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Tuition Money	By : cpetnm Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 53032 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
A.N. You all have no idea how cool it is for me to come on the site and see how many people have read the story. And getting reviews is the best, the proverbial cherry on top! So, thank you.
@Dragon_Maiden: The last chapter was fun to write. I actually don’t have any tattoos, but I got to live vicariously through the characters. I imagined the process of covering their scars would be healing. Glad you enjoyed it and thank you for the review!
@HarryGinny4eva: This Hermione has had such a hard go of it that she fears letting anyone in, but Draco is so determined he’s chipped away at her resistance. I know you wanted to see some of their friends and I hope you get a bit of that in this chapter. Happy 2015 to you! May you be happy and blessed in the new year. :)
@staar: I’m so glad you liked the last chapter. Happy New Year and thank you for the review!
@ilariasantaniello Aww , grazie! Scrivendo modi diversi che Draco e Hermione si innamorano è così divertente . Non è così riluttante nelle mie altre storie , quindi questo è un bel cambiamento . Buon Anno! Molte benedizioni a voi nel 2015. :)
@ sherlocked17: I hope you were able to see the picture on Pinterest. I looked for it on the photographer’s site, but with no luck. It would be a really hot Rose and Scorpius, too. Cheers to a wonderful 2015 for you and your loved ones. :)
@Malfoy'sgirl: The issue of love in their relationship is a difficult one for Hermione. She wants to belong, she wants a family, but she’s so scared to let someone in after how she was rejected by her parents and Harry. When I’m writing, I also keep in mind that Draco had years of treating her poorly, so that’s part of her reservation as well. Thank you for the sweet review!
@pickles: I have to admit, the last chapter was one of my favorite chapters so far. When I saw the picture of the tattooed couple, my imagination went wild with how sexy Draco and Hermione would be with ink, but I thought the act of covering their scars was powerful for the characters, as well. Thank you for the review! And happy New Year!
@Mocha Midnight: Thank you for the encouraging and sweet review! I don’t know a whole lot about tattoos, so I’m glad the chapter came across as sincere.
@Trelweny: I struggled figuring out a tattoo for Draco! I looked at picture after picture of men’s tattoos, but decided covering his Dark Mark with a representation of himself would be meaningful for him because he overcame the evil of Voldemort. Hermione’s tattoo, on the other hand, was easy since I wanted a tattoo of a swan when I was in college but knew my parents would die if they ever saw a mark upon my skin. Haha! I hope you enjoy the chapter because we finally get some friend interaction during the party. Thank you for the review and happy New Year!
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“We should have a party,” Draco suggested. They’d come back from an amazing three-day tour of the magical part of the Vatican and had another two weeks before their classes at university began.
Hermione’s head was cushioned in his lap as she read. She looked up at him.
“Yeah, that sounds good. Who do you want to invite?”
His nimble fingers massaged her scalp. He thought for a few seconds before answering.
“Blaise, Daphne, Theo, his date, your friends. Do you think we could pull it together by this Saturday?”
Hermione answered with a grin. “Definitely. I’ll send invites to my friends if you’ll take care of yours.”
“Deal.”
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Draco had grown up in a household that threw parties on a regular basis. From intimate dinner parties, to ladies’ teas, to grand balls, the Malfoys loved to entertain. His parents’ guests left a lot to be desired, but he’d inherited a talent for throwing parties.
All of Hermione’s friends, save Harry, were coming to their party. His friends had all rsvp’d their confirmation as well. Food had been ordered from a fabulous Italian restaurant in Diagon Alley, flowers delivered, and a full bar set up in the kitchen.
Draco went into the bedroom and found Hermione sitting on the edge of the bed, combing her hair.
“I picked this up for you, for the party,” Draco said, handing Hermione a box.
She knew Draco liked to see her dressed in clothes he’d picked for her. At first, she’d accepted due to the nature of their arrangement, but she’d learned he enjoyed giving her gifts. Hermione opened the box to find a short, strappy Slytherin-green party dress with black beading. For the past two years, she’d avoided sleeveless shirts and dresses, but Hermione knew he wanted her to show off her tattoo. A pair of jet black chandelier earrings were tucked into the box as well.
