Disclaimer: Of course, these lovely characters do not belong to me. I do borrow them for my idea.
Thank you to all of you kind followers and the reviews.
This was an adventure. First inspiration would come, then I decided to flipflop this with the original chapter and change their order, then I had these amazing edits, but my computer deleted them on me and now here we are. Also, I am trying to get Hermione back to her stronger self, so that also caused a lot of editing and I hope it works out for you all as well.
Malfoy Spring Social
March 2006
He hated these events with every fiber of his being, but of course, that wasn't to stop Narcissa from throwing her the most extravagant spring event he had ever witnessed at Malfoy Manor. And it certainly didn't stop her from making sure he had no excuse and had to attend. Their elf staff had been working over hours for the past few weeks, preparing elaborate food as well as flowery decorations, which made their gardens look even more exquisite. He hadn't been around to witness it but he figured Granger probably had a fit or two over all the work the little creatures had to do over this short planning period.
"You didn't tell me Granger would be here.", Daphne handed him a flute with champagne, before eyeing his former wife. He followed her gaze, having paid little attention to the other guests if they hadn't approached him. He took a sip of his champagne just as his eyes found her and almost choked. Hermione wore an elegant dress, much like her dress robes at Hogwarts in different shades of pink. No doubt chosen by his mother to perfectly match the event and the purple ensemble his mother was wearing. When he looked down he noticed that his own robes had the smallest features that matched them both.
"Still not over her, are we?"
"Say it louder, so everyone in attendance can hear you." He responded with a hiss, as he glared at the young Greengrass.
"Rumors have it that she and Weasley filed for divorce." She gave him a meaningful look before going back to studying Granger. "Could be your chance."
"They are divorced."
Daphne's eyes left the girl and snapped back to him. So, this had been news to her. He could tell by her expression, that she was currently lining up questions to ask him. She would make a good journalist if she was to choose her own career. Maybe he should marry her, just to give her that chance in life, that their parents still didn't seem quite willing to. Before she could ask though, he volunteered what he knew.
"She has been living here since late November. I suppose they filed right away, and I overheard her telling mother that they signed all the paperwork last week." And he did know way more about her personal affairs than he should.
"I hope she got rid of that ridiculous last name as well."
"You will have to ask her."
"Maybe I will."
He emptied his flute and put it on a passing tray, while grabbing a new one. He hadn't known that Granger would be at this event, or he would have come up with better excuses to get out of it. Which was probably the reason why his mother had failed to mention it. However, Narcissa had no clue what this meant for him. With her being as close with Granger as she was, he didn't confide in her when it came to his particular dilemma. Now, though he threatened to get even close enough to smell her perfume since he knew that would just break down his carefully placed walls in seconds.
"Didn't know the older generation allowed muggle-borns at these events." He glared before even identifying the voice, as Millicent and Gregory Goyle had somehow found their way to where he stood.
"I suppose it is part of the postwar life to have them represented." Millicent added to her husband's words.
"Draco, I'm sure you are glad that terrible chapter has closed for you." Goyle's look on him seemed to want to portray sympathy and some sort of support that the blonde couldn't quite place. When it came to his class- and housemates Goyle was one of those that he didn't seek out anymore. But he still ended up in his cycles more often than he'd like him to.
Draco could feel Daphne's careful soft touch against his arm, as he closed his eyes and counted to ten. When asked today, he had no good explanation why he had kept Crabbe and Goyle around for so long. There was literally no brain inside their thick skulls, and it appeared not even losing what they all had lost in the war, would straighten up the wrong teachings of their parents.
"She is a good friend of Narcissa's, so I would watch my tongue." Daphne laced her arm through his and gave the couple a pointed look. "Now is it true, the two of you are expecting?"
He glanced at the blond on his arm, grateful he had picked her for the task of his publicity girlfriend. She knew just how to change the topic, without anyone feeling sour about it, and more importantly, she did know how to hand out her blows.
"Yes, Milli and I am very excited." Draco's eyes landed on Millicent taking in her puffy cheeks and expanded belly. She must have been due in the next couple of months.
"I haven't heard, how far along are you?" Daphne had her best high society smile placed on her lips and showed more interest than he knew she had.
"Not very far. We aren't due until September." Draco almost choked once more, as he had just taken a sip of his champagne and his eyes darted back to the young woman, who looked much more pregnant.
"Draco, be a dear and get me a plate of food." Daphne seemed to sense how awkward he was next to her, as she pushed him out of the Goyle's sight, before continuing her conversation with them. He gladly took the chance to escape, strolling towards the buffet. With the plate in hand, he began making a small selection, occasionally popping something in his own mouth, as he went. His mother would be horrified if she saw him. But she was more than busy socializing. As he was satisfied with the plate, he turned to look for Daphne, hoping she had been able to free herself from the Goyles.
He finally spotted her with Blaise, Theo, and Luna Lovegood of all people, and began making his way back to her.
"I'm sure it's just to clear their name. Merlin knows, the Malfoys need it, but inviting a mudblood to this kind of event."
He froze, his eyes trying to find the source of the whispers.
