a/n: I'm so sorry it took me so long to update this. I thought of the next chapter, but then changed my mind, and then changed my mind again. It was a never ending circle of uncertainness. And FINALLY, I think I'm happy with this chapter.
Thank you ShadowXMoonlight, you will always be my favourite person; my first reviewer
"What in God's name are you doing here?!" She hissed, creeping forwards with a frown. "You do realise this is a muggle bar?!"
His head sprung upwards. He recognised that voice from anywhere. After 6 years of tormenting the owner of the voice, it was impossible to forget it despite not seeing the proprietor since the Battle itself. It terrified him to see how much Hermione had matured physically in that time. Or perhaps he just hadn't noticed during the final years of Hogwarts. She looked, dare he say it, attractive. The outfit she wore was something he could never have seen former Granger wearing; a tight periwinkle blue shirt, tight black pencil skirt and 5 inch black heels with her hair tied back professionally. Draco knew that she had made her way here straight from work at the ministry.
"Granger?" His voice sounded croaky and his eyes stung from the tears that had escaped only an hour before. He was having a bad enough day, without the addition of a fight with little Miss Bookworm. He sighed, an evident sign of admitting defeat, ready for whatever foul words left his former enemy's mouth.
Hermione's heart melted at the sign of him looking so sullen. If she had thought he looked bad during their 6th year, this wasn't much better which confused her tremendously. The war had finished years ago. Obviously, he still had some demons, just like she did. Perhaps he had matured, she thought to herself. Maybe now they could be friends.
"Really, Draco? I'd have thought we had matured enough to call each other by our first names. We're not first years anymore." She stated as she slid into the booth. "Is everything okay?" She couldn't help the mothering instinct that she had. Of course, she knew they had been former enemies but, there was no point dwelling on the past. She could put their petty arguments behind her if he could do the same.
Draco had certainly not been expecting kindness from the Gryffindor. It unnerved him but he figured if she could be pleasant, he could attempt to be also.
He snorted. "If everything was okay, do you honestly think I would be sitting here on my own, ruining my brain cells with alcohol?" He responded. "For the brightest witch of our age, you really can be stupid at times, Granger." He smirked, letting his hand run through his platinum blonde locks.
"And here I was thinking that you would tell me to bugger off. I thought you'd say something about the fact my sitting here with you is repulsive." She frowned. There was the smirk she had always remembered from school but something was different.
"Why's that Granger?" He tilted his head to the side, much like a confused dog.
"I'm the Mudblood Queen." She realised what was different. He was looking at her like an actual person. If this situation had occurred seven years previously, he would have spat in her face, and demanded she leave his booth at once. What was holding him back now?
His eyes grew hard and his hands clenched into fists. "Don't call yourself that." His voice was hard and unfriendly. His breathing was deep and it appeared that he was trying to control his anger. Something was troubling him. "Granger, don't ever call yourself that." His eyes were suddenly pleading and full of hurt and desperation.
Hermione was incredibly confused. Over the years, Malfoy had called her that more times than she could count. The name didn't hurt her anymore, she had proven her worth during the war and she simply laughed at those who still believed in Voldemort's views. After all, it had been discovered that their 'Dark Lord' had been a half blood. "Malfoy, what happened to you?" Her eyes searched within his as she leaned over the table to attempt to figure out just that.
"War changes people. Being within the Dark Lord's inner circle showed me that blood means nothing." He shook his head, his hand gripped around his drink while the other ran through his hair. "We were following a half-blood who wanted all witches and wizards to be purebloods. How fucking ridiculous is that?! You showed me that you don't need to be pureblooded to be fan-fucking-tastic with magic." He chuckled to himself, his head lifted to search for her eyes. "I remember coming home at Christmas break during our first year and spending the entire time complaining about you. My father was furious that I had been beaten at everything at everything, by a muggle-born no less, but mother found it adorable. She thought I had a crush on you. Father ended up storming out of the room and mother sat me down and asked me what you were like and why I thought I hated you so much. Of course, at the time, I was incredibly prejudiced so when we came back for school in January, I ended up tormenting you more because I was terrified about the fact I had a crush on you." He grimaced. He had no idea why he had just told her that he had previously had a crush on her. It would probably make their conversation uncomfortable but to his surprise, she laughed. It was a beautiful laugh that shook her entire body, leaving him mesmerised.
