Older And Non The Wiser
By ILUVRONWEASLEY

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Please do not sue.

A/N: I'd just like to say thanks for the kind reviews and comments that were left on the last chapter! I heard that you aren't allowed to do individual thanks anymore, but I want you all to know that I've read every single one of your reviews. Hooray! They make me so happy! Heehee.
Anyway, to clear some things up, if there are any missing spaces in between words, that isn't my fault. When I edit something online (after it's uploaded on this website), it randomly takes out my spaces sometimes. A bug, perhaps? And I'm sorry if it seems a little unrealistic of Hermione to suddenly agree to something as big as marriage…but for the plot to work, I guess it had to be that way…

Thanks and enjoy!

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Chapter Two.

"Ron, I need you to come and pick up Trixy earlier today."

"Aw, why Hermione? It's nice and relaxing here for once."

"Look, I need you to come and get your daughter, now."

"…Fine, fine. I'll be there in a sec."

Hermione pulled her head out of the fireplace and spluttered uneasily. She really didn't enjoy talking by floo powder – after all, nobody would feel safe if they knew that only their body was safely to the floor while their head was temporarily located elsewhere.

Draco watched, amused. He had to admit, she looked rather comical, coughing and spluttering up ash. It was these sort of things that would make Draco chuckle. He was now standing in Hermione's house, which he had to admit was bigger than he thought it would be. To be honest, he thought she lived in a shack.

Within a matter of seconds, Ronald Weasley shot out of the fireplace. He brushed himself down and beamed at Hermione.

"So, where's Trixy?" asked Ron, looking around. "She's always –

Ron's bulging eyes landed on Draco, who was now leaning against the wall examining his fingernails. After all, nothing else in Hermione's home was that interesting really.

"What in blazing hell is he doing here?" Ron bellowed.

"Ron, calm down," said Hermione, immediately springing in front of Draco as Ron began to move towards him. "He's here to give me a job offer - it's nothing that you need to worry about. And anyway, if you get blood on my carpet, you're going to be the one to clean it up, thank you very much."

"Anything that has to do with him and you, is something I need to worry about, Hermione," Ron replied, scowling at Draco.

"Look, I'm not some fifteen-year-old that needs looking after. I'm as grown up as you are and now I would truly appreciate it if you could just take your daughter, and leave me in peace to talk to Malfoy."

Ron stared at her for a second before he finally nodded silently. He spotted his daughter who ran to give him a welcoming hug. "Okay Trixy, we have to go now. Say bye to Aunt Hermione."

"Bye Aunt Hermione! Bye stranger!" Trixy Weasley exclaimed. She waved before running into the fireplace, grabbing some floo powder and saying the words that would take her home. Ron soon followed, but not after scowling one last time at Draco.

"Don't you dare to even touch her, Malfoy," he threatened, "otherwise you'll have me and Harry on your case."

"I'm shivering." Draco muttered sarcastically, rolling his eyes. He didn't feel the slightest need to be scared of Weasley or Potter. They wouldn't hurt him, not while he was standing in Hermione's immaculate home.

Once the Weasleys had left, Hermione beckoned for Draco to follow her. They left the hallway and went into a much larger room, with a table in the middle, and a giant window to the side.

"Malfoy, I'm giving you ten minutes. I have work in half an hour."

"Oh, don't worry Granger. If you take my 'job offer', you won't even need to go to work. Now, let me guess where you work." Draco pondered this for a moment; trying his hardest not to laugh at the look Hermione was giving him. "That place in the ministry? Hold on, no…I have it! It's a…bookstore! Am I right, or am I right?"

Hermione did not reply, but instead, got up towards the kitchen.

"Tea?" she shouted through gritted teeth.

"No thank you. I thought I only had ten minutes?"

"Oh just get on with it, Malfoy."

"Now, if you do take the job, you will have to pretend to be a pure-blood. If my 'adoring' wife asks why she has never heard of your family, then you say that your father never did like people interfering with your lives. If she asks what you do, I suggest you say something along the lines of 'strictly private information', or some kind of gibberish. Oh and of course you will need to quit the job you have now, just to stop suspicion. Do you understand?"

Hermione nodded and sipped her tea, sitting down on the chair furthest away from Draco.

"Malfoy –

"That's Draco to you."

She rolled her eyes. "Draco, then, how much will I get paid for this?"

"Five hundred galleons."

"Only five hundred galleons?"

"I believe that's quite a lot in muggle terms, Granger, whoops, I mean Hermione. How much do you wish to receive?"

"Well, considering the fact that I may be in danger of getting sexually harassed and also being near such dark people, in itself is a danger, I think I need a lot more money - you know, for life insurance or something like that," Hermione said calmly, placing her tea on the table, taking care not to spill it. "I would think at least one thousand galleons would be reasonable."

"Haha. No. You're not worth that much."

"Seven hundred and fifty then."

"Good Lord, are you trying to rob me woman? You're hardly worth five hundred, let alone seven hundred and fifty. I would say five hundred and one galleon, and that's as far as I go. You can leave the job if you wish to, Hermione, but keep in mind that hardly anyone is willing to offer you such a well paid job offer."

