Chapter 15

Hermione woke up with a creepy feeling the next day. She had survived the previous night, the date from hell. It was, however, reaching its tentacles into today with the shopping threat. She didn't want to go shopping with Draco Malfoy, she certainly didn't want to go shopping with her and his exes. Who would?

Instead she had a bath and cultured her measly indoor garden. Some plants that lived in the small space of morning sun that her flat allowed. She tried really hard not to think about the previous evening, there were no good feelings to be had in reliving that one. There was the issue of a rather spectacular kiss, but she was on the whole better off never thinking of that again.

She felt belated embarrassed about being kissed in front of people. In front of Blaise. She did not flaunt things like that. It was unseemly. And then to top it off being dragged into some shopping trip so they could duke out whatever it was they were doing. Well, she didn't want any part of it.

Although they did need a break up. Preferably something public so everyone would know he was dumping her. She would look hurt and scowly for a few days, which she thought she could manage. She might even resort to putting some Vicks under her eyes to make her look a bit red and teary. She didn't really feel bad about deceiving people in that regard, served them right for being judgemental in the first place.

She was actually looking forward to being dumped by Draco Malfoy. A week or two and it would all be forgotten. She had decided that she would show as much dignity as she could muster, after. And with Blaise, she would be completely professional, she decided. Like it had all never happened. He would eventually understand what he'd missed out on, but she would be well gone by then. Happy with someone else. That was the mission, a good, healthy relationship with someone normal.

A knock on the door interrupted her musings.

"You're not ready." He said at her door in his customary black suit.

"That's because I'm not going." She replied crossing her arms.

"You have to go. You agreed."

"I did not. And who in their right mind wants to spend a Saturday going shopping with their exes. That is triple awful, first we have to spend a day together, secondly, going shopping, thirdly, with the exes. That is on par with taking your mother in law along to a strip club. Why would anyone do that? I think I'd rather poke myself in the eye."

"I'm going to poke you in the eye in a minute, now get dressed." He said with annoyance. "This is your exes doing, he threw out the challenge and it cannot go unanswered. Have you no sense of decorum? If we don't go its like admitting we are ashamed, or that I am ashamed of you. Not the message you want to send."

"Why, it seems like a perfectly good message. You are ashamed to be seen with me, so you break it off with me."

"Don't you have any pride in yourself?"

"Judging from last night, then no." She spat. "I am not doing this out of pride. Believe me, I am swallowing my pride so this whole thing will go away."

He was watching her then with what might have been a bit of a warning in his eyes. She couldn't believe she had him in her flat. It was incomprehensible. Draco Malfoy, her childhood arch nemesis.

"We can't break up just yet. Being seen a few times is important. It has to look like you tried." He said. "And I have a reputation to uphold, so we are going shopping and you are going to look like its your dreams coming true."

"Nothing you just said makes any sense."

"Yes, judging from your wardrobe, you have never seen the inside of a store." He said. "I, being a wealthy pureblood of superb standing, can afford to be generous to my paramours. It is a sign of status."

"And is Pansy Blaise's paramour?"

"Why, do you care?" Draco asked, watching her.

"Just curious." She replied and snatched the set of robes Draco was holding out for her.

"I don't know." He said after a while. "The shopping ritual can be done for any female of regard."

"Isn't that a bit shallow."

"It's a message. It is what it is."

"Now about breaking up." She said as she walked into the other room to change. She wasn't sure why she let him pick what to wear. Maybe because she would have worn jeans and a sweatshirt.

"Not yet." He said.

"Why not?"

"I'm just not done yet." He said.

"Well, I'm done." She said tartly. "As fun as this has been, and it really hasn't, I've had my fill. I could just make a scene and break up with you."

"No, you can't. Then you would be back to being the user and abuser. Besides, nobody breaks up with me. It isn't done. But don't worry, it will be soon enough."

"Is there anything in your world other than the all encompassing arrogance?"

"Arrogance or not. The point of this whole thing was to not mark you out as a freak. Hence, don't do things that aren't done or acceptable."

"And breaking up with you would be unacceptable?" She asked with clear disbelief.

