4SnowWolf: Thanks! Hmm...does he know? We'll have to see...
mgmve2008: Pansy? Hmm...and all in good time love.
Thanks! Fickle Flake (it wouldn't go over on the side like I wanted it to!)
greatExpectationz: Thanks! I've been tempted to make them longer, but we'll see. Defiantly in the sequel the chapters will be quite a bit longer, I'm positive of that!
cathycarb: Yay! Here you go :)
Jelisha Baby 22: Ha-ha the sex...everyone is waiting for the sex. And yes, the shower was quite fun :)
lulu: VERY protective!
I vIsItEd DrAcO lAsT nIgHt: Yes...virgin. XD
amy d: Thanks! Ah, Ron. Read on...
onestop: Thanks love.
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VampireQueenBrittany: Ah, again with the sex. We'll see won't we? Her and Ron? Well, you'll find out about that soon I promise!
23Nelly: The Chosen One is just lost...lol. Their wedding night? Thank you for bringing that up! You will find out, I've specifically inserted that into a chapter.
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The phone rang next to Hermione's head. She groaned, and felt Draco shift under her.
Under her?
She looked down at his face, eyebrows wrinkled together in a bit of unease, probably from the phone ringing. She was mostly on top of him on the couch, him on his back sprawled out below her. Her upper body lay on top of his, but by the time you got to her knees they had fallen from on top of him to beside him, making an awkward angle. She could distinctly feel the bulge pressing into her thigh and she mildly wondered if she would ever touch it.
"Hermione," her mind screamed, "Don't start going there! You're not ready."
She shook her head as the phone rings again. With a sigh, she sees Draco's eye snap open, the silver in them capturing her attention. He stared back into her big brown eyes, and wanted nothing more then to sit there forever just as they were.
The third ring of the phone made her snap her head up, jumping off of Draco and answering it. She was flushed, her clothes in a slight disarray he had finally become familiar with, and her voice cracked lightly as she spoke, "Hello?"
"Hey 'Mione."
She froze as Draco stretched. Why is he calling me? Why is he calling me here?"
"Hello...," she says avoiding his name. Draco, who didn't notice the sudden uncertainty in her voice had already left into the kitchen to retrieve breakfast.
"How have you been?"
"Erm, fine...Ronald." Her heart drops as she says his name, quietly so that Draco doesn't hear her. Ron and Draco had never gotten along in the past, and she didn't want to have him tearing the phone from her hands.
"Good. Been doing anything? Sleeping with a certain blond?"
The blood rushes to her cheeks and she is instantly angered. "How dare you accuse me Ronald?" Not Ron, Ronald. "I haven't been in contact with you in years."
"Touche. Can't you be charming to an old friend? A long time ago that would've been him asking if-"
"We never got intimate," she snaps, noticing Draco looking up and making his way over to her, uncertainty in his eyes. "Don't try to make that into something it wasn't."
"But I thought-"
"You thought wrong. We ended our relationship and our friendship on terrible terms, and I do not plan on submitting myself willingly back into a life involving you. You have no right to seek me out, and certainly no right to call me." Draco was at her side by then, gently trying to tug the phone from her grasp without success. She shooed him away, and he dropped his grip on the phone at prior but didn't move back from her at all. The direct closeness was almost suffocating.
"Oh calm down, we didn't end on that bad of terms."
"Oh really? Well what do you have to say about-"
"Oh please Hermione, lets forget about the past. Its forgotten history as far as I'm concerned. Come on, I miss you. Luna, see...we tried dating for a while but, she wouldn't put out, and seeing as you've been married to two bastards I can only assume-"
"You called me to ask for sex?" Is he really that stupid? Ron is...Ron, but he's not that arrogant. Perhaps he's just drunk again.
So how'd he get my number?
"Of course not!" He sounded insulted, but she couldn't shake the suddenly scary topic of conversation between them. Draco's grip on the phone at her outburst was making it hard for her to keep listening, but she wanted to continue the conversation before the phone was ripped from her permanently. "I'm not that stupid. The Ball's coming up, so I figured I could pick you up around-"
"You're assuming," she said sadly, "that I do not already have a date."
"Do you," he said, anger in the voice. "Not Malfoy. Tell me its not-"
"Yes, Draco. He's my date for the evening." Draco's other hand, which had been resting on her shoulder, was beginning to get uncomfortably tight.
"Draco? Since when has he ever been Draco! Are you telling me-"
"Does it matter what I'm telling you? I walked out on you a long time ago, don't try to make amends now over something you can never fix. Stop wasting my bloody time."
"Look, I've told you I'm sorry a million-"
"No, you've said that its all forgotten history and I should get over it, you've never apologized to me, even once!"
His voice had reached a scream. "Yeah? Well-"
Hermione didn't hear what else he had to say to her. Instead, Draco pressed on a pressure point in her wrist and she gasped, in which time he used the opportunity to snatch away the phone.
"Despite the fact that you find yourself within your rights Weasley, harassment is a crime in itself. Hang up the fucking phone before you really start making mistakes." He held Hermione at arms length and for once she simply didn't fight him.
