Hugs and Kisses!
Seida
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Hermione POV
The sound of a police sirens woke me up. Why did I ever decide to live on muggle London?
I usually put silencing spells on my house to prevent the city noises waking me up, but yesterday I think I just forgot. No wonder.
I really didn't slept much. I keep replaying yesterday's event over and over again. How possessive Draco, urmmm Malfoy, had turned with the whole Luc thing; the kiss... on the forehead (WTF!).
I took a big breath and turned to see the alarm, 8:09am. Fine, no more sleep for me.
I make my way to the bathroom and take a look on the mirror. I look like shit. Yesterday I didn't have time or the energy to do a simple makeup vanishing spell, so obviously the raccoon eyes were as appalling as ever. My hair, which I left loose with big curls, was now as huge as a lion's mane.
"Aren't I the lovely witch? No wonder you got a kiss on the forehead"
I took a big breath and jumped in the shower.
20 minutes later I was more presentable. A pair of khaki shorts and a white t-shit, my hair wet in a high pony tail. I told myself I was going for a walk so I put a pair of confortable flats. In reality I knew I was just going to stay all day at home and replay over and over again what had happen.
I picked up my cell phone from the table and scanned it to see if I had any messages. I had one from Luna, thanking me for going to the event, another from Gretchen, asking how everything go, and another from Harry, asking me if we were going together to the event today; fat chance.
None from Malfoy.
I didn't know why that bothered me, but I felt a sting on my heart. I moved my head violently and discarded the thought. No point on giving that much thought.
An hour later I already made myself an omelet and was ready to have a big breakfast, I really deserved it.
I walked to the door and got the paper, ignoring the pile of letters as I already knew they were Malfoy's fan club related.
As I open the paper: "OH CRAP!"
Not Married... YET!: Draco Malfoy confesses to having a relationship with Hermione Granger
It had a moving picture of the moment Draco possessively put me behind him when arguing with Luc. I watch the picture over and over again taking in Malfoy's face, was that jealousy? Nah, I think I'm going mad, it's only been a week and I'm already fantasizing with undying love.
I scan the article searching for the juice of the story:
[…] Luc Cohen also commented that Draco Malfoy had told him personally that Hermione Grangers was his girlfriend, a fact that a couple of witnesses were able to confirm […]
Crap.
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DRACO POV
"Mister Malfoy, Mr. Zabini is here to see you"
I was sitting on my bedroom sofa, replaying the events from yesterday. The paper, open on the floor, on the article of Granger and I.
She was surely going to kill me. Up until yesterday everything was speculations, mustly feed by her coworkers, people that saw us on the strests, among others, but we had not declared anything that could feed the media, so with a simple statement of "we're only friends" we could have defused everything. That's what we agreed, that was the plan and I just went and fucked everything up.
On my defense I had no other choice, what was supposed to do? Let the moron touch Hermione? No.
I saw green the moment he put his hand on her, and I knew that's where my real problem was. I was starting to have feelings for her.
How the hell did this happen? I mean, It's been 6 days! No one falls for another in 6 days! That only happens in muggle movies!
I took in a big breath and pressed my fingers to my closed eyes.
To be fair it's all her fault. I mean, she's the one that's always acting so naïve and pure, like she hasn't have a clue that she's beautiful. I don't even know what I see in her, she wears this stupid pants all the time to go to work, she doesn't wear makeup and her hair… ok I kind of like her hair, It has this huge curls that sometimes get loose when she wears her hair up, and... I'm getting of topic here. The thing is, it's her fault.
"Mister Malfoy?"
I look up and see Pip. Today he's wearing green pants, a green shirt and a green hat. He looks like one of those muggle interpretation of Santa's helpers. That makes me smile a bit.
"I'm sorry Pip, what did you say?"
"That I'm here you git" says Blaise walking in the room "Thanks Pip, I'll take it from here."
"You're must welcome Mr. Zabini. Do you want anything for breakfast?"
"Nah, I'm good."
"Good then. Mr. Malfoy." Pip nods at me and then disappears.
"So, I see you're contemplating the immortality of the unicorn." Zabini sits on my bed facing me.
"I take it you read the paper." Me, not even moving a muscle.
