A/N: Ok sorry about the long time in between updates I had writer's block something terrible. I own nothing! And don't stone me for the ending I swear I'll give you some Dramione action next chapter! Review please
-X-
Hermione had a lazy morning, working her way through two lattes and a cappuccino before she showered. She got dressed in muggle clothes even though she planned to go to Diagon Alley. Hermione fire-called Ginny and asked if she'd like to go to Diagon Alley with her to which Ginny happily agreed to.
About fifteen minutes later Ginny climbed through Hermione's fireplace dusting off the ash on her magenta robes.
"Long time no see Hermione! I've missed you!" Ginny said giving Hermione a hug.
"I know it's been too long! What do you say we get started then?"
"Why don't you tell me why we're going shopping to for jewelry and shoes first? Got a hot date you're not telling me about?" Ginny smiled at Hermione knowingly.
"I might have a date with Draco tonight…" Hermione offered shyly. She wasn't sure how Ginny would respond to the news. Ginny knew that they were friends and that they worked closely together but she wasn't sure she'd welcome Draco into Hermione's life with open arms…
"That sounds smashing! He's only the wizarding world's most eligible bachelor and gorgeous to boot! Have you been seeing him for long?" Hermione blushed at how well Ginny knew her.
"About two weeks I don't know maybe longer when I think about it. He likes to show up at my flat after my shift and we chat and we've already had a date but this is our first official date as… a couple."
Ginny squealed with joy, "As a couple?! Oh I'm so happy for you. Of course Harry and Ron will be a bit more difficult to convince but they'll come round eventually. What do you say we ditch Diagon Alley and head to muggle London for some real shopping? It'll be my treat so don't worry about it," Ginny grinned, "If you're going out with Malfoy you'll need to be dressed in style. I know just the places."
"Oh Ginny that's so kind of you! I've already picked out the dress would you like to see it so we know what to get to match it?" Hermione said heading toward her bedroom and neatly taking out the dress she had bought a few days prior at Twilfitt and Tatting's.
The emerald green dress with capped sleeves and jewels on the sleeves was stunning. Ginny went on and on about how she'd have to see the whole outfit they'd put together before she went on her date with Draco.
Ginny finally suggested they go find shoes to match the dress first.
"Where we're going in downtown muggle London there's no real safe place to apparate so we'll have to drive. It's not far from your flat just the other side of London then we can walk to the jewelry boutique."
"Sounds fantastic Ginny and thank you so much for being so supportive I know it can be hard to let go of grudges from our school years. I know it took me a long time to let go of everything Draco did in school. Now everything's different though…"
"Oh look at you! You've got puppy dog eyes for him and he's not even in the room!" Ginny giggled at her friend and said, "Let's take your Audi I love that thing and it has that muggle contraption what is it? CPS?"
"GPS, Ginny. You put in your destination and it gives you directions." Ginny rolled her eyes and followed Hermione to the parking garage.
Soon they were on their way to a shop. That's all Ginny would tell Hermione, it was a shoe store and a place she would absolutely find the right pair of shoes for her dress.
When they finally found a parking space in the crowded city they had to walk several blocks to get to their destination. When they arrived Ginny simply turned to face Hermione and grinned like the cat that'd caught the proverbial canary.
"Ginny are you out of your mind? This place is far too expensive! I wouldn't even know what to do in a shop like this."
"You act like a wealthy customer and try on as many shoes as you like and watch out, they run a bit on the tall side so try to pick something you can walk in."
Hermione gathered her Gryffindor courage and walked into Christian Louboutin Mount Street looking as haughty as she could in jeans and a simple blouse.
Needless to say she was a bit out of sorts with the other customers in the shop (if you could call it that it was simply boundless with walls and walls of floor to ceiling displays of shoes and accessories).
Hermione began browsing and immediately a sales person came up to her and Ginny and asked if they needed help.
Hermione replied, "Well yes, I have a date tonight and I was looking for a pair of shoes that would go with an emerald green dress. It's got capped sleeves and is about mid thigh length."
The sales person smiled kindly at her and asked "Black would be a very fetching color with a green dress. Let me show you our newest collection." He proceeded to show her all manner of pumps, wedges, kitten heels and sandals she couldn't decide which to pick so she asked Ginny for advice.
"What do you think? I like the pumps with an open toe. All the bottoms of the shoes are red though won't that clash with my dress?"
Ginny was about to respond but the salesman interceded, "All of our shoes have red bottoms, it's the Louboutin signature design. I'm sure it won't clash with your dress. It's a signature style."
Hermione paused to think for a minute and then asked to try a pair on in her size.
