"What if I just didn't go?"Hermione whined looking around her closet "It's not like I have anything suitable to wear anyways and I'm not even sure anyone would miss me if I weren't in attendance. Besides Ron isn't going."
"Hermione Jean Granger!" Ginny playfully scolded "You planned the reunion and in case you have forgotten these are your friends. Of course, they would notice if you weren't there. Ron is going to join us later in the evening after he closes the shop. Besides, you have to come; Pansy told me Draco plans to make an appearance."
"Oh, I sincerely hope he does. Maybe he will bring Astoria along" she said sarcastically
"You haven't heard? They're broken up. He's Britain's newest and most eligible bachelor." Ginny goaded "So we will have to make you the star of the evening!"
"You can't honestly believe I am still interested in him Ginny. It's been five years I doubt he will even recognize me" She said turning back to her clothes pretending to be uninterested.
Of course, she knew Draco and Astoria were no longer together. She thought about Draco often. The boy she hated but found herself fancying. They hadn't spoken in 5 years but that time period had not been nearly long enough for her to push away her feelings for him. She began to think about what it would be like to see him, in person, after all these years. She had seen him in the Daily Prophet, mostly on the front cover due to the high publicity cases he counseled for, but it wouldn't be the same as seeing him again, feeling his presence.
"Hello!" Ginny walked to her waving her hands "Earth to Hermione"
"W-What?" Hermione stuttered, her daydream being interrupted.
"I was talking to you about how we have to make you look your best tonight to see your future husband, Draco Malfoy" Ginny smirked.
"Oh come off it" Hermione laughed and playfully slapped Ginny's arm
"Fine Fine. You can keep lying to me but it's harder to lie to yourself." Ginny laughed as she passed Hermione and walked into Hermione's closet. "But I will say you are correct about having nothing to wear this evening. But you're in luck I think I have the perfect dress for you."
As Hermione apparated to the front doors of Hogwarts she couldn't escape the feeling that she was home. So many adventures had come about within the walls of this castle and despite her nervousness about the party, she felt a sense of comfort as she entered the Great Hall. She glanced down to pull her tight red sequined cocktail dress further down her thigh. She had insisted this might be too scandalous but Ginny swore she looked delectable. Before she could look up again she felt an arm wrap around her waist and pull her close.
"Wow Hermione" Dean said examining her body "I've seen you a few pictures of you in the Prophet but I have to say the pictures surely do not do you justice."
Hermione pulled gently against his grip. Although it was early in the evening it was apparent the fire whiskey had been flowing. She could smell it heavy on Dean's breath. She slapped him playfully.
"Oh, Dean you are so kind." She unwrapped his arm from her waist "It is so good to see you but I am a bit thirsty at the moment so how about I catch up with you later?"
He looked a little disappointed but pulled her close once more "Only if you promise to save a dance for me." He smiled playfully before allowing her to free herself from his grip as she nodded in agreement.
She made her way to the back of the Great Hall and poured herself punch from the enormous punch bowl. She took a sip and had to stop herself from spitting it out. It had been spiked already. She stood for a moment glancing around the room and met eyes with a tall, blonde-haired boy. She felt her stomach tighten. Throwing caution to the wind she downed the rest of her drink and poured herself another. She downed that one too before she felt a presence behind her. She stiffened as someone whispered in her ear.
"You didn't hear it from me but Draco hasn't taken his eyes off of you since you walked in and if you want my opinion I don't think he's that torn up about Astoria." The voice she identified quickly as Pansy Parkinson whispered.
Hermione turned quickly to meet her but Pansy slipped away before she had the chance. She glanced back over her shoulder to see Draco was still watching her. She downed her third drink before attempting to find Harry and Ginny. As soon as she began to walk she felt the alcohol in her veins. She normally was not a drinker but she was going to need it tonight as long as she was in the same room as Draco. She finally found Ginny's red hair in the sea of people as bee-lined for her. She broke into the conversation Harry and Ginny were having with Dean.
