poison ✞ dramione

part sixteen

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it was the day draco was to turn back to his original self. hermione woke with a lump in her throat and dread weighing her stomach down. in just a little over twelve hours draco would become the cold, stoic eighteen year old she's accustomed to and there's nothing she could do to prevent the inevitable.

confrontations.

they'll have to face the elephant in the room—draco's past, what harry and hermione know and where that'll leave them. would it bring them together or rip them further apart?

draco—it doesn't take a genius to know he's a very cynical man. he'd question their motives, he'd laugh in their faces, he'd probably threaten them. people will do anything to assure the darkest parts of themselves don't reach the surface of reality, right? draco isn't any different. hell, if hermione was completely honest with herself, she wouldn't be surprised if adult draco is conspiring a way to get out of whatever the ministry will throw at him.

at the thought of the ministry, it brings her back to his trial. it was about a week before the beginning of june when it took place. harry, ron and hermione were all there and they watched in fascination—maybe something akin to fear too—as the malfoy heir did not thing but pick out the flaws in the ministry. they watched as he practically threw every decision made back into the wizengamot's faces. they watched as he hinted at something only he knew—something only he will know—and watched in amusement as they tried to figure that out.

draco malfoy is one damaged soul and she will try her best to help him, whether he wants it or not.

so, with that vow now in her head, she went about her day as it was any other. she woke harry, woke draco, made breakfast for the three of them (after the incident two weeks ago hermione had told draco that she'd cook) then waited for the other two to join her.

the three of them ate breakfast—draco's damp hair sending water droplets here and there but it didn't matter. hermione watched as he ate his breakfast, how he held crooks on his lap, how his manners were absolutely impeccable even though he is six. she could see how his eyes were still haunted.

and when their morning passed—classes too, which consisted of hermione doing her work and draco behaving splendidly, even with theo and pansy with him who are notoriously loud—they spent some time at ginny's and daphne's place.

hermione and daphne had started a tentative—friendship, of sorts. they talked about measly things, about daphne's little sister astoria and hermione's dentally practiced parents. that was quite the conversation between the two.

hermione watched as daphne watched little draco with a small smile on her face. "did you—did you and draco have a thing—?"

daphne chuckled at that. "it was purely physical, nothing more," she answered, not elaborating. "he was a good friend."

they both sat silently then. hermione didn't know what to say—they hadn't established a line quite yet and she didn't want to step over one that already might be there without her knowledge.

but it was daphne who started it. "it's been so long since i saw draco this carefree. i mean, he's never a careless person. always worrying about one thing or another but i never really knew why. you'd never be able to notice that about draco unless you knew him."

daphne paused as if she was deciding whether or not to spill some information—like she was deciding on what to say. "when it comes to draco you never really know that something's eating at him unless he shows you. he's just—he's good at pretending, you know? we used to joke that he should become an actor or something."

hermione didn't know where this was heading but she didn't stop daphne. if the blonde lady had something to say then she won't stop her.

"ever since he's been back," daphne sort of trailed off. she pushed back a strand of her hair. "ever since the war he's been different. and i'm not talking about the standard ptsd or whatever—something's happened over the course of the last few years and it's completely broken him. i think it may have all started when his father died.

"potter isn't the only one that has death following them like a dark cloud," daphne stated as she watched draco and theo animatedly talk about something. "draco's so accustomed to death he just—he starts to expect it, you know? his mother, his bro-father, blaise and even adrian."

hermione noticed the slip up. so daphne knew about hyperion, huh? she sat up straighter. "you know about hyperion?"

daphne froze at that. "how do you know about hyperion?"

"when draco was reverted back to his six year old self two weeks ago he asked for him," hermione explained. "he mentioned hyperion a few times. however, the other day—draco cracked. something happened to hyperion and it seems like he was blaming himself for it."

daphne bit her lip. "draco doesn't trust easy," she said, obviously trying to change the subject. "in fact, draco's the type of person to search for reasons not to trust you but he destroys himself while at it."

"what does that mean?" hermione couldn't help but ask. draco malfoy, self destructive? what?

daphne sighed and picked at nonexistent lent on her robes. "if draco trusts you it means he cares about you on some level."

hermione didn't need to hear anything else to know what daphne meant. it made her wince internally because she may be able to gain the trust, but to maintain it? it shouldn't be so hard, right?

they were silent once again. what was a lady to do, huh? who knew draco malfoy had so much baggage that he'd be this much work.

"thank you," hermione muttered. she received no reply.

by the time they arrived back to their dorms it was passed lunch and the antidote was clutched between hermione's fingers. draco was more subdued today and hermione couldn't be anymore greatful.

"tomorrow," harry muttered as they watched draco play with crookshanks. "i bet my money on it all going to shit."

hermione breathed out a laugh. "you know what, harry? i agree."

harry disappeared into the kitchen and hermione slipped the potion into her robes. she sat opposite draco and watched with a soft smile as he scratched crookshanks behind his ear.

"we're friends, right draco?" she asked tentatively. "you, me and harry, yes?"

draco nodded. "i guess. why?"

hermione shook her head. "i just hope you remember that then. we're here for you."

draco stared at her oddly but shrugged anyway. harry reappeared with three glasses of pumpkin juice and hermione inconspicuously slipped a few drops of the potion into the smaller glass. she sat it to the side.

"what do you want to do, draco?" harry asked.

draco shrugged. "i just want to sleep."

that was code word for 'my bruises hurt and i don't want you to know about them or to worry'. although she didn't really want to, she handed him his juice. "drink up your juice and then you can go to sleep."

draco drank up his juice and jumped off the settee. he dragged his feet to his room, muttering a quick "goodnight" when he passed them with crookshanks following him, the cats tail swaying from side-to-side in the air.

when they heard draco close his bedroom door, harry turned to hermione. "how long will it take for the potion to kick in?"

"as soon as he's asleep," hermione replied, shooting nervous glances towards the staircase. "and then we just wait for him to wake up."

harry pursed his lips. "he's not going to be pleased."

hermione sighed and stared at her fingers. "no, no he's not."

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hi!!!

sorry for posting a bit late—i've had quite the day despite being a lazy shit.

so, next part is adult draco! how's that going to span out? anyway, i can't promise an update tomorrow as it is my birthday (yep, i'm going to be fifteen) but i will still try my best!

-bee.