They landed softly in a dark alley, the sounds of muggle sirens echoing between the tall buildings of London. Her small hand still rested in his. He watched as she attempted to orient herself after apparating, squeezing tightly as she steadied herself. Reluctantly, he let go after she found her footing, and with a tap of his wand transfigured his Unspeakable robes into a pair of black jeans and green sweater. Hermione chuckled and followed suit, transfiguring her robes into a purple shift dress. Draco eyed her appreciatively, taking in her strong legs, curvy waist, and perfectly rounded breasts. When his eyes reached hers, she was looking at him amusedly and shook her head.
"Do I pass?" She asked twirling dramatically.
"Not bad Granger," he said neutrally, although he was oh so tempted to throw her up against the wall and snog her into the weekend.
"You're not so bad yourself Malfoy," she teased back. "Where are we going? I never thought you'd like to foray into muggle London on a Friday night."
"Only the best for the Minister of Magic," he said truthfully. "Although where we go depends on if you've eaten lunch today."
"Not you too," she whined. "The whole lot of you are on my case."
"No, I just don't want you to drink on an empty stomach," he said triumphantly. "Your caloric intake today determines where we go for dinner."
"I thought we were just doing drinks," she said suspiciously, staring at him with narrow eyes.
"There will be drinks, but there will also be food Granger," he sassed, rolling his eyes. "Call it what you want, but I see this as a great opportunity for us to get to know each other." He hoped he didn't sound too interested or forward. Coworkers could go out, and now that they were just that, well...it seemed like a great plan. He chuckled inwardly, pleased with his cleverness.
"You're right, I'm sorry," she sighed. "I am bloody starving now that you mention food."
"Even better. I promise to have you home by midnight, Cinderella," he joked.
"Ha-ha Malfoy," she said nudging him playfully with her shoulder. "Lead the way."
Draco began showing her out of the alley, conflicted on whether or not to grasp her hand again. He decided against it, best not push his luck. He wanted to show off just a little, and had resolved to bring her to Killigan's, a posh restaurant-bar in the West End. The duo walked together closely, winding their way through the theater crowds hurrying to late night performances. They stopped at a cross street, and he watched as her eyes lit up, taking in the hustle and bustle of the crisp Friday evening. Out of habit, he surveyed the crowd, looking for potential danger hidden within the muggle city. It would be his damn luck that someone tried to attack them after all these peaceful years.
"Anything good?" She mused quietly beside him. He shook his head, grasping the end of his wand discretely as he felt people brush past them. "Constant vigilance," she muttered.
When he deemed it was safe, he grabbed her hand instinctively, and directed them towards the restaurant. The archway was ornately crafted with aged wood and vines, and a few tables outside were packed with dining couples. Heated lamps had been stationed between the tables, and large candles lit the entryway for guests. He grabbed the door ahead of her, and said "after you." When she passed, he could smell her light perfume and felt his head get dizzy with the sweet aroma. Sighing deeply, he squared his shoulders and entered the restaurant.
Killigan's had been recommended highly to Draco by an old client that had worked with the family business. He had been extremely surprised to find it in the heart of muggle London, but pleased with its dynamic menu and extensive wine list. The ambience didn't hurt either. The restaurant had tall vaulted ceilings made of dark mahogany, with various sized lanterns hanging to provide a light source. The main eating area was split level, with a grand piano at the center featuring a jazz quartet. The tables were spread perfectly apart, ensuring one's privacy over dinner.
"Reservation for Malfoy," Draco said in his best aristocratic business voice. The hostess blushed under his gaze and looked to give Hermione her best glare as she searched for his name. He was tempted to remind this woman who she was dealing with, but thought better of it when Hermione gave his hand a squeeze. He looked down at her to find her motioning to the woman and rolling her eyes.
"Of course Mr. Malfoy, we have you all set up. Please follow Michele this way," the woman said airly. He nodded and followed Hermione and the hostess to their table, which was perfectly secluded from the main section of tables. He held out Hermione's chair for her, grinning as she flushed before tucking in. As Draco sat down, the hostess began rattling off their specials, but he was too busy watching the flames from the candle dance off Hermione's rosy cheeks. He politely thanked the hostess and began scanning the menu.
"Why thank you Mr. Malfoy," Hermione teased in an overly sultry voice. "A reservation? Really?" she said skeptically.
"You never know when an opportunity presents itself, Miss Granger," he said emphasizing her verbiage. He thought he saw her shiver but waved it off as his overactive imagination. "Is this alright?"
