Chapter 15

Always...

"Thanks for letting us stay for Christmas, Alex," Draco said softly as they observed Ara and Scorp sitting by the fire, sipping their hot chocolate.

"It's not a problem. Anything to get you two away from your father," Alex replied. "I haven't seen your mom since the funeral. How's she doing?"

"Acting the perfect pureblood wife," Draco returned evenly. "She seems like she's planning something, but I don't know what, and I truly can't tell."

"Hmm," Alex pondered. "I'm also surprised that your Dad hasn't done anything, being the head of the family and all. Nothing with Medrex, nothing with Scorpius, nothing with Malfoy Enterprises... Nothing."

"That's worrisome," Blaise commented as he entered the room, levitating a tea set behind him.

"He's planning something," Draco decided as he poured himself some hot water, tossing Alex her favorite Vanilla Almond tea bag and opting for Earl Grey himself.

"What's your mother been doing the last few weeks?" Alex asked him.

"Well, I don't really know," Draco shrugged. "I know she cancelled the Malfoy Christmas Ball out of respect for Tori, and she's been the main planner for the Ministry New Year's Ball, so she's probably had to deal with those preparations. As well as my father..." Draco trailed off.

"Which, you are going to, right?" Alex inquired.

"Let me think- no," Draco scoffed.

"Draco, you have to come," Alex huffed. "I get it Draco, Astoria hasn't been gone for even a month, but this is, unfortunately, business and politics. You're the CEO, honestly Draco."

"She's right, mate," Blaise added from his leather-backed chair.

"Of course she's right, she's your wife," Draco settling deeper into his armchair, feet up on the coffee table.

"It's not just that," Blaise sighed. "The investors and shareholders are already worried that Tori's passing and your father's reemergence have thrown you off of your game. If you don't show up at the Ministry New Year's Ball, I can guarantee you that the stocks will fall. You have to go, for the company's sake," Blaise concluded.

"Merlin damn it all," Draco muttered. "What do we do with the kids?" he asked, pointing towards Ara and Scorp. Just then, Zayden came running into the room, tackling Scorp.

"SCORPY-POO!" Zayden cheered gleefully. "You better have gotten me a good present this time. That snitch you got me last year broke."

"How can a snitch break?" Scorp asked confusedly from the ground.

"More like Zayden smashed it into a tree when he got angry at something," Ara snorted.

"That wouldn't have broken it..." Scorp trailed off.

"-and exploded it with his accidental magic," Ara finished.

"Ah." Scorp warily eyed the little Zabini clinging onto him.

"Mother would be happy to watch them," Blaise sighed.

"So suit up, Draco, because you are going to this ball, whether you like it or not," Alex ordered, and Draco conceded, knowing he wouldn't win this argument.

"Hermione, you're going to the Ministry ball, right?" Chloe asked as she sat down in front of Hermione. Hermione glanced up from her paperwork and gave Chloe a disbelieving look.

"No, it's too early," Hermione said primly. "What would people say? Their beloved war heroine turned widow within months goes out partying again? No thanks, I can see the Prophet's headline right now."

"Seriously?" Chloe rolled her eyes. "You're actually concerned about your public image?"

"Yes," Hermione deadpanned. Chloe switched subjects.

"Has Narcissa sent out her invites to the Malfoy Christmas Ball?"

"I haven't seen anything come through, which is unusual. She normally sends them out in the beginning of December. Everything though, that happened with Draco's dad and Astoria probably kept her busy. There probably won't be one. Blaise and Alex won't have one either. "

"Yeah, Alex mentioned that it could be interpreted as disrespectful to Tori, so they decided that they better not. Too bad, I've been wanting to see Le Page since she's moved to Italy."

"Who?" Hermione asked, trying to recall someone named "Leh Pajuh".

"Paige? The curse breaker!"

"Oh, yes, I haven't seen her in awhile."

"Well, that's weird. I thought we lived in Italy," Chloe drawled sarcastically.

