Chapter 10

"She doesn't belong here."

Draco turned from the breathtaking view to look at his dark haired companion, who naturally was paying more attention to her nails than the beautiful ocean and beach below them. He wondered why he was even surprised. It was a classic Pansy move.

Draco's gaze shifted back to the view, ignoring her obvious lack of appreciation for natural beauty. "And what makes you suggest such a thing?" he asked noncommittally, though he knew exactly what she was referencing.

Pansy scoffed, giving him a look that indicated she didn't buy his obliviousness one bit. "Did you see how she treated Dalia? She's so… ignorant."

Draco pinched his nose. "Can you blame her? It is not as if she grew up in a pureblood family who taught her how to handle house elves."

"Obviously," Pansy said scornfully. "Though your family was certainly… unique in how you treated your help."

"Watch it Pans," Draco growled. "You know that I am not that despicable."

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree," Pansy smiled cruelly. Draco scoffed, turning his back on her. Pansy sighed petulantly.

"I know you will never be your father, Draco." She pouted. "Really Draco, are you simply going to ignore me this entire trip?"

"What a thoughtful apology," Draco bit out sarcastically.

"You never apologize, so expect me to return the favor," Pansy retorted.

"Touche," Draco grumbled under his breath.

"I'd gamble a hefty sum of galleons that she'll botch up your whole operation with a few missed social cues," Pansy grinned with amusement. She closed her eyes, clearly satisfied with her own mental image of Granger's complete and utter failure. "Though I may be giving her too little credit-"

Draco snorted at that. Pansy's eyes flashed. "Just because you have some sick crush on the frizzy haired beaver doesn't mean she's anything special."

Draco barked out a laugh. "In what deluded mind of yours would it ever make logical sense that I fancied Granger?" Draco asked incredulously.

"Methinks the lady doth protest too much," Pansy batted her eyelashes.

Draco shook his head. "Believe what you will, Pans. I have other concerns than, how did you put it, crushing on Granger."

Pansy, satisfied with his answer, found another victim of conversation. "Well anyways, as I was saying before you so rudely cut me off, Granger is far better than the rest of the Golden Trio," Pansy yammered on derisively. "Actually," her eyes began to glint with menace. "Perhaps the real reason behind the massive breakup of both Darling Duos is that she and Potter realized that even the Weasley family was too poor and unrefined for their social stature."

"Pansy," Draco warned.

"Don't you 'Pansy' me," Pansy retorted. "You and I are both thinking the exact same thing - Granger's the real reason why Potter even survived to finally off the Dark Lord. The Weasel just sat there for their comic relief."

"Don't presume that you know anything about what I think," Draco hissed. Pansy looked at him incredulously.

"I dated you for the better part of our Hogwarts' careers, and before then, I was your best friend- don't you roll your eyes at me! You know it's true. Vince and Greg were just bodyguards, and you didn't even begin to talk to Blaise or Theo until around fifth year. I know you, Draco. Whether you like it or not," Pansy said confidently.

"How long ago was Hogwarts? Years, Pans. You may know the eleven year old Draco, but you haven't understood any version of me starting sixth year. You might as well be looking at a stranger."

"Nobody changes that much, if at all," Pansy dismissed.

"The war, Pans. The war changed everyone. Even you've changed," Draco said solemnly.

"Hardly," Pansy scoffed. "The only difference is that I've now got a nice pair of tits and an arse to die for."

"Please, tell me more about your body insecurities," Draco sniped.

Pansy smirked. "My facial structure has lengthened out, wouldn't you say so, Draco? Not quite as stunted as in my prepubescent years."

Draco eyed her, noticing the sharper cut of her cheekbones and the more confident intensity of her gaze. Although Pansy was no beauty, she had certainly grown out of the pug-faced girl who had trailed him for most of Hogwarts. Her nose, although he'd never admit it aloud for fear of his personal well being, was still slightly squashed. Instead, he voiced his other thoughts.

"I'm proud of you, Pans. I am happy to hear your vocabulary has expanded to 'prepubescent.'"

A flash of hurt flickered across her face, so quickly that Draco wondered if he had imagined it. He internally snorted. If she had been fishing for compliments, she was sorely mistaken if she had thought Draco would be able to provide them. They weren't friends. Not by a longshot.

"Like your vocabulary included anything beyond 'my father'," Pansy shot back.

