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Chapter 2: Day Two Saturday
Day Two - Saturday
Early Saturday morning, Hermione's flat-
Hermione awoke the next morning just as the sun was starting to peek into her window. She could tell it was just shortly after dawn. Too early to wake up really, and yet, she could not get back to sleep if she tried. Her mind was just spinning, thinking of all the events of the last 24 hours. What a rollercoaster. What started as one of the worst days of her life became one of her best. Moreover, she was not totally convinced that the reason yesterday became what she was so eager to classify as "one of her best" was solely because of her new job. No, if she really wanted to analysis it, she would categorize yesterday as one of her "best days of all times" because of one reason and one reason only: Draco Malfoy.
She started to giggle to herself as she sat up in bed and swung her feet to the floor. Did she actually have a crush on Malfoy? Did she "fancy" him? Ha! That thought made her actually grin. It felt good to have those feelings again. She had not fancied anyone in quite a long time. Now, Hermione was a smart witch, in fact, as smart of they come. She was not going to gloss over the fact that Draco certainly did not entertain any feelings for her in return, and, that was all right. It really was. She knew her feelings would never be reciprocated, but it didn't mean she still did not feel them.
She got up, showered, dressed, and fed her cat, Crookshanks. She then proceeded to make herself some breakfast, when she was interrupted by a knock on her door. Goodness, only 7:15 in the morning and she already had a visitor. She concluded that it was probably Harry or Ron, checking to make sure she recovered from the events of yesterday. She went to her front door, opened it, and looked around. No one was there. Odd. She went to close the door and was surprised to find an envelope taped to the door that read, "Open me". She opened said envelope and saw a note that read:
"Enclosed is my cleaning bill. Please remit."
Attached to the note was a cleaning bill for one pair of trousers. What was this? Then she slowly remembered Malfoy's threat to send her a cleaning bill for his trousers. Seriously, he was a wizard! He could just take out any stains with magic. There probably weren't any stains on them anyhow. She walked back to her kitchen after closing the door and then threw the whole note, cleaning bill and all, into the trash bin. She started to make herself some tea and toast, when she heard….KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.
No bloody way. "Really now, I am trying to make my breakfast," she said to no one in particular. She went back to her door, to find another envelope taped there. The outside again read, "Open me". She opened this envelope to find another note that read:
"Just in case you tossed the other bill in the trash bin, here is another. Please remit. Yours truly, DracoMalfoy".
There was another bill attached to this note. She took a step out of her door and looked around. She lived on the second floor, but her door was directly over an alley. She took a few steps down her stairs, looked down, and saw no one. She balled up this note, and threw it over the porch railing down to the alley below.
What started as a funny little joke was starting to irritate the hell out of her. If he sincerely thought that she was paying for a pair of trousers to be cleaned, he was sorely mistaken. She slammed her door shut and started back to her kitchen. She just reached the kitchen when she heard the doorbell. Well, at least it wasn't another knock. She opened the door with a huff, and this time instead of seeing a note, she saw Draco Malfoy, in the flesh. He had an envelope in one hand, a pair of trousers over his arm, and in his other hand was a bag with coffee and muffins.
"Hey, Granger." He walked in to her flat as if he owned the place. "I figured I had better hand deliver this third bill, seeing how you disregarded the first two." He walked into her kitchen, handed her the envelope, laid the trousers on a chair, and started to lay out the coffee and muffins on the kitchen table. What nerve. Maybe she didn't fancy the git after all.
"Listen here, Malfoy. I'm not paying any cleaning bill, so just get that notion out of your head," she stated.
"Muffin?" he asked.
"And furthermore," she continued, acting as if she hadn't even heard him (even though she did want a muffin), "If these are the trousers in question, I'm sure I can take out any stains that might be present." She picked up the trousers from the back of the chair, while he sat in the other, and examined the pants in question. "You prat, I don't even see any stains on these!"
"Aren't you hungry, Granger?" he asked, as he took a bite of a muffin followed by a swig of the coffee.
"Yes I am hungry. I was trying to make myself breakfast, when I kept getting interrupted by someone at my door," she barked loudly. She sat down and threw his offending trousers to the floor.
"Let me examined these trousers, Granger. Are you certain that there's not even a small stain, perhaps on the left cuff? Hum, it would appear you're correct. I don't see any offending stains or dirt either. Perhaps my drycleaner was merely trying to hoodwink me. Well, I'll have to have a talk with the offensive man, yes I will. Trying to take advantage, I say. Good thing I have you to look out for me isn't it?" he said sweetly, while folding his trousers and placing them on an empty chair.
Hermione started to eat her muffin, when something occurred to her. "Hey, Malfoy, how did you know where I lived?"
"You're an employee of mine, so I took home your employee file last night to examine, and really, Hermione, you should be ashamed - written up three times due to tardiness. Well, that won't fly with your new boss, I can assure you," he said as he stood to clear her table.
"First, DRACO," she said rather loudly (after all, her called her HERMIONE); "I was never late at my last job. O'Brien would always find any excuse to write me up. One of the so-called "late" arrivals was for three minutes after eight! Just three minutes!"
"Three minutes late is three minutes late, Granger," he responded with his usual smirk. "But, I can see that you've learned your lesson and won't be late again, correct?" He patted her head, as if she was a child, or perhaps a collie.
Just as she was about to tell him how she felt about being "petted" Draco yelled, "God, Granger, is that offensive thing still alive?" He pointed directly to Crookshanks as the fat old cat came into the kitchen to curl up in his bed.