"No need to be Sarcastic Sally." Hermione shook her head, focusing back on the latest mermaid versus Cthulu settlement.

"Perhaps she'll be at the Ministry Ball. Which, by the way, reminds me. You're coming to the Ministry Ball, and you're finding a date," Chloe decided, standing up in her ridiculously high heels. She glared at Hermione, glasses completing her stern composure. That's that. I'll see you at my house on the first, probably starting at one o'clock. You better have a dress."

"Chloe!" Hermione protested, exasperated. "I'm not going, and that's final."

"Oh come on, Hermy. It'll be a new year. Time to heal and move on."

"Had I been moping for a year, at the very minimum, that argument might actually make sense."

"Call Ginny if you need help dress shopping in the next few weeks. As much as I hate the bitch, she has decent taste. Far more daring than you. In fact, how about this. I'll find you a date."

"For the last time, I'm not going!" Hermione huffed as her office door slammed shut behind Chloe.

"Happy Christmas!" the Weasleys cheered as Hermione, Rose, Hugo, and her parents entered the Burrow. Rose and Hugo quickly ran off to find Albus and the rest of their cousins, and Arthur had again pulled Hermione's parents to the side to inquire about the latest tablets and whatnot. Ginny caught Hermione's arm, dragging her to the living room where Harry and George were having a go at wizard's chess.

"Hey Hermione," Harry greeted as she approached, his focus, however, on avoiding the death of his queen.

"Hey Harry. George," she smiled, and he grinned back.

"So I heard from Chloe that you need a dress," Ginny said excitedly.

"I wasn't really planning to go, actually. Are you and Harry going? I just felt like it will be too early," Hermione said softly.

Ginny nodded sympathetically. "I get it," she sighed. "But Harry and I have to go anyways, him being Head Auror Potter and all. Sometimes being married to the Chosen One has its downsides."

"Well," Hermione began to reconsider. "If you want me there for support, I'll come."

Ginny grinned, Chloe's plan falling perfectly into place. "Oh would you? Hermione, you're such a good friend. I would really appreciate it, for my own sanity. Plus, I don't think I can take much of Fleur's babbling.

"Yes, all right, I'll come," Hermione agreed.

"Excellent!" Ginny cheered. "It'll be a wonderful start to the new year. We need to find dresses. After we wrap up the New Years' issue, I'm free all next week."

"Isn't this your Christmas vacation?" Hermione asked disbelievingly. "Parvarti must be a slave driver if she's demanding you work anytime before we're solidly in January."

"Nah, it's just this time, she and the rest of the editors recently got something good on the attacks happening in France, so she wants this issue to be special. As such, I have to sum up all the games that Britain's played in this year. It's not tough, just time consuming and rather tedious."

"Hah!" Harry's triumphant cry broke into their conversation, just as Molly announced dinner.

"Oh Molly, you've outdone yourself," Angelina's mother praised. The dinner table was massive, somehow managing to accommodate all of the children, the in laws, and the entire Weasley clan. Don't forget the food, too.

Conversation flowed easily, stuttering slightly as Harry turned to Ron's old spot for backup in a particularly heated debate with Angelina about the latest Puddlemere Quidditch game.

"Oliver Wood and Cho Chang, eh? I hear that they're finally going on their honeymoon, now that Alden's at Hogwarts" George piped up as Harry looked awkwardly away from the empty chair next to Hermione's. "Never thought that those two had a shot. I had heard that she married some muggle, but something didn't go well."

Audrey leaned into the conversation, ignoring Percy's latest discourse on the French attacks. "From the times we've made small talk at the Puddlemere reunions, she was desperate after the war, falling quickly without much thought."

"She should've waited to heal from the war," Ginny added disapprovingly. "She treated that poor bloke like a rebound."

"Well, in essence, he really was," Hermione pointed out. "At least she's doing well with Oliver. He's a good man."

