Only the plot belongs to me.

Chapter 8

When Draco popped out of the floo, the first thing he noticed was Hermione crying. "What the fuck Granger, why are you crying? I thought the ad turned out great, and it couldn't possibly be bad enough to cry over."

"That's why I am crying, you idiot," she retorted, wiping her eyes. "Dean did such a wonderful job. I am just so happy we gave him the opportunity to tell his story. Well, you did really, it was your idea."

"Well I certainly didn't do it so you could act like a Hufflepuff, and get all leaky about someone 'sharing their story.' It was a good campaign move, that's all."

"Well, that may be all it is for you Malfoy, but it means a lot to me," Hermione replied.

Draco didn't respond. He simply sighed, sat down next to her at the kitchen table, and poured himself a cup of coffee from the carafe.

"So Prickly Granger Pear, what's on our agenda today?" Draco drawled.

"I actually can't work today, I'm meeting someone for lunch."

"Who could you possibly be meeting for lunch? Your parents are in Australia, and you no longer have friends."

"Thank you for that gentle reminder. Also, just because Harry and Ron hate me now, does not mean I don't have other friends."

"Uh huh, you totally have other friends. You definitely talk about these other friends all the time," Draco rolled his eyes. "Which of these plethora of 'other friends' will have the honor of meeting you for lunch, then?"

"Not that it is any of your business," Hermione snapped "but I am having lunch with Anthony Goldstein."

"That wanker?! You are not friends with him! I have never heard you talk about him once, and I am literally the only person you talk to."

"Number one," Hermione began her reply, "just because I don't mention it to you, doesn't make something untrue. Number two, you are not the only person I talk to. Number three, how could I plan to have lunch with someone if I didn't talk to them about it first? That proves my point. I do talk to other people."

"Fine," Draco backed down. "Then since when have you and Goldstein been friends?"

"Umm," Hermione hesitated. "Yesterday," she said quietly. "I ran into him at Flourish and Blotts, and he asked me to lunch."

"Wow fast friendship," Draco said scathingly, not quite sure why he was so upset. "So what you're saying is you're going on a date with this arsehole."

Hermione looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Okay, just because someone pissed in your porridge, don't take it out on me, and Anthony isn't an arsehole, you don't even know him."

"Granger, I'm not even eating porridge, that makes no sense, and you don't know him either, that's my point!"

"Okay Draco, you aren't making sense. I am going to get dressed. You can stay for coffee if you want, but for Merlin's sake get rid of the bludger that's clearly wedged itself up your arse."

Draco sat silently and pouted, not sure if he wanted to go home or not. He wasn't exactly sure what he was feeling, but he thought it seemed worryingly close to jealousy.

Hermione stomped angrily around her room, as she tried to find something suitable to wear. Draco's comments about her not having friends were uncalled for, but the real problem was that they were spot on. She hated it when he was right. She really didn't have any friends, and her parents had decided to stay in Australia, after she returned their memories to them. Draco really was the only person she talked to, and he wasn't even really her friend, he was her campaign manager. He was only there because she paid him. Wait, she didn't pay him. On second thought, why was he there? She shook her head quickly to rid herself of the perplexing thought.

"That's exactly why I need to go on this date," she thought to herself. "For goodness sakes, I need somebody else in my life besides Malfoy."