Okay, I hope I'm pushing these chapters out fast enough haha. Once again, don't forget to review, they really help me to keep writing.
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"Draco! Draco, wait!" Hermione dodged through the crowd trying to catch up with the fast paced blonde.
When she finally caught up with him she grabbed his arm and pulled him into a bookstore. He gave her an evil look, as he was about to walk away she stood in front of him and glared.
"What is your problem?"
He seemed surprised and a little frustrated with her, but when he spoke his voice was cool and calm. "How could you miss it Granger?"
"It's Hermione to you." She retorted poking him in the sternum.
"No Granger," he snapped, blue flames dancing in his eyes "I'm not doing this anymore." He was about to step around her but she blocked him again.
"Tell me, exactly what is wrong with you?"
Draco paused, staring intently at her. "In my apartment." He muttered sweeping out of the shop.
Hermione rolled her eyes and followed him along the street to their apartment block.
As they were outside his door she realised she had never been inside his apartment. She couldn't help but peer around in curiosity.
It was black and white. His couches were black leather and a glass top coffee table with black metal legs. The dining table was similar with black chairs and white cushions.
"Sit Granger and I will explain this in the simplest terms I know." Hermione sat on one of the new couches looking out the balcony door. Draco stepped in front of her view and saw opposite her, his face blank.
"So?" She raised an eyebrow and leaned back.
"Potter is trying to set us up. This engagement is to force us to actually marry." Draco spoke slowly, gazing at her as a pre-school teacher would to a particularly slow child.
"That's absolute crap." Hermione spat, shaking her head.
"Do you think Potter would ever allow us to separate? He will always say we need to e together longer and so on. Eventually saying we need to get married."
Hermione felt the need to disagree but she realised that it was true. They had walked into a trap completely unawares.
Draco saw comprehension dawn on her face and smirked. "Does it all make sense now?"
As much as she hated to admit it, he was right "Yes." She sighed "It does."
They sat in silence for a moment, the air of discomfort re-entering the space between them.
"When why are you quitting?" She asked quietly. She knew that over the last week, she had come to know Draco a lot more and now actually enjoyed his company. After the press conference she felt they had formed a kind of bond. But now she doubted his feeling about her.
"Doesn't it bother you?" He asked, sounding astounded.
Hermione thought that perhaps the thought of marrying Draco should bother her, but for some reason it didn't. "No, actually it doesn't. Does the thought of marrying a mudblood disturb you?" She added bitterly.
Draco looked up sharply. "Quite the contrary, Hermione." He whispered, coming to sit beside her. "It's not that at all."
Hermione wore a confused expression, so he took her hand and said quietly "It's just that I hate to be deceived, and I guess I was frustrated with Potter for tricking me. It was a spontaneous decision and I was angry at the time. And, I have my pride." He added smirking.
Hermione smiled "So you would take this seriously?" She asked tentively.
"Yes, I would." His reply was confident, warming Hermione's insides better that any butterbeer ever had.
"You have changed so much." She teased.
Draco laughed "I have haven't I? I don't know if all my changes are good though."
Hermione hugged him tightly, taking him by surprise. "Most are for the better." She whispered.
Draco hugged her back, feeling whole for the first time in so long. Who ever knew one week could change his life so much?
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After much coaxing and bribing on Draco's behalf, Draco agreed to move into Hermione's apartment. Draco had offered her cars and shopping sprees but she simply refused to live in his dull excuse for a home.
"Fine! I will move to yours!" He snapped throwing his arms up in defeat.
Hermione beamed "I knew you would see it my way." Draco chose not to reply but rolled his eyes.
Laughing, Hermione grabbed a piece of parchment to write to Harry.
Dear Harry,
You sneaky prat! Draco explained everything and I can't believe you would set up your best friend to marry our enemy! You've betrayed my trust.
But fortunately for you, Draco and I are getting along and so we have both agreed to stay on board. We're staying in my apartment – because you told us to, nothing else.
Owl me the interview time and keep in mind I won't take deception of this kind again.
Hermione.
Draco chuckled as he read the letter over her shoulder. She folded the parchment quickly turning to frown at him. "My letters are private, thank you very much."
Draco smirked but said nothing as he prepared to transfer his belongings to her apartment.
Hermione opened the black cage where Draco's owl stood obediently and tied the letter to its leg. When she tried to get it to fly out the window, it simply returned to its cage hooting indignantly.
Hermione glanced around but Draco had disappeared so she went to the cage again. When she reached inside a large beak descended with lightning speed onto her index finger.
She shrieked and yanked her finger away but the large bird held on fast. When she pulled harder her finger was free but the bird was smacked against the edge of the cage opening which caused it to let go, squawking and flapping its wings.
The cage wobbled on its stand but every time Hermione tried to approach the cage the bird snapped its beak, squawked and beat its wings against the edge of the cage.
"WILL YOU STOP IT?" She cried trying to stop the cage from toppling.
Too late. As it fell she reached for it receiving another bite on her hand. She shrieked again as the cage crashed to the floor, the owl hooted loudly.
Just then Draco apparated into the room. He stood drinking in the scene, his face blank as he looked to his obviously agitated owl and then to his fiancé who was sucking her finger and glaring at the bird.
Swiftly he tucked his want away stepped to the cage and picked it up. He deftly pulled the owl out and it flew out the window, not without dropping the remains of Hermione's letter on the floor.
Then he came and took Hermione's hand. "What did you do to my owl? I could hear the racket from your apartment." He asked wearing an amazed expression.
Hermione snatched her hand back "What did I do? It's your stupid bird that attacked me."
Draco seemed very amused buy the whole situation which only added kindling to Hermione's angry fire. "Just what is so funny?"
"Hermione, calm down. Gabrielle is a little touchy, but she'll be fine." He reassured.
"What about me? Does your bird matter more than me?" She snapped angrily. Draco took her hand quickly, mentally banging his head against the wall for his slip up, and with a swift wave of his wand healed her hand.
"Of course not my dear, your health means much more to me than Gabrielle's. He placed a kiss lightly one her fingers.
"Hermione looked to her letter. "I can't believe how much your owl resembles you." She commented lightly.
Draco chuckled. "I thought you liked me."
"Oh yes I do." She said, offhand.
"But if Gabrielle and me are similar" Draco drawled, wrapping his arms around her "why do you not like her?"
Hermione shrugged "It may have something to do with the fact that she bit me, twice."
"She doesn't mean that, I'll talk to her when she gets back." Draco said kissing her gently on the cheek.
Hermione laughed "You'll give your owl a lecture?" Her head fit perfectly into the curve of his neck and she felt comfortable just standing there will him.
"Yes haven't you tried? Owls are intelligent, they'll listen." This only made Hermione snort.
"I don't need to because my owl listens to me."
Draco stiffened a little "Do you still have that blasted cat?"
Hermione looked up "Why?"
"I don't like cats." He said, looking down his nose at her.
"Well no, Crookshanks lives with my parents."
Draco sighed in exaggerated relief. "I hope they're okay." He teased. Hermione smacked his arm playfully.
"He's a sweet cat, not as mean as everyone says."
Draco snorted but otherwise said nothing.
Hermione decided to re-write her letter but use her own owl.
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This chapter is quite a bit shorter than the previous three, but the next one will be longer. It's mostly to establish some things for plot development. I hope you had fun reading about Hermione and the owl incident, it was a random thought but I had a good time writing it.
REVIEW PLEASE! Thanks a lot for reading!
