"What happened to you Hermione? You look dead tired. Partied too hard last night did you?" Asked Eva, one of my coworkers.
It was Monday morning and I had just arrived at work—looking a right mess and dead tired as she observed. Draco and I wondered around around Paris till two am before we returned to London and then I had to get up at 7 am to get ready for work. We fitted in another round of sex during that time so I was even more exhausted. It had been a very long ( and amazing) 24 hours and I couldn't wait to go home and get a long sleep tonight.
"Not really. Just had a long day and didn't sleep too well." I lied.
"Alright." She said with a smirk that suggested she didn't believe me for one second.
I let it go and the moment passed. Thank goodness.
I spent the rest of the day trudging through my work—I didn't get much done. I was half asleep for one and I just couldn't seem to concentrate. Draco on the brain I suppose. I couldn't get over what he had done for me yesterday. Tons of presents (clothes,books,jewellery and the like) mind blowing sex and of course the trip to Paris. He was really too good to be true. Arriving at the conclusion that I wasn't going to get any more work done for the day—I left the Ministry an hour early and went home. I felt guilty about neglecting my work but I would make up for it tomorrow in no time—I would be well rested and ready to go. I apparated home and went straight to bed, falling asleep right away.
When I awoke a few hours later it was dark outside and I felt quite disoriented. I heard the sound of glass breaking in the kitchen and almost jumped out of my skin. Confident in the security of my wards—I was sure it was someone with permission so I headed to the kitchen to check—wand clutched tightly in my hand just in case. The first thing I saw as I entered was a shock of long red hair. Ginny. I relaxed instantly and lessened the grip on my wand.
"Ginny?" I called out groggily.
"Oh, Hermione!" She exclaimed. "I'm sorry about the noise, the glass just slipped out of my hand. Did I wake you?" She asked, sounding guilty.
"No. I was already awake when I heard it." I said while stifling a big yawn.
"Oh."
"So what are you dong here? Have you been over long?" I asked her.
"I came to see you obviously—I had some free time this afternoon and went by the Ministry at 5 to meet you but they told me you left early so I came over here but you were sleeping so I left and came back about fifteen minutes ago." She informed me.
"I'm sorry. I was really tired and left work early because I wasn't getting much done. I came home and went to bed to get some sleep." I told her.
"I see. You left after ten last night—that's not late. How come you're so tired? What were you doing" She asked suspiciously.
"I wasn't doing anything Gin. Just had a long day. I've been working really hard so that's catching up with me as well." I told her and sighed.
"Really now? That's it? You weren't doing anything or should I say anyone?" She asked while trying not to laugh.
"Gin!" I whined.
"Sorry." She said and burst out laughing.
"Seriously though, you're not seeing anyone? I get this feeling that you are." She told me with caution.
How the hell does she... Play it cool Hermione.
"I'm not and I don't know what you mean. How can you possibly feel that I am? I asked trying to sound casual.
"Oh you know. It's just that you've been showing all the signs of someone being in a relationship— more specifically, a 'secret' relationship You're always tired,even though you never stay out late—that says you're up all night shagging. Then there's your secretive ways—you always have to leave to go somewhere or do something suddenly and you never explain. No offense but you're busier than all of us and you only do 'paperwork' at the Ministry so how come you never have time. Every time me or the boys want to spend time with you, you're always busy doing something else. Sometimes you get this far away look on your face that you used to get back when you were still in love with Ron but it's even more prominent now. Also, you're always wearing new pieces of jewellery—which I know you didn't buy and you look and dress better now too. The old Hermione never cared about her appearance so it suggests that you're doing it for a guy. You're just so different now—in every way. The old Hermione always had time for her friends and never kept secrets but that's exactly what you're doing these days. All of the signs point to a man in your life." She said all this with a determined look on her face.
Fuck. That's all I can think at the moment. That and Ginny's one observant girl. How did she notice and figure out all this? Time for more denying and lying. Ugh.
"My goodness, Ginny! How did you come up with all that? You sound crazy to be honest. All of your conspiracy theories have no basis. I'm still me but only older and busier with work. That is all— there is no 'man' and even if there was it would be no one's business but my own." I finished emphatically.
"Alright then, that's now but what about back in school? All during 7th you were acting much the same way but I took no notice of it because it was at school and you had your own issues to deal with at the time so I let it go. Now though, I realize that you've probably been seeing him all this time—since 7th year. It's someone we all know then. Who is it?" She squealed in excitement.
I smacked my hand against my forehead in irritation. She needed to stop now before I lost it. She was getting dangerously close to the truth. Literally. Her hand was resting on the table—the same one that Draco and I shagged on yesterday. I would have laughed at the irony if I wasn't panicking like mad.
