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Chapter 4

Hermione kept on swirling the amber liquid in her glass. She was standing in a corner, away from the usual noise of the party. Wherever her concentration might have been, it was definitely not on the drink she was holding. So when the liquid threatened to escape the confines of its holder, she didn't notice until another arm gripped her hand to stop the disaster.

"Bloody hell, Hermione. That's some good liquor. You don't go wasting it on the floor. You just give it to me." Ron Weasley appeared on her side coaxing the glass into his hand. He gulped down the whole drink in one go and smacked his lips. "That's good stuff."

"Ron," Hermione smiled at her friend. "How are you?" She unconsciously reached for her hair tugging it, so that it covered her ears completely.

"I'll say, better," Ron said casually standing beside her, his hands tucked into his pockets. Hermione smiled at his gesture. Some things never changed. Apart from the awkwardness that accompanied their break-up, nothing much has changed. She could still read him like an open book. "Now that the rush at the ministry had come down a bit, we all could catch a break."

"I know," Hermione said sadly. "I still can't believe it was Dennis."

"Bites me. But no more talk about that." Ron dismissed and turned to her. "How are you feeling?"

"I've been better," Hermione said again. The Pansy incident had a taken a toll on everybody. The attack had taken place in the ministry, in the middle of the day and with most of the Aurors close by. And the most alarming fact was that Dennis Creevey had voluntarily surrendered claiming guilty. Hermione shook her head to clear her thoughts. "How's Susan? Where is she tonight?"

"She's off to St. Mungos. It's her shift tonight." Ron said fondly thinking about his girlfriend. "It's wonderful to have a nurse at home. The other day, when we were trying a particularly tricky position, I cricked my back and she cleared it with just a snap of her…," he trailed off as he caught the awkward expression on Hermione's face.

"Too much information," she said looking in another direction. Sure Ron was her friend again, but she's going to draw a line at these discussions.

"Yeah, sorry 'bout that," Ron said sheepishly.

"Right, Where's Harry?" Hermione asked moving to safer topics.

"Saw him around here some time ago," Ron said craning his long neck to look among the crowd. "There he is."

Hermione turned her head to see in the direction Ron pointed. There he was the boy-who-lived trying to sing a song using the empty bottle in his hand as a microphone. Ginny who was sitting in the opposite chair was in a similar position doing an even worse job. Hermione couldn't help when a smile grazed her lips. It was nice to see him like this. Being an Auror was in itself very demanding and the strain from the past two days had been quite hectic. They hardly found any time for this kind of silly and crazy moments. Harry had organized this little party for Ginny, on their first win of the season at the leaky cauldron. It was a break he deserved, Hermione smiled as she thought about the time when he approached her to help plan this little bash. Hermione had outright refused to take part in the planning. So everything that went into the party was from Harry and Ginny wouldn't want it in any other way. She had been pleasantly surprised when at the whole situation and Hermione couldn't be any happier for her friends. That's why her missing day was still a secret that only she knew.

"Want to join them?" Ron asked. "We can't make it any worse."

"Oh I can", Hermione laughed and nudged Ron ahead. "You go on". Hermione said taking a place at a table at the back.

Ron moved to the front, joining his sister and his best friend. He put his long hands on both their shoulders and all three of them broke into the most unbearable version of "Hoggy warty Hogwarts."

She relaxed into the chair enjoying the cacophony of the noises.

"Granger."

She was so consumed in their fun that she jumped out of the chair at the unexpected greeting.

"Malfoy," she said composing herself as she turned around. "What are you doing here? Is Theo with you?" Hermione asked looking over his shoulder.

"It's a pub, Granger. I trust that you know why people come here. And as for Theo, he is going to join me soon." He said taking a chair beside her.

Hermione looked at him in confusion. Why was Malfoy suddenly talking to her like an old friend? And why the hell is he sitting beside me? Their forgotten encounter in the lifts suddenly flashed in front of Hermione's eyes.

