Chapter Six
Hermione paced in front of her fireplace, chewing on her lip, occasionally stopping to glance at the container floo powder. She normally just wore her work clothes to these dinners, but today she'd put on her best dress. It was dark blue and just casual enough that she didn't look like she was trying too hard. She had even worked her hair into a rather pretty french twist. She'd held a hardly used bottle of mascara in her fist when she'd stopped and asked herself… what was she doing?
She wasn't stupid enough to try to lie to herself. She had been trying to look nice. For Malfoy. She hadn't realized when she'd started to find him attractive until she was standing in her bathroom, clutching the mascara bottle and gaping at herself in the mirror. Malfoy had flirted with her, sure, but those were just jokes. It wasn't as if Malfoy… fancied her. Exactly the opposite. They had to work together. They were barely friends, if that.
She should just cancel. It's not like Malfoy would care either way. He'd gotten what he wanted from their deal. She glanced at the clock. She was five minutes late. If she did go to Malfoy's now, he'd make some comment about her tardiness, she just knew it.
She really should just cancel.
Summoning every bit of her Gryffindor courage, she strode to the fireplace, grabbed a handful of powder and flooed to Malfoy's. The green powder swirled around her and dissolved, Malfoy's apartment materializing in front of her.
She stepped into his living room, blinking in surprise. She'd expected….she didn't know what she'd expected. A Slytherin common room, she supposed. It was a dark, masculine apartment, with sleek leather sofas facing the fireplace, the wall opposite her lined with bookshelves, the only light coming from a room down the hall. "Malfoy?" She called hesitantly, stepping from the floo.
"You're late Granger," his voice echoed from the room.
And there it is….she thought with a roll of her eyes. Malfoy sauntered into the room, holding a tumbler glass with dark amber liquid, his shirt unbuttoned at the neck. He looked great in the low light.
She should've canceled.
"You look ravishing Granger," he said, giving her a suggestive smile and a wink.
She definitely should've canceled.
"Drinking, Malfoy?"
"I needed a drink if I'm going to survive a dinner with a group of Weasleys."
She rolled her eyes. "Are you ready?"
He set his glass down on a nearby table and strolled past her towards the fireplace. He stood by the floo powder container and waited.
She strode forward, reached past him and took a handful, stepping into the fireplace. He leaned against the wall and folded his arms across his chest, fixing her with a stare that made her breath catch. She swallowed nervously and held up her hand, saying- as clearly as she could- "the burrow!"
She stepped out of the fireplace, coughing on the puff of soot that greeted her. So many people came through the Weasley fireplace that it was impossible to keep it clean. The room was full of the Weasley family, the familiar chatter greeting her as Luna bounded towards her, a frowning Ron on her heels.
"Mione, I thought I told you-"
The floo sounded, cutting him off, and they all turned to watch Malfoy step onto the carpet, brushing soot off of his shoulder before his hands sliding into his pockets. Ron gaped like a fish as Malfoy came to stand next to Hermione, smirking. "Hello Weasley."
Ron blinked. "Malfoy?" He said, as if he couldn't quite figure out what Draco Malfoy was doing standing in his mother's home.
"Draco!" Luna surprised them all by saying. She reached forward and took his shoulders, leaning to noisily kiss each of his cheeks. She released him and leaned back, giving him a dreamy smile. Malfoy looked as dumbstruck as Ron.
"Lovegood," he cleared his throat, inclining his head in a nod.
"It's Weasley now," she shot an adoring smile at Ron, who blushed. "I'm so glad you came with Hermione," She looped her arm through his, leading him away as she spoke, "Tell me Draco, you have a veela somewhere in your family tree don't you…?"
Malfoy shot Hermione a helpless look over his shoulder as Luna lead him out into the backyard, the entire Weasley family gaping after them as they disappeared out the door. Hermione was surrounded in seconds by Harry and Ron. Ginny caught Hermione's eye, and seeming to realize what was coming, started to usher everyone outside as well.
"I thought you said the two of you weren't dating?" Harry glanced out the window. Luna was now showing Malfoy the gnomes. He was laughing at something she was saying, looking slightly more comfortable than he had minutes ago.
