I Would Never

Draco steadied his nerves as he knocked on the door he'd visited with such high hopes that morning, returning his hands behind his back.

The door opened slowly, Astoria's blonde hair preceding her as she looked around the door to see who was there.

"Now?" She sighed, but opened the door all the way, revealing the apartment he'd left that morning, except in disarray. There were tissues everywhere, cups of tea scattered around the apartment, and a quiet noise that sounded like sobbing from behind the bedroom door. Draco sighed, bringing his hands from behind his back, revealing a large bouquet of red roses in full bloom.

"What have I done?"

Astoria narrowed her eyes. "I don't know, what the hell you do?"

"I-"

"Because she's over there thinking you broke it off with her, and sobbing because she thinks she just lost the person she's ever felt a genuine connection with, you idiot."

"Oh, Salazar-"

"Yeah, 'oh Salazar' is right." Astoria snapped, anger flaring. "Go on, get your shit together." She gestured to the door.

"And where are you gonna be?"

"I'm going home! You caused this problem, so you have to solve it yourself." She said it rather indignantly, before putting a deadly gaze into her eyes that was terrifyingly similar to Pansy.

"Break her heart again, and I'll break a bone."

She didn't even wave good-bye as she shut the door behind her.

Draco cleared the room, Vanishing tissues and teacups cleaning themselves before they were returned to their cupboards, and conjured a glass vase for the roses to go in later. Shaking a little, he knocked on the bedroom door.

"Hermione?" He put his ear to the door and listened, but all he could make out was sobbing and the of the lock as she turned it, blocking access to the room.

Sinking down against the wall in despair, he groaned at his hasty assumptions early that day.

He conjured a piece of parchment and a quill, desperately hoping to find a way to express his regret. But before he could slide the note under the door, Hermione opened the door, looking ragged in an oversized sweater that was sliding off her shoulder and loose yoga pants, and tear tracks down her cheeks.

"Astoria? Is there another tissue box-" She looked down at Draco.

"Oh." She took in the dull look in his eyes, the roses on the ground, his messy appearance and rumpled hair.

"I-" Draco scrambled to his feet, roses again in his hand. Hermione turned, eyes downcast, to go back to her room.

"Hermione- please don't go- you need to know-" He grabbed her shoulders gently, turning her to face him.

She was silent, unprotesting. Draco took a breath.

"Hermione, this morning- after our talk- I thought- I thought that you had been opposed to what I had said. And I'm sorry- so sorry if what I did made you think that you were worthless or not enough for me or that I was breaking up with you. Please- - don't ever think that about yourself, because I would be willing to damned to hell if you would stay by my side."

"God, Draco." She leaned into him, sighing as she enveloped herself in his warmth that she didn't think she'd feel again, not after this morning, wrapping her arms around his neck, breathing slowly as she relaxed. She looked up.

"I thought that because of my reaction you were going to break up with me. Leave me alone."

"I would never." Draco lifted her by the waist until she matched his height, kissing her, letting him familiarize himself with . The beat of her heart, the rhythm of her breath, the silk of her skin, the taste of her lips. She wrapped her legs around his hips, leaving his hands free to tangle themselves in her hair.

Hermione pulled away. "Never?"

Draco grinned, a now-familiar sight that eased Hermione's heart. "Never. And I brought you roses."

"Oh. Thank you." She conjured an opulent vase, ruby-red to match the roses. Draco chuckled.

"I should've known you would've one-upped me." He gestured to the glass vase on the counter. Hermione smirked, in a way that made Draco's heart tighten. His signature smirk on her face.

"Well, it's not like I can let you get ahead of me."

***

Hermione hurriedly scanned the guest list one more time before handing over to Narcissa, checking who was coming and who wasn't. Most of those who had been invited were attending, and Draco glanced over Hermione's shoulder to see who had been invited.

"Mother, aren't the Zabini's coming? And what about the Nott family?"

"Of course they are. It's alphabetical order, Draco. They're on the second page, both of them."

"Naturally. I should have known."

"I want you back on the Christmas tree, young man." Narcissa's voice had a warning tone in it, letting him know there would be consequences if he didn't get back on task. Draco grumbled, but resumed unpacking the Christmas tree- gotten fresh that morning- that would be on display in the ballroom where the gala was to be held.

Hermione sighed. "How do you do that?"

"Practice, and the tone of voice." Narcissa smiled at the young girl she now happened to be quite fond of. Unfailingly polite and yet at the same time unwilling to back down, she appealed to Narcissa's stronger side and they worked quite well together.

"Duly noted."Hermione turned back to Draco and smirked.

"Oh no, mother, don't teach her please-" Draco interjected, a frown on his face.

"Too late." Hermione smiled cheekily and returned to the papers in front of her. Draco sighed.

"What am I going to do with the both of you." Draco grumbled beneath his breath. But Hermione heard it.

"I don't know, Draco. What are you going to do?"

Narcissa grinned. "See, you're getting better already."

"Oh, for Merlin's sake, mother." Draco sighed in exasperation.

Hermione and Narcissa shared a glance, and grinned.

***

A few hours later, nearly everything had been sorted for the gala. Caterers had been arranged, a theme had been decided upon- gold, to celebrate the New Year, and green, for Christmas. Draco seemed especially smug about the colour choices, and Hermione had given him an odd look, and made a mental note to ask him about it, but it slipped her mind amongst the many other things she'd organized that afternoon. Flowers, seating arrangements, drinks, food, musicians.. It spun through her head as she walked through the corridors of the building she calls home, Draco snapping his fingers in front of her face to catch her attention.

"Hermione. ." Draco's face was wrought with concern.

"Sorry. Everything's running through my head, and I'm trying to remember it all."

"Oh. Okay. You spaced out for like, five minutes. Are you sure it's not me that's on your mind?" He smirked. Hermione rolled her eyes- once Draco Malfoy, always Draco Malfoy, gentlemanly reformation or not.

"Pretty sure. It is my mind." She poked him teasingly, meeting only the hard muscle of his stomach.

"Are you you wanna do that?" Draco smirked before he pulled her against him, causing her to yelp unexpectedly.

"Hmm,

Hermione flushed, unable to wriggle her way out of Draco's tight hold on her.

"I won't be forever, you know. Shelowered her voice at those last two words, causing Draco to release his grip enough so she could turn in his arms, catching sight of something in his eyes, a little darker and a tint of something she couldn't quite place.

"Really?" His voice was low, sending shivers down her spine, and Draco smirked.

"Really." She looked into his eyes, again catching a glimpse of the strange look she'd seen moments before.

"I won't be single forever, you know."

***