Disclaimer: Many thanks to JK Rowling for her wonderful works. They are hers and hers alone. I have only borrowed her characters for a while and built my own little fantasy around them. There is no pay involved for me in doing it.
Author's Note 1 – Las Vegas is an NBC television drama in the US. Barnes and Noble is a large book store chain.
Author's Note 2 – Thank you all again. I know there are those who will find this story cliché or trite, but I am glad to know there are those who still find fun, humor, ease, forgiveness, growth, and simple desire and love, to be enough. Thank you very much for every read, every review, and every smile.
Chapter 7Hermione couldn't have said if it was the earlier call with Ginny and her upset over it, the voice mail from an obviously nervous Draco, or her own basic interest and curiosity, but at least one of the three made her want to return the call immediately. But, since she rarely did things on impulse, the previous night's date with Blaise being a glaring exception, she decided to give it some time and instead went to make herself some dinner. A call from Beth later while she cleaned up the kitchen had helped calm her nerves considerably.
It was nice to have a person to talk to who didn't have a long history with everyone concerned. And, Beth had encouraged her to call him. As she had said, people changed, right? After talking to Beth, Hermione found herself standing at her window, staring over at his brown building. It was so strange to have two friends with such different attitudes toward her interest in getting to know Draco better. While Ginny was stuck in the past, in their history, in the pain he had caused all of them, Beth only knew the man she had met a week ago and the Hermione she'd known for the past three years. Hermione knew there was no way she could really make Beth understand the full breadth of their turbulent past, no matter how much the other woman wanted to understand. But, she couldn't deny that she herself had grown up, changed, and let much of it go. So, Beth's words helped her decide to take a chance.
"Well, here goes nothing," she laughed to herself. She went into her office and sat down to write the letter.
Dear Dra…no. To Mr. Draco Malfoy? No, too formal. Hello Draco? Simple and informal without being too weird. But, wait, should I write to just him? Blaise is coming to, right? Okay, how about…
Hi Guys,
I got your message and…
And, what? Burst out laughing? Can't tell him that, now can I? he he he Okay, uuuummm
I got your message. As a matter of fact, my friend Beth and I were planning to go running tomorrow morning, if you are both available. We usually go pretty early though, so we will leave it up to you two to let us know what time works best for you. Owl or call to let me know when and where to meet you.
Oh, and Beth has offered to make everyone lunch afterward, if you are interested.
Hermione
Nice. Nothing weird. Talks to both of them. Leaves the quaffle on their pitch, so to speak. Perfect. Now, to get Snoop's owl.
Hermione apparated to Snoop and Ron's new apartment. It had been her job to take care of their plants and pets while they were gone. So, she figured Snoop wouldn't mind her using the bird, even though Ron would blow his top if he knew the reason.
"Okay, Article, I need you to take this to Messrs. Malfoy and Zabini. Then come back to my place, okay? I'll give you a treat when you get there. Now, off with you."
She watched the bird become a dot on the horizon and apparated back home to wait for their reply. She was happy Beth had suggested joining them, that way if they didn't show, Hermione wouldn't feel like she had been stood up, and if they did show, she wouldn't get overwhelmed by her own panic. With Beth there she would be able to stay relaxed. And, Beth could make conversation with anyone, so there wouldn't be a lot of conversation lulls at lunch.
Hermione flopped onto the sofa and reached for the remote just as Article swooped into her apartment. She glanced quickly down at the bird's legs, but saw nothing.
"Oh, well," she said sadly to the bird, "I guess he changed his mind. I tried though, right?"
Article hooted and nipped her finger gently, as if he understood and she laughed, "Thanks for your support."
After she had given the bird some water and a few treats, she flooed him home.
It was a few hours later while she watched Las Vegas that her phone rang. Being deep into the show, and having given up on the guys, she assumed it would be Beth when she answered, "Hola Chica! Tell me Josh Duhamel is not the sexiest thing on two feet."
"Uh, well, people tell me I'm not too bad to look at," a deep voice laughed.
"Malfoy?!" she exclaimed as her feet hit the floor and she shot to her feet.
He laughed, "Yeah. Um, hi, Grang…uh, Hermione."
"Hi. Sorry. Hello. Um, I thought you were Beth."
"I should hope so," he laughed again softly. "But, people don't usually mistake me for a girl. And, who's this Josh person?"
"Just a guy from a show we both watch. So, um, I uh, got your message."
She relaxed a teeny bit and smiled at his groan, "Oh man. Sorry about that. I just, uh, didn't know what to sa…I mean, I wasn't sure if you would want to…crap! There I go again."
She held back a laugh at his nervous rambling. It actually steadied her a bit to know that he was as nervous as she was.
"Well, did you get my note?" she asked.