Draco bristled. She was right, to a point at least. She did know his younger selves, which meant she had plenty of ammo as far as his past was concerned. It was too bad that Blaise was dating her. Otherwise, Draco might have decided to obliviate her right there.

"You're lucky that I actually like Blaise," Draco said, an edge to his voice.

Pansy tsked. "And here I thought we were actually getting on?"

They were interrupted by Blaise and Granger's entrance on the veranda. Pansy's nostrils flared slightly as she noticed Granger's hold on Blaise's arm, and she immediately shifted positions so that she very nearly shoved Hermione off of Blaise.

"Blaise, my smoochie, I missed you," Pansy said in that nauseating honey-sweet voice of hers.

"It's been seven minutes," Granger grumbled under her breath. Pansy shot a glare at her.

Draco couldn't wait to get away from them. Pansy, mainly.

"If you'll excuse me," Draco muttered. "When you wish to begin discussions or dinner, send a house elf to my room."

He quickly strode back into the villa, before anyone else could make a remark. Looking both ways, he chose his left, passing by various sitting rooms, a dining room, a music room, a library, a courtyard, a pool… the hallway seemed endless. Finally, he happened upon another marble staircase, and ascended towards the second floor.

Like your vocabulary included anything beyond 'my father'...

Pansy's sharp comeback rang in his ears, hitting him harder than he had originally anticipated. He shook his head to clear his thoughts as he searched the endless row of double doors for some indication as to which was his room.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree…

Draco gritted his teeth. Finally, a set a double of doors glowed silver as he passed by, and on further inspection, his name had been elegantly printed in gold above the door handles.

As he pushed the doors open, Pepe, his assigned house elf, appeared in the room.

"Master Draco requires Pepe's help?" Pepe asked in the lowest voice he had ever heard on a house elf.

"No, thank you Pepe. I will summon you if I need anything," Draco said.

"Pepe leaves Master Draco, then," Pepe bowed before popping out.

Draco sat heavily on the bed, which had been covered in acromantula silk sheets. He allowed himself one grin at Blaise's excellent taste before he noticed a letter that had already been left on the bedside table. As he leaned back and snatched it from the nightstand, his face twisted into another frown. He would recognize his mother's swooping cursive anywhere.

"What do you mean you won't take him back?" Molly Weasley asked, dropping her wooden spoon in astonishment. Ginny sighed, unsure of how to continue.

"I mean that it's over. Done. I'm not taking him back," Ginny said tiredly.

"Now you're just overreacting, dear. You don't really mean that."

"No mum, I really do. Harry and I are over."

Molly shook her head, placing her hands on her hips. "Ginevra, I don't understand you! Harry is one of the kindest and sweetest boys out there, and is not only a good man, but the Chosen One, to boot! And he loves you, dear. What more must the poor boy do to get you back? He's tried talking to you, sending you flowers, begging for your attention at the Prophet. How can you not even hear out his apology?"

"He betrayed Hermione's trust, Mum. You don't do that to someone who's stuck beside you for almost half your life," Ginny explained.

"He was just trying to help," Molly frowned at her only daughter. "I honestly can't believe Hermione would be so unreasonable, besides. How can Ron fix them if she won't even speak to him?"

"They're over, Mum. Let it go!" Ginny snapped.

"Don't you dare take that tone with me, young lady," Molly threatened. "They were engaged, for Merlin's sake. I don't understand why Hermione just up and ended it."

"They weren't right for each other," Ginny said tightly, trying to keep her temper under control.

"What does that even mean?" Molly asked exasperatedly.

"Ron's been suffocating Hermione since they started dating! He wants her to settle down and have his babies-" Ginny was interrupted by Molly's patronising tone.

"Now there is nothing wrong with wanting to start a family-"

"Not yet, Mum! Hermione wants a career!" Ginny exclaimed.

Molly clucked. "I don't really see the point in wasting your time on something you're going to give up on later anyways."

Ginny fumed. She should have been used to her mother's slightly outdated views, but for some reason, she couldn't help but get upset.

"Who said she was ever going to give up on it?" Ginny clenched her jaw.

Molly's eyes widened. "But- even when she has kids?"

"Yes, there's such a thing called work-life balance," Ginny said sarcastically.

"Well, even if Hermione had such… aspirations," Molly said, a tad bitterly, "she could have worked it all out with Ron rather than just dropping him like that. She clearly loves him - why else would she have agreed to the engagement?"

