I've never been to London, so any mistakes may be blamed on that. Thanks for reading!

When Saturday dawned, Hermione was already awake, pacing restlessly. She was nervous, there was no denying that. She wanted the pure-bloods to change their minds about Muggles, and even though she knew that probably wouldn't happen in a day, it was still very important to her that today went well. She couldn't explain just why this was so important to her, although if she was being entirely honest with herself she'd have to admit that she wanted Draco to change his mind more than anyone else. She couldn't deny he was having an increasingly important role in her life, and that she was growing fonder of him with every day that passed.

(Mostly, that is. There were also days that she simply wanted to strangle him.)

By ten o'clock, they all met in the entrance hall. All but Luna, that is. A very grumpy looking Theo complained about having to get out of bed too early and demanded they leave without the latecomer.

"Honestly, Theodore," Hermione rebuked him. "It's ten in the morning, not six. No need to be so dramatic. I'm sure she'll be here any minute."

She took a moment to observe how they all were dressed; it was rather odd to see them all in Muggle clothing. She'd transfigured Draco's clothes into jeans and a shirt, and she had to admit he looked rather good in them.

In the end, twenty minutes passed, and when Luna showed up, it was with Daphne Greengrass in tow.

"Sorry we're late," Luna said. "We went to see McGonagall to ask if Dapnhe could come along. You don't mind, do you?"

"You have got to be kidding me!" Pansy yelled. "Come on, Daph, how could you not tell me? I expected better from you!" That being said, she handed Blaise twenty galleons. "I hate you," she told him. "And I know you cheated, somehow. You will regret it."

Both Draco and Theo were snickering, but they quickly shut up at the glare she fixed on one then the other.

"What is going on?" Ron asked, looking at all the Slytherins confusedly.

"Daph is, apparently, dating Loony. Blaise told us but we refused to believe him so he and Pansy betted twenty galleons on it, and long story short they might as well stop this whole betting nonsense because it always ends back at the start," Theo answered.

"That's because he always cheats!" Pansy exclaimed, pointing at Zabini. "I earned that money fair and square, like I always do, but then he acts like the arsehole he is and tricks me into giving it back."

"So just stop letting him goad you!" Theodore said, growing a bit tired at his friends' antics.

"Oh so now it's my fault? Why don't you just tell him to stop cheating!"

"GUYS, PLEASE!" Hermione shouted. "Can we keep this pointless discussion for a latter date so we can finally leave, now?"

"Fine," Pansy said, before exiting the castle in a huff. The others followed her, Daphne and Luna walking a couple of paces back, hand in hand.

"I didn't see this coming, at all," Hermione admitted in a hushed voice to Ginny and Draco, who were each walking on one side of her.

"No one did, I should think," Draco said.

Upon noticing the look on Ginny's face, Hermione said: "You knew, didn't you?"

"Of course I did. I always notice these kind of things, and Luna isn't half as reluctant to share interesting information as you are, Hermione."

"I should hope Hermione isn't as eager to share as most of you Gryffindors seem to be," Draco said, throwing a disdainful look at Ginny. "Anyone with half a brain knows that it is unwise to share much personal information."

"And anyone with decent friends knows that they're the exception," Ginny retorted. "It's not because you Slytherins are untrustworthy little—"

"Ginny! Enough!" Hermione interrupted her friend, before another fight broke out. "Can you all please just behave, today? I'd like this day to not end in catastrophy, if possible."

"Not very likely," Draco mumbled, before catching up with Theo.

There were three more squabbles before they arrived at the Three Broomsticks, a fact that Hermione attributed (and rightly so) to the Pure-bloods' nervousness. So, with considerable effort, she stayed calm and refrained from responding to offense, although the same could not be said from her friends. She was infinitely grateful for the calming presence of Luna and Daphne. Luna, for being unaware of any brewing tension and accidentally interupting a fight with such an odd question that it silenced everyone, and Daphne who had apparently taken on the role of mediator and tried to keep her housemates in check.

When they entered the Three Broomsticks, Draco stiffened and paled at the sight of Madam Rosmerta. Hermione noticed and, forgetting his previous crossness, took hold of his hand. This was no gesture of pretense, meant to fool others into believing they had married for love. This was comfort, support, even affection, and they both knew it. As soon as Hermione realized the meaning of her gesture, she wanted to jerk her hand back, frightened at Draco's possible negative reaction, but instead, after a first moment of shock, he squeezed her hand in what she assumed was gratitude.

Rosmerta, having been warned by McGonagall as to who exactly was going to show up in her bar, didn't show any emotion on her face and instead lead the students to her Floo, not once looking at Draco.

"See you in the Leaky Cauldron," Hermione said, throwing Floo powder in the fire and going in first. She had asked Harry to go last, to make sure no one tried to sneak off at the last minute.

