Hermione came back home, her belly swinging with anticipation. They were supposed to spend the evening alone. They were getting their moment and she had no idea how it would go. She stepped off the threshold to enter the hall, and panicked for a second at the robes she was wearing. Plain grey robes she'd grabbed quickly on her way out that morning. She'd been late, and wore a stupid jumper and pair of slack trousers underneath. He could pull the dishevelled and dirty look better than anyone else, what would she look like next to him?

Something was definitely wrong with her. She was turning into Lav-Lav. Frowning she dismissed the panic. She was a fucking talented grown women. She didn't need her looks. Especially since her hair was probably taking all the attention anyway.

It was shaking her head at her own stupidity, but still trying to flatten her hair with a hand, that she entered the kitchen. She scowled at finding Blaise there, sitting next to Draco at the table. She didn't have time to open her mouth though, that an owl flew from nowhere to perch on her shoulder.

Blaise had a worried cringing smile on his lips that was definitely not a good sign. Draco was watching his hands which wasn't a good sign either.

"What's …" She cut herself as the owl beaked her ear impatiently. The envelope he carried wore the Saint Mungo's stamp. She felt her legs weaken under her weight suddenly and had to grip the table. It was impossible to tear her eyes off the stamp as she sat down on the bench. Her hands were shaking as she tore off the envelope to retrieve a folded letter.

A glass of firewhiskey was pushed her way on the table when she didn't move for a while. She could feel both men's eyes on her. Gulping at her drink, and not even feeling the taste, she took a wise but probably useless decision. She retrieved her wand from her pocket and put it in Draco's extended hand.

Then, she unfolded the parchment.

Hermione,

I write with great news. The final news to be exact as the recipe for the memory potion has been adjusted to a successfully working batch this morning. The appointment I warned you about has arrived. I request your presence at my office tomorrow at ten o'clock. Your parents are still in shock tough, so I advise you to come accompanied. It will certainly be an overwhelming moment. I will stay there with you the entire time too.

Your father has nonetheless asked me to tell you that they love you very much, and can't wait to meet you again. They have a million questions, that I advise you answer to wisely and taking your time. I'll explain everything in details tomorrow before you meet them again.

Please answer this letter so I know you received it.

See you then, in the hopes that you don't burn down Harry's entire house this time,

Luna.

"I need Neville." She murmured, more for herself, her eyes glued to the incomprehensible babble Luna always pulled.

"What for Granger?"

"I don't understand."

"You don't understand something? Really?" She didn't even glance at Blaise, now was not the time for his stupid jokes.

"I need Neville." She repeated.

"You don't need him." Blaise assured, extending a hand to take the letter from her. Hermione let go of it, her mind blank while he and Draco read it.

"You're going to meet your parents again tomorrow." Blaise smiled after a moment. He pushed the letter back to her. Tomorrow. Well, she had things to do the next day. Why would she change her plans? What did Blaise know anyway?

"I can't go tomorrow. I'm supposed to meet Minerva at nine o'clock and spend the day at Hogwarts." She rubbed her eyes, feeling lost for a second. "I'll … right I'll just tell Luna I can't make it tomorrow. Do you have a quill?"

"Granger? McGonagall will understand." It had nothing to do with Minerva.

"I can't miss my duty. I promised a lecture to the seventh years and I'm not ready yet. I can't miss a day."

"I'm sure you can." He just didn't understand.

"No, you don't understand. It's for charm's class. It's a lecture about wards. I've never taught anything to anyone they count on me. It has to be perfect."

"Granger calm down please."

"I'm calm. I just need a scroll and a quill to answer. Right, I'll go fetch one." She stood but Blaise caught her at the door.

"I'll summon what you need, sit back down please."

"Oh, thanks." She did as bid. Blaise accioed what she needed to write a letter and sat back down before giving it to her.

"Are you sure you won't go tomorrow?"

"Yes. I can't."

"You don't want to see your parents?"

"They'll understand." She nodded.

She was in shock. It was evident at the uncertainty of her frantic movements, the shaking of her head in denial, the trembling of her fingers as she gripped Blaise's quill. She hadn't realised Blaise already knew what had been in the letter, she was not herself at all. She looked on the verge of crying or screaming. Draco hadn't opened his mouth because he had no idea what to say. Thank Salazar Blaise had stayed. The lad was now watching her with concern, his head cocked to a side:

"When will you go then?"

"I … I don't know. I have the lecture but then I need to go to the Ministry to speak about that position with Kingsley. I need to ward your place and … And I'm moving in with Lavender soon so …" It was all too much, she was loosing it before his eyes and he kept silent. He didn't know what to say, or what to do, but he had to calm her down.

