Blind Date Surprises

A/N: Sorry it took a bit. Writer\'s block. Didn\'t know how to get this chapter started. It is kinda blah, but a necessary blah. It will pick up here soon. Sorry for the lack of smut, I promise it is coming. Thanks to my wonderful readers and encouraging reviewers. Homemade sugarfree apple pie for all!







Ch. 9 The Measure of Friendship



The rest of the week, Hermione was in a nervous daze. This coming Saturday, Ginny, Harry, Ron, Ron’s date, Draco, and she were going to be going out to dinner together.



The boys had agreed to reserve judgment until they could see them together. Well, Harry agreed, Ron grudgingly joined in after Ginny hit him with the bat bogey hex.



She was very happy that she and Draco had worked things out. Though she still felt a tad silly for her overreaction and misinterpretation, Draco tried to kiss those thoughts away every chance he got.



Damn, that man set her woman areas on fire. Without even touching her he could light a bonfire in her skirt. On more than one occasion she had thought about him so intensely that she had to relieve herself.



So, Saturday came faster than she would have liked. She was sitting at the restaurant table with Draco, her knee bouncing up and down like a Chihuahua.



They had chosen a muggle restaurant, hoping it would deter any wand work. Hermione and Ginny had voiced their irritation at the boys ‘my wand is bigger than your wand’ pissing contest.



The door to the restaurant tinked open and Ginny came in, followed by Harry. They saw Hermione and Draco wave them over with smiles.



The two girls and Harry all hugged while Draco and he were happy to just shake hands. They sat down an the girls began to speak of work, television shows, simple small talk.



“Harry, where is Ron? Usually you two go everywhere together.” Hermione said, having to step on Draco’s toes as he snorted and tried to play it off as a cough.



“Oh, he just had to go pick his date up, some girl named Rose Marie.” He was picking at the silverware in front of him.



Twenty minutes later, when they were about to give up on Ron, saying he probably skipped the preliminaries and never made it out of the girl’s house, he came in. On his arm was a pretty blonde.



The jaws at the table dropped. The girl’s resemblance to Lavendar Brown was uncanny! It had to be a sister or some close relative!



Ron spotted the group and guided Rose Marie over, introductions took place and there was a mild commotion as everyone got settled and ready to order. The waiter came up, saw the group and grimaced.



“Please keep in mind that a 15% gratuity shall be added to the final bill for all parties greater than 5 guests.” He lazily slurred out. The group exchanged looks, all trying hard not to laugh.



The order taking was an adventure. The waiter kept scratching things out, checking with the cooks to ensure they actually made that dish, and telling the young men, unfortunately, they do not serve a ‘butterbeer’ here, whatever that was.



Throughout everything, Harry kept his eyes trained on Draco. Waiting for any small slipup. A wrong look, subtle controlling attitude. He knew something had to be up.



Yet, there they were, sitting happily, subconsciously touching. It was as though they HAD to be right near each other. It was not until he saw the look they gave each other when their eyes met that he relaxed and sighed.



He knew that look, he and Ginny had nearly perfected that look. They were lost to each other. And Draco was not a good actor, so he couldn’t fake that intense of a gaze.



‘Well’ he thought ‘Just have to trust ‘Mione she’s a smart girl.’ Ron, with a mouthful of food, broke him out of his reverie. “So, ferret, what are you playing at, dating Hermione?”



Ginny, Harry, and Hermione all gave him a look of pure loathing. He really could be an arse when he wanted to.



Draco laughed, “It’s purely sexual, weasel.” Hermione’s eyes nearly popped out of her skull. Ginny and Harry were doubled over with laughter, even Rose Marie had hidden her smile behind her hands.



Ron, however, could not find the humor. He had begun to stand when Harry pulled him down. “He’s joking, mate. Calm down.” Ron was turning a nice shade of purple from his embarrassment.



Hermione put her hand on Draco’s arm. “Ron, neither one of us know what we are ‘playing at’ as you so eloquently put it. We are just taking it one day at a time, you know?” She smiled at her long time friend.



The warmth in Hermione’s eyes calmed his nerves. She continued, “After all we have been through, ALL of us” she added, looking around for someone to challenge her, “don’t we deserve at least the chance for an illusion of happiness?”



The 5 war survivors all nodded, an unplanned moment of silence followed, each lost in their own memories and thoughts of those who couldn’t be with them.



Finally, Ron stood up and reached his hand out to Draco. Draco, not expecting it, flinched towards his wand before noticing the gesture.



“Well, Malfoy, I can’t promise you and I will ever be chums, but Hermione is a smart girl, if she can actually enjoy your presence, I can at least try to tolerate it.” Draco took his hand and the two shook hands. Ron gripping the slightest bit tighter than was necessary.



He pulled Draco to him a bit, “But if you ever hurt her, in any way, you can count on us hunting you down to the ends of the earth.” Draco grinned mischievously back, “Not gonna happen.”



Hermione smiled, that went better than she thought it would. Now they could all tuck in to a nice dinner and hopefully have some pleasant times ahead of them.



Dinner went well, they ate, laughed, and spoke of trivial things. The men eventually replacing their dates with talk of quidditch. The women took the time to speak to Rose Marie, get to know her, and tell her some fascinating tales about her redheaded date. It was a pleasant evening.