Chapter 11: Smile

The shortest distance between two people is a smile – Anonymous


Hermione Granger woke up the next morning and decided that she would murder a certain Draco Malfoy very, very soon, and very, very brutally. She would skin him and tear him apart limb by limb until he begs for mercy, then she would-

Only when juice from the badly disfigured remains of the orange in her hand squirted into her face did she snapped out of the uncharacteristically gruesome images flashing in front of her heavily hooded eyes. She angrily cleaned up the mess and downed her boiling hot coffee in one go.

She hardly got one wink of sleep at all, kudos to the disgusting man who would not stop writhing and groaning a mere arm's length away from her, effectively keeping her awake, flushed and bothered, all night long. Hermione had been sorely tempted to just beat some sense into him, but knowing that he was deliberately provoking her, she decided not to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was getting on her nerves, and that she would be affected enough to behave in anything but a civilised and mature manner.

And so she pretended to be perfectly unperturbed by his vulgar deeds, then leapt out of bed as soon as the clock downstairs chimed seven.

So here she was, in the Zabinis' kitchen, pouring a second mug of coffee down her throat, her sleep deprived brain running on pure anger, plotting Malfoy's demise.

"Good morning, Granger."

The mug in Hermione's hand crumpled like a disposable plastic cup. It was obviously charmed to resist clenching fists.

Draco Malfoy was meticulously groomed as always, his white blond hair slicked back, his shirt starched, his shoes polished. She silently cursed her hair, which had predictably gone completely out of control. It was not fair that horrid man should have perfect hair without having to lift a finger when she put fifty charms in her hair daily just to keep it from smothering her to death.

Bastard.

"Did you have a good sleep last night?" he asked smugly, pouring himself a cup of coffee without looking at her. "The bed is awfully comfortable, won't you say?"

"Yes," she bit out, stiffly shoving the still crumpled mug into the sink.

Malfoy dragged a chair out and leisurely sat down, leaning back to prop his legs on the table, taking a sip of his coffee and sighed languidly. "Delicious," he said with a meaningful glance in her way.

Hermione took a deep breath.

"I hope I didn't disturb your beauty sleep last night," he continued airily, brushing away some imaginary dust on his shoulder. "I tend to- move a lot in my sleep-"

Her fingers curled into a fist.

"-and I've been told that I make a lot of noise too-"

One more word and he would find himself with a broken nose.

"-seems like my imagination is busiest in the dead of night-"

That. Was. It. Her fingers inched towards the knife lying innocently on the kitchen counter.

"Morning folks!" bellowed Blaise Zabini, swaggering into the kitchen. He winked at Hermione. "Malfoy's been a good boy last night I trust?"

She forced a smile and shot Malfoy a glare. "Oh yes. He was a true gentleman last night."

Blaise laughed. "A gentleman? My, my, what has the world come to?"

Malfoy smirked lazily and got up, and Blaise hummed loudly to himself while fixing himself some cereal. Hermione bit into a croissant vehemently and stiffened when she felt Malfoy stop right behind her, his voice low enough so that only she could hear.

"I'm so glad to hear that you've enjoyed my gentlemanly display last night. Never in my wildest dreams would I have guessed that you're so naughty, Granger."

She spun around on her heels and glared holes into that self-satisfied face of his, poking a finger in his chest with each word. "Shut. Up. And. Back. Off."

Malfoy snickered as she stormed off, slamming the front door behind her.

Blaise stopped humming abruptly and looked around bewilderedly. "Where's Hermione?"

"She's gone on a hunt."

Blaise blinked. "A hunt? For what?"

"A stick," replied Draco smartly.

"Where exactly is she looking for it?"

"Up her vag-"

"Draco!" shrieked Pansy, who had arrived just in time to here the last few lines. "It's 7:30 in the morning, for Merlin's sake. Get your mind out of the gutter already!"

"But that wouldn't be Malfoy at all, would it?" chirped Blaise cheerfully. "Coffee?"


Hermione Granger was never late. Back at Hogwarts, she used to finish all her homework and exam revision at least 72 hours in advance, which left her plenty of time to do constructive things, such as reading. Or helping Harry and Ron with their assignments on the very last night before a project was due.

But she changed. Fashion changed her. She discovered in the first week of fashion school that clothes did not work like that. No designer could finish his or her collection any earlier than an hour before the show started. Nothing was set in stone till the moment the model stepped onto the runway.

