"You knew!"
Draco cringed as his mother continued to smack his arm. She'd been doing so for the past minute while raving at him.
"You knew she was doing that, and what did you do about it? Nothing!"
"I know," he sighed, "I've been a coward."
"You have!" She stepped away from him, "I'm so disappointed in you, my boy. So disappointed. You let her hurt herself, and for what? Pride!"
"How was I supposed to know I was her bonded, Mother?" he yelled back.
She pointed a finger at him, "Don't you raise that tone with me, young man." He opened his mouth to respond, and she shook the finger and pointed at him, "I've heard enough out of you. How were you supposed to know? She was sleeping in your bed! What more did you need? Does Hermione strike you as the type of witch to just sleep in anyone's bed? Let alone someone who treated her so poorly growing up. That there wasn't some level of trust there-"
"Of course not! But we'd been gaining one another's trust for weeks before we even slept in the same bed. And that's all it was. We didn't-"
He cut himself off and his mother grinned despite her anger. "Didn't fornicate."
"Ack, Mother, stop."
"Don't be such a prude, Draco." Turning away from him, she looked out the windows towards the grounds. "I love you, Draco, but you were very much a bully to her and her friends growing up. You think your bond didn't influence her trust in you at all? That it just came so easily to her without it?"
He didn't answer her. He thought back to the train. He'd often wondered why she'd let him hold her in those moments, why she'd clung to him so closely. Why she was so peaceful with him and his lot even after the trouble her sorting was causing her.
"She stayed in your bed despite your courting Astoria," he cringed, "until it became official with a contract. She's been respectful of your wants while disregarding hers for months."
"What do I do?" he asked quietly.
"You have quite a lot of groveling to do, Draco. Don't ask your father for advice either, I have a feeling what he thinks works to win me over will not work on Hermione." Seating herself back at her table with her book, Narcissa crossed her legs.
"No," he agreed, "I don't think they would."
She found her page again, "Though a new bracelet might do."
"Why?" Draco frowned, seating himself next to her.
She glanced back up at him from her book, "Hermione's broke the day she fell. She was very distraught when she woke up and found it missing. Molly was only able to find part of it."
Narcissa watched as her sons face morphed from confusion to alarm.
"You didn't know?"
He shook his head.
"I'd start there." She returned to her book, leaving him to consider his next steps with only her presence to aid him.
Hermione still had a smidge of a headache, it had been a few days, but it was there. She'd told Professor Snape and he'd nodded, telling her that that was to be expected. He'd given her new pain potions, but mild ones, which helped. Leaning on Theo's arm, they walked together to the library. He'd been checking on her every so often over the past few days. He and Harry both. Neville worked himself into the rotation on occasion. Hermione found it didn't bother her as much as it did when she was injured.
"How are you?"
"Just fine," she answered quietly. "Don't go getting soft on me, Theodore, I won't have it."
He chuckled, "She says as I let her cling to me like a Grindylow."
Playfully gasping, she swatted him. "Draco used to say that."
Theo paused for just a step before continuing like it hadn't happened.
"Which part?"
"That I clung to him like a Grindylow. I would tease him about his inability to wake up in the mornings and he would come back with how I would attach myself to him the moment I fell asleep."
Theo couldn't help but chuckle. He didn't want to spook her, this was the first time she'd opened up about Draco on her own. He and Potter had been giving one another updates when they could. It was their unspoken agreement.
"If I remember right, he was the one clinging to you the last time Blaise and I walked in on you both."
It was Hermione's turn to laugh. "Thank you!"
They shared quiet laughs until they made it into the library. They'd been seated together for nearly an hour when a shadow cast over the table. Theo looked up but Hermione just focused on her parchment.
"Drake."
Hermione's quill scratched across the parchment as she startled. After putting her quill in the ink pot, Hermione slowly looked up at Theo with wide eyes before turning her head to look at Draco. He looked paler than usual, with dark circles under his eyes.
"Are you well? You don't look well, Draco."
Theo snorted at her soft question but quietly began packing up his bag.
Draco didn't even acknowledge his best friend, he just watched Hermione as she took him in. "I've been out of sorts, to say the least, as of late."
Hermione nodded, "You should see Madam Pomphrey." With that, she went back to her assignment. This time Theo did laugh.
Moving to the empty seat beside Theo, Draco sat down.
"Hermione, I'd like to talk to you."
"Go ahead, Draco, but I do need to do this before I leave." Scanning her open text, she scribbled down a note, giving him a small glance to let him know she was listening.
Looking her over, Draco glanced at Theo but chose to ignore him in favor of giving his attention to Hermione.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
The quill in her hand snapped.
"Idiot," Theo commented quietly.
"Theo," Hermione grabbed at her chest, giving a gasp.
He immediately dropped his playful facade and focused on her. Draco did, too, moving to stand as if to move to her side as she gasped again.
"What's wrong, Hermione?"
"It's just," she gasped again, as if struggling to breathe, "It's so hard to breathe with Draco's ego in the room." The last bit was said with all the seriousness, all breathlessness gone.
