This is a short bit of Dramione fluff I've started writing, I hope you enjoy it :-)

This is my very first multi chapter fic, but it'll be rather short and sweet.
Also, I have no beta so all mistakes are my own.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, though I really do wish!

The carrot cake

Hermione Granger hurried out of the rain into the small coffee shop she usually frequented in Diagon Alley, she had been looking forward to her afternoon coffee time today. Shaking her head a bit and fluffing rain out of her hair and coat, she went to the counter and ordered a large black coffee with milk and two sugars along with a large piece of carrot cake. The carrot cake in this particular shop was spectacular, and it was the main reason she always chose this place. Collecting her order, she sat down in the back corner of the shop and pulled out a book, enjoying herself immensely. This was such a good cure for the rainy dark weather outside. She completely vanished into her own little world, and didn't really want to emerge from it. Well, at least not until it stopped raining.

The book she was reading was a romantic classic of British literature, and she knew it by heart, but she always loved it every time she re-read it. But romance in real life it seemed, was not to be for her. Ron had told her quite plainly that she didn't have a romantic bone in her body. Well, he didn't understand her kind of romance, which was much subtler than his. Where he was brash, she was understated, and their relationship had imploded about a year after the war. He was happy with Lavender now, and she did wish them all the best, but she really did wish that she would meet someone who could understand her. But that was obviously too much to ask, and she remained single five years later. She'd been on loads of dates, blind dates, casual meets through friends, and the men she'd seen had been more than willing to expand their relationship, but it had all ended early. She wiped her eyes covertly, not wanting to alert anyone to the fact that she was crying softly, and pulled herself together. She just really wanted to not be lonely anymore.

Draco Malfoy ducked into the first coffee shop he encountered. He didn't care how crowded it was, or whether or not he knew anybody inside. All he wanted was to get out of the horrid weather and get a steaming cup of coffee. After placing his order with the flirtatious woman behind the counter and waiting for his coffee, he glanced around the small shop. Every single table was full, maybe he should get the coffee to go, but he really wanted to dry off. Just then, in the furthest back of the shop, he saw curly brown hair hiding behind a book. He knew only one person who would do that. And across from her, was a single unoccupied chair. This afternoon just got a whole lot more interesting.

He grabbed his coffee from the counter and went over to her. She didn't move at all, was she even aware that he was standing right in front of her? Probably not, so he decided to take matters into his own hands. He pulled the chair out loudly and sat down across from her, placing his coffee on the table. Her head jerked up, and her eyes widened a fraction when she recognized him.

"Hello Granger. What a pleasant surprise to see you here." His tone was friendly and he smiled at her. He really was quite glad to see her, they'd met many times over the years after the war, and they were cordial to each other. And she did look very cute in her oversized sweater and dark jeans. Her hair had been much improved since they were at school together, and she had a lovely flush on her face as she looked up at him.

"Hi Malfoy. What brings you here?" She said somewhat timidly. Wow, he looked incredible. His hair was disordered and still a bit wet from the rain, and that smile send a jolt through her. He looked so handsome when he smiled. He should have done that a lot more at school.

"Well, I was supposed to get some shopping done today, but this weather doesn't really seem to agree with me. But I do hope I'm not interrupting your very busy afternoon." He chuckled at his own joke.

She smiled at his lame joke. "No, you're not. Do you want some cake? It's very good, but I can't finish it all myself."

"Uhh, don't mind if I do." He smacked his lips, took her used fork, and started to gulp down the cake.

"Uhm Malfoy. You do realize that you're eating with my used fork, right?" She looked confused at him.

"Yes, do you mind it? I thought it was easier then get a new one."

"No no, I'm just surprised that you don't mind it. There was a time when a fork that had been used by me would disgust you."

"I can assure you, it doesn't disgust me at all Granger." He gave her a short heated look, and dived back to finish off the piece of cake.

"Well, maybe it doesn't disgust you, but what about your girlfriend, wouldn't she mind?" She'd read that he was dating Astoria Greengrass, and that it was serious between them. But his girlfriend was a pureblood just as the wizard in front of her, and she was certain that the woman wouldn't be too happy with her boyfriend having used her used fork.

"She doesn't have a right to mind. We broke up six months ago."

"But…"

"We've kept it quiet. She wants us to drift apart slowly in the public eye, and then, after a certain amount of time, announce our mutually affable breakup. This cake is really good by the way, do you want the last piece?" He skewered the last piece of the cake on the fork, and handed it to her.

She said nothing, and just looked at him closely. His face was open, expectant and nervous? So she took the fork, and ate the very last piece of the cake. She closed her eyes and hummed quietly in satisfaction, that cake was really good. When she opened her eyes however, Malfoy was looking at her hungrily. They just sat there, staring at each other. He was the one to break the silence.

"So, Granger, I have to get going, but do you want to go for dinner sometime soon?"

She smiled at him, and he smiled right back. "Yes, I'd love that."

"Excellent, I'll owl you later today. Good to see you." He stood and bent down to kiss her cheek. He hovered there, and she could feel his warmth. Then he whispered in her ear. "I can't wait to see you again." She could feel his breath on her ear, and she shivered.

With that, he smirked at her and left the coffee shop. And for the very first time in years, she was extremely excited for her next date.

Please don't forget to R&R!

xxx HBSJ