Present day: A few days later Hermione sat with Harry in his office at the ministry.
"So I hear you have your first real date with Draco on Friday." Harry spoke in between sips of coffee.
"You two are like girls the way you gossip you know! But yes, I'm quite looking forward to it. Ginny is going to help me get ready. What does "casual dress" even mean to him? Armani sweatpants? I can't imagine what Draco Malfoy does that requires casual dress." Harry laughed.
"Well I'm not sure what you'll be doing but he said he got the idea from some romantic muggle movie."
"He's copying a movie for our date? He couldn't even think of something original to do?" She was annoyed.
"Because going out to dinner Or a quidditch match is so original? Like most wizards take you to do? He's trying to impress you by taking you somewhere muggle and romantic. Somewhere you'd like. Cut him some slack!"
"Okay you're right. Sorry. I guess it just seems a little surreal that Draco Malfoy is taking me on a date. We could just sign the contracts, get married, and be done with it. I don't know why he's making such an effort."
"Because he likes you! Which you know, so stop pretending you don't." Hermione stuck out her tongue at him.
"That's what Daphne wanted to do, you know. She told me she had no illusions of love and that most pureblood girls are groomed for arranged marriages based on obedience and toleration for your husband. I wore her down eventually though." He grinned.
"Yeah, I was surprised the way you both fell for each other. I feel like Draco and I are on the cusp of something. Either falling for each other or hating each other for the rest of our lives."
"Aren't you the optimist." Harry rolled his eyes, "just give him a chance, I really think you're well matched. I got to know him this last year, he's been a great friend to me and I would have eventually set the two of you up anyways."
"Thanks Harry." They drank the rest of their coffees in silence until it was time for Hermione to get back to her internship.
—
"So where is he taking you?" Ginny asked.
"I'm not sure. He said to wear casual attire." Hermione tried on the blue top.
"Too fancy," Ginny said looking through the clothes on Hermione's bed.
"Apparently he's copying some muggle movie he finds romantic. Harry's words." She pulled on the black tank top
"Not the right color." Ginny threw her another tank top. "Which movie?"
"I'm not sure! If Draco finds it romantic, I'm sure I will though." She pulled on the green top straightening it in the mirror.
"I really hate Slytherin colors. It feels like I'm trying to win him over by cheering for his team."
"Says the lady who sleeps in his Quidditch jersey" Ginny rolled her eyes throwing her another tank top. "I guess you just want to be on his team in the bedroom." She smiled mischievously at her.
Hermione snorted before she slid into the navy blue top. Stepping back to survey her outfit. "Well at least that way we both win" she winked.
"Perfect." Ginny laughed, rushing over to charm her hair. "Well I'm not taking any chances tonight. I'm sleeping at Neville's."
"Ginny! You don't need to do that. I'm going to talk to him tonight about slowing things down. Besides with the date starting this afternoon, I'm sure we'll finish up after dinner. I can't imagine our date continuing that late into the night. I want to get to know him slowly before we start anything more physical."
"What's the point? Honestly, you're going to marry the guy, you'll be required to have sex. Might as well get on with it."
"Is that why you and Neville are shacking up?" She responded.
"Yes and no. Honestly, I genuinely like Neville. I have no doubt I will fall in love with him one day, but I'm still heartbroken from losing Harry and it feels better to drown my pain in multiple orgasms." She gave a small smile.
"I'm sorry Ginny, I know this is hard for you. I'm glad you're trying to move on and be happy. Neville will treat you right and it sounds like you're compatible in the bedroom." Hermione smiled back.
"You have no idea. I think it's because he's always tending to his plants."
Hermione burst out laughing. "Did you just compare yourself to a plant?"
"Well, yes! I mean, you know, caring for a plant and a woman are similar. Finicky, disagreeable, lots of needs. Same difference in my book. He's very talented in his greenhouse." she grinned. "Now put on some makeup, your date will be here soon."
—
Draco picked her up at 3:00. He was wearing muggle jeans and a short sleeve grey polo. The color was striking against his skin and eyes. Hermione couldn't help but swallow at the sight of him. She was a woman after all. It was a sin that any man should look this good. A tiny flutter in her stomach unnerved her.
"Draco, thank you so much for inviting me out." She said as he handed her another book instead of the customary flowers. She grinned kissing his cheek as a thanks. That was darling, she thought.
"You look beautiful Hermione." He held out his hand and led her to her door. "We'll Be apparating today. I hope that's okay. It's such a nice day I thought we'd spend some time outside talking. Have you been to the London zoo?"
"The zoo?" She questioned trying to remember any muggle movies that started with a date at the zoo.
"Yes. I've never been, and I thought it would be a place you'd find comfortable." He replied.
"That sounds lovely. I've never been either."
He apparated them a block from the zoo where they could walk in inconspicuously.
