Chocolate Frog Card: (Bronze) Violet: Prompts: Wink, Purple, Drink, Cheeky

Gringotts: Hermione/Graham M [Hermione - Pairings], Last night, [insert name] was invited to a dinner party by a man/woman she hardly knew, Flaw, Exceptional, Threatened, 20-25 age, Choking on a drink at something someone has said, Couch, Rum and Coke, Royal Blue [Sex and the City]

Ultimate Hermione Pairing Challenge: Hermione/Graham Montague

February Event: 52. (genre) Romantic Comedy, 12. (object) Box of Chocolates

Word Count: 829

Last night, Hermione was invited to a dinner party by a man she hardly knew. Graham Montague. She knew of him and had had some exchanges when they were at school but those were all negative; him calling her a mudblood and herself defending her friends or herself against his cruel words and subtle jinxes. Since school and both of them being at the Ministry, their paths had crossed a couple of times and they'd gotten on a lot better. But she still didn't know him.

"Hi," she greeted shyly as the door opened and Graham stood there, smiling at her. He looked exceptional and there wasn't a flaw in sight. Graham was having similar thoughts about Hermione, and how she looked mouth watering in royal blue.

"Hey," he responded, eyeing her bare legs that extended from beneath the modest looking dress. "You're just on time, come on in." She thanked him and shrugged off her coat when he rested his hands on the back of it to take it off her, smiling thankfully at him. "Everyone's just through here," he told her, moving to lead her into another room.

"Graham," she said tentatively, her tone causing him to pause. "Why invite me?" she asked, her curiousity not allowing her to wait. She needed to know now. Her curiousity spiked even more when a faint blush graced his cheeks.

"I've been trying to find different ways to approach you for a date but you never seemed to understand," he confessed, shrugging. "Potter suggested that we all have a big get together and that should break the ice. He also thought that you might feel more comfortable with me in a group and less threatened than if we were alone. I blame my past for that."

She nodded, looking at how sincere he was.

"Okay," she agreed, smoothing out a few wrinkles on her dress. "Shall we go through?" He gaped at her and her ability to just accept what he'd said without freaking out, before nodding shakily and leading her to the drawing room where their group was gathered.

She recognised everyone in the room and was immediately filled with some comfort.

"Harry," Hermione greeted, inclining her head coolly as he joined her side, looking handsome in his robes that had a purple tie, which she presumed match Ginny's dress.

"Hermione," he replied and his eyes were twinkling with amusement at her actions. "You're not mad at me, are you?"

"For helping someone set me up on a date? No. I'd be more mad if you'd made me have a blind date; I just don't see the need for you and Ginny to continually pester me about my love life."

"You're twenty four, Hermione," he responded. "You're hot and you could have anyone you want but you just choose books and Crookshanks instead." He rolled his eyes at her and took a sip of his drink.

"Maybe I'm a lesbian," she confessed causing him to choke on his drink, loudly and extravangantly. Hermione rolled her eyes at his dramatics. "I'm not but have you ever considered that could be a reason to why I turn men down?"

"Honestly? No; I've never considered that reason."

"Figures," she muttered. She exchanged a quick hug with Harry before wondering over to the nearest couch and sitting down onto it, being joined by Graham only moments later who offered her a rum and coke, which she accepted gratefully.

"I'm glad you came tonight," he admitted quietly, not looking at her directly but not looking away from her completely. "I was worried that you'd see me for how I was and not how I am now."

"And how are you now?" she asked curiously, tilting her head thoughtfully as she focused her gaze on him. He sent her a cheeky wink which caused her to bark out a laugh, causing her cheeks to flush.

"With people, the only thing I care about is how they treat me and my friends and family. Blood status is ridiculous, judging people on talent is stupid, their house is just as bad. We're a prejudiced world and I was brought up in the thick of it."

"At least this world doesn't judge people for their skin tone, language, or sexual preference," she commented, thinking back to her roots. Graham looked appalled at the thought and she shrugged, showing it was something she'd rather not elaborate on.

"Oh!" he exclaimed, reaching into his pocket. "I brought you a gift."

"Graham," she started, placing her drink on the table before her.

"No," he interrupted. "Though we're here as a group, it was my idea for a sort of date between us and I want you to know that if you agreed to go out with me, I'd prefer it to be just us."

She smiled as she accepted the box of chocolates, that had been enlarged once he'd retrieved it from his pocket.

"I'd like that," she agreed, nodding happily. "I really would."