A/N: This is it! The finale. Writing this story was a huge challenge because I wouldn't have picked this trope, were it not for the incredible Dramione Fanfiction Writers group. I learnt a lot from this story, such as a warm Spanish evening, drinking Sangria with Tridogmom can really help the creative juices flow.
Finding Granger
Chapter 6
28 November 20:38
"You should try to eat something."
A plate of plain buttered toast was placed beside her. Hermione didn't have the appetite for it.
"I'm not hungry." She continued to cling onto her duvet covers.
"Then how about a cup of tea. I've found chamomile in your cupboard."
The food was vanished away and a steaming cup of tea appeared. The mattress dipped at her feet and Draco sat on the edge of her bed, watching her wallow in sadness. She wondered if he enjoyed seeing her like this. Low and broken-hearted.
"Please. Have some tea." He pleaded. "At least humour me for the effort I went through from using a Muggle kitchen for the first time."
Sitting up, still wearing the clothes she wore all day, she took her mug of tea. Carefully blowing on it, the aroma at least calmed her raw nerves. He stared at her, or at her bare arm. The arm that had 'Mudblood' carved into it.
"You don't have to stay Malfoy."
She didn't need him here, sat by her bed and trying to comfort her. It most certainly painted an odd picture. The entitled Draco Malfoy sat at the end of her bed in her childhood home. Hermione wasn't sure why but she didn't have enough energy to find out.
"True. But I don't have anywhere else to be right now. May as well make sure you're not a mess." He reasoned.
They sat in silence as Hermione sipped her tea and Draco stared around her room.
"Can I tell you something?" He asked softly. His gaze not meeting hers.
"Sure."
"I'm sorry for people like my parents, my aunt and all of Voldemort's followers. Truly."
Their eyes met and Hermione swallowed hard.
"I'm sorry for what happened to your family. They made sacrifices. You made sacrifices because…" Silver eyes blinked rapidly. "Because you loved each other."
Draco's head dropped in despair.
"I feel so guilty right now because your family lost so much and I can't shake off the feeling of wishing to be loved that much too."
It dawned on Hermione in an unexpected way. Draco Malfoy was jealous of her. Of her family's love for each other.
"Malfoy! Stop it!" She ordered. "Your mother loves you unconditionally. She risked her life to save Harry Potter from Voldemort, just so she could save you!"
Taken aback, he stared at her wide eyed and a little frightened.
"You are loved Draco." She whispered. "You may not feel like that today, but your mother loves you. One day, someone special in your life is going to come along and she, or he will love you. They will sacrifice anything to keep you safe."
The room shrunk in size as he shuffled along the bed towards her.
"It's not just about being loved Granger. Some days, I think about finding someone I can love unconditionally too."
Hermione's heart thumped heavily against her chest. It was as if she saw him for the first time. The man who had hidden his deepest and loneliest desire under layers of pretension and privilege. Now he laid his fears bare to her. How had she never noticed how his eyes swirled like molten ore or how nice he smelt.
"You might. According to my papa, even a Squib like him found someone to love."
To call her own father a Squib felt strange on her tongue. Draco smiled back at her and it took her breath away.
"Thanks Granger. It's getting late." The blond stood up, breaking their shared moment of intimacy.
"I'll see you soon." Hermione could only nod in response as he let himself out of her house.
30 November 16:30
"You said B.A.T.S. form E, section 3.7 and 9.4!" Hermione tried to reign in her temper but Julian, the Ministry's most obtuse employee of the year, tested her patience.
"Yes, but you have filled out part A of these forms, not part B. You will need to complete the forms again for your application." He explained patronisingly.
Snatching up her wrong forms and a couple of new ones on the way out, she left before there's an opportunity to hex the man.
2 December 17:45
"Granger!"
Hermione turned around in the Ministry foyer and was surprised to see Draco walking towards her. They haven't seen each other in a few days, since she thought that he had no reason to stay in touch with her anymore.
"Are you thirsty?" He asked.
"What?" Hermione asked confusedly. The blond seemed flustered and uncomfortable.
"Do you want to get a quick drink at the pub? Now that you've finished work."
"Oh." It took the witch by surprise, as she couldn't comprehend why he would invite her when their business has concluded. But a part of her was curious to find out.
"Look if you got other things to do, don't worry. I was only dropping through the Ministry anyway -"
"Sure. Where do you want to go?" She interrupted, before he said any more to back out.
Draco was taken aback, but his expression changed to one of casual nonchalance.
"Let's go to Hogsmeade."
They walked together to the Ministry apparition point and Apparated to Hogsmeade.
2 December 18:02
"What were you doing at the Ministry today?" Hermione asked him, whilst nursing her glass of butterbeer.
"I had an appointment." Draco replied. For the past few days, he tried to write her a letter. But mostly ended up throwing balls of parchment everywhere. So today, he went down to the Ministry and just waited until she finished work.
That days' events ran through his mind in circles. The vault, the memories and the way Hermione looked at him in her bedroom.
"I did some research in the Manor's library and I found something that belonged to my grandmother you might be interested in."
Pulling out an envelope, he placed it in between them. Tentatively Hermione opened the envelope and laid out a handful of old photographs that moved and waved. Pointing his finger on one photograph of a couple who he knew were in the rose garden of the Manor.
