Smother Me
By Eriksleadinglady
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Chapter 3: Dinner
It was a quarter-to-Seven, and Draco was antsy for the guests to arrive. Having people over for dinner - former Gryffindors specifically - obscured his quotidian routine. For dinner, it was usually just his mother and him, maybe an occasional visitor like Pansy Parkinson, but that was it, and that was exactly how Draco liked it. Now, seeing the long, rectangular, cherry wooden table set for not two, but six people, made Draco uneasy.
His mother, on the other hand, was blithe and without a care in the world. She was more than excited to have new guests over for dinner, even having the cooks make a fancy French meal - Truffles as appetizers, Duck Fricassée with white beans as the meal, and Apple Tart with Fleur de Sel for dessert.
As always, it sounded delicious to Draco, but he wasn't sure how the others would pertain to such a fancy meal. After all, they lived at the Burrow, and he was sure all they ate was soup, bread, and cheese; he had convinced himself that it was all they were able to afford with so many mouths to feed.
Suddenly, knocks sounded from the door, and Draco's heart seemed to stop in his chest.
He heard himself rise to his feet and walk proudly to the door, though it did not register to him what exactly he was about to get himself into.
Opening the door, he greeted his guests. "Potter. Weasley. Granger." He was expecting to have to greet one more Weasley, but was surprised to not see Ron standing there as well.
"Draco," said Harry, while the two women acknowledged him by nodding.
"Come in," Draco said, gesturing with his hand. Harry had used his first name and that was… interesting, to say the least. Different, but acceptable.
The three of them walked into the anteroom, not saying a word, but only remembering the memories of the last time there were here - Hermione being tortured, and Harry and Ron imprisoned. Still silent, they all followed Draco into the dining hall, where they greeted Narcissa, and then took their seats for dinner.
"So," began Narcissa, "I was under the impression that there would be one more of you joining us?" She looked at Hermione and then at the empty table setting.
Hermione pursed her lips. "He couldn't make it. Other… engagements for tonight."
Draco had to hold in a sardonic comment. Right, like Weasley had anything else to do; probably just too ashamed to show his face in Malfoy Manor.
"That is… too bad," he replied, not being too cynical.
Hermione rolled her eyes, but did not reply. She was sitting by herself, on one side of the table, with Harry and Ginny on the other side, and Draco and Narcissa filling in the two head spots.
The set up did not surprise her.
"This dining room is lovely, Narcissa," she said while taking a sip of her water; the food had not yet been served.
"Thank you, Hermione," she said pleasantly. "Although, this is really Draco's house now, so you must send all compliments toward him."
Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Oh really? I didn't know you inherited everything."
Draco swallowed thickly. "In case you couldn't notice, Granger, my father is not at the table with us, nor will he ever be again. It is my duty, as his son, to become the man of the house and take over all of his belongings."
Everyone noticed the caustic tone in his voice, and tension rose into the air.
Draco, leaning over in his chair, half slumped to the side from boredom, said airily, "Come, I grow tired of this drivel. Surely the food must be ready."
Half of the tension left the air, but everyone still felt something covering them all like a heavy blanket in the winter time.
"I-I didn't mean anything by what I said," offered Hermione, seeming to be unable to contain herself from being kind and appropriate in all situations.
Draco eyed her carefully. He hadn't, truthfully, minded what she had said - after all, his father's memory was, most of the time, suffice to him, but his mother longingly missed him. He could tell the subject was making her uncomfortable.
He waved his hand dismissively, just as the appetizers arrived. "It is of no matter."
Taking a small portion of his truffle, he placed it into his mouth with grace. Observing the others, he noticed that only his mother was eating as well.
Rolling his eyes, he muttered, "As expected." But no one heard. "It's a mushroom." Still no one moved. "It is a French delicacy and is quite good, I assure you."
Hermione eyed her plate warily, then, taking a very small piece, placed it into her mouth and chewed thoughtfully.
Draco eyed her with interest. She had been the first of the three to try it, and although it wasn't so much a brave move, he couldn't help but think of her in a higher light.
Soon after, both Harry and Ginny had tried their truffles and were now happily enjoying them.
Catching his mother's eye, he gave her a small smile, and she returned the look. If Potter and friends had not tried, or had not liked, the appetizers, there would have been hell to pay for making his mother feel even more uncomfortable that she was right now. But, seeing as how they were the guests in his house, they could only oblige, and things would have to move happily along.
Tired of the silence, Draco directed his attention to Harry. "So, Potter, when are you and the Weasley going to get hitched?"
Harry smiled and took Ginny's hand. "In a couple of months, actually. Hopefully September." A pause. "And don't worry, you'll get an invitation."
Draco scoffed. "Oh, yes, that was exactly what I wanted to know."
"And Granger," he continued, "when are you and the other Weasley going to tie the knot?"
Hermione shifted her eyes around. "Well," she said carefully, "m-marriage hasn't really been of topic."
Draco raised his brows. "That's a shame. I thought for sure you all would want to get married at the same time; after all, you are 'the Golden Trio'." Noticing Ginny, he added, "Er, quartet."
"Actually," she said, looking down at her plate, "I don't think he and I will ever get married."
Draco nearly choked on his water but refrained. He had always thought she and Ron would get married - it just seemed so right. Obviously, they had liked each other all through school, but never publicly showed any interest in one another. Now that they were, surely, dating, he only thought it natural for them to get married.
"I'm surprised."
She shrugged her shoulders.
Then their meal arrived and her eyes seemed to glow at the opportunity to get away from the topic.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the main course, and conversation was little, if any. Hermione now seemed uncomfortable after the mention of marriage, which, in turn, rubbed off on Harry and Ginny.
Throughout the meal, however, Narcissa occasionally caught Draco's eyes and gave him a hard look. He figured it was because of his words earlier that made her give him the look, but he wasn't positive.
After the meal, dessert arrived, and Draco began looking around the table for something to say.
But he wasn't the person to speak.
"You know," said Hermione, "why did you have to go and mention marriage anyway?"
Draco's eyes widened, and he looked shiftily around the table, but no one said anything.
"We were having a nice pleasant time," she continued, staring at the wall opposite her, "and then you had to open your mouth and ruin everything! What Ron and I do is none of your concern!"
With that, she took a big bite of apple tart and chewed angrily.
Draco was speechless. She had lashed out at him so unexpectedly that he didn't know, for a moment, what to say.
Then his eyes narrowed at her. "I was only making conversation, Granger, because you seem unable to do so! Anything that comes out of your mouth has to start an argument. There was no argument until you started it right now."
She swallowed tightly. "What? Me? You're the one who mentioned anything in the first place!"
"In order to have conversation so everyone would feel more comfortable."
"Well, I am certainly not more comfortable!" she cried indignantly.
"Obviously."
She yelled in frustration. "You are so impossible!"
"Just shut it and eat," said Draco harshly.
"Draco Regulus Malfoy!" Narcissa yelled. "That is no way to treat our guest!"
Hermione upturned her nose at him.
He rolled his eyes and mumbled something under his breath, while Harry and Ginny cast uneasy glances at each other.
Then his mother got up and left the table, claiming fatigue.
A/N: Like it? Didn't like it? Please let me know what you think! Love, E. Ll
And of course, thanks to Shady-777 and Ziggygurl! You guys rock!
