Hermione looked up at the clock and sighed. 7.30pm again! It had been a very busy week and she literally hadn't had a moment to spare. She'd worked from 6am the past two mornings and she was now feeling dog tired. Her eyes were sore, her back ached and she wanted a long soak in a hot bath.

Knock knock.

She sighed again, not in the mood for a visitor. If she wasn't here then her managers would have to deal with the problem instead of coming to her.

"Come in," she called, unenthusiastically.

When Draco entered she had to stop herself from groaning. This was all she needed! Draco looked her up and down and then scanned her desk.

"You're working?" he asked.

"I'm trying to."

"It's 7.30pm on a Friday."

"Thanks for pointing out the obvious to me," Hermione answered, acerbically. "What can I do for you?"

"You can pack your work away and put this on." He flung a dress across the desk, disrupting her paperwork. She stared at it and then up at him.

"This is mine! Where did you get it from?"

"Weaslette got it for me."

Hermione stared at him as the reason for him being here registered with her. "I'm not coming," she said bluntly, removing the dress from her desk and rearranging the paperwork.

Draco narrowed his eyes. "I think you'll find that you are."

"I'm too busy."

"Working? This is what you turned me down for? A pile of parchment?"

Hermione remembered her lie and shook her head. "No - I did have something else planned but I've had to cancel that as well as I have so much work to catch up on."

"Blaise and Ginny are coming."

"Great - have a nice time playing gooseberry." Hermione was actually quite surprised at herself because she was almost enjoying rejecting him. It felt good to be in control.

Draco came around the desk, snatched her quill from her hand and turned the paperwork face down. He perched on the edge of her desk and thrust the dress at her. "You're coming and I won't take no for an answer."

Hermione stared up at him and asked a question, without thinking about it first. "Why are you so keen to go with me?"

Draco met her gaze unwaveringly. "Truthfully, I have no idea!" he confessed. "I'm not used to women who can say no to me - I think I'm enjoying the challenge."

"How flattering!"

"Put the dress on - I'll meet you outside in five minutes."

"Draco..."

"Put the dress on, or I'll do it for you!"

Hermione's eyes widened in her face. "I don't think so!"

Draco put his head to one side. "I just told you I like a challenge..."

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

It was loud and hot in the club and the house band were just coming onto stage.

"When they have a break, I'll take you out the back to meet them," Ginny offered and Draco nodded.

"That would be good."

"You can tell them if there is anything in particular you want."

Hermione sipped her drink, surprisingly feeling better than she had expected. Maybe all work and no play did make her dull? The band started playing and the four of them sat in easy silence for a while, listening to the band.

"They're great!" Blaise confirmed, after a few songs.

Hermione glanced at Draco from the corner of her eye. It was strange how he was so keen for them to spend time together. They were getting on better than they ever had but it was still a difficult. She had found herself enjoying her time with Draco lately but he still infuriated her until she wanted to scream. She couldn't understand why he would be so keen to be with her when he could doubtlessly chose from a hundred other girls who would be more than willing to accompany him and hang off his arm, looking glamorous and beautiful.

Suddenly, Draco turned and caught her staring at him. He gave her a questioning look and leant a bit closer. "Enjoying the view?"

Hermione didn't know what made her do it, something about always being the passive one irritated her, so she just blurted it out. "Do you want to dance?" If she hadn't been quite so shocked by her own question, the look on Draco's face would have made her laugh. His eyes widened and he leant back slightly.

"Did you just ask me to dance?"

"Yes."

Draco grinned and stood up and grabbing Hermione's hand he took her to the dance floor. It was a lively tune and Hermione began to giggle almost immediately. Draco had grace and poise but somehow seeing him dance this way, it was highly amusing. He didn't seem to be bothered and strutted around, a large grin on his face.

The next song came on and he reached out, taking Hermione's hand and twirling her around. She giggled again but didn't protest. They held hands through the next dance, Draco occasionally twirling her around and under his arm. It was fun and exhilarating and Hermione totally forgot who she was dancing with.

