Dinner with Marie

Disclaimer: Don't own it...still
Hermione sauntered around the gallery for a while, thoroughly enjoying herself. She knew why McGonagall had assigned the Louvre as one of the destinations—it had been in hopes that Draco would understand that Muggles were capable of creating extraordinary things as well as old, pureblooded families. Still, Hermione was beginning to think of it for her benefit as well. McGonagall would have known that Hermione would find the history and the art indescribable—and no doubt she had planned it for such.

Hermione was slightly upset that Draco had left so quickly but there were other times when Hermione was rather glad he wasn't there. Some of the paintings were very—erotic—and Hermione would have been embarrassed to have Malfoy standing next to her. Not to mention having Marie giggling in the background. She smiled, glad that they weren't there.

Hermione laid her purse down and took a seat on the polished floor, staring ahead at one of the pictures ahead of her. She had never been a great artist, but she enjoyed sketching and had finally found the perfect picture to attempt to replicate. Head bent over her sketchpad, Hermione worked dutifully until she was finished. When she held it back though, she nearly fell over though—it looked more like Draco than it did of the man in the painting! Stuffing it into her pocket, Hermione decided she had had enough of the museum and decided now would be a good time to leave. She couldn't believe she had actually drawn him!

Must have been all that coffee….

Hermione walked outside, stepping back into the waning lights of the city. She knew that she had made a big fuss to Marie and Draco about being able to make her way back to the apartment herself, but she couldn't help the nagging in the back of her mind telling her to worry. She hadn't thought what it would be like having no one by her side and was surprised to find that she was slightly self-conscious about being alone. She was still relatively new to the city and at least with Draco she had someone else to talk to—someone else to blame if she got off course. Now all she had was herself.

Hailing a bright yellow cab, Hermione jumped into the back seat and muttered the address to the apartment building. Now at least she was off the street but her thoughts still drifted towards company. She wondered what Marie and Draco were up to—only to make sure that they weren't doing anything stupid, Hermione assured herself.

A few minutes later, Hermione was climbing out of the cab and walking into her apartment building, remembering at the last minute that she had forgotten to pick up any take out. I guess I'll have to find something worthwhile in the apartment, Hermione grumbled to herself, walking into the lobby of the building.

"Hello!" Hermione said to the deskman, who had helped her out on the first day. No matter how grouchy she was feeling, Hermione still remembered her manners.

"Bonjour mademoiselle! How are you?" The clerk smiled, stacking up a few papers while making conversation with her.

"Oh, I've had such an exhausting day! And it's so cold!" Hermione said.

"Oh I know," he began sympathetically, "On ze radio zey said it would snow!"

"What's it like here, when it snows?" Hermione wondered, genuinely curious. The man smiled.

"Oh it is even more beautiful than usual! Zey put up a magnificent ice-skating rink! And all ze people in Paris get even more drezzed up then usual—it's magic!"

"It certainly sounds like it," Hermione murmured to herself, a half smile on her face.

"Where is your boyfriend? I have a letter for him, and two for you!" Marc said, handing Hermione three letters. She paled.

"Boyfriend? Oh no, we're just," Hermione paused, not exactly sure what they were, "friends?"

"Oh my apologies! I had no idea!" Marc said.

"No it's fine, honestly." Hermione replied, taking the letters and walking towards the elevator. "I think I'm going to retire for the night though."

"Of course! And I must be getting back to work!"

"Thank you very much Marc," Hermione said. She was hesitant to leave—hesitant to return to the apartment all alone—but she knew she would have to face it eventually. So, with a sigh, Hermione passed through the lobby and started towards the elevator. Halfway up she smiled to herself.

At least she would have the bed.

Walking into the living room, Hermione collapsed onto the sofa. She was absolutely exhausted. She had been walking round all day, and her legs felt like they could fall off. Boy was she glad that she could finally relax! Closing her eyes, she thought about everything that happened today. It had been a good day, despite Marie's constant clinging to Malfoy. It wasn't only annoying, but it made Hermione...jealous?

Sighing, Hermione rolled off the sofa and walked over towards the bar. She wasn't much of drinker, but she figured a glass of whatever was there would help her unwind.

Opening a bottle of wine, she poured herself a glass, and took it back to the couch. Deciding that she didn't particularly like the silence in the apartment, Hermione took the controller for the stereo system, turned up the volume, and pressed play.

BOOM

"Argh!" Hermione screamed as the first chords of the song echoed loudly through the entire apartment, and possibly, the entire building.

