Draco and you start dating for real. When he meets an old friend, part of his burdens may be lifted from his shoulders.

8. A Wizard and a Muggle

After Draco made up his mind, it was like turning a switch. He changed from morose to cheerful, and after many more sweet kisses he asked you to follow him home.

Unlike the last time you were in his apartment, now there was no need for him to hide anything from you. He showed you how he used spells for everything from cooking to cleaning his teeth, and some of his wizard equipment too. He had a clock with strange numbers and symbols, and several sets of black robes which you recognized from the Halloween party.

"No wonder you didn't know how to use electrical stuff when there are so many spells. And how sly to dress like your real self for Halloween!"

He smirked. "I thought it was a brilliant idea."

Next he pulled out a photo album where each image moved. Most of them pictured a chubby toddler smiling toothlessly into the camera.

"You were such a cute baby."

"Really? I think I was ugly. Look, I had no hair at all." He traced an image with his finger, where baby-Draco was riding a broomstick across a neat lawn. "Flying is what I miss most from my old world; there is this sport we have, where we use broomsticks and different balls and I was rather good at it." He absent-mindedly rubbed the callouses in his palm. Perhaps he had gotten them from gripping the broom handle.

In the next picture a handsome man with long, platinum hair was posing in a chair, his lips curled in a contemptuous smile. The likeness with Draco was striking, apart from the arrogant expression. It could only be his deceased father.

Draco frowned and turned the page.

Another photo showed a beautiful woman at a concert piano, her fingers dancing soundlessly over the keys.

Draco's frown disappeared and instead he looked sad. "That's my mum. She taught me how to play." He nodded at his own piano.

"Do you miss her?"

"Sometimes." He shut the album closed and put it back. "Want to see my potions? I made most of them myself."

He had rows of bottles with labels in his neat handwriting. You examined one marked 'dreamless sleep'. "I can see now why you like chemistry."

"The subject has many similarities, yes." He took the bottle from you and put it back. "I don't think I will need this tonight." He gave you a small kiss on the cheek. "I'm glad you came. I always hated sleeping alone."

"Same."

His words reminded you of how late it had become. With everything that had happened you weren't sleepy at all.

"Shall I put out an extra mattress or will we share my bed?" Then he quickly added: "I meant for sleeping, not..." His voice trailed off and his cheeks colored rather cutely.

"We can share." You were secretly relieved he had no other expectations; you didn't think it a good idea to rush it and sleep with a guy on the first real date.

Preparing for the night together with Draco was very different this time. Now you were sober, and had all the things he told you still fresh in your mind. When he undressed and exposed his tattoo you now knew the meaning of it, and though the sight of him in a tank top still gave you butterflies, it also reminded you of his dark past.

It felt a bit awkward and embarrassing to take off your pants and socks in front of him, but that disappeared when you slid under the comforter and was met by Draco's warmth and now familiar scent. You edged close and pressed your nose against the crook of his neck, and he put his arm around you, softly stroking your back over your t-shirt.

Despite the late hour, neither of you were tired. Protected by darkness you talked, sharing more about yourselves; childhood memories; hopes and fears; personal things you had never told anyone before.

When you could think of nothing more to say, you started kissing again. Lengthy, intimate kisses, so gentle and soft your heart swelled with fondness.

After a while the kisses changed, becoming more intense. Draco raised himself on his elbow, leaning over you to deepen the kiss, slipping a hand under your t-shirt to caress your bare skin.

You responded with the same eagerness, mimicking his movements. When you explored his broad shoulders and hard, flat chest, and felt his heated skin against your fingertips, new emotions stirred in you.

Draco drew back first. "Maybe we should sleep," he mumbled breathlessly. "It's already past sunrise."

You willed your heart to slow its pace, glancing at the windows where a faint light spilled in. Seagulls squeaked outside, a common sound around dawn in this city. You estimated it was three or four in the morning.

"Sure. But this time of year it's always past sunrise." You gave him a last, sweet kiss. "Good morning then, and sleep well!"

"Good morning," he replied with laughter in his voice, looking adorable with mussed hair and chapped lips from all the kissing.

Not long afterwards you fell asleep in his arms with a smile lingering on your face.

