Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter's characters, though the story is my own.

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Chapter 4: Pastries

Draco was pacing at his office, had just finished posting a letter to his son, his pride and joy that boy. He remembered the first time he held him in his arms, so very tiny for being premature. He had grabbed his finger with his little hand and had what seemed like a smile on his face. How come something so little could make him feel so complete and in love?

And now his boy was heading to his years in Hogwarts. He was terrified of Scorpius making his same mistakes. Granted, there were no more Dead Eaters… yet Dark wizards calling themselves the "New Dark Lords" were up in the Prophet practically every other week. He feared for his boy. He only hoped that Scorpius hadn't inherited his cowardice.

Draco had owned up to everything he had or hadn't done during those terrible years. He had married a lovely woman and had a beautiful son. He had burnt Malfoy Manor to the ground and built an orphanage in its place, much to his father's discomfort. He had given his mother and his now ex-wife the management of The Severus Snape Foundation he had put together, that helped hundreds of orphaned children as well as helping wizards that had lost everything at war. He had stood up to his father and had spent the last 20 years cleaning up their names.

He wanted Scorpius to be the good man he had chosen not to be all those years ago. But it wasn't late for his son; he was just starting to live. Then he remembered brushing away Hermione's tears, how soft and warm her skin felt… Maybe it wasn't too late for him either.

He shook his head. He couldn't Slytherin his way into her life. Well, he could, but he won't. He would help her being happy again; she was so beautiful when she smiled. If the red weasel was her happiness, he'd do everything to be a supporting friend to her. Now if they let's say divorced… well, that was a different story.

He poured more coffee in his mug. Coffee. Cars. Tailored suits. Forensics. Hermione Granger. Those were his favorite muggle things, though not necessarily in that order. He closed his eyes and let the smell of coffee take over his senses, taking a small sip with his eyes closed.

He remembered the awful thing she had said about Scorpius then.

A slow knock on the door made him come back to reality. "Come in" the door opened slowly and a small hand holding a brown bag with pastries appeared. Then a bunch of rather undone curls followed and he had to repress the smirk. He crossed his arms over his chest by the time Hermione's face was popping out of the door "Éclairs were your favorites, right?" He nodded "Is this a pathetic attempt at an apology Granger?" She came in when his smirk gave him away.

"It is. I'm sorry" he gestured her to sit down. "I can't, I need to take some papers to Harry's office and then go to court and" she sighed stressed "You need a better assistant, that's what you need" she rolled her eyes "Lavender's a werewolf now, no one would hire her. I can't fire her, and she's not that bad really"

He cleared his throat "Tom!" a young blond man, barely out of his Hogwarts days as a Hufflepuff came in "Yes Mr. Malfoy?" he signaled to the papers on Hermione's hand. "Could you please take those to Mr. Potter's office? And ask him at what time he'll be meeting us for lunch. Thank you Tom"

The young man nodded getting the papers, much to Hermione's displease. He closed the door behind him and she came near Malfoy. "Are you still planning to do that lunch thing?" Draco nodded while going over some papers "Yes, we have children in Hogwarts, he needs my department as much as I need his brute force one, so, why not? Plus, we're both friends of yours"

A small smile came to her lips "Friends?" He looked at her "Well, I'd like to think so"

"Does that mean that you forgive me? I'm really sorry. Really, I should've never"-

"It's okay Hermione, really. You've had a tough weekend, that's all" he said that last part moving one of her locks of hair from her face and tugging it behind her ear. She gave him a small half smile, taking a deep breath.

What was going on here? Could it be possible that she, that Hermione Granger Weasley was feeling something for Draco Malfoy? Draco. Malfoy. Slytherin, former Dead Eater Draco Malfoy. Divorced Draco Malfoy. She mentally tried to shake those thoughts away, she couldn't do this, not now. He was being a nice coworker no, a nice friend and she was just projecting in him many feelings that weren't there with Ron anymore.

Feelings that weren't there with Ron anymore. She was pale and needed to sit down. "Hermione? Want me to get you a glass of water? A healer? Are you alright?"

She nodded slowly looking straight at his eyes. She had never noticed that in the sunlight his grey eyes were slightly darker. "I'm fine, I didn't sleep much last night, my blood pressure probably dropped" he rushed to the pastries and gave her one "Here" then he grabbed his mug of coffee, poured more and added an extra amount of sugar. "I'm sorry I don't have milk here, but this should help" he squatted next to her with the mug of coffee, ready to catch her if she got even dizzier.

She kept staring at his eyes that were now at the same level as hers. She looked confused, overwhelmed, tired… He decided to leave the coffee mug and take the half eaten pastry from her hand and helped her up "What do you say if I take you to the Healers on the 3rd and you rest there for a while?"

When she got up, she was dizzy again and he caught her by her waist. She was almost as tall as he was with her heels and she smelled so good and looked so fragile right now, he couldn't help brushing her cheek with his free hand "Hermione, let's"-

Before he could finish the sentence she had pressed her lips against his, her hand in the nape of his neck. He had waited so long for this to happen… but this was wrong, not like this, not like this.

She tasted like chocolate pastries and cherries and even when their tongues joined the kiss it kept being slow, soft… endearing. It was passionate yes, but it showed feelings deeper than lust. Neither seemed to want the kiss to end and it feel so fine having his hands running through her back and mixed with her curly hair and her own hands were running slowly through the sides of his body. The wanting in him was taking over and he just wanted to push her against the desk and make love to her right there, for hours…

He pulled away, biting her lower lip and looked straight into her eyes. Both of his hands were on her neck now and she wasn't moving. She feared what he saw in his eyes. This was wrong, she wasn't like this. And his eyes... those grey eyes weren't saying "I want to shag you senseless", no. Well, they were saying that too… but there were feelings there. Feelings she was terrified of facing. Feelings she was terrified of owning up to as well.

"I'm- I'm sorry Draco. I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry" she looked down and he let go of her face, clearing his throat "I have no idea what you're talking about Mrs Granger-Weasley" she thanked him and started to walk towards the door.

When she was about to leave he stopped her and gave her a little card and her half-eaten pastry. "You finish that on the way to your office and here- that was our marriage counselor. We were beyond saving but I'm sure Dr. Saltzman could help you. Just remember to talk to each other, alright? Communication is key to any relationship" She nodded.

"Though, if you could avoid mentioning this little incident, I'll be much obliged" She took a deep breath "I won't. Thanks- for everything" she kissed him on his cheek and walked away, without looking back.

He watched her walked to her room, hopeful that she'd turn around and run towards him. Idiot. He came back to his office and slammed the door shut.

Now you have to be the honorable man, don't you? You are a stupid moron Draco Malfoy, he doesn't deserve her. That Weasel doesn't fucking deserve her.

All the good feelings that filled his chest not five minutes ago were replaced by anger towards Ron, towards Hermione and most of all, towards himself. You can't do this, she doesn't feel this way, she just had an argument with her husband and you were there comforting her. She has no feelings for you. And why would she? You were standing next to her when she was being fucking tortured and did nothing to spare her. She'll never love you like you do.

She'll never love you.

Tom came back to his desk only to hear how his boss smashed a mug on a wall. He knew that not many people would agree with him, but he felt sorry for the guy.