"Wait, you're telling me that Narcissa and Snape had an affair?" Ginny gasped, "and she still married Lucius? What happened? Isn't Snape, Draco's godfather? Do you think Draco knows about their affair? Do you think Lucius does? Do you think Draco is really Snape's baby?"
"Merlin Ginny! No I do not think Snape is really his father, are you kidding me? Draco looks almost identical to Lucius. I'm not sure about the rest of it, I admit I AM curious about it all. It's like reading the first three chapters of a thrilling novel, before it gets ripped from your fingers. She didn't want to go into details regarding the affair."
"Pity, all that pureblood gossip. And now we'll never know. Missed opportunity."
"What exactly was I supposed to do? Pull out the mimosas and ask her to spill all her deepest darkest secrets? I may be an idiot at love but I'm not an idiot at life."
"You are an idiot at love." Ginny grinned at her.
"Yeah well, it's all coming back to bite me in the arse now."
"You should talk to Draco… and Theo, and Harry come to think of it."
Hermione sighed nodding at her friend. "The question is which conversation is going to suck the least? Usually that would be Harry, but I'm still furious with him, and I'm sure he has a lot more questions, I don't want to answer. Theo is definitely out, that conversation will only be heartbreaking, that leaves my darling Fiancé. That hates my guts." She stared at her beautiful ring, with a sadness in her eyes.
"Doesn't Narcissa have some sort of plan for you there?"
"Well yes, but her plan mostly involves me coming around the Manor a lot, forcing Draco to eventually confront me. Not really my style, even if it is cunning and probably would work. I'd just rather attempt to smooth things over myself first, and I'd like to avoid Lucius at all costs."
"Angry fiancé it is! Why don't you bring him a present? Like your body wrapped in lingerie." Ginny winked.
"If we had had sex before that MAY have worked, however…"
"I can't believe you still haven't had sex with him. He's like a painting, Hermione. A brilliant, sexy masterpiece."
Hermione sighed, it was true of course, she could admit it. She wondered if things would be better if they already had sex, maybe they would trust each other more. She hated questioning every choice she made when it came to relationships.
"I guess I'll get this over with." She stepped into the floo. "Draco Malfoy's flat" she spoke.
—
Hermione stepped through the floo into Draco and Harry's flat. He was sitting on the sofa when she walked in. As soon as Draco saw her he closed his book and stood up to leave.
"Draco wait!" She rushed towards him. "Please let me apologize. Let me explain."
He turned towards her with a scowl. "Fine. Apologize. Explain." He replied coldly.
"Okay." She began, realizing this was not going to be easy. "Look I am sorry I tried to rush our marriage. I have really enjoyed getting to know you at our current pace, and I've enjoyed our dates. I like you! I really really like you. I never should have taken out my anger on you. I never should have given you that ultimatum. I'm sorry."
He glared at her harder.
"I… I know you must be a little bit aware of my past with Theo. I'm sorry I didn't explain things to you before. It's just hard for me to talk about."
He glared more, and crossed his arms.
"Well. Um. You could say something. Do you have questions? Um. What do you want to know. I'll tell you."
He raised his eyebrow. "Do you still love him?"
"That's not fair Draco, it's not that simple." Hermione replied getting more flustered.
"I see." Draco responded and turned away from her.
"Draco wait! Please we need to talk about this."
"You've told me all I need to hear. I need some time Hermione."
He slammed his door and Hermione dropped to the ground in tears. After a few moments she wiped her face, told herself to suck it up and stop being such a weak woman, with her shoulders back she stepped back into the floo. It was time to take Narcissa up on her plan.
—
Hermione surveyed her fuck up list again. She sighed. So far she had accomplished nothing on the list, except maybe getting along with Narcissa. But Lucius was still a big fat NOPE! So she couldn't even check that one off her list.
She toyed with the idea of crossing it off and adding Lucius in there separately but that seemed counterproductive just to feel like she accomplished something. So she left her list alone. Luckily she had her internship to distract her. She was between patients at the moment so she wasn't entirely able to take her mind off of things but it was better than nothing.
Unfortunately the muggle therapist she was working with was entirely too perceptive. She tried to "shrink speak," Hermione three times already today and it wasn't even noon. Even worse she was brooding over the invitation she received this morning at breakfast.
"You are cordially invited to the engagement party of Daphne Greengrass and Harry Potter to be held at the Greengrass Estates."
The party was this weekend. She really really didn't want to go. Everyone she was avoiding would be there. It was sure to be a shit show of tension and anxiety. She was planning on going to the Manor today after work for some of her "lessons" as per Lucius' prenuptial agreement and Narcissa's evil plotting. So she assumed she would see Draco this evening. She hoped she would see Draco this evening. The truth was she missed him. Even though she still loved Theo, she missed Draco, and it was Draco that was causing an aching in her heart.
She was also planning on stopping by Harry's afterwards to vent some of her stress and hopefully get back on track with him. The bastard hadn't even owled her all week. She supposed he was still upset with her too.
—
Harry and Ron were sitting in the living room of Harry's flat playing Nintendo. Draco thought it was weird.
"Still moping?" Harry asked as Ron laughed.
"I am NOT moping. I've just been reading in my room for your information, not playing some silly little muggle game."
"I would think you would have forgiven her by now. I could have told you she wouldn't go through with a courthouse wedding at the ministry and don't you dare mock Mario." Harry said.
"Not that it's ANY of your business but I'm not moping about that."
"Oh the Theo thing." He responded. Ron pointedly looked away.
"Yeah. Why don't you tell me about that Weasel. Since you know everything."
"Look mate, you don't need to jump down my throat. I may not hate you anymore, but my loyalty is definitely to Hermione over you."