Theo burst out into laughter while Draco dropped back into his chair.
Turning her fiery gaze to Draco, she took a deep breath. "I told you in all ways but words."
"And what kept you from telling me?" He just looked at her with sad eyes. Like she'd kicked his crup pup.
She returned to her work, "Have you found your mark?"
Her question seemed to take him off guard, "Y-yes."
"And what does it say?"
"My name," Draco answered reluctantly and quietly.
"Do you have to know what mine has said for months?"
"Hermione," he sounded pained, "I don't...didn't, no couldn't, control that. What I desired."
Her eyes watered against her will. "I'm well aware. But you could control how you treated me while desiring another witch." Finishing her final statement on her parchment, she repotted her newly fixed quill, thanks to Theo, and started to wave her hand over the parchment to dry the ink.
"You have no idea how conflicted I've been."
"I do," she countered, "Do you forget I've been in the middle of it with you?"
"It was never my intent to hurt you, Hermione. I thought you were using me as a placeholder for your bond."
Her instinct was to rage at him but there was truth in his eyes that made her calm enough to consider him. Hermione could understand why he would have thought that. If she was honest with herself, she knew she was to blame, at least in part. She often wanted to be honest with him but held herself back out of fear. Every morning they woke up together or he'd prepared her tea or come up behind her and nuzzled her neck in their most private moments together, she'd swallowed the confession. It was always fear that had her holding her tongue.
"No, Draco, it was always you. It was just never me." Meeting his sad gaze, she didn't try to stop the tear she felt escape her lashes, "I wanted you to have a choice, so you would be happy with what, who, you wanted. I cannot fault you for pursuing who you want. But I was too selfish, I couldn't keep from you. I tried, but I was weak, especially when it was time to sleep, and the idea of dreaming of you when I could have you there hurt so much more."
He let out a pained sound.
Wiping her face, she rolled up her essay and rearranged her things.
"You are not to fault for choosing Astoria."
"I am for why I did it."
Hermione shrugged. "Everyone gets jealous. I-I'm jealous of Astoria," she admitted, "I look at her and I see everything we spoke about. I wonder if you'll use the one of the names we picked when she gives you an heir. If you'll build her that house or if you'll stay in the Manor. I wonder what your wedding will be like. What ring might you pick for her. I wonder how I might handle it when I come back and see you together. If I'll be able to."
"Come back?"
Looking at him again, Hermione's breath caught as she saw tears brimming in his eyes.
"Once we graduate, I'm going to stay with my parents for a while."
He looked suddenly angry, "No, you're not."
"She is," Theo ground out, emotion thick in his voice.
"No, she isn't."
"I am right here," Hermione sighed.
Glazy, grey eyes pierced her, "You are not leaving. You have no reason to. I'll not be doing any of that with Astoria. Those names we picked, they are ours. That house we planned and imagined, the wedding, the ring, it's all yours. Ours. Or they will be. I don't love Astoria. I never did. I wanted her, but only before you and I began our games. When was the last time you looked at your mark? Because I know the moment I knew I wanted you in a way I thought I shouldn't."
Hermione paused to think, she hadn't looked at her mark since before the yule ball and said so. "I covered it in November."
"Hermione, please look at it. Please."
"What difference would it make? It might say it now but-"
"I guarantee it said it at Christmas."
"We can't know that."
"I know it." He sounded so determined.
"But you chose her," her voice waivered. "You chose her at every turn, Draco. I begged you.."
"You had a bond! I was jealous but also trying to respect your bond!"
"I know," she snapped back. "I know. But part of me wonders why you didn't realize. Especially Christmas Eve when I all but told you outright."
"I bollocked us up that night. I know I did. I made you feel unworthy, that you weren't enough because Astoria was-"
"Yes, I remember," she cut him off, not wanting to remember. Sighing heavily, Hermione looked up sadly at him, "What do you hope to come from this conversation, Draco?"
That seemed to trip him up because he paused and took his time answering. Hermione waited patiently. Draco considered her question, he knew what he wanted. He wanted her, as he had these months. He wanted his bonded, his witch, his Princess. He wanted to hold her again, to be her rock when she needed him, to be her Dragon again. But he knew he couldn't say that. He needed to earn it first. After everything, he needed to earn her.
"A chance."
Hermione hated the hope that blossomed in her chest. She wanted to give him a chance. So badly, she craved it. But she was scared. She'd begged him twice now and she didn't think she could do it again.
"And if you decide I'm not what you want? Bonds don't have to be romantic in nature."
"That is extremely rare," he countered, "and it won't be us." Reaching into his own bag he put two books on the table and slid them closer to her. "From the Manor. I thought you might like to read them."
Eyeing him, she carefully took the texts and looked them over, something warm blooming in her chest.
"Okay."
"Please, Hermione, I'll beg if I-", he stopped at Theo's chuckling, a blush rising in Hermione's cheeks as she remembered Theo was at the table witnessing the whole thing. "What?"
Hermione smirked. It was just a tiny thing, but Draco counted it as a smile.
"I said okay."
For the first time since he sat down, Draco sat straighter. "Yes?"
