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Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
The migraine lasted two weeks.
It was painful to watch him struggle through it.
Why do you keep refusing potions that would help you? She'd asked.
He'd stared at her for a moment before wincing. Because I'm too reliant on them as it is, and I've already seen enough of addiction. My father and his bottle when I was young was more than enough exposure.
She hadn't known what to say to that, but it didn't do anything to diminish the fervor for which she pestered him about taking anything to help.
In the end, a combination of her constant nagging and the discomfort won out.
His need to deny potions was broken after the first week, and even before that he'd caved enough to begin taking the migraine potion tablets that he'd made. She wasn't sure how much it helped, seeing how light was torture and sometimes in the night before they fell asleep he would be in actual tears over the pain.
It's the visions. He'd said. It means something's about to happen.
He didn't exactly say what.
Though somehow she thought it might be the Godric's Hollow attack he told her was being planned.
She shook her head over the cauldron she was letting brew with another batch of pain potions. She needed to keep busy and Draco's supplies were low.
The color finally settled and she cut the fire from beneath it, letting it cool before she bottled it.
She'd wanted to learn to encapsulate them, but Draco hadn't had the time, nor the energy really, to teach her. Though, his notes were fair game, but somehow, she wanted to actual watch him do it the first time before she attempted to experiment with it on her own.
She sighed leaning against the counter of the kitchen. He'd surprised her this morning before he left that they would be going out. First to Diagon Alley and next to visit Andromeda, and she couldn't decide which one elicited the most excitement for her. She grinned slightly at how Pansy and by extension Theo had invited themselves along. It was nearing Christmas and from what she could discern Draco had no decorations.
Just because she was trapped didn't mean she wasn't going to make the most of it, and adopting holiday spirit right now would be appreciated if not for Draco than certainly for herself.
She wondered how they'd celebrated holidays at Malfoy Manor. The looming mansion hardly lent itself to light and festivities.
She could find out….
She shook her head. She'd betrayed his confidence in reading in his mother's diary; though, he had been rather forgiving when she'd confessed to it. He'd shrugged it off, and told her it was easier than him telling her about his mother. But, when he said it, he'd just taken a rather strong pain potion and was rather relaxed and detached. She strongly believed that had he been completely aware, he wouldn't have been as nonchalant on the matter.
She'd told him about her parchments. It's seemed only fair. His reaction was odd. Even now, it puzzled her. He'd grown incredibly quiet before saying he remembered reading these parchments before the Battle. Other than that, he didn't seem to have much of an answer for why they were so important. He had offered more parchments that he'd collected from the Ministry as part of her research.
She took them greedily filled with a strange sense of contentment that they were finally working together for something.
She moved slowly out of the kitchen and towards the study. Her wand popped easily into her hand and she found herself undoing the wards and pulling out Narcissa's diary.
Her eyes brushed passed a December date, and instead she found herself unconsciously flipping to two months after the first entry she'd viewed.
She felt like a glutton for punishment. It wasn't like she enjoyed seeing Draco suffering, but his childhood illness explained so much of his early behavior at Hogwarts. His arrogance and acts of rebellion to put up a front for how truly damaging the incident had been.
Yet, as her fingers went to trace the leather edges, she realized her intense curiosity about this had nothing to do with Draco. Rather, she was enraptured at his parents. She'd never known the Malfoys, probably never would, but a part of her wanted to know where Draco had come from. It was no little thing that the one memory she'd seen of Narcissa had shown her formidable strength of character.
She was curious.
She sighed and began to read.
As with before, she felt her eyes closing and when she opened them she was back in the same hospital room she'd seen in the first memory.
This time, she was up on the bed with Draco asleep and curled into her side, his head resting on her thigh.
His breathing was low and shallow, and her heart clenched at the look of an IV coming from his tiny arm. Her gaze followed the tubing to a bag of fluid. Based on the color, it looked like a nourishing potion.
There were a few spells displaying his vitals but other than that the room was the same. She glanced down at Draco, and brushed through his hair with her fingers. He seemed paler, thinner, and his brow was furrowed even in deep sleep.
She let out a breath and didn't move when the door to the room opened.
Lucius Malfoy entered without waiting for her to invite him in.
He stopped at the foot of the bed, his gray eyes went to her face, well Narcissa's, before dropping down to take in Draco.
His eyes softened and there was something in them that gave her the impression he felt guilty.
"How is he?"
She blinked, unsure if she had actually heard anything. His voice had been uncharacteristically soft.
She let out a sigh.
"I asked him if he wanted to go out for a walk again. He enjoyed it so much the other time, but," her breath hitched, "he said he was too tired."