The salesman brought them out and she was in love with them immediately. The heel was fairly high, 120 millimeters but she could practice walking in them for the rest of the afternoon.
As she tried them on she realized they were made for her and she had to have them. She didn't want to look at the price tag because just from the looks of the shop she knew they were wickedly expensive. Louboutin's weren't necessarily her style but she wanted to impress Draco.
"I'll take them." She said smiling at Ginny and the salesman. Ginny went to pay for them and left her to think about her date.
Since when did she allow her friends to buy her expensive things to impress a man? It was so unlike her. She was very much a jeans and a blouse kind of girl simple outfits were her style. She never ran around London looking for just the right thing to wear and wondering if she'd picked the right thing to wear or not. This was all so strange to her. And Ginny! She was so on board with her being with Draco! The world was going topsy-turvy and she wasn't quite sure what to make of it.
Ginny broke her out of her thoughts by asking, "Hellooo- Earth to Hermione! Let's go and get some lunch I'm famished."
Hermione followed her friend out the door of the shop and they discussed where they'd like to eat. They settled on sandwiches at a café down the road from where the car was parked, they dropped off Hermione's new shoes at Hermione's car and walked to the sandwich shop.
They ordered, Hermione got a Turkey club sandwich and Ginny got something of her own concoction. They sat down and chatted about work, Ginny was playing for the Hollyhead Harpies as a chaser and had married Harry about a year ago. Ginny said in conspiratorial whisper "You want to know something I've been keeping to myself these days?"
This sounded good, Ginny rarely kept things to herself so it had to be something big…Hermione had an idea as to what it was but she's play along for her friend's sake.
"Go on, out with it." Hermione said grinning.
"I'm pregnant!" Ginny whispered rather excitedly.
"Oh Ginny that's wonderful have you told Harry? What about the team certainly you won't be able to play once you start showing."
Ginny looked a little crestfallen but replied, "That's just it I haven't told Harry because you know how he is, he'd say I couldn't play anymore and you know Quidditch is my life. But I know I'll have to stop playing eventually. I think they'd hold my spot on the team. I am the captain after all." Ginny looked wistful but there was an air of excitement around her. It was true; Harry was quite protective of Ginny and would blow his top if he knew she had been playing whilst pregnant. It was the off-season though so she hadn't been in any real matches.
"Well you should tell him and soon, like tonight. Right after you tell him you spoiled me rotten today!" Hermione laughed good-naturedly trying to diffuse the tension.
Ginny ginned, "I will, I swear he'll be more riled up about a baby than a few galleons. You know that we have more than enough to go around. There are some benefits to being the wife to 'The Chosen One'." Hermione snorted in laughter because she knew that was absolutely the exact opposite of how Ginny thought of Harry.
"You can be quite funny you know that?"
"I do try." Ginny said grinning and taking a bite of her sandwich.
-X-
After lunch they walked for several blocks to get to the jewelry boutique and once they got inside Ginny proclaimed that if she found something she liked it was her treat again. Hermione began to wonder just how much the Hollyhead Harpies paid Ginny.
She looked at several pieces, none of them really striking her until she found an onyx necklace with a small emerald in the center.
She asked the woman behind the desk if she could try it on and she happily obliged.
Hermione showed Ginny the necklace and Ginny gave her approval saying it would look "Absolutely smashing" with her shoes and dress.
Ginny paid (while Hermione made busy looking at other pieces in the store not wanting to know what ungodly amount of money she was spending on her.) and they walked out completely satisfied. They walked leisurely back to the car and stopped at a café for a cup of herbal tea for Ginny and a vanilla latte for Hermione.
They drove back to Hermione's flat enduring the insane London traffic, and arrived back home in about forty-five minutes owing to rush hour traffic.
As they pulled into the parking garage by Hermione's flat Hermione said, "You have to promise to tell Harry about the baby! Thank you so much for everything today I've missed you so much, we should spend more time together!" Hermione got out and unloaded her packages from the trunk of the car and walked into her flat with Ginny all the while wondering out loud where Draco might be taking her tonight and what could happen after their date.
Once they got inside Hermione gave Ginny one last hug and congratulated her on the baby before Ginny stepped into the fireplace and flooed back to the cottage her and Harry shared.
-X-
It was quarter to eight and Hermione was just putting on the finishing touches of her makeup. Draco would be there in a few minutes and her stomach was full of butterflies, she decided that a latte, cinnamon of course would calm her nerves.
She made it carefully, making sure not to get any steamed milk on her dress. It had been a good idea to walk around the rest of the afternoon on her new heels because they took some getting used to. She rarely wore heels of any kind, preferring flats for work because they were comfortable and she wasn't out to impress her patients.
