Summary: Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger lives together in the Malfoy Manor. They have a perfect relationship, or so Draco thought. Hermione suddenly leaves him. Could he convince her to come back?
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, only some of the characters
Chapter 2 – To start anew
Hermione sat down on the couch exhaustedly, almost groaning with pleasure as she hit the soft seat.
"Whoa. A whole day of shopping can really wear me out." She looked at her best friend, who like her, was lounging on the soft fluffy couch.
"You can say that again!" Ginny Potter looked at her in return, stretching her arms in the air, "However, it was really fun doing shopping with you again Mione." The redhead smiled at her.
"You're right. I'm so glad to have female company again." Bowing her head, Hermione hid her unhappy eyes from her friend as her small pink lips smile back.
At present, the two witches are in Ginny's house, Potter Manor; she shared with her husband Harry. The couple started going out with each other when Harry was in their sixth year and Ginny was in her fifth. They separated when Harry had to hunt down Voldemort for Ginny's safety. 4 years ago, Harry won the war after finally finding the hocruxes and destroying each before him killing the evil wizard. Immediately after the war, the two got back together once again, with Ginny waiting for Harry, and married right away.
The two, Hermione and Ginny, went shopping the whole day for some female bonding and catching-up. Besides, Harry and Ginny were worried about her ever since she moved back alone in her flat.
Almost one month have already passed since that fateful day at which Draco has stormed into Hermione's pad. During that period of time, Hermione was busy trying to forget her recent heartbreak with a certain male Slytherin. She redecorated her pad and was once again trying to spend time with her friends and family. She also buried herself in her work whenever she has a free time.
However, during this past month, she still hasn't forgotten about him. Him. Draco Malfoy. At nights she still cries herself to sleep, feeling lonely and cold in her large bed. Her dreams were also often filled with the blond's image and old happy memories with the same man. She never knew how long the nights were until she was no longer with Draco. She will never be the same again.
"Oh you're here now hon!" The two turned their heads as Harry stood smiling cheerfully at the cottage's passageway to the kitchen holding a small and wriggling messy-haired boy of about age two. "Hi Mione!"
The miniature version of Harry (minus glasses) tugged at his dad's own messy hair while demanding, "Down Dada! Mama! Mama!" Harry slowly crouched down to let his impish toddler son run towards his smiling mom at the sofa.
"Hey there little man!" Ginny held out her arms while Little Jamie ran towards her squealing excitedly, as though she was gone for days instead of hours. Harry strode towards his wife and son, giving Ginny a small kiss on the lips as he reached the sofa.
Hermione watched the sweet picture that the Potters made with a small sad smile. Inside her, her heart was twisting painfully with the knowledge that she would never experience this kind of affection and love that was so present in this home with the man she loves. She widened her smile as the toddler turned to her for a hug and kiss.
"Ant Monie!" Little Jamie said in exclamation the tumbled words as Hermione was given a very wet kiss and tight hug. She cradled the small body gently in her arms, marveling at how lively and sweet a child can be. Life was a miracle indeed with children. That moment she knew she had made a decision.
"So what have you been guys up to today?" Harry was sitting on an armchair across the couch that the witches are currently sitting in.
"Well, we went shopping obviously." Ginny answered her husband smartly while smiling cheekily. "And did you know that there was a new store in Diagon Alley across the Fred and George's store blah blah blah…"
And so on the conversation continues until Hermione was invited for dinner. She soon accepted knowing that she has to ask for their opinion on something.
"Gin, Harry, there's something that I have been meaning to tell you since this afternoon," Hermione said during a meal of mashed potatoes and roast beef. "You see, I've been thinking…"
Husband and wife turn their attention to the brunette, waiting expectantly.
Hermione played with her fork, "I want to have a vacation. Actually I want to quit my job. It's hard to work in the present circumstances, because as you know, I'm currently working for Desmond International, which means that I have constant contact with Dra...Draco whenever he visits the company...," She sat up straighter, hardly noticing that Ginny placed her hand on hers, "I want to have a clean break. To start anew. Maybe start my own business with books…you know how much I love them…" Hermione knew she was babbling but she could not stop. "And I want your opinion on that." She looked at the couple head-on.
"That's a great idea Mione." Harry smiled at her.
Ginny nodded her red head. "Harry's right Mione, you need this! And it will do you good to be with books," Ginny's chocolate brown eyes were twinkling, "And I'll bet! You'll get a discount from yourself!" She added humorously.
