Chapter 23

After a nice Sunday evening at home, Hermione went to work the next day. And it felt great to get back to her normal, well functioning life. She actually didn't feel any shame about sleeping with Malfoy and she mentally patted herself on the back for it.

She decided she was not going to be thinking about seeing anyone for a while, but when she did, it was going to be someone normal. Maybe when the time was right, she might even flirt with Oliver Wood again.

Work got busy fast and she got absorbed. There was a lot of planning to do for her upcoming trip to the Orkney Islands.

"So, how were your dates with Draco Malfoy?" Ginny asked as soon as she sat down at the pub. "I'm famished. What are you having?"

"I'm having a beef and stout pie." Hermione said deciding to answer the easy question.

"I might have a bit of fish actually." Ginny said. "And I'm waiting for you to answer the question."

"They were fine, I guess." Hermione said. "Malfoy is a complete arse, but that's nothing new. We went to the Greengrass' last weekend on one of the 'pureblood elitist' weekend getaways."

"Merlin, how was that?" Ginny said with distaste.

"As you can imagine. A lot of prancing around in outfits and jewels, sitting around doing nothing and drinking. It was dull. Blaise was there with his new girlfriend."

"He is such an arse-wipe."

"And he told me he missed me."

"That's rich coming from him considering he couldn't dump you faster if he tried."

"I know." She said a little quieter. The ending of their relationship still hurt.

"Don't look like that." Ginny admonished. "It wasn't just a little thing he did wrong, his fault lies in the core of his character, don't forget that. If he was fine to do it once, he'll do it again."

"I know." Hermione conceded. "It's just hard."

"And Malfoy, did he try it on?"

"Yes."

"Really?" Ginny said with a raised eyebrow. "And how did he justify that as a good idea?"

"Well, we were kind of making it seem like we were really involved, so there was a bit of public display of affection to support the claim." Hermione said trying to clear out a tickle in her throat.

"And that was it?" Ginny said with suspicion. "No, what aren't you telling me?"

Hermione cheeks burned while she avoided her friend's eyes.

Ginny made a loud gasp. "You didn't!"

Hermione tried to think of something to say, but couldn't find anything that made sense. "It was just kind of on offer and I took it."

"My short-shooting Lobalug! You slag." Ginny said, then started laughing. "I can't believe you. You slept with Draco Malfoy."

"Well…" Hermione started, "everyone else has, so why not?"

"Was it good?"

"I loath to admit it, but it was good."

"Like good good or really good?"

"It was… really good." Hermione confirmed, her cheeks were bright red now. But she couldn't help giggling a bit. Because the truth was that the sex had been utterly fantastic. She wasn't going to go on about it, however.

"And what did he say after?"

Hermione shrugged. "I don't know, didn't give him a chance, I just left."

"So you screwed him, said 'cheers babe' and left?"

"Kind of." Hermione said trying to keep a straight face.

"You, Hermione, are a bad girl."

"I'm single. Footloose and fancyfree and I can sleep with whoever I want." She defended herself. "I didn't really intend to, but it just presented itself."

"So I take it you're not planning on a repeat?"

"God no." Hermione said. "Its Malfoy, pretty to look at, but you put it back where you found it. He's off screwing some continental leggy thing as we speak, I'm sure."

"Ron is going to be livid." Ginny said.

"He can just grow up." Hermione said tired of walking around Ron's insecurities.

"Just the same, I think we'll just skip over that weekend when we're talking to him."

Hermione went over to Harry and Ginny's on Saturday. They had a nice meal with Neville and Luna, Ron and Katie. The kind of time with friends she'd missed dearly while spending time Slytherin style. No one cut her down, tried constantly to find faults or hit on anyone else's boyfriends. It was just relax with friends and have a laugh.

After spending Sunday with her parents it was back to work Monday morning. Her boss was getting nervous about the Orkney deal and was quizzing her on her preparations. It was getting really annoying. Like she was going to forget automatic dictation equipment. She wasn't an amateur.

The office was in a bit of a mess a few days later when she was interrupted.

"Hermione." She heard Blaise from the door to her office. "Are you moving?"

