Good news! I've actually finished writing the entire thing, so I'll be putting a chapter up on Tuesdays and Fridays now! Which means I feel better about all the cliffhangers (and the slightly embarrassing chapters coming up). I also want to say a big thank you to everyone who has written a nice/constructive review. It's all of you, and the people following, who make me write more. But now, Christmas parties number 1 and 2. Enjoy. Ta ta.

S. White

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 12 - L is for Levity

Hermione was a little nervous when it came to actually asking Malfoy if he wanted to join her at the department Christmas party, however, but at least Ron wasn't going to be there to harass her. She screwed up her courage and decided she would do it the next time he came over to watch Sherlock Holmes. They were actually running out of episodes to watch, he had been over so often and watched so many with her. She was starting to think of finding something else she could get him watching, just for an excuse to have him over. It was only a week or so until the party but a day until he next visited, and Hermione arranged with Megan for her roommate to be out. It hadn't taken much persuading; Megan still thought they should be dating for real and was happy to leave them alone.

"Draco? Um, actually I have a bit of favour to ask you," Hermione began while she made the tea.

"Yes?"

"Well, my department is having a Christmas party, and I wondered if you would go with me."

"Of course. Anything to harass the Potters more." He grinned.

"Do you ever stop?"

"You love it. Actually, I was going to ask the same favour of you. The only difference is that I have two to attend, so you might not want to go to both."

"Two?"

"A muggle one and a wizarding one."

"Draco Malfoy is going to a muggle Christmas party?" She laughed.

"I have to." He grimaced. "A lot of my clients are going, as well as other important muggles."

"I don't mind going to both. It sounds fun." Hermione smiled.

"The Weasel might be at the wizarding one. It's for wizarding business owners, but there will be a lot of other people."

"Well, then I probably won't have to talk to him, so I think that will still be alright."

"You know what you should do?" He grinned. "You should wear the dress I bought you. That would really piss him off."

"Um, Draco, I've been meaning to tell you. I can't wear it," She said, twisting the empty wrapper from her tea bag nervously.

"Why not? It's only the Weasel, he'll survive."

"Um, no. That's not it. I kind of don't have it anymore."

"You got rid of it." He looked hurt.

"No! No, it's wasn't my choice!" She said quickly, grabbing his sleeve. "It um, it was Ron. When he found out where it came from he was angry..."

"Are you serious?" Draco was so shocked it got through his control as she stood there, released his sleeve, and started to tear up the tea wrapper into tiny pieces.

"He, um, he kind of burnt it. And then he slapped me. He looked really guilty about that though," She admitted, her eyes fixed on the paper in her hands so that she wouldn't meet his eyes, but she glanced up in surprise when he gripped her arm.

"That complete bastard. How could he hit you? How could anyone hit you? I'm sorry, Mione."

He sounded so sincere, looking past her out the window with disgust and anger in his face. He had heard Harry and the others calling her 'Mione' a week ago, decided he liked it, and had been calling her that since. Her friends had started a year or two ago when a new acquaintance misheard her name. It had begun as a running joke but continued as a nickname. She didn't mind that Draco used it. In fact, she liked it, especially since the only one of her friends who hadn't called her that was Ron. He had missed the outing completely and dismissed the joke.

"It wasn't your fault. For a little there I was blaming myself, but I can't. He's the one who decided to do it. That was when he first started accusing me of cheating with you. He had some interesting ideas, if I remember correctly."

"Such as?"

"Oh no, you. I am not giving you more ammunition."

"What? Me?" Draco said innocently.

"Well, if you must know, he decided I must think you were sexy and since it involved clothes he jumped to playing dress up." She blushed, her eyes fixed on the kettle as she poured hot water into their mugs so she didn't have to look at him.

"That could be arranged, you know," He murmured into her ear and she jumped, almost splashing boiling water on them.

"Draco Malfoy! Don't scare me like that!"

"Don't like role playing, Mione, dear?"

She hit him lightly for grinning like that. They watched more Sherlock Holmes, and she had to bite back a smile for the whole episode.

