Hermione was sweating and panting as she faced Astoria. "Expelli—!"
Astoria had her spell blocked before it was even entirely out of her mouth. "Fuck," Hermione swore.
"You keep dropping your left shoulder," Astoria replied with a raised brow.
Hermione looked towards where Draco and Theo were standing with their arms crossed over their chests. Theo looked questioningly at Draco, who merely nodded. "You keep dropping your left shoulder," Draco confirmed. "It's why you keep getting blocked, and you're making herself an easy target."
Hermione felt herself deflate. They'd been at this for hours. She had been no match for Draco or Theo, but she had taken George fairly well. Astoria, too, at the beginning. But it seemed that as Astoria improved her technique, Hermione's own got worse. She frowned.
As if sensing her frustration, Draco came up behind her and repositioned her arms, holding her left arm up level with her shoulder. "Don't get frustrated," he said gently. "Try it like this."
Hermione nodded.
"Astoria, go again," Draco said, still holding up Hermione's arm.
Astoria went over the same sequence they had just been practicing, and this time, when Hermione shot her disarming spell at Astoria, the wand was ripped from the other girl's palm. Hermione felt herself smirk.
"Good," Draco said seriously, releasing her arm. "Try it again without me."
Hermione tossed Astoria's wand back to her. They ran through the same sequence again, and this time, Hermione concentrated on keeping her arm in the same position Draco had shown her. She once again managed to successfully disarm Astoria. Hermione's smirk widened and Astoria huffed.
Hermione looked to Draco, who was smirking back at her. She could tell he was proud of her. "Think that's enough for now. Time for a break and lunch?" he asked, looking towards Theo.
Theo nodded. "I think that's a good idea," he agreed.
Hermione tossed Astoria's wand back to her and turned to Draco, who was now watching her with dark eyes. Hermione furrowed her brow, recognizing the expression acutely. He wanted her. Had her dueling turned him on?
She went to him, wrapping her arms around his forearm. He stared down at her. "Sandwiches?" she asked. "At the lake?" Hermione wanted to be alone with him.
Draco nodded. "Yeah," he agreed. "Sounds good."
Hermione quickly made sandwiches in the tent while Draco hovered over her, his fingers tracing small patterns on the small of her back. She quickly wrapped them up in napkins and headed back into the clearing where Astoria, George, and Theo were preparing a more substantial meal in front of the campfire. "Where are you guys going?" Theo asked.
"Lake," Draco said shortly.
"Means they're going to go have sex," Astoria said knowingly.
"At least we know how to cast a silencing charm," Hermione shot back, raising her brows at Astoria.
"What?" Theo asked dumbly, his gaze shooting back towards Astoria and George. "You guys are having sex?"
Hermione went to turn around, but Draco's fingers trailed further down her spine once more, causing her to shiver. "No meddling," he said quietly. "Let them figure it out."
Hermione nodded, following Draco down the path that headed towards to the lake. It had become increasingly overgrown since the last time they had visited, and Draco had to draw his wand and cut down several branches to make their passage possible.
As they reached the lake, Hermione took a deep breath, sucking in the clean scent of the forest and the earthy brine of the lake's waters. It felt good—calming. "I remember the last time we were here," she said quietly.
"Oh?" Draco asked. He was staring down at her, his eyes still dark.
Hermione nodded. "I liked you then, of course. But I remember—I wasn't sure how you felt, at the time."
"I was fucking head over heels for you," he replied. "I was yours even then."
"Mine?" she asked.
"Yours," Draco repeated, ducking his head down to kiss her.
Hermione smirked against his lips, having an idea. She was sweaty, exhausted and could use a bit of a rinse in the lake. She pressed the wrapped sandwiches into Draco's hands and took a step back. He quirked an eyebrow at her in confusion before Hermione promptly pulled off all her clothes. His eyes widened in surprise.
With a grin, Hermione ran towards the lake and jumped in, squealing as the cold water hit her skin. She turned, shaking the excess water from her hair, to find Draco staring at her in awe from the shoreline. He quickly schooled his expression, abandoning the sandwiches before smirking at her and slowly stripping his own clothes off.
