Chapter Twenty-Six
It was the first of September. Draco was sitting in the last compartment of the Hogwarts Express, waiting for Hermione and whoever else was returning to Hogwarts that year. He stared out window, gazing at all of the young students, some of whom he recognized from his years at Hogwarts.
He didn't know any of their names, though. He never bothered to get to know anybody unless they would help him.
Aside from last year, he had never felt how he felt today. He was always so confident and intimidating. Now, he worried about going to Hogwarts, about sitting and living amongst the Slytherins. It became pretty widespread over the summer, especially after his infamous arrest, that Draco did, in fact, help Harry Potter defeat Voldemort. Draco wasn't sure how the Slytherins would take to him. If they were still followers of Voldemort even though he died.
It also became pretty widespread that Draco Malfoy was dating Hermione Granger.
Draco found himself wishing that he hadn't told his mother he would return to Hogwarts to finish his studies. To follow in Uncle Ted's footsteps. If only he had taken Harry's offer to become an Auror, too. But Draco didn't want to be an Auror. He never had a desire to be an Auror, not even during his year with the Gryffindors.
"Hermione's outside, saying goodbye to her parents, Draco," Ginny Weasley said, opening the compartment's door.
Draco turned to look at her and nodded in response. Over the summer, the two of them became friends. It was hard not to get close to her since she and Harry were dating and Harry was pretty much in Draco's family now. It had been a weird summer for Draco, the happiest that he could remember. His mother kept true to her word and she, Andromeda, Teddy, and Draco became a family. One that included Draco's childhood nemesis.
Harry wanted to have a connection with his godson and accepted Andromeda's invitation earlier in the summer to go over to the house whenever he wanted. He found it a bit strange and very liberating to come and go wherever and whenever he wanted. Draco helped him officially move into Grimmauld Place, though Harry didn't have very many belongings and the Black house was already full of furniture and other things. They spent a week there, trying to make the house livable and brighter.
Draco spent a lot of time over the summer with Hermione, too. They spent the summer getting closer to one another and often spent a lot of time in the park, baby-sitting Teddy and talking about books, magic, and life, in general.
And with every passing moment, Draco's love for Hermione grew.
He craved her voice, her smile, her scent every single day. He loved talking to her, he loved arguing with her, but most of all, he loved being with her. He loved the way she looked when she was figuring something out, the way her eyes intensely gazed at a page when she was reading, and the way she had a natural motherly instinct toward Teddy.
And Teddy, he loved Teddy with every fiber of his being. The boy was growing up, faster and faster each day. He was walking now and even tried to climb on Draco's broom to play Quidditch. Teddy reminded Draco a lot of Nymphadora, from the short time that they had known each other. He was playful and laughed a lot, constantly changing his hair to make the others around him laugh. Draco noticed that his favourite hair color was turquoise blue and it often went back to that color when Teddy was unconscious and asleep. He had his mother's natural powers, but Teddy looked a lot like his father.
Draco walked out of the train and headed for Hermione and her parents. "Mr. and Mrs. Granger, it's nice to see you again," he said with a smile.
Hermione's mother gave him a quick smile and her father clapped a hand to his shoulder. Hermione's father took to Draco very well over the summer. Draco supposed it was his gratefulness of his participation in finding them. It took awhile for Hermione's mother to get over her dislike of Draco. Hermione constantly brought him over her house, trying to spend as much time as she could with them and him. She also wanted her mother to love Draco as much as she did. It was finally during mid-August when it seemed that she had begun to like him.
It was Hermione's mother's birthday and Hermione's father invited Draco and his mother to celebrate with them at a fancy Muggle restaurant in downtown London. He wanted to meet Draco's mother since he could see how serious his daughter was about Draco. During the dinner, Draco was horribly nervous. But his mother seemed to instantly bond with Hermione's mother. They discussed many things—fashion, medicine, politics, and their children. Draco didn't even know that his mother kept up with Muggle news. Hermione later told him that her mother couldn't stop raving about him and Narcissa afterward. Especially after Narcissa told her that Draco wanted to be a Healer, the Muggle equivalent of a doctor in her world.
"Draco, my boy! How are you?" Hermione's father asked.
