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Hermione smiled as Ron opened the door to Ramarios. He had picked her up promptly, even bringing her a dozen roses, which she had put in a vase. He had been polite and adorable, and completely Ron all through the drive to the restaurant. All in all, the date was going remarkably well, and they hadn't even eaten anything yet.

The maître de hurried them along to their seats, and left them alone. However, even then, the silence didn't last long. They chatted about the different items on the menu, trying to guess what the other person was in the mood for. Once they had settled on their dinner selections, talk turned to their lives, and catching each other up.

"So, Hermione, how does it feel to be a famous singer? I mean, do you have to deal with stalkers or bodyguards or anything of that sort?" Ron asked playfully.

Hermione smiled slightly as she shook her head. "Ron, I've been dealing with stalkers and admirers and insanely jealous girls for forever – or have you forgotten who used to sort all our mail?"

"Speaking of which, I have to ask how exactly you managed it without a sorting spell. Thank goodness for magic, or I would have had to hire someone full time to simply read all my mail."

She shrugged her shoulders. "It was soothing. Besides, I get up an hour before you do, and it helped to occupy that time. As for bodyguards… if I didn't have one when I was simply one of the Two Who Won, why would I need one as René Mighero, who was only a singer at a club? And may I remind you that I graduated top of my class-"

"-both at Hogwarts and during Auror school, I know, I know." He smiled cheekily at her as he finished her sentence. "I was teasing, 'Mione."

She blushed. "How's Quidditch going?" she asked quickly.

This, of course, sent Ron into a detailed analysis of how the season was going. Hermione tried to pay close attention, she really did, but Ron's talk was filled with terms she often didn't understand, and it was hard to keep up. She gave up after about ten minutes, and let her eyes wander the room as Ron continued to rant. Thus, to her horror, she was able to spot a familiar blonde head of hair enter the restaurant with a redhead who was also familiar. Please, oh please, don't let them see us… why'd Draco have to pick this restaurant – and what is Ginny doing with him? She watched as Draco slowly scanned the restaurant, and saw him stiffen slightly as he found her.

By this time, Ron had stopped talking, as he had also seen the familiar Weasley-red hair out of the corner of his eye. He turned and stood, just as the maître de shepherded Draco and Ginny alongside their table. "Hello, Ginny. Fancy meeting you here." His voice turned slightly icier as he inclined his head towards Draco. "Malfoy."

Ginny smiled. "Well, this is a surprise. Hello Ron, hello Hermione. Draco and I thought we'd stop in and get a bite to eat. Never dreamed that you'd be here."

Hermione looked at her best girl friend closely. She didn't buy that whole "what a coincidence" story for a moment. She just wasn't sure whether Ginny or Draco had decided to spy on their date. However, she didn't let her suspicions get in the way of her manners. With a smile on her face, she said, "Ginny, you look lovely tonight." And she did – Ginny had always had a way of making anything look good. She probably could wear a paper sack and it'd look great on her. She turned towards Draco. "Hello, Draco. Glad you decided to wander out tonight after all."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Ginny begs very prettily – she said her date canceled on her, and she had reservations already." His tone was diffident, but his eyes… it felt like his eyes were devouring her. "I told you that you look nice in black."

"So you did." She responded, not knowing what else to say.

There was silence for a moment, before Ron gestured to their table. "Well, would you two care to join us?"

Hermione was struck dumb with fear. He wants them to join us when we're on our first date? Oh gods, someone say no quickly.

Draco must have sensed her feelings – or maybe she didn't conceal them as well as she could have – for he instantly replied, "Don't be silly. It's obvious that you two want to be alone. We'll just head on over to our table. Have a good evening." With that, he turned and walked quickly away, leaving Ginny to smile at the two of them before she also turned and headed after the maître de.

Ron sat back down. "Well, that was… unusual."

Hermione nodded slowly. "Yes, it was unexpected, wasn't it?"

Luckily, their food came at that moment, giving them a much needed break in the tension in the air. However, Hermione's thoughts were not on the food or on the man sitting across from her, but on Draco, and a conversation they had had earlier that afternoon.

Draco tapped lightly on her bedroom door, waiting for her to call 'Come in' before entering. In his hands, he carried a bouquet of daffodils. "Hey." He said quietly, leaning on the doorframe. "How are you doing?"

