Chapter 1
Malfoy wasn’t exactly sure why he attended the reunion.
Why he even bothered.
Most of the Slytherins he went to school with, didn’t even finish the 7th year and graduated from Hogwarts.
Almost none of his old classmates would make the effort to show up.
Not that they’d be missed anyway, he was pretty sure about that.
But Blaise had nagged the last week and waved his invitation to the 10th year anniversary before his nose, so he gave in.
„You can be my plus one“, Blaise grinned, before Draco kicked him in the shins, sitting on his couch at the Playboy’s flat in London.
Even though he promised his friend to show up, Draco considered staying home.
Considered, tsk.
He would be a liar, if he said he didn’t think of it every single minute of the day for the last week.
There weren’t many things Draco was afraid of.
And he wasn’t even sure if it was fear that let him falter.
His brain weighed the pros and cons to attend and came to the result that there were more arguments to go than to stay away and hide.
Pro: Walking through the castle (Nostalgia)
Pro: Being reminded of easier days (Nostalgia)
Pro: Curious enough to see if anything had changed (Nostalgia)
Con: People he wanted to avoid meeting
So, there he was, eleven years later, standing on his old school grounds.
He stuffed his hands in his trouser pockets and leaned backwards to see the full moon, illuminating the Castle in the starry night. Draco took everything in and sighed.
Memories flared back to life:
Him parading through the floors with Crabbe and Goyle.
Playing Quidditch on the field in stormy conditions.
Snogging with Pansy in the broom closet.
The left corner of his mouth went up.
Good Times.
His bravado crumbled inside of him the moment he stepped through the giant open front door.
Old Classmates from different houses made their way to the Great Hall. The dress code for this event was Black tie, so he wore his finest wizard robes.
With shaky hands he went through his hair, which fell back to place the second he let his fingers fell to his side.
„Everything will be fine “, he calmed himself down, hating the sweaty feeling of his palms and rubbed them over his pants.
He climbed up the stairs to the Great Hall. Laughter, soft played music and muffled conversations filled the air.
Draco was late, he didn’t want to be on time. Since the speeches had been presented already,
he tried to sneak in unnoticed. A lost cause to begin with, since he was tall and well-known,
keen to be recognized.
He didn’t have it in him to be humble. His looks and attitude were minted by self-confidence.
But here, he didn’t know what awaited him.
His shoulders grew inward, and he turned around again.
Fine, he was a coward.
So what?
The doubts to be not welcomed at this place crept over him. This was a stupid idea to begin with. Nostalgia didn’t erase the guilt he was feeling.
He wanted to back out, going unnoticed while he could, when a familiar voice penetrated his ears.
„Oi! Isn’t that Malfoy? “
He froze in an instant.
„It is! I would recognize a ferret everywhere I go. Turn around and face me, so I can see if you still wear that sneer I always wanted to punch.“
„Ginerva Weasley “, he addressed her with her full name, knowing she wouldn’t like it and turned to her.
She grinned. „Look whom we have here.“ The redhead crossed the near distance and eyed him up and down.
„You’ve grown all up.“ She waved a hand over his body.
A laughing sound escaped his mouth.
„Same“, he countered.
And it was true. Ginny’s hair was straightened behind her ears, she wore a fine smokey eye and an emerald dress that build a nice contrast to her fair skin. She looked good, he had to confess.
„What have you been up to? Wouldn’t have expected to see you here.“ It was a casual acknowledgment, but it erased the light that shined through the cracks of his inner armor.
He swallowed air.
Didn’t they serve drinks here?
He looked for a tray.
„Eyes on me, I’m still talking to you. “
„Sorry, I’m quite thirsty. “
She raised a brow. „Are you out of words? “
„No, I’m just …“ Gosh, he was rambling.
„Drink, I need a drink first. “, he declared.
In this second a tray with champagne floated next to him and he picked a flute and gulped down the alcohol in one swift motion.
