Just Reality

Hermione had spent the better part of the night on edge. Draco’s kiss had rattled her bones and from the looks of it she didn’t think he would just take her word and leave it be. She was in for a fight and she didn’t know if she wanted one.



She grabbed her purse, but she hadn’t taken two steps to the door when Draco walked in her office. “What are you doing here?”



“I’m the potential financier, I’m always welcome here.”



“I’m out to lunch so you will have to make an appointment to see Mr. Boyd.” She walked past him and she was out the door, running smack into her boss. “Mr. Boyd, I’m out to lunch, Mr. Malfoy was going to make an appointment……”



“Actually I came to see the rest of the research like I mentioned last night.” He said. Hermione looked over at him with a hard expression.



“Wonderful, over lunch she can bring you up to date and then show you the rest of the studies.” He said then walked past them.



“Shall we?” He said, gesturing to the exit.



“That was underhanded of you.” She said not moving.



“No it wasn’t, he told me last night that I could come by and see all the research and papers. I am merely taking him up on that. And lunch together was his idea, not mine. I’m merely taking advantage of the offer he made.”



She walked away but he was a step behind her the whole way out of the Ministry. “This way.” He said.



“Where are we going?” She said as he entered an Italian eatery.



“Lunch.” He said to her as he approached the host. “Two please.” They were escorted to a table, but when Draco held out a chair for her she gave him a leer and sat in the other chair. He grinned and sat. “What would you like to drink?”



“Are you paying?” She asked.



“Of course.” He said.



She looked up at the waiter. “I’ll have a glass of your most expensive wine.” Then she looked at the menu missing Draco’s smile.



“Bring the bottle.” He told the waiter. They spent a moment browsing the menu until the waiter came back with the wine.



“I’ll have the lobster and hard shells please.” Draco grinned. Did she really think ordering pricy meals from the menu would deter him?



“I’ll have the beef bourguignon.” He said. The waiter vanished.



“Bourguignon?” She asked.



“Beef cooked in a burgundy wine sauce.” He said. “We still have to talk.”



“We’ve already talked Draco and there is nothing more to say.” She said.



“You haven’t given me a valid reason for leaving and treating me the way you did.”



“If I hurt your feelings Draco, I sor……..”



“You broke my heart,” he said without any humor, “you threw me away without a thought to my feelings and then refused to see me.”



She looked away. “I’m sorry, but it’s pointless to talk about it now.”



“I need to talk about it Hermione, I deserve an answer. An honest one.” He said.



“I’ve already told you. It wouldn’t have worked. I’m sorry if it’s not the one you want but it is the truth.”



“Have you dated since then?” He asked.



“Where did that question come from?” She said looking very confused.



“Just answer it.”



“I few dates but nothing serious.” She said.



“What about sex?” He said glaring at her.



“That is none of your dammed business.” She said fixing him with a hexing glare.



“I haven’t. There hasn’t been one woman I have had to desire to have sex with. I think it may have something to do with the fact that the one woman I got close with cut me off and never looked back.”



She looked away again. “You can’t blame me for your issues.” She said without looking at him.



“No, but I can try to obtain closure. If I was affected, you were affected.” He said.



“How do you know I was?” She asked looking back at him.



“Because last night when I asked if I was a just an amusement you got angry and said you didn’t use me. Were you lying?”



“No I wasn’t.” she told him.



“Then there was something else.” He said.



“If there was Draco, then it’s my business and not yours.” She said.



“If it has something to do with me then it becomes my business. You owe me an explanation Hermione. Whether you like it or not, you own me.”

Hermione’s heart stopped. She looked at him and felt the world around her stop. He was waiting for her to say something but she wouldn’t. She didn’t want to say or do anything.



Their meal arrived and Hermione looked down at her plate as she ate. “Would you like anything else?” He asked. She shook her head, keeping her eyes on her plate.



A few moments later he spoke again. “How is it?” He asked. She said nothing. “Are you going to say anything?” She stayed silent and kept her eyes on her plate.



He refilled her wine but she drank only from her water goblet. “What’s on your mind?” He asked. She said nothing and kept her eyes on her plate. She had eaten only a few bites, having lost her appetite.



“How long are you going to stay silent like this?” He asked. She said nothing and kept her eyes on her plate. “Don’t you think this is childish?”



She said nothing and let the waiter take her plate. “Can you pack that for her to take home?” He asked the waiter.



“Hermione, say something.” She said nothing and kept her eyes on the table. “There’s no need to be silent you know. Talk to me.” She said nothing and kept her eyes on the table.



