A/N: Thanks to all my amazing reader for favouriting this story! It is my first EVER! So excited to start writing! This is a long chapter, sorry for the wait!

Disclaimer: I own NONE of the characters...obviously! :))

The 'Welcome Back' Party- Chapter 2

Hermione closed her tired eyes and arched her body like a cat, stretching out the kinks in her back and neck. It was almost 5pm, and she had been bent over her work since getting back to the office from lunch almost three hours ago. The soreness in her neck didn't seem likely to dissipate any time soon, so she decided run a long, therapeutic bath as soon as she got back to her London apartment. She slightly grimaced. She was excited about seeing everyone again tonight at Grimmauld Place, but all she really wanted to do was to curl up on her well-worn, comfy couch, with a romantic novel, hot chocolate, and a purring Crookshanks at her feet. Though it was June, the London weather still remained coolly unpredictable, and chilly on most nights.

She collected her belongings, pleased to have a clean desk once more, as she buttoned up her black tweed jacket and walked out with her handbag swinging on her arm. She locked the door with a quick charm of her own brilliant invention, humming slightly as she sauntered across Draco's closed door.

As she walked down the corridor of MLE offices without a backward glance, she didn't notice Draco quietly leave his own office, jacket slung over his left shoulder, shooting appreciative glances at her slender figure from behind.

Hermione apparated onto her doorstep, quickly unlocking the bright red door and disarming many of the wards protecting her home. The war was over, but that didn't stop her from taking every safety precaution seriously. She had learnt the true meaning of 'Constant Vigilance!' the hard way, unfortunately.

Removing her low heeled work shoes, she put the kettle to boil in the small kitchen and spelled the bathtub to magically fill itself with hot water, as she chose some essential oils from the little white stand next to the porcelain basin in the generous en suite. Sandal, English Rose and Frangipani oils dripped into the steaming water and she let the scents overwhelm her as she quickly divested all her clothing into the laundry basket and sank into the healing heat.

She begrudgingly rose from the warm depths of her watery heaven as the grandfather clock downt he hallway of her cosy (but comfortable!) apartment chimed seven times. Her party started at 8pm, so she had an hour to prepare. Unlike most other women her age, Hermione did not spend enormous amounts of her income on filling her wardrobe, but she did indulge occasionally to top French magical designer branded staple pieces. Such as the sleek and sexy, black, halter-neck dress whose satin material shone from where it hung in her wardrobe, tempting her with it's seductiveness.

Towelling her slightly pink skin, she moisturized every inch thoroughly with frangipani and vanilla scented lotion, leaving her with a soft, glowing body. She put on her black corset and slowly slipped into the dress. It was a tight fit, which accentuated every curve nicely, showing off her full, womanly chest and the slight flare of her hips. Around her small waist she tied a bright red ribbon, tying it tightly in a large bow at the back.

She sat back onto her soft bed, sinking slightly into its feathery duvet. Her bedroom was decorated in warm hints of gold, white and blue, reflecting the airiness of the entire apartment. It was simple, delicate, luxurious and seductive. It was Hermione.

Still sitting on the edge of the bed, she pulled on bright red pumps, showing off her newly manicured black toenails with red rose detailing and walked to her white vanity, sitting on front of the large mirror, ready to start on her makeup for the night.

She had just applied red lipstick when she heard her Floo activate in the sitting room and a familiar voice call out her name. "Coming!" she hollered, having a good idea of who her visitor was...

Ginny Potter stood in her Floway, sipping a chamomile tea, waiting for the dolled-up Hermione to emerge like a princess from her bedroom. She smiled widely, wolf-whistling as her best friend sauntered over to envelope Ginny and her enormous stomach in a massive warm embrace. Ginny was just over 6 months pregnant with her and Harry's first child. They were both super-excited (and Harry had admitted to being a little anxious!) about becoming parents for the first time.

"Don't you look smackingly, sexily, seductively HOT!" she exclaimed, awed by this different, confident and bold Hermione. Hermione laughed, "Don't let Harry hear his pregnant wife hitting on his best friend!" she slyly replied, giving her best friend a wink. Ginny snorted, poking a tongue out at her almost-sister. She cleared her throat then, and adopted a more serious manner.

"Look, I know this is really last minute, but Harry and I were thinking last night... well... we thought it would be nice to invite a few more friends over this time, as well as the usual crowd. You're still single, and we've all partnered up now... Is it okay with you if we fill up Grimmauld Place with a few extra eligible bachelors?" she smirked, as she had emphasised the last two words.

Hermione raised a perfectly arched eyebrow, guessing what they were all up to. She was the only single one left amongst her friends, and they were forever trying to set her up with different men, all of them blind dates, often ending in an awkward disaster. She wasn't exactly antisocial, just unwilling to open up to a complete stranger and have a good time.

She sighed, looking at Ginny's pleading, puppy dog look she was pulling, shaking her head as she agreed. "This better be worth it!" she warned, laughing as Ginny wobbled up and down as she jumped with relief, running back into the fireplace (with her mug, Hermione noted...!) screaming "Grimmauld Place" as she threw down the green powder.

Hermione laughed loudly at her friends' manic behaviour, shaking her head again. A few seconds later, her 'stolen' mug re-appeared with a loud pop on the glass coffee table, a note on top, blaring "SORRY! G x" Hermione smirked, walking to the sink to place it in the dishwasher.

She may be the brightest and one of the best witch of her generation, but she still kept muggle items in her apartment. The dishwasher, fridge, microwave, heater and washing machine were just some she regularly used, even though they could easily be replace by magic. She wanted to keep a part of her previous life though, her childhood.

