the key to happiness - dramione

(13)

Hermione Granger, age 24, working as Draco Malfoy's assistant at the ministry. In a relationship with Draco Malfoy. Temporarily homeless.

Draco Malfoy, age 23, working at the ministry. In a relationship with Hermione Granger. Temporarily homeless.

- - - - -
"No, that's nonsense sweetheart. Where is Ronald, is he coming later?"
"Mum didn't you hear me? I left him months ago. Wait, mum! Mum! Mum! Are you alright? Mum! Sit down mum."

Jean Granger's face has turned white and she is shaking a bit. Hermione makes her sit down on the couch in the living room and suddenly Jean stops shaking.
"Ronald Weasley was perfect, Hermione sweetheart. Please tell me what was wrong with him, how could you not love him?"

"But mum, you can't marry someone you don't like and I didn't like Ron! I didn't love him mum, I just didn't love Ronald Weasley! And I told you, that I think... I think I love Malfoy... Mum... Did you hear that mum? I'm in love with Draco!" Hermione shouts irritated.

Jean Granger turns silent.
"Now you heard perhaps?" Hermione hisses furiously at her. "Oh, hi Draco... We're leaving again. We can't stay here any longer."
"Oh please Hermione." her mother tries.

"Shut up." Hermione yells. "You can tell dad to send me a letter if he reacts any better."
"Calm down, please Hermione. I didn't mean to-"
"Oh you meant it. We are going, now Draco."

Hermione totally ignores Jean and pushes Draco outside again. She walks after and they stop in the middle of the street. It has started to rain and Draco Malfoy tries desperately to calm Hermione Granger down. But she refuses to stop screaming.

At last Draco leans down and kisses Hermione. She is shocked but turns silent and looks wondering at him
"Granger." he says. "Granger, things are going really quick now... But, I... I also kind of love you too."
"You heard what I said to her?"

"The whole street must've heard how much you love me."
"I didn't scream, or did I? It wasn't very loud though."
"Granger. I've never heard you scream louder than that."
"Oh god." she sighs. The rain has gotten much worse and it pours down like hell on the two of them.

"We've got some problems." Hermione mumbles. "We've got nowhere to sleep, no food and on top of that I'm all wet now."
"First of all you could just use magic to get dry again, secondly we do have money so getting food isn't an issue and third of all we can just sleep at the office." Draco answers.

"And people call me the clever one." Hermione laughs.
"Yeah, you can be pretty dumb Granger."
"Hey!"
"I'm kidding."
"Sure you are. And what are you gonna do about the fact that we're homeless? Now that's a problem you don't have a solution for."

"Granger-"
"Oh my god Draco! We're actually homeless! I know I've been homeless for some time now but like, now none of us have a house at all!" Hermione yells and starts walking around in circles, clearly panicking.

"Granger, Granger hey listen to me! We are just temporarily homeless, we won't be for long. Again hun, we've got money. We can fix that, just not right in this moment."
"What did I do to deserve someone like you?" Hermione smiles and stops running around.

She goes up to him, stands on her toes and grabs his head between her hands. He lifts her up and she wraps her legs around his waist as they meet in a kiss.
"Darling you're short." Draco chuckles.
"No, you're just very tall." she laughs and they kiss once again.

From the kitchen window Jean Granger watches their whole conversation. She gets very touched after seeing everything, the panic, the kisses and the beautifulness in the whole disaster. Maybe that Draco Malfoy isn't as bad after all?

But it's too late to let the two of them in again, especially after how Hermione stormed out. Jean barely had time to think about it or blink before they transferred away from the scene anyway. They buy food and then they go back to the ministry.

At Draco's office Hermione makes two beds with sheets and pillows on the floor. At the same time Draco sets up a meal at his desk. He placed out two plates, wineglasses, silverware, a bowl of salad and two candles. Draco lights them with his wand and excuses himself to go to the bathroom.

Hermione finishes making the bed and sits down on a chair by the desk. On his way back to the office Draco stops before he enters the room again. He takes out his wand and with a spell he creates a beautiful bouquet of orchids.

He knocks lightly on the door and enters.
"Granger." he says and sits down. "The fact that you have the energy to come with me... Or i mean... Because you could've chosen to stay with your parents or so..."

"Draco, I wanna be with you. Didn't you hear me? I love you. And for once can't you just call me Hermione?"
"No, I will keep calling you Granger until you one day become a Malfoy."

"Shut it."
"Whatever, here." Draco gives her the flowers and Hermione takes it.
"Thank you." she smiles.
"I'm sorry that you gotta go through this with me. Having to flee from my own home, eat salad with me in my office and sleep on the floor with me."

"Shut it now Draco."
"But-"
"Eat, idiot." Hermione sighs and puts salad on both her and Draco's plates. They eat the meal in silence. When they're finished eating Hermione blows out the lights.

"I'm really really tired." Hermione mumbles and they help cleaning up the dishes.
"It's been a long day after all." Draco responds and wraps her up in a warm hug.
"Very long, I don't even remember when I woke up this morning."
"I remember." he smiles and gives her a smirk.
"Draco, what time is it even?"

"It's like in the middle of the night, isn't it?"
"Something like that." Hermione says and they get ready for bed and lay down on the floor. Draco falls asleep instantly and Hermione is awake the longest.

She hears Draco's low snoring and thinks of how life would've been if she never would've started hanging out with him. She would've been unhappy and with Ron. Suddenly she too falls asleep.

The morning after Draco has already woken up and gotten dressed while Hermione is still asleep on the floor. He whispers her name a few time but gets no response so he lays down next to her again.

He runs his fingers through her hair.
"I love you." he whispers and Hermione rolls over to the other side.
"Draco." she mumbles. "I love you too but right now I want to sleep." He laughs, moves closer to her and places his arm around her.

Suddenly someone knocks loudly on the door, Draco stands up in a rush and Hermione pulls the covers over he head. Without waiting for someone to open the door Astoria Greengrass steps into the room and with Ronald Weasley behind her.
"That's what I told you." she exclaims.