Draco has tracked his witch down in hopes of mixing his Malfoy Magic with her Granger Magic. He is confident in what he wants and she is receptive, but… Well, I'll let you read it for yourself.

Rated M due to language.

Malfoy Magic 3: Wrong Again

Not long after graduation, Hermione had landed a lovely position as Head Director in charge of Charms (HDC) at a small, but prestigious company outside of London called The Parisian School of Charms and Potions. Hermione liked the job and due to her attention to detail and strong work ethic she had quickly become a favorite of the company's President, CB Elson. If you believed the rumors, CB had high hopes for Hermione. He had her on the fast track for a promotion after she completed six months in her position. It was also bandied about that CB would have promoted Hermione after a month, but thought it would cause too much of an uproar within his company.

Hermione was very good at her job.

The only downside, if you could call it a downside, was that most of the main floor staff at Parisian was made up of witches who rarely kept their noses out of other people's business. It was a petty annoyance, but Hermione was seldom drawn into company gossip as she had made it clear in her first days at Parisian that she hadn't been hired to gossip. For the most part, the witches respected Hermione's decision and didn't try to draw her into any female drama, which was fine. She liked the ladies well enough when they weren't prying.

/*/

Hermione didn't see much of her fellow Hogwarts graduates as everyone was either busy making a career or busy making a life. So five months after graduation she was very surprised to look up from her reports to find herself staring into the liquid gray eyes of Draco Malfoy who was standing at her desk holding the biggest bouquet of flowers she had ever seen.

Thoughts ran rampant through Hermione's head. The last she'd seen of Malfoy had been at the End Of It All Ball where they had taken great pains to avoid each other. She had spent many a sleepless night thinking about him going over the what ifs and maybes, always coming to the same conclusion. He was just someone who would be a footnote in her book of life as the wizard who had taken her virginity. Now, he was standing in front of her grinning.

"Draco! What are you doing here? How did you find me?"

With a wide grin, Draco leaned in to whisper. "Questions, questions Granger. Always questions. I'm simply here to collect my witch if she'll have me and promise her that we'll start off properly this time. There'll be no trees involved."

"If trees aren't involved, I'm not sure I'm interested Malfoy." Cheeked Hermione as she took the flowers from Draco's hand and held them up to her nose. Besides, I thought we were still avoiding each other."

"Can you please not give me a hard time Granger? I'm here with heart in hand. Anyway, I was only giving you time to get over your anger. Five months seemed long enough. So, will you give me a chance to show my better side?"

"I'm speechless." Hermione replied. "Never in my wildest dreams, and I've had some wild ones, would I imagine you'd come looking for me. I thought you only wanted…."

Draco finished Hermione's sentence for her, "You thought I only wanted another shag. Well Granger I'll have to give you a D for Dreadful in thinking. You were completely wrong. Will you see me? Can we start over? I can bring a tree if you like."

"This is so crazy, but yes Draco. I'll see you ….and your tree."

"Thank you," replied Draco as leaned over once again to whisper in Hermione's ear. "That being the case Granger. I have some Malfoy Magic I'd like to show you."

Not willing to let Draco have the last word, Hermione snarked at him. "Moving a bit fast aren't you Malfoy? Will you be able to hold on to that Malfoy Magic until the end of the work day when we can talk about it?"

"You think I'm moving fast? Think again Granger. It's been half a year. However, I can wait a few more hours if you're agreeing to come into my life. I'll be back to collect you when you're done."

/*/

Hermione suddenly felt like humming. Her colleagues had seen Draco stride into her office with his gigantic bouquet of flowers and had heard the whispering and giggling as well. Being nosey harpies, they wanted some kind of explanation, or at least some information as it was their mission in life to find out as much about Hermione's business as they possibly could. What they still hadn't grasped was they would have to try a lot harder to find out anything Hermione didn't want to share.

A few of the harpies were still angry over the fact Hermione Granger had turned up fresh out of school and secured a position in the very prestigious company without so much as a ripple. Witches would kill for a position at The Parisian School of Charms and Potions, yet a newly graduated witch had landed one. Most of the witches at Parisian wondered how Hermione had managed to land the job. Because they couldn't find out much of anything, they put it down to Hermione being connected to powerful people.

Hermione had heard the rumors, but hadn't bothered to comment on any of them. She still felt the way she had the day she started. She didn't contribute to gossip. If the nosey bints were looking for information, they wouldn't be getting it from her. As far as she was concerned, it wasn't anybody's business that Kingsley Shacklebolt and Minerva McGonagall had put in a quiet word. They had vouched for Hermione and it had worked. There wasn't anything any of the bints could do to her as she was CB's favorite and firmly entrenched in a lucrative position.

