Hello! I am two days overdue for an update on this! However, it's here! I'm trying to keep writing, but so far I've only written eleven chapters. Which definitely means a good chunk of writing left for y'all to read, but I am going to try and get more done in between the Houses Competition and holidays for College. Thanks muchly for the patience everyone :)

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Breakfast with the Potters

"Do I still look hungover?" I ask Draco Malfoy for what must seem like the thousandth time. I know this - well, assume - because he rolls his eyes yet again and tells me that no, I do not. I half refuse to accept this, though. Who knows why.

"Hermione, even I am a little hungover. And it's no secret that the Weasley's like to party. Guaranteed. Everyone is." Malfoy pushes open the door to another corridor, which will lead us to the dining hall. Not the same one used as yesterday - more of a permanent eating area than that. At his words, though, I end up watching him. For the reason of his supposed hangover.

He doesn't look exhausted in the general sense. There are no dark circles beneath slightly red-rimmed eyes - which were mine this very morning, and I had to conceal with well-placed make-up. Not a single trace of pending or past sickness. Only the faint mental tiredness about him that resides in the untidy hair and slight frustration in the clenching of palms every so often.

I have to wonder what's going on - whether something happened that has put him off his usual stride. Not that I know him at all. It could be the fact that he's not had anything alcoholic to drink and that he's not going to be the same as he was yesterday - somewhat charming.

And then I wonder whether I am prepared to meet everyone this breakfast. Whether I am ready to indulge in the throes of family life surrounding my very single one. Around the married couples, the large families, the people who brought fiancés and boyfriends or girlfriends. Not that I don't love all the family that comes with the Weasley's and all of their friends.

But it's difficult to be a single person at a wedding.

Malfoy and I reach the final door. And my footsteps falter. However, he ploughs on, pushing the door open and allowing me to step past before him. Draco Malfoy doesn't stare at my with pity or question in his eyes. He just waits for me to walk through.

There are a few people already sitting at the tables. I make a beeline for Harry and Ginny, thinking to congratulate them on their nuptials. I don't look back at Draco, feeling him follow me and not wanting to draw attention to the fact that we entered together. To be honest, Harry and Ginny really do not look like they're up to suspecting anything suspicious at all.

Of course, Malfoy puts it best.

"You look like shit, Potter," he says in his unwavering, frank tone.

"Thanks," Harry half groans. He gestures to the seats nearest to him so we can chat a while, presumably. "Unfortunately, I cannot say the same to you." Harry watches the pair of us for a moment, eyes flicking between mine and Malfoy's - who sits to my right, Harry on my left. Ginny is engaged in conversation with another woman - one I don't recognise - and finally turns to us. "Amazingly, Hermione you do not look awful."

"Draco gave me something for the hangover," I say nonchalantly.

Harry chokes on his orange juice and Ginny's eyes widen.

"Jesus, not like that," I admonish. "Made me a hangover cure."

"Malfoy speciality," Draco mutters, sporting a smirk. I glare at him. To no avail. He simply raises an eyebrow. Harry looks a little flustered still and suggests we get some breakfast and come back to talk. I glance at Draco, who nods imperceptibly and we stand together, walking towards the table holding the food. A few people already stand around the presentation of sustenance, mooching around, not really taking anything in. I spot one of my old school friends approaching the pastry section, then deciding to get just juice instead. Draco laughs quietly, but I say nothing. Not quite at that stage yet.

Of course, the buffet is enormous. A smorgasbord of all breakfast wants and desires, as is befitting to such a place of marriage reception. Men and women in black and white serve hot food to anyone who wants it - which is not many people. Obviously, they haven't read about the best hangover cures and opt for the far more simple approach of 'eat to sustain, not to be full'. A precautionary measure, I'm guessing.

To be candid, I have never been a great lover of the Full-English breakfast, and instead go for some scrambled eggs - a long-love of mine since my mum made it when I was sick from nursery at the age of three - and accompany it with mango and yoghurt. Yes, it does sound like a strange combination. Alas, it is a combination of things which I like. Draco just snorts in amusement and grabs bacon, a croissant and some fresh fruit. It's not as though his breakfast is any less strange, in my opinion.

