"what brings you by? Finally got bored with the weasel?"
"no *rolls her eyes* Why would i be bored with him? "
-shrugs- figured you would eventaully and maybe looking for a little excitement in your life.
*raises an eyebrow* Well, Draco, i must admit that life at Hogwarts can sometimes be a bit too predictable and dull. Also there is the fact that Ron can be... a pain sometimes... *she held her book close to her chest and tilted her head slightly* What kind of excitement are you suggesting?
Draco smirked seeing her pull the book closer to her chest and it made him chuckle a little "same old same old, alwys having your nose in a book. Where we are going, you don't need that. " he offered her his hand "its okay I won't hurt you..I want to show you what this world has to really offer you. "
Hermione's curiosity was piqued, her eyes narrowing slightly at Draco's words. She studied him for a moment, then cautiously set her book aside, laying it down with a bookmark to keep her place. "Well, Draco," she said, her tone a mixture of curiosity and skepticism, "you have my attention. But before I agree to anything, you'll need to give me at least a hint of where we're going and what you're planning. I'm not one to dive into the unknown blindly" She looked at his hand then back up into his bright eyes as she crossed her arms infront of her chest, unsure about the whole situation since they both never really got along well.
He smirked seeing her hesitation , why would she trust him so soon. "oh yes you do, sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. I just wanted to take you some where you probably never been before. You lived too much in the muggle world. I wanted to show you..just something different. How the rest of us live. Spoil you a little if you let me. "
Hermione's skepticism didn't waver, but his words did manage to intrigue her. She knew Draco had grown up with a different lifestyle and perspective, and a part of her was genuinely curious about what he had in mind. "Alright" she replied, her tone cautious but less guarded. "I'm willing to give this a chance, but I want to make one thing clear. If at any point I feel uncomfortable or unsafe, I won't hesitate to leave. Understood?" She slowly reached out and took his hand, giving it a light squeeze " I am serious Draco.. if that is kind of a joke...then.." she raised her brows as she stared deep into his eyes
Draco was amused with her and saw that the hesitation was still there . "I just ask for one day..it will just take you 3 hours to see that everything is different and you are going to crave this world just like I do. Its not as bad as you think Granger. " he said noticing her give in and give him her hand. " Understood" he said looking her in the eyes meeting Hermione's gaze. "you really don't trust me ? That could change after today" he said making that his top prioroty. He wanted to take her to a party and let her get comfortable and live a little . She still seemed so uptight all the time. Draco just figured she didn't know what real fun was. He held her hand tightly in his as he apparated them to a better part of town. The city he grew up, he wouldn't dare bring her bak to the manor, not so soon any way, he was certain it was still too many bad memories and he wouldn't do that to her right now." hope you don't mind all the snakes" he grinned just meaning some of his friends from Slytherin.
Hermione's skepticism and caution were evident in her expression, but she couldn't help feeling a mixture of curiosity and a touch of excitement at Draco's words. Despite her reservations, she decided to give this a chance...just one day, as he had requested. She nodded at his reminder of the time frame and then met his gaze. Feeling her Hand in his she could feel her heart beat a little faster. It was a strange moment, Who would have thought they would ever hold each others hands? Everything felt so surreal at the moment. "I'm cautious, Draco... That is all. . But who knows, you might just surprise me today," she replied with a faint smile. Hermione was still haunted by nightmares and all the bad memories, maybe this was the chance and time to finally let go of the past. What did she have to lose after all? As he apparated them to a different part of town, Hermione felt a momentary dizziness before her surroundings settled. She glanced around, taking in the unfamiliar sights and atmosphere. "Snakes?" she asked, a bit puzzled, before realizing he meant his fellow Slytherins. She gave a slight chuckle. "Right.. i forgot" With the last word she turned and looked around. Slowly letting go of his hand " it doesn't look too bad here i must say" She then turned around again and looked up at Malfoy.
