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Format: Novel
Chapters: 12
Word Count: 15,960
Status: WIP
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Strong Language, Scenes of a Sexual Nature, Substance Use or Abuse, Sensitive Topic/Issue/Theme
Genres: Drama, Romance, Angst
Characters: Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, Ginny, OC, OtherCanon
Pairings: Draco/Hermione, Harry/Ginny, Ron/Hermione, Draco/OC, Ron/OC
First Published: 06/09/2006
Last Chapter: 03/18/2008
Last Updated: 03/18/2008
Summary:
Over 21,000+ reads!! Thanks you guyss!! Hermione and Ron and totally in love but can one night with Draco change everything? Hermione realizes love. True Love. Beautiful Banner by penragonwebsite in Dark Arts!
Wonderful Chapter Graphic by FairyQueen from the DarkArts and the Ron/Hermione Manipulation by oppugno! Thanks again you guys!
CHAPTER 1
Hermione Granger finds herself staring at her window as she watches the rain hit her window panes. She recalled everything that happened. She was in her seventh and last year. She knew she had to deal with her NEWTS which would fill up her schedule and she would barely have time for her friends, especially Ginny being in a separate year and different schedules. She thought she would have to deal with so much responsibilities, homework and tasks. Oh was she wrong! She received a hell lot more than she bargained for.
Hermione, as predicted, became Head Girl, unfortunately, with Draco Malfoy as Head Boy. Upon hearing the news, Hermione filled herself with rage and anger. The worse thing about it all was that Draco Malfoy was indeed smart. He was second in class ranking – Hermione being first. Aside from Hermione, her friends were just as mad because they knew what Malfoy was capable of, and that he despised Hermione with every inch of his body.
Draco, Hermione had to admit, had grown up nicely and the summer has definitely been good to him. His blond hair was no longer slick and plastered, but fell over his icy blue-grey eyes. His skin remained pale as ever, but it seemed to suit him perfectly. After breaking up the forced marriage with Pansy last year, – He convinced his father that the Parkinsons were barely powerful, were dumb as posts and would ruin the Malfoy reputation. – Draco was finally able to concentrate with school and the rest of his studies. Pansy was crushed when she heard the news and moved to another school, vowing never to touch another Malfoy again. After she left, Hogwarts practically threw a celebration of her absence. Draco was now flocked with a million girls. He was now single, rich, smart and handsome. What’s not to like?
What Hermione did not notice was herself. She also turned out to be a definite work of art. Her bushy hair calmed down and was now soft curls. She was no longer buck-toothed, but had straight pearly whites. Her skin tanned up a bit and gave a special glow to her chocolate brown eyes. She was obviously taller and had the perfect curves in all the right places. Her lips were fuller and looked like she was pouting. Of course, Hermione never realized this, until Ron told her.
Hermione remembered that eventful day like the books she had read.
During the summer after 6th year, Hermione and Harry spent their vacation at the Weasley’s since Hermione’s parents had important conventions to attend and the Dursley’s were going to Arkansas. Harry was thrilled; he would spend time with his best friends and not have to worry about muggles. Two nights had gone and the golden trio were having the time of their life! Until…
”Herm… I-I-I need to tell you something” Ron stuttered.
“What is it Ronald? What flavor I got in my jelly bean?” Hermione joked and Harry was holding a few giggles.
“Well, not exactly. Harry, could you excuse us for a while?”
Harry nodded after laughing, and left the room.
“Hermione?” Ron began and with that look on his face, Hermione knew he was serious.
“Yes?”
“I-I-I have been keeping this for sometime now and I feel like I need to tell you and get this over with rather than regret it my whole life later.” He told her.
“Ron, whatever it is, you can tell me!” Hermione told him, holding his hand.
“I think I love you Hermione.”
Hermione jerked her hand away from his and kept silent.
“I know this may come as a shock to you, but I just love you. Every time I look at you, I get butterflies and the strange thing is, I like the butterflies and I don’t want them to leave. I’ve liked you for sometime now but I just realized how perfect you are. Beautiful, smart, and very loyal. I knew that you would never go for a guy like me, which was why I hid it, and the more I did, the deeper I fell. Even stranger, I still feel the butterflies, and they never left when you came into the picture. I don’t know what love is Herm, but whatever it is, Hermione Granger, I love you.”
Tears manage to creep down her eyes and she never stopped them. Her feelings for Ron were always unsure. She knew that she had feelings for him but she never thought much of it since she never knew if he liked her and Ron never made a move or dropped a hint. Now, Ron Weasley was standing in front of her, confessing his heart out and telling her everything she wanted, and waited to hear.
“Well Hermione? Could you do me a favor, and love me back?”
Hermione couldn't help but laughed. Ron has always seem to make her laugh at anytime or any moment. When she’s down, he jokes a lot and although she seemed irritated, it always appeared to help.
Hermione just stared at him completely silent, with a million thoughts running through her head and she could have guessed it would explode all over the room.
“Please? I promise to take care of you. I promise that if we had one last breath, I’d give you mine to let you live longer.”
She couldn’t help but smile.
“I love you too Ron” she finally said.
Ron’s eyes lit up and his face turned redder than his hair. He buried Hermione into a warm hug. He held her tightly and seemed like he never wanted to let her go.
“I just, wanted to take this all in and see that I wasn’t dreaming. That this is finally reality and you have me in your arms” Hermione sighed.
“Ron, promise me one thing though.”
“Anything”
“Don’t give me your last breath”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to see the man I love, die.”
Ron smiled at her and for the first time, he brushed his lips unto hers and Hermione could still feel his smile and she fell deeply in love with Ron and finally realized that reality was finally better than her dreams. That finally, she can fall asleep knowing that someone loves her back. That she can run to someone and hold his hand for eternity.
Hermione and Ron were now officially a couple and the whole school knew about it. Harry and Ginny were congratulating them all the time and were often telling them that they were expecting it, but Ron was too scared to make the first move. Hermione touches the huge diamond ring on her finger and gives out a loud sigh. Ron gave it to her during the Yule Ball and she could never forget that night. The night he proposed to her.
”Hermione?” Ron asked.
Hermione turned around to see who called her with her blue dress flowing behind her, “hmm?”
“I love you”
Hermione gave a laugh. Ron always told her this during the most random times.
“I love you too Ron”
Ron walked to her and devoured her into a soft kiss.
“Hermione, you have been the most amazing girlfriend! You were there when I needed help or company or just someone to hold and I can’t ask anything from you except one thing, and that is to take this step—this relationship-- further. You are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me and you have given me the best seven years of my life with all the crazy adventures we had with Harry, which will remain in my album of memories forever. But most of all, I will cherish the moment I laid my eyes on a certain girl with chocolate brown, almond eyes that belong to no other than you. When we graduate, I would like to know something Hermione.”
Hermione looked at Ron with a few tears in her eyes; she knew exactly what was to happen.
“Will you marry me? Do me the honors of becoming my wife, and the only woman I would like to have for the rest of my life?”
Hermione cried and she laughed all at the same time and she ran up to Ron.
“Yes Ron! I would! I’d love to! I do!”
She landed into Ron’s arms and he gave her the ring. Hermione stared at it because it was HUGE! Ron laughed at her facial expression and slowly slipped the ring to her finger.
[a/n: well?? How was it!?? R/R puh-leez! I know this chapter was sooo Ron/Hermione but this story is mainly Draco/Hermione. I am not much of a supporter as well of Ron/Hermione but I guess I'm learning to love it. I hope you enjoyed reading it even if it was Ron/Hermione. LoL! Kisses xoxo]
Wonderful Chapter Graphic by SilverQuill92 from Pandora's Closet! Thanks again!
The whole school finally knew what happened and Hermione and Ron began to receive gifts and presents. Aside from the good, there were a few bad things about it and Hermione heard rumors that they were getting married because she was pregnant but they were obviously not true. Hermione told Ron that she would never even think about sex until after marriage. Everyone knew the news. Even Draco Malfoy.
Hermione moved from her ring, to her lips, and then she embraced herself at the thought of Malfoy. How could she think of it!? She was to be married in a few months and it happened. How could it happen?! Didn’t she love Ron? Why did she do such a stupid thing? Hermione felt a hot tear trying to escape her eyes and she wiped it off before it could even reach her cheek.
”So! Granger really is getting married to Weasley” Draco chuckled.
Both of them were doing night shift Head duties and they were cleaning up the dock and the rest of the garbage outside. Draco and Hermione had become civil. They didn’t get along like best friends but they usually spoke. Yes, he was a self-centred pest but he was an alright person to talk to when you had nothing better to do. It was raining, but they had no intention of going back into the castle. Pushing off the task until tomorrow, would only make it more tiring.
“So? Got a problem with that Malfoy?”
“No. But I know why he’s getting married with you.”
“Just to entertain you, why?”
“Aside from the Weasley King finally getting his queen, he just wants to sleep with you.”
“Excuse me?” Hermione choked back a scream.
“What? It’s true. You aren’t that bad looking Granger and all the guys would love to sleep with you but Ron just made a grander gesture and made you believe he loves you. He’ll sleep with you for 5 times or so then dump you while you’re pregnant or something, or when he’s just sick of you.”
“Ron isn’t like you Malfoy! He loves me! How could you say that?!? You are a sick and dim-witted ferret!” Hermione shouted.
“Yes he is Granger!”
“How so?!”
“The only thing in a guy’s head at this age is sex. Sex, sex, sex! Did you really think Ron would marry you because he loved you? He’s bloody 17! He hasn’t seen the world yet!”
“Ron loves me Malfoy and you bloody know it!”
“Sure, he may love you now, but in the future, he finally meets someone who he could love more that you! He may not know that now, but the Weasley will find someone, and so will you!”
“Ron would never leave me! How could you even say of such a thing!?”
“Ok Hermione, maybe he might stay with you, but I’m sure he would cheat on you with the person he really wants to be with. You’d be lucky if he doesn’t meet her, but fate has its ways and if needed, destiny assists.”
He said her first name.
Hermione crouched down on the muddy ground and cried. She cried hard and she cried long. She realized what Draco said and had to agree! She was crushed and although Ron loved her now, she was afraid he wouldn’t love her ‘till death do them part.
