AUTHOR'S NOTE:
UNBETAED!
I write whatever comes to my mind. Then reread it few days after, so expect errors, I'll revise it later on.
DISCLAIMER: "Harry Potter" is the property of J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. This work of fiction/art was created entirely for fun, not for profit, and no copyright infringement is intended.
ENJOY! Thank you!
July 25, 2013
"Say Pansy, any news about the Weasleys..." Draco started, arms stretching behind the sofa. "-and Hermione?"
He tried to sound nonchalant and bored but the way Pansy raised her eyebrows and smirked knowingly at him, he knew he's failing. Thankfully, she did not say anything about it and just resumed knitting that stupid looking hat.
"They're fine, all of the Weasleys are married…except for Ronald."
"And..."
"And?" Pansy glanced at him, he scowled knowing what exactly she is doing.
"And..." And the bastard dared to laugh.
"She's fine Draco, she's doing well actually. I think you know that, her face is always plastered on the Daily Prophet right below Harry's section. It's impossible for you to miss it."
Draco knows that, Hermione Granger is actually doing really really well in London. She actually became a well-known potion master but Hermione's personal life is actually vague and that's an unusual thing especially if you're famous, the newspapers won't let that slipped.
"She has a child or something?" and again Draco wants to shove the lamp inside Pansy Parkinson's ass as she grinned at him.
"Oh yes, she have. They're handsome and extremely intelligent too." They're?
His chest felt heavy at that. Just when he's about to ask, a burst of green flames appeared in the fireplace and a very dirty Theodore Nott emerged. His eyeballs almost falling out when he saw Pansy and Draco sitting casually on his couch, staring blankly at him.
"What the hell are guys doing in my house?" He said patting the dust off his robes rather hard and he pointed at Draco. "And you, when did you-"
"2 weeks ago."
"2 weeks ago!"
"Calm your tits Theo."
Theodore glared at him before sitting at the couch in front of them.
"This is invasion of property."
"Oh, don't be stupid." Pansy snorted.
"Without even prior notice, I almost had a heart attack, at least have some consideration." Theodore leaned back, still glaring at Draco. "And you're still alive..."
For the first time in so many years, Draco felt uncomfortable with how Theodore Nott looked at him. Like he is scrutinizing and judging him so hard. Which is strange, why is he looking at him like that.
"Yes, Fortunately, Nott. Why do I feel like you're unhappy?" Theodore is the one who snorted this time.
"You have no idea-what the fuck is your problem, Pansy" He shouted as Pansy stomped hard on his foot. Draco did not understand the look that Pansy shot at Theo but there's only one thing he's sure of.
They're hiding something.
He started noticing this when his Father sent him back to London in a haste. Like there is something going to happen but he doesn't know what. The looks he get from several people when he passed by also doesn't escaped his observation.
"O...kay, what is happening?" He asked. The two looked at him then Theodore shrugged the arm that Pansy placed at him.
"You shouldn't have come back." He frowned, looking at Pansy who is now scowling at Theo.
"Don't start on this one Theo, it's not his fault that she won't give you a chance."
What?
"What-"
"She is starting to give me a chance, Pansy. But then, dearest Draco here, have to come back and take her away again." Theodore Nott looks like he is going to burst at any moment, spitting his words out like they're venom.
"I don't know what you're talking about Nott."
"Of course you don't, you went away and left Hermione."
"and what does that have to do with you?" Draco is so confused and agitated now, he is starting to lose his temper. Theodore is in front of him in a second, grabbing his collar but he felt someone pushing his shoulders away.
"ENOUGH!" Pansy yelled as she shoved the two apart.
The three of them are standing now and Draco doesn't have any idea on why Theodore is seething in front of him. His hands are clenched and he is glaring holes at Draco's face. Pansy on the other hand is breathing hard holding Draco back for unknown reasons.
"Maybe you guys, should leave." Theodore muttered entering his bedroom, closing the door hard.
July 28, 2013
"You're here."
"Yes and you are….slacking around as I expected."
Lucius is standing in front of Draco's office much to Draco's disbelief. The least he expected is for his Father to follow him in London considering the fact that a lot of things happened in the place which Lucius doesn't particularly want to reminisce.
"I am not slacking" Draco muttered and he pushed the door open and threw his wand to the bed. He sat to his chair and looked at his father. Scowled actually. Lucius ignored his attitude and went inside to sit at the chair in front of his chair.
"You met them?"
Draco's eyebrows raised almost to his hairline.
"What?"
