Author's note: sorry I haven't updated lately. I am suffering a cold. I hope you like this chapter

From One Affair

Chapter 3

Hermione went to work the next day prepared to finish the potion. They just had to put a couple spells on it and more ingredients.

She walked into the lab and said happily to Draco, "This is the day we finish this potion."

Draco nodded and replied with a smirk, "I agree."

They started to get to work and another lab worker said, "No fighting today."

Hermione answered, "We've got a deadline."

He let it go and got back to doing his job when Draco gave him a glare. Draco was glad that Hermione didn't notice. In a couple hours the potion turned purple and Hermione knew it was done.

She smiled up at Draco, "We're done. We need to test it on someone."

Draco asked, "I don't think Neville would mind us trying it out on his parents."

Hermione told him, "I'll owl her, but first we need to give your mother a heads up."

They went up to her office and knocked hearing her say, "Come in."

They walked in and sat down into the two letter seats across from her. Narcissa looked at the two of them and knew her plan had started to plant its roots in the two of them. It turned out even though she was originally in the Black family she had the Malfoy smirk.

Narcissa asked, "Did you have something to tell me?"

Hermione answered, "We finished the potion and we wanted to start a human trial."

"Who do you plan on testing it on?" questioned she.

Draco said, "Granger's friend Neville's parents have been irreversibly insane for over two decades and we thought we should try it on the worst to see if it works all right."

Narcissa said, "You do understand that if you put an ingredient in there that was bad it could make the Longbottom's worse."

Hermione informed her, "He's been waiting on hope for a long time and now we have a chance to finally prove it was all for nothing."

Draco snickered at her, "You mean you want Longbottom to have his parents back, but I really don't care about him."

Hermione said, "You are such a jackass, Malfoy."

Narcissa responded, "If you want to start trials go right ahead and do so."

They stood up and Hermione shook Narcissa hand. If Hermione was more excited then she would be jumping up and down. He of course was glad that they were done, but he was sad that she might go back to her own work before they needed the potion. Draco and Hermione walked out. Hermione went to her desk in the lab and wrote a note to Neville.

Neville,

We are ready for trails. Your parents may be able to be the first ones to try the potion. Meet us at St. Mungo's when you get this.

Hermione

She sent it off to Neville and she dragged Draco with her with two vials of the memory potion that focused more on the Cruciatus curse. Hermione and Draco went to the fifth floor or waited for Neville. Just as they had arrived so did Neville.

Neville asked, "Is it true? The potion is ready."

Hermione answered, "It is ready, Neville."

He smiled and told her, "I knew that you could do it."

They all took a deep breath and walked into room 506 where it was only occupied by both his parents. Neville's parents were just looking into space, not in any specific order. Neville took the vials and forced both of them to drink it. Hermione imagined it tasted horrible for anyone. Neville and Hermione stood there for fifteen minutes and Neville's face dropped from a smile and turned into a frown filled with sorrow.

Hermione put a hand on his back and said, "I'm sorry, Neville."

Hermione looked back at Frank and Alice Longbottom. There was a sudden change in the air. His parents blinked a couple of times and looked around at all the people.

Frank said, "Neville."

Alice said, "It is our boy all grown up, Frank."

Neville undid the restraints on his parents and hugged both of them. He turned back to Hermione and smiled.

Draco informed Hermione, "We should go. They have a lot to catch up on."

Draco and Hermione exited the room and she hugged him. When he realized what she had done his eyes widened and looked at her. He told himself it was just because they had done something that will really benefit the company and the people they made it for.

Draco said, "I know you're excited that the potion worked, but we have right ups to do and such back at work."

Hermione answered, "Yeah, we do."

They went back to work and Hermione wrote a couple pages describing how it was made and the ingredients. She then wrote about how long it took to take effect, but wrote that results may vary on how far gone the person really was. Draco wrote about the potion itself and how it worked. He wrote about the changes in the people who drank it and about the fact it was primarily for victims who suffered side effects from the Cruciatus curse.

Right before the clock hit 5 P.M they were done and had combined their work and turned in the write up. Hermione went back to her flat and decided what dress she wanted to wear to the gala at 7. It was a light purple dress with straps, a v-cut, and went almost to her feet although just above.

She ate a quick meal of leftovers and took a shower to get ready for Harry and Ginny coming over at 6:30 so Ginny could get a good look at her and help with Hermione's hair. Hermione took a shower and got ready; putting on makeup and putting her hair in a bun with a few strands around her face.