Ginny shook her head, her anger suddenly deflating. "They wanted different things in life, mum. Ron wasn't going to let her keep going with her career - as she moved up higher with Wizengamot Administration, she was going to be working longer and longer hours. Ron wanted to get married almost immediately. Hermione wanted to wait. They couldn't even decide on a wedding date."

Molly shook her head. "We all have our disagreements."

"These weren't disagreements. They had massive rows over these small things. How could they possibly make the bigger decisions if they're fighting at every turn?" Ginny asked.

Molly snorted. "Hermione simply needs to be less critical of Ron. And tone down her stubbornness. It isn't becoming of a lady."

Ginny's nostrils flared as she took in a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Mum-" she began.

"And you need to hear poor Harry out!" Molly turned the conversation back to Ginny's broken relationship.

"I did! And I still don't think we should get back together!" Ginny snapped.

"He had good intentions, Ginevra. Was there anything else besides this little incident that bothered you about your relationship?"

"It's not a little incident!"

"I think you're blowing this whole situation far out of proportion!" Molly lectured. "Was there anything else?"

"YES!" Ginny was now openly sobbing. "He was the one who originally broke up with me! Just because I made a decision that he didn't like. All I did was talk to Hermione about how she and Ron weren't working-"

"You were the one who originally brought this all up?" Molly asked, suddenly quiet.

"Yes," Ginny answered honestly, tears streaming down her face. Honestly, what was wrong with her?

"How could possibly do that to your brother and one of your best friends?" Molly asked, her voice rising. "I am ashamed of you, Ginevra Weasley! No child of mine would insert themselves and break someone else's relationship!"

"That's not what I did! I just talked to Hermione!" Ginny cried. "You're blowing this out of proportion! I just pointed out things that she hadn't been paying attention to!"

Molly shook her head at Ginny disappointingly. "It wasn't your place."

"She was my friend, I had to say something!"

"I can't believe you," Molly turned away to fiddle with something in the kitchen. In the background, the floo activated, and Arthur Weasley stepped out, brushing ashes off of his hat.

"Molly, dear, I'm home!" Arthur called.

"In the kitchen!" Molly called back.

"Ginny!" Arthur beamed as he rounded the corner. "What brings you home? Oh my," he paused as he took in her teary eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Your daughter refuses to forgive Harry over something entirely trivial," Molly snapped from the sink, where she was preparing some potatoes.

"It's not trivial," Ginny grumbled.

Arthur looked back and forth between his wife and only daughter. He had no idea what this trivial or nontrivial situation was, so he chose to approach it differently. "Is that the only thing that has been bothersome about your relationship with Harry?" he asked Ginny gently.

"No," Ginny muttered. "Harry… he doubts me sometimes. He's constantly questioning if my love for him is real, or if I'm just another fan girl."

"That's rather silly of him," Molly dismissed. "He's known you since you were ten!"

"That's precisely why he wonders if it's real," Ginny sighed, putting her face into her hands. "I had an obsession with him… which grew into genuine love, but when we have a row, or I do something he didn't think I'd do, he's constantly questioning us. It's like… he has never known what love is really like, and can't possibly believe that I could love him for him."

Arthur frowned. "I can see why that would make things unstable. Is there anything else?" Molly tutted in the background.

"Well," Ginny shrugged. "He sometimes still sees me as a little sister. The romance is almost nothing...not the same passion anymore that we felt in school."

Arthur shifted uncomfortably, while Molly shook her head. "Real relationships should not be about snogging and feeling each other up in broom closets," she admonished.

"I know Mum, but it'd be nice if there was at least something there once in a while instead of going through the motions out of obligation! Not only that, but he's almost suffocatingly protective and self-sacrificial - he almost worships me and puts me on a pedestal which makes for a very unbalanced relationship-"

"How can he worship you but question you?" Molly asked. "You can't have them both at the same time."

"I don't know!" Ginny yelled suddenly. "Sometimes I'm a goddess that he couldn't possibly be worthy of, and other times he wonders if I'm just another fake social climber!"

"Control yourself, Ginevra!" Molly snapped. "I don't know why you have to go about getting all upset again, when all we're doing is having a discussion!"

"I don't know why I'm so emotional," Ginny started crying.

"It's all this stress you're carrying with you about your break-up and Ron and Hermione's, too. You need to let go, dear," Arthur said reasonably.

"That and the full moon is coming," Molly suggested.

