A few days later Hermione was at the beach, laying on her stomach, reading a book as Harry lay next to her. His eyes closed, his lips turned up in a half smile as he dreamt. Hermione smiled, turning the page of her book when a long shadow fell over it. A figure dropped down beside her.

It was Draco. All he wore were his trunks and his hair was dripping wet. His eyelashes held droplets of water. He blinked as Hermione stared into his eyes.

‘What?’ Draco asked, as another drop of water fell of his eyelash and disappeared amongst the sand, ‘why are you staring at me for? Creep.’

Hermione chuckled and shook her head, and returned to reading as Draco turned on his back, closing his eyes. Hermione's eyes darted to his six pack, checking him out. His chiselled abs would soon be all hers and she couldn’t wait.

‘You can stare at me all you want,’ Draco said, opening one eye as he smirked at her.

‘I wasn't staring,’ Hermione said, defensively.

She had a sudden sense of déjà vu. On the train they had this conversation, before they realised they were in love with each other. Hermione and Draco both chuckled at the memory.

‘So...’ Draco started, taking her hand, ‘tonight, I'm taking you out. There's a restaurant down the street. Very romantic and all that other stuff fiancés are supposed to be.’

Hermione grinned at him, knowing he’d take her out since she would love it. He wasn’t a huge fan of romance though, he did it mostly for her.

‘So be ready at 8, okay?’

Hermione pressed her lips to his slightly as Draco smiled.

‘Okay,’ Hermione whispered.

Draco closed his eyes, leaning back, a contented smile on his face. Hermione quickly checked Harry's watch. It was nearly six pm and everyone was lounging on the beach, enjoying the sun. Some people had started a game of volleyball as others watched.

Hermione got up but was pulled back down as a hand grabbed her arm.

‘Where are you going?’ Draco asked, opening his eyes.

‘Going to get ready. It's six pm!’ Hermione said.

‘You could wear sweats to the date and you'd still look beautiful.’ Draco said.

‘So romantic, Draco. But I have to get ready! Bye!’ Hermione said, chuckling.

Hermione walked down the beach and inside the hotel, trailing sand behind her. Ginny was sitting in the restaurant with Ron.

‘Ginny!’ Hermione squealed as she neared them.

Ginny raised an eyebrow, laughing.

‘Drake asked me out on a date and I have to get ready by 8! Come on!’ Hermione said, grabbing her hand.

 ‘Yeah I'll just sit here...’ Ron shouted as they walked away from him.

‘Sorry, Ron!’ Hermione shouted back.

They climbed the stairs and entered the room they were sharing. Ginny immediately opened Hermione’s suitcase, searching for summer dresses. She held up a purple, up to the knees dress.

‘This one?’ Ginny asked, holding the dress to her own body and admiring it in the mirror.

‘Sure! I'll need a shower first.’ Hermione took her bathrobe, underwear and a towel into the bathroom with her.

She switched the shower on, waiting for the hot water. She splashed her face with water and took her clothes off, stepping into the shower. She let the water run down her head and body. Hermione shampooed and conditioned her hair. After the shower she stepped out and quickly dried herself, humming a tune. She put her underwear on and put the pink, fluffy bathrobe over herself. She walked out of the bathroom to see Ginny rooting through a box, full of her jewellery. Hermione looked towards the clock and saw that it was half past 6.

Hermione shook her hair out and took her hair drier out that her mother had gifted her for some birthday or Christmas, taking her time to dry her hair. It took her half an hour to get it fully dry. She slipped on the purple dress, it was backless and a little tight, but it looked good.

‘Sit down.’ Ginny ordered.

Hermione chuckled and obligingly sat on the chair, letting Ginny get to work on her hair. Hermione picked up a book and started reading, trusting Ginny to make her hair look beautiful. A while later, Ginny grinned and announced that she was done.

‘Ginny, you're great!!’ Hermione said, feeling her hair.

Her hair had been curled, some of them were small and cute and the hair at the back had large, elegant curls in them. She had sorted them so it hung off one shoulder and just passed her chest. Her hair was shiny and voluminous, just the effect Hermione had wanted.

‘Thank you!’ Hermione squealed hugging her.

‘Do you want me to do your make up?’ Ginny asked, holding up a mascara wand.

‘No, I'll do it. Thank you so much!’

‘Okay, well, I need to see Harry. Bye and good luck!’

Ginny waved once and walked out. Hermione sat down and took the mascara, layering her eyelashes with it. She wore eyeliner and a bit of blusher. She hesitated but wore light purple eye shadow. She also found some of Ginny’s heels in her suitcase and borrowed them.

‘Knock knock.’ A voice said, ‘Is the princess ready?’

‘Wait, Draco!’ Hermione chuckled.

She grabbed her bag and put a mascara wand in it and also her eyeliner. She breathed in and out before opening the door. She saw Draco had a button up shirt and trousers on and was holding red roses.

‘Hey, gorgeous,’ Draco whispered, looking her up and down, ‘you look beautiful.’

He handed her the roses which she gladly took, putting them inside her room. Draco leaned against the door frame, watching her.

‘How about we skip the date and just stay here?’ Draco joked, looking at Hermione.

‘Do you always say that to girls on the first date?’ Hermione asked.

‘Do you always agree to marry a man before the first date?’ Draco shot back.

Hermione narrowed her eyes, her lips tugging up at the sides.

‘Touché,’ She said, taking his hand, ‘Let's go.’

