A Beautiful Surprise

After spending a week working alongside Draco it was officially time to say goodbye to her favorite partner. They planned on having a going away party for Phillip and now that it was the weekend, it was a perfect time. 

Everyone from the Ministry loved Phillip as he had been with the company for fifty-two years. Ron, Harry, and Ginny would be in attendance as they all knew Phillip. The number of times that Harry and Ron would stop by her office made it impossible for Phillip not to gain a relationship with them. 

Hermione decided to go in a light and airy lilac-colored dress for the event. She left her hair down, but her curls were a little more tamed than normal. For shoes, she decided on white platform heels. 

She had wished Cassie could come home for the weekend to say goodbye to Phillip. He had almost been like a grandfather figure to Cassie growing up and Hermione felt bad that she couldn't say goodbye. Phillip had assured her before that he would come back and visit just to see Cassie. 

"'Mione let's go!"

She heard Ginny yelling from her lounge room where she guessed they had just come through the Floo. Hermione looked herself over once more in the mirror before heading out of her room. "Alright, I'm ready."

Harry put his hands into his pockets. "Ron is going to meet us there so this is everyone."

Hermione nodded and walked over next to Ginny. Harry went first as he stepped into the Floo that would take them to the Ministry. Ginny was about to walk through as well when she turned toward Hermione. "You look gorgeous by the way."

Hermione smiled. "Thank you. You look amazing as well." 

Ginny disappeared into the Floo and Hermione soon followed behind her. The moment she was inside the Ministry, the entire room was lit up with floating candles and people talking to each other in every corner. The smile on her face immediately widened, Phillip was going to love it.

She looked over to the right and saw Ron, Harry, and Ginny grabbing some beverages, so she went over to join them. 

"When is Phil supposed to arrive?" Ron had been calling him Phil since they first met. He always thought it would get a rise out of Phillip. 

Hermione turned and peered around the room. "He should be here soon. We are supposed to start at six and it's 5:45."

Harry stood with one arm around Ginny's back and the other holding a glass of whiskey. "I have a feeling he is going to love this."

"I hope so." Hermione smiled. "He's the reason I hold the position I have in my division."

"I'm going to miss him," Ginny spoke up.

"Of course, you are, Gin'" Ron rolled his eyes. "Anytime you came to visit one of us you always ended up in Phil's office talking his ear off."

Everyone agreed and Ginny shrugged her shoulders. "The man gave amazing advice. What can I say?"

"You're not wrong, Wife." Harry looked at Ginny and they both shared a smile. 

"Hello, Gryffindors." 

Hermione turned around to see Theo standing with a drink in his hand and a smile on his face. "Theo!" She walked to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I didn't know you were coming."

Theo hugged her back before pulling away. "I couldn't miss out on Phillip's going away party. Before you, he was the one coming to my Manor because of cursed objects." He turned to the rest of the group. "Potter, Weasley, Red."

"Hi, Theo." Ginny smiled. "Haven't seen you in a while."

Theo winked at her. "That's what happens when you get a husband."

Harry gave Theo a murderous look. "I see you're still upset that I'm Cassie's Godfather and you aren't."

Theo smiled smugly. "And I see you're still upset that Cassie took her first steps while walking to me."

"Alright boys, cut it out." Hermione interrupted. 

"Yeah," Ron spoke into his cup. "I don't have anything like that with Cassie and you don't see me complaining about it."

"Hello, Cassie's other aunt, uncles, and mum."

Everyone turned to see Pansy on Blaise's arm. Hermione's smile widened even more. "Pansy! Blaise!" She paused and walked closer to them. "Pansy, I forgot you said you might be coming."

Pansy nodded. "Well, I couldn't miss old Phillip's going away party. He helped me a lot while I was trying to grow my clothing line."

Blaise laughed. "Yeah, Pansy told me Phillip was leaving so I knew I had to be here. He always made the best strawberry tarts." Everyone nodded, knowing how well Phillips strawberry tarts were.

Harry decided to speak up. "Well, Phillip should be here soon but help yourselves to some drinks."

"Oh, yes." Pansy walked over to the drink table. "Theo, darling, how long has it been since I've seen you."

Theo thought about it for a moment. "I'm pretty sure it was right before you left for Italy so only a few months."

Pansy sighed. "Really? It feels like longer." She turned to Ginny. "Ginerva, I love the dress by the way."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "You know it's from your clothing line."

"Oh." Pansy laughed and shrugged her shoulders. "I guess that's why I like it so much."

Hermione was looking around the room as everyone spoke. It was only 5:55, which meant Phillip should be arriving at any minute.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me," Pansy spoke and everyone turned to see her looking toward the Floo's. Everyone followed her eyesight only to realize that Draco Malfoy had just entered the room. "I swear I am going to strangle him."

