Fated to love you: A Dramione Story by HP4lyfe2020
From Wattpad! All credits to her.
Chapter 4.
Dinner was a quiet affair with mostly the sounds of forks scratching plates and Ginny asking the occasional question to her guests. Hermione and Draco kept stealing glances at each other and looking away shyly when their eyes met.
After dinner they had tea and dessert in the drawing room. Ginny nudged Harry to encourage him to soften the atmosphere.
"Uh...have you guys ever played poker?"
Ginny and Draco both shook their heads with confusion while Hermione nodded enthusiastically.
Harry pulled out the cards and started explaining how to play. Soon they were all laughing and having a good time; At least Harry and Hermione were. Ginny and Draco were being very sore losers.
A few minutes into their fifth game, Draco saw the top of Teddy's head peek through the door. He looked like he had been crying. Draco looked over at Ginny to see if she had noticed her crying child. She hadn't; Her face was scrunched up in concentration as she was determined to win at least one round. Teddy stared at Draco for a few moments before he ran towards him and jumped into his startled arms. Harry and Hermione laughed at the fear-stricken look on Draco's face. Ginny still hadn't noticed, as she was still focused on her cards.
"Mummy who is this man?" Teddy asked as he reached up to play with Draco's pale blonde hair.
Ginny snapped out of her concentration, noticing that Teddy was there for the first time. "Teddy! What are you doing out of bed?" She reached for Teddy across the table.
Harry stopped her,"I'll get him Gin. He's too big for you to be carrying."
"I had a nightmare. Mummy you didn't answer my question." Teddy continued to play with Draco's hair.
"This is Mr. Malfoy, Aunt Hermione's friend," Ginny said with a slight smirk.
Hermione blushed behind her cards before Harry rescued her. "Okay Ginny let's get Teddy back to bed." She scowled but stood up as Harry took Teddy from Draco.
Draco and Hermione stood up as well. "I should probably go--" They both said at the same time.
"Aww! Well thanks for coming! We must do this again soon." She gave them both a hug. "We'll see you next week at the Burrow for Sunday lunch right Hermione?"
Hermione nodded, "Thank you for dinner you guys and congratulations again!"
Teddy jumped out of Harry's arms and ran to Hermione. "You didn't give me a hug and kiss Aunt 'Mione!"
"You are so right Teddy bear! You were in bed when I got here." She scooped him up and started kissing him all over. "Can you forgive me?"
He giggled and squirmed in her arms. "I guess so, if you and Mr. Malfoy will take me for ice cream. Aunt 'Mione, are you going to get married to Mr. Malfoy like Uncle Ron and Aunt Padma are?"
Ginny suppressed a laugh as Hermione's face turned bright red.
"Alright Ted, that's enough. Let's go to bed," Harry said in a no nonsense voice as he picked Teddy back up.
"It was nice having you over Draco. We should do this again sometime." Harry shook Draco's hand and gave Hermione a hug before walking out of the drawing room.
Draco turned to Hermione, "Would you like to take a walk so we can catch up some more?"
"Oh! Sure, that sounds fun." Hermione replied, strategically avoiding Ginny's gaze.
"Well goodnight you two! I'm sure you can show yourselves out," Ginny said with a wink as she left the room.
Hermione shook her head in embarrassment. "I am so sorry about her Draco."
He smiled in amusement. "It's okay...how about that walk? Or a drink? Maybe the Leaky Cauldron?"
"Uh sure, let's go."
They walked out into the cold night air and Hermione instinctively drew closer to Draco. He smirked down at her. "Missed me that much Granger?" Before she could respond he grabbed her hand and apparated.
Hermione stumbled slightly as they landed and cursed him as she regained her bearings. "Bloody hell Draco! You could have at least warned me."
"It wouldn't have been as funny if I warned you," he laughed. "Come on, let me buy you a drink."
She scowled at him defiantly but followed him into the Leaky Cauldron. She sat down at a table while he ordered drinks from the bar. He brought back a butterbeer for her and a fire whiskey for himself. She was surprised that he remembered her favorite drink.
"So, Granger," Draco said as he took a sip of his drink, "Now that we're no longer under the watchful eye of Weaslette, catch me up. What's been going on for the last four years."