"Just stop it okay, Gin. I know you really want to believe that you're right but you're not. I wasn't well back in school—things were emotionally hard for me and now I've grown up and changed. I'm a woman now. The things that you are or were noticing are direct results of what I've been through in my life—back in 7th year and currently. You say I'm a different person now and I suppose I am in some ways but what's wrong with that? Just let it all go okay. Please." I implored her.
"Okay, Hermione. I'm sorry if I overstepped but I just want you to be happy and I thought that a guy in your life would do the trick. I guess I just saw what I wanted to." She said in a quiet voice.
Poor thing looked deflated. God, I hate myself right now. I really wanted to tell her the truth but I just couldn't do it. So much for my Gryffindor courage.
"It's alright. Come here." I said and hugged her.
She stayed a little while longer—trying her best to be cheery and make up for earlier. I did the same and by the time she was ready to leave things were normal between us again.
"Thanks for coming, I'll see you soon." I told her and shut the door behind her as she left to go.
I then collapsed in a heap and cried m eyes out. I couldn't believe that I just lied so badly to my friend with a straight face and made her feel bad to boot. What the hell was wrong with me? Keeping my relationship with Draco a secret was becoming increasingly harder. Yet I could see no alternative at this time.
A few minutes later apparated into my flat and found me curled up on the floor, still sobbing. He picked m up without a word and took me into the living room—and laid me down on the sofa. He went to the kitchen and brought me back a glass of water. He waited for me to finish drinking it before he spoke.
"What's wrong baby,why are you crying?" He asked with concern.
"Ginny was he.." I started to say when he cut me off.
"I know. I came by a little while ago and your wards alerted me that someone was here with you so I disillusioned myself and looked through your windows and saw her in the kitchen. I then saw when you came in and I left. I was sitting at the little cafe across the street and watching to see when she would leave so I could come over." He informed me.
"Oh." Was all I said.
"So tell me,what did she do to upset you so much?"
"Well sh came over to see me—she went to the Ministry first but I Had left early so She came by here but I was sleeping. She left and came back and I woke up soon after. I apologized for being asleep when she came and explained that I was really tired. That's when everything went downhill." I said.
"How come?" He asked.
"She questioned me about why I was so tired, saying that I didn't leave the Burrow late last night how was it that I was so tired that If I had been doing anything. I gave her the obvious excuses about it being a long day yesterday and all the hard work at the Ministry catching up with me but she didn't buy it. She then asked me if I was sure that I wasn't doing anything or anyone. I got antsy and played the indignant card but she still wouldn't let go and then went on a rant about how strange and suspicious I had been acting lately and how it all seemed related to there being a man in my life..." Draco then interrupted me again.
"Really now? What did she say?" He asked with interest.
"Pretty much the truth actually. Sh noticed the unexplained jewellery, how I would rush out of places on a whim with no proper excuse, how I don't spend enough time with my friends, the fact that I'm always busy, how I dress and look better now,how and the worst was her reason for me bring tired all the time even though I don't stay out late. She suggested that I must be staying up all night shagging." I finished and buried my face in my hands.
"Wow." He said in surprise.
"I know. Then of course I went on the defensive and told her that she was crazy but she continued on and them mentioned how I was acting different since 7th year and then it hit her that I must have been seeing the 'guy' since then and how they must all know him. When she asked all excitedly who he was I lost it and told her off. She just wanted for me to be happy and was only trying to get me to admit the truth but I was awful to her and lied through my teeth straight to her face. What kind of friend am I?" I wailed pathetically.
"I'm sorry love. You were just doing what you had to—you were protecting our secret." He reassured me.
"It still doesn't make it right. This secret is getting harder to keep by the day."
"I know but now is not the time to come out as a couple. Things are going really well for both of us, why mess it up now?" He asked in frustration.
"You're right but how long will we keep this up? People are going to find out eventually." I argued.
This argument was tiresome. We seemed to be having it more and more these days. The strain was getting to both of us.
"I'll tell you what. Let's see this year out—make it to our one year anniversary in peace and then tell everyone in the new year. Deal?" He suggested.
"Alright. Deal." I agreed. It was the best I was going to get.
"Good. Now let's get something to eat and then have an early night. Merlin knows we both need it."
We had a light dinner and then went to bed. I fell asleep in his arms—my favorite place in the whole world.
A/N: Hey guys. This story will be coming to an end soon. Maybe 3 or 4 chapters left and an epilogue. Will try to update soon!
Review please :)