"Yes he's still alive! Apparently! Don't you dare say anything bad about my cat, Malfoy, or I'll have to hex you! I love him very much, and he loves me," she yelped as she leaned down to stroke the ginger cat's ears. "Tell me Malfoy," she began, as she stood back up and faced him as he leaned against her kitchen counter, arms crossed. "Tell me, why you're really here this morning? It surely wasn't for your trousers, and I highly doubt it was for breakfast. In addition, isn't it a bit early to be visiting? How did you know I would even be up this early?"
Malfoy laughed and said, "Gee, Granger, way to make a person feel welcome in your, I don't know, do you call something this small, a home? Let us just pretend for two minutes that you have some manners, and say, 'thank you, Malfoy, for the wonderful breakfast and for gracing me with your company'. Would that kill you, Granger?"
Hermione grumbled to herself, but then she said, "Thanks for breakfast you arrogant, snobbish, first-class git."
"Now was that so hard?" he asked. He pushed himself away from the counter and looked directly in Hermione's eyes. He had a smile on his face, and his eyes were twinkling. She regarded him with suspicion, but took a step back, since he was so close. "Do I make you nervous, Hermione?" he asked sweetly.
"No," she responded almost silently.
He took another step closer to her, and she took another step back. She was now up against the wall. He put one hand on each side of the wall next to her head, leaned in, and said in almost a whisper, "I think I do."
The truth was he did make her nervous. She could actually feel his breath on her face, he was looking at her with almost closed eyes, and she felt her whole body tingle and the hairs on the back of her neck stood straight up. She ducked her head under his right arm, ran out of the kitchen door, and started down her hallway.
"Really, Malfoy, you don't have any influence on me. Just excuse me for one moment," and with that she rushed into the bathroom and closed the door. 'STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!' she thought. "You're so stupid," she said to herself. "Running into the bathroom and locking the door will certainly convince him that he doesn't make you nervous!" Right? Wait, did she lock the door? Oh no, she didn't and as she looked at said doorknob it started to jiggle.
He opened the door, and before he could step in, she slammed her whole body against the door, causing his right hand to be smashed between the door and the frame. "AHH!" he yelled. Now he was yelling some obscenities, while hopping up and down, and holding his right hand in his left. "Granger! You stupid bint. You smashed my hand in the door!"
"I am so sorry, Malfoy!" she winced as she stepped out in to the hall, "But, how did you know I wasn't going to the loo or something. You just caught me by surprise when you tried to come into the bathroom without knocking."
"Well excuse me, you idiot, but I thought it was rather obvious that you were just hiding from me in there. OUCH, Granger. My hand really hurts like hell," he moaned as he sat down on the floor of her hall, and cradled his right hand with his other.
She knelt down next to him and said, "May I have a look at it, Malfoy?"
"No! You're probably going to break my whole hand off. Just leave me alone!" he responded sharply.
"Oh, you big baby, just let me see your hand. I'm actually quite talented with healing spells. You said so yourself last night." She sat beside him and took his right hand into both of hers. She very gently examined each finger. He continued to wince and whine, which made her say "Sh" a couple of times to hush him. As she continued to examine each finger on his hand, he began to study her face. She was so pretty.
"You know, Malfoy, I really don't believe anything is broken, but if you would allow me to get my wand, I could do a spell that would take the pain away." When he didn't respond, she looked up at him, and while still holding his hand, she asked, "Well?"
He took his free hand and brushed her hair out of her face. He then took the backside of the same hand and lightly brushed it down her cheek. "Ask me again why I came here this morning?" he said almost breathlessly.
"Why did you come here this morning, Malfoy?" she asked, almost holding her breath.
"I wanted to see your pretty face again," he answered back. He then smiled at her. True to form, he had to ruin one of the sweetest moments of her life by interjecting, "Of course, if I had known you were going to go back on your 'no bodily injury' promise from last night, I would never have come. Now go get your wand and heal my bloody hand this instant, Granger."
Prat. Draco Malfoy was nothing but a prat. She stood to get her wand, walked down the hall to her bedroom, took one last look at the man sitting in her hallway, looked him directly in the eye, and said, "PRAT." Then, as she turned to enter her bedroom, the biggest smile she had felt in a long, long time graced her face. What Hermione didn't know was that as soon as she entered her bedroom, Draco Malfoy also had a big smile on his face, and for probably the same reason.
After Hermione healed Draco's hand, he made some feeble excuse about having places to go, and people to see. Hermione's feelings were close to being hurt when he started toward her front door, but then he turned and said, "Have dinner with me tonight, Granger." It was more like a statement, than an invitation.
She looked down at the floor, and then said, "If we have dinner tonight, we're liable to become sick of seeing each other before we even start working together." She wanted to give him an easy out, just in case he didn't really want to have dinner with her. She looked back up to his eyes, and said, "Anyway, you already fed me breakfast today. Not trying to fatten me up, are you, Malfoy?"
"Gee, Granger, if I didn't know you any better, I would say you were one of those girls that go around searching for compliments like 'you could never be fat' or some such trite. Since I know you're not one of those girls, I will assume that you don't want my company anymore, and I'll bid you adieu," he rambled on as he turned to walk out her front door.
"Well, Gee, Malfoy, since I DO know you so well, I know that you're just trying to make me feel guilty. You're probably now expecting me to rush up to you and say 'you're right, I was fishing for a compliment, and I would be honoured to dine with you', but I'll just assume that you're secretly happy that I gave you an easy escape from your invitation, and I will bid YOU adieu!" With that, Hermione shut her front door in his face.
