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Chapter 4- A visit among enemies
It was nail-biting time, but Harry wasn't thinking about that. He really wanted to go over his plans for the ministry, but he recently discovered he wanted something more. He wanted Hermione.
The feeling was growing inside of him and he couldn't stop thinking about it. He liked women. He liked dating
And intimacies. But he never wanted a woman for his own, to be with him for the rest of his life, never
that is, till now.
Actually, she'd been around most of his life already, she had been a part of his life since the start of Hogwarts.
And now he wanted to make sure she stayed there, permanently and firmly. He wanted guarantees, because for
some reason, he suddenly couldn't imagine life without her, or her daughter.
This morning he found himself walking in the gentle radiance of the new realization, smiling at everyone he
passed in the hall. He was feeling good. Like I'm drunk on love he thought to himself. It sounded stupid, but
it sounded right.
At breakfast, Hermione sat across the table from him and he couldn't concentrate on anything but her. Which led Ashlynn to cry in outburst from her father's lack of attention. The sunlight streaming in from the bay window behind them turning her hair to gold. Her slow embarrassed smile made his blood dance in his veins.
She was so familiar, and yet, so new. And he wanted her more than he ever wanted anything else in his life. Harry was
sure she felt the same thing last night. Unless he was crazy, unless he was misreading everything. If he could work up
the nerve, this was going to be good thing.
He strolled out into the main hall, luxuriating in the glow of his new feeling. It was so new he still marveled at it. He
never thought he would have anything like this. He never understood how men like Ron suddenly felt they wanted
to have one woman only for the rest of their lives. But now he knew. He had that feeling too, and he knew that was
what had been missing from his life.
Harry passed near one of the halls where yelling could be heard a mile away, and he paused, looking in. There was
Severus Snape, Harry sighed, this had to be Ron. He shook his head. This couldn't be good. Silently he slipped into
the hall and headed straight for his office, so much for his good mood.
A little over an hour later, Hermione was turning back into her parking space in front of the flat. She'd just dropped
Ashlynn off with Ginny, which took longer than expected as the two friends chitchatted. Still she was back in time
to stop by her flat for a moment to freshen up before she needed to meet Luna and Lavender for lunch.
Taking out her keys, she slid it quickly into the slot in her door and went inside, sighing with relief that she made it
with enough time to spare. She switched on the light in the entryway and walked into the semi darkened room
when a voice stopped her cold.
"Welcome home Hermione"
Draco! She whirled around and faced him where he sat in the large armchair by the bay window. Putting a hand over
her heart, she caught her breath.
"How did you get in here?" she demanded
He shrugged, his face in shadows "What can I say? Magic is quite useful, though I was surprised a wanted man
such as your husband wouldn't place protection wards around his home" he smirked "You know, just in case"
Hermione walked quickly to the drapes and pulled them open, flooding the room with light, then turned to face him.
"You need to leave, now" she said, her voice betrayed her fear.
"So where have you been?" he asked
"Not that it's any of your business, out" she snapped
"So I noticed," his hard mouth twisted "Out where?" she turned away and he went on "I've been thinking this over
I let you outmaneuver me last night and that's not going to happen again"
Rising he stood where she couldn't avoid him. "I was under the impression that you loved me, once at least. And as
such, I think I can demand a few answers from you. Don't give me that old excuse about it being none of my
business. You're going to answer."
"Too bad," she said crisply
"Come on Granger, you know we had something, it was based on something solid and substantial, not fluff"
She drew in a deep breath, staring at him. She would not give in to temptation and lunge at his throat. Staying calm
would win in the long run.
"And the truth is" he added, "I think deep down inside you still love me"
Turning toward him, she felt suddenly drained, staying firm wasn't working. Saying mean things wasn't working.
What hadn't she tried? Pleading for mercy?
Taking a deep breath, she went into pleading mode. "Draco please! Just leave." He stood there solid as a rock.
"Don't start this game, Draco." She cut in firmly "I'm not going to play."
