Playing For Keeps
Title: Playing for Keeps
Rating: PG-13
Recipient: Rizzle aka fangirlyness
Written For:dmhgficexchange
Disclaimer: I don’t own anything. If I did, Dramione wouldn’t be a crack!ship by any stretch of the imagination.
Beta:joel-garay
Warning(s): Nothing Really
Author/Artist Note(s): Your prompt was really broad which gave me the leeway to finally use a plot bunny that’d been in my head for awhile. Thank you to FC for betaing and generally being my cheerleader all along. Also thank you to A for being a sounding board. And to the other A thank you for being incredibly wonderful and inspiring a character in this story. I love you all so much. Rizzle I hope you enjoy this as much as I’ve enjoyed your fic.
September - Beginning of the Year Feast-7th Year
He's staring at her again. He can't fathom why. He's never seen her as more than a nuisance, a thing that's less than him and less than human. He shouldn't be noticing how soft her hair looks, or the beautiful shade of brown her eyes seem to be, or just how pink her lips look. He feels dirty, he needs to stop, but he can't.
It makes him hate her even more if that's at all possible. But a lot of things have changed over the summer. Yes, he's a death eater, but after seeing what they do...he's not sure if he's his father's son anymore. He's not sure if this is the life he wants to lead or if this blind prejudice is something he practices anymore.
His stare turns into a glare. He shouldn't be confused like this. He shouldn't look at her like this. This confusion, this change, it's all her fault and he doesn't know whether or not its hate he's actually feeling.
Damn her.
October - 7th Year
“I hate you.” Hermione spat. He was so infuriating. She was just minding her own business in the library and he just had to come and start something with her. She didn’t like being made fun of or having her homework incinerated, “I just spent two hours doing that.”
“Oh come off it Granger,” Draco snarled, “That was just a copy. Be glad I didn’t burn the real thing.”
“You are insufferable.” She screeched, “You just destroyed my property.”
“Wasn’t like you weren’t asking for it.”
“And how, pray tell, did I ask for it?” She asked, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
Draco smirked, “You left it out for any pyro to see it as something to burn.” Draco looked at her and faked a smile, “It was not my fault that you tempted me. A man is only so strong against it.”
Hermione scowled. “So I suppose I should thank you?” She questioned him sarcastically.
“No, you should thank me for this.” He grabbed her face in his hands and kissed her.
Hermione stood there in shock; she couldn’t believe that he was kissing her. She began to enjoy it for a second and then her senses came to her. Making a muffled sound of protest she pushed him away. “What the hell was that?”
“I don’t know.” Draco said, a confused look crossed his face. “I have somewhere to be.” He pushed past her and waved over his shoulder. “Bye Granger.”
October - Halloween Ball -7th Year
Draco watched as she spun around the dance floor in the arms of Harry Potter. She’d danced with many boys tonight and it was no wonder. She was stunning in a floor length sapphire gown. He'd always known she was beautiful, but instead of being able to compliment that beauty he'd been forced into a role where he'd had to degrade and humiliate her.
But tonight he didn't have to play that role. Tonight no one knew who he was and he could do whatever the hell he pleased without repercussions. He had to dance with her at least once.
“May I have this dance?” Draco asked Hermione. He knew she would say yes. He was wearing a mask. She wouldn’t see his face.
Hermione laughed and curtsied, “You may.”
“I can’t stop thinking about you.” Draco whispered in her ear as they began to dance.
Hermione momentarily froze, “Malfoy?”
“Who else do you know with eyes like mine?” He asked, his grey eyes boring into her.
“What are you doing?”
“I believe it’s called dancing Granger.” Malfoy said chuckling.
She struggled slightly in his arms, “I don’t want to dance with you.” She struggled more, but his grip was like an iron shackle.
“Just give me one dance and I’ll leave you alone. No one will know,” he urged.
She sighed and tried to find something vaguely non-repulsive about him. She decided she liked his smile, “Okay.”
Almost reluctantly, she lay her head on his chest before asking, “Why did you kiss me?”
“Because I’ve wanted to for the longest time.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you going to kiss me again?” She asked, tilting her head up to his.
“Probably,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper tingling in her ear, “I’m playing the game, taking a bet out on you. And you should know Granger,” he started, his breath warm on her cheek.
“Know what?”
“I play for keeps.”
January - 7th year
Hermione laughed as they walked down the hall hand in hand. It had been two months since she and Draco Malfoy had first kissed and he was leading her into another rendezvous instead of doing patrol. “What are we doing here?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t want it to stop.” Draco replied as he kissed her hand.
“Me either.”
“You’re not going to tell anyone else about this are you?” He asked, his eyes searching hers. He really didn’t want this to end and he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that if she told her friends that she would have to choose between them and him. He wasn’t ready to fight that battle. He didn’t like going into a race only to lose. Yes he was important to her, but they were her best friends and he just couldn’t beat them…yet.
“No, Harry and Ron would kill me. If I had told them this was our first time they might forgive me or think I was under the Imperius or something, but we’ve been doing this for months. I don’t think I can have an excuse for this.” She said as she looked determinedly at her feet. She didn’t like sneaking around.
“Do you really need one? Am I really that embarrassing?” He asked stopping them in the middle of the hall.
“Would you tell your Slytherin friends about me?” She looked at him defiantly. He wasn’t going to make her feel guiltier about this than she already did.
Draco thought for a moment, “I don’t really know. Would you ask me to?”
“I don’t think so. I don’t think either one of us needs to be shunned by our houses.” Hermione’s eyes stayed on her feet.
Draco scowled, “You’re just saying that because you don’t want to lose Potty and Weasel.”
Hermione shrugged before looking at him, “Probably, but I don’t want to lose you either.”
“Really?” He was surprised. He never expected her to admit that she wanted him around.
Hermione raised her eyebrows, “Do I really seem like the type of girl to be doing this with someone she didn’t care about?”
Draco laughed, “Good point. Hey look, that corridor is dark and deserted. Let’s go over there.”
“What?” Hermione asked. That corridor didn’t look at all safe and with the war on the horizon it probably wasn’t the best idea to go down that corridor by themselves. You never knew what lurked in the castle these days.
“Dark corridor.” Draco stated and gestured towards it.
Hermione looked at him like he was insane, “Why would I want to go down there?”
Draco quirked an eyebrow, “For a smart girl you’re really daft sometimes. We go down the corridor, find an alcove and I do that thing you like with my tongue.” He pulled her towards the corridor, a cocky smirk on his face.
Suddenly the corridor didn’t seem so scary anymore. Hermione grinned, “Oh. You know, I’m beginning to see dark corridors in a whole different light.”
