Hermione stared at her tea before taking a large gulp. It was getting cold. She half-listened to Ginny natter on and on about something or another.

"So then I told him, well, if you don't bloody like yellow it's got to be blue. We decided not to know, remember, but I am fairly certain it's a boy…Hermione?"

Hermione startled, spilling a bit of tea. "Oh, Ginny, I'm sorry!" She flicked her wand, cleaning the mess up.

Ginny eyed her shrewdly. "Is everything okay, Hermione?"

Hermione nodded. "Of course."

"How's work?" Ginny was staring at her oddly.

Hermione gulped. "Erm, it's going okay," she said vaguely, avoiding her friend's eyes as she took a rather large drink of tea and promptly choked.

Ginny waited until she was done coughing up tea before speaking again. "Really? You know, Professor McGonagall was here the other day…"

Hermione paled. "Oh, really?"

Ginny nodded, her silky red hair swinging. "Yes. And funny thing is, she mentioned that a certain Tranfiguration teacher quit before the year had even begun…"

Hermione looked down, fiddling with her cup.

"Why did you lie to us, Hermione?" Ginny asked softly.

"I-I didn't want you all to worry."

"Sitting around that empty flat all day by yourself isn't good for you, Hermione. You need something to keep you occupied, to keep your mind off things." Ginny perked up. "Maybe you need a boyfriend! You know, Colin…"

"Is a bit young for me," Hermione finished firmly. "And no, I definitely do not need a boyfriend."

Ginny pouted. "It would certainly distract you. And there are plenty of single men around, that's for sure."

Hermione laughed, taking another sip of her drink.

"Did you see that Draco Malfoy is now the wizarding world's most eligible bachelor?"

Hermione choked on her tea again. "Oh?" she said weakly.

Ginny nodded. "Yeah, it was in Witch Weekly. He inherited the Manor after his parents…well, you know. Been single for four years. Serves him right, bloody wanker. Even with all his money, no girl is foolish enough to go near him. He always was a bad one. You know, Harry would have been the most eligible, of course, if he hadn't wised up." She grinned and fingered her golden ring.

"He's still at the Manor?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, he's got himself holed up in there. Reclusive, Witch Weekly said."

"I wonder what he was doing here in London, then," Hermione mused to herself.

"Here?"

Hermione looked up. "Erm, yes. I, uh, ran into him the other night while taking a stroll."

Ginny leaned forward, placing her hands on her swollen belly. "Oh? Was he awful to you, like usual? Did you hex him?"

Hermione laughed. "No, he was rather…tolerable. He only had a few nasty moments."

"Oh." Ginny leaned back, disappointed. "Well. He's always been a moody one, blowing hot and then cold. Anyway. You're still helping me decorate the nursery tomorrow, yeah? Harry would help, but he's away, you know, important match and all that. I got the sweetest little curtains, just wait until you see them. They are just so bloody adorable. And the crib! Right steal, that was. Antique white wood. I couldn't pass it up. I told Harry…"

Hermione nodded absently as Ginny prattled on, her thoughts on a certain grey-eyed bachelor. Why had he been in London that night? Why did he stop her?

She absently finished her tea and left, promising Ginny she would return the following afternoon to help set up the nursery. She waved half-heartedly and stepped out into the late afternoon sunshine, blinking in the light. Hesitating, she considered Apparating, but decided to walk. A nice brisk stroll sounded lovely, and her flat was only a few blocks away.

She walked down the street, past mothers pushing babies in prams and kids laughing as they wove in and out of passerby. She past the little bookshop on the corner and paused. It had been so long since she had bought a new book. Maybe Ginny was right. Perhaps she did need a distraction. If so, a nice thick novel was certainly better than a man. She pushed open the glass door and walked into the shop. A bell tinkled softly. She inhaled deeply, the familiar smell of new books invigorating her. Smiling at the young girl behind the counter, she made her way through the aisles, running her fingers idly over the covers.

