Chapter Sixteen; Sending the first letter this time, going slow and a new boyfriend.
Once outside the grounds of Malfoy Manor, Draco stuck out his wand arm to call the Knight Bus, his other hand firmly holding Hermione's hand.
The bus appeared in front of them with a loud BANG, with Stan Shunpike already standing at the bottom of the steps, ready to give his welcome speech.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan– 'Ermione!" Stan smiled widely when he spotted Hermione. The pair of them were good friends since Hermione caught the bus around the place so often. She trusted the bus more than Floo Powder or apparition.
"How are you Stan?" Hermione returned the older man's enthusiastic smile. Stan was a little more serious since the war, but he still acted like a teenager, and he always made Hermione feel the same way. He was refreshing.
"I'm good. 'Ow's fing's 'Ermione? Seat for two?" Stan had seen Draco holding Hermione's hand as the pair of them stepped onto the bus.
"Life certainly hasn't been boring, Stan. Seat for two, please, possibly a corner one if you could? We're going to my home." Hermione asked. This was her code to Stan that she and Draco needed some alone time, and that they were not to be disturbed during their trip. Hermione and Stan had worked this code out together during the rougher few months when she'd been with Ron.
"Sure thing, 'Ermione! Right this way." Stan led the pair to the back of the bus, where there was one long chair along the entire back of the bus.
"'Choo know what to do 'Ermione." Stan stated with a smile and a wave as he left the pair to sit at the front with Ernie Prang, the Knight Bus driver.
Once they were seated, Hermione waved her wand at something in the wall. Draco watched curiously as a handle appeared from the wall and Hermione gripped it tightly to pull it open, showing a makeshift wall that would give the couple a little privacy.
"How do you know about that?" Draco asked Hermione as she sat down next to him. Hermione shrugged before cuddling up next to Draco.
"It's always been here. Before Stan and Ernie, the previous driver of the Knight Bus would charge extra if someone needed a ride unobserved. Some witches and wizards paid even more to have the privacy, a long, pointless ride and a decent bed. Ernie didn't approve of this though, so he had all but this screen removed." Hermione shivered from the cold and leant closer to Draco.
Draco moved away from Hermione – her heart plummeting for a second – and took off his dinner jacket, so that he could put it around her shoulders before putting his arm around her.
For most of the trip the couple remained silent, simply being together. Hermione was content curled up next to Draco, her ear over his heart and his arms around her protectively, his strong fingers drawing soothing patterns on her back.
After a huge BANG, Hermione noticed that they were now flying down her street. Stiffly Hermione stood up, wrapping Draco's jacket tightly around herself. As Draco opened the screen the couple heard Stan call out, "'Ermione! Just coming to get choo! See choo next time!" Hermione waited for the bus to stop before she waved back at Stan. More than once she would wave goodbye only to be caught off guard with the sudden stop and be thrown to the front of the bus.
"Bye Stan. Bye Ernie!" Slowly and carefully, mindful of her borrowed dress, Hermione stepped off the Knight Bus. As soon as Draco had both of his feet planted on the ground, the bus was off with a BANG.
"I really don't like that infernal bus." Draco muttered as he took Hermione's hand. Hermione smiled at Draco and squeezed his hand reassuringly. "It's all over now Draco."
In silence Draco and Hermione crossed the road to Hermione's house. "I'm going to leave you here, Miss Granger. I don't want to impose, or give the wrong impression to your housemates." Draco explained, kissing Hermione's forehead.
"You don't have to go." Hermione pleaded quietly, her eyes wide with the fear of losing Draco again. Draco smiled softly.
"I'll be back in the morning, I promise. I'm staying at my place tonight, so I won't be far." Draco kissed Hermione's forehead again and gave her a gentle push towards her front door.
"We will talk tomorrow, won't we Draco?" Hermione asked nervously.
"Of course we will Miss Granger, I promise we will. Now please go inside and get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow." Draco watched Hermione until she had closed the front door behind her, before he disapparated.
Inside, Hermione gave herself a goofy smile as she wandered into the kitchen.
"Hermione!" Ron yelled out, making Hermione jump a foot into the air.
"Oh, hi Ron." Hermione gave a huge yawn as she responded, not noticing Ron's angry glare.
