The days went by slowly, She spent a few days in the comfort of Harry and Ginny's house before heading back to her own. Everything Hermione looked at reminded her of him but slowly he began to leave her memory when Hermione returned to her work. She was an assistant to a big wizard law firm. Luckily for Hermione they understood everything she was going through. Her boss's wife had had cancer and passed away some month ago, actually almost a year now so he gave Hermione as many days off as she liked and a raise, which Hermione thought was entirely not necessary, but her boss just shrugged it off. Hermione walked into work three weeks after the incident with Draco with her head held high.

"Morning Hermione" Hermione was greeted like this everyday by her boss. He would stroll out of his office to hand Hermione some important documents and set her to work. Luckily for Hermione a few months ago they hired a new girl called Patricia to be Hermione's second assistant.

"Morning Mr Mane" Hermione said as she greeted him. Mr Mane, was a large built man, he had a strong build and had a smile to die for. He had strong brown eyes and dark brown hair. He always wore suits, even at home and on several occasions has bought Hermione little gifts. Although he was faithful by love to his wife, he had several encounters with other woman throughout his marriage, Offcourse Hermione never fell for his charm and always remained his secretary, but his wife didn't seem to agree with Hermione..

"Hermione, I have told you many times, please call me Hector" Hermione smiled at the man. He truly had his best intentions for her.

"And I have told you," Hermione said as she set her bag down on her desk. "That I think calling my boss by his first name is unprofessional like" Hermione said with a big smile as she sat down. "What's on the agenda today?"

"Well I was rather hoping you would go shopping with the money I am about to give you" Hermione raised an eyebrow and looked at him.

"Really, and why would I want to go shopping when I've had many months off?" Hermione asked out of curiosity as she waved her wand, causing all papers on her desk to neaten them.

"Because there is a charity ball tonight and you are going to accompany me" Hector said with a big grin on his face. He never asked anyone for anything. He always demanded. On the other hand Hermione's heart sunk as she heard this. Draco's Charity Ball, she had completely forgotten about it.

"Oh Mr Mane, I cannot attend. I have a history with the person responsible for the charity ball" Hermione said quickly as she searched through her drawers in search of something to take her mind off of him. "Patricia do these documents for me" Hermione said as she motioned for her second assistant to come and get the documents.

"I never asked you my dear Hermione, I am insisting you come. It would be good to get out after all those months at St. Mungo's. Do you not think?" Hector still had the big grin on his face as he held an envelope out for Hermione to take. "As you know this firm is a proud sponsor of St. Mungo's and I am required to go" Hermione took the envelope at glanced inside it before bringing the invitation out. "And I must have a date"

"Are- are you sure you wouldn't rather Patricia?" Hermione said as she nervously glanced around the room.

"No, Hermione you are to come with me… now here is some money. You need jewellery, shoes, you're hair to be done, make-up and offcourse… the dress" Hermione's face fell as she heard all of this.

"But that would be so expensive. Mr Mane-" Hermione was interrupted by Hector handing her a bunch of money rolled up.

"Tut-tut my dear. I am a very wealthy man, and I can spare a few galleons" Hermione vaguely new what happened after that because Hector gave her, her bag and ordered her to go down and start spending his money.

Hermione walked down the steps of the Firm and out onto the streets of Diagon Alley. Thank-god the firm was on Diagon Alley, right above a little tea shop nobody rarely visited. Actually come to think of it Hermione thought to herself. Its only customers must be the firm. Hermione set off down the alley until she came to Madam Malkin's robes shop. Hermione smiled and went in. Hermione began wondering around looking at the clothes.

She wanted something to make sure Draco new she was over him. Something radiant, dazzling, something unique and spontaneous…

"Hi there" Madam Malkin said as she walked up to Hermione breaking Hermione's train of thought. "How can I help you?" Hermione looked at the dress on the hanger and turned to Madam Malkin.

"I have to attend the Malfoy Charity Ball tonight, do you have anything… I don't know possibly, dazzling…" Madam Malkin looked off into the distant slightly.

