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Hermione licked the chocolate mixture off a spoon, humming as she savoured the sweet taste. She was about to set a timer and pop the pan into the oven when a translucent figure glided through the kitchen wall, startling her into dropping the spoon with a clang.
“Granger,” the dragon stated. “Your dog has escaped again -”
“Shit, again?” Hermione muttered. “This is the fourth time this week!”
“- for the fourth time this week,” the dragon echoed as wisps of pearlescent fog escaped its mouth. “Feel free to come and collect her at your earliest convenience.” The dragon gave a small bow, then vanished.
Hermione rolled her eyes. God, he even sounds wanky in patronus form. She returned her own patronus to acknowledge receipt of his message and inform him that she would be at his place shortly. After quickly casting a stasis charm over the brownies she was in the middle of baking, she grabbed the small, beaded bag she took with her whenever she left the house. While the war ended over a decade ago, she never quite felt right when it wasn’t on her person. Her mind healer told her this was a ‘trauma response,’ but Hermione liked to think of it as simply ‘being organised.’
She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, then turned on the spot and vanished, reappearing at the front door of a stately townhouse. Summoning her courage, she rapped quickly using the burnished gold door knocker and resisted the ridiculous urge to simply summon Teddy to her and escape. The door swung inward, and a voice floated through the doorway. “Come in.” As she entered the house, Hermione breathed in then stopped dead in her tracks. Was that…freshly baked bread? She shook her head, her olfactory sense surely deceiving her. Surely Draco-fucking-Malfoy was not baking bread. She turned the corner and barely stifled a gasp. Not only was he baking, but he looked fucking hot while doing it. His sleeves were rolled up to the elbow revealing his tattoos, his hair was tousled in perfect waves and…was that a smudge of flour above his right eye? Somehow that made him even hotter. Oh God, she moaned internally. I’m so screwed. Hermione felt her face heat and realised that she was blushing.
He looked up, caught her staring and his lips curled with a smirk. “See something you like Granger?” He winked. He actually winked at her.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m here to collect Teddy. Where is my little gremlin?”
“She’s playing with Onyx out the back.”
“Thanks.” Hermione moved towards the back door.
“Wait.” He spoke quietly and she could hear the barest hint of hesitation in his voice. “You could…” he trailed off, eyes dropping to the flour filled counter as he continued, “…let them play for a while and join me? My sourdough is almost ready.”
She paused, ready to fire off an excuse but then reconsidered. Why couldn’t she? She fucking loved sourdough. “Why not?” She turned and moved back towards him, right as the timer went off.
“Perfect timing,” he smiled. “You can tell me if it’s any good. Spread of choice?” He levitated the steaming loaf from the oven onto the cooling tray in front of him.
“Have you got any Nutella?” Pulling a stool out from the marble counter, she sat down, setting her bag down next to her.
“Have I got any Nutella? What am I, a peasant? Of course I do.” He summoned the jar and a knife and pushed them towards her.
She unscrewed the lid. “Out of curiosity, what’s your spread of choice?”
He gave the half empty jar a pointed glance and a sheepish grin appeared on his (very handsome and somewhat flour dusted) face. “I only bought that jar two days ago.”
She grinned at him. “Ah, a man after my own heart, I see.”
“I wish,” he muttered, then froze as he realised he had just spoken that thought aloud.
Her smile widened. Confidence (with a side of adrenaline) shot through her and she blurted out “Draco Malfoy, have you got a crush on me?” She stared at him, and he at her, eyes wide.
“I… might,” he admitted reluctantly, his cheeks suddenly stained pink.
“Oh thank god,” she breathed, a relieved giggle escaping. “I may also have a teeny tiny crush on you also.” She held her thumb and forefinger up to demonstrate her very small and not-at-all huge crush. He blinked at her, his mouth dropping open. In the background, she heard their two dogs barking in the backyard as they, no doubt, wrestled to their hearts content. She could feel the warmth of the bread emanating from the freshly cooked loaf in front of them and from her cheeks which she was sure now matched his.
He spoke quietly, as if he were afraid that he might scare her away. “Even after…everything?” He waved his hands lamely, trying to encapsulate the shared events of their past.
“Well, if you’re referring to certain events that happened at Hogwarts when we were child soldiers on opposite sides of a war that we should never have had to fight in; I forgave you for your part years ago. Besides, I like to think that I gave almost as good as I got.” Draco’s hand automatically moved to his nose, and he hummed in agreement, a sheepish grin on his face. She continued, “I’m also a big believer in second chances.”
“For what it’s worth,” he murmured solemnly, “I am sorry – about everything. I haven’t ascribed to any of that blood purist shit since the war and even before then, the learned prejudice was fading but I was in far too deep in 6th year to change.” He shuddered, his eyes darkening at the memories.
She smiled up at him. “Thank you. I wasn’t expecting an apology, but I appreciate it all the same.” They had been dancing around their shared past ever since they first re-met at the dog park a year ago and their dogs instantly became obsessed with each other. She felt something shift between them as they finally acknowledged the hippogriff in the room. Her stomach ended their moment of thoughtful silence with an audible growl, and she gestured at the bread. “Could we please try some? I’m afraid you may not like me when I’m hangry.”
He smirked. “I’m sure a hangry Granger is a force to be reckoned with.”
“You’re damn right I am. I once hexed Harry when he got between me and an exceptionally delicious dinner at the Weasley’s.”
“I shall be sure to never get between you and a good meal then.” His face was solemn, but his eyes glittered with amusement.
“Thank you,” she sniffed, hiding a smile.
He handed her a slice of sourdough. “I could come and look at your fence some time, if you like? To see where Teddy keeps escaping.”
“That would be amazing! I had my Dad over only a week ago and he fixed the spot I thought she was getting through, but the sneaky little shit just keeps finding new ways to escape.” She eyed the Nutella covered slice, then held it up towards him. “Cheers, Malfoy.” He gently bumped his piece against hers. “Cheers to bloody good sourdough.”
He laughed. “I’ll cheers to that Granger. Cheers to sourdough and second chances.”