I'm so sorry I didn't update this quicker! Life has just been hectic lately. Please read, enjoy, and review if you can!
In a lonely corner down Knockturn Alley, Draco sat alone and cold. Since no one with good intentions ever came down Knockturn Alley, Draco was allowed to think in peace. So much had happened while he was at work, it was hard for him to wrap his brain around it. First he gets told he can't get any more advanced payments and then Hermione Granger approaches him with an offer he'd be stupid to refuse.
Draco thought to himself, dammit, Granger, why do you keep coming back? I can manage perfectly well on my own thanks… Deep inside, however, he knew that wasn't true. He needed her more than he would ever admit. He sighed heavily then muttered under his breath, "That's not true… I have to take the offer or I'll freeze to death…" It was decided. The next time Draco saw Hermione Granger, he would accept her offer like a man.
Draco slept like hell that night. His dreams were filled with nightmare after nightmare which was strange because he hadn't had nightmares like these for a couple years now. The screaming of his classmates as they were killed by his fellow death eaters. Some of them were killed by his own father. He could never truly face that, but something about his nightmares had changed. Instead of dreaming solely of the war, he dreamed about being alone and scared much like he was now except he was starving and close to death. What was strange though is he vaguely remembered seeing a glimmer of hope. Draco was unsure of what it was, but he knew that it was a sign that life was about to get better.
Draco went into work at the same time as he always did and waited. He knew Hermione would show up sooner or later, but he was getting nervous because she was late. Just as he was about to give up hope, the door flew open with a bushy-haired Hermione panting.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry for being late Draco! I knew you'd be waiting for me but I got caught up at Gringotts and then I had to send a few owls out for the wedding details," Hermione said flustered.
Draco laughed at Hermione, whose hair was everywhere and face was glowing red. "Granger, relax. Things happen." He tried to hide the momentary fear he had from his voice.
After a deep breath, Hermione asked, "Well then, have you made your decision? I already spoke to George about it this afternoon and he said he was okay with it. Mind you, he's not thrilled but as long as you show you've changed everything should be set."
"I, um, I'm going to take your offer. Not because I want to though! I just need a place to stay," Draco defended himself.
Hermione smiled at Draco for a moment before she suddenly began jumping around excitedly. "I'm so glad to hear that! I've been so stressed out trying to get everything organized that this is just excellent news! I'll come back tonight at five to help you move in," said Hermione, not caring who was staring at her.
As Hermione walked out of the Parlour, Draco heard her squeal before she apparated out of Diagon Alley. Now that he was alone again, different emotions began to fill his body. Part of him felt angry at himself for stooping so low as to take an offer from Hermione Granger. The other part felt relieved that he finally had a place to stay and it felt as if all of his worries had flown away. One thing was certain though; Draco was going to be watching the clock for the next five hours, waiting for Hermione to walk back through that door.
Hermione was so ecstatic that Draco accepted her offer that she failed to think about how Ron was going to react. Ron had never gotten along with Draco, everyone knew that. Things had only gotten worse when the war ended because now Draco no longer had his father to hide behind so Ron was merciless. The excitement Hermione felt inside and out to the center of her very soul, quickly diminished the moment she walked into her house.
"What the bloody hell are you so happy about? Is it about Malfoy? Yeah, George told me," Ron yelled when he saw Hermione.
Hermione tried to reason with Ron, "Ronald, you have to be reasonable about this. He has no home! How can you be okay with him living on the streets?"
Ron's face was turning redder with each word Hermione said until he snapped and screamed, "How can I be okay with it? He was a bloody Death Eater, 'Mione! He was working for the people that were trying to kill Harry! Do you not realize that? He put us through Hell every year we were at Hogwarts. How can you be okay with helping him?"
"He's changed! You just don't understand that he's been through a lot. Draco is not the same person he was five years ago. You don't have to be close to him to see that. He's only human, Ronald. George already said-"
Hermione wasn't able to finish before she heard the smacking sound of skin on skin and tears quickly came to her eyes. She could barely believe what had just happened and stood still momentarily, in a state of shock, staring at Ron. He had never come across as the abusive type even when he got jealous. Ron stared back at her, seemingly surprised at his own actions.
After the shock left her body, Hermione turned to run out the door with tears still streaming down her face. Just as she was about to reach for the handle she felt Ron grab her wrist. Within seconds she was pulled roughly towards Ron and pinned up against the wall with his lips on hers. Hermione tried to resist but quickly succumbed to his kisses. The passion was fiercer than any she had ever felt before and she forgot why she was mad at him in the first place.
At some point during the passion, Hermione and Ron ended up in their bedroom and fell asleep. A few hours later Hermione jolted awake, worried that she missed her appointment with Draco until she looked at the clock realizing she still had time to spare. It was only 4:40 in the afternoon. Her biggest obstacle would be getting out of bed without Ron noticing. Hermione heard Ron snoring next to her which typically was proof enough that he was not going to wake up any time soon. She cast him one last glance before creeping out of bed and quietly slipping her pants back on.
Damn, where's that shirt? I don't have time for this, Hermione thought to herself. She scoped the room, but the shirt was nowhere to be found. Ah that's right… it's downstairs.
Ron was still sound asleep in the bed when Hermione looked back at him as she left the room. When she got downstairs, she found her shirt tossed on the grandfather clock next to the stairway. As she put her shirt back on, she got a glimpse of the time and realized she was running late. It was already 4:50. Without even thinking about what a mess she must look like, Hermione grabbed her purse and bolted out the front door. She got about half way to the Ice Cream Parlour before realizing that she had been running this entire time when she could've just apparated. As she reached the front of the Parlour, she couldn't help but worry Draco would have given up on her and left; she worried that she was too late. With a deep breath, Hermione opened the door and walked in.