Hermione Granger was many things. A bookworm, a woman, a Hogwarts graduate, a witch but she would never admit that though she was in Gryffindor, she was also a coward - deep,deep down. Somewhere in the depths of space, Hermione Granger was a cowardly idiot. She sighed.
She had now successfully been avoiding Draco for days. She corrected herself - she wasn't avoiding him - she was simply studiously not attending or going to areas or parties where he would be.
It was stupid and immature but Hermione couldn't face him - let alone think about him - without turning red. She hated this - she was brave - a war hero - yet she was scared of a platinum blond governor.
She sighed, before checking the messages on her phone.
A familiar voice spoke.
"Hi, Hermione. Are you avoiding me ? I need to speak to you."
Draco . . Wait, Draco?
How had he used a muggle phone? And more importantly, how had he got her number?
She was still contemplating this when her phone rang.
On the screen, popped up in bold letters ' Number not recognised.' She paused wondering who it could be.
She picked it up.
Pansy Parkinson was not a slut. She refused to be defiled by the majority of the wizarding population - people who didn't even know her. She was a married woman - a virgin on her wedding night - and pregnant with said husband's heir.
Be that as it may - she had never got along with the prissy pureblooded girls - who felt it was their duty to pop out babies as soon as they graduated Hogwarts. She thanked God, that her parents were not that pushy. It was remarkable she had found friends who agreed with her - Draco and Blaise, for instance.
Being the play-boys they were known as meant that it was partially that that fuelled the rumours that Pansy was a slut. She smiled for a moment. She remembered the infatuation she had had with them - but that had long since gone - soon after she properly met Theodore Nott - her future husband.
She grinned as she remembered how happy she had been on her wedding day - although neither her mother nor her father turned up since Theo was a half-blood.
They had got married at the Registrar office - with only Draco and Millicent as witnesses - Blaise having been long gone. She could not have imagined a better wedding. She was not an extravagant spender, and she loved the simplicity of the wedding.
She placed a hand on her stomach as she felt the baby kick. A knock on the door told her Theo was home.
She toddled towards the door. It was remarkable how the baby could sense his father was home.
With a grin, she kissed Theo.
She was happy - Draco was finally settling down - and any girl that could do that was a great one.
They were coming for dinner today - Hermione and Draco.
Pansy and Hermione had been friends - after the Yule ball. It was strange how they had become friends after their own hearts had been hurt by boys they loved. They had never spoken except for Hermione's soft ' We're better than them.'
Blaise was coming too - she had found him again, working at the Kitty Rin's Royal Designers shop.
Pansy sincerely hoped to get Blaise to settle down - with Millicent who she had invited to dinner as well. Millicent Bulstrode was no longer the chunky teen she had been at Hogwarts - she was slim, attractive and sure to turn a few heads.
With a sigh, she rushed to the kitchen, to check on the food, leaving Theo to change.
Draco tapped impatiently on the desk in front of him as he waited for her to pick up. He had bought a phone, after Harry had explained what it was. Harry had told him Hermione's number as well. Draco liked the idea of speaking to her whether she was at her house or not.
He pondered about creating a Wiz-Phone. He had the money after all.
He knew she was probably feeling awkward about the kiss - after all it wasn't like she wanted him to be to kiss her. It was just inappropiate timing - and it didn't matter if he couldn't help but dwell on those soft pink lips . . .
'Stop!' He commanded himself.
He wondered what she would say about going to meet Pansy. They had never got along very well, as far as he knew. He knew that Theo had been a geek at Hogwarts so Hermione probably liked him then.
He stopped as he heard a hesistant voice speak on the other end.
"Hello? Please may I know who's speaking."
"Hermione. . . Its me, Draco. Listen - no, don't end the call. Pansy invited us to her house today. I said 'Yes.' Look I know you never got along but as I tried with Potter can you try too?"
He waited - the silence taunting him.
Hermione grinned, all thoughts about the kiss vanishing.
A chance to see Pansy again - and become friends with her.
