Chapter 4

As the school year was over, Madam Pince was officially on summer holiday; off on her adventures to find new books to adorn the shelves with, so a simple Alohamora had gotten Draco into the deserted library later that evening and he'd slipped into the restricted section to wait as the potential conversations played in his head. He'd purposefully arrived early as to position himself in a way that he hoped would come off as nonchalant; quite the contrary to his already pounding heart.

What seemed like an eternity later, he could finally hear footsteps walking across the room towards the restricted section entrance and he took a deep breath as the door opened, and Hermione walked in. Their eyes locked immediately and he pushed himself off the table he'd been leaning on.

"Evening, Granger," he said evenly, keeping his emotions turned off until he knew how their conversation was going to go.

"Evening, Malfoy," she replied in a bit of a breathy voice. She seemed nervous, although that could go either way for him, and she was still standing a good foot or two away.

"I assume you've come to a decision about how you'd like to go forward," he said too formally.

"I have," She nodded and he noticed her swallow a bit hard before she finally took another step towards him and let her hands find his waist, "I need you to kiss me again."

His lip pulled up as he felt the tension he'd been holding slowly release. This was certainly a request he could comply with. One of his hands slid to the small of her back, pulling her fully against him while the other moved to her neck. Without another moment of hesitation, he leaned down and captured her lips with his. He tried to be gentle about it. This was the woman he'd been in love with for years, who finally knew how he felt, and he had to show her that. But it had been weeks now since he'd felt the electricity her lips sparked against his and it was likely coming off more hungry than he meant it to. Her lips parted for his tongue to meet hers softly. He could tell she wanted to feel what he did; She wanted to know he meant what he'd said weeks ago, and she needed to feel that it was real; That there was more to him than what she'd seen in the past.

For that reason, he willed himself to linger as their lips pressed against each other once more. He let his breath out slowly through his nose, trying to level his heart rate and give the moment everything he could. His thumb brushed down her cheek and he kissed her softly again as her bottom lip caught between his. He could stand here forever taking in the way her skin felt under his touch and how everything else in the world seemed to fade to black as their breath became the only white noise in the room. He felt her pulling back from him and he opened his eyes to see her face flushed and her eyes slightly lidded from their interaction.

"Nothing this year has made me feel as alive as you have," she whispered, "No matter how many arguments I've got about everything in the past, or how many questions about who you are underneath it all, or how this could really work. At the end of the day, you're the only thing in my life that makes me feel excited for something again. And to ignore that would be nonsensical."

"So are you saying you're interested in me, Granger?" He asked as a smirk crept onto his features.

"Don't ruin this, Malfoy," she said flatly, "If you want me to give this a shot, you should probably start letting down those walls you've got built around yourself."

He sighed heavily and feigned annoyance, "Can't you just let me enjoy this brief moment of feeling like I've won before I have to start playing nice."

She raised her eyebrows with the hint of a smile on her face, "You've got about one minute to gloat and then I'd like to meet the person that you tell me is in there."

He pulled her in again with a grin and captured her lips passionately. Her hands slid up his chest as his fingers tangled into her hair. It was a possessive kiss, but he didn't care, this was his celebration of everything he'd waited for. He knew he still had to prove himself and win her over, but right now, for the hundredth time, and for the first time, she was his. And he would do everything in his power to make that last.

When they finally broke apart a few minutes later Hermione saw what she thought may be the first genuine smile — not smirk, not grin — that she'd ever seen on the boy's features. He looked happy. She'd never thought of Malfoy as a happy person before, but that was the best way to describe the look in his eyes as he gazed back at her.

"So what now," she asked quietly.

"Well, first thing's first, will you be my girlfriend, Granger?"

She looked at him like he was a little crazy but also like she was a little impressed, "Girlfriend? You want to jump to that already?"

"Already?" He replied incredulously, "We've been sleeping together for nine months; May as well be my girlfriend if we're going to start spending quality time together."

She paused, cocking her head to the side with a chuckle, thinking, "Yes, I mean, you're right. I guess that actually does make sense. Alright, I'll be your girlfriend, Malfoy. Think of it as a trial-girlfriend."

"No Granger, I don't want you to look at it like a trial; like half a decision," he shook his head seriously, knowing she was probably trying to make a joke, but needing to make sure she saw his perspective, "You and me? This isn't going to be easy. There's a lot to learn about each other and it's going to take work and effort to meld our worlds and give this a real shot. Not to mention what we're going to have to weather from the outside world. I don't think we can call it a trial because I don't want you one foot out the door. I understand there's a chance this doesn't work out in the end, but I need to know you're going to give it your effort after waiting this long for my shot. So you're either in this with me or you're out."

