A/N: Hello all! My sincerest apologies for the shockingly late update! Went into Christmas show mode and turns out I'm not superwoman like I thought and do twelve shows a week, Christmas shopping and still write. Sorry to keep you all waiting but hope you've all been enjoying the holidays and not noticing too much! Haha. Anyway this chapter was really hard to write on top of everything else. I had planned just a little brief explanation of their weekends and into their date but that was proving hard to do with everything I wanted to include. I wrote a version of the chapter almost to the end and then thought 'I hate this' and scrapped it and decided to use some flashbacks and get the detail right. Enjoy!

Chapter 6: Weekend Woes

Hermione fiddled with the hem of her silvery-grey dress as she tried her best to walk calmly and elegantly up the cobbled streets of Diagon Alley in her matching heels. The rough uneven surface made her even jitterier as she walked towards the familiar pub. She tucked a stray strand of smoothly curled hair behind her ear and took a deep breath as she approached the entrance. She was really doing this. No going back. The other two meetings she could pass off as chance encounters but this was her decision. Hermione was – of her own free will, fully compos mentis and imperio free- going on a date with Draco Malfoy. She vaguely wondered whether there was anyway she could check and see if hell had indeed frozen over. She stopped outside the worn looking door with the slightly grimy looking glass and a pang of guilt invaded her gut. Maybe she shouldn't do this after all? She'd already lied to Harry about where she what she was doing and she was already regretting it. She hadn't mean to rush out on them last night but the arrival of a letter from Draco confirming their date and the news they dumped on her was all too much. She pondered this for a moment and hoped her abrupt exit from the conversation last night was the reason she was feeling guilty. She should have told them the truth, she should have stayed and been a better friend. Hermione shook her head and with a sigh she thought back to their discussion.

The weekend had passed agonizingly slowly in a mountain of paperwork and Ron avoidance - he'd twice turned up at Harry and Ginny's looking to talk to her again – and when Monday came she felt as if she'd had no weekend whatsoever. When she came home from St. Mungos that late evening, an exhausted Hermione breathed a sigh of relief as she collapsed into a chair in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place. She yawned deeply and rubbed her eyes wondering if it was worth the energy to silence her rumbling stomach. Absentmindedly she flicked through the pages of the Prophet in front of her letting her mind make the 'to cook or not to cook' decision. She stopped at the property advertisements and made a mental note to circle some before she went to bed. As welcome as Harry and Ginny made her feel she should really find her own place. She didn't want to claim the flat she and Ron shared, no he could have it, it would never be home again now that it was tarnished with so many bad memories. No time for a fresh start. Maybe she could even have a look at some next weekend…

"Hey you." Said Harry from the doorway breaking her reverie "We didn't hear you come in."

"I didn't want to disturb you." Hermione replied giving him a warm smile.

"It's only nine, me and Gin might be married but we're not dead!" He laughed and Hermione sighed.

"Feels much later than that."

"Long day?" He asked and she nodded. "There's some spaghetti in the fridge but beware I did the cooking tonight."

"Oh Harry you didn't need to save me any." She said and he ran a hand through his jet black hair.

"Don't be silly." He replied taking it out the fridge and popping it in the microwave. She felt his green eyes look over her in concern. "You look tired. Are you all right? Do you want to talk?"

Hermione shook her head. She was torn. She did want to talk, she needed too but talking about the whole mess with Harry and Ginny made her feel like a failure. It wasn't their fault but their happy successful marriage stung like a slap in the face sometimes and watching their faces full of pity was somewhat unbearable. Merlin she felt like a horrible person.

"Sure?" He asked again.

"I'm sure, thank you Harry." She told him and he plopped the hot Bolognese in front of her.

"Well since we're not talking about it, I might as well let you know that bastard came by again earlier." He told her angrily. Hermione frowned at the news but felt a little bit of pride at hearing Harry call Ron 'that bastard' – he really did have her back.

"Not again..." She groaned.

