Hermione's POV
5:30 rolled around on the clock way to fast. The remainder of her day had been filled with paperwork and order forms and there was nothing she wanted less than to go out on a date with Ron. She was weary of his behaviour. Maybe it was a bad idea to give him a week to change, she thought to herself. Sighing, Hermione left the office and stepped into her home. Deciding on a light green dress, she readied herself for Ron to pick her up. At quarter to 6 the front door opened and in he strode in a pair of jeans and a sweater.
"Got everything you need Mione?" he asked, eyeing her dress with a distasteful look. Hermione scowled.
"Is there something wrong with what I'm wearing Ron?"
"You know how I feel about the colour green Mione, I can't help it." Hermione shook her head. Strike one.
"Well let's just go because I'm not changing clothes now." Ron nodded slowly and held out a hand.
"I thought we could apparate together."
Taking his hand, they arrived with a pop at The Three Broomsticks. The bustling crowd was inviting and Hermione let out the breath she hadn't realised that she was holding. She had hoped that he wouldn't try to make it something "romantic" because the man didn't know romance if it bit him on the butt. Entering the pub, Rosemerta made her way over to seat them for the meal.
"The usual table; Mr Weasley?" Ron's ears burned red in the dim lighting and Hermione's brow furrowed. Usual table? What did that mean?
"N-no not tonight Rose, I booked one for tonight." He stammered. Rosemerta frowned and took a closer look at Hermione, a horrified expression dawned on her face. Trying to backpedal as quickly as possible Rosemerta trembled.
"Oh, sorry I didn't realise. I must have gotten you confused with one of your brothers. Sorry, Ron wasn't it?" Ron nodded and blushed furiously.
"Right this way please." She led the couple to an alcove behind a wooden beam that had a nice view of the bar and nothing else. Hermione waited until the barmaid had disappeared to get some menus before closing her eyes and counting to 10.
"It wasn't anything Mione." The words penetrated her ears and Hermione decided that 10 wasn't enough. 20 came around by the time Rosemerta had come back and pulled Hermione from her counting.
"Here's your menus, let me know at the bar if you need anything else." As Rosemerta raced off, Hermione took one last deep breath and looked at Ron.
"Let's just decide on a meal shall we?" he nodded in agreement and they both looked at the menus. Hermione decided quickly and stood from her seat. As Ron looked up quizzically she motioned to the bar before leaving the table. Weaving between customers, Hermione stood at the bar and waited to be served.
Draco's POV
Nursing the same firewhisky for an hour was a dismal task, but somehow he had done it. After last night Draco was in no mood to get drunk again, but at Blaise's insistence had accompanied the man down to Hogsmead's local haunt. It was boring, listening to Blaise chat to Theodore Nott about Ginny and how wonderful it was going. He wasn't jealous he told himself, it was just boring talk. Mindless drivel. He didn't want kinky foreplay or dangerous black lace. Yet in the back of his mind, a petite frame and luscious curls danced. At first Draco thought he was imagining the extravagant cascade of curls moving through the crowd towards the bar. Then as he crowd watched he noticed the messy mop of the ginger oaf and his gaze swung back to where he had though he had seen those curls. Merlin, she was everywhere. As she waited at the bar, a mischievous feeling settled on him. Turning to Blaise and Theo, he excused himself and disappeared into the crowd. Knowing that Blaise would still be watching, Draco zig zagged across the room to get to where the Gryffindor Princess stood. Squeezing in beside her, he leant over and whispered in her ear.
"I didn't think you would go 2 nights in a row Granger"
Hermione's POV
The whispered words fluttered in her ear, and she shivered. Circe! Why did he make her react like that?
"I'm here with Ron actually, Malfoy. How was your head this morning?" she whispered back, turning to look at him. A smirk graced his features and made his eyes shine.
"Absolutely horrible. Who would have thought that the Gryffindor Princess could hold her liquor?" the question made her snigger and turn back to the bar just as Rosemerta came up to her.
"Rose, can I have 2 butterbeers and 2 shots of firewhisky please." Draco arched an eyebrow at her order and she grinned saucily in response.
"The shots are for us. For last night's sake." She said as Rosemerta put them down in front of them. Grabbing hers, she knocked it back and looked expectantly at Draco, who grabbed his and shot it down.
"Thanks Granger, but I think you better get back to your oaf before he comes looking for you. Merlin knows he's only faithful when he's around you, isn't that right Rosie." And with that Draco slid away from the bar, leaving her standing there with Rosemerta. Slowly, Hermione faced the bar once more and looked at Rosemerta.
"What did you mean about the usual earlier? What do you know? And don't give me any of that crap about the wrong brother, because I know you didn't expect to see me with him." Rosemerta looked nervous at her questions and edged away a little.
"Now doll, don't think anything of what I said earlier, it really was just the wrong brother-"
"Don't lie to me." The barmaid's jaw trembled and she squeezed her hands.
"Maybe you should ask him."
"Maybe I want to know what's going on that you seem to know about Rosemerta. I'm no fool and I don't take lightly to liars." Hermione hissed grabbing hold of the 2 butterbeers, Hermione stalked away towards Ron.
"How many have you brought here to your 'usual table'?" she demanded when he looked up. A blush spread over his face once more and his left eye twitched.
"I don't know what you're talking about Hermione. I haven't-"
"Liar. I'll be at Harry's if you feel like telling me the truth." Placing one butterbeer down on the table she drank the other and left without a backwards glance.
Blaise's POV
While chatting to Theo had been great catch up, Blaise was secretly more interested in what Draco was doing. When Draco was back at his side he leant over.
"Have fun stirring up trouble?"
Draco chuckled.
"Yep. I've decided that Granger's not so bad after all."
Hey there everybody!
So after 2 weeks as a volunteer staff member for Doxa Summer Camps (Australia, Victoria) I came back after meeting so many new people and kids and a new outlook on life in general. So I started writing again.
I also got into my Undergraduate (Bachelor of Education) course today and have been super excited!
Thus the new update and I'm already part way through the next chapter as well!
to all those that might still be checking for updates, I am pleased to announce that I will be working on this hopefully more often as I have the word fever!
Please leave me some feedback, I love to hear from you guys!
Tah for now, Tay x