Written for the QLFC. Round 10. Chaser 3 for Puddlemere United.

Prompts:

Invitation

Draco Malfoy

'Do not make her story about you' — The Damned, Renee Ahdieh

A/n: I do not own Harry Potter.

Witches and wizards didn't necessarily have what muggles called 'psychologists,' but if they did Draco Malfoy would most certainly guarantee that he had social anxiety. He felt as if he couldn't blend into a crowd if he wanted to (which was true, given his name and his bright, blond hair) nor could he engage in conversations without coming off as socially awkward. If this were a business event, he could possibly get away with weak small talk but impress with his work ethic.

However, this was not a business meeting. It was a wedding.

Draco wasn't surprised he had received an invitation, now that he worked at the Ministry it was almost a guaranteed invitation to all weddings. Today, he was there for Neville Longbottom and Hannah Abbott. The pair seemed to work together quite well and it was a very lovely wedding (with an open bar, thank Merlin), but Draco still found himself in a dull mood. He had come with his best mate, Blaise, who had went looking for a woman to dance with the minute they got to the reception. Draco, on the other hand, had taken to a barstool and was drinking firewhiskey.

It hadn't escaped Draco's attention when of all people, the Golden Girl came to stand next to him. "One butterbeer, please," Hermione Granger said to the bartender. Draco noticed she was wearing a stunning, gold dress that matched the other bridesmaids. He had seen her during the ceremony and it had been hard to take his eyes off of her. She was so naturally beautiful that she radiated. She must have seen him staring at her because as soon as she got her drink she turned to him and tilted her head.

"You alright, Malfoy?" She asked and even though he was startled from her addressing him, he didn't show it.

"I'm alright," he nodded. "You?"

She smirked, "Never better." Granger scanned her eyes through the room. "I see your other half has left you."

Draco scoffed, "He always does at events like these. Sees one broad and forgets about his most loyal friend."

"He's no Hufflepuff, that's for sure," Hermione pointed out.

"No." Draco looked at her left hand that was gripping her butterbeer, seeing the large diamond on it. "Where's Weasley, I'm surprised he's left your side for even one moment."

Granger seemed to deflate a little at the question, but answered. "Ron's entertaining right now, not sure if you've noticed but he's always enjoyed the spotlight."

"It's hard not to notice. Weasley's in the Prophet weekly always talking about whatever mediocracy he's done that week. Though I do remember the article a couple weeks ago about your engagement, so I guess congrats are in order." Draco saw Granger twist her engagement ring. It almost seemed as if it were a habit for her.

"Thank you," was all she simply said.

Draco was surprised that she hadn't left the bar yet and was choosing to talk to him. This was their first real conversation that they'd ever had outside of school and the ministry. "Why are you talking to me?" He voiced his question.

Granger straightened a bit at that question and raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry, do you not want me here?"

Draco shook his head, "No, no it's… nice that you're here. I just don't know why. We're not exactly friends, Granger."

Granger shrugged. "We can still have a civil conversation though, right?" She asked.

"I suppose," Draco reluctantly agreed. "Although, it's strange to see the Golden Girl next to a Malfoy. We're getting a bit of attraction," he said, glancing at those who had stopped to watch their conversations.

"I wish I could say I was used to the attention by now, unfortunately I am not. Sometimes I wish I could get away from everyone, just for a little bit," Granger admitted, to Draco's surprise.

He understood that feeling. After the war, the media had hounded his family due to them all having to go to trial for their actions in the war. Draco and his mother had been pardoned because of a testimony from Harry Potter who admitted that if it weren't for him, he would have been killed twice before the war was over. His father, on the other hand, was sentenced to 20 years in Azkaban. Draco had always thought that the sentence seemed to be a bit light, after all that his father had done, but he supposed Potter had talked the Wizengamot down.

