Remain Nameless by Heyjude19

Chapter 6: You Are the Morning When It's Clear

Chapter 5: All My Stumbling Phrases

Chapter 4: We Will Never Be Afraid Again

Chapter 3: A Language of Its Own

Chapter 2: Your Heart Is the Only Place That I Call Home WE LOVE YOU JUDE! HAPPY ONE YEAR OF THE REMAIN NAMELESS PODFIC!!

ETL Echo presents Ceremonials by Heyjude19 One-shots, outtakes, and short stories from the Remain Nameless universe. Chapter 1 - In the Smallest of Gestures

ETL Echo presents the final chapter of Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 51 Tuesday, August 10, 2010 Hermione looked around her crowded living room. Boxes, bins, and suitcases holding all of her possessions and recollections of her time in the townhome took up almost the entire space, save for her sofa. Her friends had come through in stages throughout the last two evenings to help her pack it all up. She’d officially have everything moved to Franklin House in two days’ time. “You’ll miss it, won’t you?” asked Ginny softly.

ETL Echo presents the final chapter of Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 51 Tuesday, August 10, 2010 Hermione looked around her crowded living room. Boxes, bins, and suitcases holding all of her possessions and recollections of her time in the townhome took up almost the entire space, save for her sofa. Her friends had come through in stages throughout the last two evenings to help her pack it all up. She’d officially have everything moved to Franklin House in two days’ time. “You’ll miss it, won’t you?” asked Ginny softly.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 50 “It’s just jitters mate, it’ll pass. This is normal.” “No, no. Theo, no. This is not normal, I am not normal, I do not feel normal.” I am okay with this. I am okay with this.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 49 “Narcissa Malfoy is my future mother-in-law.” Ginny made her say it out loud three times in succession and found it increasingly hilarious each time Hermione finished that preposterous sentence

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 48 February 2010 Growing up, Draco never really gave much thought to the activity of wedding planning. He would have been given very little say in the whole ordeal. After the requisite courtship period, he’d be presented with a betrothal contract from his intended’s family (or vice versa), and then the negotiations would begin between parental units. Narcissa would ensure some clause or other about heirloom jewelry or house elves be included. Lucius probably would have a purity check done on the bride’s line and also amass future blackmail material should they prove uncooperative. The bride’s family would counter with compensation requirements based on how many heirs the marriage produced and whether they were male or female, and it would all go round and round on a carousel of horrific yet meaningless drivel forever recorded on official parchment and probably then sealed with a blood rite.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 47 January 1, 2010 According to Draco’s watch, the hour now approached one in the morning, but he doubted even a well-brewed Sleeping Draught could dull his energy. They’d just returned from his mother’s New Year’s gala and Hermione had already disappeared into her bedroom to change into comfy pajamas, while Draco dithered behind her, still in his dress robes and cloak. Crookshanks peered up at him through one yellow eye from an armchair. Go on then, are you waiting for a formal invitation? You’re already dressed the part.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 46 August 2009 What was the proper reaction or facial expression to have when seeing one’s dream realized? Hermione couldn’t say, nor could she have properly prepared herself for the sight before her. She stood on the front steps of Hogwarts, looking down upon the vast grounds, and everywhere she looked she saw Muggle parents and family members and young, eager magical children. Down by Hagrid’s hut, she saw Rolf Scamander introducing a group of children to nifflers and crups while Hagrid himself showed off a unicorn in the paddock.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 45 June 2009 It was only for a brief moment, but Hermione had the strangest sensation, akin to an out-of-body experience. For just a minute, she allowed her mind to wander away; carried along on a thread until she felt as if she viewed the scene around her as an outsider. Draco and she hosted a dinner party for his recent birthday with some of their friends and only half of them were pureblood.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 44 Hermione picked up her mobile. Never before had she needed to have the device constantly on her person, but she’d promised her friend to answer any and all concerns, day or night. “You’re famous,” Sasha stated bluntly when Hermione answered. “You’re a war heroine.”

