Pansy Parkinson is a right bitch, if you ask Hermione. But Draco seems to be having a wonderful time. For all his previous protesting that he felt bad for Theo, he seems to smile at her acidic comments and nasty digs. She is a beautiful woman now. Enough to make Hermione just a teensie bit self-conscious, if she's brutally honest.
All in all, it's been a reasonably nice tea. Theo has been pleasant and Draco became almost immediately relaxed around his old friends. Ultimately she's happy they were able to schedule this time.
That doesn't mean she has enjoyed it. Hermione spent much of the time in quiet contemplation, watching the interaction.
"Perhaps, if you aren't both too busy, we could plan some visits in the future?" She is asking on Draco's behalf but Hermione intends to be a part of their visits as well. Legally, she could probably allow short visits without attending but thinks it might be better to stay involved as he reconnects with his old Slytherin (and Death Eater) friends.
Though Theo strikes her as being Death Eater material about as much as he seems likely to stand up and dance the Rumba. But she supposes that is the way of many of the young followers of the former Dark Lord. Children forced to make an impossible choice who are more than happy to leave it behind them.
"Draco is always welcome here," is Pansy's curt reply. The unspoken finish that Hermione is less welcome is understood by all.
"Granger, let's take them to that Indian place where you always get take-away." Draco says this looking at Hermione then turns to Pansy and Theo. "You would both love it. Theo, remember Mipsy's curry recipe? Puts it to shame."
Theo snorts, "Well that I'd have to see. You basically drank the stuff when we were kids."
Hermione smiles at Draco for continuing to involve her and picks up on his cue. "I think that would be lovely. One evening next week maybe? I can call you later, Pansy."
"Whatever you like, Drakie." She actively avoids speaking to Hermione directly.
"On that note, Draco we should probably let them have their evening. It's getting a bit late. Maybe pick up some dinner from that place for tonight?"
"Sounds wonderful." Before Hermione can stand, Draco has risen and is pulling out her chair for her. One thing you have to say for purebloods and their social etiquette: Their Mommas raised them right.
She gives him an almost shy smile and thanks him quietly. Pansy is glaring daggers across the table to which Theo seems oblivious to his fiancée as he is also watching Hermione's exchange with Draco closely.
"Thank you for having us. It was lovely to get to know some of Draco's friends." At this point Hermione is purposefully playing the role of his date for the afternoon. Earning Pansy Parkinson's ire might be her new favorite pastime.
Draco reaches across the table and offers a hand to Theo who is also standing. "It's great to see you, mate. Really. See you both soon. Thanks for everything, Pans."
He offers her a grin and she nearly snarls out a quick, "Don't mention it." After a pause she continues a little more pleasantly, "I'll walk you out."
Hermione falls in step behind Pansy with Draco beside her. At the front door, Pansy throws it open with a flourish and steps aside so they can exit.
"I'll see you soon, Drakie. Oh and Granger, thank you so much for bringing Draco over. I'm sure it's such a burden, being forced to take on his case. I bet you just can't wait for him to be on his out of that rat's nest you call hair." Pansy voice is laced with venom.
Hermione chooses to ignore the hair quip and tackle the meat of her poisonous comment. "My job is never a burden, Pansy. I am sure Draco will be happy to be on his own but until then my responsibility is to do what's best for him." She feels Draco stiffen beside her and wonders if Pansy offended him by calling him a burden. Pansy's not such a great friend if you ask Hermione. She's happy to have survived the afternoon in a den of snakes.
XXXXX
It is Monday morning and the pair have headed out of Hermione's home into the big wide Muggle world to start Draco's magic authorization process.
The thing about taking the bus, which Hermione failed to consider, is how bloody close she might end up sitting next to the man that has become, against her better judgment, her favorite new fantasy. Dressed in dark grey slacks and a white polo shirt, her charge looks annoyingly crisp and delicious. Crammed together as they are, they are touching absolutely flush from knee to hip. His build is so goddamn solid.
