Draco Malfoy had battle death-eater, suffered 10 tampered with Bludgers and a moody pregnant Pansy, but nothing prepared him for the tame white owl that clutched a letter adressed to him.

Tentatively he opened it - wondering what he would find inside.

' To Draco,

I got a letter today - from Harry. He invited us to dinner to get to know the you better. I know you have disliked him in the past. Hated him even. But he's my friend - just as you are.'

Here Draco paused. He wasn't sure what to feel. He felt happy that she regarded him as a friend, but upset - he wished to be more. He continued reading.

'So I ask you to come with me, please? [insert cheesy smile] .I guess it might be asking too much .. . but Breeze (the owl) is biting my fingers so here you go.

Hermione.

He placed the letter carefully on the desk – lightly running his fingers over her name..

His head pounded. He would go – if only to see her beaming smile when she saw him try to be friends with her friends. Once again he realised he liked her – like he was a teenager again – waiting to go on his first date.

A hoot from the owl awakened Draco from his thoughts. Taking a quill,he wrote in cursive letters,

"Yes,I'll be there."

With a smile, he folded the letter, stroked the owl and gave it the envelope. A flutter of wings and it left.

Draco grinned – he had an hour to get ready and then he would see Hermione. At Potter's house.

It was clear he didn't live in Utopia.

The kitchen was hot and delicious smells wavered through the door and open window. Ginny Weasley rushed to and fro from the saucepan to the wok. She had inherited her mother's tremendous cooking ability – and this was proving useful.

With a glance at the time, she saw it was 6 O'Clock. She rushed upstairs to get ready.

She discarded the dresses that didn't fit anymore and stepped into her scarlet dress, formerly baddy which now fit perfectly.

She grinned at the Potter clock. Harry was coming home.

Hermione paced in her living room. She anxiously checked her watch - where was Draco? It was 6:15. A knock on the door told Hermione that he had arrived.

She walked to the door and opened it.

Draco looked her up and down. His jaw dropped. She looked amazing.

She was wearing a white one shoulder knee-length white dress - that was fitted like a corset at the top before flaring out. She had on a simple diamond necklace and in her hand she clutched matching earrings. She wore high-heeled white sandles that made her taller but nowhere near his height.

She smiled at him and his knees nearly gave out.

He suddenly seemed to realise that he hadn't said anything and was looking like an idiot because he stopped and hesistantly handed her the red rose he had bought on his way there.

She gasped and nearly fell backwards.

He reached out to her and wrapped his arms around her.

He smirked.

"Well at least you didn't faint this time."

"Thanks for coming - I thought you wouldn't come."

He smiled gently.

"Malfoys don't go back on their words."

She took out her cloak and then smiled again, taking his arm.

"I'll side apparate us to their house - you don't know where they live do you?"

And with a pop, they disapparated.

The house was quite modern - it fitted into central london but you could tell something was different. It wasn't small, Draco noted that if it was on sale it would be around half a million. At the window, sat Harry.

Draco hadn't seen him since the war. He didn't realise he had stopped walking until Hermione gently placed a hand on his arm.

"Come on." She whispered - her warm breath felt comforting against the biting air.

She moved closer to him and he wrapped an arm around her waist - they had to pretend to be in love - and her soft skin felt good against his own.

With a confident smirk, he took her hand and knocked on the door.

A red faced Ginny appeared. Draco had only a chance to glance at her before she was engulfed in a tight hug by Hermione.

"I missed you. You look gorgeous! You have the pregnancy glow."

Draco bit his lip to not comment. A nudge from Hermione told Draco to remember his manners.

"Congratulations, Weasley." He said in a monotone.

A sharp glare from Hermione. Time to use his Malfoy charm.

"I'm sure the baby will be just as beautiful as you."

Ginny blushed.

"Come in, Draco. Harry will be down in a minute - he's putting James to bed."

With a grin, Draco walked into the house.

Hermione shook her head - he was such a flirt.

Ginny smiled,

"He's a keeper, all right! Show me your ring!"

With a tiny smile, Hermione extended her hand.

"You know, Mione I would never have guessed you would end up with Malfoy. Everyone thought it would be you and Ron forever."

Hermione stiffened.

"Don't take this the wrong way - but I am so glad you got rid of Ron. He's such an arse."

Hermione opened her mouth to reply but was cut off by yells coming from the living room. They recognised the voices. They both felt despair at their other halves - they couldn't even get over their childish rivalry for once.

Hermione and Ginny exchanged glances before rushing off into the house shutting the door behind them.

The sight they saw was terrible - it hinted the apocalypse was coming.

Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy were sitting on the couch and yelling.

But not at each other. They were yelling at the TV that had been charmed to air Quidditch matches.

Ginny grinned at the expression of disgust on Hermione's face.

What was it with men and Quidditch?

Draco smiled so much his cheek ached. He sat down at the dining table.

"Food looks delicious Ginny! Um . . what is it?"

It looked exotic.

"Stir fry - my style, so basically drowned in soya sauce. And that's chilli chicken sauce."

Hermione grinned as Draco poked at it.

"I might have grown up amongst the best chef's in the world but I have never eaten this before."

Hermione patted his arm.

"It won't kill you, Draco. I bet you'll like it and I can make it for you."

Draco liked the image. It made him feel like Hermione was more than a friend - like a girlfriend. That was before he remembered she was acting.

He smirked, trying to hide his real feelings.

"What and give me food poisoning? If I like it,I'll make it for you."

He sampled the food.

"Tastes as good as it looks."

Harry smiled at Ginny proudly.

"And that is why I keep her around."

Ginny poked him and Harry grimaced.

"Don't mess with pregnant women, Potter - thought you would have learnt it first time round."

They continued the teasing like friends.

"Remember that time you punched Malfoy, Mione." Harry said with a laugh.

Hermione smiled.

"What time is it, Gin?"

Ginny twisted around to look at the clock.

"11 O'Clock. Wait - 11 O'Clock! I have a checkup in the morning."

Hermione stood up quickly.

"We'll get out of your way. Where's my cloak, Gin?"

Ginny stood up and left the room with Hermione.

There was an awkward silence as Draco and Harry realised they were by themselves.

"Pot-"

"Mal-"

They spoke at the same time.

Harry went first.

"Malfoy, you make Hermione happy. We might not have liked each other but I am going to try - and today wasn't bad. But, Hermione is like my sister."

Harry paused, causing Malfoy to question the truth behind that statement.

"Don't hurt her - otherwise I have the right to hurt you."

Draco smiled solemnly.

"I hurt her - I'll do it for you."

Harry laughed.

"Please don't - I am going to enjoy hurting you!"

The click of heels stopped them talking. They both stood up.

Hermione stood there smiling.

"Ready to go?"

He nodded at Harry, hugged Ginny and took Hermione's arm.

With a pop, they disapparated.

Draco and Hermione stood outside her house door.

"Dra-"

"Her-"

They stopped and blinked.

"You first."

They said in unison.

Hermione smiled. Draco bent his head down as if to listen intently.

"Draco, you and Harry have never been friends. But you are trying - for me. Thank you so much."

She moved forward to place a kiss on his cheek but as fate would have it he raised his head at that exact moment.

Her lips crashed down on his and she lost herself in this bliss. Suddenly she jerked. She turned a shake of her head she ran inside and banged the door shut. She fell to the ground relishing in the feelings she had felt, and she didn't know Draco was mimicking her actions on the other side of the door.

They had no worries in the world at that moment.

Little did they know, someone was planning their demise.