Authors Notes: Chapter five! Yay!

'Dirty Work'

Debacle at Daisy's

Outside the shop of Daisy and Don's Furnishing Front, Hermione was flipping through the news article that she picked up from a stack that was sitting outside her flat building. She was very glad to see that her article was on the front page. She wasn't surprised though, nothing else relevantly important had happened between the days that the planning for the ball had begun. Reading over her report, she scanned the words eagerly.

Goodwill Charity Ball

Draco Malfoy, son to Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, age 20, has taken a surprising turn, and has decided to organize a charity ball for war victims of the wizarding world. In light of recent events, he has so kindly taken up the challenge to help rebuild our broken society. This event is the first step to real recovery and all proceeds and donations go towards the 'Willful Wizards' a society of wealthy wizards and witches who have dedicated their next few months to helping the wizarding world recover. 'I think this is the best thing that can happen right now,' says Minister for Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, 'and it's exactly what we need.' Draco Malfoy has already begun planning for this Goodwill Charity Ball, and has his best people working on it. 'I'd like to see the wizarding world back in order,' reports Draco Malfoy to your correspondent, Hermione Granger, 'and I would love nothing more right now than to help.'

The exact date of this event is the twenty fourth of March, and it is expected to have a large turn out. The Justinian Hotel, a prestigious hotel and resort will be where it takes place and it's beauty and style will of course set off the mood.

Anyone willing to make a donation is invited, and everyone who can afford to donate is encouraged to do so. Draco Malfoy would like to make it clear that only people who are generous enough to share their money to help the broken homes of the wizarding world are allowed to come. So far, planning has gone very good, according to Mister Malfoy, and he is very pleased with - (continue on next page)

Hermione didn't bother to turn the Prophet over to it's next page because she already knew what was next. Slowly, she placed it down on a racket that had stacks of other newspapers and paced in front of the shop. She was five minutes earlier than Draco, and she hadn't been waiting long.

Although the recent days of planning were something very different to what she had imagined, Hermione loved having them. It was quite fun to use her persuasion and writing skills in front of Draco, making herself look good and all that sort. She was surprised to see that he really did need her help in a lot of the planning areas, when she was only the journalist.

Standing right in front of the door to Daisy and Don's Furnishing Front, she glanced down at her watch. Just as she did, she heard a little pop. Looking up eagerly, she knew it was Draco who had arrived in front of the shop.

"Morning, Malfoy." She greeted kindly.

"And to you also," Draco said, brushing himself off quickly. "Hopefully, I didn't keep you waiting?"

"No, not at all. I was busy looking at my article. Front page, may I add," she said with a proud grin.

"Ah, of course. The ministy was very impressed with your work. I'm sure Gerald must be proud. And I'm very sure that Justin is boasting at the moment because of the compliments you gave his hotel."

"I'm sure when he turned the page and saw that there was a picture of his ballroom plastered on it, he was more then happy with my work. He better be too. He has no idea the research I put into his hotel." Draco smirked and laughed at Hermione.

"I'm sure he's very pleased, don't worry."

Leading the way, Draco went up to the front door of the shop and Hermione followed. As he reached for the handle that would pull the door open, Hermione reached for it also. Lightly, their hands brushed, and immediately, Hermione pulled her hand away. Her cheeks were a little flushed, however, Draco didn't notice.

"S-Sorry." She said quickly, her head down a fracture. Draco chuckled and merely shook his head. He did not know that that was probably the first kind of male contact Hermione had from a man that wasn't Ron since... well, you know. Harry.

Opening the door, a little bell chimed, to indicate that people had entered the shop. Draco held the door open quickly and Hermione walked through hastily. She looked around the clean shop, and saw there were plenty kinds of furniture all around the shop. It was intensely decorated with furnishing from side tables, lamps, dining tables and everything of the sort.

"Looks like we'll have plenty of choices, Granger." Draco said, walking in front of a round dining table that was very fancy looking. "Glad I have a woman here to consult with. Men sometimes have very bad taste," he said, laughing a little.

Hermione sniggered and walked around the shop a little, looking at different kinds of dinner tables. Some were too modern, and others were just a bit plain. Draco seemed to notice, for he was having a very hard time narrowing down his choices. Or maybe it was just his bad taste in style that was giving him a hard time.

A few people were around the shop, eyeing furniture for their homes, and pointing at things that they liked. Hermione envied that they had such easy choices. This was a high fashion kind of charity ball they were intending to plan, and if they picked the wrong kind of furnishing, they would have an endless list of criticism from high maitenance witches and wizards. Hermione sighed.

"How about this one, Granger?" Draco asked, pointing to a simple, modest looking dining set table. The chairs were finely polished and had little green cushions so the seats wouldn't be so hard. The table was wooden and polished, with green frills on the sides.

