Unfortunate Events

Event Seven: Vile Village, Part Two.

Hermione watched as her mother rushed over to greet Malfoy. As expected, her father stood back, slightly aloof. Even with Ron and Harry he was always a bit stand-offish. The typical over-protective father, he sometimes grated on Hermione's nerves. As if she wouldn't have perfectly good sense when it came to choosing her friends.

Smile lighting up her face, her mother stretched out her hand to Malfoy. Much to Hermione's surprise, he took it without a moment's hesitation. And instead of the usual handshake, her mother was treated with a gallant kiss to the back of the hand. "Hello, Mrs. Granger. Pleased to meet you."

Malfoy really could pour on the charm when he wanted to, though it never seemed to be around Hermione. If he were only half this agreeable with her, they probably wouldn't fight so much.

"Oh!" Her mother giggled at the show of chivalry. "Hello, Draco. And please call me Allison. It's so nice to finally meet you. Hermione's told us so much about you."

Actually, she hadn't. Hermione was beginning to regret bringing Malfoy here. Her mother had been going through this phase where she kept trying to set her up. And though Allison had promised she would do no such thing should Hermione ever bring Malfoy over, Hermione was beginning to think her mother had lied.

Malfoy grimaced, relinquishing Allison's hand. "Then I should probably apologize."

Allison giggled again, lightly slapping Malfoy on the arm. "Nonsense. If Hermione's forgiven you, that's all that matters. Bygones. Any friend of Hermione's is family."

Hermione stood there, wide-eyed. Was her mother flirting with Malfoy? She certainly hoped not.

Her father finally stepped forward, grasping Malfoy's hand in what was likely a death grip. Hermione tried not to smile as she thought she saw Malfoy suppress a wince. "So you're the boy that keeps popping up in the paper with my daughter. Richard Granger, nice to meet you."

Malfoy opened his mouth to answer, but Allison beat him to it, breaking up their handshake. "Now sweetie, Hermione told you those stories aren't true. Unless she's been keeping you a secret, Draco." Allison winked at Malfoy, who smiled back, completely at ease.

Oh. Sweet. Circe. Her mother was flirting with Malfoy. That was definitely worse than her father reading those stories in the Prophet. Speaking of which, she needed to cancel their subscription. It made sense after the War, when she was trying to catch them up on what had been going on in her life. Now it was just an embarrassment.

Allison ushered Malfoy over to the couch and sat down next to him. Hermione joined them, sandwiching Malfoy, while her father retreated to his recliner.

"So Draco, do you know of any young men in Hermione's life? She never mentions anyone when I ask."

Way to jump into a totally inappropriate and personal conversation topic with a boy you hardly know, mother. Hermione would definitely need to speak with her about that later.

Malfoy glanced at Hermione, a glimmer in his eye. This was bad. Very bad.

Turning to Allison, he said, "Hermione's been holding out on you. One of my friends informed me she has quite the following at work amongst the interns."

Hermione tapped Malfoy on the shoulder and demanded, "Who said that?"

"Pansy," he replied.

Well that explained it. "Mum, that's not true. Pansy's lying."

"Why would she do that?" asked her mother, all innocence and naivety.

"She hates me," Hermione said.