Hey everyone! It's been a bit, but I am happy to share the next chapter. Enjoy!

Draco

Chapter 7

Draco had popped the last bite of his sandwich in his mouth, feeling smug and thinking he was done with lessons for the day, when Hermione reappeared in the back garden. She took her seat, as if nothing had happened and she hadn't stormed off. She grabbed her lemonade and took a sip, all without even looking at him, but looking over the creek, the breeze billowing her curls as softly and gently as it dried his laundry.

"What happens to you after you take the Dark Mark?"

Draco's eyes snapped from her lips to her eyes as he registered her question.

"What?" He asked, his mind trying to understand what she was asking.

"When you take the dark mark, and you prove to your father, to Voldemort or whoever else that you actually have enough hate in your heart for anyone who isn't Iike you…what will you do to continue to prove your hatred? Harass people? Kidnap people? Torture them? Blackmail them? Betray people? Kill them?"

Draco swallowed, gritting his teeth.

Hermione leaned forward and studied him, not allowing him to break eye contact with her as she asked the questions Draco hadn't even considered.

"Do you ever think about what happens next?" Hermione asked, her voice merely curious, "When Voldemort takes over, and not in the abstract either. To you? To me? To our classmates? Your parents? Could you kill your Uncle Ted? Or torture Andromeda? Or imprison your cousin? Or blackmail Bilton Blimes, or betray Madame Malken, or Mr. Ollivander? To first years who aren't pureblooded and too scared to even go to school?"

Draco felt each question, each word hit him like a punch to the gut. But he couldn't say anything, instead swallowing against the lump in his throat.

"I can see you haven't. Voldemort is the embodiment of hatred, of cruelty and malice," Hermione said, leaning back in her chair, "Do you think that his society will be one where people can be free and happy to do and act as they please? Are you naive enough to think that Voldemort will simply give up his control and pursuit of absolute power?"

Draco finally couldn't look into her eyes anymore, looking down at the table.

"There will be blood on your hands. Are you really ready to offer your humanity for this cause?" Hermione asked softly, her brow furrowed as if the idea upset her. She looked back to the stream behind the house, which thundered in Draco's ears in rhythm with his heartbeat.

Her questions echoed around his head as he thought about it. What would it be like?

"Luckily for you, there are people trying to prevent you from having to deal with the fallout for not asking these questions and making informed decisions about your life and the lives you feel are inferior to yours. I am one of the people who is here to help you, to inform you, so that it might not be too late," Hermione said, determined, looking at Draco again, "No matter how many times you call me mudblood, bully me, curse and jinx me, criticize my friends and family…I will be here, trying to get you through this. I am stronger. Than you and your weak attempts. You may still decide that your believe in Voldemort's path, but you will be informed so that I know at your trial you can't simply claim to have been an ignorant, little rich boy who didn't know any better."

Draco grit his teeth, knowing it wasn't a time to speak. He didn't have response.

"So," Hermione said, popping a grape in her mouth and grabbing her notebook and Ancient Runes text, "Ready for Ancient Runes?"

Draco swallowed, his mind still trying to catch up to everything she said. The one thing that he kept coming back to though was that she was here. She was here for him. Just like Andromeda. And Ted. And Dumbledore. They all kept showing up to help him despite his resistance and hostility. Despite his family's history of doing anything they could to get in their way.

But he didn't understand why. Why were these people so invested in his life?

Draco opened his book, looking down at the ancient symbols and sighed, resolving himself to his last two weeks of summer spent with Granger and cramming the little space in his brain on Ancient Runes.

As Hermione began reviewing the material and discussing foundational theory for Ancient Runes, Draco tried to slow his heartbeat as the questions from Hermione bounced around his head at high speed. What was going to happen next?

Hermione

Hermione sighed as she flooed home to her house, dropping on to the couch. It had been a long, trying day. She kicked off her flats and curled up on the couch, listening to see if her parents were home.

"Mum? Dad?" She called.

"Hermione!" Her mom called from the second floor.

Hermione sat up and looked over the back of the couch as her mother walked down the stairs, empty laundry basked in hand.

"Did you just get home?" Her mother asked.

Hermione nodded and said, "I am absolutely knackered too. Draco was particularly trying today."

Hermione sighed and rested her head against her mom's shoulder as she sat next to her and wrapped her arm around her shoulders.

"Oh, honey," her mother said, "I know it's not what you thought you would be doing during you break, but I think you are doing the right thing. It sounds like this young man has a hard life."

"Really? He is a spoiled little rich boy who bullies others," Hermione griped.

