Sunday, June 22nd, 2003.
Hermione woke up with one of those headaches that always followed a very good evening with her friend liquor. She was certain that her hair resembled a gigantic nest that could host a few seagulls. An acrid taste of firewhiskey still lingered on her tongue as she tried to swallow off the dryness of her mouth. It was useless. She stirred, making both her shoulders crack, and opened her eyes.
She was in Blaise's guest room, Draco's bedroom. The previous night she hadn't even bothered to put the light on, and had just sunk into the bed, relished in the good quality of the sheets, and fallen asleep.
Now, as she could smell the lingering scent of his cologne, and something musty that she couldn't place, she realised why she was in the oddly bare room. Blaise and Astoria had planned it whole, which was the least surprising thing that had happened. She wasn't even really mad.
Draco Malfoy had kissed her. That was mind-boggling. He'd kissed her. Her, as in Hermione Granger.
For half a second before jolting away and apologising. Although he'd looked more worried about her reaction than about what he'd done. But then, she'd been so drunk she might as well have imagined that.
He'd still kissed her.
She hadn't minded that much. She'd been caught in the moment and had been about to respond when he'd stopped.
What was wrong with her?
She'd rationalised on the moment, told herself and aloud, that he'd just been happy to be rid of the oath, and of Pansy. He'd been drunk and light headed with the first good news he'd had in years. They'd been alone, drunk, too close and caught up in a moment of weakness. That was all. Shit happened, right?
It wasn't like she really cared.
Why was she still snuggled in his covers then?
She threw them at the foot of the bed, no he did not smell good. She was just lonely. It had been so long since a man had touched her. It had been so long since another man apart from Ron had had any physical interest in her.
Right. It was just that.
He'd said he liked her, though, but he didn't like her like that, right? It was Draco Malfoy after all.
They were friends and it was surprising enough.
She stood, fetched her pants on the floor, put them back on, and didn't dare try to find a mirror to watch herself. She glued her ear to the door, guessing by the light out that it was late morning, and considered the silence safe enough for her to step in the living-room.
Draco was still sleeping, sprawled all over the couch. One of his hands was grazing the floor, the other arm covering his face. He still had his clothes on, although she noticed right away that his shirt was half open. She had to concentrate to look elsewhere. Lean indeed. Em. The cover was half laying on the floor, the other half barely covering one of his legs. He had one feet weirdly resting on the back of the couch, the other on the armrest.
It was a very strange sight. He didn't look so posh any more.
Shaking her head, she stopped staring, and tip-toed to the front door but jumped harder than she thought possible at:
"Good morning!"
Draco jerked up on the couch only to let himself drop back on it, growling. That headache was monstrous. The world was spinning.
"Slept well Draco?" Astoria? Oh. "Tea Hermione?"
Hermione? Shit.
"Err … Do you have any pepper up?" He heard her voice answer. Astoria chuckled and Draco heard her pass the couch, he tried to open his eyes and groaned.
"Yes I do. Draco?"
"A full dose." He grumbled. That chuckle wasn't Astoria's. Draco's eyes snapped open, painfully. Granger was right there, her hair … Sweet Salazar was it even possible?
"What?" She scolded. He should probably try to control his face but he wasn't a morning person, neither a hungover one and she'd just laughed at him.
"Your hair …" He started and cut himself abruptly, suddenly remembered telling her it was pretty. He felt his face change colour. What the hell?
She snorted though, offended apparently, and didn't seem to notice his sudden urge to crawl in a hole to hide.
"You should look at yours." She smirked. His hands instantly patted his head and he scowled. She chuckled again. He had to rub his face with both hands.
"Are you brewing it Greengrass?" He snapped angrily.
"Watch you tone with my girl you drunken twat. Hermione. Slept tight?" Blaise's smirk was not welcome this early in … err.
Granger only grimaced, suddenly avoiding Draco's eyes. Why though, he couldn't fathom.
"Didn't hear too much noise?" Blaise continued, wiggling his eyebrows stupidly.
"I heard laughter." Hermione cut with a little smirk. "Was that you Stori? Is it that small?" Draco had an unexpected little laugh and received a glare.
"Nice try for humour. For your information, it is far from small." Blaise bragged.