He nodded "That's smart of you actually. I had a long list ready to quiz you on. That would have been somewhat tedious"
Hermione shook her head as she gazed at him "Why are you torturing me?"
"Why not?" he grinned, "Who better to torture than you, my lifelong nemesis"
She looked at him, wondering how they had come to this stage in their relationship. It seemed so strange.
She'd known Draco half her life, and yet she didn't really know this man beside her. Was he a good guy, after all?
He certainly came from a prestigious family. Well his mother didn't seem too bad, but his father was a bit more
Problematic.
"I'm not your lifelong nemesis," she said softly.
His eyes seem to darken "You're probably right. That would be overstating it a bit. Still, we were enemies"
"Oh yes, we were certainly that"
The look they exchanged conveyed what neither was willing to vocalize "Given our past history, a little torture
seems to be in order wouldn't you say? His tone was light for once, almost teasing.
Hermione actually smiled a little "That means I have to find a way to torture you back."
Draco groaned "You're taking this a bridge too far, don't you think? You've already done your own small part
in ruining my return"
"You mean my marriage to Harry?" she asked softly
"Yes. I consider it a downright disaster, believe it or not. We've got some unfinished business to deal with
and your marriage wont allow it"
Was he purposely trying to put her back up again? Well she wasn't going to take the bait. Drawing in a deep breath,
She went on calmly. "Tell me why it's so important to you?"
Draco stared at her as though she'd asked him why muggles made bread in loaves. "You can ask that?"
She glanced at him sideways. "It's for your father, isn't it?" His face darkened. "Look…"
"No, it is, isn't it? You have to come back waving a trophy for your father. Don't you?" "Look dad, I didn't follow
in your footsteps, not only did I help defeat your master, I got a Mudblood wife to boot"
He slumped in his seat. "You don't know what you're talking about." She just shook her head at his response.
"Yes. I do. I use to see it remember?" she sighed "Draco why bother to deny it? You've always had this issue
with your father. And your father has always used it to play you against muggles and muggle lovers"
"That's enough, Hermione," he said, his voice tight and hard as stone.
But inside he wasn't so hard. She was bringing things up into the light that he would rather stayed buried. What good
did it do to hash this stuff over endlessly? Things were the way they were and you had to deal with them that way.
Yeah, his father could have been more understanding. He should have let him decide his own life. But he wasn't like
that. So Draco would go on handing his father proof he didn't really want to see. Until someday…
Oh hell. Why did she bring all this up anyway, couldn't she see he loved her. He glanced at her, wanting to be angry
with her, but his anger melted right away. She was so damn delicious looking. And all she did was throw some
truths at him. He could handle truth. He could handle anything.
"Sorry" she said, knowing he was looking at her. "I guess I'd better learn to keep my mouth shut, huh?"
He didn't answer and she glanced at the clock. She was going to be late. She needed to leave now.
She fumbled for her purse and he looked up "No worries I suppose" he said sighing.
"I wouldn't have thought you would be so forgiving," she noted, as she turned toward the door. "I have to go Draco
you really must leave," she said feeling uncomfortable.
Draco nodded, causing her to sigh in relief, apparently he knew when to stand back and give her some room.
"I'm probably a lot of things you never thought of" he said softly after a minute of silence. "No doubt Malfoy"
He winced as she called him malfoy, he wasn't any fool, his work was cut out for him and if he wanted her back
he would defiantly have to work at it.
"I'll be in touch," he warned her before quickly vanishing from her living room.
Hermione could hardly believe it Draco was here in her house, in Harry's house. She gulped if Harry found out it
would be trouble for both of them. She had to make sure he didn't find out, but how? The time would come later
for her to figure this out, right now she was late for her lunch.
She stood at the door. Fixing her hair back in place after apperating to the restaurant, she hoped they weren't mad
at her for keeping them. Finally approving of her appearance, she opened the door. The first person she saw as
she stepped into the café was the very man who had her a nervous wreck. Draco Malfoy again.
