Posted May 4, 2010

I would like to apologize for my rant in the previous chapter. I had no viable reason to lend that on my readers, and I made false accusations (the note was on my profile, not a previously posted chapter). Anyway, hope you like! -AM

He offered her his arm, and with an amused glance she took it and they walked out the door together.

They spent the day looking at ornaments for the castle, things one couldn't easily conjure, food ideas for the buffet, swatches of fabric to decorate the hall with, and of course, present shopping.

It really was the best time to do it, Malfoy argued, because there were no other students around to see and pester you and take all the items you wanted before you got there.

Hermione snickered, but agreed. Thankfully she had thought ahead and had forced the girls into to letting her get some things from her room before they held her prisoner for over an hour.

She found a miniature quidditch player that could fly around with a quaffle for Ron, and even got it custom charmed to be the bright orange uniform of the Chudley Canons. A magic journal that had a never ending amount of pages, and an illusion charm etched into the cover so it could look like anything the owner wished, was bought for Ginny.

Harry was to receive a silver arm band (that would enlarge to be placed on the bicep and then shrink to fit) in the form of a snake with obsidian eyes; a private joke between the two of them. Neville got a book titled, Rare Fungi and Where to Find Them; Without Dying in the Process.

For her mother, Hermione bough a few small pieces of magical jewellery that had various enchantments and protection spells inlaid in the metal. Her father received a few quills, some were self inking and in various colours; one was specially designed to turn out calligraphy, no matter how anything was written; and the final one was a beautiful, charcoal-black feather.

The description didn't say what animal it was from; the crafter had found it lying on a path one day. It was a long feather, completely smooth, with no little pieces sticking out. It had an elegance and grace that Hermione had only seen in pictures that were touched up and made to look perfect; in other words completely fake. But this was the real thing.

Now for Draco…She honestly had no idea what to get the stupid git. He had tons of money and probably could, and did, buy anything he wanted. But she did have to find him something, for appearance's sake as his girlfriend, but also because she wanted to get him something.

Hermione was unsure of her reasons as to why she wanted to get him something but decided to ignore that in favor of looking for a present for him.

She looked at potions ingredients, books, quidditch memorabilia, male jewellery, fine quills, clothing, accessories, and found absolutely nothing that would be suitable as a gift. She even looked at hair gel she was so desperate! It was at that point that she paused and proceeded to smack herself in hopes of regaining her sense.

Unfortunately for her, Malfoy happened by at that exact moment.

"What, may I ask, are you doing…?" Hermione whirled around, a deer-in-the-headlight look freezing her body.

Malfoy's sterling eyes danced in amusement, he fought to keep the grin off his face.

Hermione blushed. "I just…I was…ugh." She planted her face in her hands, sighed and then dropped her hands in her coat pockets.

"I was looking for a present for you and couldn't find anything and got desperate enough to look at hair gel. And then when I realized what I was doing I smacked myself in hopes that I would regain my normal level of sense."

She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, daring him to laugh at her.

He dared. He let out a strained chuckle which, very shortly, gave way to a full blown laugh. Hermione's arms fell away to her sides. She'd never heard the Malfoy heir laugh the way he was now.

She'd heard dark chuckles and mocking laughter; but nothing quite so free-sounding as this. A soft smile curved her lips and Draco looked up from his laughter to see it.

"And what are you smiling about?" A grin on his own lips.

Her smile widened. "I've never heard you laugh like that before. It was nice." Draco was startled and wrinkled his nose in embarrassment.

"Yes…well… don't go expecting me suddenly become your best friend or anything Granger."

Her eye narrowed playfully. "Oh I wouldn't dream of that! One can hardly expect to be friends with their husband hmm?" Her voice trailed off. Draco looked at her in mild shock. This petite witch in front of him, was continually throwing him off balance, without even trying!

Hermione threw him a smirk and turned on her heel to make her way to a small cafe down the street for a late lunch.

Draco strolled after her, strolled because Malfoys did not run after people, once he realized she was gone from the immediate vicinity; and found her seated at a cozy little table in an out-of-the-way corner.

He gently pulled her out of her seat, wrapped her arm around his and led her to a nice restaurant.

"They have some food that I want you to try." Was his explanation. Hermione rolled her eyes and acquiesced, knowing she wouldn't win this one.

They were seated in a dimmed, corner booth of dark red leather and mahogany wood. Menus were placed in front of them and cool spring water filled crystal-cut glasses.

Hermione sat down and browsed through the menu, oblivious to the covert glances the wizard across from her was sending. When the waiter came to take their order, Malfoy ordered for both of them.

"We'll have two glasses of Manzanilla, your couples' Italian cheese platter, and finally, we'd like the braised venison with garlic mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables."

The waiter nodded as he scribbled it all down, took their menus and left the couple to themselves.

