Are You Gonna Be My Girl
Chapter Fourteen
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of Ms. J.K. Rowling. Just my interpretation of what could have been! As I wrote this chapter, I was listening to Trouble by Coldplay.
Hermione sobbed as she walked out of the floo of the cottage. She hated the silence that greeted her and wished more than anything that Ginny was there for her. What the hell just happened? How could Draco be with that vile girl? She thought as the tears kept falling. What was she supposed to do now? She had actually passed up an opportunity to work with T.J. in the States for Draco! Hermione felt physically ill and had to fight the urge to throw up when she thought about Draco with Nicolette. She knew one thing, she wasn't staying alone tonight. She scribbled a quick note to Byron and sent it by owl.
Where's the party tonight?
-H
It was Thursday night and she knew Byron was going to be out at wherever was the most happening place. She figured the distraction of a loud club, be it muggle or wizard, would be enough to make her momentarily forget about what had happened.
Within 10 minutes, she received a reply.
The party is at Pim's Place! I'm here with the gang. You're welcome to join us. –B
Hermione wiped away her tears as she read the reply and gave the owl a few treats. She knew Pim's Place was a new club opened by Pim Renossa, a well-respected wizard DJ in London. That would do very nicely for the shitty mood she was in. Loud pulsating music and alcohol would definitely numb the pain in her heart, or at least it would for a few hours anyway. She went to her bedroom and began stripping off her clothes. When she removed the bustier and garters, she threw them on the floor. Glaring at the offensive garments, she grabbed her wand, pointed and said "Incendio!" Maybe it was stupid to burn such expensive lingerie, but at the moment it felt good. With that done, Hermione went to her closet and pulled out a pair of black leather pants with a lace-up fly and a short-sleeved red cropped top that fit her like a second skin. She paired this ensemble with black leather ankle boots.
Checking her reflection in the mirror, she applied her makeup, going heavy with the black eyeliner and dark red lipstick. Smirking, she laughed with no humor as a surly, Goth-looking girl stared back at her. This was certainly a new look for her, but she was in a dark mood and it suited her fine. Before leaving the room, she grabbed a jacket and walked over to the floo. She shouted out the address to Pim's Place.
Merlin's fucking bollocks, how the hell am I supposed to fix this, Draco thought as he sat and stared into nothing. It was killing him to know that Hermione had been waiting for him. She was probably there to make it up to him and that fucking whore ruined it. Draco couldn't believe this shit; he didn't even know the bitch's name. All he knew was that she worked at Malfoy Industries. He knew one thing for certain though, she was history. He planned on firing her first thing Friday morning. That was going to be easy to fix. How he was going to get Hermione back wasn't going to be that simple.
Hermione walked out of floo and into Pim's Place. Despite her feelings of bravado at home earlier, she was now wondering if this was such a good idea. She was shocked to see how many people were at Pim's on a Thursday night, but she remembered that the club had just opened and Pim was a popular guy. She waded through the crowd and was feeling somewhat apprehensive because she couldn't find Byron or anyone she knew. Suddenly she felt someone grab her by the arm. She turned with a sharp look on her face, but then smiled when she saw who it was.
"T.J.! What're you doing here? I thought you were leaving tonight?" Hermione shouted over the loud music.
"I was about to leave when Byron convinced me to come check out Pim's new club. What're you doing here?" T.J. shouted back.
"You wouldn't believe it if I told you. Is there someplace we can talk?" Hermione replied and hated that she had to shout over the music.
T.J. nodded. "Follow me. We'll go to Pim's VIP lounge. It's not as loud there."
Hermione followed her to a flight of stairs that led to a luxurious room filled with comfortable chairs and couches. There was a security guard blocking the entrance, but he smiled when he saw T.J. and stepped aside to let her and Hermione into the room. They took a seat on one of the couches. There were a few other people there but they only nodded politely at the women and went back to their own conversations. T.J. turned to face Hermione.
"Damn girl, you're looking fierce tonight! I've never seen you dressed like this before. I have to say I was shocked to see you," T.J. said.
"I don't know what I'm doing T.J. I left work early so I could surprise Draco and tell him that I had decided not to go the States. Well, ha ha I was the one who got the surprise," Hermione said dryly.
"Shit Hermione, what happened?" T.J. asked, looking genuinely concerned.
Hermione gave her a condensed version of finding Draco with his dick in some random whore's mouth. T.J. listened without interrupting and shook her head when Hermione was finished.
"You're better than me. I would've cut him and that fucking bitch before I left that fucking house," T.J. said softly and meant every word. To her, a man being unfaithful was one of the worst slights that could ever be done to a woman.
Hermione gave a rueful smile, as she wiped away a tear forming in the corner of her eye. "I just wanted to get the hell out of there. I still can't believe it."
T.J. patted her hand. "I understand. I don't know if this is the right time to bring this up, but my offer still stands if you want it."
"What? You'd still want me to go to the States even though I turned you down?" Hermione asked incredulously.
"You bet your ass. I was about to leave the club when I spotted you. Hermione, this is going to sound crazy, but maybe you're meant to come with me," T.J. replied.
"I don't think it sounds crazy T.J. Why the hell not? There isn't anything here for me. Maybe blowing this taco stand is exactly what I need," Hermione mused, but still had a pit of sadness that had settled in her heart.
