Disclaimer: Draco, Hermione, Ron and all other Harry Potter characters belong to J.K.R. All OCs are mine :)

"Thank you." He said. "And to just to show you how sorry I really am, I would like to take you out to dinner tomorrow night."

"Are you joking?"

"Certainly not. A Malfoy never jokes. I'll pick you up at six."

"Uh, ok. I'll be ready."

"Good." Said Draco. "Goodnight Hermione."

"Goodnight Mal-Draco" she answered"

She ran all the way up to her room and flung herself on the bed. She sighed and smiled. Then she came back to reality. The smile dropped off her face.

"What did I just do?"

************************************************************************

Hermione awoke to the sound of her alarm going off. She groaned as she leaned over and turned it off. "Oh God. Seven o'clock is an ungodly hour to be getting up. Maybe I'll just rest a little"

She awoke several hours later when she heard the door slam downstairs. Then footsteps pounding up the stairs. The next moment, Bree was in her room.

"Mione! It's two o'clock! Why are you still in bed?!"

"OH DAMN! I totally forgot! Malfoy and I are going out to dinner tonight!" She gasped. "OH MY GOD! He'll be here at six! And I'm not even ready!"

"Malfoy?" Asked Bree. "You mean that asshole from last night?"

"Well--well...yes." Said Hermione, starting to talk very fast. "You see, he felt really bad for everything that happened last night, and as penance, he is taking me out to dinner."

"Uh-huh. I see. Well, then I guess I'd better let you shower and get dressed then." She smiled, "let me know how it goes."

"I will. Bye."

As soon as the door closed behind Bree, Hermione leaped out of bed. She ran down the hall in her pajamas, to the bathroom where she showered, and blow-dried her hair. Her hair was almost dry when she realized she didn't have anything appropriate to wear.

"Damn it!!" She yelled. "Now what am I supposed to do?" She sank down to the floor, leaning against the sink. Suddenly..."Laura! Maybe she'll have something I could borrow!"

Hermione threw on her robe, put on her slippers, and ran out of the bathroom. Down the stairs and out into the lobby.

"Where are you going?!" Ignoring Joyce, Hermione ran out the front door of the inn, and down the street.

People stared as she passed, but she paid no attention. One more block. And then she was there. She was breathing hard. She rang the bell and waited... and waited... and waited.

"Laura!" She pounded on the door. "I know you're in there. Open up!" Nothing happened. She started pounding. "OPEN--THIS--GOD--DAMN--DOOR!"

The door opened. A man in his early twenties stood in the doorway, clothed only in boxer shorts. His blond hair was a mess, and he wore a scowl, as if he had been interrupted in the middle of something very important. Hermione knew this must be Sam.

"Well?" He snapped. "Whata ya want."

Hermione cleared her throat, "Um, well... yes, is Laura here?"

Sam sighed and then yelled, "HEY LAURA! THERE'S A CHICK HERE TO SEE YOU!"

"WHO IS IT?!"

"IT'S-- sorry, what was your name?"

"Hermione."

"Oh, right. IT'S HERMIONE!!"

"LET HER IN!!!"

Sam sighed, and rolled his eyes. But, he stepped back, and let Hermione in. Laura came down the stairs, tying a bathrobe around her waist. She raised an eyebrow. "Just what is so important that you couldn't wait until a decent hour to come banging down my door?" She gave Hermione a once-over. "And in that get-up no less."

"Decent hour? It's nearly half past four; and as to my get-up, you don't look much better."

Laura reddened. "Yeah, well, I was a little busy."

"I can see that." Laura sniffed. "But, anyway, I need to borrow a dress."

"What for?"

Hermione blushed, "Well... er... I have a date."

"A date?!" Squealed Laura. "Who with? Do I know him? Is he hot?" She asked, ignoring Sam's dirty look.

Hermione laughed. "Yes, a date. With Draco Malfoy, and, as you met him last night, you can judge for yourself whether or not he is hot."

"Malfoy?" Laura crinkled her nose. "You mean that asshole whose lap you landed in? Wow!"

"Yes, well, he felt sorry for his abominable behavior, and offered to take me out to dinner."

Laura sighed, "All right then, I guess we better find you something to wear. Sam dear," turning to her boyfriend, "be a doll and get lost for a couple hours. Now, now, don't pout." she said, seeing his disgruntled face. "I promise I'll make it all up to you later tonight." she winked at him.

