Chapter 5
The next morning, Hermione woke up in a good mood. Things were finally looking up. Later, she was going to meet Harry, Draco, and Ginny for lunch. Ginny had said she wanted to tell them something.
"I wonder," Hermione mumbled to herself, thinking about what Ginny was going to say. While Hermione was thinking about this, the phone rang.
"Hello," Hermione said, answering the phone.
"Hello dear," Mrs. Granger greeted from the other end.
"Oh, hey Mum, what's up?"
"I just wanted to know how your date with Harry went."
"Oh, it was great. I had a great time."
"What did you do?"
"We went to the Leady Cauldron for dinner, and then we were going to go to a play. We didn't make it to the play because I ended up almost breaking down into tears at the restaurant. After dinner we came back to my apartment. We had a pillow fight, and ended up snogging each other senseless until Ginny walked in."
"Sounds lovely dear."
"And you want to know the best part? I think I'm falling in love with him."
"That's great. I'm so glad this is working out for the best. Did you tell him?"
"Actually, yeah, I did. He said he thought he was falling love with me too."
"That's wonderful. What are you doing this afternoon?"
"I'm going out to lunch with Harry and Ginny. Ginny says she has an announcement to make."
"Okay. Well, I'll see you later. Bye."
"Bye, Mum."
After hanging up, Hermione went to get ready to go to lunch.
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When Hermione arrived at the restaurant, Harry and Ginny were already there.
"Oh good, you're here," Ginny said in relief. "I wanted you to be here when my friend gets here."
"Oh yes, I see what you mean." Hermione said, smiling.
A few minutes passed as they made idle chit-chat. Then Ginny's "friend" arrived. Both Ginny and Hermione greeted him warmly, but Harry looked at him a bit skeptically.
"You look familiar," Harry said, still looking at Draco.
"Harry, this is my boyfriend," Ginny said. She took a deep breath and continued, "Draco Malfoy."
Ginny and Hermione braced themselves for the explosion that would come. It never came. Ginny and Hermione stared at Harry.
"Well, aren't you going to yell and carry on?" Ginny asked confused.
"Why would I?" Harry asked quizzically.
"Because, I just told you I'm dating Draco Malfoy," Ginny said. She was becoming more and more confused by the minute.
"Yeah I heard you, and your point is?" Harry asked. He was starting to become impatient.
"Well, he's Draco Malfoy," Ginny said. She couldn't figure out what Harry was playing at.
"Yes, we've established that fact. Look, it you expected to start yelling at you, and telling you that your nuts and can't date him, it doesn't bother," Harry told her calmly.
"Oh, well then, let's order our food," Ginny suggested cheerfully.
"Good idea," Draco said.
After ordering their food, they began to talk about various things.
"Are you two dating?" Draco asked Harry and Hermione casually after their food had come.
They both paused considering their answers.
"Well, sorta," Harry said slowly.
"What do you mean `sorta'?" Draco asked.
Hermione began telling him the whole story. Everything from the contract, to the kiss.
"Wow," was all Draco could manage.
"Ginny's eyes widened in shock. "You didn't tell me that. You just told me you broke up with Alex, and Harry broke up with Lindsey," she said accusingly to Hermione.
"Yeah, sorry about that. I was going to tell you yesterday, but someone came and took you away," Hermione said mock glaring at Draco.
"It's fine, I don't care," Ginny said, laughing. Then suddenly she stopped, and went pale.
"What's wrong Ginny?" Hermione asked.
"Harry, your twenty-fifth birthday is next week," Ginny replied.
"We know," Harry and Hermione said in grim unison.
"What are you going to do?" Draco asked, re-entering the conversation.
"We don't know yet, we're going to discuss it tonight," Hermione said mournfully.
"Well, if you need any help with anything, I'll be happy to help," Draco said, surprising everyone. He continued, "I really want to make up for what I did to you guys while we were at Hogwarts. I'm really sorry about that."
"Thanks, and Draco I'm sorry too," Harry said, smiling.
"Me too. Some of the thing we did were pretty awful," Hermione added, remembering her run-ins with Draco at Hogwarts.
"It's fine. Most of the time I provoked you anyway. By the way Hermione, you had a very strong arm at thirteen. Madame Pomfrey had to heal a huge bruise after you slapped me," Draco said with a smile. Then they all started laughing. Hermione saw the light catch something on Ginny's finger. When she realized what it was she froze.
"Are you alright Hermione?" Harry asked, his voice filled with concern.
"I'm fine, absolutely fine. Ginny? Are you wearing what I think you're wearing?" Hermione asked, smiling.
"I think it is," Ginny replied, also smiling.