It wasn't really an answer to what Lucius had asked, but he seemed to accept it as sufficient.
He nodded and came further toward the head of the bed before sitting near her knees.
He bent over and his fingers went to a stain on Draco's shirt that she'd missed in her earlier assessment. Again, Narcissa's voice came from her lips.
"He had another nosebleed. Scared me silly when it wouldn't stop."
Lucius's head shot up to meet her gaze. He'd paled and after a moment he reached a hand out to brush strands of Draco's fringe to the side. She bit her lip when she noticed it was trembling.
"Lucius." She said lowly, "We have to start talking about the options the healers suggested."
"Narcissa."
"No, Lucius." She said sharply, "He's deteriorating in front of my eyes and if this transfusion procedure will help than I want him to have it."
Lucius sagged.
"We will both get tested."
"No." Inwardly, she blinked at the furious tone of Narcissa's voice.
"The healer said that if we had a relative closest in age to Draco, the procedure had a greater chance of working."
Lucius blinked, before his jaw tightened.
"I will not have that…"
Hermione seethed as she put two and two together. Tonks. Narcissa must be talking about asking Andromeda if her daughter would volunteer for the transfusion. Yet, even with Draco this ill, he was still clinging to pureblood ideals.
At this point, she wasn't sure where Narcissa's anger ended and hers began.
"We have options." Narcissa interrupted, "And we will discuss them both."
Both?
Ah.
Lucius's estranged sister.
Lucius was still silent, his jaw still tight, and she noticed a vein in his neck jutting out.
"You will agree Lucius. The situation was already grave when we got here. If we'd caught it before…"
"You don't have to remind me. You know I regret it. If I hadn't punished him for such a trivial…" Lucius began.
"It doesn't matter now." Narcissa said.
Hermione disagreed. She thought it mattered very much why Lucius felt guilty. Whatever this punishment was, he'd felt it had worsened Draco's condition. Based on their reactions, it must have been the event that keyed them in that Draco wasn't well.
"What matters right now is Draco." Narcissa said, her voice slightly trembling as it passed from her lips, "I nearly lost him before he was born. I will not lose him now Lucius."
He looked up and seemed to study her, no Narcissa's face, for quite some time before he cleared his throat.
"If he's not better by the end of the month, or if he gets worse, then we will start the transfusions."
She nodded after a moment of consideration.
Lucius sighed and looked back down to Draco. "We will not lose him." He murmured.
Hermione blinked as she was pulled from the memory, and not a second later she heard the ring of the Floo.
She set the journal back into its place before going out to the living room.
She couldn't help it, but the minute she saw his light head, she went straight for him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
He dropped his arms after a moment's hesitation and drew her closer to him.
"Hey." He whispered bending his head low to her ear, "What's the matter?"
She shook her head against his chest before looking up into his eyes.
She bit her lip, unsure if she was on the verge of crying or smiling that he was indeed here before her. "Nothing." She said, forcing a smile on her face, "I…I'm just really excited to finally be going outside this flat."
Draco inclined his head to the side, a slight look of doubt on his face before he bent down and kissed her softly on the lips.
"You look like you needed that." He murmured before stepping away from her.
She blinked and took in the sight of both Pansy and Theo smirking at her from behind Draco. She could feel her cheeks heating. Pansy's smirk seemed to widen into a full grin before she stepped forward and grabbed her hand.
"Come on Granger let's sort your Glamour."
She had no time to even react before Pansy had her in the guest room with door firmly shut.
Pansy let out a sigh. "Alright Granger, what's the matter?"
She shook her head. "I was just reading Narcissa's diary again."
Pansy shot her a look, her eyes narrowing before she shook her head.
"I know what you were reading. Don't punish yourself by reading about that time."
She said nothing, but turned toward the mirror and began charming her hair in long straight black tresses.
Pansy came up behind her and lightened her skin a shade before turning to her eyes, studying them for a moment.
"Keep them. No one's going to recognize the change." Pansy said after a moment.
Hermione nodded before turning to grab a jacket and scarf when she heard Pansy clear her throat from behind her.
"Granger."
She turned her head enough to watch Pansy out of the corner of her eyes.
"Past is the past. Let's have some fun today. After all, I don't think this place looks nearly festive enough."
She felt her mouth quirk up. Pansy smiled, a change from her normal smirk or grin. It smoothed the edges of her face, and Hermione found that it made Pansy look exceedingly more approachable. Like someone she could be friends with.
"Here's hoping the boys are in for holiday shopping." Hermione said slipping into her coat.
