Another update so soon because, fuck school and fuck work in the AM.
_XX_XX_
"Tell me about Jack Griffith."
"Oh, oh. Someone has done his research?" Draco looks up at her from under his lashes, daring her to make another remark. "Okay, okay. He's not really a problem…" Draco's shoulders relax and he's put at ease until, "For now."
"For now? What is that supposed to mean?" He snaps.
"Well… He went back to America, that's where he is from, you know. Anyways, he went back to campaign for the rights of house elves in large cities. He's starting a movement… Hermione is… very… proud."
"What in the bloody hell!"
"He's using her founding principles from S.P.E.W, you see… While there are some elves who don't care to be free, there are many that are treated even worse in America than they were here."
"So they are still together?"
"No… they ended it, but it was on very good conditions..." she looks down at her hands and then back up at Blaise, "very good" He smirks.
"WHY DO YOU KEEP SAYING THAT? WHAT ARE YOU IMPYING?"
"She's implying that they ended the relationship with some very, very, hot breakup sex."
"Fine. Whatever. I have to go. I've spent my whole day chasing Granger, now I have to spend my whole night catching up on work."
XX
The night is droning on and Draco is finding it difficult to concentrate on last week's numbers. It's 1:35 and he hasn't even finished half of the paperwork.
Fuck.
He realizes he's completely worthless in the evening, always has been unless he was focused on booze or women.
This weekend, Blaise and Ginny's party is my chance. It's really my only shot… I don't see her saying yes at the party, but I have to try…
He grabs a quill and begins to make a list, brainstorming, knowing he could be doing something more productive but also that he can't do anything else until he gets at least one date.
Get Granger
Ask her at the Ministry
Buy her a Gift
Be straightforward
Prove myself to her
Buy her drinks to get her sloshed and then ask her out
Force her to say yes by doing something life threatening
Laugh at all her jokes, even if they are treacherous
Keep eye contact and chin up
Dress to impress… casually
Ask her about her… let her talk
Make sure she knows that I don't enslave my house elves
Give her the damn book I bought her
Be straightforward again
Just bloody follow her around until she says yes
XX
Draco pops his head into Blaise and Ginny's kitchen about 3 hours early for the party, "Mate, need help setting up?"
"Nope." Ginny walks through the kitchen from the dinning room and out onto the terrace. She can be heard talking to herself, rather aggressively, "If anyone needs help with a set up it's bloody Draco Malfoy. Having to devote my day to getting him a date with 'Mione. Bloody ridiculous. As if he couldn't figure this shit out his own. Doesn't bloody deserve 'Mione if he can't very well get her to say yes on his own."
Draco looks from Ginny, who is enchanting floating candles all around the balcony, to Blaise, "This was bloody stupid, wasn't it?"
"No, it's fine. It really is. She's just getting more and more like her mother…"
"I CAN HEAR YOU. I AM NOT LIKE MY MOTHER AND NO, IT IS NOT FINE."
"It really is fine. Theo needs tonight as well… He's bringing the bartender."
"TONIGHT IS FOR THEODORE! NOT YOU DRACO!"
"What in the bloody hell is her problem?"
"Ginny feels that if Hermione doesn't want you to bother her, then you shouldn't push her. She's just worried you're going to… well, be you."
"And what does that mean?" He jerks his head up to look through the French doors at Ginny, "OY, RED!"
She comes storming in looking every bit the fiery witch she is, "Look, Draco, I'm not going to help you because if you want to be with Hermione then you have to earn your bloody keep! You're not going to waltz in and get a play-by-play of what to do from me!"
She takes a deep breath and continues to rattle on, "Blaise suggested tonight so that you could have some time to see her outside of a work setting! I'll keep my trap bloody shut when she gets here but you can't 'GET' a girl like Hermione. The only way you 'HAVE' her is if she wants you to!" She throws her hands up.
"You're still the egoistical prat from school and I've grown fond of you over the last few years but damn it that was as a friend! You're not someone I want bloody dating my BEST FRIEND." Draco's face morphs, "Oh— Don't you even look like that! How do you have the gall to look appalled! Look at your history, you're a bloody twit and you know it! Got a record of shitty relationships a mile long." She draws a large breath and Blaise wonders if she's been breathing between all the yelling.