Ginny’s smile grew mischievious. „That was something. Now do it with fire whiskey.“
He seemed perplex and she broke the tension with a knock on his shoulder.
„Gosh, you are tall. What do they eat where you are coming from?“
„France. I was in France“, he answered lost in thought, playing with his empty glass.
She leaned back. „Nice. Good for you.“
He didn’t know what was happening. Why they acted like they were old friends
and he wasn’t a traitor, the last time they saw each other?
„Excuse me, but did I miss something?“
Ginny took a sip from her own flute. „Mhm?“
„I mean –
„Malfoy! I’d never guessed to see you again.“
A big hand landed on his shoulder, and he turned around to see Neville Longbottom.
He blinked several times.
„Longbottom?“
„Malfoy“, he said smiling.
„How –
„Is this the snake?“
„Seamus, don’t call him that“, Ginny scowled and paused, „he’s a ferret.“
She winked at him.
Draco was overwhelmed.
What was going on?
„The last time I saw him, he was on the verge of fleeing.“ Seamus addressed.
And there it goes.
His grip around the glass hardened.
„Would you excuse-
„Get over it, Finnigan. It has been over ten years. People change. He showed up, knowing everyone here has reason to hate him. That takes courage.“
Draco opened the mouth to say something, but Ginny interrupted him again.
„Also, you have no right to judge his decisions. Did the dark lord live at your house and
threaten to kill the people you love?“
Seamus ears went red. „No“, he mumbled, „but I am allowed to have an opinion.“
„Zip it!“, Ginny said with squeezed eyes.
„Thanks, Red. I can speak for myself.“ Draco found a gap to mention in this discussion.
„You are welcome.“ She said proudly, puffing out her chest. „If you have nothing nice to say, go away.“
Seamus pressed his lips together and nodded in his direction. „Have a nice evening.“
Draco nodded, too and watched Seamus leave.
„By the way, where is Potter?“ He turned to Ginny.
She looked confused for a second. „How should I know?“
„Aren’t you going out?“
Ginny laughed. „Oh, boy. That’s been ages ago.“
A blush crept over his neck and he rubbed the spot above his collar with his free hand.
„I’m sorry, I didn’t want to assume things.“
He had thought that she was his plus one as his wife.
She waved her hand in the air. „It’s okay. Harry and I parted ways two years after my graduation. I was a trainee at the Falmouth Falcons and he had his auror duties. We didn’t have much time together. When I was drafted we hardly saw each other, so we called it quits. It was mutual and we are still friends.“
„Oh, okay.“
Draco was surprised that she offered this information about her private life so freely, but since Potter was a person of interest in the wizarding world, he assumed that their breakup was displayed in the news, so it wasn’t new to her to speak about it.
„He’s married to Luna by the way. Such a lovely pair“, she said dreamly.
Draco could imagine.
„Neville is single, too“, Ginny said, as if Draco had an interest to know about the relationship status‘ of every Gryffindor at the event.
Longbottom turned to them. „What was that?“ He was occupied with his drink the whole time.
„I just informed Malfoy that you don’t have a girlfriend.“
Ginny’s voice faded to white noise.
What was he doing here?
They treated him like a fucking welfare project. Poor Malfoy, all by himself, needs someone to talk to, to appear less alone. He should just leave.
„Ron is on his honeymoon, so he couldn’t come today.“
Malfoy stilled.
„Your brother?“, he asked and Ginny looked up.
„Yes, Ronald, the one you bullied your whole school career.“ There was a salty undertone in her voice which was understandable.
He was a bully back then, which he wasn’t proud of.
And she was Ron’s sister, so it was comprehensible that she’d defend his honor while he wasn’t present to do it himself.
„Good for him, I guess.“ Draco said to tone down the energy around them.
Ginny narrowed her eyes.
„For being married now, to Granger“, he added for safety reasons.
„What? Hermione isn’t –
„Draco, there you are! Should’ve told me that you’re here!“
Draco turned around to Blaise’s voice behind him.
