First Step Is Hardest

**I am not new to fan fiction but I am new to writing for it. Please comment any suggestions as I am open to all the help I can get. I received my very first review already! Thank you! Hope you enjoy...

Chapter 2

Hermione silently watched as Draco shook off the surprise and pretended he hadn't just lost control even slightly.

"That was definitely his loss, then." Draco turned facing her on the stool, his drink forgotten in front of him, as he gave Hermione his full attention. "Were you planning to meet here?"

"No, he chose that new monstrosity a couple blocks down, the one with the enormous Phizzle trees in front. They are shedding so bad I had to scourgify myself after walking under one."

"So how late was he then?" Draco was obviously trying to hide his disgust with her pretend date.

"I gave him ten minutes." Hermione shrugged as if it were no big deal. Which was true because the entire scenario was a figment of her imagination.

"Only ten minutes? There might have been an emergency or he was just running late," Draco stated with a sardonic smirk.

"Draco, there are any number of ways to let me know if something happened to prevent his appearance. And do I look like a woman who waits for a man to do things in his own sweet time?" She smirked as his gaze did another journey across her body.

Draco swallowed hard before answering. "You look like a woman who a man would show up thirty minutes early for."

It was time to push him a little. "Is that what you would do if you were my date?"

He paused for a moment before staring her in the eyes and replying, "If I was your date I would meet you at your door and escort you to dinner. I wouldn't want to give another man a chance to sweep you away before I got there."

Hermione saw many things pass over him in the time they just stared at each other. Clearly lust, but something deeper than that was there also. And just a hint of jealousy and anger. She could only guess at the reason for the last one. Maybe because he hadn't been her date? Or maybe just because he didn't like how she had been treated?

The moment passed all to soon and she had to grab her opening while she could. "Well, I'm here now and no other man in sight. It doesn't seem like they are clamoring for a chance with me. But I am starving as I left before eating and I would love to have a dinner companion. I have a proposition for you. Be my date tonight so I can enjoy myself for at least a couple hours."

She could practically see his whole body tense like he didn't want to hear it. But he did this anytime they went a little too far with the flirting and she was tired of it. Some would think he wasn't interested and just liked to play with her but she knew better. At first she did assume this but soon she realized he was just as invested in them as she was. No man looked at a woman, treated a woman like he did without wanting more. Something was holding him back and she was determined to figure it out.

"Hermione...I don't think that's a good idea," he said without looking at her.

"Why not? We have tomorrow off."

"People will talk, even if it's just an innocent dinner between...friends." Even he looked disgusted with himself for saying that one.

"As if they don't talk already."

"I've had a few drinks and soon I will be unfit for company. You wouldn't enjoy yourself."

"Draco, I've seen you drink an entire bottle of fire whiskey without showing hardly a sign of imbibing at all."

She knew he wasn't ready for this. Normally one word from him and she backed off but not this time. She refused to let him run. She watched as his pale features reddened and his posture got even more stiff before he downed his drink and faced her once more.

"Why are you pushing this Hermione?"

"Pushing what? The fact that I just want a nice dinner and you keep making silly excuses for ditching me?" She asked with some irritation.

"I'm not the one who ditched you tonight, so don't take your frustration out on me," he growled. "Besides the way your dressed doesn't look like a nice dinner is the only thing your offering and I don't want to walk into work Monday to news of us shagging each other over the weekend. But I guess you don't really care what people say about you. After all you wore this for a man you hadn't even met so..." He was red faced and breathing hard and anger radiated from him but Hermione could already see the regret coming through.

She was almost used to this. Normally he only spouted vitriol like that if he was the one who went too far, got to close, to find a way to cover it up. He seemed to think angering himself and her was a good deterrent to their true emotions. Even though she knew this and had tried to prepare for it, the actual words hurt and she felt herself deflate in front of him.

Hermione wasn't one to let people see how much they effected her, but tonight she couldn't hold back. Her voice was a cracked whisper as she spoke. "I...Do you know how hard it is to find someone who is truly interested in me? I work seventy hours a week. The people I have to choose from must come from the Ministry because I never leave that place. There are men who give me a second glance, even a few who flirt here and there. But do you know, I have been asked out a total of three times since starting there. I was with Ron for one year. That makes five years and only three men thought I was worthy of a date."

She saw Draco open his mouth but he couldn't seem to find the words to speak.

She continued in a stronger voice. "I am a bookworm. A relatively boring shut-in with no life outside my job. I literally only talk about law and books and books about law, Draco. There aren't many people who want to hear more on those subjects than necessary. I am passionate in arguments and men don't like to be proven wrong, which they are almost one hundred percent of the time. I never get to dress up, never get to have the attention a woman enjoys at least every now and then."

Her voice was becoming louder as she built up steam. The words just came barreling out of her mouth and it was things she had never intended to say. This night was already a mess. She might as well end it on a strong note. "Do you know how long I spent getting ready tonight? Two hours! I fixed my hair, perfected my makeup, I have shaved, scrubbed, and rubbed lotion on parts of me that have never seen the light of day, Draco!"

She realized she was beginning to draw attention and took moment to try and calm herself, barely noticing that Draco was as emotional in that moment as she had become.

He watched her with a scorching gaze that she couldn't cipher as she continued her tirade in a voice barely above a whisper. "I picked this dress out because for once I wanted to feel like a sexy, desirable woman. I have become close to you and I thought you felt the same. You're one of the only ones who enjoys conversing with me and you never fall asleep during my famous "lectures". I didn't care one whit about the other man, I just wanted ONE night to feel...I thought maybe you could at least give me companionship over dinner and let me have a nice memory before I head home to my lonely apartment and boring life. So sorry for pushing you. I'll not make that mistake again."

She knew her chest was rising faster than it had in a while. Her breathing was rapid and her heart was beating a mile a minute. She stared into the mirror above the bar watching the other patrons having a good time before sighing and sliding off the stool. There went any hope she had of them making it work. So much for being brave, not taking no for an answer. Malfoy always did manage to screw up her plans.

She had taken two steps away from him when she felt Draco grab her lightly by the arm and guide her towards the restaurant. She stood her ground, forcing him to stop. "I don't want a pity dinner, Malfoy. I'm already embarrassed beyond belief so no thank you."

He refused to budge as she pulled away. She noticed him close his eyes at her use of his surname. She hadn't used it in quite a while. She stared up at the beautiful man, his hair beginning to lose its carefully coiffed nature, his burning grey eyes directed at her. His hand slid up her arm until it rested on her neck causing chills to race along her body.

"Hermione, this has nothing to with pity. You deserve everything you said you wanted out of tonight and if I am the lucky man who you want to share your time with then who am I to refuse?" She could tell he was holding back so much more that he wanted to say but she was ecstatic that he had made this much progress. As she smiled at him and he returned it, they continued on their way to dinner. Maybe, Hermione thought to herself hopefully, tonight would go her way after all. There was still much to be said and shared between the two but the potential for success was back and that is all she needed.