A/N: Sorry for the long delay, I had some uni exams this week. (Thankfully, I passed.) As an apology, you get this XL chapter. :) I will be back on schedule from now.
—
"So, you went on a date and didn't even bother telling me about it."
"It was not a date. It was educational. I told you, Gin."
Hermione did her best to hide in the large armchair in their common room, her face getting redder and redder as they spoke. Ginny hounded her throughout this week after she saw a bewildered Theo come back to the castle, covered in feathers.
Hermione was slowly feeding her information the past few days, not wanting to deal with the ramifications, but the redhead finally snapped and ambushed her as she left her room this morning.
"You're telling me that going on a leisurely walk while swapping funny stories and taking the wizard with a well-known sweet tooth for French pastries is not a date?" She rolled her eyes. "Merlin, I've been doing it wrong all these years."
"I am telling you that it was-"
"Did he lick the frosting off his lips?" Ginny interrupted, and memories from last week flooded Hermione's mind, making her blush even harder.
Yes, he did.
"I don't see how that's relevant," she answered meekly, and her friend's eyes narrowed, opening her mouth for another rebuke, but Hermione was quicker.
"Doesn't it bother you?"
"That you've chosen the Ferret instead of my brother?" Ginny asked, and she could not bring herself to nod. Thankfully, she continued. "Sweet Circe, no! I was hoping we would be sisters, but anyone with an eye can see that you two just don't match. Ron is sweet and brave and a great brother, but you need someone who can match your smarts, so you wouldn't be bored out of your mind after a couple of years. Honestly, I think it's better you two didn't open that can of Flobberworms. It would not have ended well."
Hermione's jaw dropped at her friend's candour.
"Now don't get me wrong, I still don't like the Ferret, but when you returned from your little 'outing', you were grinning like a Cheshire cat and I'm fairly sure I saw hearts in your eyes."
"I have to stop showing you old cartoons, they're polluting your mind," Hermione grumbled. Before she had time to come up with a proper answer, the door to the boy's dorms opened, and Harry and Ron walked out, the latter quite dishevelled.
"Good morn…" Ron yawned. Harry greeted them as well, then gave his girlfriend a chaste kiss, not to incur her brother's wrath.
"Are you all ready for today?" Hermione stood quickly and begun ushering them out of the portrait. If Ginny noticed her panicked escape, she was too busy with her boyfriend to comment on it.
"Honestly? I don't think I'll ever be ready for any of your ideas." Ron complained. She looked back at the lovebirds trailing behind.
"I think this will be fun. You rarely get to see them squirm." Ginny flashed a dangerous smile.
"'Mi wants us on our best behaviour, love. You aren't allowed to do anything to them." Harry ran his fingers through her hair, calmingly.
"I won't do anything. Personally." She smirked, and Hermione knew this was the best she's going to get.
With her lead, their group trailed all the way down to the great hall, but instead of heading for their own table, she led them to the Slytherins'. Some students were staring, some looked appalled, but this was just the first step. She couldn't back off now.
She plopped down between her brother and Draco, giving them both a big smile. Her friends took seats nearby, Ron digging into the food immediately. In the most natural way she could muster - meaning without her hands shaking too hard - she also filled her plate.
She could only eat a single bite before Pansy shrieked at her.
"What are you doing here?"
The Great Hall quieted, save for some low murmur that came from the other tables. It felt like the entirety of Hogwarts was waiting for her answer. She saw the concealed curiosity on the student's faces closest to her. Theo turned two shades paler, and Zabini pulled his plate of pancakes closer, shielding them. She could not see Draco on her other side, but from his staccato breaths she guessed he was on edge. Unlike last time, the Hall was full of students who now had their eyes strained on her.
Hermione calmly finished chewing before telling her, "I'm having breakfast."
"But why here?!"
"She must've come for your charming personality, Pansy." Zabini interrupted, causing the snakes to snicker.
With an appreciative nod to him for breaking the tension, Hermione continued. "Actually, I came here with a proposal. An opportunity, if you wish."
"I wish you'd go away." Pansy interrupted but was quickly hushed by other Slytherins.
"Any adult students who are taking Muggle Studies may come with me for an excursion today. We are meeting at ten o'clock sharp, on the quidditch pitch. Wear comfortable clothes and do not be late." She made sure to talk loud enough for the whole hall to hear, but she knew very well that the only adult students taking the class would be the Slytherins.