Nothing else takes my fancy in terms of food, so we go to the drinks section. Filled with juices and a huge variety of teas, plus the staple morning drink: coffee. I feel like being a little healthier this morning - with my mango and plain yoghurt - and feel glad Malfoy is trying to outdo me today.

It's at this point in which Ron enters the room.

I guess that I only really notice because of the boisterous shout that emits from Harry to his best man, supposedly in jubilation. I turn to the sight and see that Harry has instantly regretted the loud shout, as can be seen by his hand rising to his head, pushing away of his plate and Ginny clutching his am, in fear of either one of them throwing up. Altogether would have been a humorous sight, if Ron wasn't looking so sour.

Ron slaps Harry's weak and outstretched hand in greeting, before slumping into the chair I previously occupied. Natalie enters the room seconds after, and slides into the chair beside her beau. Neither of them speak a word. In fact, she turns away from him slightly and stares a tad vaguely at the green wallpaper covering the back wall. Ron glances at her, but then back at Harry.

"Juice?" asks Malfoy, bringing my attention back to him, thankfully. One eyebrow slightly raised, as if he knows what's going through my head. And he won't mock me, except with that one look. Great. Just great.

"Uh, yeah. Sorry. Thanks," I mumble, shuffling closer and allowing Malfoy to fill me a small glass of apple juice. He does the same with his own, grabs a few napkins and wanders back to the table, not saying anything, but acting as a buffer for anything that might come this way. This time, I take a seat beside Ginny and Draco sits next to me. To try to avoid Ron? Absolutely. He looks hungover and pissed off. I know what follows such events.

Lots of eating. Lots of moaning. Sometimes verbal attacks. Looking forward to that. Sarcasm? Yes.

"Morning Ron...?" ventures Ginny, uncertain. He grimaces. Beside me, Malfoy begins to cut up his bacon, perhaps feeling slightly safer now that conversation has been given the greenlight. Harry turns to us for a second, nervousness exuding. "Natalie," Ginny says, as an addition. Natalie smiles pleasantly at Ginny before turning back to the wall and announcing,

"I'm going to get some food." She then stands up, pushing back her chair quickly and not looking at anyone else. Only muttering the words, "super hungry." Leaving the rest - except Ron - in a slightly stunned silence.

Ginny slaps Ron's head with a menu from across the table.

"Oi!" he exclaims, rubbing his head in pain and annoyance. Ginny simply glares at him, demanding an explanation for what just happened. I begin to rummage my fork through my scrambled egg, pondering, then take a gulp of apple juice. It's sweet, and nice, but Ron has left sourness. "What is your problem?"

"Don't talk to her like that, mate," Harry tells Ron quietly, and receives a famous glare from the ginger man beside him. "Gotta defend my wife," he says proudly, despite the slight awkwardness of the moment between the two friends. Ginny smiles genuinely at Harry and I am left poking my eggs again, wondering nothing about what the heck Ron said to Natalie.

Which, of course, is a complete lie. I genuinely do not care.

"What did you do to her?" Ginny asks, breaking the very slight uncomfortable silence. Ron turns to glare at her instantly, but Ginny - being the fiery red-head - does not back down. Instead, asserts her question. "I thought you liked her." And she shrugs appropriately; nonchalantly. Like it's not that big a deal anyway. Which of course will set Ron off, having the need to 'macho himself up'.

"I do like her!" he exclaims, voice slightly more hysterical than usual. "I didn't do anything!" At this, I hear the very controlled snort from a Mr Draco Malfoy, quickly covered up by a cough so perfect that I almost laugh myself. Unfortunately, Ron is not on the side of humour this morning, and demands, "problem, Malfoy?"

Love it when people get along. But, instead of being bitter and laughing at Ron's near-childish behaviour, I feel that I conduct myself in a calm and collected way, while internally hating him. Malfoy simply eats his bacon and turns to the rest of his food, clearly completely unperturbed by Ron's demanding outburst. He probably deals with awful clients all the time, and finds it much easier to brush off.