"So the Slytherin Prince had a crush on the Gryffindor Golden girl?" She chuckled, her eyes glistening as she remembered her past. "My mother did the exact same thing as yours, mind you, I had spent all Christmas during our Sixth year talking about you. It was evident that something was going on with you, I mean, you lost all that weight and you looked so close to death. I was worried for you, despite us being enemies. My mother knew I had a thing for you. I'm not sure how she knew but she knew you were different because apparently whenever I spoke about Harry and Ron, I never got a little crease here," she stroked the space between her eyebrows before shrugging. " I don't know how that's a tell-tale sign of me having a crush on someone but mum was right. My dad got so angry at her because he thought she was encouraging me or something. I don't think he realised that I had spent the summer before fifth year owling Viktor Krum and that the boy had been my first boyfriend." She laughed before sighing with relief. Hermione had tracked down her parents in Australia only 6 months after the fall of Voldemort and had been able to undo the obliviate spell with ease. At first, her parents had been cautious of their daughter as she had used her magic against them but once it had been explained that she had no choice, their family became closer. Jean and Mark had moved back to the UK, choosing to buy a nice little cottage in Cornwall. She had been worried that once the spell had been reversed, her parents wouldn't trust her or want to move back to England.
"Granger, you know, sixth year wasn't too long ago. You might still have that crush on me." He smirked before attempting to smoulder her.
"You wish, Malfoy. Anyway, what are you drinking? I'll get you another." She grabbed her empty glass, as well as his and made to get up.
"Don't be ridiculous, I'll get them. My drink's probably out of your price range, after all you're dating the Weasel." He spoke over his shoulder as he walked towards the bar.
"Malfoy!" She shouted before realising he couldn't hear her, she added, "You don't know what I'm drinking." She sighed before she realised this night could become interesting if he got her something with a high content of alcohol. She knew from past experience that she was a frisky drunk and she had no idea if he would use this to his advantage.
Draco returned five minutes later with a tray of 6 drinks, 3 for him and 3 for her. As he sat down, he said, "Right, I have no idea what these drinks are, I merely asked the bartender to give me 6 drinks for people who used to be enemies and aren't anymore but are still cautious of each other and here we are." He handed over the tray and let her choose her first drink.
An hour later, 8 empty glasses on the table, Hermione was stuttering over her words after quickly downing her first 3 drinks, then buying another round of what Draco had previously purchased before easily drinking those in the same rapid speed. Draco had yet to finish his first 3, finding it more amusing to listen to the woman in front of him talking about how irritating she had found Ron and Harry in school. Hermione had decided that as Draco hadn't been drinking his drinks at a rapid enough speed, she would drink them for him.
"You know, Draco, I don't know why you used to slick back your hair, you looked bloody ridiculous. It always looked better when you didn't; you looked less like a piece of ice." Hermione stated.
Malfoy was trying so hard not to burst into laughter when she noted a jukebox in the corner of the bar. Her eyes lit up like a young child on Christmas day, as she sprung up, grinning like an idiot.
"My parents used to have one of these in our kitchen. I spent many Saturday mornings dancing around with a broom." She giggled as she pulled the band from her hair, letting her hair fall around her shoulders and chest. Draco's eyes widened when he saw how soft and straight her hair was now, rather than the bushy mess it had been in the past.
Hermione, unaware of the fact Draco couldn't take his eyes off her, skipped towards the jukebox before standing for a few moments trying to pick her favourite song.
Meanwhile, Draco was sat at the booth, watching her. He wasn't sure what had just happened but he knew he was screwed. If Hermione attempted to flirt with him, he would not be able to control himself. She was evidently now an attractive woman, with perfect curves and hair that he just wanted to run his hands through. Groaning, he gripped his glass and shut his eyes tightly. He refused to imagine his childhood nemesis in compromising positions. Not for the reasons of her blood or anything petty like that, more that it would definitely make the evening tense. That was because he would constantly be picturing her nude and moaning his name and he knew, he just knew, that if he did allow his mind to wander and she was a frisky drunk, he would not be able to contain himself and he would end up taking advantage of her. He was a Malfoy. They did not take advantage of drunken women.
Suddenly, music erupted, echoing around the room. It tore Draco from his thoughts and he frowned, trying to figure out what the song was. He knew it would be muggle music but he went to muggle bars quite regularly recently, unfortunately, he had no idea who this was but he could tell Hermione was enjoying herself; she was swaying her hips, thrusting her hands into her hair and mouthing the lyrics. He couldn't rip his eyes from her body. Fuck. Controlling himself was going to be so difficult.
Hermione's eyes caught Draco's and she rushed over, grabbed his hand and pulled him by the jukebox. She began swaying her hips in a very sensual way, biting her lip and closing her eyes. Singing along, Hermione pressed her body against Draco's forcing him to dance against her as she did.
And honey, I know you'll be there to relieve me, the love you give to me will free me.
If you don't know the thing you're dealing, Oh I can tell you darling, it's sexual healing.
Get up, Get up, Get up, Get up, let's make love tonight
Wake up, Wake up, Wake up, Wake up, 'cause you do it right
Hermione found herself pressed against Draco, their lips mere inches apart. Her breathing rapidly increased and she was fairly sure Malfoy could feel her heart beating against her chest which was crushed against his.
"Granger, we shouldn't." Draco's breath mingled with hers as his lips ghosted against hers as he mumbled. She shivered as she relished in the closeness of their bodies.
"I know" She muttered back before pressing their lips together.
