It was quarter to 8 am when she arrived at her office the next morning, before even the secretary. She had left in a hurry the day before after receiving Draco's owl, and needed to catch up on some paperwork she had failed to complete.

When she opened the door, she fully expected her office to be empty, but when it wasn't, she jumped slightly, causing her to spill her tea down the front of her blouse. While she had been dreading seeing Draco today, she certainly didn't expect to be greeted by his mother first thing in the morning.

"Mrs. Malfoy?" Hermione stuttered, futilely wiping the tea from the front of her shirt.

"Why, Hello Mrs. Weasley… Or do you care if I call you Hermione, dear?" Narcissa Malfoy was just as beautiful as Hermione remembered, not a snow white hair out of place, and her clothing screamed rich and elite. Hermione felt dowdy in her simple suit and her now practically see-through white shirt. She pushed a stray hair behind her ear.

"Ummm…Hermione is fine." She watched Mrs. Malfoy silently appraise her, and suddenly she felt slightly ashamed by how she looked. Why couldn't she had worn different shoes today? "What can I do for you?" She quickly reverted back to business, keeping it simple and professional was the best approach.

"I was simply stopping by to express my gratitude for your help with my son. I was really quite in a panic, having never been to a muggle hospital before, you see… And when Scorpio was hit by that god-awful machine, I felt as if I was lost. I don't know how I would have handled it without Draco there, dear. And I truly appreciate the fact that you helped him so promptly. " Narcissa was smiling at her with perfect white teeth. Hermione fidgeted with her jacket before answering.

"It was my job, anybody would have done the same in my place,." Hermione assured her, not sure how to take the praise.

"No, they wouldn't, and surely haven't. You see, it has been hard for my son since the war, and it is nice to see a kind soul who was willing to help. That is why I am insisting that you and your family come to the manor this Friday for dinner. "Hermione started to protest, by was quickly interrupted. "I will not accept a decline. It is the least we can do; I will have cocktails ready at 7pm." She then stood up, her robes perfectly flowing around her legs. "I will see you then, Mrs. Weasley." And then she was gone, leaving a gaping Hermione wondering how she would explain this to her husband.

Draco couldn't believe that his mother had the nerve to invite the Weasley family over for dinner. Granted, Hermione wasn't bad, and he might even understand the kids... but Ron? As far as Draco knew he was still ill-tempered and foul.

"And why did you do that, Mother? Don't you remember the last time Hermione was at the manor? Don't you think that she would be uncomfortable being in the home where she was tortured?" He shook his head at his mother in the floo.

"Really, Draco, you are being melodramatic. She will be fine, I will personally make sure she feels welcome. Just think about how lovely it will be to have guests over for dinner again… " He saw his mother's face light up. She used to throw the most extravagant dinners, but after the war and after Lucius died she stopped. It had been a long time since she was this excited about something, and Draco knew he would not win this argument.

"Fine, Mother. But don't get your hopes up. I am heading to my meeting now, she may still cancel." Draco tried to let her down easy, but his mother was already rambling on about the courses she would serve. He sighed. "I have to go, Mother, or I will be late. I love you." She stopped her rant and smiled at him.

"I love you too, dear." And her face disappeared into the flames.

Hermione stared at the clock on the way, watching the minutes tick by slowly. She already had plans to tell Draco that she wouldn't be able to make dinner. She would fake a family gathering to get out of it. It would be much simpler to tell him no than his mother.

Just as the clock struck 10:15, her door opened, and there he was. He looked as perfectly groomed as his mother, but much more masculine. He didn't wear his normal suit jacket, but opted to be more casual today. The short sleeves on his polo shirt accented his muscular arms, the same arms that had innocently been the cause of her panic for the past 4 days.

"Good morning, Draco" Hermione forced a smile onto her face, but her stomach was in knots for some reason.

"Hermione." He said stiffly, as he took his normal seat.

"Your mother stopped by today," Hermione began, but was quickly interrupted.

"I know, and I apologize for her. She wanted to do something special for you, because to be honest, kindness isn't something that the Malfoys are used to these days. She is planning quite the dinner, Let me tell you. "Hermione looked nervous to him today, almost skittish by his presence. He felt his heart sink. He had hoped that they had gotten past that, "But if you don't want to come, it will be okay. I will let her know for you." He quickly responded.

"No… Well, I don't know. You see, Bill and Molly are having a get-together, and I am not sure if Ron will want to miss it…" She quickly rambled. "But I will talk to him. Maybe we can cancel with his family." The smile that lit up Draco's face was genuine, and she found herself smiling back at him. "Let's get started… I have to make a full report as to why you left the country. "

"Absolutely not!" Ron screamed at her. "Are you crazy, Hermione?"

"Lower your voice, Ron." Hermione hissed at him, "It is just a dinner, I don't see what the big deal is. They wanted to thank me for helping them."

"Which is another thin," He continued to shout, "WHY on earth would you do that? Let him apparate out of country without a pass and get himself locked up! You don't owe him anything!"

Hermione could feel herself getting angry. "If it were Rose or Hugo, would you want to be denied the right to be with them? If your children were injured, wouldn't you break the law if it meant you could comfort them?"

"That's different!" He roared, "I've earned the right to be with my children, he lost that right the minute he took the dark mark!"

"You are being unreasonable in thinking that people can't change, Ronald. I am disappointed in you." Hermione couldn't understand why her husband just couldn't let the past go.

"Well, "Ron said defiantly, " We are not going to eat dinner at Malfoy Manor. That is final." Just as he turned away from her their bedroom door swung open to reveal a rather excited Rose.

"Malfoy? As in SCORPIUS Malfoy? We are going to his HOUSE!" She squealed, "I can't believe that we are going to be eating dinner with SCORPIUS MALFOY! I just have to floo Catherine! She won't believe it!" And with that she ran down the stairs.

Hermione smiled at Ron, who looked defeated. "Well, I'm not going." He said simply.