Chapter Text
12 Sept 2004 – Sunday
Hermione ran through the hallways, her breath rough but not quite heaving. Yet. ‘This isn’t what I would have thought I would be handling as Chief Bridesmaid…’ Her thoughts were rolling through her head like thunder.
She turned another corner, screeching to a halt just outside Harry’s door, catching her breath for only 5 seconds before knocking and opening the door without waiting for an answer.
“Harry? Neville said you needed me…” her voice trailed off as she finally got a good look at him. He was pacing, quickly, his tie clearly having been pulling repeatedly at least since he sent Neville to look for her, his hair standing on end, shirt wrinkled, jacket thrown across the room. “What is it? What’s happened?”
Harry turned towards her, so slowly she knew it would be bad. “Ginny… Mione, did you know? Did you know what she did at the hen night?” Harry asked, quietly but obviously angry.
Hermione tilted her head. “What she did? No… I had to leave early. I got sick. What happened?” She asked him again, taking several steps closer when he seemed to deflate at her words.
“She… Ron let it slip. Didn’t think I would care, maybe. I don’t know… she slept with someone. Apparently she met some bloke at a pub and just… decided to have one last fling before we got married today. Ron said that it’s pretty normal in wizarding families, but… Hermione, I don’t know if I can do this now. The night before we get married, and she does this?!” He exclaimed, both hands going to his hair and gripping it by the roots. She could see now why he looked like he’d been electrocuted.
“She… are you sure? She’s been in love with you for ages. Why would she risk all that for some… random person?” Hermione stepped next to him, her hand on his arm now. She watched him shake his head in disbelief, then turned to her sharply.
“I need you to go talk to her. See if it’s true. Please, Mione, you know I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important. I know you don’t like getting in the middle of relationships, but… I can’t. You have to see that I can’t.”
She nodded, pulling him in for a quick hug, trying to put enough feeling in it to help pull him together, at least for a few minutes. “Of course. I’ll go now. Harry… if it’s not true though, are you going to be ready in time now? I mean, there’s no way it’s true, so you’ve got only a quarter hour until she’s supposed to be walking down the aisle… do you want me to send Neville back in to help you? Or Ronald?” ‘Though it sounds like he’s done enough…’ the thought was angry, but not dissimilar to many she had been having lately. Things were not going well between them, but they had agreed to hide how badly until after the ceremony, to not muddy the waters.
Harry shook his head, taking out his wand and accio-ing his jacket and quickly giving it a steam and laying it over the back of the chair. “I’ll be fine… but please, hurry.” He said, running his fingers through his hair again, nearly jabbing himself in the ear with his wand forgetting that he now held it in his hand again.
Hermione nodded as she hurried out of the room, down hallways back to the bridal suite. She wasn’t moving quite as quickly as before, but she knew she had to hurry. If she could get Ginny to tell her, it would take nearly all the time she had to talk to her and let Harry know. If all was well, she would just send her patronus. If not though… ‘No. It’s fine. Ronald must have just gotten it wrong. Maybe he’s had too much to drink already today. Wouldn’t be the first time.’
She was about to round the corner when she heard them arguing. Her breath caught and she felt lightheaded.
“Why would you say that? Why would you tell him?!” Ginny’s voice had gone higher than Hermione had heard, possibly ever.
“What’s the big deal? It’s not like it’s anything new really. You say it’s the last time, but you haven’t exactly hidden it well when you’ve gone off the deep end and gone after some other guy you fancied. Even girls sometimes, I’m sure.” Ron’s voice was acerbic, full of disdain which wasn’t something Hermione heard directed at anyone these days, unless it was her…
She didn’t wait around. She had to get back to Harry. It was going to break him… but what else could she do? Knowing that Ginny was doing this to her best friend wasn’t something that was okay. She knew how Harry felt about her. Maybe some time apart would fix it all… Ginny would realize what she had done, and would fix it all. That would only work though after Harry had time to think and calm down. So she would make sure he got it.
She ran back to the room, even faster than before, nearly bumping in to a few different people, but she barely spared them a glance, giving a halfhearted ‘sorry’ before getting back on track. She made it back to the room only to see Harry hadn’t gotten ready at all. He looked resigned, like he already knew what was coming.
“We need to get you away. You need to go, and calm down and think, and Harry… Harry, I’m so sorry.” Hermione finally said at last when she realized what he was truly waiting for.
