Chapter 10
"Ron!" Hermione half-yelled, trying to catch the wizard's attention over the din in the pub. She waved her empty glass at him as she caught his attention. "Are you on your way to the bar? Can you grab me another?"
Ron nodded and weaved his way through the crowd towards the bar. Hermione sighed contentedly and slumped slightly in her seat. She realized that she may have possibly imbibed a little bit more than her usual, but damn it, she deserved it! Her head fell back against her seat. She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. Despite the boisterous atmosphere in the pub, she felt comfortable enough to fall asleep in this very moment.
She attributed this to the fact that she hadn't gotten much sleep the previous night. Her latest altercation with Draco had left her feeling more drained than it had any right to. The guilt she experienced every time she thought about how utterly betrayed he had looked had left her tossing and turning in discomfort.
A cold sensation against her forehead startled her upright.
"Whoa, 'Mione, watch it!" Ron grinned as he neatly saved the drink in his hand from being knocked over and placed the ice-cold glass in front of her.
"Really, Ron, you startled me!"
"Couldn't very well let you fall asleep on me, now could I? It's not even nine o'clock yet."
"I wasn't falling asleep. I was just…resting my eyes for a bit." Hermione took a long sip of her fruity, alcoholic drink and smiled happily at Ron. "I'm glad you're back. I missed you."
"It's only been a few weeks, 'Mione," Ron chuckled.
"It's been a long few weeks for me." Hermione grumbled.
Ron's lips flattened in disapproval and he took a swig of his beer. His eyes searched the room until they landed upon the blond. "I don't blame you for feeling that way. I can't believe Harry invited that git out tonight. If he did so much for us during the war, why the hell do we have to help him reintegrate at all? Shacklebolt should've stuck his own neck out for him."
Hermione followed Ron's gaze to where Draco stood by Harry and Ginny, his expression in conflict with his body language. Outwardly, he seemed composed –entertained, even, but the stiffness in his being painted a different picture. He would rather be anywhere but here. A pretty witch was attempting to engage him in conversation (and she was not the first of the night, Hermione noted sourly), to no avail.
As if sensing her scrutiny, he turned his head towards her slightly and their eyes locked. Even from this distance, Hermione could tell that he was still angry. She blinked and shook her head slightly, turning back to Ron.
"Kingsley is sticking his own neck out for him, Ron." She swirled her drink contemplatively and took another sip. "But it's not as though we're putting our names or our reputation on the line for Malfoy. It's not a made-up story. He did help us. Kingsley knows this for a fact, and Robards and Harry were present when they questioned Malfoy under Veritaserum. And they have his memories. So no one's really sticking their neck out. Not in the true sense of the saying."
Ron made a face and chugged the rest of his beer. "He could've Imperio'd the lot of them, you know."
Hermione arched an eyebrow, not even bothering to waste any energy in shooting his impossible theory down.
"Oh, fine, but I still don't trust him."
"You don't have to."
"I don't bloody like him either."
"You don't have to do that, either."
Ron huffed and crossed his arms, reminding Hermione of a petulant child. She smiled at the thought. Ron was so…open. At any given moment, it was so easy to identify what he was feeling. She could always count on Ron to speak his mind, no filter, no guardedness, and no cryptic words –nothing that kept her wondering for hours on end. So easy.
She studied his face, somewhat flushed from either his drinking or from the heat permeating through the room. Objectively, she could see why he seldom lacked female companionship. His features held a boyish charm and his eyes were a piercing shade of blue.
It was a shame, she thought to herself, that she hadn't been able to return his affections all those years ago. But she had never felt that way about Ron. Not the way she had once felt about Draco.
She leaned forward and placed her hand over his. He looked at her questioningly.
"Thank you, Ron."
"What for?" His face crinkled in confusion.
Hermione shrugged. "For being you. And for not making a huge fuss tonight."
Ron rolled his eyes. "I would have. If Ginny had let me."
"What is she holding over your head this time?" Hermione grinned.
"Don't ask," he grumbled. "How she turned out so devious, I'll never know."
"Dealing with six brothers." Hermione retorted dryly. "I'm sure it was just a means of survival."
