Body Check

A/N: Be kind with your reviews. Thank you! I appreciate your reviews too. (:

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter stuffs. Period.

Chapter 1 – Crossing Paths

She smoothed her slight-above-knee skirt and pulled her wavy hair into a messy ponytail with some stray hair falling to the sides of her face. She went to her locker outside the changing room and took some papers that her boss had given her. She took a deep breath and walked into the changing room.

She tried not to stare in awe of the half naked bodies roaming around the changing room, making conversation with one another casually. After about five minutes later, the guys started to sense her presence and stared at her. She took this time to introduce herself.

"Hi. I'm Hermione Granger. I'm your publicist hired by your manager. I suppose he told you so?" she said slowly but confidently.

The guys continued to stare at her but some shook their heads.

"Alright. No matter, first things off, just call me Hermione. I have a job to do, so don't make things difficult for me or I'll do the same for you. The reason being why I'm here is because from what I heard from Lou, you guys have a…not so pleasant impression on people." She said.

"Really?" one guy snickered. He had dark wavy hair that was plastered to his forehead. She made eye contact and smiled at him, willing herself to let her eyes wander any lower.

"Yes. As requested by your manager, Lou, you guys are requested to attend this charity program. Many respectable people will be present, thus Lou thought it would be a great time to show how much you guys care towards the charity." She passed around the papers she was holding.

"Really? I don't think I feel anything towards them." another guy snickered. This one had raven and messy hair. Just like Harry except for that haughty attitude of his. "Alex! Shut up." Another guy said fierily.

That guy who was supposedly Alex shrugged and made small talk with the guy beside him.

"Well, anyone interested?" Hermione said.

There was an awkward silence in the room.

"No one? I have to report this to Lou. He wont be happy. At all." Hermione didn't know what was their problem. Acting oh-so-high and mighty.

No one replied her. After waiting for a while, she decided it was useless to wait for an answer and went to the office just five levels up. She went to the lift and pressed the button '5'. The guys weren't as bad as she thought. From what Lou had said, they were hard to handle, like a bunch of rebellious kids, they would bash you up if you ever offended them. In all, they were not to be trifled with.

Hermione reached the fifth level and the doors of the lift opened, revealing a spacey room with a receptionist behind a mahogany desk.

"I'd like to see Lou." Hermione smiled at her.

"Who are you?" the receptionist eyed her suspiciously.

"I'm Hermione Granger. The publicist." Hermione replied.

"Oh. Sure. Walk in, turn right, go all the way straight until you see a sign 'Lou's office." The receptionist suddenly switched from unfriendly and suspicious mood to friendly and happy mood.

"Oh. Thanks." Hermione smiled at her again and entered the big office, searching for Lou's office.

Knocking on the door, she heard a muffled 'Enter' from inside and entered the room cautiously.

"Ah, Ms. Granger. Sit, sit. How are those boys?" Lou said, with a huge cheeseburger in his hands. Whenever Hermione saw Lou, he was either snacking away or getting a beer.

"Call me Hermione. They're not as bad as I expected…but…they're kind of hard to handle." She took a seat and admitted. Seeing Lou's confused look, she decided to elaborate. "See, I told them about your suggestion of going to the charity program. They didn't seem so keen on it. I tried persuading them, but no one responded." Hermione shrugged.

"Oh, don't blame yourself. They're always hostile towards strangers." Another voice from behind said and Hermione almost jumped up.

"Huh?" she turned around and saw another guy. He seemed to be balding and trying to speak in a voice that was supposed to sound sultry and hot, which in fact, sounded so not.

"That's Jack. He's the publicist who'd worked with us for two years. Big bunch of help, he is." Lou said as he stuffed the cheeseburger into his mouth.

"Oh. Nice to meet you. Then, may I ask, why did you hire me when you have him as your publicist?" Hermione was beyond confused. This team had a publicist and now, they hired another one. What the hell? Are they trying to boast that they're rich? Hermione shook those thoughts out of her head and concentrated on the, ah, so-called meeting.

"Well, this Jack complained that the team were getting to his nerves and needed another publicist. He wanted to take a really long break, rich guy, dammit. If only I could take a break." Lou sighed but quickly regained his cheery self.

"Oh. Ok. Anyway, Lou, how do I convince the team to attend this charity program?" Hermione said.

