Hermione took her time choosing her breakfast, silently contemplating between two slices of bacon while revelling in the slowly building murmur coming from the other tables.

Surprisingly, both her own house and the snakes were quiet. The former could be explained by Ginny's menacing glares. She was a force to reckon with, and her housemates knew this all too well. As for the latter…

She looked to the sides, assessing the students. Pansy was noticeably absent from the table - maybe she slept in today - so that was one part of the equation solved. The devil on her shoulder kept whispering about missed opportunities and retribution but she did her best to ignore it. Even if Pansy was annoying and shortsighted, she had the right to have her own opinions. And as she told them before, Hermione was sick and tired of crusading.

She tried to catch the gaze of some Slytherins, but they all seemed too busy with their own meals or quiet discussions. Strange.

Ginny was now flanked by Daphne and Zabini, gesticulating wildly in the middle of a story. She did everything she could to draw the attention of the people sitting close enough, only stopping to give Hermione a thumbs-up and a grin. Oh, that cheeky witch!

"So, what's your plan for today?" Theo asked, bringing her thoughts back to her own snakes.

Judging by his indifference, Draco clearly told him about them, and he did not seem to mind. In fact, he was getting bolder by the day. Just now, he tried to steal her nicest piece of bacon off her plate. She swatted his hand and gave him a cold glare.

"Not much, really. Eat breakfast, go on a first date, grab some inexplicably expensive clothes, try not to mess everything up about Pureblood customs, go back to the place I was tortured at and face my inner demons… probably get one, if not multiple panic attacks," she listed calmly, shrugging. "Oh, I know, maybe we'll also grab some apple tarts at Charlotte's."

Draco visibly stiffened about halfway into her sentence and glanced away uncomfortably. Hermione caressed his jawline with one hand, gently turning his head to face her. His eyes were full of regret and worry, and she couldn't stand to see him like this.

She quickly amended her previous words. "I'm not worried though… I'll have a dragon at my side to save me from those." She kissed his cheek again, unable to stop now that she'd started. "Both my inner demons and my apple tarts."

Theo snickered and Draco's smirk slowly returned. He trapped her hand under his own, as he snuggled into her touch. His eyes closed in delight. He then turned his head, giving her palm a kiss, and Hermione's cheeks heated.

"I am at your beck and call."

—

"What kind of a first date is this if you just leave halfway?" Draco complained, arms crossed and eyes narrowed.

After breakfast, they quickly Apparated to her London flat and got ready in world record time. They couldn't just loaf around, so Hermione prepared a timetable. It was perfect - except for the one thing Draco found in moments after glancing at the colour-coded nightmare.

"An efficient one," she said, but he raised an eyebrow. "Look, it's not like I'm leaving for good. I need that time to grab a present for your mum, as per Pureblood rules, and you can deal with the clothes. It just makes sense."

Draco huffed. "I still don't see why we can't do those together."

Hermione worried her lip. Draco wouldn't budge about the matter. Still, she wanted to do this little shopping on her own. She had some guidelines from Theo, but if she could choose an acceptable gift, it would prove that she was indeed getting better with wizarding culture.

Draco would not be able to resist giving advice, and she didn't want that. Her investigation about their culture was a mess based on centuries-old fairy tales wrapped in secrets. Her ongoing search about her past lead her to so many dead ends, it was like the Triwizard Maze all over again. She needed this win.

Thus she played her trump card.

"So, you're willing to dare the Tube?" she asked innocently.

Last time, both he and Theo refused to get on, only glaring in disgust at the small carriages filled to the brim with Muggles. This time was no different. Draco curled his lip and shook his head, and Hermione knew she won the battle.

—

With Narcissa's gift safely tucked away in her beaded handbag, she met the sulking snake in front of the boutique.

His silence did not last long. As they neared Charlotte's shop, the heavenly sweet scent of freshly baked desserts hit their noses and made both their stomachs grumble. They were well in the afternoon, and skipping lunch meant the two approached the pâtisserie like a pair of starving wolves.

"Bonjour! 'Ow may I-" Charlotte greeted from behind the counter, before looking at her new guests, and gasping. "Oh, ma chérie! You are beautiful, j'adore ta blouse! C'est pour quelle occasion?" she asked while leading them to a booth.

Hermione could swear the woman was the bloodhound of romance. Her head was still spinning from both the question and its implication by the time Draco answered.

"It's our first date," he smirked, and Charlotte bounced her gaze between them. Hermione was certain, that if you looked hard enough, you could see her sort through the threads of fate.

"Non!" Her eyes widened, and she put a hand on her hip. "What was last time then?" she asked.

"Let's call that foreplay," Draco answered, keeping his eyes firmly locked on Hermione's.

Well, that was one way to heat her up in the middle of winter. And - Merlin help her - she quite liked it.

—

A/N: A lovely update for my lovely readers!

Next up: Returning to Malfoy Manor.

Disclaimer: I don't speak French. If you do, please let me know if I messed up that part. Thanks!

Love,

LydieBerry