Life without danger is a waste of oxygen

"This place is disgusting," said Hermione, sitting down beside Draco in a quiet corner of the pub.

"I know, sorry. So how did your exam go?" he asked.

"Well, not to brag," she began, looking sheepish, "but the examiner told me he was very impressed. I think I've passed."

"Congratulations. Shall we order champagne?"

"Are you mad?" asked Hermione. "I'm not going to lose my Head Girl position over anything."

"Don't be silly. We're somewhere secluded. No one from Hogwarts comes in here. Good thing, too," he added.

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Hermione, a little hurt from the "silly" comment.

"Well, can you imagine if people came in and actually saw us talking?"

"You jerk! This is why we're in some disgusting pub, isn't it? You just don't want people to see you associating with me."

"It's not like that..." he began.

"It's exactly like that. What you really mean is you're Slytherin and I'm Gryffindor. You're the son of a Death Eater and I'm Harry Potter's best friend. You're Pureblood and I'm Mudblood."

"That's not it," began Draco, desperately trying to get a word in edgewise.

"Save it!" exclaimed Hermione as she jumped up out of her seat.

Draco grabbed onto her wrist. "Where do you think you're going?" he hissed, looking round. Although he had chosen a place right in the corner so as to be away from people, heads were beginning to turn round and stare at them.

"Away from you!" said Hermione before she pulled her arm out of his grip and stormed out of the pub.

The pub was now quiet as they all looked over at Draco in the corner by himself.

"What?" he snapped at them all. One by one, they all turned away, but whispers of "Young Malfoy" could be heard throughout the pub.

'Yep,' Draco thought to himself, 'I am definitely going to pay for this later.'

**********

"Hermione, wait up!" called a gruff voice from behind. She stopped storming back to the castle and turned around to see Hagrid. "What's goin' on?"

"Nothing," she lied.

"Then what was yeh doin' in the Hog's Head of all places, an' with Malfoy, of all people?" demanded Hagrid. Hermione just smiled weakly at him, unable to think of a suitable response. "Come on, we're goin' back to my hut. We'll have a cup o' tea and a chat." He placed a heavy hand on Hermione's shoulder as he led her away to his cabin.

"So, come on, what's been goin' on? Has he been botherin' yeh?" he asked her.

"Yes...no...sort of," she began, still unsure of what to say. "You see, because he's Head Boy we've been spending a lot of time together. We're sort of friends now."

"Didn' look like that back there."

"Well, we had a bit of an argument."

"Lover's spat?" he asked as casually as he could. Hermione's face turned bright red, making it obvious to Hagrid that he had hit a sore spot.

"What? Don't be ridiculous," she snapped.

"Hermione, it's all righ' if yeh like him. I know he likes you too. He spent a whole hour in there before you came doin' and re-doin' his hair."

"He was there an hour before me?" asked Hermione in surprise.

"Two. He spent the next hour turnin' his head anytime he heard the door open. I guessed he was meetin' someone important."

"Oh," said Hermione.

"I take it from yer reaction that no one knows 'bout the two of yeh yet? Well, you needn't worry 'cause I am the soul of discretion."

"I don't like him," she insisted.

"Has he done somethin' to upset yeh? 'Cause if he has, I'll..."

"He hasn't done anything. In fact he's been really nice. I was just over-reacting about something earlier."

"Well, what's the problem then?" asked Hagrid, slightly confused.

"I'm...Ron and I, we're together."

"When did this happen?" he asked, spitting out his tea in shock.

"A couple of weeks ago, not long."

"Yeh'll just have to tell Ron how yeh really feel. It'll break his heart, but better sooner than later."

"What?"

"I'm no fool, Hermione. If yeh were happy with Ron, yeh woulda smiled when yeh told me. Do yeh love him? Do yeh love Malfoy?"

"I," she hesitated. "I don't know. I mean, I barely know him...."

"But?" encouraged Hagrid.

"But when I see him, my heart goes out to him. At first I thought maybe I pitied him because of his father and his upbringing, but it's not that. If he was hurt or upset, I would want to be there for him. I really, I really care for him." Hermione eventually looked up at Hagrid. "Do you think I should go and see Madame Pomfrey?"

