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The Debt	By : Marionne25 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 4270 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and am not making any money from this story.

Chapter List
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Author's Notes:
Good morning from my end of the world!
here is a nice short chapter from everyone.
don't be deceived. just read through it and remember details.
lots of love!!!
xx

"What you see isn't always what you get."

I

“I suppose there is nothing else I can do to convince you to stay?”

Harry looked up with a softer gaze at his old professor and Head of House.
“Er…. A supportive handshake will do?” he smiled offering his hand.
He was sure he saw a tear at the side of her eyes before he got pulled tightly into an embrace.
“Oh come here!” she cried gently. “You grow up so fast.. you were just.. in a tiny blanket.”
Despite that he never liked sentiments as such, he smiled and let Minerva McGonagall squeeze him to death as she bids him goodbye.

“I’ll visit, professor.” he promised as she let him go, sniffling her nose out. “I promise. I’ll be here every time. It’s like I never left. I told you I’d need help with research and all that.”
“Why don’t you just do what Miss Granger has done?” she asked hopefully. “She enrolled herself in certain programs but I heard she accepted a job at the Ministry. You could do the same. The school won’t take it against you if you go to extensive and intensive training.”
“I just.. want to explore more options.” Harry gently answered her.

In truth, he wanted to be away from school for a while to not remember the lives that became cost of the war.
And he wanted to be an Auror and try to scavenge the last of the remaining murderers.
It was his dream and now that dream was going to come true faster than he had expected.

“I will see you then.” McGonagall said with a firmer tone but a gentle smile. “I hope to see you at Christmas dinner with the other two.”
“We’ll try, professor.” Harry said as she shook his hand again and in return he gave her a smile that sealed the promise.

Christmas at Hogwarts was always the best.
And given that the Weasleys was most likely going to abstain this year after their loss, he was going to spend it at Hogwarts and hopefully, with Hermione and Ron.

It was the second week of September.

Classes has just began right after two months of the school’s rehabilitation to return it to its former glory and possibly more.

Aurors, Departments from the Ministry of Magic as well as volunteers had gathered to rebuild the beloved school.
MaCuSa, as a favor in return for saving the WIzarding World from complete demise, had given a promise of donations and other possible help in order to put the school back together and not just a few weeks ago, had sent not only donations but manpower to help rebuild stronger magic to protect the premises of the school and rebuild the library not only to its former glory, but with a very wide array of additional selections.

And so, before the two months was over, McGonagall and the school governors, had decided that there was no reason to delay the reopening of the new school year.

It was one of the grandest speeches a Hogwarts Headmistress has ever given as the school reopened not only with the new and returning students, but as well as their families and the families of those who had been included in the war and the families of the lives that were lost.
The usual dinner hour of the opening of the school year had taken about more than two hours than its usual duration.
New and familiar faces met and the heroes of the war were given respects and offered speeches.

Hogwarts was renewed and it will never be the same and for the Golden Trio, that meant a different kind of spectrum.

“All I’m saying Ron is that it’ll be better if you pack whatever you need and just not go back and forth. It’s waste of money to travel.” Hermione had commented, rolling her eyes as the late brunch was served before the.

They had gathered and met up at a small restaurant in a town near the end of Hogsmeade.
Since after the war, new establishments have been put up in replacement to the destroyed ones after the war and also to gather new tourists to their cities and towns.

“It’s a six months’ common training time and we’re given enough time to go back to our homes. I’d also go back almost every week so I don’t have to bring as much.” Ron reasoned to her as plates were passed around the table.
“It’s up to you, really.” Hermione said giving up on the subject. “Harry!”

They both stood up and greeted Harry who had just arrived from Hogwarts.
Eyes met him and even up to today, he felt awkward to return with a smile or wave of a hand or a small nod.
He would never be able to grasp his celebrity status in full.
He would always just be that awkward teenager.

Harry joined the other two over the table and a waiter quickly handed him the menu but he had only ordered an additional platter of whatever Hermione had ordered for herself as it looked closest to some Muggle dish he knew.

“Did we get tickets?” he asked gesturing to Ron.
“I got them.” Hermione said handing and showing him a small envelope from the inside of her jacket pocket. “First week of December. Perfect timing as I’m sure we’re all nearly or at vacation already.”
Harry accepted the envelope and opened it up.

Three tickets to some Muggle celebration and partying was inside the envelope.
It was a traditional party at Scotland every Christmas season.
He had never really been in these things and it was Hermione’s idea for them to start new things and traditions.

Although she had found her parents already, she had decided to let them have a peaceful Christmas and New Year first before jumping up at them and re-introducing herself and lifting up the spell from them.
Although it bothered Harry and Ron, they knew that once she was decided on something, she was decided already.
The Weasleys were slightly abstaining from all gatherings and celebrations.
Bill and Fleur managed to get Mr. and Mrs. Weasley some tickets to Paris to spend vacation there.
Percy had accepted a job position at MaCuSa whereas he became the connection between the two governments in a healthy way. Charlie had returned to his post for some more of his dragon training adventures and George had taken a vacation somewhere in the North where he had made it clear that ‘He was okay but didn’t want to be disturbed at the moment’.

