A/N: This update was probably the longest I'll go without updating. Things have been very hectic, with the end of school and I've hardly got time to write. BUT I still think about what I'm going to write and stuff, so once again, I have NOT forgotten this story.
Also, quick note. In the last chapter, I referred to the restaurant as Azul but we made a mistake because the name is supposed to be Azure. Therefore, in this chapter I'm still talking about the same place, but I made a mistake with the name last chapter.
Here's a quick re-cap of what's been happening so far, for those who forgot:
It's Valentine's Day
Pansy knows about Hermy and Draco, and now, so does Seamus
Pansy and Seamus are up to something evil (but what?)
Draco is planning to surprise Hermione by taking her to a nice place
Ginny knows about it, but Hermione doesn't
Harry and Ron still have no idea about Draco and Hermione
Hermione and Draco have an assignment about working on interhouse relationships
And also to clarify things a bit (since there was some confusion), in Chapter 22, when Hermione was talking to Ginny, she left JUST as Draco was about to come in and talk to Ginny. They only missed each other by a minute or two, but they weren't both there at the same time, nor did Hermione see Draco going into the Gryffindor common room.
You can still go back and read the latest chapters again if you like, but this is just a quick outline of main events.
Chapter 24: The Valentines Day from Hell
"I still haven't the slightest idea where we're going," Hermione said, slipping into her light pink dress.
"You're not supposed to," Ginny said, closing a book titled Hair Styling Spells for All Occasions. "Now sit down and let me try something new on you."
Hermione sat down patiently in front of her vanity mirror.
"Alright, if I do remember correctly…" Ginny muttered to herself, as she tapped Hermione's head with the tip of her wand.
Her brown curls magically twisted themselves into a loosely arranged bun. A few stray strands delicately framed her face.
"Oh, lovely!" Hermione smiled at her friend. "You must show me where you get these spells!"
Ginny grinned. "A magician never reveals her secrets. The irony of that phrase…" she mused. "Anyway, for your makeup, I thought I'd do something natural, yet with a touch of color."
"The canvas is ready for whatever you'd like to do, O great artist!" Hermione grinned and whirled around to face Ginny.
By the time Ginny had finished, it was nearly time to go. Hermione surveyed herself in the mirror. Her makeup was light and natural, with soft shades of pink on her cheeks, a lighter pink eye shadow, and a hint of lip gloss on her lips. Her soft, silk dress hugged her curvy figure and fell to her ankles gracefully; she wore matching pink heels.
"Oh Ginny, it's perfect!" Hermione exclaimed. "Are you sure you don't want me to help you?"
"No worries, 'Mione, you've got to get going soon anyway!" Ginny waved her hands as if shooing Hermione from the room.
Hermione turned to smile at her friend.
"Look at you, 'Mione. All grown up. Not that bushy-haired book worm anymore, hmm?" Ginny grinned.
Hermione tilted an eyebrow at her friend. "You know I'm still the same Hermione I've always been on the inside."
Ginny smiled warmly. "And that's what's great about you! Now, enough chit chat, you've really got to go!"
Hermione waved one last time and scurried out into the corridor. A few students strolled about, some getting last minute things done, others heading to meet their dates for the evening.
Hermione was on her way to the Head's dormitory when she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned around to see a very handsome Draco with one arm behind his back and another extended out towards her. He was wearing a sleek black jacket over a silk dress shirt accompanied by a silver bow tie. His fancy black Italian dress shoes gleamed nicely. She smiled and took his hand.
"Good evening, my love," he drawled, pulling out a brilliant pink rose, a few fresh dew drops still clinging to it, from behind him.
"Oh Draco!" she gasped, taking the rose.
He wrapped his free arm around her and kissed her light on the lips.
"And I believe our carriage awaits," Draco said with an air of fake superiority, offering his arm to Hermione.
"Why thank you, kind sir," she returned, nose in the air.
She linked her arm with his and they made their way to the Entrance Hall.
It was already dark outside when they stepped out onto the school grounds, but many enchanted lights in bushes surrounded the area, giving off a pleasant glow. A few couples were wandering about, continuing on with their plans for the evening.
Some magical carriages were waiting around the entrance of the school. Draco took Hermione by the hand and led her to one. The door gently opened and Draco stepped back, allowing Hermione to climb in first.
"After you, mademoiselle," he bowed, stepping in after her.
"I still haven't the slightest idea where we're going," Hermione said, sliding over in the seat.
Draco took her hand in his and smiled. "You'll see soon enough, love."
The carriage lurched forward slightly as the invisible thestrals pulled it along the romantically lit path towards Hogsmeade.
"Alright, Seamus," Pansy whispered. "There they go. Let's go."
The carriage slowed to a halt in front of Azure, and the door swung open. Draco hopped out and stood aside as an awed Hermione stepped to the ground.
"Draco, is this where we're going?" Hermione said in amazement.
"Oui, Madame," he smiled and took her hand. The couple entered the restaurant, and approached the maitre'd.