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 43 Trigger warning for this chapter: discussion around past child abuse and violence. January 1, 2009 It was the first day of a brand new year and instead of waking up alone and slightly hungover like last year, Draco had Hermione wrapped around him while Crookshanks squashed his shins. Draco gave his lower limbs an irritable shake, dislodging the obstinate creature who had rendered his legs partially numb. The ginger furball gave him a mutinous glare before flouncing off the bed.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 42 December 31, 2008 Only Draco Malfoy could carry off all this frippery with a distinct air of grace. Any other man would have been uncomfortable, would have looked odd and unnatural buried under layers of silk, black velvet, gold brocade, and numerous brass buttons, but not Draco. No, this man wore an honest-to-gods cape around his shoulders and somehow managed to appear in his natural element, as if he were born to be clothed in multiple layers of extraneous formality. Born with a goblin-made spoon in his mouth.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 41 Hermione didn’t know whether she wanted to laugh, cry, or scream. She settled for a startling combination of all three, which was probably why Harry stood frozen in a mixture of concern and fear at the threshold of her bedroom. “Hermione are you… what have you got on?” An excellent question. “I—I—I have no bloody clue!” she shrieked and flapped her arms at her reflection in the mirror.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 40 November 2008 More than a month had passed since the inaugural gala for the Hermione J. Granger Fund for Students of Non-Magical Parents, and Hermione waited for the other shoe to drop. But as time rolled on from their sort-of public debut as a couple, Hermione had yet to experience any fallout from the shocking revelation. Of course, she didn’t rightly care about the public’s opinion of her choice in romantic partner, but surely by now someone from the ball would have blabbed to the press? Hiring Dennis Creevey as the photographer had been an inspired choice on Hermione’s part; the young man eager to help and a faithful friend. Hermione approved each picture he sold to various publications, none of them of her with Draco.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 39 October 2008 He absolutely did not need to be here this early in the evening, but if he’d stayed one second longer pacing his bed chambers like an agitated, caged animal, he’d either go insane or wear a hole through his wood floors. Draco leaned back against the marble bar and cast his eye around the lavishly decorated Great Hall of Hogwarts. Leave it to Narcissa Malfoy to spare no expense, even if she might not openly approve of what Hermione’s fund represented.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 38 If Draco thought Hermione nervous about the dinner with the Weasleys, it paled in comparison to how out of sorts she seemed now. They would join her parents for Hermione’s birthday dinner this evening and Hermione would be lucky if she had any nails left with the way she’d gnawed at them all day. Contrary to her normally over-informative nature, Draco had been given a rather scant picture of what to expect from the Grangers.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 37 Draco glared at the looming stack of parchment beside Healer Browning’s chair. If the old healer wanted to make a point about the weight of Draco’s omissions then consider it well-made. Apparently Draco had talked quite a bit about Hermione over the years, the evidence piled several feet high on the floor. “Draco,” Browning began in greeting, and though Draco desperately wanted to throw out a snide “Atticus,” in response, he stuck with “Healer Browning.”

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 36 Hushed voices nearby roused him gradually. When he recognized Hermione’s voice, Draco wanted to leap out of his chair, but her clipped tone gave him pause. He deduced feigning sleep would be the best course for now. “…supposed to mean?” “No disrespect meant to you Miss Granger, not at all,” whispered a frantic female voice. “It’s just that he’s a… he’s a… well, you know, a… umm…” “If you’d like to finish that sentence in this century?” Hermione interjected disdainfully, and Draco wondered if he’d had more influence on her than she’d care to admit.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 35 A scenic stroll through an enchanted forest to access a remote fairy colony sounds fantastic on parchment, but really, Draco mused sourly, did it have to be a forest of perpetual winter? He sighed for what felt like the thousandth time and shoved his hands deeper into his coat pockets. It was August and yet they’d been forced to bundle up in several layers and cast Warming Charms as they trudged through the snow as if it were mid-December. Draco could grumpily huff to himself all he liked, but this situation was entirely his fault. He had been the one to mention the fairy colony and Granger’s eyes had lit up like a child’s on Christmas morning, so of course he would indulge her request to go on this hike.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 34 “Granger, how much further is this bloody place? I thought you said you knew where to go!” Draco groused, trudging along in Hermione’s wake. Hermione didn’t answer, instead re-reading the small slip of paper in her hand. “It should be just up here. My mum said to look for the little alley between the hat shop and… ah! Found it!” she crowed triumphantly. Despite the Cushioning Charm on her heels, Hermione had been close to whining right along with Draco at the amount of walking involved to find the speakeasy. Cobblestoned streets and women’s shoes were not the best of bedfellows.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 33 Ao3 Rating: E August 2008 Hermione needed to get a grip on herself. Honestly, it wasn't as if she were some poor little pauper who’d never experienced anything of luxury before. She’d stayed in several upscale accommodations on holidays with her parents, not to mention, being a war heroine often led to certain upgrades when she used her real name to make reservations. But this? This level of opulence was heretofore unseen by her eyes.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 32 Hermione took a deep breath and inhaled the usually comforting scent of a hot summer day outside of The Burrow. Now, however, her insides twisted in knots at the aroma, and not just because she’d apparated on an empty stomach.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 31 She should still have some strawberry ice cream in her freezer and more than a few bottles of wine to choose from at home. But when Hermione stepped out of her Floo, all thoughts of drowning her sorrows in dessert and alcohol were summarily dashed

