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How To Train Your Auror	By : Alcoholic_Rootbeer Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 7512 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, and I will not make a profit from this story.

Chapter List
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Send my love to your new lover
Treat her better
We've gotta let go of all of our ghosts
We both know we ain't kids no more
"Send My Love" by Adele
"A week?" Draco shouted. "You're suspending me for a week?"
"You're lucky you weren't terminated from the program altogether," Harry said, pushing his glasses up his nose. He, Hermione, and Draco stood in the entryway of the Malfoy Manor. The sun was already setting on the horizon. "The Minister wanted your head for fighting with your instructor. I vouched for you. If it makes you feel any better, Greg's been suspended until Monday. Unpaid."
"He broke my hand." Draco enunciated each word, looking down to his now numb fingers. It took the nurse two hours to set them all straight again, and the potion she had given him to mend them tasted like onions mixed with pepper. He could still taste it on his tongue. His hand was set in a brace, and he wouldn't be allowed to remove it for two days until the bones were completely healed. That's how many bones were broken, Draco thought irritably.
"You threw the first punch!" Harry threw his hands up in the air. "What were you thinking, Malfoy?"
Draco stood there, lips pursed. He wasn't entirely sure why he slugged Diggle, except for bragging rights. Greg Diggle had a way of getting under his skin that even Potter couldn't hold a candle to. There was something so sinister about the way he came off as kind and funny. It was a big show, and Draco wasn't about to pay for a ticket into it. "He broke my hand." He said again, quieter. "With gray magic."
"Gray magic?" Hermione turned her eyebrows upwards, speaking for the first time in nearly an hour. She still appeared very cross with him for letting himself fall to Diggle's level, and she had told him as much before she had given him the silent treatment. But by the way her voice shook, Draco thought he maybe preferred the silence. "There's no such thing. That's an old wife's tale."
"There is," Draco growled. "Cane taught it to me. It's forgotten magic. Wandless. Ancient."
"And where did he learn it?" Potter asked.
"Books. Very old books. Cane's place was full of them."
"So you're saying Greg possessed the same magic capability?"
"I'm saying that there's no doubt in my mind that Cane has his hooks in Diggle. I'm sure of it."
The hall fell silent. Hermione nodded. "You need to talk to the Minister about this, Harry."
"And say what, Hermione? If I go to the Minister without clear evidence, they'll throw the whole case out. Greg's father was once the liaison between the Prime Minister and the Minister of Magic. He's got ties all through the Ministry. I'm good, Hermione, but I'm not that good. I could get sacked if I can't prove it."
"That's why Cane wants him," Draco whispered, "Because he has hands in the honey pot. Cane could know just about anything with Diggle's resources."
"What are we going to do?" Hermione sighed.
"We go with the plan," said Potter, "Hermione will distract Greg Saturday night, and Draco and I will sift through his memories and see if we can't find something to use."
"Don't make me go on another date," she said irritably, "Especially not after what he did to Draco."
Harry cringed. "For my benefit, call him Malfoy around me." He pleaded with his eyes. "I'm begging you. This is difficult to stomach, Mione."
"Mione," Draco mocked him, "Is that some sort of nickname? It's terrible."
"Harry's been calling me that for years," Hermione scolded, hooking her hands around her hips in a defensive 'I'm about to give you a what for' stance that made Draco back up a foot or two.
"Alright!" He threw his hands up into the air, wincing as he forgot about his injured one and bringing it back down to rest against his stomach. "It's a stupid nickname is all I'm saying."
"Draco! I mean Malfoy - I mean - I'm sorry, Harry. I just can't do it."
Potter grumbled irritably as he gathered his robes from the coat rack. "Seriously, Hermione." He gave her a quick hug and whispered something into her ear that Draco couldn't hear. Then he turned, gave Draco a nod of his head, and took his leave out the front door.
"What did he say to you?" asked Draco.
Hermione blushed. "He might have told me that the sex wasn't worth the headache."
He smirked. "Isn't it, though?"
She rolled her eyes, shoved him in the shoulder, and gathered up her robes. "I'll see you tomorrow, Draco."
"You're leaving?"
"Of course I am. Some of us have work in the morning." She walked back over to him and leaned up, kissing his lips delicately. "I know you want to ask me to stay. But you know I can't."
"Why not?" He pouted his lower lip.
"Because I want to take this slow, Draco." She was the perfect height to trail kisses under his jaw, which is exactly what she did. Slow, sensual kisses that made his knees want to buckle.