"That's what I hired you for, Ms. Granger. I went through your files. You could handle the intolerable Qudditch teams in Russia and Italy so well. After just six months, not only their skills improved a whole damn lot, the public's impression of them had improved too. Now, I want you to turn this Qudditch team into a respectable one. To turn them from what they are now to a bunch of sophisticated men." Lou said, a broad grin showing on his face.

"Huh?" Hermione couldn't believe what she heard. How could a bunch of Qudditch players turn into…sophisticated people? They were like bulls. Rough, strong, mean and ruthless. How could a bunch of bulls turn into sophisticated, respectable…swans? Hermione stifled a laugh at that thought. Besides, the Qudditch teams at Russia and Italy weren't that bad at all. They were just always getting into trouble. Once Hermione taught them how to avoid them and deal with them, everything about them changed.

"Aye, just try your best Hermione. Lou just wants to strip the bad impression of them and paint on a new coat of impression on them again, making them more presentable." Jack said this time. Hermione turned and caught him looking at her legs. He obviously saw her caught him as he looked up, winked at her and tried to smile seductively at her, which failed terribly. Somehow, this Jack reminded Hermione of Pansy Parkinson, the school slut.

"I'll try my best. But, don't you have any tips on how to handle them? It will make my life so much easier." Hermione asked sweetly.

"Hmmm…tackle the captain of the team. The team listens to him and only him." Lou suggested and took out another burger from a plastic bag.

"And he is?"

"Draco. Draco Malfoy. Ring a bell?" Lou smiled broadly.

"Dr…draco?" Hermione stuttered. Oh no, just when her life is getting back on track, it is thrown off track again.

"Yep. The one and only best player on the team." Lou smiled again and took a giant bite out of his burger.

"But- " Hermione tried to say.

"Alright. You may go now, Hermione. Draco always leave last and remember, get those guys to attend the charity program." Lou smiled again and took another big bite of his burger.

"But Lou- " Hermione tried to say but was interrupted by Jack this time.

"Now, you heard Lou. The two of us still have something to discuss. Would you kindly leave the room?" Jack got up and steered Hermione towards the door with his hand on her back. Hermione was so tempted to just slap that hand off and scold him, but Lou's presence held her back.

"Alright. Bye Lou. Bye Jack." Hermione sighed and closed the door.

Oh crap. How could she do it? Draco Malfoy? That idiot blond who insulted, taunted her in those years at Hogwarts? Oh man. Her life couldn't get any worse than it could. She went to the first level and walked back to the changing room. There were fewer guys hanging around in the room. She searched the room for a guy with silver blond hair. She spotted him. He was watching television at the corner of the room with a beer in hand.

"Draco. Draco Malfoy." She took a deep breath and said confidently.

"What is it?" he said without turning. The same cold icy voice he used when insulting her.

"Lou sent me here to get your team to attend this charity program." She went straight to the point. She figured it was useless to beat around the bush.

"Who are you?" he asked again, without looking at her.

"The publicist."

"Is that your name?" he sneered.

"Guess."

That caught his attention. He got up and turned to face her. Wow, talk about adolescence. He had grown at least another three inches from the last time she saw him which was three years ago. Hermione had to tilt her head to have a better view of him. Oh, scratch that. That sounded so wrong. She had to tilt her head to…see him? No. Look at him? No way.

She could see that he was scrutinizing her from head to toe. Somehow, she felt hot and bothered having a half naked man looking at her so contently. She raised her hand and ran through her hair with it absentmindedly. More stray curls fell from her messy ponytail.

-
Just who was this lady? She looked so familiar, yet like a stranger. Brown curly hair with blond and red streaks, check. Curvy figure, check. Sharp features, mesmerizing hazel eyes, pouty and luscious lips, check. Fantastic clothes to show off her figure, check. Who the hell was this lady?

"Hints? Clues?" he asked.

"You know me. You hate me. Need I elaborate?" she sighed.

"Granger. Hermione Granger." He was shocked and surprised. He refused to believe that the bookworm had morphed into this enchanting lady.

"Bingo."

"What are you doing here? I thought you had gotten a job at the Ministry?" he asked.

"Well, I found this job much more interesting and thrilling. Getting to deal with different people." Hermione got excited at the mention of her job.

"Right."