The next morning she had been reading sleepily when Megan excitedly dropped a package in front of her, with Draco's writing on the paper. She had a feeling she knew what was inside. She really had to get him to stop buying her things, or at least let her pay for herself. She had tried to pay for her seat at the theatre but he hadn't let her. Besides, now that she had stopped supporting Ron while he spent all his money on Brown, she was saving a lot. But she peeled back the paper and opened the lid of the box.

"Oh, sweetheart! Is this what I think it is?" Megan gasped as Hermione lifted the dress out.

"Yes, it's the same one Ron burnt."

"It's beautiful! Are you going to wear it to those parties Draco invited you to?"

"Well, I sort of have to, now."

"You'll dazzle them out of their socks, sweetie."

"Thanks." Hermione laughed. "But Ron might be at the one, I'm worried about that."

"You'll deal with that if there's a problem. And other people you know will be there, people who will back you up."

"Yes, I suppose so."

"There's no getting out of going."

"I'm not trying to!"

"So you've realized you should date him for real?"

"That's not what I said!"

"Too bad. You'll figure it out someday."

Hermione shook her head, saw the time on the clock, and hurried to get ready for work. The days before the parties flew by and Hermione soon found herself getting ready with Megan for their office party. Megan helped her pick a dress since she was saving the one Draco had just given her for his two parties. She thought she looked passably pretty when they were ready to go and there was a knock at the door. It was Draco and as he turned a smile spread on his face.

"You look lovely, Mione."

"I told her, but she didn't believe me," Megan shouted from another room, making Draco laugh and Hermione grimace.

"Well, you do. Are you two ladies ready?"

They apparated away so they didn't get ash from the Floo Network on their good clothes. Draco looked as handsome as ever in his suit, although Hermione didn't think it was possible for him to look bad in anything. She would have been willing to bet he had done some research on muggle fashion though. He was the type that would buy only from the best designers just because they were the best. When they arrived at the Ministry they were joined right away by Ginny and Harry.

"Hey, sis, Megan, Malfoy," Harry said, hugging the girls and shaking Draco's hand.

"You found someone to take Teddy?" Megan asked.

"Yes, Aunt Andy's got him. We were thinking, would you like to meet him sometime, Malfoy? He is your cousin, after all," Harry said and Draco didn't need to think.

"Yes, I would like that."

"The little squirt will be excited. Word to the wise, he'll love you forever if you bring him a present." Ginny laughed.

"I'll have to find something then. He should be about five years old?"

After a little more talk about Teddy they wandered the party. Hermione introduced Draco to some of her coworkers as the man she was seeing and none of them looked surprised. They had all read the papers. Draco had a good conversation with Mr. Keelan about law, which Hermione was pleased with. Mr. Keelan was still her boss, regardless of her recent promotion, but he admitted to them in a quiet voice that he fully expected to be reporting to Hermione in a few years.

It was a fun evening, Hermione thought, as she pulled off her dress and climbed into bed that night. Everyone had been so nice and she really enjoyed herself. None of the Aurors or any of the people they knew from school had been bothered by Draco at all, even when he had acted his usual, ridiculous self. She had enjoyed the time the five of them spent together most, though, her, Megan, Draco, Ginny, and Harry. Her four closest friends. If George, Angelina, and Luna had been there it would have been perfect. It was too bad Ron was still being a git. Hermione wondered how long it would take before their friends could stop tiptoeing around the issue and inviting either one or the other to parties or family functions.

She was much more nervous for the muggle Christmas party, since she would only know Draco, Mrs. Hill, and Alex. Megan helped her with her hair and oooed when she left her room in the dress. She had gotten creative with the help of a store employee with the solution to her bra problem since the back was so open. She was also nervous about Draco getting there and what he would think of the dress, even though this was obviously ridiculous and he had already seen her in it. When he arrived and Megan opened the door for him, Hermione was standing down the hall, twisting her fingers nervously. His eyes fixed on her. He moved his head toward Megan when she greeted him but that silver gaze never left her.

"Um, hi," She said with a nervous smile.

"You look amazing, Hermione," He said and Hermione rallied herself as Megan laughed.