Blaise dragged Pansy with him, who had an annoyed expression on her face.
„Idiot, you are the one who didn’t show up, until now. Why’s Pansy here?“
His friend grinned and clapped him on both shoulders, releasing Pansy’s hand.
„She is my plus one“, Blaise said.
„I thought I was your plus one.“ Draco raised a brow.
„Yes, but I needed options. I’m hard to please“, he said theatrical.
„Fucker“ Draco huffed and tried to punch him, but Blaise got out of the way.
Blaise chuckled. „Parkinson is one of the boys, she doesn’t count.“
„Hey, I’m standing right next to you“, she said while inspecting her manicured nails.
„So tell me, where are all the Ladies?“ Blaise rubbed his hands together.
Draco stepped back and revealed Ginny behind him.
„Do you know Ginerva Weasley?“ He gestured to her.
„That’s- “ Blaise pointed his index finger at her.
„Ginny“, she corrected, glaring in Draco’s direction, because of the use of her full name and
raised her hand to greet the man.
Blaise smirked broadly. „I don’t need an introduction. I know you.“ He shook her hand, longer than necessary.
„You are a chaser at the Falmouth Falcons.“
„Yeah, that’s me.“
Did Draco just witness Ginny blushing?
„You are amazing. I read articles about your team and checked out the statistics. You’ve had a quite impressive season.“
„Thanks.“ Ginny pulled a lost strand of hair behind her ear.
Draco felt like a voyeur standing between them like a third wheel
and moved to Pansy.
„Hey, who is this guy?“ She pointed in Neville’s direction, who had spilled his drink on his robes and tried to clean it.
Draco’s forehead wrinkled. „Longbottom.“
„Rabbit teeth?“, she asked in disbelief.
Draco remembered the nickname they gave him to address his big front teeth in first class.
„It seems he went to the orthodontist“, he shrugged.
„Not just that. It seems he went to the gym, too. Do not disturb“, she warned, targeted him and went for it.
„Longbottom, right? Get me a drink, something fancy.“
Neville looked perplex but went anyway.
Draco didn’t want to wait until everything unfolded for his friends. Once Pansy laid her eyes on her prey, there was nothing someone could do about it.
He needed another drink. Maybe he found some of the fire whiskey the Weaslette had talked about.
Draco made it to the bar, located in the corner of the Great Hall, leaving space on the main area to dance. Though it wasn’t as nicely decorated as the ball in the fourth year, he appreciated the floating candles on the ceiling and the golden sparks that came forward,
whenever a couple swirled around the dancefloor.
Draco ordered a fire whiskey and took a sip. He scanned the room from his position and
eyed several knowing faces. Sometimes he didn’t have a name to them and he wasn’t quite sure, because ten years changed the looks of a person. The crowd largely existed of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. A few Gryffindors were missing and just a few Slytherins attended. He knew that some of his old classmates never returned after the war
or moved to different countries to graduate, so it wasn’t a surprise.
Draco saw Professor Flitwick and considered greeting him, when he was almost run over by a red faced McLaggen. He would recognize that bloke anytime. His eyes wandered to the direction from which Cormac had come.
A woman in a black silk gown presented her backside to him. The dress hugged her curves nicely, he appreciated the look. The cutout was low, revealing flawless olive tanned skin.
A fine necklace decorated her neck, the only jewelry he saw from this point. She fumbled with her clutch.
Was she distressed?
It looked like it, she just had an encounter with McLaggen.
He would made sure that she was okay, he said to himself, while he gulped down the rest of his drink. The alcohol burned in the back of his throat and his eyes went straight to the red head who was still in a conversation with Blaise. They both seemed to enjoy themselves.
Draco looked back to the woman who was now only a few feet away.
No one had said that he needed to leave the party alone. Everybody had fun, he was allowed to have some, too.
Or more.
His mother nagged him all the time to present his chosen Mrs Malfoy.
Who knew? Maybe she could be his.
But first he needed to introduce himself.
