Our Secret / Dramione Fanfiction

1

"We should get married."

As drunk as she was, Hermione Granger couldn't help but laugh at the outrageous proposal. Seated beside her at the bar was Draco Malfoy, a man who had long considered her beneath him. "Surely you can't be serious," she replied, finishing off her drink.

Draco shrugged and sighed. "I think I am," he said uncertainly. "And I think we should do it tonight before we both lose our nerve."

She set her empty glass down on the bar and eyed him suspiciously. "Why me?" she wondered.

Signalling the bartender, he order two more drinks for them. "Why not you?" he replied.

Hermione sat straight up and looked down at her refilled glass. "Because you hate me," she pointed out. Draco shrugged nonchalantly. "You only talk to me when you're drinking, we work in the same department, sit in on the same meetings, and you never even look at me."

It had become something of a Friday night routine for the pair who never spoke outside of the pub. They had beem enemies for seven years of schooling, and when he had been hired as department assistant, Hermione had been sure she was in for the same treatment. Instead, he paid her no mind while in the office. Then upon completion of his first week at work, their coworkers suggested grabbing a drink to celebrate. For the first time since they'd met, the pair talked. The next week, a note had been left on her desk, asking her to meet him at the pub at seven. She had gone weekly, and found that she enjoyed talking to the boy she once referred to as a ferret.

"Funny, I thought you were always the one avoiding me," he replied. 

"Well, I think you're drunk and have no idea what you're saying," she decided, tracing the glass rim with her finger.

Draco shook his head. "Why won't you marry me?"

"Because you're too drunk to mean it and I'm not drunk enough to think it's a good idea," she replied. "And we're only 25," she added, putting on her coat.

Draco grabbed her arm. "Why else is it not a good idea?" he asks. "You and Ron are... done, and we both are obviously attracted to each other," he says, sluggishly. 

It's been 4 years since Ron went missing and was found murdered. There were no leads, no suspects. The case went cold. Over the years, Hermione's grief lessened and her emotions stabilized.

Her face flushed. And it wasn't because of the Ron thing. It's true, she thought. I do have feelings for Draco. But I can't do this to Ron. 

And with that, she left.