Alexis is fine guys, she just got a little scratch and a bruies, and her, her mom, and her grandmother talked my mom out of putting Wicket down. Oh, and someone asked about his name, Wicket got his name from a star war's creature. When we got him he was going to be named Stuey (from Family Guy) but on the way home he just wouldn't shut up, so we named him after this noisy star wars charceter (and the actor of that charcter was actually the one who plays Flitwick and Griphook!)! My older dog Patches even laid in front of his cage to muffle the noise. Unfounrantly we had to put Patches down a week and half ago though. Really sad for me because I'd got her when I was 3. Anyway were straing off topic here!
Anyway, here's the next chapter!
Chapter Eight
Hermione was scrubbing the dishes when Draco walked in to the kitchen. She had found a note saying that he had been called to Malfoy Enterprise for a meeting. Apparently Draco worked for his father as well as the ministry.
"My father sends his apologizes," Draco said sitting down heavily into a chair.
"Oh does he?" Hermione said not turning around.
"He has invited us over again as well," Draco added looking through the paper.
"Oh did he?" Hermione answered.
"Next Monday," Draco clarified turning a page.
"Oh really?" was her answer.
Draco sighed and put the paper down, "Do you answer every question with a question?"
"I don't know, do I?" Hermione grinned at him.
Draco just rolled his eyes and went back to the Daily Prophet that was again talking about 'The wedding of 2004', sporting a picture of Ginny and Harry on top of the article.
"We're going to Paris today," he said after a moment's silence.
"What?" Hermione asked, dropping the pan she was scrubbing.
"I said. We are gong. To Paris today," Draco spoke slowly.
Hermione glared, "Ha-ha. Why Paris?"
"Because that's where I take all my girlfriends," Draco said simply.
"Well that's great Malfoy, but I'm not your girlfriend," Hermione stated going back to her dishes.
Draco peered over his prophet at her and grinned, "Come on Granger, you can't be that disgusted with being my girlfriend."
"Actually I can," Hermione restored coolly.
Draco glared at her as he got up to make himself something to eat. Hermione grinned to herself at her knack of being able to anger him so easily.
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Hermione looked at herself in the mirror and was truly baffled at what a little bit of make-up and expensive clothes could do to a girl. From her natural make-up, glossy lips, light eye shadow, and mascara to her black clutch, high heels, and floor length black V-cut dress that opened in the back
"It's about time" Draco snapped without looking at her as she came into the living room, "What did you do, cut and sew it yourself?" he gave her once over look, "Not bad Granger, see what being with a Malfoy can do for you."
"Are you ready?" she asked, rolling her eyes.
He held out his arm and she grabbed on.
After the suffocation and longer than usual journey, Hermione found herself outside a huge and extremely busy restaurant.
"Is this a wizarding restaurant?' Hermione asked.
"Of course, you don't think I would trust muggles not to burn or spoil or poisoning my food do you?" he asked.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "If they burn the food they make you a new dish free of charge and they're not going to poison you."
"What about those robbers that go on attack at some Muggle diner in the United States, hitting a bunch of restaurants all over the country," Draco pointed out.
"It's not the restaurants fault, and that could happen here too. The only difference is, it would be Death Eaters attacking us and no one would be left alive, the muggles leave you alive if you listen. The Death Eaters however don't really care do they?" Hermione asked smugly.
Draco choose not answer and Hermione grinned.
"Table for two," he said to the waitress when they got inside, pushing threw the crowd.
"Inside or out?" she asked.
"Outside."
"Name and time for reservation."
"No reservation. Malfoy."
"Follow me," she said, giving him a once over with her bright blue eyes and batting her eyelashes as she lead them to the back of the restaurant and to a crowed back patio.
Hermione rolled her eyes as the waitress gave Draco extra attention once seated. It was obvious the women wasn't married and if she had a boyfriend Hermione suspected he would want to know just how his girlfriend treated her customers. It went beyond, far far beyond, politeness and courtesy.
Draco was as polite as she'd ever seen him of course; smiling with please's and thank you's and even a wink as she walked away.
"You're unbelievable," Hermione muttered as the waitress finally left.
"Jealous?" Draco grinned, picking up the menu.
"No, disgusted," Hermione said.
"Sure, sure," he muttered.
Hermione glared but held her tongue as she looked through the menu filled with food at outrageous prices.
Once the ordering - and flirting at that - was done, they sat in silence and watched the guest inside and out through the wide glass back doors.
