Author's note: I wish to thank all your reviews and encouragement. Sorry, I couldn't update sooner.

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Chapter 3 – I'm Not in Love

Post Venice, a few months later…

After Arithmancy class, Hermione's third year students dashed out of the classroom in a cacophony of chatter and footsteps.  She looked at them and smiled warmly, reminiscing her younger days at Hogwarts as a student. Now, she was teaching part-time at her alma mater while training under Professor McGonagall.  Most of her classmates had either gone to other schools to further their magical studies or to muggle universities.  Apart from Hermione, Harry and Ron were also accepted as trainee Aurors in Hogwarts -- it seemed the three of them were inseparable though she told no one about her trip to Venice and her encounter with Draco.  She had promised Harry that she would come to the pitch to watch her friends play quidditch after class.

Passing the main entrance of the school, she noticed a tall blond-haired man talking to Professor Dumbledore at the top of the marble staircase.  He was no other than Draco Malfoy, the man she least wanted to see.

What did he want with Hogwarts?

Hermione was about to slip into a side corridor to avoid them when Professor Dumbledore spotted her.  "Ms. Granger!"

Shit!

Taking a deep breath, she approached them, smiling stiffly.  "Good afternoon Professor…Malfoy…"

Malfoy scowled in return, seemingly upset by the sudden intrusion.

Hermione ignored him.

"Mr. Malfoy is here to invite me to his wedding," Dumbledore told her. "…to Miss Parkinson."

Wedding?

Hermione stared wide-eyed at Draco and managed to blurt out a customary "Congratulations" to him.

Draco cocked his eyebrow at her and she blushed furiously, mortified beyond belief that the news had affected her. Turning to Dumbledore, he said, "Well, Professor.  I should be going now.  I shall speak to you again another day." He cast a contemptuous look at Hermione before he took his leave.

Arrogant prat.

She held her tongue in front of Dumbledore, indignant at the way he looked at her as if she was some low life. 

Malfoy was getting married.  Why did she let it bother her? It wasn't as if he meant anything to her…

Shaking away the odd feeling, she stopped by Professor McGonagall's office to collect her duty roster for the week.  As she was coming out of the office, she bumped into someone in the corridor.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said and stiffened when she recognized the person standing behind her. "Malfoy, I believe the exit is THAT way."

He stepped closer to her. "I know where the exit is."

"What do you want?" she asked guardedly. 

"I hear you're training to be an Auror under McGonagall.  Following in Potty's footsteps?" said Draco, his cold grey eyes had a malicious glint in them.

"It's none of your bloody business," she spat out.

Draco's eyes flashed dangerously. "You'll never stand a chance against the Death-eaters. You'll be the first person they'll come after."

"I don't need you to tell me what I can and cannot do so, bugger off Malfoy." 

She didn't look back as she marched straight to the quidditch pitch.  Draco had to spoil her day.  Her sullen mood changed as she quickly tuned into the game and cheered for Harry and Ron. They were coaching the Gryffindor juniors for the inter-house games next month.

"Harry! Great game," Ginny said, beaming proudly at him.  Harry turned to her and smiled. "Thanks, Ginny." 

Hermione noticed the adoration Ginny showered on him and wondered if he was just a daft git who was too blind to see anything beyond quidditch (and saving the whole world).

I will be the happiest person in the world if they got together, she thought wistfully.

"Mione, what's wrong? You look tired," Harry asked as they kept their broomsticks in the shed.

Ron seemed to agree with his observation. "Yes, are you sure you're all right?"

"Stop it, both of you.  Of course I'm all right.  Are you coming with Ginny and me to the Three Broomsticks?" she asked, shrugging off their concern. 

Ron's eyes lit up.  "Sure.  Nothing beats butterbeer after a good quidditch game."  

