Chapter 8

Hermione had gotten up at 6 o'clock in the morning. After finishing her essay last night she had gone straight to bed setting her alarm for 6 so that she would be able to get up early and drop off her essay at Dolby's office before she came. Dolby was known for being in her office at 7:30 straight.

Hermione had rushed to the office building and had given Dolby's assistant her essay asking her to drop it off on her desk. Dolby's assistant was a sweet lady, the complete opposite of her colleague. Having dropped the essay of, Hermione walked back to her dorm building feeling about a hundred times lighter. Suddenly she had the mad urge to see Lucy. She felt like she hadn't seen her much since term had begun. She looked at her watch noting it was 7:25. Thank goodness that Lucy was an early riser. Five minutes later, she was seated on Lucy's bed gossiping happily.

"He kissed you?" Hermione gushed happily.

"Yes. Oh Mi it was aaa-mazing. It's like he touched my soul," Lucy answered dreamily. Hermione was beyond happy for her friend. Just by looking at her you could tell how much she was in love with Blaise. Not only that, but Blaise was completely interested in her also.

"So what about you then Mi. Anything I should know about in the romance department?"

"Well. I have been asked out by a certain someone," Hermione said mischievously.

"Oh my God! Draco asked you out! Finally!" Lucy yelled happily. Hermione froze in shock.

"What?" she asked quietly. Lucy quickly realised that she had made a mistake from the change in Hermione's facial expression.

"Oh you meant Jake didn't you?" Lucy asked embarrassed.

"Yes," Hermione said. Then she decided to overlook her friends blunder. "But I haven't answered him yet Luce. I think I'm gonna play hard to get," she said laughing. Lucy looked thankfully at her friend and laughed as well. She just didn't understand Hermione and Draco. They were so obviously made for each other but each would deny this fact with knobs on. For two of the smartest people that she knew, they were pretty dumb when it came to each other.

"Hey Luce, why don't we go to The Bell tonight. It's Friday night. We should go have a girls' night out. What do you say?" Hermione asked. The Bell was a pub/club style place that was just on the outside of campus. Mostly students went so there were hardly any rowdy men to spoil the night.

"Yeah sure," Lucy said enthusiastically. It really had been a long time since they had gone out just the two of them. "Let's find something to wear," and she quickly rushed to her cupboard pulling the doors open. Shaking her head and laughing at her friend's enthusiasm Hermione quickly joined her.

Fourteen hours later, Blaise was sitting with Draco at Frank's café. He had just come from Lucy's room. He most definitely was not pleased with their girls' night out plan. He may not look like one but Blaise was a very protective and jealous guy. He didn't want his girlfriend to dress up and go to a pub with another girl. She most definitely would get chatted up and he was not happy with this plan and currently he was trying to convince Draco to come with him to The Bell to keep an eye on them. He realised that it was petty and pointless because he should trust Lucy, which he did. It was just the male population that he didn't trust. He was positive that he had found an incredible diamond in Lucy and he wasn't about to let her get away because of some pervert in a pub.

"Come on Draco, please mate. I would do it for you," he begged.

"Will you shut up if I say yes?" Draco asked getting annoyed.

"Definitely," Blaise said in an attempt to get Draco to agree.

"Fine let's go," Draco said standing up. They apparated to an alley just by the pub. The owners were wizards even though the pub was mixed. You could always see witches and wizards but there was never a shortage of muggles too. The owners had especially chosen a location where it would be safe for wizarding folk to apparate and disapparate.

"You know you should just trust her right? I mean Blaise mate, this early in the relationship and you're being like this-" Draco shut up pretty quickly after he saw the death stare sent towards him by Blaise.

Hermione and Lucy were sitting at the bar with a glass of red wine each. They were chatting and laughing in their own little world. Draco couldn't help the smile that spread across his face at the sight of Hermione giggling at something Lucy was telling her. Blaise smiled and shook his head at the look on Draco's face.

Hermione was laughing at Lucy's crazy stories from home. She had heard them so many times before that she was actually requesting her favourite ones.

"So then, my mother she said to him," Lucy said laughing so hard it hurt her stomach, "put the cheese down and step away from the frying pan. I swear the look on my cousin's face was priceless!"

Hermione couldn't help the loud laugh that escaped her lips. She was having such a good time. It had been so long since her and Lucy had spent a night out together.

"Don't tell me, your cousin was trying to make cheese on toast," said a voice directly behind them. They both turned to see a man about 21-22 years old with blonde hair stuck up like a Mohawk, holding a beer in one hand looking from one of their faces to the other smiling goofily. Hermione and Lucy looked at each other and smiled slightly at the guy then turned back to their drinks, but he wouldn't leave.

"So tell me ladies, did it hurt? Yeah that's right. When you fell. From heaven!" Lucy and Hermione had to try very hard to not burst out laughing. Was this guy for real? No-one in their right minds used cheesy pick-up lines like these anymore. Before either of them could make a move or utter a word, the guy said: "So I'm Jamie and I couldn't help but notice you ladies," then promptly put his arm around Lucy's shoulder, who became very uncomfortable.

Blaise and Draco had been chatting when Blaise looked up and his face turned to stone. Following his line of vision, Draco saw some blonde guy putting his arm around Lucy. Blaise instantly sat up alert. He sat with his fists clenched. Draco gave him 5 seconds. 5..Blaise's face got really red 4..he raised his fists a little 3..he rose from his seat slightly 2..he sat back down 1..and Blaise shot up from his seat facing the bar and the chump.

"Stay here," he mumbled to Draco and walked towards the bar. Draco stayed seated and watched the scene about to unfold.