"I am rich and gorgeous." He said. "The most eligible bachelor in this society. Girls stand in line and hope they are lucky."

"Surely there must some sort of reprieve since you are such a complete tosser."

"Language, girl." He said. "Don't want to mark yourself out as being vulgar. Lets not forget the point of this whole enterprise."

"And what is the point for you? Why the sudden care about my reputation?"

"I have my reasons." Draco said coldly, in a way that didn't invite further questioning. "They have nothing to do with you, so don't worry. I have no secret designs on you."

"I wasn't worried. That would be ridiculous."

He didn't say anything more. And she was glad because it did kind of sound like she was fishing for compliments.

Again he hurried her towards the apparition spot, from which they appeared in a well appointed reception room which could only belonged to a rich pureblood family.

"What are we doing here?" She asked.

"We're meeting the others." He said. "This is the Parkinsons' residence."

"Oh, wonderful." She said quietly as Blaise and Pansy-bitch walked in.

"There you two are." Pansy-bitch said. "We were wondering when you'd turn up. Weren't we Blaise?"

Blaise didn't say anything. Pansy-bitch considered her clothes. "A day in dire need."

Hermione clamped her jaw together.

"Alright then, shall we go?" Pansy-bitch added. "The portkey is just about ready."

"Portkey?" Hermione said.

"Paris darling." Pansy-bitch said. "You remember Paris, don't you? Or from what I gather, it might be a bit of a blur for you. Somewhat unstable on your feet, from what I heard."

Draco squeezed her on the arm, and then wrapped his other one around her waist and pulled her in tight as he reached for the portkey. "Porting doesn't come naturally to you, I've heard. Can't have you on your backside when we get there."

Hermione hated porting. Anything flying or close to it. She held on tight and he was the only thing to hold onto. She hated it, but for an instance she felt safe.

"You can open your eyes now." He said.

"Ah, such a tender moment." Pansy-bitch said with an edge of derision in her voice.

"I'm not going to make it through the day." She whispered to Draco.

"You will try your best."

"You might have overestimated my ability to stay calm and collected."

"Believe me, I know exactly where your limits are." He said with amusement. "I've tested most of your boundaries, I think."

"I was a child then, I'm a bit different now." She snapped.

"Yeah, I'm not so sure." He said. "But let me provide an incentive for you. You even look like losing it, I'm going to kiss you. You decide which is the greater evil. Although if you are unable to control yourself, I am going to have to assume that you're secretly coveting my attention."

"You're a complete pig, and hell would freeze over before I would purposefully try to get you to kiss me. Don't you worry, I am going to be cool as a cucumber." She said. "Completely unshakeable."

"Aw, the lovebirds." Pansy-bitch said. "Isn't it sweet, Blaise?"

She could see Blaise's jaw working. He was not enjoying this. She felt awful about the whole situation. Sure she wanted them broken up and moved on, but not this flaunting it in his face. This was Malfoy's doing. And it didn't speak well for him.

Pansy wrapped her arm around Hermione's as they walked down the street of what must have been Paris' main wizard shopping street. It was much more modern than Diagon Alley, and by modern, that was maybe mid 19th century.

"I have warned you before." She said as they walked slower than the boys at Pansy's insistence. "He is toying with you. Just dipping his wick in a free pool. You are more than eager, I hear."

Hermione pulled her arm away from Pansy.

"He will move on and you will be left with nothing. Although that was how it was always going to be." She continued. Hermione couldn't believe her bile. "Problem with girls like you is you don't know how to make them work for it. You just give it up, like a common whore."

"Maybe, Pansy," Hermione said, "people get tired of the games playing. I might give it up, as you say, but I have real relationships with real intimacy."

"Oh, you are so naïve." Pansy said. "You don't actually think you had a relationship with Blaise, do you? You poor thing, what he had with you, that's what called 'slumming it'. And everybody knew it."

Hermione was astounded by the vileness in Pansy. She didn't believe a word of it, but it still hurt to hear, like she expected it was supposed to.

"Well, if that's true, then he gave up on something genuine and that is his loss whether he sees it or not."