"Of course!" she exclaimed happily. Her fingers began tapping the table as she became engrossed in the menu. "What do you suggest?"
"Well that depends on your goals. I hear they have the best fish and chips in town, but that might be more of a snack. For dinner, I hear the filet is to die for."
"So many options," she sighed flipping the menu over. "Filet does sound good though. What are you getting?"
"I think the salmon. Want to split the fish and chips for a starter?" he asked hopefully. She nodded enthusiastically before setting her menu down.
"I'm a lot hungrier than I originally anticipated," she grinned sheepishly. A handsome waiter with dark hair and dark eyes approached their table, his eyes glued to Hermione. Draco leant back into his chair, watching as the server flashed a dazzling smile to his dinner companion. She smiled back politely and looked at Draco to order. When the man met Draco's eyes, his smile faltered, and he immediately began his rehearsed introduction.
"Good evening, my name is Christopher and I will be your waiter this evening," he stammered. "Any wine for the table?"
"Yes, we'll have a bottle of your best red to start," he drawled. The waiter nodded and quickly began jotting down their order. "And then we'll have the fish and chips, followed by the filet and salmon. Medium ok?" He asked Hermione, who nodded happily. "Medium it is. Can we also have the house salad? Thank you." The waiter reviewed their order and all but took off towards the kitchen.
"I think you scared him off," Hermione snickered. He shook his head, wondering if he was looking at her the way the server had. "This place is great, by the way. You have very refined tastes."
"Plenty of years trying new places and meeting new clients in the past. It was about the only positive thing that came from working in the family business," he admitted. A second waiter came by and displayed the bottle of red wine to Draco. He uncorked it, pouring a sample into each of their glasses to allow them the opportunity of sampling. "Do you like it?"
"Yes, I think it is well balanced," she commented smoothly. He couldn't agree more, and motioned to the waiter to fill their glasses. When he walked away, Draco noticed Hermione waved her wand discretely, casting a Muffliato charm. "Just in case," she added sheepishly. "So, why did you decide to leave the family business? Too much fine dining?"
He laughed, sitting up straight in his seat. "Unfortunately that was not the reason, although it did make work tolerable for a while," he began. "After I completed Hogwarts, I was approached by a few clients who wished to have me work under their companies. Of course, they hadn't realized that Lucius had been teaching me the ins and outs of the accounts prior to my graduation. I was rather pissed off that I had to not only salvage the Malfoy name, but also refine the business that surely had questionable connections. It was a difficult undertaking," he sighed, running a hand through his blonde hair. "My mother was adamant about cleaning up the business and then selling the accounts, and I agreed. I was good at it, sure. I can talk the talk when necessary," he winked, causing her to roll her eyes in return. "But, I've always liked to learn new things. I enjoy being challenged intellectually. Rebranding the business would have been easy. In the end, selling it relieved us of a huge burden while also providing me the opportunities to explore other areas of study."
Hermione hummed in agreement, sipping her wine elegantly. "So, do you think you would be resorted into Slytherin right now or do you think Ravenclaw would have gained its newest member?"
"Once a Slytherin, always a Slytherin," he smirked. "Although I do think sorting a bunch of eleven year olds based on so-called personality traits is a bit rash. It predetermines your stereotype without giving you a chance to hit puberty. We all change, and I don't really believe the sorting hat knows who we are in that instant."
"I totally agree," she responded avidly. "I like to think I've proven myself to be rather ballsy in the past," she said proudly, "but we all know how much of a know-it-all I can be."
"Insufferable, as Snape often referred to you as," Draco teased. "Though I think towards the end it was touched with a bit of affection."
"Luna said the same thing," she said dryly. "I think he was just jealous."
"I know I was," Draco grumbled. "Made us all look bad."
"You were such a git," she said smiling. "But, I think we'll keep you."
"Hmmm," he replied noncommittally. "I suppose we are just stuck with you, being Minister and all that."
"That was my goal this entire time," she laughed. The waiter quickly stopped by, providing fresh bread along with their fish and chips. Hermione's eyes widened and he motioned for her to dig in. She split the loaf of bread, handing him a half before tucking into her piece.
"Enough about me, tell me about your childhood. Before you knew you were a witch," he said, taking a sip of his wine. He watched her attempt to fight a rogue curl that had escaped the plait she set at the hospital. After successfully tucking it behind her ear, she fidgeted with her dish as she thought of where to begin.
"Well," she started, "I had a very comfortable childhood. My parents were dentists, healers who work on teeth," she reminded him automatically. "As I'm sure you know, Healers are well respected in the muggle world and paid very well. Anyway, they had owned a private practice so I really never wanted for anything. I had a few friends growing up, but I always felt different," she admitted.