"Yeah. Didn't mention about wanting to talk to you but said he'd be doing stock take at the joke shop till late on Wednesday if you want to drop by and get your stuff. The nerve of that prick! I told him where to shove it, that it was your house and if anyone should move out it should be him and –"

"Oh Harry." She laughed cutting him off "It's alright. I don't want to stay there anyway and I told him I'd come round this week to get my things…if I can keep them here for a while?"

"Ah. Well…" He said slightly embarrassed and she patted his hand "May have overreacted then…but yeah of course you can keep your things here."

"Thank you for sticking up for me. I really am lucky to have you." She told him and he bent down and embraced her in a hug.

"No matter what you're still my best friend 'mione. I love you, you know that don't you?" He said squeezing her tight.

"I know, I love you too you soppy bastard." She said feeling even more guilty for her earlier jealousy.

"Well, well what's all this then?" Said Ginny appearing from the sitting room, already in her pyjamas, her long hair tied messily in a bun. Even looking like this she was still pretty Hermione thought.

"You're husbands getting all emotional." She told her and Harry gave them a boyish grin and sat in a chair opposite Hermione.

"Well what can I say? I'm just such a sensitive guy." He shrugged and Ginny rolled her eyes at him.

"Have you told her the news yet?" Ginny asked a note of tension in her voice.

"About Ron? Yeah Harry said he dropped by, I'll need to owl him and tell him Wednesday night's fine-"

"No not about Ron…" Ginny trailed off and Hermione didn't miss the look she shared with her husband.

"What then?" She asked but was interrupted by a knock at the window. Quick as a flash Harry opened it and in flew a tawny elegant looking owl. It dropped a note in front of Hermione, narrowly missing her pasta and settled on the dripping tap in the corner. Gulping Hermione recognised the writing. It was the same neat penmanship that was on all the documents last Friday. Hands trembling slightly she opened the delicate green seal.

Hermione,

I look forward to our meeting tomorrow night. Wear your best.

Kind regards

D.M

Hermione stuffed the note back into the envelope as Ginny peered over her shoulder.

"Who's it from?" She asked and Hermione bit her lip.

"Oh um…no one." She replied and Harry arched an eyebrow.

"Then why are you blushing?"

"I'm not…its from..eh… the benefactor from St. Mungos." She stammered out – it was only half a lie "I have a meeting with him tomorrow night after work."

"Oh?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah... A business meeting… to talk about…you know business stuff." Hermione told them shuffling and they shared another conspiratorial look.

"Right." Harry said furrowing his brow and Hermione once again felt guilty. She wasn't the secretive type – she certainly didn't really have any with Harry. She practically squirmed in the chair in front of them. This felt wrong but she couldn't bloody well tell them the truth. Not yet anyway.

"It'll be quite dull really." She assured them sounding less like a complete fraud. "Just a lot of going over the paperwork."

Ginny eyed her suspiciously once more but then shrugged and Harry followed her cue.

"So you'll be late again then?" She asked and Hermione nodded.

"I'll try not to wake you." She told them and Harry gave a chuckle. "Now then." She said desperately trying to change the subject "What's this news?"

Not wanting to think about what happened next Hermione brought herself back into the present and blinked at her reflection in the glass. She knew she had to make a decision to either go forward or leave but at that precise moment she was frozen, trapped in her uncertainty staring blankly at her own bright eyes. Hermione studied herself for a moment in the makeshift mirror. Her hair was piled high on top of her head with a few soft curls framing her face – she always liked her hair like this but Ron proffered it down and even tried to convince her to straighten it a few times. Having it up for her first date in over a decade felt somehow right, like she was beginning to find herself again. Her face was lightly made up with a bit more make up than she'd usually wear during the day but if she was totally honest she wasn't great with that stuff so just stuck to a few little extra touches here and there – a bit of light eyeliner and a darker lipstick. The dress she'd bought that afternoon after work was chiffon and had a high halter neck. The shimmering grey fabric was light but still clung to the outline of her curves down to her waist where it flared out and floated gracefully. It was plain apart from a little sparkle around her middle and bottom hem and Hermione loved it. She hadn't felt this good in a dress in a long time. That's when she realised – she felt good. It was a strange notion to her. Despite her misgivings and apprehension deep down she knew she felt she was heading in the right direction. Pushing her guilt and nerves aside she opened the door and as the little bell tinkled above her, her breath caught in her throat. Waiting at the bar was Draco and as good as she thought she looked tonight she was certain he looked a million times better.