"Ron, cut it out," I say determinedly. Not bothering to glance back at poor Natalie, who is none the wiser about her boyfriend's antics at the table. And now he's glaring at me, and it kind of makes me want to chop off that silly fringe he's grown over the last two months. It looks ridiculous. And he honestly looks like a creepy murderer glaring at me through it. Not a good look.

"Shut up," he retaliates.

"Stop it, Ron," intervenes Harry, his head resting gingerly on his palm. Looking utterly beyond exhausted. I am beginning to get that way, but an extremely thankful for Malfoy's concoction. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get out of bed. At all. Maybe that's why Ron is being this way? He's hungover?

"Sorry," mutters Ron, a little bitterly. "I'm tired." That explains it. Gee, Ron, I wonder... Do you think we're all tired too? "Anyway, what the hell is Malfoy doing here?" And I am immediately aware that his question is a challenge. Maybe that's why Malfoy bothered me so much - because I annoyed him by asking why he was there? He didn't seem that bothered, but you never know!

"I was invited," Draco tells Ron, not looking up, acting calm. Calm is good. We need calm.

"By me," Harry interjects, before Ron can retort anything nasty about Draco and his presence in company. I glace sideways at Draco and see his tight-lipped smile, but not all that bitterly. That's positive. He reaches for his glass, shuffles in his seat, and finger brushes lightly against my leg. I move away from him slightly, preventing any further contact. But Draco doesn't even bat an eyelid.

"I just meant... Oh, never mind." Ron bites the inside of his cheek and, like a child, casts his eyes around for Natalie, pouting. Oh crap. Ron turns back to the table - his attention, I mean - meaning he has certainly decided he no longer cares. He's just going to let the words slip anyway. "How come?"

"Ask Potter," Malfoy says, taking a bit of bacon. I smile at him and take a sip of juice.

"We went to school together. Got to know each other a bit after," Harry explains, looking sideways at Malfoy for a second or two. I raise an eyebrow but neither man notices anyone else's confusion. I have the feeling that there are a bunch of untold stories there. Ginny looks apologetically at me. Clearly she knew. I smile back at her anyway, I'm not mad. "Wouldn't have felt right any other way," Harry finishes.

"Touching," Malfoy remarks, smirking. Harry is grinning until he catches Ron's near-thunderous expression, and I am trying desperately to be silent and not mention anything about last night, or anything about the matter at all.

"That's it?" asks Ron, to the silence of the table. "He was awful to everyone. Especially Hermione, our best mate."

Then I just can't stop myself anymore.

"He's changed." The words slip out easily, not at all a lie. Of course, Ron seems to think it is such, and glares at me. I take another sip of my juice and stare down at the empty plate before me. I'm suddenly hungry and anxious all at once. Malfoy isn't looking at me. Maybe he doesn't know whether to or not, but he's certainly playing with his bacon. Embarrassed? Perhaps about me marring his cool, badass image. Idiot.

"How do you know that?" Ron asks in his accusing tone. The one I know so goddamn well.

A titter of voices runs down from us as the door opens, a waiter coming in with another tray of steaming scrambled egg. Yeah, that smells amazing. Urgh.

"I spent the evening with him," I mention nonchalantly, and quietly - completely aware of how that might sound to everyone. Looks like Ron is definitely thinking of it in that manner. "Not like that, Ronald."

He's silent.

"Cat got your tongue, Weasley?" Draco asks, smiling pleasantly. I almost laugh.

Ron begins to shake his head and say something, but at this exact moment, Natalie comes back to the table, her plate brimming with eggs and toast and tomatoes and a number of fairly healthy looking things. Interrupting the little moment or whatever the heck is going on here. Thank God for that. She politely asks Ginny how she is, taking a seat and setting out her knife and fork onto the plate.

Screech of Ron's chair interrupts conversation completely. It scratches against the delicate flooring, making a most awful noise, and he storms away to get his own food, throwing a napkin onto his chair. I frown and glance at Harry, who gives me that look I'm so used to: 'I've got this'. And I know that he has. Harry stands and wanders over to Ron, picking a small bread roll on his at.

My two oldest friends converse quietly, not a word heard by any of us. Not that anyone but me is paying huge amounts of attention. Natalie and Ginny are talking, and Draco is happily eating away at his crispy bacon. Which is smelling better as the minutes pass. I turn to face him completely, ignoring the growling stomach and the delicious scent reaching me.

