Chapter Five:
Turns out Hermione saw Malfoy a lot sooner than she had expected.
The next day she had decided to take Harry up on his offer and pop in to number 12 Grimmauld Place, but she quickly realized her grave mistake.
Draco Malfoy was there, as was Ron Weasley, AND Neville Longbottom.
As soon as she sees the messy jet black hair of Harry Potter she grabs his arm and pulls him into a broom cupboard.
"Harry!" she snaps, while still trying to keep her voice down "what is Draco Malfoy doing here?"
Harry looks a bit flustered by being dragged into a broom cupboard against his will but answers the question dutifully, "well you know this past year he's the contact from Magical Cooperation I've been assigned to and once we put aside our past, ah, differences, I realized he's not that bad of a bloke." Harry continues after gaining some vigor and taking a deep breath, "and after seeing you kiss him yesterday I figured there was something going on between you two, so I invited him, for you."
Ah. There it is – that unmistakable glint in his eyes. Harry knows exactly what he is doing, maybe he is the one who sent out all of the letters?
"Mhm, interesting. You sure you didn't invite him because of some letters you shouldn't have read? Hermione presses.
Harry actually looks a bit taken aback at this, and genuinely confused.
Ah bugger, Hermione thinks to herself, I've gone and done it this time. "You know what, never mind, lovely party, but I think I might be going now" she quickly utters to him before he can say another word and exists the broom cupboard.
As soon as she is out in the hallway she is now the one being accosted, by none other than Ronald Weasley.
"Are you and Malfoy together!?" he asks her accusingly.
Hermione tries to look around inconspicuously, doesn't see the ferret anywhere near them so she responds, "We're not together Ronald –
"But you were kissing him!" Ron interjects a little too harshly for her liking. How is she going to get out of this without him getting his hopes up…
"Yes, well like I said, we're not "together" but uh, we're casually going on dates with each other and seeing where it leads." Good job Hermione, no one is going to believe that, she thinks and rolls her eyes. "Anyway, it's no concern to you who I date so if that's all…"
"I got your letter" he barely whispers, and the hopefulness is back in his eyes.
Of course he would bring up the letter, why wouldn't he?
"Oh Ron, you weren't meant to receive that, it was written years ago, back when we were together, I have no idea how it got owl'd to you, but please don't think too much into it" she nicely, but sternly replies.
"Don't think too much of it? You basically declared your love to me in that letter? I feel like this changes things" he pleads.
"No Ron, it doesn't, I'm sorry but it doesn't –" She's then cut off by someone sidling up next to her and putting their arm around her waist.
"Hello Weasley." Of course it was Draco Malfoy.
"Malfoy" Ron replies with a slight edge to his tone "what are you doing here?"
"Yes well, I'm here as Hermione's date you see, so if you could give us a moment that would be great." Malfoy tells Ron in a way that actually comes off as decent, at least to Hermione's ears, Ron though looks livid.
"I bloody hell will not – " He starts but Hermione interjects, "Ron, please."
Ron looks as though he is going to say more but he decides against it, takes one more look at them and stalks off.
Before Malfoy can say anything to her she mumbles a quick thank you and something about needing to get some air and escapes to the pack patio. She's given a few minutes of peace when a visitor joins her.
"Hey Hermione" a soft but confident voice calls to her. She instantly recognizes the voice to be that of Neville Longbottom.
The Neville in front of her is such a different Neville from the one she went to school with. He has gotten quite tall, which caused him to lose the baby fat, and the facial hair he's grown gives him a more mature look. If she's being honest he looks quite dashing. The most dramatic difference though is his confidence. Since pursuing his dream of being a Herbology professor at Hogwarts and then winning the heart of Hannah Abbott, he seems to have more assurance about him.
"Hey Neville" she responds with a small smile, knowing exactly what this is leading to.
He pulls out the envelope with his name on it from his pocket and hands it to her, "I got this the other day and I thought you would maybe want it back."
So Neville got his too. Wonderful.
Hermione reaches her hand out and takes the letter, feeling slightly better that it's now in her possession again.
"Oh Neville, you're probably wondering what this is all about, I um, I wrote it a long time ago and – "
"You don't need to explain."
"Really?" Neville was always one of the good guys.
"Yeah, it was clearly written back in fifth year, and I just overheard you talking to Ron about dating Malfoy" a nervous blush rises to her cheeks at the thought of other people eaves dropping on that conversation, "and I know that you know I'm getting married to Hannah in two months so, like I said, don't worry about it" and he gives her a genuine smile.