"You would know," George waggled his eyebrows.

"Okay, that was one lunch in Diagon Alley, and that was years ago," Hermione scoffed.

"Pass the potatoes, please," Hugo piped up from his chair.

"Of course," Roxanne replied affectionately.

The rest of Christmas dinner went by smoothly, though Fleur's offer to buy dresses for Hermione and Ginny was politely turned down. After many hugs and presents, Hermione and her children retired for the night.

"Ready?" Alex asked, grinning up at her husband.

"Yes, I am. We'll see you kids tomorrow morning, all right? Behave for your grandmother," Blaise told Ara and Zayden. They nodded.

"Oh nonsense," Cedrina Sforza smiled. "They're always i miei angeli." My angels.

"That's good," Blaise replied, kissing his mother on the cheek.

"Naturalmente, and Alexandra, you are simply stunning. I told you this was il perfetto evening gown! Just look at the way the drop waistline perfectly accents that ruched bodice. That brooch, my dear!"

Alex grinned, looking down at the midnight blue taffeta. "Thanks Cedrina," Alex smiled.

"Off to the ball, you two. Go!"

The Zabinis said their goodbyes and apparated to the Ministry's main ballrooms for events such as these. Draco begrudgingly met up with them, one hundred percent in black.

"Why don't you ever try another color?" Blaise sighed.

"Because some people can't pull off a midnight blue suit like you can," Draco snapped. "I don't understand how you two manage to find a dress and suit that match perfectly like that."

"Cedrina," Alex answered. "Everything we get must be approved by her, and she decided that Blaise needed a custom-made suit to coordinate perfectly with this color."

Draco huffed. "I hate these bloody parties. Ah- there's Parkinson. Been worried about her recently, she just found out that she's pregnant." Draco drifted off into Pansy's direction. Alex nudged Blaise.

"Felix Flint," Alex whispered. Blaise nodded.

"Likely," he murmured in reply.

"Does she always dress like that?" Alex asked him. He nodded.

"Let's see, tightly fitted? Check. Red, black, hot pink, or green? It's red, so check. Sparkles and lace? Check. Tulle mermaid skirt? Yup. Definitely Pansy," Blaise laughed. "Oh look, there's everyone."

Alex and Blaise headed towards their university friends.

Laura Jordan and Chandler Finch-Fletchley, the expert broom makers, were smiling and chatting with Paige Caruso, who had been living in Italy with her husband Luca for a few years, now.

Blaise joined Lee and Justin in a discussion about the latest game between Britain and Ghana, while Alex began oohing over everyone's dresses.

"Laura, that white and green ball gown is simply stunning," Alex cooed. "It looks like you've just been married!"

Laura smiled. "Well, it's our anniversary in a few days, so I felt inspired. But take a look at Paige – this newly Italian woman. Gorgeous, I haven't gotten around to tell you that," Laura grinned, her curls bouncing.

It was true. Paige's slimming white dress was both simple yet perfectly accentuated with its low-cut back and beaded one shoulder strap. Chandler also looked beautiful in her green ball gown, with black flowers scattered across the bodice and full skirt.

"Thanks," Paige grinned. "Looking sharp Alex. Have you seen Chloe's heels? And that black dress. Merlin, she's got the gloves, a gigantic ballgown, and the whole ensemble."

"She still hasn't gotten over her shoe fetish, has she?" Chandler sighed, shaking her head.

"No, she hasn't," Alex smirked.

"Here comes Tash and Megan!" Laura cheered, waving their former roommates over.

"Tash, that forest green is really wonderful on you," Chandler smiled.

"Why thank you," Tash grinned, swishing around the beautifully draped chiffon. Megan bounced up in her bright red ball gown, complete with a full ruffled skirt.

"Malfoy still doesn't trust me," Megan giggled, reminding us of the time she had turned him into a platypus. "Honestly, you would have thought he would've gotten over it by now."

