So here is chapter three. I know I put all this up at once, but I wrote it on paper while on holiday so the first few chapters are just being typed up (like this one). Hope you all like it!
Don't forget to review!
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The next morning Hermione was woken up by an insistent tapping at her window. She lumbered out of bed and allowed a grey owl to fly in and drop the day's paper on her bed before flying out again.
She stood at the window, allowing the cool morning breeze to wake her up. Soon she shivered and shut the window, quickly setting up breakfast she sat and skimmed the Daily Prophet for any news about yesterday's press conference.
When the clattering of cups and toaster stopped she sat down and began to nibble at her muffin while reading one of the many articles about her and Draco.
The Alliance of the Century; True of False?
At a specially organised press conference yesterday afternoon, newly engaged Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger spoke about their relationship.
'Got ripped to shreds for was conspiracies more like it.' Hermione thought bitterly.
The press were told that Mr Malfoy, now sole owner of Malfoy and Inc. and all of his family's assets, proposed with 10 000 Galleon diamond ring. Miss Granger was wearing the ring at the time and assures that it is real.
Although is would appear this couple is madly in love with one another, many question Mr Malfoy's true intentions. He confirmed that he did kill his father and that he was a loyal follower of the Dark Lord.
Questions regarding the death of Professor Albus Dumbledore and the nearly successful attempt to murder Harry Potter were ignored and both Mr Malfoy and Miss Granger refused to comment.
Mr Malfoy says he has "declared his allegiance to Harry Potter" and "Proven himself time and time again."
This supposedly happy couple appeared uncomfortable and both left the conference earlier than expected.
Hermione nearly spat out her coffee. 'Both left early?' She knew they had stayed for half an hour more than planned.
This article made her look like an idiot under the Imperius and Draco a traitor waiting to kill everyone. It was complete rubbish!
But sadly she realised thousands of wizards would be reading this and drawing their own conclusions of how authentic this relationship was. Hermione certainly didn't love Draco, yet, but they were friends and she had not lied when she said he had proven himself to them.
She trusted him not to kill her, but perhaps that was as far as it went. He was one of the most intelligent wizards from Hogwarts and he had no doubt thought about thousands of ways to hex her. The thought made her chuckle, surprising even herself.
A light knocking on her door interrupted her thoughts, Draco opened the door and stepped through his face blank.
"You've read it then?" He said, each word halting the forced.
Hermione waved her wand to prepare him some much needed coffee. "Yes I have." She replied, trying to think of a way to comfort him.
"By lunch time everyone will think I'm a traitor." He slumped down on the couch looking every bit the defeated soul he felt.
"Not everyone." Hermione said softly handing him his coffee. He took it but didn't drink any.
"Most of them will, and what good will this relationship be?" He placed the mug on the coffee table and leaned back, staring outside.
Lost of words, Hermione took his hand. He squeezed hers in response but said nothing.
After a moment, Hermione took a deep breath "It would be good for me." She said.
Draco's whole body seemed to stop functioning for a moment in shock, for a second he thought he hadn't heard, but he had.
"It will?" He had turned to face her and in his eyes was fear; loneliness.
"Yes, it would be very good for me." He leaned towards her then and kissed her like never before. Feeding his depleted soul with her energy and hope.
Once they broke apart she smiled and offered him his coffee cup again.
This time he took it and drank deeply. "You make good coffee."
She laughed.
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Ron owled not long afterwards telling them Harry wanted a meeting with them over lunch.
"Why doesn't the great Potter just tell us himself?" Draco complained bitterly as Hermione sent their reply.
"He's probably at quiddich training." She replied calmly.
Draco scowled "And here I am missing all my own quiddich training."
Hermione sighed 'Guys and their quiddich'. "Just because we're engaged, it doesn't mean you can't go to training."
Draco got up and opened the doors to the balcony. "It wouldn't seem authentic, I'm supposed to be unable to tear myself away from you." He smirked over his shoulder at her.
"But in reality you wouldn't give up quiddich for any girl." She stood beside him, gazing out over the busy London streets.
"Even I can't answer that because I've never been in love so I don't know what I would give up for her." He frowned slightly and Hermione could tell he was being serious and sincere, for once.
"I don't think you would. Guys don't just drop everything in their lives for someone, even if they love them." She turned to face him, leaning her hip on the rail.
"That's because most guys can't afford to. Come to think of it, most guys wouldn't spend nearly a thousand galleons on their fiancé in two hours." He smirked receiving a playful punch from Hermione.
"Don't you like the clothes I picked?" She asked pretending to be hurt.
"Of course I liked them darling," He said taking her hand in exaggerated tenderness. "but I just don't like the price."
