Draco and Hermione stepped through the floo into Malfoy Manor. Their argument over the Ministry's new laws regarding werewolves had been going on for hours. As the work day ended, Draco had told Hermione to come over for dinner so they could keep talking.
Draco and Hermione both fell down into the overstuffed couches in the Malfoy library. Narcissa came into the room asking about dinner. Once the trio decided on what to have, Narcissa left to tell the house elves. An hour later, she called to Draco and Hermione that the food was ready.
Following dinner with lively conversation, the debate continued when Draco and Hermione returned to the library.
Since the two had begun working together at the Ministry of Magic several years earlier, Hermione came to appreciate Draco's intelligence. Their debates made her a better employee. Meals together were fairly common and they'd somehow become friends. Hermione was still dating Ron, but they'd never moved in together. Hermione didn't think she wanted to marry him. Their relationship had settled into one of comfort, but not deep romantic love. Ron didn't begrudge her time spent with Malfoy and she was happy Ron had female friends.
Draco got an owl that he needed to respond to, so he set off for his office telling Hermione he'd be back shortly. Hermione didn't mind. She loved the Malfoy library, and was happy to browse while she waited. Hermione picked up a book entitled Famous Witches of the 1600s. As she pulled it out, an opening appeared in the middle of the bookshelf. Draco had never mentioned anything about a secret passageway. Hermione impatiently waited his return, but after 5 minutes, her curiosity was out of control. Following the Wizarding War, the Manor had been cleared off all dark magic, so Hermione figured it was safe to proceed.
Following the small passage, she ended up in a wine cellar. She looked around in wonder. Neither Draco nor Narcissa had ever mentioned owning so much wine. After a few more minutes of waiting, Hermione grabbed a bottle. Wine glasses and a bottle opener were on a nearby side table. She uncorked the bottle and poured herself a glass. She relaxed back into the large comfy chair in the corner. Before she'd realized it, she'd finished the cup and was beginning to feel a little tipsy. Draco still hadn't returned so she decided to go find him. After filling up her glass again, she headed back towards the library and then into Draco's office.
He heard her and spoke without looking up. "Sorry, this took a little longer than I expected. Mother and Andromeda are trying to figure some things out with the Black heirs and Andromeda had some questions she needed answered quickly." He folded up his note and gave it to an owl.
He stood. "Ok, werewolves?"
Hermione hiccupped.
"Granger, where did you find that?" Draco asked her warily.
"In the library! I'll show you!"
After following the witch back to the library, Draco looked at the opening in the bookshelf. "I never knew about this."
Hermione danced around him with her glass and Famous Witches of the 1600s. "Perhaps you should pay more attention to the witches around you."
"Don't think I don't." He smirked at her.
Draco didn't think he'd been gone for long with the letter, but Hermione was more than a little drunk. They crawled through the bookshelf and into the wine cellar.
"Wow. I wonder if my parents knew about this."
Hermione brought a full glass over to Draco. "Bottoms up!" Hermione had a bit of the devil in her at the moment. She seemed looser than her normal buttoned-up self. They'd been drunk together before but this was something different. She gazed at him with eyes that were full of something he'd never seen from her before. If it hadn't been Hermione Granger, he would have sworn it was lust. Draco took his wine and they sat down in chairs facing each other.
Draco quickly emptied his glass and reached for more.
"Draco? Hermione? Hello?" They could hear Narcissa calling for them.
Draco got up and walked towards the library. "Mother, we're in here."
Hermione heard Narcissa gasp so she went towards the two.
"Would you like a glass?" Draco asked his mother.
"No. How much have you had?"
"A couple glasses," Hermione giggled.
"Did you know this existed? I never heard you or Lucius talk about it."
"I did. I think you both should stop drinking immediately."
Draco and Hermione swapped glances. Was Narcissa upset with them? They'd shared many alcoholic drinks with her over the years so her short comment confused them.
"Was this wine special? I'm sorry. I stumbled into the passage and I shouldn't have opened a bottle, but you know I love a good red."
Narcissa stared at the two, clearly not knowing what to say.
"Please sit down." Again, Draco and Hermione regarded each other with concern. "This is my fault. Draco, I should have told you about the wine cellar, but I didn't think you needed to know yet." Narcissa drew in her breath. "This cellar is full of magical wine. Wine that's not meant to be drunk except in special instances. I don't know why I kept it from you."
Narcissa was quite upset.
"I'm sorry Narcissa," Hermione gulped. Her eyes moved quickly between mother and son. She would have never opened the bottle if she'd known it was anything out of the ordinary.
"Mother, what is going on?" Draco also had become upset as he'd watched his mother collapse in a side chair.
"Hand me the bottle." Narcissa commanded Hermione. Silently the younger witch passed it over.
Narcissa Malfoy simply pointed at the bottle. In very small letters it read "For Lovers Only."
Hermione gasped in shock. She hadn't noticed the words when she had picked up the bottle. "What will happen?"
"I don't know. I don't have anything else to tell you. I simply don't have an idea what happens if the wine is drunk outside of its advisory. I just don't know."
They sat in an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes until Narcissa stood and silently left the room.
"Ok. I'm scared," Hermione stated.