"The usual." He told the barman who predictably grunted in response and slumped to the other end of the bar. Agitated Draco checked the clock in the corner – seven forty five. The tense breath he'd been holding in released a little. He was early; she hadn't stood him up, well not yet anyway. Her reply had been one word last night - 'fine'- and he'd been trying to work it out ever since. His note hadn't exactly been a love poem but there was something in that one word reply that concerned him. It was cold, troubled, uninspiring, not directly but still he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong with it. He couldn't say he was an expert in Hermione Granger behaviour but he'd put good money on something being off. She wasn't any of those words and yet in that one syllable there was an unmistakeable tone.

Draco shook his head. Maybe he was imagining all this? After all Hermione was nothing other than straight to the point. Maybe there was no need for a flowery response? Maybe she was busy at the time and couldn't write any more? Or maybe she was having second thoughts. His chest contracted a little at the notion. He couldn't remember the last time he was this excited about a girl and he'd finally stopped wishing it was any other girl but Hermione Granger. Sighing he thought about how he'd arrived at that point.

Draco watched from his corner as hundreds of people milled around the ballroom eating, dancing, chatting, laughing, completely forgetting why the were here – despite the 'Happy Birthday Draco' banners that were plastered in every room of the Malfoy manor. He sipped his large Glenmorangie and rubbed the bridge of his nose. It had been a long night of thanking his guests – or rather his mother's guests- for coming. Half of them he didn't even know and had clearly only come along at his mother's request or for some sick curiosity to see the infamous house and its celebrity owners. Normally it wouldn't bother him as much, he'd just find some pretty blonde with a bad boy complex to shag in his old bedroom but he had no desire for that tonight. Maybe that's why he saw it more on their faces. The fear and intrigue as they crossed the threshold, their eyes widen as they wandered through the open dinning area where they all knew he once sat. It was like little red ridinghood and the wolf. They didn't want to be eaten but their curiosity brought them to the sight where darkness once dwelt like flys to a corpse. These were people who didn't live through it obviously. They were the fence sitters or the ones who fled over seas or people younger than himself who were too young to fully remember the terrors of the war. It left a bitter taste in his mouth. He remembered, he remembered every fucking night and it made him despise a place that was once his home. He drained his whisky just in time to see his disgruntled mother approach him followed by a dazed looking Lucius.

"There you are." Narcissa snapped. "I've been looking for you everywhere."

"I've been here the entire time." He retorted slightly slurred.

"And how many whiskeys have you had?" She asked sharply and Draco merely shrugged. "You're drunk."

"Only a little. And so what? It's my birthday supposedly." He said narrowing his eyes and she shook her head.

"You'd think you didn't want this party." She huffed.

"I don't."

"Nonsense."

"What ever you say mother." He drawled. Narcissa sighed deeply.

"I had hoped you'd dance with some of the nice young girls from the Magical Creature Outreach programme but I see you're in no fit state."

"The nice half blood girls who work for a very high profile charity you mean?" He snapped.

"Oh not this again."

"You brought it up." He told her angrily then turning to Lucius whose eyes were empty and far away. "And what do you think about all this father? What do you make of mothers plan? Are you keen for little dirty blooded grandchildren? Not that I give a fuck but I bet you would if you're foul brain wasn't so pickled."

"Draco!" Narcissa hissed as Lucius gripped her arm in a panic unsure of what was happening. "How can you say such things to your own father?"

"Oh for Merlins sake mother he doesn't know what's going on anyway. Not with all that tonic you gave him earlier." He said his anger dissipating a little as he gazed at Lucius' gaunt hallow face. He didn't like to upset her but Narcissa really could push his buttons some times.

