Draco could not sleep. The past week had been wonderful but since coming home for Easter hols two days ago, he'd been struggling to sleep. He and Hermione hadn't shared a bed since Pansy's party, but they had begun sleeping with their doors open, and he'd been pleased to discover she'd left the room unwarded one night when he'd gone to console her.

He knew what his struggle was; it was obvious to him that his mother, father, and Theo were acting normal. Meanwhile, he couldn't settle.

All he wanted was to see Hermione, but she'd opted to go to Grimmuald at Potter's instance. It made him feel better that she was with loved ones but he wanted to be the one with her.

Huffing he rolled over, punching his pillow several times before attempting to resettle down.

He had become so angry since coming home. He had a sore on the inside of his cheek from biting off many an irrational response since being back, especially to Theo. Merlin, help him; Theo might do him in.

"Darcey," he snapped, sitting up. The loud pop told him he'd startled her, and he felt guilt blossom in his chest. With his head in his hand, he asked, "Is Hermione...is she alright?"

"Yes, Master Draco," Darcey's small voice came from the foot of his bed, "Mistress be sleeping."

"How has she been?"

"Quiet. Very quiet, but her red-haired family is very loud." Draco looked up with a smile, meeting Darcey's wide eyes. She spends a lot of time in the Black Library, away from them all. Darcey thinks she would like the Manor library more."

"She would," he agreed with a nod, "Thank you, Darcey. I apologize for calling on you so late."

Flopping back down, Draco stared up at the canopy of his bed, willing Merlin to help him sleep.

The small peace that had graced Draco the day before when Hermione visited his mother for tea was long gone. He'd woke up, and his first thought was the date. The same date that was embroidered on the tapestry marking the day he and Hermione were bound.

One year.

One year since she'd been tortured in his family home.

Since he'd been forced to watch, unable to do anything to help her beyond what the bond allowed.

So many regrets surfaced the moment he gained consciousness.

It swallowed him.

He couldn't get out of bed. Couldn't make himself get up. He tried to sleep but found that every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was Hermione on the floor of the drawing room.

He knew someone had knocked on his door, but a flick of his wand reinforced the wards on his room, keeping whomever it was out.

It wasn't until dusk that he finally managed to get out of bed. Wandering through his childhood home, Draco made his way to the offending room that had haunted him all day. He stood in front of the double doors for an unknown period of time before cursing and walking in.

That was the last thing he remembered.

Theo was lounging in the den when he felt a slight tremble in the floor. Snapping his book closed, he tried to focus. Draco had been closed up in his room all day, but Narcissa told him not to worry about it and reminded him of the day. So Theo sought out Blaise for the afternoon before returning to study.

Narcissa and Lucious were reading in the den when he arrived before Narcissa went to find something light for them to eat.

Another tremor had Lucius looking up from his book and sharing a confused look with Theo.

"Lucius," the scream was faint but it had both the wizards running from the room.

She didn't scream again, but they ran toward the tremors until they found Narcissa standing with one hand wrapped around her throat and the other around her waist, cradling her stomach.

"My love," Lucius stopped before her, "What's wrong?"

Theo swore, "I think it's that." Pointing at the drawing room, Theo watched Draco obliterate the room.

Withdrawing his own wand, Lucius tried to take down the wards Draco had put up. When it failed he called for a houseelf and requested they get Severus. "Who better to break wards?" he shrugged when Narcissa gave him a questioning look.

"Hermione," Theo answered the rhetorical question. "He needs Hermione Darcey!"

"Yes, Mister Notts."

Turning, Theo gave the small elf a sympathetic look. "Would you please take me to your mistress?" Without a word, Darcey reached for Theo's hand, and the next moment, he was in a dark, musty bedroom. Ignoring the nausea from the apperation, Theo approached the small person-sized lump in the middle of the bed. "Hermione," Theo whispered.

The lump jerked and Theo suddenly had a wand pointed at his stomach.

