Sorry it took me so long to update.

XOXO

Seida

This has been a totally productive week. Come to think of it everything turned out right. The Groscrow buy went through, we had a mayor increase on sales on the wiz5 and Dan, the designer assistant I hatted BUT could not fire due to our "secure jobs" policy quitted! The wiz6 trials were a total success. Oh, and my Granger thing had worked out great.

Since our small agreement last Sunday we have met every day. It started on Monday when I picked her up from work at noon. Why? I don't know. I was hungry, and Blaise was busy, mom had other plans (shopping) and well... Ok I didn't want to eat alone, and technically we were supposed to be pretend dating.

That had been really funny, picking her up from work the first day. She wasn't expecting it at all, nor her coworkers if we might add. The look on her face when I showed up at her office door was priceless. Only a goldfish could make a better impression. The coworkers, on the other hand, were something else. They always are. The only one I seem to get along with is Mark, her assistant, gay as a peach. The others, I don't know, they either seem like they want to kill me or just eat me.

So the things is that the whole week I've been picking her up to have lunch and by Thursday Granger was used to me. When I knocked she just nodded, asked for a minute and grabbed her purse.

I don't really get the purse thing, why does she even bother bringing it? I mean, it's not like she uses the damn thing or like she's going to pay or something (not that she hasn't tried), she should just leave the damn thing. It weighs more than she does! And I constantly feel the need to carry it for her (which I don't obviously).

We usually have lunch at a cafeteria near the ministry. I tried taking her to other places, but she insisted they made the best salads.

We tend to discuss things from work, society, life, anything at all. It's weird actually; we talk about everything and anything. Never happened to me before, I mean being in an interesting conversation with a woman, apart from mother.

Obviously the press is nuts about us, which was the plan on the first place and as a result my stockholders are once again calm, all in 5 days. Which, although terrific, still puts me a little bit on the edge; I hate the press, hate anything concerning it, invading my privacy. So, although I don't really like the small cafeterias Granger makes me go to, I'm thankful she always does something (I still don't know what it is) to prevent them from knowing where we are.

The press. Oh the speculation, quite funny the amount of story they've made out about our relationship. They print the must absurd things: Granger being secretly pregnant with my love child; me threatening to kill her if we don't go out; her having financial problems and having to turn to the little old evil me for help; and my favorite I'm a veela and just found out she's my mate. That one's hilarious.

Sometimes we talk about the theories and discuss pros and cons. We have decided the best one is the one about my father arranging our marriages when we were little. Most bizarre one, considering she is muggle born.

Muggle born. We've talked about that too. She was rather curious about it. How I "reformed myself". I don't even remember what I told her, but I know she was rather pleased with the answer.

I mean we're civil to each other, not that we are not at our throats every five seconds; but hey I wouldn't be Draco Malfoy if I didn't tease Granger; it's just the way it is, has been and always will be. She is the insufferable bookworm Granger, better legs, bet still her.

"A galleon for your thoughts"

I drop the pen I was unconsciously joggling through my fingers.

"Blaise" I bend to pick up the pen, and then resume to the work in front of me.

"Don't tell me. You were fantasizing the wiz9"

"No. What do you want Blaise, I'm almost off so hurry up" I unconsciously read a paper just to pretend to be busy. 'Pink t-shirt on Friday policy? Who the hell submitted this?' I scan the document 'Right, Adam' I put a sticky note on the document that reads 'let's negotiate.'

"I came to pick you up for lunch. I've been totally absorbed with the press release of the Vortex"

"I promised Granger I'd take her to a little restaurant someone told her about. Rigoletto" not even bothering to see the smile I knew he had on his face.

"You still call her Granger?"

"That's her name"

"Right. A bit informal considering she is your slave."

Blaise loves that theory the most, it totally cracks him up. It consisted on Hermione being sold to the Malfoy family, since, obviously, she was a muggle born. I hated it the most.

"Ok, I have to face the fact that eventually you would grow out of our bro-love"

"We don't have a bro-love"

"I wanted to tell you something too"

I stopped what I was doing and look at him with a raise brow. "Oh" my brows nit together. "Is something wrong?"

"No, no everything's fine. Is just, since you are my best mate and all, and well, I well."

You could see my grin a mile away.

"And you need my help"

"Erase that grin of your face Malfoy"

"So why do you need my vast knowledge?"

"Well, since you are the fruity one on our friendship"

"HEY!"

"Just stating the facts, just stating the facts" smile on his face "ouch!" Pen to his face.

"Anyways" rubbing the spot I hit whit the pen "well I kind of have a problem"

"How much do you need?" Opening my left drawer.

"It's not about money Draco, I have plenty of money. It's well, about this girl."

Well that was new!

"You're asking me advice on girls! You sleep with different girls every odd day Blaise, you don't need advice on girls" returning once again to my work.