"You know how he gets in…social situations. I just gave him a little to keep him calm." She protested.

"That stuff would keep a Dragon docile." Retorted Draco and then he sighed "I'm sorry. You know I don't like these things very much."

Narcissa patted his arm, her temper also cooled. "I know, I just keep hoping you'll change your mind."

"You'd best get father to bed." He said after a beat. She gave him a sad smile and linked her arm back through her husbands.

"P-party." Lucius stammered out his brow furrowed in concentration as if trying to remember a word that was on the tip of his tongue.

"Yes dear." Narcissa said softly brushing a strand of blonde slightly matted hair from his eyes. "For Draco."

"I…it's…M-merry Christmas son." He choked out and Draco's heart sank.

"Merry Christmas Father." He replied sadly and watched his mother lead him away.

"Merry Christmas?" Came a familiar female voice from his left. Draco turned to see Astoria Greengrass appear at his side bright blue eyes shimmering in their half lit corner, her dark hair flowing over her bare shoulders onto her ample cleavage. She gave him a smouldering smile and Draco felt the beginnings of arousal.

"The tonic makes him that confused he cant say what he means." Draco explained and he saw her face soften a little.

"Oh Drake I'm so sorry." She said pouring him another whiskey from the bottle beside them. He sighed and she handed him the glass her fingers lingering on his. He turned his attention back to the ballroom; he dared not meet those sultry eyes. Draco'd been there before with her and it had not turned out well.

"How are you Astoria? It's been a long time since I saw you last." He said trying to keep his voice neutral.

"Too long." She replied.

"How's Viktor Krum?" He asked still keeping his eyes fixed dead ahead.

"I wouldn't know." Astoria said stiffly. "We broke up last month."

"I see." He said darkly.

"And you?" She asked linking her arm in his. "I trust you've been keeping well?"

"Does it look like it?" He said bitterly and stupidly he allowed himself to breath in her perfumed scent.

"My poor boy.. Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?" She asked her voice low.

"We've played this game before Astoria." He said bluntly. He was drunk and tired and not up for dancing around the subject.

"And what a wonderful game it is…" She replied.

"It never turns out well."

"Does it have to?" Asked Astoria running a hand over the front of his dress robes. Draco's breath hitched in his mouth and he cast a dark eye over her. There was no doubt about it, despite their extensive and somewhat painful history he still wanted this girl. His drunken brain seemed to push aside the memories of her mind games, of their arguments and focused only on the way her lips pouted just the right way.

"Come on Draco." She whispered pulling away from him, extending a long, delicate arm "I know where your room is."

He pondered this for a moment, swirling the glass and brown liquid in his hand. This was definitely a bad idea but he seemed to be full of them lately.

"Fuck it." He grunted and polished off the tumbler. Feeling this could only end badly he followed her up stairs.

Draco was broken from his thoughts by the tinkling above the door. His hopes flew for a second this was bound to be her. Imagine his disappointment when in walked a shabby looking elderly wizard already boozed up to the eyeballs. He cursed himself slightly as he watched the man tumble in and take a seat in the booth nearest the door. Draco smiled deliciously as he remembered Hermione and his clandestine kiss in that very booth and wrinkled his nose at the thought of the dishevelled old man with stained robes sullying it. The barman slipped a whiskey and a tequila in front of him and Draco flipped him a galleon. Feeling agitated again he looked at the clock – seven fifty three. He was starting to have some serious doubts now. She wasn't late yet but he was sure she was the type of person to always be early. Any other girl and it wouldn't even cross him mind to worry – he wouldn't care enough. In fact females were usually the ones waiting for him, not the other way around. He bit the inside of his cheek nervously. Why did she have to be so goddamn Gryffindor? If she were a late kind of person he wouldn't have these fears right now, he wouldn't have this knot in his stomach, he wouldn't be so bloody flustered. Even as he tried to convince himself of this he knew it was a lie. Fidgeting with the glass in front of him his thoughts returned to the other night.

