Disclaimer: Don't own it. Don't care. Zip it. (Haha. Just like typing it...ü)

A/n: Seriously I wanna die too like Hermione. :( People hate my fic:'( But anyways, here's the next chap. This is for catgurfurreel and princessdza. You two helped me a lot in my "mourning-morning-for-fics". I managed to make it short by an hour... Thanks!ü

By: Aningme

Chapter 5

Dilemma

She always felt so tired after a day's work. Waking up in her bed, she was still wearing her last night's work clothes. She grumbled to herself and went straight to shower. Afterwards, she rummaged in her fridge for something to eat. She only gave favor in chocolate and a cup of coffee.

After watching early news and finishing up her so called breakfast, she went on to her work table and stared at her patients' files. She looked at their pictures and read their notes. She felt idle enough to finish the whole 50 files. But before she could read her 51st patient, she saw Draco Malfoy's picture. She glared at him and closed his folder. She had enough of him. For her Hogwarts years, he's been there ruining their lives. And now he came back to ruin hers again. It's just sick.

She pushed away all the piled folders and decided to drown herself in books instead. She didn't want to catch herself doing nothing. It will only bring back memories of Him.

But then, before she could even open her chosen book, the door bell suddenly cling clanged. She sighed for a while and stood up to get the door, not even minding she only wore a shirt, cycling shorts, and a bathrobe.

Opening the door, she wasn't surprised to see Ron, Ginny, Seamus, and Neville.

"Hermy! Glad you're home for a change!" Ginny exclaimed, hugging her tight.

Hermione managed to smile and greet her friends. "Am I missing something? What's the occasion?" She asked as everyone entered her unit.

Ginny and Seamus smiled at each other. "Since you weren't able to join us last night for the one month older celebration of our baby, we decided to celebrate it here, NOW." Seamus pointed out.

Hermione just smiled and stared at them. "Well, thank you guys."

"I brought some wine if you guys don't mind." Neville added.

"Thanks Neville." Hermione muttered and placed the bottle on the table. "I'll get some glasses. Just stay put." Hermione added, walking towards the kitchen.

But before she could even pass by the kitchen, her door bell sounded again. She sighed tiredly and walked towards the door. It never stops.

Who the hell could it be now? She thought. All of her friends are here already. Who else would visit her now?

Opening the door, she gasped at the man standing before her. In reflex, she shut the door on his face.

Ron, Ginny, Seamus and Neville wondered who it was. Ron stood up and went to Hermione by the door. She looked petrified.

"Herm, who was it?" Ron questioned. She just stared back at him. After waiting for her answer, she just turned back and went to the kitchen. Ron was just merely bewildered. He opened the door and, to his surprise, gasped too.

Draco Malfoy stood in front of him, mildly amused to see Ron Weasley for all these years. Ron couldn't speak for a moment.

"Yeah. Nice to see you too again, Weasel." Draco smirked.

Ron fumed in anger. "What on earth are you doing here?"

Draco pushed him aside and entered the premises. He went to the living room and was more amused to see the whole set of Gryffindorks. He only wondered where Harry was.

"Well, hello there, old friends." He muttered and smiled at them. Ginny stood up in surprise with Seamus. Neville just gaped. "Where's Granger?" He added, looking around.

"She's…" Ginny answered monotonically. "She's in the kitchen."

Draco smiled at her and went on to the kitchen. He left them paralyzed.

Opening the cupboard, Hermione grabbed five wine glasses for her friends. She acted as if nothing happened.

"Make those six glasses. Don't forget you have another visitor." A man's voice muttered behind her. And with her utter surprise, she dropped the glass in her hand, shattering it into pieces.

Draco watched her in amusement. He never saw her this paranoid before.

Hermione just sighed and bent down to pick up the pieces of broken glass, not even looking at him.

But then, prior to her notice, he bent down too and helped her. "You know, you have to be careful with these things."

She didn't answer him. She just hastened up, picking up most of the broken pieces. Standing up to throw them, she almost shrieked as she accidentally cut herself with the sharp glass. Small drops of blood stained the white floor.

"Damn it!" Hermione cursed and slumped herself on the stool nearby the oak table, letting her blood drain out from the long cut on her palm.

Draco followed her and sat beside her. "Let me see that."

She glared at him. "I'm fine." She hissed.

"Let me see." He insisted, grabbing her wrist. Examining her, he slowly pulled out the piece of glass stuck on her palm. She slightly moaned in pain. He looked at her and smiled. "I told you to be careful with this."

"What the hell are you doing here anyway?" She shrieked, pulling her hand back. "I told you the deal's off."

"But I didn't say that it's off." He said, still sneering.

She fumed in anger. "What do you want from me Malfoy? I already did what you wanted a month ago. What else could you want from me?"

He didn't answer her. Fumbling in his jacket pocket, he took out a white cloth and grabbed her wrist again. He gently wrapped her hand with it and tied it. "I just want you to make me pay for what you did for me last month."

She stared at him in confusion. This wasn't the Malfoy she knew seven years ago. "Are you out of your mind? You think you're paying me by bugging me every single day? This is torture!" Wait. That might be the main idea. He's doing this to torture her. "Oh. I get it, Malfoy. You still love torturing us. You have nothing good to do in your life?"

He just smirked. "Maybe."

She rolled her eyes and stood up; grabbing the glasses she took out before. "You really are an asshole, Malfoy. A sneaky asshole." She muttered. He just grinned.

"Well, I'm still Draco Malfoy, aren't I?" He added. She just glared at him and handed him a few glasses.

"Fine. You really want to date me?" She asked him. He looked brighten up.

"Yes."

"For a month. Then you'll leave me alone."

"But the deal is a whole year." Draco pointed out.

"That's a damn long time, Malfoy. A month will be fine." She answered.

"Half a year." He countered.

"4 months."

"5 months."

"2 months."

"3 months."

"Deal." She smiled at him and held out her pinky. He stared at her and sighed.

"Deal." He answered and crossed his pinky with hers.

She smiled at him and stepped out of the kitchen.

A/n:There.It is done.

catgurlfurreel - thanks for trying to help me out with this.ü It means a lot really.ü And thanks so much for your fantastic reviews.ü Somehow, somewhere out of the blue, when I decided to ditch this story, seeing your reviews pulls me back in reality and shouts at me to continue it.ü And thanks so much for that.ü

princess dza - thanks for considering my story as a "with sense" story.ü It brightened me up everytime Icry for this. ahahaha..ü Thanks again. Oh, and thanksagain for the C2 thing.ü Really, it's a big deal for me too.üAnd thanks for reviewing it.ü