AN

I don't know how, but I managed to write this in a day. GO KYLIE!!! An Gabby who beta'd.

Things Can Only Get Better

Chapter 10: Confusion Comes with Embarrassment

"For crying out loud Ron, keep still."

Sitting in a chair in his family home, Ronald Weasley was having his hair trimmed by his little sister. After many years of teasing Bill over his pony tail Ron soon realised that his hair was getting a little long, when one day Fred and George had started calling him mini-Billy, (even though Ron was actually much taller).

"I can't help it if you keep waving your bloody wand in my face." Ginny waved her wand again making Ron cringe and close his eyes, "Will you stop doing that."

She sighed, "For goodness sake you asked me to do this, or would you rather have taken the alternative and unleash mum on your precious locks."

"Just get on with it," he grumbled.

Ginny ran the comb through his red hair once again, "I would if you would stop moving your head, I'm trying to sort out your fringe. Merlin knows why you didn't get this done sooner." She made a slicing action with her wand and Ron watched the trimmed ends flutter onto his lap.

"Ginny dear, Hermione's here to see you," called Molly Weasley.

Hermione? Bugger.

He was not looking forward to seeing her again. After accidentally burning down her house Ron had made a habit of avoiding her and that was a month ago. It seemed that there was no way out now and his lovely head of hair was going to be saying goodbye to his shoulders.

"Hi Gin," Hermione said cheerfully, coming through the kitchen door, adding more stiffly, "Ronald."

Ron turned to the door and was jabbed in the eye with a thin piece of wood.

"Owww, oww, owww."

"Damnit Ron. How many times do I have to tell you? Keep bloody still."

He rubbed his eye and told her to bugger off.

"Charming as ever I see," Hermione said.

"Hermione, she's physically abusing me. Do something."

Ginny poked him again, but in his shoulder. "She more likely to kill you than me so just shut up." She turned towards the brunette, thankful that the stupid stick was out of his way, Ron sighed. "Now what can I do for you, a hair cut perhaps?"

Ron saw, out the corner of his eye, Hermione pat down her hair, "No! No thank you Ginny, I like it how it is."

"Are you sure? It would look nice with a little bit chopped off," her last remark was made with a slash of her wand. Fearfully Ron covered his head with his arms. "Cyprian would love it."

Ron lowered his arms. Cyprian? Who the hell was Cyprian?

"Who's Cyprian?"

"None of your business Ronald Weasley," Ginny glared.

Hermione interrupted, "No it's okay, I was thinking about putting it up anyway. It's too hot to wear it down."

"So are you excited?" said Ginny as she started to comb Ron's hair again, gathering his fringe in her hand to cut a little more off.

"Actually I'm slightly nervous."

Hermione was never nervous, from what Ron had gathered, except for when she was at Hogwarts. Not only fussing over her homework but Harry's and his also. Something was going on and big if it got Hermione flustered.

"Don't worry," the youngest Weasley replied and sliced off more of Ron's hair, "I was like that on my first date with Blaise."

Hum, it seemed that Hermione had gotten herself a date with this Cyprian bloke. He would have to check him out. Ron was her best friend, after all.

He snorted, "Who are you trying to kid? You were all over each other, if it wasn't for the skin tone no one would have know who began and who finished. And that was before you even left the house."

"Do you want hair at the end of the day?"

"Yes," he muttered.

He heard Hermione laugh.

"Well then." She turned to the other female in the room, "So, what is it that you wanted?"

Hermione drew out a piece of paper from her jacket pocket and handed it to Ginny. Ron watched as his sister's face went from confused to overjoyed to pensive.

"What? What's the matter?" asked Ron.

"When did you get this?"

Hermione replied with, "During breakfast this morning."

"Does Malfoy know?" Snatching the letter from Ginny's hand as she waved it in the air, Ron read the letter wondering what the Ferret had anything to do with… well, anything.

"I haven't told him yet," Hermione sighed, "You know how he gets when ever Harry is mentioned."

"Like a grouch." Ginny deadpanned, a moment later she brightened up, "But this is great I can't wait until your birthday."

"Neither can I."

The two women hugged as Ron read the letter over and over again, his smile growing at an alarmingly fast rate.

Blaise turned towards Draco with a confused expression on his face, "What do you think that was all about?"

Draco shrugged, "Beats me, mate."

Was it Draco, or did Blaise look a little pale? Well, pale as can be. "You don't think she's…"

Damn Blaise and his cryptic questions (and answers), "She's what?"

He looked worried too with the way he was pacing up and down the living room rug. If he went any faster Draco was sure he would wear a hole in it. Blaise stopped and looked at him, "That she's… You know," his friend made a motion with his hand conveying a large tummy.

Draco was horrified, "Granger? Merlin no. The date isn't even till tomorrow. Ask me in a couple of weeks."

"Not Granger you dimwit, Ginny!"

"Well, I did say…" he started.

"Don't be a dick, Draco." Blaise glared at him and to be honest it scared him quite a bit.

