Hermione's 50 First Dates

By DreamWeaver

Date Ten: Consulting Mr. Marriage Counselor

Ladies come. Ladies go. Couples bicker, kiss and make up. Some head to the Divorce Office conveniently placed next door.

Such was the life and drama that Draco Malfoy had to undergo every single day from Monday to Friday when he filled up the post as the Marriage Counselor. Now? It was a familiar auburn haired woman relaying her problems to him like he was some emotional trash bin.

Inwardly, he groaned. He didn't want to spend another minute of his existence listening to the same sob story women recycled when they went into his office. He didn't like his job at all but he had no choice. His father actually had the audacity to hold back his inheritance unless he worked for at least six years with no help from him and his mother. And so, there he was, stuck in the same boring job that had been vacated by Fred Weasley.

"He doesn't love me at all!"sobbed Hermione.

"There, there.. Hermione… I know your husband loves you very much. He must have things in his mind that's troubling him." Said Draco, trying to pacify the sobbing woman.

"But he was being a jerk! And after he told me to shove it, he left me alone in the house to do the laundry!" Hermione told him, her face was red with anger. "He's such a slob! I don't know what got into me when I married him!"

Draco flinched. Oh, this is bad. Hermione was almost at her limit. He has to do his job of "counseling" and "repairing" before it got worse or he would be "sacked" by that bloody Potter. Apparently, Blaise who handles the Divorce office had been getting more clients than usual. He shook away the thought.

"Tell me, Hermione. Has Neville actually hurt you? Or let you do something you didn't really want? When did he start acting like what you've said?"

Hermione looked thoughtful.

Draco smiled. There. Contemplation. Problems should be thought thoroughly before solving them with half-baked ideas. That's what's causing people to do about divorcing left-and-right and hooking up with the next available person at the bar they meet which they usually regret in a year or so.

Hermione shook her head, "Neville never hurt me. He was really sweet and thoughtful when we first dated. And he always made sure to fetch me from work and bring me to fantastic dates every weekend."

Draco nodded his head while writing down a few notes.

"But he changed. Ever since he had that new secretary of his, he has been paying less attention to me and more on his work. Sometimes, I think I'm not pretty enough for him. " Hermione said, irritated.

Draco hid a smile. Ahh… She's jealous and insecure, clearly on its early stage and by the looks of it, still reparable.

"And then he doesn't appreciate the little things I do for him! I'm a busy witch too! But I find time to fulfill my wifely obligations to him."

He felt sorry for her but he didn't show it. There had been a lot of cases similar to Hermione. Wives neglected, well more on the emotional scale rather than the physical one anyway. There was nothing wrong for Hermione to want attention from her husband. After all, she was still a young witch in her prime. He stood up from his table and went to sit beside her. Hermione continued sobbing softly in her chair. Draco took her hand and patted it, "I'm sorry, Hermione. I'll try and tell your husband about it. But just so you know, Luna Lovegood is a good person. She wouldn't have any illicit relationships with married men. You know that. You went to school with her didn't you?"

Hermione smiled gently at him, showing him how she greatly appreciated his gesture, "I guess you're right. Luna doesn't seem like that type. And you're awfully good at this 'counseling' job, Draco. You're quite far from the boy you were at school."

He chuckled lightly, "Time changes people, Hermione."

Then somebody knocked on the door. Speak of the devil and he shall appear. It was Neville, who didn't seem to notice his wife, Hermione.

"Mr. Malfoy? Mrs. Pansy Zabini has arrived for her 2 o'clock appointment."

"Cancel it." He said, his hands still on Hermione's.

"But-!"

"." Draco repeated in a firm, authoritative voice that dared him to question his decision again.

Neville gulped, "Ye-yes, Mr. Malfoy" and then he went on to exit and close the door.

"For a moment, Neville"

"Ye-yes, Mr. Malfoy?" HE was shaking. Malfoy really had such an effect on him. Other than Snape, his ex-potion teacher, thank Merlin, he was afraid of his boss, Draco Malfoy.

"Your wife", Draco said, stressing the word 'wife', "is here to see you."

Neville looked at Malfoy incredulously and looked on to Hermione, "But Sir….. I don't have a wife."

Draco's lips went to a smile, "My thoughts exactly." And he whisked his wand to throw Neville out and locked the door behind him as he turned to face Hermione with her lips twitching to a smile, clutching her handkerchief in a somewhat innocent way and he smiled at her in a very familiar way.

"Now then, Mrs. Longbottom… or should I say, Mrs. Malfoy…..Let me show you how much I care."

Fin.


A/N: Well, I've been out for almost 2 months? *sheepish smile*. It doesn't help when Koko-something XD "my beloved cousin" starts stalking me in my messenger and facebook for this. XD I know you're reading this~! Well.. this will happen a lot.. XD as expected of me. I love reading more than writing anyway..

Reasons why Aliella Otonashi/-o0DreamWeaver0o-/Mishka doesn't update often [for her cousin]:

She is caught up in reading back and forth from FictionPress and .

She is lazy to encode her drafts from her Morning Bolero notebook.

She's caught up in school [.Exams.]