He definetely noticed her hesitation and the flooding of the bad memories. He regretted his part in every single one of those and right now was not the time to bring it up. He was going to let her find out on her own that he was nothing like his family. That the scar on her arm wasn't what he truly thought of her. More than anything he had always been impressed by her, not really growing up in this wizarding world as he had. That she didn't have the pressures of day to day life, like he was so used to. Hermione had a choice, something he never had. He did let go of her hand and let her explore a little but kept an eye on her of course and stayed close without crowding her too much. " you might like it here if you give it a fair chance. but like I said, just one day. If you come back for more thats on you" he said teasing her a little. He was going to keep a close eye on her tonight at the party if any of his friends tried anything with her and torment her they would have to deal with him. After all this time he still had that temper. He lead the way tugging her along a little grabbing her wrist , for once he didn't have an alterier motive when it came to Hermione. Legitametly he wanted to spend the day with her and show her something new and fun.
Draco's mixed intentions were becoming apparent to Hermione as they navigated through this new environment. She appreciated the fact that he was showing her a different side of him, one that seemed genuinely interested in sharing an experience with her. It was a stark contrast to their interactions at Hogwarts. She let him guide her, allowing herself to take in the sights, sounds, and even the energy of this part of town. It was different from what she was used to, but she was determined to keep an open mind."I'll hold you to your word, Malfoy" she replied with a wry smile. "One day for now. And who knows, maybe I'll surprise you by coming back for more." She didn't want to admit it out loud, but a part of her was enjoying the fact that she got to spend time with him without getting insulted. After all both became young adults. As they walked, her curiosity got the better of her. "So, what's on the agenda for today? Besides this party you mentioned, of course." She then looked down at herself while walking close by his side as he held her wrist " oh Merlin , if i only knew... am i even dressed right?" Hermione was wearing a black skirt and some nice white blouse. It really didn't look too bad but she still felt like it wasn't enough.
Draco looked her up and down a couple times noticing what she was wearing "not bad Granger..but I have something a little better in mind, not that it has to be too formal. I still remember what you looked like in a dress" he said with a twinkle in his eyes thinking of how she looked at the Yule Ball when they wer 14 on christmas Eve. Yes he did notice her across the room. Everyone stared, even the girls. "maybe a little shopping first, we have time to kill. Pick anything you like. I'm buying" he grinned a bit "daddy is gone I can do anything I want with the money" he said with a cocky grin knowing it would just piss Lucius off even more if he had known this is what Draco would do with the fortune. he took her into one of the higher end shops knowing he probably should have started with something little less high end even for her but he just wanted to spark her curiousity of what she was missing out on.
Hermione found herself caught off guard by Draco's words, especially his mention of her dress. She remembered that night well, both for the beauty of the event and the awkwardness of her interactions. The thought that he had paid attention to her appearance back then was surprising. She lost herself in his bright eyes for a few seconds and began to blush a little. Hermione had a really hard time taking her gaze from him but then looked away a little shy. Her lips formed a little smirk at his words. " What if your father finds out?" She asked and looked up at him again. As they entered the high-end shop, she couldn't help but feel a bit out of place. These were clothes she had only seen in magazines or on other students during formal events. She listened to his offer to buy her something and appreciated the gesture, but her sense of independence made her respond. "Thank you, Draco, but I'm not used to this level of shopping," she admitted, glancing around at the elegant dresses and accessories. "I appreciate the offer, but I'd feel more comfortable if I chose something within my budget." She walked over to a rack of dresses, examining the fabrics and she found one that almost looked like the one she was wearing at the ball. Hermione looked back at him while taking the dress. But to make sure he didn't notice what she took, she also picked another one to hide it underneath " Give me just a moment " She then went to find the changing room.