She smiled fondly as she remembered her parents. She had travelled to Australia immediately after the War, but could not find them. She was still looking for them , but was resigned to the knowledge that she had given them the best chance of survival, hoping they were still happily alive and well, somewhere.

She trudged back into her bedroom to collect her warm coat and red clutch bag, ready to depart ten minutes earlier than 8pm, in true Hermione fashion. The faint 'pop' of her apparition echoed throughout her apartment, the wards immediately springing to life, protecting her tranquil sanctuary until her return.

Hermione appeared on the doorstep of Grimmauld Place, swaying slightly as the high heels rendered her slightly unstable on the uneven concrete doorstep for a few seconds. Adjusting her hair, she plastered on a smile and opened the door- noise, and laughter, and music, and the smell of delicious home-cooked food hitting her as she was swallowed by the heat. It really was crowded, she thought, as she pulled off her coat, and hung it on the tree-shaped holder on the doorway.

Grimmauld Place had been revamped by a determined Harry and Ginny. The duo had spent countless weeks and a lot of energy on renovating the gloomy house, and their work had paid off. It now was all light and airy, the staircase enlarged, and carpeted a thick red and gold, with a hand-carved oak banister curling up and around to the bedrooms. The walls were white and golden-yellow, the happy atmosphere of the colour choices reflecting the joyful nature of its owners and current residents.

She opened the French doors that led to the large kitchen and alfresco dining area, and shrieked in pleasant surprise as the room burst with a loud chorus of "Welcome Back Hermione!". Harry and Ginny, along with Mrs Weasley, had certainly outdone themselves this time, she thought.

Familiar faces smiled at her, and slowly the guests approached her one by one, welcoming her back to busy London. Most of the former Gryffindor's were present, along with other mutual friends, like Ernie McMillan, Cormac McLaggen (who actually wasn't that much of a self-absorbed git anymore...!), Blaise Zabini. Draco was also there, giving her a quick peck on the cheek. A few of the Slytherin's were there as well. Like Draco, they too had reverted from their old ways, and most of them now worked with Harry and Ron at the Ministry of Magic as Aurors and Auror Aiders.

Mrs. Weasley pulled her into a bone-crushing hug, the last of her well-wishers. "Dinner everyone! Please sit, that's a dear! Sit down, make yourselves at home!" she called, and everyone moved to d=sit at the enlarged oak table. The room was decorated white, black and red (Hermione guessed the ulterior motive for Ginny's earlier visit...). She sat at the head of the table, Harry and Ginny on her either side, everyone else filling the room with their boisterously loud conversation and laughs. Directly opposite her sat Draco, the distance of the massive table not doing much to hide the constant appreciative glances, winks and smirks that were sent her way throughout the meal.

As the room filled with the magnificent scents of freshly baked apple pie, the table creaked less as the dinnerware was vanished by Molly, and everybody dug into their sweet pastry and ice-cream portion.

Hermione looked to the amazing woman, who had become her second Mother over time. She smiled, and silently sent a grateful 'thankyou' mouthing her delight and appreciation for the older woman's efforts to male this nights hers. Tears shone in Molly's eyes as she wiped the, fiercely away, shooing away her hand, conveying her message, 'it was nothing' as she smiled back at her second daughter. People kept toasting for love and happiness, and with the firewhisky and wine flowing freely, everyone was soon put into a jovial, alcohol-fuelled stupor of happiness and ease.

"Thanks for everything Harry, Ginny, Mrs Weasley, it really was a brilliant night!" thanked Hermione, as she hugged them all in turn. Some people had left already. The house was slowly quietening down.

Draco remained sitting with Bill, Charlie and Arthur Weasley, deeply immersed in their conversation. Hermione stared at the blond man, his handsome well-chiselled face glowing from the fires slanted, golden light. He suddenly looked at her, where she stood in the kitchen doorway, leaning against the French doorframe as he winked at her. Her heart fluttered for a long minute, and then she relaxed, releasing the coiled tension, blaming her body's confusing response to her co-workers' action on the alcohol she had consumed.

She bid her farewells to the men, excusing herself for the night. Draco also leapt up onto his feet, bidding his own farewells and walked her to the doorway, lifting her coat from the hanger onto her shoulders. "Thanks Draco" she gratefully said, as she slipped her arms into the soft warmness, bracing herself for the coldness awaiting them outside the heavy door.

"I don't know if I mentioned it earlier..." he hesitantly began, "but you look... absolutely stunning tonight." he finished simply, shyly smiling down at her petite face. She grinned back widely at him. "Thanks Draco! You look smashingly handsome yourself!" she replied putting him at ease.

She turned the doorknob and stepped out into the night as he followed her closely behind. "See you at work on Monday I guess" he said, kissing her cheek gently, as he pulled her into a tight hug. His lips lingered on her pale skin a little longer than was necessary. She looked up into his eyes searchingly, and nodded.

He apparated then, leaving her in the darkness as she collected her scattered thoughts over his parting actions. She shook her head, crinkling her eyebrobs as she slightly frowned, and apparated home herself.

Hermione dabbed off the last of her makeup, slipping into a satin nightdress and slid straight into bed, ready to slumber twenty minutes after appearing in her doorway. She fell asleep immediately as the clock chimed twice, thinking of the party, and Draco, and his lingering kiss, and close hug, her cheek still tingling...

A/N: Thanks for reading! Please don't forget to Review! It is my first story and I am looking for some advice, or comments on how to improve, what you liked, what you didn't like about it... :))

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