A/N: Hello my lovely readers. Unfortunately, I am late posting again; real life continues to intrude on my writing. I hope to post a new chapter each weekend instead of Fridays as I hoped to accomplish early on.
You might have noticed that I changed the summary of THe Auror Mentalst in regards to the case Draco and Hermione will be working on together; the victims will not be murdered, per se, but they will be greatly "altered" ~ don't worry they won't be zombies! My beta thinks this change will make the story more "magical" and I agree, it will also explain why Hermione was not immediately called in to help. We will get to the case soon!
As always, thanks for the reviews, favorites and follows! They make my day!
Chapter 8
In a new little wizard pub around the corner, Hermione's sipping on a warm butterbeer while mindlessly playing with the label, preoccupied with thoughts of Draco and their earlier conversation. Although Ginny is busy eating, she's not totally blind to her companion's musings as most of her brothers would be around food, especially Ron, the dolt. She has to tread carefully with Hermione to get truthful answers though, not that she thinks she would lie to her, she wouldn't, but she's not sure she is ready to be honest with herself about her attraction to Malfoy.
She ponders on her inquiry then decides to just ask a few straightforward questions about today and go from there. "What did you think about the flat in Malfoy's building?"
Hermione's eyes light up, "It is perfect; it is beautiful and fully furnished." Hermione's expression darkens as she notices the label peelings scattered across the table top and a crease develops between her eyebrows as she scowls at her handiwork and pushes the pieces together into a little pile, concentrating on it instead of looking back at Ginny; her shoulders sag when she says, "I don't even want to go and look at the other flats this afternoon, but I guess I will have to as I am sure I will not be able to afford that one."
Ginny tries to lighten her mood and hopes to fish for information about Malfoy at the same time when she says, "It has an amazing view." Her eyebrow wiggle goes unnoticed as Hermione continues to add more label peelings to the pile, she answers in a longing tone, almost a sigh, "Yes, it has quite a lovely view of a garden park."
Obviously, subtly isn't working today, a more direct approach is necessary; "Since you aren't eating I am assuming Malfoy fed you?"
This gets a chuckle out of Hermione, and when she looks up at Ginny her eyes are twinkling a bit. "Yes, Draco made us a lovely little meal of hot sandwiches and soup."
Ginny almost choked at this, she is coughing for a minute before she is able to take a drink and ask incredulously, "Malfoy cooked for you, himself?"
This makes Hermione laugh, especially since she was concerned that she was going to have to do the Heimlich maneuver on Ginny until a moment ago. "Yes, I was surprised as well, but luckily I hadn't had anything to eat yet myself so nothing to choke on."
Ginny throws her head back and laughs, "Good thing I wasn't there or I might have gone into shock if I had seen it."
Hermione drops her eyes and says quietly, "He's changed." She isn't sure how Ginny will respond to this.
Ginny berates herself, she often forgets that Hermione has lost most of her vim; she frowns when she thinks of how much her bloody git of a brother had to do with it. As to encourage her she reaches out and places a hand on Hermione's and says softly, "I've seen it and Harry's shared stories about him as well."
Hermione just nods and removes her hand from Ginny's and starts on the label again, she is lost in thought about what her surrogate family and Harry will think about her spending time with Draco; it is one thing to say someone has changed, it is another to befriend them. It is at this point that she really accepts that Draco is her friend. Am I foolish? She lets out a long sigh. Why do I question everything now? Her thoughts flit back to Ginny; she dreads her inevitable questions about Draco saying in the lift he wouldn't tell her about another case. Why did I use that as a distraction question? If I had been thinking clearly… Ugh! I want to scream at myself! Another sigh, she might as well just put it out there since she is about to get a place of her own anyway.
Ginny's watching all the different emotions play across her friend's face; she knows she is second guessing herself. She misses the old Hermione who was never afraid to speak what she thought; she will do everything she is capable of to help her get there again. She is about to tell her she should go out with Malfoy when Hermione starts talking.
She tells her about the day she ran into Draco at the Leaky Cauldron, about how they spent the afternoon talking, and then finished their Christmas shopping together; although she leaves out the part about the panic attack. They talk about the case he told her about, and Ginny laughs telling Hermione the whole team knew about their coach's multiple affairs as she had been in an arranged marriage and her former husband was a control freak and a 'troll in the bedroom.' Hermione then tells her in detail about this afternoon and his apology, she leaves out everything about the hugging and comforting touches as well as her kiss on his cheek; she doesn't really want to share that with anyone. "He's really changed for the better since Hogwarts."
