Thanks for the warm reception, guys! Here's the next chapter. Can't wait to read your thoughts after this one. ;)

Convincing Her

Draco glanced at the platinum watch on his wrist and took a calming breath. He dropped his wrist and thrust his hands into his coat pockets.

He'd dressed in his best three piece suit, a dark charcoal color that accentuated his eyes and complimented his complexion. He'd even thought to bring flowers which he'd miniaturized into his pocket until the time was right. He couldn't very well be seen on the streets carrying flowers, now could he? Knowing his luck someone from the Daily Prophet would spot him and there'd be headlines.

He fidgeted on his feet at the thought and glanced around him. He didn't care if someone saw them together but a part of him was a bit concerned that she'd care.

It was half past seven now and knowing what he did all these years about Hermione Granger, it was terribly unlikely that she was running late. The damn woman was standing him up. She'd not taken him seriously.

With an irritated growl, he checked his surroundings before disapparating with a loud crack.

~o~O~o~

Feeling like a third wheel was thankfully something Harry and Ginny never made her feel like so after hours of pestering, Hermione consented to join them for a casual dinner over sushi. However, she declined to continue the evening with them afterwards.

"Hermione, you're not imposing," Ginny argued as they stood outside the restaurant.

"Seriously," Harry added, his crooked smile intact.

She rolled her eyes but smiled at her best friends. "This is your first Valentine's Day being married and while I think it's an absolutely rubbish holiday, you should enjoy it together. Thanks for inviting me to dinner but now I'm going to get my coffee and retire home with a good book."

Ginny shook her head and shared a look with Harry, both could only shrug. When the witch had her mind made up there wasn't much stopping her. They waved goodbye and watched her march off towards her favorite coffee shop a few blocks away.

"I'll never understand why she's still single," Ginny noted as they began in the other direction.

Harry snorted and grinned. "Because there's only one man who can handle a woman like her and she just hasn't found him yet."

"Oh hush," she admonished, a grin on her lips.

Meanwhile, Hermione stepped out of her building's lift, a coffee in one hand and a bag with her favorite cream cheese muffin in the other. She glanced around her to make sure none of her neighbors were present before she mumbled the spells to release the wards on her door and shoved inside. Keys were for muggles after all and while she might be muggle-born she was still a witch.

She hung her coat in the closet and made for her kitchen. She sighed as she set her cup and bag down on her counter.

"Shoddy wards you've got on that door, Granger."

Hermione screamed as she whirled around, her wand already clutched tightly in her hand. She nearly had a fit when she saw Draco Malfoy settled calmly on a stool at her kitchen bar as though he belonged there.

"Though it's a rather nice flat. A bit on the small side, mind you, but not terribly shabby," he noted as he glanced around at his surroundings.

"Malfoy," she breathed with her hand clutching her chest, "what in the bleeding hell are you doing here?! Better question, how did you get in? How did you even know where I live?"

Draco shrugged calmly. "No witch has ever stood me up before, especially not when I invite them out on St. Valentine's Day. I surely had to make certain you were still breathing, Granger. I couldn't imagine what could possibly keep you from showing up." He eyed her purchases with amusement. "Clearly, coffee and some sort of pastry. I could have fed you better than that, you know."

A slight flush washed over her cheeks as she imagined him hand-feeding her something, even though she knew that's not what he'd meant. Stupid brain on its own agenda.

"And I got your address from a mutual friend," he added with a confident smirk.

Hermione huffed and finally rested her wand on the counter now that she was certain there was no threat. She glared at the man on the other side of the bar. "Malfoy, you're bloody mental. Surely you didn't think I took your invitation seriously?"

The wizard nodded with a serious look, "Oh, I was very serious, Granger." He gestured to his suit. "I don't get dressed up for just anyone."

"You're breaking and entering, you prat. I should have you arrested—by the muggle police."

"Ah yes, I did notice that you'd chosen a muggle building." He shrugged as if the entire conversation were boring him. "Not that I care much but it surely makes coming and going a bit tedious, does it not? No apparating and all that given the noise it makes?"

Hermione reached for her coffee and took a large swig of it to help calm her nerves. "Why are you here?"

