Never Gonna Make you Cry

Chapter IV

Hey everybody! Thanx for the reviews! Once again, I really appreciate it! It's great to have feedback- it really helps my writing process! And support is always great! Here are just some quick notes to reviewers:

Yobusy: don't worry, I didn't get the wrong idea… and I think I mentioned in chap. I that malfoy's 'crime' was worse than Harry or Luna's (it had worse potential consequences)… I guess Harry probably (realistically) would've been a better choice for someone to try to regain Hermione's trust (since they're already friends) but first of all, having Draco go suits the purpose of this story… also, Im planning on an explanation for the large rift between Ron, Hermione and Harry later… but I don't wanna give too much away!

Duma: yep, im really excited for Draco convincing Hermione to return, too! It's gonna be fun to write!

Thank you also to: Silver Rose-17, ca803, Kala-Kuriko (12 hugs? Yayyyy!!), and Black Raven Midnight

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Hermione woke up feeling slightly groggy, with faint panic twisting and knotting deep down in her belly. Her eyes flickered open, and clashed almost immediately with icy grey orbs. Malfoy. And then she remembered all about Malfoy. He was, essentially her boss. Boy oh boy! She thought, as she sat up slowly. This is like a dream come true. Only a REALLY bad dream.

"Are you all right, Hermione?" Draco asked, concern evident in his eyes. The grumpy old lady who looked like—and acted like—Neville's gran hobbled towards Hermione. Hermione quickly looked away, not feeling in the mood for a confrontation. Looking back at Draco she frowned.

"That's Miss Granger to you, Malfoy—last time I checked we weren't on first name terms," she grunted, her voice laced with malice. Now she had a headache. She had never fainted before, and now she'd had the experience, she was in no hurry to repeat it.

"Sorry Miss Granger," he paused slightly, smirking, his voice taking on a mocking tone, "I figure since I'm now your boss—and savior—I had the right. But then again, some people never seem to be able to learn there place…" he trailed off, letting her fill in the blanks and understand the hidden slur in his words. So I'm still 'mudblood' to him. She realized. For some reason, the realization brought on a sad, faint achy feeling in her gut. She shook it off.

"When you've earned the right to call me by my first name, I'll let you know. And last time I checked it was your fault I fainted in the first place!" she glared at him, challenging him to respond.

"Oooh, good to know I have that sort of affect on you Granger," Draco smirked. Hermione's mouth dropped open and she mouthed wordlessly at him, horrified at his implications. Draco continued, with sarcastic thoughtfulness. "Let me think here for a second. Do I want to hear what you're about to say? Maybe? Because it would be amusing, and I could get an excuse to report you to our boss for bad conduct… however, I think for now you'd better get back to work… Miss Granger." Hermione cringed slightly internally at the patronizing way he said her name. He sounded like a professor. And she certainly didn't ever want to think of Draco Malfoy with the power to decide people's futures—give the grades—in his hands…

"Well, Mr. Manager, if you want me to work LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE—I still have seniority over you here, and I'm not afraid to pull a few strings to get you…fired!!" She smirked at him, in a near perfect imitation of his trademark expression, and turned and began to walk away. Draco turned, frowning, in the opposite direction. Since when has she been so… disagreeable? I mean, yeah, she always was annoying, but she kind of mellowed out after the war… but she IS kinda sexy when she's angry! He smirked.

"Ooooh! Kinky!" muttered the old lady in response to their argument, just loud enough for Hermione and Draco to hear, effectively breaking Draco out of his reverie. Both whirled around, sending almost-identical glares towards the old woman. "And don't forget my drinks, honey!" she shouted after Hermione, who simply shook her head in disgust and headed back into the kitchen to get them.

At nine, Hermione's shift finished. She went into the back room to collect her purse from her locker. Grabbing her car keys, she smiled, imagining the hot shower she'd indulge in at home to work the stress-induced kinks out of her back. She was startled out of her reflections by a tap on her shoulder. Already knowing who it was, she turned around exasperatedly.

"What do you want Malf—" She was startled to see it wasn't actually her arch-nemesis from her school days as she had expected, but instead Ben, the busboy and fellow University student. (He's majoring in English, right?). She'd only talked to him a couple dozen times—he was quiet and introspective, but most definitely intelligent—and their conversations stuck out in her minds as breaths of fresh air in the monotonous atmosphere of the restaurant. He isn't at all bad looking, either… She thought, feeling slightly bad for always having ignored him, passing him off for just another guy. With those deep brown eyes and almost black hair, he really could be quite handsome… She smiled at him.

"Hey, Ben! How's it going?" she asked, with more cheer than she thought possible to muster when she was so damn exhausted.

"Ahhh, I'm fine, Hermione…It's been a long day, but that's nothing new!" he laughed. He seems more outgoing than usual… she realized.

"Is your shift over now, too?" Hermione wondered, fingering her car keys absently.

"Yep, I'm just heading out now…" he trailed off. Hermione dredged up her mental file labeled 'Ben' and shuffled through it. He isn't exactly well-off right now, she remembered. His parents wouldn't pay for his college, so he probably doesn't have a car… or if he does, he can't afford to run it.

"You need a ride?" she asked as she pulled on her coat and scarf.

"Ummmmmmm…" Ben looked uncertainly at her, his rocker-cut dark hair half in his eyes, a bashful expression on his boyishly handsome face.

"Don't worry, it's definitely no trouble…" Hermione encouraged, smiling up at him.

"Ok. Sounds good to me… I live on Park Avenue… is it too far away from your house? I really hope its no bother…" he muttered, clearly slightly embarrassed about his situation.

