Chapter 4: Finding Room

"Hermione, can I please tell Harry about this?" Ginny whined at her. The pregnant red-head had been in her office most of her morning. Hermione had foolishly let it slip that she'd gone on a date with Draco last night and Ginny had been grilling her about it ever since.

The idea of Hermione being taken on a date to dinner and a movie seemed to utterly fascinate Ginny, especially since it was Malfoy who was taking her out. Ginny had even laughed when Hermione had sneakily tried to ask if she was some kind of snobby mess who showed up for work poorly dressed, bumping into things and ignoring everything around her. She'd been mortified to have Ginny confirm Malfoy's accusations and vowed that from now on she would pay more attention to her surroundings, even when she was caught up in a job.

"What do you want to tell Harry for?" Hermione asked her friend "I went on one date. One. It's not as though he got down on one knee and begged me to marry him or something crazy. We just got dinner and saw a movie."

"Yeah, and he's been buying you gifts every day for the past Merlin knows how long with the hot chocolates and things. Not to mention the Christmas loot. And the snogging. You know Harry will be hurt if we don't tell him."

Hermione scowled at the red-head. It was probably true. Harry was more than likely to be offended that he hadn't been told already, let alone that Hermione was considering keeping it to herself for a bit longer. It wasn't that she was ashamed to have gone on a date with Draco or anything. She just didn't want to ruin the bliss by having Harry know because he would tell Ron and then they would both grill her even worse than Ginny was but instead of being accepting of whoever Hermione decided to date, as Ginny had managed to do so far, she just knew they would throw a tantrum about her dating the man who had been their schoolyard rival and who had been incredibly cruel to them and to her especially while they were all at Hogwarts.

"Not yet. I know he'll get his wand in a knot about it, but I don't want them charging in here lecturing me about this. You know they'll say or do something to talk me out of it and I don't want to be talked out of it."

"Merlin you have got it so bad already and you've only been seeing the bloke for two days" Ginny said excitedly.

"What are you talking about?" Hermione said, trying not to blush.

"All I can say is he must be the best kisser in the world… unless you've only had bad kisses before now… because I've never seen you like this. Even when you were with Ron you weren't like this. I mean, I found you in here humming to yourself this morning. What is the world coming to when Hermione Granger is in her office humming to herself over a hot chocolate when there is a Werewolf Re-Registration Act being drafted that she needs to prevent. By the way, I don't know if I've ever complimented you for all the wonderful things you do for the magical world and especially for all the Magical creatures whose rights you battle for every single day."

"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked, frowning now.

"Well, I mean, I knew you loved throwing yourself into your work, first at Hogwarts and now here, but I was looking into something last night and I realised just how much you've accomplished in the way of peace between wizards and the rest of the Magical creatures in our world. There are so many things you've achieved, so many things you've changed, laws you've abolished, Protection Acts you've instated… To be honest sometimes I'm a little envious of you."

"Envious? Ginny, why?" Hermione asked, baffled now "You had a professional Quiddtich career, and now have a wonderful job as Quiddtich reporter for the Prophet. You have a wonderful husband, two beautiful boys that you are raising wonderfully and a third one on the way. As far as living life in search of that perfect 'Happily Ever After' ending, you've got it."

"Because of all the good you do" Ginny admitted "I mean, Quidditch is great, I love playing and writing about it… but I'm not making anyone's life better because of it. I'm not doing something for the greater good or making the world a better place for all the magical beings in it. You are. I mean, you managed to convince the wizarding world that House elves, a species who have been the servants of wizards for more centuries than I know about, deserve the right to holidays and sick leave and maternity leave and decent wages and proper working and living conditions. You managed to convince the elves that they deserve it too, which I think might've been harder…. You improved the lives of werewolves all over Britain by drafting a law stating that the Ministry would form now on be in charge of ensuring every werewolf had access to the Wolfsbane potion and by drafting a Right to Work Act that means that they can't be discriminated against because of their condition."

Ginny paused to draw breath before taking a long drink from the cup of blended juice she'd brought in here this morning.

"Sometimes I'm very much aware of the fact that you've never stopped working to make the world a better place while I do nothing of any importance, is all."

