O Tell Me the Truth
About Love
By Eamane-Shu
Disclaimer
- I do not own
any of the characters from Harry Potter – I’m just borrowing them to have my
own warped fun.
Draco
smiled, “I’m glad”
“So”
Hermione said nervously “Where do we take things from here then?”
“Well
we can hardly announce our engagement tomorrow, as it would look more than
slightly suspicious. I would suggest a dating period of maybe three months where
we can get to know each other a bit better.” Hermione nodded her agreement.
“When did you decide?”
“Just
now, I got an owl from Ron, he wants me to go back to him, and I just realised,”
she paused suddenly “That I don’t have a future with him. She suddenly changed
the topic “Draco” she said calmly “I don’t want to be made a fool of, if you
marry me, it has to be a proper marriage. Do you understand me?”
He
nodded then grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips “I wouldn’t have it any
other way.”
Hermione
smiled at him, “How bout I rustle up some dinner?”
“Sounds good! I’d love to help, but, I need to
go and send an owl to father, let him know that you’ve agreed.”
“No
problem, I have the vague feeling that you’d probably be more of a hindrance
than a help.”
Draco
put his hand on his heart and adopted a mock-wounded stance as he strolled out
of the kitchen and up the stairs. Hermione soon through together some roast
chicken, vegetables and some
“You
know Hermione, we have house elves to do that you know.”
“I
know, but they were all running around doing other stuff and I didn’t want to
disturb them.”
Draco laughed, only Hermione would worry about
disturbing a couple of house elves. “So, where do you want to go for our first
official date then?”
“I don’t know” she replied, deep in thought as she
stirred the gravy “How about you surprise me?”
Draco grinned “Ok then, I will. How does a week on Thursday
suit you?”
On the day of their first date Hermione arrived at the
reception of St Mungo’s to find two large bouquets of flowers waiting for her.
The first, a dozen red roses were from Ron, with a small card that said ‘Please
take me back – I love you, Ron.’ They immediately went in the bin, to the
distress of the other girls who shared a cramped office with Hermione
upstairs. The second, an unusual
arrangement of lilies and daffodils was from Draco with a slightly less formal
note, ‘Something to make you smile! DM’ Hermione picked these flowers up, and
carried them through the lobby, where she bumped into a distressed Ron.
“What are you doing here?” she asked worriedly, had
something happened to one of the Weasleys or perhaps Harry?
“I needed to talk to you”
“Ron, I really don’t think that there is anything left
to say.”
“But I love you Hermione”
“You say that, but you slept with someone else behind
my back.”
“Mione…” he said desperately.
She cut him off quickly; she didn’t want to hear any
of his excuses “No Ron. I can’t do this now, I have patients to see.”
“How about tonight?” he asked hopefully
“I have plans.”
“Oh” he said dejectedly, before trying tact, “Did you
get my flowers?” he asked, suddenly noticing what she was carrying.
“Yes”
“Are those them?” he asked suddenly confused, he was
sure he had ordered roses
“No, they’re from someone else” she replied coolly.
“Who?” he asked angrily, they only broke up a week
ago, and now somebody else was sending her flowers.
“I have to go Ron”, she said suddenly, turning on her
heel and fleeing to the elevator.
That evening Draco took Hermione to a small restaurant
located at the bottom of Diagon Alley, it was a small candlelit room with an
intimate feeling to it. The food was delicious, and Hermione found herself
having a rather good time, chatting, sharing old school stories, childhood
experiences and gossiping about work.
“When do you finish your apprenticeship?” He asked her
suddenly.
“September” she replied pushing some lettuce onto her
fork alongside a prawn, “What about you?”
“The same” he answered in a bored tone of voice. “I
said to Mother and Father that we would go to the manor for dinner some time in
the next couple of weeks, if that suits you of course, Mother wants to meet
you.”
“Sure” said Hermione uncertainly, she wasn’t too sure
how comfortable she felt about being in a house with Mr and Mrs Malfoy senior.
“So I heard you had a visitor today” he switched topic
suddenly, the easiness disappearing from his voice, it now sounded icily cold.
“Ron came to see me” she unconsciously sat up
straighter in her chair, refusing to be intimidated. “With
flowers.” She commented dryly.
Draco immediately calmed down; there was no way she
was going back to the weasel. “He still wants you back”, it wasn’t a question, she only nodded in reply.
The rest of the meal was eaten quietly, their amiable
chatter having been silenced by the shadow of Ron.
When they arrived home Lucius was waiting for them in
the drawing room of the town house.
“Dad!” said Draco in surprise, he hadn’t expected too
see his father for another couple of weeks, “What are you doing here? Is mum
alright?”
“Your mother is fine” Lucius smiled indulgently at his
son. “Miss Granger, how are you this evening? Better than last time I saw you I
hope.”
“Yes, thank you Mr Malfoy.”
“Lucius, please. After
all I am going to be your father-in-law soon I hear.” He spoke to her with
genuine warmth in his voice.
“Then you must call me Hermione” she smiled at him
shyly.
“But that doesn’t explain what you’re doing here!” Interrupted Draco impatiently.
“I came to discuss the engagement naturally.” He said
as he poured the three of them generous glasses of brandy.
“So soon?” asked Hermione surprised, they wouldn’t be
even considering getting married for months.
“I wish to plan a suitable timeframe, in which your
courtship is to occur.”
“Of course father, what did you have in mind?”
“I would very much like to see the two of you walking
down the isle within the year. I also have another matter which I wish to
discuss with Hermione.” She raised her eyebrows at him expectantly and he
continued. “I have given the matter serious consideration and I think it would
be better if you were to have your own home. As it is only a matter of time
until the two of you are seen together, I think it would be prudent for
Hermione to have her own apartment.”
Hermione’s face paled slightly, she couldn’t afford to
move out, but she pulled her composure together. “Yes, I see your point. I’m
sure one of the girls from work will put me up, or there’s always Ginny.”
At the mention of the youngest Weasley Draco opened
his mouth to complain, he certainly didn’t want his girlfriend anywhere near a
Weasley, but Lucius interjected smoothly, “You mistake my meaning, you will be
given an allowance, in order for you to rent your own place. My solicitor is
currently drawing up the paperwork.”
“I can’t just accept your money Mr Malfoy?”
“Why not?” Draco questioned
suddenly, “It’s not like we don’t have enough to spare.”
“The family has always considered the future Mrs
Malfoy to be an investment, she has always been one of the top members of
wizarding society and it is to be understood that to secure a tie to a woman of
her stead takes a certain investment of time and money. Think of it like a
business transaction, we improve your lot in life now, six months down the line
you improve the reputation of the Malfoy name.”
Two days later Hermione moved into her new apartment,
although it was small by the Malfoy’s standards, it was still much larger than
the dingy flat she had shared with Ron. It had a cheerful kitchen cum dining
room, a cosy living room and a large bedroom with an en suite bathroom; it was
small, functional and suited Hermione down to a tee.