" that's the thing he won't. " he said with a smirk " fathers locked up in Azkaban for the part he played .. for a very long time. Mum left to have her own life and be happy. We split the fortune evenly but of course she wanted to give me more than what she was worth. Then again there was plenty to go around to split between us. Mum took him for everything he had. Signed the papers and that was it " he said quite proud of his mother for standing up for what was right and putting a stop to the abuse that went on for far too long. It still haunted Draco for the things he had seen growing up. He swore to himself he would be nothing like his father. He had a few mis steps over the years mostly verbally he could never put his hands on a woman like that. He smirked and chuckled knowing she would protest his offer to buy her anything she wanted. " glad to see you're still the same girl I remember. But if you stick around a while. You might get used to this life. You can still browse. Maybe even try something on. Just to get a taste for it " he whispered in her ear as he walked behind her as she looked around. He chuckled a bit as she refused the high end items and went to the other side of the store that she was more comfortable with. " take your time. Look around a bit. It can't hurt " he nodded once as he figured she was just looking for a dressing room as he waiting patiently for her to return.
Hermione listened to Draco's explanation about his family's situation, and she couldn't help but feel a mix of sympathy and surprise. She had heard stories about the Malfoy family's dark history, but knowing that his father was now imprisoned in Azkaban and that his mother had moved on was unexpected. It was clear that this information carried a weight for Draco, and she respected him for opening up about it. "I'm sorry to hear about your family situation," she said sincerely, her skepticism about Draco's character softening a little as she saw a different side of him. Hearing him whisper into her ear sent slight shiver down her spine and her lips formed a soft smile while her Eyes remained on the dresses in front of her. Once she finally chose two of the dresses, she went over to the changing room. Hermione took off her clothes and did put on the dress that resembled the one that she was wearing at the ball. Her heart was beating fast as she examined herself in the mirror, feeling both awkward and intrigued by the look. The young witch reached for her hair and pinned them up before she opened the curtain slightly, peering out to catch Draco's reaction.. " Draco?.." When she got his attention , she slowly walked out of the changing room, looking down at her self a raised her brows as she bit her bottom lip before giving him a insecure look " What do you think?" The dress was really close to the one she used to wear.
He looked her in the eyes and nodded once in acknowledgment to her words "its alright, He had it coming. We all saw it. He even tried to take me with him actually..." he waving it off like it was nothing even though it stung just a little. Draco couldn't tell her everything at once, what if she did come back for more. They needed something to talk about then.
He waited for her to emerge from the dressing room as he distracted himself as he let his mind wander off a little while she was in there, what was she doing and was she coming back. He dind't even get a good look before to see what she had picked to try on. He ticked his gaze up from the couch he was sitting on while he waited for Hermione. It was the frist time in a long time a girl made him speechless. He just stared at her in wonder as she walked out in a dress very similar to the one she wore at the Yule Ball when they were just 14. "You look perfect" he said simple stading up as he should in a womans pressence. "just the way I remember" he muttered to himself mostly but was sure she could hear him. He walked over and took her hand and twirled her around in a circle so he could get the full effect.
As Hermione stepped out of the dressing room in the new dress, her heart pounded a bit faster. She wasn't much used to wearing such elegant clothing, and she felt a mix of self-consciousness and intrigue. Her eyes met Draco's and she couldn't help but notice the look of genuine surprise on his face. It wasn't the reaction she had anticipated. She felt her cheeks flush slightly at his words, and her eyes dropped to the floor for a moment before she glanced back at him. "Thank you, Draco..." she replied softly, her voice carrying a hint of both gratitude and shyness. When he took her hand and twirled her around, she couldn't help but laugh, her inhibitions fading a bit in the moment. The dress flowed around her, and she couldn't deny that she felt somewhat transformed by the experience. It felt like a special moment and it made her think back to the time when they were 14. Oh how much she wished that Draco saw more in her than just that (mudblood) it still did hurt a little whenever she thought about it. What Draco didn't know was , that she always tried to prove herself infront of him when they were back in school. She locked eyes with Draco again, a mixture of emotions swirling in her gaze."You know, this is quite a change from my usual attire," she said, a slight grin tugging at the corner of her lips.
yea I know it is , but for once in your life you can have one night of fun. I think its been too long for you. You forgot what it was like to dress up and go to a party" he grinned a little and twirled her around one more just to get her to loosen up a little , he did like her laugh. He regretted a lot of things when it came to Hermione. There was things he had noticed over the year, there was always some sort of competition going on between them and no matter what he did he always came in second to her. After several years and attempts to outsmart her , he just got used to it and let her win a few times. Not that he would ever tell her that of course. One thing he mother had taught him was how to be a gentleman in the right moments. At least he had some good and decent influene in his life, helped balance out the bad.
