Plus One

Hermione had at one point designed her entire wedding.

Her cake would be three tiers.

Her dress would be an A-line dress.

If she got married in the winter she’d want long sleeves but if she were to get married in the spring which is what her true dream wedding was she’d want thin straps or perhaps short lace sleeves.

She knew she wanted a nice-sized train.

Nothing too dramatic, maybe chapel-sized or a sweep train.

She wouldn’t want it to be pure white.

Maybe Ivory.

Or a champagne color.

When the war began all her wedding dreams were locked up tight behind her occlumency walls.

Her father had no memory of her.

Her mother either.

And even if they did remember her.

She was certain they would disown her and wouldn’t bother coming to her wedding anyways.

Of course, she’d have to find a suitor first.

She was bright.

She never actually believed her relationship with Ronald would actually go anywhere once they gave it a go.

But she wanted to give it a go nonetheless because.

Well.

It was easy.

And when she realized how unfair it was to Ron she ended things.

Which was for the best.

For the both of them.

Course she didn’t think it would lead her to being sat at the singles table of her ex-boyfriend’s wedding to Pansy Parkinson of all people.

She was happy for them.

Truly.

Marriages burst after the war ended and a lot of them ended.

Very badly.

Harry and Ginny for example.

No one blamed them.

In fact they warned them not to marry so young.

Granted Ron told Harry not to marry the first person you dip your wick into otherwise he would’ve married Lavender Brown had she survived the war and that was a nightmare in itself.

Though marrying Pansy Parkinson wasn’t far off.

She tried, she really did.

But she had a hard time with Hermione.

And Hermione understood.

She remembered how it felt watching Ron with Lavender.

But it wasn’t like Hermione wanted Ron anymore.

Hermione disagreed with Ron of course found it disgusting that he would use that metaphor especially when it involved his sister.

But Harry and Ginny divorced nonetheless.

Harry came out as gay shortly afterward.

Which frankly made a lot of sense.

Sat at the singles table trying her hardest to ignore Cormac’s failed attempts to flirt with her when Draco Malfoy caught her eye.

‘Save me’ she mouthed.

She was desperate.

“Mcglaggan...Granger is so far out of your league she’s just too nice to say anything...but I”m not nice...you don’t stand a chance go bother someone else” Malfoy sneered and Cormac went to scoff at him but then he realized that it was Malfoy that was speaking to him and not some random guy and he backed off leaving the table so it was just the two of them.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“No problem...you look like you could use a drink...or two....” he handed her the bottle of Ogdins he had stolen from the bar and been hoarding.

She poured herself a glass and handed it back to him. He was two seats away from her so it wasn’t a far reach but she did have to lean over and she saw his eyes flick to her chest then back up to her face quickly.

If she hadn’t already had a glass of wine she would’ve been embarrassed by him eyeing her chest, her dress wasn’t extremely low cut, but compared to what she wore in Hogwarts it was a lot of skin and according to Cormac she looked hot.

“To watching our first loves get married...to each other” he winked at her, raising his glass to clink hers.

“I never actually told Ron I loved him...not in a romantic way” she admitted.

“Well, I never told Pansy that either...that’s not what I meant...I meant our first partners” he explained.

“Well Ron wasn’t my first boyfriend either” she explained.

He raised an eyebrow at her.

“That’s not what I meant at all Granger...I thought you were supposed to be smart?” he said.

What?

Oh.

Sexual Partner.

“Yeah no...Ron and I never…” she trailed off blushing furiously now and shaking her head no.

“No?” he asked.

“Who was the lucky lad then...Krum...no you were far too young even for him...Cormac seemed rather into you but you didn’t seem interested in him...Potter then? Is that the reason you and Weasel never worked out...and the reason he and the She Weasel called it quits so early?” he asked.

She gawked at him. He was seriously asking her who took her virginity?

“No...it was not Krum...I was fifteen for Merlin’s sake!” she said.

“I was doing far worse at fifteen let's face it” he admitted and she gave him a look.

“What I was,” he shrugged.

“You’re right about Cormac, he's very interested, I on the other hand find him atrocious” she scoffed.

“Harry on the other hand” she stated.

“His marriage ended because he is very much gay...and my relationship with Ron...ended...for many reasons...Harry is not one of them though you are not the first person to think that” she sighed.

“Not Weasley...not Krum...not Potter...what other bloke did you go out with then?” he asked.

“I never went out with Harry!” she glared at him.

“Alright then who?” he asked with a casual shrug.

She sat there silently for a minute before looking up at him.

“No one,” she said.

