Chapter Seven:

Pretty In Pink

The next day Hermione insisted that Draco go shopping with her. She had apparently been given an allotment of money by her parents for the Christmas holiday, and it was burning a hole in her pocket. Finally Draco was dragged from the house and into the Granger's car.

"I'm so excited!" Hermione exclaimed as they drove through the snow covered neighborhoods towards what Hermione called a "Mall."

"What's so exciting about going shopping?" Draco asked as the car turned onto a large bridge.

"You don't understand because shopping in the Wizarding world isn't the same as in the Muggle world."

Draco didn't understand.

"How so?"

Hermione smiled as they pulled into a large section of parking lots.

"In the Muggle world, ninety percent of shopping is for entertainment. You'll see, don't worry."

They both got out of the car and started walking towards a gigantic assortment of stores that appeared to be connected together.

"We can buy you clothes!" Hermione said excitedly. "Oh – and we have to stop at the book store. There are some books I wanted to pick up."

Draco grinned nervously.

"Hooray," he started sarcastically. "Clothes shopping."

Hermione took his hand, lacing their fingers together.

"This is going to be so much fun!"

Draco thought about this a moment. He realized that this was a side of Hermione that he'd never seen before.

"Since when do you like to go shopping so much?" he started. "You're always so conservative at school."

Hermione chuckled.

"There's really nothing to buy at school. I mean – if I were Ron there'd be plenty to buy. How many sweets are there in the Wizarding world? But, seriously, I don't know how you all survive without movies and television. We definitely have to stop at a movie store."

"Movies?" Draco replied as they walked into the entrance of the Mall. "What are movies?"

Hermione gave Draco's hand a squeeze as she led him on towards a store displaying what looked like rows and rows of rectangular photos.

"This is so funny," Hermione grinned. "It's usually the other way around. I'm usually the one being introduced to things in the Wizarding world. This time it's me telling you about all the new stuff."

Draco didn't really find it amusing; he was usually uncomfortable with new situations – but he forced a smile anyway.

"So, what is a movie then?" he pressed on.

"It's a series of pictures that, when flipped, create a moving image."

Draco glanced over at her as they entered the entertainment store.

"So, it's like a Wizard painting?" Draco shot back, hoping he was sounding intelligent.

"Not exactly," Hermione replied. "Almost like a Wizard painting. Except the movie always goes through the same motions. A Wizard painting is very much free form."

"Oh." Draco let down.

He didn't really quite understand the concept of movies, but he went along with it anyway. The idea was maybe a little interesting to Draco, if he grasped the point.

"How can it be interesting when it's the same thing over and over?"

"Well..." Hermione thought. "I guess it's nice that you know what you're getting every time. Oh – there's something I want to get you! Come over with me!"

She took Draco's hand and tugged him along to a large glass case. Displayed inside the case were a bunch of rectangular objects of all assortment of colors.

"What are these?" Draco muttered as Hermione called over a store clerk.

"Yes, can I help you?" the clerk began.

"May I get one of those iPods, please?"

The man nodded.

"Which color could you like?"

Hermione looked over at Draco.

"Which one? Green?"

Draco still didn't understand.

"What is it, though? What does it do?"

"Just pick one."

Draco glanced down at them. Which one should he get – whatever the thing is?

"I..." Draco stalled. He wanted to be witty today and most of all make Hermione laugh. Perhaps a comical color. "I don't know. Okay, pink."

That did it.

Hermione let out a long laugh as the man brought them over to the front desk.

"Are you serious?" she chuckled, taking his hand.

"What – you don't think pink is my color?" Draco teased back.

"I would have thought green."

Hermione put her money for the item on the counter as they cashed out.

"Hermione, everything I have is green. I thought I'd spice it up a bit."

The man at the counter handed them the item.

"Thank-you," Hermione smiled as they walked out of the store and towards the book store.

"So, what was that thing?" Draco shot up again.

"It's a music player." Hermione replied. "I figured you could be cool when we get back to Hogwarts and show everybody."

Draco put his arm around her as they browsed books. The rest of the afternoon was filled with discovery, as Draco found out who Hermione's favorite authors were, ("Oh – Dickens! He was amazing...and Rowling is also good...") and what Hermione's favorite foods were. Draco was exhausted by the time they were back in the car and on their way back to the Granger's.

"I had a lot of fun." Hermione exclaimed as they pulled into the driveway.

"You also spent a lot of money." Draco chuckled.

"I don't get to spend Muggle money that often," Hermione justified herself.

It was dark out and the lights were on in the house.

"It looks like everyone's still awake." Hermione said as they entered the house. The sound of voices was heard in the living room. The two met Mrs. Granger in the hall.

"Mum! You won't believe how much fun we had!"

She gave her mother a hug and didn't notice until they parted that her mother had a serious expression on her face.

"What's wrong, Mum?"

Mrs. Granger looked both of them in the eye.

"We have company."

Hermione was surprised.

"It's so late. I didn't see a car in the drive."

"No," Mrs. Granger went on. "It's company for Draco."

Hermione looked over at Draco nervously.

"Who'd be...?"

They all made their way into the living room where a woman with sleek blond hair was seated on the couch. She got to her feet when she saw the three enter.

"Draco," she started as she put down the cup of tea in her hand. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

"Hello, Mother." Draco gulped.