Chapter Text
Hermione Granger should have known her first holiday in over five years would be more 'shit hits the fan' than 'sex on the beach.' A promise of a two-week bon voyage on a wizarding island was surely slipping away right before her eyes. She bloody should have known.
"Gin..."
"Don't look at me like that! I swear I didn't know!"
Hermione eyed her friend skeptically over the menu. "I'm not daft Ginerva. There's barely an iota of a chance we'd happen to run into-"
"I swear this isn't another setup! Not after last time."
She groaned. "You mean when you sent me a panicked patronus only for me to Floo over and find Cormac McLaggen with roses? I thought you were hurt!"
Ginny cringed. "Yeah that was a bit..." She shook her head. "Look, I swore I wouldn't try to set you up again. There's only so many wizarding islands in the world Min, it's not like it's totally out of the realm of possibility he'd also vacation here."
Hermione twirled the water in her glass. "So this is what, a fun coincidence?"
"I suppose..." Ginny was cringing in front of her. "Blimey, he's looking over!" Hermione blinked twice as she took in the unexpected newcomer. Unfortunately, her friend was right...Draco Malfoy was indeed looking at their table. And if his smirking face was anything to go by, he was most certainly about to approach them. Of all the bloody islands in the world...
When Ginny had pitched the idea of a little girls' getaway months before the redhead's nuptials to Harry, her first thought was there was absolutely no way. No way she'd be able to tear away from work for two weeks. Two weeks?! She was already taking a week off for the wedding!
It wasn't as if Hermione didn't have the vacation days to spend. In fact, she'd only ever taken a single day off when Ron and her split in favor of spending the day with a trusty pint of strawberry ice cream. But when Ginny had practically guilt-tripped her away with the promise of museums and ancient runes...how could she really say no?
Even so, it was hard to tear away. Hermione loved her job. Her friends thought maybe a little too much but could she really help the fact that so many creatures needed her department's advocacy? Since starting in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, newly minted the Care of Magical Creatures Department, she'd been thoroughly dedicated to her causes. All sorts of cases came through her office, including only recently an entire clan of banshees who were almost forced to relocate after a crotchety old Wizengamot member had decided he'd wanted to plop down a fifth summer home. He'd obviously hadn't bothered to investigate the land's potential 'protected' designation. Honestly.
It'd only taken hours for the younger Malfoy to come predictably to her office door.
"Granger, I know you've always had a hard-on for misfits but could you explain to me why the hell you're making fuss over Malfoy's latest venture?"
"Misfits-" She pinched her nose. "Malfoy, banshees have every right to live their lives, just as the rest of us. I'm not rescinding my recommendation to halt your father's construction. That's protected land he's trying to build on."
"Our land, Granger. For centuries now." He was sneering. "Since when does the Ministry give a rat's arse over people using their own damn property?"
"Since you're trying to sic a Manor on top of protected land, Malfoy." She looked back down at the papers she was signing. "Call it a sanctuary, sell tickets."
Malfoy snorted. "Like you wouldn't have something to say about that either."
She smiled, full of spite. "You’re right. You haven't filed the proper paperwork for something like that. Let alone the additional funding."
Malfoy predictably groaned before storming out of her office, tailored cloak billowing behind him. It was always the same. Every few months his family would attempt something ridiculously out of touch that interfered with some class of beasts or beings and Hermione would have to intervene. Of course this meant her former schoolmate making regular appearances in her office-whatever understanding they'd come to after the war be damned.
However secretly thrilled she was to see Malfoy leave disgruntled, she couldn't really help the fact that whoever was doing their consulting work was a complete imbecile and wasn't doing their due diligence. Honestly, was it so hard to check into the land you're building on?
So as Malfoy made his way across the small seaside café her and Ginny had staggered into after checking in, Hermione couldn't help but feel like this was some type of cruel twist of fate. That or Ginny had an Avada wish.
"Weaselette...Granger." His presence was towering over their table, blonde locks carelessly falling around his features. "What an unexpected surprise."
