Timeline: 5 years after the war.

"I'm telling you Hermione, you are wrong. And you know I wouldn't say that lightly".

Hermione rolled her eyes "Harry I know quidditch is your thing and not mine but I'm pretty sure there can't be more than a couple of hundred possible fouls. It's a simple game for Merlin's sake".

"Actually, there are 700 hundred possible fouls in quidditch. I'm sorry to pop your bubble Granger". They turned around to where the familiar low drawl came from. There, casually leaning on the bookshelfs at Flourish and Blots, a smirk on his face, was non other then Draco Malfoy.

"Ha!" Harry lifted his fists in triumph, while Hermione scowled at him and then lift her chin and turned to Draco

"well, thanks for the correction Malfoy. I guess it was time for Harry to beat me at least once".

Draco gave a low, sexy chuckle

"don't take it personally Granger, I know you are fond of facts, and that was simply a fact. But since I did hurt your pride a bit allow me to make it up to you". He pulled a small vial from his pocket that seemed to contain seeds and put one on the palm of his hand

"I'm taking these to my mother for her garden" and he performed a wandless spell that transformed the seed into the most perfect white rose. He offered it to Hermione "with my apologies milady".

She took it, looking at him with wide eyes. Then he looked at Harry with a big grin "Potter, always a pleasure".

Harry chuckled bowing his head "Lord Malfoy".

When he turned on his heel to leave Hermione followed with her eyes, head cocked like a confused dog. He was quite the sight, very tall, broad shouldered, obviously athletic, perfect fitting clothes.

"When did he got so big?" was all she managed to say.

Harry looked like a light turned on in his head "big! that's it" and he ran after Draco "hey Malfoy!"

Draco turned around with a questioning brow.

Harry caught up with him and said "I have a game coming next Saturday, at the intramural league, and we need a good beater, someone strong. The other team has Marcus Flint…"

Draco finished for him "and his only mission is to get your puny seeker arse off the broom. You need a bodyguard".

Harry nodded.

Draco smiled "I'm your guy Potter. Consider your arse protected".

Harry gave him a huge grin. "Thank you Malfoy. Afterwards we'll go for drinks and food. Hermione will be there" he said wiggling his eyebrows.

Draco smirked, eyebrow lifted high "I guess I may want to perform admirably then". And with that he waved good bye and left.

Harry went back to the bookstore with a spring in his step, and found Hermione smiling dreamily at her rose.

"I got Malfoy to play beater for us next Saturday. Now you won't have to worry about me getting thrown off my broom" he said with exaggerated hand gestures that mocked her overly protective tendencies. Before she could retort he added "Oh and I think I may have possibly kind of, maybe, sort of… fixed you up with him".

Hermione's jaw dropped before she squealed "what? Harry you prat, how dare you!"

Harry rolled his eyes

"you haven't dated anyone, really dated anyone in a very long time. And I see how you look at him. He's a handsome bloke and he is very smart, I dare say as smart as you. You only hold back because is Malfoy, but we all have seen him around in the last few years and worked with him, you more than anyone. He's a brilliant lawyer and has done a lot for your charity cases at Magical Creatures. I honestly don't understand how you two hadn't get it on yet".

Hermione puffed and tried to retort "you hadn't dated anyone either, since your engagement fell through". Harry shrugged "so we are a couple of hermit crabs. Maybe we need a push".

Later that week Hermione was sitting on her couch, looking at the rose that was on a long vase on the coffee table in front of her, when she heard a knock on the window. A beautiful eagle owl was standing there, holding a small parcel. She opened the window, pet the owl and gave it a treat. She took the parcel and unwrapped it. It was a used edition of Quidditch Through the Ages, and it had a note stick to the cover.

This was my school book.

I double checked the fact we discussed, you can find it on page 57.

But you may also find an interesting scribble on the last blank page.

See you Saturday.

Buy me a drink if we win?

DM

Hermione asked the owl to wait. She grabbed a piece of parchment and wrote:

A drink it is.

Do you have a female friend that may want to buy Harry a drink?

HG

And with a satisfied smirked she gave the owl the scroll and sent it on its way.

She sat on the couch with the book and smiled. She smelled it. She loved the smell of books, and this one was also infused with Draco's unique cologne. He probably had read it many times. She opened it on page 57, where he had circled the fact about the 700 fouls. He even wrote a note next to it

Told you

He had also drawn a smiley face that was charmed to wink. She giggled. Maybe Harry was right. Maybe Draco Malfoy was really flirting with her.

Then she looked up the last blank page. The length along the binding had been carefully folded, as to hide something scribbled there but without making it very obvious. There was another note with an arrow pointing at the folded inner edge

I think I wrote this 4th year, after the Yule ball

When she pulled the page to stretch it there was a line scribbled following the direction of the binding.

HG is the prettiest girl in school

She blinked and read it over and over again. She was brought back to the present by the knock on the window. The owl was back with a small scroll.

I got the perfect one.

Is a double date.

DM