Chapter Text
”I was seeking for a fool when I found you . ”
William Shakespeare, As You Like It
"You shagged Ginevra Weasley?" Draco stared at his oldest friend, dumbstruck. Theo let go of Draco to pace about the room, running his hands through his messy curls. Draco looked at the fireplace from which Granger had vanished just moments before.
"Yes!" Theo rounded on Draco, and he returned his attention to his friend, just as Blaise found them.
"I thought I heard Theo's delicate voice." Blaise still had a drink in his hand, and Draco was starting to wish he had one, too.
"He told you now?" Blaise sauntered over next to Draco who nodded.
"How?" He just barely managed to get out and Theo let out a guttural groan.
"Last week at the bar, she was there. I thought I'd give it a go, you know, just for kicks." Theo started to laugh at his explanation, one hand moved to cover his mouth. Draco thought he started to look a bit crazed.
"Most of us assumed she was still with Potter." Blaise shrugged and finished his drink with a longing look towards the ballroom. Draco was sure he was looking for the blond witch he had seen him with before he had offered to escort Granger to the floo parlour.
"Well, she wasn't!" Theo exclaimed, strode up to Draco, and only stopped when they were almost nose to nose.
"And she hasn't been for years. Ginevra has been flying solo for years."
"Testing brooms here and there." Blaise snickered and received a smack on his shoulder from Theo. Draco couldn't hold back the chuckle that escaped him as well and hurried to step back to avoid the other hand from Theo swinging at him.
"What has this got to do with Granger, anyway?" Draco extended his hands in a gesture of peace while Theo continued pacing, lost in his murmurs. Spotting an opportunity, Blaise sought out another blond to engage with, filling his time.
As he put it, he was fond of Draco but not that fond of him.
"I prefer my blondes with a bit more cleavage." And with a salute, he bid them goodnight before he returned to his blond witch.
"Theo, tell me again why your fascination with the Weasley witch has anything to do with me and Granger?"
"I need Granger to talk to her for me. She won't respond to anything I've sent her."
"Theo, mate, perhaps you need to take the-"
"No! Draco, you don't understand."
"Enlighten me then."
"She was- It was- The best night of my life." A look of pure bliss fell across Theo's face and Draco groaned. He knew Theo could get obsessed with things, it had been like this for years ever since he first found a pretty flower when they were four and nearly wept when it wilted. But he had never obsessed over a witch before.
"Theo, this thing with Granger, it's not exactly- Look, if it's just about the sex, I can't do any-"
"It's not just about the sex. I mean, sure the sex was amazing, the girl knew some moves I never even thought were possible and damn, I-"
"Right, that's enough information for me, thank you very much."
"Draco, I'm telling you, this witch, she's done a number on me I never anticipated. I need your help." Theo's eyes were pleading by then and Draco could tell there was nothing for it. He would have to play matchmaker with his fake girlfriend.
"Fine. It'll take some time, but I'll see what I can do. Maybe back off in your advances for a while?" Draco suggested as he prepared to call it a night.
Things had gone over well enough for the night. Now he just needed to wait and see what the fallout would be in the papers in the coming days. Some of it was bound to be… upsetting in one way or another.
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"You do make a truly lovely couple, and Hermione looks magnificent in that dress." Narcissa Malfoy declared over morning tea the next day. She had the Daily Prophet splayed out on the table and Draco watched himself bend his head to tenderly kiss Granger's neck on a loop. From this angle, he also got a splendid view of Granger's eyes fluttering closed when his mouth connected to her skin. It was the same picture that covered nearly every newspaper and magazine his mother had splayed out on the table among the many platters of food. Draco couldn't stop watching himself lean closer and closer to Granger and the way her eyes tracked his every movement.
Draco caught his tongue darting out to lick his lips at the memory of tasting Granger's skin without realising it. He shifted in his seat, reaching for a pot of strong coffee in an attempt to clear his mind.
"Although, this does not exactly suit the declaration I have in mind for the Prophet after the ball I plan for you. Hmm." Narcissa hummed to herself, smoothing a hand over the picture before her as she daintily sipped her tea. She nodded decisively, seemingly arriving at some internal conclusion and Draco raised his head in anticipation of something he was sure he wouldn't like.
"Yes, I will have to send an owl to Alphonso and have him visit us in advance. Draco, darling, perhaps you wouldn't mind inviting Hermione for dinner this weekend?"
