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A Match Made In Convenience	By : ErisNight Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 47188 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 9
Disclaimer: The entire universe of Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. I make no profit from writing these stories. I am only borrowing her inventions for my fiction.

Chapter List
- 18
- 19
- 20
A/N:
If I could express how excited I am for the chapters to come, there wouldn't be enough space here for the actual chapter. All I can say is that I hope you guys caught onto all the little clues given thus far and are prepared for the twist that's coming in the next couple of chapters. (Even the most shocking or seemingly random events are hinted at:) Also please review the fictions warnings, as they are correct even if we haven't gotten to all of them yet!
Every Hit, Rating or Review that you guys give AMMIC is amazing! It took me forever to realize where the rating button was but I totally understand how easy it is to bypass it. So for those of you who take the time to rate this story or review the chapter. Thankyou so very much <3
Review Replies and Discussion are up at: http://www2.adult-fanfiction.org/forum/index.php/topic/49940-a-match-made-in-convenience-review-replies-and-discussion/

Each individual review has a reply and so take a look over at the forum if you're interested in discussing the work further or getting your reply:)
That's all for now:) I have work in the morning but I'm having too much fun filling in Chapter 20 and so i'll be working on it all night most likely:) I hope you guys have a lovely morning or evening as well!
Here is Chapter 19: True Daring
Eris

  The days following Hermione’s birthday turned out to be the highlight of her life. At first she hadn’t known how to behave around Malfoy, but he didn’t let her worry about it for long.
            He sought her out more often than not and the time they spent together was always platonic, friendly and fun.
            She continued to go out with Adrian though, despite knowing that she should end it. He was a sweet guy, and was someone Hermione could easily settle with. But their conversations were lackluster in comparison to the lengthy discussions she had with Malfoy.
            Adrian’s romantic gestures of flowers and chocolate didn’t hold a candle compared to Malfoy serving her breakfast in bed on random mornings. Malfoy even gave his opinion on her outfits before she went out on a date.
            Although at first, she was a bit disappointed with his disinterest in the fact she was seeing another man, Hermione had to admit, she had gotten exactly what she thought she had wanted. Malfoy wasn’t pursuing her for anything more than friendship and she could be around him freely.
            Trouble was, her plan had backfired completely. Who had she been kidding when she thought it would be ok to be around him? Who had she been kidding when she thought engaging in a friendship with him would make her feelings flounder?
            Draco Malfoy was her idea man in every possible way. The more mornings she spent cooking with him, her evenings reading with him and her nights lying in the grass staring up into the stars as he played her beautiful melodies on the piano in his wing, she fell deeper and deeper in love.
            It wasn’t just that either. He hadn’t brought home a single woman as far as Hermione could tell and Harry had confirmed the fact. It was as though all the things that gave her pause about Malfoy ceased to be a part of his lifestyle.
            It all only served to make her want him more. They shared moments where Malfoy would look up from the book he was reading and meet her gaze or stare at her from across the dinner table and Hermione could almost feel that he wanted her.
            He always refrained for the sake of their friendship and Hermione had been relieved with this reaction at first, but now she wanted those moments, she wanted those kisses, those caresses.
            She wanted whatever magic he was able to cast on her body to bring her to the excruciating pleasure that stole her senses and fed her soul.
            Hermione didn’t want to be innocent anymore; she wanted to become a woman in more than just age and appearance. She wanted Draco to claim her.
            Hermione snapped out of her thoughts with start and focused on the blonde woman in front of her. Draco… Draco…when had Malfoy become Draco? Hermione frowned and hoped Luna hadn’t noticed. She didn’t want to necessarily explain where her thoughts had taken her.
            It was a cool October afternoon and the two women were out to lunch together at their usual spot in muggle London. They were having quite the peaceful time of it, discussing what they could of work.
            “What are you frowning for?” Luna asked eating a spoonful of her soup. Busted, I should have known she would notice. Hermione only sighed, “I’m thinking of Malfoy as Draco in my head and that is far too indicative of how stupid I am.”
            Luna fixed her with a speculative stare, “your whole “I’m gonna stop loving him plan” not working out eh?”
            Hermione set down the fork she hadn’t realized she had been holding. “Luna I cannot stand it anymore. It’s not bloody fair that Malfoy gets to prance around and have the time of his life, even while not shagging everything that moves apparently. While I’m hung up on every single word that comes out of his mouth and having technically good dates with a man that bores me to death.”
            Luna adjusted her long braid. “I noticed that you still don’t call him by his name freely out loud so not all hope is lost right? Although I personally think Draco rolls off the tongue better than Malfoy. But isn’t it a good thing that Draco has stopped his…frolicking?”
            Hermione had to laugh at Luna’s word choice but ultimately nodded, grateful for that change in him at least. Thankfully Draco wasn’t being completely sweet to her AND parading women in and out of the house each night as he used to.
            “It is. It truly is. Whatever has gotten into Malfoy is a blessing but everything else is much worse for my resolve. He’s too great. He’s too perfect. Calling him Malfoy is like my last line of defense. He had the gall to tell me I couldn’t call him by his given name, but now I’m apparently thinking of him as Draco, that just means all of this is getting worse not better.”