With every step he took, he was more allured to reach her. She had tiny freckles on her shoulder, a small detail that suited the goddess before him.
He was almost there, when she shook her head, took one long sip from the flute she held in her hand and turned so that he faced her profile.
She put the flute down and Draco stalled.
The woman he declared to be a goddess was no other than
Hermione.
Fucking.
Granger.
~
Hermione didn’t know what went into her to agree to attend the anniversary.
Sure, she graduated ten years ago, but she didn’t feel like celebrating or reminiscing of old times. She was a homebody through and through. Ginny convinced her and she thought back to the conversation, while she stood there overdressed, pep talking to herself to raise her mood, so she would talk to someone.
„You need to get out more. You are working too much. When was the last time you had a date?“
„First: No, I like staying at home. Second: Maybe, I do, but I like my job. And third: Since you know when, don’t ask.“ She raised a finger for each argument.
„Ron is married, Hermione! You want to tell me, you aren’t over him yet?“
„I am and you know it“, she answered with a high pitched voice.
„Prove it! Go to the anniversary with me.“
„But not even Harry will be there, since he didn’t graduate.“
„Harry doesn’t come, because of Lunas pregnancy. She is due any day now, so don’t try to find a lame excuse. “
Ginny was going through her dresser, while Hermione was sitting on her bed, watching her.
Her best friend tried on dresses for the last half an hour and she was tired from work.
Ginny pulled out a gold dress with fringes that caught her attention.
„Don’t make this about others. It’s time to think about yourself. Buy a nice dress, put some makeup on and take one of the men home to have a good time.“ She looked over her shoulder and winked, while she held the dress over her half naked body.
Ginny had no feeling of shame, standing in the middle of the room, only wearing underwear.
Hermione envied her for her free spirit, but now she wished she wouldn’t have listened to her.
In an act of self-loathing, while she sorted files at work,she decided to do exactly as Ginny said. Otherwise, she would be dusted and forgotten, just like her folders.
So she bought a nice dress and put makeup on.
Only the last step turned out more difficult than expected. While McLaggen tried to flirt with her, she wasn’t sure she wanted to take someone home anymore. She didn’t want the champagne to go to waste, so she drank most of it, savoring the exquisite taste on her lip,
before she ran over it with her tongue.
A floating tray crossed her and she put down the glass. She was ready to search for Ginny, who had abandoned her as soon as McLaggen greeted them. Hermione would made sure to accuse her for letting her down like that.
She spotted a figure with blonde hair in her periphery and turned to him, expecting McLaggen. Instead, she stood before a confused looking Draco Malfoy.
„You are not married.“
„You are not McLaggen.“
They said at the same time.
Both blinked like they saw a Fata Morgana.
„Married?“, she asked, tilting her head.
„McLaggen?“ he asked with a raised brow.
Hermione pointed a hand in his direction. „Please, begin.“
He cleared his throat. „Excuse me, that was the wrong approach. I thought you wouldn’t be here.“
„Me?“ She raised both eyebrows. „I graduated ten years ago, it is more unusual to see you here than me.“
„Right.“ Malfoy shuffled with his feet and looked to the exit.
He made the impression as if he wanted to flee.
She understood. A second ago she wanted to run out of the school, too. But now she took a closer look at the man before her.
The last time she had seen him in person was the day he walked with his parents from the battleground. After the war his family had to face a lot of trials. The ministry sentenced Lucius to a lifelong imprisonment in Azkaban. He and his mother were exiled out of England for ten years. That was everything she knew about him through the newspapers.
She hadn’t known about his whereabouts ever since.
Malfoy wasn’t a teenager anymore. He had grown into his features with a sharp chin, and a tall and lean figure. His piercing grey eyes unnerved her in a way she couldn’t describe.
He raked through his hair with long, veiny fingers, wearing his signet ring on the right ring finger. Malfoy caught her inspecting him. He pointed his chin toward her.
