Hermione got an owl later in the day from Ginny. "Dress shopping Saturday afternoon?" it read. Hermione wrote back in the affirmative and sighed, trying to pay attention to her work again. Every time she saw Genna, she couldn't help but think of her with Ron. It made her sad a lot of the time, and she attempted to avoid her secretary so she wouldn't have to think about how he'd found someone so quickly after their breakup. Hermione regarded herself as an independent person, but seeing her ex-boyfriend with another girl after only a few weeks made her want to have someone again.

"Whatever," Hermione muttered to herself. "I can live without a boyfriend."

The knock on her door made her jump and she gathered her wits back again before calling, "Come in!"

Genna entered, and Hermione wanted to groan. "Yes, Genna?"

"Ron's here to see you." The little flush on Genna's cheeks wasn't surprising anymore.

"Let him in." She set her paperwork aside and sighed again. Genna disappeared and in her place stood another redhead.

"Hey 'Mione," he said with a grin and shut the door behind him.

"Hi Ron. Don't you have work to get to?" she teased.

"You know me. Gotta take breaks. Like normal people."

Hermione shook her head. "This normal people stuff…you should teach me how to do it sometime."

Ron chuckled. "I'll put that on my to-do list."

Hermione smiled back. "What's up?"

"I need advice."

She cocked her head to the side. "Advice?"

"Yeah. Remember how I said I went out on a date with Genna?"

"Yes."

"Well, it didn't go as well as I'd hoped, but she won't leave me alone now."

Hermione frowned. "What? But it looked like you guys were having fun!"

"Yeah, well…we don't have as much in common as I thought."

"So you need advice on how to get rid of her?" Hermione asked, brows furrowed. Now relieved that there wasn't really anything going on between them, the pity for her secretary came in full force.

"Er, yeah, if you put it that way. I just don't know how to tell her that I'm not interested without hurting her feelings."

"Try to be tactful, Ron. I don't really think I can help you with this one."

"Please, Hermione? You know how I mess things up like this. I'm no good with words."

"Well, you've certainly improved a lot since school."

"Not with breakups, though."

Hermione thought for a moment. That was true. Even though she had understood what he had said about their relationship, she'd refused to talk to him for days after he broke up with her. He wasn't very tactful, and had fumbled with words that came out very wrong.

"Fine, I'll help you," she sighed, "for Genna's sake. I'll tell you what to say."

"Okay, great!" Ron said with a smile. "So, uh, what should I say?"

"Just tell her the truth. But say, 'I had a great time on our date, Genna, but I don't think we should date.' And she'll ask why, and you'll say, 'It's just that our interests don't really match up.' And then she might get angry or understand."

"Okay, okay," Ron said.

"Practise on me," Hermione said.

Ron cleared his throat. "Okay. Um, I had a great time on our date, Genna, but I don't think we should date."

Hermione nodded encouragingly. "But why, Ron? If we had such a good time?"

Ron furrowed his brows. "Er, uh, our interests don't match. I realised that we're two really different people with different interests."

"Oh." Hermione paused. "Good job, Ron. I think you're ready."

Ron grinned. "Thanks. I'm going to have to do it right now."

He walked out before Hermione could stop him, and she heard him bump into Genna.

"Oh, hi Genna," he said uncomfortably.

"Hey Ron," Genna said in a soft voice.

"Um, can we talk?"

"We're talking right now."

"Er, right." Hermione heard Genna giggle. Then there was a pause.

"What is it?" Genna asked.

"Um, Genna, I…I had a good time on our date—"

"Oh, me too."

"But I don't think we should go out."

There was another long, awkward pause, and Hermione screwed up her face in worry. 'Just say it, Ron!' she thought to herself.

"But…why?" Genna asked predictably. There were tears in her voice.

"Well, I, uh, we're just too different."

"What do you mean?"

"Ah, don't cry! I just mean that our interests aren't the same and we're into different things."

"You don't want to try and make it work?"

Another pause, and Hermione smacked her forehead with the butt of her palm.

