CW: The confrontation you've all been waiting for. It's intense and Ron is very physical, friends.
I dedicate the chapter you've all been waiting for to queenkastle. If you all don't know her, she's our resident squishmallow dealer and also TALENTED AS HELL! She's got an etsy shop for all your nerd craft needs. Kass once made me cry by comparing me to Remus Lupin over videochat and she is part of the reason I'm obsessed with Debt of Time. I love her.
To repay her compliments to me… I hope she enjoys the fact that she gets THE moment.
Betawork done by Kindajew/datingstilinski1967 and rosenymphadoraweasley5. Two of my betas were living their best life on vacation so these two fine folks really pulled through.
Thanks for being here folks.
peace and love,
sam
Draco had been trying to get Granger alone long enough to ask her about the Quidditch game. His friends were making that very fucking difficult.
Anytime he was in her orbit, Theo and Blaise would perk up and stare at him. Blaise would mime a ticking clock and a whole host of things to tell him to get his arse in gear. Theo just looked between the two of them with increasing intensity.
They were both unhelpful.
Pansy and Daphne had a habit of appearing out of nowhere. One minute, Draco would be walking with Granger from Ancient Runes to the Great Hall—alone—the next, the girls would manifest from a dark corner and pull Granger away with them.
He'd hoped one of their library sessions would afford him the opportunity. But, no. His friends had invaded that space as well. The one advantage to their constant presence was that when Draco showed up four minutes late, the only seat available was next to Granger.
He'd hesitated. Briefly. This was new territory for them. It had always been opposite sides of the table. Now, he'd be next to her. Between her and Blaise specifically. Blaise was known to take up space so Draco had a feeling he'd be pushed closer to Granger just to avoid a knee in his thigh or a stray elbow to the shoulder.
He finally made the decision to just sit. It was his least productive study session to date.
Any time either of them shifted in their seats, they'd brush against each other. At one point, Blaise had pushed into Draco's side and forced him to knock into Granger. Blaise really needed new tactics. These accidental shoves were getting old.
The whole sides of their bodies were pressed together. She'd merely chuckled and patted his knee in consolation. That one simple touch turned him into a horny third-year who'd just discovered girls.
He could also smell her shampoo or maybe her perfume at this distance. Something citrusy. He didn't mind it. It took all his self-restraint to not take a deep inhale like she was his Amortentia. Draco honestly couldn't remember anything he'd read or written from that hour.
The game was tomorrow and he was running out of time. He had a whole speech planned. With contingencies in case she questioned his logic. It was foolproof.
That is… it would be, if he weren't such an enormous fool.
He rounded the corner to their table in the library and was greeted with the blessed sight of a singular witch sitting there. None of his friends were in sight. He looked to the heavens and thanked whatever power in the universe that had granted this.
He approached the table and debated where to sit. He decided proximity might be best for this particular conversation—he sat in the empty chair next to her.
"Granger."
She seemed to hesitate before she spoke. "Malfoy."
"What's on your agenda tonight?" he inquired while he unpacked his materials.
"I'm done with everything due this week and the next. I thought about getting a head start on some of the other assignments, but I might just redo my notes for Ancient Runes," she shuffled some papers on the table and lifted one up to him. "My runes are starting to blend together. I can't even tell if that's supposed to be ehwaz or mannaz."
Draco pondered the writing in front of him. Her handwriting was exquisite no matter how much she claimed that her in-class notes were illegible. Based on the context, he guessed it was mannaz but she'd just drawn the cross strokes faintly. "Mannaz. We were talking about the social orders and relationships that runes depict in many societies that week. It makes more sense in the context."
He looked up to hand the paper back to her and she was beaming at him. "What? What did I do?"
"Nothing," she rushed out as she tucked a curl behind her ear. "I just—I guess I forget how smart you are sometimes."
"Ah, the good looks do serve to counteract my intelligence," he quipped.
"Brains and beauty. A rare combination," she returned while fighting a smile.
He wanted to tell her how she was the epitome of that combination. Plus all her other endearing qualities like her kindness and her ferocity. But he settled for just observing the warm flush of her cheeks and the curl that wouldn't stay behind her ear.
