Twelve
September 23rd 1998:
It’s been three days since Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy kissed. Much to his annoyance, they have not been alone since. Between his friends constantly being over, Ginny Weasley being annoyed by her roommates, classes, and head duties, they have not had a moment alone.
Draco Malfoy had enough. He was going to get Hermione Granger alone even if it killed him. He of course was being his dramatic self.
He’d time it perfectly. Hermione always walks this way after breakfast on her way to Transfiguration.
Soon enough the hallway was full of children scrambling to their classes. But through all of it, Draco saw Hermione.
“Granger!” He called her. She looked up to meet his eyes. “Follow me.” He grabbed her hand and ran off. He ignored her protests and continued to guide her to their destination. Pulling her into an alcove hidden behind a tapestry, he kissed her. He couldn’t help it. He’s wanted to kiss her since she walked out of his room three days ago.
“Well hello to you” She laughed when he let her go.
“You started it, Granger.”
“You’re the one who pulled me in here.”
“Yes but it’s your fault.”
“Oh and how is that?”
“Your red headed weasel keeps taking you away from me. I’ve wanted to talk.” Hermione smiled.
“Then talk.” She teased him.
“Go on a date with me.”
“Was that a question or a demand?”
“If I say demand, what’s gonna happen?”
“This.” Hermione leaned in and kissed him, just long enough to tease him.
“What have I said about using your words, Granger?”
“Yes, I’ll go on a date with you.” He smiled and connected their lips.
“Saturday. You. Me. Hogsmeade.”
“It’s a date.” She leaned in once more, but just to tease. “Bye Malfoy.” Hermione waved goodbye as she walked out from behind the tapestry.
“Tease.” Draco mumbled under his breath. Draco stayed hidden for a few more minutes, wondering how in the hell he just got Hermione Granger to agree to a date with him. Who would have thought? Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy. Has hell frozen over?
Hermione thought the same as she walked to class. While she couldn’t deny that she has felt attracted to Malfoy, recently it’s felt like more than just attraction. He was intelligent, he challenged her, he was different. Hermione walked into Transfiguration with a smile on her face, counting down the minutes until saturday.
September 26th 1998:
Four thousand, three hundred, twenty minutes later, (otherwise known as three days), Hermione sat in her bedroom getting ready for her date with Draco.
Her date with Draco Malfoy.
Hermione Granger's date with Draco Malfoy.
She still couldn’t wrap her head around it.
As she laid on her bed in her underwear, she thought about what Draco Malfoy would be like on a date. Would he be the perfect gentleman? Opening doors for her, bringing her flowers, holding her hand. That was the type of man Hermione Granger had always wanted. A man straight out of the romance novels she read back home.
“I should have asked Ginny what to wear.” Hermione said aloud to herself.
Eventually, she decided on a white jumper tucked into a red skirt with black tights and her favorite black boots. She tamed her hair the best she could.
Once she deemed herself ready, she tucked her wand away into her bag, took a deep breath and made the walk to the common room.
Draco stood in the common room waiting for Granger to finish getting ready. He had planned their entire day. They’d walk to Hogsmeade and from there, they will use the floo in the Hog’s Head to go to Diagon Alley which would take them to muggle London. Draco thought about what Hermione would like on a date. He found a nice restaurant and made a reservation. He’d even gone to Gringotts to exchange gallons for muggle money. Wanting to attempt to blend in, Draco wore an all black suit.
All thoughts left his head when he heard Hermione’s door open. He turned to look at her as she walked down the stairs. She was beautiful.
“Malfoy.” Draco smirked.
“Granger,” he paused. “You look beautiful.” Seeing her blush, made his smirk grow into a smile.
“Thank you. You look quite good yourself.” And his smirk was back.
“Shall we go?” He held his arm out for her.
“Yes we shall.” She wrapped her arm around his and they continued out the common room door together.
The castle was empty. Most of the students had either already walked to Hogsmeade or were in the great hall.
Walking to Hogsmeade was peaceful. Draco and Hermione talked about their classes, their friends, and their past.
“You’re telling me that you accidentally turned yourself into Milli’s cat in second year because you and the wonder twins thought I was the heir of Slytherin?” Draco was laughing while Hermione just glared.
“How was I supposed to know she had a cat?”
“Brightest Witch of her age indeed.” Hermione rolled her eyes at the blonde.
“Don’t forget that I successfully got Harry and Ron in.”
“I’ll give you half credit for that. It wasn’t hard to district Crabbe and Goyle. I’m not surprised you were able to spell them to sleep.”
“Hermione!” They were snapped out of their conversation by none other than Ginny Weasley. “Look who wanted to surprise us!” Next to her stood Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.
“Bloody hell” Draco mumbled.
“Thanks for walking her down ferret, but I’ll take her from here.” Ginny grabbed Hermione’s arm.
“Wait Gin, Mal-” Hermione started but was cut off.
“It’s okay Granger. I’ll see you back in the common room.” Hermione’s smile disappeared.
“But what about-”
“I’ll just go catch up with Theo and Blaise. Pansy, Milli, and Daph decided to take them shopping. Bye Granger. Weaslette, always a pleasure. Glad to see Auror training hasn’t killed you yet Potter.”
“Come on Hermione.” Ron ignored Draco as he walked away.
“You look cute today Hermione.” Ginny told her.
“Thanks Gin.” Hermione tried her best to hide her disappointment.
“So Malfoy is head boy? What is old McGonagall thinking?” Ron asked.