He grinned. "All right baby," he said, giving her a kiss. "I'll see ya later." He headed back upstairs to retrieve his clothes.

Hermione smiled at Laura, "So, that's Sam? He's not bad."

Laura grinned. "Yeah, I know. He's great in the sack too. That's the main reason I keep him around." Taking Hermione's hand, she dragged her up the stairs and into a large bedroom. Hermione's eyes widened. The room was huge. "Wow!"

"Yeah, I know. It belonged to my dad's sister's cousin by marriage. She didn't have any kids, so she left it to me. It has two more floors above this, but the floor needs to be replaced. If you tried to walk, you'd probably fall through and end up on my bed."

Laura walked over to her humungous closet and started throwing out dresses. "I think we should go with blue or maybe black. Definitely NOT yellow. Pink would be ok. Perhaps a dark green. No yellow or red though. Both colors scream 'slut'."

After 10 minutes of digging, Laura produced a beautiful dark blue dress. It was knee length and had spaghetti straps. "Well? What do ya think?"

"Well..." said Hermione slowly; "it's awfully short."

"Short? This? HA! I've got stuff a lot shorter then this in my closet. Try it on, while I look for shoes." She threw the dress to Hermione, and went back to digging in the closet.

Hermione went into the bathroom and slipped off her clothes. She slipped the dress on over her head, and zipped it up. Then she looked in the mirror. "Wow..."

"You done in there?!" called Laura, from the other side of the door.

"Yes. I'm coming out."

"Wow," said Laura, "you look great. Here are the shoes." Hermione tried them on, and they were only a little bit big. "You can always stuff toilet paper in the toes." Laura said.

Yes, I know." Inside she was saying, "I'll just use a shrinking charm when I get home." she gave herself one last look in the mirror, and then turned to Laura. "Thank you so much. I would never have been able to come up with something in time. I owe you one."

Don't worry about. Just bring them back when you're done. Preferably not ripped or stained."

"I'll be careful. I promise. Thanks again." Hermione changed back into her pajamas, and headed back to the hotel.

************************************************************************

At ten minutes till six, Hermione walked down into the lobby. "Well, well, well." Joyce said, "Don't we look fancy tonight. Going out?"

Hermione blushed, and smoothed her dress, "Yes, I'm going out to dinner with an old school mate of mine."

"Dinner," Joyce snorted. "Is that what you kids call it these days? Where is this schoolmate?"

"Good evening." Hermione jumped. Draco was standing behind her. Her jaw dropped. She had never seen him look so handsome. We wore a pair of black slacks, and a gray silk shirt. A black jacket was slung over one arm. He extended his hand to Joyce. "I'm Draco Malfoy. Hermione and I went to school together. Are you the owner of this fine establishment?"

Joyce smiled. "Why... yes, I am. My parents opened this hotel thirty years ago. Four years later they added the bar slash restaurant."

"Well, it is quite lovely. I come here often with my cousins, the Brices."

"Ah, yes. That lot. The husband and sons are quite lovely. The wife is an odd one, but the rest of the family makes up for it." she sighed. "Well, have a nice time dear. Don't stay out too late. I'll leave the door unlocked for you. Goodnight."

Draco took Hermione's elbow and steered her toward the door. "Goodnight!" he called over his shoulder. "What was all that?" Hermione hissed. "You were flirting with my boss!"

"I was not!" Draco said defensively, "I was just trying to make her like me. Since I plan to come around often, I thought it would be a good idea for us to be on good terms."

"Ah, I see. So, where are we going for dinner?"

"Actually," Draco said slowly, "I thought we'd have dinner at my place. If that's all right." he added quickly.

"Well that sounds all right."

"Good!" Draco sighed with relief. "The lasagna is already in the oven."

"Why you presumptuous little bas--"

"Boy?" Draco suggested. Hermione smiled. He was so adorable, it was hard to stay angry with him. "Yes. Boy. How far to your place?"

"We're here."

TBC

A/N: *dances a jig* YES! Finally! It took forever to write this chapter. Months, and months. I would write it, and then change my mind, then write it, then change it back. It was nuts! I already have the next chapter ready, but I want to wait a couple days before I post it. (Get me some reviews *grin*) Well, hope you enjoyed the chapter. Elephant Shoes!