I do not own Harry Potter.
Ch. 4 Dinner
About a month after the odd lunch with Malfoy, on a Tuesday, I finally finish the trial I have been working on for so long. The man was convicted of the crimes he was charged with, his wand destroyed and he was sent to Azkaban. After so long on this one task from the prepping and the getting ready for the trial, then having to deal with so many Aurors and international issues, I finally feel as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
I owl all my friends and invite them to an impromptu celebration at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade, so that we can get out of town, so to speak, for a weekend. I coast through the rest of the week blissfully aware of the lower, much lower, workload and approach the weekend supremely happy.
I haven't seen the 'mystery man' since the bar, and by now I decide that it was a strange fluke and I won't ever see him again. I still catch myself thinking about him off and on at random times, then a few times Malfoy even crosses my mind, much to my own chagrin. Friday afternoon I have all my work done, so I gather my things and decide to cut out early. I start down the hall checking my bag to make sure I grabbed my wand and not looking where I'm going, I run smack into someone.
"Oh, Merlin, I'm so sor-" I stop mid word my mouth dropping open when I look up into the startling blue eyes of none other than my mystery man.
"You," I say on a whisper and he smiles, really smiles not the half smile I had seen in the past. He has dimples and I automatically think of Malfoy then shake the thought away. I need to stop thinking about Malfoy.
"That seems to be a common phase when you and I bump into each other," he says with a smirk. "Literally."
I blush feeling my face and neck burn realizing that indeed is the exact thing I said to him in the bar. "Well if I knew your name I could say that instead," I resond smiling a bit.
"That is true," he says inclining his head, though not telling me his name.
I muster up my Gryffindor courage and quickly say what I am thinking before he can walk away. "I am having a sort of celebration tonight at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade, you should come." I watch as he smiles again then lifts one eyebrow and a memory tugs at my mind though something doesn't fit and I can't figure out what.
"I just may do that, I will have to see if my work is finished first," he says cryptically, and I smile even wider hoping he will come and maybe I can grill Theo to see if he knows him.
"Lovelym" I say. "Well, I ah hope to see you later."
"Later," he agrees and winks at me then strides down the hall in the direction I just came from.
I watch him walk a moment then force myself to continue on out of the ministry and floo to my flat. Once home I gather my things to take with me for when I apparate to Hogsmeade, and change from my work clothes. I decide to shower thinking that the 'mystery guy' may be there, and I want to look my best. After drying my hair and using my wand to straighten it, I look through my closet to figure out what I should wear.
I decide on a scoop neck dress, which gathers at the waist behind a broach, and scoop in the back leaving my back bare. The hem reaches to my knees and the skirt is a bit fuller, so it moves nicely when I walk. It is a beautiful emerald green and the fabric shimmers a bit with a gold tint. I pair it with three inch gold stilettos that lace up my ankles and clasp together with a red bow in the back.
I finally grab my wand and apparate to the Three Broomsticks. I actually feel nervous and excited, maybe I will finally know who the 'mystery man' is and then I can maybe convince him to go on a date with me.
I greet Ernie Macmillan, who took over the Three Broomsticks when Madam Rosmerta retired just after the war. I get a room knowing I will be staying the night and then after stowing my belongings I come back downstairs and seat myself at the bar.
"Hey Ernie, how are things?" I ask and he smiles warmly at me.
"Things are well, thanks, what brings you here tonight?" he questions still smiling while wiping glasses then he flicks his wand floating them to their designated spots.
"Well, I am having a celebration of sorts, I just finished a gruelling trial, and decided I needed to treat myself," I answer grinning at him. "I invited some friends, so you may be rather busy tonight," I add and he smiles wider.
"Sounds great," he responds and we chat for a bit when people start arriving, Ernie slides a shot of firewhiskey to me and says, "congrats." He winks then moves away to take drink orders.
I gulp the shot, and then turn when I hear Harry, who has Luna in tow, "hey 'Mione."
"Hey Harry," I respond throwing my arms around his neck and hugging him, then Luna. "Hey Luna."
"You look lovely Hermionem" she says her voice airy as always, though her gaze is more direct.
"Thanks Luna, you look great also," I add she is wearing a v-neck golden gown that flows to the floor and splits on one side to her thigh. Her shoes are a deep red and look fantastic with the dress, Harry nods in agreement whether to both of our comments or just to my comment about Luna.
I laugh and turn as I see Theo approaching me from the corner of my eye. "'Mione!" he says excitedly and scoops me into his spinning hug and I giggle. "You look hot," he says as Tori smacks his arm good naturedly rolling her eyes in amusement.
"Well, I wanted to look good because I think my 'mystery man' is going to be here tonight," I say and watch as both Theo and Tori's jaws drop. "I talked to him today," I add then laugh and fill them in on the conversation.