"It's different with this one" that caught my attention.

"Different? How?"

"You remember that painter I've been fussing about?"

"Uhm, yeah the Lulov dude, that no one know who he is"

"Yeah, well I kind of found out who he is, or she is for that matter."

"You need to stop this crazy obsession with this artist, I mean they're good paintings, but this is just too much! You need help men."

I looked at Blaise and he was splatter all over the couch, tie undone, and hands on his face, to sum it up he looked like shit.

I was balancing my chair on its two back legs, waiting for him to 'confess whatever he was trying to confess'

He took a deep breath "it's Luna."

I actually fell backwards. I loud noise made when my head hit the floor. Did I just crack my head?

Checking myself for injuries I picked up the chair and sat once more. Blaise hadn't even move. Not a single teasing comment.

"Wait, I think I just misinterpreted, I just though you said the painter is Luna."

"Yes, that's what I said."

"Luna as in Luna Lovegood? As in Loony Luna?"

"Don't call her that" touchy subject, almost forgot.

"Wow, I mean wow, that's... Well... Something. I mean now that you think about it kind of makes sense: LuLov."

"I know. I don't know how I didn't see it before."

"So what are you going to do? I mean, aren't you even going to try and say hi? Or maybe something on the lines like: hey I've fancied you since we were 13, but i was a prick back then (still am) and didn't think you worthy of me"

"I didn't think her unworthy of me. On the contrary, I didn't think I was worthy of her."

"Whatever. The point is, that miraculously you were obsessed with a painter, spent half your fortune buying her stuff, and it turns out it's the same girl you have loved all your life, what more reassurance do you need?"

"You sound like your mother"

"Well you constantly sound like her it's payback."

Blaise shifted on the sofa, this time rubbing his neck with his left hand.

"She doesn't even know who I am."

"Of course she does. You're fucking Blaise Zabini, who in this world doesn't know you? She must remember you from school."

"Right, so the Blaise from school was a total asshole."

"Oh come on Blaise, don't be so hard on yourself, you're still an asshole"

"I know" defeat look on his face. What the hell is wrong with my best friend? His turning into mush.

"Well man, I can't help you with that one. Just give her a chance to know the real you. She might surprise you."

"I don't know mate. I mean it's been so long since I've even seen her"

"Yeah, she might have gotten fat."

"That wouldn't matter."

"Or married."

At that Blaise stiffed.

"Just kidding man." Let's hope! "Come on, what do you have to lose?"

Blaise keep quiet for a couple of seconds. Pondering what I just said, hopefully.

"She has an exhibition tomorrow; my contact says she'll be there"

"Well there's your chance" once again piling the papers on my desk.

I took a look at my watch, 11:55. I really needed to go.

"Blaise I have to go. Be a man and make me proud."

"Yeah. You too, be a man and snog Granger already."

"I don't see her that way; she's just an acquaintance."

"Right."

"Right." putting my wiz on my pocket.

"You could bring her to the exhibition. There will be a lot of press there."

"We don't need more press Blaise. I think next week we'll announce we're 'just friend' and all that."

"It'll be fun, ok. Just think about it?"

"I'll think about it."

I walk out of my office leaving Blaise behind. He's my best friend and all but he's stupid as hell. Who in the world would actually double think about asking out the love of your life, no matter what other people though?

Maybe I'm being too harsh. We were different back then. I mean he's been in love with the Lovegood girl for as long as I can remember. Totally ruin any relationship he might thought of having.

It was all so ironic; he had actually been the one to come up with the "loony Luna" nickname. He had said it on a fit in front of a bunch of Slytherins, back when he was on denial of liking her. The nickname had stocked, everyone used it, and when he finally realized he was in love with her he had cried his eyes out for making her the joke of the whole school.

Obviously I tried supporting him, telling him it had nothing to do with the nickname; she was digging her grave on her own with all her craziness. That had been the first and only time Blaise had punch me.

He didn't act on his feelings, dating outside Slytherin was the same as committing suicide. Funny, it was Blaise and I who had establish that tradition.

Men, we were childish and stupid back then.

"Are you coming back in Mr. Malfoy?" Diana, my secretary asks in an overly sweet tone. God she's irritating.

It's not that she's bad at her job or anything; it's the sexual harassment that ticks me off. She's always wearing micro skirts, low cut shirts, and looks at me funny. I get it, you want to bang me, but don't put yourself so low, it's disgusting. Don't women get they look ridiculous doing things like that?

"What's on the afternoon agenda?"

"You have a meeting with Mr. Nott and" checking her notes while biting her lower lip and bending forward so I can see her chest clearly "that's about it. You seem to be free as a bird after that. Want me to arrange something for you?" She pushed the chair back from the desk, so much so I could see her whole body; then she proceeded to uncross her legs and opened her legs a bit, suggestively.