"And I suppose you're going to make my job much interesting and thrilling, aren't you?" she said sarcastically.

"Define much interesting and thrilling." He challenged her.

"Well, I heard that you are a womanizer, you drink, you have an attitude problem and so on. You should know it better than I do. And I have to clear up the mess you leave behind. One after another."

"You can just quit, you know?" he smirked. It was just thrilling to see her pissed off.

"Well, I refuse to. I don't leave my job halfway through."

She had really changed in many ways. First off, her temper had become more stable compared to the years in Hogwarts, especially during their seventh year. She could start scolding one for no reason one second and then laugh with her friends the next. She could be crying one moment and then giggling hysterically with her friend, what's-her-name? Gunny? Minny? Misty? Gina? Oh, Ginny. He almost laughed at all the names he came up with. How did he know all that? Well, the two of them were Heads and shared a common room, bathroom but different rooms. He could always hear her muffled crying from the door. It wasn't like he wanted to spy on her. It's just that her wails were too loud to be ignored.

Now, she was rattling on about something. He couldn't quite remember what the two of them were talking about. Thoughts from the past flooded his mind when he figured out who she was.

"Draco! Are you listening to me?" Hermione exclaimed.

"Huh? What?"

"Were you listening to me?" she asked once again.

"Yea. Of course." He quickly said, scolding himself mentally for daydreaming.

"What did I say?" she crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently.

What the hell did she say? Hogwarts? Love? Scratch that. Errr…dammit!

"What?" he asked her back.

"Draco! Can you pay attention!" she exclaimed again and muttered something like 'Never changed at all' and 'Retarded idiot' under her breath.

"Since when did you call me Draco?" he smirked.

"Since seventh year. McGonagall made us have a truce in front of the whole school. Remember?" she said in a bored manner.

"Oh…yea that. That most embarrassing moment of my life." He said.

"What is your problem?"

"You! Why don't you just leave my team and I alone? I heard from Kevin that you want us to attend some retarded charity thing? What for? We're Qudditch players. Not some philanthropist. Get that in mind, please." He sat on the couch again.

"I cant. This is my job. My job is to change you bunch of mean and rough guys to some sophisticated people all right? I'm under orders to do that. I can't defy them. You're making things difficult for me!"

"Really? Why should we be sophisticated? We're supposed to be ruthless and rough. How else can we win those Qudditch matches?"

"Do you think I don't know that? I think that it's your superiors that don't know that! They are the ones who want to change you people, not me!"

"Really? Then please tell them we don't need any changing! We're happy with how we are now." He said stubbornly.

"What am I now? Some messenger? I'm a publicist. I have to cover up your image to the people's liking. I do damage control. That is my job. Not being a messenger."

"But that is what you're doing now. You're telling us what Lou told you to do."

"Yes! And I want your team and you to attend this charity program!" the two of them were shouting now, getting the attention of those who have not left the changing room.

"Why should we do that? We're busy training for the upcoming matches. We need to strategize, train and so much more. Where do we get time to attend some stupid program?"

"I see. You have always been such a selfish ass. You have not changed at all. You think only of yourself and this team. What about me? I'm trying to do my job here. And you're making my job difficult!"

"Really? I told you that you could quit. Even Jack that stubborn and persistent asshole couldn't handle us! What makes you think that you can do it? The fact that you're a lady and that we would listen to ladies? You're wrong, Granger! We don't bother about the gender. The team, especially I, treats everyone equally. Be it male or female." He crushed the can of beer and let it drop to the floor.

"Oh ho! Look who's talking! Treat everyone equally? What a joke, Malfoy! Don't bullshit with me, Malfoy! Define treating everyone equally, will you? You should know how you treated me. You know it better than anyone else." Hermione used a manicured finger and poked his chest.

"That's because it's true, Granger! You're different from me. I'm a pureblood but you. You're a muggleborn."

"Muggleborn? Since when did you use that term? Isn't the word 'mudblood' your favorite one? Say it. Are you a coward?" Hermione dared.

"Fine. You. Are. A. Mud blood. A bloody pathetic one that is." He seethed. She asked for it and she shall be given.

-
That did it.

Slap!

Hermione's hand connected with his cheek, leaving a red mark there on his pale skin.

"You slapped me…" he said, his fists clenched tightly together.