After seeing the gorgeous, gray eyed blonde wizard visit her office, her coworkers had gone into overdrive. Someone would think the Minister of Magic was in the building the way they were buzzing about. The girls would be loathe to admit it, but they knew there was a lot more to Hermione Granger than met the naked eye, up to and including a gorgeous wizard who came bearing flowers as well as Caleb Willis who had taken an immediate liking to her the moment he met her. The witches were jealous as well as impressed that the young witch seemed to have two handsome wizards at her beck and call. Several of them agreed they should keep an eye on Hermione.

/*/

Assistant to the President, Caleb Willis was a catch. He was a well built, 6 foot tall wizard with dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes. All the single witches in the office had tried to capture Caleb's attention at one time or another and failed. Caleb hadn't noticed any of the witches in the office until Hermione had been hired. When Hermione came aboard, Caleb made it his business to notice her and made no attempt to hide his interest. Caleb often commented on Hermione's title of Golden Girl. For the first month, it had made her blush, but she soon got over that and Caleb stopped teasing her. Hermione was also aware her title infuriated two specific witches because she'd overheard them discussing it. However, their gossiping only made Hermione more determined to do the job she'd been hired to do and do it well.

The women who were gathered around the head secretary desk agreed there was more to Hermione Granger than she let on. However, as riveting as the gossip might seem, only Elsa and Layne wanted to pry any further being the only two who felt the need to have a front row seat in everyone's life. Today it was down to Layne to act as the interloper and find out what she could from Hermione. Today, Layne would make the mistake of prying too far into Hermione Granger's business.

Although Hermione continued to handle her duties without comment, she was not unaware of all the interest Draco had garnered. Mumbling to herself, Hermione sniped. "I thought I had left Hogwarts behind." Nevertheless, when Layne sauntered into her office to check out the flowers, Hermione responded quite affably. "May I help you with something Layne?"

Layne had smiled and asked for some obviously fictitious document. Hermione put on her best, is that the best you can come up with expression and responded. "I haven't seen one today. Why don't you check with Elsa?"

Hermione's response hadn't put Layne off in any way. In fact, the response seemed to embolden her. She had stepped closer to Hermione's desk and as bold as you please, put her nose directly in the bouquet. Hermione used a quick bit of wandless magic to cast a stinging jinx and Layne had jumped back as though, well, as though she'd been stung. Hermione smiled because it served Layne right for being an overstepping bint.

With narrowed eyes, Layne turned her gaze to Hermione. "There's something in those flowers. It just stung me."

Hermione glanced back at Layne with her most innocent expression. "Perhaps my friend put some kind of protection around the flowers to keep anyone other than myself away from them."

"Silly thing to do." Layne had sniffed before striding out of the office.

Hermione had hummed even louder.

/*/

Caleb stuck his face in the door around quitting time. "Hey beautiful. Do you want to get some dinner? We can go dancing after and make a night of it. I'll show you some more of my smooth moves. Shall I pick you up for seven? What say you?"

Every week without fail, Caleb invited Hermione out to dinner, sometimes dinner and dancing. Most of the time she declined, but there had been three occasions when she accepted his offer. Hermione thought it was those three occasions which might have led Caleb to believe he was making progress, because recently he'd begun to ask her out even more frequently. The dinners had been pleasant enough diversions. While Caleb was an interesting wizard, he seemed just a bit too bland. She had kept Caleb at arms length because it was apparent he wanted much more than friendship. Even though he was a good catch, Hermione wasn't quite ready to step into a romantic relationship with anyone. Ironically, just before Draco had shown up, it had occurred to Hermione she might give Caleb a chance rather than end up with no wizard at all. However, if she was going to start with Draco, she would have to discourage Caleb all together.

Hermione had just opened her mouth to refuse Caleb's invitation and discourage future offers when Draco suddenly appeared. He must have come up right behind Caleb which meant he had heard Caleb asking her out. Looking from Hermione to Caleb, Draco asked if he was interrupting something important.

Both Hermione and Caleb turned in Draco's direction. Before Hermione could answer Draco's question, Caleb replied. "Miss Granger and I were having a private conversation. Who might you be?"

Each wizard began sizing the other up.

Hermione knew it was truly one sided. Caleb was probably considered a mediocre to fair wizard while Draco was a powerful wizard who became even more powerful when angered. At that moment, Draco was angry.

Hermione stepped in quickly to introduce them. "Draco Malfoy, please meet Caleb Willis, Assistant to the President."

Draco was scowling as he looked from Hermione to Caleb responding with a nod. "Willis."

Ever the professional, except when he was asking Hermione out, Caleb nodded back at Draco. "A pleasure Mr. Malfoy."

Shite just got deep, Hermione thought.

Before Hermione could give an explanation, Draco made a observation. "It would seem I've come at an inopportune time and interrupted the makings of an interesting night."

