Marrying Off Malfoy
Disclaimer: Rowling pwns Me
HERMIONE'S PICK
Draco waltzed into Hermione's office bright and early the next day. He looked quite happy and excited, and Hermione assumed that it was about his date for tonight. She didn't look up from her notes until much too late. Being so completely absorbed with her little quips about the past three dates for her article that she didn't notice Draco plop himself right in front of her. She raised her head and found herself nose to nose with her boss. He wore a big grin, and looked absolutely manic.
Hermione began to brace herself for the worst of news, she let out a breath and pulled her head back.
"You need a mint," Draco said wrinkling his nose. Hermione blushed and pursed her lips self consciously. "But that's not what I came here for," he continued despite her embarrassment, "I've got an idea. It came to me last night as I was thinking about what my mother said yesterday afternoon." Hermione only nodded, "every year, my mother takes it upon herself to organize my birthday party. And I'm not particularly keen on the whole party idea, but my mother insists on it."
"Yes.." Hermione cocked her head to the side, "I can't imagine that this is going anywhere constructive Draco."
"It is!" he cut it, "I'm going to have you help her, so I wont be surprised by some ghastly invitee slash ex-girlfriend, or relative that I'm not fond of. And trust me, none of my exes are particularly fond of me either, pertaining to the matter of which we . . . uh broke off all contact. And every year there are at least five that slip through the screening process."
"No," Hermione replied. "This is beginning to sound like a train wreck waiting to happen Draco, I'm not going to have a part of it. If you can't deal with your ex-girlfriends, then perhaps you should stop 'escaping' them in the strange manner that you always happen to do." Draco looked desperate all of a sudden, and he began berating her with story after story of his past parties that turned into disasters. Thirty four minutes of wild gesticulating and several "WHAM!" "SPLAT!" and "I HATE YOU's" he ended with the phrase that Hermione could not turn away from, and despite her great disdain for Draco's Casanova habits she agreed to help his mother plan his birthday party. "I just want to have ONE decent birthday party Hermione" he said, and Hermione felt a sudden vice like grip on her lungs, and she felt sorry for him.
The boy who got everything, had everything but happiness. Hermione could tell that he was still that little sad boy inside, even if he pretended to be an adult making important decisions, he was still a little boy at heart. "I'll do it Draco," she said, "on one condition."
"What kind of condition," Draco said eying her suspiciously.
"You will have a date," Hermione said, "of my choosing, and you will be nice and you will behave yourself. I'll write it up as MAXXED magazine's event of the year, raffle off a dinner date with you before the party open to all sexes and kinds. You will be nice, and you will behave yourself." Hermione smiled and Draco looked utterly put out.
He paced the floor of her office for several minutes before saying: "technically that's seven things, but I agree to your demands. My mother will owl you details, times, people and I don't know and caterers etcetera, etcetera. And I expect you ready for tonight by five thirty."
And then he left.
Hermione leaned back in her chair, feeling like she had won an argument. She began making phone calls in preparation for Draco's date that night. Draco requested the restaurant because of it's closeness to a fire station. Which was fine with Hermione since she had already dined at that particular restaurant and found it more than satisfactory. It was quite fancy, specializing in spicy food, albeit spicy French food. It was owned by a famous actor and actress duo, Hermione thought that his next date would be impressed by it.
As part of the contest the women that go on dates with Draco are treated to an all day spa treatment followed with a "Build-Your-Perfect-Date-Outfit" run with the fashion director of MAXXED and a photo session for Hermione's column. The women didn't know it, but it was secretly a way to keep track of them for the whole day prior to the date. So they didn't go about blabbing their whole schedule to a reporter. The last thing that they needed was paparazzi snapping pictures during dinner. The planning was quite top secret, women are chosen in advance, replacements are hired and transformed into the woman to fill in as her for the day, and the lucky girl is picked up by limo the night before their date and taken to a guarded and fully surveillanced Five Star Hotel at the expense of Draco Malfoy himself. Only there are they prepped about the day that they are to have, their schedule, and on their date with Draco. Do's and don'ts and such. From then on they are never alone.
