A/N: Hi everyone. Thanks to all those who have favourited and followed this story. I'm sorry for the late replies to my PM's, I'm busy through the week with work and I don't login until the weekend. I'll try to do better but can't make any promises.
A big huge thank you to all those who reviewed. I'm glad to be able to provide some relief. I'll really like to hear what you like and would like to see more off.
I have a few more short/oneshot story ideas, let me know if you're down for more Dramoine.
Also apologies for taking complete creative liberty on the characters and everything. It's just for fun. This isn't beta-ed or proofread so if you notice something please tell me.
Also this isn't the last part, so sorry but i didn't want to end it in a rush. So there will be a part 4. Sorry.
Disclaimer: Definitely don't own Harry Potter or anyone else or the wonderful Wizarding World.
Hope you enjoy this. Feedback please
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Hermione stretched as she woke up. She had a very good feeling about today. As she sipped her coffee she wondered, 'How far should I let it go, eh, Crooks?' Crookshanks stared at her like she'd lost her mind for even considering it.
If she had sex with him it would be more satisfying than tormenting. So she'd have to lead him on without actually giving anything, maybe just a little bit.
She'd always been more straight forward in her ways and being a tease would be challenging but she could try. Judging by yesterday's little session, sex was definitely on the table. And she'd be a liar if she didn't admit that she found the idea quite appealing. She was a more than a little disturbed by her attraction to Malfoy.
The Wizarding world would go nuts if they ever caught wind of this, she could see the headlines, 'War heroine Hermione Granger in bed with the enemy Ex-Death Eater Draco Malfoy'. This was actually a very tame headline...she thought. They'd definitely have something raunchier. Rita Skeeter, was a classic tabloid writer, everything was gossip, and gossip needed to be juicy. Hermione's imagination couldn't concoct those headlines. She wasn't even sure if she was overestimating her abilities in luring Malfoy. He'd been quite the Casanova in school, if the rumours were true, which they very well may or may not be. She was about to find out for herself, wasn't she?
She need to focus on what to wear and get ready in time. She spent an hour looking through her wardrobe. Robes; too formal. Gowns; better suited to dinner dates. Office wear; too boring for a Saturday. Hmmm...tailored trousers would show off her legs, but they would imply she's there just for work.
Of course she wanted to work but she was hoping to distract him too. She finally found the perfect outfit, she'd picked this up almost a year ago. She'd thought that she'd wear it when she went on a date during the summer with Ron, but the opportunity never presented itself.
It was a beautiful butterfly sleeved knee length wrap dress in canary yellow. The sleeves were long enough to cover the ugly scar left on her arm, not that she noticed it much anymore. But it still held bad memories.
The dress was comfortable and she felt beautiful. She twirled watching it float around her, she had worn a white lace bra and panty set, so that it wouldn't show against the fine fabric of the dress. She applied minimal makeup, keeping her look natural. She was pleased that she looked pretty, looking at herself as she put on the small floral earrings. She flicked her wand making the dress fit her just right, on an impulse she decided to shorten the length of her dress so that it was mid-thigh, nothing overtly suggestive but she felt quite bold and sexy. She chided herself for being so silly, she was acting as if she were going on a first date.
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Draco had barely slept, he'd been having some crazy dreams. He took a cold shower to calm himself down. There were more than a few hours before Granger was due to arrive.
He made himself a simple breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast along with some tea, browsing through the files as he enjoyed his meal. He decided to tidy up the place, his flat was quite a mess. He'd decided against taking any house elves, his mom needed them more than he did. But he hadn't been accustomed to picking up after himself just yet. A simple flick would just send everything flying around the room. Intention was very important so he did it in little bits, books to shelves, shoes to rack, coats to stand etc.
It was half past eleven by the time Draco was done with the prep for their lunch. It needed to be eaten right off the pan, that's when it tasted the best.
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Hermione apparated to the address she'd received the previous evening and found herself in a pleasant looking flat. She observed the living room that opened into the dining and kitchen area with a passage leading off to other rooms. The coffee table with their files was surrounded by a couch and a few chairs. There were more than a few bookshelves on the walls as well as a glass paned cabinet that looked well stocked. She was about to take a closer look when she remembered that her host was missing.
'Draco? Are you around? I'm here.' She called out feeling utterly stupid. If she had been visiting her friends she'd just plop on the couch or go make herself some tea until they joined her.
'Sorry I didn't realize I was in the shower that long.' Draco muttered entering the room.
Hermione was extremely grateful that he hadn't seen the look on her face before she'd had the opportunity to rearrange her features. Malfoy had strolled in wearing a pair of well fitted blue denims, his white shirt was unbuttoned as he dryed his hair with a towel. He tossed the towel over the back of a chair and was doing up his buttons as he said something that Hermione had totally ignored.
Snapping herself out of her daze and forcing herself to look at his face. She mumbled, 'Umm... Sorry I didn't quite catch that?'
He smiled at her, his messy damp hair getting in his eyes. 'Do you want to work first or have lunch? We can do it anyway you prefer.' He picked up the towel again trying to dry the back.
'Anything is fine with me.' She felt awkward standing in his living room as he stood there drying his hair and not very well. There were damp spots all over his shirt.
'Do you need some help?' She asked self consciously.
'Sure' he agreed and plopped himself on the couch, handing her the towel.
Hermione kept her purse on the coffee table and began drying Malfoy's hair. She wondered what she could say without feeling too weird.
'Why don't you dry your hair using magic?' She asked.
'Too frizzy. My mom used to do it for me at home. And in school I used magic and it would go completely crazy so I'd slick it with tons of product to keep me from looking like a maniac.' He answered casually.
'Done.' Hermione wondered how strange this afternoon was about to get.
'Thanks, so should we get some work done? What would you like to drink?' Draco asked politely.
'Water is fine thanks. Let's start with some work, can we do lunch at half past one?' Hermione said taking a seat on one of the chairs picking up her file from the table.
For the next hour or so they tried to get a hold of all the details of the people they would be pretending to be in the coming week. They quizzed each other about details they ought to know about each other. They agreed that since they were playing two easily forgettable people they'd avoid anything not specified. They were done sooner than expected. Hermione considered skipping lunch but she was curious what Draco had planned and she had been too engrossed in work to execute her other plan.
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'So what's for lunch?' Hermione asked as she followed Draco to the kitchen.
'Pasta.' Draco said without elaborating.
'Hmmm...' Hermione hummed as she watched him move around with ease and familiarity. She leaned on her arms with her palms rested on the counter. She wasn't aware that this action drew attention to her cleavage.
Draco raised an eyebrow when he noticed but decided not to comment, smirking to himself instead.
'What are you smirking about?' Hermione asked noticing his change in expression.
'I was wondering about the reaction your friends had to you having lunch with me. Tell me, what did they say?' Draco said, throughly enjoying the view.
Hermione noticed that Draco's eyes darted south of her face before focusing on her face. She looked at her hands and noticed what had grabbed his attention and she had a secret smile as she looked back at him in complete innocence. 'Nothing.'
'Nothing? Really? No comments...that's awfully mature of them.' Draco remarked in honest surprise as he sauteed the garlic in some olive oil before adding the mussels and other seafood.
Hermione giggled watching him toss the ingredients as a delicious aroma filled the room,' You misunderstood me. They said nothing because they don't know.'
Draco looked frozen for a moment, then he turned to her. 'Why?'
'I didn't get the chance to speak to anyone between last night and today. Besides, I'm not a kid that I need to report where I'll be.' She was wondering if he had some underlying motive in inviting her over. Publicity... Perhaps... It would certainly benefit his family's tarnished image if he was discovered in the company of one of the three most popular names in the Wizarding World. Maybe he was reconsidering her offer of friendship without rousing her suspicion.
'Did I ruin your plans by not making our lunch date public knowledge?' Hermione asked keeping a tight lid on her flaring temper.
Draco looked at her with a frown,'The only plan I have for today is to get things sorted out for Monday and to feed you the best damn pasta ever.' He smiled mischievously as he sprinkled some fresh herbs.
She wasn't completely convinced. Either he was speaking the truth or he was the best liar she'd ever seen. But at the moment that aromatic pasta was more alluring than Malfoy. Deciding to be a gracious guest she smiled at him, 'Well it certainly looks tempting, is it done?'
Draco figured she probably thought he had an ulterior motive in inviting her to lunch, which he did.
He plated their individual servings and topped it generously with fresh parmesan accompanied by some lovely white wine.
The first few minutes Hermione simply breathed it in. Draco watched her silently, as she opened her eyes with a smile on her face as she took a forkful of the pasta and closed her eyes again. She practically moaned, 'This is so good.' Hermione acknowledged it really was some of the best pasta she'd ever had but she'd moaned when she'd noticed how intently he'd been watching her.
Draco smiled as he ate. And they spoke of this and that nothing too personal or specific, the news, new books, policies.
They were done with lunch and on their third bottle of wine when they really started talking. They had moved to the couch and were on opposite ends facing each other, sipping wine.
'I can't believe you cooked lunch for me or that we're sitting on your couch having a decent conversation. I don't think you would have believed it either if you'd been told that some time in the future we'd be working together, would you?' Hermione laughed.
'Judging me by my attitude back at Hogwarts, no, I'd have told whoever said it that they'd have to be insane to think I'd ever do anything for you.'
'But you still feel the same way about me, so why is it ok to work or cook for me now? I don't understand it.' Hermione found that she was quite annoyed by his refusal at a friendship with her.
'I was stupid kid, who thought that my pureblood status, wealth and privilege made me better than others. I'd idolized my father like any other child. I chose to ignore the facts and believe lies because to question my beliefs would destroy my entire world. You were...are living proof that my beliefs were wrong, muggles were supposed to be idiotic animals, lacking sophistication etc.
But you were the best witch of the century, brilliant and talented. You bested all of us even though you were completely new to our world. Despite my status, wealth and upbringing, you were better than me at everything except flying. Sorry, I'm rambling. What I mean is for a very long time I hated that you were better than me, even though you were muggleborn.'
'And you still hate me?' Hermione asked.
'No I don't hate you.'
'But you don't want to be friends either.'
'I don't think my feelings for you are friendly.' Draco answered looking into her eyes.
'Then what kind of feelings do you have?' Hermione was feeling a little buzzed with all the wine and a little drowsy from her lovely lunch
'What do you think of me, Hermione? If you had to introduce me to a friend, how would you define me?'
'I don't think there's a soul in the world who doesn't know you, Malfoy.'
Draco sighed, 'So you see me as everyone else does. I suppose, it's only fair. I didn't choose to look at you beyond my prejudices and misconceptions until I was forced to face reality.'
Hermione sat up straighter, shaking her head to clear the fuzzy feeling but only making it worse. She held head as the room spun around.
'Are you ok? You look...' Draco was saying as Hermione stood up suddenly, swaying a bit before flopping back on to the couch and spilling some of her wine on her dress.
Draco was also a little tipsy but he was a good deal taller than Hermione and could handle it better.
'Nooooo' she wailed, 'my dress, my beautiful dress. Help me, Draco.' Scourgify cleaned the dress but didn't remove the stain. They both tried all the possible cleaning spells to no avail.
'Wait here, my mom is a genius at such stuff. I'll ask her don't move.' Draco dashed off towards his bedroom.
Hermione pouted as she gulped down more wine for lack of something to do.
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