Hermione awoke once again at 6 o'clock in the morning; the sun had hardly awaken when Hermione was dressed and ready for the world.

For the past three years Hermione had worked every second of every waking moment towards her goal, her new dream, to become the manager of the Department of Mysteries. She had heard that a new manager was in charge, her boss reminded her that she would get her chance and not to worry, he was sure the new guy wouldn't last long.

Sighing she apparated right to the door of the Department of Mysteries, she would get her chance, after all she was the brightest witch of her age.

Walking through the Department to her usual office a voice called out to her, "Hermione please come here for a moment, I'd like you to meet the new manager since you'll be working very close."

Entering the Head Office her co worker greeted her with a kind handshake, "Ms. Granger this is-" before he could finish he was cut off.

"Malfoy?!?"

"Yes Granger?" Draco drawled in an uninterested manner as he turned to look at her, instead of the hate that she thought would be present there was a look of shock plastered on his face. His eyes left her face as they slowly looked the girl no...women up and down.

He! Malfoy! Got the promotion over...OVER ME! It could have been anyone but MALFOY?! Well at least he is good looking.

No he's not.

Yes he is.

NO HE'S NOT

First step is denial!

"I see you two know each other then?" the man decided he should intervene in case Hermione got a little too mad about being skipped over for the promotion.

"Now if you'll excuse me Granger, I have work to do as the new Manager," Draco sneered finally waking from his shocked state, finally able to tear his eyes from Hermione.

Hermione stomped out of the office, past her own and up to the front desk where she left a note explaining she was sick and she would take the day off. She needed to get as far away from Malfoy as possible before she did something she might regret...

Like kiss him?

No like kill him.

Kiss.

Kill.

"Get better soon Ms. Granger," the women at the desk said waving to Hermione as she excited in an angry manner, more angry because of her personal conflict then anything else.

"He is just a stupid Git, even if he is good looking he is still a jerk." Hermione whispered angrily under her breath.

Just as Hermione apparated to her flat and flopped on the couch an Owl swooped in and dropped a pink parchment on her lap. Curiously eying the unknown address in the corner, she had never seen it before, who could it be from? Opening it she started to read...

Dear Hermione Granger,

You've been invited to the Wedding of Pansey Parkinson and Ronald Weasley on December 1st. We will be awaiting your arrival and that of your date.

Much Love

Pansy and Ron

Reading it for the forth time there was a dintinct crack as a young red headed witch appeared in the middle of Hermione's living room wide eyes frantically looking around. Finally her eyes rested on Hermione, she ran over and snatched the invitation from her hands.

"Hermione, please tell me, tell me you didn't read that!" Ginny exclaimed clearly distressed.

Hermione took a moment before registering that Ginny was there and another few minutes before realizing what Ginny had said. Unable to say anything, Hermione nodded slowly.

"Oh Hermione! No one saw this coming! I mean Mum always pictured you two getting back together and now she thinks that Ronald's gone crazy! She was even thinking about sending him to St. Mungos!" Ginny cried out enveloping Hermione in a hug her own eyes brimmed with tears.

"Ginny..." was all Hermione could say before breaking into uncontrolable sobs just as there was another loud crack and an unwelcome voice pierced the air.

"Granger?" came the hesitant voice, for the first time unsure of himself.

"Go away Malfoy! She doesn't need you here now!" Ginny yelled a piercing glare penetrating Draco.

"What's wrong with her?! She wasn't like this at the office, is this over that promotion?" Draco's voice had gone from slight concern almost too faint to notice back to that of a snide remark.

Throwing the invitation at Malfoy Ginny started in on him, "How Dare You! Can't you see she's hurt?! It's not over some promotion!!"

Draco stood stuck for words at Ginny's rage and Hermione's wails and sobbing, unwrinkled the paper. Reading it over he finally understood and yet it didn't make any sense, the last time he had seen Weasel and Granger they were making their own wedding plans. The only thing that came to mind to say was, "Are you going to attend the wedding?"

"What?" Hermione was so taken back by that single question that she stopped sobbing altogether.

Well are you? Going to go?" Draco repeated seeing the look of pain on her face he decided to explain. "You should, go I mean. I mean Weasel obviously doesn't deserve you even if you are-" a mudblood, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. What's wrong with me? "I mean look Granger, your successful, bright, and well pretty."