"Yes I did. So what? That wasn't the first time, I remember." Hermione smirked at him.

"Bitch…you better get out before I hit you. I'm serious."

"Really? I just have something to tell you. You all." Hermione turned to face the other people staring at the two of them in shock.

"I shall be chasing after you guys to get things done. I'm paid to hound you and your teammates and I will. I'm going to be the pebble in your shoe that you want to get rid of but cant, I'll be the annoying song lyric you cant get out in your head. . Get that drilled into your mind and may it stay there. Tell your superiors, I don't care. Complain to them, I don't give a shit. They'll just be more than happy to know that. Get that?" Hermione said loudly and strode off, leaving Draco fuming away and half of the team stunned.

That was the worst encounter Hermione had come across during her years of being a publicist. Of course, what could she expect when the captain of the damn team was Draco Malfoy. The idiot at Hogwarts who was her living nightmare. Hermione almost fainted when she heard that he was the captain of the team. Damn, she didn't know her luck was so well. Bloody hell.

She walked down the streets in a huff and kicked at the leaves lying on the pavement. She needed an output to her frustrations and she needed it fast. She apparated to Diagon Alley, hoping she'd find her best friend there.

-
Draco was slapped again. The team's assistant captain, Blaise Zabini went to his side as soon as she walked out of the room.

"Alright, buddy?" he asked and settled down beside him.

"Never better. The cheek of her to slap me. Again." Draco said.

"Again? That slap was awesome, mate." Blaise stifled a laugh.

"Shut up, Blaise. Unless you want me to screw your precious balls off." He narrowed his eyes at Kevin.

"Chill out! I was just kidding. So, it must have hurt. Just look at the amount of strength she used. Pow! Wonderful hit, I gotta say, though!" Blaise said excitedly.

He wasn't the one getting slapped by that madwoman. Or else he would be saying something else.

"Blaise …" he growled. Blaise knew that things were serious and didn't press on. He handed Draco a beer and he took a swig from it.

"But then again. You were kind of harsh to Hermione. I mean, she's just doing what Lou told her to. No harm done eh?" Blaise said after a long silence.

"No harm done? She's trying to turn us to some respectable Qudditch players. How's that even possible? Lou must be nuts up here." Draco pointed to his brain.

"Lou means good for us. I mean, we weren't exactly behaving ourselves. We may have won the Qudditch World Cup two years back but our behavior was…what is the perfect word? Horrible? Terrible? Wild?" Blaise shrugged.

"You mean to say that bringing the Cup to the new pub in Diagon Alley is illegal? Bullshit."

"Err…a pub? It was a strip show pub. No one was exactly happy about it except for the guys and the strippers." Blaise pointed out and took another swig from his beer.

"Fine. We won all right? We have every right to do what we want with it."

"Right? You mean the right to bring the cup to strip shows and ogling at women dancing wildly with the cup like retarded people? That's preposterous!" Blaise half-yelled.

"Cool it. I know you got scolded for it. I apologize."

"Yea. For running away to the back alley to shag this blond? Apology so not accepted."

"Fine. What else can I do? I'm sorry all right? Bloody hell." He swore under his breath.

"Ok. Apology accepted. I still think you should apologize to Hermione. You were in the wrong. I mean, you shouldn't call her that you know…" Blaise's voice trailed off.

"What? Oh, mudblood? She's used to it." Draco shrugged.

"She's not used to it. If she was, would she have slapped you? You know what, Draco? You can be so dense sometimes." Blaise smiled at him.

"Whatever. Hi Gina!" Draco's voice perked up as he saw his goddaughter.

"God-dad! How are you?" the squeaky voice of Gina filled the room as he hugged her tightly.

"I'm…all right…you?" Draco rubbed his cheek absentmindedly and patted her head.

"Wonderful! Mummy brought me to Diagon Alley for shopping. I brought a really pretty dress! I look like a princess!" she squealed as her mother walked in.

"Hon, how's the baby?" Blaise walked to his wife and pulled her close for a kiss.

"Kicking me all the time. Just as active and energetic as you." She smiled and kissed him back.

"Get a room, you two!" Draco called out.

"Eh! Shut up Draco." Blaise shouted.

"So, Gina. Do you want a brother or sister?" Draco asked, his attention turning to Gina once more.

