Chapter 10

Hermione's POV

"Remind me again, why am I here?" I asked loudly, in order to get everyone's attention from whatever they were doing. It's been a week since my house warming party and I have never been happier in my life. Actually I was when I was in Hogwarts, but not since I have graduated.

That is because you have been with Ron the whole time.

Thanks for reminding.

And I have been working hard, since then (actually I always work hard) because I was happy. I still am. And I also forgot about the Ron incident, because I was happy. I have been sleeping well because I was happy.

It really was an amazing and a happy week.

Now here I am surrounded by my so-called friends, who were trying to set me up with someone or something like that.

"Better yet, remind me again what are you guys doing in my house?" I said looking at them when they all looked up from whatever they were doing. Pansy was crossing some things of what looked like a list, Ginny was reading a magazine and so was Daphne, Harry was reading the newspaper. Theo was busy drinking away my favorite orange juice while Blaise was in the kitchen eating my muffins, and Malfoy was just lying on the couch, doing nothing. I don't even know why the 3 of them bothered to come. While Teddy was watching the TV I had installed in his room.

"We are here to set you up with someone." Answered Pansy, looking down at her list again. And like that everyone went back to what they were doing.

"Yeah, but why?" I asked which felt like the 100th time.

"That is because we want to make Ron jealous." Ginny answered, not looking up from her magazine.

"Why?" I asked, again.

"Granger, shut up will you? You have been asking the same question again and again and that is annoying." Malfoy complained.

"Why are you even here Malfoy?" I asked. That was not something I asked before. This question caught everyone's attention.

"You sister-", he sat up and pointed a finger accusingly at Daphne "-has been stalking me ever since our so called 'date'. She has been brooding outside my house and I needed to get away. She is scary and does nothing but talk about her nails." He whined.

"Astoria?" I asked, surprised.

"Does Daphne have any other sister you know of?" Malfoy asked. I just rolled my eyes.

"Don't accuse me, you moron. I don't talk to her anymore, except on the occasions of the traditional dinners. They are a nightmare I tell you!" Daphne said, defensively.

"Wait, stalking you? What do you mean by stalking you?" Harry asked.

"What does anyone mean by stalking, you idiot? She knows where I am each and every time. Last week she followed me to Diagon Alley and purposely bumped into me. She greeted me with a kiss, like full on the lips." Draco finished horrified and wiping his lips with his shirt sleeve. We all looked at each other for a moment and burst out laughing. Blaise fell on the kitchen floor laughing which made us laugh even more.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh all you want. Just tell me when you're done." He said, and lay back again on the couch. We all stopped laughing after some time, but we could still see Malfoy fuming. They all got back to work while I closed my eyes and got comfortable on the couch.

"J. J. Bowen, Quidditch player, 27-" Pansy had started.

"Nope." I said with a sigh.

"Why?"

"Quidditch player. I am done with professional players."

And the guy I like is not a Quidditch player.

"Eden Jacobs, 30, works at the mi-" Ginny started but I cut her off.

"Nope, too old."

The guy I like is my age.

Now it was Harry's turn, "Nolan Jwaz-Jwachs… Jwachzeeki. Blimey! How do you pronounce that name?"

"Na-huh, weird name."

The one I like has a nice name, a very popular name, may I add.

Blaise who was standing behind Daphne looked into her magazine and found a name.

"What about Thomas Morgan? 29, healer at St. Mungo's, blonde. Well that's good. He is your colleague."

"Na-huh."

"Why? He is single."

"Yes, but he is gay."

And he is not the guy I like!

"Looks like someone's into gossip." Ginny pipped.

"Yeah well, the nurses are don't exactly whisper to each other."

"Wait, wait, wait!" Pansy exclaimed suddenly. We all looked at her curiously.

"I have the perfect person for you." She said happily, clasping her hands together.

"He was at Hogwarts with us." She continued.

"Uh-huh."

"He was in our year."

I know it's not going to be him, but just in case, don't let him be HIM!

