Manhattan
Chapter Eight
The first week of living at Draco sodding Malfoy's flat goes by without too many issues. In fact, Hermione avoids the aforementioned prat as often as humanly possible. She holes up in her room with books which she takes from his library nearly every evening as soon as she hears him floo home from work.
Every night, he knocks on her bedroom door and tells her that there's dinner in the kitchen if she's hungry, but says nothing further. Admittedly, the silver lining of this situation is that Malfoy actually is a good cook, like he claimed to be.
Hermione's attention is brought away from the Potions text she picked from Malfoy's library by the flapping of wings outside of her bedroom window. She stands from her bed and opens her window, allowing Harry's owl to land on the window sill.
"I'm sorry, I don't have any treats for you here," Hermione frowns. She'll have to ask Malfoy where he keeps his owl treats if she's going to be here much longer
The bird drops a large envelope into Hermione's hands, and she smiles, knowing that soon she'll be reading the words of her friends– friends whom she misses so much.
Hermione lets the bird back out the window before closing it and bringing her package of letters over to her bed to read them.
The first letter she opens this time is from Harry.
'Mione,
I got your message. I know you don't need or want me to say this, but I agree with Malfoy. It's bizarre to think about you living in his flat, but he's right– you're safest there.
Ron would look everywhere else in the world for you before he would look with Malfoy.
I know that the situation isn't ideal, but not having to worry about you and your safety as much is worth the massive eye-rolling that eleven year-old me would be doing if he saw me today.
Gin thinks that Ron is in Australia. Don't worry, I have Aurors guarding your parents. I'm inclined to agree with Gin, though. Ron had been making those comments which led me to relocate you to the States to begin with, so it wouldn't surprise me if he is in Australia.
We still haven't found him, but I'll be going to Australia personally to double check that your parents are safe, and to see if there's any trace of Ron.
I also know that I don't have to tell you how important it is to continue to take every precaution. I don't know what your day-to-day with Malfoy looks like, but I assume that it isn't easy for you. I just ask that you allow him to protect you– not because you can't protect yourself, but because two wands are better than one.
I just want you to be safe, 'Mione, and I believe that you are safe with Malfoy– as hard as that is for me to admit.
Just hang in there for me, 'Mione. I'll find Ron and then we'll get you back into your own flat while I try to get Ron into treatment.
Just give me some time, and try not to kill or otherwise maim Malfoy in the meantime.
Harry
Hermione frowns and tosses the letter onto her bedside table. She's sure that there is not a single other person on this planet that could ask her to endure living with Draco sodding Malfoy and have her agree than Harry Potter.
Hermione has to admit that the second silver lining of her stay at Malfoy's flat is, of course, his library. It is, perhaps, what Hermione's naughty dreams might be made of.
The library also seems to function as a study, which Malfoy had mentioned. On the left and right sides of the room are wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling, built-in bookcases. Each shelf is lined completely with books, ranging from educational texts, novels, plays, encyclopedia-like resource books– any type of book that Hermione could ever possibly want to read (except Macbeth, apparently).
In between the two walls of bookcases is a dark wood, imposingly-sized desk, accompanied by a wingback chair behind it. Hermione hasn't investigated the desk at all– she figures that Draco Malfoy's desk is likely none of her business.
In front of the desk are two small settees with a coffee table in between. Hermione has been all but camped out on the leftmost of the settees every day since her hostage situation at Malfoy's flat began.
Hermione makes herself comfortable on her chosen settee with a copy of a Transfiguration text that she found and reads through the first five chapters. She's so immersed in her book that she doesn't immediately register the door to Malfoy's library opening.
Hermione jumps, startled, and looks up from her book.
"It's just me," Malfoy says quietly, meeting Hermione's eye. "I apologize. You're not usually in here when I get home. I didn't mean to frighten you."
Hermione averts her eyes for a moment. She'd love to say that she hadn't been frightened, but she had been. She'd let her guard down while reading– so much so that she hadn't even heard the floo, even before the door to the library.
"I can go," Hermione says, placing her thumb in her book to mark her place before she closes it in her lap. "If- if you need the room."
Hermione hates this. It's somewhat easy to forget that it's Draco sodding Malfoy that she's living with for the moment– until she has to see him or talk to him.
"That's not necessary. Stay. Enjoy your book," Malfoy responds, stepping into the room, leaving the door open as he walks over and takes a seat at his desk.
Hermione nods, then shakes her head as if to clear her mind before reopening her book.
From the corner of her eye, she can see Malfoy flick open what looks to be a case file– presumably for his work as an Auror– and lean in to study it. Hermione decides that if his focus stays on that file, then she can manage to stay in the room and read her book.
Hermione picks up from where she left off and continues to read. Occasionally, she hears Malfoy breathe or shift in his chair, but otherwise, she can almost pretend that he isn't there.
When Hermione lifts her gaze from her book for a moment to prevent herself from going cross-eyed, she notices Malfoy drag his fingers through his hair, ruffling it into the most unkempt mass of hair that she's ever seen on the aforementioned blonde. Fortunately for everyone's ocular health, Malfoy no longer slicks his hair back, instead opting to wear it in such a way that Hermione would call 'intentionally messy', although now– now it just looks messy.
Unintentionally, Hermione meets Malfoy's eye as she is critiquing the state of his hair. He raises an eyebrow.
