Keeping with the Company

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Keeping with the Company

by coven

Rated PG-13

Hermione offers her best friend Harry a place to stay after a girl discards him. Harry accepts, knowing that the arrangement is indefinite until he finds a suitable place for himself. But things take a strange turn when they both find out that keeping each other company is turning out to be a permanent thing after all.

Disclaimer: This is a Harry Potter fan fiction. Standard disclaimers apply.

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WARNING: I will be introducing another character here and though I do expect a few flames on how this chapter ends, all I have to say is this - Keeping with the Company is essentially a Harry/Hermione Romance fan fiction, and is thus categorized accordingly. So don't despair H/Hr fans because I promise that no one will ever be a hindrance to the development of our favorite duo's relationship. Thanks again for reading and appreciating this fic!

Thanks so much to all those who read the fic, and especially to those who reviewed! I'll try my best to reply, because I appreciate your encouragement. Thanks again!

Chapter 3: Just Perfect

Whatever cloud had descended at Hermione's home had been lifted somehow. Seeing Artie bounce into the kitchen as if nothing happened had melted Hermione's worries away. But then it was only natural to have it replaced by curiosity. She had been meaning to ask for an explanation on the sudden change of atmosphere, but chose to be patient about it. If she needed answers then she would have to ask Harry about it later.

Ron, who knew his son better than anyone else, except of course for Luna, had an inkling of what went on behind the closed door. It also helped that he caught a sly wink from Artie over Hermione's shoulder as he gave his `Aunt Hermione' a hug. Judging from Harry's baffled face, the boy had obviously pulled one on his godfather, a fact that his fatherly pride wanted to gloat over for.

“Do you want some bagel, Artie?” Hermione asked as she watched the boy with fondness. “I got the cream cheese you like.”

Artie grinned and nodded.

Hermione hummed as she proceeded to lavishly spread Artie's bagel with blended cheese.

“Hey,” Harry, who was busy re-reading the Bianca article on the newspaper, yelled from across the room. “Is that the one that you used to make me every Sunday morning at Hogwarts? The one that you flavour with basil and oil?”

“Maybe,” Hermione teased.

Artie watched the pair closely. He hadn't yet run out of tricks in his pocket. Looking at the saccharine smile Aunt Hermione was directing towards Uncle Harry, he decided to make a kill for it.

“Why aren't you married yet, Aunt Hermione?” he asked innocently.

Hermione almost dropped the butter knife she was holding. Ron stifled his laughter by shoving another bagel in his mouth, and Harry who froze in his seat, zoomed his sight on his definitely red-faced girl best friend.

“I mean Dad and Mum got married when they were only eighteen!”

Hermione chose to chuckle nervously and with a slightly trembling hand, placed the boy's food on a saucer. She pushed the plate towards Artie and refused to meet the twinkling eyes of Ron. She definitely avoided looking at Harry. Instead, Hermione focused on the task at hand, and chose her words carefully.

“Well, because I haven't found the right guy to marry, Artie.”

Artie thoughtfully nibbled on his food. How could grown-ups be so dense? He grew up in an environment where love was displayed openly. For Artie, his godparents' actions were as unnatural as Ron not being his Dad. This was going to need more work than he thought.

“Then what's wrong with Uncle Harry?”

If there were ten shades of red, then Hermione's face had gone through each of them. She put a hand to her chest, sure that she was going to need a mediwizard soon. She dared glance at Harry and saw the mischievous smile on his face. She didn't know if she should be relieved because it seemed as if Harry wasn't taking it seriously, or if she should be disappointed because of the same reason. Was he daring her to answer? Well, Hermione Granger was never one to back down from a dare, even if it was close to her ruin. She took a deep breath and cleared her throat.

“You see dear, I don't think there's nothing wrong about him but….”

Artie had a quick rebuttal to that.

“If there's nothing wrong with him then why don't you marry him?”

“Artie,” Ron interjected. He knew that he had let Artie go on too far. And it's not that he wasn't enjoying Hermione's discomfort and Harry's confusion, but his son was treading on grown-up territory. No matter how smart he was, there were some things that Artie still wouldn't able to understand - like love and its complexity, or rather in this case, its stupidity.

“I think it's time for us to go. Remember, the reason you're here is because you wanted to say something personally to your Aunt Hermione.”

