A/N: Again, thanks for all the great reviews, story alerts, favorites. :D Haven't yet replied, but we will! Just wrapping up our dmhgficexchange entry. :) We'll post it here once we're allowed to post it. Also, this chapter is a little on the short side, but we hope you guys like it anyway.
Chapter 10
The next morning was Saturday, so neither Draco nor Hermione set their alarms. Hermione woke up to the sound of even breathing right by her ear.
Ralph, she thought, her eyes still closed. She sighed in contentment, deliciously warm under the blankets. Then she froze and opened her eyes, becoming slightly more aware of her surroundings.
Ralph was at the Potters'.
It was Draco's arm that was around her, his chest she was currently pressed against, his chin she had tucked her head under, his hip that her hand was resting on.
It was Draco.
Instinctively, Hermione shoved him away and sat up, her heart racing. She checked the clock as Draco groaned.
"It's still early," he grumbled, rolling onto his side of the bed and covering his face with a pillow.
They were relatively in the middle of the bed, so Hermione couldn't yell at Draco for crossing the boundary onto her side. Somewhat shaken, she got out of bed. "I'm just going to the loo," she said, as Draco stirred again. "Go back to sleep."
Hermione went to the bathroom and closed the door, and then sighed and leaned against it. She didn't know why it was such a shock to wake up to find Draco's arms around her, and hers around him. It was a vivid reminder of the previous night, when Hermione had realized that she didn't hate Draco after all. When she had felt that spark that was lacking with Ron, although it wasn't so much a spark as a raging conflagration that had scared her as much as it thrilled her.
She finished her business in the bathroom and crept to her closet, looking for her previous journals. She wanted to read how it had all begun.
It was just past seven when Hermione unearthed her old journal, and on weekends, they usually breakfasted at eight. She left the room and closed the door quietly, deciding to go to the library for some solitude.
Hermione found the proper entry, dated June 16.
Dear Journal,
I can't imagine what possessed me to agree to go out with Malfoy. I suppose it's just that he keeps asking, and I feel awful saying no. I mean, he's not that awful. At least, that's what I thought when I finally gave in.
And, let's face it, I haven't been on a proper date in ages.
He stopped by my office again today- the first time in two or three weeks. I think maybe that did it. In those weeks I had time to think, and (dare I say it?) time to miss him. I wondered if that last time he came by had been the last I'd ever see of him. I thought maybe he'd never ask me out again, and I'd always wonder what would have happened had I said yes. I wondered what it would be like to go out with him. I wondered if that was the last time anyone would ever ask me out.
So when he asked me today, I agreed. We'll go out on Friday night. I don't think I'll tell Harry, Ron or Ginny yet. I'm sure they'd be angry, and anyway, it's just one date.
-Hermione
Four pages later was her entry about the date itself. Hermione eagerly started reading, noticing that her penmanship that evening had been slightly less legible than usual.
Dear Journal,
Tonight was our date. It was better than I expected, honestly. I thought one of us would end up walking out on the other, but we lasted the entire evening. That's not to say it wasn't just a little surreal, going on a date and actually enjoying myself with Draco Malfoy.
To start with, he picked me up here at the flat. I think he was more nervous than I was, and I asked him about it. He said he wanted everything to be perfect. So Malfoy can be sweet, after all.
We watched The Magician, an exhibition of different wand tricks. Not the usual, practical spells that most wizards use everyday, but conjuring and charms tricks. I particularly liked it when he made what looked like a forest made of bubbles on the stage. His fireworks were no match for the Weasley's Wildfire Whizbangs, though.
Afterwards we had dinner in The Black Cat. The food was delicious. Draco tried to convince me to dance afterwards, but I declined. I can't dance to save my life. The only time I tried- the Yule Ball- left me with bad memories.
Anyway, dinner was nice. We talked about a lot of things. I never knew he attended Healer lessons for two months, before deciding it wasn't the job for him. I can't believe he lasted two months- I could have told him he wasn't fit for it! I can't imagine him being nice and patient to those poor sick people. Then again, I suppose I have to admit it was nice of him to try it.
After dessert, he brought me home, and asked me out again. I admit, I hesitated before answering. After all, what was one good date compared to the rest of our history? Still, I decided to give it a shot. He seemed sincere, so now I have another date lined up on Sunday night.
Should I tell the others already? No, it's only two dates. And besides, they don't need to know everything.
Hermione hastily skimmed to the bottom of the entry and then shut the journal when she saw the library door open. Draco came in, looking cheerful.
"Breakfast time," he announced, "and no need to listen to the dreams of a three year old. I swear, it's not normal for him to be so eloquent. What do you read to him, the dictionary?"
"Sometimes," Hermione said glibly.
"Really?"
"How would I know?" She laughed. "You forget that I can't remember."
"Oh yeah." Draco waited for her near the door, and together they walked to their breakfast. "But it's a nice change, not having to pretend to listen."
