"Malfoy? What are you doing?" said Hermione, stepping out of the umbrella.
"Stop acting like you are fine when you are not. And get back here, you're going to catch a cold," said Malfoy, walking over to Hermione and covering her with the umbrella. "Lead the way back to your apartment."
"Thanks for that," said Hermione when they arrived at her doorstep. "But why did you do it?"
"Why don't we go inside first, it's a bit chilly out here Granger."
"We?" asked Hermione.
"Yes, I said we, I expect a cup of tea or hot chocolate after what I did," said Draco with his signature smirk.
Hermione unlocked the door and stepped in first and held it open for Draco to get in and shut it behind her. It may look as if the apartment was small and simple from the outside, but it was the exact opposite. The inside was extremely gorgeous. Two grey sofas were lined on each side of the walls with a glass coffee table placed in the middle. Magazines, books and some flowers were placed on the table. Beside the sofas were the glass door to the small backyard where Crookshanks was at runny about and getting dirt all over him. The open kitchen was at the back and the staircase was next to the kitchen island, leading to the second floor.
Hermione ran up the stairs followed by Draco behind. There were two doors on each side. Hermione turned right and saw Draco wanting to open the other room's door.
"Don't even think about looking inside there," said Hermione as turned the doorknob and entered her room.
Draco peeked inside and it was as grand as Queen Elizabeth's bedroom.
A King sized canopy bed was placed in the middle of the room with two simple drawers were placed on each side of the bed. A clear desk was placed near the window with a pencil holder on it. There was another door next to the desk and that was Hermione's closet. Inside was filled with no other than work clothes with only a few pairs of jeans which she rarely wears. Two chandeliers were hung in her room and in her closet.
"What do you want Malfoy?" asked Hermione. "Because you wouldn't do such thing unless you want something back in return that is important to you."
"I think we should go downstairs and sit, it's a long story."
They went downstairs and went separate ways. Draco sat down on the couch while Hermione went to the kitchen to make them something to drink.
"Cocoa or tea?" asked Hermione.
"Cocoa."
Soon, Hermione was back with their mugs of Cocoa with whipped cream and marshmallows on top. She handed Draco one of them and raised an eyebrow at him as he drank it.
"Okay, geez, I'll tell you," said Draco. "Can't even let a man rest."
As Draco was telling Hermione what happened about Pansy Parkinson and his mother, Hermione's eyes bulged bigger and bigger with each detail and her jaw dropped to the ground. When he told her Blaise's "genius" plan, she dropped the mug onto the floor and cocoa splattered everywhere, including her brand new carpet.
"So, you're asking me to pretend to be your girlfriend?" asked Hermione, waving her wand across the places with cocoa to clean it.
Draco didn't say anything but just nodded, afraid to meet her eyes.
"Are you mad? You called me a filthy mudblood during our years at Hogwarts and insulted me and my best friends, now you expect me to help you?" Hermione raged.
"What Granger?! You punched me in the face at our third year! I almost broke my nose!" exclaimed Draco, standing up.
"That was nothing, and according to Madam Pomfrey, you only got a small bruise. Leave. And don't expect any help from me," said Hermione, walking up back into her room.
"FINE GRANGER! I DON'T NEED YOUR FREAKING HELP!" shouted Draco, putting down his mug and walked out the apartment and slamming the door hard behind him.
Hermione sighed and another tear streamed down her face. She was missing Ron more than ever. To top that up, freaking Malfoy came to ruin her day more. She buried her face in her hands and then she remembered that she was still soaked from the rain. She hopped into the shower and changed into her pajamas. Picking up Crookshanks who was laying on the floor, she layed him on her lap.
Burying herself under her covers, she cried herself to sleep.
Draco kept swearing under his breath when he was walking towards his apartment.
"Stupid mudblood," mumbled Draco as he took out his keys and walked into his apartment.
"What mudblood?" asked the women who was currently standing in front of him.
"Mother? What are you doing here at this time of night? Shouldn't you be at the manor?" asked Draco.
"Don't try to change the subject Draco. What mudblood? Where were you?" asked Narcissa.