Hermione phoned the spa that Ms. Savannah Patrick was being pampered to check on her progress. The woman at the desk said that Savannah was in the middle of a massage at the moment, and that she had mani/pedi to follow that. Her hair appointment wasn't until after lunch, which worried Hermione a little. One o' clock was much too late to have her hair cut and styled and have her ensemble picked out. The head photographer would set cockroaches free in her office again if this woman was late like the other three. For the sake of a cockroach free office Hermione drew in a breath and said: "Millie dear, tell the masseuse to hurry it up, and push the mani/pedi. And also bring her hair appointment to eleven and feed her there if it runs into lunch. Gustav will have both of our heads if we keep this one from being on time to his shoot."
"Yes of course Ms. Granger," Millie replied in her candy apple sweet voice. "We'll have Ms. Patrick groomed and on your way by One Thirty."
"Thank you dear that will be all," Hermione mimed in the sweet tone. They hung up and Hermione bit her lip for mocking Millie. Draco had teased once that they were all like that at the spa, something about the about the Cheery Cherry Mask and Exfoliant seeping into your brain and mind control.
Ms. Savannah Patrick was Hermione's pick for tonight's date. She was a teacher, and a great fan of horticulture. A witch of great merit, but she's chosen to live a muggle life, stating in her application that: "It was more trouble than it was worth." She entered the contest to prove that prove that women like her (smart, bookish, and plain) hardly ever get picked to be participants in contests like these, let alone win. Hermione knew that never in a million years would Draco pick her in a line up to be his date so she did it for him. Looking from the picture that Savannah had provided, she was to a tee just as she described herself. Horn rimmed glasses, mousy brown hair, no make up, and clothes that hid every curve on her body. When Hermione saw her picture she immediately thought, "Aren't you someone trying real hard to be invisible?" And that was how she chose Savannah Patrick, because of her wish to be invisible and for her complete contrast to everything Draco stood for. It would give Draco a chance to talk to someone that disagreed with him, aside from Hermione, and really start to improve his dating skills. Hermione hoped they would hit it off since Draco hated to lose arguments and she knew that Savannah would give him his money's worth in semantics, and if she knew Draco he would insist on another date until he won an argument. Which Hermione doubted would be on the first date.
Hermione finished up her article on the first three dates, titling it "A Rocky Start." She printed it and sent it off to Draco's office with a runner. She had enough time left over to go home and answer letters from her friends and family. Most of the time it was the usual "IT'S A BOY!(or GIRL!)" cards, or a note from her parents asking when she'll be by for dinner. Hermione sorted her mail accordingly: bill, bill, invoice, parents, Harry, bill, invitation, notice, Mrs. Weasely, Bill, a letter from the post office about fanmail, work, work, work bill, Harry (again), catalog. Hermione saved the last letter in the pile to be first opened. It was from Angus, apparently he had to go off to France and wouldn't be back for another two weeks, she could tell that he'd just stuffed it into her mail slot because it didn't have a stamp and was written hurriedly. The rest of her mail didn't bear depressing news. Harry was to become a father, and the second Harry letter was addressee to Mrs. Weasely also saying that he was to become a father. Harry in his confusion told Hedwig to bring her both the letters. Mrs. Weasely's letter concerned a baby shower so Hermione assumed that she didn't have to forward Harry's letter to her since she'd already gotten the news. Bill's was a 'thank you' for "the wonderful piece in the Prophet," and invited her to dinner with him and the wife. The notice was from her dry cleaners about her clothes being ready, and the invitation was to Draco's 28th Birthday Party.
Actually Hermione had four copies of the invitation, each a different style and color and a small note that fell out of the envelope that simply said "Choose one." Hermione could not believe that she was already getting planning responsibilities when she had only agreed no less than two hours ago. Obviously Draco knew I would agree and had these already sent off before I even said yes, Hermione thought.