Artie sighed. Dad always said the final word, and he was using that tone of voice that said, `That's enough!' It was just too bad because he was really enjoying himself. It beats having to watch the telly.

“Dad said that if it was possible for you to have dinner with us tonight.”

Hermione mouthed a `thank you' to Ron who shook his head with a smile.

“And what would the occasion be?” Harry said, deciding that it was finally safe to join in the conversation once again.

“Daddy said that he had closed a deal….”

“A franchise,” Ron said excitedly. “Business is expanding!”

“That is fantastic!” Hermione exclaimed as she went to Ron and gave him a hug.

“Congratulations mate,” Harry said, giving him a light cuff at the head. Harry knew that it was no little feat for his best friend.

Ron had also been a professional quidditch player. Actually, he went into the sport a couple of years before Harry did. He tried working at the ministry for a few years but knew he wasn't happy there. So with the encouragement of his wife, family, and friends, he tested his luck, attended a try-out, and got accepted. He was no Harry Potter, but his charm and his superb chaser abilities made him very bankable. He was signed in million galleon contracts and product endorsements. Thank Merlin for Hermione's practical advises and the fact that he had a family to think of, Ron was able to save his earnings. No one had foreseen that only after four years of playing, the star chaser for the Puddlemere United would be injured badly enough to never be able to professionally play anymore. Ron took it hard, as anyone would, but he got through it. He bought the old quidditch supplies shop at Diagon Alley and upgraded everything. This was the start of his new life as an entrepreneur.

“I had wanted to wait for Luna to come back from her assignment, but she said we'd be doing a different way of celebrating when she gets back.”

“I bet,” Harry laughed. “It's about time that Artie gets a new sibling.”

“Please guys!” Hermione warned.

Ron laughed as he helped his son get off the kitchen counter where the child was sitting before starting off to the living room.

“Well we'd better get going then,” he said, when they got to the fireplace. “Say goodbye to your godparents Artie.”

“Bye Aunt Hermione!”

“I'll see you later,” Hermione said, bending down as she gave Artie a hug and a kiss.

“Okay, Aunt Hermione!” Artie replied, hugging her back.

“Well, don't forget to apparate in at the backroom,” Ron reminded Harry. “I neither have enough manpower nor wizardpower to keep a thousand screaming fan girls at bay.”

Harry cringed.

“Don't remind me, Ron.”

Ron laughed at the stricken look on Harry's face. The last time Harry Potter used the front door of Ron's quidditch shop was almost a year ago. It was also the time that Harry had signed a check of twenty thousand galleons to Ron as payment for the damage the stampede had caused. Ron, who didn't really need the money, accepted it anyway knowing that Harry's principles demanded it.

Ron laughed heartily and thumped Harry at the back.

“We'll see you later folks,” he said, taking Artie by the hand.

“Cheers Artie,” Harry said.

“Cheers Uncle Harry!” Artie waved at his godfather before Ron flooed them out.

“I've never been so happy to see that boy leave. Whatever did you say to him?” Hermione shook her head.

“I have no idea,” Harry shrugged. “One minute he was throwing daggers at me, the next he was all chirpy. Must be the pumpkin juice.”

Hermione laughed at that. “There's more to that Harry. Artie wouldn't be bribed and that was what you resorted to. He was calling me `Aunt' again, and then he was asking those pointed questions.”

“Believe me you weren't the only victim,” Harry chuckled as he and Hermione returned to the kitchen. “But whatever did happen, I'm glad that was over. I hate picking bones with that child. He's too smart for his own good. By the way I'll do the dishes.”

“Be my guest,” Hermione swept her arm in a flourish, indicating the sink. “You know how I dislike doing dishes even when using magic.”

“As you wish, my lady,” Harry bowed and started concentrating on the task at hand.

Hermione watched as Harry methodically dirty-rinsed the dishes before soaping them. Both of them had developed a habit of doing menial chores without magic, especially when they were at the Muggle world. They had both concluded that doing it the `Muggle way' helped relieve stress.

“I was thinking of looking for flats today,” Harry said. “But with what Ron said, I think I'd lie-low for a while, especially after that newspaper stunt Bianca pulled. Would that be okay, Hermione?”