"Are you going to Quidditch tomorrow?" he blurted. Well, there went the carefully crafted plan. He'd just jumped straight in the deep-end.
"I wasn't planning on it. Gryffindor is still a little wary of me right now," she admitted. "Plus, I don't really enjoy the game."
Draco hummed in understanding. "Well, there's a group of us going. Blaise wants to get an understanding of the other houses' strategies. I think everyone else is just looking for an excuse to smuggle firewhiskey into the stands and be obnoxious. You should come. If you want."
"What about you?" she asked.
"What about me?"
"Why are you going? I heard you weren't on the Slytherin team this year so it's not for strategy."
"No… not for strategy," he responded bitterly. "I wanted to be on the team this year but the Seeker spot had already been given to Harper during our sixth year. No one wanted to oust him for—well, me. I could've tried chaser but it wouldn't have been the same. I guess I want to go so I can try to enjoy the game as much as possible from the stands. And get used to the view from there instead of a broom." He finished with a shrug.
She just kept pulling things from him. Things he didn't tell anyone or even really want to talk about. With her, it just fell from his lips with all the ease of listing ingredients for Dreamless Sleep.
"I'll go," she said firmly after brief consideration.
"Well, don't sound so excited about it," he mocked.
"You just have to promise to point out all the things I'm supposed to be impressed by. Even after all these years with Quidditch-obsessed best friends, I still haven't really picked up on the technique," she said. He didn't miss the way her voice broke on the words "best friends," but he also knew better than to comment on it.
"Something Hermione Granger doesn't excel at? Will wonders never cease?" he joked as he gently prodded her arm with his elbow. That earned him a playful shove in return.
"So? Do you promise?" she asked again.
"Promise, Granger. I shall be your Quidditch tutor." He gave her a small, gallant bow with his hand on his heart. She rolled her eyes at his dramatics and he smirked back at her.
"Now, Ancient Runes…" she redirected their focus back to her notes. He scooted his chair closer to better share them and make the corrections.
Later that night, he found Theo and told him that she'd said yes. Theo grinned like a loon and immediately started detailing phase two of his master plan to help Draco woo Granger.
—
It was the day of the match and Hermione was nervous. She'd never sat anywhere but Gryffindor and she'd be deviating from that tradition today. She decided to fully throw tradition out the window and not bring a book, either.
Ginny was Quidditch captain for Gryffindor this year after Harry refused the position. Harry had returned for one last year as Seeker and Ron was also back as Keeper. Dean and Demelza Robbins filled out the offensive roster as Chasers. Neither Jimmy Peakes nor Ritchie Coote returned as beaters though, instead, two talented third-years filled their spots.
Hermione had considered stopping by the Gryffindor stands just to say hello, but based on the whispers that still followed her as she walked to the game, she decided to just head up to Slytherin instead.
The rest of the group was already there as Hermione had been running late that morning. Her nightmares had been particularly bad the night before so Pansy had told her to sleep in and come join them later. As she rounded the corner, she spotted an open seat between Draco—she figured she could call him that in her head for now—and Theo.
Pansy was on Theo's other side with Daphne next to her. Blaise and Draco were chatting away, presumably about Quidditch until she squeezed her way down the bench in front of them.
"Gentlemen," she said a little breathlessly. The stairs in Quidditch stands fucking sucked and then the sheer effort to move bodies out of her way had taken some energy.
"Are we gentlemen? Have you met us?" Blaise argued with a wink.
"Well, you're not, I suppose," she said with a shove to his chest. "Malfoy is, though." As if to prove her correct, Draco offered her his hand and helped her the rest of the way down and into her seat.
"Why is he still 'Malfoy' to you?" Theo remarked, butting into the conversation. "You call the rest of us by our given names. I think you can finally drop the surnames."
"I don't know. It's kind of… our thing." Hermione looked up at Draco for confirmation. He was already staring at her with an unreadable expression. "Right?"
"It is. But I'm willing to change. So long as I still get a few 'Granger's' on special occasions," he replied.
"Deal… Draco," she emphasized the sound of his first name. It's not like it was the first time she'd said it, but it was the first time it wasn't immediately followed by his surname or said to someone other than him.
