Hermione spent the rest of her day trying to push the interrogation out of her mind and refocus on the Mildred Duncan case. She had advised Harry to secure a search warrant for Belby's house, but now that the case was no longer under her control, all she could do was concentrate on the work in front of her and let the rest unfold.

"Hey, Granger," Draco called out from across the room, waving a piece of parchment in the air. "Have you seen Harry's new memo?"

Hermione glanced down at her desk, realising a memo had arrived just a few minutes earlier. She hadn't had the chance to look at it yet. "No, not yet," she replied, picking it up. "What's it about?"

"He's invited everyone working on our case for drinks after work," Draco said, his tone almost teasing.

Hermione scanned the memo, confirming the invitation to the Leaky Cauldron. "Weren't you just out yesterday?" she asked, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Draco shrugged, flashing her a charming smile. "What can I say? I'm a popular guy." He nodded toward her, his expression curious. "Are you going to go?"

She hesitated, thinking about what awaited her at home—nothing but the looming fear that Cormac might appear unannounced. The more time she spent away from her house, the better.

"Why not," she said, making a quick decision. "When are they heading out?"

"I think they're leaving soon," Draco replied, checking the time.

"Right, well, we should probably start wrapping things up for the evening," Hermione suggested, glancing at the clock.

Draco didn't need to be told twice. Almost as soon as the words left her mouth, he began efficiently stacking the papers back into the case file and tidying up his desk. His movements were quick, eager to leave the office behind and dive into the more relaxed atmosphere of the Leaky Cauldron.

Hermione followed suit, organising her workspace and putting away the remnants of a long day in a couple of minutes. The tension in her shoulders began to ease at the thought of stepping away from the stresses of work, if only for a few hours.

Draco stood up and strolled over to the hook on the wall, where his jacket hung. He shrugged it on with practised ease, then reached for Hermione's coat. Without a word, he brought it over to her.

"Turn around," he instructed, holding it open for her to slip into.

Hermione shot him a look. "I can do it myself, Malfoy."

"My mother raised me to be a gentleman, Granger," he insisted, his voice laced with mock seriousness.

She gave him a warning glare but turned around, allowing him to help her. As she slipped her arms into the sleeves, his hands brushed gently against her shoulders, sending a faint shiver down her spine.

There. All done," Draco said softly, his voice close enough that she could feel his breath against her ear.

Hermione didn't respond immediately, just looked at him, her gaze lingering a bit longer than she intended.

Draco cleared his throat. "Right. We should probably go. Wouldn't want to be late," he said, stepping back and gesturing toward the door.

Hermione nodded. "Yeah, let's go." She turned and headed for the door, with Draco following close behind.

They arrived at the Leaky Cauldron a few minutes later, the warm, bustling atmosphere instantly easing the tension Hermione had carried with her all day. The familiar hum of chatter, clinking glasses, and the crackling fireplace made the pub feel like a refuge. In the back corner, nestled in a cosy booth, the members of their team spotted them and began waving enthusiastically, beckoning them over with broad smiles and raised glasses.

Draco nudged Hermione with his elbow as they walked over. " Looks like we're the last ones here."

"Hermione! I wasn't sure you were going to come," Harry exclaimed, rising from his seat and enveloping her in a bone-crushing hug.

"Surprise," she replied with a grin, her eyes scanning the booth with a sense of warmth.

Seated at the booth were Harry and Margaux, who gave her a cheerful wave. Hermione's gaze then fell on Blaise and Theo, who had evidently returned from their field mission. They were in the midst of a heated game of wizarding chess. She was pleasantly surprised to see them there, adding to the camaraderie that filled the room.

"Each of you gets one drink on me tonight," Harry announced with a grin. "Nothing too crazy—let's remember we all have work tomorrow."

Malfoy, ever the gentleman, offered to fetch Hermione's drink. "I'll get your drink. Sit down," he instructed, his tone light. "What are you having?"

"I'll have a butterbeer," Hermione said appreciatively, settling into a seat next to Margaux.

"Oh, I'm so glad you're here, Hermione!" Margaux exclaimed, wrapping her in an enthusiastic hug. "I was starting to feel outnumbered by the men," she added with a playful grin.

Hermione laughed, "I hope they weren't causing you too much trouble."

"Hey!" Blaise protested from the corner of the booth, glaring at Theo as his king piece exploded into dust. "You must have cheated!"

Theo smirked, leaning back in his seat. "Don't hate the player, Blaise. Hate the game."

Everyone at the table burst into light laughter, enjoying the playful banter between Blaise and Theo. The conversation drifted away from work, and the group embraced the relaxed atmosphere of the pub. It was a welcome change to focus on casual topics and simply enjoy each other's company, free from the weight of their professional responsibilities.

"Granger," Draco said as he placed her drink in front of her and took a seat directly across from her.

"Thank you," she said, smiling.

Blaise made a snorting noise from the other side of the booth. "Please tell me you're not still calling each other by your last names," he laughed.

Hermione frowned, genuinely puzzled. "Why is that an issue?"