Harry and Ginny had met up with Ron prior to the arrival of Hermione and Draco. They had decided that surprising Ron with Draco's appearance would be of no benefit of anyone, aside from the diligent writers at the Daily Prophet. So the pair had warned Ron ahead of time, and if Ginny was to be believed, they had had to cast a Silencing charm on him while he yelled at them for the next five minutes. When he had finally calmed down, Ginny had removed the charm and forced –nay, blackmailed Ron into being civil with Draco.
When Hermione and Draco had finally arrived, Hermione had all but leapt into the redheaded wizard's arms. Not only had she been happy to see her friend after what felt like an interminable amount of time, she had also been rather glad to have a reason to step away from the frosty presence of one irate Draco Malfoy. Ron had hugged her back fiercely and then proceeded to glare at Draco, who had coolly stared back. The two men, being of equal height, had engaged in a rather long stare-down, until Harry had stepped in, slapped Draco on the back in greeting, introduced Ginny and bought everyone a round of drinks.
Conversation had flowed more easily after that, mainly amongst Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny. A few rounds in, Harry and Ginny had drifted away, dragging Draco with them "to make the rounds", as Ginny had put it. As though they were attending a high society event, rather than being a loud, raucous pub.
"Hey, Ron."
Hermione glanced up to the owner of the syrupy voice and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. A dark-haired, busty witch was eyeing Ron with what one could only describe as "bedroom eyes".
"Er –hey, Trisha. Long time no see."
"You didn't tell me you were back." The dark-haired witch pouted.
"I just got back into town yesterday. I've been meaning to owl you." Ron responded with an easy smile. Hermione hid a smile behind her hand. Smooth.
"Well, don't you want to buy me a drink?" she asked, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger.
"Sure –erm, that is, if you're okay with it, Hermione?"
Hermione smiled at them both and waved them off. "Of course, I'll just finish my drink and join Ginny."
She watched as the dark-haired witch almost dragged Ron to the bar, and then looked around. Harry and Ginny were nowhere in sight. Neither was Draco. She wondered if that last witch had been successful in gaining his attention, after all. She felt a pang in her chest at the thought and suppressed it with another gulp of her drink.
"Hermione. Fancy seeing you here."
Hermione smiled warmly at the familiar voice.
"Hello, Blaise."
"May I?" He indicated at the seat Ron had just vacated.
"Please."
"Why are you sitting here by yourself? And with a nearly-empty drink."
"I seem to have misplaced my friends. And, I suppose I've been enjoying this drink a little too much."
Blaise nodded gravely. "Lucky for you, I can fix at least one of those problems. I'll be right back."
And he was, a few minutes later, carrying two drinks in his hand.
"Oh, er- thank you, Blaise. I wasn't intending on getting another. I feel I may have had one too many already."
He waved away her protests. "It just wouldn't do for me to drink alone. Please. You're doing me a favour."
Hermione chuckled. "Fine, but seriously, Blaise. I'm fairly certain that I owe you a round?"
"Now you owe me two! Cheers!"
"So are you here alone, Blaise?"
"Me? No, no. I'm actually here with one of my old friends. You may not remember her, she was a couple of years below us, and in Slytherin."
"Oh?" Hermione couldn't explain the dread that crept up inside of her.
"One of the Greengrass sisters…Astoria?"
"Ah, yes. Erm…Daphne's sister?" Hermione feigned forgetfulness, while her insides writhed in discomfort.
"That's the one!"
"Right."
What were the chances? Draco's first night out in Wizarding Britain after the war and he happens to be at the same pub as his betrothed. Hermione bit back a moan. The universe was too cruel.
"Are you here with Ginny?"
"Yes, I am. And Harry, Ron and Dr –er, Malfoy."
"Draco's here?" Blaise shot up and looked around excitedly. "Where is he?"
"I'm not sure, I haven't seen –"
"Blaise!" a shrill voice cut her off. "Look who I ran into!"
Too. Cruel.
Draco Malfoy, accompanying one, admittedly stunning, Astoria Greengrass on his arm, walking straight towards them. Hermione took a deep breath and plastered what she hoped was a serene smile across her face.
