Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

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
- 23
- 24
- 25
Author's Notes:
Hey!!!!
It took me a while to upload. Here's the latest and last beta edited chapter. A NEW CHAPTER will be uploaded over the weekend.
Sorry off to teaching today for the whole day so like roughly 10 hours or so.

Hope all is well at your end.
Lots of love
xx

Chapter Twenty-Three
For Old Time’s Sake

“Hermione!” Harry’s loud voice echoed around her apartment as his footsteps rang down the stairs.

Harry’s footsteps were fast and heavy as he called around for her.
“Hermione! I just got a note from the Malfoys!” Harry yelled yet again as he hurried down the stairs, bearing in his hand what looked like a note addressed to him and Hermione that was sent over a few moments ago.

Since Hermione was taken out of the hospital, he had been staying in her apartment from time to time to assist her despite that she insisted that there was no necessity to do so and that he was only doing it because he wanted to stay in.

Harry declined the idea of it with a smile, knowing she was otherwise correct anyway.

“Hermione? ‘Mione did you confirm with them?” he called out again reaching the end of the steps and breathlessly strode towards the living room where he heard a movement. “It says here that they’re thanking us for your confirmation this morning and will meet us tonight at the Malfoy’s ball-“

Harry breathlessly reached the dimly lit living room and she was standing by the small desk with a thickly folded parchment in her hand.
“Hermione?”

“What’s this?” she asked in a monotonous voice.
“What’s what?” Harry asked as he moved from the door staring at her and the paper in her hand.

There was a sound and a large brown brawny owl left their window and he quickly stared back at the parchment in her hand.

There was an obvious seal from the Ministry of Magic and the owl that just flew away was a Ministry of Magic post service.
His eyes narrowed and then widened in shock.

He moved forward her to take the letter in realization but Hermione had backed away and had stopped him by pointing her wand towards him.

“What is this?” she repeated in a louder tone this time with her hand slightly shaking as she held the letter.
“I can explain.” Harry quickly said but couldn’t get any closer to her with the look and wand she was showing him.
“Explain then.” Hermione breathlessly answered him with contempt growing in her face. “Now.”

But by the looks of it, he wasn’t ready to explain to her.
He was nowhere ready to explain to her what she had just read because he wasn’t even expecting in the first place to receive anything.
His mind spun wildly for any kind of excuse, for anything nice and gentle to begin with.
What she was holding in her hands was an official receipt form from the Marriage Registry Department acknowledging his application that would be taken into consideration while they give him a list of requirements to be submitted.

He had placed their names on the registry of course but didn’t expect that if they would send notification, it would be a copy for each of them.
He tried to be calm but the serious and murderous look over her face was growing and scaring the hell out of him.

“You can’t speak?” Hermione asked him breathlessly asked with a mocking smile over her face. “Alright, let me read it for you so that you know what to tell me-“
“’Mione, please-“

“Congratulations! We, at the Ministry of Magic, together with the Twelve Council of Wizengamot, are vastly joyous at this prompt celebration of unity between two individuals of the Wizarding Community. We are more than glad to welcome this choice of event and a momentous celebration to you Mr. Harry James Potter of Half-Blood lineage and Ms. Hermione Jean Granger of Muggle-Born lineage, at the announcement to create a legality of union. In lieu of your Marriage Registry, here are the list of things-“

“’Mione let me explain this, please!” Harry said as he forced himself forward her and quickly took the letter from her and held her wrist with the wand.
“Do you believe the first I’ve noticed is the way they had to emphasize the lineage of each individual getting together into this so-called unity?” Hermione sarcastically pointed out with a dark smile over her face.
Harry looked as guilty as he could possibly be as he tried to reach back to her.

“Hermione, just let me explain about this-“

Despite his careful and gentle arrest of her, Hermione’s weaker body was quickly subdued by Harry.
He took the letter from her and placed it out of her reach and held her wrist with a wand.

“Let go of me.” Hermione heavily breathed as they both crouched over the carpeted floor by the couches. “Let go of me or I swear I’m going to hex your balls off with non-verbal-“
“Just let me explain. Let’s talk calmly-“ Harry gasped as he struggled to keep her hands from reaching him.
“Calmly?!” Hermione incredulously repeated with her eyes wide at him in anger. “You want us to talk calmly on how you registered us for marriage without my knowledge?!”

Harry was halfway flat over the floor as he let Hermione twist him around while her hands relentlessly hit him.

He felt like Hermione was going to break his bones but for as long as he got the letter and have her down, he was fine with however Hermione wanted to attack him.
Harry knew what he did was beyond stupid, but he wasn’t exactly regretting it.

The law was going to be implemented the day after Malfoy’s gala and anyone who hasn’t yet officially announced an engagement or has applied for registry at the Ministry of Magic will be caught with the whirlwind of random people to be put together and raffled around for the official pairing picked by the Ministry.
And there was no way in hell that she was going to be raffled around and be won as prize by some men just because the Ministry deem it right to procreate their dying race.

“I’ve trusted you.” Hermione said and the hint of obvious disappointment was what scarred Harry’s heart. “Harry, we’ve always talked things through. And you couldn’t trust me with this?”
“’Mione, just – I thought maybe we can talk after – it’s not something-”
“We’ve talked about this. And if I needed you to marry me, I’d tell you, seeing that you are already more than willing to do that-“
“They’re going to put out the Marriage Law after tonight!“ Harry finally admitted to her and it caused Hermione to stop attacking him.

She blinked.

