Hermione picked at the end of her sleeve absentmindedly. Draco's laughter and smile echoed through her mind on replay, her body filling with warmth knowing that in two minutes, they would be seeing him again for breakfast.
Ginny prodded her side. "What are you smiling at?"
"I was smiling?" Hermione blinked. Ginny was in her room after Harry left her to talk with Draco. What they could be talking about pre-breakfast was beyond Hermione and she was again struck by how chummy both Harry and Draco had become. Spending time alone together, when before the very presence of either in the same room had turned everyone cold.
"Yea, all smiles since last night." Ginny took Hermione's hand and pulled her to her feet. "Ready for your proposal- I mean breakfast?"
Hermione shoved Ginny's shoulder as they exited the room and Ginny yelped and laughed. Other guests were already trickling down to the dining room, the guest wing was located in a near enough corridor that it wasn't a maze to get there. Hermione took her time watching all the haughty witches and wizards that lined the wall, and admiring the splendour of the Manor.
"You know, you've gotten more violent since falling in love," Hermione rolled her eyes and thought better of jabbing her ribs which would prove her point. "Maybe he's not so good for you."
"I am not-" Hermione huffed a breath and kept walking.
"In love. Yea. You can say it all you like, Granger, but you're gonna be the co owner of this grand place one day." Ginny turned and walked backwards, taunting Hermione with a wicked smirk and sparkling eyes.
Just then, a blond head peeked out from behind the dining room door and Hermione almost tripped. Ginny spun and almost walked into him behind the door and she let out a laughing oh! before she slid past him into the dining room, leaving Hermione staring at Draco who's face had gone from concern to relief at the sight of her.
"Sorry, I'm late." Hermione felt her heart speed up then trip over itself before butterflies erupted and coloured her face pink. She realised they were alone, his body halfway through the door and blocking her way.
"I thought you- but, of course you're not late. We're just early." He stepped aside and held the door open for her. As she walked past him, she inhaled, keeping her eyes firmly on his chest and ignoring the heat of his gaze. Why did he have to smell so good? Every single time she had come around him had been like sinking into comfort and she suddenly wished they were alone. She shook her head and focused on the table where everyone but Harry and Ginny were chatting amongst themselves.
Harry and Ginny wore knowing grins and the pink of Hermione's face suddenly burned.
Draco's hand came up to the small of her back briefly, guiding her to the end of the table and Hermione wanted to lean back into his touch but walked forward and away. He shifted the chair for her to sit and slid it in with her before sitting beside her himself. He was so close. Her head was in a cloud. A Draco Malfoy cloud.
In another second, food appeared in the empty dishes and the room was immediately swimming with the aromas of breakfast. Hermione's stomach was occupied by butterflies and the food made her squirm.
Draco leaned in on his elbows, his own plate remained empty and his long finger linking into the handle of a tea cup. Hermione glanced at him, realised her entire body was rigid and tried to relax then stiffened again with the way Draco's voice hit her square in the chest. Ginny was watching her curiously.
"Potter, how would you and Weasley feel about a quick match out back?"
"The tour ends after breakfast, right?" Hermione looked at Ginny, asking for confirmation, because she wanted to run far away before she made a fool of herself. Ginny grinned, kept her eyes on Hermione's and said, "Why that sounds lovely , Malfoy."
"Oh, Gin's gonna kick our asses." Harry beamed proudly from beside her and Hermione was acutely aware that Draco shifted to look at her, his thumb nervously stroking the back of the handle of the teacup.
"Do you play?" Draco's voice was coaxing and kind, unmocking.
"I hate flying." Hermione looked at him and quickly away again because her blush made her feel like a teenager and she hated it. She hoped her hair hid her face enough.
"Just send her to the library." Ginny leaned into Harry and kissed him on the cheek. "Don't even talk to her about Quidditch."
"Someone say Quidditch?" Nilla said brightly. Ginny's eyes flicked from Hermione to Nilla, Hermione's stomach dropping. Draco turned slightly away from Hermione, and his voice changed from the tone he used to speak to her. It was polite, and formal almost.
"Yes, Potter, Weasley and I are going to have a match in the field, after the tour is over." Hermione watched as he smiled and the butterflies flared back to life.
