A/N: Happy Halloween to everyone - here comes my treat for you: chapter 4!
Thanks to TheDaringInferno for beta-ing.

Anyway, I wanted to thank everyone who reviewed the story so far: Sissysbuddy, Malibu Baybreeze, chapou69, and Willowa! Virtual sweets for you! ;)

[edited 21.03.]

4. Malfoy Manor

Draco felt very self-conscious when he knocked on Hermione's door to pick her and Ginny up. It was only a few minutes before three, in fifteen minutes they were expected at the Manor. They had been meeting for lunch little over a month now and although their conversations were lively and captivating, nothing had developed so far. He wanted to give her time, because he knew that it wasn't easy to process a break-up, so he didn't flirt too openly. He wasn't even sure, if he wanted more than friendship, butterflies aside. With every conversation she became more interesting and more beautiful, but friendship was safe. He didn't want to lose her like he'd lost Astoria.

Suddenly Hermione opened the door and smiled at him. She looked gorgeous with her classical black dress.

"You look great," he stuttered very un-Malfoy-like and cursed himself inwardly. Fifteen years of training how to talk properly, how to charm a woman – and he said ‚you look great'.

Nevertheless she blushed. "Thanks. So this is fine? Not too much?" Nervously she smoothed out inexistent creases in her dress.

Draco shook his head, unable to take his eyes off of the woman before him. "It's perfect, Granger."

Hermione's blush darkened at the awe in Draco's voice. "Want to come in?" she mumbled and opened the door a bit further. Ginny was sitting in the living room, sipping tea, and smiling at both of them. He realised that she looked a bit tired with dark circles under her eyes.

"Hi Malfoy," she greeted him casually.

"Ginny," he nodded. "Ready?"

"Yes," Hermione announced. "But before we go…" Her eyes wandered to Draco. "I thought we could start calling each other by our first names. Outside the office, I mean. It's bit silly to call you Malfoy, now that you've invited me to your house, don't you think?"

He'd thought about that for quite some time now, but he hadn't known how to bring it up. "A brilliant idea," he responded quickly. "Shall we?"

She nodded determined. "Are we going to floo or apparate?"

"I'd rather floo," Ginny interjected and Draco nodded. "No problem. I'll go first and you follow, okay?"

Both nodded simultaneously. Hermione seemed to feel a bit panicked, and suddenly he wasn't sure anymore if this was a good idea. But the look on her face was so resolute that he didn't want to question her motivation. After a moment of hesitation, he grabbed the offered floo powder, threw it into the flames, stepped in, and said calmly, "Malfoy Manor."

The anxious face of Hermione disappeared and the manor's floo room came into view. He hurriedly jumped out of the fireplace, in case Ginny or Hermione were already following. Quickly he checked the wards, so they had no problems entering.

"Draco?" he heard his mother's voice asking. A second later she and his father entered the bright floo room. "So she really is coming?"

Draco nodded. "Of course." His mother was positively glowing with joy, while his father's expression varied between silent suffering and amusement. He glared at him warningly, but had no time to say anything as Hermione appeared in that exact moment. She stumbled a little, but Draco caught her at once and steadied her. She smiled at him thankfully and then turned nervously to his parents.

"Miss Granger, it's a pleasure to welcome you to Malfoy Manor," his mother greeted her, smiling brightly.

"Thank you for the invitation, Mrs. Malfoy," she answered politely and shook her hand.

A second later Ginny appeared as well and completed the group. Narcissa welcomed Ginny warmly and led the ladies through the sitting room to the garden, while his father stayed in the background. He still wasn't too happy about Granger's – Hermione's – visit, but it had nothing to do with her being a muggle-born. It was rather stubbornness to receive someone of the Golden Trio in his house.

Draco watched Hermione carefully as she looked around with big eyes, still clutching her left arm, but she held her chin up, a brave expression on her face.

"The house looks amazing," she complemented Narcissa after sitting down at a round garden table laden with tea and cakes. "It's so … bright and friendly."

Narcissa smiled proudly. "I started redecorating directly after the war. I couldn't stand to enter any of the rooms V-Voldemort had been in." Her gaze flickered to Draco.

"That's true. She banned the colour black from the house. Only precious heirlooms could stay," he helped out. "She made me help her choose wallpapers and carpets. It was a nightmare."

She chuckled. "You were at least a bit helpful, Lucius on the other hand…" Catching her husband's gaze, she silenced herself.