"Malfoy? What the hell? Put her back on!"
"And is it you who has been repeatedly calling this number, or do I have the other assholes to blame for my phone bill?" That was a lie, he didn't give a damn about his phone bill.
"What calls? Who else is calling her!"
"A little demanding we are I see," he mused, sitting down comfortably on the couch, ignoring the girl in front of him completely as his focus went straight to the conversation at hand.
"Fuck off Malfoy. Put my girl-"
"What is all this 'my girl' nonsense coming from you? I haven't seen you around with Potter at all recently. What happened to you exactly, hmm? Did you finally return to that trash heap you call a home?"
"Don't insult my mom! You-"
"I think we're a little off track aren't we?"
"Malfoy, if you-"
"If I what? I don't actually fear your threats Weasley. Now, if you don't mind, I have something to attend to. And for your own good, don't call this number again." He clicked off the phone, biting back his anger and looking directly at Hermione now, who's eyes were wide.
He gripped the phone tightly, before he stood and threw it at the nearby wall, hearing it hit the wall with a sharp snap and break apart into two pieces. She watched him, eyes very large, her lips pressed together. He took a few steps closer to her, so he was in her face.
"Do you mind telling me why that excuse for a boy just called my house," he growled, balling up his hands. "This routine is becoming very old Granger."
When had he last used her last name? "I don't exactly plan this! And in case you've forgotten, I am my own person, whether or not you've tried to stake your claims! If I get a phone call then its my phone call, and I will handle it unless I ask for help from you!"
"I could tell it was going oh so well," he snapped back. "Your eyes must always just get a little watery and spacey when you talk to people then. And you must always be defensive I presume. God Granger, kill me for trying to be helpful."
"Helpful, or are you just marking what you think is your own territory?"
His anger boiled. "Don't flatter yourself. There's only one way to claim a girl, and you've been too prude for years to even give into people you've married."
Her eyes narrowed. "Now your the one straying from topic."
He shrugged. "My ex didn't call on the phone, my ex didn't demand sex from me and my ex isn't trying to step over his limits. I'll stray however far from topic I want."
He saw it again; that brim of tears in her narrowed eyes. "Just fuck off." She pushed on his chest, then bolted the other way towards her bedroom, pushing the door open and throwing it shut.
Hmm, that went just beautifully. He glanced at his now useless land-line. Perhaps we will just stick with my cell from now on...strange little devices these are.
By nine that night Draco had yet to see Hermione emerge from her room. He decided it best to go check on her. Besides, he'd been uncomfortable leaving her in there in the first place.
After knocking three times on her door, he tried the knob and again found it unlocked. He vaguely wondered how often she actually bothered locking it when she was in there, if at all. He carried the plate of food he had brought with him inside, noticing how her body was awkwardly slumped on the bed.
"Hermione?" He walked closer to the head of the bed, setting the plate on her bedside table. This was all becoming too much of a habit.
"Now its Hermione?"
He ignored the bitterness in her voice. "I brought you dinner. Figured you'd want something to eat after being locked up all day."
"Not hungry."
He frowned. Her head was face-down, causing her hair to fly out all around her. Her torso twisted one way whilst her lower body twisted the other. It had to be highly uncomfortable.
Then again, he couldn't quite help admiring her body. In the tank top and shorts she had donned sometime while she had hidden out, he could see her fucking perfect frame. He quickly adverted his eyes to the wall as his blood began traveling south.
"Are you going to tell me why Weasley got you in such a bad mood, or was that me?"
She turned her head a little then to look at him. "You're just...you. Whoever said you upset me?"
"It certainly looked like I did earlier."
She looked at his eyes now, unable to make him look at her. "I didn't ask for your help."
"Should I have let you get bitched at until one of you hung up?"
"You should've let me handle it myself."
"Because you've been handling everything else so well." He lowered his eyes from the wall to meet hers. "You never quite seem to punch your issues where you need to, and they just get back up angrier at you. Seeing as Flint has been doing similar things like calling, I assumed you would be looking for help."
"But you assumed, you didn't ask. What if I didn't see Ron as a problem?"
"Well, was he ever a problem?"
She grew very quiet.
"Hermione?"
Her eyes moved, staring past him. She didn't respond.
"I'll come to my own conclusions then." He turned on his heel and walked out. The quiet, damn near inaudible voice that rose from the room made him turn back. "Say again?"
"I never said he wasn't a problem either."
Draco stalked back into the room, crossing his arms. His sexual thoughts had vanished, and to keep them at bay for the time being he didn't want to touch her. "Care to enlighten me? Or must I get you drunk to do that?"
She blinked. "I'm not that difficult."
He laughed in return. "Ha! That's a fucking lie Hermione, you're the most difficult person I know today. I have to practically force information out of you!"
"Well you never share either!"
He raised an eyebrow. "And what have I hidden from you that is so bad do you think?"
The room! She wanted to bring it up badly, but something in his eyes told her now wasn't the time. "Nothing I suppose."
