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Through the Son	By : Marionne25 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 15949 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and am not making any money from this story.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Chapter Nine
"Editions"

“Just so we’re clear, I didn’t need your help.”

Draco could only stare back at her astonishingly as she shoved the hand towel back at him.
He had spent the last fifteen minutes standing outside the girl’s bathroom at the café being told off by Hermione how she was in a good condition and that he didn’t need his help.

But she did need his help.

She had taken the faceless hand that was first offered to her from the muck she had literally fallen into.
Only to find herself thanking him and quickly cursing him the moment she was able to get back to his feet and had come face to face with the man who owned the hand and arm she was bracing on tightly for the past ten seconds.

“Are you done in there?” Draco asked making sure she was done in the aisle.
“What do you think?” Hermione snapped at him, walking over towards the sink outside with a large mirror.

He folded the towel away and quickly returned it back over the used towels in the girl’s look of the café.
He turned back to her and saw her washing her hands all over again and was still looking enraged not by what happened but by the sight of him.
She could have used her wand to wash everything off as he told her but she said that the stench remains sometimes and so she wanted to wash it all off the traditional way.

“Yeah, well – right.” Draco said moving himself as far as possible from her from the tight knit space they were in. “See you around.”
He was halfway down the hall that would lead him back to the café when Hermione called him back.
He slowly turned as she placed her wand over the side of the sink and was straightening up some tangled ends from her hair.
“Where do you think you’re going?” she asked with a venomous lace on her tone.
“Back at the café.” Draco answered her looking at her reflection from behind her. “Is there anything you require of me?”
“I require of you?” Hermione said in a mocked tone.

Draco raised his eyebrow.

“If you don’t need anything anymore, I would like to go back to my table and leave. If you’re going to use my table you I can wait for you there and save it for-“
“No thanks.” Hermione said “I’d rather leave this place.”
“Right then.” Draco said nodding at her. “Well, see you around Gran-“
“Not so fast.” Hermione said sharply turning to him with her wand up.
“Woah – woah, wait-“ Draco said backing against the wooden wall.

Even if he had his wand the tip of Hermione’s was already a few inches from his face.
It would take all the miracles in the world for him to be able to snatch his wand right up before Hermione could even finish any spell and bloody hell everyone knows how she was good with her spells.

“What did I do?” Draco asked her, arms raised against him to protect himself. “I just helped you-“
“Helped me?” Hermione repeated. “Help me? You’re the reason I got this-“
“Hey now just hold on that thought-“
“I got distracted when I saw you.” Hermione breathed out. “That’s why I didn’t see the waited-“
“You got distracted.” Draco pointed out at her, his blue eyes gleaming. ”You got distracted by me and that isn’t my fault.”
“But you-“
“Yeah, me.” Draco said. “Why would you be distracted by me in the first place?”

Hermione opened her mouth to answer it, but saved herself last minute.
It didn’t sound right when it came from him and there surely isn’t a good answer to that.

“Well?” Draco asked slowly. “You’re not answering me?”
“Well I was-“
“What would be any particular reason for you to be distracted by me?” Draco asked with an obvious gloat in his tone.
“Shut it, Malfoy.” Hermione said, pushing him back against the wall and walking away from him.
“Hey wait.” Draco said grabbing her by the arm. “Did you want to talk or something that you-“

Hermione was quick.
She shoved him right back up and soon Draco found himself neck to neck with the tip of her wand.
“Granger-“
“Give me a good reason Malfoy-“
“You said it yourself. You got distracted by me. You were heading my way.” Draco croaked out, eyes closed not wanting to become a ferret ever again. “What did you want?”

Hermione breathed out heavily staring at his position in comparison to hers.
She could see the small details and facial features over his pale and pointed face up this close.
She has never been this close to Malfoy ever before.
That didn’t feel right in a way.
She quickly let him go and Draco breathed and coughed several times.
She was looking right back at him as if now knowing what to say.

“Are we going to converse-“ Draco coughed out. “Or what?”
“Why did you send me the book?” Hermione flatly asked him.

Draco opened his mouth but thought better for a moment.
Just as he was to answer a couple had arrived and they obviously needed to use the bathroom that were behind them.
“Sorry.” Draco said quickly, pulling Hermione away from the door and leading her back towards the hall.

Hermione was already too shocked that he apologized to the couple and was even more stunned when he held her gently and pulled her away from the narrow way to the loo.
“Don’t touch me.” Hermione angrily said pushing him away as they reached the café again.