"Can I be the fourth?" Nilla asked brightly, then she spotted Hermione beside Draco and blinked. "I mean, if you need a fourth. I- if Ms Granger was-"
"Yea, playing with three is a harder time. I don't see why not- ow! " Harry said and rubbed his arm where Ginny had pinched him. Nilla smiled widely, mostly directed at Draco, whose tea had gone cold. Like Hermione had. She could see it plain as day that Nilla had hoped she and Draco would become something more. She wondered how Draco felt about it, then remembered it was none of her business.
She wished she played Quidditch now, because she wanted to be fourth.
"Don't you have the tour to finish?" Hermione looked over Draco's shoulder, past the sharpness of his jaw which she didn't notice was tensed, and didn't notice that his eyes had flicked back to her as she spoke.
"I- yes." Nilla flustered. "I will come back after getting everyone back to town of course." Nilla's defiance to Hermione felt like an unsure jab, unsure if she would want to go up against Hermione. But Hermione wasn't fighting for Draco, because that would be absurd.
Draco smiled again at Nilla and then turned back to Hermione, Ginny, and Harry.
"Whenever you're ready, Granger. I will show you to the library." Draco's eyes had gone dark, the silver of his eyes now a thin rim around his pupils and Hermione's mind went blank. Draco looked at Harry and Ginny, "Then we can go on to play a match." He looked back at Hermione. "If you get hungry, Goose should answer you."
Hermione's pulse was beating in her ears. She was going to be alone with thousands of years worth of magical knowledge. Then she remembered she had run away and hid in embarrassment missing the rest of the tour, including staying hidden well enough that venturing even to the woods to forage had not crossed her mind.
"Is it safe to wander into the forest?" Hermione asked him, feeling completely out of her own body and like the past few days, let alone now, was happening. Draco narrowed his eyes as his eyebrows came together in thought. Hermione couldn't decide which was more handsome, his smile or his frown. Just all of him . Hermione blushed and she caught Ginny's eye, red eyebrows raised high in amusement.
"I can go with you, after lunch." Draco finally said and Hermione managed a smile.
"Okay, after lunch." Hermione's body felt like tiny fireworks had prickled across her skin, like pins and needles but softer. Draco smiled at her words.
"As long as you're okay, not leaving with the tour." Draco lifted a finger lazily from off the teacup handle to point to the group still eating and chatting away. Hermione could drown in his eyes if she stared too long, but she was saved by Ginny clearing her throat.
"Yea, she's not gonna wanna forage either once she gets in between those books." Ginny was saying but Hermione wasn't hearing. Draco glanced at Ginny and smiled.
"Should I ask Goose to pack us some snacks for our game?" Draco stood, his hands splayed on the surface of the table on either side of his empty plate. Hermione's mouth had gone dry, she realised she had touched the food nor had she drank any water or juice. She reached for it now and gulped it back, closing her eyes momentarily at the relief of it.
"Yes, you boys are gonna work up your appetite." Ginny said, more chair legs screeching on the floor. Hermione had almost downed the entire glass of orange juice when she opened her eyes and met Draco looking at her, soft and hesitant.
"Are you ready, Hermione?" Hermione blinked. She liked her name on his lips, lips she was staring at. She nodded and pushed her chair back to get to her feet. Draco had extended his hand to her, to help her up and as she was about to take it, Nilla's voice cut through the chatter.
"Mr Malfoy, are you leaving already?" She asked, her eyes bouncing between Hermione and Draco, momentarily flitting over Draco's outstretched hand.
"I'll be back. Just give me a few minutes." Draco looked back at Hermione who took his hand and allowed herself to be tugged upright while half doing the work herself. He was strong. Or she was just lightheaded, she didn't know which. He let his hand drop once she was steady.
"Mr Malfoy, we were hoping you could walk us out." An elderly woman said as she clutched her equally as old husband. Draco glanced back at Hermione, conflict in his eyes. He was such a good host.
"I can go with Goose." Hermione suggested, regret flaring in her stomach. She wanted to be alone with him. Hermione glanced at Nilla whose face was one of forced innocence as she smiled between Draco and the old woman.
"Are you sure?" Draco stepped to her so only she could hear him, shielding her from Nilla's eyes.
"You know where I'll be. Books are my thing." Hermione smiled up at him, aware how close he was and how not private a moment they were having but it felt like they were the only two people in the world. Draco's eyes darted to her mouth and back making Hermione flush with warmth.
"Mr Malfoy?" Nilla's voice, all too annoying, called to him.