Hermione was scowling as Ginny pretended to sip her water. "Malfoy for the last bloody time I'm not rescinding my recommendation. To think you'd come so far as to crash my holiday..."
To her surprise, Malfoy's eyebrows shot up. "Ah yes, I'd forgotten not only do I need to check with you when building on my own land but whenever I take a bloody holiday. Took a leak earlier too, Granger, should I have sent a patronus?" Before she could retort something scathing back, he'd turned to Ginny. "Weaselette, I believe congratulations are in order." The redhead for her part coughed awkwardly. "My mother mentioned your engagement announcement in the Prophet."
"Right uh-" Ginny looked as if she were trying to gauge his sincerity. "Thanks?"
Fortunately for her friend, Gin didn't have the luxury of spending copious amounts of time in the blonde's presence as she had over the years. Harry and Ginny had made their peace after the war and merely gave her a look every time she came over complaining about Malfoy Industries' latest environmental grievances. Ron was the only one these days who rooted her on. In fact, they had an ongoing bet on how many times this year he'd come storming into her office-Ron had said seventeen, Hermione had argued twenty-two.
"Potter and Weaselbee around here somewhere?" Malfoy glanced over his shoulder haphazardly. "Should I hire an Auror to watch my back this week?"
Hermione groaned. "You're staying here?"
Malfoy rose a brow. "On the island, yes. In this café? No." He was so bloody infuriating. "Serena Aquae has been a holiday spot for the Malfoy family for generations."
"Of course it is." She eyed Ginny disdainfully as she took a drink. Merlin, even his latin sounded snobbish.
"We're on a girls' trip, actually." Hermione seriously debated kicking her friend under the table. "Seeing the sights...Harry and I were thinking of honeymooning on the island."
"Ah." There was a suspicious look on Malfoy's face. "You're staying at the Sol Oram-er, the Sun Coast then? Excellent dining, ask for the 1780 pinot, they're quite famous for it." He paused. "Their day spa has an exceptional couples massage option, although-" his eyes darted over to hers "maybe save that one for the honeymoon." Hermione was growing increasingly frustrated. How dare he waltz over and start giving them unsolicited vacation tips. Obviously they wouldn't be staying on the grandest resort on the island. A night in the Sun Coast Resort would surely have rivaled a month's of her Ministry salary. And she didn't even want to think about whatever sort of witch agreed to a 'couples massage' with the prick...
Ginny looked uncomfortable. "We're staying in a bed and breakfast, up on the hill."
"And you'll have to excuse us Malfoy." Hermione started to stand. No matter they hadn't even ordered yet, she was already over the entire experience. With any luck they could walk the beach and find an ice cream vendor. "We have places to be."
"Of course you do." He deadpanned before turning back to Ginny. "Have you met the innkeeper?"
Hermione groaned. "Yes, now Gin let's-"
"There are quite a few dodgy places advertising a place to stay..." He looked between them oddly. "You're certain the one you're staying at is reputable? The local Aurors find a new tourist trap every few months or so." Hermione was beginning to feel uncomfortable. They hadn't walked into some sort of scam, had they? The innkeeper seemed nice enough but-
"I'm sure it's fine Malfoy." She gave Ginny a look and much to her displeasure the redhead was darting her eyes back and forth between them.
"What should we be looking for?" Ginny questioned, grabbing her purse as she rose.
"Eh...not entirely sure, haven't come across one myself." He shrugged. She mentally rolled her eyes knowing he'd never come across one living in his lap of luxury. "I s'pose if the innkeeper appears off-color..." he trailed off.
"I'm sure we'll be fine." Hermione reiterated, already planning on throwing all her valuables in her trusty beaded back when they got back to their room.
"Right. Well." He looked uncomfortable. "If you need a place to stay..."
"That's it." Hermione grabbed Ginny's arm and tugged her towards the door.
"Must you always be so-" To her great displeasure, Malfoy had followed them out. "Look, I'm on the island for business."
"Another group of creatures you're looking to forcibly relocate?" She grumbled.
He ignored her. "I'll hardly be using my rooms. The suite is rather large, several rooms and whatnot." He looked at her meaningfully. "We'd never see each other if you needed a place."
