Name: The girl next door

Whom I happen to hate…

Rating: M

Summary: Draco Malfoy and his family have to be part of the Death Eater rehabilitation program. To do that, they must give up all their money; give up magic for a year, and move into a muggle neighborhood, guess who his next-door neighbor is? A funny story!

Author: Chaos

Warning: Does not follow all of the books plot.

A/N: I know the last chapter moved a little fast, and frankly I don't see Hermione just sleeping with Draco and not being all rational about it first, but the plot has to take that course or the story won't be any good. I can also assure you that Hermione won't run back to Eddie, like ever...

Chaos

DMGH

Chapter 5: Heartaches

The next two weeks weren't much different then the one before. Except for the fact that Narcissa didn't breakdown as much. The Malfoy's ate at their house more often and Lucius actually laughed at Robert Granger's jokes, which by Hermione's record were not funny.

Hermione sat in her yard thinking about the last week. Draco hadn't been indifferent with her. He had actually been sort of sweet, it was her that had been pushing him away. She was totally confused.

I mean Lucius Malfoy was supposed be this vicious Death Eater who didn't even try to contact Muggles, but there he was in her living room watching soccer with her dad. Narcissa Malfoy was supposed to be this fragile thing that didn't talk, but she was happy, except when she broke down about something stupid she couldn't do like sweep. Yet Jane Granger and Narcissa had easily become friends.

And Draco Malfoy was supposed to tease her, and her friends and they were supposed to hate each other. Yet she felt something for him, they had slept together and Draco was being sweet and kind. Hermione didn't understand why the Malfoy's were being like this. She knew they had to interact with Muggles and be nice to them, but she just didn't see them blending in so well and so fast.

She had drifted away from Draco after that night. He hadn't complained, just looked slightly hurt, though he did hide it well. When she thought she might have heard him sound hurt, it was instantly covered up with his ice cold voice. He didn't want to be that way, but if she was going to drift away and pretend nothing happened, then he would too.

DMGH

"Draco?" Narcissa said knocking on the door and walking into the room. Draco opened his eyes, and looked at his mother. Narcissa sighed and sat down.

"What happened between you and that Granger girl," she said. She couldn't remember her name, lately it seemed she couldn't remember anything. Draco sat up, he could not believe his mother was about to give him a pep talk.

"What?" he asked. Narcissa sighed. She had never been close to her son before. Though she had read in one of those parenting books Jane had lent her that when your children had a problem, showing them they had someone to confine in was the best treatment.

"I just, I want to know what happened. I mean I know what happened the other day, but you both suddenly stopped talking. And I'm not saying that's unusual for you, it's not. But this time you seem…" Narcissa tried to find the right word for it. "…depressed." she said finally.

Draco looked down at his lap. This was hard. He had never talked openly with his mother before, he had always been taught to hide his feelings, now she was telling him to open up. He sighed.

"I don't know," he said truthfully. "She just pushed herself away," he continued. Narcissa looked at her heartbroken son, and felt her own heart melting.

"You really like her, huh?" she asked. Draco looked up at his mom and sighed.

"I don't know, I'm not sure really," he answered. Narcissa smiled. She looked at Draco and gave a slight chuckle.

"You, my dear son, are in love with her." she said. Draco looked at his mother as if he suddenly realized she was on drugs.

"WHAT! Mother please I highly doubt that's possible," he said. Narcissa laughed slightly.

"Draco, you've grown up these past weeks. More than I could ever dream you would. Believe it or not it was because of her." his mother continued. Draco looked back down at his lap, he felt as if he was a small defenseless five-year-old again.

"So what do I do?" he asked. Narcissa smiled as the doorbell rang.

"If my instinct is right, and it usually is, I think you're going to have a chance to talk to her soon." she said getting up. "Tell her how you feel. And not just about her, but about what you feel like when she drifts away," she finished as Hermione knocked on the door and opened it. Hermione looked from Draco to Narcissa who smiled at her and left the room, closing the door behind her. Hermione walked up to Draco and sat next to him on the bed. Draco turned to her but before he could say anything, Hermione had kissed him.

The kiss was not sweet and gentle either, it was rough and needy. Draco grabbed Hermione closer to him, before pulling her away from him. Hermione looked curiously at him.

"What happened?" he asked, fearing the truth he knew he was about to hear. Hermione sighed and sat on the bed.

"Eddie came over…"

Flashback

"Hermione, please I'm sorry," Eddie begged. Hermione glared at him, the nerve!

"I don't care how sorry you are, I'm not going out with you again," she said. Eddie glared at her.

"What the hell do you see in him that you don't in me?" he asked. Hermione sighed.

"It doesn't matter because I'm not seeing him," she said feeling herself loose control. She could feel her cheeks become red with her hot temper.

"This is a one time opportunity Hermione, I won't ask again." Eddie said. Hermione felt just about ready to blow it.

"Well thanks, but I think I'll skip your offer," she said her voice beginning to rise with every word.

"Mark my words, you won't ever find a man like me again," Eddie said. Hermione glared at him.

"You're right. Because I've already found someone much better," she said then closed the door and walked straight past him towards Draco's house.

End flashback

Hermione stared at Draco. He glared at her, she didn't even realize why it was that he was feeling this way. She had stood up for him. Said straight out that she thought him much better than Eddie. She thought he would be happy about this.

"Granger, I'm not just some comfort spot for you to go running off to when ever you fight with your precious 'Eddie'" Draco slipped. He was furious that she would never come to him for another reason except the fact that she had fought with Eddie.

"I know that," Hermione said.

"Obviously you don't." he said hotly. "Because you always come crawling to me whenever you two fight. And ignore me any other time,"

"That's not true," Hermione said.

"It isn't? When you broke up with him, you came and slept with me. Then you ignored me for two weeks. Now that ruddy bloke shows up again you two fight and your back over here expecting me to welcome you with open arms." he said. Hermione stared at him, this was not what she had been expecting.

"I like you." he said. Hermione looked indifferent. "I don't think you get that," he said. "I like you a lot. Enough to go back to Hogwarts and not care what other people say if they saw us together. But I refuse to be your rebound." he said, then he walked out of his own room and left Hermione sitting there, dumbfounded.

DMGH

The next day, Draco was mowing the lawn for his mother when he saw Hermione and her parents loading Crookshanks into the back seat and her Hogwarts trunk into the back. Draco looked at her and stopped the mowing machine.

"Where you going?" he asked. Hermione looked up at him and swallowed hard.

"The Burrow. I'm going to stay with the Weasley's tonight then were all heading to the Black house to be with Harry before school starts." she added.

"Oh," Draco said slightly. "Fine," he said, his voice cold once more, as he turned back to his job and turned his back to Hermione. She swallowed again and got into her family's car. Draco slowly watched as they drove away, swearing to forget anything he felt for Hermione Granger that very moment.

Even if it killed him inside.