“It’s beautiful, Draco. Thank you.” She stood and pressed a kiss to his cheek. He caught her lips with his own and nipped at her full lower lip.
Hermione had also discovered he liked to watch her primp. Almost every morning, he’d find a reason to enter the bathroom while she brushed her hair or applied make-up. She’d offered to use one of the flat’s other loos to get ready, but Draco insisted she use the grand master bath. On this evening, he lounged on the bed, making no excuses for watching her take her large towel off and slip on the silky fabric of the gift he’d given her.
“Bare legs or stockings?”
Draco’s body was arranged casually amongst the pillows and soft bed coverings, but he watched her with an attentive expression.
He swallowed thickly. “Are they the stockings with the garter belt?”
Hermione held up the gossamer thin stockings and fine lace garter.
“Definitely those.”
Hermione smirked and placed the garter belt around her waist, clearly omitting her knickers. She slowly rolled on the silk stockings and attached them to the garter with tiny clips.
“What do you think?” she asked, standing before Draco. Before she knew what was happening, he had pulled her into his lap.
“Lovely, Miss Granger.” He stroked her creamy thigh under her dress. His fingers feathered through the curls at her apex.
She sighed and relaxed into his touch. “I’d rather enjoy your petting, but Ginny wanted to come over early to get ready together. She’ll be here soon.”
The whooshing of the Floo alerted them to the arrival of their guest. Draco kissed Hermione’s neck.
“I’ll bring her in here,” he offered, nudging Hermione off his lap.
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As soon as Draco saw Ginny Weasley’s expression, he knew something was off. She had a better poker face than most of her Gryffindor counterparts, but she had nothing on a lifelong Slytherin.
“Hello, Miss Weasley,” he said carefully. Emotional women had never been his forte.
“I see the way you look at my friend. You can call me Ginny.” She smiled at Draco.
“Hermione’s in our bedroom. I told her I’d bring you over.”
Ginny followed Draco through the luxurious flat. She had to admit she’d been surprised when Hermione had told her they were living together. Hermione had always liked her personal space, but Ginny had the impression Malfoy had decent personal boundaries. And there was certainly enough square footage in the flat for Hermione and Malfoy to spread out.
Draco opened the door to the master bedroom.
“Thanks, Malfoy.”
“No problem,” he said, closing the door after she’d entered the inviting space.
As soon as Ginny and Hermione made eye-contact, Ginny burst into tears. Hermione gathered her friend into her arms.
“What’s wrong, Gin?” Hermione gently patted Ginny’s back. The older girl led her friend to sit on the bed.
“I broke up with Harry,” she whispered. Ginny had pined for Harry for so long, it had been painful to realize he wasn’t who she had thought he would be.
“Oh, Ginny. What happened?”
“You know, probably as well as I do, how miserable Harry is. After he was asked to leave Auror training, he hardly wanted to leave his house. He’s barely spoken to me in the past few weeks and didn’t show up for Christmas at The Burrow. I was furious with him for not showing up and went to confront him. He said he didn’t answer to me or my family and I told him it was over. I haven’t seen or heard from him in days.” Ginny wiped angry tears from her cheeks and pushed her long hair out of her face.
“Do you still want to be with him?”
Ginny looked at Hermione with thoughtful brown eyes and shook her head. “Not anymore. I thought all the feelings I’ve harbored for him for so long could carry us through his depression, but I want to be with someone who adores me.”
“You’ll find that, Ginny, I promise you.”
Ginny gave Hermione a watery smile. “I never thought I’d say this to you of all people, but you don’t know how lucky you are to have Malfoy. It’s so obvious he loves you.”
Hermione expression shifted. “It’s not like that, Gin.”
“What do you mean? He’s head-over-heels for you.”
“We do get on well, but I think he’ll end up with someone from his own background.” Hermione twisted a lock of hair. “I’ve had enough loss without adding Draco breaking my heart. I’ve accepted what we have and I’ll move on when it ends.”
Ginny gasped and grabbed Hermione’s arm. “How could I have missed this?”
The redhead examined the swan tattoo, tracing the runes.
“The scar from Bellatrix was unbearable,” Hermione admitted. “At least now I have something meaningful in its place.”
