I'm so sorry its been so long since I updated! I was going to update on Thursday… but it snowed (YAY YAY YAY!!!) and I lost power for almost 2 days (NO NO NO!!!) so my wireless wasn't working… and my computer had no battery.
ANYWAY… R&R please:)
Tons and tons and tons of thanks to:
Velvetrhymes: Wow! Thank you so much! It's so awesome to hear you like my story that much=) I try to keep them in character… cheesy would be bad! Thanks for subscribing… I hope this chapter keeps you interested! Please continue to review if you can… it makes me happy!
MilkMustache: Thank you for continuing to review=) I'm so glad you liked the fight scene… I was really unsure about how it came out! And yes, I have absolutely no experience with martial arts but I think they're awesome and my friend and I want to learn:D Sorry, no Quidditch scenes this time but I'll try to get there soon!
Tigersky7: I'm so happy you like it so far, and I hope you continue to enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I wrote it. I don't own it:_(
…
"Talking"
Thinking (or a letter or dreaming)
…
Training was going well…at least for Malfoy. Hermione continued to pin him a few times per lesson, but he'd learned an incredible amount in the week-and-a-half that they'd been training. As he smugly reminded her whenever possible, he could now beat her up (though by no means easily).
All the same, Hermione was looking forward to their class that Thursday night: she was as ravenous as ever when it came to learning, and they were scheduled to begin wand-related combat.
Sitting on her sofa in her teeny PJ shorts and tank top, Hermione stretched. It was 10 o'clock in the morning: she didn't have to work at Flourish and Blotts until noon, so she had some time to kill. Maybe I'll go see Harry, Ron and Ginny… I haven't watched their Quidditch practice for awhile…
Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud popping and crackling noise. Someone was flooing her. It must be Ginny…. She said she wanted to talk to me. Hermione mused. But wait… I thought she'd be Quidditch practice?
Before she had a chance to move, Malfoy's sleekly shaggy blond head appeared in her grate.
Hermione squealed, and jumped to pull a blanked over herself. Malfoy closed his eyes quickly.
"I did not need to see that, mudblood!" He cried, sounding uncharacteristically perturbed.
"Well, good, I certainly didn't want you to. How was I supposed to know the amazing bouncing ferret would be flooing?!?" She responded indignantly.
"You should always be covered up… After all, who would want to look at that?" Hermione felt a lump rise in her throat as Malfoy spoke. "I guess only Weasel would stoop that low."
Heat rose to Hermione's cheeks as tears welled in her eyes. He doesn't know Ron and I broke up. Hermione realized. Doubtless he'd be even crueler if he did.
"Well, I'm certainly glad you find me unattractive, Malfoy. If were checking me out, I'd have to kill myself," she responded loftily, completely hiding her emotions.
"Maybe I should lie, and say you're attractive just to get rid of you," Malfoy smirked. Hermione sighed, and pulled the paisley blanked tighter around her shoulders.
"What do you want, anyway, Malfoy?"
"As you know, each auror partner team can skip a class a month. We're skipping tonight."
"What?! You can't just decide that! We have to pick a day that we both need off to skip!"
"Sorry, Granger, I'm simply not going tonight."
"Why? Taking one of your whores out?" She accused, miffed.
"I know there are a million witches who would kill to be with me," he gloated. Hermione snorted. Talk about egotistical! "But I have mandatory Puddlemere United practice."
"I thought your practices were during the day."
"This is a special practice. We have our first match on Sunday."
Well, I guess I'll get a chance to hang out with my friends…. Hermione realized. Maybe this isn't such a bad thing.
"OK… See you tomorrow night, unfortunately, and please break your neck."
"In your dreams, frizz brain."
…
Hermione turned to lock the back door to Flourish and Blotts, and sighed deeply. It was half past 5: her shift at the popular bookshop was over. It'd been and uneventful day.
The most exciting thing had been hearing a couple of witches (buying frivolous beauty books) gossip about what a bastard Draco Malfoy was. Apparently two of the had been unceremoniously dumped by him, and he'd stood up the third. Shaking her head, Hermione tried to banish the slimy blond from her thoughts.
