TW: This chapter will get more in-depth about the violence Hermione experienced.
I'm sorry again for being SO delayed. This was a hard chapter to get out... but we got there. I hope it's worth the wait. I'm going to try to be slightly more consistent with updates but I make no promises there.
I do promise to NEVER abandon this fic. I know some folks were concerned. I WILL BE FINISHING THIS!
Betawork done by rosenymphadoraweasley5.
Thanks for being here folks.
peace and love,sam
Being a couple hadn't really changed anything between them. Draco and Hermione were still keeping it quiet since the rumor mill was inundated with Hermione drama and this would merely add fiendfyre to an already blazing inferno.
Their friends knew. As Pansy had claimed, Draco and Hermione were shite at hiding their feelings for each other. It took Daphne approximately fifteen seconds to sniff out the difference when they'd made it back to the common room. There were no questions, only a very confident "Finally, you two are a thing!"
And the two of them blushing like second years and holding hands had only confirmed everything.
The only real change had been in Draco. He'd suddenly gained some confidence around the witch. Not having to restrain himself or worry about scaring her off had brought back some of the smoothness to which everyone was accustomed.
Some was the key word in that statement.
He was still kind of an idiot around Hermione at times. She had a way of making him feel grounded and completely off-balance at the same time. It led to some interesting results.
For example, this morning at breakfast, he'd nearly choked on his tea when her hand rested innocently on his thigh. Hermione hadn't planned on doing anything scandalous with that hand, but the mere presence had him flustered for the rest of the morning.
His so-called friends merely teased him about his dry spell instead of being helpful in any way, shape, or form.
Though, he had found a way of flustering her, too. Playing with her curls. He'd always been fascinated by them and how they seemed to move of their own accord. Now, he would freely reach over to tuck them behind her ear or move them aside when he grabbed her bag from her shoulder between classes. Draco would absentmindedly twirl one around a finger when they studied in the library or sat on the sofa in the common room.
And every time, Hermione would shiver and a blush would tinge her cheeks.
So naturally, Draco found more excuses to touch her hair. It was merely coincidence that he would actively try to rile her up after he'd put his foot in his mouth. Not a sneaky plan to level the playing field at all.
Like right now. They were back at their table in the library with Pansy, Theo, and Daphne and Draco's hand was currently nestled in her curls as he rested his arm across the back of her chair.
"Keep that up and you'll be found out within the week," Pansy teased. Hermione and Draco blinked at her confusedly.
"Oh please. People already know," Daphne scoffed. "He makes her plate at every meal. They are always together. He carries her bag for her. And Hermione can't stop making sex eyes at him at all hours. The student body at this school may be of below-average intelligence, but they are not blind."
"Are we that obvious?" Hermione asked meekly. Draco was stuck on the sex eyes comment and couldn't form a response.
"Yes!" the others chorused.
"Well, might as well make it official then," Draco said. He turned to face her fully and used his free hand to hold hers loosely. "It's the first Hogsmeade weekend coming up. Shall we make it our first date?"
"Did you just use 'shall' in casual conversation?" Theo asked incredulously only to be shushed by the other witches on his side of the table.
"Are you ready for that? What about... your parents?" Hermione questioned as she dipped her head to avoid his gaze.
"I'll handle that. They're trying, remember?" He hooked a finger under her chin and raised her face to his with a knuckle. "But I don't care what they think. I'd rather watch you spend three hours in a bookstore and then pay for an adequate meal wherever you want."
Hermione's reluctance visibly melted from her face and she smiled a slow, dazzling grin. "Sounds like the perfect plan to me. Add a trip to Honeydukes and you've got yourself a date, Mr. Malfoy."
"Of course. My chocolate stash seems to be dwindling a lot faster these days so a trip is in order," he winked at her. He always thought she'd be a sugar quill girl or something with some sourness, but no. Simple chocolate was the easiest way to make her smile after a long day or bribe her out of the library when she was literally falling asleep over the books.
As the blushed crept across her face, he leaned in to place a chaste kiss on her lips. Chaste was the intention, but he may have lingered a bit.
Or at least that's what the fake gagging from across the table told him.
