Disclaimer; I only own the orphans...and healer Maria. Other than that it is all JK Rowling.

A/N I need to leave the story with cliffies more often! It got a great response! Okay, I know you are just dying to read about 'Hermione's date' LOL...I hope you like it. Happy reading and don't forget to review!


Dinner Friends

Standing there smiling in her doorway was Ron. He was dressed nicely and his dazzling bright blue eyes lit up when he saw her.

"Hermione!" he said stepping in her living room and hugging her tightly.

"Ron! I'm so glad you could make it. I haven't seen you in forever." she said smiling.

"I'm so glad you owled me. I just got out of practice and was planning on eating toast and tea for supper." he laughed. Hermione laughed right along with him. Often her dinner was tea and toast.

"I can't imagine you only eating tea and toast Ron. You usually had seconds and thirds at dinner." she laughed.

"Well I can't grow into a huge blimp now can I? I'd be thrown off the team."

"I suppose not." she said grabbing her purse.

"So what are you in the mood for?" he asked. "Italian, Chinese, Mexican, American?"

"Anything. I am starved. I don't know if Harry told you but I finally finished that 'dark mark' potion I had been working on the last time you owled. It got approved by the ministry today."

"Great! So this is a celebration of sorts?" Ron said opening the door for her.

"Yes."

"You look beautiful Hermione. You nearly took my breathe away." he told her.

"You are so sweet. How is it you are not married yet?" Hermione smiled.

"She's too busy with work." he grinned back.

Hermione blushed. Ron had let her know when they broke up all those years ago that he would always have feelings for her.

"So what are you up for?" he asked her.

"Whatever you want." she replied.

"I'll surprise you then. Take hold of my arm."

She did. He trembled slightly at the close contact. And soon the empty street swirled around her and they landed in another dark alley.

"Okay where are we?" she said poking him.

"You'll see." he said keeping her arm intertwined with his as they walked.

"So how's quidditch?" she asked.

"You don't want to talk about quidditch." he said grinning. "I know how you feel about that sport."

"Well we all make sacrifices for the greater good." she grinned back.

After a few blocks of walking they ended up at a small café. Ron opened the door for her and they quickly found a table for two.

"French? I didn't know you liked French food Ron." she said as he pulled out her seat.

"I like some of it. But I know you like it."

Hermione just smiled and shook her head. Ron had matured so much since their last visit, over a year ago.

"I just can't get over it." she said. "Ronald Weasley. Renaissance man."

He smiled back at her. The waitress came over to take their order.

"Puis-je prendre votre ordre?" she said in fluent French. Hermione knew some but not enough to order.

"Oui s'il vous plait." Ron replied, nearly knocking Hermione off of her seat. Ron knew how to speak French?

"Je voudrais le canard avec les pommes de terre roties." he said looking at the menu. "What would you like Hermione?"

She looked over the menu before replying.

"The chicken and cream sauce looks good. With the asparagus tips." she handed the menu back to the waitress who looked at Ron expectantly.

"Elle aura le poulet dans la sauce de crème et les pointes d'asperge." he said.

"Vous comme le vin avec votre diner?" the waitress asked.

"Oui, s'il vous plait." he said.

"Blanc ou rouge?" she asked.

"Red or white wine Hermione?" Ron asked her.

"White."

"Blanc s'il vous plait." he said handing the waitress his menu.

"Merci." she said walking away to put their order in.

"Wow." was all Hermione could say.

"What?" Ron asked grinning from ear to ear.

"When did you learn to speak French?" she asked, mouth still gaping.

"Did you forget who my brother married?" he asked. "Fleur taught me."

Hermione scowled. Fleur was a sore subject for her.

"Not still jealous are you?" he asked.

"I was never jealous." she huffed. "She just annoyed me."

"Right." he said as the waitress brought their bottle of wine.

"Merci." he said as she set the bottle and two glasses on the table. He poured her a generous glass.

"Thank you." she said sipping the wine. "It's very good."

"It's their house blend." he told her.

"Bring your dates here often?" she teased.

"No, I don't date much Hermione. My heart lays elsewhere." he said calmly.

"Oh." she was starting to get uncomfortable.

"I know you aren't ready to date anyone. And your work always comes first…but what would be so terrible about coming out to dinner with me occasionally?" he asked.

"Nothing Ron. Dinner is one thing, dating is another."

How about being 'dinner' friends then?" he grinned.

She screwed up her face pretending to think.

"Dinner friends it is then." she said holding up her glass to clink it with his. He smiled as they toasted their new relationship.

Dinner was excellent and dessert was even better. Hermione was so glad that she had called Ron. They had gone through two and a half bottles of the house wine and he had to help Hermione to apperate home. She fiddled to open her door and immediately sat on the sofa. Ron plopped down next to her.

"Thanks 'Mione. I had a great time. It's so hard being away from my family and friends."

"It's hard having you so far away." she said looking into his blue eyes. He leaned into her, and she knew what he was going to do but made no effort to stop him. His lips connected with hers softly. This was not their first kiss, but it had been a while. And Hermione had to admit that his technique had improved vastly. He ran his hand along her jaw line and up to her hair. Ron moaned into her mouth as he kissed her. She closed her eyes.

