Sorry that it's such a short chapter, but I might be quite busy soon and so I just wanted to update whilst I could. Please review!
When Hermione returned from work later that day she expected to see Ron, but no trace of her boyfriend could be found. Frustrated, she wondered where the redhead could be. After all he was always home before her since he seemed unable to get a promotion. He had always been waiting for her when she came home after a long day of work. That he was not here worried her. She quickly Floo'd over to Harry's house where Ginny was sitting. Hermione smiled at her.
"Gin, do you know where Harry or Ron are?"
Ginny answered back,
"I don't know where Ron is, but Harry is just coming back from work around about…now."
Just as she finished talking Harry walked into the room. Catching sight of Hermione he grinned.
"Mione! How are you?"
They hugged briefly before Hermione broke away with a worried expression.
"Harry, do you know where my good-for-nothing boyfriend happens to be?"
Harry laughed at her words, but her expression did not match their light-heartedness. He said,
"I'm sorry, Hermione. I don't. I thought he had gone home. That's what he told me."
Hermione frowned and said,
"He's not home and he hasn't left a note saying where he is or anything. It's just so irregular, you know. Dammit, where can that boy have gotten to?"
Harry laughed.
"Don't worry. He's a big boy and he can take care of himself. He might have just gotten caught up at the ministry after I spoke to him."
Hermione nodded, reassured. Suddenly a glint on Ginny's hand caught her eye. She grabbed the younger woman's hand and screamed excitedly.
"You're getting married! Harry, you proposed to her! You two are getting married."
Her best friends laughed and Ginny turned nearly as red as her hair. Proudly she displayed her ring and said,
"Yeah. Harry proposed a couple of days ago. It was quite sweet, but quite cheesy. I loved it anyway."
Hermione, admiring the diamond, asked accusingly,
"Why didn't you tell us before? How did he propose?"
Ginny, blushing, answered,
"Well, we just wanted it to be the right time before we told you. After it is big news and all. Harry, well he slipped the ring in my drink so I nearly swallowed it!"
Hermione giggled.
"That's so typical of Harry. But congratulations guys! I'm so happy for you two!"
She hugged Harry tightly, laughing. Suddenly an owl swooped in and dropped a letter on the table. Harry looked at the envelope quickly before handing it to Hermione. She opened it, confused.
'Dear Miss Granger,
Mr Malfoy, having given more thought to your investment proposal, would like to discuss it in some more depth. Therefore he would like to invite you for lunch this coming Friday. Would 1.00pm work for you at the ministry restaurant?
Yours sincerely,
Pansy Parkinson
Secretary of the Minister of Economy'
Hermione sighed irritated. Harry asked,
"What's wrong? Has something happened?"
Hermione shook her head and said,
"Malfoy wants to meet again because I asked his advice for an idea of mine. He gave me advice and now he's saying that he's given it more thought."
The couple looked at her sympathetically and Ginny said,
"Poor you Hermione. Having to see Malfoy, ugh. Has he changed much?"
Hermione hesitated for a while before replying.
"Well, in a way. It's strange. He seems nicer, even with the professionalism it's like he's a nicer person. Of course he's still got his arrogance, but he's more polished. I don't know how to describe it."
Ginny and Harry exchanged a glance and Harry said,
"Hermione, are you alright? Because this is Malfoy that we are talking about here."
Hermione smiled, but said,
"I know, but he has changed. He's not like he was at Hogwarts."
Harry didn't look convinced, but decided to drop it rather than risk a fight with Hermione. For a little while there was an awkward silence, but then Hermione said,
"I think I should get back home. I'll see you guys later and congrats!"
She walked back to her home slowly, needing fresh air to clear her head. She thought that the idea of having lunch would Draco Malfoy would be repulsive, but she found that the idea was quite pleasant. In fact by the time she reached her apartment she was quite looking forward to the lunch and was in a pleasant mood.
"Where have you been, Hermione? I've been worried sick! You didn't come back at your normal time and…"
Hermione cut him off, her voice quiet, but angry.
"I've been at Harry's looking for you. Since I was home at my normal time, but you weren't. How dare you yell at me when I was rushing around trying to find you? What's wrong with you, Ron?"
Her boyfriend looked down in shame, caught in his lie. Hermione continued,
"Where have you been recently? You keep going out at weird times and you've been acting strangely as well! What have you been doing?"
Ron answered after a while,
"I'm sorry Hermione. Things have just been busy in my department and I've just been quiet stressed. Shall we just put this behind us?"
Hermione wanted to discuss it more, but realized that Ron would avoid the subject and she just wanted a night of peace so she left the topic, knowing that it would just get added onto the long list of things they needed to discuss but never would.