Mistaken Identities

Three hours, six Hershey bars, one run and a hair cut later, Draco found himself with a mouthful of chocolate on a chilly sidewalk. He felt lighter than he had in years but his head felt naked and cold.

"I think I might need a hat." He had never realized how warm hair could be. Hermione nodded and peered around, checking to make sure that the street was deserted.

"Obscuro..." She muttered underbreath before transfiguring the rest of his chocolate into a warm wool hat.

"I was eating that." He protested, though half-heartedly since he could now feel his ears. "And why cast Obscuro? It's not like anybody is looking."

"The Muggle world has cameras everywhere. I thought it might be best not to call attention to ourselves. As for food... I thought I might make up the loss of your chocolate with french fries." The little minx had the audacity to wink at him though his curiousity was sparked and he had a brief internal debate over which was more important, safety or food.

"Why the cameras?" He asked, observation just barely winning out over sustanence.

"I think it's supposed to make people feel more secure." She replied with a one shouldered shrug.

"That is just strange." He shook his head as he said it. "Why would anyone want to be watched all the time?"

"Well, most people don't have much to hide and want to be able to watch the people who do." She arched an eyebrow at him. "It's not that strange of a sentiment though I think it's intrusive."

Draco blushed and decided that food was a safer topic. "You mentioned fries. What are they and are they good?"

Hermiones eyes lit up and she linked her arm in his. "You're going to love them, they're right up your alley. No one legged monks involved in any part of the process just potatoes and grease."

"Lead the way." He gave a courtly half bow and allowed Hermione to guide him into a nearby diner.

They'd clearly arrived between the lunch and dinner rush, giving them a great deal of space. An old man sat reading a newspaper and drinking coffee. A young couple tried to get their grumpy infant to eat. The tired looking waitress in a pepto bismo pink uniform led them to a table and handed them the slightly greasy menus.

"We don't need the menus. Two hamburgers, medium rare. Fries. And two chocolate shakes." Hermione replied and Draco handed back the menu with a small sigh of relief. He hadn't really wanted to touch it anymore than neccesary. The waitress shrugged her shoulders and meandered back towards the kitchen.

"Are you sure this place is going to be any good?" He asked, pitching his voice low. Getting muggle spit in his food because he insulted the cook was low on his list of priorities.

"Of course, this is exactly the kind of place that will make great burgers and fries." Hermione grinned as he shifted uncomfortably in the plastic booth seat.

"Hmm, if you say so. So, want to tell me what you're really doing in New York?" If he hadn't been looking for it he would have missed the slight tensing of her face before she quirked an eyebrow at him. He'd seen that particular expression somewhere before and it made him a little nervous though interpreting her facial expressions was made more difficult by the Normali spell they'd cast on themselves earlier.

"Didn't we cover this?" She asked, giving him a small smile and leaning forward, crossing her arms on the table.

"I know what you said, but if there isn't more going on I'll eat my hat." Draco replied, mimicking her body positioning. It placed their faces much closer and he was momentarily distracted by her scent.

"Before or after I remove the transfiguring spell?" Hermione smirked as she said it. A smile slipped across his lips before he could help it. *This girl is bad news for the Malfoy poker face.*

"It's not much of a statement if it's after, is it?" He kept his voice light and neutral. The arrival of their waitress with their food broke the moment and Draco tried not to be irritated. He peered at the golden food. He picked up a...fry was it? Trying not to look suspicious, he popped it into his mouth. The sudden burst of salt and crunchy potato on his tongue was a pleasant surprise and Hermione grinned.

"Try it with some ketchup." She shook a strange red bottle and squirted... something rather disgusting looking onto the plate. "Really, it'll be good."

He twisted his lips to indicate his disbelief but obliging dipped one of the fries into nasty looking red substance. He stuck it in his mouth and concentrated on the salty but sweet dip. He tried a second one.

"Not bad, though the fry is infinitely better without the... ketchup..."

The conversation moved into lighter topics... gossiping about the school, discussion of some of their winter term projects, and the latest additions to their spell inventory. He was halfway through inhaling his milk shake when Hermione leaned back and yanked him back to their previous conversation.

"What if I am here doing something... a little extracurricular?" Her face was serious. "Just... hypothetically speaking, of course."

"Of course. I want in. Partially because I don't want to go back to Hogwart's to be babysat by Dumbledore or the more annoying members of the Golden Trio. Partially because I like to make trouble. And partially because..." Draco paused and willed the rising blush down. *Do not admit lusty feelings. Do not admit lusty feelings.*

"How badly do you want in?" Hermione asked, picking at the left over food on her plate. Draco looked at her sharply, wondering if she realized the double entendre of her words. The small smile playing on her lips made him think she did.

"What did you have in mind?" Draco purred it at her.

"A Wizard's Oath with a full body and mind bind if you breathe so much as a word of what I tell you." Hermione didn't blink and the words came out in one long rush.

"A... that's pretty intense Granger. What are you sitting on?" Draco leaned back to hide his shock.

"Maybe something... maybe nothing. Either way, those are my requirements." This time, there was no betraying tensing of face or body. She was utterly still and Draco couldn't get any read off of her at all. He stretched his arms over his head and gave himself a moment to think.

"Deal." He finally said.

Hermione's face showed just a hint of surprise and then she nodded. "Let's go then."

A/N Ok, that's all the updates I have for today. Next chapter, I begin to hare off on my own. I'm pretty sure I know where it's going but, we'll see.

My computer has been having some issues so I apologize if missed any typos. And thanks, again, for the reviews!