Hermione's eyebrows disappeared into side-parted bangs. "When you said you wanted me to try the food here, I was expecting to order my own food. By myself. "

Draco sipped his water. "I'm sure you did, but I didn't want you to order something simple and inexpensive. I'm paying for this meal, and you will eat something you never would have chosen otherwise."

"I do have money you know. I can pay for myself."

"Hermione, you're my girlfriend, I'm your boyfriend. This is what boyfriends do, we buy the girl we like little trinkets; pay her way at the cinema, and yes I know what the cinema is; buy her jewellery for no reason other than to enhance her natural beauty. And we pay for meals. Get over it."

Hermione was beginning to understand why so many of her year-mates, and even several younger ones, fell for the shining Slytherin Prince. He wasn't nearly as Dark as everyone thought.

She sipped her water. "Fine."

"Glad to hear you're finally learning your limits with me." Though she didn't see it, as she was avoiding his eyes; she could hear the smirk in his voice.

"I don't have limits when it comes to you Malfoy, but I know I can't fight you every step of the way either. There are some things you won't budge on. I imagine the way this is one of them."

Sigh. "You can't keep calling me Malfoy, Hermione. We're dating. Dating couples do not call each other by their last name."

"You know, I had a conversation exactly like this, almost 3 months ago."

"Really? With whom?" He wasn't interested. She could tell by his drawl.

"Myself, actually." Draco snickered quietly. Hermione sent him a mocking glare.

"Wow Granger! I thought you were mental before, but this proves it!"

"Now, now, Draco! You shouldn't make fun of your girlfriend, or she might spread nasty rumors about your skills in the sack."

She smiled into her drink at the stunned expression on Malf- 'No, we've been through this before. It's Draco. Again.'

They passed idle small talk until the waiter arrived with their food and drink. Once their sherry was poured and the waiter had left, they toasted to their relationship and the beginning of a great success to piss off certain people.

They spent the rest of the day wandering around the magical town filling out orders for materials and having them shipped up to Hogwarts once they came in.

Hermione still hadn't found anything to get Draco for Christmas and considered writing to Mrs. Malfoy for a hint. She quickly dismissed that thought as idiocy. Firstly, she might not even know about them being a couple and secondly, what kind of impression would it give Lady Malfoy if she couldn't even come up with a decent present on her own!

For dinner, instead of going to the same restaurant they'd been at for lunch, Hermione choose where they would dine.

Draco looked around him at the limited choices in Hogsmeade. Really, there weren't many places unless they wanted to drink alcohol for their supper. The café had closed and the only real restaurant was the one he'd taken her to for lunch.

He was, quite literally, pulled from his musings. Hermione had grabbed his arm and was dragging him to The Three Broomsticks. She threw down the 3 knuts for floo powder and stopped in front of the fireplace.

"The Leaky Cauldron!" And in they went, Draco's arms wrapped around Hermione's body to keep them together in the labyrinthine floo system. He led her gracefully out the other end into Tom's pub. Many witches and wizards stared incredulously at the pair as Hermione grabbed his hand and led him outside.

"Taxi!" No one stopped. Draco let out a piercing whistle. A black-topped Austin cab pulled up in front of them.

Draco held the door open for her and Hermione got in. "Kensington Gardens please!"

Draco asked her why they were going to Kensington Gardens. Hermione told him it was her favorite place to eat with her family.

"So you're taking me there, why? Won't I taint the memories of you being there with your parents?'

"First of all, Draco, you need to stop depreciating yourself like that. You did it at Hallowe'en too. Secondly, we're going to be engaged. I think that's close enough to family, don't you?"

Draco was a little shocked at how accepting she was of his planned proposal. Especially considering her reaction he first told her. He was so lost in thought he didn't notice when Hermione opened her purse to pay the cab driver.

The cabbie gave him a dirty look. "C'mon man! Yer the guy! Yer s'posed to pay f'r stuff! Not th's pretty li'l lady on yer arm!"

Hermione intervened before things got too ugly. "Actually it's my turn to pay. He bought me lunch and it's only fair that I return the favour. But we're running late and our reservation is almost up Darling!"

Draco was out of the cab, across the street and through the restaurant doors before he could protest.

"I wasn't aware we had reservations."

"We don't." She smiled at him. "But you don't have any muggle money and I didn't want things to get out of hand."

They were quickly seated and given water until their waitress came. This time around, Hermione ordered for them.

"We would like a half-order of the Seafood Mélange with scallops, conch and shrimp; a serving of lemon hummus and pita; and wild goat with olive oil and your House Blend of herbs."

"And to drink?"

Draco spoke up before Hermione could open her mouth, "We'll have two glasses of Chianti Trebbiano."

The waitress nodded and walked off to place their order.

