Hermione was in desperate need of a girls day out, and she said as much to Ginny and Padma during one of their weekly brunch dates. She had been so bogged down at work, Hermione felt that she had earned it. A few hours to browse different stores, maybe get some new quills, maybe a pop into Obscurus Books or Flourish and Blotts for something to add to the collection of books that was scattered all over her flat.
They had agreed to meet at the Leaky Cauldron to have a few drinks before taking on the day. So there Hermione sat, nursing her pumpkintini. She had arrived the earliest, and she didn’t think her friends would mind her starting without them. Hermione scanned the pub lazily, just to see if anything might catch her eye; but nothing really ever did. Honestly though, Hermione thought, Ginny would probably commend the initiative. Ginny and Padma have been pestering her to start seeing people again. It had been much too long since she had a man between the sheets of her bed, but she felt no desire to date. All the wizards they introduced her to were either too much or not enough of any certain thing. Too presumptuous, too judgemental; or they weren’t interested in Hermione, herself, but they wanted a quick shag with one third of the “Golden Trio”. Muggle men were no better, though. The only man in her life was loyal, loving, and covered in orange fur. Crookshanks had been there with her through it all.
She was startled out of her reverie by a flash of orange next to her saying, “Two butterbeers, please! Do you want another, Hermione?”
She shook her head, lifting her drink to show it was still mostly full. Hermione hadn’t even noticed Ginny walk in, or Padma trailing just behind her. “Where to first? I have a few places in mind, but—”
“No, Hermione,” said Padma, shaking her head as the words came out of her mouth. “We’re gonna sit in that booth over there,” she pointed her finger toward a booth not too far from the bar, “just for a little while and relax.”
“You are the one who said you needed a ‘Girl’s Day Out’, Hermione!” Ginny grinned, “So that’s exactly what’s happening today! You deserve some time to socialize and be a person. Just enjoy it.”
Once everyone had a drink in hand, they migrated to the booth Padma pointed out and sat down. She took the seat facing the door to the pub, while they sat facing her. She toyed with the stem of the glass in front of her, suddenly at a loss. With nothing new happening at work, and no wizard in her life to mention, she didn’t know what to talk about.
She looked up, stared between Padma and Ginny, and decided to stick with something easy, “So how’ve you two been? Harry and Ron must be exhausted, given how much time they’ve put into this new Gringotts case! I hardly see them at the Ministry anymore.”
“They’re fanbloodytastic, ‘Mione. Now, onto more important matters,” Ginny said excitedly before she continued, “Have you been seeing anyone new? I saw you in the Prophet a few days ago, and I was going to owl you, but I figured you wouldn’t be able to ignore me if I was sitting right in front of you.”
“Ergh,” the noise left Hermione’s lips before she could stop it, letting her forehead fall to the surface of the wooden tabletop. “No, absolutely not. Honestly, Gin, could you see me with a tosspot like Zacharias? It’s just rubbish written by some Rita Skeeter wannabe. We had a work lunch, and we definitely weren’t the only two in attendance.”
Ginny shrugged and brought her glass to her lips, “I’m just saying,” she took a sip. “You don’t have to be with him to get under him if you know what I’m sayin’.”
She and Padma giggled together while Hermione fought back the urge to sigh.
She had left Ron two years ago, after they mutually agreed they just didn’t want the same things out of life. Ron wanted to settle down, having had too many big adventures for a lifetime and it made him realize he wanted a family of his own. Of course, only after he settled into his new Auror job with Harry. He reconnected with Padma and now they live a happy, domestic life; they had even started talking about having children, and getting married.
Hermione.. eh, not so much. It was just so cookie cutter, the idea alone made her want to vomit.
She still had so much to do, and so much to accomplish. She had spent so many years helping others, and along the way, she realized she could continue to do that. So she took on a job at the Ministry as Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. She was proud of what she did, but she still would eventually plan to run for Minister. Not that she had told anyone that particular plan.. Yet.
Now, here she was. Single, lonely, and worked almost to death. The line of questioning was so unbearable to her that she just decided to extricate herself.
“Truly, I just have a few errands I need to run before we start,” Hermione said while packing up her bag, “I’ll be back soon, have a few drinks without me and I’ll catch up with you in a moment.”
“Wait– Hermione! I didn’t–” she couldn’t hear the last of Ginny’s words. She had already slung her bag over her shoulder, and ducked her head as she walked out the door of the pub and into the Alley.