"Draco!" Blaise grinned at the other wizard and pulled him into a man-hug, which to Hermione's surprise, Draco did not reject. In fact, this was the most engaged and happy she had ever seen him. "Good to see you, mate."
"Blaise, good to see you too. It's been a while. How was mainland?"
Blaise shrugged, faintly embarrassed. "It was alright. Stayed out of trouble. You know Zabinis have always been neutral."
Draco smirked. "I'm not holding it against you."
Blaise's look changed to one of relief. "Hermione just told me you were here."
Draco spared her an implacable glance then. "Did she? I ran into Tori not too long ago. She said she was here with you."
Tori? Hermione gagged inwardly.
"Draco, I'm so ecstatic I ran into you tonight," Astoria all but breathed out. "It's been so long indeed. I was over the moon when I read that you'd returned. And of course, the Daily Prophet is already posting the most outlandish stories about you." She threw Hermione a withering glance, while Hermione glared back at her, daring her to continue.
She was not going to stand for this from some prissy little witch, not tonight and not ever. This wasn't Hogwarts and they weren't teenagers anymore.
Not that Astoria had ever been known for her intelligence.
"How utterly absurd of them to assume that you would be entranced by the likes of Granger –"
"Excuse me?" Hermione stood abruptly. Blaise pulled at his collar in discomfort, and she could see that familiar muscle ticking in Draco's jaw.
"Astoria," he ground out, warning evident in his tone.
"What, Draco?" she whined. "You know I'm right. There's no way that you'd ever fall for that bushy-haired –" Astoria's mouth clamped shut as Hermione drew out her wand.
"Greengrass," Hermione muttered, murder in her eyes, "for once in your life, use your brain and know when to shut up. Ever thought that I wouldn't be interested in your precious Draco?"
Hermione could pinpoint the exact moment the younger witch's eyes turned malicious. She knew what was coming and she really wished it wouldn't.
Don't say it.
Don't say it.
"Oh, please, Granger. We all know you were absolutely dying to get into Draco's pants back in –"
This time Astoria's words were cut off by a large hand being placed over her mouth. Draco, fuming, whispered, "Tori, you never did know when to keep your mouth shut. I don't want to hear another word about Granger from you ever again. Are we clear?"
Draco's face was turned away from Hermione, but whatever Astoria saw in his eyes caused her to nod slowly. Fearfully.
"Good." Draco slowly dropped his hand and moved away. Hermione flattened her lips in distaste and sheathed her wand.
"I think I'm ready to leave." She announced. Draco nodded.
She walked around the table to hug Blaise goodbye, and squeezed a little harder as he murmured a 'sorry' into her ear. She walked away quickly, ignoring the stunned witch and getting away from Draco as quickly as humanly possible, even though she knew they'd have to Apparate back to the safe house together. She just needed a minute alone. She pushed the doors to the pub open and sucked in a mouthful of the crisp evening breeze as she stepped outside.
What had just happened?
She walked over to the side of the building and rested against the cool, brick exterior, her eyes falling shut.
What a mess. What an absolute, total, utter mess.
On the one hand, meeting Ron hadn't been quite the explosive event she'd expected. On the other hand, she could have done with not bumping into Astoria.
"Are you ready, Granger?"
Her eyes snapped open at the sound of his cool voice. She wondered if he'd been standing there for long. She hoped not.
"Yes."
"Do you think you'll be able to get us there without splinching us?"
"And why wouldn't I be able to do that?"
"Because you're drunk?"
"I am not drunk!" Hermione bristled.
"Could've fooled me with the way you were about to start a brawl in there." He jerked his thumb towards the pub.
"Well," Hermione responded bitterly, "your betrothed was really asking for it."
A ghost of a smile flitted across Draco's face and he stalked up to her until they were a mere hairsbreadth apart. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her away from the wall and flush up against his body. Hermione craned her neck to look up at him, swallowing hard.
"W-what are you doing?"
He lowered his head to her ear. "Waiting for you to Apparate us."
"Right."
With a pop! they were gone.
A/N: Their night is still young! I was going to write a super-long chapter but ultimately decided to post two separate chapters. Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed the previous chapter and to everyone who's favourited and followed this story. Don't forget to leave a review if you enjoyed this chapter -feedback fuels the brain!