It was completely unfair how handsome her boyfriend was.
He joined her in the lake at his own leisure, slowly swimming over to her and wrapping his arms around her waist. "I want you," he said softly.
Hermione bit her lip and raised her legs in the water, easily wrapping them around his waist. "So, I was right then? The dueling—it turned you on?"
"Fucking right it did," Draco replied. "I'd never seen you duel before. It was incredible."
"I dueled at Hogwarts!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Well, then. I wasn't paying attention, was I?" he said.
Hermione frowned. "I'm not very good. It's been a long time."
"Nonsense," Draco replied emphatically. "You're quick on your feet and you're bloody talented with a wand. You just need a little more practice."
"You think?" Hermione asked, looping her arms around his shoulders. He was hard against her.
He nodded. "A little time with me and Theo and I'll pity the fool who tries to raise his wand against you."
Hermione grinned at his belief in her. "Right now," she said quietly. "I just want you."
Draco smiled and kissed her. "I can do that," he replied.
Afterwards, they ate their sandwiches on the shoreline as they dried off in the sunshine. "Did you mean what you said about my dueling?"
Draco took a bite of sandwich and stared at her. "Of course," he replied. "What? Did you think I said it just to get into your knickers?"
Hermione shrugged. She knew she was being insecure, and she hated herself for it.
Draco narrowed his eyes at her, abandoning his sandwich in favor of cupping her cheek, gently stroking it with the pad of his thumb. "Let's get one thing straight," he said seriously. "I don't lie to you. I never have and I never will. And I know that I'm a right bastard to other people—and I truly do not care. But I am not a bastard to you. Not anymore."
Hermione nodded, feeling reassured. With just a few words, he'd made her feel good—confident—strong. It made her feel loved. "Mine?" she asked quietly.
"Yours," he agreed. "Forever."
"I like the sound of forever," Hermione replied with a smile.
"Good," Draco said. "Because that's what you're getting with me."
Of course, forever could be a very short time if Draco failed at killing Voldemort. She didn't say it, and she didn't let herself dwell on it. Worrying would do her no good.
Forever, Hermione told herself. They would have forever.
With this resolve in mind, Hermione sighed. "We should get back to practice."
Draco didn't reply, and he was suddenly studying the lake with a critical eye.
"Draco?" Hermione asked.
"I need to do something," he finally replied. "And you're going to hate it."
"Draco?" she repeated questioningly.
He sighed, rubbing at his brow in frustration. "I should ward the lake," he said. "Permanently."
Hermione instantly knew he meant blood wards. "No," she said firmly.
"Hermione—" he began.
"No," she repeated, crossing her arms over her chest.
"It's for your protection," Draco replied adamantly, crossing his own arms.
"And yours?" Hermione asked harshly. "What if you cut too deeply and accidentally kill yourself?"
"Hermione—" he began again.
"I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you," she said quietly.
He sighed and uncrossed his arms. His expression softened. "Nothing is going to happen to me, Hermione," he replied gently. "Just a little bit of blood, that's all."
She stuck her chin out at him defiantly. "If that's the case, then let's actually use my blood this time," Hermione replied.
His eyes narrowed again. "Absolutely not," he said.
"Exactly."
"Hermione, why are you being difficult?"
"You're the one being difficult," Hermione shot back. "I said no."
"Oh, so you're in charge of me, are you?" he asked.
"I'll break up with you if you do it," Hermione replied. "I will."
"You wouldn't."
"I would."
"I just want to keep you safe," Draco said gently.
"I want you to be safe."
"Fuck," Draco swore, pinching the bridge of his numb between his thumb and forefinger. "Why are we arguing?"
"I don't know!" Hermione exclaimed.
"You know we need to ward this place if we're going to stay here."
"I know!"
"Blood wards—" he began.
"—Find another way," Hermione interrupted. She swallowed
"It's always blood. It always has to be blood," Draco replied quietly, holding out his tattooed forearm. "I've never told you how got this, have I?"
"No."
"It was the worst day of my life," he said quietly. "You knew that already."
Hermione couldn't speak.
