They were all on time and the four of them started the walk towards Hogsmeade village. It was an overcast day with a gusty wind. There were no awkward moments on the walk because Blaise just chattered away about anything all the way there. They agreed to split up for a couple of hours so they could all get some supplies they needed and then meet back at The Three Broomsticks to have lunch.
The girls enjoyed the morning around the shops and Hermione did well getting almost all the supplies she needed. Draco and Blaise were already at the pub when they got there and the girls joined them at the small table in the corner. Hermione still felt awkward because this was the first time they had all been in a social situation.
"So where are the rest of your Slytherin cronies?" Hermione asked looking round as if she expected them to be sitting on the next table.
"I have no idea. We're spending the day with you, not them." Blaise answered. Both girls stared at him for a moment because he was obviously being genuine. They placed their food order and settled down to wait. Hermione felt hot so she slipped her jumper off and put it on the back of her chair with her coat. When she turned back towards the table she met Draco's eyes and he was staring at her. She sat back down again hurriedly feeling self conscious.
"So, do we need to call a meeting to make sure we are ready for the visitors? They are going to be here in two days time," Ginny who was sitting opposite Draco said this directly to him. Hermione looked at her in surprise. She had managed to address him directly and start a conversation without stumbling over her words! He moved his gaze from Hermione to her.
"Yes boss," he said and gave her one of his most devastating smiles. Ginny smiled back at him and for once managed to stay her normal colour.
"I was just making a proposal." Ginny said quietly.
"I don't think I'm ready for that just yet, Ginny." Draco joked.
"What are you ready for then?" Ginny answered him boldly and looked at him from under her fringe.
Hermione was watching this exchange with interest. What had happened to Ginny? Where was all this new found courage coming from?
"That depends on what you're offering me." Draco replied and Ginny giggled a silly little laugh.
Blaise cleared his throat and the pair of them turned to look at him. "Don't answer that, Ginny," he said then he turned to Draco. "You're embarrassing the girl, Draco."
Draco looked Ginny up and down. "She doesn't look very embarrassed to me."
Ginny smiled at him again and Hermione knew this was Ginny using her charms to their full affect.
"No I'm not embarrassed. It was just beginning to get interesting actually."
Draco raised his eyebrows at Ginny who just looked back at him without a single blush in sight. This was going from one extreme to the other. She'd gone from being practically unable to speak in his presence to being so obvious with her flirtation that it was embarrassing to watch. Hermione wondered if what she'd told her about her conversation with Draco the other night had caused the total change of attitude. She hoped Ginny wasn't presuming Draco had added her to the list and was therefore not so shy about letting him know she liked him. The whole situation as now getting so complicated that Hermione was losing track of it all. Without realising Hermione sighed loudly and they all turned to look at her.
"Sorry, I'm hungry I was just wondering how much longer the food would be." Hermione covered quickly but Ginny didn't look convinced. The food arrived 30 seconds later and they all started eating. After a few minutes Ginny spoke again, this time to all of them.
"So, is it still OK for us to meet tomorrow after dinner to decorate the hall?"
"Yipee, I can't wait." Blaise said unenthusiastically.
"I'm glad you're looking forward to it so much." Ginny said sarcastically.
"Well is that all you girls can come up with for our second double date?" Blaise asked.
"Is this a date then?" Ginny asked with a smile. "As none of us are dating is this your way of asking me out, Blaise?"
Blaise was grinning from ear to ear and leant towards her. "If I say it is what would your answer be?"
Hermione was now watching Ginny and Blaise with surprise. She was being a total flirt today! Hermione knew Ginny wasn't being serious with either of them but she was surprised that she would act the way she was in front of Draco.
Ginny shrugged. "You're not my type."
"Really? What is your type then?" Blaise asked the smile still on his face.
Ginny put her finger on her chin. "Mmm. Tall, handsome, confident..."
"Well that's 100% to me so far." Blaise interrupted her.
"Hot, hair you can run your hands through, a gorgeous body..."
"Just what part of that don't I qualify for?" Blaise asked her with a grin.
Hermione interrupted before Ginny could answer him. "Just how shallow are you, Ginny Weasley?"
"Go on then, what's your type?" Ginny turned to Hermione.
"Oh no, I'm not having this conversation right now." Hermione waved her hands around.
"Yes you are. It's fun."
Hermione smiled and then launched into her choices without hesitation. "Caring, kind, clever, good sense of humour, nice eyes..."
"Rich?" Draco interrupted her with a smirk.
"No! That's not important." Hermione flashed her eyes at him and he pulled a sad face.
"That's a pity," he said.
"Good in bed?" Blaise asked and they all turned to look at him with various looks on their faces.
"That sounds more like your criteria than mine." Hermione said wittily.
Blaise turned to face her. "Actually that just shows what you know. I like nice eyes as well. Big, soft, brown ones..." he left the end of his sentence open and Hermione laughed. He then turned to Ginny and gazed into her eyes. "Or green of course - your turn Draco."
Draco looked reluctant for a minute then he nodded. "Sexy and tall, long legs, model looks, smooth hair down to her hips, rich and indulgent parents, oh and stupid so I can get away with murder and she won't work it out." He wiggled his eyebrows at the girls having said all of this just to wind them up.
"Disgusting." Hermione said.
It had been raining for a while and there was a loud bang of thunder outside and then the room lit up.
"Looks like we're stuck in here for a while, I'll go and fetch us all another drink." Blaise volunteered.
"I'll help you carry them." Ginny said.
"I was only joking." Draco said as soon as they'd gone. Hermione looked sternly at him.
"I hope so."
Draco stood up and swiftly moved seats so he was sitting opposite her.
"You already know exactly what I look for in a girl," he said this quietly and she couldn't tear her eyes away from his face.
"How do I?"
"I added you to the list didn't I?" Draco pointed out to her and she felt her throat go dry. Was he actually flirting with her? Or was he just trying to embarrass her?
"You're such a liar I am not your type at all," she said.
Draco look surprised at her response. "What do you mean?"
"I mean if some pretty blonde with long legs walked up to the table now you'd forget I existed." Hermione summarised the situation in one sentence.
Draco had the good grace to smile. "Only for a couple of minutes."
Hermione reached across the table and hit him on the arm. "Charming." She then immediately felt embarrassed. This was exactly the type of messing around she would have done with Ron or Harry not with Draco Malfoy. She actually felt flattered that he was saying she was his type when it should have made her skin creep. Her life was descending into utter madness and there she seemed unable to do anything about it!
More Hogsmeade next and someone gets a shock! Hope you liked this, thanks for keeping on reading! You know what I'm going to ask for now...reviews, reviews, reviews. x
