Hermione decided to forgo the Gryffindor common room and go straight to breakfast, realising that by the time she walked to the tower she would only have to come back down again and that would look rather suspicious to her house mates.
She was just making her way inside, noticing Draco walking to his own table when Ginny came up behind her, making her jump in surprise when she put her arms around her waist.
"Jumpy today aren't you? Have anything to do with spending the night with a certain secret boyfriend who shall not be named?"
"Gin...How'd you know I spent the night with him?" Hermione asked her friend looking around to make sure nobody heard them.
"You're kidding right?" She asked as they sat down and started piling their plates with scrambled eggs and toast. "At least tell me you've gotten past cheek kissing"
"Why are you so interested?"
"I may have a bet with a hot Slytherin boy to see how long it takes the two of you. I'm fully expecting to win so to do that you need to kiss him before Sunday"
"Theo? Hot? Eww Gin!"
"What? A girl can keep her options open even if she isn't single, can't she? HOLY MOTHER OF MERLIN!" She shouted so loudly that most of the great hall occupants turned to face them, including those sat at the Slytherin table which of course included Draco and Theo.
Well, Hermione thought, if they hadn't been looking before they sure were now. "What the hell Ginny?" Hermione hissed at her friend.
"You didn't deny it" She replied ignoring the looks they were still getting from the rest the students. "Come, we need to talk. I want, no need, to know everything!" She said dragging Hermione back out the door without a thought to the onlookers still watching them.
Once the girls were both safely out of the way of prying ears, outside in the crisp autumn air Ginny threw up a muffliato and a notice-me-not charm so they wouldn't be seen or heard then turned her attentions back to her friend.
"I'm not even going ask how you got so good at those charms" Hermione said with a grimace clearly evident on her face.
"Harry insists"
"I said I didn't want to know! Come on Gin he's practically my brother! Now why the hell are we outside in the freezing cold and not eating a delicious breakfast in the warmth?"
"You know perfectly well why missus, stop playing games with me. When did it happen?"
"When did what happen?" Hermione tried to play the innocent, she really did. Had this been the boys she'd have probably got away with it but she knew Ginny would see right through her.
"Mione I swear either you tell me or I'm going to go and sit with the snakes and have a lovely little chat with the ferret you're so bloody fond of! Now tell me, when did he become you boyfriend?"
"What? Why would you-"
"Because you never denied it before when I said it and every other time you've denied it straight out and I know you were with him last night. At least tell me you kissed properly!"
"You Weasely's are so bloody insufferable you know? Fine, yes I was with him last night, yes he technically is my boyfriend now and yes we kissed, a few times actually"
"This kiss was it?-"
"Full on snogging"
"Wow. Tell me everything. Are you happy? Stupid question. Just tell"
After that the girls spent the rest of the day talking about anything and everything, mainly about boys, specifically their boyfriends and in typical Ginny fashion she was true to her word not letting Hermione stop until she was satisfied she knew every single thing she could. Then of course the conversation veered towards Harry and Ron and Lavender. Before long both girls had truly exhausted their gossip sources and decided to head in to dinner early since they had missed both meals for the day in exchange of just being able to be teenage girls for one afternoon.
As usual the owls arrived just before the meal began, Hermione, not expecting anything since the only people that would write to her were her parents, the Weasley's and her friends (who were all inside the castle) went about loading her plate full of her favourite foods just as a tawny owl she recognised as one of the school's owl's crashed on the table in front of her holding a letter wither a cursive 'H' on the front. Clearly intrigued she untied the burden from the owl and handed him some scraps of food before he flew off and she could read her letter.
'H
Nice show at breakfast, I didn't give Red enough credit but as it stands T figured it out the moment she started swearing to merlin all over the hall - so that makes it a tie. We both win and with that in mind I'll fund the date from my own galleons. Meet me at our place at 8pm tonight. Don't be late and don't eat too much at dinner.
P.S. Tell Red, T is hiding from her, something about a bet? My guess is she won, he really doesn't like to lose.
D'
"Who's the letter from 'Mi?" Ginny asked through a mouthful of food.
"God you're just like Ron, here read it if you must" Hermione replied passing the letter over to her friend as Harry and Ron both approached the table.
As requested Hermione didn't each much of her meal, not that she'd have been able to even if she could anyway due to the butterflies she could feel in the pit of her stomach. She wasn't sure why she was so nervous at the prospect of being around Draco, she had spent the past few weeks spending more time in his presence than that of her own friends. But stil,l the nerves were there and she was very thankful that for once, Ron was not sucking faces with Lavender because there was just no way she could stomach that right now.
"Harry, the Halloween dance is next weekend"
"I know, what's your point?"
