Just Not Cut Out for Torture (HP - Drarry)

Chapter 41: Putting It All Together

'k you guys. Just wanted to say you're awesome, and thanks for reading my not-actually-a-chapter post yesterday. All of your comments really helped me work through the stress, anxiety, & angst of coming out to people (even though I'd already done it, but sometimes just after you hit send/post is the worst). And I'm feeling much more settled in myself, and like I can stop crying and start working to move past the tragedy of the shooting. So thank you - and here's the next chapter (just a tad late, I know, 'cuz I've got a cold, and slept in this morning).

Draco POV

Hermione and Luna sprawled on a couch in the Gryffindor common room, reading and chewing on matching quills. Harry and Draco lounged comfortably on the couch facing them. Draco, head resting in Harry's lap, was revising for Potions, while Harry read the latest issue of Quidditch Monthly and absently carded his fingers through Draco's hair. Draco hoped he'd never stop.

"Harry!" Hermione admonished, "you really need to think about this! Exams are only a few weeks away,"

"'Mione," Harry groaned, "I have thought about it."

Hermione sighed. "Harry. Everyone knows what they plan to do after graduation. The only people who've not decided are you and Draco."

Harry's fingers stilled. Draco didn't have to look at him to know he was scowling, face set into the mulish expression he got when Hermione badgered him.

Draco sighed, carefully marking his place, and sat up. "Actually 'Mione," he said steadily, "we have decided." He glanced at Harry, who rolled his eyes, but nodded.

"Really?" Hermione said doubtfully, "And what's that then?"

Draco took Harry's hand, squeezed it. "We're renovating Grimmauld Place."

Hermione frowned. "That's not - "

"For heaven's sake, 'Mione," Harry exclaimed. "We're turning it into a place for people to stay and get back on their feet, like we said we would. There's plenty of people whose families aren't happy with their choices, or whose parents are in Azkaban, or dead." He said the last quietly, slanting a concerned look at Draco. Draco found his concern both adorable and exasperating.

"We were never close," he said softly.

"They were still your parents."

Draco shrugged, eyes flat and steely. "They dug their own graves, as far as I'm concerned. I lost all respect for my father when he aimed a killing curse at my back, and killed you instead. The coward didn't even have the guts to look me in the eyes as he cut me down. As far as I'm concerned, his words to Voldemort were true. He had no son."

Harry kissed him softly, then turned back to the girls. "Anyway, I need to go speak to McGonagall about the legal side of things. I think we have to get certified as an orphanage, since a bunch of the students we're taking in are underage."

Hermione watched him walk away, eyes unreadable. Draco assumed that her reasons for watching were different than his. He hoped so, anyway. He'd hate to have to fight Hermione for Harry.

She turned to him, the instant the portrait swung shut behind Harry. "I'm sorry, Draco. I had no idea. It's just - I worry about him." She laughed softly. "I spent six years looking after him, worrying about him, and now it's hard to stop."

Draco nodded. "I know. But, just because he has me, doesn't mean he doesn't still need you, you know."

Her eyes misted over. "Thanks Draco. I - I'm sorry for how we treated you, over the years."

He snorted. "Hermione. I called you some pretty terrible names. I picked fights with you all constantly. Believe me, I deserved everything I got."

Ron snorted, from his place by the fire, but otherwise didn't comment.

Hermione shot him an annoyed look, then turned back to Draco. "Well, anyway, you're all right now."

Draco studied her thoughtfully. "Harry's keeping Kreacher on, at Grimmauld Place," he said abruptly. "We offered to free him, pay him, all of that. He didn't want it. That's part of why Harry's been reluctant to talk about our plans, I think. He's worried you'll think less of him for that." He raked his hand through his hair. "Maybe if you visited one day, talked to Harry about his plans for the place, talked to Kreacher even - get his side of things - I think that would help."

"That sounds like a lovely idea," Luna said.

Hermione met her eyes for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. I think I'd like that. And... I think I'd be OK with it, even. If it really is what Kreacher wants."

"There you girls are!" Fred and George exclaimed, throwing themselves onto the couch and then draping themselves over Hermione and Luna.

Hermione turned her face up to George's, kissed him soundly while Luna cuddled into Fred.

"Oi, mate, have you forgotten how to share?" Fred asked after a few minutes.

Hermione broke the kiss and grinned at him. "I don't know, Fred, I think your brother may be a better kisser."

"Right. Shove over," Fred commanded. Luna pouted as he pulled away, then cuddled into George as he plopped into his brother's vacated spot. Fred, meanwhile, pulled Hermione into an even longer kiss.

Draco squeaked. "Hang on! When I – jokingly, I might add – accused you of being intimate with Weasel and the Weasley twins, you hit me! You said, and I quote, 'Ew!'"

"If you recall, I didn't specify exactly which part of your accusation I was objecting to," Hermione said primly, pulling back just far enough to smirk at him.

Draco spluttered. "But...but..."

"Oi! Hang on!" yelped Ron, suddenly catching on. Everybody ignored him.

Draco was still spluttering. "But... how were you not in Slytherin?"

Fred clapped him on the back. "Oh, well done, mate!"

George followed suit. "The Slytherin Prince, out-Slytherined by our resident brainiac," he chortled.

Hermione raised an eyebrow and tapped her foot.

"Who we are very very fond of," said George hastily.

"Oh, yes. Very fond," added Fred, "Brains are sexy."

"Hmmm." Hermione didn't look convinced.

Luna cuddled up to Hermione and twined slender arms round her neck. "You know," she said thoughtfully, "I don't think these boys appreciate you enough. Why don't you come back to my room and help me think up ways to punish them."

Ron emitted a strange choking sound, like a teakettle that's just realized it would rather be a coffeepot.

"And brains are definitely sexy," Luna added, voice slow and dreamy, as she played with a lock of Hermione's hair.

Hermione practically purred as Luna slipped a hand into Hermione's, twined their fingers together, pulled her from the couch, and led her away, leaning her head on Hermione's shoulder and whispering something about leather that Draco tried very hard not to hear.

"Well," Draco said, once they'd disappeared from view. "That was certainly...interesting."

"Leather..." George said dreamily.

"Leather..." Fred echoed. Both boys let out gusty sighs.

Draco snorted. "Come on, Weasel. Harry should be done with McGonagall soon. Let's go see if he's up for some pick-up quidditch.

Ron nodded mechanically. "Harry. Quidditch. Right."