15. "Better Dig Two" -The Band Perry
June 5, 2000
"My parents should be here soon." Hermione breathed as she piped the finishing touches of icing onto the cake. She brushed her hair back out of her face and stood back to admire her work.
"It looks great, Hermione! Kaida is going to love it!" Ginny exclaimed. Her fire red hair was pulled up into a tight ponytail and she still donned her Quidditch robes.
"We both had better hurry if we want showers." Hermione said, dumping the mixing bowls and utensils into the sink. She would have to clean up later.
"What are you trying to say? I smell?"
"Your words, not mine... But yes." They both fell into a fit of giggles.
"Okay, you may have a point. I'll see you at The Leaky. Need me to bring anything?"
"Other than my child, no."
"Oh, yes, there's that." Ginny grinned and winked as she disappeared into the fireplace.
Hermione gave a torn glance to the sink piled high with dishes before tearing herself away and heading upstairs for a shower. She would regret not doing those later tonight when she would have to choose again between finishing them up or focusing on the pile of work she had brought home for the weekend. She would never admit it aloud to anyone, but sometimes she found herself missing the war. Not the whole Voldemort of it all, just... being involved in something worthwhile. Studying and working through stacks of books with a purpose, where as now, she was stuck in a tiny office sorting and stacking papers that were utterly boring and of nearly no consequence to anything.
She sighed as she let the hot water work on the tense muscles of her neck. This party was adding an extra layer of stress to her already heaping plate. She was thankful that it was almost behind her. Growing up, all she could remember about her birthdays was how much fun she had had and how yummy the cakes were. Now she realized exactly how much work went into these things and she wondered how she'd never noticed her parents struggling with venues or decorations.
"Hermione!"
Her mom's muffled voice startled her out of her thoughts and she hastily shut the water off. "Coming!" She called as she wrapped a towel around herself and flew to the wardrobe to pull out her 'Ginny approved' outfit. Her hair was still wrapped in a towel when she descended the stairs.
"Mum!" She cried, flinging herself into the woman's waiting arms. "I've missed you."
"Oh, we've missed you, too, love." Jean said, kissing her forehead and wiping hastily at her eyes.
"We sure have." Robert said, enveloping them both in his crushing embrace.
"Can't...breathe...Dad."
Her father chuckled, and released them. "Where's my girl?"
"She's with Harry and Ginny. They're going to meet us there."
"Well, let's get a move on then. Do you need help bringing anything to the car?"
"Er," Hermione hesitated, "Actually, I think I'll meet you guys there. Can you take the presents?"
"Of course, love." Jean nodded, while her father looked... What was that look? Almost, disappointed.
She didn't have time to think much on it as they all loaded presents into the trunk of the car and Jean climbed carefully into the passenger seat, holding the cake gingerly on her lap.
"See you in a few minutes." Hermione said, pushing the door shut and watching as they pulled carefully out of the drive.
She waited until they'd turned at the end of the street before walking around to the alley way beside her house and apparating, popping into existence in a deserted alley just up the street from the back entrance to The Leaky Cauldron.
The street was busy. She got several strange looks as she hurried along, trying to spot Ginny's red hair. They were supposed to meet here, a few minutes early to get everything set up.
"'Mione!"
She whipped her head around looking for the source and spotted Ron, waving from just beside the doorway, an amused expression on his flushed face. She hurried over, dodging muggles as she went.
"Hi, Ron. Seen Ginny?"
"Nope, haven't. You, uh, trying out a new fashion thing?"
Hermione's brows knit together and she stopped scanning the sidewalk long enough to examine her outfit. It was nothing too wild. A black blouse with red flowers and dark wash jeans. She didn't look like her usual scruffy self, but she was no where near ready to walk a runway.
"What do you mean?"
Ron reached up the touch his head. "I mean, I'm no expert on feminine style, but I've never seen that look out in public."
He bit back a grin as she reached up and her fingers made contact with the soft fabric of the towel that was still wrapped around her head.
"Shit!" She hissed as she ripped it away from her head. "What do I do? My hair's a wreck and I can't fix it with all these muggles about. Shit!"
"Fix it when we get inside." Ron said simply. "Speaking of muggles, why couldn't we just use the Diagon entrance?"
Hermione sighed as she attempted to drag her fingers through her damp curls. "Because, Ronald, it would be a bit hard for my parents to get their Prius into Diagon Alley."
"What the bloody hell is a Pree-yuss? It sounds worse than one of Hagrid's creatures."
Hermione laughed. "It's a type of car, Ron."
