The work week was strenuous with the finality of the merger. Hermione was doing more tasks for Regulus than she ever saw Draco. By the time they would walk down to the car, she was too tired to talk much. Draco must have been in the same way, because he was equally quiet and conservative about their conversation. There wasn't much fooling around by the time they would climb into bed, Hermione didn't have the energy.
It was Friday evening, and Hermione was finishing with some financials when there was a knock at her door. "Come in," she ordered and was digging through the pages on her desk.
Regulus came inside and tilted his head. "What are you still doing working, Miss Granger?" he asked, making her huff.
"Well, I need to file a few more documents," she responded, and he waved at her as she sat down.
"Sit, we need to talk," he declared.
Hermione placed the pages down and sat in her chair. "What can I do for you, Mr. Black?"
Regulus made a face and tapped the desk a few times. "I received your email last night. Your personal email."
"Yes, what about it?" Hermione folded her legs together as she spoke.
"Well, I am going to New York for a month, and I was wondering if you would like to go? It would be great for you to learn the ropes of a take over as well as for our side project." He declared, and she arched an eyebrow.
"When?" she asked gently.
"Right after the wedding. We would return two weeks before Christmas."
Hermione frowned while rubbing her neck. "That is pretty quick."
Regulus chuckled, shaking his head. "No, that is just the first trip. We would make our final trip after the turn of the year when the merger is finalized at their factories." He responded.
"Sounds like you have it all planned out," she sighed.
"You realize I am not forcing you to do this? You still have the option to say no. The only time you cannot is when we start the routine." He replied, and she bobbed her head.
"No, I am just a bit nervous is all. It is a big commitment," Hermione said with a smile.
Regulus nodded and folded his fingers together. "Well, if anyone could do it, you can, Miss Granger. This will be our star project," he chuckled and sighed. "We can even name it a constellation if it makes it feel more real. My family does have a love for stars and constellations."
"Adhara I would assume would be fitting," Hermione mused, and Regulus grinned.
"I do like that. Yes. Project Adhara," he responded.
Hermione frowned and bobbed her head. "Well, I suppose I best tell Draco I will be leaving for a bit," she told him, and he tilted his head.
"How is my cousin treating you? He disclosed your relationship to me, but is he being too pushy?"
The woman laughed, swaying her head. "No, he is being really gentlemanly. He has his mind set on things, but knows at heart I am too stubborn to let him rush me into anything." She announced.
Regulus scratched his facial hair and hummed. "I can understand that. We both have that similarity. We need to have a private dinner, you and I. We need to go over the plans for New York and take care of some paperwork. Visas, contracts and all the other busy work we need to get done before then." He mused before standing up.
"Alright, Regulus. Just let me know when," she declared rising from her chair as well.
"I will send you an email tonight with a good day. We have plenty of work to do legally before the business trip. Alright, have a grand weekend," he responded and moved toward the door.
"Goodbye, Regulus. Tell Severus I said hello," she murmured.
He gave her a smile and nod. "Of course. Good evening," he said before leaving.
Hermione knew the paperwork would have to wait until Monday and started to organize it neatly. Glancing at the clock she exhaled; it was fifteen after five. Hopefully, Draco was no flustered with waiting. The desk was soon righted as she had her piles appropriately settled.
Her mind wandered to New York. She had never been to the states and definitely had never planned to learn how to meld businesses together. Somehow she knew that Regulus's purpose wasn't going to be just business. In fact, she was quite sure that it was a grand excuse for their real project.
"I would ask how it is going, but you didn't even hear me knocking," Draco's voice entered the room.
Hermione gasped. "Oh, Draco, I am sorry. I was just about to head to your office," she apologized and picked up her bag. "I am ready, are you?" she asked.
He nodded and smiled. "I knew we would be the last in the office, so I didn't mind trying my hand at navigating without you. How was work?" he asked, and she groaned taking his arm.
"Long. I will be glad when we don't have to resign documents in regards to this merger," Hermione grumbled and flicked her light off as they left.
Draco hemmed as they walked down the hallway. "Me too. I am in Regulus's office more than my own right now. He is pleased I am picking it up swiftly, but it is taxing."
"Regulus asked me to go to New York with him," Hermione murmured as they stepped into the elevator.
Draco exhaled and rubbed his face. "He forewarned me. He told me to expect this when you are needed internationally that you would be the one to go after he teaches you." He murmured.
Hermione squeezed his arm and sighed. "I know, but it only for a month."
"I know, Granger. I won't stifle your ambition. I will just miss you," he muttered as the elevated shook as they landed on the ground floor.
