Hermione was crewing her nails down to the nubs while Harry retold the story of how the borrow was attacked and burned to the ground during the break. Ginny was stuck between a state of depression of losing her childhood home and blind rage at those who destroyed it. Harry felt guilty thinking that his favorite home in the whole world was gone. He was sure that they were targeted because he was there though she was sure that the Weasley home would be a target even if Harry wasn't close to them. she wasn't a hundred percent sure how Ron was doing at the moment according to Ginny Lavender had jumped on him the moment she saw him at the platform. Ginny and Harry didn't really want to deal with her so they kind of ditched him and found their own carpartment which is where she found them and demanded they tell her everything.
All three had written her letters after the attack informing her but all that did was send her into a state of panic. She knew they were ok so there was that but it still scared her that they were attacked and at their own home she started thinking about her parent's safety as well. What if death eaters came after them they had no way to defend themselves Tonks had reassured her that they had members of the order keeping an eye on them but she was still scared. She allowed the pules from her bracelet to bring her comfort as Ginny told her about how her parents were staying with Bill and Fleur while they worked on rebuilding the borrow.
Hermione was ushered straight up to the tower by Ginny after dinner. Her friend had no intention of being alone and although she would have liked actually to talk to Draco she really wanted to stay with Ginny as well plus she still had her perfect duties. She would just send him a message through the coin and tell him that she would meet him tomorrow. That was the plane but a whole week went by without them meeting up with each other anytime he messages her she would be busy and anytime she was free he didn't seem to have his coin on him or he was busy. It wasn't either of their faults the first few weeks back to school after break was always busy. but she still wished they had more time or a chance to see each other. In truth she hadn't been able to meet up with Theo either, trying to meet your secret friend and well Draco was hard when you were trying to be a good student and friend. She would take glances at her two Slytherins from time to time and she was starting to get worried about Draco anytime she saw him in class or in the great hall he looked pretty tired with his eyebags growing deeper he even looked a little paler than usual. Theo looked ok but from what she saw he looked constantly busy writing letters. She and Nevil were going over their homework together when she felt her coin. She peeked at it under the table. He was asking her to meet at the room of requirements tonight. She told him she would meet him as soon as dinner was over. The rest of her day was way too long. She couldn't concentrate in class and as much as she tried to keep her mind busy with other things she just kept thinking about tonight her stomach fluttering every time she did.
Hermione readjusted her bag strap over her shoulder as she walked up to Draco waiting for her against the door. She gave a light wave as she approached him when was close enough he pulled her in for a side hug leaving a kiss on her head. They headed into the familiar study she walked ahead of him dropping her bag on one of the chairs she turned and watched Draco remove his robes and get more comfortable.
" how was your break?" she asked following his lead removing some of her layers till she just wore her shirt and skirt. " it was fine my mother was sad when she sent me off at the platform," he told her. well, that was vague. " did you have a good Christmas?" she tried again to get him to talk. "not really though I hear it was better than the Weasleys."
"DRACO! Not ok. what is with you, we finally get to meet up and you try and start a fight." Draco just let out a breath and walked over to her " I'm sorry ok, I had a bad break and just really don't want to talk about it." He seem sincere so Hermione just nodded accepting his apology. Draco gave a smile "how about you did you enjoy your break?"
" yes well until I heard about the burrow."
" I can't believe they call their home the burrow." Draco made a face and Hermione gave him a little slap on the arm. They settled on their couch after Hermione picked up a book she had left on one of the end tables its one she had been meaning to finish. "so did you see your muggle?"
"Are you trying to start a fight cuz if so I won't bother opening this book?" She held up the book waving it a bit Draco just smiled. " no Gregory didn't come back for the break so I didn't see him." Draco continued to smile as he made himself even more comfortable throwing one leg on the couch and pulling her to rest against him. it wasn't even five minutes into reading that he started playing with her hair making it even more of a tangled mess than it already was.
" If you are bored you could read something too."
"or you could read to me."
"really you want me to read vol.16 of the case history of the Wizengamot 1800-1850, how is this even here I can't imagine this would have been published before he died?"
" I made a couple of changes to the book collection." He told her matter of fact. Hermione wasn't aware one could make changes like that but then she glanced at the oversized bed in the room and decided that it wasn't that hard to believe. She read for half an hour before she felt Draco's breathing change and his body became more lack. Turning her head slightly she saw that he was in fact asleep. She moved to get up but felt his grip on her waist tighten. " where are you going?" he asked not bothering to open his eyes. " you are tired we should actually go to sleep." She told him moving his arm and getting up. " I don't want to leave we didn't even get to do it."