"You two are sickeningly cute. Please stop," Daphne demanded with a look of mock horror. They all chuckled. Hermione slid her chair closer to Draco's and he resumed his activity of playing with her hair while they read.
—
Hermione was nervous.
They were going on a date. But she wasn't nervous about seeing Draco or spending the day with him. He calmed her. He made her feel strong and empowered. A day with him was an exciting prospect.
She was nervous about everyone else. Most people had been very supportive of her once word of Ronald's behavior had made it around school. But would they be supportive of this?
And what about the wizard in question... how would Ron react to this?
Hermione didn't care about what Ron Weasley thought of her relationship. He could go scream his opinions from the middle of the Forbidden Forest for all she cared. No, it was the reaction that bothered her. The anger she still anticipated.
She didn't want a scene. That was her biggest concern. Hermione wanted a day with no drama and no awkward run-ins, but that wasn't likely to happen. With her luck, there would likely be an all out brawl with Rita Skeeter there to witness it and publish a special edition of The Daily Prophet.
She fidgeted with the cream coloured shirt she wore under an oversized auburn colored cardigan. The chill in the air was hovering but it wasn't unbearable enough to require a coat. She grabbed a scarf and shoved a beanie in her bag just in case. Daphne had almost forced her into a skirt, but Hermione stood firm that it wasn't exactly practical for trekking around when a gust of wind could blow through at any moment.
The winning argument was Pansy stating that Draco doesn't share and wouldn't take kindly to all of Hogsmeade seeing that much of Hermione. So she'd kept her Muggle denims and basic black ballet flats.
Pansy had done her make-up just as natural as always, though she'd darkened her lips by just a touch—probably in an effort to make Draco look at them. Her hair was down and wild today. No fancy braid or up-do. Just normal Granger curls.
A knock at the door startled her from her thoughts. Daphne barreled into the room mere seconds later much to the exasperation of Pansy.
"Your mother raised you better, Greengrass. Decorum is not a negative trait." Daphne rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at Pansy. The black-haired witch huffed and threw her hands up.
"We came to tell you that Draco is pacing and if you take much longer, Theo has threatened to give Draco the if-you-hurt-her-big-brother speech," Daphne announced while collecting Hermione's bag and wand from their place on the bed.
"Oh Merlin... he wouldn't," Hermione sighed.
"He may have already begun," Pansy teased.
Hermione grabbed her belongings from Daphne's outstretched arms and sprinted from the room. She slowed her pace before she entered the common room in an effort to appear calm and collected. As she rounded the corner, she saw Draco pacing in front of the fireplace and Theo chuckling at him while sipping from a flask.
Draco looked immaculate and posh as always. Jeans were not in his wardrobe she'd wager, but he was in all black again. Black trousers and a fitted black sweater. The only break in the monochrome was a charcoal grey collared shirt peeking out underneath. His hair looked artfully messy, but she could see the tracks his fingers had been creating as he nervously ran them through his platinum locks.
"Sorry for taking so long," she said. At her voice, both wizards turned toward her. Theo winked and gave her a thumbs up before he made a discreet exit with Pansy and Daphne.
"You look..." Draco trailed off as his eyes raked over her body.
"Breathtaking?" she joked.
"You're always breathtaking. No, you look... like you. Comfortable. It's a good look," he said as he took slow steps toward her. "I half-expected Daphne and Pansy to completely take over and you'd come down looking all prim, proper, and Pureblood. I'd have hated it if they changed you that much."
His hand reached up to twist a curl around his finger and he smiled when it bounced back into place. Draco reached up to cup her face and trace the line of her jaw with his thumb. She felt the slightly cold press of metal from his rings and shivered at how much she thought of those rings.
"Well, thank you. I tried to be as me as possible," Hermione chuckled. "You look incredible as always."
"Incredible? I was hoping for fit." Draco winked and Hermione blushed.
"Yes, yes. You're very pretty," she teased and rested her hands on his chest. They both leaned in for a quick kiss. Draco pulled back but rested his forehead against hers.
"Ready?" he asked. Hermione nodded and grabbed his hand to pull him out of the common room.
