For the next few days up until New Year's Eve, it was the Malfoys' turn to play host for visiting families. Hermione could see why Narcissa and Lucius had taken her shopping; they wanted to show off their son's lovely girlfriend, and a Muggleborn witch at that, to show that not only were they rid of their prejudices, but that birth was not important to them anymore, even in their own family. There was not one fault with Hermione, except perhaps that she read too much.
The first callers were the Goyles. Although Mr. Goyle had been imprisoned for life in Azkaban, Mrs. Goyle and her son came. Hermione cringed when she saw that the Goyles had brought Pansy Parkinson with them, but was relieved to see that the two were holding hands. Draco was rather apathetic at seeing his old friends, although he was polite. While the adults got to talking, Draco and Hermione led them to a different sitting room to "catch up," as instructed by Narcissa.
Hermione and Draco sat down together across from Goyle and Pansy. After an awkward minute, Draco opened his mouth and said uncertainly, "So… are you two together?"
Before Goyle could respond, Pansy had opened her mouth and started saying, "Why, yes! Gregory and I have been dating since June. We're also going to buy a flat together soon, isn't that right, Greggy?"
Goyle looked conflicted at what to say. Finally, he muttered a "Fine, sure." and Pansy squealed, strangling him in a tight hug. Draco flashed a quick grin at Hermione, who felt sorry for Goyle, and at the same time, wondered why Draco had once subjected himself to this.
"So, how's school for you two? It must be a wonderful feeling to be able to live with your boyfriend while you're still at Hogwarts, isn't it, Mu- Granger?"
"Her name is Hermione." Draco said icily, and answered for his girlfriend, "And we have a great time at school together, especially with Ginny and Zacharias."
"Oh, those prats! I am so sorry that you have to deal with them. Goodness, if only your parents hadn't made you take another year of Hogwarts!"
"Actually, I'm glad." Draco replied coldly to the oblivious Pansy and head-drooping Goyle. "Because if they hadn't, I would never have been able to become this with Hermione." He picked up his girlfriend's hand and kissed the knuckles gently, plainly showing his affection.
Pansy barely noticed, as she had started prattling about all the other Slytherins in their year and what they had been up to for the past half-year. Goyle was quiet too, seeing as he had fallen asleep and was snoring gently. Nobody bothered to wake him up.
Thus, the afternoon passed by slowly as Pansy chattered perpetually about all the newest gossip. Hermione was rather jealous of Goyle's lovely nap, and Draco amused himself by replying sarcastically to all of Pansy's questions on her opinions.
Hermione was relieved when the visit was finally over, but couldn't help but feel weary from the fact that before Pansy left with Goyle and Mrs. Goyle, she had reminded Lucius and Narcissa that her family would be calling very soon, as well.
"Don't worry, I'll get us out of that." Draco had whispered into Hermione's ear. "We can go on a date or something. I'm sure Mother and Father wouldn't object to that."
Indeed, he was right. Lucius and Narcissa had no qualms about Draco and Hermione going to see another Muggle movie or go shopping, as long as they checked in during meal times. So, when the Parkinsons, Greengrasses, and Carrows visited, Draco and Hermione were out. They actually went to visit some of Hermione's Muggle friends and family, although Draco noticed that there was never once a mention of Hermione's parents. He wondered if he would ever learn their names.
However, when the Goyles, the closest friends to the Malfoys at the moment, visited again without Pansy, Hermione found that Gregory was decent company. That is to say, he didn't talk much and Draco and Hermione could just read to pass the time while their guest crashed on a plush sofa. Graham Montague and his parents visited as well, and Hermione was convinced that his brains had indeed been permanently addled from his trip in the Vanishing Cabinet, for he was rather loopy and reminded her of Lockhart after he had Obliviated his memory. However, he was tolerable enough, and Draco certainly had his fun inquiring about Montague's job as a janitor at the Leaky Cauldron.
Also, Blaise Zabini visited with his mother and her current husband, along with Theodore Nott, whose father was in Azkaban. Blaise and Draco struck up conversation right away, and he was respectful to Hermione as well. Nott was drawn to Hermione from the start, to everyone's surprise, and at the end of the day, Hermione concluded that she had made true friends with four Slytherins other than Draco now, and couldn't wait to tell Ginny and Harry.
Of course, the Slytherins in Ginny's year and below counted as well, but Hermione never imagined once that she would ever become friends with any of the Slytherins in her year. Draco reminded her that she had only made friends with the males in their year, and lightly suggested that Hermione was just being jealous, earning himself a shrill lecture.
"Oh PLEASE, Draco! Pansy is obviously infatuated with Greg, Astoria has her crush on Brevis, and you yourself called the Carrow twins ugly!" She was rather red in the face, and Draco was enjoying this, his Hermione being jealous.
"Aren't you worried about Daphne? I never gave an opinion on her." He smirked, knowing that would rile her up. Daphne was beautiful, the light version of Astoria. With her golden blond hair that flowed down gracefully in tresses, statuesque build, and sky-blue eyes, no one would ever find her plain.
It was Hermione's turn to smirk. "Actually, I'm not worried about her at all. In case you haven't heard, Daphne's rumored to have a crush on Blaise, courtesy of Pansy. But I doubt that you listened to her, being you. So even if you did fall for Daphne, she wouldn't have you anyways, dear." Draco's smirk turned into a scowl.
"Oh my, what if they get married?" Hermione gasped, clasping her hands together. "They would have the most beautiful babies in the world!"
Draco snorted. "Don't get ahead of yourself. They're not even dating yet."
"That's what you think." Hermione said with a wink. Draco shot her a look, and she replied innocently, "Ginny tells me EVERYTHING. Do you think she could be wrong?"
