November 29, 2013
It was Bill Weasley's birthday. Fleur had planned a surprise birthday party for him at the Burrow. The party guests were supposed to be there by 6pm. Bill and Fleur were supposed to arrive at 6:30. Hermione showed up at 5:45 expecting to have a few calm minutes with Harry and Ron before things started getting busy. However, the crowd was already large and growing each minute. Just like for Fleur and Bill's wedding, a large tent had been erected in the yard.
"Hermione!" Ginny yelled at her friend. "Come grab a butterbeer!"
Hermione walked over to the bar, got a drink, and sat down with Ginny and Ron.
"I had no idea that this was going to be such a big party." Hermione noted the band warming up and the dozens of tables scattered around the tent.
"Mum said Fleur wanted to go all out this year. They have been planning this for ages," said Ron.
As Hermione looked around at the party-goers, she wondered if Draco would be attending. He wasn't friends with Bill and Fleur, but neither were a lot of the people already there. It seemed as if many acquaintances had been invited as well as friends of the other Weasley children and Fleur's sister Gabrielle. As she turned back to her friends Ron and Ginny were both smirking at her.
"Looking for someone?" Ron could hardly hold his laughter back.
Hermione nervously coughed. "OK. OK. Is he coming?"
"Who?" Ginny replied with a perfectly innocent looking face.
A very surprised Bill had shown up with Fleur and their kids as scheduled and then the party had really gotten crazy. The butterbeer and Fire Whiskey were flowing. The band kept everyone dancing. After wearing herself out laughing on the dance floor with Ginny and Lavender, Hermione had taken a break in one of the tent's corners.
A glass of water appeared next to her on the table. A familiar voice asked if she needed a drink to cool off.
Hermione smiled up at Draco.
"Hi," she said. "I'm glad you are here. I was wondering if you would be."
"A couple of Weasley siblings asked if I'd like to attend," Draco told Hermione as he sat down next to her. "It's funny how many social invitations I receive these days." He stood, holding out his hand to Hermione. "Come on, let's dance."
At the end of the night, Draco gave Hermione a quick peck on the cheek. Hermione leaned in to have a proper goodnight kiss, but he stepped back, grinned, and apparated off. After he'd left, Hermione realized her face hurt from smiling so much.