Author's Note: Hey again! So guys! I noticed a lack of reviews :(...What's up? Is it not to your liking anymore? Please tell me so I can improve. And from now on, I will try to have my stories at least 2000 words in length.
Is it going to slow...?
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine except for the plot. I don't earn any money writing this.
Getting to Know You-Inspired by the song from the "King and I"
"Oh...hello Malfoy," Hermione said as she sized up the person sitting on the couch in front of her. Why is he here? As she looked at his good looking figure, Hermione felt a flutter of butterflies in her stomach. The last time she felt butterflies for a guy was way back with...Ron. Surprisingly, she didn't feel any butterflies for Luke when they were going out.
"Granger," Draco greeted as he stood up and offered his hand to shake. Hermione smiled and took the hand. "So...I hope I didn't disturb you or anything, but I'm in town right now...and I was wondering if you'd like to do lunch?" Draco gulped and swallowed the knot that formed in his throat as soon as he saw her. This is probably the first time he asked a girl out genuinely. With no strings attached such as a night of fucking.
Hermione smiled and couldn't help but feel super giddy inside. "Actually, I have nothing else to do...I just finished my shoot...Wait, how do you know I'm here in the first place?" Hermione asked truly wondering. He didn't have any contact with her publicist or assistants...and the only person she told was Ginny and Harry.
"Yeah...um, I owled Potter," he responded.
"You're in contact with Harry?" she asked truly bewildered. She knew they were acquaintances after Malfoy explained everything to her...but she never thought that they would actually...
Draco nodded his head. "So, lunch?" he asked.
"So where do you live now?" Hermione asked as they waited for their food. Draco brought both of them to a tiny quaint cafe outside of the building. Hermione was impressed. She never saw this place before. She ordered her favorite food, Fettuccini Alfredo, while Draco ordered a New York Strip Steak.
"I live with my mother in France. After the war, she wanted to get away from everything, so we moved to one of our villas in the south of France. Since my work is in England, I just floo everyday to my office," Draco said as he took a sip of his pomegranate juice.
Hermione nodded as if to process everything. "How about you...how did you end up modeling?" Draco asked. He really was intrigued. Everyone in the Wizarding World thought that she was either going to become the most successful Auror after Mad-Eye Moody, or be the greatest Healer. No one expected her to be a model really. However, she was beautiful, but she never really seemed like the type.
"Ah...like your mum, I wanted to get away so I moved here to the U.S. While sightseeing, I bumped into my publicist, Danielle O'Hara. She recruited me I guess. It was hard adjusting, but now I'm here. You know, I never imagined myself to have this job let alone be in the field. I always thought I would be doing something involving our world. I'm surprised that I even kind of abandoned magic. I only use it now for apparating and flooing, and owls. But I still do carry my wand with me in case of emergencies." she answered his question.
Draco raised his eyebrows. The smartest witch of the century abandoning magic?
"So, Malfoy. What about you? What do you do now?" Hermione asked. Enough talk about her.
"Well, I manage my family's business, Malfoy Co.," Draco said and Hermione suddenly asked what they do there.
"Malfoy Co., is...we sort of design and build houses. We buy land whether there would be a house there or not. We demolish the whole area and build a house there. Then, we sell the house and land. It's a successful business. We're trying to incorporate Muggle tastes into it now because we only made it available to wizards," Draco answered.
Then, a voice of a waitress came, "One Fettuccini?" Hermione motioned her hand. "One steak?" Draco motioned his. "Enjoy your meal," the waitress sounded bored. Hermione was thankful she didn't see her face.
By the time they finished their lunches, Hermione and Draco knew tons about each other. They knew each other's hobbies, each other's current favorite books, and so forth. They both enjoyed each other's company.
"So how much is it? I can pay," Hermione asked as she took out her wallet from her purse. Draco stared at her in disbelief.
"Do you seriously think I'm letting you pay, Granger?" he asked amused as he took out his own wallet from his back pocket.
"Obviously considering I took my wallet out," Hermione rolled her eyes and Draco chuckled in amusement. Things have gone very comfortably between the two of them now. It seemed as though Hermione forgot that a couple of days ago, she thought Draco was dead.
"Granger put that a way. I'm a proper gentleman. We never let ladies pay," he said. "It's not like I'm incapable of paying."
"It's not like I'm incapable either, Malfoy. You know this is one of the sexist things I hate. Women always say 'oh girls can do everything a guy can!' and when it comes to paying things, they always expect the guys to pay for them. I mean come on," Hermione explained.
"Granger, put that away. I understand your views, but I insist," he said. He gazed intensely into her hazel eyes. He really admired her passion and views on things. He never had such an intelligent conversation with one of his dates before. All his dates in the past where blonde airheads. Now he realized he was looking at the wrong place.
They stared each other for several seconds. Hazel versus Gray. Brunnete versus Blonde. Model versus Manager. Both of them marveled at the depths of each other's eyes. Hermione thought that she could just swim in Draco's eyes forever. Draco thought that he could just fall into her eyes and he would drop forever and ever and never touch the surface because they were so deep and full of meaning.
Finally, blushing because of the intensity of his gaze, Hermione muttered, "Fine. But you're letting me pay for the next one."
Draco grinned at her agreement and her statement; 'the next one.' They would have another one.
As the two acquaintances got up and left, they failed to notice a man with a camera sitting directly behind them.
Draco woke up and smiled. He had a great time yesterday and laughed at the memory of Hermione. After they had lunch, Hermione insisted that she show him around the city. Looking reluctant but actually feeling amazing inside, Draco agreed. Hermione was positively giddy as she had them ride a Double Decker Bus around New York City. She also had them walk around Times Square. By the end of the day, Draco took Hermione to the front of her building and waved goodbye. He left in an excellent mood.
