Hermione apparated back to her room, curious as to why Ginny would suddenly ask her to come home. She looked in to find her bed covered entirely in dresses and no sign of Ginny. "Ginny?"
A muffled voice emmitted from the closet. "I'm in here."
Hermione walked over. "WHAT are you doing?" She snapped at Ginny's rear end.
"I'm looking for the other foot of this shoe." Ginny said, standing up and waving a black strappy high heel from her forefingers. "For such a neat freak, I would've thought your closet would be the same."
"And you call yourself a witch." Hermione rolled her eyes, and drew out her wand. "Accio parim!" The missing foot of the strappy high heel flew into her outstretched hands from the pile that Ginny had been scrounging through.
"Nice." Ginny raised an eyebrow, staring into the face of a confused Hermione. "You have to teach me that one sometime."
"So where are you going? And why do you need to borrow my shoes?" Hermione asked.
Ginny snickered. "I am not going anywhere. YOU are going to Draco's party." Ginny pushed Hermione over to the bed where a flowing baby-blue dress had been picked out.
"No. No. Oh no. I am not letting you talk me into anything stupid again." Hermione backed away from Ginny.
"Oh yes, you are so letting me talk you into something stupid, especially if you love this guy." Ginny's voice dropped to a whisper and she grabbed Hermione by the shoulders.
"NO! He must hate me!" Hermione struggled against Ginny's strong force.
"No he doesn't, he loves you, Mya." Ginny looked at Hermione to find her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Trust me."
"Ginny, the last time I trusted you, I got myself into this mess." Hermione glared at her.
Ginny looked pained. "I know, Hermione, and I'm sorry, but could you listen to me just one more time."
Hermione had herself face down on her bed, burying her face in her pillow. "Mmmm…" Was all Ginny could hear her mumbling.
Ginny grabbed her by the shoulders and jerked her up. "HERMIONE! You love him, dont you? And I know he loves you back, so what are you waiting for?"
Hermione sat up and sighed. "I can't..I can't Ginny."
"YES you can!" Ginny thrusted the dress and shoes into Hermione's stomach. "Go get him!"
Hermione took the dress from Ginny's outstretched hand, her fingers drifting over the soft sheer fabric. "You won't let me sleep until I go, huh?"
"Damn right." Ginny smirked. "Now go get changed."
Hermione smiled at her. "Just this once, okay?"
Ginny nodded. "Just this once."
Fifteen minutes later found Hermione in Draco's apartment building. She had practically been shoved by Ginny out of the door, and she was freezing. Feeling in her purse, Hermione realized she had left her wand in her room and couldn't cast a warming spell to end the chilly feeling she was getting.
Cautiously, Hermione rang the doorbell of Draco's large flat. It looked curiously dark and quiet for a place hosting a party.
"Who is it?" A breathless female voice yelled.
Hermione was hesitant as she said quietly, "It's Mya, um would you just tell Draco that i stopped by?" Muttering a thank you, she turned to leave as the door opened and a frazzled blond woman peeked her head out. Her lipstick was smeared all over the face and she was panting quite heavily.
"Oh, uh alright then. Goodbye, Mya"
Hermione smiled sadly and turned around to leave again. Oh yea, Draco loooves me, thats why he's snogging another girl. Pshh, look what i got myself into again. I swear i am NEVER listening to Ginny again.
"Wait." A familiar voice called behind her. Hermione almost stopped and turned around, but she kept walking with her head down. She just wanted to get out of this place as fast as possible. Away from this nightmare! However, she was stopped by a strong hand around her wrist. "Hermione…"
"Hermione." The voice said again, this time quietly as if pleading her to stay.
Hermione turned around and stared into the eyes of a disgruntled Draco. His eyes were bloodshot, and it looked as if he was quite drunk. "Why didn't you tell me?" He asked quietly.
"There was nothing to tell you, Mr. Malfoy. And I'm sorry for the way I acted. It was not professional, and I am completely okay with you telling my boss." Hermione wrangled her wrist out of his grasp, but he just grabbed her other one.
