Chapter 9

Walking with Draco Malfoy was the last crazy dream Hermione could ever think of, after deciding to follow his invitation to ride around town in a canoe, they had completely lost what they had as boundaries when they were teenagers. Draco was very friendly and he could shake off the awkwardness between them. Hermione just thought this was his way of apologizing, and how he meant it about himself had changed.

On this one day they really became new friends, like old friends having a reunion. Draco didn't hesitate to joke about how stupid he felt when he was a teenager, and that was well received by Hermione. The night before returning to the inn, they took the time to enjoy dinner at street food along Muggle's streets. They ordered Fish and Chips with guacamole sauce and a cold drink. Their conversation continued by the side of the road, sitting watching the hubbub of Glasgow.

"It's really good, and I don't taste fishy, ​​I... don't like fish actually."

"Is this your first time eating this?'

"Of course, I've never come across a menu like this in any restaurant I've been to."

"Oh, that's right." Hermione giggled, of course this damn rich man wouldn't eat street food like this.

"Malfoy, I want to tell you something..."

"Just say it."

"This past month, I've been meeting up with Pansy Parkinson, and we've had conversations almost every day."

Draco stopped chewing and looked at Hermione with an incomprehensible look.

"I just think she's gone through a lot of changes, and we're actually chatting, she's also told me a lot of stories about her current education. Are you... Still with her?"

Draco was silent for a moment, swallowing his delicious food which turned bland, he immediately put down his paper and drank a lot of water. Hermione was still waiting patiently for an answer, and was a little frightened by Draco's change.

"No, we are no longer together since the war started."

"Oh, okay, that... I don't know how, but I'm so glad you two have had such an amazingly difficult time, you know? Not many people forgive themselves very well and…"

"Granger, I think we'd better go back now."

"Hah, what? Why? You haven't even finished…"

"If you want to stay here, do it. I will go." Draco stood up and left Hermione, apparated in the middle of the city. Hermione was dumbfounded, how dare he be like that in a muggle settlement, grateful that no one had seen him, Hermione walked off to look for a statue of a fountain in the corner of town.

Thinking really hard, Draco turned and became very rude in a matter of seconds. He wondered if bringing into Pansy's conversation was a terrible mistake, and if Draco still couldn't get over his ex-girlfriend?

Hermione ran as she passed the statue of the fountain, and rushed to her inn. She tried to search around the lobby of the inn, but couldn't find what she was looking for. Maybe Draco really needed a break, though Hermione still couldn't accept his rude attitude.

Entering her own room, Hermione was immediately engulfed in wild thoughts, how could Malfoy change personality in just seconds, one of the closest hypotheses, he didn't like discussing Pansy just because she was his ex-girlfriend, and Draco Malfoy hadn't forgotten her. Oh, their friendship was completely broken in a minute.

And, is it friendship? They did have a good day, and... Lovely together, and walking around like friends who care about each other. Remembering how Malfoy let Hermione choose a seat in the canoe instead of being a hero by sitting across from her, or Draco casually recounting how smug his childhood was. He was really light and carefree, though not bothering anything about Malfoy's personal life at the time.

Hermione had made up her mind when Malfoy lightly offered him friendly service at breakfast, with his doubtful eyes wishing Hermione's kindness to forgive him, she thought they would really be fine, and Hermione had a strange feeling of doing such a stupid thing, but she was also angry, Malfoy was very rude to leave her like that.

The next morning, Hermione waited in the inn's restaurant in her usual seat, watching everyone who entered, and after 25 minutes of waiting, there was no sign of Draco Malfoy showing up. After finishing breakfast, Hermione rushed to the receptionist, only to…

"Excuse me, sir. Did you see that the occupant of room 143 had left the key or, did you see him this morning?"

"Wait a minute, miss." "...Oh, the occupant of room 143 checked out early in the morning, meaning he's no longer here."

"Alright, very good information. Thank you very much, sir."

"My pleasure."

Malfoy had left, he had left the inn, and he had said nothing before that.

*****

Draco Malfoy sat quietly in front of the Greengrass family, of course he knew Daphne, who was currently smiling a little while trying to build the mood.

"...and Draco, what do you think of that?"

Draco was silent for a moment, he didn't hear anything Daphne said, his thoughts drifting far away in the noisy suburbs of Glasgow and its hot little room.

"I asked about the opera we are going to tonight, I just can't wait to see Gabriella Ortondo's performance, she is the main guest, the last time Astoria and I saw her on a trip to France."

"Yeah, that would be a bit of fun for us, this kind of artist won't be seen very often." Draco answered simply, and the two girls smiled meaningfully.

This is the so-called essence of his journey, his mother sent him here for this, accompanying the old companions of the family and reconnecting what was broken. Her mother had planned this after exchanging letters and drinking tea for a whole week.

Draco suspected that whatever they discussed together, Daphne had been engaged to a witch from France, and would Astoria follow too? The image of his mother having prepared for the engagement without his knowledge again wrapped around his stomach, and he pressed his thumb with his other fingernail, until it went numb.

Narcissa is very ambitious to rebuild all relationships, and she does not want to be left behind by anyone, she quickly has many friends and sends many gifts to families who kindly accept their presence again. The Greengrasses were the closest at the time, and the good reputation they had was the Malfoys' best chance to mend what was broken.

"I think I'll get ready with Astoria soon, Mom."

"Dress up pretty, love. Especially you, Astoria." The mother blinked meaningfully, and Astoria blushed until her face turned red.

"Draco, do you mind if we go get ready, son?"

"Of course not, Mrs. Greengrass, I'll be fine." Draco stood up and motioned for the three girls to leave. After they left, Draco buried his head in his palms. His head was throbbing and his chest was pounding like he had drunk a bottle of pure caffeine whiskey. His thoughts drifted to the girl who accompanied him yesterday, what was she doing? Where did she go today? And, did she notice if Draco left the inn? Draco felt so small and slapped himself with 'stupid coward' curses, why did Granger have to look for someone with a mental disorder like him?

The voice in his head was so loud, he really wanted to drink some firewhiskey just to calm down. But it would be a real shame if he took a girl in the fanfare with the strong smell of alcohol.