Fierce and feisty

A Date

Hermione,

I am so sorry. I couldn't help it, I had to owl this to you now. Know this, that I love you and you'll always have the Weasleys and me; we are your family too.

I met your parents in disguise this evening in a muggle supermarket in Australia, and tried to make small talk with them, as you suggested. I- Hermione, they have adopted a 12-year old daughter. Believe me 'Mione, if there was any way to reverse this, I would. But I don't think it's wise to go through the memory-reversing procedure now; rest is your wish.

Be brave, we love you.

Harry

Her first tear fell as she re read the letter, examining the blobs Harry's dried tears has caused. She felt as if her heart was breaking, getting crushed into pieces. One hand came to her chest. She'd lost so many people in the War, and just when started to believe no one else would leave her, that everything was going back to normal, better than normal, her parents were no longer a part of her life. It was wrong of her to think they'd replaced her, it was her fault to make them desperate for a child, to make them forget that they had one of their own. Her stream of tears fell, and she let out a strangled cry.

She did not want pity, she needed a hug. More than anything else right now. To know that she wasn't alone, that Harry's words were true, that no matter how selfish she might be at the moment, someone would always be there for her. She knew it was silly of her to demand so, but she ached for a few comforting words. She wished Ginny was here, or Professor McGonagall; but no, when she looked up, she only saw Draco Malfoy kneeling down in front of her, still an inch taller and dangerously close. His eyes were soft, though his face was devoid of any emotion.

He took the crushed letter from her hands and straightened it out; his eyes flicked through each line and narrowed at the sender's name. He looked at her, and she looked for any sign of jeering or disgust towards her parents in his eyes. None. She trusted him in that moment. She cared no less as she flung her arms around his neck, holding on so tightly that even if he wished he could not push her back.

She did not overthink her actions, who else was here to offer her the comfort she deserved? Her brain and the stress she'd been holding was revealed, and now she just wanted let go of everything. However, she did wonder why he was being so inexplicable. She'd found a little solace with Draco now she thought of it, the patrols, his harmless flirting, if she could call it, their banters; he'd reached out to her in his own way, and the least she could take from him was this hug.

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The poor woman was shaking with her echoing sobs and cries. He'd never been around crying women before, leave alone children, and he had no idea how to help. Well, Granger had saved him from saying anything with the desperate hug he was forced into. Did he really just want to get into her knickers? Nothing more? When she trusted him so much as to leave herself unguarded in his arms?

His other hand, the one not having the letter, came around her waist, as he sat into a more comfortable position both legs crossed in the lotus position, head leaning, on the ground. That was certainly a first timer for him, but he didn't have much time to be disgusted because his movement left Granger awkwardly sideways, and she, apparently, was having none of that.

Without a word she sat in his lap, molded into his side. Another first timer: Draco Malfoy did not cuddle. However, Granger was so vulnerable in his arms, the same woman whose anger was world-famous, whom he'd seen blowing things to smithereens in the Room of Requirement that he felt something similar to compassion in his heart. He'd lost his father too, first in the race of supremacy and then from the world. Granger's crying eventually stopped, and was replaced by deep sobs that shook him too from being so close in contact with her body. He looked at her with questioning eyes and he could tell she was thinking things over.

"I obliviated my parents before the War. I wanted to keep them safe. I know you must have deciphered that much from the letter. I never really saw the exact pain I was inflicting on them. What I did was needed, of course, and I am not sorry for doing so. I deserve this... this punishment, to be erased from their memories forever. The joy of having a child, the absolute heavenly bliss as it is described is so much more than what we think. To lose a child, it would be the worst pain ever. I am being punished by the Gods, aren't I?"

"Merlin might be punishing you, but he's given you so much more, to help you through with it." He murmured in her ear. Granger sighed. She looked uneasy, as if showing him a most important part of her to him.

"True that. I have the Weasleys, Harry of course, my other friends and..."

"And?" He asked softly. She hesitated.

"You too. You have been very helpful, Malfoy- Draco; I know you read Ron's letter, I saw the wet seal, but still you didn't comment about it. Then again, you are here today, with me, consoling me for something the previous you would have probably laughed upon. Something has changed between us, I don't know what, but I see it in your eyes and I feel it in the completely innocent touches. Don't bring this up in the near future, I am absolutely clueless as to why I am being so honest with you." She chuckled sadly. Grief had shook her to madness, probably. "You've been completely different towards me since you've known about my breakup with Ron. Why?"

Draco was sure it took her a lot of courage to confess things to him. She was showing him parts of her, to get to know him. He'd kept on listening intently through her rant, surprised at the depth of her gratitude. Her tone was light and teasing by the end, like she wanted to forget about the recent heart-shattering piece of information. He brought his previously resting arms and wrapped them around her shoulders, and was satisfied when she stiffened, but did not resist.

"Let's just say I have my eyes on something I want and leave it at that." He could see her turning the wheels in her head, as her face was marred with grief and disarray. He looked at the time on her wristwatch. It was 9:30, they should have been back by now. Curfew didn't start for another half an hour, and that was enough for them to reach the dorm by then.

Granger turned her head and they were so close, Draco could have easily stolen a kiss. He stopped himself from tasting her. All in good time.

"Get up Granger." She looked behind them hastily and saw the moon shining brightly at them. They slowly got to their feet and had walked a few steps, before Draco felt her hand being hooked into his arm.

"Do you mind?" She huffed out at his raised eyebrows teasing her. He conceded once he saw her eyes still glittering. He twisted his hand to hold her small one.

They walked in silence till they were a few turns away from the dorm, when Hermione spoke up.

"Remember how I was saying I'd rather go alone to the Ball?"

Draco nodded. Of course he remembered. Merlin, was she slow in this. He was deliberately date-less, and he wondered how much time it would take her to ask him out.

"Well, I am just thinking that won't be a safe option if I wish to go without pitiful looks."

He hummed in response. Was the woman oblivious? 

"When will we meet next? F-for the-uh-the dance lesson, I mean."

"It's fine. You're ready."

"Wh-what?"

"You danced the whole evening perfectly, Granger. I didn't need to pull you up from the floor even once. You obviously didn't notice because you were so busy talking."

She failed to hide her smile at him. "Huh."