Beginning at the End ⏃ Dramione

Chapter 22: Exposure

The next morning, Hermione turned over in a strange bed, trying to remember where she was. She sat up, turning to face a window that looked out on a farm. Allowing her curiosity some indulgence, she stood and stepped over dusty storage boxes, approaching the window and wiping it down so she could see out it better. The land was covered in flossy green grass and long stone walls that reminded her of Ireland. If she craned her neck, she could see a wood fence that might have held in animals at one time. The foggy morning seemed unable to decide if it were spring or summer; the back of her neck was sticky with her hair matted against it, as it had only been cool and rainy the evening before.

Hermione grabbed her purse and made her way to the bathroom to freshen up, noting Harry and Ron's open doors and empty rooms. Once she was finished, she made her way down the narrow hall, the boys' chatter becoming louder as she approached. She strained to hear, wondering if their banter might include Draco, and her heart began to race. Did they start without me? Are they getting along?

As she peeked her head past stair entrance, the chatter immediately stopped and Ron chirped, "Morning, can't remember the last time we ever woke up before you. "

Harry looked at him, "Not true, she's been known to do some late-night seditious work, haven't you, Hermione?"

Just then, she heard something over by the den and her heart began to beat faster than before. The boys clearly had not heard it, because Ron snickered, "Oh, right, Harry... hats for house elves, is that what you're on about?"

Hermione tried to peel her eyes away from the den, forcing a smile up at them for their jests. Trying to remain cool, she went to pour some tea and make her way to the table, curious what the boys had been sniggering about.

"Oh, have some questions down already?" she noticed, seeing a sheet of paper between them.

They both nodded, smiling too knowingly for just simple questions. Harry cleared his throat, "We're still thinking of some more. We have 30 minutes so we might as well use them."

With curiosity, she leaned over to read them. At first she was pleased to see the standard questions, but then there was a range of completely ridiculous ones. "You can't ask those!"

Ron abruptly looked up, offended, "Why bloody not? We might as well have some fun."

Hermione pursed her lips, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms, "He has to agree to answer them before he takes the serum, otherwise you could violate his privacy."

Wide-eyed, Ron gaped at her, "He has to agree to them? We might as well toss this."

Harry stopped him from nearly ripping up the paper, shaking his head at the overreaction.

Hermione sat up, taking a sip of her tea, "You know, he answered a lot of questions for me that I thought he'd reject, so... you never know. Maybe he will answer some silly questions, just to gain your trust."

Privately, she had to wonder if Draco would set aside his pride in exchange for trust. Maybe for her.

Harry grabbed the quill from Ron, "Well, let's write some more out, in case."

Just then, the door opened from the den and all eyes were on Draco. He had a short-sleeved shirt on, which showcased the bandage covering his dark mark. Hermione entertained a passing thought that she had never seen Draco in shorts. Perhaps he had not brought any.

She smiled up at him, trying not to concentrate on the events of the night before, "Would you like some breakfast, Draco? The boys made it."

With a lazy nod, he slowly strutted over to the table, taking the spot she had been sitting before getting up.