"Oh Ginny" Hermione sighed "It's not really like that and you know it. I run around trying to improve the lives of creatures and beings, most of whom I have never and will never even meet. Every morning when you get out of bed you improve the lives of your three boys. I don't know Gin, for all that it looks like I might be doing great…. I sort of realised last night that if it weren't for the way I throw myself into my work my life would be pretty one dimensional."

"What do you mean?" Ginny asked and Hermione grinned as the pregnant girl snuck her hand into the jar of cookies Hermione kept on her desk at all times. When she wasn't working Hermione was a fan of inventing new cookie recipes and since she loved baking but would get impossibly fat if she ate them all herself, she was always bringing them into work for her visitor's and the representatives from different races that she met.

"Well, you have Harry, Teddy and James. And another little baby on the way…. Ron's got Scarlett…. You all do your own thing. While I was out with Draco last night I realised how long it had been since I'd been on a date before last night…. Three years, Gin. Three years since I'd been on a date with anyone, and you know how the last one went." Hermione rolled her eyes at herself.

"Who was that with again?"

"Viktor" Hermione murmured "And the whole night all he did was reminisce about his Quidditch days. I don't even know why I let him take me back to his place but needless to say, that was a huge mistake."

"That's right" Ginny giggled "And even though you and Ron had been broken up forever and he was with Scarlett by then, he still got his broom out of joint thinking you'd had a thing for Krum since fourth year when you met him."

"I remember" Hermione said drily.

"You never did tell me how he was in bed" Ginny grinned, tormenting Hermione.

"That's because I didn't want to have to tell you about the fact that the only comparison I had to draw on was from when I was with Ron. I didn't think you'd want to hear about how Ron was between the sheets" Hermione told her friend.

"Oh ew! Hermione you can't say thing like that to me, you know my morning sickness has been playing up enough as it is!" Ginny groaned in disgust

"Well that's why I didn't tell you. But I guess he did ok. He always was somewhat of a physical being" Hermione grinned at her best friend.

Ginny began to laugh and was still laughing about it when Hermione looked up to see a particularly handsome man entering her office.

"Something funny?" Draco Malfoy asked, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Not in my opinion. Don't be alarmed, all the pregnancy hormones interfere with Ginny's brain capacity and her ability to calmly discuss sex with her best friend."

"You two have had sex?" Draco asked, looking intrigued.

Ginny choked on her laughter, stopping abruptly. Hermione pulled a face of revulsion.

"No! Merlin what is wrong with you?" Hermione demanded.

"We were discussing the idea of Hermione shagging Viktor Krum, you twit!" Ginny said, making Hermione blush to have Draco know that since she had Viktor had managed to keep it very quiet, especially since they both had celebrity status and didn't want it splashed across the pages of the Prophet again.

She also blushed even pinker when she saw the jealous glint in Draco's eyes as they searched her face. Scowling at Ginny, Hermione wanted to kick her best friend since she knew Ginny had done it to make Draco jealous.

"And there goes your welcome in my office for the rest of the day" Hermione said snippily. Ginny sniggered.

"It's ok, I already got what I came for anyway" Ginny smirked as she hauled herself to her feet "Oh, and Hermione… Bring Draco to dinner with us at our house on Sunday night ok? I'm sure Harry and Ron will just be delighted to have you visit."

Hermione groaned as her vindictive friend strode out of the office; burying her face in her hands to keep from meeting Draco's gaze.

"So you and Krum hooked up huh?" Draco said, sounding amused "I had a bet going with Goyle in fourth year about that."

"I got so much hate mail about all that bollocks you fed to Rita Skeeter over that." Hermione said without lifting her head.

He didn't say anything else though Hermione could hear his foot falls as he moved closer to her and she felt her heart rate pick up as he drew near enough that she could feel his body heat radiating against her arm.

"Why are you hiding from me?" Draco asked her softly.

"Because I'm embarrassed."

"Why?" Draco asked her "The Krum thing? I already knew about that."

"Not just that…" Hermione mumbled.

"You're worried about the way Potty and Weasel are going to react when they find out that we're dating" Draco said matter-of-factly.

Hermione lifted her head to stare at him.