Manipulative little bugger.
Instead of picking a fight with Draco about it, she finished answering her letters, and picked an invitation to send back. She made a sandwich for lunch, and ran out of mayonnaise. Afterward she went to pick up her dry-cleaning, which was her date outfit for that night. Nothing too flashy, just a plain black dress, after all she wasn't there for pleasure but business, so she wanted to stay as much in the periphery as possible. Which is hard when you're fielding phone calls pretty much all of dinner about Draco's appointments and engagements. She had wanted a separate table, but Draco insisted that she sit with them.
"You're just being insecure," Hermione said on the first date with Penny Garber, but since then Hermione'd conceded to his fancy. The first date had gone swimmingly, until Penny slipped Hermione her phone number. The second date with Amanda Strongholder was perfect, Draco and Amanda got off real well, pleasant conversation, good dinner, good night. Until Camilla (just Camilla) came into the picture. The third date, which Hermione thought would be a winner as well thinking Draco's pick in women had improved since Penny, unfortunately for Hermione, Amanda came storming into the restaurant wand raised and interrupted Camilla's "fascinating" story about how she spends her days being a professional virgin. "Fascinating" was all Draco could say, he didn't seem to get past the words "Professional Virgin."
"I go to all sorts of functions requiring a virgin's touch," Camilla rattled on completely in her own world. "Special coming of age ceremonies, I went to Africa for a whole month because all sorts of tribes needed a 'presence' and being my cheerful self in general I brighten up people's day just by walking down the street. FREE OF CHARGE! Except I don't do sacrifices, I'd be out of a job!" she followed that with her charming laugh. "Hehahaha," every third "ha" she would breath in making her sound asthmatic. In the middle of her full recount of her misadventures with the language Ndebele, Amanda came and set her hair on fire, then found it necessary to pummel Camilla's face after lunging at her from the other side of the table. Needless to say, it was the burn ward for the both of them, fire damage that Draco had to pay for, and back to square one for them of them in the dating arena. According to the reports, Amanda had been waiting for Draco to call her back, and when that didn't happen in the span of a day, she began following him around. Hermione was glad that Amanda didn't attack her.
"Got to look out for number one!" as Draco often said as he found ways to slip out of meetings that he found tedious, to instead spend in his office doing something that was the antithesis of tedious Hermione hoped.
Hermione checked her watch and headed her way back to work. Savannah would be in the make up chair by now being prodded by the team of hair and make-up people probably disapproving of the way her hair was cut not even forty minutes ago, and "tsk, tsk-ing" at her poor posture, and garbling on about her wonderful skin from her lack of make-up application (or the opposite.) They did that with everyone that walked into their domain. Hermione arrived at MAXXED magazine's gleaming white walls, and shiny black counters. At two fifteen was when Hermione finally made her way to the fashion department knowing that Gustav was there shooing away the emergency fix woman off of Savannah. It was like clockwork, only this time she wasn't greeted with Gustav's "Evil Eye." It was rumored that he had singlehandedly caused a prime model to break her leg because she had been impertinent with him during a shoot. One look of the "Eye" and her career was no more. Hermione was not about to attempt to debunk that rumor, knowing full well that magic is more than what the textbooks tell you of.
"Hermione," Gustav sent with a large hint of an unknown accent, "is that what you are wearing tonight?" His eyes widened and then smalled with disapproval at her dry-cleaning bag, and his mouth formed a frown. Hermione rolled her eyes, and approached Savannah to introduce herself.
"If you're not mocking me Gustav, you're showing me disdain," Hermione said disregarding his question. "Hello, Savannah. I'm Hermione Granger, the coordinator of 'Dating Draco' and I'm pretty much responsible for the awful day you've had so if you want to blame anyone it's me." They shook hands and Hermione waited for flighty emergency fix woman to finish touching her up.