He shrugged instead of giving a real reply. "Are you going to explain or not? Honestly I'm tired Granger, I want some decent sleep tonight."
"Granger again?"
"Only when I'm irritated."
"Or angry."
He stared at her. "Explain, or I'm off to bed, and you'd have to come with."
She sighed, glancing away from him. She bit her finger. This really was an uncomfortable conversation. "Will you come sit down?"
He raised an eyebrow, and silently wandered over to the bed again, sitting next to her on the edge. She sat up and pulled her legs close to her body. The movement cause the shorts to slide up, and he again felt his lower body stirring. What he wouldn't give for a blanket.
It was several moments before she began talking. "Have you heard anything in the papers about Ron these last few years?"
"Weasley?" His eyebrows drew together. "Not that I recall, although I will admit he isn't someone I wanted to look for either."
"You wouldn't really," she continued, ignoring him he noticed. Her eyes were far off, like she'd forgotten he was even there. "He hasn't been around for a long time."
"I gathered that."
"I didn't think he'd ever do it..."
"What?"
She paused. "...that!"
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Unfortunately, I sense that you haven't talked about this to many people."
"None."
"Even Potter?"
"Didn't need to, he found out for himself and went after Ron." Her voice was quiet.
"Would you care to start from the beginning? I'm lost."
She met his eyes again, and for a moment he could see the fragile girl hidden beneath the hard exterior she always tried to keep up. But then again, Draco had always had a feeling all girls were fragile no matter what front they put up, and being raised by his ass of a father and a mother who listened to his word and didn't fight, what else was he to believe? Hermione seemed to have more will then his mother had ever had against his father. His mother had given in, and he damn well knew it, no matter how much it hurt to admit. But his mother and Hermione were two entirely different people. Yet he couldn't brush off the wonder in his mind of how very fragile the Golden Princess had become.
"I guess it started a few months after the war ended. He started getting moody, we didn't talk very much for days at a time." She tugged at the blanket he had sat upon, and he stood for a moment so she could get comfortable. Her brown eyes came to look at him, and that unusual vulnerability shown through again. He had become accustomed to it only when Flint was involved, and that was simply because she seemed offset about him, either angry or hurt by all topics concerning him. Draco just hated the dick.
"Come sit with me." He knew what she meant. She wanted him to recline in her bed with her while she talked, and he was happy to oblige so long as he kept his hips just slightly enough away from hers so that she didn't notice the growing member.
He settled in and she relaxed into his chest before continuing. "No one paid his actions much mind at first. I mean, everyone was heartbroken over all the deaths, Ron being no acceptation. After all, he lost his brother." She sighed. "He never really told me how much it hurt him. Well, not to my face. I confronted him over it a couple days after his behavior started getting strange, and a week later, and a week after that for several months. He would never tell me anything."
She swallowed. "It just got worse. He hated losing him, and he was afraid I'd die, and...he kept me in the house for damn near a month. I hated it! I thought it would pass but...it just kept spiraling downwards. He even started drinking, alot. He would go out at night for hours while I stayed at home, locked away." She was shaking her head now. "I don't know why I did it, why I listened. I just, he was so sad. He would go get drunk and come home just as depressed as when he left, if not worse."
He noticed her snuggling into him closer, and smirked over her head. He was enjoying her closeness far too much for the current conversation. She was silent for a minute, before she took a breath.
"It wasn't really that abusive-"
"That," he snapped, tightening his grip on her. With his arm thrown around her shoulders like it was, he found it rather easy. "He hit you?"
"Not often-"
"Not often," he growled.
"He was coping. I wasn't going to stop him, nor did I take it lightly."
"Because I'm sure your choice words just confused the daylights out of him." He rolled his eyes. "And just what else did your 'sweetheart' do to you in his depression?"
"Nothing," she said with a shrug. "He hit me a few times, and one day he came home and blackened my eye. I freaked out, packed a bag and just...walked out on him. Harry, well, Harry got whatever story Ron bothered to tell him. After all, he never noticed anything happening between us. We're his 'friends', we will always get along." Her voice was bitter.
"Where'd you go?"
She shrugged again. "The bus station. I was going to just wander, maybe the wizard bus would pick me up, but then I found Viktor."
He drew his eyebrows together. "And Krum just so happened to be around? Sounds...convenient."
"He lived nearby then," she replied. "I found him, and he offered to take me back for the night to his house. Gave me the couch to sleep on after a while of talking."
He was tempted to ask what they talked about, but bit his tongue. "Sounds more like he tried to pick you up then help you."
"You don't know Viktor."
He glanced down at her head. "Are you defending someone you divorced?"
"Yes," she snapped. "We ended on good terms. He didn't do anything bad to me, but he didn't love me either. We're still friends, we just talk on rare occasions. I don't hate my first husband."
He huffed. "Fine, you don't hate him. Now is that everything the git did to you?" He hold was still exuding protectiveness.
"Yes. Ron neglected me in the end, and he drank, and he hit me. But he didn't go further then that. I think he barely had that in him."