            “Well, I don’t know why you went out with Adrian more than once if it was that bad and Draco has been this great for years. You are only just seeing it now. There shouldn’t be anything wrong with you thinking of him as Draco unless you intend to dwell further into denial about all of this.”
            Hermione swirled her straw around her drink and sighed, “Can’t I? Just for a bit longer? Reasonably speaking I know that I’m being ridiculous, and you were right, I shouldn’t have left that night without talking to him but now that I have, there is nothing I can do to change the past. As for Adrian, I plan on telling him.”
            Luna set down her spoon. “No, you really cannot, you’re too brilliant to act so dumb especially now that you’ve realized your feelings. You haven’t been bitten by a Gulping Plimpy and so you can’t use that as an excuse for your behavior.” She paused for a moment, “although I did suspect that at first.”
            Luna sent her a very uncharacteristic stern look, which made Hermione feel slightly ashamed of her most recent decisions involving her blonde roommate. She really must’ve been acting rather immature. Luna accepted her smoothie from the waitress and took a sip.
            “I also think it’s best to tell Adrian sooner rather than later, it will seem as though you are leading him on and even though you’re not, this situation is unfair to him. You’ve only been on four dates so far and so that’s not too many to call a quits now but if you keep on for a couple more, he’s bound to get his hopes up.”
            Hermione accepted her Sunday and could only agree. “He kissed me the other night and it was disconcerting how little I felt, he gave it a good go too but it just didn’t do anything for me.”
            Luna looked up from her desert “well in either case, breaking things off with Adrian is the best course of action now. You will just have to figure out Draco, on your own because I can’t really recommend anything you’d be willing to do.”
            Hermione nodded at this “enough about me, how about you and Harry. You’ve been pretty much inseparable since my birthday and Harry grins ear to ear at the mention of you. Plus you’ve been over Grimmauld pretty much every night since. It’s been about three weeks now!”
            Luna’s lips curved into a smile. “You already know what” she said with laughter in her voice. “But since you want to hear me admit it, Harry is wonderful. Everything I’ve ever dreamed of.” She intoned dreamily, taking a sip of her smoothie and then meeting Hermione’s gaze.
            “I took a chance much like you should, and it worked out. Turns out Harry likes me as much as I like him.” Hermione smiled at the thought, she was happy for her best friend and her new best girlfriend. They seemed to suit each other well.
            Luna set down her cup and grinned at her “If you’d only just talk to him, I’m more than sure that Draco would want to deepen your relationship. He would love to use Blaise’s gifts on you given the chance, if the night of the thunderstorm is anything to go by.”
            Hermione went completely red at the implication. Blaise had to have been the most depraved human being on the planet. The small parcel he had gotten her turned out to have a not so small presents inside.
            He had cast a shrinking charm on every item, so imagine her surprise when she shook the small contents of his gift onto her mattress, just to have them grow to their full size immediately.
            Once everything had finished stretching and lengthening she had been looking at what appeared to be the burglary of a muggle sex shop!
            Hermione had been mortified to say the least when she looked the items over. She just thanked her lucky stars that she had decided to open the gift late in the evening after Draco had left.
            From butt plugs, to handcuffs and all manners of straps, Blaise had gone from the most conventional sex toys to the crazy ones. There had been a swing set, ball gags, sensory masks, whips, chains, multiple dildos, vibrators and this thing called “The Cone”.
            But that wasn’t all; oh no, Blaise had given Hermione her very own sex frenzy care package. He had gotten her all sorts of scented oils, lubes, condoms and bubble baths as well as multiple sets of lingerie that she had felt absolutely compelled to incinerate immediately.
            Dream all he would like, but she would never be caught dead wearing anything of that nature that Blaise had bought her.
            Hermione couldn’t even verbally acknowledge what his gift had been when asked the next day. She had to show Harry and Luna before shoving the items into a drawer and trying not to die of embarrassment when her friends collapsed on the floor in laughter.
            No way was Draco ever going to see what Blaise had gotten her.
            The entire experience had been too much for Hermione’s gentle soul to handle. She didn’t even know how to use some of the items she had received.
            “Let’s not even go there, in fact you and Harry should have a peek in the drawer and take all the things you’d guys find useful. It’s just gonna go to waste.”
            Luna sent her a mischievous little grin “you don’t know that for sure. None of us know what’s in store for us. But, if you insist, Harry and I will be over for a visit later” and then she was off in her own little world humming and clearly thinking about something pleasant.
            Hermione was glad things had worked out for her friends. Luna adored Harry and Harry was happy to finally be with the blonde of his dreams. They were such a lovely picture to behold together, that it made Hermione want to have her own blonde something wonderful.
            She stopped that train of thought immediately. Dear Merlin, where is your mind today? None of that! She disregarded her previous sentiment and changed the subject.
            When it was almost time to leave, Luna reached into her purse to get the money to pay for the meal when suddenly she pulled out an envelope with the ministry insignia on the front. “Did you receive the notice from the ministry this morning?”
            Hermione reached in her bag and pulled out identical purple envelope. “I did, seems kind of sudden to me but when I asked Harry about it, he said it’s the ministry’s attempt to foster goodwill between all wizard kind.”