"Well, why can't you just say car?"
"You can, when you're speaking generally. Cars are like broomsticks. There are different makes and models. A Prius would be like a Nimbu-"
"-There they are," Ron said, his eyes trained over her shoulder.
"Mummy!"
Tiny arms wrapped around Hermione's leg.
"Hello, birthday girl! Oh, mummy has missed you." Hermione said, bending to scoop her up and smother her with kisses.
"You've literally only been away from her for a couple of hours."
Hermione stuck her tongue out at Harry, who laughed, then she turned back to face Kaida. "Did you have fun with Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny?"
"Nee Nee," Kaida agreed, nodding and pointing.
"What are we waiting for?" Harry asked.
"My parents," Hermione answered, scanning the darkening street for their car. She couldn't really tell them apart in the nearly non existent light and she sighed.
"Oh, there they are!" Ginny said, pointing a few cars down, across the street.
"Harry, Ron, go and help with with the gifts. Neither of you touch that cake, or so help me-"
"Alright, alright. We won't touch it. Geez, I thought the bossiness would subside as we aged, but it's just gotten worse."
"Look at you using big words." Ginny crooned back at Ron, who scowled and stormed off toward the Prius.
"Let's go ahead inside then, shall we?" Hermione asked. At Ginny's nod of agreement, she moved over and opened the door.
She was bombarded by a wave of chattering voices and the low thrum of music. There shouldn't have been any one there. Hermione had reserved the place for the night.
"What the fuck is going on?" Ginny demanded, and Hermione didn't even have the heart to scold her for the language. Nor did she have the time before she was confronted with another delimma.
"What the hell do you think you're doing here?"
Hermione cringed. She knew before she looked that Astoria would be standing before her, hands on her bony hips.
"I'm booked for a party, so I should really be asking you that." She snapped, trying to fight the tears that were trying to form in her eyes. She wouldn't allow herself to cry in front of the ice queen.
"Well, you're obviously mistaken, because I reserved it for tonight. I'm throwing a birthday party for my fiancee." She smirked and flicked her hair over her bare shoulder.
"Listen, bitch-"
"Ginny, no. Don't start. Let's just go find Susan and figure out what's going on." Hermione grabbed her friend's arm and dragged her toward the bar, ignoring the burning of Astoria's glare on her back.
"Is she always a ball of sunshine or did I catch her on a good day?" Ginny spat.
"She doesn't like me."
"I gathered as much. Does she have a reason or is she just a Petty Betty?"
"The latter, I suppose."
They reached the bar, and Hermione avoided the looks she got as she stepped up between the barstools to flag down Susan Bones. It took several moments for her to finish up the drinks she was pouring and notice them. She started to smile, but upon taking in their unhappy expressions, the smile faded from her face to be replaced by confusion, and then understanding dawned. She rushed over to them.
"Your party is tonight," Susan breathed, it wasn't a question, more of a despair ridden statement made hoping that someone might contradict her.
"It is." Hermione said calmly.
"I double booked. Oh, fuck me, I'm an idiot."
"No, no, you-" Hermione started.
"Yes, as a matter of fact you are!" Hermione held her breath and counted to three, doing her best not to let her anger get the better of her. She hadn't even realised Astoria had followed them over. "I'm trying to have a nice birthday dinner with my soon to be husband and I can't even relax at my own party without riffraff from the streets dragging in. It's ridiculous. I want them out and I'll expect the evening to be comped."
Susan sputtered incredulously, her face turning bright red and Hermione could almost hear the steam coming from Ginny's ears.
"Nice hair, Granger." Chills ran up her spine and she kicked her subconcience. Her body had no right to do that to her. "Crashing my party?"
"Don't flatter yourself, Malfoy. I'd planned to have Kaida's party here, but it seems we've both reserved the-"
"They were just leaving," Astoria cut in. "Weren't you, Hermione?"
Draco arched an eyebrow. "Nonsense. There's more than enough space for all of us."
"But-"
"Are you seriously so low that you would try to ruin a child's birthday?" Draco snapped.
Astoria glared at him, then at Hermione and Ginny before flipping her hair over her shoulder and storming away.
"Don't worry about it, Bones. I'm paying anyway, not her."
Susan turned to walk back behind the bar, sighing heavily and running a hand through her long chestnut locks as she went.
"What the hell are you doing marrying that cunt?" Ginny asked, her face painted with barely reigned in disgust as she glared at the back of Astoria's shining head.
"The sex is pretty great if I'm being honest, and she was hand picked by my mother."
"That's not creepy at all," Ginny scrunched her nose up.