It's all she can do to will the blush to remain off her cheeks, trying desperately to think unsexy thoughts.
Filch whispering sweet nothings to his cat.
Lavender Brown screeching her affection at Ron.
Dolores Umbridge stripping on a muggle stage, complete with a pole.
Well that did it.
Hermione had decided it best if Draco learned a little about public transit. Until he has his own license to drive a car, he is at the mercy of her schedule. Unfortunately her office hours are not entirely conducive to acting as his chauffeur, hence the bus.
"I hate this thing, Granger. I mean, I think I trust that muggle man marginally more than you to steer the blasted death trap, but it's noisy. And crowded. And... dirty."
"Because it's full of muggles?" She inquires with a pinch of hurt and a dash of offense.
"No, because it's full of dirt, Hermione. Actual dirt."
She snickers and can't help the smile. It's a little endearing, his dry snarky humour. She would swear she sees her little secret smile returned before he wipes his face clean of expression and lifts his chin in mock disdain. She shoulder checks him with something she will admit is close to affection.
"I know you're a delicate flower, Malfoy, but I think you'll manage. This will just motivate you to learn to drive."
"There has to be an alternative. What do wealthy muggles do who don't drive? And don't tell me there aren't any because there is always a wealthy someone who doesn't like to do something."
"No, you're right, they exist. Some have drivers. But that won't really help you since you don't trust anyone else to drive you around either. Face it: You have control issues. The only way you're going to be happy is being in the driver's seat. Literally. Who knows, you might even find you like it."
He folds his arms to pout. "Doubtful."
Unfortunately the act of folding his arms pushes his body harder against her side and she is back where she started. His skin feels cool and soft against her but his muscles tight and strong. She resists the urge to snuggle against him. Her eyes discreetly wander to his thighs, and then the fabric between them…
Neville Longbottom in a tutu.
Dumbledore snogging Snape.
That's better.
When the bus approaches their stop, Hermione rises quickly though she tries to exude a calm, unaffected demeanor. She feels Draco at her back, following her onto the street.
"So first we have to get you in the system. We'll have to make another appointment then with a magic counselor to select your classes but that can be set up by phone as soon as we're done here."
He nods and follows her toward a large building. He's quiet and seems to be lost in reverie. She is curious as to his current thoughts when he solves the mystery voluntarily.
"I wonder what happened to the peacocks."
She pauses in step before continuing. "Peacocks?"
"At the manor. We had these brilliant white peacocks that roamed the manor grounds. Since it's gone, I wonder what they did with them."
She cocks her head, considering. "More than likely animal control rounded them up and placed them in a zoo or on a private farm."
He makes no response and they walk on. Climbing the nearly endless stone steps, Hermione is nearly out of breath when they finally reach their destination.
"I don't envy you climbing that mountain of stairs every day."
Draco snorts. "Not so terrible if you're not goblin height."
Batting his arm playfully, Hermione chastises, "That's not very politically correct you know. Using goblins as a derogatory reference for height."
"You're not going to scold me for making fun of you then? Just for my insensitive wording?"
"Oh please. After 6 years of "bushy-haired beaver"? I can handle that I'm short. I am short. At least compared to you... You're a right monster," she grins.
He smirks down at her. "Your hair's still bushy."
Stopping dead in her tracks, she glares at him. He opens the door and starts to walk through before shooting back over his shoulder, "doesn't mean it's not fetching."
Safely out of his line of sight, Hermione blushes.
XXXXXX
"We're here to begin enrollment in autumn magic use courses."
Draco is standing a step to Hermione's right, watching the proceedings as if indifferent but he is secretly buzzing. Finally, finally, he will have his wand back. Just sign up for these silly muggle classes, which are worthless of course. What can this muggle school teach a Malfoy about magic?