When Blaise was within earshot he said, "Luce, sorry I'm late babe," and walked up to her. Jamie looked curiously at the two girls as if trying to figure out which one was 'Luce'. Blaise looked harshly at him and moved next to Lucy. Jamie instantly took a step back. Holding his hands up infront of him as if in surrender he mumbled, "sorry mate," and quickly walked back to his friends. Blaise turned to look at Lucy with a smug expression expecting her to have a thankful smile on her face. What he saw however shocked him into silence. Lucy had a completely pissed off expression. She stood up and said; "Mi, wait here. Blaise and I have some things to discuss." She grabbed him by the arm and dragged him outside.

Both Hermione and Draco could not prevent the laughs escaping their lips. Hermione turned back to the bar to quietly sip her drink. She hadn't noticed Draco but he continued to watch her. And because of this, he didn't fail to notice a guy making a beeline towards Lucy's abandoned seat. It's got nothing to do with me, he thought and turned his head. But he couldn't stop himself from shooting glances at her and the asshole every now and then. He looked out the window to see Lucy really laying into Blaise and him standing with a sheepish expression. He turned back towards Hermione to see her flinching away from the guy who kept reaching out to her and laughing. All of a sudden he felt the need to protect Hermione. He quickly picked up his beer and walked over towards her. He quickly put his arm around her waist and did not miss her whispered "thank god!"

"I can't leave you alone for two seconds can I babe?" he asked leaning down to give her a peck on the cheek. All of a sudden he felt an electric shock travel from the point where his lips met her cheek all the way down through his spine to his toes. When he lifted his heap up, he noticed that Hermione was completely red in the face with her eyes closed. She would never admit it but she was intoxicated by his scent.

"Do you mind mate?" the guy asked incredulously.

"Do I mind? Do I fucking mind? You wanna fuck off mate!" Draco spat. Normally the guy would have maybe put up a fight, but one look at Draco's face and he was running with his tail between his legs. Draco actually looked deranged.

"Thanks. For a minute there I thought I was a gonner. Where did you come from anyway?" she asked smiling at him. He quickly sat in Lucy's seat before anyone else could make a move.

"Well, our boy Blaise over there decided to come and keep an eye on Lucy and you. But the moment they stepped out, you became the prey Granger," he said laughing. Hermione laughed along with him then turned to look out the window. Lucy and Blaise were still out there.

"I hope they're ok," Hermione said in a worried voice.

"I wouldn't worry about them. Blaise is too far gone to give her up," he said laughing again.

Meanwhile, Lucy was having a real go at Blaise who was beginning to feel more sheepish with every passing moment.

"So. You couldn't trust me. So you had to come here and spy on me?" she asked sharply.

"No. Luce you don't understand. I trust you a hundred percent. It's those bastards that I don't trust. You saw them. Putting his arm around you and what not without your consent. It's a good thing I was here," he finished somewhat lamely.

"Blaise, I would never let anyone harm me and you know it," she said less fiercely. She would never say it aloud but she was completely chuffed that Blaise had wanted to protect her so badly.

"I don't want to lose you Luce," he said looking at his feet. She felt something tight give way in her chest. Then Lucy did something so brave, she never would have expected something like that from herself. She stepped forward, put her hands on his cheeks and kissed him passionately. Blaise instantly wrapped his arms tightly around her. He was sure that he would never ever let go.

"So Granger, what would you have done if I wasn't here to save you?" Draco asked playfully.

"Oh please Malfoy, I could have taken care of myself," Hermione said laughing. The usual menacing tone was no longer there when she used Draco's surname.

"Yeah I know. But I didn't want to take any risks," he mumbled the last part so low that he thought she didn't hear him but she did. Just then Blaise and Lucy came back in wrapped in each others arms laughing.

"Hey guys. You both ready to head back home?" Lucy asked smiling up at Blaise. Draco downed the rest of his beer in one and stood. Hermione had already finished her wine so she was most definitely ready to go. She stood up and put her coat on. Lucy and Blaise walked on ahead just like the night at the club. Draco once again put his hand on the small of her back and guided her out. Hermione blushed because of the feelings that just the touch of his hand caused. Once they were outside, they realised that Blaise and Lucy had not waited for them and walked on ahead laughing and chatting. They fell into step and walked slowly. Draco had his hands stuffed deep in his pockets and Hermione was hugging her coat to her.

"So did you have a good time?" Draco asked.

"Yeah. I missed spending time with Lucy," She said smiling. Draco nodded and smiled. Hermione watched him out of the corner of her eye and she came to a decision.

"So the Halloween party's tomorrow night yeah?" she asked.

"Yeah," Draco said slowly looking at her with a slight frown on his face.

"What time shall I be ready by?" she asked avoiding his eye. Draco stopped walking and Hermione didn't realise until a few steps later when she suddenly noticed that she was walking by herself. Turning round she found Draco standing in the middle of the path mouth open and smiling.

"Are you serious?" he asked.

"Unless you don't want to get rid of Cindy-" she started but was interrupted when Draco suddenly walked up to her and grabbed her in a hug. He hugged her so fiercely that he actually lifted her off her feet and he spun her around. She hugged him back with just as much fervour. When Draco put her back down she realised that she was blushing like mad. But so was he. They both smiled shyly at each other and continued walking, each with a small smile on their faces.

"So will I still have to do your homework after this?" Hermione asked breaking the tension. Draco laughed loudly.

"No you don't. You have no idea how much I appreciate this," he said and laughing they walked the rest of the way chatting easily.

Hey everyone! Here's chapter 8 as promised! Hope you all like it and let me know what you all think! And special thank you's to all of you who have reviewed and added me to your alert and favorite lists! You're all amazing and I love you! xxx