[July 3, 2009]
Draco Malfoy was in the middle of reading a book in the living room when he heard the familiar roar of the green flames. He turned his head to see who had flooed into his home – and he could already tell just by the person's physique, making him smirk.
His eyes trailed back to his book and gently placed a bookmark between the pages. "I have to say," he began, "with the Gryffindor courage your lot seems to be all proud of, I expected you to show up earlier than this."
"A day and a half?" asked Draco – more to himself than to the person who just flooed in. He snapped the book closed and placed it next to him on the table in front of him before standing up to greet his guest. "Please, have a seat, Professor Granger."
"Professor Malfoy," she simply greeted with a curt nod.
Only then did Draco see Hermione Granger properly. She walked proudly, as she always did – shoulders back and head held high – but he could see in her eyes that she wasn't as proud as she looks.
She gracefully sat down on the couch across him and gave him a blank look. Hermione tried her best to mask her emotions with a confident façade. Honestly, Hermione's not sure of what she was feeling at that moment. She doesn't know if it's the memories she had of the place or the thought of asking Draco Malfoy, of all people, for such a personal request.
He called for his personal house-elf, Naya, and asked her to bring tea for him and his guest. The house-elf was very much happy to oblige to her kind master's orders and apparated away. Just as Draco sat back down, a tea set appeared on the table between them. He leaned forward and poured them some tea.
"You probably came here thinking that I know and understand why you were standing outside my chamber," he said and handed a teacup to Hermione. She muttered a 'thank you' and pulled the teacup to her lips to take a sip. Draco did the same but before taking a sip, he spoke, "Let me get ahead of you and tell you that I haven't got a clue on what you thought that I would not agree on."
Hermione almost choked on her tea upon hearing those words escape Draco's lips. Clearing her throat and placing the cup down, and pathetically sputtered "Wha...what?"
She did come thinking that she didn't have to stupidly ask him 'hey, can you be my fiancé and travel around Europe with me and my family for three weeks' since he already overheard her talking to herself in front of his personal chamber.
"Then why did you tell me you'd be here? Which to me seemed like an invitation. There'd be no other reason for you to invite me over without proper reason."
"Oh, you're not wrong. It was an invitation," said Draco, smirking. He placed the cup down as well and leaned back proudly, "but you wouldn't have come here without proper reason."
Once again, Hermione got flustered because of Draco Malfoy. Her posture kind of faltered – she knew he was right. She knew that he knew he was right and it annoyed her. Before, Hermione used to think that he couldn't possibly be smugger than he usually is – but this day proved it wrong.
Draco couldn't help himself. It was such a rare opportunity to pass up. Hermione Granger, needing his help? What a time to live!
"I'm pretty sure it was something along the lines of me not agreeing to do I don't know what–"
"I need you to pretend to be my fiancé until the end of the month. I need to put on a show to save my face because of something stupid I said three years ago."
He wouldn't admit it, but he kind of got flustered at what Hermione just said. It didn't show since he quickly regained his composure – Hermione would've seen it if she paid extra attention – and smirked at her. "Well, let's not go beating around the bush here and cut to the chase," he joked, trying to lighten the mood. "Tell me more."
She raised her eyes to look at the blond man. Somehow, it comforted her a little to know that Draco Malfoy was no longer the vile and blood prejudiced boy she knew him to be. She suddenly remembered the day of the students' return to Hogwarts five years ago. She saw him talking with the Headmistress in one of the Potions classrooms when she happened to pass by. Later that evening, he sat next to her at the High Table and greeted the new school year ahead of them together. They were very civil with one another and got closer as time passed. One day, they were back to square one – and it hasn't progressed since. Hence, the constant arguments between the two.
"As much as I hate to admit this to anyone," she muttered aside. "You see, I haven't been attending my family's annual Christmas reunion because of one annoying cousin and a stupid statement I made."
"Go on. I'm interested."
"My feelings of annoyance for my cousin goes way back. This particular cousin of mine, changing boyfriends for her is as easy and as fast as breathing. Total slag. I don't see what's there to be proud of, but she makes it a point to remind me every single reunion and that I might as well be considered as an old maiden," she paused to take a breath, but her company took the opportunity to express his amusement.
"I can only imagine the look on your face when you heard her say that."
"I was completely livid! Then I blurted the words, 'you'll see who'll be wearing a ring on her finger the next time we meet' before storming off to my room. Only then did I realize what I said," she sighed, "we talked it out after, but I'm still very embarrassed about it."
Draco almost smiled at the sight of the brunette. She looks kind of cu– nevermind. He shook the thought away and propped himself up.
"This trip to Europe, when is it?" asked Draco, and he swore he saw her eyes spark at his question.
"Exactly next week, on the 10th of July," answered Hermione.
"Great," said Draco. "We have the entire week, then."
"For what?"
"To get-to-know each other," he said, "properly."
Hermione smiled at him, reaching a hand out to him, she said, "I'm Hermione Granger, and you are?"
Draco took her hand, "I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy."
