"Just… leave me alone, Ron!" snapped Hermione, storming away and her boyfriend speechless on the park bench.
Draco Malfoy saw this as the perfect opportunity to strut up to the frustrated witch. "Afternoon, Granger," he told her, trying to sound polite and coming across snotty.
"What do you want, Draco?" snapped Hermione. "In case you haven't noticed, I've got a bit on my mind."
Malfoy shuffled his feet. "I just wanted to ask you something, was all."
"Then spit it out!" spat Hermione.
Malfoy took a deep breath. "Granger, I need a favor…"
"What is it?"
Glaring, Malfoy told her, "First, calm the hell down."
Hermione sighed deeply. "Okay, I'm calm. Will you tell me now?"
"My father is forcing me to marry."
She narrowed her eyes. "What does that have to do with me? What about Luna?"
Draco shook her head sadly. "Luna went on a trip to do some research on Wrackspurts for a couple of years and came back pregnant."
"Really?" Hermione couldn't help but feel sorry for her friend. She had been convinced Luna and Malfoy were meant to be, but obviously, Luna had other plans.
"There's only one other person who came to mind," Malfoy hinted.
Hermione shook her head. "I'm a Muggle-born, Draco, your father would never approve."
"It doesn't matter." Malfoy's eyes were pleading. "You can't deny we have chemistry, Hermione."
"Draco, listen to me and listen good." Hermione took a deep breath. "That kiss was amazing, I can't deny it. But we're not meant to be."
"But—"
"No, Draco. It's just not… right. We don't fit. Our puzzle pieces just don't fit together right. Mine has an extra hole somewhere. Yours doesn't have the extra piece." She took a deep breath. "Ron's is just like yours… with that extra piece. We fit together." She laced her fingers together to demonstrate.
"But you've just had a row! Another row!" exclaimed Malfoy desperately. "You can't live your lives bickering at each other! My mother has picked out Astoria Greengrass," he added.
Hermione nodded. "She'd be good for you. She's beautiful, and she's pureblood. What more could you ask for?"
"Don't you get it, you crazy bitch?" said Malfoy. "Blood status doesn't matter anymore. I just don't love her like I love you."
With a sigh, Hermione smiled at her friend. "You'll get over me someday," she assured him. "If our families were meant to combine—which I feel they are—it's not this way. I'll be seeing you soon, Draco." She returned to the bench where Ron sat.
Ron and Hermione made up as Malfoy watched their love jealously.
