Ginny's Persuasion
“Hermione Granger! You are going on a date with the Wizarding World’s most eligible bachelor and you didn’t tell me right away? I can not believe you!”
“Please Gin, I think my eardrum just popped.”
Ginny and Hermione had only been talking for a few minutes, and already Hermione was reminded why she always carried ear plugs around her. Around the whole Weasley family, to be honest. They didn’t really understand the use of an ‘inside-voice’, as Hermione was unenthused to have discovered.
Hermione had thought the floo call was a good idea. Ginny was her closest female confidant, and this…Draco thing…was more her expertise anyways. Thus, Hermione decided she would quickly floo call her, ask for her advice without giving any specifics, and be on her merry way. Unfortunately, Ginny wanted the details and Hermione wasn’t immune to her pleading. She had quickly coughed up the whole story, starting with Draco’s unceremonial entrance to her office and ending with his welcomed exit. Ginny had sat stock-still the whole time, until a few moments prior when she had read Hermione the riot act.
“Hermione. I know you and Draco have had this will-they-won't-they thing going for a while, but enough is enough. I know you fancy him, and it seems reciprocated. You can’t turn this down, Hermione, you just can’t.”
Hermione had rolled her eyes no less than three times during Ginny’s spiel. They did not have a will-they-won’t-they thing going, she did not fancy him, and he definitely did not reciprocate anything. Ginny was delusional.
“Actually Gin, I can. I can walk right up him and tell him to shove that date-proposal right up his melodramatic arse-”
“-and ruin your chances at the promotion?”
Hermione froze. The promotion. The reason she worked long hours and hadn’t seen the ministry cafeteria in weeks. The only reason she might even consider taking Draco up on his offer.
“You know you want the promotion, Hermione. You said yourself you’d do anything for it. Think of this date as a way to further your career. And your dating life.”
“Gin!”
Ginny wasn’t fazed at Hermione’s horrified look, throwing her head back in laughter.
“C’mon, Hermione, give it a chance. If not for the unresolved sexual tension, for your career.”
Hermione took a moment to consider. While Ginny was less than professional in her delivery, she wasn’t exactly wrong. Hermione considered Draco to be her academic mirror, where she had once seen a rival. Talking to, arguing with, and consulting him was not a part of her routine. A romantic relationship with him seemed far fetched, sure, but not impossible. It did even seem a little nice. Besides, there was the matter of the promotion. Hermione wasn’t above accepting help, but was she above accepting what was essentially a bribe? She wasn’t stupid, she knew the Mistry wasn’t the Land of all that is Fair and Good, but she always considered herself better than that. She was Hermione Granger, for Godric’s sake. She didn’t need anyone’s assistance. She survived on her merit. Still, it would be nice to have her lunch break back. Merlin knows the last time she took a day off. She was killing herself in pursuit of this promotion, and here was a fairy godmother swooping in to help her. Hermione’s mind was made.
“Alright. I’ll give it a go. One dinner, and I get the promotion I deserve. How bad could it possibly be?”
Ginny squealed, throwing up her hands.
“Yes! You’re going to have a fantastic time on your date-”
Suddenly Ron’s head appeared, his face etched with confusion.
“Oi! What’s this I hear about a date? Someone ask you out, Mione?”
Oh, Merlin. Hermione was not prepared for this conversation. To be perfectly honest, Hermione hoped Ron would never learn of the impending dinner. Well, fate had never liked Hermione Granger.
“Um, yes Ron. I was asked out by a colleague. We’re going to have dinner.”
She had spoken slowly, willing Ron to remain level-headed. The days when he would immediately devolve into anger were over, but the tendency was still there. The last thing she needed was for him to start with the hysterics.
“Oh, that’s, um, that’s good, Mione. Who’s the lucky fellow?”
Ron looked at her expectantly, but she remained silent. This was the make-or-break moment, and Hermione didn't want to break the silence.
“You don’t know him, he just transferred to my department.”
Ginny gave her a quizzical look but mercifully remained quiet. Yes, Hermione had lied, but it was for a good reason. The breakup post-Hogwarts hadn’t been nice to either of them. Eight months of pretending everything was fine passed before they faced the music. They weren’t working and hadn’t been for quite some time. They weren’t the teenagers from Hogwarts anymore. It was two years later, and she and Ron had finally regained their friendship. She wasn’t willing to risk it on what was essentially a business deal. Ron undoubtedly wouldn’t see it her way, and she knew this. He couldn’t be mad over something he was unaware of.
“Well Mione, I hope it goes well. I really do. You’ll have to give me an update!”
Ron smiled at her, and Hermione knew she had made the right decision. This was the Ron she knew. A Ron who supported her, and only wanted to see her succeed.
“Thank you, Ron. You know how much it means to me, truly.”
She took a moment to truly appreciate how far they had come as a pair, before speaking again.
“I actually must be going now, you know how work is never going. Ginny, can I have a word before you go, though?”
“Kicking me out, I see. I didn’t want to be involved with the girl-talk anyways.”
His tone was teasing, and his smile didn’t falter as he continued.
“I’ll talk to you later, Hermione. Have a good one!”
His head disappeared back into the females, and Hermione was faced with Ginny’s judgemental eyes.
“I know, I know, Gin. I shouldn’t have lied. But can you blame me? It’s so much easier keeping the peace. Please Gin, for the love of all that is holy, do not tell Ron the truth.”
Ginny stared back at her, and Hermione could see her plan crumbling to pieces. Ginny however, merely sighed and took on a resigned expression.
“I know that what you two have going on is fragile. I also know that when he finds out he’s going to be angry that you lied. That said, I’m not going to tell him. I trust you Hermione, just don’t hurt him.”
With that, she too pulled her head back and Hermione was left looking at an empty fireplace. All things considered, she supposed, it went rather well. Ginny was right, taking Draco’s offer was pragmatic. It was a win-win for everyone. She would get her promotion, and he would get…whatever he was seeking. She still wasn’t quite sure.
She was pulled out of her musings by an incessant tap-tap-tap at her window. Crossing over to the window, she unlatched it to find a glossy, jet black owl holding a letter. She delicately untied the letter from it’s leg, offering it a handful of owl-treats.
“What have we got here?”
Hermione spoke with a higher voice, lightly brushing the owl. She quickly opened the letter, finding an expensive piece of parchment. It read:
'Hermione,
I do hope you’ve had time to consider my offer. It is a limited-time one, after all. If you’re amenable I’d like to talk to you tomorrow about it more, seeing as you threw me out of your office today. Sidenote; sorry about the quill. I figure I must have snapped it in my sleep.
Feel free to send a reply back with Euna, my owl. Do be warned, she will try to nibble at the parchment. I look forward to your answer.
Draco'
Hermione had never received an owl from Draco. This seemed to be yet another example of their relationship crossing the work-bounds they placed it in. Regardless, she had already made her choice.
“I’ll just be a moment, Euna.”
She grabbed parchment and a pen (quills were so impractical, after all) and set to writing.
'Draco,
I have had time to look at your offer and will have an answer for you tomorrow. Meet me at my office at 12 pm.
Hermione'
She supposed she could have simply put her answer in the note, but she liked an air of suspense. He would find out tomorrow. Approaching Euna once more, she tied the parchment to her leg. Stroking her head once more, she spoke her instructions.
“Please deliver this to Draco Malfoy. I trust you know where he lives, considering you’re his owl.”
Euna hooted in understanding and flew off into the night. Watching her go, Hermione re-latched her window and prepared for bed. After all, she had an eventful day tomorrow.