You were surprised by how easy it was to get used to dating Draco. How his magic became part of your everyday life in the same way as his company grew familiar and comfortable. It soon felt completely natural to let him warm and dry you with charms after a cold swim, or eat a meal he used spells to cook. When you had a headache you swallowed a potion rather than medicine, and if you wanted to get somewhere it was very practical to ask Draco to apparate you instead of taking the bus, even with the nausea you got from the teleportation.

Draco adapted to you in a similar way. Under your influence, he learned to dress like a muggle and how to use all the electrical appliances in a normal home. He bought a TV, a mobile phone and a Playstation, and no longer had to be bored when alone in his home. Not that he was alone much; the two of you alternated between staying at your apartment and his, and you rarely spent a night on your own.

This day was warm and sunny; Sweden was showing its best side. You were at a beach not far from the city with Catrine, Andreas, Martin, and Martin's boyfriend.

Draco lay stretched out on his back on a patch of grass between the bare, smooth cliffs, closing his eyes against the sun. He wore only swimming trunks and had used a spell to hide the Dark Mark; it was apparently a bit of a hassle to keep up which was why he normally preferred long sleeves.

You took the opportunity to admire his body, rare as it was to see him shirtless outdoors. You found him especially attractive now, in an adorably scruffy way; his hair disarrayed and damp from bathing and his jaw covered in stubble, and a healthy tan contrasting with a scatter of fair hairs on his chest and stomach that continued in a thin line down to his trunks. The sunshine painted his ripped torso golden and the mesmerizing sight gave you flutters.

Suddenly you wished you were alone at the beach.

He opened his eyes. "I've been counting back. We've dated for two months today."

Catrine made two thumbs up. "Yay! This calls for a party."

"Why not? You're all welcome to my place tonight, then."

It became a wild, but fun party. The morning after you were tidying away empty bottles and scores of burst, heart-shaped balloons (a gift from Martin), feeling perfectly well thanks to a dose of one of Draco's amazing potions, when he came out of his lab looking slightly concerned. "This was the last batch; from now on we'll have to resort to muggle medicine."

"Can't you buy more?"

"No, I can only get the ingredients from a wizard apothecary and if I show up in the magical community my cover will be blown." He sighed. "I wish I had polyjuice potion; then I could have gone there looking like someone else. As of now, I'll just have to make do without potions."

You didn't like the sound of that at all; you had gotten too used to his potions to give them up.

You pondered over it for a few moments. "What if you use that concealing spell? You could go to the apothecary and take it off long enough to buy what you need."

"Hmm. I doubt any shop owners in this country know me by sight... it might just work." A pleased smile broke out on his lips. "I could buy more glassware as well, and a new cauldron."

"Can I come too? I'd love to see a part of your world."

He firmly shook his head. "No. Too risky."

By now, however, you had become an expert persuader, and Draco clearly had a weak spot when it came to obliging you. It didn't take long for him to budge.

"Alright then," he acceded in mock exasperation. "You're too curious for your own good."

Draco chose an early Saturday morning for your visit since he figured the place would be basically empty at that hour. He apparated you to the entrance, which was located downtown in an underground garage. When you arrived, fighting your usual nausea from such transportation, a sickening smell of stale urine worsened your condition.

"I had imagined it to be a bit more stylish," you said, covering your nose.

"Wait to judge until you see what's on the other side." He went over to one of the walls and stood in front of a spot that appeared no different from the rest of the whitish-gray surface. Using his wand, he tapped a pattern.

"There; it's open." He took your hand. "You need to trust me for the next part."

"Always."

"Then close your eyes."

You closed them only partly; you didn't want to miss what would happen, but when he commenced to lead you through the wall they squeezed shut by their own volition at the last moment.

You opened them again at the other side – widely. "Oh my God," you breathed.

Entering the Swedish wizard shopping area felt like being transported back in time at least a century. The buildings were quaintly mismatched, with pillars, turrets, and decorative trim, and the street was paved with uneven cobblestones.

"Welcome to Trollstavenyn. Pretty neat, eh?"

Under the disillusionment charm, and a silencing spell to hide your voices, Draco could show you around, explaining what was in the shops, and you gaped at everything with excited awe.

"Amazing. I wish we could go into them all and look more closely." You pressed your nose against a window with an assortment of animals inside.

"We'd better not." He took your hand again. "Let's shop for potion ingredients now. I'll need to remove the muffliato charm so remember to keep very quiet."