"Well if you're up for it, I'm leaving tonight. How soon can you pack?" T.J. asked and smiled.
Hermione took a deep breath. Shit, she was really going to do this. "Give me about 10 minutes. Wait, what will I tell Byron and the others? They'll expect to see me tomorrow."
"I'll take care of that. Pack your gear and meet me at Mesmerize. We'll go from there," T.J. replied and they walked out of the VIP lounge.
Taking the floo network back to her cottage, Hermione rushed to her room and grabbed a carry-on bag, stuffing it with everything she needed for the trip. When that was done, she wrote notes to Ginny and her parents, letting them know that this was a last-minute decision and she'd talk to them soon. She washed off the heavy makeup and pulled her hair back into a high ponytail. Hermione changed into a pair of jeans and a pink sweatshirt, putting on comfortable socks before she pushed her feet into a pair of trainers. Picking up her bag and slinging it over her shoulder, she was ready to go.
When she arrived at Mesmerize, T.J. was waiting. She led Hermione to the elevators and when they got inside, she pressed the button for the top floor. Hermione gave her a questioning look.
"Where're we going?" she asked, a little nervously.
"To the roof, there's a helicopter waiting to take us to Heathrow," T.J. replied and gave her a reassuring smile. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Hermione took a deep breath and let it out, and then nodded. "I've never been surer of anything in my life T.J."
"Well alright," T.J. said when the elevator doors opened. They walked over to a staircase and ascended to the roof entrance. Sure enough, there was a sleek black EC-135 helicopter waiting. The co-pilot took Hermione's bag and stored it while she and T.J. climbed inside. As they sat down, the pilot powered up the aircraft and she listened as the huge propeller came to life. Within minutes they were airborne and headed to Heathrow. Hermione watched as they flew over London and couldn't help wondering what Draco was doing at that exact moment.
Still feeling the effects of the alcohol he had consumed, Draco fell asleep in his living room. He woke up with a raging headache the next morning. His mouth was so dry; it felt as if it was filled with cotton. He held his pounding head as he went upstairs to his bathroom. Once there, he headed straight for the medicine cabinet and removed a bottle of hangover potion from it. He opened it up and guzzled it down. After that, Draco headed over to the toilet and peed for what surely seemed like two minutes. He then undressed and climbed into the shower, bracing himself with his hands against the wall. His head was down and he let the warm water cascade over him. The events of the night before began to play out in his mind. He slid down to the floor with an anguished cry and beat his fists against the walls of the shower. After a few minutes, he regained his composure and finished showering. As he was drying off, he looked at his reflection in the mirror hanging over the toilet. Draco fought the urge to shatter it as he took in his bloodshot eyes and sad expression. His heart was heavy and he felt like shit, but he still managed to look sharp in a black suit with black dress robes. His main priority was to do everything in his power to get Hermione, but he knew he had to take care of firing the whore who managed to ruin his life in a few moments. It was going to be a long fucking day, Draco thought as he set his mouth in a firm line and departed for Malfoy Industries.
Hermione and T.J. left London in Mesmerize's corporate jet and landed in Chicago, Illinois, T.J.'s hometown. When they arrived a Cadillac Escalade was waiting to bring them to their destination, T.J.'s condo located in the Hyde Park area. Located in a high-rise, Hermione took in the skyline of Chicago as the glass elevator took them to the 35th floor. When the elevator reached the designated floor, T.J. and Hermione stepped out. Hermione followed her down the long hall until they reached T.J.'s condo. T.J. unlocked the door and ushered Hermione inside.
"Home sweet home. Jeez, I've only been gone a week but it feels more like a month. Let me show you your room so you can get settled in. Make yourself comfortable because this is going to be your home for a while," T.J. chuckled.
"Thank you. I appreciate you letting me crash at your place. This is really nice," Hermione replied.
"It's no problem girl. I have plenty of room," T.J. said and she wasn't lying. The condo had three bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, along with a spacious living room, kitchen, and utility area. Hermione was expecting to see a sterile and minimalist décor similar to Draco's home, but she was pleasantly surprised when T.J.'s home was filled with bright colors and funky artwork on the walls. There were also plenty of photos of what Hermione assumed was T.J.'s family and friends.
Hermione settled into the bedroom and put away her clothing and other items. When she was done, she went to the window in her bedroom, taking in the impressive view of Chicago. She and T.J. planned on resting and then T.J. was going to give her a tour of the city. It was Hermione's first time there and she was looking forward to checking it out, but she was still distraught when she thought about the event that led her to the States. Despite what Draco had done, she still loved and missed him. After taking a quick shower, she climbed into the queen-sized bed and hugged a throw pillow. She was feeling jetlagged and it wasn't long before she dozed off. Her last thought was of the last image of Draco when he was pleading with her not to go.
When Draco walked in to Malfoy Industries, he was greeted by a smiling Starla. He was fit to be tied, but for some odd reason, Starla had a calming effect on his mood. He managed to smile back at her and tell her good morning. Starla had heard gossip about Nicolette going home with him the night before and that he'd told her to get lost. Maybe that snotty bitch was finally going to get what was coming to her.
Draco went straight to Lucius' office and walked in, firmly closing the door behind him. Lucius looked up from his paperwork and raised his eyebrows.
"I'm surprised you made it in this morning considering how inebriated you were the night before. Did Ms. Ames tuck you in?" Lucius chuckled as he attempted to make a joke.