"My point is you're taking me"
"Gin you know I don't like-"
"Harry either you take me or I'll go with someone else, maybe Neville, he's a really good dancer you know. Or Seamus he's hot..."
"Fine, I'll go. Have it your way. You and Lavender going mate?" Harry said turning to Ron.
"Don't have a bloody choice do I? Bloody witches!"
"You still going with Ernie 'Mione?" Harry asked Hermione.
"Ernie? McMillan? Your going to the Halloween dance with him?"
"Well, Ronald, he asked me and I said yes, what's the issue?"
"Nothing I just thought he wasn't your type"
"We're just friends, seriously. And what do you mean he's not my type?" She asked him with raised eyebrows and a furrowed brow.
"I dunno, just not Ernie I guess and he's been trying to ask you out for about a year 'Mione he doesn't want to be just your friend"
"Why does everyone seem to think they know better? I'm sick of having this conversation. We're just friends."
"Course" Ron replied and turned to Harry again "So we got practice tonight ready for the Ravenclaw game tomorrow? First game of the season!"
After that Hermione tuned out the conversation and pulled a book out of her bag, for once she was happy to just be around her friends, even if they were talking about a stupidly dangerous sport. Her mind was a buzz with the conversation and her stomach was fluttering in nervous anticipation so even though she tried her damned hardest to focus on the book she had picked up (the next in line in the Magical World of the Forbidden series) she just kept reading the same line over and over again without even taking notice of it, so in the end decided she would head up to her dorm and get ready for her date. Ginny would be at practice so she couldn't help her tonight but the redhead still managed to pull her aside before they parted for the first time that day.
"Something casual but sexy 'Mi and do something with your hair! Go through my clothes if you have to. I won't wait up but I expect a full report tomorrow!"
Shaking her head Hermione walked off towards the Gryffindor common room her mind filled with thoughts of what she could possibly wear or do with her hair that would make it look semi-presentable.
When she finally arrived in her room she had decided to use a hair up charm Lavender had shown her the year before, she wasn't as skilled as the blonde was when it came to hair and make up charms but she still thought it look decent enough in her half up half down do' with her curls flowing down her back and a small hair piece clipped in the masses. For make up she decided to stay simple, she figured if Draco Malfoy wanted to be with her he wanted her for who she already was and they both knew that that did not involve a heavy face of make up so she applied a light coat of mascara and dabbed a bit of rouge on her lips hoping it would be enough. Her biggest problem was clothes, she really wasn't sure what to expect for the night but seeing as they were inevitably stuck in the castle either way she figured a shirt and jeans should be good enough with a pair of low heeled boots. The jeans were a present from her parents the year before and a very expensive pair that hugged her figure perfectly at every curve and the shirt was just a simple checked cotton shirt she'd found in her wardrobe. She pulled a simple black vest on first leaving her able to keep the buttons open. She felt very casual, maybe too casual but looking in the mirror she thought she still looked good. She'd never been on a date before and had no idea what she was doing but this was going to have to do. At 7.45pm she picked up her bag so others would think she was heading to the library and made her way down to the room of requirement as was her nightly ritual.
"Fuck! Theo I don't know what I'm doing"
"Looks like you're being nervous before your first real date with a real witch"
"She's not just any witch though is she? The bloody golden girl, best friend of Harry fucking Potter. What the fuck am I doing? If Potter and the Weasel found out about this-"
"Who's going to tell them? Only four people know, you know I won't say anything you and Granger are not likely to say anything to ruin your perfect little romance-"
"It's not-"
"And Weaslette's not stupid, she might love those two idiots but she's not stupid. So what is it you're really worried about?"
"You think she will show up?"
"You're messing with me aren't you? She's been down in that room with you every night for weeks why would tonight be any different?"
"Because every other night there was no pressure to turn up"
"She'll be there, she's a bloody Gryffindor. You better get going if you want to set this up before she arrives"
"Thanks Theo, and thanks for the chocolates. I'll pay you back"
"Just don't be giving me any sordid details and we'll call it even"
Draco shook his head and, after looking over his reflection once more he headed down to the room of requirement early to set up the date he had planned for the evening. He had promised Hermione romance and he wasn't about to let her down yet. He walked outside the room three times and asked for the same they always asked for when they got their room 'our room' he thought as he asked for the room to remove the chairs and tables and not let anyone else but Hermione inside, on the off chance someone could get in. He really didn't want to be disturbed tonight.