“Oh come on Granger I just admitted that Pansy was the person I lost my virginity to...give me something” he taunted.

“No, I mean...I haven’t...I’m…” she trailed.

“You haven’t ever? You're...oh...Oh!” He gathered what she was saying and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Yeah...Oh,” she nodded.

“I’m sorry...I was only messing with you...I didn’t realize…” he trailed.

“It’s alright…” She shrugged it off and he took a shot and repoured himself a glass.

“Can I ask why?” he asked.

“Why am I a virgin...or why didn't I sleep with any of those people?” she asked.

“I’m sure the reasons correlate,” he answered.

She gave a sort of nod and then took her shot and moved closer to him so she didn’t have to reach so far for the bottle.

“Did your parents ever give you the talk Malfoy?” she asked as he poured her a new glass of the Ogden's and she reached for the bottle of wine on the table and topped off the glass she had finished early so she could sip on it.

“Like the sex talk?” he asked and she nodded.

“Yeah but I’m fairly certain that the very bigoted talk my father gave me was far different than the one your muggle parents gave you” he grumbled and she let out a small giggle before picking up her wine glass.

“I had read about it before my mum could explain it to me...she didn’t realize at the time the book she gave me for Christmas was raunchy until I came crying to her about how terrified of sex I was...she eased my worries of course...explained why the book was a bit mature for my age...and how not all sex is like that...and then explained making love to me...it was all very awkward of course...but...the romance behind making love...to me it was...magical...and the older I got the more I heard different things from different people...and none of it sounded magical to me...I was really young when I dated Viktor...if you could call it dating...and with Ron...well...it never felt right...I mean I want my first time to be magical...something I’d remember for the rest of my life...someone I truly loved...someone I was devoted to...and he didn’t give me that vibe...and it felt cruel to string him along not wanting the same things as him...but hey...it worked out for him huh?” she asked, raising her wine glass to the happy couple who was on the dance floor happily in each other’s arms.

It was nice for Hermione to be able to talk about her parents freely with him.

He had no idea that they didn’t remember her and probably never would.

So he couldn’t pity her any time she brought them up.

Which was nice.

“Well I envy you Granger” he clinked her glass then brought it to his lips and took a swig.

“What for?” she asked.

“After everything you’ve been through...you still hold out for hope...for something magical...with all this shite...do you know how many couples have divorced since this entire wedding industry thing started to boom,” he asked with a scoff “I mean we are twenty-one for Merlin’s sake we have our entire lives ahead of us...what’s the rush?” he asked.

“Twenty-two” she corrected.

“Hmm,” he asked.

“I’m twenty-two” she answered.

“Are you?” he asked.

“Mhm just turned in September,” she said.

“Ah” he nodded.

“How many divorces?” she asked.

“Five..and those are just the weddings I’ve been to” he rolled his eyes.

She sighed.

“I am not looking forward to these next couple of weddings I have to go to...I wasn’t even really looking forward to this one...I mean I’m happy for them but also…” she trailed.

“They can shove their happiness right up their arses?” he asked.
She laughed.

“Yeah...exactly...unless...they put the two of us at this table together hoping we’d start a fight and ruin their day…” she eyed him.

“Not Pansy no...I don’t know what she sees in the bloke...or what you saw in him for that matter...but she loves him...I’ve never seen her this smitten with anyone...myself included” he admitted.

“Ron’s a good man...he’s good for her...everyone deserves someone good for them don’t you think?” she asked and he nodded.

“Yeah...sure Granger” he threw back another shot and she took another swig of her wine.

She wanted that.

She wanted to have someone who was good for her.

Draco and Hermione ended up having a fairly good time at Pansy and Ron’s wedding.

It felt nice hanging around him.

He was smart so she didn’t have to constantly explain a word and what it meant.

And she found his snark to be quite funny from time to time.

She did not want to go to Luna and Rolf’s wedding alone.

She knew it would be weird and she would just drink in a corner alone.

So she figured she would owl Draco and see what he was up to but the moment she was about to send the owl off she wasn’t sure where he lived so she went over to the burrow.

After Bill distracted his mum from trying to convince Hermione to marry Charlie...or George...hell even Percy, Hermione was able to go find Ginny in her room.

“Hey, Mione...just a sec,” she said as she tried to shut her very overpacked suitcase.

Hermione cast a charm on it making the top layer of clothing shrink so it would shut.

“Sometimes I forget I’m a witch” Ginny sighed plopping down.

“What’s on your mind?” she asked.

“I need to ask a favor of you...and it’s going to sound like a strange one...but…” she rambled and Ginny gave her a look.