"But when he grows up and won't talk to his dad anymore, you'll miss him."
Draco sighed and sat down. "I suppose so. But for now I won't." He helped himself to some bacon. "Do you think perhaps we've just lost our minds, driven insane by him?"
Hermione frowned at him. "Draco," she chided. "You should be happy that he's smarter than most his age."
He looked chastised. "I know, I am proud of him. But honestly, Hermione, he is quite a chatterbox. Does he get that from you?"
She pretended to look affronted. "Are you implying that I'm a chatterbox?"
Draco smirked. "Aren't you?"
"Maybe I was, when I was younger, but I do hope I've matured by now," Hermione returned his smirk with a smile. "Why? Were you a meek, quiet, shy little boy?"
"No," he laughed, "but I was quieter than Ralph is, I'm sure! What time do we have to pick him up, anyway?"
"Just before lunch. Harry and Ginny are expecting guests, and having three unruly children underfoot would be impossible."
"So we've got a free afternoon?" Draco chewed thoughtfully. "What do you want to do? Any place you want to go?"
"Not particularly," Hermione Summoned the Daily Prophet. "Let's see if there's anything interesting happening." She opened the paper and began browsing through it.
"Any plays?" Draco asked.
"I doubt Ralph could sit through a play," she said distractedly. "I'm not even sure he's old enough. I was thinking of perhaps an exhibit…"
Draco wrinkled his nose. "An exhibit? Doesn't that sound a bit boring?"
Hermione ignored him. "Perhaps the museum in Diagon Alley has something suitable for Ralph. Most of the exhibits are interactive, you know, so we won't be bored. You might even learn a thing or two."
"I don't know, Hermione. Doesn't it sound exactly like something you'd take Ralph to? Maybe he's been there before, and we just don't remember it."
"You're right." She sipped her coffee, which was starting to cool. "Maybe I can ask Ginny if we've been there before. If we have, we could always take Ralph to a Muggle place- Lego Land, or maybe Thorpe Park."
"Muggle?"
"Thorpe Park," Hermione said decisively, a smile crossing her face. "More for you than for Ralph, so you'll get over your silly notion that Muggles don't have any fun. I'll ask Ron to come, if you don't mind. That way he can look after Ralph while you and I go on the fun rides." She smirked.
Draco swallowed. "Fun?"
"You'll love it, I promise."
"Won't Weas- Ron- want to ride the fun rides too?"
"Don't be a spoilsport, Draco." She pouted at him. "He's been there before. Besides, why would I want to ride with Ron when I can ride with you?"
Draco raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her behaviour. "And this will be our second date?"
"My thoughts precisely."
All three Malfoys returned home that evening feeling tired but elated. Ralph was asleep in Draco's arms, and Hermione used spells to clean him rather than wake him and have Jeeves give him a proper bath.
Later, when she and Draco got ready for bed, he was still grinning. He had enjoyed himself far more than he thought he would, but it wasn't because of the rides. It was because of who he had sat beside on said rides.
"What?" Hermione asked, noticing Draco looking at her.
"Your scream sounds funny."
She threw up her hands in exasperation. "You're still on about that? You've been laughing about that for hours!"
He chuckled. "It's funny! I've never heard you scream- well, all right, so I have heard you scream before," his smile slipped as he remembered when she was tortured. "But your screams this time were different."
"You're supposed to scream at rides," Hermione said defensively, her cheeks pink. "It makes it more fun. Besides, you were screaming too."
"Only because you told me to," Draco grinned cheekily. Hermione rolled her eyes and climbed into bed beside him, grumbling under her breath. "It was fun, though," he said, turning his head to smile at her. "A nice date."
His smile made Hermione's anger disappear, and she stared at him a moment too long before forcing herself to look away. "Yeah, it was fun. We should do it again."
"Are you asking me out again?"
Hermione laughed. "You're so full of yourself." She turned off the lights and rolled onto her side, her back facing Draco. "Good-" she froze, feeling his light touch on her shoulder.
"Because if you are, my answer is yes."
She shivered, his fingers raising goosebumps on her skin. "I'll keep that in mind, if I ever decide to ask you."
"Didn't you enjoy yourself?" he asked, his voice soft.
"I- I did," Hermione faltered, her heart beating faster. She turned to look at him. "Draco, you're distracting me."
"From what?" he looked at her innocently.
"From- from sleeping," she said lamely. "I'm trying to sleep."
He chuckled. "Good night then, Hermione."
"Good night." Hermione turned over again, her shoulder still tingling. She lay awake for some time, long after Draco had fallen asleep. She listened to him breathing, cursing him for inadvertently waking her up. Eventually, Hermione sighed and sat up. "Oh, bother."
She moved over beside Draco and, being careful not to wake him up, lay down again, nestling herself in the crook of his arm. He was flat on his back, and she curled up on her side, one arm going around his waist. It felt right. Within a few minutes, Hermione felt herself drifting off into sleep.