Author's Note: SURPRISE! I'm back a day earlier! I opened my e-mail and was shocked by all the reviews! THANKS SO MUCH! It made coming home ten times better. I hope you all enjoy this chapter! I also hope you weren't in so much suspense… actually, I bet you kind of forgot about this story for a while. Well, I'm back, and I'll be updating pretty much each day like I did before my vacation. Enjoy, and please review! (Oh, and the chapter spoiler is at the end of this, in case you like those)

Employer and Employee

Draco Malfoy

Six days until the wedding. I was counting down, now. I couldn't get Granger out of my mind. I jumped when an owl came to the window.

Dear Draco,

The wedding is in less than a week and I feel as though I need to let you know how I feel about this. Son, I feel awful! Something inside me says that Elizabeth is absolutely wrong for you. You know how I get those feelings and hunches… well, I feel like she's up to something bad. Has anything gone missing from the house? I'm getting signals that she's a thief. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I did sense that Fleur had problems with containing herself for one person.

I know that you're all grown up now, but I still feel like I have the right to help you out. You may think I'm interfering in something that isn't my business, but have you thought much about Hermione? She's a wonderful woman… and even though she is a muggle, I think your father would've liked her. She's brilliant and intelligent… Elizabeth is such an air head! I hate to interfere with your love life, Draco, but I needed to tell you that.

Love,

Mother

I crumbled the paper. How dare her! My own mother was pinning my fiancé against my nanny! I was disgusted. Mostly because almost everything my mother said about Granger was true.

Even though Granger's a muggle, my father would've approved. He always liked people with spunk and intelligence; two traits Granger shows brilliantly.

I wanted to tell Granger that I had strong feelings for her. I wanted to ditch Elizabeth at the alter and marry Granger somewhere else. I knew it was wrong and compulsive to think like that… but I couldn't help it.

I flopped down into my bed. Elizabeth was away for the weekend… something about a spa and a beauty getaway before the wedding. Whatever. I pulled my blanket up to me and fought off the urge to scream. Damn Granger for getting to me like this! I couldn't think about anything but her! I took my mother's letter and threw the balled-up piece of parchment out the window.

I pounded my head into my pillow. I needed to get whatever illogical ideas I had about Granger out of my head. Maybe she cared deeply for me, but that was it. I could tell from the other day in the field that she was heartbroken. Okay, so she loved me. And I was such a bastard for leading her on like that! Why in the name of Merlin did I kiss her? She obviously knew she had zero chance of being with me… and I gave her a second of hope. Okay, so it was more like a minute of hope. Damn her for looking so gorgeous when she's upset!

I stayed in my bed thinking of her for who knows how long. I finally drifted off to sleep, but it took some effort on my part.

----

The next morning, I realized I had only five short days until the wedding. "Granger?" I knocked on her door. She was usually awake at this time.

"Hold on a second!" I heard noise behind the door. "Okay, come in." She was wearing her hair loose, puffy curls tumbling from her head. She looked like she threw on a bathrobe hastily before she allowed me to enter.

"I just wanted to say that the Weasleys are invited to the wedding. It was Elizabeth's idea… she said that all the pureblooded families should attend or something like that." Granger made a face. "And I invited Potter."

She brightened up. "Really?" She smiled. "Thank you!" I invited him because I knew Granger would want someone to talk to. An ally, I guess you could say. Ron would be there… and I knew she wasn't quite ready to face him alone again.

I looked at the table behind her. She was doing that muggle sewing thing again. "I'm making more gowns for the wedding." She said, following my eyes.

I just nodded. "Granger," I began slowly, "about two days ago… in the field…" I trailed off. She looked at the ground. "I don't know why I kissed you." I finished abruptly. She didn't meet my eyes. "I didn't mean to lead you on like that."

"I understand." She murmured quietly.

"You know that whatever it is we feel for each other can't evolve into anything." It hurt to say it. "I feel an attraction to you… and I know you feel the same, but…"

"We really have to stop." She finished for me.

"Yeah." I added. "So now it's strictly back to employer and employee." I said with misery. I hoped it didn't show through in my voice.

"Yes." She agreed.

I turned and walked out of the room. I threw one final glance at Granger, who was looking at a spot on the ground.

As much as it hurt, I needed to do it. I would be married in four days. I couldn't lust after anyone but my fiancé.

