Who do you need?
Who do you love?
When you come undone.
CHAPTER ONE
The excitement in the room was contagious. Parties at the Burrow were sometimes a bit too loud and rowdy for Hermione's taste but she could never say they were boring.
"Everybody come to the kitchen please!," Molly Weasley shouted. Unfortunately, no one heard her but Hermione. She shouted it again and surprisingly everyone turned to stare at her. She must have used a spell to enhance the volume of her voice for it was amazing that anyone heard her at all. The laughing, drunkards, loud wrock music and Percy were deafening.
"Get this damn thing off me you bloody moron."
Percy was still shouting and stomping his feet in rage half an hour after George had transfigured his hat into a monkey. A very clingy monkey she might add, as the cheeky monkey wouldn't stop pulling his hair. Hermione, of course, had tried to help him but George had used some sort of sneaky hex that didn't let her reverse it. "Percy, stop that shouting. George, stop being childish and remove that creature from your brother's head at once or there will be no cake for you." That got everyone's attention. "There's cake?" Ron asked, grinning and initiating the stampede to the Burrow's kitchen. Hermione and Harry trailed behind the Weasley boys.
Charlie, Bill and Percy had all come to the Burrow today for it was quite the special occasion. Ron had been vigorously training at Quidditch Junior League since their graduation from Hogwarts and today he had been offered a position to play professionally on the British Quidditch League as keeper for the Chudley Cannons. The Chudley Cannons, the team Ron had been obsessing over since the age of 5. Needless to say, he was ecstatic and a celebration party had been thrown immediately.
The Weasleys, Harry and Hermione gathered around the large kitchen table where a huge ornate cake shaped as a snitch sat with glowing candles on it. "Looks brilliant," Harry commented earning a wide smile from Mrs. Weasley. Hermione rolled her eyes when Harry turned to her grinning. "She adores you Harry, no need to suck up," Hermione whispered. Harry had confided to her a few weeks ago that he was planning to propose to Ginny soon but he wanted her parents permission first. Harry had never struck Hermione a guy to go about and do things the old-fashioned way but then again, the sweet gesture and was "so Harry." She was so glad to have a friend like Harry Potter and thanked her lucky stars for it everyday.
"Doesn't hurt though," Harry replied.
"IS IT MY BIRTHDAY MOM?" Ron shouted causing everyone to erupt in laughter. Ron had had too much firewhiskey and was completely sloshed. But who could blame him? Today was one of the happiest days in his life and definitely a career milestone. Hermione could just imagine how happy she would be if she knew that every house elf in the world was freed...
"Stop thinking of work," a voice whispered in her ear.
Hermione spun around quickly, laughing in greeting at Ginny Weasley who had finally arrived at the party.
"Caught you," Ginny smirked, laughing, her eyes twin twinkling with mirth. She smiled when she noticed Harry beside her and kissed him in greeting. "Late day at the office?" Harry asked, throwing an arm around her waist. "Yep, I had to stay late and spice up the article about Ron," Ginny said grinning.
The small kitchen was practically bursting at the seams with the latest arrival and it seemed to be even louder here than the living room had been. The cake had made everyone, if possible, even giddier. Hermione watched as Charlie made Ron take another swing of firewhiskey and almost fall when Ginny ran up to him and screamed in glee, enveloping him in an enormous hug. Bill, George and Harry had launched into an animated discussion about the best Qudditch manoeuvres. Arthur Weasley was here too, leaning against the kitchen counter drinking in the scene like Hermione was. He would occasionally reach in his pocket, pull out his handkerchief and dab his teary eyes. Obviously, he was a proud father today as his son had just scored a million galleon Quidditch contract. Percy was sitting gloomily beside Hermione at the table. "Fred should be here," he muttered softly, putting an instant damper on Hermione's mood. He was right of course. Hermione had seen Mrs. Weasley crying about Fred on Mr. Weasley's shoulder earlier when she had taken a trip to the loo, and she had awkwardly tried to comfort them.
Percy offered her a slice of the cake that she politely denied. Unfortunately, Mrs. Weasley noticed.
"Oh no, you must have a slice of cake, dear, no this will not do." Hermione took the piece of cake that Mrs. Weasley practically shoved at her. "Eat this Hermione, you are just looking way too thin these days." Hermione thanked her, taking a bite of the chocolate cake even though she was completely bloated.
She wasn't too thin, there were plenty of girls thinner than her, take Ginny Weasley, for example. She was tall, statuesque with an enviable figure and Hermione was surprised but proud when Ginny had turned down a modelling contract and took up a sports reporter job with the Daily Prophet instead.
"What do you think" Bill asked her suddenly, placing a hand on her shoulder. Hermione looked up startled. It looked as if the boys were attempting to include in her conversation about Quidditch. "Um, I rather like Hippogriff dive," Hermione replied, picking at a piece of loose thread that was hanging on the bottom of her sweater. Actually, she hadn't the darnedest idea what the Hippogriff dive was but she had heard Dean mention something or another about it at work.
"He asked you about work 'mione," Harry said, laughing. Hermione blushed, looking at Bill who was looking back at her confused. "Oh sorry, thought you asked me what my favourite Quidditch manoeuvre was," Hermione shrugged, attempting a feeble laugh. Harry laughed even harder. She shot him a dirty glare. Harry was always teasing her about her lack of Quidditch knowledge. "Oh no, of course not. I was just wondering how your project was coming along," Bill asked, smiling down at her. Hermione rose from her chair, she always thrilled to talk about her project whenever anyone cared to listen. Talking shop was her speciality and delight.
