the key to happiness - dramione

(12)

Hermione Granger, age 24, working as Draco Malfoy's assistant at the ministry. Dating Draco Malfoy. Lives in Malfoy Manor temporarily.

Draco Malfoy, age 23, working at the ministry. Dating Hermione Granger. Lives in Malfoy Manor.

- - - - -
Draco Malfoy has just walked up the stairs to the second floor in the house of Harry Potter. He opens the door to the room where Harry went in. He tries to knock first but since nobody answers he just goes in.

"Potter." he mumbles. "Potter, please."
"Malfoy, get out and just leave Hermione alone." Harry hisses at him.
"Please." Draco tries. "I never thought I would have a conversation with you like this, so just- Please, Potter talk to me."

Draco walks over and sits down next to Harry on the bed.
"I've been hanging out with Hermione since last fall, that's almost a year soon. She works for me, she lives at my house and every weekend she's with when all my friends comes over to hang out."

"What's your point?"
"I really really like her, and this isn't something sudden. If I need some kind of permission from you to date her I'll do anything to get it. Please Harry."
"She and Ron, they were so perfect."

"They were not perfect."
"What do you mean? How can you even know that? You're not one of them."
"Neither are you and Hermione told me how she didn't love him and that she were uncomfortable in their relationship."

"Is that true?"
"Yes, please Harry. Believe me. She was trapped in their engagement. Forced." Draco says. "Don't you see-"
"Merlin's beard! You had sex with Draco Malfoy!" they hear Ginny yelling from downstairs.

Draco's eyes goes wide open and he stands up again, nervous on how Harry is going to react. Harry just chuckles to himself and then there's a silent moment
"Just one thing though..." Harry says.
"Yes."
"Is Hermione alright?"

"How do you mean?"
"Yeah, is she.... happy? Without Ron." Harry wonders, Draco nods and smiles. "Thanks, you can go again now Malfoy."
"Draco."
"Okay, Draco."

"And I won't go downstairs without you."
"Why? It's not like you enjoy my presence."
"Because I'll look like a fool coming downstairs alone." Draco jokingly says and Harry actually laughs at him. And after a lot of talking the two of them goes downstairs together.

Ginny and Hermione are laughing loudly but they turn quiet the same moment as the boys comes into the room again
"Are the two of you friends?" Ginny asks strangely. Harry quickly shakes his head.

"No, but not enemies." Draco answers. He takes Hermione's hand and drags her up on her feet. Hermione hugs him from the side and smiles at Ginny.
"We better get going." he suggests and Hermione nods.

Hermione and Draco says goodbye to Ginny and Harry before they go back outside.
"Is there anyone else you would like to visit?" Draco asks Hermione. She shakes her head.
"Not right now."
"Alright."

They go back to Malfoy Manor but when they arrive they see someone standing outside the front door. Narcissa Malfoy. Draco lets go of Hermione and runs towards Narcissa.
"Why on earth are you back here?!" he shouts and takes out his wand, ready to attack his own mother.

"He has been released from Azkaban now sweetheart. Your father is free." she explains and the second after she transfers away from there. Draco stands still and Hermione walks up to him.
"Come." she mumbles and  forces him into the house. She takes him to the living room and pushes him onto the couch.

"Hermione." says and takes a deep breath. "Do you know what this means?"
"What?"
"That Lucius Malfoy has been released from Azkaban. Do you know what that means?"
"No, I actually didn't think-."

"He is going to want Malfoy Manor back. And I refuse living with him. And there is no point of fighting back because he is so... I am... ehum... we.... We got to move out."
"Are you sure?"

"Totally sure."
"Oh my god."
"I know."
"Where are we going?"
"I have no clue at all."

"When do we gotta leave?"
"Now."
"Now?"
"Yes."
"Woah."

Hermione turns silent and Draco stand up again, not really sure of what he should do next. He hadn't planned on living here for the rest of his life but he also didn't plan to move out right in this moment today.

"Take everything you own and then we leave right away." Draco sighs and hurries to the second floor with Hermione right behind. They use their wands to gather stuff and are done in just a few seconds.. Then they go downstairs and while putting on their shoes again, someone knocks on the door.

"That must be him, he's here already." Draco whispers and drags Hermione with him to the backdoor. They go out in the backyard and managed to see a small glimpse of Lucius Malfoy around the house before they transfer away from there.

Draco took them to Diagon Alley.
"What are we doing here?" Hermione wonders.
"First thing I thought of." he sighs.

"Here, put your bag in this one." Hermione says and gives him the small sack lol hat she used the time she looked for horcruxes with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.

"We could go to my parents, I haven't seen them in awhile so..." she suggests.
"Aren't they... muggles?"
"Well yeah. Issue?"
"Okey, no sorry. That was rude of me." Hermione takes them to her parents house.

Hermione walks up to the door and rings the bell and Draco puts a hand on her shoulder. A few minutes passes but then eventually Jean Granger opens the door. She looks at her daughter.
"Hermione." she then smiles. "Come on in."

"And who are you?" Jean wonders.
"Malfoy. Draco. Draco Malfoy." Draco answers and Jean shuts the door behind them.
"Your father is working." she explains to Hermione who nods as a reply.

"Excuse me Mrs Granger, could I borrow the toilet?" Draco asks.
"To your left, the first door." Jean tells him and Draco leaves Hermione alone with her mother.
"Please Hermione darling, you haven't visited in forever! How are you, and how is Ronald? Oh and did you get a job yet?"

"Mum, I and Ron-"
"And isn't that the Draco Malfoy you always complained about each summer during your school years? What are you up to?"
"Shhh!" Hermione hushes her. "Mum I left Ron some time ago, I... He was... I basically didn't love him, okay!"

"But you and Ron-"
"And Draco! Mum, Draco is amazing. He helped me get a job and he helped me when I was at the bottom and I... Mum, I really like him. And he allowed me to stay at his place and mum..."

"Hermione you're talking nonsense." her mother replies.
"It's not nonsense and it's not waste of time, in fact... Mum I think.... I love him."