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Five Days In November	By : cpetnm Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 15704 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: In its use of intellectual property and Harry Potter characters belonging to JK Rowling, Warner Bros, Bloomsbury Publishing, et cetera, this work is intended to be transformative commentary on the original. No profit is being made fro

Chapter List
- 1-Ch. 1
- 2-Ch. 2
- 3-Ch. 3
- 4-Ch. 4
- 5-Ch. 5
- 6-Ch. 6
- 7-Ch. 7
- 8-Ch. 8
- 9-Ch. 9
- 10-Ch. 10
- 11-Ch. 11
- 12-Epilogue
- 6
- 7
- 8
December 16, 1998

Weeks had passed since Draco had left. Hermione spent the day he left laying in her bed, watching movies and intermittedly crying. She admitted to herself that a future with Draco Malfoy was unlikely. But a part of her mourned the loss of the closeness they had shared in that short time together. She could imagine waking up with him, cooking for him and sweet, thoughtful presents for the rest of her life. They had chemistry, too. That was undeniable.

In one of Hermione’s weekly letters to Harry, she had told him she was feeling sorry for herself. That letter worried Harry. Hermione rarely admitted negative feelings, instead choosing to focus on the positive parts of her life. Harry wrote her back, telling her that he had obtained a portkey to New Mexico. He would come on December 23^rd and stay through the 27^th. He didn’t want Hermione to be alone for Christmas, and he could use a break from the intense Weasley clan.

Hermione looked forward to Harry’s visit. He was her remaining family and she treasured their friendship. Harry had a way of coping with life that Hermione envied. They hadn’t spoken seriously since the weeks after the final battle. Hermione looked forward to some long talks with Harry.

Draco’s return to England had been filled with familial obligations. His father’s funeral was a depressing affair. Narcissa and Draco were joined by a Ministry wizard at the burial site. None of their “friends” had come to the funeral. The wizard had performed the death rites and lowered the casket into the ground. Narcissa and Draco threw dirt on the coffin and walked back to the manor. Narcissa had clung to Draco’s arm throughout the burial. Draco felt he should be mourning his father as well, but all he could think about was Hermione. He missed her like a man deprived of sunlight.

The Ministry had seized the majority of the Malfoy estate, but there were still business holdings, properties and galleons that needed to be transferred to Draco and his mother. Draco went over the documents for hours, trying to figure out where his father had invested money. The solicitors were helpful, suggesting that since the remaining investments were growing, Draco and Narcissa leave them alone. Draco decided to sell several of the properties, to give his mother an additional financial cushion.

Draco tried to write to Hermione, but every letter sounded pathetic to him. She was amazing, resilient and beautiful. He was a societal cast-off. He knew she had enjoyed his company, but she hadn’t suggested that she expected anything from him in their affair.

Draco thought maybe he could encourage Hermione to write to him. He was able to find a set of protean charmed journals. They were quite expensive, but he would pay ten times that amount to have some contact with Hermione. They would be able to write to each other and instantly see the writing. He remembered that Hermione loved a fine quill and ink, so he included those items as well. He knew these were not personal gifts, but he wanted her to know he had her on his mind.

December 23, 1998

Hermione’s life was peaceful, but colorless after Draco’s departure. Harry joined her on December 23^rd, a short time after the end of Auror training. He looked good: older, scruffy, but he, too, had filled out. Kreacher’s cooking had helped him gain weight and training had defined his muscles. He had consented to having his vision fixed by an opti-mediwitch. His big green eyes looked knowingly at Hermione, which made her feel that he knew she was hiding something from him.

After several hours of talk about his training, her work with Jesus Machado, the Weasleys, Ron’s new girlfriend, and the beauty of New Mexico, Harry told her the reason for his visit. Hermione didn’t want to hide from Harry. They had been through hell together and he would support her.

“A couple of months back, Draco Malfoy came into the café where I was having breakfast. He looked different. The war was as hard on him as it was on us, Harry. He approached me and we talked. He apologized to me. I had never spent any significant time with him before, but we got on well,” she confessed.

“What happened, Hermione?” he asked.

“His father died and he had to go back to England to deal with the estate. He asked me to come back with him, but I told him it wasn’t the right time. I haven’t heard from him since he left,” she rested her head in her hand, looking at Harry with big, watery eyes.

“You love him, don’t you?” he observed.

“It was just a few days, Harry. Is that possible?” She wiped a stray tear from her cheek.

