The new look headquarters of Malfoy Inc. were located on the border of Wizarding London, and even held a muggle entrance. While most of the building was magical, a portion of the building was suitable for the muggles the Malfoys now did business with. The changes had come about thanks to Hermione's involvement in the company, and just as Lucius had hoped when he'd offered her a job with them, she had helped turn their fortunes around. The war, and the family's role as Voldemort's supporters, had almost ruined the Malfoys once successful business, but thanks to their new outlook, genuine willingness to change and Hermione, the business was once again booming and the future was looking bright for the company.

Hermione's future was also looking bright, and in five years she'd progressed from Lucius's assistant to a senior member of the management team. In fact, the only people who had more influence within the company were Lucius and Draco, and even then they both trusted Hermione's judgement and were happy for her to make major business decisions on her own. As such, she had access to every part of the business and among the staff she was considered as much of a boss as Draco or Lucius.

These days, Hermione had a large office of her own on the executive floor of the Malfoy Inc. offices. She also had an assistant of her own, and when she arranged for her afternoon to be free of appointments, no-one questioned her. There was also no query when she headed for lunch, with no intention of returning to the office for the rest of the day.

Hermione had cleared her afternoon so she could have lunch with Harry, before visiting an exclusive boutique for a fitting for her dress for the masquerade ball. The ball was the first public event the Malfoys had hosted since the war, and Hermione had been instrumental in organising the ball, which meant she wanted it to be perfect, and that meant looking the part and having a perfect dress for the occasion.

For lunch with Harry, Hermione had booked them a table at a new riverside restaurant. The restaurant was proving so popular with the wizarding community that they'd recently set up a lunchtime opening session. Even so, Hermione had needed to book a table in order for them to be able to dine at the restaurant, and be assured of a prime seat next to the window, overlooking the river.

"Nice place," Harry remarked as they met outside of the restaurant.

"Have you never been here with Ginny?" Hermione questioned, surprised that Harry's wife hadn't wanted to dine at the popular restaurant.

"We were supposed to be coming last month, but I had to work late," Harry replied. "Ginny dragged Luna along instead, and they both said it was good. I've been meaning to re-book a meal, but I've never quite gotten around to it. I take it you've been here before."

"A couple of times," Hermione confirmed. "Lucius and I were here for a business lunch a few weeks ago and Draco and I have had dinner here a few times."

Entering the restaurant, the pair were shown to their seats, and after ordering drinks they perused the menus. When their drinks arrived, they ordered their meals and settled back to enjoy the view as they waited for their food. As they waited for their lunch to arrive they caught up on each others lives, and it wasn't until their food was in front of them that Harry raised the topic of the masquerade ball.

"I just thought I should warn you that Ron will be there," Harry said to his friend. "Amelia left him no choice."

"Maybe I should have just invited him in the first place," Hermione mused with a half smile.

"You thought about inviting him?" Harry questioned in surprise. It had been Ron who cut off contact with Hermione, and while she'd tried to maintain a friendship with him, she'd given up years ago when Ron had proved unresponsive.

"For a moment or two," Hermione replied. "When I ensured that you and Ginny were on the list, I debated putting Ron on it as well. But in the end, I decided not to court trouble. I really should have thought that he might end up with an invitation anyway. I knew Kingsley wanted as many people as possible there from the Ministry, and I guess it makes sense to have the likes of Ron there."

"Yeah, roll out the war heroes," Harry muttered. He understood Kingsley's thinking when he used him and Ron for publicity, but that didn't mean he liked being on display as the saviour of the wizarding world.

"Do you think he'll cause trouble?" Hermione asked with a slight frown. "I know it's a big night for Kingsley and the charity, but it's also a big night for Malfoy Inc. Not to mention the Malfoys themselves. Lucius has a few surprises up his sleeve."

"Oh, anything to look forward to?" Harry asked. "Or anything that will ignite Ron's fury?"

"I guess that depends how mad he still is about my association with the Malfoys," Hermione replied with a shrug. "How much does he know about my life?"

"Put it this way, I think he's going to be in for a few surprises at the ball," Harry chuckled. "He's been too stubborn to listen to reason where you're concerned. So as such, there's things he's unaware of."

"He'll certainly be aware of it come the ball," Hermione snorted.

"I've warned him not to cause trouble," Harry promised his friend.

"I guess only time will tell if he's listened," Hermione said. "But I'm not going to worry about it. I've long since stopped worrying about Ronald Weasley and the trouble he can cause."