“How long did it take to get into that head of yours? Did it have to pass your bushy hair?”
Hermione said nothing, she neither cried, screamed, nor spoke a word. She was still crouched down, but she stared blankly on whatever she could see. She felt the whole world come down on her. The rain grew stronger and it hit her cheeks hard but she didn’t give a bloody damn about it.
“Granger, we better go! You know what McGonagall said! Strong rain is a good excuse to stop head duties. C’mon! Granger!”
Draco shouted her name over and over again but it went past Hermione’s ears. She just stared blankly and Draco even though for a moment she was dead but Hermione finally stood up.
“Bloody hell Granger! Move you’re arse! We need to go!”
Thoughts ran through Hermione’s mind. She was in a desperate time and she had no idea what to do. She was confused, mess-up and had no clue on which was left or right.
“Why did you call me Hermione?” she finally spoke.
“What? Isn’t that your name?”
“Answer me. You call me Granger or mudblood or whatever name floats in your head. Why the bloody hell did you call me Hermione?!”
“I did?”
“Yes you bloody did! Why?!?” Hermione screamed her head off and the rain grew stronger as if in a competition.
“I don’t know! I didn’t even know I did!”
“But you did!”
“Maybe I wasn’t thinking! Maybe there was too much rain in my ears! Why are you asking this here!? Here in the middle of the rain? Can’t we talk inside?”
“Why?!”
“I DON”T KNOW!” Draco shouted.
He looked at Hermione and both were exhausted.
“You said my name when you told me Ron would leave me.” Hermione said calmly after a few minutes of silence.
“I guess I got carried away with what I said. Plus, I know it’s not something I am joking about. I was serious about the matter.”
Then, Hermione did something she or Draco, could never believe.
She kissed him.
The kiss was hard and long. Draco didn’t know why he wasn’t stopping her. Draco held her face and Hermione gave a slight moan. The kiss was fierce and filled with passion, vigour and fury. The rain calmed down and Draco and Hermione kissed their way to the Head’s common room. They stayed on the sofa without leaving each other's lips. Finally, Hermione made a decision. An odd decision, but a decision none the less.
She slowly removed her tie and Draco followed her lead. His fingers tangled in her hair while his tongue plundered the soft cavern of her mouth. She made no protest. Finally, the only thing left was Hermione’s socks, and Draco’s tie. But soon, they came off too. Hermione was upset but with Draco, all the problems flew away and she didn’t give a damn.
“Draco… be gentle”
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
Hermione looked at Draco. He was being, nice…
“Yes. Just take me away.”
Draco nodded and pushed. Hermione gave a sharp gasp and winced in pain. Draco started slow and Hermione began to feel the pleasure. She felt nothing else but that. She didn’t think about Draco, about Ron, or about anything! Draco drove harder and Hermione moaned.
“Faster Draco! Draco! Dracoooooooo!!!”
They both slumped themselves on the couch. Draco played with her hair, and Hermione giggled.
“How was that for your first time?”
“Amazing. I wouldn’t do it with anyone else--” Hermione stopped herself. How could she say that?! She was engaged to Ron and yet slept with his enemy. How could Hermione do that?! She stood up.
“Draco, you have to go.”
“What?” Draco asked while Hermione threw him his clothes.
“Get back to your room, a-a-and pretend like this never happened.”
“What the bloody hell is wrong with you Granger?!”
“THIS! This whole thing! I’m engaged Malfoy!”
“First you kiss me, then you push me away! You know, that’s how you are Hermione! You push your problems away! Soon, you are gonna push yourself away!” Draco shouted and before Hermione could say a word, Draco went up to room and banged it close.
Hermione shouted. She cried and cried. She never felt this way before. She felt like she reached her ultimate low, and she wanted to talk to no one else but Draco, but she couldn’t.
(So? How was that. Kinda weird, and I'm not that good with the sex scenes. lol R and R pls!)
Lovely chapter graphic by FairyQueen in the DarkArts and the Ron/Hermione manip by no other than the wonderful Oppugno!
Hermione sighs and wipes a tear. In 2 months, she and Ron were to get married. After that night, she and Draco never spoke a word. She regretted that night, but she never wanted to change it. It was only that night with Draco she actually felt herself. She wanted to be with Draco, but that was one night and she knew it wasn’t right.
-One Month Later-
It was their final day at Hogwarts and everyone was at the train station saying their goodbyes. Hermione hugged Harry and Ginny goodbye. Somewhere along the way, Harry and Ginny decided to get married and Ginny was pregnant a month after the proposal and rumors started hitting, but after Harry defeated Voldemort, the students didn’t care anymore.
Ron took Hermione’s things and went up to their compartment to unload them. Hermione stood by the train door waiting. She didn’t know what she was waiting for—no. She knew. Draco. Just then her prayers were answered and Draco appeared.
“Congratulations Her—Granger.”
“You too Draco.”
Just then, Draco gives a light kiss on her hand and yet, it sent tingles down Hermione’s spine as if he was kissing her lips. Hermione gave a smile and gave a hug. Draco stood there, saying goodbye to the only girl he felt like he ever loved.
-One Month Later-
A month passed and Hermione was in her wedding dress at the wedding reception. People were dancing and she was having the time of her life. Her dress was white, filled with intricate designs and Hermione looked lovely in it. Ron was wearing a tuxedo and he seemed decent as well. Hermione runs to the bathroom and washes her face. She had been drinking a lot and everyone, even herself, swore she was drunk. She went into the lounge and waited for the person in one of the cubicles to come out. Just then, she saw him.
Draco Malfoy.
“Hi.” Was all he could say.
“Hey there.” She said solemnly and at that moment, Hermione wasn’t as drunk as she thought she was.
“Congratulations on your wedding.” He murmured
She smiled at him. Hermione was confused. The moment she saw Draco, she wanted to just run over and kiss him to oblivion. She never slept with Ron yet and she seemed to not be excited about it.
It was raining again and Hermione was just staring at him. He didn’t change much. His hair was still blond and loose, and his skin was pale as always. Hermione was indeed checking him out.
“Why are you here?” Hermione asked
“Can’t a guy crash a wedding?”
Hermione giggled.
“Even if it will all explode in your face.” He told her and walked out the door.
“Excuse me?!” Hermione shouted
“What I told you 2 months ago remains the same!”
“How dare you!?”
Hermione and Draco were now in the middle of the street and drenched from the rain.
“It’s bloody true Hermione! It is! Nothing changed!”
“Nothing changed? Look at me in the eye and tell me nothing’s changed in the last 2 months”
Draco looks at her straight in the eye and grunts
“Nothing changed! You know why!? YOU KNOW BLOODY WHY?!?!”
“WHY?!?!”
“BECAUSE I’M STILL BLOODY IN LOVE WITH YOU!” Draco shouted.
Hermione stood there. Shocked, and confused. She wanted to hear it from Draco, but she never thought it would happen.
“What?”
“I don’t know why, but after the kiss, I never felt the same. I felt different around you and all I wanted to do was hold you again. I don’t like this feeling Granger, but it’s bloody there and I can’t make it go away! But I am sure, you feel it too.”
“Excuse me? No I do not!”
“Look at me and tell me you don’t love me.”
Draco looked mad and fanatical at the same time.
“I don’t l-l-lo--”
“See!”
“That proves nothing!”
“It proves that you love me!”
“But I’m married!” Hermione pointed at her wedding ring.
Hermione was in tears and her mascara was running down her face.
“You know, even if you have drooping mascara, you really are beautiful.”
“Draco, I shouldn’t be here. YOU shouldn’t be here!”
“I couldn’t hold it in Hermione! My father sensed it, and even his crucios don’t work on me. I can’t stop thinking about you, I wanna be with you, but I don’t like you! I bloody love you and I don’t like it Hermione! I DO NOT LIKE IT!”
“Why not?”
“Because I know THIS is not going to work! You’re a mudblood and I’m a pureblood, what would my father think! I don’t want to end up with you! But I do! I don’t care what my father thinks! Granger! I’m confused!”
“So am I! First you’re afraid of wh--”
“I am not afraid.”
“Whatever! Of what your father says, then you don’t care. Then you don’t but do wanna end up with me! What is this Draco? I-I-I can’t have this.”
“Don’t you feel it too?”
“I do, but it’s just different. Okay? I can’t be with you. THIS. THIS thing we have can’t be!”
Hermione walk in, leaving Draco Malfoy standing on the street.
(a/n: well?? I know it's kinda dramatic, but this is drama.. lol R&r pls!! Love you guyz!)
Beautiful chapter graphic by FairyQueen from the DarkArts and the Ron/Hermione manipulation by the gorgeous Oppugno!
-3 years later…-
“Mommy! Where is my bow? I wanna wear it now!” a light shout was heard all through the house.
“Just a minute Liza! For a three year old, you are so talkative!”
“Fine! But Me and Cwis are uppose to be at the pway hous by now”
“Okay. I’ll just get my coat.”
Liza was Hermione and Ron’s only child. She had curly brown hair and had the cutest dimples. She was very beautiful and really talkative. Chris, or Christopher, was Ginny and Harry’s son. He looked a lot like Harry except the freckles on his nose. Chris was the eldest of the 3 children. There was Chris, Haylie and then Ricky. Hermione got Liza into the car and headed for the Potter residence.
“Hermione! Hey there Liza!” a pregnant Ginny greeted the two girls.
“Auntie Ginny!” Liza’s hair tossed on her shoulders as she ran to give Ginny a hug.
“Where’s Cwis?”
“Over there by the kitchen. He’s been waiting for you.”
Liza runs all the way to the kitchen with a big smile on her face.
“So? How was the doctor yesterday?” Ginny asked Hermione as they walked into the living room.
“It was fine. We would be getting the results in this week if I am still fertile—wait. Who told you?”
“It was Harry, just before he left for the Auror’s convention. Ron told him.”
“Oh. I told him to keep quiet about that.”
“Where is Ron?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t called him yet.”
Hermione picks up her cell phone and calls Ron. She called a dozen times before Ron finally picked up.
“Hello?”
“Hey Ronald! Where are you?”
“Oh um… I’m at the o-o-office”
“What took you so long to answer? I was calling a million times!” Hermione joked
“I-I-I left my phone on silent. We were ha-ha-having a meeting.”
