Fore Play (Dramione)

Chapter 4

Draco's hands fumbled nervously as he buttoned up his shirt, the third one he'd tried on so far; at first he'd put on his standard black but after checking himself in the mirror he worried that it was too plain and had swapped it out for a green velvet one that Pansy had bought him for Christmas. She argued that it 'made him look younger', but he thought it looked garish against his pale skin. Now he was having second thoughts about the third choice; a Paisley pattern that Blaise had talked him into buying but he had never worn. Looking at it now, he knew why – this was even worse than the green one. He sighed and pulled the shirt roughly off his shoulders. He'd just wear the black silk one.

His phone buzzed and he rolled his eyes as Daphne's name came up on the screen. Answering the call he sat the phone down on the bedside table.

"You're on loudspeaker," he informed her without properly greeting her.

"Nervous?" she asked unperturbed. They knew each other well enough now to surpass formal greetings on the phone.

Bricking it, he thought truthfully.

"Nope," he lied, holding two ties up in front of him, comparing them in his reflection. "What tie should I wear – green or grey?"

"Where are you taking her?" she asked.

"The Century Bar," he replied.

"No tie," she suggested. "And undo the top two buttons of your shirt."

"Really?" he asked uncertainly, discarding the ties onto the bed. "Isn't that going to look a bit casual?"

"I thought this was a casual drink?" asked Daphne with a hint of amusement in her voice.

"It is," he smirked, unbuttoning the top button of his shirt. Two was too many in his opinion.

"But you're hoping for something more," she chanced.

Maybe, he thought tentatively.

"Like you said," he replied evasively. "It's just a drink."

"With Hermione Granger," she noted, not even trying to disguise her amusement now. Draco frowned as he fiddled with his silver cufflinks.

"I should never have admitted that to you," he mused, but his sister-in-law had a knack for eking out all sorts of sensitive information from Draco; as far as she was concerned, her years in the Auror's office were well-spent simply so she could effectively interrogate him.

"I'm glad you did," she said sincerely. "She obviously made quite the impression on you."

"I knocked the poor woman out with a golf ball," he replied dismissively. "The very least I could do was buy her a drink as way of an apology."

"Of course it is," said retorted in a mockingly sweet voice. "That's why you're getting your knickers in a twist about what tie you should wear. How many times have you changed your shirt already?"

"Just the once," he lied, kneeling to tie his shoelaces.

"Sure," she laughed sounding unconvinced. "Well, what I find most interesting is that this is the first time you've asked someone out for a date of your own volition; every previous date you've had to be coerced into. Admit it Draco, you asked her because you actually like her."

"It's not a date," he reiterated more firmly.

"Of course it's not," she replied appeasingly. "Well you must call me back once your date— ah, excuse me, your drink finishes up. I want to hear all the gory details."

"I'll let you know how it goes," he promised.

"If I don't hear from you until morning, I'll assume that your night went well," she teased. Draco laughed.