Summary: Draco and Hermione have to stand each other for one meal every Friday. Alone. In a room. Wih candlelight and such….
Disclaimer: None of it's mine. Isn't that sad? I could be making millions…..(Yeah, right)
A/N: First fanfic, but telling you that is like suicide…..Like a substitute teacher telling her class of sarcastic grade eight students that it's first time teaching……Oh, well, I set myself up for it.
Hermione sighed as she sat on the desk, swinging her legs back and forth. She felt like a small child, not the mature 17 year old that she was. She'd been waiting for hours in the small room, waiting for Harry and Ron to show up, like they'd promised.
They weren't going to show up, and she knew it. But for a few hours, when everyone thought she was somewhere doing something Hermione-like, it was good to stop being so poised and organized and wallow in self-pity. It wasn't something she did very often, what with the planning and helping she did for people all week long.
Professor McGonagall had her organizing some old files that probably didn't matter anymore, but Hermione did it without complaint. Professor Dumbledore wanted her to organize the upcoming dance with Malfoy, the Head Boy, but she figured it would be easier on her own.
That was another thing that had been bothering her lately. She had to work with Malfoy at least three times a week, and Harry and Ron thought she'd gone over to the dark side or something ridiculous like that. Maintaining her patience around Malfoy, and around Ron and Harry, was especially hard these days, she thought ruefully.
She checked her watch. It was nearly time for dinner, which she was having with Malfoy in their dormitory. Dumbledore required them to eat a peaceful meal alone together every Friday, whether it be breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They'd agreed on dinner that week, since Malfoy had Quidditch after his classes in the afternoon.
She grabbed her book bag, and trudged out the door. Harry and Ron would realize they'd forgotten her late at night, and then would promptly go back to sleep.
She entered her dorm room with another sigh. There was a small alcove where they kept their bags and shoes, and she sat on the bench to untie her laces. A smell wafted through the room, and she forced herself to smile. Dinner was dinner, no matter who the company.
She walked into the larger room to find it lacking of couches and armchairs, with only a small oak table and two chairs. She was surprised. Normally she and Malfoy ate whatever they got from a small trolley, sitting on the couch, pretending to make conversation.
She looked at him in shock. "Was this your idea?"
He shrugged. "Sort of. The old coot wanted it to be more…"He paused while he searched for the right word. Hermione grimaced at his name for Dumbledore. "More, homey, I guess."
"Couches weren't?" She asked, still in disbelief.
"Well, no, I guess not…" He said, surveying the room. "It won't be any worse than usual."
"Yes it will," Hermione replied, taking one of the chairs. "Now I feel obligated." He laughed as he sat down across from her. She was surprised again. Malfoy had laughed, and then his face had stayed friendly, no longer graced with that horrible smirk he always wore. She smiled too, reaching for her napkin.
"It's all very fancy, isn't?" She asked, and he nodded as he grabbed one of the menus. Hermione accepted the silence and chose a meal straight out of the muggle world- burgers and fries. She grinned as it appeared on her plate, and grabbed it to raise to her face. It was then she saw Malfoy.
"Yes?" She asked, putting her burger down in favour of a fry.
"What is it? And why are you eating with your hands? It's disgusting." He replied condescendingly.
"It's a hamburger. Patty, lettuce, tomatoes, mayo, ketchup, mustard, onions, pickles…."She trailed off, opening her hamburger. She hated pickles. She took them out and placed them on the side of her plate, then continued. "You eat it with your hands, because, well, cutting it is actually messier than grabbing it. And these are fries. Fries are fried potato slices. You can try one if you want."
He shook his head, and then his meal appeared. It was Hermione's turn to gape. There was a heap of food, all very fancy and delicately arranged, each piece carefully adjourned with a special sauce. He smiled and started eating, and she followed suit.
As they finished wolfing down their food, Hermione asked "Why was this your idea?"
He glanced up, as if he didn't really want to answer the question. "I asked for muggle foods to be placed on the menu. I thought, well, that you might like it more that way."
Hermione nodded, and thanked him. "As opposed to that mess of sauce you had on your plate?" He smiled, and nodded.
"Want some cheesecake?"
"No thanks," she replied, "I'm stuffed. I think I'll go-"
"-Study." He finished for her, and Hermione smiled. It was a little creepy to have Malfoy finishing your sentences.
She was just starting chapter four when Malfoy's dessert appeared. "On second thought..." she said, getting up to join him. She reached for her fork, but it had disappeared.
He smirked at her. "Honestly, Granger, it's not that hard to figure out. Things go away after you've finished using them in the magic world. Besides, it's my cake."
"Oh, please, can I have some? It looks really good." She almost wanted to kick herself for begging Malfoy, but she really wanted some of that cheesecake. It was a girl thing.
"Fine," he said, and held out a piece of cake on his fork. Hermione grinned at her victory. As she sat back down to read, she realized how that moment would have been romantic. If it weren't Malfoy. And she didn't hate him. And he didn't hate her.
A/N: OK, first fanfic ever. If I keep going with this, their blossoming love will be gradual. Not like "And they were in a closet. And Hermione realized how much she loved him…" You get the idea. So, tell me what you think. Also, if you think Draco is way out of character, I'm building on the idea that 1) They have to stand each other, hence the one meal thing and 2) They've grown used to each other and have stopped being so openly hateful since it's a few months into school.
