Chapter 6: Cake and Consequences

Draco fared better than most following the events depicted in the Prophet. He had received a few snooty owls from old pureblood families offering unsolicited "advice" on his choice of company, but other than that he found he couldn't complain. Publicly, he owned his own company so he couldn't be reprimanded by his boss and privately, Astoria seemed to have accepted the events as an unavoidable continuance of their group's antics in the Slytherin common room.

Safe to say none of the ladies *cough-Weaslette-cough* were particularly impressed with their partners and said gentleman had wisely avoided contacting Draco directly in the week that followed. He had however managed to confirm through Potter that all of their limbs and, surprisingly, their reputations remained intact. Scarhead had of course teased him mercilessly when he had decided it was basic etiquette to follow up on his guests; accusing him of "having developed a soft spot for Gryffindors".

Poor Thomas appeared to have gotten the worst of the backlash. Word had gotten around that Alma Forsworth – the current head of Department for Magical Transportation – had given Dean quite the tongue lashing about being pictured committing an FWI, though no one had actually been charged. Between Draco's money and Harry's saviour good will, they had managed to ensure that the Auror department were conveniently ignorant of any reports coming in that evening. Potter had actually been annoyed that he had started receiving fan mail again. Apparently he was now considered something of a "bad-boy" with young witches after so publicly introducing the Wizarding World to the concept of stag parties. The Golden Sod would probably get his name in the next editions of Draco's mother's event planning books now too.

Yes, Draco mused, he had survived the drama relatively unscathed and dare he say, even enjoyed himself? So why was he still sitting in his study late at night staring sternly at his glass of whisky as if it had deliberately provoked him?

Bloody Granger that's why, he muttered.

It wasn't just that she had outsmarted him with the journal– which was nothing new but still equally infuriating as it had been when he was eleven. It was the way in which she had outsmarted him. Hermione had managed to contrive ownership over his most private thoughts in a way that was so ethically dubious that Slytherin house would have worshipped her for calculating it. Draco found it interesting, as well as somewhat flattering, that their relationship would be the thing to finally tip the golden girls stellar moral compass.

She had looked truly ethereal when the journal had fallen open and there eyes had met. He knew that she knew he had seen the additional writings in the margins. It was only the second time since their reacquaintance that he had seen her hazel eyes spark as he remembered: passionate; strong; and so defiant. The first had been when he had dipped her on the dance floor at Weasley's wedding. She can't pretend she isn't still attracted to me he thought smugly. On the other hand, his amusement rapidly died as he remembered Charlie Weasley coming out of that alcove with his Hermione mere moments afterward. Not to mention the bomb of knowledge Blaise had unknowingly dropped regarding her spilling the potion all those years ago.

Spilling he reminded himself, his head spinning once more, not drinking.

That nugget of information had, of course, been the true reason for the obscene amount of alcohol he and Blaise had absorbed that night. Blaise was now fully brought up to speed on the situation and how their relationship at Hogwarts had come to pass. To say he was shocked would be an understatement. Meanwhile, Draco was now fully aware that he had been the one to try and force his and Hermione's connection apart. His greatest argument at the time being his fear that he would cause Hermione a lifetime of anguish. Talk about self-fulfilling prophecy, he scoffed. The irony really was quite cruel. If Potter's little note in his journal was anything to go by, he had still managed to do exactly that. He sighed, by all accounts his actions had caused both of them years of mostly avoidable pain. He wanted to go back in time and scream at his teenage self not to be an impulsive, sentimental, self-sacrificing idiot. Clearly, being noble didn't suit him as well as his gentrified status would imply.

Well, he decided. He had convinced Hermione Granger not to hate him once before. He would just have to do it again. If his golden girl wanted to play Slytherin games then he would have to remind her who the King was. The famous Malfoy smirk reappeared as he realised that there was only one way to truly fight back in such a predicament.

He was going to invite Granger to tea.

….

Hermione was going through somewhat of an existential crisis of her own in relation to the ferret, still reeling from their altercation two days ago. This dread was only strengthened when she saw Draco's owl Pudicita tapping at her window for the first time in four years.

"Hello again beautiful" she approached cautiously "long time no see". Pudicita truly was a stunning owl, although Hermione could see that the pure white feathers around her beak were beginning to grey with age. "Growing up sucks doesn't it girl" she sighed, massaging the birds head briefly as she disentangled her letter. Pudicita squawked her approval. "Thank you for this, but you know I'm not going to answer anything he has to say?"

Pudicita stared down at Hermione with a knowing expression worthy of Professor McGonagall. "Fine then" Hermione pursed her lips. "But I'm only reading this out of respect for you" she informed the owl, knowing how absurd she must sound. Sighing, she tore in to the envelope and felt her heart wrench as her brain identified Draco's cursive script.

Miss Granger,

I am writing to express my regrets at the way I handled our last interaction at your office. Though I was clearly NOT at any initial fault, my behaviour was unfitting of the ancient and noble house of Malfoy. I now realise that this must have greatly offended you, given your recent transformation of character; in which you appear to have acquired a distaste for modern ethics worthy of a true Slytherin.

As It appears we can no longer avoid each other, I propose we horrify our respective acquaintances and discuss the issue like adults. I will await your company for tea on Saturday at 11am. I believe you're familiar with my address.