"I'm doing very well, sir," he answered.
"Excited to start the new school year?"
Draco shook his head. "Not so much." He shrugged. "School's school, I guess," he said with a smile. He leaned forward and kissed Mrs. Granger on the cheek. "How are you? My mother quite enjoyed the sugar-free cheesecake you sent. She and my aunt couldn't stop eating it."
"Oh, I'll be sure to send her the recipe if she enjoyed it that much."
Draco nodded. "She would like that."
The whistle blew, signaling a minute till the train left.
"You kids better hurry!" Hermione's father said, giving Hermione a last-minute hug. He clapped a hand to Draco's shoulder.
"I'll write you when we get there, Mum!" Hermione said, rushing forward to give her mother a kiss.
"Stay out of trouble, you two," she said, giving Hermione and Draco a kiss on the cheek. She gave them both a hug.
"We will," Draco promised. He and Hermione hurried to the nearest train door and jumped on. They went to the last compartment and waved to the Grangers as the train pulled away.
Draco led Hermione to the last compartment of the train where he had already placed his things. He saw that it was nearly full of others—other "eighth-years" who wanted to return to Hogwarts to properly test for their N.E.W.T.s: Neville Longbottom, Hannah Abbot, Parvati and Padma Patil, and Ernie Macmillan.
Hermione greeted each of them warmly, while Draco took his time settling into the compartment. He exchanged a small smile and nod with Neville and avoided looking at the others. He wasn't sure how they would take to him. He never really spoke to any of them unless it was to throw insults or swear words at them.
"You guys all remember Draco, right?" Hermione asked, taking a seat next to him and pointing up at him.
Parvati, Padma, and Hannah looked at Draco warily. Neville grinned at him and Ernie merely gave him a nod.
"Malfoy," he said formally. He looked at Hermione and Hannah. "Do you think any of us will be given our duties as prefects back?"
Hermione shrugged. "I don't know. There was nothing in the letter from Professor McGonagall when she offered us a space back at Hogwarts."
"I can't believe they fixed the castle," said Parvati. "Supposedly, everything's all fixed up."
"Hey guys!" Ginny's bouncing voice entered the room. She grinned at everyone in the room. Her Head Girl badge glinted brightly on her robes. "McGonagall sent an owl ahead to let me tell you all something." She waved a piece of parchment at them and sat down next to Neville. "She wants you all to go straight to the room off to the left of the Great Hall and meet with you as soon you arrive."
Hermione nodded. "Thanks Ginny. Do you know what it's about?"
Ginny shook her head. "No. But she also said that none you would be handling any prefect duties this year."
Ernie and Hermione glanced at each other anxiously.
"Well, maybe if we could talk to her," said Ernie, "she'll let us have them back…"
Draco looked out the window, eager to get off the train. Hermione noticed his discomfort and took his hand.
"You all right?" she asked.
Draco nodded, but didn't say anything. He didn't want to say anything in front of the others about his worries at returning to Hogwarts, especially since he wasn't necessarily on speaking terms with any of them aside from Neville and Ginny.
"So, Malfoy," said Ernie, "What brings you back to Hogwarts?"
Draco glanced at him with a disinterested look. "What brings you back?" he snapped.
Hermione shot him a warning glance. She raised an eyebrow.
"Sorry," he quickly replied to her. "My mother wanted me to finish my education." He didn't dare say anything about his future dreams of becoming a Healer.
Ernie looked at him questioningly. He decided against speaking more to him and engaged Hannah, Parvati, and Padma in a conversation.
"I've got to go," said Ginny. "Head Girl duties. I'll catch up to you later!"
Draco barely nodded to her as she left. He continued to stare outside the window. Hermione looked at him in concern, but seemed to understand his need to close himself off for now. She rubbed his arm in a caring way and he smiled gratefully at her before continuing to look out the window.
When the Hogwarts Express finally stopped at Hogsmeade, Draco followed the others out slowly. Hermione took her time gathering her things, waiting until the compartment emptied out. She readjusted her school robes and stowed her wand in her sleeve.
"Draco, your robes. You have to put them on!" she said, getting ready to open his trunk.
