Sour Grapes

Chapter 21 - Dirty Laundry

"You took your time," Ginny said with a knowing smirk as she sipped coffee out of a Holyhead Harpies mug, curled up on the cushioned bench in her kitchen. It was just she and Harry in the room, with him managing the bacon while she relaxed.

"We just- needed to-" Hermione sputtered.

"Mm hmm!" Ginny squeaked as she smirked at them, then looked down to pour Hermione a mug of coffee. Hermione chuckled nervously as she walked forward to take the cup of coffee.

Draco felt oddly at home here, standing in Potter's kitchen with his wife sat there, somehow approving of the fact that he and Hermione had been together last night as well at this morning.

Something about it just felt right.

A new sensation flooded his consciousness. Was it yearning? Melancholy? He grimaced, realizing for a fleeting moment that he wanted this to be his reality. Being there with her... with her friends... his friends.

"Malfoy will you grab the eggs for me?"

Harry's voice snapped him out of his trance.

"Sure," he said, walking forward and pulling the fridge open. Behind him he could hear Ginny having a whispered conversation with Hermione.

"Good night, then?"

He couldn't hear Hermione's reply, but in glancing back he saw that she was smiling broadly at her friend. Looking back into the fridge, he smiled to himself.

"They should be right on the top shelf, Malfoy."

"Yep, got em," he said, and brought them over to the counter next to the stove.

Harry placed down a large bowl in front of him and said, "get cracking, then."

Draco raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm not sure I like you ordering me around, Potter."

Harry turned to him with a haughty expression on his face. "Sorry Malfoy, you're new here so you are unaware. The correct response would be "yes chef" followed by doing whatever it is I ask." He leaned forward and poked Draco in the chest. "My kitchen my rules."

Draco chuckled and began cracking eggs, shaking his head. It always felt a bit odd not to be argumentative with Harry, but he was getting more and more used to it with time. It took a lot less energy, for one thing.

"He cooks?" he heard Ginny whisper excitedly.

Again, he couldn't discern Hermione's response, when suddenly both women rose to their feet.

"We'll be back!" announced Ginny, pulling a giggling Hermione from the room, "I need Hermione's help with my... laundry!"

"Be back in ten, or you get cold eggs!" Harry yelled without looking up.

Malfoy leaned over to him. "Laundry?"

"Not likely, she finished that before we came over this morning. Probably she wants details about last night."

Draco grunted, looking back nervously at the spot where they'd just disappeared.

"I don't, by the way."

"What?"

"Want details, I mean. In case you were planning to confide any in me, Hermione is essentially my sister and I don't need to hear any sordid play by plays."

"I wasn't planning on it, Potter."

"Good," he said, just as Draco had finished cracking the eggs. Harry took the bowl from him. "Having said that, you can still share whatever else you need to."