A/N: Okay, thanks again for the reviews! You all rock! Anyway its holidays time… so onto the chapter I say!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own a thing, only those I create plus the plot.

Chapter Six: Engagement

Hermione,

It has been a while since I have had a good chat with you. How about you come over tonight for tea and scones? It will only be me and Fleur. The men are taking Jonathon to a Quidditch Match, his first one! He is very excited!

Anyway dear, I do hope you can find time to come around at 7pm.

Love Molly.

Hermione folded the letter up and looked at her cat. It was later in the day, after her horrible encounter with Draco. She leaned back on her lounge crossing her legs in front of her. She had missed her long chats with Molly, where they would sit at the kitchen table chatting about anything and everything.

Hermione could confide in Molly about things she could tell no one else. Hermione glanced at her watch. It would be a few hours until she would have to leave.

"So Shanks," sighed Hermione, "What do you want to do?"

Crookshanks meowed and closed his eyes, as though ignoring her. Hermione chuckled and stood up walking into her kitchen. It was 5pm and Hermione needed to check if her mince was defrosted properly, which it was.

"What can I do?" sighed Hermione leaning on the bench.

Then came the knock at the door. Hermione stood up right and walked to her front door. She pulled it open and was welcomed by a depressed Draco Malfoy. Hermione groaned annoyed out loud.

"Don't you ever leave me alone?" she snapped.

"I need your help!" he snapped back.

"You need to visit a Doctor about your problems, not me."

Draco merely glared at her, "Look Granger can I please come in? I need to talk to you about something."

Hermione stepped back and let him in, checking her wand was in her jeans pocket. She shut the door behind him as he sat down in the lounge her and Ron shared the night before, talking… after that awkward moment. Hermione walked over to the lounge beside the one Draco was on. She looked at him expectantly waiting for him to tell her what was so 'important'.

"I am obsessed," he began, "With you."

Hermione frowned, before looking rather stunned as what he meant hit her, "Okay…"

"I need to stop it, but I don't know how… I don't have any feelings for you; I think it's just physical."

"Your obsessed with my body?" cried Hermione, standing up.

"Look Granger, it's not as if I want to be!"

"Then why are you? Damn it Malfoy, you are getting married! You are my client! You being obsessed with me is making things complicated!"

"I don't know why!"

"Than maybe it would be best for you and Pansy to find another wedding planner. I am only causing more hassles between you and Pansy, which you don't need. And personally you are making things between Ron and me hard."

"I can't change wedding planners. If I could do you think I would be here right now?"

"Maybe you are here because you need to see me, seeing as you are obsessed."

"That is not why I came. I need to get over this weird obsession… I mean you're a muggleborn, which makes it wrong."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Well this is how you can get over me. When you see out of my office, don't speak to me. Once you are married you won't have to see me. There is your answer."

"Argh Granger, it's not that simple! I see you when I close my eyes… I kissed you and I wasn't drunk!"

"Look Malfoy this isn't my dilemma. I think you should leave; it's after office hours and also the weekend. My office hours are 8am-7pm Monday to Friday. Weekends on special circumstances."

"Do you class this as a special circumstance?" he asked pointedly.

Hermione knew it was, but it was DRACO MALFOY, not some random guy, but then again she had never encounterd this problem before. Draco nodded, knowing she knew it was. He stood up as well, both still in silence not knowing what to say.

"I guess I should go," said Draco in a quiet tone, one he'd never used around Hermione before.

"Yeah, you should," nodded Hermione in agreement feeling rather awkward.

He turned and walked to the door, feeling like walking instead of apperating. As he touched the door handle he turned around to look at Hermione, "Umm… look I've never been at a loss for words, but I know we have had a past with school. Things between us should just remain the same right?"

"It's natural that they should and probably will."

Draco nodded, "I should go find Pansy."

Hermione just nodded as he walked out her front door, shutting it behind him softly.

O

Draco wandered down the main street in Albus. The little wizarding suburb hadn't been around long but already more houses were being built. Perhaps he and Pansy could get one built for them, that way he could see Hermione whenever he wanted… no… wait.

'I need to stop this,' he thought turning around to look at her little apartment with pink, yellow, orange, purple and red flowers in the front yard along with the soft green grass.

