"Thank you for your hospitality Mr. and Mrs. Granger." Draco remarked as he stood up from the couch and placed his tea cup back onto the tray. "Only because we have to." Draco replied to Hermione's question regarding Potter as he and Hermione exiting the drawing room and paused at the front door but not exiting the muggle home.
Draco had done his very best to avoid his past. Now here he was about to face his childhood nemesis. Although seeing Potter now looked more tolerable than spending time with Granger's muggle parents. "I don't suppose we are apparating to one of the Ministries entrances to see Potter at the Auror division office?" He asked her, preferring that over floo network. He was uncertain which idea caused more dread in his stomach. Going to the Ministry of Magic in Granger's company to speak with Potter in the Auror division office or going to Potter's home where surely Ginerva Weasley and kid or two may be bustling about.
Hermione shook her head, "No. Luckily he has the day off today." She obviously didn't realize the irony of her statement until she noticed the look of dread on Draco's face. "What? If you're worried about Harry and the Weasley's, since Hogwarts, their opinions of you have greatly improved. Well, as far as I know…" She tried making him feel better about the impending reunion, but it didn't seem to have the desired effect.
"Then would you be more comfortable if I went alone?" She asked, "I could show you my place, and you keep Crookshanks company while I talk to Harry. Plus, Reginald will likely return to my apartment with the replies, so you'd be likely to see them first."
"I'm not scared of Potter, if that is what you are indicating, Granger. Let's get this over with." Draco said in a rather defensive tone of voice. Among wizards, floo networking into a home unannounced was rather rude and often impossible if there was a magical barrier blocking the way. Same with apparation. Most households had an enchantment that surrounded the home so apparation occurred just outside the residence estate to detour someone from entering or approaching unnoticed.
Draco lightly took her hand and off they went. Disappearing in the familiar pull of apparation. They came to a stop at the end of a driveway. They appeared to be in the residential highlands of a wizard community neighborhood just outside of London. A modern design four bedroom home with hedge bushes surrounding the property gave the area a secluded feel. Yet, as Draco followed Granger up the paved driveway toward the home it appeared seclusion was not desired.
The front window drapes was wide open and Potter appeared to be sort of waltzing one handed with Ginny in their living room. Meanwhile, Ginny held an infant boy of six to nine months age in her other arm. The infant clearly giggling at the scene. They reached the door and rang the bell, pulling the family out of their daze to look at who was there.
Potter was the first to open the door. "Hermione! What a pleasant surprise." As he engulfed her in a hug. When Potter released her he asked, "I thought you were in Egypt with Bill?" Then his eyes noticed Draco. "Malfoy. Um…hello." He said rather awkwardly as their eyes met. Draco gave a respectable nod of his head, "Potter, Weasley - ette and…" he faltered when he didn't know the name of their infant child. "Hello, Malfoy. This is James. Well come in, both of you. Hermione, it's good to see you!" The long ginger haired woman exclaimed and passed James to Harry so she could give Hermione a proper hug before they all entered into the home. They made their way to the living room and took seats once more. Ginny sat James down on the floor where the boy was instantly crawling toward a few toys in the corner toy box. "So, Hermione, Malfoy to what do we own this pleasure of a visit?" Potter asked, getting right to the point. Draco at least respected the fact Potter realized this wasn't a friendly visit.
"Hello Harry! Hello Ginny! Hello little James!" Hermione gave them each a strong hug, almost forgetting the reason they came until they sat down. "Yes, well you were right earlier; I am supposed to be in Egypt. However something came up…" She explained the situation in Tanis as best as she could with the sound of little James playing with his toys in the background. Harry simply laughed, "Wow Hermione. I think my pension of getting into trouble finally rubbed off on you a bit too much this time."