"This is super fun, right?" I ask with that cheerful intonation that suggests heavy sarcasm. He winks.

"I'm enjoying myself," he smirks, then raises his eyes slightly as Ron and Harry sit down at the table again, Ron looking slightly less red-faced. "I never got to ask, what do you do for a living?" I hear Ron's derisive smirk in the background and then the crunching loudly as he munches savagely on a piece of crispy bacon.

"Don't ask, you'll get bored," he mutters. I roll my eyes, not in the mood to even begin to feel upset about Ron's small jibes about my job. I know it's not boring. I don't particularly care what Ron thinks. Malfoy, however, has been nice to me. I care that he thinks I'm not boring. I don't think he just wants to get into my pants. He must have some semblance of interest in me - in terms of not being a boring person, of course.

"That's for me to decide," Draco says, a half-smile on his face. Being polite, but firm. Good. A good way to handle it.

"Ferret," Ron mumbles, not looking up this time. I glare at him for a second, before turning to Malfoy.

"I'm a teacher," I tell him. He begins to ask. The most frequently asked question. "English teacher. High school level." He smiles. "And I review texts people submit to publishing companies, in my free time - not that I have a lot of that. It's very interesting." I barely take a moment to glance at Ron again. I know his opinions on my job, and the lack of free time I had for him. He looks pleasantly sour.

"Do you enjoy your job?" Malfoy asks, acting overly interested. I'm sure he's playing it up.

"Very much so. And you, yours?"

"It's tough, but I like it. Lots to think about." He smiles again. And it really is brilliant. A smirk of a smile this time. Not one of those genuine ones that very few people see - like last night, when he was talking about his travels, sustained by beer - but a fabulously flirty one. It's a wonderful moment of pause, until Ron snorts again. Very unattractively. We both turn to look at him, he's about to say something before...

"Did you have fun last night, Natalie?" Ginny strikes up conversation with Ron's suddenly-quiet girlfriend. Ron hardly turns to his girlfriend, though she appears to be struggling somewhat, smiling a little awkwardly. I sort of feel bad for her, for a moment.

"It was lovely thank you," Natalie begins. In this instance, feeling safe, Draco turns back to me.

"So, what sort of things do you end up reading?" He picks at a piece of bread he pulls from the table piece, pulling it apart in his hands. I watch for a moment, before realising the question. Reading. Yes. I read, don't I? Yes.

"Lots of different things, really -"

"Yeah, we were screaming at the fun of it, eh Nat?" Ron remarks, smirking. Meanwhile Natalie blushes ferociously and looks down at her plate of food, half of it gone in the nervous eating anyway. God, I remember Ron being a twat like this. I see Harry and Ginny share vaguely amused and surprised looks. Draco doesn't appear fazed in the slightest, actually raises his eyebrows instead.

"Good for you, Ronald," he drawls. "Must have gone well, considering your girlfriend doesn't want to look at you this morning." Malfoy bites off a piece of bread, and Ron begins to stand up - however, Harry sets a hand on his shoulder, pushing him back down again. Despite the comment being petty, it was also funny. So I'm going to let Draco off for that one; and yes, partly because of Ron's behaviour this morning. It's probably more than acceptable to Malfoy to retort in such a way, given Ron being so prattish.

In order to move away from the matter, I start back the conversation from before. The one about my reading. The topic that is supposed to be safe and easy to talk about. People can talk about books. Books are a safe topic. So I turn to Draco, drawing his attention back to me and away from the glaring red-head.

"At the moment, I'm reading about the theory of development in human nature in this last century. In the past I've read other theoretical novels, as well as much fiction - nothing too racy though," I smirk. And I'm suddenly very aware of the words I'm saying, the implications of racy reading material. "It tends to be mature or teen fiction."

"That sounds really interesting," Draco begins. But of course is immediately cut off.

"Don't think she's ever read anything that would explain you, ferret," Ron mutters darkly. Not that you'd even know what I've read, Ronald. Malfoy glances at me for a moment, considering something. Then he turns back to Ron, a very slight coldness in his voice this time. I don't know what set it off, but clearly something that didn't sit right. For some unknown reason to my horribly sober mind.

