Hermione Granger was sitting in a Café in London, the fine summer's sun piercing her skin through the windows. She had ordered a bagel with cream cheese and coffee, and surely her meal was on the table, but it remained untouched in front of her. She was looking at the person sitting across from her, her mother. Instead of listening to her mother's rant about spiders in the house, she was focused on the way her lips would move when she was speaking, the way her tongue would sometimes roll in her mouth every time she said a certain word, the way she would chew her bagel with her mouth closed, the way she would sip her coffee through pursed lips, the way her perfectly white and straight teeth shone. But she just couldn't bring herself to pay attention to the conversation. Hermione had gotten off of the Hogwarts express that morning and her mother took her out for breakfast straight afterwards. However due to previous circumstances, Hermione was in no mood to have a casual conversation with her mother. All she wanted to do at that precise moment was to jump on her bed, bury her face in a pillow, and scream. Why did she have to end the year on a bad note? She hated how vulnerable she was right now. This was the reason she had such a hard time opening up to people. Because every time she did, every time she let someone in, that person always ended up stabbing her in the back. And she was sick of it.
Ron and Lavender had started going out in the beginning of the year. She was jealous of course, but she held all of her feelings inside, she didn't want to make a big deal out of it. Besides, she knew that she and Ron would never have a shot at being together. They were only friends and that's how it was meant to be. But then the two love birds had gotten into a fight and Lavender broke it off with him. And immediately, Hermione's hopes flew into the air. She knew that she couldn't be with Ron, but at least now, he would pay more attention to her. And that, he did. She comforted him, and helped him deal with the breakup. She didn't mind having to listen to him babble on and on about his issues. She was just thankful that he came to her for help and that she could spend more time with him. But three weeks later, they had made up and they were back together. Of course, Hermione was upset about this. But Ron still found time to spend with Hermione and she was very grateful for that. So, with a little jealousy still intact, Hermione just made sure that she was always there for Ron. No matter what he came to her with. But then with two months left of school, Lavender cheated on Ron with Dean Thomas. And once again, Ron sprang back into Hermione's arms, but this time, he was devastated. He had even cried once. He spent all his day complaining about how much of a bitch Lavender was and how she had been playing with his feelings from the start of their relationship. And once again, Hermione had been there for him. She was sad to see him so hurt, but a part of her was ecstatic. The selfish part of her was happy that he wasn't with Lavender anymore. Two weeks prior to the end of the school year, Hermione went down to the common room to find Ron and Lavender on the couch, snogging each other's faces off. She quickly ran back up to her dorm room and stared at the floor in shock. This was so not happening. All that time she spent comforting him. All those late nights, sitting in the common room and trying to support her friend. All for nothing? He had gone back to that skank, just like that? Hermione tried to reason with herself. You're not giving him enough credit! He wouldn't do this! He's better than that… Isn't he? But strangely enough, she had given him too much credit. The next week, Ron had barely spoken to Hermione once. It was almost as if Lavender had never cheated on him. Everything was back to normal as if they had never fought. Hermione couldn't understand it. She was furious. How could he do that to her? She was the one that was always there for him and now he was ditching her for the girl that cheated on him? The last week of school, Hermione decided that she wouldn't let it get to her anymore, so she mostly minded her own business. She spent a lot of time with her other friends, trying to get her mind off of it. She had even read Hogwarts: A History twice. But none of it worked. It was impossible to not think about them because they were always right in front of her face. It was almost as if they were flaunting their relationship to her. During meals, they sat on each other's laps. During classes, they would write each other flirty love letters. They were always in the common room snogging. Hermione's last week of fifth year was horrid, to say the least. And now as she sat in the wobbling chair of the Café, staring at her mother, she became angry at herself. This was all her fault. She should have known better than to give someone a place in her heart. She should have learned from past experiences. Before Hermione came to Hogwarts, she had some serious trust issues. Everyone at school would always make fun of her. Every time she made a friend, they always preferred other people from her. Until she decided that the pain she felt wasn't worth it, and instead of trying to make friends, she spent all her time reading. But then she had come to Hogwarts and that had all changed somehow. She finally had friends. Friends that she actually trusted. But maybe she was just being naïve. Ron turned out to be a user just like all the kids from her childhood. He only needed her for help with homework and for comfort when Lavender stood him up. And Harry was spending so much time with Ginny that he barely noticed her existence sometimes. But maybe she didn't need them. She thought about it for a second and realized that they were the ones that needed her. In the past, they had always been the ones to come to her with their issues. But she had never, not once told them about her personal life. She never came to them when she was having problems with her family. She was a strong individual and maybe this would only make her stronger. She decided that she would spend the summer getting over Ron and she would come back next year with more important things to worry about, like her grades.
