Her Shoes

Beta diva: t_stevenson.

Hermione at Pansy’s party.

Damn those boots got a workout! Here’s a link to her dress as many asked what it looked like: http://images.saksfifthavenue.com/images/products/04/747/1202/0474712022603/0474712022603R_180x240.jpg

This is the last of a three part chapter dedicated to silverotter1.

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Hermione stumbled from the fireplace into the sanctity of her office. She fell to her knees and cried. Heart-wrenching sobs that felt as if they were torn from her chest as she replayed what had transpired in Draco’s library.

She was a fool. An utter, deluded fool! What had she just done?

He’d used her then effectively kicked her out, like she was some kind of a common slag. Never had she ever felt so used, so dirty. All she could think about doing right now was going home to shower all evidence of Draco Malfoy from her body. Scrub him from both her heart and mind. As her crying eased, she had no idea how long she had sat on the floor of her office. As she took stock of her misery, out of nowhere, she felt a sudden surge of rage well up within her threatening to explode. She could feel her magic coursing and crackling the air around her.

“Fuck this. Fuck you Draco Malfoy.” Righting herself, she got up, rummaged through one of the drawers of her desk – ‘aha, found them,’ she thought as she triumphantly waved an emergency pair of knickers Ginny made her keep in her desk and now she knew why. She marched to the personal loo connected to her office. Her job did have its perks. She looked at her watch and realized that she had fifteen minutes to spare before meeting Adrian Pucey.

“Good I’m not late.” She muttered before looking at her image in the mirror. Her eyes so swollen and red. “Ugh, let’s get you fixed up Hermione, you have a dinner and party to get too.” She said to herself with a very determined look in her eye. Twenty-five minutes, two cleansing spells, three beauty spells, and several swipes of mascara and lip gloss later, Hermione smiled triumphantly at her reflection. 'Perfect, time to have fun,’ she thought before Apparating to the restaurant where Adrian was waiting.

Later that evening, Hermione was laughing at story that a wizard had whispered in her ear. She held a glass of elf wine in her hands and was slowly twirling the glass between her fingers. Pansy’s party was in full swing with bodies of young witches and wizards pressed together and mingling. Drinks were flowing and a live band Pansy had hired for the evening was playing. Pansy had magically expanded her apartment to accommodate her very large guest list.

Ginny and Pansy murmured softly to one another as they smiled and watched Hermione hold court to a bevy of admirers. She was surrounded by Zacharias Smith, Marcus Belby, Kenneth Towler and Adrian Pucey. Hermione looked up and saw Ginny and Pansy looking her way. She winked and waved to her friends, excuseing herself from the handsome men circling her.

“Gentlemen, I’ll be right back. I just need to speak with Pansy and Ginny.”

“We won’t move, gorgeous,” smiled Zacharias.

“Hurry back,” quipped Kenneth.

Marcus winked while Adrian shook his head and laughed. Hermione gave a saucy little grin then turned to make her way towards her friends.

Pansy laughed as Hermione approached them, “Well, you’re certainly having a good time. You might not take Adrian home but I’m positive one of your other many admirers wouldn’t mind if you took one of them home, given they’re all wrapped around your finger and hanging on your every word.”

Hermione rolled her eyes and chuckled. “I’m just having a good time. I had a . . . rough day and this is a good way to unwind. Flirting never killed anyone.”

“Hermione, there’s flirting and then having drooling men following you around like lap dogs,” Ginny joked good-naturedly.

“Well, I am single aren’t I? Why not have fun? When did the two of you decide to become my mother?” Hermione snapped, irritation showing on her lovely face.

A flash of questioning concern passed over Pansy’s eyes, but Hermione ignored it. She was in no mood to delve into anything too deeply tonight. After her ‘incident’ with Draco, she just wanted to unwind, relax and forget. Dinner with Adrian had proven to be fun and light hearted; he’d entertained her with witty stories and complemented her boots. They decided to come to the party together and he was currently enjoying being her ‘date’ serving as a buffer for overly pushy wizards.

“Did you and Draco argue?” Pansy voice laced with concern.

“I don’t want to talk about Malfoy right now. Actually, I don’t want to talk about Malfoy ever! I think I need to resign from this project.” She admitted between sips of her wine.

Ginny and Pansy were flabbergasted. “WHAT?”

Ginny was the first to cut in with an emphatic, “Absolutely not, Hermione Granger. You know what Kingsley said. Do you want to ruin your career? Do you want Malfoy to think you aren’t up to a challenge? No, I’m sorry but you are not resigning.”

Pansy eyed her friend curiously. “Why would you even think something like that Hermione?”

“Look guys, I can’t discuss it right now, okay? Tonight, please do not mention Draco Malfoy to me.” Hermione turned her face away from the intense scrutiny of her friends.

Pansy took Hermione’s hand and squeezed it. She said softly, “How about we come over Sunday for dinner and we can talk about it then? Whatever it is, we’ll help you. Its clear you’re upset so for tonight, just shelve whatever’s going on in that brain of yours and have a good time.”

Touched by Pansy’s heartfelt offer, Hermione could feel tears prickle in her eyes. She quickly blinked them away and nodded as Pansy pulled her in for a tight hug.

“Well, speak of the devil.” Ginny gasped.

Hermione pulled away from Pansy and turned to follow Ginny’s gaze. Oh damn it! Why, oh why couldn’t things go her way for one evening!