She walked from him and headed straight to his table at the corner part of the café as if it was her spot already.
Draco wordlessly followed her.
When he reached it however, Hermione was already halfway removing his things and placing them altogether aside.

He slightly felt irritated at her rudeness but didn’t say anything.
“What are you doing?” Draco asked him.
“You said you were going to leave.” Hermione pointed out. “So I’m helping you clean up.”
“I’m not yet done with my coffee.” Draco said taking a small pile of documents from her hands and sitting himself in front of her. “You can share the table with me if you would like.”

Hermione opened her mouth for an obvious retort when someone approached them.
“What?” Hermione snapped not meaning to.
The waiter and one that looked like the manager of the café were standing behind Draco.
“I’m sorry.” Hermione quickly said seeing the fear in the young waiter’s eyes. “I’m sorry. I was – it wasn’t-“
“We apologize Miss Hermione Granger.” the manager said. “Please accept our complimentary meal for you and your company.”
“Oh no wait-“ Hermione said but the young waiter were already placing two large mugs of the best tasting coffee at the café and two bowls of seafood chowder that was obviously great for the weather and two platters of Bolognese for each of them.”
“Please, Miss Granger. We apologize. Louis is a little new to our humble café and-“
“It’s really alright.” Hermione said with a kind smile. “It was an accident and it wasn’t – we’re not even-“ she began pointing at Draco but he already turned to the manager.
“Oh, Mr. Malfoy!” the manager said in surprise with his eyes widening.
“Randolph!” Draco greeted slowly standing up and shaking the old man’s hand. “How has it been, mate?”
“Mr. Malfoy I cannot express – you are here – it has been a very, very long time since you-“
“It’s fine. I’ve been away and been busy. Great place you have here and really good food.”
“Yes, yes hold on – Louis, please – this is Mr. Malfoy. Give him everything he needs – his mother was the one who helped me fund the café from its humble beginning. Without them this place would not be possible.”

The young waiter nodded and apologized again especially towards Hermione.
Hermione was speechless.
The manager was the owner.

Obviously.

And he looked genuinely pleased and grateful to see Draco.
He asked Louis to get them two platters each of their best selling fresh salads and a tray of nitbits to gobble on.
“Oh, really sir – it’s not necessary – it’s just-“
“Oh no miss. We have to - we do it as a way to apologize –“
“But –“
“And also, you’re with Mr. Malfoy. It’s a way to celebrate his return to London. This boy has grown up so fast.”
“Yes, thank you.” Draco said not wanting any more of the attention. “Sorry, Randolph, we need to attend to some busi-“
“Yes, yes. Of course. I’m sorry.” Randolph said, giving Hermione a knowing look. “I’ll be back in the kitchens. Wait for the food that I asked Louis to bring you. May you enjoy this lovely evening with your lovely date. Good night to the both of you.”

And before Hermione could even scream back at the man or protest, he had gone away and she was left with a Draco Malfoy who was starting over the pasta already.
She could have sworn that there was a gleam of delight in those eyes of his.

“Just so we’re clear this is NOT a date.” Hermione angrily spat at him as she hungrily gobbled over the pasta and the salad and drank from the large and tall glass of freshly made orange and peach juice.

Draco was staring astonishingly at how fast she was gobbling down the food before them.
She was obviously so hungry and tired from wherever it was she came from.

“I think you made a lot of things clear tonight, Granger.” Draco said offering her the platter of salad as she reached for it across the table.

Hermione eyed him angrily before grabbing it carelessly from him.
Some of the greens toppled over the table but she ignored it.
Draco reached forward to clean her mess but she didn’t say anything at all.
Draco quietly watched her.
He tried to eat half of the meal that were served for them out of respect for the owner of the shop who was a friend of his beloved mother.
Despite that Hermione looked like she had been forced to share a table with him, her hunger seemed to be stronger than the idea that she was sitting right across Draco Malfoy.

“Fuck the snowstorm.” Hermione said in a mouthful of pasta.
“Sorry?” Draco said looking up from something he was reading from the side of the table. “You were say-“
“I said fuck the snow..” Hermione said swallowing hard. “Are you deaf?”
“No.” Draco answered her back.

He didn’t mean to but his patience also had its limit.

“Seriously, Malfoy.” Hermione muttered under her breath rolling her eyes.

Draco looked around.
The café was still very full thanks to the snow storm.
There was no chance for him to transfer to another table and leave Hermione be.
He was staring back at her cold and angry façade.
“What’s wrong?” Draco attempted to ask her. “Why is your mood so foul tonight?”
Hermione’s eyes shot back at him.

