Amazed

Hermione had set up a lunch date for herself, Eliza, and George, and made a coffee date for her and Ginny. All of her correspondence taken care of she took up the rest of Friday with cleaning and organizing her flat. At the end of the day she started looking through her closet for something to wear. She settled on a light purple cocktail dress that showed off her figure quite nicely. She paired it with some silver heels and decided that she would choose the accessories in the morning. She yawned and made her way into the bathroom to get ready for bed. After brushing her teeth, washing her face, and putting her hair into a braid for the night, she went back into her room and saw the notebook glowing. She couldn't help the smile that came to her face. She flopped onto the bed and opened the book eagerly.

I have something kind of serious to talk to you about. I hope you write back soon. It's about nine thirty now.

Hermione furrowed her brow in confusion at the tone of the note. She checked her watch seeing that it was quarter to ten, not long since Draco had written.

Hey Draco, what's up?

Good. I've been staring at this book willing you to write back. So I want to know how you are feeling. About everything that's happening.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean.

Like are you okay with me? Do you find it awkward when we are together in real life? Is it easier for you writing me? Where are we at right now? Sorry this is all coming at once, but I am feeling kind of insecure.

Yes, I am okay with you, I just thought you would have realized that after we planned a third date here. I don't find it awkward when we are around each other, do you? I find that writing to you is maybe a tad easier than talking, but, I like writing to you in the evenings. I wouldn't want to give that up. I'm not sure where we are. I really enjoy the time we spend together, both in real life and in the pages of this notebook. What are you feeling?

Not much differently, in fact pretty much the same. But I think in order for us to really get to know each other and kind of get over our history, we need to stop using the notebook for important conversations. I know it's kind of hypocritical because I just have…but you know what I mean.

I do. And I agree, so next time we have something important to talk to each other about what do you propose we do?

Well we can talk about things when we are out together. Or we could contact each other through this notebook and if we both have time meet up at one of our places to talk.

That's reasonable. Is there anything else pressing you need to talk to me about? Your first note made this seem dire.

Oh, I was kind of freaking out earlier. I didn't mean to make it seem so ominous. Is there anything you wanted to talk about?

Yes. But it can wait until tomorrow. I have to get some rest. I'll see you soon.

I wish you would've said no. Now I'll be curious all night! Goodnight Hermione.

Goodnight Draco.

Hermione shut the notebook and set it on her bedside table with a sigh. She turned out her lamp and rolled onto her side, quickly falling asleep.

The next morning flew by and before Hermione could really believe it, it was time for her to get ready for her date with Draco. She still found the phrase funny in her head, a date with Draco. She showered, and got dressed, then did her hair, and make-up. She found herself ready to go with ten minutes to spare. So she slid her feet into her shoes, and picked up a book, heading into her sitting room to wait for Draco. She didn't have long to wait, hearing a knocking at the door a short time after she sat down. She stood up and smoothed out her dress before heading to the door and opening it. Draco was on the other side looking dapper in a pale grey suit, it was paired with a blue tie almost the exact shade of his eyes. Hermione had never really thought about if she was attracted to Draco physically. Looking at him now she didn't have to think, she knew.

"Draco, hi!" She smiled.

"Hermione, you look lovely this evening." He smiled back, and pulled a vase of flowers from behind his back. "For you."

"Oh, Draco, they are gorgeous!" It was a bouquet of roses, in every colour imaginable. She took the vase from him and went into her kitchen to put it on the table. When she came back Draco was lingering in the doorway glancing around Hermione's flat. "Did you want to come in?" She asked. Draco paused.

"We need to get going actually, but perhaps later?" Hermione nodded and grabbed the coat that she had waiting on the sofa. She locked the door behind her and followed Draco out of her building.

"So, what's on the agenda for tonight?" She asked.

"Well if I told you, you'd hardly be surprised. I like surprising you." He looked over at her and grinned. Hermione pulled a bit of a face and tried to hide her blush. She couldn't figure out why Draco was suddenly having such an effect on her. Draco held out a hand to her. "We have to apparate. You said nowhere close to Diagon Alley, so I am taking you somewhere far from Diagon Alley. Hermione raised an eyebrow but took his hand anyway. He apparated them off with a distinct pop, and when Hermione opened her eyes she had no idea where they were.

"What is this place?" She asked, her eyes roving the scene in front of her. There was an impressive house, made of grey stones and copper fittings, obviously well-tended as the copper had a gleam that wouldn't be there if it was left to its own devices. There was a lake off to the left of the house and gorgeous gardens surrounding everything. By the entrance to the house was what really caught Hermione's eye though. A carriage hooked up to two gleaming white unicorns.