March - Library Stacks- 7th year
Hermione gasped as his lips trailed down her collarbone. His hips ground into hers and she whimpered. Digging her hands into his hair she pulled him back up to meet her lips. Their kiss was needy and desperate, “I don’t think we should be doing this.”
“I think you should stop thinking so much.” Draco replied as he bit her neck. His fingers lightly traced the top of her thighs. He knew he was driving her crazy and he was enjoying every minute of it.
Hermione tried to hold back a moan as she said, “Draco thinking is what I do.”
He smiled as he heard the strangled sound come from her throat. He loved a challenge. “Well what we’re doing really doesn’t require a lot of thinking.”
“Actually it does. I haven’t done this as much as you. We can’t all be Slytherin sex-gods.” Hermione said, pushing him away and hugging her arms to her chest.
Draco smirked as he kissed on her shoulders. “Who said that?”
“Does it matter?” She said as she leaned into his chest. She could feel his skin against hers and it burned. Everywhere he touched burned. Their clothes had been discarded long ago. All that remained was their underwear and even that was becoming unbearable for Hermione.
“Yes. I have to know who gave me that wonderful reputation so that I can send them a thank you note of some sorts.” Draco said as he cupped her breast.
She gasped again, her eyes closing. She was so close to giving in. “You are so conceited.”
“Yes I am and you love it.” He stood in front of her and undid her bra, his hands leaving hot trails all over her skin. He leaned into her.
She lost it. She could feel every bit of him. She moaned softly as his hands caressed every available inch of her body. They were everywhere. On her shoulders, in her hair, on her breasts. Anywhere but where he needed to be. She pressed against him, “What were we talking about again?”
“I really can’t remember.” He said as she moved her hands to his hips to drag his boxers down.
“Oh. Okay. Can you kiss me again?” She asked him breathlessly.
May - The Night Before Graduation
“Hey.”
Hermione turned at the sound of his voice, “Hey.” She tilted her head to the side and smiled. “How’d you get up here?”
“Finnegan owed me a favor. I thought I’d say goodbye properly.” Draco replied as he sat on the end of her bed.
“Oh.” She looked at him in the mirror as he came up behind her and wrapped his hands around her waist. Her arm went behind her to caress his cheek, “Does this really have to be it?” She turned toward him. She didn’t want this to end. He meant too much to her.
Draco sighed and laid his head on her shoulder, “I don’t know. We both know where we’re going after today. I’m already a death eater and you’re going to be a champion for the masses. I don’t think that even I could be selfish enough to put you in that position.”
“Why not? You seem to like keeping me to yourself.” She replied, her hand caressing his cheek. It was true. He’d been very selfish with her since this had started. She rather liked it though. It made her feel wanted and loved…even though he had yet to say the words. Yet somehow, she knew he loved her. Draco wasn’t the type of person to spend so much time with someone he didn’t care about. He didn’t have the patience for it. And there were just times when they were together and not doing anything physical that she knew he had to feel something more for her. The way he looked at her…that couldn’t just be lust. She looked to him for an answer.
“I do Hermione, but I can’t put you in that position. If the Dark Lord found out that I was involved with you…Hell if my father found out what you were to me, you’d be dead within days. I can’t live with that in my conscience.” He took her hands in his, kissing them gently, “Hermione, I can live in a world where you’re not in my life, but I refuse to live in a world without you in it.”
Tears pooled in Hermione’s eyes, “Oh.” She leaned in to kiss him gently, “But Draco, you don’t have to follow in your father’s footsteps. There are other choices.”
“No. Hermione, that would still be putting you in danger. I can’t do that. If I stay a death eater I can at least know who and where we’re going to attack. I can protect you this way.” He led her to the bed, “And I’m damn sure Potty and Weasel won’t be welcoming me with open arms.”
A tear fell down her cheek as the weight of his words hit her, “I can take care of myself Draco. You don’t need to do this to protect me.” She closed the curtains of her bed around them and lay back into his arms, “I don’t want to live in a world without you in it either.”
Draco kissed her forehead before resting his against hers, “I’ll think about you all the time you know.” He wiped the tear away and turned her body so that he could spoon her.
“Why? Why can’t you just be yourself for once? Why can’t you just be selfish and protect yourself?” Hermione sobbed.
He tightened his arms around her, kissing the back of her neck, “Because I just can’t okay?”
“Why not?” She asked again, turning her head to look at him, “Just answer me this. Give me something to hold onto Draco. Give me something to go to when I’m not sure anymore. I want a real reason for you doing this.”
“I already gave you one woman.” He said exasperatedly.
“Well it’s not good enough.”
“Hermione please don’t make this harder for me than it already is.” Draco said, his eyes pleading with hers.
Hermione didn’t care. She didn’t care that he was trying to be noble. She didn’t care that this was hard for him. This was supposed to be hard. This wasn’t something that was supposed to be fucking easy. She hated that he was so calm about this. She hated that she was the one turning into a blubbering idiot. She began sobbing in earnest, “You’re leaving me. You’re walking away from me. So you better have a damn good reason for putting me through this.”
“Don’t cry Hermione. I hate it when you cry.” Draco said, kissing her tears away.
“Then stop making me cry.”
“Damn it Hermione.” He took a deep breath. He hadn’t wanted to say this. He wanted her to be able to move on and have kids with some nice bloke that could give her everything she deserved. He knew she deserved better than him and that he had been horribly selfish to even start this with her, but he’d wanted her for so long. He wasn’t raised to deny himself what he wanted, but somehow he was doing it. And he was doing it for her. He didn’t know when he got here, but he knew he’d have to say this. He knew that when he said it that it would make it harder for her to move on, harder for her to forget him. He didn’t want to give into his selfishness, but he was. He kissed her soundly, lips pressed hard against each other, tongues dueling. He could taste her tears. When they broke for air he looked at her softly, “I love you. That’s why I’m doing this. I love you.”
The breath was knocked out of her, “Oh.” She thought for a moment before kissing him again. “I love you too.”
“Was that a good enough reason?” He asked, laughing sadly.
She kissed him gently, “Yes, that’s a very good reason.”
December - Christmas Time - 7 months after Graduation
He was so sure of his decision, about staying away from her for her safety, but then again that was the only thing he was sure of much these days. He killed people, he went on raids, and he watched her and that was his life. He didn’t like it, he wished it was different, but there it was.
He was waiting outside of her parent’s in the big oak tree in the front yard. It wouldn’t be easy to spot him, but damn if it wasn’t cold up there. He knew he probably shouldn’t be here, but he couldn’t stay away. This would have been their first Christmas together where they had exchanged gifts and he had bought her a Christmas present. It didn’t matter that they were no longer together or that she probably wouldn’t know it was from him. He wanted to see her face when she opened it.