"I haven't worn the school robes since fifth year. I'm not going to start now." He gestured down to his black suit. You don't like this?"
Hermione looked at him up and down, giving him a smile torn between disapproval and amusement. She shook her head. "What will McGonagall say?"
"How about 'nice to see you back at Hogwarts, Mr. Malfoy?'"
Hermione punched him. "Shut it, Malfoy," she said before slamming the compartment door behind her.
Draco laughed and followed her closely off the train. They looked around the station and saw a number of students following Hagrid down one way. A larger group of students headed towards the carriages. Hermione took his hand and followed that group of students.
"I guess Neville and the rest of them left already," she said, somewhat disappointed. "We were all supposed to meet McGonagall before the feast."
"Oh well," Draco replied, sounding a little too happy. "Guess we get a carriage to ourselves."
Hermione glanced at him and shook her head. She turned her back to the carriages to try and give him one final punch, but he dodged her punch and ran around to the front of the carriage. Hermione ran after him, but jumped back at the sight of the large, reptilian animal in front of her.
"Oh!" she called.
"What?" asked Draco, coming back around the carriage. He stood next to her, facing the thestral. "Haven't you seen it before?"
Hermione shook her head, speechless. She gazed at the foreign-looking animal with wide eyes.
"But you remember these, right? We learned them in—"
"Fifth year. I remember."
"So, what's wrong?"
Hermione burst into tears. "This is the first time I've seen them."
Draco immediately put his arms around Hermione. If she saw them, that meant that she had seen death. And she never saw it before, so it was shocking to her.
Hermione wiped her face. "Sorry, I—"
"It's all right, baby. Let's just get in, all right?" He kissed the top of her head.
Hermione nodded and let Draco lead her into the back of the carriage.
"When was the first time you saw one?" she asked.
"When we got back for sixth year. I had become a Death Eater during that summer. The summer after my father got locked up in Azkaban for the thing in the Ministry of Magic."
Hermione nodded. "Who—did you know who—"
"No," Draco answered. He pulled her close and rubbed her shoulder. "They were—they were a…a Muggle family…"
Hermione nodded and laid her head against his chest. She wiped her eyes again. "Are you all right?" she asked. "You looked like you had something on your mind back on the train."
"Yeah…" he answered. "I'm fine. I just—I'm kind of afraid to go back to Hogwarts. I…this is the first time that I didn't really want to go back. I mean, I'm the only Slytherin coming back. They all know what I did. That I'm dating you. How will they react to me coming back?"
"But the war's over. Voldemort lost. What is there to gain from making fun of Mudbloods and—"
"Prejudices run deep, Hermione. I can guarantee that the majority of the Slytherin house still think Voldemort had the right idea. That purebloods should rule over all other types of magical people."
"But you don't."
"I know. But none of them actually became Death Eaters. They all think that the whole thing is all fun and games. I used to! That's why I treated you the way that I did."
Hermione fell silent, knowing Draco spoke the truth. "I just…why can't everyone see that with Voldemort gone, we have a chance at a better life?"
"Because some people don't. All the Death Eaters, their kids, their families. I know them, I grew up with them. And it looks like I just up and betrayed them. And now I'm dating you."
"Are you ashamed of dating me?"
"Of course not, Hermione." Draco's voice sounded a little hurt. "You know I'm not. I just…I don't want to go back to Slytherin…I don't want to face them."
"Maybe McGonagall will let you—"
Draco laughed. "Yeah right."
Hermione threw up her arms. "Well, you just have to be brave—"
"Uh, Hermione? You're brave. You're a Gryffindor. I'm a Slytherin. I look out for myself and my own."
"Draco, you have to stop thinking in terms of the Houses! Just because we were placed there when we were younger doesn't mean that we're still the same people we were when we were eleven! The Houses were just another way to divide the school and look how great that turned out to be. The choices that you've made in the last year and a half showed you to be a bigger person than House rivalries. Abide by that, Draco! If you didn't, you and I wouldn't be sitting here right now. We wouldn't have had one of the best summers of the my life! We wouldn't even be dating! We—"
Draco leaned down and kissed her. Hermione stopped talking at once and returned the kiss hungrily. She ran her fingers through his hair and pushed him closer to her.