Hermione sighed. One galleon more was better than one galleon less.

"All right. When do I start?"

"Now."

"What?" She gaped at him. He smirked back at her. "I've already said, Draco, I have work! I can't do it now! And anyway, I don't even know the guy! Surely you're going to set us up on some dates before getting me to marry him! Hold on a minute, you are going to get him to propose right? I refuse to marry someone who won't even propose!"

Women. They had such priorities.

"Fine, a date, tonight, I will pick you up at Flourish and Blotts. What time do you finish?"

"How did you know I work at Flourish and Blotts?"

"Seeing as you never could seem to get out of that place, it would only seem logical for you to work there. I bet you get free vouchers on books or something – a privilege you couldn't possibly give up. But you haven't answered me yet, when do you finish work?"

"We lock up at half seven. Happy now?"

Draco smirked. Indeed he was happy; what was there to be sad about when all his troubles seemed to have suddenly faded away?

-

"Damn you, Hermione. Where are you?"

Draco growled to himself as he paced up and down the abandoned street of Diagon Alley. He had told Hermione to be on time (perfectly on time) and he had expected her to live up to his expectations. He continued to pace, not even noticing the door of Flourish and Blotts slowly creaking open.

"Finally!" He exclaimed in frustration. Hermione glared at him. "Where have you been? You were meant to be out here at half past seven, exactly! It's quarter to eight!"

"Well, I'm sorry, Mr Malfoy," she said, rolling her eyes and folding her arms across her chest. "I'm afraid we can't just kick the remaining customers out of the store purely for your convenience."

Hermione had a point, but by now, Draco wasn't listening. Crossing her arms had attracted his attention towards her breasts. He sighed. Young and active ones were the ones he wanted, not old and saggy ones that he usually got. He shuddered at the mere thought of it as Hermione began to make her way towards the magical carriage behind him.

"Haven't you ever heard of a car, Malf – Draco?"

"No, in fact I have not." Draco did not seem to be lying as he clambered into the carriage and took a seat opposite Hermione.

"Right," he began as the carriage began to move of it's own accord. "We are going on a double date, so my step-son, who is called Hugh by the way, will act much more civil than he actually is. Plus, you'll get to meet my darling wife and eat at a posh restaurant, so that will be two new experiences for you."

She scowled bitterly. "What makes you think I've never been to a posh restaurant?"

"Well," Draco began, "You don't seem the type to eat small portions and it is one's knowledge to know that good restaurants always have small portions."

Hermione's eyes bulged. "What? Are you calling me fat?"

He had insulted her, twice, in the same minute. Lucky for Draco, he immediately shut up, sensing that danger was near approaching - danger in the form of Hermione, that was.

"Let's just sit now."

And that was what they did, until they finally stopped in front of a run-down house. Hermione raised an eyebrow but did not say anything. How very typical of Draco to take her to a well-hidden restaurant that was probably run by You-Know-Who. They were just about to walk through the nearly broken door, when he stopped suddenly, making her bump into him. He spun around, looked her up and down, and groaned loudly.

"What?" Hermione asked, her mind beginning to panic. "Have I got something on my face?"

"No…" Draco said, shaking his head. "It's rather what you're wearing."

She looked down at her clothes. She wore black pin stripe trousers with a blouse and a plain black robe that had the Flourish and Blotts symbol embroided on it. She sighed; Draco did have a point.

"Well, it's a bit late now for me to actually go home and find something to wear," she stated matter-of-factly.

"And the fact that I bet all your clothes are muggle won't exactly help either," Draco frowned, taking his wand from his pocket. "Let me think…Hugh likes the feminine look –

Hermione grimaced. It wasn't that she was not feminine; it was just that Draco saying this made her feel so…masculine.

Draco closed his eyes and waved his wand absentmindedly. Immediately, Hermione's plain black robe changed into a stunning scarlet one. Her blouse and trousers changed to a red strap dress that she thought was a little tight on her, but judging by the approving nod from Draco, he obviously thought it was fine.

"Now for the hair."

"What about my hair?" Hermione said indignantly. She did not enjoy having someone play around with her like a Barbie doll.

"It's too bushy and look at those split ends…do you not condition?" She ignored this as he waved his wand once again. Hermione suddenly felt her normally comfortable bushy hair change into something that was much, much, less snug.

"What, exactly, have you done, to my hair?" She stuttered, raising her hands slowly to try and feel what it was like.

"Magic, darling, magic. It's nothing much," Draco smirked, pocketing his wand. "Consider it a favour. It isn't easy to fix hair as badly looked after as yours, Hermione."

She scowled but decided against arguing with him. No, that would merely be time-consuming and boy did she want to get this thing over and done with.

"Just…lead the way," Hermione mumbled through gritted teeth, as Draco continued to smirk. He walked through the doorway and into the run-down building. She followed and as soon as she entered and closed the door behind her, the scenery dramatically changed.

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A/N: Please review and give me your thoughts on the chapter! Next update should be in a week or so!