A/N: Ok, so I like the stories where Blaise Zabini is Italian, because that is how I pictured him while reading the series, so in my story he is Italian.

It had been almost a month since Malfoy, had given her the ring. She had had a surprisingly good time with Narcissa, Molly, and Ginny picking out their dress robes for the wedding. Hermione had had to fight with Narcissa and Molly to pay for her own wedding robes. They were both very insistent that they be the ones to buy them. The only thing that would have made the search better was if her mother could have been there.

Hermione was swept up into memories of the fateful night that her parents were murdered. It was shortly after the war, and there were still a lot of Death Eaters on the run. Hermione and Ron had apparated into her parents' back yard for dinner with her mum and dad, but when they arrived the Dark Mark greeted them over their home.

Ron had run in ahead of Hermione and it was he who found her parents. They were lying on the floor of the kitchen, remnants of the dinner they were preparing scattered across the floor. He had tried to spare her the sight, but she was right behind him, she would never forget the looks of fear on their faces. Naturally the police were baffled, as to how a perfectly healthy couple could drop dead of no apparent cause. It was ruled an accidental poisoning.

After the death of her parents they had moved the wedding back, to give her time to grieve. She always wondered if they hadn't moved it, if things would have been different. They would have still been on their honeymoon when Ron was killed.

Hermione shook herself to release her mind from thoughts of the past. There was no going back. The first month she had spent trying to figure out a way to go back and change history. Harry and Ginny were her rock at that time; they were there for her everyday. But it was Ron's brother George who had finally convinced her that she had to move on.

Now, it was time to start to move on. She was going to marry another man in two months. She was in fact going on a date tonight with that man, without her friends, or his. So far they had gone out together with Harry and Ginny, or Blaise and Parvati, or like last night all together. Tonight would be the first time since the day he gave her the ring that they were going out alone. Hermione had been sure to engineer all of their dates so that she had someone else there, she had started to have feelings for Draco, and she wasn't ready for that.

It still amazed Hermione how well they all got along. The first time they had gone out after the engagement had been a smashing success. Parvati, who Hermione had roomed with at Hogwarts, was a very entertaining dinner companion.

It was enormously entertaining watching her and Blaise interact. Blaise was clearly enamored of his fiancée, and he was not scared to show it. Parvati was always one to find good in people, and she was quickly falling under his spell.

It was also enlightening to watch Malfoy and Blaise interact. They had grown up as friends, so she saw a different side of him when they all went out together.

She was a little nervous about tonight. She had started to care for her handsome fiancé, and she was very confused about her feelings. After he had placed the ring on her finger and stood up, he had hesitantly put her arms around her, and lowered his lips to hers in a tentative kiss.

She had meant to just allow him a chaste peck on her lips, but as soon as his lips touched her, she had felt her heart start to pound. She didn't realize what she was doing, but she had suddenly felt the hair at the nape of his neck between her fingers, she allowed his tongue access to her warm mouth and she felt wonderfully free. She eagerly returned his kiss.

He was the one to pull away. His beautiful gray eyes looked wonderingly into hers, and he leaned in and brushed her lips with his twice more, before releasing her.

Draco was getting ready for his date with Granger. He was surprisingly nervous about tonight. Since the day he had formally proposed, she had made sure that their friends or family were there to chaperon their dates, but tonight he had finally convinced her that they should go out without their friends. He was taking her to a very exclusive private dining club.

He had appealed to his father to figure out how to get her out alone. His mother was no help, her idea was to invite her over for a family dinner, but how do you tell your mother that you want to get your fiancé alone so that you can snog her senseless. "Sorry, mum, I appreciate the idea, but I want to try to get into Grangers knickers" didn't really work when your mother could hex you into a slug, or worse a ferret.

Which made Draco remember the day that George Weasley had cornered him when they were all gathered at The Burrow for dinner. He had proceeded to transfigure him into a ferret, at which point he calmly told him the many different ways that he could be tortured by the older wizard. After about 10 minutes, Hermione had shown up and realizing what was going on, immediately changed him back, with a cocky flick of her wand.

Watching her turn on George Weasley and threaten to hex his balls into oblivion was hugely entertaining for Draco. The sight of George Weasley sheepishly apologizing was almost worth the indignity. "Draco, I am sorry that Hermione realized that you were the ferret that I was playing with oomph…I mean I am sorry I turned you into a ferret." He finished under his breath, "next time I'll make sure she is not around to change you back."

Getting his mind back to the issue at hand, Draco looked in the mirror one last time, gave his hair a quick finger comb to make sure that it looked right, and made his way over to the fireplace to get some floo powder. He threw the powder into the fireplace and stepped in and shouted 15 Havershoot Place, Flat 34.


Hermione looked up from the book she was reading to pass the time waiting for Malfoy with a smile.

"Right on time as always," she greeted.

He grinned back at her and said, "My mother taught me that a gentleman never makes a lady wait." He reached out his hand to capture her right hand and press a gentle kiss on its back.

"So where are you taking me tonight Malfoy, I am intrigued as to why you won't let me know," she queried.

"If I told you where we are going then I wouldn't have an excuse to put my arms around you. Side along apparition is truly Man's best friend," he joked and pulled her to him by the hand that he had failed to let go.

"I know that your mother didn't teach you that," Hermione replied cheekily.

"That my dear would be one of my father's lessons. How better to get a saucy little witch in your arms." Draco continued, "Besides, you are a hard woman to snuggle with."

At that comment Draco lowered his head and captured her lips in a sweet kiss. He licked at her lips to encourage her to open her mouth. When she did allow him access he groaned deep in his throat and immediately deepened the kiss, and wrapped her tightly in his arms.

He ran his right hand up her side, to cup her cheek, and hold her head in place. He wasn't letting her out of this easily. They finally had to break the kiss to breathe, and Draco ducked his head to kiss her neck. He rubbed his lips sensuously over her collarbone, before lifting his head to look into her whiskey colored eyes.

A man could drown in those eyes, he thought. "I hope you know what you do to me Granger," he said and pressed his lower body into her, so that she could feel his erection.

"Shouldn't we get going soon," she asked and watched his eyes cloud over.

"Right," he said curtly, "we have reservations at 8."

Hermione put her hand on his chest and said "Malf…"

"My name is Draco," he cut in angrily, "you should get used to saying it, after all we are going to be married in two months time."

"D...Draco," she stammered, "Please don't be mad at me. I am just so confused, Ron only died 4 months ago, and when you kiss me, I…well you see I… I just melt, and it feels like I am dishonoring his memory."

Draco's eyes immediately cleared and he said gently, "Hermione I understand, it wasn't fair of me to try to rush you. We'll go slow, and when you are ready…"

She cut him off quickly, "You will be the first to know, I promise."

"So if you are ready, love, we can probably just make our reservation."

She moved close and reached up to kiss him lightly. "Thank you for understanding, Draco, you can apparate us now."

He grinned down at her, and pop, they were gone.

A/N: OK, so I am working on Chapter 5, but I need feedback from you guys. I got an amazing review on chapter 4 that gave me some ideas on how to proceed, and I am actually trying to implement some of the suggestions, so any ideas are welcome. Also if anyone knows a good Beta that would be willing to help me out, let me know.