Hours later, the party was still going strong and Hermione was actually enjoying herself. Ron had invited all their Hogwarts friends and the house was packed to the brink with her old Hogwarts classmates. It was awesome catching up with them all for she hardly ever got time with her hectic work schedule. She was surprised that so many people knew of her work project and was delighted when people asked her questions about it. It had been shocking to hear of Neville's and Luna's engagement and it kind of irked her that everyone else already knew. She supposed it was her fault for not keeping tabs on her friends.
Hermione started to feel the exhaustion seep in at around 11pm and decided that it was best if she headed on home. She moved herself through the colourful crowd, intent on finding Ron and wishing him a farewell and final congratulations before apparating back to her London flat. She finally spotted him in the corner of his vast backyard, looking completely drunk but extremely happy, surrounded by Harry, his brothers, and his Quidditch teammates. It was kind of embarrassing to intrude on the small private party but she had to say bye. Who knew the next time she would be able to see Ron. The Quidditch season was starting next week and he would be travelling a lot, and he also had to do lots of press work as he was a new player.
Hermione was relieved to see that Ron had spotted her amidst the crowd and held her gaze. She would say a quick goodbye and leave promptly, lest she keep poor Crookshanks waiting. Hermione approached near enough to hear the drunken gibberish spewing out of Ron's mouth: ...and don't look now, but there she comes strutting along, she's fucking a nasty scumbag Slytherin, that one..." Hermione stopped in her tracks, mortified. Ron looked up at her and smiled. "Well, I'm not wrong am I? Tell me, does he call you Mudblood in bed?" An uncomfortable silence descended upon the small crowd. Harry made a sudden angry noise looking ready to pounce on Ron, and Bill had to quickly grab his arms to hold him back. Hermione shook her head at Harry. "He's not worth it, Harry." She shot Ron the meanest glare she could muster. She didn't want to satisfy Ron with an answer. What a bastard. One would think he would at least let it go for one night, especially on a night like this.
Hermione ignored Harry's shouts as she turned to walk back to the house. She couldn't hear what he was saying but it was probably along the lines of: Oh he didn't mean it, he's drunk, it's just going to take a while for him to adjust, he's in shock is all, he'll get used to it.
It had been eight freaking months. How much longer did Ron need? Harry was always defending Ron and making stupid excuses for his horrible behaviour. Of course, he would get angry with Ron too for upsetting her but his anger usually dissipated after five seconds. She knew Harry was lying. Ron meant everything he said, he despised Draco and hated her relationship with him and no amount of convincing was going to change that.
Harry, on the other hand, had been nothing but supportive despite his earlier qualms and doubts. He had told her he trusted her judgement and would always support her in her decisions.
When she told Ron about Draco, his reaction had been explosive. "Out of all the blokes in the world, you choose fucking Draco Malfoy for a boyfriend? Are you out of your mind?"
They were twenty-four years old yet Ron still thought all Slytherins were evil gits. He had never let go of petty Hogwarts house rivalries while everyone else had grown out of it. The war had changed a lot of perspectives. Snape had been discovered to be a hero for the light, and Slytherins had fought on the light side too. Prejudices had been lifted and finally the magical world was embracing equality for all witches and wizards regardless of blood status and equality of magical creatures as well.
Hermione waded through the crowd inside the house, her mind racing.
Draco had definitely redeemed himself after the war. Of course, his prejudice was caused by little fault of his own, but lay largely on the way he had been brought up. He had been taught to hate muggles and mudbloods and been brainwashed with pureblood supremacy thoughts and other backwards ideas. He had been forced to take the dark mark and his family had been threatened to be killed if he had dared deny Voldemort. In the end, his sacrifice in his sixth year had not saved his family. His father had been sentenced to the kiss of death for his war crimes, and his mother had died shortly after, some say because of a broken heart.
He was no longer a boy but a man now. A powerful man, as he had formed Malfoy Enterprises with the small fortune that had remained after the Ministry had taken the bulk of his inheritance as war reparation payments. The famous Malfoy Mansion had also been taken away from him and was now used as fancy office space for several Ministry departments. His company had succeeded due to the vast family connections he had and the foreign Malfoy companies which the British Ministry had been unable to seize as they were overseas. He had built an empire and had accumulated more wealth than his father or grandfather had had ever had, and was now the richest man in Britain. He never let her forget it either.
Hermione had never in a million years have expected to be in any sort of relationship with Draco Malfoy. It had been through work that Hermione and Draco had crossed paths. Hermione worked for the Ministry of Magic as the project manager of an ambitious Ministry initiative that had been mostly her idea. She had proposed an idea of building a rehabilitation and housing centre of sorts to neglected magical parties such as squibs, muggleborns, house elves, goblins and all magical creatures. Her idea had been approved by the Wizengamot and building had started immediately due in part to a large donation by Malfoy Enterprises. The centre was the biggest philanthropic venture of Malfoy Enterprises and there had been several meetings and social events with executive members. That is how Hermione Granger had come in contact with Draco Malfoy, one year ago. Of course, the beginning of their working relationship had been anything but civil, but things had slowly changed. Eight months ago, on a warm August day she had accepted Draco's offer to go grab lunch. Everything had snowballed from there.
Hermione grabbed her purse from the kitchen and dashed out the front door. It was a balmy April night but a cold wind was picking up. She shivered slightly as she walked to the apparition point.
R/R.