"Pretty? You.." Hermione sniffed lightly, "think I'm pretty?"

"Yes... of course, for a muggle born that is," Draco's smirk had returned. He looked smug, too smug and Hermione was getting annoyed. "Well then, I say that you go and show Weasel what he is missing, make him look like the fool he is, after all he is getting the worse deal, marrying that ugly bitch whilst you remain single."

"Will...will you come with me?" Hermione said slowly unsure of why she was even asking, this was her enemy she was talking about. The boy she had wished to hex into the next century, the boy who she wished she could have torn limp from limp with her bare hands, and now she was asking him for a... a date?!? "Please." she added as an after thought.

"Well Granger I'll go on one condition you get to work right now, and without any complaints either, after all I am your boss," Draco drawled back to his normal self.

"I'll get her showered and dressed Mal- I mean Draco. How about we all go out for supper tonight? It will brighten everyone's day I'm sure." Ginny spoke up rather annoyed he had ignored her.

"I don't think, I mean I don't want to be seen with a mud-" but with a look at Hermione Draco changed his mind, after all this would be the perfect way to teach Weasley a lesson, one of jealousy maybe, and Potter would be so angry. "Fine."

I don't care if Weasley broke her heart, no I will use her to get back at Weasel and Potty. She really doesn't deserve better then that cheating Weasel but this might be interesting...

You like her.

No I don't.

Yes you do.

No I don't she is a mudblood.

But she's hot.

And smart

And perfect...

NO!

"Right see you at work Granger."

The rest of the day went by without a thought, 7 o'clock dinner was fast approaching. Hermione left work at 6pm to get ready, she didn't really know why she would spend so much time to get ready to make herself presentable. Oh well she would be spending dinner with Harry and Ginny, it was worth to look nice for them at least.

Forty five minutes latter, two shots of Fire Whiskey, and Draco was at Hermione's door knocking. His enemy for seven years, and now his date to dinner. 'I wonder what Blaise would think of this?'

Thinking of Blaise's reaction, Draco hadn't noticed that Hermione had opened the door already and was staring at him up and down, if he didn't know any better he would have thought she was checking him out.

Hermione stood in a white sparkle dress which reached down around her ankles with a slit in the side that climbed above her knee. A usual plain face was painted with light- red lips, long black lashes, and blushing cheeks, a vision worthy of a cliche. To finish the overall look Hermione had let her curls hand free, non-frizzy, non bushy, shiny, silken curls.

Why is he staring? Do I have something on my face? Is the dress too white? Hermione questioned her appearance nervouslyhe cheeks burned with embarrassment. "Malfoy? Is there something wrong?"

Breaking away from his trance Draco tried his best to look in her eyes, finding he couldn't, he suddenly found his fingers very interesting. "Nothing Granger, now come on let's get this over with. After all I'm doing you a favor, dinner with a handsome rich young man like myself, you should be very thankful."

"In your dreams Malfoy. You don't have to come."

"No, I really want to see Potter's face when I walk in with you," Draco commented a smirk on his lips.

Apparating in front of the restaurant of L'amour Miracle, the two walked in looked around for Harry and Ginny.

"MALFOY??!" came the distinct shout of Harry Potter as he spotted the couple walking over.

"Calm down Harry its just dinner," Ginny reassured Harry as she tried not to dry more attention to them. Although Harry was doing a great job as he sat fuming and cursing loud enough for the whole world to hear.

Draco politely pulled out a chair for Hermione who blushingly sat down. "Good evening Ginny, how are you?" Harry's mouth nearly dropped to the table, Malfoy? Polite? This world really has gone completely insane.

"Evening Potter," this time draco let out a small amount of venom in his voice which quietly disappeared," I heard Weasel is getting married to pugg face, that's low even for him you know."

"Mal-Draco," Harry started to call him Malfoy but Ginny swiftly kicked him under the table. "Ron's my best mate I have to respect his decisions."

"You can't actually be sticking up for Weasley, I mean seriously Potter he is either insane or stupider then even I imagined to marry Pansy." Draco commented after they had ordered a few things to eat. All the while Hermione kept quiet unsure of what to say. "Look at Hermione, then at Pansy, who would you honestly choose? Even I would rather marry Hermione then kiss Pansy even once."