And strangely, Hermione liked it. She liked that thrill of teetering on the brink. It felt dangerous.

She silently mulled over this, her nose stuck in a mug of hot chocolate, curled up in a boneless heap on the sofa.

She had no idea what time it was. She did not know if it was day or night. She couldn't even remember when she last had something to eat.

She was just really, really tired.

But she had to go back to the dress. She was only halfway through the draping.

Hermione shakily put the mug down on the floor and got up.

Then fell down like a dead goldfish.

"Damn," she muttered, her cheek sticking to the cold marble floor.

Then she closed her eyes and slept.


Ginny Weasley was panicking.

Fortunately, she was still a pretty picture when she panicked. At least to a man in love. And Harry Potter was a man in love.

He watched his girlfriend of four years and three months dash around the flat, flapping her arms like a mother hen, demanding the phone to make Hermione Granger pick up hers.

"Ginny," said Harry soothingly, after she kicked a random cupboard in frustration. "I think you're overreacting, I'm sure 'Mione's alright. She always is."

Right after the words came out of his mouth Harry wished he had never spoken.

"She's alright?" yelled Ginny, her entire face a bright red. "Listen to me, Harry James Potter. Our friend Hermione Granger is NOT alright. NOT alright, you hear me? When was the last time she called us, huh? When was the last time you saw her, huh? What kind of a friend are you? You've hardly made an effort to move your arse to find her and there you are, sitting there with your stupid quidditch magazine and telling me she's ALRIGHT?"

Somewhere in the middle of her speech, Harry had retreated behind his stupid quidditch magazine, cowering from the majestic presence of Ginny towering over him.

He gulped audibly and suggested timidly, "Why don't you call Krum? Maybe he knows how she's doing?"

The storm seemed to be swept away in a second, and Ginny smacked herself on the forehead. "How could I be so stupid?" She leaned in and kissed Harry soundly on the lips. "You're right. Viktor has to know where she is. Surely he's been in touch, after that horrid way he acted in the restaurant-"

Harry waited for her to bustle out of the room before reaching up to wipe the sweat away from his forehead. He then patted the velvet little box that sat in his jumper's pocket with a sigh. Maybe it wasn't quite the time yet, not until Hermione Granger came out of her nutshell.

And Merlin he hoped she would soon.


"Lindsay!" yelled Draco, furiously scribbling on the contract his useless lawyer had drawn up.

The door creaked open after two sharp knocks. "Mr Malfoy?"

"Where the hell is Granger? I told you I need her to meet me, now," he finished writing his sentence in a flourish, and quickly rolled the parchment up.

"I did inform Miss Granger," said Lindsay frostily. "Perhaps she is too preoccupied with her work?"

Draco tied up the scroll with a green silk ribbon and handed it to the secretary. "Tell Hemmingway that this is absolute rubbish and that he is never to set foot in my building again. And now I'm going up to yell at Hermione Granger, if you'll excuse me."

"Certainly sir," she replied coldly, and gave him an evil glare which looked too similar Granger's for comfort, before shutting the door behind her.

Draco just knew those two were plotting against him.


Viktor Krum was on push up number 97 when his cell phone rang.

He reached for it and punched the green button. "Hello?"

"Viktor? It's Ginny. Have you seen Hermione lately?"

He felt his heart leap. "No. Why? Is she okay?"

"YOU HAVEN'T SEEN HER?"

Viktor grimaced, flustered. "Um, no. I've been busy-"

"Don't tell me you haven't seen her since that night at Donatella."

He gulped. "Um- actually-"

"WHAT? Are you out of your MIND Viktor? Are you telling me you haven't even spoken to her after that?"

"I tried to call her, but she wouldn't answer," protested Viktor. "I thought she was angry at me so I kept my distance."

"Merlin, nobody would know if that slimy, grimy, slippery snake Malfoy had worked her to death."

"What? You haven't heard from her either?" frowned Viktor, panic blooming in his chest.

"Well, no. Which is why I've called you."

He picked himself up from the ground and glanced at his watch. Five to three. Perfect.

"Look, Ginny, I have to go."

"Where are you going?"

Viktor replied in a determined voice. "I'm going to Hermione's place."

He needed to tell her something very important.


Draco rubbed his face tiredly, slouching against the elevator wall. His visit to Granger had been held up by a string of lawyers from the corporate department fussing over some tiny takeover, effectively wasting an hour of his precious time. What was wrong with everyone these days?

The elevator door opened and he pushed himself off the wall, straightening his suit. Malfoys were always flawless in poise, if not manners.

The clicks of his leather shoes bounced off the white walls and echoed in his ears. Then he heard something else.

"Hermione! Hermione!"

Draco found himself breaking into a run, rounding the corner and rushing through the open door of Granger's apartment.

Viktor Krum was on his knees, bent over Granger, who appeared to be out cold, lying on her back on the floor.

His heart started to beat really, really fast.

"What the hell?"

Krum whipped around and upon seeing him, immediately leapt to his feet, shouting, "What the hell? What the hell have you done to her?"

Draco swallowed the panic rising in his throat and coolly tucked his hands into his pockets. He said unperturbedly, "Hold your horses, Krum. I didn't do anything. I haven't seen her for a couple of days." Then, he added with a sneer for good, "And obviously, you haven't seen her since that night she walked out on you."

The quidditch star didn't seem to have heard a word of that, and went on bellowing mindlessly. "You bastard! I told her it's ludicrous, her working for you! How dare you treat her like a slave, you snake!"

Draco snorted. "Do you hear yourself speak?"

He saw it coming, and he ducked just in time to save his nose from Krum's knuckles.

"Merlin," growled Draco, backing away. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"You'll be sorry for what you did!" declared Krum, following his steps.

"What did I do?" asked Draco through gritted teeth. "You stupid, brainless maggot?"

"You hurt Hermione!"

"You probably hurt her more than I did!" snarled Draco.

"She hates you," he spat. "We all do."

They were now circling each other like two angry elephants. Well, Draco liked to think he was the serpent and Krum was the ugly mouse. But it did not really matter.

"We?" Draco arced an eyebrow. "And who do you mean by we?"

Krum smirked cruelly. "The good people."

Draco sneered. "The good people, hmm? Tell me, then, you good person. Where were you hiding when Voldemort came to Hogwarts? I think it was Berlin, wasn't it? Don't stare at me like that. I could bloody well read your address on the stupid chocolates and roses and perfumes you sent Granger. Heck, nobody in our pathetically cramped office could've missed those huge 'Love Viktor' tags."

"That's none of your damned business," snapped Viktor, flushing like a schoolboy caught doing some very naughty things. "And why were you going through her post, you nosy bastard?"

Draco would've laughed out loud. He had been called many things, but a nosy bastard?

"Sure you can't come up with anything better than that?" he asked mockingly. Without skipping a beat, he continued ruthlessly. "Knew you couldn't. I see you've got an empty space where the brain should be just in case something like a quaffle goes through your head because you were too big and inept to duck."

Krum seemed to have trouble processing this stream of insults, thus confirming his lack of cerebral capacity. Fortunately for him, the revival of Hermione Granger saved him from further humiliating himself.

A single, forceful word (which Draco would've been more than willing to repeat if this story was not rated T), made its way out of Granger's lips.

Krum had crashed onto his knees, fawning over her delicate form in a split second.

"Hermione!" he cooed in a sickeningly sweet voice. "Are you alright? You had me worried sick!"

Draco watched her blink in a rather disoriented manner before furrowing her brow. "Viktor? What are you doing here?"

"You didn't return my calls, I had to come to find you," he said softly, taking her hands into his.

Draco made a face at Krum's- tender advances.

"Oh," replied Granger simply.

He observed offhandedly that she quite looked like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Oh," echoed Draco sardonically. "And if you two have exchanged enough gooey loving looks, I have some documents to go over with you, Granger."

That seemed to turn off the headlights. She shot him a callous glare but Krum beat her to the routine scathing speech that always followed. Except that it was more juvenile than scathing when delivered by Krum, of course.

"Are you insane? She just came round and you want her to go over documents with you?" he spat venomously, now drawing Granger into his arms.

Draco glared back and said, "What do you think I pay her for, huh? To play Sleeping Beauty?"

He was still congratulating himself for the amusingly identical looks of outrage on the couple's face when Krum leapt off the floor like a cricket- a very large one- and punched him.

Draco vaguely heard Granger shriek "Viktor!" before he struck again, this time catching his jaw.

"Viktor, are you mad?"

Draco glared at the smug face of Viktor Krum, and sneered, "So you fancy a fight, don't you?"

