The Silver Envelope

Braver Behind a Telephone

Chapter Notes
This chapter is dedicated to my beloved, with whom I would happily talk--about everything and nothing at all until the end of time.
The call Hermione was waiting for came the next evening, just as she stepped out of the shower.
Quickly, she wrapped a towel around herself, padding to her bedroom to pick up the phone in there, switching on her bedside lamp as she did.
"Hermione?" came Draco's silky voice through the speaker.
, she said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Did your friend agree to fit Ginny for a dress,
then?"
"She did indeed, but she's rather busy. Can you two be at my flat at four o'clock on Thursday?"
"Hmm. I'd have to leave work early, but I think I can manage that. The trick will be getting Ginny to leave Quidditch practice," she said wryly.
Draco snickered.
"Her work ethic is almost as punishing as yours. I wouldn't be surprised if she leaves her own wedding early to head off to a match," he joked.
Hermione smiled.
*Harry mentioned something about having to marry her in muddy Quidditch robes. Hopefully your seamstress friend can help her avoid that."
"Seems like something Potter would do," Draco said. Hermione could practically hear him rolling his eyes.
"I think it's romantic," Hermione said, a tad dreamily.
"Still holding a candle for Potter, eh?" Draco drawled. "I knew it."
"Oh dear, do you think he knows?" Hermione said in mock horror. "I had planned on asking him to run away with me at the wedding!"
"I hate to break it to you, but I think he does actually like the Weasley girl more than you, god knows why," Draco said.
Hermione's stomach flipped at that. It was supposed to be a joke about how much he disliked Ginny, but somehow it sounded more like an admission that his personal tastes leaned toward her instead.
She bit her lip, unsure if she should say what she was thinking.
"I've decided to forgive you, I think," she announced. "On one condition.
There was a short pause, then Draco said, "What is it?"
"You read Keeper of Hearts by S.K. Scarlet, and tell me what you think of it," she said.
She could imagine his grin. It accented the longsuffering groan he let out, and she could almost see the way it would make his silver eyes glint with mirth.
"I should have known becoming friends with you would result in a homework assignment at some point," he moaned.
"Ten inches of parchment on the effects of interhouse dynamics on romantic relationships. Due next week," she demanded in her best impression of McGonagall.
He nearly wheezed with laughter at that. She grinned, feeling giddy and bubbly at the sound of it.
"I suppose a book report is a small price to pay," he relented, still chuckling. She heard him sigh, then say, "I really am sorry, you know."
Hermione swallowed, leaning back on her bed, pressing her damp hair against her headboard.

"I'm not sure I want to hear that, actually," she admitted softly.
There was a pause.
"What do you mean?" Draco asked.
Hermione chewed on her lip nervously.
"What you did.. it was, well, you were right when you said you'd crossed a line," she said.
Draco waited.
"But that's not really what I was angry about," she finished.
"What were you angry about?" Draco asked quietly.
Hermione wet her lips, considering how to say what she was thinking without completely making a fool of herself. It was a strange predicament, trying to find a way to share her most vulnerable thoughts with someone who she'd once considered her enemy.
"I don't want to be some plaything of yours," she said. "I felt so stupid after kissing you in the lift.
And then after what happened in the library...I realized I had set myself up to be some sort of casual fling for you. I should have made myself clearer.
Hermione's heart was beating far too quickly. She wrapped her towel tighter around herself, anxiously waiting for him to say something.
"Alright then," Draco said slowly. "Why don't you make yourself clear now? What do you want, Hermione?"
It felt like a test. Suddenly, Hermione was glad they were talking on the phone rather than in person. The barrier of distance helped her feel braver. Whenever she could see Draco, could feel his intoxicating, powerful presence, she lost a bit of her nerve. It was much easier to find the words
to express herself when he wasn't in the room.
"I think you already know that I find you. attractive," she said, gulping nervously.
She could hear his arrogant smirk as he said, "Yes, but it's nice to hear you say it."
He must have heard her disgusted huff because he laughed. She closed her eyes, secretly savoring the sound of his delight.
"The problem is," she continued, "that I'm not really in the best place to start anything new right now. I've only just ended things with Ron, and I've got a lot of work to do. On myself, I mean.
There ." she blew out a large breath, "there's a lot I need to think about."
Draco seemed to be taking in her words.
"Alright," he said, sounding thoughtful. "Now it's my turn.
"Your turn?" she asked.
"To lay my cards on the table," he explained. "You've told me what's going on in your head. Now I'm going to say what's been on my mind. If you want to hear it," he amended, seeming to realize that she might not want to hear what he was thinking. That couldn't be further from the truth.
"Please do," she prompted, feeling a bit breathless.
She heard him swallow.
"I can see that you're having a difficult time, after Weasley and all," he said. "I've been trying to earn your trust, trying to support you. You said you wanted my friendship, and I want...as much as I can get." The admission made her draw a silent breath, and she didn't dare interrupt him. "But I'm aware that my presence in your life has made things more difficult for you. So, I decided to let you determine the...nature of our relationship. And that's why I was sorry."
He paused again, and Hermione clutched the phone, holding her breath as she listened.
"You asked for friendship, and I mucked it up. I should have given you space.
"But now," he went on, sounding surer, "now you don't have to worry about that anymore."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.
"I mean that... I'm handing you the reins, Hermione. Officially. You set the terms. You tell me what you want. I'lI leave you alone, or be your friend, if that's what you want. I'll gladly be your bodyguard especially if it means I get to rain hellfire on Weasley. Hell, you can keep me as your plaything, if you fancy."
Hermione's eyes went wide as she listened. She could hardly believe her ears.
"The point is," he said, "I'm whatever you want me to be. Just say the word."
Hermione nearly dropped the phone in shock. Air seemed to have permanently left her lungs.
This was so much more than she'd ever expected. She was reeling.
Words escaped her. How on earth did he expect her to respond to that?
Seconds ticked by, or maybe minutes, and Hermione sat on her bed, clutching at her damp towel and wondering how the hell this had happened.
A dizzy, lightheaded feeling overtook her. She gulped in a breath, then another, trying to tether
herself to reality.
Suddenly, she realized she actually had dropped the phone. She picked it up from the bedcovers with shaking fingers, holding it to her ear like a lifeline.
"Hermione?" Draco said. "Are you still there?"
"Yes," she said, sounding not at all like herself. "I'm here."
He waited for her to speak, but she still didn't know what to say.
"Um." She groped for words. "That's.. that's a lot."
"Is it...alright with you?" he asked.
"Y-yes?" she whispered, then cleared her throat. "Yes. That's alright with me."
He blew out a breath.
"Alright then. So. Friends?" he said.
Hermione blinked.
"Er. Friends," she confirmed.
"Good."
There was another long pause, then he said, "Hermione?"
"Yes?"
"As your friend, there's something very important for me to know," he said solemnly.
"What's that?"
"What is your favorite food?" he asked, his voice deathly serious.
A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth
"Bread. All kinds," she said. "What's yours?"
"Sushi," he answered soberly.
"Why sushi?" she said through a grin.
"Why bread?" he countered.
And just like that, things between them were back to normal.
Hermione didn't know how long she sat there on her bed, feet tucked under her, smiling into the phone as they talked. It might have been hours, from the range of subjects they covered. She just couldn't seem to bring herself to hang up, and he seemed to feel the same way.
He asked about her childhood, what it was like growing up as a muggle. She explained dentistry to him, laughing at his horror at the concept of someone drilling into his teeth. She listened while he talked about what he had been though since defecting from the Death Eaters, and how much better he'd gotten since starting to see his mind healer.