"Happy birthday, Kaida," Draco said, turning away from Ginny and bending down so that he was eye level with the toddler. "How old are you?"
Kaida grinned and held up one finger.
"One? What a big girl."
She stretched out her arms for him and he took her without hesitation. He spun away from them, and Kaida erupted into shrill giggles. Ginny's jaw dropped open and Hermione kicked her shin.
"Ow," she hissed, "What?"
"Pick your jaw up off the floor." Hermione smirked.
"I know you told me he was good with her, but part of me always thought you were lying."
Hermione scoffed. "Thanks, Gin."
"Who are all these people? Where's Kaida?"
Ron and Harry had arrived, laden down with armloads of presents, her parents hovering just behind them with the cake.
"Erm, apparently there was a mix up. We're sharing The Leaky now."
"What?"
"That's bollocks!"
"Yes, well, bollocks it may be, but we're short on options." Hermione snapped.
"We should have just done it at the Burrow. Mum offered-"
"I don't like imposing on your mum for every little get together, Ron. I'd like to plan and carry out some things for myself. Especially something like Kaida's first birthday. I'm her mum, I should be the one doing all the work."
"Where is Kaida anyway?" Harry asked, adjusting the gifts he still held.
Hermione made to take some of them from him but he shook his head.
"Erm, right over there." She nodded to where Kaida now stood, Draco crouched before her playing peek-a-boo.
"You invited Malfoy?" Ron snapped, incredulously.
"No, I did not invite him. I told you that they double booked us."
"You didn't say that slimy git was with the other party."
"Where should we put these?" Harry interrupted.
Hermione glanced around, looking for an empty table. She spotted one near the back of the room and pointed it out. "That should be fine, I think."
"Who's that, dear?" Her mother asked, moving to stand in the spot Ron had vacated. She was watching Kaida wind through Draco's legs while Theo Nott and Blaise Zabini watched on in amusement.
"He's an old... friend. From school." Hermione said vaguely. If she knew one thing about her mother, it was that she did not forgive easily. If she put the man before her together with the boy that had once caused Hermione to owl out tear stained letters to her, she would never give him a chance. And Hermione supposed they were friends now. That was what mattered.
"Do you see a lot of him? Kaida seems quite taken with hi-"
"No. No! It's nothing like that."
"Hermione, dear! Did you invite all of these people?" Mrs. Weasley asked, stepping out of the floo and dusting off her robes.
Hermione sighed. She was going to have to repeat this story several more times she feared.
"She is right cute, i'nt she?" Blaise said, leaning back to prop on the table behind him.
"Well, thank Merlin for that, eh?" Theo chuckled. "Imagine if she looked like her father."
Draco's head snapped up and he glared daggers at Theo. "Watch what the fuck you say, Theo. There's too many people here for you to be mouthing off."
"I didn't say anything about who her ruddy dad is," Theo argued, "Only that she doesn't look like you-"
"For fuck's sake, Theo."
"Shouldn't you watch your language? You want to be a good role model, right? I mean unless you want to be a second rate dad-"
"Theo, so help me, if you say one more fucking word-"
"Enough, you two." Blaise said lazily, gesturing with his glass of wine. "It's a party. We're supposed to be having fun."
"We were until Draco's baby mama showed up with his bastard child in tow."
"What is your fucking problem, Theo?" Draco snapped, picking Kaida up and allowing her to twirl a strand of his hair around her chubby finger.
"I don't have a problem. I just don't understand what your plan is, mate. Are you going to tell Astoria? Better question: Are you going to tell Granger? What's the goal here. You can't be selfish anymore. It's not all about you. There's a child involved. You have to think about what's best for her."
"I haven't had time to think-"
"You're dicking around. She's going to get confused. Do you want her to start calling you Uncle Draco only to find out later that, suprise, you're her dad."
"Keep your bloody voice down! Why are you doing this now?"
"Should I wait until it's convenient for you? Cause I'm sure it wasn't convenient for Granger to-"
"Shut up, Theo." Blaise said, pushing his friend toward the door. "Let's go take a walk, I think you need some air." When Theo hesitated, he shoved him again. "Now."
Theo hesitated for a few moments more before allowing Blaise to lead him away.
Draco realised he was shaking and he squeezed his eyes shut trying to compose himself.
Kaida touched a sticky palm to his cheek. He met her eyes and she looked worried. "Mad?"
"No," Draco smiled. "No, I'm not mad little love. I just did something really stupid and I don't know how to fix it."
"Kind of your specialty isn't it? Can't seem to recall a time when you weren't doing something stupid."