They laughed together for a moment, warming the atmosphere considerably.
Hermione sat on one of the chairs and conjured a bottle of wine with two glasses.
"And Granger," Draco continued as she poured the wine. "how is it you became such an expert of this subject? From experience perhaps?"
Hermione froze, staring at him over the rim of her wine glass.
"I believe I've struck a nerve." Draco smirked again picking up the other glass and taking a sip. "Come now Granger, tell me all about it." He sat beside her waiting for her to speak.
"It's… It's just logic. It's not possible to drop everything just for one aspect of your life." She took a sip and placed her glass down, trying to act indifferent. But Draco saw the slight tremble of her hands and saw through all of her disguises.
"This has got to be a first." He drawled leaning closer to her "Why won't you tell me the truth?" It was almost a whisper and it sent shivers down her spine.
"That is the truth." Hermione said looking away.
But Draco was persistent. "You know you can't lie to me."
"I'm not lying."
"You can't fool me Granger."
"Fine!" She snapped and stood abruptly to face him. "He did it! He never spent any time with me! Never gave up anything for me! I was just not important enough!"
Draco put his glass down on the table and stood up, looking calm but inside her was shocked by her outburst. Who was this person she was talking about?
"Are you happy now? You're engaged to a has-been; a nobody." Before she could run away in shame he wrapped his arms firmly around her.
"You're not a has-been Granger, you're definitely somebody; you're my fiancé." He had intended for that to be sweet and romantic, perhaps enough to take her mind off what she had just said, but alas he had done something wrong.
Hermione pulled away, her expression of anger could only be compared to the heat of the sun. "First of all, it's Hermione and great, now I'm just 'the fiancé of super rich Malfoy'."
He had no opportunity to say anything in defence before she stormed inside muttering "Stupid prat."
Draco stood outside finishing his wine before waving his want to sent the unfinished bottle and glasses inside.
He couldn't comprehend his feelings for Granger. Of course he had grown accustomed to doing things to help others, hanging around with the resistance often did that, but his protective instinct was entirely new.
He also felt extremely frustrated with the fact that every time he tried to be nice he ended up being a bastard. Perhaps the paper was right, they were so entirely different it would be hard to believe they got along at all.
The picture in the Daily Prophet had shown them both looking rather uncomfortable as cameras flashed but what the picture did not show was their clasped hands under the table. He certainly hadn't imagined that.
So why couldn't they get along for more than an hour? He had begun to think he had to enquire more about Granger's past in order to understand why she reacted so angrily just then. The problem with that was, she probably wanted him out of her apartment, pronto.
'Damn' he thought to himself 'now what?'
It shocked him a little he cared so much about her that is, not post-war relations. Malfoy's never cared for anyone really, except themselves. But that had changed with his actions during the war.
Hopefully these dramas in the Prophet wouldn't undo all that hard work.
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Hermione paced her bedroom, she realised that her reaction was uncalled for and if any reporter had caught that they would hear no end to it.
She couldn't help it though, he had brought back so many memories best left forgotten.
'If only he wasn't such a nosy prat.' She thought bitterly.
There was a knock on her bedroom door. 'Three guesses as to who that could be.'
"Hermione?" Draco called. She couldn't believe how good her name sounded coming from him. "Can I come in?"
"Most definitely not!" She pounced to the door and pulled it open. "That is off limits." She continued stepping out and shutting the door firmly.
"I just wanted to talk to you actually." He said stepping back into the living area. "I wanted to say-"
"No need." She cut in, knowing an apology was hardly need from him of all people.
"But I really think that-"
"I said there was no need." She snapped. There was an awkward silence.
"I'm sorry Draco," Hermione shook her head "I don't know what's gotten into me."
Draco placed a comforting around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him on the couch.
"If you want to talk about it, I'm willing to listen." He offered softly.
Hermione smiled but shook her head slightly. "No, I don't feel like talking about it. Thanks for the gesture." She snuggled deeper into his arms and they sat enjoying each others company.
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Harry, Cho and Ron were already at the restaurant when Draco and Hermione arrived. On the way, Draco could not ignore the looks most people threw at them and how they seemed to keep their distance, as if fearing he would curse them.
He told Hermione none of this because no doubt, Potter had called this meeting to discuss the press conference.
"Hermione, Draoc, have a seat." Harry indicated to two spare chairs on the circular table. Once the waitress had taken their orders, Harry quit the small talk and became serious.
"I read some of the articles in the Daily Prophet about you." He began while the other two nodded in agreement. "And I believe there is reason for concern."
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Now really Potter, where did you get that idea?"