"Oh," Hermione said, squinting at it. She didn't quite like it. "It's... well, it looks very good. For a simple wizarding family that is," Hermione said, when Draco gave her a questioning look. "I just don't think it's 'ball' material, you know?" Draco gave her an upsetting look.

"Oh boy, this will take a while," Draco said, heaving a great sigh.

"We'll find one, Malfoy. Don't worry." Hermione assured him, walking around the shop once again, searching for a better one. "You know, we could always try another place. I'm sure they're plenty of other furnishing places."

Draco chuckled. "Like where?" Draco said. "This is the best one around, trust me, Granger." He ran a finger over a hard marble table. "Besides, where else are we going to go? Tonivians Furniture Place? He sells couches that have been found in alleys." Hermione giggled.

"Oh, alright."

And so they rounded the shop once more, to find the perfect kind of furniture to fit the mood and setting of the ballroom. And for a fourth time, they went around, the choices becoming shorter for some reason. They had seen mostly all of it, and the choices were being etched in their heads. A fifth time they rounded, and soon they were getting very restless. Hermione collapsted onto the nearest comfy looking armchair.

"We'll never find one," she sighed, covering her face with her hands. Draco walked over to the armchair and stood in front of her small figure.

"Yes, we will," Draco said convincingly. Surprisingly, he gently removed her hands so he could see her face and smiled, pulling her up swiftly but softly. Hermione felt shivers when his cold hands touched hers. Hers were warm and comforting and his were just plain cold. "I can't do this without you," he said, showcasing all the furniture. "You're my right hand, remember?"

Hermione gave him a smile but heaved a long sigh as well. And so they were off again to look for more furniture. It was going to be a much longer time till they found something. Anything that would do. Just so they could leave and get on with the rest of the planning.

"Why don't we ask the girl at the counter?" Draco said, pointing to a lady that sat on a comfortable armchair, looking at the customers almost as if any one of them could be stealing some of the furniture. "I bet you they have other rooms with more choices that we could look at."

"Good idea," Hermione agreed, walking over with Draco to the counter.

"Excuse me, ma'am?" Draco asked, folding his hands down on the counter. The witch looked at him and stood up, facing Draco. "Can you help us, please?"

"Depends with what," she said, almost meanly, eyeing Hermione and Draco. "Who are you?" She asked.

"Draco." He said nobily. Hermione almost smiled at his indifference with the lady's coldness.

"Never heard of you," she said, narrowing her eyes. Hermione was surprised she hadn't. The Malfoy name was literally known everywhere in the wizarding world. "And you?" She said, her eyes lingering a while on Hermione.

"This is Hermione." Draco said, taking the defensive for some reason. Hermione gave him an odd look. "Perhaps you've read the Daily Prophet? I'm here for the cha - "

"I don't read the Daily Prophet." She spat out. "Stopped reading it when they started accepting reports from those filthy..." she trailed off, finding it better not to answer. Draco narrowed his eyes and Hermione went a little stiff.

"I don't quite care why you don't read the Prophet," Draco said rudely, "but if you would please just help us. We need to find a certain kind of dining table fit for a special event, and since we can't find any good examples here, we were wondering whether or not you could show us your private rooms with the expensive furniture."

The lady narrowed her eyes. "The furniture out here not good enough for you, lad?" She asked rudely. "Think it's not what you need?" She said as coldly as before.

"No," Draco said defiantly. "We just need - "

"What's the special event, eh?" She questioned on, ignoring Draco. "What's so important that you need to look at my family's more delicate and special furniture, hmm?"

Draco looked as if he were about to yell that they were just looking for furniture for a charity ball, but for some reason, he looked like he was thinking. The witch obviously didn't notice, because she just continued to eye him. Hermione already did not like the lady at the counter. She was obviously a prejudice. Draco didn't seem to like that about her, which surprised Hermione to the very least. After all, Draco used to be just like her.

Hermione continued to look at him, thinking about why he was taking his time to answer. He opened his mouth slightly and faced Hermione with first an apologetic look, and then a loving sort of look. Hermione raised an eyebrow, wondering what he was doing.

"This lady and I," Draco said after a quick moment of thinking. He linked their arms and grabbed her hand suddenly. Hermione suppressed a gasp, "are planning for our wedding, if you must know, ma'am. And we do not like being interrogated when we are just doing our planning." He looked at the lady rudely.

She must not have noticed the surprised look on Hermione's face because she looked almost like she would faint. Draco squeezed her hand, and gave her a warning type of look. He was telling her to play along. Hermione quickly resumed her composure and stood up straighter.

"Yes, we are," she said confidently, "and we just want to find some good furniture. My fiance, Draco Malfoy, is not wasting his valuable fortune on your shop just to be questioned." She made the emphasis on 'valuable fortune,' and his last name. Maybe the lady didn't know his first name, but she definitely knew his last. Draco smiled. He had discovered with Reddford, that she used emphasis to persuade people. Good old Hermione.

