"Ah yes, wellmy girlfriend and I It's really very kind of you to offer, Mrs. Hendricks, but Fida Mia isn't really our sort of thing."
She shrugged. "Then give that to the young man and his lady. If only for a story to tell their children."
Harry coughed. The thought of little Dracos running around was enough to give him a headache. Little Hermiones on the other hand, would obviously be a wonderful and charming thing to behold.
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in," called Harry.
Zacharias Smith entered, bearing a small box marked 'EVIDENCE' on the lid. He looked faintly flustered.
"This appears to be what you asked forthough I wouldn' t recommend looking inside it."
"Ta, Smith," Harry said, taking the box.
Zacharias looked rather curiously from Harry to Nana Hendricks and then to the box.
"Thank you, Smith," Harry repeated.
When Zacharias had left, looking a little annoyed, Harry wordlessly handed the box over to Nana Hendricks. She flipped the lid open, looked inside briefly and then shut it with a teary expression.
"Thank you, Mister Potter. This means a lot to an old woman."
Harry helped her with her bag and saw her to the door. "I' m very sorry for your loss."
"So am I, my boy. So am I."
Chapter Sixty-One
They had a date.
Hermione was beside herself with nervousness. She wished she'd had time to stop by the shops and buy something new to wear, but work had kept her back until six and Draco was expecting her at the Manor at seven-thirty. Damn, she should have pushed it to eight.
She couldn't believe how nervous she felt. It was ridiculous.
After a quick shower (just being in the shower stall since their previous encounter on Saturday night had her blushing), she laid out a few outfits on her bed (the bed too made her blush) and contemplated what to wear.
This was important, and so she was going to make an effort.
There were two dresses on the shortlist. There was an elegant, metallic teal cocktail dress she had never worn.
It was serious, sexy, fitted and low at the front. There was also a more light hearted number in peach chiffon which made her feel like she was going to a school formal.
In the end she decided to forgo the dresses and opted instead for elegant comfort. She was in enough of a state already without having to worry about spilling out of her outfit over dinner. Though really, Hermione doubted she had enough in the chest for that to ever be a genuine concern.
It the end, it seemed an easy choice. The straight legged, aubergine wool and cashmere blended pants fit like a dream. Her mother had commented that they made her look taller than she was. They ought to fit well, for the price she had paid for them. She topped it off with a silver silk camisole that had freshwater pearls sewn into the lace trimmed decolletage. She had laid out a seamless, strapless bra but then, on a whim, decided to forgo the bra altogether. The feel of the silk against her bare breasts as she slipped on the camisole made her feel daring.
A little daring was ok.
Hermione then selected a soft, angora cardigan that was a shade darker than the silk. A wool-lined, long, trench coat in a smoky grey topped off the ensemble. She made it out of her bedroom before realising that the store tags were still on the coat and then hurried to the kitchen to find some scissors.
Make up was minimal, as was her wont. Hermione spritzed some perfume into the air and walked into the fine mist, sneezing once. At the door, she slipped on a pair of, matte silver, closed-toe heels over the stockinged feet and checked herself in the mirror one last time.
This final appraisal resulted in her undoing another button on her cardigan. She pulled on a soft pair of black gloves from the hallstand and grabbed a matching, thick scarf.
"Ready?" she said to her reflection, sounding a little breathless.
Honestly, it was a worry how often she talked to herself in the mirror.
The face that looked back at her was flushed with excitement.
Hermione Apparated outside the main gates of Malfoy Manor ten minutes early, but in her heels, in nearly took her that long to walk down the long carriageway. Draco's security was top-notch now. She could feel herself walking into the warded property boundary and suppressed a little shudder of relief when all hell did not break loose.