July 2003
"Fascinating," Draco said to the blonde in front of him and taking a sip of his bourbon.
"Right?" the woman exclaimed with a flirty giggle. "My name's Haley, by the way," she said, extending her hand to Draco.
"Draco," he said, giving her hand a polite shake. He patted the booth, encouraging her to sit down next to him. She eagerly accepted and slid up to his side.
"That's an odd name. Where is it from?"
"It's Latin for 'dragon'. I was named after the constellation."
"Oh my gosh! You're into astrology, too? Don't tell me, you're a Pisces. The moment I saw you, I knew. I told myself, 'Haley, that guy is totally a Pisces'. My horoscope even told me I'd meet a cute fish this week," she rambled, barely taking a breath between sentences.
Draco just nodded, forcing himself not to roll his eyes. It was probably pointless to tell her he was actually a Gemini. He never paid much mind to star signs and horoscopes, anyway. They were hokey and rarely based in fact, giving people either false hope or irrational fear. But if he played his cards right and feigned interest, he'd have her seeing stars by the end of the evening.
After a half hour of listening to her ramble about psychics and tarot cards, Draco started to wonder if a quick shag was worth this torture. Finally, she paused and before she could say anything else, Draco interjected, "I'm sorry, do you mind if I just…"
He trailed off as he leaned over and kissed her. She immediately reciprocated, parting her lips and wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him closer. There was no doubt that Haley was into taking the night further. She let out soft mewls as she played with his hair and grinded against him.
Draco tried to build up the same fervor but was finding it rather difficult. Where he wanted soft curls, his fingers were met with stiff, Muggle hairspray. Her lips tasted of a sickeningly sweet cocktail and he felt a longing for the bitterness and bite of tequila and limes. When his palms roamed the stiff curves of her body, his initial suspicions of breast enhancements were confirmed.
None of this was a bad thing. Months ago, not a single one of those things would have been a deal breaker and he hadn't expected them to be one that night. But as it was, Draco wasn't feeling at all turned on and couldn't muster the will to fake it.
"Mmm, you know what," Draco said, pulling away. "I just remembered I have a friend coming in from out of town and told him I'd meet up for a late dinner. Can I take a raincheck?"
Haley looked put out but nodded with a sigh. "Let me get a pen from the bar and I'll give you my number."
Five minutes later, Draco slipped out the backdoor of the pub with a string of random numbers written on a napkin. The image of a piece of paper fluttering from a barely-there black dress clouded his memory and he let out an agitated growl. It was time to talk to someone that could knock some sense into him.
"Hello, Mr. Malfoy. Been a while since I saw you 'round here."
"Evening, Lloyd." Draco greeted the familiar doorman as he made his way into the lobby of the posh apartment complex. "Is he in?"
"He should be. The gentlemen he was entertaining just left a few minutes ago."
"Thanks. Nice to know he'll be in a relaxed mood."
Lloyd tipped his hat and Draco made his way to the bank of lifts. He pressed the button for the private lift that went straight to the penthouse. At the thirtieth floor, Draco stepped out onto the plush red carpet and gave three hard knocks on the dark mahogany door.
It didn't take long for the door to open and reveal Blaise Zabini leaning against the frame, clad only in tight briefs and an untied velvet robe.
"Well, well, well. Looks like someone finally got bored playing in the lion's' den," Blaise said, stepping aside and motioning Draco into the flat. "Or did the pride kick you out?"
"It's good to see you again, too, Zabini," Draco said, slipping his shoes off and making his way to the sitting room. He made his way over to the floor-to-ceiling window and took in the scenic view of London sprawled out in front of him. After the war, Draco had stepped away from the lavish lifestyle he had grown up with. Blaise had embraced his and took it to a new level. "I was told I just missed out on meeting your twink of the week."
"Ahh, yes. Sebastian had to scurry or else he'd be late for work," Blaise said nonchalantly,
"Oh, this one has a name, does he?" Draco arched his eyebrows in surprise. "And he's a common, working peasant at that."
"I've kept him around for an entire week. I think I'm in love, Dray," Blaise sighed, dramatically throwing himself onto the chaise lounge.
