crookshanksshipsdramione

[crookshanksshipsdramione]

The first time Draco kisses Granger, they’re arguing in the Head’s dorm. Draco’s holding Granger’s wand high above his head, and she’s jumping against him with her arms raised to get it back.

Not until you promise you won’t hex me, he tells her, promise and I’ll give it back.

Fine. She blows a piece of hair from her eyes. Cheeks adorably ruddy. I promise. He still doesn’t lower his arm. Malfoy! I won’t hex you.

I’ll give it back, he says with a devilish grin, if you kiss me.

He knows she won’t do it. He just wants to watch her eyes flame and her hair frizz. It’s magnificent, the way her hair inflates with rage. Except she surprises him by slapping her hand behind his neck and kissing him straight on the lips. Perhaps it’s the lack of hesitation, that she doesn’t have to think before putting her lips on his, but one thing leads to another and her wand clatters to the floor. Completely forgotten for an hour, three, until early the next morning.

Things grow awkward the next day and the one after that. Neither knows if the other is regretful or intrigued. Lack of communication leads to silence, avoidance, and overthinking. Day three, Granger breaks. You’re the one who asked me to kiss you, and you can’t even look at me anymore. She sounds more hurt than angry and Draco realizes it’s not words that will fill the chasm between them but reassurance. When he kisses her this time, all doubts are squashed.

The Slytherins figure it out first. Draco’s stopped complaining about his infuriating co-head, he smiles into his soup at dinner, when Theodore confesses to failing his Potions lab it’s Draco who offers to help him practice. Draco never offers to help anybody. The positive changes in Draco spur a surprising acceptance of Granger among the snakes. They quip with her, Pansy offers to do her hair, Blaise confesses to always thinking she was pretty and immediately backtracks, promising Draco he meant nothing by it.

The Gryffindors don’t take to Draco as kindly. He knows the animosity hurts Granger’s feelings, but doesn’t have the stomach to cozy up to people who’ve never been kind to him. He’s still a Slytherin, after all. But then Granger tells him they can’t be together if Draco doesn’t make an effort to know her friends. So he reluctantly begins to try.

It goes horribly.

He means to help Longbottom with his dumb plants, murdering one was never his intention. He overhears Finnigan raving about Abbott and tries to wingman him. In turn, Abbott stumbles into Draco at an eighth-year party and kisses him on the mouth. He angers two Gryffindors that evening, and spends the rest of the night reassuring Granger that Abbott means nothing, no she isn’t prettier than you, I swear I was trying to help your stupid house mate! Finnigan never speaks to him again.

It isn’t until the Gryffindor Seeker and his understudy experience a severe stomach ailment before the big game against Slytherin that Draco gets his chance at redemption. Granger convinces She-Weasel to give Draco a chance. She agrees reluctantly, not before threatening to hex his testicles straight off if he tries anything funny. McGonagall considers it a prime demonstration of inter-house unity and promptly approves the request. Draco’s already a pariah in his own house, except for his friends, who find it hilarious that Draco is so cock-whipped for Granger he’s willing to wear red and gold in public.

It’s ironic, really. The first time Draco catches a sodding Snitch is for the Gryffindors. Serves the Slytherin team right for not letting him play this year. But it more than does the trick. The Gryffindors agree Malfoy’s alright. Longbottom offers to teach him how to handle plants properly. Finnigan still doesn’t talk to him. Granger says I love you.

(649 words, cross-posted from twitter, written purely because I wanted to put Draco in Gryffindor robes)

[crookshanksshipsdramione]

Jealous Prick 🤨

You best believe something extremely inappropriate is about to go down. What do you think he’s about to pull out from his inside breast pocket?

I could eat this type for scenes for breakfast lunch and dinner. 🤌😮‍💨

Color version on ptreon.

[crookshanksshipsdramione]

[crookshanksshipsdramione]

“Don’t look,” murmured Theo, twirling a lock of Hermione’s hair around his finger. “But I think he’s jealous.”

“Who?” she whispered, desperately wanting to peek.

“Draco,” he said, caressing her cheek to keep her from checking. “He hasn’t stopped staring at you.”

“In sheer disgust? Draco despises me.”

At work yesterday, he’d insulted her penmanship. Again. Visiting her office for the third day in a row with her memo torn up in scraps, claiming her ‘barbaric handwriting’ was illegible.

“I don’t think so,” he said, leaning in close to make it seem like he was whispering sweet nothings into her ear. She plastered on a dreamy smile and looked up at him through mascara-coated lashes. “It’s a ruse, you know. Him and Astoria. They’re planning a public break up in a week or two. She’s secretly dating a Quidditch player—a half-blood.”

“The horror,” she replied with a feigned gasp. “Is that all you Slytherins do? Scheme and show off?”

“And fall in love with the wrong people,” he replied with a faraway look in his eyes, straightening when a shadow loomed over them. “Alright, mate?”

Malfoy stood at their table, tall and cross. “May I have a word, Granger?”

Theo nudged her ankle under the table and gave her a knowing grin. She shook her head, refusing to buy into his nonsense. Malfoy was probably here to insult her hair or tell her that pink made her look frumpy.

