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Chapter 5: The unfolding of Zabini's masterplan

Hermione's P.O.V.

I couldn't believe it, Draco Malfoy was here in Viareggio! Even worse! He was my personal waiter, so I would be confronted with him every time I wanted to enjoy a day on the beach. I briefly thought about leaving and searching another spot (and pay 20 euro's a day). But I wouldn't let him think I was afraid of him. Or intimidated by him.

I watched him walking towards the hotel and I couldn't help but noticing that he looked more mature and kind of handsome too. "Merlin, keep your thoughts together Hermione! It's Malfoy we're talking about!" I muttered to myself.

Why was he even here? I know he had to find a job in the muggle world but why did he came here? Maybe he somehow knew that I had a reserved spot on the beach here and picked this place just to ruin my vacation? But he couldn't possibly know… Maybe it was just a stupid coincidence?

Draco's P.O.V

I walked as controlled as I could towards the hotel. I could almost feel her eyes burn holes in my back! Once inside the building and out of her sight, I rushed towards one of the offices on the seventh floor. I composed myself before I knocked on the door in the rhythm of chorus of the Hogwarts school anthem.

"Enter!" A familiar voice called me in.

The office was very nice; it had a beautiful ocean view, there was a lot of sunlight streaming in from large windows and the main colours were different shades of brown. Behind a massive mahogany desk was a man seated. His face showing a small smile as I got in.

"Blaise! You'd never believe who is here!" I shouted without giving him the chance to open his mouth.

"Let me think…from the look on your face it's either the Queen or Hermione Granger." Blaise Zabini drawled from behind his desk.

"You knew she'd come here?!" I jelled in surprise. "Of course I did, Draco, I'm the junior chef of this hotel for a reason." He answered amused. "Why didn't you tell me?!" I raged. He could have spared me the awkwardness I just experienced at the beach.

"Because I thought it would be more fun to watch you figure it out for yourself. And I must admit, your face was worth a hundred galleons when you just ran into my office." He laughed.

"So, you knew she would come and you made ME her personal waiter?!" I just couldn't believe that guy!

"Yes, I did. I was at your trial, as you remember, but I thought your sentence wasn't hard enough, it wouldn't show you enough how wrong you were with your blood purity nonsense. So I thought about things you would hate to do, and serving miss Granger was my brightest idea. Her family comes here for ages, so I knew she would come back this summer. So when you were in need of a place to stay in the muggle world, I was keen to offer you a job at my fathers' hotel and let you and your mother stay in my villa." He smirked. "I think you will find the following weeks very interesting, Draco."

"YOU BASTARD!" I screamed. So he was the reason I would make a fool of myself in front of Granger for the next two months!

"Draco, I hope you still realise that you are talking to a superior and that you are living in my house and eating my food?" Blaise said with a huge grin.

"Hmpf." I grumbled.

"So what do you say to your boss?" He asked with an even broader grin.

"Yes, SIR. I still realise that." I drawled in my most uninterested voice.

"I could get used to this, Malfoy!" He laughed. "You are dismissed, I think miss Granger is waiting for her order."

I turned on my heels without giving him another glance and slammed the door shut. "Oi!" I could hear Zabini shout at me from behind the door. We would continue this conversation later, after my hours, so he wouldn't be able to boss me around like that.

I hated it, a Malfoy shouldn't be taking orders from a Zabini! A Malfoy shouldn't be taking orders from anyone! And still here I was, heading for the bar to order Grangers' cocktail.

Two minutes later it was ready and I walked towards the beach, stopping by the kitchen to order her bruschetta's .

Hermione's P.O.V.

He was back. Merlin, that took him ages! I pretended to be reading in my book while I looked at him out of my eye corners. Damn! The longer I looked at him, the more I seemed to be distracted of pretending to be reading.

"Your Mai Thai, miss." He tried to catch my attention. "Thank you, you can place it upon the table, Malfoy." I vaguely waved at the direction of the table.

"Are you reading the Quibbler?" He asked with a warm voice. "No, can't you read the title?" I snapped. "It's Hogwarts, A History!"

"Then why are you holding your book upside down?" He smirked his infamous Malfoy smirk at me.

I started to blush and quickly turned my book into the right direction. "That's none of your business Malfoy!" I said embarrassed.

"Okay..I'll go get your bruschetta, just carry on reading." He drawled.

Oh he's such an impossible prick! I turned my back on him and tried to calm down.

Draco's P.O.V

Hah! She thought I hadn't noticed that she was totally checking me out. I smirked to myself. It seemed that the Malfoy charm was still intact after the war.

I looked up and saw Blaise standing before his window, watching me closely as I walked away from Granger. Stupid arse, putting me in this situation. But I decided to make the best of it. So I went to the kitchen to get her order.

When I returned she was actually reading, but she put her book beside when she smelled the delicious food that I was carrying on my tray.

"So, what are you doing here, Malfoy." She asked rather friendly. "I think it's obvious Granger, I'm a waiter in this hotel." I replied sarcastic.

"Yes, I already noticed that, thank you Malfoy. But I mean why here?" She asked.

"I got this job thanks to a certain Slytherin git" I replied dryly. "Who?" She became curious. "Blaise Zabini." I answered sour. "Oh ok, weren't you guys friends?" She asked rather confused. "Yes, but he knew you were coming here and he deliberately placed me as your personal waiter." I didn't know why I told her that but it came out without thinking. "Oh. I'd like to have a word with him than." She stated. "I shall see what I can do for you" I smiled, Granger wouldn't let Blaise get away with this, maybe she'd make sure he'd be transferred to a nicer job, like bar tender.

"Yes, thank you." She said shyly. "No problem" I smiled at her.

Why did I smile at her? I turned around to leave when she called me back.

"Ehm Malfoy? Thank you." She mumbled, gesturing at the cocktail and the food.

"Yeah, anytime miss." I answered politely.

"And Granger?" I blurted out. "I'm sorry for treating you like I did for the past seven years, you didn't deserved that.".

A/N: So what do you think so far? :)

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