"Hermione. It's been a long time." The tall man in the Italian suit stepped forward and took both of her hands in his
smiling down at her. "You look wonderful"
For a moment she wasn't sure if she should slap him or speak, did he notice the tightness around her mouth, the panic
in her eyes? Probably not. After all, there was no real evidence that he had ever known much of anything about her,
that he had ever really cared.
"Draco" she said, finding her voice at last. "How am I not surprised to find you here, your following me"
"Don't be silly," he said beaming at her. "I was hungry and this so happens to be a place to eat" he shrugged as
he laughed lightly, his white teeth flashing. She needed to get away from him before Luna or Lavender spotted him
talking to her.
Aloud she said "Good day Malfoy" as she tried to move away from him. He still had a hold of one of her hands
And he tried to tug her a bit closer. Looking down dreamily into her eyes in a way that would once have sent her reeling, he said coaxingly,
"Listen, we're both on our way to lunch, aren't we? Come have it with me. We'll get a table in the back. We after all
do need to catch up on old times" he smirked as he caught Harry quickly making a beeline for them. Hermione didn't
even know he was there.
"Of course I fully understand if your husband would be jealous," he added.
"Harry doesn't get jealous, he trust me," she said firmly. "Want to put it to the test?"
" What do you mean?"
Draco placed his hand in the small of her back and suddenly pressed Hermione close against his hard male body
making her gasp. The reaction in her husband's face was instantaneous. His nostrils flared, his emerald eyes narrowed.
"Come have lunch with me" he asked again, as his eyes looked over her head. Hermione turned just in time to notice
Harry standing there. Her reaction to Harry's jealousy was also instantaneous. Chaos, inside. Chaos and panic.
"I don't believe this," she whispered. She opened her mouth to respond, planning to put Draco in his place with a well- chosen word or two. But she wasn't quick enough, because suddenly Harry was there, sliding his arm around her shoulders.
"Sorry, Malfoy" he said coolly. "I've already got her booked up. You're out of luck."
"Harry" Draco's face changed completely, but only for a moment. Very quickly he had his smooth, cultured mask on again.
"I would make a crack about bad pennies, but that would be very rude."
"Go ahead and be as rude as you like." Harry told him evenly. "We're all such old friends, you can be yourself around us if you like"
Draco had a faint smile that didn't warm his eyes in the least bit "Have a nice day" sarcasm coloring his voice
"We will" Harry promised, tightening his hold on Hermione's shoulders as he began to lead her toward the lunch area.
She went willingly enough, but her nerves were shot and she pushed his arm away. The hostess indicated a table big enough to take the others as they arrived; Hermione turned and faced Harry as they approached it.
"How did you know I would be here?" she asked him "Luna called and said you were to have lunch so Ron and I decided to meet you is that a problem?" he countered
"Luna said one o clock, if I'm not mistaken; so where have you been?" His look hardened.
She looked up into his green eyes "Driving around" she said reluctantly. "Driving around where?" Hermione shrugged "Different areas of London"
One dark eyebrow raised "Just driving around?" he asked. She looked away "What were you looking for Hermione?"
Closing her eyes, she bit down on her lower lip. If only she could tell him. But suddenly she found she couldn't betray Malfoy that way. Opening her eyes she glanced at him "Harry don't ask. I really can't tell you that"
Harry stared at his wife for a long moment, then turned away; looking around the restaurant "You weren't doing anything special? Maybe like a surprise" he offered her.
She knew he was giving her a way out and her heart skipped a beat. She didn't expect that at all. She wished she could make it all easier and just accept the offer.
"Forgive me for worrying and all" he said shortly. "You were late, and then I find you here with Malfoy"
"Speaking of Malfoy, I could have handled that myself you know"
"I have no doubt about it," he said smoothly, as he pushed her seat in at the table "If you wanted to"
Her eyes widen, he didn't trust her. She inched forward, looking at him "Are you accusing me of something here?" she spat. Harry smiled thinly. This was not how he envisioned his lunch hour. Picking up his menu he spoke.