"I know Draco, but seriously Ron chose Pansy, everyone thinks he's crazy even me. I've tried talking to him but he has forgo-" Harry stopped mid-sentence suddenly aware of the awkward silence of the girls.

"Enough talk on Weasel, how about a friendly dance mudblood?" Draco said turning to Hermione who seemed too shocked to answer. Malfoy took the silence as a yes pulling her up into a warm dancing embrace, his eyes baring into her.

"Thank you Draco." Hermione said as she took his unblinking eyes to be a challenge of power, this time she was ready and would not bow to him.

"For what? I didn't do anything, and I wouldn't either. I'd never help a filthy mudblood." he answered without a thought to his words as he was aware of Hermione's breath on his cheek, just inches away from his lips.

"Whatever Malfoy, you'll not bring me down, you know your not superior to me, even if you got the promotion. We are equals my manners are just better then yours."

"Granger I will always be superior to you, your lucky I'm even here." Draco snapped back.

"Why are you here? Well if I am just a mudblood to you?"

"I... Well I like to torment you is all."

"Right Malfoy."

Surprisingly the rest of the dinner went very well with no arguing, no name calling just normal conversation.

"Don't forget it's next week on Monday, we'll see you both there." Ginny called out waving good-bye as Draco and Hermione apparated back to her flat.

"Thanks for coming tonight Draco. It was not too bad, I might say I even had a little fun," Hermione said glancing at Draco who was yet again staring at her.

"Pleasure was all mine Granger," Draco said whispering. Curious Hermione turned around to figure out why, then she understood, Draco was directly behind her only inches away, so close she could feel his quick breathing. Her face turned to an apple red as she heard the quick beating of her own heart pounding in her ears.

Thinking in such a situation seems to elude people, becoming an impossible task. Neither of them could think let alone breath at the moment. Surprising to anyone Draco broke the silence with a most surprising, unthought of, unexpected action...

He kissed her.

Leaning into the warmth, which was created by two bodies being so close, Draco pressed his lips to Hermiones as electricity sparked between them. At first Hermione was too startled to do anything then surprising not only Draco but herself she rivaled the pressure which he placed on her lips.

What am I doing? Draco thought but as quick as the thought came it was gone, his tongue tracing over Hermione's bottom lip begging entrance.

Hermione was surprised by her actions, this kiss was different then Ron's, it was fiery, passionate, and well for lack of a better word, hot; very unlike Ron's sweet, gentle, innocent kiss that they had shared so long ago.

Somehow they had ended up on her couch each fighting to have control, as Draco pushed her down she fought to stay up.

ron...

Draco had won as Hermione was pushed back down onto the couch his hands following her curves.

Ron...

Hermione couldn't breath and she didn't want to. She was caught in the passion of someone who cared, passion with ...Draco?!?

RON!!

The thought crashed into her senses as she pushed Malfoy off of her, standing up she backed awaythoughts of Ron plaguing her mind.

"I think you should leave..." Hermione said sternly as Draco regarded her in surprise and...pain? A little bit of how he felt seeped into his eyes showing how much she hurt him with that one sentence.

"Hermione..." Draco started.

"Get OUT!!!" Hermione snapped, subconsciouslyher hand went to the necklace Ron had given her during their seventh year. Draco noticed and understood his face turning spiteful as anger contorted it.

"He is not coming back. He IS marrying Pansy," Draco started in on her, raising his voice he continued, "He doesn't love you. You have no one."

This had hit a nerve because Hermione had been thinking the same thing at that moment. Tears stung her eyes as she fought not to shed them. "You have gone too far Malfoy, get out now!"

"Hermione." Draco realized she was right he had gone too far, in her rage Hermione pushed him towards the door angrily.

"Fine I'm gone! Have a good life Mudblood!"

"Any life without you is good!"

When Draco left Hermione broke down sobbing, she felt dirty like she had just cheated on her boyfriend but that wasn't it. Ron was marrying Pansy and she would never be his girlfriend let alone wife. Draco had been right Ron did not love her, she had no one...

'I promise I'll never let you go,' Ron's voice echoed in her mind.

liar...Liar! LIAR! Ron how could you do this to me? I loved you...