Harry, on the other hand, was not quite convinced but he agreed to go along with them.  At the pub, Harry and Ron were busy discussing the strategies of their earlier game while Ginny and Hermione were talking about the upcoming Yule Ball.  Ginny was put in charge of organizing this year's ball and was complaining of the lack of funds needed to put up the event as Hogwarts just spent millions of galleons repairing the school's leaking roof. Ginny sighed and said, "The Board of Governors won't even hear our case.  My committee has to find other ways to get the necessary funding.  Do you think Gringotts would consider giving us a loan?  Mother will have a fit if she knew I won't be coming back for the summer."

"Oh, I think she needn't worry too much since Harry will be around," she teased Ginny and got a swift kick from under the table.

Owww!

Suddenly Harry and Ron became quiet as their eyes looked beyond Hermione towards the door.  Draco Malfoy strode into the Three Broomsticks with two of his Slytherin friends and took their seats across their table.  She saw Ron's hands curled into fists as Harry shot him a warning look. "Let's get out of here," she suggested, avoiding Draco's angry gaze -- he had seen them too.

"Why should we just because HE walked in?" Ron protested.

"We don't want any trouble and you know Malfoy's trouble," Harry said and Hermione readily agreed. 

"Ginny, are you coming?" she turned to her friend as they were about to leave. Ginny was thinking about something and a smile appeared on her lips.

"Mione, Draco Malfoy is rich. If I could convince him to sponsor our Yule Ball..."

Hermione gaped at her. "Are you out of your mind? Harry and Ron would never allow you near him. Forget it, Ginny."

"Ron knows I can take care of myself," she argued and walked towards Malfoy's table.  Hermione's eyes darted from Harry who was already heading out of the pub with Ron to Ginny.  She decided she couldn't leave Ginny alone with Malfoy and trailed after her. 

"Ginny, wait," she said. This was a bad mistake.

"Well, well, well… if this isn't Weasley junior and mudblood Granger," Draco drawled while his friends sniggered at them.

Ginny ignored his rude remarks and said, "I have a proposition for you Malfoy.  Hogwarts annual Yule Ball needs funds and a sponsor.  Would you consider sponsoring the Yule Ball in exchange for a special tribute to Slytherin House?"

Draco leaned in curiously.  "Sit down, Weasley.  I'd like to hear more about it."

Where are Harry and Ron? Hermione's trepidation increased as Ginny obliged him.

"Does your brother know you're here talking to me?" he asked in an amused tone.

Ginny gazed at him confidently.  "No."

"Do you know what you're asking?" Draco's question was directed at Ginny but his eyes seemed to rest on Hermione who stood behind her.  She could tell Ginny was uneasy as she shifted in her chair and looked up at her. 

"A tribute to Slytherin House is definitely an honor long overdue," he began. "But I have certain conditions that must be met before I agree to your proposal." 

"What are they?" Ginny said in a small voice.

"I will owl you the details for our next meeting.  I'm not in the mood for discussing business tonight," he told her as he stood up.  His friends followed in his wake.

"I'm looking forward to it," she replied.

Hermione was horrified.  "Ginny!"

"Malfoy, you stay away from my sister!"

Hermione was so glad to hear Ron's voice.  What took them so long?

"Ron, please. I just…I just…" Ginny tried to explain to her brother but he would not hear any of it.

"Not another word, Ginny.  We're going to have a long talk after this," Ron said as he glared at his sister.

Harry caught Ron as he tried to get to Draco.  "Don't do this.  It's not worth it."

"Weasley, this is getting old – you trying to beat me up.  Don't you think it's time we put this behind us?" Draco said silkily.

Ron took a step closer.  "I'll wipe that smirk off your face!"

"Well, maybe here's your chance…wanker!" he taunted.

Without any warning, Ron lunged at Draco and both of them crashed onto the floor. Ginny screamed in terror as hands and feet went flying.  Ron managed to grab Draco's wand and threw it aside.  Ron was bigger than Draco and he threw hard punches.  Though pinned to the floor, Draco managed to block his blows and kicked him away.  Ron momentarily lost his balance and stumbled back.  Harry tried to restrain him but Ron was out of control as he pushed Harry away. Draco's friends tried to join in the fiasco but the giant pub bouncer stepped in to break up the fight. 

