A/N: sorry I didn't update for a while...was trying to update my other stories as I've been ignoring them. I hate promoting my other stories but "Fading" hasn't been getting much feedback and I would be ever so grateful if anyone who likes D/G read it and review!
Anasazi: I've never actually seen Sex and the City! Weird, huh? My sister absolutely loves it though...
Chica and noodleashy143: check out the disclaimer in the third chapter-ur absolutely write about what the beginning of this story is based on!
Thanks to Lara Dennis, Nadja, XxBandGeekxX, SilverFoot (just wait for it! lol), ChocolateFrogsForBreakfast, Angie, MisCard, pryo23, Austenlover, Larissa, Hermiones Phoenix, glitterfairyxoxoxo, angelxdust, Gwendalynn Shaw, kween of green, pottergranny, Firey Hot, harrynmione, tkra, akjennymay9 (I completely agree about the reality!), kitty254781, hpdancer92, Gabbychan!, MANGO, Water Lily, One Regert, omrianh, and anonymous reviewers for all your supporting comments! Never did I think that this story would be nearly as popular as it is-thanks!!
A few of my friends who aren't on portkey have mentioned that they think I have excess scenes where it's just dialogue. I guess they find it that I write too many filler scenes...does anyone agree? Or does anyone like it? Please say so in your review!
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Girl Boy
Chapter Four: Contemplation
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(Hermione)
"...What?!"
"C'mon, Hermione, it's a proven fact!"
"You are bloody insane."
"It salvaged what Dan and I had...I think it's the only reason he's with me now!"
"So you're telling me, Liss, that the only reason Josh is with you is because you shag him at work?"
"You don't have to make it sound so dirty, 'Mione."
"Augh." I shook my head, continuing to wash the dishes. "You're as bad as Penelope."
"I don't shag my boss for a raise," Melissa replied, leaning on the counter. "Really...I mean, for real, 'Mione, what do you and Justin do to excite your life?"
"That's why I want out!" I exclaimed, setting April's favorite dish harshly in the sink. "There's nothing left!"
"You've been with Justin for two bloody years!" she said back, smirking slightly. "Of course it's going to get a little dull. Haven't you ever wondered why so few people get married? They don't want their lives to get so dry and wrinkled that it resembles a cactus. Life's about exploring, isn't it?"
"You've been reading too much Cosmo," I retorted, snorting.
"But seriously," she said, tucking a strand of brown hair behind her ear. "You need to do something to put that spark back in your relationship...something like shagging at work. It's exciting! Rare!"
"I am not shagging at work," I said, shaking the dishtowel in Melissa's face. "You know how absolutely wrong that is? Besides, I'm about to get promoted! Imagine McGonagall's face, no, even worse, her opinion of me if she finds me in my office screwing a fellow employee!"
"Your boyfriend of two years," April corrected. "Just...think about it, hm? I thought Dan was boring, dull...I was about to dump him, remember? But after an exciting rump I found out that there was still some juice in our relationship."
"You girls are disgusting," I said, narrowing my eyes. "No wonder men think that we're sluts!"
"That's a little harsh," Melissa said, frowning.
"Point closed. I will not rump in my office!"
"If you had one, you know you would be so tempted," she replied, grinning. "And now that you're getting promoted and you're getting an office..."
"Enough!"
"Well, that's okay...I mentioned it to Justin, so if he0 `. brings it up don't think that-"
"What?!"
"I met him at the grocery store...he actually asked me if there was anything wrong with you! Said that you weren't returning his calls and such...well, I mentioned that maybe he might want to brighten up your sex life. So of course the dim witted creature asked how do to do it! Even asked if aroma therapy would do anything...as if candles could get you horny...so I told him an escapade in the office might do something."
"Oh my bloody God!"
My life was ruined.
"Goodness, Hermione, there's a reason a girl like you is so bloody uptight."
Oh my bloody God.
"I thought you didn't like Justin!" I exclaimed, wiping the counter with a rag.
