A/N Sorry it took me so long to upload this one ya'll. My computer has been on the fritz lately. Stupid PCs. Anyways, this is kind of half-way a filler chapter. But, it kinda sets the plot in motion. Keep showin' the love! The reviews definitely keep the creative juices flowing!

Until next time,
- Mel xoxo.

Chapter 3 – The Dinner

The clock struck seven and I began to panic. Up until now, I had managed to keep myself relatively calm. But now, as the time of our first meeting as an engaged couple approached, I began to have second thoughts.

What if we don't get along after all? We've never agreed on anything up until now, I thought. Why would now be anything different? Just because we have a marriage license and some rings does not make us compatible. She hates me, for Merlin's sake.

But there was no turning back.

She's expecting me at her door in thirty minutes and standing her up on our first… Oh no. A date. This is a date. That's what it is. My goodness. Five years ago, we hated each other. Now, we're going on a date, I panicked inwardly.

I paced away the remaining moments and at exactly 7:26, I disapparated. I arrived at her door at exactly 7:27. I timed it perfectly, with just time to stand outside and panic for a few moments more. At 7:29, I knocked. It took all that I had but I managed to put on a mask before she made it to the door. Hopefully she couldn't tell just how much I was freaking out.

This is not me. I don't get nervous before dates. I'm Draco Malfoy! I can handle anything this girl throws at me, I told myself over and over again.

"Hello!" She said, a little more cheery than I expected.

"Hi. It's nice to see you again. It's been a while." I returned. These niceties were making me feel even more awkward than I anticipated. We needed to get this show on the road before my skin burned off. "Well, we best be off. We don't want to miss our reservation."

"Yes, of course." She said, and we disapparated.

I chose a nice little restaurant in town. Something not too fancy, but nice enough for our first outing together. It was a small French restaurant called La Maison des Lumieres. We sat at a small candlelit table in from of a frosted window. It was perfect, really. It was exactly what I imagined for us this evening.

After a few moments of somewhat awkward silence, I said "So… er—how are things at Hogwart's?"

She sat for a moment, took a sip of her water, and said calmly, "Okay, you and I both know that we are going to have to discuss things eventually. So, let's just get it over with and move on. We're going to have to put all of the awkwardness aside and reach some sort of normalcy."

I choked a bit on my scotch. She took me by surprise.

"Uh—Of course. You're right." I didn't know quite what else to say. I had not prepared myself for this. I planned on skirting through the evening without having to face the elephant in the room, I suppose.

"Well?" She said expectantly.

"I don't really know what I should say. You seem like you have something specific you'd like to introduce into the conversation so, by all means, help me out." I said with a half-smile. I know I seemed a little insincere but I had no idea how to approach this subject.

"Well, for starters, the past needs to remain in the past. We've had our… problems, and we both know this. I think we need to agree to leave them where they were and move forward. If we are to be married, not like we have any say in the matter, then we need to reach some sort of common ground. I don't plan on spending the rest of my life hating you." She seemed like she'd been preparing this speech for a while. I appreciated the sentiment. Despite the fact that I fully intended to try my best to be agreeable with her, I never expected her to return the favor—not after everything my family had put her through. I nodded my head in agreement.

"Second, I want you to get over whatever issues you have with Harry and Ron. I don't expect you to be best friends, but they are my best friends. Every week we get together for dinner, and sometimes that will be at my—sorry, our—house. You are just going to have to endure that." She said. I was definitely not about to argue with her. She seemed set in her ways. So, I nodded in agreement once again.

"Okay… and third, there is never any, ANY reason at all, that it is ever okay for you to lie to me. I expect you to tell me the truth, no matter what, always. I don't care how difficult it is. I don't care if it will hurt me. I want to know everything. A marriage is a partnership, no matter whether it is chosen or not." She looked hard at me. I knew I couldn't just nod to this one.

"Hermione, I will never lie to you. I promise." I told her. I couldn't decide if this, itself, was the truth or not, however. And I could already feel the guilt of that bubbling up inside. There were things I could never tell her—things that threatened us, at all times. But, if she knew this, it could only make matters worse. And so, there was my first lie of our relationship. I didn't even care about the girl and I already felt terrible about this. Wonderful.

"Right," she hesitated. "Well, then, is there anything else you would like to add?"

"Yes, there is. I know our wedding is rather soon. But, first of all, before we get married, I'd really like an opportunity to get to know you. I know this may come as a bit of a shock, but I always intended to marry for love. I'm not saying we will fall in love before our marriage but I, at least, want to know you." I said as I swallowed a lump in my throat. "Second, my mother wants a big wedding." I winced, expecting the worst.

"Oh goodness… You have got to be kidding me." She looked a little shocked. I didn't have to know a thing about the girl to know she wouldn't like that. "Wh-why on earth would she want that? It's not like this is anything to celebrate. We didn't even like each other before this stupid law!"

I was a little offended by this but I knew she wasn't trying to be mean. It's not like it wasn't true.

"I'm her only son, Hermione. She said that if I am to be married, like it or not, she was going to enjoy it. It's funny really. She acts like it's her that's getting married. Besides, I think it would be fun for the two of you to plan together."

"Me? She wants to get to know me?"

"Well, yes. You're to be her daughter-in-law. Of course, she does." I said. After a great deal of haggling, she finally agreed to a large-ish (-ish being the middle ground in the negotiations) wedding. We finished off the evening in a somewhat amiable manner. I dropped her off at home, and we parted with plans to have dinner again the next evening.

After settling in on my sofa with a book, I heard a tap on the nearby window. It was an owl, solid black. It could only belong to one person. Someone I'd thought to be dead. This can't be good, I thought to myself.