HI GUYS. It's been a long time since I've updated. –Insert loud gasp- Sorry, but I've got this huge writers' block that won't let me go much further than what I've thought up, and it's really crappy. I apologise. Yet, I'm grateful for the reviews because that's what spurring me on to write this story. So, here's the latest chapter and because there aren't any stuff to respond to, I just want to thank frostlily, s.halliwell24 and mysticspam whom are always sending me reveiws. Enjoy! (:
Chapter 8: Unforeseen Circumstances
I'm tired of staring at the sun
Can't stand the way you burn my eyes so I can't see
Stealing every breath I breathe
You push me into overdrive
Staring at the Sun, Rooster
Hermione grinned and stuck out her hand for the third time this month. Draco raised his eyebrow amusedly at her and placed the single silver coin in her hand. Hermione nodded, gave her last hug of the day to Ben and closed the door behind her. As the door shut, Hermione gave a loud sigh of relief and pooled to the floor.
Ever since Ben started going to school at 'that seedy school', life had just gotten more hectic. At 9, Hermione had to apparate herself and Ben to the school's door and at 3, had to pick him up. And this went on every weekday. She had to excuse herself and the small child on the pretence that Ben's school was a minute away from her apartment in the morning and pick Ben up while she finished serving biscuits and milk to the children during break time.
Ben would suddenly reappear with new stories to tell. All Hermione could remember was that Ben's stories were nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing that she couldn't teach, that is. He would go on about the teachers and the stuff that he learnt in the school, but nothing that concerned magic and that was all Hermione was worried about.
Three weeks back, Hermione was whisked away by Draco to the school and was greeted by an elderly woman and a young man with so much wax in his hair it was almost as hard as granite itself. "I don't trust him," Hermione had remembered telling Draco. Yet Draco was deaf to her words. He had looked at the schedule and had seen the children and had agreed on the spot. Later, Hermione had almost shrieked right into his ear. "How can you bring yourself to agree to that seedy school? What's more, you found the ad on a LINGERIE shop!" Yet, Draco was unperturbed.
Fine, be that way, Hermione thought determinedly. Don't come back crying to me and telling me that Ben was smoking pot at the age of ten. Just pay me a sickle every Friday night when you pick Ben up. Think of it as the services I provide to get him to school and back. Draco had agreed readily. And three weeks on, Hermione had not heard a bad word uttered from Ben's mouth nor seen Draco angry.
Hermione sat on a seat and pulled herself in so that she was close to the counter top. With her quill and ink, she carried on writing her article of the week.
A few months back, I ran into a friend of mine from school. It was difficult to believe that he was the 'big man' back in those days. Now, he worked an honest job in the Ministry and shockingly, he had a child. So, when he asked me to take care of the child, I agreed readily.
Think of it this way. He may have made life hard in school, but getting the child was good for my income. I know many friends who loved or hated children. I just fall in the category of the former. If you put me in charge of the most boisterous, hyperactive and talkative child in the world you'll probably find me saying, "Gosh, he's adorably cute!" Friends of mine have wondered how me, more famously known as Harry Potter's walking dictionary could handle children. I take it that taking care of children does not come with a manual. It was a challenge that me, the nerd, would just love to take up.
Ginny looked nervously across the table. She could practically see the amusement and horror flitting across her friend's face. The tea on the table she had ordered was cold and untouched. "You've got to be kidding," her friend seated opposite to her finally said hoarsely. "I'm not, Hermione, I'm really not," Ginny said gently. Hermione could not believe it. Her girlfriend was getting married to her best friend? Now? "But you're twenty-one!" Hermione choked out. Ginny flicked the weak protest aside. "Yes, but listen to this Hermione. I liked him when I was a teenager and after the war when we eventually got together, infatuation turned into love. Remember what happened in the year before the war? He told me he couldn't be with me because he was afraid I would get hurt. Was that not a confession?"