Hermione rolled her eyes while Ron held back a snappy reply.
"This isn't a joke Malfoy, if people think you'll turn your back on us any time, you can't just break up with Hermione after a month."
"What?" They both snapped, shocked.
Harry placed a finger on his lips "Shh!" Glancing around he continued "Well then there would be no point would there?"
The group sat in silence for a few minutes.
"I saw you two shopping yesterday," Cho said pleasantly "it looked picture perfect."
"Looked picture perfect," Draco said sullenly "but it was horrible for my wallet."
Cho laughed but Ron only scowled "Well it's deep enough isn't it?" Harry shot him a warning glance.
"Jealous are we Weasley?" Draco smirked also earning a glance from Harry.
"Look, we need a better plan. That press conference was a disaster. No one asked anything about the actually engagement apart from how much the ring cost."
Hermione agreed "They were tearing Draco to pieces." Draco said nothing but completely agreed.
"Then we'll have an interview." Harry announced brightly.
Draco and Hermione nearly fell out of their seats. "An interview?" Hermione squeaked.
"A lot of people have been asking for one." Cho explained.
Harry nodded "It would be easy to arrange and you can act more… in love." He said smiling.
"In some sick way," Hermione said eyeing Harry's optimism with suspicion. "I think you're enjoying this."
Draco could see he was but once again chose to be quite, thinking.
"How long would it be?" Hermione asked.
"Depends on the people" Ron explained "but around half an hour; not too long."
"Not too long?" Draco spat. "You try acting in love for half an hour."
Harry laughed with Cho "It's not that bad. I think you two may benefit from it too."
Hermione blushed slightly causing Harry to chuckled. "Well we'll let you know when a time has been arranged."
Draco snorted "We never said we would do it."
Harry looked crestfallen "Come on, Post-War relations. We need to build a new environment where there is unity and-"
"We get the idea. We'll do it." Hermione said, wanting never to hear Harry's speech he made to the government ever again.
"We'll what?" Draco asked looking stunned.
"We'll do the stupid interview." Draco looked about to retort but Harry spoke first.
"Yes, we have a few other couples who are making it public so the limelight may go away for a bit."
"Other couples?" Draco now effectively distracted. "Like who?"
"Oh mostly members of Slytherin matched up with people from other houses." Cho said.
Draco frowned "The blood is going to be mixed so much-"
"If you dare throw one more joke about being pureblood-" Ron pointed an accusatory finger at Draco who merely smirked.
"I'm just joking Weasley, pull the stick out from your arse and relax."
Ron turned three shades redder than usually "Oh very funny."
Hermione knew Ron would appreciate her support, but she couldn't help but smile like at idiot to hide her laughter. Draco must be rubbing off on her.
"Alright calm down." Harry said, trying his best to be diplomatic. "We're all friends here." He gave a meaningful looks at Ron and Draco as the waitress served them their lunch.
After a moment, Harry spoke again. "And you can't keep living in separate apartments; it's not natural."
Hermione knew that one was coming, but Draco seemed to have dropped some of his brain cells in his salad.
"Same apartments? What for?"
"You're engaged." Ron spoke as though Draco was a child. He didn't take it well but before any blood was shed Harry butt in again.
"It's just not convincing Malfoy."
Draco took a sip of wine and sat back, a contemplative expression on his face. "I know what you're up to Potter." He said.
Harry froze, fork halfway to his mouth. "You do?" He replied calmly, sitting up properly.
"Yes, you don't want this to last a month, two months or a year, do you?"
Hermione couldn't believe what Draco was saying, of course Harry wanted it to last as long as possible, it was an example of unity after all.
"What are you talking about, Malfoy?" Harry continued to eat, his voice offhand.
Draco chuckled without humour. "Potter you are positively evil."
Ron snickered "I thought you were."
"Oh but I am." Draco replied coolly. "I'm not going through with it."
Harry shook his head "You can't just up and leave, we had an agreement."
Draco stood up "You left out something important in my job description, I'm out." He took out his wallet and placed the money for his and Hermione's meals on the table before turning on his heel and leaving.
"Draco, what are you doing?" Hermione stood looking to his disappearing form. Harry waved in his direction.
"Go with him, if it looks like he's running away from you, that's bad."
Hermione gave him a withering look but grabbed her bag and left to find him anyway.
"Do you think he'll stay with us?" Cho asked, concerned for their plan.
Harry nodded sounding very confident "Yeah, I know he will."
Ron simply sat staring moodily at his lunch.
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Well this is coming along well. Hope you guys are enjoying the read. Please, please don't forget to review! I really love hearing from my readers! Just a few words will suffice.
Thanks so much for reading!