"I, no, sorry. I'm…I'm not looking to date anyone right now!" he said quickly, and Hermione shook her head.

"Then why'd you ask me out then?" Genna asked, sounding indignant.

"Uh, I dunno. I thought it would work but I don't think it will."

Genna scoffed. "Fine. Whatever."

There was another very long pause, and then Ron came back in, his face red. He closed the door behind him.

"That was bloody awkward," he said, and Hermione smiled with sympathy.

"At least it's over."

"Yeah. Thanks a lot for your help. I can always count on you!"

"Next time you've got to do it on your own," she said, and he grinned.

"We'll see about that." He went over and kissed her on the cheek. "Thanks. I'll see you later."

Hermione nodded. "Okay."

"Oh, one last question," Ron said, turning back to her. "Do you have a date to the ball?"

"Not currently." Was he going to ask her? Hermione held her breath in anticipation.

"Well, Malfoy's lookin' for a date. You should go with him." He grinned.

Hermione pursed her lips. "No, I don't want to go with him. He wouldn't ask me anyway."

"Oh. Okay. You should still think about it. Well, see you later." He waved and exited her office. Hermione frowned. Did Ron not want to go with her? Or did he have a date already? Hermione sniffed. Maybe he was interested in someone else. Another girl. Ron seemed to be quite popular with the girls recently. Hmph.

Hermione suddenly felt childish. He could date whomever he wanted, that wasn't her business. She sighed and turned back to her work.

The next afternoon, at precisely two o'clock, Hermione and Ginny met in Diagon Alley to shop for dresses. Madam Malkin was delighted to have not one, but two war heroes shopping there. She pretended that she remembered their faces from when they were eleven and unimportant and just starting Hogwarts, but Hermione knew she was just trying to suck up a bit.

"I'll help the two of you personally," she offered graciously, and Hermione thanked her before perusing through her dress robe selection.

"What about this one, Gin?" Hermione called, holding up purple robes.

"No, not that one," Ginny replied. "You think Harry would like this one?" She held up green ones, and Hermione laughed.

"Besides the fact that it looks so Slytherin, why not?"

Ginny grinned and teasingly stuck her tongue out at her before putting the robes back.

"So I heard Malfoy's going to the ball with us," Ginny said after awhile. Hermione glanced at Madam Malkin from the corner of her eye and saw her perk up.

"Yeah, he is."

"Why?"

Hermione shrugged. "Harry offered."

"Really? Oh. I heard he's looking for a date, too."

"Yeah, Ron told me that too."

"Well, since you don't have a date, why don't you go with him?"

Hermione smiled. "First of all, I don't want to go with him, and second of all, he would never ask me. We're too different, and we hardly speak to each other."

"Well, get to know each other through this ball. It's not like the Yule Ball or anything."

"That's true."

"Not as important." Ginny grinned and pulled out two dress robes. "I want to try these on."

Madam Malkin busied herself with setting up a dressing room for her, and then looked at Hermione. "Need any help, Ms. Granger?"

"Well, I don't know what colour would work for me."

"Oh, that's easy!" Madam Malkin exclaimed. "Almost any colour would look good on you because of your light skin tone and your brown hair. Though perhaps you should stay away from bright colours, like orange." Orange made Hermione think of Ron's hair.

"So, maybe a colour like this?" She held out royal blue robes.

"Yes! Or these." Green ones that made Hermione wrinkle her nose.

"Um, I'd rather not wear green."

"Oh! That's fine. Dislike the colour? I understand completely." She pulled out a dress in the same style but in periwinkle. "Oh! Or red." She held another up to Hermione. "Hmm, yes, yes. This one looks fine on you. Perhaps a bit plain, but we could spruce it up with jewelry. Are you partial to jewelry, Ms. Granger?"

"I don't wear it regularly, but I suppose I like it as much as the next girl."

"Perfect! Well here, try these and tell me how you like them. These are chiffon so you should feel very comfortable in them."

"Thank you."