"I can hear you thinking from over here," Hermione says. There's no playful lilt in her voice that might've been there if she were talking to Harry, but she also attempts to keep her disdain from seeping through, as well. The statement comes out as just that– a statement of fact, which Hermione allows herself a moment to feel proud of herself for.
As unwanted as the situation is, Hermione can accept the fact that objectively, Malfoy is doing her a great kindness by allowing her to impose on his home in the name of safety. For that reason, and that reason alone, she has tried to not be overly rude to him– out loud anyway. She makes no such assurances for what goes on inside of her own head.
"How much do you know about centaurs?" Malfoy asks– a question which surprises Hermione. She had expected some sort of deflection or gruff noise, or even no response at all.
Hermione scrunches her eyebrows together.
"Enough," Hermione responds, closing her book once more and setting it aside. "I still work for the DRCMC– via correspondence."
Malfoy's eyebrows raise minutely as he leans back against his wingback, crossing his arms over his chest. His stance doesn't appear defensive, just comfortable.
"Are they usually violent?" Malfoy wonders, training his eyes on Hermione.
Hermione thinks for a moment. Centaurs are quite private creatures. Not much is known about them, except by those who dedicate an immeasurable amount of time ingratiating themselves to the creatures in order to earn respect, and by extension, information.
"If provoked," Hermione responds, wondering what the context of this conversation is, but also understanding that Malfoy can't tell her any details even if he wanted to.
Malfoy closes his file in front of him and nods, as if that was somehow enough information for him.
"Have you heard anything new from Potter?" Malfoy asks, and the abrupt switch in conversation nearly gives Hermione whiplash.
Hermione stands from her settee and steps toward Malfoy's desk, leaning her hip against the left side.
Hermione decidedly does not want to talk about Ron or anything to do with him in this moment, but she also recognizes that Malfoy should probably be kept in the loop.
Hermione nods, pursing her lips and averting her eyes from Malfoy's. She knows that it's a defensive pose, but she also understands that in this moment, she could probably use all of the comfort that she can get.
"Harry thinks that Ron is in Australia."
Malfoy cocks his head to the side and Hermione can almost see the gears in his head turning.
"Australia. That's where you were before New York."
Hermione nods, willing herself to keep her emotions in check.
"My parents are in Australia," Hermione nearly whispers, beginning her story. "They don't know that they're my parents, but that's why Harry set me up in Australia at first– to be close to them. Also to see if I could reverse what I'd done to them, but I– I couldn't."
Malfoy doesn't ask, but Hermione can tell that he wants to.
"I Obliviated them before the War. I thought they would be in danger. I tried to reverse it right after the War, and then again once I arrived in Australia after Ron– well, after what happened. All of the healers say that there's no hope, though."
Malfoy is quiet for a moment, so Hermione brings her gaze back up to meet his. His face is unreadable, almost blank. Hermione frowns. She just told him something deeply, deeply personal, and he has no response?
"I'm sorry, Granger. That must be difficult," Malfoy says quickly, but with almost no inflection in his voice before switching subjects again. "Does Potter have any reason to believe that Weasley would be able to follow you from there?"
Hermione thinks for a moment. She hadn't thought to ask that. She had been so concerned with her parents that she had nearly entirely forgotten that the whole reason Ron is even– supposedly– in Australia is to find her.
"I– I don't know."
Malfoy nods, dropping his arms to rest them on the armrests of his wingback.
"Don't worry. You're safe here," Malfoy states, and by some miracle, it does make Hermione feel slightly better.
Hermione knows in her head that Malfoy is protecting her, even if it doesn't feel like it every day. She spends her days reading or watching the television in the sitting room, and her evenings hiding in her room while Malfoy is home. Objectively, it doesn't feel like he's doing much to protect her, but she knows that that isn't true. His home wards surround her every moment of the day, and in the evenings, he's home.
Not one single evening since Hermione has come to stay at Malfoy's flat has he gone out or done anything besides seemingly coming straight home from work. On the weekend, he's home, rather than spending nights out with friends. Hermione can't be sure that this isn't his normal routine, but she would wager to guess that he's spending more time than usual at home now that she's there.
Hermione wouldn't go so far as to say that she's grateful to Malfoy, but she supposes that she can admit that he is being helpful– at least to an extent.
"Malfoy?" Hermione asks, and Malfoy raises an eyebrow in response. "Where do you keep your owl treats?"
Hello, friends! Happy Tuesday!
Y'ALL. OVER 100 FOLLOWERS?! Are you kidding me?! Thank you SO much! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! This means so much to me, you truly have no idea. Thank you. Thank you.
Do... Do we spy a civil conversation happening?! We're making progress, my friends! (; Just fyi, this chapter and the next two are some of my favorites. We get some more progress and some hilarity ensues. We love to see it.
Soooo. Guess who got bitten by the writing bug again? :x I may or may not have written a short one-shot (about 800 words) and started a new multi-chapter. Both Dramione. I'm also off for the next two weeks, so who knows what I may cook up between now and then. Lol. I'm still planning on only uploading Manhattan once a week on Tuesdays and after I'm finished uploading this, I will upload the one-shot and then if the multi-chapter is finished, I will begin uploading that as well.
On that note, if y'all have any Dramione prompts or story ideas, send 'em my way. Evidently I'm not finished with this pairing. :P (As if the amount of Dramione I read wasn't clear enough on that front, lol.)
Anyway, I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter and I look forward to seeing you again next week! Please review if you feel so inclined. (: Thank you, as always for reading. I truly appreciate you spending some of your time here on my corner of the internet. (: