Everything Belongs to JK Rowling, except the plot.

Chapter 9

Unfortunately for Hermione, her date wasn't as successful as she had hoped. Anthony was sweet, he really was, but for goodness sakes he was terribly dull! He droned on and on about his job working for a wizarding law firm, and agreed with every single thing she said. She had thought she liked being right, but for goodness sakes man have some opinions of your own!

Throughout the date, she wished she would have just stayed home and worked on her campaign. There was so much she needed to get done, and she was anxious to get back to the flat and get started. She didn't really want to dwell upon what it signified that she would rather work than have lunch with a handsome man. Maybe it wasn't so much the work, but the company that was so appealing. With that thought, Anthony's voice drug her out of her thoughts.

"Hermione," she heard, muffled by her own thoughts.

"Yes," she answered trying to bring herself to listen.

"You weren't really listening were you?" Anthony asked with a knowing smile.

"I'm so sorry Anthony," she started, "I am just so busy right now and my life is in such upheavel, I don't really think I am in a good place to be seeing anyone right now."

"It's okay Hermione," Anthony chuckled. "I thought as much, but it was worth a try. If you ever do find yourself in a good place, send me an owl, yeah?"

"Will do," Hermione replied with a small smile, as she grabbed for the bill.

"No, no. I got it," Anthony protested.

"Well, thanks," she said, and walked away, thoughts of a certain blonde following her out of the cafe.

When she arrived home, it seemed quiet. She had gotten quite used to having Draco around. When had she begun to think of him as Draco, instead of Malfoy? She really wasn't sure. It was somewhat strange to know how she thought of him now, but "Draco" sounded nice all the same.

She wandered about her flat, doing this and that, catching up on chores, until finally she fell asleep on the couch, a book lain open upon her chest.

Hermione awoke the next morning to Draco loudly clattering around her kitchen.

"How did you get in here?!" she exclaimed.

"Granger old girl," he replied with a smirk. "You really need to make sure you block your floo before falling asleep. You never know what sort of riff raff could come in unannounced."

"Well now I do," she mumbled to herself, as she took the cup of coffee he offered.

"Why are you here so early anyway?" she asked

"I thought you might want to see this," he said, and handed her what appeared to be the Monday edition of the prophet. On the front page was a picture of her, smiling at Anthony Goldstein over a small cafe table under the headline "Candidate for Minister Finds a Man, or Several."

"What in the seven hells is this?!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Well," Draco began, "It seems as if a reporter snapped a photo of you and Goldstein yesterday, looking pretty cozy by the way." He commented with raised eyebrows. That, paired with a lovely interview with your ex ginger, saying that you cheated on him with me, of all blokes, made for an interesting, yet utterly shite, article. You are looking like quite the tart about now. Good thing you have such a good campaign manager to help you clean up the mess," he finished with a wink.

Hermione put her head in her hands. "How in the world am I going to come back from this. This is a public relations nightmare."

"Easy Granger," just play the whole liberated feminist card. You are a progressive candidate, running on progressive values, therefore, what does it matter that you are bumping uglies with half the wizards in Great Britain," Malfoy laughed.

"The matter is that it's not true! I obviously did not cheat on Ronald, and I went on one measly date with Anthony! This is what I get for trying to have a social life! Nothing but a mess comes from making an effort to do something for myself!"

"Measly Granger? Hmmm I guess Goldstein really doesn't know how to charm a lady. Either that or his prick is small, so which is it Granger?"

"Neither, and keep out of my business." she responded dryly.

"Neither, so his prick is big then? Wow Granger, you are a tart playing with a blokes willy on the first date. Just wait until the papers hear of this," he joked.

"Oh just shut up!" Hermione exclaimed, hitting him with the rolled up newspaper. "You know that's not what I meant. "What I meant was, the date was fine, but I won't be going on a another. And, for the record, I did not see his, his thing, don't be daft."

"Cant even call it by it's name, Granger?" well we should feed that to the prophet. They'll certainly stop calling you a tart when they find out you're a big old prude."

Hermione's only response was to sigh and lay her head on the table.

Percy Weasley's response to the article was as expected. He went on Wizarding Wireless Network, that very afternoon, saying that a candidate for Minister should conduct herself with more decency.

He also commented on Sunday's ad, calling it an "Obvious ploy by candidate Granger to invent divisions amongst our society," and "Call upon injustices that don't exist to further her own career."

By the end of the day, Draco was exhausted. He had spend the entire afternoon fielding calls from reporters touting the official statement that there was and never had been anything going on between himself and Hermione. He also stated that Hermione went to one lunch with Goldstein, and the pair decided to remain friends.

With half seven rolling around, Draco decided to search the flat for Hermione. She really should be easier to find being that this was her flat, and a very small one at that. He needed a stiff drink, or five.