Madam Malkin was right. The wine red dress was very chic and made her look slender and classy. If she tied up her hair just right…well, Ginny could help her with that part. The younger girl knew how to dress her up better for parties.

"I'll take this one," Hermione told Madam Malkin once she'd finished trying them on.

"Oh, lovely choice!" Madam Malkin exclaimed, and Hermione smiled.

"Where could I find jewelry for it?"

"There's a small jewelry store in London," the storekeeper replied, and pulled a piece of parchment and a quill. "Here's the address. It's my cousin's jewelry store. I promise you the quality is real and for a lower price." She winked with a smile. She began to fiddle with the cashier, then smiled at Hermione once again. "There's a 10% discount on these dress robes for the War Memorial Ball coming up. It's 25 Galleons and seven Sickles."

Hermione had never found herself short of money, but after the Ministry had rewarded the war heroes with a very generous amount of Galleons, her purse was much fuller than it had been. She carefully counted out the coins from her coin purse, then smiled.

"Thank you very much," she said, and took the bag Madam Malkin had put the dress in. "I'll visit your cousin later today."

"Tell her I sent you," the stout witch replied. "I think she's giving discounts for the ball as well."

"Perfect."

"Did you find your robes already, 'Mione?" Ginny called from the dressing room.

"Yes. What's taking you so long?" Hermione teased.

"I just love all of these dresses, but none of them fit me quite right."

"I'll alter it for you quick as a whip," Madam Malkin replied.

Ginny stepped out in very sleek and elegant black dress robes with emerald-green designs on it. Hermione smiled. "Ginny, that one's perfect!"

"Do you think so?" Ginny turned around for her two-person audience. "I rather like it, but it's a little too long."

"Madam Malkin can alter it."

"That I can!" Madam Malkin piped up.

"I've got just the heels for that too," Hermione added.

"That's all fine. Let me see the dress you picked out, Hermione!"

Hermione pulled her dress robes out, and Ginny's brown eyes widened. "Hermione, that's beautiful. And funnily, I've got shoes for that too." She grinned.

"Perfect. Well, go on and get it altered and let's go get some ice cream. I've been dying to try that new ice cream parlour that opened next to Flourish & Blotts."

"Sounds like a good plan." Ginny changed quickly and paid for the slightly more expensive dress as Hermione made herself comfortable on one of the couches. Ginny stood on the platform looking bored, but Madam Malkin was quick. She took the measurements in less than ten minutes and asked Ginny's opinion on what should be cut before telling them to come back in half an hour. Ginny smiled and thanked her before the two witches strode out.

"Do you know who Ron's going to the ball with?" Hermione asked as they walked.

"One of his friends, I think," Ginny said nonchalantly. "Why?"

"Just wondering. I thought he was going with Genna, my secretary."

Ginny shrugged. "I don't have any idea."

"Ginny," Hermione groaned.

"What does it matter? Ask Ron yourself."

"Fine." They were silent for a moment until Ginny put two-and-two together in her head.

"Don't tell me you want to go with my brother," she gasped.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "No. I was just curious! Since he stopped going out with Genna—"

"Don't lie to me." Ginny groaned. "I knew this would happen," she muttered.

"What would happen?"

Ginny shook her head. "Nothing." She stopped her friend. "Hermione, I think you should go with Malfoy. Both of you are dateless."

"Ginny, we've been over this. I'm not going to go with him."

"Why not?"

"Well first of all, we hardly know each other, second he doesn't seem very fond of me, third, I'm not fond of him either, fourth, we have bad history…" She trailed off.

"Bad history?" Ginny asked curiously.

"Yeah, Hogwarts?"

"Right."

"Need I go on?"

Ginny sighed. "I guess not." She grabbed Hermione's arm. "Let's go on then. To the ice cream parlour! Are you going to find a date?"

Hermione smiled at the quick transition. "No. I'm fine with going by myself. I'll be with my friends."

"And Malfoy."

"Yeah, and him."

Ginny grinned. "We'll have fun."

Hermione smiled. "Life is what we make it."

Ginny groaned. "Not a cliché. Speak English, Hermione." She began running away.

