Four years before the main events
The Malfoys’ Final Years
After the war, [Draco Malfoy](entity:character-recall-character-draco-malfoy-377dcc7590f6) and his parents began rebuilding their fractured family relationship. Their later years together brought a closeness Draco remembered as foundational, even as illness gradually took that time from them.
Both parents contracted [Cerebrumous Spattergroit](entity:state-recall-state-cerebrumous-spattergroi-f3a512cd7109), and their advanced age intensified its effects on their memories. They died four years before the main story, leaving Draco alone but increasingly devoted to his work, his friends, and repairing what he could of his past.
The several years before the photoshoot
A Trace Rebuilt
[Hermione Granger](entity:character-recall-character-hermione-granger-2ff240399358) devoted her spare time to redesigning the Trace after the events surrounding [Harry Potter](entity:character-recall-character-harry-potter-9e5f7ded8918). The old system could not distinguish an underage witch or wizard performing magic from magic merely performed in their presence, a flaw that had never sat right with her.
Her revised Trace solved that problem and was approved by the [Wizengamot](entity:organization-recall-organization-wizengamot-63988bbdc896). By the time the story opens, the achievement has made her a consequential figure in the Ministry, though she remains focused on the work rather than public recognition.
A Friday evening in 2010
An Unwanted Photoshoot
At the [Witch Weekly “10 Most Influential Witches and Wizards” photoshoot](entity:event-recall-event-witch-weekly-d2af65cefa06), [Draco Malfoy](entity:character-recall-character-draco-malfoy-377dcc7590f6) arrived hungover and bored, accompanying [Pansy Parkinson](entity:character-recall-character-pansy-parkinson-7a2af8bdd8c2). He resented being included because his charitable donations made him influential, preferring to be recognized for his work as an Auror.
Pansy explained that their task was simple: pose for the magazine and leave. Draco expected an ordinary obligation among people he barely wanted to see, unaware that [Hermione Granger](entity:character-recall-character-hermione-granger-2ff240399358) was the late arrival the organizers were waiting for.
During the photoshoot
Hermione’s Entrance
[Hermione Granger](entity:character-recall-character-hermione-granger-2ff240399358) arrived in a rush, apologized to [Parvati Patil-Weasley](entity:character-recall-character-parvati-patil-weasl-70b16c548db3), and was ushered toward makeup. Draco had not seen her properly in about a year, and her tailored black suit, heels, and glimpse of lace beneath her blazer immediately unsettled his practiced composure.
Pansy recognized the designer and teased Draco about Hermione’s taste. He learned that Hermione worked as an Unspeakable and wondered why she had been invited, but his attention was already fixed on the former school rival he could not stop watching.
Soon after Hermione arrives
The First Verbal Duel
Hermione greeted Pansy warmly but offered Draco no handshake. Their conversation quickly became a contest of barbed remarks: he needled her about her work and her history with [Harry Potter](entity:character-recall-character-harry-potter-9e5f7ded8918), while she mocked his wealth and his reliance on the trio’s fame.
Their antagonism carried a charge neither acknowledged directly. Hermione then revealed that she had reworked the Trace and won [Wizengamot](entity:organization-recall-organization-wizengamot-63988bbdc896) approval. Draco was impressed despite himself, and Hermione left him with a pointed question about whether her achievement meant she was still riding Harry’s coattails.
Later in the photoshoot
A Charged Photograph
During the group portraits, Draco posed with polished confidence, but his attention wandered to Hermione watching him. Parvati placed them beside each other, giving him another chance to draw her into conversation while the cameras worked.
He tried to provoke her, then stumbled into an awkward compliment about her lace. Hermione replied that she owned it in green as well, leaving Draco unsure whether they were flirting or fighting. By the time the shoot ended, she had walked away with an unopened bottle of champagne, and he was already looking for another way to reach her.
The days after the photoshoot
Draco Studies the Cover
After the shoot, Draco replayed the encounter and tried to learn more about Hermione: her work, her friendships, and whether she was seeing anyone. His interest had gone beyond casual attraction, though he worried that asking her out outright would end in public humiliation.
