Cruel Intentions

Hermione

Giving my wand a swish and flick, stacks of books slowly levitated up from the front desk, and began to magically whisk themselves away in their appropriate places throughout the bookshop. I was a bit tired from working the store all by myself. Lillian could not come in today because she was feeling a bit under the weather, so I let her take the day off to get some rest. I offered to take her some chicken soup for lunch, but she declined saying her family would see to her needs.

The last couple of weeks have been marvelous, my marital relationship was at a far better place then it had ever been before. If I could use any word to describe me and Ron right now, it would be 'perfection'.

Looking back at how rocky our relationship was before, I see now how god-awful and unhealthy we had let it get. I should have listened to the advice my mother always gave me as a child, she would drill in me the value of conversation, and communication. I hadn't the vaguest idea as to why we let ourselves drift that far from each other, nevertheless, that was all over, and I would never allow it to happen ever again. Like the saying goes, live and learn.

I was over the moon that I was able to fight off Draco's seduction, and keep my dignity and marriage intact. Who knows what could have happened if I had let my raging libido take presidency over everything, instead of remaining true to myself and to Ron. I had done the right thing by ignoring the chemistry I shared with Draco, and who knows, maybe all that chemistry I thought we had was just all in my head. Looking at Blaise's memories, Draco knew exactly what he was doing with me. That slimy git.

Despite how tired Ron and I were at the end of our work days, we both still communicated, paid attention to one another, and most importantly, we were going to continue to have dates and openly acknowledge the love we had for one another. We also agreed to never go to bed angry, and to never sleep separated again, unless it was work related. Looking up at the clock I noted that it was almost lunchtime, which I was looking forward to, since Ron would be taking me out on a lunch date. I sighed and went to sit down behind the front desk, picked up a book and began to read when the front bell chimed.

Looking up from my book, I noticed a beautiful young woman approach me. She had an endearing smile, bright green eyes, and a flawless complexion. The instant I laid eyes on her, I knew that I had never seen her before.

"Hello. Welcome to Flourish and Blotts, may I help you find anything?"

"Yes, you may absolutely help me, thank you, I'm Gwen by the way." She held out her hand, so I took it and we shook hands. Her clothes and body language spoke volumes about her, and I had no doubt that she was a wealthy Pureblood, but this one was very friendly, which was a bit odd to me, Pureblood woman were usually haughty and un-likeable.

Her natural beauty made me feel a bit frumpy for a few seconds, beautiful woman always managed to knock my self-confidence down just a hair, but I'm pretty sure that was a normal occurrence with woman. "I'm Hermione Weasley, it's nice to meet you, Gwen. I don't remember ever seeing you in her before, but welcome. What kind of books are you looking for?"

"I'm new around these parts. That's why you haven't seen me, but I might be moving here permanently very soon which is why I've been getting better acquainted with Diagon Alley and all of the shops. Anyways, back to the matter at hand, I was wondering if you had any books on star constellations."

"Sure we do. I think you'll find that our star constellation books are very interesting, they contain myths on their origins, and detailed pictures. You'll love them, follow me." I walked around the front desk and down one of the many aisles, and climbed up a ladder to reach the top of the shelf. Once I got to the top, I grabbed my two best selling books on star constellations, and started climbing down when I felt a painful pull from my scalp right before my feet reached the floor.

"Ouch. Darn ladder always pulls my hair. I have to really replace the wood on these things." I rubbed at the back of my head where I felt the pinch.

"Are you okay, Hermione?" Gwen asked with concern in her voice.

"Yes. I'm alright, I just got my hair pulled by this rickety old ladder. It happens from time to time, don't worry about it. Is there anything else you'll be needing?"

Gwen shook her head letting me know that she didn't need anything else.

"Alright then, let me ring up your order." I gave Gwen her grand total, she paid her bill, and I waved goodbye to her one last time as she turned to look at me through the window before she departed.

Ron

"Thank you for taking me out for lunch , Ron. I was completely starved, I'll be sure to make your favorite dinner when you get home tonight." Hermione said before she kissed me playfully on the lips.

"Your welcome, Mione. I better head back to work, I think we took longer then an hour, and I don't want to get into trouble. See you later, babe." I left the shop with an enormous grin looking like a besotted first year. People out on the streets probably thought I was sloshed out of my mind.

Things were basically back to normal between me and my wife. We were happy, and feeling content, the only thing that kept nagging me at the back of my mind is why we hadn't heard from Draco, or felt his wrath. I knew it would be coming soon. I just felt he wasn't going to let it go, but I hoped to Merlin that he would.

I turned out of the shop and continued on my way back before I saw a familiar platinum-blond hue of hair. I not only saw one head with that shade, but two. Who was that blond woman Malfoy was walking with? I was certain that it wasn't his mother, because this woman was more slim, and shorter than Draco's mum. I followed them as discreetly as I could, before the blond woman leaned in and kissed Draco sensually on the mouth, and left him alone to enter a shop all by herself.

That's when I made my move. I surged forward until I was right in front of Malfoy with my shoulders high, and my chest puffed ready to have a go at him. When he spotted me, he openly flinched and looked around frightfully.

"Calm down, Weasley. I'm sorry alright." Draco said, while backing away slightly.

"Who the bloody hell is that woman your with? Is that another witch you're try to bang even though she's married?" I questioned him, making a point to try and make him cower beneath me.

"No. Bloody hell, she's my fiancé alright. Look, Weasley, I was just friends with Hermione, I don't know what you think happened-"

"Cut the shit, Malfoy. I already know all of your sordid secret plans to turn me into a cuckold. Maybe, I should just let your fiancé know what kind of man she's going to marry." I spat while walking toward the shop she was currently in.

"No, wait. Please don't do that. What do you want?" he looked uncomfortable, and rubbed his forehead, "I like her, okay? I don't want her to know that about me?"

I stopped to look at him. He looked sincere, but I knew how good at lying the ferret was.

"I won't tell her anything, if you won't tell anyone about what happened at my flat the other day, Ever."

"Done."

"Don't even look at Hermione again, as a matter of fact, don't even go into her shop again either, and I won't tell anyone about the things you've done. Deal?"

"It's a deal, Weasley." He backed away from me, before he entered the shop his lady friend had gone into. What I failed to notice was Draco giving me the evil eye something awful as I walked away.

A/N: DUN-DUN-DUUUN! Do you think Draco is going to leave well enough alone, or do you think he will cause trouble? *evil laugh*