Her tearful and angered brown eyes slowly reached his emerald ones.
He looked own at her with all desperation and remorse in his eyes.

“Hermione-“
“What did you say?” she asked letting his arms go and backing away. “What did you say?”

Harry moved from the floor and faced her as she sank back against the wall with all little energy she has left.
“The Ministry – “ he gasped as he rested his back against the opposite wall. “- they’ve already decided to implement this law tomorrow. The elders from the Wizengamot thought it was taking too long- they said that they’d implement its ordinance so that the society will quickly follow-“
“But no – there are – there guidelines, there is a timeline-“ her panic-stricken face reasoned with Harry. “There are – there are rules and steps to follow-“
“They are the Wizengamot.” Harry said. “They are the laws, Hermione. I couldn’t do anything. It was only announced at a few members and I’ve only known of it because Kingsley told me – if we weren’t friends he wouldn’t have told me either-“

Hermione’s face turned cross again.

“So you thought that instead of snitching to me the information, you’d take things in your own hands and register us?” Hermione snapped at him.
Harry was still highly alert with the wand in her hand, but she looked like she was ready to listen to him.

“It’s only a temporary solution.” Harry offered her as he sat back down on the floor and laid his back against the wall, still breathless from their little wrestling.
“Temporary?” Hermione said. “This is going down on legal matters and papers-“
“Hermione, I can’t let you out there marrying some douchebag-“
“You think nobody likes me?” Hermione asked him. “You think I like no one else?”

Harry opened his mouth but his voice got stuck on his throat.

In the many years they’ve been friends he’s only ever known to see Viktor Krum in their 4th year and have been in exchange of letters for a few years. After the final battle, they were still exchanging letters on rarer occasions now as the man had been engaged months after the Battle of Hogwarts.
Ron had attempted once or twice but he was such a romantic failure towards Hermione.
If she had been seeing another person, there was definitely no news ever that has reached him and they were too popular to be missed in any form of news.

“You’re seeing someone else?” Harry managed to say loudly out of shock. “And you haven’t told me?”
“What?” Hermione asked back as she was suddenly confused at the turn of conversation.
“You.” Harry said. “You’ve been seeing someone else? And you dare tell me we don’t ever talk about things-“
“I’m not seeing-“
“You’ve just said so-“
“I was trying to explain myself and give you a fact about-“
“So you’re not seeing someone else?” Harry pointed out with a gleam in his eyes. “You’re not-“
“Harry, this isn’t even what I’m trying to say. This is pointless.” Hermione said in such resignation that Harry felt he wanted to continue arguing with her. “You are pointless.”

Harry stared up at her with such defeat that he wasn’t sure how he was going to fix this.
A loud, in rage and arguing Hermione was always better than one that has put down the sword and walks away.

“Hermione.” Harry called out as she stood up from the floor and began walking away from him. “’Mione. Please. We can fix this. I was just trying to protect you.”
“Protect me?” Hermione snapped at him as she straightened her dress down. “What, I fall a few floors at the Ministry and you think I’m some spineless princess in need of saving?”
“That’s not what I was trying to do. You were going to be sent out there – how ridiculous that law is – they’re going to do some hot pot on the individuals of this society just cause they need more population – I couldn’t let you be raffled out there- I was thinking of you-“
“Thinking of me?” Hermione said, turning sharply back at him with lace in her tone and eyes. “Are you sure? Not likely thinking of yourself?”

He knew he was wrong but Hermione’s tongue was sharp enough to slice through him.
He knew that this wasn’t something he could easily fix but he had to admit that he neither regretted it.
They stared at one another in silence and Harry knew that he had gone too far today.

“Let me fix this.” Harry offered her as he slowly stood up from the floor and gently walked towards her. “Hermione, I can’t let you out there. I just can’t. “
“So you want me for yourself, is that it?” Hermione lashed at him but tears had begun forming in her eyes. “Your solution into protecting me then is forcing me to marry you?”
“Forcing you?” Harry repeated and this time he had no qualms in showing her that he was as angry at their fight and as hurt as she was. “But don’t you love me?”
The tears finally leaked from Hermione’s eyes and she tried to stop them.
But Harry looked all the same – hurt and obviously disappointed and beyond heartbroken.
She shook her head and quickly wiped them with the back of her hand.

“That’s not even the point.” Hermione weakly whispered. “This isn’t-“
“Then tell me!” Harry reasoned with her moving forward. “Tell me – I don’t – you told me you love me but this – why are you – why can’t you give us a chance?”
But Hermione shook her head and held up her hand to stop him from nearing her.
“All my life I’ve stayed right behind you.” Hermione said in a very defeated and exhausted tone. “I’ve stayed put for you, fought for you and fought right behind you all these years and I don’t regret any moment of it. And I will always still be behind your back without second thoughts, without a question-“
“Then be with me-“
“But you can’t control me!” Hermione cried at him. “You can’t just make me do things just because you think I’ll always be by your side.”
“But ‘Mione-“
“You can’t force me to marry you!” Hermione suddenly yelled at him and Harry’s eyes widened in pain and shock. “I told you I’m not ready – I told you – you know everything, Harry! I’ve trusted you with everything and you just – I told you I couldn’t yet-“
“I’m sorry-“ Harry cried back as he advanced, but Hermione backed away again. “Please, I’m sorry – I didn’t mean it that way- Hermione, I love you-“
But she shook her head, evidently hurt and disappointed with his decision as if he had broken a certain promise.