She started back toward her kitchen and sat down at her table. He left his trousers on one of her chairs. She would have to burn them, she decided. Just as she was standing to retrieve his pants from the chair, she heard her doorbell again. She went to the door and opened it, and for the third time that day, there was an envelope on her front door. She looked around, and he was already gone. She took the envelope, opened it, and read:
Dearest Hermione, I'm sorry that I'm always a prat. No, let me rephrase that. I'm sorry that you always call me a prat. However, in regards to dinner, I really would love to see you again tonight. You're not fat. Not at all. In fact, I think it is now my responsibility as your new boss to 'fatten you up a bit', as you're much too thin. I will arrive for you at 7 pm. No place fancy. Just do up your hair a bit and wear a nice dress, or don't wear any dress at all. I will leave the fashion part of the date up to you. See you at seven. Yours Forever, Malfoy
How did he keep doing that? She took the letter inside and read it again. She grinned to herself and said to Crookshanks, "Well old fellow, I guess I have a DATE tonight. A date with Draco Malfoy!"
Hermione went out shopping that afternoon. She was very tempted to call Ginny to have her come help pick out a dress. After all Ginny was good at these types of things, but she didn't really want her friends to know that she had a date with Draco tonight. Did she really have a date? With Draco Malfoy? How strange that thought seemed. He was once her mortal enemy, if that was possible, and now she had a date with him. It was a date, right?
"Well now you're just over thinking things, old girl," she said to herself, while trying on the fifth dress that afternoon. She was in the dressing room of an upscale Muggle department store, and she was trying on another dress when a terrible thought occurred to her…Draco was so good-looking, so posh, and so high-class. There was NO WAY Hermione could ever compete with that. She was very likely going to make a fool of herself tonight. He would look beautiful and elegant and have high-class manners, and she would look like a fake. All the pretty dresses in all the high-class department stores in the world could help her. She sat on the floor of the dressing room and started to cry.
After five minutes of crying on the floor of the dressing room, (and after the sales person finally came and asked her to please leave) Hermione went home, sat on her couch, and tried to get the courage to floo Malfoy to cancel their dinner date. She sat on the couch most of the afternoon, wavering between canceling and not canceling. Finally, her mind was made up for her when at six in the evening her doorbell rang.
"Boy, he's early," she said aloud. When he saw that she was still in the same jeans that she had on earlier, he would deduce that she was not going out with him and he would leave. After all, she never really agreed to go anyway. She opened the door, not to find Malfoy, but to find a box with a big red bow. She picked up the box and went back inside.
There was another blasted note on top of the box. It read:
I thought you might have a difficult time deciding on what to wear tonight (even though I know I told you it was "clothing optional"), so I took the liberty of picking something out for you. I hope it fits. See you soon, Draco.
She opened the box to find the prettiest periwinkle short cocktail dress that she had ever seen. It had an empire waist, with a low-neckline and capped sleeves. It had a flowing skirt with netting over satin. It was even her size. This was much unexpected.
She dressed in a hurry, and put her hair up quickly. She put on her nicest high heel shoes and inspected herself in the mirror. Maybe she wasn't the prettiest witch, but she thought she was all right.
At exactly seven, there was another knock at her door. She put on a light shawl and ran to the door. She opened the door expecting to see Draco, but instead she saw a note on the door. Not again! She looked around once more and didn't see anyone, so she took the note off the door. It was probably an apology. An, "I'm sorry, Granger, but after careful consideration, I decided that I can't stand the sight of you." On the other hand, maybe it was even something crueler than that. Maybe it said, "HA! HA! Mudblood, jokes on you, made you get all dressed up for nothing. A Malfoy would never be seen with a Mudblood."
As she contemplated the note, she felt a tear come to her eye. He probably was canceling. She didn't even want to read the note. She threw it down on the floor of her bedroom and sat down on the bed. She kicked her shoes off and just sat there. What was she supposed to do now?
There was another knock on her door. NO! This was not right! She would not let this go on another minute. She was not amused. She was a person with feelings and she was not going to play any of Draco Malfoy's games. She fell back on her bed, stared up at the ceiling, and started to cry. About three minutes went by when she heard another knock. She was not going to answer. Another two minutes and there was more knocking. "That's enough!" she yelled.
"Granger, answer the door please. I know you're in there. I just heard you yell. I also saw you get my note off the door earlier, so please answer," Draco yelled through the closed door. When he got no response, he started to get worried. "Granger, open the door now, or I'll be forced to let myself in, and after what happened today when I tried to let myself into your bathroom, I have to admit that thought scares me a bit, so OPEN UP!" Still no response.
Draco took out his wand and was about to open the door, when Hermione decided to open it. He saw that she had been crying, and he said, "Gee, Granger, I thought you might laugh at my little note, but I didn't think it would make you cry."
"I didn't even read the note, Malfoy," she told him.
"May I ask why?" he wondered.
"Because, I figured it was just a bill for your hurt hand, or something. On the other hand, maybe it was a note saying you had changed your mind. Whatever, Malfoy, this was a mistake. You and I, we're a mistake. I can't do this. I don't think I will ever feel like I'm good enough for you, and quite frankly, the whole concept makes my head hurt." She tried to close her door on him, but he held it open.
"Hermione read the note please. Especially now, after what you've just said," he told her. She went to the bedroom to retrieve the note she had dropped on the floor. He followed her. She sat on the bed and started to read. The note read:
Dear Granger, I hope you like the dress. I remembered that you looked very pretty in this colour back in school. Bet you didn't think I'd remember, did you? I think I will say this in a note, before I see you in person, because frankly, sometimes my dear, you scare me to death. Therefore, here goes: I have wanted to ask you out for the longest time. Probably since about 4th year at school, but seriously, since at least the time I started with the Order. The thing is - I never really felt good enough for you. You're so smart, pretty, and well, just so good. I'm also smart and pretty, but not so good, you know? Anyway, I think that if we both relax tonight, and try to be on our best behaviour, we will have a very nice time. Now open the door again, because I am getting very anxious out here. Yours, (Maybe?) Malfoy
He sat down next to her on the bed and asked, "Why didn't you read the note? What did you really think it would say? Did you think I was such a bastard that I would ask you out and then not show up? Is that what you really and truly think of me, Granger?"
