December 18, 1999
Hermione woke early the next day, feeling the pain from Ron's latest assault echoing through her body. She stood, slowly, and made her way to the already empty bedroom to get dressed. She peeled off her ruined clothes and took a minute to inspect her body in the mirror.
Bruises in various stages of healing littered her body. A particularly painful handprint, dark purple, throbbed on her cheek. Dried blood could be found on the inside of her thighs, reminiscent of Ron's numerous assaults.
She sighed and got to work covering the bruising on her face. Thanks to the falling snow, she could bundle up to her neck and not arouse suspicion. She flinched as her beauty blender smudged against an extra tender spot right under her eye where his nail had caught her, leaving a small scratch.
She finished up her makeup, took a wet wipe to her thighs, then bundled up to her neck. She took another quick glance in the mirror to ensure her scarf covered the marks on her neck before she hurried out the door to do her shopping.
"Hermione!" She flinched reflexively before she even knew who had said her name in the grocery store. A flash of red hair caught her eye and she felt her heart jump into her throat. Before she knew it, the red headed girl barreled into Hermione's chest.
"Ginny? What are you doing here?" Hermione squeezed Ginny back, happy that it wasn't her youngest brother here to berate her even more. Ginny released the hold on her and pulled back, examining Hermione's face closely.
"What, aren't you happy to see me?" Ginny's voice was light, but Hermione caught the hurt undertones.
"Of course I am, silly," she rushed to comfort her. "I just didn't know you were home, that's all."
"Oh," Ginny breathed. "Yeah, practice is done for the season. We'll resume in the spring, so I'm home until March! We can hang out and drink wine and go shopping and catch up! I haven't seen you in ages." With that, Ginny wrapped one arm around Hermione and they moved down the aisle, having started something of a blockage.
Shopping forgotten, Hermione asked, "Does Ron know you're home?"
Ginny gave Hermione a strange look. "Well, I surprised Harry and Ron at the office yesterday, so I would hope so. I'm surprised he didn't say anything to you."
Hermione tried to keep her voice calm. "He must have had a busy day. It must have slipped his mind. I'm sure he would have told me eventually."
Ginny studied her for a moment, letting out a soft, "Hmmm." Whatever she was looking for, she must not have found it, since she briskly said, "Well, anyways, I was hoping we could hang out tonight! Maybe I could come over?"
Hermione blanched, thinking of the bruising on her arms and neck that would be impossible to cover. "Actually, Ron and I made dinner plans, so maybe another night?" Hermione hoped that would hold Ginny off.
Ginny gave Hermione another scrutinizing look. "That's weird. Ron and Harry said yesterday that they had plans to go to the bar with some friends tonight, after they're done playing Quidditch. Did Ron not tell you?"
Hermione cursed internally, not sure what to tell her. "I, well… uh, he didn't…" she trailed off, lamely. Thankfully, an unexpected surprise came at just the right time.
"Hermione!" Draco called from behind her. "Are we still on for dinner?"
Ginny seemed taken aback, glancing from Hermione, to Draco, then back again. "You're having dinner with Draco Malfoy?" She let out a laugh. "Hermione, I'm not Ron. If you want to be friends with Draco Malfoy, you can tell me."
"Oh, I'm, um…" Hermione didn't know what to say, but she thanked whatever God favored her enough to send the blonde angel her way. "I just, wasn't sure how you would react."
Ginny laughed again, shaking her head. "Merlin, you might be the brightest witch of our time, but you sure are an idiot sometimes. Hey, we'll catch up another time. For now, finish your shopping. Owl me!"
Before Hermione could react, Ginny was gone, leaving her with the before mentioned Draco. She turned to him. "How did you… Thank you, but…" she gaped at him, unsure how he knew of her predicament.
Draco snorted. "You've been dodging my letters, so I came to shop early to catch you in person. I was in the next aisle when I overheard you and Weasley talking. You seemed like you didn't want to go with her, so I thought I'd jump in."
Hermione thought back, suddenly realizing she never sent her last note to him. "Well, thank you, Draco. That was very considerate of you." She made to move away, but his hand on her arm stopped her. She flinched and jerked her arm free.
He looked at her for a moment, and held his hands up in mock surrender. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to figure out dinner. I thought I could cook for you at my flat."
Hermione felt a flush creep up her neck, mindlessly taking off her scarf to let the heat out. "Well," she said, having loosened her scarf sufficiently. "I wasn't planning on having dinner with you."
Draco's eyes narrowed, and Hermione suddenly realized that he was staring at her neck. She quickly tucked her chin and rewrapped her scarf, before meeting his gaze. Draco looked…. angry. That was the only way to put it. "Well, I am a Slytherin, so helping you was only doing myself a favor. I wanted to see you again, and you needed an out."
Hermione was taken aback by the malice in his voice, even though what he said was not what she expected. "But…."
Draco interrupted her. "No buts. My place. Seven o'clock. I'll owl you the address."
Then, for the second time, Hermione was left speechless as Draco left to go checkout. Well then. I guess I'm having dinner with Draco Malfoy.