"When was your first bout of accidental magic?" He asked kindly. She laughed and sipped her wine, and he noticed her cheeks had taken on a permanent flush.
"I was apparently three years old, and my Mum was trying to brush my hair after a bath. It was awful, seeing as how curly this thing is," she said pointing to her head. "She was running the brush through my hair and I got so fed up with her going at it, I sent the brush and all of the bathroom products to the ceiling. They finally dropped and nearly knocked her out when they fell!" Draco laughed at the image, imagining her poor mum's fright at the so-called impossible.
"I'm assuming there were other incidents?" He asked, grabbing a portion of the fish and chips between them. She nodded enthusiastically, laughing.
"Not nearly as exciting as the first, but basically I could not go to the local library as I would start summoning books I wanted while roaming the aisles."
"How fitting," he snorted. "A know it all from the start."
"And you?" She asked politely. "Or did you just fly out of your mother's womb on a broom casting Expelliarmus?"
"You offend me Granger," he said playfully. She giggled and dipped a french fry in tartar sauce. "My parents were hosting some swanky party, one which I evidently wanted no part of, and some woman started pinching my cheeks. So I set her robes on fire," Draco said grinning. Hermione nearly choked on her fry, causing him to laugh even louder.
"I expected nothing less," she finally got out. "Was your mum cross?"
"No way," he said sighing. "Lucius was, but that was nothing new. Mum, however, was over the moon."
"Her baby was oh so special," Hermione teased. He nodded proudly and noticed a string of waiters bringing out the rest of their food. He waved his wand under the table, casting a Finite before they reached them.
"Food's here," he murmured, refilling their wine glasses. The two tucked into their entrees, enjoying each other's company in comfortable silence. He couldn't remember the last time he had laughed so much, even at his own expense. That was something he rarely did, but Granger seemed to get away with such things. He stole a glance at her, watching her savor the filet mignon. It should have been a crime to enjoy something the way she was. She took a sip of her wine, glancing at him with what he could only discern as a shy smile. Her full lips were tinted with the wine's pigment, her cheeks flushed from the alcohol running through her veins. Draco noticed a few freckles that had escaped the bridge of her nose run across her lower eyelids, blanketed by thick eyelashes. He managed to spot a few freckles run from her collarbone and dip lower…
"This is lovely Draco, thank you for taking me here," she sighed contently. "This is a nice break from the Leaky Cauldron."
"Anytime," he replied smoothly. "Although I apologize there is no firewhiskey at this establishment."
"Hey!" She said indignantly. "I do enjoy an aged bottle of wine over firewhiskey nine out of ten times."
"And that other time?" He asked curiously.
"Sometimes the event requires firewhiskey," she winked. He felt a lump rise in his throat at the thought of what could possible call for firewhiskey but maintained a cool disposition.
"Sometimes indeed," he huffed.
"Where to after dinner?" She asked kindly. "I believe someone said 'the night was young,'" she drawled, poorly imitating his very smooth and aristocratic voice.
"Let's see if you can make it through dessert," he mused. "The apple crumble is divine."
"Oh," she breathed heavily. "I can never pass up a good apple crumb." He smiled triumphantly and waved down the waiter to place their order. "I'm just going to run to the loo, be back in a minute."
Hermione stared at herself in the mirror, her eyes glazed from the wine and laughter she shared with none other than Draco Malfoy. He was smart, charming, handsome, and an absolute gentleman. Poor bloke had no idea the amount of dirty thoughts running through her mind at dinner. She wondered if he ever fucked a woman on top of a grand piano like the one playing at the restaurant's center. She couldn't help but imagine him tossing her up onto it, tearing her poor excuse of a dress off, and fucking her until she screamed his name in ecstasy. Thank god her Occlumency shields were top notch. She might've scared him off.
Were they on a date? She couldn't help but wonder. It sure felt like one. Fancy restaurant, wine, candles. Check, check, and check. But he was just "filling in" for Harry and Ron. Or was he? Ugh. She was so out of practice.
Checking for muggles, she whipped out her wand and plaited her now messy hair. She eyed her dress, running her palms down her front to smooth out the imaginary wrinkles. With a sigh, she tucked her wand back into her holster and stepped from the loo.
