Chapter 20Birthday Bash[Video Kid by Birthday Massacre]
Even though Hermione had invited Draco to her birthday party, she knew things wouldn't be easy so she arranged to have lunch with Draco's arch nemesis. At The Leaky Cauldron, Harry ate lunch with her. "How's being an Auror?"
"Hectic, there's not enough of us for all the assignments, following up with the escaped Death Eaters." Harry adjusted his glasses beneath his now faded lightning bolt scar. "How's Draco treating you?"
"Like a princess," she replied. "I've invited him to my birthday party."
"I still can't believe you started dating him the moment Ron started travelling." Refusing to look at her, Harry toyed with the mashed potatoes. "Our trio was supposed to become a quartet, you and Ron and me and Ginny. The Weasleys still want you to be part of the family. Ron just has to get a bug out of his system. He'll be back at Christmas."
"First, it's been over for at least six months. I'm sure Ginny told you exactly what I told her about the hiatus." Ruefully, Harry nodded. "It's not fair to ask me to wait."
"But of all the wizards to date," he replied tersely. "Draco was a Death Eater. He hurt people."
"He never wanted to be a Death Eater. Surely, you saw how it tore him up." Even now, she remembered the pain of when he spoke of those times.
"But he's always been a coward," he countered. "When he had the chance to defect, he showed his normal cowardice. How could you love a coward?"
"When everything was going on, he saw and was forced to do horrible things. He feared those things would happen to his family."
Considering what Voldemort did to his own parents, Harry reluctantly understood. "But during school before everything happened," he countered. "Don't forget which side he was on, how he treated all of us in school and how much he hates muggles."
"Yes, he repeated sentiments expressed by his family." Somberly, she swallowed a spoonful of pea soup. "Nowadays his attitudes have changed," she pleaded.
Harry paused a moment then shrugged. "He was just so rotten. It's like he had a vendetta against me from the moment we stepped off the train."
"He did." When Harry's spoon plopped in his soup with a splash, Hermione couldn't help but laugh a moment. However, when she thought of the most recent turn of Malfoy family events, a tear replaced her laughter. "Lucius was more concerned about your doings than Draco's." Nervously, Hermione glanced around, ensuring that no one overheard. "Please keep this conversation between us, especially what I'm about to tell you. Draco is very private."
Harry paused a moment. "I won't even tell Ginny."
"During Draco's childhood, Lucius never expressed any pride in Draco because he wasn't the best seeker nor the best student. Being second best at both wasn't good enough." Hermione paused a moment thinking about all the things Draco confided in her. "Imagine having a father who never once told you …he loved you. The only parental affection Draco ever knew came from Narcissa."
"I always thought he was spoiled." Harry reflected on his childhood with the Dursleys, feeling unloved and that everything he did was wrong. "We have more in common than I thought."
"Draco stood up to Lucius and refused his order to stop dating me." Looking down, she felt ashamed at having come between them. "So, Lucius disowned him."
"Bollucks," he blurted out.
"Most people are products of their upbringing but you overcame yours as a child and so many other obstacles to become this incredible wizard that I feel proud to call my friend." When she said that, Harry's modesty kicked in as he quickly resumed eating. "Now Draco is trying to do the same thing as an adult but he needs support. I'm asking you to be the better wizard that I know you are and forgive, or at least pretend to." She could see Harry contemplating this. "Oh…and be welcoming."
"And, convince the Weasleys to do likewise." After he finished his last bite, he clasped her hand. "I'll consider it but what in the world will we talk about. Reminiscing about our school years is out of the question."
As they parted, Hermione thought about all the memorabilia Draco had and Ginny's one complaint about Harry. "How about Quidditch?"
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday evening, Draco arrived at Hermione's parents' upper middle class home, a few minutes late, carrying a bottle of Cake Bread Chardonnay, thanks to a little advice from the Muggle Affairs Department and Hermione's present. From within the house, he heard boisterous chatter. "Thank you for coming." Hermione greeted him at the door. As she kissed him on the cheek, she whispered, "Everyone here believes we are together, even my parents."
She brought him to the living room, filled with furniture like wizards own but more muggle Draco figured. Within the living room, Draco curiously observed all the metallic rectangular boxes with lots of buttons that seemed to have a place of reverence within the home. When he met her parents, he presented the wine. "Sir, you have a lovely home. Sorry to be late, work is hectic these days." His shook her mother's hand. "Pleased to meet you."
"So you're dating my daughter," her father interjected. "I thought you two hated each other."
"Because of our potions project, I got to know her. My hatred was due to ignorance." He looked over to Hermione who chatted with part of the Weasley clan. "Your daughter is smart, compassionate and truly a remarkable witch. One day, I hope to be worthy of her. In the meantime, she has my adoration and respect."