"I'll see you around, Granger." Draco smirked in a way that reminded her of his old, mischievous and bad mannered ways, but the glint in his eyes made her think otherwise. He might still like me. With his back to Hermione, he called for Goose who appeared, took instructions, and shuffled along leading the way. Hermione glanced over her shoulder at Harry and Ginny and waved, they both looked very amused.
The walk was like a maze, and Hermione wondered if the tour covered this at all. She was about to ask when Goose, while shuffling along, spoke without looking up at her. "Master is thinking you are very special. He is letting you into the library without supervision."
Hermione stalled for a beat before she kept walking. "What do you mean? Why would anyone need supervision?"
"The library is home to many secrets, people is not allowed in, it could be dangerous." Goose grumbled. "Goose hopes that miss does not get hurt."
Hermione felt more than capable of defending herself from a falling book and dark information, so she shook it off as house elf superstition and let herself feel pride in knowing she was being allowed in, unsupervised, when otherwise that didn't seem to be the norm.
Goose showed her the system, how to find books, told her to sign in and out of the log book, and told her to be careful. He eyed her even as she signed the book before he disappeared with a pop. Hermione trailed her fingertips across Draco's name above her own and noticed the book rarely was used before then.
Before she started searching, and just to give herself a moment to think, she walked through the aisles of books, her chest tightening with every step.
The library reminded her of Diagon Alley Library, with shelves that met the ceiling and windows at the end of the aisles with cosy cushions to sink into to read by natural light, or desks to one corner with lamps, unlit. She inhaled and it smelled of Draco, leather and parchment, mossy and strangely like a forest. Magic cackled through the air, and Hermione wondered if it were protection charms and spells, or just the pure age of the books and knowledge that surrounded her.
When her excitement calmed down and her palms had stopped sweating, she returned to the sign-in book and touched her wand to it, saying, "Potions." There was a chime-like sound and Hermione looked toward where she thought it came from, the blinking amber light on one of the shelves catching her attention.
When she approached it and it stopped blinking, she saw it was amber, the size of a Galleon, embedded into the wood. She would touch it if she could reach it; instead she walked into the aisle and saw another blinking amber, smaller in size, indicating where the potions section was.
She let her fingers glide along the spines of the leatherbound books and smiled wide, pure unbridled joy filling her. None of these books looked familiar. They were all brand new to her. Untapped knowledge. She stopped at a book when she saw a white feather- the end of a quill- sticking up from the top of a book. She gently slid it out and found it was a book on a study of ingredients and their potentials when added to potions that already exist. A Practical Guide to Everyday Potion Ingredients: Becoming Your Own Potions Master.
Hermione's fingers delicately parted the parchment pages and it opened where the flattened and overused quill, clean, fell to the floor. She was about to pick it up when she noticed in the columns of the text were scribbled notes, all various equations and possible outcomes to potions.
The writing made her pulse speed up and her breath hitch. It was Draco's. By the evidence in her hands, he loved potions. Hermione walked the rest of the aisle and settled into the cushioned surface of the bay window seat and flipped to the start of the book.
It took her a few chapters to understand that his reference notes were not intended for the same text but another, and eventually she found what appeared to be the name of the text. Excitement made her knees feel weak and her body was giddy, she returned to the book, pointed her wand to it and said, " A Catalogue of Ingredients, by Draco Malfoy."
She held her breath, awaiting the chime then the glow, and when she thought it would never show, because obviously, why would Draco leave that lying around in the Library, the chime echoed softly, from a distance, and the amber light was tiny and far away.
What she found there, among what looked like diaries of family members (which Hermione realised was the main reason Goose made his comment) was the book sticking out of the shelf awaiting Hermione's hand and she took it, forced herself to find a seat and sink into it. The mid morning light was bright and the page reflected soft light back onto her face, but it didn't bother her.
And all the pages in the book were in Draco's hand. The beginning of every chapter was a sketch, and watery blotches as shading, they were gorgeous. The pages that followed talked of uses for the plant, when to add them to other potions and how to improve those from basic text books.
It reminded her of Snape's notations in the potions book Harry had used through year 6, but this was so in depth and Hermione could see it was wholly Draco's thoughts and experiments. It was him on paper, in a book. It was like reading him from the inside out, opening doors to him she never knew existed and she found herself excited to talk potions with him, and ingredients. Foraging with him this coming evening made her giddy with excitement, even as she read all his words.