Pansy was about to walk off before Blaise and Theo stepped toward her and held her back. "Pansy, you need to calm down," Theo whispered to her. 

"Do not tell me to calm down! That prat deserves what is coming to him." Pansy was trying to pull out of the boy's grips but couldn't.

Harry, Ginny, and Ron were all looking at Hermione like she knew what to do. She had been working with him for a week, so it didn't bother her to see him but other than Theo, no one else had talked to him since he had been back. 

She sighed and watched as Draco's eyes landed on her from across the room. He froze as he saw everyone else standing around her. Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'll be back."

She walked over to Draco as his eyes never left the group she was once standing with. "I didn't know you would be here."

Draco finally looked at her. "I didn't know all of them would be here."

Hermione looked back at the group to see that Pansy was still fuming before looking at Draco. "They all knew Phillip."

Draco nodded. "Maybe I should go."

"No." Hermione shook her head. "You need to get this over with now."

Draco sighed and thought about it for a long moment. Hermione could see the gears turning in his mind as he kept looking behind her at the group. Finally, he took a deep breath and nodded once. "Okay then. Let's do this."

Hermione turned and waited for Draco to stand next to her before she led him over to the group. With each step, she could see Pansy's face turning redder. Blaise's face was completely straight with no emotion and Theo looked normal.

The moment they stopped in front of the group; Pansy let everything out. "You posh prat git! How dare you even think about coming here! You shouldn't even be allowed back-" Suddenly, the words from her mouth became silent though her lips were still moving. 

Theo was the one with his wand out and as everyone looked at him, he shrugged his shoulders. "I think it's best I take her somewhere she can cool down for a bit."

Blaise looked from Draco to Theo. "I'll go with you."

Everyone watched as Blaise and Theo dragged Pansy away before Ron spoke. "Well, that was fun." He laughed. "Nice to see you, Ferret."

Draco looked at him with furrowed eyebrows before nodding and looking at everyone else. "Weasel, Weaslette, Potter."

Ginny cleared her throat. "I'm a Potter now."

"No, you're not." Draco shook his head. 

Harry cracked a smile. "Well, look who decided to show up after eleven years." He paused, looking Draco up and down. "You know what this means right."

Draco slightly tilted his head. "No."

Harry laughed. "It means you stuck with us."

Ron joined in and laughed. "You'll never be able to get rid of us now."

Hermione couldn't stifle the laugh that came from her lips.

Draco looked down at her. "You think this is funny?"

Ginny started to laugh as well. "I mean think about it, Ferret. Who would have thought we'd all be where we are today."

A laugh slipped from Draco's mouth before he groaned. "I really am going to have to deal with you lot for the rest of my life, aren't I?"

Harry slapped his hand on Draco's shoulder. "Oh yes."

Pansy, Theo, and Blaise returned to the group, and at that moment and the laughing came to a stop. Pansy took a deep and frustrated breath. "I shouldn't have yelled at you."

Draco turned to Pansy and sighed. "I understand."

Pansy furrowed her eyebrows. "What?"

Draco looked at Hermione before looking back at Pansy. "I know that you lot are angry at me." He looked at Theo and Blaise as well. "Not just because of what I did to Granger but because of what I did to you too."

"You're not making any sense," Theo spoke up.

Draco ran his hand through his hair. "I didn't just leave Cassie and Granger behind," He paused. "I left you all behind as well and when you're all ready, I'd like to talk about it." 

Blaise took a deep breath with both of his hands in his pockets. "Fine."

Everyone looked at Blaise somewhat shocked that he spoke up. 

"Well, hello everyone."

Everyone looked to their right to see Phillip standing there with a smile on his face. They all froze for a moment forgetting what they were there for. 

"Phillip!" Everyone erupted at the same time, walking up to him to give him a hug.

"It's nice to see you all but I fear I may have interrupted something." He looked around at everyone in the group.

Ron took a sip of his drink. "Oh, it was nothing, Phil. We were just waiting for you to arrive."

"Yes, and now that you're here we can do your cake." Hermione clapped her hands together. 

"Did you say cake?" Theo budded in.

"Let's wait a moment before we announce my arrival," Phillip said. "I haven't seen a few of you in a while." He turned to Pansy first. "Ms. Parkinson, how is the clothing line going."

Pansy smiled broadly. "It's been amazing. I actually just got back from opening up an office in Italy." 

"That's fantastic!" Phillip took her hand in his. "I know you will do great things." She sent him a smile before he turned to Harry and Ginny. "Mr. and Mrs. Potter, I believe you two are coming up on ten years together?"