"So that's the name of the whore who was trying to blow me in my living room while I was passed out?" Draco drawled as he took as seat across from his father.
"Oh my, someone had an interesting evening," Lucius said and laughed.
"I don't find this funny at all Father. Hermione left me last night because of that bitch. Who is she? I want her fired immediately," Draco snarled.
"Draco, we can't fire Nicolette Ames because of something that occurred during non-working hours. Nicolette may have done you a favor, perhaps it was time you and Ms. Granger took a break from each other," Lucius drawled.
"Finally, I know the whore's name! I can't believe you're telling me this. I'm in love with Hermione and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. So you're saying I can't fire Nicolette huh? Well that bitch better be on top of her game at Malfoy Industries. Merlin help her if she slips," Draco growled as his fingernails dug into the armrests of the chair he was seated in.
"I didn't realize your feelings were so strong for Ms. Granger Draco," Lucius said softly, taking note of Draco's reaction. "I apologize for my comments regarding Ms. Ames; it seems I've spoken out of turn."
"Apology accepted Father. I'm sorry for bursting in here unannounced, but I can't think straight. I need to talk to Hermione and she doesn't want a thing to do with me," Draco replied as he ran his hands through his hair. He was also shocked by his father apologizing to him. Lucius must be getting soft in his old age. The truth of the matter was that Lucius finally realized how serious Draco was about Hermione when he saw how angry and distraught his son was.
"I'm sure you'll be able to work it out with Ms. Granger. Perhaps you need to give her a few days to cool off," Lucius suggested.
"I hope so Father," Draco said and walked out. Lucius watched him as he left the office and sighed as he shook his head. Draco looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. He sincerely hoped his son would be able to work things out with the muggleborn witch.
Ginny returned home Friday morning and was shocked to see that Hermione was gone. She read the note Hermione left, but found it very peculiar that her friend would just decide to leave for the States the night before. Ginny wondered if something happened to prompt Hermione to make such a rash decision. Before Ginny had left, Hermione was happy and things were going well with Draco. Harry had shown her how to use muggle email, so she sent out an email to Hermione.
Hermione,
It was quite a shock to return to an empty house! What is going on? Hope all is well.
Ginny
It was Friday evening and Ginny was still waiting to hear from Hermione. She called Mesmerize to try to find out something, but was only told that Ms. Granger was out of the country. After taking care of a few errands during the day, Ginny returned home. She planned to have a quiet night alone for Harry was out on a mission and would probably be gone until Sunday. As she prepared a sandwich for her dinner, she thought about how much she missed Hermione. She hoped that she was okay. Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock at the front door. Ginny frowned, she wasn't expecting anyone. She put her sandwich down and walked to the door.
"Draco? Why are you using the front door? We have a floo," Ginny said and laughed, but she stopped when she saw the look of desperation on Draco's face.
"I know there's a floo, but Hermione locked it. Where is she Ginny? I really need to speak to her," Draco said as his eyes darted all around.
"Draco, you don't know? She left for the States last night. Wait a second, did you have something to do with Hermione's sudden departure? What is going on with you two?" Ginny said with narrowed eyes and both hands on her hips.
"We had a misunderstanding last night, she got angry and left. I thought I'd let her cool off. I had no idea she had left the country," Draco said in a morose tone and sat down heavily on the nearest chair, letting out a sigh. "I fucked up Ginny."
"Yeah, I think I'm piecing that together Draco. What did you do?" Ginny asked and sighed as she sat across from him and picked up her sandwich. "Do you want anything to eat or drink?" she asked and Draco shook his head. Food was the furthest thing from his mind. Ginny took a bite of her sandwich and waited for him to speak.
"Hermione received an offer to go to the States earlier this week. When she told me about it and said she was going to be away for one or two months, I lost it. I gave her an ultimatum of choosing me or her job," Draco said.
"Draco, what the hell? That was a pretty stupid thing to say to Hermione of all people," Ginny said in a point-blank manner.
"Are you going to let me finish?" Draco interjected. Ginny was getting on his nerves but she was a link to getting Hermione back.
"Forgive me, do go on," Ginny said sarcastically. She was a little taken aback that Draco was confiding in her.
Draco ignored the sarcasm and continued. "She left from my house Monday night and didn't speak to me in the next few days, even when I sent her flowers and tried to apologize. Well, Thursday rolls along and I'm pissed that she hasn't responded to me. We closed a big deal at work and my father took the office out for drinks. I drank more than I should have and when I left the pub, one of our employees accompanied me."
"Oh shit, I think I know where this is going. Let me guess, Hermione caught you and the 'employee' who I'm assuming is female, in a compromising position," Ginny said flatly.
"That pretty much sums it up, but you must know it wasn't consensual! Ginny, I was drunk off my arse and had passed out on my couch. When I woke up, there was Nicolette with my cock in her mouth! That was the scene Hermione walked in on. When I think about the look on her face, I hate myself," Draco said sadly and put his face in his hands.
Ginny finished her sandwich and then daintily wiped away any stray crumbs with a napkin. She scrutinized Draco for a few moments before she spoke, deciding if he was telling the truth or not. Ginny decided that she believed him. "That's fucked up. If I were you, I would give Hermione some time to cool off. I'm sure she's hurt and extremely pissed off."