Blaise bends down and picks up the paper. He watches the picture a couple of seconds, folds the paper and puts it on the nightstand.
"I think for the first time Miss Patil was rather accurate, don't you think?" a mocking smile.
"Very funny Blaise"
"So, care to tell me why the jealousy fit?"
"It wasn't a jealousy fit."
"If you say so. So, why the possessiveness with Hermione then?"
"Since when do you call her Hermione?" I raise a brow looking at him, my heart constricting a bit.
"Wow, right, no jealousy at all. I call her that since we were 18. Chill, I won't steal her away."
I take a big breath and once again massage my closed eyes with my fingers. I know I just over reacted right now. He has the right to call her Hermione, it's her name after all.
"I don't know. I just couldn't think straight." No point on lying, after all, his been my best friend since we were 5, he knows me.
"Do elaborate."
"One minute I was talking to Dr. Stael, the other I was on the edge of ripping that guy's head off."
"Luc Cohen."
"What?"
"The name, of the guy."
"Yeah whatever. I don't care, he was drunk, and he was being way too friendly with Granger." I could feel the tension on my body rising up.
"Was she being 'friendly' back?"
"Of course not!"
"It's just a question man, don't get too emotional."
"Well she wasn't. She was freaked out. I could see it on her face."
"So that why you intervened? Because she was 'freaked out'"
"Yes."
"No other motives?"
I knew where this was going, no point on lying now.
"No."
"No?"
"I DON'T KNOW. OK!" now I got up from my sit and started passing the room. "I was so mad. This has never happened before ok. You know me, I'm always collected and think things through. This time was like I didn't even think, I just reacted; I was ready to rip the guys hand off if he kept on touching her; and I'm talking non magically!"
"So you think he shouldn't have touched her?"
"Of course! He shouldn't have been near her! He shouldn't even exist in the same plane as her!"
"Ok, and why do you think you feel that way?"
"I have no fucking clue." I drop on the sofa once again, defeated.
"Uhm. Right."
We kept quiet for a couple of minutes, each absorbed in our own thoughts.
"Do you remember when we were back at the States?"
Well that was way out of topic. "Yeah, I mean, what does that have to do with anything Blaise?"
"Just play along, will you?"
"Ok, yes I remember."
"You went out with tons of muggle girls, remember that?"
A small smile grabbed my lips. Good times. Oh memory lane.
"Yeah, that was fun."
"You know what was funny?" I turn to look at Blaise on this.
"They all looked the same. They were all petit, curly brown hair, and wild tempered" Blaise had a knowing smile.
"Oh nononono. Don't try and psychoanalyze me now, that has nothing to do with this, that was many year ago, Granger has nothing to do with does girls."
"I think they do have something to do with Granger. Like they were meticulously picked ou to fill a role."
"Blaise, your stretching this, ok. I'm not you; I don't have an everlasting crush on a girl back from school."
"Or so you say."
"Talking about that, how did it go? Did you get a chance to talk to Luna?"
Suddenly a huge smile was on Blaise's face.
"Yes, I invited her to have coffee tomorrow. She still doesn't know I know she's LuLov." The smile turning to a grin.
"Well, at leat it's nice to know that one of us had a good time last night."
"I did, I did. So, what happened when you dropped her off?"
At this I became stiff. Why wasn't he letting this drop?!
"Draco."
"uhmm, nothing happened."
"What happened?"
"I kissed her on the forehead." I said very fast and low.
"You what?"
"I kissed her on the forehead." I was turning red from embarrassment.
And that's when Blaise cracked. He started laughing hysterically.
"Stop it! It's not funny!"
Between his idiotic laughter he kept saying things like "I don't believe this" "You're such a moron"
"It's not that funny."
He had finally calmed down and wiped a couple of tear from his eyes.
"Oh it is. I know you haven't liked anyone in like, well.. ever, but that's just way over the top."
"What would you have me do? Claim her and profess my undying love?"
"Well not profess you undying love, but maybe a goodnight kiss on the lips would have set the record straight. You're a man, not a kid. Right now she must be fussing over if you like her or not."
"Well I don't know if I like her! It's been 6 days! 6 days! How the hell I'm I going to fall for someone in 6 days."
I look at Blaise and he has this knowing smile that makes me want to throw the next best thing at him. Looking at my left, a book, so I do.
