The months past quickly for Hermione finally Easter Break was upon them. "I'm going to stay with the Weasleys for a few days. Then we will meet at the Leaky Cauldron." Hermione told Malfoy as they boarded the Hogwarts Express. "And we are to make sure we are at the Burrow for Easter dinner."
"Sounds good. I take it we are getting two rooms at the Leaky Cauldron?" Malfoy asked, raising an eyebrow to which Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Of course we are, I don't think we are in a one room stage of our relationship. Do you?" Hermione asked as they sat down in a compartment and were quickly joined by their friends.
"No, I guess we are not." Malfoy sighed as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
The group walked off the train once they arrived in London. "Have a good few days, I'll see you at the Leaky Cauldron." Hermione said, saying goodbye to Malfoy as Luna greeted Harry and Ron, who was standing beside him, glared at her.
"Goodbye." Malfoy said as he gave her a quick peck then apperated away. Hermione sighed as she turned towards the boys.
"Ron." She said as she walked up to him.
"I see you're still with the ferret." Ron said.
"Of course I am. He's actually trying to make this work." Ron scoffed.
"I doubt that. I bet the first fight you two have he's going to be crying to his father and talking about how much he hates you." Hermione groaned. "Tell me I'm wrong."
"For your information we already had a fight and have obviously made up. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm ready to go to the Burrow and see the classifieds your mother set aside for me." Hermione said, brushing past him and greeting Harry.
"Hermione, Ginny." Molly said as they walked into the house. "How has school been?"
"Good." Hermione said, hugging the woman. "How have you been?"
"Oh, busy as always. How are things with your soulmates?"
"Good." Ginny gushed. "Hermione and Malfoy not so much."
"He's having a hard time remembering to be mindful of the fact that I'm muggleborn. But we are taking this holiday for me to show him the muggle world so he has a better understanding of where I am from. Speaking of, where are the classifieds?"
"Over there, I circled a few that looked promising." Hermione thanked Molly and made her way to the kitchen table and started looking over the papers.
A few days later Hermione walked through the fireplace into the Leaky Cauldron. Malfoy stood off to the side leaning against the wall. "When did you get here?" Hermione asked.
"An hour ago, we went ahead and got our rooms." He replied, giving her a quick peck. "They are adjoining with a locking door."
"Show me the way." Hermione said, motioning to the main part of the room. Malfoy chuckled as he started towards the staircase.
"So what is the plan for the weeks?" He asked.
"Tomorrow we are going to Gringotts and a store that sells muggle clothes." At Malfoy's confused look she elaborated. "You obviously can't be walking around in wizarding robes, so there is a store for witches and wizards to blend in with muggles when they go to the muggle world."
"Very well, but what about tonight?" Malfoy asked as he handed Hermione her room key.
"I figured we could have a date night. I'm sure you have some very good wizarding restaurants we can go to." Malfoy smirked.
"I know exactly where we can go tonight." He leaned against the door frame as Hermione pulled out a suitcase the size of a doll's. "You need to wear a dress though."
"Party dress or formal dress?" Hermione asked as the suitcase grew to normal size.
"Formal." Hermione smiled.
"Don't worry, Pansy and Daphne sent me a few just in case." Malfoy smirked as she walked over and gave him a kiss.
"Good, unpack and I will pick you up for dinner around 7." Hermione smiled as she ushered him out the door and returned to her suitcase.
At seven Malfoy knocked on Hermione's door. "Come in." Malfo opened the door to see Hermione standing in front of the mirror, putting in a pair of silver drop earrings. Her hair was piled on top of her head and she wore a strapless midnight blue dress. "Wow." Hermione smirked as she looked over at Malfoy.
"Ready?" She asked, grabbing her black clutch that was laying on the bed. Malfoy offered his arm.
"I will lead the way." Malfoy said as they headed out of the Leaky Cauldron and to a restaurant off the main path of Diagon Alley. "My father would bring my mother here every anniversary." Malfoy explained as they were seated.
