Challenge Me

C H A P T E R T H R E E

Hermione Granger

"Oh, Merlin, who does he think he is!?" I didn't let Ginny get a word in before I started up again

"How dare he come in here and act like that?" in the time of Draco Malfoy leaving my office I had rushed to Ginny's and barged in, I was fuming at the situation at hand and what in Merlin's name was he doing at the ministry in the first place?

She didn't know what to say and quite frankly, neither had I. I hadn't seen the nuisance of a child in months and then he just strolls right into my office, how does something like this just happen!?

I was currently pacing back and forth in front of Ginny, I stopped and looked at her only to go right back to my previous actions. My mind was going through all the possibilities of what he could be doing here, maybe they were letting the Malfoy's off the hook from their association with Voldemort?

"Mione, you need to stop. You're either going to wear a hole in my carpet or you're going to get dizzy soon enough. I get he made you feel uncomfortable, heck if it were me I would have socked him in the jaw, but what we need to focus on now is organising our Halloween party! Take your mind off the ferret and put it on the fun!" Typical Ginny, never taking serious situations, serious.

After a few minutes of persuading on Ginny's behalf, I reluctantly decided that we should, in fact, start planning the upcoming party. It was in a few nights and all we had organised is the location and who was invited, every year at Hogwarts they had managed to make Halloween an amazing experience. For someone who was born muggle-born, I was never allowed to celebrate the holiday and since attending school I made it a mission of mine to never miss the holiday again.

I was about to sit down and start planning until Ginny had suggested we go out for lunch instead, saying that it was a nice day out and we shouldn't be locked up indoors. I did agree with that, it was rare to have a sunny day here in London and when you walked outside and felt the numerous sunbeams hit your face, the warmth was too good to ignore.

After both Ginny and I had collected our things and made our way down through the ministry, we were walking to a nearby café that she swore had the best food ever. I laughed as I turned to my best friend, the sun was hitting her face which illuminated her light freckles and her fiery hair. I was always so envious of her beauty, she was stunning and managed to always look beautiful whereas I struggled to even tame my wild curls each morning.

After reaching the destination, Ginny held the door open for me as I strolled in, her following after me. I took in my unfamiliar surroundings, the space was littered with browns and blacks, wooden decor was scattered throughout the entire place and the overall feel of the store reminded me of the three broomsticks.

We quickly took a seat and began looking through the menu, seen as I hadn't been here before I didn't know what the quality of the food was like and I didn't want to just go and order anything. I asked Ginny for her suggestion and looked through what she had listed off, I didn't really feel like fish at the moment and instead, I went with the option of chicken schnitzel with a light salad as a side. Gin had ordered some sausages with mash-potato on the side, how typical of a Weasley I thought with a laugh.

Just as our lunch had appeared on the table, I pulled out some spare parchment and a quill. I started jotting down the random ideas that were popping into my head and out of Ginny's mouth, we had managed to write down exactly what we were going to be serving.

Halloween Treats

Treacle Tarts

Pumpkin Pasties

Peppermint Toads

Liquorice Wands

Acid Pops

Cauldron Cakes

Mrs Weasley's Rock Cakes

Fever Fudge

Fainting Fancies

Chocolate Frogs

Drinks

Butterbeer

Pumpkin Juice

Mulled Mead

Pumpkin Shape

Slugs Juice

Next to decide was what decorations we were wanting to make and buy, this was going to be the fun part. Bringing another fork full of food up to my mouth, I excused myself from the table so I could go to the bathroom. I guess that's what I get for downing my hot coffee so quickly before running around like a headless garden gnome, I pushed my chair out from underneath myself and stood up.

Taking my purse with me I headed to the bathroom, I followed one of the long halls which fortunately led me straight to where I wanted it to. I twisted the slightly rusted golden doorknob and pushed it open, taking a small step inside I went directly to the open lavatory.

After I had finished doing what I needed to, I flushed and pushed the wooden door open. Walking over to the slightly dirty mirror I fixed the few loose strands in my hair and straightened out my clothes, once I was happy with my appearance I walked back out to the restaurant that was more like a bar.

I strolled past a rather loud and quite obnoxious group of men who obviously didn't know what their inside voice was, glaring daggers at the men I quickly tore my eyes away from them as my brown ones landed on familiar white hair and a well fitted black suit.

I felt myself choke on the musty air around me and before I could leave without being spotted, his all too familiar silver eyes had landed on me. I visibly took a deep breath in and darted towards Ginny, as I abruptly sat down on my stool her head snapped in my direction with her face bearing a confused expression.

"Malfoy. 9 o'clock." I dipped my head down and managed to answer in a whisper, hearing what I had said I watched as Ginny's blue eyes darted to where had said. Her eyes widened and she lent her face closer to me asking if I wanted to leave, I responded by saying no and that I didn't want him to think he got to me we decided to stay and act like we hadn't seen him.

Another hour had passed before Ginny and I decided we should head back to the Ministry, as I was about to pack up my quills and parchment until I heard a familiar voice that ran chills down my back.

"Nice to see you again Granger, remember Halloween is coming up, a holiday where lots of girls like to scream" I felt my eyes travel up and down his figure as I examined him, his signature smirk was once again plastered across his face. I watched as he brought his hand up, his thumb and index finger playing with his bottom lip. Looking directly at me, he gave a seductive chuckle and strolled out of the restaurant without another word.

With my mouth hanging open and the pink clinging to my cheeks, I turned my attention to my best friend, the look on her face was priceless. I couldn't imagine mine was any different, oh Merlin what was happening.