“Or are you just really always like that?”

She looked ready to murder again.

“I’m not in a foul mood.” Hermione indignantly said. “I was just so tired – and I was late for a meeting this morning, I couldn’t find this mug I had in our office kitchen and a lot more of other things and let’s add the fact that you’re been stalking me-“
“Stalking you?” Draco repeated unbelievingly. “Now wait there – I didn’t-“
“You sent me a book.” Hermione pointed out. “And flowers when I got out of the hospital.”
“I sent you a book because she was giving away a couple of advance copies to close friends and family.” Draco clarified to her raising an eyebrow. “And no – why would you or should I send you flowers?”

Hermione looked up at him and bit her lower lip.
She looked slightly humiliated for a moment.
She blinked it away and looked crossed again.
“Why should you??” Hermione asked lowering her utensils and pushing her plate forward the table. ”Why did you feel like you should?”

Draco opened his mouth to say something but no words came out.
His brains seemed to lag for a reason.
He wasn’t sure why he did send her those flowers weeks ago.

“Yes?” Hermione said. “You can answer me any moment now-“
“I sent you the book, Granger.” Draco said. “Nothing more, nothing less.”

There was a look of determination over his face that told Hermione she will only further humiliate herself if she doesn’t let it go.

“Some need to what?” Hermione said. “Send pity? Flaunt your money? Publicity?”
“No.” Draco. “I just thought you like books enough and that much to want an advance copy of something before the world reads it.”

That was it.
She had just reached the limit of his patience.
Hermione watched in awe and silence as Draco grabbed his belongings from the table and shoved them right back inside his bag.

“Where are you-“
“It was nice seeing you Granger.” Draco said slinging the bag around his shoulder without looking at her. “Have a lovely evening and do enjoy the fucking book.”
And before Hermione could do or say anything else, Draco had coldly turned away from the table and left her with an angry stance.

“You what?” Harry yelled at Hermione from the shower room. “He what?” he called out.
Hermione yelled something back at him from the room.

Harry splashed water all over his face three times before grabbing a towel and turning back to the room.
“Wait, what?” Harry asked him in what could only be interpreted as a surprised and confused tone at the same time.

Hermione tossed him his set of pajamas to turn into.
It was three in the morning and Hermione decided to go to Harry’s apartment instead.
She got half an hour ago only to find that he wasn’t home yet.
He had some overtime work to do and she had to mutter the spell that opens the wards of his apartment and let herself in.
She had made a good amount of soup for him in the cold weather and had prepared his clothes because she knows that he likes taking hot showers in such a bad weather day.

“I told you. You’re not listening to me.” Hermione said rolling her eyes.
“I’m in the fucking shower, ‘Mione.” Harry called back as he closed the door to change into the pajamas.

Less than a minute later, he returned to the room rubbing towel to dry his hair and in his favourite navy blue pair of pajamas that Hermione gave two Christmas ago.
She was sitting at the end of his bed with arms crossed and looking up at him as if he was now the reason for all her unfortunate encounters that day.

“What?” Harry asked her seeing her look at him in such a way. “What did I do now?”
“Nothing.” Hermione said standing up and walking forward to dry his hair instead.

Harry bent forward and lowered himself a little so Hermione could help him out.
“So tell me again what happened.” Harry said as Hermione rigidly dried his hair with the towel.
She rubbed all over his hair and recounted her story of the day with the most important part – her encounter with Draco that evening.
“Maybe he had a bad day too, Hermione.” Harry said as Hermione walked back to the bathroom and hung his damp towel up.

“What do you mean he had a bad day?” Hermione asked him walking back to the room with arms folded. “Were you not listening? I was the one having a bad day-“
“Lucius Malfoy won’t be released for another week.” Harry revealed to her with an utmost seriousness in his tone. “I think he’s not pleased that he has to stay for another week without him. That leaves him with the fact that he can’t leave the country or the city yet.”

Hermione looked like she wanted to say something but thought better of it.

She was obviously contemplating.

“How did you know this?” Hermione slowly asked him as Harry sat up at the middle of his bed and grabbing his glasses by the bedside table and throwing a set of parchment towards her.

“Some memos at our department.” Harry said as she began reading the notes over the parchment. “Don’t tell Kingsley I showed you.”
Hermione nodded as she quietly read through the parchments.
They were documents and order from the Wizengamot and Minister of Magic.

