The next morning Hermione awoke. She didn't know why she woke so abruptly from nothing.

The freaky part was that an owl flew into the window the next moment.

The owl landed neatly on her bed. The owl looked much like one of those royal eagle owls.

A very shocked Hermione untied the letter from the owl's foot. She knew it couldn't be Ginny because she couldn't have those flashy owls around if she was in hiding.

And she was right. It wasn't Ginny.

Dear Granger,

The writing was very small and delicate. It looked as if the person's hand was shaking as the person wrote it.

Can you please meet me at that tea shop you work in this afternoon? Please? I have to talk to you. Just to have a friendly chat. I know you are going to refuse the minute you see the bottom name, but I really wanna talk to you. I'm not gonna attack you or anything. I'll be waiting for you, whether you come or not.

From Draco.

Hermione crumpled the letter with her hand. She was seething with anger.

How dare he? Just because he's a prince he think I will fall at his feet! well he had another thing coming.

Hermione walked over to her closet and picked up one of her floaty skirts and regular t - shirt.

He tried to trick me by saying "he'll be waiting whether I come or not." He thinks I'll feel bad and come over. On second thought...

Hermione walked into the living room.

"Ron!" screeched Hermione.

Ron came bustling out of his room. "What?" he said irritably.

Hermione was cheerful though.

"I'm going to the village square today. I have work," she said brightly.

"Ok, ok, go ahead. I'll be sleeping all day. But don't forget about tonight," he said with a wink.

Hermione smiled and waved as Ron went back to bed.

It was a bright, sunny day. Hermione decided she didn't need to apparate.

Fifteen minutes later, Hermione arrived at the tea shop. She really did have work anyway.

Hermione groaned when she saw who was waiting for her on one of the benches outside of the tea shop.

A head of blonde hair was idly examining his fingernails, not noticing the faint girls who were passing and trying to get his attention.

He was very attractive indeed.

Hermione slapped herself for that mental thought.

"Here already, Malfoy?" said Hermione nastily.

Malfoy looked up and smirked.

"Ah, Granger. Nice to see you made it," he said, kissing her hand.

Hermione snatched her hand away.

"I work here," she said haughtily.

One of the girls passing looked at Hermione as if she was nuts. She was probably thinking that Hermione must have been nuts to reject him. But Hermione wasn't falling at his feet just because he was handsome. There was a lot of other guys to choose from.

"Granger, no need for the attitude," he said, holding a hand to his heart in a sarcastic way.

"May I escort the Lady into the tea shop?" he said smoothly, raising an eyebrow and holding out an arm.

Hermione's mouth twitched for a moment.

Hermione clasped her arm in his. SHe always did this with Ginny, and it brought her back good memories.

"Oh Lady now am I ?" said Hermione. "I thought I was the poor village girl?"

"Most of the time you are," said Malfoy.

But the tone of his voice was not hostile, more of a joking sound.

Hermione sat down on a table.

"Wait here," said Hermione to Draco.

"Oh now you want me here?" said Draco, raising an eyebrow in amusement.

"Oh shut up," said Hermione exasperatedly.

Hermione ran over to her boss, leaving Draco to praise Lady Luck. He thought she would never come. But of course he would wait for her anyway.

Why?

He didn't know the answer himself.

"Hannah," said Hermione breathlessly.

"What?" said Hannah, who was dusting the counter.

"Can I have a few minutes off?" said Hermione.

"Oh sure! You are the first person to manage to get a prince chasing after you," said Hannah slyly.

Hermione froze.

The Prince chasing after me?

Hermione shook the thought from her head.

Hermione emerged a second later, looking oddly flushed.

"What's wrong?" said Draco, concerned. He hoped this wasn't about the engagement and the bimbo told her about it.

"Oh nothing," said Hermione.

Draco let out a sigh of relief. If it was about him she would have told him off already.

"Good," he said, leaning back in his chair.

Hermione stared at him.

"So where's your girlfriend?" said Hermione, suddenly sounding colder.

"She's out of town," said Draco unconcernedly.

"Oh, so you think that just because she's out of town you came here to manipulate me?" said Hermione heatedly.

"What?" said Draco, appalled. "What are you talking about?"

"You know full well Malfoy," said Hermione, her voice raising passionately.

If he didn't leave now he would be slapped and told off. The girl really was dangerous.

Malfoy sighed in a very sad way.

It reminds me of an angel...thought Hermione. OH MY GOSH WHAT AM I THINKING!

If he was with Feridina, that means he can't even speak to Hermione.

"Can I come back tomorrow?" tried Malfoy, desperately.

Hermione looked at him, a steely glint in his eye. "What do you want?"

Malfoy looked sad. "Nothing. We can't even be friends?"

Hermione felt bad for him for a moment.

"What? Who do you think I am, your mistress?" said Hermione.

Malfoy's eyes narrowed. "You can't even be friends with me?" said Malfoy, his voice lowering dangerously.

"We both know perfectly well you are probably looking for some action while your girlfriend is gone," said Hermione stubbornly.

Hermione immediately regretted the harshness of her words. The hurt really shone in his eyes now.

"I wanna talk to you tomorrow, when you get these silly ideas out of your head. Same place, same time," said Malfoy turning around.

Hermione turned on her heel and walked away.

"I'll be waiting for you!" screamed Malfoy. That was the first time Hermione ever heard him scream. It surprised her a little.

But the words echoed over and over inside her head for the rest of the workday.

I'll be waiting for you...