I feel like a terrible person. I have discovered cliffhangers, and appear to have taken every opportunity to practice them. Enjoy regardless. Ta ta.

S. White

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 10 - J is for Jealousy

Hermione woke up the next morning to a pounding head and groaned. Merlin's beard, what had she done yesterday? Ooooooh. Yes. She had gone out with Malfoy, they had eaten a very nice dinner, then that reporter, Ronald, and his mistress had shown up, and then she had gotten incredibly drunk at a club and danced with Malfoy. Right. Well, last night she had thought it was worth it. She tried to think through the throbbing pain. Yes, yes, she just thought it was still worth it.

She dragged herself out of bed and to the bathroom. It took a lot of concentration to remember to remove her clothes before she got in the shower but she felt much better once she did. She stood for longer than she knew she should, letting the water wash over her and rinse away the fear, frustration, and sadness that Ron had caused the night before. She got out of the shower and took some time to get dressed but she finally made her way to the kitchen where Megan sat, reading the morning paper.

"Do I want to know what it says?"

"It could be worse, but you might want your Twinings first. How's your head?"

"I feel like I've been trampled by an elephant." Hermione grimaced and Megan laughed.

Hermione made her tea and sat on the couch with a contented sigh. She didn't know what she would do without tea. Her head still pounded by the hot liquid was soothing. While it cooled she made some toast for breakfast and curled up on the couch again, fully intending on moving from it as little as possible that day. She decided to keep reading Sherlock Holmes, partly to keep her mind off whatever might be in the Prophet. But she had only read a few pages when multiple owls swooped through the open window.

"Oh no," Hermione moaned. "My head hurts too much for this."

"We'll do it together. Come on." Megan scooped up the mail and dumped it on the coffee table, sitting beside Hermione on the couch.

"Alright, well, there's a note from Ginny saying she'll be along later. Probably wants to make sure Malfoy was good last night."

"Yes, probably," Megan said.

"Careful with that!" Hermione said suddenly as Megan reached for a suspicious envelope, her head pounding with the effort. "Sorry, but the address is sloppily written, so who knows where it came from." Hermione used a flick of her want to open the envelope and another to slide out the parchment inside.

How dare you do that to Ronnie you little-

Hermione simply skimmed the rest. It wasn't signed but both of them recognized the use of 'Ronnie' and the writing from that horrible letter. Brown wasn't smart enough to put anything dangerous on it, so Hermione picked it up and handed it to Megan, who snorted in disgust.

"You want me to burn it?"

"No, not yet. I suppose I should be grateful. See that bit there? She tried to gloat at me and she actually wrote down when he started cheating on me. Turns out I was just a screw-able maid for months. But, the important thing is that if anyone tries to lie and say that he wasn't cheating, I have proof."

"Yes, yes, you do," Megan said sadly.

"If he gets too much trouble, do you think you, Ginny, Luna, and Harry would officially back me up that you've never seen me with Malfoy until we were looking for bridesmaid dresses?"

"Of course, and I don't think anyone who knows you would mind. We all know that you would never do anything like what the Weasel-I mean Ron, is accusing you of, sweetie."

"He's really grasping at straws. Brown hints here that she knows I wouldn't do that, too. Anyway, what else is here?"

"A package."

"What?" Hermione looked at the box Megan handed her and then groaned.

"What is it?"

"It's Malfoy's handwriting."

"You know what his writing looks like?" Megan said, craning over the package.

"Only from him helping me on those laws I was working on. Well, I'm still working on them. What in Merlin's name would he be sending me?"

She slowly pulled the paper off and found a set of Sherlock Holmes DVDs. Really? Why on earth would he be sending her this? And he went out to a muggle electronics store and bought this? She had been reading Holmes when he met her in the cafe earlier this week and he must have remembered it. This was incredibly nice, even for him. That also meant he must have noticed she and Megan had a DVD player while he was here the other day.

"Sweetie, you have found a keeper," Megan said, looking at the back of the box.

"Did he even know we had a player?"

"Oh yes, he was looking at it yesterday while you were sick."