Though, now that he thought about it, she probably would know it was from him. There wasn’t anyone else who would have access to get her that book or, more accurately, that edition of that book. She would love it. He knew it without a doubt.
He watched as she walked out onto the porch and picked up the package. She looked from side to side and then up. For a moment he thought she saw him, but he let out a sigh of relief when her shoulders slumped and she began to tear at the paper. Her hand flew to her mouth and tears filled her eyes. He smiled. He had done well.
He watched as she went into her house, clutching the first edition of ‘Hogwarts A History’ lovingly to her chest, a whispered ‘thank you Draco’ on the wind. He waited a moment and disapparated away smiling for the first time in months.
May - Diagon Alley - A year after Graduation
“I know you’re there.” She said softly, a small sigh passing her lips. “I know you’ve been following me, watching me. Why can’t you just let me see you? Do you know how frustrating it is to know you’re around but never see you?” She looked around, “Don’t I deserve to see you too?” A shadow moved behind her. She turned on the spot and grabbed the first thing she could get a hold of which, lucky for her, was Draco’s cloak.
“This isn’t safe.” Draco stated, refusing to look her in the eye. He’d been following her all year, keeping her safe, catching glimpses of her, and just basking in her presence. He knew it was selfish to keep watching her, but he couldn’t help himself. He’d given her up already! He wasn’t about to lose this too.
“I haven’t seen you for a year. I don’t care whether it’s safe or not.” She argued as he pulled her into a dark alley. She sighed as it brought back memories of dark corridors and heated kisses. It’d been so long.
“Well I do.”
“Why?” She said as her anger began bubbling up inside of her. She pushed him into the wall, “Why do you care?”
“Does it matter Hermione?” He said helplessly. “Nothing I can say will change the situation. You should just pretend I don’t exist. It’ll be easier that way.”
“No it won’t.” She said quietly, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes.
“Yes it will.” He argued, turning to walk away.
“No it won’t.” She hissed. “Do I even get a say in this?” She angrily wiped at her eyes, “I think about you everyday Draco. Every damn day. This will never be easy. I will never not think of you. This is so stupid. I barely sleep, I have to force myself to eat, and I can’t stop crying. I put on this happy face that fools every damn person I talk to, but I’m not happy Draco. And I won’t ever be happy, because you’ve made up your damn mind that I can’t be with you.” She hit his chest, “Don’t you care? Don’t you care that this is killing me?” She was sobbing openly.
He took her into his arms, “I care. I care more than you’ll ever know.” He kissed her forehead as she cried. “Please don’t ever think differently.” He begged as she clung to him.
“How can I? You left me!” She said into his chest, hitting him with every word.
He silently took her blows, kissing her forehead he sighed, “I know.” He held her for as long as he could stand, drinking her in. It felt like seconds, like mere minutes, and he knew it would never be enough. He knew that he could hold her in his arms until the fucking day he died and he would still never have enough. Hermione was his drug and he was her addict. Only he couldn’t be with her. He had told her once that he couldn’t live in a world without her in it and he meant it. He was not going to be the cause of her death. And if in saving her, if by joining the death eaters to protect her he lost his life…then it was worth it. He breathed her in one last time before letting her go. “You should go be with your friends Hermione.”
“No I shouldn’t.” She whispered, “I’ve missed you.”
“Hermione,” he started as he looked into her eyes and found he couldn’t find words anymore. It’d been too long since he’d been acknowledged by her. He breathed her name again.
She smiled and put her hand to his face, standing on her tiptoes to press her lips into his. He responded instantly, lifting her off the ground his lips furiously working against hers. This was torture, this was murder, this was suicide, but damn if it didn’t feel so right. She knew that he’d probably walk away again, that kissing him like this would leave her shattered, but she didn’t care. She just wanted one last time. She slowly pulled away and lay her head on his chest, “We’re not so good apart are we?”
He shook his head, “How in the world did you come up with that?”
“You have circles under your eyes.” She said softly, hugging him tighter.
“And I hate seeing you like this. You’ve lost so much weight.” He traced her nonexistent curves, smiling sadly. He let her go and turned to walk away, but she pulled him back to her. “We can’t do this.” He stated.
She put her finger to his lips and kissed the hollow of his throat, “Yes we can. We’re two fairly bright people, we can figure this out.”
August - Draco's Manor
She's staring at him again. Normally she'd have more restraint than this, but right now she wanted to watch him sleep. He smiled when he slept, something he rarely did when he was awake. She loved to see him smile. Each one filled her heart more than the last and if she was honest with herself she was somewhat addicted to the feeling.
Tracing the contours of his face she sighed. She was leaving tomorrow to go on another Horcrux hunt with Harry and Ron. She would miss him dearly, but it wasn't like he was going to be sitting around waiting for her. No, he was going to be in peril as well. She, however, could not think about that. Worrying about him while she was on a mission could get her killed and he'd never forgive himself if she got killed because she was worrying about him.
She gets up from the bed and starts to dress. She doesn't want to say goodbye tonight. Saying goodbye means she might not see him again and she will. No matter what happens she will see him again. It wasn't too long ago that they both said they didn't want to live in a world without the other and they meant it. So she's not going to say goodbye, she's going to kiss him and she's going to leave.
As she turns around she sees his eyes are open. He's watching her, probably been watching her since she started dressing. She smiles a sad smile and kisses his cheek. She's got to go, he's got to go, and that's just it. Caressing his cheek lovingly she mouths 'I love you' before she apparates away.
September - The Forbidden Forest
She ran into the forest, a huge smile on her face. He was waiting for her, leaning against a tree. Upon seeing him she tackled him to the ground, kissing him fiercely. When they finally broke for air she spoke, “You were right! Harry found the last Horcrux. It was exactly where you said it would be!”
Draco smirked, “Of course it was. When has my information ever been wrong?” He pulled her back down for another kiss. It had been four months since they restarted whatever the hell this was in Diagon Alley. It had also been three weeks since he’d seen her. In his eyes that was entirely too long, but there was little he could do about it. Either he was off on Death Eater business or she was off globe-trotting with Potty and Weasel. They took what time they could.
"Well," she teased as she traced his lips, "There's a first time for everything you know."
"Not for me. I'm always right." He said cockily, smiling as he savored her touch.
She laughed and kissed him softly, "Of course you are."
"I am!"
Laughing at the indignant look on his face she got up from on top of him, brushing dirt off her jeans. She held her hand out to him to help him up, "Come on Draco. We don't have much time and I really don't fancy being with you in the Forbidden Forest."