"I'm not going to tolerate any traitors in this marriage," he said from behind it. "Just giving you a warning" Pulling the menu down he faced her again "It just so happens that Draco Malfoy was missing from Hogwarts as well"
She panicked "For heavens sake Harry, you don't think that I was out meeting Draco do you?"
"I don't want to think that" She threw up her hands and he caught them with his "No actually I think you're too smart for that, But you've got to admit, it looks pretty fishy"
It did, she knew that, and if he only knew the truth to his statement. Suddenly her eyes were misting. Everything seemed
so relentlessly difficult. No matter which way she turned she was bound to hurt someone. Maybe even herself. Despite all that, a smile trembled on her lips as she looked up at him. His face softened and he pulled her hand closer.
"Yes I do" "Do you?" he looked surprised "I guess my nerves are still wired from seeing Malfoy here" he said
changing the subject. "So how are yours?" his voice softened some.
"I think mine are pretty good," she answered
He nodded, his eyes searching her face "Pretty good"; he repeated mockingly "You see, there's your problem, Mione
this is what worries me. You don't have the killer instinct" She wrinkled her nose "I should hope not"
"But don't you get it? The killer instinct is going to be what keeps Draco at arms length"
"Oh stop being so tough. We're going to be just fine"
He stared at her for a moment, then groaned, throwing his head back "This coming from the same woman who just yesterday said she was going to run with my daughter" he said
"Hermione, Hermione, Hermione. You can't go for the throat, you're not ready, willing and able to wage all- out war on everyone and everything that gets in your way" His penetrating stare stung. "And I am"
Harry sat back, looking infuriatingly pleased with himself. "You better leave Malfoy to me". She had to bite her tongue for a moment and even counted to ten, She didn't dare yell, especially with Draco himself sitting across the room
watching every move they made.
"Harry Potter" she whispered threw clenched teeth "You… you make me so mad!" He looked at her as though surprised
"No reason for anger, Mione; you just don't get it" "The fact we both Hate Draco should be a plus for us. It's great for our union. It produces a tension that can help us create a force that will blow Draco away"
She blinked at him "Either that, or we'll kill each other"
He nodded. "That's always a possibility, of course" but his eyes were smiling and she couldn't resist smiling back for just a moment. Then she pulled her hand away and reached for her own menu. "Don't bother," he said, "I know what I'm ordering for you," "What?" she said taken back "Pulled pork, baked potato loaded and a butterbeer"
She stared at him, dumbfounded. He looked up at her and she almost thought he was half-embarrassed "Listen I remember how you used to pack it away at dinner when we attended Hogwarts"
"It was one of my most favorite meals," she murmured, remembering.
He nodded, "Anyway, you always loved that meal, so I figured it would be a nice touch"
How funny that he remembered that. A wave of nostalgia swept over her and she smiled, "Those were the days before I had to start watching my figure"
"Hey I'll watch your figure for you. No problem at all. And I'll let you know if I notice anything going wrong with it"
He was flirting with her and he hoped he wasn't coming off strong; this was all quite new to him.
She sighed. "Now you're starting to disappoint me. That is such a lame joke."
"Who's joking?" He said it softly, his eyes burning, the waitress arrived at their table, placing two mugs of butterbeer, and Harry ordered for them.
Hermione was too involved in thinking over what he'd just said and the way he looked to remember that she planned to stop him from ordering the food for her. And then it was too late and she decided to let it go. She looked at him warily. He looked back. She searched for something to say.
Her newfound love for him made her a little nervous. She didn't know how to act around him anymore. He couldn't know she loved him. It was against the rules they set from the beginning. Sure he wanted her that much was true. Last night was proof of that. She didn't blame him. Any man had needs; he was just trying to fulfill them. But it wasn't love and she knew that. Harry would never love her and for that reason she had to try not to love him. But how?
"Now back to Malfoy" he began "I'm going to check into the secret work he did for Dumbledore. I think there is something that might prove he isn't with us"
Hermione sighed; she was growing quite tired of the Draco business today. She didn't trust him as far as she could throw him but she could have sworn she seen some truth to him this morning.
