Happy Friday!

Chapter 3

"I said yes," Hermione said as she walked through the front door. Pansy closed her book and stared at her friend as she paced their small living room. "He asked and I said yes. Why would I say yes? I just ignored everything you told me about him, and I said yes."

Pansy grinned. "Did Ron propose to you?" she asked.

Hermione stopped pacing. "What? No," she replied. "Pigs will fly before that happens. One would think that after six years, he would propose. Apparently that's a higher form of thinking than he's capable of."

"So, then who proposed to you?" Pansy wondered, thoroughly confused by her friend's agitation.

Hermione threw her hands up in the air. "Malfoy," she stated.

"Malfoy asked you to marry him?"

Sighing, Hermione sat down. "He asked me to take care of Lilah," she said. "On a full-time basis."

Her confusion turned to anger and Pansy vacated the couch, left the living room, and slammed her bedroom door shut. Hermione remained seated, puzzled by Pansy's wordless outburst. Deciding against giving her time to cool down, she went to Pansy's room and opened the door.

Seated on the bed, back against the wall, Pansy glared at her as she entered. "So, you're leaving then?" she asked flatly. "Just pack up everything to move into Draco's house so you can take care of his kid?"

Frowning, she took a seat beside her friend. "I'm not moving out," she assured her. "Draco said nothing about wanting an au pair. It would just be while he's at work so she doesn't have to stay in daycare. There is absolutely nothing for you to worry about."

Pansy scoffed. "No, just Malfoy," she muttered. "He does this, Hermione. He weasels his way into a person's life, and when he's done, he just drops them. He'll charm you, probably use his kid to hook you, convince you to sleep with him, and then he'll never talk to you again. I don't want him to hurt you because you're my best friend and I can't stand the thought of him hurting you."

"Well, I like to think that I'm smart enough not to fall for that," Hermione replied. "Besides, I'm not exactly Malfoy's type."

Pansy gave a half-hearted nod. "What about Ron?" she wondered. "Does he know? Does he even know that you and Draco are friends, or whatever you are?"

Hermione shook her head. Communication had been minimal between the couple for months now, and she was sure that a friendship of any kind with Draco Malfoy would be the final nail in her relationship's coffin. She knew that once she began working for Draco Ron would wonder how she was filling her days, but a fight was something she wanted to avoid. And a fight it would become when Ron found out.

"I don't think Malfoy and I are friends," she said. "I'm his employee now."

But Pansy disagreed. "Being his daughter's nanny can only aid your friendship with him," she stated. "He wouldn't seek you out in the market or take you to lunch if he didn't think there was a chance of the two of you having some kind of relationship. You can deny it all you want, but the two of you are friends. And if I remember Draco correctly, he'll probably want more than that."

Hermione couldn't help but laugh. "He just wants someone to watch Lilah, and I happen to be available," she replied. "Don't read more into it than that."

Pansy held up her hands in surrender. "Fine, but when he makes a move, don't come complaining to me," she warned. "Although, Draco was always very good in-"

"Enough," Hermione said, blushing. "I don't want to know that."

With a roll of her eyes, Pansy agreed not to discuss such intimate details. Getting off the bed, she rummaged through her drawers in desperate search of her work uniform. "Are you and Ron coming by the restaurant tonight?" she asked. "You know how much Ron enjoys seeing me take orders and serve food. I believe I've heard him utter the phrase 'how the mighty have fallen' more than once. Quite a catch, that one."

"Sorry about him," Hermione replied. "He doesn't seem to understand that we're not teenagers anymore."

"Why do you stay with him then?" Pansy wondered as she began to undress. "You know he's not good enough for you."

Hermione had no answer. Ron was convenient. They had been friends since childhood, and though their friendship had had its ups and downs, she knew he would always be there for her. At least she hoped he would. But more and more, he seemed less reliable. He cancelled plans at the last minute, his work as an Auror consumed most of his time, and he rarely made time for her. Perhaps, Hermione thought, Pansy had a point.

"I don't know," she finally, honestly, admitted. "I just...we became comfortable with each other. And most of the time, he's a good friend. I don't want to lose that."

Pansy finished buttoning up her white blouse. "But that's the thing - you call him a friend," she replied. "Not a boyfriend. Why not just go back to being friends?"

"But what if he doesn't want to just be friends?" Hermione asked as she played with the fringe on Pansy's blanket.

Pansy frowned. "Maybe he wasn't worth having as a friend to begin with," she replied.

Hermione hesitantly nodded and left Pansy's room to allow her some privacy while she continued to change. And change Pansy Parkinson had. The majority of the Slytherins hadn't returned to school after the war, and with no other formal education, there wasn't much Pansy was qualified to do in either the wizarding or muggle world. Taking up residence in London, Pansy was eager to explore her new city. When she noticed a "help wanted" sign in a nearby restaurant window, she quickly applied for the waitress position. Hermione had been proud of her, but not as proud as Pansy was of herself.

Entering her own bedroom, Hermione sat down at the foot of her bed and examined a photo of Ron and herself. Taken by Mrs. Weasley the previous Christmas, it was the last time she could recall being happy with Ron. It was a feeling she missed. All she wanted was to be happy again.

Before she could think of him any longer, a gray owl appeared at her bedroom window. She pushed it up and the bird landed on the windowsill. She accepted the letter and opened it. She recognized Draco's handwriting immediately.

Dear Hermione,

I wanted to say thank you again for accepting my offer. You have no idea how reassuring it is to know my daughter will be in the hands of someone I trust implicitly. I was hoping you might be available tonight to discuss the terms of employment. You can choose the place.

Draco Malfoy

Finding a pen, she scribbled down the name and address of Pansy's restaurant, asking him to meet her at seven. Then, she attached the note to the owl's leg and watched it fly away.