Chapter 12

"Don't mention it. "

Hermione sat waiting, her eyes wide with anticipation; Draco squirmed inside. There was no way he could tell her the truth, he couldn't even admit it to himself at this point. He could feel his cheeks heating up with every second that passed; he bit the inside of his bottom lip. Draco looked down at Hermione's plate seeing that it was one bite from finished, he too was nearly finished.

"Come on Granger, finish up now. It's almost 10:30." Draco said sheepishly.

Hermione slouched in her chair, disappointment filled her heart. She should have known he'd never admit to anything more of her than being a lousy mudblood.

"Honestly Malfoy, you wanted to play this game and there were questions I was uncomfortable with answer but I answered so to play this fair." Hermione pried.

Draco took in a deep breath and let out a loud sigh before standing; it was time for him to push the subject of leaving further.

"We really should be going, no time to finish our little game; perhaps another time." Draco said in a serious tone.

Hermione shot him a nasty look, she regretted not asking sooner.

"Fine." She snapped angrily.

Draco made his way to the front podium where the little red head was standing to greet the next guests. Hermione shoved her left hand deep in there pockets while rushing to meet him, she was searching for the money to pay for her meal. She was two steps too late when she saw Draco hand over enough money for the two of them and a hefty tip.

"Draco I-" Hermione started.

"Don't worry about it." Malfoy interrupted.

