Chapter Text
I hope I see you soon
Because you’re fond of me and I am fond of you
These days I guess that’s all it takes
That and just a few mistakes
And I have made mistakes
Yes I have made mistakes today...
She’s sitting on a balcony, somewhere in Brooklyn, NY, in America, of all places. She’s staying with a former teammate of Viktor’s, someone he insisted she meet up with when she told him where she was heading next in her last letter. Her original destination was NYC & the magical district located there that she heard so much about. It was certainly impressive; but not so much so that she forgot the reason she was there. The reason she was in America, the reason she’d been running around the world for the better part of a year now.
No, nothing had made her forget yet.
So tonight I’ll be your Brooklyn
So cold and yet so far away
Just tell me what you want for me to say
And if it brings you home...
Two years earlier, she was on top of the world. The war was behind them, Harry & Ginny were planning their wedding, everyone was recovering. She had her perfect NEWTs and the world was wide open in front of her.
She had gone to meet with Kingsley regarding her parents in Australia and she was hopeful she would be recovering her parents within a week. She flooed into the Leaky following her meeting with him and upon seeing the flash of platinum at the bar, paused. Shrugging, she walked over and took the empty seat beside him.
“Malfoy.”
He paused a beat and then responded.
“Granger.”
Tom came over to greet her and she asked for a firewhiskey. Malfoy raised his eyebrows.
“Didn’t take you for the firewhiskey type, Granger.”
Tom returned, setting the drink in front of her and she smiled and thanked him before responding.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Malfoy.”
She took a sip of her drink and saw him looking at her with a strange look on his face. Contemplative? Interesting.
“So, how have you been, Draco?”
The sputter he managed to let escape amused her greatly. She cocked an eyebrow at him.
“Didn’t know we were on such familiar terms... Hermione. I’ve been well. And you? Keep any reporters in jars lately?”
She choked on her sip of firewhiskey.
“How do you know about that?!”
He smirks. It’s infuriating... and strangely attractive.
“You don’t think you were the only one who knew her secret, did you? Besides, she told me. Wanted me to make our last year at Hogwarts difficult for you. Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”
And he winks at her. He winks! Bloody menace. She throws back the rest of her drink and chuckles.
“Well, I appreciate that,” she says in return.
She stands. She’s late for dinner at Harry’s.
“I have a dinner i’m late for. It was.. not entirely awful talking to you, Draco.”
He stands with her.
“Tell me, Hermione. Would you like to have dinner with me Saturday night?”
She’s gobsmacked. What? A date? She’s sure the shock shows on her face.
“A date, Draco?” Her tone is a challenge and by his smirk, he is well aware of it.
“Yes. That is, if you’re unattached and interested.”
She’s interested. Very. It’s been her little secret but she’s always found him attractive. Even when he was acting like a foul little cockroach, he wasn’t bad to look at. She’s single, so why not?
“You can owl me. I’m sure you can figure out where to send it.”
And with a wink, she’s gone.
I guess it’s safe to say
We both could use this fire escape
Cause I’ve been breathing ashes in
And I’ve been waiting for something to carry me away
8 months.
8 months of fancy dinners and casual nights in. 8 months of fantastic sex and playful bickering. 8 months and she was in too deep to walk away, whether she wanted to or not.
They had had gatherings with their friends. His, hers, they all blended together. It was easy, effortless, and better then she thought it would be.
After one such gathering, they were at her flat. There was an owl waiting when they got in. Upon seeing the owl, he raised a brow.
“That’s certainly a unique looking owl. Who’s is that?”
Hermione laughed.
“Yes, he sure is unique. He belongs to Viktor.”
She almost missed the stiffening of his shoulders. Almost.
“Krum? You’re still in touch with him?”
She shrugged.
“We’re friends. Why wouldn’t we keep in touch?”
He scoffed.
“Why would you? You lost your virginity to him. I don’t keep in touch with any of my exes.”
She rolled her eyes. And then, the fight began.
It was 8 months worth of arguments they never had. It was 7 years of anger and resentment and buildup from school. It was his pent up annoyance at the easy way she hugged and kissed her friends, and his. It was her pent up frustration and hurt that he wouldn’t even talk about maybe, just maybe, introducing her to his mother, when she had taken him along to Australia to meet her parents. It was his lingering resentment that he still got shocked looks whenever they went out together in the wizarding world. He was still being judged for his actions in a war that he had wanted no part in; it wasn’t her fault but their relationship had come as a shock- and no one seemed to think he was good enough for her. It was a lot of work for him and he didn’t think she realized how much, until that fight.
Hours later, he stormed out of her flat, intending to go get smashed with Blaise and Theo.
The next morning there was a photo of him on the front page of the Prophet. Him, leaving the Leaky, in the same clothes as the night before. At first glance, it’s innocent. He got smashed and took a room upstairs to sleep it off. But no, because why would things be that simple? Because after Draco sneaks out and apparates away, who else sneaks out of the Leaky? Astoria Greengrass. Wearing a dress, and heels and obviously last nights makeup.
He shows up at her flat that night, of course. She’s ready. Makes tea and spikes it with truth serum she made herself. Not veritaserum, no. She just wants to know enough. No more.
And what he tells her is enough. He’s furious, as she knew he would be. Slams his way out of her flat and she sits there utterly composed until the door is closed and she hears him apparate away. Then, and only then, does she allow herself to cry.
A month later, there’s an engagement announcement in the Prophet. A month after that is their wedding and that’s the day she leaves.
So I hope you travel safe
I hope you’re cool, I hope you find your way
It’s sad but it is safe to say
We disagree on one too many things
Today, all these months later, it still hurts. She loved him. Who is she kidding? She does love him. That’s why the owl she got today has shaken her and has her sitting on a fire escape, in Brooklyn, staring at the stars and trying to find the constellation he’s named for. A Malfoy hasn’t gotten divorced in centuries; maybe ever. But he has. And the owl she got today has her thinking it may be time to go home.
“Hermione,
I’m sorry. I miss you.
Draco”
And I have made mistakes today