The next day found Hermione and Pansy going over several dress selections for the Ministry gala that was set to take place that weekend. Hermione had discussed Narcissa's offer with Draco the previous evening when she returned home and her wizard had been rather shocked, but then decided to have his Mother come visit with Scorpius for lunch today so Hermione had floo'd to Pansy's villa and together they were looking over the beautiful gowns.
"These are all exquisite, Pansy," Hermione admitted with a sigh. "Did you help design these?"
"Some. This beaded embellished gown was worn by some Muggle film star to one of their ridiculous award shows not too long ago. Apparently it's fairly common for designers to loan out specific pieces to these people."
Pansy's look of disgust told Hermione exactly how she felt about that.
"You don't agree?"
"No, I don't. From what I've come to understand these people get stuff for free all the time, just because they're famous. In Pureblood society we would never expect a designer to gift us a gown to wear without purchasing it. I find it offensive that these people, who make more money than most other Muggle's—have such a sense of entitlement that they expect these things for free."
Hermione chuckled, but didn't exactly disagree with Pansy's line of thinking.
"Maybe designers do it for the free publicity?"
"Whatever." The other witch waved her hand flippantly. "I still think it's an outrage. This gown here took three seamstresses over 500 hours to make, has 14 karat gold thread interwoven in handmade gold chiffon silk. So forgive me if I'm not duly impressed with some second rate actress who can't afford to pay for her own dress!"
Hermione burst out in laughter. She couldn't help it! It was clear this was a huge pet peeve for dear Pansy.
"Well, it's a beautiful dress. How much would it normally cost?"
When Pansy gave her the amount, Hermione's eyebrows shot up in surprise but she tried the gown on anyway and was amazed at how beautiful it looked on her. Even Pansy whistled when she walked out of her dressing room.
"You look much better in that, than whomever that Muggle was."
"Thanks, Pansy."
"Sure." The Slytherin witch grinned. "It's gold too. Very Gryffindor. You could even wear rubies with it and it wouldn't be too much."
Hermione nodded, as she bit her lip in contemplation. It was a stunning dress and while she wasn't thrilled with the fact that it had been worn prior—she couldn't help but be impressed by the level of workmanship it must've taken to make something like this.
It was truly a work of art.
"Well, since this is couture—I'd imagine this is a one of a kind?"
Pansy nodded.
"I'll give the designer the price you quoted less five percent for the fact it's been worn prior. I'm not inclined to pay more for it but it is stunning and I think Draco will love it!"
"That's true," Pansy winked before picking up a few other choices. "Any of these catch you fancy?"
Hermione eyed the rest of the gowns critically before pointing to a blush corseted silk piece that was fitted to the hips and had an embellished full skirt in tulle, organza and silk of the same color.
"That one is very pretty."
Pansy nodded, pleased as it was one she helped design. "That one is from our new couture line next fall. If you want it, I can let the designer know it's spoken for. The cost is a bit less than the other gown, but not much."
"No it's fine. I'll take them both."
"Excellent."
Hermione smiled at Pansy and said, "Thank you for doing this Pansy. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your help with all this."
Pansy sat down and stared at the other witch and just shrugged. "It's I who should be thanking you, Hermione. I'm a bit nervous to be attending this shindig with you and Draco. Blaise keeps telling me it will get better and I suppose I can only hope he's right. My parents aren't speaking to me much anymore—not that it's any great loss mind you. But there's a part of me that misses home and wants to go back if only so when Blaise and I have children of our own—they'll be able to attend Hogwarts and not feel like outcasts."
Hermione nodded in sad understanding. She'd often felt like an outcast at school.
"I think Blaise is right," Hermione admitted with a encouraging expression, "if for no other reason than it can't get any worse. The press has been favorable, and hopefully by the end of the year we can see about formally announcing that venture we discussed. Once everyone in the Wizarding World gets an eyeful of the gowns you've chosen for me I have no doubt you'll be the most sought after designer in the Wizarding World."
"It would be nice," Pansy quipped with a predatory grin. "And I can stick it to my parents too. I'm so tired of being the family outcast, it will be nice to feel like I have a bit more control over that part of my life. I know it sound petty..."
"It doesn't," Hermione interrupted with a firm voice, "I think a lot of Draco's issues growing up had to do with him desperately wanting his Father's questionable approval. Sometimes we think by giving our parents what they think they want—it somehow, will make us feel better about ourselves. I don't think that's always the case, though. Draco was miserable and it wasn't until he distanced himself from his parents that he finally found himself. I do think Scorpius was the impetus he needed to make the change he wanted to be for himself."
Pansy silently had to agree with Hermione's assessment of Draco's character. He'd always been desperate for Lucius approval when they were younger, almost to the point of obsession. She'd been just as eager towards her own parents and had often wondered after the war was over, how things might've been different if she hadn't cared quite so much about what her family thought of her.