Draco pulled her into his chest, thankful his erection had decided to decrease. She was warm, but trembling slightly. He appeared to have been spot on about his assumption that she had never talked about these problems with anyone else. He wondered why she trusted him so much. Or maybe it wasn't trust, so much as the need to talk.
"How did you choose three vile men in a row?"
"Viktor-"
"Yes yes, he simply wanted a 'trophy wife'. I got that. He still neglected you, emotionally as well as physically."
Her head snapped around to look at him. "Dr-"
"Not now. Maybe someday we'll have that debate, but not now." She got very quiet. It was a long time before he spoke again. "Don't fret, I'll get back at him for you."
"No, don't hurt him. Its Ron, I hate him and all for what he did but-"
"I'm not going to hurt him physically," he said, blowing it off. "Going to the Ball with you on my arm will probably crush him enough, and I think I'll rather enjoy it."
She didn't talk for a bit. "Can we sleep?"
"Of course. Off to my room!" He began to try sitting up.
She frowned. "Why can't we sleep in here?"
"Why? Because, I'm not thrilled about going to Azkaban for killing Flint's ass if he steps in."
"He's not going to. He's in enough trouble."
"You never know."
"Please? I'm comfortable." She sounded pathetic for herself, begging him to stay in her bed. It was utter craziness. And he was loving it on the inside.
He sighed, looking down at her. He did admit, her bed was damn comfortable. "Fine, I suppose," he said with a sigh. "But you have to let me strip out of my pants or we're back to my room right now."
"So demanding," she mused, sitting up so he could temporarily slide out. Conversation paused entirely until he returned to the bed and laid back down. "Thank you," she said quietly.
"For?" He sounded tired.
"Listening."
He smirked as she squirmed to become comfortable. "Always my dear." She snuggled in and was asleep a few minutes later.
But Draco did not sleep at all that night in Hermione's room, until the very wee hours of the morning, just before sunrise.
Tuesday morning Draco awoke first in Hermione's bed, her body held in his arms. This was rather odd, since on only few occasions had they slept close enough to touch. Then again, he knew it wasn't too unusual, since her bed was only half the size of his.
He rolled onto his back, rubbing his temples. Hermione seemed to have the uncharacteristic trait of attracting assholes for partners. First the Drunk (what he had decided to name Ron) then the Neglector and most recently the Abuser. Her taste level was defiantly not there. He didn't even understand her reasoning.
Weasley had never been someone he personally liked. The whole clan were blood traitors, and although the war was long gone and his prejudice should have diminished, he couldn't help disliking them. Especially that particular Weasley. Granted, he had never liked him in the first place, for being poor and for being Potter's friend, but now his dislike had grown. Depression was each individuals own problem, and just because Hermione was at his disposal at the time didn't mean he had the right to take advantage of her.
Drinking was fine so long as you were not a mean drunk, but he obviously had been. Draco himself may currently be controlling her life a little bit, but it was strictly for safety reasons until her crazy ex was captured. He on the other hand had controlled her because he could, segregating her to the house. And taking his hand to her...it made his blood heat up, the anger unexplainable. Obviously her childhood friend had taken a turn for the worst in his life, and lost the one important character he still had. But that was Ron's own damn fault.
Then there was Krum. Krum was superficial; rich and was popular in the wizarding world. But his intelligence lacked, and Draco wondered what she could've seen in him. As far as he knew, Hermione had never been superficial herself, and didn't go after men just because of looks an money. She must've been quite out of her mind to make that agreement.
Flint and Granger, a match made in hell. He would've defiantly needed that curse to drag her into that ordeal. Hermione wasn't stupid to say the least-perhaps naive and overly trusting, but never stupid. Besides, he was five years older then her, a little too much if you asked Draco. Then again, it could've been worse if he was older. Marcus was the epitome of 'bitch', controlling her in the way he did, and basically having threatened to rape her if she disobeyed him. No wonder he came back with such vengeance when he showed up here. The guy was used to having a firm grip on his wife and he wasn't ready to lose it. Draco was damn sure those few times she had returned home, beaten up, were all done by this one asshole.
And what was all that bullshit about her having to stay away from his family anyways? The Flint's and the Malfoy's were not close as it was. Besides, it wasn't like he and Hermione were close enough friends to bother each other anyways.
He sighed, pulling himself from the bed and glancing back at her. Leaving her in here alone was not an option by any means, and he carefully scooped her up into his arms bridal-style, making sure her cheek rested against his chest. Wandering from her bedroom, he set her down on the living room couch where he could watch her. Whether she was in any danger or not, he liked to watch her sleep, creepy as it was.
He snapped his fingers and his wand came to him, a neat little trick accompanied by a spell that Potter had actually taught to him. Some new sort of spell, simple but effective.
He looked at the door, flicking his wand and watching it shut. He began muttering spells under his breath, common and uncommon, and a few that would deeply alarm Hermione.
He wasn't into taking anymore chances. He looked back at her.
The necklace was still thoroughly around her neck. Good.
He walked to his bedroom, finding some shorts quickly. He picked up a cigarette, lighting it, and slowly inhaled. His cell sat nearby on the end of the bed, and he picked it up, not in the mood for what he needed to do.