His father shakes his head and went to fumble with his walking stick. A gesture of nervousness. Why does he suddenly became nervous?
"Father, what-who should I meet." Draco said urgently, leaning over his desk.
"I supposed, your mother haven't mentioned it yet."
"Mentioned what?"
"It's not my place to say Draco. You and that little brain of yours should've figured it out by now."
Draco ran his palm to his face. He is starting to notice something. People here in London, might've also included the muggles and the dragons, knew something about him and there was only so much of the knowing look he could take before he gets really, really pissed off.
There's also the Theodore incident, 3 days ago, that triggered his thoughts and he can't help but think that Hermione has something to do with it.
July 31, 2013
"Draco, you should dress up properly, we are going to a formal party...not in a dinner at the Leaky cauldron." Narcissa said, glaring at the blue shirt under his robe. He exhaled loudly, turning around and dragging his feet on the stairs.
Draco was enjoying the tranquil ambiance of his room, reading and drinking his freshly brewed coffee, when Pansy fucking Parkinson barged inside his room in a very rude and very unethical manner as possible, slamming the door so hard, the mark of the door knob is still visible on his bedroom wall, to demand his presence at her engagement party. She even threatened to grab him by the bollocks and drag him there.
He doesn't want to go to a party and he doesn't want to dress up formally. He doesn't want to move out of his bed and meet other people. He had enough of that and he is starting—NO—He is already sick of it.
12 years of drinking champagne and socializing with stupid but rich people made him realize the blessing of having the peace and privacy of his room. He always wonder how his liver is still holding up with all that alcohol intake, possibly one of the perks of being a wizard.
He picked out a thing that looks comfortable and formal at the same time then changed into it. Draco did not even spare his reflection in the mirror a glance and just went downstairs to meet Pansy and his mother, scowling as he trailed behind them.
The freaking party is at the Burrow and Draco wants to drown himself in the pond beside him as soon as he saw the curls of a certain witch, standing few yards away from him. He ducked behind his mother, almost smacking himself when he realized how stupid it was.
How he became this dumb is really such a wonder.
"You came!" Draco heard a very familiar and annoying voice beside him. He turned to face a grinning Ronald Weasley who taps his arm awkwardly.
"Yeah. You're here too."
And Weasley's eyes became so round before he bursts into laughter gaining them a few looks from the other guests. Draco wants to shove his fist, so hard into the very visible throat of the man in front of him.
"You don't know?!"
Here we go again. He don't know anything again. Why can't people just tell him what's going on.
"What—"
"This is my engagement party, Mate."
Draco choked on the water he is drinking and spit some on Weasley's face.
"Gross."
"You—You—You."
"Uhuh."
"You and P-pansy..." He managed to coughed out.
This is unbelievable.
"Yes. Pansy and I-"
"You…and…Pansy?"
"Yes, me and Pansy."
"How-"
"Ron! Can you please talk to the guest over there, I just need to get the..."
And of course, to make this situation more awkward, Hermione Granger had to come near him. She is walking towards their direction carrying a plate of…Dragon balls. Looking magnificent as usual in her floor length blue dress.
"Oh." Her steps faltered.
"Mione, I told you, he would come." Weasley exclaimed, patting Draco's arm again, grinning widely at the witch. Draco is really amazed on how naive and ignorant Weasley can be, in an undeniably absurd situation like this.
"He is Pansy's friend, what do you expect?" She mumbled, rolling her eyes.
"Well, I'll let you guys talk to each other." Weasley winked at him then walked away leaving Hermione and Draco alone.
GREAT.
Draco, being a good actor as he is, tried to look unaffected and unbothered. He stared at Hermione taking in the obvious fact that her curly hair got longer, almost reaching her waist and the volume of it decreases which seems like the definition of being bushy is not applicable anymore. She's still as wholesome as Draco remembered she could be. Nothing really much has changed and if it's even possible, she looked younger and lovelier and fit as ever.
She smiled at Draco.
"You're back."
"I'm back."
He stepped a little closer but Hermione stepped back. He almost frowned at the action but managed to resist doing so.
Of course, that's the reaction he is expecting.
"Since when?" She asked still smiling.
Draco realized when he looked closely at her, the smile plastered on her face is anything but real and happy. How can he even assume that she will smile at him genuinely after leaving her without a single word?
"2 weeks ago." He mumbled, looking down at his feet. "How are you?"
"I'm fine. It's nice seeing you again, you should go inside, it is starting to get cold." She said turning around to walk towards the crooked house.
To be continued.