Being raised in the Sacred 28 came with a lot of inherent pressures that Pansy had never much cared for—even when she'd been too young and naive to know any different. It just seemed that it was easier to bully half-bloods and Muggleborns because it was expected of her.
For the past several years she'd been regulated to said Muggle World due to her own poor choices but the irony was—she'd never been happier. For the first time in her life she was judged not on who she was, but what she could do and what she had to offer.
And it was as equally refreshing as it was disconcerting.
"All I know is Draco is much happier now than he's ever been and that is because of you, Hermione. I don't think he ever believed that he could find real happiness after losing Astoria."
"Did he love her?" Hermione whispered, and Pansy just nodded.
"He did. He wasn't in love with her though. What they shared was a deep respect and understanding. I do believe Astoria truly fell in love with Draco towards the end, but there was always something holding him back. Maybe it was because he knew she was going to die and he didn't want to be left so devastated that he couldn't take care of Scorpius properly afterwards. But Blaise believes, and I tend to agree with him now that I've seen you both together that Draco held a part of himself back, because that part belonged to you...or the hope of you. If you hadn't appeared in his life like you did, Draco would've remained alone indefinitely. I have no doubt of that."
Hermione's face dropped in despair, and tears started to form in the corner of her eyes. Seeing her distress, Pansy quickly came over and took her hand—leading them both to a large settee bench where they sat down side by side.
"Don't feel bad, Hermione—Draco is who he is. I can't explain what life was really like for him growing up, but the boy you saw was not the same boy behind closed doors. Draco rarely allowed anyone in and Astoria was probably the first person who took the time to break down his barriers. I've often wondered just how intuitive she was about certain things."
"I think Draco's mentioned it a time or two as well."
The two witches smiled in commiseration briefly before Pansy helped her out of the gown and Hermione quickly redressed in her casual wear. The Slytherin witch was just hanging up the gowns and placing them back into their garment bags, when a large patronus burst into the room.
"Mione, I need to speak with you. Can you come to Grimmauld Place as soon as you can?"
The majestic stag disappeared and Hermione sighed, then smirked at the gobsmacked look on Pansy's face.
"Potter?"
"Yes." Hermione admitted unhappily. "I need to go see what he wants. Can you let Draco know where I've gone?"
Pansy nodded, her expression tense and wary. "Is Draco going to be alright with you going there?"
"It should be fine, but I'll send my patronus if I need him to come run interference."
"Sounds good."
Pansy watched Hermione disapparate, before she floo'd over to Draco's home—calling out for him when she arrived.
It wasn't a few seconds later Draco came walking in, with Scorpius and Narcissa trailing after him.
"Pansy?" Draco's expression was understandably confused, "what are you doing here? I thought you were with Hermione?"
"I was, but Potter sent his patronus and asked her to meet him at his home immediately. She asked me to come and let you know."
Draco's expression morphed quickly to one of irritation as he looked over his shoulder at his Mother, who was holding Scorpius. Narcissa gently shook her head at her son, sensing that he wanted to follow Miss Granger and knowing that the young witch was more than capable of dealing with Mr. Potter on her own.
"She will be fine, Draco." His Mother admonished quietly, "I'm sure if she needs you, she will let you know."
Draco sighed heavily and nodded slowly in agreement. He knew that his Mine was more than up to the challenge of dealing with Potter but the question remained was why did Potter need to see her in the first place? He was sure it wasn't good news and that worried him.
"Fine," Draco pouted unhappily, "I will refrain from interrupting her, but I don't have the best feeling about this either."
Deciding to let it go for now, Draco invited Pansy to stay for tea and Mippy was called to get everything together so their little quartet could take tea in the backyard under the gazebo.
Elsewhere, Hermione had apparated to Grimmauld Place and was admitted entrance by Kreacher who told her that the Master was waiting in the library for her to join him.
Hermione made her way to her former haven, and feeling of nostalgia washing over her as she walked through the old Black Manor—surprised when she passed the wall where Walburga's portrait used to be and seeing nothing but a blank wall staring back at her.
When she walked through the door, she stopped immediately in shock.
What in Merlin's name was Ronald doing here?
"Harry?" Her voice was harsher than she'd intended, and by the looks on Harry, Ron's and George's faces they were all bracing themselves for the inevitable hex being sent in their direction.
"Mione, I know this is unexpected but..."
"Yes! This is!"
Harry put his hands up placatingly, and even George coughed and mumbled, "I knew this was a bad idea."
Her gaze fixated on the elder Weasely and she scowled. "Am I going to regret listening to this?"
George just shrugged. "Dunno, but I do think you need to hear Ronnikens out before you hex him...which I applaud by the way."