"I want…a brother…and a sister. I want both!" she squealed and jumped up and down, her red curls bouncing from her head.

"You're gonna have a hard time, Gin. Giving birth to twins is hard work." Draco laughed at his goddaughter's reply.

"No problem. I can handle whatever is thrown to me. How's training today?" she told Draco and then turned her attention to Blaise.

"It wont be perfect if you didn't come." He whispered into her ear.

"Come off it, Blaise. We seem to have two very interested audience." She pointed to her daughter and Draco.

"All right. Let's go. It's late, Gina." Blaise opened his arms and welcomed Gina for a tight hug.

"Bye Blaise. Bye Gina. Bye Ginny. Bye to the unborn twins." Draco winked at them and waved.

"Bye. Take care god-dad!" Gina said and went out of the room with her parents.

That was a surprisingly adorable family. One would never have thought Ginny and Blaise would get together, let alone married. Apparently, Blaise had shocked his family and everyone else by proposing to Ginny two years ago when they won the Cup. Ginny had obviously agreed, seeing how crazy in love she was with him.

Draco sighed and locked up the room. He didn't feel like going back home, neither did he feel like walking alone on the streets. A place came to his mind and he decided that was the best place to go.

After a ten-minute walk, he reached Ora dell'aperitivo and entered. As soon as he entered, loud blaring music hit his ears and he jostled through the crowd to get to the counter.

"One Whiskey." He ordered. He looked around for some hot chicks but many were already busy flirting with other men. Waiting for a babe to appear, he downed more than five Whiskeys.

"Hey, handsome." A seductive voice came from behind.

-
"Hey Harry. Are you free? If so, please drop by my house. I would appreciate that a lot." Hermione spoke into her cell phone and then hung up. Darn. She had dropped by Harry's house to see whether he was in. However, no one opened the door. She called his cell phone but no one answered. She figured he was probably still working.

She went home after that, refusing to dwell on the events that happened that afternoon. She found her best friend, Abigail, lying on the sofa and watching television. The two of them used to be publicists for various events and they worked well together.

"Hey. You're back early, Abby." Hermione said and closed the door, placing her keys in the hook that held her name above it.

"Yep. The recording ended earlier than planned." Came a muffled reply as she stuffed popcorn into her mouth.

"Make space for me. I'm coming." Hermione warned and plopped down on the sofa, causing the sofa to bounce a little.

"So, how's your first day at the what's-their-team-name?" she asked, handing popcorn to Hermione.

"Horrible. It was worst than I thought. Guess who I met."

"Hmm…who? Victor Krum?" Abigail said, laughing loudly. Hermione told her everything about her, from Hogwarts to her personal life when they blossomed into inseparable good friends.

"No. Worst than that. Clue: An asshole." Hermione grabbed more popcorn and stuffed them inside her mouth.

"I know. Malfoy. That Draco Malfoy."

"Go figure!" Hermione sighed.

"It can't be that bad right? I mean, it has been three years. He should have changed."

"Actually, it wasn't three years. It was two years. I met him again when Gin and Blaise married. I was the maid of honor and that idiot was the best man. Some kind of best man he was man." Hermione groaned as she stretched.

"Alright. I'll let you have the tub tonight. Only tonight." Abigail warned. Hermione was so excited she rushed to the bathroom.

"Love you, Abby. You rock my world!" she called out from upstairs.

"Only tonight, Hermione!" she warned again.

"Love you loads."

The two of them bought this terrace house together when they earned their first paycheck. They paid the rest by installments. The terrace was roomy. The kitchen was white-tiled and homey. Personal touches from the two of them were applied to the kitchen. Abigail was in charge of decorating her own room, the hall and the dining table. Hermione was in charge of doing up her own room, the bathrooms and the guest rooms. By the end of the renovations, their house was the perfect house many would kill to have.

In fact, the owners of the house were just as perfect. Perfect bodies, perfect jobs. What else could they demand for? Both were highly sought after but they promised each other to concentrate on their career first. It was easy to make a guy smitten. The right atmosphere, right posture and right attitude were all it takes. Throw in any background music, short leather skirts, tight tank tops, a wink and a flip of the hair and voila! They would be smitten.

"Stupid bastard. I'll show him who he is messing with." Hermione muttered and stepped into the hot water bath, relaxing at the warmth that surrounded her.

End of Chapter 1

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