"I know you think Harry and I are crazy to be married to each other when we're so young, but Hermione, I really love him. It isn't a silly infatuation anymore," Ginny said softly. Hermione countered with her own opinion swiftly, " The thing is, Ginny, Harry's twenty-two, and hormones still rage at twenty-two! Harry might start some affair with another lady and your marriage would fail!" Ginny stared determinedly at Hermione, "That's a risk I'm willing to take, Hermione. You were the first I've told and I was hoping for your blessings. If you aren't going to say anything positive, I'm leaving." Ginny stood up abruptly and grabbed her bag, but not before Hermione grabbed both of her hands and stood up next to her. "How did he propose?" Hermione grinned.
Ginny sat down and downed part of her cold tea. "You know how I just started work in the Auror department a few months back right?" Ginny started. "Is that why you didn't recognise Malfoy at the restaurant?" Hermione questioned her best friend. Ginny nodded and smiled, "Yeah, I hadn't seen him for years till then. I had started work a few days later. Well, it doesn't matter; he's not that bad in office. Just like the normal self as he was in Hogwarts." Hermione nodded and inclined her head for Ginny to continue.
"Harry proposed to me just a week ago," Ginny said dreamily, "He had given me a stack of papers concerning the latest project we were working on and told me to look through them carefully. I knew something was up when he kept on peering at me over the cell and him asking if I had read the papers. I read them just before we left and in one of the papers wrote two words 'Be Mine?' in his scrawl. Harry smiled sheepishly as he walked past my table on his way out. By then, I knew the answer."
Hermione ordered a cup of coffee and smiled widely at Ginny. "You've got him heaven sent Ginny. Treasure him." And then, Ginny proposed something that Hermione would never forget.
Hermione reached her home in a daze in the early evening. Me? Are you talking about me? Since he's not here, I have to take his place? What about your dear brother, Ginny? You won't wait for him to start the wedding? Why Ginny? Why Harry? Why me? Hermione sunk to the floor and fell into a dead faint.
The next day, the bell rang piercingly and made her migraine worse. Grumpy, she forced herself to get out of bed and open the door. "Surprise," came the voice, cool and calm. Not what she expected. "What are you doing here?" Hermione said hoarsely, a thick blue duvet wrapped around her body like a thick cocoon. Draco straightened himself and gave a grin, "Where am I going to put Ben? In the house and let Pippin take care of him? You have got to be kidding, Granger." Ben came from behind his uncle's legs and wrapped his arms around Hermione's knees. "Herb!" Came his happy voice; too happy for a sick person.
"But I'm sick, Malfoy. I sent out the message to everybody not to come for the next two days. I can't risk getting Ben sick. I can't even send him to school, Malfoy. I'm sorry," Hermione said between coughs. "Fine, Granger. Anyway, Ben's not going to school for the time you're sick. I can't take time out to get him and I've got nowhere to put him, so he's staying here. You on the other hand, have to get into bed," Draco replied shortly. With a brisk flick of his wand, Hermione was levitated a feet from the ground and transported to her room. "Malfoy let go! Let go of me!" Hermione struggled but to no avail. Hermione landed on her bed with a soft thud.
"Nice décor," Draco quipped as he surveyed the room with faint amusement. Hermione's room was painted beige and had simple furnishings. A small table cluttered with papers and small trinkets, a chair, a beanbag and her queen-sized bed. The window's blinds had been pulled down, hardly letting any light come into the room. "You should be getting some rest and keep the window open even if the blinds are down. This place is stuffy," Draco commented lightly. "But not when you're here," Hermione retorted and got out of her bed, only to be pushed back slightly by Draco. Hermione landed on her behind on her bed again.
"Just let Ben wander around the house for a few hours okay? I'll charm the kitchen so he can't get in, and I'll pop bye during lunch to fix something for him," Draco stared at the tousled haired Hermione as he spoke. "Stay in bed, Granger. And get well. I don't want to be doing this for a week." Hermione glared back mutinously but obediently got back under the covers.
