Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling's world, not mine.

She had no choice. Hermione had to meet Draco for drinks tonight. If she didn't show up, it would have made her look like a coward. And why should she be nervous anyway? He's the one who got drunk and spilled his guts to her the night before.

Why is it that all of the men in Hermione's life just couldn't quite pull it together? Draco was hiding out in the Muggle world drinking and watching entirely too much television, Harry was spending his evenings alone in Godric's Hollow, and Ronald . . . well, no further explanation needed there. When had Hermione's life gotten so crazy? Oh, that's right; when that owl delivered her Hogwarts letter. Of course, she would have it no other way, but still.

Hermione arrived at her normal time. Draco was there in his usual spot with his head in his hand. He looked as if he was nursing a severe migraine. Serves him right for getting so drunk. Tonight, there was no drink waiting for Hermione. She also noticed that Draco wasn't on his fourth or fifth glass of scotch either. She greeted him and then ordered an Amaretto Sour, receiving a questioning look from Draco.

"What's that?" he asked her.

"Amaretto Sour," she told him.

"I thought you liked Whiskey Sours?"

"I thought you liked Scotch?" she echoed.

Draco thought about it before taking a drink, "I liked it a lot better before yesterday," he said as he held a hand up to his forehead.

"Well that's what you get for overdoing it," she said as-a-matter-of-factly.

He put his hand up (the one that wasn't holding his head up) to stop her. "Granger, please, don't give me any grief," he sighed. "Is there anything in the Muggle world that can cure this?"

"Try some aspirin," she told him.

"I did already, and it didn't help."

"What's that you're drinking?" she asked him.

"Ginger ale."

"Well that'll settle your stomach at least."

"Yeah, that's what Paulie said too," he said taking a long drink. "What's that?" he asked her, pointing to the bandage on her hand.

"A little souvenir from last night."

He furrowed his brow. "What happened?"

"You dropped your glass on the floor and when I went to pick it up I cut myself."

"Are you all right?" he asked her with concern in his voice.

"Yes. You actually cleaned up my hand for me." That made him smirk and he took another drink of ginger ale.

"So Granger, apart from a snogfest, what else happened last night?" The color rose in her cheeks and Hermione turned away from him.

"Well, you told me how much you liked the Beatles and that you wanted the two of us to go see them sometime."

"And what did you say?"

"Well, I didn't have the heart to tell you last night that the Beatles not only have broken up, but are not all alive. Ergo, they won't be doing performances anytime soon." The news seemed to get him down.

"What a pity," he shook his head.

"You started quoting I Love Lucy and It's a Wonderful Life."

"Really?"

"Yes, you went on and on about acquiring Vitameatavegamin."

"Oh yes, I was watching that Lucy episode a few days ago. That is pure comedy right there, Granger," he said stifling a laugh.

"Yes, I'm familiar with Lucy's antics."

"I really like the one where she and Ethel go on that tour around Hollywood and she steals the grapefruit from that actor's yard. What was his name?"

"Richard Widmark."

"Yes that's it!" he said as he finished the rest of his ginger ale. "Oh, and I also liked the one where she and Ethel get that meat freezer, and Lucy locks herself in it. Could have used an Alohamora there."

"Yes, that's a good one too. I like the ones in Europe the best though."

"Well those are funny too. Like the one where they are leaving for Europe on the boat but Lucy gets left and has to take a helicopter. Or where they're coming home and she disguises the cheese as a baby." At this point, each of them had started cracking up.

Once they had calmed themselves down a bit, Hermione told Draco that he watched too much television–a comment that he merely brushed off.

"So, Granger, how was it?"

"How was what?" she asked him, taking a drink.

"The kiss." Caught so off guard, Hermione very nearly choked on her drink and started coughing. Draco slapping her back really didn't help matters either. Once he saw that she was all right, he went on. "Kisses, really. More than one," he winked.

"Draco . . . "

"That bad huh?" She started to laugh and shook her head. "Well, Granger," he cleared his throat, "I just wanted you to know that you shouldn't judge me by that."

"What?"

"Well, I was drunk and I imagine, a sloppy kisser, which couldn't have been all that nice for you. So I just wanted you to know that last night wasn't my best work, and you shouldn't judge my kisses on that and that alone," he explained, "I can do better."

"I should hope so," she said smugly. "You know, it's a good thing you haven't got a telephone or anyone to call. I imagine you would be a drunk dialer."

"A what?"

