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Dinner was a forced affair, a long drawn out process that started in somewhat comfortable silence, and ended in suffocating silence. The forks made tinking noises on the plates, the glasses a dull thud as they were sat back down. There was always that quiet smacking of lips as Ron ate his food, Hermione sat there, silent, listening, barely eating.
He pushed his plate away when he was done and stood. Hermione always held her breath at this moment, waited for something to happen, but nothing ever did. He turned and silently walked out of the room, not even looking her way.
Once she heard his footsteps on the stairs she rose from her place and quickly cleared the table. She was always in the kitchen when he came back down, wanting a cup of coffee so he could retire happily into the study to go over a few things for work.
She was standing at the sink when he came in, her back to him. He cleared his throat, and she turned quickly, eager to please, eager to make him happy, to look at her just once like he did when they were at school.
"Yes?" She asked, wiping her hands on a towel.
"Harry's coming over in fifteen minutes, you know, to catch up with us, he says he misses seeing you, so I invited him over." Ron said, not really looking at her, but just over and past her shoulder.
Hermione nodded and put the towel down. "Should I get coffee and cakes for all of us?" she asked, moving to turn on the coffee pot.
"That would be a good idea, we'll be in the lounge, so bring everything there."
"Alright." She said, quickly turning back to finish the dishes and then get out a few desserts.
"Hermione?" Ron asked, almost hesitantly
"Yes Ronald?" she responded, not turning around.
He sighed. "Will you look at me when you talk to me; I thought you knew that by now."
She turned, nodding, "Yes, sorry, what is it?" she asked, her voice as small as a child's.
"Harry is bringing over a few friends." He said slowly.
"That's fine." She responded automatically, knowing it wasn't, knowing she wanted to just talk with Harry.
"Two." Ron said shortly, finally looking into her eyes.
She hesitated, that meant something, and it was something important if he was actually looking at her. "I'll be sure to have enough of everything." She nodded.
"Good." He said seriously, and then paused. "And Hermione?" she looked up at him. "Don't make a fool out of yourself tonight like you always do." Once the words were out of his mouth, he turned and walked out of the kitchen, leaving her alone.
"Okay." She said looking at the ground, wishing her life hadn't turned out this way at all. Looking out the window she sighed, thinking about the strange weather they had had that day.
Snow had been something she looked forward to as a child, before her Hogwarts days. Those days Hermione had practically prayed for snow, hoping they would get off school and she could spend the day playing with her parents. Snow days were her favorite; there were snowmen, and snowball fights, fort building and snow angels. There was just something about being out in it that made her feel young again, like she had nothing to truly worry about, if only for a moment.
There was a knock at the door and Hermione was jolted out of her reverie. She started scrambling about the kitchen trying to get everything ready when she heard Ron yell to her to open the door. Cursing him mentally she rushed to the front door.
She turned the knob and flung the door open, and standing in front of her was Harry Potter, a beautiful blonde she was sure she didn't know and Draco Malfoy.
"Harry! Hi!" She said, backing up and letting them in, she watched closely as Draco shut the door behind him.
"Hey Mione" Harry said, pulling her into a hug, she hugged him back and stopped when Ron cleared his throat. "Hullo Ron." Harry said a smile on his face. Ron merely nodded. "Ah, Hermione, you remember Draco Malfoy." Harry said, breaking up the odd silence. She smiled at him and took his hand gently in her own, prepared to shake it and was completely startled when he bent down and kissed it.
Hermione cast a worried glance at Ron and found him glaring at the top of Malfoys head. She sniffed, trying to get his attention, but the gesture was completely missed. Draco rose back up and smiled civilly at her.
"Good evening Mrs. Weasley, I want to –"
Hermione laughed and waved her hand. "Please, call me Hermione; Mrs. Weasley makes me feel like some old woman." Draco nodded and turned to the blonde.
"Hermione, this is our college Oliva Zabini." At her puzzled expression he continued on. "She is a year younger than all of us, but as it happens was actually attending Beauxbatons, she came here to England to study where she met Blaise, and the two hit it off, and are married to this day. An impressive feat if you know Blaise."
Hermione laughed, indeed she did know Blaise, he had been head boy, opposite her head girl position. "I believe I did read about that, a little over a year ago perhaps." Draco and Olivia both nodded. "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance Mrs. Zabini."
Olivia laughed. "Don't be silly darling; it makes me feel just as old as you I fear. Call me Olivia." Hermione smiled and nodded.
Ron cleared his throat. "Well, let's all move into the parlor and take our refreshments, shall we? Hermione, would you go get them for us please?" He asked briskly, in a strictly business manner.
The petite woman nodded, and Draco Malfoy watched as the fire tempered Gryffindor lioness became nothing but a sad and dismissed kitten, and somehow, somewhere within him, he knew it was wrong. Then against his better judgment he was already moving.
"I'd be more than happy to help." Hermione stopped mid-stride and Ron narrowed his eyes.
