"…and I may have been able to handle it, but then he showed up and I just flipped out. I needed to get out of there. Hopefully by tomorrow things will have quieted down." She leaned back in her seat.
The two girls had walked down the block from Hermione's flat to their favorite muggle bar. It was quiet when you wanted it to be quiet, but they also knew how to throw a good party. Now they were seated at a corner table and able to discuss her problems before the band started.
"It will die down, I promise. Something else is bound to come up."
"Yeah, I hope. Hey what did Harry say when he read it?" She was surprised she hadn't heard what her best male friend had to say.
"Oh he was certain it was rubbish right away. He said there was no reason why anyone could stand to be in a relationship with him, especially you. Of course, he is a man, so he can't understand how good-looking Malfoy actually is. I mean, have you seen that bone structure? It is just unfair!"
Hermione shook her head as the other woman went on a tirade about families that had money and looks. She was more in agreement with Harry. The friendly relationship her and Malfoy had almost built was quickly replaced by awkward embarrassment on her part.
She was also angry, despite none of it really being his fault. He was as much the victim as she, but his cool response irritated her. Of course, he was starting from the bottom rung where reputations were concerned. Hermione had a less tarnished image to protect.
She appreciated Ginny's understanding of the situation, and began to appreciate her more as the night wore on. They danced for hours, staying out until it was nearly morning.
They would both regret it when waking up for work, but at the time it was just what Hermione's stress-addled brain needed. By the time they ambled back down the street and she crawled into bed, her alleged relationship with a certain Malfoy was completely pushed from her mind.
That morning, Hermione woke with a groan. She turned to her clock and noticed she was going to be late. She threw her clothes on and barely bothered with her hair, not even stopping to see how she looked.
As fast as she had gone, she was still going to be a few minutes late. It would not have mattered much, but she had never been late before. It was a bad time to start bad habits. She tried her hardest not to draw attention as she hurried to her office.
That wasn't going so well. All eyes were on her, and they were giving her disapproving glares, as if they suspected the reason for her lateness was a tall blonde man.
I suppose they haven't forgotten already. Wishful thinking.
The door clicked open, but the light was already on.
Did I leave it on all night?
"AGGHpph" She tried to muffle her scream, but she heard a low chuckle as she jumped.
"Malfoy, what they hell are you doing in my office? Better yet, how did you get in?"
"Tut tut Miss Granger, you seem to underestimate my abilities to get into a locked room. This one really was not the least bit difficult. I hope you haven't been hiding any incriminating secrets in this desk." He tapped his hand along the edge of it.
She stood awkwardly, fuming not so silently. He broke into her office, and was sitting in her chair.
"I will ask again. What are you doing here?"
"Ah yes, well I thought that rather obvious. We do have some work to do, you see. The public is raving about our little function, hoping we are throwing another soon. Cannot keep the people waiting, can we Miss Granger? Leave them without any entertainment, and they begin to talk." He smirked, ever so slightly.
She began to feel the tingling of complete and utter rage returning. It was worse than before, in her flat. However, this was her office, and she could not be running her mouth, screaming the many impolite thoughts she had for Lucius Malfoy.
"I told you to leave, and that I would contact you when there was more work to be done. I believe I had made myself very clear Mr. Malfoy. Now if you don't mind, I am a busy woman and I am not in the mood for your games today."
"Hmm, yes I can see that. Looking a bit wild today, aren't we? A late night perhaps? My, wouldn't that make news. Barely a few days and the great Hermione Granger is off with yet another man." He made a disapproving tut, but his smirk did not move from his lips.
"You have no business inquiring into my personal life. Get out."
"Hmm, touched a nerve Granger? Was your lovely outing with me all the attention you have been getting? Apparently so, since it was newsworthy. Well, since you seem to be so free, perhaps we can meet later on this week to…discuss business. I shall owl you the time. Enjoy your day Miss Granger."
With that, he got up from her chair and walked out, without another glance. As he opened the door, all the other workers stopped and gawked.
Great she groaned inwardly. Now he has something over me, and the entire floor thinks he was making a social call.
She did not like where this was all going. The scandal was making her look bad, yet his evil seemed to be feeding off it. Any friendly relationship they had was now out the window, and Hermione had to put her game face back on.
It was a shame really. If only there was a way to prove the rumors were false once and for all.
Then she had an idea. It was quite crafty of her, actually. It wouldn't even be that difficult to pull off.
"So tell me, father, exactly how you managed to pull it off?" His son burst into the study hurling strange accusations. Lucius looked up from his paper and gave the boy a quizzical look.
"What are you going on about now, Draco? I am certainly not pulling anything off. I am sitting and reading a paper, as men often do in the mornings."
Draco stood still, arms crossed. Lucius ignored him for a few minutes but it became rather hard to focus.
"You know what I mean. Look right there. It is the news about our dinner the other night, and how you and Granger are suddenly the hottest new couple in the country. You would never allow such a thing to see the light of day…unless it served some twisted purpose of yours. So what is it that you needed so badly to overshadow my engagement?"
Lucius pretended to look shocked.
"Why Draco, I was simply taking your advice! As colleagues we get along somewhat, so I invited out to our dinner. The rest of society seems to think there is a spark... that perhaps she is bringing me out of the darkness. Who am I to oppose such a notion? It would look like I was openly stating our project was not working. I cannot go against my own cause."
A knowing smirk crossed his son's face. He knew it was fruitless to try to fool the boy. He was of his flesh and blood, after all.
"How convenient for you father, to be put in a better light by associating with Hermione Granger. Perhaps the story of love against all odds will melt the hearts of wizarding Britain, where you are concerned." He sneered. "Just know this. Do not think you can pull the wool over her eyes. When it comes to Granger, you have no idea what you are dealing with. She will figure you out, and there will be hell to pay."
A small niggling of doubt made its way to Lucius' mind. He could overpower some of the greatest wizards when it came to cunning, but the girl was certainly bright. He needed to tread very carefully if he wanted this to work.
"Tell me about her, Draco. Tell me everything you know."
A/N sorry to say this may be the last update for about a month. I'm getting married in 2 weeks so things are just a bit hectic. I shall try to write whenever I have a minute, since the story is getting exciting :) much love to everyone who read reviewed and added the story to favourites or alerts. You are the best.