Hermione groaned out loud as she set down her quill and closed her eyes briefly. After her little spat with Harry, she completely threw herself to her work. She willed herself to forget the hurtful words her best friend said to her.
After a brief talk with Ginny, she knew that it was not her fault that this is happening. Unknowingly she knew that this might happen but she never thought it might actually happen. The way Harry spat his words towards her, he made it look like it was her fault and she made sure that she would fall out of love with Ron. But she didn't, she knew that one.
Ginny made sure to drill that one on her mind. She wasn't at fault on why Ron wouldn't even talk to the Boy-Who-Lived. It wasn't her fault that Harry was angry with her. As the matter of fact, he doesn't have the right to be angry with her.
If he was really her best friend, like he proclaimed he is, he should try and understand her, support her in every way possible. Ron even took it better than Harry more than she expected. The dark haired boy acted the way like he was the one she broke up with. Did he really expect that her relationship with Ron would actually last?
Maybe he did, but Hermione gets it now why she and Ron aren't really good to be together as a couple. Yes, the ginger haired wizard can be smart when he wants to but his intellect can't be compared with hers. She can't even have a proper debate with him more or less have a smart discussion with him.
Ron isn't interested on what her interests lies on. They are too different to be moulded into one. He can't even enjoy a discussion regarding Quidditch with her. She doesn't even like the concept of the game. Yes, she went to the games back at Hogwarts but not because she actually like Quidditch or that she actually like the rough game but because she was there to support her house and her best friend.
And when it comes to politics, it seemed like it wasn't his forte. Yes, he reads about them but really doesn't share the same opinions with her. He isn't really concerned now especially after the defeat of The Dark Lord. Hermione on the other hand, is concerned about it.
Yes, they are completely opposites but it wasn't attracting them to be together.
She knew that Ron understood her part why she actually did break it all off without even explaining herself. Harry, on the other hand doesn't and she can't help but sigh in defeat.
A soft knock distracted her from her thoughts and making her look up from the parchments that she completely ignored as she kept on thinking about one of her best friends. The door slightly opened and the head of her assistant popped with a warm smile.
"Ms. Parkinson is here to see you. Should I let her in?"
She found herself smiling and nodding eagerly. It had been awhile since she spent her time with Pansy. She looked down to her wrist watched and grinned, it was time to take a break and have tea with the witch behind that door. "Yes, please. Thank you Clara."
Clara, her assistant, smiled and nodded in response before disappearing from her site to inform Pansy she was allowed to step inside the brunette witch's office.
Not long after, Pansy was walking towards one of her plush chairs after she closed the door behind her.
"Are you free for tea?" The raven haired witch asked as she settled down on her seat.
Hermione just nodded in response to her question as she cleaned up her desk. "Diagon Alley?" She asked as she placed the parchments on a folder before placing it to one of her drawers that was labelled alphabetically.
"Yes, I discovered a new place there and a friend of mine would be joining us. Is it alright?"
She stood up and grabbed her robe from where she hung it and turned to face Pansy. "I would love to join you and your friend, Pansy."
The witch in front of her just squealed with delight and hugged her tightly. She laughed as she gave the Slytherin a hug back. "Thank you so much, Hermione."
Both of them walked out of her office and to the Ministry's lift. Hermione watched the lift's door closing before turning to face her friend. "So, who is it? Is it Goldstein?"
Pansy's face scrunched up making her giggle silently at her friend as she mentioned the boy, who made her friend fan herself a few weeks back, in their conversation.
"Good heaven's no!" she started then bit her lip, moving her weight from one heel to another. "Well, if I tell you, promise me that would not leave and go back to that lonely place you call an office."
She rolled her eyes and huffed on the comment Pansy left about her office. "My office is not lonely. Thank you very much. But who is it? It is not like your friend would be a slob or anything."
"Just promise me, Hermione."
"Alright, I promise. Now who is it?"
"Draco."
Hermione blinked and looked at Pansy like she grew a pair of horns on her head.
"Malfoy? Draco Malfoy?"
Pansy rolled her eyes and gave her a look. "Who else would be named Draco?"
"You got a point."
"So?"
"So what?"
"Is it okay for you?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"The history you both have?"
"I forgave him a long time ago Pansy, when he apologized to me after his trial."
Pansy's mouth formed an 'o', when she heard what Hermione said. Hermione smiled as she saw the pleasant smile that was seen on her companion's face. The witch then giggled and sent a knowing look towards her direction. "But it doesn't mean he stopped being a prat, huh Granger?"