"Should have thought about that before you came to my home last night," he whispered, leaning his head back to take in the feeling of her lips against his skin. He could already feel himself growing aroused, and he sighed irritably. "Come on. One more night?"
"Nope. Sorry." She bit down on the groove where his shoulder met his throat. "But have fun imaging."
He quirked an eyebrow and glanced down at her. "Are you… are you mocking me?"
"Perhaps." She giggled, standing on her tiptoes and planting one more kiss on his lips. Draco slipped his good hand around the nape of her neck and held her there, drawing out the moment. She sighed into his mouth happily, and he slipped his tongue against the bottom of her lip. Hermione jerked back and wagged a finger in his face. "Not tonight." She did take his hand to lead him to the den, where she released it and stepped in front of the floo. "I'll be over first thing tomorrow after work to check on you. Sound fair?"
"Sure."
"Goodnight, Draco."
"Goodnight, Hermione."
He watched her disappear in a puff of green flames and sighed. What he wouldn't give for just one more night like the last. Damn it, he realized, it wasn't just his wand hand that was broken - it was his… fun hand. This was going to be a miserable night indeed.
Things between Hermione and Astoria had been very cool since their blow up on Thursday morning. When Saturday arrived, Hermione decided it might be time to approach the former Malfoy wife and smooth things over. They were living together, after all. Astoria was cuddled up on the bed, reading a book when Hermione knocked on the door. Astoria looked up, nudged over to a sleeping Scorpius, and tiptoed her way to the door.
"Miss Granger," she whispered in a neutral tone, "Can I help you?"
"Astoria, you can call me Hermione."
"I'd rather not."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "May I speak with you in the living room?" Astoria followed her out, shutting the door softly behind her. When they stood in the center of the rug with just a coffee table between them, Hermione started, her speech well prepared. "Look, I know we haven't gotten off on the right foot, and I can understand why you might have contempt for me."
"And why do you think that is?" asked Astoria, crossing her arms.
"Because I'm dating Draco. Because you think I'm beneath him-"
"Is that what you think?" Astoria gave a huffed sigh. "Contrary to what you believe, I hold no ill will towards your blood. If anything, you might be too good for him."
This was not what Hermione had expected to hear. She was sure she would hear a lecture based off of mingled blood heritages, but instead Astoria looked at her with concern, not contempt. "You're referring to his former Death Eater status."
"No. Even I was able to look past that after a time. You don't know what kind of a man he is."
"I know enough."
"Do you?" She took a step closer, eyes hardened. "He lied to me for years about where he was going and what he was doing. What makes you think he won't do the same to you?"
Blood flooded Hermione's ears until all she could hear was her own pulse. She hadn't ever given that much thought before now. "Because… he's never lied to me."
Astoria laughed. "Oh? Hasn't he? How would you know? From what I hear, you two didn't get on very well before this Auror thing."
"We didn't." Hermione scowled. "We practically hated each other. But he never lied to me about the way he felt. He was a callous, prejudice sod with pride and arrogance. And he never once tried to pretend he was anything other than that. -You didn't know him back then, so you wouldn't know how far he's come."
"I was married to the man, Miss Granger. Or do you forget? Everything you think you're feeling - I've felt it too. Draco can put on a charm like no other man I've ever met. But that doesn't mean that he still isn't the same selfish, prideful man you knew back then. He just traded one vice for another." Astoria uncrossed her arms.
"If you hate him so much, why do you flaunt around like you want him back?"
"Honestly? I thought if I could prove to you that he's just as fickle as I know him to be, you might stop this foolish endeavour to redeem him."
"That's… that's horrible."
"We do what we must to protect good hearted people. Think what you wish of me."
"So you don't want Draco back?"
"Heaven's no. I can hardly stand to look at the man."
"…You're wrong about him," Hermione said quietly.
"Perhaps. But I warn you now - get out while you can. Or he'll break you. If you think he'll ever choose you above removing that Mark, you're in denial. And it's just a matter of time before Cane reels him back in. I've said my piece. Now, if you'll excuse me…" Astoria nodded curtly and without a word, went back to the bedroom. Hermione plopped down on the couch. Well, that hadn't gone to plan at all…
It never occurred to her that Astoria hadn't wanted Draco back. But thinking back on her actions, it had made a bit of sense. She had doubted his feelings after Astoria's conquest, hadn't she? It had made her think twice about it all. But then that night… that night changed everything. He could still hear the gentle way in which he spoke ringing in her ears.