Draco gave her a concerned look as if she were sick. "I already told you. You didn't show up so I came to find out what had kept you."

Hermione ran a hand down her face tiredly, quickly losing her patience with the conversation. "First of all, this holiday is pure rubbish. I'm a bit surprised that you of all people actually care about it. Secondly, I'm not going on a date with you, Malfoy. The idea that you'd even want to go on a date with me is ludicrous!"

He lifted an arrogant eyebrow when she grabbed a book from the counter that she was currently reading. "Really, Granger, you're choosing a book over my company?"

Hermione thrust an arm out, pointing to the door. "Out!"

Draco sighed and stood, slipping his arms into his coat. "Alright, fine. Your loss, Granger."

He reached in his pocket and produced the bouquet of flowers. He restored them to their normal size and set them on the counter.

"Enjoy your evening, Bookworm."

Hermione stared at the flowers on her kitchen counter for a while after the door slammed behind him. Had Draco Malfoy really just shown up in her apartment expecting her to go out with him? Had he really brought flowers?

She pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead. "Bloody hell, I need a drink."

~o~O~o~

Hermione waited patiently Monday morning as the barista got her order together. She'd had a rather peaceful weekend, minus the Malfoy episode, reading for pleasure and reorganizing her books shelves. The best way to continue her good mood for the new week was always coffee. However, just as she was pulling out her wallet to pay, she felt his presence like a perpetual shadow and groaned.

"I've got this one, Granger."

She rolled her eyes up to the ceiling in some sort of silent prayer before she turned to find Draco standing just behind her, smirking confidently as he reached around her to pay for her drink and ordered his own without bothering to acknowledge her glare.

"Malfoy, what do you think you're doing?"

He lifted a confident eyebrow and accepted his drink with a polite nod to the barista before giving her his full attention.

"Is it not obvious?"

Reluctantly, she took her coffee and stepped away from the counter with him following closely behind.

"I'd say not. Usually our morning run-ins over coffee begin and end with a taunt. First, you act like a maniac Saturday, expecting me to meet you for dinner, and now you're buying my morning coffee. What gives, you prat?"

Draco snorted and sipped his drink before glancing down at her. She was wearing flats this morning and the top of her head barely reached his chin. "If I have to explain it, Granger then I'm either not doing a very good job or you're actually quite thick." He shook his head. "I'll be expecting you for your monthly inspection today."

And without another word, he was out the door and down the street leaving a very confused witch in his wake. Hermione shook her head and set off in the opposite direction.

She honestly didn't know why she still kept up with the monthly inspections of his business. He'd not once failed one of her inspections. The bloody git was spotless in his business dealings. But procedure was procedure and Hermione Granger had never been one to break with rules when she didn't absolutely have to do so.

So at one o'clock sharp, she was waiting in one of the chairs outside his office, doing her best not to scowl at his new secretary. It seemed he had a new one every other month lately. All complete airheads without a lick of sense in their overly painted up heads.

This one's name was Cindy and she was predictably blonde. It seemed they were all blonde. Blonde and hardly any ability to wave a wand. It was a wonder they functioned in regular wizarding society.

His office door finally opened and he stood there smirking with his hands casually in the depths of his pockets. He looked much like a pale, blonde Adonis and the thought irked her.

"Granger, lovely to see you again. Come in."

Hermione rolled her eyes at his back as she followed him into his office. She took up her regular seat in one of the plush chairs opposite his desk and held her hand out for his files.

"You know the drill, Malfoy."

"Indeed, I do." His grin was rather mischievous and it unnerved her.

She flipped the files open and began perusing the numbers along each neat column. "New secretary, I see," she mentioned conversationally.

Draco ran a hand through his blonde locks and blew out a harsh breath. "Bloody, stupid bint."

Hermione lifted a single eyebrow and glanced up from the file in her lap. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me, Granger. Every one of them stupider than the last."

She shook her head in confusion. "Then why do you keep hiring them?"

He groaned and his lips tilted into a scowl as he met her curious gaze. "I don't. That would be my mother."

She sputtered out a laugh before she could stop herself. They usually didn't talk much at this stage of her inspection so this was becoming rather entertaining. Then again, since his invitation to dinner that she'd ignored, he'd been acting a bit off anyway.

