Chapter 7 of I Work for You

Summary: Draco hires Hermione to be his 'wife' so his boss will approve of their deal. Only, Draco didn't expect to fall in love with Hermione. DM/HG. This fanfiction is based on the movie Borrowed Hearts.

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. This fanfiction is also based on the movie Borrowed Hearts. I do not own that, either.

Recap from Chapter 6:

She was about to enter the kitchen, when she heard raised voices.

"I do not like her! Percy, I am just her 'husband' because of the deal I have with Fudge. She knows that, and I know that! We will never have anything. She is still a Muggle born! I have to continue with what my parents have taught me, and I have to marry a Pureblood. Besides, Hermione is ... I wouldn't marry her if she were the last woman on Earth. In fact, if it weren't for this deal, I would have kicked her out of my house right away!" Draco shouted.

He heard a gasp from the kitchen door, and his head spun around.

There was Hermione, holding a wrapped package in her hand.

But Draco wasn't looking at that. He was staring at Hermione's face.

Hermione had tears in her eyes.

"Hermione..." he said.

Chapter 7:

Hermione didn't wait to hear Draco's explanation.

She spun around quickly and thundered up the stairs into her room, trying not to spill any of the tears that were in her eyes.

She opened the door to her room, and fled inside, without bothering to look behind her.

She slammed the door closed, and locked it, before flinging herself onto her bed.

She started to sob, "I can't believe that jerk was using me!"

"But I'm strong, and I will not let him get to me," she said, trying to regain her composure.

Drying her eyes quickly, she decided to take a quick nap, and before she knew it, she was asleep.

If Hermione had turned around, she would have seen a frustrated Draco Malfoy, with a pained expression in his eyes.

Right after Hermione ran out from the kitchen, Draco jumped up to follow her, desperately trying to explain, but to no avail.

"Hermione! Wait! I didn't mean what I said. I was only joking around. Please! I can explain."

Hearing the door slam, he knew that there was no use. He headed back toward the living room where Cornelius Fudge was sitting on the couch.

"Love life having problems?" he asked, with a raised eyebrow.

Draco flopped onto the couch. "You have no idea."

Fudge grinned, "That bad, huh?"

Draco nodded, leaning his head back against the back of the sofa, while closing his eyes.

"Why don't you take her somewhere?" asked Fudge.

"Where?"

"How about … well it is December, and it's almost your birthday. Your birthday is on December 17th, I presume?" Fudge asked, looking over his reading glasses.

Draco nodded.

"Why not ice skating?" asked Fudge in an innocent tone of voice.

Draco's eyes shot open, "That's a great idea! Thanks."

Fudge chuckled, "Anytime, my boy. Anytime."

Hermione opened one eye weakly.

"Ugh! I'm so tired. I don't want to get up," she groaned, as she lifted herself off of the bed.

She stretched her arms and decided to open the curtains, making the room seem sunnier, brighter, and happier.

"That's better," she thought to herself.

She decided, for the lack of anything better to do, to watch television.

Grabbing the remote from the cabinet, she flicked on the power.

Switching channel after channel, she came to one that showed ice skaters skating on the ice.

"Wow, this is really nice," she thought to herself.

"It's so amazing the way they can do all those jumps!" she said aloud.

She closed her eyes, imaging she was on ice; however, she was not alone in her daydream. No, she was with Draco!

She blinked, and opened her eyes.

"Whatever. If he can pretend to like me, I can pretend to like him, too. We'll be so good actors, that as soon as Fudge leaves, I will, too."

Hermione nodded and shut off the TV, jumping up.

She changed her clothes to halter top and jeans.

She raked her hair, absentmindedly, with her fingers and headed out the door.

"I really need somebody to talk to," she thought.

Ginny stepped out of the Beauty Parlor, "Beautiful 3 Salon" and headed to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink.

After seventh year, Ginny Weasley, sister of Ron Weasley, had married Harry Potter, the boy she had had a crush on for all of her life.

Her father had moved up to a higher position in the Ministry of Magic, and had earned more money.

Ginny had recently opened up her beauty salon with the help of her two good friends Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown.

Lavender was now her sister-in-law, after she had married Ron.

Ginny had found out she was pregnant, one year after her store was up and running. She had named her children Lily Potter and James Potter Jr., after Harry's deceased parents.

