the key to happiness - dramione

(16)

Hermione Granger, age 24, working as Draco Malfoy's assistant at the ministry, for another month. In a relationship with Draco Malfoy. Temporarily homeless.

Draco Malfoy, age 23, working at the ministry. In a relationship with Hermione Granger. Temporarily homeless.

- - - - -
Hermione Granger is sitting on a chair in Daphne Greengrass's kitchen while Daphne herself, is sitting on the chair next to her. Draco Malfoy sets the table with the help of his wand. When he is done he too sits down and they eat breakfast together.

"So uhm, Daphne. Since we're meeting the others today me and Granger have something to tell you all." Draco smiles.
"What?" Daphne wonders.
"You'll have to wait til the others get here." Draco grins and Hermione bites her lip as Daphne sighs.

During the next hours passing by Daphne nags them to tell her but eventually when Hermione is cooking lunch, Pansy, Theodore and Blaise arrives. When they all have said hello they sit down at the table together. Hermione and Draco sits next to each other on one side.

"So we have something important to announce-" Draco starts.
"Get to it already, I've waited all day." Daphne interrupts. A smile spreads in Hermione's face.

Draco takes her hand and holds it above the table..
"We're a couple." Hermione smiles. Everyone goes quiet and Pansy sighs.
"That's no news to us." Theodore laughs.

"It's been obvious for a while guys." Daphne sighs. "So we knew. Was that all?" Draco nods.
"But we actually haven't been a couple that long." Hermione explains.
"Wait, you haven't?" Blaise says surprised.
"So I've been waiting all morning for you two to tell me something I thought I had known for like forever already?!"

Everyone bursts out in laughter and Daphne pretends to look disappointed but then she starts laughing too. They eat lunch and Hermione and Draco tells them about that they're looking for a new house and that Hermione was offered the job as the minister of magic.

The friends hang out, talk and have tea and it's not til late afternoon that Pansy, Theodore and Blaise decide to leave. When Theo, who is the last one to leave, has closed the door Hermione takes Daphne's hands. Draco is in the bathroom so it's just the two of them on the room.

"Daphne, are you into Theo?" Hermione asks. Daphne blushes and carefully nods.
"Ask him out!" Hermione tells her.
"Nooooo, no! I can't do that!" Daphne yells in a panicky voice.
"Well of course you can Daph, you should run after him right away!" Hermione says.

"No, but then...." Daphne starts. "Yeah, well... perhaps I could...! Yes. I'm going Hermione." Daphne decides and runs towards the door again. She opens it to face Theodore Nott standing right in front of her and about to knock on the door.
"Ehum... aauuhh... I forgot my hat."

"What are you talking about, you weren't wearing a hat? Or did you?" Daphne wonders.
"No.... Actually I was going to ask you something ..." he mumbles.
"I was gonna ask you something too." Daphne smiles. Hermione has sat down on the couch in the living room and is listening to their conversation.
"Would you go out with me?" both Theo and Daphne exclaims at the same time. "Yes!"

Daphne meets Theo in a kiss and her whole body turns warm from that feeling. At the same time Draco comes out from the bathroom.
"What the-... Why is Theo here again, I..." he starts. Hermione places a finger against this mouth and hushes him.

"Quiet, questions later." she whispers. Draco smiles and bites his lower lip. Together they go into the bedroom he and Hermione shares. Draco slams the door behind them a little too loud to make sure that Theo and Daphne lets go of each other, which they immediately do.

"Ehum... Is Friday at six o'clock fine? I could come here and pick you up." Theodore asks.
Daphne nods and blushes.
"Alright, I'll see you then." he says and walks out through the front door.
"Bye, see you." Daphne smiles, Theo quickly kisses her again and before she shuts the door and he leaves.

She puts her wand down on the kitchen table and sits down in her armchair next to the window. With a big smile on her lips Daphne Greengrass thinks back on what just happened. She is going out with Theodore Nott, only thanks to Hermione Granger. She kissed the guy she's been secretly into for years only thanks to Hermione Granger.

Draco slams the door to the guest room wide open and runs out.
"Theo!" he shouts. "Oh... he left again... Well then... Daphne! Explain right away!"
"Draco? What?!" Daphne shouts and stands up again. "What!?" Draco shelves his head.
"I'm just kidding." Draco laughs and gives Daphne a hug.

"But you should see your face though." he adds and laughs again, this time Daphne laughs too.
"Tell us now!" Hermione exclaims excited and jumps up and down like a four year old girl who has been eating way too much sugar.
"But, you heard it. I know you listened."

"Yes, I did do that. But what happened then?! After the kiss? He's clearly not here anymore."
"Oh yeah, we decided to go on a date on Friday and then he left."
"Well that's great Daph!" Hermione exclaims and hugs her.

"Uhh... Granger, perhaps we should get ready if we're going out for dinner tonight." Draco interrupts.
"Oh right." Hermione goes back into the bedroom and Draco follows. Daphne is left alone but suddenly someone rings the bell on the door.

"OPEN UP!" someone furiously shouts and bangs loudly on the door. Daphne panics and hurries to get her wand from the kitchen table. But the wand is not we're she left it and she can't find it. In panic she grabs a frying pan.