Draco was unusually frosty with Hermione at work over the weeks following the last memory. He stopped appearing in her office first thing in the morning with coffee for her and Lucy, only ever stopping by if he had something to discuss that couldn't have been done via a flying memo. He avoided eye contact with her in their weekly briefing with Duggan and was even allowing her to work on their latest school alone whilst he worked with another, curtly telling her it was a more effective way of working.
Hermione couldn't help but feel disheartened at the rapid change in direction their relationship had taken. She had almost started to consider Draco as a friend, something she never thought would happen. The worst part was that she couldn't fathom why he was behaving this way. Yes, the memory had been their most uncomfortable by far and it definitely didn't show Draco in a good light, nor did it paint a picture of a particularly happy time in his life, but that wasn't Hermione's fault.
"He's being ridiculous," she complained to Lucy for what felt like the hundredth time after Draco had entered her office, placed a folder on the desk and left without a word.
"So you've said," Lucy replied. "I've told you to just confront him. Just march up to him and ask what his problem is!" Then she added, "and give that arse a squeeze from me."
Hermione shook her head. "He's been working here for four months now and you're still not over that?"
"Nope, and I don't intend to be," she grinned. "Listen, since when have you been the type of person to sit around and let your problems brew like an old potion? You're Hermione Granger for Merlin's sake!"
"You know what," Hermione replied, "you're right. I'm going to speak to him."
With that, she got out of her seat and left her office, walked down the corridor and straight into Draco's office. He was sitting in his usual position, feet up on the desk and parchment in hand. His hair was ruffled as though he had just been running a hand through it and he looked tired; black circles forming under his eyes.
Hermione cleared her throat. "We need to talk."
He did not speak but gestured to the chair opposite him and sat up properly, knocking some stray sheets of parchment off the desk with his feet in the process.
"I would like to resolve whatever issue it is that you have with me. It's making our work environment uncomfortable and I don't like it," Hermione told him in a formal tone.
"I don't have an issue with you, Granger," Draco replied simply.
"The fact that you've just called me 'Granger' suggests otherwise, Malfoy," she retorted.
The corner of his mouth twitched; a smile threatening to form but he just shrugged.
"That's it?" Hermione said, mimicking his gesture. "Look, I have done absolutely nothing wrong. I'm as frustrated as you are with these stupid memories and I know that last one-"
The mention of the memory seemed to touch a nerve with Draco; he banged his hand on the desk.
"Don't, Granger," he said through gritted teeth. "Just don't, okay?"
"Don't what? Talk about the memories? Why not? Let's face it, there's probably going to be more and we can't just ignore them. This isn't my fault you know."
"Is it not? Think about it Granger, if you hadn't been so damn unreasonable when I first started working here then Duggan wouldn't have asked Portree for help and we wouldn't have gone through that stupid door!"
"I cannot believe you're trying to pin this on me!" Hermione said incredulously. "If you hadn't showed up here in the first place pretending to care about Muggleborns then none of this would have happened!"
"Are you still obsessing about that? Four months I have been here, four months and you still don't trust me when I say I want to help? Did I not prove myself with the Quidditch match, with Jane? Just because I haven't told you why I wanted to work on this project doesn't mean there isn't a reason you know."
He avoided her gaze, the look on his face suggested that he had said more than he wanted to. Hermione desperately wanted to ask him what the reason was but knew that he had a very short temper and she was already testing it so decided not to. She took a deep breath in to calm herself down before speaking again.
"Fine. Yes, I admit I have questioned your motives less lately and I appreciate the hard work you've put in to this project. Truth be told, I thought we were actually working well together lately and then the past couple of weeks it's like we've gone back to the start. You rarely speak to me, you'd rather work alone and I know it's because of the last memory but I just can't work out why."
Draco gave a defeated sigh. "It's nothing to do with you. I'm just sick of re-living moments that I've spent the last five years trying to forget. I've worked so hard to not be that person anymore and those stupid memories just won't let him go."
Hermione stared at him, unsure of what to say.
"I'm sorry," he said sincerely. "I was angry, I took it out on you and I shouldn't have."
"Wow, Draco Malfoy apologising. Can I get that in writing?" Hermione teased.
"No. And if you tell anyone I'll deny it."
The pair laughed and Hermione felt as though a weight had been lifted. She spent the next hour in Draco's office catching up properly on the work each of them had been doing in the last few weeks before returning to an eagerly awaiting Lucy.
"Finally!" Lucy exclaimed. "Well? How did it go with The Bum?"
"Please stop calling him that, it's very unprofessional," Hermione scolded in a lighthearted tone. "It was fine though, we cleared the air."
"Excellent, I told you talking to him would help. Anyway, on to more pressing issues. Look what just arrived!"
Lucy handed Hermione a square piece of expensive-looking parchment and she began to read:
Dear Ministry worker,
You are cordially invited to attend the Ministry of Magic annual Christmas Party. It will take place in the Ministry dining hall on Saturday December 20th at 20:00. Please use the attached form to confirm your attendance.
Talia Sprokket
Assistant to the Minister for Magic.
There was another form attached to the back of the invitation on which the recipient was required to fill out their name, department and whether or not they would be bringing a guest to the party.
"Are you going then?" Lucy asked eagerly.