"He is a Slytherin."

Well there are many Slytherins, but she is getting a little close. Just not HIM! I like HIM but I am not sure what I would do if it was HIM.

"We all know him, actually he is our friend."

I am going to die.

"He is in this very room." She said with a huge smile.

No, no, no, NO!

"Theodore Nott!"

WHAT?!

I guess I was not the only one surprised. Theo, who was sipping my orange juice, heard this and spit the juice out. As it happens, Malfoy was sitting in front of him. And the juice Theo spit out? Yeah it was all over Malfoy crisp white shirt and his pale face.

The first one to laugh was Teddy, who had come into the living room probably bored by the TV. Of course all of us laughed after that. I first had to regulate my breathing back to normal. Well Malfoy did not laugh, of course and Theo was trying to laugh but he really couldn't because of the death glare Malfoy was sending. Of course Malfoy had to go to the washroom and after he came back with a big scowl on his face, we laughed larder. Just when I thought he couldn't scowl anymore, he scowled more.

"Yeah, yeah laugh all you can. And I am not going to talk to you anymore Teddy." He declared, like a child. Teddy, being the sweetest kid, stopped laughing and went to Malfoy. He hopped into his lap but Malfoy refused to look at him.

"I am sorry Draco." He said with a pout.s

"Do you hear someone talking?" Malfoy asked us, playing along.

"Come on Draco, I said I am sorry."

"I don't know why but I keep hearing someone."

"You know you cannot resist my cuteness. I am sorry! And I promise I won't do it again."

"You promise?" Malfoy looked at him.

"Pinky promise!" Teddy answered, nodding his head

"OK, Teddy Lupin, I forgive you." Malfoy announced, "But you my friend, are not forgiven." Looking pointedly at Theo.

"As much as I would love to, I cannot date Theo." I said looking at Pansy.

"Ouch Granger, you wound me." Theo said, his hand on his heart.

"I am sorry Theo. You are hot and have a really nice arse, but no." I said with a big smile.

"I am still wounded, but it's OK, as long as you keep checking out my arse." He teased me, with a smirk.

"Do you all realize that I am still in the room?" Teddy asked suddenly, not interested in Theo arse.

We all laughed until Theo spoke up.

"I have the perfect guy for you."

"Alright, this is the last one, the I am going to kick you all out, except Teddy, of course."

"Well, he is an artist, Nicholas Jones. He is 26, a decent guy with a decent salary."

"Umm, I cannot find any faults, but…"

"Oh come one Granger! Give this guy a try. I am setting you guys up for this Wednesday at 7. Meet him at 'The Diner', OK?

"The-"

"Come on Granger, trust me on this one OK?"

"Alright." I gave up. "Now who is hungry?"

Theo's POV

Yes! The plan is working till now. I just hope it works till Wednesday. I prayed to God silently. I have never even prayed to God at my goddamn O.W.L.S! Well we were all helping (actually, only me, Pansy, Daphne and Ginny were, but it does not matter) Granger set up lunch for us. Daphne and I were setting up the dining table.

"You know what to do right?" I whispered to Daphne, tugging her elbow.

"Yeah, yeah. Give Astoria Draco's schedule and also the new password of the Malfoy Manor, so that she could sneak in, which will irritate Draco more." She recited the plan. And yes, Malfoy Manor has a password, except for the people allowed by Draco. He is paranoid in that way.

"But is that Nicholas guy a huge jerk?" Daphne interrupted his thoughts. "I mean I could have given you names of some jerks."

"Oh, you have no idea what a jerk he is. He is like the Father of all jerks!" I said with a huge grin.

"Who is the Father of all jerks?" Granger asked, as she came to the table.

"Just a guy from work." I quickly lied.

Well all we need to do now is wait. And me being me, cannot wait!

WEDNESDAY: 8:30 pm THEODORE NOTT'S APARTMENT

"THEODORE NOTT! I AM GOING TO KILL YOU RIGHT NOW!