"Still, this is ridiculous," Hermione said staring.

She and Megan looked up at a buzzing sound and Hermione stuck Brown's letter back in its enveloped and pulled away the wrapping from the DVDs to reveal her phone, lit up and ringing. She picked it up, and looked at the number before she answered, but she didn't recognize it.

"Hello?"

"Morning, Granger. How badly does your head hurt?"

"Really, Malfoy? Really? Did you call to gloat? And how did you get my number?" Hermione glared at Megan who had started to dance excitedly when Hermione said Malfoy's name. She heard Malfoy laugh on the other end.

"I had your phone all night, remember? I noticed your number when I was texting Brand-Megan back. So, how's your head?"

"Mending, thanks. I've had a bit of tea."

"Good to hear. I'd hate to think I completely ruined your day."

"Oh no, don't worry, I had a lot of fun."

"Did you get my hangover care package?"

"Oh, is that what this is supposed to be?" Hermione said, turning the DVD box over in her free hand.

"I thought you might want something to do that didn't involve using your head much, if that's possible for Bookworm Granger, that is."

"You're so kind, Malfoy. But thank you, anyway."

"Invite him over to watch them!" Megan whispered loudly.

"Yes, yes, Megan. Um, would you be interested in watching them, Malfoy?" Hermione said, stuttering a little and turning very red.

"Are you inviting me over, Granger?" Malfoy sounded incredibly amused.

"Um, yes."

"Is that you or Megan asking?" He was more serious there.

"Me, Malfoy. I'm asking. I haven't seen these," She said, looking at the actor's face on the cover. "But I've read most of them and I think you'd like it."

"Really. They're mysteries, aren't they?"

"You bought it and you have no idea what it even is?" Hermione said with laugh.

"Get him over!" Megan danced excitedly.

"I just remembered the name off your book. You sure?"

"What happened to your confidence, Malfoy?"

"I don't want to make your head worse."

"I'll survive. I'm a big girl."

"Fine, Granger, you win. Is this going to end with me reading the books, too?"

"Only if you want." Hermione laughed. "You can borrow them from me if you do."

"We'll see. How does an hour from now sound?"

"Fine, Malfoy."

"I suppose I can stand it. I'll see you then, Granger," He said, amusement in his voice and Hermione laughed. There was a click as he hung up and Hermione lowered the phone.

"Is he coming?" Megan said, almost skipping with excitement.

"Yes, he is." Hermione laughed as Megan grabbed her hands and shook them excitedly. "You don't need to be this happy."

"Oh shush, sweetie. Do you want me to go out?"

"Oh, no. He's a friend, he's only my fake date when we're out."

"You keep telling yourself that, my dear."

"Well, he said he'd be over in an hour. I'm going to fix my hair."

"Don't want your fake date to see you with wet hair?" Megan grinned.

"I don't want anyone to see me with wet hair."

"I don't count then?"

"Best friends don't count." Hermione smiled.

Hermione headed to the bathroom where she dried her hair as best she could and plaited it so that it would be out of the way. She didn't want to have to deal with it today. Her clothes were fine; she was wearing jeans and a loose, scoop neck shirt and she looked entirely acceptable to see friends. She didn't know if she would have left the apartment in it, since occasionally one side of the side would slip down and reveal her bra strap, but it was fine for staying in. She also found and drank a little of the potion she normally took for headaches and within ten minutes the pounding in her head eased a little.

She continued to read and finished her tea while ignoring Megan who was skipping around and exclaiming how much she should date Malfoy for real. When Megan could be ignored no longer Hermione just laughed and shook her head, putting her bookmark in Sherlock Holmes and getting up to make another cup of tea. She was pouring it out when there was a knock at the door and she was thankful Megan had calmed down.

"Do try to act like a normal person while he's here," Hermione said with a smile. Megan stuck her tongue out. Hermione laughed and went to the door and sure enough, there was Malfoy, looking elegant as always in a perfectly fitting black peacoat.

"Morning, Granger. Has your head improved any?" He said with a grin.