"I will miss you too, Draco," she replied softly. "Let's get home and relax. This week kicked my arse."
"Sounds like a plan," he said as they made their way to the car.
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
Draco had given her instruction on where to drive that Saturday night. Hermione was in a simple violet dress and Draco was in a nice dress shirt with slacks. It was a sweet start to the evening. Draco had decided on a place that wasn't extremely pricy just for sheer appeal. It was some sort of place that was described as a forest feeling restaurant. Plants and water elements. All the things he thought she might appreciate.
He thought about it in detail this last week. He didn't just want to treat her like a simple, noble girl he used to take out to impress. Draco wanted something lasting, so this stuck out as unique. When they got out, Hermione gasped and giggled as the valet took her pretty maroon car to park it. It looked like they were about to walk into some sort of fairytale.
"This looks so fun, Draco. It's called the Forbidden Forest," she mused, and he hemmed in agreement.
They walked in and were seated pretty quickly in a nook surrounded by plants that gave them decent coverage. Hermione sighed and nodded. "Okay, I am impressed. It even sounds lovely in here."
The waiter came and brought them drinks before offering more time. "I like that it feels like we are outside," he mused and smelt the air.
She sipped her wine and glanced around. It was a bit mystical with a lingering feeling of magic on the air. "What made you choose this place?" she asked him.
"Well, by recommendation really. I heard it looked pleasant and the food was exquisite." He declared and smirked. "I bet you look almost ethereal in here, Granger."
She giggled and shook her head. "You are too much, Draco."
They sat for a moment, and Draco cringed at a distant conversation. "We are about to have company, my apologies ahead of time," he sighed.
"Draco is that you?" a man's voice entered the space. "It is, Yatin," a man with brown called around the corner.
"Hello Malcolm," Draco grumbled and shifted. "I am occupied, however, if you don't mind." he declared with a warning tone.
Hermione wasn't sure why Draco's demeanor changed so dramatically. "Hello, Yatin, Malcolm," she murmured as the men stood in front of their booth.
The men chuckled and sat on each side of Draco in the tight booth across from Hermione. "Is that you Granger? My god, you are so much hotter than we thought you would ever get." Yatin declared shifting his brown eyes toward Draco. "Are you on a date with the Gryphem Princess?"
Hermione did not like either of the young Anguis. They were Draco's fan club in school and held little regard for rules. Yatin with his long dark hair and Malcolm with his pasty complexion… it was sour to see them here. They were usually the ones that would help with the larger pranks and awful things the Anguis did to her, Harry and Ron throughout school.
"We are on a date," Draco muttered, and the men patted his shoulders. "So, if you don't mind letting us continue..." Draco trailed off.
"Very nice. It is nice that one of us snakes are finally going to tickle her fancy. Maybe money does indeed talk. Granger did you know we used to paste your school photo to a blowup doll and do horrible things to it. This fool's idea of course," Malcolm snickered and nudged Draco.
Hermione turned red and frowned. "Probably not dinner conversation," she snapped.
They seemed to ignore her outburst. "Malfoy, you shag her yet? Is she as good as you thought?" Yatin asked and Draco's cheeks tinted.
"Fellas, why don't you go off to your dates. I would like to get back to mine," he declared with a deadly tone. "No need to sully the night."
Malcolm tilted his head at Hermione. "You know, I would have thought you would have wanted nothing to do with him. It wasn't but just a couple months ago with Zabini that we all were talking about you at dinner. A nice Anguis reunion over dinner and drinks. Draco was still convinced he was going to find the stick up your arse and yank it out if he had to. Needless to say, it is surprising to see you prettied up across from our Malfoy."
Hermione felt utterly embarrassed. "Is that what you Anguises do when you get together? You talk about me in such a vulgar manner?" she growled, and they nodded with chuckles.
"Draco's favorite game was to guess how long you could hold your breath. You talked so much at Hogwarts it was always assumed you could hold your breath a length of time. I suppose you have played that game already if you are shagging," Yatin said and Draco slammed his hand down.
"How much is he paying you, Granger? No way you would do the things he talked about for free," Malcolm inquired, and Hermione gasped.
"Get the fuck out of here, now," Draco spat and shoved them away.
Hermione hugged her arms as the men stood up. "God, Draco, we were just fooling around. It isn't like you yourself didn't say these things," Malcolm snapped and waved at Yatin.
Draco gestured them off and felt a horrible amount of regret. He didn't want her to be exposed to such vile things he said as recently as two months ago… God, he was an arsehole. How was he going to recover from this?