“It’s beautiful,” Ginny said, watching Hermione’s face. “There’s something else, isn’t there?”
“No, there’s not. We should get ready, Gin. Do you want me to do your hair?”
Hermione had wanted to admit that Draco had his own scar covered and had added her initials to his tattoo, but she herself didn’t understand what the initials meant to him. In her research on tattooing, she’d read that some people marked life events with tattoos. Perhaps he wanted a memento of their time together.
Hermione led Ginny to the opulent master bath to complete their hair and makeup.
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Draco knocked on the bedroom door as their guests began to arrive.
“Hermione, Blaise and Daphne are here.”
“We’ll be right out,” she called, applying one last coat of mascara to Ginny’s lashes. She wanted her dejected friend to feel beautiful, at the very least.
“You look perfect.” Hermione smiled at Ginny as the pair walked into the flat.
The redhead wore a deep purple dress made of soft jersey knit with gathered ruching atop its crossover bodice. The waistband was wide and flared into an A-line skirt to her knees. She wore strappy, high heeled sandals charmed to match her dress. Hermione had used her wand to add messy, sexy waves to Ginny’s normally smooth strands. Molly had lent her daughter her heirloom diamond and platinum stud earrings. Though her eyes didn’t sparkle with determination and mischief as they usually did, she held her head high and planned on having fun at the party.
Hermione greeted the Slytherin couple with kisses to their cheeks and hugs.
“Ginny, have you been introduced to Blaise and Daphne? We had dinner together a few months back and they’re delightful dinner partners.”
Daphne had always admired the fiery redhead and shook her hand. “It’s lovely to finally meet you.”
Blaise took Ginny’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “Nice to meet you, Miss Weasley.”
Draco moved to stand by Hermione and put his arm around her waist.
“Come in, you lot, and help yourself to a drink.” The group followed Draco and Hermione into the main living area of the flat.
Within half an hour, the flat was full of guests. It had been weeks since Hermione had seen her friends and it filled her heart with happiness to have so many she held dear in her home. Well, in Draco’s home.
Walking into the kitchen to grab a platter from the fridge, she came upon Ginny and Neville. He held her in an intimate embrace, their bodies connected at all points. The redhead had her head buried in the crook of his neck and was whimpering. He stroked her back and had an expression of longing on his handsome face.
My God, he’s in love with her.
During her last year at Hogwarts, after the war, Hermione had sensed some tension between the two, but she was absorbed in her own issues and didn’t give it much thought. She understood now. Poor Neville. It was obvious to anyone who had been around her that Ginny had been consumed by her relationship by Harry.
She began to back out of the kitchen doorway and bumped into Draco. Turning, she grabbed his arm and led him a small distance from the kitchen.
“What’s wrong?”
“Um… nothing. Ginny and Neville are in there, but she’s quite upset.” Hermione lowered her voice. “She broke up with Harry.”
“They were a couple for a while when you were on the run. I think it was a quiet thing, but I accidentally saw them together a few times.”
“I didn’t know until I saw them in the kitchen,” Hermione admitted.
“We’ll give them a few minutes,” Draco said, guiding her back to their guests.
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“Hey, can I talk to you about Harry?” Ron asked when they had a minute alone.
“Is he okay?”
“Not really, Mione. He lets me visit and do a few things around his place, but he’s really depressed and angry. Would you come over with me and talk to him?”
“I don’t know, Ron. Last time I saw him he was bloody awful to me. Do you think I would help?”
“What did he say to you? Gin broke up with him, you know.” Ron shook his head. The friend he’d envied for years was falling apart and Harry didn’t want to accept support from his friends and adopted family.
“Yes, she told me when she got here. I don’t want to give up on Harry, but—“
“No one knows him like we do. If anyone can help him, it would be us.”
Hermione looked at her loyal friend. He’d matured so much over the past few years. She felt a welling of pride for the rambunctious little boy who had turned into a thoughtful and hard-working man.
An idea hit Hermione. “What if we asked Luna to come with us? She’s always had a way of getting through to Harry.”
Ron looked at her and nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, alright, that might work. Let’s talk to her and see if she can join us in a few days.”
She put her arms around the tall, lanky redhead. “You’re a good friend, Ron Weasley. Thank you for everything.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was really worried about how you’d react to me and Draco. I know you two don’t have a good history.”
