A Forbidden Birthright

Season Two: Chapter Thirteen

"Happy Birthday, Granger," Draco said, his eyes traveling the length of her quickly, as though he didn't wish to be caught looking but couldn't restrain himself. He then shifted, waiting for her to move from the doorway so he could enter.

"Thank you," she said and stepped aside, opening the door wider for him, and he brushed past her, shrugging out of his coat and setting it with all the others. He waited for her to join him, surveying the interior of her house, studying the walls and the books, the paintings and art, the little trinkets resting on her bookshelves.

Instead of sneering like she expected, he simply nodded, his way of a silent compliment, she assumed, and she led him into the dinning room to join her other guests. They all stood grouped near the table, wine glasses in hand, Sebastian in an animated conversation with Ginny. All eyes locked onto him as they entered, and Hermione looked to Caspian, watching him closely.

As she'd hoped, his eyes flickered with recognition and surprise, and his mouth tightened into a brief but displeased line. Remembering himself, his features shifted back into a mask of friendliness and he stepped forward, extending a hand in greeting.

"You must be Draco Malfoy!" He said in a lighthearted tone.

Hermione suppressed a smile at the look of disgust that flashed over Draco's face as he looked at Caspian's waiting hand, not bothering to hide his dislike. "Should I know you?" Draco asked in a bored voice, reaching for a bottle of wine instead of shaking Caspian's hand.

Caspian withdrew his hand and laughed but before he could answer, Nikolai spoke.

"We didn't have the chance to meet at the dinner Saoirse hosted," he said as they shook hands. Although Draco's face flinched at having to touch another human being, it was noticeably kinder than his reaction to Caspian. It was also a delightful snub to him.

"Yes, I remember you spoke," Draco replied, almost graciously.

"I was sad to have missed it!" Sebastian said, extending a hand to Nikolai and shaking his vigorously.

With the pleasantries exchanged between those he didn't know, Malfoy's eyes settled onto Harry while Ron skulked behind him.

"Potter," Draco said with a forced politeness that made Hermione bite her tongue.

Harry's voice was no better when he returned, "Malfoy."

"Still not married yet?" Draco asked, the shadow of a playing beneath his lips, curved just enough to make it obvious he knew what a tense question he had raised. His eyes flickered over to Ginny, who smiled tightly.

Harry's fingers gripped the stem of his wine glass and he said through clenched teeth, "No, not yet." He gestured with his glass towards Draco's own bare wedding finger. He wore three rings; a thin circlet of silver on his right thumb, another on his pointer finger, with another on his left hand. "You either, it seems."

Draco laughed and lifted his drink to his mouth as he said, "Who would have me?" It was a rhetorical question, a surprising comment that hinted at self-awareness, but Ginny latched on, eager to ease the snap of tension in the room.

Hermione hovered nervously at the end of the table, unsure to interrupt and carry their dinner into the room, or to allow everybody to consume more wine in hopes the alcohol would relieve any potential conflict and sharp remarks.

"Astoria, I've heard," Ginny offered. "Didn't you know she was sweet on you? She's thrilled you're working at Hogwarts."

A smile that looked like a secret slid across his face and he sipped from his glass. "I am aware, just not interested."