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 30 Draco could hardly dare believe it, but his efforts had not been for naught. He held in his hands the reward for many months’ back and forth with McGonagall, the Hogwarts Board of Governors, and finally, the Ministry. The finals steps left for the Hermione J. Granger Fund for Students of Non-Magical Parents to become a reality were two measly signatures and then the official Ministry sign-off. The first signature line released the apportioned funds from the designated vaults at Gringotts and would be signed by Draco. It would be the first ever use of his gold fountain pen. However, some nifty spell work on McGonagall’s part would make the signature read as “anonymous benefactor” to anyone but Draco or any person he chose to tell. Draco admired the brilliant play on the Fidelius Charm applied solely to a signed document—an impressive bit of creativity from his former transfiguration professor.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 29 Hermione took a deep breath and steeled herself. Despite the intensity of her feelings for Draco, they still had many long-buried issues to overcome, and this was a logical place to begin. He deserved to know why things hadn’t worked with Ron. He deserved the reassurance that she wasn’t going anywhere, that right here, right now, in his arms she felt more content than she had in years. Hermione spoke until her voice went hoarse.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 28 July 2008 The inner front pocket of his robes felt warm. Opening the two-way journal, Draco saw a pleasantly surprising request from Hermione awaited him. Could you come round my place tonight? Of course, he hastily scribbled back. Everything all right? Fine, I just want to see you.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 27 Unlike the previous evening, Draco eagerly anticipated this dinner with another couple. Well, somewhat. Apprehensively anticipated was probably more accurate. True, he looked forward to finally introducing someone in his life to Hermione. He had an inkling that Theo and Hermione would hit it off. The two of them hadn’t really interacted much at Hogwarts, and if Hermione could give Draco enough of a chance to date him after all their murky history, then surely she’d be willing to be friendly to Theo. It certainly couldn’t be as awkward as the dinner they’d had with Potter and his wife last night. Draco cringed as he recalled how much he’d foolishly revealed to his former foe. How dare that bespectacled git make Draco justify his intentions toward Granger?

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 26 TRIGGER WARNING for this chapter: this chapter contains a brief mention of rape and sexual assault during a discussion about consent during sexual activity (neither Draco nor Hermione has experienced this type of assault).

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 25 In Draco’s estimation he was the most cunning and caring of boyfriends. Granger was going to have no idea what hit her. He patted down his robe pockets once more to check that all his shrunken purchases remained inside, then apparated away. Whoops.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 24 Draco received a pleasant surprise mid-week when an owl from Theo arrived asking if he wanted to meet for drinks on Friday. Hermione seemed pleased and promptly scheduled a girls’ night in with Ginny, going on about how even though they were a couple now, it wouldn’t do to ignore the separate friendships in their lives. Draco rolled his eyes, but bit his tongue. He knew he wasn’t entitled to all of Hermione’s time, especially when they already saw each other every week day morning and usually spent Friday and Saturday evenings together, but Draco failed to see an issue with wanting to spend every second in her company. Sweet Salazar, he was well and truly besotted. Just induct him into Hufflepuff already.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 23 A sharp pain in his shin roused Draco at an indecent hour. Survival instincts kicked in immediately, and Draco shot out of bed with his wand in hand. “No… no… please no… no no,” a muffled and agonized murmuring came from Hermione. Realizing that it was she who had kicked him, he relaxed momentarily, but Hermione kept up her pained pleading. “No it can’t be… no… no…”

