Hey, sorry about that. -_-'
I did forget about this story, you know, sometime, uhmm, things get in the way.
But I hope to be back for good this time. I'm already writing chapter 7.
I want to thank "Lovelyloon" for her beautiful (or not) review, it was the first time in my life I felt flatter over someone telling me they hated me :p .Thanks again :D
Hermione POV.
Malfoy was not even gone for 2 second and Harry was already storming in.
"Care to tell me what the bloody hell was that?' His face furious, his hand pointing to the door.
"Uhm, that was Draco Malfoy." I was still a bit dazed from what had happen and the 'pick you up at 8?' line. I mean, were we going on a date or something?
"oh of course, Draco Malfoy, how silly of me; and in what universe do you and Malfoy KISS?"
"We didn't kiss" I turn to look at the chair, my face reddening from embarrassment.
"Oh, right, of course you didn't kiss. CAUSE I INTERUPTED!"
"Will you stop yelling? Look Harry, you're blowing this way out of proportion, we just" trying to explain a side of a story I didn't even understand.
"Way out of proportion? Not a week ago you were ready to rip the guy's head out! And now you're kissing?" he was pacing my office from side to side.
"I already told you we were not kissing. We just, I just, its complicated ok. And stop with the pacing, you're driving me crazy; I'm not your kid sister, you don't have to protect me from guys."
I crossed my arms, a scowl on my face, and took a sit on my desk, facing Harry, who by now was sitting on one of my office chairs. At least he had stopped the pacing and considered taking a sit.
"I just… can you… just tell me what's going on, ok? No secrets."
He was looking at me the way a big brother looks at his baby sister (I think) when they've done something wrong. I took a deep breath and, deciding there was really nothing to hide, I told him everything, from my venture to Malfoy's house, the deal, the lunches, everything; including yesterday's self-classified 'date'.
"So let me get this straight" he pressed his eyes closed with both hands. Then he rubbed his hands on his face finishing on his hair, making it, if possible, even messier.
"You're going out like you're dating, but you're not dating?"
"yes"
"And he comes to pick you up every day for lunch, like you're dating, but you're not dating?"
"yes"
"and he defended you against Luc, whom I'm going to kill by the way, but you're not dating?"
"Exactly."
"and then he kissed you on the forehead."
"Are you going to repeat everything I just explained?" I walked to grab my salad and opened the container just to start poking it with the plastic fork.
"I just need to ask you something, ok? just to clear things out."
"Ok" putting a small amount in my mouth. The salad looked nice and tasted even better, arugula and goat cheese salad, I loved it.
"Do you like him?"
Choking on a piece of cheese I looked at Harry with stunned eyes "What are you talking about?"
"Don't look at me like that. It's the fair question to ask. Do you like him? Cause if you don't, then I don't see the harm on you becoming friends and all. I mean, it's not like you are making the world think that you're together. Ok maybe you are. But you're not announcing you're together, you're just letting them believe what they want to believe, or whatever. That's cool by me, you're a grownup, I'm guessing you understand the implications of what you're doing and, I mean, Malfoy's a nice guy, well maybe not nice but"
"HARRY! Shut up, you're rambling!"
He cleared his throat and looked at me.
"What I'm trying to say is that if you don't have fillings for the guy than I don't see any harm on you hanging around as friends, but" stretching the last word.
"But?" by now I had nervously closed the lid of the salad container, and put it on my desk. I wasn't really that hungry anymore.
"But, if you have feelings for him then I don't think this is a good idea."
I gulped. I knew where he was going with this, the same place my head was all night: Malfoy is not going to like you back.
"Don't worry, ok. I'm good." Trying to convice myself, more than him. "This is all in good faith. Hey, I even got him to free his elves and all, right?"
"Yeah well, about that, I think that was stupid Hermione. Everybody know Malfoy's elves make more than an auror."
I felt I wave of dizziness. "What?"
"They're all free, all of them, in every company he has. More so, anyone that works for him must be Elves Right supporter."
"What?"
"ohhh you didn't know that? And here I was thinking you, as a real fan of Which Weekly, knew your celebrities like the palm of your hand" Obviously he said this with a mocking tone.
"Very funny Potter."