"Where are we going?" Goyle asked, and she smiled sickeningly sweet.
"To Muggle London."
Job well done, she took another bite. Who knew the sound of total chaos would pair so well with ham and eggs?
—
She looked at the motley crew gathered on the grass with a sense of pride. Draco, Theo, Zabini, Greengrass and Goyle all showed up. She was in the middle of charming their clothes to Muggle standards when Luna joined them.
"I'll venture with you to the city of dreams. It's been a while since I've been there. I wonder if they still have so many groofynooks?" she pondered loudly.
Hermione finished up and explained the plan.
"So, as I've said, no magic. Under absolutely no circumstances should you even touch your wand. There is nothing there that can harm you."
"What if they attack us?" Goyle asked sincerely.
"Why would they attack you?"
"Because they're Muggles and I'm not?"
Hermione could only stare at the wizard as she gathered her jaw from the floor. Thankfully, Draco was more collected.
"They don't know that, Greg. And even if they did, they would not do anything."
He didn't even question Draco further, just accepted it with a shrug. "Okay."
"Just try to act like everyone else, and listen to your guide, and everything will be fine." She reassured him.
She pulled two small bags from her pocket, one with her friends' names and another with the challenges she wrote down.
"Please form a line and choose the name of your guide."
It was strange to watch them obey without a question, but it might had something to do with Draco eagerly reaching into the bag.
"Hermione," he announced.
"Looks like you're coming with me then." She smiled, trying her best to ignore Ginny's twinkling eyes.
They all got sorted. She was leading Draco and Theo. Harry and Ron got Zabini and Goyle. Ginny, who insisted on going alone, after spending way too much time in Muggle London with her last summer, had Daphne and Luna.
"Now all guides come and get the challenge you'll have to complete."
"You didn't tell us we'd have homework." Ron frowned.
"It wouldn't be very scholarly to just frolic around. I have chosen some destinations that are both manageable to get to but require some forethought. They will also focus on the skills I have taught in the previous lesson. Now get on with it." She said and proffered the other small bag.
Harry stepped forward and pulled a small paper from it.
"Get some dim sum?" Harry looked at her in confusion. "What's dim sum?"
"You'll have to figure it out yourself," she smiled knowingly. "But Ron will most definitely like it. Now, Ginny!"
Gin pulled her own challenge. "Find a bird's eye view of the Thames. I think I know what that means."
"Good. But let your teammates figure it out as well." Hermione advised and she nodded.
"I've always wanted to soar like the birds," Luna added.
Lastly, Hermione pulled a paper for herself, although she knew the challenge already.
"Visit Ben. Now, let's not waste any more time. I will Apparate us to Trafalgar Square. You will have four hours to complete your task, then we rendezvous back there. Good luck!"
—
"I think Ben is not a person." Theo pondered out loud. Her brother needed a bit of time to adjust, so they sat on one of the benches. Draco scouted ahead, eyeing the lion statues from a distance like they were about to come to life.
"Hmm, what makes you think that?"
"You wouldn't send us chasing Kneazels, and finding a guy named Ben in a city of… what did you say, nine million people… is a bit crazy."
Hermione smiled at her brother's deduction. Looks like smarts ran in the family.
"You're right. I chose some easy locations for now." She confirmed.
"It's a place then?" Theo asked.
"No, not really." She stood from the bench, offering a hand to her brother. "Come, let's get Draco. I'm certain you two can figure it out in no time."
They caught up to Draco. Hermione noticed how the crowd of people seemed to avoid, him, groups splitting in two to go around, and people not lingering in his proximity in general. She tried to see him with a stranger's eyes. The wizard was tall and lean with piercing eyes and impressive platinum blonde hair. He charmed his robes to look like the suit they bought last time, so he looked not only incredibly fit, but just as wealthy. Maybe people wondered if he was royalty? Hermione chuckled at the thought.
Draco turned to her, a single eyebrow raised.
"People might think you're a mad, lost prince if you give those poor statues another round of sullen contemplation." She teased, and his face scrunched in mock-worry.
"Oh, my sincerest apologies, I did not realise the royal reputation was on the line." He bowed, and gently pulled her free hand to his mouth, letting the faintest whisper of a kiss land on it.
Hermione hoped that the blush would not reach all the way up her hairline, but judging by his smug grin, it was wishful thinking.