"Too much information." Granger grimaced and childishly faked a gag. Draco had another little laugh. He suspected he was still drunk. She turned to Astoria then: "I think I'll skip the tea Stori."
"Why?" The concerned witch, who was already pouring some pepper up in steaming mugs, asked. "No you don't have to work." She warned as Granger opened her mouth.
"Well …"
"The oath is broken, the trial is over, the paperwork handled. Take the bloody tea already." Astoria snapped.
"Err …"
"Don't make me drag you out too. We've got all … afternoon. You've got nothing to do at home but worry about the deliberations and …"
"Alright! Alright! I'll take the tea!" Draco would never have pictured Granger to give up that easily. She had to really feel bad. Probably as bad as he did. Maybe she was out of pepper up.
"Come on Draco come get the pepper up!" Astoria called.
"I'm not your bloody dog Greengr … As-To-Ri-A." He corrected at her nasty glare.
"DR-A-CO." She mimicked childishly. It seemed as though they were all still …
"How much alcohol did you have last night?" Granger voiced his thoughts.
"Hermione when your hair's like that, you shouldn't speak." Astoria teased slyly.
Draco saw Granger take a deep breath, snatch her wand from … he didn't see, too fast, and point it at her bag. A wordless accio later and a hair band and she looked … Like she'd been working for three months straight. Draco had to hide a smile.
"Better?" She asked.
"I wouldn't go that far …"
"Stori I really, really like you, but sometimes you piss me off." She scowled, although as he stood to join them, Draco saw them exchange smiles.
Astoria still pulled her tongue at her and Blaise, of course, commented. Draco decided to concentrate on his cup of tea.
When she got home, quickly after taking her peppered up tea just in case Astoria really decided to take her out, or so she told herself, Hermione had an owl. Minerva had written, apparently quite disappointed she hadn't come. Or more hadn't warned her she wouldn't.
Draco had kissed her.
She'd have to apologise. By letter though, if she were honest she felt somehow relieved she hadn't had to justify her sudden absence to Minerva. She'd dreaded to have to answer the inevitable questions about her complete disappearance from anything Order related, or the questions the head-mistress would have probably asked about her acquaintances.
Minerva had mentioned her surprise in her response anyway. How was it that she asked to come with Draco, Astoria and Blaise?
The question had probably concerned Draco more than the others though.
Draco had kissed her.
She hadn't pushed him away.
He'd stopped though and apologised.
What had gotten him anyway? Telling her that her hair was pretty. With those sodding cloudy grey eyes fixed on her. Hypnotising frigging …
Alright. Pretty prat. Astoria be damned. Couldn't she just go back to being blinded by their history?
His shirt had been open that morning. He hadn't closed it the whole time she'd been sipping at her tea, the sodding prat! He'd kissed her!
That idiot had kissed her!
Hermione took a deep breath. Stop. She'd had the internal debate that morning already. Right.
They'd been drunk. Seeing the strength of his hungover he hadn't been himself at all. Right.
Plus, he'd been happy for the first time in years probably.
She'd saved his arse. Twice. She'd freed him from that horrific bullshit paper. He'd kissed her because of that. And then realised why he'd done it and stopped.
She hadn't kissed him back anyway. A big fat snort escaped her lips. Who was she kidding … that morning face he had. Shirt still open, hair in a mess falling on his forehead. She'd practically run away from Blaise's, of course she'd have kissed him back!
He was handsome BUT she was lonely and it was just that. He could be as pretty as he liked, looks had never been enough anyway.
And he could be as witty and clever as he liked too she didn't give a damn. Right.
They were friends, weren't they? Were they still?
He hadn't seemed especially awkward that morning but then the huge hangover and how he always managed to guard his face could have fooled her.
Maybe he felt awkward now and wouldn't talk to her anymore.
Maybe now that she'd helped him, he'd forget he ever said he liked her. Her. The way he'd said it that first night. With disgust.
But then he'd apologised, helped her, hadn't wanted her help until being left no other choice. He had to care.
What if he didn't care though?
Maybe she should tell him that she wasn't mad at him or anything.
How desperate would she sound?