Time to go have a chat with my friends, she decided as she slipped into an alley, and vanished with a small pop.
...
Hermione arrived at Ginny's flat, and was not surprised to find Harry and Ron seated at the table, both shoving their faces as though their lives depended on it. But, if she had to pick a winning slob, it would definitely be Ron.
"'Hmion!" Ron cried, spraying treacle all over the small, tidy kitchen. Hermione laughed. It'd been awhile since she'd hung out with Harry and the two youngest Weasleys.
"Chew, Ron!" She said with mocked severity. "That's disgusting!"
Ginny emerged from her room, carrying a pile of laundry. Her pretty face broke into a grin as she spotted Hermione.
"Hermione! I thought you had classes on Thursdays! It's great to see you!"
"Well, we're allowed to miss one lesson a month, and my partner had an impromptu Quidditch practice." Harry, Ron, and Ginny were surprised by Hermione's words.
"You have a partner already? They play Quidditch? Why didn't you tell us?" Ginny asked curiously, as Harry and Ron gulped down their mouthfulls.
"I just forgot." Hermione excused herself, not meeting her friends' eyes.
"So what team does your partner play for?" Harry asked mildly.
"Puddlemere United," Hermione mumbled.
"They must be good!" Ginny crowed enthusiastically. "We should go flying with them sometime!"
"Who's your partner?" Ron butted in, looking suspicious. He'd never quite gotten over their breakup. "It's not a bloke, is it?"
"Yes, it is."
"Well, who? C'mon Mione!" Ginny pleaded. Hermione closed her eyes. Merlin give me strength! Here goes…
"Malfoy. Draco Malfoy."
The effect was immediate, the cheery kitchen deathly quiet. Finally, Ron's fork clattered loudly to the table, breaking the heavy silence. Ginny's mouth opened and closed like a dying fish. Ron looked like he'd been run over by the Night Bus. Harry looked suspiciously unsurprised.
Finally, Ron spoke, almost screaming.
"WHAT THE HELL?!!? That bloody git! What are you doing with him Mione!?"
"Ron!" Ginny shouted angrily. "It's not Hermione's fault, the auror department assigns pairs. You should feel BAD for Hermione!"
Ron looked slightly abashed.
"Well, Malfoy's changed a lot since the war… and he was a valuable spy for The Order. I'm sure you're the most tolerant witch there, that's why you got him, if you ask me. Kingsley has faith in you," Harry stated. His quiet words rung in her ears, dancing and multiplying in her head. Kingsley has faith in you…Kingsley has faith in you…. Kingsley has faith in you.
Suddenly, Hermione realized there was no getting out of the situation: giving up would be letting everyone down, everyone who was counting on her to create a powerful and successful partnership, and catch the rogue Deatheaters plaguing the wizarding world.
Hermione must have looked particularly glum, because Ginny patted her shoulder soothingly.
"You know what we need, Mione?" Ginny asked, her eyes sparkling with mischievous anticipation. Hermione shook her head dubiously: that was a bad sign. "A girls night out!"
…
Hermione felt entirely stupid.
Ginny had enthusiastically gone about dolling them both up: lavish makeup, stylized hair, cutting-edge and far too revealing (in Hermione's opinion) outfits.
Ginny looked stunning in a simple, extremely short, sparkling and rather formal scoop-neck black dress made more casual with forest green tights, matching green dangling earrings and matching green pumps.
The redhead wore dark eyeliner and green eye shadow on her lids, accenting her luscious brown eyes. Her lips were stained with maroon , and her creamy cheeks touched with the palest rough. Her long, wine-colored locks hung down her back in shining waves.
Hermione wore jean overalls with a sequined green beater the same shade as Ginny's tights underneath. Of course, they weren't just normal overalls (much to Hermione's chagrin): instead of long pants, the bottom half was an extremely short, tight jean mini skirt revealing her long and bare legs. Her outfit was topped off with yellow and green striped heels.
Her makeup looked a bit rocker, she realized: smoky black eyeliner all around her bright hazel eyes with reddish lipstick. Her hair was done up in a messy bun with tendrils prettily framing her face, tied with a yellow bow to match her shoes.