They walked through the halls hand-in-hand and more deliberately affectionate than normal. The students of Hogwarts were merely too shocked to respond. As the couple made their way to Hogsmeade, they were met with stares, pointed fingers, and whispers.
Hermione counted this as success. No one was screaming or throwing things and she found she could largely ignore the looks if she focused on Draco's thumb running across her hand. Pansy, Daphne, Blaise, and Theo were acting as bodyguards, having split into two groups to walk in front and behind Draco and Hermione. Predictably, Blaise had snagged Daphne and Theo subtly made his way to Pansy's side. Blaise would eventually be ditching them for his own Hogsmeade date, a sixth year Ravenclaw with "legs for days."
"So far so good," Draco commented, echoing Hermione's thoughts.
"We haven't run into... him, yet," Hermione replied nervously. "But yes. So far, very good." She decided to just go all in. Draco inspired that fierce, brave side of her she'd repressed. Hermione pulled herself up and placed a tender kiss just at the corner of his mouth.
"Tomes and Scrolls first?" he asked.
"You know me so well." Hermione beamed and then very gently pulled him toward the bookstore.
—
They wandered the aisles with Draco picking up every book Hermione put back down, intent on buying them for her simply because she'd read the first few pages. As he watched her run her fingers along the spines, he was overcome with the fact that his life could be this good. That he could be this lucky.
She was radiant when she was this relaxed. He'd seen her slowly start coming back to the strong woman she'd always been. The fire in her brown eyes was coming back to him.
They were in the Potions section and Draco briefly thought back to the Amortentia lesson their sixth year. He'd heard if a person changed enough, their Amortentia would change as well. He knew if he smelled the brew now, it would smell like books and her.
He'd always smelled strong citrus notes and now he could place them as the lemongrass in her perfume. The lingering smell of ink that stained her fingers would be new, as would the subtle hint of chocolate. And books... well that one they shared. The smell of parchment and leather spines was comforting to them both.
"I think I'm good," Hermione said as she slowly walked back toward him.
"Are you sure? I can feel that you want to take another lap," he teased.
"I could spend days in this store and still not be done," she responded with a heavy sigh. "But I was promised chocolate and a meal. I intend to collect."
"As you wish." Draco discretely sent the books to the counter with a conjured note to the clerk instructing him to collect the funds from his account and send the purchases to Hogwarts. Now he had to decide if he'd give them to her all at once or leave one for her to find every day... such decisions to make.
They wandered through Honeydukes and cleaned out the entire stock of Chocolate Frogs. The whole time he watched her browse candy, he couldn't stop staring at her lips. Between the deep red color and the fact that she kept biting her bottom lip in thought, it was driving him mad.
She finished off the new chocolate concoction they'd been given samples of and licked the chocolate from the corner of her mouth. Draco desperately wanted to be the one to do that for her.
Draco pulled Hermione into a quiet alley. "I can't do it anymore. I've tried very hard to repress the urge but I might go mad if I don't kiss you properly right this minute."
Hermione grinned and pulled him to her while she leaned against the wall. "We can't have that."
"You are such a tease," he groaned, taking a long look at her mouth. "I love it."
Draco propped a hand above her head on the wall and brought his other hand up to cup her jaw. He tilted her head up as he slowly lowered his head to hers. He kissed her languidly, lazily. He kissed her like they had all the time in the world to just be here.
She tasted like chocolate and it was perfection.
Hermione twisted his shirt in her hand and rested her free hand on his neck to drag her fingers through the ends of his hair. He felt her tongue brush against his lips and let her in. He let her explore for a bit and then took control. Draco ran his tongue along hers and gently bit her lower lip before soothing it.
Hermione whimpered and pulled him closer. He slipped a knee between her legs and leaned further into her. She shifted and he ran his knee further up her inner thigh, stopping just short of where she wanted him.
He pulled back. "Granger—"
"Yes. Please. Yes," she mumbled before pulling him back in. He pressed his knee to her core and she moaned. Draco felt Hermione tilt her hips subtly searching for friction. He dropped his hand from her jaw to her hips and pulled her further up his leg, encouraging her to ride his muscled thigh as much as she wanted.
And ride it she did. She broke the kiss and he moved his hand on the wall just in time to stop her from cracking her head against it when she threw her head back in bliss.