"My family manor in the Swiss mountains, it has to be one of my favourite places in the world." Hermione could only continue to look around, her mouth agape. "Do you like it?" He asked her with a small smile.

"It's so beautiful." Hermione managed in an awed tone. The sun on the way to setting and casting beautiful colours as it went. Hermione hadn't noticed she was still holding onto Draco's hand until he started walking towards the carriage.

"We don't have a far walk, but this is much nicer. In case you were wondering, this is how I do a casual evening." Hermione blinked at Draco a couple of times.

"Are you serious? This is casual?" Draco had already clambered onto the carriage and was pulling Hermione up next to him.

"Yes. Well I may have pulled out a couple more stops than a truly casual evening, but essentially, this is as casual as I know how to be." Just as Hermione sat down the unicorns started moving, there was no driver so Hermione guess they just knew where to take them.

"This is really amazing Draco. I don't know how you get anything done. I would just want to stay here and take in this beauty all the time." Draco nodded.

"I come here at least once a month. I don't get much done while I am here. But, it's peaceful and I need every scrap of peace that I can get." Hermione looked over at Draco and frowned. She felt badly Draco was still feeling repercussions from the war after so many years had passed. She thought back, it would be six years this May. Six years since the end of the war, it hardly seemed possible to Hermione that so much time had passed. She didn't know what to say to him so just fell silent, watching the scenery pass. They were skirting the lake and headed towards a group of trees. The unicorns stopped just outside the tree-line and Draco descended from the carriage, he offered Hermione a hand down and she took it gratefully.

Draco held onto her hand as he led her deep into the trees, they walked for about ten minutes and stopped when they came into a clearing that was right by the water. She trees stopped in an almost perfect semi-circle to make the clearing, but the branches extended over, making a kind of domed ceiling for the space. There was lush green grass and wild flowers all over the ground which faded to dirt as it reached the water line. Hermione saw a blanket set up on the opposite side of the clearing, a little closer to the water. She was a pretty surprised that Draco would think of something so romantic. He waved his wand with the hand that wasn't holding onto hers and lights lit up all along the perimeter of the tree-line. There were little twinkling fairy lights, and beautiful lanterns, even some coloured lights here and there.

"Wow." Hermione breathed. "Draco this is…" She laughed. "Well I am surprised. This is amazing!" Draco smiled over at her and began to pull her along again. They got to the blanket and Draco let go of Hermione's hand settling onto the blanket. Hermione sat as well and tried keeping her focus, but everything around her was stunning.

"I'm glad that you like it." Draco said softly. Hermione's attention was easily brought back to Draco.

"I love it. Although, I'm not quite sure why I had to wear a dress, and why you are wearing such a nice suit." She said looking a Draco with a raised eye brow.

"Because I worked really hard to set the perfect scene. You don't dress a set to the nines, and let the actors dress in regular clothes." He shrugged. "And I always wear a suit to dinner. Malfoy tradition." Hermione grinned and nodded.

"Okay."

"I have dinner being prepared right now, it should be ready soon." Draco sighed. "So what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Hmm? Oh from last night. I've just been wondering a few things. When we first started writing each other you said that you had an injury from the war, that I would dislike you because of it, and that many other people disliked you because of it. I don't see any injury, well any visible one." Draco looked away from Hermione for a moment. He unbuttoned the left arm of his suit jacket, and the shirt under and rolled it up to his elbow. It was still tucked in by his body so Hermione couldn't see what was there. Draco was looking at it sadly before holding his arm out to Hermione. She gently took his wrist and leant in closer to see. There was a vivid red scar, stretching from just below his elbow to just abovehis wrist. It was raised a bit off of Draco's skin and looked a little painful. "Does it hurt?"

"A little, but that's kind of my own doing. If I could just leave it alone it would just be a scar, but I keep seeing specialists to see if they can get rid of it. No one has been successful obviously. But I think the memories it elicits are far worse than any physical pain. Everyone who knows what side of the war I was on knows that I have this disgusting scar on my arm. And they look at me with venomous looks. I've tried so hard to change people's perception of me." Hermione moved a bit closer to Draco and rested his arm on her leg. She started tracing the scar with her fingers. Draco closed his eyes and turned his head away from Hermione.