"You're not looking so bad, yourself. That's a nice tuxedo. Ready to go?" She said primly, pulling on her coat and picking up her clutch purse.

"Hm? Oh, yes. Guess what? I hired a driver for the evening." He grinned, slinging an arm around her shoulders as they left.

"Have fun you two! Do try to fall in love!" Megan called after them.

"Really, Megan?!" Hermione called back in exasperation as Draco laughed.

"I've been keeping a bit of a secret from you," Draco said as they neared the outside door.

"Oh? Have you?"

"Yes. Believe it or not, I've been taking driving lessons."

"What?" She laughed. "You're joking."

"No, I'm not. I'm really taking lessons. It's taking a bit to get used to, though. Cars are much different to work than brooms. So I've hired a man to drive us there."

"You've hired a man. Draco Malfoy, did you buy a car already?"

"Maybe."

He grinned as he pushed open the door to the building and led her forward. There was a jovial looking man with white streaked hair standing in front of one of the most elegant cars she had ever seen. It was silver, sleek, and perfectly polished. She didn't recognize the make, she had never been good at that, but she was willing to bet it had been expensive. Draco's hired driver opened the door for them.

"Thanks, Alfred."

"Not a problem, Mr. Malfoy. It is lovely to meet you, Ms. Granger," He said, bowing and smiling as she stepped in.

"Um thank you, you too, Alfred. Draco, did you really buy this before you could even drive it?"

"Well, I've driven it around the parking lot," He said with a grin, sliding into the seat next to her. "It's just this London traffic, really, but I couldn't stand the thought of not being the first one to drive my new Aston Martin."

"You did not buy an Aston Martin," She said, looking around her in disbelief.

"You're sitting in one."

"You are ridiculous."

"You love it."

"Shall we be off, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Yes, of course, thank you."

Hermione just looked around in astonishment as Alfred drove them through London. She couldn't believe she was sitting in an Aston Martin. James Bond drove those, not normal, ordinary people like her! Well, she wasn't driving, but still. She couldn't believe Draco had bought a car either. She really couldn't believe it.

"Why?"

"Why what?" Draco said, looking over at her.

"Why buy a car? You don't need one."

"The look of the thing, mostly. You just watch my client's faces' when we get out. And when they see you."

He winked at her, making her insides go a little gooey. He was wearing his cologne again, too. This was ridiculous, Hermione told herself. She looked back out the window to hide her blush. The city really was beautiful at night, with all the elegant facades of buildings lit by the orange glow of street lamps. They pulled up outside of an old hall that she presumed had been rented for the purpose and the steps up to it were covered in people, almost all of them in evening dress. They were smiling and greeting each other and the flashes of cameras were going off. Hermione felt suddenly very nervous and was glad Draco would be getting out first. One of the waiting valets came forward, but Alfred beat him to the door, opening it for them to get out.

"We'll be a few hours at least, Alfred. You have your phone? Good. Just stick around the area and I'll give you a call when we'd like picked up. And remember-"

"Not a scratch, Mr. Malfoy."

"Exactly." Draco grinned and Hermione shook her head. Alfred got back in Draco's car and drove it away as Draco linked his arm with Hermione's. "Hey, relax, you look beautiful and you're on the arm of the handsomest man here."

"Oh, so you're definite on that, are you?" She said as they began up the steps, trying to ignore the flashes of cameras around them.

"Well, I got you to come with me, didn't I?"

"Draco Malfoy, I do believe you're attempting to be charming."

"Possibly. Is it working?"

"Possibly," She said defiantly despite her blush. Draco smiled at her and was going to speak but Mrs. Hill had seen them, Alex at her side.

"Oh, oh, Mr. Malfoy!" She called and Draco bit back a sigh of frustration.

"Yes, Mrs. Hill? Good to see you again."

"Out for more frivolity, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Well, I would hardly be working today," He drawled and she laughed.

"Good point, Mr. Malfoy. Isn't Mr. Malfoy clever Alex-oh! You've brought your lady friend again, Mr. Malfoy." She looked disappointed.

"I hope you're doing well, Mrs. Hill," Hermione said with a smile. "And Alex, of course."