He leaned against his door frame, watching her sleep on the couch as he dialed the number and listened to the phone ring. He was still torn about whether he really liked this form of communication or not. It was strange.
"Hello?"
"Blaise, we have work to do."
Draco plopped down next to Hermione later that night on the couch, ignoring whatever she was watching on TV. "We have plans for once."
"What're you talking about? You quite often have plans."
He smirked. "Not work plans."
"Then you're dragging me someplace?"
"You could say that."
She raised her eyebrows. "Where do you plan on taking me then Draco?"
He laughed. "We're going to Blaise's on Friday. Don't look so surprised, you knew you were bound to encounter one of my friends sometime."
She huffed.
Wednesday morning Hermione awoke alone in Draco's bed, hearing movement in the kitchen. Really, his early morning habits were quite annoying. For being a spoiled brat for most of his childhood (well, maybe not as he had gotten older...) he certainly rose early and readily.
She wandered out into the living room after getting dressed, remembering that just before they had gotten into bed that he had said he had to go to work tomorrow, which of course meant that she had to go with. Her skinny jeans and her loose top were comfortable, but she rather missed the warm covers. Besides, it was December 8th and absolutely freezing outside. There was snow on the ground and the winds were rather wicked.
They were almost out the door not twenty minutes later when she absentmindedly began talking. "Hmm, I wonder what Ginny's up to."
"Why would you wonder? Just call up Potter's home, I'm sure he'd be willing to hand the phone over to her."
"Never mind," she mused. "I must be losing it."
"Over?"
She shrugged. "I thought I saw her outside here the other day."
He wrinkled his nose. "What day?"
She hesitated, now wondering why her stupidity had let her talk for so long. "Um...the day Flint came by-"
His eyes narrowed dangerously. "When did you plan on mentioning that detail?"
"Well, I just did, didn't I?"
"Not purposefully. Did you just plan on ignoring it?"
"No!"
He glared at her, not sure whether or not to believe her words. He shook his head. "Never mind. I have a bookstore to get you to."
"Bookstore? I thought you had work," she added suspiciously.
"I do, you just don't always have to be drug there." He shook his head. "Come on, you're going to make me late."
"And you trust that leaving me in a random bookstore is safe? That can't be much better then this apartment."
"Trust me, it is."
"How?"
He rubbed his eyes with one hand. "My very good friend happens to own the place-well, not own exactly, more like he is related to the owner."
"Who?" Hermione wasn't quite sure she wanted to be left alone with his friends.
"Theo Nott. You remember him right? That strange Slytherin I was close to right towards the end of my Hogwarts time, roughly when Zabini and I got close as well."
She wrinkled her nose. "The one who tried tripping me down the stairs one day because I bumped into him in potions?"
"No, the one next to him who made some irritating remark about how rude it was, no matter the entertainment."
"So, the one who was as close to nice as your people got?"
"Precisely."
"That doesn't reassure," she muttered, watching him shrug. "And you trust him after all these years?"
"Considering we have been in close contact for all of these years, I'd say yes." He smirked. "Or you can come back to work with me."
She wrinkled her nose. "Books sound far more inviting."
It wasn't the over-decorated bookshop Hermione had pictured. In fact, it was in Muggle London of all places. She looked around at the cozy place, situated between a coffee house and a bagel shop. There were big comfy chairs all around, and bookcases straight to the ceiling on all sorts of subjects. These books weren't magical, they were muggle.
She rather liked this place.
Draco flicked his hand a tall boy walked over. He was still a few inches shy of Draco, but Hermione was a few inches shy of him. Why did she have to be so short? Sometimes, it rather irritated her. But, in the long run, she had come to terms with her height.
"Theo," he said simply, giving an actual smile to his friend.
"Draco," the boy replied, in that simple, almost careless tone Draco had used himself. They were very close friends, but he had made it obvious to Theo years ago that he didn't see the reason for large warm greetings amongst friends. Theo, not wanting to argue with this particular wizard, agreed to his terms. Maybe the problem was Draco always had to act very much like an arrogant male. "Hello Granger."
"Nott," she replied, surprised he recognized her so easily.
Duh, you're standing next to Draco you moron. She inwardly slapped herself. Mornings were just not her time.
"Go read," Draco said, glancing at her. "I can tell your mind is far away looking at those shelves."
"How?"
"Well, your not even looking at me." She did and he smirked, waving a hand. "Go on, I just want to talk to my friend for a moment."
Hermione got the very strange feeling that they would be talking about her, but dismissed it as best she could as she wandered to a nearby shelf.
The moment she was gone from earshot, Draco took a step closer to his friend. "You watch her like a hawk, you hear me?"
"I will be, trust me." He looked his friend over once. "You're worried about the girl. What's gotten into you?"
Draco raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"The last time you told me anything about her, and that was a while ago, you disliked the know-it-all with a burning passion."
"Times change," he muttered. "She grew up."
Theo glanced at the girl, very much noticing her nice figure. "I can tell."
