Chapter 5

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and characters belong to JK Rowling. I own nothing.

Draco Pov:
 The party only started five minutes ago, but the kids waste no time jumping in the pool. Probably because they know their swimming days are limited. The heat wave we've been experiencing is drawing to a close and by next week, temperatures are predicted to drop considerably. It's strange it lasted all the way into September, but we took advantage of it so Scorp could have a blow out birthday bash. Sure, it might be a little much for a three year old, but us Malfoys are known for our extravagant parties.

Scorp, James, and Teddy are splashing around playing some dunking game., while us adults keep a close eye on them. Potter, Blaise, and I are sitting around a table enjoying a butterbeer because mother locked up the stronger alcohol calling it, 'unfitting for a child's party.' It's not like they'll be drinking any of it, but I know better than to argue with her once she gets into planning mode. This entire week, she's gone to great lengths to 'child proof' the manor. She's hosted many parties here for different functions, but this is the first children's party she's ever planned since I was never allowed to have one as a child. She hired bloody caterers and a decorator even though the kids couldn't care less about whether or not the napkins match the table cloths.

Pansy and Theodore Nott arrive with their daughter Thea, and Goyle comes after them a few minutes later with his wife Millicent and their son Vince. Their boy is not too bright and incredibly clumsy, taking after his father and his namesake, Vincent Crabbe. Goyle was another Slytherin that barely escaped Azkaban. He was able to drop his ideals and accept equality fairly well, but then again he's always been a follower. Anything Blaise and I do, he supports willingly. Nott was also able to adapt to the changes in the Wizarding World easily, especially since his father was sentenced to life in Azkaban and the dementor's kiss. Nott Sr. was a foul, evil man and one of the death eaters proven to have been born from a love potion. Like Lucius, he terrorized and controlled Theo as a child. He too set up a marriage contract for his son in sixth year to ensure his bloodline remained pure. Thankfully, Theo and Pansy were already good friends and eventually grew to love each other so it worked out. He now works as an obliviator for the ministry.

The kids run off to the pool and the adults greet each other. Nott and Goyle pull up a chair and grab a beer with us, while Pansy and Millicent join Ginny and the others a little ways away. Pansy and Ginny butt heads a lot, although they have truly struck up some sort of friendship. I think it's just because they have such bold personalities and they clash. It's not nearly as bad as it was in school, but the Potters definitely won't be naming Pansy godmother of their unborn child. She won't admit it, but Ginny still hasn't completely gotten over Pansy trying to offer up Potter to Voldemort. Pansy's genuinely trying to make up for past mistakes though. Nott entertains us with a story about some of the strangest things he has to obliviate muggles for while we wait for others to show up. The only kids missing are Victoire and Dominique Weasley, but I'm anticipating the arrival of a certain brunette witch.

I didn't see Granger again until Flint's trial on Wednesday, but the whole ministry had been buzzing about her return since that Monday. A reporter had seen her walking into Diagon Alley the day Flint attacked me, and snapped some pictures without her knowing. She was on the front of several newspapers with headlines such as, "Golden Girl is Back!" or "War Heroine Returns Home After Years of Missing." Everyone wanted to see and talk to her and an actual crowd formed outside her department. Kingsley eventually had to block it off with a barrier spell that only allowed those working in that department to enter. The day of the trial, she was brought on as one of the witnesses seeing as she healed me. Flint was convicted easily and given fifteen years, though I think he got off to easily.

Our jobs didn't allow us to cross paths much which disappointed me. Seeing as we'd been given the day off for the trial, after hearing the verdict we all went to lunch to celebrate and I made sure to sit beside her. We laughed and joked as though we were old friends. I debated with her on some older Wizarding Laws, and she challenged my ideas. She was an intellectual equal and I loved watching her get so passionate about something she believed in. None of my friends or co-workers could keep up with me in an argument like she could. Eventually our conversation turned to Scorpious, and she asked about his interests and what he wanted for his birthday. She seems just as taken with him as he was with her. The little tyke bothered me nonstop about when he could see Granger again and if I'd seen her at work. Lunch ended much too quickly, to my displeasure, and I haven't talked to her since.

After only working at the ministry one day, she managed to attract some attention. Her wardrobe has definitely improved since our school days, and her clothes show off all the perks on her gorgeous body. With her form fitting blouses and pencil skirts that hugged her in all the right places, she pulled off a professional as well as sexy look. Not many women worked at the ministry, and those that did were either older or slutty secretaries that would screw anyone at anytime. I knew, because I'd had most of them between cases or on a slow work day. A bet went around on Tuesday to see who could get into Granger's knickers first, and I became increasingly jealous. Either she caught wind of it, or simply wasn't interested in anyone who tried to seduce her because she opted for eating in her office rather than at the cafeteria, and threw herself into work. Anytime she wasn't in her office or a meeting, she was close to Potter who heard about the bet and threatened anyone who even looked at her in an inappropriate way. I backed him up a hundred percent much to the other's shock.