"I was with Blaise at the bar. We were recalling our wonderful memories during our years at Hogwarts. Then Blaise delightfully brought up Granger," Draco lied, though Narcissa bought it.
"Ms. Granger... Weasley's girlfriend?" asked Narcissa.
"Yes."
"So, did you do as I said and wrote some letters back to Pansy?"
"MOTHER NO! I DON'T LIKE HER!" shouted Draco.
"Why not? She's a wonderful girl to date," said Narcissa.
"She may be a bit attractive but she's annoying," complained Draco. "Plus, I... I never mind, I'm getting tired, you should go back to the manor as well it's getting late," said Draco. He was about to tell his mother the lie Blaise came up with. But he thought it may be a better idea to have Granger agree to it first.
Somehow, Draco felt Hermione needed his help, like she's not feeling well. She did get soaked by the rain. Draco needed his mom to stop bothering him so he decided to get on with the plan tomorrow.
"I guess I'll start by making her some breakfast tomorrow," Draco muttered and went to bed.
The next morning
Hermione woke up because of the mouth-watering smell of pancakes coming from the kitchen.
"Who is in here? Maybe it's Ginny," said Hermione to herself. "GINNY! IS THAT YOU?"
No reply.
Putting on her dressing gown, she walked downstairs without brushing her hair or her teeth.
"Ginny, you could've -"
"Morning Granger."
"MALFOY?! What are you doing here and how did you get in?" asked Hermione in shock.
"I have my ways. And you sure look different than before," Draco complimented, looking at her from head to toe.
Forgetting about everything, Hermione ran back upstairs to her room, cursing herself for not getting ready first.
She brushed her hair and teeth, put on some simple make-up. She wouldn't normally wear make-up but she chose to today since she looked as pale as a ghost. She picked out a pair of work clothes and her purse and headed downstairs.
She wasn't feeling quite well, she was feeling cold but it was sunny outside.
"Don't you look boring Granger," said Draco, putting up a plate of pancake with whipped cream and berries on the kitchen counter for her to eat.
"I'm going to work later and why are you doing this?" asked Hermione.
"I do understand you won't help me since you have a boyfriend -"
"Don't," said Hermione. " Ron and I broke up yesterday night, that's why I was crying and alone in the streets. And don't try to sound sympathetic."
"Oh... I'm sorry. You two looked perfect together I'll have to admit. I'm not doing this to bribe you. I was wondering since we already graduated from Hogwarts, maybe it's time to make a change and maybe we can stop hating each other? And I'm sorry about what happened yesterday night," said Draco, slightly blushing. It was half true and half a lie.
"Did Blaise tell you to do this?" asked Hermione, stuffing the last bits of pancake into her mouth. "That was a good pancake, by the way, thanks for that."
"Of course it's good. For your information, I made it from scratch," replied Draco.
"Write down the recipe later for me, will you? I would like to make that for Ginny."
"Sure," replied Draco and conjured up a piece of parchment and a quill and quickly scribbled down the recipe for Hermione.
"And about your question, sure," said Hermione, rubbing her temples from the headache she was having since she woke up.
"Thanks, Grang... I mean, Hermione. By the way, are you sick? You look very pale," said Draco, walking over to Hermione and placed his hand on her forehead. "Merlin! You're burning! Probably caught a cold yesterday night."
"Did you just call me Hermione?" asked Hermione, putting away her plate in the sink.
"Shut up Granger. And don't even think about going to work today. I'll send a letter to your boss to inform him."
"But Malfoy! I have a lot to do, I can't skip work! Not even thirty minutes of it!" yelled Hermione.
"Nope. You go straight back in bed now and rest. I'll go to buy some lunch for you soon and some medicine from the pharmacy as well. Now go," said Draco, pointing towards to stairs to tell her to go back upstairs to her bedroom.
"Fine, mother."
Draco was starting to like Hermione. His lips twitched up into a small smile as she was walking back upstairs. After loading the dishwasher, taking out the trash and mopping the floor, he apparated to the pharmacy first.
When Draco arrived at the pharmacy, he went to the pills section. To his surprise, he saw Narcissa there with another girl, and he regretted going there first.
