It was Saturday and Hermione had felt out of sorts all day. The last 48 hours had been spent going over and over the clues in preparation for their meeting with the Professor's tomorrow and she felt dizzy and she needed a break. Therefore their planned outing tonight had a definite appeal. She had even spent time choosing what she would wear and that was most unusual for her. She generally just flung something on at the last minute.
Amber had been in her room for hours getting ready and when she finally emerged, Hermione immediately had an appreciation of why it had taken her so long. She was a beautiful girl, slim and graceful with lovely hair but her pampering had taken her to a whole other level. She was dressed fairly casually, they weren't going to anywhere that warranted getting dressed up, but she wore the pretty blouse and trousers with style. Hermione had to cover a smile at the look on Michaels face.
"Wow!" he said. "I mean, wow!"
Amber blushed prettily and Hermione wanted to hug them both for being so ridiculously cute.
"Hermione looks lovely too!" Amber said, pointing at her. Michael dragged his eyes from Amber and flashed Hermione a smile.
"Of course she does. I haven't spent the last four years with her without noticing," Michael paid her a lavish compliment and Hermione had to try really hard not to blush. Michael looked at his watch. "So why are we waiting for Draco? Trust him to take longer to get ready than the women!"
"Perfection can't be rushed," Draco said as he entered the room and he grinned at the three of them. "Sorry, I was a bit late back from sorting out the broomstick competition rules with Professor Ashmoss." This was another of the new Professor's who was responsible for the Quidditch tournament. "He is completely incapable of making a decision. I don't know how the Quidditch tournament ever happens!"
"Well it's pointless anyway. He's so biased towards Slytherin the other houses may as well not bother taking part!" Michael said then he seemed to stop, realizing he was speaking to a former Slytherin Quidditch team captain.
"Don't look like that, Corner. I agree with you. He doesn't even try and disguise his favouritism," Draco answered him, seemingly completely not bothered by his comment. "No team wants to win because they have an unfair advantage."
"I beg to differ..." Hermione muttered and Draco turned to look at her. "What? The Slytherin team you played with used every cheat they could get their hands on!"
Draco seemed about to reply then stopped. He shook his head. "Maybe we cheated a little." Michael and Amber laughed at his quick change of principles and his willing admission.
"Anyway, please can we stop talking about Quidditch?" Amber asked.
"Yes, sorry!" Michael said.
"And Draco Malfoy, I have been lead to believe that you were brought up as a gentleman," Amber pointed her finger at him. "Surely a small compliment to the ladies present would be expected?"
Hermione laughed at her friends term of phrase and Draco grinned at Amber. "Of course Miss De Varcy. How remiss of me!" He grabbed Amber's hand and brought it to his lips. "You look very beautiful tonight."
Amber took the compliment readily, even if she had had to ask for it. "Thank you, Mr Malfoy. You don't look half bad yourself!" She glanced at Michael who shrugged.
"Don't mind me," he said.
Hermione had to agree that Draco didn't look half bad. She wasn't sure what had happened to her lately but she seemed to spend half her time assessing Draco Malfoy's appearance and he had yet to disappoint her. Tonight was no exception as he wore casual clothes but they fitted him perfectly, accentuating his lean but muscular shape. He turned to her and she expected the same treatment as Amber but instead he moved close to her and then bent to whisper in her ear.
"Hermione Granger, tonight you look incredibly sexy."
Hermione willed herself not to blush but considering their audience and Draco's totally, utterly sexy flirtation she struggled. She was beginning to let herself believe him when he kept flirting with her, making it obvious that he was finding her attractive. The trouble was that she knew too much about him to let herself truly fall for it. She was absolutely sure that he must have used these lines a million times before but he was totally convincing in making it sound like she was the only one he had ever said them to.
They arrived at Hogsmeade and after having a quick look around the few shops that were still open, they went to eat. For some inexplicable reason, Hermione felt relaxed. She had expected things to be awkward between her and Draco - she had thought he'd be arrogant and obnoxious about their intimate encounter but so far he had been the perfect gentlemen, only teasing her gently about it. In actual fact, since the other night, she felt they were even closer. Draco seemed strangely attentive and she had found him looking at her a couple of times when she had suddenly turned to him. Altogether, it was a new and surprising turn of events but it felt nice.