"Fucking hell, Blaise. Would it kill you to say the last syllable of my name?" Draco moved away from the window, to his friend's wet bar. He grabbed the bottle of Ogden's Finest, but then spotted an expensive bottle of aged tequila and opted for a generous tumbler of that. His sudden switch did not go unnoticed by Blaise's intense stare.
"I have never seen you pass over Firewhiskey for tequila. What's going on?"
Draco settled himself into an armchair and sipped his drink. "It would seem my tastes have changed."
"So I've heard." Blaise cocked an eyebrow. "It would appear your tastes are trending towards the bushy-haired bookworms these days."
"Where did you hear that?"
"Oh, sweet boy. I have eyes and ears all over the countryside. One way or another the news always makes it back to me.
"Yes, well that bushy-haired bookworm has definitely come out of her cocoon," Draco replied, savoring another sip of his tequila. He had a sudden urge to drop a cherry in it, but he decided against voicing it.
"She's got you messed up, hasn't she?"
"I don't know what it is!" Draco cried. He set his drink to the side and leaned forward, burying his face in his hands. "I had the easiest girl on the line tonight. One word and I could've been at her place, doing what I do best, and then home by midnight. But I couldn't go through with it. For the first time, my mind got in the way of my cock and it's fucked me up!"
"Ever think you may have reached the point where you're looking for more than a quick shag with random birds from the pub?" Blaise suggested. He Accioed the bottle of Firewhiskey and took a swig straight from the bottle.
"No," Draco said, affronted at his mate's suggestion.
"How many times were you with Granger this past month?"
Draco thought for a moment before answering, "Five, maybe six?"
"And were you sleeping with anyone else during that time?"
"No."
"Then I think you simply need a palate cleanser. Find a way to shut down your mind and push through it. One or two shags should shake her from your system and get you back to normal."
"You're probably right." Draco downed the last of his drink and floated the glass back to the sink.
"Time to put the tequila back on the shelf, mate. It's good to try new things, but in the end, stick to what you know." Blaise raised the whiskey bottle in salutations before taking another swig. "Come out to the club with me next week. You can meet Sebastian and we'll find you a naive little thing to take you home."
"You want me to meet your boy toy? That's a first. I hate clubs though."
"But you'll love the ladies that frequent the club. It'll be like slapping fish in a kettle, or whatever that silly Muggle saying is."
Draco sighed but waved his hand in surrender. "All right, I'll give you one night in the club. I can't promise I'll last more than an hour, but you've piqued my curiosity with this guy you're obsessed with."
"I told you, I'm in love, Drake!" Blaise said, grinning and throwing an arm over his head.
"O, dammit. My name is Drac-O."
September 2003
Blaise Zabini gives shit advice. Draco knew this, yet he still took it. His desperation obviously knew no bounds. The summer heat was quickly being driven away by the autumn winds, and Draco was no closer to shaking Hermione Granger from his system.
He had gone along to the wizarding night club that Blaise frequented and Sebastian, Blaise's now steady boyfriend, tended bar. Draco immediately regretted being there. The music was too loud, the dance floor was too crowded, and everyone was in various stages of undress and covered in sheens of sweat.
After chatting with Sebastian, and giving Blaise his seal of approval, Draco flirted with a few drunken witches, declined numerous offers of various Muggle drugs, and then left exactly one hour after he had arrived.
Since then, Blaise hadn't attempted to take him out again. Draco kept going out to his usual pubs and every now and then would flirt with a cute witch, but there wasn't one that he had any desire of going home with. It was driving him insane and he was pretty sure the only time he had ever masturbated more was when had learned the Colloportus spell.
As a result of this, he had started accepting more of his mother's lunch and dinner invitations and Narcissa Malfoy was quick to notice her son's change in demeanor. She was also none too subtle about questioning him on it.
"It's that's Granger girl, isn't," Narcissa asked suddenly over afternoon tea.
"What are you talking about?" Draco said, taking a bite out of his chocolate biscuit.
"You haven't been yourself since the Potters' wedding. If I'm not mistaken, that's about the time Miss Granger returned to New York."
"And?"
"And, I believe you enjoyed her company more than you want to admit." Narcissa smiled as she sipped her tea.
"Don't get your hopes up, mother. There is no wedding or grandchildren in your future."
Narcissa set her teacup back on its saucer with an irritated huff. "Why must you always twist around what I'm trying to say, Draco?"