"Your mother does your hiring, Malfoy?"

He bestowed his trademark sneer on her. "Quit giving me that look, Granger. Not usually. She's been at me lately to settle down and has this stupid notion that I'll get distracted by my secretary like my bloody father always was so she keeps hiring the least attractive options she can find for me. Forget having any actual skills for the job."

Hermione's brows knit together at that. Least attractive? Each secretary she'd seen in the last six months had been tall, fit, and big-breasted. Most healthy men, wizard or muggle, would have been drooling over each one.

"Normally, I'd tell you to hold the chit-chat, Malfoy but I'm too intrigued now. Do you mean to tell me that you've not been attracted to any of those witches?"

The look he gave her made her feel like she'd taken poly juice potion and accidentally turned herself into a cat again.

"Granger, have you not been listening? Normally you're quite good at multitasking." He shook his head, "No, I hate blondes. And they've all been too bloody tall."

She'd stopped eyeing the file in her lap and was now completely focused on the wizard sitting across from her giving her the most confused look.

"You're serious, aren't you?"

"Like a heart attack. Besides, it's insulting anyway. I'm not my father. I've never once cheated on a woman I've been in a committed relationship with."

Hermione swallowed harshly and diverted her gaze back to the file in her lap. Her curiosity had led them down what felt to be a bit too personal of a path considering it was Malfoy she was sitting across from.

She cleared her throat after a moment and shut the file before handing it back. "Everything seems to be in order. You've of course filed all the proper requests and followed all procedure."

"Of course," he smirked.

"Let's see the lab then."

When these inspections had first begun after he'd started the company, Draco had been rather resistant to the idea of having a Ministry official in his domain looking over his shoulder like a common criminal. However, when they sent Hermione Granger, he'd nearly lost it. Having the all too perfect Gryffindor overseeing his affairs ruffled his feathers. That was until he realized that he enjoyed their constant bantering. The witty witch never held back and always had an easy comeback for his taunts.

He'd always known she was infuriatingly brilliant but he'd never realized how enjoyable it could be. Somewhere along the way irritation had led way to admiration and then attraction. He looked forward to her inspections now as it was the best opportunity that he usually got to see her if they didn't have the random run-in at the coffee shop.

Draco nodded and rounded his desk. He opened the door for her and allowed her through first. Both stopped abruptly when they realized that Narcissa Malfoy was waiting patiently in one of the chairs near the far wall.

"Ah, Miss Granger," the older witch smiled politely as she stood to approach. "Very nice to see you. Draco's told me all about how you keep his business in line with the Ministry." She glanced at her son, "Merlin knows he could use the guidance at times."

Draco rolled his eyes and glanced down at the short witch next to him. "Granger, if you'd like to start your inspection I'll just be a moment."

Hermione smiled politely to his mother and nodded as she moved past the two and entered the lift. She was far too bewildered at the warm reception his mother had given her to comment. Not that the woman had reason to hate her by any means but she certainly didn't know her well enough to be so happy about her presence.

Narcissa watched as the lift doors closed on the witch and then glanced at the new secretary she'd hired. "Be a dear and get me some tea, won't you," she asked with her most polite smile.

"Oh yes, ma'am," the blonde nodded and nearly tripped on her stiletto heels as she left them alone.

"So," his mother began as she turned back to him, "she's the one you want, isn't she?"

Draco narrowed his eyes at her and tipped his head. "What are you up to, Mother?"

"Not a thing, dear." Her smile held a wicked gleam to it and he knew without a doubt that she was scheming. "I saw the look in your eyes. Rather surprising given your past with each other. How long, Draco?"

He sighed and chewed the corner of his mouth for a moment. "A few years. Not long after she started doing these inspections for the Ministry." He paused as his mouth fell into a frown. "Father would have a fit if he knew."

"Oh, your father can just bugger off," she waved her hand casually, ignoring her son's surprised look. "I don't give two shits what that man thinks. He's in Azkaban and he's not ever getting out, Draco. Be happy for Merlin's sake!"

Draco stared at her with wide eyes. His mother was usually never quite so blunt. He finally nodded and made to move around her to meet Hermione in the lab.

