I'm sorry that I didn't update….just that I get lazy and the usual chapter ideas didn't pop up when I was trying to get sleep….so sorry…but hey, im updating, that's a good thing right?...
**Sorry to those who find my story confusing. I'm telling you, I'm a walking, talking oxymoron myself. And also sorry to those who find my story boring, because hey, not everyone loves it, so I'm not even going to try to change it**
Thanks readers and reviewers – I think I got 25 reviews for chapter 7, if I counted correctly (which is not often)
Onwards:
~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~
Draco said that he needed to go to Diagon Alley for some business that he needed to attend to. I bet he probably just said that – because when I saw him, he had a number of boxes he was taking. Probably dark instruments he needed to sell off in Knockturn Alley. How like him.
So after I saw him apparate, I took the perfect opportunity to use a locater spell to find Seamus. Just my luck. He was in Gringotts Bank just outside a vault.
Ok.
Now, I didn't want to risk getting seen by Draco anytime, because if he found out that the jinxer was Seamus, really bad things would happen. Like the distorting of Seamus' face and body. Or worse, he could get killed. And I didn't want that to happen, just poke him around a bit. I was always a softie inside. *yeah right*
But in the end, I apparated to Gringotts, and since there was no other entrance or exit in it besides the main door, I decided to wait there, figuring that Seamus was bound to come back soon. But me, being the silly girl I am, forgot to wear robes on top of my muggle clothing, so people eyed me, including several security goblins. I was attracting attention. They probably thought I was some sort of a muggle who was looking for her wizard relative or such. Honestly, they were so stereotypical and old-fashioned. I pronounced my wand, and people started looking away.
Luckily, it was just about a good time for Seamus to make his entry. I hid myself in a corner in some deserted corridor. Just as he was passing it, I grabbed him from the back and pulled him. His body was now against mine and our faces were very close. I felt so slytherinny, cornering him like that. Was I a bit afraid of him though?
"Hermione!" He gasped and looked like a guilty convict right then and there.
"Seamus, shall we take a walk?" And without waiting for a reply, I took his hand and we walked out into Diagon Alley. Oh my god, where did I become so cruel. Was Draco rubbing off on me? And if he was, I think that was a bad thing. Let me mentally check off another thought to ponder…
"Let's go in here." I said, and with energy I thought I never possessed (Harry and Ron stole my muscles); I pulled him into a restaurant and sat him down. That's not an easy task for me, and it felt like I was pulling a sumo wrestler. That says a lot, as Seamus was not too thin, but not fat either. Just the right size.
"I can explain…"
Darn right you can. I was going to explode. Any second now…
"I can't believe you would do that! What the fuck is wrong with you? I can't believe you're such a criminal, jinxing houses is illegal! I could've died of starvation or the line of insults that Draco threw me! I was stuck with him for like a day or two! Not to mention that I had to sleep in his room and wear his clothing! What was the reason for your doing? You shouldn't have been in Gryffindor, you're more like a Slytherin, and don't you know people have died from that Jinx? Did you want me to die? I can't believe you, you make me sick!"
Yup, right on time. I didn't realize I was standing up and shouting at him. By the time I did, I was still fuming, and I frustratingly sat in my chair, and dared him to look at me. Whoever said that only redheads were fiery obviously didn't meet Hermione Granger!
He was about to explain. Yeah, his explanations meant absolutely filch to me. Filch!
"Hermione, I'm terribly sorry. I didn't know that you lived with him too. I just wanted to get him back for firing me. Honestly, do you think that I would do something like that to you?"
I looked at him and he looked very innocent. It was probably a façade, though this seemed to be the only wrong thing that he did…
"You shouldn't have even tried to do that! How could you not know that I lived with him, all his personal assistants probably did! Even if I didn't live with him, think about his sake, he might have had a good reason on firing you! Consider it a good thing that he didn't find out it was you, because you would be in St. Mungo's by now!"
See how pissed I was?
"I didn't know because no other woman besides you and Mrs. Malfoy has ever lived in the Manor. Don't get me wrong, but it was just revenge, I am still a friend of Draco's. It's just that...," he blushed uncontrollably, "he stole you from me and he probably knew that I wanted to date you, and maybe that's why he fired me. I didn't want a woman to get in between our friendship, but he thought otherwise, so I was definitely mad at him. The bloke stole you! Maybe that's why you're the only lady that has ever lived with him besides his mother!"
Whoa. So it took me a while to comprehend what he just said, but it soon sunk into me. I was dazed. But I didn't show it so much. Ok fine, I was really confused, but I won't admit that to Seamus, now will I?
"Seamus, just say that you'll never do it again and I'll be fine. But don't expect me to just fall back on our old friendship, when you know you've broken my trust for the first time."
"I will never do it again."
"Good. Now, goodbye."