"Ten years in November." Harry looked at Ginny as the two smiled at each other with such adoration for the other. 

"And the kids?" Phillip asked.

"James left with Cassie for Hogwarts and Albus is doing amazing at home." Ginny looped her arm through Harry's.

"Wonderful." He turned to Theo. "Mr. Nott I do believe I saw a file on Ms. Granger's desk earlier this week about you having yet another cursed object?"

Theo looked down at his feet like a child who just got caught. "I mean- Maybe."

Phillip clicked his tongue at him. "For years you have somehow collected many cursed objects. You should be more careful with what you collect."

"Yes sir." Theo could not make eye contact with him. 

Phillip turned to Blaise and smiled broadly. "Mr. Zabini." He paused, reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out a container. "I believe you are here for these."

Blaise's mouth dropped open. "You didn't." He grabbed the container and popped the lid off before looking back up at Phillip. "You did!"

"I did." Phillip nodded. "You make sure to share those with everyone."

"Maybe," Blaise smirked, looking down at the container of strawberry tarts. 

"Mr. Weasley." Phillip turned to Ron. "Why you call me Phil I will never understand, but if it makes you happy then continue doing it."

Ron looked at him oddly as everyone laughed.

Phillip turned to Hermione and grabbed both of her hands in his. "Ms. Granger." He smiled. 

"Don't you dare make me cry." Hermione tried to laugh, feeling the water already rising to her eyes. 

Phillip smiled at her sincerely. "I have been working with you for eight years. You came to me wanting a challenge and I knew you were going to go above and beyond. Not only have you introduced me to this bunch standing around you, but you also introduced me to your little Cassie and that was the greatest gift you could have ever given me."

Hermione brought her hand up to wipe the tears that were falling onto her cheeks. "Cassie loves you so much and you have been the best partner and mentor I have ever had."

Phillip gave her a bright smile before turning to look at the group as a whole. "If I had known that making Ms. Granger co-head of our division would bring all of you into my life, I would have done it sooner. Who would have known that I'd one day have eight children."

Pansy and Ginny both wiped tears from their eyes before Pansy let out a loud sigh. "Okay enough crying and sad talk." She walked over and looped her arm in Phillips. "It's time to celebrate with a hefty amount of alcohol and some cake."

Phillip held onto Pansy's arm as she led him over to the cake table. Everyone else in the room soon gathered around and made speeches to thank Phillip for his 52 years of service at the Ministry. 

Over an hour later, Phillip was making his rounds and talking to everyone with Pansy still on his arm. Hermione looked around the room and noticed Draco was standing off to the side alone. She sighed before deciding to go over and talk to him. 

Draco looked up at her as she approached and stood next to him along the wall. "Having fun?" He asked. 

Hermione nodded as she looked over at Phillip. "As much as I can. It's sad to see him go."

Draco looked down at his cup before looking at her. "He seemed to have a big impact on everyone's lives."

She let out a small laugh. "Something like that." She looked up at him. "He was somewhat of a father figure to all of us." 

The two stood together in silence, watching everyone around them as the light classical music filled their ears. Hermione found it easier over the years to be around big crowds. For the longest time, she always felt like she was suffocating in a room full of people. 

She took a deep breath and looked over at Draco. He was so much of the same person she once knew but at the same time, he felt like a stranger. "How did you feel seeing everyone?"

Draco shrugged his shoulders. "It could have been worse."

Hermione let out a small laugh. "Yes, it could have."

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. "I would still like to speak to Theo, Blaise, and Pansy." He paused. "I will say I wasn't expecting Weaselbee, Potter, and Weaslette to act so..."

"Okay about it?" Hermione shook her head almost in disbelief. "Trust me, I know how you feel."

"Ah, I see my ex-partner and her new partner are getting along quite well." Phillip appeared without Pansy on his arm.

Hermione looked from Draco to Phillip. "You could say that." She smiled. 

Phillip clasped his hands behind his back. "Well good." He looked at Draco. "She can be a handful sometimes, but she knows what she is doing."

"Hey!" Hermione's mouth dropped open in shock.

Phillip shrugged his shoulders. "It's true, Ms. Granger." He turned back to Draco. "I still believe you two will work together perfectly with just the right amount of competitiveness. Sometimes a little competition is what two people need in life." He winked at Hermione before walking away.

Hermione wasn't sure what to do or what Phillip was up to. She watched as Phillip walked away before turning back to Draco. "I'm going to go and make my rounds before heading back to my Flat. I will see you at work on Monday."

Draco nodded, tipping his drink to her. "See you on Monday."