"Oh Draco I've missed you." Astoria panted as he slammed her against the wall of his old bedroom. He kissed her hard, full of lust and frustration and she welcomed it greedily. Expertly he began to undo the back of her emerald dress and she bit down on his lip. He pulled away for a second to catch his breath and she began to nibble his neck. Draco buried his hands in her soft curls as she did. No not soft curls. He blinked at the hair in his hand and immediately it returned to dark straight silken locks. Ignoring this he let her continue unbuttoning his dress shirt.

"I've really missed you." She repeated hungrily.

"Really?" His mouth asked before his brain could stop him.

"Of course. I. Have." She told him through her biting and sucking on his bare chest. Swiftly she pulled his mouth down to meet hers and Draco pulled her close to him, kissing her fiercely. When he pulled away, for instant he swore sparkling blue eyes turned fiery hazel. He shook his head.

"I mean we really are good at this." She purred.

"Good at this?" He murmured as she sucked on his earlobe.

"Yes this. It's so uncomplicated, there's no pressure. There's just you and me and our fun." She cooed and Draco immediately gripped her shoulders pulling her away from him and that time he swore Hermione's face swam in front of him for a second. Astoria blinked back at him confused.

"What are we doing here Astoria?" He asked bluntly.

"What does it look like?" She said innocently.

"Don't play cute, it doesn't suit you." He snapped, "You know what I mean."

"No I don't Draco." She snapped back "I thought we came up here to fuck not play twenty questions."

"So that's all this is to you, a quick fuck?"

"What did you think it was?" She hissed "We've been down the relationship road before Draco, it doesn't work between us."

"So what then? You thought you'd just swan back here when you're single and pick me up whenever you want. I'm nobody's bitch Astoria." He growled.

"I haven't heard you complaining before." She said haughtily and for a moment he felt like cursing her. Partly because she was right. They'd been in this exact same position many times. His pride kept him from confronting her before, he was normally the one picking up and dropping but with Astoria it was different. He always said yes to her. Until now that was.

"Well I'm complaining now." He told her taking a step away from her.

"Oh really." She said arching an eyebrow. "And what pray tell would you like me to do Draco?" Her voice filling with venom at his rebuff " Say of course darling you're right and ride off into the sunset with you?" She laughed cruelly "Let's not lie Draco we both know you're not really husband material. By the time you stop fucking about – literally and figuratively – you'll be a bitter old half crazy man just like your father. I know what kind of nightmares you have, remember?"

"Get the fuck out!" He said venomously, his eyes cold and he could see her cockiness turn to fear.

"I-I didn't mean it Draco. I-it just came out." She stammered.

"Now before I curse you." He hissed and meant it too. "We're done Astoria, for good this time. I don't want to see you again, understand?"

She nodded mouth still hanging open and slipped out his bedroom door without another word. Angrily he kicked a battered old wardrobe and flopped down on his bed. Granger. Granger had done this to him. The fucking goody two shoes was in his head, making him obsessed, making him give a damn about things, making him question his whole bloody life. What a mess. How could one girl get so under his skin? It baffled him but suddenly he realised in that one moment, it didn't bother him.

"You're late." Draco said to her as she made her way to the bar. Hermione studied the clock on the wall opposite.

"Hello to you too." She replied taking the tequila he handed her. "And I am never late."

"It's two minutes past eight." He said with a smirk.

"Well my watch says its two minutes to." She retorted pointing to the little face on her wrist "Mine is set by the BBC."

"The what?" Draco asked confused.

"It's a television thing…never mind. Anyway since when are you so interested in punctuality? Afraid I wasn't coming?"

"No." He answered somewhat childishly but then his agitation dissipated "Maybe a bit."

Hermione laughed warmly "Why would you think that?"

"You're note was a little short. I thought perhaps you were having second thoughts." He explained and Hermione's face fell as she remembered the hastily written reply and the reason for it.

"Yes sorry about that. I was a little distracted when I wrote it." She said wistfully and his brow furrowed.

"Why?" he asked.

"I was just swamped with paper work." She lied and was whisked away again into her own thoughts.