„McLaggen, mhm? Did he want more than to say hello?“
His eyes lingered on her and Hermione could feel a heat rising from her neck. He focused on her shoulders, it seemed, not on her cleavage, which was untypical for a man, in her opinion.
She moved awkwardly under his gaze.
„Yeah, he has a pushy character. Forgot about that and was just nice. But you know how some people are: They think you are flirting with them, just because you are a decent person.“
Malfoy nodded, avoiding her eyes. „Some things never change“, he said. He scanned the room as if he could spy the one they were talking about.
„You mean people“, she replied.
Malfoy looked her straight in the eyes. „Oh, no. People change. All the time.“
A shiver went down her spine.
Why was he so intimidating?
She took a deep inhale to clear her mind. A mistake. His cologne penetrated her nostrils. A musky, dark aura, mixed with an airy undertone. Hermione must confess that she liked his perfume.
„I need to go now“, she declared, pointing in Ginny’s direction.
„I’ll accompany you.“
„It’s just a stone’s throw from here“, she tried to duck out.
„Then I’ll accompany you for the stone’s throw.“
„It’s not 1820. I can manage to go on my own.“
He paused. „Do you insist?“
She blinked several times. „What?“
„I agree. It’s not 1820, but you are a Lady and I’m a gentleman, therefore I am to make sure that McLaggen won’t bother you again.“
She eyed him up and down and concluded that it would be wasted breath to discuss this further. „Fine, whatever. But I want to state I was able to fight my own battles, before you turned up.“
„I know. Let me be helpful, Granger.“ He said it with a calm voice, but there was more to it.
Doubt? Anxiety? Tiredness?
They walked silently to Ginny and Blaise, Pansy and Neville, which she spotted earlier were nowhere to be seen.
„Ginny, I want to leave now“, she said to her friend, while Malfoy took place beside the other Slytherin.
„Now, like right now?“ Ginny seemed unhappy and Hermione felt bad for asking.
„Yes“, she smiled, but she knew that it didn’t reach her eyes.
„But I’m having such an interesting conversation with Blaise.“
Hermione acknowledged him with a tight lipped smile and he nodded friendly.
„I can’t talk to you about Quidditch, Hermione. It’s hard for me.“
„That’s not true!“, she protested and felt herself blushing.
„You know what I mean. Could you go alone?“ Ginny pressed her hands together, like a prayer.
Hermione sighed. „Fine, we’ll hear from each other.“
„Have a nice night“, said Blaise and she nodded.
„You, too. Take care of her, would you do that?“
He winked. „Sure thing.“
She tilted her head, but the two were already discussing charts again, so she went to the exit, instead of lingering.
„I guess no one cares, if McLaggen stalks me home.“ She mumbled under her breath.
„I can escort you, if you’d like.“
She twitched, scared from the realization that Malfoy stood behind her. „Godric! Malfoy! What are you doing?“ Hermione put her hand on her racing heart.
„I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overstep.“ He raised both hands.
She shook her head. „No, it’s okay. I just wasn’t aware that you were behind me.“
„A misunderstanding.“
„Clearly.“ She toyed with her clutch. Hermione should say her goodbyes and go home.
Crookshanks didn’t like it when she was going out.
„It was nice meeting you, again. Have a nice night, Malfoy.“ She waved and turned when she felt a light touch at her elbow.
„I was serious. I’ll bring you home.“
Hermione looked where his hands lay and when he realized, he took his hand back.
„Just, if you want.“ He swallowed, his adam’s apple bopping in his throat.
Ginny’s words came back to her mind.
„Don’t make this about others. It’s time to think about yourself. Buy a nice dress, put some makeup on and take one of the men home to have a good time.“
What if this man was Malfoy?
No, this was absurd.
He wouldn’t be interested in her in this way, right?
Malfoy was still waiting for her to reject his offer.
But if he wasn’t interested, why did he insist on going with her to make sure she was safe?
She didn’t know the answer. And on the very rare occasions, she went for it, not having all the parameters presentable to her.