As if he was reading her thoughts, Draco pulled her chair out for her and indicated that she should sit. She couldn't help but stare at him suspiciously for a moment because old habits were sometimes hard to break.
"What?" Draco asked. "Why are you looking at me like that? I'm being a gentleman!"
Hermione took her seat and turned to him as he sat next to her. "I know but it's just taking some getting used to."
"What is?"
"You being nice to me."
Draco feigned offence. "Well, I'm hurt! Here I am just trying to be polite and chivalrous!"
Hermione chuckled at his over acting but before she could reply the waiter appeared and handed out menus. The four of them studied the menu in silence for a while and then Hermione became aware of Draco's eyes on her again. She looked over at him.
"What's up?"
"I just realized that I have absolutely no idea what you like to eat!" Draco leant closer and pointed at an item on the menu. "Try the prawns– they're great," he recommended.
"I don't like prawns...well actually they don't like me if you know what I mean," Hermione said. "I was going to have the chicken pie."
They placed their orders and settled with their drinks to wait.
"So how are you feeling now, Draco?" Amber asked.
"Absolutely fine. As soon as the pain stops I feel back to normal," Draco answered her nicely but Hermione could tell he felt slightly uncomfortable. Despite everything, the fact that he had a Dark Mark still seemed to upset him. He acted as if he'd begged for it when the opposite was true. Hermione suddenly had a moment of revelation where she realized that she had grown to know Draco fairly well.
"It's scary that the attack on the Ministry affected you when it was miles away. I mean, we always presumed it was someone close by when your mark was affected," Michael looked concerned.
"The professors think it was someone close to hand before. I was affected by the attack on the Ministry because whoever was instigating it used the Dark Mark as a means of communication," Draco sighed. "I still have the mark, albeit partially removed so I was included in the communication."
"Let's hope they don't use it very often," Michael said.
"Do you know what? It actually creeps me out far more that there is someone getting into the school who is evil enough to trigger your mark!" Amber shuddered. "I mean how on earth are they getting in? And then they're stalking Hermione, trying to get the parchments! Horrible!"
The other three looked at Hermione but she was staring into thin air.
"Hermione?" Draco said and she turned to look at him.
"What if it's not someone getting into the school?" Hermione asked.
"What do you mean? They must be fairly close to trigger the mark and didn't you actually hear and see someone both in the woods and in the library?" Michael asked.
"Yes I did see someone," Hermione leant forward in her chair. "What I mean is what if they are already in the school? What if they don't need to break in because they are already there?"
Hermione watched the others for their reaction, hoping they understood what she meant. She could tell by Amber's look of sheer horror that she understood perfectly.
"You mean a student?" Amber asked, then her eyes widened further. "Oh my! Or a professor!"
Hermione nodded. "Yes, that is the most logical explanation and I think it must be a professor. They will have been told about the Legend."
"Hermione, do you have any idea what you're saying?" Draco asked. "You're accusing a Hogwarts professor of plotting with evil!"
"Well it wouldn't be the first time!" Hermione said then she bit her lip. Maybe she shouldn't have said that?
"I think its Professor Cutting," Amber suggested and Hermione shushed her.
"Keep your voice down!"
"Sorry but she's just so creepy and she even looks evil," Amber shuddered again.
"I thought she was quite attractive actually..." Michael cowered from the look Amber gave him.
"She did act very suspiciously that day, Hermione," Draco reminded her. "And she said she knew Mother."
"Your mother?" Michael asked and Draco nodded.
"I don't know how, she didn't say and she wasn't exactly open to questions."
"I think she let it slip out by accident," Hermione said. "She didn't seem too happy that she'd told us."
The meals arrived at that moment and they changed the subject while they ate. Hermione had drunk a glass of wine and she would have liked another but decided against it. Alcohol and Draco Malfoy made her do crazy things!
More Hogsmeade next...x