She considered him in a way she never had before. He wasn't wrong. They were jumping into something that seemed impossible. Dating after barely having a civil conversation. Dating after being enemies for years; after fighting for opposing sides in the war. Dating against his family's beliefs. It was going to take work to even let it have its fair shot on both sides. She would hear it from her friends, of course; dating an ex-Death Eater. But he was also standing up against his family and their blood status biases to be with her; against everything he was raised to believe. He must really have strong feelings for her to want to push through the hard conversations ahead. If it didn't work in the end, then it didn't work, but it wouldn't be fair to him to go in halfway, "I'm in," she said confidently.

He watched as her lip curled up as she said it and he couldn't help but mirror her, "Well, good then."

"But I think if you want this to have its shot, we should… take things slow… physically," she said unsurely. She didn't want to take things slow, but this was brand new territory for them now.

He sighed, "Yes, I'm guessing we can't go straight back to me fucking you all over the castle, so I begrudgingly agree. For now I think I'll have to start with taking you on a date and introducing you to the other side of me."

Hermione rolled her eyes at his crudeness, "I don't really want to," she admitted, "It's just something I think we should put on pause until we're on the same page."

"I know that'll be very difficult for you," he said in a sultry voice, trying to dispel the awkwardness of acknowledging his feelings versus her lack of feelings, "But I don't think it'll take long for you to fall for me."

"Don't get cocky too soon," she warned him in a teasing tone, "You've got eight years of being an absolute git to make up for."

"Then how about we start with dinner after graduation on Sunday."

"Somewhere… public?" She asked, "How do you and I date without all of the outside influences getting involved."

Draco shrugged, "Let them. I don't care who sees you with me. If you don't care, that is. Weather the storm together."

"I've come to the realization that I don't care either," she said thoughtfully, "There aren't many opinions that matter to me these days."

"Then Sunday I'll take you out and we can… reacquaint."

"So that will be our out to the wizarding world?" She quipped.

"Unless I think of something more fun," he pulled her in to kiss her again before she could question his comment, this was by far the most relaxed and content he'd felt in a very long time, which made it that much easier to try to lower his arrogant defenses and be there in the moment with the one girl he would have done anything to be there with. He pulled back from her again as he remembered what else he'd brought with him, just in case, "By the way, I have something for you."

She tilted her head at him curiously, "What's that?"

He reached behind him on the table and grabbed the Christmas gift he'd bought her, still wrapped but a little worn from being stuffed at the bottom of his trunk, and handed it to her, "I wanted to give this to you for Christmas but I couldn't think of a way to make it seem like it wasn't a big deal. I knew I'd have to tell you how I felt and I wasn't ready to. I don't think I ever would have been ready to if it hadn't come out how it did."

She looked down at it and then back up at him, "I do wish you'd told me then, maybe we could have gotten to this part a lot earlier."

"I'm a bit proud sometimes, Granger and I don't like the possibility of being rejected. This is all very against my nature; Feelings, emotions, communication," he gave a dark laugh, "Like I've told you, I wasn't supposed to fall for you and every time I wanted to tell you, I lost the nerve thinking about what you'd say. After everything you've been through because of me why would you want this. It was just easier to let it go on like it was instead of chancing losing what we did have."

"We did have a good thing going," she said wryly before looking back at the gift in her hands.

"Go ahead, it's nothing over the top. I tried to pick something that wouldn't scream my feelings for you at the time."

She pulled the wrapping paper carefully off, revealing a crisp new book that read Molding the Ministry. She flipped it to the back and read the description aloud, "A deep dive into the founding of the Ministry of Magic and its transformation over time to adapt to societal norms, unveil corruption, and rebuild from within. This sounds really interesting," she said sincerely, flipping it open to the index.

"It details the transition of the Ministry since its inception," Draco said, trying not to let himself speak too fast, but he was still nervous it wasn't anything impressive, "The addition of new departments as they were needed over time and how they all work cooperatively. I thought you'd find that helpful in breaking down some of the different career opportunities. I also thought it was unique because it doesn't shy away from the not so glamorous years at the Ministry. It goes into where the holes in the structure were that exposed it to corruption. It's actually the first book to come out detailing a post-war look at the Ministry and how they've been working on closing the gaps that let it all fall apart before. It's on an interesting cusp of being educational and introspective."

"I don't think I've read anything like this," she smiled, "Usually you either get a text book or an expose. Not often you find something that gives you the full story without glossing over things that are outside of their narrative."

"Well this book is a bit unique in another way as well," he flipped it to the front page where it told a bit about the publishing, "This is the first printed copy. A limited number of copies were printed in the fall for a small group of editors and it's set for release next year after that process is completed. It was written by an old family friend so I was one of the first that got to read through it. So you will also be one of the first. The editing team thinks it's going to be one of the most talked about pieces of the century. It's not every day a government admits they're not perfect."

"This was very thoughtful," she said, trying to hide her surprise. If nothing else, this was a sign that there was more than met the eye with him; that their connection could be deeper than base level.

