A/N: Someone is a smarty... they caught my HUGE typo, and it involves my timeline. I put January instead of June, the thing was, was, the second make up was in February, she found out in January. So it was four monthsafter the February make up. Confusing? Definitely. But hey good eye. I swear it's hard keeping track of all these different events. Oh and Alenor, you have been the only one to get the last chapters significance. There's a reason why it was titled Doublestandard (That is what i titled it right?)
"Hermione, it's Ron." He sounded frantic. Hermione simply rolled her eyes and sighed.
"For the last time Ron, i'm fine... i don't need you to check up on-"
"No it's not that. After you left i went to talk to Draco. You'll never believe what he said."
Hermione sat up straight, all of a sudden very interested in what Ron had to say, "I'm listening"
"Draco you sly devil... I can't believe you talked the waitress into giving us a discount." Ginny's laugh came from the pit of her stomach, and for Draco, it was nice to hear laughter.
"Well what can i say? I have a way with the ladies." Draco gave a heartfelt laugh as he took her coat.
"I bet you do." Hermione appeared suddenly, in the doorway, the look on her face explaining everything.
"Oh, don't give me that Hermione." Draco rolled his eyes. He looked to Ginny, and she returned his gaze with one that told him she had his back.
"Give you what? I wasn't going to 'give' you anything... guilty conscience maybe?" Hermione sipped at the drink in her hand.
"Nope. Not really." Draco again looked to Ginny, shaking his head, who did the same.
"Well you should!" Hermione suddenly sounded malicious, stepping into the room more.
"Okay you know what, i'm not going to do this now. I had lunch, with a friend, when that's a crime you let me know,until then, get off my case." Draco walked past Hermione and towards his study.
"I'm not done with you. You think you can dismiss it that easy?" Hermione turned towards him, grabbing his arm in hopes of stopping him.
"You have 10 seconds, to let go of my arm." Draco's look grew dark and malevolent. Hermione had never seen this side of him. She quickly let go and retreated. "Don't ever... touch me like that again."
Regaining some cofidence she turned on Ginny, "How could you? You're my best friend... what thehell were you thinking?" Hermione crossed her arms, staring at Hermione with squinted eyes.
"Oh-kay, that's definitely the hormones talking, i asked Draco to lunch because i had nothing better to do, and you weren't about to give him the time of day, though heis your husband." Ginny rose to the challenge, though through it all she kept her calm.
"Oh so now it's my fault?" Hermione acted as if the idea was preposterous.
Ginny began to comment but Draco interjected, this was his battle... not hers. "Yes, Hermione itis your fault. And what? you're the only one who can go out with an 'ex' around here? I don't think so. This relationship is a two way street." Draco stuck out his chest, making sure she knew who was in control.
Hermione faltered for only a minute before Draco's statement became clear in her mind, "Wait a minute... ex" Hermione scrunched up her nose and turned to Ginny, "You dated my husband? You two were a thing?" She seemed disgusted.
"Yes i did." Ginny retorted proudly, "And i treated him better than you ever have." Ginny shook a finger in Hermione's face.
"You have no right to come into my house and talk to me like this." Hermione bellowed.
"Your house? This isn't your house. Look around you Hermione... nothing here belongs to you." Ginny thought her friend had gone insane.
"That's not my fault." Hermione went on the defense.
"Who stopped you from changing things? No one. You had no desire to make this house your own. Now i understand your hormones are all out of whack, but you need to open your eyes a little." Ginny stood back, crossing her arms.
"Get out." Hermione hissed, surprising Ginny and Draco, who had let the two go on.
"Hermione i think you need to go upstairs and rest." Draco interfered, his voice kind.
"You make me sick." Hermione spat in his face, before storming up the stairs and making an effort to slam the door.
Ginny and Draco stood awkwardly in the foyer. She rocked back on her heel, while he paced the floor.
"Draco... she's never going to see it." Ginny finally spoke, her voice soft.
"That's the thing. She sees it, she just doesn't want to change it. But that'll change." Draco stopped pacing and looked at the fiery young red head. He never expected such a friendship would blossom between them, but he was glad that he had let her back in.
"I'd better go." Ginny pointed towards the door but made no effort to leave.
"Yeah you should." Tre walked into the house, a wide grin on his face. " Cus we got ourselves a new house." Tre's smile widened, as he clapped his hands together thenheld out his arms. Ginny didn't rush to him, she was still processing what he was telling her.
Draco had completely forgotten about his agreement with his cousin. "That's right. We should get you packed and moved out. I'd say with a little help..." He extracted his wand, " we could have you moved in by dinner time." The three quickly got to work.
Hermione watched from the window, as Draco, Ginny, and Tre, carried boxes and belongings out the back door. She had no clue what was going on, but she knew they were laughing and enjoying themselves. She wondered why she couldn't be a part of what they had. They had so much.
Hermione still couldn't believe Draco and Ginny had been together. They were just so different, how could they have ever found common ground between them? But she saw it in Ginny's eyes. That sparkle people get.
She wondered if they had been in love, or even made love."Ofcourse they made love, Hermione, it's Draco!"Hermione thought. It sickened her to think that her best friend and husband had shared so many nights together.
But little did she know, just what their relationship entailed.
"The place is absolutely beautiful." Ginny smiled brightly as furniture whizzed past her head and placed itself in all the right places.
"Well thank Draco. He offered it to me. I knew you were dying to get out of your parent's house. And lets face it, i'm a dad in progress, so I..." Tre seemed to blush, unable to finish his thought.
Draco quickly came to his rescue, "Hey, you're like a brother to me. I'm always lookin' out for you." Draco patted his cousins back, before heading for the door.
"Don't go to her Draco." Ginny placed her hand on his shoulder.
"I'm not. It wouldn't make a difference." Draco hung his head. "Wouldn't make a goddamned difference." He muttered, walking down the stairs.