God! thought Hermione. I look absolutely awful! Ridiculous! I'll probably trip over my heels giving everyone a good view of my arse and then end up sitting in a corner while Ginny picks up guys!
As though she'd learned occlumency, Ginny smiled reassuringly.
"You look gorgeous, Herms, don't worry."
Indeed, Hermione couldn't see it, but she was just as stunning as her statuesque friend.
…
The club was already crowded when Hermione and Ginny arrived. The sweating, pulsing mass of dancers made Hermione cringe. This REALLY isn't my thing! she stubbornly thought.
Ginny grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her enthusiastically towards the throng.
"I come here all the time when the Chudley Cannons do our 'team bonding' nights!" She yelled over the hubbub.
Hermione nodded resignedly, and allowed herself to be led.
"Just let go and relax Mione! It'll be fun!" Ginny encouraged.
The girls made their way towards the bar. Hermione hung back.
"Two firewhiskeys for us, Will!" the redhead called to the barman.
"Er… Gin? You know I don't drink firewhiskey!" Hermione hissed to her friend.
Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Take it back! One firewhiskey, one butterbeer!" she yelled.
Hermione appreciatively.
"C'mon, let's dance!" shouted Ginny, grabbing Hermione's hands again and draggin her out onto the dance floor.
…
It had to be past midnight, but Hermione couldn't be sure: didn't see a clock anywhere. She was starting to feel a bit warm and fuzzy after her fifth butterbeer. Ginny was officially smashed: she had had at least as many firewhiskeys.
Hermione certainly surprised herself by having fun--she took Ginny's advice, and let go. I really need to relax more often! She realized.
She'd also been surprised by the attention she was getting: every song, there was practically a line of young wizards, waiting to ask her or Ginny to groove along to the trendy, loud beats with them.
Now, she was dancing to a slow song by the Wicked Werewolves, in the arms of an extremely attractively but unfortunately completely brainless wizard. From their brief conversation, she had discovered was a wrestler, and not much of a talker. More the physical type, he'd stated suggestively when she asked. Go figure! she thought sarcastically.
Swaying to the music, Hermione closed her eyes and lay her head against the man's toned chest. It felt…nice to lean on someone who didn't know who she was, didn't expect her to be the most brilliant witch of the age, didn't judge her at all: she almost enjoyed being just another anonymous, pretty face.
But I'd get so tired of it if this was my whole existence! She thought. This makes me really appreciate having a life where I'm actually trying to accomplish something… and friends who love me for being Hermione-the-bookworm!
The song ended, and the wizard bent down to place a burning kiss on her smooth cheek. As Hermione moved away and a fast-paced dance beat blared from the speakers, someone behind her cleared their throat. Another one, asking to dance, She assumed.
"May I have the next dance?" The stranger asked in an smooth drawl.
Why does that sound so familiar? Hermione thought blearily.
Turning around, all fuzziness disappeared from her head. Draco Malfoy!!! You inconvenient ferret bastard you!!!
Indeed, Malfoy stood over Hermione, looking just as shocked as she did: he clearly hadn't recognized her when he asked for the dance.
As his eyes flicked up and down her body, the normal Hermione came crashing back with vengeance. Suddenly, she felt naked and self-conscious.
"Why are you here, Granger?" He asked, clearly nonplussed.
"I could ask you the same thing. Quidditch practice my foot! We should have gone to class!"
"It doesn't look like you minded having the night off. My team decided to come here after practice."
"Well, sod off Malfoy, anyone can go clubbing! And you certainly can't have a bloody dance," Hermione scoffed.
"Like I'd want to dance with the likes of you!"
"The likes of me?!? The likes of you! I wouldn't be caught dead dancing with an arrogant bastard like you!"
Both glared daggers at each other.
Just then, Ginny came lurching into view, leading a string of equally drunk young wizards. As she swerved by the tables surrounding the dance floor, she tripped, falling into a table and landing in a still heap on the floor with a crash.
Hermione ran over to her friend, and knelt beside her.
