The next day, I planned to go see Draco at work- to keep up appearances, since Draco owled me informing me that most of his colleagues was congratulating him.
When I had gotten there, Sofia ran to me.
"Hermione!" she wailed, wringing her hands.
That girl is so bloody graceful, even when wailing.
But I digress.
"What is it, Sofia?" I asked, worried.
"My- my brother.. is beating Draco up again," she said, biting her lip.
"Where are they?" I asked her, pulling out my wand.
"Fifth floor near the tearoom!" she called as I sprinted away in that direction.
I had gotten there to find Daphne standing between the two, trying to break up the fight. I could see Draco was going to try to land another punch.
"Draco, no!" I near-shrieked, grabbing his arm and standing in front of him.
"He insulted you," he muttered angrily.
"He's your best friend," I said quietly. "You shouldn't beat him up- he probably didn't mean what he said."
"Yes, I did," Blaise said defiantly. He looked so mad that he was practically red in the face.
Draco snarled and made to punch him again, but I held him back.
"Draco.." I pleaded. "Please don't."
He stared at me in disbelief, before wrenching his arm out of my grip and stalking away.
Daphne let go of Blaise, who still looked red. I glared at him before walking away to Draco's office, where he would probably be drinking some firewhiskey. I had better get that out of his office.
I felt someone grab me by the arm, but I pulled my arm away.
"What?" I hissed. I could see Blaise out of the corner of my eye, following me.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
"About what?" I asked, eyebrow raised (yet another forming habit). I stopped to face him, crossing my arms. It was a good thing we were in a semi-private area- near the stockroom.
"I'm sorry I said you were.." he trailed off.
"I was what?"
He mumbled something.
"I can't bloody hear you," I said, pissed.
"Promiscuous."
"Excuse me?" I said in shock. "What did you just say?"
"Pro-" but before he could finish, I slapped him across the face with all the strength I had.
He staggered, holding his cheek. I suppose it was bad enough that Draco beat him up, but he had it coming.
"I said that because of all the people you could have gone out with, you went out with Draco. Now you're marrying him!" he said hotly.
"Why? Why does it matter so much? I can date whom I please, and I can get married to whomever and whenever I please! It's none of your bloody business, so please stop acting like it is!" I yelled, also turning red in the face.
He glared at me for a long time before finally sighing and running his hand through his hair.
"You're right. I shouldn't care. I should just leave you two alone. Just owl me the invitation," he muttered.
My gaze softened.
"Blaise," I asked, "Why do you care?"
"You wouldn't want to hear. I told you once, once is enough," he said. He briefly wrapped his arms around me before leaving.
I shook my head and continued on to Draco's office.
Draco was, as I had suspected, drinking firewhiskey.
"Being your fiancé, I order you to get rid of that," I said as I walked in.
"You're my pseudo-fiancé," he muttered. "And Blaise was such a bloody.."
"Language," I smirked. "He told me what he said."
"Did you give him the famous Granger slap?" he said, giving me a small grin.
"Did you hear it?" I ask incredulously.
"I did, perfectly.. from two floors away," he smirked. "So, what did you get out of him?"
"What I got was that he was obviously pissed at the news of the engagement, but he won't say why," I shrugged.
"He's just too proud to say he loves you, and he doesn't want to break it off with Daphne," he answered wisely, looking in a mirror he took out from a side drawer. "Now I've got a bruise, thanks to you."
"Oh poor baby," I laughed. "Let me heal that."
"Let me remind you who the Healer is, love," he said, smiling. I shook my head and stood behind him, putting his arms around his shoulders.
"Go ahead," I challenged.
He Healed the bruise perfectly, smirking.
"Well?" he asked annoyingly.
"Yes, you're an excellent Healer," I laughed.
--
I was assigned to go on an assignment to Romania; we had gotten an English wizard there. Why Romania? Oh well, I might see Charlie.
I told Harry and Ron, who looked upset that I would be away for a bit. I laughed and told them not to worry- and wrote them up a list of things to do, such as paying the rent, feeding the owls, doing the laundry and when they should do said events.
I was debating whether to go visit Draco to tell him. I was in favor of it because then Blaise would then hear of my departure; I was against it because I still had to pack and I was too lazy to go. In the end I figured I might as tell him in person, him being my pseudo-fiancé after all.
It was already the end of Draco's shift, so I owled him, telling him to stay a bit longer because I was coming.
Fifteen minutes later, I entered his office to find him and Blaise sitting across each other, drinking firewhiskey.
"Do you remember that time when Pansy was dared to French kiss Goyle? And it was Goyle's first kiss," Draco laughed.
Blaise shuddered. "That was disgusting- oh hi Hermione."