Blaise grinned. "Oh, come on. We're not at Hogwarts anymore. It's just a bit old-fashioned."

"I agree," Theo chimed in.

"Me too," Margaux added with a nod.

Harry, meanwhile, just watched the exchange with an amused expression, clearly enjoying the banter but choosing to stay out of it.

Draco rolled his eyes, though his smile betrayed his amusement. "Maybe it's just to add some tension," he said, leaning back in his seat with a smirk.

Blaise's eyes widened in surprise, and he fell silent, clearly taken aback by Draco's comment, and Theo burst out laughing. Margaux had also gone quiet.

Hermione raised an eyebrow and shot Draco a challenging look. "And what kind of tension would that be, Malfoy?" she retorted.

Draco raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the playful banter. "Oh, just the kind that keeps things interesting," he said with a shrug. "A bit of friendly rivalry never hurt anyone."

Blaise, finally finding his voice, called out, "All in favour of the idea that Draco might have had a bit too much to drink, say 'I.'"

"I," came the chorus of responses, including Hermione's.

"Well, it looks like I've been outvoted," he laughed.

Hermione felt Margaux gently touch her arm and turned to look at her. "I'm heading to the loo. Are you coming?"

Though Hermione didn't particularly need to go, she could tell that Margaux wanted the company and nodded. "Sure, I'll come along."

As Hermione and Margaux stood to leave, she heard Blaise's voice drift over from behind them. "I've never understood why women do that."

"It's a girl thing," Harry called out from across the table, his tone light and amused.

Once they were in the bathroom, Margaux turned to Hermione with an intense look. "Was Draco flirting with you?" she asked.

Hermione, caught off guard, stammered, "What?"

"Are you and Draco together?" Margaux pressed, her eyes wide.

"No!" Hermione exclaimed, her voice a bit too loud. "Half the time, I'm contemplating his murder."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Margaux said, shaking her head as if to clear her thoughts. "I must be imagining things. It's just the way he was talking to you. He doesn't talk to anyone else like that."

"I think he's just relaxed," Hermione said, trying to brush off Margaux's concern. "Do you need the toilet?" she asked, hoping to redirect the conversation.

"Oh, yes," Margaux replied, heading into a stall.

Hermione waited patiently for Margaux to finish before heading back to the table. Now more acutely aware of her interactions with Draco, she made a deliberate effort to keep their exchanges minimal and professional.

The rest of the evening passed pleasantly. Hermione engaged in a chess game with Blaise, letting him win to avoid bruising his ego. The group chatted about light-hearted topics, and the atmosphere remained relaxed. Despite the enjoyable company, Hermione couldn't help but notice Draco's occasional glances in her direction. She consciously looked away each time, determined not to fuel any office rumours.

As the night progressed, Hermione noticed that Margaux seemed increasingly subdued. Concerned, she decided to check in on her friend. Under the pretence of getting another drink, she gently guided Margaux away from the group.

"Hey, Margaux," Hermione said softly as they moved to a quieter corner of the pub. "You've been quiet. Is everything okay?"

"I just—" she paused, "I have a thing for Draco, and I heard him earlier today saying that he wasn't interested. I thought he might change his mind tonight, but he will barely look at me."

Hermione's expression softened with sympathy. "I'm sorry, Margaux. I didn't realise. Draco can be… complicated. Sometimes, he's not the best at expressing his feelings or intentions clearly."

Margaux's shoulders drooped as she spoke, "I feel like I'm doing everything I can, but he keeps looking at you instead," she sighed in frustration. "I mean, what do you have that I don't?"

Hermione placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, trying not to get offended by the latter comment. "Margaux, I promise nothing is going on between me and Draco. I know it's tough when things don't turn out the way we hope. But I promise you, you're not alone. I'm here for you if you need to talk or want some distraction."

A strange look crossed Margaux's face, but it disappeared as soon as it appeared. "Thanks, Hermione. That means a lot," she said with a smile that seemed strained.

"Are you ready to head back to everyone? Hermione asked softly.

"Yes."

Hermione turned to head back to the table but froze when she spotted Cormac pushing open the door of the Leaky Cauldron. Her heart sank. Did he know about Marcus Belby being detained? Is that why he was here? Her mind was racing.

"Um, why don't you head back? I'll catch up in a minute," she said, trying to sound casual. "I'm just going to grab another drink so no one wonders why we were gone so long."

Margaux nodded and made her way back to the table. As soon as she was out of her proximity, Hermione took a deep breath, bracing herself. She moved toward the bar, her gaze constantly shifting toward Cormac.

At first, Cormac seemed to be scanning the room, his expression casual. But then, his eyes landed on her, and his surprise was unmistakable. He paused, his gaze locking onto her with a mix of curiosity.

"Well, well, well," Cormac drawled, his voice laced with a mixture of surprise. "Fancy seeing you here."

"Cormac," she replied curtly, unsure how to navigate the unexpected encounter.

"What brings you to this side of town?" he asked, his tone carrying a hint of challenge.

"Meeting friends," she said, her eyes darting toward the booth to ensure no one was watching their exchange.

