Chapter 9

Hermione's POV

"Granger." I heard Malfoy and turned my back to Ginny and Harry. It was my house warming party today. It's been almost 3 weeks since I moved in. I had moved in after a week or so after buying this apartment, which was a huge surprise, as I didn't want to separate from flat from the time I bought. I managed to spend a whole week without this, living in that showcase house. And at last on the weekend, the Potter family and the Weasley family helped me move in, which was a big help. I wouldn't have managed it on my own.

This apartment was so beautiful that it stole my heart, and now that it if fully furnished, it takes my breath away every time I enter it. I painted one wall of the living room dark blue, which was not that dark and was a little textured. When the lights of the room hit the falls, the texture made it look like they were white spots on the wall, which was oh so beautiful! I looked like the evening sky with so many stars.

Everyone thought that red was my favorite color, which was before the war, but after that, red reminded me too much of the blood we lost. I wanted to remember the war veterans but not in that way. That is when dark blue became my favorite color. It reminded me of the sky and I always like to think when someone dies, they become a star. And this wall, this wall reminded me of them. Red made it hard to remember them without seeing them lying on the floor, dead. Whereas blue, it reminded me how brave they were and how peaceful they are right now, feeling proud to be able to make the wizarding world, actually the whole world, safe for us. At nights, I spend my time staring at the wall, with a glass of wine in my hand or a book lying on my lap. It gave me peace, which is really weird.

I had all the other walls painted in a light cream color, which really complemented the area. I chose dark wood for the floor for the entire apartment, which made it look really very cozy. I had to sell my old furniture and bought new white and light grey and super comfy ones, which would suit my new flat, unlike the old ones. I could have transfigured them, but I felt like buying new ones, so that I have no memory of the old house, whatsoever.

My room had grey walls and the furniture was white but covers on my bed and the cushion of my chair had dark blue accents. My bathroom also had dark brown flooring and white furniture. But my walls were also covered with dark brown wood. Let's just say, I spend extra time in my bathrooms nowadays.

I had Teddy's room painted light blue, and hung all his favorite pictures on one of the wall. I still have to make some adjustments in it so… The guest room had a mix of cream, blue and white, which was bloody wonderful!

Everyone likes my home right now, especially Teddy, which was more than enough for me. I realized that Hannah Abbot was my neighbor, which was bloody amazing.

And here we are, at my house warming party. Everyone one was here, The Potters, The Weasleys, except Bill and Percy's family, Blaise, Pansy, Daphne, Luna, Neville, Malfoy, Theo, Hannah, and my landlord, who was not really invited, but he came when the party had started, and I didn't want to be impolite, so I invited him in. Right now he talking to Harry, hanging on to every word he was saying, which was quite hilarious! Teddy was with Pansy and Blaise, who were talking to Luna and Neville, who married around 4 months ago. Daphne was talking Hannah, and Malfoy with Theo. I was talking with Ginny and Harry, mostly Ginny, when Malfoy interrupted me.

I turned around to face Malfoy, and my stomach fluttered. Again! Since I kissed him on his cheek the other night, I don't know why, but whenever I looked at him, my stomach flipped, which was highly annoying. I have to admit, Malfoy is handsome, he always was, but I never thought I would find him a handsome man in a way of fancying him. Even though I cannot understand what I am saying, I happen to feel it. He has stopped gelling his hair after becoming an Auror. His hair fell on his forehead, right above his eyes. Don't ask me why, but I find this way more attractive than gelling. He, of course, was tall, compared to my petit frame. He was muscular but lean, unlike Ron, who had muscles which seemed would tear his tight t-shirt. I hate it when he wears those tight ones. It is bloody annoying!

Back to the work at hand Hermione!

"Hmm?" I asked, when I faced him. He had his hands shoved in his pockets which made him look s-

Gah! Hermione!

I raised my eyebrows. "It seems like you have an uninvited guest." He said with a smirk.

"Look, Mr Hawks is not an uninvited gues-" I started to say, in a disapproving manner.

"I am not talking about the old man." He said, ignoring my disapproving look, for the nickname he had given to the landlord. "I am talking about them." He said, his eyes above me, telling me to look behind me. That is when I realized the room had gone silent, well aside from the whisperings.

I turned around to see the only fool in the whole wide world. Ronald Weasley.

With his new girlfriend in his arms, who was wearing the most revealing dress I have ever seen, if you don't count a swimsuit.

And with a huge smile on his face.

And all I wanted was to smack that smile off his face

"Hermione." He greeted me and all I wanted to do was roll my eyes. And surprisingly, half of the people in the room rolled their eyes! I wanted to laugh so hard.