The apothecary was even more intriguing than the other shops you had passed. On the crowded shelves you saw jars and bottles of everything imaginable, from powdered spiderweb to unicorn lashes soaked in rum.

Draco pointed his staff to himself, turning visible again, and walked up to the counter where an elderly witch was labeling glass bottles. "God morgon," he greeted in Swedish. "I need some ingredients." He handed her a list.

He was waiting as she packed his purchases into a bag when the doorbell rang and a beautiful witch entered. Unruly curls cascaded down her back almost to her waist.

"Draco?"

You went cold. Oh no! This was exactly what he had feared. To be recognized. Would he have to move away now? You couldn't stand the thought of losing him!

On hearing the witch's voice, Draco's frame grew rigid, his features undergoing a strange transformation from neutral to haughty.

He slowly turned around with a contemptuous sneer on his lips. "Why, if it isn't Granger," he drawled.

She closed the distance in two long steps, looking genuinely delighted. "I can't believe I found you of all people, here, in this small town! Where have you been these years? How have you been? You just disappeared. Everyone wonders what happened to you. And your mum... I used to work with her and even she doesn't know where you are."

His sneer immediately disappeared. "Mum... works?"

"Yes, can you believe it? But she's changed. A lot."

"Is she, uh... well?" His voice was neutral but his face betrayed his coiled tension.

"She's worried about you. And misses you, of course."

"Oh."

The look on Draco's face wrought your heart. You slipped your hand in his, squeezing it.

The witch narrowed her eyes. "Is someone there?" She looked vaguely in your direction and you held your breath, keeping as still as you could.

Draco frowned. "I have to go."

"Wait... It's been so long. Can we talk over a butterbeer or something? I want to put your mum at ease. Please."

You squeezed his hand again, looking at him encouragingly. His cover was already blown; he might as well talk to her and find out more about his mother. You knew he missed her too and regretted he had had to leave. Whenever the topic of parents came up, he would grow rigid with repressed emotions.

"Alright then," he muttered.

As the witch led the way to a nearby inn, you were dying to ask Draco about her. Was she one of the kids he had mentioned who would pretend to be his friend because they envied him? Or was she one of those he had bullied? But if so, she wouldn't have looked so glad to see him...

The inn was small and cozy, with wood paneling and a merry fire burning in the fireplace despite the warmth of summer. Draco and the witch received their drinks, and you eyed them curiously. They smelled sweet, like toffee. Maybe you could try one too after the witch had left.

The witch sipped her butterbeer. "I still can't believe I chanced to meet you. I'm only here for a brief visit to learn about the Swedish Short-Snout dragon's healing properties. For my research."

"You study healing, then?"

"Yes, and soon finished, too. This research is for my final thesis." She continued talking, first about her studies, then mentioning several names, relating what they did now and who dated whom – small talk, that you had a hunch was mostly meant to make Draco at ease.

When she was done, a silence ensued. He shifted uncomfortably, trying to take another sip but the bottle was empty.

"Draco..." She leaned across the table, becoming serious. "I've been meaning to thank you, but you disappeared so soon after the war there was never an opportunity."

He blinked. "Thank me?"

"For not turning us over to... him. That time in your manor. We were caught, and I know you recognized us, but you said you weren't sure who we were. You saved our lives."

"Oh." He shifted his stance again. "Well, then we're even, I guess... You guys saved my life in the war too."

"Have you been in Sweden all the time since it ended?"

He shook his head. "I went to South Africa first, to a sanctuary for magical creatures. I, uh... volunteered, actually. After Dad died, I just wanted to get away from everything. Get a fresh start." He looked at his empty bottle, twirling it in his hands. "It didn't work too well, as it were; as soon as people heard I was British I'd get questions about the war. All the questions I didn't want to answer... Then I figured with my looks I might pass as a Swede and moved here instead. Unfortunately the language was complicated as hell so I thought 'screw it, I can't pretend to be from here', and joined a muggle university as an exchange student."

"A muggle university? You live among muggles?" The witch's eyebrows rose so high they disappeared under her curly bangs.

"I know; ironic, isn't it? I thought it would be the last place anyone would look... But, getting to know some muggles, I found that... It became more than just a hiding place." He glanced at you. "I've made friends here."

