I just wanted to let everyone know this story is being cross posted now on AO3 under the same name if you want to read it there, I have gotten a lot of comments that is is machine code for all my android readers. I am so sorry!

Chapter 7

Draco had made reservations for dinner at a small eatery that was nothing posh because he figured Granger would have made assumptions about this night and he was determined to prove her wrong. He had changed a lot in the twelve-year interim and he wanted to show her. The kitchen was an open-air concept so you could watch the cooks while enjoying your meal.

He pulled out her chair and took her coat. The back of his knuckles skimming her arm as she allowed him to help her out of her jacket sent a small thrill through his chest. She sat and he helped her to the table. Draco mused to himself that as a child he had thought all of the etiquette training was a punishment, not understanding then the intimacy of helping a lady with her cloak and chair, the small touches that could spark delight.

He was a sodding mess and sounded like those blasted Jane Austen novels. (Yes Draco Malfoy read the classics once he realized Muggles weren't the devil.)

"I feel a bit silly in this dress now. This restaurant is not quite the atmosphere I had anticipated," Granger said with uncertainty.

"It's Paris you can wear whatever you want wherever you want just own it Granger. You have the body for that dress and you chose the alterations now you just have to deal with it," Draco stated with playful annoyance.

"Th..thank you I suppose," Granger looked even more perplexed, this was fantastic, he finally felt like he leveled the playing field.

The waiter came and Draco told him they want what ever the Chef recommends with what ever wine he would pair it with. He confirmed Granger wasn't allergic to any foods because he was of course a considerate gentleman. Food ordered and wine brought to the table Draco looked at Granger expectantly.

"Malfoy why are you looking at me so strangely? Do I have something on my face?"

"No, I'm just wondering what you are thinking, I feel like I have succeeded in confusing you thus far which is highly satisfying if I do say so myself. I told you nearly two weeks ago I wanted to start fresh and I meant it. Neither of us is the same person we were, well you may still be similar to the girl you were. I guess what I am trying to say is that I have changed a lot about myself but no one knows because my work for the Ministry forces me to keep my feet firmly placed in the shadows."

"What do you mean you are a…well cop," Granger said quickly and using Muggle terms like anyone was paying attention to them, confusion evident on her face.

"So you really don't know? That I am a cop is not common knowledge, in fact I am still a fairly notorious wizard, my picture is up on the Auror's wall of wizards under suspicion. It is purposeful. It is why I am always on private assignments; I specialize in espionage. I get invited to all sorts of devious criminal underground activities. I make arrests quietly, but the dark wizarding community thinks I simply kill business partners that cross me. It's a perfect cover. I have been working for years to root out the most notorious and elite wizarding crime syndicate. After he fell a group formed called the Society. It was comprised mostly of the wizards that escaped England. The Society is considered by the ministry to have been irradicated. I know better though; I got close several years ago and orchestrated the capture of several key members. After that they went quiet. I have a feeling that they have just been moving in the shadows in separate factions," Draco noticed Granger was rapt, eyes wide lips slightly parted, Merlin she was going to drive him mad.

"Do you think Thomas is associated with this group?"

Draco considered for a moment, was it possible?

"I don't know I need to look into it when I get back to London."

Food arrived and it was a perfect reason to change topics.

"Let's talk about anything else, I want to pretend I am just a man on a date with a woman tonight if that is alright with you? Also, it goes without saying please don't tell anyone what we just talked about, I only told you because I trust you and your skills in Occlumency. I am not trying to sound dramatic, but I don't have to tell you how dangerous a group like this is," Draco's voice was low and serious as he held Granger's gaze.

"Of course Malfoy let's just pretend we are two people on a date in Paris, we will eat and laugh and dance, we better be dancing tonight, and falling slightly in love because it is Paris and how could you not," her tone was playful and light but something else flashed in her eyes so quickly he could have imagined it.

"Yes, there will be dancing if my lady wishes it and of course how could we not fall a little bit in love in Paris," Draco said, his voice more wistful that he had intended.

What he wasn't saying was that he didn't want to pretend at all, but he knew he wasn't good for her. His work alone meant he could never be seen with her. A dark wizard bent on blood supremacy couldn't be openly with a Muggleborn. But for tonight they were just two people in Paris.

Topic of dinner conversation shifted and with each course and glass of wine they laughed more. Dinner finally finished it was only half nine, still much to early for a club. Draco offered his arm and they walked, perusing vendors, and enjoying the fall air. Finally, the hour drawing on quarter past ten Draco brought them to one of the first clubs he had ever gone to in Muggle Paris. Stepping in he helped Granger out of her jacket and gave their jackets to the coat check. Stepping into the club Granger's eyes went wide. There were dancers on silks hanging from the ceiling the DJ was in a booth suspended in the middle of the dance floor, lighting gave the entire space an ethereal quality. It was as close to magic as Muggles could get. Draco remembered back to his first visit to this club. It was when he realized he could no longer look down on these people because the ingenuity to create this space without magic was sheer brilliance.

"Malfoy, this place is—magic," Granger was a bit breathless.

"I know, this was the first place I understood the gift of being a wizard and the ingenuity of Muggles to create a space like this with no magic, it struck me quite dumb I assure you," Draco had leaned into her ear standing very near behind her.

He considered running his nose down the column of her neck then retracing his path with his tongue. But that would be a terrible idea. Granger had a fine layer of gooseflesh though so maybe he wasn't alone in the forced restraint. Shaking his head, he placed his hand on Grangers back, lower than was considered polite but manners be damned, and led her to a booth. He ordered whiskey and Granger ordered a gin martini. There was a moment of awkwardness and Granger broke it.

