Chapter 3: A Howler, A Picture & A Deal
So....I thought that I'd upload on Christmas, as a Christmas present...but that kinda didn't work out very well. I got lazy *ahem* I mean I was busy. But either way, here it is.
And I put another video up. Once again these videos have nothing to do with the story, and if they do I'll let you know. I hope you guys like it, because its AWESOME!! (I'm talking about the video, not chapter 3. But I hope you like chapter 3 as well)
Enjoy!
**********************************
“Sometimes a deal with the Devil is better than no deal at all”
---Lawrence Hill
Hermione was tired of all the sympathetic look she had received and was still receiving. All day long, people had been treating her as if her parents died or some tragedy similar to that occurred. Patting her on the back, whispering comforting words. One old witch even told her that she was “sorry for her great loss”. Not to mention all the mail that had been pouring in to “comfort” her on “great” loss.
After five hours of this utter nonsense, including quite a few howlers from people who were convinced that she had broken Ron’s heart, she couldn’t take it anymore. She told her co-workers, Blaise Zabini and Luna Lovegood, that she was leaving early and dissapparated to her apartment on South Hampton.
“Alohamora,” she said pointing her wand at the lock, too worn out to dig her keys out of her purse or worry about what her muggle neighbors might think if they saw her doing magic. As she walked in, a voice startled her.
“No wonder the Weasel left you, Granger. You look like a baglady,” a voice drawled from a nearby sofa.
She looked around until her eyes landed upon the owner of the voice. She took an involuntary step back from the shock of seeing who she thought was the last person on the planet to ever enter her apartment, sitting in a sofa like he did it every day.
“Dr- Malfoy? W-What are you do-doing here?” Hermione stammered out after finding her voice. “And can you not greet people without insulting them?” she asked as the confusion in her voice was replaced with irritation.
“As for the first question, I’m here because of the little article in The Daily Prophet that you must have seen. And as for the second question,” he continued with a smirk, “No, I cant. At least not to you.”
“Even after four years, you haven’t changed a bit, have you Malfoy?” asked Hermione. “Still an arrogant, conceited, pompous prick with a bloated ego.”
“Well, you haven’t changed either, have you Granger?” retorted Draco, effectively mocking her tone. “Still an irritating, insufferable, know it all with bushy hair.”
“So, out with it. Why are you here, Malfoy? And make it fast because I don’t have the time or patience for this.”
Taking a deep breath, Draco started. “Its general knowledge that your ex-fiancé and my ex-girlfriend cheated on us. And I despise cheaters.”
“And I, honestly, don’t really give a hoot about your opinions of cheaters or on the subject of cheating,” Hermione replied irritatedly, as she felt the beginnings of migraine. “So, unless you have something important to say, I suggest you leave.”
Draco replied in a voice that hinted the anger that he was holding back. “As I mentioned earlier, before you so rudely interrupted, I loathe cheaters. Therefore, I’m not happy with my ex-girlfriend shacking up with the Weasel and I’m assuming, correct me if I’m wrong, that you aren’t exactly pleased with your ex-fiancé for breaking off you engagement weeks before your wedding and then snogging someone else that same night.”
“3 weeks,” muttered Hermione.
“Exactly,” Draco said without pausing. “So I’m here to offer you a deal to bet back at them for doing what they did.”
Hermione looked at him questioningly.
“It’s clear why both did what they did,” explained Draco, as if to a five year old. “The Weasel cheated on you because Astoria was the shiniest toy on the block and was paying him some attention. Astoria, on the other hand, did it for publicity.”
Hermione, once again, gave him a questioning look.
“Honestly, Granger, did you lose your brains on your way back from Hogwarts? You follow Witch’s Weekly, right? So Astoria is aiming to be on the cover for the ‘Witch & Wizard of the Year’ and what better way of getting publicity than this.” Draco finished with a flourish.
“And you know this how?” asked Hermione skeptically, too tired to step into a trick.
“Because I’m currently running the largest business empire in the Wizarding World, which makes me incredibly good at reading people,” he replied impatiently before smirking and adding, “and because I’m brilliant.”
Hermione muttered something that sounded very much like “show off” before asking in a more audible voice, “And exactly how do you plan on doing this?”
“It’s not that complicated, you see,” Draco said, going full on into his business mode. “We give you a makeover, mind you, you really need one, and make you look pretty. We then pretend that we’re a couple. Make the Weasel jealous. We win ‘Witch & Wizard of the Year’, which will infuriate Astoria. Then we mutually break up. That way we both get our goals; I make Astoria regret what she did and you get the Weasel back, whether you want to keep him or not is your choice. No strings attached.” Draco paused for a second. “So, what do you say?”
After five minutes of Draco impatiently tapping his foot impatiently, Hermione spoke. “Doesn’t this seem a bit childish so you? We are supposed to act like mature, grown—”
Her speech was interrupted as an owl came flying in through an open window.
“Oh, Great! I told them not to give out my home address,” muttered Hermione, much to Draco’s amusement as she took the parchment off the owl’s leg. As she opened it a look of shock, disgust, and pure hatred filled her face.
“Rita Skeeter is writing a three page long article on the four of us. It will be published tomorrow. She sent an excerpt of it to the four of us,” Hermione announced to Draco, fuming as she did. “The nerve of this woman! Even after fourth year! Oh! Just let her see what Hermione Granger is capable of doing. By the time I’m through with her, she’ll wish she never messed with Hermione Granger! And this time I won’t even hesitate before telling the world about her little secret.”
Draco watched in silent amusement as Hermione conjured up a Howler and spoke into it. “You foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach! Is this really what makes you happy? Because I find that quite sad, relying on the failures and unhappiness of others for you sick amusement, when you can just look in the mirror every day and see the world’s biggest failure!” After she had emptied all her pent up anger into it and sent a flock of her infamous canaries with it, she quickly wrote two letters including the details of Rita Skeeter being an unregistered amimagus and sent them to The Daily Prophet and The Quibbler. After all this was said and done, she plopped down on the sofa with a shocked look on her face.
“I can’t believe that I just did that. That was so irrational!”
“And you were saying that I was childish!” smirked Draco.
“Yes. My answer is yes. I can’t believe that I’m agreeing to this, but I’ll do it,” Hermione declared, not even listening to what Draco said.
“Well then, that was easier than I thought it would be. You have an appointment with Vivienne tomorrow morning at ten. I’ll come around nine to pick you up. Don’t be late, Granger,” he said as he stood up to leave.
“Whoa! How did you know that I was going to say yes?” Hermione asked suspiciously.
“Because, no one can resist my charm,” Draco replied cockily.
“Please excuse me, while I go and vomit,” replied Hermione with sarcasm dripping in her voice.
“And Granger, we both know that you missed me and my sexiness. You don’t have to be in denial.” And with the famous Malfoy smirk on his face, he turned on the spot and disapparated, leaving Hermione sitting alone in her living room with a small smile on her face.
***************************************
Once again I hope I didn't dissappoint anyone :) And I'll try to upload again either on next tuesday or wednesday.
Vomment!