Man, I'm having major writing block! but anyways chapter 12 !
Draco loosened his grip on Hermione. She looked him in the eyes, and walked away. He couldn't believe what just happened. The girl he had fallen for had just admitted she had feelings for him too, and he couldn't say anything. He wasn't able to. Draco turned around his eyes followed Hermione leaving the ballroom. He was left standing by himself. Blaise and Ginny both looked in his direction, wondering what just happened.
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Hermione ran out of the ballroom, as fast as her shoes would allow her to, which surprisingly enough was fast.
"Oi, Zabini!" a sneering voice called to her as she started walking in corridors that headed to the gardens outside
She stopped in her tracks recognizing the unpleasant person's voice
"You think I'd let you go… after you try and steal my boyfriend?" Astoria said walking up to Hermione
"Just leave me alone!" Hermione said, not looking her in the eyes
"Listen! Draco is my boyfriend... Now, just because Weasley cheated on you it doesn't mean you can take Draco… I mean, it's your fault you haven't been able to hold on to your Weasel!" She retorted
"Just, leave me alone… Honestly, just get lost!" Hermione said walking away
"The truth always hurts, honey!" Astoria smirked, "My parents have talked to the Malfoys, Draco and I, we're going to be engaged soon, what we were meant to do before you popped into our lives… I expect our wedding will be sometime after Potter's wedding! Thought I'd let you know, Zabini… Anyways, cheers!"
Astoria walked away, but her cruel presence could still be felt on Hermione's heart. She could still feel all the words she said in spite. Hermione backed up against the wall and tears streamed down her face, she didn't even try to bottle them up anymore, because she knew she couldn't. She stood alone in the dark corridor, with only the large window that gave her a shred of moonlight.
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Draco stood in the centre of the ballroom, still try to contemplate what just happened. Ginny watched Astoria come back into the room with a malicious grin on her face. She saw Draco and walked forward to him.
"Drakie!" Astoria flirted
Ginny noticed that and was about to go up to Draco to talk to him, but she stopped in dead in her tracks when she was close enough to hear what they were talking about, well what Astoria was talking about.
"I'm so happy; we're finally going to get married. We've been waiting for such a long time! Now, we can spend more time together, instead of you just hanging out with other people," Clearly Astoria meant Hermione and the reference didn't go unnoticed by Draco, but he still didn't say anything.
Blaise walked over to Ginny, when he noticed her facial expression. "Ginny, what just happened?"
"Blaise, I have no idea, but I just heard Greengrass and Malfoy are engaged, and I heard it from her mouth" Ginny said
"Draco didn't tell me!" Blaise frowned
"I bet you anything, Astoria is doing this!"
"Should, I go talk to him?" Blaise asked
"No, but let's go look for Hermione!" Ginny said
"Alright!"' Blaise sighed
Hermione heard footsteps coming down the corridor she was in. She quickly got up and ran to her room. She wiped her tears and sat on her bed, trying to get over what just happened. Minutes later someone knocked on her door.
"Mione, can I come in?" Ginny whispered
"Uhm… Yeah… come in," Hermione replied quietly
"Hermione… why'd you leave?" Blaise asked
"I don't know…"
"Hermione… listen we know what happened…" Ginny spoke softly, moving closer to Hermione and patting her back
"It's entirely my fault! I shouldn't have listened to Malfoy's idiotic idea! I fell for him… and now he's going to marry Greengrass!" Hermione, started to tear up as she spoke, her head on Ginny's shoulder
"Mione, don't cry… Look, Draco's staying over for a couple of days; do you want him to leave?" Blaise asked
"He's your friend… it's up to you…" Hermione sobbed, "I don't want you guys to fall out because of that, I mean I even have a contract with both of your companies…"
"Alright…" Blaise said, "I'll leave you girls, to talk…" he left the room quietly, closing the door
Hermione finished sobbing and Ginny and she talked about something other than what happened, but no matter how much they tried to change the subject, Hermione couldn't help it but to feel hurt. This was her second heartbreak, and for some odd reason this one hurt her far worse than Ron.
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"Mia…" Draco called her nickname in the morning, knocking on her door
Hermione didn't answer she waited for him to leave and when he did she left the house and headed for work. In her office she was bombarded with letters on her desk, and her daily subscription to the Prophet, Witch Weekly and other magazines that were infiltrated in the Zabini/Malfoy co.
The cover story of Witch Weekly was Draco and Astoria's rumored marriage. Hermione picked up the paper and threw it in the trash. The other magazines surprisingly had her face on them. She was the cover girl. She was shocked at how beautiful she looked. As she looked through her letters she found one from Blaise that asked if she could head to the Company after lunch. She filed some folders and sent out some law enforcements throughout the ministry. She picked up her bag and headed for the company after lunch.
"Hey Blaise," She said as she met with him in the halls
"Hey Hermione… So I called you here because you have an interview with some people who take care of the magazine… They want to know more about you, is that alright?" Blaise asked
"Yeah, sure! Where is it taking place?"
"The door on the far right,"
"This one?" Hermione asked walking all the way to it and then calling back to Blaise
"Yeah that one!" Blaise shouted as he left, to go into another door.
"Hello, Miss Zabini, How are today?" A pale man, good-looking man with brunette coloured hair stood up and shook hands with her
"I'm well, how are you?"
"Great! Now you may take a seat here and we'll begin the interview," He said gesturing at the chair sitting across from him.
Hermione looked around the room and her gaze fell on a ferret sitting at his desk filling out some forms. She knew he saw her, but ignored him.