Krum opened his mouth to answer, but before he could Draco had tackled him to the ground, and what followed brought him right back to his Hogwarts years. In the midst of punching fists and scratching nails, Draco relived the furious roar of blood in his ears as he strained to beat the crap out of the other boy who was half trapped under him while protecting his prized possessions in the south.

"You're a bastard, Malfoy," hissed Krum, dodging Draco's fist in the nick of time.

"At least I'm a good-looking one, loser," he returned rather immaturely.

Draco had just gotten hold of Krum's wrist and was about to twist it behind his back at the most painful angle possible when something exploded.

And that something was Hermione Granger's voice.


"STOP!"

The silence that followed was so complete that Hermione fancied it ringing in her ears.

She stared disapprovingly at the two men- ahem, boys- tangled up on the marble floor.

She took a deep breath and commanded, "Malfoy, let Viktor go, now."

Malfoy stared back coolly, as if he was going to defy her, but stepped down and composedly did so, getting onto his feet as gracefully as if he had just been sitting down to have a nice French dinner. Only the bruises and cuts on his thin, sharp face gave him away.

Viktor followed suit, stumbling a bit as he straightened himself up, his face red and bruised as well.

"Hermione-" he began.

She cut him off. "You two should be ashamed by your behaviour. I can't believe what just happened. How old are you two?"

Malfoy snorted, and Viktor looked pained.

"Oh goodie, do we get a self-discipline lecture today?" scoffed Malfoy. "Or your favourite one on the exceptional case of reversed evolution of my brain?"

Hermione was sorely tempted to punch his nose to finish the pretty thorough work Viktor had already done on Malfoy's face. But being a woman of self-control, she settled for her best glare.

"Now, Malfoy," she snapped, all business-like. "Did you say you wanted to go over some documents?"

Viktor suddenly stepped in front of her, catching her hands, his dark brown eyes staring sincerely into hers. "Hermione, I want to talk to you."

She blinked, rather surprised. "Uh, I don't think this is the best time, Viktor. Why don't I call you lat-"

"I love you," he blurted out before she could finish her sentence.

Hermione stared at him. Strangely, all her brain could seem to come up with was that it was aware of the fact that Malfoy was watching her, perhaps with one of those contemptuous sneers on his face.

"Hermione?"

She snapped back into reality and said, "Viktor, I really don't think it's the best time."

"But-"

"Please."

Viktor looked like he was close to tears, and absurdly, Hermione almost found that funny. Almost. She chided herself for thinking such things and silently watched him trudge from the apartment, giving her one last glance over his broad shoulders before slamming the door shut.

Malfoy gave a low whistle. "That man confesses his true and undying love for you and you send him away to go over some documents with me?"

"Oh shut up," snapped Hermione, turning around sharply and nearly fell from the wave of dizziness and took over her.

Malfoy caught her before she could trip over her own feet, and she looked up quizzically at him.

He snorted. "Don't give me that look, Granger. I'm just not very excited at the prospect of having to clear up bits of your brains if your head hits the ground. And if you really have as many brains as they say, it would be quite a mess."

She jerked her arm rudely from his grasp and marched over to the sofa, sitting down before her knees gave out. "I am touched by your concern, really."

Malfoy stayed where he was, in the middle of the living room, staring at her sternly. "Have you had lunch yet?"

"No."

"Look, Granger, don't take this as concern of any sense of the word but I really would not want you to die of starvation before my collection is finished- and I assume it has not yet been completed?"

"My collection," bit out Hermione.

Malfoy sneered. "You seem to underestimate the importance of monetary input."

"And you seem to underestimate the value of creative effort in this project," she retorted.

Malfoy tut-tutted, stepping lazily towards her. "Really, Granger, hasn't anyone taught you not to be rude to your boss?"

"Has nobody taught you not to harass defenceless female employees in bed?" she shot back.

His smirk widened to a grin at that. "Defenceless female employee? What was that electricity charm then? A toy? Why, I feel that I am wrongly accused of an offence I certainly did not commit."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yes. In fact. I distinctly remember you claiming you had a great night's sleep, and I have a feeling that if I really were harassing you, you would've said otherwise. But since you didn't, I am inclined to think that you actually enjoyed-"

"I was being polite," snapped Hermione, realising where the conversation was headed. "Blaise was in the kitchen, what was I supposed to say?"

"So you lied." Malfoy pretended to be horrified by the notion.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes, I lied, so sue me."

