Disclaimer: I own nothing!
So, on with the story.. I hope you like it!
-o-
The next day Malfoy arrived on time. Hermione had planned to take him to muggle-London today, and had told him to dress accordingly. She was quite curious to see what he would be wearing.
She almost gasped when he entered her office. He looked like something taken out of The Matrix, only with long, blonde hair and a black frock-coat instead of the leather one Neo was sporting in the movie. He looks bloody gorgeous, she thought, and wanted to slap herself instantly.
"Well, Miss Granger, what godforsaken place are you taking me to today?"
She smiled at him. "I am taking you to my favourite, godforsaken coffee shop."
-o-
A while later, they were sitting in her favourite coffee shop, and Hermione smiled at the extremely displeased expression on the Neo-lookalike on the other side of the table.
"Do you find anything amusing, Miss Granger?"
"You just remind me of a character in a movie, that's all."
"You don't say."
"Do you know what a movie is?"
"Of course I do. Don't be foolish."
"Explain it to me then?"
Lucius Malfoy did not know what a movie was.
"Have you truly lived that sheltered all your life? Do you not know what a movie is, what a cinema is?"
Malfoy just raised his nose in the air and looked away. Hermione rolled her eyes. "Very well. You have sealed your fate. We are going to the cinema one of these days."
Hermione pulled out her iPhone, and went online to look up what movies they could go to. She smirked and looked at Malfoy. "Well, Mr Malfoy, you will get to choose. What movie we will attend."
Malfoy did not even bother to look at her, so she continued. "Here are your options. The first one is called Twilight, and is about a clumsy teenage girl that falls in love with a very handsome vampire." Not getting a response, she continued
"The second is called The Dark Knight, and is about a man dressed as a bat saving the city of Gotham." Hermione had to hold back a laugh as she saw the slight frown in the blonde man's face.
"Alright. Not that one then. Your third option, and I think you will like this one, is called The Fellowship of The Ring." Hermione was paying close attention, and noticed the slight rise in Malfoy's eyebrows. She smiled. "And from that enthusiastic expression I think we just found our winner. We will end early today, and I will meet you tomorrow evening."
Malfoy's head snapped around to look at her. "Evening? I have no intention of spending my evening with you."
Hermione cocked her head. "Not even if the result is that you won't have to spend the day after tomorrow with me?"
Malfoy rolled his eyes with a sigh. "Insufferable woman. When and where should I meet you?"
-o-
The next evening, Hermione was standing in line to buy popcorn with a severely displeased Lucius Malfoy next to her. She gave him a bright smile. "Relax; I have made sure that the cinema will be empty except for me and you. So just try to breathe as we get snacks."
He gave her an ice-cold stare. "And this snack is crucial to the experience, I take it?"
Hermione actually giggled. "Indeed it is."
-o-
They sat down in the cinema, and Hermione actually felt a bit excited. She had never gotten around to seeing Lord of The Rings at the cinema. She handed Malfoy his popcorn and coca cola and he took it from her before thinking about what he was doing.
It was all in the movement. If you just handed people something like it was the most natural thing in the world, they would most of the time just take it. She saw his furious expression, and had trouble not laughing.
He noticed, and hissed at her. "You should mind your manners, Miss Granger. Or perhaps have the sense to be a bit more afraid."
His voice was threatening, and Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. "I assume that was a threat, Mr Malfoy. However, I find that I am not afraid of you. What exactly is it that you can do to me? A quick avada? I would prefer not to die, but I do not fear death. And it is a quick and almost painless way to go as far as I know. Other than that, are you planning to torture me in the middle of a muggle cinema? I am very capable of defending myself. And I resist imperio without problems. I have not spent my years loitering, Mr Malfoy."
He just looked coldly at her, and she gave him a smile that made him roll his eyes. "Must you be so bloody happy all the time?"
Hermione's smile widened. "If it annoys you? Yes. Now eat your popcorn, Mr Malfoy. I didn't know what you favoured, so there is both butter and candied popcorn in there. And do try the coca cola. It's delicious."
Malfoy just hmpfed, and she had to hold back a laugh as the movie started.
-o-
Hermione was sucked into the movie from the beginning. But after a while, she realised whom she was here with, and dared a glance to her side. And had to hold her breath to not laugh.
Lucius-holier-than-thou-Malfoy was sitting there with his eyes glued to the screen, and the straw from his coca cola was only leaving his mouth to be replaced with a fistful of popcorn.
Hermione was sure she would never forget the sight.
-o-
When the movie finished, Hermione decided to act like she had not noticed his enthusiasm, or the fact that both his coca cola and popcorn was completely empty. She gave him a smile. "So, what do you think?"
He raised a bored eyebrow at her. "Barely adequate."
Hermione knew he was lying, but decided to let him have his dignity intact. If she was to get anywhere with the blonde man it was probably not a good idea to humiliate him. She was surprised to hear him continue. "They left out Tom Bombadil. Disappointing."
Hermione's eyes lit up. "I know! I do understand why they did it, but it is such a shame!"
He raised an eyebrow at her. "And why did they do it?"
"Because there are some guidelines on to how long a movie can be. Around three hours to be the max. Can you imagine sitting here for several more hours? And Fellowship of The Ring being such a huge book, they had to leave out something. Tom Bombadil being a logical solution if you think about it. He has no impact on the bigger plot whatsoever. Yes, he saves them from a dangerous situation, but it makes no difference to the story as a whole if you leave that part out entirely."
Malfoy gave a bored sigh. "I still find it disappointing."
"So do I. Are you ready to leave?"
When he just gave her a what-do-you-think expression, she rolled her eyes. "The question was more rhetorical than anything else."
-o-
The next day, Hermione was sitting at her desk at home making notes on the progress of Malfoy. And had to smile from the memory of Lucius Malfoy shoving down handfuls of popcorn. Perhaps there was hope still.
She decided to write him a letter.
Mr Malfoy
I know I promised you the day off, but I was wondering if you were able to change the times somewhat? Here is my proposition.
One, we go to the cinema tonight and tomorrow night to see the two other Lord Of The Rings movies, and you still get a day off, just not today.
Or two, we continue without the cinema, which means we are back to conversation and touring muggle-London. Let me know what you think.
Hermione Granger.
The reply came faster than she expected.
Miss Granger
Although the tour of muggle-London sounds like an unforgettable experience, I choose the cinema. It was a hard decision to make, mind you.
Lucius Malfoy
She actually laughed. The man had humour. Hidden under his holier-than-thou-pureblood supremacy, of course. But still.
-o-
Hermione noticed that Malfoy's expression was less severe than the night before as they were standing in line to get popcorn. Hermione bought him the same as the night before without asking, and adding some twizzlers and smarties.
When they reached their seats, she handed him the popcorn and cola before holding out the twizzlers to him. "These are some of my favourites. It's red liquorish. And this is chocolate. Try it, if you feel like it."
She took the candies from her with a sniff, but she felt a bubble of laughter on the inside. Oh, I will break you yet, Lucius Malfoy, she thought before turning to the screen as the room went dark.
The whole cinema idea turned out to be a great success in Hermione's opinion. The third day, when waiting in line to buy candy, Malfoy looked down his nose at her.
"Do not forget the twizzlers."
Hermione had to do her very best to not laugh. She gave him an amused smile instead.
"I would never."