Chapter Three- Emergency
After a fitful nights sleep, in the now lonely double bed, Hermione felt worse for wear. As she rose to the sunlight streaming into her bedroom window, the realisation hit her: Ron had gone and she had a feeling he would not be coming back.
Brushing the sleep and gently rolling tears from her eyes, she headed into the adjoining bathroom, and flicked the shower on. Grateful for the rush of the hot water, she began cleaning her hair, and exfoliating her body. She noticed that there was a peaceful atmosphere, then realised it was probably because she didn't hear the usual, "Aren't you done in there yet?"
Dressed in her usual crisp white blouse, short pinstriped skirt, she headed downstairs, where upon the table were three owls.
One she recognised as Harry and Ginny's snow white, the aptly named, Hedwig II. The next was a small barn owl, clutching a bright pink envelope in its beak. The third owl was a large eagle owl, that had not only a letter tied to it's leg, but a small parcel on the opposite leg.
Hermione took a slice of bread from the bread bin and broke it up into little pieces, offering to the owls. Hedwig II took a few mouthfuls, while Hermione relieved her of the letter. She ruffled her feathers, gave a hoot and off she flew, out of the window.
The barn owl simply dropped the letter on the tabletop, turned its beak up at the bread and soared after Hedwig II.
"Suit yourself," she said.
Finally, after taking the letter and parcel, the eagle owl took a small piece, swallowed it whole, spread its wings and flew off.
With trembling fingers she opened the first letter:
Dearest Hermione,
I can't believe how my jerk of a brother treat you, he had no right! He turned up here last night, much to our shock. He explained what had happened at yours, and he still had the nerve to say it was your fault. Naturally, I don't believe him- I have work colleagues dropping in all the time.
"True she does," Hermione murmured.
Between me and you, Ron was lucky to leave with his body parts fully intact. Harry was ready to hex the living daylights out of him. Shame he didn't!
Just because Ron's an asshole, doesn't mean the rest of us Weasley's are. We still love you.
If you need me let me know ok. I'm always here for you.
Love Ginny (and Harry)
Hermione smiled and opened the next.
Granger,
Keep your bushy haired self away from my Won Won! He doesn't love you, he chose me, after all. Hands off my man bitch!
L. Brown
"And that Hermione is one pathetic, desperate little girl," Hermione said to herself. She took great delight in ripping the letter into small pieces, imagining each piece was Ron or Lavender.
Hermione nervously took the third letter. With trembling fingers, she opened it.
Dear Hermione,
I am dreadfully sorry to hear about the argument that ensued when I left yours last night. And sad to say, everyone in our Department already knows. "Lav Lav" has been in, spreading nasty malicious lies. According to her, we've been having a passionate and heated affair, and the reason "Won Won" left you was because he caught us in a rather uncompromising position on your kitchen table…
I hope you're handling it well and you'd better be considering you're a Gryffindor!
We'll talk properly at the office, if you need to that is.
Oh, and if you're wondering what the parcel is about, I saw this and thought of you.
Yours,
Draco
Pushing away the thoughts that now encircled her mind, Hermione reached for the parcel. Carefully, she took off the brown wrapping paper and string, until she found a small black velvet box. Inside was a simple silver necklace.
"Oh!" she gasped. It was beautiful. She took the chain from the box, and held it up in the rising sunlight. It shimmered and shone with the purist beauty imaginable.
Hesitating for perhaps a minute, she slipped the necklace around her neck and rushed like a small child to the mirror. It was truly beautiful.
The clock strung eight and Hermione jumped. She'd be late if she wasn't careful. Sighing, she slipped her feet in the simple red heeled shoes, wrapped her black travelling cloak around her, took up her large handbag, concentrated with all her might and Disapparated.
*
Draco lounged in his chair behind the desk. Pale violent inter-departmental memo's were flying left right and centre outside the shared office, carrying not work related issues, but whether the pure-blood Mr. Draco Malfoy and Muggle-born Miss. Hermione Granger were having a passionate and erotic affair. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
How he wished that what was happening. What would he give to be the one to make her drinks, cook her dinner, take her out, buy her pretty things, hold her hand, kiss her lips, share her bed…
True, he had taken more notice of her since the Yule Ball of the Triwizard Tournament in there fourth year, but he hadn't dare do anything about it. Him, a Malfoy and he hadn't dared ask a girl out!
It didn't matter that she was a Mudblood anymore. She was Hermione Granger, a bright and brilliant, very intelligent witch, with stunning natural beauty, who was also running quite late into work-
The door clattered open and Hermione came into the room, carrying a large file of paperwork. She jumped the folder on her desk and had just crossed the room to hang up her cloak, when Draco realised something.
"You're wearing it," he said, attempting to hide a sphinx type grin.
"Oh". She turned to face him and smiled. "Yes, it's beautiful. Thank you".
He smiled back. A true smile.