Just then, she was snapped out of her haze when her mother waved her hands in front of Hermione to get her attention. "Hermione dear," her mother said, a worried expression on her face," are you alright? You've been awfully quite this whole time"
Hermione shrugged "Just tired from the train ride." Before they left the Café, she promised herself that she would never let anyone hurt her this way ever again.
When Hermione and her mother arrived to the Granger's home in Bristol, her father had already baked a fresh batch of cookies and her eight-year-old brother, Alexander had already blown up all of the balloons and put a Welcome Home sign up on the living room wall, above the fire place. Hermione greeted both of them with warm hugs. "Where's Gabriel?" Hermione asked once they were all sitting down at the kitchen table. Gabriel was Hermione's eighteen-year-old brother. She wasn't surprised that he wasn't there. He made it a habit to stay away from family reunions.
"Didn't your mother tell you?" Hermione's dad asked surprised. "Uncle Bart retired and he gave Gabriel the shop."
Hermione's eyes widened and she looked from her father to her mother, and back to her father. You're kidding!" She breathed.
"We were also surprised when they first told us. But it'll be good for Gabriel… He'll learn about responsibility and maybe a few other things along the way." Hermione was shocked to say the least. So that was the reason Gabriel and Uncle Bart were always whispering behind closed doors for a large fraction of her Christmas vacation.
"So Gabriel owns The Upper Crust now?" she asked perplexed. "Are you sure he can take on so much responsibility?"
"Well, he's been running the shop for a little less than a month now and he's done a great job. He's hired all new people, two of his friends work there. I think this could be really great for him if he keeps his motivation."
That Evening after Hermione had finished unpacking all of her belongings, she heard a knock at her door, "Come in" she said loudly. The door knob turned and in came Gabriel, her older brother. "Hi" she said to tired to move from her position on the bed.
"Hi" he said awkwardly, remaining close to the door. There was a short silence. Hermione and Gabriel had never been close in any way. When she was younger, he had always been busy, spending all his time with his friends, and boarding school had made them even bigger strangers. Gabriel's relationship with Alexander was a lot stronger than his relationship with Hermione. "So," he paused for a moment, going over what he wanted to say. "I don't know if mom or dad told you, but Uncle Bart-"
"Yes, I know." Hermione interjected.
"Yeah, so anyway, I was thinking that maybe you could work at the shop this summer…I need another waitress" He finished with a gulp. Hermione could tell that it was difficult for him to ask her for a favor. "Since you're family, you'll get payed extra and I'll get one of the other workers to help you out at the beginning… you don't have to. I was just-"
"When do I start?"
Gabriel grinned "Is tomorrow good for you?"
That night, as Hermione lay in her bed, dark thoughts swirling through her head, she took a second to think about Gabriel's offer. Maybe this could be good for her. It would certainly take her mind off of her problems at school. She wouldn't be up in her room all summer rereading all her school books. Maybe she would even meet a cute boy to take her mind off of a certain red headed demon. But then she reminded herself of her promise not to get close to anyone. But what was the harm in a little flirting to make herself feel better? She would NOT get too attached. Never again.
The next morning, Hermione was woken by Alexander banging harshly on her door. "Mione! Mum and Dad say you have to wake up! They're making breakfast!" Hermione groaned and turned over on her bed.
"Alright Alex, tell them I'll be down in five minutes" she said, exasperated.
She sat up in her bed and stretched her arms. She had slept rather well compared to the past few weeks at Hogwarts. Her body hadn't been this relaxed in a long time. She lazily got dressed in a casual shirt and jeans and went to her bathroom. When she arrived at the Kitchen, breakfast was already prepared on the table.