He bribed a Ministry employee to get into Hermione’s office and used employment records to confirm her [Department of Mysteries](entity:organization-recall-organization-department-of-my-e5ed0fcb9538) history. The maneuver was an undignified one, but he decided it was worth the risk if it gave him a way to make her think about him.
The following Friday morning
The Riddle in Hermione’s Office
Hermione arrived at the Ministry distracted by the Witch Weekly cover, which had captured her and Draco holding one another’s gaze. In her [Department of Mysteries](entity:organization-recall-organization-department-of-my-e5ed0fcb9538) office, she again caught the persistent scent of [Amortentia](entity:object-recall-object-amortentia-6045ddcab4d4): parchment, spearmint, and an unfamiliar third note.
An envelope addressed in neat handwriting had appeared on her desk. After checking it for dark magic, Hermione found Draco’s verse inside. Its references to Time, Prophecy, Death, Space, and Love pointed toward the rooms of the Department of Mysteries, proving he had gone to considerable trouble to locate her.
Later that Friday
A Reply in Riddle
Hermione was intrigued by Draco’s audacity and by how strongly she had reacted to him at the photoshoot. She recognized that their brief exchanges had stirred more excitement than her recent dates, and she wondered whether the upcoming gathering at [Nott Manor](entity:location-recall-location-dd52e1a50620) might offer a chance to learn who he was beyond their old rivalry.
She answered with a riddle contrasting a tool that could take someone’s soul with a trap that could take one’s own. Its final lines turned the puzzle into a promise of intimacy. Draco received the reply at his office, read it repeatedly, and was left aroused and unable to settle on its full meaning.
The next Friday morning
The Birthday Invitation
[Theodore Nott](entity:character-recall-character-theodore-nott-c76ebf002db8) met Hermione in a Ministry lift and told her that Pansy was arranging a birthday party at [Nott Manor](entity:location-recall-location-dd52e1a50620). He invited her and suggested she bring [Ginny Weasley](entity:character-recall-character-ginny-weasley-3812f564bf60), [Neville Longbottom](entity:character-recall-character-neville-longbottom-65067df3ce57), [Ron Weasley](entity:character-recall-character-ron-weasley-80040a678a4b), and [Harry Potter](entity:character-recall-character-harry-potter-9e5f7ded8918), openly welcoming Gryffindors into the gathering.
Hermione accepted, initially surprised that Theodore had thought to include her. The invitation gave her a reason to see the Slytherins again, and she left the lift wondering how well she could manage the renewed contact—and her increasingly distracting thoughts about Draco.
The evening before the party
The Gryffindors Agree to Go
Hermione visited [Harry Potter](entity:character-recall-character-harry-potter-9e5f7ded8918) and [Ron Weasley](entity:character-recall-character-ron-weasley-80040a678a4b) at [12 Grimmauld Place](entity:location-recall-location-5a377f0c7045) and confirmed that they were invited to Theodore’s birthday. Ron was reluctant to enter a Slytherin gathering, while Harry said he and Draco were friends and worked well together; Hermione insisted that they could all attend without turning the evening into a confrontation.
She told them that Ginny and Neville would also be there and urged the group to go together. Harry proposed meeting at Hermione’s flat the next evening, and Ron agreed to tell Neville while Harry contacted Ginny.
The evening before the party
Hermione Confides in Ginny
At Hermione’s flat, Ginny helped her choose a suede skirt and black top for the party, while selecting a plunging jumpsuit for herself. Their talk shifted from clothes to the people they hoped to see, and Ginny admitted that she wanted something fun rather than another overly serious commitment.
Hermione confessed that she and Draco had exchanged notes at work and that she could not stop thinking about him. Ginny immediately recognized the depth of her interest and promised to help Hermione make an impression at the party, turning their preparations into a conspiratorial plan.
