A/n: Thanks to everyone who viewed and followed. please review as well. thats my first story so any criticism would be welcome and so will appreciation. My apologies to those who didn't like it and love to those who did. Please review and make my day please. :)
Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Harry Potter.
I was damn tired now and I had a suspicion that Ginny was not even done yet. At first i was thought that I probably deserved it but now i was thinking that Ginny is punishing me not only for the last night but also for every night i ditched her set up dates. That Malfoy damn him, he jinxed my secret. Last night when I returned Ginny was up and she started to question me about the pervert with whom she set me up through her another friend. I answered a little bitterly and fell into the pit of my own making when i didn't seem to recall the name of my date tonight. She went berserk jumping to the real conclusions and well one thing led to another and before i knew it my secret was out.
Oh well.. I tried to tell her the reasons but to no avail. She was so angry that she woke me up at 7:30 next morning. After a hasty breakfast she brought me to the Diagon Alley for a trip of shopping. Well sounds a very grily and cute punishment to give one but if you know Ginny like i do you won't be able to say that. She shops like a shopaholic. She is a shopaholic in fact. For someone who hates shopping for more than a hour or two that's like torture. So here i am sitting in madam malkin's and she is on to torturing me with no mercy.
"Look at these, aren't they adorable." she screamed.
She turned and entered the trying room like she was doing after every five minutes for six hours. Not even caring that i had the most bored expression imaginable.
"This red one is good but i think I should try this pink one first" i heard her say.
"Whatever Ginny just come out already" i whined again.
She came out after several minutes.
"whoa" I was surprise that pink dress was worth a fortune and Ginny was looking like a Barbie in it. it was a strapless and ended on her knees. A little puffy. The dress hugged her body well showing all the curves.
"Harry would faint after seeing you in this" I smirked
She blushed slightly but then the lioness was back " Don't think flattering can bail you out. she said pointing a finger towards me.
I grimaced "I am sure it can't. Look Ginny i got your message okay I am wise enough now to never lie to to you, just stop torturing me" i made a face of utmost remorse.
"Alright Minny" I winced at the stupid nickname she used to annoy me "I think this much is enough for you for one day but we can always do it again, you know as long as it takes for the lesson to sink in" she smiled a sickly sweet smile which made me shudder.
"Well so will you be so kind your highness to let us have lunch now. I am famished"
"Yeah I am hungry too. Lets go."
we left the shop and started walking towards a restaurant we liked a lot. Ginny came to halt when we were almost there.
"Oh God I forgot something. You go on I'll get it back"
"No no I'll come with you"
"No Hermione I'll have to buy it, it can take a while, you eat, I'll just be back in a few minutes okay"
"I don't want to eat alone"
"Well then consider it your next punishment" And she was off.
I stood there annoyed and irritated. I huffed and went to the book store at a little distance from the restaurant. I had no intention of going in the restaurant and sit there alone waiting for her. When in the book shop I was not sure i would be able to return. Shelf after shelf of books and I was so absorbed that I didn't even saw him until I bumped into him.
"I am so sorry I didn't saw you there..." I trailed off when i saw who it was.
"Malfoy" I said working on hiding my shocked expression.
"Hello there." He said merrily
"Um hi" i felt a little appalled seeing him positively beaming. with glee.
"You really didn't see me or you wanted to get impinge on me" he said raising his eyebrows suggestively.
I forced out a nervous laugh "No really I didn't saw you" whereas what I really wanted to say was ' as if you little ferret'
"I have a tendency to forget my surroundings when I am engrossed in books" I explained
"Sounds exactly like me. The same reason i didn't saw you was i was colossally immersed in the books."
And again i had to force a smile because I couldn't believe that Malfoy and I had something in common. And I thought I have seen everything after the Horcrux hunt.
"So is there any chance you are going to that bar tonight?" He asked nonchalantly. Translation: Do you have a date tonight?
"No actually and i won't be having any now. Speaking of which I really don't know whether to thank you or hex you because last night my secret got out in open" I said placing a hand on my hip.
"You think I have something to do with. I really didn't tell anyone I swear to Salazar" he seemed confused
"Well you were the first person i told about it and the spell broke or something and suddenly she knew" i didn't knew why I was telling him that.
he look genuinely perplex now "I get the part where you want to thank me because I saved you from any other horrendous evening and another pervert for a date" I smiled at how he seemed to know why i didn't like those were mostly all lechers trying to get laid with a blind date hoping they would never see her again.
