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Chapter Text

The phone rang while Hermione was brewing her coffee.  She scrunched her forehead at the ID and took a deep breath to brace herself.

They’ve separated amicably a few months ago.  They were just too different.  He came from old money with generational wealth.  Things were easy for him; his house has butlers for God’s sake!  Her family was well to do, but not old money rich.  She watched her parents work hard to give her the life that she has.

Now she was working for a non-profit organization to provide water in less developed countries.  Something she was so passionate about and of course took up her time.  He demanded her to be more available for him.  To attend function, to act like the perfect partner, a trophy so to speak.

That was not in the book for her.  Then there were the menial things, the everyday mundane things, little ticks that became bigger as their arguments exploded.  Then they came to the conclusion, that they were better off friends.

But why did it still feel so hard.  Every day she woke up alone, it felt empty.

The bed felt too big for her, and she found herself just sleeping on one side of the bed now.  Breaching his side was just too painful, as if she were still expecting him to come in the middle of the night and tuck himself next to her.

She took another deep breath and slide the phone to answer, “Hey, what’s up?”  She was trying to keep her pitch normal but ended up sounding too perky.

“I accidentally activated the child lock on my washing machine,” he said in a tone that she knew he was trying to solve the problem.  She could picture him standing in front of the washer, his forehead scrunched trying to find a solution.

A part of her scoffed at his ignorance.  He couldn’t do laundry until a year ago, when she insisted that he has to learn to do so.  Another part of her bloomed with warmth.  He was doing his own laundry without calling one of the many maids from his family home, at least she made that change for him.

“Well maybe it’s there for a reason,” she snapped.

He scoffed, “It’s that a jab at my maturity Granger or my very sheltered upbringing?  I think we’ve had that fight already.”

She tried so hard to keep her hitched breath audible.  It was still hard to hear him call her Granger again.  And the fact that he could casually bring up one of the many reasons why they broke up, that hurts.  How an he be casual, that soon.

She sighed, “Well you have to press the temperature button and the rinse button at the same time.”

“Okay,” he said.

“Hold it for like five seconds.”

“Ah, alright,” he said, and she heard the machine beeped, “ow yay!”  He exclaimed happily on the other line.  Something about the boyish nature of it made Hermione smiled.

“There you go.  You’re all set.”

“Thanks, I’ll let you go back to your coffee.”

“How do you know….”

“We’ve been together for two years Granger, I memorized your routine and know all your tells.  From your voice, you haven’t had your caffeine fix yet.  Although, I can’t speak for the quality of beans you’re drinking these days.”

“Well some of us peasants don’t have the luxury of buying beans that came from the droppings of certain mammals, or one that is harvested from certain elevation above sea level that cost more than gold per grams.”

He scoffed, “Hey you know us rich folks, we have money to burn, so why the hell not.”

She let out a small smile, there was an awkward silence on the phone.

“Well thanks,” he broke the silence, “and enjoy your coffee, Granger.”  Then he hung up the phone.

Chapter Text

Draco sighed as he looked at the number.  Dammit, why does it not adding up?!  He took off his glasses and pinched his nose.  What a way to spend a Saturday afternoon, trying to balance out his spreadsheet.

He took a deep breath and start over from the beginning, then his phone buzzed, he glanced at the screen and picked up immediately.

“Hey,” he said trying to put a smile on his tone.  But it came out strained.

“Hi, I didn’t catch you at a bad time right?” she sounded breathless, like she was dealing with a lot of things at once.  But her tone was cheerful.

He smiled at the tone, thinking she must be doing chores with her hair up in a bun.  God he missed her.  “No, not really.”

“Well I’m trying to cook my lasagna, but my oven won’t turn on.”

He smiled remembering the same event some time ago.  He had swooped in and helped her with a mundane domestic stuff, he felt needed.  “Did you connect it to the gas?” he stated the obvious.

He heard scoffed on the other line, “Of course I did, I’m not stupid.”

“Didn’t say you were.”

“No, you said I was ‘simple’,” she said, and he could tell from her tone, she was making air quotes.  Oh to be able to talk face to face with her again.