"There is someone there! I knew it." Her piercing eyes brushed over you again. "You can show yourself; I don't bite."

Draco and you exchanged gazes and you nodded your head. He could reveal you; the room was empty and your table wasn't visible to the innkeeper. And you didn't think this woman was a threat.

He touched you with his staff.

The witch gaped at you. "You brought a muggle with you? You really have changed, Draco... I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes." She stretched out her hand. "I'm Hermione Granger. Pleased to meet you."

You recognized the name; she was one of the three who had been Draco's chief adversaries at school. He had recounted to you many of his past squabbles with the trio, sometimes with amusement when he described the more harmless pranks he had put them through, other times with obvious guilt over his behavior.

That considered, you were surprised Hermione acted so friendly. You didn't think the warmth was feigned.

"I suppose I have changed, yes," he said. "It's been liberating to be an unknown nobody. And to do some good."

Hermione smiled. "You're so much like your mum. She's a volunteer at St Mungos Hospital and works with patients who were injured in the war. She feels guilty for being part of the side who did that to them."

He looked thoughtful at that.

"Can I tell her about you? I don't want to expose you if you don't want to."

Again you were baffled over the kindness and consideration of this woman. If she kept his secret Draco wouldn't have to leave you after all. Relief filled you.

Draco seemed to have similar thoughts. He met Hermione's eyes for the first time, replying with gratitude in his voice. "You can tell her I'm well and that I'm happy, but please don't give away that you know where I live... you can say we met at Gringotts or something, and I didn't give you the details."

"Alright, I will." She rose. "Can I send you an owl the next time I'm in the vicinity? I'd love to keep in touch. If it's alright with you, of course."

"Sure." He suddenly blushed, dropping his gaze again. "Hermione... For what it's worth. I'm sorry for everything... I was a jerk. I don't deserve your kindness, really."

"Think no more of it. And I'm sorry too; my friends and I could be a bit harsh at times. Everything was either black or white when we were kids. But we all grew up, thankfully."

"Surprisingly, we did." He smiled wryly. "If you see Potter, tell him I still think he's a twat but that I'm sorry."

She grinned. "I will. But you should tell him yourself or he won't believe me."

When she had gone, Draco renewed the charm that hid you, and bought another couple of drinks, handing one to you. It tasted like it smelled, sweet and syrupy.

"Well, that was awkward," he said.

"She seems nice. And you did well; apologizing like that was brave. I'm proud of you."

"I'm honestly a bit proud too."

"Will you go see your mother?"

He looked thoughtful. "Maybe. I don't know."

You leaned your head against his shoulder and he put his arms around you.

"I support whatever you decide."

Draco was silent and brooding the rest of that day. In the evening when you lay in his bed, he kissed you with unusual tenderness. Like the first time.

"I'm so grateful for this. For you, for my friends... I'm a lucky bastard."

"You deserve it."

"I disagree."

"No, you really do. You saw what kind of person you were and left him behind together with the rest of your old life. You became a new, better you. After giving so much up, you deserve everything good coming your way. You deserve friends. You deserve forgiveness." You looked deep into his eyes. "You deserve love."

He replied with a long kiss, overflowing with feelings.

You responded, and then gently pushed him onto his back. You kissed a trail down his neck, and each of his many tiny scars and nicks from hexes thrown on him in the war, and then the faded Dark Mark. Showing him how none of his past mattered.

"I love you," he mumbled thickly.

Your chest filled with warmth at hearing those words for the first time. "I love you too."

When you started to doze off in his arms a long while later, you felt happier than you thought possible. Draco loved you. Even if he decided to return to his own world you were certain he would take you with him now.

You also felt hope for him, for a happier future. Hermione's visit had shown him he wasn't as hated as he had thought. He would get closure eventually. A chance to make everything right again.

He deserved that.

A/N:

I'm leaving it open whether Draco returns to live in the wizarding world or stays in the muggle one. But you, Reader, will be at his side, no matter what. :)

Thanks for reading, and for the encouraging comments! I always love to hear from you and what you think about the story.

Note: The wizard town Trollstavenyn is a pun, "trollstaven" = the magic wand, and "Avenyn" is a famous Gothenburg street. :) My husband made up the name for me, so I assume it's peak dad humor. XD