"Ginny! Ginny!" She yelled desperately.
Hermione was surprised to feel a gentle hand on her shoulder. Turning, she saw Malfoy.
"She'll be fine." He murmured. "She's just a little drunk. But shut the hell up, the last thing we need is a picture of you and Weaslette in those ridiculous outfits on the cover of Witch Weekly."
"Why do you care, ferret?"
Malfoy smirked contemptuously.
"I thought it would be obvious. I'm not stupid: you're… well known for being Harry Pooper's friend. You being here, with Weaslette and without Scarface and Weaselbee, would get you a ton of publicity if you were recognized, which would be inconvenient for me because we are auror partners. As your auror partner I am most unfortunately obligated to help you whenever you're in a tight spot."
Selfish as always! Hermione harrumphed to herself. But she was in no position to argue.
"What do I do?"
"Get her back to her flat."
"How?!? I can't apparate with her while she's unconscious!"
"How far is her flat?"
Hermione shrugged.
"A half hour maybe?"
Malfoy sighed exasperatedly.
"I'll help you. But don't expect charity again, mudblood."
…
About an hour later, Hermione and Malfoy arrived at Ginny's flat. The slytherin king helped the gryffindor princess lug Ginny up the stairs.
The awkward group stopped outside Ginny's door, and Hermione fumbled in her friend's purse for the key.
As she shuffled in the dark, the door swung open. Shocked, Hermione jumped back. Losing her balance, she toppled into poor, unprepared Malfoy. They fell to the ground, a mass of arms and legs. Hermione found herself on top of Malfoy, their faces mere inches from each others'.
Both froze. To Hermione and Draco, that moment seemed like a lifetime. The world fell away as Hermione stared into the entrancing, silvery blue eyes shining through the darkness. So beautiful, so soulful and deep! She thought before she could catch herself. Unbeknownst to Hermione, Malfoy was thinking exactly the same thing.
Before they could tear themselves away, Ron stood illuminated in the doorway. He quickly surveyed the scene, taking in Hermione and Malfoy in an apparently compromising position on the floor, and Ginny propped against the wall, out cold, next to them.
Hermione sprang to her feet as Malfoy practically threw her away, doing his best to be disgusted.
"Ron! We were just bringing Ginny back from the club! Please help! She had to much to drink!" She explained, clearly flustered.
"We?!? What the fuck, Hermione! You and Malfoy, huh?!! You and Gin went to a club with Malfoy?!?"
Hermione laughed. This is all so ridiculous! Ron knows I'm not like that.
"Merlin's Bullocks, Hermione, if you wanted a shag, you could've picked a better person!" Ron continued shouting, his eyes stormy.
"Shhh! It's not like that, Ronald! We just met him there by accident, and he helped bring Ginny home, because as my partner he felt obligated!"
Even as she said it, Hermione felt Ron's suspicious eyes rake over he. Shit! I really do look like a slut! She realized.
"I'll take care of Ginny," Ron said, his voice steely. "Go on, go off with Malfoy."
"Ron! No! You know me, I'd never do that! That's just disgusting!"
"I thinks it's time I left," Malfoy interjected smoothly, but Hermione thought she saw the tiniest flicker of hurt in his eyes before his customary cold front slid back into place.
Bastard! He could've said there wasn't anything between us! Hermione cursed to herself as Malfoy slipped into the night.
"Hermione, if you go clubbing with that rotten piece of Blast-ended Skrewt dung, you're no friend of mine."
Ron slammed the door in Hermione's face: a second later, she heard the lock click.
…
Wow! That was wicked long… Did you like it? Hate it? I'm trying to make Ron… an exaggerated version of the sometimes jealous and stupid person he can be in HP.
Well, you know what I'll say next! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW YEAH!!!
Last chapter, I got a few reviews but I got way more when I refused to update til I got 'em…
so I'm not going to update until I get 20 REVIEWS TOTAL!
Again, good feedback, criticism, suggestions… all welcome! Please review and tell me what you thought! I tried to get some… action….
In without making Hermione and Draco spontaneously leap into each others arms… that would be cheesy.