"I know my father gave me the same advice, but I feel if I could only see her face to face, I know I could convince her that it wasn't what she thought. Ginny, she's everything to me," Draco said as his voice cracked.
"Draco, why don't you go home and try to get some rest. You look like shit," Ginny replied in a matter of fact manner.
"Normally I'd take offense at that, but I know you're telling the truth. I feel like shit too. Thanks for hearing me out and if you talk to Hermione, please tell her how sorry I am. I'll do anything to make it up to her," Draco said as he stood up to leave.
"No problem. Just give Hermione some time Draco, I know she loves you," Ginny said. She actually felt sorry for Draco.
Ginny removed the locking spell from the floo and Draco called out the address to his home. When he walked into his living room, he was immediately reminded of what had occurred there. He sighed and walked out of the room. Draco went straight to his bedroom and took off his suit. Clad only in boxer shorts, he climbed into his bed, clutching the pillow next to him and wishing it was Hermione. He felt his eyes grow heavy and he gave in to his weariness and the toll this day had taken on him.
He had been asleep for about two hours when he was awakened by the sound of someone coming through his floo. Draco sat up in bed, his heart beating a little faster as he thought about who it could be. He prayed that it was Hermione as he left his bed to find out who was there. When he went down to the living room and saw who was there, he grimaced and fought the urge to return to his bed.
"Draconius! Long time no see," Blaise Zabini boomed. Blaise had been a close friend of Draco's at Hogwarts. They hadn't seen each other since the war ended because Blaise had decided to go to a wizarding academy in Italy, rather than finish his last year at Hogwarts.
"Yeah it has been some time. How have you been?" Draco asked, trying to be polite.
"I'm good. Hey man, why are you in your underwear? Oh shit, did I interrupt you and your witch?" Blaise chuckled.
"No, I was actually asleep. There's no witch warming my bed. Give me a moment and I'll put on some clothes," Draco replied.
"Dray I can come back if now isn't a good time. I had gone by the Manor and your mum gave me your address. I had just come by to see if you wanted to hang out," Blaise said.
"It's all good Blaise. It truly is good to see you. I won't be long," Draco said as he walked to his bedroom.
Draco was annoyed at this intrusion at first, but as he quickly pulled on his clothes he was glad that Blaise was there. Maybe the heaviness in his heart would ebb a little with the presence of a good friend. When Draco went downstairs, he and Blaise went into the kitchen. They caught up with what had been going on each other's lives over dinner.
"So what's this I hear about you and Hermione Granger? Dude I have to admit I couldn't believe it. You two hated each other with a passion," Blaise said.
Draco smiled sadly and told Blaise what had occurred the night before. Blaise sat back, taking a sip from his butterbeer and processed this information. "Man, I'm surprised you still have your balls. What're you going to do?"
"I don't know Blaise. Father and Ginny Weasley both advised that I should give her some space before I try to contact her," Draco replied.
"Well how about we go out and do something in the meantime? I've been hearing about that new quidditch sports bar, Gene's in Diagon Alley. What do you say we check it out?" Blaise asked.
"I don't know Blaise. I'm not going to be very good company," Draco began to say until Blaise held up his hand.
"Stop right there. Look, moping around at home isn't going to do you any good. You need to be around people. How about we go for a few hours?" Blaise asked.
"I guess it won't hurt to get out. Just keep me away from the Firewhiskey," Draco said wryly.
"You got it. Come on, we might meet up with other friends," Blaise said.
Draco only nodded and sighed inwardly. He and Blaise made their way to the floo and gave the address to Gene's. Within seconds they were there and it was a full house. The two young men saw a couple leaving the bar, so they quickly grabbed the seats. Once seated, they ordered beers and started talking again. It wasn't long before they were approached by two young women.
"Excuse me, I just need to squeeze in here to order a drink," a pretty brunette said as she squeezed in next to Blaise.
Blaise winked at Draco. "How about I make a little room for you?' he said, giving his most winning smile. When the bartender approached her, she ordered her drink and began to converse with Blaise. Her friend, blonde-haired and blue eyes, pretty in a bland way, eyed Draco with interest, but he paid her no mind. Draco only stared into his beer and took occasional sips, tuning out Blaise and the two witches. He was startled when Blaise tapped him on the back.
"Hey, Stacy and Reenie want to check out the dance clubs, so we're going to head out. Do you want to come?" Blaise asked.
Draco shook his head. "No man, I'm gonna head back home. Have fun." He stood up and started walking to the exit. Reenie followed him.
"Oh don't be such a party pooper! We'll have so much fun," Reenie the blonde said and placed a hand on Draco's forearm as she gave him what she thought was a sexy pout, but she looked more like a puffed-up frog.
Draco didn't want to be rude, but something told him he'd have to with a witch like Reenie. "There is no 'we.' I'm sure you'll have a good time with you. Now if you'd remove your hand, I'll be leaving."
Reenie gave Draco a shocked look and then her face twisted in an ugly grimace. "Well excuse me for living jerk!"
Draco ignored her and walked out of Gene's. If Blaise wanted to hang out with those two annoying bints, he sure wasn't going to stand in his way. He disapparated to his home and went straight to his bedroom. As he removed his clothes and put on a pair of pajama bottoms, he thought about Hermione and wondered how she was doing. He climbed into his bed and it was some time before he fell asleep.
When Hermione woke up a few hours later, she padded into the living room. She was surprised to see T.J. was up and dressed. She grinned when she saw Hermione.
