Authors Note: A plus side to home-schooling is that I have enough free time to get this new chapter up, and finish reading the hunger games before dinner. Please review.


Sometimes skulls are thick. Sometimes hearts are vacant. Sometimes words don't work.

- James Frey, A Million Little Pieces.

Wind whipped through Draco Malfoy's blonde hair, and he pushed it down with his hand as he wrapped his coat around himself. Winter was definitely on the way, and if this razor sharp wind wasn't enough evidence, the slowly looming clouds certainly were.

As Draco made his way to his loft, he took out a cigarette from the small pouch of his jeans, and attempted to light it several times, before getting frustrated and tossing the small object to the side of him.

Since he woke up that morning, naked and alone on his couch, he had been in a shitty mood. He woke up to Astoria completely gone, and he spent the next half an hour chain smoking and punching the brick wall out on his balcony a few times. His anger only escalated when Lillian, one of his writers, had informed him of Bewitched's latest article, and although he presented the idea of covering the entire engagement with Hermione, he never imagined she'd have him help her. The fact that she did, made his rage soar.

"Fucking Granger." He muttered, before his mind flooded with images of actually fucking Granger.

To say he was confused, would be putting it lightly. He was going insane. Astoria left him 4 years ago. He began working with Hermione not 6 months ago. He didn't understand why he still felt such a strong desire for Astoria, and what bothered him most, was that he didn't know how he could feel attracted to Hermione Granger, either.

Although it wasn't uncommon for one to have sexual feelings for more than one person, Draco clung to that thought, his situation was even more complicated, because of the fact that Hermione had no real attraction to him at all, and up until late last night, he was so sure Astoria also had no feelings for him.

Draco reached his apartment building and walked to the elevator, heaving a frustrated sigh. He wondered how long it would take for Hermione to call Ronald Weasley. Wizards had adapted to telephones, which had made communication so much easier, but Draco hadn't decided whether this was good or bad.

His elevator ride was short, while a small red head witch stood next to him, stealing glances every few minutes. He grimaced at this, and when she got off on the third floor, he breathed a sigh of relief and leant back against the mirrored wall. He knew that Hermione lived on the third floor of the apartment complex, as he'd often see her dashing in and out on weekends. Not to mention the fact that she was still a heavy part of the public eye. She was part of the 'Golden Trio' and all that, and so she'd often be snapped by The Daily Prophet, leaving the building. Draco wondered for a moment if she knew he lived here. He wondered if she cared.


Three hours later, the clock above Draco's fireplace had struck eight. Almost like clockwork, on the last dime, the phone in the kitchen began to ring. Draco stood from his couch, and picked up his empty plate, placing it on the bench counter before picking up his phone and leaning against the wall next to the receiver.

"Hello?" He said, stifling a yawn.

"Hey, Malfoy." Hermione's voice came from the other end and Draco knitted his brow in confusion.

"Granger? How did you get my number?" He asked.

He heard Hermione chuckle softly, and he breathed deeply.

"I'm your boss, it's my job to know your contact details."

Draco smirked at this, it was like Hermione to memorise all those useless bits of information that anyone else would just overlook.

"Why are you calling?" He asked.

A beat passed, before Hermione answered.

"I spoke with Ronald, he's agreed to come to my office with Astoria, next Wednesday." She sounded… tired? Draco couldn't quite understand her tone.

"Okay." He said, trying not to think about having to deal with Astoria and Ronald together, when only last night they were-

"Malfoy? Are you listening?" Hermione huffed into the receiver.

"Huh?" He asked, snapping out of his own thoughts.

"I said, 'will you be coming?'" She said, obviously annoyed.

"I assumed so, isn't it my job?" Draco grinned into the phone, before realizing how much of an idiot he looked like.

"Granger, I've got to go. I'll see you at work." Before Hermione could answer, Draco hand hung up the phone.

After washing his plate, he walked to his bedroom and collapsed onto the soft mattress.


Authors Note: I know it's short, and I apologize, but I kind of felt like it needed to end there.