Pansy laughed from behind her as they both left the room toward the Floo.
She found as she stepped up to the Floo clutching her wand that was stowed away in her pocket that there were fewer places that she would rather be than right here.
She could feel him watching her the minute she stepped out of the Floo.
She must have truly concerned him if he was going out of his way to keep his eyes on her. She bit her lip and let Pansy link her arms through hers as they walked out of the Leaky and into Diagon Alley. Her eyes would stray toward Draco, watching him to gage how he was feeling. He seemed relaxed, but not completely so. His eyes still scanned the area, as though he was waiting for someone to come out from behind a corner and attack.
In his defense, it was a legitimate risk.
She picked out a bag and examined it. It was sturdy leather. In all actuality, it was quite nice; definitely an improvement from her old beaded handbag. This excursion was a supply trip as much as it was an opportunity to have some fun.
Bag. Clothing. A tent.
She was preparing.
In truth, she had been preparing for a while now. She'd been putting some of Draco's things to the side as well. Books. His clothes. He seemed to note their absence, but he hadn't said anything on the subject.
She got the impression he was simply avoiding a fight.
It made her fist tighten so that her fingernails dug into her palms.
He was coming with her that much she knew for sure.
She watched him pay for her things (after her numerous protests).
He had no reason to stay longer. He'd done enough, gotten enough information. He finished the transaction, and she caught him wince as he turned away from the shop owner.
She had a feeling this lifestyle he had elected for himself was more detrimental than he let on.
She was happy that starting today, he wouldn't have duties until New Year's.
"How'd he manage to get so much time away?" She asked Theo when Draco had broken away to go to the apothecary.
"Last year, he didn't say anything. Just pawned off his duties." Theo said shaking his head, "Then, he convinced them he was away on business and the Malfoy holdings were particularly sensitive this time of year."
She snorted. "Really? And Lucius didn't correct them?"
Theo glanced quickly around them before shooting her an exasperated expression. "Why would Lucius say anything? Besides." He shook his head, "It's not like he would know. Ever since he was arrested that time in 5th year…"
She snorted again. Arrested was a harsh term. Lucius had been apprehended and put in Azkaban for 3 months before he was released. Hardly much time at all, considering all he'd done.
"Draco's been managing the estate, well for the most part." Theo finished.
She blinked as she took in everything he'd said. "But." She began slowly, "Isn't it custom in pureblood families that only the Head of the House manages the estate?"
Theo gave her a long look.
"Right." She murmured. Draco had become the Head of his family. She felt slightly embarrassed that she hadn't put it all together. No wonder he never seemed concerned about his father's meddling into his affairs. His father would force himself to resist, no matter how much he may want too.
The one thing that you could always expect from purebloods is their irrational need to cling to traditions.
Well, at least the older generation.
She stole a glance at Theo who was now focused on Draco and Pansy who were both making their way back to them. She caught a dangerous gleam in Pansy's eyes and had only a moment to prepare before she was yanked away in one direction.
"Alright enough supply shopping. We're doing gifts now, so both of you shoo." Pansy called over her shoulder, "And make sure to get a tree!"
Hermione groaned at the attention Pansy was drawing, but the girl only laughed in response.
True to her word Pansy dragged her to every boutique in Diagon Alley, places she didn't think she remembered ever being there. She wanted to get gifts for everyone, even those who were staying with Andromeda, and for this Pansy proved to be a big help. Though, near the end, one gift was still alluding her.
Draco.
He was proving to be impossible to shop for. Everything she could possibly get him; he could get himself.
Pansy had pressed her lips into a smug smile at her frustration.
"I think he'd love anything you gave him, even if it was only just a good memory." Pansy said, seeing the look on her face, her smile widened. "But, if it helps, get something that has meaning. Something only the two of you would understand."
Hermione had pondered that as they walked on through the Alley. She paused when Flourish and Bolts came into view. She bit her lip as a laugh threatened to make its way out. Then she pulled Pansy by the arm toward the bookstore.
"You're awfully quiet Theo." Draco said leaning against a lamp post as they waited for Hermione and Pansy to finish.
Theo dug his hands into his pockets as the wind picked up. Draco shuddered at the sudden drop in the temperature. These days the cold seemed to go right through him.
"Shouldn't you be worried about what you're getting your girlfriend for the holiday?" Theo retorted without sparing him a glance.
Draco winced. He knew Theo was slightly bitter that Daphne had continued to keep her distance. It had been a major contributor to his deteriorating mood. Considering it had been a week since the letter, he wasn't too surprised. Theo had held on longer than he would have in any case.
