Hermione had an early visitor the next day. She was sitting surrounded by notes for her next tutorial when her door knocked. She put her paperwork to one side and went to open it.

"Ginny!"

"Hey! Sorry I'm early." Ginny stepped inside without waiting for an invitation. "Are you on your own?" She looked around pointedly and Hermione raised her eyebrows are her friend.

"Of course I'm on my own."

Ginny grinned and moved some papers to sit down. "So Blaise and I thought we needed to see you so how about lunch today?"

"Oh, that would be nice but I'm bogged down with all this and I have rehearsal tonight..."

"It doesn't matter – you need to relax," Ginny answered.

"It does matter, Ginny. I need the money."

"You're going to win the dance competition, your troubles will be over."

"What about you winning it?" Hermione asked.

"Oh I don't think we'll win but I'm hopeful of a placing," Ginny said. "How is the snogging going?"

Hermione sighed. "It isn't."

"Liar."

"It really isn't!" Hermione gave a shrug. "Well, only once more and I've told him he can't kiss me again."

"Why? Are you crazy?" Ginny shook her head.

"It's too complicated..."

"What a load of rubbish! He's gorgeous – you like him – he likes you! What's complicated about that?"

Hermione sighed. "I don't want to talk about it."

"So let's talk about lunch instead. 1pm at Monica's," Ginny grinned. "Blaise is asking Draco and we won't take no for an answer."

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

Hermione arrived outside Monica's Cafe a few minutes before 1pm. It was a lovely little place that she and Ginny had visited often. It served light meals and delicious cakes in a lively and friendly atmosphere. Hermione opened the door and looked around. Ginny, Blaise and Draco were seated in the corner and Ginny waved enthusiastically. Hermione walked over and sat down and they all said hello to her.

"So you're all ready to win this competition by the sound of it," Blaise said and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I'm not sure we can actually win," she said.

"Draco reckons you're in with a chance."

"Maybe."

"I wonder how many hours you've spent together now with all this practising?" Ginny asked, leaning forward and Hermione shot her a look. The seemingly innocent question was obviously leading to something.

"Too many!" Draco and Hermione gave exactly the same question in unison and all four of them burst out laughing.

"You're not fooling us," Blaise said and they turned to look at him. He grinned. "You can't possibly expect your two best friends to believe that you still aren't getting on!"

Hermione and Draco glanced at each other and then Draco gave a smirk. "Of course we're getting on – sometimes." Hermione giggled and she saw Ginny raise her eyebrows.

"So when are you going to ask her out then?" Ginny replied.

"Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed, kicking her friend under the table.

"We're out now aren't we?" Draco said.

"Only because we asked you!" Ginny replied. "I meant when are you going to go on a date?"

"Ginny!" Hermione said again but Draco just grinned.

"I don't date girls who I know."

Ginny frowned. "What do you mean?"

"He means he only dates beautiful, mysterious women and as soon as they start to get to know him, he dumps them," Blaise replied on Draco's behalf then he noticed the disgruntled look on Hermione's face. "Oh! I didn't mean you weren't beautiful. It's just that you know him too well by now."

"Everyone's presuming I want to go on a date!" Hermione pointed out. "I don't remember saying that I did!"

"Good point," Draco said and he turned to look at her. "So do you want to go on a date?"

Hermione's eyes widened in her face and she stared at him. She heard Blaise and Ginny chuckling but she ignored them.

"Stop teasing me," she answered and Draco shrugged.

"I'm not teasing you," he said. "Do you or don't you?"

"I thought I knew you too well."

"Yes you do and that's a big rule of mine," Draco said. "Once you lose the mystery and excitement of meeting someone new then dating bores me to death."

Hermione glared at him. "Well, there's your answer then!" she huffed. "Why bother asking me?"

"She has a point..." Ginny observed and she was greeted by both of them glaring at her.

The waitress came to take their order and the conversation ended there. Hermione felt insulted that Draco had asked her out and then basically told her it would bore him to death! Why did he have to be so contradictory? She turned away from him as much as she could and tried to pay attention to Blaise and Ginny's conversation but she could feel Draco's eyes on her. The meal arrived and Hermione chatted to Ginny, still ignoring Draco. When they'd finished Blaise said he was going to fetch some drinks and Ginny jumped up to help him.

"She's not exactly subtle is she?" Draco observed once they were alone.

"She's great, I'm glad I have a friend like her!" Hermione snapped and she shuffled her napkin around.

"So how about another trip to the theatre?" Draco asked and Hermione turned to him looking puzzled.

"What are you talking about?"

"For our date?" Draco smirked at her and she pulled a face.

"I don't recall being asked properly and I certainly don't recall saying I would go!"

"Hermione, would you like to go to the theatre with me?" Draco asked, politely.

"No thanks." Hermione tried not to laugh at her clever answer and the look on Draco's face. He obviously wasn't used to rejection.

"Are you turning me down?"

"I wouldn't want to bore you!" Hermione said and Draco smirked at her.

"I thought you weren't going to take offence at every little thing?" he said.

"I thought you weren't going to blow hot and cold!" Hermione answered. "It's really annoying!"

Draco's handsome face broke into a grin and he leaned closer. "I asked you out – twice actually! Why is that blowing hot and cold?"