“You seem tired”
“Stupid meeting.”
Hermione laughed and hung-up. She was greeted by a staring Ginny.
“What?”
“Seriously Hermione, what’s up with you and Ron?”
“What do you mean?”
“When was the last time you had sex?”
“Ginevra! You do not need to know about my personal life! Especially my sex life with YOUR brother!”
“Seriously! You have one kid which happened during the honeymoon. Me and Harry are about to have four!”
Ginny was right. Hermione and Ron only had sex during their honeymoon and Hermione was quite drunk at that time. Hermione buried her tears with shots of tequila and 3 people practically dragged her to the room.
-during the reception-
”Hermione! Why are you so wet?!” Ron ran up to her.
“I was.. um… chasing a check we were given for a gift and um.. I was chasing it until I got out side.”
“Well, look at you! Your mascara is all over your face and your lipstick is smudged. You look awful!”
Ron laughed and led her to the bathroom. Hermione cleaned herself up, but she was still depressed and she saw the bar. She walked up to it and buried her sorrows with the dozens of shots. Ron, Seamus and Dean carried her to her room and she lay down in the bed. Ron was in the room holding her hand, worried what was to happen to her. Suddenly, Hermione squeezed his hand and said, “Let’s do it Ron! Please!”
After that night, neither one experienced that ever again. Hermione never wanted to sleep with Ron, and they never did. They were close and during her pregnancy, Ron was there to support her. Hermione was seven months pregnant when they received the news…
”Excuse me. Mrs. Weasley, we have a problem.”
“What is it Dr. Winston? What’s wrong with Hermione?”
“She has to go in labor now.”
“WHAT?! I can’t do that! I’m seven months pregnant! It’s too early!”
“I’m sorry, but your child will die if you don’t go into labor now.”
“What are the risks?”
“Early birth may make her smaller but that would be the only problem, except maybe a few side effects like a rash, or something.”
“Ron, be with me!”
“Of course!”
Hermione pushed and pushed and the pain was unbearable. No matter how hard she held Ron, she wanted something else.
Finally, the baby was out. Strangely, she wasn’t small, but weighed a healthy 7 pounds. Since it was an early birth, Liza’s skin was a bit pale and her eyebrows were very few, but she grew up well, and living at a house by the beach tanned her skin a bit.
After a few hours, Hermione decides to go to Ron and surprise him. She jumps in her car and waves Ginny goodbye. She drives to Ron’s office and sees Seamus.
“Hey Seamus”
“Hey Hermione! Have you seen Ron?”
“Um.. No. I was going to ask you the same thing.”
“He didn’t log in today. I thought he was sick.”
Hermione ran out the door leaving Seamus speechless. She got in her car and searched everywhere. She was fuming that Ron would lie to her and what scared her most was if Draco was right. All these years, Draco was always on her mind. She never thought much of him, but she did. She may have not thought much, but she thought of him a lot of times. She passed every block in search of Ron’s car until she finally found it at a café. She sneaked her way to see where he was, and she spotted him with an unknown female who was thin, brunette and had an amazing smile. “He’s cheating on me?!” Hermione thought and she decided to wait for Ron to get home. She wanted to know where he was when she called, and why he was at the café with that strange girl. She calls up Ginny telling her what was up and Ginny volunteered to baby-sit Liza for the night. Hermione got home and sat on the couch. She sobbed and cried. She was hoping Draco was not right. She was at her ultimate low and all she could do was read. She grabbed a book and read. She read every page until Ron got home.
“Hey Hermione! I’m home! Liza! Come to daddy! Hermione? Are you home?” Ron walks around the house searching for Hermione since no one responded to his call. He finds her sitting on the couch.
“Hey Herm. Where’s Liza?”
“What do you care? You don’t care about us.”
“What the bloody hell are you talking about? I love both of you!”
“How could you say that you bloody jerk! You are the most perverted, sick man I have ever met! You could never love us!”
“I do! You don’t!”
“I don’t love you? What the bloody hell is wrong with you!?”
“More like what’s wrong with you?!”
Everything went silent. Hermione was mad, but she didn’t know why. Was it because Ron cheated on her? Or was it because after everything she had gone through, Draco was still on her mind. Hermione looked up at Ron with watery eyes and she mumbles, “You didn’t tell me I was beautiful.”
“What?”
“That bloody night! You told me I looked awful!”
“What are you talking about Hermione? I always said you were beautiful! Is this why you’re mad? Because I didn’t say you were beautiful?! For once Hermione, don’t be that vain and self-centered!”
“THAT NIGHT! YOU TOLD ME I LOOKED AWFUL! DURING THE RECEPTION!”
“When you were drenched?!”
“Yes!”
“But you were all messed up! You were messy and your make-up was everywhere! You were awful!”
“So that’s what you think about! Draco--”
Hermione stopped dead on her tracks. Was she comparing Ron to Draco? How could she do that?! She jerked her hands towards her mouth and gave a gasp.
“What? Draco? What does he have to do with this?”
“It slipped okay! This still doesn’t change what you’ve done!”
“Oh? So now your mad! What happened to Draco?! I’m your husband Hermione and I deserve to know what goes on in my family, most especially my wife’s life!”
“Oh! It’s my fault now? How dare you!? And I thought you love your daughter!”
“SHE’S NOT MY DAUGHTER!”
(a/n: yes, yes, CLIFF HANGER! mwahahaha! lol R&r pls!)
I wanna thank Karma for the wonderful reviews and I also wanna apologize for not emailing her. I am very busy now, and although I have 6 chapters already laid out, i might go on hiatus after that. lol
Amazing Chapter Graphic by FairyQueen from Dark Arts! Thank you so much!!
“What?”
“LIZA IS NOT MY DAUGHTER! I AM NOT THE FATHER!”
“What do you mean? Are you trying to scare me? I saw you with that woman!”
“That woman was a doctor! She had the results and then she told me, that you gave birth to a nine month old baby! Not seven months... NINE. This means, I didn’t get you pregnant during the honeymoon. Which means, there was someone else?”
Hermione crouched down on the floor and rubbed her temples. It all made sense! She was easily tired a month before graduation, her period stopped, and no matter how hard she tried, she got fatter. Liza. The pale skin, the eyebrows, and the blue eyes when her eyes met the sun. Liza was—no! It couldn’t be! Hermione’s breathing turned heavy and she was getting dizzier and dizzier by the second. Everything came back. Hermione and Ron, her becoming Head Girl, the proposal, that night with Draco, the wedding, meeting Draco there and giving birth to Liza. Hermione couldn’t believe it. It was all connected. She got pregnant that night with Draco. Liza had no traits whatsoever with Ron. Hermione cried. She brought her elbows to her knees and covered her face.
“What are you keeping from me Hermione? Ever since the wedding, we never had that special connection. That look I see your eyes when you look at me. What happened? More importantly, who’s Liza father?”
Hermione felt the whole world on her shoulders again. She was speechless but wanted to say so many things. She wanted to say sorry but she never regretted that night with Draco.
“Ron I-I-I…”
“Just tell me! If not to your husband, then tell me being my best friend!”
“You’d still hate me.”
“I could never hate you Hermione. Not with all that we’ve been through.”
Ron pulled her to the sofa and went to the kitchen to make a quick cup of coffee for her. Hermione brought her knees to her chest and embraced it. She had no idea what to do. She knew Ron would find out, but never thought of it to be like this. She needed to tell someone else. She wanted to run to the old Ron. The Ron who hated her know-it-all disposition. The Ron that taunted her in their first year in Hogwarts. But most especially, she wanted to talk to Draco. She wanted to run to him and just sob for hours and he would devour her in one of those kisses that would send her to oblivion and she wouldn’t care. She couldn’t talk to either of them! She needed someone else. Ginny.
Ron enters the living room to find the couch empty and the main door open.
Hermione gets in her car and drives all the way to Harry’s house. She cleans herself before getting in just in case Liza would see her. She didn’t want Liza to know these things. Not just yet.
Knock knock! Hermione is greeted by a restless Ginny. Ginny’s hair was a mess, her clothes were stained and she had her tongue practically sticking out. This only meant one thing, she just finished putting the kids to bed.
“Hermione? What brings you here at… one o’clock in the morning?”
“I-I-I just needed someone to talk to. Is Liza awake?”
“Not anymore! Thank God!”
“Good! I need to ask you a few things.”
“Okay. Sure.”
“How do you know you love Harry? I mean, you were so young and what if you would find someone else? Maybe, someone that can work with your chemistry a lot more than he will or something like that.”
“Hermione, I don’t know how to say this, but I just do. I love Harry. I know there are some marriages that fail because they married young and they were still naïve, but there is still fate. Sometimes love can be found at an early age. It’s rare, but I know me and Harry have it.”
“Oh…” was all Hermione could say.
“What is this about Hermione? Ron problems? You know, for one thing, to keep a marriage stronger, I think it would be children. Knowing that you were able to make a family with this person makes you love him more. Makes you just want to hug him and kiss him. That’s what you have with Ron and Liza.”
“Just one problem Ginny.”
“What could that be?”
“Liza’s not Ron’s child.”
“WHAT?!”
Ginny stood up and almost knocked Hermione off the couch as well. Hermione signals her to lower her voice.
“Shhh! I don’t want anyone else to know!”
“How did you find out? Does Ron know? How is this possible!?”
“Ron told me. Remember the doctors’ appointment I had, well, the doctor found out a few things about me. I wasn’t seven month pregnant when I gave birth to Liza. I was nine.”
“But that’s impossible! You and Ron had—wait… there was someone else? But you said you would remain a virgin! What is going on?”
Hermione gave a sigh and told Ginny EVERYTHING. From the time she and Ron were in a relationship until the night she met Draco at the wedding reception. It took them two hours with Ginny’s constant questions, but Hermione finally finished the secret she kept from her family and her friends. Ginny had already brought a cup of tea for each of them and Ginny nearly dropped her drink hearing every shocking detail.
“I can’t believe it. You… and Malfoy, had sex?”
“I know. But remember, I was vulnerable and I had no idea what to do.”
“Do you want to turn back time?”
“Strangely, no.”
“Why not? Don’t you want to take back all the pain and confusion that night caused the present?”
