Who: Draco and Hermione When: Mid-November Where: Coffee Shop What: Same BatTime, same BatChannel Rating/Warning: Low/None Status: Complete
Hermione was excited to be hosting Thanksgiving dinner. She wasn’t exactly sure how the replicator on the ship worked, but she was going through some magazines and brainstorming side dish ideas, and how to decorate her table. She was there about ten minutes early, so she had time to order a couple of drinks and sit at a booth near the back, waiting for Draco to arrive.
Draco entered the coffee shop on time and spotted Hermione straight away, he knew she’d be there before him. He made his way over and dropped into the seat opposite her, “Hey, how you doing?” he asked, nosing at the magazines she had in front of her while he did so.
“Good! Working on trying to figure out what we’re all going to have for Thanksgiving. Jim is doing the turkey, and I thought I’d give him more ideas from these magazines.” She slid the drink across the table toward him so he could join her, then lifted her own in a toast.
"Good plan" he nodded thanking her for the drink before tapping it against hers, "And thanks for the invite. Pansy too, I know she appreciates it"
“Hey, no problem.” Hermione said, giving him a warm smile. “I don’t have family here anymore, so… you guys are as close as I’ve got.” She said, shyly.
Draco smiled warmly, “Well you guys are so much better company than our parents so it’s a family that works for us too” he told her.
Hermione’s grin brightened. “I…Are your parents here like they are in the dreams?” She asked, sounding almost nervous about what the answer might be.
“Oh god no, not nearly as bad” he quickly assured her, “Not sure I’d be like I am if they were. Probably be much closer to douche Draco” he grinned.
“...the Dream you really is a douchebag.” Hermione said, then chuckled softly. “But I’m glad they’re not as bad here as they are there.”
Draco nodded in agreement, “I think it definitely helps me remember they are just dreams because we’re all so different there. I mean Pans and me being siblings here is about as different as you can get. I’ve got that arrogance in me but I keep it in check and don’t let it become my overriding feature”
“I’ve been trying to do the same,” Hermione agreed. “Pick the good personality bits to cling to, and let the rest of the annoying habits go. I think I’ve learned a lot from my Dream Self. She’s so confident. And she understands people in a way that I don’t always understand here.”
"You're more laid back here" he told her with a grin, "Easier to talk too. At least from my limited point of view" After all it hadn't been like their dream selves had held particularly long conversations. "More importantly you're a good friend to Zuko, that shows you must be a pretty cool girl"
“It’s hard for me to imagine a world in which people aren’t friends with Zuko. Doesn’t everyone love him?” Hermione asked, breaking into a grin. “Conversely, it’s not all that hard for me to imagine you as an ass hole. No offense, of course.” She was teasing. “I’m not all that easy to get along with in the Dreams, too. I think Ron wants to take my head off half the time.”
“I know right? I don’t see who couldn’t” Draco replied the pride and love he held for his husband obvious in his tone. “Thanks” he laughed putting on a little pout, “I could be a total ass hole if you want me to be” he teased back, “While the other half he wants to get in your pants right?” he smirked.
Hermione laughed. “No no, I like you much better here.” She said, grinning. Then another bark-like laugh escaped her. “Yes! I totally feel it. Don’t you see it there? I wonder how everyone else in the world doesn’t see what a total horn-dog Ron Weasley is.” She was kidding… mostly.
“Good to know” he told her with a smug nod before laughing, “Oh I totally saw it. Absolute horn-dog. Honestly, drool and everything” he teased, “Good job you have yourself a respectable captain here”
Hermione laughed, going rather red. “Well, yes. I think he’s a bit of an improvement. Not that there was anything wrong with Ron, I just… I think Jim is the best in the world. At everything.”
“Just as I think Zuk is” Draco said before grinning, “Just proves we aren’t exactly our dream selves I think”
Hermione nodded. “Absolutely. Proves how different we really are.” She lifted her drink and held it up as if in a toast to him. “To finding the perfect man.”
He smiled brightly, “I’ll drink to that” he replied lifting his own drink to tap it against hers with a laugh.