Project 137.43.M.D.

LIII. | OPE EXCEPTIONIS

LIII.
OPE EXCEPTIONIS
(defense to a principal claim)

Draco was just about to change into a hoodie and leave his apartment when a knocking sound reached his ears.

Frowning, he shoved the bunch of keys, indispensable in the days of wandlessness, in his trouser pocket and then slowly opened the front door. He had become overly cautious since Nott had ambushed him, and he wasn't expecting any visitors today. It was mid-morning, so the only person who dropped by regularly was at her desk in the Ministry of Magic. Or at least he had thought so. Because, against all expectations, it was indeed her face he was looking at now.

"So we're back to knocking?" he greeted her, irritated, because Hermione had actually given up this gesture of decency as soon as she had realized that he didn't mind if she burst in unannounced. (And he really didn't.)

Draco quickly dismissed those thoughts as she seemed rather stressed. If possible, Hermione's hair was curled even wilder than usual and a slight blush had crept onto her cheeks. Obviously she had been in a hurry. Her rapid breathing gave her away.

"I guess I forgot to forget it," she replied confused.

Then she frowned, shook her head at herself, and pushed past him into the hallway.

„Actually, I just had one foot out the door," Draco informed her, causing her to stop abruptly.

„Oh? Where did you want to go?"

"Home."

"Have you been day drinking? You're already home!"

"The Manor, to be precise."

"The... what?"

Something must have gotten her knickers in a twist this morning, because now she stared at him in huffy disbelief and even put her hands on her hips.

Although he had no idea why she was so upset in the first place, Draco grabbed her wrist conciliatorily and pulled her towards him. She only reluctantly allowed it, but as their bodies connected, she finally gave in. Her head sank against his chest and she took a deep, shaky breath, so he simply wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. His hand traveled soothingly down her back, gently massaging tense muscle groups, and he rested his cheek against her hair. He held this position patiently until he felt her relax noticeably at his physical closeness.

After a few minutes of silence, which she seemed to have needed badly, she shook herself and lifted her chin. She blinked up at him sheepishly, without explaining herself, but since Draco was sure that sooner or later she would tell him what was going on, he didn't push.

"So you want to go to the Manor," she finally repeated, as if her minute-long escape into his embrace hadn't interrupted their conversation at all.

He nodded. She wrinkled her nose.

"Why?"

"Well, it's a not inconsiderable part of my heritage." Draco shrugged. It seemed very far-fetched to him that she had seriously assumed that he would simply forget about the house and never visit it again. She must have known it would come to this at some point. "The papers say it was only magically sealed for the duration of my imprisonment. So now that I'm free and the house is mine I should take care of it, don't you think?"

Draco cocked an eyebrow.

He was of course aware why Hermione didn't erupt with joy when he mentioned the Manor. What she associated with the house, he had inevitably become aware of again when his memories had been restored. And he couldn't suppress this knowledge, because since she didn't have to lie to him anymore, she didn't hide the scars on her forearm anymore either.