“One of wonderful things about you is that you don’t know how great you really are, Hermione. You’re brilliant and beautiful. You are kind and caring. I suspected Malfoy had feelings for you in school. He would watch you in the hallways and during class. I think he only insulted you if we caught him staring.” Harry took a swig of his butter beer.

“Why do you think he hasn’t tried to contact me?” she asked.

“He’s not the same arsehole we knew in school, but he still has his pride. He asked you to come back with him. You said no. He wanted to bring you into his life. I agree with you that the timing was bad, but he probably saw that as a rejection. Give him some time.” Harry surprised himself by sympathizing with Malfoy.

“You’re right,” she said, picking at her thumb nail, “Is it really over with Ginny?”

“She didn’t handle Fred’s death well. She kept blaming me for things that weren’t my fault. She was so angry. She went back to Hogwarts and I think she’s doing okay,” he said. “Ron keeps me updated on the Weasleys. I go over to The Burrow for Sunday dinner every few weeks.”

“You mentioned Luna in a few of your letters. Is there something going on with you two?” Hermione hoped there was something between them. Luna was lovely and loyal.

“Maybe. She’s spent a few weekends with me at Grimmauld Place. Oddly, when she’s around, I feel like I can be myself. She’s really perceptive.” Harry gave Hermione a grin.

“And she’s great in bed?” Hermione said, smirking at Harry.

“Yeah, that, too,” he laughed. “I’m knackered. I’ll head over to my casita and see you about 9:00 tomorrow morning, okay?”

Hermione hugged Harry, “Thanks, Harry. I’ve really missed you.”

He kissed her forehead and headed out the door, into the cold mountain air.

December 24, 1998

Early the next morning, Hermione heard a tapping at her bedroom window. It was a majestic eagle owl. It patiently waited for her to open her window. She pulled a small package off its leg, which magically enlarged when it was off the owl’s leg. The owl gently hooted at her. She ran to the kitchen and grabbed a package of leftover meat from the fridge. She presented it to the owl, which took a couple of pieces and flew into the light of the dawn.

The package was wrapped in silver paper with a red cord. Inside were a journal, a quill, and a bottle of bottomless ink. Hermione opened the embossed green leather journal. Inside it said:

To keep in touch. –D

Hermione inked the quill and wrote Hello. On the next line, the words Hello, lovely Hermione appeared. Draco had provided her a way to communicate with him over the long distance. Her heart unclenched for the first time in weeks. A tear plopped on the journal page.

What was that?

A tear. I’ve missed you.

I’ve missed you, too.

Where are you living?

My mother and I are still at the manor.

What are you doing for Christmas?

Mother and I will spend the day together. What about you?

Harry came to check on me. He said I sounded “off” in my last few letters. He’ll be here through the 27^th.

I had hoped to be done by now, but the Malfoy holdings are a tangle of threads. Does Potter know that I was there?

He does.

I owe Potter a debt of gratitude, more than he will ever know.

Harry is fair and knows all too well how it feels to have the weight of the world on his shoulders.

I want you to write to me every day. Tell me what you ate, what you read. Anything.

Hermione steeled herself to write the next question.

Do you think we have a future together?

She started to sob when she read his answer.

Yes. Don’t give up on me.

She closed the journal, and got back into bed.

As a lifelong Slytherin, Draco did his best to keep his feelings to himself. In the world he was raised, showing your weakness didn’t get you love or attention, it got you punished. But Hermione was so forthright with her acceptance of him, he could not hold back with her. On a very deep level, Draco knew that he would treasure Hermione and that she, too, might treasure him.

Draco needed to tell his mother of his intentions with Hermione. His mother didn’t have to approve, but he wanted her to know. She was his only family.

Harry and Hermione had a relaxing holiday. They hiked and ate. Hermione made all of Harry’s favorite desserts. Hermione took Harry to Santa Fe to find a gift for Luna. Harry surprised her when he bought an expensive silver and gemstone necklace for Luna. It was a rainbow of stones, artfully arranged in a silver collar that would lie along her collarbones. It was perfect for Luna, quirky and charming. Harry was more serious about Luna than Hermione had known.

On the 27^th, Hermione bid Harry farewell. She was feeling infinitely better. Harry’s visit had helped ease her loneliness, but Draco’s gift had been what she needed.
- 6
- 7
- 8
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Five Days In November