Slytherins, Kisses and Other Disasters
Copyright© 2026 by Caroline Stanton
Chapter 37: The Malfoy Girl’s First Date
Draconia Malfoy had faced examinations, Quidditch matches, her father’s disapproval, and six years of Professor McGonagall’s most penetrating looks without losing her composure. Yet on Saturday morning, standing before a mirror in an unused Hogwarts classroom, she was beginning to suspect that a first date with a Muggle boy might be the most terrifying experience of her life.
“Absolutely not.”
Victoria Crabbe looked up from the desk where she was sitting. “What’s wrong with that one?”
“Everything.”
“Draco, you said that about the last three.”
“Because there was something wrong with the last three.”
Georgina Goyle, who had been arranging shoes on another desk, sighed dramatically. “We’ve been here forty minutes, and you still haven’t decided what to wear.”
“I have decided.”
“Then why are you changing again?”
“Because I’ve changed my mind.”
Hermione Granger, seated beside the window with a notebook on her lap, smiled.
“That’s perfectly normal.”
Victoria turned towards her. “Is it?”
“Yes.”
“Thank Merlin. I thought she was going mental.”
Draconia gave her a murderous look.
“Victoria.”
“What?”
“Shut up.”
Victoria grinned. “There she is. Our Draco.”
The classroom had been transformed into a temporary dressing room. Three mirrors stood against one wall, courtesy of a carefully supervised Enlargement Charm and some assistance from Professor Flitwick. Several desks had been pushed together to accommodate dresses, blouses, skirts, shoes, handbags, and an impressive collection of cosmetics.
The girls had chosen the classroom for a simple reason: Hermione couldn’t enter the Slytherin common room, and the three Slytherins couldn’t enter Gryffindor Tower. A neutral location was the only practical solution. Besides, as Georgina had pointed out, it was much easier to spread everything out in a classroom than in their dormitory. Draconia stood before the largest mirror wearing the dark-red dress she’d purchased at the shopping centre. It was beautiful. Everyone agreed on that. Unfortunately, Draconia wasn’t convinced.
“Perhaps the green one would be better.”
Georgina closed her eyes. Victoria groaned. Hermione laughed.
“Draconia, both dresses look lovely.”
“That isn’t helpful.”
“All right. What exactly are you worried about?”
Draconia hesitated. Then glanced at her reflection.
“I don’t want to look as though I’m attending a formal reception.”
Victoria examined the dress.
“You don’t.”
“Or as though I’m trying too hard.”
Georgina laughed.
“Draco, you’ve spent forty minutes trying not to look like you’re trying too hard.”
Draconia glared at her.
“Thank you, Georgina.”
“Always happy to help.”
Hermione set down her notebook and stood.
“All right. Let’s think about this properly. Where are you meeting Alex?”
“At the shopping centre. Outside the café near the main entrance.”
“And what are you doing?”
“Coffee first. Then perhaps a film.”
“Good. So you want something pretty, comfortable, and not too formal.”
“Precisely.”
Hermione looked at the dresses laid out on the desks.
“Then I think the green dress is a little too elegant for an afternoon at the cinema.”
Victoria nodded. “Yeah. You’d look like you were going to a bloody wedding.”
“It’s not a wedding dress,” Draconia protested.
“No, but you could probably get married in it.”
Georgina burst out laughing. Draconia folded her arms.
“You’re both being extraordinarily unhelpful.”
Hermione smiled. “Actually, Victoria has a point. The green dress is beautiful, but it might be better for a more formal occasion.” Draconia considered.
“Then the red?”
Hermione studied her.
“Yes. But perhaps with a simple jacket and those cream-coloured shoes you bought.”
Georgina snapped her fingers.
“That’s it!”
Victoria grinned.
“See? Sorted.”
Draconia turned towards the mirror again. The red dress fitted her beautifully, emphasizing her slim waist without appearing ostentatious. With a light jacket and simple shoes, it looked elegant but approachable. She smiled.
“Yes. I think that will do.”
Victoria raised both arms.
“FINALLY!”
The next problem was her hair. Draconia’s long blonde hair was already brushed until it shone, but that didn’t prevent her from considering several different styles.
“Up?”
“Down,” Victoria said immediately.
“Half-up?” Georgina suggested.
“Down,” Victoria repeated.
“Perhaps a braid?”
“Draco, for Merlin’s sake, leave it down.”
Hermione examined her reflection.
“I think Victoria’s right. Your hair looks lovely loose.”
Draconia considered.
“Perhaps with a little wave?”
Georgina smiled.
“That would be beautiful.”
“Fine. A little wave. But if you start talking about changing the colour, I’m leaving.”
Draconia laughed.
“I wasn’t going to change the colour.”
“Good.”
A few minutes later, Hermione had helped create soft waves in Draconia’s hair, using a combination of ordinary styling techniques and a very restrained charm. The result was lovely. Draconia studied herself. Then smiled.
“Perfect.”
Victoria grinned.
“Thank Merlin.”
Cosmetics proved easier. Draconia was already skilled at applying makeup, although Hermione gently suggested that a Muggle afternoon date might call for something subtler than the look she’d wear to a formal wizarding gathering.
“A little mascara, some colour on your cheeks, and a natural lipstick,” Hermione said.
“Agreed.”
Georgina leaned closer.
“What about perfume?”
Draconia produced a small bottle from her handbag. Victoria sniffed it.
“That’s nice.”
“Just a little.”
Draconia applied a discreet amount. Then stepped back.
“Well?”
The three girls looked at her. Victoria smiled.