And I just walked away, unaware that I was walking straight into the devil spawn himself. I'm sure you know who I'm talking about.
"Ouch!"
What a funny word to express pain. Only, this single ouch didn't express the throbbing my body felt when I bumped into someone who felt like rock, then fell to the ground (need I remind you that it was cobblestone, an un-fluffy sort of material).
He turned around. The man who was clouding my mind ever since my meeting with Seamus. Draco Malfoy himself.
~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~
Since we were together anyway, we decided to shop together, although I needed to get money from the bank. I mean, it was early December and I needed to get shopping for Christmas. I mentally made a list in my head: Harry, Ginny, Ron, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, mom and dad, and possibly Draco? Sure, my Christmas list was small, but should I add him? Who cares, I did anyway, and I bought back 400 galleons from my vault. A meager supply compared to Draco's whopping 3000 galleons. You could buy a small house with that kind of money!
What was my excuse for being in Diagon alley? I told him I needed to do Christmas shopping. Half the truth, but hey, like I said, not many of us like to get injured severely around here. He merely raised his eyebrows in an unbelieving way, but I didn't have to answer all of his questions truthfully, now did I?
We both went into the same Quidditch Specialty store, he probably for himself and I for my male best-friends. I found 5 fascinating books on Quidditch Strategies and History. I brought all of them for Harry, even though he wasn't the Quidditch maniac Ron was. I got Ron a poster of his favorite Bulgarian players, with autographs and all. He probably didn't need it, because he played against them (he was in Puddlemere United, touring forever!). But I also got him this Moonshine 1500 miniature model, because that was his main broom – and he bragged about it every time he was home. I spent a good sum on those two, but I loved them, and I wasn't going to be – God forbid! – cheap! That would spite a certain blonde I know…
As we made our way through some of the shops, I saw this beautiful dress that would go great on Ginny. I brought that for her, and I got cookbooks for Mrs. Weasley and from a muggle 'artifact' (which sold new muggle things actually) store, a camcorder for Mr. Weasley.
I would get Mum and Dad something later, but I had to work on Draco (not literally, you bad minded people!). I decided to get him a book, because he seemed to have very few and he seemed the type to like.
But I didn't get just a book.
I got him a book, a muggle cd player, 10 cds, and headphones. I put a lot of consideration into my choices for the cds, but in the end I got him some Eminem, Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen and other things that I liked. I hoped he would like it.
Remind me why I'm getting him something again? Oh yes, I have priority issues.
~**~*~**~*~**~*Two Days Before Christmas*~**~*~**~
Oh my god! Where is my order for vodka? Shit, this party can't fail! I can't believe that Draco made me plan this 'staff party'!!! Do I look like some professional party planner????
Ok, so I'm in panic mode.
You would be too, if your boss told you to plan a staff party a week before it's to take place. I can't believe him, usually these are the things I did:
(a) Simple tasks, example: Brewing Coffee (Crabbe-ish)
(b) Other simple tasks: Arranging Drawers (Goyle-ish)
(c) Putting files in the filing cabinet (Ron-ish)
(d) Talking to some bothersome people, who bother Draco (Harry-ish)
(e) Shout at those in (d) (Mrs. Weasely-esque)
(f) Take important notes in meetings (Hermione-like!)
And now, I have to plan a party. Something lavish. Not Hermione-ish!!! I wish I had Ginny or Lavender with me; they're so socially adapted, they know what to do.
So back to the present, where I'm currently awaiting an order for vodka, which was supposed to be here an hour ago!!! And the party starts in an hour, so everything needs to be perfect!
~*~**~**~*~15 minutes later~**~*~**~*~**~
Thank god it came! Oh shit, it's not vodka, it's beer! Help!
Everything is set, we'll just pretend that it's wine-like. *snort* like that'll work. Hey, maybe I could just…
*pop*
There, conjuring things makes life so much easier.
Everything's set, I hope this wine is not too strong. We don't want the staff to get drunk and then sleep with each other, now do we? Oh, look who enters, the king himself. What's this, he's coming towards me, the peasant? Why reward a poor measly thing such as myself with his close presence. *I can't think this without heavily rolling my eyes* What's this, now he's coming and looking above me? Can't bear to see my face? And now, oh my god, he's kissing me ever so softly. Whatever caused this impulsive action?
Oh. Mistletoe.
~*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~*~**~
Ok, the word 'slytherinny' is not mine; it comes from the fic "Pineapple, yum! Or, oh, Coconut!"
And I rushed it into two days before Christmas; I'm fresh out of ideas for now, so you might just have to review to help my creative brain juices flow. So, really, if you want me to continue into something romantic, please help me out, reviewers/readers!!!
Happy New Year btw, I forget that we're far ahead in the real world, I'm just caught up in Christmas in here.
R&R