"No, Diana. Just cancel my meeting with Theo; I'm not really in the mood"

"In the mood sir?" Her left hand sliding from her knee to her thigh, inching her skirt up, while again opening a bit more her legs.

"Whatever just cancel it ok" I turn around and head as fast as I could to the elevator.

That woman was going to give me a heart attack; doesn't she understand I don't want to fuck her? I mean, she is beyond fuckable and all but I just don't mix business with pleasure; and besides she has gold-digger written all over her face.

Now in the elevator I pull my phone from my pocket. 12:01. I started texting "u'r ready? On my way 2 pick u up?" Before pressing send I deleted the message and retyped it "hey, still up for lunch?" deleted it again "Hey Granger" deleted. 'Maybe it's better to just drop by'.

I caught myself idiotically smiling to my phone.

%&

This is total bollocks. In rare moments like this i totally hated my job.

Most of today consisted in settling a dispute between the Mermaids and the Lakeling. Why? Because a Lakeling called a mermaid fat. I mean, come on! I've been called bookworm my whole life and you don't see me threatening to go to war because of it!

Currently I'm sitting on the floor, my sleeves rolled up, my shoes off, with all the paperwork spread on the floor studying the requirement from both parties, trying to find common ground. This task is nearly impossible.

I have all the papers stacked neatly, each pile indicating something different. This is something I've done for as long as I can remember, solving difficult cases on the floor. .

I can feel my glasses, slipping from my nose, it doesn't really bother me. Yes glasses. I've been wearing them since I was 21; guess all the reading did affect me somehow.

"No, absolutely not. This is totally stupid, they can't ask the mermaids to wear more clothes" I said out loud, more to vent than to make a point.

"Totally agree."

I look up just to find Malfoy standing at my door. He's looking like one of those models for men perfume: his arms crossed over his chest, a grin on his face, dressed in a suit that probably costs more than my whole wardrobe. Does he actually practice that pose on the mirror?

"Malfoy"

"Granger. I see you're busy" He says looking at me with a grin.

"Yeah well" looking at him I push my glasses up with my index finger. Funny, did he just make a noise?

I put the papers I was holding in their corresponding pile and start to look for my shoes. I found one under my desk. 'Where the hell is my other shoe?'

"Here" Malfoy squatting, my other shoe on his hands.

I bend forward and grab the shoe.

"Thanks" I put my shoes on and then stand up, dusting my pants.

"You know, you do have a desk, why do you have to work on the floor?"

"I don't know, I guess there's more space to think."

"Makes sense."

'Makes sense?' who is this? I though he was going to say a nasty comment or something. Come to think of it he hasn't really made any nasty comments this whole week. He's still a cocky jerk, don't get me wrong, but the bulling is really toned down.

"Are we going to the restaurant I told you about yesterday?"

"If you want."

I grabbed my purse and waiting for him to exit firs I lock my office.

Mark, my assistant is at his desk, reading something with a frown on his face.

"Mark?"

"Oh Hermione, I didn't see you there."

"I'm going to lunch I'll be back later, ok? If anything just call me"

"Yeah, have fun. Bye Mr. Malfoy"

At this Malfoy just nods at Mark a small smile on his face.

We start walking the ministry halls to one of the apparition points. It makes me feel self-conscious walking next to him. I can hear the whispers as we walk, and my cheeks, as usual, star to redden.

Suddenly I feel Malfoy's arm encircling my waist and bringing me to a halt. I magical cart with all the ministry correspondence avoiding me by mare inches.

"You should really look up when you're walking Granger" His breath tickling the side of my neck.

The sensation makes me jump to the opposite side.

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah, right. Should we side along?" He didn't let me answer the question and he was already grabbing me once more by the waist and flushing me to his chest; then I felt the pull from my navel until we appeared in front of the restaurant.

Grabbing me by the elbow Malfoy direct me to the restaurant entrance.

I look around and take in the beauty of the place. It's a really small restaurant, very cozy. Soft music playing on the background. Not many people.

"Hello, welcome to Rigoletto" I look at the waiter that's smiling broadly to Malfoy "table for two?"

"Yes" Malfoy says dully.

"Please" I add.

I hear the chuckle next to me.

"Of course, this way please"

We follow the waiter to our table. Malfoy, as he has done for the whole week, beating the waiter to draw back my chair, then sitting in front of me.

After we order our meal, making small comments to each other on what looks nice and what doesn't Malfoy clears his trough.

"Can I ask you something?" Funny, his not looking at me. He always looks directly at people when talking.

"Yeah, of course"

"Does it bother you that I pick you up at work? I mean you just have to say so, I can stop."

"What? No, of course not. I mean, why are you even asking me that?"

"Well" he actually looks uncomfortable "you tend to walk really fast when we walk the halls, and you always put you head down covering your face with your hair."