"Not a wise thing to say," he said silkily. "Considering the fact that I have a whole department of the top lawyers in the land."

"Oh no, I offended the great Draco Malfoy! I'm so scared," scoffed Hermione. "Put a sock in it already. Just because the word 'manners' in your vocabulary doesn't mean the rest of the world doesn't know it."

"I am appalled by your manners," said Malfoy. "At least I won't be blamed for the lack of manners since I don't have any to start with."

A trickle of blood caught Hermione's eye, and indeed, a trail of blood was making its way from Malfoy's hairline and down the side of his face.

"Merlin," she muttered. Sometimes she marveled how their conversations wandered off course, which was of course, to be blamed wholly on Malfoy's incredible absence of common decency.

"Sit down," she instructed, patting the empty space beside her. "I don't want you bleeding on the rug."

Malfoy did so, and said smugly, "You sent lover boy away to patch me up? If I didn't know you better I'd think you're going soft on me, Granger."

She silently conjured up a first aid kit and snorted. "Don't flatter yourself, Malfoy. I told you I don't want you-"

"Bleeding on your carpet, yeah, whatever."

Hermione sighed and grabbed his chin roughly, making him yelp.

"Merlin, do women ever trim their nails?" he complained with a wince.

"No, nails are natural weapons all women are born with."

She gently dabbed the gash near his hairline and nearly smiled at the sight of Malfoy screwing his eyes up in pain, but she bit her lips just as they were curling upwards to their own accord.

"Aww, is little Draco hurting from a tiny cut on his face?" she teased, throwing away the stained cotton pad for a new one.

"Shut up, Granger."

"Why? Because I'm right?"

"No."

"Then why?"

"Your voice annoys me."

"That's not true," she said lightly.

"Oh yeah? How can you be so sure?"

"I have a lovevly voice."

Malfoy snorted, gazing straight ahead. "Yeah, right. Lover boy is your number one fan, I'm sure."

She didn't answer, tapping her wand on the clean wound and watched it close up with a warm glow of light.

"So, you should be over the moon, now that he's practically proposed to you," said Malfoy nonchalantly, reaching up to scratch his nose.

Hermione's eyes followed his movement, and she said tersely. "It's none of your damned business."

"Ooh, did I strike a nerve?"

"Shut up."

"You know what I think?"

"I don't want to know."

Malfoy grabbed her hands, which had now proceeded to clean up a cut on his cheek, and said wisely, "I think you don't return his feelings."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "O wise one, how would you know?"

"First, he has shoulders as wide as the Himalayas are tall."

Her lips quirked at that. "What, you have something against broad shoulders?"

"No, but I know women do," replied Malfoy.

"Ah, I see you possess womanly insight, which is not too uncommon in men with feminine inclinations, I suppose," she teased, shaking her hands free of his grasp.

"Haha," said Malfoy dryly. "We both know perfectly that I'm straighter than a rod, so I'll just pretend I didn't hear that. As I was saying, no woman in her right mind would like a man with shoulders like Krum's. On the other hand, men with shoulders like mine are the most highly sought after."

Hermione shook her head. "Where do you store that gigantic ego of yours, Malfoy?"

Malfoy smirked. "That sounded naughty."

"No, it's you who twists words around in your warped brain which bends in one vulgar direction."

He nodded. "You know me too well."

She shrugged. "It doesn't help that I've been stuck with you on and off for more than ten years."

"You know you love it."

"The truth is quite the contrary, I assure you."

"You wouldn't have sent Krum out the door if you hated my company that much."

"I was being professional. You said you wanted to over some documents."

"And you were perfectly aware of the fact that I don't have any documents with me," he pointed out.

She glared at him. "If you must go to such lengths to convince yourself that I don't loathe you, fine."

Malfoy grinned. "I love getting you all wound up."

Hermione actually smiled.


Edited 29 May 2012

A/N: I can't believe I just wrote a new chapter. It's long past bedtime for me, so I must keep this short- SORRY FOR THE WAIT! I suffered from writer's block and was just generally busy with everything else in life. A rather light and pointless chapter, but hey, I needed it to kind of pull things together. The action starts next time. Speaking of which, I cannot guarantee a speedy update, since Easter is almost here and I'll be incredibly busy. But I will try, as always, to produce a good chapter for my fantastic readers. Thank you so much for all your reviews guys, you rock!