Draco couldn't think of a retort. Ginny was always right, and he had to admit that. He chose instead to argue with her on another point. "They wouldn't have the most beautiful babies. After Veela babies and another kind of baby, maybe. But it's alright, Blaise won't mind settling for third-class."
Hermioen rolled her eyes. "And what exactly is the most beautiful kind of baby, Draco Malfoy?"
Draco flashed a brilliant smile. "Our babies."
On New Year's Eve, Hermione was standing in the parlor of Malfoy Manor wearing an outrageous fire-truck red dress. It was floor-length, the sleeves flowed to her wrists and puffed out, and the neckline was a deep "v" that plunged to her rib cage, showing off her bosom. For her jewelry, she wore only Draco's locket and Zacharias's earrings. And for her shoes, she wore the same black pumps she had bought back in September. Her hair had been styled to cascade down her back in elegant but also free curls for a natural feel, and Narcissa had basically applied make-up to her face with the force of a snow-blower. However, Hermione found it amusing that she, a girl, was done dressing before Draco Malfoy. Narcissa was cooing over her and making sure her wrap was secured around her shoulders while Lucius was looking impatiently at his watch and muttering something that sounded suspiciously like "That wretched boy!"
Lucius and Narcissa were to have a quiet New Year's Eve with Andromeda and Teddy, which they were thankful for, as the past few days of entertaining the pure-blooded guests had exhausted them. Although most of them were over their blood prejudices, (in public, at least), they were still very demanding and ready to slyly criticize any weakness of the great Malfoys. However, Lucius and Narcissa had held their heads high, according to Miffi, and showed their guests that although their ideals and views had changed, they were still a respectable and powerful family.
Draco finally came downstairs clad in black velvet dress robes. His tie was green and red striped, making Hermione wonder if he had forgotten that they had already celebrated Christmas, a thought that Lucius expressed with much humor.
"Son." he had called, as Draco descended and smirked appropriately at the women's fond gazes to their blond angel. "You do realize that Christmas is over, right?" Draco nodded as he reached the floor and swept into an elegant bow, making the ladies giggle. Lucius, however, was not amused.
"Then, pray tell, dear Draco, why you are wearing that horrible abomination of a tie that clashes so horribly with your robes? Or did you accidentally swallow some potion that made you temporarily color-blind?" Lucius drawled.
Draco made a face at his father, and replied smoothly. "I was wearing it as a gesture of goodwill. I'm not exactly on the best of terms with the people whose party we're going to tonight, and much of it has to do with the fact that we were in opposing Houses at school, so this is me trying to make peace. Gryffindor and Slytherin, you see?"
"Well, did the colors really have to be so… solid? Lucius gave a strangled sort of retch as his wife pinched him hard from behind and hissed, "Alright, Lucius darling, let's just send the children off. They're late as it is, thanks to our little Princess over there, and I'd like to head over to Andromeda's as soon as possible. Teddy really is such a brilliant child!"
Draco grinned at his parents and quickly took Hermione's arm. "See you tomorrow!" he laughed, implying that they would be back after midnight. As he waved his wand, Hermione called, "Send our love to Aunt Andie and Teddy!"
In a whoosh, Draco and Hermione landed in the field next to the Burrow. Fireworks were being set off everywhere in the sky, and lights shone brightly from around and within the house. Hermione spotted George Weasley, along with Angelina Johnson, igniting the fireworks.
"George! Angelina!" she called, dragging Draco over with her across the snowy field. The night was frosty, but Hermione's mink wrap kept her nice and warm, as did Draco's arm around her shoulders. "It's so good to see you!"
"Hermione!" Angelina squealed, dashing over as quick as she could in her heels and giving the younger girl a hug. "You look lovely, and it's been so long! Come on in, George and I are just testing out the starter fireworks for when midnight comes!"
"Those are starter fireworks?" Hermione asked incredulously, watching a flock of dragons and unicorns dance across the night sky and play with the stars.
"Indeed they are, my friend. " George had finally set off the last fireworks and joined their group. He picked Hermione up and spun her around, making her shriek with laughter. "It's been ages, Mione! How come you haven't been visiting my shop? Did my love potions not work out for you? Or did you make your own?" he asked, smirking pointedly at Draco, who turned beet red.
Hermione laughed, barely noticing the dark hole on the side of George's head. "If you've seen the Daily Prophet, then you should already know all about it. Or, I forgot, you do know how to read, am I right?"
Angelina roared with laughter and George feigned hurt, moaning, "Just because me and Fred only got three O.W.L's-"
"I'm hungry." Draco interrupted, and for a moment there, Hermione thought that it had been Zacharias speaking. But thank goodness for that interruption, for Hermione didn't know what would have happened had the group fallen silent at the mention of the deceased Fred Weasley's name.
"Well, let's go in then." Angelina suggested. Hermione knew that she hadn't been a fan of Draco since fifth year, when he had cost Gryffindor's Quidditch team its Beaters and Seeker, but she appreciated her effort to be civil. She was also proud of Draco, too, for not calling George "Weasel." However, it wasn't saying much, as he hadn't greeted either of the two.
The four of them trudged in, and Hermione, holding Draco's hand, saw that George and Angelina were doing the same thing. Her mind became torn between happiness and awkwardness as it became evident that they were obviously going out as well. She was happy that Angelina hadn't melted into a Cho Chang after the death of her previous boyfriend, but thought it a bit morbid that she had moved on in the way of dating Fred's identical twin.
As George opened the door for Angelina, with Draco and Hermione behind them, Ron's face came into view. He lunged.