"Don't mind me, I have so many things racing through my mind, it's hard for me to take a nap. Take your time getting ready and when you're done, I'll give you the grand tour of my hometown," T.J. said.
Hermione smiled. "Thanks T.J. I appreciate it." She noticed that T.J. was in jeans and a light sweater with boots, so Hermione dressed similarly. When she was done, she grabbed her handbag and went to meet T.J.
Despite the heaviness she had in her heart, Hermione managed to have fun with T.J. The first thing they did was have dinner, which consisted of Chicago-style pizza and longneck Bud Lights to wash it down. She liked that despite Chicago being such a sprawling metropolis, everyone at the pizzeria knew T.J. There was a small-town feel in T.J.'s neighborhood. From there, T.J. took her to the wizard area of Chicago, Mystic Lakes. Hermione was thrilled when they walked into a club and The Protagonists were playing. It had been some time since she had seen Gemma and the rest of the band.
"How cool, I haven't seen them in ages! I didn't know they were playing in the States," Hermione said over the music.
"They just started a few weeks ago. They're doing really well too and receiving good reviews from the American wizarding press. I'm glad they signed with us before one of the other recording companies snagged them," T.J. said.
They sat at the bar and kept drinking the muggle beer. Hermione wasn't really drunk, she just felt really relaxed. As she looked around the club, she watched couples sitting at tables, talking and laughing, some getting up to dance. She didn't know if it was the effects of the alcohol, but if Draco would've walked in that moment, she would've jumped in his arms, no questions asked. Maybe it was best that she put some distance between them, it would give her time to clear her head and decide if pursuing a relationship with Draco was worth it. It was going to be difficult to forgive him for his indiscretion with Nicolette.
When the band took a break, Hermione and T.J. went over to meet them.
"Hey! I thought it was you with T.J. at the bar! I didn't know you were working in the States," Gemma exclaimed as she hugged Hermione. The guys in the band smiled and greeted Hermione too.
Hermione hugged her back. "It was kind of a last minute decision. I'll be here for a month or two. We'll be checking out some new bands. How are you doing? You all look good and the band sounds great!"
Gemma went on to tell her that they were going to be going on tour with The Tormented Toms in a few weeks. Hermione was so excited for her friend and her band. They were really on their way. Before the break ended, Gemma made Hermione promise that they would get together and hang out. The Protagonists were going to be in Chicago until they kicked off the tour.
In the next few weeks, Hermione was so busy with T.J. that she barely had time to dwell on Draco. She was grateful for the distraction of scouting out the new bands and working out of Mesmerize's Chicago location. It was only when she was alone late at night, that the tears would well up and she'd think about him. Was he thinking about her or was he too busy carousing with his whore? She went over so many scenarios in her mind, asking what would have happened if she would've done this or that differently, but when it came down to it, fucking hindsight is 20/20.
She and T.J., along with T.J.'s American team worked in Chicago and the surrounding area. Hermione was astounded at how much talent was out there. There were definitely quite a few music acts that were going to take the wizarding world by storm. After she had been there for a month, T.J. approached Hermione.
"How are you? You've been doing a great job, but I wanted to see how you were doing personally," T.J. asked.
"I'm okay T.J. It's really easy to focus when we're working. It's just when I get back to your apartment, I start thinking about him. I have no idea what's waiting for me when I return to London," Hermione replied.
T.J. nodded. "Why don't take a week off and go home, Hermione. I'll probably take a break too and visit my family for a week. I'll totally understand if you decide to stay, however if you return, I just got a hot new lead on a band in Pensacola, Florida. Mesmerize has a beach house there and that's where we'll be staying."
"I don't know T.J.; do you think being at a beach house in November is going to be fun?" Hermione asked.
"I love the beach anytime of the year Hermione. There's nothing like getting up early in the morning and breathing in the fresh sea air. The house is really nice and it's located in a central location. I'll also be able to visit my cousin Kendall. He's an officer in the US Navy and he's stationed at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola," T.J. replied.
"That's pretty cool. Is he a wizard?" Hermione asked.
T.J. nodded and grinned. "He is, but no one knows. There's a handful of other wizards stationed there too. They decided they wanted to serve their country. I know my cousin enjoys living in both worlds."
"I'll take that into consideration T.J. It sounds great, but I think I want to stay in London if I can work things out with Draco. I'm sorry, but I miss him so much," Hermione said and wiped away a few tears.
"Don't apologize, Hermione. You go home and get your priorities in order. But just know that you're welcome to come back and join me in Pensacola," T.J. said and hugged Hermione.
"Thank you T.J. These past few weeks have been amazing and I really appreciate you giving me this opportunity to prove myself," Hermione said and hugged her back.
"I truly hope everything works out the way you want it to Hermione," T.J. said.
The next day, Hermione took a flight back to London. She had called her parents the night before and they were thrilled that she was coming home. They met her at the airport and Hermione had to fight back tears when she saw her mum and dad. She didn't realize how much she'd miss them. They helped her with her luggage and were going to bring her to the cottage, but Hermione told them she wanted to stay at their house.
When they arrived, Hermione went upstairs to her room and fell onto her bed. She closed her eyes and hugged her arms to her chest. It truly was good to be home and she was filled with anticipation knowing that Draco was so close. Her eyelids began to feel heavy and soon she fell asleep. She was shocked when she awoke to her mum's light knocking on the door, to let her know that dinner was ready. Hermione couldn't believe that she'd napped for about 4 hours.