"I slit my wrists for blood wards, and it hurt less." Draco grabbed at his tattoo. "This thing? It's bone deep. I thought I was going to die when I got it. I wanted to. I wanted it done. That was the day I became a Death Eater."
"Tell me," she said quietly.
"This thing—this spell. This curse. It carved out my entire forearm. All of my flesh. My veins. For a minute, I swear, it was just my bone." He grimaced. "I think I blacked out. And when I woke up, there was—this."
Hermione took his forearm in her arms and pressed a gentle kiss to his tattoo. "Do you still?" Hermione asked quietly. "Want to die, I mean?"
Draco shook his head. "No," he replied. "I found you. And I would never do that to you."
"I'll kill him," Hermione said harshly.
"That's my job, love," Draco replied as Hermione continued to run her fingers over his Dark Mark. It had hurt him, and she wanted to take it away, even though it was far too late for her to help him.
"Does it do anything?" she asked.
He shrugged. "I can feel when he calls me. It burns—makes my bones itch. I wanted to crawl out of my skin the first few days, until He gave up."
That's why he was always so on edge before. He was in pain.
And that's why he was more relaxed now.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked.
Draco shrugged again. "Nothing you could do except for what you were already doing.
"But you were hurting—"
"You helped, Hermione," he said quietly. "If I was really in pain, I would have told you."
"Clearly not!" she shot back.
"Hermione—"
"How long did He call you?" she asked.
Draco sighed. "I don't know," he replied. "Two weeks?"
"Two weeks!?" Hermione exclaimed. "And you didn't tell me?"
"I didn't want to worry you."
"You were hurting for two weeks and you didn't tell me!" she cried.
"Hermione—" he tried again.
She rubbed at her eyes, feeling tears beginning to brim. Why were they fighting today?
"Hermione," he said again, his voice gentle. "I'm used to being alone. I'm used to being in pain alone. I'm used to shouldering it all by myself."
She thought of him alone on the floor of his flat, unable to stand from the effects of being tortured at Voldemort's hands.
"Well, you're not alone anymore!" Hermione cried.
That was the tipping point, it seemed.
"You're right," Draco agreed. "Gods, I had a fucking point a while back."
"Well, then make it!" she shouted. Hermione was pissed off now.
He nodded. "Everything that means anything requires blood. It requires pain. I'm used to it. I've been used to it for a long time. I'm used to being a Death Eater and a spy and doing what needed to be done. But you're right, I'm not alone anymore," he relented.
She leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his waist, desperately needing to touch him. "I know you want to keep me safe," she said quietly. "But I don't want you to hurt yourself because of it."
"I've had worse hurts."
"I know," Hermione replied. "Which is why I don't want any more.
He smiled down at her. "You'll fix all my hurts." It was the very same thing she had said to Astoria. "Let's go back. If there's anyone who knows alternative wards it'll be Theo or Astoria."
"You'll find another way?" she asked.
"I'll try, for you," Draco replied.
Hermione gulped. "If there's—not. We'll do it. But I cut you myself."
Okay," Draco agreed. "Are we done fighting now?"
"Yeah," she said, leaning into his chest. "We're done."
His lip quirked. "I love you, no matter how frustrating you can be."
"Me—? Please, I'm not—" she broke off. "I love you."
"For the record," Draco continued. "I love how stubborn you are."
"You do?" she asked quietly.
Draco pulled away from her slightly, staring down at her seriously again. He swallowed. "I know you're insecure sometimes," he said. "You don't have to be with me. I'm in love with you."
She burst into tears.
"Why are you crying?" Draco asked softly, his fingers trailing down her spine.
"You know me so well," she replied, rubbing at her eyes. "I am insecure sometimes, and I hate it. I was a weirdo growing up, Draco."
"I don't care," he said, rubbing comforting circles into her skin. "You're my weirdo now."
"Forever?" she asked.
Draco nodded. "Forever."
"But from now on, you have to tell me when you're hurting," Hermione continued, wiping the tears from her face. "I don't care if you stubbed your little toe. You tell me."
His lip quirked. "Okay," he agreed. "You love me."
"I do," she replied. "I feel like we just had an important conversation."