"It's the way you said it! Anyway, I thought we were just friends," Hermione sighed. "I know you probably think this is all very amusing but I don't conduct my love life the way you do. I want to date someone who is actually looking for a relationship and not just a quick fix!"

"So let me get this straight," Draco said, still grinning. "You only want kisses if they mean something and you only want to go on a date if it leads to a relationship?"

Hermione pulled a face. "You make it sound like I'm abnormal! I think you'll find it's what most people would like."

Draco's grinned widened and she felt like slapping it off his face. "You must know I won't be dictated to like that."

"Yeh, I know. So let's forget this conversation happened shall we? We can't fall out before the dance competition."

Ginny and Blaise returned and the four of them sat with their drinks. Hermione liked Blaise and she thought he was great for Ginny who obviously adored him. Reluctantly, they left the cafe as Blaise had to get to work. Ginny was meeting her mother so she hurried off, kissing both Hermione and a surprised Draco as she left. Hermione stood outside the cafe desperately thinking of a reason why she needed to hurry off when Draco spoke.

"Are you going home?" he asked.

"Yes – I have a tutorial I have to finish before tomorrow."

"Want some help?" Draco asked and then he smiled at the look on Hermione's face.

"Err...no...I'm fine..." she mumbled.

"Two heads are better than one. I'm no expert but aren't friends supposed to help each other?"

Hermione ran her hand through her hair. "Yes...I mean no...I'm fine..." She waved her hand and started walking backwards away from him. "I'll see you at rehearsal." Draco didn't reply, he just continued staring at her and the look on his face made her stop walking. His eyes were deep and intense and he was blinking rapidly. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt if you helped me," she said and he immediately flashed her a smirk.

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

"These are brilliant!" Draco commented as he sorted through a pile of tutorials. "You're school will be great if these are anything to go by."

"Thanks."

"They're very detailed but everything is written so logically and clearly they are still easy to understand," Draco continued. He seemed oblivious to the fact he was complimenting her.

"Thanks." Hermione watched him and he suddenly looked up at her. She gave him a grin and he rolled his eyes as he realized what he'd been saying.

"Don't let it go to your head, Granger," he said. "I'm sure I could find room for improvement if I looked properly."

Hermione shook her head at him. "Don't spoil it! I was enjoying the praise." She noticed something on the paper he was holding and she leant close, holding the other side of it so she could see properly. "Bloody hell! That line is wrong! It's tumbleweed not tumblegrass!"

Draco looked over the paper and then tightened his lips. "Yes, it is."

"Bloody hell! I'll have to re-write it and then do more copies!" Hermione sighed and started going through the pile of copies. "That's going to take forever!"

Draco tapped her on the shoulder. "Hermione?"

"What? Look, I don't need any sarcasm thanks. I just need to get on with this," Hermione snapped and he tapped her shoulder again.

"Hermione?"

"What?"

He reached behind her and took her wand, holding it in front of her face. "This is a wand – you're a witch..."

Hermione looked from the wand to his face and then realization dawned. "I can correct them all in one go with a spell!"

"Duh!"

She snatched her wand off him and said the spell to erase the mistake and then the one to insert the new word. She then put her wand down and sat back on her heels. Draco was looking at her smugly but she knew she had to thank him. "Thanks. I was going into a blind panic."

"It's okay."

"I seem to be thanking you a lot lately!"

"Maybe we should check the others just to be on the safe side?" Draco suggested leaning over to reach the pile of different tutorials that were in front of Hermione. As he did so, he was almost touching Hermione, his head next to hers and his body leaning over her. Hermione was immediately aware of him as she inhaled his scent and felt the warmth of him just inches away. She leant back slightly, trying to keep control of her emotions but there was no denying that he was affecting her. His hair had flopped over his eyes and his shirt was slightly open revealing some tanned and toned flesh that she was having difficulty dragging her eyes from. He must have sensed her change of mood because he stopped reaching over and turned to look at her. As soon as he did, a million butterflies exploded in her stomach and she had to take a deep breath. Draco's eyes darkened and his gaze held hers intently and Hermione was sure he must hear her heart thundering away in her chest.

"I told you it meant something," Draco's voice was low and Hermione's muddled brain didn't comprehend what he was talking about.

"What?"

"You're not my type," Draco rambled and Hermione frowned, expecting an insult. "You're not blonde, you don't hang off my every word and you're too feisty." Hermione went to stand up, wanting to get away from him and his hurtful words but he grabbed her arm. "No! It's not an insult! I kissed you because you're not a dumb blonde who hangs off my every word and suddenly I like feisty," he moved closer. "So my kisses did mean something..." Hermione blushed and looked away from him but then she felt his arms slip around her waist and pull her against him. That was when she knew she couldn't fight with him any longer because his closeness was turning her to jelly and this was sweet and gentle. He wasn't being passionate, he was just holding her and she leant her head on his shoulder, feeling his toned, warm muscles moving beneath her cheek. Then she felt him move away.

"So how about that date I mentioned then, Granger?" Draco was smirking and using flippant words but Hermione found him amusing rather than irritating. He was just trying to diffuse the situation in his own strange way. "This is your last chance to go out with the wizarding world's most eligible bachelor." He wriggled his eyebrows at her and threw his arms wide. "I can't keep letting you turn me down. Even my ego can't stand that."

Hermione smiled at him and ran her hands through her hair. "I can't believe I'm going to say this but...okay, I'll go."

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