"Well when you make a whole song out of it to make fun of Malfoypus…" Alex trailed off, smirking. "He won't ever trust you again. Despite having turned you into a tribble."

"Okay, I did deserve that," Megan conceded. "But anyways, I have news guys! I'm expecting!"

"How exciting!" "Congratulations!" everyone cheered.

"Boy or girl?" Chandler asked.

"We're waiting to see. If it's a boy, Dennis wants his name to be 'Dennis,' so that Henri can have a proper lifetime with Dennis as his brother." Megan detailed.

"Henri? I thought his name was Colin?" Laura asked, confused.

"Well his first name is Colin, but we call him by Henri because sometimes it's too much for Big Dennis."

"Aww, how sweet," Paige smiled. "Okay, sorry to interrupt, but who's that bitch in the black dress?"

The girls turned to look, spotting a tall dark-haired woman resplendent in a one-sleeved dress, black tentacles slithering across her collarbone. It was gorgeous, yet deadly looking. The sleek gown's swirling sleeve continued down the bodice, wrapping around her curves to give her the perfect illusion of a humanized black swan.

"Vaila Seris," Tash answered, making a face. "Adrian's family always drags me to these stupid Pureblood gatherings. She's always there."

"There's Kaelyn and Charlie," Alex pointed out.

"Where?" Chandler asked.

"In the purple? See the woman wearing the purple dress with the sweetheart neckline and the white embroidery?" Paige pointed.

"Ahh. Is that Cho in the gold?" Laura asked.

"Yeah, and Luna in the light blue. Ginny in the black, with the bejeweled strap," Chloe said, walking up to the group and dragging Hermione with her. "Ugh, I hate Ginny so much," Chloe sighed.

"I just don't understand why," Hermione said confusedly.

"Hermione, you are gorgeous," Alex complimented. The other girls nodded their heads in agreement, admiring the champagne colored ball gown.

"Thanks, but this sequined bodice is kind of itchy," she complained. "And I've never been a fan of sparkly, tulle skirts. Not this big. I would've preferred black, too, but you know Ginny."

"Oh shut your mouth," Chloe rolled her eyes.

"Nonsense," Megan dismissed. "It's a new year, Hermione. Breathe a little."

"Anyone seen Valmik and Regina?" Chandler asked. "Justin had heard a rumor that she's almost seven months along."

"Another one?" Paige asked. "I can't even keep up with my two girls."

"Prim and Rue, right?" Megan clarified.

"Yup. Forget having five children. That's ridiculous."

"Okay, someone tell me, what on Earth has been going on in France?" Alex asked, namely facing Megan. "The Prophet's been rather useless about it. My sister's been in France for a while, thought she should be here later tonight. I'm a bit worried."

Hermione pursed her lips. "Ginny said that she had to work overtime because the editors of the Prophet actually got something good on the incidents occurring."

Megan sighed. "It wasn't so bad in September – there were a few riots over the new integration policies that the French Minister has been trying to put into place, but it's getting progressively worse. Loads of muggleborns going missing or murdered, their advocates and advocates for werewolf right hurt as well. It's an utter mess. The Minister's daughter was just kidnapped for the sole purpose of a bargaining chip. Whoever's behind these attacks wants the Ministry to repeal those policies, and hand power, unsurprisingly, to the Death Eaters."

"Is he going to give in?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"No idea. Dennis is already moving us back up here to the UK, and quite frankly I'm ready to leave France. Hogwarts is a better fit for Henri, anyways," Megan explained.

"Oh, there's your date, Hermione!" Chloe grinned, grabbing Hermione's arm, but she wouldn't budge.

"Who?" Hermione asked stubbornly, looking over the crowd of people.

"Your favorite vile, evil little cockroach," Chloe smirked, waving Draco over.

Hermione's eyes widened. "Chloe!" she shrieked. "Of all the fucking people to set me up with, you set me up with him?"

