Draco is thankfully alone in his office when he receives his first ever howler. The red envelope zeroes in on him with a vengeance, and he has just enough time to lock and silence his door before Blaise's angry, and somewhat amused, voice fills the room. "YOU ARE DATING GRANGER NOW? WHEN WERE YOU GOING TO TELL ME? I SWEAR TO GOD DRACO, IF I HAVE TO HEAR ONE MORE THING FROM A PATRONISING PANSY, I'M GONNA LOSE IT!" Blaise ends with a final "UGH" and the envelope bursts into flames and leaves its ashes all over his desk. Draco knows that word travels fast, but he has no idea it can travel this fast. And how dare Blaise think that he'd blindside him like this? He stands up with a flourish and moves towards his fireplace to floo talk with him. He calls for him two times before an irritated Blaise clad in his deep plum robe appears before him. "Oh, he does remember who I am." Draco gives him the nastiest look he can manage through the flames. "A howler? At the office? Really?"
"Well, that seems to be the only way to get your attention, seeing how busy you are, meeting up with your lady friends."
"Hey, stop exaggerating!" Apparently, this was not the right thing to say. Blaise crosses his arms and gives him a hard look. "I mean it's okay if you don't want to tell me, kind of a dick move, but hey, it's your life. But you tell Daphne, who told Millicent, who told Tracy, who told Pansy and who flooed me with a smug little smile on her face first thing in the morning and caught me unawares—why Draco? Why would you do that to me? I thought we were friends!"
"For fuck's sake Blaise, will you stop with the dramatics and let me explain?" Blaise makes a non committal gesture, but doesn't say anything, so Draco deems it safe enough to talk. "I am not dating Granger."
"But Daphne said—"
"I know what she said. I mean I don't exactly know what she said, but I was there last night, I can only guess. It was my mother and Scorpius, but mostly my mother. She just wanted the word to reach Astoria that I am dating someone better than her, so she let slip during the dinner that I was seeing Granger."
"You're telling me Narcissa Malfoy, queen bee of the purebloods, picked Hermione Granger, the most famous muggle-born witch ever to exist, to make your ex jealous? Wow, wonders do never cease!"
"Not to make her jealous." Blaise gives him a look. "Well, maybe a little."
"A little? Astoria left her precious little boy and you, of course she wants the witch seething with jealousy and regret. Good play on her part, they all bought it."
"Yeah, that one's on Scorpius."
"How come?"
"He was all 'Herminny this and Herminny that.' She was all he talked about after my mum mentioned her name. Wait, do you think they planned this together?" Blaise looks at him incredulously. "Seriously mate? Do you really think that your mother conspired with your five year old son just to get a point across?" No, he really doesn't think that. But he also doesn't want to think about the real implications of Scorpius' attachment to Granger who, now come to think of it, has no idea there is a big rumour mill in overdrive with the news of their supposed relationship. "Shit, I need to see Granger."
"Wait-you haven't told her yet?"
"I didn't think there was something to tell."
"Oh boy! Be sure to call me when she's done with you." Blaise laughs heartily at him and disconnects their call.
Draco tries to keep his cool; there is no way the word could reach Granger this fast. For one, she lives in muggle London, probably, and for two, she doesn't seem to be the type to gossip, especially with the likes of Pansy. But Draco can identify a rock and a hard place when he sees one, and he doesn't want to be headed there right now. He decides that his best option is to talk to her in public, preferable with witnesses present. So he writes her a quick note and invites her and James on an impromptu play date and promises to bring food. Depending on her answer, he can take the rest of the day off, one of the perks of being the boss, something Draco doesn't really overdo. He waits anxiously for her answer, and it takes her more than an hour to reply, during which he has drunk three cups of terrible coffee. He should really get them to buy better quality coffee for the office. While he contemplates a fourth one, Granger's small tawny owl makes an appearance, carrying a neatly written answer. James is delighted at the prospect and surprisingly apparently so is she-Potter. This prompts Draco to leave suddenly and early, two days in a row to his secretary's surprise, and apparates straight home. "Daddy?" asks Scorpius confused, as soon as he sees him. He is on the couch, watching some cartoons, his mother is nowhere to be seen. He approaches Scorpius but does not sit down next to him. "Hey buddy, what do you say we get ready and meet James and Granger in the park?" Scorpius' eyes light up and he asks "really?"
