Draco Get's His

Chapter 12

Harry played with one of the buttons on his robe, looking sideways at Ginny as she chatted quietly with one of the sixth year girls he couldn’t remember. Though it didn’t matter at the moment, his eyes focused only on her. Merlin he missed her. Even if they weren’t dating, just friends he’d take that over this ocean of distance they now had between them. He’d hurt her. He’d left her...but he’d never stopped loving her. It had been a desperate act but that pretty much encompassed sixth and seventh year.

He pushed thoughts of the war away. Nothing but badness lay there and he was tired of being haunted by his past. Of the ones who hadn’t made it. And he still felt responsible for not being able to save them, “Harry. You have to stop beating yourself up about this.”

He jumped and jerked to look over his shoulder to see Hermione standing next to him and biting her lower lip, nothing but concern in her chocolate brown eyes. For almost two years she’d seen Harry come so close to falling to pieces, second guessing himself constantly because he blamed his own actions for Sirius’ death. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Draco standing behind her, fidgeting and clearly getting territorial. He mentally smirked but outside of himself he sighed, “I can’t-“

”Oh yes you can, Harry James Potter. Sirius was not your fault and brow beating yourself over it is not going to help him or you.” Lightly grasping his arm. Harry couldn’t hide from her. She knew him far too well to accept his excuses, “He’s gone, Harry. I know it hurts. I know exactly how you feel but he’s not...not coming back. But Voldemort’s dead and Ginny is very much alive.”

Looking down and scuffing his shoe on the cobblestone ground, “And she hates my guts.”

Snorting, “Please, Harry, she hates you as much as Ron does.” He looked up in shock, “She’s furious and hurt that you broke up with her.” He grimaced and looked back down sadly and she rolled her eyes with a sigh.

“So go apologize, you great git.” They both turned in surprise to an exasperated Draco who had his arms crossed and was huffing to himself, “And Pansy says I’m oblivious.” Snorting, “Sorry, not claiming the prize to that award.” Glancing at a shocked Hermione, “What?”

Blinking rapidly, “Did...did you just help Harry Potter?”

Rolling his eyes, completely out of his Malfoy character but far too annoyed to care about his image at the moment, “If it’ll get you and myself out of this school and to Hogsmeade then yes. Thank you very much but this wasn’t exactly my idea of a first date.”

Turning away from Harry with a coy look, “Then what was your idea, Mr. Malfoy?”

Nodding firmly, “Dinner.”

Raising an eyebrow, “Just dinner?”

Flushing just a bit with a small smile and a shrug, “Perhaps a walk by the lake- tell no one.”

‘No one’ was listening in, of course, but neither of them cared at the moment. Just as all those ‘no ones’ suddenly looked innocent when Harry glared at them to leave the pair alone. Hermione waved her hand behind her in irritation, “Still waiting, Potter.”

He turned his glare to her, “Potter?”

Narrowing her eyes and putting her hands on her hips, “Right now!” He jumped, then shuffled away with a cowed expression.

Draco moved behind her, lightly nuzzling her hair with his cheek and whispering, “I love when you do that.”

Firmly back to being coy, “Do you, now? Since when?”

Groaning softly, “Are you joking? I always have. Why do you think I’ve always tried to start fights with you? And thank you so very much for killing all my fun by ignoring me.”

“ Mr. Malfoy must you do that in front of me?” Draco jumped and whirled around, eyes wide to see Severus Snape with a pained expression on his face. Draco suddenly felt about four years old with the proverbial hand in the cookie jar. He had no idea his head of house was in charge of the outing today. But he didn’t jump away from Hermione and Snape sighed before glaring at the other students with a sarcastic, scathing tone, “Oh the joy of Hogsmeade awaits.”

***

Students ran through the streets, laughing and screaming in joy, running in and out of the shops and eagerly sampling all there was. For just an instant Draco held an almost wistful look on his face before he firmed up his expression to be mildly interested. And Hermione spotted it easily, realizing the boy next to her really was a teenager inside, just with a lot of practice at behaving like an adult. Hermione cracked a smile, reaching out and snagging Draco’s hand. He jumped and glanced at her before grinning slightly and interlacing their fingers together. Letting their joined hands swing idly between them, they walked slowly down the street and peered through the windows casually, “Does Snape ever loosen up? I mean ever?”

Chuckling softly, “I think he was fairly born that way.” Looking thoughtful for a moment, “But there was... never mind.”

