A Moment Ago II

Hermione flopped down on her couch haphazardly. Today had been rather stressful and she longed to fill her tub and soak, but she had told Draco that they'd chat.

THWACK! The sound had such force that Hermione let out a small shriek. Her heart still hadn't recovered by the time that she got up to check out the sound. On her balcony, a small owl stumbled sideways, quite muddled by the force of slamming into the glass door. "Poor thing," she said gently as she picked up the creature.

The collar round its neck said "Cow" and she couldn't help but giggle as she remembered little "Pig." The Weasley family seemed to have awful luck with owls. Ron used to complain every time he got mail at Hogwarts. Cow managed to right himself after a few moments and Hermione removed the letter.

Dear Hermione,

How are you? We've all been missing you terribly. You and Draco must come to visit more often. It was such a nice time on Christmas Eve. I do miss having another woman in the house. Oh dear, I don't mean to complain. I hope that you are having the time of your life in New York. Please come and visit soon.

Love,

Mum

Molly Weasley sent letters like this on a weekly basis. Hermione didn't feel she had a place at the Burrow anymore, but she went because she loved Mum and Dad so much. They had adopted her the day she and Ron started dating. It was assumed that she would be the one to bear the next generation of Weasleys. She loved them so much, but it hurt to think that she was there when Ron, Ginny, and Charlie weren't. Molly had finally come out of her depression, but she was so changed. The worst part was that, despite the knowledge that she wasn't, she felt that she was to blame.

She heard Draco come in. They didn't feel the need to knock anymore and both had keys to the other's room. He had already changed into pajama bottoms and a loose white t-shirt . Formality had gone out the door years ago.

"Malfoy, don't you own any clothes?" she teased using her best snob voice. It had taken a while to get used to calling him Draco Michaels rather than Draco Malfoy.

Summoning up the Malfoy in him, he gave her and arrogant stare. "I only dress to the degree of my company, Granger."

Hermione made some hot chocolate in the kitchen while Draco settled himself on the couch. If someone had told her at Hogwarts that she'd come to call Draco her best friend, she'd have probably told them to go to the infirmary and have their head examined. Now, she couldn't imagine life without him. They'd supported each other through the bad times. She couldn't count the times she had cried on his shoulder while he comforted her, and vice versa.

Draco took the cup she offered and gave her and evil grin. "I was promised wine."
"Drink your chocolate, brat!" She settled beside him and gave him a look of friendship.

He sighed heavily. "Who would send me flowers? The only man I've ever really been close to is dead and I don't think someone fell in love with my face. I don't want to be cynical, but I keep thinking what if it's some sort of joke, Mione?"

Staring into the marshmallow topped mug, she winced. She had actually thought the same thing. "Then someone has a very sad sense of humor and wasted money. But I don't think that's what it is. Maybe someone is entranced with those gorgeous eyes of yours?" She made her voice as low and sultry as she could. "You're such a mysterious man, Draco Michaels. Maybe someone is enthralled by it."

He almost spit chocolate out of his mouth. "You've watched Phantom too many times, Mione."

"Maybe, but I have one thing to say to that…." She smiled as his eyebrows shot up questioningly. "The Notebook."

"That's not even fair! That was an excellent movie. I can't believe you'd make fun of me for that." He was laughing, but then stopped abruptly. His eyes were dark. "I kept wishing that would be us…that he'd just pop back into my life, but he won't."

Hermione's hands trembled. She knew that feeling all to well, but she had seen Ron's broken body for herself. "Harry's gone. He's not coming back."

"I know that, but I just wish…..I wish he were alive, but what then? What would he think of me now? Would he have rejected me because of my looks? I don't know if I could survive if he did."

"Draco, Harry would see you the same way he did before and love you for it. Maybe he'd even love you more for who you are now. You've grown into a man that we all love," she told him gently touching his cheek.

He cleared his throat and blinked away the darkness in his eyes. Smiling once more, he looked at the small bird flapping it's wings on the end table. "How's Molly?"

"Good, she wants us to visit."

"You mean she wants YOU to visit," he corrected.

"Don't say that you know she loves you."

He shook his head. "I'm a friend of the family, you're her daughter in law. There's a difference, Mione. Why don't you go tomorrow?"

She knew Draco was right, but she just couldn't. "I have a lot to do tomorrow."

"No, you don't, liar. Go see Molly and Arthur. The company won't fall apart if you're gone for a day." He chuckled and kissed her forehead. "Besides, without you around I can play my music as loud as I want."

"Fine! But next time, you're coming with me," she pouted. She wondered if maybe Draco felt the same about visiting the Weasleys, but she wouldn't ask.