"Ahem."
Draco and Hermione jumped away from each other and looked out of the carriage. Professor Flitwick stood there, somewhat awkwardly, looking as if he'd rather be elsewhere.
"The Sorting Hat ceremony is ready to begin and Professor McGonagall was looking for the last two returning eighth-years," he said, looking at the ground.
"Right—sorry, Professor," Hermione said, turning pink the face. She hastily wiped her lips and jumped out of the carriage.
Draco smirked and jumped out of the carriage after Hermione. He picked up the rest of their things and followed Hermione and Professor Flitwick up toward the castle.
Professor Flitwick directed them into the Great Hall to head to the room. Draco remembered the room that Flitwick gestured to. It was the one that all of the Triwizard Tournament champions had gone to back in his fourth year. He remembered burning with jealously when Harry was somehow chosen to be a champion.
He and Hermione entered the Great Hall, hand in hand, and walked past a number of first-years who were gazing at the enchanted ceiling in wonder. They walked down along the middle of the hall, between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables.
"Blood traitor!" hissed a voice from the Slytherin table as Draco and Hermione passed by.
Hermione squeezed his hand reassuringly.
"Mudblood-lover!" whispered another voice.
"Just ignore them," Hermione whispered. She quickly led him to the room and shut the door behind them.
"Oh, good, Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy have arrived," Professor McGonagall said, gesturing around.
Neville, Hannah, Parvati, Padma, and Ernie were sitting on chairs and a sofa. McGonagall stood before them, in front of a fireplace.
"Please, take a seat," she said, gesturing to the last remaining open spots. Draco and Hermione took a seat where McGonagall directed them. Draco leaned back in the chair and draped an arm around Hermione, stroking her shoulder with his thumb.
"I just wanted to say that it is very admirable of you all to return to Hogwarts to complete your N.E.W.T.s. After the things that we have all gone through last year, I would like to commend you for wanting to return. The seven of you are the only ones who responded affirmatively to returning to Hogwarts and I would just like to extend my thanks to you all. It brings me great joy that you all care about your education as much as I do."
Hermione sat up straighter and Draco smirked. He rubbed her back.
Ernie raised a hand and spoke. "Professor, Ginny Weasley told us that we were relieved of our prefect duties. Is there any way that we can have them back? Some of us were prefects before."
McGonagall shook her head. "Your class has gone through some of the worst things that anyone has gone through. And I do not wish to place a heavier burden on you." She looked around the room, gazing meaningfully at each of them. "Any of you." She clapped her hands together. "Besides, in order to pass your exams, you're going to need every spare second to study.
"You are all of age, therefore, special privileges will be given to you under these unusual circumstances. You will be allowed to visit Hogsmeade during nights and weekends, but you must return to the castle by midnight."
Hermione smiled. "A bit like Cinderella, right, Professor?" She giggled to herself.
Everyone looked at Hermione in confusion.
"Never mind," she said softly, a little embarrassed.
"As I was saying, your curfew will be midnight. There will be no wandering the halls after hours, the same usual rules apply. You will, under no circumstances, allow a younger student to go to Hogsmeade with you, unless it is a school-sanctioned Hogsmeade weekend."
Neville and Draco exchanged a smile. Parvati, Padma, and Hannah squealed in excitement.
"You will still remember all the school rules and conduct yourselves with the utmost behavior that is worthy of this school. Any rule-breaking and you will all be subjected to the regular school rules."
"It's all right, Professor," said Draco dryly. "Potter and Weasley aren't here to sneak out every night."
She looked at him with thin lips. He could've sworn there was a trace of a smile on her face.
"Also, since there are so few of you and all of the dormitories in your respective Houses are full, the teachers and I have decided to place the seven of you in a special dormitory. It is located near the statue of the one-eyed witch with a hump. The painting of Sir Cadogan will be your guardian. The password is 'unity.'"
McGonagall looked at all of them and gave them a real smile this time.
"I can't describe how much it pleases me to see that all four Houses of Hogwarts are duly represented and have come together."
Draco leaned into Hermione. "She's talking about me," he whispered. She shot him a look that told him to be quiet.