Hermione stopped rummaging through her jewelry box and looked at him. "I can't find my other bloody earring," she cried in frustration. "I have no clue where I put it. I have searched high and low and…"

Draco stared at her for a moment, clearly not expecting this answer to his question. Then, he pulled out his wand and muttered a quick spell. Instantly, the missing earring flew into his hand. He smirked slightly as he dropped the earring in her hand. "Forgotten you're a witch, again, 'Mione?" he teased as he sat in the only free chair in the room.

"Bloody hell. Why didn't I think of that earlier?" She muttered to herself as she placed it in her ear. She turned back to look at the dresses laying across her bed, trying to keep Draco from seeing the blush spreading across her face.

"Why were you looking so hard for that earring?"

"It's my lucky set," she replied, still concentrating on trying to decide which dress to wear. "Draco, which dress do you like better on me?"

"I like you in any dress, Hermione. You know that."

"Ha, ha. Be serious, Draco."

She jumped as he placed a hand under her chin, turned her head to look at him. Somehow, he had moved next to her without her even realizing it. One of these days, you're going to be in serious trouble if you keep slipping like this, Hermione. She scolded herself before getting lost in Draco's molten silver eyes.

They stood there for a moment before Draco said quietly, "I wasn't joking." Another moment passed, then he added, "But if you're wanting a specific color…black makes you look elegant, but I must admit, I have a fondness for seeing you in dark green. Must be the Slytherin in me." He smirked slightly, inviting her to join in the joke.

She looked down, berating herself for her momentary laps e of sense. Draco is not in love with me and I am not in love with him. He just has fascinating eyes, that's all. "Who are the flowers for?"

He stepped back a bit and handed the daffodils to her. "They're for you. I thought, maybe, after last night, you could use some cheering up."

She smiled at his thoughtfulness. "Thank you, Draco."

"What are you up to tonight? I thought we could try and see that new play that you've been wanting to go see."

"Can I take a rain check?" she asked, turning to look for a vase to put her flowers in.

"Why? You rather stay in tonight?" He questioned.

"No, I already have plans for tonight. Ron's coming to pick me up at seven," she replied. "That's why I wanted to know which dress you liked better."

There was silence behind her for a moment. "Oh. Okay. Then I'll take that rain check, Miss Hermione. It's a good thing you passed, anyway. I have an early morning appointment and it would be better if I didn't stay out late tonight. Must get my beauty sleep, you know. In fact, I don't think I'll even go back out tonight at all."

She turned. "Draco, don't be silly. Call up Blaise and Seth and go on out and have a guys night." She protested. "Really, it's sweet of you to have cleared your schedule to make sure I'm okay, but as you can see, I'm fine."

Draco stared at her for a moment. "Yes… you are fine, aren't you? Have a lovely time tonight, Hermione." With that, he quickly left her room, and she didn't see him again for the rest of the evening.

Until now… she mused. Ron called her attention out of her thoughts and back into reality with a query about whether or not she'd like dessert. She smiled at his thoughtfulness. Dear, sweet, Ron. She focused her attention on him again, and the conversation flowed as easily as it had before she had seen Draco and Ginny enter the restaurant.

A/N: opps…. Thought I had this posted before, but apparently, it didn't post. Sorry guys, for making you wait. Also, please do not mention anything from HP:HBP. I do not yet own the book, and haven't even read the first word from it, so do not spoil it for me, please. Thanks.

Jonah's Girl: It's funny, normally your arguments would work the other way around – Draco's a prat and Ron's always there. Keep reading to see how it ends!

Lyannie: I do apologize for the delay in the chapter… I love your new pen name. I find that Hermione is a bit one-sided in the books – I can totally see her being irrational when it comes to love, if for no other reason than she is so rational everywhere else in her life. Although, she's not rational always either… hmmm…. Well, I'm glad you've come back to read my fic some more. smile

Caillion: I hope that you've enjoyed everything since chapter nine. Not too much Ron and Hermione in this chapter, but the next (out in a couple of days – it's being read by a friend for errors) has some more.

EVERYONE: Reviewing always makes writing easier. I encourage everyone to respond to at least ONE fanfic that they read today (I'd love it to be mine, but anyone's will do.)