"Hermione." Her face snapped up from her scroll to his, her eyes wide in something close to fright. Her breath was shaky and shallow, she would hyperventilate. It was all so surreal, seeing her loose it like that. He hadn't realised until now how shocked she'd been the last time. Seeing her cry once she'd gathered her thoughts was a thing, seeing her distress to the point of denying what should be a happy moment broke his heart.

She didn't answer, and just kept watching him. He extended a hand to the one of hers that held the quill. He tried for a soothing voice, but kept it firm.

"Stop writing." She shook her head, her eyes watering, her lips trembling.

"No, I have to … I can't go …"

"Yes, you can."

"No you don't understand … it's not that I don't want to it's … I can't … Draco I can't …"

"Yes, you can." She abruptly extracted her hand from his and snatched the scroll from the table, standing.

"NO! I FUCKING CAN'T!"

Draco stood on instinct and went around the table, ignoring Blaise's warning:

"Mate careful."

"You can."

"And what would you know?!" She spat with venom. Her anger was taking each and every one of her features. Draco knew it wasn't directed at him but it still hurt, it was too reminiscent of a time when he'd had no idea who she was.

"I know you."

"FUCK YOU!" She snapped out of her trance at her own words. Draco wasn't given time to process it that she was already apologising. "Oh Merlin … Draco! I'm so sorry …" She reached for him with trembling hands. He took them in his instantly.

"It's all right. You're in shock. Sit down."

"No, no I …"

Nothing else would calm her down. He had to do it. He released her wrists as she kept denying, her previous feelings taking the upper hand on her anger.

He took her in his arms and firmly held her against his chest. She fought it, for a second only, and then went limp in his arms. Her shoulders started shaking as the cries finally came. After a moment, shorter than the previous times Draco had tried to comfort her, she drew her hands to his chest. He thought she'd withdraw but instead she fisted his robes tightly. When her cries had lowered, and her breathing evened out she finally spoke:

"I can't." Her murmur addressed only him and he knew it. But Blaise knew what to say, he didn't. All he had was the embrace he was giving her. It worked, but she was seeking for words.

"Yes you can." He said giving a quick glance at Blaise. The lad tried to help then.

"You're the golden girl Granger, there's nothing you can't do."

She was out of his arms the instant. Only her left hand still gripped his robes as she'd turned to Blaise.

"I'm not some kind of hero Blaise." She said frowning. Her tone was still trembling but she seemed to feel better. Maybe a bit more like herself.

"Oh but you definitely are."

"You have no idea …" She started.

"I have a fair idea of what you went through. And you're brave enough to …"

"No you don't. And I'm not …" He cut her again, his eyes more serious this time.

"I don't have a family any more Granger. I would give everything to have her back, even if she decided never to speak to me again."

Her fist let go of Draco's robes at that. After a moment she then turned to him, wringing her fingers together, her face the painting of horror at Blaise's words.

"Is it … Is it real?" She asked him. The way she was searching his face for the truth was unsettling. She trusted his word apparently for she urged him to answer:

"Draco? Is it real?"

"Yes. You're going to meet your parents again tomorrow." Thank Salazar the bench was at her knees. She let herself fall on it and his reflex was to try and catch her uselessly. He sat down next to her then, and they turned to face Blaise. She grabbed his hand under the table, making his heart clench, she sought him out for comfort. He squeezed it, and waited for her to speak again.

"Blaise I'm so sorry I didn't think …"

"No need, I was just trying to snap you out of that trance. Are you back with us, Granger?" Those were kind words, he hadn't been, Draco had seen thee sincerity in his eyes.

"I think." At that she squeezed his hand again, as if seeking for confirmation.

"Will you go tomorrow?" He asked. She turned to him slowly, he could see in her whiskey eyes how lost she was.

"Yes." It was almost a murmur.

"We have something to celebrate then." Smiled Blaise, filling the glasses up again.

Hermione hadn't realised how tensed she'd been before swallowing the first sip of her firewhiskey. She'd completely lost it for a moment. Now that reality was sinking in, she decided that there was nothing to do but wait until the next day, she couldn't predict how things would go. After squeezing one last time Draco's hand under the table, she let go of it to re read the letter. Her father had asked Luna to write for them. She smiled, he was always the one with the reassuring words. Her mother would play it harder for sure. She'd have to explain herself right away, whether Luna thought it wise or not. They deserved the explanation anyway, after spending a year completely oblivious to their real lives, and three more secluded in Saint Mungo's. Their reaction would be what it would be, but she'd explain herself. Accompanied. Right, she had to tell Lavender.

"I need to call Lavender."

"Already did." Said Blaise.