Theo shook his head, running both his hands through his hair. He cupped the back of his neck and shot him an apologetic look.
"Didn't mean to snap."
"S'fine."
Theo sighed.
"I spoke to my father." His voice was low.
He felt his familiar mask of indifference slide across his face before he let his eyes wander around them. When he was satisfied that they weren't being watched, or followed for that matter, he stepped closer to Theo.
"What?" he hissed.
Theo let out another breath. "He told me he'd fake my death if I wanted."
Draco drew in a sharp breath. Faking a death to get away. So Theo's father still possessed a sense of familial obligation. He ignored the sharp stab in his gut when his mind drifted to Lucius.
"And you believe him."
Theo didn't answer for a moment. "He said he'd even help Daphne out. Then he mentioned something about the continuation of the family line." Theo scowled.
Well the reasoning wasn't perfect, but the sentiment was there.
"What," he licked his lips, which were becoming chapped rather quickly in the chilled air, "What did you say?"
Theo looked up at him.
"I told him that I appreciated the offer and I'd keep it in mind, but for now, there are things I can't leave behind."
It was probably one of the most genuine expression of sentiments they'd ever exchanged, and frankly, he was floored.
Theo smirked slightly before shoving his hands in his pockets and leaning against the lamp post.
"So have you?"
Draco blinked momentarily lost at what Theo was talking about.
"Have you gotten anything for your girlfriend?"
He cursed his fair complexion for being so easy to give himself away. He could feel the heat drift to his face, and he bit the inside of his lip as he shrugged.
Theo's smirk grew.
"I…" He coughed, "I actually got her something before…before the Battle. I'm going to give it to her now." His eyes drifted down to his shoes.
"Oh." Theo said.
Draco stole a glance at the other. Theo had dropped his smirk, though there was some hint of his amusement in his eyes.
He was thankfully saved from having to say more, when he heard familiar voices engaged in easy chatter.
"Well you miserable bastards." Pansy announced before kissing Theo's cheek and repeating the action to him. "Have fun."
Hermione frowned. "Are you not…"
"Occlumency shields Granger." Pansy leaned in as though to give her hug, "It's probably best I don't know everything."
Pansy turned on her heel and with one last wave she disappeared, her dark bob swaying as she stepped.
Hermione frowned, but turned back to them.
"Shall we." Draco motioned and didn't wait to see if they were walking behind him as he stepped down the street toward his aunt's home.
She watched Draco out of the corner of her eye. He went through a routine as they walked. Look around. Look behind them. He'd wince every so often, letting her know that the migraine still hadn't abated.
She held her breath as they stopped in front of a door and Draco knocked.
"What'd you list this one under?" Theo muttered from behind him.
She thought she might have seen Draco smile for a moment before he answered.
"Lucius Black."
Theo snorted just as the door swung open and they were ushered in.
They were barely into the sitting room before a thundering pair of footsteps coupled with a small blonde head rushed in and threw their tiny arms around Draco's legs.
She inclined her head and watched as Draco shot her a smirk before adopting a frustrated scowl.
"Ted, are you trying to tackle me to the floor?"
The small figure shook his head against his legs before looking up to Draco's face.
"Drake-o you're not really mad."
Draco cracked a smile before bending down and scooping Teddy up into his arms.
He turned to them. She resisted the urge to laugh as Teddy's eyes widened at the sight of Theo and her. He bent closer to Draco and whispered something in his ear.
Draco shook his head, silently laughing before he managed to introduce the two of them.
"You remember Theo, don't you Ted?"
Teddy stared at Theo a moment before nodding. "And this is Hermione." Draco shifted him in his arms so that he was facing her.
Teddy turned his gaze to her before inclining his head and glancing between Theo and her.
"You have the same eyes." He said simply before fussing with Draco to put him down and scurrying up the nearby steps.
Draco rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth tugged up.
Hermione was stunned at the scene, unsure if it had all actually occurred. Theo looked thoughtful, but avoided her gaze. She shook her head. It didn't mean much. Theo's eyes were green. Hers were sort of green. She supposed it made sense he would voice his observations.
She bit her lip before forcing a smile on her face.
She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed at the greeting though. She knew Harry spoke to Teddy occasionally, and he'd told his godson about them all. Though, thinking about it now, she supposed she couldn't fairly expect a child to retain and connect the person to the story if he'd never met them.
"He'll warm up to you dear."
She blinked and turned to the woman standing a ways behind them near an entrance to another room.
Andromeda Tonks.