Taking a deep breath, she adjusted the strap on her shoulder and started walking. Her feet took the familiar path to Obscurus Books, residing at 18a, South Side, Diagon Alley.
She opened the door, said a quick hello to the shopkeeper, and immediately approached a row of books. She selected a copy of “Where There’s A Wand, There’s A Way” and held it up to her face to start reading. This shop was never particularly busy, so Hermione didn’t bother looking up from the page until she began to approach the small tables near the back of the shop. But she wouldn’t describe what she did as looking, as it was more of a gawk. Standing with his back facing her, all she could see was a toned back with the most pert bum she had ever seen, resting atop of muscled thighs, all clad in one of the most luxurious muggle suits she had ever laid eyes on. Seriously, she thought, those trousers have to be tailored to fit that nicely. His head was ducked, reading a book, as he propped his body up on his fists over it. He seemed to feel her stare, and his head whipped up.
Oh, Merlin, no. Hermione would have known thatshade of blonde absolutely anywhere.
She tried to turn away, maybe she could scurry into the aisle closest to her, but it was no use. Malfoy had seen her. And not only had he seen her, but he had caught her line of sight out of the corner of his eye. She pretended to be scanning the row of books in front of her when the blonde she had been accidentally leering at, came to rest his shoulder on the bookcase next to where she was looking. She avoided his gaze, but she could feel his eyes staring at the pink that dusted over her cheeks.
“Granger, by all means,” she finally looked at him as he addressed her. He gestured down his body, “If the ‘Brightest Witch of Her Age’ wants to ogle me in public, I surely can’t tell her no.” There was a smirk plastered on his face, and his eyes twinkled with barely contained delight.
“Ogle isn’t the word I’d use to describe what I’d like to do to you, Malfoy,” said Hermione.
“Oh, please, pray tell. What would you like to do to me then, Granger?” his voice started out playful, growing huskier as he asked. He was enjoying the banter, that much Hermione could tell.
She hadn’t seen Malfoy since they had finished their 8th year at Hogwarts. Even then, he kept his head down, not wanting to do anything that might make the Wizengamot think he was violating his probation. The Malfoy’s had done what they thought was their fair share of repentance; hosting fundraising galas, donating more galleons than Hermione had ever seen to St. Mungo’s and various other charities, along with reparations for those who had been hurt or who had lost someone during the war. Even Harry had said that Malfoy didn’t seem like the same git they had all gone to school with. Hell, he was standing next to her in a full muggle suit. And though she loathed to admit it.. he looked really good in it too. Of course, ever the curious mind, Hermione had to ask–
“Why are you in muggle clothing? In Diagon Alley?” Hermione chewed her bottom lip, and let the next sarcastic remark tumble free without giving herself a second to think about it. “Does the ‘Pureblood Prince’ normally fancy outings into muggle London?”
But Malfoy just continued smirking. He raked his eyes down her body, making her face flame once more, but pulled them back up to meet her eyes again before speaking. “Malfoy Industries has a whole department dedicated to developing muggle technologies for wizarding use. Haven’t you been reading the Prophet, Granger?” He leaned closer to her, lowering his voice to a whisper as if he was telling a secret, “And if you must know, it’s because I fancy the way my bum looks in muggle trousers.”
Hermione spluttered and leaned away from him, not knowing what to say. Really, what could she say? Yeah, Malfoy, I have to agree with you there!It’s bloody ridiculous. She pulled a book from the shelf in front of her, flipping through a few pages, pretending to skim the text. Hermione paused and considered her words carefully before she spoke. Draco Malfoy had without a doubt grown into his physique, gone was the pointy, ferret-faced boy from their past. And if Hermione wasn’t mistaken, the man–because he was definitely a man now, was flirting with her. Malfoy was flirting with her, the famed Muggleborn, Hermione Granger. She had to be sure, though.
“Malfoy, are you flirting with me?” she asked, looking up from the book in front of her to discern the expression on his face. All she saw was his smug smirk and his eyes glinting mischievously.
“Would you like me to be, Granger?” he said, casually looking at his nails.
Hermione stared at him for a long moment. Outwardly, he seemed indifferent to her answer, but she could sense an underlying current of intent. So Hermione cleared her throat and waited for their eyes to meet before uttering a single word: “Yes.”
That seemed to grab his attention.
He looked at her, and he seemed to be contemplating his next move before asking, “Fancy a drink, Hermione?”
fin