Note: Thank you to lovely Gia for betaing this and last chapter where I forgot to give her credit because I'm will not be an update Tuesday as I will be out of town all weekend and chapter 22 has yet to be written. So sorry!

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Chapter 21

Looking at the clock on the wall, Hermione fixed her blouse nervously. It was almost six. Draco had sent word with Nigel that he would be there to get her no later than six. Shuffling the papers on her desk, she fidgeted with her pen, trying to keep her leg from shaking. After her dinner at the Potter's, Hermione had a hard time shaking the word date from her mind. She'd recalled Draco saying it was a date, the word date echoing in her mind over and over. This couldn't be a date. Hermione didn't date her players. Or at least she hadn't planned to.

Her thoughts went back to Dillon and the crushed look on his face when she declined his offer. Surely this was different. She had a history with Draco, he would understand. 'Not that our history is friendly however,' she thought to herself begrudgingly. A crinkle placed itself on her brow as she lost herself in her thoughts. All day, she'd been weighing the pros and cons on accompanying Draco to dinner. She had to admit, her con list was much longer than her pros, but skipping her flying lesson was written in all caps at the top on her pro's list, and that had been her driving decision. Well, that and how she found Draco rather dashing in his Quidditch uniform, but she had obviously refused to put that on her list.

Her thoughts were broken by a knock on her door. She muttered a quiet "Come in," and looked up at Draco entered her office. His hair was slightly damp from a recent shower, and his cheeks were tinged pink. He seemed slightly out of breath as well.

"Sorry I'm late. Practice ran long and for both our sakes, a shower was necessary. Are you ready?" The witch found herself unable to say much more than a simple yes. She was finding it hard to focus on much of anything except the way Draco's wet hair hung just over his eyes when he moved. She watched as he ran a free hand through it, trying to get it to stay in place. He looked so at ease. "Shall we then, Granger?"

Hermione stood, grabbing her jacket from the coat hanger next to her desk and throwing it over her arm. She looked at his choice in clothing once more and suddenly felt overdressed next to him. Her grey pencil skirt and floral blouse seemed like too much for his black Dockers and forest green jumper. He sensed her anxiety and took her coat from her arms, offering to help her in to it.

"Don't worry. You look fine-we're just grabbing dinner at a pub." Giving a hopeful nod, she followed him out of her office.

The night was chilly once they finally made it to the stadium exit. The sky was clear, which was surprising for a late November night. The walk to the pub wasn't far. They made small talk along the way. Hermione had questions as to how practice was going and if the team would be ready for Sunday's game. Draco asked her about her meetings and the direction the team was heading. She had to admit, it was far from an unpleasant conversation. She was surprised that Draco had so much knowledge in regards to how the team and franchise functioned as a whole.

As they neared the pub, they could hear the muffled sounds of music trying to break free. Hermione thanked Draco politely as he held the door for her, allowing her to enter. It took a moment for her ears to adjust to the noise. A live band was set up on a small stage in the corner. People laughed and spoke merrily at tables littered the space. Unable to see an unoccupied table, Hermione pointed to the bar at a few empty stools and Draco nodded his head in approval.

"Can we get two pints please and menus?" The barkeep recognized Draco's blonde hair instantly and quickly went about filling the mugs and grabbing menus. Hermione seemed a bit unnerved by the extra attention. She'd never really been one to enjoy the limelight. She did manage to thank the barkeep as he dropped off their drinks, looking over the menu as Draco quickly signed an autograph for the older man.

"Do you honestly enjoy this type of attention?" Draco gave her a shrug of his shoulders, before taking a long drink.

"I'd much prefer this type of recognition then what it could have been had our family name not been cleared at the end of the war. I've worked hard to make something of myself, to be something more than the life that was thrust at me. I'm not longer, 'Death eater Malfoy'. Now I'm star seeker for the Falmouth Falcons. I'll take positive publicity any day." He took another long drink for his mug as Hermione stared down at hers. They hadn't spoken about the war since he'd joined her team. To be quite frank, she didn't enjoy speaking of that dark time with anyone. The months after had been rough on her, feeling alone and unable to successful relocate her parents. She'd begged Harry and Ron to stop talking about it. The vivid images that flashed through her dreams every night were enough. She shook the thought, not wanting to dwell on that time any longer.

Food ordered and first drinks half gone, they discussed happy topics, prominently Quidditch. She laughed deeply as Draco ripped apart team after team explaining to her how the Falcons were superior. She'd argue some points, but in all reality, she was sure Draco knew the players much better than she did.

"I mean the Harpies aren't half bad, but they need a decent seeker. Weaslette is the only reason they haven't lost yet this season."

"Malfoy, did I just hear you say something nice about a Weasley?" Hermione's smile grew and Draco turned a slight shade of green-probably disgusted by the words he had just uttered.

"Don't you dare tell her I told you that. Her gab is so large, all of London would know within hours." Her smile grew as she knew his statement to be true. She held her hand up to her lips, pretended to lock them and threw away the key. Draco stared at her with an odd expression and she could help but laugh.

"My lips are locked? Sealed and the key thrown away? You've never seen that before?" His blank expression told her it was way over his head. "My goodness, how sad."

"I don't need your pity, Granger." He finished his pint, signaling for another. Hermione scowled at his comment, turning away from him in a huff. Why did he have to ruin every nice moment with his big mouth? Taking another drink, she stared off at their reflection in the mirror behind the bar. She could see Draco muttering to himself, but she couldn't hear anything. She watched as he scowled, appearing to be arguing with himself. Hermione knew this was a private moment he was having but couldn't seem to look away.

Their food had arrived and they sat in an awkward silence.