"Draco," she gasped.
"You're gorgeous, love," he said as he watched her chase her pleasure. "Take what you need. Anything you want."
"I can't—"
"Tell me what you need."
"You. More. Please," she begged in between gasps of pleasure. Draco raised his leg up to increase pressure on her covered clit and pushed himself flush against her. With a quick glance over his shoulder to make sure they were still alone, he snaked the hand on her hip under her top and traced the skin under her bra. Hermione moaned quietly, very conscious that they were in public.
"Good girl," Draco whispered in her ear. Hermione Granger had to enjoy praise so it was worth a shot. "Being so quiet. So beautiful. Are you close, love?"
"Yes. So close," Hermione gasped.
"Do you want me to touch you?"
"Please." Draco slipped his hand under bra and teased her nipple with circular motions. He dragged his mouth from her ear down her jaw to the junction between her neck and her shoulder. Draco wouldn't leave a mark, but he'd at least tease her with the sensation.
"Come on, Hermione," he mumbled against her skin. "Come for me, please." And that was all she needed. Draco kissed her and captured her groans for himself. She continued to ride his thigh, slowly rocking her hips as she came down. Draco kissed her gently and brushed her hair from her face.
"That was..." Hermione trailed off.
"Perfect. Incredible. Mind-blowing. I'll take any of those." Draco smirked at her. Hermione laughed and nodded.
"All of the above." She kissed him quickly. "What about you, though? Do you want—"
"This was for you. I just needed to touch you," Draco said and leaned his forehead against hers. "I couldn't stand just holding your hand anymore. Not when you look as stunning as you do."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive." He pulled away from her and waved his wand to clean them both up and straighten their clothes. "Now, I believe I promised you food. Where would you like to go?"
"Three Broomsticks? Or is that—"
"It's fine. Madame Rosmerta was my first stop on the apology tour and we've made our peace." Draco shrunk their purchases to put in his pockets and led her to the busy pub. It was a common spot for students and he was bracing himself for a more severe reaction. Hermione pushed open the door and all chatter seemed to cease when they walked in.
"Um... let's just go sit down," she mumbled and walked toward a booth in the back of the room.
"I don't know about you, but I prefer stunned silence over other reactions," Draco responded, throwing an arm across her shoulders.
"Isn't this precious?"
"Fuck me," Draco grumbled as they both turned to look at their uninvited guest. "Astoria, what did we do to summon you? I don't recall manifesting harpies today."
"Draco, play nice," Astoria cooed. "I heard you were parading around with your inferiors and I just had to see for myself. Hello, Granger."
"Astoria. I'd say it's a pleasure, but I do hate to lie when on a date," Hermione snarked. Draco was uncomfortably turned-on when she snapped back at people like Astoria. And there little adventure in the alley hadn't helped.
Astoria's face pinched in what was the socially acceptable way for a Pureblood woman to express displeasure. "Didn't I tell you not to get comfortable? Yet here you are... looking ready to lounge the day away. Bold choice for a public appearance. Not a heel in sight, shame."
Hermione hummed and squinted at the witch across from her. "Did you have a reason for being here or was it just to throw more uncreative insults my way?"
"Oh I just wanted to give Draco the option for an upgrade."
"I disagree that it's an upgrade, so I'll pass," Draco said, looking Astoria up and down with disdain. "Bye now, Astoria."
"You should be careful out there, Granger. I hear you have quite a few violent enemies walking the halls. It would be a real shame if you were caught unaware," Astoria said before sauntering off.
"I don't say this lightly... I hate her," Hermione huffed. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the exit the other witch just walked through.
"I know, love. I'm not particularly fond of the fact she keeps threatening you," Draco responded, tightening his hold on his witch. "You'll tell me if she tries anything, right?"
"I don't need—"
"Yes, I know. You don't need me to protect you. But I will age prematurely with worry, so just keep me in the loop, please?"
"Only to keep you from getting wrinkles," she teased and kissed his cheek.
They managed to make it the whole day without running into Ron. She imagined that the lack of Harry, Ginny, or any other Gryffindors were to thank for that. The group was likely running interference and herding him into various places around the village.