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 22 Even though it was now Monday morning, Hermione was still a little miffed that Ginny had found the audacity to cackle—cackle!—at the sight of her rushing into the café 15 minutes late Saturday mid-morning. Ginny had taken great delight at the state of Hermione’s hair, the pink welts adorning her neck and collarbone, and the shrewd observation that Hermione still wore the marigold dress she’d told Ginny she’d planned to wear to dinner with Draco. Hermione needed new, less astute, friends.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 21 Once they’d both redressed, Draco refilled her wine glass before they set off throughout the house. They ambled through the many rooms of the first floor, most of them richly decorated studies or tea rooms for entertaining. She seemed pleased by everything he showed her and though she constantly asked questions, a sudden thought occurred: this didn’t impress her in the way it would other women. Not in the way his library had, but that had less to do with the monetary value contained within those shelves and everything to do with the amount of knowledge at his disposal in that room alone.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 20 He was going to fuck this up. Inviting Granger over had been a horrible, rash, and stupendously moronic idea. Draco wasn’t remotely emotionally prepared for the reality of inviting this woman into his home. Although, he did at least have the foresight to order the elves to remain either in their quarters or somewhere out of sight for the evening, as he wasn’t quite sure how to broach that topic just yet with Hermione. Poor Crick most likely thought his master was going round the bend, but he merely fixed Draco with an indifferent stare before blinking once and agreeing to inform Watson there would be no need to cook.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 19 On Friday morning, Draco sighed as his eyes snapped open. He’d gone to bed so early last night after mulling over his appointment that he’d awoken just before dawn. Taking care of the more shameful part of his new morning routine (why yes he did in fact begin each morning with a raging hard-on for Granger, thank you for asking) he dragged himself down to the dining room.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 18 After a quick shower, Hermione emerged from her bedroom dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt to find Draco taking stock of the framed pictures on her living room mantel. He had re-dressed in his suit trousers and dress shirt from last night, but damn if he didn’t still look perfectly put together. Not a wrinkle in sight.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 17 Closing the door behind her in the bathroom, Hermione leaned against it and let out a sigh. That had been, frankly, mind-blowing sex.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 16 Draco sighed as his apparition landed him in a deserted alley a short block from his designated meeting point with Hermione. He had come to a decision: this was going to be the last of their little forays outside of the coffee shop. His feelings for her had grown so far beyond friendship it was painful. If his little wanton display in the cafe earlier this morning were any indication, he couldn’t be trusted in her presence. He had to protect himself, and ultimately her, from their relationship getting out of hand.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 15 “He kissed your hand?” Hermione nodded as Ginny’s brows shot into her hairline after Hermione divulged how the night at the ballet had ended.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 14 Tomorrow evening’s trip to the ballet was not a date. Hermione repeated this to herself the entire week leading up to Saturday. Malfoy had only agreed to go with her because she’d practically begged him to way back in November. He was only fulfilling this social obligation as a favor to a friend. It was very much not a date. They weren’t even having dinner or drinks before the show, just meeting outside the theater.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 13 February 2008 Would it be ruder to tell her, or ruder to let it go? Draco finally opted to risk her ire. “Uh, Granger?” “What!?” So she was having one of those mornings, then. The kind of morning where if Draco dared interrupt her writing, she’d bite his head off. Her foul mood was most likely caused by lack of sleep if her appearance were anything to judge by: Purplish bruises under her eyes, a sallow tint to her usually rosy face, and her hair haphazardly thrown in some sort of bun on top of her head. That, and she’d already snapped at Draco for sipping coffee too loudly.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 12 Draco received a surprise when he walked into the café on Friday morning. For the first time in their entire friendship, Hermione was already seated at their usual table. “Granger. A little early for you isn’t it?” She didn’t respond, but merely slid a folded piece of parchment across the table, practically bouncing up and down in her chair. Draco raised an eyebrow in her direction. “And what’s this? You weren’t serious about actually bringing legal action against me because I ate the last bite of your scone yesterday, were you?”

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 11 December 25, 2007 Stretching her arms overhead, Hermione couldn’t help the wide grin as she sat up in bed. It was Christmas morning and she could already smell her father’s gingersnap cookies baking in the oven. Waking up in her childhood bedroom, with all the wonderful sounds and smells that accompanied Christmas, Hermione could pretend for a few minutes that everything was back to how it was before the war.

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 10 Friday, December 21, 2007 Hermione hadn’t felt this nervous in quite some time. This was their last morning together before their Christmas break started and they most likely wouldn’t see one another until the New Year. It was now or never. But maybe she should just wait and send this through owl post. That way, he could open it in private and she wouldn’t need to witness his reaction. She considered her options as she tapped her pen rhythmically against her notebook and shifted her weight to cross and then uncross her legs. Maybe she could just hand it to him when they parted for work and— “Did you accidentally order espresso again?” His bored drawl tore through her anxious thoughts. “Sorry?”

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 9 The second there was a break after Molly Weasley’s impeccable roast dinner and before dessert could be brought to the table, Hermione cast a very significant look down the table at Ginny. She and Ginny didn’t even bother coming up with a pretense for why they both needed to leave the table and go to the pantry off the Burrow’s kitchen at the same time. Hermione merely jerked her head toward the kitchen and Ginny dutifully followed. “Ginny, if I tell you something, will you promise to keep it between us for now? And to also not get protective or mad or—”

ETL Echo presents Remain Nameless by HeyJude19. Chapter 8 November 2007 He could do this. He could totally, completely do this. It was absolutely within the capabilities of Draco Malfoy to ask Hermione Granger if she would like to grab dinner some night this weekend. He would be the height of casual when he asked. As friends. Well, almost friends. What would you call the pair of them? It was Draco’s monthly appointment and Healer Browning had finally convinced Draco that this was becoming ridiculous. It of course didn’t prevent him from lashing out at the older man. “If you think I’m acting childish, then bloody well say so!” Draco seethed at him.