Just a few feet away, looking perfect in a casual blue and cream striped button down shirt tucked into stylish black trousers, stood Draco arsehole Malfoy. Hermione eyes narrowed as she watched him throw his head back in laughter then lean down to whisper something into the ear of a tall, leggy, voluptuous, blonde witch hanging on his arm.

“Oh, fuck me.” Hermione groaned softly.

Pansy and Ginny both turned to her with raised eyebrows.

“Something you’d care to share now, Hermione?” Pansy queried in amusement.

Sneering, she asked, “Who’s the bint on his arm?” She took a gulp of her wine.

Ginny muffled her laugh into a cough as Pansy eyed Hermione in speculative silence.

“Well Pansy? Who’s the slag?”

Pansy surprised by the glint in Hermione’s eye answered, “That’s Naida Clearwater, Penelope’s little sister.”

“Oh right. A Muggleborn . Of course. The bastard.” Hermione took a large sip of her wine.

Confused, Ginny turned to the tiny brunette. “Hermione are you sure you don’t want to talk now?”

“No, I’m rejoining Adrian. I’ll see you both on Sunday. I’ll make dinner, Ginny bring wine, Pansy anything chocolate will do.”

Ginny and Pansy grinned. “We’ll help you pick out your outfits for the week as well,” Ginny added.

A throaty laugh escaped her lips. As Hermione turned to walk away, her eyes suddenly clashed with his, warm chocolate locked with electric silver. Hermione’s laughter died in her throat and her smile turned into a sneer. Giving him her most evil glare, she tossed her hair haughtily over her shoulder then spun around walking back to the group of handsome wizards still waiting for her.

“And she’s back.” shouted Zacharias. Hermione smiled as she wove her petite body into the circle of men.

“Zach, it’s not like she was gone that long.” Adrian added with a grin and draping his arm over Hermione.

“Felt like ages to me, mate.” Marcus commented while admiring Hermione.

Kenneth couldn’t just stand by without adding his two knuts. “Hermione, I meant to ask about those boots . . .”

“Towler, Smith, Belby, Pucey.”

Merlin take him to hell! Did he have to come over? Hermione scowled into her drink.

“Malfoy. How are you mate?” Adrian clapped his back heartily. The other wizards muttered hellos, while shaking hands with Malfoy the wanker.

“Hello Granger. No, greeting for me?”

Hermione’s head snapped up. “Fuck off, Malfoy!”

Conversations stilled as the four wizards stifled muffled chuckles. Draco’s eyes darkened. His reply was lost as a high-pitched voice called, “Draaaaayyy! Oh Draaay. Oh, there you are. You left me.”

The blonde, she used the facticius saeta spell, assessed Hermione, because no blonde she’d ever seen looked like that, sidled up to Draco and draped one claw around his waist while the other sank into his arm. ‘Hook, line and sinker,’ she bristled as she sipped her wine silently.

“Naida, my apologies. Gentlemen, Granger, this is Naida Clearwater.”

Naida smiled at the group at large, as the four men grinned and nodded greetings. “Granger? Oh, are you the Hermione Granger?”

“Last time I checked.” Hermione replied reservedly.

“I’m Penelope’s little sister. It’s so nice to meet you. Penny used to talk about you all the time, said you were a great girl.”

Fuck, fuck, fuckity, fuck! The blonde was NICE?!? Hermione was going to have a serious talk with someone in charge of her karma very soon. This evening was becoming borderline ridiculous.

Knowing she could make the girl squirm and wither with a mere word, it just wasn’t in Hermione’s personality to be cruel. “Thank you. It’s lovely to meet you. How is Penelope?” A tight smile played at the corners of her lips.

“Oh she’s doing so well. She’s married now, you know. She’s Mrs. Terry Boot in fact. Just had a little boy not two months ago. They named him Alexander and he’s just darling. Oh, I can’t wait to tell Penny that I saw you, oh she’ll be thrilled. I’m sure she’ll owl you the minute she hears from me.”

With a deep sigh and small, sad smile, Hermione listened to the girl ramble on and on. She stole surreptitious glances at Draco who seemed to be watching her, his eyes inscrutable. She needed to get out of here now before she either broke down or said something incriminating.

She dragged a single finger around her glass and tilted her head to the side and winked at Adrian. Never taking her eyes from him, she handed her glass to Marcus with a deliberate smile on her lips. “Well Naida, it was lovely meeting you and do please give Penelope my best. I would love to see her again. Adrian, darling, would you get my robes? I think its time to go.” She purred the last part of her sentence as she ran her fingers lightly over his chest and leaned seductively into his body.

Adrian grinned mischievously. “Well lads, you heard the lady, its time to go. Duty calls and all that. Draco, good to see you. Naida, lovely meeting you. Shall we Hermione?”

Hermione flashed Adrian her brightest smile then turned to the other three sullen-looking wizards. “Oh boys, don’t pout. I’m sorry but I did come . . .” her eyes flashed at Draco, “. . . with Adrian.” She leaned up and gave each man, save Draco, a small peck on their lips before Adrian guided her towards the door, a smug smirk toying around her glossy lips.

She could feel boiling anger roll off Draco in waves. His eyes fixed on her retreating form. Had his stare been hot pokers, they would have surely pierced her back.

She kept walking, swaying her hips slightly, and not sparing Draco a second glance.


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facticius saeta = artificial hair (Latin)

Well, Hermione certainly seemed to get under a certain silver-eyed devil’s skin.