Chapter 14 A first date

Tuesday at dinner Draco sits down next to Hermione. Ron, who is sitting across from Hermione huffs, takes his plate and moves to the other end of the table.

"I'm guessing he has not cooled off enough yet?" Draco asks Hermione.

"It doesn't look like it. Just give him a little more time." Hermione advises him.

"I'm willing to give him more time, but I'm afraid there won't be enough time for him to come around before september first. You've been friends with the guy for seven years surely you have some tips."

"I don't know Draco, in the past when we had a falling out time healed it. So that's all I know will work."

"Maybe you could start with apologizing?" Harry speaks up.

"But I already apologized at the start of term feast." Draco says confused.

"That's not what I mean, though it would probably not hurt to apologize for past behaviour again. What I mean is you have to apologize for telling him you don't want to life like a muggle." Harry explains.

"But I don't want to life like a muggle." Draco says even more confused.

"When you told him you don't want to live like a muggle for Ron that felt like the old Draco, you know the I'm-superior-to-everybody-especially-a-Weasley-Draco. You'll have to proof you're not that Draco anymore. That and be patient like Hermione said." Harry explains.

"I think I understand what you mean. However I won't apologize for something I'm not sorry for."

"If you're not willing to show him you're no longer the old Draco I don't think things will work out Draco." Hermione carefully points out.

"No I'm totally willing to show Ron I'm not the old Draco anymore I'm just not willing to give him an apology I don't mean. That would be like lying which would be a very bad start in our relationship. I'll show him I've changed without lying or deceiving him. Thanks for the info." Draco says and heads out of the Great Hall.

"Draco Malfoy just thanked me, I think you're right Hermione. He did change." Harry says partly joking and partly surprised


Wednesday morning an owl brings Ron a letter. He opens it but as soon as he sees who it is from he lights it on fire. Harry is able to save the letter due to his fast reflexes. Her reads is with Hermione looking over his shoulder.

Hello Ron,

I realise my remarks yesterday may have given you the impression I've not changed since the war. As much as I realise now how my words may have sounded I will not apologize for them. I don't want to start our relationships with lies told to appease my partner, you deserve more. I love magic and I love being a part of the wizarding community. Besides my love for everything magic I'm afraid. Not afraid of muggles but of not being able to live like a muggle. When I said I don't want to live like a muggle my love for magic and fear of not fitting in were speaking.

I've done nothing to deserve another chance, yet here I am asking you for just that.

I'd like to take you out to dinner in muggle london on friday. I'll make sure to get clearance from the headmistress and wait for you at the main entrance friday at seven.

If you don't show up I will take that as your final answer and I will no longer bother you.

Sincerely,

Draco

His friends look at each other concerned. It seems like things between Ron and Draco are not going in the right direction and still a little surprising Draco is not the one causing trouble.

All of them are preoccupied with their own relationships and decide to give him a little time.

The more the day progresses the more nervous Hermione gets. Tonight is her date with Ginny and since her only dating experience is going to the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum she is freaking out by the time her last class of the day ends. She goes back to the common room in hopes of finding someone who can help her. As soon as she enters she sees Harry sitting in a chair near the fire.

"Harry I need your help."

"Sure, what can I help you with?"

"You've dated right?"

"I've had a few dates yes, why?"

"Well Ginny asked me on a date tonight and the only date I've ever been on was the Yule Ball back in fourth year and that wasn't even a real date."

"Your date with Krum wasn't a real date?"

"No he was clear from the start that we would go as friends. Which I was happy about you know being gay and all. But now I have a date with Ginny and I'm nervous and have no idea how to go about this. What should I wear, what should I say or more importantly what should I not say. O my god. I'm sorry Harry here I am rambling on about going on a date with the women you're in love with. Please forget I asked anything." Hermione rambles and moves to leave. Harry catches her wrist.

"It's okay Hermione. Ginny and I would never have worked out. You know with her liking women and me being a man. So you need help getting ready for your date?"

"Y-yes."

"Alright first off you need to stop worrying. Ginny knows you and has known you for years and she's fallen for you the way you are, alright?"

"I guess."

"Now what else are you worried about?"

"What should I wear?"

"Has she told you what you're going to do for your date?"

"No."

"In that case you should wear something you feel comfortable in, but not your uniform. Maybe some jeans and a sweater?"

"But I don't want to be underdressed."

"Hermione, Ginny knows you and she knows what clothes you prefer to wear. If you needed to wear something special she would have told you."

"You think so?"

"I know so. Now go and get changed."

Hermione goes up to her dorm room and changes in her favorite jeans and sweater. She also puts on some make-up. Harry has said that Ginny likes her the way she is and he is probably right, but it's her first real date and she want to make an effort. She is trying to tame her hair when she looks at the clock and sees it's 6 o'clock. Leaving her hair she sprints down to the portrait hole hoping Ginny will still be there.

Hermione arrives a few minutes after six and to her relieve Ginny is still waiting for her.

"Hi Hermione, are you ready?" Ginny asks before moving the hand she is holding behind her back. It holds a bouquet of red and white roses.

"Here these are for you."