----

Three days until the wedding. Elizabeth was back at the manor, making sure everything was correctly planned. She made a big fuss over her dress… something that really annoyed me. I mean, gods, it's just a dress! When did marriages get to be so materialistic? It's about a union between two people who love each other very much… it's not about the dress or the cake or the flowers.

A union between two people who love each other very much. What crap. I didn't love Elizabeth… and I doubted I ever would grow to love her. But I needed to go through with this marriage. It was crucial to the company, my career, and my dignity.

Granger finished up with the girls' gowns. I assumed she made something for herself, but I didn't see it. Luna and Stella paraded around with the gowns on all morning. Of course, they were lovely.

As Elizabeth yelled at the baker for making the cake "the wrong size," I went outside to the gardens. I needed to get away from all the hectic commotion going on inside. And apparently, Granger did too.

"Can't keep yourself away from me, eh, Malfoy?" Granger was sitting on a bench, smirking at me.

"You wish." I shot back. She glared at me. I sighed, sitting on a bench next to hers. "So, is this how it's going to be? Back to insults and rude remarks?"

She nodded. "I guess so. I mean, we haven't got any other options."

I nodded. We both looked away. "My mother saw the gowns the girls were wearing and flipped out." I offered after a minute of silence.

"I know!" She exclaimed, smiling. "Why do you think I'm hiding out back here?"

I smirked. "Hiding from my mother, Granger?" I clicked my tongue. "That's not very nice."

She smirked back. "Well, she's driving me insane! She wants me to make more clothes so she can sell them… and then she's still raving about my looks and how I need to do more modeling sessions for her!"

"You make success sound like a bad thing." I remarked.

"This isn't success! It's madness! I'm not pretty enough to be a model, and I'm no where near talented with a sewing machine as she makes me sound."

"You're fishing for compliments, Granger, and you know it." I scolded softly. "You want me to tell you that you're just as stunning as any top model and you want me to tell you that your designs are innovative and brilliant." I continued. "But I won't give you the satisfaction of giving you a true compliment, because asking for backhanded compliments is kind of low, Granger."

She bit her lower lip and slumped her shoulders. "Just another one of my personality flaws." She muttered under her breath.

"Hermione! There you are!" My mother appeared out of no where.

"Oh no." Granger mouthed at me. She froze like a scared forest animal. I smirked.

"I was looking all over—" My mother stopped talking and noticed I was there. "Oh, I wasn't interrupting anything, was I?" She said sweetly, looking from Granger and then back to myself.

"You wish." I muttered through clenched teeth.

"Good." She smiled pleasantly. "Hermione," She started, turning back around to where Granger had been sitting. "Where did she go?" My mother asked with amazement. "She's been disappearing like that all day!"

"She's a regular Houdini, that one." I muttered sarcastically.

"I suppose you're right." My mother smiled thoughtfully. "Now tell me, what were you doing before I walked in here?"

"We were in a passionate embrace, mother." I spat.

"Really?" She looked all too delighted.

"NO!" I yelled. "Stop getting all these ideas about us!" I rambled on. "Nothing will happen between us, ever. She's my employee, my nanny, and she's a mudblood." I said harshly.

My mother's expression softened. "Don't say that word, Draco! I hate that bloody word!"

"Sorry." I offered weakly. "But it's true... she's a muggle and I'm a pureblood. It's just not right."

"I wish your father didn't contaminate you like this." She regretted. "I knew I shouldn't have let him spend time with you. Draco, this is why I want you to rethink your marriage. I married your father because it was the 'right' thing to do. He was a pureblood, I was a pureblood… he was attractive and rich… that's all that was to our marriage. Love wasn't a factor. He was abusive, rude, and dishonest… but I knew it would be beneficial to my social status."

I was taken aback. I knew my parents had problems, but I didn't know that they never loved each other in the slightest. I guess I was an innocent child—under the false impression that everyone's parents loved one another.

That's what you're doing to your kids. I thought sadly. I knew it wasn't right, but I was going to marry Elizabeth no matter what.

Author's Note (again): Thanks for reading! I hope you liked it… please review!

NEXT CHAPTER SPOLIER: Hermione's POV. It's two days before the wedding, and Hermione knows the girls are as upset about the wedding as she is. So she tries to cheer them—and herself—up with a girly sleepover party. The next day is a rehearsal for the wedding… and Draco and Elizabeth get into a fight…