Disclaimer: Characters are not mine! All J. K. Rowling's work!

"Wait a second, Draco?"

"Mmmhmmmm...."

"Wow, I didn't even recognize you!"

"I didn't know you were here until I saw the commotion and intervened."

"You look so....good."

"Thank you. I remember you quite differently from Hogwarts as well....I mean to say that you look good as well."

"Thank you."

"What do you say? Would you go to the restaurant around the corner with me? I'd like to catch up."

"I'd love to."

Draco waved his hand in a motion signaling for her to go first. She stepped over the threshold of D3 and he followed. They walked side by side down the walkway in silence.

When they reached the door of the restaurant clearly labeled "Antonio's," he took an extra step to get ahead of her and he reached to open the door for her.

"After you my lady."

Hermione smiled at him and walked through the door that stood ajar. Draco followed her and his eyes snaked their way around the curves of her body. His attention turned to the waitress as they entered.

"Good evening. How many are present?"

"Just the two of us."

She nodded and said, "Right this way."

Hermione and Draco followed the waitress to a small isolated table in the back of the restaurant. A small fire danced in the fireplace and the shadows hopped along the wall with grace.

Hermione sat facing the fire and Draco sat directly across, his back to the fire, while the waitress placed the menus on the table.

"I'll be back in about 5 minutes to take your order."

"Okay. Thank you."

The waitress walked away to serve her other assigned tables and Draco turned his attention to Hermione.

"It's been so long" said Draco.

"I know. What's it been, five or six years?"

"About that. What have you been doing with yourself?"

"Well, I took up a job at the Ministry."

"Which department?"

"Regulation of Law and Criminal Justice."

"Intriguing. I've always found that sort of stuff interesting."

"Really? What do you do?"

"After I graduated from Hogwarts and my mother died...."

She cut him off. "When did your mother die? I'm so sorry!"

"As long as there's a place in my heart for her, I know she'll never leave my side. She died about three years ago. Anyway, I decided to become and Auror."

"Fascinating. The thought crossed my mind as I graduated, but then I always thought I was more suited for office work" said Hermione with a smile.

Draco smiled back at her and looked deep in to her eyes. Her brown eyes opened deep into the matrix of her soul and his eyes were sucked into the abyss.

"You look so beautiful..."

"Thank you...don't be tempted though, I am engaged. Currently we're having some difficulties though."

Draco glanced at her ring finger and watched the dazzling ring sparkle in the fire light.

"What made you come to the bar?"

"That's what I was talking about before. Ron and I are having some problems."

Draco almost spit the wine out that he had in his mouth at the sound of her and Ron being engaged.

"You and Ron?"

"Yeah."

"What happened?"

"Well, we had a big fight on the phone before I came to the bar..." she said as tears began to well up in her eyes.

"I'm sorry....do you want to talk about it?"

"Not in particular. Look it's going to make me cry. Don't make me cry, I'm too cute for that" she said and she managed to stifle a laugh. "I'm just glad I have some company tonight."

"Come on; get it off your chest...literally" he said as he glanced down to her breasts and back to her face again.

Hermione, not sure of whether he had looked at her breasts or not, hesitated and gave in.

"Well, I think he's hiding something illegal from me....and he won't tell me what it is..."

"Ron? Illegal? Never."

"He's perfectly capable of it you know; just as I am."

"You? Never in a million years! You're too good-hearted for that."

"I appreciate that...and it's true that I wouldn't do anything illegal. I just don't know whether to believe him or not. He sounds convincing, but something in my heart of hearts tells me that he's not telling the truth."

"Always trust your heart, Hermione, like I am now."

Hermione looked into his pale blue eyes and erased his comment from her memory.

"What are you going to order?" she said, changing the topic.

"Well, what are you going to order?"

"The chicken parmigiana sounded good to me; simple yet satisfying. I haven't had it in a while either."

The waitress arrived seconds later.

"May I take your orders?"

Hermione began, "Yes, I'll have the chicken parmigiana."

"I'll have the same" said Draco.

Draco smiled at Hermione and she smiled back at him. The sound of Draco's favorite song caught his ear.

"Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"Would you like to dance?"

Not sure what to say, she said, "Sure, why not?"

"I could tell you all the reasons why...."

Hermione smiled at him as he extended his hand to grasp hers. Hermione took his gratefully and he led her out onto the full dance floor.

