A/N: Sorry it's been a while!
Chapter 12 – Moving On
Hermione smiled to herself as she walked down the cobbled street of Diagon Alley. For the first time in six years, she truly believed things were going to change for the better. She'd finally got out of that horrendous relationship with Ron; she had made a great new set of friends, and was living in an amazing house. Admittedly, she never imagined she'd be living with Draco Malfoy, and currently on route to meeting his mother for afternoon tea.
She turned into Rosa Lee Teabag, where Narcissa was waiting for her at a table in the window.
"Hermione, you look lovely, how are you?" Narcissa stood up from the table, hugging the younger witch.
"Thank you, and I'm great thanks, how are you?" Hermione asked, sitting down.
"Much better, now that you're here." Narcissa smiled warmly. "I'm so glad we've gotten over our past, because I'm really enjoying your company, and I think my son is too."
"I'm enjoying it too!" Hermione responded happily. It was true, she was enjoying herself for the first time in a long time.
After ordering their food, Narcissa turned to Hermione. "So, any progress with your school?"
"Actually, yes, I quit my job and Draco and I found where we're going to have the school!"
"That's great, Hermione."
"It's a plot of land in Hogsmeade, meaning we're going to have to build everything from scratch which will take longer, but as Draco said, it means I can have everything exactly the way I imagined it."
"That is wonderful news Hermione. And if you need any help with planning or organising or anything, please don't hesitate to ask me. I'd love to help, and I don't really have much else going on with Draco grown up now."
"Thank you, I will certainly be wanting your opinion on things."
Whilst they ate their food, the conversation flowed easily. Eventually, they got up to leave, after Narcissa insisted on paying the bill. Obviously.
They stepped out into the street, laughing over a story about a 5-year-old Draco telling Blaise the correct way to hold a knife and fork, when somebody shouted Hermione's name.
"Hermione!" She turned to see Molly Weasley running towards her, a livid expression on her face. "Hermione! What on earth are you doing? Hanging out with the likes of the Malfoy's? What on earth has possessed you?"
"Excuse me?" Hermione asked, shocked. Narcissa was surprisingly calm and quiet.
"So Ron slipped up, he made a minor mistake, please take him back. We'll look past this lapse in your judgement as to who you are spending time with, if you just make it up with Ronald."
"I will most certainly not do such a thing." Hermione said, angrily.
"I beg your pardon!" Molly exclaimed. "I don't believe you realise what my family has done for you, young lady. You've clearly taken it all for granted."
"Ron cheated on me! How could I possibly forgive that?" Hermione was hurt; she'd always viewed Molly as her second mother. Despite Ron being her son, she didn't think she'd turn on Hermione like this.
"It was a silly mistake!" Molly huffed. "Now stop being stupid with the Malfoy's and get a grip!"
"Molly!" Hermione was appalled at Mrs Weasley's behaviour.
"What a disgrace! I can't believe the way you have treated my son over this." Molly snapped.
"I think it's best if you stop insulting Hermione any further." Narcissa intervened. "Perhaps you should realise the mistakes of your own son, and possibly your daughter too, before you judge others. I do not appreciate you insulting Hermione or my family, and it would be wise if you didn't continue."
It was at this point that Hermione realised people were staring at the interaction in the street. She was so grateful that Narcissa was with her at this point in time.
"You should be ashamed of yourself Hermione, being friends with Death Eaters. Don't forget who was there for you when they treated you badly." Molly shook with anger.
"The Malfoy's have been nothing but kind when your son only abused me. If you honestly think that I would ever return to Ron, you've got another thing coming." Hermione said, completely shocked that Molly would ever think that she'd forgive Ron. "Come on, Narcissa, let's not waste any more time arguing over something pointless."
The two witches turned away from Mrs Weasley, who shouted after them. "Hermione, this is your last chance! Don't ruin it with them." Hermione only ignored her and walked away.
.
"Hey." Hermione said, walking into Malfoy's house.
"Hey." Draco said, looking up from reading The Daily Prophet on the sofa. "How was afternoon tea with my mother?"
"Really good, actually, until we bumped into Molly." Hermione said, sitting down opposite him.
"Those Weasley's are everywhere!" He said, putting the paper down on the table. "What happened?"
"The usual; I should go back to Ron and I shouldn't be friends with Slytherin's. It's all getting quite repetitive to be honest."
"They've clearly got nothing better going on in their lives." Draco said, standing up. "Come on, let's go out for dinner, I can't be arsed to try and cook something."