"I'm sure it's nothing," Draco responded, not sounding sure at all.
"I'm so sorry. I just didn't think. Or read the bottle."
"Do you suppose the damage is done? I guess we might as well finish the bottle. It's delicious." Draco reached out and grabbed the bottle from the table where Narcissa had left it.
The pair picked up their earlier conversation about werewolves, though Hermione had not forgotten Narcissa's reaction. When she left for her flat that night, Hermione hid the bottle in her robe.
Early the next morning, Hermione was in the Potions lab at the Ministry. She brought the bottle in hopes of someone being able to give her more information. She waited impatiently until Padma Patil came in. Swearing the other witch to silence and lying about where the bottle had come from, Hermione quizzed Padma about the magic associated with the wine.
"I'm not sure Hermione. I've never seen this before. I've heard of magical wines, but they are very rare. Why don't you leave it here and I'll run some tests on it this afternoon or tomorrow?"
Realizing that unless she wanted to spill the entire story, which she most certainly did not, tomorrow was as early as she'd know anything, Hermione nodded. "Thanks."
Instead of heading back to her office, Hermione went to the Ministry library. When in doubt, go to the library. And that's where Draco found her several hours later.
"Granger, what are you doing?" Draco looked over the books. "Are you worried about the wine? Nothing we can do now. Let's get lunch."
Draco and Hermione walked to the Ministry's cafeteria. They ran into Harry who joined them. After they sat down, Draco began to talk to Harry about the wine. "It was magical-ow!" Hermione kicked Draco as hard as she could. Harry narrowed his eyes as he looked between Draco and Hermione.
"What about Ginny's Quidditch match Friday?" Hermione hurriedly changed the subject. She shot Draco a glare.
"Why aren't we talking about the wine?" Draco leaned over to whisper in Hermione's ear as they left lunch.
"I just don't know what is going to happen, so I want to be careful."
"Because of the Weasel? Why are you still with him? You both know that it's not going anywhere." While Hermione agreed with Draco in the bottom of her heart, she wasn't willing to admit it to anyone. Draco stared in surprise as Hermione stomped off.
Having accepted that Padma wasn't going to get back to her that day, Hermione left the Ministry early and headed to Diagon Alley and Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. When she arrived, she found George and Ron opening boxes in the back. She climbed up on one of the counters and the three talked about the new arrivals.
"Mione, do you want to go to the Leaky Cauldron for dinner?" Ron asked.
Hermione was hungry and wanted to spend some more time with Ron, so they headed down the street for some food.
Over dinner, Hermione tried to block out Draco's earlier words, but she couldn't.
"Do you want to get married?"
Ron's eyes got huge. "Uhhh. I… Why?" He suddenly seemed very nervous.
"I'm just thinking about some stuff. Why don't we live together?"
"Is something wrong? I thought you were happy with our relationship."
"I am. But that's kind of the problem." Hermione paused. She hadn't intended on having a serious conversation with Ron, but the words kept flowing. "I think we might be better as friends."
Ron leaned back in his chair and eyed his girlfriend carefully. "Would you mind if I dated someone else?"
Hermione shook her head. "No. I'd be happy for you."
"Where did this come from?" Ron still looked thoughtful, not upset.
"When was the last time we had sex?"
"Yeah, it's been awhile, but we've been busy." Ron kept his eyes on Hermione.
"I don't think that's it. Why are we still together?" Hermione met Ron's eyes and he could tell her questions were honest. He reached out for Hermione's hand.
"I think because it's been easy. We enjoy each other's company and it's nice having a built-in date. Ginny and Harry want to hang out so we do. I'm not sure what made you think about this now, but I think I understand. So, that's the end of us?"
"It is."
"You've always been one of my best friends and you'll continue to be so."
Hermione sat quietly. "This is so weird."
Ron laughed. "Well, it's not what I was expecting tonight, but it honestly feels like a relief."
"It does, doesn't it?" Hermione marveled.
Ron continued talking about new items at the store and Hermione relayed information about the new werewolf laws. When they finished eating, Ron paid the check. "Are you telling people or am I?" They decided that Ron would tell his family and Hermione would tell Harry. Hermione guessed that their owls would show up at 12 Grimmauld Place at the same time, hers for Harry, his for Ginny.
As they stood outside the restaurant, Hermione asked if Ron was upset.
"No. It feels like a weight I didn't realize I had off my shoulders. Is it someone else?"
Hermione shook her head. "I don't think so."
"It's Malfoy!" Ron crowed as Hermione scowled. Ron started laughing. "You don't realize it's him do you?" He grabbed Hermione and kissed her on the mouth with a loud smack. "I love you Hermione. I can't wait to watch this!" He hugged her before he wandered back to the shop, laughing the entire way. "Hermione Granger, I love every bit of you, but you can't see what's right in front of you!"
As Hermione walked in her flat, she felt dazed. She had no idea what had happened. She went to see Ron because she always felt comfortable around him and the day had left her feeling anxious. When she started asking Ron about their relationship, it was as if she couldn't shut up. She'd had no intention of ending things despite the fact that she had agreed with Draco's assertion. Crookshanks purred as he rubbed against her legs and Hermione began to laugh too.