"You didn't seem to mind it so much the last time." He teased.
"Well you weren't the one cleaning dirt out of unmentionable places for a week." She retorted, flouncing off to a part of the forest that they could apparate in.
A few days before the final battle
He slammed his hand on the table in frustration. “Why won't you do it? Why can't you just save yourself for once? You don't have to be the damn hero in this one. I’m giving you a chance to protect yourself.”
“Maybe I can't do it. Maybe I love you too damn much to watch you die at MY HAND.” Hermione argued, her hands crossed defensively across her chest. Draco could get her to do a lot of things, but she wasn’t going to budge on this one.
“This is the way it's got to be Hermione. We don't have a future outside this. I'm still going to be the bad guy and you're still going to be the bloody war hero. They don't get a happily ever after.” Draco shook her, trying to get his point across. There wasn’t another option in this scenario. She was going to have to do this or watch him receive the kiss. Yes, he had helped the Order, but he’d also committed war crimes. Those weren’t going to go away just because he fed info to the golden boy’s army.
“Maybe they do. When I tell them everything you've done to help us they'll have to let you off.”
“You see this mark on my arm?” he pulled up his sleeve to show the ugly black tattoo on his arm. He pointed at it furiously, “This is all they need to condemn me. They won't give a damn that I helped because I made the damn mistake in the first place.”
She rolled her eyes, “You’re being a bit dramatic I know for a fact that Harry will help.”
“Don't you see Hermione? I took the mark. In their eyes nothing else will matter. This mark was my death warrant.” He put his hands on her shoulders, shaking her lightly, trying to get some semblance of sanity into her.
“No it’s not. Stop saying that. We’ll find a way. We always do.”
“This isn’t a bloody fairytale Hermione. We’re not going to get a happily ever after. Why can’t you see that? Why can’t you see what’s in bloody front of you?” He sighed, running his fingers through his hair, “You don’t get it. I’ve killed Hermione. Do you think the families of the people I’ve murdered are going to be okay with letting me walk free? No they’re not. They want blood, my blood and I don’t think that’s going to change because I was feeding you information.”
“I do see what’s in front of me. Do you think I can live with myself if I killed you? Do you think that I’d ever be able to forgive myself?” She yelled, her heart beating erratically in her chest, a tear slipping down her cheek.
“Do you think you can live with watching me get the Kiss? Do you think I want you to see me like that? I know you. You’ll still be with me. You’ll still take care of me and I’ll break your heart every day. Do you think I can live with that?” He said lowly as he wiped the tear from her face.
“I can’t kill you. And I won’t watch you die. Draco, if it was me, would you be able to do it? Could you kill me?”
“That’s not the point Hermione.”
“Yes it is. Answer me Draco. Could you kill me?” She prodded him insistently. She knew what his answer was going to be.
“'Mione this is not the time or the place.”
“Yes it is. Tell me damn it. I deserve to know.”
“Hermione-” he started, but she put her fingers to his mouth.
“Come on Draco. It’s a simple question. Could you kill me?” Taking the fingers from his lips she waited for his answer.
He raked his hands through his hair once again; he was completely and utterly frustrated. “No I couldn’t. I’d kill myself before I’d kill you.”
“Then how could you expect me to?”
The Aftermath of the Final Battle
The ground was barren. What had once been lush and full of life was dead. The Great Lake was a mass of bodies, thrown there in the haste of battle. The water was pink, tinged with blood. There was talk of turning it into a mass grave, by using fiendfyre to destroy the bodies. Other people were saying that the Giant Squid would eat them. But the lake would always be tainted.
Angelina, Cho, Luna, Neville, Percy, and so many others had lost their lives, but she, Ron, and Harry were still standing. They probably shouldn’t be. They’d gone up against far more experienced, crueler wizards and witches. It was only by the greatest stroke of luck that as many on their side had survived.
And Draco. Draco had lost his mother in the battle. She had fought for the light, dying at the tip of her husband’s wand. Draco had already shown his colors at this point, he’d been a turncoat in the midst of the battle. It was by his bare hands, with a dagger he’d lifted from his Aunt Bellatrix, that Lucius had fallen.
He was currently being questioned extensively by Aurors and the ministry. She was walking to clear her head. Her heart was pounding for this final verdict. They were all convened, Harry and Ron too, in that stupid purple tent twenty feet away. They wouldn’t let her in. Right now she was being called a traitor. But really she wasn’t. And she never had been. She’d never given Draco any information about their, or the Order’s for that matters, plans or whereabouts.
She sat outside the tent. It wasn’t like she could hear anything. She was almost dead sure that Harry had cast a Muffilato to keep any unwanted ears from listening. Didn’t they know she was about to have a heart attack.
Suddenly the flap to the tent opened and everyone filtered out. Draco came out last and Hermione could hardly believe her eyes.
He had no restraints and was walking like a free man, but most of all he was smiling. She felt a smile bloom on her face before throwing herself whole-heartedly into his arms.
He swung her around, laughing exuberantly. The sound warmed her to her very toes. Everything was going to be okay.
The Epilogue: Sometime Later
He looked at the girl lying in the bed. She was tiny, no more than three feet tall, with a riot of dirty blonde curls surrounding her head like a halo. She was the best of both of them, her mother’s bookish charm and his acerbic tongue. Some would call that tongue a disadvantage, most would probably, but he knew what she was going to grow up into. That world would love her mother, but hate her father. She’d need that tongue, and both of their wits, to defend her name.
Audi Malfoy. The name rolled off his own tongue aristocratically, a true credit to his mother. Narcissa had taught him to be proud of whom he was, no matter what connotations his name was used in. Being a Malfoy was something to be proud of. This was an opinion he had worked very hard to instill in his daughter from the minute she was born. Not all little girls got told they were perfect and beautiful, but Draco was damn determined that his Audi was going to not only be told that every bloody day, but she was going to believe it. She was going to be strong and self-confident. She was going to have all the backbone and humility of her mother, and all the amazing self-image her father had not actually had, but projected. At three years old she was the sunshine in his world. He truly believed that Audi was the most beautiful thing he and Hermione had ever made.
Hermione.
They had been married for years now. Five to be exact. Audi had been born a year and a half after then. The war had ended ten years ago. They’d had their fights and, yeah, sometimes he slept on the couch, but they loved each other
“Daddy?” A small voice yawned from the pillow. “Where’s mommy?” Audi sat up, rubbing her eyes and looked at him curiously.
“I’ll go get her.”
This life wasn’t how he’d thought it’d all pan out, but it was everything he’d ever wanted and everything he’d needed. All was well. He'd made a gamble and won. He had been right, he played for keeps.
