We're home from our road trip! Yay! Here's a chapter to celebrate!
xoxo HufflepuffMommy
The Hog's Head was busier than usual compared to the previous Hogsmeade trips. Most of the eighth year students—and some seventh years—were scattered around the small pub, likely having decided that the Three Broomsticks was getting too crowded for their liking and leaving it for the younger students.
Aberforth had to conjure up more chairs and tables to fit everyone, and while he grumbled and complained about the noise, Hermione suspected he secretly enjoyed having the students back in his establishment. It had been awfully quiet after the war ended, and the students weren't using his secret entrance into Hogwarts anymore.
Not since the fifth year D.A. meetings would anyone find such a mixture of the houses together out in the open and this time, even the Slytherins joined in. The two tables in the back that were primarily Gryffindors and Slytherins, the boys at one table and the girls at another. Draco sat with Theo, Blaise, Harry, Neville, Seamus, and Dean, while Hermione sat with Astoria, Luna, Pansy, and Daphne. Most of the boys were talking about Quidditch; others were talking about the party from the previous week, trying to plan another one. The girls were mostly discussing the Masquerade Ball as well as predictions of who would be going with who.
"Well, obviously Theo and Daphne will be going together. I also think this is the first time they haven't groped each other for longer than an hour," Pansy said, rolling her eyes.
"Hey, it's not my fault if we're affectionate with one another," Daphne said.
"There's affectionate, then there's you guys," Pansy said sarcastically, then the two friends laughed together.
"Neville and I are going," Luna said. "He asked me the night McGonagall announced it."
"Well, I asked Harry," Astoria said, grinning.
Daphne made a face at her sister. "I still can't believe you fancy Potter."
"Well, to be honest, I didn't," she admitted, then quickly amended. "Not at first, anyway. But then we started owling each other, and I got to know him better. He's really funny, and sweet, and devoted to his friends. Plus, it helps he's not the puny kid from the previous years; he's filled out some due to all the Auror training."
All the girls turned their heads to look at the raven-haired boy, nodding their agreement.
"I'm going to ask Seamus," Pansy decided. "His accent is just… Mmmm—" she licked her lips "—fucking delicious. Not to mention he throws a mean party."
"What if he says no?" Daphne asked.
"Trust me, I saw the way he practically drooled when I showed off my tits at the party," Pansy said knowingly. "He won't say no."
"Prove it," her friend challenged.
Pansy held her head high and stood, then she walked around to the other table where Seamus was and bent over to whisper something in his ear, making sure her low-cut top was right in his line of vision. A wicked grin spread across his freckled face, and he nodded at her.
Pansy sashayed back to where the other girls were and sat back down. "He said yes," she announced smugly.
"Hermione, has Draco asked you yet?" Luna asked curiously.
"Is there really a need for him to ask?" Pansy cut in. "I mean, they're together, so it's not like he'll be asking anyone else."
"While that's true," Hermione said, "being asked would still be nice. And no," she said, turning her attention back to Luna. "He hasn't yet. But I'm not worried about it. I'm sure he will soon," she said with an indifferent shrug before taking another swig of her drink.
As the girls continued to talk, Hermione glanced over at Draco, who sat between Theo and Blaise, a smile across his face from laughing about something the guys were talking about.
Did he just assume they were going together like everyone else thought?
Something in her gut told her that wasn't the case, but she was getting rather worried since he hadn't even mentioned it. Perhaps he didn't want to even go?
"Anyway, speaking of the Ball," Daphne said, interrupting Hermione's thoughts. "Next Hogsmeade visit, Pans and I were thinking of going dress shopping. We should all go together."
"Even us?" Hermione asked, surprised, pointing to herself and Luna.
"Sure, why not? Like we said before, you're practically an honorary Slytherin now that you're dating Draco. Plus, you're both Astoria's friends, so she'll want you there anyway," Pansy said.
Astoria nodded. "Yup."
"Wait, where exactly will we be going shopping at?" Hermione questioned. "It's not like there's a dress shop here in Hogsmeade."
"Madam Milkins will open up a temporary shop here in town," Luna supplied.
"Parvati is on the planning committee and reached out to Madam Milkins, knowing that a lot of students won't have any formal wear for the dance," Astoria added. "She told us about it after the announcement, and I wrote to Daphne in our notebook to inform her."
"That's pretty smart, actually" Hermione mused.
"Then it's settled," Daphne said with a smile. "Next Hogsmeade visit, we go dress shopping!"
Pansy conjured some magazines she owned, and the girls began flipping through them, looking for designs they liked. Hermione kept looking at Draco and even caught his eye once. He gave her a soft smile before Theo clapped him on the back, bringing him back to their conversation, and Hermione went back to looking at the magazines even though she wasn't sure if she would be going to the ball or not.
At first, Draco wasn't sure splitting up from Hermione was a good idea; after all, he was supposed to be on a date with her. But the two were practically dragged into their respective tables, so they didn't have a choice. He'd give it a half hour, and if things weren't going well, he'd excuse himself and go rescue Hermione.
However, none of that was necessary. They all seemed to be having a good time, and he was glad to see that Pansy and Daphne were treating his girlfriend like they would anyone else. He relaxed slightly, participating in the conversations around him.