He merely sighed, turning away from her and looking out the window. “I need to go somewhere they won’t look for me…” His voice was dull, soft like he hadn’t been in several years, like he was using legilimency to dull his thoughts. When she looked closer, his eyes were flat, and she knew for sure he was.
Hermione thought like mad for a full minute, thinking of a place then mentally crossing it out when she realized they would find him within a week – if not a day – at any of them. She finally jumped a little, her head shooting up to look at him. “Your honeymoon!” She exclaimed, wondering if it could – and would – actually work. She thought for several more long seconds before nodding decisively. “Yes, I think so. They would never expect you to want to be somewhere you were supposed to share with Ginny, and I know it might be a bit painful, but you had planned to go somewhere neither of you had ever been before, and, well, why on earth would they think you would want to go on a romantic honeymoon after just walking away from your wedding? It only leaves the problem of where to put you until you were to leave tomorrow… you can easily reducio the portkey, so that shouldn’t be a problem. Just take it with you…” She finally cut off her rambling thoughts and looked up to see him, looking like she had struck him, but resigned all the same. “I’m sorry. I know it’s not exactly comfortable, but it’s the best I can think of right now…”
Harry didn’t say anything, just quickly accio-ed all his things into a small bag he had brought with him, using reducio on the bag itself to put it in his pocket. “You’re right. They wouldn’t think to look for me there… and I have an idea of somewhere I can go for the night. They would probably find it in a few days so I can’t just stay there, but it’s good enough for one night.” He said softly, looking at her with his quirky smile. “Thanks Mione. I don’t know what I would do without you…” He came over, giving her a tight hug and holding on a little longer than normal, more like he used to. She blinked tears away, knowing things were going to change soon. So many things were falling apart…
“Always. I am always here for you, for whatever you need. You know that. Now go. I’ll handle the crowds. They have to be told something, and if I wait a bit, they’ll wonder why you’re running late but it will give you a small head start. Use it. Just… be safe, and let me know how you’re doing. Send owls to the cafe. Ronald wouldn’t think you would send something there so he wouldn’t look.” ‘Not to mention, if things go as I am planning after tonight, he won’t be around me often anyways. I think it’s time…’
Harry just nodded again, kissing her forehead in farewell before turning on his heel and apparating away. She had no idea where his hiding place would be for tonight, but hopefully he would be able to go and get his trunk before it wasn’t safe to go home anymore.
After this, she would probably need to talk to Kreacher to get Ginny moved out of the house so he could come home in peace when it was time, but she would wait until he had some time to think before she asked what he wanted her to do about it.
Hermione breathed for a few minutes, doing some quick meditation but keeping an eye on the clock. It was nearly twenty minutes after the ceremony was supposed to officially start when the knock came on the door. ‘Good. He should have had plenty of time then.’ She hurried over to answer it, not surprised to see Ron on the other side.
“Hermione? What are you doing in here?” He said it suspiciously, trying to look behind her. “Where’s Harry? Everyone is waiting. Here I thought we were supposed to wait for the bride.” He tried to joke, keep things light. She guessed it was in case Harry could hear him.
Hermione didn’t answer him, instead sweeping out of the room past him and closing the door before hurrying to the great hall, ignoring him as she walked quickly. It was time to help things to finish falling apart so she could go home for the day.
She went straight up to the front of the room, ignoring the questioning stares and even a few glares. She wasn’t surprised that they were mad, just… found it funny honestly.
As soon as she got to the front she turned and faced the large, rather full room. She put her wand up to her throat, casting sonorous and got down to business. “If I can have your attention please everyone. I have to extend apologies. Due to unforeseen events, Harry is unable to attend and has asked that you forgive him. He has some… difficult things to sort through, and though he wishes he were here and things were continuing as planned, he’s afraid it couldn’t be helped. The reception is open for everyone to attend if you’d like, and apologies once again. Thank you for coming, for your support of Harry, and have a lovely rest of your day.” She dispelled her sonorous and quickly stepped down, heading for the side of the room instead of the back where she could see Ginny’s shocked face. ‘Time to leave…’
As soon as she wasn’t quite so visible, she apparated away, the last thing she saw before she left Ronalds angry, red face. ‘There will be hell to pay for that later…’ She didn’t care though. She had been working on something herself for a while…
Thankfully Ronald had to stay with his family, hopefully for some time, so Hermione finished a few final things in their flat, glad that the lease on her own flat was becoming available in a few short days and that Ronald was so oblivious to the fact that most of her items were missing from the actual rooms. She had only left things out in the bathroom and bedroom that she would need until she was actually able to leave, but now she wondered if she shouldn’t just get a hotel for a few days. ‘Or I could always just sleep in the storage room above the cafe…’ She considered it for half a second but decided against it. While it would be comfortable enough, thanks to her skill in transfiguration, Ronald would look for her there much too quickly.