The resemblance to her sister was uncanny. For a moment, she forgot just who she was standing in front of. Though, after a moment, the differences were easy to see. Her face was smooth, her eyes kind and alert, and her hair was a lovely chestnut brown. It was easy to see how beautiful the woman before her was despite the hardships she'd experienced over her life.
"Andromeda." Draco inclined his head in polite greeting.
Andromeda shot him a look, which elicited a snort from Draco. "Aunt Andromeda." He corrected.
The woman cracked a smile and seemed to glide as she came to stand before Draco and appraise him.
She looked between the two, and found she could pick apart the resemblance between them once they stood side by side.
The shape of the eyes, slope of the neck, the proud, though slender, shape of their shoulders. She drifted her eyes back up to the face. The cheekbones.
She allowed herself a small smile.
Every Black she'd ever met had striking looks. The two of them were no exception.
She watched as Andromeda cupped Draco's cheek and let her fingers go to the slight blemishes beneath his eyes. She sighed in disapproval before she turned to the two of them.
"Ah Theo, it's good to see you again." Her tone was warm as she turned to repeat the appraisal process on Theo. She clucked her tongue in disapproval. "If the two of you insist on trying my nerves, at least take care of yourselves properly." Theo grinned before telling her that yes he was eating properly and yes he would make sure Draco was eating properly as well.
Finally, Andromeda turned to her and surprised her when she drew her up into her arms.
She stiffened before relaxing into the hug.
"I'm so glad you're alright dear."
"Thank you Ms. Tonks."
Andromeda pulled away, shaking her head. "Call me Andromeda dear." She said before turning to usher them to have a seat and saying the others would be down shortly.
Hermione frowned. Others?
She stole a glance at Draco who had settled into a seat and motioned for her to join.
"Others?" She whispered.
Draco shrugged, looking up toward the steps at the sound of footsteps.
"It's a kind of safe house." Theo answered as he also glanced in the same direction.
She was about to ask who else was here when she heard a familiar voice shout out her name and come barreling into the room.
She stood quickly.
"Dean?"
The boy, man really, in question came closer and threw his arms around her in a tight hug.
"Oh my gods Dean, when you didn't report back after that mis-"
"-Got stuck in the city before the wards went up-"
They broke away looking at one another before bursting out in laughter.
"I'm glad you're alright Dean."
Dean nodded. "Yeah. Cut it close for a minute, but Malfoy found me and brought me here." He said with begrudging respect as he cast his eyes to the wizard in question.
"He hasn't hurt you Mione?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. In response, Dean threw his hands up in mock surrender. "Hey. Hey I had to ask."
She turned her head as more voices came into the room. She turned her head and noticed Hannah talking with Draco and an unruly Teddy in her grasp, who was fighting to be turned over to his cousin.
"I don't get how the bugger likes him so much. After all he's still a Death Eater."
"Dean." She scolded turning back to face her friend.
Dean shrugged his shoulders his eyes still narrowed in as Draco accepted Teddy from Hannah.
"If he were a bad man, Teddy wouldn't like him." She pursed her lips as she watched Teddy begin chattering away and waving a figurine in his hand, pointing for Draco to sit down on the couch.
"I trust him Dean. He's been on our side since the beginning."
Draco smiled at Teddy as he spelled his figurine to demonstrate the Quidditch move Dean had been telling the poor kid about.
He had to admit though that the constant chatter was getting to him. He rubbed between his brows at another flare of pain. This migraine had been the bane of his existence for the past two weeks. He'd thought it was finally gone this morning, but it was rapidly becoming apparent that that was not the case.
The same familiar house was beginning to blur into the scene before him, and he swore he could hear people shouting. He shuddered as he blocked the images out with practiced ease. This vision was something he knew.
Godric's Hollow.
No matter how he looked at it, he couldn't help but feel uneasy about this attack.
He felt someone tug at his sleeve, and he shifted his hand from his face to see Teddy staring at him, concern in his eyes that he'd turned to match his.
"Does your head hurt again Draco?"
He gave him a weak smile before ruffling the boy's hair.
"It's fine Ted."
Teddy bit his lip. "We can be quiet." He said solemnly.
He felt a full smile overtake him quickly. How on earth was Teddy even related to him? The kid was too kind to share his blood.
"I promise it's fine, but." He knelt his head to whisper into Teddy's ear. "You don't have to be loud to have fun."
Teddy pulled away, his eyes wide.
"Really?"
He nodded before leaning in and whispering again in his cousin's ear. When he was sure Teddy understood the plan, he sent the bugger off to tempt Theo into position.