He sighed, “Well, find the valve, the one in the….”

“I know where that is Draco, I’ve been doing this for a while you know.”  He knew by ‘this’, she meant being single.  His breathing just got a little heavier.

He heard her shuffled and grunting.

“Okay found it, now what?”

“Take a spatula and just bang on it with a handle a couple of times.  It should do the trick.”

“That’s it?” she said in disbelief, “That’s what you’ve been doing the whole time when it was out?”

He laughed, “Well I have to make you think I was the knight in shining armor, or else you wouldn’t keep me around.”

“Maybe if it were more sophisticated, you’d still be around,” she said playfully.

He didn’t reply.  He knew she was just being cheeky.  But why did it still feel too soon for him.

He cleared his throat, “You’re hosting a party?” he shifted the subject.

“Why would you say that?”  She sounded perplexed.

“You’re cooking lasagna.  It’ll take you two weeks to finish it if you’re eating it by yourself,” he said in flat tone, trying to not sound jealous that people get to spend time her.  Laugh with her, sharing her space.

She let out a laugh.  Draco had to steady his heart.  It’s been a while since he heard her laugh like that.

“Well, a few of my college friends are coming by.”

“By college friends do you mean Ronald ”your-dumb-ex” Weasel?”

She sighed.  The ex subject, his jealousy towards him, it was one of those constant arguments they had.

“Well, he’ll be there, among others,” she said tiredly.

Draco closed his eyes, and ran his hands to his face.  “Will he stay for breakfast too?” he said it before he could stop himself.

He heard her scoffed on the line, “For the love of God Draco, you know what….”  It seemed for a moment for him she was going to get out the old record, defending the said ex saying they were still part of each other’s lives, he was her lifelong friend yada yada yada, but she stopped herself.

“Say it Hermione,” he challenged her, using her first name.

She sighed, “Go outside Draco,” she said finally, “even just to your balcony, then you’ll figure it out.”

He didn’t reply.  How did she know….

“It’s Saturday afternoon,” she answered as if she was reading his mind, “and you’re antsy.  That means you’re staring at your spreadsheet and something doesn’t add up.”  Her tone changes, “Take a break, it’ll come to you,” a soothing tone that always made him relax.

God he missed her too much.

“I have to go, the oven is heating now.  Thanks for your help.”

And without waiting for his reply, she hung up.

Chapter Text

The space was filled with the sound of soft clinking from the silverware and faint sound of strings.  The lowlight was supposedly giving a romantic ambiance.  The animated conversation, or should he say speech, from his date was more than a buzzing sound in his ears.  Draco was on a date, a blind date.  Set up by his parents, a daughter of one of their business partners.  They insisted that the lady was a perfect fit for him, and it was time for him to meet new people.

“It’s been six months honey, I’m sure Hermione had moved on too,” his mother had told him.  After expressing how pathetic he was to mope around the house.  Which was an interesting fact, because he lives in his own apartment.  So that lead him to believe that they have some kind of a nanny cam in his apartment.  Is that even legal.

The sound of polite laugh brought him back to reality.  He was now sitting opposite, Janice?  Jessica?  Judith?  He can’t even recall.  In some swanky restaurant downtown and trying to look interested when she told him about the spiritual retreat she had just gone to.

His mother’s etiquette training gave him the ability to smile and nod at the right time of the conversation.  Just enough to be polite.

Suddenly his phone buzzed.  He had put it on do not disturb mode, it meant only a handful of people could contact him at this time, and it must be one of the important people in his life.  He reached for the phone and saw her name.

He answered without hesitation.

“I’m sorry, I have to get this,” he said while pressing the green button.  Ignoring his date visible huft in protest.

He put the phone to his ear and all of a sudden, he was attacked by a loud noise.  From the beat it sounded like she was in a club or a bar.

“Oh I’m sorry, were you in the middle of something?” her screaming voice was heard over the phone.  She was trying to talk on top of the music.  She was giggly, and he knew she was drunk.

He gave his date a look and excused himself to go outside the restaurant.