It didn't bother her that she was in a muggle shop, as she had quite a few favorites to pick up. Pride and Prejudice and To Kill a Mockingbird were promptly snatched up, as was a rather cheap paperback depicting a stunning blond woman clinging to a long-haired, bronze-skinned god of a man. To Love a Wicked Lord. She laughed softly to herself.

"Seriously?"

Hermione jumped, her heart pounding. Draco Malfoy lounged against a shelf behind her. He was wearing muggle clothes again, a tight black t-shirt and blue jeans. Hermione swallowed.

"What are you doing here?"

Malfoy smirked. "Watching you choose absolute rubbish to read."

Hermione rolled her eyes, pushing past him. "I'm surprised you didn't melt the minute you stepped foot in here. This is a muggle shop, you know."

Malfoy's eyes flashed. "Yes," he said icily. "I had realized that."

Shaking her head, Hermione weaved through the shelves, Malfoy hot on her heels.

"Actually," he said, watching as Hermione read the back of a cover, "I was just coming from your flat."

Hermione dropped her books.

Malfoy smirked, bending down and scooping them up. He handed them to her with a flourish.

"Er, why were you at my flat?"

"I wanted to…" Malfoy dropped his eyes and cleared his throat. "I was just making sure you hadn't done yourself in. Was about to give up on you, but when I turned the corner, I saw you come in here."

Hermione sniffed. "Well, I'm clearly still among the living, though frankly I'm not sure why you care."

Malfoy frowned. "I don't care."

Hermione stared at him. "Right. Okay."

"I don't!" he protested.

"So you just came all the way to London to…?"

Malfoy's pale cheeks flushed. "What I do is hardly any of your business."

Hermione shot him a glare. "Likewise." She clutched her books to her chest and made her way to the counter.

"Hey, that's harsh. I'm a decent bloke. I do occasionally help damsels in distress…and you looked quite distressed that night."

Hermione looked away as they girl rang up her books. She reached into her purse to pay, but Malfoy beat her to it, smoothly sliding a bill across the counter. "Keep the change."

The cashier blushed, peering up at him through her thick eyelashes. "Thank you, sir. That's very generous."

Malfoy winked at her, and Hermione rolled her eyes in disgust. She grabbed her bag and headed out the door.

"Wait up!" Malfoy said, catching up with her.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" she asked in exasperation.

Malfoy rubbed the back of his neck.

"Nothing. We were just walking the same way, is all. Might as well walk together."

Hermione shook her head. "You really are strange."

Malfoy pretended to be affronted, pulling such an indignant face that Hermione laughed.

"Your words wound me, my lady," he said dramatically, clutching his chest.

Hermione shook her head again, still laughing. Then she froze. That was the first time she had actually laughed in…she didn't even know how long.

Malfoy caught the stricken look on her face. "Hey, are you okay?"

Hermione bit her lip. "Oh, er, yeah. I'm fine."

"Go to dinner with me."

Hermione stopped in her tracks, staring at him. "What?"

Malfoy flushed, but met her eyes squarely. "Go to dinner with me."

Hermione was nonplussed. "Why?"

"You do eat, right?"

She nodded slowly. "Yes, but…"

"There's a decent Italian place not far from here if you want muggle food. If not, there's a nice place in Paris…"

Hermione blinked. "Paris?"

Malfoy nodded, checking his watch. "I can make reservations…"

"No."

He looked at her. "No?"

Hermione shook her head. "No." She started walking faster. Malfoy followed.

"What do you mean, no?"

"I mean," Hermione said, "No, thank you."

"You're turning me down?" he said in disbelief.

Hermione nodded. "Yes."

Malfoy looked flabbergasted. "But-but.." he spluttered.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to be your charity case, Malfoy."

He frowned at her. "What do you mean?"

She just shook her head, walking faster as she reached her flat. She opened her front door, looking over her shoulder at him. "Thank you for the books." She then closed the door, leaving Malfoy standing on her stoop with a very puzzled look on his face.

He stared at the door for a few moment before sighing and raking a hand through his pale blond hair. Shaking his head, he Apparated away.

On the other side of the door, Hermione sank down, her heart racing. She closed her eyes, still seeing his flabbergasted face. A small smile tugged at her lips.