She sighed, lamenting the fact that things were the way they were now. She wasn’t sure why it had happened like this. They were so close, and loved each other so much… but she supposed sometimes love wasn’t enough. Certainly it wasn’t in their case. She took a quick shower, wanting to be dressed and in her ‘battle armor’ by the time he got home.
Yes, things had been difficult, and they both had agreed to put on a show for everyone else so they wouldn’t know anything was going on, she also thought that they had different ideas of where things were going because of it. Hermione was ending it, once and for all… she just had to hold out until she had her own place. Heavens knew, Ron would never allow it for her to break up with him then stay for another three days. Ron though… she didn’t quite know, but he seemed pensive lately. She didn’t like it.
While Hermione was drying herself from her shower, she heard the floo and groaned. ‘Great… the one time he hurries home, and I’m not ready for him to be here.’ She tried to hurry and finish, but of course since she wasn’t fully dry the clothes stuck to her skin and he came in to find her struggling to pull her pants up, showing her purple matching bra and knickers.
He seemed angry, but stopped and just stared as he leaned on the door frame for a minute. He opened his mouth a few times while watching her struggle, before he seemed to decide to put that on the board for later (because doesn’t everyone have a cork-board in their head to put a pin in things for later?) and walked over to her, using his ‘seductive’ look. She hated that look… ‘No no no no no…’ she struggled a bit more, nearly ripping her pants as she finished pulling them on and reached for her shirt, only to feel his hands come around her from behind in the split second her back was turned. Her hand was on her shirt… she had been so close.
“Mione… come to bed.” He whispered, leaning down to kiss the side of her neck, his hands gripping her breasts through her bra painfully. He always squeezed them, like that was a turn on ‘which it’s not’ she thought as his hands continued their assault on her. He pushed his half hard dick against her rear, and she closed her eyes in a wince.
“Ronald… I’m still not feeling well. I think I just want to go to sleep.” She said, trying to keep her breathing even. She had stopped wanting him physically a few months ago, and sometimes he would still push her, and she had a feeling this would be one of those nights, but she just couldn’t tonight. Not after the things she heard and had learned today.
“Come on babe… it’s been so long. Let me made you feel better like only I can…” He said, biting her neck until she gasped. He always thought it was in arousal, but it was so painful… she always had to heal herself after he finished with her, for the last year it had been like that… She had the feeling that she would need a pain potion tonight after he finally finished with her.
“Ron, I really don’t think-” She started, only to have him squeeze again, before pushing her pants down. ‘I just got those on!’ He quickly bent her over, not even bothering to make sure she was ready. He merely released himself from his pants and shoved himself inside of her. She cried out in pain, feeling the pull and stretch. She hadn’t been wet at all. She didn’t want this. “I said no…” She tried, only for him to thrust again. Tears gathered on her lids, but she was determined he wouldn’t see her cry, even if he needed a good hexing.
She knew better than to be without her wand. The other times that he had been like this – slightly too drunk, angry, and horny all in one – when she had tried to summon her wand to make him leave her alone he would grab it before it got to her hand, laughing that she thought she needed it. He would tell her that he knew she loved when he was a little rough, that she had been giving him looks telling him how much she wanted him.
‘This is the last time this ever happens… I won’t allow this again. I’m leaving tonight after all.’ She let him finish, not even trying to act like she was enjoying it. She hadn’t the last several times either though and he never seemed to care. As soon as he was done she stepped away, summoning her wand and locking herself in the bathroom, stepping back into the shower and turning it hotter until the water scalded her. She looked down to see pink water, realizing that he had torn her a bit again.
She stayed in the shower until the water ran cold, only getting out when she was shivering. She quickly using a drying spell, not wanting to go out and get her towel from the bedroom. She used the healing spells that had become routine in her life over the years, taking care of the damage he had done to her. She got dressed in her frumpiest pyjamas, before making sure her wand was in her hand when she walked out.