She looked at him and when she spoke, she took one of his hands in both of hers and said, "No, Malfoy, to be honest with you, I don't really think you're like that. I just let my own insecurities almost ruin this evening for us, that's all. It's been so long since I've felt good about myself, that it's hard to feel good about other people, too."
"I sat on the couch most of the day even debating on whether or not to keep the date. Then, I got the dress and it was, well is, so pretty, and I got rather excited. I don't know, the thing is Malfoy, if you really want to go out with me, you get the real me, warts and all. I'm bossy, headstrong, independent, stubborn, and quite a know-it-all. I'm also incredibly insecure. Can you handle that, Malfoy?" She turned to look at him and he had a small frown on his face. 'Well, I guess he can't handle it,' she thought.
He stood up, (to leave she assumed) and grabbed her hands to pull her up as well. "Listen, Granger, I think I already know all those things about you, and believe me when I say that I still want to take you out. If you can accept me, warts and all, and I say that figuratively, since no Malfoy has ever had warts, then I can accept you, okay?" He brought her hands up to his chest and smiled sweetly to her.
"In for a penny, in for a pound, aye, Malfoy?" she said with a laugh.
"Okay, don't start speaking Muggle, because I won't understand a damn thing you're saying." He laughed back. Then he asked, "Shall we go, Hermione?"
"Yes, we shall," was her reply.
They turned to leave her apartment, but right before they walked through the threshold, he turned to her and said, "Listen, this night is already not off to the best of starts, so just so we can relax and have a good time this evening, could we take care of one small, little detail now, before the date even starts?"
"Sure, Malfoy, whatever you want." She smiled. What happened next was not at all what Hermione expected to happen. He took both hands and placed one on each side of her face. He rubbed her cheeks with his thumbs. He smiled sweetly and then he leaned his face close to hers. She was so nervous she thought she might hyperventilate. 'He's going to kiss me', she thought.
"Granger, I'm going to kiss you," he said, as if reading her mind. He turned his head slightly, and pressed his lips ever so gently on hers. It lasted no more than two seconds, but it felt like an eternity. She had closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she saw that he was looking down at her, still holding her face in his hands, and with a smile on his face. She smiled back up at him.
"Well, that was nice," he stated. "Now we don't have to have that over our heads all night; you know the old 'will we kiss goodnight or not thing'. It's over and done."
He was still holding her face and her breathing was becoming more ragged by the minute. She reached up and took his hands from her face, but kept them in her grasp, and told him, "Who knows, Malfoy, if it's an exceptionally good date, we might be able to have a repeat performance of that little kiss tonight."
"What a little tart you've become, Granger!" He laughed. "I just might have to marry you to make you an honest woman."
"At least I'm not a PRAT, Malfoy," she answered back. At that he laughed, took her arm, and they apparated away.
Saturday Evening; the Date
When they arrived at their destination, Hermione left a little queasy. She never liked side-along apparition. She took a few moments to catch her breath, and then inquired, "Where are we?"
"We're on the roof of my apartment building," replied Draco, in a rather obvious tone.
"The roof?" Hermione asked in shock. "What do you mean the roof?"
"Um, well, how do I explain? Oh yeah," began Malfoy, "a roof is the top part of a building, and it keeps the rain out. Seriously, Granger, we're having dinner up here. I told you it would not be any place fancy, remember?" Hermione started to frown, so he added, "Would you rather go to a restaurant? We can go anywhere you want."
She looked around and saw that there was already a beautiful table set, with a bottle of wine chilling next to it. There was also a wooden swing with fairy lights all around. "No, this is nice, and you apparently went to a lot of trouble, Malfoy, but the thing is, well, how do I put this so you won't make fun of me? The thing is, I'm afraid of heights!" she said rather quickly.
"What?" He was now laughing. "You are joking, right?"
"No, I am afraid of heights. Heights; afraid; me." She motioned to the roof and then to herself.
"But, we aren't even up that high!" he told her.
"How high is not that high?" she inquired of him.
"Well, my flat is the penthouse, and that's on the top floor, and my penthouse is on the 22nd floor; so I guess if my math is correct, we're on the 23rd floor," he told her plainly.
"WHAT?" she yelled. "Twenty-three floors up! Oh MY GOODNESS! I'm going to throw up! I cannot breath. Help me. I have to go away from here." She started to walk toward the middle of the roof, holding out her arms in front of her. He could tell she was truly afraid.
Draco said to her, "Come to the railing with me. You'll see that we're not that high up. I mean, I used to fly my broom up higher than this. In addition, the Quidditch stands are higher than this and I know you used to go to the games in school. Give me your hand and come to the railing." He motioned for her to come join him.
"NO!" she yelled. "I don't want to come to the railing! I can't do this, Malfoy. I'm really going to be sick. Maybe we should go to a restaurant or something." As she was speaking to him, she was gripping one of the chairs that were at the table, and she was holding on so tight that her knuckles were turning white.
Draco walked over to her. He held out his hand. He said, "Hermione, don't you trust me?"
"OF COURSE I DON"T TRUST YOU!" she bellowed.
"You don't trust me?" he asked, truly hurt.
"No, I'm sorry, but I really don't think I do," she responded.