'Hermione, do you really not understand my feelings for you?' She could see the resolve set in his eyes behind her lids. 'Let me show you.'
No. She couldn't believe that Draco would go back to his old ways. She had watched him change over the last few months. He wanted to do right by Scorpius - had even tried to do right by Astoria.
Her mind drifted to that morning in Draco's bathroom with his head leaned back against the porcelain edge of the bath. 'I'm tired, Hermione. I'm tired of lying. Especially to the people… that I care about.'
She remembered holding Scorpius for the first time as Draco confessed the reason why he wanted to become an Auror in the first place. 'I do it for him.'
'Hmm?'
'Why I want to be an Auror. It's for him.'
Her shaken resolve found solid footing again. Even if he couldn't do it for Astoria or Hermione for that matter, he wouldn't give into Cain for one reason: his son. He was Draco's whole world. Before, Draco hadn't been given an opportunity to provide for someone who could be more important than himself; his son gave him that. And Scorpius would be the reason why he wouldn't go back.
She glanced up at the clock above her fireplace. "Oh, damn it!" She exclaimed, noticing the time. She tiptoed down the hallway and knocked quietly on the door again. Astoria answered it within moments.
"What do you need now?"
"I need to get into my closet," Hermione told her irritably, pushing through and padding her way as soundlessly as she could past Scorpius and to her closet door. She swung it open and began to rummage through her clothes.
"Why do you feel the need to change your clothes at six o'clock at night?"
"Because I have a date," she replied mindlessly, only after realizing her mistake. She tensed up and hoped Astoria wouldn't pry. But she did.
"With Draco?"
She could have lied - really she could, but the words just spilled out of her mouth before she could stop herself. "No, with Greg."
"Who's Greg?" Astoria raised an eyebrow, sauntering over to lean against the closet door. "Do tell. Does Draco know you're going out with someone else?"
"He's our training instructor… and yes. He does."
"And he doesn't mind?"
"He minds a little…"
"Bold move, Miss Granger."
"I don't want to date Greg," Hermione hissed, "But I need to distract him for a night."
"Why?"
"Auror reasons. You wouldn't understand."
"Does it have to do with Cane?"
Hermione turned her head, surprised at how well Astoria could put the pieces together. She nodded.
"I see. Well…" Astoria reached into the closet and pulled out a frilly red blouse with ruffles in the front, "If you mean to distract, this might do the trick."
"We're going bowling."
"Bowling? Is that the muggle sport where you throw balls down to knock over… oh, what are those things called?"
"Pins."
"Yes, pins!"
"Yes."
"Oh. Well then." Astoria grabbed up a pair of Hermione's shortest shorts and a thick camisole with blue stripes. "This."
"I'd hardly feel comfortable…"
"If you want to draw the man's attention, you must dress the part." Astoria shoved the clothes in Hermione's arms. "What will you do with your hair?"
Hermione sighed. This was going to be a very long night indeed.
Draco arrived through Hermione's floo at around seven o'clock. Her date with Diggle would be in an hour, and both he and Potter had decided that it might be safer to take Astoria and Scorpius with them while Hermione was out. As he stepped out and brushed his blazer off, he found Hermione twiddling her thumbs nervously while she drank a glass of wine at the kitchen table. Astoria sat next to her, Scorpius in her arms, looking quite pleased with herself. Draco wondered why until he drew his eyes back towards Hermione.
She was wearing trousers that barely covered the curve of her hips, and her shirt - well it was practically held together by two thin straps that barely clung to her shoulders. The neckline plunged low, revealing the supple curve of her breasts perked up by - what was that? A push-up brassiere? It was blue with lace at the top, and peeked out over the stripes of her shirt. Her hair was straightened, much to Draco's surprise and irritation, and pulled back in a thick, crisp bun. And to top it all off - she was wearing a signature shade of plum that Draco only had ever seen Astoria wear. Hermione looked beautiful and horrifyingly foreign to him all at once. He never had truly appreciated just how wonderful she looked without all the embellishments until he saw them first hand. But while he preferred the old Hermione, this new one wasn't half-bad.
