Draco woke to the loud vibrating of his phone. It jiggled its way across his nightstand, urging him to pick it up. Quickly hitting the ignore button, Draco buried his head back into his pillow. His phone started vibrating again and he snatched it up. "What?"

"Good morning sunshine." Cedric's voice rang out.

"Fuck off."

"Temper Temper. I've got our first plan of action."

Draco looked at his watch. "This couldn't wait until 9 a.m.?"

"I called as soon as I left the gym but that's beside the point. I've been tracking Cho's text messages and I figured out that she's going to meet Harry for dinner at the Italian place."

"Ok?"

"We should happen to be having our date at the same Italian restaurant."

Draco shook his head. "I really don't know if I can go through with this Diggory. I think we should just forget about it"

"First off, start calling me Cedric. Second, you can do it. You're one of the most sneaky conniving backstabbing-"

"Alright!" Draco grumbled. "Just shut up and let me give you my address."

"Do try to wear something nice, Dray."

"That's not my name."

"See you soon."

Draco hung up the phone without saying goodbye.

Pacing in the Malfoy Manor foyer, Draco tried to shake the nervousness that was invading his body. It was like he was going on a blind date but he had to pretend to actually like his new beau. His mother watched him as he anxiously examined himself in the mirror.

"I haven't seen you this nervous since your old quidditch days. Why is this date so important to you?" Narcissa Malfoy let her fingers trail over Draco's shoulders, fixing his collar. "Usually you're quite confident, almost cocky."

"This is a little different." Draco turned to his mother. "I just hope things go right that's all."

"You're rushing into things if you ask me."

"Mother…" Draco grumbled.

The gravel outside the gate crunched under tires, signaling that Cedric was arriving.

Narcissa peered out the window. "Who is this mystery man you're dating? He drives a pretty nice car."

"I'll just meet him out there." Draco wanted to avoid getting his mother involved in the situation. Just as he was gathering his coat, he heard three firm knocks on the door.

"I'll get it." Narcissa smiled to herself and quickly grabbed the door handle to let Cedric in.

"Ah you must be Draco's mother. Draco, why didn't you tell me she was so beautiful? Now I see where you get your good looks from." Cedric kissed Narcissa's hand, a smile spreading across his face.

"Cedric Diggory, it's a pleasure to meet you. I just finished watching your movie Dusk and I must say that you're a very talented young man." Narcissa nodded her head. "Now, I see why you were nervous. You're dating a movie star."

Draco quickly snagged his mother's hand away from Cedric and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Sorry to cut the introduction short, but we have dinner reservations. Don't wait up for me."

"Yes we don't have much time." Cedric examined his watch and then wrapped his arm around Draco. "I will have him home at a decent hour Mrs. Malfoy."

Narcissa nodded her head. "You boys have fun tonight."

Grumbling under Cedric's arm, Draco was led out to his car. "If I wasn't mistaken, you might have been hitting on my mother."

Cedric smirked. "Really now? I was just trying to be a gentleman and show your mother that you're no longer dating a creep."

"Watch it. I happen to be in love with that creep." Draco buckled his seat belt. "I agreed to this whole jealousy thing but meeting my mother was just too much."

Rolling his eyes, Cedric pulled away from Malfoy Manor. "I don't think you're on the same page as I am. I want to make this as real as possible. If you try to fake it, both Harry and Cho will see right through it. We've got to make this convincing or else it goes down the drain."

"That's easy for you to do. You're an actor by profession. Me on the other hand, I can't pretend that I like someone when I don't."

"So you don't like me?" Cedric cast a sideways glance to Draco.

Draco's cheeks tinged with pink. "I mean I don't even know you."

"Well we're going to be spending a lot of time together so you'll have plenty of time to get to know me."

"I don't know if I want to." Draco muttered under his breath.

"What?"

"Oh goodie." Draco said sarcastically.

They arrived at the Italian restaurant and were seated in a cozy nook in the back. The candlelight illuminated Cedric's grey eyes as he scanned the menu for an appetizer.

Draco found himself studying those eyes. They were the same color as his, but Cedric's gaze was much warmer with little flecks of brown around his irises.

"Do you like what you see?" Cedric smiled.

Draco caught himself and crossed his arms. "What are we ordering?"

"I think a bottle of Moscato and Mussels di Napoli for an appetizer."

"I don't eat seafood." Draco scrunched his nose.

"Calamari?"

"What part did you not understand? I don't eat seafood." Draco cast Cedric a warning glance.

"Alright you didn't have to get grumpy." Cedric suddenly propped up their menu's to block their faces. "Act natural, Harry and Cho just walked in."

"With these menus up, we don't look obvious at all."

"My point is we are not here to been seen." Cedric pointed to a table with one lone man who was scribbling on a pad. "That guy is an old chum from the Daily Inquisitor. He's doing a story about us and putting it in the paper tomorrow. How pissed off will Harry be to know that we went to the same restaurant!"

"I don't even think Harry reads the paper." Draco longed to just get up, run over to Harry, and apologize until he would take him back and they would be together again.

"Don't you dare."

"What?" Draco broke away from his thoughts.

"I see the look you're giving him." Cedric nodded his head towards where Harry and Cho were seated. "If you give in now, you won't know if he's going to take you back. Not only do you make a fool out of yourself, you'll make a fool out of me."

Draco thought about the words his mother had told him. He was a catch and begging would not be fitting for such a handsome man. He sighed and moved closer to Cedric. "Let's make this as cozy as possible. I hope your paper guy is catching my good side."

After stuffing themselves and leaving the restaurant, Cedric pulled up at Malfoy Manor. He opened his door and quickly ran around to open Draco's door.

"Thank you." Draco shut the door behind him. "I mean thank you for tonight. You didn't have to pay for my dinner.

"No problem. I enjoyed the company."

The silence between them was stifling so Draco decided to make a quick exit. "Well I guess I'll see you sometime soon."

"Wait." Cedric grabbed Draco wrist lightly and pulled him closer.

Draco's breath hitched as he was chest to chest with Cedric. "What are you doing?"

"Just a little exercise." Cedric smiled. "You're dreadfully uncomfortable around me so I just want you to learn to relax around me.

"Being this close…" Draco couldn't finish his sentence. Secretly, he found Cedric downright attractive which was unnerving to think about. He was doing this to get his Harry back. It was hard to think about Harry when a muscled chest was pressing against his own and Cedric smelled delicious.

Cedric rested his arms around Draco's waist. "Is this so bad?"

"Mmm." Draco hummed as he let his head rest on Cedric's shoulder. It had been a while since a man had held him like that. Suddenly, he pushed Cedric away. "Enough of this nonsense, I'm going to bed." He scolded himself for getting carried away.

"I'll call you tomorrow." Cedric waved.

"Goodbye." Draco shouted roughly, trying to ignore the growing warm feeling in the pit of his stomach.