“I love you, Harry.” Hermione had said as she walked to the door, retreating with her broken heart. “I will always love you but you have got to respect it when I ask you to leave the very little part of myself that is left of me to me.”
“Hermione-please-“
“This is you not trusting me in the time that I need-“
“’Mione-“
“I’m sorry.” Hermione whispered turning away from him completely. “I can’t deal with you right now.”
And with that, she quickly left the living room and Harry heard her restrained cries as she jogged her way out of her own apartment with nothing but her wand and little dignity she had left of with her. .

“Fuck.” Draco angrily yelled and there was a crashing sound as he threw his glass of whiskey across the room.

He had left home to avoid murdering his own father after he offered him some whiskey after telling him that Harry and Hermione sent an RSVP regarding his invitation for the night’s masquerade ball.

He sprinted then back at his office at St. Mungo’s glad to have no patient or errand any longer, he opened one of his two ‘emergency’ whiskey bottles at the bottom of his desk.
They weren’t really allowed to drink within the hospital premises, let alone he wasn’t a permanent hired Healer but today he had just had enough of his father.
However, it seemed that Lucius had dragged some bad luck at his tail the moment he left Azkaban as bad faith after another kept going after Draco.

He had arrived in his office only to find two notice from the Ministry of Magic.
One was a form of memo or invitation that he has been set to meet alongside other wizards for a sort of meeting in regards to their required application for the Marriage Law where they were amongst the first batch to be paired after the Ministry of Magic draws the first slot of pairing the following day for all Ministry officials and employees.
He would have created a reply of inquiry because it wasn’t set for another week for the first registry and draw of pairing to happen when he noticed the second letter which was with a red ribbon around it giving him a head’s up that it was a more important letter.
Stressed as he already was with all the piling up problems around him, he quickly opened the letter only to find himself in further jeopardy.

Apparently, as the Marriage Law is about to take place, he and his father would be required to submit into it but under special circumstances since there was a seen problem in financial matters.
By law, Lucius Malfoy owns all the wealth of the Malfoys which was amounted to some billions worth of accounts, estates and other businesses and properties. But because he has been sentenced at Azkaban, this right had been frozen in paper.
But then again, since he was pardoned, months to a year was given to him to prove himself a better citizen before he is granted back his rights to his wealth which were all presently under no one else’s right but Draco’s.
And since both of them had to submit into the Marriage Law, the financial matters would also be entangled as a legal issue.
Given Lucius is still the senior Malfoy, he would be given access and rights back to all his wealth should he find a potential bride before Draco gets engaged or is legally found with perfect match with the Marriage Law.

But should Draco find a potential bride that he gets engaged before the government pairs him with someone else or if he gets paired with someone else under the law before Lucius finds himself a potential bride for engagement and marriage since he is under the third category of the law – widowed which will take a bit more time to be paired – Draco will find himself the successor of all the wealth until the government deems Lucius worthy back of all that is his.

Fists clenched, Draco crumbled the important notice from the Ministry and threw it back on the floor.

He took the bottle of whiskey and took a heavy swig from it with hot tears forming in his eyes as he grabbed his wand and ready to burn the paper.

He had tried all his life to do what is right, to repent and redeem himself and make sure that his father never taints the life he has tried so hard to build because he promised Narcissa that he would live better, that he would be the better man.

And right now, with Lucius out of Azkaban, everything just seems to fall apart.
How he deeply missed the nights where he was hungry in his small and dimly lit room, exhausted as he is from his triple jobs and studying until the morning light for an exam he needed to pass for a professor who had been bullying him from the first day just because he found out that he was the Malfoy heir.

Draco felt the painful tug in his heart and wanted nothing to do with his father for whatever reason and was ready to vent out his anger into burning the parchment when he heard a scuffle against his door like someone had attempted to knock or scratch over it.

“WHAT?!” Draco angrily yelled pointing his wand at the door to open it without even thinking of what distress lay before his office.

Water eyes met a pair of brown ones.

Both pairs looked scared and shocked at the same time at the scene that lay before them.
Hermione’s eyes was ridden with heavy red as well, hair disarrayed like she had ran all the way there and fear and shock at being caught by the door filled her features.

Draco’s eyes were wide, red from his own tears of anguish, Healer uniform disarranged before his suit that he had loosened up earlier out of anger and frustration, wand angrily pointed with his hand and another holding out a whiskey bottle.

They both looked as scared, angry and stricken as it was.

“I’m sorry.” Hermione’s small voice came as she first came back to her senses after their shock. “I’m sorry – I didn’t – it was a bad timing. I didn’t – “

Draco stared at her retreating form, realizing how scary he looked at that very moment.
He had but tried to erase to the world especially to Hermione the Death Eater that he had been.
But with a dangerous look in his eyes, whiskey bottle in one hand and wand at another with his sleeves up obviously showing his Dark Mark, he knew that he had just hit bullseye into reminding her every bit of him that he wanted to kill.

“Hermione-“ Draco whispered in batted breathe out of shock upon seeing her.

“I’m sorry.” Hermione cried and she turned around and began running away from the doorway.

“No-“ Draco said quickly realizing what he must have really looked like to her. “Hermione –wait! ‘Mione – I’m sorry – wait-“

He quickly threw back the almost empty whiskey bottle and quickly lowered his wand back over his table and crossed the room to Hermione’s retreating back.

He ran to her at breakneck speed, head spinning on why she was there looking so distraught and how he was going to explain himself as well at the scene she had caught him in.