Before she could tell Malfoy to leave them alone, Theo kissed her cheek and told her not to take too long.

She was left with no choice but to follow Malfoy into the rose garden, away from the gossiping crowd. “What is it?” she demanded, prepared for his regular bullshit.

“I saw something earlier that you should know about.” The grave look on his face sparked her interest. “Look. I know I give you a hard time at work now and again—but I’ve come to… to care…” He paused and tried again. “I mean… I think you deserve… not that I…”

“Malfoy,” she said sharply.

He expelled a long breath, then blurted out, “Theo and Potter are fooling around behind your back. I saw them inside earlier.”

She was floored. And then she felt an odd rush of affection for the stormy man standing before her. It had obviously taken a lot to suck up his pride and tell her that. What had he said? Something about caring?

“I’m sorry, Granger.” He hugged her, smushing her face against his warm chest. “Don’t cry. He was probably afraid he’d get caught by his father and used you as a cover up. People do lousy things when they’re desperate. Take it from someone who knows.”

“I’m not crying,” she mumbled, nudging him back. Her heart was racing. “I know about him and Harry. We were faking it so Theo’s father would ease off him. Apparently, dating a Muggle-born witch is slightly less offensive than being gay."

He opened his mouth, then shut it. His cheeks were turning red. It was oddly sweet how he had nothing to say.

“I hear you and Astoria are pulling a similar stunt,” she said in an attempt to make him feel better.

He shrugged; voice strangled. “Family dynamics are fucked out here.”

“Theo says it’s because you all fall in love with the wrong people.” She looked meaningfully into his eyes.

He stared back. “I wouldn’t say ‘wrong’, just...” His gaze was so intense, she felt trapped in it. “…inconvenient.”

“Is that what I am?” she breathed, wondering if Theo was right. Maybe Malfoy wasn’t looking for ways to get under her skin just to be a prick. Maybe he was looking for excuses to get closer to her. “An inconvenience?”

He didn’t verbally respond, but she felt his gaze all over her. The heat emanating off him made her sweat.

She swallowed, overwhelmed. “How long until you and Astoria call it off?”

He tilted his head. “We’re waiting until the Ministry Gala.”

“Maybe Theo and I will split around that time, too,” she suggested, mentally counting down the days and hoping she wasn’t misreading the situation.

His eyelids grew heavy. He licked his lips.

She felt a little drunk with the way he was looking at her.

“Maybe,” she said, stepping closer to fix his tie. He shivered beneath her touch. “You can send me an office memo. Since my handwriting is so offensive.” She tipped her head back, whispering into his ear, “Thank you for telling me about what you saw.”

Hermione left him there speechless, smiling softly to herself as she walked away.

-

Twelve days later, an office memo nose-dived on her desk. She recognized Malfoy’s pristine handwriting, and considered if maybe hers was a bit messy in comparison.

Dinner tonight in Diagon Alley?

The pink memo bloomed into a rose. She lifted it to her nose, enchanted that it smelled like a real one. But more touched that he wanted to take her out publicly.

Pick me up at 7, she wrote, and let the office memo fly.

(847 words, prompt: fake dating for dramione month)

[crookshanksshipsdramione]

It’s not from 2023, I just got it wrong 😩

[crookshanksshipsdramione]

Happy Birthday Hermione!! What a better way to celebrate than with her favorite book?

——

Draco’s Note:

“Did you know that today is Hogwarts’ youngest Headmistriss’ birthday? I read about it in this brand new edition of Hogwarts, A History. Happy Birthday Darling xx D”

[crookshanksshipsdramione]

Potion master, Draco Malfoy. Detail from larger piece inspired by “The Prosecutor and the Potioneer” by scullymurphy. Link

Pretty chuffed with how Draco turned out for this one, ngl.

[crookshanksshipsdramione]

In the stacks 👀

[crookshanksshipsdramione]

Dramione Month Day 13: Forced proximity

Auror Draco/Minister Granger 🤝 forced proximity/only one bed

both perfection 🙂‍↕️

[crookshanksshipsdramione]

Working with @flyora is always a dream.

A little over a year ago I posted the first chapter of this story.l, and what a journey it would turn out to be. The Dramione I crafted in This Bitter End will always be dear to me. I met so many wonderful people through this story, and I have read so many beautiful comments of readers stories.

Thank you for giving me this space to share my words with you all.

This Bitter End is complete, and is free to read on AO3.

[crookshanksshipsdramione]

[crookshanksshipsdramione]

invite you to participate in my Draw This In Your Stile challenge on IG 🖤

[crookshanksshipsdramione]

In the stacks 👀

[crookshanksshipsdramione]

How can I move on when I’m still in love with you?

[crookshanksshipsdramione]

Draco & Hermione: From Paris with love 💕

[crookshanksshipsdramione]

Art for my story🥹

[crookshanksshipsdramione]

Finished an older noir Dramione yesterday — The Revenant by Atalanta84 (I think first posted in 2011, but very recently added to AO3… read it here! )

It was so good! Had to draw Draco with a noir vibe.