Cormac's gaze followed hers, and his expression shifted to barely concealed jealousy. "You're with them?" he spat, the words tinged with disdain.

"They're work colleagues," Hermione explained, trying to keep her tone steady.

They're Slytherins," Cormac hissed, his voice dripping with contempt.

"And so what if they are?" Hermione retorted, her patience wearing thin. "You said you would leave me alone."

"I didn't expect to see you here," Cormac shot back coldly. "I didn't think this would be your scene."

Hermione had to bite her tongue to keep her composure. Her mind was racing, and her primary concern was whether Cormac had mentioned their past to Belby. She fought to keep her voice steady, determined not to let him see how much he had unsettled her.

"I need to ask you something, and I want an honest answer," Hermione said, trying to keep her tone even.

Cormac raised an eyebrow, clearly unamused. "And why should I grant you that?"

Hermione seized the opportunity to turn his own words against him. "Because you claim you love me, and maybe if you answered honestly, I might reconsider letting you back into my life," she said, her voice steady despite the lie.

Cormac's expression shifted slightly, his curiosity piqued. "Alright, ask your question."

"Does Marcus Belby know about us?" she inquired, holding her breath as she awaited his response.

Cormac laughed, a cold, self-satisfied sound. "Marcus and I go way back. We're old Slug Club friends. It would have been odd if I hadn't mentioned you to him."

Hermione's stomach churned at his response. The implication was clear. Belby was aware of their history. She fought to keep her expression neutral.

"What did you tell him exactly?" She whispered.

"I told him everythi—"

"Hermione, I changed my mind. I'd like a drink after all," Margaux said, appearing beside Hermione with an apologetic smile. "Oh, sorry, am I interrupting?"

"Yes," Hermione began, her frustration evident in her tone.

"No," Cormac said simultaneously, smiling charmingly at Margaux.

Hermione shot Cormac a pointed look, silently urging him to back off.

Cormac, catching the hint, gave a curt nod and stepped back slightly, his gaze lingering on Hermione with a mix of bitterness and something else she couldn't quite place.

Margaux, sensing the tension, turned to Hermione. "Shall we get that drink then?"

Hermione forced a tight smile. "Yes, let's go." She led Margaux towards the bar.

"Who was that?" Margaux asked quietly as they approached the bar.

"Just someone from school," Hermione replied, her mind still occupied with the conversation.

"He's quite handsome," Margaux observed, glancing back at Cormac with too much interest.

Hermione's expression hardened. "Don't go near him. He's not a nice guy," she warned, her voice low but firm. "Trust me on this."

"Territorial, are we?" Margaux joked, clearly not grasping the seriousness of Hermione's warning.

"Sure, if it keeps you away from him," Hermione replied, her tone clipped.

"Feisty. I like it," Margaux said with a playful grin before catching the bartender's attention. "Two Firewhiskeys, please."

"Two?" Hermione asked, surprised. "Don't we have work tomorrow?"

Margaux shrugged, her smile widening. "One of them is for Draco. I have a feeling we might finally be making some progress tonight."

"Oh, that's good," Hermione said, relieved.

The bartender turned to her with a polite smile. "Anything for you, miss?"

"Just some water, please," Hermione replied. She wanted to keep a clear head, especially with Cormac lingering around. The last thing she needed was to be under the influence in this situation.

When Hermione and Margaux returned to the table, it was as if nothing had changed. Blaise was in the midst of a heated debate with Draco and Harry about which Quidditch team reigned supreme. Draco and Harry were united in their stance, to Hermione's surprise, leaving Blaise outnumbered. He drank Draco's untouched drink to drown his sorrows, and she saw Margaux deflate next to her.

Despite the lively conversation, Hermione found herself unable to engage fully. The uneasy encounter with Cormac had left her feeling on edge, and she struggled to focus on the debate unfolding around her. She forced a smile and nodded along, but her mind was elsewhere.

"I think I might head home," Hermione said, forcing a yawn. "I'm feeling quite tired."

Harry nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I think it's time to call it a night. We've got an early start tomorrow."

There were collective groans from the group, but they reluctantly started gathering their things. Eager to leave, Hermione quickly gathered her belongings and made her way to the door.

"Hermione," Draco's voice called from behind her. She turned to see him catching up. "Are you okay?"

"Yep," she replied, a bit too quickly. "Just tired."

Draco looked at her with a hint of concern. "Let me walk you to the Floo Network. You shouldn't Apparate after a drink."

As they moved towards the exit, Hermione noticed Margaux observing their interaction with a scrutinising expression. Margaux's disapproval was evident, especially as Blaise desperately attempted to strike up a conversation with her, only to be met with a lack of enthusiasm.

"Yeah, okay, let's go," she said.

As Hermione and Draco made their way to the exit, Hermione glanced back and saw Margaux storming off in a direction that suggested she was heading towards Cormac. The sight made Hermione's heart sink; she hoped Margaux would listen to her warning. With a sense of urgency, Hermione quickened her pace, eager to leave the scene before anything else sent her over the edge.