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Hermione couldn't stand it anymore at about noon. She had to do something! She opened her closet, surveying the contents. Pretty much old clothes. A few cute things, but nothing nice enough for the theater...she had worn her nicest clothes to dinner the night before. She went through her closet again and again, trying to make a nice combination, but couldn't come up with anything. About an hour and a half later, she slumped on the bed, blinking back tears. She would have to call Malfoy and tell him she couldn't make it.
'Because I don't have nice enough clothes? That's stupid. I can't tell him that. Maybe I'll say that--'
Rrrrrrrring!
Hermione sat up quickly and groped for the phone.
"Hello?" she practically shouted into it when she picked it up.
"Hey!" Ginny giggled. "Wanna do something tonight?"
"What? Oh, no. Sorry, I can't. I have a--date--thing with Malfoy."
"Another one! Wow! He must like you."
"Actually, on second thought, I might be able to. I don't...I don't have anything to wear, so I'm going to cancel..." Hermione muttered, turning red.
"What? Don't you dare! If you cancel that date for something as simple as--oh, you're pathetic! You need training, woman! I'll be over in a minute!"
A loud crack later, an incredulous looking redhead was in her living room.
"We're going shopping."
"So, where are you guys going, anyway?" Ginny asked airily an hour later. They had had lunch before shopping. They were walking through the streets of Muggle London, where some of the best shopping was.
"Um, The Theatre, I believe. We're going to go see a comedy on the Salem Witch Trials," Hermione said, stifling a giggle.
"Ooh, how fancy! Why didn't you tell me? Those tickets are awfully pricey." Ginny said. She steered Hermione around and led her in a different direction.
They stopped in front of a large shop with a glass revolving door. Ginny smiled and led Hermione inside.
An hour later, Hermione was still trying on clothes, and she even Ginny was getting bored.
Hermione stepped out of the dressing room for the umpteenth time in a beautiful dress, even if it was a bit on the revealing side. It was red. with little white rhinestones sewn to the hems. It was sleeveless and went down to her knees.
"Wow, Hermione, you look great!" Ginny said of the dress, nodding appreciatively.
"I don't know...it's a bit...skimpy...?" Hermione said nervously, fidgeting with the hem of the dress.
"Hermione! You've said that about the last ten dresses! What is too skimpy about it? It's lovely, and it looks beautiful on you!" Ginny said, exasperated.
"It's just...not right...?" Hermione mumbled, and walked back into the dressing room. Ginny rolled her eyes. It was just like Hermione to not let loose and have a little fun. Although she was known to take a few too many firewhiskey shots.
Hermione walked out a few minutes later in a black dress that went all the way to the floor. It had long sleeves, and wasn't as tight as some of the things Ginny had picked out
"I like this one alright..." Hermione said, looking in the mirror.
"You do? You have issues. That is the most affected dress I have ever seen. You look like a nun! Go change!" Ginny said incredulously.
Hermione scurried back into the dressing room. She sat in the chair, looking around at all of the beautiful dresses around her. One caught her eye. She quickly put it on and went out to Ginny.
There were no words. Hermione just smiled and Ginny just nodded.
"Well, my work is done!" Ginny squealed. "And I must say, I have never been prouder than this moment!"
"More proud." She couldn't resist.
"Yes, you're welcome. It's good to know my work is appreciated," Ginny said, mock-hurt.
"Well, I haven't even seen it--" Hermione glanced in the mirror and stopped.
She looked beautiful. Ginny had done her makeup in shades of brown and pink, with mahogany eyeliner and mascara to top it off. She had put a little rouge on her cheeks and had glossed her lips a shiny natural pinkish.
Her hair was done up in an elegant updo, reminiscent of her style at the Yule Ball. A few random curls were falling out of the bun and around her face. Ginny had put some subtle highlights in, and her sideswept bangs really framed her eyes well.
Wait.
"When did I get these?" Hermione wondered aloud.
"Oh, I cut them when your eyes were closed," Ginny said, giggling.
"You better be happy they turned out alright!" Hermione said angrily. "What if they looked bad, and with the date I'm about to go on, and, oh--"
"It's alright! They look beautiful. And why do you care, anyway? It's just Malfoy."
"Err--right, I know. But I want to get my assignment done properly!" Hermione said, flustered.
"Mm hm, sure. Now get over here and put your dress on so I can leave."
"Why do you need to be here for that?" Hermione asked.
"So I can take a picture for my portfolio, duh! Didn't I tell you? I'm applying to the Wizard Academy of Cosmotolegy!" Ginny said excitedly.
"Gin, that's great!" Hermione said, hugging her friend.
"Yeah, I know. Now put your dress on!
Draco buttoned his cuff and smoothed his hair, looking at the clock over the fireplace in his bedroom intently.
5:56
He smoothed his shirt, glancing around his room for anything he might have forgotten.
5:57
He checked his fly. He checked his shoes. He checked his wallet.
5:58
He lifted the lid off of the Flu powder jar, very slowly. He looked inside of it.
5:59
He grabbed a handful of the shimmery powder.
6:00
He threw the powder in, saying Hermione's address. He stepped into the fire practicedly, closing his eyes and tucking in his elbows.
A minute later, he stopped spinning. He stepped out into a dingy apartment with old, tatty furniture.
He knew Hermione made better pay than this. Why didn't she buy herself new furniture?
What he didn't know was that she gave half of every paycheck to the Order of the Pheonix.