"Of course. And are you both interested in the same classes?" The petite muggle woman speaks to Hermione but her eyes stray Draco's direction. He raises his eyebrow as she gives him a not so subtle once-over.
Hermione clears her throat to bring the girl's attention back her way. "No, only my friend. I'm just helping him sign up."
"Oh, so you'll be all on your own then?" Her attention is now unabashedly on Draco. "Don't worry, we will take excellent care of you. Do you have any magic licenses yet?"
Hermione starts to speak but Draco is feeling a little bold from the muggle's attention. He has no interest in her of course, but he can tell the exchange is already getting under Hermione's skin. He's not sure why he enjoys riling her up, and will probably pay for it later, but like a kid with a cookie jar, he just can't resist.
"No, love, not as such. This will be my first time." He winks and leans on the counter between them. From the corner of his eye, he sees Hermione's jaw clench.
The girl, who Draco supposes is not wholly unattractive but perfectly forgettable, pulls out a form and a writing instrument that he assumes to be some sort of featherless quill. She lays the parchment on the counter but hands the quill over, her fingers just brushing Draco's as he takes it into his grip. "Just take a seat right there and bring that right back when you're finished. If you need anything at all, don't hesitate to ask. My name's Katie if you need anything." Her smile is as suggestive as her tone.
Draco looks down at the quill and frowns a bit. "Well there is one thing. Your quill doesn't seem quite right." He makes as if to mark on the paper with no result. "And I seem to be missing an ink well."
She giggles and reaches over the counter. "Allow me." Wrapping her hand around his, she holds his grip steady and extends her thumb up over the tip to click the pen into writing position. Her eyes hold his gaze throughout the process. "You must be one of the 'purebloods'."
"Is it that obvious?" He graces her with a sheepish grin. Behind him, he could swear he hears Hermione groan. "I'll just finish this, shall I? Be back shortly." He turns and approaches the chairs to which the muggle girl had gestured and sits languidly as if mounting a throne. Hermione flops down next to him and he can tell she's in a snit.
Glancing at her, she is glaring at him openly. "What? Was I not appropriately friendly to the muggle?"
She looks away before she mumbles back, "friendly sure, but not what I'd call appropriate."
He chuckles and begins answering the questions on the form in his hand. "Why does it want to know if I have sex?"
Hermione does a double take and snatches the paper away. "Let me see that! They can't ask that kind of personal… Oh my God, Malfoy." She throws it back at him. "Gender. Are you trying to get slapped again?"
"Who knows why I do the things I do really," he says airily but with a little grin on his lips.
"To drive me mad I suspect." But he sees the tiny smile there. It's all he wanted from this whole exchange. Work her into a little frenzy then bring her attention back to him. Why is that so much fun?
She sits patiently while he finishes the form. Once complete she snatches it from his grip and stomps back to the desk, flinging it at the poor muggle girl. Eventually the muggle 'types' on a 'computer' and hands a parchment to Hermione. He approaches after this exchange and catches the end of the conversation.
"… provide me the class roster we will schedule an appointment with an advisor to complete the process."
"Yes, Miss, here is the welcome packet with class descriptions and available time slots." Once again the woman looks away from Hermione and back at Draco now that he is close enough to engage in the conversation. "Did you have any questions I could answer for you, Mister…." A pause as she glances at the paper… "Mister Malfoy?"
"No I think that will quite cover what I needed today. But thank you for your assistance with that puzzling quill. Perhaps I'll see you on a future visit."
"Yes that would be lovely," She purrs. "I'm usually here-"
"We need to leave, Draco. We have other appointments." Hermione interrupts the girl and grabs his arm, steering him away. She sends one last glare at the muggle. "Thank you for your help."
It doesn't escape him that she really hit his first name hard in that moment. Like she wanted to hammer home a certain familiarity in front of the girl. It might be indulgent to imagine it was born from jealousy on her part. Sometimes Draco likes to indulge.
