MY LAST NAME

Chapter 23

Hermione knew that they had to eventually talk. She had just been avoiding it for so long, it felt rather pointless to her now. She looked up at Harry who was sat patiently waiting for her to speak. He wore a dark green fleece-like jumper and dark blue jeans. His coat, a navy raincoat, was hanging off the back of his chair. She looked back at his face, it was kind, soft and warming. But at the same time his scar sent pangs of pain through Hermione's body as she remembered all too well the war of which they all suffered in.

"It's just been too long, I'd rather us draw a line and move on Harry." Hermione's words came out short and abrupt. But she was too busy holding back the urge to stand and leave. Harry nodded his head.

"That's fine Hermione, I don't want to make things any more difficult than they already are. Listen, we are all still here for you, we all love you so much and are ready for you to come into our lives, just like before..." he trailed off as the waitress set down the pot of tea, cups and milk.

"Anything else while I'm here?"

Both Hermione and Harry shook their heads with a grateful smile.

"It torments us everyday. Some days I can't even get out of bed. But you have to soldier through and-"

"And what exactly is it that you think I'm doing Harry?" Hermione snapped.

"I'm head of English at Cambridge University, I have a flat, I have a life and I am living it. I have fallen in love and-"

"Yes Hermione with a Death Eater. A Death. Eater." Harry spat in a hush tone. He took a deep breath and pulled his chair in closer to the table.

"I'm really sorry but-"

"Harry there's nothing to be sorry about. He is a death eater and there's nothing I can do about that. All I know is that he punishes himself every single day for what happened. He was young and was took advantage of. He was brought up and dragged down the wrong path, Voldemort and Lucius made decisions for him, and when it came to him making a real decision he made the right one." Hermione spoke also in hush tones but with fire and fury. Harry looked at her and took another sip of his coffee. A few minutes passed without no one saying a word. A dog barked outside and made both at the table jump. Hermione poured a cup of tea and held it snug with both hands. She could feel a headache starting.

"I know, but it's hard after what happened." Harry sighed and sat back.

"You really love him don't you?"

Hermione looked up at at Harry.

"I really, really do Harry. I want to spend the rest of my life with him." She put down her cup. Harry scratched his chin and stared at the teapot deep in thought. His eyes looking heavy and tired.

"I know it's unorthodox, and strange, and scary, but it's also the most positivity I have felt in the last two and a half years."

Harry looked at his friends eyes light up as she talked. He had tried to fight it, he had spoke to Ginny and Ron trying to make sense of it all. Ron seemed beaten, and submissive. Ginny as always had tried to balance the scales and attempted to understand both sides. Hermione was besotted and transfixed.

She was in love.

He watched as she became animated speaking about him. He watched as she smiled and laughed and moved her body telling tales and speaking about their times together. It was reminiscent of the times they spent in their common room, or around the banquet table in the great hall, or after a game of quidditch. He smiled, this was a side of Hermione he thought had been tainted and lost forever and all of a sudden, he had a realisation. As long as she was happy, why couldn't he be?

"...And every night he tries to sneak a cigarette but he has got better at that now because he knows I simply cannot stand the stuff! If he carried on I would have to jinx him!" Hermione laughed and then looked at Harry.

"Sorry, I went off on a tangent then..."

"It's fine, I was just thinking how amazing it is to see you smile again." They both looked and smiled at one another.

"But on a more serious note, how are you both coping with what happened at the hospital? Is there going to be any follow up treatment?" Harry finished off his coffee. Hermione sighed.

"I'm not sure, like I said, yesterday wasn't too bad. We had to sort through a few bits but we ordered a takeaway and watched silly TV. He seemed better in himself but everyday and every night is a new challenge for us, for him..."

"Sounds like you both need a distraction."

Hermione laughed and nodded, taking a sip of her tea. There was a short silence.

"Come and stay with us for a few days." Harry's words shot through Hermione like invisible bullets. Did he really mean it? Was he finally accepting Draco as part of her life? She looked at him.

"What? I mean, I thought you hated him?"

"Oh no I do, but maybe, just maybe, I hate the person Voldemort created, not the person you have fallen in love with." Harry looked down at the table awkwardly. Hermione stared at him, completely stunned.

"Oh my goodness Harry, thank you so much, I can't, oh my" she launched across the table to wrap her arms around her old, dear friend. She felt warm tears of happiness fall down her cheeks as he returned the gesture.

"Will Ginny and the children be ok with that?" She sat back down quickly wiping her face, beaming.

"Well I will speak to Ginny but I'm sure it will be no problem what so ever. I'll write to you?" Harry stood up posing the question.

"Oh, absolutely!" Hermione followed and stepped away from the table. They embraced one last time.