When Draco had pulled her into the middle of the floor, he stopped and turned around. Hermione slowly felt his masculine hands snake around her waist and pull her close to him. Against him, she could feel the toned muscles of his chest and she could faintly hear the steady beat of his heart over the music. As he continued to pull her closer, she rested her head on his broad shoulder. New sensations began to encompass her mind, spirit and body. The light scent of his cologne wafted into her nose as she listened to the sweet lyrics seep into her head. Draco drew lazy circles across her back and her body started to tingle all over.

~~

Maybe it's intuition

But some things you just don't question

Like in your eyes

I see my future in an instant

and there it goes

I think I've found my best friend

I know that it might sound more than

a little crazy but I believe

I knew I loved you before I met you

I think I dreamed you into life

I knew I loved you before I met you

I have been waiting all my life

There's just no rhyme or reason

only this sense of completion

and in your eyes

I see the missing pieces

I'm searching for

I think I found my way home

I know that it might sound more than

a little crazy but I believe

I knew I loved you before I met you

I think I dreamed you into life

I knew I loved you before I met you

I have been waiting all my life

A thousand angels dance around you

I am complete now that I found you

I knew I loved you before I met you

I think I dreamed you into life

I knew I loved you before I met you

I have been waiting all my life

I knew I loved you before I met you

I think I dreamed you into life

I knew I loved you before I met you

I have been waiting all my life

I knew I loved you before I met you

I think I dreamed you into life

I knew I loved you before I met you

I have been waiting all my life

~~

As the song came to a close, Draco put mere inches away from her face and looked directly into her chocolate brown eyes. She was the first to break the eye contact and he pulled her close for another round.

The two slowly swayed to the melody of the music and the lyrics drained their thoughts. Hermione was rather enjoying this predicament however. Her thoughts were now split between Draco Malfoy and Ron Weasley. Never in a million years had she thought this moment would ever occur.

The chorus faded away as well as the melody and Draco led her back to the table. When they arrived and had seated themselves at the table, the food had already been served. Steam from the freshly cooked chicken filled the air and the sweet aroma filtered through Hermione's nose.

Hermione began to slice the tender chicken with her knife and the two ate in silence. Occasionally, one would glance at the other when they were not looking, but Hermione made it a point not to make direct eye contact with him.

When the two were finished, the waitress brought them the check and before Hermione even had a chance to see it Draco had swiped it from the table and had begun to dig out money to pay for it.

"Draco, let me pay for my half."

"No, I'm paying."

"I insist."

"What kind of gentleman would I be if I didn't? Don't worry about it."

Hermione gave him a stern and disapproving look. Draco smiled casually as the waitress came back for the check and the payment. When the bill was all paid for, they made their way out.

"Would you like to come back to my place for a drink?"

After a second's thought, Hermione replied, "Well, alright, but I can't stay for too long."

Draco nodded. "That's understandable...can't resist me?"

"No...It's just that I have to work tomorrow."

"Let's go."

Draco extended his hand to her once again and they walked back to his home. It was a brick house with a grey roof. The look from the front was colonial and several flowers were scattered around his front lawn.

"I didn't expect you to have flowers all around here."

"What, a man can't enjoy the simple things in life?"

"Did I say that? I love flowers."

"In that case..." Draco released his grip from her hand and walked lightly towards a small section of flowers. He quickly swiped his hand and whisked them out of the ground. He then walked back over to her and said, "For you, my lady."

Hermione gratefully accepted them and brought them up to her nose to inhale the sweet scent. "Thank you. You're so sweet."

"It's one of my best features."

"Yeah? What are your others?"

"You're going to have to find out on your own...."

"I look forward to it."

Draco led Hermione into his cozy home. The inside was decorated modernly yet conservatively. Most of his furniture was oak and the walls were all painted white. He led her into the kitchen towards the back of the house and it was just as beautiful. It was spacious with a table sitting right under a magnificent chandelier.

The bar was orientated to Hermione's left and she took a seat on one of the comfy bar stools. He pretended to be a bartender.

"Can I get you something?" he said mockingly.

Hermione stifled a laugh and replied, "Yes, how about a martini?"

Draco nodded and began to mix two martinis, one for him and one for her. Draco handed one glass to her and said, "Cheers."

"Cheers to...?"

"Cheers to all our happiness and sucesses."

Hermione nodded and took a sip of hers the same time that he took a sip of his. Hermione looked into his ice-blue eyes, full of emotion and passion. His eyes locked with her chocolate brown ones and time seemed to stop. An awkward silence arose between the two of them.

Draco placed his drink on the counter and took hers as well, setting it next to his. He then walked closer to her and pulled her close to him...