AN: Hello all! Thank you all for all the support you've rendered with my conflicts with lil-lindy. thanks to all of y'alls reviews to her, she has taken down the story and I'm awaiting an apology. Thanks again!
Oh, and about last chapter...yes, I know it didn't really have anything to do with the story, but then how could I get this chapter? Hope you all enjoy it.
Disclaimer: There's no fine, because it's not mine (BUT THE PLOT IS!)
AN: OH YAH! LET'S SEE IF I CAN GET 300 REVIEWS!!!!Hermione's eyes fluttered open, but she quickly clamped them shut at the bright sunlight.
"Hermione!" She heard Ginny squeal, causing her head to throb more painfully. Gently peeking open an eye, she tried to sit up, her muscles screaming their protests. "Hermione, don't move, I'll close the blinds," Ginny said, reading her discomfort. Within seconds it was dark.
"Ginny, what happened? How long have I been out?" Hermione croaked.
"Four days," Ginny said, mindful to help Hermione sit up and put a pillow behind her back.
"Four days?"
"Yeah. You put some spell on that scroll that absorbed your...tiredness? I'm not sure, but the healers told me a spell to cast on you every three hours to make sure that you're receiving the proper amounts of water and food. They also said to help you stretch before you try to walk, which would be soon, right?" Ginny said as Hermione's face twisted with effort to move her legs.
"Uh yeah. Could you get find Harry or Ron to come help me?" Hermione said, her face still contorted with visible efforts of trying to move her legs.
"Already here," Harry's voice came from the doorway, carrying a glass of water. Hermione looked at the glass greedily as Harry approached her. Quickly snagging it from him, she gulped it down, and gave Harry a satisfying grin. "Now what's this I hear about helping my best friend up from bed?" Harry said, whisking her up in his arms, baby style.
"Watch your step, Hermione," Ginny teased as Harry set her down, Hermione's arm still draped around his broad shoulders.
"Thanks Harry," Hermione said after five minutes of him helping her make laps around her bedroom, then lying back in bed. "So," She started, picking at the slice of bread Ginny had brought her, "what's happened in the past four days?"
Ginny and Harry looked at one another, daring the other to tell Hermione the inevitable.
Ginny sighed in defeat. "Erm, Hermione? It's Draco..." Ginny started. Hermione looked at her bed stand, seeing the lilacs Draco had delivered to her house while she was passed out, then nodded. Ginny cleared her throat, starting over. "Draco, well...he's been seen...with Haley. Not just that, but he's been seen with her ever night since you passed out. They've made the covers of Witch's Weekly and the Wizard's Guide magazine. Savannah, your apprentice, told me that she saw them sneak a kiss in his office when she went to drop off some documents there. It's all rumors, mind you, so don't be too heart broken," Ginny concluded, playing with subconsciously with a drawstring from her pants. Hermione in took a livid breath of air, feeling rage tingling through her body.
"It's not so bad," Harry said, pulling something from his back pocket, "A guy named Dave owled these notes to you as soon as he heard about the accident...and about Draco."
Hermione looked at the two notes that Harry had just produced and snatched them away, reading greedily at the material.
Hermione,
I'm very sorry to hear about Mr. Malfoy's unfaithfulness. You two seemed very...close when I drove you guys. It's heart breaking to me to know that this might hurt you. And to think, this all occurred over a span of four days. If you need me, owl me.
-Dave
Hermione tossed it to the other side of her bed and unrolled the second, not noticing that Ginny snatched it up and began reading the words of the other note.
Hermione-
I've got a brilliant plan, you know, to get back at Draco Malfoy. Let's go out to dinner, somewhere expensive and big (I'm not too wealthy, but I'll pay). Make sure that all the news magazines know about it, and emphasize that you could have been killed saving that little boy, so they'll be sure to do a cover page story on you. I'll be in the pictures with you, and Draco will see that you've moved on quickly. Trust me, it'll be perfect. Owl me as soon as possible.
