CHAPTER XVII

Draco woke up as if in a blink of an eye. They had gone to sleep fully clothed, and now the awakening felt a little groggy. Yet, he did not want to go back to sleep. It was very early in the morning, and everything was regaining colour and shape, darkness dissipating to make way for the new day. Hermione's departure was planned for the next day. It was too soon. He needed more time. He needed to find a way to keep her safe as long as she was away from him. Draco looked at her and thought how unbelievable this was. Hermione Granger was all his to touch, to kiss and to hold. Well, he thought, not completely his yet. It made his blood boil to know that she still nurtured love for another man. Did she have the same feelings towards him? Did she think she was a rebound? The sole idea seemed ridiculous; almost as ridiculous as the idea of him and Hermione Granger together.

She started to shift and slowly opened her eyes to peak at him. He smiled and took her into his arms.

"Good Morning, Hermione."

"Good Morning, Draco."

"Do you have to go to work today?"

"No," she answered. "They thought I might need to prepare more this time. Do you have classes?"

"In the afternoon," he whispered bringing her as close as possible and slipping a hand underneath her shirt.

She smiled and let him have his way. Savouring each kiss like it was the last. Hermione knew it could be. She was aware how close to death she had gotten in recent times. And that this was no different. Her chest clenched and she turned away from Draco's lips. She needed air.

"Hermione?" He started to retreat but her arms held him where he was.

"I'm sorry," she said and kept breathing. "It's just," she hesitated. "I might never see you again. And it made me realize how stupid I've been."

"What do you mean?"

Draco's heartbeat rose. He could almost taste the rejection and made another move to retreat. She did not stop him this time.

"I know this is not yet a thing." The words were already out before she could stop them. "I don't want you to think that I'm using you to get rid of what I felt for Ron."

He couldn't help but smile. He resumed his previous position, kissing her slowly as he entangled his fingers into her hair. He rested his forehead on hers and breathed in, trying to calm down his heart.

"I don't want you to think I'm using you either."

Perry walked up to the merchant, almost afraid to disturb him. She thought how they kind of matched among the sea of dark, dirty cloaks with their colourful ones. He looked pristine, like a saviour in a nightmare, calm and serene, his eyes closed. She thought how ridiculous it was. He was sitting on the pavement between the buildings of Knockturn Alley, and yet he managed to look untouched.

"How can I help you?"

His voice made her jump. He hadn't opened his yes. "I-I'm looking for someone."

"Aren't we all?"

"His name is Xenis," she continued. "A friend told me that you might know where to find him."

"Your friend was wrong."

Perry's heart dropped. "Do you know how I can contact him?"

"No," he answered. "Have you tried an owl?"

"Please," she pleaded.

The man seemed to hesitate. "What is your name?"

"Perry," she said.

"Perry what?"

"Perry Watson."

"Just a part of the person's name is too little information for me to do my job," he said. "Do you know anything else about this Xenis?"

"He a very bad person," she said.

The merchant laughed. "We all are at certain points in our life. What more do you know about this person?"

"He used to work as a guide for Gringotts in Egypt."

"That's better." He opened his eyes. "I will send you an owl when I know more."

She waited for a second, before realizing he had dismissed her.

The foam hid her forms up to the neck. She was looking up at him, her eyes fixed on his. Draco was feeling self-conscious. Not because of modesty or insecurity in his own body per say. It was the scars he bore on his chest, arms and stomach that made his a little reluctant. She saw them before, but he doubted she had truly noticed them. He decided to get it over with, and shed the last bit of clothing, getting into the bath as she made space for him.

Hermione rested her head on his chest and after a moment turned carefully to face him.

"Where did you get all these scars?"

"The French community is not very tolerant towards Lycanthropy."

"What happened?"

"You want to know how I became what I am?"

"If you wish to tell me, yes."

"You're probably thinking that the Werewolf that turned me was a blood-thirsty animal like Greyback."

She nodded.

"He was more like your Lupin. I am not sure why he did it, but one night as I was walking home he attacked, bit and left."

"What do you mean why?"

He hesitated, looking at her. "I'm actually not sure if I should tell you," he thought about it for a moment. She was waiting patiently.

"You know that Xenis did something for Shafiq's sake and possibly, because of his ingratitude, Xenis is now targeting the people closest to Perry and him."

Hermione nodded.

"Well, he was the one responsible for arranging my change of nature."

"What?" Her voice rose over the quiet tone they were speaking in until that moment. "Why?"

"He thought that by making me into something undeserving of love she would leave me."

"And she did."

"Yes, but she did not go back to Shafiq, which was the point from the beginning."

"Did you talk to her afterwards?"

"She left after she made sure that I would live, after she explained to me that she could not be around someone who could kill her every full moon."

Hermione said nothing.

"I'm sorry, I won't mention her again."

She smiled. "Thank you."

"My pleasure."

"You didn't answer my question. Where did you get the scars?" She traced them with her fingers studying them.

"In prison," he answered. "The guards thought it was funny."

Hermione started kissing each of them. When she raised her head to look up at him, he dragged her up to kiss her, splashing water on the floor as he did.

Harry appeared in Hermione's living room looking around. He realise that she must've been at work. When he turned to Apparate back at the Ministry he heard the bedroom door open and Hermione emerged from the bedroom in a robe, with her hair wet.

"Harry?"

"We need to come up with a plan," he declared. "Hello, by the way."

She gave him a small smile. "Let me go get dressed, ok?"

"Sure."

Hermione went back into the bedroom and exhaled heavily. She turned to Draco who was putting his shirt on. Hermione cast a Muffliato.

"Harry's here if you were wondering."

He smiled and continued to get dressed. "Well I'm late," he said.

"Wait," she said confused. "You want to go out there?"

He bent his head to the side and studied her. "Are you ashamed of me Granger?"

"No!" There was no Hesitation in her voice, fact that made him smile. He neared her and gave her a short but wet kiss.

"Get dressed."

Hermione put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, and before she was even done Draco had opened the door.

"Potter," he said lightly. She rushed behind him, watching him put his cloak on as he made his way to the fireplace. He looked contained and calculated, and graceful all at once.

Harry's mouth was agape as he watched Draco pause by the fireplace to fix the hem of his clock.

"Malfoy?"

The blond gave him a smirk, his eyes shining with delight. "See you tonight, please come up with a good plan for once."

He gave Hermione one last look before disappearing with a crack.

Harry's gaze went to Hermione who decided to follow Draco's lead. "So," she sat down at her dining room table. "Let's get to work."

Thank you for reading,

we're almost done.