"You go ahead and dig up dirt if you want" she said at last. "You are the highest ranking auror in the ministry. You have the right to question anyone or anything you choose, but as for me I think Draco may be a good guy."
Her words cut deep into his heart like a dagger. He felt betrayed, out voted even. Didn't she remember what the scumbag put her through? The very reason she came to his flat that night. It was he, Harry Potter who decided to give her child a father, he protected her and their daughter with every breath he took and Draco was a good guy. She was always smart he thought but this time she was clearly out of her mind. What was she thinking, siding with Malfoy.
No matter what he tried he couldn't shake the jealousy that threatened his mind. She was showing compassion for a man who didn't deserve it and he wasn't sure if that was what had him so upset or if it was simply the fact she cared for a man who clearly wasn't him.
He looked at her with heavily lidded eyes. "Is this some kind of payback?" "Payback!" she rolled her eyes. "You are such a infuriating man. You really think it's all about you, don't you?"
"Well, isn't it?" he asked hotly
She stared at him for a long moment. He really meant it.
Harry surely lost his mind she thought as she glared at him. Whatever brought this on, she wish she knew. All she did was state the obvious and he wanted to act childish. Fine she would let he have it.
"You know, you're right. This is payback." She leaned forward again, speaking clearly. Quickly searching her mind for anything to use against him. She said it was payback, but payback for what? A memory surfaced and she went with it.
"It's payback for the time you put red food coloring in the shampoo while Luna and I were swimming and we ended up with red hair- and red faces and red hands"
His eyebrows knit together as he recalled the incident. "I must admit, I hadn't thought that one out when I did it" still he grinned. "But you two sure did look funny"
She wasn't going to concede that. She wasn't going to concede anything to him anymore.
"It's also payback for the time I was drinking milk at the burrow and thought I felt a lump go down and you convinced me you put a frog in my glass. I nearly went crazy, sure that I could feel it wiggle around inside me."
"Poor little frog" He actually looked concerned, glancing at what he could see of her tummy area. "He must be in there still"
She gaped at him "There was no frog!"
He looked doubtful. "You'll never know for sure will you?"
How many years did you get for murder in Azkaban these days? Surely her fellow peers would take into account that this was a crime of passion. Passionate anger!
She started down a memory lane that didn't seem to have an ending. Now that she brought it up, she could think of so many things he'd done to drive her crazy.
"How about when I was learning how to drive and you told me the bump I went over was Crookshanks. I couldn't find him anywhere for hours, crying the whole time, thinking he was in the bushes somewhere hurt"
He grimaced. "That one was a little mean I admit"
"A little!" she shook her head and glared at him "I hated you"
"For what? I was just being a dopey kid. And so were you" He looked at her quizzically. "Remember the time you switched the tuna sandwich in my lunch with one made from cat food?"
"I didn't do that." She managed to look innocent but didn't fool him "And anyway, it was Luna's idea"
Harry grinned and she couldn't help but smile back a little. But there wasn't time for anything else. Ron and Luna were coming toward their table and Lavender and Seamus weren't far behind. Time to play the happy couple. Not that they weren't happy they were just missing the most important factor in a marriage love.
"Well look what the cat dragged in," Harry said as the group approached the table. Luna gave Hermione an apologetic look as she sat down next to her.
"Sorry we're late" she said "I had to wait for Ron and Seamus to return from assignment before we came"
"No worries Luna, Hermione was late herself" Harry said smugly before sipping his butterbeer. Luna turned to Hermione "What happened?" she asked
"I just asked her myself," he said as the whole table waited for Hermione to explain. Hermione glared at Harry, he had some nerve. Shrugging she grabbed for her drink "I just got tied up in some things in London, but no worries I'm here now" she said smiling.
"No problem, Mione" Ron said, giving her a wink. "Glad to know we weren't the only ones" Hermione gave a small smile feeling her anger for Harry trying to leak through.