            Hermione cast a quick warming charm on herself and tightened her scarf around her neck. It wasn’t terribly cold but the chill was still seeping into her bones and the ice cream hadn’t helped one bit.
            Luna pulled on her jacket, “It’s a much needed attempt if you ask me; things aren’t going as smoothly as most would have you believe. Just the other day I stumbled upon a group of Umgubular Slashkiltera that was going to rob this pureblood gentleman. It seems as though the all the negative sentiment in the air is even riling up the creatures.”
            Hermione simply nodded in response to this and opened up her envelope before reading aloud:

You are cordially invited to the Ministry sponsored Charity Masquerade Ball

Saturday November 2^nd at 8 pm

At the Riddle Mansion in Little Hangleton

The theme will be in the spirit of All Hollows Eve to celebrate the holiday weekend

Please wear a mask and bring this invitation, seeing as only having both will grant you admission
            Hermione set the invitation down on the table. “It’s unsettling that they would hold it at the Riddle mansion. I understand that it’s in the spirit of Halloween but it seems a bit much. I know it’s been four years, but only ministry employees or affiliates and their guests are invited to this. How are they supposed to be bringing people together if there is a clear division?”
            “I think you’re being critical on purpose Hermione. The majority of the magical denizens of London know someone who works for the ministry and the majority of small businesses are affiliated. The admission stipulations are simple and we can get as many tickets as we would like. Essentially everyone gets to go as long as they pay.”
            “Perhaps you are right” Hermione acknowledged. Luna reached out and placed a hand on top of hers. “It’s a wonderful idea; we haven’t had a ball since Hogwarts. It will be a rather nostalgic affair.”
            Hermione could easily agree with her on that “will you go dress shopping one of these days with me?” Luna smiled “Of course! That would be incredibly fun and we can pick out dresses together.”
            They chatted about the kinds of costumes they would wear for a little while longer before heading back to the Ministry together.
            Later in the evening, Blaise had managed to drag Draco out of the house to a bar in muggle London. The blonde had agreed to be Blaise’s wing man, only if the Italian didn’t try to force any women on him. Draco wasn’t in the mood to put in any effort pursuing the bar regulars when he had Granger in his sights.
            Thankfully Blaise had stuck to the agreement for the entire night. They ate a quick dinner, had a few muggle drinks that didn’t have the same kick as fire whiskey, and found two interested women to accompany them back to their table.
            As soon as Blaise had laid eyes on the short and curvy brunette by the pool table he had been hooked. He spent less than ten minutes working his magic and she had been completely won over.
            Everything had been going well that evening, but it was too bad that the women sitting beside Draco didn’t understand that no meant no.
            He had tried his best to be kind and project obvious body language that shouted “not interested” but this one was rather persistent.
            Draco sent Blaise an annoyed look but the man was too engrossed in whispering to the muggle who was more than half sitting on his lap. Blaise had begged Draco to keep her friend entertained despite her being a fake redhead and Draco had agreed for the sake of the evening.
            Thankfully the oath was apparently able to differentiate between real and fake red hair. Draco was at least able to look at the woman without feeling uncomfortable. The four of them had initially begun discussing music and then a bit about their respective places of employment before changing the subject to something more interestingly suggestive.
            But just as soon as Blaise and the brunette got wrapped up in each other, the woman Draco was left to entertain placed her hand on his thigh. He removed her chubby fingers from his slacks as gently as he could and slid away from her in the booth.
            Draco was literally quite shocked when she returned it almost immediately and slid it higher toward what he assumed was her ultimate goal. Only whores are this forward with men they don’t know.
            He removed her hand again and tried to engage her in a conversation but she leaned closer to him and smiled “what do you say we get out of here together?”
            Blaise watched as his friend rose from the table without a word and began to make his way toward the exit. The redhead looked completely offended and turned to the rest of her table mates “can you believe that louse? He was such a tosser!”
            Blaise repressed a shudder at the sound of her voice and excused himself as kindly as he could from the woman he had intended on bringing home, before rushing to the door.
            The outside air was warm and refreshing from the smell of alcohol and smoke inside the muggle bar. Blaise allowed Draco a moment to himself before approaching. “You alright mate?”
            Draco ran a shaky hand through his hair, and unfastened his vest “yeah.” He was quiet for a moment and only sighed when Blaise placed a hand on his shoulder. “No… I’m not. This whole playing nice thing with Granger is ridiculous. I don’t want to be her friend. I don’t want to be some charitable companion. It pisses me off that I want her this much. She’s practically dating Pucey and if I scare him off her, she’ll most likely find out.”
            He took a deep breath and counted to ten as he popped the top buttons of his shirt free. “I’m not focusing at work, I lost to Potter today in our duel, mother keeps pressuring me about taking a wife sooner than later and the worst part of all is that I know only Granger will do. But the chances of that happening are getting infinitesimal moment by moment and I have no clue how to capture her attention without ruining it.”
            Draco turned and looked up to the man that had always been there for him. “I feel weak Blaise; the worst I’ve ever felt.” He pulled up his left sleeve roughly and glared down at the mark that was a permanent part of him.