"I feel like maybe I missed something?" Harry asks looking confused.
So Theo and Tori happily fill him in as Blaise and Greg both join us both hugging me and telling me how great I look, by the time they are both done my face is on fire and my confidence that I will get the mystery man to go on a date with me is high.
Blaise and Greg both shake their heads at the conversation as Pansy and Michael join us as well. I grin happily as I look around at my friends, then to my surprise I see a tall redhead and I scream as I launch myself at Ron.
"Ron! I am so happy to see you!" I exclaim and he chuckles his cheeks turning pink.
"It great to see you too, 'Mione, you look great," he says smiling down at me and hugging me again.
"You look good too!" I answer him. "Congrats by the way on a good season," I add and he smiles widely his chest puffing out a bit. The Chudley Cannons are a better team now not only because of Ron, but Oliver Wood joined the team as a chaser also and after that they definitely got better.
"Do I get a congrats also?" I hear a man say with a Scottish brogue and I look over to see Oliver standing next to Ron and I launch myself at him hugging him.
"Congrats," I say after he sets me back on my feet laughing.
"Thanks lass, lets all get us some drinks, yes?" he says loudly and everyone cheers as Ernie starts pouring butterbeer.
Time passes and I am acutely aware that the mystery man still hasn't shown up and I start to get a bit depressed. I laugh and joke with my friends, still happy to have finished with the trial, while steadily drinking shots that people are buying to toast every random thing you can think of. At some point Fred, George, Ginny and Charlie all show up which means the place gets even louder. I see other people packed in and Ernie laughing at something Daphne is saying at the bar, but I don't see the sexy man with dark hair and blue eyes.
"Congrats on the conviction earlier this week," a deep voice says from behind me and I turn to see Malfoy looking down at me with that same intense look in his eyes.
"Th-thank you," I stutter at seeing him, he is very handsome and hasn't once insulted me since I ran into him months ago.
He smiles at me and says, "I have a sort of gift for you." He smirks at me and I scrunch my eyebrows in confusion.
"A gift? What for?" I ask completely dumbfounded.
"Well, for being you, for finishing your trial," he shrugs then winks at me and that same feeling that something just wasn't quite right tugs at the back of my head.
I look up at Malfoy in complete confusion and also trying to work out in my head why he keeps making me think of a memory that just won't quite come to the surface. I study his face and the first thing I notice is his eyes gets darker gray the longer he looks at me.
He then hands me a book and I look down and can't help but smile up at him after seeing it is the newest book of Magical Law. I had been meaning to buy it, but hadn't got around to it.
"I imagine you are a bit surprised?" he asks as he reaches his hand up to trace my right cheek, my face heating up and making my stomach flip.
"Ah," Is all I can say as I study his face feeling unsure about my feelings.
"I remember when I had lunch with you that this seemed like something you would enjoy," he explains clearly seeing the question in my eyes and gesturing to the book.
He watches me for a minute then quietly asks, "do you like it?"
I nod and smile at him then surprise us both by hugging him. "Oh, sorry I am just used to hugging people," I say awkwardly stepping back from him and he surprises me by laughing.
"Yes, I noticed that," he says he eyes shinning. "Theo especially seems to have become a hugger."
Malfoy looks over at Theo, then to the group slowly moving our way and smirks then looks back at me and smiles his dimples popping out.
"You have pretty much turned all the Slytherin's into affectionate compulsive huggers," he adds shaking his head wryly.
"Well," I start to say to defend myself and Malfoy interjects.
"No, I'm not insulting you, your hugs seem great." He shrugs, then says, "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to grab a drink."
I flush as he walks away then Ginny is at my side and nudges me a bit.
"So, I heard about this bloke you have been looking for," she states grinning over at me.
I shake my head trying to think through the haze of firewhiskey and Malfoy's confusing words. Then I smile I Ginny. "Yeah he is playing really hard to get."
"How much have you had to drink, love?" Charlie asks coming up next to Ginny and looking at me in amusement.
"Apparently not enough," I answer laughing considering that I was hugging Malfoy, then adding to myself 'Maybe I'm I so pissed that I am hugging Malfoy, what's next Vampire hunting?
They chuckle at my comment but I tilt my head at them. "I wish I knew his name."
"Well, maybe if he doesn't come tonight, you need to let him go," Ginny says sounding sober and serious, "There's nothing worse than wanting someone you can't have, or someone who doesn't want you back."
I blink seriously thinking maybe I am pissed because I have no idea what she is talking about. "Whom are you talking about?" I ask knowing at that moment Ginny is having troubles which is a perfect way that I can forget about mine, at least for tonight.
Ginny looks off into the crowd for a moment then looks back at me, "No one, I'm not talking about anyone," she says hastily and I try to follow where she was looking and I think maybe it was Blaise she was looking at.