"There is one more thing," she said. "Since you are all of age, I know that none of you particularly want to be here, especially when you can be out doing actual jobs. Therefore, the Ministry and the teachers have decided to bump the N.E.W.T.s to December, the week before the holidays since you should all technically be out of school. I will give you all your class schedules, but you will not follow the same class schedules that the other seventh-years have. So, not all nights will be filled with Hogsmeade visits. I expect a lot of studying to be done so that you will all be able to pass by December. If you do not pass, then you, if you choose to continue, will finish out the rest of the school year and take the N.E.W.T.s at the end of the school year with the current seventh-years.
"Since I have already spoken to everyone except for Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy, you are all excused and welcomed to join the feast. If not, you can proceed to your common room. During meal times, you may sit at your House tables or take your meals in your common room. I daresay the next four months will be another trying time, but thankfully, for another reason. I expect you all to be ready and willing to learn and to help out with the younger students if need be. You will have access to the Prefects' bathroom." She smiled at all of them. "Now, you may go."
Chairs scraped and the sofa creaked as Neville, Parvati, Padma, Hannah, and Ernie left the room. Hermione looked expectantly up at McGonagall and Draco started to look around the room, curious at all the instruments. He had never been in this room before.
Hermione put a hand on Draco's knee. "At least you don't have to worry about your House problem now."
Draco gave her a slight nod.
"House problem?" asked McGonagall. "What House problem?"
"Nothing," Draco replied.
"Hm. Well, I'm glad you're both here," McGonagall said. "I wished to speak to both of you."
She took a seat across from them and looked as if she wasn't sure how she could or if she should continue.
"Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy, I don't think I ever thanked either of you for your roles in the Wizarding War. So I would just like to extend my thanks and gratitude to you both." She took a deep breath. "Mr. Malfoy…I'm sorry about your father—"
"I'm not—"
"and your cousins. I—Kingsley told me that you were close to Nymphadora and Remus Lupin."
Draco didn't move. He barely nodded at her.
"I'm most concerned about the two of you. I'm pleased to hear that you both seemed to have moved past any childhood rivalries or House differences and I'm glad that you are both here. Out of all of the returning eighth-years, the War probably had the greatest effect on the pair of you. If either of you need any help at all, please do not hesitate to ask.
Now, I'd like to discuss your upcoming subjects for the next four months. It will be extremely difficult and again, you can ask me or any other teacher for help. Ms. Granger, you expressed interest in a number of different areas. Since our last correspondence, have you chosen a direction?"
Draco snorted. "Yeah right," he said under his breath.
Hermione elbowed him. "I haven't quite decided yet…"
"All right, that is not a problem, however, I do implore you to choose fast and as soon as possible. I do have the list of subjects you wish to study. Now, Mr. Malfoy, you've expressed interest in becoming a Healer."
Draco nodded.
"All right," McGonagall looked over a piece of parchment paper that had Draco's name at the top of it. "In order to be accepted as a Healing Trainee at St. Mungo's, you will need to receive no less than an 'Exceeding Expectations' in Charms, Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, and Defence Against the Dark Arts. Again, Professors Flitwick, Slughorn, and Sprout are available to help you at any time. The new Transfiguration teacher, Professor Hestia Jones is also very willing to help you all out. She was a member of the Order of the Phoenix and a very able successor to my favorite subject, in particular. The new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor—"
"Can't I just learn from Harry Potter?" Draco nudged Hermione. "Didn't he teach all of them how to pass their O.W.L.s?"
McGonagall's lips thinned. "Whichever way you choose to learn, you must strive to pass your exams by December."
"So that is a yes to Potter?"
"Do not give me cheek, Malfoy," McGonagall said sternly. "I did not tolerate before and I will not tolerate it now."
Draco mumbled a 'sorry.' Hermione shot him a disapproving glance.
"Now, is there any particular department you wish to specialize in?"
Draco glanced at Hermione and gently grabbed her left arm. He stroked her 'Mudblood' scar through her robes. "Um, Spell Damage?"
McGonagall nodded in approval. "Very well, Mr. Malfoy."
"Professor, my subjects?" Hermione asked.
"You couldn't go wrong with taking the core subjects. And knowing you, Ms. Granger, you will strive for an 'Outstanding' in each of your subjects."
