Chapter 10. The Howler
POV Hermione
It had been 2 days since Hermione had woken up from her coma, and her loyal Slytherin shadows had hardly left her side. They waited on her hand and foot, supporting her every step of the way. She wondered what her 11-year-old self would say if she found out about this little family she had found.
Being friends with the green trio was easy in a way that it had never been with Harry and Ron. Draco, Theo and Pansy looked at her as a friend and she could have intelligent conversations with them about anything and they wouldn't roll their eyes or tune her out. With Harry and Ron, they said she was their "friend" but all she really was was a mother that could clean up their messes.
"Good morning Hermione."
"Good morning Minerva. Please tell me you have good news?"
She could hopefully go home today. She and Minerva had discussed options yesterday and Hermione had decided to finish out her year from home via correspondence. Minerva had made her promise to not do an ounce of studying till at least April and Hermione reluctantly agreed. They also had the issue of Hermione being alone to solve. She was able to move around but she was still very weak and it wouldn't be safe for her to do certain things like showering on her own.
Draco had offered immedietly, stating he could also do his studies via correspondence and be there to care for her. But with his probation still in effect until graduation there were a lot of loopholes that needed to be jumped through.
"I do actually. I just returned from the Ministry and while it was not easy, I do have the approval papers for Mr. Malfoy to accompany you home."
"Oh wonderful! I can't thank you enough Minerva, I know they only approved it because you're so well respected and they trust you. He won't mess up I promise." She said chewing on her lip.
"I know very well that Mr. Malfoy will follow the rules and keep his nose clean. I have full faith in him." She patted her arm and sat at the foot of her bed. "I've also received requests from Mr. Nott and Miss. Parkinson to finish off their schooling from home as well. Seems like you are growing quite the collection of Slytherin's."
"They never give me a moments peace." She said playfully. The truth was she loved the company. She didn't want to be left alone with her thoughts and her new friends were the perfect distraction.
"Well, I have sent your escort to his dorm to pack his things. It will be a week or so before I can get approval to let Nott and Parkinson go, so that gives you time to settle. Whenever you're ready, I will take you up to your dorm to pack your things."
"Oh. Um. Minerva, would you mind terribly if someone else did it? I don't really want to be a spectacle. Plus Ginny and Harry are there."
"Of course." She said, giving her a sympathetic look. "I wish I could excuse Mr. Potters behavior Hermione, but I won't. The way he has behaved himself is shameful ."
Tears stung her eyes. Less than a year ago, Hermione would have confidently said that she and the other two other members of the Golden Trio would have been inseparable. They had killed and, in Harry's case, been killed for each other. She would never have guessed that betrayal would be a feeling ever associated with her former best friends.
"I wish I knew why he never came." She said, wiping her eyes, "I know he was always closer to Ron, but—"
"Hermione, listen to me. I don't have an explanation for why he's never come. But what I can tell you, is that if this is how he chooses to treat you, after all you have done for them, for everyone, then you don't need him."
She was right, but it didn't lessen the pain. These last couple days have shown her just what true friendship is supposed to be, which only exasperated her sadness for what she had lost with Harry and Ron.
"Granger? What's wrong?" She hadn't heard Malfoy come in. He rushed to her side and placed his hands on each side of her face, wiping her tears.
"I'm just being silly." She said, shaking her head, "I'll be okay."
He leaned over and gave her a kiss. When he pulled back and she caught his gaze, Hermione was sure she would never be able to reconcile the fact the Draco Malfoy was her…
Boyfriend? Soul Mate? Are we together? We never discussed it.
"You're sure?" He asked, as he sat beside her and pulled her into him, "I don't know how to be a good boyfriend, but I'm going to try my best."
"Is that what you are? My boyfriend?.. I mean…it's just we never discussed it and I didn't want to assume i—"
He silenced her with a kiss and she melted into him, realizing she couldn't think of anything else in the world that felt as good as kissing him.
"Do you want me to be?" His face was mere inches from hers and his voice vibrated through her chest. She flushed under his gaze.
"Yes" she breathed, closing her eyes.