“Hermione!” he desperately called back at her as he ran after her at the empty corridor that was leading to the elevators. “Hermione – I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you – I wasn’t expecting-“
“It’s fine-“ Hermione cried back at him as she waved her hand back without looking. “I’m sorry – another time – I wasn’t – this was a very bad timing – I’m sorry-“
“No, no it isn’t-“ Draco breathlessly said, knowing he was obviously lying anyway. “I just – it was – please, you came here for something-“

Hermione’s gasped in tears but she paced faster towards the elevators for as fast as her injured legs could still limp her forward.

“Hermione!” Draco’s out of breath voice called out as he came to reach her as she slowed her pace out of her painful strides. “’Mione – please, you came for me – I am here. I’m going to listen.”
Hermione stopped running as her legs could no longer take a stride.

She felt dizzy from her heightened emotions, all her running and crying and healing injuries but just before she falls flat on her face, Draco’s strong arms had slid out from nowhere and had caught her just right on time for her to fall back instead in his chest.

The both of them were just too emotional and caught in the moment that Hermione had actually pulled her arms from her sides and placed it tightly around Draco’s waist who in return, pulled her warmly and closed and rested his fine jawline over her soft tresses in his attempt to comfort her.

“I’m here, I am here.” Draco found himself whispered as they stood at the empty corridor with his arms wrapped around her and her hands tightly around him as if clinging for dear life.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t- I don’t understand – wasn’t thinking-“ Hermione kept crying into his arms, her wet face buried over his chest damping his clothes.

“Sssh… calm yourself. I’m here. You’re okay, you’re here… no need to be sorry for anything.” Draco calmly whispered over her head. “It’s alright.. nothing to be sorry for.. I’m here, I’m going to listen.. I’m here. I’ve got you.”

Draco held her tight with the strong biceps of his left arm and he surprised himself as his other hand gently moved up at the back of her head and began stroking her hair soothingly to calm her.
It took her a moment to calm down and Draco closed his eyes at the sudden familiar feel of her in his arms as in his way of calming her down for whatever reason she had barged into his office, he found himself being calmed down from his wrath for his father by her mere presence and her body warmly wrapped around him.

It took them a moment and it was Hermione again to first to come to their senses.
Draco’s eyes opened when he felt that she suddenly and forcibly pushed him away from her.
“Malfoy!” she cried out as she pulled herself away from his arms completely shocked at their exchange.

Her eyes were wide again, face red in tears and surprise and mouth gaping back at Draco.
“I – you were – I’m sorry-“ Draco quickly apologized not wanting to scare her at the thought that he was physically taking advantage of the situation. “I didn’t mean to-“
“No, it was – that was me – “ Hermione quickly said as she saw the fear forming in his eyes and the pale look he was giving her. “That was – it was – let’s forget about it-“
Of all the things she’s cried to him since her face came back up to his life, there was something in that last phrase that she’s said that made him feel quite bad.

“What?” he asked her unable to stop himself. “What do you-“
“This-“ Hermione said quickly moving her hands between them as she referred to the moment. “I mean – I’m sorry – I didn’t mean to feel so cozy and close-“

There was evident guilt in her face that she tried to hide by wiping all the tears away from her face and lowering her face away from his sight.
Draco felt guilty all the same but he realized that he was still ever affected by her and any action she makes.

Silence took over them that was broken by the sound of the opening elevator a few step from them.
Draco looked up but Hermione seemed disinterested to take it anymore.
A Malfoy could be a gentleman if it calls for it, but he was still a Malfoy and quick as a snake into turning things into their favor as he would hate to admit it.
“Can I offer you something to drink?” he suddenly asked her trying to smile at her face that was slowly clearing from her tears.
“A drink?” she repeated looking up at him and overcoming her shame for being there.
“Not that I can still offer you whiskey-“ Draco had said with a sly smile at her as he scratched his head. “I’ve practically finished the whole thing in one swig-“
“I could tell.” Hermione said with a sly smile of her own. “I don’t drink whiskey.”
Her decline was subtle but Draco could just hint that it wasn’t an end of the conversation as she stood there and nowhere looking ready to leave him.
She was damn blushing and she didn’t know why and she hated herself for it.
“How about coffee?” Draco offered her. “Or tea?”

She looked up at him, watching his eyes carefully for any hint of ill-intention.
She’s read none.
“Or hot chocolate to help you ease the night away in your sleep?” Draco asked her in obvious desperation of asking a bit more of time with her.
“Don’t you have a ball to go to?” Hermione suddenly asked remembering it as she folded her arms in front of her out of habit when she was nervous.
“I thought you’re going to it?” Draco asked her back. “Won’t Potter be waiting for you so you can attend it together?”

