AN: Thank you so much for reviewing, everyone. I enjoy your words and they make me most thankful that you enjoyed my story well enough to tell me so or suggest things. Thank you. Enjoy the next chapter.
Pansy and Blaise were already waiting for them at the Golden Wand. They were seated at a special booth that was circled, but had a back high enough to keep nosy people out. Marian smiled and slid into the booth, giving Pansy a hug and smiling at Blaise.
"Congratulations on becoming an Auror, Maria," Pansy said. "We're so proud of you."
Marian smiled and said, "Yup. And Draco owes me three galleons."
"Where is Draco?" Blaise asked, looking around.
"He's helping Hermione with her cloak," Marian said, picking up a menu to look over.
Pansy and Blaise looked at each other, then Marian. "Hermione?" Pansy said. "Hermione Granger? She came with you?"
"Yeah. She's on my Auror team." Marian looked up. "Is that a problem?" she asked.
The two shook their heads. "No," Blaise said. "It's just...we didn't get along so well in school."
Marian shrugged. "Hermione, Ron, and Harry told me about that," she said, returning her attention to the menu. "But you're all out of school and have no real reason to hate each other, right? I mean, you're not school children with a stupid house rivalry between you."
Pansy bit her lip and said, "It's a bit more complicated than that, Maria." Just then, Draco led Hermione up to the booth. "I'll tell you later," Pansy said quickly before putting a polite smile on.
Hermione looked nervous, but Marian smiled encouragingly. Draco slid into the booth next to Blaise, leaving the only open spot next to him. Hermione sat down and fiddled with her fingers under the table. Never had she thought that she would be sharing a meal with the three Slytherins who had tormented Harry, Ron and her for the past seven years. But, here she was. Why had she agreed to come? She looked over at Draco, sharing a joke with Blaise. Oh, right. Because Draco, with his kissable lips and good looks, had smiled at her and asked. Boy, was she a sucker.
A waiter came and asked what they wanted to drink. Pansy ordered glasses of Merlot wine for the girls. Blaise and Draco, though, ordered firewhiskey. As soon as the drink orders were made, glasses appeared on the table, filled with the ordered beverage. Marian was amazed and picked up the glass. "You gotta love magic," she said, smiling.
Pansy laughed, giving Marian a one armed hug. "I love being around you," she said. "You see magic with new eyes. It's so refreshing and cute."
"What about me?" Blaise asked, looking a bit offended.
Pansy leaned over and said, "You're just cute, baby." She kissed his cheek.
Blaise smiled and took her hand. He brought it up and kissed her knuckles. "Only cute?" he said, smirking slightly.
She giggled. "Maybe a little more than cute," she said.
They started to lean in, but Draco cleared his throat. "Please refrain from doing that in front of my sister," he said.
Marian rolled her eyes. "Really, Draco. It's not like I'm an innocent. I have kissed a boy, you know," she said.
Draco lifted up his drink and said, "I did not hear that. To me, you are my little sister who doesn't even know what a kiss is."
Hermione chuckled. "Sorry," she said when everyone looked at her. "I'm just imagining an innocent and naïve Maria. It's not working so well." She looked at Draco. "But you wear the big brother look very well."
Draco stared and, once she realized what she'd said, Hermione blushed. Slowly, she picked up her menu and gave it her full attention. What was she doing? She'd just complimented Draco Malfoy. Malfoy! The boy who had been mean to Harry since they'd met and had served the Dark Lord. What was she thinking? She was probably just tired from staring at the case for so long.
Marian laughed and said, "See, Draco? I said you looked good as the big brother. Now we have another opinion that proves it."
Draco chuckled and sipped his drink. "If you say so, Marian," he said. "I still think I'm the same old Prince of Slytherin Draco Malfoy that has won the hearts of many ladies."
Marian snorted and rolled her eyes. "Sure, bro," she said. "Whatever you say." She looked at her menu, then at Hermione. "Do you see anything good? I can't decide."
Hermione, silently thanking Marian for her quick recovery, leaned over and pointed to something on the menu. "Chicken and Shrimp Parmesan looks good," she said.
"Mmm. I'll take that, then," Marian said.
A waiter appeared and Hermione ordered a plate for both her and Marian. Pansy chose pheasant under glass, Blaise chose halibut with lemon sauce and wild rice, and Draco chose a plate of spaghetti.
Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. "What?" he asked when the waiter left their table.
She shook her head. "Nothing," she said. "I just never thought you'd go for something so...plain."