"You don't need to worry, love." Draco assured her with a reassuring smile that made her heart skip several beats in a row. "They need to know. I told you last night, I intend to win your heart and keep you forever. They'll have to get used to the idea of me and you, and I think going to dinner is a good way to get them used to me."

"You're just saying that because you like making them uncomfortable" Hermione accused.

"Guilty" Draco smirked, "But they're important to you, so we're going."

"Oh and what if I don't want to bring you along?" Hermione asked him.

"Too bad. If you don't want to arrive there with me I'd just have to meet you there now wouldn't I?" Draco told her, raising his eyebrows challengingly even though he was still grinning.

"Manipulative little so and so" Hermione grumbled in defeat.

"I had fun with you last night" Draco told her, reminding Hermione of the wonderful time they'd had together. After dinner Draco had taken her to see a movie, graciously letting her choose which they would watch. He'd bought them both popcorn and had tickled Hermione out of line when she tried to slide in and pay for their tickets since he had paid for dinner.

He'd toyed with her hands while they watched, and had grinned at her knowingly when the couple on screen were having a tiff about something, choosing that particular moment to wrap his arm around her shoulders. Hermione almost blushed at the way she'd pushed up the armrest separating them so she could snuggle over, laying her cheek against his chest and listening to his heartbeat for the rest of the film.

When it had finished he'd told her they were going somewhere for supper and had bought them both hot chocolates. Hermione felt a little smile play on her face as she thought of the way he'd held her hand as he'd walked her home, choosing not to apparate since Hermione lived not far from the theatre district. She'd liked the way he discussed the film with her animatedly, letting her chatter about it and offering his opinion on it as well. She'd adored the way he'd actually watched and paid attention to it, rather than trying to snog her or grope her the way Ron would've done.

"So did I. Thank you for taking me" Hermione smiled at him.

"What are you doing tonight?" Draco asked her, grinning wickedly now.

Hermione felt herself quiver with excitement.

"You tell me" she said boldly.

"Coming on another date with me" Draco informed her, smiling now "And this time when I tell you to dress warm, you're going to do it, since the place I want to take you tonight is going to be cold but will definitely be worth it."

"Where are you taking me?" Hermione asked him curiously.

"It's a surprise" Draco informed her, opting for a very serious face as though telling her would be the way to go about ruining the sacred art of surprises.

Hermione laughed at him.

"You're so beautiful when you do that" Draco told her softly, smiling that winning smile at her that was melting Hermione's heart.

"This from the person who could win every Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile award for the rest of time if he'd smile instead of smirking at people."

Draco just kept on smiling at her.

"I have something for you" He told her, digging his hand into the pocket of his suit, "But you have to close your eyes for a minute. I had to shrink it so you wouldn't see me carrying it in here."

"What did I say about buying me things?" Hermione demanded, outraged and yet secretly pleased.

"Deal with it, Granger. I like giving you things."

"You like making me feel bad because I still don't have anything for you. What do you even want for Christmas?"

This earned her a particularly wicked smirk that made Hermione blush because of the way her thoughts jumped to sinister things.

"You" Draco purred seductively and Hermione just knew that if he kept this up, that was exactly what he was going to get.

"Well then stop making me feel bad buying me things and not taking yours in return" Hermione said, aware of the fact that she was flirting with him and liking the way he smirked at her that way.

"Close your eyes Hermione" Draco commanded, sounding amused.

"No. You're not giving me another gift until you let me give you one" Hermione said sternly, getting slowly to her feet and staring at him even as she used wandless, non-verbal magic to make the door to her office click closed. He was smirking at her so wickedly that all Hermione could think about was the way he'd kissed her underneath the mistletoe two nights ago and the fact that when he'd left her place after walking her home last night, he hadn't kissed her goodbye on the lips, but had instead pressed a very gentlemanly kiss to the back of her hand before disapparating with a soft pop.

"I said close your eyes Hermione" Draco said sternly even though he couldn't even begin to command his face into a serious expression.

"Close your own" Hermione said uncooperatively. She gave a smirk of her own when he gave a long-suffering sigh before doing as she asked.