The lady looked aghast. She quickly opened up a drawer and fumbled with many keys. She looked up and down every now and then muttering apologies and even smiled weakly at Draco, but it looked very forced to him. Hermione and Draco exchanged secret triumphant smiles. No matter the measure they had to go to to get to the furniture, it was definitely worth it.

The lady finally found the right keys and left the counter, muttering to Hermione and Draco to follow her. Draco held on tightly to Hermione's hand and even nuzzled at her cheek quickly. Hermione felt a shiver go up her spine, but she didn't mind.

When they finally entered the room that was at the very far back corner of the shop, Draco let go of Hermione's hand. He walked over to the nearest table and examined it. The lady that was at the counter was standing by the door, stiff as a board. Hermione smiled at her emberassment.

"What about this one, honey?" Draco asked. Hermione almost forgot that she was acting as his wife, and quickly walked over, linking her arm around his. Draco hid a surprised look. "It looks perfect for our wedding, doesn't it?" He continued, covering up quickly.

"Actually, it doesn't look half bad," Hermione answered, scanning the table over. Polished wood, with little patterns engraved on it, and a nice silk red table cover. The chairs were squared and had the same patterns on it, with a sewed on red mattress at the bottom. It had a perfect look for the ball.

"We'll take it." Draco said to the girl, pointing at the table. Hermione looked up at Draco, in what she thought was admiringly, but she had the feeling it was sort of an odd look. The lady nodded quickly and went to get the papers and a receipt.

When she was completely gone and the door shut behind her, Hermione quickly let go of Draco's hand and sighed. Draco rubbed his forehead and chuckled slightly to himself. "We were pretty good," he said, leaning on the table slightly. Hermione laughed.

"I know. We deserve an Oscar." She stated, admiring her acting skills. Draco gave her an odd look. "Er... it's this award for good muggle actors and actresses." Draco nodded. "Why did we have to pretend that we were married though, Malfoy? Surely if we told her the truth she'd be more than willing to give us the furniture we needed."

Draco shook his head and laughed. "You think if she knew that we were planning a ball to help all types of wizards, including muggle borns, half bloods, and half breeds, that she would want to help? I doubt it."

Hermione nodded in agreement. "Good point. The engagement idea was good, very quick thinking." She complimented.

"Ah, yes, the mind of a Malfoy has it's ways." Draco said wisley. Hermione laughed. "The old hag. She didn't suspect a thing," Draco said, scratching his head. "That lady deserves to be fired." He said defiantly.

Hermione laughed. "Funny," she said, while examining the table. Draco looked at her and smiled, seating himself on a different chair. "You don't suppose she'll catch on to us if she goes to the ball?" Hermione asked, frowning slightly.

"Nope," Draco said easily, leaning back in his chair, "doubt she'll go. That bigot of a woman is to prejudice to help every type of wizard." He said shaking his head. Hermione gave him a confused sort of look which Draco noticed as he leaned even further back. Hermione walked up to him.

"Funny," she repeated again with a half hearted smile. Draco raised an eyebrow.

"I know, I know. Sounds a bit stupid coming from me. But I told you," he said, shrugging, "I'm a changed man, remember?" Hermione laughed, remembering his whole speech the first time they had started planning. He scoffed as well, and leaned even further in his chair.

Unexpectedly, the two front legs of the chair left contact with the ground, and the two legs behind the chair we're keeling over, causing Draco to grab for Hermione so that he wouldn't fall. Stupidly enough, Hermione collapsed onto Draco when he made a grab for her. The chair, with too much weight, fell backwards. Draco and Hermione toppled over the chair and were on the ground before they knew it, Hermione on top of Draco.

"Bloody hell!" Draco said, when he saw that the chair legs had come off. Quickly, he muttered 'reparo,' and the chair fixed itself. He looked up awkwardly at Hermione and gave her a weak smile. Gingerly, he set Hermione aside and off of him, stood up, brushing himself off, and held a hand out for her. While rubbing her behind from the pain, Hermione took Draco's hand, which wasn't so cold anymore, and got pulled up by him.

"Sorry," Draco muttered, scratching his head. "My fault."

"No, it's alright," Hermione said, rubbing her back.

When the lady came back with a receipt and papers, Draco and Hermione instantly went back to their pretending of being a couple. Draco had ordered hundreds of tables of the same kind to be made a week before the ball so they could be set up. He covered up and said that that was where the wedding would take place. Hermione nodded in support.

"Alright. You will receive my payment which will be by owl once I've received every table and chair."

The lady nodded, bowing her head a little. "Yes, Mister Malfoy, sir." And she scurried off, muttering swear words to herself a little. Draco and Hermione followed her out of the room, hand in hand once again, and giggled at everything the other said. It was taking Hermione all of her effort to not laugh out loud and just run out of the shop.

