CHAPTER 1: Hermione's point of view
I've always dreamt about this moment. About this moment when I finally find the resolution to tell my 'boyfriend' that I'm sick of his behaviour. This moment when he finally realises that fooling around with women only because they are willing to is not really something 'cool'. When he finally apologises for the months, years of pain he's caused me...
And then I can actually dump him without regret.
Haa... The sweet pleasure of this moment...
To explain, let us return to the beginning.
My 'boyfriend' and I spontaneously started dating right after the war. The first few weeks were heaven. Everyone was happy we won, there were celebration everywhere. Ron, me and of course especially Harry, the three of us were giving interviews for newspapers, magazines, tabloids, and such each day. Complete strangers were approaching us and thanking us with tears in their eyes. We were famous. And we enjoyed it.
We could be together only at night when we were finally alone at home. We talked for hours, watched films and were all lovey-dovey.
We never acted like a couple when we were outside. And it was probably the right thing to do, but at the same time it was the root of the whole trouble.
Oh, how I envy my best friend, Ginny Weasley, who managed to capture Harry, who was already used to people reacting to him that way, who didn't have any problem to tell girls, who started flirting with him, that he was taken.
My dear boyfriend could never do such a thing. At first he always politely refused the girls. He never said he was taken, but I didn't mind. I didn't say it either. We agreed to that. Secret dating, until things calm down a little. We could see how Harry and Ginny are stalked everywhere and we didn't want that, even though it would be less extreme than with The Saviour (Harry's newest nickname).
Did you notice that 'until things calm down a little'? Well, now it's six years later, things have completely calmed down a long time ago, and we are still a secret. Why do think that is? Because of the tabloids? Ha! No; it's so that Ronald's' supply of women doesn't decrease just because he's officially taken.
So somehow over the years my status as the exclusive girlfriend of Ron Weasley reduced into 'the girl, who does my laundry, saves me when I screw up at work and I sleep with her when necessary'.
Lingering feelings of affection are the worst. You know very, very well that leaving is the absolutely best thing you can do, it would save you a lot of stress and tears and I don't know what else, but you just can't do it.
And you know what's funny? Half a year ago I saw him walking down a street with a new whore. I know I should be used to it at this point in time, but I still felt horrible. So I went to the nearest bar, got drunk and out of spite slept with the first decent guy I saw. He found out and threw such a fit you wouldn't be able to imagine. I was so shocked that he could be this hypocritical that I wasn't even able to say anything back. I still can't believe that he thought all his women are dedicated to him only and that they didn't even as much as spare a single thought for any other human being apart from him. Really, how self-centred can a person get?
Well, this incident was the point where even Harry stopped talking to him (by the way, Ginny hasn't spoken one word to him for three years) and where I started dreaming of breaking everything we ever had every minute of my life. Don't get me wrong now; I wanted to break up for a long time. A few years, actually. Only I wasn't able to.
And now I can finally do it...
"Miss Granger, if you won't stop daydreaming soon you will burn a hole in your beloved boyfriends' head," I heard a voice say from somewhere far away.
I suddenly realised I was not happily breaking up with Ronald right now, but instead I was sitting in the office poking into the photo of Ron, Harry and myself with my wand. And true enough, there was already smoke rising up from it.
"Whoa!" Not that I minded if he had a nice round hole instead of his head, it's just that if the photo caught on fire, the documents lying around it would probably too. And that wouldn't be pretty.
"Thank you. Sorry... Wait, how do you know I'm dating him? Well, maybe dating is an exaggeration, but still!"
I don't understand how he can be this sharp.
He raised his eyebrows at me. "Granger, you seriously don't realise how obvious you are. Anyone would notice if they spent half as much time with you as I do."
I blushed. I don't really understand why, I just felt the need to blush. He just grinned.
"So? What did he do this time?"
"Oh, nothing in particular... Malfoy, why do you even ask?"
"Because it's funny? And cause if you won't talk to someone soon you'll burn the office down. I don't care about your side of the room but I don't fancy losing all of my hard work."
Right. As if he'd listen for my sake. He's Malfoy after all.
As you have already guessed, I work in the same ministry department as a certain Draco Malfoy. And coincidentally we even share the office. We've been working like this in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement for the past three and half years. The first few months were seriously awful. The only times we spoke to each other were when we were forced to do some work together and it never went smoothly; it was as if neither of us could talk without any sharp sarcasm and deathly venom in our sentences. It destroyed the workplace's atmosphere but the department head didn't even think of a room exchange. No, according to her the best solution was locking us up together in the office to 'sort things out'. I still can't get over the fact that it actually worked. Sure, the office needed some serious remodelling (after the fierce fight we had in the end), but it did work.