"You're right," she said, frowning as her eyes glanced out the window. "I don't. But I hate seeing you like this, you know. All..."
"Like I usually am?"
"Precisely!"
"Melissa..."
"It's not healthy. Being all uptight and such. You've already got wrinkles!"
"I do not!"
"Do too! Okay, forget the wrinkles. You barely laugh anymore! Smiling's a rarity. You never pig out the way you used to-"
"Don't women usually pig out when they're depressed?" I mentioned, but she ignored me.
"Any form of coziness or happiness has evaporated from your flat, with the exception of April's bedroom. I remember in our college days when you used to be all...all..."
"Not like this?" I said sarcastically, but she frantically nodded and smiled.
"You're finally catching on!"
"Look, having sex with Justin isn't going to do anything."
"Then break up with him already! The only reason I'm pushing you to do something is because I know that you won't dump him until he gives you an extremity!"
"An extremity?"
"You know, like he cheats on you or whatnot. But I know you're just waiting for him to break up with you, because you know that he's too goody-ass to do anything."
"Melissa..."
This was starting to give me a headache.
"What about that Harry fellow? Now that's a nice piece of ass. I bet he can find your G-spot-"
"Melissa!"
"Well fine, just completely ignore any forms of wisdom that I mercifully give you."
"Already did."
"Fine." Melissa gave me a smile and grabbed her purse from off the kitchen table, sliding it on her shoulder and fingering with the clasp. "But just think about it, hm? Imagine being free and being able to chase after a man like Harry Potter...and then imagine being stuck with Justin."
I sighed.
"Could you stand being called Hermione Fitch-Fletchey? Or Hermione Fitch-Fletchey-Granger?"
"Melissa..."
"Then imagine Hermione Potter."
"I'm fine with Hermione Granger, thanks."
Melissa shrugged, giving me another smile and walking to the direction of our door.
"Tell April I said hi," she shouted from the hallway.
My life must be extremely messed up if Melissa Leving starts to make sense.
But all the same...Hermione Fitch-Fletchey?
Augh.
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(Ginny)
"I can't...um..." I stuttered uncomfortably as we waited for the waiter to deliver our food. Malfoy raised one delicate eyebrow at me, waiting for me to finish. "I just...I can't really...um...pay..."
"Pay for what?" he asked, taking a sip from his champagne glass.
"Well...for my food...you ordered four times what I can eat..."
"Why would you pay for your food?" he questioned, a smirk forming on his lips.
"W-well...I..." Damn. I hate being poor.
"Come on, Weasley," he said, unfolding his napkin and placing it delicately onto his lap. "You didn't honestly think that I would ask you to lunch and then make you pay for your own food?"
"Well this isn't a date, and I don't take advantage of-"
"You aren't taking advantage," he said gently, taking another sip.
"But I-"
"And it is a date," he said, smirking at me.
"Voici vos salades," the waiter said, breaking the mood as he laid down our salads before us.
"Merci," Malfoy said, grabbing his salad fork and taking a small bite. "Not bad," he muttered. "Donnez mes compliments au cuisinier," he said to the waiter.
"Merci, monsieur," the waiter said, taking a slight bow before walking away.
"You speak French?" I asked, smiling in awe.
"Yes," he said inbetween bites. "I was actually brought up here."
"But I thought-"
"My mother was an English woman who loved my father...but he was a Deatheater. I assume you know what those are?" he asked, smirking at me. Satisfied at the look on my face he continued. "She had been forced into marriage by her parents who wanted riches and power...but she ran away to France once she had me, determined to bring up her son without the influence of dark arts."
"Lucius Malfoy," I muttered, suddenly noticing the resemblance between the two. How could I have been so bloody blind?
"Yes," Malfoy muttered, staring at his salad. "He tried to come and claim me when I was eleven...but my mother refused. He tried to kill her..."
"That's awful," I whispered.
