Chapter 25

Hermione found Draco sitting outside on the small wall that marked the edge of the patio. The sun was low and it hadn't risen enough to provide any real heat.

Sitting down next to him, he opened the quilt he had wrapped around him and let her in. His hair was growing longer, framing his face.

"You alright?"

"I just wish I had some news," he said like he had so many times before.

"You know we can't. If we go back, we'll just be a target."

"I know," he said after a while and held her more tightly.

Hermione placed her head of his neck, drawing in his scent. She wanted to go back to bed.

"What have you got planned today?" he asked.

"I'll go to the market. Read a bit. Wait for you."

"Hmm," he said teasingly. His hand travelled down her back to her backside. "You are distracting me; you're terrible for that." Hermione smiled. "I have to go. You ready?"

She nodded, not really wanting him to go. Standing up, he pulled her to him and placed his arms around her. "I will bring you back the biggest one in the ocean." He kissed her while walking her backwards, toward the steps leading up to the driveway where their scooter was.

After Draco started it, Hermione swung her leg over the back and settled in against his back, hugging him closely as he drove down the barren hills. The sun was starting to warm and Hermione closed her eyes as the warm breeze enveloped them.

It didn't take them long to reach the port where Draco kissed her before taking off and hopping on one of the fishing boats. The greek men welcomed him, accepting him with a slap on his back. It had taken quite a while for the people on this island to accept them, but over time as they gained enough Greek to be functional, the people here started to open to them. Their neighbour had given Draco a spot on the fishing boat after his son went off to Athens for University.

They both knew that Draco was struggling without an occupation and fishing was as good as any. He seemed to enjoy it and it gave his life purpose and structure. Hermione still missed him, but he was more settled now than he had been when he was home causing mischief out of boredom. Spending all day with the local men had made Draco's greek much better than hers and he really enjoyed that advantage.

Hermione smiled as she watched them pull away from the dock. They had picked Tilos at random because it was small and remote, and it had finally started to feel like home-for now.

They've had no contact with the wizarding world for six months and it had taken quite a bit of adjustment. Draco had been wound so tight, it had taken months for him to just relax, going through phases of being sullen and withdrawn. There had been points during their travel across Europe when she'd felt like murdering him. He was now finally starting to open up and he was becoming more like he had been, mischievous, charming and challenging. Slowly he was reverting to the person he'd been at school and she had to admit it: she'd developed a massive crush on Draco Malfoy.

As he returned to the personality he had been before, so was she-starting to feel more like the girl who'd had friends and a bright future. They spoke a great deal about school and the people they knew, and slowly she could start thinking of her friends in those terms instead of their more unpleasant fates after. They never spoke of the things that Draco had done, but sometimes he would withdraw and she could see his thoughts turning to the darker years. She hated it and tried to distract him.

After buying some groceries at the market, she returned home and read a few of the second hand books she'd bought down in the village-felt behinds from the tourists that came in summer. She would prepare dinner ingredients later and wait for Draco to come home. They would spend the evening in bed.

Watching the clock constantly, she waited. Tilos was perfect for them. They were left alone unless they sought others out. They went out to dinner occasionally and a few times they had traveled to Istanbul, but it was a risk interacting with the magical community there.

Standing at the dock, Hermione watched as the boat came in. She sighed her relief at the sight, always worried of something happening out there on the ocean. She smile broadly as he jumped out, spoke briefly to the men and then strode towards her, carrying a fish in a plastic bag.

"Hey," she said when he was close enough.

"Hey, yourself."

"Brought me something?"

"Dinner. Miss me?"

She was almost embarrassed to admit as much, but he had figured that out and that grin that had always annoyed her so much during school had started to return, and unfortunately made her weak at the knees these days. He was breaking through every one of her defences and he was aware of the fact.

Her thoughts out on occasion turn to Lucius and she prayed that he successful in his endeavours. She would never truly be able to forgive him, perhaps for the fact that he would never expect her to. When it came down to it, his heart was just a little too hard for her.

Wrapping her arms around Draco, he drove them up the hills again, back to their secluded white cottage. This would be their house for the near future; they had no idea how long. They might still go to Australia one day, but for now, they were fine here. One day they would go back to Britain, maybe even to fight, but for now they would let Lucius' plans unfold. Six months ago, Hermione's affection for the wizard world was so low, she hadn't really cared about the fate of the world she'd lived in since eleven, but their discussions of their schools days was starting to instigate her belief in the magic and potential in the magical world.

The End.