Rating: PG-13
Recipient: Rizzle aka fangirlyness
Written For:dmhgficexchange
Disclaimer: I don’t own anything. If I did, Dramione wouldn’t be a crack!ship by any stretch of the imagination.
Beta:joel-garay
Warning(s): Nothing Really
Author/Artist Note(s): Your prompt was really broad which gave me the leeway to finally use a plot bunny that’d been in my head for awhile. Thank you to FC for betaing and generally being my cheerleader all along. Also thank you to A for being a sounding board. And to the other A thank you for being incredibly wonderful and inspiring a character in this story. I love you all so much. Rizzle I hope you enjoy this as much as I’ve enjoyed your fic.
September - Beginning of the Year Feast-7th Year
He's staring at her again. He can't fathom why. He's never seen her as more than a nuisance, a thing that's less than him and less than human. He shouldn't be noticing how soft her hair looks, or the beautiful shade of brown her eyes seem to be, or just how pink her lips look. He feels dirty, he needs to stop, but he can't.
It makes him hate her even more if that's at all possible. But a lot of things have changed over the summer. Yes, he's a death eater, but after seeing what they do...he's not sure if he's his father's son anymore. He's not sure if this is the life he wants to lead or if this blind prejudice is something he practices anymore.
His stare turns into a glare. He shouldn't be confused like this. He shouldn't look at her like this. This confusion, this change, it's all her fault and he doesn't know whether or not its hate he's actually feeling.
Damn her.
October - 7th Year
“I hate you.” Hermione spat. He was so infuriating. She was just minding her own business in the library and he just had to come and start something with her. She didn’t like being made fun of or having her homework incinerated, “I just spent two hours doing that.”
“Oh come off it Granger,” Draco snarled, “That was just a copy. Be glad I didn’t burn the real thing.”
“You are insufferable.” She screeched, “You just destroyed my property.”
“Wasn’t like you weren’t asking for it.”
“And how, pray tell, did I ask for it?” She asked, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
Draco smirked, “You left it out for any pyro to see it as something to burn.” Draco looked at her and faked a smile, “It was not my fault that you tempted me. A man is only so strong against it.”
Hermione scowled. “So I suppose I should thank you?” She questioned him sarcastically.
“No, you should thank me for this.” He grabbed her face in his hands and kissed her.
Hermione stood there in shock; she couldn’t believe that he was kissing her. She began to enjoy it for a second and then her senses came to her. Making a muffled sound of protest she pushed him away. “What the hell was that?”
“I don’t know.” Draco said, a confused look crossed his face. “I have somewhere to be.” He pushed past her and waved over his shoulder. “Bye Granger.”
October - Halloween Ball -7th Year
Draco watched as she spun around the dance floor in the arms of Harry Potter. She’d danced with many boys tonight and it was no wonder. She was stunning in a floor length sapphire gown. He'd always known she was beautiful, but instead of being able to compliment that beauty he'd been forced into a role where he'd had to degrade and humiliate her.
But tonight he didn't have to play that role. Tonight no one knew who he was and he could do whatever the hell he pleased without repercussions. He had to dance with her at least once.
“May I have this dance?” Draco asked Hermione. He knew she would say yes. He was wearing a mask. She wouldn’t see his face.
Hermione laughed and curtsied, “You may.”
“I can’t stop thinking about you.” Draco whispered in her ear as they began to dance.
Hermione momentarily froze, “Malfoy?”
“Who else do you know with eyes like mine?” He asked, his grey eyes boring into her.
“What are you doing?”
“I believe it’s called dancing Granger.” Malfoy said chuckling.
She struggled slightly in his arms, “I don’t want to dance with you.” She struggled more, but his grip was like an iron shackle.
“Just give me one dance and I’ll leave you alone. No one will know,” he urged.
She sighed and tried to find something vaguely non-repulsive about him. She decided she liked his smile, “Okay.”
Almost reluctantly, she lay her head on his chest before asking, “Why did you kiss me?”
“Because I’ve wanted to for the longest time.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you going to kiss me again?” She asked, tilting her head up to his.
“Probably,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper tingling in her ear, “I’m playing the game, taking a bet out on you. And you should know Granger,” he started, his breath warm on her cheek.
“Know what?”
“I play for keeps.”
January - 7th year
Hermione laughed as they walked down the hall hand in hand. It had been two months since she and Draco Malfoy had first kissed and he was leading her into another rendezvous instead of doing patrol. “What are we doing here?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t want it to stop.” Draco replied as he kissed her hand.
“Me either.”
“You’re not going to tell anyone else about this are you?” He asked, his eyes searching hers. He really didn’t want this to end and he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that if she told her friends that she would have to choose between them and him. He wasn’t ready to fight that battle. He didn’t like going into a race only to lose. Yes he was important to her, but they were her best friends and he just couldn’t beat them…yet.
“No, Harry and Ron would kill me. If I had told them this was our first time they might forgive me or think I was under the Imperius or something, but we’ve been doing this for months. I don’t think I can have an excuse for this.” She said as she looked determinedly at her feet. She didn’t like sneaking around.
“Do you really need one? Am I really that embarrassing?” He asked stopping them in the middle of the hall.
“Would you tell your Slytherin friends about me?” She looked at him defiantly. He wasn’t going to make her feel guiltier about this than she already did.
Draco thought for a moment, “I don’t really know. Would you ask me to?”
“I don’t think so. I don’t think either one of us needs to be shunned by our houses.” Hermione’s eyes stayed on her feet.
Draco scowled, “You’re just saying that because you don’t want to lose Potty and Weasel.”
Hermione shrugged before looking at him, “Probably, but I don’t want to lose you either.”
“Really?” He was surprised. He never expected her to admit that she wanted him around.
Hermione raised her eyebrows, “Do I really seem like the type of girl to be doing this with someone she didn’t care about?”
Draco laughed, “Good point. Hey look, that corridor is dark and deserted. Let’s go over there.”
“What?” Hermione asked. That corridor didn’t look at all safe and with the war on the horizon it probably wasn’t the best idea to go down that corridor by themselves. You never knew what lurked in the castle these days.
“Dark corridor.” Draco stated and gestured towards it.
Hermione looked at him like he was insane, “Why would I want to go down there?”
Draco quirked an eyebrow, “For a smart girl you’re really daft sometimes. We go down the corridor, find an alcove and I do that thing you like with my tongue.” He pulled her towards the corridor, a cocky smirk on his face.
Suddenly the corridor didn’t seem so scary anymore. Hermione grinned, “Oh. You know, I’m beginning to see dark corridors in a whole different light.”