            “Worse than getting branded a Death Eater. Worse than being Voldemort’s bitch. Worse than having my home pillaged while my family lived in exile for a year. Loving Granger is worse than anything I’ve ever endured. I feel incomplete. Devoid of everything that makes me, me. I was amazing until I met her. I was everything that a woman could ever want. Every woman except Granger.”
            Draco looked up to the night sky and knew that he should stop there. That he should just go back into the bar and drink himself silent. He could survive the night if he only held it together now.
            The thoughts rolling around in his head weren’t ones he should ever speak aloud. He needed to halt what would be an uncontrollable onrushing of truths if he wanted to preserve his relationship with his best friend.
            The door to the bar opened and out stumbled the two girls they had been entertaining with a pair of seedy looking men at their sides. The red head stuck her nose in the air as they passed but Blaise didn’t look away from the wizard that was in front of him.
            There was something Draco was on the precipice of telling him and Blaise would not fail him. He wanted to be there when Draco needed him.
            The blonde flexed his fingers, opening and closing them into fists. He looked down to his hands briefly but when he looked back up Blaise felt his eyes widen of their own accord.
            Draco looked broken, almost as though he was the embodiment of anger, sadness and loneliness. His eyes were dark, his shoulder slumped but his jaw was clenched. Blaise took a step forward but Draco took a step back.
            “I hate feeling this way. It’s exactly like before. There is this uncontrollable rage but this time it’s all directed at myself. Even when I try to shut the thoughts out they always come back when I see her. My insecurities destroy me, my memories and deeds are eating me alive. How can I possibly have her when I’ve failed her time and time again?”
            He looked down to his hands and continued in a somber voice. “Why did I fuck up so much when we were at school? Why did I torment her? Why did I betray her in that mansion with Bellatrix? Why wasn’t I strong enough to protect her? Why? Why? WHY?!”
            Draco punched a fist into the ground and the sound of every single bone breaking rang out into the night. Blaise felt dread settle in the pit of his stomach. How had he not noticed the change in his best friend? How had Blaise missed that Draco was hurting this much?
            He felt the tremors in the air surrounding him and cast a quick shield charm but held his hands up. “Drake calm down. You can’t change the past and you couldn’t have helped her. They would have killed you both. You did what you could by not identifying her but you wouldn’t have won against your aunt. You have to let it go.”
            Draco rose and a steady dripping of blood followed his movement, running down his knuckles and pooling on the ground. “You’re wrong. I could have helped her. I could have helped them all! I was such a selfish fuck. I was worthless! A scared piece of shit who couldn’t even make choices for myself. She was fighting to save everyone! All of them! Granger, Potter, even Weasley and I did nothing to help them! They saved us all, she saved us all and I couldn’t even protect her because I was scared.”
            “She knows that mate. They all know that you did the best…”
            “I was WORTHLESS! I killed numerous people with my actions. I killed Dumbledore for fucks sake!” Draco bellowed.
            His eyes darted down to the dark mark emblazoned on his skin. “I was a filthy racist piece of shit and I’ll never deserve her. I treated her like she was nothing but she’s always been better than me.”
            His chest began heaving with the deep breaths he was taking and more and more blood poured from his bent fingers. “I am worthless. It doesn’t matter the good I do now. It doesn’t matter how many lives I save. I’ll never be able to make up all the wrong I’ve done, for all the blood that is on my hands.”
            Then he began to cry and Blaise felt his heart break as he watched Draco's shoulders wrack with sobs. Without a second thought he wrapped the blonde in his arms and tried to swallow down the lump in his throat.
            “You are more than you think. I know it’s hard to...” Draco pushed him away leaving a large bloody handprint on Blaise’s chest. “You. Know. Nothing.” He gasped out in between breaths as tears ran down his face.
            Blaise watched as Draco pointed a broken finger up at him, red running down his forearm and covering the dark mark in streaks. “YOU! KNOW! NOTHING!” he screamed, the sound coming out more a roar than anything.
            Glass shattered from all the windows around them and the ground shook. Blaise lifted his arm in defense as shards hit his shield and clattered to the sidewalk. The words echoed out to all the blocks surrounding them before ending in a sharp gasp.
            Suddenly Draco collapsed and landed in on the ground in a heap.
            I’m such a pants friend, Blaise thought as he looked over the unconscious blonde lying on his living room couch. The fire place sounded in the foyer and seconds later the Head Auror came rushing into the room. He immediately went to his roommate and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Draco was alright. “What triggered him?”
            Blaise frowned at the memory of the events earlier in the night “guilt.” He conjured two glasses and filled them to the brim with his strongest whiskey. Handing one to the boy-who-lived he motioned for the wizard to sit.
            “The war?” Blaise nodded “and how he treated Granger during all of it.”
            Potter rounded the couch and sat on the one across from where Draco lied, “how bad was the damage?” Blaise took a drink from his glass and sat in the seat adjacent to his guest.
            “Thankfully just the bones in his left hand, I healed it but he was bleeding pretty badly. He blew some windows out of a nearby bar but I got us out of there in time before anyone came looking.”