"Lumos."

Momentarily blinded by the light, Theo blinked, "Hermione, dear, please remove your wand." Opening his eyes, he met her own red-rimmed ones. "Have yourself locked away too?"

Her wand slowly lowered, and she nodded.

"I'm sorry, hun, but I need you to come back to the manor with me. Draco is self-destructing."

Sitting up slowly, Hermione frowned, "What do you mean?"

"It would be easier to show you," he held out his hand, "Please."

Without hesitation, Hermione took his hand, and Darcey delivered them beside Narcissa and Lucius. Hermione fell to the floor gracelessly.

"Shit, probably should have had you stand up first," Theo rushed to help her up, but she was already scrambling towards Draco.

Lucius lunged for her to try to keep her from running into the wards. "Hermione, don't—" He stopped just before touching her when she walked right through the doors. "Well, alright."

Hermione was focused solely on Draco.

His wand was in his right hand, but blood was dripping from his left hand. The blood from his hand dripped onto the stained floor beneath him. It made her pause for a moment, but then he yelled, and something on the wall exploded. With a trembling hand, Hermione reached out to touch him when he was within reach. Her hand pressed into the spot between his shoulder blades for the briefest of moments before he spun on her.

Wild, wide silver eyes bore into her as his wand dug into her ribs. His eyes were so wide that she could see the whites of his eyes around both eyes.

His wand immediately stopped pressing into her ribs.

"Dragon."

Reaching up, he put his bloodied hand on the side of her face. "What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?" she repeated back to him. Her hand coming up to cradle his, she pulled it down between them. "You're hurt." Reaching for his wand next, she used it to mend the damage to his hand. Glancing at the floor, she saw where the floorboards had been pulled up, his blood fresh on the wood. "What did you do, Dragon?"

"Why are you in here, Princess?"

"Because you're here," she stepped into him.

The hand she wasn't holding wrapped around her middle. "You shouldn't be in here."

His voice was suddenly deeper, more raw. Lifting her so her feet were no longer on the floor, Draco began walking out of the room, never taking his eyes off her. He set her down just outside the room, but only for the time it took to grab her legs, wrap them around his middle, and make sure she was secure to his body. With that, he barely offered his parents and Theo a glance before stalking through the Manor towards his rooms.

Over his shoulder, Hermione looked at them with a sad smile.

"Thank you."

Narcissa was tucked into Lucius's shoulder, and Theo looked concerned but proud of himself.

"I'll send up some food," Narcissa called weakly, the hint of a sob in her voice.

Nodding, Hermione gave a little wave before Draco disappeared around the corner, and they were out of sight.

Tucking her face into Draco's neck, Hermione let herself calm for the first time since she woke up that morning. She hadn't been able to get up or lift her arm. The phantom pain from her scar felt like lead. Now, in Draoc's arms, she felt at peace. She couldn't feel her arm. She didn't feel that well of despair in her chest or the aching sadness that came with it. She just felt at ease. Tightening her grip on his neck, she just tried to enjoy the trip up to his room, where she assumed he was taking them.

Taking a deep breath, she noted the absence of his cologne and nuzzled her nose into his neck, loving the scent of him.

Draco didn't stop until he had her back in his room, and the door was re-warded with a half-wave of his hand. When he moved towards the bed, Hermione pulled herself out of his neck to look him in the eyes.

"Not yet. You've made quite the mess of yourself, love."

She swiped some debris off his shoulder and showed him the remnants on her fingers.

With a small nod, Draco redirected them to his bathroom, where he set her gently on the counter between his dual sinks—sinks she'd always teased him about, the thought of which brought a small smile to her lips.

Quietly, Draco scanned her face and then body for any injuries before turning to the shower and starting it, using his hand to test the water. He didn't care for modesty as he stripped off his clothes and disappeared behind the frosted glass. Hermione watched his silhouette for a few breaths before getting off the counter and walking into the bedroom to retrieve clothes for him. Darcey must have brought her beaded bag because it was atop the bed when she entered the room.

