Draco Fucking Malfoy.
He stood in front of her in all his glory at the end of the dinner table at the Burrow. Hermione was sure that she was going crazy. Out of all people she thought could walk into the Weasley's home he was the one that she would have never thought of.
Currently, their eyes were locked into a staring contest. His molten silver ones and her honey-brown eyes bore into the other. Soon her skin felt too suffocating, her clothes felt too tight, and it felt as though her whole body was vibrating.
Before she could even really think about it, she was up and out of the back door, sprinting to the orchard.
Blinking rapidly he stared at the empty spot she had just vacated. It felt as if he had seen a ghost. He knew that she was still alive but had thought she had just disappeared and was never coming back. That's what he had almost done after his trial.
That's most certainly what he wanted to do now. He thought he was safe. Safe from seeing her again other than through the fireplace, safe from seeing that horrid scar, safe from ever hearing her screams, safe from her.
Draco could feel his hands start to tremble as he gripped the back of the chair. His vision narrowed to just the table in front of him. Barely he heard the youngest Weasley whisper to Potter and then dart out of the room.
Soon Potter was guiding him into his seat and forcing a glass of water in his hands. He tried to smile in thanks at him but was sure it came out more as a grimace.
He knew he shouldn't have come today, not when he knew that he had seen her in Diagon today, or when Blaise said he had seen her in the shop today. But he had hoped that she wouldn't show up to the dinner, as he was told she had just arrived back to England from America.
Slowly his world widened as the panic attack subsided. All of the Weasleys and Pansy were looking at him with worried faces. He tried to smirk at them showing he was alright, but he knew Pansy saw right through it, by how her eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Hermione slammed herself against one of the trees as she tried to catch her breath. Tears streaked down her cheeks against her will, her hands shook, as well as her body and her mind were overwhelmed with panic.
Who was she kidding when she thought she was ready to come back to England? Surely just herself. That must be why no one told her that Draco Malfoy of all people would be at The Burrow for dinner that night. They didn't want her to run back to America, they selfishly wanted her here as much as she selfishly wanted to be back.
Slowly she let her shaking body fall to the ground. Her forehead rested against the rough bark of the tree, and her knees squished into mud, that soaked through her denims. She needed to get a grip. Hermione Granger, Gryffindor Princess, war heroine, who was covered in ink from needles, was scared of a person. She could do this. She could face him and calm down on her own.
See Five: she could see the tree bark, her hair, the muddy ground, the leaves of the trees, hands pressed against the bark.
Touch Four: she knew she could feel her hair, the bark beneath her hands, the clothes on her body, and the mud against her knees.
Hear Three: she could hear the leaves rustling in the summer breeze, mud squishing as she shifted, and soft footfalls of someone approaching.
Smell Two: she could smell the apples and the earthy mud.
Taste One: she could imagine taking a bite of an apple and tasting the sweet juice as she bit into it.
Shifting as she switched to deep breathing, she sat on a root that protruded from the ground. Looking around she locked eyes with Ginny. The witch gave her a soft smile and slowly approached.
"I'm okay Gin. No need to treat me like a wounded animal." Hermione tried to joke. But even to her, the words sounded hollow.
Ginny sat next to her and wrapped an arm around her back. She traced soothing circles across her shoulders and back. All Hermione could do was hold her head in her hands and let the rest of the tears out.
"I thought I could handle it Gin. Coming back, seeing everyone again no matter who they were. I did just fine with seeing Blaise today," which earned her a look from Ginny. "But seeing him I flip out, have a panic attack, and run away. Why didn't you guys tell me? Why didn't you tell me he was going to be here."
All Ginny could do was just shrug as she withdrew her arm from around Hermione. "I-"
Sighing she pinched the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger. "I honestly thought the boys had told you. Or at least that's what Harry had told me."
For the first time, her mind registered that they had told her. They just had always danced around this new person's name. Relaying this information to Ginny, it dawned on her as well. Hermione could tell it did the way her features flashed with irritation before she schooled them for Hermione's sake.
They sat outside in silence for a little while longer before Ginny stood up and offered her a hand which she gladly took.
The walk back to the Burrow was quiet, save for Ginny using a quick Scourgify and a drying spell to clean the mud off her lower half. It didn't save her jeans from being stained though. She could wash them thoroughly later.
Shutting the door quietly behind them they made their way to the living room where everyone had migrated. Much to her displeasure and mental health, so had Malfoy. But it made her pause as he was talking somewhat animatedly with Harry and Ron about something.
Thankfully no one had noticed their return. While Ginny had taken a seat beside Harry, Hermione stayed in the doorway observing everyone.
Molly and Arthur were in their shabby wingbacked chairs by the cold hearth, Charlie was scribbling something in a journal as he sat on the floor, Ginny had lazily wrapped herself around Harry, Pansy was nowhere to be found, and then Ron, Malfoy, and Harry were still in deep discussion.