"That sounds-"
Hermione cut her friend off. "Won't be necessary!" And before anything else was said, she'd linked her arm with Gin's and headed the complete opposite direction of the blonde. "What an arsehole." To her great surprise, Ginny had smacked her arm away after several paces. "Hey! What was that for?"
"We could've stayed in a villa! A villa! With a spa and pools and-"
"Yeah, stayed in a villa with Malfoy."
"In his massive suite, Min!"
"I don't know what he's playing at but that was just ridiculous." She turned to her friend as they began walking in the direction of the boardwalk. "And since when did you get so trusting?" That point was almost as baffling as Malfoy waltzing in an offering to stay with him. Ginerva Weasley was certainly not known for her blind trust.
"He's harmless."
She huffed. "I'm aware."
"He's a prick."
"I'm acutely aware of that."
"But he's a loaded prick."
Hermione almost stopped at that. "You're not serious..."
Ginny's laughter was all-encompassing. "Oh come on, like you wouldn't enjoy using a little bit of Malfoy money on the fruity cocktails I know you love so much! Tell me you wouldn't enjoy toasting to Malfoy Senior's tab."
Hermione smiled despite herself. "You're hilarious."
"Obviously." Ginny flipped her hair behind her. "Besides, it's not like we'd see him anyways. His company is pretty busy trying to find financial backers for a nature reserve right now."
This time she actually did stop. "What?"
Ginny tugged her along despite her firmly planted feet. "They're looking for donors right now. Offering some of their land up in Ireland for a nature reserve, if they can find additional financial support." They were what?
"And how do you know all this?" Hermione's head was swimming. Malfoy was...doing what she'd recommended?
"I have tea with his mother." If Hermione was drinking anything, it'd surely be painted all over the rustic boardwalk by now.
"Since when?"
Ginny shrugged like she hadn't just said the sky was fuchsia. "Last year."
"Why didn't you...how did that happen?"
"Eh, well you remember when Narcissa invited Harry and I over after the war? The apologies and all that?" She nodded aggressively. She distinctly remembered being proud of Harry for facing his demons. "Well, they'd kept in touch loosely. Sent an owl with flowers when the engagement was announced and said if there was anything she could do to help, she'd be honored. And Min, the flowers!" Ginny was practically gushing. "I had to know where she got them! So er, a few owls later and a florist hired...now we get tea on occasion."
"And you never thought to mention any of this?" Hermione was struggling to keep up. "Does your Mum know?"
"I wanted to." Ginny turned to her as they neared a stall selling sweets. "But I didn't want it to be a whole thing." She grimaced. "If you tell Mum, I'd never forgive you by the way." Hermione nodded as Ginny produced a few coins for the vendor. "Can I be honest with you?"
"Of course." What else could she say?
"You've been distant, Min. I support you wholeheartedly with your work but it's hard to pull you away for a dinner let alone tell you about tea with the Malfoys." Hermione hung her head. Somewhere inside she knew she'd been distant from her friends. Her job was everything to her but at the expense of her friendships? "I'm really sorry I'm just telling you now. That's...well, it’s pretty shitey of me." Ginny passed over a pastry from the stand. "That's why I practically begged you to go on this trip. To talk, to do things together." She shrugged. "Like old times."
Hermione vowed to herself right then and there she'd be a better friend. Sure, her causes needed her but so did the people she cared about. Had her time management really been so terrible? "I'm sorry I haven't been around and you felt like you couldn't tell me about any of this. I'm glad you told me." She looped her arm with her friend's. "So like old times then? Should we camp in the woods or find a thestral to ride?" Ginny beamed next to her and Hermione couldn't help the matching smile that grew on her own face.
Day one of vacation and it was already turning into something else entirely. A girls trip is just what she needed. She'd clearly needed the wake up call anyways. For friendship, for learning, for listening...and stuffing down the tiny voice that wanted to overthink Draco Malfoy's latest antics. Yes, the next two weeks would be just what she needed. And as far as Malfoy went...well, it's not like they'd see him again.
Right?