Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JKR.
Draco stared at The Quibbler. He had had no idea that the engagement had been made public, so seeing it in print on the cover of a magazine was quite shocking. What was more shocking was that Hermione knew. He wondered why she hadn't asked him anything then. He had actually even forgotten about it totally. The past two days that he had spent with Hermione had actually made him forget about his own problems. So he sat there on the floor, unmoving, staring at his own picture.
Hermione silently picked up the magazine and the other books from the floor and put them back in her bag. She tried to keep a neutral expression, in case Draco looked at her. She had forgotten completely about that news in the past two days. She instantly felt stupid. How could she have not remembered such a thing or even considered that there could be something between her and Draco? It was really embarrassing, but she also wanted him to tell her about it. Why hadn't he? Weren't they friends? Why was he so secretive to her even now? She was getting angrier by the minute as more thoughts started building up in her mind.
After more than 20 minutes, Draco spoke. "I think this is a good time Granger. Let's get to work with your parents." He hoped she would agree. She had been quite, too quite, and it was a bit scary. And he really didn't want her to ask questions about the impending engagement. He really hadn't wanted her to know, things were complicated between them and now this engagement news was bound to push her off him.
"Huh?" Hermione looked up from the book she had been staring at. She had heard him, but she couldn't believe him. How could he just step over the engagement talk like this? If he was seeing someone else and getting engaged, why was he giving her all these mixed signals? Or was she just imagining things? Even if she was, wasn't she a friend that ought to know about the engagement and get invited to it? She wanted to strangle him. She decided to confront him. Trying to keep her voice even, she asked "Is there anything I should know?"
Draco stared at her. She looked like she was trying with all her might to not shout or scream. "Granger… I…" He couldn't decide what to say. He shut up when he saw her expression. She was not going to let this go, as well as he knew her, the Gryffindor stubbornness meant that she wouldn't stop until he told her everything.
He opened his mouth to speak but she spoke first. "I… I think I need to go home." She started packing up the books and picked up her wand. "But Granger, what about your parents?" He watched as she cleared the room completely.
"I have waited a long time for it, so I can surely wait a little more." She looked grim. He was a little worried with that expression but held his tongue. He understood she needed some time away from him, but why at the cost of restoring her parents' memory? He quite didn't settle to terms with that. Yet he was in no position to question her further.
"I guess you can go back on your own. Goodbye Draco." She looked at him sadly and before he could say anything, disapparated on the spot.
Draco stared at the point where her face had been exactly two seconds ago. He couldn't believe what she had just done. This was unusual behavior. He didn't understand it.
"Damn you Granger!" He muttered angrily to the empty room, full of her scent of apples. He sighed and picked up the book he was reading and put it in his pocket. He looked around the room one last time before apparating back to the Manor.
Hermione appeared a few feet away from The Burrow and ran towards the house. She stopped when she reached the front garden, not sure of what to answer, when she met with the people inside. So she walked towards the birch tree instead and sat down against it. She recalled the two days she had spent with Draco Malfoy and wondered why her heart was so uneasy. She had no right to think of him, he was the Slytherin they had all hated at school. Even if they were friends now, it didn't mean that they could be best buddies or share all their thoughts. At least it was clear from his side that he didn't think of her as more than anything but an acquaintance. The hidden engagement was proof enough. Before she could understand why, she was crying her heart out.
Draco sat on his bed, head in his hands. He was angry, very very angry. He didn't know what to make out of the girl's behavior. If this all was due to the magazine and his engagement, she could have asked him directly. This was no way to go; without an explanation and without any consideration for his thoughts.
"Bloody Gryffindors! Always over dramatic. How can she even think that she can get away with something like this? What was the rush? And even IF she has a problem with my damned engagement, why not just say it? What happened to the stupid Gryffindor bravery?" He had been replaying the events of the day in his mind over and over again. Everything had been going well, till the magazine had been spotted. It had to be the reason for all this. He contemplated finding out the Lovegood home and infecting it with bees, spiders or even doxies; that would keep them busy for a week or two and maybe teach him a lesson for meddling in other people's business.
There was a knock on the door, before it opened, and he left his thoughts to find his mother walking in with a tray levitating beside her.
"Now darling, I won't ask you where you have been for two full days. But Draco, you had me a little worried about you. You could at least owl me to inform that you are safe and well." His mother looked upset.
"I don't even know if you have eaten in two days…" She added after observing him, "Though you look fine from the way your hair look washed and clothes fresh."
"I needed some time off to do some thinking." He didn't want to add any detail or tell her the real reason; he had too much on his mind already and wasn't ready to answer the questions she would have.
Narcissa had to bite her tongue to keep from questioning him further. Her son did seem to be in a foul mood and she hated seeing him like this. She knew that the next few minutes were anyway going to ruin his mood further. She wished she could do something about it. But hiding it wouldn't be wise. Draco was one of those people who hated sudden plans. He needed to know everything in advance. So unwillingly it fell to her to inform him. "While you were away, the date for the engagement was decided." She waited for his reaction. He just stared at her. So she continued, "Its in 3 days Draco. We will be releasing the invites today."
Author's note: Please please read and review! I would appreciate it a lot.