"Don't be silly," said Savannah as she was finally prodded for the last time (for that hour at least,) and she came and sat down with Hermione. "I've had a wonderful day. Everyone's been so nice, except those people in make up who seem to like pointing out your each and every flaw."
Hermione laughed, "Oh don't mind them, they're only beautiful on the outside that's why." Savannah relaxed considerably at Hermione's joke and began talking freely with her. "We've got a couple of minutes before they whisk you away to try several outfits on so let's cut to the chase . . ."
And then her phone rang. Hermione knew who it was, but could not fathom for the life of her what could be the emergency this time. She opened her cell and Draco's voice came into her ear. "Do you think the restaurant'll have a vegetarian menu?" he asked.
"Why is it important?" Hermione asked.
"Because my horos-" Hermione hung up. She directed her attention back to Savannah and began asking her the usual preliminary questions. They had a good start and finish. Gustav was kind enough to wait for Hermione's interview to finish before taking Savannah away to be dressed and photographed. Hermione decided that now would be as good as ever to call the restaurant and ask them about their vegetarian menu. After confirming a vegetarian menu she called the florist about the status of their bouquet of roses. A single rose for dinner, and a bouquet to be sent to her home at the end of the date. Everything was going well and in order, and for the first time in the almost three weeks she'd been working for Draco, she was ahead of schedule. She let out a deep breath and went to change into her dress, even if she was ahead of schedule, she still had a long night ahead of her, and she only hoped that she wouldn't have to rewrite her article to include tonight's date.
Assured that everything was going according to plan, Hermione made her way back to her office, barely a few feet from Draco's and went in to relax. Only when she sat down in her big leather chair did she realize that she had been on her feet almost the whole day. Her feet, felt sore from all her pacing during phone calls, and walking to and fro from one department to another checking and double checking all sorts of minutia for Draco before the magazine went to Draco's desk for a stamp of approval. Or else it would be another late week for Hermione, running errands and telling people to stop standing around. Draco confided that before her, he would drive the other editors half mad from hovering around their department if he felt they were lagging in quality. That since her, the editors have been a lot less on the edge, and a lot friendlier. "I even heard them laughing at underprivileged children the other day," he said as if it were a good thing they were happy over someone else's misfortune; especially children.
Five thirty rolled around and Hermione was already in Draco's office prepping him on Savannah. She showed him her before picture, since that was all she had at the moment, he looked mildly repulsed; 'old habits die hard,' thought Hermione. Gave Draco her background: teacher, no magic, etc, etc. He only rolled his eyes, which was an improvement from repulsed. Hermione trudged on, giving him topics to steer away from such as ex-boyfriends or girlfriends, and politics (magic and muggle alike.) She also gave him topics to hit on just in case of a lull; plants, herboligy, and fine arts. "And remember, tonight isn't about you Draco," Hermione began, "it's about getting to know her. So listen, and actually absorb what she's saying, don't just nod like you do in staff meetings, and–"
Hermione glared at him. "Like right now."
Draco knew he had been caught, and said: "Yes, yes Hermione, I will be nice and I will behave. Is that all?" Patience never was Draco's strong point. "I just hope she's not a total hag like that picture you showed me, her hair was like the opposite of yours back in Hogwarts. Limp, instead of a bird's nest."
Hermione let out a breath. "I know Draco, I was the one living it. I know I was awkward then, and you know what?" Hermione asked him. "It still hurts to be teased Draco, I had hoped that you had grown out of that." She looked at her shoes to avoid eye contact. Nearly ten years after Hogwarts, and she still felt the old wounds she had from being made fun of for the way she looked. And even though she had grown out of it, the scars were still there. "I'll see you at the restaurant," she said not looking up, and she left to retrieve Savannah.