"My my, little Miss Goody Two Shoes swears like a sailor. Watch your language," Chloe scolded, a huge grin on her face as Draco approached. The rest of the girls were watching with mild amusement.

"All right Loomer, who did you set me up with? She better be gorgeous, because I am honestly not in the mood to tolerate just any dumb bint. Pansy's destroyed all of my patience for the night," Draco stated boredly.

"If you in any way find me a dumb bint, then we can happily separate for the night and never see each other again," Hermione snapped. Draco's eyes narrowed.

"You set me up with her? Loomer, for Merlin's sake, I asked for someone who would just help me with the blasted publicity, not create bloody more of it!"

"Honestly Draco, we've known each other for over a decade. I think we should be on a first name basis by now," Chloe continued to smirk, which Draco found all the more irritating.

"Um, Chloe dear, I don't know if you've noticed, but it's Malfoy," Chloe's husband, Zacharias Smith, said from behind her.

"True, I guess. The least you could do is call me Smith, now."

"There are too bloody many Smiths in the world. Haven't we gone over this since Smith came?" Draco snapped, still aggravated.

"You mean Matt?" Blaise clarified, stepping into the conversation. He grinned, enjoying the livid look on Hermione's face, perfectly matched to Draco's flaring nostrils.

"Yes the bloody Canadian bloke," Draco affirmed stiffly.

"Him and his bagged milk," Alex giggled.

"This still doesn't change the fact that you set us up, specifically so!" Hermione protested.

"No, it doesn't. And unless you somehow manage to find another single woman here besides Vaila Seris, you're going to have to pose with Hermione for the rest of the night," Chloe laughed.

"I hear a tango coming on," Zach wriggled his eyebrows at Chloe, and she gave him a disparaged look.

"In these shoes?" she raised an eyebrow.

"For fuck's sake, Loomer! You can run in heels better than you can sit in your flats. Get out of my sight before I murder you!" Draco snarled. Zach led Chloe away, who was openly snickering and threw a wink back towards Alex, who returned it.

But even after Chloe's departure, Draco and Hermione found no peace in their surroundings.

"Well, well, well. Mr. Zabini and Mr. Malfoy, you have certainly outdone yourselves," Vaila Seris sneered haughtily, aloofly holding her thin glass of the magical version of champagne.

"Sorry?" Blaise asked, confused but wary.

"Gorgeous. Intelligent. Surprisingly sophisticated for girls who haven't been raised in... British high society," Vaila smirked. "In other words, the perfect dates. And yet you still manage to break the rules."

"I wasn't aware that there were any rules dictating whom I can and cannot bring," Draco drawled.

"Don't play daft, Malfoy, it doesn't suit you," she snapped.

"Well, care to elaborate?" Hermione asked, annoyed.

"But of course. It's my duty to educate those unfamiliar with our traditions. You," she pointed to Alex. "For example. I don't think the word 'pureblood' exists in American society."

"Just because it isn't a concept we often consider doesn't mean it doesn't exist," Alex answered smoothly.

"Well, if I were American, I'd be asking you to recite the last ten generations on both sides of your family."

"And if you were American, I'd be happy to answer," Alex shot back.

Vaila paused, knowing she had been just outplayed. She reevaluated the woman before her. "Well played," she conceded. "And you?" she whirled on Draco. "What do you have to say for yourself? Bringing along a Mudblood?" she hissed.

"Ah, I was waiting to get to that," Hermione sighed.

"I'd prefer it if you did not use that sort of language in... Hermione's and my presence," Draco growled.

"Hermione's and my presence? Not our? Not 'in front of me and my date?' Well, what an interesting development," Vaila said slowly, tapping her finger to her chin. "My apologies, Mrs Weasley, for my... political incorrectness. Well, Draco, don't think you can get off so easily next time."

"I wasn't aware that we were on a first name basis," Draco growled.

"Well, it's not like there are any rules to... how did you put it? Dictate how I address you, or where respect is due... and is not. Just know, in your present company, well, that there are certain consequences."