"Where have you BEEN Hermione Granger?! You just got up and left! We've been so worried!" And before she knew it, Hermione was being smothered in a hug from a stressed out Ron.
"I'm fine Ronald. I just went to Malfoy Manor and-" Ron cut Hermione off before she could get any further.
"You what?" Hermione gave a deep sigh.
"Where's Luna? I'll explain it all to both of you." Ron ran upstairs to collect Luna, and after another hug, Hermione sat the pair of them down at the kitchen table, poured herself a pumpkin juice, and then told them everything that had happened at Malfoy Manor, leaving out no details.
Once she was done, Ron and Luna sat very still for a few moments. Finally Ron spoke.
"So Lucius Malfoy," His mouth twisted unhappily around the name, "Just put an unknown spell on you? How do you know the spell he cast at you wasn't Imperio?!" Ron demanded.
"Because he said more than four syllables Ronald." Hermione insisted. As much as he trusted her judgement, Ron was still eyeing Hermione suspiciously.
"What I'd like to know." Luna stated dreamily. "Is why Mr Malfoy allowed it? He clearly hates you, and yet you have been granted permission to walk in and out of his home?" Everyone remained silent at Luna's question.
"I'd like to think that he is beginning to accept that I'm now dating his son." Hermione whispered, unsure if she was, in fact, dating Draco Malfoy once again.
Ron opened his mouth like he was about to protest something, but Hermione cut him off. "You can't stop it, Ronald. Now, I am going to bed, we can talk more tomorrow. After I have seen Draco and smoothed out all the wrinkles in this relationship. Good night you two." Hermione said, standing up and walking out the room to her bedroom.
As she began to walk up the stairs, she could hear a very quiet "Good night Hermione." from Luna, but Ron remained silent.
Upstairs Hermione didn't even get changed, she just kicked her shoes off and flopped onto her bed, falling asleep within seconds.
The next morning Hermione woke up feeling extremely refreshed, had a decent shower, scrubbing herself clean from top to bottom, and had a huge breakfast before she sat down at her desk to write to Draco.
It took her a good fifteen minutes, but she finally found the words she wanted to ask him.
Dear Draco.
For once, we're using my owl … well, Ronald's owl. His name is Pig, I do hope he didn't frighten you too much.
I would like to know a couple of things, if it's possible. I just have a couple of questions.
What do you want from me? A real relationship, or are we just friends now?
Will you be staying at your house now, or will you be going back to Malfoy Manor?
Why did your father accept me so quickly? I'm a little confused as to why he did.
When can I see you next?
-Hermione
With her heart pounding, Hermione folded the letter and made her way upstairs where Ron kept Pig.
"Ron, I'm just borrowing Pig, OK?" Hermione called out to the landing. A few beats later she heard a muffled, "OK 'Mione. Jus' don' wake me up 'gain." Before a loud snore reverberated through to Hermione.
Rolling her eyes but wanting to giggle, Hermione snatched Pig out of his cage and took him downstairs, attaching her letter to the tiny owl as she did so.
Taking a deep breath Hermione threw the tiny owl out the window, and watched as he dropped a foot or two before finding his wings and zooming away. After that Hermione didn't move from the window. She waited, gazing into the spot in the sky where Pig disappeared.
Just as she was about to give up and go find something to do, she spotted a tiny speck in the distance. Pig's coming back! Hermione thought excitedly, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
But as Pig flew closer to her window, Hermione steadily grew more confused. Finally Pig flew in through the window and landed on her table, jumping back and forth across the surface and hooting at Hermione.
Hermione closed the window before she grabbed the still hooting Pig, then she carefully removed the single rose and tiny piece of parchment that Pig had brought to her. Smelling the rose Hermione read the two words written out in Draco's neat writing on the parchment;
Look outside.
Still smelling her rose, Hermione made her way back to her window and peeked outside. Draco stood on the sidewalk, still in his suit from the previous night and holding a huge bouquet of roses.
Hermione let out a squeal of excitement and sprinted out the door, down the stairs, and outside to jump into Draco's waiting arms, squealing his name as she did so.
"Hello to you too, Hermione." Draco laughed as he picked her up so that he was holding her up, Hermione's legs wrapped around his middle so their faces were at the same height.
"I missed you." Hermione said, as if that explained everything. In response, Draco smiled and leant his head forward to kiss Hermione softly on the lips. Hermione wrapped her arms around Draco's neck and kissed him back, but with a little too much enthusiasm, as Draco started to lose his balance.