As Nott finishes up his story, the back doors open, and Dory leads Bill, Fleur, and their kids out with Granger bringing up the rear. Immediately, my gaze is solely focused on her. Her hair falls in loose waves again but is pulled back in the front by a clip. She's got on a brown strapless cover-up and I can see the string of what I think is a bright red bikini. She looks so fucking hot. I get a mental picture of having her splayed out on my bed as I rip her swimsuit off with my teeth and begin to feel the stirrings of a very prominent errection. Oh no, no, no! Not here! Think of something else, anything else! Dumbledore…Mcgonagall…Hagrid! A quick flash of his ugly mug completely stops the flow of blood to my southern regions.

She smiles and waves at us as she passes to put her present on the table where the others are, and goes to join the women. Mother embraces her, which she seems a little surprised by but returns the gesture, and introduces her to Pansy and Millicent. They nod at each other and I can see it's a little awkward, but Ginny and mother help ease them into a conversation and they all visibly relax.

"Holy hell, was that Granger?!" Nott asks in disbelief. His eyebrows shoot up so far they practically disappear into his hairline. Goyle is staring after her with his mouth hanging open so far, I'm sure we could fit a small child in it. Potter chuckles at their reactions and Blaise lets out a low whistle. "Wow, she's changed! What happened to the stick thin walking textbook from Hogwarts" Nott says still staring at her back.

"Obviously she grew up. Very well I might add…" Blaise trails off as he gives her a once over. I fight the urge to smack him upside the head. He may have been my best mate since we were in diapers, but I'll be damned if he tries to charm his way into her pants. Oh hell, I'm losing my mind. What is with this sudden possessive streak over Granger? I've only had a few conversations with her since her return and already I want to claw the eyes out of anyone who looks at her.

"Blaise….don't even think about it. If I catch you even looking seductively at her, I'll reassign you to paperwork duty" Potter says warningly. Glad to see he's on the same page with me.

"Oh, come on boss I'm just having a little fun! I don't mean anything by it" he chuckles. "Besides, I think Draco's got his eye on her" he adds with a wink in my direction.

I splutter and choke on the butterbeer I'd just drank. Merlin, what is he saying? I don't like her like that! Sure I think she's hot…beautiful really…and I love that I can hold an intelligent conversation with her…plus there's something about her that just draws people in, and they can't help but to immediately like her…not to mention the fact that Scorpious has been talking nonstop about her since he met her…and I became quite jealous every time I saw a man talk to her this week…but that doesn't mean anything! Right?

"What the bloody hell are you on about Blaise?" I say once my coughing has subsided.

He throws his head back and laughs for a minute. "Oh come on Draco, we've been friends all our lives! Do you really think I don't notice when a girl tickles your fancy? You've been eyeing her since that day at the joke shop and don't think I didn't notice you subtly grab the seat by her when we all went to lunch Wednesday. You two were so wrapped up in each other, you didn't even notice the rest of us! And you looked ready to kill any bloke who approached her this week. She's even got Scorp chasing after her! At least he's man enough to pursue her" he says jerking a finger in her direction. We all follow his finger to see Scorp has actually gotten out of the pool and attacked Granger's legs in a fierce hug. She bends down so that she's eye level with him and they engage in a conversation.

"Never thought I'd see the day…Draco Malfoy, playboy extraordinaire has a crush!" Nott says in mock astonishment. My face heats up in embarrassment and everyone around the table laughs.

"I do not have a crush on Granger! I just like the way she is around Scorp. And I respect her. Nothing more than that" I say trying to convince myself as much as the others. Blaise just rolls his eyes, but Potter seems to be deep in thought. Nott waves my explanation away with an arrogant flip of his hand. "Whatever mate. If it helps, you've got great taste. She is one hot bird." Goyle and Blaise nod in agreement.

Thankfully I'm saved from the conversation because mother has decided it's time for cake and presents. The caterers bring over a huge chocolate cake with a fire breathing dragon on top of it, and three candles burning. Scorp concentrates for a second, closes his eyes to make his wish, and blows out the candles in one breath. While the cake is being cut and passed out, I move from behind him over to stand beside Granger. She looks up and gives me a smile. "Hey."

"Hey" I say back. "Enjoying the party so far? I do hope you weren't uncomfortable around Pansy and Millicent?"

She shakes her head. "Not at all. They seem very nice. And yes the party is quite lovely. It's definitely…erm…lavish" she says a bit warily.

I chuckle at her choice of words. "Yes, it's a bit much for a birthday party, but mother goes a little overboard when planning any type of event. As you know, us Malfoys like to go all out."

