DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything, I don't even know anyone who owns anything. :(
(I do know a few people who THINK they own everything but that's another story!)
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Prologue: How can happily ever after turn out so boring?
Everyone was entitled to one mistake right? Too bad mine was now sitting across the dinner table from me complaining about life in general and the lack of fun in my personality in particular. Why I ever thought that Ron and I would work as a couple I can't remember. I think we were caught up in the moment. Voldemort was dead, Dumbledore was minister of Magic, the Chudly Cannons had won a quidditch match for once, and oh yeah Harry was married. It had, at the time, seemed like the 'logical' next step. Love was going to conquer all, Love was going to overshadow the fact that I adored work, and was the sort of person who always played by the rules. Love was going to draw us together and completely negate the fact that the only thing that Ron was inclined to do seriously was peruse the sports page in the Daily Prophet.
I looked over the table at him and noticed his face was contorted into one of those cute little confused eybrow scrunches of his, and suddenly I wanted to throw my copy of "Hogwart's an EXTENDED History" at his head!. One of those dratted "Oh look how cute and confused I am, won't someone tell me what I am supposed to think" looks. I loved those looks, and it was those along with other things I can't really remember right now, which lead me here. OK I never thought that I would be happy all the time, after all, do I strike you as the type of person who runs around grinning from ear to ear like some sort of idiot? Of course I had expected a modicum of happiness, maybe a house with a white picket fence and a room filled with books, a bit of time to read those books or maybe just stare at the bindings, a couple little wizards of my own. What I got was Ron...don't get me wrong I love Ron, I love Ron very much, but I have no desire to live with him. He is fantastic as a friend, but as a mate he is hopeless. Maybe he's not even hopeless in the hopeless sense, but just hopeless in the perfect mate for Hermione Granger sense. I don't know but whatever it was, if I didn't get out and soon there was going to be want waving and hexing.
Chapter 1: Mistake Number two (and then some.)
Standing on Draco Malfoy's doorstep, I was muttering to myself about the fact that Hermione Granger doesn't do favors for Draco Malfoy, no matter how prettily they are couched. In fact no one in their right mind does favors for Draco Malfoy...the man is a menace! So why am I here? Good question. After Ron and I talked about how we weren't meant to be together...well let me go back, after the boils had gone down on his face a bit and he could talk again, we decided that maybe it was best if we parted. It doesn't bode well for a really lasting relationship when your partner Hexes you just because you are 'sleeping' too loudly. But in my defense until you have heard him sleeping you really shouldn't judge! Anyway, back to Draco Malfoy, one troublesome, loathsome, snake of a man, and the reason why I, Hermione Granger, was right this very moment entering through the door that a house elf was holding open. Yes that's right walking right into his lair. Hmmm....Didn't look that bad actually The entryway was tidy and welcoming. If I hadn't known what Draco was like, it wouldn't have made the knot in my stomach twist harder. Unfortunately the knot and I had had run-ins with him before. So why I am here you keep asking and I do keep trying to answer. I am here because of some very unfortunate moves on my part. It all started........
"Hermione Granger, Miss..." Interrupted again.
"...follow Morio this way, the master is waiting.. The master isn't liking to be waiting. Hermione Granger wouldn't like to keep the master waiting. Morio will show you the master." A house elf, dressed in what looked like an old bath sheet, was tugging on my robes and attempting not to make eye contact. If only my Elf liberation front had worked when I was in school. I shook my head. I still couldn't understand how a race of people could want to be in the control of another. As it was I knew it was hopeless to allow myself this train of thought. I sighed and followed Morio through the entry way and up three shallow stairs then across a wide hall. Along the walls were portraits of people that could only be Malfoys. Men and women with haughty expressions, turned to look at us as we walked past. It was clear that these ancient Malfoys liked me as little as the one standing ten feet from me. Draco stood in an open doorway his expression so matched the ones in the paintings that I laughed to myself before thinking.
"What's so funny Granger?" Draco sneered the words, as usual. Didn't his mother ever tell him his face could get stuck like that? Oops too late! That thought made me laugh harder despite better judgment.
"Nothing Malfoy." I stressed the name Malfoy in derisive tones, he raised his left eyebrow.
"Uh, Draco.." His eyebrow rose even higher.
"OK fine Mr. Malfoy." This time it was me sneering. I hadn't been here three minutes yet and already the fun had started.
The knot in my stomach was joined by five or six others and they all proceeded to get tighter, when I noticed Draco was motioning me forward to join him.
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A/N I was forced into writing this because Link621 is going away to Uni and I know she will have too much to do to write a lot. I had to find something to amuse myself, so if you hate this feel free to email her...thanks! :) (ok maybe better not, she hits!)