"Okay, maybe that is justified, but seriously, just come with me to the railing. Take one look down. If you're still afraid after that, I'll take you anywhere you want to go." He walked closer to her and, his hand still offered for her to take. He finally approached her, and when it was obvious that she was not going to take his hand, he reached to the back of the chair she was clutching, and tried to pry her fingers loose, but to no avail. He got a very determined look on his face, and he started to drag her, chair and all, over toward the railing.
By this point, Hermione was actually screaming things like, "NO!" and, "Please, no," and, "I can't!" and, "No, Malfoy!"
"You're stronger than you look," he muttered under his breath. He finally decided to just pick her up, chair and all, and make her face her fears. He stopped dragging her, and went to stand behind her, and put both arms around her waist and picked her up. She was so shocked that she let go of the chair, and tried to pry his arms off her waist. Without the chair, she was much easier to move, even if she was now kicking him in his shins.
She continued to plead with him, "Please, Malfoy; please don't make me do this." She started whimpering, and then actually started crying. When they were less than one-step from the railing he let her down, and she turned and buried her face in his chest, still crying.
He put both his arms around her and started stroking her hair. He started whispering to her, "It's alright, Hermione. It is okay. I'll not let you fall. Please, we're at the railing now. Just take one small look."
She looked up at him and said, "I think I hate you."
"Yes, yes, everyone hates 'big bad' Malfoy. I seriously doubt I would know what to do if they didn't. Now, please take one look, so we can get to our dinner."
She buried her face deeper in his chest and said, "Please don't make me. I know it's silly, and I know it's irrational, but you know what? I would never make you do something you really didn't want to do. Please, just take me home, Malfoy. Take me home."
"No, I won't take you home," he stated very matter of fact. "Take a look this instant. Then we can have a nice dinner. I'll hold on to you the entire time. I promise not to let go. You need to get over this fear, Hermione."
"You know, your chances of ensuring a goodnight kiss becomes slimmer and slimmer each moment you make me stand next to this railing," she said in all seriousness, while looking up into his grey eyes.
"Well, Granger, some things are more important than a goodnights kiss. Not many things mind you, but some things. Now, we're already at the railing. Just turn around and look. I'll hold onto you the entire time, please." When he was done with his little speech, she opened her previously closed eyes, and turned in his arms. She might as well get on with it. He was not going to give up, she could tell.
Shutting her eyes again, feeling his breath on the back of her neck, and his arms around her waist she said, "You aren't doing this just so you can hold on to me, are you, Malfoy?"
"You discovered my evil plan," he said as he laughed.
"If I take a look, you have to promise me you'll take me somewhere else, okay?"
"If you take a look and you still want to leave, then yes, I promise you I will take you somewhere else."
"Don't let go," she said sternly
"Never," he answered back, quite serious…he didn't think he would ever let her go. She opened her eyes, and looked back at him first. He winked at her and kissed her cheek. She turned her head back around, took her hands off his (which were still tightly around her waist) and put her hands on the railing.
She took a deep breath, thought to herself, 'I cannot believe I am about to do this', and with her heart beating faster than she ever remembered it beating before, she started to lean toward the railing.
"Just a bit more, Granger," he encouraged.
She took a quick peek, let out a yelp, and turned back around in his arms. Her arms went tightly around his waist. "Come on, Granger. That wasn't even a proper look," he chastised.
"You're going back on your word," she whimpered.
"No, I'm not. It's just you must take a proper look to hold up your end of the bargain," he scolded.
"I really do hate you," she said, again looking up to his grey eyes.
"Yes, I really do know that," he smirked.
"FINE!" and with that, she pushed herself away from his body, grasped the railing, and really looked around. She had to admit, it was a beautiful view of London. She could even see the sun setting in the distance. Then, something occurred to her. She looked at the building across the street from them. She started counting the floors of that building. One, two, three, she stopped at twelve. It was twelve stories high, and it was higher than the building where they were. WHAT?
"Malfoy, how can this building be twenty-two floors high, when the building across the street is taller at twelve stories high?" she asked him, as she whipped around to face him.
"Oh. Do Muggle-borns learn numbers in school these days? I didn't know you counted that high. Well, you did say you didn't trust me. Besides, I just thought if you were going to be all scared of heights, better make it good for you, you know. Now, wouldn't you have really felt stupid acting like that if I told you this building only had ten floors? I was really thinking of you the entire time," he responded with a small grin.
"YOU!" she hit his chest, "ARE," another hit, "A," hit, "FIRST," hit, "CLASS," a really hard hit, "PRAT!" she yelled, and hit him once more for good measure.
"OUCH! That really hurt," he whined while putting his hands up on his chest. "See if I ever try to help you conquer a fear again! " He waited a few moments, while she continued to glare at him, and decided to take her hand. "Do you really hate me, Hermione?"
"More than ever!" she answered.
"Splendid!" he laughed, 'I wouldn't want it any other way. I wouldn't want you to fall in love with me or anything."
"No worries there, Malfoy," she retorted back. She moved over to the table and sat down. He picked up the chair she dropped earlier, and sat down facing her, and he studied her for a moment. She was looking over to the side and she had a frown on her face. She started biting her bottom lip and playing with her hair. He knew those signs. He had caused her actual distress. It was not just a game to her, as it was to him. She started to stare down at the table, and he knew he must do something to remedy the situation quickly. He had made an error and he must correct it. The only way to salvage their evening was to apologize, so that was what he did.
"Hermione, look at me," he started. She looked at him across the table, and he reached over and grabbed one of her hands. He started to stroke the top of her hand with his thumb as he continued to speak. "I'm so sorry. I will never, ever, and I mean this, never again, make you do something that you don't want to do. I promise. Don't be angry. Let's have some wine, and then the house elves can bring up our dinner, alright?"