Hermione saw Oliver Wood and their old house mate Katie Bell near the front of the restaurant.
"Do you mind if I excuse myself for a moment?" Hermione asked Draco.
"No, but where are you going?" Draco asked.
"Does it matter?"
"Yes."
"You're not worried about me are you?" she smirked, knowing the effect it would cause.
"Fine, go do what ever the bloody hell you want but be back when the food gets here," he snapped.
"Thank you," she grinned at his glare and made her way to the front of the restaurant.
"Hey guys," she smiled when she reached their table.
They turned to look at her and Katie gasped, "Hermione!" and jumped up to giving her a hug.
"Hello Oliver," Hermione smiled and hugged him too.
"Hey, pull up a chair, take a seat." he smiled warmly and asked a waiter for another glass.
"So, how you been?" Oliver asked pouring her some wine.
"Pretty good, I've been busy helping Ginny with her wedding but all's been good," Hermione responded taking a sip.
"Ah yes, Ginny's really grown up from the last time I saw her, well she was twelve then I guess but she's gotten real pretty. I got the invitation last week," Oliver responded.
"Yep, their planning on a small wedding, not to big or showy and at the Burrow of course so there won't be any reporters. So, you've you two been?" Hermione asked.
"Well I'm now playing for Puddlemore United, we won last week so we've got a few weeks off before the big championship," Oliver stated.
"Oh that's right, I read about it in the Prophet a little while back," Hermione nodded, "What about you Katie. What do you do?"
"I'm healer at St. Mungos now, I work with the long term patients on the top level." Katie smiled.
"Congratulations, Katie! Is it fun?"
Katie laughed, "It's certainly surprising no telling what they'll come up with. Especially Professor Lockheart."
Hermione giggled, "Yes, I remember what he was like. How's he coming along?"
"Pretty well actually, he's regained quite a bit of his memory and he knows who Harry is now. I think he's starting to remember his time at Hogwarts as Professor now too. Next year he'll be well enough to go in front of the Wizagemont for his past crimes," Katie said the last bit little sadly, and seemed to get lost in thought for a moment.
"I think Harry said something about that a little while back," Hermione remember at Grimauld Place, Harry had brought home an article on Lockheart's progress and the Ministry actions.
"I was surprised to meet Alice and Frank though. It was really a shock to see the last name Longbottom. I remembered Neville and couldn't believe it," Katie said breaking Hermione from her stupor.
"It was a shock when I found out too, are they making any progress?" Hermione asked hopefully. She'd always wondered but had never wanted to ask Neville.
"Um, well their better then they were after they were first tortured. They recognize Neville's name, and Hannah's. They know about their engagement and can understand it but that's about it. Oh and they recognize Frank's mom as well but other then that…," Katie's voice trailed off.
"That's too bad," Hermione frowned, she hated Bellatrix Lestrange with an unbelievable amount of passion, and it didn't have much to do with the fact that she'd been tortured by the women but more the fact of the lives she'd taken and ruined. She ruined Neville's, Harry's, Teddy's, and countless others. It was unbelievable to Hermione how the women could ruthlessly, even gleefully; kill her own cousin and niece.
"However I do have some good news," Katie grinned.
Hermione looked at her expectedly.
"We're engaged!" Katie squealed showing her a glinting diamond ring set perfectly on her left ring finger.
"Oh Katie it's wonderful!" Hermione squealed hugging her and then a beaming Oliver.
"I heard you and Ron Weasley are engaged," Oliver said, a little cautiously.
"Mmm…yep," Hermione took a drink from her cup.
Oliver, Katie, and Hermione talked for a few more minutes until their food arrived and Hermione mentioned that she should go back to her 'co-worker'.
Hermione sat down at the table again with the waitress and their food not far behind them.
"I'm surprised you didn't ask who they were." Hermione said after a moment of silent eating.
"I know who they are." Draco said quietly not looking up from his food, "Oliver Wood is the keeper for Puddlemore and the girl is Katie Bell."
"How do you know-" Hermione cut herself off as she remembered that he had used her in sixth year.
Draco said nothing but continued eating. The silence stretched for fifteen minutes, until Draco broke it, "Marcus is holding a ball this Saturday."
"Marcus?" Hermione asked.
"Marcus Flint," Draco clarified.
"Oh, yeah," Hermione nodded remembering the Slytherin Quidditch captain.
"Well, I've been invited and it would be a good idea for you to come with me, help with publicity and all," Draco explained.