"Oh, it's fine!" Hermione said, giving him another friendly smile. "I just recently saved up enough to buy my car. Before then I was hitchhiking and borrowing rides off everyone to get around town… I figure it's good karma to pay some of that back… you know? And besides, it's nice to have someone to talk to on the way home!" Ben grinned back at her.

"Sounds good!" he said, loosening up again. "I heard you had a little spat with new evening manager… what do you think of him?" Hermione groaned slightly, but shrugged noncommittally.

"He seems to like being in charge. He'll be ok. I guess." They walked out to her car, chatting lightly about the University, work, being poor, and day to day life, completely unaware of the icy silver eyes watching them from the dining hall window.

Ben really is a nice guy, Hermione realized the next morning. It was Sunday, so she had plenty of down-time. She booted up her computer and e-mailed some of her Muggle friends, and then picked up her phone, and got ready to call Sally. Of course she'll find out about me giving Ben a ride home through the gossip grapevine… it's better if I tell her the details myself… and besides, she's been dying for me to like someone romantically FOREVER… she'll be really pleased if I just mention Ben as possibly something more than a friend.

As Hermione had predicted, Sally was psyched to hear about a potential romance in Hermione's life, and they arranged to meet at a small local coffee house in an hour. Hanging up the phone, Hermione shook her head and rolled her eyes. Romance? Come on! I barely know the guy… I can see us being great friends, but it's way too early to be talking about DATING… Sally really is boy crazy. Hermione chuckled to herself, and went into her bedroom to change out of her pajamas into stylish skinny jeans and a deep purple pea coat. She let her hair curl luxuriously down her back, but put a matching purple ribbon in her hair. She completed the ensemble with purple boots. Grabbing her purse, she headed out of the house, knowing she'd be a little early to meet Sally, but glad for the extra time to walk around town and just enjoy the beautiful—but frosty—day.

The streets were slightly icy, but Hermione loved the cold winter air. Allowing herself to just let go, and embrace her inner child, Hermione blew out into the cold winter air, making shapes with her breath. Smiling and humming as she walked along, she was completely oblivious to those around her. She finally became aware of another presence walking by her side, and jumped slightly, slipping dangerously on the ice in the process. After what seemed like an eon of slip-sliding on the icy sidewalk, Hermione fell, bringing the stranger down with her.

Ouch.

"Nice to see you again, Miss Granger!" an overly-cheery voice called from beside her on the pavement. Hermione groaned. Malfoy. Not again. I swear, he's like my shadow. Everywhere I go, he goes!

"Nice? Nice? I'm lying on the icy sidewalk, thoroughly bruised and embarrassed, being stepped on by passersby and you call this NICE?" Hermione's voice started out a dangerous his and slowly grew in volume 'til she shouted the last word, sitting up on the ice and rubbing her arm.

"Well, it was certainly a lovely morning before I saw you, Granger!" Malfoy sneered, clearly insulted by her anger.

"Rest assured I feel the same way, Malfoy!" Hermione huffed, slipping and sliding as she attempted to stand.

"Hey, by the way, I meant to inquire how your date went last night…" Malfoy said, his smirk firmly in place. Hermione was thoroughly confused.

"Date? What the fudge are you talking about Malfoy?" she asked, pretty pissed at him by now.

"Don't take the name of our former minister of magic in vain, Granger…" Malfoy sneered at her.

"Fine. I'll rephrase it then. WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT YOU STUPID, OVERLY-EGOTISTICLAL, BIGOTED, FERRETY FREAK!" a few passersby had stopped to listen to her tirade. Malfoy had the decency to look slightly abashed.

"Never mind, Granger… I was just alluding to your… um… well, it was nice talking to you, bushy-haired, buck-toothed, book-worm!" He jumped up, with much more ease than Hermione, and smiled at her, his good mood seemingly restored by the barrage of insults. Startled Hermione started slipping slightly, an expression of horror appearing on her pretty face as she felt herself begin to go down (not again!). Suddenly a hand shot out, catching the small of her back, steadying her. Draco. He was smiling somewhat belligerently, but the bulk of his foul mood seemed to have disappeared in the blink of an eye. Hermione slapped his hand away, huffing indignantly.

"Watch where you put your hands, Malfoy—I'll have you know I still have a killer right hook!" she grinned slightly inside, but kept a scowl on her face. Malfoy was momentarily speechless, his mouth working like a fish.

"You despicable, freaky, ungrateful, horrible, ugly, miserable, low-life! I just saved your sorry little neck and what do you do? You bitch at me! I don't ever want to see your face again, mudblood!" he suddenly looked shocked after his little tirade, but it was too late. Tears were already forming in Hermione's soulful cinnamon-brown eyes.

"I'm not even a mudblood any more, Malfoy," Hermione whispered in a broken voice, "I'm a muggle. Just a muggle. They have my wand. They probably broke it. They have my life. And they're never going to give it back. Ever. And I don't want to see you again, either, Malfoy, because you just remind me of what I'm missing out on. And because you're a spoilt git who doesn't understand what it's like to have nothing…" she paused, and wiped her eyes, trying unsuccessfully to hide her tears. "Get out of my face, Malfoy. I don't have time for your pigheaded crap."

PLEASE REVIEW EVERYBODY!!! I LOVE WRITING THESE CHAPTERS, SO THEY'LL BE COMING PRETTY FAST!!! BUT IT I GET LOTS OF REVIEWS, THEY'LL COME EVEN FASTER!!!!!!!!