-Dave
Hermione stared at the letter, contemplating the two choices she had. One, to get back at Draco for playing with her feelings, or two, asking Draco what happened and why he did what he did. Hermione pursed her lips in concentration.
"So what does that one say?" Ginny asked, taking it from Hermione's hands and reading it quickly. "Wow. He's serious. What are you going to do?"
"I'm not sure. The more kind side of me says to ask Draco and confront him, but the old, Malfoy-hater side of me says to get him back."
"And that's why I think you should do," Ron said as he entered the room, giving Hermione a big hug.
"You really think so?" Hermione asked, her gaze passing from Ron, to Ginny, and last to Harry. All three nodded.
"He's done too much crap to you in the past, Hermione. Obviously, since he did this, he hasn't changed one bit. He's just a good actor," Ron said with confidence, giving Hermione a pat on the head.
Hermione looked down at her hands, then the confident faces of her best friends. "You're right. Ginny, get me a parchment and a quill. I have a letter to write."
Hermione looked in the mirror, making sure her lightly glossed lips and curls were perfection, then sighed, looking at the clock. Dave would be here any minute to take her to a restaurant she was sure Draco was going to be that exact night, with Haley. Hermione gave her reflection her "melt away" smile and waltzed out of the bathroom to her audience (consisting of Ginny, Harry, Sandra, and Ron).
"Hermione! You look like you could be on the cover of a Witch's modeling magazine!" Sandra said, one hand resting gently on her stomach, the other interlaced with Ron's. Hermione smiled brilliantly and twirled, causing her black dress to twirl out slightly.
"Gosh, Hermione, I knew those shoes would be stunning with the dress, but they make you look utterly sexy!" Ginny said, looking at the strappy pair of heels she let Hermione borrow.
"Geez, Hermione, could you show off any more body or skin?" Ron said hotly. Hermione laughed, knowing that he was over protective since her skirt came to just above her knees and the straps hung over her shoulders, just leaving her shoulders and collar bones showing.
"Did you buy the absolute smallest size?" Harry asked incredulously, blushing and looking away from Hermione.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "It's the fashion of today. Besides, if you've got the body, why not show it off?"
"Because there's too many people to look at it!" Ron retorted. Just then there was a knock at the door.
"Gin, be a doll and get that while I grab my purse and coat," Hermione said, dashing to her room as fast as her heels could take her. Then, grabbing her coat and small black handbag, she casually walked out, taking slow, long steps. When she entered the living room, she saw Dave, his jaw hanging open in a polite manner.
"You look pretty...wait! I mean you look gorgeous!" Dave said, clearing his throat and producing a single, red rose. Hermione took it and breathed in its scent, closing her eyes in a flirtatious manner.
"Thank you, Dave. It's gorgeous," Hermione said, keeping it in her hands.
"Erm, could we go now?" Dave said uneasily as Harry and Ron stared him down. Ron stood and approached Dave.
"I swear if you hurt her in any little way, you'll be in her Wand Operating Room the next morning. I know this is pretend...but mark my words," Ron hissed, backing up to see Harry nodding.
"Geez, you guys, you're my best friends, not my body guards," Hermione said, linking her arm through Dave's.
"Yes, but you're like out little sister," Harry said, sending one last glare at Dave.
"You never put Draco through that," Ginny whispered, catching Ron's acid stare and Harry's shocked look. Ginny quickly humbled herself and looked at the surprisingly interesting floor.
"Okay, Dave, let's go before they strip search you for any harmful objects," Hermione said, leading the way out the door to the horse-drawn carriage that waited. A young man turned and winked at Dave, who gave a slight nod, and helped Hermione in.
"Now, keep in mind this is pretend," Hermione said, pulling out a mirror and checking her make up as the carriage pulled up to the expensive restaurant. She sighed at the line of Witch's Weekly photographers and Wizard's Weekly writers.
