Wednesday
Hermione spent the evening round with Harry and Ginny. They had talked of the problems at the Manor and Harry had quizzed her on Malfoy. His actions, his words, the way he looked at her before Ginny had given him that look and he had sulked off to the kitchen to make them some tea.
"How is it really?" Ginny asked, a look of concern up her freckled face.
"Honestly Gin it's fine." Ginny creased her eyebrows.
"I mean; we talk about the job. He asks questions, I answer. I ask questions, he answers."
"What are you not telling me?" The look of concern still etched on her features.
"It's nothing bad. Well not like what you're thinking. It's actually… nice." She questioned the word she used herself. Was that the right word to use?
"Nice?" Ginny copied.
"Easy."
"Easy?" Ginny copied again.
"It's just, I went into this thinking we'd argue, we'd bicker, we wouldn't get along. On the first day there was a few moments like that but now it isn't like that. We talk. We have normal conversations with one another. No comments, no jibes. Nothing."
"And that's nice?
"Yes. Well it's refreshing. To have a different relationship with him. He's very passionate about the Manor and it's strange to see how animated he can get when we discuss certain things. He's even made me laugh a few times." She seemed surprised herself.
Ginny didn't say anything, just let her continue.
"It's easy. We talked about the night at the Manor. Not in depth but we broached the subject and it just came easy. We walked together round the grounds for a while then walked back to the Manor and just talked. About work and relationships, his mother... and I enjoyed it."
"Hang on... relationships?" Ginny questioned.
"He asked if I was seeing anyone." Hermione responded.
"That's an odd question to ask..."
"Why?"
"Because it's Malfoy… finding out if you're single." Ginny said as she shrugged her shoulders.
"No it wasn't like that."
"Hermione, however men ask that question it's always meant like that."
"Don't be ridiculous. Malfoy is the last person who'd be bothered about my relationship status." She rubbed ger thumb over the lip of the teacup she was holding, replaying their conversation in her mind.
"I think you underestimated yourself, and him."
"Why?"
"Errr... maybe because you're beautiful. And like you said, he's different now. And you enjoy his company which probably means he enjoys yours too other wise the conversation wouldn't be enjoyable."
Could Ginny be right? No... she thought. No he wasnt interested in her. "You're crazy." She said to the redhed.
"No – I'm actually very sane." Ginny replied with a large smirk on her face.
.x.
Hermione was now sat on her couch in front of her TV with Crookshanks on her lap mulling over what Ginny had said to her. It was true, her and Draco had been getting on so well the past few days but that didn't mean that he fancied her or anything anymore absurd. I mean he was gorgeous. He was the guy girls wanted to be with and and the guy men wanted to be.
They had talked like acquaintances, worked alongside each other like colleagues and discussed the past, like they were friends. Well not friends... Minus the blip at her office on the first day they had now spent nearly three days at various intervals in one another's company, just getting on with the job and one another.
It just meant that they were turning a corner. No longer would they avoid one another in the Ministry. Maybe they would make polite conversation. She would inquire after his Mother and the grounds and he would ask after her Cat.
She would miss talking to him. She would miss seeing him so casually dressed. He was always in traditional robes at the Ministry and they made him look fiercer. Platinum blonde hair shining over black robes that billowed behind him when he walked.
The cotton shirts he wore at the Manor were a stark contrast, always with a top few buttons lose which made him look younger and softened his face. She found herself trying to imagine his face now. He had a faint scar over his left cheek and another on his forehead. They didn't take away from his beauty. He still looked good. As handsome as he had ever been. Even when he was a brat in school he was still attractive.
Her stomach flipped as she recalled his grey eyes and the warmth spread from her stomach to her fingers tips. She shook her head and tried to rid the image of him burned into her mind. His grey eyes were all she could think of before she went to sleep that night. Her dreams were scarce but she remembered running through large field past a forest. She didn't know exactly where she was running to and she woke up before she reached her destination.