She nodded in consent, so he poured her some wine, and then he poured some for himself. He picked up his glass, as if to make a toast to her, and said, "To Hermione Granger, the bravest woman I know." He took a drink, and added, "Well, drink up, Granger."
She eyed him wearily, picked up her glass, and toasted to him as well. "To Draco Malfoy, the biggest prat I know." Then she took a swig.
"Why, Hermione, I do believe that is the nicest toast I have ever received. It warms the cockles of my soul. You're so eloquent," he stated and then took another drink.
"Shut up," she said with a smile.
It looked like Draco Malfoy saved the day again.
Later Saturday Evening – Dinner and a Game -
After a few more glasses of wine, the house elves brought up their dinners.
"I remember you had some campaign in school concerning house elves, didn't you, Granger?" Draco asked as he started to eat.
"Well, house elf welfare is very important, Malfoy," she answered.
"Helpful little buggers, though, don't you agree?" He laughed as he took another bite.
"Quite," she laughed back.
They had a lovely dinner, absolutely delightful. They talked about their school days and the Ministry, and about people they knew. They compared the places they had visited. They even talked about themselves. By the end of dinner, Draco decided that Hermione was very easy to talk to after all. They didn't argue once.
By dessert, which was the best chocolate crème brulee Hermione had ever tasted, Draco and Hermione had both come to the same conclusion: this was the best date either had ever had. Draco had soon finished his dessert, and had taken his spoon to take a bite of Hermione's, when she hit the back of his hand with her spoon and said, "Prat!"
"You know, I really am getting tired of being hit by you, slapped by you, and now being called a prat by you," Draco said languidly.
Hermione laughed and said, "That sounded almost like a poem."
Draco stood up, and said, "A poem, by Draco Malfoy," he cleared his throat, "I once knew a girl named Hermione, who was incredible annoying and whiny. She called me a prat, and I called her fat, because she had a very large heiney."
Hermione laughed so hard she snorted. Draco sat down, laughed also, and said, "Nice snort, Granger. Very lady like, but seriously, stop calling me a prat. It's starting to give me a complex. It hurts a person's feelings to be called a name every other minute," he said quite sincerely.
"Oh, you mean like being called a Mudblood throughout seven years of school?" she asked.
"Who called you a Mudblood? Tell me his name and I'll rough the fellow up a bit for you," he said while taking another bite of her dessert.
"Stop eating my dessert! You, you….well, I can't call you a prat now, because you might cry or something," she said as she took a bite.
"You could always start calling me some loving term of endearment, something like 'precious love' perhaps?" he suggested with a smile and a wink.
"How about 'stupid wanker'. I think that describes you more than prat ever could," she told him.
After dessert, and another glass of wine, they fell into an uncomfortable silence. Draco thought it was bordering on awkwardness, when he started to speak, but then was silenced by Hermione saying, "I know, Malfoy, let's play a game!"
"A game? Oh, yes, Granger, because we are ten years old," he drawled.
"No really, it will be fun," she implored.
"Fine, is this a physical game, or shall I have a seat?" he asked.
"No, we can sit," she answered.
He picked up his wine and walked over to the swing. He motioned for her to join him by patting the seat next to him. She picked up her glass, but instead of joining him on the swing, she pulled her chair over to face him. "Well, you're no fun, Granger," he said. "Now, what is this game we are going to play called?"
"It's called Two Truths and a Lie," she began. "What you do is tell the other person three statements, in random order, two being truths and one being a lie, and the other person has to guess which the lie is and which are the truths. A correct guess earns you a point, and an incorrect guess earns the other person a point. First person to five points wins."
"What do we win?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
"The other person's undying praise and adoration, of course," she said. "I'll start; in school I had crushes on Ron Weasley, Vincent Crabbe, and Professor Lockhart." She laughed.
"Yuck, Granger," he said distastefully, "I know the obvious one, Weasel, so that's a truth. And I believe I remember you having a thing for Lockhart, so I know that is a truth. So, Thank God, that leaves Crabbe as the lie. At least, that had better be the lie." He took a drink of his wine.
"You get a point, Malfoy. Very good. To be truthful, I never really knew which of your goons was which. I just knew one was named Crabbe and one was named Goyle," she proclaimed.
He laughed at that one, and said, "I don't think it makes a difference anyway, Granger. Okay, my turn, I lost my virginity at fourteen; my mother's nickname for me was 'little prince'; and my middle name is Aldopho."
Hermione frowned and thought for a moment. She said, "Well the nickname one just makes sense, so I am sure that's true. The other two bothers me somewhat. Fourteen is very young to lose your virginity, but if that's false, then your middle name is Aldopho, which is odd in and of itself, but it would also make your initials spell out the word DAM, which I am sure your parents wouldn't have done to you. Still, I say the virginity one is the lie."
"WRONG!" he gloated, "Two points for me! You are such a loser, Granger. So, your turn…"
"Wait a minute," she stated, "You were seriously only 14 when you lost your virginity? "
"Yes, how old were you?" he asked.
"This isn't truth or dare, Malfoy. I refuse to answer that question. So, if Adolpho isn't your middle name, what is it?" she asked.
"This isn't truth or dare, Granger," he mocked her in a singsong voice; "I don't have to answer that."
"Fine!" she huffed. She went over to the table to refill her wine glass.
He joined her at the table and held up his glass. She filled it for him, and he leaned into her and whispered in her ear, "Abraxas. My grandfather's name is my middle name, which still spells out DAM." He walked back over to the swing, and this time she joined him. "Okay, to continue," Malfoy said, "your turn, Granger".
"I have kissed Ron, I have kissed Harry, and I have kissed Snape." Was her statement.