When he had his eyes closed, Hermione studied his handsome features for a moment, creeping forwards slowly. She brought her hand up to cup his cheek softly, so as not to startle him, and with butterflies swarming in her tummy Hermione rolled up onto he tip toes until she could press just a whisper of a kiss against his warm lips.

Merlin it felt good to kiss him. She could feel him smiling against her lips even as he kissed her back just as softly, their lips barely touching, brushing together in a way that was so innocent and sweet and yet so impossibly tantalizing that Hermione was ashamed of some of the thoughts that popped into her head. She felt his hands come to rest lightly on her hips and Hermione wanted to growl in frustration when she realised that by telling him she wanted to give him a kiss as his gift, he'd left her completely in charge of their kiss.

Meaning that if she wanted to stand there and kiss him so softly all day, he'd probably let her.

Hermione kept kissing him lightly, enjoying the way it drove her completely insane and enjoying the way his hands had begun to twitch on her waist as he fought the urge to pull her closer so he could kiss properly. Merlin she could do this forever, Hermione though to herself as she slowly slid her hand into his silky hair and leaned into the kiss just a little bit more, kissing his lips a little firmer, but still keeping her tongue away from his.

She was dying to lean into the kiss, to snog him until she couldn't even remember her own name, but Hermione had a plan. If he was really going to be giving her things all the time, bringing her presents every day, then she was going to punish him by tempering her kisses this way. She would tease him and keep things light.

Merlin knew that if she didn't she was going to be broom over wand in love with him before Christmas arrived in ten days time.

Wondering if she would have that kind of restraint, Hermione slowly pulled back from him, letting her hands slide down to rest intimately against his chest so she could gently push him away, especially since she could feel the subtle pressure in his hands on her waist, trying to pull her in so he could snog her soundly.

"So where are you taking me tonight?" Hermione asked him, aware of the husky tone I her voice but unable to keep it out.

"It's a surprise" Draco responded just as huskily, his grey eyes dark with lust and fixed on her face even as he smiled softly. "Now close your eyes. It's my turn to give you your present."

Hermione watched him for a moment longer before letting her eyelids slide closed and waiting to see what he was going to give her today, secretly hoping that he'd been joking yesterday when he'd said something about turtledoves.

She felt him move away from her slightly and Hermione heard him mutter something, making her remember that he'd told her he had to shrink her gift to carry it in.

"Ok beautiful" Draco Malfoy murmured to her softly, "You can open your eyes now."

When she did Hermione looked around, expecting to see him holding a gift out towards her and instead felt her eyebrows lift even as her mouth began to curl into a wide, delighted smile as she caught sight of the gift he'd placed on her desk.

"What do you think?" Draco murmured after a moment "I was worrying about getting them for you. I know that it's been two years since your Crookshanks passed away….. and then I thought about just getting you one…. But I read somewhere a long time ago that when buying kittens, always buy two because they are twice the fun and no more trouble."

Hermione was only half listening as she stared down at the pair of kittens chasing each other across her desk. One of them was black all over and abundantly fluffy with sharp green eyes. The other was smaller and ginger striped like Crookshanks had been though he was much less fluffy.

"You got me kittens?" Hermione murmured, reaching out and enjoying the way both kittens rushed towards her, mewling for her affections as they stroked themselves against her hand.

"Is that ok?" Draco asked her seriously "I didn't want to be insensitive. I know you loved that pug-faced ball of fluff. I thought about getting you actual turtledoves, but I've always thought that keeping birds caged as pets is cruel. Then I remembered that you like cats; I thought maybe you'd like some new companions in your life."

Hermione found herself smiling wider when he winked at her for the double meaning in his words.

"I think I can find room for some new companions" Hermione murmured softly as one of the kittens ran up her arm and onto her shoulder, followed closely by the other.

A/N: So much for getting this story and chapters from others to y'all before New Years... Anyway, I apologise to all of my readers for the incredible amount of slackness in regards to my updates lately. I've had a case of the "Don't Wanna's" In that everything i start doing, from editing/writing my stories, to trying to watch a movie or read a book or even going places, I gt midway through and then Don't wanna. It's a form of chronic boredom I think... But anyway because of that I've had writer's block going on. Thanks for your patience and love. I hope Y'all are all safe and sound and happy in life. Much Love. xx-Kitten.