"By the way, what happened? How did you fall sick so suddenly?" Draco asked curiously. "Unforeseen circumstances," Hermione muttered angrily. "Like?" Draco probed further; this was getting interesting. "Like suddenly coming up with this stupid thing about whatever this and whatever that... And just because Ron wasn't—" Hermione started ranting, then stopped short. There was no need for Malfoy to know what had happened. "Weasel wasn't?" Draco hinted heavily. "Nothing," Hermione snapped. "You're going through violent mood swings, Granger," Draco stated simply as straightened up and picked a speck of dust off his robes, "See you around."
Draco closed the door gently behind him and watched Ben play with his train once again. "Ben, you have to stay out of the kitchen alright? Do you want hot chocolate?" Draco said gently as he bent down to pat Ben's head. Ben gave a wide toothy smile in return. "I'll take that as a yes." Draco took a colourful plastic cup and poured the warm liquid into the cup from the tip of his wand. "Don't hurt yourself, Ben," Draco warned the little boy. Ben nodded his head as he sipped his hot chocolate. "I'll behave, Uncle Draco. Until Herb gets well," was his response.
Hermione woke up a few hours after Draco left for work. She opened the door and found Ben lying on the floor with a book on his lap. Hermione gave a wan smile and walked to the kitchen and removed the charm. She poured herself a cup of water (coffee would practically kill her), and sat on the counter top. She felt a paper below her hand and Hermione took it curiously. On it wrote a simple message in a neat writing. Granger, you were sleeping when I came and left. Ben's been fed, your porridge is inside the big cold machine. Heat up and eat. You might want to put some treacle in. I'll pick up Ben at the normal time. Draco. Hermione crumpled up the paper and tossed it into the wastepaper basket. She went to the fridge and pulled the door open. On one of the racks sat a bowl filled with sticky porridge.
She heated it up with the tip of her wand and later poured in some treacle. She ate the porridge lazily and watched over Ben. "What's wrong, Herb?" Ben asked innocently as he lugged the large book to the counter and sat facing Hermione. "My best friend's getting married, and I have to take care of the ring, honey," Hermione replied tiredly. "Can I go too? Can I? Can I, Herb?" Ben's eyes shone and his book lay forgotten. "We'll see, Ben. She hasn't sent the letter yet, but you never know. Maybe you'll get to come along," Hermione smiled and pushed the half eaten bowl of porridge aside. "Can I throw the flowers, Herb? The other time, Mum let me throw flowers at a wedding," Ben asked excitedly.
Hermione tilted her head and studied the excited boy in front of her. He was going to become a heartbreaker when he grew up. Just like him.
"So you're never going to speak to me even after I cooked your lunch?" Draco asked Hermione as he picked Ben up at eight that night. "It wasn't that great anyway," Hermione shrugged in a non-committal way, "just plain, normal porridge. I thought a Malfoy would have come up with a culinary wonder." Hermione watched as Draco tried to keep his cool. His eyes flashed agitatedly and Hermione knew it wasn't a good idea to poke fun at him anymore. Who knows what a mad Malfoy might do to a muggle born.
"You won't tell me why you fell sick?" Draco demanded just as Hermione was about to close the door. "Maybe tomorrow," Hermione said sweetly. "I have the right to know, Granger! Because Ben's in your charge," Draco snarled. "Look who's going through violent mood swings now," Hermione mocked the rankled man, before she slammed the door in his face.
"Ginny!" Hermione cried out in exasperation, "I thought you said dinner!" Ginny looked amusedly at Hermione. "Yes, well dinner comes after this," Ginny grinned and dragged Hermione through the double doors into the cool room. "Look, Hermione," Ginny faced Hermione and held her arms tightly, "You cannot spend the rest of your life waiting for a man who might not come back." Hermione protested weakly, "Yes, but it's only been a year or two…"
Ginny shook Hermione slightly violently, "Hermione Granger! Ron left you a year after graduation. I know he said that he would come back, but look at you! You're a mess! You've been waiting for a man whom we haven't heard from for four years. Not just one or two years, but four years! Hermione, you have got to move on." Hermione eventually gave in a sat on a fluffed up silk cushion.