He watched as Teddy charmed Theo into following him up the steps, and when he was sure no one was watching, he cast a sticking charm up the staircase.
It wasn't long before Teddy came squealing down the steps as Theo shouted from the top of the staircase.
He winked at Teddy, who promptly broke out into laughter before drifting off to tell someone else about the prank he'd pulled.
He shook his head laughing silently to himself as he knelt on the wall waiting for Theo to unstick himself.
"I've got to say, no matter how many times I see it, being good with children is not something I'd thought our Slytherin Prince and resident Sex God would have."
He stifled a groan and hoped to Merlin that he was not blushing at the silly titles he'd earned in Hogwarts.
"Don't you know that you can't believe everything you hear from the Hogwarts rumor mill." He said turning his head and nodding to Pucey in greeting. "Some of those rumors were vastly exaggerated."
"Some being the key word." Adrian replied.
He shrugged, letting his eyes drift to Hermione who seemed to be catching up with Abbot. He was pleased that Teddy seemed to have warmed up to her, at least if his chattering was anything to go by.
For a moment, her eyes caught his and she blushed slightly before smiling and then turning her focus back on Teddy.
He could feel Pucey's gaze drift from Hermione back to him before he smirked.
"A good rumor went a long way in our Common Room." Draco said then, drawing Pucey's attention from Hermione back to him.
Adrian snorted, but didn't argue.
They both turned to look up the steps as Theo stumbled down, shooting him a glare. "Prat." Theo said.
He exchanged a look with Adrian and the two burst out in laughter that seemed to drag on too long for Theo.
"Alright. Alright. Enough." Theo snapped.
Adrian smirked and cleared his throat.
"Right, as amusing as it is that Nott was tricked by a 2 year old," Theo growled, though Adrian easily ignored him, as he continued, "I was actually wondering if you'd figured a way out for us yet Malfoy."
He sighed, stealing a quick look at Hermione.
"I have."
Adrian's brow rose, "But."
"But it's risky. Even with the papers and polyjuice, you cross the border and pass the apparition wards, there's still the matter that not all of you have wands." He glanced at Pucey, "And illegal apparition is still monitored at the Ministry, even outside the city."
Pucey looked sour, as he nodded in understanding.
"Though, if there was a distraction or something it might leave you with better odds." Theo said after a moment.
Draco frowned. It was a valid point. In fact, it may not even require a distraction. There were certain days that were remarkably more lax than others. The more he thought about it, the more he found himself caving to the idea.
"New Year's Day." He said then.
Both of the former Slytherin's turned their heads to him.
"New Year's Day." He repeated, "Patrols will be nearly non-existent. Ministry presence will be down. Anyone there will probably be hung over. It would be a good time to get everyone out."
He saw Theo mentally begin to analyze what he'd said and Pucey looked thoughtful, as though he was already plotting escape.
He met Theo's eyes, and after a moment he nodded in agreement.
Pucey smiled slightly.
"I'll start planning then."
She tried to keep her eyes from drifting too often to Draco. It seemed futile though. She couldn't help but smile when she caught his own come forth in response to something Teddy had done.
She took it in, slow, savoring the rare sight. Her eyes went from the slight shake in his shoulders from the laughter to that same right dimple she'd only seen a handful of times.
Gods.
He looked the best like that.
Like he was momentarily free.
She smiled to herself and was thankful that Hannah had had to get up and do something or another, leaving her alone with her thoughts. Her brow rose at the sight of Adrian Pucey.
Another renegade Slytherin?
The only other sight that left her at a loss were the two figures on the opposite side of the room. They looked like siblings, both with dark mocha skin, but light brown eyes. The boy looked to be her age, the girl was decidedly younger.
"The Winters." Dean said sitting beside her, "They came with Pucey one night."
She turned her head toward Dean, though her vision lingered on the pair.
"Half-bloods. Their mum was a muggle."
She let out a breath.
"How'd Pucey know them?"
"Well, one of them's the reason he's been disowned."
Hermione frowned.
"Why on earth…"
"Andrew." Dean said, "Adrian Pucey got disowned for carrying on with Andrew Winters."
Her stomach clenched and she looked back to Adrian, really examining him. She almost gave up when she did catch his eye drift toward the boy in question and soften momentarily.
She wondered how hard that had been.
Her eyes drifted to Draco.
She let out a breath.
Incredibly hard.
She could speak from experience.
"Hermione dear." She tore her focus from Draco up to Andromeda. "I was wondering if you'd help me with something in the kitchen."
She opened her mouth and closed it. She had no real reason to deny the witch's request, so begrudgingly she left her safe spot on the couch and followed Andromeda into a small, but tidy kitchen.