"Really really. Go get changed and I'll pack your lunch." Scorpius darts off to his room as if afraid he'll change his mind. He moves to the kitchen before he goes up to get changed. "Is it you Draco? We weren't expecting you this early. Is everything okay?" His mother scans him thoroughly, to check for possible injuries. "Everything's fine mum. It's just, I need to talk to Granger, so we are going to have a little picnic at the park." His mother raises her brows mockingly. "Why are you giving me that look? I am doing damage control."
"So Daphne talked, huh?"
"Apparently."
"Well then, you go get ready. I will prepare the food, Coco has just brought some food from the Manor for Scorpius anyway." Draco gives her a quick hug and a kiss. "Thanks mum."
"I dug the grave, didn't I?" Draco has enough common sense not to answer that question.
As if today hasn't been wacky enough, Granger and James are already at the park waiting for them. Draco likes to be prepared, so he would have liked to have arrived earlier, but due to Scorpius' insistence to get apple juice, it took them longer than he'd anticipated. No matter. He has been mulling over what to tell her on the way, making him take two wrong turns, and an annoyed Scorpius hold his hand to lead him. When Scorpius spots his friend, he drops his hand and runs to give first Granger and then a jumping James a hug. When he reaches them, he hears Scorpius tell Granger "we got apple juice for you Ms. Granger." That little rascal. "Why thank you Scorpius, you didn't have to do that!" answers Granger before giving him a loud kiss, making him giggle. "Where did you hide it," she asks "in your back pocket?" and starts to tickle him. Soon James joins the tickle party and Scorpius has to shout "my daddy has it, tickle him" over their laughter for Granger to give in and stop. Not to give her another chance at tickling, Scorpius grabs James and drags him off towards the sandpit. Granger turns her attention to him. "Don't you dare Granger," he warns before he plops down next to her. "I wouldn't dare imagine such a thing" she says with a tone that indicates otherwise. "So, what's the occasion?" she immediately asks, before he can offer her a cup of tea. He didn't think drinking another cup of coffee would be a good idea. He ignores her but for a moment, takes out his flask, ceremoniously pours some tea in an appropriate mug and holds it out to her. She accepts the tea with a quiet thanks, and waits for his answer. "What? Can't I just want to bring Scorpius and young James together?" Granger just snorts and takes a generous sip. He tries again. "Have you heard something unusual today?" She turns to him slowly and gives him a scrutinising look that makes him want to get up and leave immediately. "What have you done Malfoy?"
"Why do you assume I did something wrong?"
"Didn't you?"
"Technically it was my mother." This time, she gives him a skeptical look. "Last night we had guests over and my mother said some things," he takes a deep breath, "and some people might have gotten the impression that I am dating you." To his utter surprise, she starts laughing. "That's it? Get in line Malfoy, people have been gossiping about my love life since I was fifteen. You are not that special." The relief he felt gives way to irritation. How come she doesn't take this, take him, seriously? She must have seen it written on his face, again to his surprise, and continues to explain. "Hmm, let's see. First it was Harry," St. Potter, of course "then Viktor Krum," oh how can he forget the Bulgarian bon-bon "and a totally made up love triangle between us." kinky "After the war, there was Oliver Wood," what's with Granger and quidditch players? "and recently Anthony Goldstein." who was that again? "As you can see, I am no stranger to strategic and totally untrue gossip. I don't care for it, and neither do my friends. So, all's well."
"If I had known that it would be this easy, I wouldn't have had an almost meltdown about it."
"Well, thank you for your concern, but I am sure it was nothing. Or do you mean to tell me your mother is after my demise?"
"Not yours, per se, but maybe a certain ex's."
"I have to say, I've never been a part of a jealousy scheme. Tell me, how was it?" Draco is taken aback. "Wait, why are you so okay with all this?"
"I don't mind helping out a friend, even inadvertently." The f-word, huh? Draco doesn't let himself dwell on it, so he skips to the story.
