Chương 25: Truths
Draco's eyes widened slightly as he listened to Hermione's whispered words. He hadn't planned on telling her the truth, not today... It would freak her out, probably. How many people wouldn't, if their boss that they just so happened to be out for lunch with told them they'd been in love with them since their school years?
Very few people, that was for sure.
He had spaced out, panicking mentally just long enough for Hermione to pick up in his nervousness and pick up his hand, lying on the table, clasping it with her own. "It's okay if you don't want to tell me now."
. Draco relaxed and he ran his fingers through his blonde hair. "I didn't really want to tell you on the first date." It slipped out of his mouth before he had time to put a filter over his words. He blushed, finding it impossible to hide on his bone-pale skin. What if he pushed her away by moving too fast?
But Hermione smiled, much to his relief, a bit of a daring smirk, really. "So I'm not the only one who doesn't want this to stop."
Draco smiled back."Of course not."
"So then what is this?" She gestured, a little hesitantly, between them.
"It's whatever you want it to be." His heart pounded a little louder, a little faster as he put the decision and his heart in her hands.
"I want it to " She whispered it so quietly that her words were nearly lost to the wind. But Draco would've heard her voice in if she wasn't speaking, and without hesitation understood her meaning.
"You can't be serious."
"I'm not , but I am ." Hermione couldn't resist herself. Draco's eyebrows furrowed a little in confusion before making the connection and grinning.
The waiter came in (Draco gave him the perfected Slytherin death glare; really, the man had awful timing) and Hermione insisted on paying for her lunch (not what he'd planned, but she held true to the Gryffindor trait of stubbornness).
They left the restaurant, Hermione's head leaning on his shoulder (despite her heels, he was still taller than she). Draco was sure she could hear his heart hammering at a near-impossible speed, but she simply smiled as they walked out onto the relatively quiet street.
"That was nice." The silence between them broke.
"Yeah. You didn't have to pay, you know."
"Well, you didn't have to bring me to Merzano's. Always expect I will at least fight you when it comes to paying for anything, if not pay for it myself."
Draco grinned. "Of course. That is certainly a Gryffindor trait you exude excessively." His voice changed in an instant as he turned to face her, her eyes gravitating upwards to his. "You don't always have to take care of yourself. Let other people do it for you."
"Like you?" Hermione was surprised her voice wasn't breathier as his hand grazed her cheekbone, ever so softly.
"I mean, maybe..." Draco trailed off, thinking.
"So.. erm.. on a completely different subject, how is this going to work? We're involved in both a professional and romantic relationship now, and..." Hermione gestured, unsure of how to finish her sentence. Draco looked at her, cocking his head to the side.
"Do you think that's going to be a problem?" His voice was inquisitive, with a hard edge to it, as if he was daring her to say 'yes'.
"I don't know, I've never done this... Not that I've had a good basis for relationships anyways. I just don't know if it will impact the business in any way."
"We'll figure it out if it does get in the way. For now, just relax. There's only a few more hours and then we're free to go." He smiled. Hermione's eyes widened as she remembered something.
"Oh Merlin, Pansy and Astoria are coming over and I haven't planned a thing!"
***
Draco, thankfully, understood and let Hermione go (albeit reluctantly) for the evening, leaving her to pull something together quickly before the girls arrived. Both former Slytherins walked into her apartment with smirks and knowing looks on their faces, glancing at each other as soon as they walked in the door and noted the bashful look on Hermione's face, her head down and her cheeks pink as she prepared dinner.
"So, Hermione, did anything happen today?"
Pansy smirked as Astoria called rather loudly, the noise echoing through the house. Hermione smirked, the blush still there as she raised her head to respond, mimicking Astoria as she replied, "So, Pansy, has anything happened with you and Theo yet?"
The Slytherin girl's jaw dropped and Astoria grinned at both of them.
"I-what- how did you know?" Hermione grinned as she responded, "You were that wasted when we went clubbing?"
Pansy groaned. "I forgot to take a hangover potion so I remember nothing. Was I- Did we-"
Hermione smiled. "Your drunk self isn't that different from your normal self, Pans. Besides, Theo knew that you were absolutely and he respected it. You just talked." Pansy sighed.
"Thank Calypso. Now, you and Draco- do explain." Hermione groaned.
"Merlin, Pans, he asked me out to lunch. We're dating, but not strictly boyfriend and girlfriend, nothing else happened okay?" Pansy cocked her head. "Are you absolutely sure?"
Hermione scowled. "I was there the entire time."
Astoria grinned. "Fair, fair. Now, I've been exploring the- the Internet, is that what it is?" She looked to Hermione for confirmation.
"Yes, and?"
"I discovered this thing called a dating website. It matches you up with other people it thinks you would like! It's magical!"
Hermione grinned, trying to hide the pain that started to blossom inside. "And?"
"Well- I met this girl..." Astoria tried (to no avail) to hide the blush beginning to form as she handed the phone to Hermione. The other girl took one look and deadpanned, "She's only good if you want a cheating hoe."
Astoria frowned. "What?"
"She's only good if you want a cheating hoe. That's who Ron cheated on me with." Astoria scowled.
"Welp, don't want her then. Fucking bitch." She muttered to the glowing screen. Pansy, noting the tension blooming throughout the room like a thick, ominous cloud, and said lightly, "So, Hermione, what's for dinner?"
***
I stumble home, drunk once again, unable to keep my hands off the drink since I realized Hermione's really never coming back. Melissa is waiting upstairs, an odd look on her face that I won't remember the next morning, and she catches me as soon as I walk through the door, nearly falling over.
She sighs as she pulls me up the stairs, and some part of my subconscious tells me that she wouldn't hesitate to leave me for another man would it not be for the fame and fortune I carry with me in the media. I sigh, causing Melissa to raise her eyebrows.
No one wants me anymore. My mom is still on my side, but my dad is starting to have doubts and so are Bill and George. Charlie is never here, Ginny is distant, and Harry is as well.
***
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