"Of course, that's the only way to do a party, right?" she teases.

"You catch on fast Granger" I tease back.

Blaise wolf whistles and Nott tries to stifle his laughter. I glare at them and make a mental note to hex them later, but now Scorp has moved on to opening his presents.

He opens the gift from the Potters first who have gotten him his very own quidditch kit with his name etched into the shiny wooden top. He's finally at the age now where I can begin practicing with him and shape him up for the Slytherin quidditch team. He'll be a legend, I just know it. As though agreeing with me, Blaise's present is a set of Slytherin quidditch robes and dragon hide gloves. The Nott's give him a potions beginners kit, and the Goyles some magical animal figurines. Teddy and Andromeda give him a quidditch jersey signed by all the members of the Falmouth Falcons as well as season pass tickets to all their games. The Weasley's include their gift of a storybook about dragons, as well as a sweater knitted by Molly for the upcoming cooler weather, and a stuffed ferret they say was from George. The next time I see him, he's going to pay.

Finally there's only one gift left and it's from Granger. I'm very curious to see what it is. It's a tall box shape, but there are holes poked in the top and its covered in dragon wrapping paper. Scorp eagerly tears it open and gasps. It's a tall cage with a ball of what looks like green fluff inside it. Scorpious pokes a finger through to touch it, and it moves. Looking closer, I can see that it's breathing.

Seeing my furrowed brows, Granger says "It's a pygmy puff. I know you said you didn't think he was ready for a pet, but this is a special breed. They only have to be fed once a week and they love to cuddle. They don't require a lot of care or attention, so I thought it would be a good gift and something to hold him over until you feel he's ready for a real pet."

Her gift is actually genius. It's a perfect compromise between me and Scorp. I won't be the one who'll have to look after it, and Scorp can get some practice in until we decide to upgrade. Why hadn't I thought of this?

Scorp seems to be in love with it as he takes it out of the cage and it flies over to settle on his shoulder. The little girls are taken with it with murmurs of "ooh" and "aah" and the boys are just as fascinated. "Thank you Mione!" Scorp shouts over to her as he pets it. It nuzzles his finger for a second with its small pink tongue, and then zooms away in the air. All the children abandon their cake and chase after it while the adults chuckle at them.

A couple hours later the party has wound down as the kids have started to tire out. They spent equal amount of time between the pool and chasing after Scorp's new pet which he's named Tobias after Ginny told him they were considering it as a name for their unborn child. The Nott's, Goyle's, and Weasley's take their children home after wishing Scorp a happy birthday one last time. Ginny and Granger are helping Andromeda gather up Scorp's gifts and move them into the manor.

I watch Teddy and Scorpious run after Tobias for a minute and mother comes to stand beside me. "You know, that really was a very thoughtful gift from Hermione. It was one of the things Scorpious truly wanted for his birthday" she says.

"Yeah, it's perfect for him and doesn't come with the hassle of an actual animal." I reply.

She nods, then turns to me with a smile on her face. "So Draco, Hermione is a very lovely girl. And extremely pretty, don't you think?" I groan. I've seen that look on her face many times. It's a look she gives me when she introduces me to one of her friend's daughters or 'happens' to bump into young acquaintances when she forces me to come shopping with her. She's tried to play matchmaker for me ever since I got rid of Astoria.

"No need to gripe Draco, I was simply making a statement" she laughs, though I can still see a mischievous glint in her eye. "I think I'm going to put Scorpious down for a nap. Be a dear and help the girls with the gifts, would you?" With that, she heads in my son's direction and I make my way over to them like she asked. I pass Potter, whose holding a sleeping James and talking to Blaise. I'll probably share a drink with them in the study later.

I come inside where they've moved the presents to a small table in one of the foyers, and Ginny tells Granger she needs to run off to the loo. I come up beside her and she jumps a little, startled by my presence. "Would you like me to help take these up to Scorpious' room? You'll have to lead the way" she says.

"We don't live here in the Manor. I own my own home in Wizarding London. I'll just have Dory take them over while Scorp takes his nap" I tell her. "Since you're here, could I interest you in a tour?"

She hesitates for a second, before she nods. I offer my arm like a gentlemen and she giggles before taking it. I start at the first floor and show her the four different sitting rooms, the sun room, the kitchens, and dining room. We then make our way upstairs where I show her the two different studies and the library. She stares in awe at it and I think if her hand wasn't in the crook of my arm, I would have left her behind. While we walk, I rattle out different facts about the Manor such as its architecture, how long it's been in our family, and how different rooms were modeled after different eras. She listens with rapt attention.