I said nothing to him and turned to the other occupants of the room. "Please continue. Don't let this interrupt you talks." I addressed with a smile. I took a glass of wine from the one of the invisible waiter's tray. And soon everyone started talking, ignoring the famous Quidditch player. He started to come towards me, but Malfoy came and stood in front of me.

I raised my eyebrows. He smirked at me with an evil glint in his eyes. I blushed a little, don't ask me why. Just don't.

Draco's POV

I saw Red-face come towards her, so I came and stood before her. I wanted to have a little fun with before she kicks him out. I am sure she will.

She raised her eyebrows at me, and I just smirked. I saw her blush a bit, I have no idea why. Maybe she knew what I was gonna do, and was suppressing her laugh, which may have made her blush. She looked, don't laugh but I am gonna say it, so cute. There, I said it! I, Draco Lucius Malfoy, said that Hermione Jean Granger looks really very cute. Happy? See, Granger has natural beauty and a fine body which she mostly hides wearing those baggy clothes. I am pretty sure she would look gorgeous with a little effort, which I did see at the Yule Ball, but the fact that she doesn't try to impress anyone impresses me the most, if that makes sense. And I have to add, the black dress she was wearing really looked good on her. And the way her eyes shine bright makes me-

Gah Malfoy! When did you start becoming such a lovey-dovey teenager?

"What are you doing Malfoy?" the woman in front of me asked.

"Just trying to have a little fun." I said and became aware that someone was standing behind me.

"Hermione." I heard Red-face greet her for the second time today. How dense can some person be? Doesn't he understand that he is unwanted? And does the woman beside him understand the meaning of house warming party, or did she mistake it for club party?

I turned around to see his slightly flushed face. I am sure he is not used to being ignored.

"Malfoy." He addressed me coldly.

"Red-face." I said, rather cheerfully, but with a cold stare. The woman beside him laughed. Clearly she wasn't much in the brain department. I raised my eyebrows, smirking. When she realized that no one was laughing, she stopped and looked at Red-face, who was busy glaring at her. My smirk grew big and was about to say something when Granger came from behind me, and stood beside. What really stopped me from speaking me was her holding my elbow to stop me. I looked at her hand, placed on my elbow, and it seems that Red-face too noticed it. When I looked at her, I saw a little twinkle in her eyes, the same one that the old man, Dumbledore had. I raised my eyebrows, as in to ask, What are you doing?

She gave me a knowing look as if to say, It is my time to have fun.

I frowned a little and smirked when I realized what she was about to do.

"Ronald." She greeted him, and I got a sudden urge to say on your face!

"Hermione." He said, again.

"I don't remember sending you an invite Ron." She said with a smile.

"Hermione liste-" he tried.

"If you are here to explain what really happened that night, then forget it. I have."

"You have?" he said, expectantly.

"Yes, but I trouble forgetting one part of it. You know the part in which you cheated on me, and also the part when I slapped you. Hard." She said with a sweet smile.

His gaped at her, not knowing what to say. I can't blame him for being so stupid.

"Really Ron, why are you here?" She asked, with a sigh.

"I…I came here to say… sorry?" he said, which sounded like a question and all I wanted to do was laugh at him.

"For what?"

"For cheating on you." He said, as if it was obvious.

"Oh! So you do admit of cheating on me, and it not being a mistake?" she said with a smirk. We, Slytherins must be really rubbing on her because she looked like a Slytherin right now. I am so proud of her!

Red-face opened his mouth to say something, but then shut it. It happened a few times. Well he couldn't really deny it as he just admitted it right now, and he cannot admit it because… well, isn't it obvious? That is when he realized that Granger had tricked him. Took him long!

"Ron, if you are going continue opening and closing your mouth like that and continue to look like a goldfish without water, then I suggest you leave my house. And if you are not planning on doing that, I still suggest you leave the house." She said really fast.

Now Red-face being Red-face, took some time to process what she said, which Granger tapped her foot, waiting. When he finally processed, he scowled and was about to say something when she interrupted him.

"Get out Ronald." She said in a firm voice. He turned around to go, dragging the girl with him, who was busy checking her nail polish.

"You are gonna suffer 'Mione. No one will ever love you." He said, when he was about to leave. The whole room went quiet.

"I am sorry?" Granger said, not quite believing what he said. Actually no one believed him.

"No one will ever love you. No one will ever date you. I am the only one who will ever date you. I am the only one capable of loving you. Don't you see? You are not attractive. You are boring, a nerd, who does nothing but work and read. And everyone thinks why I broke up with you? Just wait, you will either come running back to me or spend your entire life lonely."