A hand on her shoulder made her jump. Turning she saw Pansy walking toward the stairs. Even with the lack of invitation, Hermione followed her up.
He didn't miss when she came back inside with the Weaselette. He just decided to ignore her for now. So, he continued the conversation about Quidittch with Potter and Weasley.
But, he couldn't help but keep her in his peripheral just so he was sure that she wasn't going to approach him without warning. That's what the two bloody Gryiffindors in front of him did after he started in the DMLE. Assholes, both of them.
He watched as Weaselette whispered something into Potter's ear. He threw a quick, yet subtle, glance over his shoulder at the witch in the doorway. But he didn't let that deter their conversation about the chance of the Holyhead Harpies being as successful without Ginny this upcoming season.
"If Ginny had trained any of them, of course, they would be successful. Not World Cup successful but successful nonetheless." He said in a false haughty tone, as he threw a joking jab at the witch. This earned Draco a playful glare from said redheaded witch.
As the topic flowed into another, he saw that Granger was no longer in the doorway. Throwing a glance around the room he saw Pany's form climbing the stairs and Granger following.
This isn't good.
Pansy stopped at the third-floor landing. Leaning against the wall of the hallway she crossed her arms and appeared to be assessing Hermione.
Shifting from foot to foot Hermione wrung her hands wandering what the witch in front of her wanted. As if she had read her mind the witch in question spoke, "I'm not going to hurt you, Granger," she huffed. "I'm just here to tell you he's as panicked as you are with seeing each other again. I think both of you have suffered enough of each other for a lifetime."
Dropping her hands she just stared at Pansy. Her brain surely must have broken if she was being nice and even warning her that Malfoy of all people was just as messed up as she was over seeing her again as she was him. Sighing she pushed off the wall and laid a hand gently against Hermione's shoulder as she passed by to go back downstairs.
Bewildered, she took the rest of the stairs up to the landing with Ron's old room at the Burrow. She couldn't say how many times she had deepened the window across from his room as Ginny and Harry had requested "alone" time the summer before Eighth Year. Conjuring plush pillows to sit on she settled into the window. For hours she watched as the stars glittered overhead.
Her blissful empty thoughts were broken by her cell buzzing. Flipping it open she saw there were texts from Sasha and Van.
Sasha: Miss you girl! Hope England isn't too dreary for you 3
Van: Send me a pic of your new tat! I'm jealous I'm no longer your artist :( Miss you Herms
She messaged a quick reply to both of them. She let them know England wasn't too bad, that she missed them, and that Van didn't need to be jealous as she would fly back to America just for him for her final tattoo. That was if she decided that she wanted another one.
A shuffling noise startled her. Knowing it was too quiet to be the ghoul in the attic, she cast a silent Lumos and saw it was Malfoy climbing the stairs. Freezing in place, he didn't seem to know she was there.
Her eyes raked over his form. Instead of wearing an oxford, slacks, and dragon hide dress shoes, he was wearing a pair of joggers that slung low on his hips. His torso was exposed, also exposing the inky black magical tattoos that dotted his torso. The most intricate being the one that curled around his waist, seemingly over his back, and over his right shoulder. It was of a dragon, soft inky puffs swirled over his pectoral muscles. Constellations swirled and changed over his bicep.
"Take a picture, Granger. It will last longer." his deep tenor drawled. Jumping slightly she averted her eyes as she felt herself blushing.
"I- I'm sorry. I didn't realize I was staring." she stammered out. A chuckle sounded closer than what he was across the hall. Chancing a glance she looked and saw he had taken a few steps away from Ron's old room door.
Her stomach twisted with butterflies of anxiety. Trying to act unaffected by his appearance and new proximity, she focused her attention out the window. But she could feel his presence and feel as he silently got closer.
"I would like some sleep, Granger. I can't knowing there's a lady out her sulking." the words ghosted across her skin. She turned her head to see that Malfoy's face was mere inches from hers.
Reeling back she bit back, "I am simply just enjoying the view Malfoy."
Chuckling he shook his head with a wave of his hand as if to say, sure if that's what you say. Rolling her eyes she shouldered past him to the stairs and took two at a time until she was in Ginny's old room.
Throwing up strong silencing charms she let out a scream of frustration. What an absolute prick! Couldn't he just mind his own bloody business? Here he was invading her home. Looking and acting like he owned the place!
Without realizing it, she had started crying. Only had just now noticed that she had because when she dragged her hands down her face, they came away slightly wet. Great, she thought. Not bothering to change out of her clothes she threw herself onto the bed.
She willed sleep to overtake her, desperately hoping that this was all a nightmare and Draco Malfoy was most certainly not invading the Burrow by sleeping over.