"Hermione," her mom admonished softly, squeezing her shoulder and running her hand through her hair, "Imagine growing up in a household like that? One centered in polarizing your own community and disseminating hatred. It would be hard for anyone to form their own opinion in opposition to the only people they know and love."

Hermione only shrugged, not wanting to feel anything but irritation and anger towards the tosser.

"His household isn't like ours darling," she said, "Where we support one another, are kind and loving and our goals are to help others in our community and be a positive force in the world….one cavity at a time in your parents' case," she added chuckling.

Hermione laughed and said, "I know, it's just like fighting with a brick wall sometimes."

"You know what helps with that?" Her mom asked.

Hermione looked at her and raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"Kindness, empathy and patience, for him and for yourself. And Lasagna," she added in excitement as she pecked Hermione's forehead, "Your favorite!"

Hermione smiled and said, "Perfect, exactly what I need."

Hermione and her parents had a lovely meal as they discussed their days, root canals and all.

Draco

Draco growled as he listened to Hermione explain how he had mistranslated the runes.

He growled and threw his quill down.

"Don't get frustrated," Hermione said gently, grabbing his quill and handing it to him, "You are doing well, and making progress even though you can't see it."

Draco leaned his head back, looking up at the rafters of the ceiling and said, "My head feels near to bursting."

He felt her eyes on him until he lowered his face back to regard her. They simply held eachother's gaze for a moment until Hermione finally said, "Let's take a break and go outside for some sunshine."

Draco signed, not really wanting to listen to her, but recognizing the opportunity for a break and not wasting it.

Hermione picked up her books and walked out of the kitchen, not looking back to see if Draco would follow.

Draco picked up his books and slowly followed Hermione. When he stepped out into the back garden, he didn't see Hermione at first, expecting her to be at the little table that they often ate lunch at and studied at on nice days.

He studied Hermione on the bank of the stream, kicking off her sandals and sitting on a rock. She slowly slid her toes in the water, pausing at the cold and then submerged the up to her mid calf.

She angled her face up to the sun and gently kicked her legs in the water.

Draco sat transfixed watching her, her curly hair billowing softly in the wind, the sun shining through it, lighting her up like a halo. Her soft features basking in the sun's warmth and reinvigorating her golden tan.

Draco didn't know what moved him, but suddenly he was by her side, and lowering him self to sit on an adjacent rock, letting his feet and ankles dip below the surface with hers.

They sat in silence, the only sound the bubbling stream, the faint laughter of townspeople and children playing in the distance.

"Is it true you can produce a patronus?"

Hermione looked at him in surprise and then slid her wand from her pocket.

"Expecto Patronum!" She said, quietly, a small smile resting on her lips as a bright light exploded from her wand and the shape of an….otter appeared. It danced in the stream, jumping without producing a single splash.

"It's my favorite spell," Hermione murmured as she watched the otter swirl around her feet and tilt it's head in question at her, "Pure happiness."

Draco frowned at the happy little phantom creature. Pure happiness. When was the last time he had felt purely happy? Everything seemed tainted by something else.

"I don't think I could ever produce one, then," he said quietly as the otter disappeared under the ripples of water and the spell broke.

Hermione studied him before he said, "I can teach you."

He looked at her, wondering what was going on in that head of hers.

"Why?" Draco asked, "Why would you help me?"

Hermione looked away from him and down at her feet in the water, contemplating his question.

"I don't think you deserve my kindness, you have shown me none. But, if I were in your situation, with no true friend in the world, I would hope someone would extend a hand. I am putting in the universe what I would like to see."

Draco was quiet as he considered her. No true friend. It was true. Draco had always felt alone even amongst his friends. He felt like he was always on a chess board with everyone in their circle, each move calculated and dire. When Hermione had asked what he saw happening next, it had only been this chessboard he saw, each move on it more fraught and potentially deadly.

He wondered if when Hermione was with Potter and Weasley if she even felt like she needed to consider her next move. Even as he considered the question, he immediately knew the answer. He knew she didn't. She trusted them completely. They were true friends.

Draco wanted that.

"Teach me," Draco said, but it came out more of a request.

Hermione looked at him again and then back up at the sun, her eyes fluttering closed.

They fell silent for a long moment…allowing the breeze, the stream ripples, the birds in the trees, the children laughing, the bees buzzing all to soothe the tension between them. Draco had never known peace like this. Maybe when he was a small child in his mother's arms, when he didn't know the dangers and ugliness of the world.

This peace was different. A refuge in a time of turmoil.

"Okay," Hermione said softly after a few more minutes. Draco's chest felt lighter at her word.

Like she was saying okay to more than just a magic lesson.

Hope you liked it! Reviews aren't necessary, but appreciated.