“No Ginny.”
“WHY NOT?!”
Ginny stood up and glared with Hermione with full dispassion.
“Ginny, don’t get so worked up on me like that!”
“AND WHY NOT?! THIS IS MY BROTHER HERMIONE! NO MATTER WHAT YOU FEEL, I MAY UNDERSTAND YOU, BUT I WON’T LET YOU HURT MY BROTHER’S FEELINGS! ESPECIALLY FOR SLEEPING WITH MALFOY!”
“DON’T SHOUT AT ME LIKE THAT!”
“I’M NOT SHOUTING!”
“CUT IT OUT!”
The two girls were interrupted with Harry’s voice shouting from upstairs.
(a/n: so? How was that? It wasn't much of a cliffhanger but in a way.. yeah... lol R & R pls!! Thanks for everyone reading my story.. so far I have 70+ reviews as of 8-15-06.. Thank you everone and I wouldn't have pushed on without you guys!)
This Chapter Graphic is by none other than the beautiful FairyQueen from DarkArts! Thanks again!
“Oh I can’t wait to tell Harry! He would be so upset with you!” Ginny seethed.
Hermione couldn’t help but feel scared. Harry was her best friend! Telling him that she lost her feelings for Ron might be fine, but telling him she lost it to Draco, Hermione isn’t too sure he would handle that. Hermione looks up to see Harry in a red robe, messed up hair, and trying to fix his glasses.
“Hermione? What were you and Ginny doing at this hour? Couldn’t your girl talks wait?”
“Sorry love, but this was an emergency.”
“Emergency? Why? Is something wrong?”
Harry instantly snapped out of his drowsy stage and jumped into best friend mode. He walked up to Hermione and gave her a hug.
“I think for this emergency Harry, you might want to sit.”
Harry looked at both girls and felt very confused. He grabbed a seat and took a pillow. Hermione looked at Ginny pleading her to tell Harry subtly but Ginny was too upset to do that. Ginny really cared for her brother and after finding out that Hermione didn’t regret sleeping with Draco made her displeased.
“Well Harry, the first thing that happened was--”
“Sorry to interrupt Ginny, but I’d want to hear this from Hermione. It’s not very often you two fight and looking at the time, Hermione talks faster. No offense.”
Hermione sighed and started talking. She told him all the things that happened except telling Harry who she slept with. She never mentioned Draco’s name and Harry seemed to understand her reason. Unlike Ginny, Harry remained silent throughout the whole story. He nodded occasionally and gave light gasps to the very shocking parts. He just looked at Hermione. She looked so stressed out and Harry just couldn’t believe all of this was happening to the almost perfect Hermione.
“And that’s it. Any violent reactions?”
“Wow! I I-I never knew how complicated your life was Hermione! I mean, that’s just messed up. Honestly speaking of course.”
“I know! Which is why I ran to Ginny but she’s upset with me right now.”
“Why would sh--”
“WOULDN’T YOU BE UPSET TOO HARRY! THIS IS YOU BESTFRIEND, MY BROTHER! HERMIONE’S DUMPING RON FOR D--”
“I don’t blame you Ginny! But these are the things I feel! YOU THINK I LIKE IT? I CAN’T CONTROL MYSELF FROM LIKING D--”
“YOU CAN TRY! I BET YOU NEVER EVEN DID!”
“STOP IT!”
Both girls looked at Harry who was so close to pulling their heads off.
“Who is this guy Ginny?”
“I may be mad at Hermione, but I’m not ratting her out on something I promised not to tell.”
Ginny gave a smile and Hermione nodded a thank you.
“I see. Hermione, you have to tell me.”
“I just don’t think you can handle all of this at once.”
“Try me.”
Hermione gave a sigh of defeat. She didn’t know why, but one look at Harry’s green eyes and she knew she could never say no. Maybe that was why Ginny married him. She was scared and her hands were cold and sweaty and Hermione wasn’t sure of what to expect from Harry after telling him. Was he going to support her and Draco? Or was he going to curse her to oblivion?
“Hermione, who is he? Who is Liza’s father?”
“Liza’s real father is--”
Just like in the movies, Hermione’s conversation was interrupted with a knock on the door. Harry excused himself and got the door.
It was Ron.
Hermione practically jumped on the couch when she saw him. Hermione wanted to hide under the nearest shell possible and bury herself alive.
“I’m glad you’re here! I thought you ran away.” Ron sighed.
“Yeah. Want something to drink mate?”
Ron gave Harry a nod and Harry went to the kitchen for some juice.
“I kind of predicted you’d be here.”
“So, you left without telling him.” Ginny stated
“Yes. Sorry about that. I just needed to talk to someone.”
“Why did you have to come for Ginny and Harry? What about me?”
“Aside from Ginny being my GIRLfriend, You and I have a relationship Ron. I don’t wanna risk it right now”
“But I’m still your best friend!”
“I JUST DIDN’T WANT TO!”
Harry walks in on both of them, and the foursome took their seats on the soft, maroon couch. They were all silent for a few minutes just drinking their pumpkin juices and giving each other awkward looks. The silence was driving each of them mad, but they didn’t seem to do anything about it. Finally, Harry had to break the silence.
“Hermione, you never told me who HE was.”
Hermione rolled her eyes. She hoped Harry wouldn’t remember that when Ron arrived but Harry placed her on the spot in front of Ron, Harry and Ginny. She couldn’t lie since Ginny knew the mystery man.
“I deserve to know as well Hermione. I’m the one raising the family. I need to know who Liza’s father is.”
Hermione was torn between losing her husband and best friend forever and losing Ginny’s trust.
“She didn’t tell you yet Ron?”
“Not yet.”
“Why not?”
“HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU HAD TO KEEP THAT BURDEN YOUR WHOLE LIFE AND SUDDENLY FIND OUT THAT, THAT PERSON IS THE FATHER OF THE ONLY LIGHT IN YOUR BLOODY LIFE?”
Ginny and the two men looked at her. They have never seen Hermione break down this much, not even during their Yule Ball during their 4th year. Hermione’s mascara was all over her face and her hair was practically over her face and she had drenched her pink blouse and she just looked like someone else. They weren’t even sure if she was Hermione.
“Okay, if it makes it any simpler, tell me everything that happened just like you told Harry. Leave the man’s name anonymous.”
Hermione nodded at the idea and began her story again. Ron’s reactions were different. He buried his head in his hands and just kept swaying it. He sometimes scratched his head and he occasionally hair-combed his red hair. Ginny felt teary-eyed for her brother. She felt his pain and she couldn’t do anything about it.
“Oh my God Hermione.”
“I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you this Ron.”
“Hermione?”
“Yes?”
“Who was this boy? Who was this boy who stole your heart at a snap?”
At that, Harry, Ginny and Ron were at the edge of their seats and Hermione swore she felt like she was under a billion cameras and anything she would say wrong would be broadcast all over London.
“Hermione, they need to know.” Ginny informed her.
“Alright… I believe Liza's father is…
… Draco”
(a/n: haha! another cliffie!! Love that... : ) Okay.. so that was the 6th chapter and I am still working on the 7th and I am not even halfway through so it might take longer than the others. Sorry! I'm currently filled up with school assignments as well and that just makes me cry coz I might go on hiatus... No worries! I shall not dissapoint the readers.. I love all your reads and reviews! MWAH MWAH MWAH!! lmao...)
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“Oh god Hermione… No! Not him…”
Ron stood from his couch and rubbed the temples of his head. He was getting really red and tears couldn’t control themselves from falling down his cheek. Hermione started crying again. She didn’t like seeing Ron this way! He seemed so lost and betrayed and Hermione had no idea how to fix it!
“Ron, I-I-I’m really sorry!”
Hermione was too late. Ron stepped out of the house and drove out of the garage. Ginny was with him and Harry guessed they were going to look for Draco.
“Harry… I didn’t want this to happen! You have to believe me!”
Harry reacted differently. He just looked at Hermione and gave a blank, empty expression. His green eyes held no life and Hermione couldn’t read them.
“Please Harry. I really am s-s-sorry!”
Hermione was kneeling in front of Harry, clasping his hands while he just stared at her with a slight look of disappointment.
“Come with me.” He finally said.
“Where?”
Harry ignored her question and brought her into his car and drove away. Hermione looked confused and scared because for a minute, she thought he would curse her to oblivion and no one would remember her presence. Harry kept his eyes on the road without even taking a glimpse at Hermione. Hermione could tell he was furious at her with the way he drove. The streets were empty and it was starting to rain but that didn’t stop Harry from driving up every block like it was a race. They finally stopped in a park. It was empty and only one street lamp gave the park a bit of luminosity. They took a walk to the nearest bench and Hermione sat down with a sigh.
“I don’t know why you brought me here Harry, but I hope you’re not going to kill me.”
Harry gave a light laugh.
“Harry. Just hear me out okay? I’m really sorry for it and I really want to take it back, but a part of me is glad it happened. I love Ron and that’s for sure if you might ask.”
“Hermione, I just can’t understand this whole thing. This isn’t you.”
“I know.”
Hermione was ashamed of course, but Harry grabbed her hand and squeezed it.
“I honestly do not know what to say Harry.”
“Neither do I!”
Harry gave a small smile and Hermione felt a whole lot better with that.
“I just want to be able to talk to you. I mean, without the pressure of Ron being there, or Ginny, being the sister. I have nothing to do with this and I want you to know I’m always all ears.”
“Why didn’t you blow up?”
Harry couldn’t help but chuckle at her question. Harry looked at Hermione and could tell she was confused, and depressed.
“Before I tell you, could you answer a few questions first?”
“But I asked you f--”
“Good. Question number one… hmmm…”
Hermione looked at Harry walk back and forth, making shoe marks on the ground. Harry took one last sigh and sat down in front of her.
“What can you say about what happened that night?”
“It was just a one-night thing! I mean…”
“Was it Hermione? It never bothered you after that?”
“I don’t know Harry. Somehow, in some stupid way, Malfoy finds his way into my thoughts and when he does, it takes a while for him to go away.”
“But he never really left did he?”
“Guess not.”
“What about love?”
“Love? Harry are you mad?!”
Harry just gave Hermione a sly stare and Hermione knew she wasn’t the best liar in the world.