Ginny and Harry stepped out of the fire place exactly at 6:30. Harry gawked at her. He'd never seen her look as beautiful as she did now except at the Yule Ball.

Ginny said, "Looks like I won't need to do any touch ups."

Harry told her, "You look very beautiful tonight, Hermione."

Hermione responded, "Thank you. Should we get the ministry before it starts without us?"

They went back through the floo. Harry was going to meet Ron at the party. Harry was smiling gleefully because he had his wife on one arm and his best friend on the other.

Harry said, "You'll have the guys looking at you all night."

Hermione blushed, "I would like to agree, but it is probably also because of our heroic status still in the wizarding world."

They took slow and steady steps to a large room that was transfigured into a room for dinner and dancing. On the tables were designated seats and of course Ron was already there waiting for food. Harry looked at his watch waiting for it to hit seven o'clock so they all could eat.

At 7 the minister of magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt walked in, in black and white dress robes. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Harry were sitting with the minister as chosen guests.

Kingsley announced, "Welcome all of my friends and co-workers. It has been the 6th year anniversary of the day the world ends. This gala is to commemorate all the people we had lost and the progress we've made since so to conclude my speech let the feast begin."

The food appeared on a long table in the front of the room. Ron rushed up there to grab a plate and Harry just laughed.

Harry said, "At his pace if we don't get food now we'll be all out."

Kingsley asked, "How have you been, Ms. Granger?"

Hermione responded, "Today my co-worker and I created a potion that assisted in breaking the hold on people by the Cruciatus curse like Frank and Alice Longbottom. It was really amazing."

Ginny said, "I knew you could do it, Hermione."

"I wasn't alone in the creation of said potion or cure," said Hermione, "Mr. Malfoy and I made it in just a few weeks despite our fights over the ingredients and such."

Harry said, "Would anyone like to be escorted to the food?"

Ginny told her husband, "I do before my brother really finishes it all."

When they reached the front Harry passed out plates and collected food for them. There were pumpkin cookies, pies, chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetables, turkey, and so much more. It was like thanksgiving or Christmas at the gala.

Ron asked with his mouthful, "You look hot, Hermione."

"Do not eat with your mouthful, Ronald," scolded Hermione.

Ron argued, "We're not in school anymore. You can't boss me around."

Hermione told him, "We are at a celebration with hundreds of people. Be polite and talk without your mouth full."

Kingsley said, "Anyone up for dancing after dinner and desert?"

"We're all dressed and ready I think," answered Harry, "I pretty sure dancing won't kill us."

Ginny laughed, "Well, be glad you don't have to dance with heels like us women do. Am I right Hermione?"

Hermione said, "Most definitely."

The music started blaring in the large room and Harry brought Ginny out to the dance floor and Ron with his date. Kingsley and Hermione sat at the table and chatted for a while before she was approached by the Malfoys.

Hermione stood up and shook hands with Mrs. Malfoy, "I didn't think you two would be here tonight."

Draco asked, "Why are you so surprised?"

"I just didn't expect to see you here tonight," said Hermione to Draco.

Draco questioned, "Would you like to dance with me" with his hand outstretched

She nodded and they went out for a dance. Mrs. Malfoy looked at Kingsley and smiled.

Kingsley said, "They look good together."

Narcissa said, "Draco is in love with her and by the looks of things even though they act like they hate each other she has a thing for him as well."

Out in the middle of the dance floor was Draco and Hermione dancing provocatively with each other until a slow song came on. This was his chance to be close with her again. She put one of her hands in his and the other on his shoulder. He put a hand in hers and the other on her waist.

He whispered in her ear, "You look very sexy in that dress, Hermione."

Hermione responded, "Thanks, Draco, I don't ever come to these galas. It is a memorial, but it is also very sad as well."

He responded with the same statement and she looked up into his eyes. Draco leaned down slowly and kissed her soft lips. A fire lit up inside them for the second time in the last week. She pushed him away.

Hermione said, "We shouldn't do this."

Draco asked trying to hide his anger, "Why the hell not?"

"We're too different from each other and we fight a lot," said Hermione.

Draco asked, "Is this about the fact I was a death eater and you were on the other side."

Hermione told him, "No, it isn't about that at all."

Draco stormed off thinking she was lying to him. Hermione could understand why he had thought that so she just went back to her table and wallowed in self pity. At the end of the night she went home to an empty apartment wishing she could go home to someone.