He sighed and sat down on a nearby park bench and closed his eyes. Instantly her face from moments ago filled his mind. Her confused face framed by loose strands of hair that fell out of her loose pony tail. Her slim fitting jeans and white loose shirt. He was obsessed… he didn't know why but he was. Even her smile made his heart race, not that he saw it often. Well only once, but that was a fake one. Her real one…

'Argh! Stop this now,' he demanded himself.

He had Pansy… he had to stop this for her. Hermione was only an obsession right? Nothing more. He stood up taking a deep calming breath. With out another glance at her house, he was gone.

O

Hermione shut the curtain after seeing him apperate. She sat down on the lounge he just vacated faintly scented with his spicy smell, mingled with Ron's more… unspicy one.

"That was weird Crookshanks," said Hermione to her still sleeping cat, "Why did he have to tell me that? Was there any point to it?"

Crookshanks just slept on as if Hermione had never spoken to him. She looked at her watch again and saw it was time to get dinner going and eaten if she wanted to get to Molly's by seven. With a flick of her wand soon her stereo had Ashlee Simpson's Autobiography playing.

O

"Hey Pansy," said Draco softly entering her bedroom and shutting the door behind him, "What are you reading?"

Pansy looked up at her fiancée surprised to see him in her room, and even talking to her. He had been avoiding her for the past few days… week and a bit even. She lowered the book and answered him normally, "The Wild Romance, it's by some writer… she went to Hogwarts and was in Slytherin a few years ago."

Draco nodded and sat on the bed beside her, "Sounds… wild."

Pansy smiled at him and shrugged her shoulders, "Draco have you been okay lately? You've been… snappy towards me. You're my best friend and I worry about you."

Draco grabbed one of Pansy's hands and ran his thumb over her engagement ring, "I've been stressed. I'm sorry to worry you," he lied before leaning in and kissing her gently on the lips. His hand trailed up her arm and down her slender back. Pansy groaned with pleasure before taking control…

O

"Hey Molly, Fleur!" grinned Hermione entering the kitchen at exactly seven.

Fleur walked over to Hermione and hugged her, "It 'as been a long time zince I 'ave zeen you!"

"I know. How is Jonathon?"

"He iz good. Hiz father adores 'im."

Hermione smiled and sat down across from Molly and Fleur who brought over a tray of tea with a pile of scones. Molly summoned over a jar of jam and a bowl full of whipped cream.

"It has been a while since we have done this," commented Molly smiling at Hermione warmly, "Not since you and Ron were last together."

"True," nodded Hermione, "And now Fleur can join on the tradition. Maybe Ginny when she has the baby."

Fleur nodded enthusiastically, "And zen you and Ron can 'ave a child and ve can talk about our children!"

Hermione's smile faded a little before she nodded. She glanced at Molly who was pretending to be interested in the jar of jam. Fleur frowned at Hermione, who was now busily layering on the whipped cream to her scone.

"What iz it 'Ermione? Do you not vant children with Ronald?"

"Oh yeah. One day I guess."

"Hermione is their something you wish to tell us?" asked Molly calmly lowering the jar of jam so Fleur could get some for her scone.

Hermione shook her head and bit into her scone.

"About you and Ron?"

"Harry and Ginny spoke to you didn't they?" sighed Hermione.

Molly nodded and waited for her to continue.

"Ron and I are fine. I do… love him. Things are just a bit odd."

"If you love 'im like you claim to zen nothing should be odd," replied Fleur, "Bill and I come from different life styles. But ve vound love and nothing vas odd for us."

"You are very lucky Fleur."

"Hermione do you truthfully love Ron?" asked Molly.

Hermione sighed again and looked at her half eaten scone. She then took a sip of her tea Fleur was pouring, "I do love him."

"More then a brother?"

Hermione hesitated before giving a firm answer she knew wasn't the truth, "I do love him more then a brother."

Fleur looked at Molly, "She 'esitated."

Molly nodded before looking Hermione in the eye, "He is planning on asking you to marry him. Is their anyone else in your life?"

Hermione went quiet when an image floated into her mind. She shook her head frowning, "No one Molly. I do not cheat on people."