"No, yeh're not mad, Hermione. Yeh're probably the sanest person I know," he chuckled. "Besides, think how I was made. Me mum was a giant, an' me dad a wizard. That's just like a Slytherin an' a Gryffindor. I understand what it's like to care about someone everyone else thinks is an animal. Think of Aragog. I never once gave up on him, even though he was sorta the reason I got expelled."

"Thank you for listening to me," said Hermione in a small voice.

"Anytime. Now all yeh have to do is tell Ron."

"No, I can't do that. I can control myself. Draco and I are just friends. Nothing more."

"I only want yeh to be happy, yeh know."

"Well, then, that's my decision. Please don't say anything to anyone."

"O' course I won't. Now get along an' don't let it be too long before I see yeh down here again."

**********

"Draco, I'm sorry," began Hermione. Draco ignored her and continued pretending to read on the sofa in their common room. "Are you listening? I said I'm sorry," she repeated, slightly impatiently this time.

After a pause, she pulled the book away from him.

"Oi, I was reading that," he said.

"I'm sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have flown off the handle like that."

"No, you shouldn't have!" he said, raising his voice.

"Well, there's no need to shout at me," said Hermione indignantly.

"Just like there was no need to shout at me before! The whole bloody pub heard us."

"You look so funny when you pout," she giggled, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah? Well, you look so funny full-stop! What the hell were you playing at?"

"Me? What were you playing at? I thought we were meant to be friends, Draco. Some friendship. You won't even speak to me outside this common room," she accused, keen to get everything out into the open.

"That's not true! Anyway, you can barely talk, you hypocrite!"

"Excuse me?" asked Hermione, her hand immediately finding her hip.

"You haven't exactly told Pothead and Weasel that we've been spending time together," said Draco.

"They know we've been putting the past behind us."

"Yeah? Well, maybe that's just not good enough."

"Not good enough? Draco, what do you want from me?" asked Hermione exasperatedly, looking sincerely into his eyes.

"Just you, nothing else."

"I don't understand," she began, although she understood perfectly. "If you want my friendship, you've got it."

"And if I want more?" he asked, not really wanting to hear the answer, for he already knew what it would be.

"I'm with Ron. But I want us to be friends."

"Then please don't shut me out. I want us to be able to go for walks and talks without them being confined to this space."

"Draco, there's a war going on, in case you hadn't realized," she began, broaching the subject neither of them had talked of all year. "Which side are you on?"

"Which side do you want me to be on?" he asked, staring at her intently.

"Stop with the games. Are you going to be on the side with your father or on my side, the girl you've hated for six years but suddenly befriended?"

"What's brought this on?"

"I can't ignore this anymore. I can't get to know you and then wake up the next day and have to duel against you," she said with a sad look in her eyes.

"You ask me to fight by your side, Hermione, and I swear I'll fight alongside you till I breathe my last breath."

"You'll fight for something you don't believe in?" asked Hermione sarcastically.

"No, but I'll fight for someone I do believe in."

"Sure," she said, still hiding behind sarcasm because she dared not believe him.

"Answer me this, Hermione. Exactly what is it that's preventing you from asking me to join your side?"

Hermione sighed. "Probably the same thing that's preventing you from offering yourself willingly."

The two looked at each other, knowing exactly what that "thing" was. They were scared of the consequences. Draco held his arm out and Hermione came to him. He drew her into a tight hug and held her closely to his chest.

"I can promise you this," he whispered into her ear. "I will never harm you for as long as I live. I would rather die than hurt a hair on your head. Nor shall I see anyone else harm a hair. Not ever."

"Come to my parents' for the weekend. We'll forget about everything and everyone and we'll just be two normal teenaged friends. Away from Hogwarts and away from this world of magic."

"Just as friends?" he asked.

"I'm with Ron. I love Ron."

Draco managed a slight but forced smile.

**********

The week passed quickly and after Ancient Runes class, Hermione and Draco made their way back to their rooms to collect their bags.

They took the train down to London, where Mr. and Mrs. Granger came to pick them up.