"Deal… Hermione," he said, mocking her tone. The sound of her name from him should not have affected her as much as it did. So many people struggled with it, but here he was with flawless pronunciation and drawing out the "my" sound.
She thought she'd miss the way she could decipher his mood with how he said "Granger," but she reconsidered. This was better. A smile fought its way onto her face and she looked away from him while shaking her head.
"Well, praise Merlin! Forget the game, let's go celebrate this monumental occasion!" Pansy shouted with raised hands. She and Daphne made to get up, only to sit back down at Blaise's glare.
"No. We are here for information. Sit and pay attention," he commanded.
"Darling, you're here for information. We're here for gossip and the promise of Theo's hidden flask," Daphne retorted. Theo rifled in his jacket to hand said flask down to her waiting hands. Pansy patted his knee in thanks.
"Well, there goes my drink," Draco said under his breath.
"Mate, what kind of amateur brings one flask?" Theo announced and produced two more flasks from different pockets in his coat.
"Good lad," Draco chimed with a clap on Theo's shoulder.
They all settled into separate conversations with Hermione often leaning over Theo when the witches summoned her. "You should just switch with Theo," Pansy suggested.
"No!" chorused all the boys who immediately blushed upon the outburst.
"Or not…" Pansy said with a raised eyebrow.
Hermione rotated her questioning glance between the three boys. "Any of you want to explain that?" Blaise quickly averted his eyes to the pitch and pretended not to hear her. Draco and Theo exchanged panicked looks.
"Um…"
"Well…"
"I—"
"Protection!" Theo blurted, causing Draco to look more confused.
"Protection?" Hermione echoed.
"Yes… protection. Obviously," Draco awkwardly agreed. "Safest place for you is… here. By me and Theo. Yes. That's it."
"I'm just going to pretend I believe you both because I'm too tired to argue with you." Hermione shrugged and leaned over to tap Pansy's arm to resume their conversation.
In her periphery, she noticed the boys continue to stare at each other and apparently have an argument entirely through non-verbal body language.
As the game started, conversation died down since the cheering and booing soon drowned out any other noise. Sitting also became impossible since everyone stood to get a better view during the games. Hermione's short stature meant she typically couldn't see over the people in front of her, but Draco did his job and told her when to cheer, what exciting move had just occurred, and why she should be impressed with the players' skills.
While he was pointing out some impressive play Dean and Ginny had made, she stared up at him. He was tall. Well, everyone was tall to her. But he had at least a foot on her.
Ron was tall. He'd used it to intimidate her. Make her feel small. Draco was so conscious of his height and avoided crowding her or tried to step back so she didn't have to crane her neck up to him when talking. It was considerate and not something she'd ever expected from the boy who used to send slurs her way.
The sun had disappeared behind the clouds, as was typical in the Scottish Highlands, and the crisp Autumn temperatures became increasingly chilly. Especially when one was thirty feet in the air in Quidditch stands.
Hermione involuntarily shivered, which was apparently felt by the boys either side of her. Theo was busy keeping Pansy warm as she had essentially burrowed herself into his side five minutes into the game. He sent her an apologetic look at his lack of arms. Daphne, clearly remembering she was a witch, had imbued her clothes with warming charms so she was entirely unaffected.
"Cold?" Draco asked.
"A bit. I'll just cast a charm and be fine though," she replied and reached for her wand.
Before her hand could pull the vinewood from her pocket, an arm wound its way around her. Draco gently pulled her into his side and she reflexively turned her body into his warmth. She burrowed in and shivered at the sudden contact with him. Draco took that as a sign that she was still cold. He used his free arm to grab the blanket he'd brought along and draped it around her before replacing his arm on her shoulders.
"Better?"
"Much," she replied as she moved her arms to hold the front of the blanket. Her hands were essentially pinned against his ribcage but neither of them seemed to mind. "Thanks, Draco."
"Anytime, Hermione." He kept his arm around her and casually rubbed his hand up and down her bicep. She tried not to notice how nice he smelled—like cloves and sandalwood. It was spicy and warm.
She also tried not to notice how solid he was. He had always been a little skinny, especially during the war. But now, he'd filled out and gotten a lithe build. She'd almost describe it as a swimmer's body, more broad than Seekers tended to be, but with a tapered waist. Not overly muscular, but she could feel the muscles of his arms around her and the firmness of his chest and abdomen. It was nothing compared to the size of his hand almost spanning her whole upper arm. If he'd fully spread his fingers out, he'd probably be able to touch her shoulder to her elbow.