"Hermione…why…?" Draco's eyes had turned a bluish gray.
"Does it matter?" Hermione asked. "You're engaged to Pansy aren't you? What are you doing snogging another girl anyways?" She averted her eyes away from his and towards the girl still standing next to the door.
Draco looked down as if he was ashamed.
Hermione sighed. "Okay then, I'll leave you two alone. Bye…Draco." She whispered, his name lingering on her lips as she removed her wrist from his clasp. "Good luck." She gently squeezed his hand. "Goodbye."
Hermione managed to stomp all the way down the corridor, unshed tears gleaming in her eyes, before she felt someone grab her around the waist from behind.
"Stop!"
Hermione stiffened, feeling Draco's weight leaning on her. How much had he drunk tonight?
"I really don't want to talk to you when you're drunk." Hermione struggled out of his grasp and ran down the hall to the elevator. Oh how she wished the stupid apartment building allowed apparating!
"I-HERMIONE!" Draco rushed into the elevator before Hermione could close the door completely. "Listen to me." He took her firmly by the shoulders and raised her chin so she was looking into his eyes.
Hermione jerked her chin out of his hand and look down at her shoes. "I really don't want to talk to you right now."
"What do you want me to do?" Draco shouted, his voice muffled by the small elevator they were in. "Grovel at your feet, Hermione? Is that what you want me to do?"
Hermione didn't answer. They had reached the ground floor, and Hermione stepped out, hoping Draco would just leave her alone, but to her dismay, he followed her.
"Because I'll do it." Draco whispered, getting down on his knees and gripping on to Hermione's thighs.
"Draco, don't." Hermione murmured.
"Will you hear me out then?" Draco started to raise himself from the servile position.
Hermione nodded still avoiding the piercing gaze of Draco's now light gray eyes.
"Hermione, I know we weren't the best of friends at Hogwarts, and you had every right to keep your real identity from me…" Draco swallowed. "These few months that I've gotten to spend with you have been – he chuckled – amazing. I never knew that I could fall so hard for anyone, but you proved me wrong."
"Hermione, I can't keep you out of my mind. I fell in love with Mya, but now that I know she's Hermione, I love her even more." He took one of Hermione's hand and held it between his own, sending a tingling feeling down to the base of her spine.
"I know it was all a plan to get revenge, but I still love her. She gave me a chance, knowing that I had hurt her so much in school." Draco stopped, caressing the soft hand he had in his grasp. "I don't blame her for what she did, and I hope she can forgive me-for being that pompous ass." He added, searching Hermione's face for an answer.
Hermione bit her lip, lowering her gaze to Draco's firm chest. Tears were starting to fall from the corner of her eyes, tears of happiness, sadness, a jumble of feelings she was experiencing. "What about Pansy?" She muttered.
"Pansy! Merlin, Hermione! How many times do I have to tell you? We are over, and there is only one person I want to be with!" Draco shouted. "I just want to be with you…" He whispered in her ear, pulling her against him.
"You know." Hermione started, mumbling into Draco's chest. "At first I told myself that i could never fall for you. You were the enemy, you were the one that made my life so hard at Hogwarts." Hermione sniffled. "Do you know how many nights I cried myself to sleep because of something you did, Draco?"
Draco shut his eyes. Merlin, how could I have ever hurt such an amazing woman?
"..but I guess i fell pretty hard too." Hermione continued. "You've changed so much, and I couldn't stop thinking of you. What I did was really wrong, and it was so hurtful…" Hermione trailed off.
But Draco didn't let her finish and instead captured her lips in the most passionate kiss she had ever experienced. Her tears ran in with the saliva, making the kiss the all more exciting and special.
He broke away, leaning his chin atop Hermione's head. "No more revenge, ever?" He wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist, holding her protectively.
"Never." Hermione whispered into his chest.
THE END!