"Mum, Dad!" shouted Hermione as she stepped off the train.

"Darling," her mum said, pulling her into a tight hug. "And who's this?"

"Oh, this is Draco. He's a friend of mine from school. He's Head Boy."

Draco held out his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Granger. Hermione has told me so much about you."

Ignoring his hand Mrs. Granger pulled him into a tight hug, causing him to blush slightly.

"Draco, please," she began, "call me Sue." She let go of him as Mr. Granger stepped forward to shake his hand.

"Sir," said Draco, nodding at him.

Mr. Granger squeezed Draco's hand very tightly and peered into his eyes. "Now, I want to know truthfully, what are your intentions towards my daughter?"

Draco opened his mouth and then shut it again, not having a clue how he was supposed to react.

"Dad, stop it," said Hermione as she blushed from embarrassment. "Draco's just a friend."

Mr. Granger suddenly burst out laughing and let go of Draco's hand. "Classic, your face. You know, the last time I did that to a boy, it made him cry."

"Dad, come on," said Hermione. "Draco, just ignore him. The car's over here."

Draco walked round to the front and got the door for Sue before getting the door for Hermione.

"Draco, dear," began Sue, "I hope you had a pleasant train journey."

"Most pleasant, thank you. And may I say congratulations on your silver wedding anniversary."

"So, Draco isn't it?" asked Mr. Granger. "Have you ever been in a car before?"

"Neil," said Sue in a warning voice.

"It's okay," said Draco. "Actually, this is my first time. I've seen them, of course, just never been inside before."

"But lots of wizards drive cars," said Hermione, cutting in. "It's only sensible when there are underage children who can't Apparate yet."

"There's a lot of old magic where I live tied into my family. Certain wizarding laws don't apply there."

"Well, what do you think?" asked Neil.

"It's lovely, very comfortable."

"Do you know much about engines?" questioned Neil.

"Honestly, no," said Draco, making a mental note to research them thoroughly at the next opportunity.

"So, how do you get about? Other than Flooing and Apparating."

"Broomsticks, mostly. I ride a Venus One-Eighty."

"And what would that be, exactly?" asked Neil, genuinely interested.

"The fastest, most powerful racing broom out at the moment."

"Ever ridden a motorbike?" asked Neil, picking up on the words "powerful" and "fast."

"I've never heard of one before."

"Really?" He turned to his wife. "Hunny, what are our plans for tomorrow?"

"I thought it might be fun for us all to go shopping," she said.

"Great!" replied Neil. "You and Hermione can go shopping, and Draco and I can stay home, and I'll show him what I've been working on."

"Now, Neil," began Sue. "Draco might prefer shopping to getting greasy working in your tool shed."

"Actually, I'd be very interested to see what you're working on," said Draco. Although the idea of getting greasy definitely did not appeal to him, he was keen to bond with Neil.

"Only if you're sure," said Sue. "So, how are you kids finding your last year at school?"

"It's going great, isn't it Draco?" asked Hermione.

"Yes. Did you know your daughter is the brightest pupil in the school?" he asked her parents.

"We're very proud of Hermione," said Neil.

The car soon pulled into the Granger residence drive and the four made their way into the house.

"Well, kids," said Sue, "the guests will be arriving for the party in a couple of hours, and I still have a lot to do. Hermione, why don't you take Draco upstairs and show him around? I've made up the bed in the guest room for him."

Hermione took Draco upstairs. "This is my parents' bedroom, and this is the bathroom. Here's the guest bedroom where you'll be staying."

"Where's your room?" he asked her.

"Upstairs. We have an attic conversion."

"A what?"

"We re-did the attic and turned it into a bedroom for me."

"Can I see it?"

"No. A girl's room is private, you know." Hermione smiled at him before making her way up the stairs.

Draco went into the guest bedroom and looked around. He had never seen a more basic room. There was a double bed, a wardrobe, a dresser and a mirror. Where were the elaborate rugs or the exquisite vases? Taking his suitcase into the bathroom with him, he had a quick shower and then got changed.