"Something to make someone wish they wanted you possibly?" Madam Malkin asked as she raised an eyebrow. Hermione nodded and let the lady walk her over the dressing rooms. "Now you wait in here and I'll bring you the dresses" Hermione nodded and sat down on the little chair that was in the changing room. "I'm b-a-c-k" Madam Malkin sang lightly. She handed the dress over and Hermione began tried it on.

It was loose and red. It flowed down to her knees and left a little bit of cleavage to be shown. "Do you have anything more… spontaneous?" Hermione asked as she looked at the lady. She smiled and walked away. A few moments later she came back with another dress and Hermione tried it on. It was light pink light orange and had spaghetti straps going over she shoulder but other than that it was plain and a little too big.

"Do you want to stand out from the crowd?" Madam Malkin asked as is she had the perfect thing in mind. Hermione nodded and the lady bustled away before coming back with a white bag covering a dress. "This is a one of a kind dress, only one made by the muggle designer Chanel. I just got this in last week and I have been holding it off for someone special" Madam Malkin said as she hung the bag up and zipped the white bag off.

"Oh, I'm not special" Hermione muttered as she waited for the dress to come out. The lady stopped what she was doing and turned around to look at Hermione over the top of her glasses.

"Oh but you are" She said before leaving and closing the door behind her. Hermione's brow crinkled but she turned back to the dress. She gasped when she saw it and hurried to put it on, all the while being very careful.

Hermione walked out of the changing rooms a few minutes later in the dress and Madam Malkin nodded and smiled a big smiled. The dress was deep dark green with light sparkles over it. It had a low cleavage front almost reaching Hermione's belly button but it stopped, all the while sticking to Hermione's body. It also had a low plunging back on her back with thin, thin spaghetti straps running from one side to the other side. It stayed tight all up the top of her body and stayed slightly tight as it reached her legs but got looser as it went to her knees then ankles.

"Wow" Hermione muttered as she was out of breathe. The dress was none of the things she had wanted. This dress was desirable, better than what she was thinking.

"It fits… perfectly… this dress was made for you" Madam Malkin said as she examined Hermione in the dressed.

"I think I'll take this one" Hermione said as she looked at herself in the three mirrors. Hermione never saw herself as pretty, or beautiful but this dress made her curves stand out. After Hermione got changed again and paid for the dress (thanks to hector) she left the shop and headed for the most famous jewellery shop in all of the wizarding world. Hermione walked into the gold covered, silver covered, bronze covered diamond shop in Diagon alley. The snobbish lady at the counter eyed Hermione up and down before glancing over at her colleagues and walking over to her.

"Anything in particular you like?" she asked as Hermione was bending over a cabinet looking at a ring she saw.

"Yes, I suppose" Hermione murmured as she looked at a necklace that would look perfect with the dress she just bought. It was absolutely ravishing, it had silver diamond little flowers going all the way around the rim until it met in the centre with a big light green tangy coloured diamond. "Can I please have a look at this necklace?" Hermione asked, as she was still transfixed on the necklace. The lady stood there and looked at Hermione.

"I'm sorry" she started with a big fake smile. "But I don't think anything in this store would be in you're price range, especially that exquisite one of a kind piece of jewellery" She said as she turned to walk away. Hermione stood there shocked for a moment. Hermione then got angry and turned to leave. She was now so annoyed that she walked straight back to the firm without getting anything else done and slumped in her seat.

"Hermione, what are you doing back?" Hector said as he walked out of his office straightening his tie and fixing his hair with Patricia following closely behind. Thank god Hermione didn't notice.

"I was practically asked to leave the jewellery store because I didn't look rich enough for their standards" Hermione said as she put her head in her hands and rolled it from side to side.

"The Diagon alley shop?" Hector asked. Hermione bobbed her head up and down before she felt Hector pick her up out of her chair. He stood her up straight, handed her bags to her and followed her out of the firm. After a quickly take away coffee from the coffee shop he and Hermione set off down the street. They reached the shop in no time and hector told Hermione to wait outside for a moment and follow in him in, in exactly 45 seconds. Hermione began counting while he went in.