It was really sweet of him to pay for her like that, Hermione blushed at the thought. It kind of made it feel like a date to her, even though she knew it was far, far from. Though she was still a little frustrated with him for flaking on their game; they made there way down the cobblestone walk way, Hermione looked in each window as they passed the different stores. They walked in silence side by side, the rain still sheeting down. Every few minutes Hermione would notice Draco scanning along the street; looking for anyone to witness them so close together without the rest of their classmates around. Hermione suddenly stopped in front of Gladrags Wizardwear, staring through the window. The most beautiful dress was on display; it was an all black, figure hugging, almost club-like dress. It was short reaching mid thigh with gold accents around the low V-neck, one kimono type sleeve, the other cut off like a tank top and bottom trim of the dress. Hermione was in love, there was a Fall dance coming up in a month's time. Hermione imagined the look on everyone's faces if she walked in wearing this; she paused and looked forward at Draco. He was waiting in front of the store next door. "Would you mind if we got out of the rain for a moment?" Hermione asked sheepishly. "Go on then." Draco answered bobbing his head towards the store with a slight smirk. She entered the store in a rush; the bell above her dinged frantically. She walked past racks of cloaks ranging in colors and lengths. She passed a few shelves of stockings, scarf's, ties and sweaters. She darted to the window display; it was even more gorgeous behind the window. She reached out to feel the fabric; it was soft, like silk. Just then the store owner greeted Hermione.
"Hello dear, can I help you find anything today?" He asked kindly. "Oh, I noticed this dress in the window and just had to come in to see it." Hermione blushed. "Would you like to try it on?" He pushed. "You have a beautiful body shape for this style." He added. "Oh I don't think I have the time" Hermione started to explain.
"Yeah, she'll try it on." She heard a voice call out from the doorway. She hadn't even heard the little bell above the door chime from Draco's entrance; he motioned to the store clerk to come to him. Hermione drew her attention back to the dress; it would only take a few minute to try it on. "I would like to try it on actually." Hermione said turning to smile back at the two. "Not a problem!" The store clerk replied sounding so sure of a sale. The three walked to the dressing rooms; Draco took a seat on the tiny wooden bench just outside the small room Hermione entered. Inside she hung the dress on the wall hanger and dropped her still wet jacket to the floor along with her top and pants; she gently slid the dress over her head and reached for the thin zipper at the back. She was able to get it just above half way zipped when she knew she'd have to ask the clerk for some assistance. "Um, Ralph?" Hermione called lightly from the dressing room. She was sure that's what his nametag had read. "He's with a group of girls by the shoes." Draco answered. "It may be a while." He added with a chuckle. "Oh.." Hermione answered. "Is everything alright?" He asked. "Does it fit right?" "Um, well. So far yes, I just can't seem to get the zipper done up all the way." She said sounding helpless. "Oh, I see. Well if you'd like.." He started. "Well I mean I know you think I'm a brainless ferret, but I do know how to do up a zipper." He said playing it off like nothing. "Umm." Hermione thought. she hadn't planned on anyone actually seeing her in the dress but herself through the mirror. She wasn't going to come out of the change room at all but she knew she wouldn't have the true effect of the dress if it wasn't done up properly. "Yes, well.. That would be very kind of you." Her voice sounded slightly nervous. She slowly opened the door with a few obnoxious creeks crying out from the old wood frame; she had one hand on the door and the other holding up the chest area of the dress. Her face was already turning a soft pink shade; Draco stood and shifted his eyes up and down her body with one swift movement, taking in her long, smooth, baby soft looking legs. Seeing her thin hour glass figure even more exaggerated in the skin tight dress with a short end, halfway up her perfectly tempting thighs. Draco reached up to lightly scratch the back of his head before moving towards her; he was two steps away when he motioned her to turn around by twirling his finger in the air in front of him. Hermione did as she was told and spun around with her back to him; his hands were ice cold, sending a shrill of shivers up her back. Goosebumps became visible on her legs and arms, spreading across her shoulders. "Sorry." He whispered innocently. He zipped it up a few inches from the top before gently sliding his hand underneath Hermione's long beautiful hair, to move it all over her left shoulder. He didn't want to hurt one piece of hair on her head, it would be pitiful to see such a beautiful thing tangled and caught, having to break or be cut in order to free her. He seemed to take his time zipping her up; he couldn't help but he distracted by the smell of something very sweet, a mixture of cotton candy, bubble gum, and strawberries. It was almost intoxicating for him; it must have been Hermione's perfume, or shampoo maybe. It smelt amazing to him; he never thought he'd be close enough to Hermione to smell her before. He'd been close to her a few times, but never really thought of letting his guard down enough to notice her smell. Her hair was soft like silk, shiny and healthy. He finished zipping her up and reached over to pull her hair back down her back; when doing so he casually took a silent, deep breath in to take in any and all of her fragrance. It was definitely her shampoo; being damp from the rain must have intensified her aroma. "Thanks." She said quietly as she went to walk back into the dressing room. "Wait.." He spoke too fast for his liking. He cleared his throat before finishing. "You're not going to strut your stuff around the store in your new dress?" He asked with a devilish smirk. Hermione turned to face him, her face also holding a smirk. She looked down under her right arm to find the price tag; she lifted it up and cocked her head to the left to read it. Shock and disappointment filled her eyes; it was way more expensive then she'd ever imagined. Not to mention she'd never 'strut her stuff' infront of Malfoy, all he ever did was make fun of her. "This is definitely never going to me 'my' dress." She said sounding seriously depressed. "You'll think of a way to make the money, you're the brightest witch of our time remember.." he said sounding rather sarcastic at the end. Hermione just rolled her eyes.
"Well I better get out of this thing before I'm too temped to sprint out the door in it." She said sadly. "Oh come on now, at least lets have a look and see how it fits." He pushed sounding innocent. Hermione let out a loud sigh before giving in and walking out, to stand in front of him. It was like it was made for her, it fit like a glove. She looked amazing, and oh so eatable to Draco. He swallowed hard and cracked his knuckles. "Not horrible." He said trying to sound as indifferent as he could manage. "Oh gee, I'm so happy you like it." Hermione retorted dryly. "It's really not bad Granger. I'm surprised." He answered. "Surprised with what?" She asked anxiously. "Who knew you had such a feminine body shape. It's usually hidden under the grotesque Gryffindor attire." He said sounding more and more Malfoy-ish. Hermione shot him a dirty look. "Honestly Malfoy.." She hissed. "Would you just help me out of this." She ordered. "Just remember 'you' asked 'me' to undress you." He said in a cocky tone. Again Hermione replied by rolling her eyes before turning around. "Now, now bookworm it's all in good fun." Draco teased. Malfoy made his way over to her; as he reached for her hair again, Hermione suddenly apologized and swung it over to one side. "That's okay." He spoke sounding somewhat disappointed that he couldn't move it.

