The next Friday
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Pulling her hair into a classy bun, Hermione looked at herself in the mirror. She had opted to wear a black button down short sleeved shirt, the top part was sheer and it had a built in tank top. She smoothed out her forest green pleated skirt, hoping she wouldn't trip in her silver high heels. She felt unsure about their stability with only an ankle and toe straps.
A knock on her door brought her out of her musings. Carefully walking thought her flat, she was greeted with the smiling face of Draco Malfoy.
"You look beautiful."
Hermione blushed as she stepped aside. "Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself."
Draco was wearing dark wash jeans, a blue and white plaid button down shirt, and a black jacket. His hair was windblown and Hermione found herself wanting to run her fingers through it. The past five years had been, really, good to him.
The blonde preened at the compliment. Then he took in her apartment. The walls appeared to be white washed, the carpet was drab grey, the kitchenette was tiny, and there was a single leather couch in the front room. She didn't even have a kitchen table and chair. "Hermione, I know you have money…"
"Hmm, I do, don't I?" Hermione smirked. "And yet I'm not living lavishly."
"Is everything you do political?"
"No." Hermione shook her head. "I could have announced my birthright and have anyone I wanted."
Draco looked over at her and smiled. "I got you something."
Hermione took the proffered package.
"It's a Pureblood thing." Draco explained as she tore open the wrapping. "It's a statement saying you are unavailable."
As the last bit of paper fell away, Hermione gasped. There, in her hand, was a beautiful bracelet. Two snakes were twining around themselves. One was copper and had emeralds running the length of its spine and atop its head was a ruby surrounded by more emeralds. The other one was green and had diamonds running the length of its spine and atop its head was an emerald surrounded by more diamonds.
"I'm glad you like it." Draco smiled.
"Draco, how much did this cost?" Hermione looked up from the bracelet, her voice sounding small.
Draco approached her and took it out of her hand, before grabbing her left arm and sliding it over her wrist. The snakes tightened around her wrist. "Does it really matter?"
Looking at the beautiful piece of jewelry, Hermione smiled. "No, it doesn't. Thank you."
"Is my lady ready for her date?" Draco grinned and offered her his arm.
Shaking her head, Hermione threaded his arm through her. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
Hermione laughed at his evasion. She had missed him so much.
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Draco had taken her to The Wand and Flowers, it was a nice little place. The perfect spot for them to introduce their budding romance. It was a place where they would be noticed; but Hermione's, perceived, blood statues wouldn't be questioned.
Hermione and Draco fell back into the comfortable comradery they had in their Eighth Year.
"Oh I missed this." Hermione flashed Draco a smile.
"Yeah?"
"Mhmm." Hermione nodded. "Why did you stay away? The real reason this time."
Draco looked away, Hermione noted that the light from outside made his hair glow.
"I… honestly, I didn't believe that I deserved your friendship." Draco shook his head. "Especially after what Ron said."
Hermione frowned. "I wouldn't listen to anything he says."
Draco raised an eyebrow.
Hermione shook her head, she wasn't going to talk about that here.
"Tell me, do you want our understanding to be in the papers tomorrow?"
"Do you?" Hermione leaned forward, a soft expression on her face. "I don't have a timetable."
Draco gently ran the back of his hand down her face. "I want the world to know you are mine. I have been yours for so long."
"Then yes." Hermione turned her face to kiss the back of his hand. As Draco retracted his hand, she looked into his grey eyes. "Just so you know, I've been yours for a while too. It just took me longer to realize."
Smiling at her, Draco offered his arm. "Milady."
"Not quite." Hermione smirked.
The walked arm in arm through the brisk autumn air. Draco spun her just to see her skirt billow around her ankles.
"There's the bookshop, you sure about this?" Draco whispered in her ear.
"Are you?" Hermione asked, voice soft to tell him it wasn't a challenge but a genuine question.
Instead of answering, Draco grasped her wrist and tugged her into the light.
"Draco." Hermione giggled, a smile lighting up her eyes.
Spinning her towards him, Draco smirked. "Yes?"
Hermione stood on her toes and brushed her lips against his. It hadn't been planned, but seeing him so happy, she couldn't help herself. She pulled away slightly, hands resting against his chest and a look of adoration on her face. Draco, whose hands gripped her hips, was looking down at her like she was his whole world.
He nuzzled his nose against her ear. "Did you mean it?"
"Yes." Hermione grinned. "And this time I'm not running away."
"The bloody hell!" Ron yelled, door to the bookshop slamming against the outer wall.
Tucking herself against the Slytherin, Hermione turned to face the fuming ginger. "How can I help you, Mr. Weasley?"
"What the hell are you doing with Malfoy?" Ron growled.