Hermione saw him before he noticed her return, and she took the moment to look him over. He was listening to the live band that was playing, sipping his wine sophisticatedly. He had the nicest hands, especially when they encased hers. His blonde hair was swept back, revealing a set of piercing grey eyes. Every time they landed on her throughout the meal, she felt a rush spread throughout her body and land right below her navel. She couldn't tell if it was her inexperience in dating again or perhaps something more magic based. More research was undoubtedly needed, of course. His broad shoulders were shaped by the soft green sweater he had transfigured in the alleyway, and she had to control herself from running her hands across his chest.
She was totally fucked, and not in a good way. Not yet at least.
She reached the table at the same time as the waiters, who proceeded to bring out the delicious apple crumb with complementary vanilla ice cream. He thanked them and passed the second spoon over to her, smiling kindly.
"Perfect timing," he murmured. "First scoop is yours Granger."
"That may be your biggest mistake," she grinned, scooping up a decent portion and plopping it onto her dish.
"You're on," he said, his grey eyes determined in out-eating her. She wondered if he would show the same fervor when eating her out.
Twenty minutes later, the two leaned back into their chairs, overfilled with dessert and wine. Draco groaned audibly, placing his hands comically onto his stomach.
"This must be what pregnancy is like," he whined. "I can't move." Hermione nodded in agreement, two full and drunk to comment more. The bill came and before she could reach into her wallet, Draco handed the waiter a black credit card.
"You better tell me how much I owe you Malfoy," she said sighing.
"Your companionship paid for your half," he said quietly. "And besides, I asked you out. When you want to ask me out, then you can pay."
She huffed and stared him down, his silver eyes unwavering in their heated gaze.
"Fine," she grumbled, conceding. The server returned with his card before bidding them both a "very pleasant evening". Draco stood and walked over to her side of the table, helping her up from her seat. As she stood, she felt the wine double its effect on her, and for a moment she felt weak in her knees. Or it could have been his cologne washing over her as he steered her towards the exit by the small of her back.
They stepped outside and a cold breeze rushed through them. Most of the muggles had gone home, and a few young revelers roamed the streets intent on starting the night. Draco offered his arm, which she took gratefully as they headed back towards their apparition point. They walked in silence side by side, each lost in their own thoughts. Hermione used her free arm to cast a nonverbal heating charm on them both, causing him to chuckle.
"Beat me to it," he murmured. "Care for a walk, now that we are all warm?"
"Well, it's only eleven so I've got another hour before I turn back to Minister of Magic," she said smiling. He pulled her into a dark alcove and with a soft pop, they disapparated.
Hermione felt herself hurl forward as they landed in Jubilee Gardens. The London Eye lit up the clear night sky, and she felt her lips tug upward as he dragged her towards the Thames. They walked alongside the river, enjoying the peace and quiet afforded to them on this chilly night. They talked about the newest Potter, the reunited Black sisters, and the rumored romance between Neville and sweet Hannah Abbott.
"So how many galleons have you won betting on your friends?" he asked incredulously.
"Too many, poor blokes," she laughed. "You don't need to be a seer to predict most things in our group. Just need to think things through."
"Hmm, remind me to never bet against you."
"Smart man," she murmured.
Draco continued to hold her hand, his thumb slowly tracing across her knuckles as they enjoyed gossiping. After a while, they walked in silence, greeting a few other couples taking a midnight stroll along the riverbank. Hermione felt rather than saw his tension and looked over to him. His brow was furrowed as he seemed to be fighting an internal battle with himself.
"Something wrong?" She asked tentatively. Draco shook his head but stopped walking, peering around her, always aware. He took a deep breath and sighed, squeezing her hand as he did so.
"Not a thing Hermione," he said, his voice hoarse. "Did you enjoy dinner?"
"Absolutely. The apple crumb was to die for," she sighed happily. "I haven't been out to a social dinner in ages. Always meeting with other government officials… it's burdensome."
"A social dinner, huh?" he said quietly. She stared at him then, enjoying the way the walkway lights reflected off of his platinum hair. He stood almost a foot taller than her, but she still managed to admire his sharp features. She never noticed how smooth his cheeks were, or how pink his lips were this close. He looked angelic, in the most handsome way possible. The girls at Hogwarts were right, too bad she couldn't stand him then. Gone was the cocky exterior, and in his place was, trepidation? Hesitancy? She couldn't be sure.
"What is it," she prodded, despite the thumping of her heart. She was surprised he couldn't hear it. "Something I said?"
"Bloody hell, of course not," he said snorting. "Do I have permission to speak freely Granger?"
"I thought you've always said what you thought Malfoy," she said playfully, trying to ease the tension.
"Hermione," he said seriously. "My initial intention was to actually keep our evening at happy hour. But I'm not a stupid man. I know your schedule is shit, and I imagine mine will be too in the coming weeks. But," he said taking a deep breath, "I was hoping this could actually be considered a date."
