Chapter 13

Hermione made it her mission to find out what was wrong with Pansy. For days, she analyzed her behavior and every conversation they had. She seemed happy, Hermione noted, but distracted. "So, what are we doing today?" she asked as the pair strolled through Diagon Alley.

Pansy shrugged. "I'm in the mood for a girls' day," she decided. "Let's just shop and eat and have an entire day where we don't think about the wedding."

"Is everything okay?" Hermione asked, genuinely concerned about her friend's change in behavior.

"Sure, why?" Pansy wondered as she entered the bookshop.

Hermione followed her inside and watched as she browsed the new releases. "It's just," she started with a sigh, "for weeks, it's been all about the wedding. It's all you've talked about. Now, suddenly, it doesn't seem to be a priority. I don't want to read too much into it, but it seems odd to me."

Picking up a romance novel, Pansy began to read the description. "I'm just tired of it, alright?" she replied. "Theo's always at work, and when he is home, he has no interest in helping me. I just want a break."

Nodding, she agreed. "Okay, then let's shop," Hermione said. "I could use some new shoes anyhow."

Hours later, arms loaded down with bags, Hermione returned home. "This seems excessive," Draco commented when he greeted her at the door. "Is this all for the wedding?"

Hermione dropped the bags by the door and sat down. "I thought if I agreed to shopping she would tell me what's wrong," she stated, closing her eyes.

"And?" Draco asked. "Did she?"

"All I got out of today was four pairs of shoes, two of which are identical except for the color," she stated. "Pansy also insisted on buying me three new handbags and six blouses. I hate her."

Sitting down on the coffee table, he slipped her shoes off and massaged her aching feet. "No, you don't," he replied as she groaned.

"Can't I pretend to, just for a minute?" she asked.

Chuckling, he granted her the permission she so desperately sought. "Well, while you were being dragged to every shop in the known word, I had lunch with Adrian," he informed her. She shot him an incredulous look as she awaited the details. "It was extremely awkward, but I think we're heading in the right direction."

"Did I come up?" she wondered.

"The whole conversation was about you," Draco replied, switching to her other foot. "I apologized for acting like a git and promised not to flaunt our relationship around him. He, in turn, said he would like to talk to you, try to clear the air after your fight. Told me he misses you."

"How nice," she muttered. They remained silent for a few minutes, until Hermione could no longer stand the quiet. "Do you think I should do it?"

He let go of her feet, but let them rest on his lap. "I'm not going to make that decision for you," Draco said. "If talking to him is something you want to do, then I encourage it. But I'm not going to push you one way or the other."

"Well, that's unhelpful," she remarked, poking his stomach with her toes. "You're supposed to be jealous and controlling."

Moving her feet to the coffee table, he sat beside her and draped his arm around her shoulders. "Would that really make a difference?" he wondered. "If I did that and told you not to go, you'd go anyway just to spite me. If you want, I'll go with you to talk to him."

Sighing, she told him no. "I think I have to do this on my own. I don't want him to feel ambushed."

"You know you don't have to do this though," he pointed out. "I mean, it's not like the two of you had a relationship. It was a couple of dates."

"We were friends before this," she reminded him. "I don't want to be the reason there's tension in the group."

Draco said nothing for a long while as he debated whether or not to vocalize his latest concern. The fear of her answer prevented his asking, but he needed to know. "Are you, at all, afraid of that happening to us?" he wondered. "That things won't go back to the way they were before if we break up?"

Hermione took her time to consider his question before answering. "A bit," she confessed. "But you knew that. You're too important to me, Draco. I think our break up would have to be really terrible for us not to maintain our friendship afterwards."

"Like cheating?" he guessed.

"Or you setting fire to my books," she teased in hopes of lightening the mood.

But Draco wasn't amused. "I'm being serious," he stated. "I think we should talk about this now. Because our definitions of terrible might not be the same."

"You already know mine," she assured him. "We don't have to make a list of egregious actions that would ruin our relationship. Besides, what happened with Adrian wouldn't happen to us. You and I are rock solid, Draco. Nothing can come between us."

Breathing a sigh of relief, he kissed her temple and nodded. "That's really good to hear," he said. "You know we have to tell my parents about this, right?"

Hermione groaned. "Must we?" she asked. "Your mother is not going to be happy."

Draco chuckled. "Why wouldn't she be happy?" he wondered. "We found love."

"Yes, without her," she replied. "It's going to kill her, Draco. She lives to play matchmaker. You've essentially ended your mother's life. Hope you're happy."

"That's a bit dramatic," he called after her as she left the living room. When she didn't reply, he followed her to the kitchen and took a seat on the counter.

"That was dramatic?" she asked, rummaging through the refrigerator. "That was a mere fraction of level of hysteria we're in for when you tell your parents."

Draco couldn't disagree. "Wait, you mean when we tell them," he amended.

Smiling, Hermione shook her head. "No, sorry. This one is all you," she replied. "Besides, I have to talk Adrian that night. And yes, I realize you haven't picked a night, but that's going to be the night we talk."

He sighed as he rested his head against the cabinets. "And there's nothing I can do to change your mind?" he asked.

Placing her hands on his knees, Hermione stepped between his legs. "Not a thing," she said with a kiss.