He continued "But what I don't get is that why would you want to hex me?"
"Well..."
"Well what. Did it ended badly with your roommate." he asked looking worried.
And the irony cracked me up.
"I am sorry" Giggle " Its just that its far from it" Giggle " I don't know why I am so angry at you" I took a deep breath and looked at him. He was smiling but looked flabbergasted. "I mean its not your fault I don't like shopping that much which was mind you the punishment my roommate gave me. Shopping, non stop for straight six hours. Can you believe it?"
"UNFEASIBLE" Malfoy almost shouted. I jumped in surprise. And several "shh" and "keep it low" were aimed at us. And we both almost unbelievably realized where we were at the moment.
"I believed all the girls are like shopaholic, its in their genetic material or something" he continued at a normal voice.
"Apparently you were wrong" i said feeling a little stupid now.
He exhaled a deep breath " Its incredible how you always leave me with something to think about" He said tapping his chin with his index finger. I must have looked puzzled. He smirked a little. And I thought his smirk was not so bad after all, its kind of charming if you think about it. If my expression was of surprise before it must be of shock this time, but he didn't pointed at it. Instead he continued "Last time it was your identity and your unusual tendency to have five drinks and walk straight in those high heels like they are flats afterwards."
I didn't register his words. I was staring i realize quite pathetically. I knew it was rude but I couldn't stop myself. May be it was because of his eyes mysterious and deep like an ocean. Their color was grey and gloomy like a storm is about to come. Oh God help me I also think its because of his masculine but beautiful face. I forced more like berated myself to look away. I don't know if he noticed but he didn't say anything.
I smiled nervously and tore my gaze away " Yeah its peculiar my shopping phobia , but its not like i hate shopping I like it but for a decent amount of time like one or two hours."
"Now that's more like it." he laughed softly.
"But my name is not that important. Why would you waste your time thinking about it?" i asked raising an eyebrow.
"Good question. Well its quite an annoying habit. I cant stand not knowing anything and you well.. You intrigued me last night."
At that point I literally looked around myself for an Apocalypse. Draco Malfoy the exemplary person for arrogance, obscenity and biggest ego in the whole wide world confessed that I, Hermione Granger a muggle born know it all and bushy haired Gryffindor intrigued him.
I calmed myself by the knowledge that he doesn't know who I really am. But I really don't think he goes around telling random people that they intrigued him.
Hiding my shock into a disbelieving look " Intrigued" I echoed
" Well you could hardly blame me you really are mysterious and... beguiling. I don't know your name . only know that you can hold five drinks and can manage to walk in 4 inch heels afterwards with even tripping once. he grinned "And you are extremely terrified of your roommate, you don't like blind dates and today I discovered that you love books too." he finished with a sigh.
"That is not much but i could hardly find it beguiling" I replied timidly.
"That is it isn't it. That's what is beguiling, the the lack of knowledge that I have about you." he said, looking proud now that he has proven his point.
Suddenly I was feeling scared. I had a weak voice saying all this while inside my head that its wrong. What i am doing is wrong. Nothing would ever come out of this. he is becoming taken up with me and if he found out my identity he will hate me even more he do now and i don't want that. Its not that I could keep my identity a secret and simultaneously be his friend or may be more than friends because i may deny it all my life but i am getting attracted to him may be started liking him. Oh i can't believe it in second meeting - well not really but you know what i mean - I am accepting that I like him, my arch childhood enemy. I was feeling drained inside. I wanted to tell him who I am and at the same time I wanted to run as fast as i can. After a moment's thought i finally decided the later, well not exactly running but going as politely as i can manage without showing my inner dilemma.
I smiled forcefully, I am doing this a lot today. I said "Look I should goo, my friend must be looking for me by now" I turned before he could protest or even say any thing and walked outside and towards the restaurant in record time. I saw Ginny looking around with more bags than se had before. Her walked up to her from behind and tapped on her shoulder.
"Hey, where were you" she jumped
"Hey, Ginny can we please go home, I'll fix something" i said rubbing my face with my hand.
"You okay?" she looked concerned
"Yeah I am just tired i want to go home, can we?"
"sure 'Mione" i was glad she dropped the punishment drama.
I apparated with Ginny on my toe to our home in muggle London feeling more tired exhausted and burdened than i care to believe.