XXXX
Hermione drives in silence, unsure why she is fuming exactly. Or unwilling to admit it perhaps. A part of her knows Draco probably has no real interest in pursuing that vapid little harlot, yet she is inexplicably incensed. Probably she is just offended on behalf of women everywhere that he would so blatantly toy with the poor girl.
Probably.
By the time they make it back home, she has calmed herself. "I'll call up to administration and see when we can schedule your official enrollment. They have classes all the time so there shouldn't be much of a waiting period-"
"Waiting period? Wait a second, I thought we were going to get a wand now? I need my magic back, Granger."
"Well yes and no. I mean yes we are going to Ollivander's. We have an appointment at four. We just received the approval slip for you to make a purchase. But just because you have a wand, you won't be able to use it until we get you a permit."
"You've got to be fucking kidding."
Hermione shrugs apologetically. "I'm sorry, Draco. I'll push to get you verified as soon as possible. I have a little pull with my position. If there's a way to hurry the process along, I'll find it."
He lets out a long breath before stomping toward the kitchen. "Fine. Make the call. I'll make lunch."
She thinks, he's cute when he's petulant.
Goddammit, Hermione.
She shakes her head at herself and her continuing, if not increasing, attraction to her government appointed roommate.
Draco makes a simple lunch of ham sandwiches and calls for Hermione to join him. They take the meal, as they take most, casually in her eat-in kitchen rather than trekking to the dining room. He sits as soon as she enters but she first makes a stop at the refrigerator and takes out two bottles of brown ale, setting one in front of him on the table.
"A little early isn't it, Golden Girl?"
She shrugs and pops open her beer. "I thought it might help calm your nerves."
He scoffs in reply and straightens his posture. "I am hardly nervous."
She doesn't argue but watches as he takes a long pull from the bottle rather than continue to protest.
"Mr. Ollivander thinks your core element will most likely change. People rarely draw the same type of wand as an adult as they do as a child. In fact, there have only been a handful of people who consistently draw the same core their whole lives-"
"Yes, yes, I know. I am a bloody wizard lest you've forgotten. Easy to do I suppose what with being completely impotent of magic."
Hermione was simply trying to make conversation but Draco's tone is becoming more hostile. "I'm sorry. I'm rubbish at this."
"At what," he bites out?
She bites her lip and looks down. "Trying to make you feel better."
She doesn't see it but he looks a little stunned before slipping his expressionless mask back over his features. "You don't have to. That's not part of your job as I understand it."
She hears a bite in his voice. Offense? Hurt? Surely not. "Not everything I do is just because it's my job you know."
"That's not the impression I've received."
Exasperated at what he even means by that, she takes another drink. "I just thought I'd be nice. Anyway, we can head to Diagon Alley in a bit. Maybe look around a little. Much of it is still as you'll remember. Just a few differences. I think there's a McDonald's on the corner."
She is surprised to be met by a laugh. An honest and surprised laugh from the usually stoic and often stern Draco Malfoy. "Of course there is. Muggles take over our entire world and what do they do? Build a carpark on my house and a restaurant with garbage food next to Gringott's."
It's a sad thing really. Especially about his manor. But she can't help it. His self-depreciating snark and honest smile infects her brain and she joins him in his odd moment of mirth.
When the laughter dies down there is a silence until he speaks again, his expression softer than before. "I appreciate it you know."
"What's that?"
"Trying to make me feel better." She smiles back at him. He takes a quick drink then continues with humour lacing his voice. "I mean you're right though. You're absolutely terrible at it. You're such a swot. Lecturing, for future reference, is not comforting."
She smiles and responds, "It's the only way I know." They finish their lunch in peace and she suddenly doesn't mind his silence as long as that small smile dances on his lips.
A/N I must apologize for the wait between chapters. Perhaps I should not have spent last weekend on the related one-shot! I want to say a quick thank you for all the follows/faves/reviews for both this story and the fluffy "First They Came" I threw up last week. It thrills me to no end with each notification!