His eyes darkened. "Watch it! You try anything so help me-"
"Calm down Draco, I didn't mean anything by it." He narrowed his eyes. "What's got you in such a protective mood over her anyways?"
"I'll explain it all to you soon, I swear."
"I would hope so, Zabini even knows more then me."
"Then I will have him personally update you on the entire story after Friday."
"What's happening Friday?"
"I'm taking her over."
"For?"
He shrugged. "She'll have to be comfortable with one of you for the Ball plan to work."
"And again, how do you plan on assuring Flint will even show? You might be taking a lot of precautions for nothing."
"He'll be there, I guarantee it."
Theo raised an eyebrow. "Do you plan on enlightening her on your plan at all?"
"To a degree," he replied, glancing around. For being to suspicious men in the front of a bookstore, they were being completely ignored. "I don't want her knowing too much, she might freak out, or get mad at me."
He shrugged. "It may very well be entertaining."
Draco smirked. "It certainly will be." He glanced one last time longingly at Granger. "Take damn good care of her."
"You'll only be gone a few hours, and she's a big girl. I'll manage."
Draco got finished a few minutes early with his "tests" that day, and happily so. Cunningham was lame in battle, but occasionally if he got a hit in it was a rather painful spell. Damn defense practice.
He made a direct beeline for Potter's office immediately after he finished, waving once to the Minister of Magic whom had decided to step in for today in watching Draco's work. Was he really that interesting to have to come see? Or did these people just truly not trust him?
He shook his head once to clear it before he entered Harry's office without knocking.
"Mr. Malfoy do you always have to barge in?"
"You keep up such a formal greeting," he replied coolly, not sitting in either of the chairs offered to him. "It's rather sickening."
Harry shrugged. "I'm still the boss, I sill have to maintain a professional head during work hours."
"Of course," Draco groaned.
"Harry raised an eyebrow. "I don't see Hermione today. Did you leave her alone-"
"No," he snapped. "I'm not stupid, no matter what you personally think. She's actually out with one of my friends."
Harry pushed his chair back and stood up rather quickly. "What do you mean she's with one of your friends? She could've come here!"
"Yes, she could've, but I don't need to be dragging her to work with me everyday. Besides, their at a bookstore. Nothing bad will happen to her, so fucking calm down. And she even looked happy to be there, so quit your worrying. Sometimes you even sound like a girl."
Harry narrowed his eyes. "She also could've gone to see Ginny."
"Ah yes, her," Draco sneered, finally sitting. "She's actually the reason I'm here."
"Don't drag her into this conversation, it doesn't involve her."
"Actually Potter, your the one who mentioned her. I'm just picking up on the topic." He watched Harry closely, watching his body movement and certainly his eyes. "What's that girl been up to lately?"
"Nothing that concerns you."
"Ah, but your wrong."
Harry pushed his chair in and stood behind it, his eyes dark. "Like I said before, leave her out of our conversations. I don't much like you talking about her in the first place."
"Too bad Potter-"
"Watch it! I'm still your boss, I still have authority over you."
"When it comes to work matters, yes you do. But this has nothing to do with work and I'm sure Hermione would like some answers as well."
Harry looked at him. "What could Hermione possibly be wondering, except why they haven't really been talking much."
"One would wonder," he muttered before using a louder voice again. "Hermione did have an interesting story for me about her, after all."
"What story," Harry inquired, his expression guarded.
Draco shrugged, as though this were casual talk. "You remember the event with Marcus? Well, of course you do. I got hell from you about not having a protected enough house for her, didn't I?"
"That brief conversation has nothing to do with now."
"It certainly wasn't brief." He ran a hand through his hair. "Interestingly enough, Hermione saw your beloved Weaselette that day."
"Doubtful, considering Ginny was home all day."
"Can you even back that statement up?"
"That's exactly what she told me," he snapped.
"So you can't," Draco mused. Harry didn't reply.
"She saw your redhead at a strange time too. See, she apparently was at the door, waiting for Hermione to come open it up, but when Hermione did she was completely gone." He leaned forward so his elbows rested on his knees. "Interesting, isn't it?"
"Hermione was just seeing things," he countered.
"Hardly. Its very unlikely that she mistook seeing that red hair." Draco's eyes were gleaming. "Your girl wouldn't by any chance have ever run into Flint, would she?"
"Stop," he snapped, his eyes dangerous. "Just because your angry that something happened to Hermione doesn't need to you need to make faulty accusions on my fiancé."
"You're saying Hermione lied then?"
"I'm saying she was probably sleepy or something."
"So you wont even admit to the fact that Ginny Weasley may have had something to do with this?"
"No!" Harry closed his eyes for a moment to compose himself. "I have to ask you to leave now Malfoy."
"I expected so," Draco said, standing without a fight. "But I do want you to think on it. You told me once she's still studying to become something-what, I didn't bother to remember. But it sounds like she spends a lot of time at home. What do you think she does with all those hours?" He nodded to Harry, who's lips were set in a thin, tight line, probably fighting down anger. "Thanks for the talk, dear Potter." He turned and departed from the room before Harry could make an outburst.