But she didn't want things to be awkward between them when they saw each other the next time. Well, if there was a next time now. Shit she hoped there'd be a next time! Wow, where had that come from?
Well, they were friends! Friends saw each other. And a sodding little drunken kiss wouldn't change that. It had been nothing and it didn't change anything. End of the discussion.
Was she seriously telling herself that? She was mad.
But she wouldn't tell him anything and nothing would change, she concluded, with herself, as the mad person she was.
Draco went back to his room as soon as Granger had left, the pepper up slowly dissipating his headache. Bearing with Astoria and Blaise with such a painful blow certainly wasn't a good idea.
Especially since the first thing Blaise had asked when Granger had gone was why he hadn't kissed her goodbye. Blaise had been answered by Draco's banging door.
They'd been eavesdropping the two atrocious perverts!
And he hadn't kissed her goodbye because he didn't want to kiss her!
He'd kissed her last night.
FUCK he'd kissed her.
Granger. Hermione fucking Granger.
Draco sat at his desk, took his face in his hands and groaned, loudly. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. What had happened to lead to that?
Well, she'd come over to help first. Then … They'd broken into the Ministry. Which was a perfectly normal way to spend the day.
What had he expected anyway? Gryffindor eh? Golden trio and all. Reckless.
Anyway.
Then she'd found the way to break the oath, hadn't she? She'd saved his arse.
Damn, she'd saved his arse. He was fucking free.
He was!
And then they'd been drinking.
He'd kissed her.
Shit, he'd kissed Granger.
It was all he could think about now.
He'd kissed Granger. Hermione.
He'd been drunk.
She'd saved his arse.
She hadn't pushed him away.
She'd saved his arse.
She'd been drunk.
She'd told him not to do it again. That stung. But he didn't want to do it again!
It was too much information, the headache was coming back.
She'd been wearing a black tent again. He'd still kissed her.
He'd said he liked her. Sweet Salazar he'd said that!
He'd said he thought they were friends. That wasn't so bad.
He'd told her her hair was pretty. That was really bad.
What the hell was wrong with him? He couldn't even blame it on the alcohol! Her sodding hair was pretty.
But why in hell would he say it?
She was pretty.
And? Astoria was pretty too and he didn't give a damn.
Daphne was pretty for instance. It was not like he cared. Or had kissed her out of nowhere.
Hermione fucking Granger.
He looked at the picture facing him on the desk. That damned dress! Couldn't he just go back to believe she was just a brain?
Wait. When had he opened the desk? He was loosing his shit apparently.
Damn. What was wrong with him?
Hermione Granger. That was what was wrong with him.
Kind, friendly, selfless, compassionate, brilliant.
He liked her. Like being the key word. As friends. Why kiss her then you bloody sodding idiot?
Was it all because she'd found the way to break the oath as she'd suggested? Maybe. Certainly. Although it was more likely to be because she'd been kind. Did he even remember the last time someone had been kind to him?
So what? He kissed the first kind girl he found? And it had to be Hermione Granger! The girl he'd insulted and mocked for years, the forgiving war heroine, the pretty sodding brilliant witch.
Couldn't it be … whoever, Astoria? Err … too sneaky. Blaise's anyway. Although surely only because he hadn't tried.
Daphne? Err … Sherry? He almost gagged. With the stomachache he had, images of hairy moles weren't a good idea.
Hermione Granger. Bushy hair, bullied, muggle-born, resented for a decade, from the other side of the war, tortured under his nose, divorced which implied married at some point to the weasel, (ex-)best friends with Potter, Ministry official, the list was so long of reasons why not that he didn't bother continuing.
Although, all those, weren't good reasons. Her hair was pretty, her big brown eyes too, her birth had never really mattered and it certainly didn't now, she'd been on the right side of the war, she'd divorced the dimwit, Potter was the only reason he was still alive today, her job had helped him recast his company and gain associates that weren't scum, the list was longer.
She was kind, pretty, brilliant, funny, she smiled at him, she'd forgiven him, thought he was a good man, she was his friend.
He wouldn't ruin that. Right. He'd probably ruined that. Shit.
He didn't really deserve her friendship now did he? He'd had it though. And he certainly wouldn't try anything that could have her drift away from him now.