I look over at Charlie who is smiling sadly at his little sister then turns to me as Ginny looks away and I decide that maybe I can help so I mouth to Charlie 'Blaise' raising my eyebrows in question.
He flicks his eyes to Ginny then back at me and nods once quickly then raises his mug and says, "I'm going to refill my drink you gals want anything?"
"Sure," I say distractedly then link my arm with Gin and head towards Blaise knowing that Blaise is single and maybe if I give a push who knows what could happen.
I ask Gin about the dragons and what she has been up to while slowly inching our way to Blaise who is talking to Malfoy. Finally we reach them and I reach out and touch Blaise's arm.
"Hey, so how is the potions store?" I ask after both he and Malfoy turn to look at us, I don't miss how Blaise's gaze lingers on Gin a bit longer that absolutely necessary.
I grin thinking this will be easy, and then notice Malfoy rolling his eyes. I frown wondering what he is thinking.
Blaise is answering my question even though I am not hearing him thinking instead about Malfoy and trying to stop wondering what would make him roll his eyes. Lucky for me Ginny decides to continue the conversation happily asking about a new potion Blaise had mentioned and I slide my hand from Ginny's and move away still grinning as she doesn't notice.
I move back towards the bar and order a butterbeer from Ernie, but Charlie slides up next to me and interrupts by handing me a drink and saying, "well done."
I grin at him and say, "Thanks." Then take a sip after raising it in toast.
"Yes, Granger well done, and very obvious if everyone wasn't already three sheets to the wind Blaise would have seen right through that." He chuckles and seats himself next to me smiling.
I turn to him completely forgetting about Charlie. I smirk at him. "Really everyone is so pissed yet you seemed to have figured it out," I point out and he rolls his eyes and leans closer to me lowering voice.
"Yes, well I'm not that far gone," he says his eyes intensely staring into mine.
"Oh, yeah?" I question taking another sip my throat having gone dry.
"So, do you think maybe we can have dinner together, as in I take you to dinner?" Malfoy asks leaning even closer and I can see every individual eyelash framing his intense gray eyes.
My lips part in a soft gasp and his eyes focus on my lips forcing my tongue to dart out and moisten them, his eyes narrow a bit and even his mouth opens as he sucks in a breath and I decide at that moment, mystery man or not, Malfoy is definitely someone I want to have dinner with.
Apparently taking my silence as him needing to convince me he uses my words and says, "You never know what you may miss judging one solely on their house affiliation." He looks back up into my eyes and his eyes are now swirling in what I think is desire and maybe hope?
I swallow thickly which catches his attention and his fingers make contact with my throat lightly tracing a line to my jaw and I make a squeaking noise then thickly say, "dinner is nice."
He smiles showing his dimples, and my vision narrows to only Malfoy, I don't even know how I end up leaning into him and then all I feel is his surprised gasp against my mouth.
For a suspended moment his lips rest against mine then both our lips are moving and his mouth feels so soft and seductive against mine. I feel pleasure and tingles shooting from my lips to my cheeks and then lower travelling down my throat where his palm is resting his fingers in the hair at my nape pulling me closer.
His mouth moves expertly his lip dancing against mine then needing air I pull back slightly and he rests his forehead against mine, both of us panting, as my mind whirls with the shock of having kissed Malfoy and enjoying it, completely.
I tilt my head back slightly and look up to meet his eyes, and I see the same thoughts swirling in his eyes, then he half smile causing one dimple to pop, and says softly, "I can't believe I ran the risk of missing that."
I blush then smile shyly which is laughable after that intense kiss. "So, dinner?" I say wickedly and he laughs lowly.
"Yes how about tomorrow?" he suggests and I nod as I feel his fingers slide through my hair a bit then his fingers slide across my throat to my collarbone then leave me entirely as he drops his hand to his side.
"Until we meet again, yes?" he asks and rises to disappear into the crowd.
If I hadn't been completely flabbergasted by the whole exchange I would have felt that familiar tug of déjà vu, where have I heard that phrase before I think as my fingers press against my lips and I smile slightly.
"Who needs a 'mystery man' when Malfoy is around," I whisper and then giggle a bit before Theo catches my attention coming to stand next to me.
The rest of the night is a bit of a blur and the unknown, unnamed man with dark hair and blue eyes doesn't show himself once, though he was definitely there, closer that she knew.
Okay, first off thank you so so much for all the wonderful reviews! I am trying to keep a few chapters ahead as I post, so I would update everyday except I have been working so much I haven't been getting much writing done. I am enjoying all the speculation of who is who and what is what, but I am not completely answering some of the questions. I don't want to give the plot away, and I want to see if you are surprised or if the story line works…so saying, yes we have met the villain, and no I will not confirm if Draco and unnamed 'mystery man' are the same, but I will tell you that you will be learning more about both soon! Thanks so much again, and please review, let me know what you thought about this chapter…