So now we are on civil terms. Sometimes we have lunch together and we manage to talk as normal colleagues and, if the constellation is good, sometimes we are actually almost friendly. Our relationship is not downright good, but it's not bad either. And I hate to admit it, but it's about a year since I realised that he's not that bad and even though he lacks in some aspects, he does have all the most important characteristics of my ideal guy. He has athletic build, he's about ten centimetres taller than me, and he's damn intelligent. The only thing that's missing is the dark colours. I prefer black of dark brown hair to blond. And dark eyes too. Well, at least his eyes are grey and not blue. I hate blue eyes.
... When you look at it like that you just have to wonder how did I end up falling in love with Ronald Weasley of all people. He's never been fat but he's never had any actual muscle. He's way, way too tall to be my preferred height. He's not stupid, seriously, but you can't say he's really intelligent either. Moreover, he's just so, so, so dense when it comes to any kind of relationship with other people.
And he has blue eyes.
All in all not my type in the slightest.
So... how?
I don't understand it myself at all. It's one of the greatest mysteries of the universe for me. But it did happen so now I am in this stupid situation I don't seem to be able to get out of.
Joy.
"Granger! The smoke!"
"Shit!" Now the photo was actually burning. I quickly extinguished it and looked at Malfoy apologetically. "Sorry."
"Seriously, Granger, just dump him already. Everyone will be happier if you do."
"Not everyone," I murmured quietly and averted my eyes from him.
"Yeah, that's right. Weasley won't be happy, but that can't be a bad thing. Even for him in the long run."
"Yes, I know you're right but it's not that simple..."
"Yes it is. Shall I help you with that? So that you don't have to explain why you're dumping him. You'd just say 'Ron, you know, I won't date you anymore, because I fell madly in love with my colleague. You know him, his name is Draco Malfoy. He's just so handsome and intelligent and amazing' in a girlish tone and that will be it. Simple, isn't it?"
"I don't think you're handsome."
"That's not the point and besides you know you do. Moreover, you didn't deny the other parts of the awesome speech I created for you..."
"You're an idiot." But I just had to smile. He probably didn't mean to cheer me up, but he did nonetheless. "Thanks. Maybe I'll do something like that. And maybe I'll use your name too. It would be a fatal blow to him if it was you." I grinned evilly. "I might even add some things you didn't."
"Anything you wish, but don't come up with anything disgusting, please."
And so my planning started. I thought up a really good speech, including details about how we fell in love, when and how awesome our first night together was, and such. It was really perfectly made up. No holes. No space for suspicion about it being a lie.
I had the resolve to break up with him the second I see him and I probably would be able to if it were a different situation.
It was Saturday evening; I was quietly enjoying a glass of wine and a book when suddenly the doorbell rang. I was pretty confused; who would come to visit at this hour? But I went to look and got a total shock.
There he was, standing in front of me with one of his many girls, who was clinging to him like a leech. I looked at him questioningly. I wasn't able to feel any emotion at that time.
"Hermione, hello, long time no see. See, my friend here and I were drinking around here and we wanted to go home, but we both live so far away and a hotel is inconvenient, because we are both so famous, you know, so we came here instead. You don't mind, do you? Thanks."
I was totally stunned by his behaviour. I couldn't even move. They just went past me and straight into the bedroom. I could just hear her say "Ronnie, how could you say I was just a friend, hm?" before the door closed.
My mind was blank. Without thinking I just grabbed my coat and shoes and apparated to the closest bar.
I've been drinking alone for a few hours already and all that time I was thinking hard. I came to realise that I really didn't feel anything at all. Except disgust. I didn't care that right now he was probably shagging the most popular witch actress in Britain (I realised who she was about twenty minutes after I left my flat. I was happy I remembered cause it was seriously bugging me, like, 'Where the hell do I know her from? Just who was it? WHO?'). So the only reason I'm still 'dating' him is that I don't know how to officially break up with anyone. I need therapy.
Just as I came to the conclusion I heard a voice behind me.
"Granger, what the hell are you doing here?"
I turned around. Malfoy. Of all people it just has to be Malfoy.
"Thinking. What about you?"
"Drinking. And picking up girls. Seems like instead I ended up picking a lost puppy. I'm so unlucky," he said with a sigh as he sat beside me and ordered a drink.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean? If it's such a bother you could have just ignored me. And for your information I'm not lost. I'm just looking for the right way."
"That's the definition of being lost."
"No it's not. Being lost means you have no idea of where you are. And I know that perfectly well; I just don't know how to get out."
"It's the same thing."
We lead that discussion for some time while drinking one drink after another. And the next thing I know is that I am lying on a pointlessly huge bed in a fancy looking, pointlessly huge room.
"Huh?"