After collecting clothes for both herself and Draco, she reentered the bathroom to find Draco in the same position he had been when she left.

Undressing, she stole her resolve and, fighting the blush she could feel traveling across her chest. She opened the shower door to join him.

He was just standing there, the water of the shower head raining down on his back, and his forehead leaned against the wall before him.

"Draco."

He stiffened at her voice as if he hadn't noticed her entering the shower stall behind him. When he didn't respond, she conjured a rag, dousing it in his soap and working it into a lather before rubbing gentle circles into his back.

"What happened?" she asked as she continued to work the lather onto his skin, working up to his broad shoulders.

"I couldn't sleep. All I could hear was your screaming, and I thought of what little I did to help you." Her actions slowed but didn't stop. She continued washing his back so he might talk. "I wanted to finish what I started, but Theo interrupted again."

"You would take down the Manor," she rationalized. "The grounds were shaking when Darcey apperated us in."

Turning around suddenly, Draco stared into her eyes while Hermione's breath caught in her chest.

"You shouldn't have to take care of me," he said, gently taking the washrag from her hand. He set about washing her as she had him, gently moving her damp hair off her shoulder to get to her shoulders.

"There's no reason we shouldn't be able to take care of one another," she countered, letting her eyes close at the feel of him doing just that.

He managed to switch their positions so she was under the spray, and she tipped her head back with a groan.

"If we're being honest, I hadn't been faring much better at Grimmuald." His hand was on her neck, his thumb tracing the scar she knew was there. Looking at him, she shivered as his hand moved to rest on her collarbone. "I woke up wanting to be with you. I almost had Darcey bring me several times."

"You can always come to be, Princess."

Carefully moving his hand from her collarbone, Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling when he groaned as Hermione body pressed against his own.

"I should have. It seems you needed me too."

Dropping his forehead to hers, Draco let loose a deep sigh, "I'll always need you, Hermione."

She felt him begin to harden against her stomach.

"You shouldn't be in here."

Tilting her head to better look at him she gave him a small smile, "Do you want me to leave?"

His arms tightened around her waist, "No."

Leaning forward, she earned herself another groan from him. "Good," nudging his nose with her own, she played with the hair on the back of his neck, "because I really didn't want to leave."

"You still should not be in here?"

She quired a brow at him, "Why is that?"

"People will talk, it's not appropriate."

"Draco," she smirked, "If people talk, it's because of Theo, and I'll hex him. He's practically a spinster at this point. Now, in case I haven't said it, I want to be with you. Why does what others think matter? It's just you and me, remember?"

"I've failed you, Hermione, so much."

"None of that matters now." Using the hand on the back of his neck she pulled him down to her, grateful when he let her. "We planned on forever, remember?" Draco nodded. "I want forever."

"You want forever?"

"With you."

Once more, nudging his nose with hers now that he was close enough, she closed the distance between them. Just the slightest pack of her lips on his unmoving ones. While she had closed her eyes, Draco's were once more wide, his pupils dilated.

"If you want it too."

The hint of uncertainty in her voice had him dropping the washrag and lacing his fingers into her wet hair to angle her face back up to his when she dipped her head down.

"More than anything," he breathed.

His proclamation stole her breath just before he pressed a kiss to her lips, much more warm and lively than the peck she'd pressed to his moments before. When he didn't stop at a peck and instead moved to continue the kiss, they stood beneath the shower head, gently exploring one another.

Hands coming between them to settle on his chest, Hermione gave herself over to him. Enjoying the feel of him, finally, touching her. Finally, kissing her.

Eventually, it was Draco who pulled away, groaning aloud when Hermione let out a whimper at the loss of his lips on hers.