Both her parents smiled. "That eases our minds. She's in a world unfamiliar to us. We're glad she has someone who cares, to look after her."
After conversing with Hermione's parents, Draco didn't join them in speaking to the magical guests who were on the other side of the war. Curiosity got the better of him so he explored the rectangular metal boxes, pushing buttons. Several lights blinked but not much else happened. Then he went to the big box which he had seen one other time during a visit to the Muggle Artifacts Department. Pushing several of those buttons, finally something happened. A picture filled the screen. "Beam me up, Scottie." That was the same thing he saw on the box in Muggle Artifacts. Being a muggle must be really boring. Everyone turned to watch him pushed several more buttons until the picture disappeared.
Smiling warmly, Hermione stood on her tip-toes and kissed his cheek. "Why don't you join us over here?" Until dinner, she clung to him in support and wouldn't let him near the boxes again. After a champagne toast, everyone adjourned to the dinner table.
Before sitting down, Mrs. Weasley came over and squeezed his cheeks. Her eyes reflected kindness and concern. "Everything will be alright dear." Though he barely knew her, the genuine gentility of her manner comforted him.
They sat him next to Hermione and Harry and across from Arthur Weasley. They all nervously glanced at him. "Don't worry. I've met my dark wizard dirty deeds quota for the day, so everyone is safe." They chuckled as he took a bite of delicious pot roast that melted in his mouth.
Arthur then discussed events at the Ministry. "Several significant changes are being made by a new man in charge of Archives within the Department of Magical Games and Sports, Adam Ocrolfy."
"Good changes," Draco inquired.
"Indeed. Steam-lined and improved several departments," Arthur explained. "Rumor has it, he may run for Minister of Magic. Unfortunately, no one has met him face to face."
"Would you vote for him," asked Potter.
"Definitely," he replied taking a few more bites before he turned to Draco. "By the way, that was an excellent speech at the Coeus Awards.
"Thanks. But I don't think it did much good."
"It did." Arthur took a few bites more. "The Muggles have a saying. Rome wasn't built in a day." He looked at Hermione who chatted with Ginny. "Patience: Look at what it has gotten you so far."
"Very true," Draco admitted.
Harry turned to him. "So what do you think of the pro Quidditch teams?"
"Most of the plays are getting a bit predictable. I think it's time someone shook things up a bit."
Harry laughed a moment. "I couldn't agree more. Did you know that they're trying to reinstate the Banchory Bangers, if they can get backing?"
Being in an Archival position within the division of Magical Sports, Draco couldn't help but know of the Bangers. They had been disbanded about two hundred and fifty years prior because of their shenanigans. Also, they played poorly. "That would be the perfect way to mix things up, if they uphold their predecessors' reputations. I'll back them but they have to do their uniforms in black to represent us dark wizards."
"I was going to back them as well. A bunch of us former Hogwarts' Quidditch players are forming the team but we still need a seeker. I can't commit to it full time." Harry passed Draco the mashed potatoes.
Draco accepted and looked at Harry in disbelief. "Maybe I can cover …half the time?" He did miss the sport very much.
"If we tag team so at least one of us is at every match, we can really take the team to the top since we were the two best seekers at Hogwarts. With a little teamwork, we would be unstoppable." For a moment, Harry wondered if Draco would truly let the past be the past.
"You're right. Even as enemies, we forced each other to improve our game." For a moment, Draco wondered if Harry would accept him the way he was, wily. "We should scope out the competition as they practice so we can spot their weaknesses and develop some strategies." He passed Harry the pot-roast. "The Arrows are practicing tomorrow evening."
"That's a devious idea but an excellent one." Harry dished out some of the pot-roast. "Since black and white are used already, I insist on silver as the other color to represent the good wizards."
"Very well," Draco stated with a chuckle. "But I insist my tailor design the uniforms to give them style."
Harry laughed. "Even if we lose, at least we'll look good."
"I'LL look good." Draco straightened his collar.
Harry rolled his eyes, before they launched into a conversation about statistics and team strategy that lasted through dinner and after.
After dinner, they sang happy birthday to Hermione. Everyone showered her with gifts. Once they finished, Draco gave her his present last. As she removed the diamond and watermelon tourmaline silver bracelet from the box, several audible gasps echoed through the room. After he clasped the bracelet around her wrist, he kissed her quickly on her cheek for all to see. "Thank you." Everyone chatted a bit, with most of the women eventually taking a closer look at the bracelet.
She took his hand and led him upstairs to her room. "Everyone will expect us to slip away for a bit."
"What idiot would go to his girlfriend's bedroom to snog, in the middle of a party, with her parents downstairs?"
"You're not the first wizard I've had in my room." They entered her room: all rose, peach and white lace, filled with books.
"Thanks. That just makes me feel special." He closed the door behind them.
She sat on the bed and admired the bracelet. "I can't accept this."