I smiled, making my way to the chair near Draco's.
"I have some news," I began.
Both boys leaned forward.
"Good or bad, love?" Draco asked, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Blaise wince at 'love'. I mentally smirked.
"Both, I suppose," I said casually. "Can I have some firewhiskey?"
"What do you need firewhiskey for? Oh, you want some Dutch courage for what you're about to tell me. What, are you pregnant?" Draco rambled.
Blaise, who was sipping his firewhiskey, sprayed it all over Draco's desk.
"Damn it, Blaise!" Draco yelped.
"Sorry about that Draco," Blaise simply said as he cast the Cleaning Charm.
I laughed out loud. They looked at me like I was crazy.
I cleared my throat.
"As I was saying.. My job level has been somewhat promoted."
"Congratulations!" They said, handing me the bottle of and a glass for the firewhiskey.
"Bad news is, I'm going to Romania for a while," I said in a rush.
They stared at me.
"What?"
"Roh-may-nee-ah," I said slowly and clearly. "Trans-ferred to Roh-may-nee-ah un-til I fin-ish this case."
"You'd be back in a day," Blaise shrugged.
"It's a bit more complicated than that," I said, raising my eyebrow. "Anyway, I have to go- pack and list things for Harry and Ron to do while house-watching, get in touch with the Romanian Ministry, figure out how to get there.."
Draco sighed, stood up and pulled me into a hug.
"I'm going to miss you love," he murmured into my ear.
"What, no kissing?" Blaise said sarcastically.
"Not with you here," I said, smirking.
He quickly excused himself and left the office. Draco smirked as soon as we heard his footsteps fade.
"He'll be in his office sulking until Daphne worries about him- which will be around a day."
"Why is he so daft?"
"I suppose he wants to let me have happiness, having such an evil and controlling father," he said, in mock-sadness.
I sighed.
"He'll come around soon love, I can feel it," he said seriously.
I smiled at him and kissed him on the cheek.
"If that's what I get for consoling you, I should do it more often," he teased.
I whacked him on the head with his address book.
"Ow!"
--
Hi, I'm sorry I'm behind schedule!!:P We went to this Christmas party this afternoon and spent all morning buying gifts for the peopleTT Anyways, reviews which I love as much as.. writing. Maybe I should just take up Creative Writing, huh??:P
Cande-dhrmspotter: Draco is so sweet, heh:P Now that I think of it, he's a bit OOC, wahahaXD
Setsuna Bu: Thanks!!:D
dilaimar: I knooow right?? My Love is.. wowXD And Draco pops into my head every time I hear it, odd eh?? Hahahaha!!:P
Man Utd Chick: Aww thanks!! And no you're not slow.. I hadn't mentioned the stalker until Chapter 13, so you're okay:P
Padfoot's Sidekick: Yeah, I think I will!! :) Yaaaaaaaaaaay!!:D It was fun writing that part:D
like-clockwork: Wahahaha yes, in this story anyone can be a suspect:P Draco and house-elves?? HilariousXD Me tooooo!! Did you watch the Victoria's Secret fashion show, I think he performed most/all his songs- I missed itTT
GermanPrincess21: Oh, thank you sooo much!!:) I am.. I am.. well, sort of speechless.:P Don't fret though, I still have a lot to write for True!! Hehehe!!:P
emptyli'lfirefly: Aha!! Someone caught on!! You get a.. um, Chips Ahoy Chewy cookie!!:D Yes, I seem to never run out of them, hehXD It was fun explaining all that, I loved that part:P
IsInGcAuZeIlUv2: What, your best friend had been using you for four years?! What'd she d that for?! Is she psycho?! Jeez, the people in the world these days..TT Hehe, and who likes Daphne?? I know I wouldn't be able to stand an absolute perfect person, haha:P
Hawaiian-Rachael: Haha I really think it's a fruit:P Oh and I had one yesterday!! It's really good, just try it with milk and sugar:)
Little Flower Princess: I know.. I'm starting to see True as a somewhat Days of Our Lives, hahahaha!!:D Oh, somewhat later.. haha:P But we're halfway through the story, so.. shrugs:D
Whitelight72: Yeah I know.. what is wrong with them anyways?? WahahaXD
Monnbeam: Oh thank you thank you!!:D
Un Petit Diable: Very drastic- sighs.. Hm, what is getting out of this?? Well, he's 'going out' with Hermione.. he told her before that he could act as back-up right?? Pretty pathetic, but.. wrinkles noseXD
ScaryStar: Wahahaha I dunno, things just pop into my head, hahaha!!XD I know, but I actually think it's all funny hahahaha!!:D
Please don't forget to review after reading!!:D