Caleb looked perplexed. He didn't have the slightest idea what was going on or what Draco Malfoy was doing at Parisian. Like most professional wizards, Caleb Willis was familiar with the Malfoy name. He just wasn't able to discern what Draco Malfoy was doing in Hermione's office inquiring about his and Hermione's plans for the night. In the four months Hermione had been employed there, the name Draco Malfoy hadn't ever come up nor had Draco Malfoy ever made even a wisp of an appearance. Now, for whatever reason, the bloke was standing in the middle of Hermione's office acting the jealous boyfriend.

Hermione asked Caleb to excuse them telling him she would catch up to him in a little bit. Caleb nodded and left the office giving Draco a long, inquiring look on his way out. Hermione could see Layne and Elsa peering into her office trying to see what was going on so she closed her door.

/*/

"What are you playing at Malfoy?" Hermione began.

"Oh! It's back to Malfoy? This morning I was Draco, but then this morning you also agreed to see me. How quickly things change Hermione." Draco made certain he enunciated Hermione's name very clearly.

Hermione threw locking and silencing charms on her office door. Draco was in a rage and any conversation they had was not going to be pretty.

"Please calm down Draco."

"I'll calm down when you bloody well tell me who the hell is Caleb Willis and what he is to you."

"Caleb is a friend and colleague. He and I have been to dinner several times. He was just checking to see if I wanted to go out this evening."

"Is friend what you call a bloke who has obviously shown you his smooth moves?" Growled Draco. "What kind of friend is he? Is he a friend who holds your hand? Is he a friend who has kissed you? Is he a friend who has sha-…"

Draco didn't get a chance to finish his last question.

Hermione turned pink, pulled out her wand and pointed it at Draco's chest. Between clenched teeth, she remarked bitterly. "How dare you? If you value your Malfoy Magic maker, you won't finish that sentence."

Draco who was way too heated to stop himself finished the sentence. "Is he a friend who has shagged you?"

Hermione hit Draco across the chest with a stinging hex, but he was so angry he didn't even acknowledge it. He just stood there furious with fists clenched waiting for Hermione to answer his question.

Hermione hadn't shagged Caleb and wasn't planning to shag him, but Draco's behavior and accusatory tone had made her furious which caused her stubborn streak to emerge. Her fury also caused all kind of thoughts to circle her head. Malfoy should know her better than that. No, maybe he didn't know better. She had let him fuck her up against a tree right outside Hogwarts. Why wouldn't he think she was having a go at other wizards? The question was, why had he come looking for her if he thought she might be shagging a line of wizards?

By then, Hermione was bright red and could feel tears forming in her eyes, so she had responded in kind. "Yes, Malfoy. I am exactly what you think I am. I have shagged Caleb every night since I came to this job. He has even taught me how to suck his dick to make him cum. Happy Malfoy that you're so spot on in your judgment? Now why don't you take your bloody accusations, insults and insinuations out of here so I can finish up my work."

Draco came across the room so fast Hermione hadn't seen him move. He grabbed her wand arm with one hand and held on as she tried to pull free. "I have come begging for your love and you have me on my knees yet again. How can you stand there now and tell me you've been shagging some bloody bloke for the last four months? Why didn't you tell me this as soon as I walked through your door? Why accept those flowers and give me the impression we would start a relationship? Would I have been the spare? You won't be playing those games with me Granger?"

When Draco pulled out his wand, Hermione backed away, but he wasn't after her. He swiveled around and blasted the bouquet of flowers into ashes. Then he was gone.

/*/

Hermione cried for ten minutes straight. Finally, she stopped, fixed her makeup and plastered on a smile. There really hadn't been any need for the smile. The business day had ended and everyone was gone. Well, everyone except Caleb. Appearing at her door, Caleb had given her a weak smile and she had returned his smile. He didn't ask anything about Draco and Hermione didn't volunteer anything.

Caleb walked around the desk and took Hermione in his arms. She hadn't resisted.

"I didn't know how much I cared about you until I saw another bloke trying to get your attention." Caleb remarked softly.

When Caleb said that, Hermione stepped away from him. "Caleb. Draco was my wizard. We have been estranged, but thought we could work through our differences. Even though things didn't work out the way he and I hoped, I won't be accepting the attentions of any wizard for a while. Relationships are way too hard. I hope you'll settle for being my friend."

Caleb shrugged. "I thought it might be something like that Hermione, but I won't be giving up on you. You still have to eat dinner." As Caleb stepped back through the door, he commented. "If I may say so, your relationship with Malfoy probably wouldn't have lasted all that long anyway considering he makes you cry like that. Just remember Hermione. I am here for you no matter what."

Hermione sat down at her desk shaking her head. That's just bloody fine. The Assistant to the President knows bloody Draco Malfoy has made me bloody cry and at my bloody job no less. That should be good for my bloody reputation. There wasn't anything she could do about it. It was over and done. With a heart heavier than it had been since that day in the Hogwarts library, Hermione adjusted her robes, picked up her bag and headed to the apparition point.

