Chapter 4: Dinner at Draco's
Harry, Ginny, and Draco arrived quickly in the dim foyer of Draco Malfoy's house. Harry stared around at it. It could barely be called modest with its winding staircase and shining decor. One refreshing thing about it to Harry was that it was all brand new, which he knew was a large step for Draco since his family was one of the oldest wizarding families in the magical world. When Harry arrived at the house the first time, he remembered Draco muttering something about how he wanted to buy something of his own rather than have it handed to him by his father through inheritance. And despite the fact that he was not as rich as he was under his family name, he had done well enough for himself to afford a luxurious home, for the most part.
"Have you finished paying off the house yet, Draco?" Ginny asked.
"Erm---not quite yet," said Draco, heading towards the kitchen, illuminating every room in the house with the Lumos incantation.
"Oh," said Ginny firmly, "well, then I'll just help you pay for it…just so you know."
Harry laughed, remembering how strong spoken Ginny really was. Years of growing up with six older brothers had trained
her to speak up and he could see that Draco would not be able to talk her out of it.
"I'm just going upstairs to wash up, then," said Harry dashing upstairs.
Harry could hear Ginny and Draco participating in a couple's row as he walked into the large bathroom next to the guest room where he was sleeping. He threw his sweaty clothes to one corner of the immense bathroom, reminding himself that he would pick it up as soon as he was done taking a shower. Everything in the bathroom was crisp, shiny, white and clean as though it had never been used, or if it had, it was only used only two or three times before.
Harry felt as though he could have fallen asleep in the shower, but decided that it wouldn't be a very good idea to do so. He didn't fancy the idea of waking up with a bump on his head where he had fallen after dozing off in the bath. The only way he knew he could fight off the sleep creeping in his eyes was to take a very fast shower, shooting himself with icy cold water at the beginning of it and at the end.
A shiver ran down his entire body as he did just that. When he was done, he grabbed a towel from the closet in the bathroom and he wrapped it around his waist. As he walked out of the bathroom and towards the guest room he could hear the amusing sound of a frustrated and increasingly impatient Ginny trying to teach Draco how to cook. ("Draco, adding white wine to everything does not mean that it's going to taste good!")
Harry first went for his duffle bag as he entered the guest room, grabbing boxers and a pair of slacks to wear. He put them on quickly under the towel and then threw the towel on the bed. He sat at the edge of the bed, grabbing the towel again and ruffled his wet, black hair. At the corner of his eye he spotted golden light twinkles peeking from his duffle bag. He stuck his hand in the bag, pulling out the same rectangular-shaped, blue children's book he had bought from Mrs. Grendon only two weeks before. The stars on the cover of the book dance around in circles, illuminating soft patterns on his face and around the room. A smile curled the corners of his lips as he opened the book, reading it silently to himself. In his head, he could hear the part of his brain that sounded like Hermione speaking the words on each page. Reading the pages, he felt his heart begin to settle, feeling as though it was taking him to an intangible place that felt like home. He set it beside him after he finished reading and then spread himself out on the large bed. His hands rested behind his head and he could still feel the wetness of his hair. His eyes began feeling itchy, dry and heavy with sleep as he looked at the book beside him.
Should I give it to Hermione tonight? Harry thought to himself.
But before he could answer his own question, the invisible cloud of sleep settled over his head and his eyes and he closed them till he drifted into a dreamless sleep.
"Harry, Harry what are you doing in there?" a voice called.
It sounded like Mrs. Weasley, but younger and just a little less nagging.
"Harry, wake up! Dinner's almost done and Ron and Hermione just arrived."
Harry rolled over in the bed, glancing over at the book again and without a thought he grabbed it and set it back into
his duffle bag. He rubbed his eyes groggily and then grabbed his glasses from the bedside table.
"Harry, are you awake?" said the voice that he now realized belonged to Ginny and not Mrs. Weasley.
"Yeah, yeah," said Harry, grabbing a shirt from this bag. "Just give me a second, I just woke up."
As he pulled over a black v-neck, long-sleeved shirt over his head he glanced at the small clock also on the bedside table. It's small golden hands pointed to the 12 and 7. His green eyes widened. He had only just gotten to Draco's house at 4 and he had taken a shower immediately. Harry realized that he had slept for nearly three hours and then opened the door when he had gotten his shirt on properly.