Ronald was lying on the bed, still in his party clothes with his pants undone and his flaccid cock out. ‘Looks like as soon as he finished he fell asleep. Good. That will make this a little easier.’ She moved as quietly as she could, gathering the rest of her things before apparating with them to her little storage unit she had rented. She knew when she had started planning this that Ron wouldn’t be okay with her just carrying all her things out, so she had moved it little by little, claiming she had lost or broken something when he commented on a missing item.
When she apparated back to the flat to grab the last boxes and suitcase, she nearly shrieked. ‘Fuck! He woke up.’ Ron looked at her angrily, looking her over.
“Going somewhere? You know… I’ve been wondering where all your things have been going. Don’t think I haven’t noticed that most of your things have gone mysteriously missing. You’re not so clumsy or forgetful that you’ll have lost or broken everything like you keep saying. So what are you really up to?” He asked, slowly advancing towards her.
“I’m leaving. We’re through. I mean it this time. You won’t convince me to come back, or to take you back. We’ve been wrong for each other for so long now. I should have stayed gone the first time a year and a half ago.” She said, ignoring the slight quiver in her voice, hoping he couldn’t hear it in his inebriated state.
“The fuck you are.” He growled, stalking closer to her. She raised her wand at him, but not quickly enough. He caught her hand in his, gripping it painfully hard. Would this be another bruise? He really was the worst type when he was drunk. He always said he wasn’t a drunk and didn’t have a problem, that he just drank once in a while to take the edge off after the war.
She gasped in pain, feeling a small bit of terror. She should have just left her things for later and left…
“What is going on with you lately? What was with that earlier? Did you convince Harry to leave Ginny at the altar? And what do you mean, you’re leaving and we’re done?” He asked, his voice getting a bit more menacing with each sentence.
“I was helping our friend escape from a situation he should never have been in. I heard you and Ginny when I was headed back to the bride room, about all the people she’s been with and how she doesn’t hide it well. Harry asked me to make sure it was true. So I did.” She said with her own small sneer, wondering why this had to happen today.
“So what? Most people in wizarding families will have a last fling before they get married. It doesn’t mean anything. It’s basically saying goodbye to your freedoms as a single person.”
“But that’s just the point Ronald! If you’re getting married the next day to someone, you’re not single! If you need to ‘say goodbye to freedom’ for getting married to someone, then perhaps you shouldn’t be getting married!” She said, struggling to pull her wrist from his grip.
She had nearly twisted free when he grabbed both her upper arms, pushing her roughly against the wall, so hard her head cracked against it and stunned her for a few seconds. “And the other? You really think you can leave? Waste all the years we’ve been together? Why? You know everyone expects us to get engaged soon ourselves. I even picked out a ring!” He said, shaking her a bit.
“I am not marrying you! Now take your hands off of me Ronald!” She exclaimed, twisting her hand to jab him in the side with her wand so he would take a step back. “Incarcerous!” She yelled, pointing at him.
His eyes widened in rage, but she was running to grab the last of her things from the corner before quickly apparating out, appearing on the other side at her cafe. She fell against the wall roughly, drained from everything that had happened and feeling a bit dizzy. She maybe should have also taken a blood replenishing potion… but it was too late now. Her supply of potions was gone. She would just have to go…
Hermione groaned when she realized that meant either going all the way to Hogsmeade, or going to Malfoys potion shop. He was amazing with potions, and they weren’t enemies anymore, but still… She knew it was just a hobby for him, and he had a staff that ran most of the day to day. He was an auror and didn’t have time to do it all himself, so maybe she would luck out and he wouldn’t be there this time, but she swore that every time she walked in to his shop that he was there…
‘Malfoys Marvelous Mixtures’ was busy… but she hoped that just meant she would be able to hide a bit. At least long enough to get what she needed and get out. ‘Please don’t let him be there this time…’
As soon as she walked in, she headed straight for the pain potions quickly followed by the replenishing potions. She turned to head for one last potion before she saw him headed towards her.
“Ah, Granger. Here for your-” His eyes narrowed the closer he got, going dark as they raced over her, his voice trailing off. “Are you… are you quite alright?” He looked almost… worried. The look cleared quickly from his face though, replaced instead by his usual blank mask. “I would have thought you would still be partying with the happy couple…” He said, a sneer coming to his voice at the mention of Harry and Ginny.
