OK people, chapter 3 is in the house!

Draco was locked in a forced embrace with Pansy Parkinson.

"Let go of me you swine!" Draco pulled himself out of her grasp and surveyed her appearence. She looked terrible. Her hair was in a wild disarray, and her clothes were disheveled. She looked like a hooker that had to leave early. She probably did, Draco thought to himself.

"Where were you before this Pansy? You look terrible."

"I was entertaining...your father Draco. He's a very wild man. No wonder he left your mother. She couldn't...meet his needs." Pansy smiled and walked towards Draco. "But he just made me ready...for you." She grabbed at him, but Draco evaded her forray.

"Give it up Pansy. You're a disgusting slob. And a shvoot. I'm appalled that you...and my father..." He shook his head. "I just can't believe you. Now I have to leave you. I hope you rot."

Draco ran towards the door, but Pansy stopped him.

"But Draco...I loved you....I always loved you. Why couldn't you have loved me the same way?"

"Because you didn't care about me Pansy. You only cared about your image. Hanging off my arm, never leaving me alone...you were only good for a good snog once and a while. Now get out of my way Parkinson...or I'll hex you."

Pansy whimpered and got out of Draco's way. Draco performed a nonverbal spell, and the door flew open. Draco helped Pansy out.

"Now Parkinson...you get back to my father...and you tell him...that he can have you...because I'm not leaving Hermione!"

With that, Draco turned and Apparated into Hermione's store.

******

Hermione heard a sharp crack coming from the storeroom. She hurried into it, only to find Draco, covered in dust and looking exhausted.

"Draco! Why aren't you at work? What happened?" Draco looked up at her.

"Hermione...I love you so much..." He embraced her. She hugged him back, but then pulled away.

"Draco...what's wrong?"

"I....ran into Pansy." Hermione's lips thinned in a McGonagall-like way.

"What did that cow want with you Draco?"

"It wasn't what Pansy wanted...It was what my father wanted. He wanted me to leave you and take Pansy. Then I could be accepted back into my house again." Hermione paled.

"But Draco...didn't your father die? When he kidnapped me...didn't you finish him?"

"Apparently not dear. But at least he's not after you anymore. Now, he's just after me." Hermione stood up.

"I'm closing shop early. You are to go upstairs, take a shower, then get into bed. I'm going to bring you dinner. But wait for me, because I'm not letting you out of my sight!"

"But Hermione...what about when I get into the shower?" He looked slyly up at her. Hermione leaned in.

"Well then...looks like I'll have to improvise." They shared a kiss, then Hermione went to close the store.

Did that make everybody feel better?

Katie