Chapter 12 - The Date
The next night found me outside Hermione's apartment. I felt incredibly nervous. I spent my entire day continually telling myself that she deserved better than to spend time with me and that she herself had said that I needed to forgive me. I was already mentally exhausted. Part of me hoped she would turn me down just so I could go home and nap. I took one last deep breath and knocked on her door.
"Just a second!" A moment later she answered the door. "Oh," Hermione stood at the entrance to the living room, "I wasn't expecting you."
I smiled. She looked beautiful. Her hair was pulled back into a bun, and she was wearing an old gryffindor jumper with a book in her hand. Classic Granger. "No, actually Ginny helped me plan a whole evening."
Her eyebrows shot up, "A whole evening?"
I nodded my head, "I was hoping you would like to come to dinner with me. On a date." I stood nervously, watching her as surprise flitted across her face. "I understand that this is a little sudden and I won't be put out if you decide to decline."
She blinked at me in surprise, "Are those flowers for me?" She asked, timidly.
I looked down at my hand. I'd been so nervous I'd forgotten the flowers. I tried to hide my embarrassment at my fumble, "Yes actually. Ginny told me they were your favorite."
She walked forward and took them from my hand. She lifted them to her face and breathed in. A small smile split across her face, "They're lovely."
"I'm glad you like them."
She seemed to think for a moment, "Alright, but I'll need a moment to get ready. Why don't you wait in the living room?"
I closed the door quietly behind me and walked to where she had pointed. The room was still as cluttered and homey as it had been before. I noticed the blanket I used last time appeared to now live on the back of her couch. I could hear some banging around, presumably Hermione looking for a vase. I was starting to get nervous about how long she'd been gone for, maybe she'd changed her mind and was afraid to tell me.
Hermione came back dressed in dark purple blouse and black pants. The color flattered her complexion beautifully. She smiled at me and asked, "So what do you have planned?"
"I was thinking a carriage ride and dinner in muggle London."
Her eyes widened, "Muggle London?" I shrugged, trying to down play how much thought I'd put into this incase I scared her off.
She starred at me for a minute before asking if she was dressed alright. "You look lovely." I responded as I held my arm out to escort her out of the building and down to her horse drawn carriage.
We went to dinner at a new Italian place that just opened. Hermione gasped when she realized where we were going.
"I've been dying to go here for weeks!"
The restaurant had a very elegant feel to it. The wait staff was very friendly and clearly well trained.
"Order anything you like, I'm paying." I told her.
Hermione scowled at me, "I am perfectly capable of supporting myself you know."
I sighed, "I know, but I am taking you out and it's customary for the man to pay."
She frowned, "Fine, but don't expect me to let you pay again."
I smiled. She had said again, she was already thinking about date number two. I watched her frown in concentration as she read the menu. When she glanced up at me I quickly looked back down at my menu and read the first thing I saw.
"Can't go wrong with the tortellini I'd think." I looked back up and saw her smirking at me. She knew I'd been starring and wasn't fooled. Thankfully she didn't comment on it.
"I suppose it's a rather safe option."
The night went well. The food was terrible and we both struggled to say anything good about it. Finally we both realized the other hated it and went to a fast food place as she was starving and proclaimed that she wouldn't survive another block without food. She was surprised I knew what one was much less how to find it in muggle London. I shrugged it off and we giggled seeing everyone stare at us. It's not every day a horse drawn carriage stops at a fast food establishment.
All too soon we were back outside her door.
With one hand on her door knob she turned around and smiled at me, "I had a great time tonight Draco."
I broke into a grin, "I'm glad." After a second thought I continued, "I was rather worried you would say no to this date tonight."
She put her hand on my arm to comfort me. If only she knew how badly I craved such comfort. "I wasn't sure what I was going to say at first, but I'm glad I said yes. Ginny was as surprised as I was about how terrible that restaurant turned out to be."
I hadn't remembered seeing any owls, "When did you talk?"
She looked down and removed her hand from my arm. I reached out and held it. "When we were in school we had that club you helped break up. To communicate with each other we had these coins. Ginny and I have a sort of code so we can talk. Essentially I spent the night telling her what was going on every once in a while. I always do on a first date, she insists. It's better than having Harry follow me anyway."
I was surprised, "That's rather strong magic for you isn't it?"
Hermione straightened, "Well I can do magic just as well as everyone else. Good night Draco."
Before I could stop her she slammed the door in my face. My heart fell, that wasn't what I'd meant. Depressed I apparated to the park and back to that river.