Grabbing both Ron and Draco by the collar, he lifted them in each hand and threw them out into the street.  "You're not welcomed here until you learn some manners boys!"

Everyone ran out to see what had happened to them.  Ron and Draco staggered to their feet, both dazed and bruised. "Satisfied now, Weasel?" Draco managed to say as he wiped the blood from his mouth.

Ron turned back and punched him squarely in the jaw.  Draco fell to the ground unconscious.  "No. That was for calling Hermione the m-word."

Hermione looked from Ron to Draco, still shocked by the pub brawl.  She marveled at both men for their incredible idiocy.  Everybody would be talking about the fight at school tomorrow and Hermione could imagine Dumbledore's expression when he hears of it.  The Board of Governors would demand for an explanation for the attack on Draco Malfoy and have Ron punished for starting a fight or worse still, expelled from Hogwarts. Even though she preferred to pick her own fights, her friend was now in trouble partly because of her. 

"We better get you to Madam Pomfrey's to have that looked at," Harry said as he helped Ron into their car.  As they drove past the pub, Hermione saw Draco's friends helping him to his feet and felt a little sorry for him, not that he didn't deserve it but she was surprised he didn't hex Ron in return.  Something had to be done before Ron got into more trouble.

The train ride to Wiltshire took longer than expected as she sat in her cabin pondering the consequences if Harry and Ron found out she had gone to see Draco Malfoy.

Well, somebody had to clean up the mess they had made, she surmised.

Malfoy Mansion was situated on a hill, hidden from the prying eyes of muggles with magical charms.  It took some time for her to find it.  Hermione stared at the huge giant doors that guarded the old mansion. 

Was it a mistake coming here?  Perhaps I should leave.

Then, she heard the doors creak open and Draco appeared, wearing his signature dark green robe, a scowl evident on his face.  His right eye had a faint purple bruise and his nose was swollen.  She stepped back tentatively.  "Hello, Draco."

"What do you want Granger?"

Draco looked weary but he seemed surprised that she came here alone.

"I…I wanted to see how you're doing." Hermione was telling the truth – well, part of it.

An awkward silence surrounded them.

"I came to apologize for Ron.  It was a misunderstanding.  He didn't mean to hurt you…" she began but was interrupted by Draco's sharp retort.

"Is that so? Last I checked I almost died."

She opened her mouth to defend Ron but thought the better of it and kept quiet.  

"Did Weasel ask you to come here?" he suddenly asked.

"No, I came on my own. I just don't want to see Ron expelled because of what he did…because of me. You are close to the school's Board of Governors…they will listen to you…"

"I have no intention of influencing the decision of the Board nor do I intend to plead my case with them," he said coldly.

Seeing that her words had fallen to deaf ears, she sighed. "Look, I've said what I came to say."

She was about to leave when he said, "Wait."

Puzzled by the change in the tone of his voice, she turned to him. "Tell Weasley junior that she will get the funds she needs to host the Yule Ball.  I expect her to keep her part of the bargain," said Malfoy.

What had precipitated his decision?

Hermione was dumbfounded for a moment.  "I'll convey your message to her," she managed to say.

He looked as if he wanted to tell her something but hesitated.  In the end, he said brusquely, "You should go now."

She couldn't stop thinking about Draco Malfoy on the train.  It seemed like she had wronged him somehow.  Was she too harsh on him?  There was no proof that he partook in the torturing.  He had saved her!  He may have saved others like her. 

Sighing, she shook the thought away. 

Back at Hogwarts, Ginny was amazed when she told her what Draco had said earlier. "I didn't think he was serious about what I was saying at the pub the other night. Mione, what should I do?"

"I think you should take it," she murmured, lost in her own thoughts as she stared out the bedroom window.  

"What?"

Hermione looked back at Ginny in bewilderment. "Huh, I'm sorry. What did I just say?"

"You said I should take his offer…Mione, are you all right?" Ginny became concerned about her.

Hermione blinked and quickly straightened her back. "Of course, I'm fine… I just remembered I have a class in ten minutes," she said hastily and ran out of Ginny's room.