"I don't need explaining. Get educated."

"We went to the same bloody school -" Ron starts, grinding his teeth.

"Okay boys, that is enough," Ginny says, loudly enough to have half of us wincing. Including herself. "It is the morning after my wedding. I am tired, hungover, and happy. So let's quit it before this gets out of hand and I am forced to escape my happy place, to deal with you." She holds up her hands, as a way of dealing with the silent growls and protests from both men. Ron speaks first.

"Fine," he grunts.

"Yeah, cool," Draco says, smiling. Ginny smiles back pleasantly, glares at her brother, and stares at her half-full plate. As if sizing up whether she thinks she can stomach much more of it, especially after her short little rant. Those can be exhausting.

I pick up my glass and see there's nothing inside. Damn. So thirsty.

"Here, I'll get you some. What was it?" Draco asks from beside me. I can't help but stare at him. "What?" he demands. I raise my eyebrows and glance at his hands, one carrying my cup, another carrying his. "I'm going anyway. Fine, silence. I'll get apple juice." It's difficult to refrain from staring after him. After glancing back at Harry and Ginny, they carry the same wondering expression.

Ron is staring into the distance, not taking notice. Or trying not to.

"You know," begins Ginny slyly, "He might be good for you." I half choke on my remaining scrambled eggs at her words.

"What do you mean?" I ask through my coughing. Damn, still no apple juice. Harry grins at me, clearly mocking me for my choking at exactly the wrong time in conversation. His eyes wander briefly to where Draco is, filling up the tall glasses with apple juice. Lavender Brown approaches him, much to his chagrin, and he turns round to glare playfully at me. "If anything, Malfoy and I are friends," I find myself saying, after an infinity.

"Just saying," Ginny sings, sipping at her coffee, as Malfoy walks back over, carrying the glasses, looking completely suave, but rolling his eyes at Lavender's antics nonetheless. I laugh internally, and externally portray just a smile.

"So you've noticed how much Lavender has changed?" he jokes, sitting down next to me. I nod sarcastically. "Yeah, me too. Not at all!" Harry barks a short laugh, Ron snorts and Ginny stifles a snigger. "Although, it feels like romance has made her doubly annoying." I grin at him, remembering my brief and awful chat with her yesterday.

"I suffered the same yesterday," I tell him.

"And me," Natalie interjects from across the table. I smile pleasantly at her for a moment. Thinking about really how much I can trust her. And how much I believe Ron will have picked someone slightly humorous. Give it a shot.

"Funnier when you think that Ronald used to date her," I muse to her, a grin spreading over both of our features. Ron turns beet-red in embarrassment, which causes Natalie to giggle and touch his arm playfully. A tacky move, but I'm having fun.

"Fascinating," Natalie laughs.

"What's more fascinating was her nickname for him," Harry muses too, playing with the beans on his plate in amusement. Before Ron can shout anymore than 'Harry, no!', Harry is telling Natalie and the rest of our table Lavender's nickname for him: Won-Won. Leaving the table, including Draco, in fits of laughter. At the embarrassment of the necklace Lavender had given him, and when she had breathed a love-heart onto the train going towards Hogwarts one certain year.

Harry doesn't mention what broke up their relationship. Me, that would be. Ron wanting me, after his drink was spiked. And not Lavender. Thankfully, no one else decides to mention that darling little fact either. Phew.

We continue this pleasant turn of conversation for a while, as the family begins to peter downstairs and join the table. Laughing, joking and having fun. Until talk turns to Draco again, and I find myself cringing for him. Thankfully the interrogation doesn't last too long.

"How did you reconnect with Harry?" Molly asks, tucking into her eggs with a polite smile on her face. Malfoy glances at Harry, like there is an untold story there, before ploughing ahead with whatever he can come up with. I'm not sure if I feel like he would lie or not. I just about notice the nod Harry gives.

"I gave a presentation for Harry's department, and we had a chat afterwards." Malfoy pauses. "Had a few drinks, caught up." Ron is glaring a little at Malfoy again, but looks halfway between being mad at Harry and grumpy with Draco. "Then he invited me to his wedding."

