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Draco didn't know what to do much less what to say to his father so he just stood there in silence.
"I better go" He heard Hermione utter before she apparated out of sight. Guilt flooded through him and he wished he had the courage to go after her.
"Having a little fun with her are you?" Lucius asked, leaning casually on his cane.
"You could say that" Draco shrugged, waiting for the wrath to rain down on him.
"I can't say I really agree with your choice but as long as she's just a piece of flesh to you, I won't argue the matter" Lucius stated, eyeing Draco carefully.
"Yes Father, I'm just sowing some wild oats before I'm forced to marry some ice queen" Draco replied, cringing at his own words.
If Hermione ever heard him refer to her that way, he was pretty sure their little arrangement would be more then over.
"Look Draco, it's not what she is that I don't approve of" Lucius began.
"Yes it is Father, you and I both know the last thing you'd want is for your only son to sully the family tree with muggle blood" Draco sneered.
"But as you said she's nothing" Lucius arched an eyebrow.
"Yes she's nothing."
Even as the words left his lips he knew them for a lie, every inch of his body recoiling but he knew how the world worked and there was nothing he could do about it.
Hermione appeared in the lounge room of her flat, still shaking from the encounter with Lucius Malfoy.
Stalking over to the kitchen she decided to make herself a coffee intent on not letting the vile thoughts that threatened her mind to overcome her. Taking steadying breaths she went through the motions of preparing the coffee, leaving her mind a blank until she had finished and was sitting on her couch.
Of all the people to discover their secret Lucius Malfoy had to be the worst, even Ron and Harry would have been preferable to him. Taking a sip of her coffee, she wondered what would happen now. Would Draco end it at his father's insistence? Or would the entire wizarding world discover that Draco Malfoy had gotten it on with her? She cringed at the thought, speculating how much fun Rita Skeeter would have with that story.
You're being stupid; she thought to herself, Lucius Malfoy would never want anyone to know that his son had carried on with a mud blood. Sighing, she finally let the tears she had been determined to hold back, overflow knowing that what she really feared was Draco rejecting her. She knew the score however, they'd both known it would eventually have to come to an end.
Suddenly her fireplace erupted making her jump as she wiped the tears from her face frantically, not wanting Draco to see her like this.
She was mildly disappointed when she saw Ginny step out of the fire place instead of Draco but quickly hid it.
"Ginny what a surprise" Hermione greeted, giving the other woman a tight hug.
"I was shopping in Diagon Alley when I thought I might as well pop into muggle London and see you" Ginny explained, sitting down on the couch.
"Did you want a coffee, I just brewed a fresh batch" Hermione offered, wanting a moment to straighten herself up.
"Sounds great" Ginny replied.
"I'll be back in a minute" Hermione smiled, walking into the kitchen.
Ginny leant back against the couch having noticed her friend's red eyes but deciding not to mention it. If she knew Hermione well, she knew her friend would tell her in good time.
She was unexpectedly startled when what appeared to be Draco Malfoy appeared before her, looking weary and then shocked when he noticed her.
"Weasely" He greeted awkwardly.
"Malfoy" She acknowledged her mind racing as she put two and two together. Ron had confided in her his suspicions that Hermione was seeing someone which accounted for her recent behaviour. Her guess was that that someone was standing in front of her and that he was responsible for her current state.
"I hope you don't mind Ginny but..." Hermione stopped dead in her tracks when she spotted Draco.
"I didn't realise you had a visitor" Draco apologised casually.
"Ginny dropped by for a visit" Hermione replied, her jaw still on the floor.
"Let's do this another time shall we?" Ginny interrupted, standing up.
"You don't have to go Ginny" Hermione argued.
"It seems I do, it's ok Hermione we'll talk later" Ginny shot her a pointed look.
"You won't say anything will you?" Hermione asked quietly.
"Not until we have a chat Hermione" She grinned turning her attention back to the blonde. "I'll see you around Malfoy"
Draco just nodded at her, his eyes downcast.
Ginny stood in the fireplace and dropped the Floo powder smiling as she shot them both one last look.
"Oh Godric, could this day get any worse" Hermione sighed dropping down onto the couch.
"I thought it was going rather well" Draco smirked infuriating her.
"This is not funny Draco, not only does your father now know but I'll have to explain to Ginny what is going on" She vented, her head in her hands.
"Relax Granger, My father doesn't care and if the Weaselette is your friend she'll understand your need for privacy" Draco said, joining her on the couch.
"What do you mean your father doesn't care?" She asked wide eyed.
"He understands its nothing serious" Draco shrugged.
Hermione would never admit how much those words stung her, after all he was right, their 'relationship' was nothing serious.
"Oh" Was all she said.
"If you want to end it now Granger you only have to say the words" He declared.
"Do you want it to end?" She asked as casual as she could manage.
"I think we could still have fun but the ball is in your corner"
"So you didn't come here to end it then, at the behest of Lucius" She inquired.
"I just told you he was fine with it" He answered.
"Well I guess I'm fine with us continuing if I can get Ginny not to open her mouth" She attempted a chuckle.
"Yes though I would enjoy a visit from Potter and the Weasel" He grinned mischievously.
"You would be shaking in your boots" She scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"I highly doubt it" He said, throwing an arm around her shoulders and bringing her in closer.
"So when are we having dinner at the Manor?" She asked innocently.
Draco burst into laughter at the thought and she found herself laughing along with him. As much as she wanted to believe this was just a bit of fun deep down she knew she had developed strong feelings for Draco Malfoy and that she was bound to have her heart broken again.
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Hermione waited a few days before deciding to bite the bullet and visit Ginny, preparing herself for the avalanche of questions she knew were coming her way.
"Hey Mione, long time no see" Harry answered the door, giving her a hug.