Wait, since when did he care? He didn't.
But still, it bothered him, was she mad he'd kissed her?
She'd looked awkward, that was certain, but she hadn't looked mad. She'd been drunk though.
And that morning Astoria and Blaise had been there, maybe she'd been playing nice and would avoid him now? Surely, he hadn't been able to catch her gaze at all when they'd taken tea and then she'd fled, rather precipitately.
He had to tell her something.
He had to.
Why though?
Because he fucking cared. Nobody heard his thoughts. He could confess that to himself. He cared about her and the very thought of her deciding he wasn't worth her time any more made his stomach lurch. Or maybe it was the alcohol.
Whatever. He had to say something.
Apologise again?
It would probably only make things weirder. It could hurt her feelings too.
Hey Granger don't mind me kissing you, I was so drunk I found you pretty.
Way to go.
A thank you note?
Way to just say without saying it, that he was grateful and her friend. Yes, better than nothing anyway.
Granger, no Hermione, Err. Shit.
Hermione,
Thank you for saving my bloody arse.
LAME.
A gift?
What bloody gift did you give someone who'd just saved your arse from a life trapped in a hell hole?
Err …
What would he write on the card anyway?
It isn't much but since you won't accept my money … What the fuck?
Wait.
Was he really wrecking his brain over Hermione Granger? He, Draco Malfoy? Over Granger's possible will not to see him again?
No, no, no, this wouldn't do. What in Salazar's name was wrong with him? HE DIDN'T CARE!
Draco angrily tossed the bloody Witch Weekly copy to the other end of the room, stood, roughly pushed his chair back against the desk, stomped his foot like a stupid kid throwing tamper tantrums, and decided he didn't bloody give a shit. He shouldn't, wouldn't and that was the end of the fucking story.
He was tired and hungover. Right.
Taking a step to the bed he let himself fall in it, grabbed the wrinkled covers oddly spread at the foot of the bed and covered his face. He didn't give a shit. Let her be mad. Who gave a damn?
What was that smell?
Salazar's fucking beard!
He threw the covers away. Jolted up like a madman, accioed the Witch Weekly copy and forcefully grunted incoherent shite for at least a half hour before taking what had been the obvious decision.
Hermione jumped out of her skin at the loud knock. Something, someone was at her door. The last person coming here had been … Ginny. It couldn't be Ginny though. She had a flash of Nott's livid glare then and bolted out of the couch, unwillingly letting drop the book she'd been trying to read for pleasure. With trembling hands she opened her door warily.
A wizard, obviously, the hat, was carrying flowers.
"Hermione Granger?" He asked with a polite smile. She unclenched her hand around her wand.
"Yes?"
"Those are for you." He said, and handed her the large bouquet.
"Oh. Thank you." He nodded and popped away. Hermione closed the door and frowned, lowering her eyes to the unexpected gift. Had she ever received flowers? Not that she reckoned. And it wasn't just any flowers.
It was white lilies. There was a note. She recognised the neat handwriting before reading it.
Thank you,
for everything.
Draco.
'Draco.'
Hermione carefully put the bouquet in her reparoed vase, which had been broken by his owl, and was left with the short note. She went to her bedroom, and, not really knowing why, opened her desk, retrieved her beaded bag and opened it.
Inside were her mum's favourite scarf, the very few letters from her parents, three medical records, an emergency travel bag containing all she'd need for a week in hiding (yes she was neurotic), the tent they'd slept in during seventh year, a baby jumper, the necklace Ron had given her on their first date, a precious edition of Pride and Prejudice which bookmark was a picture of her with Harry and Ron at the Quidditch world cup before fourth year, the small bracelet her father had given her as a present for attending Hogwarts, the tales of Beedle the bard from Dumbledore which bookmark was also a picture of her with Harry and Ron (in Hagrid's hut, when Hogwarts had just been rebuilt), a first aid kit she'd put together for the war, the congratulation note Mrs Zabini had sent her after the regulations had been passed, and now, Draco's note.
She closed the bag again, put it back in the drawer, and decided not to think about that decision.
A/N: Just to let you know that I published the first chapter of another Dramione called Gradually. Nothing like this one. Hope you liked the chapter, love your reviews. Lucie.