"Clichés are historic and should always be used," Hermione replied, chasing after her red-headed companion. She laughed. "Ginny, wait up!"

"Not till you stop using those corny phrases!" The professional Quidditch player turned her head and smiled. "Race you!"

"Oh, come on!" But Hermione's breathless complaint was lost as Ginny took off ahead. Hermione stopped and then smirked. She'd best her. Hermione Disapparated.

When Ginny saw Hermione appear ahead of her right in front of the ice cream parlour, she shouted, "Hey! Unfair! Penalty to Granger!"

Hermione just smiled and disappeared into the shop. When Ginny arrived, panting slightly, Hermione smiled again. "I win, but I'll buy."

"You'd better after cheatin' like that."

"Not cheating, Ginny," Hermione laughed. "Just using my resources." She grinned and Ginny huffed and took a seat.

In half an hour, they went back to Madam Malkin's to see if the alterations were finished. Hermione pushed open the door and the bell jingled, causing everyone's eyes in the store to turn and look at them. Malfoy was one of them.

"Hi Draco," Ginny said with a friendly wave. He was up on the platform getting fitted in dashing dress robes. It looked more modern and included a tie which Hermione was slightly surprised at.

"Ginny, Hermione," he said politely.

"Hello Malfoy." Hermione pressed her lips together.

"Please, take a seat," Madam Malkin said. "It'll only take a few minutes."

Draco grinned lazily. "That's what she said fifteen minutes ago."

Madam Malkin huffed, but accepted the teasing gracefully. Ginny smiled. The girls took a seat next to a sandy haired girl who was watching Malfoy with her clear blue eyes. When they sat down, she turned to them.

Her beauty was striking and her facial features looked French. She had fair skin like Malfoy did. It made her look elegant. She was wearing her hair long with a blue headband on her head.

"You are Draco's friends?" she asked. She had a French accent which almost melted Hermione's heart. She smiled.

"We're acquaintances," Hermione replied, and the girl frowned at the unfamiliar word. "He is the friend of my friend. We went to school together," she amended quickly. "I'm Hermione Granger."

The girl's friendly smile was back again. "My name is Adeline Rocher."

"And I'm Ginny Weasley." They shook hands. "Pleased to meet you."

"It is pleasure to meet you both."

"Are you Draco's friend?" Ginny asked.

"Oui. He shows me around."

"She and her mother are visiting from France," Draco chimed in. "We're acquaintances as well, and she wanted to see London. We're just stopping by here so I can get my robes altered."

"They look nice," Ginny offered, and he grinned.

"Thank you."

Hermione was fixated on Adeline and was trying to keep up a conversation with her.

"I work on my English a lot in France," Adeline was telling her. She was speaking slowly, making sure she had the words right. "I went to Beauxbatons. They do not have many English class there, so I study with tutor. Tutors." She smiled. "I wish to know English well. Draco helps me."

"Draco knows French?" Hermione said in surprise.

"Oui. He learn from my mother. His mother teach me English when I am here."

"That sounds interesting. I never knew you knew French, Malfoy," she said, looking at the wizard in question.

"Oui, oui mademoiselle. J'parle très bon français. Et toi?" He grinned smugly and Hermione sighed. She didn't bother attempting to understand.

Adeline was smiling. "He is very helpful."

"That's good to hear. Are you going to go to the Celebration of Voldemort's Downfall Anniversary Ball with him? It's in two weeks." That was a mouthful.

"No, he do not tell me about a ball. Draco." Adeline looked at him accusingly, and he smiled charmingly. Even Hermione could admit that it was charming. Not that she would.

"C'est un bal privé, mon amie."

"No excuse, Draco," she said and crossed her arms. He just smiled sweetly and his eyes flickered to Hermione for a moment before looking back at the girl.

"Je vais avec la femme que tu êtes assis à côté."

Adeline turned accusatory eyes on Hermione, and Hermione in turn glared at Draco. "You'd better not be talking about me," she said. Draco just smiled again.