"Hermione, this isn't just any matchmaking session. It's done in a Japanese style. You sit at a table, and the men move, you don't have to move. Plus you get free flow of sake and sushi," Ginny winked and sat down on the table next to Hermione's. Hermione slapped her forehead and groaned. This was not the first time Ginny had tricked her into going for these sessions, and it certainly was not the last.
The lights dimmed soon and a young wizard stood in the centre of the circle of tables. " Ladies and gentlemen, please take a seat at any of the tables. Sake and sushi will be served shortly. Instructions are as follows: You are given 3 minutes to understand your partner and after the two hours, ladies please choose the men you prefer and vice versa. A bell will go off after 3 minutes. If you do not wish to complete the 3 minutes, please ring your own bell and the man will be removed. You are to compile the numbers of prospective dates on the parchment provided. Please ask for their numbers. And your time starts now."
Hermione glared at Ginny who was seated on her left. Ginny. Ginny who was already engaged was still flirting with men. And herself. She who had waited and was never answered. " Ginny, you know what to do if 'you know what' happens right?" Hermione hissed urgently as the lights grew distinctly fainter. How she was supposed to see her partner's face, she never knew. "Yes, I know. Parchment that reads 'Grandmother sick come now' and Instant Owl on stand-by," Ginny replied, rolling her eyes. "Good, because I didn't want to come here," Hermione snapped back before she heard some shuffling and a bodiless voice floated to her ears. "Hello," It said silkily.
Hermione mentally slapped herself. She was supposed to talk to a man whose face was not shown? "Hi," Hermione replied sweetly, knowing she was going to hate whomever it was on the other side.
Somewhere, on the other side of the room, Draco was rolling his eyes like never before. Here he was, dragged into a stuffy room by the one and only Blaise Zabini. Matchmaking for the Draco Malfoy? You have got to be kidding. But then again, Blaise Zabini was gay, and gay people never thought straight. Was Blaise expecting a man to be on the other side of the dark table to be a man whom he could elope with? He never knew, and never wished to find out.
The girl talking to him in the dark had a saccharine sweet voice, and big eyes, big mouth, ugly hair, and most definitely a muggle born. Or rather, that was how Draco imagined her to look like. "Look, it's not working out for me and I know it's not working out for you, so let's just call it quits okay?" Draco asked the dark. He heard a muffled sob and a bell ring to his relief. He was lifted bodily from the cushion and was told to stand by a burly wizard. "Sure," Draco said, and thanked the man mentally. He would not be able to live listening to that voice for even a second longer.
A louder bell rang shortly after Draco stood up, signalling Draco to sit again on the next cushion. Blaise on Draco's right was amusing himself by asking the girl tons of questions and creating a fake identity for himself that went along the lines of "I'm a man who enjoys tea and biscuits." and "I hate purple! It's terribly ugly and so gay." Draco rolled his eyes again in the dark.
A few more bell rings and Draco felt he was going to throw up. The sushi did not mix well with the shot of vodka he had taken before the session had started. The 'matches' were pathetic, he felt sick, and for the first time in a long time, Draco wanted to go home.
Draco sat on the next satin seat and a bored voice greeted him, "Hello." Slightly surprised by the boredom in her voice he replied smoothly yet equally bored, "Hi there."
"I'm surprised that you're bored. I thought this was supposed to be a 'fun' session," the female replied sarcastically. "You're telling me," Draco shot back almost immediately, " the 'ladies' I've met were either muggle born, boring, stupid, ditzy or all the aforementioned."
"You must be a pureblood then."
"Of course."
