On Tuesday morning Draco received an owl from his mother. He opened it hastily to read her reply.
'Draco. I have been talking to your father as often as his temper will permit.
He remains stubborn. However, he has received word from a friend at the Ministry
about his trip to Hogwarts that apparently quite a few of the children wrote
home to their parents about the incident.
He is eager to fix his image but still cannot forgive you for being with a muggle
born. I will keep trying darling. All I want is for you to be happy and to be at
home with us. Even if that means getting used to the idea of a muggle born
being in your life. I only want what is best for you.
Hoping to hear from you soon, Mum.'
He definitely had his angle, he thought folding up the letter. At least his mother was on his side. She just wanted him to be happy even if that involved Hermione. His mother was much more realistic than his father who allowed his prejudice to get in the way of family ties. His mother had almost lost him once she wasn't going to let it happen again. He was her only son after all.
Draco strolled through the corridor; students were jumping out of his way as he went. Despite being off the market for months he still had girls starring at him everywhere that he went. Once upon a time he loved the attention, now it was just annoying. To his delight Pansy Parkinson ducked into the female toilets when she noticed his approaching to avoid him. She had done everything in her power lately to not talk or look at him. He had to admit that he loved the quiet.
Hermione was walking to class a few metres ahead of him. He quickened pace to join her. He fell into step with her and wrapped his arm around her.
"Good morning beautiful."
"Good morning" she said blushing slightly.
No matter how often Draco complimented her she still blushed. It was one of the many things that attracted him about her.
"I got a letter from my mother" he whispered into her ear. "She is definitely willing to over look blood status for my happiness."
"That's great." She smiled. "What did she say about your father?"
"He is remaining firm but apparently tonnes of kids wrote home about the scene he caused here so now he has to fix his image."
"That is what we were hoping for."
"We are one step closer" he said smiling broadly.
Hermione always loved it when he smiled. Somehow it made him even more handsome, which should have been nearly impossible.
Later that afternoon they were sitting in the library with Ginny and Blaise who were chatting animatedly with each other. Ginny and Blaise were very quickly becoming friends. Hermione noticed that Draco was watching her quietly as she finished her Transfiguration essay. She smiled at him. His face lit up as he leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek.
"What was that for?" she asked him, putting down her quill.
"No reason."
"Mhmm" she said raising her eyebrow.
"I was just thinking how beautiful your concentration face is."
"Is that so?" She was blushing around the ears again. Draco smiled wider and winked at her.
"Do you want to come for a walk with me?"
"Yeah sure. Ginny we are going for a walk. Meet you in the Great Hall for dinner?"
"Sure thing" she replied before returning to her conversation with Blaise.
Professor McGonagall was definitely right. Gryffindor and Slytherin relations seemed to be at an all time high, at least since her time at Hogwarts. She couldn't help but feel proud of what Draco and herself had done for the school. Even if it was completely unintentional. They left the Library and headed down the stairs.
Draco led her out of the front doors and towards the Quidditch Pitch. She could see the Ravenclaw team practicing in the stadium. To her surprise he ushered her into the Slytherin changing room instead of heading toward the stands.
Once inside he sat down on a bench seat and pulled her onto his lap. Without hesitation he started to kiss her, slowly the kisses becoming more desperate. Her arms were around his neck. Her body was tingling all over and butterflies were doing summersaults in her stomach.
Draco started to take off her cloak; without daring to break contact between their lips. Hermione followed his lead and slipped off his cloak. Suddenly he stood up, wrapped her legs around his hips and walked them over to the nearest wall. Her hands were entwined in his hair, his hands resting just below her buttocks.
A knock at the change room door bought them back to reality. Draco's head came to rest on her shoulder as he sighed heavily. Slowly he slid her down his body until her feet came to rest softly on the floor. She sat back down on the bench seat and pulled on her cloak as the knock came again.
"Come in" Draco said irritably.
To both of their surprise Dean Thomas entered the change room, looking awkward.
"Professor McGonagall wanted me to tell you that she wants to see you both in her office at 7pm."
"Thank you Dean."
Dean was looking between the two of them clearly he understood what he had interrupted. He blushed slightly then left the changing room quickly. Draco laughed.
"Get the feeling he knows what we were doing?"
"Definitely. "
Draco walked across the change room, grabbed her at the back of her neck with one hand while kissing her passionately and resting his other hand on her waist. Hermione melted into his grip. She pulled away suddenly to check her watch. Draco kissed her neck, not swayed by her movement at all.
"Draco, it's 6.30, we need to head up to the school or we will be late to see Professor McGonagall."
"Are you sure you want me to stop?" He was pulling her collar aside to kiss lower down her neck and moving toward her collar bone.
There were the butterflies again. "Not at all." She felt him smirk into her collar bone. "But I don't want to deal with the wrath of Professor McGonagall."
Reluctantly he pulled away from her and grabbed his cloak off the changing room floor.
When they entered the headmistress's office it was empty, so they took a seat and waited for her to arrive. The door opened, Professor McGonagall walked across the room and took her seat behind the desk.
"Now, Mr. Malfoy. I received an owl from your father today."
Draco raised his eyebrows in surprised. "What?"
"Your father wants to arrange a meeting with you. According to his letter he has had a change of heart and wishes to repair the damage that he has caused with your relationship."
Draco starred at her silently. He knew that it was purely for his public images sake and that it was exactly what they were planning to do. However he was still very weary. His father was very cunning.
"Of course, if you don't wish to attend such a meeting..."
"No it's not that," Draco interrupted. "I just want to make sure that Hermione is out of harm's way."
"Mr. Malfoy has already been informed of the parameters of his re-entry to school grounds. I also recommend that Miss Granger remains in Gryffindor Tower at the time of the meeting. Just in case things do not go as planned." She rested her chin on her folded hands. "Mr. Malfoy, I recommend that you meet in the safety of this office, while under my supervision."
"I agree."
"I will write to your father and inform him that you wish to meet him. I will make it for tomorrow at 5pm."
"Do you mind if inform him Headmistress?"
"Be my guest. That is all, you may go. Oh and Miss Granger, I expect you to remain in the Gryffindor tower from 4.30pm until someone comes to get you. Understood?"
"Yes Professor."
They left the office quietly. Draco grabbed Hermione's hand as they walked along the corridor.
"What do you think the chance of this meeting going well is?"
"Considering it is your father, 50-50."
"Yeah, but hey, I didn't have to reach out first so that is always a plus."
"Just promise me you will be careful."
"Of course. Besides I will be with Professor McGonagall; so if he decides to lose his nut then I have some strong back up."
