Part Two

Author Notes: Many thanks to krazyredhead0317 and Kyrie for their beta help! I love Hermione/Rabastan, so I just couldn't resist writing this for the HP Rare_Cliche Valentine's Day fest on LJ. I hope you all enjoy part two.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.

**Part Two**

Hermione,

Rabastan

Hermione smiled as she read the letter. After a busy week at work at the Ministry, it was finally Friday night. She was certainly looking forward to her date with Rabastan. But first, she needed to shower and shave. She wanted to look her best.

After showering and shaving, Hermione dried off and rubbed her favorite lotion all over her skin, leaving it silky smooth. She then used a charm on her hair and put it in a fancy up-do. She remembered hearing her parents speak about the place once or twice when she was young, so she knew Moreau's was a fancy restaurant.

She walked towards her closet and pulled out a blue knee-length dress. It hugged her body in all the right places, accentuating the curves that she had. She slipped into her favorite pair of black pumps – the same ones she had worn to the gala last weekend.

Grabbing her clutch and safely tucking her wand into it, Hermione Apparated to a location in London she knew was safe for such purposes. She then walked towards Moreau's and waited outside the doorway for Rabastan.

She didn't have to wait long. He appeared from around the corner and was holding a single red rose. "Hermione," he greeted her, handing her the flower. "I'm so glad you decided to meet me for dinner."

Hermione smiled. "My co-worker actually pushed me to it. You'll have to thank her."

"What's her name?" Rabastan asked, taking Hermione's hand as he led her into the restaurant.

"Krystle," Hermione answered. "She's a total sweetheart."

"I'll have to send her flowers in thanks, then," Rabastan said. "I have a reservation under the name Lestrange," he told the hostess.

"Right this way, sir." The hostess led them towards a small, secluded section in the back. "Enjoy."

Hermione looked at the menu. Everything sounded so good; she wasn't quite sure how she was going to decide what to order.

"First time here?" Rabastan asked, peering at her over the top of his own menu. When Hermione nodded, he smiled. "Try the salmon. It's delicious."

"All right," Hermione murmured. She liked salmon, so salmon it was!

"Hello, my name is Claude, and I will be your server tonight. Can I start either of you off with something to drink?"

Hermione smiled. "A Pinot Noir please."

"We'll take the bottle," Rabastan said. After the waiter left, Hermione gave him a questioning look. He shrugged, giving her a smirk that made her insides squirm. "The Pinot Noir will go great with my filet mignon."

The waiter returned with the bottle of wine and poured them each a glass. The two of them then ordered their food. Once alone, Hermione looked at Rabastan.

She had realized he was handsome the other morning, but seeing him now, she was floored. He was stunning. In a way, she realized he was a mixture of both Harry and Malfoy. Rabastan carried himself with the regalness of Malfoy, but he had Harry's mischievous personality.

"So how did you come across this place?" Hermione asked him, taking a sip of her wine.

"Well, I enjoy going out to eat and trying new foods, but that's been difficult in the wizarding world due to my past as a Death Eater. I know I did a lot of wrong in the past, but what I've done pales in comparison to my brother and his insane wife. However, they both died during the war, so I've taken the brunt of the blame for anything done by a Lestrange."

Hermione frowned. "While you deserve some of the blame, because let's be honest, you were a Death Eater, you don't deserve it all. I'm so sorry about that. I had no idea."

"It's difficult for me and a lot of others, but I'll survive. Because of all that, I started to venture into the Muggle world for restaurants, and I stumbled upon this place by accident. I fell in love with the food, and the wait staff is always so nice."

She smiled as she looked around. "My dad took my mum here for an anniversary date once."

"That sounds nice," Rabastan said with a smile. He reached across the table and took her hand. "Tell me more about yourself, Hermione."

She blushed. "I'm sure you already know all about me."

"Aye, but I'd like to know the real you. I know you have a fiery passion somewhere in you, and I'd like to see more of it." She blushed even more at his words. "Not that way, Hermione, but I'd be more than happy to make that sort of passion with you."

"Well, I work in the Department of Magical Transportation. I know a lot of people expected me to end up elsewhere because of my love for house-elves, but I love my job. I mostly work with the Apparition Test Center, but I sometimes help out in the Portkey office. I usually teach Apparition lessons and am the one to give someone their license," Hermione explained.

"That's a very important job. Without the proper lessons, someone could splinch themselves and die."

"I know," Hermione said sadly. "We see it a lot. A lot of witches and wizards attempt it without the proper guidance, and they suffer from it. I'm hoping to create a method that will truly discourage people from attempting Apparition by themselves."

"If anyone can do it, you can," Rabastan said confidently. His thumb brushed over her knuckle, causing her to shiver. She glanced at his eyes and saw they were filled with desire. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

Hermione nodded, suddenly finding her throat very dry. "I am. Are you?"

Rabastan smirked. "I am, kitten."

Their food appeared at the next moment, and Hermione was grateful. The tension between the two of them was almost too much. She wasn't sure how much more she would be able to take.

They ate their dinner in silence. Hermione enjoyed the salmon. It was grilled to perfection, and she was glad that Rabastan had suggested it to her. Once they finished their meals, they shared chocolate cheesecake for dessert.

After Rabastan paid their tab, he took her hand and led her outside. Once in the alleyway, he turned to face her. "Hermione," he started, but he didn't get the chance to finish because she had thrown herself in his arms and begun to kiss him.

Rabastan wrapped his arms around her small frame and hugged her tightly. His lips moved against hers in a hurried passion as he backed them against the alley wall.

"Rabastan," Hermione moaned, breaking away. She looked at him, her chest heaving and her cheeks flushed. "I want you. Please, Rab, I need you." She bit her lip and gave him a pleading look. "Please, take me home."

He smirked before wrapping his arms around her tightly and Apparating them both to his home.

The next morning, Hermione awoke with a grin on her face. She turned over and gave Rabastan a kiss. "Good morning," she greeted him.

"Good morning," he murmured sleepily, wrapping his arms around her as he snuggled close to her. "So is this morning after better than our last?"

"Much better," Hermione agreed with a smile. She closed her eyes and smiled in contentment. This morning was so nice that she didn't mind doing it again... and again... and again.

With the way Rabastan was looking at her, Hermione had a feeling that they would be sharing a lot of mornings together.

Krystle woke up the next morning, a smile on her face. She hoped that Hermione had had a good time on her date with Rabastan. Standing, she moved into her kitchen. A small gasp of surprise escaped her lips.

On her kitchen table, there was a bouquet of mature dark pink roses. Krystle walked closer and noticed there was a small note. "To show my thanks and gratitude – Rabastan." Krystle smiled. She knew from her mum, who happened to be a florist, that a bouquet of mature blooms meant gratitude. The dark pink roses were a way to say, 'thank you.'

Krystle's smiled deepened. It seemed Hermione had managed to land herself a good one. She'd have to ask if he had any friends.