a/n: hey all sorry this chapter is slow to be up also but just to give you an indication of how I am right now, today I started off my day by throwing up in the shower. Fun huh? (was that an over share?) AND today it was like 39 degrees (Celsius) so I was dying from the heat. Anyway this chapter is where the 'Terrace Duet' comes into play. HOWEVER I have changed my story a little since it started so it won't make as much sense as the original idea would have. Let's see how it goes. On a brighter note, I got my marks for my exams today and was pleasantly surprised so yay for me!

Disclaimer: JK owns Harry Potter & Co. The guys from ABBA own 'The Terrace Duet'.

Bold font is the male part of the song lyrics, italic bold is the female part anditalics is thoughts as usual.

CHAPTER 10 – The Terrace Duet

Hermione and Draco made their way back to their apartment where they began to set things up for the dinner party. Obviously, being a witch and a wizard, this wasn't very difficult. They moved the living room couches to one corner and conjured up a table with seven chairs. Another couple of wand flicks meant that the table was set beautifully. Next, Hermione called for Dobby who appeared and she gave him instructions for dinner, involving soup, roast turkey and pavlova for dessert. Dobby bowed low and disappeared, with promises to make 'the most delicious food ever'.

Hermione hurried into the bedroom and took out the dress she had planned on wearing. It was a simple black dress with a square neck and a strap around the neck. It flared at the waist and came to just above the knee and was set off perfectly with a pair of black satin pumps. She used the same spell she had used on her wedding day to straighten her hair and then pinned it into a chignon at the nape of her neck. Once she was dressed she hurried to the bathroom, knocking on the study door where Draco was reading to let him know she was finished in the bedroom. When she reached the bathroom, Hermione took down her makeup case and began working on her eyes. Most girls preferred to practice makeup charms until they were perfect, but there was something calming about the ritual of putting on makeup. She made her eyes dark and smoky, brushed some pink Dandelion powder over her cheeks and applied bright red lipstick. Not everyone could pull off red lipstick, and not everyone was bold enough to try. Hermione however, was vivacious enough both to wear it and to pull it off. The one charm she did use in her makeup was a version of a sticking charm which meant until the counter spell was uttered, her makeup wouldn't be going anywhere.

Hermione gave herself a once over in the bathroom mirror, and, satisfied with what she saw, went out into the living room. Draco was already there, dressed in black pants and a black shirt, his hair falling into his eyes. He looked up at Hermione and she could see the flicker of admiration which passed across his face. To stop herself from staring at Draco (looking extremely good), Hermione went over to the table and began fussing with the place settings.

"Hermione, the table is fine. If you fiddle with it anymore it will just get messed up."

"I'm just so nervous. I mean obviously about the dinner party, but I'm hardly Hermione the housewife whose ambition is to throw the perfect dinner party. I mean the house elves are doing the cooking. I'm just worried about…uh…Ron and Luna. He could easily say something which could mess up the whole plan."

"Calm down. Weasley will be fine. It's not like he has to impress the minister of magic. It's just Looney."

"Firstly it's Luna and secondly I am perfectly aware who Ron has to impress. I am also perfectly aware that Ron and Luna have been tiptoeing around one another for the past year and that if Ron so much as passes her the bread at dinner tonight all will be well."

"Then stop stressing. Have a class of wine, it will calm you down."

"We're not drinking tonight remember. Apart from the fact that it's against the school rules, who knows what could happen."

"Hermione. Come one. One glass of wine to calm your nerves. We'll even go on to the balcony so you can have a nice breeze, a bit of fresh air." Draco took her elbow and began steering her through the bedroom, out onto the little terrace. He used his wand to conjure up two glasses of white wine and handed one to Hermione. She shrugged in defeat and began to sip from her glass. The two stood in companionable silence while they drank their wine. Hermione drank hers much too fast and so she was finished before Draco had drunk half his glass.

"I guess I'm more nervous than I thought." Draco said nothing, just pointed his wand at her glass and watched as it refilled.

"Hey!"

"Ok two glasses of wine are not going to have any effect on you Hermione, unless you are a total lightweight."

"I suppose not."
Hermione continued sipping her wine, while looking out the corner of her eye at Draco. God he is just so good looking. Holy crap how did I even get myself into this situation? Drinking wine on a private balcony with Draco Malfoy, my husband, admiring how good he looks.

This is the one situation
I wanted most to avoid

I shouldn't be out here. This can only lead to trouble. I am starting to like Draco Malfoy. I am falling for my husband. Oh crap that'll never work.

A drink on a clear moonlit night --
I relax, she smiles
There's something peculiar going on.