"Why do you always try to insinuate there's more to what I say?" Draco snapped.
"Because I know there is. I can see that there's a restlessness to you these past few months. What I don't know is why you keep this wall up that keeps you from getting too close to people." Narcissa sighed, reached across the table and took Draco's biscuitless hand in hers. "I don't care if I never have any grandchildren. I don't care if you never get married. What matters most to me is that you're happy. Maybe it's mother's intuition, but I can tell that something has changed in you and you're not satisfied with your current place in life."
Draco sat in silence as he finished off the plate of biscuits. Finally, he asked, "After everything that has happened, why are you still married to Lucious? After everything he put us through, why are you still with him?"
"Love is a funny thing," Narcissa said, placing her hands in her lap and sitting up a bit straighter. "It lets you see the best in people, even when they're at their worst. I don't defend your father and I hate what he did, but I still love him. He has an awkward way of showing his love and affection, due to his own strict upbringing, but it's there. In the little things he does. You'll notice, he never complains about the fact that you call him Lucious and not father."
Draco averted his gaze, not wanting to get into that argument again.
"My turn for a difficult question. Why do you feel you don't deserve love and happiness like everyone else?"
"Astoria made it quite clear that I am not capable of it," Draco said, gritting his teeth.
"Astoria Greengrass is a horrid cow, just like her mother was at that age," Narcissa laughed, with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Those women have no sense of shame and an upside-down list of priorities. Why on earth are you still hanging on her nonsense words?"
"Because what if she's right?" Draco cried out, jumping to his feet. If it startled his mother at all she didn't show it. She calmly watched as he clenched his fists and started pacing. "I've never carried on a decent sensible relationship in my life. What if I honestly can't? I've hurt so many people in the past and hate that I can't take any of it back. And what I hate most right now is knowing that she was one of those I hurt the most."
"By she, I take it you mean Miss Granger?" Narcissa asked.
Draco let his continued pacing answer her question as he continued.
"But what's utterly baffling is that she's somehow found the ability to forgive me. After all the things I've done to her and the foul names I called her, she still wanted to be around me. Well, eventually, but still. I shouldn't even be allowed in the same room with Hermione Granger, let alone touch her." Draco collapsed back in his chair and ran a hand through his hair. "She's been through so much and deserves to be with someone that won't cause her any more pain."
"And you don't think that person is you?"
"I know it's not me."
In a very un-Narcissa-like move, his mother rose from her chair and knelt down in front of him. She took his hands in hers and gave him a soft smile.
"Life is all about taking chances, my little dragon," Narcissa said gently, using a pet name he hadn't heard in many years. "Yes, there will be heartache, but that only makes us appreciate the real thing when we finally find it." She ran a hand through his hair and down his cheek, finally placing a kiss on his forehead.
"My final piece of advice is this. One of the worst things to live with is regret. Always wondering what could have been will drive a person to lunacy. You are a good man, Draco Malfoy, and you deserve to be happy."
His mother's words rang through his head for the next two weeks as he tried to sort his life out. Aside from Potter, his mother was the person Draco trusted most. She was the one consummate person in his life that always had his best interest in mind and not some ulterior, self-serving motive. It was because of her words that Draco actually started thinking that maybe it was time to sort his life out.
A knock on his office door forced him to look up from his parchment and find Harry entering, without waiting for a formal invitation.
"You got those profiles ready? I want to get them filed before I bugger off next week," Harry said, sitting down in the more comfortable of the two battered Ministry chairs in front of Draco's desk.
"Right here," Draco answered, pulling a file from his top drawer and handing it across the desk to Harry. "Where are you off to next week?"
"New York City. There's an International Magical Law conference happening and I volunteered to go. Thought it would be nice to surprise Hermione and visit with her for a few days between the panels. If Ginny asks though, I drew the short straw and am being forced to attend."
Draco laughed and shook his head. "You are going to be in so much shit when she finds out, cause you know she's going to find out."
"I know," Harry sighed, relaxing back in the chair and tossing the file onto the empty seat beside him. As soon as the folder landed, one of the legs cracked and the chair toppled over. "I see I chose my seat well."