"At the very least she could have chosen someone with a little bit more formal training. She walks around here like she hasn't been to any formal gathering."
"Well, there is the ring to her name. Everyone still loves Potter and his friends, so she is an obvious choice."
"Of course, that terrible episode involving her, the Dark Lord, and Draco. Maybe someone ought to advise Narcissa to choose a different one of their kind."
"At least Draco came to his senses. Daphne is a wonderful young lady. I thought I saw a ring on her finger earlier. It's not too late for a late summer wedding."
For the third time, he almost choked, and his eyes finally caught sight of a pompous hat, behind one of the large bushes. He was about to bust the gossipy old ladies but then decided that it wouldn't be in his mother's interest to make a scene. He gave the hat his best glare before he once again began to make his way back to his friends.
"Mother, you might want to consider not inviting Hermione to these things." He caught her in a moment alone, as she assessed some of the decorations.
"What do you mean?" Her eyes caught his and he just lightly shook his head, since this was certainly not the place. "We'll talk later, dear."
"Of course." He gave her a nod, before joining his friends and a bubbly little blond.
"Draco, have you seen Hermione? I've meant to talk to her, while we are here." Lovegood's melodic voice was the first to reach him. He glanced at Blaise, who had his arms around the petite blond before he shook his head.
"Afraid not." He handed the almost forgotten plate to Daphne. His mind still on the gossip.
"She sure has everyone talking about her." Theos voice lacked the usual teasing. It sounded bored or even tired of all the talking. After all with his father, he had covered quite a bit of the gossip column himself.
"Not just her, apparently I have given you a ring." Draco forced a smirk to his face, as he addressed Daphne. While they kept pushing to the forefront, his thoughts about Granger would have to wait for a later and more quiet time.
"Oh how lovely of you, it's not too late for a late summer wedding." She laughed back at him, before holding up her hand. "I suppose no more rings for me at these events."
The others laughed and Draco had a chance to discover that Luna Lovegood could hold rather pleasant conversations and while she certainly still wasn't a match for him, she seemed to be all Blaise wanted. It was finally his mother who asked him to walk with her that drew him away from the group.
"I asked Hermione to consult with the elves on when to put up the parting gifts. People are getting tired, but I haven't seen Hermione since and the gifts aren't up. Would you mind checking?" He bit back a comment about his former wife probably freeing all the elves before asking them to do something.
"Of course." He gave Narcissa a small smile, before he walked back to the house and towards the kitchens, where he suspected most of the elves to be. It only took a moment to have them jump into action, as they had been anxiously waiting and Hermione seemed to have never made it. It was on his way back outside that he did a doubletake at the library doors. There were a few rooms they warded when it came to these events. He knew from experience that there were always people to stray into areas they didn't belong, and he was sure he had put the wards up.
With a sigh, he opened the door, fully expecting a pair of bored teenagers going at it, but he could not see anyone. He almost shut the door again when he heard the rustling of a page and closed his eyes briefly. Since she had gone missing from the event quite a while ago, he had his suspicions about the hidden reader. So, he stepped back in and closed the door behind him. It didn't take him long to find the witch curled up on a chair she had summoned into the hidden corner, no longer caring for her pretty dress. A book lay open in her lap and she seemed to be in her own world.
He sighed again, taking the last few strides towards her, and crouching down by her side. When she looked at him, her red eyes told the tale of tears. He wanted to ask her, what had happened but bit his tongue. These past few weeks had been hard work of shutting her out and fighting whatever feelings reared in him. After the bind was lifted, he had been terrified that his feelings for her didn't disappear and then all of the sudden she started living at the blasted Manor.
"What are you reading?" That seemed like a decently safe question.
"A book about a girl married off without consent."
"Ah." He swallowed, why did the Manor library hold that blasted book? He would have to go through the catalog sometime when she wasn't around. He had never cared much for the fictional books ever since he started Hogwarts. First proclaiming they were for babies and later preferring research references. He noticed that she was now looking back at her book, although he was fairly certain that she wasn't reading.
"Lovegood has been looking for you."
"I'll owl her."
He gave a slow nod. With a wink of his hand, a second chair appeared, and he slowly sat down. His eyes carefully searching for a hint as to why she had abandoned the event and more importantly Narcissa's task.
"You don't have to pity me." There was that bite he had missed in the years after the war. She had been gaining some of her personality back, after not only finally ridding herself of the bind but also of that husband of hers.
"Just wondering, why you are not outside."
"Just felt like reading." He grimaced, since even for her bookworm self that seemed like a rather lame excuse, after helping in putting the event together. Without really thinking about it, he reached for her book to pull it closer to him and look at the title. He didn't recognize it but filed the title away.
"It's not like I'm being missed." He let go of the book, after pushing it back into her lap and glanced up at her eyes, but she hurried to look away again.
"Like I said Lovegood asked for you." Hermione huffed, causing him to look over. Her hair, beautifully arranged earlier, hang in loose curls now, covering most of her face, as she leaned her head forward, once again staring at the pages.