Draco smiled through their kiss and gently put Hermione down, standing up just enough that Hermione couldn't reach his lips anymore.
"These are for you, Miss Granger." Draco smiled sweetly as he held the roses in front of Hermione. "And I'm taking you out for lunch this fine afternoon. Then we can talk about everything. If you accept my invitation, that is." Hermione smiled widely as she accepted the roses.
"Do I get more kisses?" Hermione asked shyly, making Draco smile even wider.
"Of course." And with that Draco swept Hermione back into his arms and kissed her again, deeper this time though.
An hour later, Draco and Hermione were sitting outside Florean Fortescue's Ice – cream Parlour, sharing a large chocolate ice cream with chocolate sprinkles.
Hermione was laughing at Draco and wiping ice – cream off his face with a napkin, she had distracted him and the spoon full of ice-cream he'd been holding had missed his mouth and landed on his cheek.
Once Hermione's giggles had subsided, Draco helped himself to a smaller spoonful of ice – cream as he gazed across the table at the beautiful witch in front of him.
"Hermione, if we can, I'd like to talk seriously now." Draco said. Hermione took a mouthful of ice – cream and nodded, her eyes meeting Draco's, encouraging him to continue.
"Are you ready for me to answer your questions?" Draco asked, watching Hermione closely to see her reaction. Hermione licked her spoon clean before answering slowly.
"Yeah. Yeah I'd like my answers now. Although I think you've already answered one for me." Hermione said, smiling as she did so. "My last question was when I would be able to see you next, and here you are!" Hermione pointed out. Draco graced Hermione with a small smile and a little wink.
"Yes, here I am Miss Granger. And I will be staying close to you. I'll be moving back into my apartment, not back into the Malfoy Manor. So you will be able to kidnap me whenever the mood strikes." Draco winked at Hermione, who poked her tongue out at him. Draco opened his mouth to say something, but seemed to change his mind, and a cheeky grin slid across his face.
"Or you can just steal my clothes, use my bathroom, my towel and my bed." Draco made eye contact with Hermione, making her blush this time.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I just missed you so much." Hermione muttered, keeping her eyes downcast. Draco gave a short laugh, one full of joy.
"Oh, Hermione, it's fine." Draco said softly. "Now, do you want me to answer your other two questions? I do believe that they were; What do I want from you, whether it be a relationship or just friends. And the other one was why my father accepted you so quickly. Am I right?" Draco asked.
"That's right. I want to know where I stand with you, and I'm confused as to why your father accepted me so quickly, it just doesn't make sense to me." Hermione said as she put her spoon down on the table. Draco gave Hermione another smile and reached his hand out across the table to hold her hand.
"I'll start with the easier answer first. I don't know why my father accepted you. Neither does my mother. I'm sure we will find out soon enough, but until then, we can just accept it and roll with it." Draco sounded a little confused, but he also seemed to believe in what he said.
"Roll with it?" Hermione asked, laughing a little at Draco. Draco smiled sheepishly.
"It's a saying I picked up from the muggles. Some of their sayings are really catchy." He stated, seeming to laugh at himself.
"But moving on from that, Miss Granger." Draco let go of Hermione's hand while he moved his chair around the table so that he was sitting next to her. Once he was settled, he held both of Hermione's hands in his own and gazed into her eyes.
"Hermione Jean Granger, I want nothing more than to date you, for you to give me a second chance. And I am more than willing to prove to you that I deserve this second chance, if you'll grant it to me." Draco spoke earnestly, his eyes never wavering from Hermione's while he waited for her response.
"Draco…" Hermione's voice broke off. She hadn't realised until that moment that she had tears running down her cheeks, and she quickly wiped them away before placing her hands back in Draco's. "Draco Malfoy, I would love nothing more than to give you a second chance." Hermione watched as a huge grin spread across Draco's face, lighting up his features.
Without warning Draco wrapped his arms around Hermione and picked her up, spinning her in a circle and laughing. Once he let Hermione put her feet back on the ground, he kissed her lips softly then whispered in her ear; "Hermione, you're so special to me, I don't want to lose you, or share you with anyone else. I will everything within my power to keep it that way, even if my father changed his mind one day."