"One of these days, this place will realize the nineteen-sixties are over and actually update the furnishings and decor," Draco grumbled, waving his wand and repairing the chair. It had been repaired so many times, though, that it's reassembled form had started sloping to the right. "I offered to spend a few galleons to replace all of the department chairs, but Peterson says that's not our responsibility." He pulled a face and dropped his wand on the desk.
"You want to come to New York next week?" Harry asked. He picked up the profile parchments, placed them back in the folder and set the folder on Draco's desk. "Ron's coming along."
"As brilliant as that trip sounds, I'll pass," Draco said dryly.
"You don't want to see Hermione?"
Draco's heart thudded harder at the mention of her name, but he kept his face passive as he shook his head. "I doubt she'd be ecstatic to see me show up on her doorstep. I have too much work anyway and plans I'd rather not cancel next week."
"Ginny isn't going to be offended if you don't show up for dinner on Tuesday. She'll probably be relieved that she can just order in a takeaway and not feel guilty about falling asleep at seven-thirty."
"Not all of my plans revolve around you, Potter. I do have a life. I have a date on Wednesday that I don't want to break."
"A date?" Harry sat forward, looking expectantly at Draco. "You don't date."
"I've made an exception to my rules," Draco replied, trying to avoid having to give up many details, but knowing Harry wouldn't rest until he did.
"Okay, well, who is she? How did you meet her? How long have you been seeing her?"
Draco let out an irritated huff but answered, "Her name is Marie. I met her by answering an advertisement, and I've been seeing her every Wednesday for three weeks."
"Oh, Merlin, Draco!" Harry said, jumping up with a disgusted look on his face. "Have you finally shagged all the single women in London that you've turned to prostitutes?"
Draco barked in amusement and shook his head. "I think I'll leave you to figure it all out on your own. In the meantime, tell Ginevra not to worry about cooking on Tuesday night. I'll bring dinner for her and she and I can catch up on gossip."
Harry narrowed his eyes and pointed a finger at Draco. "If you rat me out, I swear I'll make sure you come along on all my stakeouts for the next decade."
"Temper, temper, Harry. Red looks much better on your wife, you know."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Here's Mr. Kroger's paperwork. Nice work, Granger."
Hermione glanced up to see her co-worker, Brian Flint, placing a stack of papers on her desk.
"Oh my god, he actually registered his wand," Hermione laughed, looking through the approved documents.
"Whatever you said to him worked."
"Either that or he finally got tired of paying the fine."
"Whatever it was, I'll be glad to never have to go near his house or his dog again." Brian tapped Hermione's desk and said, "Start in the Bronx tomorrow?"
"Sounds good. I'll bring the coffee."
Brian left her cubicle and Hermione picked up Mr. Kroger's paperwork and put it in the proper folder of her filing cabinet. The old Ukrainian man had moved to the states to be closer to his daughter, which was great. Problem was, he didn't believe he should have to register his wand because all it did was give MACUSA the power to track his every move. It didn't of course. Wand registration was mainly for tracing back any illegal activity that may have been done with it.
Most registration was done at the Portkey Station, at JFK airport. As with all government business, the process isn't difficult. It's just tedious and time-consuming. Most people suck it up and get it over with, but there are always those that decide to skip the process and leave. And that's where Hermione's department comes in. She goes out, into the city, tracking down wizards with unregistered wands and issuing warnings and fines.
As she closed and locked the filing cabinet, Hermione's stomach let out an audible rumble, causing her to look up at the clock.
"Are we just in time for a second lunch?"
Hermione whirled around to find Harry and Ron standing at her cubicle entrance.
"What in Merlin's name are you two doing here?" Hermione squealed in excitement. She wrapped an arm around each of them, forcing the two men into a group hug.
"I'm here for the International Magical Law Conference and Ron decided to tag along since he's never stepped a foot out of the UK," Harry explained. He kissed Hermione's head before she pulled away, straightening out her sweater.
"I was indeed just about to take my lunch break. Would you boys like to join?" She pulled her long, black coat from the hook, wrapped a silver scarf around her neck, and then pulled a matching silver, knitted beanie over her curls. "I'm meeting Liz at this little Greek Diner, a few blocks away."
"Lead the way," Harry said, moving aside so she could slip out of the cubicle. She led them down to the lobby and out the revolving door that spit them into the bustling heart of the city.
