Beginning at the End ⏃ Dramione

Chapter 10: Transference

Hermione slowly reached for the letter and looked up at him. Wait, it really does exist? I mean- he was under the serum when he told me- I keep forgetting that.

He looked visibly nervous and sat waiting.

"Oh! Did you want me to read it... right now?"

"Well I mean- you don't have to... it wasn't like... I - You can read it later if you want."

Hermione studied his nervous reaction, and decided she quite liked watching Draco Malfoy stumble over his words. He appeared vulnerable again, like when he was sleeping peacefully in his bed.

"Okay, how about you go over there and let me read it alone? After all, that was how it was intended to be read the first time, right?"

Draco nodded and slowly stood up, watching her as he shoved his hands into his pockets. She was examining the envelope and then noticed he was still there, stalling. "Go! I want to read it!"

Grimacing, he walked away to the counter to fidget and clean his potion tools, though he glanced up to see her reactions every so often. While he waited, he took note of the Veritaserum that Hermione had been brewing, and to keep busy, he checked on its progress.

Over on the couch, Hermione carefully opened the envelope like a lost relic, finding an old parchment paper inside. There looked to be the remains of a red wax-seal that had crumbled from years of wear and tear. Glanced back to where Draco was, she saw that he was thankfully keeping busy by taking notes in his journal, so she quickly brought the parchment to her nose to inhale the letter.

It smelled good to her. She noted an added hint of jasmine, probably from being stored in his bag for so long. It made her think about how long he must have had to keep such a thing a secret, in an emergency bag. What else does he keep in there?

She carefully unfolded the parchment and opened the letter to its full length. At a glance she recognized his writing, though it was slightly less tidy. A smaller note was also attached, and she noticed there were some drawings near the edges, which made her giggle quietly.

Back in the kitchen area, Draco heard Hermione's faint giggle, Oh Merlin, it's open. At least something in there is funny to her. I hope she doesn't find it offensive.

Hermione adjusted herself on the couch, tucking her legs under her and fully engaged in the letter:

Dear Granger,

I was bored and decided to write to you. I thought that maybe next year I would try to be nicer to you because you're pretty clever and could use an equally clever friend. I think Potter and Weasley are a bit dim-witted and you are probably bored of them by now. I could also give you flying lessons. You did not seem that skilled in our flying lessons.

What do Muggles do over summer break?

I will probably be traveling somewhere grand like Paris this year.

Okay, have a good summer,

Draco Lucius Malfoy

Hermione raised her eyebrows, wondering what her younger self would have thought about this letter. Would I have responded? ...Yes... She'd had a small crush on Draco when she first met him, thinking he was some prince from the magical world she had not yet heard of.

She focused on the extra small parchment attached:

Coupon Good for One Free Flying Lesson.

Younger Draco had drawn decorative designs around the words, making it appear like a fancy movie ticket. He made me a coupon for a flying lesson?