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Summary: After twenty minutes on a very reluctant but steady talking on my part, a blanket of silence befall upon us. Before Ron was the one who broke it, "So, Malfoy is toying with you." Ron articulates slowly. Harry turned to ask me. "So, what are you going to do?" My answer was simple. "Ignore him." If only avoiding him were that easy. DM/HG

SUBTLE ADVANCES

By: S.P. Tripathi

2. At her office. Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Near 12 at noon. Same day.

Ruffling through the papers, I didn't look up as the door to my office opened.

Instead, I bend down to retrieve a fallen parchment as I said distractedly, "I'm busy, Gussex. Please postpone my meetings for an hour - I've a person to attend."

"I knew you'd come around."

I froze. My back rode straight as the parchment in my hand crumbles to a ball.

Slow, sure footsteps hit the floor before a pair of shiny black shoes come within the lines of my vision.

Pursing my lips into a thin line, I kept my eyes to myself as I straightened in my seat stiffly.

From the corner of my eyes, I noticed his tall frame coming to lean casually against the desk, facing me. And felt his intense gaze on my face, probing me to turn and face him. To look up.

Turning my head to the other way and ignoring him; I lift my hand to summon my wand from the other end of the room, and watched as it zip past through the air and into my hand. Getting up from the chair, I make a move for the door. Swishing my wand - which immediately closes all the windows and tidying up the place in a minute.

But out from nowhere, an arm shoot forward and snake it's way around my waist, pulling me back. I gasped inaudibly as my back hit something very solid, warm... and human.

"Have lunch with me today," he whispered in my ear, his warm breath fanning down the side of my face.

I suppress the maddening urge to shiver. And blatantly ignore the way my heart skyrocketed at his voice. At his actions.

Instead, I clench my teeth together and try saying through the lump down my throat, "No thanks." I dismissed him. Squirming as I tried getting out of his... intimate hold.

He sighed. His chest moving behind my back, making me stiffen at the feeling of his athletic physique. "Now, don't be like this, Granger." He mumbled under his breath, mock-tired. But their was a lingering tone of ... amusement in his voice that I hear - which I don't like one bit.

Gritting my teeth, I took his arm off me and ducked under it gracefully. My brownish long curls twirled around in the air a bit before they come to settle around my figure. Dusting my clothes mechanically, I refused to miss his - no doubt - entertained steely-grey eyes trained on me as I turned to make my way for the door again. "Kindly sod off, Malfoy," I said dryly.

He chuckled from behind me as I finally get the door.

"I'm not giving up, beaver," I hear him say softly. His tone gentle. Something underlining the sound beside his tone. Which I dare not discern at the moment.

And I don't know, but I quickly slipped past the door - not caring if my shoulder bumped roughly against the door frame, bruising it, Or the way people give me funny looks - because a rush of chilly shiver zip down my spine.

Because I believe him.

And that scares me.

-..To be continued..-

A/N: Good lord! So many hits and a review in a day! I wasn't really expecting this! I truly thought it might take at least a whole month before I even get a decent review! I really wasn't counting on this story! Merlin, this is brilliant!

And - OH!

Yeniferg123: Thanks for the review mate! I do really appreciated it! I hope you like this update! Thanks a lot!

And a huge shout out for the people who'd fav/follow this story! Thanks a lot, guys! You all rock! Really.

Until the next update then,

S.P. Tripathi