"It's about time!" greeted Ginny with a low chuckle and started downstairs.
"Sorry," apologized Harry. "I suppose I was a lot more tired than I thought."
"No problem," said Ginny said with a shrug.
"So, should I be worried about this dinner?" asked Harry. "Is Malfoy really trying to poison us?"
"He did surprisingly all right," informed Ginny. "But I still believe it would have been a disaster if I hadn't helped him."
Harry laughed and sauntered behind Ginny into the kitchen. Ron and Hermione were in the kitchen in the middle of trying biscuits that Draco had cooked just as he was heading downstairs. Harry saw their faces pause as though firecrackers were about to go off and they were waiting for it. Ron and Hermione nodded to him though they did not talk because of the food in their mouth. Draco and Ginny were waiting intently for their opinion when Harry saw Ron's eyes widen as he chewed.
"Roh margash!" Ron exclaimed unintelligibly, biscuit flaking out of the corners of his mouth. "Sheez war gowd!"
Harry could tell by the slight smile on his lips and more by the way he was still stuffing the biscuit in his mouth that he approved. Hermione laughed with her mouth closed and nodded in agreement. When she was done chewing she turned to Draco.
"Nice job!" she said and then frowned at Ron who still had crumbs on the corner of his mouth and a little at the front of his shirt. "Goodness, look at you!"
"Wha--?" said Ron.
"You still eat like your 11," said Hermione, brushing away some of the crumbs from the front of Ron's shirt.
Oddly, by this very gesture, Harry suddenly remembered the question he asked himself before he drifted to sleep. Should I give the book to Hermione tonight? He was still watching Hermione brush the crumbs off Ron's shirt.
No, you idiot. Harry thought. Look at the two of them, they'll probably get back together. They're perfect together. Look.
Harry looked at them again, hopelessly and hopefully at the same time. And when he saw Hermione look his way, he felt a jolt as though she was sticking a hot piece of melting metal in his heart.
"Hello there, Harry," said Hermione, brushing away some bangs of his that were hanging too far over his eyes. "What's up?"
"Nothing," said Harry, feeling then that he had answered too quickly. "I think I'm still trying to wake up."
"My cooking'll wake you up, then, Potter," Draco said with a grin.
"Yes and hopefully in a good way," added Ginny from the corner of her mouth.
They shared a laugh and then entered the large dinning room. The candle chandelier floated high over the table illuminating the dishes Ginny and Draco had prepared. At the very centre of the table, there was a large, peppered roast already cut into perfect slices, it's juices flooding the silver platter it rested on and at the very corner were a few leaves of parsley for garnish. To the right of the roast was a porcelain bowl filled with round, seasoned, roasted, red potatoes. To it's left was a dish full of turnip greens with ham. And, of course, on another silver platter were the golden-brown biscuits that Ron and Hermione had sampled earlier.
Harry pulled off his glasses and wiped them at the bottom of his shirt. When he put them back on his eyes widened in disbelief. Everything actually looked good, delicious even. His eyes travelled over the table again and then set themselves on the succulent looking chocolate cake at the far end of the table, separated from the main dishes because it was being saved for last.
All of them took their places at the table, all of their eyes wide and all their appetites eager to try all the food. Draco smiled at Ginny and waved his hands telling everyone to start eating. They wasted no time in obliging him, all of them grabbing serving forks and spoons, filling their white plates with food.
Harry cut into a piece of the roast on his plate and then with his fork put it in his mouth. The flavor of it coursed to every single taste bud he had and he couldn't help but be satisfied. His reaction for the potatoes and the greens were the same and he turned to Draco with a thumbs up.
"This is great, Malfoy!" exclaimed Harry. "Who knew you could cook?"
"Well," said Draco, his voice trailing off, "I honestly can't take all the credit. Truthfully, it would have been rubbish if it hadn't been for Virginia."
Ginny rolled her eyes momentarily and then shook her head.
"No, no Draco," said Ginny, "I underestimated you, a little, you know a few small things. But I can't deny that you really did need my help."
The laughter rose around the table again.
"I can't believe you're marrying my sister," said Ron with a laugh and wink in Ginny's direction. "You see what I've had to go through for the past 25 years?"