“Okay Harry. Love? I don’t know… but there definitely is something there.”
“Did you do something about it?”
“No. I was trying to be ‘safe’ I wanted to just keep it to myself before it grew but it eventually did and now it’s ruining my life! I needed someone to talk to and I didn’t know who to run to! Wasn’t I supposed to run to Ron?! I mean, I’m supposed to love and trust my husband?! But I couldn’t! I just couldn’t and that was killing me inside!”
Hermione felt her tears edge down her cheek and she looked at Harry. Harry gave her a long, warm hug and Hermione cried herself to a restless sleep. Harry brought her into his car and they made their way back to the Potter residence.
No one was in the house when Harry and Hermione got in. He laid her on the couch and went to the kitchen to get some tea.
“Harry?”
“Woah! You startled me there!” Harry joked.
Hermione gave a weak smile and Harry walked over to her with a mug in each hand. Hermione sat up and took a sip. Her cold hands trembled even with the feel of the steaming hot mug.
“Well, I have to go and take a quick bath before the kids wake up. It’s already 5:30 and they’d be up at 7:00. Ron and Ginny were out for some time now and that’s scaring me. See you in five minutes.”
“Wait Harry!”
“Yeah?”
“I-I-I’m kind of confused… No wait… VERY confused.”
“About what? Why I got you pumpkin tea instead of green? Well we’re out of pu--”
“No Harry.”
Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes with a laugh. Harry sat on the chair across her and said, “What is it then?”
“Why didn’t you get mad?”
“At what?”
“About me and Draco. I mean, I am 100% positive that you are not best friends and you’d grab each other’s necks of you had a chance.”
Harry gave a slight laugh at Hermione’s comment and hand-combed his hair.
“It was different Hermione… Yes I hate him with every flesh on my body. But you don’t. I saw your eyes Hermione. The way they sparkled when you talked about him and you just had that special smile that I haven’t seen in such a long time! You were happy when you talked about him. I like seeing you like that. You talk about him the same way you use to talk about Ron. That kinda faded. But it’s also the same way I look at Ginny and that feeling can only be for one person. It just seems like yours is Draco’s.”
Hermione felt her tears creep out again but wiped it away before it even got the chance to land on her cheek. Harry was right! Everything he said was true.
“One more thing Hermione.”
“What is it?”
“Do you seriously love Ron?”
“I still care for him. A lot! I— He— I don’t know Harry. I really don’t”
“But you’d still die for him.”
“Definitely.”
“Why? Because you love him? Or because he’s your best friend?”
Hermione thought about it. She was very quick in answering ‘definitely’ but she never knew why.
“I guess… both Harry.”
“Then that shows you still love him.”
“Oh…”
“But you’re not IN love with him. That’s the difference.”
“I-I-I need a break from all of this. Today’s Friday and Liza still has school. Do me a favor and drop her for me. I’m going home. Tell Ron not to bother me if he ever goes home.”
“No problem Hermione!”
Hermione grabs her things and makes her way to the door while Harry walks over to the kitchen.
“And Harry?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being the bestest friend I could ever ask for. I love you for that!”
Harry gave a slight laugh and waved at her before she closed the door.
Hermione gets in the car and drives home. She is greeted by an empty room. A room that brought her a million memories and Hermione didn’t want to remember any of them. She walked into her bedroom and rested on top of pillows. She hugged one and found herself in a restless sleep.
(a/n: well?? It's not a cliffhanger anymore and I know the progress wasn't much in this story, but as you all know, I have school! LoL... R&R pls! I currently have 140+ reviews as of 9-2-06.. Thank you soo much to my loyal readers, and thank you for all the support that helped me push through with the whole story! MWAH!)
It was 11 in the morning when Hermione woke up. Her hair was a mess and her clothes were starting to smell. She woke up with a sigh and let her feet dangle on the bed side. She walked over to the bathroom and turned on the shower. The water felt like needles pricking her back and the heat made everything leave her… For a minute there, she thought she was dead. She buried her face in the water and gave a slight cry. She remembered that night. She couldn’t believe that it happened and she has know idea what Ron was to say to her! Her life was ruined. She had to do something and she had to do it to get her mind off the whole thing. She stepped out of the shower, wrapped herself in a towel, and made her way to her closet. She took out a white shirt, a blue peasant skirt, and her favorite jacket that Harry gave her. She changed into it and left the house.
Hermione wanted a job. She wanted to do something that can help express herself and keep her cool and collective. She wanted to be a journalist.
Hermione walked into the Daily Prophet and saw hundreds of witches and wizards making there way through the building. Hermione walked into the information booth and was greeted by a young man.
“Good Noon to you Miss. May I help you?”
The boy was cheerful and was filled with happiness and that caused Hermione to smile as well.
“I’m Hermione. I was wondering if you have any job openings for a journalist?”
“Hmm… actually, there is! Lucky day for you Ms. Hermione! Please go to the room to my left and you’ll meet up with Brenda the person in charge of your journalism thing. Don’t really know what it’s called Ms. Hermione”
The man gave a laugh and Hermione thanked him before making her way to the room. She walked in to find an empty room with an old lady sitting on a desk. She had her bun all messed up and her eyebrows needed a good plucking.
“Good Noon Ms. Brenda.”
“Hmm… name?”
“H-H-Hermione G. Weasley.”
“Ok. I need you to write three paragraphs on your opinion on the Devil’s Snare. Do this in a maximum of 3 hours.”
Hermione was handed a set of papers and Hermione sat on the table and got to it.
After two hours, Hermione handed the old woman her paper.
“Quick… Might be too quick though. Are you sure you have placed all the things needed. It seems thick, but you might be beating around the bush.”
“Oh no Ms. Brenda. I just really had a lot to say.”
“Very well. Please wait outside and I will call you in a while.”
Hermione walks out and is greeted by the man she met at the information booth.
“Hey!”
“Hello Ms. Hermione? How was it?”
“Well… erm. What was your name?”
“Johnny. Johnny Bolucks.”
“Well Johnny, it went pretty good I could definitely say.”
“What did Ms. Brenda say to you?”
Hermione told Johnny everything about the “auditions” on writing and she liked seeing Johnny fascinated with everything she said. After a while,
“Bloody hell Ms. Hermione. You ARE a writer.”
“What makes you say that?”
“You put such emotion in your words, that I can’t even imagine how you made it in paper. You love writing.”
The two laughed but were interrupted by an intentional cough.
“Hermione Weasley?”
“Oh hell! M-M-M-Ms. Brend-da! You scared me there!”
“Yes. I seem to do that often” Brenda said without a change in expression at all.
She walked back into her office and Hermione followed her.
“Sit”
“Well? How did I do?”
“Okay.”
“Uh… just o-o-okay?”
“Very well… You did well because I can see your passion in what you wrote, and how you feel can definitely be felt by the reader as well. But you lack spice. And I believe you can perfect that here in the Daily Prophet. So Hermione, welcome to the Daily Prophet!”
Brenda offered her a hand to shake and Hermione couldn’t help but run to Brenda and hug her. It has been a long, long time since Hermione ever felt that fulfilled and hearing the good news made her day.
“Thank you Ms. Brenda! Thank you!”
“Ugh! Get off! Congratulations. You start tomorrow. Your time is 8:00AM up to 11:00Am having a 2 hour lunch break, and back you are at 1:00PM and end up at 3:30PM. Is that okay with you?”
“Certainly Ms. Brenda!”
Hermione runs out of the Daily Prophet and felt nothing less than complete. For a long time now, Hermione wanted to throw a party for her success and couldn’t help but dance around the streets of Hogsmede. People started staring at her but Hermione didn’t care. She went into a store and decided to do something else she missed in the world… shopping. Hermione grabbed a basket and searched the place. After a few hours, she walked out with 3 paper bags.
“Something’s missing.” Hermione thought.
“BOOKS!”
She finally remembered and raced to Flourish and Blotts to check on their latest novels. She saw a book called, ‘The Love Unspoken’ and had the urge to buy it.
“Ms. Hermione? Oh Ms. Hermione! Hi!”
“Johnny! Hey!”
Hermione was surprised to see the boy there. Johnny was cheerful. His eyes were blue and his blond hair was shiny and a bit long which made him look like one of those surfing models Hermione sees in billboards. What she could take of her mind was his smile. He had the cutest smile and his teeth were perfect.
“What are you doing here?”
“Well, Grammy owns the place and I like coming over here to read. My shift was over anyway.”
“That’s sweet.”
Hermione checked her watch and saw it was almost 6 and she needed to see Liza. She missed her more than ever!
“Oh bloody hell. Look Johnny, it’s getting late and I have to go soon. Here’s my number and my address if ever you want to talk. Have a nice day Johnny!”
“Wait Ms. Hermione! I just wanted to tell you that Ms. Brenda gave your paper to the editors-in-chief and rumors are starting to spread that you might get promoted in less than 2 weeks. They loved you paper Ms. Hermione!”
“Really!?!”
Hermione ran over and gave Johnny a big bear hug and walked over to the exit.
“and Johnny?”
“Yes Ms. Hermione?”
“Since I’ll be seeing you every time I go to work, I’d rather have you call me Hermione. No more ‘Ms.’”
“Ok. M—Hermione.”
Hermione left the bookstore and felt a blush rising to her cheek. That was the most flattering comment she ever got for her writing and Hermione randomly started prancing around the block.
“Watch it!” an old woman complained.
“Sorry!”
“Hey!” a man said.
“Apologies”
“Oof! Watch where your going!” a young girl told her.
“My bad…”
Hermione stopped frolicking. This was not the best place to celebrate an achievement. The street was field with all sorts of witches and wizards and there was a 99.9% chance she would hit all of them if she danced. She decided to go home.
“Ugh! Sorry!” Hermione said as she hit an old woman.
“Sorry.”
“Whoops.”
“Sorry.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry sir.”
Hermione hit a dozen people and that last man tripped over her shopping bags. Hermione had to help him and she was so embarrassed.
“Oh! Hell. I’m bloody sorry! I am such a klutz these days.”
The man gave a light laugh.
“No worries—Hermione?”
Just then, Hermione came face to face with those icy blue eyes. Those eyes that held so much secrets and those eyes belonged to non other than…
…Draco Malfoy.