"Yes it has" She agreed not elaborating further, it would just mean more lies.
"I'm guessing you've come to see Ginny?" He asked, gesturing for her to enter.
"Yes, did she say I was coming?" She tried keeping her face impassive.
"Only that you'd promised to have some coffee with her "Harry indicated.
"And have a girly chat" Ginny laughed, appearing from the kitchen.
"Well in that case I better leave you to it, make myself scarce"
Ginny had the presence of mind to wait until her husband had left before she shot Hermione a mischievous look.
"Draco Malfoy, ay?"
"Don't make it sound so dirty, Ginny" Hermione cringed.
"Who would have thought" Ginny continued, there was certainly a bit of Fred's mischievous streak in her.
"Shhh, what if Harry hears?" Hermione whispered.
"He's gone to visit Ron; we'll be alone for at least an hour." Ginny motioned for her to follow as she made her way back into the kitchen.
"So spill, how in Godric did you and Malfoy happen?" Ginny asked excitedly once they were settled at the small table.
"Firstly there is no Malfoy and me, we're just friends" Hermione clarified, Draco's words ringing in her ears.
"Didn't look like that from where I sat" Ginny argued.
"We have an arrangement…" Hermione began.
"A friendly arrangement where you shag each other senseless?" Ginny asked, grinning.
"When you put it like that it sounds so…"
"So what?" Ginny pushed.
"I don't know, ok?" Hermione sighed.
"Where did it start?" Ginny changed tactic.
"At the Leaky Cauldron, I went there on my birthday and"
"Wait on your birthday, this has been going on for months and you didn't tell me?" Ginny interrupted.
"It was part of our rules Ginny" Hermione explained.
"Rules?"
Hermione took a deep breath; she was obviously going to have to give Ginny a blow by blow of the past few months before they could move on. So she told her everything right down to the encounter with Lucius and what Draco had told her.
"How do you feel about that?" Ginny asked, referring to Draco's statement that they were nothing.
"It doesn't matter how I feel about it, he was right we're just friends" Hermione sighed.
"I know you Hermione, you are not the type of girl to carry on with someone and not get attached"
"I'll admit I've grown somewhat fond of Draco" Hermione conceded.
"Somewhat fond that you're calling him by his given name" Ginny pointed out.
"That's what friends do"
"Look I'm not trying to dissuade you from this, if anything I'm happy that you're over my idiot brother but that doesn't mean I want to see you hurt again" Ginny dictated.
"I've decided to continue it, whatever it is, with the full realisation that I very well may end up getting hurt" Hermione said honestly. Draco had made her promise she would take chances, this was just keeping that promise.
"I guess you're not fooling yourself" Ginny nodded.
"I enjoy his company Ginny; I don't want to lose that"
Or him, she thought to herself.
"Well I won't say anything to Harry but if things do turn serious you will have to let the cat out of the bag"
Hermione laughed at the notion.
"Ginny nothing will turn serious, have we forgotten Mr Lucius Malfoy?"
"I'm sure Malfoy's an adult, fully capable of making his own decisions" Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Yes, and loose a fortune, his job and let's not forget be struck from the family tree"
"Anything is worth it if you really love someone, look at my grandmother, she gave up the Black family for love" Ginny argued.
"I really hate how you can simplify such complicated things" Hermione chuckled.
"Nothings ever complicated, unless Lucius kidnapped and oblivated Malfoy" Ginny winked.
Hermione smiled hiding the fear she felt at that statement, after all what was stopping Lucius from obliviating her from Draco's mind?
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Narcissa wondered what joke she had missed as she watched the two men in her life eat dinner. It wasn't so much anything they were saying, but more the glances they kept shooting each other.
"Anything exciting happening in your life, Draco?" She asked, gauging his response.
"No, mother. How's The Witches Society going?" He replied smoothly.
"We're busy planning the upcoming Ministry Ball, Prudence is being a bit difficult, can you imagine she wants muggle champagne served on the night?" Narcissa shook her head in utter disbelief.
"I'm sure the muggle borns will appreciate it" Lucius said, looking straight at Draco.
"Mother does it really matter what kind of champagne they serve?" Draco sighed, keeping his eyes averted.
"Of course it does, we have traditions to up hold" Narcissa argued, a little irked at her son's complacency.
"Proud traditions, which reminds me Draco, I've chosen two witches from impeccable backgrounds for you to look over" Lucius pronounced.
"Look over father, what are they centaurs?" Draco asked scornfully.
"Draco what has gotten into you tonight?" Narcissa chastised, taken aback by his attitude.
"I would probably ask whom has gotten to him" Lucius smirked.
"What are you talking about Lucius?" She whispered.
"It's nothing mother, by all means send the suitable women over to me for an appraisal" Draco cut it in.
Narcissa looked at both men, definitely knowing she was being left out of something.
"I hope to see you married by the end of the year Draco, I have plans to retire" Lucius disclosed.
"Naturally" Draco nodded, rising from the table.
"Are you leaving so soon?" Narcissa asked as he placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Yes, I have some things to sort out at home Mother" He apologised, turning on his heel.
"Good night Son" Lucius called after him.
"What is going on Lucius?" Narcissa asked as soon as her son had gone.
"It seems our son has been carrying on an affair, with a certain Hermione Granger" Lucius divulged.
"The mud blood friend of Potters?" She gasped.
"It's ok Narcissa; he's assured me it's just harmless fun"
"I won't lose my only son Lucius, I won't" She cried.
"Nothing is going to happen, Calm yourself" He ordered. "You heard him; he's willing to step up to his duties"
Narcissa only nodded in reply not wanting to argue the point with him. In her heart however she knew that the witch meant something to her son, she'd witnessed his behaviour change over the past few months but had thought it had to do with work. Now she knew it all had to do with Hermione Granger.