"I have something at home that could take down the redness a little. I've also been working on some curative spells, but I don't feel confident testing them out on you." Draco looked back at Hermione, an unreadable expression gracing his face.

"You aren't repulsed by it?" He asked.

"No…should I be?" She asked looking unflinchingly into his eyes.

"You were tortured by a death eater, my aunt, you have a scar from that. The war ruined so many things for so many people. How are you okay with this?" Draco was having a hard time keeping eye contact, and constantly kept looking elsewhere. Hermione held out her arm to Draco. He looked at her oddly, but took her arm. The word 'mudblood' was carved into her left arm, a faded scar that was lighter than the rest of her skin.

"I have a scar, yes. But I'm not ashamed of it. I hate that such an ugly term is carved into my skin, and yes, I hate the memories associated with it. But it's part of my life, part of who I am, and part of what has made me strong. To my mind you are as a much a victim as I was, if not more. So no, I am not repulsed by the mark on your arm. It makes you who you are. And that is someone pretty remarkable." Draco's eyes seemed to melt, his gaze softened and returned to Hermione's eyes. She placed a tentative hand on his cheek, and they drew towards each other. Their eyes slid shut as their lips met. It was an uncertain kiss at first that slowly grew into something far more passionate. Hermione's hand slid down and she grabbed two fistfuls of Draco's shirt, pulling him closer to her. Draco's hands slid into Hermione's hair, and they stayed locked together for quite a while.

Hermione was breathless when they finally separated from each other. She felt a little shy, and couldn't bring herself to look at Draco. Had she been able to look in his direction she would have seen that Draco couldn't look at her either. Hermione finally broke the silence.

"I feel like a fifteen year old, who just got kissed for the first time." She laughed a bit. I don't really know why. Draco chuckled.

"I know how you feel. This is weird." Draco shook his head and looked over at Hermione. They both started laughing. They laughed for a couple of minutes until the food that Draco had promised magically appeared before them. As they were eating Hermione thought of another question.

"You know how you told me just before we had dinner the first time that a lot of people owed you?" Draco nodded. "Well what exactly did you do to help people get back on their feet?" Draco finished chewing what he was eating and wiped his mouth with a napkin before answering.

"Well the Malfoy's have always had more money than they knew what to do with. So after the war I set up a fund for people whose businesses had been affected by the war. I started trying really hard to bring not only Diagon Alley, but every other shopping hub back up to what it was. This was no small task, and I couldn't just use my money exclusively. I'm rich, but not that rich. So I started thinking of ways I could pull in more money. I got the fund accredited and set up fundraisers. It kind of had a duality of good outcomes for me. I was helping people who needed it, and in turn people were forgiving me. So that's why most of the shop keepers, and business owners feel like they owe me. I keep telling them that they don't, but they don't listen. My real problem lies outside of the shopping district. People who see me out and about and only see me as Harry Potter's ex nemesis."

"I'm sure if people knew about all the good that you had done since the war they would be more forgiving." Hermione answered.

"Maybe, but the trouble is that no one wants to believe an ex death eater. No one believes that people like me can change. It's frustrating." Draco sighed.

"I'll help you. I'm not sure how yet, but I'll come up with a way to help you. You shouldn't feel like a social pariah. You are a good person." Draco looked at Hermione, a trademark unreadable expression on his face.

"I'm constantly taken aback by you. You never react the way I expect you will. That's a good thing though." He smiled over at her and she smiled back.

"Well I have to keep you interested somehow, don't I?" They both chuckled and passed the rest of dinner chit chatting about nothing in particular. When they were finished eating Draco stood and pulled Hermione to her feet. He led her to the water, and like magic a small boat appeared.

"This will be faster than taking the unicorns back."

"So they will just stay there all night?" Hermione asked.

"No, they've gone back to the stables and are being tended to." Hermione nodded and accepted Draco's hand to help her into the boat. It rowed itself to the shore where the manor stood. It was quite dark out and Hermione was glad for the glittering light from the house. Draco got out of the boat first and helped Hermione to disembark. They walked slowly up toward the house. Hermione was dreading the night being over, she was having such a good time. "Did you want to stay the night here?" Draco asked.

AN: Whoa this is a long chapter! I didn't mean for it to be so long, but I really like it. And the first kiss, yay! I know it was kind of a funny place to end the chapter, but like I said it was already so long! And I kinda want to keep you guys guessing. :P Anyways let me know what you think and leave me a review! As always I'd like to thank my reviewers, followers, and people who have added my story to their favourites! Hope you enjoyed. :)