Chapter Five: (Still) Life With an Old Enemy
"I need to speak with you."
Hermione turned swiftly, startled by voice. Her gaze landed on the figure of Draco Malfoy, leaning lazily against the wall and smiling in a vague way off into the room. He looked for all the world a man who hadn't even noticed Hermione next to him, let along having just been close enough to her that she felt his lips ghost the shell of her ear.
Hermione had been at Blaise's party for perhaps an hour, long enough to know that Malfoy was in attendance, but until this point she hadn't caught a glimpse of him. The "dinner" had turned out to be a real party: couples mingling, house elves (much to Hermione's distaste) swooping about taking care of glasses and plates, offering guests food. It was a much more elegant affair than Hermione's own party two nights prior, but she was having a surprisingly good time.
"What about?" Hermione murmured back, not anxious to engage in conversation with Malfoy while in full view of a great number of the Wizarding World's elite, with a few true gossips thrown in for good measure. She glanced around the room quickly, taking in her boyfriend speaking with Blaise, and laughing heartily. He had been keeping Laurence occupied for the past twenty minutes, and while she was glad to see them catching up, she felt a little uneasy.
"It's private," Malfoy answered, turning his attention on her fully. She felt the intensity of his gaze burn into her, and reflected that he at least did not have any qualms about gossip.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Draco, I know you're rather used to getting everything the way you want it, but I have a boyfriend with me, and I can't just wander off with strange men unannounced just because you tell me it's "private" .
Malfoy scowled, and locked eyes once again with Hermione. After an apparent debate with himself, he nodded at her.
"It's about my father," Malfoy continued, his words causing her body to stiffen. "He isn't dead."
A/N: This is super short, but not the whole chapter, either. I've come out of hibernation, and offer this token of peace to my readers: a whole new chapter by Tuesday. I changed the name of the story, because after almost a year of a break, my aim with this story is different. Many plot lines have been long discarded, but I've come to one that incorporates the old angst-y romance fic with a new sort that I haven't tried before. Maybe it'll be a miserable failure, maybe not. But it's back! Look for the rest of the chapter by Tuesday (14.12.04) evening!