"Yeah," he agreed, grinning. "I think we did."
She sniffled. "I know I said that we should get back—but can we stay here for a while?"
Draco shrugged. "It's your house," he replied. "You make the rules. And if you wanted to practice dueling some more we could that, too."
"Our house," Hermione corrected.
"What?" Draco asked.
"It's our house," she repeated. "Yours and mine."
He grinned down at her, pushing a curl behind her ear. "Yeah, I guess so," he said. "And I do whatever the fuck I want. So we're staying here as long as you want."
Hermione snorted. "You don't do whatever you want."
His lip quirked. "No," he agreed. "I do whatever you want."
They finished the rest of their sandwiches in comfortable silence, Hermione leaning against Draco's shoulder. When Draco finished his sandwich, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into him, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. He leaned back lazily against the trunk of the tree, pulling her with him.
Hermione rested against him, grabbing his arm free arm and pulling it over her waist. Between the sunshine, the food, and the exhaustion from the earlier duels, Hermione found herself quickly dozing off on Draco's bare chest.
She allowed herself a short nap before sighing and pulling at Draco's hands. "Come on, I want to practice more."
"With me?" he asked.
"Yeah," she replied. "I want to see if I've gotten any better.
Draco reluctantly released her and stood, pulling on the rest of his clothes. "I don't duel in the nude, love," he said, when she raised a brow at him. "You might curse my manhood."
Hermione laughed. "I would never," she said, pulling on the rest of her own clothes. "I'll have you know that I'm quite fond of it."
"Oh?" Draco asked, waggling a brow at her.
She huffed at him. "Knock it off," Hermione said. "We're dueling, remember?"
"Right," he replied, narrowing his eyes and taking a dueling stance. "Ready?"
Hermione took a similar stance across from him. "Ready," she agreed.
"On 3," Draco said.
Hermione nodded.
"1—2—3—"
Hermione went to raise her wand and was immediately disarmed, and Draco was suddenly twirling her wand between his fingers. She huffed in frustration.
Draco raised his brows at her. "Remember what I said."
"Right," she replied. "Don't get frustrated."
Easier said than done, she thought to herself.
After the tenth time that Draco disarmed her, Hermione felt the frustrated tears begin to brim in her eyes. "I'm hopeless," she said.
Draco tossed her wand back to her. "You have to stay positive," he replied.
"Oh, because you're so positive all the time!" Hermione shot back, taking the dueling stance once more.
Her wand was ripped from her hand once more. "I'm better at this than you," he replied.
"I know! You don't have to rub my face in it!" she exclaimed.
"Hey," Draco said, furrowing his brow. "Don't quit on me now."
"I can't do this!" Hermione replied, feeling defeated.
"Hey," Draco repeated, his voice gentle. He sighed, then took several steps toward her, pressing her wand back into her hands and holding her by the shoulders. "You can do this. I know you can." He paused. "I believe in you, Hermione."
It was exactly what she had needed to hear. She took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay," she said.
He smiled at her and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Okay," he repeated, stepping back and returning to his dueling stance. "From the top."
It took several more tries, but Hermione was finally able to disarm Draco. She stared down at his wand in her fist and grinned. When she looked up, Draco's own smile made her knees weak. She'd made him proud again.
"I told you," he said quietly, walking towards her so he could wrap an arm around her waist. "I think we should leave it there for today. You're tired."
She really was. Hermione sagged against him gratefully. "You're just upset because I beat you," she teased.
"I am," Draco agreed.
They took another quick dip in the lake before heading back to the clearing, their fingers twined tightly together. Hermione looked over to Draco who looked—happy. More carefree. "You're different here,"
He looked down at her. "How so?" he asked.
"You seem—happy," Hermione replied lamely.
He raised a brow at her. "I'm with you. Of course I'm happy."
"You're just different," she repeated. "You seem—lighter. You make jokes more."
Draco squeezed her fingers. "I've got hope again," said quietly. "Because you believe in me."
"I like you happy," Hermione said.
He grinned at her. "Me, too," he agreed.
"Hey, Draco?" she asked quietly.
"Yeah?" he replied.
"I really, really love you."