Ron stopped and looked up at the Times Square buildings that towered over them, a look of awe slowly taking over his face. No-Majs exiting the Woolworth building had to quickly change trajectory to maneuver around him and passed with a flurry of colorful words. Ron took no notice as the insults were swallowed up in the noise of car engines and the incessant beeping of their horns.
"Keep moving," Hermione called to him, linking her arm with his and guiding him to the right and up the sidewalk, through the crowds of tourists and agitated businessmen and women trying to get to their own lunch destinations.
After three blocks, Hermione pulled him into a diner called Konstantina's. She spotted Lizzie waving from a table in the back corner.
"Harry!" Lizzie called, jumping up from her seat and rushing to give Harry a hug. "This is a pleasant surprise!"
"Hey, Lizzie," Harry greeted, returning the hug.
"And this is Ron," Hermione introduced, taking off her hat and smoothing down her curls.
"The Ron?"
"Nice to meet you," Ron said, holding out his hand. "Hermione told me a bit about you over the summer."
"Did she now?" Lizzie gave him a flirty smile as she shook his hand. "She never told me what a handsome redhead her ex-husband was."
Hermione rolled her eyes and sat down across from a smirking Harry, mouthing, "Called it."
Liz sat down beside Harry, looking at him excitedly. "So, tell me everything! How was the honeymoon? How is sweet Ginny doing? Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?"
"How about we start with pictures?" Harry said, pulling a large envelope from his satchel.
"Yes!" Lizzie hissed, quickly clapping.
Hermione's eyes lit up as Harry started pulling wedding pictures out, one by one and passing them to her and Lizzie.
"Aww, you two look so adorable," Lizzie cooed over a picture of Harry and Ginny dancing. "And Ginny's dress is gorgeous!"
Hermione sipped her water and studied the menu as Lizzie and Harry continued to pass pictures back and forth. She didn't know why she looked at the menu every time she ate there. She knew it by heart and knew exactly what she would be getting.
Lizzie suddenly gasped and said, "Is this the guy Hermione's in love with?"
"What?" Hermione cried, dribbling water down the front of her sweater. She grabbed her napkin and mopped herself up. "I'm not in love with anyone."
"You're description did not do him justice, Min. Look at those intense eyes and that profile. I bet you could cut diamonds on those cheekbones." Lizzie looked up with a gleeful glint in her eyes. "You have my seal of approval."
"Oh, well, thank you," Hermione monotoned, tossing her napkin at Harry's head as he tried to conceal his knowing smile. "Draco is a friend and that is all. He's not even interested in dating anyone."
Harry's smile fell and Hermione gave him a quizzical look. He just shook his head and put the pictures back in his satchel before covering his face with the menu.
Talk of Draco was dropped and the rest of the lunch was fairly uneventful. As Hermione had predicted, Ron and Lizzie hit it off right away. They happily chatted, asking each other about their families and jobs. As the group was polishing off a plate of Melitinia cookies, Lizzie stood and excused herself to the bathroom. She gave Hermione an expectant look as she walked away and Hermione sighed.
"It would appear I need the loo, also," Hermione said, following in Lizzie's footsteps.
When she entered the ladies' room, she found Lizzie at the mirror, fixing a few out of place dark auburn hairs. At the sight of Hermione, her face broke into a wide grin.
"I really like him," she whispered with a giggle.
"I can tell," Hermione laughed, locking herself in a stall. Lizzie continued to talk as Hermione did her business.
"With the way you've talked about him over the years, he's not at all what I was expecting. He's actually quite sweet."
"I wasn't exactly in the best place these last few years, so I apologize for giving you a jaded view." Hermione flushed and joined Lizzie at the sink. "He's a good guy though. I knew you two would get along."
"So, is it okay if I ask him out for tomorrow night?" Lizzie asked, then frowned and added, "He will still be here tomorrow, right?"
"Yes, I believe they are here until Thursday. And yes, I'm more than fine if you want to ask him out. Just spare me any sordid details."
When they returned to the table, the cookies were gone and Harry had taken it upon himself to pay the bill.
"Have you two book yourselves a place to stay?" Hermione asked.
"No, that's our next stop," Ron answered, standing up and shrugging into his jacket.
"Good, don't. You can stay with me. First official guests in my new guest bedroom," Hermione said.