"When a person gets drunk and rings up someone and goes on and on, talking and saying things they normally wouldn't–"

"Like what?" Draco interrupted in a concerned voice. "Granger, what did I tell you?" She looked away but he seemed to know the answer. "I told you, didn't I? What yesterday was?" She turned back to him but now Draco was the one looking away. "Granger," he sighed, "I'm sorry I shouldn't have–"

"Draco, don't. You have nothing to be ashamed of."

"Except for this Dark Mark on my arm?"

"You have no reason to be ashamed of caring for your mother. It means you're human and that somewhere inside, you do indeed, have a heart." He let out a dry laugh. "You miss her, and you have every right to." He nodded but didn't say anything. "I never would have thought you had such a loving relationship with your mother. It's not a side of you many people get to see." He smiled as they sat in comfortable silence for a while.

"So did I do anything else humiliating?" he finally asked.

"Aside from butchering the words to Let It Be, and singing (Night Time Is) The Right Time?"

"Did I really?" he asked.

"Yes on both accounts–in fact the part where you sang 'hold me tight' you did hold me tighter."

"Where was I holding you?"

"I fell back onto your couch and you . . . "

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"So that's how we ended up on the couch, eh?"

"Yes."

"Were you, er, okay sleeping? I didn't crush you, did I?"

"No, it wasn't too bad actually. You wedged me between the cushion and yourself, and you didn't snore." Draco started to laugh.

"Can you imagine, Granger? What people would say if you told them you spent the night with me?"

"Well you definitely wouldn't be laughing if Harry and Ron found out."

"So you still haven't told them then?" She shook her head and ate her maraschino cherry. "I thought you told them everything?" he asked her. Hermione made a face.

"No, Draco, I definitely don't tell them everything."

"So what else do you hide from them?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

"Well, guys in general was always a sensitive issue with the two of them. Ron, especially. To this day I think he still holds a grudge with Cormac."

"I think Hell officially froze over, Granger, because I happen to agree with the Weasel on that one. McLaggen was, is, and always will be a ponce."

"You think so?"

"I know so," he assured her. "Trust me on this Granger, you're far too good for him." Hermione hid her smile behind her glass. "Tell me, do you still talk to Krum?"

"Occasionally," she said.

"Hermione Granger, smartest witch in the whole of Hogwarts, and Viktor 'Rocks-For-Brains' Krum. That one came out of nowhere as well." This got Hermione angry.

"Oh so you're trying to say–" but before she could finish he interrupted her.

"No, Granger, I don't mean it like that. What I mean is that you're a girl who needs a bloke with substance. Someone you can converse with intelligently, and Krum . . . as I recall, he couldn't even pronounce your name, Hermoninny." She sat back and rolled her eyes at him. "And Weasel, don't even get me started on him."

"Ron and I are just friends," she told him.

"As it should be. I mean, think about it. He was burping up slugs after he tried to hex me."

"Yes, I remember," Hermione said with an ounce of sadness in her voice. It took him a minute to realize why exactly Ron tried to hex him in the first place.

"Oh," he shifted uncomfortably, "yes well," he cleared his throat, "look where it got me now, eh?" he said as if trying to cheer her up. "I don't say it anymore, you know."

"I know."

"It would be a little hypocritical of me."

"Hello Pot, this is the Kettle calling . . . "

"I mean, I'm practically a Muggle as it is," he said with a wry smile. "If only the Dark Lord could see me know," he said with a dry laugh. Hermione too, let out a hollow chuckle and checked her watch. She was tired and she didn't get much sleep the night before.

"Well, I suppose I should go. Busy Sunday tomorrow and all," she said, knowing he would understand that she needed to ready herself for the Order meeting the next day.

"Hey Granger," he reached for her arm to stop her as she went to leave. "He's planning something big," he looked down at his arm where they both knew the Dark Mark was.

"You can feel it, can't you?" He nodded and assured her.

"If I knew–"

"I know," she told him. She was certain Draco would tell her if he knew anything. "I should go. I'll see you tomorrow." And with that, she was gone.

Hermione rushed back into the pub seconds later with a concerned and frighted look on her face as she ran back to Draco, who still sat at the bar with a glass of ginger ale.

"Draco, we need to get out of here. There're Death Eaters outside."

Author's Note–Good place to end it, right?I wasn't really crazy about these last two chapters but it'll get more interesting from here, I promise. I've been really busy at work the past week but things should be getting back to normal now, so hopefully I'll be able to update biweekly like I used to. I think it's funny that a lot of people make Hermione their Mary Sue (is that the term? I think so.) and I really try to avoid that, but then Draco just so happens to like the same television shows, movies, and books as me. Hopefully it's still in character though, and if I deviate too much, please, let me know! Again, thanks for reading. You guys are so sweet and encouraging, it makes me want to get up the next chapter that much faster.