Draco had spent several hours yesterday deciding what to wear. Most of his good clothes were all dress robes and he knew he couldn't wear them as it was a Muggle party. He had eventually ordered a Muggle catalogue from a Muggle designer called VERSACE. His hair was neatly slicked back and he wore a black suit with a dark green shirt. He also had two silver cufflinks, though he had no idea what they were, let alone what he should do with them. Shrugging, he went out to wait for Hermione.

She came downstairs wearing a black skirt and a simple, pale green top.

"Wow, Draco," she started. "I'm impressed. You certainly do scrub up well." There was no denying that Draco looked devastatingly handsome all dressed up.

"Thanks, I think," he said, not entirely sure whether it was a compliment. "The only problem is I don't know what to do with these things." He handed her the cufflinks.

"Come here," said Hermione as she reached out to put them on him. Although she wasn't touching his skin, Draco's throat began to get immensely dry. Just being in such close contact with her was driving him crazy. He wondered if she would ever be his girlfriend.

He often thought about it. Often played out the different scenarios in his head. However different though, they would all amount to the same thing: she would leave Weasley and proclaim her undying love for him, and finally, finally he could take her into his arms, not as a lover, but as a friend.

"Draco, are you ready?" He looked up suddenly as he was brought back to reality.

"Lead the way." He smiled after her.

*****************

All evening, Draco was perfectly charming to everyone he met. He seemed to know a lot about everything and appeared to have a lot in common with everyone.

At some point in the evening, Sue dragged Hermione into the kitchen to collect more drinks.

"So, hunny," said Sue, "Draco seems very nice. Are you sure you're just friends? He's very handsome."

"Yes, Mum, we're just friends. I already have a boyfriend, remember? I told you about Ron ages ago."

"Yes, dear. Why did you invite Draco instead of Ron?"

"I did invite Ron," said Hermione, going red and the memory of it. "He was really busy this weekend, though. I promise you can meet him soon."

"Okay. Well, I guess we'd better go out and mingle."

Hermione and her mother came out of the kitchen to find everybody being ushered outside by Draco. He waited for everyone before raising his glass.

"I would like to make a toast," he began. "I would like you all to raise your glasses, ladies and gentlemen, to Mr. and Mrs. Granger here on their silver wedding anniversary. As a commemorative, Hermione and I have a small gift.

Draco handed over the wrapped gift to Sue, who opened it excitedly. Inside was a picture of her and her husband on their wedding day inside a solid silver frame. Inscribed on the bottom was:

Marriage is not a ritual or an end.
It is a long, intricate,
intimate dance together
and nothing matters more
than your own sense of balance
and your choice of partner.

Sue read the words out loud as Hermione looked over at Draco. She hadn't been expecting this at all. She noticed him muttering something under his breath before looking up at the sound of a loud bang. It was the start of a large, extravagant fireworks display.

"Draco, you didn't have anything to do with this, did you?" asked Hermione, even though she already knew he must have.

"Me?" he asked innocently. "Of course not." He grinned at her.

"So, apparently, everyone here loves you."

"Didn't I say they would? I am the perfect party guest. Mother was always throwing the most elegant parties, so I was taught the proper and correct ways from an early age."

Hermione smiled up at him. "Draco, thank you for being so nice. It wasn't a mistake to bring you."

"Did you think it would be? I've changed Hermione. I wish people could just see that."

"I see it." Hermione stepped closer to him and enjoyed the rest of the display by his side.

**********************

That night, Draco went to bed happier than he'd been in years. Since he'd moved into the Head boy's room with Hermione next door, the nightmares hadn't been as bad.

Nightmares had haunted Draco's sleep for a long time now. Some nights, he would wake up in a cold sweat and try to forget his dreams. Other nights, they were so bad, he would feel almost suicidal in the morning.

The worst thing was lying in bed, too scared to fall asleep. He knew the dreams would come and it terrified him.

It was almost as if Hermione was some sort of potion, a drug that made him better. Draco didn't know or understand what it was about Hermione, but he felt as though he needed her somehow.

**********************************

The rest of the weekend before Hermione and Draco returned to Hogwarts was spent helping Mr. and Mrs. Granger with chores. Truth be told, Hermione spent her time helping her mother while Draco found something he actually had a passion for: engines.