"Thank you, Ms. Granger," Alex said, his voice sweet as honey.

"Oh, Mr. Malfoy, do come with me. There are some MPs I want you to meet. I'm sure they'll be delighted. Alex can keep Ms. Granger occupied."

"You'll be alright, Mione?" Draco said quietly, leaning closer to her. He was eyeing Alex with distrust.

"Yes, don't worry. Go make contacts." She smiled warmly at him.

"Alright," He said, if a little doubtfully, and released her arm. Mrs. Hill offered him her arm but he pretended not to have noticed and they walked off together, Mrs. Hill's chattering audible for some time.

"Can I get you a drink, Ms. Granger?"

"Please," She said with a smile. "And if I'm calling you Alex, you should call me Hermione."

"That's not a name you hear every day," He said, guiding her toward a glittering bar through all these important muggles.

"Yes, I know. A blessing and a curse. I've had a few friends, one from Bulgaria, who had such a hard time pronouncing it I gave up trying to correct him."

"Is that so? At least I never had that problem."

"Mrs. Hill will manage without you, alright?" She said as the man behind the bar handed her a drink and she took a sip. It was fruity and very good, but also alcoholic; she would have to make sure to just sip.

"Oh yes. She's not as helpless as she looks, even if ideas can take a while to take root there. I'm sure you've noticed she keeps trying to set me up with Mr. Malfoy," He said and Hermione almost choked with shock. She tried to hide it, but knew she had only partly succeeded. There were a lot of people at the bar and Alex was standing close to her in the press.

"Um, yes. I have."

"Yes, when she discovered I'm bi she got the idea fixed in her head and she can't let it go."

"That must make working for her difficult sometimes," Hermione said, feeling awkward.

"Yes, it is. It makes it especially difficult to meet other beautiful people, like you, Hermione."

"Um, thank you."

"If you don't mind me saying, you and Mr. Malfoy don't exactly act like the typical business couple."

"We are younger than most of the people here, and I'm not in business."

"About the age of the secretaries, yes. But we only arrived a little before you and I noticed he didn't help you out of the car, or touch your hand, or anything."

"He doesn't need to. I can get out of a car myself. Besides, I find that it's harder to step out of a vehicle when someone's holding a hand you need for balance. You try it in heels sometime."

"You're a strong minded woman, Hermione."

"Not all the time. So, what is it like, working for Mrs. Hill? Are you her business assistant or personal? I ask because you were out with her at the play a few weeks ago."

"Both, but she pays me well for it. I help remember business and personal contacts, appointments, and even make some decisions and do the accounts. I'm basically Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada."

"I'm sorry, I missed that one."

"What? Oh, you have to watch it. It has Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci as well. You should join me at my flat sometime and we'll open a bottle of wine."

Hermione had already been scanning the crowd for Draco when he spoke and his fingers curled around her waist. She went rigid with horror. This was what having a fake boyfriend was supposed to protect you from! Alex seem to think they were dating but they didn't care much for each other. She would have laughed about just how wrong he was if he wasn't trying to hit on her. She drew away from him.

"You know, regardless of not helping me out of the car, I am seeing Draco Malfoy."

"You really haven't seen The Devil Wears Prada. It's clear he doesn't feel much for you, Hermione. Come on, you deserve better."

"No, I deserved better than my ex who cheated on me. Excuse me," She said, blinking away tears in her eyes.

If he was going to be like that she was going to get away as fast as possible and not wait until she spotted Draco. She had very few doubts that Alex was just as much of an opportunist as his employer and he would have used her until he discovered she had no useful contacts in the muggle world and then dropped her. She got herself tolerably under control and looked desperately for Draco in the crowd. She wasn't paying much attention to where she was going and almost walked straight into someone.

"Oh! I'm so sorry, sir!" She said, steadying herself so she didn't spill any of her drink. She thought she had seen this man before, although she couldn't place where.

"Not a problem! Are you alright? No spills?" He had a Scottish accent and nice hair. Hm. That didn't narrow things down much.

"Oh yes, I'm fine, thank you. I'm sorry, I feel like I've seen you before, but I can't place it."