"Don't remind me!" Ginny snapped. "I'm done talking about this, all right? Harry and I have lots of issues, and this is just the straw on the camel's back! We had it coming! Ron and Hermione, too!"

"Honestly it sounds to me as though you and Hermione just need to hear your counterparts out," Molly sighed. "They didn't really do anything wrong, Ron or Harry. You girls are just being dramatic."

"Do you even hear yourself?" Ginny shouted. "I can't believe you. You're dismissing everything I had to say? You're taking their side?"

Arthur tried to mediate. "Now Ginny, we're all adults here. Nobody is taking sides-"

"Not taking sides?" Ginny shrieked. "Bill and George have made their stances clear. They acknowledge that Ron and Harry haven't been perfect and that it is perfectly within our rights to break up with them if it's not working! Mum and Percy and Charlie have been sending me letters nonstop, questioning my decision and voicing their disapproval rather than their support! That's what I need right now! Support! If Hermione hadn't been in Italy, she'd have been uninvited to the family dinners and sent a couple of howlers, to boot!"

"I would never-" Molly bristled.

"Maybe not the howlers, but some passive way of letting her know you didn't approve," Ginny hissed.

"Ginevra!" Arthur said sternly. "That is enough."

"Besides," Ginny said quietly. "I've a date with Michael Corner next Friday."

Molly inhaled quickly through her teeth. Arthur looked confused.

"Didn't you date him before? Early years at Hogwarts?" Arthur asked, frowning as he attempted to remember his daughter's past relationships.

"It was dumb back then, I was trying to get over Harry-"

"And you'll think it'll work now?" Molly asked critically.

"It's never going to be serious with Michael! He's just gotten out of a long relationship, and I have as well! It's a rebound," Ginny snapped. "We both have no expectations, for once. It'll be nice!"

"Harry's not going to just stick around for you to come back to him," Molly warned. "There'll be plenty of other girls to snatch him up!"

"Let them," Ginny spat venomously.

"Perhaps, Molly, it is for the best. Ginny has pined after Harry for the better part of her life. It clearly hasn't been working, or they wouldn't be here like this. Maybe she's been clinging to a school-girl crush this whole time, Harry, too, and it's time for them to grow up. Move on," Arthur said sagely.

"You'll regret this one day," Molly warned, shaking her spoon at her daughter. "And when you do, don't come crying back to me. Because I told you to keep at it, and you're giving up."

"No," Ginny said firmly, finally calm. "I'm moving on."

Blaise quietly peered into each of the aisles he passed by, searching for the petite brunette. As he neared the law section of his family library, he sighed. He should started here, though there was always the possibility that Hermione may have gotten distracted amongst the hoards of information on any of the shelves. As he rounded a corner, he peeked his head around the bookshelves, finding Hermione tucked into one of the leather chairs. Countless parchments and old tomes had been fanned out onto the table, and Hermione was scribbling carefully, chewing on the tip of the feather as she paused to reference the current book in her lap. He smiled. There were few things that the war didn't change, and it was nice to see Hermione's study habits had stayed consistent.

"Any luck?" Blaise asked quietly, hoping he wouldn't frighten her.

Hermione looked up from her multiple books, slightly startled but almost instantly calmed by Blaise's presence. "Plenty actually. The trick now is to organize a comprehensive list since these laws are all over the place. I should have a good idea by tomorrow morning as to what we're dealing with."

"Good. Is there anything else you need? There should be a public law library in Florence that contains the most recently updated Ministero manifests, guides, and such. We can visit tomorrow after meeting with the main Medici Pharmaceutical representatives."

"That would be lovely. Are you expecting us to need the information before then?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"A quick debrief over dinner should be plenty to give the other two of us a basis for the brief talks tomorrow. It's more of a meet and greet and outlining a few of the questions we should return to the Ministry so we can get preliminary answers. Likely, we will be setting up an agenda for the next months until we return to England. I don't expect any serious agenda work to start until next week, though. The remaining few days will be filled with social lunches, dinners, and balls. I hope you brought proper attire?" Blaise asked, suddenly frowning.

Hermione frowned. "I only expected us to attend business functions… I don't have any ballgowns."

Blaise sighed. "Unfortunately, Hermione, balls are business functions. Many deals are made on the side of the dance floor over a few flutes of champagne. You'll have to go shopping. Tomorrow will work just fine, after our initial meeting and research. We'll take a floo to Milan, and Pansy can help you pick out a few appropriate outfits."