She'd been sipping way at her latte for a few minutes when there was a knock on the door. She opened it without looking through the peephole, knowing it was Draco.
He greeted her with a chaste kiss on the lips and presented her with a dozen roses.
Draco admired her dress and said, "Slytherin green is quite fetching on you darling. I can't believe you're wearing Louboutin's but they make your legs go on for miles. You should be careful who you wear those around."
"Oh and why is that?"
He wrapped his arms around her and whispered sweetly in her ear, "Some man might sweep you off your feet and take you for his own." Draco was clearly referencing non other than himself.
Hermione blushed and said, "I had better put these in some water." While she filled a vase with cool water she asked, "So I suppose there's no point in asking where we're going tonight is there?"
"None at all, but you will be able to order in Italian." Draco smirked and Hermione thought he definitely had something up his sleeve.
"I won't guess and ruin your surprise but I think I have a good idea where we're going now. At least I think we'll be leaving the country."
Draco gave her a wolfish grin and said, "You always were the brightest witch of our age but now I should stop giving you hints before I ruin your surprise all together."
She set the vase on the kitchen island and took Draco's arm preparing for Side Along apparation to wherever they were going.
Hermione felt the familiar tug behind her navel and the sensation of being sucked through a tube before she landed gracefully in an alleyway near a busy street.
"Where are we?" Hermione queried
"Rome, and the restaurant we're going to is called Rubirosa." He said adjusted his jacket and slacks from the journey there. He held Hermione's hand and they started at a brisk pace down the alley toward the main street. Rome was truly a place of splendor. Hermione gapped around at the sights before Draco stopped in front of a small restaurant with a sign that Rubirosa's in bright red lettering.
Draco walked into the entrance and said "Prenotazioni per due sotto Malfoy."
"Ah, signor Malfoy! Abbiamo una cabina privata per voi nel nostro salotto privato. Seguimi." Draco and Hermione followed the hostess to a classy looking area of the restaurant decked out in floating candles and red curtains for privacy.
The hostess let them to the middle booth, she assured them that there were privacy charms on all the booths so they wouldn't be over heard by any of the other patrons.
The lighting was dim but romantic and they had a small candling light lantern on their table.
Their waiter approached their table and asked what they'd like to drink and gave them menus.
"Vorremmo una bottiglia della riserva Malfoy, 98 'farebbe bene." Draco said, the waiter bowed and went to fetch the wine.
"You have your own wine cellar here or something?" Hermione asked.
"We always have, my father owned this place before the war and the wine in their cellars here are from our vineyards in Tuscany."
"Impressive Draco. Trying to impress someone?"
"No, I only want the best for my girl."
"Mhmm…" Hermione mumbled, "Definitely trying to impress someone but don't think you're tactics will work so well on me." Just then their waiter appeared with their wine.
Their waiter poured them two glasses and Hermione took a sip, it was heavenly. It had a hint of cherry and fruity flavors too it was a bit dry but not overwhelming so. Draco had excellent taste in wine that was for sure.
"Do you like it?" Draco asked taking a sip from his own wine glass.
"Very much, you have excellent taste signor Malfoy."
"Grazie, bella" He gave her a dashing smirk that was just so Draco.
"So what do you think of the menu? I'm not sure what to order. The tortellini in cream sauce with pancetta sounds delicious."
"Yes I was just thinking about that myself." Draco smiled at Hermione as she looked up from her menu to take another sip of her wine.
Hermione was a little entranced by the whole atmosphere, it was truly a romantic little restaurant. She didn't want Draco to know it but she wanted to be a little tipsy when they went back to his place that night. She wanted her first time to be good and she wanted it to be everything she thought it might be but she couldn't muster quite enough of that Gryffindor courage tonight so she drank a little more wine to stem her nerves.
The waiter didn't come back for a while giving them time to converse.
"So what were you thinking we would do after dinner?" Hermione hedged.
"Well… there's this really beautiful witch I've been courting and she's finally consented to be my girlfriend and I'd like to take her home with me but you know that could just be my imagination."
Hermione giggled.
"Well if it's just your imagination why am I here?" Hermione quipped
"Because sometimes reality is better than your dreams." Draco looked her dead in the eye and winked.
Hermione blushed and drained her wine glass. God he was laying it on thick tonight! Draco knew how to charm a witch better than any man she'd been with before.
"Would you like a refill?" Draco asked politely.
"Yes, please. It's the best wine I've ever had. Does your family have a wine company or something? It seems like wherever I go you own something or have the ability to call in a favor or something to that effect." Hermione was curious now.