"Hannah!" she gasps. "Oh she must think I'm some harlet woman out to steal you!"
Neville laughs abruptly, "oh Hermione don't worry about it, yes she did read the letter, but she too understands it was written forever ago, and assumes there are details we don't know."
Relief rushes through her, "yes well, the details are: someone found my letters and decided to send them out to everyone without my knowledge." Becoming even more irked at the situations she has found herself in. "Tell her I'm sorry though, and I really wish the two of you a wonderful marriage" she responds with what she hopes is a genuine look in her eyes and not the guilt that she actually feels.
"Thanks Hermione, I better head back inside though, she said she'd come barging out here if I took too long" he says with a wink and she knows he's joking but at the moment all she can do is let out a strained chuckle that even to her ears sounds forced.
After Neville goes back inside she takes a moment and decides to read the letter she wrote to him years earlier.
Dear Neville,
I've never met a boy with manners as good as yours.
Considering I spend most of my time around boys, that's saying a lot.
It's the end of our fifth year and I feel I've only just now come to really notice you.
When we broke into the ministry and you stayed by my side while everyone else ran off, that meant so much to me.
Sometimes I feel like everyone just sees me as Hermione Granger, smartest witch of her age, doesn't need anyone.
But you don't see me that way, you see me as someone with actual emotions and insecurities.
Oh Neville!
I wish I knew what kind of girls you liked.
As far as I can tell you haven't dated anyone…You just keep to yourself.
I hardly know a thing about you. The things I know are so unsubstantial, so unsatisfying.
Like that you eat mince pies every day at dinner, and you're in the Frog Choir.
I guess the one remotely real thing I know about you is you're outstanding in Herbology.
You really have an aptitude for understanding plants and you're always researching about them.
Having you join Dumbledore's Army this year helped me feel like I knew you a little bit better, but I still don't know you,
and I wish I did.
I think you're a very special Wizard.
I think you are probably one of the most special people at this school,
and I wish more people took the time to know that about you.
Or maybe I don't.
Because I do enjoy being the only one who knows something.
Love, Hermione Granger
Is the embarrassment ever going to end? Hermione silently asks herself. Thankfully her letter to Neville wasn't as gushy as some of the others, but it was still something she would have loved to have kept to herself. She gently slides the letter into her pocket and decides to go back inside, the worst is behind her now, right?
Back inside, she navigates her way around people. trying to avoid those she doesn't want to talk to and looking for the safer conversations.
Just as she's about to hone in on George and Ginny Weasley over by the drinks, a firm hand is placed on her back and guides her to the couch by the fire.
"Malfoy." She says. Why is she not surprised.
"I know your letter said you would forever call me Malfoy, but really? Don't you think we're past that, I mean we have kissed twice now, I feel that warrants you calling me Draco" He says with a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
This elicits a genuine chuckle from her, "I don't know, I think you still have a bit more to prove to me that you deserve it." Oh dear, was she...flirting with him?
"Hmm, good to know. Although I did hear you telling Weasley that we were, how did you put it, casually dating? Wouldn't it seem hard for that to be true with you going around calling me Malfoy?" He charmingly tells her.
Well drat, was no part of that conversation private? Clearly not. "You may have a point there, and how much of that conversation did you actually hear?" She asks.
"Enough to know that Weasley wasn't getting the hint."
She almost thinks she catches a bit of jealousy in his tone, but surely she is imagining it.
They continue talking on the couch the rest of the night and she quickly becomes more comfortable being in his presence, remembering how easy he is to talk to. Time has really gotten away with her, and the next thing she knows it is well past midnight and Harry is kicking people out.
She bids her good-byes and apparates home, but not before glancing one more time at Draco Malfoy.
Maybe those letters being sent out wasn't such a bad thing, she thinks.
The rest of Hermione's weekend goes without notice and she starts to feel like everything is going back to normal.
As she steps into her office Monday morning she is gifted with a beautiful surprise - an arrangement of flowers on her desk. There is a little card sticking out of the flowers, and she grabs for it, fully intrigued. The outside of the card says her name, Hermione Granger.
Well that's good, a part of her did think these were delivered here by accident.
As she pulls the card out a smile graces her lips as she reads,
Hermione,
I enjoyed spending time with you the other night, almost felt like old times.
Is there any chance you would agree to have dinner with me this Friday?