"You wanted my opinion didn't you?"

Blaise flopped on the sofa, "This is serious though."

"Maybe you should do the simple thing and ask her."

"Draco Malfoy those are the most helpful words I have ever heard you say, I'm surprised."

Yeah, he was surprised himself, he almost sounded like a Gryffindor. Heaven forbid. Blaise was his friend after all and Blaise had always given him helpful advice when ever he had girl troubles.

"Or you could always do the Slytherin thing and read her diary -"

There that had contradicted his earlier statement and made him look like less of a girly man.

"- because there is no way I would want to be on the end of the red head's temper."

"You might want to retract that because Granger is definitely much worse," laughed Blaise.

Draco laughed along with him, "You're probably right, but still, Gryffindors you know?"

"So, do you think…?"

"Do I think what?"

Blaise gritted his teeth. It was always fun to get his own back, he had been wound up enough times especially in the last month.

"Hell Draco do you think she's," he leaned in and whispered, "pregnant?"

They shared a glance.

"Na," each of them said.

"Now that's over and done with, do you mind telling me why you owled me at seven-thirty in the morning?"

"Oh hum, I was wondering whether you would switch shifts with me tomorrow," Blaise asked.

Draco was affronted. "You want me to work on a Sunday?"

"Well yeah, I'm being made to go to a bloody kiddies party, one of the twin's kid's birthday, or something."

"Fine but you have to work my shift Wednesday night with Cadman." Draco smirked, "And let me take a look at She-Weasel's diary."

The pair of Slytherins shook hands, "Deal."

After meeting up with Hermione at The Burrow they went to Diagon Alley for lunch and to shop for a new outfit for Hermione to wear on her date.

Upon entering her bedroom Ginny dropped her bags on the floor and flopped onto her bed. She had to carry out her part of Blaise's plan tomorrow and she was not looking forward to it. It was a good job he was at work at the moment, it had been a tiring day but worth while because she had bought Ryan, George's son, a gorgeous little outfit for his birthday, and couldn't wait until she could buy those little trinkets for her little one.

Standing in front of the mirror, Hermione inspected her reflection as she fixed the strap and smoothed the pleats on her little yellow sundress. It had taken her a while to get to the stage of putting the finishing touches. With the help of Ginny though she was finally able to tame, some what slightly, her hair although it didn't go without Ginny's coercing of letting her cut her hair, which Hermione did not agree to. Finally they agreed upon a half up, half down kind of hair style; simple yet pretty.

Ginny had left half an hour ago for the Weasley party and Hermione agreed to come join them later in the day. Adding the final earring in her ear, Hermione checked the time on her bedside clock and saw she still had plenty of time before Cyprian arrived at half-past eleven.

Moving to the bathroom she bumped into Octo.

"Oh I'm so sorry."

The elf was looking strangely at her, as though he couldn't quite believe it was her.

"Missy Libby?"

"No it's me, Hermione."

He was still giving her that look.

She sighed, "Missy Granger?"

Octo jumped up and down while clapping his hands, "Oh Missy Granger is looking very pretty. Much nicer than Missy Libby. Mister Draco will be very jealous."

Hermione didn't know what to say to that so she just thanked him and continued to the bathroom.

Because he had to work today, thanks to Blaise, Draco stayed in bed as long as possible. He turned over for the eighteenth time.

He looked at the picture of Libby on his bedside table, she had insisted he keep it there. He removed it once but she found out and put a personal hex onto it in case he tried to remove it again. He daren't find out what that hex did.

Stupid Cadman.

Rolling over onto his back he sighed. Working on a Sunday was unheard of for any Malfoy but Draco just had to agree. Damn his bloody curiosity. He should have just asked Granger, women are always talking about stuff like that.

Stupid Granger.

Draco rolled again to check to time, picking up the sock he had left lying on the clock and throwing it over his shoulder, (conveniently covering the picture of his girlfriend), he noticed it was best he got up, no doubt Granger had been up since dawn.

Stupid date.

Rubbing his eyes Draco made his way out of his room. Opening the door he ruffled up his hair and came crashing into another body.

"Merlin Granger we can't keep… Oh I'm sorry sweetheart," he wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a light kiss on the lips, "When did you get here?"

He waited but no answer came, "Hey what's the matter?"

She looked like a frightened rabbit, eyes wide, mouth agape and pale as parchment.

Draco licked his lips and noticed something very strange.

Spearmint.

Libby never used spearmint toothpaste. She always had waxy tasting lipstick on.

And now that he looked closely, Libby, or rather this woman, was wearing no lipstick at all.

So that would mean…

A knock came on the door and Draco jumped three feet away from her.

"Bloody Hell Granger," he spluttered, blushing for the first time in Malfoy history.

AN

Yay a kiss. Well a little one anyway.

Now where's this bloody date she keeps going on about? I can hear you all ask. Well it's soon. Next chapter in fact, and will definitly be in chapter 11 I promise, (because some of it is written already.)