A/N: justamuggle: I did look at the dialogue-y parts, and you're right! So for your benefit, and for the benefit of others, the dialogues here are separated! Thanks for telling me, keep reviewing, I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Oh yeah, I know I said I wouldn't be able to update until January 20, but I snuck on the computer and updated when my parents weren't here. So…yeah, hope you enjoy the story, and thanks to people who review!
989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898
Hermione emerged from the beauty salon along with Ginny, feeling like she was in a daze. She had looked in the mirror of the salon, and….it was definitely not her. It really couldn't be. The girl in the mirror had looked...beautiful. She practically killed Ginny in a bear hug. She had stumbled out of the beauty salon, and started walking to the general direction of her apartment building, when Ginny caught her arm. "Whoa, whoa! Where do you think you're going, young lady?" Hermione looked at Ginny stupidly. "Home?"
"No. We have to pick out outfits to go with your new look!"
"No we don't."
"Uhh…yeah we do. Come on."
"No! I want to go home! We spent hours in there! I need sleep!"
But Ginny shook her head firmly. "We are going to find you kickass outfits, and there is nothing you can to about it."
"But that could take hours!"
"And that is exactly why we are going to start now! Come on!"
Hermione groaned as Ginny half walked half dragged her to the direction opposite of her nice, warm bed. "This better be worth it."
"Oh, it is."
989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898
Hermione entered her apartment; Ginny had gone back home. Hermione met with Mrs.Bradburry, thanked her, put Hailey to bed, and collapsed on her couch, not bothering to change. The day had been rather too…eventful for our dear little Hermione.
989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898
Hermione sat in front of her mirror, applying makeup to go with her new outfit, (which, by the way, insulted her modesty) before she went to work. Ginny said she would drop by The Three Broomsticks today, and if she wasn't wearing makeup like Ginny had ordered her to, Ginny would kill her. Really. There. Makeup was done. She called Mrs.Bradburry to baby-sit Hailey, but she wasn't in. She called the daycare center, and it appeared they had too much on their hands. Hermione let out a frustrated groan. Who the hell was supposed to baby-sit Hailey? She panicked. She should have asked Mrs.Bradburry to baby-sit Hailey beforehand! She should have made an appointment with the daycare center! She shouldn't have been so irresponsible! She was a terrible mother! How could she forget about Hailey? How could she-GINNY! Ginny could look after Hailey! Hermione laughed at herself. She had been in such panic she had forgotten all about Ginny! She got her telephone and punched in Ginny's number furiously. "Hello, Hermione?"
"GINNY! Can you baby-sit Hailey today, it's an emergency!"
"Hermione! I'm really sorry, but I can't! I need to work-"
"You mean I'll have to skip work today?"
"No! Why don't you bring her to work with you?"
"That is the stupidest idea you've come up with! Bringing a two month year old baby to a bar? That's crazy! I need to skip work! What choice do I have?"
You do have a choice, Hermione! Bring Hailey to work with you!"
"Ginny, I won't be able to attend to Hailey AND my impatient customers at the same time!"
"Oh come on, Hermione! Hailey isn't like that! She hardly cries! It would be a piece of cake! And besides, Hailey would find it entertaining! You don't know about any other day care center around do you?"
Hermione sighed resignedly. "No."
"You have to bring Hailey with you."
"There isn't another option, is there Ginny?"
"Afraid not."
Hermione felt like crying. "Are you sure-"
"Hermione, it won't be THAT bad. Just try it. Look, I'll see you in lunch break. I need to go. Bye."
"Wait Ginny-" The other line went dead. Hermione groaned. This was not happening…she couldn't possibly take her baby to work, most of all a bar! But what choice did she have? She couldn't leave Hailey alone! But she couldn't skip work either, Hermione Granger never skipped work! Hermione sighed and began to prepare Hailey.
I'm going to regret this… She thought.
989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898
Hermione put Hailey in a chair behind the bar, where no other person could reach her, and sat down. This was a bad idea. Hermione had some wine; maybe it would calm her nerves. Wrong. Wine did nothing. The regular morning crowd came in, all familiar faces. Hermione gave Hailey her bottle of milk, and attended to her customers, who were currently, surprisingly, "aww"ing at Hailey. Great. Drunk men had at thing for babies. Just dandy.
"Regular beers for you guys?" They nodded and got back to going "awww".
"Excuse me Miss? Is that your baby?" Hermione looked at the speaker, a fat guy with a hat.
"Yes," She said somewhat proudly, "Yes she is."
"Oh, she's rather adorable."
"Uhh…thank you, sir."
"What's her name?" Hermione looked at the man suspiciously for a second, but replied.
"Hailey."
"How old is she?"
"Err…with all due respect, sir-"
The guy laughed. "It's quite alright. It's actually good to be suspicious. There are some bad people in this place." Hermione smiled at the man. The man seemed to take it as a cue to introduce himself.