"Let's get out of this shower," Hermione eyes darkened, and Draco nearly gave into his impulse to push her against the shower wall, "and get dressed before you catch a chill."

Mourning the loss of him against her, Hermione gave him a simpering look before nodding. Shaking his head, the side of his mouth tipping up, Draco took her hand and exited the shower. Summoning a towel, Draco first wrapped one around her, making a great effort to keep his eyes on her face while he did so, before wrapping one around his own waist.

Tucking into his shoulder, Hermione kissed his chin before moving to the counter where she'd laid out their clothes. While still being respectful of one another, they got dressed before Draco guided her from the bathroom. Hermione didn't need much guidance, though. Barely giving him a backward glance, Hermione climbed into the bed, taking up her position in the middle of it.

"Well, are you coming to bed or not?" she asked Draco as he simply stared at her from the bathroom doorway. "Cold feet already?"

The quirk at the side of his mouth became a smirk a moment before he was moving, quick as the seeker he was, into the bed beside her. Smiling softly at him, Hermione pulled the sheets down for them and summoned the sandwiches she noticed on the table near the bookcase. Passing him a sandwich, she touched hers to his with a 'cheer' before taking a tentative bite.

The moan that left her had him pausing with his own sandwich poised at his open mouth.

"Sorry," she chuckled, hand over her mouth. "I didn't realize how hungry I was."

What looked like anger crossed his face only to disappear so quickly Hermione thought she hadn't actually seen it.

They ate in silence, only exchanging little glances before Draco dismissed the remainder of the food. Next, he stared at her for several moments before finally giving in and picking up her arm.

"Are you okay, princess?"

Her heart stuttered in her chest as his fingers traced the jagged scars on her arm.

"Yes."

"You swear it?"

Pausing, she watched him take in the scar, his gentle caress soothing the phantom pain she'd been experiencing throughout the day.

"It hurt earlier. But it's quite fine now. I haven't thought of it since coming here."

She gasped when he leaned down and kissed the first letter.

"Dragon, what are you doing?"

"I would think that was obvious," he whispered against her arm as he moved to the next letters. When he was done, he brought a hand to the back of her neck and kissed her again. This time, more forceful than the gentle exploration in the shower, and though she reached for him, pulling herself into him, he made no move to touch her beyond her neck and waist. Until he shifted them to lay down and hovered over her to continue their kiss.

"Will you be too disappointed," she kissed the side of his mouth, "if we stop?"

"No, my love," Draco put his forehead on hers. "It's for the best. We shouldn't, not now. Not today."

Hermione nodded, "Yes. I don't want the memory of our first time tainted by the history of today."

Draco settled beside her and stared at the canopy as he had earlier that morning. Except this time, Hermione was tucked into his side where she belonged.

"We were tethered together on this day," he whispered.

"That was the best thing about this day," she whispered back, "even if it took us this long to acknowledge it." Reaching up, she put her hand on his cheek and turned him to face her once more. "Dragon, I love this day for that alone."

He looked pained, grimacing, and trying to turn his face away.

"No," she kept him from doing so, shifting impossibly closer to him, "you listen to me, Draco Malfoy. I love you. We might not have known then, but we chose one another on this day last year, and I do not regret it. I do not regret that when I wanted to give up, your magic found me. I might regret how long it took us to get to this point, but I do not regret being here with you. I never will."

Eyes glistening, Draco swallowed the lump in his throat before rolling to his side and encasing her securely in his arms. "It will forever be a regret that I did not stop her."

Smiling into his chest, Hermione sighed, "And I will always remind you it would have been no use."

"I love you," he whispered into her hair, "I do not deserve you, but I will cherish you and every day you give me."

"Dragon?"

"Yes?"

"Sleep, love, we can talk more in the morning. But you need sleep."

She felt him nod. "Will you stay?"

"I may never leave again."

He shivered against her, and she curled her leg between his own, settling against him, listening to his heartbeat against her cheek, lulling her to sleep.