She went to her bathroom and washed her face. Looking at her reflection, she noticed that she looked happy and relaxed. Hopefully this was a sign that it was the right time for her to come home. She had sent an owl to Ginny earlier and was meeting her later. They planned on having a girls' night so they could catch up on all of the gossip. Hermione was also curious to know if Ginny had seen or talked to Draco. She had kept in touch with Ginny while she was in the States but they didn't speak about Draco. Ginny had started to mention his name but Hermione would tell her she didn't want to know and would steer the conversation to something else. It was her way of protecting herself because she didn't want to have a meltdown while she was in the States. Now that she was on her home turf, she felt stronger and could handle news or gossip about Draco.
After having dinner with her parents, Hermione went to her room to grab her purse before leaving to meet Ginny. As she was about to leave, her mother met her in the hallway.
"I just wanted to tell you dad and I are glad you're back. Hermione I don't want to pry dear, but did something happen between you and Draco?" her mum asked.
Hermione nodded. "We broke up because of something he did. I don't want to go into the details mum, but I caught him with another witch."
"That's awful dear! I'm so sorry," Mrs. Granger gasped.
"I guess now you know why I made such a hasty trip to the States. It gave me time to think and I've realized that I still love and care for him. Isn't that crazy?" Hermione asked sadly.
Mrs. Granger shook her head and pulled Hermione to her. "It doesn't sound crazy at all Hermione. I guess we'll never understand why men do such hurtful things. Has he attempted to contact you or given some sort of explanation?"
Hermione told her mother what had occurred that fateful night. Mrs. Granger listened and didn't interrupt her daughter. When Hermione was finished, her mother regarded her for a moment, and then began to speak.
"I've seen the two of you together dear and I believe that Draco is very smitten with you. Maybe you should give him another chance and listen to his explanation as to what happened that night," Mrs. Granger said.
"You know me well mum because that was what I planned on doing. I'm glad we talked," Hermione said softly.
"I am too dear. Your father and I will always be there for you," Mrs. Granger replied.
With that, Hermione hugged her mother and went downstairs to hug her father before leaving. Things were definitely starting to look up.
Nicolette finally got what was coming to her and it was because of Starla. One day Starla was working through the stack of files Nicolette had brought to her. Draco came up to her desk to give her a few pieces of outgoing mail. He had never taken notice of what Starla was working on before, but he spotted a file from a new Malaysian file and wondered why Starla was in possession of it. Starla watched out of the corner of her eye as Draco began to look through the files, a frown on his face. When he was done with his scrutiny, he turned to Starla.
"Starla, why are you working on this? These files are not part of your duties," Draco asked.
Starla stopped typing and looked at Draco. "Well Mr. Malfoy I thought they were. Nicolette brings them to me every day and she wants the reports prepared by the end of the day. I hope I haven't done anything wrong."
A slow smile spread on Draco's face. He had that bitch! Who the hell did she think was delegating her work to Starla? "You haven't done anything wrong Starla. Please hand me the files."
"Of course Mr. Malfoy," Starla answered as she handed the stack to him and watched him go back towards his office. As soon as Draco was out of sight, Starla pumped her fist and smiled triumphantly. Something told her Nicolette wasn't going to be dumping work on her any longer.
Draco brought the files to his office and set them down on his desk. He shook his head when he took in the huge stack of work Nicolette had piled on Starla. He was amazed that Starla handled it so efficiently. Someone was going to be getting a promotion and someone's arse is going to be out of job, Draco thought as he made the trek to Nicolette's office.
Nicolette Ames had it made; all she had to do was show up for work and relax. That cow up front did her work and never complained; Starla was probably grateful that Nicolette even noticed her. Her superiors just assumed that Nicolette had prepared the reports when she handed them in at the end of the day.
She was sitting at her desk and filing her nails, when she heard a knock at her office door. Upon answering it, it was none other than Draco Malfoy. Nicolette gave him an alluring smile.
"Why Mr. Malfoy, this is quite a surprise. What can I do for you?" Nicolette said as she ushered him in and closed the door behind him. She knew he couldn't ignore her forever.
Draco smiled at her and took a seat in a chair positioned in front of her desk. There was another chair beside it and this is where Nicolette sat. She made sure that she pulled up her short skirt to reveal as much leg as possible. Draco took note of this and wanted to laugh. The bitch really thought he was there for her to seduce him.
"You asked what you can do for me, well here's my request," Draco said in a low voice and bent his head close to hers. Nicolette's smile widened and then her mouth was partially open. She really thinks I'm going to kiss her, Draco laughed to himself.
"Anything Mr. Malfoy," Nicolette said in a low, husky voice.
"I want to know why the fuck is Starla doing all of your work. You better have a damn good explanation," Draco growled and sat back. He gave her a look of disgust.
"Whhh-aaa-tt?" Nicolette stammered, but she quickly recovered. If anything, Nicolette was all about self-preservation. "It was just some overflow work and all she does is sit up there and answer the phone. Did that fat cow report me?"
"You're a despicable excuse for a witch! I can't believe you're going to sit there and lie. Starla is doing all of your work and has been for months, hasn't she? For the record, Starla never said a word or complained about you. Get your personal belongings together, you are no longer employed with Malfoy Industries!" Draco bellowed.