"Oh yeah, Blaise got it while I was out flying. Sorry it took me, us, so long to answer. Blaise is here, too."
"Hey sexy thing!" she heard from somewhere near Draco.
She heard Draco's exasperated growl and giggled, "Tell him hi back."
"She says hi," Draco repeated. "So, anyway what time do you two usually go?"
With his attention back on her and her nerves still in overdrive, Hermione couldn't stop her rambling, "Well, on weekends we try to get out around seven. Then, we go back to one of our places and get cleaned up and eat. Like a brunch, I mean. Nothing too fancy or anything. After that we usually go window shopping or something. But, of course we can go later, if that's better for you guys. And, you don't have to shop with us or anything. I mean, you are welcome to join us though…"
Her rapid-fire words were interrupted by his light laugh, "So, I'm not the only one, huh?"
"What, huh?" she asked as her thoughts scattered.
"If I remember correctly, you only ramble like that when you're nervous," she could hear his smile through the phone and caught the light teasing in his voice. "And, since you heard my message, I think you already know where I stand."
She took a deep calming breath before she answered, "Yeah, I guess. Is this as weird for you as it is for me?"
"More, I would think," he laughed a little. "But, we can talk about it more tomorrow. So, the fountain at the park a good place to meet?"
"Sure. What time?"
She assumed Draco put his hand over the phone because she could hear their suddenly muffled voices in the background. Then Blaise was on the phone, "Babe! Are you trying to kill me?"
The nerves she had been experiencing while talking to Draco vanished as Blaise's voice washed over her and she finally sat back down on her couch.
"Hey, Blaise," she laughed. "What do you mean?"
"Tell me D is kidding please," he begged. "I mean it's bad enough that I am going out in the city for you two, and running, which I hate, by the way, but seven am?! That's just cruel."
Hermione decided she would analyze the 'for you two' part later and said, "Well, I said we could go at whatever time you guys wanted to go."
"What? D, she said we can go later. Come on, please. How about nine? Hermione?"
The pleading in his voice had her giggling, "Not a morning person, huh?"
As his harrumph, she continued, "Okay, nine it is. At the fountain by the park."
"Okay, I can do that. Thanks, I think," he laughed. "Running, what the hell am I thinking?!"
Hermione decided to let him know his messages had gotten through and joked, "Helping two people with a really long history and who are completely and totally socially inept?"
He laughed with her, "Man, am I a good guy! Well, I am going to have to go get my beauty sleep, so I am going to say goodnig…What?"
Again a hand muffled the phone before she heard, "Oh, well, night Hermione. Hold on, okay? D wants to say good bye."
She heard a door close before she felt the thrill of nerves slide back over her at the sound of his voice, "Hermione?"
"Uh, yeah?" she asked.
"Thanks."
Her brow puckered in confusion, "For what?"
"For giving me a chance," he said softly.
"Oh, well, I," she took a breath. "Draco, I thank you, too, then."
"Okay, well then. I guess I'll see you in the morning then?"
With a smile on her face she sighed, "You sure will. Good night."
"Night, Hermione."
She jumped up and squealed like a giddy school girl who'd just been asked out on her first date. Then, realizing how silly she looked, even though she was alone, she fell back across the sofa with a large smile of wonder on her face.
What a difference a few years makes, huh?
Quickly, before the feeling could fade, she grabbed her phone again and called Beth.
"I feel like a teenager again," she giggled.
Hermione smiled into the morning sun as she ran beside Beth. As usual, Beth had been right in suggesting she join the three for the run. The first ten minutes of stretching would have been done in absolute, uncomfortable silence, if she hadn't shown up and started chattering away. She and Blaise kept the conversation light and forced Draco and Hermione to relax a little. They even participated in the debate on how long to run, each of the three claiming they could go further, until Blaise had finally begged them to put a time limit on it. By the time they had set off in the park, a much more companionable silence had taken over. The guys jogged in front of them and the girls followed behind, as they enjoyed the gorgeous view presented to them.
The contrast between the two men was startling as they moved together, like they had done this forever. Where Blaise was darker and bulkier, Draco was lighter and more streamlined. Blaise ran all out, as if he had a race to win, while Draco ran with an easy confidence and a more measured step. Hermione also took note that the image of Draco in her head differed greatly from the man moving so fluidly in front of her. She had always thought him too pale and a bit skinny, but years of Quidditch and running had given him a finely cut physique, with broad shoulders, strong arms and a narrow waist. She realized as her eyes traveled up his well-muscled legs to his tight little tush, that he also had an even light tan.
A quick glance over at Beth had her blushing when she realized she had been caught staring at Draco's rear.
"What can I say, it's cute," she laughed softly.
"What was that?" Blaise called back.
Beth laughed, "Nothing. Just admiring the view."