"I'm an actor, you've probably seen something I was in." He smiled.

"Probably, although, frankly, I haven't seen much. I watch older things, mainly, like Sherlock Holmes."

"Which version was that?"

"Um, I think the actor's name is Jeremy Brett."

"The TV show? That one's great."

"He really captures the character," She said with a smile. She was trying to scan the crowds as much as was polite, even though she was much more comfortable talking to this man than Alex. "If you don't mind me asking, if you're an actor, why are you here?"

"You know these business types. They like to invite anyone and everyone. Politicians like to take happy photos. But, tonight I'm here for the United Way."

"Do you like it?"

"Very much. Meeting the children is very inspiring," He said with a smile. "Whose hands are you here to shake?"

"Oh, no one, really. I'm just the plus one. I'm here with my date, that's all," She said and, right on cue, Draco appeared at her side and to her relief. She smiled at the man. "Excuse me."

"Of course. Enjoy the party," He said, lifting his drink slightly towards her.

Draco pulled her away with an arm around her waist, which, in the circumstances, was incredibly comforting. He was frowning slightly.

"Who was that?"

"Oh, I don't know his name but he said he was an actor. I wouldn't have noticed him if I hadn't almost knocked him over. Draco, I'm so glad you found me. Alex is bi, not gay, and he was getting very friendly," She said in mild horror, stepping a little closer to him.

"Ugh. I had a feeling he might be like that."

"I reminded him about you and he just said you obviously didn't care about me."

"Well, we can do something about that," Draco said, beginning to grin.

"We can?" Hermione said, confused.

Draco just smiled and took her mostly empty glass from her hand, placing it on a waiter's tray. He took her hand and pulled her after him until she realized with a sinking feeling he was heading for the dancers. He was still smiling when he tugged her onto the floor and she hesitantly placed a hand on his shoulder. She hadn't had enough to drink for this.

"Draco, I don't dance very well."

"Well, that's fine, because I lead. Just relax and follow me. Besides, I seem to remember you doing fine at the Yule Ball all those years ago."

He took one of her hands in his and his other hand was a curious pressure on her waist that directed her movement. She wasn't sure why, but it kept drawing her attention. It wasn't too bad, once she got used to it. She didn't know why she was so nervous.

"Were you watching me in our fourth year, Draco?"

"It always pays to keep tabs on your competition."

"So I was competition, then?"

"Father never liked how you beat me in every subject."

"Oh. Sorry."

"Don't apologize. It was my own fault. I never really tried. I did much better in our final year."

"Of course you did, we ended up studying for exams together."

"Yes, and I found out you weren't as insufferable as I always thought you were."

"And I found out you weren't as huge a git as I always thought you were."

"Touché, Mione." Draco laughed.

"Why did it take us three more years after that to become friends?" Hermione said as Draco spun her across the floor.

"I was building up a business and you were building a career. And then there was the Weasel."

"Yes. He would have yelled at me even more if I was trying to be friends with you. I still feel like we've missed out somehow."

"No, I don't think so. I wasn't quite as dashing four years ago as I am now, anyway."

"Because you're so dashing now." Hermione rolled her eyes and he laughed.

They seemed to have moved a little closer together during the dance and she couldn't tear her eyes away from that handsome, laughing face. In that moment she wished that this had been a real date. She wondered what it would be like to kiss him. No! Get a grip on yourself, Hermione. She must have had too much to drink. Draco was looking at her strangely, but they heard something and both looked up. There were Mrs. Hill and Alex, advancing toward them. In a second Hermione was whisked away and they were out of the building again. He had her hand and she felt like Cinderella escaping the ball before the clock struck twelve.

"Feel like doing something else?" He grinned.

They ended up calling Alfred and wandered around as the best dressed patrons in a muggle bookstore and when that closed they went to a coffee shop and bought Alfred tea. They chatted and laughed for a while and talked to Alfred about his job. Finally, they brought Hermione back to her and Megan's flat and Draco gave her hand a little squeeze before letting it go, promising he would be back in a few days to pick her up for their final party. She closed the door with a warm smile.