Promise

Chapter 16

When she eventually stopped crying, Hermione let go of Draco's shirt. At some point in her crying fit, she had grabbed on to him. Things finally started to make sense, everything clicked into place. She now understood why he felt so familiar, why she felt safe with him, why his words had hurt her the most when she was being bullied. It was because of this, because she loved him. She knew it was true, felt it in every part of her heart. She felt right with him, whole like she hadn't before. She pulled back out of the embrace and looked at him again, properly looked at him, saw the child she had known and loved before the whole world went wayward.

"You knew," she said to him, finally, "this entire time, you knew. The spell didn't work on you. Why didn't it?"

"I don't really know," he answered her honestly. He looked at her again, still not believing it was real, still not believing that she remembered him. He had hoped for this, waited for it since he was a child.

"I missed you," he said to her finally. He couldn't contain himself, all the nights he spent on his own, all the time he spent suffering without her, it was almost too much for him.

"I missed you too," she responded honestly, "I didn't know it but I've been missing you for years. I always felt like there was something missing, something important that was just escaping me. Without knowing it, I started looking for you in people that weren't you. And when I finally met you again, it hurt me so much how awful you were because it you being awful. Because somewhere in my heart I knew you weren't like that, I knew you loved me and I loved you, and it hurt. It hurt so much to be hated by you." Hermione had to hold back tears again at this point, she didn't want to cry again.

"I'm sorry. So sorry. For everything I ever said, or did to hurt you. I never meant any of it, not a single word. I did love you. I still love you. I'm probably going to love you for the rest of my life." Draco puller her to him again, held her like she was the only thing that mattered in the world. Hermione let herself be held, let herself feel safe and taken care of. She hadn't realised how much she craved the security she found in Draco's arms. Things were going to be different from there on out, she would have to have a conversation with Harry and Ron; Ron especially, but it was okay. She would make it work, now that she had found what she had been looking for, she was never going to lose it again.

Sunday morning found Hermione and Draco tangled up with each other in Hermione's bed. She opened her eyes and looked over at the boy snoring softly beside her. He had carried her back to her room the night before and tucked her in. She remembered asking him to stay with her a little longer. She guessed he had fallen asleep there beside her.

She reached over and caressed his cheek, she used her fingers and traced the lines on his face. She started at his forehead, followed the arches of his eyebrows before gliding down his nose, she gently outlined his lips and traced his jawline before he woke up.

"Good morning," he mumbled to her, smiling softly.

"Good morning," she responded, smiling back at him.

"We should get up and check on the rest of the world," she said to him as she sat up in bed. She knew there would still be some level of chaos after what had happened. She wanted to check in with her friends to see how things were going with them and how her fellow students were taking the news.

"Okay, I'll check the dungeons first then meet you in the great hall for breakfast," Draco told her as he climbed out of her bed.

"You'll have to thank the little Weaslette for me when you see her. I owe her one," he added before leaving her room. Hermione was a little confused. He had left so quickly and had avoided her eyes. He must have felt awkward waking up in her bed, it wasn't something to be expected after all. She quickly got out of bed and ready for the day. She decided to check in with Gryffindor tower before going to the great hall. She made her way through the castle as fast as she could. She could feel all the stares she was getting. People were stopping in their tracks to gawk at her. She tried her best to ignore them and just continued on her way. Once at the portrait of the fat lady, she said the passcode and walked into the Gryffindor common room. She looked around and felt a little nostalgic for the place she had called home for seven years. As she was looking around she heard someone call her name and looked up to see Harry coming down the stairs toward her.

"Harry!" she called back and ran up to hug her friend.

"How are you? How's everyone else?" She spoke quickly, trying to get all the words out around the bone crushing hug that Harry was giving her. He eventually let her go and looked at her as if he was trying to find a physical difference.

"I'm fine, everyone's fine. Some people weren't even affected at all. For most people it was a slight change. Gryffindor wasn't too bad. Luna was hit pretty hard though, but you know how she is, she's holding up okay." Harry looked her over again. She looked the same as she always had, hair curly, eyes big, freckles sprinkled on her nose, she was still just Hermione.

"Okay, that's not so bad. Where are Ron and Theo?" Hermione asked once she could breathe again.

"They went ahead to breakfast already," Harry told her, "I'm just getting out of bed." Hermione smiled at her friend. She shook her head slightly at the boy who lived before they made their way down to the great hall. As they entered The great hall, Hermione waved to her friend. She then turned to face her own housemates in Slytherin. She spotted Ginny's red head easily and began to make her way to her friend. She was surprised to find her usual spot beside Ginny taken by Pansy, still, Hermione simply sat across from them. Pansy looked a little more haggard than Hermione expected. She was used to the other girl looking absolutely impeccable every day. Today, her hair was in a messy pony tail and she wasn't wearing any make up, Hermione thought she looked rather pretty that way.

"Rough day?" She asked looking at Ginny and Pansy.

"I wonder who's fault that is?" Ginny joked. She rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh.

"You really know how to make a mess, don't ya?" she continued. Hermione was relieved to see that Ginny was still able to joke. As long as she was throwing sass around, she would be fine. Hermione smiled genuinely for the first time since the whole ordeal began.

"And how are you, Pansy? Do you also blame me for everything?" Hermione asked.

"We used to be friends." It wasn't a question.

"Yes, we were."

"And I've been an asshole ever since."

"Yes, you have."

"Sorry." Hermione and Pansy stared at each other for a while. It wasn't a huge apology and it wasn't earth shattering revelation either, but it was sincere. Hermione knew the other girl was genuinely sorry for everything. So she reached over and lightly put her hand over Pansy's,

"We're friends now, aren't we?"

"Yes, we are." Pansy agreed.