"You should give Hermione a tour later, Malfoy," Ginny suggested quickly.

"That is a brilliant idea!" his mother beamed.

Unsure, his gaze wandered to Hermione. "Would you like a tour?"

"Absolutely." She winked. "Through the gardens as well, please. Those lilies look amazing."

"Do you like gardening?" Narcissa asked inquisitively, putting a piece of cake on Hermione's plate.

"Thank you," she smiled. "I like flowers, but my father unfortunately didn't pass on his green thumb."

"Would you like some coffee or tea, Miss Granger?" Lucius asked politely, feeling Draco's gaze on him.

"Coffee, please."

"Mrs. Potter?"

"Oh, no coffee." Ginny suddenly blushed a little. "Tea is just fine."

The conversation flowed naturally for a while. They talked a bit about work and Hermione's old job and changed then to the Quidditch world cup last year. Hermione tensed up at once, and he remembered that she'd never been a fan of Quidditch; however, her expression wasn't exactly boredom. It was darker, more hurt than anything else. Then he recollected that she probably associated everything Quidditch-related with her ex-husband.

Before he could change the subject, his father interjected. "Talking about the World Cup, your husband must have been devastated when he lost the Snitch to Rawya Zaghloul in 2002. In the interviews he never mentioned anything about it."

Hermione went white as a sheet and he inwardly cursed his father for the remark. "Oh, yes. He was devastated. That's the reason, he retired," she answered briefly, avoiding everyone's eyes.

Luckily, his mother noticed it as well and pointed out, "Have you seen the peanut butter cookies, Mrs. Potter? I remembered that you were crazy for them the last time you visited."

"Oh." Ginny pulled a face as if Narcissa had offered her old, smelly fish. "That is so thoughtful of you, Mrs. Malfoy, but…." She swallowed nervously. "I'm full."

Narcissa frowned for a second, and then a bright smile highlighted her features. "How far along are you?"

"What?" Draco and Hermione gasped at the same time, catching onto the meaning at once.

Ginny blushed even harder and shifted uncomfortably. "How did you know?"

"One moment!" Hermione stuttered. "You're pregnant? Does Harry know?"

Ginny looked at her apologetically. "I thought about telling you last time, but it was very early, so I wasn't quite sure. And no, I haven't told him yet, as I wasn't sure how he'd react. And I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't tell him."

"Of course not," Hermione answered, looking down at her lap.

Draco realised that she was crestfallen and wondered why. She genuinely seemed to try to look happy for her friend, so it had nothing to do with Ginny personally. Maybe … maybe it something to do with herself? He had noticed that she always avoided mentioning her ex; also, she directed the conversation to something work related, in case something he asked merely touch the subject of relationships.

"How did you know?" Ginny repeated.

"Simple. No coffee, changes in appetite, you look so tired and you came by floo," Narcissa enumerated, looking smug.

"You are a genius," marvelled Draco.

"You are," Ginny confirmed. "Not even Harry has guessed it yet and he sees me every day."

"Men," Narcissa grinned conspiratorially and winked at Ginny.

"Hey!" Draco protested half-heartedly.

His mother ignored him and continued to speak to the red head, "And I'm sure he'll be happy to know. You should tell him."

Ginny blinked. "But… I don't know. We'd actually decided to have no more children after Albus. What if he's mad?"

"No way, Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed. "Right, Mrs. Malfoy?"

Draco watched Hermione, while they continued talking about the baby. The crestfallen look had disappeared and was replaced by a feigned smile, behind which she tried to hide an utter sadness.

"How about a tour now?" he asked quickly. "Meanwhile my mother and Ginny can discuss baby names." He rolled his eyes and winked.

Relief flickered across her features. "If that's okay with you, Ginny?"

The red-haired witch nodded hesitantly. "Of course, 'Mione. Enjoy the tour."

Immediately Hermione jumped up and followed Draco into the house. "Thank you," she muttered quietly.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he offered, hoping she would open up a bit. Although he really wanted to know more about her, he didn't want to push her. The friendship they had established still felt very fragile, as if it would break by a wrong move.

Quickly she shook her head. "No. Now where do we start?"

A/N: I hope you liked it, guys. Please leave a review... :*

I also have a short Halloween Special up my sleeve, which I'll post tomorrow (check it out!). Unfortunately it's unbetaed and probably full of horrendous grammatical mistakes (if you haven't noticed, I'm not a native). So if someone wants to beta it, feel free to message me! Thaaaanks :)
xxx