When they made it back to their common room, Draco disappeared to his room and came back with one of the books she'd looked at earlier. They settled on the couch while she happily read her new book and he played with her hair.
Theo and Pansy came back to the sight of them snuggled up and snoozing.
—
Hermione stood outside the portrait to the Gryffindor common room trying to gather her nerve. She was wringing her hands and tapping her foot faster with each passing second. Her fingers twitched toward her left arm, physically aching for the comfort of tracing her scar.
You've survived worse. She clasped her hands together and closed her eyes, repeating the words in her head.
"Hermione," Ginny called from the entry. "We're ready when you are."
"Let's do this." Hermione nodded and stepped forward.
"You know you don't have to be the one—"
"Yes I do. I was where she is. I have to be the one to pull her out," Hermione stated. "You haven't been there, Ginny. You can sympathize but you can't empathize. It's different for you, being on the outside looking in."
Ginny went silent as they quickly made their way through the common room—no Ron in sight—and up to the girls' dorm. As they opened the door, they were met with a small contingent of women from different houses—Padma, Parvati, Luna, Hannah, Tracey, and Lavender. Hermione steeled her nerves and walked in ahead of Ginny to stand against the wall against Lavender.
"What is this? An intervention?" Lavender said sarcastically.
"If you like," Hermione responded.
"I'm fine."
"I'm sure you are. Have you started making your own bruise paste yet or are you still wasting your money buying it?"
"What?" Lavender looked up with doe eyes. The fear was shining through.
"I'd avoid episkey. The pain of the quick set will just make the tremors worse."
"Hermione..." Parvati warned.
"Watch his hands, too. He flexes his fingers before making the fist. It's something that Bill taught him when teaching him to throw a punch and he's never been able to shake the habit. That'll help you brace for a hit," Hermione continued while staring down Lavender. This wasn't going to be easy—for either of them. Hermione could already feel the emotions welling behind her eyes and her muscles were tensing in reaction to the memories.
There would be a lot of hard truths and probably tears. But if this was going to work, there couldn't be kid gloves and gentle suggestions. Hermione had dealt with kid gloves and gentle suggestions and no one had ever known.
"Avoid him when he drinks, too. Ron's meaner then. He's less accurate with his hands—he knows it, too—so he tends to go for a hand around your throat instead of a closed fist hit."
"I don't know what you mean, Hermione," Lavender replied robotically while averting her eyes.
"Oh, so he has conditioned you to deny everything already. He's gotten quicker at that," Hermione snapped. "Has he gotten better about bruise placement, too? With me, he was quantity over quality..."
"Stop!" Lavender was in tears now and clinging to Padma. Hermione let her cry and let her collect herself before she walked forward.
"Lavender," Hermione said crouching down in front of her. "Look at me please."
"Please stop," she whispered, looking at Hermione through wet lashes.
"I know it's hard to hear. It's harder to live, though, isn't it? I think I know what you've been through better than anyone else in this room," Hermione continued calmly. "But this is how you get free."
Hermione looked at the room and gestured to the other witches gathered in a tight circle around them. "Look at all the support you have. You don't have to be alone in this."
"But he loves me."
Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep inhale. That was a familiar line she'd whispered to herself late at night while she hid in bathrooms or pretended to enjoy his touch.
It was a lie.
"And I love him." That was another common lie Hermione had used as a reason to stay.
Hermione took Lavender's hands and waited for her to look up and make eye contact. "Just because you love him doesn't mean you feel loved by him," she said, pleading Lavender to hear her. "What he does... it isn't love. It's pain. It's manipulation."
There were murmurs of agreement around the room.
Luna spoke up and placed one hand on Hermione's shoulder another on top of Lavender's forearm. "Love is supposed to be light. It's not always easy, but it should be rewarding. The hard times should lead to the best times. Love is about trust. It should be caring for someone else more than you care about yourself. It's..."
"It's the best thing in the world," Ginny joined in. "You turn to them when good things happen to share in the excitement. You turn to them when bad things happen to tell you that it'll all be alright in the end. That's love. It's weathering the bad times together, not causing them."