"OUCH!"
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Hermione POV
As I walk the halls of the ministry I feel every eye looking at me funny. I can hear some of the whispers and I double my pace. My heart is beating ten times faster and surely I know I'm going to faint if I don't make it to my office.
At the back of the hall, next to the elevators, I see Luc, surrounded by a bunch of people talking with animositly. It wasn't really that difficult to figure out what they were talking about.
I decided to take the stairs on my left and forget about the elevator.
When I made it to the office Mark was waiting with a huge grin on his face.
"Good Morning Miss Granger, beautiful Monday, is it not? But Sunday was I bit more interesting."
"Miss Granger? Why the formality?" I pretend like nothing was wrong and entered my office.
"Well I don't know; I don't want 'anyone' getting jealous over the fact that I call you 'Hermione'" said Mark fallowing me into the office.
I put my purse on the bottom drawer of my desk and turn to Mark, who still had a huge grin.
"It wasn't like that Mark. Luc was completely wasted and he started getting frisky, Draco was just trying to protect me."
I sit and start rearranging the papers on my desk.
"Right, of course. Draco. Right. Should I leave your schedule free for lunch today too?"
"I…" at this question I really didn't know what to answer. I hadn't heard from Malfoy since Saturday night, after the 'kiss'. As a kneejerk reaction I looked at the messages on my mobile, 0 messages.
"Right. I'll just bring you your favorite salad as always." said Mark with a sweet smile.
"Thank, that'd be great."
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Hermione POV
By noon I was giving the final touches to the Lakelings – Mermaids negotiation. I truly hoped this would work, cause I was running out of ideas.
I heard Mark knock three times, as he always does, and then opening the door, probably to bring me the salad.
"You can leave the salad at the desk Mark, I'll eat in a second." not even lifting my head to look at him.
"Still prefer the floor I see. I wonder what other type of activities you enjoy best on the floor?"
I froze and looked up, there was Malfoy, looking as gorgeous as ever, impeccable suit, impeccable face, a flirting smile on his face. I replayed his words and immediately, understanding the implication, turned bright red.
"Oh, uhmm, hi, I didn't know you were coming."
He walked stopping in front of me, careful not to step over any papers. I was dumb stroked.
He squatted in front of me, only a couple of inches apart. I could feel his breath on my face, my heart beating ten times faster.
"Hi" he said looking straight to my eyes.
I gulped
"Hi" it didn't even sound convincing. I had fought Voldemort for crying out loud, why was so nervous just because of Malfoy.
"So, I take it you ordered in." I small smile on his lips.
Unconsciously I looked at his lips and licked mine. As I did this I notice the smile disappeared and his lips parting a bit. I looked at his eyes and noticed he was now looking at my lips.
"I… you.. I mean.. you didn't call or texted so I thought you weren't coming" I whispered. He kept looking at my lips.
"I just.." he left the sentence there and brought his hand to my face, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his hand lingering on my neck, his thumb caressing my jaw very slowly.
We were now a breath apart.
"Mione! Wanna go to lunch?" I rapidly pulled away and looked at the door. There was Harry, totally stunned, eyes huge, mouth open. "Malfoy!"
Draco hadn't moved a single bit, he had a furious look on his face. I knew that if Harry pressed on a bit more he was surely going to get hexed.
"Harry" quickly rising myself from the floor; my face even reader than before.
"Hi, Harry. Uhmm. I already asked Mark to bring me a salad. Uhmm. Its ok. Uhmm yeah I'm working on the Lakelings Mermaid case. Yeah."
At that very moment Mark (that saint!) walked in, salad in hand. He looked at me, looked at Harry, and then at Malfoy, who was now lifting himself from his position.
I dead silence on the room.
"I brought your salad" said Mark. Still, dead silence.
"Mr. Potter I have the papers you asked for, there here at my desk, come." he took Harry by the arm and closed the door, leaving the salad on one of the chairs that faced my desk. Thank Merlin for Mark.
I turn around and looked at Malfoy; his face stoic as ever.
"Well then, I better go."
"But, I..."
He walked to where I was standing and gave me a kiss on the cheek "I'll pick you up at 8."
And with that he left the office.
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Let me know what you think! XOXO!
Seida.