Pairing: DracoHermione

Prompt: 755. Coming Back to Life

Word count: 407

Coming Back to Life

He'd woken to sunlight streaming into his eyes, and the house elf at the end of his bed laying out his clothes for that day.

"Master Draco, it is time to get up. It's your first day of Hogwarts!" The hideous creature bounced around his room, pulling out his trunk and packing it.

Draco groaned, covering his head with the pillow.

"Master Draco, Miss Narcissa says it won't be so bad."

"So bad?" Draco sat up. "I am a hero at the school! I was the one who essentially defeated the Dar- Voldemort. Potter just thinks he did. No, it isn't school I'm worried about, it's…."

"Oh, I see, Master Draco." The house elf blushed. "I'm sure she hasn't forgotten you."

Draco scowled despite that being his exact fear. They had exchanged letters over the holidays, but it had been a week since he'd last heard from her and it made him worried. A summer romance, he assumed. She'd probably go back to Weasley or Potter or whoever, now that things had settled down.

"Master Draco, you must get up." The house elf threw some clothes his way. "The train leaves in an hour!"

…

It felt strange being back. It was like stepping back into a life he had tried to forget about. The ceiling was enchanted, new students were walking through with wide, awestruck eyes and the Sorting Hat still sat on the three-legged stool, waiting to sort. The only thing that was different was that she was watching him from the Gryffindor table with a smile on her face, not scorn.

He returned her smile. Finally, life was coming back to him.

…

"It feels weird, the two of us here, not arguing."

She pressed lips to his. They were warm, soft and gentle against his own rough and battered skin.

"I suppose, but I feel we've gotten to know each other better after the war. And you acting as a spy for the Order certainly helped your cause. Even Ron is running out of excuses to not forgive you." She kissed him again.

"How do they feel about… you know?"

"As I said, coming to terms." She kissed him one more time and squeezed his hand. "Come on," she said in a teasing, soft voice, "let's get to class, or we'll be late on our first day."

Draco grinned. It really did feel like he was coming back to life.

Because of Hermione.

This pairing was requested by Lalas-rainbowlight.

If you would like to make your own request for a chapter with a pairing, a character, anything, I am accepting any and all requests via PM (only). Please PM me and I will definitely write it for you!