The zoo turned out to be extremely lovely. They walked and talked about everything they'd been doing since the war. Careful to stay on neutral topics. He found out she was interning for a muggle therapist that was married to a wizard with two halfblood kids at Hogwarts.
Hermione wanted to create the first magical counseling office to deal with depression, anxiety, ptsd, etc. combining potions, and healing with classic muggle techniques. Draco was impressed and there seemed to be a big market for that type of service.
She found out that Draco was in charge of a large corporation that had their hands in everything, including a few muggle technology firms. One of them was based on cyber security. He also had a surprising number of hobbies.
"You like to cook?" She asked, shocked that Draco would get his hands dirty in the kitchen.
"Yes, the house elves taught me a little bit and then I took several muggle cooking classes. I'm friendly with the squib chef Gordon Ramsey and he's taught me several things as well."
Draco also liked to play the piano, dance, and paint believe it or not.
"After the war, I found myself struggling a bit. I didn't know quite where I belonged or what I should be doing." He said. "I started trying different muggle hobbies as a way to get outside my comfort zone and learn something about them. I learned a lot about myself in the process."
Hermione stopped walking to look at him. She stared in his eyes and smiled at his vulnerability. He really was a different man than what she expected. He took her hand. They continued to walk around the zoo for another hour. The time was comfortable, enjoyable, and created a stirring in Hermione's heart.
Draco was surprised at how easy she was to talk to. He couldn't believe how enjoyable their time had been this afternoon, and he relished in the feel of her soft hand in his. He caught himself staring at her wild hair as it blew in the soft breeze, so untamable. He noticed the splattering of freckles that dotted her cheeks, so feminine. He laughed at the way she furrowed her brow when she was frustrated, so strong. She really was beautiful and unique. Draco could feel her start to muscle into his heart.
Once they were hungry, Draco apparated them to the next location for dinner. It was a small Italian place called "Tony's". Hermione was surprised he chose a muggle restaurant and again could not figure out which movie the man was impersonating. She was perplexed as he led her inside to the empty restaurant. The waiter led the couple out back to a patio. Turns out the man was not a waiter but the owner Tony himself. He and Draco were all smiles as they joked together, they seemed to go way back. How odd Hermione thought.
"Draco rented out the whole place for you tonight." Tony told Hermione.
"Draco, she's pretty special ehh? You take Tony's advice and settle down with this one ehh" Tony smiled at Hermione. "Tonight Draco gets the best in the house!" He patted Hermione's back as he turned to leave.
"Tony's going to bring out a few of his specials for us tonight. I hope you don't mind. The food here is really great." Hermione smiled in answer to him, that sounded fine to her.
They sat at their private table drinking wine until chef Tony brought out his "especiale spaghetti, heavy on the meatballs, the best spaghetti in town" he said.
They started to eat and the spaghetti really was the best Hermione had eaten. The sauce was flavorful and the pasta was clearly made by hand.
Next she was surprised as chef Tony himself came out playing the accordion. Singing deeply in his baritone voice, the perfect distance away so that the music wasn't overwhelming. Hermione was enjoying the music in the background humming along until she choked on her spaghetti.
"Oh my gods," she said as a realization came over her.
"What?" Asked Draco. "Are you okay?" He patted her back and handed her her water. She took a gulp.
"The muggle movie! The romantic muggle movie you're impersonating,"
He coughed looking embarrassed, "fucking Potter."
In the background Tony sang "this is the night."
Hermione started to giggle uncontrollably. She laughed through tears until she finally gained composure before bursting into laughter again.
"You're copying The Lady and The Tramp, aren't you?"
Draco turned red. "Well yes, if you must know. I'm a Disney fan."
"A Disney fan!" She laughed again, using her napkin to dry the tears. This was too much. Much too much. "It's just so adorable I'm not sure what to do with myself."
He started laughing then through his embarrassment. Then he leaned over.
"So you've seen the movie then?" He asked.
"Of course Draco." She smiled with genuine glee at him.
"Well then you know how this particular scene ends." He leaned in closer, placing one half of a single spaghetti strand on her plate so that it connected the two plates.
She smiled at him before taking the spaghetti strand and placing it in her mouth as he did the same on the opposite end. They slowly nibbled their way towards each other until they were close to meeting in the middle for a kiss. Hermione broke away giggling uncontrollably again.
"I'm sorry Draco I just can't do this," she laughed and laughed. "You forgot to use your nose to push meatballs at me." Then they were both laughing and holding each other's hands leaning closer and closer together. He placed his thumb on her jaw and smiled into her as he stole a kiss. Much more smoothly. The rest of the dinner was spent in easy banter with Draco's arm around the back of her chair as they talked into the night underneath the stars with the music in the background and his fingers playing with her hair. It was the perfect first date.