"I suppose so, I went last year and it was pretty good. This will be your first won't it?"
"Yep! I've already sent my confirmation. I'm so excited! Shall we go shopping this weekend for dresses?" Lucy was bouncing in her seat.
"I was actually just thinking of wearing something I already had, the dress I wore last year was quite nice…"
"Absolutely not!" Lucy exclaimed. "We are buying new dresses this weekend whether you like it or not. Oh! Let's go shopping in Muggle London, I bet you know all of the nice shops."
"Fine," Hermione said, sensing defeat. "I'll meet you at yours Saturday morning, around ten?"
Lucy nodded, grinning.
Hermione detached the response form from the invitation and began to fill in her details. She hesitated at the question titled 'Will you be bringing a guest?' and for the second year in a row, she ticked the little box marked 'no'. As soon as she had, the parchment folded itself up into the shape of a Christmas tree and whizzed out of the room leaving Hermione feeling a little deflated.
Hermione had a surprisingly fun day shopping with Lucy, not only had they both found new dresses for the work party, Hermione had also completed all of her Christmas shopping. On the day of the party, Hermione had spent some of the morning and most of the afternoon wrapping her presents; she always liked to do it the Muggle way whilst playing old Christmas music like her mum used to.
She started getting ready fairly early, allowing herself plenty of time. Though her hair was more manageable now than in her school days, it was still a chore to make it look nice for such an event. Her excitement built as she got ready, Ron and Juliette would be attending and Harry and Ginny were having their first night out since James was born; Hermione was looking forward to spending a night with her friends.
A couple of hours later, Hermione was dressed and ready to go. She was wearing the dress that Lucy had essentially forced her to buy, a strapless, knee-length, floaty gown in pale silver, with black shoes, bag and jewelry. Her hair was all pinned up, held in place by crystal hair slides and her make-up was as simple as ever. She took one last glance in the mirror in her bedroom before heading into the living room to floo to the Ministry.
The dining hall of the Ministry for Magic by day was a plain room. The walls were pale green and the floor was wooden, there space was taken up by lots of long tables that comfortably sat up to ten people at a time and a long serving counter that held the magically re-filling dishes available that day. For one night a year, however, it was a beautiful setting for a magical Christmas party. The walls were now silver and the floor enchanted to look like the guests were walking on ice, round tables covered in bright white cloths replaced the rectangular ones, the ceiling was black and dotted with twinkling lights giving the effect of the night sky. In each corner stood Christmas trees that towered even those from Hermione's days at Hogwarts, all decorated in blues and silvers. Trays floated around the room holding full champagne flutes and (paid) House-Elves were greeting the guests at the door.
Hermione scanned the room and saw Ginny and Juliette sitting at one of the round tables, she headed over and greeted them.
"Hello you two, you both look beautiful!"
"Hello Hermione, you too!" Juliette smiled, whilst Ginny nodded.
"How's my beautiful Godson?" Hermione asked Ginny, despite having seen him the night before.
"He's great. Mum's in her element babysitting him. She said she'd have him all night and drop him off tomorrow but we didn't want to leave him all night so we're staying over at the Burrow tonight."
Ron and Harry joined the girls, having been chasing one of the trays around to get drinks. Harry handed her a glass of champagne.
"Saw you come in," he explained. "Alright?"
"Great thanks," she replied. "You look very handsome, both of you."
"Cheers Hermione," Ron said. "These robes are much better than the ones Mum bought me for the Yule Ball!"
Hermione and Harry rolled their eyes.
"You said that exact same thing last year Ronald."
"And the year before," Juliette added.
"And the one before that!" Harry laughed, Ron's ears turned red.
Hermione chatted animatedly with her friends for a while before she spotted Lucy and left to meet her. Lucy was looking more stunning than usual in a pale pink, full-length fitted dress. Her blonde hair was in loose curls and make-up in light shades of pink to match her dress.
"You look beautiful!" Lucy squealed at her. "I told you that dress was a good idea!"
"Thanks, same to you!" Hermione grinned.
"Speaking of beautiful, have you seen The Bum tonight? His work robes do him no justice at all. He's wearing a suit, a proper Muggle one!"
"Really?" Hermione asked incredulously.
"See for yourself," Lucy replied. "Hello Draco!"
"Lucy," he smiled, "you're looking very lovely tonight."
Lucy beamed. "Thanks!"
She spotted a friend from the Goblin Liaison department over Draco's shoulder and excused herself leaving Hermione standing with Draco.
"You scrub up well, Granger," he said teasingly.
"Thanks, I think. I could say the same for you," she replied. She began to feel butterflies in her stomach as she appraised his attire. She distracted herself from the unsettling feeling by questioning his choice. "Why the Muggle suit?"
"Comfier than dress robes," he replied simply.
Hermione's expression was quizzical but he said no more. After a few seconds of awkward eye-contact, Draco looked away and stopped one of the trays, grabbing two glasses of champagne. He handed one to Hermione and drained his own glass in one.
"Thirsty?" Hermione asked, taking a small sip of her own drink.
"Not particularly, I'm preparing myself," he said, taking Hermione's glass and setting both of them down on the table next to them.
"For what?" Hermione asked nervously.
"Don't you feel it?"
"Feel what?" she breathed.
Draco took her hand and before Hermione could say another word the Ministry hall disappeared.