"Good morning Mr Mane" half the shop chorused as they saw him walk in. He was there favourite costumer.

"Good-day. So how are the sales?" A few girls giggled over nothing and the snobby one that served Hermione walked up to him.

"There excellent thank-you" She said as she fiddled with his tie because it was crooked.

"Good, good" He said before the buzzer went off signalling another costumer coming into the shop. The snobby one glared at Hermione and stormed over to her.

"I'm sorry but I'm going to have to ask you to leave. You are not welcome in here" Hermione opened her mouth to retort to the girl but Hector bet her there.

"Now, is that the was we treat our costumer?" Hector said as he looked at the young girls. "This young lady happens to be a very good friend of mine. So you better start sucking up to her and kissing the ground she walks on, or I am taking all my business that has anything to do with this store down the other jewellery store" A few girls gasped and the one that was snobby to Hermione, paled considerably. "Get her anything she wants" Hector said in a stern voice before walking over to Hermione saying good-bye and that he will pick her up at 6:30 and then leaving the shop.

"I am so sorry" the girl started but Hermione cut her off.

"I just want the necklace" Hermione said as she walked over to the counter top it was in. After a few minutes of fumbling around Hermione finally bought the necklace along with some dangling diamond earrings and a plain silver bracelet. Hermione left the shop with her head held high and smiled before going to the beauty shop.

Hermione was treated like an equal as she got everything done in the shop. She was massaged all over, and then had a manicure and pedicure. Not long after they trimmed her hair and the man waved his wand causing Hermione's hair to be pulled up into tight curls. He sprinkled some sparkles on her hair before getting another lady to do her make-up.

All in all Hermione was happy about the way the afternoon went. She spent it laughing with a bunch of happy masseuses hairdressers and nail technicians.

"Good-bye Hermione!" they called as Hermione paid and left the shop.

"Bye!" Hermione said with a big smile as she held her bags firmly and left the shop. Hermione got a shock once she got outside. She must have been in there for a few hours because it was freezing outside and dark-ish. There were only a few people wondering the streets so Hermione turned around on the spot and with a Crack she was in the comfort of her home.

Hermione walked around the house and quickly cleaned it before glancing at the side clock. It was now twenty past six so with roughly ten minutes to spare Hermione slipped into her dress and loved the feeling of being in silky expensive material. Almost like the time at the hospital… Hermione quickly pulled the jewellery on and with no time to spare Hector knocked on her front door. "Come in" Hermione called as she did her bracelet up and walked into the hallway. A whistling Hector walked in her front door.

"Hermione, you look lovely" He said as he walked over to Hermione and gave her a big fat kiss on the cheek.

"Thank-you, do you want the change there is only a few galleons?" Hermione said as went into her kitchen to fish for them.

"No, it's fine… but we should be going" Hermione nodded as her and hector walked to the front door, before she stopped.

"This isn't classified as a date is it? Because I've told you its strictly professional between us" Hermione said as she put her hands on her hips and gave him a stern look.

"No love, now lets go the Limo is waiting" Hector said as he pulled Hermione out the door and closed it behind him. The drive there was mostly the talk of the Firm and a few glasses of Champaign until it pulled up out the front the familiar mansion Hermione didn't want to see. "Lets go my dear" Hector said as he waited for the limo driver to come around and open the door. Upon getting out of the car there was a long red carpet that stretched into the mansion.

Hermione and Hector started on the walk up the red carpet with candles flying in mid air. When they got inside the mansion mostly everyone from the hospitals and big law firms where already there mingling.

The room, which used to be the lounge room was now enchanted to be twice the size hell even five times the size. There was a stage at the very end with a wooden dance floor right in front of it. An orchestra was on the stage and all around the wooden dance floor was circle tables with the names of guest on them.

"Are we late?" Hermione whispered to Hector.

"No Sweets, were just… not early" He said as he flashed Hermione his award winning smile.

"Hector Mane!" Came a shrivelled voice from behind Hermione and Hector. The both turned around to see none other that Neville Longbottom's gran standing there wearing a gold frock with a big blue hat on top.