"I worked hard to restore the Malfoy name after the war in more ways than just working as a healer, Hermione. I won't tell you all of it now but I made large anonymous donations to several muggleborn advocacy groups, I restored the manor to decency after it's ravishment by the Dark Lord and most of all I never questioned the Wizenagamot's decision on my father's life imprisonment."
"But how would you have kept all that out of the papers? I mean even an anonymous donation would be open to the greatest suspicion. The wealth of your family is world famous, Draco."
"Let's just say I have a source at the Daily Prophet that kept anything remotely suspicious out of the papers. He may have highlighted my work at St. Mungo's and my acceptance of my father's sentence as well."
"Well you're nothing if not well connected Draco." Hermione gave him a smirk and drank some more wine.
Their waiter appeared and asked if they were ready to order.
Hermione responded "Avrò i tortellini con salsa di vodka e pancetta."
The waiter looked to Draco and he simply said, "Lo stesso vale per me per favore"
With that he smiled and made a small bow and left them to converse further.
"So tell me, why do you live in that town house if the Manor has been restored?" Hermione asked trying not to drive too deeply into his personal life but being curious all the same.
"Well mother still lives there and she… well lets just say she lives a very different life now that father is destined to spend the rest of his days in Azkaban." Draco took a sip of his wine, talking about his mother made him nervous as all get out.
"So you like living alone?" Hermione asked.
Draco scoffed, "Like hell I do. Why do you think I haunt your apartment so much?" He gave her a smirk that bordered on mischievous.
"And here I was thinking you were just after me for my lattes. I'm shocked Draco, truly!" Hermione said jokingly.
They both shared a chuckle and Draco wrapped his hand around Hermione's on the table and gazed into her eyes.
"You know I think what you said earlier is really true, reality can be better than your dreams but only when I'm with you." Hermione batted her eyelashes at him and gave him a warm smile.
"I think you'll find I can make your dreams reality. That might be at the heart of why reality is better than your dreams. Dreams aren't tangible," He squeezed her hand gently, "But this, this all real, you can touch it, taste it, hear it and in the morning it will all still be there."
Hermione was touched by what he'd said and blew him a kiss from across the table.
"I'm not sure what to say to that Draco. You've left me speechless, you'd better take note of that because it doesn't happen often!"
Draco smirked at her and said, "Don't worry I think I can leave you speechless more than once tonight."
Hermione quirked an eyebrow at him, "Is that a challenge?"
"No, but I'll keep a mental tally of how many times I leave you speechless and let you know your total in the morning." Draco refilled his wine glass and took a sip looking playful.
"That's fine. Let's see how many times I can get you to say my name and I'll give you your tally in the morning?"
At Hermione's rather forward proclamation he gave her a nearly predatory grin and said, "Deal."
The waiter soon arrived with their dinners and they dug in. Hermione had another glass of wine and so did Draco putting them both at three glasses a piece. The wine bottle didn't seem to empty though, Hermione noticed. She figured it was a charm and a rather nifty one at that. She was thoroughly wined and dined after she finished her dinner.
Their server arrived and asked how everything was and they both agreed it was phenomenal. Their waiter asked if they'd like anything else and Hermione asked for an espresso macchiato while Draco requested a doppio espresso with an almond biscotti.
Over coffee they talked and Hermione felt herself getting nervous about going back to Draco's townhouse. Draco broke the biscotti in half so she could have some for her espresso macchiato. Hermione smiled at him and said, "This was really lovely Draco thank you so much for taking me."
"Well don't thank me yet the night hasn't ended yet." He said with a wink.
"You're incorrigible Draco you know that right?"
"Absolutely. I'm unapologetically incorrigible." He said with a snicker.
Hermione just shook her head and a grin crept up her lips. They finished their coffees and their server brought the check. Draco laid out a pouch of gold galleons and asked Hermione, "Ready, darling?"
Hermione swallowed hard and nodded, she took Draco's hand and they walked out of the restaurant and back to the alley they had apparated to about two hours ago. Hermione felt the pull behind her navel and the strange sensation of being pulled through a tube before she arrived in front of Draco's townhouse.
She straightened herself up a bit, apparating always messed up her outfit. She walked hand in hand with Draco to the large oak door to his townhouse he let down his wards and unlocked the door.
Draco led her inside and pulled her close for a kiss, she tasted like espresso and the best wine grapes could make. It was a tender kiss but needy, it promised more passion and Hermione eagerly responded.
They broke apart when the need for air became an issue. Draco whispered in her ear, "Benvenuti a casa cara," as his lips gently grazed the shell of her ear and his warm breath made shivers run down her spine….
To be continued!