She felt safe. Protected. It was comforting.
They stayed that way through the rest of the match. Hermione would adjust every now and again to get closer or shift her stance. Draco merely kept his arm around her and accommodated her new position. She'd caught sight of Harry and Ginny as they flew past giving her a questioning look and merely poked a hand out of her blanket to wave. She purposefully ignored Ron.
—
In the end, it was a Gryffindor victory when Harry caught the Snitch and ended the game at 200-80.
The group decided to head back to the common room to warm up. Hermione agreed to come after she congratulated Ginny and Harry on their victory. They'd been distant lately but she missed her best friends and thought this would at least be an olive branch.
Draco offered to wait but she waved him off knowing his presence would probably just create tension.
She was waiting for them outside of the locker room building when he stormed out of the door. Hermione realised her mistake immediately.
She was alone.
The locker rooms were noisy and the rest of the school was probably halfway back to the castle by now.
And now Ron Weasley was marching toward her, still in his Quidditch kit and looking pissed off. He grabbed her bicep and dragged her back toward the pitch. She was quickly pinned against the front of one of the stands while Ron towered over her.
"Ron—"
"Shut up. You Death Eater whore," he snapped. He gripped both of her shoulders tightly and pushed her so she slammed against the wooden posts. "What the fuck are you doing all cuddled up with Draco sodding Malfoy when I am playing a match?" Another slam and the back of her head met wood. She might be bleeding, but that would be a problem for later.
"I'm sorry," she cried. The tears were already starting. It was her default move. Apologize. Try to get him to see that she agreed with him. She was wrong. She screwed up. It was her fault.
"I don't think you are," he asserted. "You didn't look very sorry with his arm around you." He brought his finger up to point in her face and she flinched.
Wrong move. It only fed the anger. The monster liked to see her scared.
"Oh, you're scared of me? You fuck Death Eaters but you're scared of me," Ron taunted. "Maybe I should be more ruthless, hmm? You want me to be like him, Hermione?"
"No, that's not—"
"Lavender is very nice and all but I always felt like I wasn't quite done with you," he leered.
"Please, Ron. Don't," she begged. The tears were flowing freely now.
"Granger?" a voice drew her attention over Ron's shoulder. "Everything alright?" Draco walked over, holding the blanket they had used earlier.
"Everything's fine," Ron answered through clenched teeth.
"I wasn't asking you," Draco said, voice dripping with disdain. "Hermione?"
Ron's grip had loosened with the distraction so Hermione pulled free and practically sprinted over to Draco. She wiped tears from her eyes and folded her arms around her middle. Draco was looking her over, searching her features for a hint of what she wanted. "Um… I'm okay. Can we just go?"
He started to nod when Ron interrupted.
"Look, 'Mione," he sighed. "I'm sorry. I just miss you and the game had me riled. I got a little intense. Just… I really do miss you."
Hermione closed her eyes and straightened her spine. Theo had been preparing her for some kind of closure. A confrontation or confession. Something to let her slam the book closed on this whole relationship.
This was the moment.
She could cave to his demands and let him continue to be the good guy or she could expose him. The problem with exposure was that she'd expose her dark secret to Draco, too. He clearly knew after what he witnessed. She didn't know how much he'd heard or seen, but it was enough. What she said next would be confirmation.
It would be Ron Weasley's condemnation.
Hermione took a deep breath and turned to face Ron. She looked at him and for the first time in months, she wasn't paralyzed by fear. She still saw the rage in his eyes and the tension in his arms, but she wasn't scared of him in this moment.
"Is it me you miss, Ronald? Or is it throwing me into walls?" she demanded. She felt Draco put a hand on her shoulder, lightly, and step a little closer to her.
"What did you just say to me?" Ron spat.
Draco had clearly had enough of being a bystander. His hand moved from her shoulder to her waist. Just a feather-light touch to let her know where he was. He stepped in front of her while keeping his hands light and respectful along the small of her back. It was a staggering difference from the way other people handled her. He didn't manhandle her or grip her tightly.