"Wh … How did you know?" He winced. Hermione turned to Draco when Blaise did too. "Draco?" She asked. He was staring blankly at his hands, his jaw clenched and his face obviously pained. He wouldn't answer.

She asked again, turning back to Blaise instead.

"Err … We got warned."

"How?" Would Luna warn them? She'd obviously talked with Harry but he wouldn't ask of her to warn Blaise or Draco.

"It's not important. What is, is that you're going with Blondie tomorrow. She'll be here right after work."

"But … I don't understand why Luna would … did she write to you?" Her gaze went from Blaise to Draco, and something was off. The handsome blond man was so tensed he looked on the verge of breaking his teeth. He was blushing profusely, although she had no idea if it was from anger or embarrassment. What the hell was going on? She reached for him but he stood abruptly before she could touch him, making her jump. He didn't say anything and made his way to the door.

"Draco, please." He stopped in his tracks but didn't turn around, and remained silent. "Did she write to you?"

"She wrote to those involved with the project." Said Blaise. Draco tensed the more but didn't move. She could see the muscles of his shoulders from under his shirt. What did that mean? Was he involved? What had he done? She turned to Blaise.

"Involved? But … what did you do?"

"I didn't do anything." Answered Blaise, pointing at Draco with his nose. As the blond gripped the doorknob to escape the room, it all clicked. Hermione had a sudden flash of her first days at Saint Mungo's. The conversation she'd had with Luna, and then Neville's translation of it. Luna had received a donation for the potion. Draco had been busy, and Neville the only one to know. Neville had said he suspected he knew who had donated, but that he wouldn't say. And the letter! The letter he'd received from Mungo's the day before Luna had written to her! It all made sense now.

"Draco what did you do?" He finally turned to her, his eyes firmly fixed on a spot above her shoulder, their grey almost black. He swallowed hard but didn't answer.

"Maybe you should just thank him." Quietly advised Blaise. Thank him? She was right then.

"Are you …" His face screwed in worry, he looked as if he'd done something very very wrong. "It was you? Are you the donator?" His eyes drew to the floor, his head bended, and his shoulders slumped as if he'd suffer loss. Hermione didn't understand his ordeal, especially when he slowly nodded in response.

It was him. He was the donator. After saving her life he'd donated the tremendous amount of money necessary to cure her parents. Why would he feel like that then? It was the biggest gesture someone had ever made for her. It had been selfless, and caring as he'd kept it to himself. He had even done it at a time when he'd decided not to see her any more.
She couldn't believe he cared that much about her. She also couldn't believe that the only thing she thought of doing right now was to jump in his arms. She had to thank him, end his ordeal now. But no word left her mouth. Instead her body moved on its own volition and she stood. When she understood what urge had taken her, she embraced it, and let it guide her.

She almost ran the four steps that kept her away from him and jumped a bit on her feet. She kissed him, a real kiss, hard on the mouth. Her arms wrapped themselves around his neck and she held on tightly. He didn't respond right away though, and she felt doubt point its ugly nose but just when she was about to break the one-sided kiss, he reacted and a hand lifted to her face. His long fingers tangled in her hair as he brought her closer.

The blissful kiss ended abruptly though, and he withdrew, breathless, his eyes serious, but his hand still holding her in place.

"Is that how you thank everyone Granger?" They ignored the comment but Hermione still felt herself blush. Draco scowled when Blaise cleared his throat, and said, his voice low and menacing:

"Fuck off Blaise." The last obliged, and took the door, muttering about thankfulness.

Hermione didn't dare move or break the eye contact but he let go and took a step back after a short moment anyway. He cleared his throat awkwardly and stubbornly watching his feet, he put his hands in his pockets.

"I … I understand if you want to forget that."

"What? Why would I?"

"You … It was in the moment, maybe you wouldn't have …" She felt like screaming at him a second. Hadn't she been obvious? She'd thrown herself at him, and in front of Blaise! It was enough with the doubts and embarrassment. They both wanted it for Godric's sake!

"Oh by Godric what is wrong with you?"

"I beg you pardon?"

"I just kissed you Draco."

"You did. When you learned I donated to Lovegood."

"And?"

"It can't have nothing to do with that …"

"It triggered it but …"

"Right. It might not have happened if …"

"It almost happened already …"

"Yes but you just had a difficult moment so if you want to forget it …"

"I don't!" Now, she had to fight back tears. Did he want to forget it to keep insisting like that? Had he changed his mind?