Hermione was glad that she rode with the girls to the restaurant that night. She would have time alone with her thoughts, or distract herself by putting Savannah's mind at ease about her date. That's what she had done for the past two dates, and she did it again for this one. Soon the fifteen minute drive was over, and the door was opened, not by the chauffeur, but by Draco himself. Hermione clambered out of the limo to make room for Savannah to take his offered hand. He had meant it for her, but she snubbed it, and helped herself out. She watched him go through the motions, introduction and salutations (check), then he gives her the single rose (check), they smile (check), then on to the restaurant (check), and one long night (check.)
Hermione was extra quiet that evening. She ate quietly, and scratched her pen to paper softly and made no remarks when Draco dug himself into a hole he couldn't get out of. Despite her lack of involvement, the date moved quite smoothly, and Hermione was thankful for that. The two held pleasant conversation, trading questions and answers, until Savannah hit on a question never asked previously. It was so out of the blue, that it took Draco by shock, and it perked up Hermione's ears.
"So why get married?" said Savannah. Draco nearly chocked and his eyes looked like they could pop out. "I don't mean to pry but you're at your bachelorhood peak, why clip it before you reach your pinnacle?"
"Well," he said with a nervous chuckle. He ran his fingers through his hair and got real close to Savannah's face until they were forehead to forehead, "my paternal clock is running." He smirked.
"Oh you are a joker!" chimed Savannah pulling back from their semi-private powwow in the center of the table. Draco may have managed to sway Savannah from the question, but Hermione was still on the same track. The thought ran to the back of her head, and sat and stewed.
Dinner seemed to be a blur to Hermione, her notes looked foreign by the end of the night. She stopped paying attention the two, and stared off until the check came. She rose with them to leave and left the restaurant.
"I had such a wonderful time," said Savannah to Draco. She held her rose, and was all grins. Draco returned her thanks, and helped her into the limo.
"Have a good night," he said as he closed the door, but before doing so, he swooped down and planted a kiss on Savannah's cheek. The limo drove off, and left Draco and Hermione standing outside the restaurant. It left them, in an awkward silence. They hadn't spoken since their conflict in his office, a soft breeze blew through them, and the awkwardness continued. They just stood there, playing glance tag, until Hermione finally found her voice.
"Well," she said, "I'm just going to walk home." Draco looked like he was about to say something, but he didn't. "I'm that way," Hermione said, and walked past Draco to her flat three blocks down. Draco let her pass, wordlessly, although he seemed to have a lot to say. She kept walking, no less than fifteen paces she heard him call out.
"I!" he said. Hermione turned around and waited for him to finish. He scratched his finely quaffed head, and then continued. "I- I liked her." he finally managed to get out. Hermione only nodded, she was going to turn around, but he started talking again. "I'm . . sorry, for . . . what I said." Hermione swallowed a lump in her throat that she never realized was there before.
AN: ha, so this is where this chapter ends. Leave a review to tell me how much I suck for ending like that. I didn't beta, so please bear with me until I get one. Those interested are free to PM me, and we'll see how it works out.
Thank-you's are in order for: princess-of-all things-sweet, Panther Eyes (You'll have to keep reading to find that out), dragoneyes5000, rons-girl-forever, Cards (I love you, but I don't Love you, Love you,) villainvalkyrie, bookwormatcams, Rainbow sunchild (I'm sorry I failed you in updating soon), lawee (I love you, love you(, MsLessa (Giggles, I find are the best remedy for boring days, thanks for the consideration), Lillia111, Etre-loup de Madame (Well would you say "Yes" to a proposal based on the last bottle of rum you're guy had? If he were cute, maybe... jk), Artemis MoonClaw, Chrissy8887779999 (Narcissa sure does seem like she has something up her cloak sleeve doesn't it? I'm teasing, but I do hope you keep reading despite my long, LOOONG vacation,) dragon-hottie, xangel-luvx, Crystallized Snow, foxeran (Two Weeks Notice is one of my favorite Hugh Grant movies, right after Love Actually. He's TEH pretty) , Cereza, mesmer, XxAnimeLover14xX (I'm sorry it took me a long time to get this chapter out too), and ALL ANONYMOUS REVIEWERS!
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