“Granger,” his voice was stern and concern, “where are you?”

She scoffed, “It’s Granger again now huh?”

He sighed, he was tired, it was hard enough as it is, “It is your name is it not?” he said, trying hard not to sound sad.

“No,” she slurred, “it hasn’t been for two years for you.”

He pinched his nose, trying to sound leveled, “You’re drunk, where are you?”

“Ding ding ding ding, fifty points for Slytherin,” she said mentioning his alma mater.  “Well I’m supposedly at Ginny’s bachelorette party, and it’s fuuuuuuun.”

He sighed, “I’m sure,” he said, “is Ginny there with you?”

“Well see, that’s the problem,” she said while still giggly, “I mean, I think I got separated from the group.  I tried to call people.  They’re not picking up.  Maybe the music in the party bus is loud.”

How the hell…  He took a deep breath, trying not to lose it.  “Where are you?” Draco said it again sternly.

“Um… I’m not sure, some club downtown?  We were half drunk when we walked in.  I didn’t really pay attention when Luna was laying out our plan.”

Weaselette the bride going to wake up to some of his nasty messages come the morning.  He put her on speaker phone while turning on her location search in his phone.  Thankfully their phone was still connected.

“In hindsight, maybe I should listen to Luna. But sometimes she talks in that dreamy annoying voice, and I just ignored her.  And I was a bit distracted tonight you know this bridal stuff and Ginny and Harry’s wedding, it really makes me mi… get your hands off me!” she said.  In the background Draco an hear a male sound.

“Hermione…” his voice grew concerned.  He heard the exchange between the guy who was trying to get to her and she was trying to push him away.

At last, her location showed up, she was in one of the clubs owned by his friend Blaise Zabini, not too far from where he was.  Without thinking he started to jog in the direction.

“Don’t go anywhere, I’ll be right there,” he said and ran to where she was.

He was in front of the club in a matter of minutes.  He pushed to the front of the line.  He heard protests from the people in the line.  When he came up to the bouncer he was about to tell him off but the recognized Draco’s face.

“Mr. Malfoy,” the guy greeted him.

“Hey Rob,” he tried to catch his breath, damn he missed being in his early twenties.  “I believe my girlfriend is in distress over there,” he said, wheezing.

The bouncer’s face light up in understanding, “Go ahead, I’ll let the security know so they’ll back you up,” he said and said something to his walkie talkie.

Draco pushed on the club entrance and scanned the crowd for Hermione.  His eyes immediately went to the VIP section across the room, and sure enough he saw her brown curls being crowded by a guy.  He saw red and pushed to the crowd.

When he got there, the guy was grabbing Hermione’s waist and forced her to dance with him.  How dare he touch her!

Draco came up and punched the guy.  It was so forceful the guy staggered back.  Draco knew he’d feel the pain once the adrenaline dropped.

He pulled Hermione and put himself between her and the guy.  The creep looked up to him with rage, he was about to hit Draco back when the security came and grabbed him.

“We got you Mr. Malfoy.”

He nodded and took Hermione in his arms and led her out of the club.

She swayed beside him, she felt so small and light around his arms.  Was she always this small?  Hs she lost weight?

“Are you alright?” he asked her once they got out of the club.

She looked up at him, her eyes were glazed, “Draco Malfoy, my knight in shining armor.”

He chuckled, “How much drink did you have?”

“A lot, enough to forget the fact that I’m going to Ginny wedding sans a date.  Damn now I remember again.  Maybe it wasn’t enough.”

He gave her a small smile, he called Winston, to bring the car to the club.  They stood still while they wait for the car, with her in his arms leaning to his chest.

“It was supposed to be a happy occasion, right?” she continued her rant, “I’m supposed to be happy that my best friends are getting married.  But all I can think of is your stupid face!  And how I might never get a chance to see it waiting for me at the end of the aisle!”

Draco didn’t reply, he knew she would remember nothing the next morning.  Nevertheless, his chest became tight, it’s like the wound was fresh again.