She groaned and covered her face with both of her hands. "I know. Stop reminding me."
The dark haired witch laughed at that and stepped out after her when they arrived on the atrium. She struck her tongue out towards the laughing witch as both of them headed towards the fireplaces to floo towards Diagon Alley.
Being comfortable in a close distance with Draco Malfoy is far from what she is feeling right now. She doesn't even remember why she even agreed to join Pansy for tea with the blond wizard. The last time she remembers having any sort of communication with him was during his trial.
She tried to ignore his presence and engrossed herself with the menu. She frowned and turned the menu over and nearly scowled realizing the tea she wanted wasn't even offered here. She sighed and resorted herself to choose coffee instead.
The silence that engulfed them was nearly deafening and suffocating for the bushy hared witch. It was rather awkward for her. She placed her menu down and looked over Pansy, who was peacefully skimming through the menu.
At least she is comfortable and at ease, she grimly thought and tapped her fingers against the surface of the table.
She chose to watch the wizard then. He sat there immaculately as he surveyed through the menu for his choice. It seemed like he just slipped out of work and went here to meet up with Pansy. Even with time he didn't change a bit. She bit her lip and let her eyes dance around his face. He doesn't look as pointed as before. Any evidences of adolescents are gone and replaced with young adulthood.
She frowned then and straightened herself up when she realized what she was doing. She was acting like a teenager, eyeing a man like him. She blinked and looked away.
"Hermione, can you order my usual tea please? It seems like they have it. I'll just visit the bathroom for a second," Pansy spoke up with a smiled and stood up. The witch didn't even wait for a response from her and left for the bathroom. Without a choice, Hermione, called out for a waiter to attend them.
After mumbling out both hers and Pansy's orders along side with Malfoy's, the witch that approached them for their orders, left.
Before she knew it, she was alone with him.
"So, Granger, how is Weasley treating you?" Malfoy spoke up with a smirk on his face. He leaned in and rested his chin on his palm.
Is he insulting me right now? Of all questions he could have thrown my way, he asks me that? She thought with an inward glare towards his direction. If she could guess, he is trying to get under her skin.
Instead of glaring at him and give out a snide remark, she coolly looked at him and gave a smile. "I do believe that you know that we haven't been talking, am I right? After all, our breakup had been in the Daily Prophet for quite some time."
"Oh yes. I read about that. If I can be honest, I am not even shocked that you broke everything of with that Weasel. Everyone can see that he is too stupid for you or any witch."
"How dare you – wait, what did you just said?" She asked bewildered. Did she actually hear him right?
Malfoy smirked and leaned back to his sit, his arms folded against his chest. "Don't even let me say that a second time Granger. You are not simply worthy for my words."
She glared at him and scoffed, "Funny, you are talking to me now."
He chuckled darkly and just looked at her. She could not even fathom his nerve towards her. Did he just complimented her and at the same time insulted her?
"I'm still waiting for the answer Granger."
Oh the nerve of him. If only she can go around towards him and strangle him to death. She blinked and scolded herself for her thoughts.
He smirked and gave her a bored expression. "Well? Kneazle got your tongue?"
She just rolled her eyes and continued to tap her fingers against the surface of the table. "It is cat, Malfoy."
He furrowed his brows and gave her a weird look. "What the hell are you talking about Granger?"
She sighed before giving him a blank look. "It is not Kneazle, it is cat."
He sneered at her and gave her a narrowed look. "Does it look like I care?"
Hermione smirked on that one and leaned in with keenness. "No, but it looks like you are affected that a witch beneath you pointed out a mistake you made."
Instead of being insulted, the wizard across of her just smirked and leaned in towards her, their face a few inches apart. "If I do remember correctly, Granger, when a witch is beneath me I won't be the only one who would be affected." He smirked, his breath hitting her flushed cheeks.
Well, that escalated quickly.
"Already flirting with each other? My, I would like to say that I am not shocked. I just left both of you for a few minutes and this is what greets me? I never thought you have it in you, Hermione." Pansy spoke up by their side, a smirk adorning her face.
With a loud gasp, she leaned back and looked at Pansy with wide eyes and horror. "No, Pansy it is not what it looks like." She tried to explain. "Draco, tell her that it isn't true."
The raven haired witch's smile widened on what she heard. "He is Draco now, huh?"