Now the only question was whether or not his words had hit home. He would defiantly need them to for this to work properly.
"I never pictured you in a Muggle bookshop Theo," Hermione said, glancing up and across the short table at the boy who had kept a close eye on her but not really talked. "I mean, just with the Pureblood status and all-"
"Ranks of blood don't hold as much importance as they once did," he pointed out, cutting her off. She had found in the last few hours, Theo was not all bad company, just rather quiet and he seemed to keep to himself. But he had had a few comments over the past few hours at made Hermione's lips turn up into a smile.
"I'm glad you don't hold that against me."
"What?"
"That I'm muggleborn."
He shrugged. "Did I ever though?"
Hermione thought for a moment. "No, not you particularly. I guess it was more Draco and Zabini."
He smirked, something that reminded Hermione a lot of the blond Slytherin who had been haunting her dreams lately (and not at all in a way that she wanted to admit). "Interesting how I have become Theo to you in a matter of hours but Blaise is still referred to as Zabini."
She shrugged. "I haven't talked to him for years."
"I guess that will change come Friday then, hmm?"
She looked up sharply. "You know about that?"
"Of course. Draco mentioned it."
"I suppose he would," she muttered, looking down at the books next to her. It was quite the pile.
"Don't fret, he didn't tell me anything more." She nodded at him, but remained quiet, looking at the pile of books she had collected.
"I'll have to narrow all these down. I can't afford all these on my budget."
Theo raised an eyebrow and looked over her head at the sudden appearance of a very blond head. "You shouldn't really worry about money."
"Why not?"
"You do have Draco you know. He fancies you."
That sounds so much like what Harry said. "What? How-"
He held up a hand. "Perhaps you should start looking before he returns."
Hermione opened her mouth to continue the talk, but stopped when she realized just how many books there really were to go through...how long had it been since she'd been in a Muggle bookshop, really?
Draco showed up several minutes later, having given Hermione time to look through the large pile of books beside her, noticing it was now next to Nott and only two books in Hermione's hands. This didn't look quite right.
"What have we here?"
Hermione smiled. "I picked these," she said simply, ignoring the pile of books the best she could, knowing she could always come back to retrieve them if she wished.
Draco raised an eyebrow. "And the rest? Theo, your not much of a reader mate."
"I'm not," he agreed. "I said I would return these to the shelves for Hermione. After hours of course." He gave a familiar smile to Draco. "I do all my work after hours."
"I bet you do," Draco replied, holding his stare at his friend a moment longer. "We best get going Hermione. The weather isn't getting any nicer."
"I would think not," she replied, pulling on her coat. "It looks beautiful though."
Draco laughed. "Terribly beautiful." He glanced at Theo. "I'll help you move these to the counter before I leave."
"That will be appreciated," Theo said with a half smile. They separated the pile so each picked up about five rather fat books and placed them on the counter nearby. Theo could've easily done this himself.
Draco slipped him a small pouch. "Should cover it. If you need more...call me and I'll bring more by."
"This is your idea of a present? This is a small library."
He shrugged. "At least this way I can't go wrong. After all, she did pick all of these out herself." Theo nodded. "Blaise should be calling tonight sometime, to update you. And again probably Friday. I doubt I'll see you again before the Ball."
Theo nodded. "I expected as much. After all this though we must go back to spending some time together. Life really has become lonely. I never realized how few friends I had left until she came back into our lives." He glanced at Hermione who was looking in the opposite direction at the snow covered world outside. "I suppose I never thought she would be around again."
Draco nodded. "The feeling is mutual."
Thursday morning Draco received an annoyingly early call from Theo stating that the books were ready whenever he wished to pick them up.
Who would've thought having a friend that related to the owner of a Muggle bookshop owner would've come in handy?
By the time Draco returned to the room Hermione was already sitting up, not yet dressed, reading one of her two new books. They were not going to last long at this rate.
"You read quite quickly you know."
"I should, I absolutely love readying."
He smirked. "You must've read every book in Hogwarts by now."
Her eyes darkened slightly. "Obviously, since I was the librarian."
He raised an eyebrow and leaned against the wall. "Really? I would've thought you of all people would've gone after a more ambitious job."
"It wasn't my first choice really," she replied. "I begged Flint to allow me to go out of the house, but he refused. I claimed that I could get a job at the library at school, since Madam Pince recently retired. He barely allowed it, but only did because our hours would be the same, and he would make me floo home from work each night anyways. Me having a job didn't ever help matters."
Draco now raised an eyebrow. "He got worse when you got a job? That's rather stupid."
She shrugged. "It made working rather hard. My body constantly hurt."
Draco found his body tensing badly. "He got more abusive because he allowed you out?"
"He didn't really allow me. He tolerated it. Honestly Draco didn't you wonder why I showed up here with all my shit ready to go?"
"Tough words," he hissed. "I hadn't really thought you ran directly away from him to here."
"It wasn't directly," she said simply. "I spent a few nights in a hotel. I couldn't rightly go to Harry's or Luna's; Flint would suspect it. Before I ran away he hated me, if he had found me in that hotel room I would've been dead."