"I'm Mo, by the way. Mo Lawns." Hermione barely controlled the urge to laugh. Mo Lawns, eh?
"Hermione," she said sticking out her hand, "Hermione Granger."
Well, not all of them are bad, after all, she thought.
989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989989899898989898989898
It was lunch break, and Draco was about to set off to The Three Broomsticks, when Blaise joined in. "I'm coming with you."
"Okay…"
They Apparated to The Three Broomsticks and went inside. Draco didn't spot Hermione behind the bar. In he place was this- Oh God, was that Hermione! She was gorgeous! What the fuck- wait! Was that a baby! Draco rushed to the bar with Blaise trailing quickly behind. Blaise whispered.
"Hermione seems to have had a makeover recently. Ooohhh lookie, Draco! A baby! Is this the Hailey you've been rambling about that has special powers?"
"I did not say that!"
"Well, if you didn't say that, you implied it!"
At that moment, Hermione took notice of them. "Oh. Look who's here. Wait, I'll go get your beers." She rushed to get their beers, and when she slid them to them, she attended to the crying Hailey.
Draco looked at Hailey. She was adorable. He didn't understand. A month ago, he would have thought of Hailey as a fat and noisy ball of blubber, but now, he thought she was cute. He was turning soft, he was sure of it. Just then, a man signaled to Hermione, but she was attending to Hailey, who was drinking her milk. She looked from the man to Hailey and back again, and looked around helplessly. Draco cleared his throat, and Hermione turned around to face him.
"I can take care of her while you attend to that customer." She looked at him in shock, but recovered and her eyes narrowed. Blaise just arched an eyebrow at Draco.
"I would never trust Hailey with you, Malfoy."
"HEY! LADY! I'm going to complain about shitty service!" Hermione looked like she wanted to scream. "Fine. Here. Hailey, sweetie, this man won't hurt you okay? Be a good girl." But Hailey didn't need Hermione's advice, for she was already reaching out for Draco. "You better no try to pull anything-"
"I won't Granger, now go before that guy complains to the manager." Hermione nodded, and Draco and Blaise were left to look after Hailey, in Draco's arms. She was currently playing with Draco's tie, and began biting it while Blaise played with Hailey, doing the peek-a-boo. The customer seemed to take ages to attend to, and when Hermione was done with him, another man needed something else.
"Well, this wasn't what I expected to do during my lunch break."
"Me either. But she's awfully cute isn't she? I told you she was cute."
"Yeah." They sat in silence drinking their beers until Hermione was done and she made her way back to them, and took Hailey, Draco letting go of Hailey reluctantly. Once Hermione put Hailey back in her chair, she seemed to brighten up, and said "Ginny!". Both Blaise and Draco turned around, Blaise giving Ginny a second glance. Ginny greeted Hermione and sat down, and she finally realized who she as sitting next to. "Zabini? Malfoy? I didn't expect you to be here! Oh, I told you you'd be alright with Hailey, Hermione!"
Blaise was staring at Ginny, and when she noticed, she blushed, and they started flirting, leaving Hermione to talk with Draco. "So," he started. "Are you going to tell me who the father is yet?" Hermione scowled.
"No. Anyway, thanks for taking care of Hailey. She likes you, I can tell."
"Yeah."
There was an awkward silence.
"She's really cute you know. I haven't seen a baby who looks as happy as she does. You must take good care of her."
"I try my best. Ginny and Blaise are getting along, aren't they?"
Draco looked at the two of them, flirting like no one was around. He arched an eyebrow at Blaise, who was too busy laughing at Ginny's lame joke to notice. Draco looked back at Hermione, who was watching the flirters with a mixture of sadness, jealousy loneliness in her eyes. Draco suddenly felt sorry for Hermione. She must have felt really lonely when her husband left her. But the forbidden emotions in her eyes vanished when she realized Draco was staring at her. "Beer, Malfoy?"
"Yeah."
He drank his beer in silence as Hermione tended to Hailey, and when they were both done, they stood in front of each other; silence once again ensued, Hermione spacing out at irregular intervals. After minutes of this, Draco got the courage to ask something very, very unexpected.
"Err…Hermione?"
"Huh-what? Beer?"
Draco chuckled, and Hermione turned beet red.
"What?"
Draco cleared his throat, and realized Ginny and Blaise were watching him intently. "Well…er…doyouwantogooutonadatewithme?"
Ginny and Blaise grinned, and along with Draco, watched Hermione react. She looked shocked; too shocked to speak. Her expression then turned to confusion, and then to a smile. And Draco finally exhaled.
"Malfoy, are you actually-"
"Yes."
"Well….I'm flattered….uhhhhh….."
Blaise, Ginny, and Draco leaned forward, eagerly anticipating her answer.
"Okay then."
989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898989898
A/N: Yeah…I hope you enjoyed this chapter! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! WEEEEE! I'm hyper. I like chicken, pie, muffins, cheese, and cookies. That's all I have to say, really.