Hermione laughed. "Her name is Ginny, Draco. She is the queen of meddling in people's personal lives; More specifically, MY personal life. But that's neither here nor there. I've been good! Just working a lot."
"What work do you do?"
"I work in the Improper Use of Magic Office, well actually I just got promoted to the head of the office."
"Wow! Hermione that's great! I'll drink to that." He raised his glass to her before draining it.
"Oh please, you were going to drink anyways," she smirked. "What about you? What has the great Draco Malfoy been up to?"
"I'm a healer at St. Mungo's but you knew that, so nothing much other than leaving a string of broken-hearted girls behind me."
She rolled her eyes. "Speaking of heart breakers, how is Blaise?"
"Blaise is good! He and Pansy are getting married next year."
"Blaise?! Zabini?! Married? Well...I thought I'd never see the day. He was such a player back in school."
"That's what I said too! But I guess Pansy tamed him. You want another drink?"
"Yeah, but I think I want some firewhiskey," she replied, biting her lip.
He raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Whoa, what happened to you Granger? Think you can hang with the big boys now?"
"Whatever Draco! I can hold my liquor better than you think I can. Besides, this was a long week; I need something strong and the butterbeer isn't cutting it. I'll get this round." She stuck her tongue out and walked over to the bar.
Draco watched her walk away. She was prettier than he remembered, and more shapely too. He watched as she leaned across the bar to order, having to stand on her tiptoes even in her heels. He shook his head. They were friends; She'd never see him as more than that.
She came back and slammed the two drinks on the table. She pulled her hair down, shook it out and leaned over the table staring at Draco. He stared at her cleavage for a moment before he pulled himself together. "Look, Draco. I haven't had a fun night out since Ginny's hen party and that was two years ago. You always knew how to bring out the wild in me after we left Hogwarts. I need you to show me a good time tonight." She raised her glass to him. "What do you say?"
He didn't respond for a moment before he smiled at her. "I say...I missed you Granger." He tapped his glass to hers and they both drained their drinks.
"Alright, go home, put on the sexiest dress you own and meet me back here in 30 minutes." He turned to leave.
"Draco wait!" Hermione grabbed his arm. "This IS the sexiest dress I own."
He stared at her. "Seriously? Oh wow, Hermione that's not going to cut it. You're going to have to come with me." He took her hand and led her outside. "I'm going to prepare now, are you ready?" He shot Hermione a smug look. "Was that enough warning?"
She rolled her eyes as they were sucked into nothingness.
Back at Grimmauld Place, Harry and Ginny were sitting in the kitchen having a cup of tea while the dishes were washed themselves.
"Do you think it worked Harry?" Ginny asked distractedly.
"Do I think what worked?"
She frowned at him. "Hermione and Draco. Did you see the way he looked at her?"
"I didn't see anything Gin. Stop worrying about it. If something is going to happen you have to let it happen organically. You've got to stop meddling in Hermione's personal life."
"Well I'm sorry Harry!" she snapped. "I'm just trying to figure out what I'm going to do for the next...however long I can't play quidditch since I'm carrying your kid."
He sighed and rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. "I'm sorry love, I didn't realize you were looking for a distraction. Do you want me to ask at the ministry if there are any openings?"
"No dear that's okay. I'm meeting with Gwenog tomorrow tomorrow to discuss my options. Maybe she'll let me coach the reserve team."
"Are you upset about the baby?"
Ginny looked up from her tea surprised. "Of course not! I'm so happy, honestly. I'm just trying to figure out my next steps career wise."
"You know you could always stay home if you want to...Spend more time with Teddy and then the baby when he or she comes."
"I know I could but you know I would be bored out of my mind."
"Well, just think about it Gin. Teddy's about school age and he still hasn't learned to control his appearance or his magic; We can't really send him to muggle primary school. So if you're not going to homeschool him we're going to have to look for a tutor."
She sighed. "Maybe you're right, I don't know."
Harry stood up. "You don't have to decide right now, let's just take a few days and we'll think it over." He kissed her on her cheek and grabbed her hand. "But right now, all I can think about is how good you look in this dress and how I can't wait to get you out of it."