Hermione smiled nervously over at Draco who was pleased to see she was relaxing and breathed a sigh of relief. Stressed out Hermione was not much fun at all. Well, not at all if he was going to be completely honest. It was weird how she stressed out over the little things. Definitely one who needed some down time now and then. And perhaps a little more wine…

So, through no fault of my own,
I'm in it way over my head.
Embarrassed, outnumbered, marooned.
Oh god he just refilled my glass again. I need to slow down with the wine. Well one glass can't hurt. Funny how I'm perfectly aware that I'm drinking too much yet I couldn't care less. The nervous smile slid of Hermione's face, so be replaced by the look of someone who had just been cornered. Draco looked at her quizzically and she smiled again, but couldn't stop the same thought going over and over in her mind. You're falling for him, you're in over your head, you're falling for him…

Listen, I hate to break up the mood
How do you say, begin the beguine
Haven't you noticed
We're still one character short
In this idyllic, well-produced scene?
Draco turned to Hermione. "Look I know this is like the perfect romantic scenario. Wine, private terrace, sunset blah blah blah, so I really hate to spoil the mood. But do you think this is smart? You know. Us. Dating. It's hardly normal. Not only because it's like there is a third looming figure on this terrace, i.e. my father. I can just imagine him glowering at us disapprovingly from the corner. But that's not all. It's everyone else as well. We'll never be able to date normally. You saw how it was today? People whispering the whole time. Father coming to attack us. All that sort of thing. AND to top it all off, as bad an idea as it is to date each other, we have to. Oh God I am so confused."

How could I not? Miss Granger regrets
Anything goes, with your opponent.

Hermione had finished her third (or was it fourth) glass of wine and set her glass on a small ledge running around the edge of the balcony. She turned to look at Draco who was draining the rest of his wine, refusing to look at her.

"Draco. Stop freaking out. Obviously your father as a problem which we have to deal with. As is the fact that everyone thinks that one of us has cursed the other into this relationship. However tonight isn't the time to freak out about these things. Could you please, try and forget your father, just for tonight."

Never mind him --
I haven't missed him so far.
Maybe it won't do any harm
To struggle on without his charm
Funny how all at once I feel
Nothing about that meeting matters anymore.
Draco swallowed hard and nodded. It wouldn't be easy forgetting his father, even just for one night. All his life Lucius had been looming over him, keeping him in line. In fact this marriage was probably Draco's first significant act of rebellion. Ok don't think about that. Think about not thinking about that. No more Lucius. None. Actually that's quite a nice thought in itself. No more Lucius. Draco smiled, first to himself, then at Hermione who was quite tipsy and was trying to levitate her glass back into the apartment. The only problem was the closed door. Draco began to laugh, glad of a distraction and decided that perhaps it was a good idea to forget all about Lucius for that night. Hermione walked over to find out the problem with her glass, tripped on an uneven paving stone and fell headalong into Draco. All thoughts of Lucius flew out of his mind as he laughed with Hermione (and enjoyed an improved view down the top of her dress).

This is the one situation
I wanted most to avoid.
Crap there I go again. Definitely not a good thing to be doing. Not only is falling into his arms a terrible cliché, but it's not a good idea seeing as I am falling hard for him. Pun not intended. Hermione glanced up at Draco, just as he looked down and she found herself staring at him head on.

I have to hand it to you --
For you've managed to make me
Forget why I ever agreed to this farce.
 "I have to say Hermione. You've certainly managed to make me forget my objections to this dinner party. Although I'm still not sure how you made me agree in the first place."

"My womanly charms I suppose. That and the fact that I basically gave you no choice. Although I hate to think how much study time I'm missing out on with this whole dinner party affair."

I don't know why I can't think of anything
I would rather do
Than be wasting my time with someone like you.

"Are you seriously telling me that you would rather be studying than doing this? Hermione you are top of the grade, you don't need to worry about the exams since you probably already know the entire years course."

"Well obviously I wouldn't rather be studying. Jesus Christ I can't believe I just said that! I wouldn't rather be studying? I don't know what's gotten into me but I can't think of anything I would rather do than be wasting my time with you." While Hermione looked shocked at her own revelation, Draco looked pleased and leant in to kiss her. But he only managed a light brush against her lips before Daine's voice echoed through the apartment.

"You have visitors!"

a/n: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, I thought it was a little weird myself but meh. A couple of things about the song. I cut bits out when they didn't fit at all (e.g. when they were talking about the world Chess championships which the musical is about) and I also changed one line to say Miss Granger (I wasn't lucky enough to find a song with the Miss Granger already included!). I know it was quite short but it was the right place to end a chapter. Until next time – the dinner party!

Please review!