Hermione hadn't spent more than ten minutes thinking of what to wear for her "date" with Draco Malfoy. He wasn't worth it. Still, it never did to look completely unpresentable. She had on a crisp pantsuit, her hair tied back in a tidy bun - and a devious smirk on her face. Judging from the location of the restaurant he had invited her to, it was a proper Wizarding Restaurant - and that meant that she'd be completely underdressed (she thought, idly, that it was odd that the Wizarding world still used the word undressed for such attire - as if she was in a simple shift instead of a decently sculpted set of clothing!). Well, if there was one thing the young Malfoy would be good for, it would be smoothing over such deliberate faux pas. With a dash of a grin, she thought, I wonder if he'll realize this is deliberate?

Draco Malfoy, meanwhile, was waiting idly outside the restaurant, where he had a reservation in ten minutes. He had already scoped out the place, and was relieved to see no one he knew. Not that that would stop the photographer he had stationed outside the building - nothing stopped photographers, in Draco's experience. They tended to be more reasonable if you gave them scoops, however, so he intended to do just that. Although it was rather dubious whether even Witch Weekly would want to run a story about Draco Malfoy being stood up on a date... Draco's thoughts ran ahead to the next three plans he had to coerce, bribe or otherwise entice Granger into actually accepting a date. Bloody Gryffindors and their bloody pride! Still, showing up looking woebegone at her work on Monday Morning, explaining to all and sundry how heart-broken he was (as if!) - mind laying on the guilt too thick there boy - make that showing up looking woebegone, and asking what horrid, unpreventable catastrophe had occurred that she hadn't even bothered to cancel - or decline the offer! Put a Gryffindor on the backfoot by painting her in the wrong. Bonus points if half the office tried to ask him out. Not that he'd accept, of course - Draco Malfoy was busy.

Granger strode in from a side-alley, looking every bit the Gryffindor queen, calm and collected - and ready for anything Draco Malfoy might have in store. She was just about to look at the restaurant - old habits die hard, and assessing a place before entering was firmly implanted in her skull - when she noticed Draco Malfoy, standing there with eyes popping out and his mouth literally hanging open. Staring at her. Wearing a cool smile, Hermione Granger firmly set the memory in her mind - she'd treasure it later. Imagine - getting the jump on the snooty Slytherin! Leaving him so baffled he forgot he was supposed to be looking as arrogant as his father. She strode up to him, turning sideways at the last - getting a clear view of the restaurant (surprisingly small and intimate for Malfoy - she suspected it was chosen to appeal to her own taste), as she offered him her arm. "Shall we?"

Draco Malfoy stared at Hermione Granger as she strode in - clad in figure-revealing pants of all things! Having given no warning, no letter of acceptance, she was actually keeping the date. A part of him was mildly horrified at the indiscretion - and another part was admiringly enjoying the sight of a Gryffindor's ... elegance? no, that wasn't the word at all. Perhaps, grace? Daring and grace. Draco was tugged out of his thoughts by Hermione's words, Shall we his trained ears recounted - he had been far too preoccupied to actually listen as she spoke. To his dawning horror, he saw that Granger was offering him her arm. Did she even know that was a faux pas? Gracefully, he took the proffered arm and strode into the restaurant, nodding to the hostess as she smiled up at him - her eyes completely ignoring Granger. Draco Malfoy was infinitely glad that Granger didn't stiffen at the implied sight.

As they were seated, and passed menus, a dark-haired wall of a photographer darkened their table. "Smile for the camera!" He said with a wide grin. Granger, never one to follow unexpected, unsolicited orders, simply looked surprised. Draco Malfoy, on the other hand, looked insouciant. The photographer shook his head and said, "Now, love, try that one again. Smile, don't look like a deer in the headlights. Merlin knows what'll happen if I print a photograph like that!" Draco stuck his toe against Granger's sensible flats, and when she looked over at him questioningly, he said simply, "Do as he asks, it'll save fuss later. They don't stop until they're done, you know." Draco Malfoy exerted significant influence to keep it down to one photographer at his first dates (he had used persuasion to convince the photographers that it was hardly newsworthy that Draco Malfoy was out on a second date. Or a third).

[a/n: Slytherins and their plans! Write me a review if you love me!]