Girl's Night

Chapter 1

Hermione Granger, with some trepidation, brought her mobile phone into the wizarding world. Walking into Diagon Alley, from The Leaky Cauldron, she kept her eyes fixed on the screen as she walked slowly down the cobblestones that made up the magical 'High Street'. The Samsung Galaxy in her hands went loopy: the battery, which had been at 74%, suddenly rocketed to 215%, opened every single app and froze with them all open so she couldn't do anything. 'Must be the magic of the alley interfering with the electrics, maybe even the mechanics', she thought, 'I'll have to read up on that'. She stared at the frozen screen, glowing on its brightest setting, the light not even dimming after the minute she'd set for it to go off to save battery. Her eyes suddenly flicked to the signal indicator as it quivered up and down, wavering between 'one bar' and 'no bar'. She waited until the bar came back into view and cast a stasis charm… the Samsung promptly died.

Why haven't the departments dealing with muggle stuff sorted this out yet, she wondered to herself irritably. Another thing I'll end up sorting out and being bloody famous for' she added with another internal grumble.

She let out a huff and turned around, pacing with agitation back toward the pub that would return her to the muggle world.

Back on the muggle street, she pressed and held the power switch on her android phone and let out an exasperated sigh when the light came on. Someone really needs to do something about this. Oh, yes! That would be me. Another sigh and even a resigned shake of the head before she looked at the battery: 70% and the signal indicator: full. She opened the twitter app and sent a private message to her friend: 'Still on for girls night?'

While she waited for a reply, she stepped back into the pub, grabbed her wand from her bra and flicked it with a muttering of "patronum duplicia". Two otters shot from the magical length of vine. She turned to them and offered the same message as in her private tweet, adding the time of 7pm and the location of her Diagon Alley flat; one silvery otter was then sent to her best friend Ginny Potter, and the other to her good friend Luna Longbottom.

Hermione decided to order some lunch while waiting for patronus replies; her muggle friend was insanely busy and she doubted her magic-intolerant phone would have a reply for a while; I've got time. She took a seat at the well-worn mahogany bar and gestured to the bartender, Tom, for her usual – butterbeer and fire-carrot/coriander soup.

"I'll get that, Tom", an all too familiar voice came from behind her. "In fact, I'll have the same". A pale hand moved into her peripheral vision and dropped a handful of sickles on the bar. Magnanimous bastard!

Hermione rolled her eyes and swivelled on her bar stool. "Thanks Malfoy!" See? I can be magnanimous too.

"No problem. Mind if I join you?" he asked nonchalantly. It didn't matter he was asking quite casually, seeming friendly even; Hermione knew he was up to something. Slytherin's are always up to something. And Draco was nothing, if not the epitome of a Slytherin.

"It's a free country." No thanks to you! Came that endless inner monologue. Ok! That was bitchy! But true.

"Four years since the end of the war and you still can't let bygones be bygones?"

"You were an arse to me for seven years, Malfoy. Come and see me in three more, yeah?" Dammit, I let the bitchy out.

"I would really like to put the past behind us, you know. Can you… erm… we… at least try to be… erm…" Draco Malfoy stumbling over his words, barely making eye contact, shuffling his feet was unsettling. And very, very curious. Hmmm, is he nervous? Whatever for? "… friends?"

Really? That doesn't seem plausible. Sorry Malfoy but you are always going to be a foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach. Even if that cockroach's silvery eyes have just a little too much depth. Where on earth did that thought come from. Hermione shook her head to rid herself of the slightly disturbing detour of that thought.

Malfoy, assuming the witch in front of him, the witch he'd wanted for six years, was responding negatively to even friendship, with that casual and maybe a little amused, shake of her head, felt his heart sink. She was never going to forgive him, he thought dejectedly. Not that I blame her. "Okay." He said, in a small sheepish voice. Very un-Malfoy-like.

Is he… hurt? I haven't even answered yet. Oh shit! Realisation hit the muggleborn witch and guilt washed over her, tightening her stomach, her incredible mind mirroring his sheepish look as she chastised itself. How was I supposed to know? Since when does a Malfoy 'do' sincere? He was just sitting there, a small frown on his slightly pouty lips and his brow furrowed. He looks so sad. Like a scolded puppy. Oh Merlin. Is that pity for Malfoy?

