Hello! I know it's been a few days since my last update, but my work for the university seems to keep coming. Anyway, here's chapter 7, after this one the real Dramione-part will begin... ;)

As always: I hope you enjoy and please review! :)

LMDG x

Chapter 7: Martini Fiero on the rocks

"Zabini." I greeted the Slytherin with my politest smile, he was the junior chef of this hotel after all. I was surprised to find out that Blaise Zabini was the son of the hotel manager, but I could have known since I had read the badge that his father had pinned on his tux : Paulo Zabini – Hotel Manager. I never really knew Zabini (the younger one), I only knew he and Malfoy are friends and that Gini had had a crush on him in her fourth year. Anyway, he looked decent, but not as good as Malfoy.

"Miss Granger" He nodded. That was weird, I had expected that he would use a more patronizing tone but he was actually quite nice. No, nice was not the right word, he was more…formal.

"Please sit down" He gestured at a comfortable looking chair in front of his desk. "Can I offer you something to drink, it's from the house" he winked. I was totally thrown off guard, he was so friendly, I just couldn't believe it! "Euhm, yeah.. a glass of orange juice will do, thanks." I stuttered. " Are you sure you don't want anything stronger? A cocktail perhaps? Or a liquor? It's not every day that you can drink something on the house…" he teased. "Oh oke, yes, I'll have a Martini Fiero on the rocks then." I answered. He was right, if it was for free I could better enjoy it. Blaise pushed a button on his desk and called through the intercom.

"Malfoy, could you bring miss Granger a Martini Fiero on the rocks? She's in my office."

I shifted slightly in my chair. Not Malfoy again! He was the whole reason I sat here in the first place!

"So miss Granger, I understand that you are not so pleased with Malfoy being your personal waiter?" Blaise asked with a smirk. "No, I am certainly not! I don't understand why you would let HIM serve me! Aren't you supposed to make your guest feel themselves at home here?!" I snapped to him.

"Yes, I am but.." He began, but I wouldn't let him finish his sentence: "So WHY in merlin's name did you pick sodding MALFOY to serve me!" I jelled, "What have I ever done wrong to you? I helped to save your ass in the Room of Requirement so you decide to thank me like this?! I am not going to sit here and let you and ferret ruin my vacation! If you don't do something about this situation I will report this to your father and you will have one loyal costumer less! "

"GRANGER! Will you please listen to me?! I have a good reason why I picked Malfoy to serve you!" he roared.

"Oh you have, haven't you?" I drawled. "Probably, this is just a sick joke between you and Malfoy to make me feel even worse than I already do! My parents died, so you just thought; let's make the Mudblood suffer even more!" I spat to him.

An akward silence followed.

"No Granger, we had no intentions like that. Malfoy didn't even know you would come here. And I am truly sorry to hear about your parents. My dad told me that you and your family used to come here all summers." He said calm.

"Would you like to hear why I placed Malfoy under your service?" he asked. "Yes." I answered a bit reluctantly. "Ok, but you have to promise that you won't interrupt me." He smiled slightly. Probably because he knew how hard it could be for me to keep my comments for me. I sighed. "Ok, just get on with it already!".

And Zabini began a whole story of him thinking that Malfoy needed a more severe punishment as I bit my tongue to keep my mouth shut.

After a few minutes he was done talking. "Now you can speak" Zabini grinned.

"Well… I'm quite surprised actually. You set this up just to make Malfoy a better man. You're nobler than I thought, are you sure you don't belong in Gryffindor?" I teased. Zabini frowned and replied coolly: "Yes, I'm sure of that miss Granger."

A series of knocking on the door disturbed the silence. It sounded very familiar to me but I couldn't place my finger on it. "Enter!" Zabini said, and Malfoy came in with my drink on a platter.

"Your order, miss." He said politely, smirking to Blaise. He probably thought that I had jelled at his friend and make him switch his duty with another waiter. Well, he was just partial right then, I grinned to myself.

"Why, thank you, Malfoy." I said and smiled at him before I turned my attention back to Zabini. He had watched the exchange of polite words with interest and scraped his throat.

"Malfoy, you can go now." He ordered.

"Huh?" Malfoy seemed to be distracted by something, but I hadn't seen what since I had turned my back to him.

"I said, you can go." Blaise drawled.

"But, don't you want to say something to me?" Malfoy asked surprised.

"What should I want to say to you Draco?" Blaise started to get annoyed.

"Euhm, I don't know.." Malfoys cheeks flushed a pale rose. It was quite adorable actually, such a shame that I wouldn't be able to see him in another uncomfortable situation.

And then I spoke without really thinking: " Actually Malfoy, Zabini and I have just ended our conversation. And we have concluded that you will be staying under my service."

"Really?!" Malfoy and Zabini said in chorus. Malfoy looked incredulous and Zabini just looked amused.

"Really." I smirked.

This was going to be a good summer, I thought as I gulped my Martini down in one swig.