"Yeah well, we haven't really been close after the war. She was off to school all over Europe and I heard she was getting married, but I guess that fell through." Her hand swiped invisible dust off the pages.
"It was certainly a surprise to see her with Blaise."
"She looks happy." He considered for a moment before he nodded lightly. They both seemed to be rather happy. It was odd to see this inter-house couple who had stood on different sides of the war in the middle of the still very prejudiced society they had gathered in the garden.
"It's nice to see that people at least don't care about her being with him." It was a small whisper and he looked back at her. Realization, that should have hit him sooner, came.
"You heard those gossipy witches."
"I mean the good news is that I'm back to being the mudblood rather than the terrible traitor wife of Draco Malfoy."
"Darling…" She sat a little straighter the moment he used the term and lifted her head to glare at him with anger in her eyes.
"You are not allowed to call me that." His eyebrows rose in confusion. To him, it had appeared that they had let a decent conversation just seconds ago. "It's not like you are any different."
He stared at her now, not sure what she was going on about. He might have tried to keep his distance, but he hadn't used that term in the past few years. In fact, he had to have a good grip on himself to not flinch when he heard the word, especially on her lips.
"It's okay, I get it. I disrupt the perfect world and really I would be gone by now if I had a choice." She cut herself off, shutting the book in front of her. This had been information he heard for the first time. "But you made quite clear that I should not be at these events and really if you still hate me that much then you could have just said something, and I wouldn't have come."
It took him a long moment to place her words, since he could not recall saying anything that should have offended her. And certainly didn't hate her. That would be an easy problem compared to his. Dracos eyes drifted over her, and suddenly the few words he had exchanged with Narcissa came back to mind.
"Granger, that wasn't what I meant out there."
"You don't have to pity me. I told you." She brushed over her dress, before using her fist to wipe away a tear. "I just thought that over the months of research we were on actual normal talking terms, but you have made perfectly clear that we are not and it's fine."
"I don't hate you." He was at loss for any other words. He should have been satisfied that she finally seemed to try to get the distance between them as well, but this stung.
"It's alright. You always have, probably always will, probably would be much more open about it, if it wasn't for your mother." She stood before she placed the book in her arms into a random spot. With fast strides, she brought physical distance between them. He was still too surprised by the outburst, so she was almost gone before words fell from his lips again.
"It was easier." It was just a murmur and certainly not for her ears, but she swung around anyway.
"What was?"
He glanced up at her, a nervous hand wiping across his face. "Hating you."
Draco was surprised to not be hit by another outburst. When he looked up, he noticed her eyes on him and looked back down. This was not the time nor the place to declare his undecided feelings for her. He still wasn't sure what to make of them and so he preferred to not talk about it. He finally heard a huff and then the clicking of her shoes, as she walked off.
He stared at his hands for quite a while, before he stretched towards the shelf and took the book down that she had placed there. His eyes scanned the title again, before opening it at a random page and beginning to read. The storyline reminded him, while he never read these books. There was a lot of mush and things went from dramatic to deeply in love and back. He rolled his eyes more than once, there certainly wasn't anything romantic about the Dark Lord marrying you to Granger after your crazy aunt tortured her in your house.
"You could have at least told your fiancée that you felt like reading." When he looked up, he saw the smirk on Daphne's face. She walked closer and gracefully sat on the abandoned chair next to him. Like he had earlier she reached for the book to look at the title, before raising an eyebrow.
"That's not your usual picking."
He rolled his eyes at her, swatting her hand away. "I found Granger reading it."
"Didn't think it would be her usual picking either."
He sighed and closed the book with his finger on the page, before leaning back into the chair.
"She had been crying in here, but when I came around, she opted for angry."
"I'm sure you did your best to get her there." If she had been one of the guys, he would have gladly wiped that amused smirk off her face, but her being her, he just breathed out sharply.
"It was a misunderstanding. I told mother that she shouldn't be at these events and she overheard us somehow."
"Why Draco?" She leaned forward and dragged out the words in a winging tone. "You know girls generally don't fall for you when you act like a jerk."
"First of all, that was the plan, since she was married to that idiot." He gave her a pointed look, before sighing. "Second of all, I didn't mean that I don't want her there. I just heard those old witches go on about her being a mudblood and I don't think she should be invited to an event to be insulted."
Daphnes lips formed an oh, while her hand carefully reached for his. "Try telling her that instead of going for arse."
"She wouldn't listen."
"Well, it was probably an emotional afternoon, your aunt may be the insane one, but mine is certainly, the more hurtful one when it comes to words and I'm pretty sure I saw her."
He gave her a small smile.
"Why don't you just ask her out?" She gave his hand a squeeze.
"Well, there is that issue of our wedding in the late summer." She laughed.
"Alright, well let's break it off, and you ask her out."
"It's not the right time." And she would say no anyway, especially after today. Today was just proof that they still stood on different sides and that society would never give her a chance if they became an actual thing.
"It is." Before he could say anything, she held up a hand. "At least give her a chance to decide, instead of doing it for her. She wouldn't be so upset about you if she didn't at least want to be your friend."