Yours Sincerely,

Draco Malfoy

Specialist Paediatric Mind-Healer and co-founder at the NAF Trauma Foundation

"Why…he…I…Aaarrgh" Hermione dropped the note in outrage. "If he thinks he's getting a response other than my foot up his…" she began but Pudicita must have got the message as she dutifully flew off before Hermione could finish.

…

Back at the Manor, Draco was feeling pleased with himself. He knew the letter was a masterstroke. If he had written to Hermione begging for her forgiveness she would have likely believed him insincere. Worse, she might have exercised her never-ending compassion and forgiven him out of pity, assigning thoughts of him to some mental category of her past in the process. No, Draco knew he had to do better than that. He had tried to explain this to Blaise but his best friend seemed to have difficulty grasping the notion.

"Mate, I know it's been a while but I'm not sure actively antagonising a witch is the best way to woo her back"

"Ah but this isn't just any witch Blaise, this is Hermione Granger" Draco launched into an explanation:

"Step 1: Address her by her title, as if we were never intimately acquainted. The dismissiveness will drive her mad.

Step 2: Begin a feigned apology, stating that she was solely at fault for his behaviour. No way will she accept defeat that easily.

Step 3: Imply a deficit in her character and rub salt in the wound by highlighting the comparison to Slytherin, but in a way that reminds her of my clever, sarcastic wit.

Step 4. Infuriate her sense of decorum by implying that after all of the above, I am the more mature party.

Step 5. Give her no option to refuse the invitation, making her want to storm into this floo and chastise me for my presumptuousness.

Step 6: Sign off the letter in a way that implies a relationship with recipient beyond formality. There is no way Granger will miss the choice of grammar. "

Step 7: Needlessly include my job title so she remembers I'm a changed man. Thereby proving any reflexive argument of her previous hatred toward me invalid."

Blaise stared at Draco like he had taken leave of his senses. "Ok, sure, I'm just missing the part where this is going to make her like you more?" the Italian drawled sceptically.

"Blaise, for all her brilliance, Granger is also self-righteous, stubborn and defensive. There is no way she will let that note go unanswered". Draco stated confidently.

After all, his and Hermione's connection wasn't some peaceful, flowing waterfall of romance. It never had been, even when they hated each other. He could see why their phenomenon had been named "twin flames". It didn't matter if they were making love or debating potion properties; he burned for her with an addiction and intensity that was inexplicable. She, in turn, sparked an energy deep in his soul and together, they full on ignited the world around them.

If he wanted Granger to allow him to make the last four years up to her, he first had to get her to talk to and, preferably visit him. That meant he needed to provoke the fire back into those beautiful hazel eyes and make her lose her cool, like only a Malfoy could.

….

After several hours of debating whether to pen Draco a huge "F*** You" or simply burn the letter to smithereens and continue to wallow in shame and self-hatred, Hermione had called an emergency meeting at the Burrow. It was for this reason that she found herself, Harry and Ginny currently squished into Ginny's old Bedroom; the far wall of which had been turned into something of a whiteboard. In the centre, was Draco's letter; to the left, a huge image of Draco's face that looked to have been torn out of an issue of Witch Weekly and below, the photo of Hermione from their Yule Ball with a huge glowing question mark over her face.

"Harry, for the love of Merlin you have got to stop letting her watch muggle crime dramas" Hermione deadpanned as Ginny droned on dramatically about "The Granger-Malfoy case" and the "thorough investigation" she had done regarding the letter.

"So to conclude" the redhead cleared her throat, "Malfoy clearly still carries a torch for Hermione and since he cant just come right out and say it, this is his way of -what do the muggles call it Harry – pulling her pigtails?" Ginny smirked.

"WHAT?" Hermione gasped incredulously, placing her head in her hands. "Gin, please, stop being a romantic and look at this logically, the man left me without a word and ignored me for four years; he is currently engaged to another woman; and the last time I saw him we had a blazing row, after which I essentially stole from him and he sent me an insulting letter" Hermione spewed. "How can you possibly say that any of that points to romance?"

"Oh Hermione, come on" Harry scoffed. "Much as it makes me sick to think about it, you and Draco arguing and insulting each other is pretty much foreplay."

"HARRY JAMES POTTER! That is" Hermione paused "actually not entirely inaccurate" she admitted reluctantly. "But still, he left me and now he is engaged" she hissed. "Not casually dating some random bint. Engaged."

"Ok she does have a point there" Harry admitted, looking at his wife. "Maybe this is his way of trying to be friends and he doesn't know how else to go about it? I mean you two were sworn enemies, then you fell madly in love and now hes back and marrying your colleague and your best friend's sister-in-law. It's sort of unchartered territory".

Ginny stared at her husband oddly. "What?" asked Harry.

"That was…surprisingly insightful" Ginny replied, "but still wrong. Malfoy is definitely still in love with Hermione".

"Argh none of this makes ANY sense. If he was trying to be my friend, why insult me? If he was –" Hermione couldn't bring herself to say the L word "- then why marry someone else and If he hates me…"

"Doubtful" Ginny interrupted with a snort

"-then why waste the energy?"

"Mione, I hate to say it but I think there is only one way you're going to figure out his intentions" Harry sighed. She looked at him, waiting. "You're going to have to go to tea".

Ginny smirked. "And I'M choosing you're outfit". Hermione groaned in response.

"Maybe they'll have cake?" Harry suggested with false brightness, causing both woman to stare at him pityingly. "Alright, no cake, geez." he muttered.