Chapter Text
Hermione often notices things that most don’t. She doesn’t think it’s because she has particularly heightened emotional intelligence, but rather because she loves to observe. She loves to make notes of tiny things.
She made note of when Ron would stare at her during their Fifth and Sixth Years. She made note of when Harry spent their entire Sixth Year following Draco like it was his life’s mission. She made note of how Harry would bring up Draco’s name in every sentence, when his bitter disgust began to shift into poorly hidden smiles.
When Harry mentioned his fairly idiotic plan to bring Draco to the Burrow, Hermione saw through it instantly. He might have been oblivious, but she wasn’t. It was obvious he didn’t give a damn about one-upping Ginny, she just needed to wait for him to realize it.
After Christmas, Draco came to New Year's. Then the next dinner. And the next. It got to a point where Draco was considered a part of the Weasley extended family. Hermione, oddly enough, didn’t mind him. She knew that his upbringing hurt him more than he let on. He apologized to her a few days after Christmas. Hermione forgave him, against Ron’s judgement. It was nice talking to someone who loved books and academia as much as she did.
When Hermione and Ron stopped by Grimmauld one day, to stay there for the night, Hermione noticed Draco there. He ate with them and seemed comfortable at Grimmauld with Harry, as if he’d been there for a long time. Later that night, Hermione confronted Harry to ask why he didn’t tell them about Draco moving in.
“Move in? No, no- he didn’t move in. He’s just staying. For a bit.” He’d said. And when Hermione asked how long ‘a bit’ was, Harry said two months.
“I dunno when it happened! His things just got here. He goes back to the Manor sometimes, though.” That was when Hermione realized that Draco and Harry were probably going to stay together for a very long time.
Hermione remembers when Draco was seriously threatened with suspension. Something about finding ‘old evidence’ suggesting that he was far too involved in the Dark Arts as a child, something that would have deemed him unfit to be a Healer. Draco was devastated. He had come to her at first, talking about how he might lose his career. When Harry came home later that day, she told him about it.
Hermione doesn’t think she’s ever seen Harry that angry. He went straight up to the Ministry and demanded that they absolve the threat instantly, unless they wanted him to run to the prophet and ruin their image. They hastily rescinded the threat and apologized. That was when Harry and Draco got into their first ‘fight’, if you could even call it that. Draco felt upset that Harry overstepped. Harry was upset that Draco didn’t tell him earlier. It lasted a grand total of half a day, and Harry and Draco both apologized. Honestly, Hermione thought she was going to get cavities watching them.
She remembers when Draco got his first Weasley sweater. Draco tried to brush it off, but she could tell it meant the world to him. Ron also started coming around to him at the same time. Hermione was the one who suggested Draco come over for lunch, with just her and Ron. It was awkward at first, but Ron warmed up to him. Eventually.
Hermione also met Pansy and Zabini. Oddly enough, she really enjoyed spending time with Pansy. They both had quite the clashing personalities, but she loved her company. Apparently, she saw this whole Harry and Draco thing coming since their Fifth Year. It was rare that she had a friend who had any semblance of emotional intelligence. Zabini was quiet, but seemed nice. Ron finally swallowed his pride and talked to him, mumbling something about “you wanna go get a Butterbeer sometime?”, and Zabini had said “Sure”.
Several months after the first time Draco came to the Burrow, Hermione remembers when Harry came to her, on the verge of tears. It was extremely jarring, seeing Harry like that. She’d been so worried, asking what was wrong. Harry said he thought Draco hated him. While Hermione liked to stay out of the details of their relationship, Hermione knew for a fact that Draco did not hate him. She told him he was being ridiculous, but Harry just said, “No, he said he needed ‘space’. I think I messed up.” Hermione immediately went to Draco because there was no way she was going to be dealing with Harry’s dramatic reactions on her own. “I needed him to be away for a bit. I’m planning on asking him something important.” When asked, Draco said, “I want him to meet my mother.” Harry then later told her all about the terrifying ordeal that was meeting Draco’s mother.
She ends up telling Harry about the countless conversations she and Ron have had about his fixations on Draco, especially when they were at Hogwarts. Harry was mildly offended, but ended up shrugging and saying something along the lines of “Guess you weren’t too far off”.
Hermione’s days usually follow a strict routine. She has a place with Ron, and they both eat breakfast together and go to work together early in the morning. He returns in the evening, she returns late afternoon. While waiting for him to come home, she would do some paperwork. Then, they’d go for a walk together. Later, they’d stop by Grimmauld or even stay there for a day or two. But she’s noticed her routine changing. She more often than not gets tea with Harry and Draco on her lunch break. Or, she’ll see Draco at Grimmauld.
She doesn’t like change. Stability was one of the few things in her life she could finally control, and having an ex-Death Eater and their childhood arch-nemesis integrated into her perfectly planned daily schedule wasn’t exactly ideal. But she knew when change was necessary. Harry seemed happier than he’d been in a long time. So, she decided to allow it. It wasn’t exactly how she pictured things going, but if tea with a reformed Death Eater was the trade-off for Harry’s happiness, she’d make do somehow.