"Don't you like it?"
"I love it. It's stunning." She sipped some pop. "But this and the quill are just too much. Especially, since this is just a farce."
"I want you to have them."
Hermione sighed. "Thank you." She gave him a piercing gaze. "What's wrong?"
"You can see right through me," he acknowledged. "It is unnerving being here tonight with the folks that I have been sworn to hate for so long." Draco looked around at the yet unfamiliar muggle objects surrounding him. "Being in a Muggle home, but I don't mean that as bad. Your parents are nice but I can't help but feel like I'm in enemy territory. I'm sure everyone would be happier if I left."
"I don't think anyone here feels that way and if they do, that's their problem not yours. Besides, I think everyone is accepting you as a friend or at least not thinking of you as an enemy. Harry is so happy to have someone to talk Quidditch with." She took his arm.
"Yeah, we're going to watch the Arrows practice tomorrow."
"I accepted you as a friend and Harry and everyone else are trying."
"For now," he acknowledged. "What happens when someone accuses me of doing something wrong?" He looked her straight in the eyes. "Will my new found friends stand by me or will they believe the worst in me? Will they accept me knowing that I'm not a paragon of virtue?" Hermione looked down, pondering his questions. "What about you?" He tilted her chin up so she had to meet his gaze. "When the wands are down, will you believe and trust in me? You said once, that you would never be able to have complete faith in me."
"Yes, but the more I know you the more I think that I can have complete faith in you. I just need time."
Some noise caught Draco's attention. "I think Harry and Ginny are at the bottom of the stairs talking about coming up."
"We need to snog." When Draco looked completely startled at that, Hermione didn't know if she should laugh at his propriety or be upset because he found the idea dreadful. What's wrong with me? "That kiss on the cheek downstairs wouldn't convince anyone we were dating." Plus, I want to know if what I felt when you kissed me was excitement from being in public or do we have something?
"You know how Malfoy's feel about PDA's."
"Ice in your blood more like it," she muttered.
In a flash, Draco was on top of her kissing her. The way he tasted and the way he felt made her pulse race. Desperately, she wanted to feel his flesh as her fingers made their way beneath his sweater. The warmth of his fingertips made her tremble as he tugged her dainties beneath her skirt. "No!"
Breathing heavily and heatedly against her neck, he stopped and stared at her still lying on top of her. "I need a moment."
Against her thigh, she clearly felt why he needed a moment as they both cooled down. Moments later, Harry and Ginny burst through the door. "No means no, Malfoy!" Instantly, Harry grabbed Draco by the shoulder. The second he did, in a fluid motion, Draco turned and punched Harry square in the chest, sending Harry stumbling back into Ginny. Both fell to the ground.
While both scrambled to get up and aim their wands, Draco turned to Hermione. "Some things will never change." At first he looked hurt but then the sneer she recognized so often formed. "This entire thing was a bad idea. You saints can have each other." Then he apparated away.
Immediately, Hermione's parents and Ginny's joined them. "What's with the commotion?"
Hermione glared at Harry and Ginny. "There was a complete misunderstanding and Draco and I had a fight." Calming herself, she turned to the parental units. "May I speak to them alone?" Once the parents left, she glared at Harry and Ginny. "Why did you do that?"
"You said no and he didn't stop. I heard you when we were coming up the stairs." Harry looked completely taken aback. "Besides, he punched me."
"After you grabbed him," she countered. "For your information, he did stop and the entire thing was my idea. He's been nothing but a complete gentleman." Hermione grabbed a sweater from her closet. "Harry you need to apologize in person when you spy on the Arrows."
"Apologize, me" he said incredulously.
"You both need to apologize or else." Hermione freshened up in the mirror.
"Even if I considered apologizing, I doubt he'll be at the practice after what happened." Harry shook his head.
"He gave his word so he'll be there." Hermione grabbed the portkey to Malfoy Manor.
"Where are you going?"
"To calm my boyfriend down," she replied.
When Hermione arrived at the manor, she found Draco pacing the grounds with leggy strides. "Draco, it was a misunderstanding. I explained everything to Harry and Ginny." Hermione jogged to keep up with him. "I never had any doubts about your intentions. It was my fault." The chill in the air made her shiver. "You both need to apologize to each other at the game tomorrow." Suddenly, he stopped and just looked down at her. "I told him you would still be there because you gave your word." Hermione watched him slowly exhale in the icy air. At least he's not sneering anymore but his eyes are just as pokerfaced as ever. After a bit of silence, she continued. "Also, Rita Skeeter is interviewing me Friday at six at the Hibiscus. I would appreciate some moral support." In an effort to keep warm, Hermione rubbed her arms. "Well…." Unexpectedly, Draco wrapped his coat around her and apparated them to her home where he kissed her forehead and went home without saying anything.
