And we fall back
Into the same patterns
Same routine
But your temper's just as bad
As mine is

Chapter six

"Today you two can pick up the furniture from the store in town." Mr. Lafayette said to Draco and Hermione. "It's a place called Danny's on the end of Spruce, hard to miss."

He handed Hermione a receipt. She nodded. "Not a problem."

She left with Draco around noon. Mrs. Lafayette gave them a few galleons for lunch if they happened to be out too long and got hungry. 'Town' wasn't very far from the winery and would only take minutes to get to.

Draco made a face. He and Hermione had been following a dirt road that Harlow described as the 'back way,' and the fastest way. "Why couldn't this road be paved?"

Hermione bit her tongue and shook her head.

Draco continued to mope all the way there. "Look how small this town is," and "I bet all these businesses are owned by muggles," and he also jumped when he saw a car.

"A sign of civilization," Hermione glared at Draco. "You should be rejoicing."

Draco entered Danny's first. It was a very big shop, almost the size of the Great Hall. The first half of the store was arranged to show furniture set-ups. Mock living rooms and kitchens were sprawled across the space, lit attractively by soft over-head lighting. The back half looked like rows and rows of tall shelves that almost reached the ceiling. Hermione walked ahead of Draco to the front desk, where a young man was bent over a book.

"Welcome to Danny's, the best furniture supplier on the West coast!" He greeted her with a smile, pushing his brown hair out of his eyes.

"Hello, my name is Hermione Granger," she introduced herself. The boy shook Hermione's outstretched hand.

"Oh, Hermione! You're staying at the Lafayette's right?" He asked. "My name is Bryan."

By this time Draco found his way to the front desk where Hermione was talking to Bryan. "And you must be Draco!" Bryan greeted him.

"Draco Malfoy," Draco nodded.

"We're here to pick up a few things for the Lafayettes," Hermione explained, giving Bryan the receipt.

He nodded, skimming it over. "Alright, not a problem. Give me a sec; all the furniture is kept back here. Do you two want a look?" Bryan smiled at Hermione.

"Uh, sure." Hermione flushed.

She and Draco followed Bryan to the back of the store, where the tall shelves reached the top of the building. A closer look yielded that the objects on the shelves were pieces of furniture — sofas, chairs, tables, lamps, cushions.

"I've never seen so many couches in my life," Hermione breathed, looking upwards.

"Your order is right over here," Bryan said as he led Hermione and Draco to isle 219. "It's a few things for the new tasting room right? I'll just stuff them into a Danny's Bag."

"A Danny's Bag?" Draco furrowed his brows.

"There's a simple charm on it. From the outside it appears to be just a small cotton sack. We push everything inside of the bag and the bag doesn't grow in size. It just goes in." Bryan told them, picking up a light brown bag from a nearby table. Hermione figured it wouldn't hold more than one standard size Hogwarts textbook.

"An Undetected Expansion charm," She blurted.

"Wait, so you're a wizard?" Draco ogled at Bryan.

"Eh, yes, I am. And I know you are too." He replied with a strange look.

"But you seemed like such a muggle." Draco told Bryan.

"Malfoy stop!" Hermione shrilled. She fumbled and tried to apologize.

Bryan excused himself politely. He returned a few minutes later with a bag. It looked bulkier than it was previously. Bryan took out his wand, first with a look at Draco, and then the bag hovered in the air. "Be sure to keep it in the air. There's quite a lot of furniture in there, it's heavy."

Draco took out his wand before Hermione could. "Wingardium Leviosa." The bag stayed in the air, now in control by Draco.

"I guess that's all, thanks for your help." Hermione said and looked at Bryan.

"Not a problem." Bryan nodded. "Just a question, are you two attending Alice's party this Friday?" he saw Draco open his mouth and added, "She's a witch."

Draco shut his mouth, and then opened it again. "I'm sure Harlow could get us there."

Bryan grinned. "I'll see you there then. Tell Harlow I said hello?"

"And Bryan says hello," Hermione told Harlow. She and Draco had got back to the house and the bag was sitting on the tasting room floor. Harlow was inside the room, taking a look at the new paint color.

"Does he?" Harlow tilted her head. "Okay."

"He seems like a good guy," Hermione offered. She was bending down and trying to work the zipper of the bag open.

"I thought you only dated blood traitors and Quidditch players, Granger?" Draco snarled from across the room. He was leaning against the wall by the door, his arms folded across his chest.

"You know what they say," Harlow winked at Hermione. "Once you date a Quidditch player you don't go back. What's his name?"

Hermione hesitated for a fraction of a second. "Viktor Krumm."

"Are you serious?" Harlow's jaw dropped.

"Well we went to the Yule Ball together, which is like American prom I guess, but I was only in my fourth year, and well, he kind of fancied me, but I…" Hermione's face grew pink and her voice tailed off.

"That's totally awesome." Harlow said. "Well done. If you two like dancing you'll love the Winemaker's Invitational. All the wine families in the area get together at this gorgeous ballroom and we throw a party. The wine menu always has the best selection; it's to die for. It's in a few weeks. You don't even need a date." As Harlow spoke she noticed Hermione struggling with the Danny's Bag so she reached down and unzipped it. "But you do need a dress. And you can't wear the same one as at Matt's wedding."

"Are we going to that?" Draco asked.

Harlow nodded. "Of course y'all are! But you need a date for the wedding."

"A date." Hermione repeated.

"There's a wizard carnival in town on Friday. A lot of local kids will be there," Harlow said, trying to reassure Hermione.

"Wait, Bryan told us Alice's party is Friday." Draco pointed out.

"Yes, it is." Harlow laugfhed maniacally, "but you two aren't ready for an Alice White party. If Lafayette and Beaujolais wine is platinum, White's family wine is gold. So is Montclair. Those two families are the second best after mine."

"I think that I can handle a White party," Draco protested.

"Fine, we'll see at her next party. But you two should look forward to the carnival," Harlow smiled at Hermione and Draco. "You two can meet some locals and maybe find a date for the wedding!"