Hold On - Dramione

Chapter 33

Hermione tried not to allow herself the possibility of considering what would happen if Draco wasn't released. So, instead, she tried to plan for the future as if Draco would be a free man. And now, his first surprise was left for him as they exited the Ministry and appeared in the streets of Muggle London. A broomstick, one that was shiny and new, was waiting for them.

Rather than Apparating back to the Manor, Hermione thought that he'd like flying back better, now that he was finally free. They'd barely said a word to each other as they left the Ministry, but Draco had said even less when his jaw dropped at the sight of it, not even needing words to understand that this was Hermione's doing.

Her arms had been tight around his middle as they'd taken to the skies. The wind was cool on their skin, combated by the sun that shone down on them as Draco flew with expert skill. Hermione couldn't help but smile as he did loops and tricks through the air, his skills still as sharp as they ever were.

Her smile was small but still remained as Draco came to a stop. He hovered before his house which looked completely different but still all the same. he saw the light engulf the stone walls of the Manor for what seemed to be the first time in many long years. The garden was no longer filled with human statues. The only sculptures remained were the ornate fountains that spouted shimmering water. Flowers of every colour covered the hedges, the grass a brilliantly bright shade of green. The whole Manor just seemed to be teeming with colour, with life; with light.

They were silent still as Draco landed at the gates, wanting to stroll into his house instead of flying in. He had nothing to say still when Hermione was the one that pushed open the gates that were now made of silver rather than the black iron he'd last seen them as. The magic that surrounded his house welcomed him home, imbuing him with his featherlight feeling of contentment.

They walked inside, Draco following Hermione as she made her own way through his house. It tickled something inside him that she seemed this at ease in his home because now it actually felt like a home.

He continued following her, nothing would be able to stop him from doing that, but as he did, he still marvelled at everything that had changed. The wide-open windows, the colourful flower arrangements, the pictures and the artworks were more than just portraits of long-dead Malfoy predecessors. He wondered if his mother or Hermione had found a broom cupboard or something of sorts to stuff them inside of – and what his painted ancestors might have to say about it. It brought him a freakish sense of delight to think about them rolling over in their graves at that.

Hermione led them straight into his bedroom. Even the changes in this room alone were slight but impactful. The white blanket and throw pillows decorated his made bed with black sheets. The vase of sunflowers that sat on his desk. The extra robe that hung near the bathroom door. The array of women's clothes that he could spy hanging in his wardrobe. The silvery gossamer curtains that decorated his balcony doors but that always allowed light through – the same curtains that surrounded his four-poster bed. Even the way that Hermione walked towards his desk as she shed her coat and scarf, draping them over the back of the chair before she began to undo her heels.

When she remained in only her blue dress, did she turn and face Draco. "How did you know?" she asked. "About Ron. How did you know?" She didn't give him a chance to answer before she started speaking again. "I know I kept it from you, and you have every right to be angry about it, but I did it because –"

"I know why you did it, Granger," he interrupted calmly, sticking his hands into the pockets of his striped pants. "And I'm not mad at you."

"You're not?" she questioned.

"No," he repeated as the new tomes on his bookshelf took his interest. The spines were clearly newer, some of Hermione's newest acquisitions he guessed. He also assumed that the single book with a pink spine which was probably a muggle book of some sort was also hers because it was not there before. Heartthrob Hotel was most certainly not his. It did pique his curiosity though.