            “He’s been harboring self-resentment for a while now. I’ve been feeling it more and more lately but I didn’t know it would lead to this. It’s been years since he’s had an episode. I thought his post-traumatic stress was cured. Malfoy’s always managed his anger better than I have.”
            Blaise hadn’t known that Potter had experienced the same symptoms as Draco after the war. His best friend had been diagnosed with a severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder at the conclusion of his one year exile and it manifested itself in extreme boughts of anger that led to large uncontrollable magical displays.
            Granted Draco had learned to handle it by blowing off a lot of steam with sex, his duels with Potter and exercise but Blaise hadn’t even thought about how he had been holding up since his self-induced celibacy. Blaise pounded his fist on the arm of the chair.
            “I’ve been such shit to him lately, I missed all the signs. I knew he was going through a rough time trying to figure out how to win Granger but I didn’t even think to ask how he was coping.”
            Potter downed his drink and set the glass on the table before sweeping his hair up into a ponytail. He stroked his chin but ultimately shook his head.
            “I haven’t been any better. He’s seemed so chipper around Hermione lately that I figured he had everything under control. I could FEEL that there was something off but I ignored it. I thought they were working it out. I should have known when we dueled today that things were bad. Malfoy was too reckless, wild almost. It wasn’t like him at all.”
            “This can’t continue. He has to let her go. It’s not so much the fact that he loves her that’s the problem, it’s that he doesn’t know how to handle the feelings associated with it. He had a fucked up dynamic with his family until recently and no amount of visits with them will fix that.”
            Blaise sighed and looked into his cup before explaining everything that had happened that night with Draco. “I can’t stand idly by and watch as he beats himself up over every mistake he’s made in the past. Granger is great but he doesn’t feel like he deserves her with all he’s done. He loves her but…”
            “She loves him too and none of it matters to her.” Blaise looked up disbelievingly but could tell from the look in the dark haired wizard’s eyes that he was telling the truth, “since when?”
            Potter shrugged “for a while now. She told me a few weeks back but she only left the night of the storm because she was convinced that Malfoy would never choose her.” Blaise felt pure raw anger spike through him.
            “How could you not have told him!? You of all people! You’re bound to be loyal to him, this has been hard on him. He’s been…”
            “I’m Loyal To Her Too!” Potter bit out fiercely, rising to his feet. “You think it’s easy watching my two best mates tear themselves up over each other when all it would take are a few words from me to dispel all this bullshit they built between them?”
            Blaise slammed his glass down on the table and rose “That makes no sense Potter! You should have told them both and ended this as soon as it began!”
            “I will not betray Hermione’s trust!”
            Blaise took a step forward until he was eye to eye with the savior or all wizard kind. “No but you’ll betray Draco's entire well-being, isn’t that right!”
            “It’s Not Like That!” Potter yelled. “We do not get to interfere in the lives of our loved ones as we see fit Zabini. Neither you nor I get to play God. Even if we can see the entirety of someone’s life, we do not get to drop helpful hints to save them from the inevitable pain. They have to do that for themselves.”
            “Bloody Hell! That is the dumbest thing I’ve heard in a long while! You know two people love each other but won’t step in and tell them? You rather have shit like this happen!?” Blaise challenged pointing at the man on laying on the couch.
            “So what do we do then, oh mighty Blaise? Tell Malfoy tonight, have him rush home so they can kiss and make up and ride off into the sunset. Sure they’ll be happy but Hermione won’t appreciate that I broke her confidence. Trust is everything between us. So once she’s fretting about that because that’s how Hermione is, all of this shit will rebound back on not only me but Malfoy as well.”
            Blaise laughed, he could not believe his ears, surely Potter was delusional. “So you rather keep them in misery until they figure it out themselves, so that nothing damages your relationship with your precious Granger? That’s rather selfish of you golden boy.”
            Blaise expected that to be a chink in the other man’s armor but if anything it only made Potter more adamant.
            “Damn right it’s selfish and it’s all Malfoy’s fault! The oath drives me insane because he doesn’t have his feelings in check. I can’t help but want what’s best for both of them while needing to completely protect them at the same time. I can’t tell Malfoy because it will betray Hermione. But oh wait! Even if I wanted to, Malfoy has Hermione so fucking high on a pedestal that I cannot say a single thing because just the thought of betraying her makes me fucking sick on his behalf!”
            Blaise crossed his arms and scratched his head. “Wait, so the oath is what’s stopping you? I mean, if it didn’t exist you would tell them both how each other felt?” Potter gave him an incredulous look, “OBVIOUSLY!”
            Blaise couldn’t help but crack a grin, oh this is rich. “So essentially, I can’t tell Draco either because Hermione will be miffed that you said something in the first place, even though it will be to help her. And that would put you in a dangerous place breaking the oath wise, because causing her even the slightest bit of worry is in direct conflict with Malfoy’s strongest desires?
            Potter nodded “exactly, I felt it happening a few weeks ago and I warned him to get everything straightened out but he didn’t, so now I’m locked in the middle, with my life on the line if I somehow fuck this up.”
            “But what about you telling Granger how Draco feels?” His question was answered with a long sigh. “That’s essentially Luna’s task. My hands are tied because betraying Malfoy’s confidence is even harder for me to do than Hermione’s. I’ve just been praying Luna has been talking some sense into her.”