Clutching her heart, Hermione shakily turned down the volume. Hermione put down her drink and tried to calm herself down while fully realizing the true meaning of 'surround sound'. The song kept playing in the background, and was just getting into the chorus, when there was a sudden knocking on the door.

Opening the door, Hermione smiled at Mr. Riley.

"Miss Granger, are you all right?" he asked, peering into the apartment, to see if anyone else was in there, "I thought I heard a bomb, and a scream coming from in here!"

"No!" Hermione smiled, her cheeks reddening, "It was just me getting familiar with the stereo."

Visibly relaxing, Mr. Riley shook his head at Hermione. "Well, forgive me for knocking then, and good evening!"

He was just about to turn around, when Hermione asked:

"Would you like a drink or anything?"

Turning around, he thought about it for a moment. Then he smiled, and took her up on her offer.

Sitting down on one of the kitchen counter stools, Hermione handed him a glass of the same wine she was drinking and, sitting opposite of him, he asked what they had done today.

Hermione told him all about the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre, and how Draco and Marie were now having dinner.

"Without you?" Mr. Riley asked, looking at Hermione, his wrinkled brow scrunched with concern, "So I take it that our dear Marie likes this, this Draco?"

"Yes, Draco Malfoy," Hermione nodded.

"Malfoy, did you say?" Mr. Riley asked, frowning slightly at the name. Hermione turned her head.

"Heard of him?" Hermione wondered.

"Err...no, maybe a long time ago, but not anymore," Mr. Riley said quickly, looking at Hermione in an interrogating manner, as if he could see right through her.

"Um—Mr. Riley," Hermione started nervously, "What—what's up with Marie?"

"So you've noticed," he said, sighing. "Well Marie—she, she's had a hard time."

"Oh," Hermione said slowly, surprised. She hadn't expected Marie to be anything more than a spoiled little rich girl. Who knew the girl had a history? "I didn't really know."

"Well, nobody expects you too!" Mr. Riley chuckled, "it's quite a story."

"Oh, please do tell!" Hermione gushed; now that she knew there was a reason behind Marie's personality, she was dying to hear it.

"Well, I don't think she appreciates me telling anyone, but I think it will help you understand her better. Just as long as you don't mention it to anyone else—Marie included."

"Of course not," Hermione said sincerely. She was eager to find out what this whole thing was leading up to.

"Well, Marie used to be—well, just like you actually. Smart, intelligent, and a very independent woman. She could have gone anywhere she wanted to go, the world was hers for the taking." he paused, and Hermione blushed because of his pseudo-compliment.

"The trouble was that her parents never really appreciated exactly what, and who, she was. They didn't see her potential, and never praised her for her achievements. It was quite sad to see, how whenever she would succeed in something, her parents didn't recognize it, and often it was only I who ever commented on it. Her parents, in particular her father, wanted Marie to join the company, not because they could see her potential in helping us, but so that she could help her father out, if ever he needed anything, or didn't quite understand the system. So when Marie was offered a job, and she accepted it, she didn't know exactly how—high up her position actually was." He looked into the windows, as if somehow ashamed.

"She never intended to be 'more important' than her father, and when he found out that she higher up than he was, he was furious at Marie. I heard them the night she was appointed, and her father was shouting that she 'had disgraced the family name', by intentionally making her father seem lower than her. Marie, after years of being criticized, finally snapped. She decided that she could no longer be around her parents, and before leaving, she came to me." he smiled briefly at the memory.

"She told me, that she never understood why her parents never really gave her any praise, or attention, and she was absolutely terrified of seeing them again. She told me, that she loved them, and never wanted to upset them, and so she had to give up her position at the bank, because she felt that that was the only way to please them. She left for a few days, to god only knows where, but I can tell you, no-one ever thought, that just because she wanted, and needed her parents love, and guidance, she would return to Paris as the person who she is now. I never tell her how I want her too return to whom she was. I know, that the day Marie decides to change back to her old self, is the day her parents leave the company." he sighed, and shook his head in disappointment. Hermione stared at him avidly, eager for him to continue.

"She knows that every single day, she is making her parents regret how they never loved her. Out of regret, and guilty conscience, her father begged her to accept the lowly job of secretary, so that's why she's here today. And I don't think I could ever hold her past against her," Mr. Riley finished, taking a large sip of wine.

"Wow," Hermione breathed, digesting all of this, "I never—I never knew!" she suddenly felt really bad about how critical and had been of the girl. She could now see where she was coming from, but she couldn't believe she used to once be normal. And how could the Marie Hermione knew, just be an—an act! She was a web of lies, but in the centre, Hermione was determined to see the truth about Marie.

"And—will she ever, you know—come back?" she asked.