Hermione smiled, "Yes, perhaps so. But this is potentially a serious situation." The smile slowly disappeared from her face. "We need to sneak into, or otherwise be lead into the Ministry of Magic Department of Mysteries, depending on how the Unspeakables respond. In either case, Harry, I'll need to burrow your cloak." Harry thought on this a moment, but nodded and smiled when Ginny nudged him in the side with her elbow. "As long as I get it back by Monday morning. And you…" He pointed at Draco, "…if anything happens to her, I'm holding you responsible. As long as you two don't do anything drastic I'll be happy to help any way I can." Ginny spoke up with a reassuring tone of voice, "Oh I'm sure they'll be fine. Compared to the last time we were there, this should be cinch."
Draco looked absolutely serious as they took a seat in the sitting room, where Potter asked his questions and Granger got right in on giving him a recap of their discovery. Once she was done and Potter made his remark, Draco couldn't help but stifle a small chuckle. "Your 'rubbed off' pension for getting into trouble seems to have a permanent effect Potter. I don't suppose your uncanny ability to get out of trouble comes with it, eh?" Draco mocked, though his voice didn't exactly have the same malice that it once held. It was definitely more of a tone of a harmless quip of sarcasm.
Putting all jests aside Potter agreed to lend them his invisibility cloak on two conditions. They first that it was returned by Monday and the second condition of Granger's safety. "I am well aware that if anything happens to Granger you and the rest of the wizarding world would see me responsible enough to receive a Dementor's Kiss. Now that she is a sufferable 'know it all' I will make sure nothing happens to her, for both our sakes." Draco stated, keeping his tone casual. The past few days he had become rather comfortable with Granger's company and work ethic. Although he would never admit it out loud, he knew that he would do everything possible to ensure her safety.
The events of her torture at Malfoy Manor had imprinted on him. Her screams. The blood. He would never be able to stand back and do nothing, like he had in that incident, concerning her. Anyone else non-family, eh. His self preservation was stronger. "Good enough. I'll be right back." Potter answered and excused himself from the room. "James, darling don't bother…" Ginny warned but it was too late. The speedy crawler had made his way toward Hermione and Draco, pulling himself up to standing between them using the couch.
Draco was a bit familiar with small children since he was more interactive with his Aunt Andromeda and cousin Teddy. "Better watch out Weasley-ette. I think you got yourself a walker here soon." He commented. "Really Draco can't we be on a first name basis? I am Ginny Potter now." She remarked, as he still addressed them all by their surnames. "I suppose we can…Ginerva." He said and that visibly irritated her. Ginny rolled her eyes and looked at Hermione and exclaimed, "You are incredible Hermione. However have you managed to stand him during this excavation is beyond me." Ginny said taking a hold of the crawling boy's hands to lead him back towards his toys with much assistance.
Potter returned with a very visible cloak was folded in his arms. Draco knew for a fact this cloak of Potters was genuine. It would not be much good if the owner couldn't find it if it was invisible while not being worn. "Here you are Hermione. Use it well." Potter said to her, gifting the folded fabric to her. Draco spoke up, "Well that was relatively eyes. Now we just need to see how the Unspeakables have responded." Ginny suddenly piped up, "Did you say one of the Unspeakables was a woman named Levina Monkstanley?" Draco nodded in confirmation. "That is the witch who created the Lumos charm." She announced.
"Luckily, Ginny I'd been by myself for nearly two weeks, so the company was appreciated nonetheless." Hermione said as she finished playing patty cake with James. Hermione really did appreciate Draco's company; it was becoming dreadfully lonely in Tanis. As Ginny guided James away Hermione voiced, "Plus, Draco saved me from choking on my dinner one night. It was quite impressive."
"Glad to hear. I guess that means he is serious about your safety after all." Ginny quietly applauded verbally, although she didn't think there was anything overly impressive about the statement. Hermione accepted the cloak and her eyes widened when Ginny mentioned that one of the Unspeakables they were making contact with was the witch who invented the Lumos charm. "Wow, I hadn't realized that's who that was! That could be a good conversation starter." She said to Draco. "If I build up a good rapport with her, perhaps she will be more likely to assist." She stood, "Anyways, thank you again Harry. I promise we'll be careful and bring it back by Monday." Hermione promised and hugged both Potters' and was just about to say something else when someone knocked at the door.