"I think I can manage," Hermione said quickly, anxious to avoid the dark-haired snake as much as possible.

"Nonsense. Pansy has excellent taste and is up to the latest fashions. She'll know exactly what to get for you and the designers to look out for," Blaise smiled.

"But I couldn't possibly afford the fashions that Parkinson picks out-" Hermione said frankly, panicking slightly.

"Silly girl," Blaise laughed deeply, eyeing her with amusement. "It's a business expense! We simply charge the Ministry. Kingsley has already approved a hefty budget for the three of us, and as I expect Draco and I already have appropriate wear, we can splurge on yours. How we present ourselves is how we represent England, after all."

"Blaise… can I be honest with you? Blunt, even?" Hermione asked timidly.

"Of course," Blaise furrowed his eyebrows.

"Well… as you know, Parkinson and I have no love lost between us," Hermione said softly. "I'm not sure I'm comfortable with… er…"

Blaise caught her meaning and smiled sympathetically. "My apologies, I was being insensitive. Draco and I will accompany you as well. Draco and Pansy often trade barbs, so perhaps she will be occupied with insulting him so that her valid fashion advice comes through when she speaks with you," Blaise stated. "Draco and I also have excellent taste, at risk of sounding too pompous, and we may help if you ever feel you need a particular garment vetoed."

Hermione's mouth twisted at the idea of parading in various ballgowns in front of Malfoy, of all people, and receiving his biting criticism, but she shrugged. Blaise would rein the two in, and Blaise was the closest thing she had to a friend here. Finally, she nodded. "That would be much appreciated."

Blaise nodded, beginning to stand up. "Dinner will be served in-"

"Why does she hate me so much?" Hermione asked suddenly, staring past Blaise into the depths of the bookshelves. Blaise paused, but before he could sit down again, Hermione shook her head. "Never mind, that was a stupid and irrelevant question."

Blaise pulled one of her hands away from tugging on the feather tip of her quill and clasped it. "Hermione, I highly doubt Pansy actually hates you."

Hermione snorted. "Does she treat everyone like that?"

"Perhaps with a little less venom, but in general, yes," Blaise answered truthfully.

"Then why are you dating her?" Hermione blurted out before she could stop herself.

Blaise chuckled. "It's a mutually beneficial relationship. I highly doubt it will ever evolve into more than that. Once it stops being so, we will part ways."

Men, Hermione rolled her eyes internally. It was always one thing with them. Would it kill them to look for an equal partner, not only sexually, but intellectually and personally as well? Perhaps she was expecting too much. Perhaps the best she could do really was Ron, even if it seemed like they didn't fit together.

"Dinner is ten," Blaise said softly, dropping her hand and leaving Hermione to her thoughts.

AN: Hello everyone! So sorry for the very long update, but it took me a while to get over some nasty bouts of writer's block. That, and I've got an original novel that is semi-based on this fanfiction that I'm working on; my attention is going to be slightly divided from now on. I wish I could say I'll get another chapter to you in the next few weeks, but school is starting soon, so I can't make any promises. It could be within the next two weeks, or it could be in a couple of months. I will update as soon as I can, however!

So, please review, since I haven't heard from anyone in ages! What do you all think of Pansy? She definitely gives the appearance of a superficial b*tch, but as we saw with her protectiveness over Theo, she has a bit more to her than that. My question, though, is how many people would like to see her become friends with Hermione, or just get her b*tchiness served right back to her. Or we could have both… there's no reason we can't have both. How about Draco's letter from his mother? Thoughts on what Narcissa would be owling her son about? And how are we liking Blaise and Hermione's friendship? Good development? Too fast? Too slow? Too much? I initially was planning to have Blaise be fairly careless and superficial, but I feel that Hermione's only shoulder to lean on in Italy is going to be Blaise… until we get some Dramione going. Do we like caring Blaise? Or should we have more wealthy pureblood snobby-but-not-as-bad-as-Draco/Pansy-snobby?

Oh, and a lot of people were wondering about the rest of the Weasley family and how they all seemed to be against Ron/were on Hermione/Ginny's side even if they were too dramatic. So I left this scene for you all, because although I wasn't planning on writing it, this scene was going on behind the scenes. Do you agree with Molly's perspective? Do you agree with Ginny's? I hope I've sufficiently conveyed two valid perspectives on this situation, as well as the divide currently splitting the Weasley family. PLEASE REVIEW!