The waiter arrived a moment later and Draco settled the bill while he handed Hermione a box of her leftovers. She rose and took her purse leaving with Draco following her. “You must be upset about something.” He watched as she walked with average steps back to the Ministry, stopping only to throw the box of leftovers in a rubbish receptacle on the street.



“Hermione, stop acting this way.” He said as he followed her back to her office. She immediately took up a parchment and a quill and began writing.



“How was lunch?” Mr. Boyd said walking in.



“Apparently it went fine although we didn’t get a lot discussed.” He said gesturing to Hermione.



“Miss Granger is everything alright?” He asked, but Hermione kept writing. “I don’t understand.” He said.



“I don’t either.” Draco told him.



Hermione took out her wand and a box from her desk, she enlarged it in moment and with a flick of her wand her personal effects filled it.



“Miss Granger what are you doing?” Mr. Boyd asked. She shrank the box and handed her boss the parchment then walked out the door.



“Resignation?!” She heard shouted from the office. Footsteps raced behind her and Draco moved in front of her blocking her path. “What does that mean Hermione, you are quitting?”



She said nothing. She just stared at him. “Miss Granger, why not come to my office and discuss this?”



She said nothing, she just kept glaring at Draco. “Go and talk with him Hermione, you don’t want to quit.”



“Miss Granger, if you wish to leave I will not stop you but at least come to my office and explain why. that’s all I ask.”



She looked over at her boss. He had always been kind to her, and the least she cold do was explain why she was leaving. She nodded and followed him to his office.



He closed the door and faced her. “What does this mean?” Hermione however was just looking at Draco. She didn’t look away she just glared at him. “Mr. Malfoy can you give us a few moments please?”



Draco nodded and left the office. “Alright Miss Granger, go ahead.”



“Draco and I have a history, during out last year of Hogwarts we were involved.” She said calmly.



“I see.” Mr. Boyd said.



“He objected to the way I ended things, and now is demanding I explain why. I don’t wish to dwell on it, I think his involvement as the potential sponsor for the lab presents a conflict of interest and I would rather quit then be put in a place of obligation to him.”



“Miss Granger I would never allow that to happen.” He told her. “We can always find another financer.” He said.



“I understand that, but I would never want you to be put in the position to be conflicted with Mr. Malfoy. During lunch he tried no stop to get me to talk about the past. I don’t want to be subjected to it any further.”



“Miss Granger, I would rather not lose you, if you will let me settle this matter, I will tear up this resignation.”



“I don’t want to be around him Andrew.” She said with a sadness she rarely exhibited. Using his first name was something she rarely did also.



“I understand Hermione.” He said returning the gesture. “Take a few days vacation then. Come back on Monday and the problem won’t be here. Give me the chance to fix it. If I can’t fix in a way to make you comfortable, then I will give you a letter of recommendation.”



“Thank you Andrew.” She said. “I am sorry about this.”



“Don’t be sorry. You comfort here is more important then the funds for the lab.” He told her. “Whatever happens this afternoon, take the time off, and relax. You deserve it. I will send a letter through your floo.”



He called Draco in and she exited the office. When he shut his door she left. She had no idea what he would tell Draco but she wanted to be away when it happened.



When she got home she placed wards on her house, making it unpalatable to owls. The only mail that would be delivered was a letter that had her address on it. Only a few people had that.



Mr. Boyd was one of those people, but he had already said he would communicate through the floo. He would get word to her in any case. The lab was a luxury project. The Ministry didn’t need it. It was just a project that would increase productivity. That’s why they had to have outside funding. The ministry didn’t consider it a necessity.



Hermione changed into jeans and a jumper and sat in her armchair with a cup of tea. The money she had earned and the profits from several smart investments made it possible to take a few years off if she wanted, but she hated being idle.



However if it meant she would have some privacy from Draco, she would take the time off if need be. She had her reasons for avoiding Draco. He was somewhat correct in his assumption. She didn’t want to analyze feelings that she had. She had put them behind her and she had moved on.



She wasn’t about to let herself get talking into dealing with a past she had already dealt with. It was too late for that. She settled into a book and before bedtime a letter came through the floo.



It was from Mr. Boyd. Draco had agreed to fund the lab, and he also agreed to stay away from the Ministry. Hermione however knew Slytherin tactics when she saw it. Draco may have offered to stay away from the Ministry but he hadn’t offered to stay away from her.



She wrote back saying she would think about it, in the meantime she would take his offer of vacation time and would return to work on Monday, giving her a four day weekend to think.



Enclosed was a package that her assistant said arrived for her. When she opened it her heart jumped in her throat. It was her notebook!