The laughter bubbled up in the women until they had to step off the path to get their breath back. Blaise took this as a sign that his torture was over and doubled back to fall dramatically at their feet.
"So, we're done?" he asked hopefully.
Draco glanced at his watch and then looked around to see how far they had gone, "Well, there's only about a quarter mile back to the starting point, so we're almost there B."
"Aww, poor baby, Blaise. Out in the big bad city, with muggles and the like, AND being forced to exercise, too? What awful friends you have," Hermione teased the man at her feet. Then she reached out to help him up, "Come on Big Guy, think of what those legions of women would say if they saw you like this."
Beth giggled, "Well, having a good looking man at my feet isn't such a bad thing, Mione."
Draco and Hermione laughed when Blaise bounced up and winked at Beth, "Oh really? Well, I guess I will have to show off my more manly side from here on out. Race you back to the start?"
Beth looked down and said, "I don't know, my ankle…"
Blaise bent down to examine the offending body part, "Oh, let me…"
And, Beth was off and running.
"You cheat!" Blaise yelled as he took off behind her.
Draco laughed and looked at Hermione who shook her head and smiled, "You guys never learn."
He simply shook his head with a smirk and then inclined his head, "Shall we?"
With a nod she fell into step beside him.
When they reached the other pair they found them slumped together on the edge of the fountain.
"I would have won if you hadn't grabbed me," she laughed.
"Well, I couldn't let you beat me. How would that have looked? I would have lost all my man points!" Blaise laughed.
Beth giggled, "Well, you didn't do too bad for your first run."
Hermione started her cool down stretch and asked, "So, what's for brunch?"
"Sandwiches. Do it yourself style," Beth answered. "Is that okay with everyone?"
Hermione bent over and touched her hands to the ground, "Fine with me."
Blaise stood and stretched, "Finally, something I know how to do."
Beth turned to Draco and burst out laughing. Blaise and Hermione looked over at him and Blaise joined her when they caught Draco staring at Hermione's butt.
"Damn, that stings, Hermione!" Beth screeched when Hermione had completed the cleansing charm that they all agreed would be faster than 4 separate showers.
"My turn," Draco said as he stood in front of her.
Hermione smiled up at him for a moment before she murmured the words of the charm and tapped his shoulder with her wand.
When he didn't flinch Beth asked, "So, it gets easier the more you do it?"
Blaise stepped forward so Hermione could repeat the charm on him and answered, "No!" as the sting hit his skin.
Hermione then repeated the charm, tapped her own shoulder and let out a soft, "Eee."
"Well, at least it's not just us muggles that have to suffer," Beth laughed.
They all moved over to the kitchen to starting putting together a light brunch.
Hermione started to pull out plates and silverware, while Draco took the things she pulled down and placed them on the table. Blaise leaned against the counter and admired the view of Beth bent over in her fridge, "So, tell me. How did you two meet? And, how are you so okay with all this magic stuff?"
Beth glanced back and saw where his eyes where, "You sure won't find the answers there," she quipped. "Here, take these."
Blaise took the condiments from her and continued his train of thought, "Well?"
Hermione began the story, "Well, I went for a walk one day a little after the start of second year. I needed a break. Some days Snoop kind of made me tired." She laughed in memory, "It was like living in a constant interview for a while there. Anyway, so I went out for a walk, and there was a big, beautiful building full of brand new books!"
Beth shook her head and laughed as she spread mustard on her bread, "Only Mione."
Draco joked, "Some things never change," and earned himself an elbow in his side.
Hermione poked her tongue out at her friend and continued, "So, I went in to Barnes and Noble and before I knew it I was begging for a job. I didn't need the money, but I was told I got a discount on all purchases."
"I got to be her trainer," Beth jumped in. "We had all the same shifts, so we were together like every waking moment for a while there. We got to know each other pretty well and started hanging out together on weekends and stuff, but she would never invite me over, no matter how often I had her over here."
When the men looked to her, Hermione defended herself with a grin, "Well, I lived in a University apartment. I couldn't very well explain away the owl, fireplace to nowhere, potions, cauldrons, and a roommate that could disappear and appear at will. I thought she would think I was a wacko."
Blaise joked, "Well, I always thought you were kind of wacko and I knew you were a witch."
Hermione tossed a potato chip at him, "Ha ha ha. You are so funny!"
They all retreated to the table and Draco poured ice tea for everyone as Beth continued, "So, anyway, one day I decided to follow her to see what was going on. I had begun to think she was in the Witness Protection Program or something. And, I knew she lived near me and the store, because she always walked to and from work. So, there I am following her, when she ducks into an alley. I took off running to catch up, but when I got there she was gone."
"I wasn't ducking her. I didn't even know I was being followed," Hermione laughed.