"I really, really love you, too,"
When they returned to the clearing, Hermione and Draco found Theo and George throwing spells at each other. Hermione swallowed. "Think they're practicing or actually fighting?"
"Who the fuck knows," Draco replied with a sigh. "Stay here. I'll go find out."
Hermione crossed her arms at the edge of the clearing, watching as Draco approached the two men. He withdrew his wand and wordlessly began to snap spells at them.
Draco had said Theo was the best duelist he knew. He paled in comparison to Draco.
She'd disarmed him and he'd been proud.
Hermione caught a flash of blonde out of the corner of her eye and found Astoria sitting at the edge of the forest. Her eyes were swollen and red-rimmed. She'd obviously been crying, and she looked miserable.
Hermione took a seat next to her. "What's wrong?"
Astoria burst out into tears. Big, wracking sobs that hurt Hermione's heart. "I want to go home, Granger," she replied. "To my big comfy bed, and my sister, and my fancy house with all the fancy things." Astoria sniffled and paused. "But, of course, those things don't exist anymore. Because my sister ran, and I got sold."
There was nothing Hermione could say, so she threw her arm over Astoria's shoulders. "Let's watch the boys fight," she said simply.
Astoria merely laughed, leaning against Hermione's shoulder. "I like you, Granger."
"I like you, too, Greengrass."
Astoria sniffled against her. "Have you ever seen Draco really duel?" she asked. "And I mean really?"
"No," Hermione replied quietly.
"He's terrifying," Astoria said. "He's quick and he's brutal. He's fast, and bloody smart. If anyone can kill the Dark Lord, it will be him."
Hermione pictured him, disarming her within seconds and twirling his wand between his fingers. "I know," Hermione said. "Do you think he can do it?"
Astoria lifted her head to stare up at her for a moment. "I don't know. Do you?"
"Yeah, I do," Hermione replied.
"Then so do I," Astoria said. "What will you do when it's over?"
"I'm going to marry him," Hermione replied, smiling. "You?"
"I think I want to fuck George a lot."
Hermione nodded knowingly. "Can I give you some advice, Astoria?"
"Yeah," Astoria replied immediately.
"He's hurting, too. Be gentle with him," Hermione said. "His twin—was murdered."
Astoria glared at her. "Can I give you some advice, Granger? Be gentle with him. The Dark Lord murdered his entire family."
"I know," Hermione said. "I love him more than anything, Astoria. I won't hurt him."
"Good," Astoria replied, resting her head against Hermione's shoulder again. "Who do you think's winning?"
"Draco," Hermione replied.
"I agree," Astoria's said.
"Draco said Theo was the best duelist he knew."
"Nah," Astoria replied as they watched Draco toss Theo and George's wands back to them. "Theo's good, but Draco is better. Wait. Marry him?" Astoria asked pulling away from her slightly.
"Yeah," Hermione replied. "I love him, Astoria. And he's—well, he's my forever."
"How do you know?" Astoria asked.
"I just know," Hermione said confidently. "The idea of someone else—" she cut off, shaking her head. "Draco's the one."
"When did you know?"
Draco suddenly had two wands in his hands. He turned to her and smirked.
"Well, that'll do it," Astoria said, nodding.
Hermione laughed. "I don't know when I knew, actually. I just saw him one day and realized he was everything." She watched as Draco tossed Theo's wand back to him.
Astoria wiped at her face. "I'm being pathetic," she said, laughing bitterly.
"You're not," Hermione replied firmly. "We're going to get through this, Astoria. Don't get frustrated." It was exactly what Draco had told her.
Astoria sniffled. "Right," she agreed, nodding. "I'm pissed. I kind of wanted to see Theo and Draco duel again"
"Hey!" Hermione shouted.
Draco immediately turned around.
"Duel Theo!"
He raised his eyebrows at her. "You like dueling, don't you?"
"Not more than you do!" Hermione replied.
"Wow, you guys are gross."
"It's dueling, Astoria."
"You're going to have sex afterwards."
Hermione shrugged. "Yeah, probably."
