Song: Change by Moon Taxi

The moment they had shared came to an abrupt end, marked with the shattering of the teacup as it reached the wooden floor. It had not, in its rapid descent neglected to empty itself of its contents, leaving both covered in steaming tea.

While Hermione was painfully aware of how close Draco was, she was even more concerned with how transparent her blouse had become now that it was thoroughly drenched.

"Merlin's fucking beard." Draco groaned, pushing his hair off of his forehead in a manner that made him look humorously similar to his childhood self.

"You know, I think this makes Seamus Finnegan a truly masterful wizard." she teased, waving her wand once to vanish the rapidly cooling liquid and then again to repair the shattered tea cup.

"Once again, Granger, a failed attempt at humor. Strangely enough, everyone always thought you were a quick learner."

"Everyone, Malfoy?" Hermione asked, half in jest and half genuine curiosity.

"Honestly Granger, I know that Gryffindor house pride is obnoxiously overstated and all, but you lot never seem to give the rest of us credit."

"Well, Ravenclaws were always terribly studious, and Hufflepuffs tend to make fierce friends."

"And Slytherins are incredibly cunning and clever, we know threats to our obvious superiority when we see them." Draco finished, giving Hermione a sly smile that made it clear he meant no offense.

"You'd have to be denser than Goyle to not see me as an obvious threat." She replied over her shoulder as she walked towards the kitchen.

"In that case Granger, let me assure you that you'll never have to worry about that."

Hermione turned toward him, noticing how his eyes had gone from a molten silver to a stormy grey. Everything about this moment was surreal, having Draco Malfoy in her flat, looking devastatingly handsome, and feeling a magnetic pull that threatened to send her crashing into him if she wasn't careful. She turned away, growing hot under his gaze and feeling like she needed to open a window so that she might breathe deeply again.

"Very impressive Draco, drop a sodding cup of tea all over her" Draco cursed himself, watching as Hermione righted everything effortlessly. "What the bollocks is wrong with me? I get within a foot of Granger and suddenly my tact goes to absolute shit." He wondered as Hermione moved away from him. This was not like him, it was nearly the opposite in fact.

"Is there any reason in particular you agreed to go on a blind date, Malfoy?" Hermione asked him, looking up at him so sweetly it made his heart ache.

"Other than threats made to my life and limbs made by that git, Zabini, I figured it would be an opportunity to at least have a meal outside of my own house for once."

"Oh." she replied, and Draco could tell that there was far more to the question than she was willing to ask.

"I honestly can't be arsed to hang around in bars and parties waiting for some bimbo to try and charm her way into my bank vault anymore. It's pretty fucking exhausting to be constantly surrounded by people who think of you as an opportunity for their own advancement."

"I'm sorry, I know exactly what you mean." she answered with a hollow laugh.

"Trust me Hermione, people have been drawn to your light for as long as I've known you." He whispered, rounding the island to stand in front of her.

"I don't know about that, there weren't many people sending compliments to the insufferable know-it-all." Hermione replied, her voice laced with something like loneliness and eyes cast upon his feet.

"Damn it Granger, don't listen to anyone who cannot see how brightly you shine." Draco muttered, lifting her chin so that she would meet his eyes.

Once again, he paused. She really was beautiful, Merlin how badly he had secretly wanted this, but now that he had the chance, it scared the hell out of him.

"You're a Malfoy for fuck's sake, man up and kiss her." Draco thought to himself, mustering up the courage to do the one thing he had been thinking about all night.

Hermione's skin tingled with nothing short of electricity where Draco's hand touched her. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt this way, if she had ever even felt this way. Never would she have imagined Draco Malfoy could be so soft towards anyone, let alone Hermione herself.

When he finally brought his lips to hers, the spark was replaced with a burn. His lips, soft and full, were gentle against hers. Sensing Draco's hesitation, Hermione deepened the kiss, willing Draco to understand how much she wanted this moment to stretch on. She nearly gasped in surprise when his tongue brushed, feather-light, against her lip. She gave him entrance, wanting to drink as much of him in as she possibly could, feeling like she might collapse when he let out a low growl. All too soon, he was pulling away looking down at her with those stormy eyes that made her feel like she was a schoolgirl again.

"Well, this has certainly been a most rewarding night Miss Granger." He purred, giving her a smirk that was worthy of the front page of Witch Weekly. "As lovely as it has been, I should be going as I regretfully have a morning full of meetings ahead of me." he continued, stepping away from Hermione.

"Thank you, again, for tonight, Draco. It really was lovely." She said, hoping that her smile wouldn't betray the girlish melting she felt.

"Merlin's saggy bollocks, don't look at me like that." Draco thought to himself. He was trying to do the right thing, leaving before anything got out of hand. Typically he wouldn't have any reservations about shagging on the first date, seeing as typically he had already decided that there wouldn't be a second one anyway. Hermione was different though, she deserved better than that and Gods be damned Draco wasn't going to be the one to slight her that way.

"I'm pleased that the night was up to your standards, as it proves my obviously perfect training in the art of fine manners." He drawled, hoping that it might make her laugh. When it did, he felt his heart soar in a very un-Draco like manner.

He had just placed his hand on the door knob when her voice rang out, "Draco, wait."

He turned, and Hermione was there, placing her hand on his chest and stretching up to capture his lips in a parting kiss.