Chapter 3:
Four days. It has been four days since she was told she would be working with Malfoy to plan the ministry Halloween ball. Four days since he had pushed her behind a curtain. Four days since she felt his muscled body pressed against hers. Four days since they agreed to be civil.
And she hadn't received one fucking owl. Not from him, not from the Minister, not from the Headmistress. There were only a few weeks to plan this bloody party, and no one seemed to be putting in much effort.
Fine. She can plan this whole damn event herself. So much for "working together" she thought angrily.
She was annoyed. This whole day has been pure crap, and it wasn't even noon. First, the barista at her favorite café had gotten her order wrong. Fine. Hermione wasn't going to get upset about a measly drink order. But then she came into her office and found three notices and two new reports on her desk, each needing immediate attention. Also fine, wouldn't be the first time and she knew it certainly would not be the last.
Then the heel of her shoe broke. And that was rather a bummer, because she did like these shoes. And now she was sitting in her chair. Staring at page 23 of a 50 page report. And her mind had wandered. And her skirt was feeling too tight. And her toes were cold. And her drink was wrong. And she was very, very aggravated.
This day could not possibly get-
Her office door opened. And in walked Harry, Ron and Malfoy. All smiling.
Son of a fucking bitch!
She closed her eyes and pinched her nose.
"Hello! Would you kindly explain why the hell the three of you are in my office looking entirely too chipper." She asked in sarcastic anger.
They're faces dropped immediately, and Harry took a hesitant step forward.
"Hey 'Mione." He purred. "We were all going to go out for lunch and wanted to know if you would join us."
"No."
Harry looked back at the other two, and scowled as they just shrugged in response.
"Come on. I'm sure you've been looking over the same report for the past two hours. You can use a break."
"Three hours, actually. And I can't. I'm entirely too busy."
"Granger," Malfoy said, slowly walking towards her, "you can't skip lunch."
"I can and I will, thank you." She looked up at him as he approached. "I need to speak with you."
"Well, we can talk over lunch. I'm hungry," he grabbed her quill from her fingers and placed it on the desk "and I don't like to be kept waiting."
He helped her gently to her feet and she huffed in annoyance and sent him a nasty glare but complied.
Ron watched the easy interaction between the two, wearing a small smile on his face. "It's the last time I can see you before I head back to Romania, 'Mione."
Hermione looked up at him and cocked her head to the side, "You're leaving so soon? I thought you would stay a bit longer."
Ron shook his head as he grabbed her coat off the rack and helped her put it on. "Can't, love. I have to help Malfoy pack up his gear and the dragons are getting restless without their trainers."
"Oh." Hermione said sadly, leading the boys out of her office. "Well, can you come over this week? I wanted to spend a bit more time with you before I don't see you again for merlin knows how long."
Draco and Harry walked a few steps behind the pair, giving them a little space.
"It's good to have you on the team, Malfoy."
Draco glanced at the Boy-Who-Lived and nodded. "Glad they accepted me."
Harry nodded in return. "Listen, I know Ron and you have become good friends and I trust his judgement. I'm not going to be friends with you, but i'm willing to start over if you are."
Harry stuffed his hands in his robe pockets, waiting on an answer.
Draco chewed his cheek before responding "I never imagined I would willingly hang out with you, Potter. Let alone have lunch with the whole Golden Trio. But then again, I never imagined being friends with Weasley either. So sure, why the hell not." He glanced at the man beside him and gave a small smile. "I've already agreed to be civil to Granger, might as well extend it to you as well."
Draco turned his head back towards the pair, eyes zeroing in on the woman in front of him.
She was laughing at something Ron said. Her shoulders shaking and her arm wrapped tightly around Ron's.
Harry noticed him staring at Hermione and grimaced slightly.
Hermione had grown into a beautiful woman. Not that she wasn't always, but age had been kind to her. Her curly hair was still a mess, but Harry always thought she wore it well. Her face had hardened after the war, giving her a more angled and determined appearance. Her figure had lengthened, and she wore clothes that accentuated her curves. Not overly, mind you, but enough that one could tell she had an excellent figure.