True, the breakup was amicable.  They both agreed that it was the best for them.  But why did it still hurt, half a year in.  Why was he still buy her perfume to alleviate the pain of missing her in his bed.  Winston pulled up, distracted his thoughts.  He guided her in, and Winston gave him a look.

“That wasn’t the girl I dropped you off with,” he said offhandedly.

“Do refrain to comment if you still want to be employed in the morning,” Draco drawled.

He scoffed, “Mister Malfoy,” the name he’d use for Draco when he was being a smart ass, “I’ve been with your family since you hardly know how to use hair wax to tame that mane of yours.  I’ll have enough dirt on you for Page Six to run for the entire year.”

He scoffed, “Only for a year Winston?  You’re not as observant as I thought then.”

He stared at Draco from the rearview mirror, “I was being kind,” he deadpanned.  “I’d take it the date didn’t go well?”

“Ow shit, right!”

“You were on a date?” Hermione chimed in weakly.

“Yes,” he said absentmindedly while dialing the number to the restaurant.

“I’m sorry I ruined it,” she told him.

He could see from the corner of his eyes Winston was rolling his eyes.

“You can’t ruin a disaster Miss Granger,” he said smartly.

Draco scoffed as someone from the restaurant picked up his call.  He took care of the bill and asked them to tell his date something came up and he needed to leave.  He also asked him to convey his apologies to her.  To which he faintly heard Winston sarcastic remark about him being a gentleman.  He had a feeling he would never hear the end of it from his mom.

Hermione snuggled closer to him as he hung up the phone.  He felt her inhaling deeply.

“I miss your smell,” she said.

He became still for a moment, he wanted to savor this.  He’ll remember this, even though she wouldn’t.  He held her tighter and ran his fingers into her hair.  He felt her breath became steady and her weight became heavier.  She had fallen asleep.

He might be overstepping the boundaries.  God knows he no longer have the right to touch her so affectionately anymore.  But right now, it felt so right.  God he really missed the smell of her hair.

“Are we going to your place Draco?” Winston asked him.

He really wanted to.  Seeing her in his bed again.  He really wanted to.  But he broke enough rules as it is.

“No,” he replied heavily, “Just drop us off at Hermione’s.”

Winston still remembered Hermione’s apartment and the rest of the car ride was quiet.

When he pulled up at her apartment building, Winston asked him, “Do you need me to wait Draco?”

“No, just go home Winston, it’s late.”

“Alright sir,” he said.

He carried the sleeping Hermione to her place.  He punched in the key to her apartment and put her in her bed.  He looked at her for a while after he adjusted her sleeping position.  How peaceful she was sleeping.

He took off her stilettos but decided to keep her clothes on.  He didn’t want to add to her confusion come the morning.  He tucked her in, and she stirred.

He sat by the bed and watched her asleep for a while.  Before he left, he put a glass of water on her bedside table and a couple of aspirins.

He sighed and looked at the other side of the bed.  The one that used to be his.  It looked inviting and comfortable.  But he can’t.

He wrote a quick note and put it next to the aspirin.  He kissed her forehead.

“Get some sleep love,” he said quietly and went home.

Chapter Text

Hermione sat in her table staring at the dance floor.  She smiled as she watched her two best friends dance their first dance as husband and wife.  Everything about that day was perfect.  Her heart bloomed at the sight of Harry smiling at Ginny as they were dancing.  They were in their own little world.

They supported each other.  They made each other complete.  She was standing next to Harry when his face beamed as Ginny walked towards him.  Harry was a blubbering mess when they exchanged vows, telling Ginny that she had been his rock and how she changed his world for the better.

Her thoughts went back to the time she woke up after Ginny’s bachelorette party, the glass of water, the aspirin, and the note that he left her.  Her heart fluttered.  She looked back at her best friends again.  She wanted that, a partner, who looked at her, as Harry was looking at Ginny right now.  She can’t help but miss him.  The annoying ponce that had filled her space for the last few years.  At this moment, she didn’t know why it all fell apart.  Why did they quit on each other.