[a/n: Mwahahaha! Cliff hanger again! I like this chapter because it has to be one of my longest and I enjoyed typing it... I love Johnny's character! He will be of help in the future just to let you guys know... Thank you for all the reviews and all the creative criticism! You guys are the most amazing people! It might take a while for the 9th chapter since I barely got a head start on it... but no worries... i shall not fail you! {damn... longest chapter and longest a/n everrr! Lmao!}]
(sorry for the very long wait you guys! I think i will go on hiatus for a while, but fear not! This story will be done, it will be completed and I will finally get to rest my fingers... LoL!)
“Oh I am so sorry!” Hermione rushed, grabbed her bags and made her way through the crowd as quickly as she could.
“Wait! Hermione!”
“Draco… I shouldn’t even be talking to you.”
“What? You have a restraining order or something? Am I that dangerous?”
Hermione laughed.
“Look, I just want to talk to you and maybe a cup of coffee if you want.”
Draco looked at Hermione with that compelling stare.
“I guess there’s nothing wrong with that. I mean… I like coffee!” Hermione thought.
Draco offered a hand and Hermione handed him her shopping bags.
“I was going for something lighter to hold.”
“Well, I’ve been shopping the whole day, and I don’t think you deserve to hold my hand.”
“Who said anything about your hand?” Draco asked eyeing her purse.
Hermione flashed a very red shade and Draco chuckled at her expression. That was too embarrassing!
“I’m kidding! I was going for the hand.”
Hermione gave a light punch on the arm and the two headed to one of the tables. As they settled into their places, a young girl with the cutest pigtails approached them.
“Hey there Mr. Malfoy!”
“Hey Courtney. How are you?”
“Doing really good. I just got 98% in my Herbology. Thanks!”
“That’s splendid!”
“I know! The usual for you?”
“Of course! And one of your house specials for my companion over here.”
Courtney gave a wave and left them.
“Who was that?”
“Long story. Next time we can talk about it. I kinda have stuff to do.”
“There’s going to be a next time?”
“Why not?”
“Because we aren’t even suppose to be seeing each other after that uncalled for occurrence.”
“Bloody hell!”
“What?”
“You talk formally! Loosen up a bit! And besides… that “occurrence” was ages ago.”
“Well, it still happened.”
“True.”
They both laughed a bit and Courtney served their drinks.
“So… How has life been treating you Malfoy?”
“Please. Call me Draco. And if you must know, it’s actually been looking up after the past 2 years.”
“Why? What happened?”
“Father’s dead, and my mother died of cancer. I inherited everything and I was just going crazy. I couldn’t decide if I should spend it, or save it.”
“Oh yeah. That is such a tough decision.” She said sarcastically.
“Not like that. I mean that I should spend the money to rid myself of the terrible family I had and to start anew.”
“Woah. I never knew you were a profound person Mal— Draco.”
“Yeah… people think I am just the snobby, rich boy.”
“But you were.”
“Yeah I was.”
Both shared a laugh and Draco took a sip of his coffee.
“So what are you up to today?”
“Just going to lounge around in my home. Did I tell you I moved?”
“No. Really? That’s amazing! Where’d you move?”
“In a small town in the west of London. It’s a bit smaller than the old one since I’d be all alone and I don’t want too many elves around the house bustling about.”
“Oh! So that’s why Ron couldn’t find you.”
Hermione’s eyes grew bigger and she jerked her hands to cover her mouth.
“What?”
“Uh… N-N-N-nothing. Nothing.”
“Hermione, please talk to me properly! Why was Ron looking for me?”
Draco’s silver eyes stared into hers and Hermione couldn’t help but melt in them. They were very convincing and she couldn’t help but tell him.
“He found out about our fling.”
“Woah… Really? How? I mean, you don’t just mention things randomly. Especially this one! Why did Ron have to know?”
“Well… I really don’t know how to say this, but I had to tell him for really important reasons…”
“Mum!”
Hermione jerks her head to the direction where she heard the scream. It was Liza. She was running right at her and Liza was Harry.
“Hey Harry. Hey Liza! How are you?”
“I’m doing good. Uncle Harry won’t teach me to ride a broom! Tell him that he should Mum… Tell him!”
“No sweetie. I can’t. I have to agree with your uncle. You’re too young.”
“Oh fine!”
“So you have company Hermione?” Harry asked her.
Hermione nodded and pointed at Draco. Harry smiled at him and Draco did the same as well.
“Well, I guess I’ll leave you two behind.”
“Okay. Bye Liza!”
“Bye Mum!”
Harry and Liza walked out of the coffee shop and Hermione took her seat. She was actually nervous of what Draco’s reaction might be.
“So, she’s your kid?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s cool. Hey, I really want to meet up again with you but I am swamped today. Do you think we could meet again?”
“Uhh… I don’t know.”
“Oh c’mon Hermione. It would be nice to catch up about a few things. I promise I won’t insult you in anyway.”
“Alright. I’m not giving you my address or anything, but I do work at the Daily Prophet and I think you can stop by there once in a while.”
“Okay then. So I’d just go there and tell you when we can meet up for a cup of coffee or maybe even a doughnut.”
Hermione laughed.
“Okay.”
Hermione offers her hand as a handshake, but Draco held it to his lips and kissed it gently. Hermione was appalled with his actions but she couldn’t move. She felt so numb for a minute and although she wanted to smack his head, she didn’t. She just wiped the back of her hand on her shirt and left the coffee shop.
“Why couldn’t you slap his warped head Hermione?” she thought to herself.
She hasn’t seen Draco in years, and yet at the touch of those lips on her hand, sent chills to every place possible.
(a/n: I find this chapter to be quite a dissapointment to myself, but i hope you guys still like it. I would like to thank Dee, NoirEtoile, and caelum for the wonderful constructive criticisms... I would also like to say sorry for that because I did not take up your ideas for my story in this chapter. I was very busy and I just wanted to post something quick and simple. Very, very sorry! But thanks to those who enjoyed my story as well... R and R pls!)
check out my new story!
Chapter 10: I'm Sick of Fighting, Aren't you?
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(a/n: and the author is back! LOL! It’s been like, a year since I started this story. Which suck, but be glad I’m back people! I might get a little rusty for the first few chapters, but I’m sure I’ll get back on my feet.)
CHAPTER 10
As she gathered her composure, Hermione searched for Liza. She passed by Candy Botts, Brooms ala Brooms, and Chocolate Frogs Palace, but her daughter was no where to be found. She then heard her innocent laugh. Inside Cobblestone Ladies, Liza was standing in a red, polka-dotted dress, on top of a stool, twirling around like a ballerina in a music box. She walked into the store, and was greeted by a happy Liza.
“Mummy!”
“Where’s Harry?”
“He left. One of these clerks people are friends with him so he left me with ‘em. How do I look?”
“You look like a Minnie Mouse!”
“No I don’t, if I did, I would have huge ears on top of my head, a big, olive-shaped nose, a red bow in the middle, yellow shoes…”
Liza babbled on and on about how Minnie looked like and Hermione loved how she looked in it. She checked on her tag, and almost pulled her hair off.
“₤75!? Outrageous!”
All store clerks looked at her, and Hermione turned red again. Liza gave a giggle on how red her mother’s cheeks were and the customers found it adorable of Liza to be amused of Hermione’s embarrassment.
“Are you sure you got the price right on this dress?”
A young lady with thick blond hair responded with a nod that said ‘i-know-right?’
“Can we get it mum?”
Hermione dove into Liza’s pleading eyes. She could see her daughter really wanted this dress, but there was no way she could afford it!
“I don’t think we can sweetie…”
“Why not? Don’t I look cute in it?”
“Yeah Hermione. You don’t think she looks cute in it?”
Hermione turns around and sees Ron standing a few meters away from her.
“Daddy!”
Liza jumped off the stool and ran straight to her father. Hermione walked to him.
“Hermione…” Ron whispered.
“Not with Liza around.” She hissed back.
Liza interrupted their bitter stares.
“I look good in this dress don’t I daddy? Mum said I looked like Minnie Mouse, but Minnie Mouse had the big red bow…”
“Tell you what. You get back into the dressing room, change back to your old clothes, and ring up that dress in the counter. I’ll buy it.”
“Yey!!”
Liza scampered into the dressing room, and Ron had his time alone with Hermione.
“So? Liza’s attention is a competition now?”
“I was looking all over for you. After giving myself some time to think, and running out of gas looking for that bastard, I guess we can have a civilized talk about all this.”
“Like I said. NOT with Liza around.”
Ron walks over to the counter to pay for the dress. Hermione couldn’t believe she was the one acting all mad! All of a sudden, she was defensive, and fusing with anger as if Ron had made the mistake. Ron was an innocent victim in this, and yet Hermione was treating him like he was an abusive father or something. Her heart started racing again and she didn’t know what to do anymore. Her thoughts were interrupted with Liza’s hug on her leg.
The three of them walked out of the store and got into Ron’s car. The silence was awkward. Hermione never thought she would share this kind of silence with a friend, all the more her husband. But then, Hermione never thought she’d sleep with Draco, but look how that turned out. As the wind blew her chestnut hair, Hermione’s thoughts wandered. “Maybe I’m mad because Ron acted naively to the matter. Or maybe because it took him that long to get over it, and start talking to me again.” Yet her thoughts still landed on because he didn’t call her beautiful during their wedding day.”
There got to the driveway, and the couple noticed that Liza had fallen asleep in the backseat, while clutching on her new dress.
“If we can’t be together because of this, we have to be together for her.” Ron sighed.
Hermione nodded, and took Liza into her arms, and carried her to the child’s room. Ron was waiting for her in the kitchen, with two mugs filled with tea on the table. When Hermione peeped through the door, she saw Ron rubbing his head and his other hand was dipping the tea bag up and down. Hermione gave a cough, and he looked up.
“Oh. How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough.”
Hermione walks up to the chair across Ron, and starts dipping her tea bag as well.
“What do you have to say for yourself?” Hermione asked.
“Well, I guess I over-reacted a bit. It was just hard to swallow. Really hard.”
“I know. I’m sorry again.”
“It was a long time ago. But I’m still pretty upset. I don’t’ see you the same way anymore.”