"That's not really necessary." Ron stated, waving at Hermione to keep going.
"Nonsense, I'm a guest, the hostess doesn't need to be doing everything." He said, moving towards Hermione and taking her arm. "To the kitchen!" he cried. "or wherever you have our refreshments."
Hermione nodded, and swept the blonde man off to the kitchen before her husband could protest.
Once in the kitchen Draco rounded on her before she could even grab the cups and mugs.
"What is wrong with you Granger?" he asked, reverting back to her former last name, a favorite word of his after being used so often.
"What are you talking about… Malfoy?" she asked, looking at him bewildered as she finally did reach for the mugs.
"I'm talking about you and Weasley, you just let him walk all over you and your last season Versace top, and you had nothing to say back to him." He took her by the shoulders and looked at her. "That is not the girl I knew from school."
Hermione scoffed. "What do you know anyway Mr. Malfoy. You think you can just come in here with your good looks and wads of cash, loosen me up by making me think you're going to be a nice guy. Newsflash Draco, we've all changed, we've all grown up."
"Yes, well, most of the people from our class that I've met have not become cowering simpering little housewives who are afraid of their husbands and given up on their dreams."
"I haven't given up on anything, and I'm quite happy." She hissed at him, closing a cabinet door.
"Right, he keeps you quiet with pretty things." He said with a smirk, rubbing the hem of her top. "Nice shiny things as well I bet, where's your jewelry box? I bet it's just funny of amazing pieces."
Hermione stared at him, she would never admit how close to the truth he was. She would never tell him that once a month Ron sent her out with his money, and a few hired people to go get whatever she wanted, whatever, he hoped would make her pleased. If she had one hundred galleons for every time he came home with a new piece of jewelry for her collection, she'd be a wealthy woman, without the jewels.
"I wish I knew what happened to the Granger we all loved to hate, but you, Hermione, aren't her."
How dare he. Who did he think he was? Coming into her house, a guest, and now he was talking to her like he really knew her, like he really knew what was happening to her. Sure, she wasn't happy, and she hoped that any idiot with eyes would be able to see that, but she was not however, some cowering little… woman… or was she?
"I've seen this all before Granger, just with you as another woman. You think, for one fleeting moment, that since company, old friends and acquaintances are coming over to your home that you can do what you want, if only for a moment. Then the voice of reason comes and puts you in your place. What once was a smiling happy face becomes the slumped shoulders and dull eyes of surrender."
"I never liked you Malfoy, and I really don't appreciate you coming into my house, my home, and acting like you know exactly what is going on here. Nothing is going on, Ron and I just had a small row, and I'm waiting for him to come around to apologizing." She sniffed and straightened up. "Now, if you wouldn't mind, please grab that tray, and follow me."
Draco paused for a moment, looking quite on the verge of saying something else, but he didn't. Hermione watched as he nodded and picked up the tray filled with desserts.
Arriving in the parlor, all three faces turned to them. "That took a while." Ron stated.
Hermione grinned and forced a laugh. "Oh, you know, we were just catching up on old things, school days, you know."
Harry nodded. "No name calling though, right?"
At this Draco laughed. "Potter I'm hurt, we've both come so far, yet you still thing of me to sink that low."
Harry merely shrugged, and Ron sent yet another glare at Malfoy, this time, the young man saw it and merely cast a confused glance towards the redhead.
Hermione stood at the door, saying goodbye to them all. She was very sorry to see them go. Oliva wanted to get in touch with her, go shopping sometime, and hear Hermione's stories from the days when she was in close quarters with Blaise. Hermione heartily agreed.
Harry clutched his brunette friend tightly, told her to owl him often and that he would stop back by some other time for dinner.
Then it was time to say goodbye to Draco. To his credit he shook hands with Ron, shared a small joke and then turned to her, his gaze emotionless.
"Mrs. Weasley, Granger, Hermione, whatever it is I'm supposed to call you now; thank you for your hospitality, it was greatly appreciated. Perhaps, someday soon, you and your husband could come over to the manor, so I can repay the favor." Hermione gave him a noncommittal nod as he continued. "Have a wonderful evening, and thank you again." He took up her hand once more and kissed it. As he stepped back, Hermione felt him slip something into her hand; quickly she clasped her hands together in front of herself.
"Thank you for coming Mr. Malfoy, it has been wonderful to catch up with you again," she paused. "and to see that you have really grown up." Draco merely smirked. "You are of course welcome to come over for dinner with Harry as well."
Draco grinned, and thanked them both then he stepped out into the cold night air to travel home.
Hermione sighed as she shut the door, discreetly slipped her hand into the pocket of her slacks and released the slip of paper. Turning around to Ron she found him to be the color of puce, she grinned weakly at him.
So there you have it! Chapter one. I know its a bit crazy, but alot of things need to be established before things really get going. No worries, the guilt purchases shall be covered in a later chapter, and a few of Ron's issues shall be exposed next chapter. Let me know what you thought, constructive criticism is a good friend to have.
Happy reading!