Disclaimer: I am unfortunately not JK Rowling.

A/N: I was super excited for the feedback I got from the first chapter! I don't have pre-written chapters so it may take me a little longer to update this story than 'Without a Trace'; especially with exams around the corner! Please be patient with me!


Chapter 02

Draco Malfoy raised an eyebrow at enraged woman that was pacing in front of him. She had stormed back into Phineas' office in a frenzy and had promptly started yelling at the man. Phineas had let her shout for a little while before silencing her with a flick of his wand. And with that he had laid down the ground rules.

They were to announce their relationship at the upcoming Liberty Ball, an annual celebration of the Second Wizarding War. They had the next two weeks before the ball to smooth out the details of their charade. The arsehole had even forced them into an Unbreakable Vow to keep up a realistic façade for the next year before offering to fund any expenses they needed for the next fortnight to make their story believable.

Draco scowled as he thought back to the end of their meeting.

[Fifteen minutes ago]

"Have you ever thought that perhaps one of us is already in a relationship? I'm quite sure that Granger here has been cavorting around with her dear Weasel."

"For your information, Malfoy," she hissed, pronouncing his last name like it was a form of disease. "I broke up with Ron a bit over a year ago. But he does bring up a good point, Goldbloom. Do you really think anyone is going to believe that we've been going out for a year? I'm sure Malfoy hasn't been able to keep it in his pants for that long."

Draco scoffed at that. "Perhaps if it were last year, that would be true. But unfortunately, I have not graced our community's women with my skills for a little while."

Hermione raised an elegantly arched eyebrow at him. "Having trouble getting it up, hm?"

He scowled at the bushy-haired woman before answering her. "If you must know, I had a rather horrible experience with one particular witch who become somewhat enamoured with me after our tryst. Needless to say, I refuse to put myself in such a situation again." Much to his disdain, he couldn't suppress the shudder that overcame him as he remembered the woman.

[Present time]

As she wore circles into his office carpet, he took the opportunity to look her over – he had long tuned out of her rant. He had to admit that when she had laughed at him in Phineas' office, it had been delightfully feminine. But as for the rest of her…well she was exactly what he expected of a prudish bookworm.

She had a frizzy mane of uncontrollable brown hair and her eyes were a rather nice auburn colour. He did quite like the spark he could see flashing in her eyes as she continued to chuckle. And rather predictably, she was wearing much-too-large robes that were rather drab. Her feet were covered with a rather dowdy pair of Mary Janes.

"So Malfoy, tell me…what exactly happened with your last conquest?" She ungracefully threw herself into the couch across from his desk.

"That's none of your business, Granger." He snarled from behind his desk, frowning as he leaned back to glare at her.

She smiled that insufferably all-knowing smile and leant forward. "Well actually, it is most definitely my business, especially if we've supposedly been dating for the past year."

Draco sighed heavily, massaging his temples with irritation. "Fine."

[Flashback]

"Dracoooo! Baby! Let me in!"

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he glanced out of the peephole. That bloody woman was standing at his door, screaming like a cat being tortured. Who the hell had let her into the damned building?! He had obviously been bloody hammered when he had met her at the bar last week because he could have sworn she was a 10 out of 10.

Of course, she was drop dead gorgeous – the woman could be a model if she wanted – but her empty head and grating personality were a different story.

"Drakeeeyyyyyy!"

The woman had somehow found out his address. In the week since he had snuck out of her place as she fell asleep, she had not left him alone. She had followed him EVERYWHERE. On his way to work, she had been there. Out for dinner with Blaise and Theo, she was there. When his mother dragged him into Diagon Alley with her, she was there.

"Baby boy! Let me in!" He thanked Merlin for what had to be the thousandth time for the wards his mother had insisted he place on his apartment.

"Get lost, woman!" He growled through the door.

"Why are you trying to hurt me Draco?" She whined, her voice reaching an unholy pitch.

"If you don't get off my doorstep this instant, I will call the Aurors." He threatened. It was the last thing he wanted to do – admit that he couldn't handle a 100lb woman. But she was certifiably insane.