Malfoy's jaw ticked from the effort it took to reign in his temper. "Weaslette," He gritted out, turning to face the red head and plastering on his trademark smirk. "What do you want?"
Ginny scoffed and rolled her eyes. "I'm not here for you. I'm here for Kaida. Hand her over."
"Hand her over? She's not a sack of potatoes, she's a child." Draco sniffed.
Ginny raised her brows and held out her arms impatiently. Draco sighed and relented. Kaida grinned up at him from Ginny's arms.
"Sweet, sweet girl," Ginny crooned. "Want to go have a look at your birthday cake?"
"Cake?" Kaida squealed, squirming so hard that Ginny was forced to lower her to the floor. Once she was standing on her own two feet, there was no stopping her. She took off at a wobbly run that made Draco want to cover every surface in the pub with bubble wrap.
"Slow down, Kaida." He cautioned, not able to stop himself from following after her, the Weaslette trailing along at his side.
Draco's breath hitched as he watched the toe of Kaida's shoe catch on a loose floor board. She sprawled unceremoniously across the floor, her little lip jutted out and Draco reached her just as the wailing began.
He scooped her up and cradled her against his chest. "Are you hurt, love?" He brushed her hair away from her face, looking her over for any sign of bumps or bruising.
"What happened?" Granger's voice broke through his inner panic and he looked up. He froze like a deer in headlights when he realised that there were over a dozen pairs of eyes trained on him. He cleared his throat and tried to compose himself as he passed Kaida over to Hermione.
"She tripped. I- Do you think she's okay?"
Hermione did a quick once over and kissed the top of Kaida's head. "She's fine," Hermione said, "It just startled her is all."
As if to punctuate her statement, Kaida's crying faded into sniffles.
Draco ran a hand through his hair, doing his best to smooth it, along with his facial expression. He should be at the most politely concerned. Nobody else had panicked the way he had, and they had more of a reason. Or at least they thought they had. They needed to continue to think that.
Hermione set Kaida back on her feet and she hurried over to an older couple standing with Molly and Arthur. Draco could only assume that they were Hermione's parents. As if the night needed an extra dose of 'isn't this awkward', he thought. Weasley was glaring at him as he nursed a tumbler of golden liquid. Draco was tempted to flip him off, but he didn't get the chance.
"Thanks for getting to her so quickly." Hermione said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. It was a mess of tangled brown curls from where she had arrived with it wet. It reminded Draco of their early school years and he tried to supress a grin as he recalled the extra large teeth that had completed her adolescent look.
"What are you smirking at?" Hermione asked, narrowing her eyes and smiling slightly.
"I was just admiring your hair. You know, I've lost my wand. Do you think it might have fallen in? I'll never recover it, if that's the case."
"Shut it, Malfoy," She said, punching him lightly on the arm. He knew that there was no force behind the blow, because it was nothing compared to the crack in the face he'd gotten in their third year. "Maybe your wand is up your ars-"
"Hermione!"
She jumped and her face flushed with color. "Dad."
"Who is your friend?"
She hesitated. "Erm, this is Draco. He's a friend from Hogwarts."
Draco felt himself pale under the assessing eyes of Hermione's father. He was quite tall, standing an inch or so higher than Draco himself. He held out his hand and Draco shook it, trying not to flinch away from the vice like grip. "It's good to meet you, Draco. Robert Granger."
"How do you do, sir." Draco said politely.
"Dracooo," Astoria appeared, stumbling slightly and latching onto his arm. She giggled as champagne slopped over the edge of the flute she held, dampening his sleeve. "Oops."
"My fiance, Astoria." Draco said, forcing a barely there smile. "She does enjoy a party."
"Speaking of," she paused to hiccup, "parties, you're missing yours," Astoria whined.
"Let's cut the cake, shall we?" Hermione clapped her hands together, scurrying over to the table where a large cake decorated to look like a unicorn was waiting. She glanced back over her shoulder and met Draco's eyes briefly before hurriedly looking away.
"You're right, sorry dear. Robert, it was a pleasure meeting you." He shook Robert's hand once more. "Weaslette." He nodded to Ginny as he stepped around her, his tipsy betrothed in tow.
A round of 'Happy Birthday' started up behind him and he turned his head just enough to watch Kaida attempt to blow out the candle. It went out on the first try to the toddler's delight, but Draco hadn't missed the slight flick of Granger's wand at just the right moment. Clever witch.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end and he realised he was being watched. Ginny was staring at him, her green eyes narrowed into accusing slits.