"I'm finally working on it," he said before the lift doors closed.

Narcissa waited until the door closed tightly and sighed. "Work faster, dear. I want grandchildren. Curly haired, grey-eyed, brilliant grandchildren."

Cindy returned shortly with a lukewarm cup of tea which she handed to the elder Malfoy with a slight smile.

Narcissa felt the cup and fought the urge to roll her eyes at the tepid temperature. She forced a friendly smile for the girl. "Why don't you call it a day early, dear? I believe Draco will be preoccupied for the remainder of the afternoon with Miss Granger's inspection."

The blonde gave her a bubbly smile and quickly left for the day before she could change her mind.

"Definitely not wife material for my son," she rolled her eyes.

Draco caught up with Hermione midway through her inspection. He watched from behind as she inspected each work station, her clipboard and quill levitating toward her side and scratching away notes as she dictated them.

The woman was bloody brilliant.

She looked up when she finally noticed him and waved him over quickly. "Malfoy, what are these pygmy puffs doing in that cage over there? I thought I told you that there's to be no testing of sleeping draught potions on other magical creatures."

He fought the urge to grin at her stern voice and merely obeyed. He stepped up to her side and glanced at the puffy little creatures in question, all snoring quietly in their cage.

"They're not for testing, Granger. They belong to one of my employee's daughters. The bloke brought them in after seeing a magical veterinarian. The profession's on the rise you know. Apparently they'd caught the bleeding dragon flu."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him but waved her hand at the quill floating next to her and turned away as it began scratching away again.

"Everything else checks out then," he asked.

He followed two steps behind her as usual while she went station to station. He was near enough to catch a whiff of her rose scented perfume but far enough away that he couldn't feel the heat of her body. His eyes traveled on their own accord from her curls pinned up neatly at the back of her head down the narrow length of her back to her rear. A slight smirk lifted a corner of his mouth as he watched her walk.

"Everything appears in order," she smiled politely as she turned to face him, oblivious as his eyes snapped up to meet hers suddenly. With a wave of her hand, her quill and clipboard dissolved into her bag. "Well, then I believe that's it for now. Until next time…"

Before she could exit the lab and into the main lobby of the building, his voice stopped her.

"Have dinner with me, Granger."

Hermione rolled her eyes as she whirled back around to face him, clearly not amused. "Malfoy, cut the crap. Not this rubbish again."

The wizard crossed his arms over his chest and she hated the way his wide shoulders stretched his suit tightly. All those years of playing qudditch had built him well.

His mouth turned up into a confident smirk as his eyes traveled her body head to toe again. She'd developed into such an attractive woman. Perhaps if he'd only known what was under those Hogwarts' robes he would have been more keen to begin seeing her differently back in school. It had been rare when she left her robes off and walked about the castle in just her uniform.

"I'm serious, Granger. You can go out with me now or I can just keep pestering you until you cave."

She sighed irritably and turned to leave. "I'll see you later, Malfoy."

And seeing him again came sooner rather than later.

Draco Malfoy began making a habit of aligning their morning coffee runs when possible. Over the next several weeks he bought her coffee at least three mornings out of five, usually insisting on a pastry of some sort as well for her breakfast. He couldn't have his witch wasting away from living off of those dreadful muggle breakfast bars, as he'd so kindly told her. After the first two weeks, she'd given up on trying to fight him and just went along with it silently, wondering what had gotten the wizard's wand in such a crazy knot. However, every time he referred to her as his witch she had to fight the urge to hex him in front of all the muggles.

After the first month he'd also started sending flowers to her office. Once a week, not on the same day and he never signed the card but she knew it was him. She was getting rather tired of dodging questions from her co-workers about her mystery admirer. How in the hell he'd found out her favorite flowers were tulips, she'd never know.

By the end of the second month, she couldn't take it anymore. Enough was enough.

"Fine," she ground out one Friday morning when he showed up to buy their morning coffee.

"Pardon," Draco asked, an arrogant eyebrow lifted to accompany his smirk.

"I said fine." She threw her hands up in exasperation but accepted her mint mocha when the barista handed it to her. "I give up. I'll go on a bloody date with you if it stops this insanity."