"We're not."
Ron was still gaping. "Mione," he said, voice strained, "when I said bring a date, I meant bring… well, bring a good bloke!"
Hermione stiffened. "And what exactly qualifies someone as 'good', Ronald?"
"Hermione… I know you want to forget the war-"
"Don't you bring up the war as a way to justify your petty dislike." She snapped. "Draco was acquitted of all charges."
"So now it's Draco?" Ron scowled at her, his face flushing with anger.
"Ron, Hermione can bring- or date- whoever she likes." Harry surprised both of them by interjecting. "Frankly, I'm relieved."
Ron rounded on Harry. "What do you mean you're relieved! She brought Malfoy, Harry. Malfoy! Or am I the only one that noticed that he's outside looking at gnomes with my wife?"
"That's right, Ron. I'm relieved." Harry's green eyes slid the window and landed on the pair. "It's been five years. You're married. I'm married. Godric, I've got kids. Hermione's got her cat."
"Good job at making me sound pathetic, Harry," Hermione said sarcastically.
"Well, you are rather pathetic."
Hermione shared a little smile with her best friend. Ron stared at both of them, flabbergasted, his cornflower blue eyes full of disbelief. "Couldn't you have brought anyone else?" He grumbled..
Hermione caught a glimpse of Malfoy through the window. Luna had caught a gnome- the little creatures liked her against all odds- and it now stood atop her head, blowing raspberries at an amused looking Malfoy. Hermione should've brought someone else; she was growing dangerously fond of Malfoy and watching him treat someone as eccentric as Luna with such patience was not helping.
"Let's go outside," Harry grabbed Ron's shoulder and started to steer him towards the door. "You still have that big announcement for us. I've put all my money on a new joke shop in Hogsmeade, so you better not let me down."
Hermione followed after them, heading towards Malfoy and Luna. His eyes caught hers and he looked relieved. Luna saw Ron and hurried after him, the gnome clutching on her hair so that he wouldn't tumble off her head.
"You left me," he said accusingly.
"Only with Luna," Hermione smiled up at him.
He combed his fingers through his white locks, pushing his hair up off his forehead, and Hermione had to force her eyes away from him. You did not find him attractive, she repeated in her head over and over again.
Harry's three year old son came barrelling out of nowhere, crashing into Hermione's legs. He would've knocked her over if not for Malfoy's hand on her elbow, catching her, his fingers pressing into her arm. He held her steady for a moment before releasing her. She swallowed nervously before brushing a curl from her face as she bent over to scoop up the little boy.
"You need to be more careful," she tweaked James's nose fondly.
"Aunt Mione," he grabbed a handful of her cheek, smiling toothily up at her with Ginny's brown eyes. She smiled at him then caught Malfoy watching her. His lips were pursed, gray eyes focussed on the little boy in her arms before sliding up to her face.
"What?" she asked.
Malfoy's eyes dropped back to James, who was trying to pull curls out of Hermione's bun. "He looks like Potter… but without all of the self righteousness."
Hermione laughed. "You're calling Harry self righteous? You of all people?"
"You have a biased opinion," he sniffed. "I can't help that your opinions have been ruined by Potter."
"My name is James Potter!" James exclaimed then smiled, dropping his head to rest on Hermione's shoulder. His little hand started to tug at her chin. She pulled him a bit closer to her. Hermione had always worried that she wouldn't connect well with children- that they'd find her boring- but Harry's son had taken to her in an instant and her to him. Were she ever to have children, she hoped they'd be just like James.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Potter," Malfoy said in a serious voice that made the little boy giggle. "My name's Draco."
"Draco is a funny name."
Hermione hid her laugh with a cough. Malfoy smirked at her. "It is, isn't it," he leaned forward, as if he was going to tell James a secret, "but it means Dragon."
James's eyes went round. "It does?"
"Oh yes, James!" Hermione smiled down at him. "It's latin, just like our spells, sweetheart."
"Aunt Hermione does the best spells!" James lifted his head to say proudly. Hermione felt her chest swell with love for the little boy in her arms. She was James's favorite aunt and he made no secret of it, much to her delight.