Suddenly her phone vibrated, and Theo’s name came flashing on it.  Her brows furrowed, it had been a while since Theo called her.  They’ve been friends when Draco and she was dating, but their friendship has faltered after the breakup.  One of the things she lost when they ended their relationship.  Her friendship with Theo.

“Theo?” she said when she picked up the phone.

“Heeey Granger,” Theo said in a way that she knew something was wrong.

“Theo,” she said with a warning, “is everything alright?”

“Um… don’t panic,” he said.

Wrong words, she was panicking.

“There’s been an accident,” he continued.

Suddenly she felt lightheaded.  She got up and went outside of the hall.  Panic filled her chest.  She tried her best to find a quiet spot to talk.

“Theo, is Draco alright?” she sounded concerned.

There was an exhale on the other line.  Like whatever she had said, he had been waiting for it, “Ah, he’s still Draco then,” he said, and Hermione did not miss the smile that came with it.  She could hear it over the phone.

“Theo, please, not the time!”

He chuckled a bit, the bastard.  He took a deep breath, “Right, well, we’ve been out trail riding.  There was this cliff, Draco lost his balance, and he fell pretty bad.”

She gasped and her knees started to give up on her, she had to lean on the nearest wall.

“Is Draco…is…he?” she found hard to find words.  Suddenly it was harder to breathe with the possibility of the world without him.

“Well, he needs a surgery, and we need your consent.”

“What, why?” she suddenly can’t register anything, in her head was Draco lying helpless in the hospital.

“As it turns out,” he let out a ironic chuckle, ”you’re his next of kin.”

That information threw her back, she leaned harder to the wall, “What?” now she’s confused.

“Um, he listed you as the next of kin and emergency contact, so we need your consent for his medical treatment.”

“Okay, what do I need to do?”

“Well, I’m going to let the doctor speak to you now, but you need to come down here in person for the paperwork,” he said and giving the phone to the doctor.

The next thing was a blur.  She hastily gave her consent over the phone and left the wedding to rush to the hospital.  She texted Ginny, hoping she’d understand why the maid of honor is missing when she throws the bouquet.

Hours later she found herself sitting next to his bed in the hospital still in her bridesmaid’s dress.  He had just got out of surgery, but he hasn’t woken up yet.  She sat there holding his hand, her thumb soothing over the back of his hand.  He was hooked on various IVs and machines.  The beeping of the monitor was the only sound accompanying her there.  The doctor said the surgery was successful.  He was in critical but stable condition.

She looked up at his face, he seemed calmed albeit the bruises.  Stupid idiotic man, she thought.  How careless!  Doesn’t he know what this does to her.  This daredevil business, she would call it.  She always hated the extreme sports that he does, it always worries her every time he does it.  Tears were falling off her eyes again.  She almost lost him.  She really thought she did.

Someone opened the door and Theo’s curly head popped up from the door.  He gave her a small smile.  She wiped her face hastily and gestured to him to come in.

“Hey Granger,” he said quietly and slipped in the room, “I know you haven’t eaten, I got you some take outs,” he set in a couple of food containers on the table in the room.

“Thanks.”

“It’s soup.  Nothing too heavy, but Draco will have my hide if I let you go hungry and get sick.”

“The man is not even awake, yet you still fear him.”

Theo scoffed, “Well I have you know, when it comes to you, he’s scary.”

Hermione brushed it off, “I hardly believe it right now.”

“Ow, you don’t know?”

She stared at him confused.

“This man,” he gestured to Draco, “would go to the ends of the Earth for you.  He’s such a simp for you it’s not even funny.”

Hermione didn’t reply.  She knew it was true.

Theo cleared his throat, “Anyway, Pans is getting you some clothes to change.”

“Thank you,” she said and shifted her focus to Draco again.  “I almost lost him Theo.  I almost lost him all over again.”

He shrugged, “But you didn’t,” Theo pointed out.

Hermione wiped the tears that stubbornly slipped again.

“I am still his emergency contact,” she said quietly.

Theo scoffed and rolled his eyes, “I know, it’s annoying!  I’m his oldest friend.  He doesn’t even tell me his phone passcode.”

“Next of kin?” she looked at Theo in question.

