"You are you, Malfoy. I'm sure I don't need to remind you why I never want to have anything to do with you."
Draco was taken aback by the unbridled look of disdain she sent his way. It's been awhile since he's seen such a look directed right at him. Memories of the war came flashing before his eyes, forcing him to look away, pushing back the memories into the corners of his mind.
Hermione watched him tear his eyes away from her own. Every prank. Every mocking remark. Every scathing tease. Every hurtful retort. She remembered it all. And he did it to her for no real reason at all. His actions and words were the root of all her childhood insecurities. Her teeth. Her hair. Her blood. Everything she had no control over he ridiculed. Her hatred towards him and everything he stood for had no bounds. But more than anything, she hated the fact that his words knew just where to hit her to make it hurt.
"Now if there is nothing else–"
"I heard Australia is a wonderful place."
Hermione felt her blood chill all the way down to her bones. She watched as he darted his gaze towards the picture frame on her table, before looking back at her knowingly. He knew. The bastard knew. "You fucking conniving son of a-"
"Before you start thinking about-"
"That was classified information-"
"If you would just listen-"
"How dare you even try to-"
"I will kill you with my own bloody-"
Draco stared at the red-faced woman before him, standing with her wand pointed straight at him. Her eyes were wild and her hair buzzed with sparks of magic. He raised both his hands up in a gesture of surrender.
"I'm not going to hurt your parents, Granger."
"I said, get out." Her tone was low and quiet, but there was a feral undertone to it.
"I'm here to offer help."
"Like I would believe anything–"
"Money, Granger. That's what I'm offering." Draco cut her off as he stood up slowly to his full height, hands still up in the air. "You're researching ways to reverse obliviation." He stated frankly, not bothering to ask for her affirmation. "Your current position at St. Mungos and the salary it provides you aren't enough. There are memory experts all over the world, both magical and muggle. If you're going to explore all possibilities, you would need a nearly inexhaustible amount of money."
Hermione was silent now. She still had her wand pointed at him, but all her anger was gone. She was looking at him with wide eyes, torn between wanting to listen to his offer and wanting to call his bluff.
Draco brought his hands down to his sides, his gaze on her firm and unyielding. "My family's peace, in exchange for your family's reunion."
As much as I adore the 'they were secretly attracted to one another' Dramione stories, I will always prefer a legitimate enemies to friends to lovers set up 💕
Happy birthday to False Pretenses 🎂