"Who's going to be there?" Hermione asked, taking the last few bites of her dinner.
"Well Blaise and Luna, Theo and Daphne, Blaise said he'll drag Pansy there, um... I'm sure Astoria Greengrass, Gregory Goyle, and Tracey Davis just to name a few. There might be other's there that you know too," Draco said finishing his plate as well.
"People I know but I never got along with," Hermione smiled gently.
"True but Theo won't be prejudice. He's not like his dad, and Tracey is half-blood even if she is a Slytherin, actually you'll probably like her," Draco said truthfully.
Hermione shrugged, "I guess," she sighed, not a way she wants to spend her Saturday night but it would be a good place to go.
"Speak of the devil and the devil will appear," Draco muttered.
Hermione turned to see said person, Marcus Flint, walking up to them and not far behind him, Adrian Pucey.
"Hello Draco," Marcus shook Draco's hand.
"Marcus, Pucey," Draco nodded to the handsome, arrogant looking man behind Marcus.
"Malfoy," Pucey nodded.
"And… Ms. Granger, it's been a while." To Hermione's surprise Marcus held out his hand to shake hers. She accepted and he surprised her more by bringing it to his lips in a gently nature.
"Indeed it has," Hermione smiled warmly as Marcus did the same.
Draco chuckled; "You've gone soft."
"Maybe," Marcus smirked.
"Ah, Ms. Granger, this is Adrian Pucey, Adrian, Hermione Granger. I'm sure you remember each other from school." Marcus introduced.
"Vaguely," Pucey muttered kissing her hand as well, Hermione didn't like how his lips lingered longer then they should or how his eyes traveled up and down her body stopping in a certain place.
"I think we should be going," Draco said standing up and shooting Adrian a curiously cold glare that was returned.
"Yes, I'm sure you two have places to be. I'll see you both at the ball this Saturday?" Marcus asked.
"Of course," Draco said.
"Excellent, until then, Ms. Granger, Draco," He tilted his head and left, Adrian following after one last glare between him and Draco.
"Pucey hasn't changed much," Hermione mumbled as they walked through the restaurant holding hands incase anyone noticed.
"If anything he's gotten worse," Draco said, anger lacing his words.
"Where are we going now?" Hermione asked as he pulled her down the street.
"Well were here, we mine as well see the Eiffel Tower," Draco said as if it was the most obvious thing.
"Oh," Hermione said surprised but followed him happily along.
Once at the top Hermione leaned over the railing to see the beautiful lay out of Paris, France, the cars and lights littering the ground below for miles.
"It really is beautiful isn't it?" Hermione smiled.
"It's not too bad," Draco shrugged.
Hermione rolled her eyes and continued watching the landscape.
"Crap," she heard Draco mutter as he pulled her away from the banister.
"What? What is it?" Hermione asked.
"Rita Skeeter," he mumbled.
Hermione turned and sure enough Rita Skeeter and her photographer were creeping their way up to them.
"What do we do, it's too early to show who I am yet, and we need at least another week. After Ron's game on Saturday," Hermione whispered.
"I know, I know, just follow my lead okay," it wasn't a question but a command but Hermione nodded anyway.
"Look, there," they heard Rita whisper, "Go around there see if you can get a shot of the girl's face."
They were cornered, Rita was on one side, the photographer was on the other, and they were in a corner, screwed, screwed, screwed, and not in the way Draco would prefer.
Hermione was up against Draco and he had her face to the scenery so as not to show them her face but Rita was edging to the side and soon it wouldn't matter.
"Look at me," he whispered.
She did as he asked and felt him push her up against him and lower his head till his lips were just above hers. He held her steady with one arm on her lower back and the other in her hair. Hermione looked at him confused but didn't dare speak in fear of her lips brushing his.
He gave her a look that said don't move, and she obeyed realizing what he was doing. He wanted it to look like he was kissing her.
Well thank God he didn't actually do it!
Several pictures were taken but Hermione could hardly wait for the nosy pain in the arse witch to leave.
When Rita finally left, thinking she had a good enough story for now. A few seconds later Draco let go over and Hermione took several steps back.
After a short, awkward, silence she turned to him.
"I think we should go home," Hermione said quietly. Why was she blushing?
Draco nodded and took her arm, apparating them back to her flat.
Yay, here it is! Isn't she just a little trickster - siriusisbest - tsk tsk! (: Haha, much love and kisses - zzzooe.x
Hehe! - siriusisbest
