Author's note: Sorry sorry sorry, I know its been a week already and I rushed to get this chapter done, so my apologies if it seems a little weird, I just wanted to give yall a little bit of plot to get the story moving. So I present a chapter entirely in present tense. Please review? XOXO

"Harry, about time you got here." Hermione answered the door wearing an apron with questionable stains upon it.

"Hey 'Mione. Ron home from work yet?" He eyed her apron carefully as he hugged her. Hermione was a wonderful cook, but had trouble keeping food confined to their dishes. Her current attire sported red stains that looked to be spaghetti sauce and a green Mark that could've been...guacamole? Smashed peas? Harry was afraid to ask.

"He should be here any moment now," she responded. "Butterbeer?"

"Actually I think ill have some firewhiskey tonight." he said following her into the kitchen.

Hermione eyed him suspiciously as he sat down. "You don't usually drink the hard stuff, Harry. Is something the matter?"

Harry sighed. Hermione was too perceptive as usual. "Sort of. But I'd like to talk to you and Ron together about it if that's ok. Rather, I want you to be there so Ron doesn't try and throttle me."

Hermione dropped the ladle into the sauce she was stirring, causing another splattered across her front. She spun around. "Is it about Draco?"

Harry winced. "It is isn't it? Oh, Harry, I thought we were past all that? It's been TEN years."

"I'm perfectly aware of how long its been." Harry snapped back. Hermione looked away and Harry immediately felt guilty. "I'm sorry, 'Mione. It's not your fault I'm in a bad mood."

Hermione's mouth quirked up on one side. "And you're willing to risk Ron's wrath when you already feel this way?"

Harry thought about that and a headache started to spring forward. "Perhaps not. Would you mind if I skipped out on dinner tonight? Tell Ron I didn't feel well."

"You don't want me to mention Draco?"

"What about Draco?" asked Ron, coming through the doorway. He slung his work robes over a kitchen chair, pecked Hermione on the cheek, and turned to stare at Harry.

"Erm..."

"Very eloquent, Harry." Ron snorted.

"Like you even know what eloquent means!" Harry snarled. Ron's eyes widened and Harry mentally slapped himself for the second time that night.

"Harry's not feeling well." Hermione attempted to mediate.

"Obviously," Ron muttered.

"Look mate, I'm sor-" Harry started, but Ron held up his hand. "No apologies necessary. We both speak before we think. It's a male quality according to Hermione." Hermione snorted and they turned to see her smiling into the pot she had started stirring again. Harry couldn't help but smile at his friends. He was so happy they had found each other. He felt a pang as he thought about the one person he used to have that with-

"I want Draco back."

Hermione turned around and gaped at him and Ron's face went red. Harry felt his own face begin to heat up as he waited for someone to speak. Hermione, always the most rational, found her voice first. She walked over to where he sat and laid her hand on his arm.

"Harry," she spoke his name with pity in her eyes. She closed her mouth, shook her head, and seemed to change tactics. The pity in her eyes flipped over to resignation. "Why?" She asked simply.

Harry looked at her and his gaze hardened.

"No! That's not what I meant Harry. I mean why now?" She sighed when Harry gaze softened again.

"I've been thinking about him lately, with the ball coming up," Harry half lied. "And I suppose I'm just lonely. Not in a pitying way," he shot a look at Hermione. "Just, I wish there was someone there when I come home from work. Someone there when I wake up in the mornings. Someone to share my triumphs and burdens with. In my mind that person is Draco. You know I never...I never really got over him."

"What the BLOODY HELL do you mean you never GOT OVER HIM?" Ron suddenly remembered how to talk. Harry winced and Hermione gave him a sympathetic glance. They both knew Ron would react like this.

"He broke your heart Harry. He LEFT! For Merlin's sake, don't you remember how it broke you? Your family and friends didn't even know who you were in those first few months. And now you say you want him back? He hasn't made an attempt to speak to you in ten years, what makes you think anything is different now?"

"That's ENOUGH, Ronald." Hermione's voice was low, but firm. Ron closed his mouth; face red and chest heaving. Harry sighed.

"I don't know that anything is different. But I know what's the same. I still love him. And I'm going to find out where he is as soon as this stupid ball is over." Harry turned to Hermione. "I'll take a rain check on dinner. Thank you, but I think its time for me to go."

He nodded once to Ron and disapparated, not wanting to use the door because it would've meant he had to be there longer.

"Well that was fun." Hermione said sarcastically, turning a glare on her husband. Ron huffed and stalked out of the room.

He slipped into his study as quietly as he could and threw some floo powder into the grate. "Hickory Knoll" he murmured. Half a minute later, Ginny's head appeared in the fire. "What's wrong, Ron?"

"We have a problem."

~TBC~