God… I'm so sorry… I don't know what took me so long with this, I just couldn't get it out… anyway, I apologize for the lateness of this chapter… and apologize again. And apologize again… In fact, can't seem to apologize enough.
Anyway, without further ado…
When I apparated into the Leaky Cauldron that evening, I was in a very foul mood. The day had been going poorly enough, thank you very much, without my coming home to find Malfoy reclining on my couch, smirk already plastered on his face.
And what he'd said… "I have something particular in mind of that favor…" God… that sent shivers up my spine, and not in the good way. At least I'd hoped it wasn't in the good way. I'd spent the next few hours oscillating between the certainty that, whatever it was he had in store for me, I wouldn't enjoy it, and the pronounced fear that I would.
I blamed my current romantic dry spell for that thought, and quickly tried to block it from my mind.
Which hadn't worked out as well as I'd hoped, and I'd become steadily more irritated as the evening wore on, because Draco Malfoy had succeeded in doing the one thing I hadn't thought possible: he'd ruined my shower… I mean, how was I supposed to enjoy it if every time I closed my eyes I saw those slender, adept hands.
I could have killed him for that.
And now that irritation had followed me like a storm cloud, threatening all those around me with lightning.
As I slid into the seat the boys had left opened for me, Ron and Harry exchanged a glance that seemed to say 'do you want to say it, or should I?'
Ron apparently won (or lost?) since he spoke up first. "Alright, what'd he do?" he asked.
"Hm?"
"Don't 'hm' us, Hermoine Granger, you know perfectly well who we are talking about," Harry said.
I just gave him a look.
"Malfoy," Ron prompted when I didn't speak up. "He's the only person I've ever seen get you so worked up… well, except for Magnus, but he sort of had to cheat on you to get you this mad."
Ouch. "Real sensitive, Ron," I grumbled.
He had the good grace to look embarrassed. "Sorry, 'Moine, I didn't mean it like that."
I closed my eyes, and sighed. "I know."
"It's just, you know, NO ONE gets under your skin like Malfoy. The blighter practically raises irritation to an art form. I don't think I've ever come closer to murder than when we were at school together."
And I couldn't help but chuckle at that.
"How right you are, Ronald Weasly, how right you are."
He and Harry grinned at each other, satisfied that they'd dispelled my frustration.
"Now," said Harry, "that we have you smiling again, care to tell us what had you so riled up in the first place"
"Not right now guys," I said, catching the waitresses eye, and signaling for a double, "allow me to fortify myself first."
"Fair enough," Harry conceded, and Ron had to agree.
"In the meantime, how are things going with you two?" I asked. "Harry, how are you and Cho getting on these days?" at the words 'Cho' and 'getting on,' he paled visibly, and gave me a huge (fake) smile.
"Fantastic," he lied through his teeth, "never better. Why just the other day, we were talking, and…" here he trailed off, as it had become obvious that Ron and I were not to be convinced. He sighed, "good God, who am I fooling? Certainly not you two. Why do I bother trying…"
"I drew my brows together in a frown, "I'm sorry, Harry… I hadn't realized the two of you were having difficulties. You…" my voice faltered, "you aren't breaking up, are you?" here I felt the prick of tears in my eyes, and some part of me knew how selfish it was for me to want to cry… it was just that Harry and Cho were the most lovey-dovey couple I'd ever seen. If they couldn't stay together, what chance did the rest of us mere mortals have?
I needn't have worried, however, for at the mere mention of separation, Harry choked on his glass of water, and sputtered a shocked "Breaking up!?"
He looked nearly frantic, "I couldn't… I mean, I'd never… I mean, I love her too much, and I know it isn't really her fault, and …"
"Harry," Ron cut in sharply, effectively silencing our friend. Harry's mouth closed with a snap. "Sorry, mate, but you were getting a bit carried away there."
I nodded in agreement, before reaching out, and placing my hand on top of his. "Come on now Harry, tell us exactly what is wrong."
"The woman," he said, dropping his head, and resting his forehead on the table, "Is a bloody animal."
"Excuse me?" Ron and I asked simultaneously.
"Ever since we decided to have a baby, she's been all over me… just wont leave me alone. Wednesdays are the worst, of course, but it's all the time, really." Amazing… I was relatively sure Harry had just turned the exact shade of a strawberry Skittle, but he continued on despite himself. "And we never get to take our time anymore… sex used to be about tenderness… now it's like bootcamp.
Ron snorted.
"Come on," Harry said with a frown. "This isn't funny."
"We should all have your problems, Harry, old boy." Ron said, between chuckles. "Paige and I have yet to get past the chaste kiss goodnight… not that I'm terribly worried about it," he added quickly, a slight blush appearing on his cheeks, "it's just sort of… been a while."