She was too slow in moving away from the hearth, however, and Draco stumbled into her, almost sending the both of them to the ground. He managed to keep them upright by belting an arm around her waist, and immediately moved a few steps away from the fire where Zabini already appeared.

"Silly Granger," he said, still holding her tight. "Don't you know you always have to clear a public Floo? It can lead to terribly awkward situations otherwise, you know."

"I guess it's a good thing you were next, then," she said, leaning into him. She rather liked the feeling.

"Are you sure you don't want to ditch the rest and this crazy plan? We could—"

"Oh no!" she interrupted him, stepping away immediately. "You won't be able to convince me to give up on this idea."

He smirked in an arrogant and yet somehow very attractive way. "Oh, I think you'll find I can be very persuasive, sweetheart."

"Tsk, Draco," Blaise intervened. "Keep it in your pants, will you? This is a group activity."

Draco rolled his eyes but refrained from replying, and soon they were all gathered in the Leaky Cauldron.

"Shall we go, then?" Hermione said.

"Don't we have time for a fortifying drink before leaving?" Pansy asked, her face a shade paler than normally.

"Seriously? It's eleven in the morning," Hermione replied. "Look, it's really not as bad as you all think, alright? Just follow my lead."

It was pretty bad, at first. The cars, the red lights, the noise, the crowds,... It was all rather overwhelming. Draco jumped away everytime someone brushed against him; Blaise almost got hit by a car, twice, and by a bycicle, thrice; Theodore became so nervous he clinged to Harry, who was a bit confused but, after trying to shrug him off and failing, just kind of let it happen, to Ginny's merriment; they would've lost Luna, possibly forever, if Daphne hadn't been paying such close attention to her; and Ron was delighted when he discovered there were places you could get something to eat 24/7.

In fact it was Ron who got used to the situation the quickest of them all, and Hermione was rather proud at how easily he adapted to this new world. Where the Slytherins, and to a lesser extent Ginny, were so intimidated that they scarce dared look around properly, Ron started to ask questions about... well, pretty much everything he saw. At first, Hermione was more than happy to answer and explain all she could, but after a while it grew tiresome.

"What's that?"

"That's a dog, Ronald. We have those in the wizarding world, too."

"Right. But it's so small! Why is it so small? And, hey, is that an icecream shop? What kind of flavours do they have? Do they taste differently than in the wizarding world? And—"

"Weasley, if you don't shut your mouth right this instant I will push you under one of those buses," Pansy said threateningly.

"I'll help," Ginny volunteered.

Ron reddened a bit, glared at both Pansy and his sister, and muttered something about 'stupid Slytherins always ruining everything'.

"Don't worry, Ron," Hermione said. "We'll come back, and then I'll explain some more, alright? As for now, we've arrived at our first destination: The National Gallery!" She gestured at the impressive building up the stairs and was happy to notice they all seemed impressed by it.

"How about we all just go our own way and meet back here in... say, two hours?"

They all nodded before venturing inside. Hermione wandered off on her own, as she always preferred to do when in museums. For some time she was utterly and entirely absorbed in the wonderful world of paintings, forgetting about her troubles, her reason for being there, and who she came here with.

It was only when she noticed Draco staring intently at a painting, alone also, that she was reminded of the purpose of her visit.

"And, what do you think of it?"

"I'm not sure yet," Draco answered, his head cocked to the side. "It's so very different. In our world, paintings are useful. Portraits we can communicate with, historical happenings, and the like. But this, for example," he gestured at Van Gogh's sunflowers, "it has no purpose other than beauty."

"I wouldn't say that," Hermione disagreed. "Art is all about emotions. It's purpose is to make you feel something."

"Oh. Yeah, I suppose I can see that. Why is it so different?"

"I've wondered that for quite some time, too. My theory is that wizard society, convinced of their superiority, kind of stagnated at a certain point, while Muggles never ceased inventing new things, discovering and understanding the world, pushing themselves to the limit,... Just think of how much the wizarding world still has to learn!"

Draco shot her an odd look, but didn't protest. The museum must have made quite an impression on him.

A while later they joined the others at the entrance of the museum.

"So, did you guys like it?"

"Yes," Luna answered. "Did you notice other people's expressions while they were looking at the paintings? It was fascinating, really."

Daphne smiled affectionately. "She spent more time watching other people than the art, actually. I quite liked some of it, although it was a tad long in the end."

"I liked it," Theodore said, looking troubled. "It was most impressive. I must admit to being a bit rattled."

"That's perfectly normal," Hermione said with a kind smile. "It will take some time to adjust."

"What's next?" Harry asked.

"I'd say it's time for food," Blaise said.

"I couldn't agree more," Ron said, with an approving look at the Slytherin.