The evening before the party
Theo Reveals His Plan
At [Nott Manor](entity:location-recall-location-dd52e1a50620), Draco and Theodore checked the preparations and guest list. Theodore revealed that Hermione would be attending, then admitted he might pursue her himself; Draco, despite trying to conceal his jealousy, could not bear the thought of his friend gaining an advantage.
They agreed that there would be no contest or wager: both could make their interest known and Hermione would decide. Draco’s response marked a shift from treating the attraction as a game to recognizing that he genuinely wanted her, even as he continued to hide that truth from Theodore.
The evening before the party
Pansy’s Counsel
In a conversation with [Blaise Zabini](entity:character-recall-character-blaise-zabini-4cb6fa471f37) and Theodore, Pansy argued that attracting the Gryffindors would require more than wealth and charm. When the teasing turned toward her own romantic interests, she admitted that she wanted to know [Neville Longbottom](entity:character-recall-character-neville-longbottom-65067df3ce57) better after encountering him on her book tour.
Draco later showed Pansy Hermione’s riddle and asked for her interpretation. Pansy teased him about Hermione’s wit and encouraged him to meet her challenge rather than retreat. She said she had a plan for the coming party, leaving Draco both wary of her schemes and eager for the next evening.
The following Friday at 8 p.m.
The Gryffindors Arrive
Hermione arrived at [Nott Manor](entity:location-recall-location-dd52e1a50620) with Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Neville. Neville had brought Theodore a hardy plant, while Hermione tried to prepare herself for the gathering and for the books she could see inside the manor. A [House-elf](entity:creature-recall-creature-house-elf-74c6207dffb6) directed the guests to the library for cocktails.
Blaise greeted the group and quickly turned his attention to Ginny. Theodore welcomed everyone, placed Neville’s gift at the bar, and served drinks. Hermione watched her friends begin to mingle, searching the crowded room for Draco even though she had told herself she could handle the evening.
Early in the birthday party
Pansy Names the Suitors
Hermione settled near the bar as Ron complained about the gathering. She redirected him toward a chess set, giving herself room to watch Ginny talk with Blaise and [Daphne Greengrass](entity:character-recall-character-daphne-greengrass-4e00baf8ade6) and to wonder where Draco had gone.
Pansy joined her and asked whether Neville was single. When Hermione failed to recognize the implication, Pansy bluntly said that both Theodore and Draco liked her and that she could choose between them. The revelation unsettled Hermione, who had not been sure whether the Slytherins’ attention was genuine or merely another form of teasing.
During the party
The Library Encounter
Drawn away from the noise, Hermione wandered through the library stacks and found a quiet alcove. She opened a door expecting something more mysterious than an ordinary room, only to hear Draco laughing behind her at her imagined treasure hunt.
Their banter softened when Hermione admitted that she used to notice him skulking at [Hogwarts](entity:location-recall-location-09fcd53d1f43). She found herself close to reaching for his hair, and Draco watched her with an intensity that made the moment feel dangerous. Theodore interrupted before she could touch him, taking Hermione back toward the party while Draco followed in silence.
Later that evening
Pansy Starts Werewolf
Pansy gathered Draco, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Blaise, and Theodore to play [Werewolf](entity:creature-recall-creature-werewolf-73193042775d), a party deduction game. She explained the roles of werewolf, healer, and villagers, including the nighttime attacks and the healer’s chance to save someone; she also used a jinx to keep players’ eyes shut during each round.
Hermione objected that the game reinforced a harmful view of werewolves, but Pansy insisted that it was only a party game. Each player received a concealed role. Draco discovered that he was the werewolf and began considering how to use the game’s darkness to get close to Hermione.
The first full moon round
The First Wrong Accusation
As the first nighttime round began, Draco used the darkness to brush against Hermione and whisper close to her, while Pansy’s theatrical narration startled her. The healer named Ginny as the person to save, but the werewolf’s chosen victim was Theodore, who had to leave the game.
Hermione, Neville, and Ginny immediately accused Draco. Their certainty amused him, but Pansy confirmed that they were wrong. Draco’s survival kept the game going—and made Hermione aware that the danger she felt around him was not limited to the rules of [Werewolf](entity:creature-recall-creature-werewolf-73193042775d).