Eventually, I lead her into the study I mostly use and pour myself a glass of fire whiskey and her a glass of red wine. "It's very beautiful and decorated so well. It looks a lot different than the way I remember last time I was here…" she trails off as she touches the scar on her arm. My eyes widen as I understand what she means. The last time she was here, my crazy aunt tortured her mercilessly and carved into her skin like a Halloween pumpkin. I'm so stupid! I didn't even think about how being here might affect her.

She must have caught on to my thoughts because she looks at me and says, "Oh I'm sorry! I didn't mean to worry you, it doesn't bother me anymore! I got over it a long time ago. It's in the past." She rambles, trying to calm my nerves.

"Don't be sorry, I should have thought about your last experience before dragging you on a tour" I say. "After…that incident, mother decided this place needed cleaning up. She completely redecorated and made it livelier. She changes up the rooms about twice a year."

"She's done a marvelous job" she says looking around the room again and taking a sip of her wine. She sets it down on the bar, and turns to me. "Malfoy?"

"You know, since you're on a first name basis with my son and mother, I think it's only fair we're on one as well Hermione" I say with a smirk. Her first name coming off my tongue is a bit odd, but I like it. Hopefully he won't think this too forward of me.

"Very well Draco" she says putting emphasis on my name as I did hers. "May I ask you a personal question?" I'm curious to know what she's going to ask, so I nod. "Today at the party…I just noticed…well I was wondering…"

"Wondering why Scorp's mother wasn't there?" I offer. She may not have been able to get the words out, but the question was written all over her face. She always did have a curious nature. Her face is a little red with embarrassment. "If it's too forward, you don't have to answer" she starts to say.

I wave off her concern and take another sip of my drink. "It's fine, I figured we would have this conversation sooner or later." I down the rest of my drink and set the glass next to hers on the bar.

"I was forced into a marriage contract my father set up for me with Astoria Greengrass two years after the war. If you remember Daphne Greengrass from our year, it's her little sister. We couldn't stand each other, but had to produce an heir. My father's way of keeping our line pure you see" she nods and I continue. "She didn't want to be a mother and neglected him from the moment he was born. I think I can count on one hand the number of times she actually held him. When I found a way to revoke the contract and divorce her, she gave up all rights to Scorpious for a large amount of galleons. She packed her bags and left without looking back. We haven't seen her since, and Scorpious will never know her."

Hermione has a look of absolute horror on her face. "I…I just…can't believe someone would just give up their child so easily…especially one as wonderful as him…"

I shrug my shoulders. "It's actually a good thing she did. She didn't love him, she only loved herself. She would have caused him nothing but pain anyway. It's better this way."

She comes over to stand in front of me and looks into my eyes. "He deserves a lot better than what she offered. You're doing an amazing job with him Draco. Truly." She brushes her fingertips against my arm and I feel electric tingles shoot up it. She looks down where she's touching me and notices that this is the arm with the dark mark on it. I tense up a little, but she slowly drags her fingertips up to it tracing the outline. I bring my fingers to her scar and finger the horrible word etched into her beautiful skin.

"We both have battle scars Hermione" I murmur bringing my fingertips from her scarred arm to her jaw and lightly rubbing it. She brings her eyes back to mine and I see many emotions flicker across them. Fear, confusion, hesitance, but also curiosity and hidden lust. I'm sure mine display the same. The air between us is charged with electricity and passion and I want nothing more than to wrap my arms around her and pull her close. I use my fingers to tilt her chin up a little more, and begin to lower my head to hers. She closes her eyes, parts her lips, and I'm so close I can smell her intoxicating vanilla scent and the wine she drank on her breath. I'm almost there…

"Draco! Where've you run off to? Since all the tykes are gone we can break out the real drinks now!" Blaise shouts from somewhere just down the hall. Hermione and I jump apart, and she runs a hand through her hair and smooths out her dress while I try to calm my racing heartbeat. Damn you Blaise! You stupid horny motherfucker! I think to myself angrily. He had the absolute worst timing. He appears in the study seconds later. "Oh, there you are. Thought you'd keep all the fire whiskey for yourself, eh? Oh, here you are Granger. Guys! I found her and Draco, they're in the study" he calls out and Ginny and Potter come in after him.

Hermione moves over to a sofa where Ginny joins her and they talk, while Blaise, Potter, and I enjoy a bottle of Ogden's finest. If they had waited just a few more seconds, I would have gotten to kiss Granger. I can't help but wonder what her soft pink lips would feel like against mine. Well now I know, I definitely have a thing for her. I guess it is a crush. Damn Blaise and Theo for being right. And damn Blaise to the fiery pits of hell for his horrible, horrible timing!

AN: Ah! They almost kissed! I'm trying not to put them in a relationship too fast, but I couldn't help myself and this scene has been playing in my head for a while now. If anyone wants to give me some ideas for this story, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Ron will definitely make an appearance at some point, but I can't decide on whether or not to bring Astoria back into the story. Let me know!