March - Library Stacks- 7th year
Hermione gasped as his lips trailed down her collarbone. His hips ground into hers and she whimpered. Digging her hands into his hair she pulled him back up to meet her lips. Their kiss was needy and desperate, “I don’t think we should be doing this.”
“I think you should stop thinking so much.” Draco replied as he bit her neck. His fingers lightly traced the top of her thighs. He knew he was driving her crazy and he was enjoying every minute of it.
Hermione tried to hold back a moan as she said, “Draco thinking is what I do.”
He smiled as he heard the strangled sound come from her throat. He loved a challenge. “Well what we’re doing really doesn’t require a lot of thinking.”
“Actually it does. I haven’t done this as much as you. We can’t all be Slytherin sex-gods.” Hermione said, pushing him away and hugging her arms to her chest.
Draco smirked as he kissed on her shoulders. “Who said that?”
“Does it matter?” She said as she leaned into his chest. She could feel his skin against hers and it burned. Everywhere he touched burned. Their clothes had been discarded long ago. All that remained was their underwear and even that was becoming unbearable for Hermione.
“Yes. I have to know who gave me that wonderful reputation so that I can send them a thank you note of some sorts.” Draco said as he cupped her breast.
She gasped again, her eyes closing. She was so close to giving in. “You are so conceited.”
“Yes I am and you love it.” He stood in front of her and undid her bra, his hands leaving hot trails all over her skin. He leaned into her.
She lost it. She could feel every bit of him. She moaned softly as his hands caressed every available inch of her body. They were everywhere. On her shoulders, in her hair, on her breasts. Anywhere but where he needed to be. She pressed against him, “What were we talking about again?”
“I really can’t remember.” He said as she moved her hands to his hips to drag his boxers down.
“Oh. Okay. Can you kiss me again?” She asked him breathlessly.
May - The Night Before Graduation
“Hey.”
Hermione turned at the sound of his voice, “Hey.” She tilted her head to the side and smiled. “How’d you get up here?”
“Finnegan owed me a favor. I thought I’d say goodbye properly.” Draco replied as he sat on the end of her bed.
“Oh.” She looked at him in the mirror as he came up behind her and wrapped his hands around her waist. Her arm went behind her to caress his cheek, “Does this really have to be it?” She turned toward him. She didn’t want this to end. He meant too much to her.
Draco sighed and laid his head on her shoulder, “I don’t know. We both know where we’re going after today. I’m already a death eater and you’re going to be a champion for the masses. I don’t think that even I could be selfish enough to put you in that position.”
“Why not? You seem to like keeping me to yourself.” She replied, her hand caressing his cheek. It was true. He’d been very selfish with her since this had started. She rather liked it though. It made her feel wanted and loved…even though he had yet to say the words. Yet somehow, she knew he loved her. Draco wasn’t the type of person to spend so much time with someone he didn’t care about. He didn’t have the patience for it. And there were just times when they were together and not doing anything physical that she knew he had to feel something more for her. The way he looked at her…that couldn’t just be lust. She looked to him for an answer.
“I do Hermione, but I can’t put you in that position. If the Dark Lord found out that I was involved with you…Hell if my father found out what you were to me, you’d be dead within days. I can’t live with that in my conscience.” He took her hands in his, kissing them gently, “Hermione, I can live in a world where you’re not in my life, but I refuse to live in a world without you in it.”
Tears pooled in Hermione’s eyes, “Oh.” She leaned in to kiss him gently, “But Draco, you don’t have to follow in your father’s footsteps. There are other choices.”
“No. Hermione, that would still be putting you in danger. I can’t do that. If I stay a death eater I can at least know who and where we’re going to attack. I can protect you this way.” He led her to the bed, “And I’m damn sure Potty and Weasel won’t be welcoming me with open arms.”
A tear fell down her cheek as the weight of his words hit her, “I can take care of myself Draco. You don’t need to do this to protect me.” She closed the curtains of her bed around them and lay back into his arms, “I don’t want to live in a world without you in it either.”
Draco kissed her forehead before resting his against hers, “I’ll think about you all the time you know.” He wiped the tear away and turned her body so that he could spoon her.
“Why? Why can’t you just be yourself for once? Why can’t you just be selfish and protect yourself?” Hermione sobbed.
He tightened his arms around her, kissing the back of her neck, “Because I just can’t okay?”
“Why not?” She asked again, turning her head to look at him, “Just answer me this. Give me something to hold onto Draco. Give me something to go to when I’m not sure anymore. I want a real reason for you doing this.”
“I already gave you one woman.” He said exasperatedly.
“Well it’s not good enough.”
“Hermione please don’t make this harder for me than it already is.” Draco said, his eyes pleading with hers.
Hermione didn’t care. She didn’t care that he was trying to be noble. She didn’t care that this was hard for him. This was supposed to be hard. This wasn’t something that was supposed to be fucking easy. She hated that he was so calm about this. She hated that she was the one turning into a blubbering idiot. She began sobbing in earnest, “You’re leaving me. You’re walking away from me. So you better have a damn good reason for putting me through this.”
“Don’t cry Hermione. I hate it when you cry.” Draco said, kissing her tears away.
“Then stop making me cry.”
“Damn it Hermione.” He took a deep breath. He hadn’t wanted to say this. He wanted her to be able to move on and have kids with some nice bloke that could give her everything she deserved. He knew she deserved better than him and that he had been horribly selfish to even start this with her, but he’d wanted her for so long. He wasn’t raised to deny himself what he wanted, but somehow he was doing it. And he was doing it for her. He didn’t know when he got here, but he knew he’d have to say this. He knew that when he said it that it would make it harder for her to move on, harder for her to forget him. He didn’t want to give into his selfishness, but he was. He kissed her soundly, lips pressed hard against each other, tongues dueling. He could taste her tears. When they broke for air he looked at her softly, “I love you. That’s why I’m doing this. I love you.”
The breath was knocked out of her, “Oh.” She thought for a moment before kissing him again. “I love you too.”
“Was that a good enough reason?” He asked, laughing sadly.
She kissed him gently, “Yes, that’s a very good reason.”
December - Christmas Time - 7 months after Graduation
He was so sure of his decision, about staying away from her for her safety, but then again that was the only thing he was sure of much these days. He killed people, he went on raids, and he watched her and that was his life. He didn’t like it, he wished it was different, but there it was.
He was waiting outside of her parent’s in the big oak tree in the front yard. It wouldn’t be easy to spot him, but damn if it wasn’t cold up there. He knew he probably shouldn’t be here, but he couldn’t stay away. This would have been their first Christmas together where they had exchanged gifts and he had bought her a Christmas present. It didn’t matter that they were no longer together or that she probably wouldn’t know it was from him. He wanted to see her face when she opened it.