He must have caught her confusing stare as he asked her. "Why are you looking at me as if you have seen a ghost?"

"Nothing," Hermione said looking to the small space between them. Their knees were almost touching and Malfoy didn't bother to move them.

When Hermione tried to move he caught hold of her knee and stopped her. "Come on Granger, why so shy? I don't think your friends would mind. I might even suggest few places these lovely legs could go?" Draco said teasingly.

Hermione was too shocked to speak. She didn't understand a single word. What the hell was he talking about?

"I can still taste your lips, you know," Draco said his voice toned down to a husky whisper, as his eyes fell on her lips. "They were intoxicating that night."

"What night?" Hermione's words came out abruptly. She pushed his hand forcefully, that was slowly caressing her knee.

"Oh! You want to play coy. But remember Granger, two can play your game."

"Stop speaking in riddles. What exactly are you talking about?" Hermione had enough. Her voice boomed as she yelled rising from her chair. She then noticed that the pub had gone quiet and all the eyes were now concentrated on Malfoy and her.

Harry and Ron were the first to reach them it was Harry who questioned, "What is it, Hermione?" Hermione saw Harry holding Ron back with a tight grip on his hands.

"Nothing", she mumbled and saw Malfoy's face. He was looking at her with an intriguing look.

Harry looked at the pair while Ron pulled her to a side. "Why don't you join us, Hermione?" Ron threw an angry glare at Draco while Hermione followed him with an unidentified guilt. Draco Malfoy definitely knew something.

"The Ferret's giving you trouble?" Ginny asked as Hermione joined her at the table.

"It's Malfoy. What do you expect?" Hermione said taking a drink.

"I thought he was over all those prejudices," Ginny said giving Hermione a quizzical look.

"No, it's not about that muggleborn nonsense. He's being his usual pratty self."

"Harry seems to be getting on fine with him", Ginny said pointing in their direction with her glass.

Hermione saw that it was true. Harry was indeed talking to Malfoy. But Draco Malfoy's eyes were surreptitiously fixed on Hermione. Neville, who had been talking to his girlfriend behind the counters, soon joined Harry and all three of them seem to be talking amicably. Neville and Malfoy's friendship was the most surprising changes after the war. Neville had started his apprenticeship at St. Mungos trying to earn a specialization in medicinal plants.

Even though the Malfoy family was pardoned for the crimes they have committed under the name of Voldemort, their family had lost all their reputation. Draco Malfoy had taken the responsibility of restoring it on his shoulders. So his first step was volunteering at St. Mungos and also working towards a specialization in potions. He faced an unmitigated hatred and Neville was the first one to extend a hand of friendship.

Even though Harry maintained a cordial relationship with the ex-deatheater, Neville formed a true friendship with him. When Hermione asked Neville about these developments, he mentioned that there were some circumstances in their seventh year, where Draco had covertly helped him.

"Neville's glowing. I heard he is going to take the next step with Hannah", Ginny said.

"Wow, that's great". Hermione truly felt happy for Neville. Hannah Abbott was such a sweet girl. Hermione wasn't that much acquainted with the Hufflepuff girl when they were at school. But she found their company quite enjoyable whenever they met.

"She was a such an enthusiastic participant in the Dumbledore's army," Ginny chimed in.

"Yes, I have heard all your adventurous stories quite often," Hermione said relaxing into her chair. Soon Harry joined them at their table. Neville also stopped by their table to greet them and then moved onto the counters. Harry scooped Ginny up and placed in his lap while she gave him a smacking kiss straight on his lips.

Hermione gave a sideward glance at Ron to see his reaction. "I see that you are taking this quite nicely," she said pointing to the obvious PDA in front of them while Ron looked at them with amusement.

"It's alright. This seems nothing after what I have walked on at Burrow recently," Ron said shuddering at some disconcerted memory.