Apparently, instead of Lucius Malfoy being released on the said date he was promised and originally given, almost another month was needed for them to release him.
There were certain documents that needed to be issued and rechecked by the Wizengamot.

“I thought that he’s supposed to gain lifetime of imprisonment anyway?” Hermione asked without taking her eyes off the parchments.

Harry shook his head.
“I did ask that to Kingsley and well.. I’m not sure what to say about his answer.”
“What was it?” Hermione sharply asked.
She put the parchments back over Harry’s small desk in his room.

Harry looked at him as if he wasn’t sure if this classified information was alright to be shared to Hermione.
Well, she was Hermione Grange- it wasn’t as if he has not shared every single thing he knows in his life to her.
“Harry..” Hermione warned him folding her arms and sitting in front of him.
Harry looked conflicted as he struggled.

It was obviously an Auror Department’s classified information – and he was there again, beaten by Hermione and ready to divulge all the secrets he withheld
Hermione raised an eyebrow at him as she waited.

“Hermione, you’ve got to – you got to promise me – do not-“
“Do not tell Kingsley.” Hermione finished for him rolling her eyes. “I know, I know. I know already – we’ve gone through these things a lot of times and when did I ever tell him?”

Harry looked back up at her and sighed heavily.

“Are you going to tell me or not?”
Her words weren’t a question – her sentence was obviously a threat.
“Alright, alright.” Harry sighed heavily. “It was Narcissa Malfoy.”
“Narcissa Malfoy?” Hermione asked slightly confused. “What do you mean it’s her?”
“They took into accounts every single thing that the Malfoys had done and witnessed.” Harry slowly said meeting her eyes and knowing that she’s likely to think about this for days to come.
“And?” Hermione said. “That shouldn’t be enough to release them – to release him. In fact, if you’d ask me – they don’t deserve the freedom-“
“It was Narcissa Malfoy’s lie to Voldemort about my death that saved and evaded them from Azkaban.” Harry revealed fully to her unable to hold it any longer. “Her saving my life was enough to save their lives out of Azkaban as the Wizengamot thinks so.”

Hermione’s face turned red.
Her eyes blinked several times and her mouth was twitching.
She was obviously looking for words to protest on.

“Kingsley thinks and agrees of the same thing.” Harry slowly said seeing her reaction. “And..”
“And what do you think?” Hermione finally asked him with a sharp tone.
Harry sighed and resigned his answer to her.
“Well.. she did save my life.”
“So you think it’s okay?” Hermione asked angrily now. “You think it’s alright that they’re all walking free – that woman, their spoiled brat son and now Lucius is going-“
“I don’t think it’s okay, alright?” Harry said standing up from the bed and looking back at her knowing what was already spinning inside her brilliant head.
“Hermione.” Harry called at her as she moved to the other side of the bed.

She wasn’t looking up at him and was obviously out of interest to talk to him or be with him anymore.

“Seriously-“
“It’s fine.” Hermione said. “It’s fine. They’re the Malfoys. It’s bound to be that way, right?”
“That’s not what it is.” Harry said. “You know how Kingsley had worked so hard to put things in order and to gain fairness and justice for everyone-“
“Justice?” Hermione repeated with such flare in her eyes. “Justice? Do you understand-“
“Hermione-“
“Justice is when things that one deserves is given. I don’t see justice in this.”
“Please-“
“No!” Hermione angrily said turning to her. “At the first war they’ve gotten themselves out of it and this time, this time around they’re also gonna get away with everything? And for what? For what Harry-“
“For saving my life!” Harry screamed back at her. “She saved my life whether you acknowledge it or not!”

He stood up from the bed and they stared at one another at either side of the bed.
They both looked ready to hex one another.
Hermione was looking so angry and pained while Harry looked like he has lost all his patience to talk to her and explain things to her.
Harry was the one to first give away to feelings.

“I’m sorry.” Harry quickly said sitting back on the bed. “I didn’t mean to say those things. I’m ust tired. But Hermione you’ve got to-“
“I’ve got it.” Hermione said turning to her side of the bed and grabbing her scarf from the bed as she walked to the door.
“Where are you going?” Harry asked feeling slightly guilty.

Hermione stopped by the doorway but didn’t say anything.
She sighed heavily and slowly turned to him.

“I’m making hot chocolate.” Hermione slowly said turning back to him with a small smile. “Would you like some?”

Harry stared up at her.
She preferred to differ the topic and decided to put it aside like any other as usual.