" is that all you ever think of?"
"It's my favorite thing to think of." He smirked opening his eyes "perv" she shook her head. " it's no fun if we're both too tired, but tell you what if we wake up early enough we can have morning sex." she offered walking over to her bag and pulling out her pre-packed PJs and clothes for tomorrow. " you're staying here for the night?"
"do you not want me to?" she held up her sleeping shorts and tank top. "just pleasantly surprised." He got up giving her a kiss before walking to the bed and discarding the remainder of his own clothes. Hermione gave a huff as she followed picking up the clothes behind him. "really your not a child, you should at least put them aside nicely". She draped them over one of the chairs and then undressed herself. Her head was down for most of her change but when she felt the pulse on her wrist quicken just a little she turned around to hide her smile. She finished getting changed turning to see Draco sitting on the bed watching her. " you know I'm not really tired anymore." He told her as she climbed onto the bed Draco offered his hand to help pull her to the middle of it. "well I'm rather tired so I'll pass but if you need to take care of yourself go right ahead" she gave a teasing smile as she got under the covers. "tease" he said sulking but he pulled her close to his side and despite what he had said about not being tired fell asleep within minutes. Hermione watched him sleep for a bit before finally closing her own eyes.
Hermione sat in her bed charming her PJs. She needed to practice a cooling spell on them if she was going to keep sleeping with Draco the guy was a freaking furnace when he slept. She really didn't understand it he felt normal a little cool even when he was awake but something happens to him when he sleeps that raises his body temp that with his snuggle habits and she might as well be sleeping under a heated blanket during summer. Yep anytime she shared a bed with him she work overheated and in a tangle of limbs or with him laying on top of her. she put her clothes away once she was satisfied with her progress so far. She then pulled out a small bag that her mother had given her as a Christmas gift and started working on this one she was making like her school bag so that thing shrunk when they were put in. but while her school bag only shrunk thing ½ an inch or so she was aiming for something more. She had no idea what the rest of the year or next would bring so having as many supplies as possible was a must so far she was able to fit four sets of clothes a camping cook set, a tent, and about 20 books. It was a start but she still felt pride seeing as the bag was only 8 by 10. One thing she really needed to figure out was the weight problem it wouldn't help to have all this stuff in her bag if she couldn't even carry it. Ginny walked in wearing her quidditch gear clearly ready to head down for practice. "ok missy let's go you promised you would watch today." Hermione let out a groan "cant I reschedule it like really cold out today." " no, you promised besides I need you to walk there and back with me so Dean doesn't try and ambush me." Hermione sulkily nodded getting up why hasn't Harry asked her out yet she knew he wanted to date her and that would put an end to Dean trying to get back together and release her from guard duty. They walked to the quidditch pitch parting at the stands there she let out another groan. Lavender was there with Parvati. She made sure not to sit too close but still felt the other girls' eyes on her.
She split her time watching the practice and reading the book she had brought with her often losing focus on either task every time Lavendar squealed and clapped every time Ron did anything. When she finally saw the team gathering on the ground for their debriefing she closed her book getting ready to walk back with Ginny. She walked down the bleacher stairs when she was shoved to the side. Grabbing the railing to stop herself from falling Lavendar looked back smirking as she continued to hurry down. Parvati was in no rush like her friend instead walking the way a normal human would. At the bottom, they were greeted with Lavendar yelling and waving her arms. " Won Won over here!" Hermione stood back giving herself a wide birth as Parvati walked over to her friend. As the players walked over to them she noticed Ginny and Harry in conversation and wondered if she should hide. Maybe they would walk back to the castle together but before she could do anything they saw her and walked over. " hey thanks for waiting, ready to head out?" Hermione just smiled and nodded the three of them walked back talking about the different strategies that they had just practiced. "hey what are you guys talking about?" Ron came up beside them they told him and he just nodded. " Won Won and I were just talking about his birthday, I got him the best gift" she giggled as she held on to his arm even harder. Ron looked away a little embarrassed as the rest of them just continued to walk not commenting at all.
