Saving the Enemy

Chapter 8

Hermione

Hermione hates going to work, she never hated it before. She now just hates to leave the bed with Draco, hates having to say goodbye to him every day, leaving him with books and a television. She hurries home every day, not working overtime in her office but instead working at home so she can at least be in the presence of Draco. He cuddles her while she works, reading his own material. She sees him reading several of her Muggle books, even sees him enjoying them. She smiles every time she comes home to him curled up with a good book, looking up at her and smiling at her like she is the world, his world.

Hermione rushes in, making sure to avoid any conversations, especially with Griffin who is still on about his new girlfriend, so she can get straight to reading and working her brain. They haven't found anything new yet, just a longer list of deatheaters within the organization. Unfortunately, their leader was smart enough not to reveal their identity. The only information they have is that the leader is intelligent, making sure to cover their tracks, never revealing any information about their identity, but has a clear end goal. Which is rather unfortunate because this makes it much more difficult for the Aurors.

Hermione has resorted back to the corkboard, the map, and the list. She has been trying to find out where they might be residing, working meticulously, having to play with very small details and calculated eyes. This is one of the reasons she was chosen as the head of the case, she is willing to take as much time and effort needed to figure out every case handed to her. She never gives up, giving more of her life up for this than anyone else would even imagine. However, now that she has a reason to go home each night, she finds herself working harder than ever to solve this quickly.

Hermione remembers something she picked up when rescuing Draco. She has made it through half the work day, owling the Minister that she was heading home for some time to clear her head for the rest of the day. He agrees, mentioning that maybe she is working too hard, insisting without room for question that she takes the weekend off too. Hermione doesn't try to argue, thinking about how much more time she can laugh and talk with Draco, feeling swells of happiness whenever she is around him. But she knows she will work from home for the rest of the day, remembering the letters she had meant to read ages ago. It had just simply slipped her mind.

Hermione floos home, smiling when she sees Draco at the table eating some treacle tarts she had made yesterday while reading another of her books. He looks up at the sudden sound, looking quite frightened, but he instantly relaxes once he sees that it is Hermione.

She smiles at him brightly, rushing over to him, throwing herself into his arms. She sits on his lap while burying her head into his neck, breathing in his cologne. She feels him laugh against her. Hermione is certain he can feel her heart racing from being this close to him. Draco hastily puts the treacle tart and the opened book down so he can embrace her around her waist. His touch has her body buzzing, causing a desire to be closer still.

However, she goes against what she wants and gets up, placing a light kiss against his soft hair, still unable to erase the grin that has found its way to her the second she saw the man dressed in his pyjamas in her kitchen.

"What are you doing away from work?" he questions, but clearly not minding she is home now.

"I asked for the day off to read some paperwork here. I left it here and didn't really want to return afterward," she explains hastily, turning to leave the room. "Movie night?"

"Alright, I'll be out here," Draco says, knowing she will lock herself within their room for a few hours until she finishes what she needs to. She loves that he gives her the much needed privacy she doesn't even need to ask for. He has been better with being alone. She loves to see himself slowly becoming his old self, but still unable to turn fully into that foolish boy who put her through hell, making her doubt herself. That boy has left, leaving a man she has to admit she fancies. She can't deny it anymore, but she doesn't know how he feels. They never discuss it, although the stolen glances and looks of longing have her wondering if something more than friendship is brewing between them.