“I’d like to.” Harry said giving her back a small smile. “Do you want me to go down and-“
“’l’ll make it.” Hermione replied walking to the door again. “I’ll call you when it’s done.”

And with that, she left him without another word and lost in his own thoughts.

Another work week had passed.

it was quite uneventful and Hermione had done two therapy sessions without seeing Draco Malfoy.
As much as she hated to admit it, she was looking for him and hoping – for god knows what reason – to bump into him anywhere in the city again.
But he seemed like a grown up man who keeps things to himself since the war had been won over by the light side.
It was pretty obvious that he wanted to remain lowkey.

But it was one of those days that seemed uneventful when things suddenly turned up.
Hermione was finishing a couple of things right after her lunch and was about to begin on filing a couple of documents when Harry came to her office.
She looked up and saw the reluctant and worry over his face.

“Good time, bad time?” he slowly asked her entering and closing the door behind him.
She could already sense that it was not a good news.
“Something wrong?” she quietly asked.

Harry watched her put the documents she was holding but held onto the quill she had been using on marking certain things over the parchment she had been reading.
Harry looked away for a moment and looked hesitant.
“Harry.”
“Just don’t take it so much.”
“I’ll take whatever it is.” Hermione said folding her arms and staring back at him. “Spill it. What is?”

Harry blinked and cleared his throat out.
“Kingsley has received the order already from the Wizengamot.” Harry slowly began watching her reaction. “They’ve already agreed to let Lucius Malfoy out of Azkaban.”

Hermione’s heart skipped a bit but she didn’t immediately react.
Her eyes momentarily widened but she looked calm and controlled – contrary to Harry’s expectations.

“Hermione?”
“When?” Hermione slowly asked him. “When are they releasing him?”

The sweat over Harry’s forehead slightly increased.
“Malfoy was just at the Minister’s office.” Harry said. “He just signed a few papers and left.”
“Left?”
“He’s heading to Azkaban now.” Harry clearly said. “To get his father. They’re releasing Lucius Malfoy at three this afternoon.”
Harry wasn’t sure what reaction it was that he supposed Hermione would have; but it was entirely different from what happened.
His emerald eyes watched as her face paled for a moment and then had slowly turned red.

And then a snap.

He looked down.
Her eyes widened.
Then their eyes met.

Unconsciously, she had snapped in two the quality quill that she had been holding the entire time since Harry had gone into her office to tell her the news of Lucius Malfoy’s release.

Harry looked slightly alarmed.
But before she could say something another knock came.
They looked and the door slowly opened.
Hermione’s assistant was by the door and was looking uncertainly back at the both of them..

“What is it?” Harry asked letting her enter.
She bit her lower lip and was holding several copies of the Daily Prophet.
“Miss Granger, I’m sorry. But some people would like to interview you downstairs – or either of you.”

“Interview?” Hermione asked putting down the broken quill on her table. “For what? About what?”
She looked reluctantly at Harry but he gave her an assuring stare.
She handed over the newspapers in her hands to Harry.

“The first ones came out yesterday but you two weren’t here for the conference meeting outside and then the evening edition and then the morning paper – they were – some news reporters are downstairs.. they would like a word with either of you.. most especially you, Miss Granger.”

Harry and Hermione quickly divided the newspapers between them.
Harry and Hermione took a while to see and find what was the fuss were all about.
It was Harry who first caught sight and glimpsed what it were all about.

Some of the papers had Lucius Malfoy’s photos and Draco’s about his release at Azkaban.

But it was the same picture that had been taken and posted the previous day and printed again at the evening edition and that morning’s edition that stirred Hermione’s mood over the edge.

Harry looked up at her in alarm.

She was already red in the face and her hands shaking in anger

“I’m going to kill him.” Hermione said throwing the paper aside.
“Hermione-“

“No.” Hermione angrily said getting her cloak and wand from under her table. “This is just too much. I’m going to murder him.”

And before Harry or her assistant could stop her, she was out of the door, heels and anger speeding up as she left.

“Bloody hell.” Harry said shoving the paper back to the assistant and checking if he had his wand inside his cloak, he quickly followed Hermione trying to remove the image over the paper they both just read

Plastered at the front cover that morning was a photograph of Draco and Hermione – taken at a certain café at Diagon Alley.
The article says it was taken during the night of the snowstorm just a few nights ago and found at the corner most part of the restaurant – as if not wanting to be seen nor heard by anyone else – was the unlikely pair bearing the headline that drove Hermione over the edge:

Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger: Friends, Lovers or Secret Lovers?
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Through the Son