"Well, tell me pureblood, what brought you to this session?"
"A friend of mine dragged me here and he wasn't even straight!" Draco slapped his forehead exasperatedly. The lady gave a loud laugh. "Now that's funny. I got dragged here by a friend who's already engaged." Already, the lady was sounding much more cheerful. "This isn't your first time, is it?" Draco enquired. There was a short pause before the lady giggled slightly giddily. "Nope, but this is the first time I've found an amusing person to talk to."
"You find me amusing?"
"Very much indeed, sir. Every time my friend drags me to one of these occasions, I find men desperate to bed a woman, and for me, let's just see that the policy holds at no touching on the first date."
This time, Draco laughed and was just about to continue when the bell rang. "What's your number?" the lady asked. "24, why?" Draco asked. "Nothing, I just might see you later. I'm 6 by the way." Draco nodded in the dark and wrote a smooth '6' on a small piece of parchment in his hand. It would come in handy later. And then, the vodka and the sushi started gurgling up Draco's throat just as Draco stood up. Moments later, liquid and half solids spewed out of Draco's mouth onto the table of lady number 6. "Are you alright?" the lady asked, concern in her voice.
"I'm fine," Draco quickly answered and wiped the vomit from his mouth. But, before he could say anymore, another round of sushi and vodka was regurgitated from Draco's mouth. Draco keeled over and the foul smelling liquid pervaded his nose. His throat felt raw and on fire, and his eyes were tearing.
Draco felt hands rubbing his back gently and a soothing voice in the dark, "Turn over slowly place your head on my lap." Draco did as he was told and he felt a cool, moist cloth placed on his forehead. "Drink," the voice ordered. A glass of water had appeared and Draco opened his mouth, welcoming the sweet taste of the liquid. As he drank, the lights were turned on and Draco was blinded for a moment.
When he opened his eyes, he was staring into a pair of large brown eyes and the lady's hair pooled around Draco as she looked over him. "Malfoy?" the lady asked. And then, Draco remembered the owner of the voice. "Granger," Draco croaked before some more vomit came out from his cursed mouth.
"Where is Ben?" Hermione demanded as she whipped out her wand to get the vomit stain off her black pants. "With the chefs in the kitchen. The hotel let me put him there, honestly Granger," Draco replied truthfully as he tried to catch up with the angry Hermione. Hermione turned around suddenly and Draco almost caught a mouthful of her hair. "You! Draco Malfoy can't hold his alcohol; Draco Malfoy can't take care of his nephew, fine. But Draco Malfoy looking for a date?" Hermione mocked Draco.
"I said that my gay friend, whom is Blaise by the way, dragged me here and he is still there poking fun at the girls. He's a lady killer okay," Draco snapped back. "And what about you? You looking for a man? I thought even mudbloods could hold their men," Draco snarled. And then, the slap came. Loud and echoing in the lobby, from the room to the kitchens. "You have no right to preach me about men, Draco Malfoy," Hermione said tearfully.
Draco felt the slap sting. Her handprint was etched in his smooth pale skin and he could almost feel every fingerprint from her hand. It hurt. "Sorry Granger," Draco said to her back, " Sorry. But I just wasn't expecting to see you here."
"The feelings are mutual, Malfoy. I'll see you on Monday," Hermione called out before she walked down the busy streets. "Hold on, hold on," Draco said quickly and ran up to grab Hermione's flying hand. "You haven't told me about what made you sick, and you promised to tell since Tuesday, and that was three days ago. It's Saturday night now, and you haven't said anything. What about a coffee? I don't think Ben will mind making pastries for another hour or so," Draco said hopefully, hoping that Hermione wouldn't slap him again.
Hermione slackened under his grip and turned to face Draco. "I know a good place for a cuppa," Hermione smiled albeit slightly tearfully. Draco heaved a sigh of relief. And followed Hermione down a few blocks before he eventually decided to break the ice. "So…" Draco started as he stuffed his hands into his jeans, " Find any man interesting in there?" he carried on lamely.