They walked hand in hand downstairs. The Weasley’s, Harry, Narcissa and Mrs Granger were in the restaurant. They looked up as Hermione and Draco approached them. Silence. Harry and Ron wolf whistled, making Hermione turn a bright red. Mrs Granger smiled, taking a camera out of her purse.

‘Picture!’

Draco put his arm around Hermione's shoulders and she put her arm around his waist. They both smiled and were nearly blinded by the flash. A few people looked over to them saying 'Aw!'. Harry, Ron and Ginny decided to pose for the picture too.

After the picture taking session, Draco and Hermione made their way out of the hotel and down the street, linking their hands. The sun was about to set, but people were still at the beach, lighting up a bonfire.

‘Nervous?’ Draco asked, squeezing her hand, ‘First impressions count, remember that.’

‘Not at all.’ Hermione said chuckling, ‘You're right, first impressions do count. You better act like a gentleman.’

‘Here you go, lovely.’ Draco said, holding the restaurant door open for her.  

She walked in and looked around. It was huge. Literally massive. Numerous tables were lined up, covered with a red cloth and a single rose in a vase on each table. Waiters frantically moved to make the food and deliver the food.

‘Um, table for two under the name Malfoy.’ Draco said, to a lady behind a counter.

‘Sure sir, follow me.’

They followed her to a small table, beside a window. Draco nodded thanks and she left. He held out the chair for Hermione to sit down before he took the seat opposite her.

‘I would have settled for a pizza or something. You didn't have to do this, Draco. Thank you so much. You’re so sweet.’ Hermione said, blushing as she looked around at the beautiful palace in which they would eat.

‘I wanted to do this for you. I love you.’ Draco said, taking her hand from across the table.

‘I love you too,’ Hermione whispered.

‘Here you are. I'll be back in a while to take your order.’ The waitress said, handing them both a menu.

‘Draco,’ Hermione muttered, her eyes scanning the menu, ‘this is too expensive.’

‘Don't look at the prices. Just tell me what you want.’ Draco said, his eyes on the menu.

‘I'll have the salad.’ Hermione said.

Draco raised his eyebrows.

‘Don’t do this,’ Draco sighed.

‘Can we just go somewhere else where it's not expensive?’ Hermione asked, closing the menu firmly.

‘No we can't.’

They stared at each other. Draco raised his eyebrows and Hermione narrowed her eyes. A few heartbeats later, Draco chuckled.

‘You're way too cute,’ Draco said, his eyes lit up, ‘now, please, just forget the price, okay? For me?’

‘Hmm... Fine!’ Hermione said, hesitating slightly.

‘Can I take your order?’ The waitress said.

Draco looked at Hermione. The waitress moved her gaze to Hermione as well.

‘Um yeah. Can I have chicken soup as a starter and then lasagne?’ Hermione said, she didn't want to order too much.

‘I'll have what she's having. Can I get two glasses of... Red wine?’ He looked over to Hermione, who nodded, ‘And for dessert, can I get two bowls of vanilla ice cream?’

‘Sure. It'll be a while since it's so busy, but we can give you some garlic bread free?’

‘Sure, thanks.’ Draco smiled.

Draco and Hermione sat in silence. Comfortable silence. The waitress gave them a bowl of garlic bread.

‘Where do you want to go for our honeymoon?’ Draco asked, eating a piece of garlic bread.

‘Oh, yeah. Our honeymoon!’ Hermione said, chuckling.

‘I know a place. We can apparate there after the wedding.’ Draco suggested.

‘Where is it?’ Hermione asked curiously.

‘Well, my mother bought it 15 years ago. It's a small house and we have a private beach. It's beautiful.’ Draco smiled at her, ‘ah, privacy. Can you imagine?’

Hermione smiled at Draco's excitement. The rest of the date passed by with them talking, laughing, eating and feeding each other ice cream. The bill was expensive so Hermione insisted to pay some of it.

‘No way!’ Draco said, shaking his head as he put the money on the table.

‘Draco, please just-’

‘No, Hermione, I've paid it. Let's go.’ Draco said.

Hermione stood up and they walked outside. It was pitch black.

‘So do you want to come over to my place?’ Draco asked, jokingly.

‘Draco. I wish you'd let me pay.’ Hermione said, stubbornly.

Draco slipped an arm over her waist. He didn't say anything and they walked in silence.

‘Draco,’ Hermione stopped outside the hotel, ‘Thank you. Tonight has been great...’

Hermione leaned forward, keeping eye contact with Draco's icy eyes. His eyes seemed like they held the secrets of her happiness behind a small layer of ice. Draco closed his eyes and leaned forward, holding her by the waist. Their lips touched and both were immersed in a cloud of bliss.

Draco looked at her and she looked at him. Hermione took Draco's hand and they walked in the hotel together. They walked upstairs and to their rooms.

‘Ah! There you are!’ Harry said, clapping Draco on the shoulder.

‘Hermione, come on!’ Ginny said, pulling her in the room as Harry pulled Draco away.

‘Tell me! Tell me! How was it?!’ Ginny said, excitedly, jumping onto her bed.

‘It was amazing. I can't wait till we get married.’ Hermione said, laying on her bed.

‘Well, only a few days left and you'll be Mrs Hermione Malfoy!’ Ginny said.

‘And when will you be Mrs Ginny Potter?’ Hermione asked.

‘He hasn't asked me yet...’ Ginny said, blushing.

Hermione rolled her eyes, thinking that Harry had been through too much. He wouldn’t want to waste time with Ginny so it had to happen soon... right?