Chapter 24

Hermione wasn't sure what to do. Malfoy had obviously neglected breaking up with her. It had put a bit of a crimp in her girls night out, but she persevered. She wasn't going to let him ruin her evening.

Seeing as it was the next morning, she was trying to think of what to do. Her hangover wasn't helping. She wanted to sleep but this problem was distracting her.

The why's were troubling her. Why had he neglected to break up with her? Had he just forgotten? Did he just assume people would move on, if that was the case, he seems to have underestimated people.

She didn't even know where to find him. She didn't even know where he lived. He had his own place apparently. Which wasn't a surprise considering the lifestyle he led. She could imagine that his mother was quite disapproving. Didn't negate the point that she had no idea where to find him. Plus the fact that he might be anywhere with whatever the Slytherins were doing this weekend.

After lunch, she decided to send him a note. The owl would have to find him.

She hadn't gotten a note back even when she got back from her parents. Her hangover had lifted somewhat by the time she was meeting the Gryffindors at the pub that evening.

She didn't bother dressing up. She wore her jeans and a jumper. She was definitely not going to drink that evening. She would stick to the butterbeers.

She apparated to Diagon Alley and strode into the pub. It looked like a jewel in the cold dark evening. The warmth welcomed her as soon as she opened the door. That summed up her friends, warm and welcoming, not like the Slytherins who were cold and contrary, always looking for a way of taking you down.

She found her friends and sat down. She was greeted, except by Ron who huffed and left the table.

"What's up with him?" She asked. There was always something up with Ron.

"Someone told him that you were still an item with Malfoy." Katie said.

Hermione didn't quite know how to respond. On one hand she wanted to deny it flatly, but they had been an 'item' as far as most were concerned. On the other hand, Ron should stick his freckly nose out of her business, he had no right to judge her.

"We're kind of not seeing each other at the moment." She said noncommittally. The quiet around the group was indicating that they weren't finished listening to her. "The Slytherin-Gryffindor dynamic isn't really conducive."

There was a collective 'oh' around the group. They seemingly bought the explanation completely. Which was completely true, although it wasn't the reason they were not an item, because they never were, except for the one night stand thing, which does not make a relationship. Although Ginny, who knew the truth and was looking amused.

"Oh, that's a shame because he's so dreamy." Hermione heard to her side. Friggin Lavender, minus her arsewipe boyfriend. "And you two were so into each other. Talk about hot." Lavender continued fanning herself to make her point.

Hermione scrunched her lips together. Now was not the appropriate time to rip into Lavender about what her boyfriend had done, and it wouldn't support the story that she and Malfoy were briefly seeing each other.

"All I can say is chemistry." She continued.

"Ok, Lavender." Hermione cut in sharply. "I think they got the point. It didn't work, so lets not rub salt in the wound."

Lavender looked distressed. "Oh, I'm so sorry Hermione. I didn't mean…"

Hermione wanted to roll her eyes, but she just smiled tightly while wondering how the girl could be such a complete idiot.

"Either way," Ginny interjected with a glint of mischief in her eyes, "I expect you to have a date to my wedding."

"I don't know Ginny, guys are not so high on my to-do list at the moment." Hermione said.

"Its just a date." Ginny said. "Its customary at weddings to bring a plus one. Single units make people nervous."

Bridezilla, Hermione wanted to accuse her, but it might be taken out of context.

"I could ask Cormac's brother." Lavender said in complete seriousness.

"No, I'm fine." Hermione said. She'd rather shoot herself in the foot. Hell, she'd ask Adrian Pucey before she went anywhere near anyone related for friggin Cormac. It might actually be fun going with Adrian Pucey, but it might not do her reputation any good being seen with yet another Slytherin. It might even negate the whole fake relationship business, which she didn't want to do. She had suffered for that, she wasn't about to throw it away.

"I'm sure I have a friend I could ask." She said. She'd even take her muggle cousin if she had to. Although that would be awkward as her extended family didn't realise that her form of witchcraft was slightly different from the new age tree hugging wicca they thought she was. Her parents had never bothered clarifying the distinction.

Hermione was relieved when the attention was moved off her and back onto a rehash of the Quidditch final.

"You're not really expected me to bring a date." She confronted Ginny privately.

"No singles. Just bring someone. Take someone from the office." Ginny said. Although there wasn't anyone in her office under sixty. "What about Oliver?"