"Oh believe me, I know," Malfoy grinned, "she loves to practice them on me when she's angry."
"If you weren't such a prat all the time, I wouldn't have to!"
Malfoy's lips pulled into a wide, charmingly crooked smile, "what would you do to me if I wasn't angering you, Granger? You've got to get rid of all that pent up energy some way, wouldn't you say?"
She blinked up at him.
"Why'd you call Aunt Hermione 'Granger'?" James piped up, reminding them both he was there.
Before Malfoy could respond, Hermione knelt down to put James on the ground. "How about you go ask Aunt Luna to teach you how to catch gnomes?"
He ran off without another word. Everyone was wandering about as Arthur directed the giant table with his wand towards the flattest area of the yard the chairs following behind him in an assembly line. With a flick of his wand they all flew into their correct place.
"So Granger," Malfoy stood just behind her, his chin brushing her shoulder as he talked into her ear, making her tense, "Have you thought of any other ways to release that energy you've got building up?"
"I think that hexing you will suffice," she said with a grin and a raised eyebrow. He chuckled, shaking his head, nearly brushing his cheek against her face. She suddenly realized how close they were. She took a step back from him. He raised an eyebrow, taking a step towards her, an obvious challenge. He was toe to toe with her now, his blonde hair hanging in his silver eyes, and she felt rooted there, unable to move. He dipped his head towards her…
"Mione! Malfoy!" Harry called from the table, making Hermione jump in surprise, "come on."
Hermione took a quick step back. Malfoy smirked at her and started to walk towards the table. "Come on Granger," he muttered as he stepped past her, "can't keep them waiting."
She bit her lip and scolded herself. Had Malfoy tried, she would've let him kiss her. She needed to get this dinner over with. Malfoy's teasing was doing things to her. She followed after him, falling into a seat between him and Ginny.
"Mione," Ginny leaned towards her. Her dark red hair had been piled atop her head and her brown eyes were glittering, "I thought you told Harry you and Malfoy weren't dating?" She whispered.
"We're not," Hermione said. She stiffened when she felt Malfoy's arm snake over her shoulders.
"Oh come off it," he leaned towards them. She hadn't thought he'd heard them, but obviously he had, "Granger is mad for me."
Hermione rolled her eyes and attempted to move his arm without much success. He grinned evilly at her. She chose to ignore him, turning towards Ginny once more. "We are not," she shot him a dirty look over her shoulder. He just grinned.
"He seems to think you are," Ginny shot Malfoy an amused grin and the blonde winked. Winked. Hermione looked at both of them in disbelief, falling back into her chair. Ginny patted Hermione's hand before turning to talk to Harry on her other side.
Malfoy's arm was still draped along the back of his chair and his fingers tapped on her shoulder. She turned to look at him disapprovingly. "Yes?"
He leaned in close to her, "I think the Weaslette likes me."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You're being ridiculous, Malfoy. Absolutely delusional."
"Well Granger- oh I'm sorry, Hermione-" he shot an amused glance in James's direction, "I should tell you something. Weaslette might not like me, but you do."
"You're mad, Malfoy," she reached for her glass of wine and eyed him over the edge of the rim, "I tolerate you, at best."
His answering smile was sharklike and devastating. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. He leaned closer, "Careful, Hermione," her name sounded heavy and soft like Ogden's Firewhiskey rolling off his lips, "you might convince me and then regret it."
"I might start to return your 'interest' and then you'll regret it."
His lips pulled into a slow smile. "Now how could I regret that?"
HIM
He was at her apartment. The Malfoy boy. He'd stepped from her floo, hands in his pockets and shoulders back, looking at the room as if he owned the place. She strode past him into the kitchen. She was wearing that blue dress he'd seen in her closet.
She looked ravishing.
He stared hard at the glass. He had to go accomplish his task soon, but he didn't want to leave the Malfoy boy in her apartment. He didn't like how the blonde haired little freak looked at her. As if she was a sunset and he'd never seen color before.
He didn't like that. At all.
She wasn't Malfoy's.
She was his.