"Thank you, they are beautiful. I know I was already late but do we have a few more minutes? I want to put them away instead of maybe ruining them when I carry them along for the rest of the evening."

"First of, I don't call arriving a few minutes after six late and secondly of course you can put them away. I'll be right here waiting."

Hermione hurries back to her dorm room and leaves the flowers in a freshly conjured vase, before returning to Ginny.

"So Hermione, are you ready for our date?" Ginny asks a little nervous.

"Yes." Hermione says more confident than she feels.

"Alright let's go." Ginny leads them to the astronomy tower where Professor Flitwick is waiting for them.

"Good evening girls. After you've gone up I'll put the charms up. They'll stay up until you come down or if you're not down by curfew they will disappear as well. Though I trust the two of you to be back in your common room by the time it's curfew. Right?" The Professor tells them before Ginny leads Hermione up to the tower. When they arrive at the top Hermione gasps. There is a table with two chairs standing towards the end. Obviously situated to let them watch the sunset. The wall is littered with candles. The floor is also littered with groups of candles, though there is a path from the door to the table left open as well as a square next to one of the chairs. Ginny leads Hermione two one of the chairs and pulls it out for her. When Hermione is comfortably seated Ginny sits down herself.

"I hope you like it. I didn't have time to organize anything outside of Hogwarts, and to be honest I don't know if Minerva would have given permission, especially since it is a school night."

"Ginny, stop rambling. It's wonderful. I couldn't have asked for a better first first date." Hermione stops Ginny who looks at Hermione in surprise.

"This is your first first date, as in you've never been on a date?"

Hermione blushes and looks to her plate when she answers. "Yes."

"But you went to the Yule Ball with Krum?"

"I did but that was just as friends. I'm sorry you got paired with someone as inexperienced as I am."

Ginny takes Hermione hand which lies next to her plate and softly squeezes it. "Don't do that Hermione. Don't put yourself down. I like you are and I hurts to hear you say bad things about the woman I like. I promise I won't judge. I actually feel honored I get to be your first date." Hermione gives Ginny a tentative smile and squeezes her hand back before looking out over the grounds. "The view here really is spectacular."

"Yes it is." Ginny answers but she's not looking at the grounds, she's looking at girl next to her.

The girls sit in silence for a little while before Ginny taps her plate with her wand. The first course appears on their plate. Hermione gasps in surprise. "How'd you do that?"

"The elves have helped. And before you complain, I asked if they were willing and I offered to pay them. They didn't want payment but told me that if I insisted on giving something in return I could help out in an elf shelter. Which I will be doing for a couple of days during Christmas Break."

"An elf shelter? I didn't know that existed."

"Well neither did I. The elves told me it is new. During the war a lot of elves lost the family they served, some of them are really young. They came to Hogwarts in hopes to find shelter but there wasn't enough room for all them them. An anonymous witch or wizard donated a place for them to stay but it needs a lot of fixing up." When Ginny is finished Hermione bends to her and kisses her cheek. "That's really sweet Ginny. Do you think I can come along and help?" "I'll ask but I don't think that will be a problem. Now shall we eat, before the soup is cold." They eat their soup while watching the sunset. They spend some time recounting their week so far before Ginny touches here plate with her wand again and the main course arrives.

When they've nearly finished their main course Hermione speaks up. "This is really an amazing date Ginny and as much as I want to pretend there is no marriage law and just enjoy this the fact of the matter is that we have to be married in less that 9 months. So maybe we can make some progress today in how to proceed?"

"I understand where you're coming from, however I would like for us to enjoy ourselves without thinking about the marriage law for a few weeks. How about we talk about the future during Christmas break? After Christmas? Please?" Ginny pleads to Hermione. Hermione unable to resists Ginny's puppy dog eyes relents. "Alright, but after Christmas we're going to have a serious conversation about our future."

"I promise." Ginny says and stands holding out her hand to Hermione. "Will you dance with me?"

Instead of answering Hermione puts her hand into Ginny's and stands. Ginny leads Hermione to the open place next to the table and swishes her wand causing soft music to start. Once the music has started Ginny turns to Hermione and starts leading her around in a slow waltz.

"I didn't know you were such a good dancer Ginny."

"Neville thought me in third year after he invited me to the Yule Ball."

They dance in silence for a few songs. Ginny enjoying the fact she finally is holding the girl she has fallen madly in love with and Hermione wondering how she has never seen what an amazing and romantic girl Ginny truly is.

After a couple of songs Ginny leads Hermione back to her seat and taps her plate for dessert. When they have finished their chocolate cake it's time to return to Gryffindor Tower. Ginny leads Hermione to their dorm room but doesn't move to go in.

"You're not coming in?"

"Not right now. Our date ends here and I'm going to give you a little time to yourself before I retire. Now I've had a wonderful time tonight. Could I take you out again?"

"I had a wonderful time as well and I would love to go out with you again."

"Alright I'll plan something for this weekend and let you know. Goodnight Hermione." Ginny starts to turn away from Hermione but stops when Hermione puts a hand on her arm.

"Goodnight Ginny." Hermione says before softly kissing Hermione's cheek.