"But she managed to grab me and apparate to Beaxbatons. She was friends with the headmistress there...and managed to secure a home at the castle, a small room, and I attended Beaxbatons for seven years," Malfoy finished, taking another bite of salad.
"I'm sorry," I muttered, looking down at my own salad.
"Don't be," he said, grabbing the dressing and sprinkling it over his dish. "The only reason I told you is because I figure you'd understand." Glancing at my face he added, "You know, being friends with Pothead and all."
"Why do you do that?" I asked, pushing my salad aside.
"You should really eat that," Malfoy said, pointing his fork at my salad. "I'm paying good money for it."
"Why do you always call Harry 'Pothead'? You've known me for, what, a day? And you assume that I'm free and ready to drool all over you?"
"I'm feeding you," he said simply, patting his mouth with his napkin. "Giving you an oppurtunity to eat delicious French food. Merlin knows you wouldn't be able to afford this by yourself-"
"Why do you always do that!" I exclaimed, glaring at him. "Act like you're superior! Pretend like you're better than all of us!"
"I'm a Malfoy," he said simply, as if it were the most obvious fact in the world. "I am."
"Oh, right, so being the son of a deranged Deatheater makes you brilliant!"
The moment I said it I desperately wanted to take it back. Malfoy looked like he had been slapped across the face, his jaw clenched as he blinked at me.
"Malfoy, I-"
"Go," he said, shaking his head as he took another bite of his salad.
"W-what?"
"Being with filth like you would require me to take another shower before my next class, which I have no time for." Taking a glance up at me I saw his steely gray eyes narrow. "Really, Weasley. You're contaminating my air."
"Fine," I said, getting up. Swiveling around angrily I walked out. The bastard. Can't believe I was ever sorry for him.
Yet as I walked back to the university our sessions were located I couldn't help but compare his eyes. Normally they were piercing, a cold stone that diamond couldn't even penetrate. But when he talked about his past...about his mother. I couldn't help but see them differently. They looked almost...almost warm. Gentle. Eyes I wouldn't mind waking up to.
Augh. I did not just think that. Bloody bastard!
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(Hermione)
"A...a bookcase?"
"Yes."
"And a desk."
"Yes."
"And...and a window..."
"Yes." McGonagall smiled at me as I gazed happily around my new office, entranced by how...how me it was.
"It's beautiful..."
"Now, Ms. Granger, here is your schedule." McGonagall handed me a black leather portfolio, the word "Portkey" etched on the bottom right. "If you'll notice, you have a meeting with Mr. Potter in his office in three hours. If you go to the next tab..." McGonagall opened the portfolio up even farther, pointing to a different schedule, "...this is what you are expected to finish. It's like a checklist."
"I see it," I said, smiling at the paper.
"I trust you to get acquainted with everything," McGonagall finally said. "I normally have my newly-promoted employee under my careful watch...but..." She gave me another rare smile and walked out of my office, leaving me to look around at my surroundings some more.
"Knock knock," Colin said, sliding past my door and stepping in. He whistled, grinning at me. "So this is where the big boys work."
"Big girls," I corrected, smiling at him from behind my desk.
"I'll be expecting a raise any time now," he replied, walking over to my bookcase. "Wow...you even get a bookcase..."
"Brilliant, huh?"
"Bloody brilliant." He took a step back, resting his hands in his pockets as he scanned the room once more. "You know, 'Mione, I-"
"Hermione?" The door opened and Harry walked in, a small smile on his face. "Oh, hello, Creevey."
"Mr. Potter," Colin said, nodding in acknowledgment.
"I thought our meeting was supposed to be in-"
"It is," he interrupted me, smiling again. "I just wanted to make sure you were moving in all right."
"Oh...well...thanks..."
"Creevey," Harry said suddenly, turning to him.
"Y-yes?" Colin stuttered, suddenly looking frightful. I know how much he feared getting fired...he was already backing up on his rent...
"You're a photographer, right?"
"I...well, that is to say..."