Ginny replies, "Well, haven't we all?" Hermione nods, but thinks that Ron hasn't but pushes that thought from her mind focusing again on Draco, she wants to tell Ginny more, but what more is there to tell? That Draco is a friend, that maybe she likes him more than that, that she can get lost in those storm clouds he has for eyes and that his touch is comforting and a turn on at the same time? She shuts her eyes and regulates her breathing instead.
Ginny can tell Hermione is holding something back about Malfoy, so she decides to wait until later to push her about dating him, but that doesn't mean she can't put other ideas in her head if she isn't having them already. "So, ready to see the other flats?" Ginny asks while pulling some money out of her purse to pay for her meal.
"I guess we might as well get it done," Hermione says unenthusiastically. Both girls pull on their coats and head toward the entrance.
Ginny decides to go ahead and push a little and hopefully let Hermione know she approves of Draco when she says, "Well, nothing's going to compare to the view in Malfoy's building." Ginny quirks her eyebrow playfully at Hermione.
Hermione responds brightly, "The garden park will be beautiful this spring."
"Well, I was talking about the view of the fit blonde. With the initials of D.M." Ginny giggles.
"What?" Hermione asks dubiously, stopping in her tracks.
Ginny stops as well and gives Hermione a reproachful look, "Oh come on Hermione, both of you were drooling over each other in the elevator this morning."
"No," Hermione says loudly and it comes out as more of a question than an answer, her eyebrows raised up under her bangs in surprise to Ginny's words.
Ginny scoffs and shakes her head, "Come on Hermione, I saw the looks you were giving each other."
Hermione blushed and looks down, not believing what she is hearing and asks in a quiet voice, "How…how was he looking at me?"
"Like he wanted to eat you for lunch!" she exclaimed, enunciating each word.
"GINNY!" Hermione blurts out punctuating her friend's name by hitting her on the arm.
She cackles her response, "You asked! AND he was checking out your butt when we got off the elevator."
"Really?" Hermione asks scandalized.
"YES, REALLY! You are a beautiful woman and Malfoy obviously, sees it." Ginny smiles, Hermione looks a bit shaken but is smiling widely. Good job Ginny! She's figuratively patting herself on the back until she sees her smile falter.
In a small voice, Hermione asks stuttering, "What…what do you …uh …think …um …about that?"
She gives her friend her brightest smile and enthusiastically responds, "I think it's brilliant!" She loops arms with Hermione and says, "OK, which way to the next ruddy flat?"
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
After a fruitless afternoon the girls arrive at the Burrow where there's an eagle owl waiting on Hermione. She opens up the large envelope and there is a note with a lease agreement.
"The apartment is mine and the rent is actually less than my budget. It says since Draco has recommended me there is no deposit, I just sign and return the form and I can move in anytime. Oh wow! The keys are even here; I can use those or apparate as the wards have been reset for me already!"
Hermione's bouncing up and down and Ginny is grinning as she has't seen her this happy in ages.
"I'm so happy for you! I'll even be able to help you move in, and Harry will too. You have to have a house warming party."
"Of course! I can't believe I have my first place! Oh, let me sign this so the poor owl can leave."
Hermione puts the lease back in the envelope. "Would you like some treats before you go?" The elegant owl nuzzles her hand and she gets a couple treats out of the pantry for him. "Here you go. You are a very handsome owl." The owl makes a cooing like noise and nuzzles her hand again. She opens the window and the majestic creature swoops outside and into the air.
"I guess he knows where he is going. I should send Draco a note to tell him thank you." She heads upstairs to do just that, still a bit giddy.
Ginny smirks. Yes, Hermione is definitely crushing on Malfoy and from what she sees it is mutual. I wonder what strings the ferret, ok former ferret, pulled to get her the flat and so fast too, he is a Slytherin still, albeit a better one now.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Draco's owl returned around 6 pm. He opened the envelope and was ecstatic to see Hermione's signature on the lease; he tells himself it's only because it will be convenient since they will be working so closely together on this bizarre murder – or rather – not really murder case, in the sense of the word. Plus, he can keep an eye on her as she will be his partner. He hopes she will approve of that, he does and is especially thankful he will have someone intelligent to work with again. He already has his notes ready to give to her in the beginning of the new year. It has been a bloody irritating three months without her, grudgingly he admits Potter has good instincts but working with him every day gives him a migraine. He heads into his kitchen to make himself dinner, hoping it will distract him from everything.
A/N: Please let me know what you think! Thanks for reading.