"Thank you for bringing me hear, I feel very lucky to be in a place that helped change your mind about the world I am from. Not that it matters that it was my world, rather just that you have opened your mind to change," she rushed out the last part, like she realized she admitted something.

Truthfully Draco had not gone on this Muggle walk about so to speak for anyone but himself. He felt so lied to his whole life and wanted to see the world for himself.

"Granger, I had been lied to my whole life I just wanted to understand a world I have never been taught anything but lies about. After coming to this place, I made a list of all the Muggle things I wanted to learn. I read nearly every classic. I convinced some Muggle girl I met at a coffee shop to teach me about the computer, I pretended I grew up in a cult and had only escaped as an adult. It was hilariously close to the truth anyway she took pity on me and taught me all about it. I spent four years at Uni both wizarding and Muggle I have a degree from the University of Paris too I just don't publicize it obviously. I meant what I said that I was a changed man."

Draco had used the conversation as a way to scoot closer to her. He had been leaning into her neck again as he spoke. He drew his face back and Granger did something so unexpected. Her eyes darted to his mouth, and before he could say a word her mouth was on his. Her lips were soft and sensual. After she made her move, she didn't press further, like she was waiting for him. Merlin, he wanted to consume her, but he held back because this could end so poorly. He didn't want her to feel like she had made an entire mistake though, so he kissed her back and brought his hand up to her neck and as he drew his face back he traced her cheek bone with his thumb. This witch was enchanting, and he was in so much trouble. He was trembling slightly, but his voice at least came out stronger than he felt.

"Let's dance," he said as he rose and offered Granger his hand.

They danced; bodies pressed together like this was a stolen moment neither of them would ever get back. And likely it was, this couldn't be his real life, she was entirely too good for him. In the heat of dancing, he let his hands worship her body, she let him. He may have finally found the courage to find that path on her neck he had considered earlier. He may have whispered her name into her neck as he placed open mouthed kisses over her pulse wanting nothing more than to leave a mark there.

After hours of dancing and far too much to drink they stumbled into a cab because Apparating was ill advised. The ride back to the hotel led to sitting close together, Granger laying her head on his shoulder, his finger drawing small patterns on her thigh.

On the elevator Granger had pushed him against the wall as soon as the door closed with a mischievous glint in her eye. Draco happily took that bait. He bent down and hooked his arms under her knees turning and pinning her against the wall. Granger then whispered in his ear.

"I have always wanted a man to do this to me in an elevator," she was biting her lower lip and bloody hell if that wasn't what wet dreams were made of.

The elevator stopped on their floor and Draco put her down. Granger brushed past him and whether it was purposeful or not he would never know but fingertips ran over the front of his trousers and fuck, what was that supposed to mean. He knew what he wanted, but he knew this was a terrible idea. He was going to have to let her down. Then she shimmied out of her jacket showing off that sexy arse and the expanse of her back. He groaned and followed her like a dog with a bone.

Closing the door to their room he tried to steel himself to turn her down. Then she pressed her lips to his and he was unsure why he should be fighting this off.

Don't be a fool Draco, you cannot have her, you cannot keep her, and you know it. Stop now.

Pulling his face back with herculean effort Draco looked down at Granger, her eyes hazy with lust.

"Granger, as much as I want this right now, I think we are drunk and I don't want to shag you drunk, I think we would regret this," Draco groaned.

This seemed to sober her. She didn't go rigid, but she straightened a bit. He knew it, she wasn't in her right mind, she would never actually want this.

"You are right, we have a funny habit of getting drunk and ending up in each other's arms, don't we?" She laughed lightly, that same look as earlier passed over her face.

"We do it seems, lets just sleep I will take the couch I doubt either of us can Transfigure anything at this point," Draco eyed the small couch with regret they hadn't considered this earlier.

"Don't be ridiculous we can share this giant bed it is more than big enough for us to sleep without even knowing another person is in it. Draco agreed but was still surprised she suggested it. It was probably ill advised, and he should refuse but he wasn't strong enough to pass on the opportunity to share a bed with Granger.

She rummaged through her suitcase and pulled out her pajamas and walked to the bathroom. Draco changed into his usual black silk sleeping trousers sans shirt because that was how he slept, and he wasn't going to be uncomfortable just because he was sharing the bed. She offered didn't she? He had always worn a shirt until the lights were off over the last two weeks, but he had no fucks left he was already putting forth a heroic effort to not act on his baser instincts screaming at him to drag that witch to this bed and bury himself inside her.

Granger stepped out of the bathroom, face cleaned, and hair braided into a loose plait over one shoulder, Draco realized she must have always worn her robe while the lights were on too. She was in a silk short and tank set that was so tempting it was unfair.

"Which side do you sleep on," Draco's throat felt dry, and his voice came out in a rasp, he cleared his throat.

"This side," she gestured to the side near the bathroom.

"Great I sleep on this side," he walked to the bathroom.

Draco splashed cold water on his face but that was not enough he stuck, his entire head under the cold tap. Bracing his hands on the counter he looked himself in the eyes.

You are going to do the right thing this cannot happen no matter how much you want her she does not actually have feelings for you. Your job alone would never leave room for her in your life. Besides no matter how much you have changed you are still not good enough for her.

Thusly chided he walked out to see Granger already curled up and half asleep in bed. Draco turned off the lights and crawled into the other side. Granger rolled over and met his eyes in the dim room.

"Thank you, Draco, I haven't had this much fun in—well maybe ever. Good night," then she yawned and closed her eyes.

Did she know she said his name because he would never forget the sound of her saying it before saying good night. He wished more than anything that she would say it every night to him in their bed.

"Good night, Hermione," Draco whispered to the darkness and fell asleep with a smile on his face that night.