Ginny frowned at Ron, kicking him in the shin under the table, his amused expression washing away. Draco grinned at Ron and then shrugged. He turned to his plate and went back to eating his food. The clamor of silverware nor the food stuffed in their mouths stopped them from carrying on conversations throughout dinner.
"So, have you seen anyone from our year lately?" Draco asked to Harry, Ron and Hermione.
Ginny, Harry and Ron turned to Hermione who paused in surprise of why everyone was looking at her.
"You mean," Ginny began coyly in Hermione's direction, "besides Seamus Finnegan?"
Hermione let out a groan of frustration while everyone took joy in Ginny's comment and began laughing.
"Are you dating him still then?" Draco asked. "Or are you seeing someone new?"
Harry felt his muscles tighten at the at the question and when he glanced over at Ron. He was almost positive that he was doing the same. He watched her as she opened her mouth to speak yet again.
"Of course, she's not seeing him or anyone else," said Ginny matter-of-factly. "Hermione's married to her job, right Hermione?"
Hermione nodded her cheeks revealing hints of blushing, "Right, that's right, I'm not dating anyone."
Harry could feel himself breath again while he kept his eyes on his plate. It had remnants of his dinner still left on it. He felt a pair of eyes looking at him and he looked up from his plate to see who it was. But it was too late, whoever he had felt looking at him had looked away. Ginny and Draco were looking around the table and he was disappointed to see that Ron and Hermione seemed to be holding each other's gaze.
"Ginny," said Ron, turning to face his sister, "you never let anyone get a word in edge-wise."
"Oh well, you know me," Ginny said, "I've lots of things to say; one would think you'd be used to it after 25 years."
"Touché little sister," Ron raised his wine glass and tipped it towards Ginny.
"Have you seen anyone from school, Ginny?" asked Hermione, returning the conversation to where it began.
Ginny drummed her fingernails on the light blue tablecloth in thought.
"Hmm, well I saw Luna Lovegood at Hogsmeade a few weeks ago." said Ginny in an expressionless voice. "We should go visit Hogsmeade by the way, tomorrow perhaps."
Hermione nodded and listened as Ginny continued to speak.
"You know I think she was keen on you, Ron," Ginny stated as though she were talking about a common subject.
But the subject couldn't be more uncommon. Harry drew back in surprise, he could never tell in school that Luna was keen on Ron. She always seemed to lost in her own world that he never even thought she might actually like someone. He could tell by the wide-eyed, almost horrified expression, on Ron's face that he was just as shocked, probably even more.
"Loony Lovegood, keen on me?" Ron said with raising his eyebrows skeptically but he let out a soft and flattered-sounding chuckle.
"Ron!" Hermione said in scathing tone "Why in the world do you still call her that?"
Ron ducked his head as though trying to avoid her glare. His face then softened when he looked at her with a shrug, "Sorry, Herm."
Ginny took a sip of wine and then sat up, waving her free hand in Harry's direction.
"Oh yes," Ginny spoke after setting down her wine glass, "I ran into Cho Chang, too."
Harry, who had been unusually quiet let out a choking cough. He took a sip of water and wiped some drops of it that had run down his chin after he drank. He could feel everyone's eyes on him, especially Hermione's who was staring back at him with a small smile.
"And she's doing fine, then?" asked Harry, making sure he didn't sound too interested.
"Oh, she's the same as she was in Hogwarts," said Ginny airily while Harry noticed that she had just rolled her eyes, "darting from man to man as usual. No offense, Harry, but I always thought of her as a bit of a tart."
"Ginny!!!" Hermione exclaimed, her jaw falling open.
"What?" said Ginny with a shrug. "It's true!"
Harry smiled and began to think on what Ginny had just said about Cho Chang. He felt something well up in his stomach and then let out a boisterous and infectious laugh. Indeed, everyone had joined in, except for Hermione, who was appalled that all of them were laughing at Ginny's snappy insult. Harry was hunched over the table, taking deep breaths in between laughs and then he turned his eyes to the still straight-faced Hermione.
"'Mione---," Harry paused for another laugh, "you know it's true about Cho Chang."
"But---but---you still went ahead and dated her," Hermione stated in a firm voice as though the matter was settled. "You kissed her, even."