At this point, both their gazes slid to me, as if they expected me to say something. "Well, don't expect me to add anything to this conversation… at least Ron's getting kisses… ever since I left Magnus, my love-life is near non-existent."
"You're a resilient girl," Harry said, with an uncomfortable grin, "I'm sure you've already started bouncing back from that."
"Well… there was someone I was interested in, but I can't really do anything about it."
"Oh?" Ron asked, leaning over the table in interest.
"Well, yes, you see… he's sort of a…"
"Your drink, Miss." The waitress said, placing my glass on the table in front of me before floating off to take another order.
I took up the cup gratefully, and sipped it, rolling the scotch around on my tongue. There was something wonderful about going where they knew you, where you were familiar… where they knew your drink. I pondered the simple joys in life as I swallowed, and felt the heat trail down my esophagus and into the pit of my stomach. Another sip, and I felt that heat spread out to the rest of my body.
"Hermoine?" came Ron's voice, after a moment.
"Huh? Oh… sorry… where was I?"
"You're current love interest was sort of… a…" Harry prompted.
Oh, that was right, I was telling them about Rich.
"Actually, this is perfect timing, since it has something to do with what had me so frustrated earlier." I cleared my throat loudly, and signaled the waitress to bring me another before I continued. "You see, that accident on Monday wasn't an accident."
"Not an accident?" whispered Harry.
"Don't be ridiculous, 'Mione… I mean, why would anyone want to kill you?"
"Not me Ron, and probably not kill either. I mean, maybe kill, but killing isn't the ultimate goal. There's been a rash of accidents at the Ranch lately, though, and while none of them has resulted in a fatality yet, it certainly could. The why of it, however is still a little bit unclear, and until it is, everyone's a suspect."
"Even your possible Mr. Right?" Harry asked.
"Especially him. That's why it won't work out. I can't date a suspect!"
"Well, I mean, like you said, it could be anyone, right?" Ron asked, "I mean all know Malfoy's a jerk… he has enough enemies. Not to mention all those Dragon right's group… Charlie was just telling me the other day about how they received a threat from 'Scale for a Scale' demanding the release of a killer Horntail they'd taken into custody the other day. These guys are crazy… imagine, demanding they release a killer dragon!"
I shook my head, "No, Ron. I found out today that the whole site is infested with Gremlins."
"Gremlins," Harry piped up, "in a Dragon Keep?"
"Placed there by the saboteur, obviously. I doubt that a group advocating the rights of one magical creature, would exploit another… no, this is someone with a grudge. Either, like you've suggested, one against Malfoy, or one against the farm itself…"
"So, what's lover-boy done to incriminate himself?" Harry asked.
"His family used to own Ridgeback, before the Malfoy's cheated them out of it. There's some very bad blood between those two. My god, at lunch today…"
"You had lunch with them?"
"No, Ron… well, not exactly. I was having lunch with Rich—"
"Rich?"
"Mr. Right."
"Ah… go on…"
"I was having lunch with Rich, and when he left for the lavatory, Malfoy showed up, and made a complete ass of himself" at this point Ron felt the need to mutter 'as usual' under his breath, and I had to agree, "and when Rich came back… well, it wasn't pretty. They both stormed off, and it was the waitress who finally told me about Rich's family."
"Well, I suppose, that explains the mood," Harry said.
"No, it doesn't even begin to explain it…" and I told them, starting with what happened Tuesday, after Harry left my apartment, and ending with Malfoy on my couch exactly what had me so worked up.
At some point in the evening, the waitress returned to fill my glass, and I had her leave the bottle.
The last thing I remembered was the concerned look on Ron's face when he told me I'd better slow down.
Well, actually, the last thing I remembered was telling Ron to bugger off… and then…
Nothing…
"Gr…ger…" the noise reached my ears as if I were sitting under 10 feet of water. It wasn't often that I got the chance to indulge in satin sheets, however, and I could feel that I was between them now. I wasn't about to leave them, so I did the only sensible thing. I ignored the noise.
"Ran…er…" it came again, more annoyed. But even the sharp slap that accompanied it this time wasn't inducement to stir.
It must have done something for my hearing, though, because the next time, I heard "Granger!" loud and clear.
Go away.
It wasn't until the voice came a fourth time, lower, nearly a growl, and was followed by a slow two fingered caress along my jawline that I actually moved. I had a sudden acute longing to throw my arms around masculine shoulders, bury my fingers in moonlight hair… press my lips to warm, pale skin.
The desire caused me to sit up, screaming.
I became aware of two things immediately. Number one being that the voice belonged to one Draco Malfoy. I knew this, because when I sat up, my forehead came into sharp contact with his. And number two…
"Ow," he grumbled, sitting down on the bed, next to me, and rubbing his head. "Christ, Granger, watch where you're…"
"Malfoy… where are my clothes." There were a lot of questions floating around in my head, like how the hell did I end up in a guest room in Malfoy Manor to begin with, but this one took precedence over all others.