/*/

When Hermione arrived home, there was an owl waiting which she immediately retrieved. She made sure to offer the owl a few bits of cereal. Hermione tried to send it away, but the owl had other ideas and would not move. It was obviously waiting for a reply.

The owl was from Draco. Hermione had just begun to read the message when she was startled by a knock on her front door. No one ever knocked on her door except her parents who wouldn't be visiting during the week or even at this time of the evening. Grabbing her wand from beneath her robes, Hermione opened the door just a bit to find Draco standing there. She asked him what he wanted and how he found out where she lived, but didn't open the door any further

"I got your address from the Alumni Registry at the Daily Prophet. May I come in? I'd like for us to talk."

There wasn't any anger left in Hermione. But, she was still upset by the things Draco had said and his willingness to believe the worst of her even though it was her foolish remarks which had exacerbated the problem.

"After this afternoon, what can you still have to say to me? Do you have specific names you'd like to call me? You've made your point quite well. I now know exactly what you think of me. I really don't have any more to say to you, and there's nothing you have to say I'd care to hear."

"Hermione. I was wrong today. Please let me in. I tried to give you time to get over being angry with me. Just when it looked like we would finally start, there's a bloody wizard talking about showing you his moves. Yes, I went overboard in my actions and yes I let anger and jealousy get in the way of my good sense, but…."

The anger which had dissipated earlier returned in full force as Hermione stood there listening to Draco's pleading. "Have willing witches become so scarce you had to track me down hoping my loose morals would make me eager to spread my legs? I realize what you think of me and I refuse to have anything else to do with you. Thank you so much for destroying the flowers. Perhaps it would have made more sense if you waited until after you fucked me to give them to me. That way you would have got your money's worth. I'm tired Malfoy so please go away."

With that, Hermione closed and locked her door leaving Draco outside explaining through the door he hadn't meant any of it and wanted to make it up to her.

/*/

Draco thought about banging on the door to force Hermione to open it again, but he knew she was only seconds away from cursing him with something much more dangerous than a stinging jinx.

Hermione wanted him to go away, but Draco didn't want to walk away without defending himself. He didn't think there was anything wrong with her being a muggleborn. She was the witch he wanted, blood be damned. He didn't think she had loose morals. He had been angry when he implied that. And he certainly didn't want her to think he was chasing willing witches down and bringing them to his bed, because he wasn't. His time had been spent planning how to approach and court her. Now, it had all come to nothing. He had ruined everything.

If he was asked to explain why he let emotion overtake him any time he thought a wizard was showing interest in Hermione, he couldn't. For the most part, he was a reasonable wizard except when it came to her.

/*/

Draco finally walked away from Hermione's door feeling the worse he had in months. He had come to claim his witch and all he had done was ruin his chances with her, probably for good. The fault lay completely with him. He knew that. Had he not jumped the gun….. Jumping the gun didn't even cover him grabbing Hermione in anger. That was unacceptable even by the lowest standards. But, in that moment, he had been so incensed by her admissions he hadn't stopped to think she might only be throwing his accusations back in his face. How had he not thought about everything good he knew about Hermione instead of focusing on words she was hurling in anger?

Thinking with a clear mind was so much easier, but didn't help him in the least. It didn't change anything. One fact stuck in Draco's mind. He was lucky enough to have been Hermione's first. That had to count for something. He hadn't thought about it back then, but he now knew Hermione had feelings for him. If she hadn't, she would have fought to the death rather than have sex with him against a tree. He had cast aspersions at Hermione she wouldn't soon forget. More than likely, his behavior had pushed her towards Caleb Willis. Caleb Willis might have his sights set on Hermione and be the wizard of the hour right now, but Draco wasn't giving up. He was determined to get Hermione and her Granger Magic back any way he could.

/*/

Hermione threw her wand across the room as she slumped down on the couch. Fucking git walks back into my life after all this time exclaiming his love yet then turns on me because he heard Caleb ask me out. Fucking git. How does being asked out even equate to shagging someone? Fucking, bloody git.

She and Draco were like star crossed lovers. The moment it seemed they might get together, one or the other mucked it up.

At Hogwarts, she wanted nothing more than to be with Malfoy. She had feelings for him a long time before their encounter in the woods and those feelings continued to grow right up until their argument in the library. After that, she had tried to push Malfoy to the back of her mind. It was what she had to do to move forward. If she dwelled on the fact Malfoy had shagged her and walked away, she would probably be sitting in a chair in her living room frozen in place. The sad truth was, no matter how much she cared about Draco, a relationship between them was something that would never work out.

For one brief moment that day, Hermione had opened her heart and allowed it to beat for him. Now, all she could do was lock it away one more time and move on.