An:
I just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported this fanfiction. I show this by uploading a second chapter for you guys today!
Specifically, I want to thank FierceFern, Pauli Jean Malfoy, Satanmistressxoxo, etfonhome (love the name btw), Staruniverse127, and also a huge HUGE thank you to 'A fan' and MsAwsome2u for leaving reviews on the last couple chapters.
HAPPY READING,
xoxo PollyFairy123
Hermione and Draco wandered silently down the cobbled streets of Diagon Alley, their footsteps echoing softly in the stillness of the night as they walked towards the public Floo network. The usual hustle and bustle of the magical marketplace had long since faded, leaving only a handful of stragglers lingering under the dim, flickering lights of shop windows.
"I, um," Draco hesitated, clearing his throat. "I saw you talking with McLaggen."
She tried to appear indifferent, masking the nervous flutter in her chest as she quickly tried to piece together what he might have seen.
"Yeah," she replied casually, hoping her voice didn't betray her, "We were just catching up."
Draco nodded lightly, his gaze drifting into the distance. "I know it's none of my business," he paused, "But you seemed upset afterwards."
"Me and him don't really get along," she stated, trying to brush it off.
"Well, I never liked the bloke," Draco remarked, a hint of disdain in his voice. "So whatever he said, I wouldn't take it personally."
"Yeah, I'm used to it," she said with a shrug.
"You are?" Draco asked, surprise flickering in his eyes.
Hermione hesitated, debating whether or not to reveal more about her past with Cormac. Of course, her closest friends, Harry, Ron, and Ginny, knew that they had dated, but she had never mustered the courage to share the full story with them. At the time, she had felt too much shame. But now, with distance and time, the memories felt less suffocating. And there was something unexpected about Draco that made her feel comfortable enough to open up.
"He's my ex-boyfriend," she admitted.
Draco slowed his steps, clearly baffled. "Hang on. You, Hermione Granger, dated Cormac McLaggen?" he said, his tone laced with disbelief. "Can't believe he managed to talk his way into that one."
Hermione paused, noticing the way he had said her full name. The sound of it on his lips was so unfamiliar, yet oddly gentle, making her heart skip in a way she hadn't anticipated. It took her a moment to realise it, but she couldn't recall a single time he had ever addressed her by her first name.
She pursed her lips into a tight smile. "Yeah, me neither."
"Did it end on bad terms?" Draco asked innocently, his curiosity evident.
Hermione felt a wave of anger rise within her as she let the memories resurface, "If you call your ex-boyfriend using a Disillusionment Charm to follow you home from work after you left him 'bad terms,' then yes, I'd say so."
This time, Draco stopped dead in his tracks, an undeniable look of concern flashing across his face. "When did this happen?" he asked, his voice low but urgent.
"You don't have to worry about me. I took care of it," Hermione replied, trying to brush it off.
"You didn't answer my question," he said, his gaze locking onto hers.
She cleared her throat, suddenly nervous under his scrutiny. "Last night."
"Yesterday?" Draco's voice was a mix of shock and frustration. "Granger, you shouldn't be staying there."
"I said it's fine, Malfoy," she insisted, her emotions starting to rise.
He threw his hands up in the air and rolled his eyes. "Why is it that you make it so difficult for people to help you?" he retorted, his tone exasperated.
This time, it was Hermione's turn to be shocked, "I don't want to have another fight, Draco. I'm exhausted," she said, pulling back from him.
"Granger, I'm only worried about you because it's not safe," he said calmly, his hand gently resting on her shoulder, guiding her to meet his eyes. The simple gesture de-escalated the tension between them, and it was clear he could see just how tired she really was.
"I don't know what to do, Malfoy," she admitted, her voice softer now.
"Stay at one of my apartments," Draco suggested. "I have one in the city centre that's connected to the Floo Network. It'll be safer for you there."
"Draco, I couldn't possibl—" she began, but he quickly cut her off.
"As your Auror and your partner, I insist," he said firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Their eyes locked, an unspoken challenge hanging between them, as if both were silently daring the other to be the first to look away. The intensity of the moment was palpable, a battle of wills neither seemed willing to lose.
Eventually, Hermione conceded, looking away. "Fine," she said, her voice softening in defeat.
"You can borrow some of my mother's clothes for tonight and work tomorrow. She's got plenty," Draco told her as he turned to continue walking towards the public Floo Network.
As Draco walked ahead, guiding the way, Hermione suddenly became acutely aware of how much strain she had been feeling throughout the day. The realisation hit her like a wave—how unsafe she had felt the night before, in constant fear of Cormac showing up at her doorstep and how badly she had slept. But now, the stress in her body began to subside, knowing she was finally out of Cormac's reach, at least for tonight.
"Wait, Dr—I mean, Malfoy!" she called out, gently grabbing his wrist to stop him from getting too far ahead.
Draco immediately looked down at where their skin touched, a strange, unreadable expression flickering in his eyes.
"Thank you," she said quickly, unable to think of anything else. Her gratitude was overwhelming. "Just thank you," she exhaled, feeling a weight lift off her chest as she spoke.
For a moment, Draco said nothing. His face, usually a mask of stoic, aristocratic composure, was now marked by genuine concern. "I have to ask you something," he began softly, his voice gentle. "But you don't have to answer if you don't want to."
"Mhm," Hermione murmured, her eyes searching his, trying to anticipate what he was about to ask.
"Did McLaggen ever… hurt you?" Draco's voice was hesitant, almost as if he didn't want to know the answer.
Hermione froze. No one close to her had ever asked her that question before. It was a question she had avoided, even with herself, and yet here was Draco, someone she hadn't seen in six years, standing in front of her, asking the one thing she had never spoken aloud.
