Chapter 15 - The Dinner

I was glad that Hermione and I had gotten over our little spat. Two days later I'd had another nightmare and went to her apartment. She brought out pillows and blankets and curled up on the couch with me to help me calm down. I held her and tried to distract myself by reading all the titles of the books on her shelf to relax me. I soon found myself puzzling over who this Shakespeare man was that she had so many works from. I looked down at her to ask and realized she'd fallen asleep in my arms. She looked so peaceful in her sleep, so much more relaxed then any version of herself I'd ever known. Not wanting to wake her I shifted us so we were laying down on the couch. I made sure her feet were covered by the blanket and then I slowly drifted back asleep as I watched her breathe.

The next thing I knew there was a blaring noise and an elbow in my bladder. I groaned, and heard a muttered apology followed by running steps. Delirious from lack of sleep and missing her warmth I curled back up under the blankets to hide from the noise. Suddenly it stopped and I was just drifting off again when something poked me in the arm.

"Draco wake up." She whispered. I grumbled and buried deeper into the blankets. I didn't want to get up. I was tired and still feeling drained. I briefly contemplated using one of my sick days and just laying in bed all day. It's not like I need the money.

"Draco come on. We have to work. It's 7, I don't know what time you need to be at work by so I'd like to hear you say something snarky like I like my eggs black, like my soul. Just so I can tell that you're awake enough to process thoughts."

It took a minute for her words to sink in. When they did I turned to her and she laughed at my expression of utter confusion, "Did you just say black like my soul?" I asked incredulously.

She giggled even more, "Yes. I'm glad I got your attention. It's 7 am and we need to get ready for work. I'm probably going to have cereal for breakfast, what do you normally have?"

I was torn, part of me wanted to go back to my apartment and have the house elves make me sausages and eggs, but I also wanted to stay and spend more time with Hermione. Mostly I just wanted to stay curled up on the couch but I knew she'd never let me skip work just because I was depressed. I sighed and gathered up my strength to sit up. I told myself if I went to work I could have the house elves sneak me a better breakfast while I was going over my files for the day. "I'll have cereal with you."

She raised an eyebrow at me, clearly put off by my lack of enthusiasm. "You don't have to stay. I'd understand if you wanted to start the day off at your own apartment."

I felt butterflies in my stomach as I grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. "I hate cereal." She laughed at my confession, "But I would really like to stay and eat with you."

She smiled at me, blushing a little, "Okay, how about oatmeal then?" I shrugged. She ran her hand along my check as she left. My skin felt warm where she'd trailed her fingers. I closed my eyes and then suddenly remembered that I still had to pee from having had an elbow shoved in my gut.

The rest of the day I felt sluggish and I had to keep bribing myself with thoughts like 'We can buy some cake for dinner tonight' or 'We can check to see if the Weird sister's album is out once I've gotten through five more patients'. It concerned me slightly that I'd slipped into a "we" pronoun when talking to myself in my head. Deciding I was dwelling too much on this I sent Blaize an owl to meet me at the three broomsticks after work.

I arrived first and nearly collapsed into a booth. I was essentially taking a nap on the table when Blaize arrived. "Hard day?" He asked. I didn't even have the energy to move. I mumbled into the table and felt a sting on the top of my head.

"Ow! You fucker." I sat up glaring at him as I rubbed my head.

He grinned devilishly at me, "Your mother taught you better than to have your head on the table."

"Fucking stinging jinx though? Really? Why'd I even ask you to dinner?"

He shrugged, apparently not caring the answer, "Beats me, you're paying right? I'll have the lobster."

I starred at him in disbelief, "Blaize you idiot they don't have lobster here."

He grinned, "Exactly, means it'll cost you more for them to make it."

We bickered back and forth until we ordered, thankfully I convinced the waitress to bring Blaize a steak instead of a lobster. He waited until I took the first bite of my dinner before he asked, "So you shagged Granger yet." I nearly choked on my food.

After a minute of coughing and struggling not to spit my food everywhere I managed to wheeze out, "What?"

He laughed, "Well I saw that article about you two at the charity event a few weeks ago. So clearly things went well after I left you two outside of Potter's house. I'm going to assume you've fucked it up since then though given that you nearly sprayed your dinner everywhere."

I took of sip of my drink to help level out my voice, "You waited until I was about to swallow specifically to get that reaction you bastard. And no I didn't fuck up anything. I'm ju-"

Blaize cut me off, "Tsk, tsk, that's not what your mother told me."

"I- What- you- What did my mother say to you?!"

He shrugged, "Oh just that you had been grovelling for a week for forgiveness. Something like that."

I moaned and dropped my head to my hands, "There was a slight misunderstanding. But Hermione apologized to me as well. It wasn't just me," I sighed in defeat, "I knew mother was listening in."

Blaize laughed, "Of course she was. Narcissa almost has a web of spies involved around you. You thinks she's not going to listen in on a conversation about your life and happiness? I pity the woman that marries you. For so many reasons."

I gave Blaize a blank look, "I may never talk to you again you know."

Blaize laughed, "Of course you will. Who else will spy on your mother for you? Besides I did know it was actually Granger that blew up. I'm just teasing you. I still can't believe you haven't shagged her yet though. What are you waiting for?"

I cleared my throat and suddenly became very focused on my dinner, "Maybe a first kiss would be good. Ya know, before anything else."

Blaize's jaw dropped, "You haven't even kissed her? Does she even know you're dating?"

I glared at him, "Yes she knows we're dating. In fact she's planning our second date as we speak. Apparently it's on Saturday afternoon. The timing worked out perfectly actually as she wants to meet about an hour after my volunteering is done anyway."

Blaize's eyebrows rose higher with each sentence, "You really have changed a lot Draco. I know we haven't really spoken much in the last few years but I'm almost sorry we didn't now."

I smirked, "Yeah I know. I'm irresistible."

Blaize snorted, "Clearly not or you'd have been with Granger by now."

I rolled my eyes at him. Sex wasn't everything. I mean don't get me wrong I wouldn't say no if she offered. But it wasn't a race, we'd get there eventually.

When Saturday arrived I felt nervous. I really wanted this time to go better than last. I was glad I was busy in the morning to keep my mind off of it. I kept thinking that I was going to say or do something to mess the date up again. I had myself wound up so tightly that I jumped when the floo roared to life.

"Oh good Draco you're ready! You're a little too dressed up for what I had in mind for today. Have you ever been to a muggle fair before?"

I had been so thrown by her sudden appearance that I missed half of what she said. "I'm sorry?"

She smiled and nodded her head, "A muggle fair. They're like wizard ones but they have different rides and what not. Plus the cotton candy is delicious. I don't know what wizards seem to have against cotton candy but you're going to love it."

A fair? "Will I need a jacket?"

"No, I went for a bit with my parents this morning. As long as the rain holds off you'll be golden. You may still want to change into more comfortable pants."

I shook my head, "I'll be fine." I held my arm out for her, "Shall we go?"

She smiled at me and we disapparated.