"A little, actually. No thanks to you, sir." Hermione poked him in the chest. "I hope I didn't cost you too much, by the way. If you let me know how much your bill was I'll pay you back."

"It wasn't much. Besides, I think it was worth it to see Goodgirl Granger drunk."

"I'm not that bad."

"You know they say drunk words are sober thoughts?" Malfoy said with sly grin. Megan began to laugh uncontrollably.

"And I wasn't that bad. Would you like something to drink? We have a lot of different types of tea."

"Please."

Hermione took his jacket and hung it up for him and he picked a blend of tea while the water boiled. He leaned easily on the counter and talked while they waited and Megan slowly calmed down, though Hermione noticed he wasn't wearing his cologne today, or much of it at least. Hermione was a little surprised how comfortable he was or at least how comfortable he looked. Megan had taken the chair in the living room so after Hermione crouched to put the first disk in she and Malfoy sat on the couch. She suspected Megan had chosen the chair for this specific reason: to make them sit together.

Hermione watched with interest as the actors walked around a good reproduction of Victorian London, the man playing Holmes snapped out his lines well. When the first episode was over Malfoy asked a few questions about Sherlock Holmes the character and how the stories were written. Hermione flipped her book open and found the first short story, handing it to him to read. Hermione stood to put her mug in the sink when she saw the Daily Prophet. Well, no time like the present.

"So, this isn't too bad, you said?" She said, flipping to the front page.

WEASLEY CHEATED ON GRANGER!

GRANGER NOW SEEING SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS-WIZARD DRACO MALFOY

ARGUMENT BETWEEN GRANGER AND WEASLEY WHILE NEW COUPLES MEET UNEXPECTEDLY

A Daily Prophet reporter was visiting one of the most popular restaurants in wizarding London last night, when who should exit but Hermione Granger accompanied by none other than Draco Malfoy. The pair were clearly on a date, talking and laughing easily, and Mr. Malfoy whispering in Ms. Granger's ear. But this felicity was not to last as Granger's last boyfriend, Ron Weasley, appeared with his new girlfriend, Lavender Brown, and the two began a shouting match.

Many Prophet readers have been writing to us, wondering about the nature of Weasley and Brown's relationship, since he and Brown were seen kissing in public before the public even knew he and Granger split. Well, the Prophet can now exclusively reveal that Weasley WAS cheating on Granger long before their relationship ended.

According to Granger, she confronted him and ended their relationship when she discovered the truth, but she had been thinking of leaving even before she learned of Brown. The Prophet can also exclusively reveal that Weasley was mistreating Granger. She responded to his accusation that she was cheating on him with Malfoy by saying that "Everyone here knows I wasn't [Weasley]. Even if I had wanted to, I spent so long picking up after you I wouldn't have had time to cheat, and if you paid more attention to me you would have noticed that." She then asked Weasley scathingly who he got to make his lunches without her and Weasley did not deny she had been doing it for him. They also made it clear that while they were still together, Weasley bought Brown at least one expensive gift, possibly with Granger's money.

The argument did not end well. Weasley denied treating Granger badly and even says he was the one mistreated. Granger attempted to offer an olive branch to Brown, but Brown threw it back in her face, and even turned Granger's words back at her and Malfoy. Malfoy, however, was largely unconcerned and expressed complete confidence in Granger, eventually leading her away.

Granger and Malfoy left together, appearing very comfortable with each other. After they left, your faithful reporter spoke to Weasley and Brown, but their responses were too incoherent to report on, although he can say with confidence that they were furious after the encounter and set on blackening Granger's character. The Prophet attempted to contact the Potters for comment but they would only express their confidence in Granger.

"Well, they were a lot kinder to me than they usually are," Hermione said with a groan. There was a photo of Malfoy leading her away, his hand on her waist, as Ron and Brown's stared on, their faces twisted in fury. "I didn't even know he had a camera."

"I vaguely remember," Malfoy said behind her, making her jump again.

"Do you like scaring me, Malfoy?" She scowled.

Megan looked at the picture and grinned. "I think you two look cute."