“Neither do I.” Hermione thought.
“Look, Ron. I still love you. I really do.”
She reaches out to hold his hand, and showed real compassion for the issue.
“I love you too.”
Hermione smiled, and so did Ron. But he pulled his hand back, and his smile disappeared.
“But you slept with Draco!” Ron jeered.
“Ron please! Let’s not fight like that. I’m sick of it. Aren’t you?”
“I just can’t get over it Hermione! You betrayed me! We were a couple then! We were ENGAGED! You cheated on me! Not only did that ruin a huge part of our marriage, but you took the one thing we had together that we both loved. You took Liza away from me!”
Ron whispered it all, but his words were strong, and very much angry. Hermione looked at his eyes, and all she saw was hurt. She wanted to just stand up, give him the ‘friend-hug’ she gave him a lot before, and just make everything disappear. Apparently, magic still has its downs.
“Look, that night was all instinct Ron! I didn’t love Draco at that time! Bloody hell, I barely knew the guy! It was… It was all just an impulse, an urge, and maybe a desire or fantasy I wanted to live out! I didn’t love him!”
Hermione responded with a whisper as well, but it was a lot louder and more cynical.
“Don’t you think that makes matters worse?!”
“Which part?”
“You decide Hermione! Saying that a fling, and nothing more, is destroying our relationship, or—”
“or what?!”
Hermione was practically pulling her hair out, and Ron suddenly turned silent. He started blushing, and was running his hands through his red hair and his head hung low. She noticed his tense feeling around her, and instantly went to best friend mode.
“Hey.” She whispered, pulling his chin up to have his eyes look into hers.
“or what?” she repeated, but this time, it was calmer and more worried about his well-being.
“or saying that you didn’t love him, instead of don’t. Do you love him Hermione?”
(a/n: okay! not my best, but i hope it isn't too bad. :) Constructive criticisms are always welcomed. RnR pls. hope you liked it! mwahmwah)
Chapter 11
“No. I don’t.”
“Are you sure Hermione? I mean, not even a feeling?”
Hermione had to lie. She didn’t want anything else to come between them.
“Let’s talk about this tomorrow morning. I’m bloody tired.” Hermione replied.
The two of them went to the bedroom, and changed into their pajamas. They couldn’t have one of them stay in a separate room since Liza would get suspicious. They were in the room the whole time together, but neither of them spoke or even acknowledged each other’s presence. The silence was again awkward, but Hermione didn’t want to take on it. She really was tired, but she also needed time to think about it. She never imagined loving Draco. She could come up with the most impure thoughts when he came to her mind, but seeing him with her, walking with Liza in the park in a chilly Wednesday afternoon, just didn’t seem to fit his persona. She knew Ron was the perfect father for her daughter, and she couldn’t ask for anything more since Ron loved Liza, even after finding out that she was not really his daughter. She could still work things out with Ron, and she wanted to. Ron was her best friend, and her companion through thick and thin. Now, it felt like she barely knew him. But she wanted to.
Ron on the other hand, was tossing and turning. He too was in a tight situation, and although he wanted to fight for it as much as he did, he wasn’t so sure if Hermione was up for it. He loved Liza, and that is a bloody fact. But every time he looks at her, Ron can’t help but picture Hermione and Draco. Their sweaty bodies, covering each other for support, the look in Hermione’s face when she is drowned with such pleasure that Ron couldn’t suffice, and of course Draco. His snide remarks, his well-known smirks, and the fact that he was a bloody arrogant pest! He couldn’t handle thinking of Draco, let alone Hermione sleeping with the man. He couldn’t even bring himself to look a Hermione and being as cliché as it was, Ron didn’t see her the same way anymore. She wasn’t anymore the sweet, smart, quite boastful Hermione he fell in love with. But he still was in love with her. He couldn’t deny that, because even when he couldn’t look at her, Ron wanted to grab her into a deep hug, and just bury himself in her hair while the two of them float to an unreal place their hearts created together, and share the most passionate kiss neither one has experienced.
The two of them faces opposite sides on the bed. Hermione’s side was facing the window, and she watched the stars twinkle in the sky. It calmed her down, as her thoughts of Draco slowly faded. Ron on the other hand stared at his bedside table. There was a picture of him and Hermione there, and the look on her face was priceless. She looked absolutely happy, and the two of them were riding the swan boats in a lake by there village. Hermione’s face circled around and around his mind, until he drowsed off to sleep. Hermione stared at the three kings glistening with all their might with the rest of the stars in the sky. She felt hypnotized in them, and that led her to doze-off, a few minutes after Ron.
The sun’s bright rays woke Hermione up. She grunted as she lifted herself up to check the clock which was on Ron’s bedside table.
“7:30?!?!” She practically yelped.
Ron woke up, and was about to get a hold of his wand, but when he turned, Hermione was in the bathroom, washing up.
“H-H-Hermione?” Ron asked with a drowsy tone.
“I can’t talk now Ronald! My job is at 8:00 in the Daily Prophet! I have to make a good impression there, and now I’m practically going to be late!”
“Hold on.. You got a job in the Daily Prophet?”
Hermione was already pulling up a pair of slacks to her waist and was jumping up and down. These were her favorite slacks; (even if she hasn’t worn them in ages) they HAD to fit. Ron couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. When he looked at Hermione, he remembered the old one. Hermione the perfectionist, the girl who didn’t want to fail at anything, and although the process of her getting to that goal would be pretty funny, she gets the job done anyway. Ron gave a big sigh and said,
“I want us to be together.”
The pants were around her thighs and Hermione just stopped. Her hair was still a bit messy, her polo shirt had one button, buttoned in the wrong hole, and the look on her face was absolutely priceless. She stared at Ron for a minute, but then jerked her head and said,
“What?”
“You heard me. I want us to be together.”
This time, Ron was already standing up. He was wearing his blue striped boxers, and a white shirt. His hair was all frumpy, but he came up to Hermione with the most genuine smile.
“Wh-Wh- Now? Ron, I have a job to go to. We’ll talk about this when I get back.”
Hermione was back, jumping up and down. She had her slacks on. YES! Now, the hair. She ran up her mirror, and started combing up a messy bun.
“Okay. What time?”
“3:30”
“Oh bullocks! I have an aurors convention with my dad.”
“Uhh.. How ‘bout around 11:30? I get my lunch break by then.”
“Sounds great. And you look good by the way.”
“Really?”
Hermione stood tall, straightened out her blue polo shirt, wiggled her feet inside her high-heeled boots, and tucked a stray hair behind her ear.
“Really. Now… Herm? Its 7:45”
“Oh Sh—”
Hermione didn’t even finish that last drop. She already zapped herself to Hogsmede. The Daily Prophet didn’t allow the teleportation that most witched do, in their office. It had something to do with moral fiber. She made her way down the street and saw the Daily Prophet just a few blocks away. By the time she got to the building, it was 7:55. She stepped inside, and headed to where Johnny was working, so she could get to her cubicle.
“Hey Johnny!”
“Ms. Hermione! You look awesome!”
“Really? You think so?”
“Bloody yes! But you should’ve—”
“You’re late!”
Hermione turned to see Ms. Brenda walking between the two of them carrying a small pile of editorials and articles that needed fixing.
“Uh, actually Ms. Brenda, it just turned 8 o’clock.”
“That’s late.”
“WHY?”
“How else to reporters get the juice? Do they come to the scene right on the given time? NO! They come extra early; even sleep overnight if needed because if you want to work, and survive in the Daily Prophet Ms. Granger, you have got to step up your game. A LOT.”
“Well, I’m sorry Ms. Brenda. It’s just that me and my husband have a few is—”
“I will hear nothing of this nonsense. Your family problems, personal problems at that, should be left at home, buried under a pile of blanket, never to be taken out until your required task at the Prophet is done. Understood?”
Hermione gave a nervous nod and looked at Johnny who gave her a ‘don’t-worry-she-did-this-to-everyone’ gaze.
Ms. Brenda took off, leaving Hermione with a pile of articles. She couldn’t take on an assignment yet, so she has to deal with newspaper editorials and other little things before she can make it big. She was led to her cubicle, and she started working. She closed the whole ‘Ron-thing’ and concentrated on her work. She had to do as much as she can, and have enough time to meet Ron for lunch to finish the conversation that was hanging at the edge of their lips. She first read an article about a woman who has powers that go on and off once in a while. She fixed the typos, highlighted necessary lines and quotes, crushed out the unimportant, and added her own lines to it. She moved on to the next about a new broom, then to an article about candy flavoring, until she finished around 9 articles when the authors were told that their lunch break has just started. Hermione walked to the ladies’ room, and freshened up. Her hair was a bit messy, and her shirt was wrinkled at the tips.
She left the Daily Prophet and saw Ron waiting at a little café. She walked up to him and he gave a smile.
“Hey there.”
“Hi Ron.”
“How was work?”
“It was exhausting, but I’m loving it. Where’s Liza?”
“Off to school. I had Harry bring her there.”
“Oh.”
Ron signaled Hermione to take the seat across him, and Hermione did so.
“So, you said we have to be together.” Hermione began not wanting to lose any important hours.
“Yes.”
“Why? Why did you want that all of a sudden?”
“I just saw you this morning getting all hyped up about this job, and I remembered the Hermione I knew. The obsessive Hermione who needed to succeed in just about everything she did. I thought she was gone. But I saw her today, and that’s the girl I fell in love with. She’s still here! I just chose not to see it I guess.”
“Ron—”
“Hermione, hear me out. What happened with you and Draco was mistake for sure. But I want to work on that. I don’t want to be the husband who dumps his wife for a simple mistake. It was a long time ago and I just need to accept that.”
Hermione was shocked that Ron acted so maturely about the matter. Ron. The naïve, soar loser that she loved was acting like a civilized person. She liked it.
“I am sorry about that Ron… and just for the record, I really don’t love Draco.”
“Right. The night with you and Draco was all just mere attraction, and sexual tension.”
“Yeah…” Hermione laughed nervously. Putting Draco and sex in the same sentence still made her cringe.
Ron held out his hand and held Hermione’s.
“The snobby, brown-nose Hermione is still there. And if she’s still there, I’m still here.”