Draco accepted his coffee with a polite smile before he turned to face the small witch next to him. His grin turned rather smug. "About time, Granger. Though most women would have caved with the first round of flowers." He tipped his head as he studied her for a second. "Though you're not most women or I wouldn't be chasing you so relentlessly."

Hermione rolled her eyes and pushed past him. "Whatever, Malfoy. Just owl me the details so we can get this over with and get back to normal. You've been bloody nice and it's creeping me out."

"Oh Granger," he deep voice drawled, stopping her before she could push out into the street.

Hermione whirled around slowly, a dark scowl on her face. "Yes?"

"Tomorrow at 7. I'll meet you at your flat," he grinned arrogantly.

"Ugh, fine." She shook her head irritably and disappeared out into the street.

"About damn time."

Draco turned quickly to face the barista who had been watching the whole scene. He quirked an eyebrow at the muggle woman in question.

"Oh come off it, mate. I've been watching you two dance around each other for months." She waved a hand through the air dismissively and began wiping the counter with a towel. "It's about damn time she caved or I would have for her."

Draco snorted and shook his head. He reached into his wallet for a few pounds and handed it to her. "I won't be able to get her coffee in the morning in person as I have some planning to do. Make sure she gets something for her breakfast as well."

The barista counted the money in her hands and grinned when she realized he was throwing in a few extra pounds in for her as a bribe.

"Not a problem, sir."

He lifted his coffee in salute and walked confidently out of the shop to begin his plotting. He needed some advice and wasn't particularly looking forward to engaging with the source.

~o~O~o~

They'd laughed. They'd bloody well laughed when she told them.

Hermione stood in her bedroom glowering at her reflection in the mirror. Ron and Harry had been over for lunch when his owl had come with the details of their date. She loathed calling it such, even in her head.

Being like the annoying brothers she'd never had, they'd snatched up the letter after seeing her scowl while reading it and snickered through reading it themselves.

"Well, well, well," Ron had grinned. "Looks like Malfoy's finally conceding defeat."

"Took him long enough," Harry snorted.

"What are you two on about," she'd grumbled.

"Malfoy," Ron spoke between bites of food, "Harry and I have been convinced for a while now that he'd developed a thing for you. Just been waiting on the bloody prat to admit it."

"Oh, don't tell me you actually believe this as well," she'd sighed exasperatedly. "I'm not taking this seriously. I mean, it's Malfoy for Merlin's sake. He's just bored and this is another way to irritate me. I just got sick of him asking so I figure if I go maybe it will stop this insanity."

Her two friends shared a look before facing her.

"Hermione," Harry started gently, "he's annoying, sure, but he's not a complete dung pile. I really think he's serious. You might want to give it a sincere try if you're interested at all."

"Yeah," Ron fought the urge to snicker, "maybe you'll marry him and have little ferret babies together one day."

Last time she shared anything with those two dolts.

So there she stood staring at her reflection in her favorite red dress—a light and breezy little number that ended just above her knees. He'd said to dress nice but casual and hadn't elaborated much beyond that. If she had to suffer the former Slytherin's company, she could at least feel good about herself.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard the firm knocking at her front door. A glance at her watch told her he was one minute early, impeccable timing as always which she couldn't begrudge him for. With a heavy sigh, she slipped her heels on and grabbed her bag on the way to the door.

She swung the door open to find Draco dressed immaculately in grey slacks and a steel blue sweater, making him both casual enough without losing that touch of sophistication for which he was so well known.

Hermione fought a blush creeping up her cheeks with the way the wizard's grey eyes trailed from her feet, over her body, and finally meeting her eyes as he gave a low whistle.

"You clean up well, Granger."

She rolled her eyes and took his arm when he offered it. He waited patiently as she set her wards and then grinned as he moved them towards the lift.

"Well, you've got me out on a perfectly good Saturday night that I could have been reading on, Malfoy. This had better be entertaining enough that I don't hex you at my next inspection appointment."

The blonde merely smiled down at her as they exited her building's lobby and into the warm night air. "Oh, it will be worth your time. Don't you worry that pretty little head over it."