“He changed it two months after you guys are dating.  And I guess he hadn’t get around to change it.”

She let out a sad laugh, “Always all or nothing.”

“Well you’re the love of his life,” Theo said like it was obvious, like stating ice is cold and sky is blue.

She choked, “Theo….”

“He left his date, just up and left the second you call.”

Something dawned on her, the other night?  The drunken call?  He was on a date, and she had ruined it?

But wait, he was on a date?  Suddenly she found it hard to breathe.  Was he moving on?  She was spiraling.

Theo saw it, and quickly fix the situation, “It was a blind date,” he clarified, and she was instantly relieved, “set up by Narcissa and Lucius.  He was under duress when he accepted it.  So, my theory still stands, you’re the love of his life.  For Godsake, his face annoyingly still lights up whenever you call.”

She looked back at the man that possessed her heart ever since she saw that signature smirk.

“So now what are you going to do about it?” Theo asked her again.

Hermione was about to answer Theo’s question when she felt Draco’s hand twitch and squeezed hers slightly.  She gasped.

“Herm…knee?”

She squeezed back.

Chapter Text

Draco sat up on his bed, all dressed up ready to go.  He was ready to go home.  The last five weeks he spent in the hospital were both the happiest and shittiest time he had for a while.

It was shitty that he was in the hospital.

It was wonderful because she was always there.  She had been a constant during the time he was hospitalized.  She would come in after work, fussed a bit about him, ask him about his day, and what the doctors told him.  She would sneak in pastries she knew he loved, and he would nicked a sip or two of her iced coffee.  Well almost always.

He heard knocks from the door, and it was opened.  “How’s the champ today?” Theo popped into his room with a stupid smile plastered on his face.  Draco knew from the mocking singsong tone, he was mocking Hermione.

Draco looked at him and rolled his eyes and craned his neck to see who was tagging along with him.  Half expecting that she would be there, even though he knew that she wouldn’t.

She had told him she’ll be absent all this week, and he might throw a little tantrum for the dramatic effect.  He had just gotten used to her being part of his days again.  He hated the fact that she was not there.

“No mate, it’s only me,” Theo said with a knowing smile.

“That office of hers is still keeping her?” he said with a hint of bitterness.

Theo rolled his eyes, knowing very well that at times Draco’s only child trait would come out.  “You do know she is making great changes to the world, right?”

Draco resigned and sighed, “Why do you think I’m in love with her?”

“Glutton for punishment?” Theo said with raised eyebrow.

He scoffed, “I should make an effort to make better friends.”

Theo laughed, “The sentiment still stands.  Glutton for punishment.”

“Shut up,” Draco scowled.

Theo smiled and looked around the neat room.  His clothes were packed, and he was dressed to go, “Are we ready to go home now?”

“Yeah,” Draco replied.  The doctor told him that he could go home today.  He was hoping she’ll be here, to go home with him.

To be home with him.

He sighed, one can hope.  It’s allowed.

Theo grabbed his things and wheeled him off the hospital.  The valet had his car around the front door already.

“Winston’s off?” Draco asked Theo while he made his way to the passenger seat.

“Well he wanted to be here, but I insist to do this myself.  So you owe me a favor.”

“I really do have to find myself a better friend.  I think I might call Zabini for a change.”

Theo threw him a sharp look, “Do that, and see what The Prophet would write about you the next day.”

“Have you been hanging around Winston?”

“He’s a delight!”

Draco scoffed as Theo helped in to get into the car and drove to his apartment.

“Are we wheeling you in?” Theo said with a smirk as he pulled up in the parking garage of his apartment building.

“I can walk with a cane Theo,” Draco scoffed as he hoisted himself out of the car.

“Ooo, big boy you are.”

“Keep it up, Zabini will have my Lego collection when I die,” he scowled.

He gave a faux surprised gasped, “You wouldn’t dare!”

“Watch me.”

They walked slowly from the parking lot to the elevator, “Would you be fine by yourself here?  Do you need company, any assistance?” Theo said.

Draco rolled his eyes, “I’ll be fine, I am not a child.”