Taking a deep breath, she embraced her, usually neglected when it came to Slytherins, compassion and decided she could at least allow him the chance to take the high road for once…

"Draco?" she asked, so tentatively she might have been talking to herself. He didn't move his head but as he was still somewhat facing her, she watched carefully as his beautiful? lost, silvery eyes, flicked slowly up to her face from beneath soft, platinum lashes. Wow! And she somewhat begrudgingly held out her hand for him to shake.

His expression changed so fast in front of her eyes, it was as if it had been enchanted to do so by her own wand; his eyes warmed, the corners of his acid-tongued but oh so sweet looking lipped mouth, twitched upward. Oh, man! Those lips. Shit, am I staring? She felt his soft, warm palm hit hers and long slender fingers, pianist's fingers, wrap around the back of her hand, and squeeze.

~DRAMIONE~

One shake, two, three… he held her hand in place longer than it was necessary, and they both knew it. Was that a blush on her cheeks? No! No, it can't be. Unbidden, his other hand clasped around the other side of hers as he held their hands together. Those cheeks are definitely pinker than they were a minute ago. She isn't pulling away and the way she actually said my name. It's small, as signs go but it's definitely different. Maybe if I… In millimetres of movement, he started to lean in.

What is he doing? Is he…? He can't be. Hermione watched with wide eyes, staring into his; she noticed they were unflinching, wary but determined. Oh Merlin, he is. He's going to try and… he's actually going to…

"Here you go, young'uns". Tom's voice broke the moment and a sleek blonde head snapped to the right, towards Tom, as a mop of unruly curls snapped equally fast left to the bartender. Thank fuck. That was close.

"Thanks Tom". Hermione said rather took quickly, it's a slightly higher than usual tone. Too quickly… Draco thought as he glared at bartender for the interruption.

They ate in silence, neither risking a look at the other, consumed by their thoughts as lunch slowly diminished.

What the fuck was that? Draco Malfoy conciliatory? No, there has to be something behind this. But those eyes, those gorgeous molten silver eyes were so genuine and looked almost close to… tears. Because of… me? What the fuck? Draco fucking Malfoy wanting to kiss me? What kind of backwards alternative dimension have I fell into? I bet Fred and George did something to him to wind me up for April Fools. Yes, that'll be it! Sigh of relief. Bloody Weasleys and their stupid fucking pranks; it'll be some sort of love potion. I'm gonna fucking kill those bloody weas… Wait! It's June. Not that they need an excuse for pranks but then… why?

She chanced a sideways glance at the blonde man sitting beside her - former bully, former tormenter, former Death Eater, former arch nemesis; wow, I had a real arch nemesis there for a while. He seemed just as lost in his thoughts but not as pensive as she expected. She thought about some of the fictional arch nemeses she could remember as she finished her soup – Lex Luther from Superman, Shredder from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Moriarty from Sherlock Holmes, Thanos from all those bloody Marvel films Harry made her watch last year. Does Draco really fit in with that lot? He used to – sort of! And when did I start calling him Draco? And why, for the love of Merlin, am I still thinking about Draco fucking Malfoy?

~DRAMIONE~

Courtesy of his Godfather, Severus Snape, Draco had become quite skilled as an 'occlumens' during his years at Hogwarts; it was necessary when living with a murderous, megalomaniac psychopath, prone to fits of unstable rage. Under the tutelage of his Godfather however, he had also mastered Legilemency: the ability to, in layman's terms, read minds, since the war. Usually he didn't bother using this skill but it came in handy occasionally, like right now.

I have to have a look. She'll kill me if she knows I'm looking but she can't possibly know it's me. I'm sitting next to her and she isn't hexing me. She let me buy her lunch without any flicker to her wand. And after that moment, that eye contact, and she wasn't pulling away…; would she have let me kiss her? Fucking bastard bartender; I'm never coming here again. I wonder if I can get him fired.

Before attempting to slip into her mind, he wanted to test the waters, sense her mood; the last thing he wanted was to infuriate her more if she was already pissed off. Draco let his eyes shift slightly to his left. She was staring at her soup, almost expressionless, if she's an occlumens too, I'm screwed. No, I can do this. She's a Gryffindor, she should respond well to bravery; even if she doesn't know I'm attempting it.