[End Flashback]

Much to his disdain, Draco had resorted to summoning the Aurors. And to his utter horror, Pothead and Weasel had appeared on his doorstep. It had been a positively humiliating experience and with that ended his illustrious career as the Casanova of Wizarding Britain and serial heart-breaker.

His scowl deepened as the ex-Gryffindor howled with laughter. "Go to hell Granger." She was wiping away the tears that were threatening to spill out of her eyes. He smirked at the woman in front of him. "Your turn."

Her eyebrows shot up. "What?"

"I said, it's your turn." He drawled. "I told you my story. Now what happened with you and Weasel? I was sure you two would have been popping out pauper babies by now."

Hermione rolled her eyes at the man; apparently he would never grow up. With a heavy sigh, she propped herself up with her forearms on her thighs.

"We started dating after the war and things were lovely at first. But looking back, I wasn't quite as taken with the relationship as he was. Ron wanted to get married and start a family. He wanted me to stop working and become a housewife…become his mother. And then he became increasingly possessive; if he ever saw me talking to another guy that he didn't trust, he'd completely lose it. I realised that I didn't want the same out of life as him and I didn't love him like I should have. So I ended the relationship."

Draco sat speechless. He hadn't exactly expected her to answer him so candidly without hesitation. He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "So…how are things now?"

She sat back in the cough with a heavy sigh. "Awkward – he's convinced that I'll come running back to him. He is still quite possessive of me. It has strained my relationship with Harry and Ginny – but I still try to see them when I can."

He shifted awkwardly in his seat. "Why are you telling me this?"

Hermione shrugged. "If we're supposedly dating, you'd be expected to know this. Besides, you'll have to face him at the ball."


[3 days later]

"I still don't bloody understand why we're here, Malfoy."

They were standing on front of a rather extravagant boutique somewhere in the middle of Paris. Hermione was in no way surprised that he had chosen some showy place to take her. A large ornate wire sign hung over the doorway, announcing the name of the store. Beautification Personified. She couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"Draco." He reminded her under his breath. "And we're here because if you're going to be my girlfriend, you're going to have to look like it."

"There's nothing wrong with the way I look now!" She glared at him as a bark of laughter escaped his lips.

"You've got to be joking, Hermione." He said, accentuating her name to prove a point. No one was going to believe they were in a committed relationship if they couldn't even use each other's first names. "You look like a menopausal woman."

"I do not!" She hissed with indignation. "Excuse me for dressing practically."

"There's a line between practical and a frumpy old librarian." He struggled to suppress his mirth as she stormed into the store in a huff.

"Bonjour Madamoiselle!" A rather effeminate man pranced up to her, throwing his hands in the air as if they were long lost friends. "What can I do for you?" His voice was heavily laced with a French accent.

"Pierre." Draco greeted as he made his way into the salon.

"Ah Monsieur Malfoy! A pleasure as always!" The Frenchman greeted, giving the blonde a quick embrace. "Is this lady with you?"

"Yes, she is. And as you can see, she desperately needs some attention." He muttered, ensuring Hermione had overheard him.

"Yes, yes. So sad. But so full of potential, no?" Pierre was already eyeing her over, forming a checklist in his mind.

"This lady is standing right here and can hear you." Hermione hissed, even more put out when the two men ignored her.

"Do what you can, Pierre; hair, skin, makeup, clothes…everything. There's no monetary limit." The man clapped his hands with joy before bustling Hermione off in front of him.


[A few hours later]

Draco Malfoy was impatiently pacing up and down the salon entrance. It had been hours since he had left Hermione behind, taking the time to visit some old friends who lived in the area. He had known going into this that it wouldn't be easy to make Hermione resemble a reasonably attractive woman but this was simply ridiculous.

A musical feminine laugh rang through the salon, cursing himself as his stomach somersaulted. The last thing he needed was to think of Granger in those ways. No – they had agreed that they were going to treat this whole mess as a business transaction and nothing more.