"Est-ce que tu l'aimes?" Adeline asked.

Draco's face contorted into a scowl. "No!"

Adeline just smiled. "I see."

"What was he saying?" Hermione asked.

"He likes you," Adeline replied, and Draco scoffed.

"What?" Hermione exclaimed. "That's preposterous."

Adeline frowned.

"Silly. Ridiculous."

"What she said," Draco added.

Adeline shrugged. "Okay. I believe you."

There was an awkward silence.

"So who you go to the ball with, Hermione and Ginny?" Adeline asked.

"I'm going with my boyfriend," Ginny said, "Harry Potter."

Adeline's eyes widened. "You date Harry Potter? Famous wizard?"

Ginny blushed. "Yes."

"You are very lucky!"

"Thank you."

"I hear he is very handsome."

"Well, I think so."

"Where he works now?"

"He's the head Auror at the British Ministry of Magic."

"Oh. That is a very big job."

"Yes, it is."

"Fantastique." Adeline smiled. "Who you go to the ball with, Hermione?"

"I'm not going with anyone," Hermione replied with a smile.

Adeline frowned. "Oh?"

"I don't really fancy going with anyone and all my friends have dates."

"Draco says you going with him."

"What?" Hermione exclaimed for the second time. "Malfoy!"

"Calm down, Granger. I meant that we were going in a group. Dans un groupe," he said, emphasizing the last sentence to Adeline.

"That means you have no date either, Draco?"

"Yes."

"Are you to ask your friends?"

"No, I don't want to go with anyone."

"You two should go together!"

"We are! In a group," Draco groaned. "How many times do I have to tell you?"

"As dates," Adeline said with an eye roll. "How many time I have to tell you?"

Hermione turned uncomfortably to Ginny who was clearly amused by all this.

"Dream on, Adeline," Draco told her.

"We're finished," Madam Malkin said. She seemed to have been finished a long time ago, Hermione noted to herself.

"Good. Thank you." Draco went back into the dressing room to change, and Madam Malkin retrieved Ginny's dress.

"Here you go, Ms. Weasley," she said with a smile.

"Thank you, Madam Malkin. Goodbye!"

"I hope to see you girls later."

"Bye Adeline," Ginny said with a wave.

"It was nice meeting you," Hermione added, and Adeline smiled.

"I will see you girls later I hope."

When the two witches went out, Hermione almost exploded. "Why is everyone pressuring me to go to the bloody ball with Draco Malfoy?"

"We just don't want you to go alone, and since Draco doesn't have a date either…"

"Doesn't mean we want to go together!" Hermione closed her eyes and tried to calm herself down.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I'll lay off."

"Tell everyone else to too."

"Okay." Ginny, eager to move on without actually meaning her words, slung her arm into Hermione's. "Do you want to go jewelry shopping now?"

Hermione sighed. "Why not."

And they Disapparated.

"Look," he was saying, "I know you've been going out with that git for a year now, but be honest: how long do you think it's going to last?"

She shrugged. "It's lasted a year and three months. Our luck might run out soon."

"I hate to see you like this. You've been depressed and unhappy a lot, and you know it's affecting your work."

"Yes, I know. The Minister's called me a few times to ask me about it."

"You know you're not going to be happy with him."

She rolled her mug of butterbeer around. "Yes."

"And we've had such good times."

She smiled slightly. "Yes, I know."

"And…you know I still love you." Her eyes shot up and met his. "More than just a friend."

"You do?" Her eyes were beginning to prickle unreasonably.

"Yes. I love you."

She bit her bottom lip and her eyebrows furrowed as she tried not to cry. She stared at the table, feeling emotions beginning to overwhelm her. "I haven't really heard that from anyone in a long time. My boyfriend says it, but he always says it in a rush, like a last minute thing. And I never see him anymore. He's either getting smashed at some pub or at his friend's house. And she's a girl." The tears were coming as she vented to her friend, and he came around the booth and put his arms around her.

"It'll be all right," he said awkwardly, and she shook her head.

"I don't think it will be."