Mr. Granger, it seemed, had been something of a bad boy in his youth before he settled down into married life and had Hermione.

Draco absolutely loved his tool shed. Hung up in the corner were Mr. Granger's leathers: a huge leather jacket and pants built to go over his normal clothes and protect him. There were shelves all over the walls, and they were scattered with every Muggle tool imaginable.

In the center was Mr. Granger's pride and joy, a shiny, black Honda RC 30 motorbike. Draco had been mesmerized by it from the moment he had seen it. His mind had begun thinking of ways to improve it and make it better, but Mr. Granger had laughed them off.

He'd said no magic would ever touch it. The best thing about the bike was that she was invented by man and created with man's hand. The effort and time that had gone into it would stay in the machine forever.

Mr. Granger had taught Draco how to ride that weekend, claiming he would have to buy him his own helmet for when he came up next.

Draco had had such a good time that he was really not looking forward to going back to Hogwarts. He felt even worse when he found an owl waiting for him when he got back.

**********************

Everything back at Hogwarts was pretty much the same. The trio's lives were mostly filled with homework, as they were in their NEWT year.

Draco felt he needed to talk to someone other than Hermione about the war. He had been thinking a lot about the things she said outside the Hog's Head after their argument.

Draco found Blaise sweet talking a sixth-year Ravenclaw near the lake.

"Hey, Blaise, we need to talk," said Draco, a blank expression on his face.

"I'll owl you later, Katelyn," said Blaise to the pretty Ravenclaw.

"It's Catharyn," she called after him. It was too late though, as the two boys were already walking away with large strides.

"What's up?" asked Blaise intently.

"Nothing much, what's going on with you and Carla back there?"

"Oh, she's my new study partner. We especially enjoy studying the stars from the Astronomy tower," replied Blaise with a cheeky grin.

"If you study there, why were you outside with her? Is it getting serious?" asked Draco. It was common for the boys of Slytherin to 'see' girls after hours in certain places but that was usually as far as it went. Walks by the lake and trips for two in Hogsmeade was a waste of time. However, Draco was almost desperate for Blaise (or anyone) to understand how he was feeling himself.

Blaise threw back his head and laughed at the mere thought of it all. "Yeah, it's serious. And Goyle's just had a letter asking him to be the next Minister of Magic."

"Whose side will you be on in the war?" asked Draco, bringing an abrupt end to their friendly banter.

"I reckon I'll stay out of it altogether. We could bugger off to America or somewhere and come back in a few years after the war is all over."

"Not me," said Draco, stopping straight in his long strides to gaze out over the lake.

"Because of your father?" asked Blaise, treading as carefully as possible.

"Because of her," replied Draco, as if the answer was so simple.

"Who?" asked Blaise.

"Hermione Granger."

"I don't...I'm not sure I understand," began Blaise. He had had to stop himself instinctively saying something cruel about her, remembering the lack of oxygen as a result of the last time.

"I have to stay. I have to protect her."

"But..."

"I think I'm...no...I know I'm in love with her."

"But girls fall in love with us all the time. It never lasts. They realize soon enough that they don't, really. What if your love's an illusion?"

"It's not an illusion. I feel sometimes that I'm not sure I can go on living, like being near her and not having her is killing me, as though if she went away altogether I would die and never come back. It's driving me insane," said Draco, still looking over the lake.

"Does this mean you'll be fighting on Potter's side?" asked Blaise, not knowing how else to react.

"I don't know. Whatever it takes. What do you think on the matter?"

"So long as you're happy."

Draco hated having friends who told him what he wanted to hear, though if Blaise had laughed at him, or even begun to call Hermione something awful he probably would have killed him.

"I'll let you get back to the Ravenclaw girl," said Draco with a nod of dismissal to his friend.

"Okay. You never know, maybe Sheila could be good for me. I might settle down a little bit."

"Sheila?" asked Draco, one eyebrow raised slightly on his flawless face. But Blaise was off, making his way over to the poor Ravenclaw girl whose name Blaise would never bother to learn.