Do I really need to repeat the disclaimer?
Draco and Blaise sat at their table, waiting for their meal to arrive when all of a sudden Blaise asked "What would you do if your ever saw Hermione Granger again?".
"What? Hermione Granger? No one has heard from her in years, not even Potter or Weasel."
"I know but, hypothetically speaking, if you happened to run into her, would you finally tell her?"
"Tell her what?"
"Come on Drake, don't play dumb with me, I know you've had a thing for her since the Yule Ball that took place our fourth year at Hogwarts."
"What ever made you think that?"
"Drake, please, stupid is not a good look for you. You aren't fooling anybody, not even yourself."
"Alright fine, I have loved her since our fourth year. Actually I've had a crush on her since our third year. After she punched me that one time, she definitely earned my respect. No one had ever stood up to me like she had, after that I started to look at her in a whole new light and saw that she was actually quite beautiful."
"Wow Drake, I never knew that. But back to my question; if you had her in front of you, would you finally tell her how you feel?"
"Honestly? I'm not sure. I mean I would love to have that opportunity but you know I have a fear of rejection, especially after what happened with Astoria."
*Flashback*
After the war and Draco and his mother began to bring respect back to the Malfoy name. After the imprisonment of his father, Draco began working immediately to clean up the Malfoy image that his father had tarnished so much. He took over the family empire and worked hard to raise money, not for himself but for various charities. He even converted one of the family's many countryside villas into an orphanage for all the children whose parents were killed in the war and began to raise awareness for the better treatment of squibs (much like Hermione had for house elves with S.P.E.W). He converted yet another of the family's villas into a safe house for squibs that were disowned by their families.
After Hermione announced her engagement to Ronald Weasley, Draco gave up hope on ever getting his dream girl so he began dating Astoria Greengrass. She was pretty and fairly smart but Draco alway mentally compared her to Hermione knowing no one could ever come close to her. Yet he settled with her because he genuinely thought she was a nice girl and he liked the time he spent with her.
Then one night at one of his mother's famous galas, Astoria showed her true colors. They had been dating for about 9 months and Draco was seriously considering proposing to her. He had been thinking of the perfect way to do it and decided to do it at the end of the gala, in front of all their friends and family.
Astoria had grown impatient, she had expected Draco to have proposed already. I mean what could he be waiting for? Someone better to come along? She didn't think so; she was perfect. What more could he want in a girl? She was gorgeous, smart and a pureblood. (See, while everyone else had given up on the stupid blood supremecy thing, Astoria still thought she was better than eveyone because she was a Pureblood.) If he didn't propose soon, she would lose it. She couldn't wait to be the next Lady Malfoy and have all that money. She would be the most envied woman in the wizarding world, she'd be engaged to Draco Malfoy: International businessman, humanitarian, England's most eligable bachelor and of course one of the richest men alive.
Deciding to keep herself entertained, she began filling up on champagne. Pretty soon she was completely wasted. She decided to confront Draco about not proposing sooner, but on her way she found herself with Marcus Flint. He was quite handsome now, and a pureblood and also quite wealthy (of course not as wealthy as Malfoy) so Astoria thought she might as well have a little fun with Marcus since Draco wasn't paying her any attention.
"Hey there Marcus" she said in a seductive voice, moving in front of Marcus.
"Hello Astoria, enjoying yourself?"
"Why yes, but I can think of something much more enjoyable to do with you" she said while wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Aren't you dating Draco Malfoy?", replied Marcus. He tried to resist but he couldn't help himself. He was a guy after all, and Astoria just looked so sexy tonight so he slid his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean I can't have a little fun with you, does it?" she asked as she ran her lips along his jawline.
Marcus smiled. "I suppose not" he said as he pulled her into a passionate kiss all while running his hands all over her perfect body.
Draco looked all over for Astoria but couldn't find her anywhere. It was almost the end of the gala and he wanted to propose to her before everyone left. He decided to look on the balcony but as he neared the hallway that led to it he stopped at the corner. He thought he'd heard Astoria's voice so he peeked around the corner and found his girlfriend in the arms of Marcus Flint, snogging him and letting him grope her all over. He was about to run and yell at them but decided against it when he heard them start to talk again.
"So why are you with Draco anyways? You don't seem to be very happy if you're here snogging me instead of your precious boyfriend."