"Thank you so much Harry, you have no idea how much this means to me."

Draco sat in the windowsill passing a cigarette box from one hand to the other. He stared out the window and felt the evening breeze brush his face. It felt good, cold, yet revitalising. He looked back at the cigarette box -

Smoking kills.

He sighed and threw them across the room and into the bin. He stood up and sunk his hands into his pockets. He knew Hermione had gone to meet Harry today, and then she'd mentioned something about going to the office to busy herself with the new term that was to start next week. He missed her already, and she'd only been gone a day. Not even that.

Draco sunk through into the kitchen and walked over to the quiet humming fridge. He opened it and peered inside, nothing worth eating, they needed to go shopping. But then, he didn't live there? Draco shook the thoughts from his head and decided to put on his coat and walk to the nearby shop around the corner. He picked up some vegetables, and some chicken, fruit, bread and eggs. He stopped and picked up some of Hermione's favourite ice cream - Ben and Jerry's cookie dough. He smiled and placed it into his basket. Once at the checkout, he noticed how darkness had completely fallen over Cambridge. He felt his heart start to thump a little louder.

Get a hold of yourself Malfoy.

Draco paid and left and started to head back to Hermione's apartment. He started to walk at a gentle pace, before it turned into a brisk speed-walk. Having finally seen her building, he started to relax a little and busied himself finding the key.

"Draco?" His head shot up towards the familiar voice of Hermione. She stood ready with her key already in the door, looking slightly confused yet pleased to see him. She wore a grey beret and a matching scarf. Her coat was soft tan trench coat which was belted at the waist. He smiled at her.

"Hello, I um" he lifted the bag "I picked up some things to eat, seeing as all we had was some souring milk and weetabix." Hermione giggled, Draco smiled at her and noticed how happy she seemed.

"Oh gosh, I know, with everything going on I haven't had chance" Hermione opened the door and ushered Draco inside. Once upstairs they unpacked and made a quick salad to eat.

"So, what did the infamous Harry Potter want?" Draco took a sip of his water. He watched as Hermione looked up at him to respond.

"Well, he was concerned, albeit with everything that's happened"

"Oh! He's worried that you're potentially living with a lunatic?" Draco snorted and cut up some lettuce and tomato.

"Sort of, I mean, you're not a lunatic, fyi" she smiled a reassuring smile and squeezed his hand.

"Go on..."

"He wanted to check and make sure we were both ok, he also wanted to, well, he wanted to invite us both over" Hermione trailed off and took a sip of her apple juice.

"Oh, what for a lovely, civil family meal?" Draco laughed and placed his knife and fork down.

"Maybe a little longer?" Hermione avoided eye contact. Draco stared, suspiciously worried.

"How much longer?"

"Like, a few days."

"What? A few days?" Draco looked in bewilderment. It was only the other month Harry vowed he didn't want Draco anywhere near his town, let alone family and house again.

"Hermione, I don't think you understand. And I really, cannot, stress this enough." Draco paused, "Harry can't stand the sight of me. He almost broke my jaw. In fact, I think he probably fractured it. If he'd have maybe worked out a little more..."

"Draco please, we talked and we discussed everything" Hermione stood up and cleared the table. Draco swung around In his chair to watch.

"I don't get how someone with feelings as strong as Potter's, just change over night. It doesn't make sense." Draco scratched his neck and thought about the strange turn of events.

"Well I don't know what to tell you, something changed, I don't know what but I don't want to jinx it, okay?" Hermione slid and perched herself on Draco's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. Their noses touching, Draco landed his lips onto Hermione's.

"Bloody hell, now I can't even remember why I'm mad." Draco murmured smiling as Hermione rested her head in the curve of his shoulder.

A few moments of silence passed and they both sat, bodies intertwined in a healing embrace. The warmth of their bodies kept each other feeling safe and wanted. It was a coupling like no other, and no doubt there would never be another one like it. They sat for a little longer before Hermione slid off and gave Draco one more lasting kiss on his soft lips.

"Let's go to bed" she whispered in a delicate voice before slinking off into the bedroom. Draco stood and stretched. He walked over to the kitchen window once more and smiled at the hustle and bustle of the few streets visible from the floor he was on. He walked into the bedroom and removed his shirt in one swift movement. He climbed straight into bed and could see Hermione brushing her teeth reading an article in a newspaper that had been sat there for days. She dabbed her mouth on a towel and removed her dressing gown. She wore a soft lilac slip nighty, which ended just above her knees. She looked stunning. After climbing into bed, Draco wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in tight. He nestled his head onto her shoulder.

"Thank you. For taking care of me."

There was a moment of peace.

"Don't thank me, just carry on doing what you do."

"What's that?"

"Just love me."

"I will never stop loving you, Miss Granger."