I was watching a documentary from a few years ago on women Senators, and Joe Biden (my love!) was interviewed. I finally understand fangirling because I shrieked so loudly at the sight of my precious cargo that I scared my cat right out of the room. The intervention is probably coming soon.
Chapter 10
Flowers waited on Hermione's desk, bringing a smile to her face when she entered her office. Yellow daisies and pink carnations were a weekly sight, courtesy of Draco. She pulled out the card as she inhaled the delightful aroma. It was signed Your Secret Admirer, which was perplexing and slightly humorous.
What confused her more though was Draco's inquiry into who sent them. "It wasn't you?" she asked.
He shook his head. "I swear," he told her. "I haven't been to the florist this week. Any thoughts about who might have sent them?"
Harry was her only guess, but it wasn't her birthday or the anniversary of her parents' deaths. "No one else comes to mind." It was then he suggested Ron. Scoffing, she shot down the idea. "We were together for six years, and he never gave me flowers. I'm fairly certain he doesn't even know what my favorite flowers are."
"Has Harry told you that he asked Ron to be in the wedding?" Draco asked, watching her to gauge her reaction. Sitting down, she shook her head. "We're both going to be Best Man."
Setting aside the mysterious note, she frowned. "Are you alright with that?" she wondered. Ron and Draco had never spoken beyond insults, and she couldn't understand what Harry was thinking by thrusting them into this situation together. "This can't be a good idea."
Draco shrugged, not sure he agreed that it would end in disaster. "Harry's talked to him, and Ron knows I'm in the wedding party," he countered. "Would he really have said yes if he objected to my being there? Honestly, I think it's part of him accepting our friendship in order to rebuild yours."
It was a fair point, and one that Hermione couldn't refute. Ron was finally making an effort, and she would do nothing to stop it. "My ex-fiance and my new boyfriend, this won't be awkward at all," she said, hoping to add a sense of levity to the conversation. Draco chuckled, kissed her, and left her to her work.
Leaving her office, he took the lift to the Aurors Department. Expecting to talk to Harry, it was Ron who intercepted him. "Hey," he said nervously. "Um, Harry said he talked to you about the wedding, and I just wanted to say that I hope there are no hard feelings. Both of us being Best Man, it's probably gonna be weird."
Draco shrugged. "It doesn't have to be," he replied. "You and I have had bigger issues for a lot longer than Harry and Hermione and I did. I don't expect you to forgive me, but please know that I am sorry."
Nodding, Ron accepted his apology. "Can't say I was much better," he added. "We can be civil, right? I mean, Mum's already made you part of the family, so I guess I need to be okay with you coming around. Wouldn't want her replacing me."
Draco chuckled. "I think you're safe," he assured him. "Hermione will be relieved though. Not that I blame her for being worried. I'm sort of to blame for your distance in recent months. I think she was afraid that she'd lost you forever, between me and the break up."
"Why? Are you the reason we broke up?" Ron asked jokingly, before becoming more sober. "It was the kids thing that did us in, honestly. Maybe it was something we should have talked about before the engagement, but it wasn't. I feel bad, but at least the decision was mutual, right?"
Draco had no idea what he meant. Hermione rarely discussed marriage and children, though he had chalked that up to their relationship only being a week old. There was something in her eyes, a sadness of sorts, whenever children were mentioned. The last person he would talk to about the subject was Ron Weasley, though. If his girlfriend wanted him to know, he would wait for her to tell him.
Nodding, he bade Ron goodbye and left the Ministry. Stepping outside, he took a deep breath to calm himself. Before he was fully composed, he heard his name and groaned. Turning, he spotted Pansy Parkinson, smiling as she approached him.
"You're not in trouble, I hope," she said, embracing him. "Or, oh! Are the rumors true? Are you really dating Granger? What's that like?"
Rolling his eyes, he beckoned her to follow him to a nearby Apparation point so they could speak privately. Returning to his flat, he put on tea water and confirmed her suspicions. "It's not strange, it's not weird," he told her. "It feels...right. It felt that way the first time we talked even though she threatened to hex me."
Pansy laughed, remembering how put out he'd been third year when she slapped him. "What do Potter and Weasley think?" she wondered. Despite the nonchalant shrug, Draco's cheeks reddened. "Voldemort's vanquisher is still that thick? Weasley doesn't surprise me. I wouldn't want to talk to my ex about this either. I thought you and Potter were the best of friends now."
"That doesn't make it any easier to tell him I'm dating his best friend," Draco countered. "And besides, why am I telling you any of this? My private life is my business."
"There's the arrogant arsehole I know and hate," she remarked as he sneered at her. "You're telling me because we've been friends since we were two weeks old. You can't escape me, Draco. You love me too much."
Draco scoffed, but made no further attempts to deny it. "So, what were you doing at the Ministry?" he asked.
"My foundation is having a fundraising gala," she explained. "The Minister has granted us permission to hold it in the Atrium, so I was on my way to drop off some forms. You should come. Bring the Golden Trio, if you want. It's for a good cause, you know."
"Plus they generate good publicity," he added wryly. Pansy grinned like the cat who got the canary. "Always the Slytherin. I'll mention it to them, and you can count on me being there."
Squeaking, she lunged and hugged him. Draco laughed as the fireplace roared to life and Hermione stepped out. "Ron said the two of you ran into each other, and... what is going on here?" she asked, out of breath.
Pushing away Pansy, Draco assured her that his talk with Ron had gone well. "And we're going to a party this weekend," he told her as Pansy corrected him that it was a gala, not a party.
"We're raising money for the war victims' fund," she told Hermione. When the war ended and her parents died, leaving her a large inheritance, Pansy put it to good use. The 1998 Foundation was established to create orphanages, extend healthcare benefits for victims, and provide counseling. In the years since the war, Pansy had worked tirelessly to keep funds coming in to support the battle's survivors and their families. Hermione, herself, had been helped by the foundation a time or two.
Hermione's eyes widened. Few knew exactly who ran the organization, and it was shocking and inspiring to learn it was Pansy. "I'll be there," she promised.
