Hermione did not know how this happened again. How did she get roped into going on a blind date?

She had told Ginny no adamantly but her friend had started talking about her needing to go out and meet new people, then next thing she knew, they were at a shop and Ginny and the sales associate had connived together to get her into a dress, next thing she knew, she was at the Potter's with a baby James Sirius Potter tossing a soft toy quaffle at her while she waited for her date. How?

"James… be afraid little one, when you get older, your mum will manipulate you before you know it. I'm supposedly the smartest, but somehow your mum always gets me."

James looked up as the quaffle hit his pudgy belly, before tilting his head as he echoed mum in his baby like garble..

Hermione just smiled at her godson's adorableness. "Oh you're too cute for me to handle sometimes." Hermione grinned wider as she picked up the baby who smiled back at her in return. No wonder Ginny was able to get her to agree to this date. She genuinely loved every Potter and would've done anything to keep any of them happy. "Even if my date ends in a disaster, you'll help make up for it tomorrow when we have the day together while your parents go out of town." Hermione said, though she hoped that she wasn't jinxing herself.

James just giggled as Hermione lifted him up and down.

-!-!-

"Did you not hear me?" The irate parent seethed just a little bit louder, his already pale complexion turning redder in agitation. "I do not want a bloody Deatheater anywhere near my boy!"

"Sir you must understand but this is emergency, your son is barely breathing and Healer Malfoy is one of our best."

"I don't bloody care if he's the only one! That wankstain is not getting anywhere near my son!"

Draco's expression was completely void of any emotion as he watched the interaction between one of the nurses and his, well former patient's father by the sound of everything. Despite his outwardly appearance Draco was furious as he glanced at Tommy, his status Asthmatic patient, the boy was barely able to breathe and all the father seemed to care about was Draco's past, not the fact that his son was not breathing and running out of time. Tommy's panicked eyes turned to him, not caring who he was, but the fact that the person he was at present was his doctor.

Finally unable to hold back any longer, Draco approached Tommy, at the ready to reverse the airway obstruction that was causing Tommy's asthma attacks to repeatedly occur after the other. "It's okay Tommy, I'm just going to do a small spell to help you breathe again. If you want to lay down, it's okay." Draco said as gently as he could to mask any and all anger he had. He knew that there could be repercussions to him taking action, but when he swore his oath as a healer, he promised to help all those in need that he was capable of. And if he got his certificate revoked for this, then the Board could blow themselves. Tommy did not need to suffer anymore than he already had for Draco's past and his father's present prejudice. How his own father could deny his son air was beyond Draco… Some men did not deserve to fathers.

-!-!-

Hermione was glanced at her date again because honestly what was Ginny thinking! She set her up with a Ronald Weasley lookalike…

Just because Ron was the last guy she dated did not mean that he was the end all be all. Hermione had a vague thought that Ginny meant well but this was beyond creepy. Even the way they ate… Without taking a breath between bites was frighteningly similar and to say it was Hermione's favorite trait of Ron's was an understatement. Even her godson could manage to leave less food on his face.

At least this one did not have allergies though. Something Hermione had asked upon getting their menus. Because once was enough.

At least they were at a fairly busy bar that not much conversation was needed to fill the silence.

-!-!-

"Draco, why did I hear that you've been suspended again?" Blaise asked as the two met up for their daily after work drinks.

"Only two weeks this time." Draco replied, mocking cheer.

"What the bloody hell happened? I thought everything was going well at Liberi?"

"One of my… Former patients I should say, his father had an issue with me and my past."

"Hell, again?" Blaise shook his head. "But why would you get suspended for someone not liking your past?"

"Because he did not want me anywhere near his son and I decided that I didn't give a damn about a man who was making a bigger fuss over a damn Healer than the fact that his son was suffering and not breathing properly."

"Oh." Blaise blankly replied as he saw how visibly angry Draco became, just thinking back to earlier that day. "I'm so sorry mate… I thought that."

"It was over? No. People always say the past is behind us, and yet all anyone wants to talk about is the past." Draco said bitterly.

"Well talking about the past," Blaise whispered as he nodded ahead of them.

Draco looked. He didn't know whether to shake his head or roll his eyes. Of course Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley were together at his Pub on one of his off days. It would've been too much he was sure, if he didn't have to see any of the golden trio, much less two.

Blaise just sighed as he looked from Hermione Granger to his best friend. Honestly, maybe the two didn't see it but he couldn't help but think that the fates were trying to say something.

-!-!-

Hermione was almost proud of herself for trying to make conversation about the upcoming holiday as the two talked about their plans for the spring solstice. She had a tendency to be aloof and cautious with strangers, but for Ginny's sake she was trying. This guy was Ginny's friend? He was right? Hermione made a face as she realized that she had zoned out during the conversation of how Ginny knew her current date.

She had been too busy trying to get James to say her name correctly.

"Well, I don't really know but I'll probably be alo-"

"Joseph?" A femine voice interrupted her date.

Both Hermione and her date looked up to see a petite strawberry blonde woman standing right by their table, who looked both shocked and angry.

"Carrie, uh, what are you doing here?"

"ME? WHAT AM I DOING HERE? WHAT ARE YOU?"

"Um, um, I'm, um." Joseph stumbled as he stared terrified at the petite woman whose small structure somehow managed to tower over him.

"When I said we should go on a break, I meant for you to think things though and grow up. Not for you to go out gallivanting with any moose that you meet!"

Hermione's eyes widened as she realized that this situation was going to only get uglier.

"Six years, six years I wasted on you! You worthless scum and within the first month of our break, you're already at it!"

"Carrie, you're the one who wanted the break, not me!" Joseph finally spoke up for himself.

"Yes! Six years and not even once have you even mentioned anything about proposing."

"Proposing?!" Joseph cried in shock, the thought hadn't even crossed his mind.

By now all eyes at the bar was on them as Carrie had picked up a spoon and threw it at the poor chap's head.

"Yes!" Carrie shrieked.

Hermione could only slink further down her seat as she did not know how to get out of her situation without causing more of a scene.

"When was the last time you even touched your damn laundry, you wanker, in the past three years! I've been doing your bloody laundry for three years and the most I get is you leaving one roll at dinner for me, as thanks? You bloody asshole!" Carrie said, just going to town on Joseph, now that she was close enough to whack his head.

Hermione Granger could not believe that this was even happening. Of course this would happen. Why wouldn't her date have an angry girlfriend. But even Hermione felt sympathy for her; the more dirty laundry the woman spewed, the more Hermione sided with "Carrie". But still, she did not want to currently be where she was.

-!-!-

Blaise and Draco watched in mortified fascination as the scene unfolded before them. Though both couldn't help but watch as Granger also sunk as low in her seat as she could.

Carrie and Joseph as the two had identified each other, were now screaming at each other about the lack of sleep they each had when sleeping together due to one that snored too loud and another who squirmed around and stole the comforters.

"Draco, I know you're going to hate me for this, I know its supposed to be our whiskey night, just us two… but."

"No Blaise." Draco abruptly cut him off.

"Draco."

"No, we are not putting ourselves in that situation." Draco said adamantly shaking his head.

"Draco, it's the right thing to do."

"No its not, the right thing is to just not stick our heads into anything. And either way. We're not good guys remember." Draco said bitterly, still thinking of his afternoon.

Blaise looked at his friend closely, realizing that indeed Draco seemed to believe his own words. You might kill me but this is for your own good. Blaise silently thought before he drowned his whiskey.