"Can't we discuss this? I really like my job here and I promise I'll do my own work from now on," Nicolette pleaded.
"There is nothing to discuss, get the hell out of here. Security will escort you out," Draco said. As soon as he said this, a member of Malfoy Industries security team walked in. "Mr. Timmons will see you out." With that said Draco walked out of her office and never looked back. Nicolette was in tears as she shrunk down her personal belongings and placed them in her handbag. She had never been so humiliated.
Draco walked back to his office with a huge grin on his face. Now that he had gotten rid of Nicolette, he needed to figure out how to get Hermione back. She had been gone for nearly a month. When he entered his office, he closed his door and leaned against it. He sighed, closed his eyes for a few moments, and then went to his desk. He unlocked a small drawer located near the center and pulled out a small box. He opened the box and looked at the ring he had purchased for Hermione. Maybe proposing to her would let her know how much he loved her and desperately wanted her back in his life. Draco pondered if he should take some time off from work and make a trip to the United States.
Starla wanted to get up and sing the muggle song "Oh Happy Day" when she saw Nicolette being escorted out of the building by Mr. Timmons. Nicolette glared at her as she walked out. In what she knew was a childish and immature move, Starla flipped her middle finger towards Nicolette and mouthed "Fuck you bitch." Nicolette stopped walking and was about to confront Starla, but something in Starla's eyes halted her from making any move or saying anything. She quickly turned away and started walking again. Nicolette could've sworn she saw Starla's eyes take on a red glint and it scared her.
The phone rang at Starla's desk and as she answered it, she watched Nicolette leave the building. She was relieved that this part of her assignment was completed, her superior would be pleased. Now she had to work on getting the rest done. When she accomplished that, she would have everything she ever wanted.
When Hermione arrived at the cottage, Ginny was waiting to greet her.
"I'm so glad you're finally here! I missed you so much and it's so quiet here without you. Please tell me you're back for good," Ginny exclaimed as she hugged her.
"I missed you too Gin. Being back here makes me realize how much I've missed our little cottage. I could possibly be back for good, depending on Draco. I love him so much and being away made me realize how I want him back in my life despite what happened," Hermione replied as she hugged Ginny back.
They walked into the living room and sat on the couch. Ginny took a deep breath. "I've wanted to tell you what happened the day after you left, but you told me you didn't want to hear anything about Draco."
"I'm ready to hear it now Ginny. What is it?" Hermione asked, feeling a bit apprehensive for she didn't know if what Ginny was going to tell her was good or bad.
"Draco came by here wanting to see you. Hermione, you should've seen the look on his face when I told him you had left for the States. The guy was totally heartbroken," Ginny said.
"Really? I find that strange considering he was getting serviced by a harlot that works in his office," Hermione said bitterly.
"Hermione, you know I will always tell you the truth no matter how much it hurts. I honestly believe the explanation Draco gave. He said he was really drunk and had passed out. When he came to, that girl had his cock in her mouth and voila, that's when you walked in. He loves you and regrets what happened. This was a major understanding," Ginny said.
"Ginny, what do you think I should do?" Hermione asked as she bit her bottom lip.
Ginny took her hands and looked into her eyes. "Go to him."
Hermione nodded and took a deep breath. She slowly let it out. "I think I will. I've never been so nervous in all my life. What if he doesn't want to see me?"
"I don't think that's going to happen. Get your arse over there," Ginny said and smiled.
Hermione stepped up to the floo and shot Ginny a shaky smile. She called out the address to Draco's home and disappeared.
"Pleas Dray, do this for me. I'll give you my firstborn child," Blaise pleaded.
"Seriously Blaise? I told you that I wasn't interested in going on a date with Reenie. Even her name is fucking annoying. Why can't you and Stacy go out on your own?" Draco asked and grimaced at Blaise.
"She won't go anywhere unless Reenie has a date. They share some kind of stupid witch code where they look out for each other. Man, I'm so close to sleeping with Stacy. I know she'll be coming home with me tonight if you go along with this," Blaise replied.
"Shit Blaise, I'm really not in the mood for this. I'm working on getting Hermione back. I sure don't want anyone seeing me out with another witch," Draco said.
"We'll be going to a club that opened recently, Pim's Place. I doubt we'll see anyone we know," Blaise said.
"I don't know man. Hermione's coworkers are always showing up at clubs, especially the ones that just opened," Draco said doubtfully.
"Come on Draco. Hermione's in the States. Besides those places are usually so crowded, no one will notice us," Blaise pleaded again.
Draco shook his head. "I know I'm going to regret this, but I'll do it for me. You owe me, just remember that."
"Thank you, I'm eternally grateful oh Master Malfoy!" Blaise joked. He knew it wouldn't take long to get Draco to agree to his plan for the evening.
The two young men took the floo from Draco's home to meet the girls at Stacy's apartment. Draco was only doing this as a favor for Blaise, he couldn't wait for the evening to be over.
Hermione arrived in Draco's living room and was relieved that he hadn't locked his floo. She walked through the living room and into the kitchen, but didn't see him there. She then walked to the stairs and walked up, calling out his name. The house remained quiet. She wondered if she should wait for him to return from wherever he had gone, but then decided to return to the cottage. Before leaving, she looked around and took a deep breath. She could smell traces of the cologne he wore and it filled her with longing. She let the breath out and went to the floo, calling out the address to the cottage.