Draco blanched and said, "Well now I am really sick. Honestly, yuck. I think I might just really throw up. It's disgusting enough to know that you've kissed Ron, because, no matter how much you're ashamed, I know that one is true. And even the Potter one; while that one makes me question your intelligence, I hope that one is true, because the Snape one is just….so….gross! That's the lie. Tell me that's the lie, Granger. IS that the lie?"
"Which do you think is the lie, Malfoy?" she asked innocently.
"I think I answered that one with my obvious disgust. IT had better be Snape."
"Of course that's the lie," she smiled. "Three points for you."
Draco thought for a moment and said, "Does that mean you really did kiss Potter then?" He looked a little troubled by this turn of events.
"I didn't say it was a romantic kiss, Malfoy, I just said kiss," she answered. "Your turn."
Draco gave it some thought and then said, "Since you have no points yet, and I am beating you, I will take pity on you and give you an easy one." He took another drink, thought for a moment, and said, "You look beautiful tonight; I am getting a wee bit pissed; and I lied earlier about losing my virginity at fourteen."
Hermione was not sure she liked the direction this was going. She didn't think this was an easy one at all. She looked at him, and answered, "I believe you might think it's the truth that I am beautiful tonight, even though I'm not sure of the validity of that statement, so I will say that one is true."
"Hurry up, girl. We don't have all night," he added.
"Okay," she began, "this is difficult, Malfoy. Oh, okay, I don't really think you are drunk, so that is the lie, which means you are telling the truth about lying earlier, which is totally confusing me, and may indeed nullify one of your points."
"WRONG AGAIN!" he laughed and slapped his knee. "Four points for me and none for you."
"So what's the lie, then?" she asked in a small voice.
"Hum?" he asked.
"I said, what is the lie? The 'my looking beautiful' or the drunk part?" she asked pensively.
"You do look beautiful tonight; so truth. I am getting drunk; so truth, and I didn't lie earlier, so lie. You are a very insecure person, Granger," he told her. "Take your last turn so I can get my fifth point and win this thing."
"My favourite colour is not red, it's green. The sorting hat considered putting me in Ravenclaw, and my first kiss was Victor Krum." She finished her wine after her statement and added, "Which is the lie?"
"You just gave me an easy point, Miss Granger. Everyone knows that Krum was your first date, and your first boyfriend, so that is the truth. Of course, the sorting hat wanted to put you in Ravenclaw, what with your intelligence, so again, truth. Therefore, the lie is the favourite colour. It's red, not green," he gloated.
"WRONG!" she imitated him. "Point for me finally. The Ravenclaw thing, of course, the truth. The Victor Krum thing, sorry, the lie. My first kiss was in primary school, before Hogwarts, and was with a boy name Danny McCrery. Oh, and, my favourite colour really is green. In fact, it's 'Slytherin Green' and I even have on green underwear tonight," she said while leaning into him, and smiling at him sweetly.
"You're just trying to turn me on, to distract me from my win, aren't you, you little witch?" Draco said as he stood. He took her wine glass from her as he stood, and along with his, he put them on the table. He then walked back over to the swing and said, "This is my last chance to win, I better make it good." He bent down and pulled Hermione up by her hands. He took a step closer, and she felt so nervous that she thought her knees might buckle. As if sensing this, he put one arm around her waist and the other on the back of her neck. He bent his head, and kissed her neck, with one feathery soft kiss, directly below her left ear, on her pulse point. He then said, "I really love kissing you there." He then moved both his hands down her arms, put both her hands into his left hand, and rested them on his chest. He took his right hand and let is rest on her back, directly above her dress, on her bare skin. He then turned his head to the other side of her neck, and kissed her on the other pulse point, but this time, he let the kiss linger for a moment longer. "I really, really love kissing you there."
Hermione was beginning to wonder what in the world he was going to do next. Right on cue, he took both her arms and put them around his neck. He put one of his hands on the small of her back, and the other went to her hair. He took her hair down from the bun it was in, combed his fingers through her hair, and he leaned in as close as he could and said, "And I will really, really, really HATE kissing you right here, Granger," and with that said, he put his lips on hers and she actually felt like melting. She let out a little moan, which drove him crazy, and he deepened the kiss. He sucked on her bottom lip, and she opened her mouth. With her invitation, he became more forceful, and aggressive, while still being gentle and sweet.
He started to kiss her cheeks, her neck, and even her forehead. He looked directly in her eyes and invited himself back to her mouth. She felt shockwaves go through her entire body, starting at her toes and ending at the top of her head. He bit her bottom lip and then kissed her again so hard that she was almost completely unhinged.
When he finally ended the kiss, he pulled away from her and said in deep voice, "So tell me, Hermione, which was the lie?"
Later Saturday Night -
He was still holding her, which was good, because she no longer knew how to stand.
She looked up at him and then turned her head and hid her face in his neck. He lifted her face back up and looked at her with questioning eyes. Did he do something wrong? Did he move too fast? He hoped he had not ruined everything. He was about to ask her if she was all right, when she said, "I don't want to play anymore, Draco. Please, no more games."
"This isn't a game, Hermione, not to me. This is real." He tried to assure her.
She hid her face back into the crook of his neck, and hugged him close. He put his chin on the top of her head. "I think this is an easy point for you, Granger. Tell me which the lie is?"
She looked back up at him, put her hand on his cheek, touched his lips with her fingertips, and then drew her hand back down. She said, "The first two were the truths and that last one was the lie."
"Do tell, Granger. How can you tell that for certain?" he asked with a sly smile.
He bent to kiss her on her forehead. She shut her eyes again before she answered, speaking directly into his chest, "I can just tell."