Hermione shook her head at him with a serious note over her gaze.
“I’m not feeling up into attending it anymore.” Hermione said. “Won’t you be late?”
Something passed Draco’s eyes but he quickly waved it away as he shook his head.
“Not until four more hours.” Draco said. “I’m not in a hurry. I’m not even looking forward to it.” Draco slowly said and he was suddenly avoiding her gaze. “And to tell you honestly, I’ve attended more than enough of it to last me more than one lifetime.”
Hermione giggled at his phrase and Draco’s eyes widened at the way she laughed.
He suddenly relaxed himself around her and offered his hand to her and this time, his eyes searched hers and their gazes met.
“What say you, Granger?” Draco asked nudging his hand closer for her to take. “Come and have a coffee with me?”
Hermione had lived at London for all her life and had known this boy for as long as she could remember.
But for some reason, the way he asked her tonight, the way his accent left his tongue and lips was intricately and impossibly sexy tonight.
Hermione shook her head to get herself out of the thought and Draco quickly looked upset.
“Does that mean no?” he quickly asked her as worry passed his face.
“No.” Hermione giggled back shaking her head until she realized that Draco was staring back at her in a very confused way.
“No as in no?” he slowly asked her to make sure. “Or no that is a yes?”
“No that is a yes?” she repeated giggling even more as she shook her head.
“Come off it, Granger.” Draco said with a smile of his own. “You know I’m not the brightest wizard of our age.”
“No, I just shook my head-“ she began to explain but seeing that Draco looked farther and farther confused she quickly just nodded her head. “No is a yes. I mean, yes, let’s go grab some coffee or tea or hot chocolate tonight.”
“Really?” he asked and the delight in his face was so genuine he looked like a child whose Christmas present had arrived early.
He quickly cleared his throat and straightened himself up after realizing for a millisecond that he sounded and looked ridiculous.
“Really.” Hermione said. “But you have to go back to your office and get some galleons because as I hate to admit it to you and more to myself, I’ve forgotten my purse at home.”
“Don’t worry about it, Granger.” Draco said and without a shame nor reluctance, he gently took her hand into his to pull her slowly with him back to his office. “I’ve got you.”
Hermione stared at him and at their hands for a moment and then she gently closed her fingers tighter around his with a constrained giggle and smile over her face that she tried so hard to cover up and hide.
And since Draco faced away from her, she couldn’t see the blush consuming Draco’s usual pale face and the smile that he couldn’t stop from spreading over his pointed face that had always worn everything else but a genuine and excited smile.

“Mr. Harry James Potter?” asked the wizard who greeted Harry at the gates of the Malfoy Manor. “And Miss Hermione Jean Granger?”
“Miss Granger isn’t coming.” Harry sorrowfully said as he handed the man their invitation while he checked Harry on the list and crossed Hermione’s name out.
The man stared at him in recognition and gave him a small smile and a tight node.
“This way Mr. Potter.” he pointed his arm right behind him at a carpeted path. “You would be led at the VIP section table. Do enjoy the evening, Mr. Potter.”
Harry nodded nonchalantly as he straightened his suit and followed the path that was being guided by witches clad in cocktail dresses and masks up the carpeted grounds and entrance steps to the Malfoy Manor.

He tried to be as discreet as possible in his arrival but upon arriving at the grounds and gates he was already met by the gaze by a couple of people at the Ministry of Magic, a few from his own department, some Hogwarts governors and of course, Kingsley himself who was talking to a few foreign guests.
Despite their previous conversation about attending the ball, Harry found out that out of her anger for what he has done, she had hastily sent an answer to their invitation that they were going.
Whether it was out of spite for him to force him to go out of manners or to stage her anger at him by defying their previous unspoken agreement by going herself to the ball, Harry was no longer sure.

But he was there tonight determined to wait for her and talk to her if she was ever really arriving tonight and to hell with all the benefits they were supposedly going to get for their own departments.
At that very moment, he wanted nothing more but to get to talk to her and explain things to her in a better light.
He had never disappointed nor betrayed her in any way and the look she had given him earlier only proved that the first cut was the deepest.
Harry sighed as a waiter passed him offering a glass of drink which he declined graciously as his eyes roamed the room as guests after another arrived and walked around the grounds and entrance staircase of the manor that he was climbing himself up.
And judging by the appearances of guests around and the time ticking with Hermione nowhere to be found, he was almost very sure that this was going to be a very long night.

But not for Draco and Hermione.
The hours seemed to be ticking quite fast for the two of them.
Three hours had already passed since they arrived at the café and if any of them were even planning to attend the ball, they were already two hours late.
The first order had been a cup of tea each that was seconded by hot chocolate next and now they were both downing themselves onto a glass of wine each, a cheese and dark chocolate platter to go with.
Draco had taken her to their usual café with no care in the world that a couple of people had quickly recognized them as they sat comfortably with smile and giggles at their corner spot that was thankfully empty when they arrived.

Their conversation began from Draco’s usual banter about the parties, galas and endless dinners he was made to attend when he was younger just because he was ‘the only Malfoy heir’ and it was his duty as the only son and because this was how his future life was going to be.

“You’d have thought I’d enjoy it.” Draco was saying as he swallowed a large bite of the dark chocolate from the platter before them and picked out the cherries from the cheese for Hermione that he noticed her doing earlier on. “I actually did.. at the first stages of my life.”
“You mean when you were a git.” Hermione said with another fast drawn giggle as she took the small platter of cheese, grapes, chocolate and cherry-free mix from Draco from across the table.

He nodded at her grateful gesture then took a sip from his glass of expensive wine.
“Well, if you’re a kid and you’ve been growing up spoiled, you’d think these were the things that matter – I’d just bask in all the food and visitors and you know how it had gone. Until it all became boring as fuck.”
“Language, Malfoy.” Hermione warned him but she was smiling nevertheless. “Well, when did you notice it all growing boring as fuck?”

He stared at her in slight shock as he barely ever really hear her say such words but he looked happy to see a small devilish side in her usual primp and proper and conservative demeanor.

“Well?” her voice came knocking back in his ears.
“Well what?” he asked taking a cheese and a grape into his mouth.
“When did you notice that you didn’t like going into these parties, these galas and all?”
He looked back at her, halfway into chewing and swallowing what he put in his mouth as he found himself unable to answer her truthfully.