"Hey!" Ron bit out but Harry seemed amused if the quick upturn of his lips were any indication.
Hermione folded her arms across her chest as she stared down her former ex, who just grimaced at her sheepishly—pulling his hair away from his face before wiping his hand over the back of his neck in nervousness.
"He's right Mione," Harry interjected, "I think you need to listen to Ron in this one instance."
Hermione just gave her former best friend a look of utter incredulity, but seeing George nodding too...gave her pause.
She finally sighed and said waspishly, "Fine!"
So listen she did as Ronald informed her of his surprise encounter with Daphne Greengrass several days ago and his decision to go to his brother and then Harry with what transpired. After he was done, Hermione just shook her head in disgust.
"Well, that's just peachy," she quipped sarcastically, "and you're telling me this out of what? The goodness of your heart?"
Ron bit back a retort that threatened to spill as his brother hissed in warning at him. George had told him...repeatedly...that Mione wouldn't instantly take him at his word and he was right.
Bloody blighter!
"Look Mione," at her scathing scoff, Ron felt his cheeks flame harder. She always hated that nickname, especially from him. "Look! I know you're angry at me and you have every reason to be. I hurt you and I can't take it back and maybe I should've handled it better..."
"Maybe?" Her voice was calm, but frigid as ice as she glared at him in utter loathing.
"Okay! I should've treated you with more respect. I was devastated when you'd told me about not being able to have children and I didn't handle it well at all! I panicked, then drank in my depression cause I didn't know how to fix it. I blamed myself!"
Hermione blanched at that admission for a second before her eyes narrowed. "You blamed yourself? I'm really supposed to believe that? So what? That gave you leave to abandon me, turn our mutual best friend against me and make me feel even more utterly worthless than I already did after everything that happened? Am I really supposed to forgive you?"
"No." Ron replied morosely, shaking his head slowly. "I don't expect it and I know I have no right to ask it, but blimey Mione! Somehow you forgave Malfoy for all the vile things he did to you!"
Hermione's expression darkened noticeably and George muttered, "Oh, shite" while Harry just shook his head at what an utter wanker Ron could still be, after all this time.
"The difference between Draco and you, Ronald Bilius Weasley is that I wasn't in love with Draco! I didn't trust him above everyone else in my life! I spent years waiting for you to notice me and give me a chance! I watched you repeatedly throw Lavender Brown in my face, I forgave you for abandoning Harry and I on the Horcrux Hunt..." her voice broke on a sob, and everyone there watched her clenching her hands, trying to reign in her emotions, "But the hardest part was you didn't even have the decency to make it a clean break. You had to make your Mum, who was the only thing I had left of a mother figure...think I didn't want a family and that is why you ended it with me! You knew I'd lost my parents! And yet you were still so selfish enough to not care that after everything, I'd end up losing your family and Harry too. I was left all alone!"
Tears were now streaming down Hermione's cheeks, and Ron just sat there pale and speechless. George was staring daggers at his younger brother while Harry took off his glasses, nervously wiping at his eyes discreetly—and not having much success with it.
The room was now silent save for Hermione's soft sobbing, and all three wizard's felt their hearts go out to the little witch who'd always been stronger, braver and far more resilient than anyone they'd ever known.
"Hermione," Harry began hesitantly, "you have every right to be angry at both Ron and I indefinitely if that's your decision. But...it doesn't change the fact that something is going on with Greengrass and we want to help. Something tells me you know more about this than we do, and while I know you have no reason to trust us...Ron and I want to help."
Hermione conjured and handkerchief and wiped at her eyes before staring at her former best friend's with a heavy dose of skepticism.
"You're right Harry, I do have more information but unfortunately it's not just mine to share."
"What do you mean?"
"You mean Malfoy, don't you?"
Both Harry and Ron spoke simultaneously but it was Harry's comment that took her aback and she nodded once after a few seconds.
"I need to discuss this with Draco. Give me until tomorrow and be prepared that he may require a vow of some kind from the both of you."
Harry's expression immediately closed off, and Ron just scoffed but Hermione pointed an accusing finger at each of them in turn before hissing out in warning, "You will agree to Draco terms, whatever they may be or so help me Godric, I'll make you both regret it. You both owe me, and you both know that I'll collect on that debt one way or the other. So think long and hard about how you want this to play out because if you force my hand and make me choose—I'll choose Draco and you both won't have a pot to piss in. I promise you that!"
And with an exasperated huff, Hermione turned around and flounced out of the library leaving three stunned wizard's in her wake. Two were visibly unhappy but the third just chuckled evilly.
"I'd listen to her warning and take it seriously, if I were you both. I wouldn't want to be on Mione's shite list? Do you?"
By the paling of both their faces, George figured neither of the dim-witted duo wanted to take that chance either.