“Mione you keep my mum from nagging me for my divorce...I owe you...so I can do you a favor...or two” she snorted.

“Okay...well...I need you to get a letter to Draco Malfoy…I’m not sure where he lives...and I don’t...want to step on any toes...I don’t…” She huffed “I’m not making any sense am I?” she asked.

“None at all” Ginny admitted and Hermione huffed again.

“Okay...Malfoy’s family...I don’t know where they stand anymore since the war ended...but I know where he stands...and I don’t...want his parents...if he lives with them that is...to see a letter from me...of all people...does that make sense?” she asked.

“Not really...but why do you think I can give it to him?” she asked.

“Because I know that you are secretly dating his best mate Blaise Zabini” Hermione eyed her and Ginny clenched her jaw.

“How do you know that?” she hissed.

“You weren’t as sneaky at Parvati’s wedding as you thought you were being” Hermione answered.

“Shite,” she muttered.

“Don’t worry nobody else saw...I may have ‘accidentally’ pushed Harry into the cake...your welcome on both parts by the way” she said and Ginny squeezed her hand.

“Bless you, Hermione, you really are a saint.” she praised and Hermione rolled her eyes.

“Yes yes...now...will you give it to your boyfriend to give to him?” Hermione asked.

“Yes...yeah, I will...what’s it about am I allowed to ask?” she asked.

“I’m inviting him to be my plus one at Luna’s wedding...and before you ask...we got along quite well at Ron and Pansy’s wedding...and I just...I don’t want to be alone at Luna’s wedding of all places...they’ve written their own vows Gin...can you imagine being so in love with someone that you write your own vows?” Hermione asked.

“Yes I did write my own vows for Harry,” she said.

“Ah yes, the infamous fresh pickled toad vows...honestly Gin...how embarrassing” Hermione teased and Ginny smacked her playfully.

“Shove off and deliver your own mail,” she said.

“No...please Gin...please I mean...can you imagine Malfoy and I are actually getting along for once...and I hate being alone at these weddings!” she begged her friend who eventually sighed and held out her hand.

“Fine...but...you owe me...you better cause a distraction because there is no one I’m sitting through that entire wedding without getting at least one good shag...I have to be away from Blaise for three weeks!” she gawked. 

“The audacity” Hermione teased and Ginny nudged her.

“Is that the reason for this?” Hermione asked, referring to Ginny’s luggage.

“Yeah” she nodded.

“Hey...did you check with Luna to make sure it was alright to even invite him...I mean...didn’t his family like...trap her in a dungeon for a bit?” she asked and Hermione nodded.

“Yeah...she doesn’t really hold grudges...how did Blaise get invited...I didn’t know they knew each other” Hermione asked.

“Well they are both journalists so they travel in the same packs...he’s nice to her...it’s kind of how we met” Ginny shrugged.

“And you...he’s nice to you right...I mean...he’s not forcing you to hide your relationship?” she asked.

“No...no nothing like that...it was my idea actually...I just wanted some privacy you know...my entire marriage and divorce were in the papers...plus sneaking around is kind of hot” she teased.

Hermione rolled her eyes at her.

“Hey can I ask you a question...it’s a bit personal so I understand if you don’t want to answer it but...do...you ever regret...giving your virginity to Harry?” Hermione asked.

“Honestly...no” Ginny shook her head no.

“He was perfect...and it’s not like I didn’t love him or anything like that when we were married...and a part of me will always love him...just not in that way... the same way you love Ron...and yes I know it’s different because you never slept with Ron...but no...I don’t regret it...Dean...I would’ve regretted Dean...but Harry...made it special for me...so if you are thinking about hooking up with Cormac think again” Ginny warned and Hermione made a disgusted face.

“No...I was...just genuinely curious is all” Hermione shrugged.

“So how is the ferret?” She asked.

“He’s so different...it’s strange...you guys have the same career path right now though...he plays for the Falmouth Falcons as a seeker,” Hermione said.

Hermione caught Ginny up on her life and then Ginny caught her up on hers and then Hermione left anticipating Draco’s letter back she had left her address for him just in case he wanted to owl her back. 

She never expected him to arrive at her flat knocking on her door.

She had just finished baking apple pie and her kitchen was a mess and she wasn’t expecting a guest but she figured her neighbor might have come over to figure out why she was making such a racket so she foolishly went to answer the door and Draco Malfoy stood before her.

He was always dressed to the nines and she was usually not covered in flour with an apron that covered her lounge clothes so she went red in the face when she saw him.

“Malfoy...what in Merlin’s name are you doing here?” she gawked at him looking around the street “I surely hope you did not apparate here...this is a muggle neighborhood” she whispered/yelled.