"I know. But no one you have a crush on?"

Again that image entered her mind, "No one at all. Just Ron… just Ron."

Molly nodded, "Well… Hermione just listen to this. No one can make themselves love someone who deep down they know isn't right for them. Everyone has someone who they connect with, whether it is in different ways, sometimes it is someone who you never saw yourself loving, but you just do."

"Zometimes," added Fleur, "You can not explain love. It iz juzt zere."

Hermione nodded then said, "Can we change subject? I've been over this one too many times."

O

Draco rolled of Pansy panting. Pansy snuggled up beside him pulling the quilt folded at the end of the bed over them both. She then softly trailed kisses on his shoulder to his neck, smiling her pug nosed smile. Draco tried to smile but couldn't. Yes he had enjoyed that experience, but not as much as he used to do so. However, he smiled at Pansy and gently pushed her off him so he could sit up.

"I think I might be falling for you Draco, "said Pansy softly.

Draco whirled around to face her as he pulled on his undergarments, "What?"

"I said I think I might be falling for you… as in falling in love."

"I… I thought…"

"You thought I was already in love with you?" chuckled Pansy sitting up, "I never did love you Draco. But I am falling for you now."

"If you never loved me Pansy then why did you agree to this marriage?"

"Pressure does a lot dear Draco."

"And you're acting… normal."

Pansy smiled, "I only acted like a love sick puppy to make you notice me."

Draco nodded, "Right… well I am going to go. See you at dinner I suppose."

O

It was Monday morning again. Hermione entered into the reception office looking rather cheery. After a horrible Saturday night with Molly and Fleur Hermione had made her Sunday an enjoyable one, keeping her mind of him one and him two. During her Sunday she had gone shopping for much needed groceries. Only she did her grocery shopping in the muggle world preferring muggle cooking to magical cooking, as her mother told her once, "Home cooked meals are made with heart and time, while fast-food or magical food in your case, aren't." Hermione agreed with her mother and couldn't wait for the day where she would be preparing meals for her own children.

"Good morning Luna!" greeted Hermione collecting her file for that mornings appointment, "How have you been?"

"Wonderful. Ron's waiting for you. I think he wants to ask you something."

Hermione paled, all her cheeriness gone within a flash, "Oh… do you know what?"

"Well he has more flowers for you and looks nervous."

Hermione nodded, swallowing a lump in her throat, "Ah… right then."

"And I have a message from Miss Pansy Parkinson. She would like you too meet her and her fiancée for lunch today. At Café De Magick at 1pm."

Hermione nodded, "Brilliant."

With a deep breath and a worried look from Luna Hermione strode into her office greeting Ron with a bright happy smile.

"Hey Ron. What brings you here?" asked Hermione placing the file on her desk and running a hand over her skirt.

"I have flowers for you," replied Ron handing her a bouquet of Kaufmaniana Tulips and Pistil Red Lilies.

Hermione smiled at him and took the flowers, loving how the soft pink blended with the red of the lilies.

"I also have something else," said Ron slowly.

Hermione swallowed a lump in her throat as Ron knelt down to one knee pulling a black velvet case from his back pocket. He opened it slowly revealing the silver band with a five small blue diamonds across the top. Hermione blinked twice as she looked at the ring.

"Hermione Jane Granger, will you marry me?" asked Ron smiling.

Hermione stared at him in shock, letting it all sink in. Yes she knew he was going to ask her… but not so soon.

"I…I," here she was stuck in another dilemma. What should she say? 'You want to love him remember? You don't want to hurt him.' Hermione looked at Ron's smiling face. How could she hurt him? Then his face entered her mind… what did he have to do with her decision? Nothing at all, "Yes Ronald Bilius Weasley, I will marry you."

Laughing out in joy, Ron stood up sweeping Hermione into his arms and spun her around in a circle, kissing her lovingly on the lips. Hermione smiled as he put her on the ground and slipped the ring onto her correct finger.

"I love you Hermione," whispered Ron.

"I…I love you too Ron."

"I should get to work," said Ron pulling away, "But before I go we should have dinner with my parents tonight at the Burrow to tell them the news."