“I.. no. No, things ended quite a bit earlier than any of us were expecting.” She decided not to say anything, just in case… She didn’t think at this point that much would come of them from this. She thought back to how Harry had looked when he left and realized… he was now in the same place as she was herself. Or perhaps she was in the same place as he was.
“I see. You’re well though?” He asked again, reaching to rest a hand on her arm. His hand stopped in midair, his eyes widening and his mouth going tight as she flinched back, a sharp intake of air hitting her before she could stop the reactions.
“I’m fine!” She exclaimed, too loudly, too brightly. She watched him take notice of what she was holding and noticed a muscle in his jaw from how hard he was clenching his teeth. “I really must be going! Early morning and all that… I’m sure I’ll see you for your usual tomorrow.” She said, turning on her heel without waiting for a reply and hurrying to pay for her purchases. She could feel his eyes on her back the whole time as she practically ran from the shop.
She quickly hurried back past Brewed Awakening – her cafe she had started four years ago – and considered for only a few seconds of staying there before she looked around, wondering where she could go without Ronald finding her. Honestly, she probably needed to press charges, that way if he came after her, she could defend herself without having to worry too much…
‘Who would take me seriously though? We’ve been together for nearly seven years… and he’s one of the bloody Golden Trio.’ She shook her head furiously, catching herself on the side of the building next to her when things started spinning. She finally unstoppered the vials and quickly downed both of them. She knew she should have waited until she found a place to stay, but she didn’t want to get so dizzy she blacked out on the street and gave Ron the chance to come ‘to her rescue’ and convince the people around them to let him take her away.
She didn’t even give the potions a chance to kick in, hurrying on. She could swear she still felt eyes on her, but every time she looked, there was no one even remotely interested in what she was doing. She still couldn’t shake the feeling though. When she saw Pansy Parkinson of all people round the corner and smile at her, she felt something was up but between still feeling a bit dizzy and the pain potion slowly kicking in and dulling her senses a bit, she didn’t bother to fight when she linked elbows with Hermione.
“Imagine seeing you here! I was just thinking that we should have tea soon. Bury the hatchet, as it were. Is now good?” Pansy asked, already pulling her along. Hermione couldn’t figure out why Pansy of all people was suddenly being so… friendly. It gave her an excuse to get out of the street and go somewhere Ron wouldn’t think of though, so she didn’t fight it.
“Oh… yes, well, I had to run – I mean, I had to get out of the flat. Ron was just… he’s not himself.” She said vaguely, cursing that she took the pain potion now of all times! ‘Just before Pansy found me. It couldn’t have been on purpose though… most people wouldn’t buy something to immediately take it, so no one could have expected that I would need to… but why is she doing this?’
“Oh, that’s too bad, but at least it gives us the chance to catch up and maybe even be good friends going forward!” Pansy pulled her to a stop and told her to hang on before apparating them away. When Hermione looked around on the other end, she found a bright but modest flat. It was obviously expensive, but seemed a ‘downplayed luxury’ flat instead of the ostentatious one she would have expected Pansy to own. “This is lovely…” She said quietly, still looking around. It was spacious with a well appointed garden, a small pool and hot tub, and seemed to be more a single… wait… “Is this a terrace?” She asked, immediately regretting that her brain to mouth filter had failed her. Again…
“Of course! You can’t really see me in a small flat, now can you?” Pansy laughed brightly, pulling her toward the back entrance.
“No, I suppose not…” ‘Of course she has a terrace. How did I think this was just a flat?’
Pansy called for her house elf Mimsy, ordering tea, biscuits, and sandwiches to be served on the patio before ushering Hermione to a seat and sitting across from her. “Now, don’t give me that look. I know how you feel, but Mimsy has been with me for ages! Why, when I freed her she was simply beside herself! You saw, she wears a lovely dress, and of course I pay her, but I just couldn’t bear to be parted from her, and she felt the same.”
Hermione closed her mouth from the protest she was about to make, thought better of it ‘she is obviously trying at least…’ and instead nodded along, thanking Mimsy when she brought out the service tray.