"You're right. I don't think it will be either. But that's not what you want to hear, is it?"

She looked up at him, eyes wet. "No, it's not. But it's the truth. And sometimes I just need to hear the truth."

"I know I'm too blunt sometimes, and I'm sorry about that—"

She put a finger to his lips. "Don't be sorry," she said, and in a movement that seemed much too cliché, she kissed him. He reacted viscerally, arms coming behind her and pressing her to him. She pressed against him so that he backed up farther and farther till his back was sliding awkwardly against the seat backing. He put a stray hand behind him to keep himself from lying down, another in her hair.

She opened her mouth almost immediately, and he groaned as she pressed against him, tongue fierce and familiar in his mouth. His hand lowered till it was at her lower back, and then it was pressing against her bum, pressing her to his lower regions. She moved her hips and he broke the kiss to moan softly. Thank Merlin it was loud and noisy and crowded and they were in their own private corner. Thank Merlin she'd cast a sound-proof charm beforehand, as if foreseeing this situation. Thank Merlin she grabbed his head and smashed her lips against his, seeking his tongue once more.

And then she pulled back, hand going to her sore mouth. "My God, what am I doing?" she panted, and he, his eyes wider than they should be and pupils dilated, replied,

"I have no fucking clue, but it was amazing."

"Oh my God." She covered her face with her hands for a moment, and then she was scrambling to get away from him.

"No, wait!" he cried, grabbing her back to him. She fell into him but was quick to right herself.

"No matter what, I still love him and you know that," she said. "It's just hard when I never see him anymore."

"I understand, I get it. I'm your bloody friend, I know you. We can put this behind us."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really. I know we're probably not meant to be together, even if that was the hottest bloody snog I've ever had with anyone." She smiled sheepishly. "But you love 'im, and I know that. You guys'll work things out. Unfortunately for me."

"Thank you so much for understanding. That's why I love you. As a friend." She embraced him fiercely, eyes watering again.

"I love you too. Now get out of here before someone sees," he said, grinning his goofy grin.

"I will." She picked up her purse and kissed his cheek before she departed.

It was Monday, two days until the ball. Hermione was dragging herself to work. For the past 16 days, none of her friends had mentioned her going to the ball with Malfoy. Unfortunately, that resulted in bringing him everywhere with them. Sixteen days was a long time for Hermione to keep up her animosity towards her former childhood enemy. She broke by the third day and allowed him to charm her. Figuratively, of course.

Hermione first noticed his demeanor. No longer did he hold himself as though he owned the world, but was humbler and respectful. He was quieter too, which seemed odd. Then again, maybe not, being with a bunch of loud and slightly obnoxious people that weren't his friends. She wondered if he ever felt like a tag-a-long, and if he minded.

But today was a horrible day. She was sick. And Hermione Granger only allows herself to get sick once a year. This, of course, was that one day.

Hermione coughed into her tissue, making the other man in the lift with her take a step away. She pretended not to notice and looked up at the numbers through her swollen eyelids. Thank Merlin hers was the second floor.

She stepped out quickly and made it to her office before another sneeze propelled her backwards into her chair. It would have been comical to an outsider, but to Hermione, it felt horrible. She blew her nose. Where was the Pepper Up when she needed it?

Hermione sniffed and rubbed her sore nose before looking at the paperwork her secretary had left on her desk. Great. And she had a really busy day today. Groaning, Hermione laid her head on the folders and sighed. She coughed.

"Hey," someone said with a knock on the door. Hermione looked up.

"Oh, hi Michael," she said, trying to put strength into her voice. She sat up straight.

"Um, just needed you to sign something for me."

"Sure, what is it?"

"A Howler. It's for this one thirteen year old, Terrence Macabee. He used a jelly-jinx curse."

"These kids," Hermione said, annoyed at that moment. Stupid kids. Irresponsible parents. She signed it and handed it back to Michael. "There you go."

"Thank you." He paused. "Are you feeling all right?"

"Not my best," Hermione confessed. "Just a little under the weather is all."