Once inside he set to work charming the fire so that it actually let off heat rather than just enchanted flames, he charmed the ceiling to look like the night sky with thousands of small stars and made the rug in front of the fire much larger so that the two of them could sit there comfortably. After that was done he set about lighting as many candles as he could, there must have been at least 50 of them and then set their food down, still under a stasis charm, it was just a simple stew with fresh baked bread that he had got from the elves, the box of Honeydukes' finest chocolates Theo had given him stayed in his bag along with his surprise for Hermione. Lastly he pulled out the pink rose he had for her and waited for her to arrive.
It was 7.55pm and he was starting to get worried, he knew she wasn't late but his nerves were getting the better of him so he started to pace back and forth in front of the door way wishing her to walk.
Hermione arrived at the room of requirement earlier than she intended, the walk usually took her nearly ten minutes but tonight she was there in five. She figured she was more excited for the date than she realised but didn't dare go inside. Instead she paced outside the door trying to calm herself, worrying about how her outfit looked, whether her hair looked okay and if her make up was too much. Until, eventually, she decided to find her Gryffindor courage and just go inside, the longer she stood there the more nervous she was going to be so she took her courage and asked for 'their room' pacing three more times until a door appeared and she bravely opened it.
Entering inside she saw Draco stood stock still looking very intense the look worried her for a moment but the second he saw her she noticed him visibly relax.
"Worried I wouldn't show up?" She teased him.
"Hardly. Worried maybe someone else could get through. I asked specifically for the room to only let you in but you never know"
"You can admit it you know, that you're nervous"
"I...okay I'm nervous. I've not exactly dated many girls before"
"How many?"
"What?"
"How many girls have you dated?"
"Well, none"
"None? Me either" She said clearly very shocked at his reply.
"I should hope not because if you preferred girls I would have liked to know by now"
"Okay smart arse, I've never dated anyone. That better?"
"Maybe"
"And I'm nervous as hell"
"What happened to Gryffindor courage?"
"Hey I'm here aren't I? Is that not courage enough?"
"Some lion you are" He replied fondly shaking his head and smiling at her. "Here this is for you" He said passing her the rose.
Hermione took the rose and brought it to her nose to smell the lovely floral scent of the flower before she placed in her hair so it would not get ruined. Later she would charm it into a bookmark so she could keep it with her all the time.
"It's beautiful, pink roses are for admiration and appreciation you know. And this room, wow!"
"I know what they're for. I know my flower's Hermione, I'm glad you like it. And the room, I did all the extra things myself, I wanted to use our room and wasn't sure if I asked the room to change what I wanted to change it would still be 'our room' so I just did it myself"
"It's beautiful"
"No, you're beautiful, the room is just a room"
Hermione stood there nervously blushing at his words looking around trying to wonder what he had planned for the night.
"Come on you must be hungry. I know you missed breakfast and lunch and then I stupidly told you to not eat until tonight. Sorry about that if I had known-"
"It's okay. I got sidetracked with Ginny. She wouldn't let me go until she knew everything and by the way that note; I say I won"
"And how do you figure that out? Theo realised the moment Red screamed to Merlin all over the great hall"
"Exactly! But she had to realise it before she started screaming it, therefore she knew before him and I win" She said smirking up at him.
"So if you figured out you won the bet then why are you here?"
"Curious?"
"Curious?"
"Maybe I was secretly hoping you'd win so I could get to see Draco Malfoy on a date" now smirking even more at him.
"Gryffindor's" Draco muttered before he bent down and kissed her lightly then lead her to where he had left their food. Pulling out a flask of hot chocolate he poured their drinks and they went on to eat their meal talking about their day and the homework they had for the week. When they finished their meal they found themselves leaning back against the couch next to each other, the conversation flowing just as easily as it had been every other night they had spent together.
Draco pulled out the huge box of chocolates and they began to share them. After a while Draco decided to play a game and pulled out his school tie from his bag to blindfold Hermione. Excited and curious she played along while he fed her chocolates and she had to guess the flavour, they both enjoyed the game very much. Hermione especially enjoyed it when she used the tie to blindfold him and have him become the taster.
"Your turn to guess the chocolates" She said putting the tie firmly around his eyes and sitting close to him. "Same rules, you just have the guess the chocolate" And with all her Gryffindor courage she bit into a Turkish Delight, swallowed, then kissed him hoping he would play along. Boy did he play along and in such a Slytherin way too, of course.
"I thought I was supposed to be tasting the chocolates?" He said after she first kissed him.
"You are"
"Oh god. Well in that case I need another taste, I was a little preoccupied before" And of course she obliged, taking another bite of the Turkish Delight before kissing him once again. After each test the kisses became more progressive, more tongue, more heat, more teeth, more kissing and definitely less tasting.
"I like this game" He said after correctly guessing three chocolates in a row.
