Author's Note:  I wasn't going to update so soon, but since I have 7+ chapters already written I decided why not.  In this chapter:  A mental breakdown, an interview, my awful attempt at a cliffhanger, and (finally) Draco Malfoy!  Sound good?  Okay, drum roll please... And now, without further ado, the greatly anticipated (hopefully) second installment of 'A Little Misunderstanding'! Enjoy! And, as always, please review.  It really does help.  And it might get chapter 3 out faster! :) 

Disclaimer:  This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.  No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. 

Chapter Two: A Misconstrued Interview

Hermione Granger was shaking furiously as she walked down the sidewalk.  Her auburn hair was windblown and her eyes were large and had a terrified look in them.  Her lips were moving and whispered words were spilling from them as she wrung out her trembling hands.  She stopped dead in her tracks causing those walking behind her to bump into her.  She muttered the obligatory apology and slumped against the building to get out of harm's way. 

What could possibly be the reason for her complete nervous breakdown?  Oh, just a simple little piece of paper that her boss had given her on her way out.  On it was scrawled the address of the restaurant she was having the meeting at.

'The Blue Note

Noon

Mr. Draco X. Malfoy of Malfoy International'

She was on her way to an interview, an interview with the Slytherin Prince himself, Draco Malfoy. 

()()()()()()()()()()

The Blue Note, she thought, yes, this is the place.  It was a muggle place.  The front of the restaurant was brick and lined with shaded windows so you couldn't get a very good look inside.  A sign proclaimed the eatery's title proudly in illuminated blue letters.  As she entered she noticed that a similar design was frosted on the glass door.

Upon entering she took a look at the restaurant's interior.  Booths lined the windowed wall and the adjoining wall.  Opposite the windows was a bar and filling up the space between were tables.  Gracing the walls were framed black and white pictures of famous musicians.  Various jazz instruments were also tacked to the walls.  The restaurant buzzed with activity and Hermione found herself looking around the room to see if he had arrived yet.   

He was nowhere in sight.  Good, now she would have more time to prepare.  She took an empty booth by the windows so she could watch the sidewalk outside.  She tried to single him out through all of the hustle and bustle outside, but had no luck in doing so.  She only looked away when a waiter came over to her table to take her order. 

"Just a…" She was about to say butterbeer, but caught herself, "Could I just have a screwdriver for now?"  He nodded, saying something to the extent of 'of course'.  She watched him disappear behind the bar when she noticed a man with striking platinum blonde hair heading for her table.  For a moment she didn't realize it was Malfoy.  But once he got a little ways closer she couldn't deny that it was indeed her Hogwarts enemy. 

The years had treated him well, she thought.  He still had the familiar platinum blonde hair that was never out of place and his eyes were the same intense silver she remembered.  But he had… she couldn't put her finger on it.  He had... grown up?  Gone was his boyish appearance.  Now his features were sharp and chiseled and, she noticed, he had certainly not lost muscles he had gained from the long, brutal quidditch practices at Hogwarts.  He didn't have on a tie and the first two buttons of his shirt were undone.  His sleeves were rolled up halfway, revealing his toned forearms and hanging casually over it was his jacket.  His free hand was stuffed into his pocket giving a very nonchalant look to him.  She noted how well he looked in muggle clothing as he glanced around the room looking for her.  He spotted her quickly and strode over.  

When he reached the table, Hermione managed to stand up and hold out her hand for him to shake, as was customary at the beginning of interviews.  He took her hand, and then deadpanned.

"Dear God, Granger, is that you?" He asked, shock present in his voice as she sat back down.

"It's been a while hasn't it?" She said, taking a sip of her drink and trying to keep herself calm and civil and levelheaded.  Yes, she must remain civilized to maintain the integrity and dignity of the paper and, more importantly, herself.   

"Yes, I believe it has." He replied, obviously taking a stroll down memory lane, and, even more obviously, not realizing he was still standing.  He returned his hands to his pockets, letting his eyes travel lazily from her head to her toes.   

He just couldn't believe that it was Hermione know-it-all Granger that was in front of him.  Her hair had calmed down since her school days and now fell in soft russet curls just beyond her shoulders.  Her eyes were still the same cinnamon brown that he remembered, but today they seemed to sparkle and gleam with life.  He was brought out of his daydream when he heard her speak.

"You can sit down now, Malfoy." Her voice cut through the air like a knife and he suddenly remembered why they were enemies in school.  He silently cursed himself for standing there like a fool and followed suit. 

"So, how are things?" He asked urbanely and Hermione gave him an odd look.  Where was the malicious comment?  The snide remark?  Maybe he had changed, she thought.  Maybe he wasn't the same self-absorbed, cruel, arrogant, stuck-up prat that he used to be.  Maybe he had matured —"Married to Potter yet?"— Or maybe he hadn't.  She rolled her eyes and let out a disgusted sigh.

"Harry and I are friends." She replied, amazed at how little it took from him to get under her skin and how he hadn't lost this technique.  "And anyway, he's not a very big part of my life anymore." She said, hoping that she sounded calm. 

"I see." He drawled, noticing the glint that had disappeared in her eyes at the mention of his name.  He then gave his drink order to the waiter, his voice sounding very blasé.

"So, let's get started, shall we?"

()()()()()()()()()()

An hour and a couple of drinks later Hermione had just about finished up her questions.  She wanted nothing more than to get out of there, so when the check came she whipped out her wallet in record time, paying for her share of the bill. 

As they walked out, Hermione focused on the sidewalk while Draco was talking, not wanting to look at him, but was forced to when she answered.

"So, I'll have that rough draft to you in a week and…" She never got around to finishing the end of her sentence.  She was too distracted by the look of utter disbelief on Malfoy's face.  Her eyes narrowed as she glanced over her shoulder in the direction that he was so intent on staring. 

"Bloody hell," She heard him mutter, "She just won't leave me alone, will she?  I go to the muggle district just to get away from her and she still follows me!"

Hermione looked at him, confusion clearly written over her features.  Then when she threw a glance over her shoulder again she realized what, or rather who, he was hiding from. 

Pansy Parkinson. 

She was still easily recognizable; of course instead of her Hogwarts robes she had on flashy, and quite tacky, muggle clothing.  But, even out of her normal attire, she was still identifiable as Pug Face Parkinson. 

Then Draco turned to Hermione.  And, just as quickly as it came, the look of disgust was washed away.  His face brightened with what Hermione thought was an idea.  And before she knew it Draco's mouth was on top of hers, his lips crushed against her own, and his hand was resting on her waist.  He caught her so much off guard that she couldn't think straight.  All she could do was continue to kiss him.

He didn't break away, but he could see Pansy leaving from the corner of his eye.  She could feel the corners of his mouth curving upwards in a smile.  And although he saw Pansy walking away, a disappointed look on her face, he couldn't for the life of him stop kissing Hermione. 

Oh god, what was taking over him?  This is Hermione Know-it-all Granger.  This is the disgusting, filthy little mudblood from Hogwarts, but he didn't know she could be this intoxicating.  The need for air was calling them both, but they only broke apart when they heard someone call out. 

"Hermione!"