8. Lunchtime.
Hermione was so happy. The interview went very well, the Minister of Muggle Research had been very impressed with her and had offered her the job on the spot. He had told her that she wasn't contacted sooner because the Minister had problems with the amount of applications that arrived.
She didn't give much thought about his explanation. She knew that it was due to her relationship with Draco that she had got her job but when they would break up she would be already employed and she couldn't care less.
Hermione sat at one of the table of the little restaurant that they had chosen for their meal. She was thinking about Harry's words and she was a bit upset that maybe he was right. She had started to believe that Draco was nice with her because he actually liked her but it was a bit of wishful thinking. She felt her heart stop when she thought that on Sunday she would see him for the last time. She didn't believe that they could be friends. She was too involved.
Draco entered the little restaurant and spotted Hermione in a table near the window. He smiled and was surprised that he felt a bit nervous to be with her again. These were all new feelings for him, actually the surprise was that he actually had feelings. Growing up in an aristocratic family without any kind of affection had made him believe that his life would be a cold shell.
Hermione was showing him a different way of life. He sat near her and smiled "So, how did it go?" She smiled back "Hello to you too Draco" she was taking her time in speaking. "Yes, hello Hermione so, how did it go?" she laughed "I got the job! I start on Monday. I already signed the contract and I've given my notice to Luna."
Draco was happy for her "That's a good news! We have to celebrate." And he ordered a priced bottle of wine. "Draco last time I drank with you I had to take a hangover potion." He smirked "Come on, Hermione be brave! Live a little!" she looked offended "Draco Malfoy are you insinuating that I'm a bore?" he smirked "I don't know, are you?"
And the meal proceeded with the two of them joking and chatting. While the were eating the dessert Hermione said "So Draco any suggestion for tonight? What should I wear?" he seemed to think about it "Well I don't know, maybe some muggle dress."
She smiled wickedly "Trousers?" he smirked back "Yes, I think that would be very ill-mannered. By the way she hates everything about manual works and mostly she dislikes anything muggle." She snorted "I wonder why I could guess it."
Draco became a bit serious "We don't want her to kick you out of the house though. We have to keep up pretences until Sunday." She sighed "Yes, until Sunday. Draco" and then she stopped speaking.
"What?" he asked. She seemed torn "I, well, never mind." He grinned "Are you thinking about next week? What will happen to us?" she nodded embarrassed.
He smiled, she was so cute and it was a good sign that she seemed that she didn't want to end their relationship. "I don't know Hermione. What do you want?" She lowered her eyes. "I" she then whispered the rest of the sentence "I guess I don't want to see you again." He was shocked, has she just said that she wanted to disappear from his life?
He frowned "Can't we be friend?" that hurt her even more "No, I don't think it would work. We are too different. Beside I had to promise to Harry and Ron that I would stop seeing you altogether at the end of the week. Otherwise, they wouldn't have let me go on with this farce."
He was angry "Do you need their permission to do what you want?" she raised her eyes which were sparkling of emotions that he couldn't quite detect.
"No, I don't but they reminded me that you are nice with me because of the plan." He then was outraged "And obviously they are always right. The two good friends to the rescue of poor Hermione in Malfoy's clutches!"
She saw his anger "Draco calm down. I mean you have never been friendly with me before. What could we think?" he took a calming breath "Hermione, I will say this just once. Part of the reason I was nice depended on our plan but now that I know you I would like to keep in touch."
She smiled "Really?" he nodded "Well Draco I promise I will give a thought to what you told me and I kind of like you as a friend as well."
They kind of patch things up but the words that they both didn't say were hanging heavily on them. After Draco paid the bill, he kissed her goodbye. And she was left standing alone outside the restaurant with butterflies in her stomach caused by a simple kiss of her sworn enemy.
Draco back in his office had to take many claming breaths. The two guys in Hermione's life hated him so much and truth to be told he hated them back. This was a complication, if he wanted to be with her, he would have to be civil with the two goons. He groaned. Hermione Granger was a big complication in his life. Maybe he should just let her go. And then he shook his head, no, he didn't want to loose her.
He then smirked. He couldn't wait to see his mother face to face with Hermione. Draco loved his mother but tonight he was going to enjoy her defeat. It was obvious that Hermione would be the winner. She wasn't the smartest witch of his year for nothing.
And then sighed again, he was going to write a letter to Harry Potter. How lower could he sink in order to win Granger's affection?
AN: Thanks for reading. Next chapter: Dinner with Narcissa Malfoy.