Draco Malfoy escorted Hermione Granger into the restaurant, her hand in the crook of her arm. It would have looked completely awkward in the mildly disheveled restaurant (the floors were even somewhat sticky), if their getup had not been quite so appropos. As it was, the medieval gestures seemed like a pleasantly ironic sort of mockery. "Grab us a booth in the back." Draco Malfoy said with the hint of a man accustomed to giving orders - someone who didn't know better would think him ex-military.
"What, I don't even get to order for myself?" Granger asked, stepping close to Draco.
"Just trust me..." Draco said soothingly, knowing the words were futile before he said them - his gray eyes flashing tempermentally in the dim light.
"And just what have you done that makes you trustworthy?" Granger spat out, her hands on her hips, her brown eyes flashing gold.
Draco Malfoy sighed, dramatically, and said, "Consider it a test then..." His eyes met hers levelly, willing her to go along with his scheme.
"A test? Of what?" Granger's head toss (and snort) caused her wild hair to nearly buffet Draco in the face - he naturally ducked to avoid it.
"Of observation, of course." Draco Malfoy countered smoothly, hoping to keep Granger calm enough that the entire restaurant wouldn't feel compelled to eavesdrop on their conversation. Not that he'd ever done that himself, of course.
Draco Malfoy ordered with a practiced air of nonchalance, knowing that if Granger was looking at him, she'd quickly come to the conclusion that he had been here before. As the wrapped burgers were put on trays, he gracefully maneuvered the two trays back to their table, to find Granger measuring the mood of the patrons. Draco Malfoy approved, he rather enjoyed crowdwatching himself.
Granger unwrapped her burger, poorly concealed excitement hiding under an affected nonchalance. Without taking a bite, she opened the burger, studying the toppings. "No mayo, extra onions - but no lettuce?"
Granger quirked an eyebrow at Malfoy, who responded, "The lettuce isn't good until April at least."
"And yet you got me a cardboard tomato!" Granger laughed gently.
"It wouldn't be proper without one." Draco Malfoy said with forced politeness.
"Very well, I shall try it." Granger responded with determined tones more reminiscent of someone trying Longbottom's potions, her eyes sparkling merrily.
"I hope you like it." Draco said mildly.
A closelipped smile was all that Draco got in confirmation of Granger's enjoyment - and yet it sent a warm feeling into his chest. Smug and satisfied, he sat back into the corner of the booth as he very delicately began to unwrap his own burger. **
Above Granger's head, Theo Nott appeared, obviously kneeling on the booth in front of them. "Draco, Draco, Draco, to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure? And on a Friday night no less?" Draco started to open his mouth, when Nott continued teasingly, "Isn't that your normal date night?" His nose undoubtedly tickled by Granger's puissant hair, Nott at this point looked downwards, at the brown puff of frizz, saying warmly "Oh, you did bring a date! How peculiar." Stepping around the booth, Nott made as if to slide in beside Granger - before his face froze, as he belated realized who was there.
With ice in his voice - and an undercurrent of steel, Nott said cuttingly, "And look! She's not even a muggle!"
Draco Malfoy's grey eyes flashed an unreadable emotion, as his hands carelessly gestured, "As good as one, anyway." It was only as Draco Malfoy caught sight of Granger's eyes that he realized his mistake. Shit.
"Why, Draco - what possible reason could you have...?" Nott's voice was so venomous it didn't matter what he was saying - the tone said everything.
Shift the playing field, now. Draco thought, as he said, "Surely you don't think Miss High and Mighty Gryffindor is going to turn you in?" His eyes glinted with challenge, as Nott had been challenging Draco's judgement.
"See that she doesn't." Nott said coldly, turning and walking away with his head held high. Shite, that could have gone much better. Draco thought.
Hermione Granger grabbed her soda, took the lid off, and threw it at his face. "Ooops, my hand slipped. How careless of me." She said with an affected air, her eyes glimmering - and her teeth grinning like a cat stalking her prey.
Draco, now sopping wet and dripping, wiped his eyes free of the sugary drink. With effort, Draco Malfoy pulled his tattered dignity together, and said, "I don't know what I've done to offend you, so, but I must beg you be a bit quieter with your displeasure, lest we be forced to leave this restaurant as well, and conduct an argument on the street like savages."
Granger's eyes promised an accounting later, but her mouth quirked into a grin - more at Draco Malfoy's deplorable lack of dry than anything else, he suspected. With mock offense, he said, "This was a silk shirt! It's going to shrink!"
As dinner had been delayed, they turned to their food with gusto. After about five minutes, Draco said calmly, "You've got a week, Granger."
"A week?" Granger had the bad manners to talk with her mouth full - and Draco found himself wondering if that was deliberate on her part.
Suppressing a shudder, Draco said, "To tell your friends." He paused for a moment and said, "If I may suggest - you might try telling Potter and his girlfriend at once - you'll save yourself half the time of being deafened because of their shouting."
"Why would I need to tell them a thing? We go out on a first date, and that's suddenly everyone's business?"
"The picture will be in the paper in a week." Draco paused, and continued, "You can either tell them or let them read about it."
"I'd better tell them." Granger said, and Draco was pleased to see that she wasn't fidgeting or looking nervous. Sometimes it was harder to remember they had fought on two sides of the same war. Somehow, he suspected, the war had been easier on her side.
Draco nodded gruffly, and said, "If I can ask a favor - could you tell me directly after you tell them?"
"Mmm...?" Granger asked, "Why would you want to know about that?"
"I have my reasons..." Draco Malfoy said.
"Just like you have reasons for this date, hmmm?" Granger's eyes sparkled with a trace of delight - swiftly submerged under the anger from earlier.
"Of course." Draco said smoothly.
"What will you give me for it?" Granger asked, her eyes flinty hard.
"An apology." Draco Malfoy said unhesitatingly.
"For what?" Granger responded challengingly.
"You pick." Draco Malfoy said levelly.
"Okay." Granger said, and left it at that. Draco Malfoy knew in that instant that he'd made a mistake...
** Granger was sitting facing the wall, Draco has his back against the wall.
[a/n: ahh, the wonders of people who don't pay attention. Write a review, if you like this.]
