, she wouldn't do anything to you. I'm sorry." With that he broke into silent tears, his emotions were so raw, Hermione had never seen anything like it before. It was the last thing she expected from the tall blonde. She moved her hand to hold his, he grasped it like the touch was the only thing in the world at that moment.
The pair sat there for ages. Comforting each other in a way that only two people that have gone through what they have, can. "Draco, there was nothing you could have done. You did everything you could to stall for us and to not give us away. We survived because you did that for us. As for what your aunt did, it wasn't your fault. I knew what I was doing when we started this. I chose my path, you didn't. You, sitting here now, apologizing for something out of your control, just shows how much you didn't chose this path for yourself. Thank you for what you did to help. I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for you. I'd like to put all of this past us. We have an entire year left at Hogwarts; can we finish on a good note?"
Draco stared at her in disbelief. He wasn't expecting any of that. He just wanted to clear his conscious and get on with his life. In truth, he hadn't planned to break down like he had either. It was the first time he voiced any of those things allowed; he just broke a little. "You want to be friends? With me?"
"Well we don't have to be friends, but civil towards each other would be a good start. Put aside the rivalry."
He contemplated her suggestion for a moment. He had always mildly admired the bushy haired witch. The impending war and his upbringing made sure he could not have anything to do with her. "I would like that Granger. I'm not exactly surrounded by friends these days."
"Hermione. You should call me Hermione if we're going to be friends." She said with a genuine smile, their hands were still clasped in Draco's lap. "We can even meet here. I'd be interested to hear more about your views on the Transfiguration mastery book."
"I would like that … Hermione. We should get to the common rooms before curfew. Thanks for hearing me out … and for everything else. I really appreciate it."
The pair met a couple times a week for the remainder of the year.
END FLASHBACK
"I tried to write after graduation. I even found some of those postcard thingys you told me about while abroad. It just never seemed right to send it. I should have tried to get in touch with you sooner." Draco reached his hand across the table to hold Hermione's hand. In truth, he had numerous letters to her that had never been sent. How do you tell the woman that was tortured in your ancestral home that you fell in love with her? The more time that passed, the harder it was to send anything at all.
"I wasn't sure if you would want to hear from me either. Our friendship was never exactly public, and I didn't want to make matters worse for you. We both should have written. Should have decided something before we left school." Hermione hadn't wanted to get her heart broken. She had been sure he was going to kiss her at their last meeting in the Room of Requirement. When he didn't kiss her and they didn't make plans to see each other after graduation, she couldn't risk getting hurt by sending a letter and wondering what could have been.
Draco watched as Hermione's eyes shimmered in the dim lighting. This subject was clearly difficult for her, just as it was for him. "Hermione, I know it's too late for an explanation, but you deserve one. You were the first person to try to see me for who I truly am, you wanted to be with me despite every awful thing I've done to you. Our friendship meant more to me than you could ever imagine. I was selfish with your time, I wanted you to myself and not to share you with other people. It only took me a few months to realize that I had feelings for you. Real, honest to gods, feelings. I wanted to tell you, but how could you return feelings towards me? A monster? When I didn't hear from you, I just figured it was for the best. It wasn't until a few months ago that Ginny told me about a secret love affair from our final year. Imagine my surprise when she tells me you would meet some mystery man in the Room of Requirement almost every night. She told me all about how you would get back to your dorm blushing. Ginny suspected you were in love with this bloke." Draco's eyes never left hers as he spoke. Damn Ginny and her mouth. She never could keep a secret. "Hermione, is what Ginny said true?"
Hermione couldn't decide what to say. She wanted to scream, "Of course it's true! I love you!" but she couldn't just tell him that. Then the reality of what he had said sunk in; he had feelings for her too. She realized she hadn't said anything for a while and her mouth was slightly agape from what she had just heard. Draco, went to remove his hand from hers, fearing the worst from her silence. As he did so, her grip tightened, grasp his hand with everything in her.
"Oh Draco, of course it's true. After all the time we spent together, how could you think I couldn't care for you the same way?" A small smile began to form on Draco's hard features. His hand relaxed back into hers. He used his other hand to reach across the table and caress her delicate face.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted do this," with that he leaned over the table and kissed her softly, yet firmly on the lips. He had waited almost five years to kiss this clever witch.