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Hermione Granger took a deep breath and turned the doorknob to exit her office. She strode, full of purpose, across the auror department’s floor to Draco Malfoy’s office. She gave his door three firm raps.

“Come in.”

A bespectacled Draco was standing by his desk sorting through a handful of files. He wore a navy work suit that flattered his tall, lean figure. At the sound of the door opening, he glanced up and removed his glasses.

“Ah. Granger, what do you need?”

Hermione looked him square in the eye.
“I need you to date me.”

The files slipped from Draco’s hand onto his desk. He ran a hand across the back of his neck.
“What?”

Hermione offered a tentative smile and closed the door behind her. She crossed the hardwood floor towards him.
“Rather, I need you to be my pretend date. Cormac is an unequivocal idiot, see, and-“

“-You want to make him jealous or something?” Draco raised a brow.

“What? No. Don’t interrupt me.” She scoffed. “I want him to leave me alone. I visited with him for a minute too long at the Valentine’s Day work party, and now he’s under the impression that he and I are an item.”

Draco crossed his arms and sat on the edge of his desk.
“Have you told him that’s not the case?”

“On a frequent basis since 6th year, yes,” Hermione said dryly. She sighed and plopped down in a chair. “Please. He’s incorrigible.”

It was quiet for a moment while Draco considered. He drew his wand to summon two cups of tea for them. Sugar, teaspoons, and cream swirled around until a warm cup landed in both of their hands.

As she sipped, Draco’s eyes shifted from Hermione to his window that let in the mid-morning light.
“I’m not saying yes...but I am listening.”

This perked Hermione right up. She set her cup on the desk and started talking with her hands.
“I thought we could start small. Just come by my desk and ask about picking me up at a certain time or something.”

“Won’t McLaggen need to be there?”

Hermione gave Draco a worn look.
“He’s always at my door, so I imagine he will hear you.”

Draco raised his brows and gestured for her to keep going. He tapped his wand to the rims of their cups to refill them.

“You don’t actually have to take me out, of course, it’s just for show so he stops-“

Draco interrupted her by holding up his hand. “What do you mean I don’t have to take you out?”

“Just that. You wouldn’t have to go so far as to-“

“Yes I would. Showing is always better than telling.”

“Stop interrupting me and, no, you wouldn’t because the only place I ever see him is at work.”

Draco let out a huff of air.
“Continue.”

“Before leaving today, stop by. Maybe do this sort of thing a couple times a week until he backs off?”

She reached for her cup again and leaned back to assess his reaction.

“Describe what you mean by ‘do this sort of thing’.” Draco said.

“Were you not listening? Mention an upcoming date or event, or make a comment on how great the night before was. Just hang around my office more.”

Draco smirked. “Comments about the night before? And here I thought you were more private than that, Granger.”

Her eyes flashed, but a rosy tinge colored her cheeks. “You know what I meant.”

Draco took a pull from his teacup. “Why me? We’re not even that close.”

“Precisely,” she replied. “I’ve worked it all out. We make the most sense for several reasons. We’re both in our late twenties, we see each other all the time at work anyway, and of course there’s our obvious singleness.”

“Excuse me.”

She went on as if she hadn’t heard him.
“And the pretending part will be easy since we’re barely friends. I mean, it won’t get messy with true feelings since you’ve practically hated me the majority of our lives.”

No I haven’t.

On his dark expression, Hermione backtracked.
“Okay maybe hate is a strong word these days; we’ve come a long way thanks to working  here. But never mind that. Mostly I think it’ll work because he’s terrified of you.”

Draco’s brow quirked.

Hermione smiled. “Trust me. You’re the best candidate.”