Hermione still didn't understand Hogwarts rules when it came to Slytherins. Draco and Theo were casting actual curses at each other. Theo flicked his wand and Draco was knocked onto his arse.
"Hogwarts rules," Astoria said quietly. "Means they're messing with each other. Nothing that actually hurts beyond a bruise. Maybe a split lip or a bloody nose. But you can terrify the other person."
"I was wondering," Hermione replied.
There was a sudden crack, and Hermione and Astoria both turned their attention back to Draco and Theo. Theo's nose was crooked and leaking blood.
Hermione look back at Astoria. "You were saying?"
Astoria shrugged. "Shit happens, Granger."
"You get to fix that!" Hermione shouted at Draco.
"Not a problem, love!" Draco shouted back.
"He calls you love? Astoria asked.
Hermione looked at Astoria, quirking a brow. "Yeah," she replied. "All the time."
Astoria shook her head. "Never heard him call a girl that in my life, and I've known him pretty much the entirety of it. You really are going to marry him."
"Yep," Hermione replied, watching as Draco knocked Theo on his arse with a hex before disarming him.
She'd known Draco would beat Theo again.
He was an amazing dueler. She was as proud of him as he had been of her. "That's my man," Hermione said.
Astoria narrowed her eyes, scouring the clearing.
Hermione knocked her shoulder with Astoria's. "Yours is over there," she said, nodding to where George was standing, looking a bit lost.
"He's not mine," Astoria protested.
"I know that look well," Hermione replied "He's yours."
"You think?" Astoria asked.
Hermione shrugged. "If you want him," she replied.
"I—think I do."
"Go," Hermione said.
Astoria went.
Hermione went to Draco, who was sitting next to Theo in front of the campfire, having just fixed his nose. She threw herself into Draco's lap. "Love you,"'she said, kissing his forehead.
"I'm such a third wheel," Theo lamented, rubbing at his nose.
"Fifth," Draco corrected.
"Wonderful," he replied sarcastically.
"You're still important, Theo," Hermione said gently. "We still want and need you here."
"I had no plans on leaving," he said, smirking. "Big evil afoot, yeah?"
"Unfortunately," Draco agreed.
"Gods, I need a fucking drink," Theo said in exasperation.
"Hey!" Draco shouted as Theo began to walk away. "Bring the bottle!"
"Meddling again?" Draco asked.
"Think Astoria and George are in love." She nodded towards where they were talking. "I did that."
"You did," Draco agreed, kissing her forehead.
"Am I really so meddlesome?" Hermione asked.
"You are," he said. "But I know why."
"You do?" she asked. Because truly, she wasn't entirely sure she understood her need to meddle herself.
"You want everyone to be happy. To have what we have. You're such a good person, Hermione. You're better than what I deserve," he said solemnly.
"What makes you say that?" Hermione asked.
"I'm a Death Eater, Hermione," Draco replied. "I've killed people."
"Because you had to," Hermione said back.
Draco stayed silent.
"I know what you are, Draco," Hermione said quietly. "I know exactly. Now, does someone know you better than me? Because I'd like a word."
That earned a grin. "No. No one knows me like you."
Hermione frowned. "You're tired. You always start doubting yourself when you're tired."
Draco nodded. "Maybe a drink and an evening in front of the telly will help?"
She kissed his forehead again. "Whatever you want," she said.
They left George and Astoria in the clearing and found Theo already in front of the telly, glass in hand.
"Like I said," Draco began. "We need more furniture in here."
Theo promptly pulled a coin from his pocket and transfigured into in a small sofa.
Draco laughed. "Impressive, Theodore."
It was impressive, Hermione agreed.
"Don't have sex on it," Theo said gruffly.
"Hadn't planned on it," Draco replied. "But now that you've mentioned it—"
"Oh, Draco, knock if off," Hermione interrupted.
Theo raised his glass towards her in a "cheers" motion. In the next moment, he was handing Hermione her own glass. "Here, Granger," he said.
"I don't get one?" Draco asked.
"I like your girlfriend better," Theo replied.
"Hah," Hermione said, taking a sip, before quickly passing it to Draco.
She loved him, after all.
"I saw that, Granger," Theo said.
