So here it is…enjoy!!
Disclaimer: yadda yadda……cough cough……scratch scratch……you know the drill.
Chapter Three: Nice To Meet You Too*~*~*Hermione*~*~*
I find myself staring at him. I would like to say it was because of shock and disgusted fascination, but secretly I have to admit that Malfoy…didn't turn out as badly as I thought he would. Ahem. Although I wouldn't go so far as to say that he's good looking, he is marginally, um, more attractive than a diseased cactus.
I realised furiously that, despite my efforts to act nonchalant and indifferent, I was blushing. Why is he staring at me like that? I shift in my chair and meet his gaze with narrowed eyes and my nose in the air. I didn't want to look snobbish but I was sitting down and he seems to be on the lanky side.
Bring it on, then. I thought. Show me what you got.
Then, to my utter surprise, he burst out laughing.
*~*~*Draco*~*~*
I've said it once and I'll say it again. She hasn't changed the slightest. The way she's glaring at me! And in spite of my attempt to appear defiant and sardonic I began to smile. Then before I knew it I was laughing out loud.
That was the first time I laughed in…I can't remember, six months? Two years? It almost felt like I'm back at school again.
Only that was years and years ago, and nothing is the same anymore; I cleared my throat and pulled myself together. But another look at Granger I had to grin. She hasn't changed. The way she's sitting there, stiffly with her mouth set in a straight line, red patches on her cheeks and her eyebrows wrung together, made me think that maybe this job won't be as bad as I thought…I smiled again as memories of how I used to tease her came back. Oooo, this is going to be fun…
*~*~*Hermione*~*~*
I was so mad. How dare he openly insult the candidate of the Minister of the Ministry of Magic election—me!! To think that he could just stand there laughing his head off in front of such a group of distinguished people…I felt my blood boiling as it rushed into my head. I've never been so humiliated!
I jerked my chair back and struggled to stand up. Malfoy had calmed down by now, although his lips were still twitching in an effort to stop chuckling. I took a deep breath and tried to steady my voice:
"Mr Malfoy," I said, my hands had become sweaty.
"Oh, you are acquainted with him Miss Granger?" someone asked.
"Yes," I fixed my most deadly stare on Malfoy. "We were at school together."
"Oh that's great. I see there's no introduction needed since you already know each other. Then Mr Malfoy, shall we get started?" One of the organisers suggested and motioned him to sit down, but Malfoy remained standing.
"I was wondering," he said slowly, his cold grey eyes unflinchingly meeting my gaze, "if I could spend some time with Miss Granger in private and show her my…ideas."
The way the corner of his lips curled unpleasantly made me feel disturbed. I haven't heard much from my school friends in all these years (except the old gang) and I don't know what Malfoy had been up to after the graduation. But one thing's for sure though, he's still his old self: presumptuous, insolent and cynical. I was certain he wouldn't wholeheartedly devote his time and energy to help me win this election. And I'd never expect him to, after all that's happened at school. Even though he did help to bring down the Dark Lord, the rivalry between his little party and the Gryffindors only intensified as time went on. So it was only natural that I was on my guard, but before I knew it I was half-dragged out of the conference room by him.
He let go of me in the hall and started walking towards the exit without another look at me. This only infuriated me even further, but I'm not about to lose my cool in front of a Malfoy. I followed him, rubbing and dusting the spot on my arm where he had gripped me. It pained dully and I began to curse him and whomever it was that decided to hire him for me under my breath. But I dared not lag behind. I was right about his height and those long legs seemed to be muscular enough to carry him at such a pace that forced me to jog behind him. Which of course made me angrier than ever.
Finally we reached the car park. He walked directly towards a red Ferrari and opened the door. Seeing him get in, I doubled my pace and dashed towards him, but he slammed the door in my face. I was just about to scream at him when he scrolled down the window.
"Get in." he said shortly. I was so startled by his surprisingly benevolent tone that I didn't know what to do.
"W-where are you taking me?" I stammered.
He looked at me over the rim of his sunglasses: "I'm taking you shopping."
TO BE CONTINUED…REVIEWS ARE MUCH APPRECIATED…AH C'MON…I'LL GIVE YOU LOLLIES…