‘When I realized I liked you’ Draco miserably thought to himself. ‘When I fell oddly different around you’
“Hello?!” Hermione’s voice shook him as she snapped her fingers across the table right at his face. “Are you still with me? Are you sure this wine isn’t so strong?”
“Sorry.” Draco muttered snapping himself out of it. “I – I just got tired – I just found myself bored out of my wits. I couldn’t really remember when- ”
And he hid his expression and woeful and lying eyes by refilling himself with another round of the wine and taking a quick down of it.
Hermione gave him a look but nodded all the same.
“Well, in return, I’d let you know that there was a time as well when I came to realize that I couldn’t save the world all the time.” Hermione had taken a sip from her own glass.
Draco stared at her with a raised brow.
“You?” he asked back as he took another sip and straightened back over his chair. “You realized that you aren’t really holier than thou and couldn’t save every one’s arses around? Are you sure?”
Hermione grabbed a grape from her plate and threw it right at him across the table for which he deflected easily as if he was just deflecting a Bludger’s aim but hundred times smaller.
“I am sure.” Hermione said with a nice and proper smile at him as she also straightened up over her chair as she realized they were both beginning to get too cozy towards one another. “I couldn’t just.. I just couldn’t save everyone if I wanted to.”
“You miss that SPEW of yours?” he asked as a form of joke but something serious was forming in her eyes and he quickly caught it. “No, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to-“
“It’s fine.” Hermione said brushing the thought away as she took a sip again and this time a larger one. “I mean, when things were – after the war there was just so many things to get your head around on and I just come to realize that we couldn’t save everyone and certainly we couldn’t save all the lives left behind from their own emotional turmoil and tragedy, you know?”

Draco stared at her, his heart being consumed in despair of her words as he was obviously one of those victims.
But there was despair in her eyes as well that for which his own heart ached for.
Unconsciously, he moved forward the table and reached for her hand that was laid across it as well while her other hand was occupied with the glass.
“’Mione..” he whispered reaching for it and gently moving the tips of his fingers over hers.
When Hermione didn’t seem to take notice or seem to deny this gesture, he moved his fingers forward and gently closed in his fingers around hers across the table while he watch her eyes slowly turn lonely again.

They had won the war and she was obviously living off a job and a life one could ever ask for.
She, together with Potter and Weasley were hailed as the Golden Trio and savior of their world – they were even awarded and were given enough more than wealth to start their life back and had graduated at Hogwarts without fee and had come into meeting their desired jobs.
But something in her eyes told him that she was unhappy if not discontent of her life.

“’Mione?” he gently whispered as he lightly pressed his fingers around her hand to call her attention. “You can talk to me if there is-“
He called her again by a nickname he knew that only the closest to her uses and yet she didn’t tell him off about it.
He looked back at her with certain concern in his eyes.
“I think you need to go.” Hermione suddenly said and before Draco could stop her, she had withdrawn her hand from his gasp and kept them in place over the table napkin on her lap as she forced a smile at him.
“What did I say?” he asked unable to comprehend her sudden changes in mood. “I didn’t-“
“You have a gala to go to.” Hermione pointed. “A responsibility and priorities, remember?”
Draco stared at her and the look on her face told him that this was where he wanted to stay for the rest of the night, to hell whatever his father would say.
After all, the only reason he was going to force and drag himself to that goddamn ball was sitting right in front of him.
“I think I have other priorities now.” Draco said and then he boldly reached out across the table for her hand again but Hermione was quick and she withdrew her other hand from the table.
He looked at her with a slightly surprised and horrified look over his face as if he had done something offensive.
But at that moment, he felt that as much as she might have needed him a while ago, he now desperately needed her.
“Hermione-“
“Why were you angry earlier?” Hermione suddenly asked him out of curiosity and change of subject. “When I got to your office – I heard you speaking – I thought you were arguing with someone – what was wrong?”

Draco stared back at her and this time, he took his hand back away from the table.
He looked away and his eyes fell over his glass that reflected the marred and burned side of his face.
He looked the other way then and he met her gaze and he knew that he couldn’t lie to her – no, not to her.
She was staring at him, waiting for him to answer and be honest with her.
Draco wasn’t really a telling man when things were personal or serious but there was always something about her and her presence that made him feel better despite that he never understood it or knew why.
“The Ministry sent me some notice today.” Draco heavily began as he moved his hand away from her and back over his glass of wine with his eyes focused upon it as if ashamed to look at her as he answered her. “Regarding the Marriage Law and some financial matters we’d have to deal with that comes along with it.”
Hermione’s eyes furrowed in concern
“Are they holding your account?” Hermione asked him with worry evident over her face. “Are they blackmailing you into holding your account if you don’t submit to the law?”
He looked at her, slightly surprised by the sound of worry in her tone.
“Well, I wish it was just really that.” Draco said as he touched the glass with the tip of his long fingers. “But there is more to it.”
“You can tell me.” Hermione said. “Maybe I can help you think of a way out of it or something.”
He looked at her, seeing her eyes and the way her mind must be stirring right at that very moment for some sort of problem-solving situation she could probably recommend to him.
But as brilliant as her mind had always been, Draco couldn’t help but think that this time, even her brilliance won’t save his life.
Besides, he really didn’t want to involve her any further with the Malfoy or anything to do with them after all that has happened in the war.
“Draco?” her soft and gentle voice called him back out of his thoughts and then he felt her hands around his wrist.

