Before I Fall Any Deeper

Chapter Two - Feeling Weaker and Weaker

"Granger, we need this proofed by four." A stack of papers landed in front of her, on the already large pile of papers; her desk shook from the weight of it.

"I'm not a bloody proof reader," she mumbled, pulling the newest stack towards her.

"We all gotta start somewhere," Frank replied uncaringly; he gave her a once over and walked on to the next cubicle.

"Pervert," Hermione muttered, sighing and pushing her hair out of her face; it was straightened and pulled back into a pun at the top of her head (complete with pencil pushed through it) but it kept escaping and getting in her way. She blew some hair out of her face and uncapped a red marker.

"Hermione."

She rolled her eyes at the sound of the head secretary's squeaky voice coming through her intercom system.

Hermione pressed the button. "Yeah, Carol?"

"There's someone here to see you." She giggled and then there was static before the system was cut off.

Curiously, Hermione stood up and got onto her tip-toes to peer over the top of the cubical walls, hoping to be able to see who was at the front of the office. Carol was a bit of a gigglier, and pretty ditzy, but whenever Harry or Ron came to see her, she didn't normally pay them any of that sort of attention. So, this was a mystery to Hermione.

Until she saw the white blond hair; then she froze.

"Oh, bugger," she muttered, pushing her hair out of her eyes again. She smoothed out her pencil line skirt and made her way to the front of the office, wishing she could go home sick.

Draco turned when he heard her footsteps; he was smiling in a sweet sort of way, which caught Hermione off-guard. When he'd been in the office a week prior, he hadn't expected to see her, so he had quickly lapsed into his old school persona. Until they were alone (she had to act as gopher and get him coffee) and he started acting more like a human than a monster.

"What are you doing here?" She hissed, grabbing his elbow and pulling him a few feet away from a hawk-eyed Carol.

"You don't seem happy to see me," Draco replied stoically.

"That's probably because I'm not," Hermione stated through gritted teeth.

"Remember when I said last week that we should put Hogwarts behind us and pretend I was never a complete bastard to you?" He didn't wait for a response before continuing. "Well, do that, would you? So we can have a civil conversation like normal people."

Hermione rolled her eyes, but obliged. Mostly so he'd go away. "Fine."

"Good," he gave her a genuine smile. "Would you like to go out to lunch?"

"No."

"Would you like to think about it longer than five seconds?"

"Nope."

Draco sighed. "Nothing's going to change here, is it."

"I highly doubt it."

He leaned closer to her; she could feel his breath on her face, could see his gray eyes filled with anything but malice. It unnerved her and she took a step back, but he pulled her into him. "Hermione, I want us to be…"

"Why, if it isn't Draco Malfoy!" Frank hollered, striding up to them and pounding him on the back. "I see you've taken a liking to our little Hermione, have you?"

Hermione scowled at him, something Frank missed; something Draco quickly caught onto. "Yes, as a matter of fact. I was wondering if I could take her to lunch, but she said she was too busy."

"Nonsense!" Frank shook his head. "She's free to go for the afternoon, if you'd like, Draco." He winked at Hermione, who cringed in repulsion. "She's all yours, my boy."

Draco plastered a fake smile on his lips. "Fantastic. Thanks, Frank. I'll be sure to come with you with any…exclusives."

Frank nodded and began striding away, calling back over his shoulder. "Brilliant, Draco. Just brilliant."

"You bastard," Hermione snarled, pulling out of his grasp. "That was so bloody underhanded---"

"It got you the afternoon off, though."

"Yes," she replied stonily. "To spend with you."

Draco looked falsely hurt, but Hermione couldn't help but notice how he was much more attractive when he pouted like that, with his hair falling into his face. "That's not something you'd like to do?"

She shook her head, swallowing all thoughts of Draco being attractive. "Not in this lifetime."