Granger's eyes were raging with fire. She was about to say something when someone interrupted her.

"You are wrong Ron. I love her." George spoke up.

"And I." His wife, Angelina said.

"I do." I was surprised to watch Molly speak up. Not that I thought she didn't love her or something, I just thought she didn't want to go against her son.

"I do." Ginny said.

"I do." Harry said.

"I do." Arthur said.

"I do." Charlie said.

"I do." Pansy said.

"I do." Daphne said.

And soon the whole room started chanting 'I do'.

I happened to be the last person and instead of saying I do, I said, "Ron, I don't know about you, but anyone who meets her, falls in love with her, whether they want or not. That's how she is. And I am pretty sure that she has people who love her and trust me when I say, she is not alone, never was, and will never be. But I am not so sure about you." I don't know why but after I said this I felt really very good.

Ronald left the apartment, with his girlfriend trailing behind him, with a huff. We all turned towards Granger. She had tears in her eyes and had a big smile on her face.

"Thank you guys. I really appreciate it." She said looking at all of us.

"Aww 'Mione. It is true." Ginny said and hugged her. Soon it turned into a group hug and everyone was involved. I was planning on staying behind but Daphne dragged me with her.

"Can-can't… breath." We heard Granger choke out. We all laughed and separated.

"Trust me; it happens with me a lot." Ginny said. Soon, everybody forgot about the Ron incident and the party continued, with all of us sitting comfortably on the couches, and some on the kitchen bar stools as Ginny narrated her Quidditch stories. It was followed with everyone narrating their most embarrassing childhood stories. Late after that evening people started to leave. Soon Granger, me, The Potters, The Zabinis, Daphne and Theo were the only ones left.

Daphne was busy teasing Theo about his embarrassing childhood moment. Teddy was fast asleep in his new room. I was laying on the couch, while everybody was busy cleaning up. The kitchen was a huge mess so most of us (cough I didn't cough) volunteered to clean up. The Weasley's were also volunteering, but there were already many of us, so we just sent them to their houses. No one tried to make me do anything, because they knew their efforts would be futile.

"We need to make a plan." Theo announced.

"What plan?" Blaise asked, curious.

"To make Ron jealous, duh!" He said, as if it was obvious.

"Really?" Ginny asked.

"Yes." He answered.

"We need to show that Hermione is capable of looking good and dating the hottest boy in the whole world." Daphne said, "No offence Hermione. You are totally capable of it, but off course you won't come out of your comfort zone in the matter of clothes-" Granger looked like she wanted to protest but Daphne held up her hand to stop her. "-and clearly you do not want to date anyone right now-" Granger wanted to make a point, but Daphne stopped her again. "- and I know you will date someone and fall in love with someone later, but we need to make Ron jealous of the person you are dating right now and also make him regret leaving you."

Granger huffed and crossed her arms.

"I have to agree with Daphne right now." Harry said.

"WHAT?" Granger asked.

"Well we need him to realize that he just left a diamond for some fake stone, don't we?" Pansy said.

"As much as I am flattered right now Pansy, I am not going to pretend to date someone I don't even know just to make jealous." Granger argued.

"Who said it will be someone you don't know." Ginny said with a suggestive look in her eyes.

"No." She said.

"Please?" Theo made a puppy-face.

"No." She said.

"Pretty please?" Pansy said asked.

"No."

"Pretty please with a cherry on top?" a voice asked, and we all turned towards the source.

It was the one and only Teddy Lupin. We all were of course surprised. His blue hair looked messed up and his eyes were not fully opened. He just woke up because of our loud voices. We totally forgot that there was a kid sleeping in the next room.

"I don't really know what is going on here but I know that they are trying to make you say yes for something which is good for you." Teddy said, after which even he looked confused. But we all were really awed at him seeing as he was only and 5 and a half year old. Teddy Lupin, I just happened to see your father in you, and I bet he would have been proud of hid 5 year old, speaking like an adult.

Granger went towards him and kneeled before him and kissed his forehead before saying, "Yes.". We all cheered and Teddy hugged her as tight as he could. Granger carried him and put him on the kitchen counter.

"So what's the plan?" I asked, as I didn't really participate in the whole conversation and I really wanted to know what they were gonna do to Granger.

"Oh, you will have to wait for it." Ginny said and all the girls, except, Granger looked at each other with evil glint in their eyes, that even we were scared of.

"What have I gotten myself into?" We all heard Granger said and we all laughed.