"You sure?" asked Harry. "We don't want to intrude."
"Don't be silly. You're gonna pay an arm and a leg for a last-minute, decent hotel room."
"Thank you. You've saved us from a giant headache" Harry said, giving her a quick hug.
She started to head for the exit, but a tug at her hand pulled her back. Ron was nodding for Harry to go ahead, reassuring that he would join him in a minute. He anxiously rubbed his neck as they waited for Harry and Lizzie to leave.
"What's up?" Hermione asked gently, giving his hand a squeeze.
"I was wondering if, depending on what else you have to do today, we could maybe...go...visit her?" His voice was barely audible by the time he had finished his sentence.
"Oh," Hermione said in surprise. She should have been expecting it, but she still felt blindsided by the request.
"I'm sorry, you don't have to. It was just something I was hoping to so in the next few days. If you just tell me where-"
"No," Hermione said, stopping him mid-ramble. "It's been a while since I've been there and I think it'd be nice if we got to go together." She wrapped her arms around his middle, giving him a reassuring hug. "Mondays are my office days. Just let me call in and let them know to hold all my paperwork. There's nothing urgent left to do today."
Hermione dug around in her purse and pulled out her mobile phone. Cellular phones were growing quickly in popularity and MACUSA had issued one to every employee that worked in the field. In the case of an emergency, sometimes Muggle technology worked quicker to call in reinforcements than magic could.
"What's that?" Ron asked as Hermione searched through her contacts for her department head's number.
Hermione held up a finger as the line started ringing. It only took a minute to relay that she would out for the rest of the day and then she dropped the phone back into her bag.
"It's a mobile telephone. You know the device you tried to use to call Harry that one summer?" Ron grinned and nodded. "No-Majs have invented a phone that doesn't need wires and you can use it to call anyone, from anywhere. Let's get moving before Harry and Liz get worried." As they walked towards the door, Hermione added, "Quick heads up, Lizzie is going to ask you out on a date and I think you should say yes. You two would have a really nice time together."
"Um, okay," Ron said, a hint of confusion in his tone. "If you're alright with it."
They found Harry and Lizzie standing on the street corner. Their conversation abruptly stopped and both plastered on faces of feigned innocence as Ron and Hermione approached them.
"I don't even want to know," Hermione said. She turned to Lizzie and asked, "Are you heading back to the office?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so. Who else is going to fetch Darla her coffee and memos? You don't think she'd actually get up and do that herself, do you?" Lizzie said, clutching her chest in dramatic shock. "The absurdity!"
"I'll see you later tonight then. I'm going to show these two back to my apartment then Ron and I are heading to Queens for an hour or so."
Lizzie gave her an understanding nod and then turned to Ron. "If you don't have any plans tomorrow evening, would you like a tour of the city?"
"Sure, that sounds brilliant," Ron answered.
"I'm off work at four. Okay if I come by at five?"
"Great. I'll see you then."
The wind ruffled their hair as Hermione and Ron walked through the western gates of Woodlawn Cemetery. It was a blustery, autumn afternoon, but the sun still shone brightly in the sky. Their trainers crunched over the early fallen leaves on the winding path, past headstones and mausoleums.
"How can a place be so beautiful, yet incredibly eerie at the same time?" Ron whispered.
"Why are you whispering?" Hermione giggled.
"I don't want to disturb anyone," Ron said.
Hermione shook her head and slipped her hand into his. "I chose this cemetery because of how beautiful the views are. We need to head this way." She directed him to the right and they started for the south lawn.
"How often do you come here?" Ron asked
"I always visit on her birthday, in November. Sometimes I come to visit if I need a quiet place and someone to talk to. It's calm and peaceful, helps reset my mind when it goes crazy." Ron let go of her hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close as a gust of wind whipped across their faces. "We need to go through there," Hermione said, pointing out a small, shiny, black mausoleum.
When they approached the edifice, Hermione placed her hand on a plaque that was inscribed with In Memory of Edward C. Downing, 1840-1944. The marble door immediately slid open and Hermione stepped inside, Ron following closely behind.
"Who's the Edward bloke?" Ron asked as the door closed, plunging them into darkness for a few seconds before a second door, now in front of them, started opening.