"Actually, yes," Hermione declared, swinging her purse around her, "there was this man that I actually started taking an interest on. He was going on about how boring the whole thing was and yes! It was terribly boring. I never knew any man would feel the same thing as I did just now, and then—"
"You are mocking me again aren't you," Draco interrupted. Hermione grinned at him, "Why, you just named my favourite past time!" Draco rolled his eyes and jabbed his wand at a spot of vomit on the white shirt, which he had missed earlier. "So, where is that coffee place you were talking about?" Draco asked, unaware that Hermione had stopped walking and was staring wistfully at the shop in front of her.
"Chocolates?" Draco asked cynically as he looked into the window of the shop. "What is up with women and chocolate anyway?" Draco commented randomly. "Nothing," Hermione replied, still staring longingly at the trays of sins in front of her. "So close yet so far," Hermione said as she plastered her hands on the glass, "just this transparent wall…" Then she felt her right arm pulled gently and through the door.
The bell jingled merrily as Draco and Hermione entered silently. "I don't understand why women crave chocolate but so be it, buy and be happy, woman," Draco rolled his eyes and stated grumpily. Hermione was as happy as a child as she walked around the shop, ooh-ing and ahh-ing at every little chocolate creation on the shelves. If it wasn't the milk chocolate roses then it was the liquor centred chocolate pieces. It was heaven.
Draco grudgingly pulled out the money for the chocolates. He too had become fascinated by the intricate designs on each and every chocolate. As he popped one into his mouth, he could taste the fine liquid coursing down his throat, soothing the burns from the acidic vomit and the deliciously exquisite taste of the orange zest in the crème.
He looked to his side and found Hermione in a daze of bliss. Her eyes closed and her lips slightly parted and her body very, very relaxed. It looked as if somebody had just injected her with anaesthetic. Draco gently nudged her out of the shop and they both sat down on a bench nearby. The lamppost gave off the dull light, just bright enough for them to see the other's face.
"So, no coffee but chocolates. Care to explain?" Draco prompted. Hermione still slightly caught in her daze shook herself awake and inhaled the cool night air and popped another chocolate piece in her mouth before she started. "I was sick because it was raining the day before when I sent Ben to school and we got caught in the rain. Being the righteous person I am, I shoved the umbrella over his head and continued walking in the rain, therefore, I fell sick," Hermione said triumphantly in one breath.
Draco shrugged and leaned on the bench, his hands on the back of his head. "Whatever you say, Granger. Just trying to get the facts straight. After all, it's best hearing it from the horse's mouth. Ben said—" Hermione sat ramrod straight when Draco said the two words. "Ben said what?" Hermione asked Draco. Draco shrugged his shoulders again and massaged his neck. "Not much, just about a ring and flowers, and some other stuff," Draco replied lazily. "Stuff, like…" Hermione prompted Draco to carry on speaking. Yet, Draco stifled a yawn and popped another chocolate in his mouth. "This and that, yeah, rings and Weasel," Draco drawled.
"He told you?" Hermione looked scandalised. Draco nodded lightly and continued chewing. "He told you about Ron leaving? He told you about Ron not saying anything? Ben even told you about Ginny and Harry getting married? What did he not tell you?" Hermione massaged her temples furiously and stared at Draco. "Ben didn't say anything, but now you've talked about Weasel and marriages, lets carry on shall we?" Draco grinned and leaned in closer to the dumbfounded Hermione.
"He didn't tell you anything?" Hermione almost yelled, "You tricked me you foul ferret!" Draco held up his hands in mock surrender and laughed, "No I didn't, it came from you!" And Hermione half sitting and half standing was dumbstruck.
Yay! I promised a long chapter, and here it is (: sorry I haven't been updating but yeah, I just came back from New Zealand and oh my gosh it is so fun there! I want to go back! Read and review okay! Thanks :D