Ginny was set to return to Hogwarts but had promised the Golden Trio that she was going to join their little Scottish adventure that Christmas holidays.
Ofcourse she wouldn’t miss it.
Her friends would be there.
Her lover, Harry Potter would be there.

And although Hermione and Ron decided to be friends, Ron wouldn’t miss giving her side comments about his affection towards her.
She clearly and politely declined every time and as Harry would tell Ron, it may just really be not her priority at the moment.
And Ron would somewhat answer him that perhaps, Hermione had someone in the Muggle world, a secret lover or such that she had kept private from them.
And in silent agreement, they both knew that if that were true, Hermione could hide secrets from them if she indeed wanted to.

“So we agreed to dinner with mum and dad on the 6^th.” Ron said as they went through their itinerary. “Then we go to the party on the 7^th and that’s the whole night right?”
“Until the following day.” Hermione noted to them both. “So bring some extra clothes because the following day, we ride the train that will take us to another route for the next destination.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me and when are we supposed to return?” Harry asked as he slightly worried about submitting his vacation form at the Ministry although he knew that he’d be allowed ust as Ron and Hermione would be.
But this was his first sort of ‘formal job’ despite that it was a training still in a way, he took it very seriously.
He really always wanted to be an Auror like his father.
And like the new Minister of Magic, Kingsley had told him – he would be a very, very good Ministry of Magic Auror and possibly the youngest they had in years.

“We return first week of January.” Hermione had said handing both Harry and Ron forms from the Ministry of Magic. “They said we can take up the full holiday schedule. No worries, I guess.”

Both of them took their folders and read through their vacation forms and it made Ron feel like he was really a professional now, having to deal with these things in the world they were all living together.

“News on your parents?” Harry concernedly asked her.
“They’re spending the holidays over France.” Hermione had said. “Fleur already knows. I sent her a letter and she said that they’ll be quick to find them and watch over them until we return.”
“Good news then.” Harry had said. “By the way, I saw Malfoy today when I took my records from McGonagall.”
“You what?” Hermione asked, slightly choking on her drink. “What’s he doing there?”
“Don’t know.” Harry said. “I’m not sure he saw me but by the looks of it, he’s going to see her as well. He didn’t look like he’s re-enrolling though.”
“I heard from Percy that he’s planning to move to another country. He has this ‘friend’ of his that works at the immigration department of some sort and that Draco Malfoy was there a few weeks ago.”
“Maybe he’s not returning.” Harry said agreed. “You alright?”
They both looked at Hermione who suddenly looked slightly pale and quiet.
“Yeah.” Hermione said reaching over her glass of water. “I had too much pepper over my pasta.”
She gestured over her plate and quickly took gulps from the cold glass of water.
“Anyway.” Ron said turning back to Harry. “I received a note from Oliver. We should see him over the weekend, I’d like to see him. You want to join us?”
“Sure.” Hermione replied with a quick smile as she went back to her plate. “I’d love that. It’ll be nice to see him.”

“How many luggages should I check in, Mr. Malfoy?”
Draco quickly closed the letter he had been quietly reading in his study room area and shoved it back to his desk drawer.

He turned to see the old man servant of the Mafoy Manor.

“I’m not sure. Where is mother?” he had asked knowing where she was.
“At the gardens, young master.” the servant said entering and placing the tray of dinner. “You shall not join them again?”
“I don’t have the appetite to see my father.” Draco replied moving back to his bed and grabbing a book from a nearby table on his way.
The servant only stared quietly and nodded at him.
“Here are your tickets.” he discreetly said placing it at the side of the tray.
“Thanks.” Draco said turning away from the door which signaled the servant that the young master wanted to be alone.
And soon enough, he heard the doors of his room close again.

It was nearly Christmas and usually, the air in the Malfoy Manor would be of so much celebrations as his mother and father would prepare for parties after another.
But that wasn’t happening this year.
And it may never again happen.

Despite that his family had managed to evade Azkaban thanks to his mother’s kind gesture to help the cause of the light, things were never the same at the Malfoy Manor.

Despite the outright betrayal to the Dark Lord, he sometimes felt that even if his mother wasn’t regretful of her actions, she missed her sister dearly.
She had died at the hands of a Weasley, at the hands of the other side.
His father was disgraced in the Wizarding community just as all of the Malfoys were.
He had spent two months in Azkaban while the files in accordance to his crimes were dutifully made and then the government had decided to put him over house arrest.
He was never to step out of his glorious manor ever again.
And Draco, he had to bring a face out into the world and accept all the things he heard from the people he met and even just passed by.