The second full moon round
Whispers in the Darkness
When the next round darkened the room, Draco moved close behind Hermione and traced a finger over her palm. He addressed her by her first name and murmured questions about whether the game’s rules could stop him from touching, kissing, or taking her upstairs. Hermione admitted that she did not always follow rules, and Draco answered that neither did he.
The healer again chose Ginny, while the werewolf eliminated Blaise. The players then reopened their accusations, but Hermione could think less clearly about the game than about the intimate exchange that had taken place just out of sight.
The final full moon round
The Game Breaks Down
Draco returned to Hermione in the darkness, cast a Notice-Me-Not charm, and held her wrists as he teased her about what she wanted. She was visibly affected, but the game’s interruption and Neville’s call from across the circle kept the encounter from going further.
With four players left, the accusations turned toward Neville and Ginny. Draco declared Ginny the werewolf, then used the moment to suggest that certain couples should revive old eighth-year games and asked Hermione whether she wanted to meet him in a broom closet. Hermione, embarrassed and furious at being called out after their secret exchange, stormed away before the game’s outcome was stated.
Immediately after the game
Draco Admits He Is Smitten
Draco regretted his public taunt as soon as Hermione left. He confronted Pansy and Ginny, learning that they had recognized he was the werewolf and had extended the nighttime rounds to help him get close to Hermione. Ginny challenged him to stop waiting and pursue her honestly.
Theodore noticed Draco’s feelings and asked whether he truly liked Hermione. Draco admitted that he was smitten and would not back down. Theodore gave him permission to go after her, prioritizing their friendship over his own possible interest, and Draco hurried out to find Hermione.
That night after the game
The Balcony Confrontation
Draco found Hermione on a balcony at [Nott Manor](entity:location-recall-location-dd52e1a50620). She called him an ass and asked whether his interest was only physical, whether he could stop antagonizing her, and why he had accosted her during the game. His answers were still teasing, but he admitted that he wanted her and asked what she wanted in return.
Instead of answering with another joke, Draco touched her carefully and asked whether she wanted him to kiss her. Hermione said yes. Their first kiss began with the tension of the evening finally given a direct answer, turning the flirtation into a real encounter.
A few minutes after the balcony confrontation
An Interrupted First Kiss
The kiss quickly deepened, and Draco told Hermione that he had sent his riddle because he wanted her to think about him. She returned the admission, and their kissing turned into an increasingly intimate embrace against the balcony.
Hermione then pulled away, saying that things were moving too fast and that she did not want their first escalation to happen there. Draco accepted the pause, but before they could talk further, Harry arrived looking for her. Hermione left with Harry and the others, while Draco stayed behind and watched her go.
Later that night
Regret on Both Sides
At Hermione’s flat, she replayed the kiss and realized that the unfamiliar scent in her [Amortentia](entity:object-recall-object-amortentia-6045ddcab4d4) was Draco. She regretted leaving him, but also understood that she had wanted to stop because of the setting, not because she wanted him less. She called Ginny, who was still at [Nott Manor](entity:location-recall-location-dd52e1a50620), and asked whether Draco remained there.
Draco returned to his own home and spiraled over Hermione’s departure, fearing that he had ruined their chance. He considered finding a way into the [Department of Mysteries](entity:organization-recall-organization-department-of-my-e5ed0fcb9538) on Monday, while Theodore came by and urged him to calm down. Neither knew that Hermione was already determined to find Draco again.
Later that same night
Hermione Returns to Draco
Hermione went to Draco’s home and found him holding a copy of Stardust. Their conversation immediately exposed the misunderstanding between them: Draco thought she had wanted to stop altogether, while Hermione made clear that she had changed her mind about the pace and wanted to continue.
She crossed the room and threw herself into his arms. Draco stopped them briefly, not to reject her but to explain that he did not want her to think he was pursuing only sex. He admitted that his attraction had begun in their sparring but had grown into a wish to take her to dinner, wake beside her, and build something real.