"Never physically," she whispered under her breath, the words barely audible yet heavy with unspoken pain as she finally admitted it out loud. She felt a lone tear roll down the side of her face and quickly wiped it away, embarrassed. She was crying in front of Draco Malfoy.
Malfoy took a cautious step closer, "Can I hug you?" he asked, his voice gentle, as if afraid of overstepping.
Hermione looked up at him, surprised by the offer. After a moment, she gave a slight nod, and Draco slowly wrapped his arms around her, offering comfort she hadn't realised she needed until that very moment.
The two of them held the embrace for a few slow, tender moments, the silence between them filled with a quiet, shared understanding. Hermione took a deep breath, gradually composing herself as the warmth of Draco's embrace seeped through her. With a soft chuckle, she pulled back slightly, wiping away the last of her tears. "I'm sorry for crying on you," she said, her voice a mix of gratitude and embarrassment. "I didn't mean to unload on you like that."
He gently tilted her chin, ensuring she met his gaze, his icy grey eyes locking onto hers. "Don't ever apologise to me," he said firmly. "I owe you a debt that I'm not sure can ever be repaid."
The weight of his words hung in the air between them. It was as if he believed he didn't deserve her apology. His gaze revealed a subtle, unspoken gratitude, hinting at the lingering impact of her testimony at his trial and how it shaped his perception of their relationship. The intensity of his gaze was so profound, and it was as if he was peering into the very depths of her being, unravelling every unspoken thought.
"As of tonight, you can consider your debt repaid."
He offered a small, teasing smile. "I'll consider it half paid," he countered a hint of challenge in his tone.
Hermione rolled her eyes, but a genuine smile spread across her face. "I look forward to the second half."
Draco chuckled softly and swung an arm around her shoulders in a casual, comforting gesture. "Come on, Granger. Let's get you home."
"Here we are," Draco said as they stepped through the Floo.
Hermione took a moment to absorb her surroundings. The flat was stunning, with an expansive open plan that exuded both elegance and comfort. Every wall was lined with shelves overflowing with books, and the large windows offered a breathtaking view of London's quiet, illuminated expanse far below.
"It's beautiful," she said softly, her eyes lingering on the view.
"Yeah, it is," Draco agreed, a touch of pride in his voice. "This is my place."
Hermione's brow furrowed slightly as a thought struck her. "Wait, where are you staying, Malfoy?"
"I usually stay with my mother at the Manor," he replied, a hint of somberness in his tone. "I've been living with her while she's on house arrest. She gets lonely."
Hermione remembered reading about Narcissa Malfoy, now Narcissa Black, in the wizarding newspapers during her time in Australia. The Malfoys' trials had garnered worldwide attention. Lucius Malfoy had been sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss for his heinous crimes against Muggles and the wizarding world. To this day, he was still awaiting an appeal—a prospect Hermione doubted would succeed.
In contrast, Narcissa had received a more lenient sentence. She was placed under house arrest for ten years due to her knowledge of the atrocities committed and her failure to intervene. The conviction had been softened significantly thanks to Harry's testimony, which highlighted how she had saved his life in the Forbidden Forest, demonstrating an unexpected act of bravery amidst her previous silence.
"I admire her a lot, your mother," Hermione said sincerely.
"You should meet her," Draco replied.
Hermione hesitated, a shadow crossing her face. "Oh, I don't know if I could go back to the Manor," she said, her voice soft. The memories of Bellatrix Lestrange and the lingering ache in her arm were still raw despite the passage of time.
Draco's expression faltered as he seemed to replay his own memories. His face paled slightly. "I'm sorry, I—"
"It was a long time ago. We were kids," she said, trying to reassure him and herself. "It's not your fault your aunt was bat-shit crazy."
Draco's only response was a quiet, "I know."
Hermione took a deep breath, considering his offer. "Maybe it would be a good thing for me to go. You mentioned she's been refurbishing the Manor. Perhaps it would be a chance to move past some of those old memories."
"You don't have to," Draco said, trying to backtrack.
"I want to," Hermione replied earnestly, her eyes meeting his with sincerity. "I'm not ready for it quite yet, but I would like to in the future."
Once again, the two of them fell into silence, their presence together a quiet refuge from the complexities of their lives. The hum of the city below seemed distant, and the soft glow of the flat's lights cast a warm, calming ambience around them.
"Right, well, I should probably head back to the Manor and let you get settled," Draco said politely. "My mother's clothes are in the wardrobe in the guest room, but if you prefer, you can use my room. Don't feel bad about taking them. She hasn't worn them in years."
Hermione nodded, her gaze drifting back to the cosy surroundings. "Thanks, Malfoy. I appreciate it."
Draco's expression shifted to a cheeky, half-smile. "You know, you already called me Draco earlier tonight when we walked through Diagon Alley. I don't think you realised it at the time, but I don't see why we should go back to formalities now."
"I did not!" Hermione protested.
"I'll make an Unbreakable Vow right now if you want," Draco said, laughing and holding up his hands in mock innocence. "I promise I'm telling the truth."
"Oh, bugger off," Hermione said, her smile widening.
"Alright, alright," Draco said, conceding as he started to walk toward the fireplace. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Thanks again. For everything," Hermione called out, her tone more casual now.
"How many more times will I have to hear you thank me?" Draco asked, looking at her as he threw the Floo powder into the fireplace.
"A couple more, I reckon."
Draco laughed. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Draco," Hermione said, just as he spoke the Manor's address and vanished into the green flames.
As he disappeared, Hermione could have sworn she saw a fleeting change in his expression when she used his first name, as though a tiny bolt of lightning had shocked him.