Michael nodded. "Feel better, Hermione."

"Thank you."

Michael left her office and Hermione dropped her head back onto her desk with a groan. Ten minutes later, Hermione was trying to muster enough self-motivation to get some work done when she was disturbed again. She groaned again.

"Hermione," came a voice, and she squeezed her eyes shut tightly for a moment. She didn't have the patience to deal with Draco right now.

"Yes?" she asked wearily, not moving.

"I heard you were sick."

"Could you hear it in my voice?"

He ignored her remark and she heard his footsteps walking towards her on the carpeted floor. He put something on her wooden desk and she looked up. Pepper Up.

"Here. I had it in my office just in case."

"For me?"

"No, I'm going to take it away in five seconds so hurry up and take it off your desk," he said sarcastically. Her eyes were stinging, so she didn't bother rolling her eyes. She grabbed the potion off her desk and ingested it before she closed her eyes, waiting for the uncomfortable feeling of steam being blown out of her ears. When it passed, her sinuses were clear and she felt her headache gone. She opened her eyes and smiled at him.

"Thank you," she said sincerely.

"You're welcome," he replied. "Now the real reason I'm here is to tell you that Potter, Harry, rather, wanted me to ask you something."

"Yes?"

"Will you be my date to the ball?"

He was blunt and without hesitation, something Hermione was surprised at. She was at a loss for words. She hadn't even entertained the thought of him asking her.

"I…I don't want to go with a date," she said slowly. "I'd rather just have fun with my friends without having to entertain a date."

Draco nodded once. "I understand. I completely understand how you feel. Potter and your friends have been telling me to ask you, so I did."

"Do you even want to go with me?"

"Of course I do."

"Besides the reason that I'm Hermione Granger?"

"Well, the reason I'd want to go with you would be because you're Hermione Granger."

She frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Never mind. Well, I'll see you at the ball." He turned on his heel and stepped out of her office. He hadn't even seemed embarrassed at being rejected. Well, maybe rejected was too harsh a word. There was still so much she didn't know about Draco Malfoy. He was quite different from their school days. Hermione sighed and turned back to her work. Her eyes caught the empty Pepper Up container and she smiled slightly. He was secretly thoughtful, that was for sure.

Twelve-thirty found Hermione sitting in the Ministry diner trying to find something she hadn't eaten on the menu with her two best mates and their newest member. "What are you going to get?" Ron asked like he did every time they went out to eat. Hermione guessed it was probably from a lack of something better to say in the beginning.

"I'm not sure yet. I think I've eaten almost everything on this menu, we come here so often." She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. "How about you, Ron?"

"I'm going to get the steak pie," he said with a grin. Hermione smiled back.

"Feeling hungry today?"

"You have no idea," he groaned. "I didn't have breakfast."

"What a catastrophe."

"You know me."

She laughed. "Maybe too well." She turned back to her menu.

"What are you gonna get Draco?" Ron asked.

"I was thinking of either the pot pie or a turkey sandwich."

"Mm, pot pie sounds good," Hermione thought out loud, suddenly feeling hungry.

"I'm not feeling all that hungry, though. If I get it, do you want to share?"

Everyone paused to goad Hermione's answer. They were all surprised at Draco's offer, none more surprised than Hermione herself, but she tried not to show it. "Sure," she said. She wouldn't treat him any different than she'd treat anyone else.

"Okay." He put the menu down. "Have you eaten it before?"

"I'm sure I have, I just don't remember. Maybe I had the cottage pie. One of them was served quite large."

"I know the pot pies are served pretty big here." He tried to show it with his hands. His fingers were at least eleven inches away from each other. He grinned. "Around that big."

"You're joking," Hermione said, a grin coming to her lips.

"We'll have to see when it comes."

Draco was, in fact, exaggerating, but the pot pie was large enough and heavy enough to share. "I don't usually eat this for lunch," Hermione was saying as she tucked into it, "but I love pot pies. My mum used to make them at home for dinner sometimes." She put a forkful into her mouth. "Mmm." Her lips curved upward as she ate it. "Delicious," she declared after she'd swallowed and went for another piece. Draco chuckled.