"Ah, bonjour Monsieur Malfoy, welcome back to Azure. I see you are accompanied tonight by your lovely Mademoiselle Malfoy?"
Draco looked down at Hermione and two exchanged a confused glance. However, Hermione didn't correct him.
"Ah, young love...! " the maitre'd mused. "If ze two of you would kindly follow me…"
The couple made their way past the maitre'd stand through two floor-to-ceiling double doors made of polished mahogany wood, and Hermione was amazed by the décor. The polished marble floors gleamed as if they had just been cleaned. The white paneling had intricate designs carved into it. A few elegantly decorated tables were assembled nicely around the high-ceiling room, where an exquisite chandelier hung. The overall atmosphere was dim yet romantic and a large floor length window lined an area slightly elevated by a small platform. It looked out over the mountainous, starry scenery that surrounded the area around Hogsmeade.
The couple was led to the area near the window, where a few similar tables were arranged.
"'Ere is your table, one of ze finest in the house. Enjoy!" the maitre'd bowed before leaving the two.
"Oh Draco, this place is beautiful!" Hermione sighed. "Thank you so much for bringing me here tonight."
"Anything for you, love," Draco took her hands in his, gently kissing each one. "You look beautiful tonight, you know. Oh and, when the maitre'd mistook you for being my wife, you didn't correct him…"
Hermione grinned. "I don't know really, I sort of liked the way it sounded."
Draco gazed into her large, brown eyes. 'Maybe one day that might be true, my love,' he thought to himself.
But he wasn't sure whether admitting his love for Hermione might be too soon for her.
'Wait a second, love?" his mind screamed.
'Yes, love' his mind answered.
"Draco?" Hermione's voice snapped him back to reality. He quickly grabbed the menu. "Alright love, let's take a look at our choices for tonight."
"Mm, I can't pronounce a thing on this menu, except for the…filet mignon," Hermione said, scanning the French menu.
"Don't worry about it love, I've got it covered," Draco grinned as a waiter came to their side. "Watch this."
"Bonsoir monsieur et mademoiselle, bienvenue au Azure. Et qu'est-ce que vous voulez ce soir, monsieur?" a waiter greeted the two.
"Oui, nous avons une soupe al'oignon et une emince de volaille sauce roquefort. Pour le desert, une mousse au chocolat," Draco said perfectly, as the waiter quickly tapped a tray next to him.
The waiter bowed slightly, "Merci Monsieur Malfoy, votre mets sera bientot."
"Merci," Draco said as the waiter took their menus.
"Wow, Draco, I never knew you knew how to speak French…it's quite sexy," Hermione added with a smirk.
Draco leaned in a bit closer. "Maybe I'll speak it for you some other time…" he said with a wink.
Hermione felt the heat rise in her cheeks as he looked at her with a lustful gaze.
"So, care to tell me exactly what we ordered? I didn't exactly understand," Hermione said quickly, attempting to change the subject.
"Ah, trying to change the subject," Draco said with a mock look of disappointment. "Alright, I'll go with it…trust me, you'll like it."
The two chatted a bit over the dim candlelight and their appetizer, as they awaited their food.
'This gorgeous girl sitting in front of me…all mine. How the hell did I end up with her? Oh the things I'd like to…' Draco was lost in his thoughts.
'Look at him,' Hermione thought to herself. 'Sexy…the whole girl population wants him…yet I have him. How in the world did that happen?'
The two were interrupted from their gaze as their water returned with an empty tray. He set it on a stand next to them and tapped it three times. Two steaming plates of delicious-looking chicken nicely prepared with a lovely sauce and sliced, small potatoes appeared.
"Oh wow, that looks delicious!" Hermione exclaimed as the waiter set down the two plates.
"Bon appetit!" the waiter said with another slight bow, before leaving the two.
"What can I say? A Malfoy knows how to choose," Draco drawled an air of fake arrogance.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well, true. You chose me now, didn't you?"
Draco lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it gently. "And I don't ever regret it for a second."
The two enjoyed the dinner, but their meal was not over yet. A bit later, the waiter brought out a lovely Chocolate Mousse. Hermione's had a pink rose, just like the one Draco had given her.
"Absolutely lovely!" Hermione gasped as the waiter placed the plate in front of her.
"From Monsieur Malfoy," the waiter said before bowing, and quickly left.
'Hmm, strange, I never remember ordering the rose…oh well, at least she likes it, wherever it came from,' Draco thought to himself.
The waiter made his way with an empty tray toward the back of the restaurant, when someone stopped him.
"Did the girl get the flower?" she asked.
"Oui, madame," the waiter said quickly.
"Good."
A/N: Now that summer's finally here, I've got more time to update! I hope you enjoyed this, I made it a bit longer than I usually make my chapters.
Thank you for all the reviews, and for not giving up on this story! I'm working on the next chapter right now. Oh just a note, I'm updating without my betas since they don't feel like being online soo yeah :)