It was now the way they were living.
And as the world treated them that way outside, he also didn’t like the idea of staying at home.

A father who barely spoke anymore with all the burden of guilt and shame over him and a mother who regretted certain decisions they had made that led them to this life.
He wouldn’t return to Hogwarts with such disgrace in his family and name.
He would never opt to return to Hogwarts despite that it was the only school that had invited him to resume schooling.
Not a chance in hell would he ever go to Durmstrang Academy and no, he never had the heart to transfer to another school.
But transfer to another country was a big probability.

But she didn’t want to go there.

She was steadfast in her decision to stay, to stay behind.
She didn’t want a new life.
She didn’t want a life with him.

“There will be too much questions.” she told him in the last time he had visited him. “I can’t afford to lose what I have now.”
And he knew that she had too much to lose.

He knew that she wanted to stay behind not just because of the possibility of her return to her beloved school.
But he also knew that she had a life ahead of her, a life with her friends and her loved ones.
And she had made it clear that he wasn’t her priority even if he had made it clear that she was his priority.

But what could he do?

It was unexpected, but he fell deeply in love with her.

And to be with her, was to gamble his life that he had just managed to scrape off from sure death from the war.

She had changed him and whether she believed in it or not, she had.
And that was saying something as everyone knew that a Malfoy was always steadfast in their decisions and they never ever wait for no one.

But he was willing to wait for her.
Until she finished school, until she was ready.
Until she was ready to tell her friends about them.

“School is my priority.” she would tell him. “And if we’re meant to be together, the stars would take us back together.”

He almost smiled or laughed at the thought.
She was never the one who spoke this way.
No, she was bright but not emotional.
She was bright but she wasn’t one who lived in dreams.
“I can give you things books can’t ever give you.” he would tease her and in return, she would give sorts of replies.
“But Quidditch, isn’t it exciting? Inviting? Insatiable. You can’t get enough of it. And we must live life the way we play it – go with it, just go with it and beat it down over fate.” she would tell him, describing the sport he also learned to love dearly.

She didn’t make sense but she also made perfect sense to him, especially at the way she described the sports he loved.
Ofcourse it doesn’t make sense.
Because if this was the ‘love’ everyone talked about, it wasn’t meant to make any sense at all.

“Hi.” his deep voice greeted her upon seeing her enter a café.
Her eyes were wide and she quickly shut the book she was reading at the small corner bookstore inside the café.
“What are you doing here?” she asked in slight panic as she moved outside the café and walked towards him right outside. “It’s bloody cold. Why are you here?”
She moved closer to him and placed the extra scarf around his neck and he gave her a pale smile from his pointed face.
“I want to see you.” he had told her in earnest.
“But I told you that we can’t go out.” she had replied with a little tone.
But despite it, the look in her eyes told him that she meant and felt otherwise.

“It’s nearly Christmas and I just wanted to give you this.” he handed her a small box wrapped in green colours.

Slytherin ofcourse.

“I appreciate this.” she had said quickly placing it inside her jacket pocket. “But you’ve got to go. I don’t want anyone seeing us. It’s not good for you.”
“For me or for you?” he asked unable to stop himself.
She looked at him and she looked ready to shot back but she didn’t.
Her features softened at him and she reached for his cheeks.
“After all these, we can be together.” she had said with a promise in her voice. “We would tell my parents too, but not now. You know what it’s like. The war had just-“
“I know what the war had just been.” he had given her a short and sharp reply. “Well, I’ll see you around.”
And without another word but a hurt look over his face, he turned from her and started to walk back across the street.

He had made his effort but it seemed that it would be a shame to go for it.
Well, it was already a shame to his name and family.

He pulled out his wand in the busy street, ready to Disapparate when he heard her call his voice.
He would hear it anywhere in the world and recognize it from any land and distance.
He instantly turned and before he knew it, a pair of hands had tightly embraced him from the back.

“I know it’s not easy for you, not even at school but.. but you know that we can’t just jump at this.”
Her voice was soft, full of hurt and promises at the same time.

Ofcourse she would still do her best to keep this relationship.
But there were expectations, people and the new world before them.
They couldn’t just sneak like they used to do so at Hogwarts.
The world had turned and the world was different now.

“You told me you would tell them.” he had said softly. “And you haven’t. How long will you keep it? Will we keep it?”

She didn’t answer and he had expected that already.
It wasn’t easy for him but it was nowhere easier for her.
She had friends and family who never had a clue about them.
Not that she was willing to keep it that way, but it wasn’t easy to tell them whom she had fallen in love with and who she was most likely to run away with and elope one of these days.

And like always, he had to be patient and had to be quiet and had to endure it all. ;
Just like at Hogwarts.

What would his own family say should they find out whom he had been tangling affairs with at school.
What would the world think about him, about her.

It was a new world but they both knew that deep down, people still think differently.
And in silence they both knew, they would forever be star-crossed lovers.
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The Debt