"He set up this part of the cemetery for the wizarding community after MACUSA was moved here in the late 1800s. That's his grave over there," Hermione said, pointing to the left as they stepped back out into the sunlight. It was impossible to miss the large, white granite headstone that bore the names Edward and Adelaide Downing. "Molly is right up here."
The pair scaled a small hill and slowed as they approached the beech tree that stood at the top. Several yards from the base of the tree, a pink granite gravestone sat alone in a patch of sunlight. Engraved in elaborate script was the name, Molly Katherine Weasley. Underneath the year, 2001, were the words You are loved.
Ron didn't say anything. He stepped up to the marker and knelt down. Hermione hung back, giving him space and allowing him to have a private moment.
The wind had picked up at the crest of the hill, forcing Hermione to pull her gloves on and hug her coat tighter to her body. The cemetery was virtually empty. From her high vantage point, she could pick out two other visitors placing flowers at what looked like a fairly new grave. There was a visible rectangle of bright green grass. Her stomach pitched at the thought of how fresh their grief was and she had to turn away.
Turning back to Ron, she slowly made her way to his side and sat down on the cold ground. When Ron moved closer and sat beside her, she cast a warming charm around them and for the very first time, they sat together as a family.
"How do you think it's going?" Harry asked, spreading out on the sleep-away couch in Hermione's living room.
Hermione looked at her phone and smiled. "Lizzie hasn't sent me a text yet so I'm going to say it's going well. Budge over," she said, handing Harry a bottle of beer while she climbed onto the bed beside him. "Want to watch a film?" she asked, picking up the television remote.
"What tape do you already have in? Is it one that we can put on and talk without missing anything?"
"The Princess Bride it is," Hermione said, pushing the play button and starting the VCR.
"Rough week last week?"
"I had three people try to hex me and one that actually succeeded. I needed some Fezzik therapy." She turned the volume low and placed a fleece throw blanket over her legs.
"Pretty sure you could recite this movie in your sleep," Harry teased.
"Because it's the best movie ever. One of the rare movies that actually does justice to the book."
"And because you still have a crush on Fred Savage."
"Shush, it's starting."
They sat and watched the movie in comfortable silence for a half hour before Harry set his empty bottle to the side and said, "Draco's dating someone."
"Oh," Hermione replied, not knowing how else to address the sudden admission. She scolded the part of her brain that started raging with jealousy. Shoving that feeling into a dark corner, she finally said, "That's nice."
"Is it?" Harry asked, stealing a glance at her while she tried to keep her gaze on the television.
"Of course it is. I'm glad he's taking that chance again." Silence fell between them again for a few moments. "I've had a few dates too, you know?"
"Yes, you wrote to us about them." Harry summoned himself another beer. He tapped the cap, making it fly off and land in Hermione's hair. "Anything serious come from them?"
"I watched The Princess Bride three times this past weekend. What do you think?" Harry chuckled and Hermione sighed, pulling the beer cap from her curls and twirling it in her fingers. "It's fine though. I'm not looking for anything serious. It's nice to actually know men still find me appealing."
"Mmm, yes, because you're such a hideous shut-in. Ow!" Harry cried as Hermione elbowed him in the ribs. Another moment of silence before he said, "I think he's seeing a prostitute."
Hermione choked on her beer, sending her into a coughing fit and alcohol out her nose.
"Christ, Harry!" she cried, wiping her face with her shirt sleeve. "You've got to ease into that kind of information." She took a deep breath and cleared his throat. "Why do you think he's seeing a sex worker?"
"I invited him to come along with us, but he said he had a date that he didn't want to cancel. When I asked him for details he said her name was Marie and that he had been seeing her every Wednesday. But he said he met her by answering an advertisement. How else am I supposed to take that?"
Hermione shrugged and rested back on her pillow. "Maybe he's looking for a particular experience and he's found that this woman is the best one to facilitate it. I don't think anyone honestly knows the inner workings of Draco Malfoy's mind."
"Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who tells you differently is selling something," the Dread Pirate Roberts was saying on screen.
"How's he doing?" Hermione asked, setting her now empty bottle to the side.
"He seems like the same old Draco. Nothing else has changed, aside from he is now at our house every Tuesday for dinner." He chugged the last of his second beer and let out a belch. "Sorry, I only have a few precious days to indulge in my bad habits before I go back. Also, before I go back, I need to get the tackiest souvenir for Draco."
