As Blenk pushed a platter of food across the counter, the memory began to fade from Draco’s mind. He blinked rapidly, trying to bring his eyes into focus as Blenk tried to reawaken him from his reminiscing.
“You alright?” Blenk questioned, intently gazing at Draco. His’ change in demeanor was obvious, body slouched forward, the air of confidence usually surrounding him gone, face blank and confused.
Blenk snapped his fingers in front of Draco’s face repeatedly until Draco finally shook his head, staring at the man in front of him as he recollected where he was. Blenk took note of that, too, his list of observations growing by the moment. Draco brought the food closer to himself and took a bite, doing his best to ignore the familiar curiosity growing on Blenk’s face.
“What just happened, lad?”
Prod, prod, prod. Is that all he can do? Draco thought, swallowing his mouthful of toast. He shook his head, refusing to answer the question, but Blenk didn’t give up.
“What was it? You can tell me; I’m always here to listen.”
Draco sighed for what seemed the millionth time.
“Great. Go listen to someone else,” he huffed, trying to shake Blenk away.
Blenk stared at Draco stoic, his eyes encouraging him to explain what had happened.
“Nothing happened, alright? When you finally left me alone, I looked out the window and think I might’ve seen someone familiar, but I’m not really sure. Nothing to go write bloody novel about!”
Blenk ignored his last statement and pushed him further. “Who was it?”
“Yes, because I obviously know exactly who it was, correct? That’s why I said I wasn’t sure?” Draco rolled his eyes and clenched his jaw in anger. Stupid questions get stupid answers, he thought.
“What’d she look like?”
“Firstly, I never said it was a she. Secondly, I don’t see why it matters!” Draco was about to stand up and storm to his room before Blenk spoke out again.
“Brown, curly hair? About this tall?” Blenk said, marking a height a little shorter than Draco with his hand. Draco simply nodded, hoping that they weren’t actually thinking of the same person.
“Oh, so you probably mean Hermione, eh? Not many young girls who look like that come around here. Oh, yes. Hermione is quite beautiful, isn’t she? Most of the lads who come here lately fall in love with her “ love or something else, you know. Hermione’s quite a girl, she is. Walked in here a scratch less than a month ago, distraught, with a lot on her mind. About some boy she’d run into. Yes, yes...” Blenk rambled, nodding to himself and looking from Draco to the door.
“I suppose she’ll be here soon!” he continued. “She always comes around this time to help me out; she brings my groceries and a few books lately. It is quite nice. She feels as if she has to repay me for something. Don’t know why, though,” he ended with a jolly smile, as if he really did know why.
Right on cue, Hermione walked through the front door, greeting Blenk warmly as she, unknowingly, sat down next to Draco at the counter. With a grunt she handed over a few bags filled to the brim with large books, and assorted groceries, smiling as Blenk took them off her hands. He grinned in return as he disappeared to the back, his eyes flashing to Draco for a split second before turning away. Following his gaze, Hermione looked over her shoulder, finally catching a glimpse of Draco.
She turned slightly, her mouth open wide as Draco’s cheeks flared and flushed. His heart raced faster as she continued to gape at him.
“Draco?” she whispered quietly in shock, as though she hadn't meant to say the name at all.
The word coming from her lips simply shattered his composure. It slithered through all the conversations of the room, from her mouth to his ears. His throat went dry and his mouth was parched. Why in the bloody hell is shehere? he wondered, panicked. Even though he already knew the reason, having just discussed the matter with Blenk, the answer escaped him. The fact that Hermione Granger was sitting before him, mouth still wide open in awe, had made him lose all common sense.
Her brown curls still bounced wildly around her shoulders, making her spot-able across any room. Or through a window, he thought, still in shock that she was sitting next to him. She was wearing Muggle clothing, making her contrast greatly from the despairing witches and wizards around her; actually, she was wearing a smock, Draco realized with some distaste. A small tag with a greeting and her name was perched upon the upper right corner; apparently she was off from her stupid Muggle workplace for lunch.
As he continued to stare at her, she crossed her arms over her chest, almost hiding herself from the world. Her entire body language screamed that she was still the same old Hermione Granger. But, as Draco quickly realized, she wasn’t. When he looked into her eyes, he realized the flame that used to burn in them was gone. They seemed almost empty; a shadow of what they used to be. I'm not surprised, he thought, his eyes glazing over in reminisce.After what happened in the war, we all lost ourselves.
He had never expected to see her again, especially not after what had happened only a month ago.
“Dra- Malfoy?” she stuttered uncertainly, as though he might be a mirage or an illusion; just a trick of the light, or a daydream. It must have been shocking to see him again so soon.