De ja vous… wasn't I in this same position just a few days ago? Easy… calm down… relax. He didn't take advantage of you then, he hasn't now… I hope.
He grinned suggestively at me, and I couldn't help but notice that in his loosely tied black terry cloth bathrobe… his hair still damp from his shower… the pale skin of his throat revealed, that he looked almost charming. Well, he would have, if he'd been anyone other than who he was. Which he wasn't. On Draco Malfoy, it just made me suspicious, and paranoid.
Oh God, I was blushing, and I was sure he could see it, not just across my face, but on my shoulders, and my…
BLOODY HELL!
With out any word of warning, I grabbed the edge of the sheet, and gave it a vicious tug, unseating Malfoy, and dumping him on the floor. (Ah… like I said… it was the little things… ) I wrapped the sheet around me tightly, and threw the excess over my shoulder.
I most certainly did not sneak a glance at Malfoy as he righted himself, and readjusted the tie on his robe.
That was why it came as such a shock when he took my chin in his hand, and turned me to face him. His robe had fallen slightly open, the 'V' dipping almost to his navel, but I kept my eyes firmly planted on his. I could feel that blush start creeping over me again, though.
"That," he growled, in a voice that I suppose some witches would find sexy, "was uncalled for."
"I needed the sheet," I replied huffily, pulling out of his grip.
He raise on skeptical eyebrow.
"Would you rather I just lay around exposed?"
The corner of his mouth twitched into a smirk.
He would. "You are disgusting." I informed him.
"I try."
"And you didn't answer my question."
"Well, I certainly don't see anything wrong if you want to expose—"
"Not that question!"
It was around this time that I realized the pounding in my head had nothing to do with the knock it had received earlier.
"M… Malfoy…" I whispered shakily, grabbing his shoulder for support as I started to heave.
Hungover. Again.
Whatever I may say about Malfoy, the man does have reflexes as quick as the coiled snake that was his house's namesake. Not to mention nerves of steel. He had the waste basket under my nose, and was holding my hair with his freehand just in the nick of time.
Afterward, he placed the basket down on the floor and snapped his fingers. Instantly it disappeared. House elves. I was too worn out to be properly outraged.
Then he was wiping my mouth with a handkerchief, and pressing something into my hand.
"When you showed up here last night and started pounding the gates, soaked to the skin, stone drunk, and demanding retribution, I thought you might not be able to make it into work today." He said amusedly. "Cletis suggested this."
I glanced down at the cup he'd just pressed into my hand. "Is this what I think it is?"
"Depends on what you think it is." He said with a shrug. "Cletis apparently got the recipe off of one of the Weasley brats"
I could have kissed him at that moment.
Instead I downed the familiar mixture of tomato, tobasco, and lemon.
"Now be a good girl, and get showered," he said, turning to leave. "If you're late," he called back over his shoulder, "I'll doc your pay."
"Wait!" I called to his retreating back. "My clothes… where are they?"
"Being laundered." He tossed over his shoulder, "I'll have something laid out for you."
"Um… Malfoy, you didn't…"
He was at the door now, but he turned and grinned. "I most certainly did."
It was an overreaction, I know. I just couldn't help it. Here, I'd thought he was somewhat of a gentleman, I mean, he was still an ass, but at least I didn't think he was the type to take advantage of an unconscious woman. It sent me into a rage. Especially since that woman was me.
"Malfoy!" I shrieked, and aimed a pillow at his head.
It hit him square in the face, and suddenly he wasn't so playful anymore. Now he looked quite irritated. "Oh come off it, Granger. You think I did it for fun? A bit of amusement maybe?" he ran a hand through his hair in annoyance. "You were soaked, if I didn't get you out of those clothes, you were going to be ill.
"And let me just add, Miss Granger, that I have plenty of willing partners. I have no need to take advantage of some stupid bint who shows up at my doorstep too bloody drunk to walk a straight line, let alone put up a fight."
"I didn't ask you to help me."
"No, what you asked is that I die a slow painful death, which I have no intention of doing. Now get showered, get dressed, and get the hell out of my Manor."
"How about I just leave now?!" I screamed, and reached around for my wand.
"Don't bother looking for it, I took it away from you last night so you wouldn't try to apparate. You'll get it back when you can be civil."
"Bite me."
He raised an eyebrow at me, then left, slamming the door behind him.
"This is, by far, the worst morning I've ever had."
Well, once again, sorry guys… I skipped school today to work on this, so I hope that's some sort of consolation. Anyway, I've got to leave for work, so I don't have time to put in new suggestions, just want to encourage everyone to read Plastraa's stories… both of them, and… argh… can't think of any other ones off the top of my head…
Later guys.