"Then all my efforts had gone waste. There is no fun in this anymore". Ginny said getting down from Harry's lap giving his pouty face a small peck. She turned to Ron and asked. "Whom did you walk on, by the way? Bill and Fleur?"

"Worse," said Ron.

"Oh! Don't tell me it is Percy and that girl he brought home," Ginny said grimacing at some thought.

Ron shook his head while Hermione sat back to watch the banter between the siblings.

"Oh! God. So the only possibility left is…," Ginny said her eyes gone wide and yelled in a voice reminiscent of her mother. "Ronald Bilius Weasley, are you telling me that you have walked on Mum and Dad?"

Both the girls at the table smacked Ron on either side of his head making him yelp, while Harry sat there with an unsettling expression.

That's when Hermione saw Draco Malfoy on the other side of the table his eyes boring into hers. Theo had joined him, but he didn't see her yet. Malfoy lifted his glass at her in some kind of weird greeting and sipped the liquor. Hermione felt the burn down her own throat as he gulped the drink. Malfoy gave her a wink and turned to Theo to resume their discussion. Hermione turned to her own friends and tried to participate, pushing Malfoy and his strange actions to the back of her mind.

Hermione rose in her seat in search of the ladies room after a while. She was nowhere tipsy carefully considering the amount of alcohol she threw in her gut. As she went into the room, she met Theo who was coming out of the men's room.

"Hermione," he greeted her with a surprised grin on his face.

"Theo! Nice to see you." Hermione returned his greeting with a hug.

A sudden laughter from their table has suddenly erupted that caught Theo's attention. "What's your little party about?" Theo asked gesturing to their seating area.

"Harry had put together a little party for Ginny. It's their first win of the season." Hermione said noticing a sad look on Theo's face. "How's Pansy?"

"She's doing ok," Theo said with a melancholic look.

"How's she healing?" Hermione asked a concern gracing her features.

"She's healed say physically. But the events had pushed her into some kind of mental setback. What did Potter say? Any leads?"

"Dennis Creevey had surrendered himself to the Aurors, claiming guilty. I thought you knew."

"No, I didn't know. Is that the bumbling kid from the archives?" Theo asked in confusion.

"He'd not been himself since he lost his brother," Hermione said with a sad look.

"He gave up by himself?" Theo asked again. When Hermione nodded Theo shook his head vehemently. "It doesn't match Hermione. Why would he try to kill her inconspicuously one day and immediately back out and surrender?"

Hermione stayed silent for a moment and thought about Theo's words. "The Aurors are still working on it. Even if Dennis is the wrong person, they won't give up until they find out the real culprit."

"They are doing a great job, aren't they? Having parties here, instead of working to find out who exactly was behind the attack," Theo seethed clearly angry at their progress or the lack of it.

"Theo! You do know how exactly it works. I don't think whoever did this, didn't mean it to be a fatal attack. If not for the position she was standing in, she wouldn't have been hurt at all. Harry and his team are trying their best." Hermione tried to supply a validation. Theo had been very downtrodden for the past few days. Even at work, he hadn't been putting his total concentration.

"Yeah right!" Theo grumbled under his breath. "I know you always support them, even if they are not doing their job properly."

"Theo, calm down mate," Malfoy spoke from behind Theo. "If she said the Aurors are putting in their complete efforts, I'd believe her."

Hermione gave a skeptic glance at the blond while he moved his friend by his shoulders. Where did he come from?

"Of course. I believe her." Theo snapped at his oldest friend.

"Theo," Hermione stopped him before they rushed away from the scene. "Don't lose your faith. We will definitely get to the bottom of this."

"Hermione, can't you understand what this means. Whoever did this, did not just attack Pansy. They are aiming for the death eater families or at least the survivors. We don't know who is going to be their next target." Theo fumed.

"That is ridiculous Theo. It couldn't possibly be that." Hermione huffed.

Theo gave her an incredulous look and left the place shaking his head. Malfoy pinched the bridge of his nose and stared at the retreating person.

