Author's Note: This is the chapter I am most worried about people reading, because I feel that Hermione's argument is a little weak, and people will think that Draco would never agree, but although I don't tell you them now, Draco has reasons of his own. And new thanks go to blackxrose (Oh my gosh 2 reviews, and long ones at that. I feel so honored. I'd like to thank the academy... oh, darn wrong thank-you's!), Jexi, FuMan Skeeto, Tabii (Yes, he is rather yummy!), sammyrose115, Til death due us part (No mistakes? Really? Let me print out your review and show it to my English professor!), & babmidnight (Glad you grasped her frustration. That's really what I wanted to get across; that even though the whole thing hasn't started it's already causing her stress.) And now onto Ch. 5!
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter Five: An Interesting Proposal
Hermione was at The Blue Note a half an hour early. She sat there, her drink in her trembling hand, trying to figure out exactly how to word what she was going to have to say. Merlin, how would she tell him?
She kept checking the clock on the wall and before she knew it the hour hand pointed to the twelve, indicating that he would soon be there. No, she noted, he was already there.
That was the quickest thirty minutes she had ever experienced in her entire life, she decided when she saw Draco enter the restaurant and head over to the booth she was sitting in. And she still had no idea what to say to him.
When he sat down she noticed that he had an uneasy look on his face, mind you it wasn't as uneasy as the one surely on her face, but uneasy none-the-less. And for a moment she thought of Hogwarts. She remembered how calm and collected he had always been. But today was a different story and seeing him troubled, even though it was only slightly, made her feel a little bit better.
"Granger," He started, not letting her get in a word edgewise. That was happening a lot lately. "I know what you wanted to talk about."
"You do?"
"Yes. And I wanted to…" He paused and Hermione knew he was having trouble with what he was going to say next, but he managed to get it out, if only just barely, "I wanted to… apologize."
"I thought I'd never see the day."
"Well don't expect it to ever happen again." He said, turning back to his true Malfoy colors. Hermione paused, liking this turn of events. It gave her the catch, the loophole if you will, that she desperately needed. She quickly turned on him.
"But, you see, that just won't do. I just can't accept your apology." She said, taking interest in her nails, and trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. She allowed for a moment of silence, making him sit it out, letting all of the possibilities, all of the worst case scenarios pass through his mind before she continued. Then when she figured she'd put him through enough, he head snapped up at her eyes met his. "I suppose you'll have to make it up to me somehow."
"What do you want?" He asked slowly and curiously, an eyebrow raised.
"I need a favor." She stated simply, looking down at her nails again, inspecting and once satisfied she folded them, and then went about explaining, "You remember my mother. From yesterday."
He nodded slowly, "What about her?"
"Well, she got the impression that we were together."
"Well, what gave her that idea?" He drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Oh, I don't know, Malfoy. Could it be that you were snogging me in the middle of the street?" She accused, her tongue just as cynical. "Well, one thing led to another and now she's expecting you at the Granger Family Christmas Party." She enjoyed watching the mix of expressions on his face.
"There is no way I'm going to do that." He gave her a rather menacing glare.
"Oh come on, Malfoy, you owe me. And it would keep you from Pansy, as I'm sure she'd be trying to spend the holidays with you."
"So you saw her?" He asked, slightly irked that he didn't really have to apologize in the first place.
"Yes, I saw her." She paused, "And if you don't agree I might be forced to blackmail you."
"You make me laugh, Granger. What would you have to blackmail me with?" He leaned back into the cushy seat, crossing his arms across his chest and grinning like a fool, thinking he now had the upper hand in the argument.
"Oh I could print a nasty little article about how you were trying to buy yourself a good reputation through my newspaper!" She leaned across the table, wanting to see every you-wouldn't-dare look he was giving her. "And then who would want to do business Malfoy, Inc.?" She finished, innocently, as he seriously took this plan to thought.
And then he said the most beautiful three words Hermione had ever heard.
"I'll do it."