The Conflict of Hermione Granger

Chapter 5

A Sober-Up Potion Would Do Nicely

Hermione Granger was in a mood. A foul mood. Hung over, grumpy, and with an annoying feeling, like an itch you can't scratch kind of feeling, plaguing her. Hermione refused to admit that that particular feeling might be caused by the dreams she'd been having that morning or her argument with Lucius over breakfast.

She sat at her desk, staring at her work, but not really seeing anything, and wishing she had less shame so she could go to the Apothecary on premises and demand a Sober-Up potion, and dreading how she was going to tell Ron that she spent the night at Malfoy Manor. Ron seemed to like Draco, and appreciated his Quidditch skills when they played three-a-side, but his friendship with Draco hadn't progressed to where Harry's was, and Hermione had a nagging feeling that Ron wouldn't appreciate her having spent the night in Draco's bed.

Fortunately, relief appeared on both fronts in the form of a laughing Draco and Ron in the doorway of her office.

"Hello love!" Ron greeted her cheerfully, "I met Draco in the hallway on the way here, and I got the whole story! I heard you had a few too many last night and ended up having to sleep at the Manor! Celebrating Guy Fawkes properly, were you?" he teased, coming around the desk to give her a kiss on the cheek while Draco made himself comfortable in the chairs across from her desk.

"Ugh, Ron, don't you know a lower volume? My head is positively killing me!" Hermione groaned, lowering her head to meet the desk.

"'Mione, didn't you go get a Sober-Up potion?" Ron asked.

"No, I'm too ashamed for that!" she mumbled, refusing to look up.

"I'll go get it for you!" Ron chuckled, "Do you know how many I've gotten there over the years the day after a Cannons match? The Potions Master knows me by sight!" and with that, Ron made his way towards the door, stopping to shake hands with Draco, "Sorry I missed what sounds like a rager, but thanks for taking care of my girl last night, mate, I promise next time I'll be there to keep an eye on her myself." Hermione could hear his laughter along with the fading sounds of his footsteps.

She eyed Draco warily, wondering why he had decided to pay her a visit.

"So, how was breakfast?" Draco inquired as he leaned back, crossed his legs, and put his hands behind his head.

Hermione forgot her hangover as her anger returned, "Draco, your father is positively horrid! He thinks we slept together last night! He basically called me a slag! How dare he!"

"Come on now, darling, what would you think if you saw what he saw? He knew I’d had a girl stay the night and then he sees us coming into breakfast together, you in my clothes with just-fucked hair? To be fair, I was teasing him before you got into the room. I just saw him for lunch and he's sorry. He told me to make his apologies to you that he jumped to conclusions so quickly." Draco implored apologetically.

"I would have never come to that conclusion, and nothing you can say will change my mind that your father is terrible!" Hermione sniffed, burning with indignation.

"I guess then I'll have to send him to see you then. Obviously a personal apology is in order, or maybe you should come to the Manor for dinner? Bring Ron with you, a cozy dinner with the four of us is just the ticket to make amends," Draco suggested, a cherubic look now settled on his features.

"No, no, absolutely not! I don't want dinner with the four of us!" Hermione exclaimed, a sudden feeling of dread overcoming her at the idea of eating with Ron and Lucius in the same room over candlelight.

"Okay then, so just you and Father for the meal. I think that can be arranged." Draco proposed, now up and moving quickly towards the door,

"Draco, no, that's not what I was suggesting - -" Hermione started.

"Oh, it's fine, leave all the arrangements to me, it's my fault conclusions were reached, and I should correct it. Don't worry, I'll get it all sorted straightaway." Draco finished, waving his hand as he spoke in a perfect imitation of the elder Malfoy. "I'll owl you the details," and with that, he breezed out of the office, leaving a stunned Hermione sitting behind her desk.

Hermione sat staring at the wall, wondering how she had been roped into a solo meal with Lucius, and wishing harder than ever for the Sober-Up potion that Ron was currently fetching. She might have had fewer questions about how she had been tricked if she had seen the look on Draco's face as he strode through the Ministry of Magic, feeling very pleased with himself.

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A/N: Two chapters for you today! Next chapter will be up on Thursday and the lemons are coming soon, I promise! ;)

Thank you so much to everyone who has read this little story of mine, and I hope you continue to enjoy it!