Draco smiled over at her, "Finally let your guard down, huh?"
She knew that he was talking about all the years she had spent in panic mode, and smiled at his understanding, "Yeah, I guess I had."
Beth winked at Blaise and smiled at the obvious link between the two opposite her, "So, for about a week, I kept it up, each time running down the alley to search the streets on the other end. Finally, I figured I should just get to the alley first. Imagine my surprise when she showed up, walked to the middle of the alley, looked around as if checking for something, and then disappeared."
"I still can't believe you got up the nerve to come see me do it again!" Hermione laughed.
"What?" Blaise asked.
"Yeah, the next day, I got there before she was supposed to come to work. I knew what I had seen, but I still couldn't quite believe it. I wanted to see if it had been a figment of my very active imagination. I was there for about ten minutes before she just popped up in front of me."
Draco leaned forward a bit, "And, you weren't scared or anything?"
"You know what? No. Honestly, I've always believed there were a lot of strange things in this world that can't be explained by science and such, so no, I wasn't scared. To tell you the truth, I think Mione was a lot more scared than I was," Beth laughed.
"That's for sure," Hermione concurred. "I was running late for work because of a late class, I apparated to my normal place and was about to take off running when she hops off a dumpster and says, as calm as you please, 'Can you teach me how to do that?' I about had heart failure."
"Seeing as she had no choice anymore, Mione had to come clean with me. So, we both called in sick to work, and I got to see my first witch's apartment. We've been friends ever since."
Hermione shook her head, "You guys would be surprised how many people out there just don't care."
"And, I must say, there are times when having a witch or two on your side can be really helpful," Beth smiled at Hermione fondly.
"Like when?" Blaise asked.
Beth blushed and answered, "Well, that's a story for another time."
Draco got the feeling they were touching on a subject neither Beth nor Hermione wanted to elaborate on, so he decided to change the topic.
"So, what is you do, Beth? For a living I mean."
"Advertising copywriting. And, you guys?"
Blaise answered, "I got my degree in marketing, but I still don't know what I want to do yet. Luckily, I have the time and money to figure it out."
"B's going to be an eternal student, so he never has to get a real job," Draco joked. "My degree is in forensics. I know that would shock most of the people who knew me," he risked a glance at Hermione, "but, I found I liked the research work. And, loved being able to solve mysteries."
Hermione thought she understood where some of his drive came from. Without thinking she placed her hand over his on the table and asked softly, "And, it doesn't hurt to get to fight for the good guys, huh?"
She gets it. Okay. Wow!
He smiled at her and turned his hand over so the two could join, "No. No it doesn't."
For the next hour they sat around and talked. Hermione was relieved that the conversation never really lulled and she found Draco to be easier and easier to talk to. It pleased her greatly to find out how much they had in common, from music, to foods, to authors. And, it thrilled her when he slung his arm over the back of the sofa they shared and idly played with the ends of her hair.
By the time the men stood to leave they had already agreed to another running date. And, Blaise had decided that he and Draco were going to host a party the following weekend for Draco's birthday. Beth tried to be subtle, but failed miserably, when she, out of the blue and very awkwardly, asked Blaise to help her take the trash out before they left.
They ran out together each holding on to the same one bag of trash, and left Draco and Hermione standing together each with an amused smile on their faces.
"Well, this is awkward," she finally laughed into the silence, unable to meet his eye.
Draco laughed, but stepped forward to her. When he stood close enough for their bodies to almost touch he said softly, "Please don't hex me, but I've been wanting to do this for the past week and a half."
She looked up just as he lowered his head and their lips met. An instant shiver ran down her body and back up, and she sighed as he moved closer and laid his hands on her hips. With a slant of his head he deepened the kiss a fraction and Hermione's hands lifted to his chest. His appreciative groan at her touch warmed her to her toes.
Draco decided that ending the kiss ranked way up on his list of things he hated. But, he knew neither of them would want to go too far too soon, so he pecked her lightly one last time and looked down into her dazed eyes.
He wasn't sure what would be the best thing to say, so he stayed quiet and just enjoyed looking at her. He loved watching the play of emotions across her face as she assimilated and dissected the kiss.
He let out a surprise bark of laughter when she finally focused her eyes on his and sighed, "I just kissed Draco Malfoy."
When she beamed up at him and didn't pull away he asked playfully, "So you aren't planning to hex me then?"
"Not after that," she answered with a grin.
They were interrupted from further conversation by the return of Beth and Blaise. And, a few hugs later the girls were left alone.
Hermione noticed a slightly dazed look on Beth's face as she leaned back against the door she had just closed. With a knowing look she asked, "Beth, you okay?"
Beth swallowed and nodded, "Damn, that man can kiss!"