the key to happiness - dramione

(11)

Hermione Granger, age 24, working as Draco Malfoy's assistant at the ministry. No longer engaged to Ronald Weasley. Lives in Malfoy Manor temporarily.

Draco Malfoy, age 23, working at the ministry. No longer dating Astoria Greengrass. Lives in Malfoy Manor and Hermione Granger is currently visiting.

- - - - -
Draco closes the door to his office and looks at Hermione. He sits down in the armchair with Hermione on his lap.
"What even happened?" he carefully asks.
"Ron, he offered me money, I said no." she spits out.

"What do you mean?"
"For the cottage we lived in." The tears keeps falling down Hermione's cheeks and Draco keeps wiping them away.
"It's the first time I talk to him since... And... And... he asked if I was happier and I... I think I think I ruined that man's life."

"Hermione you just followed your heart." Draco tries.
"You called me by my first name."
"And if you wouldn't have done what you did hearts would still have been broken, including your own. You would never have married a man you didn't love."

"Maybe I could've learnt to love him again, I will never know." she mumbles.
"It doesn't work like that."
"You don't know that either."
"But I do know that if you would've stayed with him I would've been very hopelessly in love with you Hermione." he whispers.

She shivers as he mentions her first name once again and Draco wipes one last tear from her cheek. She leans her head on his chest and can hear every single breath he takes.
"You're right Malfoy." she sniffles. "You're right, I wouldn't be so lucky to have you otherwise."

He runs his fingers through her hair.
"Feeling better?" he wonders.
"I feel a bit empty.... And seeing Ron also made me think of... I really miss Harry." Hermione says and Draco kisses her forehead.
"We can visit your friends if you want." Draco suggests and Hermione nods.

"Tonight?" Hermione nods again. She takes a deep breath and looks up at Draco.
"I'm glad I've got you Draco." she smiles and they stand up, still hugging. Draco quickly kisses her forehead and then he lets go of her.

"I'm going to a meeting, if you want you can go through the papers in that chair. But you don't have to. Goodbye honey." Draco explains.
"Thanks, see you soon." Hermione replies and they meet in one last kiss before Draco leaves.

She sinks back into the armchair they were earlier sitting in. With her eyes pointed at the pile of paper further away she continues crying. She lets the tears flood down her cheeks, unstoppable.

When Draco comes back over an hour later she hasn't moved a single centimetre and is still sitting at the same spot. She hasn't touched the pile of papers at all. He shuts the door and drags her up on her feet.

"Granger, I can't handle seeing you like this. What can I do?" he wonders. Hermione doesn't answer and looks down on the floor. He points her destroyed face against him so that they look into each other's eyes.

"Please Granger, answer me." he begs. But she continues being silent. Instead stands on her toes and kisses him. He answers the kiss and makes her feel completely special.

Just the way of specialness that only he can make her feel like.
"I have to look at the papers on the chair." Draco interrupts. "Then we'll visit your friends." Hermione nods and they look through the papers together.

A few hours earlier than usual they leave the ministry that Friday. They go to visit Harry and Ginny first. Hermione knocks nervously at the door to 12 Grimmauld Place where Harry Potter and Ginevra Weasley lives.

It's Harry who opens the door and at first he only sees Draco Malfoy but soon enough he notices Hermione Granger standing behind the tall blonde boy.

"Hermione?" Harry says happily. "Come in, we haven't heard from either you or Ron since January, Ginny has been totally worried." Suddenly Hermione realises that Ron havent said anything to Harry and Ginny, probably not even met them at all.

Everything in front of Hermione's eyes turns dizzy. She's about to loose balance and she grabs Draco's arm. Suddenly she falls to the ground and Draco catches her.
"Granger." Draco shouts. "Granger. Hermione. Hermione!"

Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy helps carrying Hermione Granger into the living room where Ginny, six months pregnant, already is sitting.
"What's going on?" the read haired witch wonders and stands up.

"Hermione fainted." Harry explains.
"Mal... Draco, could you get a glass of water?" Harry begs Ginny points towards the kitchen. Draco hurries to get water and when he comes back Hermione has already woken up.

Confused she is laying on the couch and Draco walks up to her with the glass of water.
"Thank you." Hermione mumbles and looks around in the room. "What was it that you said Harry?"
"That neither you or Ron..."

"Stop right there." she interrupts. "Ron haven't told you a single thing?"
"A single thing of what?" his sister asks.
"I left Ron in January. I had stopped loving him and we were miserable. Actually I haven't really talked to him lots til good met him today at the ministry."

"He haven't talked with us. Harry I told you they broke up or something!" Ginny sighs.
"I hope he is okay." Harry says.
"I wonder where he lives." Hermione adds and both Harry and Ginny looks confused. "He sold our cottage." Ginny nods and everyone goes silent. After awhile Hermione sits up.

"I really missed you guys." she tries.
"We've missed you too." Harry says.
"And now I want to know.... HARRY! HARRY! It kicked! The kid kicked!" Ginny screams.

"Ginny! Wait really-" Harry starts.
"It really did! Come feel- There it was again!" she shouts. Harry walks over to her and places a hand on her stomach but nothing happens.
"Okay never mind, it stopped." Ginny sighs after a few minutes. Harry sits down again.

"Now I want to know what's between the two of you." Ginny smiles and points at Hermione and Draco. Harry who hadn't thought of it looks confused at him. Draco sits down next to Hermione and she smiles weirdly.
"We became friends and..."

"The two of you are more than friends." Ginny teases. Hermione bites her lip and looks at Draco.
"Oh, ehum ehh..." Draco tries.
"It's not official." Hermione suddenly says.
"Come on, say it." Ginny says excited.

"Screw it, I guess Draco s my boyfriend or something. Since like... yesterday? Yes Ginny. No, Harry wait!" Hermione shouts as Harry Potter stands up and walks out of the room. Without saying a word he loudly walks in the stairs up to the second floor

"Tell me more." Ginny urges, still as excited.
"But Harry." Hermione mumbles.
"I'll deal with him." Draco says and stands up.
"No...." Ginny tires but Draco already went after him.
"More. I want to know more! You don't have to say it Hermione, I know you just told us you left Ron but I'm not mad about it."

"Wait really?" Hermione asks. "Thought you were gonna hate me. You guys are actual family and I'm just me."
"Hermione I wouldn't ever hate you, I'm so incredibly happy you came over, you know you're my best friend, right?"
"Yeah!" Hermione smiles.

"Now tell more!" Ginny shouts. "I want to know every single detail. Did you have sex with him yet?" Ginny wonders and Hermione bites her lip and gives Ginny a meaning look
"Merlin's beard! You had sex with Draco Malfoy!" Ginny yells.
"Shhh!" Hermione exclaims "Ginny they can hear you!

"Okay okay okay, sorry." Ginny apologies and they both laugh. "Do you know?"
"Do I know what?" Hermione wonders.
"There's a certain way that people look at each other when they are in love."
"Huh?"
"And Draco looks at you that way."

"Now you're just silly, Malfoy doesn't love me yet, that would be too soon. I would've noticed him looking at me like that."
"No Hermione, I'm pretty sure he's in love with you, the two of you got that spark."
"Oh shut up Ginny."
"Okay but tell me more about you guys now!"