Draco sat with Theo and Blaise in his dorm room. The three of them were taking a moment to relax and have a drink before Draco heads up to work on the cabinet he was also hiding from Snape since the Slughorn party incident he has felt the bloody man trying to get into his head. His time with his friends and Hermione were the only things keeping him sane after the break. The whole thing was just awful the dark load was not happy as far as he was concerned Draco hadn't done anything since the year had started. Draco was forced to remove his own memories and show them to prove that he wasn't lying. He showed his work on the cabinet the failed plan with the cursed necklace he also showed them his plan with the poisoned oak-matured mead that was supposed to be gifted to Dumbledore as a Christmas gift. They would have to wait for news on that one. Draco didn't want his plan to kill the headmaster to work if he was being honest no he didn't want it but he did need it. The rest of his break was with his aunt on his back following him to Borgin and Berks to supervise as he worked on that cabinet. Then anytime he wasn't working on that she was drilling him on cures as well as the killing cures. His mother stepped in anytime she could but his aunt only let up during meal times at least she gave him Christmas day off.
He had disillusionment his ring he had no desire to take it off but couldn't risk anyone seeing it. that and using the coin to say goodnight to her was the only interaction he could get. By the end of the break, he was almost ready to fucking run to Hogwarts. but the dark lord made sure to give him a little more incentive to work harder on his task. His mark bled all night long before he left for the train it felt like his skin was being torn apart by fire. The fucking mark hurt like hell and looked even worse and his disillusionment charm barely worked at all it was a whole week before he was able to finally meet up with Hermione. After his mark had calmed down and he was able to hide it. He had almost blown that though luckily it all turned out fine they even spent the night together and he made sure she kept her word on that morning sex.
They lay in the bed panting Hermione sprawled on top of Draco. He moved some of her hair that had settled onto his face. "Merline how do you always have so much hair". He tossed it over her shoulder as she got up and then laid on her side propping herself up by her elbow. Draco frowned at the loss of her on top of him. "you know for someone who complains about it so much you really like burying your face in it." Draco chuckled at that truth during sex or while he was the big spoon while they slept he did seem to have no problem burying his face in the curled and knotted mess or fighting with it to get to her neck. "but there's still so much of it, I really can't avoid it. Have you thought about ever doing anything with it I can get you some good products." He started playing with her hair grabbing fits fulls then letting it fall.
" for your information, I use a nighttime relaxer, this could be a lot more." She shook her hair about before laying her head back down. "really." Draco studies her hair that had met the blanket to cover her shoulders and breast. " well yes" she looked down a little sheepishly "well I should probably use it more often Ginny had said I'm supposed to use it three times a week but it tends to fall more around once a week, but it could be a lot worst trust me." Draco again studied her thinking back to when they were younger he could only believe her. her hair used to be much more frizzy and although her curls were still intense they now had more of a wave to them no longer all just curled up into an oddball.
" my mom tried to bring me to a salon that handled my kind of hair better but I never really liked it. I preferred when my aunt helped with my hair and my mom learned from her. she would do my hair every day but after a while, I just got tired of people telling me how my hair should be how I should look, playing and studying were way more importing" Hermione looked away looking a little embarrassed. " is the way you wear your hair a big thing in the muggle world?" Hermione smiled at his question " well looks are very important to a lot of people like here in the wizarding world care a lot about their looks." " yeah but you just keep talking about your hair like it's the whole big thing."
" it kind of is….. ok so you know how here in the wizarding world people care about blood states and class rank or how rich you are?"
" yes of course I'm at the top of all three," he said rather smugly. "right well replace blood states with race." "ok," Draco was surprised that something like race was put on the same level of blood states. He knew of many families who had gone overseas to meet with families who were pure blood and higher class rather than mix with any half breeds or blood traitors what with how small the circle of purebloods was getting they needed to. Draco then got lost in thought thinking about how if she was at least a half-blood he might be able to justify her.
Draco finished his glass and walked to his desk to refill his glass. He felt his cheeks heat a little when he saw that he had left his letter from his mother out. It was just mainly her asking how he was reminding him to work hard at school and a little light teasing about their conversation at the platform. He wasn't really sure how she found out but she did when he gave his final farewell at the train she smiled taking his hand with his ring. " I hope next time you will at least tell me about her or better invite her to tea or a meal so I can meet her." Draco didn't know what to say so instead he just nodded and went into the train.
so with this chapter, I went with the movie more instead of the books with the borrow burning down it fit better with where I was going with the story. hope you liked it.