"You can't be that daft, Granger," Malfoy told stressing the point his friend had merely stated. Unlike Theo, Malfoy appeared quite calm and composed. He wasn't agitated like Theo. Hermione's mind couldn't get a grip on the situation and that made her incredibly edgy.

"You're calling me daft? The attack on Pansy could not be taken as a threat to all the people related to deatheaters. It could've easily been a personal issue. The Aurors are working on it and soon it would be resolved."

"You live in a bubble, Granger. Not everybody is like you. Pansy and Theo have grown up together. She was like a sister to him. He had been in that mood since he had seen Pansy in that state", Malfoy said leaning onto the wall. "Anyways, don't worry your pretty little head over it. Theo had always been like that. Give him some time. Now onto the more important issue, why are you behaving like this?"

"Behaving like what?" Hermione asked exasperatedly.

"Pushing me away. I thought you had fun the other day. I wouldn't mind a repeat performance and definitely look forward to something more," Draco drawled entering into her personal space.

Before Hermione's face grew red in anger she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see the face of one of her more composed friends.

"Malfoy," Ginny exclaimed.

"A more sensible Weasley, I hear congratulations are in order," Draco said. Hermione noted the sudden change in his attitude.

"Oh please! The Harpies win was predicted even before the game had started. It really wasn't that much of a competition. There is no fun in the game until it is played between equally strong teams or equally weak."

"Truer words were never spoken," Draco said nodding to the pair. "Granger, Weasley". He sauntered back to the tables.

"What does he want?" Ginny asked pushing Hermione into the ladies room. "And don't give me that usual shit about 'Malfoy being a prat'."

"No, I won't. They were worried Pansy and what could the motive behind it."

"Is that the case Harry's working on?" At Hermione's nod, she gave a pondering look. "What did Harry think about it?"

"It's not my place to tell him to how to do his job."

"When did Harry disregard your word? Besides you might be helping him to see a new angle in that." Ginny said touching her makeup.

Hermione smiled at her friend. She knew why Harry Potter fell for her head over heels. She was sharp, blunt and straight to the point. She never saw two people more suited to each other than those two.

"Is that all the ferret wanted to talk about?" Ginny asked eyeing Hermione from the mirror with a smirk plastered on her face.

Hermione caught Ginny's eye in the reflection and her hand immediately adjusted her hair. She replied rather hastily, "Yes" and disappeared into one of the stalls.

Ginny was waiting for her when she came out. "So, nothing between you and the pureblood prince."

"Who uses that word anymore?" Hermione said rinsing her hands.

"Apparently I do."

"There is nothing. If there is something you'll be the first to know. Satisfied?" Hermione said placing her hands on her hips.

"Very, let's go. So are we on for tomorrow?" Ginny asked moving to their table.

"Oh yeah! I totally forgot about that. How about we reschedule? I have something important I need to attend to."

"Oh no! Not again Hermione. This had been planned long ago. Besides tomorrow is the only time I'll be available. If you say it's not possible, I might as well head back to the camp tomorrow" Ginny said resuming her place in Harry's lap, placing a not so subtle kiss on his lips making him grin like a fool.

"What is this plan you are talking about?" Harry asked looking at the girls.

"A girl's day out," Hermione said looking glum.

"Come on, Hermione. If anybody could use that it would be you." Harry said pleading with puppy eyes.

"Please, Hermione go. At least for my sake. I wouldn't be able to keep my dinner down if I see Harry's face like that even for a moment more." Ron said his grimacing face making his point even clearer.

Hermione looked back and forth between her friends and conceded earning three jubilant shrieks from the table. That had definitely caught the attention of the other occupants in the pub, but one particular person glared at them.

Theo had got up from the table, threw the entire drink down his throat and walked out of the pub. Malfoy got up from the table and offered a nod to them and followed his friend out.

It was Hermione's turn to stand there trying to grasp the depth of their actions.