He started by asking her little questions in the beginning, but as they got into the interview the hard-hitting questions found a way to surface into the conversation.
"So you were dating Quidditch player, Ron Weasley and you recently broke up with Mr. Draco Malfoy as well and there is a rumor that he is getting married to Astoria Greengrass… How would you describe your relationships with them…?
"My relationship with Ron is the same as it always has been… We're friends, and we plan to be that way! As for Mr. Malfoy… we never dated it was a speculation by the media…" Hermione cleared her throat and spoke in a firm voice, watching Malfoy from her peripheral vision. She noticed him looking up and watching her for a while.
"Are you dating anyone at the moment?
"No… I'm not…"
The questions carried on to be insistent and assertive, until finally they were over and Hermione could breathe in without fear of her emotions seeping through. Hermione left the building as soon as possible, after telling Blaise the interview was over.
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Hermione was sitting in the living room of her house with a book she had newly bought. Her mother was sitting across her reading a book as well. Blaise had just come home from work and sat down next to their mother. Hermione briefly looked up at him and nodded then went back to reading until her cell phone started ringing to the tune of
"What's that?" Blaise said looking around
"What's that noise?" Mrs. Zabini said looking up from her book
"Sorry, mum!" Hermione said quietly
"Hello?" Hermione answered softly
"Mione? It's Gin!" Ginny smiled through the phone
Hermione remembered she told Ginny about a cell phone and she bought her one so they could keep in contact, in a more effortless way. She remembered how confused she was about the concept of the muggle device when she first introduced it to her.
"Hey Ginn! How are you?"
"I'm good… How are you?" Ginny asked hesitantly
"I'm ok, I guess…" Hermione whispered, "But… I need to stop being so selfish because it's your big day in a few days!"
Draco walked into the Living room, loosening his tie as he sat down a chair across from Blaise. "Hello Aunt Camilla," Draco smiled as he looked at her. She smiled at him and went back to her book. Draco looked at Hermione and then back to Blaise. They started their own conversation.
"Oh Hermione, I'm so nervous, but excited at the same time! I have you as my maid of honour! Oh this will be perfect!" Ginny gushed; her happiness could be seen through the phone. Hermione was upset because of the incident that happened the night of the ball. She knew she was starting to fall for Draco and now they weren't even friends. Why do my relationships always end in turmoil?
"We're going to have a bachelorette! We're going to go clubbing, and the same day it's Harry's stag as well… I convinced Harry to ask Blaise and maybe Malfoy to go… because I figured since he's your brother and well he'd feel awkward without Draco… By the way, Hermione you'll be partnered with Ron, Oh thank goodness you guys are friends again!" Ginny laughed
"Ha! I know, he was alright about it I guess…" Hermione laughed awkwardly
"Oh Luna will be with Neville and Padma and Dean…"
"Oh that's so cute!" Hermione cooed
"I know… Especially since Neville and Luna love each other, but they haven't even started dating yet!"
"They haven't? What is Neville waiting for? Rolf is going to get in the way!" Hermione practically shouted
"Mione calm down… I'm making Harry talk to Neville about it!"
"Oh, Ginn I'm so excited for you, I can't wait to see you! You'll look absolutely stunning and your mum, Mrs. Weasley she must be so happy!" Hermione smiled, her eyes slightly tearing up
"Mione…" Ginn began to sob as well
Hermione got up from the living room and went in the Kitchen. Draco and Blaise noticed so they decided to go spy on her conversation.
"Ginn… I don't know… I miss you guys! I haven't seen you in forever and sometimes I just wish we can go back to the times… When I didn't know my real parents, I feel so bad saying this but… my life feels more confusing than when I was hunting horcruxes with Harry and Ron… I don't know what to do…" Hermione cried
"Mione… I miss you too! I promise you can come over to my house… after all of this is over you can come over!" Ginny smiled and Hermione could feel it through the phone
"I love you Ginny!" Hermione tried to smile
"Love you too, Hermione!"
"I'll talk to you later… I have to go… get something, alright?'" Hermione said wiping the corners of her eyes
"Bye, Mione," Ginny said. They both hung up. Hermione sat still for a bit looking up at the ceiling.
"Mione…" Blaise whispered walking into the room, with Draco trailing behind him awkwardly, "Don't cry, sweetie," Blaise put his arm around her
"Blaise… I'm sorry…" Hermione said through her sobs, putting her head on his shoulder
"No… It's not your fault… How about all of us go out together?" Blaise said putting her head
"No… I want to stay home… I – I'll stay at – home," Hermione whimpered, not wanting to go anywhere especially with Malfoy.
A small grey owl swooped into through one of the wide-open windows, dropping a note for Draco.
Drakie, I hope you remember that we're going out for dinner today with my parents! Dress formally, and be at ourrestaurant at no later than eight!
Astoria Greengrass X
"Mate, I have to go, Astoria –" Draco looked at Hermione hesitantly, but she purposely turned her head, refusing to look at him.
"Her parents… Dinner… tonight… yeah…" Draco's voice drifted off.
"Yeah, you go, Draco…" Blaise said irritably. He knew Hermione liked him, and she was his sister he was on her side, no matter how great of a friend Draco was. He was now determined to make Hermione feel better.
Damn, I hate Astoria! I love how Astoria's mean in both of my stories! LOL!
Haha Thank you "Mimpy" for the 'birthday cake' LOL Thanks guys for liking the story :) I'm obsessed with the song See No More - Joe Jonas
Anyways hope y'all enjoyed the story :)