"Enough about Ron and back to these surprises Lucius has up his sleeve," Harry said, wanting to change the topic away from Ron now he'd warned Hermione that he would be at the ball. "Aren't you going to give me a hint as to what they are?"

"One of them involves me," Hermione said with a sly smile. "And while I would love to tell you, I've promised Lucius to keep quiet. He wants to be the one to break the news to the world."

"You're pregnant," Harry guessed, before shaking his head as Hermione laughed and picked up her wine glass. "No, obviously not," he muttered. "He's giving you a promotion?"

"I don't know how much higher I can go," Hermione laughed. "But I guess it is partly work related. You're just going to have to be patient for a few more days."

"I guess I can do that," Harry conceded with a light smile.

"So aside from worrying about Ron causing trouble, are you looking forward to the ball?" Hermione asked.

"I would be looking forward to it more if there wasn't a damned theme," Harry grouched. "I thought it was a simple masquerade ball, until Ginny pointed out the bird theme. Why is there a bird theme anyway?"

"You can thank Narcissa for that," Hermione laughed. "When we were first discussing it, she suggested a masquerade ball as its something the Malfoys have done a lot. It was sort of a tradition back in their heyday when they threw regular events. I thought it was good idea, and gave it the go ahead, but then when Narcissa was looking at some old pictures she realised just how many of the masks used feathers in the décor."

"Which sprung into a bird themes party," Harry surmised.

"It did," Hermione confirmed. "Although to be fair, I think there will be a fair few people just skipping that part of the theme. It's hardly going to be mandatory that you have to make it clear which bird you're dressed as before you're allowed access to the party."

"I think I might be one of those skipping the bird part," Harry admitted. "It's much easier for you women. All you have to do is dress in yellow and call yourself a canary."

"I could just see you in yellow," Hermione laughed.

"No way, I'll be in a suit," Harry insisted with a shake of his head. "I guess I could always wear a tuxedo and claim to be a penguin."

"Sounds like a plan," Hermione agreed with a smile. "But I do agree it's more for the women to have a chance to dress up. For example, Ginny's dress is pretty spectacular."

"You've seen it?" Harry asked eagerly. "She won't tell me anything about it. She claims it's a surprise. What's it like? What bird has she gone for?"

"Put it this way, Ginny's dress is like her," Hermione said with a grin. "Fun, vibrant and stands out from the crowd."

"Now, I'm worried," Harry chuckled. "What about your dress? What have you gone for?"

"I can't tell you that," Hermione replied with a teasing smile. "But I can tell you that I've had it especially made. In fact, I'm heading for a final fitting after we've finished here."

"Sounds expensive," Harry remarked with a low whistle.

"With the money I make, I can afford it," Hermione said. "Besides, its for a special occasion."

"This ball is more than just a charity fundraiser, isn't it?" Harry questioned, his Auror instincts kicking in. From the few hints Hermione had dropped it was clear that the evening was about more than charity for the Malfoys, and he strongly suspected that while plenty of money would be raised for the charity, it wouldn't be the main topic of conversation to come from the evening.

"You'll just have to wait and see," Hermione replied with a chuckle. "Do you have room for dessert? I've got a bit of a sweet craving now."

Knowing that he wasn't going to get anything more from Hermione, Harry settled for ordering dessert and changing the subject. Over dessert the two old friends spoke of things other than masquerade balls and Ron, and by the time they paid the bill and left the restaurant they'd exhausted almost every topic of conversation.

"We really should do this more often," Harry said as they prepared to say their goodbyes.

"I know, but it can be so hard to get away for a decent lunch," Hermione replied.

"I know that feeling," Harry laughed. "Maybe we should try dinner instead."

"Oh, I could cook for you," Hermione suggested eagerly.

"Can you cook?" Harry asked warily, distinctly remembering that during the height of the war when he, Hermione and Ron had been looking for Horcruxes that Hermione had not been a natural chef.

"I'm getting rather good," Hermione admitted. "Although I have to admit, I've been helped along by Draco."

"Don't tell me Malfoy cooks," Harry laughed. "Now that I have to see."

"He didn't used to, in fact he was worse than me in the kitchen," Hermione replied. "Not that it was too surprising given he grew up with house elves to tend to his every whim. Anyway, when I decided that I should learn to cook, Draco decided we should do it together."