Hunger didn't distract her, so she hadn't even thought of Goose; until the little old house elf popped into the room with an envelope in his hands.
She started at the thought of being caught with what essentially was a type of diary and shut it loudly, plastering a smile on her face. Goose held the letter up and she finally saw it, her heart slowing a little in her chest as adrenaline died away.
"What's this Goose?" Hermione extended her hand to get it.
"An owl came, it is addressed to Miss Weasley, miss. But your name is on it too." Goose bowed a little and Hermione looked at the letter. It was odd, with Ginny's name suffixed with ' Or Hermione Granger " and Hermione thought better of opening it, her gut twisting.
"Goose, can you take me to the Quidditch field?" Hermione pressed the envelope into her palm with her fingers, slid the book into its empty spot on the shelf and looked at the little elf, softening her gaze.
"Yes, miss. Right this way, miss." Goose said as he shuffled along and Hermione followed. There was no use in memorising where she came from or where they were going, before long they broke into the courtyard and walked along the gravel pathway. Hermione's was awestruck at the size of it and the care of the grounds, the white peacocks and peahens walked amicably through the hedges giving eerie cries that echoed off the running water of the fountains that dotted the grounds.
The field came into view and Hermione saw four figures in the air, everyone immediately recognizable by their hair, red, white blond, and black. And Nilla. It seemed that Ginny and Nilla were on a team against Harry and Draco and Hermione watched as Draco swerved and dove, grabbing the quaffle with ease and throwing it past Nilla to gain a point. Immediately followed by Ginny returning and scoring. She could watch them- him- for minutes longer but the letter flapped in her hand, reminding her why she had ventured outside.
"Thank you, Goose." Hermione smiled at him, he bowed, then disappeared. She looked up to them but found Draco already coming to her, followed by Ginny, then Harry and Nilla.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" He pushed off his broom and landed on his feet in one sweeping motion, his eyes never leaving her as concern twisted his features. Ginny and Harry both dismounted followed by Nilla who hovered behind them, unsure what to do. Hermione held out the letter.
"This came for you, well it seems for us but, your name is first and I'm the 'or', so I thought I should bring it to you." Hermione rambled, feeling flustered with everyone's- his - attention so focused on her. Ginny's face showed utter confusion and Hermione just shook the letter for her to take. Her eyes showed comprehension as she saw how it was addressed and she tore it open and slipped the parchment out.
Draco had hung back, regarding everything intently. Harry hovered over Ginny's shoulder, waiting to know how to react. Ginny's eyes skimmed the words, her eyebrows furrowing closer together the longer she went, until her face exuded pure anger, then panic.
"What is it?" Hermione walked to her, Draco merely a foot away now.
"Gabrielle." Ginny looked at Hermione and Harry. "Fleur's sister, she's run away with Theodore Nott."
"Teddy? That Theodore Nott?" Hermione swallowed bile that roiled in her stomach and threatened to coat her mouth.
"I don't understand." Ginny shook her head. "She's so young, what is she thinking?"
"She's not at fault here." Hermione gritted through her teeth.
"Theo." Draco stated simply, affirming Hermione's thoughts. "Are there efforts being made to find them?"
Ginny reread the letter. "Fleur, Bill, my parents and Fleur's parents, they all are looking."
"He won't do anything stupid, like marry her right?" Hermione looked at Draco, pleading. He gave a miniscule shake of his head, unsure himself and her stomach plummeted.
"We have to go home." Ginny swiped at her red hair where it clung to the sweaty surface of her skin. "We have to join them."
"I'll take our things back to Grimmauld Place and meet you at the Burrow?" Harry was rubbing Ginny's shoulders in a comforting motion that Hermione also craved. Draco had moved in closer to her, and she almost leaned into him.
"I'll help. I used to know him, I can help find him." Draco steeled his voice. Hermione looked up at him, the hairs on the back of the neck raising when he spoke.
"Thank you." Hermione said in a small voice.
"I'll go at once." Draco blinked away from Hermione's eyes and looked behind Harry and Ginny. "Nilla, can you get back to the village on your own?" Nilla nodded. "You cannot apparate into and out of the grounds, please go to the front gate to do so." Draco pulled off his gloves and propped his broom onto a hedge.
With his eyes on Hermione, he rotated and disappeared with a muffled crack.