"That's why you blabbed to Theo huh? Some loyalty."
"First off, the bloody bastard was a wreck, he deserved to know and Mione's been a bitch to keep it from him, second of all it doesn't concern you so you need to talk to your bloody fiancé if you want information."
"Merlin you and Pansy deserve each other. How would Hermione feel if she knew you called her a bitch?"
"Blackmail? Really? Well considering, I've called her a bitch several times when it comes to what she did, it wouldn't be news to her. She's normally not like this. We fought about it for months when it happened. I had to practically force her to leave my flat when it had been 3 months, 3 months of that fucking terrible song. Tough love you know."
"Okay. Seriously, what the fuck happened? What song? Potter?"
"Oh no! I happen to have it on good authority she tried to talk to you about this. You're on your own mate, and I'm not sure what song he's talking about."
"How do you know she tried to talk to me?" Draco glared.
"Ginny asked me if Hermione and I made up and asked if you got your head out of your arse long enough to listen to her"
"Talking to your ex girlfriend Potter? Would Daphne approve?"
"Well she was there so, I'm assuming it was fine."
"Whatever! I don't need to listen to either one of you. She made the mistake, I've been nothing but a joy to her."
"Yes, Draco Malfoy, the epitome of the perfect boyfriend."
"I HAVE been a perfect boyfriend for your information. You both are wankers. Aren't you in some big fight with her anyways."
"Hermione and I are just playing a little game of chicken. It's no concern of yours. Just talk to your fiancé. Let. Her. Talk. To. You!" Harry bellowed, throwing an apple at him. He caught it and took a bite.
"I'm not even going to pretend to know what that means. I'll be at the manor, hopefully you two idiots won't be here when I get back."
—
Draco walked into the Manor and found a crowd. Oh no! He recognized that hag. Madame Baile. He turned to leave quickly but he was spotted.
"Draco darling. So glad you are here. Your betrothed is here for some of her lessons that your father set up. Do be a dear and help her with her dance lessons. A lady must always have a partner you know." Narcissa beamed.
His mother was a meddlesome bother sometimes. Lucius was sitting in his chair with that fucking loony grin on his face, watching the scene like a television. Maybe he should get him a television or a fucking hobby, something to keep him occupied and OUT of his life.
"Ahhhhh Draco! My white dancing dragon! You tango like sex. It is quite obscene no?"
Lucius turned his laugh into a cough as Narcissa glared at him.
"Madame, I'm never quite sure if you're giving me a compliment or an insult," he bowed and kissed her hand.
"A pity. If only I were 50 years younger." She let her hand linger before Draco stepped back uncomfortably. He chanced a glance at Hermione, whose hair was sparking with fury. Well. Maybe this would be entertaining after all. And damn if she didn't look good in that dress.
—
Hermione looked good. She made sure of that. If she was going to get him to talk to her, she had to pull out all the stops. She wore Ginny's naked dress that she charmed to be Slytherin green, she wore nothing underneath.
She was making a statement. This was not subtle. She was wearing his house colors, she wasn't wearing any knickers, no bra, she would dance with him and have his hands on her, and he would KNOW she was bare underneath this dress. She would make sure that he knew.
She wore her hair in soft curls. She put on the freaking mascara. She ignored her subtle gloss, and wore the burgundy lipstick. This was powerful, seductive Hermione. This was a: remember all our chemistry, remember all our heat, remember all our lust outfit. And she saw him sneak a glance. She SAW his jaw subtlety drop before he regained composure. Hermione point 1. She thought as she followed that terrible women into the smaller ballroom.
—
"Today, I need to evaluate your bride" Madame Baile spoke as she shifted her glasses down on the chain to eye Hermione over the lenses.
"I need to see your chemistry. She is dressed to dance my white dragon! You waltz!" She snapped her fingers and the music started playing in the background. Draco reluctantly turned toward her. Damn that dress, he thought. He was unable to keep his treacherous eyes from looking her up and down. She was good. She was real good. Using her body to torment him into speaking to her. Well it wouldn't work.
He bowed and held out his arms. She approached him confidently. Normal Hermione would be nervous and flustered at the idea of dancing with him. He knew she had something to prove tonight.
He took her into his arms with the grace of a jungle cat. Draco was an amazing dancer, he was great at everything of course, but dancing was something he had a passion for. They twirled around the room with surprising ease, carefully 12 inches apart and without making eye contact.
"Ah Hermione," the music stopped with her snap. Draco immediately dropped arms and stepped back. Madame gave him a look over her glasses and tutted.
"I'll deal with you in a minute dragon. Hermione, your form is pitiful. You look the part, and you seemed to have practiced, perhaps a long time ago, but it isn't believable when you dance. You must want the dragon! You must yearn for the dragon. I don't feel your longing. And Dragon," she turned towards Draco, "why have you not bedded your bride? Hmm?"
Hermione choked and turned red immediately.
"Madame," Draco replied carefully, "I am but a pureblood with old fashioned ideals. We are waiting for marriage."
"That's horseshit" Hermione mumbled under her laughter. Madame Baile tutted again.
"Dragon. You will not be able to dance properly with your bride until you have intimacy. This is a very big problem. A disaster. You must learn to trust each other. You must tango! Dance!" With a snap the tango played.
Draco approached Hermione again. This time he grabbed her and pulled her close to him. Their faces mere inches as he put his hand on her waist. He swallowed hard when he felt no line underneath the dress. His hand dropped a few inches, groping to feel the line of her underwear. He found no such line. He moved his hand to the small of her back, just above her arse, no lines. He swallowed again.
"I don't know what you're looking for, but I assure you, you won't find it," Hermione said softly into his ear. Damn she was good and he spun her around the dance floor.