It was a beautiful opera - though Granger winced a couple of times at high notes, and Malfoy could tell that she was moved by it. As they stood to walk out, Malfoy said with a cutting smile, "So how much like your courtship with Weasley was this?"

Again with that brassy laughter - guaranteed to set Malfoy's teeth on edge. "Absolutely nothing alike. You might say it better resembles Ginny and Harry, actually..." She said, pursing her lips in thought.

"But Harry's wealthy enough to be the viscount!" Malfoy said, trying again not to let show how much it grated that Potter was wealthy. Draco certainly wasn't nearly as wealthy as his father had been. And for once, the family's ruination (oh, the dramatics!) hadn't been bribes. Ironic, wasn't it?**

Granger's brown eyes glittered with golden flecks, as she giggled and said, "But nobody told him he was wealthy, and he only had enough for school expenses and pocket change." Draco smirked, and Granger cut in before he could say a word, "Normal pocket change, not galleons on galleons."

"What did he do with the money from the Tournament? Did he ever even get it?"

"Invested it, actually..." Granger said, a Slytherin smile sauntering on her lips. "Someplace safe, if not necessarily stable."

"Interesting... maybe I should look into that." Malfoy said contemplatingly. It never hurt to know everything, after all. And something about the way that Granger was hiding this said that it would be fascinating. "But I promised you dinner, dah-ling, and dinner you shall have!" He said with a gallant bow, escorting her out of the theater. "It just so happens I know a charming hole in the wall around here somewhere. It won't be the Ritz, but the food doesn't suffer... much."

"Sounds delightful. Any chance of vegetarian?"

"For you, my lady? Anything you'd like..."

They walked along the streets for about ten minutes, Draco shielding Granger from the splashes of cars by walking on the outside. Granger kept shooting him curious looks, until finally he couldn't stand it, and said crossly, "What? Say something! Stop peeping!"

Granger's mouth fell open, aha! I win again!, and she paused for a good minute, before saying, almost humbly, "It's just that you seem so familiar with all of this... I wouldn't - didn't -" Granger was wise enough not to finish the sentence, which Draco appreciated.

"Slytherins are adaptable people, you'll find. You can't get to where you want to go without compromises." Draco said, flashing one of his charming smiles.*** "ah, here we are!"

Granger's eyes widened in surprise, as they turned out from a sidealley and looked at the restaurant. It was literally named "Hole in the Wall", although no actual holes were evident. There was a profound odor of yeasty beer, and from the looks of it, cooks slinging burgers. Granger glanced at Malfoy, with an eyebrow raised. Malfoy smirked back, saying, "I trust this meets with your approval?"

Granger threw her head back, and laughed, "Oh, yes! Very much!" Betcha she's thinking about telling Potter about this...

**no, Draco, not ironic.

*** modest, he is not!

[a/n: sneaky slytherins. What dear Draco isn't saying is that his crew learned how to work in the Muggle world because the rest of the Wizarding World wouldn't have anything to do with them].