            “Well maybe I should tell her?”
            “No offense Blaise, but coming from you Hermione would think it was a joke. If I didn’t see the progression of this with my own eyes and you told me, I wouldn’t think for a minute that you were serious. The best we can do is encourage them to confess to each other.”
            The Head Auror had a point, Blaise would have thought it was all a joke as well if Draco hadn’t said the words himself. “Fair enough, but you have to admit this is a bit much though. Talk about the most complicated love plot of the century. Why couldn’t it just be simple?”
            “That would have been too easy. We’ve essentially got two people facing their first real serious relationship with absolutely no clue what they are doing. To make it all worse, for as smart as they both are, they are letting their insecurities ruin everything.”
            Blaise could only nod his agreement and Potter continued with a wry expression on his face. “But oh well, what’s a good love story without overly complicated angst?” They shared a laugh at this but shook their head in unison as they thought on the turn of events silently.
            There was a stirring on the couch followed by a string of expletives. Draco rolled onto his back and brought his mended hand up over his eyes. “How bad was it?”
            Blaise conjured a glass of water and handed it to the blonde “not bad at all.” Draco took a deep swallow and remained silent for a moment. “I recall breaking glass.”
            Blaise pulled out the extra stick of wood in his pocket and extended it toward the blonde. “Yeah well I’m glad it was magic I was able to defend against. Had you used time magic we both would have been screwed mate.”
            Draco moved his mended fingers around and accepted his wand. “I don’t know when I switched. I don’t even recall feeling angry until the last moment and then it all went black.” Blaise stood by the edge of the couch “that’s exactly what I was wondering.”
            Draco sighed, “I’ve been pushing myself too hard lately without gaging how I’m honestly feeling. I won’t make the same mistake again.” He offered this by way of apology for his actions but knew he would have to do a bit more explaining.
            “I don’t know how or why it got this complicated. All I know is that I was… am scared shitless at the thought of being rejected by Granger and I’ve never felt this way before. I hate being careful around her. I hate being nice and giving opinions of her clothes when all I want to do is rip them off her and love her so violently that she never wants to leave me. But that only makes me worry more because what kind of fucked up love is that?”
            Draco groaned feeling as though he said too much, “why didn’t I go through this during school like all the normal blokes so that I would know what to do now? Relationships aren’t this complicated, I just get choked up and stupid whenever I’m around her.”
            Blaise crossed his arms “because we were too busy trying to stay alive, you more so than others. I mean yeah Potter you had the major target on your back, but Draco you were in front of the Dark Lord fighting for your life daily and there is nothing wrong with your method of survival.”
            Draco didn’t want to have this conversation, and his best friend knew it. Blaise held up his hand to silence him. “No I mean it Draco, it has never been said out loud but I’m damn proud of you and your family for changing sides when you did. It didn’t matter when, but only that you did. Your mother is the reason Potter is alive but even before that, you’re the reason the Golden Trio weren’t handed over to the Dark Lord immediately once the snatchers got them.”
            Potter took a step forward “we are forever in your debt Malfoy. It was because of you challenging me to that duel that I won your wand and was ultimately able to defeat Voldemort. You disarmed Dumbledore that night and because of it I was able to win.”
            He pulled Draco to his feet and held his gaze with his. “I’ll tell you something else, something very few people know. I was there the night Dumbledore died.” Draco took a step back as memories from that night came rushing to the forefront. He didn’t want to think about it. He didn’t want to remember it.
            Potter grasped his arms in his and shook him slightly. “Don’t you dare hide from this conversation Malfoy. You need to hear it and I need to say it. You put your wand down. Do you hear me? It was completely down when Snape came in and even more so Dumbledore was already dying. A Horcrux had cursed him and he didn’t have long to live. You didn’t kill him. It was all planned. Snape was meant to do that task. So none of this rubbish about you not deserving Hermione!”
            Draco thought that his mind must’ve been playing tricks on him in the aftermath of his earlier emotional and magical outburst. What had just heard couldn’t possibly be true. He closed his eyes and tried to block everything else out, but the sincerity of Potter’s tone and the serious subject matter told him otherwise.
            Draco slowly sat down on the couch feeling as though his chest was constricting. Blaise even took a step back from the pair of them. Potter was breathing heavy and wiped his glasses on his shirt impatiently. “You deserve her Malfoy, and you suit her more than anyone I know.”
            But Draco couldn’t acknowledge anything other than the words that had been said before. “Do you mean it Potter?” he asked quietly, lifting his head. The dark haired wizard nodded “Of course I do, she’s…”
            “No about Dumbledore. Promise me that I didn’t kill him. Promise me that my actions that night weren’t the reason he died.” Potter looked him straight in the eye without hesitation. “I swear on our oath, that I’m telling you the truth. I promise you Malfoy, Dumbledore’s death wasn’t on your hands.”
            Draco didn’t know what was going on with him that night, but for the second time in the span of one evening, he cried. He buried his face in his hands and hoped that Potter and Blaise didn’t know what he was doing.
