Chapter 5 A Time for Healing[Time After Time by Novaspace]

That Tuesday, they met at Malfoy Manor as planned. Quietly, they took notes but this time Hermione sat in the middle of the couch and sipped the hibiscus tea that Draco had instructed Tinkey to make for her. After a couple of hours, he felt a little stiff and noticed her shifting uncomfortably. "Would you like to go for a stroll?"

"Yes," she answered stretching her arms up over her head.

Together they moseyed the extensive grounds of the manor. A long dock extended into the middle of an azure lake. Expansive woods and tall hedges formed natural borders to the manor's lush extensive grounds. "Draco, the grounds are almost as lovely as your home." Despite his gracious manners, Hermione couldn't put everything behind her. "We have to talk about what happened, with Voldemort and all. I still feel uneasy."

"Despite the fact that I harassed you during our school years, I never wanted to see you or any of the others hurt." A look of shame crossed Draco's face and his shoulders hunched. "My family and I were threatened at that time. I had to do horrible things. I had nowhere to turn."

"Why didn't you say something to Dumbledore or even to us? You knew we were fighting Voldemort. We would have helped."

"Oh, please," he sighed. "I doubt the trio could've helped. Even if I had come to you, would you have believed me?" He hastened his pace. "Prejudice runs both ways."

Yes, it does. I still don't believe him because he's a Malfoy. "I understand the situation you were in."

"I've confided more in you than I ever have in any of my so-called friends." With a sigh, he added, "Or even my girlfriends because I know you won't use it against me." When he observed her startled look at his admission, he explained. "At the age of fourteen, I began to realize how many only wanted the Malfoy heir so I never confided in them. Experience has proven me correct."

"Thank you for confiding in me." One step at a time. Solemnly, Hermione watched several albino peacocks strut around them. Draco handed her a small pouch of breadcrumbs. Just seeing the pouch in her hand, wet the birds appetite, making them come closer. Once she tossed the crumbs, they ventured even closer. A couple displayed their white fanned plumage with pale silver eyelets. Extending a handful of crumbs to Draco, he smiled slightly and took them. Then he spread them in a circle around them. As the birds ate, they all displayed their feathers at the same time. "Amazing," she remarked.

Once they returned to his study, Draco offered his armchair to her. "It's much more comfortable than the couch."

"Thanks," she replied. "I'm taking notes by listing the ingredient, one per page, the books it is cited in and then the other ingredients that were combined with it."

As he handed her his notes, he laughed heartily. "Same but I put the books last."

"That's really good. I'll organize my notes the same as yours." She removed a file organizer from her bag. No matter how many papers she put in it, it remained only a quarter inch thick. Immediately, he collated his notes into it while she took more notes. "Can we play some music?"

"What's your preference?" Draco walked over to a record player with a few albums next to it.

"Why don't you surprise me?"

"You want a surprise?" Grinning slyly, he tapped a bookshelf with a row of very tall books. The illusion of books dissolved to reveal a collection of albums that he allowed her to peruse.

Angry Elf, Broomstick Dogs, Cauldron Fodder, Disaster Spell and more ending in Woodlouse Wanderers comprised the records Hermione flipped through. "Most of these are bands aren't competely pure-blood and considered slightly edgy."

"I know. Why do you think they were hidden?" Draco glanced to a picture of his father. "So choose one and I'll play it."

Since she was curious, she handed him Porlock Pelt. "There's more to you than I realized." For a little while, they took notes and enjoyed the goth-industrial music. "The Coeus Award will get us more prestige than we ever dreamed. That is if we win. But, why are you interning? You don't need to do that to participate in the potions competition."

Glancing down, he wondered if he could trust or if his reasons would seem silly to her. "You'll think I'm mad." For a moment, he looked at her unsure, but she squeezed his forearm and gave him a comforting smile. "Our teenage years are supposed to be fun." Draco glanced to his Quidditch and other school memorabilia. "Since my sixth year at Hogwarts was spent in misery and my seventh completed via a correspondence course, I just wanted to …recapture what I had lost."

"Me too," she replied.

"I would've thought that the internship was just because of your kind nature."

"Is that a compliment from Draco Malfoy?"

Draco nodded. "What do miss most from your lost years?"

"Dancing, I love dancing." Hermione glanced at some of the various photos of Draco and his dates at the Yule Balls. "What do you miss most?"

"I miss having fun. Those years were supposed to be fun." Even he glanced through his study, only the older pictures reflected good times but none of the new. "I don't remember fun anymore." Looking at her, he saw misery as well before they resumed their research.

Later the dinner bell rang and he escorted her to the dining room where they feasted on Monte Cristo sandwiches and potato soup. Timidly, Tinkey peered around the corner of the dining room. "Tinkey, you may join us." She levitated her plate to his old booster chair and joined them.

"You have changed," Hermione commented. "I suppose we need to start are progress journal. You know they will show it before a committee. I hate giving speeches."

"Don't worry, I got it covered," he volunteered. "Speeches don't bother me at all."

"Thank you, Draco." Normally for academic projects, I'm stuck doing the majority of the work. Fifty-fifty, now that's a switch and I didn't even have to ask.

Then, they went for another walk. After a few more hours of research, she gathered her things to return home. At the manor gate, she realized more of positive qualities he possessed. "Draco, you're a gracious host and a gentleman."

"So, that makes three." Based on a feeling he had, he knew he could trust her so he gave her a portkey to his home so they could meet and study with ease. For his part, Draco found he thoroughly enjoyed her company and forgot that she was a mudblood that day.