“No, you’re a petulant man-child, who just got banged up,” Theo said.

Draco chuckled, “I see someone has rekindled their friendship.”

“Well, thanks to your accident, I have to reconnect with the swot now.  She’s asking for updates if she can’t come to you to the hospital.  Making sure I’m fluffing your pillow correctly, and to ‘nurse your fragile feelings’.  Whatever that means,” Theo ranted.

Draco had to stop and looked at his friend, “She did that?”

“Ugh, and she’s annoyingly particular and detailed,” Theo kept walking, pretending he did not see the surprised look on Draco’s face.  “The pain-au chocolat from that bakery Theo, no, he doesn’t really like the apricot scones, he prefers blueberry.  You buy him a spinach quiche, he’ll throw that at your face Theo,” Theo said mimicking Hermione’s voice.  Draco got to hand it to him, the tone was spot on.  “As if I wasn’t your best friend since we wear diapers!”

Draco gave a chuckle, “She is isn’t she?”

“I mean how could you stand that woman?  I get it now, why you feel so overwhelmed and decided to call it quits,” Draco knew Theo was baiting him for a reaction.

“I have a cane Theo, I can hurt you and play the victim.”

Theo laughed and pressed the button to the elevator, “Isn’t it torture though?  All these weeks?  Having her near?”

Draco let out a small smile and the elevator door opened, “No.  Strangely, these weeks are the best feelings I felt in six months.  I don’t know why I let her go Theo.  I should’ve fought harder.  Be the better man, compromise,” he sighed.  “It took a concussion, a collapse lung, and a broken leg for me to realize that.”

Theo gave him a meaningful smile and the elevator dinged and opened up to his place.

The smell was what hit Draco first.  Someone was cooking.

Did his mother have one of her staff over to take care of him?  He specifically asked her not to!

He was about to burst, but he stopped.  He inhaled the smell once more, he knew this.  This was the smell of her chicken curry, none of his mother’s staff would know how to make it.  He hurriedly stepped off the elevator towards the kitchen, leaving Theo behind.

The cluck and clunk of his cane echoed through the space as he reached the kitchen area and stopped as she looked up to him.  She was expecting him.

He breathed a sigh of relief.  He wasn’t dreaming right?  She was there, standing in his kitchen.  What a sight it was, suddenly the place became a home again.

“Hey,” she said, “You’re home.”  She gave him a smile, a hopeful smile.

He swallowed and looked at her, “I am,” he said wistfully.

He heard Theo approaching behind him and set down and greeted Hermione, “Hey Granger, I see you’ve made yourself at home.”

Hermione smiled at the double meaning, “I have.”

“Well then, my job is done.  I’m handing him off to you now, he’s your problem now.  Please don’t kill him Hermione, he’s the prettiest friend I have.”

Draco scowled and Hermione laughed.

“You’re sure you don’t want to stay for dinner Theo?” Hermione asked, really was just out of politeness.

Theo glanced at Draco who gave him a slight shake and told him to get out with his eyes.

“Nah,” Theo said, “With you two, this is either going to get messy, or kinky.  And I want no part of it.”

Draco rolled his eyes, “Get out.”

Theo pretended to be hurt and scoffed, “You’re welcome, I’ll be billing you for the ride by the way.”  He said as he walked to the elevator.

They listened as his footsteps went to the elevator.  As the elevator dinged, and they heard the door opened and closed it was a clear indication that they were alone.  Draco was still standing in his spot, worried if he moved closer the illusion disappeared.

“You’re cooking the curry,” he said to break the silence.

She shrugged, “It’s a nice welcome home meal isn’t it?”

He gave her a smile and moved towards the kitchen counter, still not taking his eyes off her.

Now they were standing face to face.

“How do you feel?” she asked.

“Excellent now,” he answered, his hand itched to reach across her just to have her in his arms.

“Can I stay?” she asked hopefully.

His breath hitched, “For what?”

She gave him a small smile, “Forever.”

He exhaled audibly and reached out her, “Yes,” he said and pressed his lips to hers.