She didn't have to move, because he'd move for her.
"I'd watch your tone, Weasel," Draco growled.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with Malfoy."
Hermione turned to her left to see Ginny, Harry, and the Slytherins walking up to the scene. They'd all clearly heard her if the shocked expressions on their faces were anything to go by. Shocked except for Theo. He looked just as angry as Draco.
Ginny had been the one to speak and the first to come to her senses. She started to storm over to her brother and had to be held back by Harry.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Harry yelled. "You threw her into a wall?" The pitch erupted as the three Gryffindors began yelling at each other while everyone else watched on.
With all the attention on Ron, Hermione felt her energy waning. The adrenaline from the fight was wearing off and she felt like she was going to pass out or start sobbing any minute. Maybe both.
Theo noticed her pale complexion and rushed over, followed by Pansy and Daphne. Blaise chose to stand with Draco. Either as back-up or to hold him back, Hermione wasn't sure.
"You're okay," Theo soothed as he pulled her into a hug, tucking her head under his chin. He stroked her hair and just kept repeating the words over and over. Pansy grabbed the blanket that Draco had dropped and wrapped it around her. Daphne eventually joined in on the hug when Hermione started quietly sobbing.
"Hermione," Harry's quiet voice pulled her out of her safe little huddle. Hermione glanced behind him and noticed that a certain redhead was nowhere to be seen. "I—I don't know what to say. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't see it. I'm sorry you had to go through this. I'm sorry I let you down. I should've—" Harry's voice broke and he brought a fist up to his mouth.
Hermione untangled herself from her current group hug to launch herself at her best friend.
"It's not your fault. I hid it. I didn't want you to have to choose." She squeezed him tightly, hoping she wouldn't have to let him go.
"I would've chosen you," Harry whispered into her hair while hugging her tightly. "Always."
Ginny had been quiet, but pulled Hermione into a hug after Harry had released her. "I'm sorry. I knew something was going on, but I didn't think—I just thought you were fighting."
"I know," Hermione murmured.
Hermione's fear had been that after people found out, she'd be alone. Here she was with both her old and new friends around her. Supporting her.
She wasn't alone. They'd chosen her.
—
After all the hugging, apologies, and tears, the group eventually decided to leave the pitch. Someone had told her that Ron had run off once Harry had turned on him. Draco stayed close to her as they walked and even offered her his arm after she'd stumbled the third time.
"Your head is bleeding," he whispered to her as they walked.
She reached up and felt the clumps of her hair sticking together. When she pulled her hand back they were tinged red. Draco gently pulled them to a halt.
"May I?" he asked while slowly pulling his wand from his jacket. She merely nodded.
His fingers threaded into her curls and gently turned her head so he could look at the wound. A muttered episkey and some cleansing charms and she was back to normal. He moved his hand from her hair to grab the hand that was tainted in her blood. He cleaned her fingers, too, and rubbed his thumb across her palm.
The gentleness and the kindness he was showing her almost made her cry again.
"I usually do this part by myself," she said under her breath. Her voice thick with her unshed tears.
The silence was filled with unshared thoughts. She knew he had questions but he was respectful enough not to pry them from her. Finally, he dropped her hand and tilted her chin up with one finger.
"If he puts his hands on you again, I'll cut them off," he vowed. His voice filled with conviction and underlying rage.
Draco Malfoy was a complicated wizard. He could be awkward and fumbling, caring and respectful, and now this, determined and protective. It should've scared her, but she'd never felt more grounded. More secure.
She didn't have to fight her battles alone.
They gathered in the library since it was the most neutral zone and Hermione told them everything. About all the times she came to Grimmauld Place after incidents. The truth behind their fights at the Burrow. All the times he'd cornered her here at Hogwarts. It all spilled out of her and she felt lighter with each word.
She was met with every reaction under the sun. Mainly anger on her behalf. The group tried to hide their pity for her but it was there, shining in their eyes.
Ginny and Harry felt the worst that they'd been so close to her during many of these moments and they hadn't helped her. Harry had to excuse himself at one point and came back with red eyes and bloody knuckles. He'd presumably punched the stone wall as penance for his inability to protect her.
