[redoing last chapter. forgot draco's not dressed at all reasonably. Nott has different expectations for a "daftly dressed" Draco. Will edit out last chapter's end soonly.]
Above Granger's head, Theo Nott appeared, obviously kneeling on the booth in front of them. "Draco, Draco, Draco, to whom do I owe this unexpected pleasure? And on a Friday night no less? You look like your date put you through the wringer..." Draco started to open his mouth, when Nott continued teasingly, "Perhaps literally? You know when they say don't let her cast a spell on you, they mean it figuratively..." His nose undoubtedly tickled by Granger's puissant hair, Nott at this point looked downwards, at the brown puff of frizz, saying warmly "Oh, your date decided to stick with you, even after you showed up looking like that? 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 low 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!"
"You, sir, are an arse. What the hell was your friend on about, anyhow?" Granger demanded.
"Let's eat first, I wouldn't want to spoil your supper with unpleasant conversation." Draco said smoothly. It was worth it to watch Granger's eyes flash red.
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.]