Hermione nodded.

"Come at six okay?"

Hermione nodded again and after a quick kiss goodbye, Ron was gone. Hermione walked slowly to her desk and placed the beautiful flowers on it before stepping around to the window. She looked down at her finger, which declared her intention to marry Ron. She did love him… but now she knew she didn't love him more than a brother, yet here she was, engaged to him all because she didn't want to hurt him or be lonely all her life.

Her brown eyes caught sight of blonde hair amongst the crowd. She knew instantly who it was as she watched him kiss the woman holding his hand. Both smiled at each other causing Hermione to turn away in disgust.

"Oh Merlin," whispered Hermione sitting down in her desk site, "I'm becoming obsessed… no, no, no! This cannot happen!"

Sudden tears of self anger, regret and stress over came her as she broke down sobbing into her hands, praying for a chance to turn back time.

O

"What about this?" asked Draco pointing to a pure black owl, "Seeing as we are getting married I think we should start our sharing with an owl… what do you think?"

Pansy smiled and stroked its black feathers, "He's beautiful."

"You wait here while I go and see how much… although money is no objection."

Pansy smiled and planted a kiss on Draco's cheek before he entered the shop. He was trying, he knew it to try and love Pansy. But it wasn't happening for him like it was for her. Yes they were getting along a lot better, but no one can force themselves to love another, this he knew.

"Good morning, "said Draco to the shop keeper a elderly man with greying hair and brown eyes, "How much for that black owl outside?"

"Oh, I'm sorry sir. I forgot to remove it," apologised the shop keeper pulling out his wand and summoning the bird and cage to come inside the shop, "I have to send it to its new owner. Very special gift to the Wedding Planner woman… ahh Hermione Granger, yes that's the name. You see she is engaged to one of the Weasley's and this is his gift to her."

"Oh… really?" nodded Draco hit hard by the news.

The shopkeeper nodded, "You know her?"

"She is my wedding planner."

The shopkeeper nodded and peered past Draco. Draco turned around to see what he was looking at and his eyes widened at the sight; Pansy was flirting with none other than Blaise Zabini.

Draco excused himself and walked out of the shop in time to hear Blaise's words.

"…loved you and you left me," he said.

Pansy still hadn't noticed Draco and shook her head looking at the ground, "I love you Blaise but I can't be with you. I have to marry Draco… for my family."

"Damn your family and his Pansy! Love is all that matters! Not money and blood lines!"

"Pansy, I think we should go and talk," spoke up Draco calmly nodding to Blaise, who glared at him before storming off into the crowd.

Pansy looked at Draco guiltily and nodded before he led her off to the café he'd seen Hermione at a few days before hand. Once he ordered two cappuccinos they both sat a table and Pansy looked down at the table.

"Could you please explain to me what that was with Blaise at the owl shop?" asked Draco.

"B-before we were engaged… I was with him… we were… well we are in love Draco! Yes I am falling for you but the emotions I feel for you are nothing to what I feel with Blaise! Three years… three wonderful years… ruined because of what my damn parents want!"

Draco sighed, "I understand… you know I don't love you Pansy but if you want to be with Blaise then so be it. I understand. I am not going to force you to marry me."

"Draco our fam-"

"All our families care about is blood and money! Not about what we feel. Go be with Blaise. You love him. Not me."

Draco grabbed Pansy's hand and pulled the 150-year-old Malfoy engagement ring off her finger, "You are my bestfriend Pansy and I will be your bestfriend always."

Pansy stood up and grabbed Draco by the arm and pulled him up. She hugged him tightly, sobbing into his robe and mumbling words like, "You're the best" and "Thankyou so much."

Draco gently pried her off him and smiled at her, "Go to Blaise. I'll inform Granger of the wedding cancellation."

Pansy smiled and hugged Draco once more before running out of the café. Draco sat back down and sighed, running a hand through his hair. The hardest part was yet to come – telling his parents.

A/N: Well so… Draco and Pansy aren't getting married and Hermione is engaged to Ron… what is going to happen next? Stick around to find out! Again there is a snippet of chapter seven on my profile if you wish to take a look.

Bye for now!

Love yas!

Love Coz!