Amortentia (Dramione)

Catching Up

After days of travel, we finally made it back to London. Our next plan of action was how we would bring Malfoy to the Ministry.
"Can't I just walk right through the doors?" Malfoy asked.

"They'll arrest you on the spot, Malfoy." Ron explained, "Dad's got high security now. He didn't want another repeat of what happened with Voldemort."

Draco sighed, "Okay. Well then how am I supposed to turn myself in?"

"You're best option is to come to The Burrow with us." Ginny admitted, "If we come with you and you turn yourself in to dad, then you won't be man handled by security wizards."

"I suppose you're right." Draco agreed, "Tomorrow then?"

We all nodded in agreement, then said our goodbyes to Ron and Ginny.
"Thank you for coming with us." I said happily, "It means a lot."

"Anything for you, Mione." Ron stated.

"It's nothing. See you tomorrow." Ginny replied.

Before they left, Draco cleared his throat, "I Uh...Yeah. Thanks, Weasley's."

Ron and Ginny silently smirked before leaving because Malfoy had only used their real names a handful of times before.

"Hermione...um...Draco. Would you like to stay with me tonight?" Harry offered, "Might be a little awkward for Hermione to bring a boy home."

Harry had a point. My parents didn't even know about Draco at this point. How could I have told them? He was missing for six months. It would have looked bad.
"I think that's a good idea." I agreed.

"Follow me." Harry smiled lightly.

Draco and I held hands on the way to Harry's. His hand was warm. It felt so familiar, yet so new at the same time. It had been well over a year since our time spent tutoring together. It was odd seeing him again, but it felt good. When we got to Harry's, he showed us to his guest room and went off to start cooking dinner for us. Draco and I let our bags down and plopped ourselves on the bed.

Why can't I think of anything to say?
It's just Draco...
I couldn't help but feel nervous around him. It had been so long.

Draco then reached to my chin and lightly turned me to face him, "I can't believe I'm actually sitting here with you."

"I can't either." I admitted, "It's been so long."

"It really has." He agreed, "It feels a bit awkward, doesn't it?"

I nodded slightly, "Well...yeah."

Draco leaned in and kissed my lips gently, "It's just a stage, Hermione. I promise you. Catch me up. What have I missed?"

I told him everything. I told him how Ron, Neville, and I killed Nagini. I told him how Harry and I went to find my parents in Australia. He and I cried together when I told him how I wiped their memories and then brought them back. I went though the events that led up to this moment. Everything.

Once everything was laid out on the table he nodded slowly, "You've had quite the adventure."

"How did you and your family manage to escape?" I asked curiously.

"When the last bit of the battle began and we left without notice, we went straight home. We packed all of the essentials. Packed our family possessions. Then we just...left." He explained, "We went to aunt Dromeda's first. She hid our family jewels, all the expensive irreplaceable stuff. M parents didn't tell her where we were headed, but I slipped her a note that explained where we planned to go. It took months to find the right place. The first month of travel is when the Ministry collected itself. There wasn't a Minister of Magic yet, but the Order had organized itself enough to start hunting Death Eaters."

I sat and listened to his story carefully. For months I wondered what he had been up to and I was finally getting the full story.

"We laid low. We only traveled by foot from then on out. The skies were being watched. We eventually decided to get rid of our expensive clothing. We got some muggle clothes to help blend in. We would stay in one spot for a few weeks, but then we would find members of the Order around town. When we finally decided to go towards the isles, we knew we wanted to camp out in the castle. It was abandoned, as you know. We put charms all over it just in case someone caught onto us." He said, then looked to me, "I wrote you and my auntie as soon as I could. It took six months to settle in one spot. I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry, Draco." I told him, taking his hand in mine, "I understand."

Draco looked down at the floor, "I shouldn't have left. I should have stayed and fought with you."

"Draco. You knew you couldn't do that. He would have killed you on the spot." I explained, "It's okay."

"I've never felt so guilty." He said silently, "I never wanted to be apart of this."

I put my hand on his shoulder, "We all know you didn't have a choice."

Just then Harry knocked at the door, "Dinner is ready."

That night the three of us ate dinner together, shared our experiences, laughed, cried, and truly bonded. It felt...normal.
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When we reached The Burrow, Harry made sure to step in front of Draco and I. He was shielding him just in case things went south.
To our surprise, Arthur Weasley opened the door. We were expecting Ron or Ginny.

Mr. Weasley looked to Harry, then back at us, then rolled his eyes, "Bloody hell, Harry. Alright, come in then."
He always had a soft spot for Harry.

We found the living room and sat down on the couches in awkward silence. Mr. Weasley our his head in his hands and sighed deeply before looking up to us, "You found Mr. Malfoy."

"Yes sir." I said quietly.

"And you came here?" He asked.

"Well, sir." Harry started, "If we went to the Ministry he would have been-"

"Arrested on spot." Mr. Weasley finished, "Believe me, I know."
He then shook his head and looked to Draco, "You've got a lot of nerve coming here."

Draco nodded slightly, "I know you and my father didn't get along. He's not here. I am. I'm here to take responsibility for my actions. I want a fair trial."

"Of course you do." Arthur replied, "Well..Looks like I'm not getting the day off today. We'll go to the Ministry. We'll head straight to my office without being seen. I'll have someone come get you and escort you to the holding cells. It won't be as...intense if we do it this way."

Draco nodded, "Yes, sir."

"I have to take him alone." Mr. Weasley said, looking to Harry and I, "This way it looks like he's come to turn himself in."

I nervously looked to Draco.
I want to stay with him.

"I'll keep you updated." Arthur told me, then looked to Harry, "You'll he called in as the main witness. You'll mostly likely be the only one testifying. I'll give you a call once things are in place."

"Alright, sir." Harry agreed.

"Say your goodbyes." Mr. Weasley told us, then left the room to give us space.

I grabbed Draco and hugged him tight, "I'll be there. I promise I will."

"I know you will." He chuckled, squeezing me tighter, "It'll be okay, love."

After our long embrace, we kissed goodbye. Draco then turned to Harry and shook his hand, "Potter."

"Malfoy." Harry replied, "I'll see you on the other side."

Draco, Harry, and I walked out towards Mr. Weasley and said goodbye one last time before they both apparated to the Ministry.
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(A/N:)

YEET! Trial time!!! Sorry for the long wait!
-Bree