"Interesting." Hermione opened her menu and her eyes widened. "There are no prices."
"Of course not." Malfoy scoffed. "Places like this do not put prices on the menu, you know you are going to be spending a lot of money so does how much really matter?" Hermione glowered at him. "Am I wrong?"
"It must be nice to be made out of money." She responded.
"Do not worry, after a while you will get used to it. Now, what kind of wine do you like?" Malfoy asked.
The following morning found the couple walking through Diagon Alley towards Gringotts. "So how much money are we exchanging?"
"Enough to put money on an apartment if I like one." Hermione said.
"What type of apartment are you looking for?" Malfoy asked.
"One big enough to hold my books, and books to come." Malfoy chuckled. "But honestly I will probably just get a one bedroom or a studio. I don't know what job I'm going to have after school so I need to be cautious about what apartment I get."
"And I am guessing you do not want any help from me." Malfoy mused.
"Of course not. I am a strong woman, I can afford my own apartment." Their conversation paused while Hermione exchanged her money. "And you have no say in the apartment either."
"Why not?" Malfoy asked.
"We just got together. There is no guarantee that we will be good living together. Maybe in the next year or two."
"I guess that makes sense." Malfoy said as they entered a shop. "Oh Merlin."
They stood in a room filled with various types of clothes. The clothes were grouped by gender then by style. A mannequin beside them was wearing a grunge skater outfit. "I am not wearing this am I?"
"Of course not. Who do you think I am?" Hermione asked, heading into the men's section. She pointed at a mannequin with a white button down shirt under a blue sweater over a pair of jeans. "That is what you will be wearing." Malfoy just raised his eyebrow as a sales person walked up to them.
"How can I help?" She asked.
"We need a few outfits for him." Hermione said, motioning towards Malfoy. "I was thinking about that style."
"Of course, follow me please." The salesperson snapped her fingers as she led the way to the dressing room. A tape measure came and started measuring him, much like their first time at Ollivander's. "Right in here, I will bring you clothes in just a second." Malfoy took a deep breath and entered the room.
After finding Malfoy a few outfits they started looking at apartments. Over the next few days Malfoy followed Hermione around apartment to apartment, groaning with every no she gave. "What is wrong with that one?" Malfoy asked as they walked out of the apartment building.
"Did you see the size of that closet?" Hermione asked. "Pansy and Daphne are always sending me clothes so I 'fit in with you'. I need room for them all."
"Sorry." Malfoy said.
"It's no problem. At least I know they care." Hermione shrugged.
"Hey, do you mind if I leave you for a minute? Blaise asked me to join him for lunch."
"No problem. I'll come meet you at the Leaky Cauldron around 1." Malfoy smiled as he kissed her cheek and walked away.
A little while later Hermione walked into the Leaky Cauldron, heading towards the stairs with bags in hand when she spotted Malfoy at the bar, chatting with Blaise. She smiled as she made her way to the two guys. "It is so ridiculous Blaise, I have to wear different clothes that you know are not as clean as mine. And I have to follow her around and act nice to these muggles that are not worth my time."
"But it makes her happy right?" Blaise asked.
"Oh it makes her happy, but I want to stab something every time we greet a new person."
"What will you do once she moves into the muggle apartments?" Blaise asked, taking a sip of his drink.
"I doubt she will. She keeps turning down everyone we go to. I am going to try and convince her to look at some here. You know she will not let me help her with the apartment." Malfoy shook his head.
"You know she does not care about money." Blaise pointed out.
"I get that, I do. But if I have to be forced to interact with muggles I at least want to be somewhere comfortable while I do it. And not in a place that reeks of poor." Hermione's mouth fell open. She took a deep breath then started towards the fireplace. "Anyway, she'll be here soon. More apartments to look at." Malfoy rolled his eyes as he turned around, just in time to see Hermione disappear in a puff of green smoke. "Shite." He muttered .