When Ginny and Hermione left their last lesson they found the boys waiting for them. Hermione looked at Draco shyly, not sure what to say to him after their kiss and conversation yesterday. She had no idea how he wanted to continue with this so she decided to let him make the next move. She still couldn't imagine her and Draco actually becoming a couple - that would just be too weird. At the same time she definitely liked the progression of their relationship.
"Hey ladies," Blaise greeted them in his usual flamboyant way. He walked over and put his arm around Hermione's shoulder, looking down into her face. "Are you speaking to me now, partner?" He still called Hermione this since they had been partners on the visitors welcoming committee. "I won't be happy until we're buddies again."
Hermione couldn't help but smile into his handsome face. He was such a charmer, no wonder Ginny had fallen for him. Good in bed too by the sound of it! Hermione chuckled at herself daring to think like this, Ginny was obviously rubbing off on her!
"What's funny?" Blaise asked.
"Nothing, of course I forgive you and yes we're buddies again, as you put it. I wouldn't be happy if we weren't either." Hermione grinned at him and he gathered her into a hug. When he let her go Hermione noticed that Ginny and Draco were watching them and that Ginny had her arm through Draco's, so all was well again between the four of them.
"In that case, Draco and I have a proposition for you." Blaise nodded his head towards Draco who grinned. It amused Hermione that Blaise was always spokesperson and that Draco just stood coolly by letting Blaise take the lead. Ginny looked up interested.
"Ooh! Go on then, tell, tell, tell," she said enthusiastically.
"Try not to pee yourself, Weasley." Draco said dryly and Ginny slapped him.
"Now we're all friends again...or more..." Blaise continued and he winked at Ginny who giggled. "We thought a proper double date would be in order. We boys will do the proper gentlemanly thing and take you lovely ladies out for the evening. We'll arrange it all, pick you up, drop you back, the whole proper date thing."
"Where?" Ginny asked. Hermione bit her lip not quite sure how to react. It was easy for Ginny, she was already dating Blaise but for her and Draco it was a whole different story. If it was to be a proper double date it would actually be her first date with Draco and unless he jumped in pretty quickly, he wouldn't even have asked her to go with him.
"Not telling. I'm thinking nice dresses, high heels," Blaise said.
"What about Ginny and I? What should we wear?" Hermione quipped with a cheeky grin making them all burst out laughing.
"I told you she was getting good at comebacks," Draco said laughing.
Blaise grinned, taking everything good naturedly as always. "So, is that a yes then girls?"
"Yes," Ginny said without a moment's hesitation.
"Hermione?" Blaise turned to her and winked. "Do I need to persuade you?"
Hermione didn't answer because she was still feeling awkward about her and Draco. She hated not knowing where she stood. Draco then surprised her by moving away from the wall he'd been leaning on and coming to stand by her.
"If there is any persuading to be done, it'll be me doing it." Draco grinned at his friend. "Come on Hermione, don't let him bully you into anything. Let's leave these two love birds alone for a while, I can tell he's itching to get his hands on her."
"Draco!" Ginny said as if she was outraged but her face betrayed her because she was grinning widely and flashing her eyes at Blaise. Draco took Hermione's arm and lead her along the corridor and out into the grounds. She could feel her heart pumping in her chest because she had a feeling which was a mix of nervousness, anxiety and anticipation. Draco stopped at a bench that was against the castle wall, by the courtyard and pulled her to sit by him.
"Listen, we don't have to do the double date thing if you don't want to," he said gently and she couldn't help but stare into his mesmerizing eyes.
"No...I mean yes..." Hermione stumbled over her words then cleared her throat so she could speak properly. "I wasn't sure about us."
Draco's face was serious as he looked at her. "Oh. I know it's all been a bit rushed."
"No, I didn't mean I wasn't sure about us..."
Draco narrowed his eyes at her. "What? Hermione you're not making sense."
"I know, sorry." She sighed. "It's your fault, I can't think straight when you're looking at me like this." She realised what she'd confessed as the last word left her lips and blushed. Draco gave her a smirk.
"And how exactly am I looking at you?" His voice was smooth.
"You know..." she couldn't put his devastatingly, gorgeous gaze into words.
"Sexily?" he guessed then smirked.
She pulled a face at him. "Just how much do you love yourself?"
"It's called confidence and you need a bit more of it." Draco took her hands in his and she felt her pulse rate hit the roof because his voice was washing over her making every nerve tingle. She again wondered how a person could affect her so much by doing so little.
"It's called arrogance and you have way, way too much!" Hermione said this but didn't pull her hands away from his.
