Chapter -4
This place is beautiful. Hermione gawked at the massive baronial building that stood in front of her. Fitted in a small corner in the Diagon alley, SYLVIA bathed in the lustrous rays radiating from the street lamps surrounding its walls. Massive stone walls with large scintillating windows, illuminated the magnificent display of green of the great lawns that stretched out in front of them in the night sky.
"On any other day it would have been a perfect place for a cozy evening with someone but today it just feel like a devil's dungeon." Hermione cursed under her breath as she entered restaurant's lobby through its two mahogany gates. She enquired the receptionist about her reservation and turned towards the great seating hall where her companion waited for her at the table.
I can't believe I said yes to that stupid ferret. Hermione thought. It wasn't unusual for her to accept dinner invitations but when you receive one from a man who has spent his whole past resenting the air you breathe, the food you ate, in short, cursed your whole existence in his world, it does become a matter of life and death. And yet when the conceited, handsome owl had shown up on her window in the morning she had accepted this date with her adversary. "Curiosity kills the cat." All I have to try today is to avoid the chances of being killed by my own curiosity.
A steward guided her towards the private section of the hall. Stony partitions with magical waterfalls separated the private areas from each other as well as from main dining hall. Modern walls with magical décor with no paintings exhibited a sharp contrast in environment compared to the bright Victorian aura of the main hall. No chandeliers, no embroided curtains instead bright dim lights lit the cozy place just enough to feel the presence of one's companion.
Hermione scrutinized her surrounding with curious eyes. A lump of nervousness that had settled down in her belly melted away in the warmth of her surroundings. Her brown chocolate eyes met with the grey stormy ones that were seated at the table illuminated by candle lights. A lean, muscular body wrapped in a three piece light grey suit with slicked back blonde hair and a stern look on his face was Draco Malfoy's choice for the day.
Hermione quickly settled in the opposite chair and the steward laid out their menu with his wand for them before exiting the area.
"Didn't knew you belonged to the category of late comers, Granger." Hermione peeked over her menu to meet the gaze of not so poise Draco Malfoy.
"You gave me the time of 7 and I am here at 7. If that's not punctual according to your dictionary then I believe you should change it." Hermione grunted and returned her gaze back to her menu. Oh, even this cozy environment is not able to neutralize the arrogance in his demeanor.
Suddenly, an image of a clock appeared in front of her. She put the menu down to find an irritated Draco Malfoy staring at her. She flicked her wand angrily and returned her attention to her menu.
"I would like to have Basque style fish with green peppers and Manila clams." Hermione kept her menu down and took a sip of water from her glass.
"Granger you do realize there was a reason behind showing that clock to you. I gave you the time of 7 not 7:15!" Malfoy scowled as he gestured the steward to take their orders.
"A Basque style fish with green peppers and Manila clams for the lady and Couscous Royale with a bottle of Syrah." Malfoy directed his menu towards the steward and crossed his arms over his chest.
"So you invited me to this dinner to talk about time, Malfoy!" Hermione smiled sarcastically. A long silence stretched between them. Hermione stared at the man in front of her. She searched for changes that his Hench body had gone through over the past years. For as much awkward it felt to her, her experiences at Ministry had taught her to never underestimate her opponent and never misjudge their body language. A big disappointment for her- Draco Malfoy gave nothing away.
"I want you to drop the law." Draco's words brought her out of her perusal. She shifted in her seat and relaxed her shoulders. So this is what this is all about. Maybe Purebloods are not as strong as they seem.
"I knew Purebloods will give up one day but so quickly. Now that is a surprise." Hermione blurted confidently. Draco's lips twitched upwards forming his famous smirk. He relaxed in his seat making Hermione nervous about her statement.
"Pretty confident, Ha Granger! Let me see you and your loser friends think that this is some Voldemort equation and crashing of few horcruxes here and few spells over there will solve everything. At the end of the day The Golden Trio would be heroes again and a section of the society would be forced to restore the magical world back to its glory by emptying their accounts. I thought you were smarter than this Granger!" Hermione pushed back bile to her belly which had risen at every word which came out of Draco's mouth.