That night at Draco’s home
Their First Night Together
Hermione and Draco agreed that the encounter was not a game for either of them. Their teasing returned, but now it sat alongside open affection and a shared understanding that neither was seeing someone else. Hermione told him that her office’s [Amortentia](entity:object-recall-object-amortentia-6045ddcab4d4) smelled like him, confirming the depth of her attraction.
They continued to Draco’s bedroom and had sex for the first time. Afterward, Draco held Hermione close, told her he wanted her to stay and take him up on a dinner date the next day, and reassured her that she had become more than a passing desire. Hermione fell asleep beside him, recognizing that the potion’s missing scent had been his bed.
The morning after their first night
A Relationship Takes Shape
In the aftermath of their first night, Draco’s gentleness surprised Hermione, while their familiar snark remained part of how they spoke to one another. They had crossed the line from flirtation into a relationship founded on mutual attraction and a stated wish to spend more time together.
Draco asked to take Hermione to dinner, and she stayed with him rather than retreating into doubt. Their connection continued beyond the night at [Nott Manor](entity:location-recall-location-dd52e1a50620), becoming a committed romance over the months that followed.
Six months later
The Hidden Ministry Visit
Six months into their relationship, Draco borrowed Harry’s [Invisibility Cloak](entity:object-recall-object-invisibility-cloak-65fe0dc3e653) and slipped away from the Auror offices to visit Hermione at the [Department of Mysteries](entity:organization-recall-organization-department-of-my-e5ed0fcb9538). He had been fantasizing about her outfit and planned to seduce her before their friends’ gathering for Neville’s birthday.
Hermione was working on an experimental potion when Draco entered her office. She recognized him by his scent and challenged him for coming where he was not supposed to be. Draco admitted that he had wanted to see her, and his visit quickly shifted from clandestine mischief to intimate attention.
During Draco’s visit to the Department of Mysteries
The Forget Me Potion
Hermione had been studying whether ingredients could replace increasingly scarce Ashwinder eggs in a new Forget Me Potion. Her goal was to create an alternative to Obliviate for people who regretted how they behaved under the effects of a powerful love potion.
Draco noticed a vial of [Amortentia](entity:object-recall-object-amortentia-6045ddcab4d4) on her desk and teased her about what would happen if he put a drop on her skin and tasted it away. Hermione described the potion’s effects, but Draco said he was already infatuated with her, turning her research into another occasion for their shared flirtation.
Later that day
An Office Affair
Draco moved Hermione from her chair onto her desk and kissed her, while she encouraged him to prove his feelings. Their familiar desire became an affair in the very office where Hermione worked, with Draco intent on making the place part of their private history.
Afterward he helped Hermione straighten herself and asked her to leave with him for the birthday drinks. She joked that it would be her turn to choose their next setting, and they walked out of the Ministry together hand in hand.
Six months later at Nox
The Circle of Friends
Hermione and Draco joined their friends at [Nox](entity:location-recall-location-nox-1a861ceded4c) for Neville’s birthday gathering. The group had become notably more mixed since Theodore’s party: Ginny and Blaise stood together, Ron and Parvati were expecting a child, and Theodore and Daphne were among those sharing the evening with Harry.
Hermione also noticed Pansy and Neville emerging from the direction of the restrooms, with Pansy fixing her dress and Neville straightening his tie. The sight amused her and Draco, while the changed friendships and romances showed how much had developed since the night at [Nott Manor](entity:location-recall-location-dd52e1a50620).
Near the ending, six months after the first party
A Future in Their Own Rules
Before joining the gathering, Draco drew Hermione into an alcove and kissed her. She wondered whether Pansy would arrange another game, and Draco reminded her that she had never followed the rules particularly well. Hermione answered that neither of them had followed the rules on the night they met at [Nott Manor](entity:location-recall-location-dd52e1a50620).
They exchanged affectionate jokes and kissed again, secure in a relationship that had grown from rivalry into trust and desire. Hermione imagined their future continuing in the same way, with Draco still able to steal her breath long after their first encounter.