"That's what she said," Theo grumbled.
"Yes," Hermione chorused.
"But not right now," Theo countered, "Right now, we're studying. Either get to work or leave us be. Plan your wooing elsewhere."
Hermione bit her lip to keep from laughing as Draco glared at his best friend. When he looked back at her she felt her chest tighten.
"Will you go with me to Hogsmeade the weekend after?"
"What did I say?" Theo snipped.
Smirking at Theo, Hermione picked her quill back up and wet the tip. "Yes."
Draco beamed at her, even as she returned to her work. The bright blush in her cheeks was enough to send him on his way with a grin.
He was nearly to the common room when he turned a corner without looking and ran into a group of witches. "I'm sorry," he blurted before seeing who he was speaking to.
In the gaggle of witches was Astoria, looking at him with a kind expression. His father had called him into his office during Gareth's visit when he realized his godfather had brought him home. Still stunned by his mother and godfather's intervention, Draco was apologetic, thinking Lord Greengrass would be upset, but he simply congratulated him and moved to leave, claiming to need to speak to his daughter. Draco asked for the right to do it; thankfully, her father agreed to let him. He'd gone back to the castle and sought her out, asking to speak with her privately and getting her away from her friends.
She'd been understanding, even letting a small bit of laughter out when he'd explained. She'd chastised him and told him how silly he'd been. But not for what he'd done to her, what he'd done with Hermione. She'd given him a big "I told you so," and they'd parted ways amicably.
Seeing the grin on his face, Astoria's smile widened, "Did it go well?"
"Better than I expected."
"I really am happy for you, Drake."
"Thank you, Tori."
Face an ugly puce color, Weasel was choking. Potter was pinching the bridge of his nose and shaking his head, accentuating the fact that his hair was getting way too long. And Hermione was starting toe to toe with Ginny in the middle of their Heads Dorm in the most ghastly dress Draco had ever seen. It was a monstrosity of tule and rhinestones that looked like fire with the sheer amount of gold and red the designer had thrown onto it.
"What the bloody hell is that thing?" Theo gasped. Walking fearlessly up to Hermione, he pinched a part of the gown between his thumb and index finger, "She's not wearing this."
Hermione threw her hands in the air, "Thank you! I told you, Ginny, it's atrocious."
That was when Draco noticed that Ginny was trying not to laugh, as were Potter and Weasel. Looking to his right, he saw Blaise with his hand over his mouth to smother his snort of amusement.
"I will figure something else out. I'm sure Cissa will be excited if I wrote to her-," Hermione froze mid-triade and looked at Draco with wide eyes.
"What's happening," Ron chuckled, whipping his eyes.
"He knows," Harry whispered in answer, making Ron grumble, "'Bout bloody time."
"Does your Mother know? Your Father?"
Draco offered her what he hoped was a reassuring smile as he nodded. Moving to the kitchen, he made up a tea tray, Darcey popping in with a wink to help before popping back out. Taking it to the table in the middle of the room, he set it down and made Hermione a cup her favorite way before walking up to her.
"Yes, they know." Handing her the cup, he encouraged her to take a drink before withdrawing and making his own cuppa. "Mother is quite excited about it. Father is sorry, he feels like he's partially to blame for Christmas."
"He's not-"
"I know. Mother told him. Mother would also be delighted to help you find a dress. She adores you."
Hermione blushed, the beautiful color clashing with the dress she wore.
"I'll write her." Turning back to Ginny, she huffed. "Why did Kingsley think this would be suitable?"
"Because he's a man," Ginny fired back. "Do you think Narcissa would mind if Pansy and I tagged along for the dress fitting, we have some ideas."
The portrait hole to the Slytherin common room opened dramatically. "Oh, Salazar, that is horrible."
Hermione huffed and stomped into her room.
Pansy smirked, "Something I said?"
"Speak of the devil, and she shall appear," Ron muttered, making Theo chuckle.
"Pans, you still have those sketches we were playing with?"
"Of Hermione's dress?" She made herself comfortable on the couch beside Ron, winking at him as she sat making him shift uncomfortable. Grinning, she looked back at his sister, who shook her head around a smirk, "I sent them to Cissa to see if she could do something with them. I had a feeling what the Minister commissioned would be shit."
"Sneaky snake, I love it," Ginny went to stand before Harry, the wizard automatically putting his arms around her waist as she leaned back on him.
"We're meeting her on Sunday with Hermione. She's got her dressmaker making that second one, with the necklace."
"Finding a necklace like that is going to be rough."
"Cissa has something that would be perfect."
"Really?"
Theo leaned towards Draco, "What on heaven's name are they talking about?"
"Their favorite subject," Draco chuckled.
"Quidditch? No, not with Pans. That leaves their doll, Granger."
As he said it, a screech came from Hermione's room before the door opened, "Harry, please."
Smirking, the bespeckled wizard got him and met her at the door, where she turned around so he could help with her zipper. She was grumbling the entire time while Harry bit his lip to keep from laughing and incurring her wrath. When he was done he gave her a gentle push into the room and shut the door before succumbing to his laughter.