"Gabriel told us that you decided to work for him at the shop?" Her parents questioned her. She simply nodded and continued picking at her food. "He says that he wants you there before lunch."
Hermione helped her mother with the dishes, sat down with Alexander and listened to him babble on about his class's Easter party, and finally left the house. The Upper Crust was in town and her house was a five minute walk away. She was used to going there. When she was little, her Uncle would always take her and Gabriel with him to work. He would always tell them that they were his good luck charm and in a way, they were. All the customers were so impressed by them that they would always return. Sometimes they would even help him with ideas for new sandwiches. He would always ask them what they liked in a sandwich and whatever they said, he would put as the children's meal. They boosted his profit.
When Hermione entered the shop, it wasn't packed, but there wasn't a shortage of customers either. "Hermione!" Gabriel was calling her over from behind the counter. "Okay, so here's a note pad" He put one in her hand.
"I'm nervous," She admitted, bouncing around on her heels.
"Don't be, you know all the orders already." He said leading her to the worker's only station behind the counter. "Besides, I told you that I'd have someone show you the ropes. Draco!" Hermione froze in place. She followed Gabriel's gaze and her eyes met the back of a very shaggy, white, blonde's head. It couldn't be! But it was. The Blonde turned around and her eyes met with a very familiar face. Malfoy's expression mirrored hers when he saw her. They stared at each other and Hermione could faintly hear Gabriel in the back of her head, introducing them, but she wasn't listening. How did this happen? Malfoy works for her brother? Was this a dream?
"Hermione… Did you hear me?" Gabriel said loudly, looking at her in confusion. Hermione moved her eyes from Malfoy to look up at her brother. "I was saying that Draco would be showing you how to get around here for the next few days until you get the hang of it."
"What? Malfoy doesn't work here, does he?" Hermione said, unable to grasp the concept.
"Do you two know each other?" Gabriel questioned, looking back and forth for a reply.
"Yes. Gabriel, he goes to Hogwarts!" Hermione said in a hushed voice so that Malfoy wouldn't hear her. This was not happening. This summer job was supposed to get her mind off of Hogwarts and help her get over Ron. Not lower her spirits further.
"Oh!" He looked back at Malfoy. "So you're a…you know…" When Malfoy nodded, Gabriel seemed giddy. "That's brilliant! This is great; I was worried that you two wouldn't get along. It is such a small world." Gabriel said in appreciation.
"Gabriel, can I speak to you privately?" Hermione asked desperately.
"It's going to have to wait. Uncle Bart's going to be here any minute. He wants to talk to me about some business changes." Before he left through the door, he turned and said, "Get started soon, customers are waiting." And they were left alone.
Hermione turned back around to look at Malfoy. He looked different from the way he looked at Hogwarts. More relaxed. He didn't walk around like he owned the place. His hair wasn't glued down to his skull. Instead, his bangs fell over his eyes. He was wearing the Upper Crust Tie around his neck. After inspecting him, Hermione looked back up and met his eyes. "What are you doing here, Malfoy?" she said harshly.
"It's an assignment for muggle studies…Professor Burbage is making all the students find muggle jobs for the summer. It's supposed to teach us about how muggles spend their day to day." He drawled in an uninterested tone. "What are you doing here?" He asked.
"Well," Hermione fumed. "This shop has been in my family for generations. Since 1922, actually. I'm so sorry to disappoint you, but I'm going to have to let you go" She said, turning around with the intention to walk out the door, but before she could, a warm hand grabbed her upper arm and brought her back around.
"You can't sack me, Granger" Malfoy said dangerously, but Hermione just stared at him calmly.
"Remove your hand" she whispered. And he reluctantly let her go. She gave him one more scathing look before turning back around.
"Granger" Malfoy called after her. "I really need this job. Professor Burbage will fail me and I won't receive my full Newt scores next year.
"I'm not interested" She said, before she pushed the door open and walked out.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Malfoy cursed and kicked a cardboard box in anger.