"Um, I-"
"Excellent. Tell her Saturday at 6.30 will be just fine. Or come to think of it, perhaps 5.30 will be better for Alphonso to have the time to take the pictures. Yes, tell her 5.30, darling." Narcissa waved her wand and every newspaper and magazine rolled itself back together before vanishing, except one Daily Prophet. From this, she neatly sliced out the picture of him and Granger and she was sure to be extra careful with the corners.
"Nipsy," Narcissa called and then the tiny elf appeared next to his mother with a slight bow.
"Mistress called for Nipsy?"
"Yes, I would like to have this clipping framed and placed in my parlour, if you would be so kind?" Narcissa handed the picture to Nipsy with careful fingers and Draco groaned when Nipsy's eyes widened.
"Oh, how lovely mistress. Master Draco and Miss Hermione look splendid. So lovely, so lovely. Nipsy shall have it done, Mistress." And before Draco could utter any form of objection, the tiny and love-stricken elf had vanished again.
"Mother, I don't think any of this is-"
"Nonsense, dear. How often can I expect my only son to properly court a witch as accomplished as Hermione Granger? As her future mother-in-law, I must-"
But Draco didn't catch what his mother intended to do in her role as Granger's future mother-in-law. He was too busy spluttering and choking on his coffee, which had also managed to burn his tongue and throat in the process. He leapt from his seat, unable to form any words due to his burned tongue, resorting to frantic arm-waving to communicate with his mother, who furrowed her brow in concern.
"You know I don't understand a word of what you say when you behave like this. You are no longer a child, Draco. I should hope you act more like the man I raised you to be around your courted." Narcissa merely clipped as she rose from her seat, having finished with her breakfast.
"'other, I 'ink 'ou 'ould 'ow-"
"Perhaps you should see your healer for some special treatment." His mother suggested with a grin that was far too smug before she left Draco panting in the breakfast parlour. His tongue was bruised and swollen and felt rather limp hanging out the side of his mouth.
Sod it all to hell, he thought before Apparating to St. Mungos.
< - > < - > < - > < - > < - >
The assistant healer at the welcoming desk looked him up and down with a curl of her lip. Draco kept his mouth tight, concerned that any excess saliva might ruin his rather fine suit of the day. It was a dark grey colour that he had been told matched his eyes quite nicely. It was also much more in the muggle style of fashion than he was used to, but he had discovered he liked it even more so than the floundering robes from time to time.
He passed over the slip of parchment indicating the person he was there to see and was then gestured to a seat to wait.
As Draco slipped into the seat in a far corner, his eyes caught on a copy of the Daily Prophet stuffed under a pile of old Witches Weekly. Nudging the magazines away, Draco soon found his lips on Granger's neck again and he let out a curse because his bruised tongue had wanted to lick his lips again.
Shoes suddenly clicked against the hard floors of the waiting room and Draco - along with the three other people seated - turned their heads in anticipation.
"Mal-" Granger cut herself off and raised her head with a look of surprise that turned into something he thought could perhaps turn into affection in the right settings.
"Draco, what are you doing here?" She strode over to him as he got to his feet. Both of them ignored the looks of the other waiting patients, one whose eyes went wide as saucers at the recognition.
Draco straightened his suit jacket and leaned in close to place his lips on Granger's cheek. To his surprise, she let him. Though not without glancing nervously around.
"Not here." She then hissed and took him by his upper arm to drag him behind her.
"I'm at work, Draco, you cannot just barge in to see me all you like. I have other patients to tend to, and just because you and I have an arrangement, it does not mean that you can-'' She turned to him once they were in a private room and stopped midsentence when she looked at him again. She blinked a few times, taking in the sight of his now slightly numb tongue before her mouth twitched into a smile. Then she hurried to read his file which seemed to grow bigger and bigger every time he paid her a visit at Mungo’s.
"Right." She sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose for a moment.
"Sit over there, will you?" Granger gestured at the made-up bed and Draco followed the instruction silently.
"Coffee did this?"
Draco nodded.
"Hm. I thought you mostly drank tea?"
Draco shrugged.
"I'm, Merlin, I'm going to have to touch you a little bit. Open up, please." Granger stepped closer between Draco's legs as he opened his mouth wide for her to look. Her dainty fingers poked lightly just inside his mouth, and he felt a pad of her index finger press down somewhere in the middle of his tongue. Draco cursed his Mother into oblivion for stealing this moment from him. He had Hermione fucking Granger's finger in his mouth and he couldn't even taste it!
He could smell her though.