"How's yours, Ron?" Hermione asked. "I guess I shouldn't ask since you get the same thing every time."

"No, not always the same thing. Sometimes I get a mince meat pie, sometimes steak and kidney…"

"Practically the same thing, then." She grinned at him playfully and looked over at Harry's food. "What did you get?"

"The cottage pie. Not the best here."

"Oh, I'm sorry. You want to try some of ours?"

"Merlin, Granger, are you their mother or something?" Draco scoffed.

Hermione ignored his tone. "Just a best friend," she said lightly and put a forkful of pie onto Harry's plate. "It's really good," she told Harry who agreed once he'd had some. Then Ron wanted in too.

In the end, Harry successfully returned his plate in exchange for a pot pie served to him by the chef himself (it was sort of a big deal that the Harry Potter didn't like his cottage pie). When they attempted to go back to their respective offices, all of them were feeling extra sleepy.

"I probably shouldn't have eaten so much," Harry groaned, and Hermione nodded.

"I'm there with you, Harry."

"As am I," Ron piped up. "I don't want to do work!"

Hermione couldn't help but laugh. "This sounds like our Hogwarts days, doesn't it?"

"Except this is real life and not doing homework could mean losing our jobs." Ron sighed. "So difficult sometimes."

"No, not really. Easier, actually," Harry said.

"Says you," Hermione said and playfully stuck her tongue out at him. Harry rolled his green eyes at her good-naturedly.

"Are you all going to continue chatting or shall we actually get to work?" Draco asked, pressing the lift button that hadn't been pressed till right then. The lift started moving.

"I didn't even notice," Ron confessed, a little surprised.

"That's because you were moaning and groaning about your stomach," Hermione said, poking him. He glared.

"It's sensitive, you know."

She rolled her eyes. "Right."

The lift came to a stop to their floor and they all piled out. "Well," Ron sighed dramatically, "I guess we're going to have to work now."

"How'd you figure that?" Hermione asked innocently, and he playfully punched her arm. Hermione turned then and noticed Draco watching their exchange with intense grey eyes. She smiled at him. "Have a good day at work, Draco. Try not to fall asleep."

He nodded and she slipped passed him, pecked a friendly kiss to Harry's cheek, and walked away to her office without a glance backwards.

Genna was sitting right outside her office as usual, but she was eating a sandwich and doing her work. "Hi Genna," Hermione greeted her warmly. "Did you go to lunch?"

"There's too much work to do," Genna replied without meeting her employer's eyes.

"Oh." She wondered if it was because of Ron that she wasn't going out to lunch anymore. "Well, if you need to talk to anyone about anything—"

"Are you and Ron going out again?" she blurted out. Hermione probably should've expected the question, but she was surprised by it anyway.

"No," she reassured her. "We haven't gone out in awhile."

Genna nodded. "The way your last break-up went, I thought maybe you were pursuing him again because he's not—" Genna's blue eyes suddenly widened and she looked down quickly.

"What?" Hermione asked, cocking her head to the side.

"N-nothing." Genna busied herself again. "I'm sorry, Ms. Granger, but I'm very busy." She stuffed a large piece of her sandwich into her mouth. Hermione frowned at her secretary's strange behaviour but thought nothing more of it once she entered her office. Genna did have her moments.


A/N: So much information! Yes, I rather enjoyed this chapter. Lots of cryptic speech in here...and of course, you've got to love Hermione's relationship with Harry and Ron. Especially Ron. Even if I don't like them as a couple, I like their friendship. Writing it, anyway. Well, even if you don't read this A/U, REMEMBER TO REVIEW! Because that's what authors live for: feedback! And love. Lots of love. Which I will return in response to your reviews. Review! And thank you for reading this very long chapter and this demanding author's note! :) P.S. Fair warning. My chapters are going to get longer, starting with this little chappie. And if you're confused by the italics in between, hopefully by the end it'll make sense! It's all a part of the "mystery."