“Beautiful.”
Georgina nodded enthusiastically.
“Absolutely gorgeous.”
Hermione smiled warmly.
“Alex is going to be very pleased to see you.”
Draconia blushed.
“Oh, do stop.”
Victoria laughed.
“Look at her! She’s actually blushing!”
“Victoria!”
“Sorry, sorry.”
She wasn’t sorry at all. Then came the questions. Draconia sat on the edge of a desk, smoothing her skirt.
“Right. Hermione. Suppose he asks me what I do at school.”
Hermione opened her notebook.
“We’ve discussed this. You attend a boarding school in Scotland.”
“Yes.”
“And you study ordinary subjects.”
“Such as?”
Hermione smiled.
“English, mathematics, history, science, languages...”
Draconia looked horrified.
“Mathematics?”
“You’re good at Arithmancy.”
“That is not the same thing!”
Hermione shook her head.
“You don’t have to invent a complete school curriculum. Just say your school has a rather unusual programme.”
Draconia considered.
“All right.”
“And if he asks something specific, you can say you don’t particularly enjoy discussing school.”
“That one’s easy. Nobody enjoys discussing school on a date.”
Victoria nodded.
“Especially when Snape’s involved.”
Draconia glanced at her phone.
“What if he asks about my family?”
Hermione’s expression became thoughtful.
“Tell him the truth, as far as you can.”
“That my father comes from an old family?”
“Yes.”
“That he’s rather traditional?”
“Definitely.”
“That he would have a fit if he knew I was dating a Muggle?”
Hermione hesitated.
“Perhaps leave that part out for now.”
Victoria snorted.
“A fit? Draco, your father would have a bloody heart attack.”
Draconia gave her a sharp look.
“Thank you for reminding me.”
Georgina’s expression softened.
“Hey.”
Draconia looked at her.
“You’re not going to tell him yet, are you?”
Draconia shook her head.
“Certainly not.”
“Then don’t worry about it today.”
Victoria nodded.
“Exactly. Today you’re going out with a handsome boy. That’s all.”
Draconia looked between her friends. Then smiled faintly.
“Yes.”
Hermione checked the time.
“Now, there are a few practical things.”
Draconia straightened.
“Such as?”
“Money.”
Draconia produced a small purse.
“I have pounds.”
“Good. How much?”
Draconia told her. Hermione blinked.
“That’s more than enough.”
“She’s a Malfoy, Hermione. She doesn’t understand the concept of carrying just enough money.”
Draconia smiled sweetly.
“And you, Victoria, have never understood the concept of tact.”
“True.”
Hermione continued.
“Now, Alex may offer to pay for your coffee or cinema ticket. That’s perfectly normal. But you can offer to pay for your own.”
Draconia frowned.
“Wouldn’t that offend him?”
“Not necessarily. It depends on the person.”
Georgina leaned forward.
“What if he insists?”
“Then she can accept if she’s comfortable with it.”
Draconia nodded thoughtfully.
“All right.”
“And remember, you don’t have to agree to anything you don’t want to do.”
Draconia raised an eyebrow.
“Hermione, I assure you I’m perfectly capable of saying no.”
Victoria laughed.
“She’s been practising since she could talk.”
The conversation moved to films. Draconia had seen one during the previous expedition, but she was still unfamiliar with most Muggle cinema customs. Hermione explained tickets, seating, trailers, refreshments, and the importance of switching off one’s phone during the film.
“Why?”
“Because the light and sound disturb other people.”
“Reasonable.”
“And don’t talk throughout the film.”
Victoria grinned.
“That one’s going to be difficult.”
Draconia glared at her.
“I do not talk throughout films.”
“You spent half the last one asking Harry what everything was.”
“Because I didn’t understand the technology!”
Hermione laughed.
“Well, if Alex chooses something unfamiliar, you can ask him about it afterwards.”
Draconia considered.
“Yes. That would be better.”
Then Georgina asked the question everyone had been avoiding.
“Draco?”
“Yes?”
“Are you going to kiss him?”
Draconia froze. Victoria’s grin widened. Hermione looked up from her notebook. Draconia stared at Georgina.
“Excuse me?”
“Alex. Are you going to kiss him?”
Draconia’s cheeks turned pink.
“I haven’t the slightest idea.”
Victoria laughed.
“Oh, come on!”
“Victoria!”
“What? It’s a perfectly reasonable question!”
Georgina nodded.
“Harry kissed Vic on their first date.”
“And Adrian kissed you on yours.”
Georgina smiled dreamily.
“Yes, he did.”
Draconia looked between them.
“Well, congratulations to both of you.”
Hermione intervened gently.
“Draconia, there’s no rule about kissing on a first date.”
Draconia looked relieved.
“Thank you.”
“If you both want to, that’s fine. If not, that’s fine too.”
Victoria nodded.
“Exactly.”
Then she grinned.
“Although if he’s as handsome as you said, I wouldn’t wait too long.”
Draconia threw a cushion at her. Victoria caught it. The classroom erupted in laughter. A little later, while Georgina was arranging Draconia’s handbag and Victoria was inspecting the shoes, Hermione noticed that Draconia had become unusually quiet. She approached her.
“Nervous?”
Draconia looked at her reflection.
“A little.”
“That’s normal.”
Draconia hesitated. Then spoke softly.
“Do you think he’ll like me?”
Hermione blinked.
“Draconia, he already likes you.”
“Yes, but that was only one meeting.”
“And he asked to see you again.”
“I know.”
Draconia looked down.
“It’s just...”
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