Harry was protective of her. She'd always been his sister, and he wouldn't let anyone unworthy touch her if he could help it. And Draco Malfoy was certainly unworthy. He'd have to keep a close eye on the two.
They fell into a slightly uncomfortable silence as the four made their way out of the ministry and to the café down the street.
After receiving their drinks and muffins, they sat down at a table, Harry and Ron flocking Hermione on both sides.
"Granger," Draco started, sitting down across from her with a grimace, "you're wearing sandals."
"Yeah. So what?"
"You're also wearing stockings. You know those don't really go together, right?"
Hermione narrowed her eyes. "First, my heel broke this morning, so luckily I had a pair of sandals in my desk. Second, why would I possibly take fashion advice from you?"
Harry sucked in a breath, knowing this had potential to get ugly pretty quickly.
Draco placed his elbow on the table and rested his chin on the back of his hand as he stared at her with a calculated look. "First, are you or are you not, a witch?" Seeing her face start to redden, he continued. "Second, if you haven't noticed, I'm always impeccably well dressed." He gave a sweeping gesture down his body. "If you're going to take fashion advice from anyone, it should be me."
She had noticed. She had definitely noticed. The little prat did somehow manage to look neat and well dressed whenever he popped up.
Ron snorted. "Anyone who wants to look like a total ponce should take fashion advice from you."
Malfoy shoved Ron lightly as he went to take a sip, his eyes not leaving Hermione's.
"Oi!" Ron exclaimed as he nearly spilled his drink.
"I do hope you pick out a suitable dress for the ball. It won't do to have one of the planning members look underdressed." Malfoy sneered as he turned back to Hermione.
"Oh! I did want to talk to you about that!"
She leaned forward eagerly, completely ignoring the previous statement and the confused looks of her two best friends.
"I haven't heard from you in days! We need to get started!"
Draco rolled his eyes. "I've been a bit busy, Granger."
Harry looked at Ron with a silent, questioning look. Ron shrugged in response and watched whatever was about to unfold.
"Do not use that as an excuse, Malfoy! If you didn't notice, I'm busy as well."
"Oh yes, Granger. Stuffing your brain with useless knowledge is a grueling task."
"It's not useless! All of my knowledge will come in handy at one point or another."
"Ah yes, and when have you needed to know every little secret that could be found in Hogwarts: A History?"
Draco smirked as he noticed her face turning red. He did so love to rile her up.
"Rather often, actually." She hissed.
Harry and Ron watched the volley, both lightly touching their wands incase one of them blew up.
"How did you know I read that book, anyways?" She asked.
He rolled his eyes and sat back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Everyone knew you read that book, Granger. You carried it around like a bloody bible."
"It's a very informative book, and happens to be my favorite." She responded as she copied his posture.
"I don't blame you. It's one of mine as well."
Harry looked at Draco with wide eyes before looking at Ron. Noticing he wore an amused expression, Harry decided against his better judgment to bud into the conversation.
"Really?" Hermione shot back up. "Which part? Which version? Have you read the newest edition?"
Draco smiled at her. "How about we discuss it later this week? We can have dinner and discuss the ball as well."
Ron cocked an eyebrow at his remark but remained silent.
"Oh right! Yes, we should definitely talk. How about Friday evening?"
Harrys eyebrows shot into his hairline.
"Friday evening works well for me. I'll pick you up at 7:00?"
Harry and Ron looked at each other with wide eyes.
"7:00 is fine. I'll pick the place."
"Absolutely not. Just make sure you are properly dressed."
He stood from the table and made to leave. "I have to run, I have a meeting with Robbards in 10 minutes. See you Friday, Granger."
She scowled as he smirked and walked out the door.
"Bloody prat" She mumbled.
The three friends sat in silence for a moment before Harry shook himself out of his stupor. His plan to keep the two apart was off to a bad start. "What in the seven bloody hells was that!" He exclaimed, throwing his hands in the direction Malfoy had just gone.
"What do you mean, Harry?" Hermione said on a sigh.
"That! That….flirting!"
Hermione looked at him sharply. "We were not flirting, Harry! Gross."
"Umm, 'Mione. Hate to tell you, but that was some heavy flirting." Ron finally spoke up.