"Alright. I'm going to bring you somewhere that not everyone likes, but it is something you don't find in our world," she said, careful to not mention strange words that could be overheard. "Please give it a chance before you start judging."

And then she brought them to a McDonalds.

Granted, it had been a risk. She knew that. But Harry too had supported her idea, and she figured she might as well give it a try. As soon as they entered, however, the pure-bloods balked.

"This is horrendous!" Pansy exclaimed.

"Despicable!"

"Gross!"

"Granger, no offense, but this looks like a place for poor people. We are not poor, so why don't we go to a nice and expensive restaurant, huh? My treat," said Blaise, earning himself an exasperated look from all those who were not in Slytherin.

"Just give it a try," Harry said. "It tastes great. Like, seriously, it'll change your lives."

This, apparently, was enough to convince Ron, Ginny and Luna. They all followed the Chosen One to order their meal. The Slytherins didn't budge.

"I'm going to get some food, too," Hermione told them. "Considering the fact that you know nothing of this side of town and I'm the only one with appropriate money, I suggest you follow."

They hesitated for a while, looking displeased, but, in the end, Blaise was the first to capitulate. "What? I'm hungry," he said. "Tell me what to pick, Granger. If you insist on taking me here, the least you can do is get me the best," he added rudely.

"Careful, Blaise," Draco spoke through gritted teeth. "I'm as displeased with this situation as you are, but have a care at how you talk to my wife."

Blaise stiffened. "Of course. My apologies, Hermione."

Hermione stared at the two men, wide-eyed. What just happened? Pansy offered her a pitying look. "If you are so determined to teach us about your world," she said. "Allow me to offer you the same courtesy. You have a lot to learn about how we grew up."

"I'd appreciate that, yes," Hermione answered. "And apology accepted, Blaise, although you'll have to choose for yourself. I would have helped you, gladly, if you had simply asked."

"Fair enough," he said. "You'll still pay, right? I don't have any Muggle money."

He was immediately hushed by Ginny and Theo. "People will hear."

"Of course I'll pay. Now just pick a menu, will you?"

She leaned towards Draco, so she could talk to him without being overheard. "That's the second time you defend me like that. And against your friend now, too. Was it necessary to be so harsh to him? He's nervous and uncomfortable, and I could have handled it."

Draco sighed. "I'm sure Pansy will explain it, it's a pure-blood thing."

"But—"

"Look, you want me to see more of the Muggle word, right? To understand it? Well, I'm here, and I'm trying. I ask that you do the same for the old wizarding traditions."

Hermione sucked in a breath of air. She knew he was right, that she ought to compromise, but... "It's rather hard to bring up the desire of learning more about those traditions when they are the reason people have tried to kill me since I was twelve years old, Draco."

He looked at her for the longest time. "Seems a bit unfair to judge an entire culture based on the behaviour of a few extremists, don't you think?" he said. "I agree that there is a lot that should be changed or discarded altogether, but not everything pure-blooded is evil, you know."

"Hermione? Time to pay!" Ginny called her away before she could answer, and she was glad for it. She could not deny that Draco was right, but she wasn't quite ready to embrace those traditions either. Some things took time.

Once they all had their food, Harry, Ron and Hermione dug in without hesitation. "Damn," said Ron. "This is really good."

"Right?" Hermione and Harry said at the same time.

Ginny and Luna were convinced soon enough, and were both delighted at the unexpected taste. Pansy tried a fry then, and the shock on her face when she discovered she quite liked the taste was worthy of a picture. "This is really good," she said, promptly stuffing her face with a mouthful more.

Blaise succombed as well then. "You're all exaggerating," was his opinion. "It's not that good. But it isn't as bad as I thought it would be, either."

Theo agreed with Blaise, but Draco? He took a liking to it. In fact, as soon as he finished his own meal, he started stealing fries from Hermione.

"Draco Malfoy, you stop it right this instance or you will come to regret it."

"Of course, dear," he said, before stealing another fry.

"Why you little—" Without a moment's hesitation, Hermione smeared some ketchup in her husband's hair. "There," she said, with satisfaction. "That'll teach you."

Her friends burst out laughing, quickly followed by Draco's friends too, while Draco looked at Hermione with his mouth wide open, betrayal in his eyes.

"How dare you?" he finally said. "My hair!"

This only caused the group to laugh harder, while Hermione wisely put some distance between herself and Draco. "I warned you," she defended herself. "You didn't listen."

"You will regret this," he told her, before heading to the toilets, probably to spell his hair clean.

When she stopped laughing, Hermione began to realize that she might be in trouble, because she had a feeling Draco most definitely intended to keep his word and a vengeful Slytherin was never a good thing. But there was no time for worrying at the moment.

It was time to go to the movies.

What did you think?