Everyone agreed to keep this between them until Hermione decided to share it. It wasn't their story to tell or their decision to make about what Ron Weasley deserved in retribution.
Though they all had ideas.
"We can kill him," Blaise suggested once the group was back in the common room.
Ginny and Harry had reluctantly left for the victory party when Hermione urged them that she'd be fine. It was just the Slytherins and Blaise—who refused to give up his honorary Hufflepuff status.
"I'll call my dear mother. I'm sure she has some tricks to share about making a murder look accidental," he continued.
"Or we could ruin his reputation," Pansy added. "Sell all his secrets to Skeeter and let the public know what a terrible person he is."
"No. Hard no on anything to do with Rita Skeeter," Hermione said firmly.
"We can frame him for something. Get him a cell next to my lovely father in Azkaban," Theo suggested.
"These are all… disturbing and wonderful ideas, but I think I'm just going to leave it," Hermione concluded.
"What do you mean?" Draco asked incredulously.
"I mean… I just want to move on. I don't need to take him down to do that, so I won't. After this year, I don't have to see him again and that's enough." Hermione chewed her bottom lip while she thought. There was still Lavender to consider. "Well, after I get Lavender out from under his thumb. Once she gets out, she'll spread that tale around and everyone will be well aware of who he is."
The group nodded.
"I just don't want him to hurt anyone else like he hurt me," she sighed. Daphne and Theo trapped her in another group hug on the couch and she met Draco's eyes where he was seated in an armchair across from her.
He hadn't said much to her in the aftermath of her story, but he'd been there. Supporting her with an encouraging look or an arm around her shoulders. She was still trying to figure him out. What he thought about her after he had all the facts from her troubled past.
—
She is incredible.
It was the only thought that kept running through his head after Grang—Hermione had revealed her story. Even when she'd put the Weasel in his place on the pitch, all Draco could feel for her was complete admiration and awe.
She is incredible.
The rest of the group had gone off to bed and it was just him and Hermione, now. Sitting across from each other in silence. She was staring into the fire and he was staring at her.
She broke the silence. "You've been quiet since the library. Sickle for your thoughts?"
You are incredible.
"I'm proud of you for leaving," Draco admitted. Suddenly he panicked and the word vomit began. "Shit, is that offensive? Leaving someone you care about is difficult. Not that you still care about him, nor do you need my approval and here I am—just telling you I'm proud of you. I don't know what to say. Fuck. Fucking Weasley. That little ginger pile of rubbish. Fuck I— Is it wrong to be proud of you or impressed by you? Is it presumptuous of me? Or insensitive? Should I be angrier? I'm pretty angry. Not at you though. At him. How he could even think he was allowed to touch you let alone… what he did."
He took a breath. This was getting out of hand. "You are… strong and fierce and—"
"Draco." Hermione chuckled. He didn't understand how he could be promising her that he'd physically harm the Weasel one minute and be a bumbling idiot the next. This witch did things to his brain that he had no explanations or solutions for. "No, it's not wrong or insensitive or offensive. Most people would apologize at least from the few reactions I've had…and the research I've done," she sent him a small smile.
"You would research this," he huffed, which only caused her to broaden her smile.
"I expected pity," she confessed while turning her gaze back to the fire. "My fear was that people would look at it as something that happened to my relationship and not to me. I honestly expected some people to blame me for it. Or tell me I should've stuck it out."
"Well, I am not one of those people. I'm glad you got out when you did. I imagine it only gets harder."
She nodded. "I got out on my own, which is a testament of strength. If Theo were here, he'd make me say that I'm not a victim. I'm a survivor." Hermione curled her legs up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them and resting her chin on her knees.
"I hope I'll believe that someday," she said quietly.
"I'll remind you."
She turned to look at him again and the smile she gave him warmed his whole chest. That smile could've ended wars—maybe it had—and driven men to fall to their knees.
He was falling so hard for her.
"I'll hold you to it."
Well, how was it? Everything you wanted? Are you disappointed? Tell me in the comments lovelies.
Go check out my tumblr (lost-poetx) /twitter (lostpoetx) for a teaser and some fanart. Also, just come yell at me over there. It's a good time. My TikTok is since some of you all want to come hang there, too.
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Updates every 2 weeks on Friday.
