the key to happiness - dramione

(3)

Hermione Granger, age 24, temporarily unemployed. Engaged to Ronald Weasley, lives in a small cottage by the sea.

Draco Malfoy, age 23, working at the ministry. Lives alone in Malfoy Manor.

- - - - -
The next days are like usual. Some cleaning and some reading here and there. But Friday evening Hermione notices an owl flying by the water. She gently opens the window and lets it place a letter on the counter and then leaves again. The letter looks like normal but there is no name on it.

Usually she would've opened it together with Ron but he isn't at home. Hermione carefully opens the envelope and takes out a small price of parchment. Quickly, she reads it through.

Dear Hermione darling.
I am late from work again and probably won't make it home today. See you around lunchtime tomorrow.

Sincerely Ron <3

She sighs loudly and places the letter on the table. What does she do now? All alone again... Suddnely, another owl flies into the already open window. Hermione takes the new letter and opens it.

Hey Granger!

Hermione already knows who it's from. It's clearly Malfoy. Although that she continues reading.

What are you up to? Actually I don't really care at all but I just think we should try and be nicer to each other.

No, I'm sorry but I can't do this. Daphne thinks I should invite you here because you're such a lovely person. So please could you come to the mansion on Sunday afternoon? (Daphne and the others will be here then....)

Oh and try not to be too much Granger.
- Draco Malfoy

Hermione sighs and takes a piece of parchment. She considers what she should write down before she decides for sure. Yes, she's going. Hermione knows she gotta get out and meet people, even if it's Malfoy and his other friends. Daphne Greengrass is going to be there, that's nice.

So basically she is going. In two days. Hermione starts writing and then uses his old parchment.

Fine, I'll be there, but please have some sense and call me Hermione.

- Hermione

She sends the latter away with the same owl. She smiles a bit as she watches it fly away in the sunset. Then she sits down in a chair and continues reading the same book as earlier.

Draco feels like if he shouldn't have sent that letter. It was stupid, what so ever. Who writes 'Hey Granger' in a letter? Apparently 23 year old Draco does. Couldn't he have made it sound nice? Clever? Clever like her. He admits she is pretty clever. Or maybe more than pretty clever. Extremely clever and intelligent.

His owl comes back flying into the living room where he is currently sitting. It lands in front of him and he takes the letter. It's his old envelope and small piece of broken old parchment. He quickly reads it all through.

Fine, I'll be there, but please have some sense and call me Hermione.

- Hermione

Have some sense? What's the woman talking about m? He leaves the letter and goes up to the bedroom. He looks at the empty bed and a lonely tear leaves his eye. Draco walked into the wrong room. He, whom never cries.

He accidentally walked into his parents room. He is crying over his parents. Something that doesn't happen. Not with Draco. Cause it never happened before. He is alone and he can decide and eventually he hurries out of the room.

His steps echoes in the whole house as he walks down the dark corridor to find arrive to his own bedroom. Draco hasn't been in his parents room since his mother, Narcissa moved away. He glares at the window. The curtains are closed and it smells badly.

When Draco has finally gone to bed he quickly falls sleep, still with the thought of his parents on his mind. He sleeps bad that night and wakes up on the floor in the morning.

The next evening Ronald arrives to the cottage he shares with Hermione and he opens the door. She just finished cooking and Ronald smiles to her when he sits down on the empty chair.

She smiles back.
"How was work then?" Hermione wonders.
"Good, some catastrophe with dementors last night..." Ron explains. She nods.
"I understand. Here have some food, you must be hungry." Ron does as Hermione says and starts eating.

"Malf... Draco sent me a letter yesterday so I'm going to Malfoy Manor tomorrow."
"Oh, okay.... should I come with?"
"No, you got work to do at the ministry it's fine because Daphne will be there."
"Daphne?"
"Daphne Greengrass."

"Oh, okay."
"You alright, Ron?"
"Yeah, absolutely." Ron answers and at the same time they hear a loud sound and then someone knocks on the door.

Hermione walks away and opens the door. Outside she meets a stressed Harry Potter, looking at her. Ron also leaves the table and comes up to the door.
"Ginny is pregnant." he blurts out loudly.