Draco stood up from his bed and went to the bathroom to get ready for the day. When he looked in the mirror, he was surprised that he looked happier. Much happier.
Whistling, he took a shower and washed his toned (yummy ;)) body. He was in the middle of shaving when he heard someone burst into his room.
"Malfoy! Where the fuck are you?" it was Blaise's voice he noticed. Draco opened the door of his bathroom and found Blaise checking every nook and cranny of his bedroom.
Draco tightened the towel on his waist and said,"Good Morning to you to." Blaise turned around and Draco was surprised that he looked positively lethal.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?" he said holding up a newspaper. Draco walked over to him, one hand on the towel, one on his magical razor. He squinted at the newspaper in Blaise's hand. It was the New York Times.
"Um...what is that?" Draco asked, clueless. What the heck is Blaise talking about?
"For fuck's sakes, put that razor away and read this fucking article," Blaise barked. Draco rolled his eyes and did what Blaise told him to do. Draco was wise enough to obey Bliase when he's mad.
Draco took the newspaper in Blaise's hand and his face paled as soon as he saw what Blaise meant.
Hermione Granger says: Goodbye Luke Jacobs, Hello Mr. 17
by Kacy Richards
Recently, Hermione Granger had broken up with New York socialite Luke Jacobs due to a rumored rejection of his proposal. It was so recent that we were surprised to see that Ford Model Miss Hermione Granger was out and about in New York City with a boy. Not Luke Jacobs. It was reported that earlier that day, Miss Hermione Granger had a photo shoot with Seventeen Magazine. She was said to be entering alone, but leaving with a new boy toy. The man she was with is unknown, but he certainly is hot. Let's call him Mr. 17 for now. Our photographers followed these two lovebirds(?) around as they ate in a Cafe outside the Seventeen building, ride a NY Double Decker, and stroll Times Square. It's surprising how no one stopped this gorgeous couple on the streets. Hermione and this unknown man seemed really happy with each other. They shared laughs and were reported to have even shared a few smooches! Our New York Princess has really moved on!
But this raises questions. Did Ms. Granger leave Luke Jacobs because she was seeing Mr. 17? Here are the pictures of the couple's outing yesterday!
Draco finished the article and looked at the pictures of him and Hermione. There was one of both of them staring at each other intensely. The caption said that they were gazing into each other's eyes due to the great affection they shared for each other. But in reality, they were just intimidating each other because both wanted to pay the lunch bill.
There was another picture of him helping Hermione up the stairs of the Double Decker bus. His hand was on her elbow and her head was tilting and looking at him. They were both laughing.
There was another picture of the both of them laughing hysterically while walking in Times Square.
Draco gulped and looked at his best mate. He looked mad.
"Draco, I thought I said she was mine. And here you go, flirting with her and taking her out on dates!" Blaise yelled. Draco winced.
"Well you never stopped when I said that in the past," Draco countered.
Blaise looked at his best mate. He was really mad. But Blaise knew that he had to leave or else he'll do something he'll seriously regret later.
He apparated away.
Riiiiiinnggg Riiiiiinnngggg
Riiiiinng...
Hermione groaned as she sat up on her bed and answered the phone. What is with people and waking me up early in the morning? It was only 7:30 for Merlin's sake.
"Hello?" she asked groggily while stifling a yawn.
"Hermione Granger! FIX THIS AT ONCE!" came the voice of her publicist. Often they say that no publicity is bad publicity but when you're accused of cheating on someone...well, that's an exception.
"Danielle, what did I do now?" Hermione asked as she put on her robe and put her phone on speaker. She honestly didn't know.
"Page 7," she said and waited for Hermione to respond.
Hermione sighed and went to her door to pick up her New York Times. She quickly opened the newspaper and turned to page 7. She gasped. No no no no. This can't be. How? I made sure I had sunglasses...
Sunglasses were Hermione's cover up. For someone so smart, she never realized that her so called disguise can hardly be ever called a disguise.
"Read it and call me back," Danielle said harshly as she hung up the phone.
Hermione read the article quickly and stopped to think. How can one just assume this? She was completely faithful to Luke over the course of their relationship! How can they just assume that Draco...no, Malfoy, was her other secret man?
She quickly dialed Danielle's number and when she picked up, Hermione instantly said, "What do I do?"
Danielle sighed and like always, she has a solution. "Lucky for you, I care about your image. Good Morning America wants you," Danielle said and she explained the plan.
"So let me get this straight. GMA wants me to talk about this whole scandal and they want the guy I was with, his name is Draco Malfoy mind you, there with me?" she clarified. They want Malfoy with me there.
"Yes. They want you tomorrow so better tell Dragon-whatever-his-name is to show up and get his butt here. Your ass is on the line ,dear. Better pray he likes you enough to show up," she said coldly and with that, Danielle hung up leaving Hermione in a frustrated state.
With a deep sigh, she went to her kitchen table and conjured some paper and a pen. She quickly wrote:
Malfoy,
An article came out about us. Apparently, my 'disguise' consisting of no make-up at all and sunglasses does not work. I NEED you here tomorrow morning. There's this talk show that wants me because we caused quite the scandal. Just please be here tomorrow. You don't need to prepare anything. I can do all the talking. Just please. Be here. Owl me with your response.
P.S. I enclosed a clip of the article so you would know how much damage I'm in.
-Hermione Granger.
She went to her secret room where she had all her magical equipment..cauldrons-which she barely use, her fireplace, her owl...things that would rise questions if ever seen in the muggle world. She kept it locked and hidden with a Fidelius Charm.
She tied the letter to her owl's leg, whom she names Otis, and watched as it flew out the window on its way to France.
Author's Note: So this is my longest chapter for this story so far. I'm probably going to keep all the chapters after this at least this long. :)