Hermione smiled smugly and Draco shook his head and rolled his eyes.
Now, House problem?" asked McGonagall again. "What House problem did you speak of?"
"Nothing," Draco said standing up. He stood up and took Hermione's hand. "Can we leave now, Professor? I'm sure Ms. Granger here is eager to put together a study schedule for us all."
Hermione lightly shoved Draco from behind. McGonagall nodded and smiled at the two of them.
"Yes, you both may leave."
It took them five minutes to walk to their new common room. Draco followed Hermione through the painting after giving the password. They walked in and found Neville, Ernie, Parvati, Padma, and Hannah sitting in armchairs around the fireplace.
The Hogwarts symbol was above the fireplace. Hangings of red and gold, green and silver, blue and bronze, and yellow and brown were all around.
"Mind if we join you?" asked Hermione, pulling Draco into a seat next to her.
Neville shook his head. "Not at all, Hermione." He gestured around. "Looks good, huh? Almost like the old Room of Requirement. How'd it go with McGonagall? What subjects are you taking?"
Hermione listed down their subjects. "I'm quite nervous that the exams will be in December. We've already lost so much time! We've got to start studying now!"
Ernie nodded. "I think we'll need to have at least five hours of studying a day. I'm sure we can fit in two hours in the morning and three in the afternoon after classes. We can even pop over to The Three Broomsticks and study there. I'm sure Madame Rosmerta wouldn't mind."
Draco rolled his eyes. "The school year just started, can't we ease into it?"
Neville, Parvati, Padma, and Hannah nodded in agreement. Hermione bit her lip and looked around. "Erm—I suppose we could just use tonight as our break, but we need to get studying tomorrow. We can use our Fridays or Saturdays to test one another. Good thing we're all pretty much taking the same subjects."
Ernie shook his head. "I think I'll just go on and get a head start. I'll see you all tomorrow, all right?" He nodded to them and went up to the boys' dormitory.
"Oh, Draco, we left the bed near the window open for you. Your things are there already," Neville said, taking a swig of butterbeer.
Draco nodded. "Thanks Neville."
"No problem." Neville looked around. "We've all got to stick together, don't we? Us old students." He chuckled and looked at Hermione. "Passing the exams by December? I'm going to need all the help I could get."
"Don't worry, Neville," reassured Hermione. "I'll help you. We'll all help each other, right, Draco?" She elbowed him.
Draco nodded. "Yeah, of course." He glanced around at Parvati, Padma, and Hannah's dumbfounded faces before remembering that he was never civil to them. Guess it's time to start. It seemed like they were all going to be spending a lot of time with one another. At least he didn't have to go back and forth to the Slytherin common room by himself. He didn't think he would be able to face them, especially after some Slytherins had already called him a blood traitor and a Mudblood-lover.
Two weeks passed and the seven eighth-years settled into a routine. Neville and Hermione appointed themselves as leaders of the small group and everyone routinely followed. Padma, Parvati, Hannah, Ernie, Neville, and Hermione often went down to the Great Hall for meals while Draco preferred to either stay in the common room or eat in the kitchens amongst the house-elves. He didn't spend much time out of the common room unless it was to go to the library or any of his classes.
Since they didn't follow the normal class schedule, the teachers met with them for hours at a time discussing and going over the things that they needed to know for the N.E.W.T.s. Professor Flitwick kept them for a particularly long time, not letting them go until they all successfully performed the Disillusionment Charm. During this particular class, Draco finally beat Hermione in something, but stayed until they all successfully performed it.
Hermione noticed that Draco confined himself to the common room and refused to interact with anyone outside of the eighth-years and Ginny and Luna. She didn't bring it up at first, hoping Draco would come to her on his own time. She also tried to let it go, seeing Draco befriend, for lack of a better word, Neville, Ernie, Parvati, Padma, and Hannah. Of course, none of them really had a choice but to get close to one another since they were in such close quarters with one another. They were already worked ragged, trying to study for the exams that seemed right around the corner, and formed a study group with one another. Hermione did, in fact, make a study schedule after the first night and surprisingly, everyone abided by it.
