Fling.
It had been called a goddamn, fucking fling.
Draco absolutely despised that word. It was short, callous, and seemed as if it should have been an onomatopoeia but wasn't even worthy of that ranking.
He truly hated that fucking word.
So, every time Ron Weasley threw that damn word into a conversation, stating that Hermione and Draco had once upon a time had a fling, disgust dripping from his tone, Draco felt physically ill.
The groups of friends may have combined a few years back but that did not mean everything was chocolate frogs and licorice wands amongst them all. Draco and Ron still held a lot of bad blood between them and neither hid it well at all. It didn't help that Ron's jealousy raged after discovering details of Hermione's past relationship with the blond Slytherin.
During a weekend bash at Blaise Zabini's townhouse, the entire group had been drinking and chatting, having a pleasant time when Blaise had brought out a hat that appeared to be the official Sorting Hat of Hogwarts.
"How'd you get that?!" Neville asked with an intrigued grin as Pansy pressed a kiss to his jaw.
"It's not the original. It's better." Blaise smirked. "I crafted it with a few…improvements of my own creation and I think tonight is the ideal time to try it out."
"Okay then…how's it work?" Harry asked as Theo sat down beside him with fresh drinks for the two of them.
Blaise grinned, "So, first, we have to think of a question." He said, "I'll give an example. Malfoy, when was your first shag?" He asked before holding the hat out to Draco, "Now put it on and answer the question."
"No." Draco replied instantly and in a firm tone before taking a sip of his wine.
Blaise sighed exasperatedly and shook his head, "Draco, put the bloody hat on."
"Absolutely not, Blaise. I don't trust you or your magic." Draco replied, "You put the bloody thing on."
Blaise rolled his eyes, "Fine, ask me a question." He said, putting the hat on.
"When was your first shag, Blaise?" Pansy spoke up.
"My first shag was actually Daphne Greengrass after the Yule Ball." He answered.
"Ah…" The hat said out loud, "That is true."
As Blaise took it off, he said, "You will get a chance to answer it, however, should you lie…well, then a little charm will affect you for a short time."
"What sort of charm?" Ginny asked the dark-skinned wizard.
Blaise chuckled, "Why, Darling?" He asked, "Are you weighing your options?"
The redhead shrugged, smirking at her boyfriend, "Perhaps."
Blaise chuckled, shaking his head, "There are a few different charms, and I don't choose which one is used on who." He said, before winking at his girlfriend and adding, "They are all inspired by your brothers' shop."
"Brilliant." Hermione muttered sardonically before taking a sip of her own wine.
"Okay grumpy Granger, you're next." Blaise grinned, "Who's the best shag you've ever had?" He asked, before quickly slipping the hat onto her head so that she had no choice but to answer.
Hermione rolled her eyes and considered lying but despised the idea of dealing with the punishment. She sighed, making sure to not meet his grey eyes as she answered, "Draco."
"Most definitely true." The hat spoke before she pulled it off.
Theo slapped Draco on the shoulder, but the blond wizard didn't react, hating that she had been embarrassed in front of everyone.
Ron clenched his jaw and took a large gulp of his Firewhisky.
"Lovegood, who's the best shag you've ever had?" Blaise asked, tossing her the hat.
The blonde witch slipped it on and answer nonchalantly, "Well, I do hope this is an acceptable answer because it is true, but I'd have to say myself. I am by far the best shag I've ever had."
"That is quite honest." The hat said.
"Bloody hell, that's horrible, Luna!" Ginny exclaimed, looking at her friend with a bit of pity in her eyes.
Luna shrugged, "I'm rather satisfied."
"How about you, Draco?" Theo asked, "Who was your best shag? Since you're Granger's…" He said as Luna tossed Draco the hat.
Hermione felt fear and embarrassment forming in her gut, but he quickly slipped the hat on and answered. "Granger, of course." He said, unbothered.
"Ah…another honest contestant." The hat said.
"Of course, you say?" Blaise chuckled.
"Yes." Draco nodded, slipping the hat off his head.
"So, you two must've shagged practically nonstop during this fling of yours, eh?" Ron scoffed, angrily.
Draco looked over at Weasley and nearly punched him in his red, weasel face. He opened his mouth to respond but was beaten to it.
