"You need to help me Granger."
For Hermione, the past few months had been a long, never ending, mundane train, and last week was no exception.
She was so dedicated to her job at the Department Of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes that she barely had any time to spend on herself or her social life, which had deteriorated over time since her friends were too busy living their lives while she slaved away, her work turning her more and more into a hermit.
Between the gruelling workdays there were no events or stories that had piqued her interest, except the one article in the Prophet about Ginny being pregnant with yet another Potter heir. She balled the newspaper up before tossing it into the rubbish bin. For the rest of the day she had been in a sour mood, snapping at anyone who had spoken to her.
She was given weekends off to recuperate from the nastily exhausting workdays, and often on those days she would be curled up with a good book and a sweet, warm cup of cocoa or a cooling glass of lemonade, depending on what the weather permitted. On Sunday evening she had left her house to go on a grocery run, her unsuspecting mind unaware of what was to transpire.
Her grocery bags lay forgotten on the tarred ground of the alleyway, several of her purchased items scattered across the narrow, long expanse of space.
Her hands had been pinned down to her sides as she was held against the grimly walls of a dilapidated building. Previously she had been thrashing around in an attempt to free herself from the clasps of the stranger that had trapped her, but now she was immobilized, partly by the stranger who was restraining her, and partly by her utter shock.
Her dark pupils dilated as her eyes locked with a familiar pair of wintry eyes, her mouth agape. His musk corrupted her nose, sending a tingle through her nerves.
"Malfoy." His name left her mouth in a harsh tone. After the war, The Golden Trio along with many other students had returned to complete their seventh year. Many things were amiss, like for instance, the animosity between the Hogwarts houses and the connection between the three members of said trio. Hermione could sense that their friendship was starting to grow more strained, like a string holding a one ton weight. Eventually the string had severed and the weight of all their memories, adventures as a trio went plummeting into an abyss where it couldn't be saved. Along with her friendship with the two males went her love life.
Amidst the darkness of the war they had somehow found enough light to produce a seedling of their love. Ron abandoning the two of them had given that seedling enough room to grow into a big, strong tree; a representation of love during that uncertain time.
During those times, Harry had loved her like any day could've been their last, because in actual fact, when you're loving someone like him, any day could've been their last.
But their love seemed to have been short lived. As they returned to Hogwarts for their final year, they began to drift apart, the tree that had grown from their love beginning to wither from neglect.
Her heart swelled and ached with sadness, prompting the wells that were her eyes to release their ever flowing stream of tears.
She had given it a mere three months before he left her for someone better, someone worthier, but in actual fact a month was really enough for his heart to go astray and be found by non other than Ginny Weasley, the woman who lusted over his fame more than she actually loved him.
Now Hermione was left picking up the pieces of her broken heart while he was creating a happy family with Ginny, the family he always assured Hermione that they'd have.
Hermione pushed the memories back to the vault in her mind, condemning her tears back to their ducts. "Granger." His drawl was the same as always, except with a little adjustment in his voice. It had deepened into a low baritone that shook her core like loud heavy metal music.
"Malfoy this is not the appropriate way to woo a lady. If you aren't careful you'll find yourself in the can." Hermione joked.
"Very funny Granger. Why would I want to woo you? What, pray tell, would make me overlook the fine pureblood women of the wizarding world and come after you?" Draco growled, the venom dripping from his voice.
Hermione narrowed her eyes at the platinum blonde. "Ah, it always comes down to my blood doesn't it? I'm even shocked that you're still holding on to me. The Malfoy I know so well would've already been Scourgifying his hands raw because I'm just so fucking dirty!"
Malfoy's lips curled into an amused smirk that flared her annoyance. "Listen you blonde ferret if you don't let me go by Merlin I swear I will do you dirty!" She hissed out. "Okay, Okay, just chill." He said, his hands disconnecting from her arms. He backed away, his hands held up defensively.
"Now tell me why in the bloody hell you dragged me up to this filthy rat infested alley or I swear to God that this will be your final place of rest."
"Cool it with the threats Granger. I come in peace." He said, lowering his hands.
Peace? The setting of the meeting didn't suggest anything peaceful, if you ask me.
Hermione raised a perfectly trimmed eyebrow in inquiry.
"You need to help me Granger." Draco said. Hermione managed to catch a hint if desperation in his voice. "With?"
"I can't tell you here. Just come to the Manor. We'll talk about it there."
Hermione abhorred the idea of visiting Draco's childhood home, as it was the same place his crackpot aunt had tortured her. Even just the thought or mention of Bellatrix and the harrowing torture she had subjected Hermione to caused a tingle of pain to run through her Mudblood scar.
Sensing her hesitation, Draco sighed. "I know you're hesitant about coming to the Manor, especially since that's the place my aunt tortured you. I apologise on behalf of my family and their bigot beliefs, and I also apologise for my earlier comment. You are in fact a decent and very beautiful witch and any man lucky enough to woo you should praise every deity alive."
Wait what?! Hermione's jaw fell to the ground. Draco Malfoy, the same cocky, entitled, bigot Draco Malfoy had not only apologised for his family's disgusting opinions but also complemented her! Was the world ending?
"I..I-I uhm..." Hermione was flabbergasted. Her usually verbose mouth had been reduced to a succinct, dried up well.
"A simple thank you would suffice." Draco said, amused.
"Right. Thanks." Hermione said, flustered.
"Look, how bout I make the visit to my childhood home more comfortable for you? We can have dinner before we chat?" Once again, Hermione was inquisitive. "Like a date?"
Draco smirked. "Let's call it a dinner between acquaintances."
Hermione gave a chuckle. "And what will I gain from helping you Malfoy?"
"You'll be compensated handsomely." He promised.
Hermione scoffed at his offer. "And what if I told you I don't need compensation and that I'm doing well on my own?"
Draco chuckled, the slow, deep sound sending chills down her spine. His silvery eyes morphed into a steely grey that reminded Hermione of the wrought iron gates of Hogwarts. "And what if I told you that you owe me this. After all, I did save you from mortal peril. If it wasn't for me your corpse would be rotting in some valley, and with you dead Potter would have lost to the Dark Lord because we all know that he's useless without you."
Hermione gritted her teeth in ire, before she let her mouth form an unamused smirk. "Just when I though you had changed."
Draco stuffed his hands in his pockets, a triumphant look drawn on his face. "I'm just saying. You owe me this favour, and I know you won't say no because the righteous organ beating in your chest would never let you turn down a person in need. Isn't that why you were sorted into Gryffindor?"
"The dinner's this Saturday. You have the entire week to sort yourself out. And please for the love of Merlin Granger, try to look a little decent." And with a loud crack, Draco was out of her sight, his presence still lingering in her mind.
"Bastard." She hissed under her breath as she began to pick up her scattered items.
So that was how Hermione's mundane week had ended. She had been offered an opportunity that might or might not change her life, by non other than Draco Malfoy.
Dressed in her comfy pyjamas, Hermione slipped into her warm bed, her body begging for the sweet release of sleep. Her eyes closed, signalling the end of her crazy Sunday.
But it seems like her Sunday wasn't quite over.
"HERMIONE!"