Draco's Realisation

The movie ended and Hermione had fallen asleep, still resting her head on Draco's shoulder. He stayed still for a few seconds but knew he needed to leave and finish his work for the next day. Not wanting to wake her, he tried to manoeuvre her head to gently rest against the head of the couch.

Hermione felt like she never had fallen asleep. Sitting up fast, she saw Draco standing next to her. He was still moving so she knew he was trying to leave without waking her up.

"I'm so sorry, I guess I fell asleep! I bet this was a lousy night for you." She stretched her arms over her head.

He watched her stretch. "No, I actually enjoyed myself tonight. I really appreciate you inviting me. You were right, I needed it."

She stood up and grabbed the two empty beer bottles, as well as the bowl of half-eaten popcorn from the table and passed him on her way to the kitchen.

"I'm glad you came over, too," she said. "It was nice. Did you want to talk a little or---" She looked out the window. "I guess it is pretty late now."

He followed her gaze outside to the pitch-black world, then back to her. "Yeah, I really should be getting home. I have to finish those reports before tomorrow. I'm not as fast as you, you know," he joked.

She folded her arms. "It's just because I apply myself, get to work on time, and--" She stopped when she saw his smirk. "Funny." She shoved his shoulder.

"You really haven't changed over the years, have you?" He looked almost admirably at Hermione, the woman who as far as he remembered, had been the "know-it-all" Granger. The one who raised her hand a second after a professor asked a question.

"I really haven't," Hermione agreed, "unless being able to control my hair counts for anything. Even then, you saw what it did today."

They walked to the door, and she opened it for him. "Are you okay if I stay here? I don't enjoy walking back by myself and can't Apparate into my place because of the dumb Apparition laws," she scowled.

The new laws prohibited anyone from Apparating or Disapparating inside anyone's house, including their own. They had to find somewhere close by or use one of the Apparition points created by the Ministry. Then they had to walk to the door.

"I'm a big boy, I think I'll be okay, Granger," he smirked again and opened the door, walking out of the apartment.