“Huh?” Hermione wasn't exactly listening. She was too busy relishing the way Harry's shoulders tauten deliciously under his shirt as he did his chore. “Oh yeah, why not? I was going to suggest that you stay here for as long as you like.”

“Well thanks,” Harry replied, tossing a dishtowel at her. “But I don't really want to intrude in your private life.”

Hermione finished drying a cup and had Harry stow it before saying a monotonous, “From your tone Harry, this conversation is leading once again to Draco.”

Harry blinked at Hermione and innocently answered, “I have no idea of what you are talking about.”

Hermione stuck a tongue at him.

“Seriously Harry,” she said exasperatedly. “I don't know why you find it in you to wind me up like that.”

Harry grinned mischievously.

“I just like it when you're really, really riled.”

“Oh thanks a lot!” Hermione shook her head. “That is so mature of you.”

“You're welcome,” Harry replied good-naturedly.

“Harry,” Hermione expelled a frustrated breath. “Is the idea of Draco and me being together really that outrageous?”

Harry turned to Hermione as he was stowing the last of the dishes. Was she actually trying to say something? He pretended to ponder over the question.

“Yes,” he answered.

“Seriously!”

Harry sighed. He hated answering these kinds of questions.

“Seriously?” he repeated. “Well not really. He turned out to be an okay bloke, and Moody trusts him so…”

“But you still haven't answered the question,” Hermione pointed out.

“So,” Harry emphasized. “It's not really THAT outrageous. Besides, you've been partners for four years now, and you've even dated him once. So my answer is no, the idea is not that outrageous. But I think you can do better with another guy.”

“Okay,” Hermione nodded, clearing the counter. She somehow disliked the last bit Harry said but she wasn't going to let him know it.

Harry caught her hand and looked at her straight in the eyes.

“Is there something that you would want to tell me?” he asked gravely. “I mean, last night and this morning you were acting as if the idea seems like a joke but just now…”

Harry noted Hermione's nervous laugh.

“It was just a question Harry. Besides you started it with your yarns. Hey, are you actually jealous?”

“Of Malfoy? Are you kidding?” Harry scoffed, but felt really hot at the moment.

Hermione eyed him doubtfully. She was secretly thrilled that Harry was indeed jealous of Draco.

“What?” Harry said.

“You know,” Hermione giggled. “It's so funny that the two of you act like you hate each other, but in reality it's the other way around.”

“Please,” Harry visibly shuddered. “That didn't sound right.”

She laughed and rolled her eyes and shoved the copy of `The Daily Prophet' inside the garbage. “Anyway, I'm repeating my invitation Harry, you can stay here as long as you like.”

“If it isn't a problem, maybe for a week or so until I can finally cut my own cloth,” Harry said, then added, “And kidding aside, I really don't want to be a burden.”

“What foolishness! Of course you won't be a burden. But I do understand that there's nothing like a home of your own. I just wanted you to know that you'll always have here a place to stay.”

“Thanks, I don't know what I would do without you.”

Then he went up to Hermione and kissed her on the forehead. Hermione smiled at him and gave him a hug in return.

They broke apart as they heard someone clear his throat.

“Very touching,” Draco grinned. “I hope this one isn't a by-product of a mispronounced spell.”

“Only you Malfoy, are capable of committing such a mistake,” Harry said without missing a beat.

Hermione, to her vexation, was blushing like a schoolgirl. For the second time that day, she was caught in a sticky situation with Harry. It wasn't really that bad, except for the fact that she was getting the hang of it. She was afraid that she was enjoying the `situations' too much, and THAT was embarrassing.

“Just give me twenty minutes Draco,” Hermione sighed. She got a can of pumpkin juice and handed it to her partner. “Go watch TV.”

“Yes Ma'am,” Draco saluted and proceeded to the living room, followed by a glowering Harry.

“Do you just apparate in like that?” Harry asked.

“Well, nice to see you too Potter!” Draco replied as he got the remote control under the cushions and flipped through the channels like a natural. No one would think that he spent half of his life detesting anything muggle.