"Okay Draco, what did you do?" Draco did his best to look innocent, and succeeded quite well because for once he actually was.

"What are you accusing me of now? I haven't done anything."

"She didn't even try to ID us. And I know for a fact that I do not look like I'm over the age of 21."

"With the exception of today, I would normally agree with you. But as it so happens, you look very sophisticated tonight; and I daresay many people will mistake us for an older couple instead of the teenagers we are."

Hermione blushed in the delicate light and ducked her head a bit. "Oh. Well, you look pretty good yourself Malfoy."

The wizard tsk-ed and gave her a look.

"Draco. Sorry."

To make the wait more interesting, Hermione asked Draco what his plans for the future where.

"Well, first I have to assume Headship of my family. After that I really don't need to do anything aside from my familial duties; though I'm quite sure that I will be impossibly bored with that lifestyle within the first two months. But I suppose I actually do need an answer if people ask me."

"Why do you 'suppose' you need an answer?"

"Well Dear, if we announce our engagement, and the wizarding world, via media, asks us what our plans for the future are, it would make me look very stupid if you have all those well-thought out, lofty ideas of yours and I have absolutely nothing."

"Yes it would, I suppose. Though we could tell them it's a role-reversed marriage. The wife is the bread-maker while the husband stays home looking after the children."

Draco looked at her. "I don't think so, Dear."

Hermione was enjoying herself, throwing barbs at Draco and having a similar wit returned. It was nothing like hanging out with Ron and Harry. Harry, she knew, could probably keep up in conversations with her, but he was almost always with Ron and Ron couldn't keep up if his life depended on it.

"But, I've always enjoyed the history of language and spells, how they are created, used, translated and thus, evolve. Ancient Runes is also interesting, but not enough to make me want to make a career out of it.

"I'm also a fan of architecture and buildings. I'd love to study that; go down to Italy and stay for a few years learning methods of ancient construction and architecture, taking pictures of the buildings, studying the history that colours the entire country."

His voice was filled with childish wonder and excitement, his eyes clouded with longing. Hermione had never, and she doubted anyone really ever had, known about Draco's passions. She smiled as she watched him, seeing a new side to him; the one he kept hidden from the world.

"My mother used to show me these huge volumes of historical buildings and pictures of centuries-old paintings; I loved it. It's one of the few things I can appreciate about muggles. It was also one of the few times my mother would smile with restraint. Around my father she was always cold and distant, much like my father himself.

But when he away on Death Eater business, she would smile more and wear brighter more cheerful clothes than black and other dark colors."

His eyes held memories long cherished and veiled behind a mask that would brook no weakness. Hermione reached out to take his hand.

Plates of food were set down on the table and the moment was broken. Draco guarded his eyes once again and Hermione quickly snatched her hand back before it reached its destination. She didn't want any awkward questions.

They ate quietly through the meal, each lost in their own thoughts. Hermione paid for the meal with her bank card and they walked the, relatively, short distance to the Leaky Cauldron. Draco paid for the floo fee this time and they made their way back to Madam Rosmerta's.

There was a slight chill in the silent winter night as they made they walked back to Hogwarts. It was almost time for Sunday curfew, but they decided to stop by the lake anyway.

The moon was almost full and its silvery light fell on the rippling water. The haunting song of the mermaids could be faintly heard and the occasional splash from the giant squid filled the silence.

Together they walked back through the snow to the entrance and walked to their tower. Once they were inside and heading to their separate rooms, Hermione turned around.

"Draco?" He turned to look at her and Hermione worried her hands. "I just wanted to say that, I had a really great time with you today. It was a lot of fun. Thank you." She graced him with a demure smile and crossed the floor to her room.

Hermione was not expecting the hand that stilled hers from opening the door. Draco turned her around and tenderly placed an arm around her back. The other hand tilted her chin so he could look into her eyes.

"And I as well. When you first proposed this plan of yours back in September, I didn't think we could do it. Now I think maybe we can. The only woman I'm able to have an converse intelligently with, prior to you, is my mother.

You're a beautiful, talented witch and I'm quite sure that you're going to crazy no matter how hard I try to resist or deny it."

And then he kissed her. It wasn't a chaste kiss by any means, but it wasn't lustful either. In fact, Hermione couldn't tell what kind of a kiss it was and finally decided to give up trying and enjoy it while it lasted.

Draco pulled back and traced a pale finger down her smooth cheek. Hermione's eyes closed at the sensation. A soft, lingering kiss was felt on her cheek and then he was gone. She kept her eyes closed until the muffled click of a door being shut was heard; and then she blindly opened her door and walked in.

As Hermione got ready for bed, brushing her hair and teeth, wiping the make-up off and changing into her pajamas, the only thing on her mind was the kiss she'd shared with Draco. And what it meant for their individual futures and the one that they, for the moment, shared.