"Monsieur Malfoy! We have been waiting for you!" Pierre announced as he appeared at the reception desk.

"I trust everything went well."

"Oh absolutely perfect! The mademoiselle made it very easy – we barely had to do anything…apart from replacing her wardrobe, no?" Draco scoffed; that was an understatement if he ever heard one. I mean really, did the bookworm borrow all her clothes from McGonagall? "Follow me, follow me!"

His eyebrows shot up as he made his way through to the heart of the boutique. A large black velvet curtain was drawn across the room, hiding Hermione from his sight. Pierre's assistant was excitedly grasping at the edge of the curtain, waiting to reveal their handiwork.

"Are you ready, Draco?" He raised his eyebrow impatiently at the flamboyant man. "Désolé, Monsieur. I present to you – Hermione Granger."

Draco braced himself, clenching his jaw to prevent it from to dropping open. Who the hell knew Granger looked like that?

Her hair wasn't quite as unkempt as it had been before, tamed into wild curls that framed her face quite perfectly. A slight touch of makeup had emphasised her defined cheekbones and made her eyes seem to sparkle. And that body.

Granger clearly needed to dispose of her whole wardrobe because the robes did her no justice whatsoever. Pierre had put her into a rather low-cut maxi dress that seemed to perfectly skim her secret curves. The dress had daring slits travelling up the sides of it, flashing her wonderfully toned legs. And that arse…well it looked perfectly delightful in that dress.

Draco cursed at himself as he felt a twitch of arousal wash over him and his mouth dry. 'For Salazar's sake, Draco. Pull yourself together. This is Granger we're talking about here.'

"Well, Draco?" She asked. "Am I now acceptable for your majesty?"

He scowled at her sarcastic tone. "Whatever Granger. I'll see you at the office tomorrow."


[One week later]

Ever since that day at the office, things had gone downhill. Not a single day had passed without a monumental squabble between the two of them; Hermione was all too grateful for the silencing spells she had made sure to cast each morning.

They had earned a fair few curious stares and whispers from their co-workers. After all, it wasn't often that the two of them spent the day cooped up in their offices together. And she wasn't afraid to admit that she had been pushed to some rather desperate measures in an attempt to get herself out of this whole mess.

She had begged Kingsley to change his mind but the man had outright refused. He had barely even considered what she had to say before shooing her out of his office. And she had been practically kissing Phineas' wrinkled arse. She had been so sure that there was something she could do to change his mind. But that damn fool had stuck to his bloody guns.

"Hermione?!" She had finally relented and agreed to meet Ginny and Harry for lunch.

She smiled widely at the couple before her. They had gotten engaged soon after the war and had married a year after that. And only two months ago, they had announced that they were expecting their first child.

She leapt from behind her desk and hugged the dark-haired man before turning to his wife. "Oh Gin! Look at your belly!" Ginny was proudly sporting a rather rounded abdomen.

"Well I am four months along now. The only reason you're getting all excited is because I've barely seen you since I told you I was pregnant! Speaking of barely seeing you – you look bloody gorgeous!"

Mumbling her apologies and thanks, she pulled the giddy redhead into a warm embrace before grabbing her purse. She linked arms with Ginny and moved out of her office, leaving Harry to trail behind. She momentarily faltered in her steps as she saw Draco returning from lunch.

"Good afternoon Potters." He greeted curtly, getting two confused faces in return.

"Uh…hello Malfoy." Harry responded. Hermione stifled a giggle at the slack-jawed expression on Ginny's face as she rather inelegantly stared at the man.

"Where are you off to, Hermione?"

Hermione felt her cheeks heat up as he said her name. It was the time he had acted like this in front of either of their friends. "Just going to lunch with Gin and Harry. I haven't seen them in far too long." She replied courteously.

He flashed a brilliant smile at the three friends. A genuine, civilised smile. "Well, have a good time. Congrats on the baby, Ginevra…Harry."

And with that he was gone, leaving a rather flabbergasted trio in his wake.


A/N: Review my lovelies!