"And let's guess, you got competitive," Harry chuckled, picturing the scene. Hermione had always prided herself on being the best, and he knew how competitive Draco could be. In fact, he knew that Hermione's first few months with Malfoy Inc. had been overshadowed by her and Draco competing for Lucius's attention and approval.

"We both wanted to be the best," Hermione admitted with a small smile. "We have to keep upping our game to best one another."

"Only you and Malfoy could make cooking into a competitive activity," Harry remarked. "Honestly, how you ever agree on anything is beyond me. I've never met two people who love to argue as much as you two do."

"We do other things as well," Hermione replied with a smirk.

"I don't need to know that," Harry groaned as he shook his head. "I've got to get back to work. Maybe we can arrange to have dinner one evening after the ball."

"I'd like that," Hermione said as she gave Harry a hug and kiss goodbye.

After leaving Harry, Hermione headed to the boutique for her final dress fitting. With no alterations needed to be made, Hermione arranged for the dress to be delivered to her flat a couple of days before the ball. She also confirmed her order for shoes, accessories and an exclusively made mask which matched her gown perfectly. She then paid for everything, so she didn't have to worry about settling a bill on delivery. Now with her dress sorted, she could focus on the rest of the ball, and ensuring that everything else was in place and that the evening would be the huge success she desperately hoped it would be.

With that in mind, Hermione spent her afternoon at the hotel where the ball was taking place, checking on the arrangements for the event, before she headed back home. Home for Hermione was a luxury flat in a building owned by Malfoy Inc. The flat had been part of the package deal Lucius had offered her when she'd first started working for the company, and the minimal rent she paid ensured that her savings had skyrocketed over the last five years.

Entering the flat, Hermione immediately felt at peace as she kicked off her shoes and hung up her bag and jacket. She hadn't been sure if she would adjust to such luxury when she first moved into the flat, but now five years on she felt right at home and loved the flat she called home. Crookshanks also loved the place, and even when Hermione left the window open for some fresh air, the ginger feline never ventured further than the balcony which surrounded the entire flat.

After feeding Crookshanks, Hermione poured herself a cold glass of rose wine and headed for the bedroom. Placing her wine on the bedside table, she shed her clothes as she wandered across the room to the adjoining bathroom. By the time she entered the bathroom, she was down to her underwear, and she shimmed out of them as she turned on the taps on the large bathtub. A third tap added fragrant bubbles to the water, but Hermione bypassed the third tap and instead opted for a muggle bath bomb, which turned her water purple.

Leaving the bomb to explode in her bath, Hermione retrieved her wine and waved her wand to deposit her discarded clothes into the laundry basket. She then clipped her hair up and sunk into the hot water, her glass of wine settled on the side of the bath. Sighing in relaxation, her eyes slid closed and she enjoyed the peace and quiet of a hot bath and a chilled glass of wine.

With no clock in the bathroom, Hermione had no idea how long she'd been in the bath for, but she didn't make any move to leave her relaxation when she heard the distinct sound of the floo network activating. Only a few people had access to her floo network, and only one person would arrive in her flat without checking she was home. Not that Hermione knew for sure that someone had travelled through the floo as the flat was fitted with soft, thick carpets which hid any sounds of footsteps. She only knew for sure that someone was in her flat when she felt eyes watching her from the bathroom doorway.

"Enjoying the show?" she asked, not bothering to crack open her eyes.

"I am rather," a drawling voice replied. "I do love it when you forgo bubbles, you can see so much more of you when you use one of your bath bombs."

"Perv," Hermione snorted, opening her eyes to find a smirking Draco Malfoy lounging against the door, his grey eyes drinking in the sight of her in the bathtub.

"Exhibitionist," Draco shot back in amusement. "You're the one who invites me to dinner, and then just so happens to be in the bath when I arrive."

"You could have waited outside," Hermione pointed out as she elegantly rose to her feet and grabbed a nearby towel.

"But then I would have missed the show," Draco countered with a wink, as he moved forward to help Hermione out of the bath. "And don't think you need to bother with clothes on my account, I'm up for a naked dinner."

"I just bet you are," Hermione chuckled, wrapping one of her arms around Draco's neck. "Just how hungry are you?" she asked.

"For food, not very," Draco replied. "I could do with working up an appetite."

"Let's see what we can do about that," Hermione purred, dropping her towel to the floor, knowing full well that dinner could wait and that she and Draco could have some fun before they even thought about food and the rest of their evening together.