Three.

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Chapter 3

Draco left the Burrow soon after, making sure to bring some of Molly’s pudding with him. Even though he was having jealousy problems with one of her children, he wasn’t going to stop himself from enjoying her food.

Draco paused his train of thought once he Apparated into his flat. He was jealous? That couldn’t be right at all. Malfoys didn’t feel envy. They always got what they wanted and never had to share what was theirs.

Merlin, his mind was wandering again. As much as he enjoyed kissing Granger some scant minutes earlier, those short seconds of snogging did not make Granger his. At the moment she was probably all over Fred in the backyard of the Burrow.

Besides, Draco didn’t even know why he was so eager to break up an existing relationship to get the girl. The last remnants of his honor seemed to be fading away as he continued to plot on how to get his lips on Granger’s again.

Draco stretched out on the couch and Summoned a spoon for his pudding. At least he’d never be hungry while he planned his seduction.

~*~

Draco strode into Gringotts the following morning with a sense of purpose. He was going to go forward in his plan to seduce Granger. Although he was sure his hands and mouth had left a lingering mark in her memory, Draco thought that a pretty piece of jewelry couldn’t hurt.

He stepped into his modest vault with care and looked through the few jewels his mother had been able to safeguard for him before the worst of war. A sparkle caught his eye as he surveyed his small pile of riches, and he looked for the source.

This will do very well, he thought, slipping the article in a handkerchief and exiting the vault.

~*~

“You’re late, Draco.” Snape raised his head from the cauldron he was inspecting and glared at his apprentice.

“My apologies, Severus. I had to do an errand before I arrived,” Draco said, absentmindedly patting his pocket. “What am I expected to do today?”

“Three batches of Pepper-Up for the Infirmary, grading yesterday’s assignments – first through fourth years. But first, help me finish inspecting these cauldrons.” Draco nodded and peered into the cauldron next to Snape’s.

Draco relished in the work of being a Potions Apprentice. He’d always loved the subject, and it was an odd comfort learning from his former teacher, Head of House, and fellow spy during the last years of the war. Snape was a knowledgeable master and wasn’t as condescending as he was in the past. Come to think of it, Snape was even nicer – if you could use such a word to describe Snape – in recent weeks.

“Draco how have your visits to the Burrow been in the past?” Snape asked, jolting Draco so much that he bumped his head against the rim of the cauldron.

“Excuse me?” Draco rubbed his head. Snape wasn’t much for conversation, and his sudden question startled the young man.

“You have ears, boy. Don’t make me ask you again.”

So much for a nicer Snape. “My visits have been… fine.” How could he describe out loud the combination of Gryffindor estrangement, good food, and Granger’s lips? “Why do you ask, Severus?” Draco added. Would the professor be knocking on Molly’s doorstep anytime soon?

“You’ve been… distracted in the past few weeks. I only hope the Weasleys don’t negatively influence your apprenticeship.”

“No Weasley has an influence on my higher learning,” Draco said, peering into the cauldron once more. Has Granger gotten to me that badly?

~*~

Draco had to pay for his tardiness by working an additional two hours alone in the dungeons of Hogwarts. By the time he had arrived at the back entrance of Purge and Dowse, Ltd., the streets of London were bathed in the light of the storefronts.

He should have waited until the following Friday, but he didn’t think he could stand giving Granger such a wonderful present and then watch her throw herself at Fred moments later. And it wasn’t that Draco couldn’t wait; Malfoys weren’t impatient. Malfoys also didn’t have fantasies of a highly inappropriate nature concerning a certain bushy-haired Gryffindor…

A figure exited the store’s brick wall. Draco leaned forward to get a better look, but the hair underneath the turquoise witches’ hat was straight and blonde.

Amazing how anyone would trust Lovegood in the medical profession. Draco barely had time to smirk before another Healer, this one with thick brown hair, emerged from the wall.

Draco grabbed the witch and pulled her into his arms. He felt Granger struggle for a few moments until she realized whom her abductor was.

“Draco,” she breathed, “what are you doing here?”

“Just wanted to say hello.” He proceeded to end all future talk for some minutes.

“Couldn’t we continue this elsewhere?” Granger asked. When she regained her bearings, she saw that she was in front of a restaurant in Diagon Alley.

“Wouldn’t you prefer some dinner? I haven’t eaten for some hours.” Draco smiled, knowing his Apparation destination surprised her.

“I would love to,” Granger said, slipping a hand into Draco’s.

~*~

“I must admit,” Granger remarked as she tucked into her meal later on, “I’m glad you brought us here, instead of…” She trailed off and stared into her plate.

“My flat, you mean?” Draco took a sip of his wine and waited for her to answer.

“Yes, that. I’ve never… propositioned anyone like that before, and… thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Draco thought about her words. So she wasn’t as wanton as he’d thought. That relieved him; he’d had enough of the scandal he’d suffered with Pansy Parkinson in their Hogwarts years. But if that was the case –

“I don’t want to be blunt, but I wonder. Why are you interested in me when you’re with Fred?”

“I believe that you expressed your interest in me first,” Granger said coyly. She continued in a more serious tone, “We’re enjoying the evening now, why bring him up now?”

Draco acquiesced and did not talk about Fred any further.

~*~

“I had a wonderful evening with you, unexpected as it was,” Granger said when Draco and she were in front of her flat’s door.

“So did I. Before I go, I want to show you something.” Draco procured a box from his pocket that he was able to purchase before he went to St. Mungo’s.

When Granger opened the box, her lips curled into a smile at the brilliant emerald linked to a gold chain.

“Any subliminal messages with this, Draco?”

“No, the real subliminal message would be in the robes you wore to my father’s wedding.”

“So you noticed,” Granger said pensively. She kissed Draco quickly, murmured a goodbye, and went into her flat.

Draco stared at the closed door in front of him and waved a hand through the space Granger had occupied moments earlier.

He had no idea how to proceed. He wanted her, but he didn’t want to rush and suffer for it later. Then there was the problem with the Weasley twin…

I’ll figure it out come Friday, Draco thought before he Disapparated.