Dramione - The Sweetest Dream

Chapter 11

Hermione had told Draco she would meet him at the train station. She stood in front of her mirror applying her makeup in a simple black dress, swiping on a crimson red lipstick. She lathered on Sleakeazy's Hair Potion, the same she had used the night of the Yule Ball.  She didn't use it as liberally as she had that night, leaving a soft curl to her hair. Setting down her hair brush, she stared at her reflection.

"Bloody hell. I'm going on a date with Draco Malfoy." She shook her head and grabbed her jacket, all the while clutching her locket and smiling.

*

Draco caught sight of a girl with beautiful, soft curls in her hair, radiating a simple elegance. She turned to reveal a face with plump red lips and a smile that sent chills down his spine. He mused to himself that someone must've slipped Felix Felicis into his drink for him to be having a date with someone like Hermione.

"You look...wow..." Draco scolded himself. He was sounding like an idiot. He had to compose himself, he thought as Hermione stood in front of him giggling. "You look absolutely beautiful, Hermione," and with that Draco picked up her hand, planting a gentle kiss on the back of it, before walking to the train. 

A few more strides down the aisle and they were about to open the door to Harry, Ron, and Ginny's usual compartment. Draco's stomach lurched into his chest, his nerves causing waves of nausea to crash over him. He had a strong desire to walk directly past their compartment, but began to wrap his hand around the door handle, reminding himself that this was what Hermione wanted.

"Draco, I can't do this," Hermione spoke suddenly as she reached out and clasped his hand, her eyes revealing she was just as nervous as he was.

"Are you sure?" Draco feigned surprise, assuming a hint of disappointment, as if he had been looking forward to sitting in the small confines of a train compartment with three people who loathed him with every fibre of their being.

"I'm positive. I just want tonight to be fun and not have any issues. We'll do it another day. Is that alright with you?" Hermione looked at him, her eyes, the color of sunlight passing through whiskey, almost pleading.

"If you insist. We can go sit somewhere else," Draco smiled and took her hand, leading them to the back of the train to an empty compartment. He helped Hermione shrug out of her jacket, hanging both his and her coat up on the brass hook. He unbuttoned the front of his sports jacket to reveal a perfectly pressed white collared shirt and gray tie. The monochromatic tone of his outfit was simple, yet wonderfully refined. Despite the elegance of his clothes, his hair was still perfectly tousled. Hermione bit her lip as her eyes dragged over his impressive figure, gazing out the window as the train lurched into motion.

*

Hermione had assumed the responsibility of choosing the location of the dinner earlier that week.  Upon realizing that planning dates was not her forte, it became a responsibility that she had bestowed upon Draco.  One of his contingencies, which Hermione had hesitantly agreed to, had been that the details of Saturday evening would be a surprise.  Now, Draco and her walked down the streets of Hogsmeade next to each other, hands in their pockets and shoulders hunched against the wind. 

"Here we are," Draco stopped, looking up at the dilapidated sign of Hog's Head. Hermione cast a dubious glance towards Draco. Wrapping his long, thin fingers around the door handle, Draco winked as Hermione walked into the warmth of Hog's Head. 

Draco lead Hermione to the back of the shop to a winding staircase she had failed to notice before. Once they had climbed approximately five floors (she didn't think the building was this tall, but assumed an expansion spell of sorts must have been used), they turned onto a small platform with a solid wooden door with a silver knocker. With a slight push from Draco, the door swung on its hinges, revealing a cozy nook with large bay windows bathed in the warm, golden glow of candle light, looking out onto all of Hogsmeade and Hogworts. Hermione clapped her hand over her toothy smile. Roses were set on a table set for two, a plush love seat was positioned beside the stone fireplace, a large fire hissing and crackling merrily in the hearth. It surpassed any hopes she had had for their first date, any thoughts of this being merely dinner between friends gone.

"Draco, it's amazing! Thank you," he only responded by walking over and hugging her. She closed her eyes, breathing in the faint scent of his cologne, savoring the embrace. As they broke away, Draco had some how unbuttoned her coat, sliding it off of her thin build in a smooth motion, and hung it up with his own.  Walking around the table, he pulled out her seat, planting a soft kiss on her cheek as she settled into her chair.

Hermione's head was dizzy from fantastic amounts of rich food and two glasses of wine.  She and Draco sat curled on the love seat, her head resting on his shoulder as they bantered effortlessly.  The train to Hogworts had left over an hour, neither of them having been ready to leave.

Draco felt a strong desire to take Hermione's face in his hands and kiss her full, crimson lips.  He relished the feeling of her head resting on his shoulder, as well as the soft vibrations emitting from deep in her chest as she laughed.  Despite the desire to run his fingers through her hair, Draco did no more than feign a yawn and wrap his arm around Hermione.  He turned his head into her hair, breathing in the faint scent of lavender perfume that wafted from her pulse points.  Squeezing his arm against her slightly, he smiled as he felt Hermione melt into him, watching the fire in the hearth burn to a pale blue as they got lost in conversation.

-----

Hermione woke up to find her and Draco huddled on the love seat, still in last night's attire. Staring at the glowing embers in the hearth, a reel of memories of the night before flickered in Hermione's mind, a smile tugging on her lips.  Draco's head rest on his shoulder, his eyelashes long and curled as he breathed deeply in his sleep.  She smiled at him, a feeling of warmth spreading throughout her body as she whispered,

"I love you, Draco Malfoy."