Hermione came home from her optometry appointment and a series of errands to a seemingly empty house. Not hungry enough for lunch quite yet, she figured she would check-in on Draco and then maybe drag him out to the backyard with some books and lemonade.

Her first stop was her bedroom, across the hall from Draco's, where she changed from her sensible corduroys and rose coloured blouse to a light, floral summer dress. Second was her bookcase, where a collection of Pablo Neruda poems was selected for the afternoon's readings. Third was Draco's room.

She let herself into the main room without a knock, absentmindedly flipping through the Neruda collection to find her spot from before, when she heard a sob. She looked up but Draco was nowhere to be seen.

"Draco?"

The struggled breathing and sobs disappeared, but Hermione was able to guess where Draco was hidden. She set her book down on his desk before walking to the washroom door and setting her hand on the handle.

"What happened?" Hermione asked in a low, steady voice, unsure how Draco could have so completely collapsed between breakfast and now. He gave no reply. She tried to unlock the door but while the handle turned, the entrance remained barred.

Somehow he's managed to wandlessly – and likely wordlessly – ward the door against anyone entering. What could have possibly happened to trigger him so badly?

"Draco, please let me in," Hermione begged, her voice breaking in the middle. She slid down the door, collapsing on her knees. She could feel the heat of his body on one side as she leaned against the other. She tried to hear his breathing, hoping it could calm her down, when she realized he might be doing the same on the other side.

Minutes melted by in silence but Hermione waited.

"I could have killed him Granger. Not even figuratively, but actually."

Hermione almost missed the struggled confession and had no clue what he meant by it. She could just imagine what had transpired between Draco and Harry, but if they had come to blows she should imagine Harry would at least be outside the door trying to fix things in the aftermath.

Coward.

"Who, Harry? Whatever happened, he probably deserved it," she joked, hoping levity could convince the Slytherin to at least open the door so they could talk face-to-face.

He did open the door a moment later, he but was not smiling.

He was red in the face, having obviously lost control and yet to regain it, and now was standing over her and directing his anger at her.

"I don't have it in me for your bullshit jokes Granger! I nearly destroyed Potter and it was completely out of my control. That bastard mentioned Mother and I just lost it! Like a fucking child!"

Hermione's heart dropped as he yelled at her, breaking for him and the pain visible on his face. She climbed up to her feet walked over to him, wrapped her arms around his centre and holding tightly.

He froze, switching instantly from angry to fearful.

Draco Malfoy had been a loved child, never once abused by his father and unabashedly adored by his mother, but this was something else entirely. Even setting aside Granger's blood and how that would have immediately disqualified her from touching him once upon a time, and even forgetting the animosity between them throughout their shared childhood, no one had ever hugged Draco in such a way that was meant to soak up his pain.

He shook slightly, unsettled by the feeling of being protected by Granger, but did not move.

"Everything is going to be fine, Draco," she promised, her face tucked into his shirt. She squeezed a little tighter, bothered by how easily she could count his ribs but setting that realization aside for more pressing problems.

"I don't know what happened between you and Harry but nothing is irreparable. I won't let anything happen to you, even if it's you I have to protect you from."

Still, Draco couldn't bring himself to raise his arms.

"Growing up, you were a right arse but you weren't a bad person. I refuse to let this backward society break you in a childish fit of fair weather justice," Hermione continued, her voice dripping with scorn. "I don't care what happened during the War, it's done now and—"

"Shut up, Granger."

Draco finally raised his arms and wrapped them around Hermione, silencing her. They stood like that, wrapped in each others arms and silent, for several minutes. He focused on the sound and feel of her breathing, inhaling the smell of her shampoo – rosemary and peppermint, and something else – and began to unwind.

It was Draco's stomach that growled loudly first.

Hermione laughed and untangled herself from Draco, turning to his desk to get her book while he took a moment to rub away any lingering emotion from his face.

"You've been here almost a week and have yet to leave the house. I don't know if it's too soon or not but would you like to get an ice cream with me? It's gorgeous out and we can go to the muggle shop down the lane, no one we know will be there."

Draco considered the proposal as he slipped into his closet and found a new, unwrinkled shirt.

"Sure, Hermione."

He said her name with deliberate care, his way of thanking her for what she did. In return she smiled to him when he exited his closet, fresh looking and in control of himself, and went back to her room to put her book away.

. . . . .

Hermione and Draco returned from the ice cream parlour with their treats in hand, not wanting to push the boundaries of Draco's comfort zone too far on his first outing, to find Harry sitting on the front step with what looked like desserts collapsing under the summer sun beside him.

"Harry James Potter!" Hermione screeched as soon as she spotted him.

"I'm sorry!" Harry yelped immediately, raising his hands in defence as the enraged witch stomped in his direction. She smacked his arm hard with the hand that wasn't carrying ice cream before looking down at the melting pastries at his feet.

"You did not buy me eclairs to try and worm out of this, did you?" Her tone was accusatory enough that he doubted she would believe him when he denied it.

"Like a half dozen eclairs can make up for destroying the breakfast nook," Harry said, adding a soft snort before continuing, "I went to visit Narcissa and was sent back with treats for everyone, even—"

"You destroyed the breakfast nook?!" Hermione screeched, turning her head around to face Draco, who had been silently and innocently licking at his ice cream while Potter was harassed by his best friend. And maybe more? I should look up that bonding ritual they did.

"Potter started it."

Hermione turned back on Harry, her face red, and let out a frustrated yell. Rather than say anything more, she flourished her wand and whipped the front door open, a feat Harry could not accomplish thanks to the curse Hermione had left waiting for Harry on all the entrances. As she disappeared into the townhouse to inspect the damage, Harry and Draco were left outside, alone once again.

"You didn't tell Hermione what had happened?" Harry asked, remembering his promise to Narcissa.

"I expected you would reassemble the nook or at least temporary transfigure something until it could be replaced without her knowing. Never thought you would just leave the evidence there for her to find," Draco said, despite knowing full well Harry had left immediately after their argument.

"Figured you would owe me one," he added.

Harry smirked, accepting the snakes' motives, and nodded. Draco was happy letting Potter think he was trying to get ahead in their little contest while Hermione focused on his fear of almost killing Potter. As long as neither guessed how grateful he was just to still be staying with them, he'd be fine.

"Well I think I owe you more than once after earlier. I spoke with your mum, she—

"Potter, you might be new to having a mother but I've known mine my whole life. I understand why she isn't here."

Draco said no more, so Harry left it at that. He wasn't sure if Draco really did know why Narcissa was away in France, waiting for permission to see her son, but he didn't want to put his foot in his mouth again so he picked up the desserts and gestured for Draco to follow him into the house.

He also doubted that Draco was fine with his relationship with Narcissa, but that was a talk to have later.

"She misses you," was all he said.

"I know," replied Draco.