"Isn't it obvious? I'm in it for the money. That's the only reason. He is handsome but that's just an added bonus. If he wasn't rich, I wouldn't want him even if he looked like Orlando Bloom. I mean look at him galavanting all over england helping mudbloods and squibs and treating them like they're just like us. It's disgusting."
Draco had heard enough, he couldn't believe he was hearing this from his girlfriend, the woman he dad intended on proposing to and if she thought she could play Draco Lucius Malfoy for a fool, she had another thing coming.
Draco came around the corner, slowly clapping making Astoria and Marcus freeze. Astroia slowly turned to face Draco with a horrified look on her face.
"Drake, sweetie, this isn't what it looks like."
"Oh, really? So you weren't just snogging Marcus flint while he groped you all while telling him that all you want from me is my money?"
Astoria paled at the venom in his voice. "Drake, baby, that was just the champagne talking, I love you."
"Of course you do...", said Draco as he turned and started to walk away.
"Draco! wait! please let me explain!" yelled Astoria as she ran after him.
"And to think I was going to propose to you tonignt"
"what? you were going to propose?", replied a dumbstruck Astoria. "well you still can! I mean I can't see why we can't just forget this little thing happened. right?"
In her hysteria, she hadn't realized that Draco had led them back into the ballroom where all the guests were starring and murmering.
"Oh yea, cause I can just forget about you telling Flint that all you want is my money, and still marry you. Because that's what you're asking of me, is it not?", yelled back a very angry Draco.
Astoria, still not realizing where she was because of her drunken state, yelled back, "alright you know what! IT'S TRUE! I ONLY WANT YOUR MONEY! you may be handsome but the way you're treating all those mudbloods and filthy squibs is DISGUSTING! Your father would be so ashamed of you if he knew you had become a BLOOD TRAITOR!"
This drew many shocked gasps from the crowd and finally brought Astoria out of her drunken state. She realized where she was and had such a look of horror on her face.
"Miss Greengrass!" yelled a very angry and appalled Narcissa Malfoy "I suggest you leave my manor IMMEDIATELY or I will have you escorted out!"
"but, but, but" Stammered Astoria.
"NO BUTS! I will NOT have someone as closed minded and prejudiced in my house and certainly not engaged to my son! If you will not leave I will have you escorted out.", yelled Narcissa," Twinky!"
A pop of apparation was heard and a small house elf wearing a tuxedo walked up. "Yes mistress?" asked the elf.
"Please escort the lady here" she sneered at Astroia "out of the Manor. Take her outside of the wards of the Manor so she cannot apparate back in."
"yes mistress", Twinky walked over to a flabbergasted Astoria, grabbed onto her dress and apparated out of the Manor.
*end Flashback*
"Yea I know Drake but that doesn't mean you have to shut yourself away from love. Who knows, maybe Granger could be the one to finally be able to break down all the walls you put up", Blaise said to his best friend.
"Well we'll never know will we?", replied Draco. "Oh look here comes the waiter with our food."
As their food arrived, the band on the stage began playing some blues music. Blaise waited for Hermione to step on stage but she didn't. She probably won't be on until later, he thought.
The two best friends ate their dinner and talked about random little things like quidditch, their years at hogwarts, anything but business. As they finished their meal, Blaise ordered drinks for the both of them.
"You ready to go" asked Draco.
"Go? No way, the best is yet to come my friend so sit your arse back down."
"What are you going on about?"
"I promised you dinner AND A SHOW remember? well the show is barely about to start so sit down already."
"Alright, alright, I'm sitting down but this better be good."
"Oh trust me, it will be MORE than good" said Blaise as he smiled slyly.
Just as he said that, the curtain was brought down on the band. Not even 5 minutes later the curtain was brought back up to reveal a beautiful woman standing in front of the band and drew an audible GASP from Draco as he saw the face of the woman.
Standing on the stage dressed in black wash jeans, black lace Christian Louboutin booties and an ivory, satin, off the shoulder top that hugged her figure perfectly, was the love of his life: Hermione Granger.
Okay I know I said she'd finally make an appearance and I know this isn't exactly what you all had in mind as an "appearance" but the idea of Draco's back story just popped into my mind and I had to write it. Please review! and send me your ideas if you have any!
