A/N: I didn't mean to update so fast, but somehow... the result of this humid day turned out with more fluff and less plot than I intended. Hope you like it, though!

Special thanks to my beta MrBenzedrine, who in contrast to me, is the Queen of punctuation and reminded me that there is indeed a different between AmE and BE. Further thanks to Slytherinvillian7 (go Diving!), Sam Wallflower (for the greatest compliment; being German is not really cool...) and writerspassion18 (she wanted bed sheets...). Of course I wholeheartedly thank everyone who reads, reviews and follows my story, you guys are awesome!

Disclaimer: Everything you might recognize isn't mine. And I make no profit with this.

"Okay, Hermione, did I get it right: Draco Malfoy asked you for a date, and in exchange you gain access to the family archives of important pureblood dynasties?" Ginny was a bit slow on the uptake this afternoon when they went shopping in Diagon Alley.

"Yeah. But that is exactly the direction you pushed me to, isn't it? You even told me what to wear to retrieve my heels… why is it remarkable now?" Hermione rummaged through various dresses in the boutique.

"It is remarkable because you followed my suggestions, Missy. Meaning: You wanted it, too. I can't blame you, though. He is such a hottie!"

Hermione's eyes widened. "Ginny! You are married and expecting! And happily so, I hope!"

"Utterly happy, I might add! It's just that this pregnancy makes me quite…. amorous," the red-haired witch confessed.

"I'd rather say horny. I'm surprised Harry can cope with that!"

"Oh, he has to. Like three times a day…" Both women burst out laughing. Holding a blue dress up, Hermione asked, "What about this one, Mrs. Shopping-Queen?"

Ginny disapproved, "No, this colouring doesn't do it for you. And you are no blushing virgin. Your outfit should be a bit more daring, and this one is too well-behaved." The witch checked some more dresses, then smiled, triumphant.

"This is it!" She threw an emerald dress in Hermione's direction. "Did you pick the Slytherin colour on purpose?" Hermione asked.

"Yep. I hope he will be so irritated about it that he strips you of it very fast…"

Eyes rolling, Hermione tried the dress on. She was astonished how perfectly the sleeveless dress fitted her. In fact, she thought herself quite beautiful in it. She stepped out of the changing room and twirled in front of her friend, the soft and light material ending shortly over her knees. The fact that it left her back nearly bare and had a low cut neckline made Hermione feel like a femme fatale. And she liked that feeling very much.

"What did I tell you? It's perfect!" Ginny grinned.

"It is, but…," suddenly Hermione was reluctant. "Don't you think it sends the wrong message? I mean, this is not my usual self, wearing a dress this sexy and all…"

Instantly, Ginny started crying.

'This is mood-change number 19 today. And she is so difficult to pacify when in tears. Where is the Iceman when you need it?'

Hugging Hermione, Ginny sobbed, "Herms, this is your usual self, without Ron voicing his worthless opinion. You are gorgeous, it's time to show it to the world. Or one blonde wizard in particular."

Hermione hugged back, thankful. Sometimes all it takes to boost your consciousness is a good friend. "Thank you, Ginny. I didn't even know that I needed that. But I am a bit insecure, you know? He is very smart, and charming, and he has those grey eyes and a voice that melts me inside when he's talking about history…"

"You really like him, don't you?"

"We may have met again only twice, but I suppose…" Hermione whispered. If only her sixth-year-self could see her now; excited and nervous for a meeting with Draco Malfoy. One that didn't necessarily involve wandwork and slaps. That girl would declare her insane and helped her to hospitalization.

Ginny had stopped crying now and encouraged her friend. "That is good for you. Relax and see where the evening takes you two, don't get your knickers in a twist by overthinking everything. Speaking of underwear: In this dress..." Ginny started, hands gesturing to the open back and the snug-fitting material on her bum.

'Oh, joy! Judging by that expression in her eyes, horny Ginny is back with full force.'

"...You won't need it."

-DHDHDHDHDH-

"Always on time, aren't you?" Draco said aloud when Granger arrived in front of the expensive restaurant he had picked. Inwardly, his thoughts were elsewhere.

'Bloody hell! She is drop dead beautiful! How to compliment such a fairy?' Sadly, the less-mannered and dick-controlled part of him recovered first.

"Slytherin green? This dress will blend perfectly with my bed sheets this night!" He wriggled his eyebrows in an overly suggestive manner.

Granger started to laugh loudly at that. Thankfully.

"Forgive me, Hermione, you're looking stunning." He pressed a kiss on her hand.