            But eventually he couldn’t help it. The tears rushed forward to the point where he couldn’t wipe them away quick enough. It was all just too good to be true and he was overjoyed and greatly humbled at the same time.
            Dumbledore’s death had been the biggest regret of his entire life and it was an unforgivable crime that he had intended to repent for until his last breath. So to hear that the old wizard had planned it was a sweet release.
            A sweet unbelievable release.
            Draco felt a sudden rush of emotion that ranged from bittersweet triumph, to a deep wounding sadness. Dumbledore had believed in him and given him a chance despite his behavior all those years.
            Dumbledore had stopped Draco from becoming a murderer and in doing so he had given him a second chance at a good life.
            I… didn’t kill him… I… didn’t murder Albus Dumbledore. He spared me from that fate. He freed me from that task. I’m not evil. I’m not evil…
            Fresh tears fell and the indescribable weight Draco had been holding broke away. Every raw emotion he had been harboring about the war poured from him in waves of tears and soon all the walls he had built to protect himself from the terrible memories of that night disappeared.
There was complete emptiness at first but then Draco was left with the blissful realization: I can still be a good person.
            When he finally wiped his eyes and looked up, both Potter and Blaise were looking at him with worried, anxious expressions on their faces. Draco wanted to laugh but mostly he wanted to hug them. Somehow he had managed to secure two of the most amazing friends in the world.
            “If either of you ever mention that you’ve seen me crying. I’ll murder you in your sleep.” He watched as Blaise and Potter shared a look but Blaise only grinned. “You may have to mate because I’m telling everyone, especially Granger.”
            Somehow more silly comments of that nature were thrown about until they were all laughing and all the bad was forgotten. He stood but was surprised when Potter came forward and hugged him. “Thank you for everything Draco. I mean it. You’re more than a decent man these days. You’re one of my very best friends. ”
            Hearing his name caught him by surprise “don’t get all bold on me now Potter. That’s Malfoy to you.” Potter just slapped him roughly on the back “yeah whatever.”
            “Oi I want in on your man sandwich” Blaise called out throwing his arms around the both of them and the jokes began anew. Once they all calmed down, Potter met Draco's gaze “I think it’s about time you told her how you feel.”
            Draco nodded his agreement, “I will. I am. I have to get everything back into control but Granger is my next priority. I just have to find the right way to have that conversation with her.”
            “Maybe you should tell her on the night of the ministry ball. It will give you a few weeks to build up the courage and the minister assures me it’s going to be an unforgettable evening.”
            Draco found that he liked that idea. It would be a beautiful evening and with the way things were going between them, he could easily get Granger alone for a private conversation. “That’s a good idea, I’ll do it then but no matter how she answers me, I’m moving forward on that night.”
            Both Blaise and Potter agreed that that would be for the best. Draco tried not to feel as though inevitable defeat was coming his way. He had to remain hopeful for only a couple more weeks.
            But the task seemed incredibly daunting to face alone. How did any of the normal blokes do this sort of thing?
            Potter caught his attention and extended a hand “together?”
            Draco met the steady green gaze and wondered if Potter could feel his apprehension through the oath. He knew exactly what they wizard meant by his question but wondered why he had chosen now to offer his support.
            Draco nodded and grasped his hand in his “together” before shaking on it.
            Blaise smoothed his fingers down his red stained shirt and Draco got a good look at just what rough shape the Italian was in. There was blood everywhere and his eyes held a wary seriousness about them. Something Draco hadn’t seen in years, he felt guilty for his actions earlier that night and vowed never to relapse again.
            As if sensing what he was thinking Blaise took a step forward and extended his hand “brothers?” Draco couldn’t help but smile, of course they would be, now and forever, “brothers” he agreed and then shook on that promise as well.
            Hermione and Luna didn’t get a chance to go dress shopping until the following Wednesday. They went to Madam Malkin's despite Hermione wanting to go to a muggle dress shop.
            “Hermione, Draco is a Malfoy. He can unfortunately tell the difference between magic and muggle made dresses. While I’m sure you’ll look amazing in anything, this is first and foremost a wizarding social event. Meaning everything is about status. They will all be able to pick you out a mile away in a muggle dress and even though no one will say anything to your face, they’ll all be thinking you can’t afford proper attire.”
            Hermione had just opened the door for the blonde. “So clothing shopping is when your inner pureblood comes to the surface?” Luna laughed at her tone of voice “unfortunately for you yes. Let’s get you something extravagant, something he’ll die for. Also don’t mention any specific names while on Diagon Alley. The walls and windows have ears.”
            Just as soon as she said that Madam Malkin came from behind a robe rack and greeted them. Luna grinned up to Hermione before pushing her toward the dresses.
            They spent the next two hours both trying on various gowns. After Luna kindly pointed out that Hermione was trying on very Slytherin like dresses the brunette was forced to sit down and admit her deepest thoughts surrounding what she should wear.
            “Tom mentioned attending the ball alone, and it made me realize how much I wish he would have asked me.” Luna nodded instantly understanding the muggle code name for Draco and set down the silver tiara she had been holding before sitting down next to Hermione on the outer dressing room couch.
            “Well why didn’t you ask him to the ball? Women are allowed to do that these days you know.”