Draco chuckled and shot a look at his sister. "Marian got me hooked on the dish a few weeks after coming to live with us," he said.
"Not my fault you liked it so much," Marian said, smiling sweetly.
"Like hell, it's not," Draco said.
Pansy rolled her eyes and leaned against Blaise. "It feels like we're taking care of toddlers when we're with you two," she said. "Don't you agree, Granger?" Hermione looked up and nodded before she could stop herself. "You see? Even Granger agrees."
Marian laughed. "But I love to bring out the childish side of Draco," she said, mock pouting.
Pansy sighed and looked to Blaise. He raised his hands and said, "Don't pull me into this. I hate kids."
Hermione started to relax as she saw Pansy swat at her boyfriend. She'd seen them all as enemies, but, when she actually saw them like this, it was hard to see them as anything but good friends who liked to play and tease each other. She smiled and listen to them banter around the table. Though they weren't her friends, or her regular group, she felt at ease here. Like they would welcome her if she jumped into the conversation.
Had the war changed them so they acted like this? A lot of people had changed. Ron and she had tried to be a couple but, with their interests lying in different areas, hers with books and his with Quidditch; they had grown apart. They'd agreed to remain friends and it worked for them.
Hermione looked over at Draco from under her bangs. He was smiling with Blaise as Pansy tried to 'chastise' Marian for something. Had the war changed him so he became more open about things? He'd said he'd welcomed his new sister with open arms and that she had him wrapped around her little finger. The Draco she knew would never had allowed that to happen. That Draco was a proud, ferret faced git. This one, though, was a loving, protective brother. And she liked it.
Draco looked over and, catching her eyes, smiled. He wanted to chuckle as Hermione turned to face his sister. Hermione Granger. Gryffindor Know-it-all. Sitting at a table with a bunch of former Slytherins, and enjoying a nice talk with them. Draco never knew he would see the day. He studied her for a moment while she wasn't looking.
Hermione's bushy hair had become straight and soft, curling slightly around the edges and framing her pale face. She filled out her Auror robes, as well. Though Draco had never noticed her figure that much in school, he definitely noticed it now. Curves in all the right places, just his type. She'd also grown taller. He'd noticed that when helping her with her cloak. She'd come up to his chin, at least. Hermione Granger had definitely grown up since their first year together.
Their food arrived and silence filled the table as they started to eat. Chatter then started up again, focusing on basic things. Holiday plans was a big topic, though.
"Thanks so much for inviting us to the Ministy's Christmas Ball, Marian," Pansy said.
"You're welcome," Marian answered. "I thought you and Blaise would like to go."
"Do you have a date?" Draco asked his sister.
She laughed. "No, Draco," she said. "But I think I'd like to ask Ron."
He swallow his drink and began to cough. Hermione patted his back until the coughing stopped. "No," Draco said. "I refuse to allow you to go with that Weasley. Or any Weasley."
Marian chuckled. "But he's a friend," she said. "It's not like I'm going to go out with him after that. I just need someone to be my date. Harry's already got Ginny, so I can't ask him." She turned to Hermione. "Do you have a date, Hermione?"
Hermione blushed slightly at the unexpected attention. "Um...no," she said.
"Good. You can take Draco. He doesn't have anyone," Marian said, eating a piece of shrimp.
Draco looked up and said, "Wait a minute, Marian. You can't choose who I'll take to the ball-"
"Well, you don't have anyone. Hermione doesn't have anyone. You two have gotten over your differences. You can go as friends." Marian rolled her eyes. "It's not like I'm asking you two to get married or anything. Sheesh."
Hermione turned to Draco and he stared into her chocolate eyes. She gave a soft shrug. "She's got a logical point," she said.
Draco glared at his sister for a moment, but she was smiling as if she'd had the greatest idea in the world. And, of course, Draco was almost powerless against his sister's wishes. He sighed and looked at Hermione. "Hermione," he said. "Would you care to be my date for the Ministry's Christmas Ball?"
Hermione smiled, amusement behind her eyes. "I'd be delighted, Draco," she said. She bit a side of her lip to keep from laughing. Draco's eyes darted to it, then he looked at his sister.
"Happy now?" he asked.
Marian smiled. "Yes," she said. She then turned to Pansy and all the girls started talking about dresses and what they would wear.
Draco looked over at Blaise and saw his friend give him a sympathetic eye roll.
AN: Oh, you gotta love Marian. She's like a human imp. Or, a little sister who loves to get into her brother's business. Yay! Lol. Tell me what you think