They all laugh, breaking the tension in Hermione's body. "That's right…!"
After that, they all felt happy with Hermione's decision. They discussed the details of what and how her business should be and her new plans. Hermione went home feeling a lot lighter with new plans filling her head.
That night, Ginny was looking at her husband taking off his robe before sliding under the covers towards her.
"I'm really glad that Mione was finally ready to start anew." She sighed as her husband curled up beside her and wrapped his muscular arms around her more minute body.
"Me too," Harry smiled against his wife's rose-scented throat, "She really needs it now."
"You're right. I'm happy for this new turn of events. Stop that! I'm thinking here!" Ginny playfully swatted her husband's wandering hands under their covers, smiling.
Harry teased her, "Well, I'm thinking too. I'm thinking that Hermione is one tough lady and that she can really make this new beginning because she's strong and she has friends like us who really support her every decision. See?" Harry looked deep in the chocolate brown eyes of his wife.
Ginny smiled coyly at her husband of 4 years, "You know…you're right. I see that I made the right decision marrying a man of your intelligence and sensitivity." She giggled as Harry puffed out his naked chest proudly.
"Only that my dear?" Harry wiggled his eyebrows as he slowly kissed the ear of Ginny, making the witch squirm as goosebumps broke around her arms.
"Oh all right! You're sexy as hell too!" Ginny wrapped her arms around Harry's neck as they lips finally crashed together.
After that afternoon, the brown-haired witch had taken in a new view in her life. She gave her letter of resignation to her boss, who was quite sorry to lose a very smart, charming and attractive employee. Hermione nevertheless has to stay for one month more to train the next witch who would soon occupy her current seat in the company.
Hermione was sorry to leave the company. It has a very friendly environment; she had in fact made quite a few friends in the office. Gyver Dolt is one, who made Draco jealous since he once said that he "sensed" that Gyver is interested to be more than friends with Hermione. The witch sighed, pushing the thought from her mind. Draco Malfoy was one reason why she was leaving this company.
Draco Malfoy is one of the shareholders of the company and would sometimes drop by to see how the company and the employees were doing. Ever since the war, wherein he helped the Order defeat Voldemort by being a spy for Dumbledore, Draco was a changed man, although it was still hard for him to trust others and would still have that mysterious and private air around him. He became more receptive to interaction with people and that is why he frequently tries to visit his companies and businesses personally. This was actually one reason why they frequently still cross each others' paths after graduating from Hogwarts and defeating Voldemort.
During these visits, they would often still join in playful bantering about each other. Until one day, Draco surprised the company with his second visit in one week, which in itself was quite unusual. He only visits once a month for the monthly business meeting with the board of directors. He did not stroll around the different offices like he usually do. He did not even visit the president of the company during that trip. Instead, he went straight to the part of the office that Hermione works in holding a large and gorgeous bouquet of stargazers, Hermione's favorite flower. He then proceeded to ask the brunette to have dinner with him that night. Hermione, being Hermione, was not easily persuaded by the Malfoy charm. She fought him determinedly everyday until finally after two months of flowers and charm from Draco, she exasperatingly agreed to have one date with him. One date. That turned to more dates and those dates turned into weekend vacations and trips. But after quite a few dates and adventures with one another, they found that it wasn't enough for them, thus, making them plan the infamous "1 year Agreement" wherein Hermione would move-in with Draco in his Malfoy Manor (His father died in the war and his mother moved to France to live a more peaceful lifestyle) and after 12 months, they would determine whether they would continue with their relationship or not. And as a result, their present predicament eventually happened after the one year.
"Hermione, I heard that you're leaving the company."
The mentioned witch looked up from the paperwork that she is currently working on to see a man of brown hair and intense blue eyes gazing down at her bent head.
"That's true Gyver," Hermione confirmed the rumors, nodding her wavy brown head; "I would leave in about a month."
"Oh," The man named Gyver seemed at loss to say anything at the moment. He shifted his feet. "So what the boss said was true…"
"Uh huh."
"So what are your plans after this Mione?" Gyver grinned, trying to be cheerful for the brunette's sad news, "I'll bet it has something to do with the Malfoy heir." He said teasingly, winking at the witch, sitting down on the edge of the oak-paneled wood desk. "Should we hear some announcements in the very near future?"
Everyone in the corporation knew that Hermione was currently dating the flaxen-haired boss. After all, it was not a secret seeing that Draco would often fetch Hermione for lunch and after work. There were also the flowers that would sometimes arrive surprisingly in the start or middle of the day, its cards bearing the Malfoy crest.
