Just a Kiss

Chapter 20

   For days after Narcissa's visit, Hermione spoke barely a word to Draco. She'd let her gaze slide over him and keep her mouth clamped shut whenever he entered the room, still upset that he hadn't even warned her of his mother's visit. 

Narcissa had apologized, of course, multiple times in fact. Try as she might, Hermione simply could not be angry at the woman. Despite being upset with Draco, the two women got on well. Hermione wouldn't have guessed how genuine and kind Mrs. Malfoy could be. She was quick to realize that she may have been hasty in judging all Malfoy's with the same characteristics of Lucius.

Despite the new friendship between Hermione and his mother, Draco still said nothing other than the apology he was forced to give. 

It's near a week after Christmas before Hermione and Draco manage to have a civil conversation. Even then, it wasn't much. 

"We're going to the library. Fetch your coat," Hermione says, pulling on her own. 

"Alright, I'll be back down in a few moments." 

With a huff, Hermione replies, "quickly, it closes in an hour." 

And that's as much as they talked besides Hermione telling Draco which books to find in the library. Two days later, they have an argument. It's over nothing major, just normal bickering between the pair, but a tapping at the window soon changes the situation. 

"Will you quit complaining for a single moment and let me read the letter," Hermione barks after releasing the owl and sitting down at the kitchen table. 

"It isn't my fault that the meat is under-cooked! If you weren't so dim-witted, you would know that you have to take it out of the oven when the inside isn't pink. Even I know that, Granger," he remarks, tossing the pan of still-raw chicken back into the oven and slamming the door closed. 

Ignoring the jab at her intelligence, Hermione glares at him and shouts, "shut up, for Merlin's sake!" Her outburst effectively silences him to mere grumbles of discontent as he leans against the counter. Taking what she can get, Hermione unfolds the letter. 

Hermione, 

They told me not to contact you, that it would be better for everyone if I just stayed away, but I was never one to listen to directions, was I? Anyways, I'll make this short as I don't have a lot of time to spend on a letter. I noticed that my family and friends didn't seem to know what had really happened on our wedding day. As far as I could tell, they only knew that I left, which means you didn't tell them. For that I am grateful. I know you said that you wouldn't tell anyone but I didn't actually believe you, especially after what I did. I never imagined you would be willing to help me after that, so thank you.

On that note, I need you to know that I never meant to strike you that day. It was a rage driven action and I am sorry for it. I've wanted to tell you that for a long time but never could get around to it. 

That was the only thing I regretted about that day though. Every word I said, I meant. It was your fault that I fell out of love with you. You were too dull and boring and I needed someone more fitting for a war hero like me. I needed someone more intriguing and willing to do more entertaining things for me. You were not, and most likely still aren't, that kind of person. I had hoped you would be, after the war, and that was why I had stayed. But you hadn't changed at all. That's your own fault and if you don't realize that then you can't be nearly as smart as you claim to be.

That is all I have to say.

There is no signature, but Hermione didn't need one to know who had written it. Not only because the content, but because the messy scrawl it is written in.