"So what did you mean when you said you weren't sure about us?"
Hermione shrugged. "I just felt a bit awkward."
Draco's eyes were locked to hers now. "Would it help if I do this the right way? Hermione, would you like to go out with me for the evening?" He smiled so sweetly at her that she had to stop herself from grabbing him and kissing him.
"Are you asking me on a date?" Hermione asked her question with a smirk. She might be shy and nervous but she still had her wits about her. Draco returned her smirk with one of his own.
"Yes, I am."
Hermione looked away from him for a minute before meeting his gaze again. "I'll have to think about it."
Draco stared at her in surprise, still grinning. "I'll give you 30 seconds." This made Hermione laugh. Draco tapped his fingers impatiently on his arm then continued, "29...28...27...," making Hermione laugh again and Draco didn't bother waiting for her to answer. He knew she was going to agree to come. He stood up and took a few steps. "We'll come to your common room at 7pm but try not to let everyone see you because we're going to be back late, definitely after curfew."
Despite herself Hermione found she was caught up in the excitement of their night out and she enjoyed getting ready with Ginny.
"You and Blaise aren't going to be all over each other all night, are you?" Hermione couldn't help but ask Ginny this. She could feel the embarrassment of that even now as it would leave her and Draco alone.
"Hopefully," Ginny said checking her make-up for the hundredth time and Hermione groaned. "I can't imagine we'll be the only couple all over each other, as you put it." Ginny added with an evil grin and Hermione glared at her. Ginny turned away from the mirror and looked Hermione up and down. "Especially looking like you do tonight."
Hermione looked down at herself for a moment then back up at Ginny. "Thank you...I think...?"
Ginny giggled and leant closer to her friend. "It's a very pretty dress, Hermione but I bet Draco will spend the whole night thinking about ripping it off!"
"Ginny!"
"I wonder where they're taking us?" Ginny asked checking herself in the mirror again. She noticed that Hermione was staring off into thin air and turned back to her. "Hermione? Are you OK?"
Hermione sighed. "I don't think I can go."
"What? Don't be ridiculous, we're meeting them in 10 minutes." Ginny exclaimed. "I was only joking about the dress. Why can't you go?"
"I can't go on a date with Draco Malfoy." Hermione said dejectedly. Ginny shook her head at her friend, exasperated.
"No, of course you can't. I mean who'd want to go on a date with the drop dead, gorgeous specimen that is Draco Malfoy? I mean he's only just about everything most girls want. Handsome, rich, clever, charming and dare I say it? Nice! So yeh, I totally understand why you wouldn't want to go." Ginny folded her arms in front of herself and tilted her head to one side. Hermione couldn't help but chuckle at her friend's description.
"I don't know what to say to him, not on a date. It's not like we can talk about school all evening can we? And we have absolutely nothing else in common. Plus, he's Draco Malfoy, the boy who's made my life hell for six years..."
"And heaven for six weeks." Ginny interrupted her quickly. "Stop dwelling on the past, Hermione. You know he's changed beyond all recognition and you've been talking to him quite happily up until now so why will tonight be any different?"
"Because it's a date! I mean this can go no-where can it? How could I ever tell anyone that I'm dating Draco Malfoy? No, I'm not going." Hermione went to loosen her hair from its pins but Ginny jumped up and stopped her.
"Yes you are going, even if I have to drag you there." Ginny flung Hermione's bag at her unceremoniously. "You and Draco are great together so who cares what anyone else thinks?"
"How do you know we're great together? And I do care what people think."
"No you don't, that's one of the things I've always admired about you. Listen, Hermione I'm going to ask you one question and if you can honestly answer it with a no, then I'll not only let you skip the date I'll even go down to Draco and tell him for you." Ginny challenged.
Hermione narrowed her eyes but nodded. "OK."
"You have to answer honestly."
"Yes, I will."
"Do you care about Draco?" Hermione went to answer straight away but Ginny silenced her by raising her hand. "No, don't jump in with the standard answer. Yes you like him as a friend and you can see he's sexy...blah, blah, blah. That's not what I mean. I mean do you care about him, even if he was poor and ugly, would you care about him? If you say no then I'll happily go straight down to him now and tell him you won't be going out tonight."
Hermione bit her lip and stared at her friend, taking in what she had said. Ginny waited patiently for her friend to answer. Eventually Hermione lowered her shoulders and sighed.
"Looks like I'm going on this date, doesn't it?"
Ginny grinned at Hermione's admission. "See I knew it!"
Hope you enjoyed this - double date coming up next - keep reading and as always, please review x