"No, nothing like that," Hermione bent her head, trying to hide her grief-stricken eyes from her friend.
Gyver perceived that Hermione was hiding something, and being the friend that he is to the witch, was concerned, "Hermione, look at me." forcing the brunette to peep at him. "Something's wrong, something's bothering you. Come on now, you know you can tell me."
The brown-haired man went around the desk to settle down on the arm of Hermione's chair. He put his arm on the witch's shoulder, trying to comfort the suddenly glum witch.
At the same time, both of them didn't notice that someone with narrowing eyes was watching them from afar. The man strode angrily towards them with swishing robes and forcefully cleared his throat.
The two friends jumped up slightly with surprise when they heard the sound. They looked up to see the grim face of Draco Malfoy looking down at them with flashing silver steel eyes.
"So, this is what you do during office hours Mr. Dolt," crossing his lean arms across his chest, Draco looked at the smaller man with disapproval and rage, "trying to flirt with the female employees, huh?"
"No…of course not sir." Gyver stood up quickly and tried to sound respectful to his senior. "I was just going to go to my department now sir. Excuse me."
He waved back at Hermione, looking at the couple with interest, suddenly understanding the behavior of his friend when he saw the looks of anger being passed on by the two with each other. He hastily collected his papers and treaded out of the office without being noticed by the pair.
"Draco. What a surprise." The witch broke the icy tension. Inside her was the mixed emotions of fierce pleasure and intense pain of seeing him again, actually physically seeing him after close to five weeks. A lifetime in just five weeks.
"Planning to replace me already?" Draco rasped to Hermione. He narrowed his blazing silver eyes to the seated witch.
"Hardly…" With that cruel hit, and realizing that she was staring at the Slytherin, Hermione tried to control her anger by arranging the papers on her desk, not wanting to look at his accusing silver eyes. "If you must know, he was just saying goodbye to me."
"Goodbye? What for?" The platinum hair of Draco was pushed by his hand, a gesture that Hermione failed not to not notice seeing that it was one of his mannerisms that she loves…
'No! Loved. With the E-D,' Hermione scolded herself in her thoughts. She sighed. "Would you just leave me alone SIR? I was just trying to work here. Alone. Undisturbed." She raised her nicely-shaped brow at Draco.
"You weren't disturbed when it was that Dolt who "visited" you." Draco drawled. "So why would I leave?" Arrogantly he sat down on the chair in front of her desk and sat there smugly.
The brunette rolled her cinnamon colored eyes and didn't answer back. She tried to concentrate on her work but she couldn't knowing that Draco was just in front of her. She could just reach out her hand and touch that beautiful soft skin of his face. She could already smell his favored scent of aftershave from where she was sitting from.
Giving up, she glared at the blond in front of her. "Alright, why are you here? The monthly meetings are still due next week if I recall correctly."
"Yes, that is right," Draco twirled his gold pen with his fingers. "I just want to stroll around the office, you know, trying to keep up with the image of being more open and approachable to people, especially with my employees." He raised his eyebrows mockingly.
"More like trying to keep track of the beautiful female employees." Hermione heard herself muttering waspishly.
She mentally berated herself for showing her jealousy so plainly to Draco, knowing the Slytherin was aware of how she felt, that he was elated by it. Damn!
"Regretting your decision, Hermione?" He sat on the edge of her desk, dangerously close, his musky aftershave surrounding her. "It isn't too late to change your mind, you know…" Draco encouraged throatily, his blond hair falling gracefully over one eye.
Hermione straightened her spine and hardened her heart over the beautiful image that Draco presented. "My decision still stands, thank you."
His eyes darkened to grey steel as he stood up abruptly from her desk. He pulled something out quickly out of his robe. He tossed it on her desk. "There. It was delivered to me by accident. Apparently, other members of the Order of the Phoenix still did not know of your decision to leave the manor."
He was gone as fast as he arrived.
It was a whole 2 minutes before the witch realized that she was staring at the spot that Draco has last stood on. She glanced back on the thing he tossed on her desk.
It was an envelope bearing the Order of the Phoenix crest.
This is my first story. And I really hope that you guys would like it… please review so that I would know what to do…please! im begging you. just 1 minute more or less…please?
Marebear, Wicked-Princess...lets see if you're right ; ) , QueenofDarkness588, xOonethousandtearsshedxO and my first ever reviewer, phantominhell...THANKS SO SO SO MUCH :)