Pansy had been a pureblood and with the war approaching they had never pursued the friendship. She was sure she would get along with Pansy. But that didn't mean she had to tell Draco that. It would be a good idea to keep him on his toes - ready for a fight at any moment.
"I will try." She said, adding emphasis to try. She wondered whether she really should become an actor. She was good at all this pretending.
She got practically hear Draco's grin as he replied.
"That is all I ask! See you later."
Hermione grinned again as she ended the phone call. She looked over at the calendar, the wedding was in 2 weeks and she found herself imagining it. It was going to be officiated by Kingsley with only a few friends attending.
She couldn't help but feel that maybe, just maybe, marriage with Draco Malfoy wouldn't be that bad.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she edged towards her wardrobe, to find the perfect dress.
Draco knocked impatiently on the door.
'Women!' He thought exasperatedly. Even his fiance, Hogwart's former resident bookworm was just as bad with the getting ready thing. She had probably prepared for hours yet still wasn't done.
He leaned against the door, trying to look suave, as some giggling women walked by the house.
Unfortunately it was not to be, as the door opened, and he feel through landing in a huddle on the floor.
An amused Potter stood towering above him, before extending his hand, to lift him up.
Draco reddened - what was Potter doing here?
Harry took his hands and using them in a calming gesture.
"Calm down, mate. I'm only here because Hermione made the mistake of telling Ginny about the party. Ginny then proceeded to drag her whole wardrobe here to find something sexy but not too sexy for Hermione."Harry rambled.
Footsteps came down the stairs, causing Draco to snap around so fast, that he clicked his neck. He was sadly disappointed as he saw it was Ginny.
Ginny smiled wickedly.
"Don't look so happy to see me - Hermione might get jealous."
Draco stopped soothing his neck, and shrugged his shoulders sheepishly.
"Sorry . ."
Ginny waved away his apology.
"She looks beautiful. Hermione, come down - stop being so conscious."
A click of heels and Hermione stood at the top of the stairs.
His jaw dropped and his knees gave out. How did she manage to look more beautiful every time?
She looked like a sexy angel that had descended from the heavens.
She was dressed in a formfitting knee length white dress, that two layers. A soft floaty material covered up the white dress - almost like lace. It was a one-shouldered dress - that gave a hint of cleavage without looking slutty.
The look was completed with mussed hair, white heels and a small white clutch. His eyes raked over her curves. God, this girl was driving him insane.
Hermione smiled coyly.
"My eyes are up here, Malfoy."
He raised his eyes to her face, wrapping his arms around her waist - forgetting their audience.
"You look stunning, Mya."
He paused,suddenly remembering the Potters.
With a small nod at both,he extended his arm.
"Shall we, my lady?"
Hermione smiled angelically, accepting the offered arm.
"We shall."
And they flooed to Pansy's house.
Hermione gasped as she saw the Nott Manor. Though not as intimidating or beautiful as Malfoy Manor, it held a beauty that she had read about in fairy tales. It was picturesque and looked more like a castle than anything.
There was a stone path leading up to the house, and music filled the house. It seemed the party had already started.
With a small smile at Draco, she walked towards the house. She tapped the knocker against the door thrice.
The door opened and there stood a pregnant Pansy.
She was engulfed in a hug immediately. With a smirk, she glanced at the open-mouthed Draco.
He didn't say anything at all for a moment, before muttering under his breath.
"Closet Slytherin."
Hermione grinned before turning to Pansy.
"It's so nice to see you again."
Pansy nodded.
"Come on in! I want to introduce you to my husband, Theo."
Hermione smiled.
"I know him well - we were project partners in Hogwarts."
Pansy grinned as she gestured to a pretty girl talking to Theo.
"Hermione, meet Millicent."
Hermione grinned.
"Well you've changed." She remembered the bulky girl who had always been alone at Hogwarts.
Hermione liked how they had all changed. She liked meeting new people. The war had affected them all. She was just 21 but she felt older. They all did. Millicent Bulstrode was just another of the victims and so Hermione accepted her.
Pansy grinned again.
"Oh and I almost forgot, Blaise Zabini."
The tension in the room heightened.