He lightly tugged on the zipper but it didn't budge, using a little bit more pull he tried again with no prevails.

"You've got to be joking me." He whispered to himself.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked half looking over her shoulder.

"Nothing, I've just got to give it a bit of a tug.. You may be walking out in this dress after all" He tried to joke.

"What!?" Hermione gasped, starting to panic.

"It's alright, just relax." He said calmly.

He tried again giving it a bit of a jiggle at the same time as pulling downward; after a few more moments with no sign of it coming loose Draco was becoming frustrated.

"Hang on.." Hermione told him. "I think I know a trick..My mother used to have an older styled dress she'd wear to dinners with my father that used to give her a hard time as well, we found out that the pressure to unzip it wasn't being evenly distributed. My mother used to have to facehim and froce her sholderblades together for it to come undone while he pulled." She finished biting her lip.

She didn't think for one second he'd actually consider trying it, she actually hoped her suggestion would send him running after Ralph for his professional help with this situation.

"Well alright then, face me." He spoke evenly.

Butterflies erupted in Hermione's stomach, well that back fired. She wasn't comfortable with this at all, she wished she never mentioned it. She was sure he was going to suggest otherwise; did he not mind being so close to her? She had noticed how he lingered on doing her dress up in the first place and how he moved her hair. That threw her for a loop, they've made contact before of course; just never so intimately. His fingers brushed along her long slender neck so softly; it had made her eye close in pleasure of his touch.

"I.. Um" She began.

"What are you waiting for? Don't you want out of that thing?" He asked confused, looking down at her.

She stepped forward, facing him. He closed the distance between them and reached his arms around her; his right head ran along her shoulder, searching for the zipper by touch. This too made her close her eyes from the pleasure she felt; luckily her face was right up against his broad chest, so her face wasn't visible. She got the strangest urge to rest her cheek on his right shoulder and cuddle into his thick neck; he smelt marvelous, unexplainable. She would have to find out the name of his cologne; it was her new favorite.

"Am I doing this right?" He asked. "I don't feel it coming loose." He added still tugging.

"Yeah, I thought for sure this would work. I'm out of suggestions if it doesn't" She replied.

He leaned into her further, again taking in a deep breath to catch her sent again. Frustrated, he grabbed the back of her dress in one hand and yanked down on the zipper with quite a fair amount of force. It burst free causing him to let go of the dress in a shock reaction; the dress fell just enough to expose half way down of Hermione's bust, before she caught it. Not realizing she had saved the dress herself, Draco saw how exposed she was and grabbed a hold of her in his arms, spinning the two of them around and rushing into the change room, closing the door behind them.

"I'm so sorry I didn't think that would work, I was just frustrated." He stammered. "I don't think anyone saw anything, I got us in here fast enough." He finished.

He was still holding Hermione to his chest but she didn't push away; she hated to think it, let along feel it but she loved the feeling of being in his arms. Even if it was Draco Malfoy we were talking about.. He slowly loosened his grip on her once he realized he had held her just a few seconds too long. He backed as far as the cramped little space allowed him to while looking to the floor; Hermione lifted the dress up to a comfortable spot, covering her up.

"Thank you, Draco." She spoke as sincerely as she could.

"Don't mention it." He replied still looking at the floor.

"I mean it, thank you. You could have just left me there and let the dress drop to embarrass me beyond repair but you didn't." She continued.

He turned his head slightly to look up at her; she had a small smile on her face, God she was perfect to him. She closed the space between them and wrapped her free arm around him, hugging him kindly. She held it, waiting for him to return her embrace.

"Hermione I-" He said uncomfortably.

"No one will ever know but us." She whispered softly.

And with that she felt his right hand slide up her bare back, while the other wrapped around her waist pulling her tighter against him. That was it, There was no lying to themselves now. This was real; they could both feel the chemistry building between them with each second that they held each other. Both could only ask themselves the same question, what now?

Please R&R!