"Shut up, Ronald!" Hermione exclaimed, surprising Draco. "It wasn't a bloody fling!"
"And what the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Ron asked angrily with a slight slur as he glared at her.
"I loved him, you arsehole!" She shouted, furious with him, before she stood up and stormed out, wine glass in hand.
Draco watched her go, fighting the urge to run after her. He knew better. She always needed a moment to breathe and compose herself before she was approached, but it was still extremely difficult.
Ron, however, either didn't know that, or didn't care, as he stood up and ran after her.
Harry sighed, shaking his head, "He'll never learn." He muttered.
"RONALD, LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!" They all heard.
Ron came stumbling back in, "Bloody fucking hell. No one go out there."
Blaise smirked and looked at Draco with a discreet nod.
Draco inhaled and stood up, grabbing one of the freshly opened bottles of red wine before he began to walk out to the back terrace.
"What the fuck, Malfoy?" Ron said, angrily, "Did you not hear her? She doesn't want to be bothered."
Draco inhaled slowly and looked at Ron, "Yes, but you see Weasel…she said that to you, and I most certainly am not you." He said before turning and walking out, overhearing Ron saying that he wouldn't last one minute.
Draco walked out to the terrace and around to the swing that he knew she'd be on.
He held his hands up along with the bottle of wine, "I come in peace."
She looked over at him and huffed, slightly rolling her eyes, "Is there wine in that bottle?" she asked.
Draco smirked, "Do you honestly think I'd come out here empty handed?" he asked, reaching out, and pouring a healthy refill of red wine into her nearly empty glass.
She smiled despite herself and blinked, "Thank you." She whispered.
He nodded and sat the bottle on the table at her side, "I'll leave you alone now." He said, turning to go inside.
She licked her lips, "You can stay."
He smiled and turned back around, meeting her eyes, "I was hoping you'd say that." He said as he walked over and sat beside her on the swing.
She bit her bottom lip, loving, and hating just how well he knew her.
Looking to her right, she asked, "Would you like some wine?"
He grinned, "Thanks. I didn't bring my own glass out here." he said, accepting the glass she held out to him before taking a sip.
She nodded as he handed it back to her, "So, why did you come out here?"
He met her eyes, "I just had to know which of our numerous shags blew your mind the most."
Laughter erupted from her lips as she shook her head, "Like I even have to say it."
He smiled and nodded knowingly before inhaling and looking over at her, "It wasn't a fling, Granger." He said quietly "I loved you too."
She smiled and nodded, looking him in the eye, "Thank you."
He nodded and stood up, about to go back inside.
"I still love you." She confessed in a rushed breath.
He spun around on his heel, "What?" He breathed, unsure if he heard her correctly as he felt heavy thudding in his chest that he couldn't explain.
She sighed and stood up from the swing, "I'm sorry. I know. It's…it's been years and we're adults now and you're dating Astoria. She's a beautiful woman. Truly. I shouldn't have said anything but I just…I couldn't not say it." She huffed and looked down, shaking her head, "Now I'm speaking in double negatives. Listen…" She said, "just forget I said anything. It doesn't matter. You're happy in your relationship and, well, I'm dating Viktor…I probably forgot to mention that." She ranted, shaking her head again. "I am so sorry that I said anything at all. It was wrong and selfish and bloody foolish of me to speak while we're both in separate relationships. I'm so damn foolish."
Draco stepped closer to her, pulled by the same force that had kept them connected through all the years following their break-up. "Granger, would you please take a bloody breath?"
She inhaled deeply and took a large gulp of wine.
"Not exactly what I meant." He muttered.
She swallowed and sighed.
Draco met her eyes, looking into the amber orbs that had stolen his heart so long ago. He was about to speak when they both heard it.
"Draco!" Astoria called out from the lounge. "Draco, darling, where are you?"
"He just ran out to the terrace for a moment." Blaise could be heard speaking slightly louder than necessary.
Hermione bit her lip and shook her head, blinking, "Like I said…" she muttered, refusing to meet his eyes. "I'm a fucking fool." She swallowed and pushed past Draco, going straight through the bedroom door so that she didn't run into Astoria.
He sighed, "No, you're not." He whispered just as Astoria stepped onto the terrace with a wide smile on her lovely face.