"I'm glad you have assuaged our fears that repercussions would fall upon those undeserving," Hermione said slowly with narrowed eyes.

"Oh, I never said anything about that. Merely, I was suggesting that certain people ought to watch themselves. One American or Mudblood toe out of line is all it takes."

"Ms. Seris," Blaise said sternly.

"My apologies, again," Vaila feigned innocence. "That sort of vocabulary just comes too easily, being raised in respectable society and all. Good evening," she said dismissively, strutting to both the next couple conversing quietly.

"What a bitch," Hermione commented once Vaila was out of earshot.

"Believe it or not, I was actually betrothed to her once upon a time," Draco said seriously. Hermione nearly spit out Narcissa's carefully selected champagne.

"She's a bloody menace, that one," Blaise scoffed. Hermione flinched, recognizing a familiar line. "Lucky you didn't have to marry her, mate."

"No kidding," Alex snorted. "But it looks like she benefitted too, seeing that she's the most eligible bachelorette in Britain."

"Her?" Hermione asked incredulously.

"Yup," Alex answered morbidly.

"Let's dance," Blaise smiled, twirling Alex to the dance floor.

Draco and Hermione were left awkwardly standing next to each other, both silently watching the other couples dancing to a waltz. They stood there, side by side, for the duration of several dances.

"Why are we doing this again?" Hermione asked, finally breaking the silence.

"Doing what?" he asked dryly.

"This, " Hermione repeated, gesturing back and forth between them.

"The awkwardness, or the unfortunate trusting of Loomer?" Draco clarified.

"More the first part. How did we get here?" Hermione asked softly. "From archenemies, to friends, to... partners, to this..."

"Partners?" Draco snorted. "Was that all we were?"

"Well, I don't know what to call it. Lovers is a bit too intimate, but I agree that partners is too dry. We weren't officially a couple, so... ugh!" Hermione gave up, exasperated.

"Reality happened, " Draco answered.

Hermione fell silent, her eyes returning to the dance floor.

Draco sighed, offering his hand.

"Shall we dance?"

Hermione bit her lip, looking up to meet his silver eyes. Not trusting herself to speak, she nodded, placing her hand in his.

Draco led her out to a simple waltz, swaying gently to the music. As they circled around the dance floor, different couples smirked (namely Chloe and Zach, as well as Alex and Blaise), others gaped (Dean and Parvarti, Wayne and Susan, Anthony and Tracey, the rest of the entire ballroom), and the photographers worked themselves into a frenzy. The couple tried their best to ignore the flashes and busting gossipers, but Hermione quickly became fed up.

"Remind me why we couldn't just have walked our separate ways?" Hermione asked, gritting her teeth.

"Because I need to show that I'm capable of running my damn company, " Draco shot back.

"How does having a date to a Ministry ball have anything to do with that?"

"To show that I'm strong enough to deal with my wife's death on top of my father's reappearance. I show the public that I'm not hiding in a hole with grief. That I am perfectly fine, and not afraid of the female gender. That I am in control of myself, and therefore my company," Draco explained.

"Wouldn't it be more scandalous to come with a date only weeks after being widowed?" Hermione asked.

"Perhaps in the general public world, but not so in the business world. It's not uncommon for major business heads to have affairs on the side. I'm more concerned about image in that world, as opposed to the readers of the Daily Prophet. "

"Please tell me that you'll shut down any rumors of infidelity. "

"Of course, you're merely a friend who has helped me cope with Astoria's death since your similar experience with Weasley."

"Perfect, " Hermione approved, buying the story.

"So for the remainder of tonight, smile and wave," Draco murmured.

"Don't tell me we have to take any pictures. Please," Hermione groaned. Seeing Draco's raised eyebrow, she sighed in defeat. "You were planning for a whole article to be printed about you, weren't you? And that's why you really needed a date."