"Ginny, I'll have you know that I'm not interested in your play-by-play because I want to win her over my damn self. I don't want you giving me any bloody instructions! Who do you take me for, your twat of a brother? I like to fight my own battles and take my own challenges if you would like to know."
"Blaise suggested tonight and for unknown reasons your are all of a sudden so against it, clearly, but had nothing to say before it was all arranged! So, in my very humble opinion, either get your shit together and get the fuck over it, or next time, don't behave like a bloody little bint and be fucking honest and say you don't agree with it! And, no, clearly I can't 'GET' Granger easily, can I? There is nothing you have to do to convince her to say no because she's already done that, TWICE! I'll keep asking, with or without your bloody gathering!" He gestures wildly with his hands, "I know my past is besmirched and I'm not asking for forgiveness, I'm asking for a damn chance! I want to test the waters with her; I want her to want me! Okay! Okay?"
"What is the sudden obsession with her? I don't understand! I need to know! I have to know why!" Ginny is pacing around the kitchen, never taking her eyes off of Draco.
"Argh! Fuck you, Red! Fuck you!" He throws his head back and stares at the ceiling. Why can't things ever be simple?
"Mate—"
"NO, BLAISE! I'm serious!" Draco brushes Blaise off and looks back at Ginny.
"TELL ME!" She literally jumps, "If I like your bloody answer… I'll help you!"
"I thought I already told you, I don't want your damned help." He mutters.
"Yes. The. Fuck. You. Do." Each word is emphasized.
"I've always had a thing for Granger." He whispers it.
"Pft, no you haven't." Ginny brushes the statement off.
"Yes, I have. Ask Blaise."
Her eyes travel between the two.
Blaise nods subtly.
"Fine." She pauses, trying to assess the situation, "Why? And, why are you pursuing her now? Why not sooner?" Her questions are coming out quickly, in short breaths and she is panting.
"In the beginning, I denied it. She's just so different from my norm. My parents don't disapprove but they wouldn't understand. She has never been an easy person to pursue because she's so bloody terrifying."
"Mhm," She's giving nothing away.
"So, I went with the girls who threw themselves at me. It has been the easy route. I just never felt like I could have a chance with her… and then, at the club, she did something that surprised me… It could be nothing, absolutely nothing, but I can't help but wonder if she wants me to chase her in spite of her resistance."
"What did she do?"
"It's going to sound so, so stupid… She touched me. It wasn't casual. It was… lingering and persistent. She was so carefree and happy. I haven't held a conversation like that, with a woman, in a very long time… if ever." He can't meet her eyes because he's embarrassed. It's so ridiculous that he is fooling himself into believing that Hermione could have expressed some interest in him.
"The problem is that I've never known anyone like her. She's strong; she doesn't need me. She doesn't want me, either. It's like she's completely off limits to me… It's not just that there is a chase, because there most certainly is… She's just got such a big heart, where I'm basically stone; she's made a career for herself and it's sexy as hell; she carries herself beautifully, as if she doesn't give a damn whose watching, and it's because she doesn't. She does not give a damn… Look. If you want to help me out a little, that's great. If not, that's fine, too. I don't particularly care, but this… this conversation, we are done— and it goes nowhere."
XX
Blaise and Draco walk out to the deck. Each have a beer in hand, Blaise can't pass up the opportunity when they are staying in his own home and Draco needs one to calm the nerves.
"Good job, by the way."
"With?"
"That bloody test Gin just threw at you! She wasn't really all that upset... She just wanted to know your intentions."
"And she couldn't have just asked? You know, without the theatrics?"
From the kitchen, Ginny can be heard, "NO, I COULDN'T HAVE DRACO MALFOY! THEN I WOULD HAVE MISSED OUT ON YOU BEARING YOUR HEART AND SOUL TO ME. NOW, I SHALL EAT IT FOR BREAKFAST TOMORROW! MWHAHAHH!"
"You really need to control your wife."
I feel like such a tease.