He looked down, the word ‘Mudblood’ still a shining scar over her forearm.
His eyes narrowed and he was suddenly conscious of his left arm that he had suddenly placed his other hand over it as if scared that Hermione would see his Dark Mark.
But she had seen it, had always glimpsed it since they started the sessions and he was sure that she’d seen it today many times over but chose to ignore it.
He moved his eyes away from her own scar and met her gaze that was staring kindly back at him.
He had never felt more conscious and ashamed in her presence.
“Maybe we need to go.” Draco said clearing his throat and gently disentangling their hands from one another. “Potter might be looking for you.”
Hermione stared back at him with slight disappointment this time.
She suddenly felt that Draco wasn’t ready to tell him some things; not that he wasn’t honest but because he just didn’t want to lie to her.
And it was a weird feeling for her – to understand him even without his words telling her.
Since when were they ever this close to understand one another even without words?
She shook the thoughts away from herself.
Of course she would always sense it, she’s a girl and she’s grown up with two boys – she would always know and would always be emphatic towards them.
“Are you sure I can’t help?” she asked for the last time with genuine concern over her face. “Nothing I can do around there?”
Hermione gave him an encouraging smile that nevertheless, relaxed him and made him return the gesture.
“Not unlikely.” Draco answered her with a gentle nod. “Not until you can find me a potential bride to save me out from this dilemma the Ministry of Magic is so insistent to put me into. It’s like you know, I’ve been cursed since my bloody father got out of Azkaban.”
“Your father’s the problem, isn’t it?” she asked him with a cold tone. “He’s always been a problem, right?”
“He’s a bloody menace.” Draco said with hatred in his voice. “Bloody filth. Think he can command anyone his way again just cause he’s out of Azkaban. It’s my mother choice and final act at the battle that caused all these rally.”
Hermione stared at him.
She had never heard him speak of the past and most especially of the Hogwarts Battle that they’ve all come to endure and survive.
She has never heard him speak of his family this way either and she could almost understand the hatred running in his veins as the glimmer in his eyes vanished and was replaced with nothing but hatred and regret.
“You want him back at Azkaban?” she slowly asked him unable to stop herself.
Draco shook his head as he finished his wine in one long and heavy gulp.
“Back there?” he asked wiping his mouth with the napkin from the table. “You’d personally ask me, I’d do anything to leave him there to rot for the rest of his life. He doesn’t deserve the pardon. None of us do.”

A glimmer of triumph and hate passed Hermione’s eyes.

The slightest mention of the man’s name makes her feel not only uncomfortable but murderous at the same time.
It reminded her of what she had to lose in the name of the war that had to be won.
Draco reached for the bottle of wine to refill his and her glass again and was too occupied to see the stark gleam appear in Hermione’s eyes.
Draco had obviously said something that reminded her or angered her for a moment but that he didn’t notice it.
He ushered to refill her glass but Hermione’s hand went back up the table and stopped his wrist.
He looked at her in question.
“Come, let’s finish this. I’ll bring you back at Potter’s so you can rest early. No arguments.” Draco said as he stared back at Hermione who was giving him a different kind of gaze. “Healer’s recommendation.”
But she was only staring back at him and the way she looked, Draco already knew that something was stirring in her brilliant head.
“What?” he asked her. “Don’t give me that look. I’m not Potter nor Weasley. Don’t tangle me up to whatever’s in your head.”
“But what if you do find a potential bride?” Hermione slowly asked him with the slightest hint of a cunning plan in her tone.
“What?” Draco asked her back as he lowered the bottle and her glass over the table. “Do you see this?”
He edged forward the table and turned the burned side of his face towards her.
But Hermione didn’t flinch at the sight of it and if any, it was Draco who felt taken aback by the gesture that was returned.
“Granger-“ Draco hesitantly began without taking his eyes off her determined ones.
“I can see that.” Hermione said with a raised brow. “I’m not blind, Malfoy.”
“How about this?” Draco said laying his left forearm boldly across the table where the Dark Mark was clearly visible.
This time, Hermione seemed to have been reached by her right senses although she kept her stance.
He didn’t want to scare her but she seemed not to understand his own dilemma.

“That, I haven’t forgotten.” Hermione said with a slight notch in her tone as she looked back up at him to meet his eyes once more. “What’s your point?”
“What’s my point?” Draco asked withdrawing his hand back to avoid being seen by other guests in the café. “You’re supposed to be intelligent. Don’t you get my point?”
“A burned mark and a Dark Mark?” Hermione answered him. “What does these got to do with a potential bride?”
“Everything!” Draco said almost impatiently back at her as if he had been clearly insulted by her query. “I’m sorry Granger, you seem to miss the point here. Let me clearly state it out for you – who would ever want to marry someone who has a face and a past both as horrifying and monstrous as mine?”
But she only stared back at her as if she couldn’t still get the whole point of it and Draco felt utterly lost.
He looked at her with his impatience growing but the sight of her calmed him in such ways that he didn’t even understand.
“Hermione..” he managed to breath out as slowly and as calmly as possible. “I think we both have enough to drink and talk about tonight. Why don’t you just let me take you home?”
He offered her hand to her in a kind gesture but Hermione seemed far off, away from him and lost in her thoughts.
Her eyes were kept over the bottle over the table as if it reminded her of something from some other time.
“Hermione?”
“But what if.” Hermione slowly said looking up at him without taking his hand. “What if you do find a potential bride, Draco. Think about it. You won’t let your father touch any of your wealth. You would still have control over all of it.”
He looked back at her, not wanting the idea to creep into his senses and awaken what must remain dormant.
For so long, it was his emotions ruling over his thoughts of revenge that he had tried so hard to tame and keep away and Hermione was just poking it up word per word to awaken.
“That’s not my point.” Draco said burying his face in his hands to drive away his frustration at the subject. “It’s already all messed up as it is. I really don’t want to.. Look.. I don’t think a mistake can be fixed by another one.”
“Marrying someone is a mistake for you?” Hermione genuinely and curiously asked him. “Is this what you think of it?”
“It’s not what I think of it.” Draco clearly answered her reaching for her hand across the table but Hermione sat straighter and moved her hand away from his reach.
He locked gazes with her and he knew a challenge when he sees one.
“Come on.” Draco said more sternly this time. “You’ve had enough for the night. Let’s get you home.”
“No.” Hermione blandly said. “We’re still talking about this.”
“I think we’re done talking about it-“
“Oh, come on Draco.” Hermione said with a coy smile at her face.
“Why are we even talking about it?” Draco said and there was an obvious blush over his cheeks.
Hermione smirked back up at him and he tried to hide away the smile forming in his face.
“Oh, seriously.” Hermione snickered at him. “You’ve never been in love? Never dreamed of a Mrs. Malfoy tangled around your arms? You? The Malfoy heir?”
He looked at her and she was killing him.

