October 22, 1999
The following Friday morning found Hermione sitting at the kitchen table, penning her most recent letter to Malf- Draco. True to their word, they'd penned back and forth almost every day.
Secretly, of course.
Not that Hermione was cheating. Far from it, in fact, but she knew Ronald and how he would respond to her newfound communication with Mal- Draco. She had challenged herself to try to call him by his first name rather than by his surname like they did in school. They were, after all, adults now, and relatively cordial ones at that. But that was beside the point.
Draco had invited her to lunch the following afternoon, but she was currently writing out an apology rain check. Ron usually spent his Saturdays playing pick-up Quidditch with some of their former peers, but she couldn't be sure that he would stay out long enough for her to return home unnoticed and unscathed.
Draco,
Thank you for your latest letter. It was a treat hearing about your excursions around Wizarding France. I traveled the country (muggle, of course) with my parents as a young girl, but I've not been since. I hope to go back again someday.
As lovely as that new Italian restaurant in Diagon sounds, I have plans with Ron and am unable to attend. Perhaps another time?
Until we meet again,
Hermione
Having written her response, she sat back and pondered Draco's letter. She knew he had married the youngest Greengrass sister right after the fall of Voldemort, as their nuptials were all over the papers. She hadn't heard much since their engagement, but she guessed that they were happily married and perhaps even trying for a baby.
That last thought hit her like a ton of bricks. She had always wanted a child of her own, but Ronald had not even suggested a possible engagement, let alone a baby. She ignored the churning in her stomach as she reconsidered her letter.
Of course, she had lied about her plans with Ron, but she couldn't exactly come out and say, "Sorry, my boyfriend is very controlling and would sooner have my head than let me attend lunch with a friend." She snorted, right, that would go over well.
She stood, sealing the letter and tying it to Pig's leg, the ever faithful owl from their third year. "Quickly now, Pig. Before Ron gets home, please." She had hoped that Ron, stubborn as always, would be well away from Draco's desk and, therefore, not see Pig's arrival. She knew the two of them were still unfriendly towards each other, so it wouldn't be likely that Draco would say anything to Ron about their budding friendship.
At least, she hoped so. Letting out a sigh, she fixed herself a cup of tea and settled down in the couch to read. She hoped to escape her world for a few chapters before she needed to get dinner ready.