Perking up eagerly, shooting him fake begging eyes, “Please tell me.”

After a moment he smiled, “Well, there was a time when I was much younger. Three, I think, and Sev was over for Christmas like usual-“

Gaping, “Snape comes to Christmas?”

Shrugging, “Well the man is my godfather-“

”Snape’s what??”

Mumbling under his breath, “Oh bugger...” He’d forgotten that wasn’t well known knowledge. The funny thing was he felt like he could tell her these things and she’d keep his confidence, “You won’t tell anyone, of course.”

Looking slightly offended, “Of course.”

Lightly kissing her knuckle to mollify her, “Sev is my godfather and he’s looked after me my whole life. It’s the main reason I wanted to come here instead of Durmstrang.”

Blushing lightly, “I’m glad.”

His smile only broadened at her soft confession. Then it turned devilish, “I might bet my inheritance you never thought you’d say that some day.”

Laughing, “Oh, I don’t know.”

Smirking, “You hated me- rightfully so, I must confess.”

Hermione turned around, snagging his other hand and looking into his deep blue-grey eyes. He’d been a real piece of work, there was no question. But there had been a few rare instances when she’d see him at a distance sitting quietly under the tree by the lake or buried in the deepest parts of the library by himself...once she’d even seen him petting her cat...and it always made her wonder, “I wished I would be glad someday...and that’s the truth.”

His eyes softened, looking down in humbleness at her confession before whispering, “Then I’m happy I made your wish come true.”

She smiled softly and nibbled on her lower lip before pulling him to walk with her. They both spotted Ginny and Harry sitting in a café across the street, talking to one another and it was quite obvious they were headed for a reconciliation. Sighing happily, “Things are finally back on track.” He smirked to himself but said nothing, just enjoying her presence. Leaning against him lightly, searching her mind for their previous conversation. The silence wasn’t awkward, but she desperately wanted to know more about him, “Oh, you were telling me about your godfather.”

Draco blinked, his mind immediately moving to Christmas,”...father gave me my first broom that year... and mother my first book, a real one, not a picture book and I was so proud. But I was still pretty clumsy when I walked and I ran right into the table. Well, down went desert and three brandy glasses. I had a pretty good bump on my head and I expected mother to come make it all better. But Sev did it, picking me up and soothing my bruise, tickling me until I was laughing and happy again.” Tugging on her hand, “Please, please, please don’t tell your best friends.”

Quirking an eyebrow, “My silence may be bought for a kiss.”

Chuckling, he dragged her close and nuzzled her cheek, “Wicked witch.”

Neville and the other seventh year Gryffindors froze in shock, watching as Hermione moved forward and pressed her lips to a Slytherin’s lips. A complete git of a bastard who’d made it his personal mission in life to make all Gryffindors miserable. And it was like watching steel melt. Draco Malfoy, the most evil of all purebloods...in their opinions...became absolute putty in her hands. He slouched for the first time in their memory, his fingers interlacing with her own as they traded light kisses and teasing nips.

Her slender hands moved upwards, pulling at his tie until it was loose before slowly opening the collar of his shirt. He lightly grasped her wrists, their voices just loud enough to carry across the narrow street, “What do you think you’re doing, Miss Granger?”

She grinned and easily tugged her hands free, slipping the knot out of his tie and pulling it away from his neck. She twirled the silver striped tie around her right hand, smoothing down the lapels of his shirt, “This is Hogsmeade and you, Mr. Malfoy, are going to learn to relax.”

His head tilted a little, looking perplexed, “I am relaxed...I’m not wearing robes, my hair isn’t even styled-“

Looping his tie around her neck before flipping half of it behind her like a scarf, “Which I love, by the way.” A smile, a real one, spread across his features and three Hufflepuffs immediately huddled with soft swooning sounds. The boys groaned to themselves in disgust. Silly bints.

“Thank you...and why are you stealing my tie?”

She pet it possessively, “You were not properly attired for a day of relaxing so I have confiscated this wicked paraphernalia.”

Raising an eyebrow, “And you’ll be returning it at the conclusion of our evening?”

Shaking her head slowly, “As your teacher I cannot return something that breaks the rules.” Her lips quivered from suppressed giggles, “You’ll simply have to accept the loss.”

Affecting a fake pained expression, “If I must.”

Giggling, she pulled on his hand and they continued their walk down the streets, “Did you see that?”

Dean shrugged, “What? It’s just Malfoy?”

Seamus slowly shook his head, whistling, “She tamed the snake.”