Hey guys, so this story is fairly small, and I have already written it all, so it's going to have quick updates. Expect maybe a couple more chapters. That should be it. Well, in any case, please don't forget to leave a review, it really means a lot to me. Constructive criticism is always appreciated. And now here's the next chapter, enjoy!

20th January 2024 – Draco

Why am I even here? I don't know anybody, except for Hannah I guess. Speaking of, maybe I should take you back a bit.

15th January 2024 – Draco

I was prepping for a simple dinner when the music stalled, and a familiar ringtone rang through the house. What with striking off on my own, the Malfoy money was all but closed off to me. Except for getting me my new apartment, the furnishings, and my new phone. My phone. I always kept the music on blast when I was home. I hate the silence, it's such a constant reminder of the adult loneliness that always haunts.

"Hello?"

I froze. That voice sounded familiar, but I couldn't exactly place it.

"Is this Draco?"

"Yes, this is him. Who's asking?"

"Well, that would be your best friend from university whom you haven't called in more than a year!"

"Hannah?"

"Is that a question, because if it is I'll whoop your ass."

"No, no. God, Abbott, you had me dumbstruck for a moment there. This is not your old number."

"Nah, I changed it after I moved to London. Some creep from the States constantly doxed my SMS till it fried my phone."

"You didn't tell me about all this."

"You didn't call."

"Yeah." She couldn't see my face, but the shame bloomed on it. I didn't have very many friends, and I was complaining about the silence in the apartment not long ago. I guess it was born of my own choices.

"I am really sorry Hannah. I just got very-"

"Busy? Yeah, I know. We'll talk all about it. But a little birdie told me that you had just moved to London too and-"

Wait, I hid that from everyone. Even my ex-co-workers didn't know which city I was moving to. And I didn't have social media.

"Woah, Woah. How did you know that?"

"I have my ways. Did you forget?"

Theo. I remember mentioning it to him casually at our brunch. Damnit.

"Theo, huh? Yeah, I moved a few months ago, and am just settling in. It feels a bit weird to be back."

"Well, it was Neville actually. He and Theo met a few months ago, and they've been meeting up almost every day. And I also threatened to get the truth of their 'friendship' out of them, so they sold you out in barter. And since you just moved, and didn't even deign to tell me first and absolutely hate human interaction, I am throwing a mini-mini party next weekend at my place. Don't worry about the rest, I'll send you all the details, and I checked – the tube is the best way for you to get from your place to mine."

"You should have been in Scotland Yard, not a software engineer at Nexustron. That's still where you work, right? And I don't know if I should Hannah. I am not the same person I was in university. Sometimes, I don't even recognize myself."

"Ah, stop with the old man spiel. It's been so long since we have even been in the same city and here you are, bargaining like going to a house party is the end of the world. You need to come, no excuses. For old time's sake."

Well, that was always her trump card. For old-time's sake. Even when we were in university, she would get me into shit that I never knew I would do. I liked humouring her, she had been there for me through some tough times.

"Fine. I'll be there."

"Ahhhh I am so happy you said yes! See you next weekend, and I'll send you the details, bye!"

The phone clicked. God, what have I gotten myself into?

20th January 2024 – Draco

So, now you know. It wasn't really my best moment, arguing with Hermione. But I was hungry and irritable, and I don't know. Something about the way she was so confident in her opinion, regardless of how wrong she was, made me want to rise to the challenge.

And here I was, making a bet with her. My life is probably an endless film reel of me wondering what I had gotten myself into.

8th February 2024 - Draco

It took us some time to come to grips with the challenge. Granger more than me. I knew what I was getting into. At the very least, I had a good idea. Granger? She was going in blind. I was quite honoured to have the trust she gave me, but I had to prove her wrong. It was imperative that I won. She didn't know what was coming.

It took us a week to decide which therapist to go with and schedule an appointment for the weekend. Hermione felt like going pro-bono would entail sitting with a grad student explaining to them a broken relationship that they had probably never experienced or encountered. I differed, but it was a game of push and pull, and I needed to let it go slack occasionally. I could feel the excitement emanating from her. She didn't believe in therapy, I could see that, but she was incredibly curious. It was fun.

"Her?"

Her shoulders loosened, "Yeah, I am more comfortable with women to be very honest. I know men are good too, but women feel kinder?"

"You don't have to explain yourself to me, Hermione. It's your first time doing something like this, it's all on you."

"It's not my first time lying and tricking, but going to therapy, yes. It probably is your first-time tricking someone, isn't it?"

"Do I really look that innocent?"

"Yes."

I pulled my cap down over my eyes and playfully grunted, "Well, you don't know the depth of this mystery you seek to uncover, young girl. I have done things you couldn't dream of doing in life. I have many layers."

"Like an onion?"

"Exactly like an onion."

"You smell like it too!"

She snorted at her joke, muffling her giggles on her jumper sleeve. I liked making her laugh, she didn't have that wariness in her eyes in those brief moments.

No. No more of that.

"So, are we decided on… ?"

"Yup."

"Done then. See you the day after. 4, don't be late."

She did a mock salute, "Yes, sir."

It was hard not to like her, but she had layers that needed peeling off. Maybe this experience could do that.