"Yes, well," said Harry, still sniggering, "teenagers do make mistakes."
Ginny had laughed so hard that she was tearing up but she somehow managed to speak, "Oh, come on, Hermione! Don't feel bad for her. If anything, you should be laughing the hardest of all of us. You were cleverer than her and she was just so jealous of you!"
Hermione stared back at Ginny and then tried hard to tighten her lips. However, Harry could see, without out mistake, that she was actually starting to laugh.
"She---she---couldn't put a jinx on people like you could, 'Mione!" Harry added.
"Yeah," Ron agreed, who was also keeled over with laughter, "now that was bloody brilliant!"
It was now becoming too hard for Hermione control and then she opened her mouth and joined in the laughter.
After some more conversation and the decadent chocolate cake, Draco and Ginny cleared the table of the dirty dishes and allowed them to be cleaned by an enchantment Ginny placed on them. When they were done, Ginny joined Hermione in the sitting room while Draco joined Harry and Ron, who were playing each other in Wizard's Chess.
An hour passed and Harry and Ron were on their second game. Harry groaned in frustration and concentration, while he pushed his hair back, revealing his lightning-shaped scar. Ron was also staring at the board, his brow furrowed in concentration. At both of their sides they had captured several of the each other's chess pieces, which were now groaning and calling out words of encouragement to their respective owners. Neither, Harry or Ron looked up even when Ginny and Hermione sat together on the sofa next to them with a huge thud.
"Who's winning?" whispered Ginny to Draco.
"It's already the second game, Harry lost the first," Draco informed, "but they're about even right now, looks like."
Harry stared at the board, wringing his hands together in concentration. His eyes were following every single move that Ron's aged pieces made. Just as Ron's knight moved, Harry's queen looked up at him and gave him a wink of her stony eye. Harry's eyes widened as did Ron's when he commanded his queen to move forward. Then Ron let out a huge, long groan when Harry's queen gave Ron's night a little jab with her sword, causing him to stumble off his horse and in losing got up to shake his lance at Harry in protest.
"I won?" Harry said in shock. "I mean, checkmate?"
Ron, Draco, Ginny and Hermione stared at the board with gaping mouths. Harry, however, seemed to be the most surprised of all of them. His green eyes were still wide and staring fixedly at the board. He finally looked up at Ron, his mouth wide open.
"I won," muttered Harry. "I can't believe it."
"Good game, mate," Ron said, winking at Harry.
"It was luck, it had to be!" said Harry, dumbfounded.
"Well, then, if you think so," added Ron with a wily smirk, "want another go?"
Harry grinned back at Ron and shook his head vehemently, "No, no I rather think I'd like to bask in this victory rather than play again and get my arse thoroughly kicked. As I'm sure would certainly happen if I did choose to play you again."
Harry hopped from his seat and then sat on the other sofa next to Draco. Ron grinned at Harry and began to the set the chess pieces on the board again.
"So," said Ron, rubbing his hands together, "who wants to challenge me next?"
Harry smiled, while Draco shook his head and Ginny and Hermione glanced at each other as if trying to figure out who wanted take Ron up on the challenge. Finally, Ginny got up with a sigh, straightening her skirt under her when she sat across her brother.
"I guess I'll do it," replied Ginny.
"Terrific," Ron said happily. "There's nothing like beating my little sister at chess."
"Don't get smug with me!" Ginny said with confidence, putting on a determined game face. "You may be surprised, perhaps I've learned a thing or two."
"We'll see," Ron snorted in defiance.
"I have to watch this," Hermione said with glee, leaning in closer to watch the siblings.
"Want to see how I win at this game, do you Herm?" said Ron, beaming at her.
Hermione glanced at Ginny who was rolling her eyes and then she looked back at Ron with a huge smile spreading across her face. Harry thought he could see a gleam in her eye, but he wasn't quite sure. But he was sure that he hadn't seen her smile like that in a long time. He shifted in his seat, as though his position on the sofa was not comfortable.
"I want to see you try to win," Hermione said to Ron with a giggle.
Draco sat up as Ginny and Ron started their game, looking closer and giving Ginny an encouraging smile. She turned to him, patted him on the arm lightly and then a big, but also impish smile spread on her face. She leaned closer to him and looked at him in the eyes.