„Yes, you can come.“
He seemed relieved and smiled lightly. „Well then. Lead the way.“ Malfoy gestured forward and she stepped out of the Great Hall.
„We apparate.“
„Of course.“
She raised her arm, so he could hold onto it. „It’s not far.“
He chuckled. „That’s the second time I hear you saying it this night and I still stick to my offer.“
„Fine.“ She scoffed.
This was his last chance to back out. Before he could change his mind they vanished
and swirled through time and place to reach the alley a minute away from her house.
„Well done“, he congratulated.
„I know my spells.“ She glared at him.
He took his hand from her naked skin and she felt a loss from where it lay.
She shivered, rubbing her arms. The temperature had dropped a few degrees in the last hour
and she regretted not bringing a coat.
Suddenly a warm, large jacket wrapped around her shoulders.
She looked to Malfoy.
„I knew my company would be good for something.“ He smiled under the light, provided through the moon and streetlight and his pale skin looked warmer, his person more approachable.
„Thank you“, she whispered, looking away from him, leading the way.
This was dangerous.
When did he turn into such a gentleman?
They walked in silence to her house, an old two-bedroom cottage in Greenwich.
The front garden was overgrown with wildflowers and the white fence needed new coating, but she liked the blue window frames and the green wooden front door, that had a tiny colorful window.
„A witches’ house“, he said smirking.
Hermione had never realized it before, but from a muggle point of view it had a lot of similarities with Malfoys statement.
She smiled. „You could say so.“
They came to a halt before the fence gate that reached her middle.
Now was the time to be brave.
She could ask him inside, invite him for a cup of tea. It was the perfect opportunity.
Hermione knew almost nothing about him, which made a one night stand easy for both parties. They didn’t need to talk, they could spend the night together, part ways and never hear from another again.
Maybe it was fate, that he was there tonight at the anniversary she didn’t want to attend at first.
Whatever it was, it was in her favor. She needed to act now, but when she looked up to him,
standing next to her, hands in his pockets, inspecting the front yard, her courage faltered.
Attraction was a funny thing.
You wouldn’t believe who you would fancy, unless it happened.
He didn’t do anything spectacular, but he was doing it perfectly.
„So-
„I should head home now“, he said and pointed behind him.
„Sure“, she agreed instantly.
He pressed his lips together.
„This is yours, thanks again.“ She slipped his jacket off, but he stepped back.
„No, take it until you’re inside. It’s cold. You can give it back the next time we see each other.“
Hope was blooming inside her chest.
Next time?
„Okay, well I have a lot going on with work and friends, you know“, she rambled and he observed her patiently.
„Yeah, I’m starting a new position on Monday, so I know what you mean.“ He scratched his head.
Curiosity sparked.
„Where are you working?“
„The ministry.“
Hermione froze.
„The M-ministry?“, she stuttered.
„Yes, I graduated in France, and went through some departments in the french ministry. There was a case that interfered with one in London and they sent me to take care of it.“
All her alarm clocks ringed.
„And which Department are you supposed to support?“
„Department of international magical cooperation.“
„What you don’t say“, her voice was fading.
„It has something to do with muggleregelations.“
Muggleregelations.
„You are the head of it, I heard.“
Her hopes crumbled into tiny pieces. She needed to get her act together.
„Yes, I am.“ Hermione tried to smile.
This could’ve turned into one of the most embarrassing situations she had ever faced. She almost asked Malfoy to sleep with her.
„I need to go inside now. My cat is waiting.“ She opened the gate and stepped on the uneven way to her front door.
„This monster is still alive?“, he asked himself, but she had heard it and glared at him.
„He is an old man, have some respect.“
„I’m sorry. I have a lot of respect for the elderly.“ He bowed.
She rolled her eyes, and it felt like when they first met this night.
Hermione fumbled with her keys.
„See you on Monday?“, he asked.
She opened her door and went inside. „We’ll see each other around.“
He waved and she slammed the door shut with too much force.
This was all Ginny’s fault!