Ron gave her a half-grin. “If you can forgive him after how he treated you and he makes you happy now, then I accept him. You seem better than you have in a long time, Mione.”
“Amazingly, I am.”
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Luna agreed to go with Ron and Hermione to talk to Harry. She had a way of talking to Harry that told him the truth and didn’t offend him. Hermione had long suspected an attraction on the blonde’s part, but she never would have attempted anything with Harry when he had been with Ginny.
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Hermione found Draco with Blaise, Daphne and Theo and they were examining his arm. Draco motioned her to his side.
“Let’s see yours,” Theo said with an awed expression. Bloody Griffindors and their crazy ideas.
“You don’t have to show us, Hermione,” Daphne said. “Theodore has no tact.”
“It’s okay,” Hermione said, putting her inked arm next to Draco’s.
The three Slytherin friends’ eyes widened as they noticed the matching runes.
“We should do this, cara,” Blaise said to Daphne with a sly smile. “One on your—“
“Blaise!”
Hermione smirked at the couple. They were much more fun than she’d ever expected.
“I didn’t think you could get any sexier, Granger,” Theo said with a leer in her direction. He flirted so awkwardly she had to laugh.
“Fuck off, Nott,” Draco growled at his friend, eliciting a chuckle from the irreverent man.
“Not to worry, Draco, you two are clearly marked as each other’s. How did you get a catch like Granger to agree?”
Hermione was slightly perplexed at Theo’s remark. She hadn’t thought about what the shared runes would say to other witches and wizards. Draco would have to field this observation from his friend.
“Some blokes have all the luck,” Draco quipped.
“No shite,” Theo agreed.
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Luna was staring at a photograph of Hermione and Draco taken at one of the fundraising events they’d attended. Draco had paid the Daily Prophet photographer to send him the original photo. The picture loop began with Draco and Hermione looking at the camera and then he whispered something to her and she looked up at him and smiled. Luna had observed the Slytherin over the years and she knew he had wanted some reason to become part of Hermione’s life. He’d cajoled and insulted her as a young man to get her attention, but as he got older, the looks he gave her were more yearning than spiteful.
Hermione came to stand near Luna.
“You and Draco make a beautiful couple.”
“Thank you. How have you been? We’ve hardly had a minute to talk the whole party.”
“I’m taking a trip to South America in a few weeks. Mr. Olivander sends an expedition to find rare wand woods and cores to one continent every year and he accepted my application.”
“That’s wonderful, Luna! How long will you be traveling?”
Luna thought for a few seconds. “Well, the application said we needed to have at least six months available for the project, but Mr. Olivander said most expeditions take about four months.”
“If I weren’t in school, I’d love to do an expedition.”
“You are where you’re meant to be. Our world needs your point-of-view to move into the future. Will Draco continue to pay your tuition next school year?”
“Wh-What?” Hermione stammered.
“He pays your tuition, doesn’t he? He went to university hoping you would as well, Hermione,” Luna said gently.
“He does pay my tuition,” Hermione whispered. She felt humiliated admitting the truth to her friend. She’d never wanted anyone to know about this part of her relationship with Draco.
Luna noticed the tears gathering in her proud friend’s eyes. “A gift given with love doesn’t have the expectation of repayment. If anything, he wanted an opportunity to win your affections. His actions speak louder than his words, if you’re worried about his intent.”
“It’s complicated between us.”
“It doesn’t have to be.” Luna tapped the tattoo on Hermione’s arm. “He sees you as the swan you’ve become.” The unusually observant young woman gave Hermione a sympathetic smile and left to speak to Ginny and Neville.
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When Hermione had been speaking to Lovegood, he noticed her wipe her eyes and wondered what could have upset her. Draco excused himself from his conversation with Theo to see if she was alright after the blonde had moved on to speak to her friends.
Hermione felt him behind her before he said anything. He rested his hands on her shoulders and pressed a kiss to her neck. “Everything okay?”
She let her body relax into his. “I’m fine.” Turning herself, she nestled her head under his chin. Over the months they’d spent together, she’d come to associate the feel of his body against hers with passion, happiness, and safety.