He was so screwed. He was already on a thin line and now he was dangerously closer to failing his Newts and getting thrown out of Muggle Studies. Why had Professor Burbage chosen for him to work at the shop that just so happened to be owned by Hermione Granger's family. Urgg! This summer was supposed to be his break from his family and shallow Hogwarts peers. He had even secretly enjoyed working her for a while. Nobody knew him and he didn't have to put up the Malfoy mask on. He finally had a break from that to be whoever he wanted to be. But Granger had to go and ruin that. God, he hated her. He took in a ragged breath to calm himself down and fixed the mess he made with the box on the floor. Maybe this wasn't over. Maybe he could speak with Gabriel after the meeting and tell him that he really needed this job. Gabriel had seemed like a cool guy, despite being a muggle. It was rather ironic actually. Yesterday, Gabriel had informed him that his younger sister might come and work here and Draco had agreed to help her around. He had thought that maybe he could even get in her pants while on the job. He shook his head in disgust. He was in way over his head.
When Hermione had stormed out, she went straight to her Uncle Bart's now Gabriel's office. They were both sitting down in chairs speaking casually when Hermione came in. Her Uncle Bart immediately greeted her and asked her how her how she felt about the new job. She answered him with a smile and turned to Gabriel. "I just sacked Malfoy" She informed him urgently.
Gabriel stared at her for a moment before he answered. "You mean Draco?" he asked. "Why?"
"Gabriel, I don't think you understand the level of severity of this situation. Malfoy and I do not get along well." She told him. Uncle Bart laughed and Gabriel looked at her in displeasure.
"Hermione, I don't care if you don't get along with him. He works here and that's it. I'm the manager. I decide who stays and who goes." Gabriel said angrily.
"No, you don't understand… we hate each other! I can't work with him." She argued.
"He's staying" Gabriel said, closing the subject. "This could be good for you, you can make a new friend." Hermione tried to argue again, but her brother cut her off. "Go tell him he's staying and get to the customers."
Hermione groaned angrily and left the office, slamming the door behind her. She knew that she was being childish, but she didn't care. She rushed back into the worker's only station and surely, Malfoy was there pacing the floor. "You're hired again" she said agitated. Malfoy just stared at her in confusion "Now are you going to stand there all day, or are you going to show me how to take orders?" She said in a raised voice.
"Wow, this must be really embarrassing for you…" Malfoy sneered at her, and it took all of her emotional strength to not turn around and attack him.
Lunch Break couldn't come fast enough for Hermione. Malfoy was being an insufferable git, treating her like a baby. How dare he! This was her family's shop! She almost slapped him across the face twice in that hour. She was eating her usual sandwich, sitting at her usual table, and just then, Malfoy came out for break with his own sandwich. He didn't acknowledge her existence which she was grateful for. He sat at a table in the corner of the shop and bit into his sandwich. Hermione noticed that he had grown taller. She had seen him everyday at school of course, but she had never taken time off to actually look at him, and she had to admit that he wasn't so bad looking. He was actually rather attractive. She had to share a dorm room with Lavender Brown and Padma Patil and she had constantly had to listen to their discussions about the males at Hogwarts. When they would boast about how HOT Draco Malfoy was, It took all she had not to run to the nearest toilet and empty her stomach. But now that she saw him, she noticed his strong and defined jaw structure. She noticed the way his stormy grey eyes melted with heat when he was angry and the way they became greener when they shone with laughter. She noticed how full and juicy his lips looked, she was caught in a trace as she watched his use his teeth to bite into the sandwich. She closed her mouth to avoid drooling. She looked down at his body and noticed how his shirt would cling to his firm abs. Damn, Malfoy had good looks! She looked back up at him and his eyes met with hers. Shit! She panicked. Had Malfoy just caught her checking him out? Her questions were answered when he smirked suggestively, and raised an eyebrow. Hermione quickly stood up and cleared her tray, getting back to work.
Malfoy was still eating so she grabbed her note pad and pen and went to a table in which sat a girl that looked about her age and an older woman, most likely, her mother. "Hello!" Hermione said kindly, the hint of a smile on her face, "How can I help you today?"
