It had been 6 months since Astoria had passed. Draco Malfoy thought his life ended with her, the only thing keeping him going was their 4 year old son Scorpious. Draco had a miserable excuse for a father and a terrible childhood. He didn't know how to be a father but he had promised Astoria that he wouldn't make the same mistakes as Lucius and it was a struggle everyday but he was doing his best. The first 3 months he refused to leave the home they had shared. Finally his best mate (one of the only ones to both survive the war and stay out of azkaban) Blaise Zabini convinced Draco that what he needed was a stiff drink and a woman in his bed. This led to a rather destructive pattern of going out on Saturday nights, getting just tipsy enough to smooth talk a different woman into going home with him. The habit of kicking the women out as soon as he was done with them led to a rather nasty reputation. Since the muggle pub he had been frequenting was only so big and it was usually the same crowd Dracos pool of available women had dried up.
Tonight was slightly different though. Tonight was a Tuesday. Upon realizing that he had worn out his welcome with the Saturday night crowd Draco decided to try another night rather than a different pub. Oddly he actually liked Paddy's Pub and didn't feel like trying to find a new place. The barman, Sean knew when to talk and when to keep his mouth shut, remembered Dracos drink and usually could be trusted for information on which women were easy and which were too crazy. The only thing he had against the man was his uncanny resemblance to Weasley.
"Evening Malfoy, decided to try a different night?" Sean greeted Draco from his usual place behind the bar. The tall freckled ginger man was already pouring Dracos drink.
"I figured I might have burned to many bridges on Saturdays. And I like the quieter setting" Draco replies as Sean hands him his usual drink, a Scotch, neat. Draco takes a long swig, enjoying the liquors burn on it's way down. It was no Firewhiskey but muggles had a decent thing in scotch. He turned to scope out the room. It wasn't to busy, it was to late for the after work crowd and to early for the late night bar flies. As hes scanning the room a bushy headed brunette caught his eye. He had almost not even recognized her, it had been 6 years since he had seen her in person. Since the war. Draco kept scanning but seemed to keep coming back to her. He finished his drink and signaled for another.
Sean followed his line of sight and shook his head, "I wouldn't try with that one. I've never seen a bloke last 2 minutes with her."
"I wouldn't be caught dead with that one." Draco said with his signature snear, when he saw the look of surprise Sean gave him he added, "and she'd say the same. We went to school together." And left it that.
After twirling his drink around a few times and looking around the room one more time he made his decision.
" I don't remember inviting anyone to join me." The well but simply dressed brunette said as Draco sat down, without even looking up from her book. Of course she would bring a book with her to a muggle bar.
"Same Granger, even in a pub you have to have your nose in a book"
Upon hearing Dracos voice she looks up. Her face goes from startled to angry to apprehension before settling on disinterest so fast a less observant person would have never have seen it.
"Actually its Weasley now" Hermione said after a moment turning back to her book, "Malfoy, are you lost?"
Draco took a minute to look at her now that he was up close. She had finally grown up and filled out. Her hair was still bushy but she seems to have finally figured out a way to tame it. She was dressed simply, comfortably in jean's and a blouse. Last time he had seen her in person was as his family walked away from the battle. She had passed out from exhaustion soon after Voldemort fell and of course everyone ran to her side because nothing could happen to the Gryffindor princess. " I don't think so, are you lost?" He said choosing to ignore her first comment, of course he knew it was Weasley. The only time he and his family wasn't front page news for 6 months after the war was the week her and the Weasel married. It was about a month after the battle and kept rather quiet.
At his reply she finally looked up at him, " what do you want Malfoy? " she said with a sigh as she closes her book.
"It's pretty much dead here." He replied looking around at the nearly empty pub.
"Which is why I like it here," she sniped before turning back to her book. "Wait, are you bored? Is that why you decided to come bug me?" Her head popped back up to glare at him.
Draco just shrugged, "I am bored, I'm also mildly curious as to why your here."
"What business of yours is it as to why I'm here?" Hermione retorted.