Harry watched her expression; he knew she was mad at him, hell he would be mad to if she threw him to the wolves. He couldn't understand why he did it. No that was a lie, he knew why. He was jealous and he didn't like it. This was supposed to be a nice lunch with his wife and friends. But now he succeeded in making her mad at him. If he didn't get this love thing under control soon, he was never going to get the chance to make their marriage a real one.
He was in love with Hermione, but she didn't want love. She wanted a friend and nothing more Harry needed to find a way to make her see she had nothing to fear from him. His actions a few minutes ago surely cost him some points but he relished in the fact that he would make it up to her.
Harry reached over and grabbed her hand. He felt her tense, and then her hand slowly relaxed and fell into his with great ease.
A new hope fell over him as he tightened his hold on her hand. All the jealousy vanished as his finger brushed over her wedding ring. Yes she was his wife, even if it was in name only. No man would take his place by her side if he had any say in it and that went double for Draco.
Hermione was talking with Luna and Lavender when she felt Harry grab her hand. At first she wanted to yank it away. But as soon as she started to, Her anger melted and warmth over came her. It felt so right as her hand molded with his. Even if it was for show she felt like a true wife who was simply having lunch with her husband and their friends.
Glancing at him, she saw him mouth sorry to her. She gave him a wide smile to let him know all was forgiven. How could she stay mad at him? It was impossible no matter how hard she tried.
Everyone was in great spirits after that. What a relief. The talk and laughter ran rampant as they ate, and they lingered longer than they'd planned. Then as they rose from dessert, Harry came up to help her with her chair.
"So, where are you going now" he asked "I'm going to pick up Ashlynn from Ginny's and then us girls are going shopping" she told him.
"That sounds like fun" he said smiling "Make sure you get her that new dress she wanted," he said
"Harry she has plenty of dresses, you're spoiling her again" Hermione pointed out "Hermione I don't spoil her, if she wants the dress she can have it" he sighed
"Harry, mate we better get going, meeting starts in twenty minutes" Seamus said
He nodded "I better get going, have fun shopping and tell our daughter I'll see her tonight at home"
"I will, and good luck with the meeting" Hermione smiled at him as she picked up her purse. She went to move and Harry grabbed her arm, pulling her close and placed a light kiss on her forehead. "I'll see you later at home" he said and let her go.
"And Hermione" he said smiling brightly "Buy her the dress" and he was gone in a flash followed by Ron and Seamus.
"He is such a wonderful father," Lavender said rubbing her bulging belly. "I hope Seamus is that good to our baby"
"I bet he will do just fine," Hermione said and Luna agreed. "Well let's go get Ashlynn and shop till we drop," Luna said
grabbing her purse.
The three girls turned and began to leave the café. Hermione caught Draco in a back table and slowly glanced at him without the other two noticing. She gasped as she caught the pain in his eyes as he watched her with longing.
"What is it" Luna asked concerned "Nothing" Hermione said and with one last look at him they left the café.
Draco watched her leave. Forced to sit there while she played doting wife to Potter, having to watch them hold hands and carry on with the losers they called friends left him feeling pretty lousy. That should have been him with her, and his mind wouldn't allow him to forget that. He wondered how they came to be married, wondered what kind of woman she had become.
She had been so committed to him when they were together. He remembered the nights she cried for betraying her friends by being with him. It killed her to lie to them and yet she never gave up on him, she never left him. He was sure they would still be together if he hadn't got word Voldemort planned to kill her. He wasn't about to let that happen so he allowed her to find some evidence of his involvement with the dark lord and let her go.
It should have been Harry watching her with him today not the other way around. He was the one supposed to lay beside her at night, making love to her. He stopped, wondering if she gave herself to Harry the way she had those years ago.
Growling Draco tossed his napkin on to the table and stood up. He was not about to let his mind go wondering with thoughts he really didn't care to think about. The afternoon was already ruined and it didn't need any more help.
Walking from the restaurant he sighed. For the first time in his life Draco found himself wishing he was the very man he spent half his childhood hating and sighed.
Well there it is folks chapter 4 please review and let me know good or bad…Chapter 5 out soon…