Jaded (Rewritten)

Chapter Seventeen: You Give Me Something

The sanctuary of Hermione's Ministry office felt like a world apart from the noise of the atrium. For the past week, she and Draco had operated in a "romance bubble," a fragile, beautiful space where the only things that mattered were quiet dinners and the lingering warmth of the Maldives. It was a necessary shield; between Ron's frantic attempts to breach her new wards and the media's obsession with his infidelity, Hermione was exhausted by the public eye.

"I was on my way to your boss's office when I saw this man lurking along the hallways. I think he's looking for you, though."

Hermione tore her eyes away from a dense parchment on Muggle-Wizard Relations and was startled to see Harry standing in her doorway, looking amused, with Draco right beside him.

"What are you doing here?" she asked in disbelief, her heart doing a little flutter she still wasn't used to.

Draco smiled sheepishly, adjusting his tailored robes. "I was summoned to do physicals for the new recruits, and I couldn't resist checking on you."

Hermione leaned back in her chair, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. "Really?"

"Really," Draco affirmed.

Harry rolled his eyes, his hand already on the doorknob. "You guys are making me sick. I'll leave you two alone," he said, closing the door behind him with a soft click.

The moment the latch caught, Draco's professional posture vanished. He walked toward Hermione and hopped onto the edge of her desk, facing her fully with a triumphant smirk. "I totally made that up. I wasn't needed here today—I just wanted to see you."

Hermione chuckled, standing up to meet him. "Slytherin, through and through."

Draco didn't miss a beat. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into the space between his knees. "I missed you."

"But we just had dinner last night," Hermione reminded him affectionately, her arms winding around his neck.

"But that was last night. Today is a different day," Draco quipped, his eyes scanning her face as if memorizing it.

"You have a point," she conceded softly.

He tightened his hold, planting a soft kiss on her forehead that made her eyes drift shut. "How's your day so far?"

"Hectic, but I'm thriving," she whispered. "How about you?"

"Pretty much the same." He paused, his expression shifting as he remembered something. He pulled back just enough to reach into his pocket. "I almost forgot."

"Forgot what?"

Draco produced a single, plain white button and held it out on his open palm. Hermione stared at it, her head cocking to the side. "You got me...a button?"

"Blow," Draco instructed, his eyes dancing.

"Blow?"

"Stop asking too many questions and just blow," he insisted, levelling his hand closer to her lips.

Hermione gave him a skeptical look but leaned forward anyway. She gave the button a soft puff of air. Before her eyes, the plastic shimmered and stretched, the white fading into a delicate, velvet pink. Within seconds, a fresh pink tulip lay in Draco's hand.

Hermione went silent, her gaze fixed on the flower.

"Don't you like it?" Draco asked, his voice dropping an octave, a hint of genuine vulnerability peeking through.

"No, I like it... it's just that—this is the first time someone has ever given me flowers," she admitted quietly.

Draco let out a breath he seemed to be holding. "I'm glad, then."