"We were on a date." Hermione was shaking against Draco's side. He wrapped a possessive arm around her shoulders. "It was nice, until you showed up."
"He's Death Eater scum." Ron sneered.
Anger overruled fear and Hermione stepped out of Draco's protective embrace. She stalked toward Ron and jabbed him in the chest with her left pointer finger. "He. Was. Forced. To. Be. One. Of. Them."
Ron smacked her across the face with enough force to send her sprawling on the ground.
Whipping out his wand, Draco advanced on the Weasley. Once he got between Ron and Hermione, Draco growled. "If you ever touch her again, I will…"
"What's going on out here?" Harry asked.
Hermione, who had gotten to her feet, stayed behind Draco. "I was on a date."
Draco, who hated how small and scared it sounded, wrapped his arm around her waist.
"Who with?" Harry asked.
"Apparently the snake." Ron sneered.
Harry frowned. "Why were you on the ground?"
"Why don't you ask your best friend?" Hermione snapped, she was close to bursting into sobs. "Come on, Draco."
With one last glare at the ginger, Draco led Hermione away from the bookshop and her, once, best friends.
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Once they got back to her flat, Hermione immediately started walking to her bedroom. "Thank you for the date, it was…"
Draco, very gently, grabbed her wrist. "Let me see your face, please."
Closing her eyes, Hermione spun to face him.
"Hermione." Draco breathed. Her cheek was already bruising from the slap, and tears were rolling down her face. The blonde led her to the sofa and pulled out his wand. Muttering a healing spell, he watched the mark disappear form her skin. "Care to tell me what happened?"
"We had a falling out."
Placing his hands on either side of her face, Draco wiped her tears away with his thumbs. "Please, I just want to help. You're shaking, Mia."
Hermione looked up at the use of her nickname. She hated 'Mione; but the one Draco bestowed on her during their Eighth Year, she loved. "After we graduated, I tried to rekindle my relationship with Ronald. He wanted me to move in with him and cook and clean and take care of him. I refused and got my own flat. Things went downhill when I refused to sleep with him."
Draco gathered her into his arms. Tucking her head under his chin, Hermione wrapped her arms around his torso and pulled her legs onto the couch. Trying to restrain his anger at the ginger, Draco softly asked, "What happened next?"
"I broke up with him. The Weasleys kicked me out of their house…"
"Excuse me?!" Draco exclaimed. "The family who fostered you disowned you because you refused their son?"
"All but Bill and George." Hermione nodded against Draco's chest. "I think I'm getting snot on your shirt."
"Here." Draco handed her his handkerchief.
Hermione blew her nose. "Thank you. I'm sure this was not how you envisioned the night to end."
Placing a kiss to the top of her head, Draco sighed. "No, but I want to know what their problem is."
"Harry sided with Ron." Hermione sighed. "I didn't even have my own parents to go to, they had already disowned me. Thankfully, Bill and Fleur were at the Burrow when Molly kicked me out. Bill put his arm around me and said: 'If she's not welcome neither am I.' Fleur look so proud, she told Molly: 'Zee only memberz of your family zat I like are Bill and George. I liked Fred too.' I moved in with them for a while. I still visit from time to time. Teddy's gotten so big."
"That doesn't explain why you're terrified of him." Draco was running his fingers through her curls.
"He was violent, and drunk." Hermione shuddered and pressed herself closer to Draco. The man who comforted her when she woke up screaming while they were at school. "What you saw was nothing compared to when I broke up with him. If I didn't have a House Elf I would be dead."
"What?!" Draco was shaking with rage. "Why isn't he in Azkaban?"
"Who would believe me?" Hermione muttered.
Draco nuzzled the top of her head. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
"Not your fault." Hermione sighed, before standing up. "You should get going. We have a meeting tomorrow."
"Hermione." Draco cupped her face in his hands. "Are you going to be okay?"
"Yes." Hermione nodded. Surging upwards she claimed his lips in a fierce kiss. "I will be."
Draco looked at the floor. "I hate to ask…"
"I don't love him, I don't know if I ever did." Hermione shook her head.
A pop startled them both. "If Alva may be so bold," A female house elf smiled at the blonde boy. "The ginger boy was underserving of mistress' attention."
"Thank you Alva." Hermione blushed.
"Would Mr. Malfoy like Alva to show him out?" Alva cocked her head. "Mistress has a big day tomorrow."
Draco bit his lip to keep from laughing. Hermione Gran… Selwyn had a house elf calling her 'mistress'. "That would be lovely, thank you."
"Draco." Hermione called, causing him to turn. "I had a great night with you."
Draco smiled. "Next time we go out, it won't be to further our cause."
Hermione giggled, eyes shining with laughter.
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A/N: Hope this answers some of your questions.