"Wow…" he whispered, fearing to take another step. Hermione looked as if she were a gazelle that might bound from the room at any sharp movement. "You look…"
"Oh, go ahead and say it." Hermione frowned, the familiar crinkle between her eyebrow making her much more approachable. At least, Draco sighed to himself, she had the same Granger voice. It was reasonable and thoughtful and completely unlike Astoria's. Though he couldn't say much for the rest of Hermione. That screamed 'I'm Astoria Greengrass's very own personal make-up doll.'
"Say what?" Draco replied, controlling his voice as it tried to shift up an octave.
"I look terrible."
Both Astoria and Draco shouted at once, "You do not!" They paused, giving each other understanding nods of the head.
Draco cleared his throat. "You do not." He carefully stepped across the room and joined them at the table. As he pulled his chair out, he saw Hermione blush and turn her head to the side. Oh, would you look at that? She was even wearing earrings. Probably by magic, but it did punctuate the freckles on the sides of her cheeks. "You look wonderful."
A slow crawl of red climbed up Hermione's chest, neck, and finally cheeks, where it flushed pink all the way to her nose. Draco couldn't recall anyone else he knew who blushed this way except for when Weasley did it around the very woman Draco was staring at right now. And quite frankly, he couldn't blame Weasley. He understood it now. Either all the blood would go to one's face, or it would go straight down to one's prick. It was a toss-up which would be more embarrassing in the middle of the day.
"I look like a prostitute," Hermione replied dully.
"You look better than any prostitute I've ever seen."
Astoria curved a perfectly manicured eyebrow at him. "And how many prostitutes have you seen in your day, Draco Malfoy?"
"I- I haven't… you know that's not what I meant." Draco huffed miserably.
"Well, in any case, she'll certainly tempt this Diggle man into forgetting himself," Astoria smirked, watching Draco pale. And he did so for two reasons: one, because he didn't ever like the idea of Diggle having his grimy mitts on his girl; and two, because Astoria was being positively a peach this evening in comparison to any other time since their problems arose in their marriage.
"You two are… fine now?" Draco scowled.
"Hardly," Hermione replied.
"We've come to an understanding," said Astoria.
"Uh huh…" Draco wasn't convinced. "And what, pray tell, is this understanding?"
"If you must know, anything that makes you uncomfortable I want to be a part of. And according to Hermione, this faux date with Auror Diggle will positively make you squirm."
"You're a cold bitch, Tori."
"Revenge is a dish best served cold, Draco." She blew him a mock kiss.
The doorbell rang. Hermione glanced up, catching eyes with not Draco, but Astoria, who gave her an encouraging look.
"You look wonderful, dear. Honestly."
Hermione nodded slowly and made to stand. Draco copied her, rising from his chair as well, and she shook her head. "I need to put a glamour spell on the kitchen so Greg doesn't see you."
He lowered his voice as to not be heard from the door. "A kiss then?"
Hermione leaned over and kissed him sultrily on the lips. She patted his cheek, shoved him lightly back down in his chair, and crossed her way out of the kitchen before casting a quick illusion charm and stepping to the door.
"Hello, Hermione," Came the voice of Diggle as she opened it. "I…. I have to say, you look absolutely stunning."
'That's my line…' Draco grumbled in his head.
"Ready to go?" Hermione asked, and without a second glance back shut the door, leaving Draco and Astoria in the house alone. Scorpius blew a spit bubble and giggled. Draco turned back around in his chair.
"Hey, Scorp." He snatched the baby out of Tori's arms at once and began to blow raspberries on his neck. Scorpius giggled.
"You… really do care, don't you?" Astoria asked, folding her hands in a V before resting her delicate chin in them.
"About Scorpius? Of course, I do. What kind of question is that?"
"You and I both know I'm not talking about the baby, Draco."
He raised his eyes slowly in her direction, catching hers after a time. "If you're thinking I never cared about you that way, you're wrong. I've always cared, Astoria."
"Have you?" She pursed her lips.
"I married you. Do you think I would have wasted my time if I thought we wouldn't be together for the rest of our lives? I made a commitment to you."
"And you dishonored that commitment the moment you took up with Cane," she replied, her voice calm and calculated. Scorpius reached up and slapped Draco in the nose, cooing.
"Tori," Draco started, taking just a moment to nibble on Scorpius's tiny fingers, eliciting another slew of giggles from the baby, "Do you remember that drunkard who knocked over your book? The night that we met?"
"Oh yes." Her eyes turned to slits. "Him."
"That was Cane."
Astoria's face was unreadable for a time. "Are you saying the reason you and I ever met was because of Cane?"