Draco grinned to himself as he went to table five and put down two sandwiches on the table. He was finally finished with work. Today had been such a drag. He was glad that Granger had stopped needing his help halfway through the day. He didn't appreciate having to be in close proximity to her for the duration of the day. It was bad enough he had to see her disgusting mudblood face. He though about that for a second and internally sighed. He didn't really think that Granger's face was disgusting. She wasn't ugly, he realized after studying her for sometime that day. Her hair wasn't uncontrollably frizzy anymore. Actually, today, it looked rather nice; her curls nearly reached her mid-back. Her eyes were large and innocent. The way they shone when she was angry actually turned him on a bit. Her lips were tempting to say the least. He knew that he shouldn't be having these thoughts about Granger, but he didn't see any harm in it. She was a girl, he was a boy. Of course he would be attracted to her. Even if she was a filthy mudblood… Draco went to the Employee bathroom to wash his face. He couldn't wait to jump on his bed and sleep until the morning. This day had taken a lot of energy from him. He was drying his face when the bathroom door opened and in came Granger, her hair now pulled into a messy bun. She walked in, unaware that anyone was in there until she looked up and saw Draco there.
"Oh, Sorry" She squeaked, "It was unlocked. I didn't know you were in here." She hiccupped, covering her mouth with one hand and reaching for the door with the other.
Draco looked amused. "What was that?"
Hermione turned back around. "What was what?" she asked, hiccupping again.
Draco actually laughed. "It seems that you have a mild case of the hiccups." He told her in delight. She just stared at him with her lips slightly parted, when again, she hiccupped. "You know what helps get rid of hiccups?" he asked turning serious and taking slow steps towards her.
"What?" She asked perplexed.
Draco kept inching towards her until she was up against the door and their bodies were almost touching. "You have to hold your breath for thirty seconds" He answered and Hermione could barely get out an "Oh," before his lips came into contact with hers. Her body stilled underneath his at first, but after the shock passed, she moaned into his mouth and started to move her lips with his. She had the softest lips, just like he had imagined. And when she moaned, it was all too much for him. He placed his tongue where her lips parted and she opened her mouth to allow his tongue entrance. Draco grabbed her waist with one arm, crushing her body to his and pulled roughly at her hair with his other hand. Granger put her arms around his neck and drew him closer to her. But when she hiccupped again, they were both brought back to reality and Granger pushed him away. His arms withdrew from her body and he stepped away.
"It didn't work," She hiccupped. Tears were brimming in her eyes without her realization. She was too shocked by what had just happened to notice.
Draco cleared his throat, "Well you can use the bathroom" he told her quietly. "I'm done here." And with that he reached behind her and walked out of the bathroom. Hermione's legs were shaking and she walked over to the sink to wash her face. What had she just done? She had kissed Malfoy! Wait, no… Malfoy had kissed her. But she had kissed him back. Oh My God! She had just snogged Draco Malfoy, the boy that she hated. The boy that had called her a mudblood for the past five years. The boy who could possibly be in league with Voldemort. Hermione quickly ran to the toilet and squatted over it to empty her stomach.
When she had mashed her face again and composed herself, she walked out of the Employee's Restroom praying that she wouldn't run into Malfoy again. She looked down as she made her way into Gabriel's office. She was thankful that he was in there alone.
"Hey, I was looking for you." He told her, pushing his chair in and straightening his desk. "I was just about to close up." Hermione walked back home with Gabriel and his two friends, Tiffany and Connor. Tiffany worked in the back as the Chef and Connor was the Cashier. But they had passed both of their homes on the way, so Hermione and Gabriel were left alone.
"So how was your first day?" He asked her casually.
"It was okay." Hermione said weakly. She was so exhausted.
"What about Draco, did you two get along today?" Gabriel asked her, trying to hide his amusement.
Hermione looked up at her brother, annoyed. "We got along just fine." She said harshly "Thanks a lot for taking my side"
Gabriel raised his eyebrows at her. "Come on, don't be mad at me!" He said trying to catch up to her because she had started to walk away from him. "He looks like an okay kid. There's no reason why you guys shouldn't be friends."
Hermione's stomach was squirming again "Can you just drop it?" she said before she could throw up the remainder of her stomach acid. "I don't want to talk about it." They walked the rest of the way home in silence. Hermione toppled over her bed and she was asleep before she even had the opportunity to contemplate the next day.