"Hermione, love?" he called out tentatively, stepping lightly across the room and knocking on what he assumed was her bedroom door.
"Draco?" Hermione yelled back. "Are you here already?"
"Well, it is six."
"Oh! I'm sorry! I'll be out in a minute!" she said, embarassed.
"No need to be sorry. I'll just have a seat on your...couch..." he said.
A few minutes later, Hermione stepped out of her room. Draco was speechless.
Her hair was in an updo like at the Yule Ball. She was wearing natural looking makeup that looked lovely. But her dress--well, that was the best part. She was wearing a gauzy, violet dress. It had a V-shaped, off the shoulder sleeve, and it came down to her knees. It gathered around the waist, so the bottom half was flowy. There were little black roses along the hem of her dress, a iny white rhinestone in the center of each, and the bodice was covered in a thin black lace. She was wearing black round-toed pumps, and wore a cream colored shall over her shoulders.
"Wow...you look beautiful..." he said softly, running a finger over her cheek. He stooped and kissed her lightly on the lips. "New bangs?"
Hermione smiled warmly and stifled a girly giggle. "Thank you, and yes."
"So, are you showing me your apartment?" he asked, stepping towards her bedroom.
She tugged on his hand. "You don't want to see it. Let's go!"
"Yes, actually, I do want to see it," he said, spinning her toward him. He wrapped an arm around her waist and led her into her own room. He looked at the cheap furniture and threadbare comforter. The peeling walls and one tiny window.
With a crack, he apparated them both to the restaurant.
"Woah!" Hermione said, staggering into him. "I wasn't ready for that."
He wrapped an arm around her waist, steadying her. "I'm sorry. Are you alright?"
"What? Oh. Yeah, I'm fine," she said, trying to ignore the intoxicating scent of his cologne.
They were seated almost immediately.
"So, about your apartment..." Draco began. Hermione immediately blushed and looked away.
"I know, I know, it's not very nice..." she said apologetically.
"Are you safe there?" he asked.
"Well, pretty safe, I think. There have been a few break-ins, but I wasn't there at any of those times, luckily..."
"Hermione...what if you had been there? What do you think would have happened?" he said.
"I dunno...I don't really think about it..." Hermione lied.
"Why don't you get a better apartment? I know that you make more money than that."
"Well, I donate most of my money to charity..." Hermione said.
"Oh. I don't even feel safe just thinking about you staying in that apartment," Draco said.
"Well, I'll be alright. Nothing's happened to me yet," she said.
"Do you want me to stay there with you?" the blonde asked. "It would make me feel better."
"Well, what are the chances that it's going to happen on the one night that you come over?"
"True. I just--well--there is one thing, but...well, it might seem a bit forward, but..." Draco started.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Well, you could move in with me. Just until you find a better apartment, or something. You could stay as long as you like, though."
"Draco!...are you joking?" she asked.
"No, I'm not. Why would I be?"
"I don't know..." the brunetter replied.
"OK, at least let me stay over tonight? And just know the offer still stands?"
"Yeah, OK," Hermione said, smiling at him.
"Good."
Laughing and joking, the couple walked into Hermione's apartment.
"That was a wonderful show, Draco. Thank you," she said.
"My pleasure. I'm just going to pop in at my house, straighten a few things up, grab some clothes, and be right back, ok?" Draco asked. Hermione nodded. He kissed her forhead and apparated home.
Hermione went into her room and started trying to make things nicer. She put a fluffing spell on her mattress and pillows, quickly washed her comforter, and put all her dirty clothes away. She changed into the sweats she had stolen from him and a black wifebeater tank top.
She was about to go sit on the couch when an strong, hairy, tattooed arm wrapped around her neck and face, and a hand started tugging at her pants.
Draco paced in his room, staring at his clock. He had been gone a quarter of an hour, that had to be enough for his guy to get in, right?
Hermione tried to scream as the man pushed her roughly onto her bed on all fours. He bent over her, pulling her pants down. She kicked back, but it didn't seem to have any effect.
She could feel the guy going for his zipper and tried to scramble away. She got away from him for a minute, but he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back to him, smashing her butt against his groin. He went for his zipper again, and this time, he got it.
'Screw it,' Draco decided. 'I'm going.'
He quickly apparated into Hermione's apartment.
What he saw horrified him. A man--his man--was bent over Hermione, and in the act of undoing his zipper. She was crying, and her--well, his--pants were around her ankles. He had no idea why this made him so mad, seeing a Mudblood get what she deserved.
But it did. Madder than anything had made him in his entire life. And that included Potter.
"What the fuck!" Draco yelled, grabbing the guy around his neck and pulling him off Hermione. Luckily, in time. He punched the guy's face in once, twice, thrice before dragging him outside and slamming him against the wall.
"What the fuck, man!" Draco said to the man. "What are you fucking doing? Did I tell you to rape her? Did I? No! I specifically told you not to hurt her! You were supposed to break in and scare her! And don't you dare bullshit me and tell me you weren't going to rape her, you asshole. Get the fuck outta my sight. I oughtta kill you, asshole. But I'm feeling nice. So you have three seconds."
The guy ran as fast as he could down the hall, not looking back.
Draco stepped back into the apartment, hurrying over to Hermione's room. She was lying on her bed, crying. She had pulled her pants up and crawled further up the bed.
He scooped her up and apparated them both to his manor.