When at last the two had left the shop and were at least a few feet away from it, they burst out in laughter and insults, talking about how the lady never suspected a thing. It was like the two were school friends, and they had just finished doing a nasty prank.

"Did you see the look on her face when I said 'Malfoy?'" Hermione asked, holding her stomach.

"That was definitely a look to remember." Draco scoffed, walking along with Hermione down the street.

"That was really fun." Hermione stated, turning around to face Draco. "And I think we made the best choice for the furnishings. Everyones going to love it, I guarantee you," Hermione assured Draco.

"And I believe it was I who made the choice?" He asked with a slight smirk.

"Oh be quiet, Malfoy. You're just lucky you had me there so you could do your pretending." Hermione reminded him. Draco nodded and thanked her for following along, no matter how weird it was.

"Oh, no, I didn't mind. It was fun." She said. Draco smiled and began to walk again. Hermione followed immediately. "So... am I done for today, boss?" She asked politely. Draco looked at her, aghast, and halted to a stop.

"Boss? Sorry, Granger. That won't do." He stated, wagging a finger at her. "Here you are, coming along with me to every planning place. The hotel, the furnishing place, and now everywhere else? And you're just the journalist? That won't do." He said again.

Hermione gave him the odd look she had when Draco told her to meet him in the reception area. "What?" She asked, a little confused. Draco laughed and began to walk again. Hermione followed hastily. "What are you talking about?"

"You know," Draco began, a slight smirk on his face again, "I know I have plenty of people on this event working for me, but I haven't really got anyone overseeing that everythings being done. And I can't do this myself, anyways. You see how I always need a right hand..." He trailed off slyly. Hermione still didn't really understand.

"So?" She asked.

"So." Draco said. "I could use a partner. Don't you think?" He asked slyly. This time, Hermione halted in her tracks. Draco laughed out loud when he saw the shocked look on her face. "Surprised?" He asked.

Hermione had her mouth open and she didn't asnwer. She just stared. "But... I'm just a journalist!" She said, poking at her wad of notepad paper in her shoulder strap bag. "Me? You're partner? You must be joking." Hermione said, unbelievably.

"You don't want the job? Okay." Draco said, walking again without Hermione.

"Wait!" Hermione cried, not bothering to catch up with him. "You're not serious, are you?" She asked loudly among the streets.

"I wouldn't be asking if I weren't serious, Granger." He told her. Hermione looked at him blankly at first, but after a short time of pondering, a huge grin erupted from her lips and a smile was clearly seen on her face. She walked up to Draco and held out a welcoming hand. "Deal!" She said, the grin never leaving her face.

Gladly, Draco shook it. "Deal," he echoed. "I'll be paying you more than I should be now, but that's no matter. At least I have someone good working with me." He said, shrugging off the money he'd be giving her. Hermione smiled.

"Well, I'm done here now, aren't I?" Hermione asked as Draco was about to turn a corner. She looked around, and the streets were full. She had to get back to the ministry.

"I suppose you are," Draco said. Hermione wasn't sure, but she thought she heard a hint of disappointment in his voice. "I'll owl you if I need anymore help. In the mean time, I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" Hermione nodded and smiled at him, and walked away, skipping off.

"Hey, Granger!" Draco called to her back, when she was almost gone. Hermione turned around and looked at him.

"Yeah?" She called back. Draco jogged towards her and scratched his head.

"Well you know. Since it's almost break and everything..." He said a bit shyly. "And you know, we're already here in Hogsmeade..." Hermione squinted her eyes at him. "Well. You know. Would you like to go to the Three Broomsticks with me?" He said that all rather quickly.

Hermione gawked at him, but quickly covered it up with a nice look. "Well, it is almost break... I suppose I could," she answered politely. Draco, as if he were holding a breath (which Hermione suspected he was) let out a sigh, and smiled at her.

Together the two traipsed towards the Three Broomsticks, ignoring the fact that it really wasn't time for break yet. Hermione couldn't help but smile and smile throughout the rest of the day. She wasn't sure it was the prank anymore, but still, it was a good feeling she hadn't felt in months.

And on the plus side of everything else, Hermione just landed the best deal in her entire wizarding career and got a free lunch to boot. Oh, how she loved her job.

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TBC.

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A/N: What'd I tell you? I told you the DMHG stuff was coming. hopefully all that wasn't to little or out of the blue. i need them to get closer for a future plot in the next few chapters 8). hehehe smiles evilly.

and sorry if it's shorter then my other chapters... heh xD. expect a chapter longer than this coming for you! bwahahah. and dont worry for you guys who like this story a lot. im never gonna make you wait to long! and im never giving this story up till i END it! xD.

ANYWAYS. If you read it, then REVIEW IT! THANKS xD.

Yours truly,
Sevengee/Lina.