"Sometimes," Ginny thought, "I just can't take Parvati and Lavender's constant chatter. I need somebody to talk to, and them two are best friends."

Opening the door wearily, she headed to the back of the bar and sat down.

At once, a waitress came to take her order.

"So, ma'am. What will you be having?" she asked, taking the pen from behind her ear, and a pad of paper from her pocket.

"Uh, butterbeer please," Ginny said, rubbing her eyes.

The waitress jotted the order down, nodded curtly, and headed to get the drink.

Ginny sighed. She missed Hermione more than anything. She had not seen nor heard from her since a couple of weeks ago.

All of a sudden the bell of the Leaky Cauldron tinkled as the door opened. This implied that a customer was coming.

"Who would come at 3 in the afternoon?" thought Ginny.

"Ginny!" said a loud voice.

Ginny jumped, and looked up in surprise, "Hermione!"

Hermione laughed, "Hey, Ginny!"

"Oh my gosh! I missed you so much!" Ginny cried.

She leapt up from the booth she was sitting at, and hugged Hermione hard.

"Woman, where were you?" she asked, after they had sat down.

Hermione chuckled, after ordering a butterbeer.

"Believe it or not, but I've been living with Draco," said Hermione.

"Draco? The Draco Malfoy?" asked Ginny.

"Well, yes," stated Hermione.

"I can't believe it!" Ginny cried.

"Why are you living with him?" she asked.

"Well, it's a long story," said Hermione.

"I have time!" said Ginny.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Come on! Tell me!" Ginny protested.

Hermione nodded, "It all began when I was finishing up work at Flourish and Blott's. It was snowing, and I couldn't get home because my house was on the other side of town."

Hermione went on, but left out the part where Draco and her had kissed.

"So? What happened?" asked Ginny, who was already really into the story.

Hermione sighed, "Well, I found out it was Draco's birthday, so I went out to buy a gift for him. And to my surprise, I saw Neville."

"Neville?" asked Ginny.

"Yeah, he told me that you helped him start up his store: Engravings."

Ginny's eyes widened, "Ooh, yeah."

Hermione smiled, "Well, I wanted the words 'Draco's room' to be engraved, and well, Neville kind of got a big surprise."

Ginny grinned, "Of course!"

"So he took me out for coffee, and we talked about it."

Ginny nodded.

"Only, when I came home, I found Draco talking to Percy, saying how he just was 'marrying' me for the deal he had with Fudge, and he would have kicked me out if it weren't for that," Hermione said.

Ginny gasped, "How could he?"

Hermione smiled, a bit teary eyed.

"Well, I don't care."

Ginny nodded, knowingly, "Hermione, you know I can tell whether or not if you're lying."

Hermione laughed, lightly.

"So, don't you dare say you don't have feelings for that conceited jerk. I know you do," Ginny said, accusingly.

Hermione sighed, "You're right, Ginny. I guess I do, and I guess I can't deny my feelings any longer. But who would have thought me? Hermione Granger? Hogwarts number one student in love with a Malfoy."

Ginny patted Hermione on her arm. "Look, it was a long time ago. It doesn't matter now! Hannah Abbot is already married to Marcus Flint!"

Hermione gasped, "Really?"

Ginny smiled, "Unbelievable, huh?"

Hermione shuddered, "The very thought."

The two women looked at each other, and burst out laughing.

"So, how's your love life? How's Harry? How's work?" asked Hermione.

"Stop bombarding me with questions!" Ginny said, laughing.

"Well, Harry's okay. The twins are all right. You know how it is. They're at the age where they're fighting and everything," replied Ginny.

"How old are they?" asked Hermione.

"They're turning three next month, in January," Ginny said, smiling.

Hermione nodded, "I see."

"Yeah, and business is fine. Just today I headed here to take a break and I was thinking about how much I've missed you. You have a sensible mind, unlike Lavender and Parvati, who always want to gossip," Ginny trailed off.

Hermione smiled, "I take it you miss me?" asked Hermione.

Ginny gasped, "Of course! So does Harry."

"But my store is always jammed so I decided to take a break. And Harry is rarely ever available, which is why we couldn't send you a letter," Ginny said sadly.

Hermione nodded, "It's okay. I understand."

Ginny smiled again.

"Well, you want to come to my store and check everything out?"

"Nah, I better get back to the Malfoy Manor. I suspect that they're waiting for me."