Hermione smiled at her best friend. "See? This feeling of being surrounded by support and kindness. We love you. Ron Weasley is incapable of loving anyone who doesn't worship the ground he walks on."
Hermione winced and looked at Ginny. "Sorry Gin."
"I do not claim that twat as my sibling," Ginny sneered. "I have enough brothers, we can throw this one out with the rubbish." Half-hearted giggles echoed in the room.
"So," Hermione said, turning her attention back to Lavender. "Do you want us to help you break up with him?"
Lavender stiffened with fear. "Do I have to do it in person?"
"Oh my dear... you don't have to do anything you don't want to do," Hermione soothed. "You can do this from across the room, via a letter... hell, via smoke signal and it'll be enough."
"I think... a letter. I can write a letter," Lavender decided. Padma reached up to the bedside table and grabbed a quill and spare parchment to hand over.
"Let's write this fucking letter, then," Parvati shouted.
Lavender shakily grabbed the quill and scrawled Ron across the top of the parchment. "I—I can't." She dissolved into sobs and her grip tightened on the quill like it was her lifeline.
Tracey, who had been a quiet observer, stepped forward to pry the quill from her hands. "Then we'll help you."
Tracey grabbed a clean sheet of parchment and rewrote Ron's name. As Lavender calmed, she began speaking. The words echoed things Hermione had said but with added detail. Her words evolved to her own feelings, her own anger. It was a slow process with Lavender needing frequent breaks to collect herself or wanting to reword something.
Tracey was patient and kept writing without complaining about a cramp in her hand or the kink that was likely growing in her neck. They were all starting to lose feeling in their bums from sitting on the floor, but they didn't say a word.
They helped her get her words and feelings out. Every witch in that room held her while she cried and supported her through it.
After an hour and eight drafts of the break-up letter (which had been spell checked by Hermione and Padma), Ginny charmed the parchment to deliver itself to her brother. The girls stayed in the dorm taking turns distracting and comforting an anxious Lavender.
Hermione stayed to the sidelines, watching it all unfold. She could've had this all along if she wanted. If she had been strong enough to reach out and ask for help. Instead, she'd hidden her pain and her sorrow behind glamours and healing spells.
She felt a pang of jealousy looking at Lavender getting what she needed right from the beginning. It was selfish and irrational. But it hovered in the space beneath her heart anyway.
Ginny walked over and stood silently next to Hermione.
"You knew. Didn't you?" Hermione asked, without looking at her.
"I... I suspected something," Ginny admitted hesitantly. "I never would've imagined it was that bad. I thought he was just being an arse. Yelling at you and making you feel small."
"That was better?" Hermione finally turned her head, indignation in her eyes.
"Than you walking around hiding bruises and healing your own broken bones? Yes."
"Ginny," Hermione sighed. "It didn't start after the war. It didn't start the first time he put his hands on me. This—the abuse—began when he dismissed my emotions all through school. When he expected me to forgive him because of Harry. When he didn't trust me on the Horcrux hunt. When he threw things at walls close to me or broke furniture near me."
"Hermione—"
"He broke things around me to make me feel grateful that he didn't hit me. To show me he could have, but didn't," Hermione realised the room had gotten quiet as she had begun yelling at Ginny. "It didn't start when he hit me first. So no, Ginny, I don't think that him just shouting mean things at me would have been any better."
"I'm sorry," Ginny whimpered. "I—I should've done more."
"Thank you. Maybe you could've done more. Maybe you couldn't have. I probably would have denied it and brushed you off regardless of how much you pushed me," Hermione conceded. "But thank you for trying to talk to me. Thank you for giving me the option to reach out, even if I didn't take it."
Ginny pulled Hermione into a tight hug and Hermione clung to her best friend as they both cried. They needed this in order to move on properly. Hermione had held some anger and resentment that Ginny had tried but she didn't try hard enough. Ginny had felt so much guilt that she'd known something was going on, but she'd been too caught up with her own life to really help.
"I'm sorry. I love you," Ginny said through tears.
Hermione nodded into her friend's shoulder. "I love you, too."
Adra Art (the artist formerly known as dragonlyart) did some amazing work for Chapter 8 of this fic. It's on my socials (and hers) and imbedded in the fic if you go back and look.
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