"Oh, you're awake?"
"Huh?" I tried to sit up to look who that was, but my hangover didn't let me. So I had no choice but to give up. "Where the hell am I?"
"Malfoy Manor. You were too drunk to be left alone; moreover I don't think it would end up pretty if you went home last night." Oh, so the voice was Malfoy. It did seem awfully familiar.
"Sorry. Thanks. I'll leave now." I tried to sit up again but I got really dizzy.
"Don't bother, Granger. The hangover medicine will keep you bedridden until it takes effect. Just stay still for another ten minutes or so. Than you can just come downstairs for breakfast. Your clothes are over there." He pointed towards the chair standing in the corner.
"'Kay. Really, thanks."
"You're welcome." He turned to leave the room but suddenly stopped by the door. "Oh yeah, maybe I should tell you I took some liberties to help your situation since it didn't seem like you'd be able to work properly if I left you alone any longer." With that he just left.
"Wait, what's that supposed to mean?" I cried after him, but he didn't return.
I was left in there in complete confusion. Just what did he do? I was so curious I didn't even notice when my hangover left me even though I was counting the seconds to get out and ask him a ton of questions.
When I finally realized, I jumped out of the bed and quickly got dressed. (I was actually wearing a shirt which looked suspiciously like a guy's. For the sake of my own sanity I ignored this.) Than I hastily left the room. I guess it was probably one of the guestrooms.
When I was in the hallway, it suddenly struck me. Just how do I get anywhere? There were only doors and paintings around me, so where to go? Right? Left?
Just as I started to panic a little (It was the Malfoy manor. Who knows what I could find in there?) I noticed a stairway some meters away. Malfoy did say to come downstairs... So I went for that. Uncertainly and cautiously, but I did.
I reached the lower floor and just started to wonder where to next, when the doorbell rang and a little while later heard some muffled voices. I decided to head in that direction. After a minute a got close enough to recognise the voices. Not happy about that, though. Well one of them was the best saviour I could wish for in this ridiculously large building, Malfoy. Not surprising. However, the other was my most-strongly-disliked-but-still-tolerable person, Pansy Parkinson.
"Pansy, sorry but now's not the best time for you to be here..." I heard Malfoy say.
"What? Don't be so cold! I just came to ask when are your parents coming back, mom wants to have a 'tea party'." I could almost see her roll her eyes.
"On Monday. Bye."
"Hey! Don't cut me off! Since I'm here, can't I even play for a while? It's not like I'd be disturbing a romantic late breakfast with the love of your life... Wait, what's with that look? Don't tell me she really is in there?!"
"..."
"Are you kidding me? How did you do it? You drugged her?"
"I'm not that desperate. She got drunk and didn't want to go home, so I took her here. Don't give me that look. I didn't do anything!"
She started laughing. Hard. "Of course not. I bet you didn't sleep at all, the whole night just sitting next to her, watching her 'angelic face' and daydreaming," Parkinson said when she calmed down enough in a teasing tone. I was just confused more and more. What the hell are they talking about? Somehow I feel like I know the answer, but I don't fancy going there...
"...I was not there the whole night."
"I was actually right? This is hilarious. After all these years of crying you finally have her in your bed and you don't even touch her! Just hilarious. Wait till I tell everyone!" And she laughed some more. Malfoy only grumbled something.
...He was in the room when I woke up...
"Well, good luck," she continued. "You two could actually pull it off. You're both cowards. It should work."
"She's not a coward, she's just kind."
"You mean too kind for her own good. And idiotic on top of that. That's why I never really liked her. Well, for your sake I can tolerate her, but she's still Granger. If my boyfriend cheated on me so openly, I'd savour his sweet punishment. And I'd enjoy it."
"I don't doubt that."
I couldn't take it anymore... This conversation was just so confusing...
"Sorry to interrupt, but I overheard you..." I felt the heat coming up to my face. Not cool. "Could someone please explain to me what you are talking about? I... I'd like to... know...?" God, this is awkward... I should have just ignored it... Kill me now!
"Granger...! You see... Umm..." Interesting. Malfoy was red. (Just as I was...) It looked so...wrong. Moreover it didn't look so good with that platinum hair.
Pansy smirked and was silent for a few seconds but then she took hold of the situation. "Good morning Granger. Long story short, this idiot's been in love with you since first year, so dump Weasley and be happy together. You have my blessings." Now she was half smirking, half smiling at the dumbstruck me (probably the best attempt at friendly smile), patted Malfoy on the head with 'Good luck, boy. I want a full report later,' and, accompanied by quiet snickering, left.
Only dead silence remained after her leave. The seconds went by, then minutes. After what seemed like few hours I said quietly: "What does that mean?"
"Well..." And he blushed even harder.