'Why am I fighting this? I care for him deeply. He obviously cares for me? Isn't it right for us to be together?'

But as they kissed Hermione's mind wandered to another kiss. One filled with passion and lust. One filled with something much more than Ron was giving her. One that left her panting for more. And suddenly she pushed him away ending the kiss.

"That was…" he started "wonderful."

Hermione caught her breath and nodded. It was wonderful. And she wasn't talking about Ron.

"It's late. I have lots to do tomorrow." she said standing up.

"When can we do this again?" he asked.

"Soon. I promise." she replied standing on her tiptoes and kissing him lightly on the cheek.

"Night 'Mione."

"Night Ron."

She closed the door behind her and sighed. It must have been the wine that let her resistance down. He had kissed her and she had let him and now he might expect more. She headed for bed and as soon as her head hit the pillow she realized that she was missing out on life. She was missing out on passion, and she was missing out on Malfoy.


Sunday passed quickly and before she knew it she was getting up for work on Monday. When she arrived Ginny was waiting for her with a knowing look on her face.

"So?" Ginny asked.

"So to you too Ginny." Hermione replied.

"A little birdie told me you went out with my brother on Saturday. How did it go?"

"It went fine. We went to dinner at a French café."

"Are you getting back together with him?" she asked expectantly.

"No, just friends still."

"Then why did you kiss him?" she asked winking.

"Did he tell you that Ginny? Because if he did…"

"Actually Harry told me. Ron told Harry." she smiled.

"HE kissed me. And it was just something that happened. And it's not likely to happen again."

"Yeah, right. You know he still fancies you. Don't lead him on."

"I won't Ginny. I care about him a lot but something is just missing. And you can't pretend something is there if it's not."

"I understand Hermione. It's just that he is my brother, and I don't want to see him hurt."

"I won't." Hermione smiled at her friend. "How is everyone?"

"Just fine. No troubles at all over the weekend. You have a great day 'Mione."

"You too Ginny." she said placing her things on her desk and having a look at the weekend reports.

All of the children were still asleep. Well all except one. Claire. She was sitting in the rocking chair alone staring out the tall windows. Hermione felt the familiar tug at her heart. She walked over and kneeled next to the girl.

"What's wrong Claire?" she asked stroking the girls soft blonde curls. Claire looked at her with her silvery blue eyes that were shining with tears. Hermione wondered why a five year old was forced to go through so much in her short life.

"Why haven't my parents or grandparents been to see me Hermione? Don't they love me anymore?" her voice was soft and full of sadness.

"Claire, a lot has happened since you have been here. He-who-must-not-be named is dead, but he left in his wake a path of destruction. We are not sure what is going on with anyone yet alright? But as soon as I am sure I will tell you okay?"

The small girl nodded. Hermione hated lying to her, but she did not want Claire to relapse from shock.

"Are you hungry?" she asked her picking her up off of the chair. Claire nodded. "Good, how about pancakes?"

She carried Claire to the table and called for the elves to bring her and Claire some pancakes a bit earlier than normal. She sat there eating with the little girl until the other kids woke up. They rushed the table and Bobby proceeded to take 5 pancakes, shoveling one in his mouth whole.

'Boys.' thought Hermione as she cleared some of the dishes.

After breakfast the kids got dressed and played for an hour. It was then that Draco showed up at the entrance to the ward, once again bearing gifts.

"Healer Granger." he said nodding in her direction.

"Mr. Malfoy." she replied, her face blushing a deep crimson. "What brings you by?"

"Brought the kids some things." he said holding up six brightly wrapped packages.

"That is very kind of you. Claire will be happy to see you." she said.

"And are you happy to see me?" he asked raising an eyebrow.

Her face went even redder.

"Well that's beside the point." she managed to stutter out.

"You are." he said amused. "Left an impression on you the other day I expect."

That sentence was followed by the trademark smirk she used to hate.

"You are so vain. Do you know that?" she said hands on her hips.

"It's not vanity. It's the truth." he replied. "Now who wants presents?" he called out.

The six children came running to him. He handed each of them a present and five of them tore the paper off excitedly. Claire stood there with the pink and purple present in her hand.

"You may open it Claire." Hermione said.

"What's wrong?" Draco whispered.

"She's having a bad day." Hermione whispered back. "She's starting to ask questions about her family. St. Mungo's doesn't want me to tell her the truth."

"That's ridiculous." Draco said. "She has a right to know."

"That's what I said. But rules are rules. The other kids know because they watched it happen. Rose's parents are still alive, but the other four…they saw their parents murdered."

Draco just shook his head. How could anyone follow someone who murdered senselessly?

He bent down to Claire's eye level.

"I know you miss your family. My parents are not around for me either. So how about you open your gift and then I will read to you lot until Healer Granger kicks me out?"

Claire looked into his eyes and must have saw sincerity.

"Alright." she tore into the wrapping and found herself with a new doll that looked remarkably like her.

"Thank you Mister Malfoy." she said smiling.

"Call me Draco." he told her.

"Like the Dragon?" she asked.

"Yes, just like the dragon." he said picking her up and taking her to the chair where he grabbed one of the new books and started to read.

Hermione just stood there in disbelief. How many surprises can Draco Malfoy pull out of his hat?