"Obviously they're combining forces and trading notes for pictures," Hermione muttered under her breath as Dave helped her down.
"Look! There she is!" Someone cried, causing the crowd of people to turn simultaneously in her direction. Dave took hold of her hand and tucked it in the crook of his elbow, beaming at the awaiting cameras as Hermione looked down "bashfully" with a flirtatious smile on her lips. When the flashing started, she brought her head up, showing a brilliant smile. As they entered the doorway, she turned her face to brush her lips against Dave's ear, whispering urgently.
"Be sure you kiss me when we sit down. According to the arrangements Draco should have a perfect view with Haley nearby."
Dave nodded solemnly as the waiter took a glance at them and led them to their table. Hermione's eyes scanned the nearby tables to see Draco sitting two tables away to her left. She smiled perfection when he looked over at her, the look on his face was obviously "shock". Hermione then turned her head expectantly to Dave, who stood on her right side, as he bent over to cradle her cheek in his palm. Hermione's eyes fluttered closed as she felt Dave's hot breath upon her face, then his lips upon hers. After only a few seconds she put on hand on his neck to pull him closer, the other running through his hair. A few moments later, Dave pulled away and removed Hermione's jacket, then sat down, still holding her hand and rubbing her knuckles with his thumb. Hermione dared a glance at Draco, pleased to find him shaking in rage as he glared at Dave.
"This will be a very pleasant dinner if I blush a few times and we leave hand in hand. Let's make it a short and sweet dinner, and let Draco's imagination do the rest..." Hermione said, quickly ordering her main dish with a glass of water.
"That was a good acting job," Dave said, gulping and trying to catch his breath. Hermione waved him off and looked at Draco, who hastily stood and stomped out of the restaurant, leaving Haley defenseless at their table. Hermione thought that this moment would bring her great happiness; it was the ultimate revenge. But as she followed his retreating figure, all she felt was the pang of hurt and shame in her heart.
"I'm sorry Dave, but I can't do this. I didn't think that revenge could hurt," Hermione said, standing abruptly. Dave sat in shock.
Dave sat in shock. "Dinner hasn't even arrived yet."
"I said earlier to make it an early evening and leave it to the imagination of Draco. Now let's just pick up on that plan and leave," Hermione said, taking his hand and leading him out of the restaurant quickly. She climbed in the carriage and kept the ride silent until they stopped in front of her door.
"Good night, thank you for my pay back," Hermione said, quickly turning her back on Dave and closing the door behind her. She walked past the living room where Ron, Sandra, Harry, and Ginny said expectantly, and straight to her room. She sighed as she snapped, the elegant and divinity of the night disappearing into her closet and replaced with fleece pajama bottoms and a big t-shirt. She sulkily crawled into her bed, pulling the down feather blanket to her chin, her eyes stinging, the salty tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.
"Mione?" Ginny's voice came from the door, not bothering to knock as she entered and closed the door behind her.
Hermione sniffled. "Gin, I don't want to talk about it!" Hermione said, hiding her head beneath the covers.
"I know, it's okay that you don't want to. But I found this on the front porch, and saw an eagle owl flying away."
Hermione shot up from bed and snatched the parchment from Ginny's hands. Ginny saw Hermione's red eyes and left quickly and silently. Hermione's fingers scrambled to unroll the message.
You shouldn't have leapt to conclusions. If you only knew what really happened. Now it's too late.
Hermione held the parchment to her chest, and let the salty tears flow down her cheeks, leaving her perfect complexion with stinging red trails.
"If I could only take it back," Hermione sobbed, forming into a tight ball and crying herself to sleep.
Ok, I'd love to thank you ALL, but I really can't. Next chapter I promise to thank people, but this one, I just want it up!
As for any people upset with this chapter, all I can say is that bad things lead up to good things...if you know what I mean wink wink ok, REVIEW!
until next time (and hopefully 300 reviews!)
VBC