The men had wandered away, and Hermione stayed silent. Draco gulped his glass. "Hermione," he started.
"No, I don't want to talk about it," he heard it in her voice; she was upset.
"Hermione, that was before all of this," he reminded her.
"No, Draco. You objectified me and obviously said worse than what they disclosed. I just want to go," she sniffled, and he bit his bottom lip.
"Hermione, please don't be upset, it was just stupid jock talk," he stammered, and she growled.
"I am leaving, with or without you, Malfoy," she snapped and he heard her stand up.
The sound of paper landed on the table. "I paid for our wine. Now, am I going to drop you off at home or are you going to get a taxi?" she snarled and he exhaled.
He climbed from the booth and she took his arm tightly. Draco knew she was angry and hurt, but he didn't know what to say. He never said that he was saintly, and this only amplified who he was. There was no way the Malfoy was going to be able to sweep this under the rug like he had been doing. It made his stomach turn as she nearly dragged him from the restaurant.
They were in the car before he said anything else. "Hermione, please talk to me." He begged, and she huffed.
"I don't want to see you outside of work. Everyone was right, you and I are of different worlds. I don't know what I was thinking that you changed." She said with a sharp but twisted tone.
"Granger, don't be ridiculous! They are morons who can't find women of fine caliber because they are too dumb to keep their mouths closed. We have something great we are working toward," Draco retorted.
Hermione growled and he heard her bang her hand on the steering wheel. "All of your friends, every one of them has heard you say that the only thing I am good for is a great fuck, Malfoy. They will treat me like that every time. I am not just some fuck buddy. I am a god damn woman!" she exclaimed and he could hear her silent sobs through her anger.
"You are amazing, and I am sorry that they treated you like that," he responded, only making her sound in anger again.
"I don't care anymore. I just am done with this, Draco. What are we even fighting this for? We live in different worlds for this reason. You find yourself a pretty blond who wants to be objectified, but I don't want that. I am a mother for goodness sakes. What example is that for Teddy if he hears your friends talking about me like that? What example are you if you even talked about me like that!" she exclaimed and now her sobs were audible.
"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, Hermione. It was never meant to get back to you. I am sorry, and it wouldn't ever happen again," he said, trying desperately to convey his contrite.
She cried, and he reached for her shoulder. "Don't touch me," she breathed through a bout of sobs.
It stung more than anything that she wouldn't let him make this right. "Why wouldn't you listen to me? I am sorry and didn't mean for you to get hurt by the callousness of my attitude prior to this."
"There isn't anything you can say to make me feel less diminished, Malfoy. It isn't that they said such horrible things about me. It is the fact that you never told me just how unrefined you were about your infatuation with me. Blowup dolls with my face on them? My god, how disgusting are you that you think it wouldn't matter that you treated me less than human. You spoke about me as less than human. I don't want to even see your face unless I have to."
The car stopped. "Hermione," he tried again.
"Get out. I will come get my things tomorrow when your mother is present. My eyes are open now, Malfoy. This was just a vacation from your true demeanor." She snapped, and he cringed.
"Please don't do this? We can talk about this," he murmured, and he heard the sound of her door.
His heart was pounding in his head. His door opened and he heard her tapping her fingers rhythmically on the frame. "Get out of my car," she repeated and his cane landed on his lap.
"You are being irrational," he grumbled as he climbed from the car.
He heard the door slam behind him and she huffed. "Irrational? Irrational? Do you want to know irrational? That I had to sit there and be eye-fucked by your 'friends,' while you sat there and listened to them talk about me like a fucking porn star or prostitute. I had to listen to secondhand jabbering of two men who idolized the fact that you talked about me like I was some hole in the wall you would stick your knob in. No, irrational was left at the bloody restaurant!" she screamed and he heard her walk around.
Her car door sounded, and the mechanism of the window sounded. "Goodbye, Draco Malfoy. You were the worst fucking decision of my life."
Draco heard her car speed out of his driveway, and he scrubbed his face. "Fuck…" he hissed, clenching his cane.
END OF PART II
Author Notes: I know it seems Hermione overreacted but I wanted to address this. Imagine that you were waiting to find out that you were wrong about someone just to find out the darker part of what he/she has said about you in the recent past. Other than feeling completely disgusted by being talked about like that, it suddenly felt like she was thrown into a throwback to how she felt in school. Maybe they never vocalized their sexual angst toward Hermoine, but she experienced the treatment of being not worthy regularly. I wanted to convey that she realized that maybe Ron and other naysayers were might be right... yep! More soon.