Ch. 19

Hermione's POV

I never thought I'd say it, but Draco Malfoy is a really good cook. We ate dinner out on his patio, where thankfully he had placed a warming charm on the area so we could enjoy the outside without the cold.

"Alright," I said, putting my fork down and pointing my knife at him. "Where did you learn to cook like this?"

He laughed. "After four years of living on my own, it was either learn to cook or starve."

I rolled my eyes and grinned. "So dramatic."

"Of course!" He said, returning the grin. "You like it though."

"Let's not assume that just yet," I laughed, before leaning back in my chair and looking out at the city. "I can't get over this view."

"It's practically the same view from your apartment," He said, taking a bite of food.

"Yeah, but still. I'm not used to this," I said quietly.

"You'll get used to it soon," He said with a smile. "It only took me a week or two."

"You grew up in a manor though," I laughed. "I grew up in a house!"

"What does that have to do with anything?" He asked, confused.

"You're used to having the views and the elegance," I said, gesturing around. "I am not."

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Would you rather me move you to one of the lower floors?"

"Don't you dare!"

He laughed at me and poured another glass of wine for me. "I would never do such a thing."

"You better not," I said mischievously. "I know where you live now."

"Oh, I'm scared," He laughed. "You forget, I know all of your tricks."

"Not all of them." I took a drink of wine, watching his expression change from confidence to fear.

"Okay, maybe I am a little scared," He said.

I grinned. "I might be nice, we'll see."

"I guess I just need to keep feeding you to stay in your good graces," He laughed.

"Keep cooking like this and you just might be safe," I said.

"Good to know!"

We both shared a laugh and then fell into an easy silence as we continued to eat. I smiled to myself as I thought back to all the meals we shared in our common room during our last year, when we were in the Head Dorm together. Come to think of it, we had nearly every meal together. We would sit together during meals in the Great Hall, using that time to study together as well. And on weekends, we would go to Hogsmeade together, sometimes with Ginny or Blaise tagging along. We would go to the bookshop and get new books before going to the Three Broomsticks and having butterbeer while we chatted quietly or would read together.

"Hermione?"

I shook myself out of my memories and looked up at him. He gave me a concerned look and asked, "Is everything alright? You looked very lost in thought."

I smiled. "Yeah, sorry. I was just thinking about our last year again."

The concerned expression melted away to a smile. "That was a good year."

"Yeah," I said, looking off to the city. "Remember when we would study together at meals?"

He laughed. "I do; Blaise thought I had transferred to Gryffindor, I was at your table so much."

I grinned. "Ginny said the same thing about me and Slytherin."

"Honestly, those study sessions were the only reason I actually passed that year," He admitted.

"Oh come off it," I said. "You were right behind me in grades all throughout school."

"Yeah, but I didn't have the motivation to do anything the last year," He said. "Not until we got assigned as Potions partners and you practically forced me to go to the library with you so that I wouldn't bring your grade down."

I smiled, remembering that first day I made him go with me. "I thought you were going to hex me on the way to the library."

He laughed. "I would never. I did almost sneak off though while you went to get books."

"Why didn't you?" I asked curiously.

He shrugged and simply gave me a smile. Then he stood up and nodded towards my plate. "Are you finished?"

I nodded and he took my plate and his, walking back into the apartment. I stood up and grabbed my wine glass, going to the balcony. I refused to look straight down, breathing in a deep sigh as I tried to calm down from the fear that suddenly gripped my chest.

I heard the door open again from behind me and turned to see Draco coming up behind me, smiling. "You really like the view, don't you?"

"It's a bit different at the railing," I said. "I was never one for heights."

"Is that why you didn't like flying?" He asked curiously, turning slightly to look down at me.

"Sort of," I shrugged. "Once I learned about apparating, I figured there wasn't a need for flying. It's a bit cliché too; witches and wizards using brooms to get around."

He laughed at that. "Maybe for a muggleborn, it's cliché."

I scowled at him. He sheepishly looked away and took a drink of his wine, avoiding my eyes. I couldn't help but grin, laughing slightly at him before looking back out at the city. "It really is a beautiful view."

"Yeah, it is."

I looked up at him to see him watching me with a smile and I felt my cheeks grow warm again as I looked away quickly. It was his turn to laugh at me.

"Is this how you wooed all the other girls?" I asked, unable to hide my smile. "Bringing them onto your balcony, feeding them and giving them wine?"

"What other girls?" He asked.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Have you not had a girlfriend in these past four years?"

"Would you believe me if I said no?" He said, shrugging.

"It's definitely shocking," I laughed. "Girls were practically fawning over you in school. I'm surprised you didn't go and get married to some rich girl your parents set up for you."

His expression darkened slightly. "They tried. I let them know very quickly that I was not going to marry a girl I didn't love just because they wanted me to."

"So in the four years between school and now, you haven't had a single woman you've been interested in?" I asked in disbelief.

"I was busy with my business," He shrugged. Then he grinned. "Plus my standards are a little high."

"Oh?" I laughed.

He nodded. "Someone may have set the bar too high for anyone else to reach."

"And who would that someone be?" I asked, even though I had a feeling that I knew the answer already.