Hermione felt herself start to relax a bit, caught up in the unexpected whirlwind of the moment. Draco's words made her reflect on how long it had been since she had truly let go and enjoyed herself. It was true that her focus on her studies and responsibilities had often kept her from experiencing the kind of carefree moments she was witnessing now. As Draco twirled her around once more, she found herself laughing again, the sound ringing in the air around them. His actions were bringing out a side of her that she had buried under layers of books and obligations. It felt freeing, and she had to admit, she was enjoying it. "You might be right," she admitted with a small smile, meeting his eyes again. "Maybe it's time for a change.." A moment of silence followed as her eyes studied his face closely for the very first time. "Do you think i should keep that on? To be honest, i don't think i need to try the other dress on do i?" Hermione asked softly.
Draco smiled a bit moving a little closer to her keeping his blue eyes locked on her brown hues. " I don't think you need to try on another dress. You can still show me if you want. But you don't need to change. This one is perfect" he said keeping his hand in hers and catching himself playing with her fingers a little. It was a little nervous tick he had to keep him occupied. Eventually he did let go of her hands. He made a mental note to not let her too far from his sight at the party tonight , he didn't need to end up losing her to another drunken Slytherin.
She swallowed a little when he got closer, not breaking eye contact. His hand in hers felt oddly comfortable, and the way he played with her fingers made her heart flutter slightly. She realized that the barriers between them were slowly crumbling, revealing layers of their personalities that they had never seen in each other before. When he finally let go of her hands, she shifted her weight slightly, still feeling a bit of awkwardness but also a growing sense of connection. "So, about this party..." she began, trying to shift the topic as she gathered her thoughts. "What should I expect? Is it going to be anything like the events back at Hogwarts?"
Draco had this smile on his face of pure amusement knowing very well she had no idea what was in store tonight. "well..yea kinda I guess you could say that. It was like the events at Hogwarts. but um..Slytherins knew how to party and have a good time. Many late nights" he said with a laugh at the memories of pulling an all nighter or just pass out in some ones bed at 3 AM and get as much sleep as possible. "mostly, its music and dancing, spending time with friends getting caught up but um..there is a bit of drinking if you can handle it. "
Hermione listened with a mix of intrigue and hesitation. The idea of a party wasn't completely foreign to her, but the prospect of experiencing a Slytherin gathering was something else entirely. She couldn't help but smile at Draco's reminiscences of late night antics and camaraderie. "Dancing and music sound nice," she commented, her curiosity piqued by the thought of letting loose on the dance floor. But at his mention of drinking, she felt her reservations return. "I don't have much experience with alcohol, Draco. I've never been one to partake in that sort of thing." She studied him for a moment, trying to gauge his reaction. " I really don't want to seem out of place, but there is always a first time right? " she chuckled a little even tho she seemed a little concerned. Hermione looked around then back at him " I am ready when you are" The young witch then walked over to pay for her dress. Once it was paid she left the building and turned to look if he followed her.
"oh yes there is a first time for everything. Don't worry I won't let you too far out of my sight. Too many people I could lose you quite easy to one of those idiots. Especially looking the way you do tonight. " he said looking her up and down once more as he walked over to pay for her dress. Hermione looked exatly the way he had remembered but more of mature and a young woman. Time really flew by and there was so much he wanted to make up for when it came ot Hermione. He took a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh as he walked over to her and to her side " yea ..we can go, party will be starting soon I know they will all be shocked when I walk in with you. Don't worry, I won't let them touch you"