"I know it's nothing really special," he cleared his throat a bit unsurely, second guessing his choice. It wasn't anything extravagant or expensive. Maybe a book had been a boring idea, "But you were the first person I thought of when I had it in my hands. Especially after you'd mentioned you were interested in a position at the Ministry but that you didn't know which was the best fit."

"No, Malfoy, I love it," she grinned, "I get to read a book no one else has yet. This is amazing. But I do have to ask… when did I mention that I wanted to work at the Ministry? I don't remember ever having that conversation."

His confidence lifted at her response and he almost laughed at her question, "At the Hogs Head. The first night we… spoke. Do you not remember our conversation at all that night?"

She felt her cheeks getting warm, "I, ah, no, honestly I don't remember much from the middle part of that night. I remember you sitting down and the first part. I remember the later part where you propositioned me and then left me wanting more at the bar. But the middle part I can't remember. I tried to but it's like I'm watching it on double speed with no sound in my head. I remember we talked for a long time and I can picture being there with you… but that's about it."

He raised his eyebrows at her in shock, "Well…" he started, trying to figure out how to summarize it, "Well we talked about a lot of things. One of which was post-Hogwarts plans. But I guess I'll have to fill you in on the rest again another time."

She looked at him apologetically, "We had a good conversation, didn't we?"

"It was more open than I've been with anyone in my whole life, I think," he shook his head, "But I'd had a few drinks and it was the first time I'd found a way to have a real conversation with you so I think I just let it all out. The war, my family, your family, the real world. I guess we'll have plenty to talk about on our date."

"I'll try not to drink as much this time so we don't have to go through this whole conversation for a third time," she joked.

"Good plan, I have a limited capacity for elaborating on emotions."

She leaned up towards him, brushing her lips against his, "I think you're doing a decent job at it tonight."

He grinned against her, "But now you're making me want to explore some very different feelings. Darker ones."

She felt goosebumps pop up down her arms and she grinned back, "That sounds so very appealing."

They'd stayed there a bit longer kissing, hands roaming, with the occasional quip about how scandalous their relationship would be to outsiders; about how difficult it was to keep things from going further on the table in the restricted section; about the hurdles they would likely have to jump moving on from their past. And then with all of his strength, Draco had pulled away, his hand running down her arm until he reached her hand. He took it in his, looking down as he brought it to his lips.

"You should go back to Gryffindor Tower before what you really want overpowers your impressive restraint," he whispered as he kissed her hand.

"You think it's that difficult for me to avoid the temptation, Malfoy?" She asked coyly.

"Without question," he kissed her hand again and she laughed, moving her lips to his ear.

"You're not wrong," she said, feeling herself flush at the words but enjoying the feeling of flirting with him in a way that felt different than before.

He grinned wickedly at her as she moved back, her hand pulling loosely from his.

"Goodnight, Malfoy."

"Goodnight, Granger," he watched her leave the room and knew it would be a very long time before the smile left his face that evening. He already knew exactly how they'd out their relationship. And he was looking forward to it very much.

~*~

Hermione sat somewhere in the middle of the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall chatting cordially with Neville over breakfast the next morning as the students around her started to quiet and whisper to each other. She glanced up as the voices hushed and noticed Parvati, who was sitting diagonally from her was looking past her over her shoulder.

"Granger," she heard his voice cut smoothly through the air.

She sat up a little straighter and turned in her seat. She hadn't expected him to make it public quite so soon. But she didn't hate that Ron was currently gaping from down the table.

"Malfoy," she responded as her lip started to curl up on one side.

He held his hand out for her and she only hesitated briefly before she took it to stand. Without warning, he pulled her to him and kissed her soundly as the entirety of the Great Hall looked on. The moment was brief, but she was hyper aware of everything that happened within it. Her body tensed and then quickly relaxed into him as everything else faded away just like it always did when he was close. She could hear the volume increasing from the voices around her, but she didn't care to pay them any attention. Let them stare, she thought. And then he pulled back from her again and they shared a grin, hers scolding and his mischievous, before he let her go, his hand dropping to interlace their fingers.

"It looked like a nice morning for a walk by the lake," he said casually as they walked toward the doors as if all was normal. The whispers and voices around them were easier to make out now. There were gasps and snippets of disbelief. There was the unmistakable shriek that came from Pansy Parkinson's seat at the Slytherin table. There was a grumble from Ron as she passed that sounded something like "See, she's gone completely mental." But she was quite pleased to find that she couldn't fucking care less. Malfoy made her feel things that she'd been missing from her life the last year and she was perfectly content with her decision to see what happened from here.

Once they were outside the main doors she looked over at him, "I think people might know we're together now."

"I figured it would be easiest to kill all of the birds with one stone," he said matter of factly, "Besides," he paused, pulling her to him again, his breath warm and taunting on her lips, "You're mine now and the whole world should fucking know that."

~.~.~