"I recognised her in this photo. She's a lot younger than her memories."
"Nana!" Hermione squealed with delight. She held up the photo and Draco smiled at the way her face lit up.
"You should read the back of the photo." He explained, feeling excited once more.
"Geraint and Helen Ollivander. Tea party 1949." Hermione's brows furrowed together as she processed the information.
"I thought that was odd, but then look at this picture here."
Holding up another picture, Hermione saw a pair of young women in their Hogwarts uniforms near the Clocktower. Draco paid close attention to her flipping the photo and read the small inscription at the back.
"Helen Dagworth-Granger and I. Year four." She read quietly.
Hermione's hand went up to her mouth. Slowly she carefully took all the photos and placed them back in the envelope. Everything had fallen into place. His heart leapt at witnessing her figure out the puzzle pieces of the family tree. Perhaps she might be interested in taking another excursion to find out about her great grandparents...
"Thank you for helping me with this. I know you weren't genuine about the whole journey at first but I appreciate your support." Draco grinned at her appreciation.
"I wish you the best of luck with everything."
Wait! Is she calling off their… search? Arrangement?
"Hold on! What do you mean?" He interrupted in a mild panic.
This can't be what he thinks is happening.
"Well." she looked down at the envelope, avoiding his gaze. "You don't have to help me anymore. I've taken enough of your time and money as it is."
"Forget money. I want to do this."
Hermione stared at him completely baffled. Why doesn't she understand that he has spent days trying to write to her and burning the midnight oil in a musty old library.
"You do?"
"Yes." He confessed. He realised he very much did.
"Is this because you know I'm a… Pureblood?"
"Screw the Pureblood-Mudblood nonsense. That's not why I want to do it."
"Then why?"
Truthfully he couldn't quite answer it. He just knew it was more than that. Did he love her? No. Did he like her? Most likely.
"I have grown fond of you Granger. Fawley? Hermione. Is it wrong to want to spend time with people I like?"
The witch bit her lips as she contemplated. His heart jumped to his throat, as he watched the cogs in her brain tick. Truth be told, when she's in thought, her face was rather adorable.
"I suppose not."
"Good." He sighed in relief.
An awkward long silence hung between them. Neither knowing what to do in their new association with each other. Finally Hermione was the first to speak.
"I'm getting hungry. Do you want to get some dinner? As friends?"
He grinned at her.
"What do you want to have? My treat." Standing up and offering his hand. Hermione took it to stand and his stomach turned in a complex Quidditch manoeuvre. Friends? He wasn't sure how long that would last. Especially in a good way.
2 Years 8 Months Later
It has been a blessedly long time since Hermione has been to B.A.T.S. in the Ministry and it's unfortunate that the streak had to be broken today However on this day, she had an important task to do. A task that couldn't be put off any longer.
Strolling up to the counter, she wasn't surprised to see Julian, who has gone completely bald since her last visit. She stood patiently as he ignored her presence while he read and initialled the corners of a multi-page document he was reading. Before it was filed away at the most tedious pace. Hermione took a deep breath. Today she has patience by the cauldron-load and Julian may try but she will stay calm. Hopefully. Slowly he raised his head and stared directly at her.
"Yes?" He asked.
"I'm here to file my application to have my name changed."
A neat stack of documents hit the counter with a satisfying thump. Julian only looked down his nose at them. Licking his thumb, he flipped through the papers and scanned them at a snail's pace. Hermione repeated her mantra of patience and serenity over in her mind.
"And where is your witness?" Julian asked, his finger stuck on the blank line on a pink form.
"He's on his way." She explained with a forced smile of serenity.
"I cannot process this application until your witness has signed these papers. You will need to take them away and have them signed and dated again. I can give you a new set of -"
The door flung open with a bang, startling both the dull bureaucrat and Hermione to turn around. The witch beamed at the new visitor. Her saviour from a slow torturous death.
"Sorry I'm late. The Minister of Magic wanted to have a quick chat." Draco swanned in and placed his arm around her, to which she could smile gratefully at his impeccable timing.
"This is my witness. Where does he need to sign?"
Hastily Hermione put a quill in Draco's hand. Julian had no choice but to give the two of them a dirty look before proceeding.
"He needs to sign and date here, here and here." Draco calmly signed each space indicated to him.
"And what is his relation to you, the applicant?" Julian pointed at the blank line where Draco was supposed to share this bit of information.
"I'm her fiancé." The blond said proudly, his arm - still wrapped around her waist tightened.
"To clarify you will be taking his name?" Julian looked at the two of them as if they had dirt on their faces.
"In part, yes." Hermione could barely contain her own excitement. "I can't wait for us to be the Mr and Mrs Fawley-Granger-Malfoys." She beamed and couldn't resist to plant a kiss on Draco's lips.
"Oh good grief." The bureaucrat sighed. "Modern couples these days. Why can't they keep it simple? Creating extra work load for administrators like me. As if we don't get enough flack." He mumbled along as he took their joint application and filed it.
He could scream and vent his frustrations at the couple all he wants. Hermione couldn't be happier to start building a new part of her family tree with Draco. That made the many frustrations with B.A.T.S. all worth it.
A/N: That's all folks! Hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to review or drop a message. :-)