"You two are daft. It was not flirting! If you weren't paying attention, we just scheduled to meet up to discuss the ministry ball."
"A date, Hermione. You and Malfoy just set up a date."
"We did not!"
Harry placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Yeah, you did. Whether or not you both realize that remains to be seen, though."
"If we didn't do it intentionally, Harry, then it is certainly not a date."
"We'll see. From my experience with Ginny, if your clothes are all thrown across your room with only 15 minutes to spare, then it's a date."
Hermione scoffed. "Yes well, that's because Ginny actually likes you. I don't have any such feelings towards Malfoy."
She grabbed her purse from under her feet and checked for her wallet, missing the skeptical look Harry and Ron exchanged.
"You know," Ron began, grabbing Hermione's hand and catching her eye "he's really improved since high school."
He let go and held up his other hand as Hermione opened her mouth, silencing her. "I know, I know. He was a total prat and I hated his guts. Honestly, I may have hated him the most out of all of us."
Harry and Hermione snorted.
"But!" Ron continued, narrowing his eyes at his two friends. "I really believe he's turned himself around. I consider him a friend. Just, please, give him a chance. He really wants to make amends."
Harry sighed. "I can't promise anything, Ron. But I will admit he has turned into an alright bloke."
Ron smiled and looked at Hermione.
"You seem to have gotten more comfortable around him, 'Mione. Would you give yourself a chance?"
Hermione looked at him curiously.
"What do you mean? Shouldn't I give him a chance?"
Ron smiled at her and stood up. "I think you already have."
He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, ignoring the look of confusion on her face.
"I have to go, I'll see you guys later. Tell Ginny I want some of her pumpkin pasties before I go back!"
"Will do, mate." Harry smiled and waved at Ron as he disappeared.
Harry looked back at Hermione, who still had a confused look on her face. He knew Hermione could take care of herself, but the thought of her being alone with Malfoy for an evening made him uneasy.
Damnit, that guy moved in on her fast.
"Come on, Hermione. We should get back to work."
As they walked down the street back to the ministry, Hermione had thrown Ron's words around in her head, trying to understand them.
"Harry."
"Mmm?"
"What do you think Ron meant when he said I've already given Malfoy a chance?"
Harry looked at her from the corner of his eye. She was looking at the ground, her eyebrows furrowed in puzzlement. He sighed quietly.
"Well, you've agreed to work with him on the ball, right?"
She looked at him. "Yes. But that's because Minerva asked."
"Okay. But you also agreed to go out with him for lunch today, correct?"
"Yeah, but you and Ron were with me."
Harry smiled sadly. "Yes. But you also agreed to go out to dinner with him. Alone."
"Well yes, but that's to talk about the ball."
Harry stopped walking and grabbed her shoulder, halting her. He looked into her eyes.
"Hermione, if you thought he was still the same boy we knew in school, would you have agreed to any of the above?"
Hermiones eyes widened as it dawned on her.
No. She wouldn't have agreed to any of those. She would have vehemently denied each of those requests, actually.
So why now? She thought. Why did I suddenly agree to work with him, to eat with him?
Harry walked her back to her office and bid her goodbye, leaving Hermione to her own thoughts for the rest of the day.
She tried to focus on her work, she really did. But her brain was off somewhere else and she couldn't bring it back. Now that her friends had pointed it out, she noticed that she had felt more comfortable around Malfoy. Granted, he still skeeved her out. And she still didn't like him. But there had been no snide remarks about her blood status, no threats to her life. She hadn't had the urge to punch him in the mouth. Overall, she could tolerate him. And the thought of having dinner with him wasn't as a revolting as it once would have been.
In fact, she was looking forward to it. Malfoy had always been just below her in grades, and she knew that their conversations would be stimulating. Not that her conversations with Harry, Ron or Ginny weren't, but she needed an intellectual equal.
Well, almost an equal. She smiled to herself as she packed up her things for the night. Can't have him thinking he's just as intelligent as I am.
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A/N: I'm sorry this chapter is so short, but I have big plans for next chapter and I wanted this one out of the way! Hope you're enjoying the story so far!