"He's seeing that Irish girl, I heard."

"It doesn't matter who, just bring someone."

"You're a complete terror, you know."

"I am not. Its not my fault that you've been trawling the Slytherins for love interests lately. I am not going to plan my wedding around it either, so front up with a date." Ginny said. She was only this abrupt when she was stressed, which meant that she was stressed.

"Is everything ok?"

Ginny's shoulders seemed to collapse. "They're driving me nuts. My mother is insane. I know it sounds awful, but I am really glad I don't have a mother in-law, I don't think I could handle two of them. My mother has apparently been planning my wedding since I was born, and we really do have completely different taste. She is fighting with everyone."

"Just hang in there." Hermione said. "Just two weeks to go."

"Two weeks of complete hell." Ginny said. "Don't underestimate how lucky you are to be single. Everything is so simple when you're single."

"I know." Hermione said and she really did appreciate her singlehood. "When it gets tough, just tell yourself that it could be so much worse."

"I don't see how." Ginny said.

"Well then, imagine me planning a wedding with Draco Malfoy. Talk about impossible. Just imagine having to contend with his mother. She'd probably have some thousand year old crusty wedding dress she insisted I wear. Then my family and his getting on. God it would be complete hell."

Ginny laughed. "Alright, you win."

There still wasn't a note from Draco when she got back. She seriously wanted to punch him. Although she was too tired and slightly drunk, so she decided that she would deal with it in the morning.

There was no note in the morning either. She felt better than she expected and had a craving for warm rich home-made vegetable soup.

Still no note by the time her brunch was made and eaten. She decided to send another one.

I need to talk to you about our situation, but I can't get hold of you. Maybe I should ask your mother where you are. Hermione.

There was a knock on her door half an hour later. Obviously the threat in getting his mother involved had worked. It was bitchy, but she wanted results.

"What's gotten your knickers in a twist?" He asked when she opened the door.

"As it turns out people still think we're an item."

"Do they?" He said and pulled out a cigarette. "I hadn't noticed."

"You can't smoke in here." She said, but he proceeded to light it. She huffed in annoyance. He did look awful. He was obviously suffering from a hangover. She suspected he's slept in those clothes. And obviously not in the mood to be congenial, not that he ever was.

"Got any coffee?" He asked when there was no doubt as she'd just brewed a pot of one of her specialty beans she'd bought from Harrods.

She wanted to say no, but that would be childish. But she wasn't going to let him get away thinking they were friendly, so she gave him her worse 'you're scum' look and poured him a cup.

"Now about the business at hand." She said as he took the coffee.

He shrugged. "I don't know. I don't do these things, girls just go away."

"Well, I'm away and have been for a while, so why are people still thinking we're an item?" She said. He wasn't looking at her. Was he hiding something?

"How should I know, I can't control what people think."

"Then make it clear." She said. "Cart a tart around or something."

"I don't fuck girls on command." He said tersely.

Hermione couldn't understand why he was making this so difficult. She definitely got the feeling he was being contrary.

"Ok, let me make this clear," she said sharply, "if you're still my boyfriend at the end of the week, you're going to Harry's wedding as my date."

"You can't be serious." He said. "I'm not going to Potter's fucking wedding."

"Better make it clear to everyone then." She said.

"What am I supposed to do, put out an ad in the Prophet?"

"I don't care how you do it. I just want people coming along telling me what to do to you later in the evening."

"Oh, what have people been telling you to do to me?" He said with a slight grin. "If its saucy enough, I might be amenable." Which brought home with a crash the fact that she'd had sex with him. Fantastic sex. She couldn't help but blush.

"You're not being helpful." She said. "Break up with me or be my date, your choice, I don't care which." She said, it wasn't true, but she said if for effect. "And I'm not sleeping with you."

"You know, you really shouldn't set that up as a challenge." He said.

"I'm not!" She replied. "But I do need a date for the wedding and since the world apparently sees you as my boyfriend, it will be you unless the world changes its perception."

"I seriously don't know how anyone would put up with you." He said angrily. "And this coffee is awful. Potter's wedding isn't my fucking problem, and neither are you."

He left without closing the door. Arsewipe, Hermione thought. Like she would be offended if he was upset with her. Really, who did he think he was dealing with? At least she got her message across.