'Welcome back, intellectual and mannered brain. You're late.'

Draco opened the door for her, and that served him the opportunity to admire her backside. Where one could see much skin and no indications of elastics from underwear. The implications of that made his dress pants uncomfortably tight.

'Pull yourself together, buddy! You are not sixteen anymore! She said something to you, didn't she? So: Answer!'

"Pardon? I was distracted."

"I noted you called me 'Hermione'. That was probably the second time you did that, I like it though. -So much in fact, that I reciprocate the gesture, Draco." Granger- no, Hermione- smiled endearingly.

'Better get used to the name you will scream in pleasure, princess – Stop! Don't say that aloud, she is an educated lady, after all! Breathe in, breathe out, pause, repeat… all better now.'

Once the waiter showed them to their table and Draco had Hermione seated, and then himself, they fell into an easy conversation. Their harmless topics reached from Ministry Business, to what books they read, to holiday destinations they had visited and slowly turned to more personal matters.

When they were well into the main course – coq au vin for her, salmon for him, all completed with a dry white wine -Hermione asked, seemingly out of nowhere, "So, Draco, still playing Quidditch?"

"Yes, quite regularly. On Sunday afternoons I usually meet with Blaise, Theo and some guys from work and we have a game or two. But I thought you weren't interested in Quidditch?" He tilted his head, questioning, taking his Hogwarts memories into consideration.

"Not in playing myself. But I always enjoyed watching." She winked. She winked! 'That woman will be the death of me, I swear.'

They made it through dessert animatedly talking and nearly unharmed, except for the moment when Draco observed that Hermione blushed at the sight of him licking a bit of chocolate mousse from his thumb. 'Now we're even.'

When they left the restaurant after Draco had paid – not without Hermione voicing her protest, one might add -"This is the 21th century, that means I can pay on my own!" and a subsequent -"That means I can spoil you if I feel like it, princess!" from the former Slytherin – he felt… calm. Relaxed. Happy. For the first time in years, he had a wonderful date with a brilliant and more than skilled witch without the desire to fulfil either his parent's expectations or primarily his own physical needs. He had enjoyed an elating, funny and jaunty evening so far.

They walked to the apparition point side by side, arms and hands accidentally touching from time to time as Hermione turned to Draco, locking her amber eyes with his.

"Can I consider my debts cleared, Mr. Malfoy, and start with your humble family's documentations tomorrow?" She stood quite close now, so close in fact that he could take in her unique scent.

'It's now or never, buddy! Go for it, but take it slow.' For the second time this evening, Draco gave in.

He traced his thumb over her right cheek, causing goosebumps on her arms he observed.

"Not before…" With that, he palmed her face with both hands and pulled her close. Then, slowly, oh so slowly, he pressed a soft kiss on her lips, relishing in the blissed expression on her face when he pulled away.

'That is the perfect note to end this evening on, isn't it?'

But Hermione obviously had decided otherwise, for she opened her eyes, smiled like a cat who got the cream, and pulled him in for another kiss.

This one was more forceful, less tentative than the first. It made Draco's knees shake in anticipation when she traced her tongue over his lips, begging for entrance. He opened his lips, searching for her tongue with his, teasing, not yet battling for dominance. He encircled her waist with his arms, his hands reaching for the curls that fell over her back, and felt her hands playing with the soft hair on his neck.

When he heard a noise from Hermione that could be considered as a sigh or a moan, Draco stopped his kissing, barely lucid. But he wanted to do this the right way, which was a first for him.

"Hermione, wait. -Are you sure? I mean, I would be perfectly fine if we ended here and then, on another opportunity in the future…." It was hard for him to concentrate on forming this sentence, because all the while Hermione's hands glided over his arms and shoulders, ending with her fingertips playing with his trousers' waistband. His most physical part applauded to that, making himself aware and stirring slowly.

"And I would be perfectly fine when you'd take up on your earlier offer and show me how good this dress blends in with your bedsheets…"

The last words caused his control to snap.

He bent, grabbed Hermione's waist, and threw her over his shoulder, not bothering to care for going all caveman on her or the amused glances of the other wizards and witches frequenting Diagon Alley. He could only concentrate on her laughs, pleasantly ringing in his ears, and her light weight on his shoulders when he carried her to the apparition point.

And her firm bottom under his hands.

'Definitely no knickers. Sweet Salazar.'

P.S.: There seems to be a problem with the recent reviews at the moment, as the aren't visible somehow (for most stories), but the reach me over my mobile and get counted... *shrugs*