"I'm surprised you don't have a house elf." Hermione said, also standing up.
"Don't start on that S.P.E.W crap or whatever it was." He warned, grabbing his coat.
"You remembered it!"
"I don't think anyone could forget, you were always banging on about it."
"I was not!"
"You were."
She followed him to the fireplace. "It was all for a good cause, so that isn't exactly a bad thing." They stepped into the floo. "Where are we even going anyway?"
"The Bluebell." Draco said, throwing the floo powder into the fireplace.
They walked into the crowded restaurant, immediately drawing the attention of many of the other patrons. The unusual pair was instantly given a table, surpassing the queue of people standing outside. Hermione couldn't help but feel a little bad that they had to wait outside in the cold while she and Malfoy were allowed straight in.
They soon ordered their food, and light conversation began. "So, why curse breaking?" Draco asked.
"It was the closest thing to me feeling like I was making a bit of a difference. I tried working in the Department of Magical Creatures but I just felt like my suggestions were falling on deaf ears. I didn't want to become an auror like Harry, I felt like I'd had my fair share of near-death experiences in the war, so didn't really want to continue. Curse breaking was just something I could fully immerse myself into. It was the most distracting from my relationship with Ron, as well."
"Fair enough, I wouldn't particularly want to spend much time with him either." He laughed.
"Exactly, I bet you're wondering why I didn't just leave him, but it was just so difficult. It was easier staying with him than causing drama by leaving him."
"I can understand that." He said.
"Anyway, what is it that you actually do?" Hermione asked, realising she didn't even know what he did for a living.
"I work as an Auror in the Department of Law Enforcement, I'm just in a different team to Potter, and I keep it on the down low, that's probably why you didn't know what I do. I have to go undercover a lot."
"So have you ever had to work with Harry? I'm surprised he didn't tell me."
"There was a bit of a confidentiality agreement, the less people that know, the better."
"Well that makes sense, I suppose." Hermione said, just as their desserts got delivered.
"So, was this all a rouse because you just couldn't keep away from my charming good looks?" Draco asked, faking sincerity.
Hermione laughed at his change in topic. "Oh definitely, my life has been so hard whilst I've been pining after you Draco Malfoy." She joked.
Their light conversation continued until Draco paid the bill. They exited the restaurant, with Hermione looping her arm through Draco's. Might as well start with the fake relationship pretence now, right?
They walked down the moonlit Diagon Alley, chatting happily when someone called out to her.
"Hermione?" She turned around to see Harry, who was leaving The Leaky Cauldron with Luna, calling out to her.
She untucked her arm from Malfoy's. "Hey you two!" She walked over to them and hugged the pair, Draco standing awkwardly behind. "I'm really sorry for running out the other day, I just couldn't stand to be around Ginny any longer."
"It's okay Hermione, Harry kicked her out straight after anyway." Luna shrugged.
"Yeah Hermione, I'm sorry for what they're doing to you. I thought Ron wouldn't follow in Ginny's footsteps, but I guess he did." Harry looked solemn.
"I saw this coming to be honest, and I'm glad it has." Hermione said, crossing her arms.
"So you're okay?" Harry asked, quickly glancing at Malfoy. Harry wasn't sure he'd ever understand that relationship, or whatever it was.
Hermione followed his line of sight. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's a relief."
"Good. We will have to meet up next week to catch up properly. I'm just glad you're okay." He turned to Malfoy. "I don't really know what's in it for you, and I'm trying to understand, but thank you for looking after Hermione. We may not get along but it means a lot. Just don't hurt her too."
"I'm sure she'd do the same for me." Draco mumbled, not really sure what to make of Harry's friendliness.
"And you make such a cute couple!" Luna giggled.
"Thanks." Hermione laughed, turning slightly pink.
"Right, well I'm going to get my pregnant wife home, but we must meet up next week. Promise me." Harry said, hugging Hermione goodbye.
"I promise Harry, it's long overdue." She smiled, turning to hug Luna as well.
"Look after her Malfoy." Harry said.
"I will Potter." He agreed, nodding.
The two couples headed in their different directions. Hermione linked her arm with Draco's once again, surprised at how natural the action felt. They both pretended not to notice.
"That surprisingly went better than I thought it would." Hermione said. "I thought Harry would be outraged to see me with you. He always was more forgiving than Ron."
"I can tell. Weasley has always been a bit of a loose canon though."
"I couldn't agree more." They reached the apparation point, side-long apparating to Malfoy's house, completely unaware of the person stood in the shadows of a nearby alleyway, watching them intently.