"Huh?" Harry asked totally confused.
"She's talking about this," Ginny said, showing him her finger.
Harry's jaw dropped.
"We're engaged," Ginny said smiling wider.
"Wow. Congratulations! I'm so happy for you," Hermione squealed.
"Yeah, Congratulations," Harry said, grinning.
"This is why he insisted we go on our date last night," Ginny said. She couldn't stop smiling.
"I see. I figured he had some reason for the date or it wouldn't have mattered that much," Hermione said matter-of-factly.
"We have to go now. We're going to announce our engagement to the Weasleys, but we wanted to tell you guys first because you already knew we were dating," Draco said.
"What?" both women exclaimed in shock.
"We have to go to the Wea-" Draco began again.
"No, I mean, Harry didn't know we were dating," Ginny said, frustrated.
"Yeah, he did. I saw him awhile back, and told him," Draco explained.
"Oh. Well, alright then. Bye, Harry, bye Hermione," Ginny said.
"Bye Ginny, bye Draco. Congratulations," Hermione replied.
After they had left, Hermione said, "You didn't tell me Draco and Ginny were dating!"
"Well, Draco told me not to tell anyone," Harry replied. "Besides, I didn't know if you'd like it or not."
"I guess you're right. When did you see him?" Hermione asked.
"About a month ago I was eating at the Leaky Cauldron, and Draco walked in, and sat down at the table next to me. He said something to the waiter, and I thought I recognized his voice. I looked over, and didn't recognize him right away. When I looked again, I thought he did look a little familiar. Eventually, he must have glanced at me, and recognized me. I heard him say my name, so I looked over. I still couldn't place his face. I finally asked him if I knew him. He told me he was Draco Malfoy. I was really shocked. He didn't look like I remembered him looking at Hogwarts, somehow nicer, not as cold," Harry replied, remembering.
"That's exactly what Ginny thought when she saw him," Hermione said.
"I'm not surprised. We talked awhile, and he told me about him and Ginny. After talking to him, I think he's really changed. He said that he had really never even meant to harass us, and that he had just always been jealous of our friendship. He didn't have any friends when he was at Hogwarts, everyone was afraid if they did anything wrong, he'd curse them or have his father curse them. Now, I realize what a mistake it was to reject his friendship," Harry explained.
"That's sad, now I wish I had been nicer to him," Hermione said.
"Yeah, me too, but there's nothing that can change that now," Harry replied logically.
"That's true. Anyway, want to go to my apartment and talk?" Hermione asked, smiling.
"Well, that depends, is talking all we'll be doing?" Harry asked, raising his eyebrows suggestively.
"You'll just have to come and see," Hermione replied, giggling a little.
"Alright then, I'll come," Harry said smiling.
"Good, let's go," Hermione said as they Apparated to Hermione's apartment.
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When they arrived, they both sat down on the couch. Harry put an arm around Hermione's waist, and she leaned her head against his shoulder.
"What are we going to do, Harry?" Hermione asked as she snuggled closer to him.
"Well, what about this? We go to the Ministry of Magic, become legally married, and then if and when we're ready, we have a big traditional wedding," Harry suggested. "We don't even have to live together or anything, we can just date," he added as an after thought.
"I think that's a great idea," Hermione said enthusiastically. "It's perfect. Why didn't I think of that?"
"I don't know, but I'm glad you like it," Harry said smiling. "Will you kiss me now?"
"Yes," she replied. The she did.
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Sometime later, they were both sitting in front of the fire snuggled together, when the phone rang.
"Hello," Hermione said, after picking up the phone.
"Hi, Hermione, it's Ginny."
"Oh, hey Gin, what's up?"
"I just got back from the Burrow."
"How'd it go?"
Ginny started to cry. "It was terrible."
"Why don't you come over so we can talk?"
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm at the hospital."
"Oh, my. Why on earth are you there?"
"My brothers beat Draco up so bad when they saw him, we had to take him to the hospital. We would have taken him to St. Mungo's, but they treat magic induced injuries first, and his wounds are not magic induced."
"Oh my God, do you want me to come?"
"Could you, please?"
"Harry's over, cant he come too?"
"Yeah, just hurry."
"Alright, we'll be right there."
Then she hung up.
"What's going on?" Harry asked, worry entering his voice.
"Draco's in the hospital," Hermione informed him quickly.
"Why?" Harry asked, horrified.
"Because the Weasley brothers beat him up so badly," Hermione said, smiling a little. She found the whole situation quite funny, actually. "I'm going to the hospital. You want to come?"
"Sure."
"Alright, let's go."
Then they Disapparated.