"Mrs Longbottom" he said as she wondered over to him and accepted a kiss on the hand. It was then that Hermione noticed a rather nervous looking boy fiddling with his cufflinks.

"Neville?" Hermione said as she walked over to him and stood in front of him. Neville looked up at Hermione and beamed.

"Hermione! How are you?" Neville said as he pulled Hermione into a hug. "I was so worried I wouldn't know anybody" Neville admitted as he looked around.

"Same" Hermione admitted herself. Although she was rather hoping not to know anybody. "I'm good how are you, I see you're gran is still alive… and well" Hermione said with a cheerful laugh.

"Yeah," Neville leaned in just so his Grandmother wouldn't see or hear. "Unfortunately" Hermione felt a cold hand on her shoulder and she turned to see Hector.

"We need to go and sit the charity speech is going to be held" Hermione nodded and said good-bye to Neville before linking her arm with Hector and going to search for their seats. They found Hector's seat with the 'one guest' seat next to his in the front of the dance floor.

"Thank-you for coming, and welcome!" Came a booming voice from on the stage. Hermione looked up to see Draco in a white suit with a light green lie on the stage with a microphone. Hermione tried to belittle herself as she lowered herself in the seat.

"Who gave that man a microphone?" Someone yelled from the back. Everyone laughed and turned to see Dr. Chase. Hermione smiled at Blaise and he winked at her before motioning to Cho next to him. Hermione smiled and turned back to the front.

I can't do it Hermione thought to her. I can't be around him. It hurts too much.

"Yes well, Thank-you Dr Chase, and welcome to the Malfoy Charity Ball. It's good to see so many new faces" Draco said into the microphone as he looked around. "And so many … old ones" Draco said as he saw Hermione in the front whispering something to Hector. Hermione hadn't noticed Draco was looking at her so she whispered to Hector she was going to get some fresh air and stood up and left the room. "Enjoy yourselves and we'll have the auction in no time at all" Draco said hurriedly as he handed the microphone to a random person as the music started playing.

Draco quickly followed Hermione and saw she was rushing down the red carpet to get to the bottom. He followed silently as she headed towards the green gardens and stopped just before the rose gardens. Draco walked up and stood behind her. She looked so tempting, she looked like a goddess in the dress and he felt like running his hands over her body. Draco shook the thoughts from his head and took a step forwards.

"Hermione" Draco said in a soft voice. Hermione got the shock of her life and jumped before turning around with a red face and looking at him. Hermione felt her shoulders go limp and her breath catch in her throat.

"What (cough) what do you want? Because I think it's utterly rude to follow someone, then disturb there peace and quite" Hermione snapped angrily. Draco smiled and hung his head. There were a few moments of silence and Hermione turned around to stop herself from crying. There was the faint music in the background playing and Hermione closed her eyes and imagined he wasn't there. Instead she imagined herself dancing on a cloud with Ron.

"I'm so sorry" Draco whispered, causing Hermione's thoughts to be blown away with the wind.

"I don't want to hear it" Hermione said as she turned around and began walking back to the house.

"Why wont you listen to me when I tell you I'm sorry?" Draco said getting slightly aggravated.

"Because!" Hermione yelled as she whirled around to face Draco. "You broke my heart Draco Malfoy! You broke it big time. You said you like me! So I took a chance and once again, I was fucked over" Hermione said sharply. She paused for a moment to let that sink in before she took a few backwards. "I never want to be in the same room as you after tonight, I never want anymore contact, and you will definitely not be my doctor" Hermione said as a tear trickled down her face. She then turned back around and stormed towards to Mansion.

Draco on the other hand bit his lip and clenched his hands as he watched her go. She will certainly hear him out. But how does he get her alone? How will he be able to tell her his real feelings? Just then his watch started beeping indicating the Auction to start in a few moments. Draco smiled a malicious smile and began walking back up to the house.

…………………

Hey, I hoped you liked this chapter, I am also going to update another one with it, because it's the school holidays and I am so incredibly bored, literally all I do is sit on my bed and type this stuff.

Xoxo Alex