The Potters went one direction while Hermione and Draco went another. Hermione could feel herself swaying as she walked – she had probably gone a little overboard on the drinks.
"Hermione, why don't you floo from my flat? I'm just a couple of blocks away and you've had too much to drink to be apparating," Draco said, offering Hermione his arm.
She shooed his arm away, teasing him and saying "You just want to get me to your flat, don't you? I bet this is how you get women to come over all the time."
"Hermione, if I wanted you to come over for something like that, I would be a little more obvious," Draco said, rolling his eyes, "I'm not exactly going to be pushing my luck. Now, if you would give me that arm, I could help you walk in a straighter path." And with that, he looped his arm through hers, and turned right into an apartment complex door.
He walked her up a flight of stairs, and Hermione was grateful for his arm because she probably would have fallen down them without it. They approached a non-descript gray door, and Draco stopped for a moment to dig in his pocket for his key. Hermione looked at his inquisitively – why didn't he use his wand? He noticed her look.
"I can't pull my wand out here. This is a muggle apartment complex, I'd have the ministry down my back for using magic in front of them." He found his key, and led her inside.
Wow, Malfoy in a muggle complex? That was an unexpected turn. Hermione looked around and was impressed. He really did have good taste. The apartment was spacious, and decorated well. It suited a man like Malfoy. Walking inside, the front door led to a kitchen and living room area that was decorated in greys and blues. The kitchen was modern looking, with all stainless steel appliances and what looked like a marble island and countertops. Hermione did a double take. He had muggle appliances? Not only did he live in a muggle apartment complex, but it looked like he lived like a muggle too. The whole situation perplexed Hermione.
She glanced over at Draco, and saw him looking her curiously.
"Something interest you Granger? You seem to be in awe," he said, a faint smile playing on his lips. Ignoring him, Hermione walked into the living room portion of the room, and noticed that he also had a television mounted on the wall. It was sleek and matched the rest of the flat very well. She couldn't believe it. How could Draco Malfoy, muggleborn hater at Hogwarts, be living like a muggle? It was one thing to live in a muggle flat, but another thing to have muggle devices in your house. What was he trying to do?
She turned around and looked at him, then at the flat, with a look of disbelief on her face.
"Draco, I don't get it. All throughout Hogwarts, you were never like this. What changed?", she finally asked, still looking around.
Draco stared at her. "What do you mean, never like this?" he said quietly.
"Acting like a muggle!" she yelled, clearing exasperated that he didn't understand. "In school, you hated muggles! Now you have muggle appliances, a telly, you live in a muggle flat," she paused and took a breath. When she spoke, it was softer. "I just don't get the complete change from the arrogant kid who hated anything and everything muggleborn."
As soon as she spoke, Draco's face changed from concerned to outraged. When he spoke, it was in a whisper. "Well Granger, you don't really know me, do you now?" he spat at her. "I don't need to explain myself to someone like you. You and hero Potter think you know everything, don't you? Guess what, you don't." His chest was heaving, and he glared at her.
"You're an arrogant toerag, Malfoy," Hermione said, glaring back at him.
"Well Granger, you've always been insufferable know-it-all, and that's never changed. Can't say I'm surprised."
"Piss off, Malfoy." Hermione yelled, and marched over to the floo. She found the floo powder, threw it in the fire, and glared at Malfoy once more before stepping into the emerald flames.
When she arrived back to her flat, Hermione stomped into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. Standing in her bright, familiar kitchen, she sipped her water and let her racing heart slow down. She contemplated what had just happened, and regret flooded her body. She had really enjoyed their evening and had thought they might be becoming friends. Woah, she thought, since when am I friends with Draco Malfoy? Maybe it was best this had happened. Besides, he had always thought she was a know-it-all, so why would she want to be around him anyway?