“Can I come in so we don’t have to whisper?” he asked and she let him in.

“I didn’t apparate. I hate disaperating...I figured you lived in a muggle neighborhood so I flew...on my broom...and landed in an alleyway a block away...no one saw me I promise...it smells incredible in here...I’m assuming based on the smell...and your attire you were not expecting company?” he asked.

“I was not...I figured you were my neighbor trying to figure out why I was making so much noise in my kitchen...I’m a very loud baker apparently...I’ve scared Crookshanks off...don’t know where he’s gone” she muttered dusting off the flour from her apron.

“Who the hell is Crookshanks?” he asked.

“My cat,” she said.

“You still have that grubby thing?” he asked.

“Malfoy what are you doing here?” she sighed, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Right….I got your owl; thanks for that by the way Blaise assumes we're shagging...I got your owl and figured we could make a deal” he said.

“Why would he think we were shagging over a letter...and what kind of a deal?” she asked, a bit embarrassed.

“Unimportant why he thinks that...the deal, on the other hand, is that we use each other until this wedding shite is over” he suggested.

“How so?” she asked.

“I was thinking...you needed a plus one to Lovegood’s wedding...I need a plus one to a couple of weddings myself....and we had a grand time at Pansy and Weasley’s wedding...better than going alone” he shrugged.

“That’s...actually a good idea...but...why me...you could get anyone you wanted to go with you...your Draco Malfoy…” she asked, confused.

“I am an Ex Death Eater no one wants to be around me...what’s your excuse?” he asked.

She frowned.

“I’m sorry...I didn’t mean for that to come out as harsh as it did...look...we had a good time at Weasley’s wedding...and...these weddings...they’re killing me...I had one yesterday before I got that letter and I about chucked myself right off a cliff...so….yeah...if you still want me to be your plus one to Lovegood’s wedding I’m down...but...for the love of Merlin please be my plus one...that’s all it needs to be if that’s all you want...just us keeping each other from chucking ourselves off a cliff” he suggested.

Hermione thought about it for a moment.

He made a compelling argument.
And it wasn’t like she didn’t like hanging out with him.

He was fun.

And he understood her.

She didn’t really have a lot of people in her life who understood her as well as he did.

“Yeah...yeah okay” she nodded.

“Sweet...now..are you going to let me have some of that apple pie I can spot from over here or is this arrangement coming to an end now?” he taunted and she giggled.

“Come on...it should be cool now” she ushered him into her kitchen taking her apron off and tossing it on a hook and then got down to plates and two forks “is this a good slice?” she asked.

“Yes thank you” he took the plate from her and he set it on the counter pulling out one of her barstool chairs to sit down.

She made herself a slice and then joined him.

He looked at her and she chewed her bottom lip.

“Is it awful?” she asked.

“What? Oh...no it’s just...you’ve got...here” he moved his hand up towards her face and dragged his thumb lightly against her cheek wiping away what she could only assume was flour.

“Better….and this...this is really good...you made this yourself?” he asked nonchalantly like he hadn’t just caressed her cheek skin to skin without flinching away in disgust.

“Yeah...I lived with Molly Weasley for a bit after the war...and she baked when she was anxious...and...I’m anxious...so I baked” she gestured towards her pie.

“Anxious for what?” he asked.

She sighed.

“Just family stuff” she shrugged it off like it wasn’t a big deal but it was.

“Would you like something to drink...tea...water...scotch?” she suggested and he snorted.

“It’s the middle of the afternoon Granger” he gawked at her.

“Judgy” she teased and he chuckled as she got up to make tea.

“Hey, I’m only joking...you’ve met my father...if we were still in contact with each other I’d probably need a scotch at noon as well” he explained.

“You’re not in contact with your dad?” she asked.

“After the war...we both went on trial...we had things we were supposed to accomplish during our probation hearing to help us...they called it rehabilitation but honestly...it was them trying to make us not bigots...it worked for the younger generation...the older generation had a harder time...most of them ended up going into Azkaban for not abiding by the probation...my father is one of those people...he only has himself to blame…” he shrugged it off like it wasn’t a big deal just as she had done.

But he was opening up to her.

Maybe she should open up to him too.

But she liked him not knowing personal things.

Maybe another time.

“I didn’t know about the rehabilitation...is that how you knew this was a muggle neighborhood...was a part of your probation to...like...socialize...or” she was confused and he chuckled.

“I mean yeah sort of...but I also live in a muggle neighborhood myself...got out of the manor as fast as I could...Theo and I share a flat in Kensington..it’s a bit...Posh but...so are we” he joked and she smiled.