Harry frowned though as he noticed how Draco was too familiar with his surroundings. He discerned how Draco knew the exact spot where the control was. He also observed that Draco got a glass coaster from the kitchen for his drink. Hermione hated it when people leave wet circles from their drinking glasses on the table. He noticed that Draco took off his shoes before walking on Hermione's prized Persian rug in the middle of the room. Did Draco know Hermione that well, or did he just have impeccable manners? Whichever it was, it still meant he was spending too much time at Hermione's place.

“Answer the question Malfoy!”

In turn, Draco eyed him, taking in his rumpled state and shrugged.

“Yes.”

“What if Hermione was parading around in her knickers? Don't you have the decency to consider that before just apparating in?” Harry pushed with his interrogation.

“Though I appreciate the picture you have nicely put in my head,” Draco coolly replied. “Hermione and I had devised a charm in our respective flats so that neither of us would be able to apparate in when the other is in a tricky situation. I was actually wondering if it was working earlier, judging from the fact that I caught you and her in that particularly poignant moment.”

Harry ignored this. He still wasn't satisfied with the arrangement. He refused to acknowledge the truth that he was actually jealous of the friendship Hermione had developed with Draco. He knew that this intimacy with the other man could not compare with what he and Hermione had. Still, knowing the fact that the six months he had whiled away his time with Bianca would have probably increased that closeness in the relationship of the two, irked him. However, Harry was man enough to agree, even if grudgingly, that Draco would never let anything bad happen to Hermione. He should, otherwise he was going to answer to Harry's wrath. Harry mentally shook his head and decided to quit torturing himself and stop asking Draco critical questions.

“So how's the assignment nowadays?” he asked. He may be an understanding bloke, but he still had his pride. He would never admit it to Draco that he knew little of how Hermione was doing for the past half year.

On the other hand, Draco was indeed aware of this but didn't say anything. He had outgrown the habit of giving Harry hell with such petty exploits. He was more into the bigger fish nowadays.

He remembered the full-blown rants Hermione had about Harry and Bianca. Looking at Harry now, with his very slept-in appearance, Draco wanted to kick him back to wherever he came from. How Hermione could just let him walk back to her life was beyond him. Draco suppressed the urge to put his thoughts into action, for that would expose his own agenda. He would not let Harry Potter gloat over the fact that Draco Malfoy was envious of a half-blood. He was still too much of a Malfoy to admit that.

Draco flinched inwardly. That one date with Hermione had left him longing for more. Unfortunately for him, the feeling wasn't mutual. She didn't have to say anything because it was apparent that there already was a special person in her life. What Draco couldn't understand was how no one was setting the circles to motion, not that he was complaining. In any case, it was even to his advantage. With regard to everything else, Draco decided to just stay where he was - in Hermione's good graces. It was a good place, definitely less than where he would really want to be, but definitely better than nothing at all.

“Pretty well,” Draco said shifting to a more relaxing position on the sofa. “But we're not really in the liberty to say anything about it.”

“Fair enough,” Harry dismissed.

“Why don't you tell me how you came about here,” Draco said.

“Wow,” Harry gibed at. “Is this your idea of small talk?”

Draco laughed, and shrugged.

“Maybe.”

“Hey,” Hermione's voice broke into the awkward silence that followed. “Sorry it took me long.”

“I didn't know you people work like THAT,” Harry said referring to Hermione's outfit.

Hermione looked down at her green dress. It had a very simple but classic cut, and it flattered her figure very well. Its knee-length hem and her black, heeled sandals showed off her legs to their advantage.

She noted that Draco lightened up as he saw her walk into the room. On the other hand, Harry's brows were connected together in displeasure. This reaction from him put her on defensive mode. What was wrong with him?

“And so what if I go to work like this?” she asked, stepping beside Draco.

Harry felt that twinge of jealousy again as he regarded how good they actually looked together. Draco was actually wearing khaki pants and a crisp white shirt. He was so lost in thought that he almost missed hearing Draco's words.

“You have your ring?”

Hermione merely showed her left hand.

“Great…”

“What!” Harry exclaimed and shook his head in disbelief. “Surely that wasn't there last night and this morning!”

Hermione looked at Draco, who was trying hard not to revel in the moment.

Meanwhile, Harry was stupidly staring at Draco's hand.

“Malfoy, what is that ring doing there?”

Draco simply smirked and pulling an amused but startled Hermione to his side, said, “Well, I now present you the new Mr. and Mrs. Draco Malfoy!”