CHAPTER 14

The number of guests at the engagement had started to dwindle. More and more of them came and politely congratulated the wedding couple, before leaving. Hermione, however, sensed the hostile feelings of most of them towards her.

'Oh well,' she muttered to herself, 'You just have to get Fudge's job done, and then everything will be fine.'

As if he had read her mind, Fudge suddenly appeared by her side. 'We must be leaving, Ms. Granger,' he said, smoothly. 'It is getting late.'

'All right,' Hermione said, getting up. Lisa also stood. Just as she turned around, Fudge gave her A Look, and mouthed 'Say goodbye to Draco.'

Hermione turned again, and smiled charmingly at Draco.

'Goodbye, sweety,' she said.

'Bye,' Draco replied, smiling up at her.

Hermione turned and started walking towards the drive with Fudge and Lisa. All three remained quiet till they reached the Porsche. They got in, and the doors were shut. Hermione couldn't help noticing that a new driver had turned up.

'Where's the old one?" she asked Fudge.

'Oh, Chad wanted a half day,' Fudge said, dismissively. 'Odd man, he is. Turns up once a fortnight and is fine with the pay.'

Hermione looked puzzled.

'Well, I must congratulate you,' Fudge said, warmly. 'You passed it off quite well, I must say! And that kiss- even I almost thought you enjoyed it!' He chuckled to himself. Lisa threw Hermione an odd look.

'Yeah,' she said, slowly. 'So did I.'

Hermione felt herself turning brick red. She knew what Lisa thought- that she was in love with Malfoy...as if that thought wasn't preposterous enough.

'Malfoy and I seemed to have settled most our differences,' she told Fudge primly. 'He's even stopped being nasty to me.'

Fudge gave her a warning look.

'Whatever the case may be,' he cautioned, 'This is not a personal affair. It's strictly business, don't forget. Wear your ring at all times, and contact me at night.'

Hermione frowned.

'How am I supposed to figure out if Malfoy's a Death Eater or not?' she asked, perplexed.

'Well, the most tell-tattle sign in the Dark Mark,' Fudge said. 'Since you're to be a married couple, you have ample opportunity to observe his-ah- intimate areas...don't look so disgusted Ms. Granger, I merely meant his forearm...but I have a feeling Voldemort would not carry on with this formality, seeing as how it would be so painfully easy for us to identify his followers...'

he paused.

'More importantly is to keep track of where he goes, and what timings. See if you can identify a pattern in his outings...say everyday at a fixed time, or every Monday and Wednesday night...that would mean he's going for a fixed meeting. Thirdly, grab every opportunity to rifle through his personal possessions. You are bound to find something of interest in that.'

'Right,' Hermione said, slowly. 'I'll keep that in mind. And once I get proof?'

'Get proof that he is a Death Eater and he'll be sent to Azkaban, and you will be free,' Fudge said, 'get proof that he isn't, and I will cancel the law, and again you will be free. The actual concept being proof.'

'So I see,' Hermione replied, grimly.

The Porsche pulled up at their driveway. Hermione and Lisa got down. Fudge glanced at his watch.

'Yes, it's quite late,' he muttered. 'Oh well better get going. Oh, and Ms. Granger- I've had my personal assistant pick out your wedding dress....there's no need to bother about that.'

'Good,' Hermione said, yawning. She was tired.

'Oh, and I'll pick you up day after at about six in the evening. I have arranged for the venue of the reception.'

'All right, minister,' Hermione said, again.

Fudge pondered a bit. 'Okay, I think that's it,' he said, 'Good night, Ms. Granger.'

'Good night minister.'

As the Porsche drew away, Lisa pounced on Hermione like a hungry cat.

'Okay,' she snapped, 'Out with it.'

'Out with what?' Hermione asked, innocently, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

'With it,' Lisa said, angrily. 'What was going on between you two?'

Hermione shrugged. 'Nothing.'

'Yeah. When pigs fly. Hermione, he kissed you!'

'Just to avoid suspicion from that crabby aunt of his.'

'And that whole Mya thing.'

'Oh, that,' Hermione smiled, as she remembered. 'It was just a get-back thing at Chris. Man, was I surprised to see him there.'

'So was I,' Lisa said, shaking her head. 'And that Chadwick guy was so weird. I mean, I totally felt like I'd seen him before somewhere.'

'So did I, actually.' Hermione said, frowning. 'And I could tell Draco was wary of him too.'

'Draco!' Lisa chirped. 'There you go...what happened to "Malfoy, that fucking loser?"'

Hermione winced. 'Chill, Lise,' she said, soothingly. 'I am not in love with him.'

'There was attraction,' Lisa declared. 'He kissed you.'

'You already said that,' Hermione pointed out, wearily.

'Alteration: he kissed you and you enjoyed it!'

Hermione could not deny this.

'Probably one of those opposites attract things. You know, kiss the person you hate and its heaven?'

'It was heaven, was it?" Lisa asked, shrewdly. 'And what's all this about the "person you hate?"'

Hermione sighed.

'OK, I'll be honest with you,' she said, 'The kiss was wonderful. But I am not falling for him. And I don't hate him. You know that whole thing when Chris turned up. And both of us were being all lovey-dovey to get back at him. Well, it's like we were friends then. I mean, Draco has no reason to hate Chris. But he still did. It made me feel like he cared.'

'Maybe he does,' Lisa said, solemnly.

'I don't know,' Hermione sighed. 'Oh, c'mon, let's go up. I'm freezing in this gown.'

They trudged back up to their apartment. However, when Hermione opened the door, the first thing he saw was her parents, sitting on the cough.

Both of them had some very not-so-nice looks on their faces.

'Uh oh,' Lisa muttered, under her breath