Ever since that day in Hogsmeade, Draco had thought of their small, insignificant meeting. That was why his father had tortured him. Lucius had assumed that the thoughts Draco was having about Hermione were out of loving emotions. Were they? He didn’t know himself. Draco blinked and cleared his mind, focusing on Hermione’s face.
“Malfoy?” she whispered for the third time, her conviction waning. She stared into his silver eyes questioningly, almost as if she wanted him to deny that was his name, and say that she was mistaken.
“Hello,” he said, finally finding control over his voice. On the outside, Draco was calm and composed. On the inside, he was breaking down.
“What brings you here?” Hermione asked after a moment. She seemed to have gained some courage in her voice, but her awkward posture gave her away.
“Long story,” he said, curtly.
“I’ve got time,” she offered.
“I’d rather not,” he snapped, losing his cool. Why is she here? Why is she talking to me?
***
Just around the corner, out of sight, Blenk was standing silently, overwhelmed with information. He was an expert at observation, soaking every passing moment into his memory, like the scene unfolding before him. But this time was different somehow. Draco and Hermione were both acting very strange, as though they knew each other from previous experiences “ not so great previous experiences.
He stared on with interest as Hermione asked Draco questions, encouraging him, even when he repeatedly shot her down. “No nonsense, impatient, closed,” Blenk murmured to himself, pushing himself deeper into the shadows.
***
Hermione slouched, sighing in irritation. Draco figured she was discouraged because of his harsh answers. Probably thinks it’s worthless to keep trying, he thought, feeling a slight stab of regret. How many people in his life had thought that about him? How many were right?
Thoughts seemed to be swimming in Hermione’s head as her eyes unfocused. Draco saw the longing to leave on her face. He sensed that she was about to get up and go if he didn’t say anything. He had to do something; for some strange reason, beyond his understanding, he didn’t want her to walk away just yet.
“So… how’ve you been?” Draco asked nearly silent. Hermione was surprised; he could tell. Her eyes opened wide, and her eyebrows shot up.
“I’ve been… fine, I suppose. How about you?” she inquired just as silently.
“I’ve been…” he drifted off, never finishing, instead looking off into space. He could sense Blenk staring, seemingly contemplating the situation, just as he, himself, was. His eyes snapped back and forth from Blenk to the counter, still not completing his answer to Hermione. He, for the first time, sighed gratefully when he saw Blenk take a deep, question-filled breath as he stepped back to the counter.
“Draco, m’boy! How’s that breakfast going? Eating it all up?”
Draco shook his head, ‘no,’ looking slightly relieved at Blenk’s “sudden reappearance.” He hoped Blenk could distract Hermione enough for her not to notice Draco’s discomfort.
“Well then, you’d better get to that! Hermione,” he said, directing his attention to her, “how’s the job going?”
“Oh, quite well. Our boss has got us working a tad bit harder than usual lately, but I can handle it.” (She blushed as Blenk told her, “You can handle anything!”)
“And how about you?” she questioned, “how’s the Green Dragon doing?”
“Fine, fine as usual. Not many new people, you know; except this young lad! Draco “ nice boy, a bit tempered and impatient though “ just came in last night! Quite distraught, weren’t you lad? Clothes all ripped and obviously very tired. But he’s a right lot better this morning, aren’t you Draco?”
Draco ground his teeth. He had wanted Blenk to distract Hermione; not tell her what happened. At least, he thought, he hasn’t told her about my father. Yet…
He gave a fake smile and nod to both Blenk and Hermione, seething inside. Perhaps having Blenk here wasn’t something to rejoice about.
“What happened?” Hermione inquired, turning to face Draco.
Lovely. Now I have two people to attack me with nosy questions; this must be my lucky day.
“I was really just looking for a spot of tea, so I thought, ‘why not!’ and came here.”
Draco felt a little bad when he saw Hermione’s distaste for his sarcasm. He sighed and tried again. “There was a… err, problem at my house. So, I left.”
Hermione nodded, seemingly sensing his discomfort with the subject. Draco decided to turn the tables and start asking the questions.
“How’d you find this place?”
Hermione opened her mouth and then closed it, repeating the action several times. “I got here about a month ago, when I, er, had a little stirrup of, er, thoughts.” Draco realized she had chosen her words with precision, regardless of the hesitation.
Draco merely shook his head in understanding as he recalled that they had run into each other about a month ago, too. Is that why she was here? he wondered, Because of me?
Confusion flooded his mind yet again as he stared at the now cold plate of food. He refused to look back up at either Hermione or Blenk. He was sure that Hermione’s curiosity would pester him to death, and Blenk’s smug, knowing face would only annoy him.