He laughed and did something completely unexpected. He picked her up and swung her around. He put her back down and said, "I am so proud of you. Another point!" He took her by her hand and sat her back down on the swing, "You get another turn. Give me a fair shot to win this time woman."
"Here's the last question, Draco," she began, "You are a very good kisser, I had a wonderful time tonight, and I definitely want to do this again sometime. Which is the lie?"
He actually looked confused for a moment before he said, "Well I rather hope all three of those are truths." He thought a moment longer. "Are you playing games with me, Hermione?" he asked.
"I thought that was obvious when I said 'let's play a game' earlier," she said laughing.
"Fine. Then, lie, truth, truth," he rattled off.
"Please explain your reasoning for your guesses, Mr. Malfoy," she teased.
"Lie, because I don't think you think I am a very good kisser. I think you think I am the best kisser you have ever had. Truth that you had a wonderful time tonight, because I know I did, and truth to wanting to do this again sometimes, because that is a given, when the company you keep is me," he ended smugly.
He sat there, looked at her, and added, "Do I get my fifth point. Am I the winner?" She simply smiled and then nodded her head. He smiled back at her and said, "Are you sure my winnings are just your undying praise and adoration?"
"Sorry, those were the terms of the game."
"Give me your undying praise and adoration then, Granger. I am the ultimate champ, and I want my winnings," he smirked.
"Alright you idiot, you are the ultimate champ. You are better than I am. I adore you. Blah, Blah, Blah," she responded.
"And I am a bloody great kisser. Say it, Granger," he said with a smile.
"You are a bloody great kisser and, I hope that you…well, never mind," she said.
He pulled her into a hug and asked, "Tell me what else you were going to say."
"Not today, Malfoy. I'll tell you sometime, just not today," she confessed.
"When will you tell me?" he smiled, as he inquired.
"What, you want an exact date and time?" she wondered.
"Yes, tell me when you are going to tell me what else you were going to tell me," he rambled. Then he added, "I really do think I am a wee bit drunk".
"Fine, next Friday night, okay?" she responded.
"I will remember that and hold you to that promise, Granger. Next Friday I will ask you what you were going to say tonight and you will tell me, and by the way, you're not a bad kisser either," he replied with a wink.
"Gee, I can't handle the compliments. 'Not bad'. I know I can't compare to you, little prince, but am I really just 'not bad'?" she asked as she squirmed out of his arms.
"Okay, just say it one more time. I know you want to. Call me 'it', Granger. Come on. Once more, with feeling…"
"PRAT!" she proclaimed.
"There you go. You never disappoint me, do you woman?" He stood and took her hands to force her to stand again as well. "So what now, Hermione?"
"Don't be angry, but I feel like this night is ending up on just such a perfect note, with the incredible dinner, and the game, and the wonderful kiss, and my calling you a prat, that I feel we should maybe end the evening now. On a high note, you know. Before we get into another fight of something, also, I am rather tired," and indeed, she did yawn as she said this.
"I would have believed your tired excuse, you didn't have to fake a yawn," Draco joked. She gave him a dirty look and he tried to recover by saying, "Of course, that was a sincere yawn, you aren't that good of an actress. In addition, I agree about ending this on a high note. You can even call me another name before you leave, if you'd like." He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. "I will apparate with you to your flat."
"No, as you said, you are a little drunk, and it's not wise to apparate drunk, Malfoy. You don't want to lose any of your appendages, do you?" she asked.
"Well, I am rather attached to them. Get it. Attached? I must admit, I am funny," he stated.
"At least one of us thinks so," she joked back. "I'll see you Monday morning right at 8 am, okay?" she asked hesitantly.
"You can make it 8:03 if you want, and you never know, you might see me before that." He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. "That was the goodnight kiss you promised me; if I gave you a good date, remember?"
"I remember." She turned to leave, but he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.
"I know you over think everything, Granger, but don't analyze this. Us. Just let it be what it is, okay?" he asked her, as he dropped her wrist to let her go.
She turned to leave, but then turned back to him and kissed his cheek and said, "Like I said earlier, in for a penny, in for a pound, right, Malfoy?"
"I told you not to talk Muggle to me," and he laughed. He turned his head toward hers and kissed her again. A sweet, chaste, good night kiss.
She smiled up at him and said, "Sweet dreams, Draco." And with that, she disappeared.
Standing alone on his rooftop, Draco said, "Don't worry, Granger, I'm sure I'll have very sweet dreams and you will be in every one of them". He then touched his lips and smiled. He went over to the rooftop railing and looked at the night sky. He thought of all the events of the last two days. He was convinced he was falling in love with Hermione Granger. What a thought. His father was probably turning over in his grave at that very moment. He again laughed right out loud.
He walked back over to the table and sat back down. He couldn't wait until Monday to see her. He would have to see her tomorrow, and possibly every day after that. He was probably going to have to marry the little witch. He could not possibly let her go now.
It would be hard to see her every day at the office and not be able to touch her, kiss her. He knew how fragile she was and so insecure. He would have to try always to be sincere and truthful to her. Nothing else would do. He knew in his heart that he could never hurt her again. He had hurt her when he was younger, but he was not that boy anymore.
He wanted her to trust him. He would have to gain that trust. Draco Malfoy was a smart man, and he knew that she might not feel the exact same thing for him that he felt for her. He was under no illusions, but he was sure, in time, she would fall in love with him as well. He walked to the door that led from the roof back to his flat, and he turned to the night sky and said, to no one at all, "I love her". He then went on to bed, anxious to start those "sweet dreams" she told him to have. Also knowing that the sooner he ended this evening, the sooner tomorrow would come and he could see her once more.
End of Day Two