They visited while eating and sipping – daintily in Pansy’s case – their tea, and Hermione found she was actually truly enjoying herself. When Pansy asked why she looked like she had been in a bar room brawl, Hermione found herself actually opening up – just a bit – about what had happened, and been happening for months. Pansy shared her horror and told Hermione that until her flat was ready she simply would stay there at the terrace with Pansy. Hermione felt her throat start closing up with the tears threatening her again, surprised by the kindness. She shook her head roughly at Pansy’s next words though.
“You simply must talk to Draco and get this on record. You need to protect yourself, and while I have no doubt that you can protect yourself, but he has proved that he has the better physical strength and uses that to his advantage.” When she saw Hermione’s mulish expression, she sighed. “At least talk to him about helping you make your house unplottable. You simply cannot let him just show up when he wants. If you don’t talk to Draco to get his help with his – he really is very good at it – then I will speak to him for you.” She said it, obviously unbending on this matter. Hermione sighed but nodded.
“I will speak to him about making the flat unplottable as soon as I get the keys.”
“Before. Schedule with him for after you get them, but plan before.” Pansy frowned, obviously displeased by what she saw as Hermione trying to placate her and not follow through.
Hermione sighed but nodded. “Fine. I will speak to him tomorrow if he comes in for his cafe order as usual.” She shook her head at Pansy’s stubbornness, but knew that if their places were reversed she would be doing the same. She rubbed at her forehead, feeling the fatigue of the long day and everything that had happened during it hitting her, and Pansy – bless her - noticed.
“Come, I’ll show you where you’ll be staying. Mimsy will make sure you have anything you need. Simply tell her and it will be done.”
Hermione refused, saying she had her bag and would just use what was in it. Pansy seemed to realize she wouldn’t get very far with this tactic, so instead simply called Mimsy and told her that Hermione would be their guest until her flat was ready and to make sure she was taken care of, that she had been through some trauma and needed to be pampered and to recover.
Hermione frowned at her, rather upset at being set up in such a way, but didn’t actually comment… out loud.
As soon as she was left alone, she fell into a deep sleep, feeling reasonably safe for the first time in… actually, she couldn’t remember truly feeling safe. Not since the early days at Hogwarts. There had always been something wrong, whether in her own personal life, her professional life, or her love life.
*****
When Hermione woke in the morning, it was still dark, but that was normal. She usually woke around 0300 to make it to the cafe and start baking the pastries for the morning traffic headed to work. She noticed a light on in the cafe and stopped, shaking for several seconds until she recognized the shadow moving through her space. She scowled, marching in past the unlocked door, and right up to him. “Malfoy! What are you doing here at this hour? Did you break into my cafe?” She asked, using her best swotty voice.
“Actually, I chased someone in here late last night and decided that you shouldn’t be left alone after. Who knows when he’ll be back…” He said, and it was then she noticed the dark circles under his eyes. Evidence of the lack of sleep.
“You… someone was here?” She asked, a trace of fear in her voice, her breathing going ragged and her pupils dilating, blown wide.
“He’s gone now. It’s alright Granger.” Malfoy moved closer, like he expected to need to catch her, his hands no longer in his pockets but instead lifted slightly, ready in case she fainted. She wasn’t entirely sure she wouldn’t. ‘Ronald was here last night looking for me…’ Her breath gasped in and out for several seconds before she felt arms go around her, holding her tightly. She immediately started to struggle, relaxing only when she caught his scent, recognizing immediately it wasn’t Ron.
“Shh… it’s just me. You’re safe. I’m not going to hurt you. I’ve got you…” His voice was so soft, whispered practically in her ear, and though she didn’t know quite how she felt about it, she found she actually believed him and felt… safe. It was so foreign at this point to her that it took a few seconds to recognize. When she finally did though, she pressed against him, simply soaking in his strength, her shoulders slumping in relief. He started rubbing his hands up and down her back soothingly, and she whimpered, immediately followed by a shock of embarrassment, feeling her body heat.
When she went to step back from him, he grabbed her arm gently, his touch gentling immediately when she gasped in pain. He looked sharply at her face, his touch feather soft but strong as steel as he took her wrist with one hand, the other carefully pushing her sleeve up her arm, taking a look at the bruises there.
She watched his face grow dark, his eyes wide, mouth a straight line, jaw ticking in anger… and after a split second of fear, her heart calmed down enough for her to analyze.
