A/N: I forgot to mention in my last authors notes that I've dedicated this story to my husband and flightysohpist! They're the best betas I could ever ask for because this story is long! I'm thinking it'll hit around 20 chapters, but lucky for you folks, I've written it all already! If I get enough reviews, I'll continue to post chapters everyday!

DISCLAIMER: I still don't own Harry Potter and I'm not making money off this.

CHAPTER TWO

Hermione and Harry sat down at their table and ordered their drinks shortly before a tall red head came barrelling through the restaurant, "Sorry I'm late, guys! Freddy wouldn't go down and Romilda is exhausted." Ron pulled Hermione up into a tight hug, "You look great! How was tea?"

"Fine," Hermione replied nonchalantly. After nearly eight years of this secret charade, she found it quite easy to redirect conversations, "Harry got his wizard and received only one black eye this time."

Ron pulled away from embracing Harry, "Oi, mate, that doesn't look it was fun," Ron scolded his friend. "Any broken ribs or punctured lungs?" He playfully poked at Harry's belly.

Harry chuckled as he sat back down, "No, it wasn't as big of a struggle as I thought it would be. Tomorrow though, I'm tracking a Dark Wizard who might have … Is that Luna?" Harry cut himself off as he stared at a pale woman with long blond hair and turnips as earrings.

"I think that might be, but anyway you were saying about this Dark Wizard?" Hermione lightly replied as she sipped her wine. It wasn't that she didn't want to see Luna, she just hadn't seen her in years and felt no desire to awkwardly ask what was new or how things were going and pretend to be interested.

Harry had already gotten up and approached Luna's table. He spoke a few words to the blonde woman and pulled her up into an excited embrace. He turned and pointed to Ron and Hermione and waved them over. Hermione inaudibly gave an angry sigh, this was supposed to be a quiet dinner between the three of them.

As she approached the table she saw Harry embrace Neville then stop cold as he stared into a corner Hermione couldn't see from her angle yet.

"Hello, Hermione," Luna's airy voice pulled her eyes from Harry's shocked stance, "It's been a very long time since I saw you. You look very fit."

"Very fit indeed," a warm drawl came from the corner seat, Hermione's eyes snapped to the owner of it, "Hello, Granger."

"Malfoy?" Hermione's brain raced to catch up, What are Luna and Neville doing here with Draco Malfoy? "Uh, hi. Nice to see you again, Neville," she nodded politely across the table at the tall, dark haired man.

Harry finally found his voice, it came out as a warning, "What are you doing here with them?"

"Relax, Potter," Malfoy sneered, "Neville and I are mates from work and we're out to dinner. What brings about the reunion of the Golden Trio?"

Just as Ron was about to launch into a tirade of abuses, Luna answered serenely, "Well based on Harry's appearance it looks like he's back from his travels. Where were you this time, Harry?"

Luna's calm demeanor broke the tension effectively as Harry stuttered, "Er, Cairo. I was there on Auror business."

There was a beat of silence and Hermione took advantage of it to make an escape, "Well we won't keep you. Enjoy your dinner. Neville, Luna, lovely to see you. Malfoy," She nodded in Malfoy's direction, "Boys, shall we?"

"Nonsense, Hermione!" Neville reached across Luna to grab Ron's arm, "Please sit with us and we can all catch up! It's been far too long."

Neville's hopeful smile might at one point had pulled on Hermione's heartstrings but they were long since severed, "No, I don't think so, thank you."

Ron gave Hermione an affronted stare, "Uh, no it's alright, we would love to eat with you. Thank you for the invitation, Neville" As everyone grabbed seats to pull up to the table, Ron gave Harry a worried look. Harry nodded knowingly; they would have to talk in private.

Harry sat at the far end of the table between Malfoy and Neville. Ron had taken the head of the table which only left a spot between him and Malfoy. The discomfort on Hermione's face was not lost on Malfoy, "Come cozy up Granger, lots to chat about, lots to catch up on." He grinned devilishly at her.

Hermione's caramel eyes blazed with rage as she sat next to him, "Yes, why don't we? How was Azkaban?"

The jab didn't seem to phase Malfoy at all as he tsked, "Now Granger, you know I didn't get thrown in thanks to Scarface. Thanks again for that, mate," Malfoy clapped Harry's stiff shoulder, "Now that you know all about me, what about you? How are you so fit?" He rested his elbow on the table to support his chin in mock wonderment at Hermione.

There was another beat of awkward silence. Neville broke it this time, "How is Romilda doing, Ron? I hear she's pregnant again."

Ron visibly relaxed and smiled, "Yeah, she's seven months along now. She's good, just tired, you know. Freddy just turned two so he's quite the handful."

"Do you get to see Freddy often, Hermione? I imagine you probably don't get to see them as much, Harry," Neville enquired.

"Actually, no. I'm too busy at work for visiting, I'm sure Harry does see them more than I do," replied Hermione not feeling a shred of guilt. She was too busy with work, plus Freddy was only two, it's not as if he'll remember her not being around.

Silence.

Malfoy eyed Hermione inquisitively with a smirk, as if he were impressed.

Luckily, for everyone's discomfort except Hermione and Malfoy's, the waiter approached the table and took everyone's orders.

Harry politely questioned Neville about his job with Malfoy. Malfoy hired him to head the Herbology unit of the Potions sector and they spend a lot of their free time researching cures for Curse victims.

"How very noble of you," Hermione muttered so only Malfoy would hear.

"Yes, well. Everyone has to do their part. Besides, Potions are highly lucrative for this new generation of fucked up veterans. Draught of Peace sells so quickly we can barely keep up. I'm richer than my parents ever were," Malfoy goaded but to his surprise Hermione chuckled.

"That's a good point. Very clever, Malfoy," she replied before she sipped her butternut squash soup.

This brief, dark interaction was unheard by everyone at the table as Luna and Ron were also engrossed in their own discussion on how to keep spiders out of the store room at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Ron was managing the shop with George but kept running out of the store room screaming while he retrieved product. He suspected George was somehow enchanting them to stay and scare Ron.

Hermione kissed Ron and Harry on the cheeks, gave Luna and Neville stiff hugs and nodded at Malfoy before Apparating home. Malfoy silently nodded to the rest and Apparted away shortly after. Before Luna and Neville left, Harry asked a big favour, "As you probably noticed, Hermione is … different from when we were in school. Ron and I worry about her but are really quite busy with kids and work. Would you two be able to, I don't know, have her round for dinner or tea? I'm pretty sure she only sees us when I'm in town."

"Of course, Harry," Luna gave her trademark distant smile, "I suspect it may be Wrackspurts but I can't be sure without further investigation. We'll take care of her." Neville warmly smiled in agreement.

Feeling much more at ease, Ron and Harry thanked them for a lovely evening and Apparated to Ron's home.