By the end of three dances, Hermione was hot so she indicated to Draco that she wanted to sit back down. When they got back to the table, Blaise and Ginny were sitting close, their heads together. Draco nudged Hermione childishly and nodded his head towards their friends.

"Watch this," he said. He then walked over to Ginny and Blaise, pulled chair up to the table and squeezed in between them. He then leant forward, as they had been doing and reached out to take one hand from each of them. He then pulled them both closer to him and gazed into first Ginny's then Blaise's eyes. Hermione was laughing out loud and she could see Ginny dying to laugh as well.

Blaise, in one swift movement, let go of Ginny's hand and then took both of Draco's in his, before planting a kiss firmly on Draco's cheek. Both Ginny and Hermione collapsed into hysterics and Draco wiped his cheek with the back of his hand, making a 'eurrggh' noise.

"I hope you two aren't going to kiss when your clients are here!" Ginny said.

"Well, not each other but there are a couple of attractive women who are invited. Maybe we could mix a bit of business with pleasure?" Blaise answered, cheekily.

Before an indignant Ginny could start to protest, Hermione jumped in. "Are there any that will deserve a 10?" she asked and both Draco and Blaise turned to look at her. Ginny frowned.

"A 10?" she asked.

"They score women out of 10."

Ginny looked at Blaise and Draco. "Really? That's not very gentlemanly, is it?"

Blaise shrugged. "Why not? It's harmless fun."

"So, what about me then?" Ginny asked. "What score do I get?"

Hermione shook her head. "Oh - I think it's best we don't discuss that."

Ginny leant forward. "I don't care - I just want to know."

"We don't give out 10's," Blaise said.

"Why not?"

"We only give a 10 if it's a serious relationship."

Ginny nodded. "Okay - so what score do I get then?" she repeated, eagerly.

"I can't tell you your score."

Ginny shuffled a little in her seat. "What about that redhead over in the corner?"

Blaise grinned. "She's an 8."

Ginny grinned back. "Is anyone in here a 10?" She seemed very pleased with her question, thinking she'd cornered him. Blaise just grinned and sat back in his chair.

"I told you - 10 is only for someone you're really serious about."

"Okay - are there any 9's then?"

"Maybe."

"Who?"

"I can't tell you that."

Hermione watched this exchange with amused interest. She leant towards Ginny. "If it helps at all, Blaise scored Lily with a 9."

"He gives out too many 9's," Draco commented, quietly and Ginny turned to him.

"What do you mean?"

Draco shrugged. "9's should be kept for only the most gorgeous women."

"Forget personality - I mean what does that matter?!" Hermione grunted, sarcastically.

"Ah - that's where you're wrong. Anyone scoring a 9 or 10 must have a personality to match their looks, " Draco answered.

"Lily is gorgeous," Ginny pointed out.

"Yes, she is."

"And clever and very nice."

"Yes."

"So, why shouldn't she get a 9?" Ginny asked.

Draco shook his head. "I didn't say Lily shouldn't get a 9 - just that Blaise has been handing them out far too easily lately."

Blaise cleared his throat. "It's not my fault that half the female staff here just happen to be beautiful! I mean, that one receptionist - the one with the really long hair - she's like a model!"

"He means Katie," Ginny said and Hermione nodded. Ginny gave a giggle. "I can't believe I'm actually encouraging this but it is quite fun." She glanced over at Hermione. "Let's score a few men the same way."

Blaise sat back in his chair and pointed at his own chest. "There's a 10 right here!"

Ginny pushed him to one side and gazed over his shoulder. "How about the tall one, over by the door?"

Hermione gave a laugh - this was totally wrong but very amusing. "I think we should have a different scoring system for the men. How about Troll, Dreadful, Poor, Acceptable, Exceeds Expectations and Outstanding?"

Ginny giggled again. "Yes! I love it!" Go on then - the one by the door?"

"Acceptable, I suppose."