"Heyy Ginny." She slurred and attempted to straighten herself. She was by no means drunk but she could confidently say she was buzzed.
"Hi, Hermione" Ginny giggled. "I told you that dress would look stunning on you." she leaned in to whisper in Hermione's ear "And I think if you wanted Malfoy's attention you most definitely have it"
"Hey hey hey secrets don't make friends!" Dean slurred "Hermione you ready for that dance?"
Hermione glanced back at Draco and noticed him turn away when they made eye contact. She hesitated but before she could help herself she blurted out "Y-yeah Dean I would love that!" as she reached for his hand and pulled him to the dance floor.
The song was a slow dance and it had a slow, somewhat sensual beat. Dean pressed her body against his tightly and guided her around the dance floor. She felt the muscles beneath his dress shirt and realized how much he had matured after the war. He was attractive and nice enough but she couldn't drag her mind away from Draco. For goodness sakes, she thought to herself, why can't I choose a sensible guy rather than a man who most likely hates me. She was torn quickly away from her thoughts as a hand clapped down on Dean's shoulder.
"I'd like to break in if you'd allow me," Draco said confidently.
Dean was about to deny Hermione jumped in. "Sure. Dean, I'll catch up with you later yeah?"
Dean looked a little defeated but moved away from Hermione, allowing Draco to take his place.
"Don't look so disappointed Granger. I'm not going to step on your feet or anything." He said as he pulled her into him, but not nearly as close as she would like to be.
She wondered what it would be like to be held in a way far more intimate than dancing. He guided her around the dance floor gracefully. He was a much better dancer than Dean, probably due to the fact that she hadn't seen him drinking. At the song's completion, he spun her once more before bringing her body into his once more, stopping her from falling.
"Hmm I guess even after all this time you haven't learned to hold your alcohol Granger" he chuckled as he steadied her. "How about we get you a glass of water?"
"I'll have you know I'm perfectly fine Malfoy," she said moving away from him. As she moved away from him she felt the world become unsteady once more.
"Yes, I can absolutely tell." He said examining her.
She walked away from him quickly and found a nearby table. She reached into her bag for a sobering potion. She drank half of it and felt the dizziness dissipate. Her buzz was not completely gone but the potion dulled the negative effects of drunkenness. She felt his presence behind her.
"Feeling a little better?" he asked
"Yes," She squeaked looking up at him.
He sat down in the open chair next to her. "So what has the famous Hermione been doing since we left this glorious school?" he asked matter-of-factly.
"You don't read the newspapers?" she asked sarcastically
"I'd rather hear it from your lips." He smirked, "I think we both know the papers are not always to be trusted."
"Well, I worked full-time for the Ministry for a little while after the war. In the Care of Magical Creatures Department. I enjoyed the work but it truly wasn't for me so I started a non-profit for the promotion of house-elves it's called Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare. I started in my fourth year and it just felt right. So I am mainly in charge of receiving donations and funneling them into projects such as finding employment instead of servitude among other things" She explained.
He listened intently "That sounds very interesting. Do you receive a fair amount of donations?"
"Well it has been a slow start but I've been able to cut back my time at the Ministry and focus more on SPEW. So there has definitely been an increase in donations."
"That sounds very interesting. You seem very passionate about it"
She quickly changed the topic "Well enough about me what have you been doing since the war?"
He hesitated at the mention of the war but recovered quickly "Well I busied myself with maintaining the Malfoy estate for a while but that became boring so I decided to become a wizarding attorney. After going through the legal system myself after the war I thought about how I wish I had someone to explain the process to me and I wanted to be that person for others."
She examined him as he spoke. She watched his mouth as she spoke so eloquently. The way his mouth moves as he formed the perfect words. She moved from his handsome face to his body. His tux was perfectly tailored to his muscular form. He looked like a God and she wondered if he knew how truly alluring he was.
"Hermione?" he said drawing her attention back upwards. He smiled before taking her hand "I think I would fancy a walk. I haven't seen the common room in ages. Would you care to join me?"