Ginny nodded. The two got up, paid for their drinks, and left the store.

An awkward moment passed, before Hermione threw her arms around Ginny.

"Thanks, Gin. I really appreciate what you said," Hermione said.

Ginny grinned, "Anytime. And if you need me, I'm there for you."

Hermione smiled.

The two women departed the spot, and headed off to their own lives.

All of a sudden, Hermione turned.

"Ginny!" she frantically yelled.

Ginny turned around, "Yes?"

Hermione ran towards her friend.

"Please don't tell Harry or Ron that … I'm living with Draco or anything."

Ginny nodded, "Okay, I'll keep it a secret."

"Thank you!" said Hermione, before saying bye to Ginny.

Hermione sighed as she thought of going back to the Manor.

"All right, I am going to take Hermione ice skating."

Fudge nodded.

"Do you mind if I leave tonight?" asked Draco.

"Oh, not at all!" insisted Fudge.

Draco smiled, and muttered a word of thanks, before going up the stairs to Hermione's room.

"Knock, knock!" Draco rapped his knuckles against the door.

"Where's Hermione?" he asked himself. He frowned and searched his mind. 'She didn't ask me if she could leave…' he thought.

"Alohomora!" he muttered, holding out his wand.

The door opened, and to Draco's utter amazement, the room was empty.

"Oh, no!" exclaimed Draco. "Did she run away?"

"No!" he cried.

He stepped into her room, but it seemed as if everything was in place. He shrugged, and went downstairs.

When he was out in the garden, he found Benjamin.

"Ben! Have you seen Hermione?" Draco asked.

Benjamin shook his head. "No, sir. I haven't seen her for quite a while."

Draco said thank you anyway, and hurried away.

"Now where could she be?" he asked himself.

"In the bathroom?"

"In the pool or Jacuzzi?"

"In the kitchen? That woman loves to eat!"

"But it was just lunch, and I don't think she'll be hungry," he trailed off.

He decided to let Hermione be. Wherever she went, it was her business and it wasn't Draco's business.

"For all I know, she could be up in a corner of the Manor sulking, after all the horrible things that I have just said earlier today."

All of a sudden, he heard a bright tune being hummed.

He looked behind him, and he found he was in front of his Manor.

Ahead of him was Hermione.

"Hermione!" Draco yelled.

Hermione glanced up and saw Draco.

Her cheery expression disappeared, and in its place, set a gloomy, depressing one.

"Yikes! Did I do that?" thought Draco.

"Uh, where were you?" Draco asked, in his most demanding tone.

"Out," was Hermione's simple reply.

"Out?" asked Draco, with a raised eyebrow.

"Do I need your permission to go out? Or should I stay in your house and suffer?" she said to him.

"Look, I'm taking you somewhere special tonight, and I need you to be ready."

Hermione shrugged, "Where?" she asked.

Draco smirked, "It's a surprise."

Hermione nodded, "Right. Sure."

Hermione went into the Manor, and went to change her clothes.

"Who does he think he is?" asked Hermione to herself.

"The very thought of bossing me around, as if I were his toy!" huffed Hermione.

"Well, I'll show him!"

"We're going somewhere special. I'll be so beautiful, he'll regret he ever said that to me!" announced her voice triumphantly in her head.

Draco shook his head.

"Where is she? She's over fifteen minutes late!" groaned Draco, checking his watch for the umpteenth time.

Percy threw his head back and laughed.

"She's probably trying to impress you."

Draco sighed, and looked at the guy who had decided to accompany Draco and Hermione to ice skating because he claimed he needed more "fun in his life."

Draco had laughed when Percy had stated the fact.

"I have never heard of such a line!"

Percy had pouted, and said that it was true.

"You're just here to ruin the night, aren't you?" asked Draco to Percy.

Percy groaned. "Not this discussion again! No! I'm here to provide support to Hermione and you."

Draco nodded. "Of course you are."

Percy grinned, "Do you think I'm an idiot?"

Draco nodded. "Yes."

Percy tilted his head, "Really?"

Draco chuckled.

Percy shrugged and said, "I don't care."

Draco looked at his watch again, and stated, "She's now twenty minutes late."

"Oh, so now you're counting?" asked a voice.

Draco looked up, and gasped.

It was an angel.

Author's Note: Review, please.