Chapter Two: Dining Companions

I wave to my parents who are laughing and dancing away. I smile as I turn and sip my drink; I look up and see a pair of familiar eyes staring at me as if trying to figure out who I was. I look back, no, it can't be him sitting over there at the bar, the blond hair, and those grey eyes. Why was he staring so intently? Did he really doubt that it could be me? Of course out of all the people that could be here the same time I was it had to be him? I remember that night at his house, his aunt hovering over me, wand pointed at me. He never said it was me, he denied it and I don't know why. I never thanked him; I doubt I ever will, he does not seem like the type to accept thanks from the girl he was born to hate. I heard his Mother had cut off ties with the Dark side of her family. That they were starting again, new beginnings, he too would be coming back to Hogwarts. Or so I heard. All of a sudden he started to get up, and walk towards what I assume was his table. He eyes never left mine though, not until he sat down and his Mother leaned towards him.

Quickly I excused myself and got up from the table, I grabbed my purse and walked swiftly towards the exit that led to the washrooms. I walked into the Ladies washroom and was relieved when no one else was in there. I took a deep breath and reached for my phone.

"Pick up, please pick up." I muttered into the phone waiting for Ginny to answer.

"Hel...umph, can you stop for a second? Sorry about that Hello?" She answered, she sounded muffled.

"Gin?"

"Mione? What is it?"

"Am I interrupting?" I asked with concern.

"Nothing we can't finish later, um just hold on one sec. Babe can you get some food, I'm getting famished."

I heard a voice on the other end say something to the likes of "Anything for you".

"Ok, I'm back."

"Name?" I asked hopefully.

"Not yet." She said in a sing song voice, "Mione, you called me remember?"

"Oh right, Gin I have a problem"

"Problem? In that dress you shouldn't have a problem."

"Well I guess it is more of an issue then."

"Your parents didn't catch you did they?"

"Catch me? Oh for goodness sakes, no they did not catch me, there isn't even a guy. Ok well yes this is about a guy but not the kind you think, I mean we haven't done anything."

"But you want to?"

"No, ugh, Gin, someone is here, someone that shouldn't be in the same place as me ever."

"Am I supposed to guess? Because I need more clues."

"Gin, Draco Malfoy is here!" I practically shout into the phone.

"Oh Merlin, are you serious, of all the people that could have been there, it is him." She said laughing.

"This is the farthest thing from funny Ginny. I turned and I saw him at the bar, and then he walked back to his table to join his Mother. He was looking right at me Gin, he recognized me, or at least I think he did."

"You have to talk to him." She said.

"I'm sorry, what? Talk to him. You do realize who he is right? I am probably the last person he wants to talk to and he sure as hell is on the bottom of my list."

"So dramatic, look you are both there for a reason; the universe is trying to tell you something."

"Universe? I'm sorry I meant to dial Ginny Weasley not Professor Trelawney."

"Talk to him, no better idea, dance with him."

"No, look I am not living out some fantasy you may have had with him. I am not you."

"Oh please, everyone had a fantasy about him, but don't worry I've moved on. I have my own Slytherin Prince to keep me satisfied, all of my current fantasies star him."

"Slytherin? You are hooking up with a Slytherin, no wonder why you don't want anyone to know. Your brothers are going to kill you."

"Hence the secrecy. Now Mione I have to go, please do something other than hide from him. I have a sense that he is going to be popping up a lot and you might as well get the awkward 'so you are here too...interesting' stage out of the way tonight, otherwise you will be obsessing about it for the rest of your life."

"Rest of my life? Now who is the dramatic one? I don't see why I have to speak first."

"Mione, I really have to go. Call me tomorrow please, with details."

"Oh alright, love you, make good choices and don't forget the contraceptive charm."

"Oh right, thanks! Love you too, and make very bad choices please." She said and then hung up.

Bad choices, my whole reputation and my principles were based on good choices. I am not the type to make bad choices, and is it wise to make bad choices when is concerns someone with the reputation of a bad boy?

I put my phone back into my purse and walk out of the washroom, to see him walking out of the men's washroom. We both freeze and stare at each other.

He clears his throat, "Granger."

"Malfoy."

"Having a pleasant evening?"

"Yes, thank you, yourself?"

"Yes, it has been interesting though."

"I agree, quite interesting."

"Well I must go and join my Mother." He said.

"Yes, I think dinner is about to be served." I added.

Neither of us moved for what felt like an eternity, we stood there staring into each other's eyes, both unsure of what to do.

"Ladies first" He finally said, I nodded a thanks and walked past him and swiftly to my table.

"Hermione, you look flushed. Is everything alright?" Mum asked when I sat down.

"Yes, thank you, I just think I've had too much wine. May I have a glass of water please?" I asked the waiter. I glanced over to Draco's table, he was facing his mother for a moment and then he turned and looked at me. I noticed that his mother also focused on me and I could not tell from where I was sitting if it was a look of disgust or amusement. I forced myself to look away and turned to my food. This was going to be a long night.

OOOOO

"Ah there you are Draco." Mother said as I sat down.

"Sorry, I got distracted."

"Quite alright dear." I heard her say as I turned to look at Granger, I could see her looking at me, and then she turned away suddenly. I looked back at my mother who was also looking towards Granger, with a look of amusement on her face.

"Something amusing Mother?" I asked tensing up.

"That girl you were looking at, she looks familiar."

"That is Granger. I went to school with her. She is a mud...sorry I mean muggleborn." I corrected myself.

"Well that is lovely isn't it, someone from home. We must go and say hello later."

"I have already said hello, don't worry we are not close by any means."

"Well I want to say hello. She looks lovely in that dress, and are those her parents?"

"I assume so." I drawled; please do not make this more than what it has to be Mother.

"Oh how wonderful, well I cannot wait to meet one of your school friends."

"We are not friends Mother. I do not know anything about her."

"Yes, I can tell from the way you were staring at her that she is nothing more than just a passing pupil who you have the occasionally class with." Again with the sarcasm, what has Paris done to my Mother?

"Fine, if you must, I can do a brief introduction but that is all. Trust me she wants nothing to do with me, Mother."

"Well not with that frown on your face, smile for goodness sakes dear, we are in Paris and turning over a new leaf. I think it is time we converse with people like the Grangers."

"Mother you don't even know them, what if they are rude?"

"Well compared to the friends we used to have I am sure they will be delightful. After all, a girl that pretty cannot possibly be rude."

I sighed; this woman would not give it a rest. I turned to my food; this would be a very long two months.