“He’s changed a lot.”
“He gave Hermione a first edition version of Hogwarts: A History, for her birthday.”
“That doesn’t sound like Malfoy.” Ron scoffed.
“Like I said, Ronald. He’s changed.”
Hours later, Hermione finally managed to escape her friends. Harry and Ron had to leave due to early training but Ginny wanted to stay with Hermione. She finally used the excuse of having to do homework to get away from the red head.
Upon returning to the dorm and noticing that Draco had not returned yet, Hermione got an idea.
“Mate, I do not want another glass. I want to wallow in my self pity.” The ever dramatic Draco Malfoy was laying on Theo’s bed as Blaise and Theo tried to get him drunk.
“You do not wallow in self pity until you tell us why you are wallowing.” Blaise informed.
“I’m leaving.” Draco stood from the bed. “I will see you gits tomorrow.”
As he walked to his dorm, Draco knew he could have prevented Granger from going off with the wonder twins. She had tried to tell them. However, at that moment, Draco did not feel like getting punched by the Weasel who was eyeing Hermione like a piece of chicken. Draco then reminded himself to ask Hermione what happened between the two.
Draco opened the Head’s door and saw Hermione in the small kitchen.
“Granger,” She paused what she was doing to turn and look at him. “How was your day?”
“It didn’t go how I wanted it to. I was supposed to go on a date with a handsome wizard but he walked away from me instead.”
“I thought you would have wanted to see your friends.”
“I wanted to go on a date with you.” Draco was angry with himself. “Which is why I brought our date here.” She motioned to the small table they have in the kitchen. Draco finally notices the candles she’d set up and the finger foods that were on the tables. “The kitchen elves couldn’t do a lot with the short notice I gave them so I hope finger foods are alright.”
“It’s perfect.”
“I also have this wine. I don’t know if it’s any good. It was the first one I saw.” Draco chuckled. “I know it’s not up to the Malfoy Wine Cellar standards but it’s what we have.”
“It’s perfect Granger. Better than what I had planned.”
“I guess we’ll never know now.” She teased.
“I’ll make it up to you next time.”
“Next time?”
“Of course. I need to prove myself worthy.” Hermione blushed and while trying to hide it from Draco, she transfigured two normal cups into wine glasses and sat them on the table.
“Well come on, sit down.” Hermione went to pull her chair out but Draco stopped her and did it himself.
“After you.”
“Well Thank you.” After Hermione sat down, Draco sat across from her and poured their wine.
“How was your day?”
“It was good. It mostly consisted of Ron babbling about you.”
“I’m honored he thinks of me so often.” Hermione rolled her eyes.
“Do you want to keep whatever this is a secret? Is that why you stopped me from telling them?” Hermine asked quietly. She didn’t know if she wanted the answer.
“I don’t want to keep you a secret Granger.” Hermione looked up. “Weasley was looking at you like you were a full course meal and he was starved. I was concerned he’d try to punch me.”
“Ron does not look at me that way. We are friends. He’s the one that decided that.”
“What do you mean?”
“We kissed during the battle of Hogwarts. I thought that meant we’d be a couple but he told me it only happened because we could have died that day. According to Ginny he is not lacking attention from women.”
“His loss is my gain. I’m honored to be given a chance to date the beautiful, intelligent, Hermione Granger.” Hermione looked down trying to hide her blush. “I like it when the things I say make you blush.”
“Of course you do.”
The rest of the night was spent with the two talking about everything and anything. Hermione told Draco she wishes to become Minister one day. Draco promised she’d have his vote.
“And what about you? What do you want to do after Hogwarts?”
“I would like to become an Auror but with my past, it’s very unlikely.”
“Rubbish. You weren’t convicted of any crime. I believe in you. You’ll be the best Auror in the department.”
“Good to know that I’ll have the future Minister’s support.”
“You’ll always have my support.”
The night ended with a polite kiss. Or it was supposed to end that way.
However, Draco Malfoy was pulling Hermione into his room, kissing every part of her face making her laugh.
Sitting on his bed, Hermione started to worry. How would he react when she told him she’d never done this before? And that she isn’t sure if she’s ready for this step.
“Draco,” Hermione mumbled against his lips. “Can we pause for a moment?” Draco pulled away immediately.
“Are you okay? Is this okay?” The look of worry in his eyes calmed Hermione down.
“Everything is fine. Kissing you is very okay. I just,” she paused. “I’ve never, uh, well I am a, you know.” Hermione’s nerves kicked in and she stuttered her words.
“A virgin?”
“Yes. That.” Draco gently places his hands on Hermione’s face.
“We go at whatever pace makes you comfortable, Granger. I did not mean to push your limits.”
“No you didn’t. I was just going to suggest that we take things slow.”
“I’ll follow the speed you set. I never want you to do something that makes you uncomfortable. Promise me you’ll always tell me if you want to stop.”
“I promise I will.” She kissed him gently. “Thank you.”
“For what? Granger, I might have been a git to you growing up. But I was taught to respect the woman I’m in a relationship with. My mother deserved better than my father. She taught me how to treat a woman. Stopping when your partner asks you too, that’s the first thing I learned. I never want to push you and I never want to make you feel unsafe.”
“So,” Hermioine was blushing once again. “I’m the woman you’re in a relationship with?”
“I bloody well hope so.” They laughed and Draco kissed her gently. “I’ll walk you to your room.” Hermione shook her head and kissed him.
“I never said stop.” Draco smirked before deepening the kiss between them.