Hermione blushed brightly and shook her head. "No! Malfoy!" She turned and gave him a menacing glare.
The assaulted wizard just chuckled and winked at her direction. "With your words, Hermione, I would say it is called flirting."
The Gryffindor let out a cry and huffed, turning away from both Slytherins.
Pansy let out a laugh as she sat back down and gave her a squeeze. "No need to be like that."
She didn't even paid attention to the witch beside her. With furrowed brows, she turned to look at Malfoy. Did he just laugh or was it her ears playing tricks with her?
"Hermione?" a voice laced with disbelief spoke up making all three head snap up. The laughter from Pansy and the amused glint in Malfoy's eyes were gone when they realized who it was.
"Harry," she greeted with an icy tone; his actions from last night not completely forgotten by the witch. "Here to dictate me about Ron, again?"
Her eyes widened when all of the sudden Harry Potter sneered down at her. "First it was Ron and now this? I never thought you'll stoop so low to find comforts with slimy Slytherins."
Pansy gasped with disbelief as she stared at the Gryffindor wizard in front of them.
Hermione just rolled her eyes and leaned back to give Harry a pointed look. "The people I choose to be with are none of your concern."
"It is when my best friend is hanging around with snakes."
The fiery witch glared at him. "How dare you insult my friends, Harry Potter?" She looked at him with disbelief as her voice rose up a bit.
"Friends? You call them friends? They will just stab you at the back when you turn back at them for a minute!"
"At least they don't push me to do things I don't want to do." She seethed, both of her hands curled at her lap.
Pansy stood up and tried to grab Harry's attention. "Potter, tone it down. You are grabbing unwanted attention." The witch hissed, tugging the wizard down.
Harry recoiled from her touch and glared at the witch beside Hermione. "Don't touch me, filth."
Before Malfoy could even react, or anyone, Hermione was off her sit and slapped The-Boy-Who-Lived. "Leave," she fumed; her glare full of pure poison and anger.
"Hermione-"
"Leave. I won't repeat myself any longer, Harry."
With a snarl, the savoir of the Wizarding world left the small cafe with obvious anger and humiliation.
The fuming witch sat back down and tried to gain back her cool.
Meanwhile, the blond wizard leaned back to his chair and smirked. "So, I am a friend now, Granger?"
Hermione broke out a small smile and shrugged as she looked up to meet his eyes.
"More like acquaintances."
Of all words that can describe how she sees Malfoy, she blurted out acquaintance. She sighed and crawled on her bed. She buried her face against her pillow and tried to block her thoughts about her tea break with Pansy...and Malfoy.
"Acquaintance? You are acquainted with Draco Malfoy?" Ginny pestered on since Hermione told her everything that happened.
She shook her head and tightened her grip on her pillow. "I don't know why I said that." She said against the soft material, making it a bit muffled for Ginny to hear.
The ginger rolled her eyes and poked Hermione by her side. "I can't understand a single word you just said, Hermione."
The curly haired witch groaned and looked up to the side to give her companion a half-hearted glare. "I said, I don't know why I said that."
Ginny gave her a look and smirked as she lied down on her back next to Hermione. "Well, Malfoy can be a decent guy. Well, Pansy said so. Knowing Pansy, there is a possibility that it is not always true but the truth nonetheless. "
The bushy haired witch groaned and covered her eyes. "Please, everyone knows that Pansy is Pansy."
The ginger laughed and shook her head in amusement, "what does that even imply?"
"I don't know!" the girl beside her whined. Hermione let out a deep breath and turned to look at her best friend.
"What was he like?"
"Who?"
"Malfoy of course! Is he just like he was before the war?"
Hermione bit her lip and stared at the wall behind Ginny. "No, not really. He was decent, civil and quite pleasant to look at."
A/N:
I seriously apologize for making you wait. I know that I can't blame the University but I will. Aaaaand, I'm in my third year already. One more year and I'll have a degree. Yay, more writing time, then, yeah? Again, I deeply apologize. I had written and finished this chapter for months now, yet I have not uploaded it because I haven't started on the seventh, which by the way sucks.
It might be the next update would be a few weeks from now or it may take months. I am even rarely in front of my computer this past few months and my nose is always stuck between books I have to study and learn. Don't worry, I won't and will not abandon this story or any other WIP stories I have.
Thank you for waiting patiently though and I really appreciated the reviews I had received. I couldn't believe that someone is actually taking his or her time to read my work and had enjoyed it.
Lots of love,
-Meg