"I can see that" She replied clearly hinting at the obvious erection that was very visible and taking a bite out of a chocolate covered caramel before giving him his final test.
Hermione bent to kiss him one last time, she knew he would smell her lips first and she knew he would know the answer right away, she'd chosen the caramel last for this reason. But she wanted him to carry on playing along and could tell he wanted it too. So she placed her lips on his and kissed him gently before he ran his tongue over her lower lip and she felt him smile against her mouth. He'd just give himself away and they both knew it. When she parted her lips to let him in he wasted no time in delving in tongue inside her mouth, caressing her tongue with his own and tasting more of that sweet caramel that was mixed with her own unique sweet taste, he carried on."Caramel" He murmured eventually, through what was essentially a very very thorough test and probably the most passionate kiss they'd had to date. She replied by biting on his lower lip knowing it would make him moan appreciatively, she'd only heard it once before but she so loved that sound.
The date was going so well that Draco almost forgot his surprise for Hermione until the topic of the Halloween ball was brought up.
"Look I know we can't go to the dance together, I would if we could though. Maybe we could meet up here instead? Anyway, I figured no date is complete without dancing right? So we're going to dance" He said pulling himself to stand and grabbing Hermione in the process.
"But there's no music Draco"
"There will be" He said as he walked over to his bag and pulled out what looked like a cross between a muggle radio and a wizarding radio at the same time.
"How did-?"
"I made it"
"You made that? And it works?" She asked almost not believing him.
"I'm not just a pretty face you know"
"But how does it work in the castle, I thought it repelled muggle technology?"
"It does but since its mixed with magic it's as if the castle doesn't notice it. Like the magic cancels out the muggle stuff? I'm not actually sure how it works but it does. I've got a couple of songs set up, let me just put it on"
And sure enough within seconds soft music was playing throughout the room. Draco turned to her, stretched his arm out and took her hand before leading her to a empty spot and dancing with her for the rest of their evening
Skipping beats, blushing cheeks, I am struggling
Daydreaming, bed scenes in the corner cafe
And then I'm left in bits, recovering tectonic trembling's
You get me every time
Why do you have to be so cute?
It's impossible to ignore you
Well, must you make me laugh so much?
It's bad enough we get along so well
Say goodnight and go
"Where did you get the songs?" Hermione finally asked after hearing the same mix on repeat.
"Why, don't you like them?"
"Actually some of them are my favourites, Imogen Heap especially"
"Well that I did know. Red helped me pick them out a few days ago. Secretly of course"
"Of course. You like her don't you? Even if she is a Weasley?"
"She's less irritable than her brothers I suppose and not bad on a broom either"
"Coming from you that's practically gushing"
"Getting jealous are we?"
"Don't be ridiculous!"
"Good because I'd never-"
"I know, well, at least I hope I know. Lets be honest neither of us really knows each other all that well yet"
"Even so I wouldn't do that"
"Neither would I, just so you know"
"Not even when the Weasel gets rid of whoever that is he's always sucking faces with?"
"Lavender, seriously we've shared all the same classes for six years how do you not know everyone's names?"
"She's unimportant and you never answered my question"
"What ques...Oh Ron? Me and Ron? You've got to be kidding! He's like my brother that's just...that's...ewww"
"Hermione the only reason he's all over that girl-"
"Lavender"
"Whatever. Is because he's trying to get a reaction from you. You should see the way he looks at you."
"Before today he hadn't spoken to me in weeks"
"Another tactic, I'm sure"
"Does it really matter? He's with Lavender, has been for a while, I'm with you. I'm here right now. Can't we just forget it?"
"Of course. Another dance?"
"I thought you'd never ask" She replied and moved back to where they had previously been dancing to enjoy the rest of their night.
They were not sure what it was that felt wrong about staying that night but something was just, different, so they both decided to head back to their dorms around midnight. It was risky, way past midnight yet something about staying the night after a date, though a very lovely and romantic date, just felt wrong, too fast, too soon and just wrong. So they decided to part ways and agreed to meet up after the quidditch game the next day to do their homework as usual.
"I had a really good time tonight. This date was the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me before. Thank you"
"I had a really good time too and it wouldn't have been half as special had it not been for the company, so thank you" Draco replied kissing the back of her hand gently.
"Well, I guess I better get to the tower now, will I see you tomorrow?"
"Quidditch practice after breakfast so I'll be here after the Gryffindor vs Ravenclaw game, you know how I love to Potter lose the snitch"
"Boys and quidditch" She muttered.
"The best sport in the world. I'll meet you here afterwards"
"Great I'll see you then, bring your homework. Goodnight"