His Girl by greenflowerpot

Chapter 11

- NOT MY STORY!! ALL CREDITS TO @greenflowerpot ON A03!!

"Please," Draco said. "Don't make this difficult."

Hermione was in her room, door slammed shut. Draco had wanted to draw a hard line, had really tried to demonstrate how unwilling he was to change his stance. But Hermione was upset with him and maybe he had forgotten just how intolerable that was. It only took an hour of Hermione isolating herself for Draco to come to her door.

"Hermione," Draco said. "Please."

He wasn't sure exactly what he was begging for—her understanding, maybe, or for her to just not punish him by withholding her presence. The memory of her body against his was still seared into his brain, probably just as she had intended. He wanted that again, he wanted more, he wanted and wanted and wanted.

"Let's compromise," Draco said, hating himself. He felt fairly certain he had never negotiated once in his life. "What will it take, 'Mione? You can tell me, let's talk about this..."

"I want to talk to Potter," Hermione said. Draco let out a breath at the sound of her voice. "Or I want you to release him like you said you would."

"He wants to hurt you, 'Mione. I know you know what kind of man I am. You must know the things I would do to prevent—"

"Then let me talk to him. If he really seems that bad then I won't ask you to release him."

Draco rested his forehead against the door.

"What if he does something? Tries something?" Draco asked, his voice low.

"I'm sure you can think of a way to keep me safe," Hermione said. "Like you said, Mr. Malfoy. I know what kind of man you are."

Draco didn't say anything for a long moment.

"If I agree, will you come out?"

"Yes."

"A short conversation with Potter."

"Yes."

"And you have to listen to what I say, if I make rules to keep you safe."

"Yes."

Draco huffed, tilted his head back and squeezed his eyes shut. If they could only see the fearsome Dark General now, folding at the whim of this girl.

"Okay," he said. "Alright. Come out now, please."

A moment later, the door unlatched and opened. Hermione stepped out, pausing in front of Draco to look up at him. He looked back, irritated.

She brushed past him and made her way to the library, Draco following a few steps behind.

"Fill me in on what Potter said, please," she said.

They sat in their usual spots on the green sofa and Draco shared what he learned earlier at the prison. Part of him had been hoping that Hermione might have some idea as to what valuable piece of information her memories carried, but she was as stymied as he was.

"Perhaps we should try to restore another memory tonight?" she asked. "Before seeing Potter, I mean. Maybe I'll remember something relevant."

It was a good idea, and Draco didn't know how else to prepare for their conversation with Potter. He wanted to go into it with as much leverage as possible.

Draco retrieved the bottles of potion and two glasses from the side cabinet. He considered which memory to go through as he poured them each their portions. Something from when they were a little older perhaps—maybe a more recent memory would trigger different kinds of recollections.