"I agree," Ginny nodded. "How about the blonde sitting at the end table?"

"Mmm...Exceeds Expectations? He's a bit miserable looking," Hermione answered. "You score him."

"Only Acceptable for me - you're right, he's miserable looking."

Blaise cleared his throat and waved his hand in front of their faces. "Hello? Are we not supposed to be enjoying each other's company?"

Ginny stared at him. "If you can do it, why can't we?"

"Because it's not ladylike or, may I add, professional to oggle the hotel guests."

Ginny grinned. "Oggle? Now there is a Muggle word if I've heard one!"

Blaise gave her a derogatory look. "Go on then, Weasley - point someone out who gets an Outstanding Grade."

Ginny glanced over at him. "You just want me to say that it's you."

"I can name someone," Hermione said and the other three turned to stare at her.

Ginny's eyes were wide in her face. "Ooh! Who?" She glanced over at Draco.

"He's not in the room but he's definitely worthy of an Outstanding Grade," Hermione grinned at their expressions.

"Please enlighten us..." Draco said, his voice smooth.

"Theo," Hermione said and again the other three stared at her.

Ginny nodded. "Oh, yes, she's right."

"Great!" Blaise said and Draco just grunted. Hermione bit her lip as she tried to not laugh.

"You don't like it so much when the shoes on the other foot, do you?" she asked.

"Shoe on the other foot?" Draco questioned the Muggle saying.

"It means - the situation has been reversed and you don't like it. Maybe you should think twice about your scoring system?"

"What if I tell you you're easily a 9?" Draco asked and Hermione found herself gaping at him, blinking rapidly. He smirked at her and put his head to one side. "Suddenly you don't seem quite so upset by our scoring system..."

Hermione heard Ginny giggle and tried to not blush. The band announced they were taking a break and Ginny took Draco and Blaise backstage to meet them. Hermione took the few quiet minutes to sip her drink and relax. She sensed that Draco wasn't quite his usual self tonight. He was slightly quieter and not so animated.

The band came back on stage at that moment and the others a while they all sat and listened again until Blaise stood up and asked Ginny to dance. Once they were alone, Draco pulled his chair up closer to Hermione and leant close to speak over the noise of the band.

"I was right in thinking you have a thing for Theo then?" he asked.

Hermione shook her head. "No, I don't have a thing for him. I can just appreciate his good points."

Draco splurted his drink. "Appreciate his good points? Merlin!"

"You apply such a double standard."

"How?"

"Well, it would be perfectly acceptable for you to leer over some attractive friend of mine but if I do the same to one of your friends, then you presume I must be besotted!"

"Girls can't leer like men can."

Hermione huffed at him. "You're right there!" She turned to him, wanting to change the subject. "You never did tell me what your proposition was?" she reminded him.

Draco nodded. "We're supposed to be enjoying ourselves - let's not talk business now."

"It was a business proposition?"

"Sort of," Draco raised one eyebrow. "What sort of proposition were you expecting?"

Hermione gave a little chuckle. "Anything's possible where you're involved!"

"Shall I take that as a compliment?"

"No."

Draco gave his own little laugh, that mirrored her own. "Come on, let's go," he said.

"Go where?"

"Because I'm so good at leering and a chauvinistic pig, who grades women purely on their looks; I'm going to drag you to my Penthouse without consulting you about it." Draco put his head to one side and looked intently at her. Hermione found herself staring at him. She knew she should be telling him that she didn't want to go, but that wasn't the truth. So, she just nodded at him and five minutes later, she was stepping out of the lift into the Penthouse.

So, this turned out to be a bit of a filler chapter but it's kind of a lead up to the next chapter. Sorry there has been a few delays in posting - I'm just very busy! Someone asked if I'm going to finish this story and my answer is, of course, yes! I never leave my stories unfinished - sometimes I have to be a bit slower updating than others but my stories will always be finished. Luv all your reviews - thank you and I really mean that. Some authors would love to have as many reviews as I am very lucky to get. They are all very much appreciated. x