"Of course not." Draco sighed, exasperated. "But I'd been watching you for almost a month. I couldn't gather up the courage to talk to you… you were so beautiful, and I…" He glanced down to his arm. "I didn't think you'd ever accept me the way I was." He jerked his eyes away from his contemptible Mark hidden beneath the fabric of his shirt and instead focused on her. "But you did. You did, and that… that was different. Ever since I received this wretched thing, I've only ever received glares and death threats. But by then, Astoria, it was too late. I was in too deep - with Cane. With my obsession to remove the Mark. And I didn't take into account of your feelings. I was… careless, with you. And for that, I'm s-s…"
"Yes?" Astoria perked up. "Go on."
"Oh, you know what I'm trying to say."
"Say it."
"I'm sorry, okay?!" He shouted, a bit more forceful than he intended. Scorpius became excited and yanked on Draco's ear, bringing him back down from his shaking fear. He snuggled Scorpius up near his chest and hugged him. "I'm sorry I didn't take your feelings into consideration. I'm sorry that I didn't show you the love you deserved. And I'm sorry I didn't confide in you. You were my wife. I should have trusted you."
"Yes." She nodded slowly. "You should have."
Draco glanced down to Scorpius and kissed him on top of his white-blonde head. "But when Scorpius came into being… I found myself again. I want you to know that. I need you to know - you've given me something that… that I couldn't have ever found without you. Our son." Draco could feel his voice get higher, and he coughed, pushing the anxiety back down. "So, even though our marriage failed, that doesn't mean that I don't appreciate you, even now. You gave me him. And… and that's something I can't thank you enough for. In a way, you saved me, Tori." Draco slowly arose from his chair and set Scorpius in Astoria's arms. "And you're right…" he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. "I do care about Hermione."
Astoria choked back a few tears, absently stroking Scorpius on the back soothingly. "Tell me about her."
"What?"
"Describe her to me."
"I… I don't know if that's a good idea."
"Try it."
He sighed, slipping his fingers further into the fabric of his pockets. Where would he even begin to describe Hermione Granger? "She's intelligent, for a start. Even more so than myself. I've hardly come across that sort of intellect in my life. It's refreshing. And even though she's very 'to-do' about most things, she's also… snarky."
"Snarky?"
"She quips back." The words began to spill out of his mouth before he could retract them. "And she's never given me grief about my Mark. At least, not to my face. She sees good in me, and I don't know how, but she does. She believes in me. She's never given up, even when I'd given up on myself. -She cares for Scorpius. She practically loves the boy."
"That's… good." Astoria nodded. "Go on."
"What more do you need to know, Tori? This feels odd. I don't like much talking about my new girlfriend to my ex-wife."
"Do you love her?"
"….What?" His face scrunched up. "I hardly think that-"
"Do. You. Love. Her?" Astoria didn't seem upset asking these words. They were genuine. She wanted to know.
"Our relationship is new, Tori. How the Hell could I already be in love with her?"
Astoria smirked. "I never said 'in love'. I said 'love.' Now ask yourself why you said that."
Draco reached up and scratched the side of his neck nervously. "You tricked me."
"I did."
"I…" He scowled. "That's low, Tori."
"Is it?" She laughed, a tear falling down her cheek. A happy one. A satisfied one. "I've never been one for taking the high road."
Draco, despite himself, cracked a smile. "You like her."
"I do." She nodded. "She's cheeky. She's not afraid to put someone in their place."
"No," he chuckled, "She's really not."
"Including you. -Which is good for you." Astoria stood from the table with Scorpius. "Maybe she'll keep you on track to a good life." She stepped forward and slowly kissed his cheek. Not in a romantic sense, Draco realized, but in approval. She was giving him her blessing. "I hope you remember to treat her the way you should have treated me."
"Astoria…"
She put a finger to his lips. "Shh. There's nothing left to say. You apologized. That's all I wanted." She smiled at him. "Now, let's go see Mr. Potter, shall we? You have some explaining to do to him."
Draco nodded, and Astoria removed her finger from his mouth. "Thanks, Tori."
"If we're going to be good parents to Scorpius, we… should stop fighting." She handed Scorpius off to Draco again and gathered her pea coat. "But you should know, I have a soft spot for that witch now. Should you ever break her heart, I'll hunt you down."
Draco smirked. "I wouldn't expect any less of you."
Hope to hear from you,
Love, A.
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How To Train Your Auror