"No just preparing for a trip." She said as she looked up. He wore one of his serious business suits. It covered up the lines of his body, but hinted at their beauty. Oh god, she thought, what did he and his rather spectacular body want?

"The Orkney thing." He said. "My firm is handling some of the commercial interest."

"Oh." Hermione said. She hadn't been aware that his firm was involved. "I am leaving soon to set up the negotiations."

"I see." He said. "You'll miss the Quidditch World Cup."

"So it would seem." She said. "You'll be going, I gather."

"Yes." He said. "Look, I'm sorry if I was out of line. I just think you can do better than Malfoy. I know girls throw themselves at him, but he's never hesitated at trampling on any girl's heart."

Hermione really didn't want to have this conversation, just like she didn't want to have the last one. However, she did appreciate his effort of trying to console her. "Look, its nothing serious and there is no worry about hearts getting trampled. And I didn't do it to hurt you. It was just one of those things." She decided to throw him a bone. "Call it a rebound thing."

He seemed to like that. Like the idea that she'd been hurt when they ended, in that he was the real deal and Malfoy was a plaster. She was happy for him to think that if it made him feel better. There was obviously some residue that he was dealing with, and the sooner he would get over it, the better for her.

"All I am trying to say is, don't invest in him. Alright, I'll leave you to it." He said. "I see that you have your hands full."

Hermione nodded and returned to her work. There was something uncomfortable about Blaise's advice, but he hadn't anything to worry about, but she just wasn't sure what Blaise was up to, or why he would be concerned for her interests. Maybe he was playing her against Malfoy, like Malfoy was playing her against Blaise. Maybe Malfoy was the one who was honest about it.

No more thinking about Slytherins and their twisted intension, she admonished herself.

The Orkney trip happened. It was messy and she worked close to 20 hours per day for what seemed like years. Every player proved difficult and Hermione lost weight from the constant running, the lack of food and rest. But it got done. She deserved a pretty big pat on the back for this, but the people who were so stupidly difficult felt they had given enough to the process to bother congratulating anyone. Sometimes this was a thankless job, and apparently running around like a headless chook for two weeks was one of those things that didn't need thanks.

She needed a stiff drink, in fact she needed to get drunk. She needed to let go of the tension that had taken up residence in her shoulders, and the perfect opportunity came when the Patel twins invited her to join them and Cho Chang at the Leaky Cauldron.

She sent her things back to the Ministry, she'd sort it next week. She apparated to the pub, not bothering to change from her work clothes.

She ordered a whiskey before sitting down with Cho. The Patel twins were still in transit apparently.

"Hello, Granger." A man said joining them. Marcus friggin Flint.

"Marcus." She acknowledged. "Didn't think this was your kind of place."

"My grandfather is particularly keen on the liquors here." He said and pointed back at a very old wizard at the bar.

"So missed you at the Quidditch World Cup." He continued.

"I had to work." She said. She was trying to think of a way to politely ask him to leave. She was having a girls' night out and she was not under any circumstances inviting him.

"Draco said you were, are you seeing him later?" He asked.

"No." Hermione said. It was an odd question. It had been almost three weeks since they broke up, why would she be seeing him later?

"Oh, I thought since he was back tonight, you'd be seeing him later."

"Did you speak to Draco at the Cup?" She asked with suspicion.

"I spoke to him yesterday."

"And he said he would be seeing me tonight?"

"No I just assumed." Flint said.

"Why would you assume that?"

He gave her a funny look before they were interrupted by the Patel twins' arrival. "Well, you're his girlfriend. Although now I see that you have other plans for the evening. Can I join you?"

"No!" Hermione said sharply. Then she added a bit softer. "Girls only."

What the fuck? Hermione yelled in her own head. Why did Marcus Flint think she and Draco were still a couple? Come to think of it, Blaise's little warning made more sense now if he believed they were still together. Had friggin Malfoy conveniently forgotten to break up with her? Had the whole world been assuming that they were still a couple over the last three weeks?

"Marcus, wait." Hermione called after him. "Was he with anyone at the Cup? Any girls I mean?"

"No, I promise, he was a good boy the entire time. Didn't even go near the hot Dutch chick with…" He indicated large breasts. "He deserves a nice little treat from you."