Meet Me In The Broom Cupboard

Chapter Seventeen: Eighth Year, September October November

Hermione and Draco walked through the corridors in near silence. No one was out of bed after curfew and the corridors were quiet besides their own footsteps so there wasn't much need for talking.

As they made their way back to their dormitory, Draco once again slipped an arm around Hermione's waist as they walked, and reminded her of the favour she needed to ask of him.

'Can I borrow your Arithmancy notes?' She asked.

'The "Brightest Witch of her Age" needs someone else's notes?' Draco asked with a fake gasp.

'I was distracted.' She mumbled.

'I knew you were staring at me the whole time. Maybe I should sit behind you so my amazing good looks don't distract you further.' He smirked.

Hermione let out a laugh, not trusting herself to deny it in case he realised that he was correct about the distraction.

'Bellator Luminis.' Draco said when they reached their portrait, guiding Hermione inside with his hand at the small of her back.

'I'm going to get changed before I make a start on homework.' Hermione said, placing a kiss of Draco's cheek after waiting patiently all day to do so.

Draco smiled at the back of her head as she went into her bedroom, turning towards the kitchen to make them both tea. He pulled off parts of his uniform, leaving him in his shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a few buttons undone and his trousers, and finished making the tea.

'You did it the Muggle way.' Hermione said from behind him.

'It tastes better this way.' He said, turning to give her a half smile and hand her one of the steaming mugs. She accepted it, the surprised look still on her face. 'You can ask me the question if you want.'

She smiled, he had read her like an open book. 'Where did you learn to do it this way?'

'My mother and I were living with my aunt for the past month. Her husband was Muggle born and she liked doing things his way.' He explained, a neutral expression on his face.

'You stayed with Andromeda?' Hermione asked as they sat on the sofa and pulled out their books.

'After my father was sent to Azkaban, mother wanted to right all of the wrongs that he had caused in her life. Her sister was first on the list.'

'How is she doing?' Hermione asked, slightly hesitant. 'I saw her a few months ago but haven't spoken to her since.'

Draco had forgotten about Hermione's friendship with his cousin, so her interest took him by surprise.

'She's keeping busy.' Draco said. 'I think repairing her relationship with my mother eased the loss of her family. Not to mention her caring for Teddy.'

'He's the cutest, isn't he?' Hermione gushed as she copied Draco's Arithmancy notes. 'Does his hair still turn pink when he sneezes?'

Draco laughed at that, remembering the first time he had watched it happen. 'It does. The first time I saw it I almost dropped him.'

'Did you spend a lot of time with him?'

'I was on baby watch for the majority of the time I was there. Aunt Dromeda doesn't believe in house elves so when her and my mother were bonding I had to watch him.'

Hermione had nodded in agreement when Draco mentioned the house elves and tried to hide her thoughts about how adorable Draco would be with a baby in his arms.

They continued discussing their lives since the Battle as they worked their way through their homework, Draco avoiding his trial and Hermione avoiding too much talk of Harry and Ron. As the night wore on and her eyes got tired, Hermione ended up curled on Draco's lap as he read their next chapter for Potions out loud. The deep, soothing tone of his voice carried around the room and echoed back into Hermione's ear as he read and she slowly began to drift off to sleep in his arms.