"Draco," she whispered to him.
"Yes?" he replied.
"Can you please make us some tea?" she requested with a shining smile.
Draco stood up with a tight-lipped smirk and then kissed her atop her flaming red hair. He started off towards the kitchen when Harry rose up from his seat as well.
"I'll help you, Malfoy," offered Harry.
He followed Draco into the kitchen and began to help gather the tea cups and saucers. While Draco was grabbing the tea kettle from a cabinet under the kitchen counter, Harry grabbed the tea leaves and sifter from the pantry.
"I'm quite sure that I can make something as simple as tea on my own," said Draco, placing the kettle on the stove. "You can go back out there and join everyone again."
"I'm all right here, thanks," said Harry with a quick voice.
"Are you?" said Draco, suspicion soaking his drawling voice. "You don't want to sit out there with you friends right now, watch Weasley get beat again? You don't even want to sit next to Granger? Or are you still sulking over the fact that you gave her up and that it's come back to kick you in the arse?"
Harry glared back at Draco, feeling a slight twitch in his fingers a the mention of Hermione. He refrained from answering Draco's question and busied himself with placing each tea cup on a saucer.
"So I'm wrong then?" asked Draco. "You really would rather be making five cups of tea?"
Harry grimaced, thinking that though Draco had changed much since Hogwarts he still had the ability to keep his voice condescending if he wanted to. It was even worse when what Draco was saying was true.
"No," Harry frowned, "you're not wrong. I'm just giving them some space."
"What?" Draco said. "And why is that?"
Harry looked away, feeling a little guilty.
"Because I have to."
"Hmm, that's such a compelling argument," Draco grunted his drawling voice dripping with sarcasm. He then added in a haughty tone, "Could it be possible, possible that you're still in love with Granger?"
Harry felt his jaw tighten with indignation.
"Well, so what if I am?!" Harry sounded. "There's nothing I can do about them now!"
"'Them'?" Draco frowned like something putrid was being waved in front of his face.
"You mean---"
"Yeah, them," Harry replied in tight and sardonic voice. "You know my best friends, Ron and
Hermione?"
Harry and Draco had been talking in hushed voices and they both flinched a little when they heard loud hoots from Ron and giggles from Ginny and Hermione coming from the other room. Harry closed his eyes and took a slow, deep breath releasing it through his nose.
"You've seen the way the look at each other, haven't you?" Harry paused gruffly. "Messing with their relationship again is the last thing I need to be doing."
To Harry's further consternation, Draco let out a low, guttural guffaw. The tight smirk on Draco's thin lips, also did nothing more to settle his unease.
At the same time, the kettle whistled and then Draco took it off the stove, pouring the boiling hot water into each cup. Harry then took the tea sifter and sifted the flavor and color from the tea leaves into each cup. He then placed them on a silver try along with some sugar and honey.
"Potter, and here I am thinking you've actually got a brain," Draco laughed, sounding too much like he did at Hogwarts for Harry's liking. "I don't know which way you're looking, but Hermione's not seeing Ron. I thought you'd realize that by now."
Harry grumbled to himself and followed Draco back to the other room where Ron had his hands in his hair, staring wildly a the board. Ginny's mouth was wide open with glee and Hermione had a hand cupped over her mouth, hiding hints of a mirthful smile.
Draco set the tray of tea at the empty space on the table, to the left of the chess board. His jaw dropped when he glanced at Ginny's side of the board. There were already most of Ron's pieces standing at her side, groaning just like Ron.
"Virginia!" Draco gasped.
"Ha ha!" Ginny exclaimed in triumph. "What was that you said about 'beating your little sister at chess'?"
"Ron," said Hermione, stifling giggles, "what's---what's---going---on---with---you?"
Ron groaned again and nodded his head toward a window revealing the dark night sky. He grumbled, "It must be the
full moon."
"Excuses," Harry said, still able to laugh despite the serious discussion he had just had with Draco.
All of them grabbed a tea cup from the tray, drinking slowly. Harry, Hermione, and Draco watched Ron and Ginny as they finished their chess game as though a huge drama were unfolding. No sooner than they had began to sip their tea did Ginny jump up from her seat clapping both hands over her mouth, her brown eyes so wide that they threatened to pop out of their sockets.
