AN: hope you like it.

Hermione stepped out of the train and into the nightlife of Paris. A lot of people were still running around, trying to catch their train when Hermione stepped out of La Gare Nord in Paris. The lights of the Eifel Tower lit up the town. Hermione took a deep breath in and enjoyed the ambiance around the station. A lot of street artists were trying to lure people to their little place around the station. Hermione made her way towards the metro.

Adrian had helped her with a place to stay in Paris. She didn't want to take advantage of him but he was adamant he would arrange her stay in Paris. She texted the number Adrian had given her. It was the number of a friend of his who was currently living in Paris. That friend was trying to set up his company in the Wizarding centre of Paris, just off the Arc the Triomphe. Hermione didn't know anything about the friend from Adrian but at that point, three cocktails in she didn't really see a problem with it. Adrian had persuaded her that she would feel very alone just being in Paris on her own for the next two weeks and Hermione had caved for his argument although she was regretting it now. She would go to the meeting point, if she didn't like Adrian's friend she would just obliviate them and just vanish and check into a hotel.

Hermione tugged her trolley behind her, walking the quant little streets. The street lights were lighting up the dingier parts of the city as she made her way towards the Champs-Élysées. She knew the friend of Adrian was wealthy, Hermione didn't expect anything else. She knew that Adrian wasn't really slumming it either so money seeks out money her mother would say. She looked around, seeing a couple walking towards her. Hermione smiled as she saw the girlfriend pointing out something in the shop window to her boyfriend. To be honest with her, she missed having someone to do things with. She knew that Ginny was always there when she wanted to go shopping and Harry would lend a listening ear but she wanted a deeper relationship. Someone she could rely on, someone that supported her and she could support in return. She never felt that with Ron and the previous week with Adrian showed her what it could possibly be. But then she thought back to the weeks she spend with Blaise and Marcus and they made her feel all warm and tingly inside. She snorted, she knew that when push came to shove that the dates with the Slytherins would be planned sooner rather than later.

She stopped in front of a large imposing building. It looked so beautiful that Hermione had to double check on the little scrap of parchment Adrian had put in her hand before she boarded the train that morning. It was the right address. The building was majestic. A baroque like façade, it blended with the stores surrounding it. The front doors looked inviting, a doorman looking at her expectantly. She walked up the concrete steps and the door opened in front of her. Hermione smiled at the middle aged man opening the door. He gave her a little bow as he closed the door behind her again.

Hermione looked around in awe. The hallway was done up in an art deco style. The walls were white with golden accents. The doors connecting the hallway to the elevators had stained glass windows. Hermione's heels clicked on the hard wood floor as she walked towards the scalloped pink chairs in the corner. She ran her fingers over the edge of the chair, they looked so comfy and cosy. She wanted to crawl into the chair and take out one of the books that were in her bag. The sound of the door opening behind made her turn around, looking like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

Hermione sighed. "I should have known."

Draco Malfoy smirked. "Well hello Granger. I assume that Adrian didn't tell you who you were staying with? Still want to see the place before deciding to go to a hotel?"

Hermione picked up her trolley and walked past Draco towards the elevator. Draco stepped into the elevator and pushed the button of the penthouse.

"So a journey of food Granger? I never thought of you as the cooking type."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione turned towards Draco.

"Just that I didn't think you would like cooking." Draco held up his hands. "I didn't mean it to sound negative or disparaging?"

Hermione nodded and Draco stayed silent. The silence became uncomfortable and Hermione seriously regretted even coming to the building. She just wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible and just get into a hotel.

The elevator pinged and the doors slowly slid open. Hermione stepped out of the elevator and put down her trolley. The magnificence of the lobby was copied into the large open living space. The walls were a dark blue with a golden diamond pattern on it. The plush dark grey oversized couch just called her name. Draco walked towards the golden bar cart in the corner of the room, making them both a drink.

"A toast?" Draco looked at her, uncertain if it was enough of a peace offering to start with. Hermione grabbed one of the glasses he was holding and clinked it against his own. She took a large drink and started coughing.

"Didn't expect it to be that strong." Hermione coughed, tears forming in the corner of her eyes.

Draco grabbed her a glass of water and handed it to her. Hermione took a deep gulp of water and the coughing subsided. "Thanks."

"No worries." Draco shrugged and took his drink with him towards the couch. Hermione followed him and left enough space between them. "You know Granger, I didn't really mean anything with my comment. I just never expected cooking to be the thing you would pursue. I always thought your brilliant mind would change the world."

Hermione blushed. "The world doesn't need my brain." Draco tried to argue with that but Hermione took another sip of water. "I think the world needs the magic I can do with food. I absolutely love food and creating a new thing with different components." Hermione ran her thumb over the edge of her glass. "Even muggles can create magic with food. Good food can change so much more than me fighting a cause I know no one else but me gives a crap about. I know that food makes people happy or loved. I mean I've never saw someone get sad from a bowl of pasta."

Draco chuckled. "Maybe if I made it, they would." Hermione snorted. "Really, I'm shite in the kitchen. I think I could even overcook water."

Hermione chuckled. "Then I'll pay for my stay with home cooked meals."

Draco smiled and put his hand out to her to shake it. "Deal"

I have been very unmotivated last few weeks. I hope you like it. I don't know if I will go on hiatus just to get some space to get my mind in order and get writing. Hope I can start updating again very soon. I'm very sorry for the wait.