Though, now that he thought about it, she probably would know it was from him. There wasn’t anyone else who would have access to get her that book or, more accurately, that edition of that book. She would love it. He knew it without a doubt.
He watched as she walked out onto the porch and picked up the package. She looked from side to side and then up. For a moment he thought she saw him, but he let out a sigh of relief when her shoulders slumped and she began to tear at the paper. Her hand flew to her mouth and tears filled her eyes. He smiled. He had done well.
He watched as she went into her house, clutching the first edition of ‘Hogwarts A History’ lovingly to her chest, a whispered ‘thank you Draco’ on the wind. He waited a moment and disapparated away smiling for the first time in months.
May - Diagon Alley - A year after Graduation
“I know you’re there.” She said softly, a small sigh passing her lips. “I know you’ve been following me, watching me. Why can’t you just let me see you? Do you know how frustrating it is to know you’re around but never see you?” She looked around, “Don’t I deserve to see you too?” A shadow moved behind her. She turned on the spot and grabbed the first thing she could get a hold of which, lucky for her, was Draco’s cloak.
“This isn’t safe.” Draco stated, refusing to look her in the eye. He’d been following her all year, keeping her safe, catching glimpses of her, and just basking in her presence. He knew it was selfish to keep watching her, but he couldn’t help himself. He’d given her up already! He wasn’t about to lose this too.
“I haven’t seen you for a year. I don’t care whether it’s safe or not.” She argued as he pulled her into a dark alley. She sighed as it brought back memories of dark corridors and heated kisses. It’d been so long.
“Well I do.”
“Why?” She said as her anger began bubbling up inside of her. She pushed him into the wall, “Why do you care?”
“Does it matter Hermione?” He said helplessly. “Nothing I can say will change the situation. You should just pretend I don’t exist. It’ll be easier that way.”
“No it won’t.” She said quietly, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes.
“Yes it will.” He argued, turning to walk away.
“No it won’t.” She hissed. “Do I even get a say in this?” She angrily wiped at her eyes, “I think about you everyday Draco. Every damn day. This will never be easy. I will never not think of you. This is so stupid. I barely sleep, I have to force myself to eat, and I can’t stop crying. I put on this happy face that fools every damn person I talk to, but I’m not happy Draco. And I won’t ever be happy, because you’ve made up your damn mind that I can’t be with you.” She hit his chest, “Don’t you care? Don’t you care that this is killing me?” She was sobbing openly.
He took her into his arms, “I care. I care more than you’ll ever know.” He kissed her forehead as she cried. “Please don’t ever think differently.” He begged as she clung to him.
“How can I? You left me!” She said into his chest, hitting him with every word.
He silently took her blows, kissing her forehead he sighed, “I know.” He held her for as long as he could stand, drinking her in. It felt like seconds, like mere minutes, and he knew it would never be enough. He knew that he could hold her in his arms until the fucking day he died and he would still never have enough. Hermione was his drug and he was her addict. Only he couldn’t be with her. He had told her once that he couldn’t live in a world without her in it and he meant it. He was not going to be the cause of her death. And if in saving her, if by joining the death eaters to protect her he lost his life…then it was worth it. He breathed her in one last time before letting her go. “You should go be with your friends Hermione.”
“No I shouldn’t.” She whispered, “I’ve missed you.”
“Hermione,” he started as he looked into her eyes and found he couldn’t find words anymore. It’d been too long since he’d been acknowledged by her. He breathed her name again.
She smiled and put her hand to his face, standing on her tiptoes to press her lips into his. He responded instantly, lifting her off the ground his lips furiously working against hers. This was torture, this was murder, this was suicide, but damn if it didn’t feel so right. She knew that he’d probably walk away again, that kissing him like this would leave her shattered, but she didn’t care. She just wanted one last time. She slowly pulled away and lay her head on his chest, “We’re not so good apart are we?”
He shook his head, “How in the world did you come up with that?”
“You have circles under your eyes.” She said softly, hugging him tighter.
“And I hate seeing you like this. You’ve lost so much weight.” He traced her nonexistent curves, smiling sadly. He let her go and turned to walk away, but she pulled him back to her. “We can’t do this.” He stated.
She put her finger to his lips and kissed the hollow of his throat, “Yes we can. We’re two fairly bright people, we can figure this out.”
August - Draco's Manor
She's staring at him again. Normally she'd have more restraint than this, but right now she wanted to watch him sleep. He smiled when he slept, something he rarely did when he was awake. She loved to see him smile. Each one filled her heart more than the last and if she was honest with herself she was somewhat addicted to the feeling.
Tracing the contours of his face she sighed. She was leaving tomorrow to go on another Horcrux hunt with Harry and Ron. She would miss him dearly, but it wasn't like he was going to be sitting around waiting for her. No, he was going to be in peril as well. She, however, could not think about that. Worrying about him while she was on a mission could get her killed and he'd never forgive himself if she got killed because she was worrying about him.
She gets up from the bed and starts to dress. She doesn't want to say goodbye tonight. Saying goodbye means she might not see him again and she will. No matter what happens she will see him again. It wasn't too long ago that they both said they didn't want to live in a world without the other and they meant it. So she's not going to say goodbye, she's going to kiss him and she's going to leave.
As she turns around she sees his eyes are open. He's watching her, probably been watching her since she started dressing. She smiles a sad smile and kisses his cheek. She's got to go, he's got to go, and that's just it. Caressing his cheek lovingly she mouths 'I love you' before she apparates away.
September - The Forbidden Forest
She ran into the forest, a huge smile on her face. He was waiting for her, leaning against a tree. Upon seeing him she tackled him to the ground, kissing him fiercely. When they finally broke for air she spoke, “You were right! Harry found the last Horcrux. It was exactly where you said it would be!”
Draco smirked, “Of course it was. When has my information ever been wrong?” He pulled her back down for another kiss. It had been four months since they restarted whatever the hell this was in Diagon Alley. It had also been three weeks since he’d seen her. In his eyes that was entirely too long, but there was little he could do about it. Either he was off on Death Eater business or she was off globe-trotting with Potty and Weasel. They took what time they could.
"Well," she teased as she traced his lips, "There's a first time for everything you know."
"Not for me. I'm always right." He said cockily, smiling as he savored her touch.
She laughed and kissed him softly, "Of course you are."
"I am!"
Laughing at the indignant look on his face she got up from on top of him, brushing dirt off her jeans. She held her hand out to him to help him up, "Come on Draco. We don't have much time and I really don't fancy being with you in the Forbidden Forest."