Draco had thought that with the trials over that the media would get bored of the Malfoys and leave them alone. They hadn't. While he wasn't in the Prophet weekly, he was in it enough to know that interest about his post Death Eater life sparked curiosity in others. In reality, he led a fairly boring life. He was a workaholic, his way of coping after the war. Sometimes he went on dates with beautiful women, sometimes he spent weekends with his mother in peace. He had got to see his mother's nephew a few times, which had always been fun. He believed that having Teddy and Andromeda back in Narcissa's life was the only thing keeping her sane.

"It's weird how much people care about us, just for our names. They don't really know us, you know?" Granger said, interrupting his thoughts.

"People always have cared about names," Draco responded. "Like, how you're the Golden Girl and helped save the world and how I'm a pureblooded, ex Death Eater."

Granger rolled her eyes, "Oh please, I hate being called that. It makes it seem as if I'm perfect, which I assure you I am not."

Draco disagreed, but did not voice his opinion.

She must have noticed his reluctance to respond and sighed. "Imagination runs wild when people hear a name. With Harry, Ron, and I it's 'the Golden Trio.' With Voldemort there was so much fear that no one would dare speak it. With you, it's the notion that you're a rich, powerful pureblood who is untouchable. I know better. I know Harry and Ron. I know that Voldemort feared death more than others feared him. I know that you are not untouchable. It's what people put into a name, that makes it worth anything. Just the name itself means nothing. What's in a name anyways, besides other people's opinions?"

There was a silence that passed over them for a minute or so before Granger opened her mouth again. "Malfoy, I am not perfect. I know we don't really know each other, but please don't be like the rest of the world and build an image of my character that you really know nothing about."

"I wouldn't mind getting to know you better," Draco said.

He thought he saw Granger smiled, but if she did it was quick because instantly her expression was neutral. "Perhaps," she said.

Draco smirked but then looked away to see a flash of red hair coming their way. Of course the stupid Weasel would come and take Granger away just as they were getting the conversation going. "It seems your fiancé is here to sweep you off your feet and whisk you away."

"Hardly," Granger snorted, but she did turn around.

"'Mione!" Weasley drunkenly stumbled, wrapping an arm around Granger's waist. He saw Draco next to her and sneered. "Malfoy," he greeted and then bent over to kiss Granger on the lips. "You wouldn't mind if I stole my fiancee away, right mate?"

It wasn't a question, but Draco answered anyway. "Go ahead. Nice talking to you Granger. Let's catch up another time."

Granger smiled tightly in response and didn't get a chance to respond before Weasley grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards that crowd. Draco watched until the crowd swallowed her up.

Draco wondered if they would get together again. He had enjoyed talking to her, it had been refreshing. He thought she liked talking to him too. He had always known how intelligent and kind she's always been. She had said she wasn't perfect, yet he had disagreed. Granger was probably the most perfect witch there was.

It didn't escape his notice that she had been disappointed every time Weasley had been brought up. A part of him wanted to take her away from him, but he knew that wasn't up to Draco, it was up to Granger. He knew that she would be an amazing wife and a wonderful mother. If Draco were honest, he was quite jealous of Weasley. Yet, Weasley seemed to not even care about those qualities of Granger. Draco would bet that Weasley had proposed because he knew it would help keep him in the spotlight.

A hand clapped his shoulder and brought Draco out of his thoughts. He turned to see Blaise behind him. "Saw you talking to Granger, mate."

Draco nodded, "Yeah. She's… interesting. I hope to get to know her more."

Blaise sighed and shook his head. "Do not make her story about you. She has so much going for her. I even reckon she'll be Minister of Magic one day. Do you really wanna muck things up for her by breaking up her engagement? You're a Malfoy, mate, and she's the Golden Girl. It would never work."

Draco didn't want to believe Blaise, especially after his conversation with Granger, but he knew Blaise was right. If he tried going after Granger it would only hurt her. She was in a good place in life right now and he didn't want to ruin that for her.

So Draco decided he wouldn't try to get to know her better. He'd spend the rest of his life seeing her get married, have kids, become Minister of Magic (like Blaise had said). The most interaction they would ever get were small talk, here and there.

And Draco would spend the rest of his life wondering 'what ifs' had he gone after Granger. Because she was right, what's in a name anyways?