She stood and followed him to the door and up the stairs. She examined the old paintings throughout the castle that she had forgotten about. He guided her along behind him until they reached a blank wall.
She looked at him confused. "Draco are you sure-"
"Pure-Blood" he spoke clearly towards the wall and a door appeared and opened.
He quickly pulled her through the door and shut it behind him. The Slytherin common room looked similar to the Gryffindor common room in size only. The room was filled with green velvet chairs with a fireplace on the left wall with a velvet green chaise in front of it. Each window was stained green with the Slytherin emblem in the center. It was beautifully decorated by had a constant feeling of coldness. She felt Draco stand closely behind her as she shivered.
"Are you cold?" he said slipping out of tux jacket.
She shook her head as he wrapped the jacket around her shoulders. The jacket smelled of him, bergamot, lemon, and wintergreen. She pushed away her nervousness and turned to face him
"I've never been in here but it is nice." She spoke quietly
"Yeah, a lot of happy memories here along with some not so happy memories," he said closing himself off.
She found it hard to read his expression "Well what memories would you have changed to be happier Draco?"
He smiled when she said his name. It sounded so good escaping her lips. "Well for starters I wouldn't have placed my faith in the wrong people." he shared. He glanced down at her dress and smiled "You know Gryffindor red does look wonderful on you. I guess not much has really changed about you" he said attempting to change the subject.
She smoothed down her dress and blushed "Thank you. But don't change the subject on me Draco. Who do you wish you had made friends with that you didn't? What else would you change about your time here?"
He sighed "Maybe we should go sit by the fireplace." He said looking uncomfortable.
"Answer the question and we will."
"Go and sit by the fireplace like a good girl and maybe I will." He said dominantly. He pointed his wand towards the fireplace "Incendio" he said clearly.
She walked towards the chaise near the fireplace and sat. Draco followed her and sat at the other end, farther away from her than she would have liked. They sat silently staring into the fire for what felt like a million years. She looked over at him expectantly.
"Are you going to answer the question?" she said moving closer to him "I'm trying to get to know you. To see if you've changed from the boy I knew and you just keep giving me little bits of information about yourself but you're difficult to decode and I don't think you understand-"
"I wish I would have treated you differently, Granger," He said curtly. "Does that answer your question?"
"D-Draco" she stuttered
"I wish I had done this sooner," he said grabbing her chin and pressing his lips to hers.
His lips were so warm against hers. Her brain told her to pull back and run as far away from this man as she possibly could but she couldn't bring herself to break the kiss. She kissed him back and ran her fingers through his hair. She ran her hands down his chest to his belt buckle
"No," he said curtly. "We should probably go. But we can't leave here together."
"I-I'm confused"
"Just trust me. We can't do this. We shouldn't do this. I'm sorry I started this, Granger."
Hermione paused and nodded. "No, I completely understand Malfoy". In that moment she was brought back to reality. She was no longer a carefree idiot that had just shared a moment with Draco Malfoy. She hated Draco Malfoy. How could she have let him touch her that way? "I have to go anyway," she said walking to the door before he could say another word. She felt stupid but she knew if given the chance she would do it again. She walked quickly down the stairs to the Great Hall.
"Oh Hermione right?" said an unfamiliar voice from behind her.
She turned to see Astoria Greengrass standing behind her looking distraught. "Yeah. Did you need something?" she asked politely.
"I was curious if you had seen Draco. I have to talk to him and it is quite urgent."
Hermione's heart sunk in her chest. "Yeah I think I saw him walking towards the Slytherin common room earlier in the evening."
"Oh. Thank you." She said quickly and walked past Hermione in the direction of the Slytherin Common Room.
Hermione returned to the Great Hall to the party in full swing. She immediately spotted Ginny and walked towards her.
"Hey what happened with Malfoy?" Ginny said flirtatiously
"Malfoy? Like Draco Malfoy?" Ron, who had joined the party before she left, said protectively.
"Nothing happened Ron. We just talked" She lied.