Hermione, it seemed, had taken his discomfort to heart. She stood up as Draco turned and gazed at her, unable to string words together.
“Well, Blenk, it’s been great to see you! I’ll be back in a few days with the usual! Have a great day!” she smiled happily at him as he nodded his thanks.
“And you, too, Mr. Malfoy. Have a great day,” she suddenly said, very silently.
“I can’t,” he whispered.
“You can’t what?” she asked, confused.
“I don’t have good days anymore.”
Hermione eyebrows knitted together and she frowned at the very depressing response. “Well, then. Maybe if you looked past all the bad things, and breached the good, you could finally start having good days,” she stated thoughtfully. “Good day, Mr. Malfoy.”
“Good day, Ms. Granger.”
The corner of her mouth lifted sadly, and she walked out the door.
Draco watched her go and sighed. He turned back to the counter and saw Blenk, still standing there, pensive as ever. What are you staring at? Draco thought with malice.
Blenk observed him carefully, for the millionth time that day, re-evaluating him. He spoke suddenly, like a spark suddenly dancing from a match.
“She’s right, you know,”
Draco looked up at him again and frowned. As if he didn’t already have enough on his mind, now he had to process Blenk’s input as well?
“What she said, about your life. You have to rise up from your darkness, because if not, you can’t live your life. Lives can’t be consumed with thoughts of the past. If you’re stuck in your past, how can you expect to get to your future?”
Blenk’s eyes glinted knowingly as Draco stared back at him, obviously considering his words for the first time.
Maybe he’s not such a fool after all, Draco thought. What Blenk said was true. He couldn’t continue to dwindle in his thoughts of his father. Even if it had only been two days, it was two too many. His father wasn’t deserving of his fears, of his thoughts, of his life. He had to climb out of the hole he’d dug himself now, or he’d never be able to come out of it.
Many thoughts were racing through Draco’s mind as he unconsciously reached out for a piece of toast. He sat up straighter, sizing up the predicament called his life. He nibbled on the bread and sat still for a few minutes. A shred of hope gathered in his eyes, and Draco subconsciously noticed Blenk admiringly smile.
***
This is it, Draco thought, descending the stairs of the Green Dragon that night. He had slept for a few hours, and made up his mind. He was leaving; this was it.
He looked around the empty main room. He’d only been at this place for about forty-eight hours, and yet it felt more common to him than his stupid room back at Malfoy Manor. At least someone here cares, to a certain extent, about me, he thought.
And it was true. Blenk had been one of the only people in his life that had questioned him, albeit rather annoyingly, about his life and what was going on with him. Wow, look at me, he thought, growing frustrated and embarrassed with himself, I’ve known the man for two days and suddenly we’re friends, and I appreciate him? Get a hold of yourself, Draco, he scolded as he advanced closer to the door.
As he reached for the handle, he hesitated. Shouldn’t he say goodbye to Blenk? He deserved it, didn’t he? Draco sighed. Ever since he’d gotten here, he’d been thinking about his life extensively, as well as other’s’. What is going on with me? he thought. Maybe I have changed. Maybe this place is changing me. Maybe it already has…
He grasped the handle and turned it, yanking it open. Suddenly, he heard a familiar deep voice fill his ears.
“Thought you’d leave without a goodbye, eh, lad?”
Draco, without meaning to, smiled inside. Leave it to Blenk to appear at that moment. Draco turned around and confronted the man, hesitantly shoving out his hand in the air, a small admiring smirk on his lips.
Blenk looked down at it and smiled. He firmly gripped Draco’s hand and shook it vigorously. “It’s been a pleasure, Draco. Take care of yourself.”
Draco nodded and withdrew his hand. He wanted to say two words, those magical two words, but it was becoming harder and harder for him to do with each passing second.
Blenk grinned at him, approvingly, just like the first time he had met him. Draco jerked his head and spun around on his heel. He walked out the door and stopped in his tracks. He sighed, and started to speak.
“Blenk? Yes, well … err …” Draco hesitated and spun back around, “thank …you.”
But as he turned around, he realized that the spot where the Green Dragon used to comfortably sit was now gone. The two stores next to it had taken up its space, as though it had never existed at all.
Draco smirked, impressed. He turned back around and began to walk off into the distance. The moon’s illumination danced across his face as he looked around, checking to see that no one was in sight. Then, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and with a loud CRACK, he was gone.
Understanding Brings Peace by Sarakime
Chapter Notes: Thanks so much to the best beta in the world, Ashley (Gryffinpuff) for helping me so much with this story! Enjoy the last chapter!