Chapter XIII - Redemption

Draco hadn't spoke a single word since leaving the Tower. The pair of them had just made their way through the empty corridors till they reached the gargoyle concealing the entrance to the Headmaster's office.

Hermione already knew the password to Dumbledore's study— Harry having told her and Ron earlier that month. The gargoyle statue slid away and revealed the moving staircase the instant Hermione spoke the password. For a moment, she and Draco just stood there, hand in hand. Hermione made to step onto the staircase when she felt Draco's hesitancy. She looked over and saw his face etched with the same conflict and anxiety as before.

"It's alright, Draco." She murmured, giving his hand a squeeze. "It's going to be fine."

He nodded, and he moved to step onto the moving staircase. Hermione felt her own heart begin to hammer, though she knew her own uncertainty was nothing close to what Draco must be feeling. They reached the wooden door of his office, and Hermione bravely knocked three times. Almost immediately, she heard from within Dumbledore's voice.

"Enter. "

Hermione had never seen Dumbledore's circular office before. Harry had visited the Headmaster's office often over the years for one reason or another. Ron had even come with Harry their previous year when Harry had witnessed the attack on Mr. Weasley. But she had never had cause to visit the Headmaster.

Dumbledore's circular office was dark. He sat behind his desk, which was laden with heavy looking leather bound books and stacks of parchment. The three lit oil lamps provided the only source of light in the dark study. A window, directly behind the Headmaster's desk showed blank night sky.

Dumbledore looked tired, and maybe more aged in the dim light. The light from the lamps flickered on his half-moon spectacles as he spoke.

"Ah. Miss Granger and…. Mr. Malfoy."

Dumbledore did not ask nor reprimand them for the lateness of the hour. He just gestured to the two high backed chairs in front of his desk. He straightened up, and observed them over his clasped hands in a very characteristic pose.

Hermione was the one to explain. Draco had merely sat next to her and stared blankly at his shoes, unwilling to look into Dumbledore's face.

When she finished, Dumbledore continued to observe them. He hadn't interrupted, or even asked why it was Hermione, and not Draco, that was telling him about the plan. Nor did he even look surprised or the slightest bit concerned about the information Hermione had just divulged. Then the headmaster finally spoke.

"Thank you Miss Granger, for telling me this." His voice was low, though clear. "Though for months now, I have known about the plan."

Draco's head shot up in surprise. Dumbledore nodded and continued.

"Yes. However, now that Mr. Malfoy has come forward, I can take the necessary precautions to ensure his safety and that of his mother. As for your father, Draco, I believe he is safe where he is currently."

"But— if you knew, about the plan— why, why didn't you try to stop me?" Draco said, speaking for the first time.

"I did not want to put you in any more danger than you were presently." Dumbledore said simply. "If Lord Voldemort had read your thoughts— used Legilimency against you— and known that I had discovered his plan, he would have undoubtedly tried to kill you."

Draco's face was white as a sheet, and Hermione reached over to hold his hand.

"I will send an owl to your mother, Draco and let her know what is going on. Then, I will send an Order member to your house and have your mother moved to a safe location."

As he spoke, Dumbledore reached for a long eagle feathered quill.

"Yes, sir." Draco said in a soft voice. Hermione knew that it was time to leave as Dumbledore began writing. Her legs felt stiff as she rose from the chair. But just before she and Draco left, Dumbledore spoke.

"What you did was the right thing, Mr. Malfoy. Thank you."

Hermione watched Draco's face for a reaction, but it remained tensely blank. Draco merely paused at the doorframe, looked back at Dumbledore and then nodded briefly.

Hermione watched as the gargoyle slid back into it's place. She was still shocked at how simple Dumbledore had made the solution. She looked over at Draco, who had his back to her. Hermione reached out a hand and felt him start under her touch. She pulled him around, and saw that his face was pained with emotion again, and completely vulnerable. His pale blue eyes were stormy with anxiety. She drew him in her embrace, and simply held him.

They arrived, sometime later, back at the smooth blank wall that hid their secret hideaway. Neither had spoken their destination aloud, but both somehow knew. The ancient wooden door appeared in an instant, and they entered. It was exactly the same as they had left it— all those days ago. A fire crackled in the fireplace, giving the small room a golden glow and warmth. Her heart picked up a beat as she stepped inside. There was the picnic basket on the ground near the stone fireplace, the baguette sticking out from the top. The pale blue sheets on the canopied day bed were still rumpled, just as they had left it. She walked over to the window, and saw that the view had changed: it now showed the surrounding mountain ranges, far away on the horizon.

Hermione turned around, and saw him leaning on the wall opposite. Draco hadn't spoken a word since leaving the office. She couldn't decipher the look on his face, but he was looking at her intensely, without looking away. She stood there trapped in his gaze. Then, with a slow grace, he walked forward and took her hand and guided her to the bed. She sat on the edge, and Draco kneeled before her.

"Thank you." His voice was low, but steady now.

"You have no idea— how foreign your kindness and forgiveness is to me, as a Slytherin. I cannot express how much it means to me, and how you have changed me. And all for the better." Draco said earnestly.

"This entire week I just thought how I was putting you in danger— exactly what Dumbledore said. If I was in danger, you were as well. And I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you." Draco murmured, stroking her wrist.

"Do you know how rare you are Hermione?" Draco said, staring up at her in wonder.

Hermione leaned forward and kissed him ever so lightly on the mouth. She felt something remarkably new and solidifying course through her, tying her to the wizard kneeling before her. She pulled back and whispered in his ear,

"Please hold me."

Her wizard was there, holding her tight against his chest. Hermione closed her eyes, and rested her head upon his chest. She felt calmly lethargic. They fit perfectly together. She had no idea what time it was, but it didn't matter. The tears, hurt and high strung emotions of last week had completely faded away, seeming inconsequential now. Her eyes closed, and she drifted off to sleep listening to Draco's deep breathing next to her.

Hi, dear readers. Thank you so much for sticking with me this long.

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