"You should've tried to find a place sooner then." He couldn't pity her, he was too focused on not losing control at the moment.
"I did. I was there before I came here for three nights, and I never slept. It was sheer luck that this apartment belonged to you."
He raised an eyebrow but didn't relax. "Why luck?"
"Marcus at least hesitated coming here. He might not think highly of you or your family but he seems a bit scared of who you've become."
"Why would you say that?"
She hesitated, and watched Draco's eyes heat with fire.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because," she said, not meeting his eyes. "The one time he did find me-"
"He found you," Draco snapped, in her face in a moment, fuming. He had had his suspicions, but that had been just it, suspicions. He much preferred it to have stayed that way, he realized. "And was that the first time you came back beaten, or the second," he growled.
She held his gaze, willing herself to not falter. "Both."
He threw his hands up. "And you still didn't see it fit to ask for help! Stubborn bitch."
"I'm a bitch because I don't ask for help?"
"No, but your still his bitch if you let him drag you around like that."
She narrowed his eyes. "I haven't in a while!"
"A while," he muttered. "You should've just told me. Would've saved yourself some pain."
She shrugged, trying to brush him off. "As soon as I told him I had you to go home to he backed off."
"And I'm supposing you bothered to do that after the second time?"
She forced back her tears. It was stupid really, to cry over this conversation. He was just mad is all, really. "Yes. I figured it would make him draw back. If I didn't come home I figured you would eventually do something about it."
"Damn straight."
She sighed. "Its over with now, ok?"
"Its not over until I know he's finished."
She groaned. "Its not that important."
"Really Granger? Because, seeing as he still found the time to stalk you after you ran out on him, I'd say its pretty important. Your husband went to a stalker status. If I hadn't come home when I did that one day...he probably would've raped you. And I doubt that that's news to you. You know your husband better then I."
"Still, its not a problem anymore."
"For now its not a problem," he said through gritted teeth.
"Can we please drop this?"
"Depends, do you have anymore secrets to tell me? Maybe you had an encounter with Weasley as well that you failed to mention?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Do you have any secrets to tell me?"
He glared at her, before turning on his heel and leaving the room.
That's what I thought Draco.
Hermione knew it was becoming a very complicated week. The days were beginning to seem like they were much more busy then they really were, which wasn't as busy as one would think. It was only Thursday night after all.
Draco went to bed long before her, and she didn't find herself going to his bed until midnight, almost four hours after him. She changed quickly and climbed into bed. But she couldn't fall asleep for the life of her.
She rolled over at some point in time, nearly jumping back when she rolled into him, that very hard body hard of his pressing into her. She restrained herself from sudden movement in order to not wake him, before rolling over and staring at his face.
Strangely Draco looked uncharacteristically peaceful when he slept. It was kind of unsettling. But his face wasn't what had caught her attention this time. She pushed her side of the blanket down a bit to gaze down between his legs.
God I feel like a creeper...
There was a slightly noticeable bulge in his boxers, but the angle he was sleeping in made it hard to tell. She found herself staring (something was wasn't entirely comfortable with) for quite a while.
Why did Draco have to be so fascinating?
She looked up at his face, his chest. His breathing seemed the same. She was sure he was asleep. She glanced down again, finding an uncomfortable wetness beginning to start between her legs.
No, it wasn't exactly uncomfortable. Or even unwanted.
She glanced down again, remembering very clearly that Draco had violated the upper half of her body many times. Then again, it had only been the upper half. Was payback in order?
She reached her hand down slowly, setting it on the mattress near his...tool before actually touching him. She shoulder bumped his upper chest slightly.
He stirred.
She jumped back, the sudden movement causing him to open his eyes. He looked up at the girl, noticing that her chest seemed to be rising and falling faster then it maybe should be. "Are you alright there?"
"Fine," she said, with far to much haste.
"Trouble sleeping?"
"Indeed."
He nodded, glancing up at her with a concealed smirk. Hermione moved too much. Whenever she moved to much on the bed, it tended to wake him up. It just depended whether or not he openly acknowledged it to her.
He had certainly felt the shift of her body towards his, and defiantly noticed when her hand just barely brushed his thigh. But he couldn't help making a noise when she bumped him. After all, she'd done it loads of times in the past at night, and he always woke up. If he hadn't he might've seemed suspicious. He looked over at the witch who was laying down again.
He defiantly wondered if she planned on repeating that little act. Fucking Tease.
Author's Note: Sorry! The chapter ran longer then I expected, so I sliced it in half the best I could. But, I wanted to start off the second half with Friday for certain reasons :) Sorry for the cliffhanger! Since this is only half of a week, I'll try to update earlier then in a weeks time, so you can read the second half of week 7.
Hope you enjoyed! A certain scene is coming up next...any ideas as to what? Tell me in your reviews my dears!
Also, after this chapter all reviews that are not anonymous will be replied to in private messaging. I'm finding it takes over a 1000 words sometimes to reply to everyone...which gives false hope of a longer chapter /: