A/N: No Beta this time. I make mistakes, I am human. I don't own these guys. Sorry for the wait, got a cold this last week and have been having a hard time writing and keeping up with daily life. D
CHP3
"Rough day, mate?" Blaise asked his best friend, Draco, handing him a glass of firewhisky. Taking the glass from him, Draco could only muster a depressed affirmation. "It will pass." Draco could only hope that one day it would.
After the war Draco vowed to make a change in his life for the better. He didn't want to be known as Lucius Malfoy Jr, or a death eater, or someone with no heart or morals. He wanted respect on his own merit. He started charities, donated to St. Mungos, and volunteered at orphanages of the war victims. Anything to make society see him as a decent man, he would do it. Not only that, he had taken to studying healing and had started working at the hospital. St. Mungo's was changing him the most. Everyday he saw people at their absolute worst, and he got to help them get better. Lately though, something had changed. More and more cases of overdosing were coming in. All kinds of people, from the typical junkie to regular people to the upper class. Someone out there was selling drugs that were too potent. After the war, Draco thought he was done with the sight of dead bodies. Apparently not.
"There was a really rough case today. The girl couldn't have been more than 18." Draco hung his head. Rubbing his eyes, he looked back at his friend. Blaise looked rather distracted, almost like he wasn't listening.
"Sorry, what was that?" Blasie collected himself and asked Draco to repeat what he had said. Draco smiled. Blaise was obviously taken by some pretty girl. He always had a way with women that made him jealous. Draco never seemed to have any luck. Sure, he got by, a few dates, a shag or two, but nothing long term. He hoped with the strides he was taking with the public eye that women would come around. Not quite.
"What in the bloody hell has you so caught up?" Draco turned around to get a look at the crowd of people. It was a typical Saturday night, busy, everyone moving and dancing. It was obvious who he was looking at. Draco was now too.
"There is no way in hell-"
"That is Hermione Granger." Blaise finished Draco's sentence. Neither of the men could believe what they were seeing. They were both watching her as she danced around, moving her hips with the beat of the music. She seemed so, light. Carefree and happy. Draco felt compelled to go to her.
"Go on mate, you have to talk to her." Blaise could see a shift in his friend. He had always sensed that maybe Draco had a thing for her back during school, the way he would pick on her and call her names, but nothing concrete. The way he was looking at her now gave him all the confirmation he needed. Still, Draco seemed hesitant. "You are different now. You can tell she is. So what's the hold up? Be a man Draco, and go get your girl."
Blaise was just egging him on now. "She's not my girl. I doubt she would even talk to me. It's been years, but I was a right git to her. It's not going to happen." Draco shot him down. He could not bring himself to go to her. Hermione was dressed in muggle clothing and was possibly thinner, not that he could be sure since most of what she wore during school was frumpy and hid her figure. Seeing her now, he wished they didn't.
Draco couldn't help but watch her. Her hair was very much the same crazy mess she always sported, but in the club it made her seem carefree and sexy. He couldn't stand sitting there while this enigma of a woman danced her way through the crowd. Draco stood up from the bar where he and Blaise had been watching and started towards the crowded dance floor. He was nearly to her when he noticed some bloke begin dancing very close to her. Touching her hips and her back. Places Draco wanted to feel. He needed to get out of here.
Draco started to turn away from a somewhat intimate scene when Hermione noticed him.
"Draco?!" She was practically yelling over the loud music. She moved away from the man and the dancing and came towards him. Before he could protest she was throwing her arms around his neck in an overly affectionate hug. One that he didn't deserve or understand. They had not seen each other in many years. Why was she acting like this? Draco placed his hands on her back making a move for her to get away from so he could see her face.
"Granger? Yeah it's me. Blaise is actually back there getting pissed." He made a motion to indicate where he had come from. Before he knew it Hermione was walking back in that direction, He followed her, confused as to what was going on. Of course, Blaise was nowhere in sight.
"Well, he was here. He probably met some girl, or ran to the bathroom." Anything, Draco needed to something to keep from feeling like a loser, stalking her at some dingey muggle club.
"It's quite alright. What have you been up to? It has been some time now." Hermione asked him taking Blasie's old seat. She looked back at the bar and motioned for some drinks to come by.
"I'm actually healing, at Mungo's."
"No fucking way!" She could hardly contain her surprise. He was doing well and was seemingly turning his life around. No more of that dark magic business.
"Um, yes I suppose."Draco seemed nervous. He was trying to hide it, but was not doing a very good job. "What about you? Still with Potter and Weaslby?" He had to ask.
"I see Harry once a week. Ron, not for a while." Hermione was looking down at her hands. It was her turn to be nervous. Thankfully, Kate came around with the drinks Hermione ordered. She gave Kate a look that Draco took to mean they knew each other a little more than acquaintances. Maybe they were friends.
They sat in silence for a few moments. They both sipped their drinks. Hermione seemed a little more inebriated than Draco, but he only had two drinks. Maybe she had more earlier. Maybe that's why she was so quick to hug him, someone that years ago was her enemy. She smelled wonderful. Apart from the sweaty club goers and a slight tinge of smoke and beer, her hug had sent him into a Hermione filled haze. Has she always smelled like that? He has never been that close to her.
Sitting across from her now, he could barely look her in the eye. She, however, was looking right at him. She was laid back, but engaged, and almost giggly. Hermione took the last sip of her drink placing the glass on the table. Draco was only half way into his when she asked him to go with her.
"I said dance with me." Hermione asserted. He wasn't sure if he had heard her correctly. She got up from her chair and walked around the small table, towards him. When she was behind him, she went to put her hand on his shoulder when she lightly brushed her hand against the back of his neck. She could barely stand upright. Why she was inviting him to dance, she'll never know. Everything seemed so bright and loud. Maybe another drink to ease the chaos? Before she could think to much into it, she leaned her head down and spoke into his ear. "Come on Draco, I don't bite." She grabbed the rest of his drink, downed the last half, then grabbed his hand. Bold.