“Who?” He growled, his voice like gravel. His eyes moved up to hers, seeming to capture her gaze. She felt she couldn’t look away from him. “Who did this?” He asked again, gently running his fingers over them, and she felt the residual pain melt away. She realized with some astonishment that he had just healed the bruises, and a few contusions, with wandless magic… the fact that he seemed to care that she might be in pain and to fix it for her. She had been too scrambled last night and she was used to being in some amounts of pain so hadn’t thought about healing any of the bruises that morning.
“It’s nothing…” She started, gasping when his eyes – which had been moving over her form, as if looking for other injuries to heal – snapped back to hers, vengeance in his gaze. “I… can’t right now. Though…” She paused, biting her bottom lip while she thought. When she looked back up at him, she saw his gaze jerk away from her lips. ‘Is he… actually watching my mouth? Or is he still checking for other injuries?’ “I do need your help…”
She watched as the words settled over him, his eyes tracing over her face again. He raised one eyebrow, as though he would just stand her all day, and she realized with a start not only how closely they were standing to each other, practically touching, their bodies brushing each others when they would breathe too deeply, but that he was still holding her arm with one hand, the other rubbing up and down her opposite arm soothingly.
“What do you need, Granger?” He asked softly, his eyes flicking – so quickly she nearly missed it, even as closely as she watched him – down to look at her mouth again.
“I, um… I’m getting a flat in three, well, two days now, and I want to make it… unplottable… and was told you could help me with that.” She smirked now, thinking of the night before. “I was actually threatened to talk to you about it, or else she would.” She told him, realizing with a start when he raised his eyebrow at her that she hadn’t mentioned who had threatened her. “Oh, Pansy… caught up to me on the street. Invited me over for tea and let me… anyway, she said if I didn’t talk to you about it that she would.” She explained, her voice softening at the end of her sentence.
Draco smiled, a real smile that made her breath catch, before chuckling for a second a moment later. “That does sound like something Pans would say.” He said, shaking his head, his white blond hair falling over his forehead a bit. He nodded, regret crossing his face for only a second before it was gone, his mask back in place as he released her arm. “Send me a patronus as soon as you have the keys. Where is it?” He asked, and after she rattled off the address – that he frowned at – he thought for a moment before nodding. “Not the best area, but I’ll make sure it’s safe.” He told her, before looking around. “Now, I believe you have some baking to get to? I’ll stay until the first customers start showing up, just to make sure… that you’re safe.” He said, stopping for a moment, almost like he didn’t want to finish the sentence, like it would give something away.
Hermione started to frown, but forced a smile. She was grateful he would be there. She didn’t know what exactly had happened, ‘first Pansy, now Malfoy…’ but nodded her head once, before moving to put on her smock and waving her wand, all the ingredients flying to the counter to start her work for the day. Because of Malfoy being there, she was already behind and it would affect her whole day.
*****
True to his word, Malfoy stayed the next three hours until she started having a rather steady stream of customers, before he ordered a tea and an orange blueberry and white chocolate scone before nodding at her and walking outside, apparating away quickly. She worked endlessly for the next few hours, nearing noon when she saw him again, which she wasn’t expecting. He came in, ordering a coffee and a sandwich. She started to wrap it like usual since he normally took his food and left immediately, but he just shook his head at her, took the tray and went to sit in a corner, and she realized he meant to stay. She shrugged, already being pulled back in to work, but every time she thought to look over and see if he had left yet, he was still there, folders in front of him, papers strewn across the table he was at, a small pair of glasses on his nose.
‘He’s… working here?’ She stumbled on someones order and had to ask them again what they had wanted. She nodded when they repeated it, throwing in a cookie for good measure.
Her day was drawing to an end, and her feet were throbbing. She really needed to hire help… it had definitely been busy enough now, for months, but it had been her escape from needing to go to sporting events with Ronald for several months, so she hadn’t been in a rush. Now though, she didn’t need to worry about that and could simply… do what she wanted and needed for herself.
“It’s going to be a good week.” She said as she turned the sign to ‘closed’. When she turned, she noticed that Malfoy was still there, but was scourgifying tables and chairs, and putting the chairs on the table so she could mop. She stopped in shock – she seemed to be doing that a lot around him recently – and just stared for a moment. When he noticed, he simply shrugged.
“You look tired, and I figure this way you can get out a little faster.” He told her simply, opening his mouth after another moment like he wanted to say something else but decided against it as he closed it again.