He ran his thumb along her jawline and heat began to pool between her legs.
A figure long forgotten cleared their throat making Hermione jump.
"Mr. Malfoy, I trust you have your things gathered and sent to my office?"
"Yes Headmistress" he said, as he turned sheepishly towards her.
"Alright then. Hermione, I am headed to gather your things. I have instructed an elf to bring you a pair of comfortable clothes to wear home. Once you are dressed and speak with Madam Pomfrey for your home care instructions you may head up to meet me in my office."
"Thank you Minerva. For everything."
"My dear it is the least I can do after all you have done for us all." She said, and gave her leg a gentle squeeze before turning to walk out the door.
--
Hermione was dressed and ready to go when an owl suddenly swooped in through a back window and dropped an angry burgundy red letter on her bed. Her breath caught in her throat. Someone had sent her a howler. Draco went to grab it but Hermione snatched it up before he could. She flipped it over and recognized the handwriting immediately. She had sat next to Ginny Weasley every class this year and had spent many evenings studying along side her.
She was tempted to burn it, but she knew another would appear, more volatile than the last. It began to smoke in her hands as the seconds ticked by and so she steeled herself and popped open the seal on the back.
"YOU BLOODY STUPID BITCH! I CANT BELIEVE YOU WOULD DO THIS TO MY FAMILY! TO ME! TO HARRY! WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE ATTACK AND THAT MY BROTHER HAD BEEN ARRESTED I THOUGHT THERE MUST BE A MISTAKE! HERMIONE WILL STRAIGHTEN IT OUT ONCE SHEA AWAKE! THE ONLY WITNESSES WERE SLYTHERINS, SURELY HERMIONE IS SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER THAN TO TRUST A DIRTY SNAKE! NOT TO MENTION A DEATH EATER! BUT THEN I LO AND BEHOLD, I DISCOVER YOU WERE SNUGGLED UP TO THE DEATH EATER HIMSELF AT THE BALL! I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT! I HAD BEEN THERE FOR MOST OF IT! EXCEPT FOR WHEN I LEFT WITH HARRY AND RON AFTER YOUR FIGHT ABOUT KRUM! I HAD HOPED TO TALK TO YOU ONCE YOU WERE OUT OF THE HOSPITAL WING BUT TURNS OUT YOUR GOING HOME! CANT EVEN FACE THE FAMILY YOU DECIDED TO TEAR APART! YOU ARE A COWARD AND A TRAITOR! ENJOY YOUR TIME WITH THE SNAKES CAUSE THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME WE EVER SPEAK TO YOU!"
The letter caught fire and disintegrated in her hands leaving a booming silence in its wake. Tears poured from Hermione's eyes as she was suddenly engulfed in the arms of not only Draco, but Pansy and Theo as well. She hadn't notice them come in, but she had never been so happy to know they were there. She shook and sputtered incomprehensible words as her three "snakes" held on to her and poured all their comfort into her.
"That bitch is dead. She will live to regret every word that she spat out of that letter." Pansy seethed, conjuring a tissue for Hermione to wipe her eyes, "Potter too. Scarhead will rue the day he befriended those ginger cunts. "
"What are you thinking Pans? Blasting curse? Or maybe using her own bat-bogey hex against her? We could improve upon it, make it permanent unless we use the counter curse."
"I was thinking a little tit for tat. I'm not so pureblooded that I won't resort to muggle means to get retribution!"
"Please don't."
Her voice was so quiet it was barely heard. They all pulled back so she could turn to face them.
"Granger, we can't let her talk to you this way." Theo said with such anger, that she swore she could see flames in his eyes.
"I don't want you risking your freedom to get revenge for me. You two will be joining us in just a couple weeks and I don't want that ruined because you've been sent to Azkaban. She's not worth losing you two. Please."
"Are you saying you love us so much that you can't live without us?" a smirk was forming on Theo's face and Pansy was positively beaming.
"That is exactly what I am saying. Don't make me regret it."
Theo swept her up in a hug first, " I love you too, you swotty little bint." He said, and kissed the top of her head. He looked up and saw Draco furiously squinting at him.