"It is none of my business that a married woman is out to a pub where it is unlikely she will run into anyone she may know, without her wedding ring. So does Weasel know where you are?" Draco asks with his signature smirk.
" Yes, my husband knows where to find me. Now I would like to get back to my book." And with that Hermione opened her book back up.
Draco still sat, scoping out the room but not leaving. Finally after about 5 minutes Hermione spoke again, "still here? Don't you see anyone else you could bug?"
"Not really, besides can't two old rivals enjoy a drink together?" Draco replied even though he had already spotted 3 or 4 options for later on, for right now he was to intrigued by the woman across from him. He finished his scotch and signaled to Sean for his refill.
"Rivals? You have a rather warped memory. You were the school bully, hating me just because of who I was. You made my life miserable any chance you got." Hermione stopped just as the waitress stepped up to the table.
"Maria are you ready for your next round? Everything ok here?" the waitress asked as she set down dracos drink.
"Yes Sara another drink would be lovely, thank you." Hermione smiled at the nervous waitress as she looked between the two. She knew both as they were regulars and both had developed reputations. Maria as a woman not to be messed with and Draco as a player. Seeing them together was just plain unnerving to the young blonde waitress.
"Maria?" Draco asked with a raised eyebrow.
" I like this place, its quiet and the people are friendly but most of all I like that no one knows me or of my past. So when Sean asked my name for the tab my first time here I gave the first name I thought of." Hermione shrugged.
Sara quietly placed the glass of red wine in front of Hermione and quickly left the table.
"So since it looks like I'm not going to be allowed to read in peace anytime soon, why are you here Malfoy? I wouldn't picture you stepping into muggle London unless forced, let alone a place like this. " Paddy's was just a quiet neighborhood pub. Not flashy by any means, about ten tables, a small dance floor and average sized bar. It was the kind of place locals would stop by for a drink after work.
"Similar reasons, actually." Draco shrugged causally, "I was reminded that I need to have a life outside of my son and business and I like that here no one knows anything about me other than my name. Here is the only place where the Malfoy name means nothing."
"And why would Draco Malfoy need to be reminded to live? Weren't you supposed to be some kind of party boy before you married Astoria?" Hermione said then paused as she remembered something, "Astoria, of course. I heard of her passing, my condolences."
Draco just nodded his head in acceptance, he still didn't know what to say anytime anyone mentioned his late wife. He didn't really want to talk of her, especially here where he usually was on the prowl to find a woman to make him forget her, even if only for a hour.
"So let me guess, you are here on some well meaning but clueless friends suggestion that getting out of the house will make you feel better and help you move on?" At the momentary startled look on his face, Hermione continued, "I get it, losing a loved one is the hardest thing you will ever do. Everyone will try and tell you what you need but the truth is only you know what you need and how is best for you to grieve."
Draco didn't know what to say, he certainly didn't want to talk about Astoria right now and certainly not to Granger. Thankfully she took a look at her watch, finished her drink and said, "well it's been interesting but it's time for me to be heading out. Goodbye Malfoy."
And with that she put her book in her bag and walked out the door. Draco sat lost in thought for a few minutes before he realizes she never paid for her drinks. He looked around and while now there were a few prospective hookups he realized he just didn't feel like it tonight, not after hearing Astorias name.
He heads to the bar and gets Sean's attention and asks for his bill.
"Heading out so early?" Sean asked handing over the tab. He was curious as to what had happened at Maria's table but he knew better than to ask. It wasn't his job to meddle.
"Yeah, just not feeling it tonight." Draco paused looking over his bill, he half expected Granger's drinks to be added to it but they weren't.
"I'm surprised Maria let you sit down, in all the time I've seen her never once has a guy sat with her for more than 2 minutes."
"How long has she been coming here?" Draco found himself asking to his own surprise.
"I'd say a little over a year now. That woman is like clockwork, every Tuesday night comes in at 9, has two glasses of wine and leaves by 1030. Always friendly to the staff but like an ice queen to any bloke who comes up. Strange really."
Strange indeed, thought Draco as he walked outside to the nearest apparition point.