"Marie has hidden behind her 'new' personality too long to ever really go back to the girl I once knew," he sighed. Hermione could tell he felt partially responsible to what had happened to her, but in her opinion, he wasn't in the slightest. "The best way to go about it is to pretend I never told you, and just try to think of Marie, as the same way she always was. But with an ounce more respect than before." he added, looking at Hermione seriously.

"Of course," Hermione muttered.

"Well, whenever you're ready to start working with Pierre, please tell me as soon as you can, because I know," he paused, winking, "he's very keen to get started!"

Smiling broadly, Hermione nodded her head.

"I have to be going, it has been a long night for me!" he said, slowly standing up, and shaking Hermione's hand in a very professional manner.

"Miss Granger," he said, when they were both standing at the door. "I trust you not to abuse the truth. Goodnight."

And with that, he was gone.

Wonder what they're doing, Hermione was still thinking, twenty minutes later. Even with the new insight to Marie, she couldn't help feeling slightly jealous that they were together—alone. If Marie gets her way, they'll probably be making out right now...

Hermione sighed enviously.

What is wrong with you, Hermione asked herself in frustration, when he's around you hate him and when he's gone you miss him—you have to be batty! Still, she couldn't seem to get Draco off her mind. Earlier—at the Eiffel Tower—he had been so sweet and almost…nice. It was a change but Hermione was oddly pleased.

Hermione had just decided to open up one of her letters when her phone started buzzing like crazy. She glanced at the ID—it's Marie, she thought to herself, probably calling to tell me how many times they've made out. Hermione ignored it.

Hermione stood, wondering what kind of books the apartment had. She thought she had seen a modest bookcase earlier and had intended to check it out when a million other things had occupied her mind. Now though seemed like the best time to take a peek.

Before Hermione even reached the bookcase, her phone started ringing again.

God, as if she doesn't have any other friends, Hermione groaned then immediately felt bad. Maybe she doesn't have any other friends. She's cheery enough, but maybe the thing Mr. Riley was talking about was harder for her than she let on.

Muttering about her own indecision, Hermione picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hermione, thank god you picked up! Draco's been poisoned!"

"What?" Hermione exploded, all sympathy towards Marie gone. Draco would never get poisoned with her around! "What—how did this happen?"

"It was my food," she sniffed into the phone, "it must have been bad or something."

"Of course it was bad!" Hermione found herself shrieking.

"I'm so sorry Mione!" Marie sobbed.

"Calm down," Hermione snapped, "and get over here as soon as you can!"

"I'm almost there," Marie assured her.

Without bothering to reply, Hermione hung up.

Five minutes later the door exploded open, and Marie, who was struggling to keep Malfoy upright, stumbled into the apartment.

"Here," she said, passing off Draco's limp form to Hermione, and then collapsing on the floor.

Hermione took him into her arms, and tried to support him. She dragged him across the living room, trying to ignore Draco's muffled cries of agony.

Gently placing him on the bed, she looked at him.

His eyes were shut, and his face was contorted in pain. Sweat was dripping off his brow, and his hair was a mess. Every so often he would moan in pain, and clutch his stomach, begging for it to go away. His legs were limp and his arms askew. His hands were curled into fists, the knuckles a deathly white color. Hermione had never seen Draco Malfoy so vulnerable.

She wasn't entirely sure what to do either.

Marie, who had now also entered the bedroom, gasped, and clapped a hand to her mouth. Hermione, glancing at her solemnly, gestured for her to come closer.

"Marie, I need you to get a few things for me," Hermione said assertively, trying to relax Marie who was starting to panic, "You need to go to the nearest pharmacy and ask the person at the desk what you should get for a," Hermione wasn't sure what to call it, "a serious case of food poisoning. Also, buy a thermometer. Then come back as fast as you can, drop off the stuff, and use the laptop here and look up food poising, okay? Can you do that for me?"

"Yes, I will," Marie said seriously. She looked at Malfoy again, and she shook her head in despair, "I did this—I knew I couldn't cook, and now he's sick because of me!" she sobbed.

"Marie, no one blames you," Hermione said reassuringly, though in the back of her mind, she wasn't sure she really believed it.

"He isn't—he isn't going to, you know—?"

"I don't know, but you should go now," Hermione said quickly, waving for Marie to leave, which she did, running out of the bedroom.

Hermione leaned close to Draco who had fallen silent, though he was still sweating profusely. She mopped his brow gently.

"Please ... don't die."

A/N: Sorry my authors note was spelt wrong last time, I was in rush! Don't foget to review!!! Oh and, he had it coming fanfic awards are up again...so, don't forget to nominate! cioa! x