Pansy hugged her next "I also love you little lion. Even if your choice of style is bad." She said and kissed her as well, this time on the cheek. "But we can fix that, once I get home, we're going shopping."
Hermione rolled her eyes and turned to Draco. A sudden awkward air filled the room and Hermione realized it was the implication of it being his turn to tell her he loved her. She knew it was too early and yet all she felt was desire to hear him say those words to her.
He pulled her in and covered her mouth with his own and it was almost as if she could feel the words dripping from every swipe of his tongue across hers.
Enough for now.
--
They made their way through the castle and up to McGonagall's office.
"Come in" she said, when they knocked on her door.
The office looked exactly as it always had. It wasn't surprising. McGonagall had always had a deep admiration and love for Dumbledore. Hermione even guessed he had been her best friend, taking her in after her mistrust of the Ministry grew too strong for her to continue her employment with them.
"Awe Miss. Granger, Mr. Malfoy, a pleasure to see you." Hermione turned and saw the portrait of her old lively headmaster hung carefully amongst the other former heads of Hogwarts. Even the late Professor Snape was granted a portrait after all the secrets he held were brought to light during the final battle.
"Hello, Professor. Resting well?"
"I am quite, Miss. Granger, thank you. I hope you are healing well?" he said, as he placed his book down.
"Madam Pomfrey says I have far exceeded her expectations with where I should be in recovery at this point."
"Well I do not think any one of us is shocked by that revelation Miss. Granger." The voice of the late Potions Professor boomed from behind her.
"Oh, hello Professor. I see they finally finished your portrait."
"Yes, much to my disappointment I now find myself bound to this castle for eternity."
"Now now Severus, it's not too bad."
"Yes, bearing witness to the pubescent drama that seeps through the deepest walls of the dungeons is undoubtedly "not bad"".
Hermione giggled at his frustration and turned her attention towards McGonagall.
"Minerva, I feel I should inform you that I received a howler at around the time I expect you to have been gathering my belongings from Gryffindor tower."
"My goodness dear, whomever was it from?" she inquired, a look of stern concern on her face.
"Ginny Weasley," she stuttered, as she tried not to cry.
"Would you mind terribly extracting that memory for me so that I may take appropriate action? I will not have my students behaving this way."
Hermione nodded and Minerva waved her hand in the direction of the cabinet that contained the Pensieve. She quickly drew out the memory, stored it into a vial and labeled it.
She returned back to Draco's side who had been strangely quiet since getting here. When she looked up at him she realized he was staring blankly at the floor. He was trying to occlude.
"Draco…" she whispered, touching his arm gently. He looked up at her with half-glazed eyes, "You know it's not a great idea to occlude until we learn more about this bond."
He ended his hold on the occlusion and leaned forward to give her a kiss. "You're right I'm sorry. Could we just get out of here please?"
She couldn't figure out what was wrong. Was he nervous about coming home with her? Had he changed his mind?
"If you're nervous about coming to my home, don't be, I promise it will be okay."
He was frantically shaking his head and squeezed her hand.
"Its not that. I'm happy to be going home with you."
"Then whats—"
"I believe he is struggling with my presence Miss Granger."
As soon as the words left the former Headmaster's mouth it all made sense.
How could I be so stupid? And selfish!
"Oh gods, Draco, I'm so sorry, I wasn't thinking, let's get home." She turned to McGonagall and gave her a pleading look for help and the Headmistress quickly tossed the floo power into the fireplace and stepped aside to allow them through.
"Now you two, I will be sending a letter this week with a few important reminders for the rest of the school year. Hermione is to not do any heavy studying until April and Mr Malfoy while I don't expect you to complete weekly assignments, I do trust you will study and prepare for your NEWTS as well. With all this extra time on your hands, you best believe I will be expecting for you to make O's on most of your exams."
"Yes Headmistress, of course."
"Alright. Be safe. If you need anything, do not hesitate to ask."
They nodded. Minerva called out her address and they were quickly pulled through the swirling floo into the living room of Hermione's childhood home.