They spend almost half an hour going over the events of the previous night and she doesn't let him spare any details. When he tells her Scorpius' listing of her good qualities, he can see her visibly soften, then says "you don't think he did it on purpose, do you?" Draco feels vindicated. "That's what I told Blaise. But even though I am convinced my son's a scheming little devil, I think he was too uncomfortable last night and hearing your name gave him courage and a distraction." Touched, Granger puts a hand on her heart and the other on his left arm, a bit above his Dark Mark. He uses all his willpower to focus on her, rather than the tattoo that seems to be burning under two layers of clothing. "That son of yours is something else." She gives his arm a small, seemingly instinctual, squeeze, and him a brilliant and encouraging smile that makes him forget everything but his love for Scorpius.
Their conversation moves into a more comfortable direction after that; Granger tells him about her recent excursion to the Scottish highlands with Lovegood and someone named Rolf which seems to have started off nicely enough but gone south really quickly with the start of heavy rain. Draco can't imagine being in the wild willingly, especially in bad weather. Granger's friends remind him of hippies he's read about; chasing adventure but definitely not dignified enough for his upper class sensibilities. Though it is nice to listen to her ramble about some endangered poisonous flower, definitely more entertaining than his day at the office. While she tells the story how Lovegood accidentally almost touched its petals, the boys come running. "I'm starving," announces Potter's uncouth son and forces Draco to play the ever graceful host and serve them their food. It feels weirdly much better to be sitting on a public bench and eat his food without proper cutlery and amid childish chitter-chatter than in the Manor's formal dining room. He makes sure that Granger gets her apple juice, which apparently she loves, a minute detail Scorpius somehow has not forgotten, and once the kids are done with theirs, he brings out the chocolate cake his mother also packed. "Yay, cake!" exclaims Scorpius and digs in. Though he hasn't eaten it, he recognises it to be Coco's special decadent chocolate cake. He bets little Potter has never eaten something this good before. "Woah, yummy! Auntie 'Mione, Scorpie should bring this cake to your birthday party!" Both his and Scorpius' heads turn towards Granger, who looks caught off-guard. Scorpius decides to hit the nail on the coffin laid by James Potter by saying "Can we daddy?" This is a different rock and a hard place Draco finds himself in, and not much better than the alternative. He doesn't want to impose on Granger, nor he wants to be there, but saying no when Scorpius would die to go, is not something he wants to do. Granger, on her part, looks as uncomfortable as he feels. "Of course you can come Scorpius if you like, but you don't have to bring a cake. Molly's going to bake one." By Molly, he guesses she means Molly Weasley and the chances of him wanting to attend, drops below zero. "Scorpius, it is impolite to have yourself invited to a party" he says, and has no idea why his voice sounds that hard and cold. Granger addresses him this time. "I was going to send him an invitation, we just met before I could." Scorpius gives him a look that clearly says 'I told you so' and Draco curtly says "We'll see." Granger can probably see the cogs turning in his head, as she doesn't relent and tries again. "Why don't you drop Scorpius off at the Burrow—that's the Weasley residence" she clarifies seeing his confused expression, "and you can come and pick him up after the party is over. I'm sure you have so much work to do, and can go attend to that in the meantime." Draco appreciates her effort. His answer "That sounds great Granger" is met with excited whispering among the boys.
Once they are done eating, Granger tells them it's time to go and helps him with the clean up. Seeing Scorpius and James' attention elsewhere, Draco seizes the opportunity to thank Granger again. "You didn't have to do that, but I appreciate the gesture all the same. Do you think it'd be okay for Scorpius to be there?"
"I am more than positive. James loves him and Ginny thinks he is some angelic, otherworldly child. He will be more than welcome, especially if he really brings that delicious cake." He feels relieved at that. Granger stops what she is doing to look at him seriously and with her big puppy eyes, causing him to stop what he is doing to return her gaze. "It's my birthday party. I want him there, you know that right?" He does now, and he gives her a charming smile. "Again, thank you. Much appreciated."
"Anything for my supposed boyfriend" she jokes, but Draco has a half a mind to storm the Manor to force poor Coco to bake a million of her infamous chocolate cake.