"I'm not kidding! Look it up somewhere that prints stuff with intellectual value, not just celebrities lattes love interest."
By now he had a growing smirk and I was on the verge of smacking him on the head.
"Look Harry can you please just leave. I need to finish working." I took the salad and toss it on the waist.
.
$% %
$%
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Hermionie POV
I was sitting on my sofa, my feet on the coffee table, facing the black screen of the TV. I was still wearing my work clothes, even my purse was still on my arms. I've been like this for nearly 15 minutes.
Why? You may ask. I was trying to think.
All my life I've been careful, always thinking everything I do, but this thing with Draco, urghm, Malfoy, had me all jumpy and on the edge. I really didn't know what was going on. I mean we haven't really talked about the "arrangement" since we made the arrangement. I know he wanted to pretend we were friends and all, but did that mean that all the times we had gone out he was faking it? Or was he being genuine? What was all the Luc thing? A publicity stunt?
I look at the clock hanging from my wall and breathe in deeply, 7:13PM. He said he was going to pick me up at 8, did that mean he was coming over? Or were we suppose to meet somewhere and go from there somewhere else? Was I supposed to call him or was he supposed to call me?
Urgg I needto stop this. What am I doing? I'm not a kid! I'm a grown woman! I just need to ask directly what was going on, like adults, clear things out. I'm not a child, I don't sit around pondering my lates crush. That's it.
I pick up my cell and punch a few buttons until I have Malfoy's contact on the screen. I determined to call him and ask something along the lines of 'Malfoy, can you please explain what is going on between us, no bullshit'… ok maybe not like that.
I drop the phone on my lap, my resolve already dissolving, and at the same moment I hear a small beep. A message. Crap, did I send something by mistake?
I pick the phone and see a message from Malfoy. Quickly I hit a button and read the message
"Stop thinking so much and go get ready. I can almost hear your brain on overload from my house."
What the hell? Abruptly I turn around just to make sure I was alone, totally freaked out. Ok, I'm good, now ones around.
I turn back to the phone and start messaging back.
"I was not thinking; I was watching TV" that was not a total lie, I was, after all facing THE TV.
"So you're ready?"
"…"
"Granger stop analyzing this too much and go get ready. Wear something nice."
"Where are we going?"
"To the annual Children's Of The Light Gala."
The Children's of the Light was a non-lucrative organization that started by helping children that were orphaned by the war, now it had grown to helped orphaned children, abused, illed and many other child related issues.
"I'm not even remotely ready. And why is this event on a Monday?"
"Since when do the rich need a weekend to throw a party? We can talk on the way to the gala. Go get ready. I'm picking you up in 40 min."
I read the message and toss the phone on the sofa, running to the bathroom.
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$% $%
$%
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Malfoy POV
I take a last look on the mirror: tux flawless, tie perfectly done, every hair in place.
I bend my arms on my elbows and examine my cufflinks, checking that they were perfectly put and meticulously polished. Again I do a double take on the mirror and breathe deeply.
"Malfoy you can do this" I tell myself "get a grip, its only Granger." I check again my tie.
This thing, this edginess has been going on the moment I stepped out of Grangers office. Why I've gone there in the first place I had no idea. One minute I was sitting at my desk, thinking about Granger obviously, the other I was walking the halls to her office.
When I saw her sitting on the floor, concentrated, biting on her lower lip while her glasses threaten to fall from her small nose, I just, I just felt the incredible need to kiss her. So I just walk to where she was and was a breath from finally kissing her before the stupid Potter interrupted us.
In reality I truly didn't know what I was thinking. I've never behaved this way. I mean, it's Granger for crying out loud and she was, deliberately or not, making a mess out of me!
She had me doing things impulsively, I didn't do impulsive! I'm fucking Draco Malfoy! She had me thinking about her every second! Fuck, she even had me all jealous and possessive to no end, like a freaking school boy.
I was a man. I could admit if I desired a woman. It was normal. I mean I sleep with women all the time. So I was going to admit it. I can admit it, I'm a man: I wanted Granger, bad, REALLY BAD; and if by today I dint kiss her I was sure going to hex the first person that interrupted us. And kissing was just the first thing on my list.
Let me know what you think. Should I continue or just drop this altogether?
XOXO
Seida