When Pansy walked over with eyes on the Irish Gryffindor, he thought it was about time. Pansy and Seamus had been eyeing each other in the common room for a week now; he was surprised it took this long for his friend to accost the bloke.
When she left and Seamus had that stupid grin plastered on his face—he knew it well; Pansy had often used her cleavage to get what she wanted, and honestly, what bloke wouldn't mind a pair of boobs in their face?—Dean had asked. "What was that about?"
"I got me-self a date for the ball," Seamus said proudly.
"About fucking time," Theo said. "Honestly, the sexual tension in the common room when you two are in there together is simply disgusting."
Draco smacked his friend upside the head. "And you and Daphne sucking face all the time isn't?"
"This isn't about me and Daph. It's about our Irish friend here. Stay on topic, Draco," Theo chided.
"What do you suppose they're talking about over there?" Neville mused, glancing over at the girls' table.
"Well, considering Pansy just asked Seamus to the ball, I would assume that," Harry said.
"Are you and Luna going together?" he asked his friend.
Neville grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, I asked her the night it was announced. What about you all?" he asked the group.
"Daphne," Theo stated.
"Astoria," Harry said with a grin.
"Pansy," Seamus said.
"No one yet, but I think I might ask Lisa from Ravenclaw," Dean said. He spotted her across the room with her group of friends. "In fact, I'll go do that now."
Draco turned his head and looked over to the girls, his gaze finding Hermione's. He sent her a smile before Theo clapped him on the shoulder and said, "Then there's this guy, who we all know is going with Granger."
Draco nodded in affirmation, though he had yet to officially ask her. He had a plan in mind for how he wanted to do it, but he had to wait for something to arrive first.
"And then there's Blaise here, who's being awfully tight-lipped about who he's taking," Theo said, giving the dark-skinned man a suspicious look.
Blaise gave his friend an innocent grin. "I'm only keeping it a secret because it's fun getting you worked up about it."
"Fucker," Theo shot back with a grin. "Just give us one hint."
Blaise pursed his lips in thought before saying one word. "Quidditch."
"Slytherin team? Or a different house?" Theo asked for clarification.
"You just said one hint, so that's all you get," Blaise said, drinking his Butterbeer. "Speaking of Quidditch though, I need to stop at the supply store before heading back to the castle. See you losers later."
He dropped a handful of Galleons for his drinks on the table and sauntered out of the pub.
Looking around, Draco realized that the place was thinning out. He glanced over to Hermione again, and when she looked up at him, he motioned for her to sit next to him in Blaise's vacated seat.
When Hermione came to the table, the other girls followed. Daphne had forgone her chair, deciding to sit in Theo's lap and whisper something in his ear. He gave her a wide grin, kissed her soundly, then announced to the group, "Well, we're out of here. Adios, muchachos!" Theo pulled her out the door as Daphne giggled behind him.
"I'm so glad we have separate rooms this year—" Pansy said as she watched her two friends leave "..—considering the amount of sex those two have on a daily basis."
"I feel bad for the house-elves, honestly," Neville mumbled into his mug. Harry choked on his drink, and Astoria patted him on the back, trying not to laugh at him.
"Come on, Finnigan," Pansy said, standing up. "You can walk me back to the castle."
Seamus stood and grinned at her, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "Yes, me-lady."
It wasn't too long after that Neville and Luna departed, leaving only Draco, Hermione, Harry, and Astoria.
"Are you heading home tonight?" Astoria asked Harry. "Or are you crashing in their common room again?"
Harry shook his head. "Unfortunately, I have some paperwork I need to do at the office tonight," he said, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
Astoria looked at him, astonished. "If you had work to do, why did you come here today?"
He gave her a crooked grin. "Because you asked me to."
Astoria blushed. "While I appreciate that, I don't want your work to suffer because of me."
"It'll take me an hour tops to finish what I need to do," he reassured her.
"How are you getting back?" Hermione asked him.
"The same way I came here: Aberforth's Floo in his office. He said I can come and go whenever I like."
"When are you leaving?" Astoria asked him.
Harry glanced at his watch, "I have about a half hour," he said.
"Why don't I walk you to the Floo?" she offered. "Go get a head start on that work of yours so you can rest up for your day with Teddy tomorrow."
Harry nodded. "Okay."
They both stood, and Harry gave Hermione a hug goodbye then aimed a friendly nod at Draco before holding his hand out to Astoria.
She blushed and took his hand then looked over at the other two. "You don't have to wait for me," she said.
Draco shook his head. "You're not walking back to the castle alone when it's getting dark out. We'll wait for you."
Hermione nodded her agreement.
"Go on, go kiss Potter goodbye in private," he said, shooing her off as he slung an arm around Hermione's shoulder.
Once they were alone, Draco glanced down at her. "Looks like today was a success."
She smiled and nodded then rested her head on his shoulder. "Yes. A wonderful first date followed by hanging out with both sets of our friends without anyone getting hexed."
"I want to kiss you," he said quietly.
Hermione's stomach fluttered at the declaration.
"I want to kiss you, too," she said back.
"Later? Alone?" he asked, pulling her closer as he rested his head on top of hers.
She hummed happily in response. "Sounds perfect."