Hermione always found Ron to be a romantic. He just said all the right things, and if it was possible, Hermione loved him even more. Everything with Draco just flew out the window, and again Ron’s hand gave her tingles.
“Are we going to work this out?” Ron asked with pleading eyes.
Hermione gave the most genuine smile she could give, and squeezed his hand.
”Hell yeah we are.” She responded, trying to mimic the American accent.
The two of them laughed and enjoyed their lunch together. They were like old friends again! They reminisced on the stupid moments they had as children, and Ron told her how he dealt with the empty gas tank in the car. They were laughing hysterically, and almost lost track of time. Hermione finally stood up and gave Ron a light peck before leaving. They were friends again, but both knew that it would still take sometime for the two of them to get intimate. To Ron, Draco has stained Hermione’s lips, and he is still disgusted by that.
Hermione got back to work. She didn’t do very well because she was too busy thinking of Ron. He was back! THEY were back! They could work on their relationship, and Liza won’t have to live a life with her mum and dad being separated. She read only 3 articles when she started doodling on a pad paper. It was the stick drawings she used to draw of her, Harry and Ron, playing a nice game of catch.
“How is Ms. Hermione doing?” Johnny’s happy voiced perked-up behind her.
Hermione turned around with such a gleeful smile to reply.
“Ms. Hermione is doing— DRACO!?!”
[a/n: another ending with 'DRACO?!' ahaha! well.. this is a long one. haha! hope you guys like this. R&R pls!]
“What the bloody hell are you doing here?”
Hermione didn’t notice until after that question, that her voice was really loud, and she was screaming at the top of her lungs. Draco turned a nice shade of pink and gave out a little snicker. Draco sounded a lot like Johnny now that she noticed.
“You told me I could visit!” he said with a laugh.
“B-B-B-But I. No no no no… Wh-Wh-What I meant to say was, uh. Wait. What did you say again?”
Hermione was so overwhelmed with his presence that she didn’t know what to think anymore. To her, seeing Draco so unexpectedly felt like she was cheating on Ron. She stared at Draco for a while, to take everything in. He was wearing a plain polo shirt, and really good pants. He looked absolutely gorgeous, but Hermione couldn’t think about that at the moment.
“Can I take you out for coffee?” Draco finally asked.
“I-I-I can’t. I’m w-w-working.” Hermione stuttered, not keeping her eyes off the floor.
“Oh right. Dedicated author I see.”
“Yeah.” Was all she could say.
“Hey Brenda!” Draco finally shouted.
“You know Ms. Brenda?” she asked in shock.
“Yeah. I’m one of her trustworthy writers.”
“YOU WORK HERE?” she whispered, in a not so ‘whispery’ way.
“Yes he does Ms. Granger.” Brenda said when she got into the area. “He’s a voluntary worker. He just wants to submit stories, and news he feels would interest the people, and they do.”
Draco beamed with pride, and Hermione mentally had her jaw down to the floor.
“Hey Brenda, I was wondering if I could take Hermione out for a cup of coffee for a while. We’re old friends, and we need some catching up to do.”
He smiled, that innocent smile of him, and that brought Brenda to just smile, and signal him a ‘yes’
“You can do that?” Hermione asked Brenda.
“I don’t pay him. He brings good business and good money to the paper.”
“But if I’m not working, the Daily Prophet is loosing money.”
“That’s when the money I make, comes in.” Draco told her.
It was a like a substitution, and Hermione found it very cool. Draco walked to the jacket closet, and got a tweed jacket for her.
“That isn’t mine.”
“It’s Brenda’s. You can have it for now.”
Draco brought the coat over to Hermione’s shoulder, and she felt tingly. The two of them walked out of the building, and into a different café. Draco sat them both down, and ordered the house special coffees. Hermione felt awkward at first, but Draco just had that reassuring smile that nothing would happen.
“So… Why were you so shocked to see me? You should’ve seen your face.”
“HAHA very funny. I just had my reconciliation with Ron and—wait. Why am I telling you this?”
Hermione was stunned that she opened herself that easily in less than 10 minutes. There really just was something in Draco’s eyes, that she could help but fall weak for.
“Because I am your friend. At least I want to be. Not a Harry or Ron friend, but… a Draco friend. You know, someone enviously good-looking, but an awesome person to get along with. It may sound gay, but I want you to really talk to me. I mean, TALK about every single thing that goes on. I want to do that with you as well. I just feel that we are two people with barely anything in common, so nothing would be attached with anything we say.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, if you have a fight with Harry, telling Ginny or Ron would not be as helpful, because they know him so well, and might side on him with some things. Right?”
“Well, yeah. I guess so.”
“That’s why a Draco friend would be great right? Like now, I got up this morning with an extremely painful headache.”
“Hang-over?”
“Yes actually! I had a party last night with a bunch of bloody hell boring people. Wine tasting, that took 30 minutes for a sip!”
“30 minutes? Are you kidding me?”
“I know! It was insanely killing. After an hour, I got 2 bottles of red wine, and drank them all in the storage room.”
Hermione was laughing a lot.
“See? Stuff like that Hermione… It’s nice right? No string attached, you don't need to know the people, and I seem like the good, alcoholic guy.”
Hermione had to admit that it really was nice. It was a mature conversation, but it made her feel like a teenager again. Hermione decided to open herself up a bit. She told him about how sweet Ron was for wanting them to stick together. She was talking so much about him, and maybe, just maybe, she’s in love with him again.
“Hey. Its 3:00!” Draco reminded her, while he was looking at his watch.
“Woah! We sure can chatter.”
“Correction. YOU sure can chatter. I was just listening to you the whole time.”
“HAHA. Wonder what Ms. Brenda’s going to say.”
“She wouldn’t mind…”
“It’s not like my job means much.”
“What do you mean?”
“I just check articles. ANYONE can check articles. I want to do hard-hitting stories.”
Hermione was satisfied with her job, but she felt like she wanted to do more. She thought journalists witnessed all the thrill and excitement. They got to go on trips to observe their topic and after the end of it all, they don’t just leave it as a memory, and they get to write it. Express it with all their hearts and hopefully, if they filled it in with that much passion, the readers would feel that same thrill. That was how Hermione pictured it. The beauty of being praised for how she felt about something. Being appreciated for a talent that merely was writing about how she felt.
“So you want to do hard-hitting stories?”
“Didn’t I just say that?”
“Well, work at it. We better go.”
The new friends got out of the café and headed for the Daily Prophet.
“Well, you have 30 minutes to work Granger!” Ms. Brenda hollered when the two reached the main door.
“Well, I better go now.” Hermione said depressingly.
“You still want the hard-hitting stories?” he asked her the third time.
“Yes! Stop rubbing that in.”
Draco gave a little shrug, then bellowed at Ms. Brenda,
“Hey Brenda! Hermione doesn’t like the job she’s in!”
“What the bloody hell are you doing?!” she shushed.
“Why?” Ms. Brenda shouted back.
Hermione was mortified. She took a seat at the nearest chair she could find. She buried her face in her hands, and could feel herself turn red.
“I’m gonna get fired. I’m gonna get fired. I’m gonna get fired.” She thought repetitively.
“She thinks she deserves a better role in the business. She wants hard-hitting stories, climb on a flag pole to get the best detail of something, stalking at its best, etcetera.”
“Draco! Stop it! This is my boss! She’s your friend, but don’t boss her around! I can get fired, but you can’t, you stupid freelance author twat!”
Draco was holding in his laughter, but wasn’t doing a good job at it since Hermione’s face looked distraught and smoke was practically fuming out of her ears. Ms. Brenda walked up to Hermione and Hermione walked closer to Draco, preparing a fist to sock him with if she got fired.
“Is this true Ms. Granger?”
“Well, yes Ms. Brenda. But I don’t need it right now, I understand that it takes time to ge—”
“Write about the Auror’s Convention and give me your paper in 2 days.”
“Wh-Wh-What?”
“You want to write? Write about that. You’re a journalist now Hermione. Here’s your VIP pass to the convention”
Ms. Brenda walked away and Hermione felt a sea of happiness flow through her whole body. She smiled a big smile and looked at Draco who was beaming with pride.
“See? I do good things too ya know.” Draco whispered to her.
Hermione couldn’t hold it in anymore. She jumped on Draco and buried herself in a hug. She was ecstatic that she could finally get somewhere in the business! If it wasn’t for Draco, she’d still be checking the articles of other journalists. She held him tight and he supported her back since her legs were wrapped around his waist.
“I am a journalist! I’m a journalist! I’m a journalist!” She screamed at the top of her lungs!
Draco laughed at her for a while, and then decided to put her down.
“Well, you better start going home. The Auror’s Convention is tonight and you best get ready.” Draco told her.
Hermione straightened out her shirt, and hand-combed her hair. She took a deep breath and said farewell to Draco.
“Uhm. Draco?” she called when she was near the exit door.
“Yeah?”
“Do you wanna write the story with me?”
“You mean, go with you to the Auror’s Convention?”
“Yep. I would need the company, and your help since I never tried this out yet.”
“Sure. I’ll come over to your place, 2 days later at around 6:00?”
“No. You can’t right now. Ron wouldn’t handle that situation all too eagerly.”
“Oh. Well, all right. Just meet me at the park near your house, and we can apparate together.”
“Okay. That sounds good.”
“Okay then. See you two days from now at 6:00!”
“You too.”
Hermione was looking at Draco the whole time and didn’t even feel like it was a date. She saw a friend. She walked away, but then turned back. For a split second, she saw Draco’s blonde hair brush over his face, and a smirk that still made every girl want to look at it again. Maybe this was a date. But reality snapped back at her, and she made her way through the exit. Pfft. Maybe not.
[a/n: well? its not my greatest, it was light and simple. I didn't want to torcher all of you with this, so i didn't end it with a cliffhanger. Be thankful, i get a feeling the next chapter will be. Hermione has got to keep her head straight now you think? Well, r&&r people, and i will love you forever. NOTE: I AM CURRENTLY FILLED WITH A LOT OF CRAP FROM SCHOOL, PLUS IM GRADUATING, SO I CANT FNISH THE STORY JUST YET. BUT FEAR NOT, SUMMER IS COMING, AND THE STORY WILL BE FINISHED. :)]
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