            “I know, I know, it’s just that we had been having such a lovely evening. I was sure that he was going to ask me but when he didn’t, it disappointed me and I got discouraged. I didn’t even “mention” that I had broken things off with Adrian.”
            Luna shook her head and stood up before facing Hermione. “Tom probably thought you are already going with Adrian, seeing as an Auror is definitely invited. That was your perfect chance Hermione!”
            “I know and I blew it, so I’m trying to get his attention in a different way!” Hermione snapped back. She knew everything Luna was saying was true but it still didn’t make her feel any less foolish.
            Hermione had ample opportunities to show Draco she was interested in him daily and she always wasted them. She was tired being so incredibly weak willed. She was tired of not being honest with herself.
            But not anymore, Hermione was done being so incredibly pathetic. This wasn’t the Hogwarts’ corridors. She was an adult and fully capable of expressing her feelings.
            “So what are you going to do then? Is the plan to dress up like a Slytherin bride and woo him? Because if so that’s not incredibly original and while he’d get the point so would the rest of the wizarding community which is not the way you want to start something with him.”
            Hermione could tell by the tone of voice Luna had taken with her that the blonde was trying to help and she was grateful for a friend like her but Hermione was already twelve steps ahead.
            She pulled out her wand and cast the privacy charm before turning to her partner in crime. “I know, I hadn’t really thought it through with the color scheme but now that you mention it, I could stand to mix it up. My plan was to magic my hair a completely different color so that Tom wouldn’t know it was me.”
            Hermione felt better and better with every word she got out in the open. “I want to be a goddess. Beautiful and completely compelling, you know? I want to look like no one else in the room and then I’m going to pursue him.”
            She took a breath and forced herself to organize her thoughts before continuing. “I mean, I’ll have a mask that covers the entire upper portion of my face and so all he’ll be able to see is my hair, eyes, mouth and chin. So I’ll just seem like a stranger and then I’m going to pursue him. I’m going to flirt with him like mad, dance with him and demand his attention for the space of the evening. I know it seems a bit unlike me, but with the mask and the hair, I feel fully confident in being able to pull it off.”
            Hermione wrung her hands for a moment. “I want another night like the thunderstorm. It’s all I think about and sometimes I know he’s thinking about it too. So I’m gonna seduce him Luna and get him away from everyone. Then basically once he’s so hot and bothered he couldn’t possibly think of stopping, I’ll reveal myself. Then I’ll just bite the bullet and tell him how I feel and that he can have me if he’s willing to give us a shot or let me know if we’re just friends.
            Luna looked at her oddly for a moment and then erupted into a fit of laughter. So much so that Hermione immediately began to rethink her idea. When the blonde calmed down Hermione gave her an expectant look.
            Luna wiped a tear from her eye “I’m so proud of you! That’s a brilliant idea, I just never would have expected of you to think it up on your own. I mean what kind of plan is this for a virgin!?”
            Luna quite literally laughed herself silly again and when she finished she handed Hermione the tiara she had been holding “a gift to my goddess.”
            Hermione cracked a smile “You’re a veritable weirdo Luna, only you would laugh like that to show me praise. If it were anyone else I’d know they were making fun of me.”
            Luna stuck out her tongue but grinned “I’m not the weird one, you guys are all a bit odd but I still enjoy you anyway,” Hermione shook her head but felt happiness swelling in her chest.
            Luna didn’t think it was a bad plan and it was something that Hermione was proud of. “What if he says no?” she asked off handedly as they stood to continue the dress search. Luna shrugged “then you move on, but Tom won’t say no.”
            “This is an absolutely mental plan.”
            Completely, but I love it. The potential pros outweigh the cons Hermione. Life is about taking chances, especially if your heart is involved. But I will warn you, sleeping with Tom will be the final straw. You’ll be in too far deep to get out without getting hurt after that.”
            This was something Hermione already knew, but somehow it wasn’t what was worrying her the most. She was more concerned with Draco turning her down before she could even put anymore of her heart on the line.
            But Hermione quelled that thought as soon as it arose, she was determined. She was going to find a beautiful dress and a beautiful mask that would grab his attention and then she would tell him how she felt the night of the ball.
            If he didn’t return her feelings then she would survive. Hermione had been through too much to let something like this hold her back. She would recover with more poise and dignity than she had invested in the entire situation and carry on.
            “I want a color that nobody else will wear.” She declared feeling a renewed sense of self. Luna thought her plan would work and for now that was all the support she needed.
            Hermione flipped through dress after dress on rack after rack, looking at each and every one of them. “This is turning out to be hopeless Luna. Let’s try a different shop.” The blonde nodded. “Yeah, I don’t see anything that’s going to go well with my wreath.”
            On a whim Hermione decided to check the last isle of dresses before they left. She was nearing the end of the rack when suddenly she stopped on the very last one. Luna gasped as she held it up and Hermione couldn’t help but smile.
            Suddenly Hermione just knew that everything was going to turn out perfect. Lady Luck was clearly on her side and she was going to look amazing.
            Hermione met Luna’s silver gaze and they high fived. “Tom isn’t going to know what hit him.”
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A Match Made In Convenience