"I know just the thing. You just have to promise me you'll get a picture of him with it before he burns it. How upset was Ginny that you were coming here and she couldn't?" Hermione inched closer to Harry and snuggled under her blanket.
"She was fine. Disappointed, but fine. Only a few more months and she can take all the portkeys she wants."
"Only a few more months," Hermione scoffed. "You say it like those months are a cake walk. It's good you got this little vacation now because those 'few months' are going to put you to the test. The hormones, the cramps, the sleepless nights…"
"Okay, I get it, I get it. I've got the easy part of the deal. Can you stop listing off the horrors of impending parenthood?"
"As you wish," Hermione giggled. She rested her head against Harry's side, intending to stay awake until Ron returned from his date, but she was asleep before the trio made it to Miracle Max.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"What in the name of Salazar Slytherin are you doing, Potter?" Draco cried as he was blinded by a flashing light.
"Hermione made me do it," Harry said, pulling the instant photo from his camera.
Draco took off the spiky, yet squashy hat and held out his hand. "Give me that picture."
"Not a chance," Harry laughed.
Draco grumbled and inspected the monstrosity that had been forced on to his head. It looked like some sort of green crown and had Lady Liberty written across the front. "What is this?" he asked again.
"It's the Statue of Liberty's crown. I told Hermione I wanted to bring you back a souvenir and she insisted on this."
"Did she, now?" His lips involuntarily curled up for a split second before he set the hat to the side and turned back to Harry. "Your trip went well, then?"
"It did." Harry flopped down into the chair. "I see you upgraded your furniture," he commented, inspecting the brand new, black leather barrel chairs.
"I got tired of reassembling kindling."
"The trip went really well. The conference was actually interesting and I got some fresh ideas that I'm going to try and get implemented here. Oh, and get this. Ron got himself a girlfriend."
"You're joking?" Harry shook his head. "Wow. And Hermione's okay with that?"
"She kinda set them up. It's her friend, Lizzie, that lives across the hall from her. It's a bit odd how smitten he is. He hasn't shut up about her since we got back. It's nice, though, seeing all of my friends getting back into the dating scene," Harry said, crossing his arms behind his head.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you have your Wednesday lady of the night. Ron is starting to see Lizzie. And even Hermione has ventured out on a few dates. You're all growing up so fast." Harry slapped his knees and jumped up. "I gotta get back to my department. My desk is drowning in neglected paperwork. Oh, before I forget, Ginny is still raving about the dinner you brought her on Tuesday. Said it was the best fish and chips she ever had and if I don't get the name of the chip shop she'll kick me out."
"I didn't get it from a chip shop," Draco said, uncapping a fresh bottle of ink. "I made it."
Harry started to laugh, but then stopped when he caught the look on Draco's face. "No, seriously, where did you get it?"
"Seriously, I made it. I'll bring her some more this weekend if she wants."
"Okay, yeah, sure," Harry said slowly, scrutinizing Draco before he started for the door. "You cook now. Of course, why wouldn't you?" He shook his head in disbelief and was halfway out the door before he stopped.
Draco glanced up from the notes he had started working on and watched his friend linger in the doorway. After a minute of Harry saying nothing and not moving, Draco finally asked, "Something else you needed Potter?"
Harry turned back and shook his head. He smiled, said, "Did you see that the Chudley Cannons are only a couple of points from the top of the league?" and then left before Draco could comment on his out of the blue observation.
Except it wasn't out of the blue. Potter knew exactly what he was saying. Damn him for being able to read people so well! It was of course what made him a good Auror, but Draco hated when Harry turned his power on him.
He tossed his quill down, splattering ink all over his fresh notes. When he turned to grab his wand, he ended up sending the crown flying off the desk.
Draco growled in irritation and Accioed the crown back to him. He looked at it for a moment and couldn't help but remember his mother's words of wisdom- "One of the worst things to live with is regret".
He shoved the crown into his bottom desk drawer and pulled his diary from the top drawer. When he opened the cover, he read and reread the little affirmation that Marie had written for him.
We accept the love we think we deserve.
A/N- The final line there is a quote from the book The Perks of Being a Wallflower. It's one of my favorite books and also a good movie with the lovely Emma Watson.