And there it was. Date. As in, sharing a meal at a nice restaurant, walking through a park at midnight, holding hands...Check, check, and check. She thought about their night, how great it was to relax and speak openly with someone so intelligent. She didn't have to explain things. He could make her laugh. He knew how to take a joke, and give it right back to her. He, of course, was easy on the eyes.
"A date?" she asked, just to confirm she had heard him correctly. He nodded quickly, staring at her intensely. "I wasn't sure," she murmured.
"About?" He asked tightly.
"I wasn't sure if this was a date or not," she said softly. She stared down at their hands, wrapped perfectly around the other. He cupped her chin, lifting her eyes to meet his.
"Give me a chance," he whispered, tracing her jaw and tucking a loose curl behind her ear.
"Work?" She reluctantly asked, despite the warmth spreading through her. He stepped forward, running his hand down her shoulder to grab her other hand. She was completely rooted in place.
"No one has to know," he said softly into her ear.
"And if it doesn't work? What then? I would never want to affect your career. Our friends?" She rationalized. He shook his head, his hot breath dancing down her neck.
"I will leave the Ministry and transfer to Paris or Berlin. As for our friends, we could spend holidays hurling insults at one another, and then I could beg you to take me back for being such an arse." They laughed, their noses brushing.
"If you're sure," she breathed. He nodded, moving his hands from hers to the small of her back.
"Never more so," he said hovering over her lips. "May I?"
She answered by covering the remaining distance, brushing her lips softly against his. He groaned and pulled her closer, their bodies flush against one another's. Hermione felt like she had chugged a bottle of Firewhiskey, her veins ignited from her head down. His hard body warmed her as they embraced, and she brought her hands to rest at the nape of his neck. Emboldened by his kiss, she tugged on the hairs found there, and he responded in kind, pulling her even more flush against him. She felt his tongue dip to her lower lip, caressing it before slipping inside to meet hers. He tasted like wine and apples, something that would forever be marked in her memory of him.
After snogging for a few moments, he pulled away, resting his forehead on hers. She breathed him in and ran her hands over the soft green sweater that held her attention for much of the night. A clock chimed the midnight bells, and Draco laughed out loud, staring off towards the sound.
"Timing is everything," he mused as he cupped her cheek affectionately. "I have no patience when it comes to things I want," he sighed. "I hope you aren't upset with me, Granger."
"Luckily for you, I too have no patience," she laughed before groaning slightly as he nipped the base of her neck. After one final kiss, he removed his lips and stepped away.
She had to admit, he looked thoroughly snogged. She started imagining how he would look thoroughly shagged before he interrupted her train of thought. "Best get you home so the Auror department doesn't send a search party for you."
"Sounds good," she replied, suddenly feeling tired. She directed them towards the public restrooms and with a quick glance, apparated them into a small park across town. "My flat is just there," she said pointing towards a group of large brownstones.
She pulled him close and reached up to his ear and whispered, "Hermione Granger lives at 136 Broker Street."
The nearby buildings shifted and a red brick brownstone appeared into view. A garden filled with tiger lilies, sunflowers, and daisies lined the pathway to her front door. She noticed Crookshanks peering down at them from the living room window, probably pissed that she was kissing another man instead of cuddling with him. She laughed to herself, and led them up to her front door, waving her wand through her layers of wards. Suddenly, she felt very shy, despite the lingering taste of him on her lips. "Thank you for a wonderful night, Draco."
He laughed and gently kissed her cheek. "The pleasure is all mine. I hope you have a nice weekend."
"You too," she sighed airily. before finally opening her door. He winked at her before descending her front steps and disapparating at the edge of her property. She closed the door and reset her wards, before transfiguring her outfit back.
As she undressed, she noticed his cologne still clung to her clothing. Grinning, she tossed them into the laundry basket, thinking of the next time she would be able to run her hands over him. After a quick shower, she put on one of Harry's old quidditch jerseys and a pair of baggy sweatpants. Sexy pajamas were not on the menu this evening. She snuggled into bed, Crookshanks finally tucking in with her after sulking for some time. Her thoughts continued to circle around a certain tall blonde that had put a complete spin on her week. As she drifted off, she could have sworn she smelled apples right before falling asleep.
I've been tinkering with this chapter for two weeks now. I was going to delay their first kiss, but then I got engaged this weekend and have been floating around NYC in my own imaginary bubble :)
I would love to read your reviews! Thank you for following and favoriting. Next up, science!