A/N: Hi everyone! I hope you like this; it's my first fanfic. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review/follow/favorite because I would really love some feedback on what you guys think of it. Oh, and if you really like it and would like me to add chapters, I'm definitely open to changing this from a one-shot to a multi-chapter fic. Happy reading!

"Hermione –"

"No."

"But Mione-"

"No, Ginevra." Hermione repeated frostily

Ginny paused.

"You're being ridiculous, you know."

"Oddly enough, I find myself not caring." Hermione determinedly continued staring at her wine glass, her lips pressed firmly together.

The two were standing by the bar at the annual Ministry St. Patrick's Day luncheon, Ginny trying for the past fifteen minutes to get Hermione to leave her high stool.

Ginny sighed with frustration and slammed her hands onto the table, shocking Hermione out of her stupor.

"Well what the bloody hell was that for?"

"Oh dear me, did the great Hermione Granger just curse?" Ginny asked sardonically.

Hermione sighed. "Ginny, I'm sorry-"

"What happened in the last hour to get your knickers in such a twist? You were perfectly fine when the party started."

"It really isn't that simple –"

"So you admit something is off."

Hermione swore under her breath.

"It must have been a big something for you to become so sullen so quickly." Hermione opened her mouth.

"Actually no." Ginny put her hand in front of Hermione's mouth. "Don't say anything. I want the satisfaction of figuring this out for myself."

Hermione opened her mouth again. "Ginny-"

"I said no." Ginny said with finality, and begun musing.

"You've been perfectly fine over the past few days. I know nobody's harassing you at the office, since that would have come to my ears in an instant. You were just talking to your parents this morning, and I was there, so I know that couldn't be it." All this while, Ginny was closely watching Hermione for any subtle reactions to her words that could tip her off.

Ginny continued. "You've been looking exceptionally fit, so weight gain isn't an issue, and as far as I know you haven't been having any fights with your friends." She grinned. "I do know that the single life has been kind to you, especially lately with all those gentlemen callers." Her smile began to falter once she saw Hermione's lips thin even more.

"No." Ginny shook her head. "I refuse to believe it. This is not about some bloke." Hermione sighed. "But who in the bloody hell here is important enough to have that kind of effect on your mood? Is there someone you fancy…?" Ginny whipped her head around and quickly scanned the guests in the hall as she muttered under her breath, naming all of the male guests as she saw them.

"Nott, Thomas, Goldstein, Creevey, Wood, Fenwick, Zabini, Malfoy, Longbottom, Finni- "

Ginny paused, her eyes going back on the path they were tracing around the room. Hermione bit her lip, praying Ginny's eyes would move past him…

Ginny whirled back around, eyes narrowed, watching Hermione much more closely than before. "Mione," she said in a warning voice, "have you been hiding something from me?"

"I'm not a five-year-old Ginny, no need to speak to me like I am one."

Ginny's eyebrows rose. "Splendid. So how long, exactly, have you had the hots for a Mr. Draco Malfoy?"

Hermione's mouth fell open. "Ginny, that's- that's preposterous!"

"Is it, though?"

"Of course. In what world would Malfoy and I have any sort of relationship like that? It's strictly for business reasons that we even speak."

"And tell me, what is this business between you two?"

"Official things. Potions reports, patient testing-"

"And that's all?"

"Yes!"

"So why is he staring at you?

"Who? Draco?" Hermione's eyes widened, and then she caught herself. "I have no idea why."

Ginny smirked. "And perhaps I would have believed you if you hadn't called him Draco."

Hermione felt warmth creeping up her neck and cheeks. "Well, we've been working together for a number of years, it really isn't uncommon for colleagues to call each other by their first names occasionally."

Ginny looked at her in disbelief. "Right. So whom else at this party do you work with?"

"Well, there's Seamus and Dean over there," Hermione stood on her tiptoes, "Nott and Zabini in the back, Colin there, and Bulstrode." She sat back down.

"So why is Draco the only Slytherin you happen to be on a first-name basis with?"

"Well, we have to spend more time together."

"Interesting. If I recall correctly, his office is the farthest away. At least two floors, might I add."

Hermione stared at her. She didn't know what to say.

"Let me save you some trouble. First off, I know about your little tryst with him over the holidays." Hermione's jaw fell open. Ginny scoffed, "Oh come off it." She began to tick her sentences off on her fingers. "Longer hours in his office? The random pieces of jewelry you'd never buy for yourself? Roses in the kitchen? You even asked me to go with you to Victoria's Secret!" She grinned with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "And that set you got definitely was not anything you'd buy just to wear around the house." She paused. "Merlin, he must have given you a great lay."

"Ginny!"

She shrugged. "Are you going to tell me I'm wrong? "

"I -"

"Exactly." Ginny put her chin into her hands. "Now, it's been two months since the New Year. I want to say someone's a little antsy for a lay," she waved off Hermione's indignant look, "but…no, that still isn't right. You already knew he'd be here, so why would you be reacting only now? Damn." She turned to stare at Draco, and only then noticed the lithe blond standing next to him, leaning into his side. Her eyes squinted, then widened.

She turned back around. "Well, bloody hell. You're jealous of her."

"Jealous?" Hermione scoffed. "Ginny, please."