When she returned to the cottage, Ginny came up to her with a concerned look on her face.
"That was quick; I wasn't expecting to see you so soon. Did everything go okay?" she asked
"He wasn't home," Hermione chuckled.
"That sucks! What're you going to do?" Ginny asked.
"I don't know Gin. I thought about waiting for him, but I don't know where he is. For all I know he out of the country on a business trip," Hermione replied.
Ginny nodded. "I guess we hadn't thought of that. Some of my teammates have been going on about this new club that opened, Pim's Place. Apparently it is the place to be "seen," their words not mine," she laughed.
"Oh yeah, I was there the night before I left for the States. We can go if you want, it's a really nice club, Pim outdid himself," Hermione replied.
"Pim is it?" Ginny asked with her eyebrows raised.
Hermione laughed and playfully punched Ginny on her upper arm. "He's one of the hottest wizard DJ's around. I know him from working at Mesmerize. Pim is a cool guy."
"Okay, okay. Let's get ready for a night of clubbing. Merlin it's been ages since I've been out. I've been spending all of my spare time planning the wedding with Mum and being with Harry," Ginny said.
"How are Harry and Ron? I was hoping to see them," Hermione said.
"They're working for the weekend, but their shift is supposed to end tomorrow afternoon," Ginny said.
As they began to prepare to go out, Hermione realized how much she had missed Ginny. It was fun doing their hair and makeup together. It hit her that this might be one of the last times they would be able to spend this much time together. Ginny was going to be a married woman soon. She felt a bout of sadness wanting to overtake her when she thought about this, but Hermione regained her bearings. School was over and they were now in the real world, finding their paths in life. She was glad for Ginny and Harry. If only she knew what path she was destined for.
Hermione looked cute and flirty in a short fuchsia red dress with a flouncy skirt and flowing sleeves of chiffon. She paired it with matching heels. Ginny opted for one-shoulder black silk top and leopard print skinny jeans. She wore this with black boots. Hermione's hair was pulled back in a long fishtail braid. Ginny left her hair down and it flowed smoothly down to the middle of her back.
When they arrived at Pim's Place, there was a line waiting to get in and a doorman with a clipboard. Hermione waved at him and smiled. She knew him. He smiled when he recognized Hermione and motioned for her and Ginny to come to the front of the line. As he ushered them into the club, people waiting in line grumbled about having to wait, but the doorman only fixed them with a haughty stare.
The club was once again packed with people at the bar and on the dance floor. The music was pumping and Hermione smiled when she recognized the song playing was by The Protagonists. She saw Pim up in the DJ booth that overlooked the dance floor. She decided to tell him hello, so she and Ginny went up to the booth. When Pim saw them, he smiled and let them in.
"Hey Hermione, long time no see babe! Heard you and T.J. have been tearing it up in the States! Who's your friend?" Pim asked. He was a flirt, but was harmless. Pim had been married to the same woman for the past 10 years. His wife knew that the flirting was all part of his public persona. When he was home, Pim was a dedicated husband and a wonderful father to his two young sons.
Hermione introduced them and Pim immediately recognized Ginny's name from the Holyhead Harpies. She smiled when they began discussing quidditch. Hermione let her eyes scan the dance floor and watched the patrons dance. All of a sudden, she spotted a familiar head of platinum hair. Her heart began to begin to beat faster when she realized it was Draco. She was about to go down to meet him on the dance floor when she noticed he wasn't alone. Her heart seemed to get stuck in her throat when she saw him dancing with a small blonde girl. At least it wasn't that Nicolette skank, but obviously Draco had moved on.
Ginny was about to ask Hermione a question when she saw that her friend was looking towards the dance floor. Ginny looked in the same direction and her face fell. This was not good. There was Draco dancing with some other chick. She looked at Hermione and Hermione gave her a sad smile.
"I shouldn't have waiting so long Gin. He's moved on," she said sadly.
Ginny grabbed her and squeezed it. "Let's get out of here." Pim noticed and asked if everything was okay. Ginny made up a quick story that Hermione wasn't feeling too well and they were going to get some air.
They went back to the cottage and settled in the living room. Ginny couldn't believe what they had just witnessed. Her heart went out to Hermione.
"Hermione, can I get you anything?" Ginny asked.
"I'm fine Gin. I guess going out wasn't sure a good idea. Maybe this was a sign, maybe Draco and I were never meant to be together. Maybe I should just cut my losses and move on like he has. What sucks is that I love him so much," Hermione said and her voice began to crack.
Ginny pulled her close and let her cry. After a few minutes, Hermione sat up and grabbed a tissue from her handbag. She wiped her face and looked at Ginny.
"I'm sorry you had to see me like this Gin. I'm a mess, aren't I," Hermione chuckled half-heartedly.
"Don't apologize Hermione. This is what friends are for. If you're a mess what does that make me?" Ginny joked.
The two young women spent the next few hours talking and eating ice cream. They fell asleep in the living room. Hermione was emotionally exhausted but felt better after talking to Ginny.
The next morning, Hermione sent a message to T.J. via a long-distance owl. There was only one line:
Pensacola here I come.
Sometimes it takes awhile to get the creative juices flowing! Thank you for your patience.
Once again, thank you so much for the alerts and reviews. Happy Holidays!