"Are you sure? I mean …"

"This is ridiculous. If that's what you want then all right, let's forget it." She snapped angrily, turning her back to him, only to turn again at his answer:

"No!" He squeezed his eyes shut and winced at his own blunt response. Then he rubbed his face in discomfort. Obviously he was as lame as she was in expressing feelings. She couldn't help but smile at his blush, her tears forgotten as his face was pleading, and his hands raised to her. He had just tried to be thoughtful. He'd just wanted to make sure it was what she wanted. She smiled at the thought and took a step closer. Her smile only grew at his relieved sigh.

His gaze flipped to her mouth a fraction of a second. She smiled the more. His face changed then, and something visibly grew in him. His blush vanished as the corner of his mouth lifted in return.

"Yes?" She tried as he didn't speak.

"Can I do it again then?"

"If you'd like." She answered before biting her lip to repress her grin. He didn't need more apparently for he was kissing her again a second after.

Draco woke up from the most resting night of sleep he'd had in years. The crooked position he was in hadn't been able to perturb his blissful rest. Hermione was sleeping in his arms, snuggled in the crook of his shoulder, her hair all over her face, and his.

They'd ended up in the lounge, after an awkward post-kiss moment in the kitchen. Apparently she'd decided that awkwardness had no business between them, and had taken his hand in her tiny one, to lead him to the lounge.

She'd sent a letter to McGonagall and they'd talked. For the first time they'd had an entire conversation, devoid of any sarcasm or insults. Even playful ones had been shoved aside for the evening. They'd talked about her parents, and even if the subject had obviously been a difficult one for her, she'd confided in him. He'd kept asking, she'd kept answering and the subject had drifted to school. He'd asked about the lecture she was to give for the seventh years and they'd unexpectedly gotten in a heated debate on whether charms should be practised right away or step by step.

It'd felt foreign but in a good way. It'd been a long time since he'd had an intellectual conversation with anyone. Apart from Longbottom, the people he saw on a daily basis weren't the kind to take the time to debate just for the pleasure of it.

Her emotions had drained her though, and she'd started yawning rather quickly. He'd wrapped his arms around her then, and after a few more kisses, had let her fall asleep against him.

He hadn't had the heart to wake her up later to walk her to her room, and to be honest, he'd had no wish to move and end up alone in bed. He hadn't dared move anyway, not more than to grab the book that had stayed on the coffee table.

Brown had only come up to the lounge late in the night. She'd been there with Blaise for quite a while but had decided against disturbing them. She'd only come in to say good night. She'd winked playfully at Draco, Blaise sniggering behind his hand at her back. They'd remained quiet though, and Hermione hadn't stirred.

Draco had eventually fallen asleep too, and now, it was way past eight in the morning and his back and neck ached. He'd have to wake her up.

"Hermione?" He whispered, trying not to startle her. She could very well blow him up if he did. She nuzzled her way deeper against his chest, and mumbled incoherently for a minute.

"Hermione I can't feel my arm." She snapped up instantly.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" He had to pinch his lips together. She was quite the sight.

"You better look at yourself before laughing." She warned. As he frowned and patted his hair, she smirked. Her morning eyes, and hair, topped with the wicked thing playing on her mouth made her the most perfect little thing he'd ever seen. Of course Blaise entered as he tried for a morning kiss.

"Err … morning lovers."

Draco's blush was quite the sight. He didn't deny it though, nor made any move to put distance between them. So what? Were they a thing now?

"Nice morning hair Granger." She didn't get a chance to retaliate about Blaise's childish pyjamas.

"Leave her be you twat."

"Oh defending your little girlfriend are you?" Hermione had never imagined Draco could blush more. He was a nice crimson colour now. Good thing it was funny, it kept her from blushing too as he, again, didn't deny it.

"Salazar just shut up. Where's your wolf anyway?"

"Err … Probably in Granger's bed."

"Oh, no woohoo then."

"Shut up." Hermione watched Draco's face return to its initial colour, a nice smirk stretching on his lips. All right, so they were a thing. He wasn't looking at her at all, but it was a start anyway. A start that made her want to cheer.

"Woohoo?" She asked a scowling Blaise. Draco answered, sniggering:

"Tickling, you know, under the belt."

"Err … you pigs." Draco grinned and it was so unexpected that she preferred to keep the conversation going: "What're you waiting for anyway?" She asked Blaise.

"I have no bloody idea Granger." Of course Lavender chose this moment to come in. She looked a bit too cheerful for it to be a good sign though:

"Morning! Should I spread the news?" She asked. That wicked smirk of hers was infuriating.

"Morning Lav-Lav." Hermione scowled. Lavender's smirk vanished the instant.

"A bit too much eh? All right. Let's go get some breakfast, then we need to get ready Mione."

Hermione went back to reality with that. She had to get ready to see her parents.