She felt that oh-so-familiar prickle on the back of her neck. People were staring at them. Grabbing both men by the hand, she pulled them further from the square and along a road that leads to the Clock Tower.
"Any clues for us, my lady?" Theo joined in on teasing her, and she poked him in his side playfully.
"You can hear Ben every hour on the dot. Never missing by a minute."
Theo guessed immediately. "Is Ben a clock?"
"No," Draco said. "You don't hear the clock. You hear the bell's chime."
"You're right." Theo turned to Hermione. "So, is it a bell we're looking for?"
"Correct!" she beamed. "Now you just have to f-"
"Found it." Draco interrupted, pointing at a large tourist map, with the clock clearly marked.
To Hermione's surprise, they navigated through the streets like they lived their whole lives here. Sure, Theo sometimes dashed to avoid touching Muggles on instinct and Draco drew more stares than an average aristocrat, but they both handled it extremely well. She was very proud of them.
After arriving at their destination, and Hermione sharing some historical facts, she convinced the wizards to sit in a pub with her and try some Muggle drinks. They climbed into a booth, and she let them peruse the menu.
"They have apple whiskey?" Draco asked incredulously. She took the card from him and looked through it herself.
"Looks like they do," she handed him back the list with a playful smile. " Are the apples calling for you, Draco?"
With a darkening gaze, he leaned forward and bore his eyes into hers. "There are some things I simply cannot resist, Hermione."
The world might have stopped at that moment, but she was unable to tear herself from his stormy gaze. What does he mean? Is he teasing her? How did he make her name sound so sinful? A shiver ran down her spine.
"Should I get a room for you two?" Her brother's words crashed her whirring train of thought, and she found that she had leaned in as well, her bottom not even touching the seat anymore. She flushed red for the umpteenth time today and briefly wondered whether it was healthy to do so.
Thank Merlin, the waitress showed up just in time to save her from answering. She found it hard to think, let alone come up with a clever comeback. She poked at a random mocktail on the menu while avoiding both wizards' eyes.
Theo took the reins of the conversation, but she noted his unusually cheerful tone. She made a mental note to punish both of them for teasing her so much.
"It's pretty lucky we got you as our guide. I disliked the glint in Ginevra's eyes." Theo said, and she hummed in agreement.
"You do not need luck if you load the dice," she shrugged, finding her voice.
"Hermione! Don't tell me you cheated," he gasped mockingly.
"It is not a competition, so technically it is not cheating, but I may have charmed the papers." She admitted.
Theo laughed and threw his arm around her. "I think it may be time to charm your uniform a different colour too."
She pushed off the offending arm and squared her shoulders. "Admitting to the deed is a Gryffindor quality, so I'm still skirting the boundaries, thank you very much."
—
They soon got their drinks. As Draco took a careful sip, a deep, low hum resonated from his throat, and it stirred something within her. She had to steal a glance.
Draco had his eyes closed, and his face smoothed out in appreciation of the drink. Hermione watched as his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed, and before she could look away, he opened his eyes, smirked at her, and licked his lips in a slow and calculated way.
She jumped from her seat and fled to the bathroom, taking some time to compose herself. Was Ginny right? Did Draco think they went on a date? If yes, why couldn't he just tell her, or give her a sign or anything?
Dear Merlin, why was she okay with this?
He is Draco Malfoy. The snarky, arrogant and rude Draco Malfoy from her childhood. The same funny, intelligent and supportive Draco Malfoy she got to know in the past weeks.
Which one was real? If he really meant to… date her, she must know.
She had to conduct a test. A controlled one, if possible. She had to try and push his buttons just to see if he'd slip back into his old persona. Thankfully, she had every opportunity to do so during their outings to come.
With a myriad of ideas fluttering in her mind, each more devious than the last, she strutted back to their booth, taking a seat. She found Draco's eyes on her immediately, his lips still curled halfway. Keeping her eyes locked on his, she picked up the cherry skewer from her drink and wrapped her mouth and tongue around it like a lollipop. Then gave it a suggestive lick.
Draco's jaw dropped, and he spilt some of his whiskey on his carefully charmed silken shirt.
Hermione leaned back, watching the wetness slowly spread on his chest with a victorious grin.
Let the games begin.
—
A/N: Let me know what you think of the Slytherins' first outing! Next time: Malfoy shenanigans