"I'll get it." Ginny said and headed to answer the door. "Ron? What are you doing here?" Ginny said out loud enough that those in the living room would hear. "Ginny, I need to talk to you." Ron hurried through the threshold and hugged his sister. "I screwed up something baa-Hermione!? What on Earth are you doing here?!" He froze in his tracks when he saw her. Then his eyes found Draco standing behind her, "And what's Malfoy doing here?" His tone was something close to accusation.
Hermione didn't seem too happy to see Ron and scowled, "No, go on Ronald; what did you screw up?" Ron panicked and stayed silent. If he'd known Hermione was there, he wouldn't have come. Hermione fumed, "Nevermind then." Hermione tried to turn away, but Ron grabbed her arm. "Wait, I…I…" She looked back at him with a most intense and angry gaze. Ron tried to continue as he released his grip, "I, uh…I'm sorry Hermione…"
Hermione faced Ron and crossed her arms. "Sorry for what, Ron? Sorry for not sending one response letter to me when I write to you, while I am away for work? Sorry for not setting aside time to do something so simple to show your girlfriend you care for her, while we are apart? The saying goes, 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder', well apparently not."
"Come on, that's a bit of an obscure quote. Of course I . . . " Ron squeaked, but came to a stop when Hermione clearly ignoring his comment had rummaged through her bag, pulled out the Deluminator and thrust it into Ron's chest. "Well I'm sure sorry I didn't do this sooner. Waiting for you to pull your head out of your arse was a waste of time." She turned away and Ron fumbled to catch the Deluminator. Looking at Ginny and Harry she quickly wiped a tear from her face, "Sorry for that. If you'll excuse me, I have to go check my mail."
Forgetting about Draco in the commotion, she disapparated.
"I could ask the same to you, Weasley." Draco scoffed. At least Ginny and Potter he had been courteous to since they weren't immediately hostile toward him. 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.' Draco thought to himself as the smirk on his face struggled to stay suppressed, while Granger let loose on Weasley. It was comical how hopeless of a ginger git Weasley was. Draco's smirk disappeared when she turned away abruptly and bid a quick farewell and disapparated out of the home…without him.
"Potter, if you would be so kind as to tell me where Granger lives, I will take my leave." Draco asked. Surely she had a place of her own. The owl was just probably kept at her parents while she was away at work. The cat…well it was probably self sufficient. He hadn't seen Weasley this sorry looking since he cursed himself into throwing up slugs. Though the sorry on Weasley's face turned to anger when Draco asked Potter for Hermione's residence. "What the bloody hell do you want to go to my girlfriend's home for? Why are you here?" Weasley demanded getting very defensive.
"Ex-girlfriend Weasley. Granger made that quite clear. I'm working with her on a excavation that requires Alchemist skills. A serendipitous business partnership, really. Not that you would know what her work is like. Not one response letter sent…" Draco mocked and Weasley lunged towards him. "Stop taunting him Malfoy. Here is Hermione's address." Potter answered, holding Ron back with a hand. The other hand passed Draco a piece of parchment with her address. It was not the same as her muggle parents. Thank Merlin!
Ginny held James in her arms and the infant looked rather upset at the tension that filled the room. Or perhaps it was merely bedtime for the little ankle biter. "Farewell." Draco remarked taking only a moment before he too disapparated out of sight. He appeared just outside the door of what appeared to be a condominium. These were nice. Even had their own patches of grass on the front and sides to give it a suburban feel but really next door neighbor was within twenty feet. Far enough to have your own space, but close enough that the building company had been able to advertise as own units instead of shared wall duplexes. He approached the front door and knocked.