"Ms. McGonagall thinks that adding a female line to portkey would increase our profits by at least 65%...we've been looking into advertisements, but nothing has really...well...it would seem that we're selling lingerie more than we're selling anything else. And I remember seeing your name in a few of my friends' houses...what was that collection called..."
"Daily?" Colin asked eagerly.
"That's it," Harry replied, his green eyes twinkling. "My friends are huge fans of art...said that your work, what did they say...'captured water is if it were flowing,' or something or the other."
"That one's one of my favorites," Colin said, breaking into one of his grins. "I didn't think anyone would've enjoyed it, much less buy it."
"Well I think that your touch might just be what we need. I'm having a job convincing the board, but..."
"Yes, Mr. Potter!" Colin exclaimed, his round face full of excitement. "Oh, you don't know what this means to me! This...this...wow..." I hadn't seen Colin like this since...well, for a long time.
"Don't thank me just yet," Harry said, who was laughing and smiling just as much as Colin was.
Colin thanked Harry for at least ten minutes before McGonagall popped her head in to wonder if Colin actually believed he would get paid for socializing. With an apologetic glance in my way and an eager grin at Harry, he slipped out.
"That was sweet," I said, smiling at Harry.
"What was?" he asked, raising his eyebrows at me.
"You could have easily gotten a professional photographer..."
"Creevey's better than a lot of professionals I've consulted with," Harry said breezily, wafting his hand through the air. "Besides...it's been a while since I've seen anyone with his passion."
"There's a lack of it in the world," I added, nodding. "You...you don't know what this means to him..."
Harry smiled, and I could just feel my pulse quicken.
"Same goes for you."
"Wh-what?" He walked towards me, his gaze unwavering.
"There's something about you, Hermione," he said as he was about two feet away from me. I felt myself instinctively back away. Too quickly the back of my knees bumped into my desk and I gripped the edge with my hands, swallowing. Harry continued to walk towards me, completely disregarding the fact that I was backing away. He stopped when he was about a foot in front of me, his face mere inches from my own. His gaze lowered to my lips and I nervously licked my bottom lip. My mouth was suddenly dry. "Something I can't put my finger on," he added. He smiled, those green eyes peering into my terrified brown ones. Oh how I wanted to kiss him... I felt him hesitate, his eyes uncertain before he leaned in. I closed my eyes, my lips tingling with anticipation. "I'll see you in two hours," he whispered before I felt a loss of body warmth. I quickly opened my eyes, blinking as I saw him walk out of my office.
Oh bloody hell. I almost kissed my boss.
"Hermy!"
Not now. Please, please God not now...
"Hey, Justin," I said, desperately swallowing as I saw him walk in.
"You've gotten promoted!" he said, looking around my office. "Bloody hell, your office is twice the size of mine!"
"Got lucky, I suppose," I said, smiling weakly at him.
"Oh, don't give me that rubbish." Walking towards me he leaned in for a kiss, and in that brief moment when our lips touched all I could think was I wished it were Harry's instead of Justin's. "You've worked your bloody arse to land here, and now you finally have." He said it as if I had always wanted this job. "How about we celebrate? Dinner tonight?"
"I...I can't..."
"Oh? Why?"
"I have to...um..." My gaze fell to my planner. "I have a dinner meeting with Har-Mr. Potter. We have to go over things...you know..."
"Ah," Justin said, nodding. "Of course. Wow. You get to work with Harry Potter...that's amazing, Hermy!"
"Yeah...amazing..."
I just hoped my plan didn't backfire. Knowing my luck? I knew it would.
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reviewing's good for the soul...
A/N: the french up there was from www.dictionary.com from that translator section. If it's completely wrong, I'm sorry...I take Spanish, not French, hehe. My bad. And yes, her plan will backfire! I'm sure everyone knows exactly what's happening...hehehehee...I'm soo looking forward to writing it...Justin and the "rump in the office" will come up later, at least I think so. Gotta love Melissa.