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Draco noticed Neville having a drink on the balcony and joined him outside.
“Malfoy,” Neville said in greeting.
“Longbottom. How have you been?” He took a warming sip of firewhisky and moved to stand by the humble man.
“I’ve been well. I’m doing a Herbology internship for the next two years. How’s university?”
“It’s great, actually. Hermione and I have two classes together next semester.”
“What’s your area of concentration?” Neville knew Malfoy was a better student than any of Hermione’s other friends had been. She probably enjoyed their joint intellectual pursuits.
“I have two: Arithmancy and Wizarding Business.”
Neville nodded and cast a shield charm when a light snow began to fall. “How did you and Hermione end up together?”
He’d noticed Malfoy’s fascination with her over the years, but as a younger man, he’d worried that Draco’s interest was sinister. After working with him during the war, he realized Malfoy had been in an impossible situation and had done what he could to make things right. This evening was the first time he’d seen the couple together and Neville realized the interest Malfoy had in his friend was genuine.
“I stalked her until she agreed to have dinner with me. It wasn’t easy to convince her that I didn’t mean her any harm, since I’d been so bloody awful to her for years, but she gave me a chance.”
Neville chuckled. “You two must get along well if she agreed to move in here so quickly.” He knew Hermione had struggled with money and wondered if Malfoy was helping her.
Hermione’s friends knew much more about her and her situation than she gave them credit for. “Her living situation wasn’t ideal and I’ve got tons of space in my flat. I likely get more out of the situation than she does.”
“Oh, I’m not sure about that, Malfoy. She’s happier than I’ve seen her in a long time.”
“I hope so,” Draco murmured.
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“Now, where were we when those interlopers showed up?” Draco said to Hermione as they sat on the couch. The last of their guests had left and the flat was theirs once again.
Hermione shifted to sit on his lap. “Maybe something like this?” Her dress rode up to expose the lacy garters.
“Ah, yes, this seems right.” He played with the thin garter straps. “Did you have a good time tonight?”
“I did. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.” She began to unbutton his shirt. “Did you enjoy the party?”
“Yeah, I did. What did Lovegood say to you?” Draco had been dying to know what had upset his girl during an otherwise pleasant evening.
Hermione sighed and rested her head against his. “She somehow guessed what our arrangement was.”
“What exactly did she guess?”
“Luna knows you pay my tuition.”
“Is that it?”
“Yes, but I didn’t think the situation was so obvious.”
“Why does it bother you so much? It’s just money.” As a person who’d never had any financial need denied, Draco didn’t understand her unease about taking Galleons from him. What he’d offered her over the past few months was monetarily almost nothing to him.
“You feel like that because you don’t know what it’s like to live in a tent, Malfoy!” She squirmed to get out of his lap, but he held her to him.
“Why are you upset?”
“I don’t want people to think of me as a…a…kept woman!”
She was so feisty and so fucking independent and adorable. Draco couldn’t help himself and started to snigger.
“Don’t laugh at me!” she said with rising irritation, which only made him laugh harder.
“I’ll tell everyone you’re my paramour,” Draco said with glee. “Or my mistress!”
The wind taken out of her sails, she put her arms around his neck and found herself glad he hadn’t allowed her frustration to escalate into a fight. He didn’t hold what he gave her over her head. She still found his behavior strange, not in any obvious way, but because he treated her with care and consideration.
“Prat.”
He began to pull out the pins that held her hair in an updo and placed them on a side table.
“Luna did say something else that unsettled me,” Hermione admitted.
Draco frowned. “What else did she say?”
“She thinks you pay my tuition and shower me in gifts out of…out of love.”
“Why does that worry you?” Conjuring a brush, he shifted her so she was facing away from him and began to run it through her thick hair.
“Love is loss in my world.”
“You can’t base your future feelings on what happened with Potter or your parents.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not reasonable, first of all. Not every situation is going to be the same as what happened in the past. And second, if someone wants to love you, you have no control over their feelings. You don’t have to reciprocate, but I don’t think you should not love for fear of losing them.”
She didn’t respond and Draco continued to gently brush her hair.
“Lovegood was right,” he murmured. He knew Hermione needed love, even if she wasn’t ready to acknowledge it.
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