It had been just over five years since the Battle of Hogwarts, and Hermione Granger's life was very different from the life she had imagined. She had developed a business partnership with Draco Malfoy. They were consultants on a variety of issues, from dark curses to potions research to legal issues within the Ministry. Hermione, of course, focused a lot of her time on researching the issues, while Draco, being a Malfoy, had a lot of practical experience with politics and darker magics.
They had been working independently, and then Neville had hired both of them to figure out a cursed mirror that had been discovered in his grandmother's attic. That case proved they could get more accomplished faster when they worked together. Draco had provided Hermione with a text about cursed household items, and she read it more quickly than anyone should have been able to. However, she had taken in every detail, and they came up with a plan to break the curse so the mirror could be removed.
Hermione's business partnership with Draco had led to an odd friendship between them, as well. After a few months of working together, they would often go out to dinner or have drinks to celebrate after they finished a project. Their conversations flowed easily and it was really remarkable how much they had both changed over the years. Their former banter had switched from a nasty, sneering tone to something light and teasing. Of course, every time they were seen together in public, the idiots at Witch Weekly and The Daily Prophet would photograph them and start the rumor mill. Her favorite headlines included: "Malfoy Heir Having Impure Thoughts" and "The Golden Girl Has Tamed the Dragon".
Draco had pulled Hermione out of her funk when her four year relationship with Ron ended, making sure she was always immersed in work and social engagements to keep busy. He had also let her into the library at Malfoy Manor for the first time a few days after things had ended, and she had barely emerged for meals that day. He was always there when she needed to "Weasley bash" and he would accompany her to any museum or bookstore she wanted to visit without protest. She'd never had a friendship quite like this one.
On this particular morning, Hermione looked down at the photo gracing the cover of Witch Weekly. It showed Hermione and Draco dancing at the annual benefit for underprivileged Hogwarts students. Today's headline was displayed in bold red lettering: "When Will They Finally Admit it? See the timeline on page six!"
Hermione scoffed and opened to the aforementioned page. She looked over the timeline of her friendship with Draco since the war.
June 1997- Draco performs his mission, allowing Death Eaters into the castle to kill Albus Dumbledore
March 1998- Golden Trio brought to Malfoy Manor by snatchers, Hermione tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange, Golden Trio escapes with the help of the Malfoy's former house-elf
May 1998- Battle of Hogwarts, Golden Trio saves Draco from Fiendfyre in the Room of Requirement
July 1998- Hermione and Harry testify to keep Draco out of Azkaban for Death Eater activities.
September 1998- Hermione and Draco return to Hogwarts
May 1999- Hermione and Draco graduate from Hogwarts, each with eleven NEWTs
October 2000- Hermione starts Granger Magical Consulting Agency
March 2001- Draco starts Malfoy Magical Research and Consultations
October 2001- Neville Longbottom hires both agencies to deal with a cursed mirror
January 2002- Businesses merge into Granger-Malfoy Magical Research and Consulting Group
June 2002- Ronald Weasley pictured with Alicia Spinnet, Hermione ends relationship with Ron, pictured here with Draco on a trip to Obscurus Books shortly after
October 2002- Hermione and Draco attend Halloween Benefit Gala for St. Mungo's, seemingly together
December 2002- The pair is pictured at dinner together at Blaise Zabini's restaurant opening, enjoying wine and conversation
February 2003- Draco and Hermione attend a Valentine's Day dinner celebration with Harry and Ginny Potter
May 2003- Hermione pictured at the annual Hogwarts Alumni quidditch match, wearing a Potter Gryffindor jersey and a Slytherin scarf
July 2003- Hermione and Draco at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor on a Saturday afternoon
August 2003- Draco and Hermione attend benefit for underprivileged Hogwarts students, see cover for larger photo
Hermione's eyes roamed over the timeline of their friendship over the past year. By the time she looked at the last photo, she had covered her mouth with a few fingers. In every photo, they looked like a happy couple. They were often staring directly at each other, standing close together, or laughing and smiling.
Hermione remembered wearing the Slytherin scarf at the Quidditch match, and she realized she still had it tied to her coat rack. She walked over and picked it up, running her fingers over it gently. She raised it to her nose and inhaled, almost like she had in the photo. It still smelled like Draco's cologne, and that one breath led her heart to race. She knew, immediately, that everything was changing for her.
In a blind panic, Hermione Floo called Ginny. "Potter, I need your help! Now!"
Ginny came through a few minutes later, her adorable little baby bump preceding her.
Hermione immediately thrust the magazine at Ginny. "Have you looked at this bloody story yet?"
Ginny laughed and grabbed Hermione's shoulders. "I don't need to read the bloody story, Granger! I've had a front row seat to all of it. Are you ready to talk about this pseudo-relationship you've been carrying on for almost a year?"
"Why are you calling it that, Gin?"
"Have you kissed him? Or shagged him?"
"Of course not! We're just friends and business partners!" Hermione screeched.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Yeah, okay. Neither of you have been on a date since you and Ron split. Even before then, you and Ron weren't sleeping together and Malfoy wasn't dating anyone."
Hermione gaped at her redheaded friend. "Is this what everyone thinks? That we're going to get together?"
Ginny gestured to the photo from Blaise's restaurant opening. "They think you're already together! Look at how hard you two are laughing at this dinner! I bet it was bloody loud and drew every eye in the restaurant!"
"We're friends, Gin, of course we laugh!" Hermione protested.
"Look at how close you're standing in this photo from the very first gala you attended together, Hermione! You didn't even realize this photo was being taken, and you're almost on top of each other!"
Hermione gazed at the photo and then shut the magazine, only to be faced with an even larger photo from a different ball.
Ginny pointed to Draco's face on the cover of the magazine. "Seriously, Hermione, look at it from another perspective. His eyes are entirely focused on you. Look at the way he smiles after you meet his eyes. And then you're both staring for way too long!"
She flipped back to the timeline and pointed to the one from the ice cream parlor. "Hermione, you're feeding him ice cream off of your spoon in this one!"
"He wanted to try mine so I gave him a bite!"
Ginny let out a huff. "Look at yourself, Granger! Your whole focus is on him, and he's staring you in the eyes while sucking ice cream from your spoon! Are you seriously this oblivious?"
Hermione was still pretending to be unconvinced.
"He asked you to come out with him for Valentine's Day! You are the one who suggested turning it into a group affair!" Ginny began. "Come on, Hermione, you're not stupid! You just don't want to believe he could be interested in you because you're scared shitless it won't work out."
Hermione sighed, ready to give up the fight. "I sniffed his scarf, Gin. The smell of his cologne makes my heart race and my stomach flip in a good way."
"Fucking finally. Merlin, I thought you'd never realize you had feelings for him. He's so bloody fit, too. I don't know why you didn't just take some ice cream to go and let him eat it off of your body. That's what I would've done!"
"Ginevra Potter!"
Ginny laughed and an evil grin spread across her face. "So, what are we going to do about this, Hermione?"
"Well, if Draco feels the same way, I'm going to take him to Diagon Alley and snog him senseless right in front of Parvati Patil. That will give everyone something to talk about," Hermione replied, smiling from ear to ear.
There were perks to knowing the newest gossip journalist in the wizarding world well.