"No, it all makes sense now. I simply didn't consider it before because," she paused "well Malfoy must mean a good bit more to you than a convenient shag if you're reacting this badly."

Hermione cringed and looked upwards, "Merlin, stop her please." She looked back at the redhead. "I haven't even done anything."

"Exactly. You haven't been doing anything. No socializing, eating, you haven't even tried to escape to the bookstore two streets down!" She cocked her head to the side, then excitement crept into Ginny eyes. "Did you plan something for tonight?"

Hermione squinted. "Like what?"

"I will get explicit with you, Hermione. Don't doubt my imagination."

"Ginevra Weasley! How loose do you think I am?"

"Well considering that your legs are guarded and shut tighter that Buckingham's gates, not very." She smirked. "Though I daresay Malfoy was the oil to your hinges."

"My hinges are the same as always. Malfoy hasn't changed a thing." She bit out.

Ginny scoffed. "5 galleons say you're wearing red lace under that dress." She saw Hermione purse her lips and cross her arms over her chest. "Though perhaps he would have preferred green…"

Hermione glowered at Ginny. "Could you please not?"

"Ha. Discovered." Hermione sighed. "So, tell me, love," Ginny raised one brow, "what now?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, how are you getting rid of that bimbo?"

"I can't get rid of her."

Ginny put a hand to her hip. "And why the bloody hell not?"

"It isn't my place. Draco and I," she paused, "we weren't more than, well, oh I don't know."

"Shag buddies?" Ginny contributed.

Hermione ignored her. "But I'd be lying if I said I didn't think he was attractive. And much kinder that he was in school. Witty as well. And he is flirtatious. Add alone time and alcohol to the mix and," she paused and blushed, "well, I'm sure you can imagine."

"Oh, I can. But that isn't what's important right now. What is important is that you stake your claim on that piece of eye-candy before Greengrass does." She looked over. "Or tries to, at least." Ginny snorted as she watched Draco nudge Astoria away despite her attempts to hook her arms around him. She turned to Hermione and smiled as she saw her friend's eyes watching their interaction closely, and took out her wand.

"I have an idea." Hermione turned at the tone in Ginny's voice, just in time to see Ginny put her wand away and pull up a flesh-colored piece of string in between her and Hermione's ears.

"I swear, Extendable Ears were the first time Fred and George were ever useful. Now, let's listen."

Both girls craned their heads to get closer to the end of the string and watched two unsuspecting guests on the other side of the room.

Astoria pursed her lips. "But Draco, this party is so boring. Why don't you come with me to my flat?" She batted her lashes, laying her hands on his chest.

"Little slag." Hermione whispered, earning her an approving, if slightly surprised, glance from Ginny.

Draco grimaced and backed away. "I'm sorry Tori but I'm obliged to be here for work."

Astoria pouted. "But Drake-"

"You know I don't like that nickname, Astoria." Draco snapped. She bristled at the use of her full name. "Furthermore, I think I ought to let you know I'm pursuing someone at the moment, so I don't think it would be proper for you to continue pursuing me, as, quite frankly, your affections aren't returned."

Astoria's mouth gaped as Ginny began cackling away, Hermione grabbing onto the string even more tightly.

"Pursuing who?"

"Someone I work with, though it hardly concerns you."

She narrowed her eyes. "Well fine, but don't come back to me once you get tired with this one." She turned away and started walking.

"Somehow I doubt that will happen." Draco said quietly, mostly to himself, with a ghost of a smirk on his face. His eyes ran over the crowd, looking for a specific face.

"Aauugh!" Ginny yelped as Hermione whipped Ginny's body to face her own. "What?!"

"He can't see us looking at him. Pretend to talk to me!"

"We are talking."

"You know what I mean."

Ginny grabbed Hermione by the shoulders. "Listen to me. Malfoy just turned down a surefire lay because he's 'pursuing someone from work'. I know for a fact you are one of the only hot women in his department, and definitely the one he spends the most time with." She gently shook Hermione. "Make your move witch!"

Hermione turned to look at Draco, accidentally making eye contact with him. Draco smirked and Hermione gave him an amused look that quickly turned to nervous as she saw him begin to walk towards her.

"Here's your chance. Use it." Ginny took three steps away and turned her head.

"And I swear to Merlin that if you call me Ginevra one more time I will charm your dress right off, and then you can explain to Ron and Harry why you're wearing new lacy knickers on the night your ex-lover shows up. " With that, Ginny whipped her head around and briskly walked off, leaving Hermione with her mouth hanging open, her drink forgotten in her hand.

A/N: And there it ends. Thoughts? Like/hate it? Please let me know! REVIEW :D

AGAIN THIS IS MY FIRST FANFIC SO I'D REALLY LOVE SOME FEEDBACK! even if it's just "I liked/disliked it"
ALSO if any of you lovely readers happen to be artists or good with a computer and had an idea for art about this fic, I'd love to use it as a cover photo for the story! with creator recognition of course ;)

Addition: I'd just like to say a big THANK YOU to my readers! Less than 24 hours after posting this I have had more than 500 hits. No idea if this is normal for other authors but it's PRETTY CRAZY to me :D :D :D this also means exactly 1% of my readers reviewed. Could we try to increase that number? Major love to you guys!

BTW A SEQUEL IS IN THE WORKS :D