“Hey Chelsea is pretty Posh” she shrugged.

“It is...this place is nice...how many bedrooms?” he asked.

“Two...but I use the second one as an office slash library,” she said.

“Of course you do,” he shook his head.

“Oh please you act as if the Malfoy Manor doesn’t have a library twice the size as the one in Hogwarts” 

He chuckled.

“If I brought you to the Manor Library you’d probably never leave...thank you,” he said as he took the tea she offered him.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time” she teased back and he smiled at her.

“So...we should come up with an itinerary of all the weddings that we have to go to…make sure we don’t have any overlapping...or anything like that” she got up excitedly.

“Oh Merlin...you sound far too excited...is this like homework to you?” he asked, following her to her office.

“I mean yeah kind of,” she said shrugging, and her orange cat was sitting on her desk.

“There you are Crooks...I’m sorry did mummy scare you” she asked, picking the cat up and cradling him for a second.

“I can’t believe you still have that monstrosity...how old is he now?” he asked.

“Uhm...well I got him when I was thirteen but he was quite old then as well...I’m not certain...but he’s half kneezel so he has a longer life span,” she said as she set him back down and the cat sniffed at Malfoy before pressing his head against Malfoy’s hand wanting to be pet by him.

“That’s odd he normally doesn’t like men...he loathed Ron...granted Ron did carry around a rat that was actually Peter Pettigrew...so it was justified a bit...but he’s usually not this friendly to men…” she said but shrugged it off.

“I’m sorry, did you say that Weasley’s rat was Peter Pettigrew?” he asked.

“Long story,” Hermione said, grabbing a notebook and a pen.

“Come on to the living room we go” she urged him out and to the living room.

“Oh, I’m an awful host...I didn’t even ask you how you took your tea...do you need anything in it...honey...sugar?” she asked.

“I’m all set thanks darling” he teased and she blushed.

“Because...you said...honey...and sugar...it was a joke Granger” he explained.

“Right...uhm...well then...let's get to work” she flipped open her notebook and they discussed the weddings they were invited to a few of them they were both invited to so they just decided to go together but none of them overlapped where she had a wedding and he had a wedding at the same time except one.

“Katie Bell and I don’t exactly have the best relationship...I don’t think she’d want me at her wedding” he said fiddling with his cufflink.

“Right...well I’m sure I will figure something out... worst-case scenario I’ll drag Harry along to his first crush's wedding” she teased.

“Potter’s first crush was Katie Bell?” he asked.

“Oliver Wood” she corrected.

“Right...that...makes sense...think the marriage between those two will last?” he asked.

She shrugged “Who knows I thought Harry and Ginny were going to make it and...they’re happily divorced so” she shrugged.

“Speaking of which, we have to cause a distraction at Luna and Rolf’s wedding so Blaise and Weaslette can sleep together...guess she’s going to be gone for three weeks for training...did you know those two were together?” he asked.

“Yeah, it’s how I got the letter to you...I wasn’t sure if you lived with your parents...and I didn’t realize your father was back in Azkaban...or if your mother...had prejudice against me still and didn’t want to step on any toes so since I knew about Blaise and Ginny I gave it to her to give to him to give to you” she explained.

“My mother is in contact with her sister...they’re making amends..so she is not necessarily prejudiced...she still has a lot to learn...but she’s trying...and I live with Theo who’s basically the nicest Slytherin you’ll ever meet so now you can feel free to owl me whenever you want...or floo...I can give you access to my floo network if necessary” he shrugged.

“That’s good...that your mum is working on things...and I guess I should open my floo for you as well so you don’t get caught flying around muggles...I mean honestly Malfoy” she teased.

“Oi you bake when you're anxious I fly” he explained.

“You’re anxious...about what?” she asked.

“Hmm? Oh...uh...I’ve got my first game this weekend…and I’m anxious about how the crowd is going to react to me being on the team...it took me a long time just to prove that I was worthy of being on the team...I don’t want the crowd’s reaction to being a negative one and getting me kicked off so early in the season” he sighed.

“I’m sorry...well...hey would it help if I came to support you?” she asked.

“Might make it worse...kidding...if you want to go...you can go...do you want me to get you tickets?” he asked.
“No...I get free tickets all the time because of Ginny although I don’t know why she keeps giving them to me...it’s not like I ever go to any games...but hey...you’re playing...and you're my friend so I will go” she said.

“Friend?” he asked.

“Yeah...we are friends are we not?” she asked.

“Yeah...yeah, I guess we are,” he nodded.