Draco's silver eyes slid open, and he stared up at her. His expression was reserved.
The corner of Hermione's mouth quirked up as she noticed it. “I didn't go to all the trouble of saving you because of an old promise if that's what you're wondering. After all, aren't you the one who said I make conflicting promises just so I can do whatever I want?”
“Grang—”
“We said always, didn't we?” she asked in a strained voice. “Always. If you don't want that promise in full any longer, I'll give it to you in increments.”
She held his hand more tightly. “Every day. I'll choose you.”
She turned to face him more fully, entwining their fingers and tracing her fingertips along the ridges of his knuckles. Her fingers stopped at the onyx ring, and she stared at it, replaying their past.
Blinding pain and burning devotion in equal parts.
“I'm sure there are going to be good days and bad days for us,” she said after a minute. “There's — there's probably too much for us to ever really put it behind us. But if you choose to stay with me, and I choose to stay with you — every day — I think we're strong enough to make it one day at a time.” She met his eyes. “Don't you?”
He studied her carefully for a moment and nodded.
The next day, breakfast appeared with a two week old copy of The Daily Prophet on the tray. The front cover featured a photo of the burned out ruins of Malfoy Manor.
Hermione snatched it off the tray and stared, her heart pounding.
“High Reeve Killed in Fiendfyre Accident.”
She unfolded it with shaking hands, in order to read the summary beneath the fold.
“Draco Malfoy killed by father in shocking murder-suicide case at Malfoy Manor.”
She looked up at Draco, giving a gasp of relief. “It worked, Draco. You're free.”
Chapter End Notes
Draco and Hermione by animusdiscidium.
Hug by istillloveyou3000.
Embrace by kalycoris.
Hermione and the High Reeve by nessi.books.
Draco and Hermione by youokwk.
Post-Flashback gifset by ectoheart.
Ginny by thegirlthatreadsfantasybooks.
Epilogue 1
High Reeve Killed in Fiendfyre Accident
Draco Malfoy killed by father in shocking murder-suicide case at Malfoy Manor.
Draco Malfoy, a prominent figure in the Dark Lord's government, and his father, a widower, are suspected to have died in a house fire.
Aurors are still investigating the case. The official statement from the Department of Magical Law enforcement is that the cause of the fire remains unknown, but officials speaking off-record have confirmed the fire possesses all signs of having been fiendfyre that was intentionally set and sustained.
Photos of the Malfoy Manor ruins are almost identical to the ruins of the Lestrange Manor fire from several years before. “Everyone knew Lucius was obsessed with that fire,” an unnamed source says, “he obtained all the records and files and revisited the Lestrange ruins dozens of times. It's almost undeniable that the fire was a recreation. It's so tragic: he never got over Narcissa's death.”
Close family friends say that Lucius abandoned most of his obligations following his wife's death, handing over the title and estate to Draco, who was twenty years old at the time. Lucius has rarely returned to Britain in the years following, but during his most recent visit his behavior had been notably erratic. Aurors speaking off-record confirm that Lucius is now suspected in several cases of missing persons, including Astoria Malfoy, who vanished less than twenty-four hours after returning from a summer holiday in France.
There were persistent rumours of tension between father and son. Although outwardly cordial, they were rarely seen together, and Lucius did not return from his post abroad for Draco's wedding in 2003.
The title and responsibilities of High Reeve are expected to be transferred to another Death Eater within the week. There are several Generals under consideration. However, at the time of printing, there is no official statement from the Dark Lord regarding a successor or about the deaths of Draco and Lucius.
The loss of a family line as old and distinguished as the Malfoy Family is a devastating blow to the wizarding world. Draco was the last of both the Malfoy and Black families. A healer from the Repopulation Program has confirmed that the surrogate to Draco Malfoy also died in the fire. She was four months pregnant with a Malfoy heir.
After two weeks of sleeping, Draco and Hermione finally emerged. Draco immediately went to check all the wards on the island. After he came back, he gave Hermione a full tour of the house. She gripped his hand when they went into the gardens.
They walked around a corner and found Ginny watching James attempt to scale a pagoda. She gave a tight smile when she saw them.
“Good, you're up. I wasn't sure when you'd stop hibernating.” She eyed Draco. “There's someone who's been waiting to see you. Topsy!”
There was an immediate pop as Topsy materialised. She stood staring up at Draco for a moment, her hands clasped together and her enormous eyes shining. Then she stepped forward and kicked Draco.
“Topsy is so angry at you!” she said as her toes collided with his shin. “Topsy is never been so angry in all her life.”
She wrapped her arms around Draco's leg and started sobbing. “You sent Topsy away without goodbye. Topsy thought you would be dead!”
She buried her face in his clothes and howled with tears for several minutes until Draco awkwardly reached down and patted her head.
Ginny gave him a pointed look. “When she arrived and found out you were both here, she refused to believe it until she went to see for herself, and then she cried for the rest of the day. I can't believe you sent her here like that.”
When Topsy finally let go of Draco, she went over to gather James into her arms and carried him away, still sobbing.
Hermione, Draco, and Ginny stood staring at each other in an uncomfortable silence.
Ginny tugged at the tips of her hair, and then her head gave a little jerk as she squared her shoulders. “I think we should plan to have dinner all together most days. It doesn't have to be every day of the week, but I think it should be most. The rest of the time, we can all have— our privacy, but we should have dinner together.”
She studied Hermione and Draco's reactions. Draco said nothing.
“Dinner would be nice,” Hermione said. “That's a good idea.”
Ginny's expression flooded with relief. “Good.” She nodded. “Great. Um. I'll tell the elves and see you both at dinner then.”
Ginny turned and hurried inside.
Hermione watched her walk away and realised belatedly that Ginny would probably stop and come back if she called to her. She opened her mouth, but Ginny had already disappeared through the door.
Hermione and Draco stood in the garden for several minutes in silence. She didn't know what they were supposed to do.
It felt surreal. They'd been cut out of one reality, dropped into another one, and just left to find their way.