Her hand smelled of lavender soap. Bits of her hair flew about her face and sent small whiffs of vanilla into his nose.
Granger poked her finger a bit more before removing her hand to reach for her wand.
"Right, it's nothing too bad. A bit of swelling that some cooling charms should help with. I'll find a neutral bruise paste for you to apply afterwards as well. Open up again, please."
Draco swallowed a heavy lump but did as instructed when Granger pointed her wand at his mouth. The tip of her wand barely poked inside his mouth when he felt the cooling sensation spread across his tongue and, a moment later, it was back to its normal size. Granger withdrew her wand and started scribbling in his file.
Draco wiggled his tongue in his mouth, thinking it had returned to its normal state. He almost asked Granger to test it differently, but since they were alone, he hardly thought she would grant him the pleasure.
"Thank you." He said instead and was rewarded with a delightful smile from Granger. It was not as great as a kiss, but it was still a nice surprise to all the times she had hit him with her small bag.
"Of course. Just promise to be careful with your coffee in the future." She teased and closed his file. Draco looked her up and down for a moment while her attention was elsewhere. As usual, she wore the green healer robes unbuttoned to show off her muggle clothes underneath. Today, she wore a navy dress that fell to just below her knees and well, Draco had to be honest, it showed off her breasts quite nicely.
He was perhaps a bit preoccupied with staring at her chest when she cleared her throat and handed him a small jar with an orange paste inside.
"Flavourless bruise paste. Dap a little on your tongue if you feel a sting for the rest of the day." A pause as she assessed him. "Right, if that is all, as I said, I have other patients to attend to and-"
"Did you see the Prophet?" Draco couldn't help but blurt out in an attempt to keep her there.
He really was beginning to be a sorry wanker.
"I did." Granger folded her arms around the file clip she still held. Her posture was neutral but her chin was raised a tiny bit.
"Any uh, international owls to deal with then?" Where on earth did all this consideration come from in Draco? And why was he so reluctant to leave this otherwise boorish room at St. Mungo’s?
"No. Nothing yet. Rose hasn't seen it either, thank Merlin. Molly, however, is a different story." Granger rolled her eyes and Draco thought he saw a hint of a smirk around her lips.
"Like what she saw the old bird?" Draco stuffed his hands in his trouser pockets and took on his most suave pose as he stepped closer to Granger. Her response was to snort a laugh that pulled a tiny bit on Draco's smile.
"Something like that." Granger grinned. Her eyes had lit up again and Draco realised he liked to be the cause of this reaction. It was a rather disconcerting realisation, prompting him to halt his progress toward stepping closer to her.
"Have a good day, Draco." She said again, this time with a tiny smile and a nod of her head before she moved to leave.
Fuck.
Think of something, Draco. Use that marvellous brain of yours.
He couldn't just ask her on a double date with Theo and Weaslette. Nor could he spring his mother's dinner/photo session on her like that. He needed a middle way to keep the ruse going without pushing things too far.
But John wanted to push things very far as it was.
"Lunch!" He blurted as she had the door halfway open. She turned back to him.
"Lunch?"
"Yes," He cleared his throat and with the door open realised it was time to perform for the public eye.
"You do eat lunch, darling, do you not?" Her entire face changed at the term of endearment and her fingers twitched on the handle.
"I do." She hedged as he slowly stepped closer to her again.
"On Wednesday. I'm taking you to lunch."
"You can't just-"
"Are we not courting?" He made the bold move to take her hand between his and put on his most handsome smile. Her nostrils flared slightly, perhaps a bit more when a few healer trainees hurriedly shuffled by the half-open door.
"We are." She got out through her tense jaw.
"Then, please, allow me the pleasure of taking you to lunch on Wednesday?"
She seemed to try and think about any reason to reject him, but he saw the moment she realised she couldn't. Her shoulders dropped a little and her face shifted into the polite smile he recognised from the fundraiser the other night.
"All right."
"Excellent! I'll see you on Wednesday then. Until then, darling." Before Granger or anything could come between Draco and his task at hand, he leaned in close and placed a soft kiss on Granger's cheek. For the short moment it lasted, she managed to be both stiff and pliant under his touch. The change was abrupt but most noticeable to Draco. So much so that he lingered by her cheek even after lifting his lips.
"Until then." She whispered in his ear before turning away. But not fast enough for Draco not to notice the slight blush that had found its way to her cheeks.
Feeling rather good about himself, Draco strutted to the Apparition Point with his head full of ideas on how to tease and court the shit out of Granger on Wednesday.