Andromeda regarded her intently.
"I don't know you very well Hermione." She began, "But by all accounts you are a formidable foe, a powerful ally, and…" Andromeda paused then her cool eyes moved from Hermione's feet up to her head. "And a truly remarkable friend."
Hermione squared her shoulders despite the trembling in her chest.
"I try to be."
Andromeda nodded, as though her response was exactly right.
She let out a breath, unsure what exactly was meant to be gained by this. It was beginning to feel more and more like an interrogation.
"I see how you look at him, that nephew of mine."
Her brow shot up to her hairline, and she found her voice had died in her throat.
She took in Andromeda's expression, her neck poised high and her shoulders back. She appeared every bit the regal Black she'd been raised as. Though when she looked at her, she didn't feel like she was being snubbed. Andromeda was regarding her with curiosity, like one does an equal.
"And I see how he looks at you." Andromeda pursed her lips, "He would give you everything, the world if he had it."
She seemed to finally regain enough of her voice to finally speak.
"I don't need it." Hermione whispered. The gravity of that statement was too much. The fact that Andromeda could sense it at all, when they hadn't been together from the moment they entered the room left her feeling warm and cold at the same time. It made her feel raw, and yet, she couldn't deny the premise of what had been said.
It was, in a way, exactly what she would do for him.
"Hermione." Andromeda said with a faraway look in her eyes, "That boy, that nephew of mine, he's going to have the world, whether he realizes it or not. It's in him. That need for it; to take and mold something in a way he can be proud of."
Her heart beat frantically, and she wondered, for a moment, if she was still breathing.
"So I ask you Hermione." Andromeda said turning back to her, and she was struck with the thought that in another life she could have and should have been having this conversation with Narcissa not her sister, "If Draco comes with the world…"
And here was the test.
She didn't even think about her response before it was out.
"I take them both." Hermione said without blinking.
A wryly grin stretched across Andromeda's face, "Good girl." She turned back to rummage through the kitchen. "Gods knows that between the both of you, the world will actually be at your feet for better or worse."
Hermione turned away quickly letting herself get lost in the pattern of the table cloth; unsure if she wanted to think about the implication of Andromeda's words or if she actually agreed with them.
I take them both.
She already had.
She caught up with Draco and Theo soon after her talk with Andromeda. It wasn't long after that they'd left, with Andromeda extracting a promise for them to be back for Christmas. When they returned to the flat, Theo broke away to head home.
She saw Draco's uneasy expression at Theo's departure. She vowed to ask him if he'd rather Theo stay with them. It's not as though she used the guest room now.
The apartment had been decorated all except for a tree in the corner of the living room that had a piece of parchment hanging off a branch. She took the note, grinning at Pansy's antics, glad that the other girl had at least left one piece of decorating for them to do.
Draco had shaken his head at the sight, but she saw the slight quirk in his lips that betrayed his amusement.
She'd immediately starting rummaging through ornaments and lights. Draco had stood there and accepted everything she handed him, while dutifully following her directions for where to place them.
She blinked up at the completed tree with a grin playing at her lips. She turned and found Draco watching her from the couch. His eyes were hooded as he looked up at her. His expression was soft, but she saw the tension still in his shoulders, despite lying flat on his stomach across the sofa. He saw her grin slip. and he lifted himself up. She didn't miss the way he winced at the motion.
"What?" he asked softly.
"How long has your head been hurting again?"
He shook his head. "Not long." His breath hitched at the end.
She walked swiftly over to the couch and took his head into her hands, messaging through his hair. He moaned at her movements, and she felt the tension recede as she continued. She frowned at the slight heat in his skin.
"I really don't want to see anymore." He muttered dropping his head into her lap completely.
She moved her hands down to his neck and then back up to the back of his head.
"Let me get you a potion."
He shook his head against her thigh.
"Draco."
"It took something cataclysmic for father to stop drinking. I don't want to even start." He muttered.
He turned to look up at her and her fingers automatically went to brush his hair from his eyes. His forehead was warm against her fingertips.
"What happened?"
She grimaced as the words left her lips.
His gaze darkened, looking away. "He…he lost it while he'd been drinking, took it out on me and…"
Her eyes widened. "They found out you were sick after."
He nodded.
She pressed a kiss to his temple. "No more bad thoughts tonight."
She tugged on his arm and he followed without protest behind her, pausing only when she reached the bathroom door.
She kissed him softly before flicking her wand to fill the tub.
He seemed to catch on and he let her strip him slowly before climbing into the tub.