While not proficient at the combination of wandless and wordless magic, he'd managed it a few times and he had to manage it now. Saying the spell or holding his wand would tip her off and he couldn't risk that, not when he finally had the possibility of progress. Ok. I can do this. It's time. Now! He moved his hand as close to his dream witch as possible without touching and without being noticed; the fingers of his left hand, resting on the bar but pointing loosely in her direction. She's so fucking close. Gods, I want to touch her. He shook his head minutely, dislodging his poor timed yearnings. Focus. He shifted his glance to her without moving his head and thought very succinctly: motus translatio.

Nothing happened.

He twisted his hand a little anti clockwise, so his fingers pointed more towards her and tried again: motus translatio.

Still nothing. Bollocks! I need a distraction. Think Draco, think. It took literally thirty seconds for his well-trained Slytherin mind to be just a little devious, and then for the first time in years, a sly smile crept onto his lips. It was bordering on his trademark smirk and he had to fight to remove it from his features as he turned to her and…

"Would you like another drink?" his face was the picture of calm indifference but his inner Slytherin grinned with all the smugness of a Cheshire cat as she jumped almost out of her skin and placed her hand over her heart.

That hand suddenly flung out toward him and batted him, not too lightly on the chest as she growled out his name from between her teeth.

"Sorry" he said barely containing himself from bursting out laughing. "But, would you… like another, I mean?"

He watched her think for a second. Probably trying to think of an excuse not to. Then his mouth dropped open and his eyebrows shot into his hairline as he watched her reach down the front of her slightly low-cut top, which showed the mildest hint of cleavage, so sexy, and slowly retrieve her wand. He tensed. Here it comes. She's probably been planning it since she saw me. Gods, don't let her turn me into a ferret, I can't handle that smell again.

"Tempus" she said softly, and he let out the breath he didn't know he was holding. They both watched as two small balls of light shot from her wand and circled each other for a moment displaying on the bar and dissipating. That would've been a good time to go for my wand. I'm an idiot. Internally, he slapped his hand to his forehead and imagined his Godfather calling him a dunderhead.

"Yeah, ok. I have time".

You could have knocked Draco off his stool with a hippogriff feather as he looked at her smiling face. Heart beat quickening, he knew it was time act. His left hand went to his wand and he removed it from his ankle holder, pointing it at her ankles he repeated the spell in his mind: motus translatio. This time he felt it but had to work quickly to remain undiscovered. He put his wand back in its holder, looked up at her innocently and simply said "wrong side", before leaning to his right ankle to pull out his wallet.

~DRAMIONE~

Hermione could tell that he'd been nervous to ask; his voice had quivered unnaturally. It felt strange that even when you'd loathed someone for so long, the fact that you'd known them for over a decade meant you noticed things like a certain quiver in the vocal chords were equal to nerves. What he has to be nervous about is beyond me. I do fancy another drink actually. I need to get dinner on for the girls tonight though. Hmmm, what time is it? Wand…

Fishing her wand from her between her breasts, her phone was in there too; maybe that's why it doesn't work, Hermione cast a quick 'tempus' before returning her wand. Her eyes skimmed over Draco's face and she almost lost consciousness with the force it took to hold in her breath to stop from laughing. The almost translucently pale skin that usually sat so perfectly over his regal, slightly pointed features was was popping into a comical expression of shock and was actually quite sweetly flushed. I wonder if that's because of where I keep my wand. Surely not! It's hardly an uncommon location and every witch has a cleavage. Maybe he never considered I was a girl before; it took Ron long enough. Is Draco that dense too? Maybe I can find out; it's only 12.45, I have time. This could be fun…

"Yeah ok, I have time". Was that casual enough? Hmm… do I want to be casual, or shall I border on flirtatious and upgrade that flush to a beetroot? Start simple. "Shall we make it a couple shots of fire-whiskey instead? The butterbeer isn't really taking the edge off the weirdness of you and I being civil." She gave him a half smile to let him know she really was attempting civility.

"You don't seem like a real drinker Granger but if you think you can handle it…" he knew it was a taunting co she was attempting to play nice but he really couldn't help it. She walked right into it.

"I can drink you under the table Malfoy, and I'll prove it." This is a bad idea! Again she retrieved her wand; called to Tom and asked him to bring over a bottle of Ogden's and start a tab. If I can get him pissed, maybe he'll let something slip about why he's being so… nice. She touched her wand to the enchanted tab parchment that Tom handed her and replaced her wand in her cleavage; a little more slowly than usual to see if he watched. He did. Men! So easy to manipulate. Even Slytherin men.