Merlin, he noticed.

"I'm sorry. It has nothing to do with you. Well in a way it does, but not how you think."

He raises a brow encouraging me to keep on talking.

I take a big breath.

"Well, it's just that. Urrrghh. Can you just ask normal question?"

He raises both brows now.

"Ok, look. People talk ok. And well you're Draco Malfoy, and I'm Hermione Granger and well"

"Does this have anything to do with the fact that I was on the dark side?"

"What! ? NO! Of course not! urggg They're saying I bewitch you ok."

"What?" he looked genuinely confused.

"Like I slipped a love potion or something in your coffee. Mostly is the women, guys just hate you cause you're you. There was even this girl who actually came over and asked me if I had you under imperius" by now I was as red as a tomato.

And that's when I heard it. Malfoy laughing out loud. Could this day get any weirder?

"Don't laugh! It's not funny!"

"Of course it is!"

"No, it's not! It's one thing to read things on the papers and another to hear the theories at work!"

"It's still funny Granger."

"It's not. At least the papers sometimes make me look cool, but at work I'm always the villain"

"I thought I was the bad guy in this story"

"Well you're not. You're the gorgeous prince charming, and I'm the evil witch. Crocked nose and all" I unconsciously grab my nose.

"You have a lovely nose."

Surprised, I look up at him and his smiling, real smile, at me.

"What are you doing tomorrow?"

"uhm, I didn't really have anything planed."

"Come to an exhibition with me. Great painter, you might know her" I take a sip from my water. "LuLov?"

I choke.

"ahh, I guess you do. Well Miss Lovegood is having an exhibition tomorrow. Would you like to go?"

I was planning to go the day after, it was a two day exhibition, and the first day is always too crowded.

"I guess."

"should I pick you up? It's in muggle London, so it's better to go on a car."

"Yeah, I guess, sure." I was still not used to Malfoy driving.

"Good" he pulls back supporting his whole weight on the back of the chair, a smug smile on his face.

"So how did the Groscrow buy go?" changing the subject.

$%&

"So you're going together to Luna's exhibition?"

"yes Gretchen, we're going together."

I was looking at my wardrobe, wondering what I was going to wear for tonight. We had agreed for him to pick me up at 7. It was already 5.

Gretchen was laying stomach down on my bed, her feet in the air moving up and down.

"So it's like your first date."

"It's not a date. We're just going to Luna's exhibit"

"So let me get this straight: he asked you to an event, he's picking you up, you're fussing over what to wear, and it's not a date?"

"Exactly."

"I still think it's a date. You should wear the yellow dress. The one with the black belt. It looks great on you."

That's right. Where is that dress?

"there, at the back"

Found it "thanks"

"I should probably go. I have to go change too."

"Right, I forgot you're catering the event"

"Don't I always?"

$%&

Bugger, hell, damn. I was late. I was running through my room looking for my shoes while putting my earrings on.

"I'm coming!" I yell when I hear the bell ringing. I finally put my shoes on and head to the door. Still trying to put my earrings on with one hand I open the door. Crap.

There was Malfoy looking as edible as ever. I'm starting to hate this guy. Looking effortlessly gorgeous. For me it took me two hours to just look presentable.

"You look nice" this brings me back from my reverie. I should probably wipe the drool of my face. Come on Hermione, this is Malfoy!

"I need to go fetch my purse" he makes an odd noise at my comment.

"Let's just go, you don't need a purse." I had my back to him heading to my room, him tailing me.

"Of course I do" I turn around abruptly, and he had to grab my shoulder not to collide with me "sorry, you should just wait here." I really didn't want him to go in my room; it was a total war zone in there.

"Ok" he took the left earing that I was clearly falling on putting on from my hands "I'll grab this. Go get your purse"

"I… um ok."

In seconds I was flying to my room and picking up my purse. It was on my bed. Running I headed to the living room. Malfoy was looking at a photo of me and my dad.

"Is that you father?"

"Yes" walking to him.

He turned around facing me "Ready to go?"

I look at myself "Yeah, let's go"

"You missing this" he wiggles the earring in his right hand.

"oh right" stretching my hand to him.

"no. Let me help you. You were doing a lousy job just minutes ago." He walks closer to me, just standing a breath away, and pushes my hair to the back of my left ear. He gently puts the earring. I don't really know what his doing all I know is that I can feel his breath on my neck, his body to close to mine.

"There" he said to my ear. His nose is now touching my check and I can feel him breathing me in.

Merlin, I was surely going to faint.

"Malfoy, we should go" that took all my willpower and it had come out in a very weak tone anyways.

"Right" said softly, caressing my neck with the back of his hand. "Right" this time putting space between us, then turning around and heading to the door like nothing had happened.

Me, I needed I cold shower.

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