I figured since you are telling people that we are "dating" then I better make it official
by actually asking you on one. If your response is a yes, then allow the flowers to speak for me.
Draco Malfoy
So it wasn't just her who had felt something familiar that night. Although he could just be going through all this trouble for her to save face, but that seemed a little out of his character. She was even more convinced when she looked at the type of flowers he had sent her.
Pink Hydrangeas and white Anemones meaning: Heartfelt Anticipation.
Saying Hermione was nervous for her date with Draco on Friday would have been an understatement.
It's all she could think about.
After she had read his card at least a dozen times, she had owl'd off a note accepting the date for Friday. She thought she would see him around the ministry that week, not having to wait until Friday to see him but it was starting to seem unlikely. Thursday during lunch she ran into Dean Thomas, who also worked in the International Magical Cooperation department, and she very casually brought up Draco. Come to find out he was in Italy for the week, so it seemed she wouldn't be seeing him until tomorrow night.
Even with the unending nerves, Friday night came quickly enough and at 6 o'clock she heard a knock on her door. Considering this was Draco Malfoy she was going out with and not Ron, she had opted for a nice but simple black dress and put a little extra effort into her hair and makeup for the night. She gave herself one last glance before opening the door.
There he was, leaning against the door frame, looking way more calm and collected than how she was feeling at the moment.
He looked good. Again.
He was wearing black slacks and a more casual sport jacket in a light grey color, but the best part was when she got to his face and saw that smile. It was that smile that made her remember that she was going to enjoy herself tonight.
"Granger" he says with a slight nod of his head, while straightening up and offering her his arm.
"I thought we were past the last names?" She quickly points out.
"You're right, but old habits die hard" he replies with a daring wink.
So that's how tonight is going to be, she'll have to show him she can keep up.
As they start walking down the streets of London, she is curious as to where they are going, and he has kept his lips sealed each time she has asked in the last ten minutes.
They eventually arrive at a slightly hidden muggle restaurant and as they are seated she decides to comment on it.
"So, a muggle restaurant? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't surprised…"
He chuckles and puts his hands up in defense, "I know, I know, shocking right? Draco Malfoy even stepping foot in a muggle establishment. But they make the best Yorkshire pudding here. And well, I figured you wouldn't want to be bombarded by the daily prophet cameras...which would most likely happen if we went anywhere in Diagon Alley."
He looks a bit sheepish at that fact, but it quickly vanishes as he continues, "Also, with my job I've had a lot to realize about different cultures around the world, and really how different is that from learning about muggle culture?"
At this last comment she is pretty sure she is dangerously close to falling in love with Draco Malfoy all over again, and he was right, the Yorkshire pudding was phenomenal.
Once they had finished eating they decided to go walk around Hyde Park since they were fairly close by.
"I'm also surprised at how well you seem to know muggle London, the pub we were at the other week, this restaurant and now Hyde Park? Are you in this area a lot?" She asks him.
He seems a little surprised at her question but shrugs it off by saying, "well I live just a few blocks that way," and points to the left of where they currently are "and have for about the last four years."
"You live…here!?" She blurts out before she can ask in a more tactful way. But he surprises her again by laughing.
"Yes well, you didn't think I still lived at Malfoy Manor with my Mummy did you?"
Yes. That's exactly where she thought he had been living, and that's what the look on her face must have come across as, because his smile turns into a serious frown.
"I'm sorry, I just thought –" Hermione starts to say but at the same moment Draco has grabbed hold of her hand and butterflies instantly erupt in her stomach.
"Don't apologize for that. Growing up I never would have thought I would move out of the manor, but things happen." He hesitates for a second, and it takes everything in her not to push him into continuing.
A few seconds later though he does, "It wasn't the same place I had grown up in, with the Dark Lord constantly being there during the war, and you" at this he visibly swallows and closes his eyes, "and you being tortured there…it just wasn't the same. And I tried to make it work, for my mother's sake...since my father was sentenced to life in Azkaban I knew she would need someone there with her. But I just couldn't do it anymore, I needed to get out, start over somewhere else. So I chose muggle London." With that he turns and looks her straight in the eyes, and slowly gives her a smile.
They spend a little while longer at the park and then Draco talks her into going to a little shop that he tells her serves the best Eaton Mess. Once again he is correct. How does he know all of this? Now that she lives around here she is determined to have him take her around London again. And if he holds her hand the whole time like he did tonight, well, that would just be an added bonus.