"Damn, Granger. Challenge accepted." This is gonna be fun; maybe I can get her sloshed enough for her to take me back to her place and… No. Don't get your hopes up Draco. It's still Hermione Granger.

The bastard bartender brought over a bottle of Ogden's finest and two shot glasses, which Hermione filled. She knocked hers straight back before handing him his and then set to refilling hers.

"You know that thing about Gryffindors and their pride?" she asked rhetorically, but he nodded anyway. "Well, one of the biggest things we take pride in is our ability to hold our liquor." She knocked back her second as he gulped and his first.

Draco refilled both glasses and decided to make this interesting…

"If that's the case, care to make this interesting?"

"What did you have in…" she stopped abruptly as a beautiful, silver does cantered through the window of the Leaky Cauldron and settled in the air before her. Ginny's excited voice came out began:

"Can't wait HG. Honestly, we need to do this more often. What do you think of my new patronus form? I thought it would change when Harry and I got married but it's only changed this week. Luna is with me so we'll floo to yours together. Is your muggle friend still coming to? Oh, and before I forget, don't want to spring this on you last minute but I'm bringing Lavender with me. Ron insisted and as she's about to be my sister-in-law I can't exactly refuse. Sorry HG. Don't be mad at me. Love you sis. See you at 7."

The silver does faded away and Hermione smiled. She had a feeling she knew the reason for the patronus changing and she was right, she didn't give a shit if 'Lav-Lav' had to be at her girls' night too.

"Fuck me, that girl can talk. What's happening tonight?"

"You have no idea, and it'll get worse tonight. We're having a bit of a girls' night. Wine flowing, gossip about guys, and Molly Weasley's famous cooking."

"Sounds interesting. Wouldn't mind being a fly on the wall. Say, Granger. Are you warded against bowtruckles?"

"Don't even think about it Malfoy. My flat is warded up the wazoo against everything. Especially…" she poked a finger into his chest, "ferrets." She flashed, her biggest, toothiest, Slytheriniest grin, and downed another shot.

"Okay, okay. I was joking. What happened to civility?"

"You're lucky it was only my finger I poked you with and not my wand. Now, let's finish off this bottle so I can head off. I have some prep to do."

"Oh, you're going? I thought we were gonna have some fun with this fire-whiskey." He looked a little crestfallen and Hermione felt a pang of that pity again. Awwww, bless him.

"I really do have some things to prep for Draco. I promise I'm not running out to get away from you. Maybe I was trying to think of something to get away when we first sat down but I really haven't had a bad time with you. C'mon, one for the road and then we can play our drinking game another time, yeah?"

"Okay, fine." He seemed to have recovered somewhat with her reassurance that she wasn't trying to escape him but still acted put out to have their afternoon cut short. "But, I'm holding you to that Granger. You owe me a date." He froze a little, realising what he'd said but Hermione ignored it and let him do the same.

They knocked back two more shots each before saying their goodbyes. Absent-mindedly, as if she'd been drinking with Harry or Ron, Hermione leaned in to Draco, wrapped her arms around his back and kissed his cheek. He stiffened a little but again she ignored it, I'd probably do the same if he'd launched at me. Oops! "Floo home, don't apparate… you've had a few too many and you'll end up splinched else." She said as she pulled away from the hug.

"Yes mum" Draco said before turning right, toward the floo. He seemed to have retrieved his sarcasm from somewhere which had been hiding for most of the night.

"Arse" she called after him playfully as he walked toward the floo. He could practically hear her rolling her eyes but he turned back to face her, flashing his most brilliant smile.

"Didn't know you cared, Granger." But I know now.

"Don't worry, I don't." Do I?

To that, he blew her a kiss across the pub and stepped into the floo.

Oh shit, my phone.

Hermione dashed out the 'muggle world' door and checked her phone. Sure enough, there was a message from Jo saying she'd meet her at the Leaky Cauldron at 6.30. She wouldn't be able to see it right away but that didn't matter. It was only 5 minutes from Hermione's flat, situated over Flourish and Blotts so she could walk her through.

With the rest of her evening planned out, Hermione went home; excited about the night to come but with a gnawing feeling she didn't quite recognise that spiked every time she thought about Draco Malfoy.