Thank you so much for the kind reviews, they warm my heart and encourage me to continue this small fluffy piece.
xxx, HBSJ
Chapter 2, Planning
Draco walked out of the small coffee shop and stopped outside the door. Before he went out into the sheeting rain he pulled his coat tight around him, and cast an impervious charm over it, at least he wouldn't be completely soaked by the time he came home. He started walking, and just caught a look at the stunned Hermione sitting at the back of the small shop, with a small smile playing around her lips. He grinned to himself. This was definitely not the way he had expected his day to turn out.
But since it had, he was not going to complain. He'd be taking her to dinner, and it ought to be good. He needed a good plan. He did know her quite well now, he needed to take her somewhere she would love, and it didn't have to be expensive, though he didn't care if it was. Hmm, he had been thinking about going to that newly opened muggle movie theatre. It was in the shape of a large half dome, and you almost lay down in your seats to watch the movies they played, and they only played movies made especially for that place. He couldn't remember what it was called, but he'd seen a poster of the movie they were playing these days, it was called Journey to Space. That seemed like something she would appreciate, and to be honest he really wanted to see that movie as well.
This morning he had received and angry owl from Astoria, it seemed that she was not pleased with the fact that he didn't care who he told that he was single again, and that she believed that he needed to send her money. She had always been like that. The façade was much more important than the actual truth. And her owl had gone on and on about the same things. They didn't have any children, thank Merlin, but she acted very much like he owed her something. He didn't, and she knew it. He had treated her well all through their relationship, though remaining somewhat aloof, as he wasn't in love with her. It had been a convenient compatible match. Until he'd found her going at it like rabbits with her muggle private trainer on their living room floor. It hadn't been a large shock and he wasn't particular hurt by it, other than her lack of finesse about it. But now he was done pretending.
He had believed the same as Astoria himself once and before the war, their match would probably have been quite happy, but since the war that had been changed drastically. Standing in the ruined Great Hall of Hogwarts, his second home, with cheers for the end of the Dark Lord, and with sobs for the good people lost, his entire world had shifted to a new normal. He knew that he was very lucky that his family was intact and when Harry Potter had kindly offered to speak at both his and his mothers' trial after the war, they had accepted gratefully. In the end, both Potter and Granger had spoken at both their trials, though they both had flatly refused to speak at his fathers' trial.
As Potter had said, if there weren't any good to say, I shouldn't say anything, and it was true. Even Draco couldn't think of one mitigating thing his father had done in the war, or indeed before then, to soften his fathers' circumstances. The only thing he had done, was not to join in the fighting at the very end of the battle of Hogwarts. His mother had kept to herself after being cleared of all charges, and had kept him close, and she had kept on stressing the importance of family. Shortly thereafter she had introduced him to Astoria.
He apparated out of the rain, and to an alley beside the movie theatre he was taking Granger to, and bought two tickets for the next evening. After that he apparated home to write three very different letters. One was a very short curt reply to Astoria saying that now he was starting to date, their charade was over. She wasn't getting another galleon of his, or indeed any more of his time. The second was longer and to his mother. He explained what had happened between him and Astoria, he apologized for not having told her earlier, and he told her of his hopes for an upcoming date he had. Though he didn't tell her who he was going on a date with yet, because if things didn't work out, she wouldn't be sad for him for that long. His mother longed for him to have someone in his life, and for her as added company. Her circle of acquaintances had been depleted since the war. The last letter was to Granger, it was short and respectful he thought.
Dear Granger.
Thank you for the cake this afternoon, it saved my day.
Would you please join me for dinner and a movie tomorrow? If so, please send me your address, so I can pick you up in a proper gentlemanly fashion. The movie starts at six, and will last roughly two hours, so I have planned dinner afterwards.
Looking forward to your reply.
D. Malfoy
He read it several times, and feeling satisfied with it, he sent it off first. The two other letters could wait until his owl returned. He didn't have to wait long though, just three quarters of an hour later, his eagle owl swooped in with a rely.
Dear Malfoy.
Thank you for your company this afternoon, it was lovely.
Yes, I'd love to join you for dinner and a movie tomorrow. I didn't know you knew about movies, so many surprises from you in just one day.
Looking forward to tomorrow.
H. Granger
P.S. My address is as follows…
She had matched his tone in the reply, he smirked to himself. This witch was definitely worth getting to know a lot better. She seemed to be laughing at him in the letter, well, he didn't really mind that much, he wasn't as stiff as he used to be. But she had written that his company had been lovely, he stared at the word completely caught. No one had ever used that word to describe anything about him. He quite liked it.
Now, back to business he sent off his owl again with both letters, instructing it to fly to Astoria first and leave at once, and stay with his mother for as long as she required the owl. He always did this. His mother needed the company, even if it was just an owl she saw a couple of times a week.
He needed just one thing, a restaurant. Of this he thought long and hard. Wizard or muggle establishment? Finally, he decided on a special kind of muggle establishment, and stood to go make the reservations. He knew the muggles were able to make food-magic as well, and he hoped that she didn't know that yet.
xOx
My inspiration for the movie theatre Draco wants to take Hermione is the Planetarium in Copenhagen, Denmark, go to this site if you want to know more: www dot planetarium dot dk/en
Please don't forget to R&R!
xxx HBSJ