One Saturday morning, Draco woke up early and waited for Hermione at the foot of the steps leading to the girls' dormitory. Usually, he was the last one awake to avoid going to the Great Hall for breakfast.
"Morning, Draco!" Parvati exclaimed, bounding down the stairs. Padma and Hannah followed close behind, giving him a smile. "Hermione's right behind us."
Draco nodded and continued to wait. He acknowledged Ernie and Neville, gesturing to them as they headed out of the portrait door and ignoring their surprised looks at being up so early. He heard footsteps emerge from the girls' room and stood in front of the stairs, blocking Hermione's exit.
"I miss you," he said seeing her face at the top of the stairs.
Hermione smiled. "I miss you, too." She beckoned him up the stairs. "Come and get me."
Draco narrowed his eyes. "You know very well I can't."
"But McGonagall and Flitwick made this room. Maybe they changed the rules."
"I'm not going to try."
Hermione smirked. "Who says I'm going to come down?"
Draco held up a piece of toast. "I have food."
"All right, you've convinced me." Hermione bounded down the stairs and kissed Draco deeply. "I have missed you. I miss having you to myself."
"And I miss having you to myself. You know how much it sucks sharing you with all of them?"
Hermione nodded. "Yes. I have to share you with all of them, too."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Do you want to have breakfast outside?"
"Sure."
Five minutes later, Draco and Hermione sat down near the lake, under the large tree. Draco unwrapped a few pieces of toast and gave Hermione some bacon.
"Which house-elf do you have wrapped around your finger?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"None. They all hate me for getting my food myself."
Hermione smiled. "I never should've told you where the kitchens were. Why do you avoid the Great Hall, Draco?"
"Just come right out and ask me then, babe."
"I waited for you to come to me. You haven't, so now I'm asking you."
Draco looked out onto the lake and took a bite of his toast. "They call me a blood traitor. A Mudblood-lover. It takes so much from me to not curse them on the spot."
"Tell McGonagall."
"No. I'm not going to give them the satisfaction of getting to me."
"So hiding in the common room will?"
"Hermione, Kingsley warned me to not get into trouble. He told me I had to keep my nose clean here, especially after what happened in sixth year. He said that the school governors know I helped you guys, but they still didn't want me to come back because of the cursed necklace and the poisoned mead. They refused to let me in. McGonagall, Flitwick, and Hagrid all protested and the governors finally agreed to let me come back. If I see any of them in halls or the corridors or even in the Great Hall and I hear what they say about you, I will not hesitate to curse them into oblivion. I don't even care what they call me, but they still call you a Mudblood."
"Why didn't you tell me they wouldn't let you in?"
Draco shrugged. "I'm still ashamed of it, I guess."
"You have nothing to be ashamed of with me."
"I know."
They fell silent for a bit, chewing their food.
"You've got to face them, you know. Don't let them see that they got to you. Is it only the Slytherins?"
Draco nodded. "Yeah, and a couple of Ravenclaws. All younger years. I think the sixth and seventh year Slytherins kind of know what happened during the war. They know that they've lost. Some of their parents were found guilty as Death Eaters, so they've got to stay clean, too."
"Have you spoken to them?"
"No. None of them."
"People are always going to say something, baby. They're not going to like me or like you. And the Slytherins are really not going to like me and you together. For six years, you've been their leader, their Slytherin 'King.' And now you're here dating a Mudblood? Helping Harry Potter defeat the Dark Lord?"
"Don't call yourself a Mudblood. Your blood is worth more than theirs."
"Who cares, Draco? I certainly don't. I know that I am a witch. You love me in spite of how you grew up and who my parents are. That's all that matters, baby. Who cares about what they think? Come December, you're probably never going to see them again. You're probably not even going to recognize any of them. Why give them such power over you?"
Draco didn't say anything. He looked out onto the lake and threw bits of his toast at the giant squid. "I don't know," he said softly. "I just wish it were summer and it was just you and me again. And Teddy."
"I do, too," Hermione said putting her head on his shoulder. She wrapped an arm around his waist and kissed his cheek. "But time moves on with or without us. We only have to run and catch up with it."
Winding down now, but it's not over yet! Please review & let me know what you think!