When Hermione hung up the phone with James, a whirlwind of emotions hit her at once. She felt angry most of all, but wrapped in the anger were other things too. She felt stupid, used, hurt and a little bit of sadness.

"Are you ready Ms. Granger?" the female voice asked for a second time.

Hermione turned to the sweet sounding woman and shook her head, "I'm sorry, but I think I am just going to be dressed and on my way." she replied numbly.

The woman looked at her strange, "Is everything alright?"

"I'm fine... I just – I just need to go." Hermione replied in a voice no louder then a whisper.

The woman nodded and left her to dressing. Once Hermione had finished dressing; she gave the woman a tip for the services she had done and left without another word. She knew better then to go to the restaurant right away, she didn't want to face them, so she settled on walking the streets to clear her mind for a while.

She was angry for allowing herself to believe that Draco had honestly changed. She felt used for because she allowed the three Slytherins to stay under her roof, she was hurt because Draco had actually showed interest in her and stupid for believing it was genuine.

"Ha, What did I expect – their Slytherins and I'm just the stupid mudblood who took them all in." She huffed angrily.

She ended up walking for close to three hours before making her way towards the restaurant. She could see it was getting late and wanted to make sure she made it back to the restaurant before they closed.

She pushed open the door and was met with a smiling brown haired man, "You're back I see" James said with a smile.

Hermione nodded and tried to smile but her mouth wouldn't cooperate, "I jus came to get my keys." She replied softly.

"You don't look as cheerful as you did earlier today – are you alright?"

She let out a little chuckle, " I've just had a bad day."

James nodded, he wasn't stupid, he had been working with people for a while now and could read their moods easily.

"Listen Hermione, I get off in five minutes – would you mind hanging out for a few so I can talk to you?"

She raised an eyebrow but agreed none the less – it was better then going back to the flat. Ten minutes later, she found herself standing by her car with James standing across from her.

"So tell me," James started, "What happened from the time you left the restaurant to now that has you looking like someone has kicked your puppy."

Hermione smiled a weak smile and looked up to the sky, willing her tears to go back where they had come from, "I live with these guys" she said shakily, " and while we have never really got on, they have acted like friends for the most part with one even hitting on me."

James nodded

"Well today I accidentally over heard a conversation that I wasn't supposed to hear and well... it hurt my feelings considering I believed they were coming around – I guess I was wrong."

"Is it too personal to tell me?" He asked

Hermione looked to him and realized for the first time in a long time, how alone she really was. Her parents were gone, her friends were in a world that she desperately wanted to be in and the only people she had for company were just using her.

"The one who has been hitting on me pretty much told his father I was a just for now girl, not attractive and probably only good enough for a bit of fun."

"To make matters worse, He, his father and god father are all staying as guest in my flat and now I don't even want to go back there."

James shook his head, "Don't believe a word of it. If I were straight I'd be all over you." he said with a grin.

Hermione looked up and smiled, "No wonder you're a good listener."

At that James out right laughed and patted her on the shoulder, "Listen, I know I don't know you very well and you don't me very well, but my boyfriend and I are going out tonight to a club and I would love it if you would join us."

She briefly thought about her conversation with her mum when she was younger about strangers but hell, she was already living with to ex- death eaters and a death eaters son.

"That sounds like fun, but I don't have the proper clothing and I'm sure your boyfriend wants to just be with you."

James waved his hand in dismissal, " Jeff wont mind in the least and we can always follow you to your flat so you can change and drop off your car."

"Alright.. but only if you're sure you boyfriend wont mind,"

"Mind what?" A voice came from behind them.

Hermione spun around to see a guy that looked almost identical to Draco.

"Hermione this is Jeff, Jeff this is Hermione."

Jeff extended his hand towards her and gave her hand a small squeeze, "Nice to meet you."

"You as well" she replied.

"I've invited Hermione to come to the club with us and she will only go if you don't mind."

Jeff gave her a smile, "the more the merrier."

With that settled, Hermione got into her car while Jeff and James got into theirs and followed her to her flat.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Brief A/N: remember in real life always go by the rules of Stranger danger, lol, I have control of this situation so all is good. Okay.. back to the story.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Draco had been pacing back in forth in the living room much to his father and god fathers amusement. It had been hours since leaving the restaurant and Hermione had failed to show back up.

"She will be back Draco" Lucius finally said with a sigh

"Wha – I'm not worried about that." Draco said stubbornly.

Both older men just shook their heads and smirked. A car door could be heard outside, followed by two more slams.

"Told you she would be back."

Draco rolled his eyes and went to the couch, she didn't need to know he was waiting for her.

The front door opened and Hermione walked in along with the waiter from the restaurant and a tall blonde man dressed like a muggle model.

"You can use my bathroom to change if you want and I'll just go get ready in my room."

James smiled and followed her inside with a duffel bag on his shoulder. Draco gave both men a look of loathing but remained passive just the same.

Hermione turned to Jeff, "Feel free to get yourself something to drink... I'll only be a minute." she siad while pointing towards the kitchen.

"Thanks beautiful" He replied and made his way to the kitchen without a word to the three men sitting on the couch. James had explained the situation to him on the way over and he really wanted nothing to do with the gits that could treat a woman the way they had.

Ten minutes later, Hermione stepped out of her room in a short black dress, heels and a slight bit of make -up. James had finished a few minutes earlier and found Jeff in the kitchen to wait.

"Are you ready?" she asked

both nodded and walked out of the kitchen with her, one on each side. Once they made it to the door, Hermione turned to the three dumbstruck looking men.

"Don't wait up" and with a close of a door she was gone.

Draco made his way to the window and watched as James held the door open for her. He didn't miss the smile on her face.

"Looks like you missed your chance." Severus stated with a smirk, he loved torturing his godson.

"I didn't miss anything" he stated angrily before heading to his shared room.

3 a.m...

Was Hermione a bit tipsy? No -- she was flat out pissed but damn if she didn't have a good time getting that way. James and Jeff were very obviously a serious couple but both had danced with her, got her drinks and in general they made her feel like a best friend.

"Which one is your room?" Jeff asked while carrying her – he was the only half way sober one in the group.

Hermione plopped her arm over to the side and pointed to the cracked door, "That one" she said as he walked closer. Jeff pushed the door open and walked inside with an equally drunk James behind them.

"The big bed right?" Jeff asked

"Yeah... just don't put me anywhere near that – that wanker." she said with a giggle.

James smiled and plopped down on the end of her bed, he was starting to get a little too dizzy. Jeff lay her down and removed her shoes before pulling the blanket over her.

"We still on for Wednesday?" he asked while pulling James to his feet.

"As long as I'm sober by then" she said with a laugh, "What time?"

"say oneish?"

"Sounds good to me." she said with a yawn

Jeff leaned down and gave her a peck on the forehead as did James before leaving the room and heading to their own place for the night.

Hermione smiled contently at the sound of the front door closing. She was glad she had met James and Jeff – they had the potential to become good friends as they all got on really well.

Hermione turned over to face the wall, not paying the slightest bit of attention to the blond haired guy in the lumpy twin sized bed with fire in his eyes of jealousy... he had no idea that they were gay and she had no idea he had watched the entire scene.

Next chapter ... a confrontation.