So there is a completely different picture which we can't see and Malfoy can. But what is this a threat or help from his side. Hermione straightened in her chair in an effort to hide her fears. All those articles in Prophet had already started to take the shape of threats and now this man who belonged to the resisting section of the society was warning her about the current situation.
"Don't overwork that little brain of yours Granger. I am on nobody's side. I don't care who wins the battle as long as I get to keep my position and my family name is not tarnished." Draco blurted as he took a sip of his water. Hermione smiled at his reaction. A wave of memories from her past hit her. Of course old habits die hard.
"That is so Malfoyish of you!" Hermione teased. Draco looked in her direction with a puzzled expression.
"Is it not a Malfoy quality to never choose sides? Never take a stand. As far as I remember your family supported Voldemort during the war but when the end came near they left the battlefield unnoticed. I guess it was Malfoy accounts that lost galleons making Harry the richest wizard in England." Hermione commented. Draco rolled his hands into fist under the table. He was not going to pleasure her with his misery.
"Update your knowledge Granger! You will get to know who stands where in the society and I am not here play little insulting games with you here. I am here to talk about the pit hole that you have dug for us and everyone at the ministry including you and me would be thrown into it if you don't stop this stupid law of yours from getting implemented." Draco said.
The steward appeared at their table with their respected orders pouring each of them a glass of wine. Hermione let out the breath that had been stuck in her throat for a while. Has the condition become so bad? Were they really in a big danger? Was equality really difficult to achieve in this society? Hermione thought.
"Why are you concerned about the Ministry when you are a pure blood? Even if the Ministry loses, your people win and that means no harm will come to you and your family because of your blood status. It would be Muggles and Half-bloods who will suffer the wrath." Hermione spoke in a low tone as she played with food on her plate. She was no more hungry. A lump of nervousness, doubts and conflicts had replaced hunger in her stomach. She needed a solution. A really quick solution.
"I have worked hard for the past five years to achieve what I have today. I know I will be fine with any side winning the revolt. It's about the power I have gained in these past years that guarantees the future of my future generations. The same way my ancestors built our family name so that we don't have to beg for anything. If Ministry wins I have my position but if resistance win I don't know what Nott will ask from me. It's not about my family safety but it's about their future." Draco commented as he played with wine.
The sincerity in his words struck Hermione. She couldn't breathe. Maybe that was the reason her brain was interpreting reason behind those words in the way it shouldn't. She couldn't believe to the conclusion she came to. She couldn't believe the words that came out of her mouth next.
"You can help us in getting rid of the resistance. I am sure Ministry has plans which can use your help. It will also strengthen your position in the ministry and will also secure your future." Hermione replied. What is wrong with you, Hermione? She thought.
Draco sensed the hints of desperation in her behavior. He took a sip of his wine and gathered his thoughts. He fumbled with his food for a while and contemplated his options. An opportunity has presented itself but is it worth taking the risk.
"I am not going to be involved in any of the ministry plans and that is my final decision." Draco said after a while. Hermione shifted forward to argue but Draco cut her off. He cued her to listen.
"But I can still present you a proposal that can help Ministry and you and who knows this might turn out to be game changer in your scheme of plans." He smirked. Though the idea of helping Hermione or any of her friends pooled malice in his blood yet Draco fancied the opportunity at his hands.
A deep knot formed in Hermione's stomach. Draco's words felt like close room surrounding her, walls moving towards her to thrash her into million pieces. Giving no room for survival. She quickly inhaled a puff of air to calm her nerves.
"What kind of proposal?" Hermione asked in a low tone trying not to feel the stress of her own words.
Draco smirked and relaxed in his chair. Whatever be the outcome, it will turn out to be in the favor of Malfoy's. His assurance of it was sitting right in front of him.