First Steps Are The Hardest

**I am not new to fanfiction but I am new to writing for it. Please comment any suggestions as I am open to all the help I can get. This will be a multi-chapter story but not extremely long. Maybe three total. I was going to wait and post it all but I'm impatient. Sue me. BTW, as every single person here knows but for some reason I am required to state, I do not own Harry Potter. These characters are obviously being borrowed for my own entertainment and hopefully yours. On with it...

Hermione turned her attention to her mirror image in the restaurant/bar entrance. She had picked her outfit by going against every rule she had ever made in regards to clothes. No short dresses, low cut dresses, usually no attention grabbing apparel...all were thrown out the window tonight.

Working in the Law Department meant she dressed appropriately for a professional woman who had to be taken seriously by her (mostly older, male) peers. She had learned that she needed to take care with her appearance, unlike in school, but not to get too much attention. There was a fine line between looking professionally clothed yet womanly and looking like a tart in office wear. Hermione tried to walk that line very closely. She had begun to enjoy feeling like a woman whom men looked twice at but would never go so far as to blatantly dress vulgar. She basically lived in High-waisted pencil skirts and button ups.

Tonight called for something far outside her comfort zone and it was only for one particular reason, or better stated, one man. She had chosen a mid thigh, loose fitting, thin strapped slip dress in a shimmery nude color. It draped from the shoulders down her body in a wave of silk. She had left her hair down, light makeup, nude heels; everything was put together to show off her dress. She smiled in satisfaction and nodded to her image as she turned away from the mirror for the last time.

She had come to Sparks tonight dressed to kill for one man. Draco Malfoy had become part of her inner circle after they both had to claw their way up the Law Department . She was the top researcher in the MLE and was sometimes the only reason cases were won. She was known for finding loopholes in outdated, antiquated laws, but her main job was finding laws and precedents that supported her representatives case. Seeing as Malfoy was one of the best Representatives, or lawyers, in the MLE as well, she spent quite a bit of time working on cases with him over the past four years.

The two were known to argue so loudly their boss had to intervene but they were also known to get along so well rumors ran rampant about them. Through trial and error they figured out what worked with each other and Hermione had eventually passed the line from friend to crush to something much more serious. And it took her some time to realize that Draco wasn't far behind her in that regard.

There have been many times they got too close only for him to back off. Always him. After careful research and planning Hermione came to a conclusion and it would all be over with tonight. Hopefully in her favor, she thought ruefully.

Hermione had casually mentioned she had a date tonight. She had bet on it having an adverse effect on Draco and she wasn't wrong. She knew he often took to drinking at this particular establishment because they were quiet, upscale, and discreet. After she had readied herself this evening Hermione had apparated here and waited on him to arrive. She wasn't disappointed. Only twelve minutes after her arrival she saw him enter and head straight for the bar. As she was standing in the crowded entrance with her back to him he hadn't noticed her, especially as he would never expect her to dress in such a manner.

She watched him sit down at the bar and casually order a drink. He didn't look heartbroken but then again she wasn't expecting him to. Draco was a very hard man to read and showing strong emotion was not a common occurrence. Hermione gave herself some time to think through her plan and let Draco almost finish his drink before she started his way. She tried to put herself in the right mood in order to over take the nerves running through her entire body. Come on Hermione, she thought to herself, you're a Gryffindor, a highly respected member of society, a bloody war hero. You cant back down now.

As she walked slowly towards Draco she felt the silky folds of her dress slide over the tops of her thighs with every step. She could also feel it slide across her breasts making her remember why she had forgone proper undergarments. Part of her plan was to grab his attention quickly, but the other part was to keep him turned on the entire time. Between the chilly air and constant friction from her dress she was sure he wouldn't be able to keep his eyes on her face all night. She came up to his left, taking a seat with nary a glance on his part.

"Not interested," Draco said without even pausing from his drink. Hermione was sure he was used to getting hit on frequently. Between his pale hair, unusual eyes,and slight muscular build he was already a magnet for women. When you added that to his aloof personality, he presented a challenge few could resist. It had been a while since she had seen him take up one of the many offers though.

His words made her smile as she answered him. "That makes the second man to feel that way about me tonight. After all the effort I put in my date was a no show," she lied.

Draco paused and slowly turned her way. She had gotten adept at reading his slight emotional cues and right now his actions made her immensely happy. His eyes started at her face and were drawn down to her chest, long crossed legs, and finally her vibrant red toenails. His hand gripped his glass so hard his knuckles turned white and she could see a muscle twitch in his jaw.

Draco's response was all she needed to hear to reassure her of her actions tonight. "Merlin help me."