"You know me too well," Draco shrugged as the dance ended. He leant in, whispering in her ear. "In fact, why don't we cause some more gossip so that one of the reporters finds us and gets the whole interview over with?"

Hermione played along, pasting on a mysterious smile. "Better now than later," she muttered back in a low voice. "In fact, why don't we pass by all of those gawking people holding hands?"

"You've spent far too much time in the presence of Slytherins," Draco smirked, grabbing her hand and deliberately flaunting it in front of the crowd. Soon enough a crowd of reporters elbowed their way through the crowd.

"Mr. Malfoy!"

"Mrs. Weasley!"

"Could I get a quote-"

"Stand for a picture, please?"

"How long have you been dating-?"

"Are you dating at all?"

"Didn't your wife just pass aw-?"

"What would your husband sa-?"

One woman, completely bleached blonde and complete with some obnoxious coral lipstick, managed to shove her way to the front.

"Sheila Kessly, for Glamour Witch Magazine. Give me the lowdown on your appearance tonight together. Did you two have a secret love affair during your marriages, only to be freed after your respective partners passed away?"

"Love affair?" Hermione laughed softly. "No, of course not. It's been hard, you know? Losing the one you love."

"So why are you together here at the Ministry Ball?" another man shouted out from the crowd. A sudden hush had fallen over everyone, all waiting to hear the answer.

"Just to be frank, we are friends, both healing from the loss of our significant others," Hermione clarified.

Draco cleared his throat. "You all know Hermione, our most caring and supportive heroine. It's in her nature to protect and save other people. My grief over... my lost love," Draco choked, and Hermione patted him on the back soothingly. "It was unbearable. But Hermione shares my pain. She knows how hollow you feel, when you lose your everything. She's made me stronger, and she's helped me to see how... Tori is in a better place. That's why I asked her to accompany me to the Ball today. She's shown me how to accept that Tori's suffering, is now over. And although I'll dearly miss her, Hermione has shown me how Tori would want me to move on, not prolong my suffering."

"We've found strength in each other," Hermione added softly. "Who would you go to a Ball with, if you had lost your soulmate? We're secure with each other, and we keep moving."

"Everyone needs a Gryffindor sooner or later," Draco joked a little tearfully, and some of the reporters laughed.

"So how did you reconnect?" the same man asked, apparently unsatisfied with the material they had provided him. "Shaun Cible, from Magi-Chic. Sources have leaked that you met in Australia, and were definitely more than friends? What broke you up? Why did you reconnect now?"

"More than friends?" Hermione asked, laughing a little. "What on Earth gave you that idea?"

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Shaun, you must be making a secondary school mistake. Boys and girls can be best friends and not be dating," he rolled his eyes, smiling a bit to show that he was joking, but Shaun took the hint and backed off.

"Truth is that we were indeed friends in Australia, but life got in the way, you know?" Hermione appealed to the crowd. "We've all had friends that distanced over time, whether we wanted to distance or not." Reporters nodded their heads sympathetically. "But when Ron..." Hermione bit her lip, and Draco gripped her hand. She smiled up at him sadly. "When Ron was taken from us, Draco was immediately by my side. I could only return the favor when we lost Tori."

"Pose for a few pictures?" Sheila grinned, her white teeth gleaming a tad bit threateningly.

"Of course," Draco answered smoothly.

The rest of the night, they held hands, braving the flashes of cameras and whispers of gossip. Chloe Smith smirked the entire way through.

AN: Hey guys! Summer is here! Hopefully I can pick up the pace! Thanks much to Snape'sPaige394 especially for coming up with the reporters and their magazines. More dramione, coming your way! Only a few more chapters left, and things are about to happen next chapter! Thanks for the reviews guys, I love hearing your feedback. Go Norway and Iceland! Can't wait to hear your reactions to the next chapters. Oh! And by the way, most of the dresses described are on my profile, so you can go view them there! Till the next chapter - and I have plans! Muahahahaha :D