"Hermione, did you hear me?" Ginny said softly and Hermione nodded still in shock. It had been at least a minute since they'd told her and she still felt like all the air had gone from the room. Her head swam in mixed emotions – joy, grief, jealousy, excitement, terror. They all flashed through her at lightening speed not giving her a chance to latch onto one.

"We weren't sure how to tell you but we thought we'd best just be honest." Harry said but Hermione barely heard him. It was like she was in a bubble and all sound was muffled. The dripping of the tap, her friends voices trying and failing to mask their utter happiness, the hoot of Draco's owl as it sat perched on the window sill still waiting for a reply – they all seemed so far away. Harry's soft hand on her shoulder lessened her inner turmoil slightly and she felt like she could breathe again.

"T-that's w-wonderful news." She stammered out eventually and Ginny's concerned face softened.

"We know this might be hard for you." Harry began "You know with all that's going on but-"

"Don't be silly." Hermione cut in trying to seem cheerful. "I'm perfectly fine. More than fine, I'm happy for you guys."

"Oh Hermione, I've wanted to tell you for weeks now!" Ginny exclaimed suddenly pulling her into a hug. "But you know with what happened… and the whole Ron fiasco…"

"But we were wondering." Harry continued.

"If you'd be the godmother?" Ginny finished and Hermione tensed. "Obviously if it's too much you can say no but I'd just love it if you would be up to it."

"I..I…"Hermione begun trying to hold back tears of what she couldn't exactly name. Taking a deep breath she put her own feelings aside and focused on the hopeful faces of her friends. "Of course I will." She said eventually, Harry beamed and Ginny gushed launching right into conversations about baby clothes and due dates. Hermione felt a lump of emotion rise in her throat. She had to get out of there. She stood up abruptly.

"It all sounds great." She said strained. "Really sorry Gin but can we talk more tomorrow, I've got a tone of paperwork."

Ginny's face fell "Oh…yeah sure."

Hermione picked up her briefcase moving away from her untouched pasta. She was just about to say goodnight when she heard Draco's owl give another hoot.

"You better reply to that note." Harry said quietly seeing her distress.

"Right. Yeah." Hermione replied in a panic, taking out a quill. Scribbling her one word reply on the back of the envelope that was still clutched tightly in her hand she tied it to the tawny elegant creatures leg and sent it on its way. She gave them both a weak smile.

"Congratulations guys. Y-you'll be wonderful parents." She said and without another word, tears already spilling from her eyes she made her way upstairs.

"Or maybe we could just fuck dinner and go back to my place and shag…" Draco trailed off and Hermione snapped back into reality.

"What?" She said incredulously.

"Oh so you heard that part." He said with a smirk "Am I boring you Miss Granger? You drifted off there?"

"Sorry." She said shyly sipping her tequila.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"Just a lot on my mind." She confessed.

"Look if you're not feeling up to this I understand-"

"No!" She cut in. This was the one thing that had kept her going through the day. That kept her from becoming a miserable weeping mess. "I promise you'll have my full attention from now on."

He smiled at her wolfishly "I'm glad."

Hermione stared into those greyish blue eyes and an unmistakeable shiver passed through her, her earlier doubts and sadness gone. She was glad she was here. It was making her feel good. He was making her feel good. A smile played on her lips.

"Well Mr. Malfoy this is your show. Where are we off to?" She asked brightly and drained her tequila. He arched an eyebrow and held out his arm.

"You'll find out soon enough." He said slyly "Trust me?"

"Absolutely not." She replied "But I'll follow you."

"That's good enough for me." Draco said happily and arm in arm he led her out of the pub.

A/N: Well how was that? Not a whole lot of Draco/Hermione action but fear not there will be soon. Next chapter will see their official first date and another dreaded appearance from Ron. I'd like to say it'll be up by next Sunday but I'm still in pantomime mode till the 5th so it might be the following week. We'll see. Maybe some reviews might help though? Jokes but seriously they'd be very much appreciated as always. Happy new year in advance guys. x