"You didn't seem to mind it so much the last time." He teased.
"Well you weren't the one cleaning dirt out of unmentionable places for a week." She retorted, flouncing off to a part of the forest that they could apparate in.
A few days before the final battle
He slammed his hand on the table in frustration. “Why won't you do it? Why can't you just save yourself for once? You don't have to be the damn hero in this one. I’m giving you a chance to protect yourself.”
“Maybe I can't do it. Maybe I love you too damn much to watch you die at MY HAND.” Hermione argued, her hands crossed defensively across her chest. Draco could get her to do a lot of things, but she wasn’t going to budge on this one.
“This is the way it's got to be Hermione. We don't have a future outside this. I'm still going to be the bad guy and you're still going to be the bloody war hero. They don't get a happily ever after.” Draco shook her, trying to get his point across. There wasn’t another option in this scenario. She was going to have to do this or watch him receive the kiss. Yes, he had helped the Order, but he’d also committed war crimes. Those weren’t going to go away just because he fed info to the golden boy’s army.
“Maybe they do. When I tell them everything you've done to help us they'll have to let you off.”
“You see this mark on my arm?” he pulled up his sleeve to show the ugly black tattoo on his arm. He pointed at it furiously, “This is all they need to condemn me. They won't give a damn that I helped because I made the damn mistake in the first place.”
She rolled her eyes, “You’re being a bit dramatic I know for a fact that Harry will help.”
“Don't you see Hermione? I took the mark. In their eyes nothing else will matter. This mark was my death warrant.” He put his hands on her shoulders, shaking her lightly, trying to get some semblance of sanity into her.
“No it’s not. Stop saying that. We’ll find a way. We always do.”
“This isn’t a bloody fairytale Hermione. We’re not going to get a happily ever after. Why can’t you see that? Why can’t you see what’s in bloody front of you?” He sighed, running his fingers through his hair, “You don’t get it. I’ve killed Hermione. Do you think the families of the people I’ve murdered are going to be okay with letting me walk free? No they’re not. They want blood, my blood and I don’t think that’s going to change because I was feeding you information.”
“I do see what’s in front of me. Do you think I can live with myself if I killed you? Do you think that I’d ever be able to forgive myself?” She yelled, her heart beating erratically in her chest, a tear slipping down her cheek.
“Do you think you can live with watching me get the Kiss? Do you think I want you to see me like that? I know you. You’ll still be with me. You’ll still take care of me and I’ll break your heart every day. Do you think I can live with that?” He said lowly as he wiped the tear from her face.
“I can’t kill you. And I won’t watch you die. Draco, if it was me, would you be able to do it? Could you kill me?”
“That’s not the point Hermione.”
“Yes it is. Answer me Draco. Could you kill me?” She prodded him insistently. She knew what his answer was going to be.
“'Mione this is not the time or the place.”
“Yes it is. Tell me damn it. I deserve to know.”
“Hermione-” he started, but she put her fingers to his mouth.
“Come on Draco. It’s a simple question. Could you kill me?” Taking the fingers from his lips she waited for his answer.
He raked his hands through his hair once again; he was completely and utterly frustrated. “No I couldn’t. I’d kill myself before I’d kill you.”
“Then how could you expect me to?”
The Aftermath of the Final Battle
The ground was barren. What had once been lush and full of life was dead. The Great Lake was a mass of bodies, thrown there in the haste of battle. The water was pink, tinged with blood. There was talk of turning it into a mass grave, by using fiendfyre to destroy the bodies. Other people were saying that the Giant Squid would eat them. But the lake would always be tainted.
Angelina, Cho, Luna, Neville, Percy, and so many others had lost their lives, but she, Ron, and Harry were still standing. They probably shouldn’t be. They’d gone up against far more experienced, crueler wizards and witches. It was only by the greatest stroke of luck that as many on their side had survived.
And Draco. Draco had lost his mother in the battle. She had fought for the light, dying at the tip of her husband’s wand. Draco had already shown his colors at this point, he’d been a turncoat in the midst of the battle. It was by his bare hands, with a dagger he’d lifted from his Aunt Bellatrix, that Lucius had fallen.
He was currently being questioned extensively by Aurors and the ministry. She was walking to clear her head. Her heart was pounding for this final verdict. They were all convened, Harry and Ron too, in that stupid purple tent twenty feet away. They wouldn’t let her in. Right now she was being called a traitor. But really she wasn’t. And she never had been. She’d never given Draco any information about their, or the Order’s for that matters, plans or whereabouts.
She sat outside the tent. It wasn’t like she could hear anything. She was almost dead sure that Harry had cast a Muffilato to keep any unwanted ears from listening. Didn’t they know she was about to have a heart attack.
Suddenly the flap to the tent opened and everyone filtered out. Draco came out last and Hermione could hardly believe her eyes.
He had no restraints and was walking like a free man, but most of all he was smiling. She felt a smile bloom on her face before throwing herself whole-heartedly into his arms.
He swung her around, laughing exuberantly. The sound warmed her to her very toes. Everything was going to be okay.
The Epilogue: Sometime Later
He looked at the girl lying in the bed. She was tiny, no more than three feet tall, with a riot of dirty blonde curls surrounding her head like a halo. She was the best of both of them, her mother’s bookish charm and his acerbic tongue. Some would call that tongue a disadvantage, most would probably, but he knew what she was going to grow up into. That world would love her mother, but hate her father. She’d need that tongue, and both of their wits, to defend her name.
Audi Malfoy. The name rolled off his own tongue aristocratically, a true credit to his mother. Narcissa had taught him to be proud of whom he was, no matter what connotations his name was used in. Being a Malfoy was something to be proud of. This was an opinion he had worked very hard to instill in his daughter from the minute she was born. Not all little girls got told they were perfect and beautiful, but Draco was damn determined that his Audi was going to not only be told that every bloody day, but she was going to believe it. She was going to be strong and self-confident. She was going to have all the backbone and humility of her mother, and all the amazing self-image her father had not actually had, but projected. At three years old she was the sunshine in his world. He truly believed that Audi was the most beautiful thing he and Hermione had ever made.
Hermione.
They had been married for years now. Five to be exact. Audi had been born a year and a half after then. The war had ended ten years ago. They’d had their fights and, yeah, sometimes he slept on the couch, but they loved each other
“Daddy?” A small voice yawned from the pillow. “Where’s mommy?” Audi sat up, rubbing her eyes and looked at him curiously.
“I’ll go get her.”
This life wasn’t how he’d thought it’d all pan out, but it was everything he’d ever wanted and everything he’d needed. All was well. He'd made a gamble and won. He had been right, he played for keeps.