"Aha!!!" Ginny yelped. "I WIN!!!"
"Rotten luck, Weasley," Draco said with a grin.
Ron knocked over one of the few chess pieces he had still left on the board. It shook its fist and then made an obscene gesture at him. He then shook his head and then shrugged his shoulders.
"I---I guess I'll let her gloat. I mean she's never beaten me before," Ron grumbled.
"Don't be a spoiled loser, Ron," said Hermione in a scolding voice.
"I'm not a spoiled loser," Ron insisted, scowling in Ginny's direction.
"Oh come on, Ron, indulge your little sister," said Ginny. "You're right, I never do beat you."
Harry, after finishing his tea began helping Ron gather their respective chess pieces and put them away. Ginny was sitting next to Hermione, drinking her tea with a satisfied grin on her face. After she drank the last shallow drop at the bottom of the cup, she let out a yawn and leaned her head on Hermione's shoulder. Hermione smiled and then glanced at her watch.
"Oh," she said, "it's nearly midnight."
"Really?" said Ginny in a tired voice. "Maybe we should---"
Ginny let out another long yawn.
"Maybe we should go home," she finished.
"I'd say so, look at you," Hermione said, glancing over at Ginny, whose head was still resting on her shoulder. "You look like you're going to fall asleep right this instant."
"Right," Ginny said, giving Hermione a lazy nod.
Hermione giggled and stood up, taking Ginny with her. She then turned and handed Ginny to Draco who brushed a some strands of her hair from her face that had fallen over it when she leaned on Hermione's shoulder. Then, Hermione tapped Ron on the shoulder gesturing to him that they had to leave.
Ron and Harry both looked up as she did so. Harry then jumped up to his feet, rubbing his hands on his wrinkled khaki slacks. He then went with Draco to accompany Hermione, Ron and Ginny to the door.
"Glad you came," said Draco, shaking Ron's hand and giving Hermione a quick hug. "Hope I entertained all right."
"Eh, it was OK," said Ron with a grin. "But that's why you're marrying my sister."
Harry watched as Draco laughed and then as he grabbed Ginny giving her a quick kiss. Ron turned away and faced Harry, slapping him on the back.
"Well, I'll see you mate," said Ron. "And, good game."
"Yes, I know," Harry laughed, gripping Ron's arm in a masculine expression of friendship. "You do realize I'll be rubbing it in for weeks to come."
"S'allright," said Ron with a shrug. "Just ready yourself up for when I beat you next time."
Harry laughed and then looked to Hermione as she came walking over. Her arms were crossed over herself and her hands were tucked in her sleeves. She looked at Ron who was gesturing and walking towards where his sister and Draco stood a few feet away. She nodded and then turned to Harry with a soft smile.
"You were here all night, but I feel like I didn't get to talk to you once," Hermione said, rubbing her arms. "It's rather like that at work, too, isn't it?"
"Well you know I was preoccupied with eating, the chess game, tea-making," said Harry in a low voice.
"Right," Hermione nodded and then opened her arms to give him a hug.
He obliged wrapping his arms around her tightly. He could feel the softness of her hair on the side of his face and just then a loud beeping noise travelled to his ears. He let go of her and then looked at his watch.
"It's midnight," he said softly. "September 19, technically."
"So it would seem," agreed Hermione.
A smile spread on Harry's face as he squeezed her shoulder.
"Happy Birthday, 'Mione," he whispered as she looked at him, her brown eyes shining.
"Thank you," said Hermione.
"Well you know---" Harry started, but was taken aback when Hermione interrupted him.
"Thank you for saying it first," said Hermione in a gentle and earnest voice.
Harry stared back, unable to respond. He found himself only able to nod his head. He wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms, hold her and kiss her. But he knew he couldn't. He knew he mustn't.
It was then that Ron, Ginny and Draco joined them again. Harry looked back at Ron attempting to hide the guilty feeling that had washed over him when he thought Ron may have noticed him staring in desperate longing at Hermione. A gulp travelled through his tight throat and then he watched as Hermione, Ron, and Ginny stood together.
Ginny blew a kiss to Draco, while Hermione waved at them. Ron gave a nod to both of the men and then before they Disapparated, his eyes turned to Harry and then to Hermione while he bit his lip in deep thought.