She nodded, thanking him and quickly moving through her closing routine. She put her deposit all in a money bag to take to Gringotts, mopping quickly and thanking Malfoy again before taking the money bag and locking up after they both exited. When she turned to start the walk to the bank, she looked over in surprise when he fell in to step beside her.
“Can’t have you getting accosted, especially since you’re so obviously carrying money from your day.” He said, looking pointedly at her hand. When she didn’t answer, he simply walked beside her in silence, opening the door for her at Gringotts and waiting there until she had finished her business. He opened the door for her again, walking down the steps a few steps ahead of her before turning to look up at her from a lower step. He put a hand on her waist to stop her, then held out his other. “This is far enough to apparate.” He said, waiting for her to put her hand in his.
“I… I can do it.” She told him, but when he kept his hand out, she simply sighed in a huff and accepted his outstretched hand, stumbling a little when he pulled her against him before apparating them quickly. When she looked around, she realized it wasn’t actually Pansy’s. It was…
“A cottage?” She asked, looking at it in awe. It looked like it was out of a Disney fairy tale. Ivy growing up the front wall, a picket fence, a round top door, a large garden, and what looked like a greenhouse out back. Possibly even a sun room. “Is this your home?” She asked, amazed.
“No.” He said, but pulled her further up the path to the front door, not knocking but simply walking right in. ‘Right… not yours, but you just walk in whenever you like.’ She thought, her voice a bit mocking as she rolled her eyes.
“It’s yours. I was here this morning, finalizing and casting all the wards and protection spells I’ve learned, and making it unplottable. Pans had to go visit her mother suddenly – the old dragon still is not accepting of her choices – and didn’t want to leave you to fend for yourself… I told her I would take care of it.” He said, like buying her a cottage was no big deal, the same as buying a friend lunch when they’re short of money.
“I- what- I can’t- it’s too much!” She finally got out, eyes wide as she looked around. It was so much bigger inside than she had imagined, and definitely bigger than it had looked from the front.
“Please Granger… let me help. I don’t know what happened, but Pansy said she… well, her saying she doesn’t want to leave you to ‘fend for yourself’ is the same as if she had said that someone had chopped a limb off and needed assistance.” He said it matter of factly, but he was watching her closely. “Poppy?”
“Yes Mas- Mister Draco, Sir?” A young house elf popped in, wearing a sparkly purple dress that had a little tutu, staring up at him in admiration.
“Thank you for your help. I wanted you to meet Ms. Granger.” He motioned to her with his hand. “She’s the one who will be living here.” He said, kneeling down so they were more on level with each other. “Everything is settled, and you know what to do?” He asked softly, obviously on good terms.
“Yes sir. I comes in twice a week to clean, and to leave whatever fresh groceries the miss needs.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary!” Hermione interjected, only to be met with the now tremulous gaze of the elf. “I… well, you see, I don’t really need much, and I’m almost never home…”
“Oh, but Poppy will be absolutely delighted to help you miss!” She said, her voice a bit squeaky and high pitched. Malfoy simply smiled.
“I… but… oh dear.” She muttered, the last under her breath.
“It’s decided then.” Malfoy told her, standing to his full – very tall, amazingly fit ‘stop it Hermione!’ – height, stepping closer to her, his body brushing her arm as he leaned close to whisper in her ear, his breath hot. “If you keep arguing, Poppy has been instructed to tell me, and I will find other uses for that mouth than to deny help you should definitely take.” He said, his voice soft, alluring, and dangerous.
She gulped, hating that it was louder than it had any right to be, giving away the fact that she was not as unaffected as she was trying to portray.
“Say ‘Thank you Malfoy’ like a good girl, and I’ll leave you be to get settled.” He said, his lips brushing ever so lightly against the shell of her ear.
She shivered involuntarily, her eyes sinking closed. “Thank you Malfoy…” She whispered, her voice a bit breathy.
She didn’t know what it was about the man. She wanted nothing to do with men after Ron the last several months, but something about Malfoy set her off…
She saw him out, grumbling softly but none the less, admiring what he had done. She at least wouldn’t have to worry about Ron finding her any time soon here… it was a space she could be perfectly safe. ‘Maybe not perfectly…’ She couldn’t help but think of Malfoys words, whatever he had truly meant by them. She thought he might be attracted to her, but she doubted he would ever act on it, considering his viewpoints growing up.