"Sorry," she said. "I like my boyfriend better."
"How long have they been sleeping together?" Theo asked.
Hermione looked to Draco, who merely shrugged, looking bewildered. "Just the once, as far as I know," Hermione replied, uncertainly.
Theo took a drink, swallowing hard. "Is he—?"
Draco opened his mouth, but Hermione placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "George is a good one," she said. "And he really likes her."
Theo looked relieved at that, taking another sip of his drink. "Good," he said.
"Meddlesome," Draco murmured under his breath. "Theo," he said, louder this time. "Do you know anything about alternatives to blood wards?"
Theo took another swig of his drink and raised a brow at Draco. "An alternative to blood wards?" he asked.
Draco nodded. "I've got the clearing warded up tight, but I want to ward the lake, too." He nodded towards Hermione. "She doesn't want me all bloodied up."
"Hey!" Hermione said defensively.
"What?" Draco replied.
Theo shrugged. "Don't blame her. You were always a reckless git." He turned to Hermione. "Afraid you're not going to find anything stronger than blood wards, Granger. If it makes you feel better, I'll do the honors. Promise I won't try to kill him."
Hermione's eyes narrowed. She knew it was a joke, but she didn't care. "No one touches Draco but me," she said fiercely.
Draco's hand moved to the small of her back, soothing her. "We'll ask Astoria, yeah? Maybe she'll have a different answer."
"She won't," Hermione replied dejectedly. She'd have to hurt him again.
"Hermione, love, it will be fine," Draco said gently.
Theo narrowed his eyes. "I might have a blood replenishing potion stashed away. Would that make you feel better?"
"Yes," Hermione replied instantly.
"Hang on," Theo said, setting down his glass and heading to the corner of his room, where his lone bag sat. Briefly, she wondered where it came from. Maybe he carried it in his pocket all the time. He had been a spy, after all.
Hermione took the opportunity to press a kiss to the corner of Draco's mouth.
Theo returned with two vials of potions. Draco looked at them suspiciously, his mouth in a firm line, before pulling the cork from one and smelling it. He nodded. "This work for you?" Draco asked, looking at Hermione.
"As long as I'm the one who does it," Hermione said quietly, nodding. "Then it will actually be your blood on my hands."
Merlin. She hated the thought of it.
He nodded and kissed her forehead. "Everything will be fine. We'll do it tomorrow," Draco suggested. "Astoria and George should know where the lake is, too."
Hermione felt the nerves in the pit of her stomach recede. Draco had a penchant for spontaneity, and she had been worried that with Theo's assistance, Draco would immediately want to cast blood wards. Between their earlier fight, and the idea of having to hurt Draco, Hermione was severely on edge. As if sensing her discomfort, Draco reached out his hand, gently tapping her pinky with own. Feeling relieved, Hermione tapped back.
She knew they needed to ward the lake, but right now she wanted to curl up with Draco in front of the telly and drink some of George's terrible alcohol.
It was like Draco could read her mind. "Find us a film, Theo," he said.
Theo changed the station on the telly, promptly finding a showing of The Night of the Living Dead.
"Do we exclusively get horror movies here?" Hermione asked with a sigh.
"They're coming to get you, Barbara!" joked the man on the telly.
Ugh, she thought. Zombies. Such stupid villains—they were dumb and slow and couldn't even fly like birds could.
They were all dumb villains when the real villain was right in front of them.
Hermione squeezed Draco's pinky finger—which she hadn't even realized she'd still been holding—and stood.
He furrowed his brow at her.
I'll be back, she said.
Draco nodded. She went to their bedroom and pulled a thick tome from her bag before returning to the loveseat, settling on the far end of the couch, throwing her feet into Draco's lap.
While Draco and Theo watched the movie, Hermione read. She found a section on unicorn lore, but it was painfully short and entirely frustrating. Draco absently stroked the inside of her calf. Between the dueling, the lake, and his touch, she was feeling absolutely exhausted. She desperately wanted to close her eyes. So, she did for a moment
"We may not enjoy living together, but dying together isn't going to solve anything,"
It was the last thing that Hermione remembered before she fell asleep completely.