They looked up at her. They looked down at the picture.

"No."

"I don't think so."

They looked at each other and laughed.

"You're so kind, Malfoy."

"Well, you look passable, I suppose, Granger," He drawled and she gave him a smack on the arm.

"You know, if you two are supposed to be fake dating, shouldn't you call each other by your first names?"

"But he's just Malfoy. He's always been Malfoy."

"Oh, come on, Granger, do you even remember my first name?" Malfoy grinned, leaning back with his hands in his pockets.

"Of course I do."

"And?"

"It's Draco."

"Was that so difficult?"

"Very much so...Draco." Hermione could see Megan beaming out of the corner of her eye.

"Well, good job for overcoming it, Granger."

"Oh no, she managed it, now you, dear," Megan said, shaking a finger at Malfo-Draco.

"Do you remember my first name?" Hermione said with her hands on her hips and a triumphant smile.

"Of course, and even if I didn't, its right here," He said, tapping the paper where their names were printed. "Would you like another cup of tea, Hermione?"

"No thanks, I've had two already today."

They returned to the couch and put on the next episode. Hermione didn't sit in the far corner this time, but put her feet up and sat comfortably. Malf-Draco lounged with his legs crossed and his mug in one hand looking completely at ease and handsome. He must work at it, she thought, to impress people and especially the people he worked with. She could certainly imagine this complete calm of his no matter what being useful when facing men who could make or break fortunes. But he had also proved now that he didn't care about blood status he was thoughtful. He had been kind enough to look out for her last night and to find this show to keep her mind off her hangover today, and she had to admit it was a good show, and it was working. He looked over at her, saw her eyes on him, and smiled. Smiled, not grinned, and she blushed and smiled back, quickly looking at the television again.

After the third episode they took a break. Megan told them there was such a thing as too much Sherlock Holmes in one day and excused herself while Hermione and Draco made more tea. They watched two more episodes before they decided Megan was right and Hermione suggested Draco pick something else out of their small collection. When she got him to admit that, other than on the screens in muggle stores, this was the first time he had ever seen television or a film, she explained the plots of each one he asked about.

Finally, he pulled out Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window, one Hermione enjoyed. She showed him how to put the disc in the tray and explained how there was a beam of light in the machine that read the information on the disc. Megan looked in to see what they had chosen and resumed her chair. Hermione tried to give Mal-Draco an idea of Hitchcock's reputation for genius and briefly explain why the cinematography in Rear Window in particular was so amazing, but she did her best to be brief and not interrupt the film once it started. She hadn't seen it herself in quite some time and couldn't remember most of what happened.

But she still watched Draco's face with interest to see his reaction. At first he simply looked curious but as the film progressed he uncrossed his legs and leant forward, his eyes not leaving the screen. It wasn't until the very end of the film that he leaned back on the couch again and relaxed.

"Well, what do you think?" Megan asked with a grin.

"I think that I've never seen anything like that," Draco admitted.

"Well, it was Hitchcock," Hermione pointed out.

"I'd like to see more, sometime, I think."

"Really? Draco Malfoy wants to watch more muggle films?" Hermione laughed.

"It was interesting!" Draco protested.

"I know, that's why I was glad you picked it."

He grumbled a little, apparently annoyed that she managed to fluster him, and glanced at his watch. "I should be heading out, soon."

"You have been here for hours. I'm surprised you're not tired of our company," Hermione said.

"Or at least of my company," Megan added with a grin and Hermione shot her a warning look.

"I assure you, I'm not. I have work I need to do, unfortunately, otherwise I would be glad to stay and be lectured in the ways of Alfred Hitchcock for the rest of the afternoon and evening."

"Work? On a Saturday?"

"Now you know how I've become as successful as I have and also why, despite my obvious charms, I have been single for two years." Draco grinned.

"I take work home sometimes too," Hermione said. "Maybe you're just not as charming as you think you are." He raised an eyebrow and was about to reply when there was a knock at the door.

"I'm closest," Megan said with a smile, waving Hermione away as she opened the door. "Ginny, dear! How are you?"