Author's Note: Heya. Sorry for being late, I've been a little...uninspired, I guess, about writing lately. But I'm not abandoning, I promise. I know it's short, but I'm working on making a buffer of a few chapters.

Chapter 36: Buffering

"You mean she didn't tell you we're dating?" Draco leaned against the jamb, grinning. Hermione paled and gaped, struck speechless.

Harry turned a mottled shade, and Severus snorted, looking amused.

"Draco!" Hermione hissed finally, mortified. "Tell the truth or I'll turn you into something nasty!"

The blond laughed. "Relax, Scarhead. I know where she lives because I was helping her." Hermione and Severus both looked at him sharply, but he kept his eyes on Potter. "You remember what my crazy aunt did, I'm sure, so I was brewing her a remedy of Severus's."

"But why—?"

"Why here?" Draco shrugged, finally coming into the house and closing the door. "You don't think she wouldn't prefer to watch me brew it every step of the way?"

Harry frowned, clearly unsure. "I suppose..."

"Why are you here, Draco?" Severus asked. "And who gave you permission to go through my personal journals in search of that recipe?"

That should throw Potter off as well as warn Draco to be more circumspect.

Draco blinked, understanding dawning in his clear grey eyes, and he shrugged again, far more casually. "You weren't around and I figured you wouldn't mind."

Severus hummed contemptuously. It was all an act, Draco knew, intending to keep Potter on his toes.

Hermione found her voice. "Tea?"

"No, but thank you for the offer," Draco replied with a wave of his hand. "I'm actually here on my father's behalf. He and Mother are determined to repay you for your interference at my trial, and I'm to take you to him."

She hesitated, unsure if it was safe, and her eyes darted to Severus, who nodded imperceptibly. Harry looked over at her. "I can go with you, if you want...?"

"I doubt Father would mind," said Draco. "Are you going to join us as well?"

"Merlin, no. I refuse to turn this into a merry little circus." Severus set his mug down and rose stiffly from his seat. "I will see myself out. Miss Granger." He inclined his head. "I appreciate the hospitality. Draco, tell Lucius I intend to Owl him soon."

Hermione nodded, not trusting her voice. He was leaving? Really leaving? She wanted him to stay, almost painfully so, and nibbled her lip in indecision.

Severus gathered his discarded teaching robes and left, his heart feeling strangely heavy in his breast at the thought not of returning to Spinner's End, but at the thought of leaving. At the end of her protective wards he spun into himself and Disapparated.

Harry closed the door behind himself, Draco, and Hermione. "Where are we going?"

Draco gave them a grin that bordered on a sneer and extended his arm. "You'll see."

Nervously, Ron entered the room. "Er, hey."

"Hey," said Lavender, propped up with pillows. It was so strange to see her sitting up but he smiled at her anyway. "You can sit down, if you want?"

He nodded and sat, studying her and not knowing what to say. "So, er, how are you?"

"Okay." She touched the bandages reflexively. "I think. I haven't, you know, seen them. Yet."

Ron nodded. "I've, er, seen them changed a few times. It's not bad, Lav, or at least not as bad as you think it'll look. Better than Bill's, by a lot."

"Oh." Her voice was small and she was blinking rapidly. He figured it couldn't be easy, being attacked and then waking up ages later with no idea of what was going on with your own face.

They sat in uneasy silence. He should have brought a chess board. Did she play chess? He frowned in thought: he didn't know. Actually, there was a lot about her he didn't know.

"What are you thinking about?"

"You," Ron replied. Lavender blinked, surprised. "D'you play chess? I never asked before."

She smiled, and he thought she did so almost shyly. His heart twinged a bit with what he could only call hope. "I do."

Harry and Hermione looked at each other in consternation. Of all the places for Draco Malfoy to Apparate them to, they really hadn't expected the private lobby of a posh hotel in the center of London.

"This way." The blond was already moving with a confident stride. They trotted along behind him, looking around the lavish hotel. Draco led them to the lift and he pulled a plastic keycard out of a pocket when it opened, selecting the Penthouse suite.

They exchanged confused looks. Hermione didn't know about Harry, but she felt awfully out of place with her frizzy hair and too-baggy clothes.

Finally the door opened with a ding, and Lucius Malfoy bowed, taking her hand. "Miss Granger. So pleased you could join us."

"Er, thank you?"

"And Mr Potter." An incline of the head for Harry, she noticed, but no less courteous. "What a delightful surprise." He didn't really seem that surprised.

"Mr. Malfoy," Hermione began, but Lucius gave her a smug smile.

"No worries, Miss Granger. I won't be monopolosing your time. I have been hosting a few contest winners—and all-expense paid vacation to this lovely city—and I thought perhaps you would enjoy their company."

He didn't give her a chance to reply, the smarmy bastard, merely rapped on the penthouse door. It opened after mere moments.

"Hello?"

Hermione inhaled sharply, clutching at Harry's arm. Mum! Dad!