"Just because I'm nice, not because we're friends or anything," Harry interjects, with a laugh. Oddly enough, Malfoy joins in and raises a single eyebrow at my bespectacled friend. As if this is another inside joke they share. Now, Ron isn't hiding his disbelief, but has actually put down his knife and fork. I swear, I almost laugh at how utterly ridiculous he looks. Better not, though.

"What was the presentation?" This time it is Percy, hurriedly hunting information.

"Urm..." Harry begins, trying to think, which causes Malfoy another barking eruption of laughter. How odd.

"It was far too trivial for the great Potter to remember," Malfoy drawls, smirking.

"I know! It was on managing and financing more effectively!" Harry shouts suddenly, almost getting to his feet in the jubilation of knowing such a thing. I'm shocked for two reasons, though those exact reasons I know should also be irrelevant: Draco Malfoy doing a smart presentation - a relevant one, to the government - and Harry having this odd bond with him. It's almost too much to handle. For a moment, I might even look like Ron. So I quickly change my face to a smile, rather than that of a gawking gibbon stuck watching something amusing on a television.

"What is it you do for a living, Malfoy?" Arthur asks.

"I help run my father's business," Malfoy says, with half a smile. Like an admission rather than any sort of job description. There's a long moment of pause, waiting for him to explain. "It's like an investment company. So, we do housing, a bit of trade, development, and some insurance. We invest in people, corporations, and ideas." Everyone around the table nods, whether politely or enthusiastically, showing they understand.

"I think it sounds fascinating," I remark.

"It's nothing special," says Draco, quietly.

"Are you going to bang Hermione?" Ron suddenly asks from across the table, cutting into the brief quietness with the crass words. I feel my entire face light up like a torch - not because of Draco, but because of Ron, his words, and the sheer embarrassment. It's not like I would consider the potential of being... 'Banged' by Draco Malfoy. Though the idea is not entirely displeasing to consider.

"Not right now," Malfoy replies, smiling politely. I am thankful Bill is not here right now, to get on at Malfoy for suggesting that. But George chuckles quietly a few seats away. I catch his eye, and he continues his mirth in total silence, unable to look at his twin for laughing. Ron looks confused and put out.

"How are your parents doing, Malfoy?" Molly asks, scooping more egg onto her spoon and not even looking at her youngest son, but ignoring his glares completely. Smart move, Mrs Weasley.

"They are well thank you," Malfoy answers, sipping his drink. "My father recently got out of hospital so he's better, and my mother keeps fairly active with a few of her friends. Keeps her going." He smiles at Molly a little sadly. Is it odd that he doesn't talk about his parents with any feeling? Just whether they are ill or well? Not that they are wonderful and lovely and that stuff? I don't know.

"How come your dad was in hospital?" Fred asks, frowning a little. He glances at his own father, but no one else notices.

"For being Satan," Ron mutters.

"Ronald!" Molly splutters suddenly. "Do not be so rude and unkind. Ever! Especially not in front of me and all these other lovely people! And Fred!" Fred visibly retreats into his chair, looking sideways at George for help. "Don't ask such personal questions."

"Sorry," Fred says to Malfoy, not looking into his eyes for more than a millisecond. I almost laugh.

"S'alright. It was his liver. Too much wine through the years," Malfoy laughs shortly and a few others chuckle alongside him. I'm not entirely sure whether his laughter is yet another façade though. Some people laugh to cover up awkwardness, or things they just don't want to talk about. Somehow, I think Malfoy is maybe a little more insecure than he was during his teenage years. And has become a little more wary - especially around these people; the Weasley family.

The boys begin to talk about the football season, as a way to get away from the horrible awkward moments between Malfoy and Ron. It's not long before Malfoy interjects his views, which are readily accepted without hardly anyone noticing. Grudgingly, I think they all start to get used to him being a little more normal than Supremist. Harry chats amiably with him too, which makes everyone much happier about talking to Draco, and spending a little of their time with him.

"Now how about a post-marital walk before a clean-up!" Ginny announces.

It sounds like a question, but we know it isn't.

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