HPOV
How I'd managed to avoid really meeting Malfoy's friends in over four months I had no idea, and it wasn't even that I'd done it intentionally. The timing had just always seemed off. They were either meeting for lunch on days when I was up to my neck in a case - and I knew it annoyed Malfoy, but I couldn't be pulled away - or on weekends that had practically all been monopolized by Ginny and wedding planning - because of course she'd said yes to Harry's proposal.
Today, however, seemed like the time had finally come.
Apparently Pansy, of all people, had put her foot down about meeting me properly. Malfoy swore that she just wanted a fresh start, and honestly most of me believed that, but there was still that tiny part of me - Hogwarts Hermione, you could say - that couldn't help feeling like it was just an excuse show Malfoy how not perfect we were for each other.
On the positive side, we were going to a very low-key bistro, so at least I wouldn't have to worry about not being able to read some Italian menu.
"They already love you, Granger." murmured Malfoy, stepping behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.
I snorted, "I highly doubt that."
"Doubt it all you want. It's still the truth." he said with a smirk, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. "Pansy nearly ripped my head off when you didn't come to lunch last week."
"Why?" I asked, trying to hide my skepticism. I knew it was really unfounded - we were all adults - and Morgana, I mean Malfoy had changed. Surely Pansy could have done the same.
"She wants the chance to apologize." he said with a slight shrug, "I kind of think they all do."
"Gods, don't let this lunch turn into 'apologizing to Hermione' time." I groaned. "Nobody needs to apologize."
"You said the same thing to me." he reminded, "And it didn't change the way that I felt about it."
I released a long sigh but nodded, "Alright. Let's do this."
I turned to face Malfoy, who, as always, was dressed immaculately. He wore a light blue button up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and the first few buttons undone, a pair of gray pants, and a very nice pair of dragonhide shoes.
At least his more relaxed look made me feel comfortable in my simple blue dress and boots.
After helping me into my coat and slipping his own on as well, we apparated a few blocks from La Réjouisssance.
It wasn't as cold as it had been - particularly for early February - so the short walk wasn't bad, and before I knew it we were walking up to a table where Pansy, Blaise, and Theo already sat waiting.
Big girl panties, Hermione, I thought to myself, forcing my feet to keep walking forward instead of bolting from the bistro like I wanted to.
"Nice to see you again, Granger." said Blaise, smirking at Malfoy and I as we both took our seats - him by Theo and me by Pansy.
I gave Blaise a wry look, but responded in kind nonetheless. I certainly wasn't going to admit that his meddling had gotten Malfoy and I together.
"How've you been, Granger?" asked Theo, nodding hello from across the table.
"Nothing particularly revolutionary." I said with a small smile.
"Pansy Parkinson." she said from my left, daintily extending her hand, her face utterly serious.
I just stared at her for a moment before realizing what she was doing.
Starting over.
It was obvious that the entire table was tensely awaiting what I was going to do - as if there was any other option than accepting. Everyone deserved a second chance.
I took her hand in mine as I said, "Hermione Granger. It's nice to meet you."
Pansy looked relieved and the entire table seemed to release a collective sigh as Pansy smiled and said, "It's nice to meet you too, Hermione."
DPOV
Relieved wasn't even the word.
Granger and Pansy were actually getting on brilliantly. Granted, a great deal of it had to do with poking fun at the three of us men, but hell, I'd take it if it meant I got to see Granger relaxed around my friends.
"I wanted to thank you as well, Pansy." said Granger, "I know that you found Dr. McGregor for Malfoy and pulled quite a few strings to get my parents seen as quickly as they were."
I could've laughed at how uncomfortable Pansy looked at Granger's sentiment, but I'd rather not face her wrath today - things were going so much better than I'd thought.
"Don't mention it." said Pansy simply, waving her hand and effectively changing the topic with, "Have you talked to that dragon tamer Weasley brother about getting Brill a girlfriend?"
The smile that broke out across Granger's face made my heart stutter in my chest because fuck she was beautiful, especially when she was passionate about something.
"I did. We did." she said, squeezing my hand under the table. "There was a girl there - Myrrh - she and Brill were always super close, and Charlie thinks she'd actually be perfect."
"Have you worked with her before?" asked Theo, leaning forward in his chair. It was always hard to get Theo interested in anything, but dragons sure made that easy.
Granger nodded, "She and Brill were practically attached at the hip the entire summer I was there."
"I'd love to be able to see them." said Theo, Blaise and Pansy quick to agree.
"Unless they're weird about people they don't know." added Pansy, "I'm not trying to get eaten."
Granger laughed and shook her head, "Dragons are nice to you until you're not nice to them. They're also extremely good judges of character."
"We're all in trouble then!" joked Blaise, catching an elbow from Pansy.
Theo just snorted and said, "If he hasn't eaten Malfoy for being a giant arse, I think the rest of us are safe."
"Maybe that's just because Brill knows he's with Hermione." said Pansy with a smirk, "In which case you might still be screwed Theo."
The table dissolved into laughter and easy conversation after that, and by the time the five of us actually left La Réjouisssance - after Pansy had nearly forced Granger into an upcoming shopping trip - it had been well over two hours.
As we headed back toward the apparition point I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, tugging her into my side.
"Did you have a good time, love?"
She smiled, looking up at me as she wound her own arm around my waist, "I did. Your friends are funny when they're not being absolute bell ends trying to get us together."
I laughed, nodding in agreement, "I couldn't agree more."
"And I'm going to have to weasel my way out of this Parisian shopping trip - there's no way I can afford -"
"Granger, how many times do I have to -"
"About a million more, Malfoy." she interrupted with an eye roll. "I'm not just going to let you keep paying for everyth -"
"I do not pay for everything. And even if I did do that, it's because I -"
"Because you can. I know that." she said, pulling me to a stop right before the apparition point, "But I won't ever be the type of woman who's comfortable having her boyfriend pay for things like that."
I rolled my eyes, pressing a light kiss to the top of her head and saying, "At least think about it. Shopping is like Pansy's olive branch."
She looked a bit apprehensive but nodded nonetheless, leaning up on her tiptoes to press a soft kiss to my lips.
"Now, how about we go home and tell Brill all about his incoming friend?"
She nearly squealed with excitement, lightly bouncing on the balls of her feet as she nodded, "Yes, definitely."
We're nearing the end with this story, and I just want to take the time to thank each and every one of you who've read, favorited, followed, and commented on this story. It really means more to me than you could ever imagine.