Pansy made this exaggerated pitying face, which was in no way genuine. "Well, don't make the mistake of thinking that with Draco. I am actually trying to help you, you know. I warned you."

Pansy floated away.

"Your friends are vile." She said to Draco.

"They're Slytherins." He said back. "A certain politics comes with it. Now what about this dress?"

"I don't want you to buy me dresses."

"Well, I am going to." He said holding it up to her frame. "Usually, I don't normally have to take such an active part in the process. Normally, I can just sit there, drink alcohol and look pretty, but you need your hand held through everything." He said sharply.

"What's got a bee in you bonnet?" She asked. "I just had my arse handed to me by Pansy. Apparently, I am the required ingredient for 'slumming it'."

Draco smiled as he continued to go through racks of clothes. She didn't challenge him on what that little smile meant, she didn't want to know.

"And then she had the nerve to tell me she was trying to help me." Hermione continued.

"She probably is, in her way." Draco said. "How about something green, Slytherin green?"

"Over my dead body."

"That would be a little more than 'slumming it'." He said with a chuckle.

"I truly hate you."

"No you don't. You think I'm attractive, you just won't admit it to yourself."

"Are you trying to piss me off?"

"Keep your cool, Granger, you know what I am obliged to do if you don't." He said. "Now try this."

"Its pink."

"You're a girl."

"I'm not four."

"Just put it on." He said. "It goes with your skin tone."

"That has to be the manliest thing you've ever said." She said sarcastically and snapped the dress out of his hand. What did she care what stupid dress he bought her. She didn't want a dress, so what did it matter what it looked like.

She walked into the changing room and shimmied the damned thing on. It did look good.

"Come out and show." Draco said. There was a sofa outside the dress room, which she suspect was just for situations like this. Both Draco and Blaise were on it.

"It might be pink, darling, but seeing it now, it makes me feel all…manly."

Hermione could only shoot him daggers with her eyes. She sorely wanted to say something, but having Blaise there looking her over like she was a cow for sale.

"For a gold digger, she is worth the pennies." Blaise said is a lazy drawl.

Hermione's jaw dropped. She was shocked. She had never expected he'd say something disrespectful like that.

"What was that?" Pansy-bitch said coming out of one of the changing room.

"He was just saying she looks kiss-worthy." Draco warned, but Hermione was livid.

"You complete bastard." Hermione spat getting ready to give him a piece of her mind. Screw quiet dignity, she was going in for a pummelling. But she didn't get a chance because Draco manhandled her into one of the changing rooms.

"Let go." She spat as she clawed to get him out of the way.

"I told you." He said and held her in place. He had her pushed towards the wall with his lower arms holding her shoulders pinned. His hands pulled her head towards him where he locked her in place for a forceful kiss. It still took her by surprise. She fought at first, but he refused to relent the kiss. Not until she completely calmed down, and it still went on for some time. Just to make sure she wasn't feigning.

Her lips were bruised when he finally let her go. She felt out of breath, which she probably was. He still had her pinned to the walls with his forearms, ready to kiss her again if she caused a fuss.

"You don't expect me to just take that, do you?" She said harshly. "I am not a gold digger. I am the furthest thing from a gold digger. That effin bastard."

"He is a bastard and he's vindictive." Draco said. "He was using you."

"I don't believe you."

"I know you don't." He said. "Doesn't mean its not true. The whole Marcus thing made him look like a fool and now he wants a bit of blood in return."

"Well, if he thinks he can hurt me, then I am going to hurt him back. What makes him think I would just take it?" She said. "You can let go of me now." He didn't. In fact, they were close enough that she could feel his whole body.

"Seeing you with me hurts him." Draco said. "The pure and unapproachable Hermione Granger. He was quite chuffed to bring you down a peg or two. Doesn't like the idea that you prefer me."

"The total arse bag." Hermione said, she was feeling really hurt now. The idea that their relationship had been about him using her to humiliate her hurt unbelievably much.

"So lets not end it just yet." Draco said. "Let's milk this a little longer. He deserves it."

"We'll be deliriously happy." Hermione said through her teeth.

"Good girl."