And she knew of it.
“Hermione.. please.” Draco has begged her for the first time and it didn’t go unnoticed. “Let me get you home.”
“You’re good-looking.” Hermione said with a nod as her eyes stirred around him. “No pun-intended on that, alright? And well, you’re not exactly dimwitted – you came third in our year-“
“Second.” Draco feistily corrected her. “I was two points ahead but professor Slughorn didn’t count it out but I was actually two points ahead so in actual count, I came in second to you than that Ravenclaw twat.”
She smiled at him remembering the incident and Draco smiled back at her.
“Fine, I’ll give you that.” Hermione said rolling her eyes and leaning across the table again with her eyes filled with nothing but challenge and the wine they’ve taken. “Good-looking – check. A brilliant mind – check. And so, let’s not forget that billionaire status you have.”
“Have you been stalking my financial reports?” Draco asked her and his smile pointed nothing but flirtatious at that moment.
“No.” Hermione said with another smile. “Everyone knows your billionaire status. Besides, I know things. I read everything.”
“Alright.” Draco boldly said and without a word, he reached for her hand with his and held them close and tight in his. “Read my mind now Granger.”
Hermione was too taken aback by his physical gesture that her slightly drunk state had been shoved back into its rightful place and she looked back at him with an abashed expression over her face.
She tried to withdraw her hands from him but he kept a steady hold of her as he held her gaze, waiting for her answer.
“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” Hermione said and with a quick tug she pulled her hands away from him.
Draco only smiled at her, a smirk that was ever famous from him.
“Come on, Draco.” Hermione said with a little hint of seriousness in her tone. “We both know these attributes would get you any bride you would want. No woman would ever say no into marrying a man like you. Isn’t that right?”
She crossed her arms across her and sat back, giving him a challenging glare.
And Draco knew a challenge when he sees one.
And thought time, if there was one thing that never changed was the idea that he had always been overshadowed by this particular Gryffindor before him and he never liked that.
He leaned forward the table again, matching up the challenge in her gaze.
“Will you say yes then?” he slowly but clearly asked her. “If I ask you, will you marry me then?”
Whatever Hermione had been thinking at that very moment obviously went away.
Her mouth went dry as she opened them up with no words coming up.
Draco gave him a triumphant smile which she only returned with a cold one.

“This is ridiculous.” Hermione suddenly said, throwing her hands up in the air and grabbing her purse.
He held her tight and she looked back at him, suddenly feeling strange.
“You won’t say no to me, then?” he asked with a mischievous grin that made Hermione relax a bit.
She shook her head and tried to take her hand back from him.
“Alright. Come on, let’s go.” Hermione smirked back at him.
But he stared back at her, not wanting to let it all just go.
She walked out of her chair with her forced smile as she went out of the table but Draco remained where he was.
He held his hand up and snatched her wrist back and held it firmly as she was about to walk away from the table.
She stood still or rather he kept her still.
Without meeting one another’s gaze, they felt even deeper between one another’s feelings.
Their breathing labored and heart beating fast as they kept their small distance still.
“Oh, come off it.” Draco said as he held her still. “For old time’s sake, Granger – if it calls for it-“
“There’s no old time’s sake between the two of us, Malfoy.” Hermione said as she tugged her wrist but Draco didn’t let go.
“If it calls for it-“
“If - it calls for it.” Hermione cut him short in a clearer, louder and more serious tone that definitely calls his full attention to her.
He looked up at her and he knew right then and there that Hermione was no longer joking around and was taking his word for it.
“If it calls for it?” he asked her wisely and slowly.
“I will consider it.” Hermione boldly replied this time with a raised brow as she tugged him around the wrist. “Now, come on, Malfoy. I need to get home and get myself a nice and decent dress.”
“Decent dress?” he asked with a reluctant smile as he let Hermione drag him out of his chair this time around.
He stopped her before they reached the door and she looked back at him with a smile.
“Hermione?”
“Well, we’re going to a ball, aren’t we?” she asked as her slightly drunk state smiled and twirled around Draco. “And a proper black dress should always be in order for any gathering. Shall we, Mr. Malfoy?” she asked him.
Draco stared at her, mouth half-open in disbelief.
She winked at him and held him tight around the arm.
“Come on, Mr. Malfoy, for we shall go to the ball!”
And with a twirl, a half-glance, a smirk and a smile, Draco let himself be dragged out of the café and before he knew it, Hermione had Disapparated them out and away onto the night.
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Through the Son