He lent his head back on the edge and raised his brow expectedly.
She smiled and didn't waste time in climbing in behind him. He rested his head against her chest and hummed as his fingers traced patterns on her thighs.
"Is it helping?"
He nodded before turning around and lathering her in soap and rinsing her off. His fingers made quick work of her muscles, and she found herself closing her eyes, with her head thrown back.
"You're the one who's supposed to be relaxing." She murmured.
He laughed, kissing her soundly on the mouth. "This is relaxing." He said moving his hand suggestively lower.
"Incorrigible." She muttered leaning into him to press kisses down his neck.
She opened her eyes then to look into his. They were watching her intently, memorizing her features.
She could see his words in them.
What did I do to deserve this?
She hated that. She hated that he would probably always feel that way to some extent; insecure and worried that he'd lose whatever happiness he'd found.
She kissed his temple, relieved that the slight fever she'd felt earlier had gone.
Then she kissed him slow taking her time until he grew impatient and his tongue forced its way in.
They were content to just stay in the tub like that, moving their hands over the other and tangling their limbs closer. By the time they did get out, the skin of their fingers and toes were crinkled.
Draco looked like he was on the edge of sleep when they crawled into his bed a few drying spells later.
"I have a bad feeling about Godric's Hollow." He murmured as he curled around her and trapped her legs between his.
She hummed in response and tightened her own hold around him. She had guessed that Godric's Hollow was the subject of his most recent onslaught of visions, and she was praying, against all odds, he'd be able to throw the leadership back to Dolohov and not go.
"Let's not talk about that. Let's talk about something happy."
Draco snorted and she laughed silently at the expression of disbelief on his face.
"Tell me something." She murmured moving herself closer to him. "Tell me a good Christmas memory."
He gave her a look, before rolling his eyes. "Alright." He mused, thinking for a moment, "Well then last Christmas is out, the happiest thing that happened then was I caught strep and slept through the holiday."
His free hand went to his left forearm tracing the light white bands marring the flesh. Somehow, she got the impression that strep had been the least of his worries last year.
He bent his head and kissed her forehead as he continued to think.
"Hmm. Alright, I think I've got one." He said softly against her skin. He pulled away and absently ran his and through her hair. "One of my earliest memories, I was maybe 4."
She nodded to show she was following.
"My mum used to throw a gala on the night before Christmas Eve. It was an elaborate affair, getting an invitation was a great honor." He snorted before biting his lip, becoming lost in the memory. "I'd snuck away from the elf that was supposed to be watching me and wondered into the ballroom where mum was organizing the final touches on the decorations."
She smiled picturing the scene.
"The musicians were setting up and for a moment my mother seemed to forget anyone was in the room as she lost herself in their playing, dancing slow to the beat. Then, like the petulant child I was, I decided I wanted her attention."
She giggled, tracing his jaw.
"I still think you're a bit of petulant child in that way."
He grinned, stealing another kiss from her.
"I told her to teach me what she was doing... I remember she laughed and took my hands into hers as she tried to get me to make the same steps like she was doing." He laughed lightly, "Eventually she just told me to step up onto her feet and she did the steps even slower so I wouldn't fall off."
He smiled leaning his head against hers.
"That's." she cleared her throat, "That's a lovely memory."
He made a sound of agreement before meeting her eyes.
"Your turn."
She smiled slightly, not having to think about her memory at all.
"Until the age of 7, my parents and I lived in a flat in the city, after that we moved to a bigger house further away." She bit her lip, "I loved that flat."
Draco hummed to show he was listening as he idly continued to play with her hair.
"Every Christmas we spent in that flat, my father would take me up to the roof of our building, and we'd build a snowman."
"Why?"
She laughed, shaking her head, "So Santa would know which building was ours."
Draco chuckled, his eyes closing.
"Then we'd sit up until everyone else's lights were off after I'd begged him that I could and would be sitting up and waiting for Santa to visit."
"Stubborn even then." Draco murmured.
She nodded in agreement.
"With all the lights off, we'd be able to make out some stars. Dad would point out the constellations he knew until eventually I was too tired to notice that he'd carried me back inside."
Draco opened his eyes slightly.
He lent in closer and kissed her, and she got the impression that was the best way he knew to respond.
She smiled against his lips.
"Draco was one of the constellations he knew."
He pulled away, a grin on his face.
"So you saw my stars."
She rolled her eyes. "Yes, I did."
He smiled and leaned his head to rest in the crook of her neck. She felt him grimace again, and she took her hands back to run through his hair.
"Go to sleep love." She murmured, and they did both of them, tangled in each others arms.